Altered Breath, Volume 53- Issue 2, October 2019

Vaping in the News //4-5

Drugs and Athletics // 20-21

Vaping at Stevenson // 14-16

Volume 54-Issue 2 October, 2019

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

NEWS

OPINIONS

04

Juul Regulation

09

Pro/Con: Standardized Testing

06

AP Registration

10

Statesman Editorial

07

Photojournalism: World’s Fair

12

Halloween Column

FEATURES

SPORTS

14

Vaping Spread

20

Substance Use in Sports

17

Internet Fame

22

Student Athlete Nutrition Program

18

No Homework Night

23

Family Ties in SHS Athletics

COUGHING UP THE

W

ith over a thousand vaping-associated lung injuries and dozens of deaths reportedly occurring from e-cigarette use as of early October, renewed national attention has focused on vaping. The Trump administration has suggested plans to ban flavored e-cigarettes, Walmart has stopped selling all e-cigarette products, and a criminal investigation has been launched into Juul Labs, the top e-cigarette manufacturer.

For many, these proposals are regulations long overdue—necessary interventions from both government and corporate leadership to protect the public. For others, such measures are overreaches against personal choice and freedom. As Americans become increasingly aware of the effects of vaping, this debate over public health continues.

One proponent for stronger regulatory action against companies like Juul Labs is Catalyst Club president Vrushali Thakkar ’20. Catalyst Club focuses on the prevention of further substance use to promote a safe and healthy lifestyle. In Thakkar’s view, e-cigarette manufacturers should stay focused on their intent of helping nicotine addicts to quit smoking traditional cigarettes.

“All flavored e-cigarettes should be banned,” Thakkar said. “If Juul

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October 2019 - News

Steeper regulations on vape products rise Labs really is trying to target smokers to help them stop smoking, then there is no reason for e-cigarettes to have flavors. A major reason that people are attracted to [vaping] is because of these flavors, which encourages new users.”

Data from Nielsen Holdings, a data measurement firm, indicates that mint-flavored Juuls comprise 75 percent of current sales. Therefore, a ban on flavored e-cigarettes would significantly affect sales. As federal policymakers navigate the recent vaping-related injury outbreak, many advise users to take precautions.

“Vaping is merely an apparatus for substances to enter the body,” said a spokesperson from the Drug Enforcement Administration. “For public health safety, users must be mindful of what they are ingesting.”

After Michigan implemented a ban on flavored nicotine products, other states such as Tennessee are pushing for similar action. Meanwhile, Stevenson has made an effort to make change on their own.

According to Stevenson’s Code of Conduct guidebook, the possession or use of e-cigarettes could result in loss of privileges, required drug education programs or referral to law enforcement authorities. Dean N i c k

Valenziano enforces these consequences and educates students who get reprimanded.

“The educational component is the critical piece of the intervention as students can greatly reduce punitive consequences if they get the help they need,” Valenziano said. “Many students caught vaping are not addicted, but instead curious. It is our job to ensure they get the proper information on the dangers associated with this behavior.”

Whether or not the specific marketing of these flavors by Juul is directly responsible for the influx of teen vapers is another question currently being investigated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Many individuals such as Stevenson High School business teacher Joseph Reinmann think that Juul could be guilty of this.

“When I

CONSEQUENCES as number of vaping-related injuries sky-rockets hear the radio spots, in my mind, it does seem like the company is trying to present a younger, hipper way to smoke,” Reinmann said. “People do make choices based on emotion, so when they see somebody or hear somebody that may sound cooler, then obviously that could sway somebody to make that decision.”

Outside of the dean’s control, students are subjected to a barrage of marketing from both

e-cigarette companies and substance-free advocates. According to an analysis by the Kantar Group, a market research firm that investigates consumer behavior, Juul Labs spent over $100 million on advertisements in the first half of 2019.

Organizations such as FDA-led The Real Cost and the non-profit Truth Initiative have also released a variety of advertisements in many forms, such as ads on Spotify and Youtube. The placement of these ads is meant to get the attention of teens, but Madison Cherry ’22 finds it to have the exact opposite effect as she finds them a nuisance.

“I don’t think they’re very effective,” Cherry said. “They interrupt my music, and I just want to skip them.”

As both e-cigarette companies and substance-free organizations try to

market their messages, Thakkar believes that students can have a significant role in the change that happens, alongside the adults and parents of the community. She believes that in the end, it is up to the consumer to decide the consequences that Juul Labs will face.

“A lot of the voices that have spoken up against this vaping epidemic have been from adults, which is why we haven’t seen that much change,” Thakkar said. “We’re not hearing from the people who are actually affected by these substances. As a group, students should advocate for what we believe in for our community.”

WRITTEN BY: DYLAN HU, PAULINA ORNATSKY, VAASUDEVA KAKUTURU DESIGNED BY: ALEXANDRA GERGOVA, BAYARMAA BAT-ERDENE

October 2019 - News

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Advanced Planning

College Board moves AP registration deadline, introduces AP Classroom

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he new College Board AP Registration deadline has been moved from early March to October for the 2019-20 school year.

According to the College Board, the deadline was shifted four months earlier to “support deeper engagement and focus in AP courses.” A pilot test two years ago with more than 40,000 students found that schools who registered in the fall had 50 percent more growth in exam enrollment and twice the growth in the number of low-income students who scored a three or higher on the exam.

However, the deadline has been met with objection from some students and teachers. They argue that the new deadline shifts students’ focus from learning to worrying about taking a test- citing increased stress over whether or not to sign up to take an AP test months in advance.

“The changes to the registration deadline have caused widespread stress and confusion,” Celeste Xu ’20 said. “As seniors, we should be able to make informed decisions on

the AP tests we take based on the colleges we will be attending. Some colleges accept most AP credits, while others accept almost none, and it simply doesn’t make sense for us to spend hundreds of dollars on exams that won’t count.”

The company backs up their decision to move up the registration deadline with the creation of a new resource: AP Classroom. AP Classroom offsets the shift in the deadline by giving students access to more resources needed to prepare for the exam.

The AP Classroom is a new platform created for all teachers and students to use for their AP classes, where students can practice graded tests. The platform encourages students to take initiative of their own learning by providing access to study guides.

“The AP College Board has created the AP Classroom for students and teachers to be better aligned with the new curriculum,” AP Human Geography teacher and AP test reader James Dzialo said. “It is also a great resource for lower income

students who may not have access to schools and teachers that are as dedicated to success as at Stevenson.”

However, Dzialo’s view of the use of AP Classroom is not shared by all educators. Gwen Zimmerman, Assistant Principal for Teaching and Learning, believes that AP Classroom may not perfectly relate to this year’s curriculum.

“There are some teachers that didn’t even have the chance to fully look over the Classroom platform in the summer because it was pushed out so late by College Board that they just haven’t incorporated it in their curriculum,” Zimmerman said.

“There are also some teachers that just don’t think it relates to their teaching at all.”

Even with the new resources, Xu sums up her overall opinion of College Board in two words: “overwhelmingly negative.”

WRITTEN BY: POOJA JAIN DESIGNED BY: GRIFFIN BROWN

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October 2019 - News

DIVERSE DISPLAY

Stevenson celebrates unique cultures of student body, community with annual World’s Fair

3 and za Khan ’2 aik ’21, Hum h Asia portion Sh n aa ay ut Sh So oth in the d and a Khan ’20, ’23, Sabrin ate in the Pakistan bo as chutney, pita brea rs.

Safa Khan to ip ch si ic su vi rt r s, pa ge od 3 ea i fo to n ’2 Jawad Kha . Traditional Pakistan mmus, were served hu of the fair

The freshman Indian dance group performs on stage on Saturday, the first day of the fair. The unit included 31 students and was the 11th performance of the day.

skiy ll ’20, Michael Zaslav le booth — Cam Eze Fischmar ’20 and Members of the Chi hel Rac , ’21 ll Eze , Carson n’21, Natessa Kim ’20 o Sampaio ’22, Leo Brazil booth — Thiag brace in “The em — Gabi Siegel ’20 — and ’23 in Bek n Natha ardo Guenther ’22 and ’s Fair. The unity between multiple World Americas” section of cepts of the cultural of the underlying con celebration. diverse cultures is one

Parents, stud ents, children and more visit the booths of “The Far East ,” located in th Forum. The re e gion featured 19 different countries and included the pr ominent red decorations fe atured above.

WRITTEN & DESIGNED BY: BRADLEY LOCKER

October 2019 - News

7

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ake no d o u b t about it: standardized testing is flawed. However, the reality is that standardized testing is just that: standardized. Not only does this make standardized testing as close as we can get to a true constant in the complicated college application process, but it also makes it necessary, regardless of how much you or I like it.

To anybody who thinks too much emphasis is put on test scores, I encourage you to take a look at the context with which colleges use them.

Many top-tier schools such as Northwestern and the University of Southern California have said that they lack a minimum score, so if a student is a bad test-taker but

has great credentials, then the holistic application process benefits them.

I won’t deny that students who are able to afford tutoring definitely have an advantage that complicates the playing field, but both the ACT and SAT offer no shortage of free practice tests on their websites to help these students succeed.

As for students that go to schools with different qualities of education, colleges like the University of Michigan have stated that they view your test score through the context of your high school.

The reality is that if we decide to abolish testing because it can’t be perfect, why even have the college application process at all when the most objective metric is deemed unfair?

WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY: BEN BOWLER

S

tandardized tests connotes an equal playing field, which is why colleges tout them as a constant in the admissions process. Yet having grown up in Nebraska, I intimately understand the regional differences in education that deconstruct this narrative of “sameness,” making these tests counterproductive.

The recent PSAT/ NMSQT qualifying test for juniors quantitatively confirmed my challenging experience moving from Nebraska to Illinois.

According to Campus Education Group, the cutoff score for becoming a National Merit Semifinalist for Nebraska was a mere 216 while Illinois rested at 221.

Yet region does not tell the full story, as students with a quali-

ty education will inevitably perform better on “standardized” tests. To better understand these differences, USA Today reported that Illinois was the 16th wealthiest state based off of median household income in 2017.

While many already know of the resources directly associated with money, the quality of public school education is also monetarily based. A higher median household income often equates to higher property taxes, which then means more funds to hire teachers and provide educational resources to students.

Ultimately, these pay-to-take exams are just another subjective factor that an applicant’s background already encompasses and one that admissions officers can do without.

WRITTEN AND DESIGNED BY: CHERYL CHEN

October 2019 - Opinions

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DISGUISED

Statesman editorial encourages increased

A

s of October 2019, 1,479 lung injury cases associated with using e-cigarettes or vaping products have been reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) along with 33 confirmed deaths due to vaping.

In recent years, vaping has become an increasingly popular practice among adolescents despite the continuous news of the “vaping epidemic” indicating its health ramifications.

Statesman believes that teens ultimately vape because of public misconceptions and lack of awareness for the consequences of vaping. Therefore, both Stevenson students and the administration need to work harder towards addressing and acknowledging the effects of vaping on our health.

A 2019 National Institutes of Health survey revealed that the number of high schoolers who report having vaped in the past 30 days has nearly tripled since 2017 — from 11 percent to 30 percent.

Statesman believes that reform can be initiated if we first acknowledge the prevalence of vaping among the student body at Stevenson.

As vape marketers try to

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October 2019 - Opinions

lure teens with misleading aesthetics on VSCO feeds, satisfying vape tricks and claims that e-cigarettes are “just like consuming candy,” it is becoming increasingly important that Stevenson administration and faculty educate students on these fallacies during health classes.

In fact, many young people are not even aware that vape products contain nicotine.

A recent study by the CDC found that 60 percent of teens incorrectly believed e-cigarettes cartridges as being mostly comprised of flavoring.

However, according to the Mayo Clinic, nicotine is actually the primary agent in e-cigarettes, a highly addictive and toxic substance. Side effects include a rise in blood pressure, adrenaline spikes, increased heart rate and increased likelihood of a heart attack.

Therefore, Statesman calls for our health classes to integrate projects on vaping prevention and its repercussions into the curriculum, while the administration should focus on strengthening student support groups and resources for those struggling with nicotine addiction.

DANGERS vaping awareness on part of students, administration The established meetings with Student Support Teams (SSTs) in freshman advisories are a strong start to administrative action, but they can be improved with successive meetings and general peer engagement. Often, when students can hear personal stories from their classmates, they will be more inclined to listen and learn from their experiences.

As students, we should aim towards creating an accepting community when students reach out to support groups during adverse

times. When struggling students do open up about vaping to their friends, it’s crucial we stray away from shaming them but rather encourage them to seek help.

Statesman urges for a student body that acts responsibly and cautiously.

When coupled with notions that spread awareness on the detrimental effects of vaping, it can better lead to the greater safety and well-being of all Patriots.

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October 2019 - Opinions

11

CULTURE CAUTION Columnist believes Halloween costumes should be sensitive, finds cultural appropriation to be inappropriate

A

s Halloween approaches, I’ve seen haunted houses and “Halloween City” stores seemingly pop up overnight.

But a far scarier side of Halloween exists: Americans continuing to appropriate foreign cultures for costumes and willfully ignore the harms behind this practice.

Every year, Americans, including celebrities and politicians, promise that their intent in wearing such costumes was never to offend. But when people wear culturally appropriating Halloween costumes, they — by definition — attempt to dress up as a culture. But that’s the thing: it’s impossible for a costume to represent the hundreds of years of history and traditions that a culture encompasses.

Regardless of intention, when you wear a culturally appropriating costume, you’ve chosen which cultural elements to include and disregard and often reinforce stereotypes of already oppressed minorities.

Americans’ views of whether or not it is acceptable to wear culturally appropriating costumes have changed drastically. According to a February 2019 New York Times article, 60% of Americans would hold a politician in contempt if they wore blackface within the last five years, double the share of those who would do the same if a politician did this 40

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October 2019 - Opinions

years ago. Unfortunately, the prominence of blackface in popular culture shows the opposite. According to the same article, millennials (ages 18-29) reported wearing blackface at higher rates than Americans in all other age groups, including those who were over 65.

When we continue to offer passes to those that wear inappropriate costumes in the present day (take Pharrell Williams wearing a Native American headdress on the cover of a European fashion magazine), all that America conveys is that we find no problem with our backwards perception of minorities, but we also actively disregard their history and stories.

Oversexualized $9.99 costumes will never be the best representation of foreign cultures. While making

sure that the line between appropriation and appreciation is distinguished, Americans need to make an active effort to more carefully consider what their Halloween costumes portray and ensure that their costumes are the best representation of that.

2020 is only a few months away.

Yet our Halloween costumes fail to incorporate the lessons that we have learned since 1920. The biggest fright this Halloween is not the assortment of Scream masks that line the shelves of Halloween City, but rather how we feel comfortable calling ourselves a nation of progress if the only progress we have made is masking more of our indiscretions under the guise of Halloween fun.

WRITTEN BY: NATALIE KING DESIGNED BY: OJASVI SAXENA Data courtesy of Pew Research Center

53% of Americans say that it is generally unacceptable for a white person to use makeup to darken their skin 39% of white adults say blackface is acceptable, while 19% of black adults say blackface is acceptable

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had Thompson ’22 stumbles into his first period class, unaware of the sea of eyes staring at him.

His eyes barely focus as he slowly takes a seat.

Thompson is completely oblivious to the fact that he is furiously thumping his foot against the ground, disturbing all of his peers around him. He finds it

Reasons cited by teens for E-C nearly impossible to r concentrate dy o Can on his school t frui gs tasks and is rarely orin flav able to submit satisfactory work.

Like many teenagers across the nation, Thompson has struggled with nicotine Us Use e addiction through cel by eb tie riinfl s/ the use of an euen ers ccigarette device.

“I made vaping my number one priority,” Thompson said. “Everything I did was centered around the next time I could take a hit.”

Thompson’s addiction is not uncommon.

At Stevenson, many students struggle with a vaping addiction.

“Of the inappropriate uses of substances that we see at school, vaping has the biggest impact: that’s what we’re seeing the most,” Dean of Students, Daryl Wallace said.

31%

2%

Ch

ea p co in er st

3%

Marketing, peer pressure contribute to increase in teen vaping, suggestions to reduce student use

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October 2019 - Features

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in five high schoolers have vaped within the last 30 days. Thompson’s experiences lead him to think that a largely populated school such as Stevenson has a higher likelihood of students’ peers influencing them to begin vaping.

Cigarette use by percentage

5% 17 %

Bel

iev ed

to b saf e ciga er tha ret t n es

39se% by d

U ien r a f amily f or mber me

Data Courtesy of Centers for Disease Control and prevention, 2018

r sie Ea o t n ai att

Wallace offers a different perspective.While he acknowledges the prevalence of vaping at Stevenson, he believes that usage is comparable to other areas.

“I think we’re a microcosm of society,” Wallace said. “This is just a new thing that kids are doing and we’re a part of that. I don’t think we have any higher percentage of numbers than any other school.”

Either way, many new users are not aware of the risks of vaping, which can be both mentally and physically taxing. However, school nurse Peg Cucci warns that this trend comes with a negative impact: addiction.

“All I can say is that it’s just not worth it,” Cucci said. “This is an addictive substance and

the best thing you can do is just not start.”

In addition, vaping also comes with many physical consequences. In an interview with The New York Times, Brandon T. Larsen, a surgical pathologist at ayo Clinic Ari ona, described the lung damage om vaping as similar to mustard gas burns, a chemical weapon used in World War I. “It isn’t clear to anybody at this point what the longterm effects will be,” Cucci said. “ ut it’s killing people, and it is absolutely not worth the risk.”

Even with the drastic health consequences, many students still choose to vape. A variety of factors contribute to their decisions. For Thompson, it was a lack of knowledge about the health risks of vaping as well as social pressure.

“Everyone around me was [vaping], so it felt like it wasn’t that bad,” Thompson said. “When I started, I didn’t even realize that it could impact my health.”

Jamie Epstein, Executive Director of the Stand Strong Coalition, agrees with this sentiment. Working with parents to prevent substance abuse in the area, she believes that kids may have started vaping for the same reasons they do any other illegal activity.

“It was a cool, new, sweet object that kids mistakenly thought was safe,” Epstein said. “I think that kids wanted to fit in or be cool whatever it may be.”

However, Cucci doesn’t believe that social pressure is the only driving force to vape. She contends that the marketing by vape companies plays a large role in teens’ perspectives of the product.

“It was an effort on the part of the manufacturer to capture a market share,” Cucci said. “I think kids need to be very careful. They are a vulnerable population to duplicitous and scurrilous advertising campaigns.”

Epstein agrees with Cucci’s characterization of big vaping manufacturers. She thinks that advertisements by big vape companies have tricked kids into vaping.

“I think that a lot of kids were fooled, unfortunately, by an industry with millions of dollars to fool them,” Epstein said.

Beyond the marketing campaigns that e-cigarette

October 2019 - Features

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October 2019 - Features

that there are measures that should be taken to discourage vape usage.

Advancements in vaping technology have led to similar advancements in detection technology.

“I think it would be good practice for schools to get vape detectors for their bathrooms,” Weiner said. “We do have them now, they cost a lot — about nine hundred dollars each — but I have a strong hunch that most parents would be willing to chip in.”

In addition to the implementation of deterrents such as vape detectors, many believe it is still necessary to address the underlying motive for vaping. Thompson considers social pressures as the driving factor that leads kids towards vaping.

“It really is an issue of peer pressure and I don’t think that’s something we really talk enough about at school,” Thompson said. “We always learn about the health risks but I think most kids just care about the societal implications of having a Juul.”

Weiner understands that the social impact of vaping h a profound effect on the prevalence of e-cigarette usage. He believes that changing the social environment is key to reducing the prevalence of vaping.

“The best way to mitigate teen use is by providing prosocial outlets for people to get involved with that do not support, condone, or glorify vaping or vaping behavior, even better, where vaping would be counterproductive to success,” Weiner said.

While Thompson is still on the road to recovery, he is grateful for

his journey. His first-hand struggle has left him with a unique perspective on addiction.

“You have to be careful,” Thompson said. “Just know what you’re putting in your body before you start, especially if it could be addictive. It’s all about self-control.”

12th Grade 27% 10th Grade 22%

College 21%

8th Grade 10%

Data Courtesy of Pew Research Center, 2018

companies launched to target teens, the product itself was created to cater to a younger demographic. Many teens are drawn to vaping, enticed by the many flavors it provides.

“We know for example, if we got rid of flavors, that would have an immediate dampening effect on teen use,” said Aaron Weiner, Director of Addiction Services at the Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Treatment Center. “If the only flavor was tobacco, that would immediately reduce teen use.”

For teens already struggling, it can be difficult to stop. Usually, addiction leads to a dependency on the substance just to feel normal.

“I realized that I felt like I needed my Juul to be myself,” Thompson said. “That’s just not a place where you want to be.”

While Thompson was able to begin his journey to recovery individually, Weiner believes that the solution to such a prevalent problem has to come from within society itself.

“This is a cultural problem, and a cultural problem requires a cultural solution,” Weiner said. “If we want to see a change, vaping cannot be cool anymore.”

Recently, new developments in vape technology enable teens to secretly vape at school. New vape delivery systems may be concealed in students’ backpacks, watches, and sweatshirts. JUUL, the most popular vape company, designs their devices to resemble USBs. In order for other teens to avoid the same situation, Weiner believes

% of students who reported any vaping during the last 30 days for each grade

Due to the sensitive nature of this topic, Statesman has decided to keep students interviewed anonymous WRITTEN BY: ANJINI GROVER, HUMZA QAZI, GREYCEN REN DESIGNED BY: SOPHIA ISMAIL, JANICE LEE, TRISHA PATEL

Claim to Fame) )

Students gain followers and fame through Internet platforms

A

s Hilary Shapiro ’21 uploads her latest post to social media, she shares her style, thoughts and experiences with thousands of followers.

HILARY SHAPIRO

Handle: @hilaryshapiro Dote, Shapiro’s primary platform, is an online shopping mall: creators Followers: 17k Favorites: 440 post their outfits on their profile, and followers can purchase their pieces. While Shapiro only started using Dote last summer, she has already garnered over 17,000 followers.

“I really like being able to express myself through a platform,” Shapiro said. “I like targeting different audiences and being able to inspire them with different looks.”

Shapiro has worked with various companies through Dote, making money comparable to that of a part-time job and receiving free clothing. Shapiro has taken advantage of her following on Dote as a business opportunity, expanding onto other platforms like Instagram and Youtube.

Although Shapiro has had many positive experiences with social media, she recognizes that public exposure and the judgement she could face can be problematic.

“I actually look down upon judging people based off social media,” Shapiro said.

“I feel like there so much more to a person than just what’s portrayed on the screen.”

Internet fame could potentially lead to students believing that likes and followers are truly what matters in life as opposed to real life experiences and relationships - Sarah LaFrancis, Social Worker

ALYSSA BENDE Handle: @a.bende28 Views: 1.3M

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lyssa Bende ’21 scrolled through her Tik Tok profile to find that her most recent post had reached over one million views. Having created a Tik Tok profile in August for fun with her friends, Bende found herself

stunned by the new attention.

Tik Tok is an app for creating brief lip syncing or comedy videos. Both on-

line and at school, people approached Bende about her status as “Tik Tok famous.”

“At first I was really embarrassed, but now I’m like ‘Whatever. It happened, it’s done with’,” Bende said.

Since then, Bende has continued to post on Tik Tok. While many of her recent posts have several thousand views, she posts for fun rather than fame.

“I don’t post things thinking they will become famous,” Bende said. “I just make videos when I have a funny idea.”

Bende plans to continue posting on Tik Tok for her following, though she has no intentions to make a career out of social media. She has, however, learned from the experience.

“You just have to be conscious of what you do because there’s always people watching you,” Bende said.

WRITTEN BY: LILA MAIOLO DESIGNED BY: EMILY KANG

October 2019 - Features

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Fast forward Future Stevenson encourages students to put aside homework for one night, plan for

next year and post-secondary future

B

eneath the mess of open textbooks and unfinished essays spread on the desk lies the new Stevenson coursebook. Juggling the weight of schoolwork and extracurriculars often leaves no time for students to think about their academic future. To help students reflect in a stress-free environment, Let’s Talk About Your Future Night will be held on October 23.

Teachers will not assign homework this night, giving students time at home to discuss with their families how options offered at Stevenson can support their personal interests and future. Counselor Lindsay Perkins hopes that Let’s Talk About Your Future Night will give students a chance to consider post-secondary plans in depth.

“We want the students to reflect on their own personal interests and be mindful of them in course selection while keeping balance and wellness at the forefront,” Perkins said.

This is not the first time Let’s Talk

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October 2019 - Features

About Your Future Night would be implemented at Stevenson. Last year, Tyler Valeroso ’20 had discussions with his family, which significantly affected his senior course schedule.

“It helped me choose classes that are directly related to the majors that I was interested in,” Valeroso said. “Also, it helped me balance between courses that would expand my interests and those that would be more fun.”

While some students like Valeroso found the night helpful and effective in providing more information regarding their futures, others like Tiffany Lee ’21 decided not to actively participate. Instead of taking the homework-free night as an opportunity to talk with her parents, Lee used the time to catch up on unfinished schoolwork.

“Since I was only a sophomore, I thought I would have plenty of time to think about my future but not enough time to study for tomor-

row’s math test, so I chose to focus on what I could control now,” Lee said. “Also, prior to talking with my parents, I wanted to independently reflect and research on my potential interests for the future.”

In order to encourage more students to partake in Let’s Talk About Your Future Night, Stevenson’s Student Services team has created a series of promotions to spread awareness about the initiative. This year, each student and parent will receive an interactive game via email to guide their conversation throughout the night. Although the Student Services team strives to make the night a more engaging experience, their ultimate goal is to ensure that students have a better grasp of their future plans.

“It’s just nice to take a step back to slow down and reflect,” Perkins said.

“Taking time to ask yourself what’s important to you is imperative.”

WRITTEN BY: OLIVIA HAN DESIGNED BY: CHRISTIE LEE

R U N N I N G

Stevenson athletic faculty addresses

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riday night lights illuminate the stadium as the Stevenson football team faces its opponent in front of a sea of cheering students, parents and teammates.

Once the final score is announced, varsity football assistant coach Eric Ramos prepares to speak to his players about something more important than the number of touchdowns or the plays they made.

Ramos talks to his players after every game and wants to send the right message about substance abuse.

By talking about the dangers of substance abuse, he hopes to ensure his players are making the right decisions for themselves and the team.

“When I speak about [substance abuse], they know I’m speaking from the heart,” Ramos said. “When they’re making those decisions, I want to make sure that my words have an impact.”

a huge impact on a person’s life.

“I personally don’t [abuse substances] because I don’t want want to ruin my athletic career or have them control my life,” Rayudu said. “Substances have serious negative impacts on people, and I don’t want to see myself in that position.”

While the majority do not abuse substances, drug usage is nonetheless prevalent among athletes.

At the high school level, the greatest concern surrounds alcohol and marijuana abuse rather than the illicit use of performance enhancing substances.

A 2017 study by the International Review for the Sociology of Sport

When I speak about [substance abuse], they know I’m speaking from the heart. I want to make sure that my words have an impact.

Srinu Rayudu ’20, a swimmer and water polo player, shares similar sentiments towards substance abuse in athletics. He believes that the decision to abuse substances can have

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October 2019 - Sports

found that high school students who competed in high-contact sports such as ice hockey, football, lacrosse and wrestling were 1.8 times more likely to binge drink and

smoke marijuana than their non-athlete peers.

This increased risk — and the unique role that sports play in shaping an athlete’s identity, community and social group — can have a profound impact on the athletes and their teammates.

“Using substances brings down the worth of the whole team,” Rayudu said. “My team is like a family. We do everything together during the season and everyone pushes each other to be better.”

Even if an athlete had never previously come into contact with substances, peer pres-

sure can eventually lead to regular abuse of drugs.

The attitude of the community surrounding athletes can contribute to their decision to use

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F U M E S

teen substance abuse in sports illicit substances. According to American Addiction Centers, “if [an athlete’s] peer group continues to use the drug or normalizes that experience, then an individual who might have otherwise been deterred from further use may continue to use the drug.”

High school athletes that abuse substances not only have to confront physical conse uences but also face the repercussions outlined in Stevenson s guidebook. nyone caught with substances or under the in uence on school property is sub ect to Loss of Privileges and up to 10 days of suspension. urthermore, athletes could be suspended from of their activity for a first o ense. atalyst, the tevenson student run youth substance abuse prevention club, works to educate the community about the truth of substance abuse. olicy Committee Director for atalyst, udrey iu , has been involved in informing both students and polic ymakers about t h e

conse uences of tobacco abuse. “ tudents are certainly aware of the conse uences associated with substance use, and so those conseuences are reasons why some athletes refrain from using,” iu said. uch of tevenson s athletic sta also supports deterrence. Assistant athletic director and health teacher e le ein believes that a team s environment and leadership plays a large role in prevention. “ think attitude re ects leadership,” le ien said. “ f a coach stresses living a healthy lifestyle and talks about the conse uences of substance abuse, it is the first line of defense for prevention.”

According to the NCAA, student ath-

letes are more likely to binge drink than their peers. his is a ma or reason why adults in the community, including Ramos, encourage team building as a means of deterring students from drug and alcohol abuse both on and o school property.

“We try to build bonds within the varsity football team and the team needs to hold each other accountable,” Ramos said. “If we can get the larger group to understand what’s at stake, then they can hold each other accountable in those tough situations.”

WRITTEN BY: NELLIE MALONEY, SAILAJA NALLACHERUVU & JASMINE SUN DESIGNED BY: EMILY LU & MYLES WOODMAN

October 2019 - Sports

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Feeding a NEED

Coach Alex Stoller presents on nutritional topics to student-athletes, first presentation of year focused on hydration importance

A

lex Stoller stands in the front of the room, a microphone in his hand, ready to talk about nutrition. Hundreds of students fill the seats, eager to listen to his presentation about hydration.

Stoller is a Stevenson alum who now teaches nutrition education to athletic teams and at monthly seminars. Through educating students about nutrition, Stoller hopes to give back to the Stevenson community, as he was involved with athletics as a student through playing football and lacrosse in high school.

“The choices you make with regards to the foods you eat impact everything from your health to your academic performance,” Stoller said.

“I encourage people to recognize how much control they really have with regards to those decisions.”

Stoller meets with each Stevenson athletic team to give presentations throughout the course of the year.

His next presentation will focus on sleep and stress. Stoller’s goal is to educate students on a topic of nutrition that can sometimes be taken for granted.

“We are fortunate here to have such a valuable resource in Coach Stoller bringing his high-level nutrition training to Stevenson,” said Shane Cook, physical education teacher and wrestling, lacrosse, and football coach. “It’s an opportunity that most high school students

around the country do not have.”

Emily Fejes ’21, a cross country and track athlete, cares about nutrition as well. She is grateful for Stoller and his presentations, as they provide students the chance to learn and improve their health.

“The meeting is important for everyone to go to; it allows them to understand that health is important to athletes,” Fejes said. “When I go to these presentations, I walk out with a different perspective on eating habits.

I think it’s an eye-opening experience to talk about nutrition because it isn’t talked about enough.”

Fejes, like Cook, believes that Stoller is an asset to the Stevenson community. Stoller’s education and advice for student athletes allows teens to develop their knowledge about nutrition and its effect on their bodies and performance. His main piece of advice for teens who want to have better nutrition is to keep trying and learn from their mistakes.

“Nutrition change takes time and practice so anyone who is trying to improve their health behavior should really just be patient with themselves,” Stoller said. “If they feel like they messed up, just shake it off, learn from it, and keep on going with their motivation and trying to eat a little healthier.”

WRITTEN BY: STEPHANIE LEVITT DESIGNED BY: SERENA MEHTA

October 2019 - Sports

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doubl e

TROUBLE

F O O T B A L L

“Our family likes to go to every game and are very supportive. It shows that they are devoted and committed.”

Varsity, #56 -Michael Jankelovitz ‘20

Offensive/Defensive Lineman 6’1, 210 lbs

Cross Country “We love to talk on long runs! It gives us a chance to catch up and talk about our day.”

-Grace McGhee ‘20 "We’ve become much closer because since we do the same sport, we spend a significant amount of time together."

-Liana McGhee ‘21

“We are a lot closer to each other because we both play a sport now and we both play together.”

Varsity, #57 -Noah Jankelovitz ‘20

Offensive/Defensive Lineman 6’0, 228lbs

Swim and Dive “We only get to see our family at the end of the day, but it strengthens our bond as we get to go and catch up on the day and eat together.”

-Elizabeth and Jack White ‘22 WRITTEN BY: ELYSSA GAVENDA DESIGNED BY: VICTORIA FENG

October 2019 - Sports

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“These companies are getting creative in terms of the flavors they are promoting. It is very apparent that they are not targeting traditional smokers who are trying to quit; they are targeting kids.”

-Nick Valenziano, Dean

“It puts kids on a negative health trajectory. There are dozens of toxins and about 10-20 carcinogens in vape aerosol.”

-Aaron Weiner, Director of Additction Services at the Linden Oaks Behavioral Health Treatment Center

“ e are p e in so man i erent irections an e can a a s p sh for more t this is here e nee to tr st in o r coaches that they’re doing the right things for the students to put them in a place to succeed.” e e ein ssistant th etic irector