Volume 108, Issue 13

The Spectator The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper FEATURES

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

“Liam Kronman: Jazz, Red Paperclips, and “A Village Ballad” Arts & Entertainment editor William Lohier interviews freshman Liam Kronman about his new single, “A Village Ballad.”

NEWSBEAT Sophomore Elizabeth Reizis, who was the winner of the 2017 Genes in Space Competition, launched her experiment to the International Space Station over spring break.

Veteran Robotics coach James Lonardo won the Woodie

Flowers Finalist Award

Freshman Claire De La Roche received an Honorable Mention in the citywide High School Poetry Contest for her poem, “Quasimodo.”

Senior Winnie Kong had her story, “When Women Uphold Sexism,” published in the March/April 2018 issue of YCTeen Magazine.

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April 20, 2018

stuyspec.com

Art and Engineering: Stuy Seniors Showcase Their Art at the Pratt Institute

By EMMA DONNELLY Several of art teacher Leslie Bernstein’s 3D Art and Technology students showcased their artwork at the “Exhibiting Education: 3D Explorations” exhibit at the Pratt Institute, which ran from February 14 to April 18.

Students were given the opportunity to display their work at this exhibition because of Bernstein’s previous connections with the university. “I went to Pratt for graduate school, and I had a student teacher in the graduate art education program,” Bernstein said. “The people who ran the program were looking at pictures of the students’ work here [at Stuyvesant] and liked what they were seeing. They asked us if we wanted to have a show there.”

Bernstein and her student teacher, Natasha Seng, took on the role of selecting which assignments would be featured at the exhibit. “We selected the three projects that we thought were the most successful and would show well [at the gallery],” Bernstein said. “It wasn’t a democracy,” she continued, laughing.

The first project that was showcased at the exhibit was a sculpture composed of a preselected group of mandatory materials—clay, wood, plaster, recyclables, watercolors, acrylics and gouache. “[The students] could not work with anything else, so they had to be creative with materials and use them in ways they

Sharon Zou / The Spectator

for his continued dedication to the Stuyvesant Robotics team.

Junior Navid Kashem won the Dean’s List Finalist Award. The StuyPulse team won the Regional Chairman’s Award.

“Teacher Tattoos”

Sophomores Thibaud Roy and Amara Shein talk to teachers about their tattoos and the stories behind them.

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Volume 108 No.13

“The Pulse of the Student Body”

never used them before,” Bernstein mentioned. For example, not only was wood glue used for gluing materials down, but it was also allowed students to accent and decorate their sculptures.

The second project selected for the exhibition was derived from an assignment that Seng gave out. Students made three different abstract sculptures using paper and foam, and finished the sculptures with a coat of paint.

The third project was the annual book-making assignment that Bernstein is famous for. “[My students] had to make books more three-dimensional

photos by Sharon Zou

than your everyday book is. A lot of people did pop-up books, some people did carousel or star books, and one person created a book that opened up to 360 degrees,” Bernstein said.

Throughout the exhibit and class, Bernstein aimed to intertwine art and technology in her students’ chosen projects.

Woodworking, 3D printing, and computer-based applications were incorporated into many of the projects. “A lot of what we do is paper engineering, such as trying to make structures stand with simple materials,” Bernstein said. “A lot of students don’t real-

ize that that’s engineering, but that’s the same thought process used in engineering as well.”

For students eager to showcase their art, Bernstein believes that additional collaborations with Pratt institute may arise in the future, especially because she is often astonished by the work students produce in her class.

“Everybody thinks of Stuyvesant as a bunch of math and science students,” she said. “It’s unbelievable the amount of artistic talent that you will find [at Stuyvesant]. I always say to friends, ‘we have a bunch of little Da Vinci’s running around here.’”

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News Art and Engineering: Stuy Seniors Showcase Their Art at the Pratt Institute continued from page 1 photos by Sharon Zou

The Songwriting Hall of Fame is Coming to Stuyvesant

By CAROLINE MAGOC and DIEGO VASQUEZ

Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons and NASA

WORLDBEAT The U.S., France, and the U.K. launched 105 missiles against three targets connected to Syria’s chemical weapons program last Saturday, in the biggest Western intervention against Bashar al-Assad’s regime to date. The aim of the mission was to cripple the regime’s ability to carry out chemical weapons attacks, such as the one conducted in Dourma a week earlier that killed 43 people.

Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s chief executive, testified before Congress last Tuesday afternoon, answering tough questions on the company’s mishandling of data. The appearance was prompted by the revelation that Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm, harvested the data of an estimated 87 million Facebook users during the 2016 election.

The FBI raided the Rockefeller Center office and Park Avenue hotel room of President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, last Monday, seizing business records, e-mails, and documents related to several topics, including a payment to a por-

nographic film actress. Mr. Trump lashed out hours later, accusing the Justice Department of perpetrating a ‘witch hunt.’

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong-Un, made an unannounced visit to Beijing, meeting with President Xi Jinping weeks before planned summit meetings with American and South Korean leaders. Kim JongUn is reportedly open to discussion of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Thousands of teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky walked off

the job on April 2, shutting down school districts as they protested cuts in pay, benefits, and school funding in a movement that

has rapidly spread this year.

Stuyvesant High School will host the Songwriting Hall of Fame, an event open to all high school students in New York City, on Tuesday, May 22. The Songwriting Hall of Fame is a unique opportunity for artists to learn about songwriting, music production, and the music business from professionals in the field.

The event will be structured like a traditional masterclass, where students perform for seasoned musicians and those familiar with the music industry and receive feedback on their performance.

Students across the city can submit songs through an online submission form, and the selected songwriters will receive the opportunity for their songs to be critiqued. Submissions are being accepted until Thursday, April 26, 2018.

The confirmed panelists will be Mike Campbell, the Grammyaward winning co-writer of “Say Something” by A Great Big World and Christina Aguilera, and “Still, Still, Look Pretty” by Daya; Gregg Wattenberg, the co-writer and producer of “Gone, Gone, Gone”

by Phillip Phillips, and co-producer of Train’s #1 hit single “Hey, Soul Sister”; and Billy Mann, who has worked with P!nk and is the founder and CEO of independent music publishing company Green & Bloom/Topline.

“The idea is to center it [the event] around the songwriting process, but at the same time to show some of what happens after a song is created: how does the song get from the creative stage to the ears of the public through the vast machine that exists?” said music teacher Howard Stephan, who organized the event. The Songwriting Hall of Fame’s ultimate goal is to make the music industry more accessible and less rigid for new songwriters. “We’ve wanted to put a human face on this process,” he said.

Organizing the event alongside Stephan is April Anderson, the Communications and Marketing Director of the Songwriters Hall of Fame on 58th Street.

She also believes that the music

industry should be accessible and that the Songwriting Hall of Fame will help achieve that. “Interacting with panelists and really listening to their advice and experiences might help focus the energy of the young songwriter on some of the things that will help to get a career going,” Anderson said in an e-mail interview.

Input from students interested in the Songwriting Hall of Fame has been very positive, and several aspiring songwriters are already collaborating on new music. Sophomore Max Mah and freshman Liam Kronman are one songwriting duo, and are looking forward to presenting their work to a panel of experienced musicians.

Though Mah performed in a cover band in middle school, he felt that he first met someone with similar music tastes at Stuyvesant. Upon meeting a collaborator, he began to get more involved in songwriting itself.

“I started trying to hash out a few lyrics earlier this year and last year. I had never really written a song before, so writing with Liam [gave] me a chance to show my strengths as a guitar player and a musician instead of just a lyricist. With the Songwriting Hall of Fame,” Mah said, “people have the chance to come forward with what they might not be encouraged to express in other schools.”

Songwriters at Stuyvesant find building their skill important for a variety of reasons.

Sophomore Grace Goldstein, an aspiring screenwriter for musical theater, said that songwriting is the best way to prepare her for her dream career. On the other hand, she said, “Songwriting also helps relieve stress for me, and at Stuyvesant you need something besides academics to focus on.

Some people do [other clubs], but songwriting is what works for me.”

From a larger perspective, many see the Songwriting Hall of Fame as an opportunity that is new to Stuyvesant. Offering a variety of choruses and bands, as well as events like concerts and Open Mic, Stuyvesant’s arts community is surprisingly strong.

However, students still find it difficult to directly present them-

selves to adults in the music industry, and the Songwriting Hall of Fame aims to change that.

Anderson also said that “interacting with panelists and really listening to their advice and experiences might help focus the energy of the young songwriter on some of the things that will help to get a career going,” describing the benefits of the Songwriting Hall of Fame. Anderson emphasized that an open mind was key to benefitting from the event. Songwriting is a “highly personal art,” he said, and students should “really listen to all of the nuances of what is being said.”

Stuyvesant’s songwriters certainly agree. If there was one thing they reached a consensus on, it was that communication is essential to building skill in music. “I don’t get a lot of chances to hear what other people are doing, and I think the most important part of songwriting is that you’re in a community,” Goldstein said. “Working with others is the best way to improve your songwriting.”

Similarly, sophomore Chris Brown thinks that getting his music out there is essential to his success as a songwriter. “I’m really interested in seeing if my music has any merit. Everybody starts somewhere, and I’m starting at a fairly low point, so I really want to get my voice out there.

The only way to do that is to just be around greater people,” Brown said.

Though Brown is excited to present his music, he understands the effort he has to put into his music in order to excel.

“Songwriting is like a struggle,” Brown said. “There are so many people out there who are just like you, and if you really want to get out there you have to know your stuff. It’s kind of discouraging, but at the same time, it encourages me to work hard.”

“Hearing from those who are already established can only help those who are just starting out by encouraging and relating how they began their upward climb,” Anderson said. “As with any business, beginning it is many times the hardest part, and maybe students will get a sense of the road ahead of them.”

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

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News Japanese Street Artist Shiro Paints Murals at Stuyvesant High School

By ERIN LEE During Presidents’ Week, Japanese street artist Shiro came to Stuyvesant High School and painted colorful and unconventional murals across the wall in the spin classroom and on a section of the hallway on the fifth floor. She came back to the school on February 27 to participate in a mock ribboncutting ceremony with Principal Eric Contreras and other school administrators, and to speak to a Japanese class at Stuyvesant about her work as an artist.

Physical Education and Health teacher Dr. Anna Markova initially reached out to Shiro over Facebook, where they connected easily due to their mutual friends. Markova asked her to paint a mural for the spin classroom where she teaches, and Shiro was later requested to paint a mural for the fifth floor hallway. “I thought it

was a good idea because when I was in high school, there was no graffiti or art,” Shiro said.

She had already painted at other high schools, such as the August Martin High School in May 2015. A group of students at August Martin High School reached out to graffiti artists to redecorate their hallways and create a more bright and welcoming environment. “Usually, school is not really motivating for many kids, so I think it’s really good to have colorful artwork in the school,” Shiro continued.

Shiro is a graffiti artist; however, she does many forms of art and design. She currently resides in New York, but travels very frequently and has been to 17 countries so far to paint murals and attend events. Shiro began creating graffiti in 1998 in Japan, which makes this year her 20th anniversary. She was initially a nurse in Japan, but later decided to pursue a full-

Shiro began creating graffiti in 1998 in Japan, which makes this year her 20th anniversary. She was initially a nurse in Japan, but later decided to pursue a fulltime career as a graffiti artist.

time career as a graffiti artist.

“As a nurse I see so much, because people are getting sick and people even die in front of me [...] I realized from my job that we have limited time,” Shiro said. “I came to New York and said, ‘Okay, I’m going to paint as much as possible.’”

Shiro was inspired to venture in graffiti when she first saw it in the background of a music video. After that, she started researching it on her own. She was also influenced by the American 1983 hip hop film “Wild Style,” which takes place in New York City. “The story’s about all the school’s graffiti writers, so when I saw it I [thought], ‘Oh my god, I want to come to New York,’” Shiro said.

This love for New York inspired the mural in Stuyvesant’s spin room, which depicts a character of the Statue of Liberty holding a can of spray paint and a black book in front of many buildings. “When I came back to New York with my artist visa, I was so happy,” Shiro said. However, obtaining a visa as a graffiti artist was a long process for Shiro due to the stigma surrounding graffiti art. Shiro’s happiness about finally arriving in New York in 2002 is represented in her Statue of Liberty, as the character is holding materials for creating graffiti in her hands. “It’s representing me and my dream, and also maybe for other people, [making] the dream [come] true,” Shiro continued.

Shiro’s second mural, which resides on the fifth floor near the escalators, is more notable due to its more convenient location. It features many athletes of different sports against a bright red background, along with the word ‘achievement’ in different languages. “Just the

stark contrast in color mainly gets someone’s attention,” freshman Ezekiel Kazuo Stahl said. Dr. Markova was critical in making this procedure happen.

“I told her that it would be [on the floor of] the physical ed-

I saw a giant cartoon strip,” freshman Ethan Weisberg said.

However, many still appreciate the efforts of the school’s administration to add more artwork and color to Stuyvesant.

Students recognize the steps

“As a nurse I see so much, because people are getting sick and people even die in front of me [...]

I realized from my job that we have limited time,” Shiro said. “I came to New York and said, ‘Okay, I’m going to paint as much as possible.’”

ucation and also the language department, so basically she tried to incorporate it into the art,” Markova said. The departments that reside on the fifth floor were not the only sources of inspiration for the mural, though. Shiro intertwined these ideas with the values that relate to Stuyvesant through her word choice. “She picked the word ‘achievement’ so we can achieve anything we want in the world,” Markova continued.

Despite the sentimentality behind the works of art, the murals have a significant shock factor. “When I came back from break, I thought it was gonna be a plain simple wall, but instead

being taken to dismantle the demanding and rigorous reputation of Stuyvesant. The mural also adds a playfulness that could help students de-stress.

“It’s a good reminder for people to sort of take a break and enjoy themselves,” Stahl said. Despite its loud presence, there are still students who believe that it adds a nice touch to our school without jeopardizing its competitive and academicallycentered atmosphere.

There is no doubt that its presence at Stuyvesant is noticeable through the shift in mood and environment and the discussion revolving around its artistic style and content.

Caitlin Chao / The Spectator

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

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Features

Rebecca Collins / The Spectator

To Pledge, or Not to Pledge?

By Talia Kahan and Zoe Oppenheimer The West Virginia State Board of Education ruled that all teachers and students “shall be required to participate in the salute honoring the Nation represented by the Flag” in 1942. Walter Barnette sued the West Virginia State Board of Education for this ruling in 1943, and the case was eventually brought to the Supreme Court. In a six to three decision, the Supreme Court ruled that it was unconstitutional for public schools to require anybody to salute the flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Though this decision has already been made, there are still numerous opinions about the Pledge of Allegiance throughout the country and our school.

Senior Kevin Boodram, the president of Stuyvesant Young Democrats, believes that the Pledge of Allegiance should be said daily, even if one is not supportive of the government. He believes that the Pledge of Allegiance allows citizens to show that they are united, especially in times of political difficulty, like today’s America. “Donald Trump and his administration have achieved success by dividing the country at every opportunity possible,” he explained in an email interview. In order to combat this, Americans need to remind [themselves] of the things that we

have in common. The pledge offers an opportunity for people of all races, genders, and classes [...] to set aside our differences and remind ourselves of the values that define us as Americans.”

In addition to helping unify the country, “refusing to say the pledge also hurts the Democratic Party. When Republicans display their patriotism consistently and Democrats don’t, it gives Republicans the opportunity to define the United States, which makes it seem like Democrats are inherently opposed to the United States.” Though he is not fond of the “under God” portion of the Pledge, which is a major concern of many Democrats, he does not think that it infringes on anyone’s religious beliefs.

Senior Mohammed Sarker, Vice-President of Stuyvesant Young Democrats, explained why the Pledge of Allegiance achieves the opposite of unity; Sarker relayed in an email interview, “Its defenders claim that the pledge is a means of unification amongst all Americans that transcends race, class, and creed, but I would argue that it breeds complacency and obedience to high authorities rather than true unity.”

Freshman Jonathan Schneiderman, taking on a different approach, thinks that the Pledge of Allegiance is not a binding statement, but rather a true pledge: he explained in an email inter-

view, “For me, allegiance does not mean constant support of the government, but doing what I can to help the country.”

Even though Boodram thinks that saying the Pledge of Allegiance helps unify the country and helps the Democratic party, Boodram sometimes hesitates to say the Pledge of Allegiance when he is one of the few people standing, namely in Stuyvesant classes. Freshman Julianne Yotov agrees: “If nobody said the Pledge of Allegiance, I wouldn’t say it either. However, if everyone else was saying it, then I would too.”

Yotov and Boodram both would not stand if they were one of the only ones saying the Pledge of Allegiance. However, this problem only arises in Boodram’s classes—not Yotov’s, who reports that most people say the pledge in her classes. Freshman Agatha Edwards would not say the Pledge either, because being one of the few people standing makes her feel awkward. Schneiderman, however, would continue saying the Pledge of Allegiance even if he was the only one standing because his opinions on the matter do not change.

Boodram also claimed that it should be the teacher’s role to encourage students to stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. Perry Badgley, a Global History teacher, disagrees with Boodram and believes that once students reach

high school age, they should be able to make the decision on their own, whether it is for good or bad reasons. Badgley explained why he thinks some might not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance: “They have their reasons: they do not understand history, they do not care, they are lazy. But it is up to them.”

Badgley recalls that when he recited the Pledge of Allegiance every day in high school, but never put much thought into it. Now, however, Badgley stands up out of respect for what the flag stands for (freedom, liberty, pursuit of happiness) and those who have died for the United States, but he refrains from reciting the Pledge.

Boodram also believes that the Pledge of Allegiance allows him to show his respect for the flag and veterans.

Sarker explained that there are better and more productive ways than standing for the Pledge of Allegiance to help and respect veterans than saying words towards a flag: he relayed, “If you want to show respect to veterans, then why not go volunteer to help veterans? Intern at the Veterans Association? Fight to protect it along with any programs that you would directly benefit from?”

Badgley’s habits during high school, saying the Pledge of Allegiance without thinking about the content, is one of Assistant Principal Casey Pedrick’s worries.

Pedrick, who recites the Pledge of Allegiance during public ceremonies, though not on a day-to-day basis in her office, believes that the Pledge of Allegiance is only meaningful when the student understands what he or she says.

Additionally, Pedrick questions the wording of the pledge. She explained, “I am uncomfortable with the ‘under God’ portion that was added.”

Principal Eric Contreras has a slightly different take on the matter and contributes his favorable attitude towards the Pledge of Allegiance to his parents’ history.

He explained, “My parents came from a country where there were very few freedoms, and there was a military dictatorship. The ability for them to say what they want here and critique the government meant a lot. I was always appreciative of knowing what could be.

I did it because I felt that it was important to me. I think it is a personal choice.”

This personal choice seems to be largely determined by each person’s background. Chorus director and Music Appreciation teacher Liliya Shamazov grew

up in the Soviet Union. Shamazov does not understand why people who had been horribly oppressed by Stalin were willing to fight for their country in World War II. Shamazov remembers asking herself, “This country did really bad things to them—the government did really bad things to them and their families. And I was always wondering: then why would you get up and stand and fight for the country? They weren’t fighting for the government, they were fighting for their homeland.”

While she understands that some people do not stand for the Pledge of Allegiance because they do not support the actions of the government, she thinks that one’s political opinions should not affect their view on the Pledge of Allegiance. Shamazov explained, “The country and politics are two completely different things. And in my view, children need to be taught that they are completely different things.”

Sarker’s background also influenced his views on the Pledge of Allegiance. He shared in an email interview, “I am opposed to saying the pledge because of my religious and ethnic background as a Muslim of South-Asian descent.” Both Sarker and his family disagree with some of America’s political decisions, particularly with the American cooperation with the Pakistani genocide of Bengalis during the 1971 Bengali War of Liberation.

Boodram, too, explains that his upbringing contributes to his opinion on the Pledge of Allegiance. “From a young age, my parents would tell me that we’re living the American Dream because they came from nothing, worked hard, and now my brothers and I have opportunities that our parents could have never even imagined when they were our age,” he explained in an email interview. “ Saying the Pledge of Allegiance is one way for me to remind myself every day of why I’m here, where I come from, and what I fight for.”

Most people seem to agree that the Pledge of Allegiance is pledging allegiance to the nation, rather than the governments and its politics. Despite the diversity of beliefs on the Pledge of Allegiance, one thing that everybody can agree on is our right to say, or refrain from saying, the Pledge of Allegiance. It is a privilege to live in a nation and be a part of a community where all choices on these matters are not only tolerated, but accepted.

Trump Proposed Arming Teachers. They Respond.

By Jennifer Liu, Farah Alam, and Shan Ara The perpetual debate over gun control and school safety has become pressing after the tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

As the survivors of the shooting initiate action against gun violence and allow their voices to be heard, so do students all around the nation, including those at Stuyvesant.

While the community anticipates legal action, such as stricter gun control laws, to restrict gun rights, President Donald Trump has something else in mind; he has created a proposal that allows teachers to be armed with guns with the hope of ensuring the safety of students during a school shooting. He believes this action will effectively reduce the

rate of gun violence at school and promote school safety; the presence of guns and trained faculty would instill fear among potential shooters, deterring them from intruding schools and inflicting physical and psychological damage on students.

Moreover, he states that his proposal is a better alternative to school shooting drills, which he believes to be scary and scarring for the students.

To promote his idea of arming teachers, he suggests giving teachers who choose to be armed a salary bonus. However, most teachers at Stuyvesant do not support Trump’s proposal.

Most teachers believe that Trump’s proposal would only perpetuate widespread gun violence, as more people have opportunities to obtain a gun. “It’s appalling. I think we should be getting rid of guns,

not finding more opportunities to get guns. Unless you’re a part of the National Guard, I don’t think you should have a gun,” physics teacher Thomas Miner said.

“We need less guns and not more guns, especially in schools. There’s always a possibility of an accident, and that would be a real tragedy, especially since the idea is to make people more safe,” history teacher David Hanna said.

Hanna advocates for responsible use of guns and believes that assault weapons should not be legalized at all.

He recounted his experience of growing up in an environment where gun possession was prevalent but restricted. “I grew up in Maine, where the gun culture was a part of life,” he said. “But there was a mark of distinction: you had to go through training to learn how to properly use

rifles for hunting deer or shotguns for hunting birds. Now, it seems like anybody can get a gun and even assault weapons; it doesn’t seem to be the same kind of responsible use of guns and safety. The assault weapons should be only for the military and SWAT teams.

I don’t understand why anyone would need an assault weapon to hunt deer. It’s illegal.”

Teachers have also voiced concerns that since they have no experience in handling arms, there is no guarantee that they will use guns properly. “Even law enforcement agents who are in a live-shooter situation have 33% accuracy. We can’t expect teachers who get much less training to do a better job, especially in a high-anxiety situation where there are lots of people around who would get injured and potentially killed,” social studies

teacher Lee Brando said.

Furthermore, arming teachers with guns conflicts with their societal role as educators.

Physics teacher Youning Wang deemed this “recruiting the teachers as the [nation’s] law enforcement.”

“My [responsibility is] to be a teacher,” social studies teacher Ellen Siegel said. “While safety is one of our responsibilities, as we conduct fire drills and other kinds of lockdowns in the school, I don’t think that I should need training on how to use firearms in order to teach social studies. It feels like I’m being asked to do something that I’m neither qualified for nor is within the realm of my job.”

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The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

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Features Trump Proposed Arming Teachers. They Respond. continued from page 4 Some people may argue the Second Amendment grants citizens the right to obtain a gun since it states, “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

However, Miner argued that there is a misinterpretation of the amendment. “It discusses the militia and the right to bear arms, and I think these things are inextricable. I don’t think we should be talking about just normal citizens being able to carry guns,” he said. Many fail to acknowledge that the Second Amendment’s mention of the right to bear arms discusses the militia, which Miner believes should have the right to bear arms in times of defense and security.

The Second Amendment has been “misused by groups with

special interests,” Wang said.

An example of these groups is the National Rifle Association (NRA). The NRA interprets “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms” to mean that citizens are able to ob-

from their deep pockets and ability to mobilize gun rights advocates to vote, to gain political dominance.

“We should think seriously about what the March For Our Lives students said this weekend and about stricter gun control measures. We have had stricter gun control over the years, and because of the NRA lobby, it’s been

tain erodweaped.

There or tat ons anyhas been a pings, pec S he where. They deaths, suicides, and ho/T Ou e i use their intermicides,” Brando said. r r a C pretation to justify Wang believes that in order their advocacy for citi- z e n s ’ to prevent this misinterpretarights to bear arms. Then, they tion, the government should use their power, which comes follow three steps: “amend the

Second Amendment,” enforce more inspection policies such as background checks, and tighten the ammunition supply.

Many other faculty members also encourage students to actively express their opinions to push for change against gun violence. “It’s really wonderful, regardless of your opinion on this issue, to see students out and activated. Young people have so much ability to influence even before they vote. I really hope that the young people who feel energized today will continue [to make change in government] and express themselves through voting booths and other civil methods,” Siegel said.

Mental health is another important aspect to consider; taking more initiatives and finding more effective ways to take care of those who may be suffering from mental health conditions could potentially ensure school safety and gun control. “It’s hard to identify with students because we’re not therapists; we’re teachers, but the more mental health staff we have, the less isolated students will feel that

they want to take extreme measures. And those extreme measures might not be a gun but hurting other people and even just hurting themselves. And we can all agree that that will be a positive,” Siegel said.

However, even if measures are taken for those who may be mentally ill, it would only scrape off the top layer of the overarching issue. “Some people sense that the only people hurting others with guns are people with mental illness. And that’s not true. Either there are accidents at home where children are playing and guns are unsecured, or there are crimes of passion. Those things are unpredictable. So I don’t think that mental health in itself gets rid of the gun violence, but the issue inside schools should be no guns and greater mental health services,” Siegel said.

While legal action should be taken to keep schools and communities safe against gun violence, Trump’s rash proposal to arm teachers with guns does not seem to be the right solution or the safest one.

Teacher Tattoos

By Thibaud Roy and Amara Shein

Imagine a guy with a tattoo. Does he have a lot of muscles? Are his jeans ripped? Is he a proud owner of a leather jacket? Perhaps he owns a bike as well. Tattoos have traditionally been regarded as seedy and for big guys on big bikes. However, here at Stuyvesant, many of our faculty and staff with ink prove this convention wrong. Some of these faculty share the stories behind their tattoos.

Thomas Miner

Vincent Miller were definitely okay with it.” Miller turned around quickly and gestured at the girls to start layups.

“It’s a little painful at first. It feels like a pinch, and after a while you get used to it. I got it on the muscle,” Miller gestured to his heaping biceps with a grin on his face. “When people get it on the bones, it hurts more.” Miller said he has “no regrets about getting it.” Miller has no plans to get more tattoos: “No, I’m one and done. I wanted something meaningful,” he said.

Before you leave for college, all of your older friends and your parents tell you how much the experience will probably change you. For physics teacher Thomas Miner, his college experience in Seville, Spain, inspired his first tattoo.

“It was one of the best things that I had done up to that point in my life,” Miner said. “It was an incredible experience to live in Spain and speak another language.”

The tattoo on his arm says “NO”, followed by a figure 8 and “DO”. At first glance, you may wonder how this is related to studying abroad at all. “The figure 8 is Spanish for madeja.

When you say this in Spanish, it says, ‘no madeja do,’ which sounds like ‘no me ha dejado,’” Miner explained. “This means ‘it hasn’t left me’ or ‘it hasn’t abandoned me.’ That was the motto of Seville, Spain.”

However, he couldn’t just forget about his love for physics.

Rather than having a figure 8 for his madeja, Miner decided to make it into a mobius strip.

Unfortunately, Miner’s tattoo, despite being meaning-

Carlos Bravo Would you believe it if you heard an elementary schooler got a tattoo? Spanish teacher Senor Bravo has many stories to tell, including one about his unconventional tattoo. When he was only eight years old, he was painting with Chinese calligraphy brushes for a school project. Another student began to harass Bravo for his brush, and Bravo put the brush in his shirt pocket to protect it. He told

the tale of how the student tried to “grab [his] brush.” However, Bravo didn’t let go. “I put my hand there to protect it,” he explained.

The sharp point pierced the skin on Bravo’s right thumb and left a small dot one centimeter wide.

Bravo showed us his thumb, which “to this day, many years later, still has the Chinese ink in it,” he said.

Bravo has no other tattoos.

Zoe Schein’s childhood hobby of The places of our childhood seem to stay with us as we grow older. For English teacher Lauren Stuzin, the memories and attachment to her parents’ home inspired her to get a permanent reminder of her old home. “I have an attachment to the home,” Stuzin said. I lived there from when I was four years old.”

“I definitely feel like it’s my home even though I don’t live there. My dad tells me that a home is where you hang your hat, but I don’t feel that way. A home is something different than a residence,” she said.

Stuzin got her tattoo about a year ago. “I’m at a stage of life where I don’t feel like I’ll be able to live in a place that I’ll call my home the same way I do my childhood home, at least for a long time,” she said.

Stuzin twisted her arm to point to the general area of her tattoo on her back. Stuzin’s tattoo is the “front of [her] house. There’s a porch, a front door, and [her] room is off to

a corner.” Stuzin’s unique tattoo is a literal representation of her childhood home. “The house was yellow, and there’s a hidden attic that someone once fell through.” Stuzin said, reflecting on her home. “My parents own it, they still live there.

My brother as well.”

Though Stuzin still calls it home, things are different now.

“I feel like I’ll never live at my childhood home again,” she said.

“They’ve converted my old bedroom into an exercise room, which is fine. There’s still a bed but I guess the ghosts of workouts are in there.”

Stuzin has no regrets on her tattoo but is unsure if she’ll get another one. “Don’t get a tattoo out of spite. Don’t get a tattoo because your parents don’t want you to get a tattoo,” Stuzin said with a chuckle.

More seriously, Stuzin said, “First of all, you need to be eighteen, and you should think about whether or not you want that thing on you forever. I also think that there is a lot of value of having a piece of art on you.”

Tiffany Yee / The Spectator

Lauren Stuzin

ful to him, may cause offense to others by being a reminder of Spain’s painful past. “I had a few regrets once I learned more of the historical implications for the Spaniards and how it has to do with Franco and his fascist regime. But it’s something that I wanted, and I respect that I wanted it at the time.”

Miner later got a second tattoo, but this time on his leg. It says the word “TEMPORARY,” which he describes as ironic.

“It’s just a reminder to myself that things are good; but don’t

take it for granted because everything is temporary.” Both times were not painful, due to them not being on sensitive areas of his body. “I had spent years thinking about it. I had come up with all types of drawings and placements and stuff like that. But the day that I did it was a spontaneous moment,” he said.

“One of the things about a tattoo is that it is a permanent thing. That’s one of the more important parts about a tattoo. Tattoos are a permanent reminder of a point in your life where you were, and you said you want this, and you got something permanent on your body. Even if there’s some regret later, I want to trust that I knew what I was doing then and that [my past self ] had as much right to get this tattoo,” Minersaid.

People will come and go.

Feelings will come and go.

Things will come and go. But you, your mind, and your body will always be here for the rest of your life. Permanently inked tattoos will stay on your body with you through years to come, and rather than having a bad decision, choose to have a nice reminder.

Tiffany Yee / The Spectator

Stuyvesant soccer and girls’ junior varsity basketball coach Vincent Miller explained his tattoos as the girls’ basketball team began to warm up. Miller got his first tattoo right after his uncle passed away when he was a freshman in college.

“I was close with him,” Miller said.

“I got a tattoo of his name with ‘rest in peace,’” said Miller, gesturing to his right shoulder. Miller’s parents reacted well once they found out about the tattoo.

“They understood why I wanted to get it. I was 19, so they

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 6

Editorials Being an Open (Face)Book Caught in the middle of one of the most publicized controversies in Facebook’s history, CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before Congress and responded to questions regarding Facebook’s data collection policies.

The hearing came as a result of public uproar over Facebook’s involvement with the data collection firm Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook released a statement on March 16 that stated that Cambridge Analytica, a firm that helps political campaigns reach online voters, received the information of more than 87 million Facebook users via an app created by Aleksandr Kogan. Under the guise of a “personality predictor,” the app collected users’ data and sold it to the firm.

Since then, millions of Facebook users have downloaded copies of the data that Facebook keeps on them. Students have realized that the site not only keeps track of every single photo, text message, voice message, and the like, but also uses their personal information to create an advanced advertising and interests profile—which means that Facebook is actively piecing together a political, regional, and personal profile of young students.

In fact, even before the first day of school, incoming freshmen are told to create Facebook accounts. Big Sibs are encouraged to emphasize the importance of Facebook to their Little Sibs at Camp Stuy, and even talk to parents that are reluctant to let their kids start accounts.

The main reason this advice is given so frequently is that clubs and student organizations advertise exclusively on the “Dear Incoming Stuyvesant Class...We Have Advice” groups that incoming freshmen are added to. The Spectator, for example, spreads news of its recruitments and publishes applications on its Facebook page.

Indeed, Facebook is an asset for smaller clubs trying to publicize themselves; a quick post in the Dear Incoming groups can attract the attention of hundreds of students and potential members.

Facebook is also a useful academic resource for students.

Almost all students use Facebook groups to crowdsource advice and answers to important academic questions, especially about advanced placement and honors courses. These groups frequently include upperclassmen who have already taken the course, thus providing yet another helpful resource for students.

Facebook’s extension, Messenger, provides class—even period—exclusive group chats that allow students to ask questions more personally. Messenger’s utility also lies in how accessible it makes peers. Without Messenger, acquiring a peer’s contact information, such as their phone number, is a hassle, but Messenger allows students to contact their classmates, even if they don’t know them well.

Because of these uses, Facebook has become ingrained in the Stuyvesant community and holds an important place in the school’s culture, such that freshmen who don’t have a Facebook account often end up feeling pressured to create one by the end of their first semester. Students who are opposed to creating a Facebook account—for privacy reasons or others—will ultimately be left out of a large part of the academic and social culture at Stuyvesant, finding themselves unaware of application deadlines and school events.

Though most students began using the site as an academic tool once they entered Stuyvesant, it has come to the point where not having an account can mean certain social death— but having one, and using it as regularly as many students do, can spell out privacy issues. With all this in mind, we must reconsider the ways we interact with social media. Facebook has become ingrained in Stuyvesant’s club/pub culture to the extent that students who don’t have accounts are excluded.

Given concerns both about privacy and the exclusivity it fosters, students should make an effort to explore alternative options for publicizing events and group communication.

The Spectator

Arts & En t e r t a i nm e n t E d i t o rs

The Stuyvesant High School Newspaper

Thomas Chen** William Lohier* For example, while e-mail Emily Xu is considered outdated and “The Pulse reserved for more formal conof the P h o t o graph y versations, it is something that Student E d i t o rs every Stuy student has access to Ting Ting Chen Body” through stuy.edu accounts. Ad- Elena Sapelyuk* ditionally, e-mail is more secure than Facebook and doesn’t rely E D I TO R S IN C HIEF A r t D i r e c t o rs on advertising for a profit. CreJane Rhee* Klaire Geller ating a Google group for your Sophie Watwood* Anika Hashem organization that is updated Darren Liang with the same information and N e ws E d i t o rs reminders available on FaceNishmi Abeyweera L a y o u t E d i t o rs book makes your club more acGeorge Shey Dahae Choi cessible.

Christina Tan In addition to using FaceF e a t u r e s E d i t o rs Katie Wu book, student organizations Archi Das that wish to promote themAmy Huang C o p y E d i t o rs selves should take advantage Amanda Peng Jeanette Cheung of the bulletin boards and wall Michelle Lai* space our school presents and Op i n i o ns E d i t o rs Jonela Malollari use posters to promote themArtem Ilyanok selves. Many events are also Eliza Spinna* B u s i n e ss M anag e rs broadcasted over the daily anStacey Xue nouncements.

S p o r t s E d i t o rs As we look to the future, W e b E d i t o rs Celina Liu students should also consider Darius Jankauskas** Ariel Melendez alternative private messaging Jason Lin Jeremy Rubin systems that are unlinked to a Jerry Ye social media account. While Fah u m o r E d i t o rs cebook does allow users to acF ac u l t y A d v i sEr Kerwin Chen cess Messenger without making Kerry Garfinkel a Facebook account, it is glitchGabrielle Umanova ier and less useful without the account link.

We reserve the right to edit letters Please address all letters to: We acknowledge that befor clarity and length.

345 Chambers Street © 2018 The Spectator New York, NY 10282 cause of its convenience, the All rights reserved by the creators.

(212) 312-4800 ext. 2601 student body is not going to *Editor-in-Training opinions@stuyspec.com abandon Facebook by any * Managing Board means. We encourage you to consider, in your use of the site ** Editors-in-Training as a link to Stuy rather than just a link to friends, that you make Facebook an expansion of your organization, not a part of its main platform. How and why we allow ourselves to engage • In Issue 10, our article “Stuyvesant Holds Second Anuin a consumer-selling system al Regeneron Awards Ceremony” incorrectly reported should be a choice made mindonly three Regeneron semi-finalists. There are four—Tiffully, and students have the right fany Chen, Jenny Gao, Benedict Ho, and Julian Rubinfien. to consider it based on ethics, Rubinfien’s submitted project, “Amplification of Human rather than have their social and Telomeric DNA Sequences in Outer Space via Polymerase extracurricular lives hang in the Chain Reaction and Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplibalance. fication,” was based off research conducted at the International Space Station, an opportunity he received by [A note to conspiracy theowinning the Genes in Space competition in 2016. rists: If you, like SOMEONE on • In Issue 12, our article “How to Convince Your Teacher our staff is scared of the interThat You Weren’t Falling Asleep” was written by Helena net and all of the spying it does Williams. on your instant messaging, The • In Issue 10, the review “Camila,” about Camila Cabello’s Spectator recommends Signal, a private messaging app that debut album, was incorrectly attributed to Thomas Chen. uses encryption methods to vina Wong wrote the article, which was originally entitled keep your messages just that: “To ‘Havana’ and Beyond.” private.]

For the Record

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The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 7

Opinions “Not This Again:” Is Water Wet? Water is Wet

By Julian Giordano Whether or not water is wet may seem like a trivial and ridiculous question, but that is only because of the lack of sensible debate it has been subject to. The question “Is Water Wet?” is indeed answerable, and as demonstrated below, water is inherently wet.

“Wetness” is a word that has no simple definition. If a human can be wet, “wet-

Water is Not Wet

cup, rest ona flat surface, even hold other objects such as boats. Water’s viscosity can be deceiving, yet its innate qualities render it an object.

In conclusion, water can be “wet” due to another liquid. The only remaining question is whether water can wet itself.

This question is difficult to answer and requires a definition of water. The most straightforward definition is that water is a collection of two or more H2O molecules.

It is thus the intrinsic values of water that make it wet. ness” would be defined as the physical feeling of moisture. But if objects can be wet as well—which they can—then “wetness” has to do with the placement of liquid upon an object, regardless of that object’s ability to feel the moisture.

For water to be wet, it would have to be considered an object, defined as having the ability to be manipulated, and able to interact with other objects. Water does have this ability, since it can be held in a

The fluid qualities deriving from these molecules cause water to be a liquid, while also retaining the properties of an object.

When water is placed upon water, both components of water wet each other.

When this logic is applied to the molecular level, it can be extrapolated that all water is inherently wet due to the interactions between the individual molecules of H2O. It is thus the intrinsic values of water that make it wet.

By Angela Wong Ever since asteroids and comets collided with Earth and brought water to its oceans, there has been a debate over whether or not water is wet. And ever since water’s arrival on this planet, water has never been wet.

The definition of wet is to be covered or saturated with water or another liquid. Therefore, if one were to throw their report card into an ocean and retrieve it, the report card would be considered wet because it is covered and saturated with water. The same goes for all other objects and people.

To say that water is wet because it is covered and saturated with itself is as awkward and incorrect as saying that air is dry because it has air on it.

To quote Max Russo from “Wizards of

To say that water is wet because it is covered and saturated with itself is as awkward and incorrect as saying air is dry because it has air on it.

Waverly Place” (2007-2012), “But if everything’s wet, is anything really wet?

Like when you’re underwater, you’re not really wet.”

Additionally, others define “wet” as the sensation caused by the movement of a liquid, such as water, on the skin.

Water cannot be wet in this case as well because if one were to submerge one’s hand in water, there would be no feeling of wetness. If one were to then remove one’s hand from the water, one’s hand would be wet because it is now

Sunjung Bok / The Spectator

exposed to air and not the water it was in.

“Wetness” is a quality. Water by itself is not wet, but when it is applied to another object, that object can be referred to as wet. For example, “dryness” is a quality as well. Air by itself is just air, but when it is applied to another object, the object is considered dry.

One can say that humans on land are dry because they have air surrounding them; they are not wet because they have no water physically on them. But the air itself, if it were contained in a jar, would only be considered air (not dry), while the inside of the jar is dry.

In other words, water is not wet because it does not, by itself, produce “wetness,” or the sensation of feeling water exist on an object that was not in contact with water before. If I were to

sink my report card in water, it would be considered wet, but the water around it would not be —it would be considered to be what made my paper wet.

“Wet,” whether it is used as a verb (to cover or touch with liquid; moisten), a noun (liquid that makes something damp), or an adjective (covered or saturated with water or another liquid), is describing the experience and sensation of contact with water, but never the water itself.

The NRA: The Contemporary Tobacco Institute?

By Julian Giordano The American Tobacco Industry formed the Tobacco Institute in 1958; it was a trade association for cigarette manufacturers with the goal of propping up the tobacco industry through lobbying and advertising. Cigarette companies would pay a proportion of their revenues, and in return, the Tobacco Institute would lobby Congress for favorable legislation, publish flattering content about tobacco, and attack scientific studies proving the negative health impacts of tobacco.

The Tobacco Institute was dissolved as a part of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement 40 years later. Under this settlement, tobacco companies were forced to pay for the health damages they had caused through their misleading publicity and advertisement campaigns. In addition, the agreement limited the ability to advertise tobacco and helped fund the creation of the Truth Initiative, an anti-smoking advocacy group.

The Tobacco Institute’s story is one quite similar to that of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

While smoking and gun ownership are two distinct issues, the strategies used by the NRA and Big Tobacco are incredibly similar, and by examining the NRA through this juxtaposition, we

can begin to understand how to tackle the issue of gun control.

The NRA calls itself “America’s longest-standing civil rights organization,” putting itself in the same category as public interest groups such as the ACLU and the NAACP. The NRA publicizes itself as a group that represents people, specifically gun owners, pointing to the fact that it has around five million members.

In reality, the NRA isn’t a group that represents gunowners, more so a group that represents gun manufacturers.

Dozens of gun companies fund TV programs that the NRA runs, place advertisements in NRA publications, give millions of dollars directly to the NRA, donate a portion of every gun sale directly to the NRA, or giving each gun buyer a free membership to the NRA. From 2005 and 2013, it is estimated that the NRA received between $20 and $60 million in corporate sponsorships. Eight of these corporate sponsors donated over one million each and are thus part of an elite group of influencers the NRA calls “The Golden Ring of Freedom.”

The NRA isn’t a public interest group; it’s a corporate lobbying group. It doesn’t represent its members and their second amendment rights. It represents gun companies that want to maximize their gun sales. The

NRA’s five million members aren’t but to simply promote guns. The truly being represented: most of NRA’s platform provides a twisted them are open to moderate gun view of the opinions of gun-owncontrol and aren’t the aggressive ing America and infects second amendment supporters the gun reform dethe NRA makes them out to be. bate with its According to the New England c o m m e r c i a l Journal of Medicine, 73.7 percent and corporate of NRA members support uni- interests. versal background checks. While

the majority of liberal America In the end, may see the NRA as synonymous the NRA will with the gun-owning population, never make it isn’t, and there are serious im- concessions plications that come with accept- in its stance ing the NRA as a public interest about gun group. control.

It The worst of these is the will continNRA being brought in to participate in televised and broadcasttor cta ed gun reform debates. At these Spe e h T s/ debates, the NRA advocates its llin hard-line position for unregu- ecca Co Reb lated second amendment rights and claims that only ue to stub“people kill people,” that bornly support video games are at fault the deregulation for increased gun violence, of firearms as long and that the only thing way it is in the best interto stop a bad guy with a gun ests of the companies is a good guy with a gun. that fund it. As a result, All of these tactics are debates with the NRA are meant to deflect debate away futile, and no common from gun control itself and ground or solution can maximize the profits of the ever be reached. Instead, gun companies propping up television companies will the NRA. The NRA will never continue to give up their airtime compromise on a solution to gun to senseless debate from which reform, and when they come to no meaningful conclusion can be debate, their interests aren’t to derived. In the same way that the find a solution to gun violence,

Tobacco Institute was successful in promoting its disinformation, the NRA has been able to take over our media, and action must be taken against it.

News companies and citizens must stand up to the NRA and refuse to debate it and fuel its corporate-driven extremism.

Instead, debates should be happening between real gun-owning civilians and their counterparts and should have the goal of finding a solution for the gun violence epidemic in America.

It will be hard to push the NRA out of the position it has developed within the gun debate, but it has been done before, with the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement against the Tobacco Institute being the most recent example.

The most effective way to address the NRA will be to publicize and reveal it as the corporate interest and lobbying group it truly is. Once television stations stop broadcasting the NRA, its platform will be taken away, and it will no longer be able to obstruct the gun control debate. With the floor open to meaningful debate, gun violence in America will have the opportunity to be seriously addressed, making our country a safer and better place for everyone.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 8

Opinions Conor Lamb: A Vital Precedent in a Changing Time

By Alexander Annenberg Meet Democrat Conor Lamb. A former Marine and federal prosecutor, he won the special election for the House seat in Pennsylvania after the resignation of sitting Republican Tim Murphy. His victory was especially shocking because President Donald Trump had carried that district by an overwhelming 20 points in 2016.

This stunning upset wasn’t very meaningful at face value, considering the Supreme Court had declared the district in which Lamb beat Saccone to be gerrymandered unconstitutionally, meaning that it will be dissolved come November.

However, the implications of his win far outstrip the immediate consequences.

Back in 2016, the 18th Congressional District overwhelmingly voted for Trump. What’s more surprising was that the Republican nominee, Rick Saccone, ran a very “Trumpian” campaign on a platform of poorly-explained policy promises to create new jobs and “intensely vet” immigrants, even allowing Trump to endorse

him against “Lamb the Sham.”

To identify why Saccone lost an election he was poised to win, let’s look at Trump’s appeal in 2016. Back then, Trump was the change candidate, the one who would “shake up Washington,” the outsider. Now, however, he is the head of the ruling party and thus represents the estab-

majority conservative constituents by backing away from Democratic leadership and supporting the Second Amendment. He recognized that the opioid epidemic needed immediate action to prevent the further loss of life and demanded that pharmaceutical companies be held

the reform.

Furthermore, he bemoaned “big tax cuts for the rich written by and for corporate lobbyists,” evoking the common man’s growing sense of powerlessness against colossal corporate interests with a disproportionate impact on policy making. By rallying the anger

By rallying the anger of the people burned by the current government’s inaction and bad policy, Lamb, knowingly or not, used the same tactics that Trump used just a year and a half ago.

lishment, and Lamb is the harbinger of change.

Lamb’s platform reflected this to a T. On his campaign website, as well as on the campaign trail, Lamb condemned Washington’s lack of action on several critical issues, while making sure not to offend his

accountable for their actions in that regard. He called Paul Ryan’s push for entitlement reform “Washington talk for taking the money you paid your whole working life and using it to cover the trillion dollars [he] just added to the debt,” which, in a way, accurately described

of the people burned by the current government’s inaction and bad policy, Lamb, knowingly or not, used the same tactics that Trump used just a year and a half ago.

We’ll just have to wait and see if the “bias for action,” or desire to act in a swift and

meaningful manner he espouses as one of the core tenets of his Marine training, can live up to the hype like Trump’s promises didn’t.

More than anything, this election proves that disenfranchised and disaffected Americans, “the forgotten men and women of America,” will often vote for an opposition party, irrespective of whether that candidate is a Democrat or a Republican. This represents a move away from the cult of Trump that dominated the swing states in 2016, one that the Democrats shouldn’t shy away from capitalizing.

For the Democratic Party, refusing to mount grievancedriven campaigns against the current administration that have time and time again been proven effective would be irresponsible and wrong; just because Donald Trump did the same thing to get elected doesn’t make it immoral. By aggressively pointing out the flaws in the status quo, Democrats can be the proactive party and push for beneficial reform, potentially retaking the House and contesting Republican influence for the next two years.

Facebook Analytica

By Darius Jankauskas On the surface, Facebook is an incredibly powerful platform that allows people around the world to communicate by sharing text statuses, pictures, messages, and cash.

The average person spends over 50 minutes a day on Facebook, and Facebook is looking to increase that duration by making its services even more engaging. However, behind the scenes, Facebook is a surveillance machine designed to do one thing: gather as much data as possible about its users. This data has driven the multi-billion dollar advertising business that Facebook relies on. But as Facebook amasses more and more data, the way it handles that data begins to have real world consequences.

These consequences became abundantly clear in March when The New York Times and The Observer of London published reports on the behavior of an election campaigning firm called Cambridge Analytica. A researcher working on Facebook’s platform published a quiz that users could take in exchange for a few dollars in 2014. However, users who completed the quiz gave the researcher access to not only a vast collection of their personal data, but that of their friends as well. This included people who did not take the survey or agree to its terms. Facebook allowed the researcher access to this trove of data as long as it was not shared or sold.

However, this restriction was not enforced, and the researcher sold the personal data of as many as 87 million Facebook users to Cambridge Analytica. Cambridge Analytica then used this personal data to create psychological profiles to target political ad-

vertising to users more likely to be swayed by the ads. Moreover, the number of elections influenced by this data is unclear, as the firm, led by rightwing donor Robert Mercer, is said to be fighting “a culture war” in America.

It’s easy to blame Cambridge Analytica for its improper acquisition of millions of Facebook users’ data. However, while the firm was responsible for procur the data, it was Facebook’s negligent approach to protecting users’ data that ultimately allowed this misuse to occur. Facebook’s vague privacy rules allowed its users taking quizzes to inadvertently sign away the data of all their friends. And Facebook allowed this data to fall in the hands of third parties despite a 2006 pledge that the company would never share or sell any users’ data.

Facebook has long been having trouble with keeping its users’ private data private.

For example, in 2010, the Electronic Frontier Foundation found that anyone could get access to all of a profile’s data, even private data, using techniques called “connections” and “instant personalization,” which utilized liking company profiles or public pages to expose data. While Facebook has since patched these loopholes along with more recent ones, it has already exposed millions or even billions of profiles to third parties. According to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, every Facebook user with a public profile should assume his or her data has been scraped, or automatically found and recorded, due to a now-discontinued Facebook feature allowing people to search for profiles using a phone number or . This vulnerability allowed bots to use lists of and phone numbers to extract vast amounts of

data. Facebook has recently removed that feature, but for millions of public users, it’s already too late to protect their data.

Despite Facebook’s inadequacy in ensuring that its users’ data remains safe, it is continuing to collect more and more of it. Using its Facebook and Facebook Messenger mobile apps, the company has collected the viewing habits, conversations, and locations of millions of users.

In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, increased public scrutiny revealed that Facebook has been silently collecting the contacts, call logs, and plain text messaging histories of millions of Android users since 2014. And every webpage that a Facebook user likes sends information about that user’s web browsing habits to Facebook.

Yet this data isn’t sufficient for Facebook, which is positioning itself to acquire an ever more complete picture of its users’ lives. Its acquisition of the social media platform Instagram in 2012 meant it could grab even more pictures, messages, and location data off its users. Its purchase of the messaging app Whatsapp meant that users avoiding Messenger could still be tracked by Facebook. And newer acquisitions like that of the virtual reality firm Oculus mean that Facebook is set to control even more of what its expanding user base sees, from messaging apps to social media to new immersive experiences.

Even when this ever-increasing store of data isn’t being irresponsibly shared by Facebook, it still has the power to manipulate and harm its users. Facebook disclosed a psychological experiment in 2014, in which it used its data to manipulate users’ news feeds in an attempt to affect their

emotions, ultimately succeeding in making them happier or sadder, an effect which spread to friends not involved in the experiment. The experiment was carried out without any explicit consent, with only a broad license for such manipulation buried in Facebook’s Terms of Use, and was widely considered unethical by the psychological community.

And Facebook is striving to use its data to create ads and experiences that are ever more irresistible, manipulating users into spending more time and money on its platform.

As Facebook’s vast user surveillance has come under increased scrutiny, a campaign has mounted for Facebook users to delete their accounts.

Unfortunately, for most users of the social media network, that isn’t a viable option. For millions of Americans, Facebook and Instagram are their main ways to connect to friends and family around the world. And as virtual reality moves into the mainstream, users may be unable to avoid Oculus’s services and products.

Even when users feel ready to pull the trigger and exit the platform, Facebook uses its extensive data to lure them back.

As the University of Pennsylvania reported, “When one of us tried deactivating her account, she was told how huge the loss would be—profile disabled, all the memories evaporating, losing touch with over 500 friends.” Facebook has successfully entrenched itself into billions of lives, with free reign to use those users’ data as it sees fit.

That data can be used in a symbiotic manner, allowing consumers toreceive free services and more relevant ads, as well as creating revenue for Facebook. However, the massive extent of data collected

by Facebook has emboldened it to use in ways that violate users’ real world privacy. For example, prior to the Cambridge Analytica scandal, had planned to use its data in combination with anonymized data in a research partnership with several major U.S. hospitals, a plan that Facebook users didn’t sign up for either on Facebook or at their hospitals.

Facebook’s broad license to collect and use data has encouraged a recklessness that wouldn’t be present with more limited data collection.

With the rise of de facto monopolies such as Facebook, the government has the duty to step in and protect its citizens’ data. The E.U. is preparing to enforce its new privacy regulations known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). These regulations severely limit companies’ ability to arbitrarily collect users’ data that isn’t necessary to provide their services. In addition, the GDPR doesn’t permit analyzing data in ways other than those necessary to directly provide consumers with services. Nor does the GDPR allow companies to share data without explicit user permission, not just terms buried in rarely read privacy policies.

Facing increased user backlash, Facebook has pledged to follow these regulations worldwide, not just in the E.U. However, such a move would likely slow Facebook’s financial growth, and Facebook has shown it is willing to violate its users’ confidence in order to collect more data and make more money. By adopting regulations similar to the GDPR, the U.S. government could ensure that companies such as Facebook and Google respect and protect their users’ data.

It’s time for Facebook to face the consequences for its data misuse.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 9

Opinions I Kissed a Girl and I Didn’t Like It

By Mia Gindis One lazy afternoon, I decided to scroll through my Facebook feed. Senseless memes, photos, and status updates flooded my vision until I finally saw something that caught my attention: a failed American Idol audition.

If I consider you a close friend, then you know that my worst guilty pleasure is marathon-watching talent competitions. I could watch people belt out a screechy falsetto and embarrass themselves in front of all of America for hours without end and admittedly feel little remorse. But even for a sadist such as myself, there was no amusement in watching Katy Perry plant an unwanted kiss on singing contestant Benjamin Glaze.

That clip went viral with almost five million views after just one week. After watching it, I felt what I imagined most people had felt—disgusted. Even after he described his conservative background and desire to only be intimate with a woman he was in a relationship with, Glaze was still subjected to a kiss. The entire affair unfolded before the rest of the judging panel and a room filled with producers, yet no one called Perry out on camera for her inappropriate behavior.

The hypocrisy of the situation is overwhelming. Had gender roles been reversed, with a male judge and female contestant, there would have undoubtedly been an enormous outpouring of criticism and calls for sexual harassment charges against Perry. While there was some public outcry after the incident, it was certainly nowhere near as much as there would be if Glaze had been a woman.

Glaze would’ve been immediately victimized and this footage probably wouldn’t have even been released in any form other than a leak. But Katy Perry’s actions were shameless, and she received the approval of, and was even egged on by, her peers.

The media frenzy surrounding the clip made it out as a joke, and online jabs at Katy Perry were lacking.

As one of the biggest advocates of the #MeToo movement, Perry’s actions were not only gross, but marred the purpose of the cause she has valiantly defended. Since its origins as a means to give victims of sexual a s sault a

Angel Zheng / The Spectator

voice, the movement has snowballed into a worldwide effort to reduce the prevalence of sexual harassment. But with increasing virality came an influx of problems, as is the case with many other reactionary campaigns, The faces of these movements, especially those with celebrity status, should work to further their initial intents and make sure they operate on inclusive principles. In this case, that would mean granting male survivors of sexual assault just as much legitimacy as female ones. Perry backs away from this progressive concept by exhibiting behavior toward a male that would never have been deemed appropriate had it been toward a female.

Sure, it was “just a kiss,” but that fleeting moment of contact had lasting implications. Katy

Perry used an already prevalent power dynamic to take advantage of someone attempting to make it big in the music industry, despite his lack of consent. If that sounds familiar, it’s because that is the same play made by Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey, and many other lower profile cases of workplace sexual harassment.

The stark difference here is that while their transgressions were certainly much more atrocious, these men were forced to watch their family lives and careers destroyed while Katy Perry had the liberty of laughing her guilt off on television.

The credibility of the #MeToo movement is already on the line, and if celebrities such as Perry continue to muddy the waters, it’ll never regain its original and more noble intent.

Glaze has commented on the incident, saying, “I wanted to save my first kiss for my first relationship. I wanted it to be special.” He has found solace in the advice of family and friends, who tell him that the lack of romantic intimacy means it didn’t really count. Instead, he looks at the whole affair as a business endeavor that ultimately benefited his music and increased the amount of people following his career. Katy Perry managed to avoid being seriously affected by the controversy by simply tweeting a link to the video, followed by a kissing emoji.

Their responses follow a familiar trend of repression by both parties: the transgressor, who downplays the magnitude of the assault, and the victim, who simply wants to put it behind them. In order to advance the sentiment of the #MeToo movement, celebrities should start holding themselves accountable for occurences like these. And, to quote Perry’s hit single, she may have kissed a girl and liked it, but that definitely doesn’t mean Glaze had to.

No More Cuomo

By Ben Platt This week, New York may have taken the first step in actually becoming the progressive state that it has a reputation for being. With the assistance of Governor Andrew Cuomo, the breakaway Independent Democratic Conference (IDC) was dissolved and the Democrat minority is now only one member short of having a majority in the State Senate (Democrats have a numerical majority, but Senator Simcha Felder caucuses with Republicans for reasons only privy to God).

What made the reconciliation possible now when no action had been taken for the past several years? Governor Cuomo finally stepped in when it served his best interests. It was classic Cuomo, only taking action when the benefits finally exceeded the costs, even though the IDC has been hindering Democratic priorities for years so they could accrue a little bit more money and little bit more power at the expense of regular New Yorkers.

Andrew Cuomo is not the governor New York needs right now. He is extremely prone to corruption, neglects pressing Democratic priorities, and is focused on a presidential bid that is likely not going to succeed.

Cuomo controls the MTA. He controls the majority of seats on the MTA board and has influence that extends far beyond it. When your subway train is late, blame Cuomo. Anytime he claims that the city owns the subway, he is misleading and lying to his constituents. Perpetuating the false idea of city control of the subways merely extends his childish feud with Bill de Blasio. When Cuomo wanted the Second Avenue Subway completed, he micromanaged the completion of it by holding daily meetings with contractors until he could celebrate the most expensive subway line in the world with glasses of champagne.

It’s disingenuous for Cuomo to claim control of the MTA when it benefits him and to reject control of it when it hurts him. The subway, the economic engine that moves New York City, is facing one of its worst crises ever and Andrew Cuomo is supporting cosmetic upgrades to stations. For all of his talk

about improving infrastructure, Cuomo doesn’t take a lot of action.

Criminal justice reform is another area where Cuomo talks the talk but doesn’t walk the walk. The main accomplishment he touted last year was lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 18 from 16 after five years in office— something that 48 states across the country did years ago. During the recent budget negotiations, Cuomo had the chance to take meaningful action for criminal justice reform by eliminating cash bail for lowincome detainees, who are disproportionately people of color.

Despite voicing support for such reform, the governor once again did nothing even though he certainly could have done something as one of the only four men in the room during budget negotiations. Instead, thousands more detainees will continue to languish in prison before even going on trial, costing them jobs and their livelihoods because Andrew Cuomo didn’t take action when it counted.

His former right hand man, Joseph Percoco, was also just convicted on federal corruption charges that clearly implicate the governor with not necessarily illegal, but certainly unethical, behavior.

Cuomo took plane rides, fundraised, and met with clients of the lobbyist who bribed Mr. Percoco.

But Percoco wasn’t the only friend of Governor Cuomo who has had unsavory conduct.

Alain Kaloyeros, former President of SUNY Polytechnic, was found to have taken part in a payto-play scheme when he was the architect of Cuomo’s massive economic redevelopment project upstate. Even if Cuomo didn’t have direct knowledge about the actions of his friends, the company he keeps reflects his own integrity. Cuomo is fully enmeshed in the swamp in Albany, and his behavior will not change anytime soon.

With upcoming gubernatorial elections this fall, who should replace Cuomo? I don’t know; Cynthia Nixon is grossly under qualified, and having another celebrity run for office in the Age of Trump makes me queasy. New York has been dealt a bad hand right now and we need new progressive leaders to emerge in Albany who will actually carry out Democratic priorities.

No, You Can’t Blame Trump On This One

By Rohan Ahammed You have probably seen students from Stuyvesant’s Environmental Club telling you to put different components of your trash in the right bins in the cafeteria. You’ve probably ignored them, dumped everything into one bin, and walked away. Congratulations!

Not only have you contributed to global warming and climate change, but a few hours later, you are probably going to write a Facebook post on how President Trump doesn’t believe in climate change and how Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), is a joke. It’s time for you to become less of a hypocrite and lessen your negative impact on the environment.

To be fair, a lot of that is true—the EPA is supposed to protect human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations. It cannot possibly do this when Pruitt actively denies the existence of climate change and refuses to link carbon dioxide and global warming. The EPA should be regulating how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are being released into

the atmosphere. They should be creating initiatives to try to mitigate the impact of climate change and reduce global warming. However, the EPA is clearly incapacitated by the current administration. The burden of protecting the environment and combating climate change now falls on us, the people.

The larger problem, though, is that people don’t think that they can do anything about climate change. They see it as a global or political issue, something that they can’t impact as mere individuals; however, the uncomfortable truth is that people are not willing to change their lifestyles significantly in order to save the environment.

Everyday people can’t enforce regulations like the EPA can, but they can definitely work to reduce global warming and make their own contributions in the fight against climate change.

As a school, Stuyvesant could be doing a number of things to lessen its environmental impact. Stuyvesant teachers, students, and administrators could reduce paper waste significantly. It all depends on whether they are willing to put in the extra effort to change

how they do certain things. physical handouts. Instead of Paper usage at Stuyvesant printing a five-page English esis alarming. Despite living with say, submit it via Google Docs better access to technology, or Turnitin. You don’t lose the Stuyvesant continues to use edits and comments you reexcessive amounts of paper ceive on paper copies because for things that can be accom- edits and comments can be plished online. The New given on these sites. TeachYork City Department ers should be using these of Sanitation cureducational resources rently has “Grade to give comments Pending” signs at and edits because the various recycling there is no real stations at Stuyvebenefit to using paper: sant. These stait only satisfies a preference. If tions will be given there is a reading that students a letter grade on Thursday, need to do for a class, teachers April 19. Clearly, there can give it to students online is a problem with beforehand or project it Stuyvesant’s onto a SmartBoard durrecycling ing class. If you absoand trash lutely need to print disposal. something, Aside from it better horror stobe douries of teachble-sided, ers printing even if you class sets of a have to go worksheet three through different times to the effort correct typos, there Darren Liang / The Spectator of manually are other ways to reputting in paper duce paper usage. through your printer to do so.

The most obvious path to If using paper is absolutely less paper usage is to use online necessary, then it should be educational resources such as recycled and reused. The comGoogle Classroom rather than puter science department uses

blank sheets of incorrectly printed copies from the Copy Room and the Printing Station as scrap paper. This is an example of how paper can be reused in classrooms so less paper is wasted. This can be applied to other departments, such as math or chemistry. Teachers, instead of using new paper, can simply use these bad copies for quizzes. If paper cannot be reused, it belongs in the recycling bin, not the trash or the floor.

Reducing paper usage and recycling are just a few things Stuyvesant students can do to fight climate change and other environmental issues like deforestation. They just need to make sure that they change their lifestyles a little bit and put in extra effort to take action. When we have an administration that doesn’t recognize climate change as a major issue and an EPA that is unwilling to protect the environment and enforce regulations on greenhouse gases, it becomes even more important to take these extra steps in becoming a more eco-friendly school and reducing our negative impact on the environment.

Page 10

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Opinions Saving Face, Losing Lives

By Angela Wong

illness. Representative Judy Chu introduced the Stop Mental Health Stigma in Our Communities Act bill in 2017 which is yet to pass. This bill aims to reduce mental health stigma in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Chu is well aware of the cultural and linguistic barriers many face.

Therefore, she is working toward implementing outreach and education strategies about behavior and mental health and is introducing interventions and treatments that are culturally and linguistically sensitive to these communities. Such strategies center around increasing awareness on mental health by partnering with health organizations that serve Asian American groups and understand common symptoms of mental illness.

Additionally, many colleges, including Cornell and Stanford, are requiring more counselors and an expansion of their current outreach efforts to help prevent student suicides. For example, Cornell formed a health-oriented Asian and Asian American Campus Climate Task Force in 2002 that would look deeper into student suicides. Also referred to as “Let’s Talk,” this new program allows for students to request an informal consultation when feeling distressed.

Stanford has implemented an annual “Listen to the Silence” conference, with senior Annie Phan as a co-chair. Having once struggled herself with panic attacks and depressive episodes, Phan is now vocal about her mental health in hopes of encouraging her fellow Asian Americans to be more open and discuss mental health issues. Aware of how mental illness is viewed in Asian society, she strongly believes that “shame is a big factor that leads people to hide and prevents people from seeking help. Among Asian Americans, there’s a joke that we

go crazy and commit suicide. But we need to have a conversation about this in a serious way.”

And having a conversation about suicide and mental illness in general is vital in creating an open and helpful environment free of shame. With more available programs, such as Cornell’s “Let’s Talk” and more workshops, such as Stanford’s annual “Listen to the Silence,” Asian American students would feel more inclined to share their own experiences with mental health conditions and understand the importance of seeking professional help when needed.

Unfortunately, for Wang, she felt unwelcomed by her university for grappling with mental health.

Because of Yale’s withdrawal and readmission policies, Wang felt as if she could not open up and, even if she did, that her well-being was not a priority of the school. In her suicide note, she wrote that, “Upon release from the hospital...my Yale ID was confiscated, as was my room key. I was given one evening to pack up my entire life.”

Stuyvesant is a competitive school with a large Asian American population where stress is all too common among

students. Much like Yale, Cornell, and Stanford, Stuyvesant should implement more workshops and programs aimed toward battling mental illness among Asian Americans. These sessions should work toward creating an open environment within the school that is free from the stigma that mental illness usually carries in society. Catering to Asian American students, the ideas that mental illness does not cause one to “lose face” and that it is just as important as physical health should be emphasized.

Students should feel safe and reassured with the adults running these sessions and should feel comfortable in attending and confiding in these programs.

Though mental illness is not an easy topic to speak up about, it matters because many lives are on the line. There is no shame in finding professional help, but by breaking down these cultural and linguistic barriers and diminishing the stigma surrounding mental health, Asian Americans will have more of the courage to do so.

Klaire Geller/ The Spectator

Luchang Wang was one of about 150 Asian American college students who commit suicide every year. During her sophomore year at Yale University in 2015, Wang jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge into San Francisco Bay. To this day, mental illness remains one of the most critical health problems in the world.

Even so, mental illness is heavily stigmatized, leading to individuals with mental health conditions being discriminated against and seen as outcasts. And for Asian Americans, a minority stereotyped with academic success and whose culture values hard work and loyalty toward the family, mental illness is unspoken of.

Even so, mental illness is common among Asian Americans. Suicide was the second leading cause of death for Asian Americans aged 15 to 34 in 2007, according to the American Psychological Association. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.9 percent of Asian American high school students report considering suicide, with 10.8 percent attempting it, in comparison to 15.5 percent of white students considering suicide, with 6.2 percent attempting it.

Many Asian Americans feel pressured by their parents to succeed in school to the extent that grades define their worth. For many, failing to get good grades means failing to reach the expectations of their family. Asian Americans make up around 30 percent of the student bodies at the most prestigious colleges in the nation while making up only six percent of the total U.S. population. And while many students face mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety, fear of failure from school and their parents prohibits them from wanting to seek help, leading to suicide.

Additionally, many Asian American students feel that academic success is an expectation that they must reach as a result of the model minority myth. This myth enforces many positive stereotypes, such as how Asians are destined for academic success.

When Asian Americans cannot live up to these stereotypes which are widely acknowledged and tied to

their identity, they may feel inadequate, ashamed, and even worthless.

Not only is mental illness more prominent among Asians than any other race in America, but they are also three times less likely to seek mental health services compared to whites, according to the American Psychological Association. A major factor in the silence regarding mental health is wanting to “save face,” a popular Chinese phrase. To save face is to preserve one’s dignity and self-image; having a mental illness is a fast way to “lose face.” According to journalist Katherine Kam, “[Asian parents] fear that any mental problems will reflect badly on their son or daughter, as well as tarnish their entire lineage.” As a result of the fear and shame that comes with admitting to having mental illness, many believe that discipline will help overcome mental illness instead of treatments, but it cannot.

But in order to diminish the prominence of mental illness among Asian Americans, the communication barrier must be broken. Reera Yoo, a former NYU student, admitted having suffered from depression but felt ashamed to let her friends and family know.

Years after her graduation, she revealed, “The major reason I decided to go public is because I lost a few friends to suicide. If I had talked to my friends about their mental health issues, would it have made a difference? Would it have made them feel safer?”

In addition to this communication barrier is a language barrier.

Studies on Asian health in the U.S. show that approximately one out of two Asian Americans cannot find the treatments they need because they cannot speak English or find services in their own language. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide death rates for Asian American females 65 years and older are higher than those for white females. Because many neglect their symptoms due to a lack of awareness of the limited resources and services available, Asian Americans cannot find the mental health help they need.

However, recent work has been done in increasing awareness and resources available for Asian Americans battling with mental

Parkland Kids: Crisis Actors?

By Jenny Huang Following the fatal Parkland Florida shooting in Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, teenage survivors of the attack have decided to take agency in ending gun violence once and for all. Through social media platforms, protests, and marches, the teens advocated for their cause, reiterating over and over again that no teen should ever have to cower in their classrooms, painfully counting down the seconds athe shooter is potentially gunning down someone they know.

Their campaign for gun control was emotionally overwhelming as they commemorated the classmates they’ve lost with indignant tears and grief. However, their anguish wasere claimed as melodramatic and fabricated, their tears were nothing but skilled theatrical feats, and the survivors themselves were painted as “crisis actors,”, amassing more than millions of supporters with theatrical antics and feigned sorrow.

Opponents of the teens’s calls for gun control are willing to go far, employing sickening methods to mock these teens and label them as hopelessly ignorant about gun control issues and gun usage.

In fact, conspiracy theorists are keen on inventing false claims

and rumors about prominent Parkland student activists, namely David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, the leaders of the “March for Our Lives” and #NeverAgain movements. In an attempt to portray Hogg and other Parkland students as “crisis actors,” conspiracists spread rumors across online forums and social media platforms, fabricating false stories to convince the public that David Hogg was not a student at Stoneman Douglas.

The authentic footage taken of Hoggthe teen in Los Angeles, California further perpetrated the rumor that heHogg in fact, was an actor feigning grief at a tragedy which he claimed to be a survivor of. The footage was a video blog made by Hoggs during his summer vacation in California prior to the start of his school year in Marjory Stoneman Douglas. However, conspiracy theorists had used the video to assert that Hogg lived in California and never attended school in Florida. More conspiracies, unsupported by any actual evidence, wildly accuses Hogg of supporting Nazcism. Statements allegedly made by David Hoggs, stating “Generations before us don’t know what it’s like to be shot at by AR-15s” along with convincing pictures of the teen taken from one of his rallies against gun vio-

lence circulated extremist blogs and made its way into mainstream media, intending to make the teen seem ignorant about the cause he is fighting for at hand and the history of gun usageusage of guns in the United States.

By no means is Hogg the only victim of these ridiculous online accusations. Video cuts taken out of context of Emma Gonzalez’s speech were used to insinuate that Emma supported bullying the mentally ill shooter, Nicholas Cruz. The video snippet features an indignant Gonzalez, stating “Since he [Nicholas Cruz] was in middle school, it was no surprise to anyone who knew him, that he was the shooter. Those talking about how we should have not ostracized him? You didn’t know this kid! OK? We did!” With only this snippet and no further context provided, conspiracists made it seem as if Gonzalez, along with the whole Parkland student community, bullied Cruz. However, with the entire speech in context, it became clear that Emma Gonzalez is calling for authority’s attention towards the signs of mental illness and disturbances which Cruz exhibited prior to the shooting.

None of these claims made about the Parkland adolescents leaders are true. Hogg is a stu-

dent, a survivor of the Parkland shooting and does not support Nazcism. Emma Gonzalez did not admit to bully Nicholas Cruz.

However, these stories spread like wildfire, catching attention when right-wing political figures, such as Donald Trump Jr., liked or reposted the conspiracies on social media platforms.

In valiant attempts to stand up in front of the public, and call for action to prevent future gun violence, these teenagers are blasted as liars and attention seekers by conspiracist blogs and the impressionable followers these blogs have gathered. It is understandable that the public is confused by and vulnerable to these fake news and conspiracies, especially when they trend on popular social media apps or are featured by notable political figures. As avid users of social media, we are gulled into believing the wrong information, and we perpetrate the spread of these rumors and lies through several taps on a screen or clicks on a mouse.

However, to these teenagers, the spread of these lies not only undermines a strong political and emotional response to Parkland shooting, but also cruelly suppresses a tragedy they all have lived through. They are denied of the right to express their opinions

in a very personal yet political matter in which that they deserve to have a voice in due tobecause of due to lies yielding that serves to bring questions about their credibility as activists.

Therefore, the public as a whole, especially social media users of our generations, should be more aware of the credibility of the news sources we are exposed to, in order to stop these injurious conspiracies from undermining the efforts of a greater cause and making delivering insensitive accusations about towards its victims. Through cross- referencing the information from social media posts or smaller news sources with larger and more reliable news outlets such as CNN or Tthe New York Times, we are less likely to mistakenly make a mistake in believeing in conspiracy theorists.

Conspiracy theories gain the most attention from social media posts and youtube videos which where they attract users who often don’t pay attention to their sources or look closely at the bias of the source. Cross- referencing social media posts or youtube video contents and paying attention to the bias of the contents will reduce the chances of internet users of from feeding offn the growing acceptance of false news and conspiracies are gaining.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 11

Opinions The Opinions Department Weighs In On Student Activism In the wake of the Parkland shooting, members of the Opinions department tackle the history, significance, and future of student activism.

You’re Almost Old Enough to Vote! The NRA Doesn’t Care.

By Angela Wong Youthquake (n.) the significant cultural, political, or social change arising from the actions of influence of young people.

After the Parkland incident last February, students were warned by gun advocates to hold off on their protests to avoid politicizing the deaths of 17 of their peers.

They did not listen. Parkland student activists, alongside students

School shooting, with an American flag sticker on it. Their caption read, “I’ll protect my own guns, thank you.” Additionally, a Republican candidate for the Maine State House called activist Emma González a “skinhead lesbian” and David Hogg, another activist, a “moron” and “bald-faced liar.”

A fake photo of González ripping the Constitution also went viral.

Student voices have always been seen as inferior to those of adults in making decisions. Nonetheless, the youth have played a large but overlooked role in many movements. During the Civil Rights Movement, for example, many students held large marches to have their voices heard.

Black students in North Carolina sat down on a “whites only” lunch counter for six months to protest segregation in 1960. College students organized many marches, voter-registration drives, and social-justice actions.

There have been various large protests that helped spread awareness of current events among student bodies. 250,000 students organized a one-day march in October of 1963, with many marching to the Chicago Board of Education demanding for equitable resources for black students. Additionally, over 450,000 black and

equality of women and tried to change abortion laws. These students worked hard to get the Equal Rights Amendment approved by the Georgia legislature.

Homosexual students also spoke out for equal rights and brought people of different sexual orientations together.

Many young activists are not old enough to vote, but that does not mean that their voices are not vital to social change. Segregation laws, sexism, racism, and gun control laws all affect students’ lives. Instead of being pushed off into the sidelines, adults must begin viewing students’ opinions as important and effective as theirs.

And instead of labeling the young activists from Parkland as mere children, adults should step up to the plate and hear them out as equals.

Last month, Stuyvesant students held a march to City Hall to end gun violence. The goal of the protest was to bring more awareness on the topic of gun control and what the government can do to help end gun violence.

One demonstration alone will not change the world, but it’s a start.

For the first time in 1960, four black students sat down at the “whites only” lunch counter in North Carolina. And for the next

Many young activists are not old enough to vote, but that does not mean that their voices are not vital to social change. from across the country, took part in a national school walkout on March 14. During these protests, students made their voices heard on ending gun violence and that they would not be silenced.

However, these acts of defiance were ridiculed by many. On the day of the national walkout, the National Rifle Association tweeted a photo of an AR-15 style rifle, the type of weapon used in the Stoneman Douglas High

Puerto Rican students protested de facto segregation in New York City’s public schools. Though huge events, these protests are often overlooked in history because they were not run by adults, but instead by young adults.

Additionally, students took action throughout the Women’s Rights and Gay Liberation Movements. During the 1970s, many female students fought for the

six months, their brave and repeated acts of defiance inspired more black students to join in on the sit-in. This sit-in would then spark more protests around the South and fuel the fight for black civil rights. Similarly, if Stuyvesant students want their voices heard loud and clear, and for change to swiftly follow, protests should not be limited to March 14.

Chloe Delfau / The Spectator

Elena Sapelyuk / The Spectator

Student Activism: A Necessary Voice

By Joshua Weiner In the aftermath of the Parkland shooting, the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mobilized themselves and millions of students across the nation to advocate for greater gun control. In what culminated in the March for Our Lives, young voices were heard across the country and in our nation’s capital in a way we haven’t seen since Martin Luther King Jr.’s March on Washington in 1963.

Despite this groundswell of young voices, the National Rifle Association and many GOP politicians decried the protests and sought to undermine them, all while mainstream media told them to be wary of these millions of future voters. Why didn’t the thought of these high school students voting in upcoming elections worry the NRA? Because most of the protests took place in liberal cities with liberals participating in them.

When looking at an election map, New York, the District of Columbia, California, and other states and cities where these marches occurred already elect democratic representatives and senators and give their votes to democratic candidates for president. Most of the students demonstrating, when able to vote, will only add to the majority voice where they live, thus changing nothing and effectively silenc-

ing their voices. Consequently, the GOP knows that the NRA will be alive and well in a few years from now, and a few years after that.

But even students in resoundingly Democratic areas can do things to make our voices count.

For seniors heading off to college, they can register to vote. However, they shouldn’t register to vote in their home states. Instead, seniors leaving home should register to vote wherever they are to attend school. Currently, the Government and Politics Department at the University of Maryland reports that 67 percent of all college students who study away from home still register to vote in their hometowns. Changing that status quo can have a tremendous impact, as hundreds of thousands of college students attend school in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio, and other key swing states where their votes can hold serious weight in crucial elections.

Another thing that students can do is volunteer for the political campaigns of individuals in favor of gun control. A combination of factors such as a lack of funding, volunteers, as well as the NRA politically and financially supporting their opponents renders the campaigns of many hopeful politicians dead in the water. If only a small fraction of students volunteer for these politicians, and were to utilize many of the same tactics that were used to organize the March for Our Lives for these campaigns, many more proponents of gun control will enter state and federal legislatures.

The NRA does not worry about stdents from liberal cities marching in favor of gun control because it knows that more often than not, these students do not enact political change outside of their hometowns. However, the more politically literate our nation’s student population is, in terms of registering to vote and becoming the grassroots support for political campaigns, the more the days of the NRA are numbered.

Mayumi Gurung / The Spectator

Social Media: The Key to Student Activism?

By Julian Giordano In the aftermath of the Parkland Shooting, many students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School have spoken out against gun violence and in favor of tighter gun control. Perhaps the most prevalent means through which they have made their voices heard is social media, particularly Twitter and Facebook, and they are not alone

in turning to these platforms to speak out against gun violence.

There is a predictable pattern of activity on social media that occurs after each ever-deadlier mass-shooting. However, unlike responses to previous mass shootings, their movement is mobilizing social media beyond its use as a platform in the shortterm and into a vehicle for concrete action.

After every mass shooting, there is a discernable pattern on social media. During the first week and a half, posts on Twitter and Facebook are nonpartisan and have the purpose of sending thoughts and prayers to the victims of the shooting. But after the “thoughts and prayers” response, NYU researchers have noticed that social media debates become partisan, and posts and reposts are divided between liberals and conservatives and their respective opinions on gun control versus gun rights.

Out of the plethora of these online discussions, the majority are aggressive exchanges between hard-line second amendment supporters and gun reform supporters. Regardless of the use of

bots and trolls, these debates are never-ending, with no conclusion, compromise, or solution.

And after a while, these debates die out again, having little to no real-world impact.

The Parkland case is a bit different from past examples, though, and has been able to thrive off the social media presence, even after weeks of exposure. Within days of the shooting, student leaders such as Emma González, David Hogg, and Cameron Kasky were able to amass hundreds of thousands of followers on social media and become verified on Twitter. The latter of these is an especially strong sign of how big this debate has grown and how Twitter is adding credibility to all users at the center of the debate.

Through their sharp and articulate criticism of authority and pro-gun activists, student activists have been able to create a serious platform that is effective at pushing back against trolls and conspiracy theorists.

Perhaps the most important reason why the debate has been going on for so long on social media is that these stu-

dents have taken action outside of tweets and posts to support their cause. The town halls, protests, and walkouts they have organized and subsequent media attention they have garnered have kept them alive on social media,which have prevented right-wing extremists from shutting them down. The Parkland students have been able to make social media a platform for productive dialogue, and not merely one for emotional and partisan posts. They have mobilized social media and used it to confront their politicians and government in a precise and powerful manner that has never been seen before in the history of gun control debate on social media.

Of course, social media itself will never create the change students would like to see, but it acts as a stepping stone for them to gain a platform of support for their cause. We can already see students confronting their representatives, reaffirming the importance of their vote, and creating a real-life debate that won’t be going away anytime soon.

The success that Parkland students have had using social media extends to students

around the country and world.

Many high schoolers are devoted users of social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, and Facebook (especially at Stuyvesant). The Parkland students have shown that a strong presence on social media can lead to a strong presence in politics. They have been able to use their social media presence to organize marches, walkouts, and protests and encourage students and adults nationwide to take action for gun control by voting, petitioning, and more. We have seen this happen at Stuyvesant when students organized the Stuy Says Enough! (SSE!) campaign on Facebook, which resulted in a school-wide walkout with an estimated 1000 attendees, many of whom walked to City Hall to encourage their elected officials to take action on gun reform. They showed that social media is not only a recreational platform, but is also an effective way for students to make their thoughts and opinions heard and taken seriously. From now on, one thing is certain: student activism and civic engagement are here to stay.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 12

Opinions Considering Effective Student Activism Silence Speaks

By Claire Shin Even before she stepped on the stage at the March for Our Lives, you might have heard of Emma González, a teen ac-

time between the beginning of her speech and the end of this moment of silence, 17 lives had been lost. This, she said, was due to the inability of the government to address

them, as these people aren’t hard to find (the same website says that “in 42 percent of cases, the shooter exhibited warning signs, [such as erratic behavior and threatening

The spontaneous and sincere moment of silence that Emma González launched into should be remembered as a reminder to politicians, NRA lobbyists and members, and the masses of the value of 17 lives too many lost to the lack of proper legislation on gun control.

Anika Hashem/ The Spectator

tivist from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The crowd was blazing, screaming for change after performances by Ben Platt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Miley Cyrus, and Vic Mensa. No one was quite ready for her speech, which forever immortalized her in the minds of activists, politicians, and NRA lobbyists, and made her more than an image of a broken high school student calling for tighter gun control. The 18-year-old didn’t use eloquent words, rhetoric, uplifting quotes, or complex words. Emma González brought tears into the eyes of countless numbers of people through silence.

After recounting the lives of the teens lost to the Parkland shooter and showing the audience that these were normal, innocent teens with beautiful lives ahead of them, González ceased talking. She stared forward with an expression of pure defiance, tears occasionally spilling out of her eyes. Initially, some were confused and filled the awkward silence with cheers and chants. However, at the end, González announced that it had been six minutes and 20 seconds (the time it had taken for the mass shooting to occur), and in that short

previous shootings to prevent future ones.

The Parkland students proclaimed that “ours will be the last mass shooting,” and so far, their efforts to make this happen are coming into fruition. More and more people have joined the fight for gun control reform, from Florida’s Republican governor Rick Scott, who announced a $400 million bill that would increase the legal age for buying guns from 18 to 21 to parts of corporate America, which stopped giving discounts to NRA members due to increasing pressure.

But the focus of the gun control reform movement isn’t bullying the NRA—we’ve already accepted that the organization will adamantly fight until the end for looser gun control. It’s more realistic to demand from politicians (both for and against the NRA) tighter laws to confiscate guns from those who could pose threats. Every Town for Gun Safety, a gun violence prevention group created by Michael Bloomberg, reports that “34 percent [of mass shootings] involved a shooter who was prohibited from possessing firearms.” If we can take weapons from the hands of those who clearly shouldn’t possess

posts on social media], before the shooting”), we could prevent a third of the mass shootings that take place and save hundreds of lives.

It is in these steps that we could build toward a more secure future, which would be safer in the long run. It’s reported that only 10 percent of the mass shootings since 2009 happened in zones where civilians are barred from purchasing or possessing guns.

We must demand tighter and more specific checks in determining whether someone should be allowed to carry firearms, encouraging people to report those they believe could pose a threat. The ultimate goal, however, should be a complete ban on assault weapons in the hands of civilians.

The spontaneous and sincere moment of silence that Emma González launched into should be remembered as a reminder to politicians, NRA lobbyists and members, and the masses of the value of 17 lives lost to the lack of proper legislation on gun control. Tears and condolences can’t spark change, but action—whether initiated by dissatisfied teenagers or the general people—will.

A New Generation of Student Activists

By Emily Hur Youth activism has been deeply embedded in our history. In the 1960s, rampant segregation in southern states of the U.S. drew thousands to the Civil Rights Movement. In response to the segregationist groups vehemently protesting integration and the ensuing legal battles, hundreds of children, teenagers, and young adults joined the crusade for social justice.

Martin Luther King Jr.’s strategy of civil disobedience certainly resonated with many and encouraged four college students to ask for service at a whites-only lunch counter.

Amidst jeering, threats, and intimidation, they continued to sit patiently even after service was denied. This spurred a chain of similar sit-ins, in which participants continued

The Parkland shooting similarly prompted groups of high schoolers to take action, with students from over 2,800 schools joining the walkouts.

Their indignation has further manifested itself in the form of highly publicized protests, speeches, and marches. Many trekked out from all over the country to join the March For Our Lives. Emma González, a Parkland shooting survivor, made a broadcasted speech to share her experiences and demonstrate the passion many have for the issue of gun control. Although the current movement may not currently exhibit the same level of strategy and organization as the Civil Rights Movement had, it’ll take time to secure political assets and alliances.

And based on the unflinching perseverance students have shown so far, they have

Our generation is teeming with ideas and potential, and it’s time legislators start listening.

And based on the unflinching perseverance students have shown so far, they have the potential to replicate the same success achieved 60 years ago.

to avoid violence and steadfastly held onto their cause.

One of the most famous student activist groups, the Little Rock Nine, further exemplifies the determination of young adults. After the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, these nine black students courageously enrolled in a formerly all-white high school despite dissidence. They went on to graduate and achieve success, fighting bullying, death threats, and even resistance from the Arkansas state government. Even now, the significant role these high schoolers played in the Civil Rights Movement continues to be applauded.

These students were tired of seeing laws being passed that didn’t amount to change, so they took matters into their own hands. And it worked.

Soon after, southern restaurants began to repeal their segregation policies, more schools became integrated, and the United States continued to take steps toward equality. They refused to tolerate what previous generations had endured.

the potential to replicate the same success achieved 60 years ago.

Despite the tenacity these teenagers have shown, opponents of gun control continue to belittle their concerns.

However, students shouldn’t be disregarded on the basis of their age—they have every right to be involved in politics.

It’s true that the effectiveness of these particular protests has yet to be proven, but student activism has a historically high success rate. And it’s naive for adults to underestimate us. If the students partaking in the Civil Rights Movement had succumbed to pressure and opposition, the strides toward equality that they helped to facilitate may have been delayed for several years. If anything, students will be able to take their experiences as a part of this movement to fuel further involvement once they’re old enough to vote. The legislative push students have should not be discredited. Our generation is teeming with ideas and potential, and it’s time legislators start listening.

The Spectator ● November 18, 2016

Page 13

Arts and Entertainment múm at Carnegie Hall

Music

By Jiahe Wang You wouldn’t imagine an Icelandic electronica band like múm playing on a fancy stage at a classical music concert hall. They seem like the type to hold more intimate concerts at small venues, due to the improvisational nature of their music and the fact that their music demands serenity. So upon hearing that they would be performing at the renowned Carnegie Hall, I was surprised. múm is an experimental postrock band from Iceland that has a cult following in America. I first heard their music two years ago on the radio and was immediately enchanted by the synth beats and unexpected electronic undercurrents. The music had an ethereal iciness to it, perhaps due to the band’s Scandinavian origins.

It was lightly drizzling the night of the concert, but many fans still showed up at Carnegie Hall for the late-night show.

Abruptly, without any opening words, the theater lights dimmed, followed by all of the band members quickly appearing on stage, and the concert began. The entire venue was engulfed by breathy vocals, electronic glitches, metallic drums, rippling beats, and the nostalgic lamenting melo-

dies of the pianica. Before seeing surprises. múm’s music is textural the band live, I couldn’t imagine and soft, and that quality translathow these epic sounds could be ed onstage in new ways, like the produced by human beings and pouring water into metal pans. simple instruments.

The laconic band then played múm opened the performance some of their more popular with “The Land Betracks, such as “Green Grass of tween Solar SysTunnel,” “Slow tems,” one of the older songs from their 2002 album “Finally We Are No One,” which took a more melodic and pop approach compared to their previous albums.

While the lyrics suggest something darker (“There’s that fear again coming through Rachel Zhang / The Spectator the grass / Deeper it goes Down,” “The singing a song”), the meloLast Shapes of Never,” “The Coldy is warm and possesses a child- orful Stabwound,” and “Toothish naïveté. Sweet and airy, the wheels.” Though no one in the aulead singers’ voices harmonized dience sang along, their delighted well with the electronic beats and facial expressions showed that acoustic instruments. Though the they were familiar with the songs. song was 11 minutes long, every In contrast, the band members second of it felt new and full of swayed softly to the music, as if

intoxicated by their own magical sound. Even though the venue was large, the band members interacted frequently with each other onstage. They spoke to each other in hushed voices and chuckled quietly when they couldn’t agree on which song to play next. They switched effortlessly between cello, keyboard, synthesizer, drums, pianica, and acoustic guitar between almost every song. The audience watched closely when it happened, silent and respectful. The entire performance was oddly relaxed compared to the usual formality of a huge concert hall.

The live performance was rawer and more honest than the stereo version, thus making it a whole new experience. The somewhat improvisational nature of múm’s music was highlighted onstage; the tunes were sprinkled with spontaneous, organic sounds like whistling and water spilling. The songs received explosive rounds of applause as they slowly faded out, the synth beats rippling through the spacious concert hall.

I felt like I was floating through a

void, engulfed by the bittersweet lullaby. múm ended the night with a less popular second encore, “The Island of Children’s Children.” The song had folky elements to it, yet felt strangely otherworldly—the beats evoked vivid imagery in my mind such as flowing streams and pulsating solar systems. As the soft vocals slowly quieted down, the audience was still immersed in a spacey Icelandic dream. After several humble low bows, múm quickly disappeared behind the stage as the stage lights dimmed, adding another surreal element to the night, as if all that magic never happened.

For me, the entire performance was a nostalgic journey through an imaginary landscape, even a bit emotionally draining.

Sinking into an emotionally-driven auditory landscape was immersive and ultimately introspective, like múm was playing the soupy emotions in the audience.

The music stirred up different feelings and different memories for everyone, each unique and individual. However, we were all able to let our guards down and face our vulnerable sentimental sides because of múm’s music.

Games First, Homework Later

By Jacqueline Thom Stop playing Fortnite and get ready for more games to hit shelves this year. We’ve already got memorable releases like Far Cry 5 and A Way Out, but even more original concepts and old favorites are coming soon to make 2018 another year to remember for video games.

Detroit: Become Human

Vampyr

(May 25, 2018 for PlayStation 4) Let’s be real here: the cover art for this game is terrible. It’s too moody and doesn’t provide anything memorable to remember the game by, but that doesn’t mean the content of the game itself is bad. The story takes place in Detroit in a very technology-heavy world, where androids are almost indistinguishable from humans, except for a small metallic circle on the right temple. The game explores the modern day debate concerning AI: at what point are androids considered human? The androids, who have emotions, are fed up with having to do the dirty work and start toeing the line between being a piece of software and being human.

Players do not seem to have much control of the action, but are instead encouraged to be observant and make the right choices as they alternate between androids Connor, Kara, and Markus. The characters themselves have different abilities, choices, and stories that sometimes converge with each other. The androids also have unique soundtracks, created by three different composers, that further add to each android’s personality.

With the ability to rewind time and reconstruct events that occurred using clues, hopefully this entirely choicebased and story-driven action-adventure game, which has been in the works since as early as 2012, will be as good as its several awards and nominations hint.

(June 5, 2018 for PlayStation 4, XBox One, PC) This game features Doctor Jonathan Reid, a vampire living during the 1918 Spanish flu epidemic. In a constantly dark London environment that reeks of danger, Reid is forced to choose between his Hippocratic Oath, a pledge that all doctors take to never do harm, and his overwhelming need for blood. Though players have the option of not killing anyone in the game, Reid boasts many vampiric abilities, including mind control, turning into a mysterious black mist, and temporarily gaining wolflike powers and superspeed.

So far, Reid seems to be in search for the people who turned him into a vampire, while also fighting a war against vampire hunters and navigating the complex hierarchy of the supernatural world.

Spider-Man

Joyce Liao / The Spectator

(September 7, 2018 for PlayStation 4) Simply titled after its main character, the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man is back! Though the game’s storyline remains to be seen, Bryan Intihar, the creative director of this project, has mentioned that the events in the game take place eight years after Peter Parker first became New York City’s protector, and there will be some scenes where we see Parker when he isn’t being SpiderMan. And if E3 footage is any indication, then this game is bound to be explosive. The game takes place in our very own New York City, in a vast, crisp, open-world environment where you travel via parkour. And there seems to be quite a bit of that, with gameplay showing that Spider-Man will have plenty of web-slinging and butt-kicking, with much freer movement available than older Spider-Man games and a heavier emphasis on stealth and quick action.

Last of Us Part II

Overkill’s The Walking Dead

(Late 2018/Early 2019 for Playstation 4) The adventure-horror sequel to the post-apocalyptic Last of Us won Most Anticipated Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards and The Game Awards, so hopefully it’ll live up to the fame of the first installment. The ongoing adventure takes place five years after the first game, and the trailer centers around the theme of hatred. With the return of an older, wearier Ellie and her guardian, Joel, comes familiar gameplay stemming from the original. The game’s trailer reveals little about the story, but it instead features Ellie singing “Through the Valley,” a dark, brooding song originally sang by Shawn James.

It hit number one on the Spotify Viral chart and is a reminder of the game’s deathly serious tone and the return of Gustavo Santaolalla, whose previously airy acoustics in the first game are bound to take a dark turn.

(Fall 2018 for Playstation 4, XBox One, PC) This game was originally set for release in 2016, but after over four years of production, Overkill Software’s take on The Walking Dead Universe is finally arriving. The first-person co-op shooter is set in a post-apocalyptic Washington D.C., where players take control of one of four characters, each with different story arcs, skill trees, special abilities, squad roles, and play styles. As trailers have shown, the game is dark and gritty, having already introduced two characters, Maya and Aidan, who reminisce on life before zombies before warily returning to reality.

Word has it that the game also strives to be brutally realistic. Much like in Sony’s Last of Us, players have to deal with real-time weapons maintenance and crafting. Add-ons are scarcity of supplies and negotiations with NPC human factions, including some that can be reasoned with and others that will become rivals. Even the missions can be difficult because once players achieve the objective, they still have to safely make it back to the extraction point. With such intricate little features, Overkill’s The Walking Dead promises a thrilling challenge.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page Page 14

Arts and Entertainment What We Grew Up With

crossword

By Thomas Chen, Jeanette Cheung, Dahae Choi, Klaire Geller, Michelle Lai, Jonela Malollari, and Christina Tan Our lives used to be filled with joy before we entered Stuyvesant. Remember those relaxing, sunshine-filled, meme-free days?

Neither can we. Here’s what really went on before our will to live dropped along with our voices.

ACROSS 2. “I’m failing bio” “i’M fAiLInG biO” —If Stuy kids lived in a pineapple under the sea 3. Where all the aspiring musicians go in the summer for a chance to ogle the Jonas brothers 6. Special brownies with colorful sprinkles that determined your status in the lunchroom 8. What your teachers showed you in third grade when they were too lazy to teach 9. The kind of life the twins had while bothering their beloved hotel manager 11. This was where you learned to care for something other than yourself through a small, pixelated screen 12. What you proposed to your girlfriend with in kindergarten 13. Colorful rubbers that constricted blood flow 14. An Italian plumber who uses supplements to get bigger, shooting his shot over and over again for that peach

DOWN 1. The original jokes 3. The childhood game that proved global warming exists 4. Clip these from your favorite boxes of cereal to make your school rich 5. Oversized sweatshirt-buying daddy who just said three-time Academy Award-winning director-producer of Jaws, Jurassic Park, ET, Men In Black 1 and 2 wants me to star in his next big blockbuster opposite of Mission Impossible hunky-hunk Tom Cruise SAY WHAT?!?!?!

7. “Spell ____,” followed by giggles 10. Girl, the mountain and Swiper are right THERE

Down 1. YOMAMA 3. CLUBPENGUIN 4. BOXTOPS 5. HANNAHMONTANA 7. ICUP 10. DORA

Across 2. SPONGEBOB 3. CAMPROCK 6. COSMIC 8. BRAINPOP 9. SUITE 11. TAMAGOTCHI 12. RINGPOP 13. SILLYBANDZ 14. SUPERMARIO

ANSWERS

Liam Kronman: Jazz, Red Paperclips, and “A Village Ballad”

By William Lohier You wouldn’t expect an autumnal, saccharine, almost childishly innocent love ballad to spring from the harrowed, soulless halls of Stuyvesant. But as freshman Liam Kronman proves with his new single “A Village Ballad,” available on Spotify and Apple Music, Stuyvesant students are not only talented but active in their artistic pursuits.

I caught up with Liam, who is a frequent performer at Stuy’s open mic and an avid songwriter, musician, and baseball player, a couple of weeks ago. When asked about his favorite musicians, he laughingly commented, “I have plenty,” and rattled off names like John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, and Erroll Garner. And sitting

down with Kronman to talk about music, I heard the same passion and sincerity that distinguish “A Village Ballad.”

How did you get into music, what’s your background?

I started out with piano at a young age, maybe four or five, until around 13 years old. Then I switched to jazz piano because I also played the saxophone before.

And I found jazz to be so unique.

I listen to all sorts of jazz, Harlem Renaissance jazz from the ‘20s, Coltrane from the ‘60s, and even fusion jazz from the 2000s. It’s all so complex but it sounds so good!

What was the process of creating “A Village Ballad”?

I never really wrote songs be-

And I didn’t really know what to play because I didn’t have any music with me. So I started writing some music and I had all these ideas but I could never piece them together.

I thought of the chorus of “A Village Ballad” first, and when I came back to the States, I was hanging out with a friend who’s also a songwriter, and he played this line and the whole melody came to me. As for lyrics…I just wrote.

And recording it?

At first I was just going to sing it myself, just record the whole thing, but I couldn’t hit some of the high notes. And there was this good singer, a girl named Joslyn Grey, who I went to middle school with.

I showed her the song and she was like, “I love it.”

What lyrics stand out to you?

Zoe Oppenheimer / The Spectator

I’ll be honest, the lyrics are more of an embellishment for me.

I was intrigued by the idea of a red paperclip as love and kinda went from there.

Zoe Oppenheimer / The Spectator

f o re, b u t last summer I was in China, and I didn’t have very much to do. There was a piano.

What were your biggest musical influences when creating this song? Did you have any riffs or melodies in mind when writing?

In the beginning I was aiming for more of a Beatles, rock-band type of vibe. So I wrote it and I played it for two of my friends, a drummer and a guitarist, and they were like “drop the drums and guitar.” So I tried to make it more like an Elton John or Billy Joel type piece, just that style, a slower song.

Going forward, how do you want your music to change or improve?

Mainly I want to expand into different types of music. *At this point in the interviews, Mr. Stephan interrupted to compli-

ment Kronman on his song.* So for my next song, I’m writing a rock song, it’s faster and more upbeat. It has hints of jazz and pop but it’s definitely a rock song. But I definitely want to spread out, maybe explore gospel too. I also want to become a better producer. Learn how to sample and combine different aspects of the process. Obviously I want to work on my song-

writing too.

Do you see music as a career or a hobby?

Music is my passion. Right now it’s a hobby, and it would be fun to have a career in it, but I’m keeping my options open. I feel like music is a way to compete with and improve myself. Also, it’s really stress relieving, I can play for hours!

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 15

Arts and Entertainment What Makes A Cult Classic

By Emma Linderman From nostalgia-inducing hits to movies that are so bad they’re good, the world of cult films is one that transcends almost every genre. The term “cult classic” isn’t easy to define. Some say that all a film needs to become a cult favorite is an intricate subculture and devoted fanbase. Others follow a more restrictive definition: a cult classic is a movie that is rejected by the mainstream and unsuccessful at the box office. Regardless of whatever definition you subscribe to, the following films will meet your cult expectations, however unusual they may be.

Showgirls As far as bad movies go, “Showgirls” is one whose inadequacy is pretty much agreed upon across the board. The 1995 drama follows the path of Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley), a drifter who travels to Las Vegas in hopes of becoming a showgirl. Receiving criticism even from its own actors, “Showgirls” broke a record in the year of its release by earning seven nominations for the Golden Raspberry Awards, which recognize the film industry’s worst works. As a result of its NC-17 rating and laughably poor reviews, the film attracted a limited spectrum of viewers, resulting in its failure at the box office. It was also deemed so misogynistic and garish that viewers questioned whether or not it was to be taken seriously. Though the film is indisputably awful, it achieved its cult status through ironic celebration. Entertaining viewers through its exaggerated erotic themes and unintentionally funny screenplay, “Showgirls” attracts audiences who hope to laugh at its failure.

Edward Scissorhands One of director Tim Burton’s most celebrated works, “Edward Scissorhands” has been dazzling audiences since 1990. The film was positively received by both audiences and critics, many of whom praised it for its combination of charming pastel visuals and gothic undertones. The movie centers around Edward (Johnny Depp), a lonely and mild-mannered young man created by an inventor, whose untimely death left him with—you guessed it—scissors for hands. Edward moves into the home of Avon representative Peg Boggs (Dianne West), who gradually integrates him into society. Resonating with mainstream audiences and becoming a part of goth subculture, “Edward Scissorhands” has influenced graphic novels, stage productions, and television.

It was even adapted into a ballet, which, after premiering in London, toured Asia and the U.S. The film has even impacted the scientific world, inspiring the name of Kootenichela deppi (Get it? Like Depp?), an extinct sea creature with scissor-like claws.

Since its release, the film has been a hallmark of Burton’s creativity, as well as a magnet for nostalgic film geeks, fantasy enthusiasts, and fans of the macabre.

Vivian Lu/ The Spectator

Juno

Reality Bites

Through its refreshingly witty humor and heartfelt score, “Juno” is a film that steps up to the plate in every aspect. The coming-of-age film follows Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) after she gets pregnant during her junior year of high school. Upon its release in 2007, “Juno” garnered almost universally positive reception at the box office, not to mention four Academy Award nominations. The movie boasts a talented cast, each actor delivering an impressively honest performance. Standouts are Page, whose take on the title character earned her an Oscar nomination, and recent Oscar-winner Allison Janney, who uses just the right amount of tough love to portray Juno’s stepmother. Another important staple of the film is the soundtrack, which features the lyrical works of Kimya Dawson and became one of the few chart-toppers of 20th Century Fox. Any mention of the movie is sure to include praise for its score, which is endearing through its mellow and almost conversational melodies. Though unlike many cult films in that it did fare well at the box office, “Juno” has a wildly appreciative fanbase, as well as a reputation that has made it a common staple of pop culture.

The 1994 Generation X hit raked in fans by providing an honest and grunge-influenced snapshot of the era’s twenty-somethings. Winona Ryder, a cult icon herself, stars as Lelaina, an aspiring documentarian who, along with her ragtag group of friends, tries to kickstart her adult life after graduating from college. “Reality Bites” received mixed reviews from critics, but was widely praised for both encapsulating an iconic era and addressing prominent issues concerning young adults, such as the AIDS crisis and the lack of acceptance faced by the LGBT community. It remains a touchstone of the nineties, but with lines like “I’m bursting with fruit flavor,” “Reality Bites” can’t help but win over audiences of all generations.

Tinder Bios, Evil Cats, and Spoken Word

By Chelsea Cheung “I’m sorry, did you just say you have a cat named SUSHI?!?!

That is the most New York thing I’ve ever heard,” slam poet Neil Hilborn shouts at a front-row audience member. He then proceeds to burst out laughing.

As the last of the laughter fades away, Hilborn assumes a semi-solemn expression and continues with the poem he had been performing before interrupting himself: “Song XII: In Which the Author Possibly Alienates His Audience,” in which he declares his fervent hatred of cats and his wholehearted belief that they are inherently diabolical creatures.

Hilborn’s work has been shared frequently throughout the Internet: you may have heard his “OCD” poem, which has garnered over 86 million views on Facebook. As a part of his nationwide tour to promote his new book,

“The Future,” Hilborn stopped by Brooklyn for the night on March 24. He is not new to touring: he has already been on multiple poetry tours and has become a veteran of the spoken word community.

At 8:00 p.m., the Murmrr Theater at Grand Army Plaza is crowded with hundreds of twenty-something Brooklynites and buzzes with tangible energy. The medium-sized theater, which doubles as a synagogue, is dimly lit by a few chandeliers hanging above and LED light

ema-

nating from a wooden stage. Most of the hundreds of cushioned seats are filled. I make my way to the eighth or so row, sit, and wait for the show to begin.

The show opens with Brianna Hunt (also known by her moniker “Many Rooms”) performing several original songs on her electric guitar, distinct for their melancholy style. A while

later, former lead singer of the heavy metal band “Life of Agony,” Mina Caputo, follows, performing a series of soft-rock ballads.

Collectively, their set lasts around two hours. Though both are undeniably talented musicians in their own right, various parts of their excessively long repertoire leave the room static, and the two hours are ultimately a tiresome wait.

At 10 p.m., thunderous applause cuts through creeping fatigue as Neil Hilborn walks on stage. Sporting a simple denim vest, black T-shirt, and jeans, along with a strong beard game, Neil Hilborn stands alone at a microphone stand above hundreds, yet his charismatic presence has no difficulty filling every crevice of the room.

From the get-go, scores of “I LOVE YOU”s are shouted, to which he comically shouts, “NO!... I love YOU,” in return, creating ripples of laughter. Soon, however, he half-jokingly acknowledges that he is going to break the cheerful atmosphere by performing continued on page 16

Fareeha Tabassum / The Spectator

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 16

Arts and Entertainment Tinder Bios, Evil Cats, and Spoken Word

Stuyle Corner

continued from page 15

A STATEMENT ON STATEMENTS

By Julia Panas

Undead Art

Every issue, we bring back old or unused art and slap a caption underneath.

“I love you more than I love Mathematical Memes for Logarithmically Scaled Teens.”

Klaire Geller / The Spectator

Christine Jegarl / The Spectator

of a follower vaping, along with the caption of one of his lyrics, “Learn to make clouds using only your breath.”

Hilborn engages with audience members avidly. The chemistry is not contrived but organic: those at the show would have caught him trashing the NY Rangers with an audience member unapologetically, flipping off the entire audience multiple times, and having a laughing fit that lasts several solid minutes during the middle of one of his performances. These tangents are welcomed with delight by the audience, and are perhaps the chief reason why his live shows are worth attending.

Hilborn announces that he will end with one last poem, and an audience member aggressively shouts “NO!!!” in response, inducing one of Hilborn’s last laughing fits of the show. As his last words ring in the theater, he takes a deep breath, steps back from the microphone stand, and walks offstage in farewell.

Sally Chen / The Spectator

A note to our readers: This marks the first installment of Julia Panas’s tentatively ongoing column, “Stuyle Corner,” the intention of which is to comment on topics of fashion in and out of Stuy, and hopefully inspire students in their own fashion sense. …

A lime lip, a costume tutu skirt, a studded leather jacket. You see them on the street and your eyes turn instantly in admiration.

It’s those statements that make one stand out from the crowd. You look and you think, “I wish I could pull that off.”

Despite a large interest in statements, many people are disinclined to take the leap. What may seem like as simple task— swiping on a shade of lipstick, for example—becomes magnified in difficulty when you start to second-guess yourself. These feelings are normal when trying something new for the first time, and a new look is no exception.

But that doesn’t mean you can’t overcome them. All you need is a bit of courage.

As with anything, you’ll never know the value of wearing statements if you don’t try.

Even though you may have doubts initially, by the end of the day your confidence will be greatly increased and your mood much improved. Yes, people will look. But not in judgment—they will look in idolization. You will be surprised by the number of compliments you get that day just for trying something different. You will be surprised by how empowered stepping out of your comfort zone will make you feel. All thanks to that piece in the back of your closet you have always wanted to wear but haven’t been brave enough to until now. If you can get over that fear, then girl, you can do anything!

I highly recommend trying this out if you are an introverted person. There is a whole world out there, so go explore it! Statements are known to be a conversation starter, and are very effective for meeting new people. It all starts with a step.

For some of us, donning these bold looks isn’t anything new. At Stuyvesant in particular, the red lip and printed or colored pants have made themselves popular

amidst our ten floors. Statement earrings also have their fair share of the spotlight, with everything from colorful baubles to wire designs to kitsch-inspired fruit and teapots. However, even those who have tried out the trend can always challenge themselves to go further. We all create limits for ourselves, and expanding them will only expand the number of things we can achieve.

An easy way to find inspiration for new looks is through online sources such as Pinterest and Instagram. I also suggest shopping at smaller businesses. Your items will not only be more unique than those from a mass-producing corporation, but also higher quality, and your purchases will support the local community. If you are on a budget, pay special attention to how you can DIY a statement, which will make the piece that much more personalized to you.

Thrifting, too, can be incredibly rewarding. These are the methods that I personally use the most, but do what works for you.

As for the question that comes to us all—what to wear? If you want to start small, try exaggerating pieces you already own. Wear hoop earrings instead of studs, then move on to beads, dangles, and exotic shapes. Remember, the bigger the statement, the bigger the reaction. Don’t be afraid to go all out!

Another option is lipstick. A millennial pink, a classic red, a brilliant green—go as far as you are not comfortable. The same goes for clothing. If you usually wear black, try wearing a pastel or bright color. If jeans are your go-to, try a skirt or a pair of trousers. Better yet, try something eccentric—for example, a fuzzy blue jacket, checker-print overalls, a 50s-style skirt, or a sequin shirt.

Wear what inspires you, and you will inspire others.

Don’t be afraid to get out there and try something new. And remember, this is applicable to girls, boys, and everyone in between.

You are not confined by your gender to wearing certain clothes. The purpose of statements is to step out of your box and wear what you want to wear, so figure out what your box is and erase those lines!

Nothing can stop you. I promise, it will be more amazing than you can imagine.

“sad poems.” But he invites, or more so encourages, the audience to laugh at even the dark parts, suicide jokes not being an exception. “Listen,” Hilborn chuckles, “if you’re uncomfortable with suicide jokes, then it’s gonna be a pretty sh*tty set.”

For the next hour, Hilborn performs a myriad of poems that range from one to three minutes long. He first structures his set with “sad poems,” followed by several of his comical ones that elicit deafening uproars from the audience. His most intense, emotional works constitute the climax of the show, and he closes with more light-hearted yet nonetheless powerful poems.

The audience cracks up at his performance of “Rejected Ideas for Tinder Bios,” in which he shares a list of humorously self-deprecating mock Tinder bios that are simultaneously sad yet all too laughable. Yet there are times when the room is com-

pletely silent other than Neil’s voice candidly painting his past struggles: depression, suicide attempts, heartbreak, and the ugliness of mental illness. However, throughout it all, you can count on each poem remaining true to his identity and distinctly Hilborn: anecdotal, personal, and laced with a unique humor that makes it inviting to the listener.

The show is far from Hilborn packing in poem after poem; rather, it is a dialogue between him and the sea of reciprocating stans in front of him. He shares multiple humorous anecdotes, regaling the audience with stories about inadvertently insulting a blonde Trump supporter who has been at his Philly show three years in a row and counting, to awkwardly performing to an angered crowd in Wisconsin after having mistakenly insulted the Green Packers, to having a statue of Jesus Christ looming above his head in one of his past tour venues as he shouted “HAIL SATAN” throughout his set, to being tagged on Instagram in a photo

When you bring home the first ever Pulitzer Prize for Music

Forgetting which rock you hid your USB under before scanning into school

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 17

Humor These articles are works of fiction. All quotes are libel and slander.

The Truth Behind Each Spectator Department

By Victor Kuang Having infiltrated The Spectator as a writer over half a year ago, I know all about the shady dealings that the editors don’t want you to know about. That being said, it is my privilege to deliver the cold, honest truth to y’all about each department involved in this paper in hopes that you will not have to endure the suffering I have to. Stay woke #speciscorrupt.

News Department Although composed almost entirely out of fake or irrelevant news, the News section, tragically, is perhaps the only section that most students read glance.

The reason for their astounding amount of skims is quite obvious: they’re always on the front page (angery reaccs only).

As the only department with legitimate viewers, News writers tend to be more extra about writing articles compared to nearly every non-Features department.

Thanks to their influence in the school, at least one or two people actually fill out their Google forms.

Features Department

Features writers are generally approachable, but mention the News department to them, and they either a) cry b) get flippin’ hostile c) cry AND get flippin’ hostile. Most writers in this department write while eating halal food on a bench near the Hudson River, where they more

By Angélique Charles-Davis Welcome to the Oversized Kinfolk application. As an oversized kin, you are expected to uphold all of our 229 pillars (including perpetually smiling, being honest yet positive about life at Stuy, and attending the Oversized-Kinfolk-Undersized-Kinfolk-Dancewith-a funky-theme against your will).

Email supremeismymaster00@stuy.edu Why do you think you’d be a good oversized kin?

My friends have always told me I’m a straight-up scholar, so I feel like I have to share some of my wisdom with the younger scholars. I also have huge traps from my experience with hardcore junior varsity baseball, (which has its first home game at Pier 40 in three and a half months so GET HYPEE) meaning I definitely think I would be able to hold up all 229 pillars.

List 5 of Your Extracurriculars

By Laura Ilioaei

As the dawn’s sun peeked over the horizon one chilly February morning, Akiko “Shiro One” Miyakami placed the finishing touches on the mural located on the fifth floor. As she packed her spray paints, cleaning supplies, and other art paraphernalia, she hoped that the mural would inspire athleticism in those who passed by it. Little did Miyakami know that the subjects in her artworks would inspire

or less pull off unfunny Spec Humor articles.

Loyal readers glancers often get confused as to why they need to know about topics such as a teacher’s favorite qualities in a student, Stuyvesant’s most beloved water fountain, or the background checks performed on our janitors. Nonetheless, the Features department provides invaluable content, especially for the New York Post.

paper.

Although they put an admirable amount of effort, Opinions writers often fail to understand that people are simply uninterested in reading articles that

Editorial Board Ya boi’ll lose his job if I talk about this. That’s all I’m gonna say.

Opinions Department

Despite receiving significantly fewer glances than News, the Opinions department is “magically” the most respected department in The Spectator (angriest reacc) thanks to its supposedly intelligent material.

Opinions writers often meticulously write their articles at some liberal coffee shop (usually Starbucks), using credible sources such as a novice policy debater’s debate case or some freshman’s Model UN position

The Arts and Entertainment department’s role is really self explanatory. Articles typically cover things that you’ve probably never heard of, such as reviews of artisanal coffee beans that have been breast fed by the earth goddess herself and sung Himalayan lullabies since they were only saplings.

As a ripoff Opinions department, whenever this department is faced with the word “Opinions,” writers react in a fashion similar to Features writers hearing about the News department.

Being the least overshadowed department compared to other heavily overshadowed departments (I see you Copy), Arts and Entertainment writers are pure enigmas that must have somehow gotten lost on their way to LaGuardia.

Humor Department

Rebecca Collins / The Spectator

are longer than a Common App essay.

Arts and Entertainment

Interestingly, there’s actually little to nothing wrong with this department (#bestdept).

And I’m not just saying that because of the NDA I signed upon joining. Long story short, it’s a bunch of sadbois who look at normie memes for inspiration to use in their articles.

Sports Department Although it features the least relevant content in the entire newspaper, this department’s ar-

Oversized Kinfolk Applications

Straight up grinding: Stuy 2020 lol Yung shooting: 6 pfps per week, 3,000 accounts per year.

Staying woke: 24/7 all year round, bro Halal cart food tour guide: Only when it’s nice out Getting into vicious political battles on Facebook: Only when mom lets me use the computer

first day of school. What advice would you give them based on your own experience at Stuy?

LOL turn around and

Describe your favorite moment with your oversized kinfolk.

This one time, my oversized kin told me about all the ways I could enrich my mind while at Stuy by using the tools around me, such as: college-educated teachers, ARISTA peer tutoring, our state-of-the-art library, and the wide variety of extracurriculars. The other option, of course, was to cut class and juul with the sophomores. We both laughed, knowing what I would definitely end up doing. What a tender moment.

Darren Liang / The Spectator

Imagine you are speaking to your undersized kinfolk on the

leave. In all seriousness, don’t get addicted to your phone. Stay off

Snapchat, Instagram, and most of all the Subway app because nothing is worse than being addicted to checking for optimal routes.

I’m still in recovery. Luckily, the aggressive signs which have been posted on every available square inch of wall at Stuy, reminding me that my phone is more dangerous than a loaded gun, have been helping me a lot.

But who knows, maybe you’ll make it through unscathed.

Maybe you’ll be valedictorian, maybe you’ll drop out a week before graduation, or maybe you’ll look back on these years and smile.

Maybe it’s Maybelline.

How would you encourage your undersized kinfolk to get involved in extracurriculars?

Honestly, I only care about robot-

Street-Art Sparks Sporty School Spirit

passersby, but not in the way she most likely meant them to..

Well, they do say that talented artists are able to make their works “come to life,” but I’m sure the same “they” didn’t intend that literally!

Art speaks to its viewer.

“CATCH!” exclaimed one of the chibi characters from the fifth floor mural as they spiked a volleyball toward one of the Vixen players. Caught by surprise, the Vixen yelped

when the volleyball struck her funny bone. The exaggerated caricature character pouted at her for letting the ball hit the floor so easily.

“At this rate, the graveyard is going to have better digging than you.”

The Vixen pouted at the chibi as angry adrenaline coursed through her veins.

The chibi returned to stillness upon the wall, leaving the Vixen determined to prove her sly, cunning, and otherwise foxy techniques on the court.

Spite is, after all, one of life’s chief motivators. Invigorated, she grabbed the volleyball and went off to do extra training.

And with that, she was to be the one to spike the Vixens’ way into the championships in the autumn of 2018. Would she admit that it was because of a character on that stretchy, crimson wall blanket who spoke to her? Absolutely not!

That’d be nonsensical!

Art propagates beliefs.

Another chibi from the

ticles ironically get more viewers than most other departments, second only to News. Most of their glances occur on the Tribeca bridge, when students fleeing the school accidentally catch a word printed on the back of a mangled copy.

Sports viewership recently skyrocketed to one, courtesy of Senator of Ohio John Kasich, who was trying to track down Stuyvesant’s next Friday football game. The more persistent Spectator glancers often scratch their heads in confusion because the terminology used in these articles more cumbersome than a complex calculus test. However, the Sports department’s material is considered to be vital to student athletes and is allowed to keep operating.

All Non-Writing Departments

The non-writing departments are like Santa’s endlessly laboring elves, except the recognition they receive in nonexistent. Long story short: Business consists of power-hungry capitalists, Copy is just itching to decapitate you with an em dash, Photo’s biggest dream is to make it big on Tumblr, Art is a bunch of tortured souls yearning to frolic through fields of gold, Layout is Suffering, and Web is a bunch of silent IT guys (seriously, where are they??? Who are they??? What do they know about my browser history???)

ics and terracycle. As long as everything goes in the right bin, it doesn’t matter what they do after school. Unfortunately, I learned a few weeks into freshman year that ‘Battery After 10th’ is not an extracurricular, even though it technically does take place after 10th period and could potentially be a school-sponsored event.

Neither are Complaining During 10th and Sleeping During Third, although these are common Stuyvesant student activities. I wouldn’t want my undersized kinfolk to make the same mistakes I did.

Describe something funny or embarrassing that has happened to you at Stuy.

This year, I really went all out with academics while trying to hang out with friends, exercise for one hour per day, eat according to FDA standards, smile, drink two liters of water per day, and have skin that bounces back naturally.

These attempts were altogether the funniest things to happen all year.

mural held a camera as the Peglegs team made an early recruitment advertisement.

(Lately, interest meeting posters haven’t been enough propaganda to entice freshmen onto the team.)

“Achievement is our motto,” quoted a Pegleg as he proceeded to pull a random line from his scholarly head.

“We have succeeded in taking consecutive L’s for the past decade.” Another Pegleg proudly continued on page 18

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 18

Humor Street-Art Sparks Sporty School Spirit

continued from page 17

stood in front of his teammate.

“I’m honored to say that our next game will be in Division Z! Against an ant colony!”

All of the other members gave a standing ovation before they dabbed in unison. The chibi ended the video because they believed that the entire point of the advert had been punted out of the field of the Peglegs’ persuasive purpose.

“Your objective in making this video has landed in the outfield.”

“This is American football!

WE DON’T EVEN HAVE AN OUTFIELD.” “Yeah, but you practically punted the point of your video so far out of where it was supposed to be originally that you may as well be talking about another sport.”

While the chibi has yet to improve the team’s ballin’ (or was it bawlin’?) streak, keep your eyes peeled for when a football-sized cookie is used during practices to motivate every team member to increase touchdown frequency.

“Because nobody has the right to touch MY food,” said the Peglegs as they tried to cra-

THE CRICKET-PEEP RETURNS.

By Laura Ilioaei

THE SCHOOL TOWARD A BRIGHTER FUTURE!” “That was wheely, wheely terrible,” groaned a student, overwhelmed by the saccharine, overtly idealistic nature of Chibi Liberty’s encouragement. Regardless, the class sprinted on the pedals, pedaling with such incredible acceleration that everyone appeared to be a fuzzy mirage of straining limbs and flailing pedals.

A few weeks ago, Shiro was surprised to find that members of the physical education department had left voicemails of thanks for not only

her phenomenal artistic ability, but also for the fact that interest in athletics had increased exponentially (and for once, not only for the sake of having another extracurricular to write about in college essays) within Stuy. Even the sports department had been overwhelmed with interested applicants.

“Our pitch at recruitments was all it took to fully convince everyone,” remarked editors Celina Liu, Ariel Melendez, and Jeremy Rubin, as they blushed with glee.

Juuling Declines During AP Season

By William Huang and Abdulla Elkhadrawy

As AP season draws closer, a disturbing trend has emerged among the bathroom-dwelling population of Stuyvesant High School. According to several janitorial reports, the boys’ bathrooms across all floors have been uncommonly free of noxious vapors emitted from so-called juuls, the notorious e-cigarettes which have recently declined in popularity.

“I can finally clean the toilets without being exposed to second-hand juuling. Unfortunately, there is now nothing to mask the scent of feces and sexual desperation,” an anonymous janitor said.

The administration has also reported fewer criminal activities around the school.

“We are witnessing the dawn of a new era,” physical education teacher Vasken Choubaralian said. “With those pesky flash drives out of the mouths of our brilliant students, the rate of delinquency has greatly declined. I worry that I will run out of students to terrorize soon.”

The school has indeed seen fewer incidences of intoxicated students breaking the escalators and cutting class to engage in unholy rituals in the bathrooms. Choubaralian has attributed these activities to the corrupting moral influence of juuls.

There have been several attempts to explain this phenomenon. Some anarchists have claimed that the Student Union, which is leading the newly christened fascist Stuyvesant Empire, has been brutally cracking down on juuling with its secret police. Others have claimed that a lone vigilante

has been snatching everyone’s juuls. Health teacher Barbara Garber offers her own perspective.

“Thanks to my baby project, students have finally realized the negative impact of smoking on their future children,” Garber said.

However, a new investigation launched by the administration has revealed that students have actually been trading their juuls for AP exam prep books.

“I don’t personally engage in this foul practice called ‘juuling,’ but I get why people are stopping,” junior David Vinokur said. “AP season is right around the corner and we have

to be scholars. Juuls are temporary, but grades are forever.”

Students have been reporting to class and to the library in record numbers.

“This is incredible,” librarian Jonathan Cheng said. “I’ve never had this many students to kick out of the library at once.”

After years of humiliating cheating scandals, it seems that the Stuyvesant student body has finally come to its moral senses and is on the path to redemption. The short-term consequences of the decline in juuling have been very promising, though it remains to be seen if scores actually improve this year.

Klaire Geller / The Spectator

Last year, some schmuck allegedly released an orchestra of crickets onto the first floor, and they proceeded to hop on every viola, violin, cello, and bass on sight. This event was so ridiculous that, like every other absurd news story, it passed around the school like a game of telephone; the original tale was transmitted to many individuals and warped into several different scenarios via gossip. The story reached every corner of the student body except The Spectator Editorial Board. Then, it caused many students to throw their hands in the air and declare that it was all a fallacy because the truth was incapable of being discovered.

Everyone promptly forgot about it.

This year, the schmuck returned with something even more problematic, wreaking even greater havoc which could not be swept underneath the carpet: the spirits of leprechauns. Not even the schmuck anticipated that they would receive more than they bargained for when these leprechaun spirits mischievously floated away from the half-floor and into the classrooms of the floors above.

“We can’t float up to Heaven, but the 10th floor of Stuyvesant High School is the next best thing,” chuckled one spirit, as the others purposely spilled paint all over the area, spelling “U R AN APRIL FOOL, LOL” as far as the eye could see. Another mocked illustrations of his relatives in a thick volume of Irish folklore. “I lepre-cannot even right now,” cackled the spirits, throwing it out of the sixth floor window as students exclaimed in horror.

“Madonna mia!” cried a student, pulling out a rosary and pieces of garlic from her lunch before

quoting several Hail Marys. Her friend would’ve smacked her in the face for her stupidity (“That only works on VAMPIRES,” you dummy!), but she was so frightened that she joined her friend in their stupidity, so they stupidly grabbed onto one another and wailed in unison.

Physics teacher Daisy Sharaf was having none of this supernatural nonsense. After she ensured the safety of her students, she left the room and placed a cat talisman in the form of a pendant around her neck, for it would take the power of nine lives to fully wrap one’s head around even a fraction of leprechaun claptrap. She grabbed a megaphone and summoned every leprechaun spirit to the halffloor. Though none of them were known to be obedient, their curiosity got the better of them as they giddily gathered in a spirited clump.

“Be ready to be GREEN WITH ENVY!” She held a sweet, greencolored concoction in her other hand. One of the leprechaun spirits gasped.

“Oh my god. It’s the legendary…” they squealed. “...SHAMROCK SHAKE!” The rest of the crowd finished the sentence.

“Give it to me!”

“I WILL GIVE YOU ALL MY GOLD FOR. A. SIP.” “THE HOLY ELIXIR OF EARTH THAT MAKES LIVING ON IT WORTHWHILE.” “BE QUIET!” Sharaf exclaimed. “Okay, so the McDonald’s down the street is selling these—” She didn’t even finish her sentence before the horde stampeded out the door, never to be seen again.

As for the schmuck? Well, the schmuck’s a second term senior now, so nobody cares, honestly.

dle the cookie in their arms.

Art enables subjects to come together in unison.

“GO FASTER!” Dr. Markova exclaimed to her fourth period spin class. She didn’t understand why her students couldn’t grasp her commands.

What was she doing wrong?

She pleaded with her eyes at the mural of the chibi Lady Liberty making waves and peace signs on the spin room wall.

Chibi Liberty came to life.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “Increase the frequency of the sine waves! MAKE THE WAVES! BE THE WAVES THAT PEDAL

A New Use For The Buying And Selling Group

By Oliver Ripps

With every new semester, students scramble to get the easiest teachers and endlessly complain when guidance counselors, AP’s, and Mr. Contreras all decline their demands to change every one of their classes to Poetry, Basketball, and five lunches. They are desperately left with one option: overpaying seniors for their spot in that class.

Although seedy transactions are no new phenomenon, they are now hijacking the buying and selling Facebook group. Normally, this group is used for copping that

latest Supreme hoodie and attempting to avoid breaking the bank on a drafting kit.

This year, the most memorable purchase in the group was a freshman buying an 11th floor pool pass for $1500. Last year, the record was set by a student with a broken leg who sold his elevator pass for $500 to a very lazy second-term senior (he used the cash to buy a new leg and a Club Penguin Island membership). The pass was then resold to a sleepless junior for $900. Rumor has it that he was so tired that he thought he saw a decimal after the 9 and considered it a bargain. And yet, these prices

pale in comparison to the current market for classes.

A high demand class like Algebra I for seniors could go for $5000, or various services buyers deem worth the transfer (wink wink). The class list was quickly posted, and enrolled students were immediately drowned with urgent pm’s. Junior Robert Nava, who was in this math class, had to deactivate his Facebook because he was getting harassed every five minutes with offers for his spot. Luckily, now he will not have all of his information sold by Mark Zuckerberg.

Per the history of the Face-

book group, ambiguous price tags on class swaps can lead to bidding wars and even physical altercations. Two freshmen almost killed each other in the Hudson staircase over a fifth period biology class.

Both are in critical condition and sustained possibly fatal wounds from being stabbed with freshly sharpened pencils. During their time in the hospital, with their organs laying on a table, they learned more about biology than they would have in the class.

The administration has come out as a direct opponent of this selling and has been taking extreme precaution-

ary measures to stop it. Many teachers even suggested that the buying and selling group should be shut down. Students are outraged by this idea, claiming they would have to pay an extra $5.00 for a brand new doll for the baby project.

“I wouldn’t care at all about the fighting, but Contreras is concerned about the New York Post picking up this story and exposing another Stuyvesant scandal,” AP of Security, Health, and P.E. Brian Moran said. These transactions will die down as the semester progresses, but all bets will be off for Rollerblading next fall.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

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Page 19

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 20

Sports March Madness

“Super”-Nova Does it Again

By AHMED HUSSEIN and SUNAN TAJWAR March Madness is over and has certainly lived up to the billing. Records were broken and history was made. But most importantly, this was one of the most exciting NCAA runs in history. Here are some of the highlights of this year’s journey.

Late Drama

This year’s men’s tournament featured some thrilling buzzer beaters, but none stand out quite as much as Arike Ogunbowale’s. The Notre Dame junior scored two last second three pointers (in the Final Four and Championship Games) to help the Fighting Irish to their second NCAAW championship 17 years after their first. University of Michigan freshman Jordan Poole’s game-winner against Houston went in with no time left on the clock. But buzzer beaters are nothing new; rather, the competitiveness of so many games was the real surprise. In total, there were 26 games decided by five points or fewer, including three games that were forced into overtime. In 11 of those games, the final margin was just one possession. Other than Villanova, all teams in the Final Four had nail-biters. With successful buzzer beaters usually come failed ones, and this year was no exception. Kansas won three consecutive games by a fourpoint margin, the last of which was only possible when Grayson Allen’s attempted buzzer-beater rolled around the rim twice before falling out and resulting in overtime.

position in the first four rounds of the tournament and put together a historic and inspiring run. Loyola-Chicago’s first three games were decided by a combined total of just four points, and all three games featured a clutch bucket by a different Rambler in the final seven seconds. Without Sister Jean’s help, these players may not have had the confidence to get those vital points. Sister Jean only added to this Cinderella story, making it even more memorable.

come. As the second half rolled around, the unthinkable happened. UMBC began to pull away, outscoring the Cavaliers by 20 points in the second half.

The final score was 74-54 in favor of the 16 seed. For the first time ever, the first seed of the tournament was upset in the first round by the 16th. The Retrievers played with a chip on their shoulders, and this caught a vulnerable Virginia team expecting to roll through to the Final Four by surprise. This loss personifies

upset in the first round. This time, it was the consensus number one college basketball player in the country DeAndre Ayton, who with his Arizona Wildcats team, crashed out of the tournament against Buffalo in blowout fashion. Talent-wise, Arizona was one of the best teams in the nation, their centerpiece being center/power-forward Ayton, who is likely to be a top two pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. Even with all their talent, the Wildcats lost by 21, with the

DiVincenzo puts on a performance for the history books in the National Championship Game.

Disappointments and Early Exits

We all came into March Madness with our perfect brackets, hoping we had at least guessed the majority of the first round correctly. Well, the tournament’s number one overall seed, the ACC Champion Virginia Cavaliers, destroyed the hope of many in the very first

the true chaos and unpredictability of March Madness.

Trae Young and his Oklahoma Sooners also fell victim to March Madness. The fact that the Sooners were even invited to the tournament was controversial, as the Sooners’s late season struggles saw their loss column pile up to 14 with a few terrible showings at home in Norman, Oklahoma.

final score being 89-68, Buffalo. All these games go to show that it’s not always about which team has the most talent or best schemes during March Madness; it’s about which teams can get hot at the right time, and how far their momentum can carry them in the most chaotic tournament in college sports.

Sister Jean and the Ramblers

Entering the tournament as an 11 seed, the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers were expected by almost no one to advance further than the Sweet 16. In fact, most people didn’t expect them to win their first game. Against all odds, the Ramblers found themselves preparing for a Final Four game against the three seed Michigan Wolverines. Obviously, the players played the games, but the beloved team chaplain, Sister Jean, was an influential factor in them.

Over the course of the tournament, Sister Jean became a viral celebrity and was greeted by cheers, waves, and dozens of outstretched phones when she rolled out to her seat before the Ramblers’s semifinal game against the Wolverines. The 98-year-old leaned up from her wheelchair to greet each Rambler with a hug and a few encouraging words before and after each game. Sister Jean gave the Ramblers the passion and drive they needed to edge out the op-

round. Virginia played some of the best defense in the entire country and consistently played efficient offense against some of the best teams throughout the season. Fresh off an ACC title victory against North Carolina, the NCAA tournament defending champions, they were the oddson favorite to take it all this year.

A 16 seed has never defeated a first seed in the history of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Cavaliers were about to make history.

Virginia, who had lost just two games all season, ran into an the unlikely, worst nightmare in the first round of the playoffs—the UMBC Retrievers. The nerves were present when the 16 seed went blow for blow against Virginia the first half, but even the 21-21 scoreline didn’t signal the upset that was about to

Tiffany Zhong / The Spectator

Sometimes, the NCAA tournament committee can’t help themselves, and Trae Young had been the face of college basketball all season, so it was almost inevitable that his team made the tournament. The controversy didn’t last long however, because like Virginia, Oklahoma flamed out in the first round, losing to the Rhode Island Rams. Young did his part with 28 points and 7 assists, which included a few clutch shots down the stretch to send the game to overtime, but if you’re going to be the face of college basketball, you’re going to be judged as such. Trae Young simply did not show up in overtime, helping his team muster up only nine points to Rhode Island’s 14. The game ended 83-78, Rhode Island.

There was one more major

Villanova Wins Their Second Championship in Three Years

On their way to the Final Four, the Villanova Wildcats played like a true number one seed, asserting their dominance over each of their first four opponents by double-digit victories.

Players like Mikal Bridges, Omari Spellman, national player of the year Jalen Brunson, and Donte DiVincenzo led the way for the Wildcats. Once the Final Four rolled around, the Wildcats ran into another number one seed that was on fire at the moment, the Kansas Jayhawks. Coached by future Hall of Fame coach Bill Self and led by their two dominant players, Deontay Graham and Malik Newman, the Kansas Jayhawks were coming off an overtime victory against the second seeded Duke Blue Devils. The clash between these two

number one seeds in the Final Four was sure to be a barn-burner with heavy offensive arsenals on both sides.

Surprisingly, it did not take long for Villanova to put out Kansas’s fire. The Wildcats hit 13 three-pointers in the first half alone. The previous record for three pointers made in a Final Four game was 13 by UNLV, and the Wildcats had matched that by half-time. Omari Spellman and Eric Paschall stretched the floor and turned into deep range deadeyes. At one point in the first half, the Jayhawks were down by 15 points. With all due credit, the Jayhawks then scored on their next five possessions but ended up being down by 17 points even after that run. This just goes to show how unstoppable Villanova was all game. The final score was 95-79, Villanova, and even that scoreline does not do Villanova’s dominance justice. After the game, head coach Jay Wright basically apologized to Bill Self and the Kansas team, saying, “Sometimes everything you shoot just goes in.”

Going into the national championship game against the Michigan Wolverines, the Wildcats were not ready to slow down. Though a lot of their players fell into foul trouble, and their national player of the year, Jalen Brunson, only had nine points, the Wildcats quickly turned the game around. From the bench hailed the red-haired Italian stallion DiVincenzo from Delaware, and he put on arguably the greatest performance in a national championship game we have ever seen. His deep range and tough finishing not only erased the deficit, but also spurred his team to start quickly pulling away from the Wolverines. But it didn’t stop there, as every time the Wolverines began to chip away at the double-digit deficit, Delaware’s Mr. Basketball hit a cold-blooded three to bury any hope of a comeback. He ended with a championship game record tying 31 points, three assists, and five rebounds. His defensive performance was up to par with his offensive performance, as his two-handed block in the second half was about as good a defensive play as you will see in college basketball.

The Villanova team had a great defensive performance as a whole, suffocating the Michigan Wolverines at the three point line and locking down their best player, Mo Wagner, as the game progressed. DiVincenzo won the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award, and Villanova won their second title in three years with a final score of 79-62. For the second time this year, Philly is a city of champions.

Boys’ Handball

By ALAN WANG and ANSH SHARMA Captain and senior Alvin Chen of the Dragons, Stuyvesant’s boys’ handball team, faced off against his Chelsea Career and Technical Education opponent to open up their game early in the season. He dominated in a 21-11 win, finishing with a kill and three aces and setting the tone for the rest of the match, a 4-1 Dragon victory.

Dragons On Fire in Season Opener

Though he started off sluggish, going down 5 points, Chen eventually came back to win the game. “I liked how Alvin came back though [he was] down a lot and [was able to] start the Dragons out strong in an important match,” coach Bernard Feigenbaum said.

The Dragons are 7-0 this season, unsurprising given they’ve lost two games in the past four years. As the match against Chelsea continued, the crowd erupt-

ed as they watched seniors and first doubles Moatasim Butt and Chancey Lau. The duo prevailed 21-20, sealing the victory for the first match of the season with last year’s captain James Young (‘17) in attendance.

Last season’s end proved bittersweet, as eight out of their 12 total players were graduating.

Though the team this year initially approached the season as only a rebuilding season, seniors Chen, Butt, and Lau are all sur-

passing expectations.

The team also has players past their singles capable of dominating matches. Third singles and sophomore Danny Wu defeated his opponent 21-6. Senior Austin Leung and sophomore Oliver Cai of second doubles were also able to quickly knock off their opponents 21-9. This depth will be key for Stuyvesant deeper in the season.

Even with another strong start to this season, the Dragons

will need to exorcise their playoff demons. Last season, fifth seed Stuyvesant lost to Fort Hamilton High School in the quarterfinals.

The year prior, the Dragons were upset by 13-seeded Cardozo, again in the quarterfinals. Given the deep, veteran team they have (seven seniors) and another undefeated start, another run appears to be on the horizon.

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 21

Sports Major League Baseball

Baseball’s Back! “Bold” Predictions Heading Into the 2018 MLB Season

By FRANKLIN LIOU and JOOAHN SUR Although the Major League Baseball (MLB) offseason was relatively slow compared to prior offseasons, there were several notable splashes late in the game. Right fielder and 2017 National League (NL) MVP Giancarlo Stanton was traded from the Miami Marlins to the New York Yankees in exchange for second baseman Starlin Castro and two prospects. The Milwaukee Brewers upgraded their outfield by trading for right fielder Christian Yelich and signing center fielder Lorenzo Cain. Left fielder J.D. Martinez signed with the Boston Red Sox, first baseman Eric Hosmer signed with the San Diego Padres, and starting pitcher Yu Darvish signed with the Chicago Cubs. The Los Angeles Angels made a number of changes to their roster, acquiring starting pitcher/designated hitter Shohei Ohtani from Japan, third baseman Zack Cozart, and second baseman Ian Kinsler.

American League (AL)

• East Champion: New York Yankees (NYY) • Central Champion: Cleveland Indians • West Champion: Houston Astros • Wild Card: Boston Red Sox • Wild Card: Los Angeles Angels (LAA) If the Angels’ rotation can stay healthy, they will sneak into the postseason for the first time since 2014 with their improved lineup.

The Yankees, led by their powerful lineup of outfielders Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez, will win at least 95 games and dethrone the

Red Sox as AL East champions. The Cleveland Indians, who had a quiet offseason, will again easily win the weak AL Central, while the 2017 World Series champion Houston Astros will win the AL West for the second straight season.

Most Valuable Player (MVP): Mike Trout (LAA)

Trout is the best positional player in the majors and has been for the past five years. He has put up crazy numbers over his career and can be counted on to hit at least .300 when healthy, with 30+ home runs, 100+ Runs Batted In (RBIs), and 20 stolen bases. The only competition this year is Houston’s Jose Altuve, who won the award last season, always seems to sneak on base, and has developed surprising power over the past two years.

Cy Young: Luis Severino (NYY)

Yankees ace Luis Severino will build on his two years of experience in the big leagues to become one of the American League’s top pitchers. He has a fastball that tops out at 100 mph and a wicked slider with ever-improving control. The sky’s the limit for this stud.

Rookie of the Year: Shohei Ohtani (LAA)

Japanese phenomenon Shohei Ohtani was one of the most highly coveted players this offseason due to his impressive play in Japan and ability to pitch, hit, and play the field at a high level. Though he had a rude awakening during Spring Training, expectations are still high for him. He’s gotten off to a great start both on the mound and at the plate this regular season, winning his first start and hitting three early

home runs, not to mention that this is a relatively weak field compared to previous years.

National League

• East Champion: Washington Nationals • Central Champion: Chicago Cubs • West Champion: Los Angeles Dodgers (LAD) • Wild Card: Milwaukee Brewers • Wild Card: Colorado Rockies In the National League, the Washington Nationals, led by 2017 NL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer and 2015 NL MVP right fielder Bryce Harper, will win the NL East by a sizable margin. The 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs will win the NL Central for the third straight season, though they will face some tougher competition with the revamped Brewers, who will make the postseason for the first time since 2011. The NL West, arguably the best division in baseball, will see the Los Angeles Dodgers crowned as division champions for the sixth consecutive season. The Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks will face off in the last few weeks of the season for the second wild card spot, with the Rockies eventually winning that battle.

MVP: Nolan Arenado (COL)

In each of the past three years, Arenado has hit nearly 40 home runs and batted in 130 runners while maintaining a batting average of around .300. He has always been in the running for MVP for his power, clutch factor, and stellar glove at the hot corner but has somehow never won the award.

The only reason why he has not won the award yet is because many attribute his crazy statistics to the high altitude of Colorado that allows the ball to travel further. However, after another elite year, Arenado will prove himself to be the most valuable player in the NL.

Cy Young: Clayton Kershaw (LAD)

As long as he can stay healthy, this pick shouldn’t come as a surprise, as this future hall- of-fame-r will win his fourth Cy Young award in 2018. Kershaw has been regarded as the best pitcher in the majors for nearly his entire career, and nothing is slowing him down, unless, of course, it is the playoffs.

Rookie of the Year: Ronald Acuña (ATL)

Braves top prospect Ronald Acuna had high expectations going into Spring Training and lived up to them, batting .432 while hitting four home runs in only 16 games.

This five-tool player was on fire and showed us just a glimpse of what he might be able to do when he inevitably gets called up later in the year.

Playoff Predictions

• AL Championship Series: Astros over Yankees • NL Championship Series: Cubs over Dodgers • World Series: Astros over Cubs In the postseason, the Yankees and Astros will cruise through the rest of the AL and will once again face off in the AL Championship series. The series will be extremely close, as the home run hitters in the Yankees lineup will look to keep up with the Astros’ potent lineup of its own. Ultimately, the difference in

this series will be the starting pitching, as the Astros’ rotation of Justin Verlander, Dallas Keuchel, Gerrit Cole, and Lance McCullers Jr. will be able to dampen the Yankees’ bats, while the same cannot be said about the Yankees rotation, which is mediocre aside from Severino.

Astros in 7.

Meanwhile, the Cubs’ lineup struggled last season, as the World Series hangover prevented them from making it past the Dodgers in the NL Championship series.

This time around, things will be different. The Cubs’ hitters, led by 2016 NL MVP third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Addison Russell, and outfielder Kyle Schwarber, will have huge bounce-back years and produce ample amounts of runs throughout the postseason. The Cubs’ addition of Darvish to their rotation will certainly help, as he will stifle the Dodgers’ bats when he pitches. (Potential) 2018 Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw’s postseason struggles will continue, and the injury bug may bite the rest of the rotation (especially Rich Hill and Hyun-Jin Ryu) again, putting the Dodgers at a severe disadvantage. Cubs in 6.

The 2018 World Series will feature the champions from the last two seasons in the Cubs and Astros.

In a 7-game series, Houston’s rotation and strong bullpen combined with the depth in their lineup will overwhelm the Cubs. The Astros also made life a living hell for Darvish (who was with the Dodgers last season) in last year’s World Series, by lighting him up for four runs in only 1.2 innings pitched.

The Houston Astros will repeat as champions, becoming the first team to do so since the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

Baseball

Youth and Versatility Key for Peglegs Shifting Lineup

By DIMITRIY LEKSANOV In baseball, where positions are so rigidly defined, the most valuable players are often the ones who can fill the most roles. That, in part, is why the new Los Angeles Angels’ pitcher and designated hitter Shohei Ohtani was so sought after as an international free agent this recent offseason—he poses a veritable threat both offensively and defensively.

At the high school level, versatility is all the more important because of the personnel turnover that happens from year to year.

When asked who he thought was most deserving of commendation for his grit and work ethic over the course of the offseason, senior and co-captain Max Onderdonk spit out the name of junior and co-captain Jeremy Rubin without hesitation. Rubin has played an abundance of positions over his first two seasons, Stuyvesant’s boys’ varsity baseball team, the Peglegs, and was about to pick up a new one.

“I think Jeremy deserves a

shout-out because just two weeks ago, he wasn’t going to catch this year, and now he’s starting at catcher opening day, and for the foreseeable future,” Onderdonk said.

Fellow senior Michael Gillow seconded this notion, saying, “He’s kind of doing it all for us—pitching, catching, and also hitting.”

Considering that the Peglegs lost two starting pitchers, three starting infielders, and a starting catcher to graduation since last season, having a player like Rubin, who can excel in each of those roles, is utterly indispensable.

Even at positions without active competition, the Peglegs are still continuously looking to improve. According to both Onderdonk and Gillow, despite being two of the team’s core members, each of them still have vast improvements to make in their respective games. For Onderdonk, the deficiencies are in his hitting mechanics: “I’ve been struggling a lot as a hitter, so I’m trying to keep my hands closer to my body to shorten up my swing and get back

to the basics,” Onderdonk said.

For Gillow, hitting was a concern last year, as he hit just 0.188 without a single extra-base hit and was removed from the lineup numerous times over the course of the season. However, in the preseason, Gillow seemed to be almost unrecognizably better.

He has hit multiple home runs in non-league games leading up to the season, prompting Onderdonk to predict that he will likely be the team’s best hitter. Yet, despite the success, Gillow is still looking to tweak parts of his game: “I’ve been trying to hit for more power and knock runners in, rather than just try to get on [base],” he said.

Gillow started out the season hot at Bayside High School, hitting a three-run home run in the third inning to put the game out of reach en route to a 5-2 victory.

Over the following four games, he racked up three hits in 12 at-bats, including another home run in a hard-fought, 6-5 victory over Newtown. With three times as many extra-base hits as the rest of the roster combined (3), Gillow has

added a fire and fury that the top of the Peglegs’ lineup has not seen before, while also demonstrating tremendous, encouraging improvement on last season’s woes.

Junior Malcolm Hubbell is another player who emerged over the early stretch of the season.

After batting just 0.250 with one extra-base hit (a double) in 2017, Hubbell is well on his way to surpassing both figures. In just 14 atbats, Hubbell already has five hits, including a triple against West 50th Street Campus, making for a respectable 0.357 batting average, and putting him over the halfway point to last season’s hit total (8).

In addition to his plate prowess, Hubbell has also found success on the mound, filling in in the rotation for senior Khyber Sen, who has missed time with a leg injury. In his first start, an 11-1 victory over West 50th Street Campus, Hubbell threw five shutout innings, giving up just two hits and no walks while striking out four.

While his second start, a 6-5 win over Newtown High School, was not nearly as clean considering

that he gave up five runs on five hits and four walks, his first outing cannot be ignored, especially since it represents the only start during which a Peglegs pitcher has not given up a single run.

As it stands, the Peglegs are currently 4-1, but considering that three of these wins came by three runs or fewer, with two coming by a margin of just one, this torrid pace may not be sustainable. To stay among the city’s elite, the Peglegs will have to put away weaker teams early and stay disciplined on the field and in the batter’s box against stronger teams. This will be put to the test on April 20th against the Benjamin Cardozo High School Judges, who handily dispatched the Peglegs last season, 10-0, and are currently 4-0. The Judges are traditionally a strong pitching team, which indicates that the Peglegs will need an outpouring of power from sources outside of just Michael Gillow in order to stay in the game.

Mayumi Gurung / The Spectator

Mayumi Gurung / The Spectator

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 22

Sports Girls’ Badminton

A Fast Start for Girls’ Badminton

By ELIAS FERGUSON Stuyvesant’s girls’ badminton team brought home their third win against Martin L. King Jr. High School. They won with a score of 5-0, only losing a set in the first doubles match. In that match, senior Jamie Huang and senior and co-captain Mickey Yu of Stuyvesant faced off against Amie Lin and Hillary Pham.

Huang and Yu lost the first set 21-10 but quickly recovered and beat Pham and Lin in the next two sets to win the match.

The other matches were comfortable wins for the team, with every single set going the way of Stuyvesant, leading to 3-0 wins.

The singles exhibition match was also a comfortable win for Stuyvesant, with junior Melissa Gao beating Margaret Olko 21-3 in the single set match.

This fast start marks an excellent beginning to this season

as the team seeks to replicate last season’s success. The girls finished the season 9-1, with the only defeat being at the hands of Seward Park. The rivalry with Seward Park is going to be important this year, with both Stuyvesant and Seward ending last season with 9-1 records. The loss for both teams came from a game against the other. With Seward off to a good start this year, already 5-0, the rivalry games could be the deciding factors in which team ends up at the top of the standings.

Seward Park beat Stuyvesant 4-1 on Monday, April 9. One of Stuyvesant’s stand-out players was senior Ida Wang, who beat her Seward opponent in all three sets by a comfortable margin.

Seward’s Xiahua Liu began well, rallying at the net for a while before eventually beginning to lose points. Each of the sets began with long rallies, but Wang was

too consistently good for Liu. Though Liu tried to throw off Wang with a cheeky serve right next to the net, Wang returned it quickly with a clean backhand to

ing, “Overall, [it was] a loss, but we played them close. We had 15 points or more in every lost set, except for the one where [freshman May Yun Le Phyu] wasn’t

“Overall, [it was] a loss, but we played them close. We had 15 points or more in every lost set, except for the one where [freshman May Yun Le Phyu] wasn’t feeling well.”

—Hugh Francis, coach win the point.

Though the match ended in a defeat, Coach Hugh Francis was not concerned. He was proud of the way his team played, say-

feeling well.”

Francis also drew attention to the fact that his team had only been able to play one real game before facing Seward. He hopes

that this loss can be used to motivate the team and help them improve, especially since the sets were so close. Seward and Stuyvesant often split their two games, and the team will have an opportunity to show their improvement against Seward in about three weeks’ time.

The loss also did not shake Coach Francis’s confidence about the playoffs. “We handled [Martin L. King Jr. High School] pretty well,” he said. “Usually King is the third best team in the division, and the top three teams usually make the playoffs. We should be optimistic, and we should expect to get to the playoffs.”

Coach Francis’s confidence in his team means that they just have to perform with the same consistency as last year. Even if Seward wins again next game, if all goes according to plan, the team will still comfortably be in a playoff spot.

Editorial

Settling the Debate: Why Messi is Better than Ronaldo

By ARIEL MELENDEZ Playing an easy game against Almeria in April of 2015, Cristiano Ronaldo was sprinting toward the opposition’s goal and looking for a cross from his teammate. The cross came, but another teammate, Alvaro Arbeloa, ran directly in front of him and buried his first goal of the season into the back of the net. As Arbeloa immediately turned around to celebrate with his teammates, Ronaldo angrily punted the ball into the back of the net and walked off, muttering to himself and shaking his head.

While YouTube can provide several moments similar to this one—Ronaldo calling for an offside, complaining to the referee about a foul even after one of his teammates scored, or even interfering when a teammate has an easy look at the net and costing his team a goal—it can also provide countless examples of Lionel Messi passing up an easy opportunity to send a perfect pass to a teammate who has a better shooting angle. That is the difference between Messi and Ronaldo.

Messi grew up in Rosario, Argentina. At just 11 years old, he learned that he had a growth hormone deficiency and required hormone treatments.

However, Messi was gritty and tenacious.

He didn’t let his disorder dictate his path any more than he lets defenders do the same today. Unlike Ronaldo, who throws himself if any opposing player comes within three feet of his precious hair, Messi continues to fight with no other choice as defenders slash at his legs and grab his jersey, just as he did after he learned that he needed unaffordable treatment if he wanted to be tall enough to

compete at a professional level.

Just three years later, he was

Messi is simple: “Who’s better?”

Most players, with expected diplomacy, refrain from giving a direct answer and praise both superstars instead. However, controversial striker Carlos Tevez, who played w i t h Messi o n the

Ar-

Suzy B. A. / The Spectator

signed by European giant FC Barcelona.

A popular question asked by the media to players who have played with both Ronaldo and

gentinian national team and with Ronaldo on a championshipwinning Manchester United club team, was very clear about who he considered the superior athlete.

“I think it is only right if Cristiano Ronaldo does believe he is the best in the world. Any guy who gets 37-40 goals a season has a right to believe that, but if you push me, I am always going to go on the side of Messi,” he said.

Gerard Pique, who was Ronaldo’s former teammate on

Manchester United before joining Messi in Barcelona, gave a similar response to Tevez. Despite his immense respect for Ronaldo, when asked which of the two he thought was a better player he said, “I think that they are both amazing. I always said that Messi has some talent that no one has. Cristiano Ronaldo is such a different player. He is tall, strong; he’s really complete. But for me, it’s like Messi is not human but Cristiano is the best of the humans.”

A shallow comparison of Messi and Ronaldo would show that Ronaldo has scored more goals than Messi during their respective careers. However, since the ‘08-’09 season, the first season for which their statistics are comparable in terms of appearances, Messi has a netted .972 goals per game in club play compared to Ronaldo’s .955. Furthermore, in the same span, Messi has recorded .376 assists per game, a whopping .114 assists per game more than Ronaldo’s total.

Under the premises that the main objective of soccer is to win and that an attacker’s job in soccer is to create points for his team, thus giving them the best chance of victory, what gives any soccer player value is their ability to score points. The ultimate test of a player’s ability to create points is a combination of their goal and assist averages. Messi has averaged an astounding 1.358 points while Ronaldo has

averaged a significantly fewer, but nonetheless astounding, 1.069 points. That means, in a average 38 game La Liga season, Messi would score 11 more points for his team than Ronaldo would.

And while it is indisputable that Ronaldo, with his 6’2” frame, has superior physicality to Messi, who comes in at just 5’7”, the fact that Messi has nevertheless performed at a higher level than Ronaldo only speaks to the intangibles that make Messi the greatest active player in the world. A plethora of videos contrasts Ronaldo throwing himself on the ground and immediately calling for a foul to Messi fighting for and winning the ball despite being slashed, pushed, and pulled, sometimes even making a pass after being knocked to the ground.

Additionally, the fact that Messi has only received one red card in his entire career, which occurred in the first minute of his career and is considered a botched call, as opposed to Ronaldo’s 10 red cards and several suspensions reflects the difference in character between the two athletes. Finally, after winning his fifth ballon d’or (Messi also has five), soccer’s highest praise, Ronaldo proclaimed himself the greatest player of all time. Everybody hates when athletes do that.

“It’s like Messi is not human but Cristiano is the best of the humans.”

—Gerard Pique

The Spectator ● April 20, 2018

Page 23

Sports Boys’ Volleyball

By ALLISON ENG

are seniors with the exception of Dang. “The team has looked really strong this season. I would say that out of my four years on the team, this is the strongest squad we’ve had. The outlook is certainly very bright,” senior and co-captain Ray Jones said.

Though most of the starters are seniors, there is a reliable bench when substitutes are needed. Middle hitter Kevin Mitchell and setter/opposite Scott Abramowitz also play big roles in the team play. “We have a great group of guys this year.

Aside from a strong core of returning starters, we also have a lot of returning bench players, and they have all been getting into games,” Jones said. The team chemistry is expected to go through the roof because of the high level of talent of this year’s starters, as well as their ability to work together and trust in each other.

The Manhattan A West di-

Tiffany Yu / The Spectator

With heightened expectations after last season’s success, the Stuyvesant Beasts have seen relatively smooth sailing this season after beating the High School for Math, Science, and Engineering (HSMSE) in their most recent game on April 11.

The team is now 4-0. This year, five new freshmen joined the team, all with extremely talented skill sets. Although four seniors of last year’s team graduated, most of the team’s starting lineup has stayed the same.

The team has a “starting seven” lineup, where the two middle hitters rotate in and out continuously with the libero.

This year’s starting seven has Ray Jones as setter, Tommy Min and Shun Bitar as outside hitters, Justin Chan as opposite hitter, Nick Kim and Jerren Dang as middle hitters, and Samuel Kim as libero. All of the starters

Beasts Look to Replicate Strong Season

vision is generally known to be easier than other divisions, which has resulted in a strong

Tiffany Yu / The Spectator

record for the Beasts in the past.

Last year, the team was seeded first in the division with a record of 10-0. The schools in the division this year are still the same, so the team is looking to finish with another strong record, which would ultimately give them a high seeding in the playoffs. “Doing well in the playoffs will mean having [to have] a strong regular season,” Jones said. “We will have to use tournaments to really prove that we’re a strong team… We will hope to demonstrate our level of play against some of the other top teams. Hopefully it will yield us a high seed, and we will be able to succeed in the PSAL playoffs.”

In their non-league scrimmages and tournaments, the Beasts have faced tougher competition, meeting the Fort Hamilton High School Tigers in multiple tournaments. They have faced the Tigers twice this

season, losing both games by a close margin. “I really do believe that we can beat them as [the] season progresses,” junior Jerren Dang said. They have faced other top teams as well, such as Hillcrest High School and Cardozo High School. In the recent Francis Lewis High School tournament, the team placed second and played five competitors, winning all their games. Additionally, both captains Ray Jones and Shun Bitar won individual awards for the all-city team in their respective positions as setter and outside hitter.

The Beasts will most likely continue to dominate their division, but also improving in their outside league matches against the stronger teams in the city.

As the season progresses, the Beasts will be getting hungrier for a championship run to commemorate the large group of graduating seniors.

Softball

Renegades Keep Rolling

By SAMUEL STAMLER and ETHAN WEISBERG Stuyvesant’s softball team, the Renegades, brought home another victory against Beacon High School in what now seems

High School, she pitched five innings of one-hit ball with a mere 55 pitches.

Coach Vincent Miller offered some insight into how she got on such a hot start. “She throws a lot more strikes. She’s throw-

The team chemistry is expected to go through the roof because of the high level of talent of this year’s starters, as well as their ability to work together and trust in each other.

to be a well-established season tradition of double-digit scoring complemented by outstanding pitching by senior and co-captain Frankie Michielli. This formula has led to an unblemished 4-0 record thus far.

Despite giving up her first two earned runs this season against Beacon, Michielli has remained dominant. After her first shutout of the year the day prior against Hunter College

ing a changeup now and keeping the ball low to the big hitters,” Miller said. The team also relies on Michielli’s ability to pitch multiple games in a row.

“Her stamina is pretty good, and I’m confident she will make it through the week,” senior and co-captain Charlotte Ruhl said.

Last season, Michielli threw 79 innings in a mere 14 games.

However, the team is more than just Michielli’s arm. They

also owe their undefeated start to their strong offense with a team batting average of .571 in the game against Lehman Campus High School. “Our offense has been very good,” Miller said.

“They also walked a lot of batters, and we took advantage of that.”

Michelli not only showcased strong pitching, but also contributed to the Renegades’ offensive success, as she batted two for two with a double and three RBIs. Junior shortstop Lili Boenigk also had an impressive performance at the plate, batting two for four with a double and five RBIs. Despite dominating the first three league games, the Renegades recently suffered a loss, as junior left fielder Julianna Fabrizio broke her finger. This is the second major injury to Fabrizio’s career, as an arm injury sidelined her previously.

The Renegades do have a temporary solution, however.

“Julianna’s hurt for, I think two or three weeks, so we’re probably going to insert [sophomore] Eve [Wening] into that spot,” Miller said. Despite Eve Wening’s initial bench role, she is the team’s sixth man (or in this case, 10th man) and is always ready to

contribute. Her two RBIs against Hunter and her .389 batting average in 18 at-bats last season show her potential to pick up right where Fabrizio left off.

However, the loss of Fabrizio hurts the team’s outfield depth.

“We’re going to miss [Fabrizio].

She’s been a really good fielder.

She probably made the biggest play for us last year in the playoffs,” Miller said. Fabrizio’s over the shoulder catch, which led to a clutch double play, helped secure the Renegades’ first round

Last season, the Renegades struggled to split the two-game series against Beacon, but this Renegades team has proven their doubters wrong and shown that offseason work truly pays dividends. With the entire team returning this year, the players all came back focused and more experienced, allowing them to compete with more difficult competition. “We have three tough games this week,” Ruhl said. “But, I think if we come out strong, [don’t] under-

Junior shortstop Lili Boenigk also had an impressive performance at the plate, batting two for four with a double and five RBIs.

win against Curtis High School and reach the second round of the playoffs for the second consecutive year.

estimate our opponents, reduce errors, and put a lot of runs on the board early, then we should come out on top.”

April 20, 2018

Page 24

THE SPECTATOR SPORTS Major League Baseball

CALENDAR

A Changing Game

APRIL

20

Wednesday

Girls’ Handball vs.

H.S. Environmental Studies Stuyvesant

23

Janice Tjan / The Spectator

Monday

By JEREMY RUBIN It’s no secret that baseball is losing popularity with the younger generations. Major League Baseball (MLB) commissioner Rob Manfred and top executives are doing everything in their power to reverse this.

According to Sports Illustrated, the average 2017 MLB game took an average of three hours and five minutes, a length of time that seems to be deterring fans from coming to see games. And while an increase in home runs seems to draw larger crowds, Manfred is discussing more drastic measures to speed up the game, from lowering the mound to allowing managers pick which hitters can bat in the last inning.

Though the latter is far from feasible, one idea that has been gaining traction is a pitch clock, which is a necessary evil in this consumer-driven market where teams and the league need their steady stream of revenue. What a clock would do is give a pitcher 20 seconds to come set on the rubber and be ready to throw his next pitch. If not, the batter would be awarded a ball.

This has already been implemented in the minor leagues since 2014 with great success in speeding up the game. All leagues that used pitch clocks saw drops in average game length, easily clearing the three-hour game time the MLB is aiming for.

While this change might please the crowd, it is the last thing a pitcher would want. Regardless of a 20 second rule, most pitchers do usually remain under the time limit, but its addition creates another factor the pitcher has to deal with. Baseball is a se-

ries of one-on-one, or pitcher vs hitter, battles. Each batter poses a new challenge. Hitters are all about timing, and pitchers try to disrupt their timing. Thinking about what pitch to throw to a batter, what situation it is, if there are runners on base (and what to do then), whatever the coach is screaming at you from the dugout, plus what happens if the ball is hit to you, is enough. These are all thoughts that must be taken into consideration before a pitcher even takes the mound.

A clock counting down is the last thing a pitcher wants to have to think about.

This summer, I was at a showcase, which was an event designed to give aspiring high school players a chance to play in front of college coaches. Before the scrimmage, the coach for one of the schools in attendance was discussing strategy with the pitchers. He explained that before each game, he always tells his pitchers to find an inanimate object in the stadium or field.

It could be a flag, a light on the sidewalk, or a random window on the building across the street.

Anything. And every time a pitcher feels the game speeding up too much and he begins to rush, he should find this spot and hone in on it. This refocuses his mind and calms him down. It may seem weird, but I’ve used it ever since, and it does help me prepare for the next at-bat, especially right after someone ropes an extrabase hit off me.

When a pitch clock is added, this strategy becomes irrelevant. I wouldn’t have time to go through my whole routine after muttering curses to myself, stomping around, and finally finding my

focus point before returning to the mound. In the major leagues, this is only amplified. Some pitchers, such as Chris Sale, like to work quickly, but others like newly signed Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish and 2017 Cy Young winner Max Scherzer are well over the 20-second mark on average and need to take time to revamp for the next batter. It all depends on the pitcher and the type of outing he is having. At his worst, every pitch is a struggle. In these sorts of outings, much more time is needed to forget about all that happened before. A pitch clock limits all of this, potentially hindering pitchers’ performances.

When it is all said and done though, the MLB is a business.

And despite the fact that the MLB continues to see a rise in revenue (last year’s broke $10 billion, the highest ever), baseball will have to appeal to the youth. A casual fan would much rather see a 13-7 slugfest filled with runs rather than the 1-0 victory where both starting pitchers had beautiful outings. Similarly, a casual fan would much rather see a two and a half hour game instead of a closely contested, hard fought, three and a half hour victory. A pitch clock is an extension of this.

Baseball is changing. This new generation of ballplayers throws hard, hits even harder, and plays with flash and emotion. Exemplified by the likes of Bryce Harper and his polarizing demeanor and Yasiel Puig and his antics on the field along with countless others, the culture of the sport is undergoing a major shift, which will ideally increase its popularity. Though with it comes a change in the sport itself, for better or for worse.

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Girls’ Badminton vs. Martin L. King Jr. H.S. Stuyvesant

Wednesday Baseball vs. Norman Thomas Pier 40

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Wednesday

Boys’ Handball vs.

H.S. for Economics and Finance Stuyvesant

Monday

Girls’ Fencing vs.

Information Technology HS Stuyvesant

WRAPUP The Vipers, Stuyvesant’s girls’ fencing team, defeated Millennium High School in their first match of the season on April 13 and went on to defeat NEST+M in their second match on April 16.

Stuyvesant’s co-ed golf team, the Eagles, beat Kingsbridge Academy 5-0 on April 12.

After two early losses, the Tigers, Stuyvesant’s cricket team, came back to defeat Maspeth High School.

Led by seniors Brandon Lee and Dmytro Hvirtsman’s three goals apiece, Stuyvesant’s boys’ lacrosse team, the Peglegs, triumphed over A. Philip Randolph Campus High School 11-1.

Stunt

Stunt Starts Strong

By FRANKLIN LIOU and JOOAHN SUR As they threw their cheerleaders up into the air in the Port Richmond gymnasium on a brisk Saturday afternoon, the Stuyvesant varsity coed stunt team had one goal in mind—to start the new season with a win.

The team was able to do just that, out-cheering John F. Kennedy High School with a score of 13-7.

This was the first time Stuyvesant won its first match.

“Though the past two years have

been rough, the tables are definitely turning,” junior and cocaptain Kevin Zong said. John F. Kennedy High School is a quality opponent, having won five and eight games the past two seasons, respectively. After finishing with a combined score of 4-17 for the past two years, Stuyvesant looks poised to make a run at the playoffs.

“For this season, we expect to do so much better than our last two years at stunt,” junior and co-captain Sharon Li said. A large reason for this optimism is the team’s new coach, Nicholas

O’Stanton.

Though this is his first year coaching the team, O’Stanton has been able to quickly identify his players’ skills and figure out how to utilize them effectively. And in sport like stunt, a coach’s ability to find uses for every member of the team is vital to success. “It is evident that he knows how to make the team great and is doing a great job so far,” said Zong.

“Losing the seniors, especially the captains, was definitely a loss because they were the backbone of our team last year,” Zong

said. A whopping nine seniors graduated last season. Despite these losses, players at every position have stepped up and improved drastically.

Besides the new members, Qingyi Ye and Xinyue Nam have had to take over in this meet because of last-second injuries.

Stunt is much more dependent on teamwork than many other sports, so having others be able to fill in for others is certainly a big plus for O’Stanton.

“Our biggest competition is ourselves,” Zong said. “We are more focused on improving

ourselves than beating the other teams.”

“But at the end of the day, we can’t defeat anyone by simply proclaiming them as our biggest competition, ” Zong said. With a mindset like this, combined with strong coaching and players who are able to step up and perform well in important situations, this team certainly has the makings of a playoff contender this season.