A PUBLIC FORUM FOR NEWS, OPINION, AND CREATIVE THOUGHT OF THE GOVERNOR’S ACADEMY
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In Remembrance of Ms. Laurette R. Pike SOLOMON KIM ‘15
We recently lost one of our most positive and memorable members of our Govs community, Ms. Laurette R. Pike. Ms. Pike was truly a compassionate, heart-warming mother, grandmother, friend, and mentor. She worked at the Academy on the last day of her life, and showed us all what it meant to be grateful and positive. Even if you never spoke with Ms. Pike, you might remember her as the “clicker lady” in our dining hall. She took accounting of how many people ate and how balanced their meals were. “Laurette’s table” was next to the icecream station. She began her work at the Academy in the summer of 2008. During the past six years, Ms. Pike constantly tried to brighten peoples’ days. She purchased bags of candy to give to students after they won a big game or scored a goal. She knew everyone’s birthdays, greeted everyone with a smile, knitted baby blankets and sweater sets for families in our community. Ms. Pike knew each of our birthdays and sent cards at the beginning of every month. For Boss’s days, she would purchase a card and have the kitchen staff sign it for our dining hall director, Mr. Alonzi. In fact, she had already purchased this year’s card. Dr. LaFlamme, Ms. Pike’s grand-daughter, recalls what her grandmother always said: “Little things matter.” A Govs graduate stated that Ms. Pike was the most important person to her at the Academy, and that she had eaten lunch with her every day of her senior year. In her life of eighty-eight years, Ms. Pike faced numerous obstacles; however,
Dr. LaFlamme recalls that Ms. Pike never complained. Dr. LaFlamme, in her eulogy, wrote, “Only once, did she ever complain. It was after her cataract surgery. Her eyes had been blurry for days, and she thought that she might not be able to drive again, which would have meant the loss of her independence, and thus her pride in her ability to make her own way in this world.” Likewise, she was grateful for her life and lived every day to the fullest.
“Honor and love the people in your life while you have them.” - Ms. Laurette R. Pike
Ms. Pike indeed influenced many people. Dr. LaFlamme sponsored an El Salvadorian elder named Damian through Unbound, a non-profit organization which grants direct benefits to children and elders in developing nations to help them live with dignity and hope, in honor of her for her 88th birthday. Ms. Pike received her first letter from her sponsored friend, Damian, on the day she died. She never got to see the letter and how grateful he was for her sponsorship. Dr. LaFlamme worked with this organization for 14 years, had recently visited El Salvador, and sponsored five children Dr. Laflamme said that she has become the person that she is now because (Please turn to page 3)
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Laflamme
A Very ‘Special’ Tradition JULIA KEITH ‘16
Every year, on the first Sunday in November, hundreds of eager Special Olympic soccer players and hundreds of volunteers flood the Governor’s campus for the annual Special Olympics Massachusetts State Soccer Tournament. It is a day filled with laughter, hard work and, of course, lots of soccer! This tradition is made possible by many student and faculty volunteers, who dedicate countless hours planning and organizing to make the event a very Special day. Their hard work is evident in the seamless way the event is run. What
may not be known, however, is the hard work that the Special Olympics teams put in to prepare for this state tournament. This is my 8th year partnering with the Andover Stars Special Olympics Soccer Team. And I know firsthand the practice and preparation required before the teams compete at States. Practices begin the first Sunday after Labor Day, and continue right up to the big event at Govs. Just before practices begins, eager Special Olympic Athletes, ranging in age from 8 to
(Please turn to page 6)
Going the Extra Mile LYDIA FANNING ‘16
My older sister Becca ran the New York marathon for the first time this year. Her company, Airbnb, an online accommodations agency, sponsored the marathon. Airbnb is a website that allows people to rent out their homes, spare rooms or even couches to travelers. Airbnb sponsored a unique runner named Simon Wheatcroft. I was able to connect with Simon for a phone interview two weeks before the New York Marathon. At this point, he was about to start his 260mile journey on foot to New York City. But more about that later. Simon Wheatcroft, a 32-year-old ultramarathoner from the UK, regularly runs and competes in races at the ultra
distance, defined as any distance over 26.2 miles. He might seem like a likely candidate for the New York Marathon, but Simon lacks something that most other runners possess: sight. When he was seventeen, Simon was declared legally blind. He was born with a degenerative eye condition called Retinis Pigmentosa, and has been dealing with the gradual loss of his sight for most of his life. Simon’s interest in running began because it was a simple and relatively inexpensive sport that did not require a lot of equipment. Simon started running back and forth between two goalposts on a soccer field (Please turn to page 3)
E DI TOR IA L S THE GOVERNOR Octomber 9, 2014
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF: Katharine Gaillard ‘15
Marco Diblasi ‘15 Julia Keith ‘15
M A NAG I N G EDITORS: Solomon Kim ‘15 Jeffery Ding ‘16
C O LUM N I S T S : Racquel Nassor ‘15 Abby Katz ‘15 Hansika Iyer ‘15 Cassidy Poole ‘16 Elias Dubus ‘15 Garth Robinson ‘15
S TA F F W R I T E R S : Lydia Fanning ‘16 Taha Bilirgen‘17 Nora Bradford ‘15
PHOTOGRAPHERS: Nora Bradford ‘15 Zee-rung Wei ‘15 Lily Bailey ‘16 FA C U LT Y CONTRIBUTOR: Mr. Cockrell FA C U LT Y A D V I S O R : Mr. Bobrowskas
KATHARINE GAILLARD ‘15
transition from the busy day of class to the thoughtful time of Chapel easier, but we could also take time to remember some things we have learned in the past few days, weeks, even months. We are all in an extremely difficult stage of life— smack in between childhood and adulthood and there are an incredible number of important things we learn each and every day. Through our decisions each day, we can to better understand ourselves, our peers, and our morals—a glimpse of the person we are shaping day by day. It is so wonderful that Govs provides us with this time to consider all of these lessons and the value of this community; I just hope we can push ourselves to fully appreciate this special time.
Katharine Gaillard
Katharine Gaillard
Give Everything KATHARINE GAILLARD ‘15
What Chapel Means to Me Recently a lot of questions have come up around chapel. Instead of addressing those specifically, I would like to share what I love about the weekly community meeting and what I wish to see more emphasis on. I love walking in to this beautiful building to the sound of the piano. I love walking down the aisle, making eye contact with the nervous speaker and giving them my nod and smile of encouragement. I love how it feels so cold upon sitting down in my chair, but is perfectly warm by the end due to the warmth our 400-body community is capable of generating. I wish we took more time and were more intentional about appreciating this time and space. For one, I think we can do this by entering the physical space mindfully. This way we would not only
THE GOVERNOR 2
Katharine Gaillard
As students here at the Academy, we are asked to do all sorts of things. We participate in classes, play on sports teams, actively attend club meetings, as well as, hopefully, maintain a social life. However, it doesn’t end with just the participation in activities. We are asked to give our all to every single one. First, there is the expectation of effort within all of the different activities. We must try our best in all we do. This is what I believe to be the easy part, if you have the right mindset. Think about this: you are only here for four years of your life, which in the grand scheme of things is a tiny fraction of your time on Earth. Knowing that, why not make the most of it and glean all that you can from the people and resources and experiences available to you here? Also, all that we are learning here has the sole purpose of preparing each one of us for a successful and meaningful life beyond school. Does
anyone here not want to be successful? I don’t think so, so we should find excitement, not dread within ourselves upon walking to class. Once that mindset is established, the more complicated one is that of giving your all emotionally to everything. How do you do all of this while maintaining a positive attitude and enjoying it? Well, now look again at the two reasons I gave for pushing yourself: we only have four years here, so why not? and all that we are learning is to provide us with a great future. These two reasons can both motivate us to work hard as well as maintain a positive outlook on even the hard times of work and stress. The opportunity to spend our formative adolescent years here is rare and we make it what we want, so why not try and make it as positive and enriching as you can? Work hard, smile harder, and take it all in.
Finding What You Love SOLOMON KIM ‘15
In this competitive society, everyone tells us to “find what we love.” They tell us that we are going to prosper then. Or, at least, be happy with our lives. Sounds good. Yet not of all of us succeed in doing so. Sometimes, we are merely befuddled by how we define “what we love” and how we pursue those. And when we see others confidently saying “we have found what we love,” we get easily let down. But I think we shouldn’t be. We are still in our early stage of our lives; we can live for next 50 years (let’s hope so), and we still have enough time to explore. In fact, I do not believe that it is a good thing to be so confident at this age. When others ask us “what do you love and what do you see yourself doing in next decade?” most of us end up answering with what they are good at, not what they truly love. From lacrosse to “I don’t know”, the answers would vary. But this is a significantly good question to consider. We are not supposed to answer these questions in such carefree, haste manner. We all have to consider the essence of the question. Love is a strong word. Oxford dictionary defines love as “an intense feeling of deep affection.” Intense. That is why couples do not really say “I love you” until their relationships fully develop. If a boy tells you that he loves you after 5 minutes of meeting you, he is a player; if a girl does so, she is a queen bee. If I were you, I would avoid these people. They might verbally pamper you and caress your soul, but they are not being sincere,
after all. The process of saying “love” takes patience and sincerity. This logic applies to everything around us. Let’s say that you answered the question by saying what you love about “English literature.” The next question I would ask is, “what do you like about English literature?” You might say “I like “Shakespeare.” I would ask, “Do you have a particular play you like?” Then you might say again, “Macbeth,” thinking that you have answered all the questions sufficiently with a big grin on your face. But do not stop here. Dig deeper. If you are going to say that you love English Literature and Shakespeare, I think you should at least have your favorite line and your unique, distinctive reason why you are so fond of it. If you don’t have those, you might like English Literature but you don’t love it so much. Everyone is different; even though we read and see the same things, we all feel different emotions. Would it be then odd to not have those or think in the same way as everyone does when you have “an intense feeling of deep affection?” Likewise, even though we might currently think that we absolute love something, it might not be the case. I like many things. Yet I am still in my journey to explore what I love. I am in the process of narrowing down. Do not be terrified with the process please. I think this is a gift the world has granted us. We are blessed enough to relish this process. A grand prize awaits us. Once we find what we truly love, we will never get tired of what we do.
N EWS
Extra Mile - Front page, Cont’d behind his house, using the smartphone app RunKeeper to track his pace and distance. When this grew tedious, Simon started running on a closed road. He began to memorize the feel of the pavement beneath his feet and the location of every obstacle along his route. RunKeeper gives Simon audio distance updates during his runs, so when he encountered an obstacle like a street sign he would remember the distance marker and avoid the sign on his next run. But Simon wasn’t satisfied there. He decided that he could use the same strategies that he had used to learn to run on the closed road to create a route on the open road. The main difference would be the cars. “You just have to tell yourself that the cars are gonna move,” Simon explains. “The confidence- you can’t just come up with it. It has to build over time.” Simon didn’t just step out onto the road one day. He spent tedious hours running back and forth on the closed road that was just a third of a mile long, memorizing the feel of the white line under his feet. Simon still gets emotional when he thinks about what that day meant for him. He discovered that he was capable of so much more than he ever thought possible. “People see you with a cane and quickly jump to one conclusion of things you’re capable of.” Simon proved that blindness doesn’t define his life. True to his character, Simon did not stop pushing himself after learning to run on a busy road. “After running the route for a while I began to wonder how far I could run — everyone has a marathon in them! But that seemed a little too constraining, after all a marathon is just a number, not the physical limits of how far a person could run.” (running essay from Simon’s blog). Simon began training and competing in races at the ultra distance. After the birth of his sons, (now ages 1 and 4), Simon looked at his training in a different way. His appetite for risk decreased. He tried to reduce the risks he was taking by not crossing busy streets alone, because he had a greater responsibility to his family to keep himself safe.
THE GOVERNOR 3 Simon decided to run the New York Marathon because he had never run a marathon, and New York City was one of the places he visited while he still had his sight. Simon’s training leading up to the marathon included back-to-back “serious mileage” days, where he would run 40 to 50 miles two days in a row. He decided to visit Boston, the home of RunKeeper, on his trip as well. Then Simon teamed up with Airbnb and planned a 260-mile route from Boston to New York before running the marathon. He stayed with hosts from Airbnb who shared their homes with him and even joined him on parts of his run. He also reached out to people who use RunKeeper and Twitter with the hashtag #gotheextramile. Simon found countless running companions who lived along his route to keep him entertained as he ran 25 miles per day for nine days. Simon’s four- yearold son met him in Central Park to run the last few miles of his Boston to New York journey. Two days later, Simon finished his first-ever marathon in the very same spot. When I asked Simon what was next, he mentioned extreme and creative ambitions, including a solo run across the Sahara desert and holding the longest back-to-back marathon world record. When I remarked that Simon comes up with elaborate and intense challenges for himself, he replied “The enjoyment is in the challenge. If I know I can achieve something, that’s no fun. You want to try something that’s impossible.” Simon has turned a potentially debilitating condition into an exhilarating and exciting journey. Instead of accepting his limits and being defined by his blindness, Simon looked at his condition as an opportunity. Simon has used running to gain a level of independence that seemed impossible without vision. His boundless enthusiasm for adventure and determination to achieve the “impossible” is incredibly inspiring. When asked what inspires him to continue pushing his limits and taking risks, Simon simply replied, “Life’s too boring if you stand still.”
Ms. Pike - Front page, Cont’d Dr. Laflamme said that she has become the person that she is now because of Ms. Pike’s unfailing love and positive influence. Dr. LaFlamme once told a student that “generosity is not measured by how much you give away, but by how much you keep for yourself.” That lesson came from her grandmother, as Ms. Pike frequently told Dr. LaFlamme “There is always someone worse off.” With this positive, caring mindset, she could be generous in small
ways to everyone around her even though she lived in a mobile home that she called her “high class camp.” We can all make a difference, and Ms. Pike truly embodied our schools’ motto, Non Sibi Sed Aliis. “Not for self but for others”. Ms. Pike will be remembered by this community for her kindness, her ability to make us smile, to reflect, and to laugh. Rest in peace, Ms. Laurette R. Pike
New York Marathon Facts • • • • • • • • • •
World’s largest marathon Over 2 million spectators 12,000 volunteers 50,000 finishers The course crosses five bridges and touches all five boroughs: Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx and Manhattan. It begins on Staten Islandand ends in Central Park Lottery system to get a bib number Earns the city $340 million each year First prize is $100,000 Men’s course record: 2:05:06 in 2011 by Geoffrey Mu tai from Kenya Women’s course record: 2:22:31 in 2003 by Margaret Okayo from Kenya
Marathon History • • • • •
The first New York Marathon took place in 1970 It was run in loops around Central Park There were no female finishers It cost $1 to run The race has taken place every year since then, except in 2012 due to Hurricane Sandy
Photos Courtesy of airbnb
F E AT U R E S
4000 Victims and Counting: Is Ebola on your Mind?
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Did the Newburyport Tea Party Predate the Boston Tea Party? JEFFERY DING ‘16
TAHA BILIRGEN’17 KATHARINE GAILLIARD‘15, JEFF DING’16, LYDIA FANNING 16’
World Swedish troops, helicopters, and ships are searching the ocean off Stockholm in “the largest military mobilization since the Cold War” (CNN) due to sightings of an unidentified ship in their waters. With increased tension between Russia and Sweden over the issues of Ukraine, rumors abound that this vessel is Russian. Especially after Russian warplanes recently entered Sweden’s air space, there has been high stress over this possible Russian encroachment on Sweden’s boarders. The Russian Government however, denies they have ships near Sweden. Thirty-nine trekkers have been found dead so far in the search after exceptionally large amounts of snow fell upon Mount Everest last week. According to CNN, the usual progression of monsoons in this area would have left Nepal dry by now. Therefore, many people decided to take the challenge of a lifetime during these months. However, Hudhud—an unexpected, tropical cyclone—swept through southeast India up to Nepal, covering the area with extremely heavy snowfall which was even heavier at higher altitudes where most hikers were located. The trekking industry of Nepal accounts for much of its tourist income. But, recently it has been under scrutiny not only because of this incident, but also a similar one last May at the Everest Base Camp that killed sixteen guides. According to CNN, Jeffrey Fowle is an American who was detained by the North Korean government due to “extremely disrespectful conduct” for leaving a bible in a North Korean Hotel. Fowle was released on October
(Image adapted from The Daily Smug)
21st 2014. However, there are still two other Americans, Matthew Miller and Kenneth Bee, imprisoned in North Korea. Unfortunately, the US State Department still has not heard updates of the United States petition for the remaining prisoners’ “immediate release.” Health With Thanksgiving and the holiday season on the horizon, you may find yourself consuming a lot of squash, i.e. pumpkins. Some may not like these wonderful vegetables filled with taste, however pumpkins especially have many health benefits, according to CNN. First, pumpkins are orange due to their significant supply of beta-carotene, which our bodies convert to Vitamin A. This, in turn, helps our eyesight by supporting the retina’s ability to absorb and process light. Second, this Vitamin A along with Vitamin C helps our immune system fight the common cold and flu—both of which pay their annual winter visits to Govs! The movement against cigarettes in the US has added another ally. CVS, one of the biggest pharmacies in America, stopped selling all tobacco and nicotine products in September because “selling cigarettes fundamentally conflicts with the mission of advancing people’s health.” (Washingtonpost.com) The Massachusetts town of Westminster is discussing banning all tobacco sales as well, which would make Westminster the first town in Massachusetts to do so. Their Board of Health must approve the decision, but this is definitely a step in the right direction for the anti-tobacco campaign.
Today, it is nearly impossible to miss Ebola, a deadly disease caused by infection with a strain of Ebola virus; it is featured in the news, the Internet, and even in the conversations here at The Governor’s Academy. As news of increasing fatalities is brought into view, many people understandably fear Ebola, but are these fears justifiable? The Center for Disease Control’s worst case-scenario is 1.4 million infected this year, yet, each year, over 30,000 Americans die of Influenza Virus. Keep in mind, too, that your chance of getting flu is much higher than getting Ebola. First and foremost, Ebola can only be spread through the contact of an infected person’s bodily fluids, and with the sanitation standards of the US, this should not be an issue. More interestingly, the chance of contracting Ebola is so low that, a study conducted by NPR’s health correspondent Michaeleen Doucleff claimed that the chance of contracting Ebola is one in 13 million. This means that you are more likely to die from an airplane crash, bee sting, or lightening, than to get the virus. Even if you dismiss these statistics, Ebola isn’t a death sentence. So far, the fatality rate is about 70%, yet it is important to note that these statistics were based on the outbreak in West Africa, where healthcare capabilities are still developing. Of the four Americans who contracted Ebola, only one, Thomas Eric Duncan, 33, died. More riveting, however, is the way in which Duncan’s death exposed a weakness in
this nation’s response; A few days after returning to the United States from Liberia, Duncan experienced symptoms and went to the Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital. Despite the fact that the nurse looking after him noted he came from Liberia, a country struck with Ebola, she sent Duncan home with a prescription for antibiotics. It is estimated that Duncan had contact with up to 80-100 people, 50 of which are low risk contacts, and 10 high-risk contacts. To prevent such incidents, airports in the US, such as JFK, Washington Dulles, Chicago O’Hare, and Atlanta Regional Airports have begun Ebola screenings, checking for signs of symptoms from those who come from the hardest hit West African nations. But it’s important to keep this health risk in perspective. The reason it is on many people’s minds is because people like excitement. Movies like Mad Max, World War Z, and 2012, all featuring an apocalypse, draw large crowds and hold everyone’s interest, and Ebola has the same psychological effect. Bored of our dull, routined lives, deep down, some of us hope for the exhilaration. Even for those who are worried about Ebola’s toll on the world, note that hunger kills more people than AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. And while countries around the world are pledging billions to fight Ebola, it’s a shame they haven’t considered the $3.2 billion to feed all 66 million hungry school age children world-wide.
Photo Adapted from the Wikipedia file: “Image:Boston_Tea_Party_w.jpg” The Boston Tea Party on December 16 1773, usually regarded as the first tea party rebellion, is the most famous political protest in the US history, as the Sons of Liberty dumped tea in the water to oppose the British Tea Tax. This political upheaval nettles the British government, which leads to the Intolerable Acts and eventually the American Revolution. However, since 2014 is the 250th anniversary of Newburyport, many sources start to recount Newburyport’s history and one of the most astounding claims is that the first tea party rebellion occurred in Newburyport instead of Boston. According to Newburyport—Stories from the Waterside by Liz Nelson, the first tea party rebellion occurred in Newburyport “three days before” the famous Boston tea party as a band of patriots led by Eleazer Johnson “seized tea and burned it.” If the Newburyport tea party had actually predated the one in Boston, the Newburyport tea party would be the first “tea party” protest against the British tax levied on tea. However, since nearly all Newburyporters were devoted to assist the Boston Tea Party in December 1773 and Eleazer Johnson, the leader of the movement, was not politically active at that time, it is therefore likely that the Newburyport tea party happened after the Boston tea party. Claims that the Newburyport Tea Party is the first Tea Party are ambiguous and biased. Most of these claims draw their evidence from the plaque in Market Square, which is a secondary source. The plaque is comprised of ambiguous diction such as “the people” instead of the names of the participants. Also, the plaque does not contain a specific date for the event and the only source of information, “having heard the story from eye witnesses,” is unreliable. That the first tea party occurred in Newburyport was also claimed by the Greater Newburyport Chamber of Commerce & Industry and the Clif-
ford Properties Inc. However, since these associations profit more from a glorified image of Newburyport, their claims are biased and thus untrustworthy. Moreover, Newburyporters closely followed the brewing conflict in Boston before the Boston Tea Party, and never did records of their town meetings mention any tea party in Newburyport. According to historian Labaree in Patriots and Partisans—The Merchants of Newburyport, throughout the fall of 1773, Newburyport was stressed by the imminent ship Dartmouth that carried tea and was “in anticipation of the first shipments of tea sent under the new arrangement.” As stated in The Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet Vol. 1 No. 1 on December 4 1773, a “notification was posted up in all parts of the town” and the town proposed to fight against the landing of tea with “a united and forceful resistance.” According to Labaree, on December 9 the town “selected a committee of prominent citizens” to assist the protest in Boston. Per town record, the committee stated that “[we] are Determined to give them all the Assistance in our power even at the Risque of our Lives & Fortunes.” The diction of the plural “our Lives & Fortunes” and “all the Assistance” emphasizes that the townsmen, including radicals and moderates, were determined to resist the landing of tea in Boston. On December 15, 1773, according to historian John Currier, Newburyport held a town meeting “to consider the serious condition of public affairs.” Per town records, the meeting passed the vote that the town would assist the patriots in Boston “with utmost Endeavors.” According to Labaree, on December 20 1773, after the news of the Boston Tea Party reached Newburyport, “some citizens thought the town should reaffirm its vote of the previous week” and the town “voted unanimously to address the Boston committee in its strongest language yet.”
History of Newburyport by John Currier, Patriots and Partisans The Merchants of Newburyport and The Essex Journal and Merrimack Packet are reliable sources since they are all factual recordings of the events that happened in Newburyport. Thus, it is highly unlikely that the Newburyport Tea Party happened three days before the Boston Tea Party with neither record in the town’s history nor the county’s Newspaper. Besides the town’s wholehearted commitment in the Boston Tea Party in December 1773, the alleged leader of the Newburyport Tea Party Eleazer Johnson was not politically active then, sharply contrasting his role of leading “a band of patriots” as described by Nelson. In December 1772, according to Currier, Samuel Adams facilitated the formation of a correspondence committee in Boston to “maintain the political rights and privileges of the province.” The milieu of protest sprawled to Newburyport as a committee of Newburyport was established per town records, “consisting of Capt. Patrick Tracy, Mr. Jonathan Jackson, Mr. Benjamin Greenleaf…” Some members listed above were directly related to the custom and shipbuilding industry, such as Capt. James Hudson, while other members were from a plethora of diverse backgrounds such as the merchant Nathaniel Carter and the surgeon John Prague. Despite the variety of professions, all were willing to protest the British taxation. However, the claim that the shipbuilder Eleazer Johnson, who was not a member of the town’s political committee at that time, led an event as significant as the first “tea party” rebellion in the United States history was unreliable. According to Currier, the town also convened to discuss the public affairs after the Boston Tea Party on December 16. If the Newburyport Tea Party had preceded the Boston Tea Party, Eleazer Johnson would be politically prominent
at that time due to his supposed leading role in the Newburyport Tea Party and would therefore be invited to attend the assembly. However, Eleazer Johnson was absent from the congregation and did not have a solid historical record. It is therefore likely that the Newburyport Tea Party happened after the Boston Tea Party. A communication “dated Newburyport, January 24, 1774,” per historian John Currier and the Essex Gazette, claimed: A large quantity of the forementioned pernicious stuff was consumed here last week; in order to imitate at the same time both Boston and Charlestown. It was done by Fire and Water; and so general was the spirit, that all ranks and degrees of people, high and low, rich and poor, Whig and Tory, agreed in the affair; This statement shows that the Newburyport Tea Party, indeed, was not the first tea party, as it is after “Boston and Charlestown.” “Fire” corroborates that the tea “went to flames,” as Nelson described. “Water” is possibly an unrecorded method of destroying tea due to the scale of the event. Besides, the event involved “all ranks and degrees of people,” which flawlessly accounts for how the largely unknown Eleazer Johnson led the Newburyport Tea Party. Labaree also points out that even though the Newburyport Tea Party was “perfectly plausible,” it happened around 1774-1775, which is a later date than the Boston Tea Party’s December 1773. Even though the Newburyport Tea Party was an emblem of the struggle against oppression before the American Revolution, it was not the first tea party as it followed Boston’s December 16, 1773 tea party.
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Turning Disabilities into Abilities MARCO DIBLASI ‘15
Before the sun rises on Sunday, November 9th, hundreds of volunteers will anxiously arrive on our campus in prep for the arrival of over one thousand athletes. For the twenty-seventh consecutive year, The Governor’s Academy will proudly host the Special Olympics Massachusetts Fall Soccer Tournament. These remarkable children from across the state will make their annual pilgrimage to our school to showcase their athletic abilities. For most of us, we cannot possibly relate to a time when children would be turned away from sports programs because of any perceived disability. But sadly this was the case until Eunice Kennedy Shriver chose to make a difference in 1960. Mrs. Shriver could no longer sit
Special Olympics- Front page, Cont’d.
48 (and older), make their way to the high school turf to begin practice. We begin each practice with a quick stretch and then a warm up lap. The lap is followed by drills and scrimmages. The drills range from learning how to kick the ball, to dribbling and passing, with a focus on the basic skills and then we get to the full field scrimmages. Every Sunday, the Andover Stars work with all their hearts to fine-tune their soccer skills to prepare for the assessment rounds and then for the biggest tournament of their career, states! Not only are the Special Olympic athletes learning how to play soccer, they are learning essential life skills, like sharing, communicating, team work and hard work. Of course, the Special Olympic athletes are not the only ones that benefit from the practices and the tournaments. The volunteers get just as much and perhaps even more out of their Special Olympic experiences. My twin brother, James, has Down
idly by as parents and children with intellectual disabilities were being rejected from camps and youth activities. It was a grass roots effort on her part when she started Camp Shriver from her Maryland family farm. The first year she had thirty-four children and twenty-six counselors. It was a huge success as children played baseball, basketball, soccer, swam, and even rode horses. Other camp locations were eventually opened across the country, and the Special Olympic Games were held in Chicago on July 20th, 1968. The Governor’s Special Olympics Management Team takes a leading role in continuing Shriver’s vision by beginning plans for the event the moment school starts in September. This year’s Special
Syndrome and he is as competitive as it gets. Whether it is soccer, basketball, wrestling, swimming, track, skiing or dancing, he tries his hardest at anything he does. Although the competitiveness and confidence he gained from his years of Special Olympics can be annoying at times, I have learned so much from my brother and our experiences together. It is impossible to think of my life without the wonderful world of Special Olympics and I am so thankful that my brother has been able to find his true passion in sports. One of the many of lessons Special Olympics and my brother have taught me is how much the little things in life truly make a difference. The athletes can spend their whole week looking forward to Sunday afternoon practice where they can just be themselves and play with their new soccer friends. This one hour a week truly means so much to the athletes. And they let you know how appreciative they are, with a smile and more often a bear hug at the end of practice. One of my
Olympics heads, Katelyn Sommers and Hannah Tymochko, told me they are “really excited for this year's tournament and know that it will be a success! The Gov's community has been great in volunteering, and the tournament is always a highlight of the year.” There are also some changes to this year’s program. As Sommers and Tymochko told me, “Olympic Town, where the athletes play carnival games in their down time, on the lower fields will be expanded to include a larger tent, more games, and music. Soccer skills, which used to only be open in the morning just for non-tournament athletes, will remain open all day so escorts can take their teams to do drills and play with the volunteers. As for logistical changes, we will
favorite stories that shows how much the little things matter is when my brother made “mix tapes” for a few of the girls on our soccer team. While he was downloading a killer combination of Big Time Rush and One Direction on to the CDs, I asked why he was making them for these girls, who he had just met last practice. And he replied so confidently: “Julia they obviously want this CD, it’s going make them so happy, ‘cuz I’m giving it to them and I’m awesome.” And of course he was right. The girls were ecstatic when Jimmy walked up and handed them their very own original James Keith mix-tape, and these girls have not missed a practice yet. Not only has Special Olympics taught me about how much the little things mean but I have also learned to appreciate the little victories. It is that feeling of satisfaction that overcomes you by simply helping them participate and compete. It is difficult to describe to someone who has not watched a Special Olympics event how fantastic it is. From the pure joy
introduce a fifth venue tent on the lower fields. With the addition of the fifth venue tent, there will be more fields to use and to cover. The construction of the new softball field means we will have to move some fields and venue tents around.” Over a quarter of a century ago, former admissions officer at Govs, Patti Crowe, brought the Massachusetts’ Special Olympics tournament to The Governor’s Academy. As a community, we rally around this fantastic cause. No matter the weather, it will be a marvelous day for these athletes as they beam with pride proving to their families, friends, and themselves that they can compete and shine.
of an athlete scoring his first goal – to the tears of joy from a parent watching her son or daughter compete in a sporting event when she had been told her child might never walk, let alone ever compete. It has been a life changing experience for me and I encourage all to come out on November 9th and watch the games. You will see the level of competition, see the smiles and laughter on the sidelines, and know that you are watching a group of athletes that have overcome tremendous obstacles to step on the field. I would like to thank everyone at Govs for making this event truly one of the best Special Olympic tournaments of the year. The enthusiastic atmosphere that the Govs community creates makes it an unforgettable experience for each and every player. The encouragement of the cheering crowds of students means more to the Special Olympic athletes then you will ever know, making this tournament a truly memorable event!
Photos Courtesy of Hannah Tymochko and Katelyn Sommers
T34-C Turbo Prop Trainer
Top Five Demonic Young Adult Novels RACQUEL NASSOR ‘15
You may have seen him in the will occur, so staying prepared admissions office, or know him as required a constant study of normal the new head Hockey Coach. Either and emergency procedures as well way, there is a lot more to know as being current on new ideas and about Larry Cockrell than simply his technologies. occupation here on campus. Before As a young Naval officer, Mr. Govs, Mr. Cockrell worked at Kents Cockrell started flying helicopters. Hill School in Readfield, Maine for Out of all the aircraft he has flown, ten years, a boarding school not un- he believes helicopters were his like Govs. While there, Mr. Cockrell favorite. He loved the mission in the also worked in admissions, Mr. Cock- H-60 helicopter (pictured below), rell and was the head hockey coach. This may seem like an interesting combination, however it is a natural fit for Mr. Cockrell. He grew up in Canada and was surrounded by hockey and has loved it ever since. As for admissions, enjoys promoting The Academy while recruiting. Mr. Cockrell also loves to work with kids Photos Courtesy of Mr. Cockrell and has been an Algebra teacher as well as a flight instructor; therefore which included using “night-vision his interaction with prospective goggles” while flying, something he students in admission as well as stu- said was “a bit more risky, but fun”. dents on the ice is quite appealing After helicopters, he flew single-ento him. gine trainers, then multi-engine Mr. Cockrell attended Norwich cargo planes, then C9 jet transports, University in Vermont, played and then an 8-passenger business hockey and lacrosse there, and jet. He also flew commercial planes went on to join the US Navy in 1990. and I inquired whether it was scary From then until 2004, he flew H-60 being responsible for people he helicopters, C-130 and C-9 transport, flew. He smiled, telling me, “flying T-34 trainers all over the United commercially is kind of boring, you States including Florida and Calireally don’t think about the passenfornia. In 1998, he was stationed in gers too much”. Apparently, after Maine and got a part-time job with takeoff, pilots turn on the autopilot North Yarmouth Academy and then and then monitor the progress of acquired his position at Kents Hill the flight as well as aircraft systems, when he went off active duty. which is not really that exciting I asked if Mr. Cockrell had always compared to flying in the military. wanted to fly planes. He explained Wondering whether he would ever that because he lived in Canada as a go back to flying, Mr. Cockrell said kid, his family often flew to the U.S. he would only if he were ready and to visit extended family and since to put in the required time to be then he has always loved that mode proficient and safe. of travel. Though being a Navy pilot As for coaching hockey, Mr. was never really part of his plan, Mr. Cockrell acknowledges that last Cockrell attended Norwich Universi- year was a bit “rough” for the Govs ty, a military college, and enrolled in team. Mr. Cockrell however, sees a the Naval ROTC program. His senior very promising opportunity with year he tested for and passed the the new group and looks forward to military aviation examine and was developing a new team culture. He offered a pilot slot upon graduation recognizes that this will take time, and commissioning. He felt like that but is optimistic and excited for was on opportunity too good to the season and he has “really great turn down. kids who want to do well and work Mr. Cockrell reflects on his time as hard”. a pilot fondly. But, he also acknowlMr. Cockrell thanks the Govedges that throughout his life, he ernor’s community for a warm “never worked harder” than when welcome and is thrilled to be here. he was flying. Mr. Cockrell notes that He loves the location, he has always flying isn’t the hard part of the job. respected Govs’ strong reputation The challenge is to always remain and felt it was “quite an honor” to prepared which required constant work here. Simply put, Mr. Cockrell study and close attention to all that “loves Govs!” goes into the profession. A pilot never knows when an emergency
SH-60F
C130-T
1. Clockwork Angel; Cassandra Clare As the first book in the infernal devices series, Victorian-era shadow-hunters kick demon butt and take names. In arguably the best time period for London, there is a character who can change her appearance, some Nephilim (Humans with angel ancestors), and downworlders (think vampire, warlock) working together. Just read it because the characters are divine. 2. The Demon Trapper’s Daughter; Jana Oliver As the only woman in her field at the age of 17, Riley has to be really good at what she does to avoid percussion. And what she does is trap demons. In a post-demon invasion Atlanta, Riley was trained by her father to join the demon trapper’s guild. The development of the heroine through the trilogy makes this a super empowering novel for teens, even if it does have demons. 3. Sweet Evil; Wendy Higgins Seven deadly sins all have demons associated with them, and this book, focuses on their children. These half-demon teens have to make others commit sins to taint their victims’ souls, and make the soul easier to send to hell. On her 16th birthday, Anna Whitt discovers her true heritage, and devilish things occur. 4. Demon Derby; Carrie Harris One teenage cancer survivor wants to join a roller derby team to feel as healthy as she did before her treatment. Soon after joining the team, she is told she has the ability to fight demons. It is exactly what you would expect from the title. And that in itself is fabulous. 5. Original Sin; Lisa Desrochers This is a quintessential angels vs. demons Young Adult novel. There is one teenage girl unaware that she possesses aspects of both heaven and hell, until one representative from each side comes to her school to recruit her to their respective side. She is torn between the two for logical and emotional reasons throughout the trilogy. This book is a bit sacrilegious, but it is fun to read. Photos Courtesy of Racquel Nassor
SPORT S
THE GOVERNOR 8
Ember Hua ‘16 AP
Sophia Duplin ‘16 AP
Audrey Hemlepp ‘15 AP
Isa Berzansky ‘16 AP
Katelyn Sommers ‘15 AP
Kerin Grewal ‘15 AP
Capture
Abby Fuller ‘15 AP
Gaele Henry ‘18 Charlotte Hulseman ‘17
Dan Yeh ‘15 AP
Jack Fox ‘17
Photos Courtesy of Lily Bailey and Ryan Scerbo
Annicka Ekvall ‘16
Sydney MacDonald ‘16 AP
Margot Bosse ‘16 Jackie Rice ‘17
Abbie Pike ‘17
Tyler Armstrong ‘17
Caroline Baker ‘15 AP
Abby Caron ‘16
Annicka Ekvall ‘16
Nelle Douglas ‘17
Shea Kelly ‘17
Robyn Pirie ‘17
Abby Caron ‘16
Will Johnson ‘17
Alaina Burgess ‘17
Abby Caron ‘16
FA S H I O N
THE GOVERNOR 10
Now that it is settling into what feels like fall, I thought it would be appropriate to include fall campus essentials. New England is notorious for its unpredictable weather, so dressing in layers for all weather is a must. Here are five things you should own to survive autumn in Byfield: 1. Basic T-shirts: Whether the dorm or math science heaters are out of whack, or the temperature unexpectedly skyrockets, a basic T-shirt is great for those days where you are uncomfortably hot. I recommend purchasing these shirts in crisp white, stark black and a couple pastel or autumnal colors. 2. Flannels: I have to admit, I am definitely lacking in the flannel department, but it’s hard to know which print to choose. But whatever you prefer, they come in everything from your classic lumberjack print to festive florals! Flannels are great because they provide comfort and warmth while fully buttoned, but they can also let some of the cool air in while unbuttoned and layered with a shirt.
E N T E R TA I N M E N T
Seminar Series
Fall Fashion
NORA BRADFORD ‘15
ABBY KATZ ‘15
3. Vests: Personally, I’m not a huge fan of wearing vests, but if you like them, I recommend owning at least one. Vests can be just that little addition of warmth you need over a long sleeved shirt or flannel. When purchasing a vest, look for one with pockets, because that’s half the use! Many shirts don’t have pockets, and if they do, they’re hardly usable for items we carry daily. The structure of vest pockets is far better for storing things like our phone or keycard. 4. Scarves: Scarves are one of my favorite accessories for any season. They can add dimension to an outfit. As the temperature drops, knit scarves in warm whites and grays are often the way to go. If you’re like me, you like to wear pretty basic outfits with bright scarves...so do it! Don’t be afraid to make a statement with the clothes you wear. 5. All weather shoes: For many, these would be the infamous Bean Boots, however you have a lot of options. I love wearing my water-resistant hiking boots or waterproof blue Timberland boots on a gross rainy day. Whatever you choose, find a shoe that has a good grip and is comfortable to wear for a long period of time. Try not to pick a crazy color because you will want to pair these shoes with your raincoat, peacoat and winter jacket.
HANSIKA IYER ‘15
Fashion at the academy is all about warm clothes and rich colors. Browns, pinks, reds, and of course, green. It seems that everyone on campus is wearing this hue in their own way. Here are a few people taking the color to the next level! Sure, we can’t wear jeans to school but that doesn’t mean we can’t get inspiration from the denim look! Once again, the denim jacket steals the show. Both Carli and Isa rocked theirs with colored pants and a white top, simple yet chic. Carli’s casual t-shirt gives the perfect relaxed fall day look while Isa’s lace top gives a more put together look. If you are considering investing in a denim jacket, look at some different options. A distressed jacket offers a more casual look while a crisp, dark, cropped jacket provides a more put together look. Both give the basic white tee and coordinated pants look completely different feels, so experiment with what works for you! And don’t forget to toss on your favorite fall flats or boots on your way out the door!
ELIAS DUBUS ‘15 AND GARTH ROBINSON ‘15
25 Best Movies Of the 90s 1. Goodfellas
1. The Big Lebowski
2. Pulp Fiction
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Fargo
3. Goodfellas
4. Schindler’s List
4. Trainspotting
5. La Haine
5. American Beauty
6. Heat
6. Fargo
7. Unforgiven
7. Reservoir Dogs
8. Groundhog Day
8. Schindler’s List
9. Boogie Nights
9. Toy Story
10. LA Confidential
10. The Blair Witch Project
11. Se7en 12. Toy Story Hansika Iyer ‘15
13. Reservoir Dogs 14. American Beauty 15. The Silence of the Lambs
We know you can’t go wrong with a pair of green pants. McLean wears his with a navy sweater and light button-down shirt, perfect for these chilly autumn days. His trick? A scarf. Now you do not need perfect scarf coordination like McLean, but scarves can take your look to new hipster heights. Pick one in your favorite color or print and tie it in with all of your fall and winter styles! McLean’s scarf is great with its half-print half-solid design that adds just the right amount of fun. Ladies can jump on this scarf trend too. A super soft infinity scarf can be thrown on over any outfit for style and warmth. Wallace wears her green scarf with a printed maxi skirt, a great way to keep some of the summer style going through the fall.
11. The Usual Suspects 12. Se7en 13. Boogie Nights 14. Glengarry Glen Ross 15. Fight Club
16. Dazed and Confused
16. Jurassic Park
17. Trainspotting
17. The Lion King
18. Glengarry Glen Ross
18. Miller’s Crossing
19. Jurassic Park
19. The Silence of the Lambs
20. Before Sunrise 21. Boyz N The Hood 22. Swingers 23. The Lion King 24. The Big Lebowski Hansika Iyer ‘15
THE GOVERNOR 11
25. Big Night
20. Before Sunrise 21. Dumb and Dumber
During my time at Govs I’ve found that spending time with teachers outside of the classroom has been beneficial to my education overall. For example, when Mrs. Rokous was on duty in Moody dorm last year, we’d end up talking about some random, nerdy, bio topic for hours. Many times while I’m editing photos in Kaiser, I often become engulfed in an interesting conversation with Mr. Oxton. To stimulate more of this learning outside of the classroom, I’ve started a Seminar Series in which teachers present topics they choose. These seminars take place on Friday evenings for about a half hour. In the first mini-seminar, Mr. Wann presented his thoughts on Shakespeare and the College Board. He read passages from various works of Shakespeare demonstrating the importance of character analyses and its ability to teach us about ourselves. A few weeks later, Ms. Struck presented: “By Hand, Why Making Art Matters” in the second seminar. She gave the audience many questions to consider, including those involving education and the most effective way of educating tactile thinkers. She encouraged the audience to think critically about their education. These seminars will hopefully provide the Govs community a glimpse of what makes education so valuable. Each teacher presents on a topic she
or he feels strongly about; therefore all of them are worth hearing and understanding in this different, more casual, setting than our typical classroom. We are incredibly lucky to have these generous, articulate, and intelligent teachers graciously spend their Friday evening offering a glimpse into their thoughts outside the classroom. I hope more students are able to attend the future seminars to experience our teachers’ brilliance outside the classroom and possibly form strong connections with those you didn’t know before!
Dorm it Yourself CASSIDY POOLE ‘16
Here’s something super simple that everyone can do. If you’re bored of the same old buttery popcorn I’ve got five ways on how to dress it up. You don’t have to be a star chef to complete these recipes; all you really have to know is how to use a microwave! To steal from the dining hall: 1 Styrofoam cup of cheese 1-2 packets of sugar A sprinkle of cinnamon 1 Styrofoam cup of mini marshmallows To find in your dorm:
22. Good Will Hunting
1 bag of popcorn
23. Groundhog Day
3-4 Oreo cookies
24. Dazed and Confused
Your favorite candy
To put it together: Option 1. Go steal some cheese from the dining hall and microwave that until its melted (about 1 minute) and pour it over your freshly popped popcorn! Option 2. Right after you pop a bag of buttery popcorn pour in some cinnamon and sugar and shake the bag until it’s all combined Option 3. Wait for cupcake day in the dining hall, take a pile of marshmallows, and that night microwave them for 1-2minutes (just watch them, marshmallows are wicked cool in the microwave) and pour over the popcorn Option 4. Crumple up a few Oreos and mix them in with your popcorn Option 5. Basically any candy and popcorn mixed together will be delicious
THE GOVERNOR 12
Advice for Surviving a Byfield Winter
Stay active
Buy wool socks Plan daily treks between classes thoughtfully Carry a dryer sheet in your bag to help with static-y hair Smile to those you walk by
Always keep a scarf in your bag
Put a mint tea bag in your hot chocolate Eat York peppermint patties Own a pair of Tims
Learn to love fleece
November in History November 4th, 2008: Obama became the first African-American president 1966: Chairman Mao of China started the “great clensing of revisionism� and the Chinese Cultural Revolution, which was responsible for the death of millions. November 4th, 1952: The United States Government establishes National Security Agency (NSA).
Great ambition is the passion of a great character. Those endowed with it may perform very good or very bad acts. All depends on the principles which direct them. -Napolean Bonaparte