The Lion's Roar 40-6

VOL. 40 ISSue 6

Newton South High School · Newton, MA Est. 1984 · February 16, 2024

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the lion's

Photo by Tate Slater

NTA strikes for a new contract

03

Down memory lane: childhood franchises revived

10

METCO: a welcoming but misunderstood community

13-14

WinterFEST wonderland

15

The track to recovery

19

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February 16, 2024

NEWS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 6

February in Review photo courtesy of South Stage

By Irene González de las Casas

One of three of South Stage’s winter productions, March of the Falsettos, was performed Feb. 8, 9 and 10. The musical was originally supposed to take place two weeks ago, but due to the teacher strike it was delayed. Directed by senior Ben Miner, with musical direction by UMASS senior Brendan Qi, the musical stars five actors as they portray the lives of New Yorkers in the early '80s through the early days of the AIDS crisis.

Class of '25

photo courtesy of Green Newton

"Trees are needed for our environment, and while homes are also needed they shouldn’t come at the cost of trees" Ksenia Zhdanov Class of '26

New Tree Ordinance On Dec. 18, Newton passed a measure that expands and toughens its 1996 Tree Preservation Ordinance, which mandates that exterior construction work near trees on private property, including tree removal, will be regulated by the City of Newton.

However, despite its recent implementation, a few City Councilors have proposed amendments that would hinder some of the new protections, saying that changes to private property should be dictated by property owners.

graphics by Emily Cheng

Gov. Healey's Budget Plan On Jan. 24, Governor Maura Healy proposed a new $58 billion budget plan, which will have a 3% increase over the current year's spending. Healy said that she will not rely on increases of taxes and fees to fund her plan; instead, she plans to rely on a variety of monetary cuts in different areas of government.

The plan has been moved to the House for consideration, and if passed, it will be implemented on July 1.

photo bySteve Leblanc of the StateHouseNews

Bella Patel Class of '25

Nathan Adler Class of '26

“Falsettos has been one of my favorite shows I’ve ever done. This show has been such a dream to perform, and I have loved working with this cast and crew."

Asher Navisky

Falsettos

“It’s hard to dictate what people should be allowed to do with trees as they are on people’s property and thus are part of their property”

“South stage is a cool part of the South community, and I think it’s really important to support the arts, especially in high schools.”

“The budget plan is balanced, responsible, and forward-looking, and it protects taxpayer dollars, while making crucial investments across state governments.

Kim Driscoll Lieutenant Governor via news conference

"We are tightening our belts. I want to be clear about that. None of these choices are easy, but we think the investments are smart."

Maura Healy Governor via press release

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news | page 3

NTA strikes for a new contract

Newton Public Schools closed for 15 days while the Newton Teachers Association negotiated with the school committee to reach a contract agreement.

By Hana Futai, Olivia Middien, Ellie Shim, Risha Sinha & Alex Zakuta

O

n Jan. 18, 98% of the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) voted to go on strike until they could successfully negotiate and sign a new contract with the Newton School Committee. The NTA had been without a contract since August of 2023 and been in negotiations since August of 2022.

NTA President Mike Zilles said that a major sticking point of the contract were the wages of Newton Public Schools (NPS) faculty. He said his hope was for NPS educators to receive higher salaries that take inflation into account.

“Financially, we're hoping that we get a contract that is comparable to contracts that have been coming in across the state,” he said.

“We hope that financial gains will help our members catch up with inflation that they've suffered over the last four years, two years.”

English teacher and NTA Representative Kelly Henderson said that one of her negotiation priorities was the NTA's ask of extending parental leave to 60 days.

“For a workforce that is predominantly female to have a system that doesn't have strong parental leave just seems outrageous,” she said.

NTA contract action team co-chair and art teacher at Burr Elementary school Jayme Ellis said that Unit C members have been at the forefront of her mind throughout negotiations.

“With the proper COLA and proper wage increases, specifically for Unit C members, educators will stay in the district longer and have a higher morale, which then improves how we interact with students,” she said.“Funds should specifically go to making sure that Unit C members, our education support professionals, get a living wage” School Committee Chair Chris Brezski said that, contrary to the Union’s opinion, the Committee considers their offer to be a competitive one in terms of wage.

“Coming into this contract, Newton was in a very competitive position,” he said.“Despite being ever so slightly below where peer districts are, we remain in a really competitive position.”

In addition, Henderson said that the hardest part of the extended negotiation process was the disrespect teachers felt from the elected officials of Newton.

“The most challenging part is the invisible part, which is morale. Starting a new school year takes a lot of energy, and it can be fun and a really creative, exciting process,” she said. “But the system doesn't care about us. It's not even just disrespect, it's disdain and having that cloud hanging over your head when you're trying to do a job.”

Throughout the strike, the School Committee and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller maintained that they were proposing a contract that was

But the system doesn't care about us. It's not even just disrespect, it's disdain and having that cloud hanging over your head when you're trying to do a job.

Kelly Henderson English Teacher and NTA representative

photo by Evan Ng

fair to students and teachers.

Brezski said that the Committee’s offer is generous and keeps students in mind.

“We believe that we're making a difference for those high school kids. We believe we're making a difference with his elementary school kids,” he said. “We believe that we are now providing a really competitive contract to our teachers.”

Per Chapter 150E Section 9A of the MA General Law, all public employees, including public educators, are prohibited from striking.

Over the course of the strike, the NTA was fined $625,000 by the Middlesex Superior Court for violation of this law.

Beyond judicial pushback, the NTA faced criticisms from the parent community regarding the strike’s effect on students.

Newton parent Lital Asher-Dotan said all parties involved in the strike were overlooking the negative effects of disrupting students’ schooling.

“Both the School Committee and the NTA were not actually understanding what was going on with families in Newton and the pain families had to go through,” she said.

“We have METCO children coming in from Boston and some families of lower income that rely on lunches in school. While schools still serve them, how would they get to the school to get it?”

David Goldberg, a Newton parent and lawyer, filed a legal motion against the NTA with the goal of returning students to schools.

“Every student in the NPS system has a

constitutional right to an adequate education in the public schools in their communities,” he said. “These children need to be in school with their friends and with their teachers whom they adore.”

Tensions between upset parents and the union mounted as the strike went on, culminating in a physical altercation at the Newton Ed center during an NTA press conference on Jan. 29.

Junior Mana Hayashida was in attendance at the conference, and she said she saw parents getting angry with NTA members.

“Parents started making a ruckus and then stood in front of the cameras screaming about how the residents needed to take back control of the city,” she said. “There was yelling and pushing on both sides as the NTA was trying to get into the room as well as the parents [until] eventually the NTA said that they would call the police.”

An educator present at the incident said that some of the parents used racially-charged language:“The other group yelled profanities at us, called us liars, and one woman made some comment about China. There were several members of the NTA in the crowd who were Asian. From the reaction of the kids standing near the woman, it clearly was not appropriate.”

On Feb. 3, after 15 days of negotiation, the NTA ended their illegal strike, the longest in Massachusetts of the last 30 years. The new contract, which was ratified by a 97% yes-vote by the NTA, resolved some major sticking points: The NTA won an increased cost of living

adjustment of at least 12% over four years after proposing a 14% increase for Units A (classroom educators and guidance counselors) and B (administrators), and a 18% increase for Units C (special education specialists and behavioral therapists) and D (substitutes).

The yearly starting salary for a Unit C educator will increase by 30% to around $36,000 when this contract concludes.

Paid parental leave was increased to 60 days, in line with the state private sector mandate.

The School Committee and NTA agreed to a goal of one social worker in every elementary and middle school.

The School Committee gained the ability to move up the 2024 school start date to two days before Labor Day. Newton Public Schools (NPS) students will be making up the missed days of school by skipping February Break (Feb. 20 to 23) and remaining in school until June 26.

North freshman Zara Lookner said that the loss of February break is frustrating.

“I feel disappointed that they took away February vacation although I know it's necessary,” she said. “February vacation provided a necessary break for students and a big relief of stress so it'll be tough.”

South senior Leah Vashevko said that she is glad teachers won a contract that reflects their value.

“My teachers have always stayed late helping discuss classwork. My teachers always work to make class more engaging,” she said.

“My teachers have always fought for me. My teachers have always been there for me.”

Henderson said encouragement from the Newton community helped the NTA continue to fight, and that the impacts of the strike will be long lasting.

“Being able to be out on the picket line with all of those folks and see us all together with students and families was pretty magical,” she said. “In big ways and small ways, this is going to benefit our schools for years to come.”

page 4 | news

the lion's roar

Student groups organize clothing drives Seyoon Byun, Ellie Shinchuk & Katrina Tran News reporters

Throughout January, the Newton Food Pantry and South Fashion Club organized respective clothing drives for families in need within the Newton community.

Both initiatives asked South’s students and faculty to clear out their closets and bring the clothing they no longer wore to donation boxes set up at school.

The clothing drives had multiple objectives: to aid those in need, reduce waste production and spread awareness of material overconsumption.

Sophomore and president of the Fashion Club Rachel Kutin said that she was encouraged to start a clothing drive to lift the spirits of those in need.

“I was inspired to initiate the clothing drive with the aim of fostering a reciprocal relationship for those in need,” she said.“I really want to give back to the people who don’t have a community like South.”

Brendan Corkery, a sophomore and member of the Teen Ambassador Program (TAP) at the Newton Food Pantry, said that he hopes the community helps out with the drive so that no one has to worry about the winter’s frigid temperatures.

“It is really important that our community helps out so that those in need of clothing can live comfortably during the winter,” he said.

Likewise, Kutin said that the clothing drive is indicative of Fashion Club’s greater

goal of helping the whole community and the environment through clothing rather than just styling outfits.

“Fashion Club isn’t just about fashion,” she said. “It’s also about making sure that the people who need help can get it while at the same time be able to keep the clothes from getting thrown away.”

The advent of fast fashion — inexpensive, low-quality clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers to keep up with constantly changing trend cycles — has skyrocketed textile waste over the last decade. An estimated 92 billion tons of clothing end up in landfills annually.

Sophomore and vice president of

grap hic b y

Fashion Club Giselle Odero said that donating old clothes instead of throwing them away can curb the wasteful aspect of fashion and help the environment. ¨I really support the idea behind giving clothes, especially clothes that we don’t need anymore and that have not been used, to people that do need it,” she said.“It’s also a good way to get rid of clothes sustainably, instead of going to waste and landfills.”

Sophomore and Fashion Club social media manager Jory Cohen said that there are many ways to be sustainable when it comes to clothing.

“Being sustainable with clothing is really important, especially by thrifting and doing consignment shopping instead of going to any other retailer,” she said.

Alee za A mita n

Halima Rafat, a freshman and a member of the Newton Food Pantry Teen Ambassador Program, said that creating a community to work on a project together is more effective in meeting goals to help the community and the environment.

“It's a really great way to collaborate with others to create a sustainable environment and really just help people out and empower students to take leadership roles and combat food insecurity in the community,” she said.

Corkery said that a goal for future initiatives is to get more people involved in serving the community.

“Currently 16 students are participating in TAP, but it’s always better to create more awareness and to get more people to be involved and donate,” he said.

Sophomore Victoria Rubin said that she feels great about being able to help out and make a positive impact on her neighbors in Newton.

“It’s an incredible feeling to be able to work on projects that will help our community, and the clothing drive is one of the projects,” she said.

Rubin said that she hopes the clothing drive will gain more traction and grow as a whole.

“There’s always room for improvement and expansion,” she said. “Getting the word out, getting more sites or locations on board and having more people working to help is always the goal.”

The drives concluded on Jan. 19, and the clothing was distributed on Feb. 7, at the Newton Food Pantry and at South.

NPS budgetary decisions invoke pushback Aria Chitty, Anya Nezafat & Suvi Talvitie News reporters

On Dec. 17, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller announced a budget allocation of $18.2 million to go toward special projects within Newton Public Schools (NPS). These advancements came amid contract negotiations with the Newton Teachers Association (NTA) that had stretched on for 16 months.

Fuller approved budgets for various infrastructure projects within the high schools, including new bathroom stalls and turf fields, as well as the completion of Angier,

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Cabot and Zervas Elementary School renovations.

At the negotiation table, Fuller and the School Committee said that Newton’s tight budget prevents investment in areas teachers identify as necessary improvements.

“In these hard hours we will stay true to our core principles of prioritizing the budget for the [NPS], providing competitive wages and benefits to our valued school and city employees and having sustainable budgets," Fuller said in a press release. "We cannot make financially damaging decisions that means laying off employees to fund unsustainable higher salaries and benefits."

Senior Leah Vashevko said that Newton’s inability to fully fund NPS seems illogical, as there does not appear to be an absence of cash.

“The M a y o r over-allocates the budget in other areas but then underallocates for schools.

It's hard to attribute a reason for this that isn't malice,” she said.

“Perhaps there is a genuine reason why there can’t be more money allocated to the schools, but I have yet to hear one from the city.”

History teacher Lillian Robinson said

she believes that Fuller only focuses on highvisibility projects rather than ones with the most community impact.

“The Mayor likes to do the vanity projects, ones that will make schools look good,” she said.“There are obviously some things that need to be fixed, but other things like North's field, which was done in 2010, can be left aside until you handle the fact that we need to pay our teachers.”

Senior Michael Welch said that he recognizes the importance of investment in external infrastructure citywide, including renovations to old buildings and the schools that were identified by Fuller “We all stand to benefit from wellfunded services,” he said. “A couple of the elementary schools were completely rebuilt and now have really cool buildings. It’s good that these renovations are happening because the buildings used to be in poor condition.”

The money for these projects comes from the City’s cash surpluses, separate from the NPS budget. Math and physics teacher and Newton Teachers Association negotiator Ryan Normandin said that NPS’ $4 million yearly budget deficits are a fraction of the surpluses Newton has received, which makes Fuller’s refusal to allocate funds directly to the NPS budget all the more frustrating.

“Mayor Fuller has insisted that she can't use the surplus money to fund schools because that money is one-time funding and the schools are recurring expenses,” he said.“This is a really misleading argument because these are not onetime funds. They're one-time funds in the way that she has constructed the budget, but they're not in reality one-time funds if you have a $26 million surplus every single year.”

English teacher Joe Golding, said that Fuller’s budget choices convey values of quantity

over quality when it comes to schools.

“Mayor Fuller only ever talks about education and the budget together, and so it seems as though her only goal is to keep funding in control. To spend as little as possible,” he said.

Robinson said the best way to invest in NPS would be to put money from surpluses towards funding line items in the NTA’s contract.

“The money could’ve been donated to the school budget to help pay for the things that the union is calling for,” she said. “[Mayor Fuller] says that the schools are the most important but if you're not going to pay your teachers, students aren’t going to be the priority. She doesn’t put her money where her mouth is.”

Vashevko said that these special project cash allocations do more for the Mayor’s image than the schools.

“This is like a PR campaign for Mayor Fuller,” she said. “It's future promises, future funding and is essentially just lip service to get people off Mayor Fuller’s back.”

However, English teacher Alan Reinstein said that he believes Fuller is trying to balance the entire city's different needs.

“She is probably doing everything she can to try to meet the needs of all of the different constituencies that all have different budgetary responsibilities,” he said.“I'm assuming they're working very hard to try to meet everyone's needs, and the teachers' needs are one portion of the city's needs, but not all.”

Vashevko said that she appreciates improvements to amenities, but NPS should prioritize educational investment.

“I am proud to belong to [NPS], but Newton’s reputation doesn't come from nowhere. It comes from historically good education programs and talented teachers,” she said.

“It’s important to renovate buildings as needed, but educators should be prioritized.”

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news | page 5

Starbucks Unionizes South Demanding proper working conditions and wages, Starbucks employees nationwide vote to unionize

By Clara Borus, Penelope Fang & Allison Sam

O

n Dec. 9, 2021, Starbucks locations around the country voted to unionize due to poor working conditions, wages and working hours. Currently, around 380 out of the 9,300 stores in the US have unionized.

Although Starbucks has set up bargaining sessions, the coffeehouse company denies violating any labor laws and refuses to participate in virtual negotiations with nationwide union representatives.

Freshman and Starbucks customer Vlada Martyn said that because of the considerable amount of responsibility it takes to work at Starbucks, the workers’ efforts to unionize appear justified.

“Working at Starbucks seems like a difficult job,” she said. “It’s always busy, and you have to deal with rude cus- tomers.

The workers always seem unhappy and overworked, so it makes sense that they want proper compensation.”

Freshman and Starbucks customer Grace Prampraschayan said that while Starbucks isn’t the only company that treats its workers poorly, poor treatment is a recipe for worker retaliation. . “Large corporations forget that their workers are people, not machines, and if they’re working under poor conditions for long enough, eventually they’re going to demand change,” she said.

Senior at North and barista at a non-unionized Starbucks Maille O’Neil said that the upper management could have done a better job of relieving the pressures that are put on their employees.

“We weren't allowed to turn off mobile orders when it was getting really busy, and that would have helped to reduce the flow of orders coming,” she said, “That creates stress that’s put on the workers and customers’ anger that is put onto the workers.”

Senior Lara Karsligil, a Starbucks barista at a non-unionized store, said that adapting to the recent rise in minimum required working hours has proven to be a challenge, especially for those who are also students.

“Before you had to be above 12 hours, now you need to be above 24 hours,” she said.

“There are five teenagers working at the store, including myself, so that’s not possible for us.

We can’t keep our grades up while working.”

A lawsuit regarding the current IsraelHamas War created additional tension. On Oct. 9, the union made a social media post on X supporting Palestine, and in response, on Oct. 18 Starbucks sued the union. The lawsuit demanded that the union stop using the Starbucks name and logo, saying the union’s post angered customers and damaged Starbucks’ reputation.

The union counter-sued Starbucks, claiming that Starbucks defamed them by implying that the union supports terrorism and violence and asking to continue using Starbucks’ name and logo. In response to the lawsuit, pro-Palestinian customers have been boycotting Starbucks.

graphic by Izzy Gimmelfarb

Junior Alexis Fridman, a Starbucks barista who previously worked at a unionized store before moving to a non-unionized store, said that despite the tension that the boycotts represent, he and his coworkers do their best to prevent the climate from hindering their relationships.

“Now that the [Israel-Palestine] conflict has been introduced in the workplace, it's definitely created tension, but we don’t talk about it because we all want to work together and create a safe environment for everyone,” he said.

Junior Caleb Baring-Gould, a barista at a non-unionized location, said that the union benefits non-unionized stores more than unionized stores.

“You don't get a lot of the same benefits that you do working in a non-unionized Starbucks. You don't make as much money, and you don't make online tips,” he said. “I make about $40 more each week compared to someone working the same hours at a union store.”

These benefits wouldn’t be possible without the union’s work. Baring-Gould said Starbucks only gives non-unionized stores these benefits to prevent employees from joining the union.

“I also know that the only reason I have benefits like the online tips is because of the fight for union stores and Starbucks being like, ‘Hey, you don't need to join a union.

Look at all the stuff we'll give you,’” he said.

“What's very important about the union is it makes Starbucks want to pretend like they value their employees.

Baring-Gould said the lack of union benefits is one of the organization’s weaknesses, as it discourages its members.

“I was talking to an employee who worked at the unionized Starbucks, and he was saying that that store was trying to leave the union, which is crazy because usually, all the unionized workers want to participate in the union,” he said.

Even attempting to join the union can be a difficult process. O’Neil said that this is due to interference from corporate and a lack of support. “[At] the store that I was working at, we tried to form a union, and we got to the organizing stage, but there was not enough support and the turnover rate was so high that the partners who were on board left or were fired before it could get far in the unionizing process,” she said.

Fridman said Starbucks uses different methods to make the union seem unappealing to employees and deter stores from joining the union.

“The way Starbucks is responding to the unions is making it impossible for unionized stores to stay in the union,” he said.“The employees begin to see union fees and then a decrease in pay, and they notice that non-unionized stores have more benefits like weekly pay and mobile tips, [and] they feel that difference. Ultimately, it makes the workers feel like they’re working against themselves by continuing to participate in the union.”

Spots

New GPA Calculations Previously, Grade point averages (GPA) were documented separately for each academic year. South has returned to using a cumulative GPA, so GPAs calculated from now on will reflect all grades for each school year combined. Having a single, cumulative GPA will improve the predictive capability of scattergrams in Scoir, the website students use to track colleges, and will streamline the process of reporting GPAs for college and scholarship applications.

Writing Center Reopens As of Jan. 3, the Writing Center in the library has reopened since its closure in the beginning of the school year. Students can drop by at any open block, which can be found on the Writing Center schedule, or sign up for English teacher Kelsey Dornbrook’s WIN for additional help with writing assignments or essays. If students wish to become a peer tutor, they can email Dornbrook at dornbrookk@newton.k12.ma .us.

Cover Contest The submission window for the Program of Studies Art Cover Contest, a contest that encourages students to design next year’s cover for the Program of Studies, closed on Feb. 7. Now, the student body will vote for their favorite artwork via a Google Form on Schoology. The winner of the contest will receive a copy of the Program of Studies along with a $100 gift card from Blick Art Materials.

New Vending Machine South’s vending machine provider has been switched to Berkshire Natural’s healthy vending. These new machines are stocked with healthier snack options that contain no artificial colors and no high fructose corn syrup. However, the machines with the increase in nutritional value of these snacks, so have the prices.

Other Updates Lines in the front of the school, Culter entrance and Breezeway parking lots have been repainted to allow for safer parking.

Bathroom stalls were updated over the summer to improve safety and accessibility for students, and paper towel dispensers have been replaced by air blowers.

page 6 February 16, 2024

EDITORIALS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 6

We are Not the Heart of the Strike There was a strike, it was long — you get the drill. Traditionally, we use this space to put forth a solution to our community's issues. This time, we're taking a step back.

S

ince winter break, there has been a peculiar buzz in the air. A buzz some of us knew was a long time coming, but came as a complete surprise to others.

The Newton Teachers Association (NTA) went on an illegal strike from Friday Jan. 18 until Friday, Feb. 2 — the longest MA has seen in the last 30 years.

In August 2022, the NTA and the Newton School Committee began their collective bargaining process in an effort to put forth a working contract set to begin this school year.

However, after months of unsuccessful negotiating and beginning in September without a contract, Newton Public Schools (NPS) faculty began ramping up their demonstrations through their work-to-rule policy.

Since then, there has been notable ten-

justified, but they took it too far.

The NTA’s argument with the strike was to highlight the impact Newton’s educators make (and, thus, the power they hold) in our community. This impact was demonstrated on all fronts.

However, this issue is encased in bubble wrap: the affluence of our community cushioned the NTA’s cause. Newton is a community where a majority of families can afford last-minute childcare and don’t rely on the schools’ meal services — families that could let the strike drag on for so long.

This was a deeply personal issue for everyone. All of us saw firsthand the good, the bad and the ugly side of our community’s anger.

The vast majority of our information during the strike came from either elected of-

By the end of the strike, that warm, fluffy feeling that we were the ones being fought for started to dry up.

sion between the Committee and the NTA as they both fiercely advocated for and rejected various employment proposals (check page three for greater specificity). They continued to fight until Jan. 18, when 98% of the NTA voted in favor of the strike, an act demonstrating their feeling that “Enough is enough.”

But we’d like to point out the intentional use of the word, “fight,” in our previous statement. We’d like to point out that these negotiations began as heated conversations, but evolved into chants screaming, “When we fight, we win,” at rallies on the steps of City Hall and even a physical altercation at the Ed center. The fact of the matter is such: there is a lot of anger. On all sides.

And among all the anger, we don’t blame our teachers. We support them in their advocacy for a contract that accurately represents their needs, and we recognize that the negotiation process has been dragged on for too long.

So yes, the NTA’s decision to strike was

ficials’ outreach (cough Mayor Fuller’s email blasts) or the NTA’s social media. We meticulously followed these sources, each of us scrambling to understand the fate of the next day, the rest of the week, our AP exams, midyear transcripts, February break — the list goes on.

But we also watched our leaders turn on each other like we had never seen before. By the latter portion of the negotiations, there was very little information left to disclose — just bad feelings.

Information outlets officially became an incubator of animosity. Members of the community were caught in the crosswinds as leaders passive-aggressively communicated with one another any way they could except face-to-face. This constant stream of biased information was thinly veiled propaganda that polarized the community, forcing students in particular to pick a side.

Before the strike even began, students were inspired to demonstrate their support of

Editorial Policy

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the NTA through informative writing, social media usage, talking directly to legislators and even staying up-to-date on negotiations. At the beginning of the strike, even more students took a stand by speaking in front of crowds, attending rallies and utilizing social media.

We ignored the noise that praised us for “fighting for our own education” and focused on trying to help the educators. You can’t blame us. The educators are who we know; they are the faces we see every morning and the people we have relied on for our entire lives.

But the largest sentiment shared among the School Committee, NTA and the parents involved is that all this fuss, this commotion and this drama is “for the students.” Everything relates back to us.

We are used as a justification for action, but at the end of the day, we weren’t the ones being fought for. Instead, we were weaponized to achieve a goal.

Students were collateral in this fight.

Used as a moral high ground, we are the biggest leverage educators have over the School Committee. Ultimately, though, this contract is not for the students, but for educators. By the end of the strike, that warm, fluffy feeling that we were the ones being fought for started to dry up.

Our connection to our educators is why we care more about them, and why it surprised and hurt us the most when we felt they used us.

During that second week, we, the students, powerlessly stood on the sidelines and watched our efforts of solidarity be warped to fit a rhetoric. We knew that compliance with the NTA was our ticket toward being a part of something larger than ourselves, but we were pressured to take our obedience to an extreme;

the weight of it eventually broke us.

And we weren’t alone. There were also a significant number of educators who were practically powerless in their own fight. During the strike, we spoke with an educator who told us that,“To an extent, I support the strike, but I also knew that if I didn’t vote yes, I’m screwed.”

Like students, educators were also subject to the superiority of NTA leaders and municipalities.

The strike is, at its core, a power struggle between the NTA, the School Committee, the parents and the students, and few emerged satisfied with its results.

And among the four, we don’t know the School Committee, or even Mayor Fuller. We know that they make the “big decisions,” but at the end of the day, most students don’t have a developed enough understanding of government or legislators to care about the seeming minutiae of their actions.

So where do we go from here? In this editorial, what’s our call to action? We, on the Roar, don’t know. We don’t have an answer to solve the immense amount of issues that this negotiation brought to light.

But it's not our job to find the answer.

We shouldn’t have to care. Our job as students is not to be powerful, because this is not our fight. As empowering as it is to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, as students, we shouldn’t be expected to.

We are not a resource that either side can argue over, spend or use, and it was inappropriate for both the School Committee and the NTA to think that we were.

Students who were involved should not have been used, and students not involved shouldn’t have been affected in the first place. photo by Evan Ng

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editorials | page 7

LETTER from the

EDITORS

A thank you letter to Volume 40 staff Managing Editors

Dear Volume 40, As this volume draws to a close, we’d like to thank you all for making Roar the lovely community we've grown to call home. This has been such a roller coaster of a volume (and a year ahaha...), and the collective effort of this staff is the best we've ever seen. Thank you all for sticking it through endless paste-ups and shenanigans.

We know Roar is in such good hands.

News

Features

Andrew Feinberg

Alyssa Chen Certified 1 in 2000s queen! Your wholesome feats articles and doodles decorating your Instagram posts have us all in awe — you have such a knack for finding something special in everyone and everything.

Irene González de las Casas

Ava Ransbotham

These past few months — in review — with you on staff have been such a joy!

We know to come to you if we need any Taylor Swift trivia, style advice, or a massive mural. We’ll leave it at that.

Did somebody call for a hand model for pizza cheese pulls? You’d be the perfect candidate. Remember us when you’re sitting in the UN Assembly Hall one day — we’ll be the first to read your 1 in 7 billion article.

Jenny Lee The world has so many more Starbucks “red drinks” and joyful moments with you in it, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! By the way, did we tell you that we love your eyeliner?

Alex Zakuta Through last-minute proofs to NTA rallies, news wouldn’t be the same without you! Let us know when your next recital is — we’re dying to see you shine on the stage like you do on the paper!

Theo Younkin You take the cake as the first person to go through all design proofs without a single error. That's no easy “feat”! We’re so serious when we say we weep with joy every time we see your pages.

Eden Levitt-Horne She’s an Ironman?! You never fail to wow us with your triathlon training stories and creative article ideas. We’ll be cheering you on for whatever race or journey you take on next.

Jacob Lewis Unbelievable sights, indescribable feelings. From Disney karaoke during paste-up to your orchestra stories, your musicality and humor have been such a high note of our team!

Angela Tao Alliteration queen! Your creativity and attention to detail make the Ops section sparkle, and we are so excited to see where you take your dual writer and artist skills next.

Our resident hopeless romantic and heartbreaker. You always keep us on our toes with your random bursts of energy and sappy send-up breakdowns, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. And wait — did you intern at the statehouse this summer? Rep. Bals-er was lucky to have you, as were we.

Centerfold Grace Sousa Thank you for sticking with us through the epic highs and lows of high school *journalism*. Your excitement and passion are truly contagious, and we can't wait to see where you take your creativity next!

John Timko You’ve attended almost every send-up this entire volume. Typically we wouldn’t, but we commend you for that and hope that you’ve enjoyed the insanity that is senior staff. It's been real. So, very, real.

Photos Sports Joey Giragos

Opinions

Roar and Reflections?? Our multi-publications queen, and you always do it in such immaculate style. Thank you for being the most sane member of senior staff and for keeping us calm through thick and thin (with the help of just a few pink drinks). Keep letting it Linger.

Risha Sinha

Roartastic regards, Bella and Emma

We hereby award you the title of “Most Paste-ups Attended”! Your witty humor, Christmas jingle singalongs and jawdropping lore will be missed, but never forgotten…

Grace Dempsey

After a year working with you, we have concluded that (we think) you like baseball? Just kidding. Keep that Twitter page active, because we’ll be stalking it on the D-low. P.S. We found your “Deck furniture” Pinterest. Digital footprint much?

Evan Ng What don’t you do? From master photographer to entrepreneur to NTA spokesperson, you truly do it all, and we’re so excited to see where you take your camera and voice next!

Advisor Ms. Chapman Thank you for being there for us every step of the way. From libel law lessons to last-minute proofs, we couldn’t have done it without you and your speedy reading.

Room 1201 is our second home — since freshman year, we’ve laughed, cried (a little bit), and grown not just as students and journalists, but as people. A feat only possible under your care. We’ll always cherish your quirky facts and Lily Pulitzer dresses, and know that we’ll carry your passion and patience with us wherever we go. We’re excited to finally get Instagram-following privileges! Expect a surprise visit from us on future Thursday trivia nights — you better be there every week.

Graphics Denise Chan Your knack for design shines through in everything from your stylish monochrome outfits or your masterful digital art. We know that you’re gonna shine just as bright wherever you end up next!

Lynn Kim You never fail to wow us with your designs, and we will never EVER get over the raccoon from Season of Waste. Graphics wouldn’t be graphics without your calm and kind demeanor, and we’ll be peeping in future issues to see what you cook up next!

Adrienne Lirio From the baby of the graphics team to the mother, you’ve been with us through it all.

Your creative designs and graphics meeting enthusiasm add so much to the section, and we thank you so much for your leadership these past two volumes.

Pawdcast Renee Lu

Social Media

Our resident storyteller both on the Pawdcast and in advisory. You always make us laugh with your stories and impress us with your dedication to always making new and exciting content.

Levin Brenner

Ashish Uhlmann

We know that social media has been a bumpy ride this past year, but you have always been there to put a smile on our faces.

Thank you for showing up between Passin’ Times and ski meets. Although, we’re still waiting for that media day vlog…

Your skills on the Pawdcast and volleyball court are unmatched. We love hearing new stories about New Media and are looking forward to hearing your voice on NPR during our drive to work 20 years from now!

Sarah Schwartz

Tate Slater

Business

She’s. A. Freshman! Thank you for always being a calm yet hilarious voice on our paper, and for always showing up, even in a knee brace. We know that you’re going to be back on the pitch better than ever, and are rooting for you!

A late join to the V40 staff, but a crucial one at that. You brought @nshslionsroar to life with your dedication and enthusiasm, and we have loved watching you simultaneously develop as a photographer. Thank you for actually using the Roar camera.

Zach Rhein

Julia Lee Our resident e-boy and master pizza critic! From news to sports to Newton Center Pizza chains, you bring such great energy and excitement wherever you go, and we can’t wait to see where you’ll take it from here.

Bro actually stands on business. Every year you pull off record-setting ad sales. We know that you’ll be bag chasing for the rest of your life, so for that, wanna connect on LinkedIn?

page 8 February 16, 2024

OPINIONS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 6

The Many Ways to Celebrate

Valentine's Day

ao la T nge yA b c phi gra

Taste the sweetness of alternative celebrations of Feb. 14 affection

By Olivia Hong & Katy Krintzman

V

alentine’s Day feels like an inapplicable holiday to many people, all with one thing in common — the quality of being single. (Disclaimer: If you happen to be part of this demographic, it’s nothing to be ashamed of. This is not that kind of article.)

Either way, Feb. 14 is, at its core, about love. But here’s the big question: what are all the single people of the world supposed to do while couples go on cute dates, feed each other chocolate and gift each other cheesy cards?

Attraction, romance and love are all different but connected, and they can easily be confused. The love you feel for your friends and family, or yourself, is all equally important.

Some healthy, mild narcissism is completely okay, and even encouraged. You should love yourself — the affection you receive should not depend purely on others.

Va l e n tine’s Day didn’t

even start as a romantic holiday. It was only in the 14th century when “courtly love” began to trend that the holiday was romanticized by lovebirds and their public displays of affection.

Now, we know it as an excuse to gorge on candy and show love to those we care about.

Two very different things that are now somehow connected? Hey, we’re not complaining — candy upgrades any and every situation.

The time has come for us to, yet again, break that convention and reclaim the day for everyone, whether you’re taken or not.

One great way to observe the holiday is by buying (and immediately consuming) festive candy. It’s not just the cuffed who can do that — everyone’s entitled to sugar and Red 40 Dye. Big corporations like Hers h e y ’s

and Dove know exactly how to tug at our heartstrings (and wallets), which comes in handy for once.

Kisses aren’t only French, and hearts aren’t only broken — they can be much more enjoyable in the form of chocolate and conversation candies. And if you’re not in that sweet, lovey-dovey mood, spicy cinnamon candies, Red Hots and licorice are feistier options.

Here’s another tip: buying candy in bulk the day after Valentine’s Day, the 15th, is far cheaper. Pricing is always fickle in today’s economy, but sugar won’t taste any different a day later.

Yo u ’ r e also saving it from being dumped into a landfill — think of it as doing your part for the planet. Consumerism can be your friend.

Well, maybe not your friend. Consumerism can be your acquaintance.

Speaking of friends, your bulk-purchased candy would be a convenient way to show your friends and family that you appreciate them. No one will be mad if you decide to give them free bonbons.

Giving candy out is fine, as long as you make sure you’re not giving those sweets out to random strangers from a nondescript white van — looking like a kidnapper is a major red flag, even through rose-tinted glasses.

Our personal favorite way to celebrate is with a Galentines (or Malentines? graphic by Clare Cho Guyintines?) Day celebration. Spending time with the

people you like, not only the people you likelike, is just as meaningful. Throw a party with themed food and fun activities, or just hang out. Feel free to obsess over rom-com stars, dress up, maybe even go out to dinner … the possibilities are endless.

But celebrating with friends means that you’re celebrating strictly with friends — do not be the person who brings their sugar-piepookie-bear-baby-snookums everywhere. Nobody wants to form a 19-wheeler on Valentine’s Day — or any other day for that matter.

If you’re planning to watch any movies (Netflix & Chill or not), there are plenty of options that fit the typical Valentine’s theme. Since we’re sticking with the smoochy rom-com stereotype for this one, there’s an array of candidates: historical, paranormal, action, comedy, drama, fantasy, musical or literally whatever kind of making out — I mean, meaningful and wholesome (PG) displays of affection — your cute, wholesome, little heart desires.

Any film can be amazing at portraying love’s complexity. Sobbing on the couch alone during“The Notebook” can be extremely therapeutic, and movies so bad they’re good like“The Kissing Booth” or classics like “Pretty in Pink” are always an entertaining and relatable watch.

If you really want to stir the pot, rekindle the “was-there-enough-room-for-Jack-on-thedoor” debate while watching “Titanic.” Is it an act of romance or of stupidity?

What’s not stupid is our advice, which we hope has been taken to heart (whether yours is lovey-dovey or ice-cold). You don’t need to have a significant other, a situationship or a “Mom, they’re just a friend” to celebrate the 14th.

Movies, candy and quality time are shareable with anyone that you love. No matter which of the many ways you choose to celebrate the occasion, thanks to us, we know you’ll have a blessed and belated Valentine’s Day.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

opinions | page 9

Claudine fire on fire The plight ofGay: Black female leaders

By Anya Kopinja & Joya Tendulkar As repeated reports of anti-semitic incidents on college campuses shed light on the nationwide uptick in anti-Semitism, the magnifying glass has landed on Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania. But when light was concentrated through a magnifying glass, fires were started, and the presidents of these elite institutions went up in flames.

In the last few months, both Harvard President Claudine Gay and UPenn President Liz Magill resigned for the same reasons: their comments, or lack thereof, on the nature of students’ reactions to the Israel-Hamas War. The House of Representatives held a committee hearing on December 5th, focused on whether or not colleges were properly addressing antisemitism post-October 7th.

The main turning point for Gay was in this congressional hearing, but Magill’s story was more complex.

According to Inside Higher Education, in September, UPenn hosted a Palestinian literature festival that hosted a few controversial speakers who had previously made anti-Semitic statements. The festival sparked opposition from Jewish advocacy groups, who turned to Magill and demanded a response. These demands and tensions rose after Hamas' October attacks, leading to further scrutiny of Magill’s inaction on the topic.

For both Gay and Magill, the criticisms they faced reached a tipping point at a congressional hearing. When prompted to condemn the violence against Jewish people in the hearing, neither Gay nor Magill definitively did so.

Universally, extreme violence is never justified, Gay and Magill should have been able to express that without a moment of hesitation.

While the movement against Gay and Magill began in the same place, the aftermath each president faced differed greatly. Gay, Harvard’s first black president, was subjected to racial slurs and attacks on her character, not criticisms of her actions. In contrast, the criticisms of Magill, a white woman, were limited solely to her decisions, not her identity.

The public’s racist and prejudiced reaction to Gay’s statements is unacceptable. There is a fine line between respectfully expressing an opinion and attacking others. We must be careful not to cross it.

In her New York Times Op-Ed “What

Just Happened At Harvard Is Bigger Than Me”, she says that she was sent death threats and repeatedly called the n-word. People tore her apart by any means necessary, pulling at whatever threads they could, until the scrutiny shifted to her credibility and accusations of plagiarism, not her decisions regarding the attacks. The papers Gay published and the color of her skin were all the public seemed to focus on, even though neither topic had anything to do with her congressional hearing comments.

In Magill’s case, critics called for her resignation completely based on what she said.

Donors of the university threatened to discontinue their support if Magill didn’t apologize or resign, but they never used slurs against her or attacked her capabilities as they did with Gay.

Both Magill and Gay’s lack of response was deemed unacceptable, but only Gay’s character, no matter its relevance to the case at hand, was subject to scrutiny.

Neither Magill nor Gay was president of their respective schools for very long, and in fact, Gay will be the shortest-serving president in Harvard history.

The hearing that sparked the resignation of both presidents was focused on anti-semitism on college campuses, but neither president was a significant part of their school for very long and can’t have had that much of an impact on the school’s environment.

Because anti-semitism is a systemic issue, if we want to properly combat it we need to treat it as such. Forcing a few people to resign for a lack of a proper response will not do anything to fix prejudice towards any groups on campuses.

The First Amendment, while protecting free speech, does not extend to threats or calls for violence. Any action promoting the harm of any group is unacceptable and should be treated accordingly. Gay and Magill’s failure to do so warrants legitimate criticism and fair repercussions.

Fair criticism targets a person’s actions, not their character. Claudine Gay made a mistake and should face the just consequences; however, attacking hate with hate is never right.

To quote Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events,” “If everyone fought fire with fire, the whole world would go up in smoke.”

The chaotic aftermath of the Claudine Gay case serves as the warning embers of this fate.

repercussions due to the sheer volume of users and the user satisfaction of confirmation bias.

Notably, social media makes fun of characters like the late physicist Stephen Hawking, who had Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and whose name appears in these documents.

Although his name was there concerning a business transaction unrelated to the list of those trafficked, the media circulated fabricated clips, one of which depicted the renowned scientist in a wheelchair underwater.

These clips imply a visit to Epstein’s island, putting Hawking in the same cohort of people who’d partaken in Epstein’s sex trafficking network.

Not only does this rumor spread harmful misinformation and mock a disability, but it also downplays the horror of the systemic sexual abuse that Epstein and his list represent.

Social media users mindlessly consume content, especially if it provides stimulating entertainment. This mindless consumption ends up benefiting the post’s creators and the platforms themselves. Thus, to exploit this symbiotic relationship, creators prioritize shock value over truth, bringing in more engagement and

curating an environment that rewards horrifying claims. This curation further incentivizes creators to compete and constantly create appalling jokes to the point of obscuring those jokes’ inspirations: pain and trauma.

There is merit in the shock value of dark jokes — behavioral scientists consider dark comedy a coping mechanism beyond entertainment — but social media’s impersonal meme format is not the appropriate milieu. As is often the case in a true crime like Epstein’s case, users disregard the repercussions of this shocking content in favor of likes, comments and shares.

This content is simplistic; it’s enough to draw a laugh, but the speed at which these jokes are delivered within a user’s feed does not allow time for critical thinking.

Without space or time to reflect on the subject of the joke, victims’ stories remain untold, only popularizing the meme in lieu of awareness regarding the grave situation. It is precisely this culture of fast frivolity that degrades the dark humor of reality into a harmful meme on social media.

The media’s apathetic mockery of the list and the Epstein situation as a whole is far from an isolated incident. It’s indicative of a larger issue perpetuated on social media platforms: the detached treatment and commodification of trauma. The Epstein jokes fall under the same umbrella as true crimes’ capitalization on victims and stand-up comedians doing crowd work with someone’s trauma. This culture’s continuing normalization will leave us with a future marred by disturbing indifference and a dire lack of empathy.

photo-graphic by Lynn Kim

Epstein's island is no joke

By Boston Bulis, Sophia Telio & Grace Yang On July 6, 2019, Jeffrey Epstein, a 66-year-old millionaire businessman, was arrested for sex trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking involving dozens of girls as young as 14. But this wasn’t an inaugural occurrence. In 2008, Epstein faced similar charges but had evaded severe consequences and truncated his incarceration due to good behavior.

Still, something was different this time around. Epstein’s social status and connections with the modern elite publicized his arrest. His in-jail suicide and the idea of a“list” of Epstein’s associates further intensified the public’s fascination. Moreover, Epstein had an island home to his sex trafficking network. Now, five years later, the list has once again caught fire, especially on social media.

The list is compiled of court documents from a 2015 case filed against Epstein’s co-conspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell. These documents contain references to nearly 150 of Epstein’s associates, including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, who were thought to have participated in Epstein’s trafficking scheme.

Originally, the names and documents were locked up after the case was settled in 2017, but after reporters from The Miami Herald sued for their release in 2019, the documents were slowly brought to light.

Instead of refocusing on Epstein and the involvement of other elites in his crimes, social media users began making jokes about the situation. However, to single out this instance as a lone one would be ignoring the pattern of social

media finding insensitive humor in adversity.

The news someone learns through social media doesn’t necessarily register as news, no matter its severity. Instead, it feels more like just another piece of drama or content floating on the web because there's an inherent implication that the internet and reality are two separate entities that seldom coincide. As a result, any news shared may end up feeling like twisted entertainment because of the climate social media fosters.

Likewise, modern media as a whole capitalizes on traumatic experiences through high-production documentaries, true crime podcasts or flashy headlines.

Social media is the original breeding ground for Epstein jokes, with the jokes proliferating contagiously on online consumer-to-consumer forums. Primarily in the form of memes, these jokes are accessible in a way that documentaries and articles are not due to the Internet’s preference for short-form content.

This accessibility, while graphic by Adrienne Lirio perhaps useful in other contexts, heightens users’ exposure. And the more exposure this problematic humor gets, the more desensitized users become. This cycle is indefinite; social media is an echo chamber that rarely challenges people’s views or prompts

page 10 | opinions

the lion's roar

Down Memory Lane: Childhood Franchises Revived

By Izzy Monaghan, Emily Wang & Kiril Zhdanov Percy Jackson: TV Series

I

magination is the gateway to invisible, adventure-filled worlds.

If I close my eyes, I can still picture the day in third grade when a friend came over to my house proclaiming to be the daughter of a Greek god. I was instantly enthralled. From that day on, we played in my backyard pretending to be mighty heroes, just like the half-bloods in the “Percy Jackson” series by Rick Riordan.

Although they may seem like typical children’s books, for me and countless others, they were the catalyst of our own mythical adventures.

Nothing could have prepared me for the 2010 movie adaptation. Watching that abomination of a film in my fifth-grade history class utterly shattered the fantastical reality Mr. Riordan and I meticulously crafted in my mind.

The looks on my classmates’ faces ranged from disbelief to disgust, as they all witnessed the same disgrace. I could not believe how different it was from the story I knew and loved — it lacked the legendary adventures of the books,the characters were too old and the writers squeezed far too much of the story’s content into the span of one film.

A decade of disappointed children later, Uncle Rick extended an olive branch: a new adaptation to the franchise. Luckily, the TV show was everything the movie was not. The actors cast to represent the main trio, Percy,Annabeth and Grover, felt authentic, and the actors showed lively chemistry throughout the show and in interviews.

Although they may seem like typical children's books, for me and countless others, they were the catalyst of our own mythical adventures.

Watching Walker Scobell on screen was like seeing the actual Percy Jackson come to life. His acting was so natural that at times, it was almost like Scobell was just playing himself. The capturethe-flag game was most effective in highlighting exactly what made Percy so loveable — his childlike innocence.

Scobell busting a move in the middle of a forest, while he was supposed to be guarding the flag, seemed very on-brand.

Unlike the film, the show did not stray far from the source material, and it patched up previously-overlooked inconsistencies. The show

preserved the magic of the scenes, such as the iconic Camp Half-Blood, by creating a much more bookaccurate image.

However, the show still moved too fast. The first episode noticeably rushed to introduce viewers to the lore of the world, and it felt like nothing more than a large info dump. Even the“exciting” battles lacked tension and resolved too quickly, causing it to feel like the combat ended right after it

began — the crucial fights against Medusa and the chimera became an afterthought.

Even so, when we take that step back and look at the new “Percy Jackson” show holistically, it truly is a wonderful adaptation of Rick Riordan’s original books.

It surprisingly lived up to our high expectations by painting a more vivid world, casting the right actors and opening the classic story to a new generation. Aside from slight issues with the pacing, the showmakers did a great job recreating the magic of the books.

Hopefully, this show will inspire the future generations to pick up their weapons, pack their bags and get lost in the mythical world of “Percy Jackson”.

Mean Girls: The Musical

W

e may not be Regina George, but when we heard about the new “Mean Girls” movie, we knew it would be a massive deal. Hollywood recently remade the 2004 cult-classic, whose chokehold on American pop culture could not be overstated.

From Gretchen’s iconic catchphrase “that’s so fetch” to Regina’s rigid dress code rules, the Plastics may be fake, but the impact they had on their audience was very real.

The original “Mean Girls” captured the attention of fans, and, like it or not, bled into our everyday lives. But like “Percy Jackson,” the franchise also suffered the fate of a terrible adaptation that came in the form of“Mean Girls 2,” a remake which the audience did not enjoy nearly as much seven years after the first release.

The movie was set in the same school, practically had the same plot line and felt like a cheap remake of the original.

This year, movie executives once again tried to revive the beloved cultural sensation.

Their new attempt, a film version of the Broadway musical (based on the 2004 classic), hit like a shock from a defibrillator.

It’s safe to say that casting vocal powerhouse Reneé Rapp as Regina George was a great decision. Her perfect embodiment of the queen bee didn’t end with her voice, either; Rapp mastered the sassy but amused aura of the original Regina and gave the character a more carefree attitude.

Furthermore, the modernization of the film made it a very interesting watch, one which preserved the best qualities of the original while adding fresh touches aligning with current trends.

Tossing aside their Juicy Couture tracksuits and plaid miniskirts, the new Plastics sported neon colors, metallic fabrics, low-rise jeans and chunky sneakers.

The removal of some of the more culturally insensitive jokes allowed the movie to appeal to a larger audience, and the extravagantly corny humor added to the production’s unique charm.

The movie’s diverse cast attracted a diverse audie n c e .

Such a change to an iconic piece makes it far more enjoyable to watch; now, more fans could close their eyes and imagine themself as one of The Plastics.

But having b een adapted from the Broad-

way musical, the movie noticeably fell short of some elements presented in the live version.

While Reneé Rapp, Auli'i Cravalho ( Janis) and Avantika Vandanapu (Karen) crushed their respective musical numbers, Angourie Rice’s songs as Cady left a lot to be desired.

Her lackluster performance combined with her monotone voice was miles away from Cady’s emotion-filled persona in the Broadway musical.

The characters also weren’t so characteristically mean anymore. Specifically, Regina was portrayed as far less manipulative. The adaptation forgoes showing the mean girl at her meanest — it completely cuts out how Regina complimented a girl on her skirt only to ridicule it the next second, and it sees her quietly leaving the burn book in the hallway for others to find rather than plastering the pages across the school herself.

Removing the edge from Regina’s character rendered her a queen bee without her stinger.

Meanwhile, key songs such as “Meet the Plastics”, “Where Do You Belong” and “Who’s House is This” were removed from the film entirely, which was a slap to the face for lovers of the Broadway version.

All things considered, the new “Mean Girls” movie was an entertaining and turn-yourbrain-off watch. The entirety of the film was more inclusive to different races and widened its audience range. That being said, it would be a disappointment to anyone who was a fan of the original musical due to the lackluster songs that left out key elements. Although it had its time in the spotlight, “Mean Girls” 2024 could neither achieve the timelessness of the 2004 original, nor lean into its musical identity like its Broadway predecessor.

grap hics by

Lynn Kim

issuu.com/thelionsroar

opinions | page 11

Felon or Folk Hero?

By Leah Greiner & Eden Levitt-Horne Why are so many of us irresistibly drawn to true crime stories? The newest surge of these macabre crimes seizing control over the cultural psyche has been dominated by Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s much-anticipated release from prison. After serving eight and a half years for assisting in the murder of her abusive mother, she was released on parole on Dec. 28 of last year and is being hailed as a folk hero online.

During Blanchard’s early life, her mother, who experts believe had Munchausen syndrome by proxy, made fabricated claims about her health and induced her symptoms, leading to Blanchard undergoing years of intense medical treatments. Her mother deceived people into believing Blanchard had leukemia and muscle dystrophy, forcing her to use a feeding tube and wheelchair, and even chaining her to a bed and beating her when she resisted.

After meeting Nicholas Godejohn on a

Blanchard’s story is a perplexing tapestry of deception, manipulation and tragedy that captured the attention of true-crime fans.

dating site, Blanchard confided in him about her mother’s actions, ultimately asking him to kill her mother. In 2015, Godejohn stabbed Blanchard’s mother in their house while she waited in another room. Blanchard was sentenced to 10 years in prison for second-degree murder and served 85 percent of her sentence before being released on parole.

Her case was the premise for a series of documentaries, movies and television shows, most notably the 2019 Hulu drama series“The Act”, for which Joey King — the actress who portrayed Blanchard — received an Emmy nomination. Blanchard herself has stated that “The Act” negatively impacted her life in prison, and that it was made without her consultation or consent. “The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard”, a docu series that aired last month chronicles the case from her perspective.

Blanchard’s story is a perplexing tapestry of deception, manipulation and tragedy that captured the attention of true-crime fans who eagerly consumed the media that amplified her case. Through this, a cult following formed, celebrating her release and helping her ascend to celebrity status.

With 8.3 million followers on Instagram, 9.9 million followers on TikTok and a now infamous comment she left on her husband’s Instagram post reaching nearly half a million likes, Blanchard has been inaugurated into influencer culture. She has been crowned a “girlboss,” with fan pages posting edits of her and other prominent social media creators began commenting on her posts and inviting

her onto their shows and podcasts.

However, the question arises of how much of her newfound fame is founded solely on placing Blanchard into familiar tropes. Labeling her story as one of liberation rather than abuse neglects Blanchard’s traumatic experiences and is a symptom of the internet’s herd mentality.

Blanchard has stated that while she isn’t looking for fame, she hopes to create a platform to champion awareness for Munchausen syndrome by proxy. It’s important to differentiate between supporting this cause and apotheosizing Blanchard. But at the same time, it’s equally important not to infantilize her. She is now a

32-year-old woman who’s entitled to do a media run if she so desires, particularly after years of others profiting from her story.

Ultimately, her recent surge in fame comes down to sensationalization. The case serves as a reflection of our society’s fascination with the extraordinary, but also the selectivity of what is deemed noteworthy in the cultural consciousness.

In contemplating the morality of our fascination with true crime, we are left with a profound responsibility — to navigate the murky waters of justice and empathy while transcending the allure of the extraordinary.

photo courtesy of ABC news

Namaste and Respect

By Alan Reinstein Namaste. On the morning of the final day of the teachers’ strike, when a deal between the Newton Teachers Association and the Newton School Committee seemed so close to getting done (it did get done, of course), a comment filtered into the public about a concern that Newton teachers might use a free period during the school day to go to a yoga class. The comment was meant, I think, to imply that some teachers might abuse a free-time open-campus privilege to participate in a frivolous activity.

Yoga class was thus a symbol of time wastefully spent. Some teachers, seeing the remark as an affront to their professional integrity, took ownership themselves of the comment and, turning it upside down, chanted in several places, “Na-ma-ste,” the common greeting in yoga classes that means, according to online’s yoga journal, there is divinity in each person.

First, I’d like to say that to use a yoga class as an emblem of concern for professional abuse seems to misunderstand the very power of yoga practice itself, which, as a means for centering oneself through exercises meant to unite the mind and the body, would seem to be helpful, whether practiced during or outside of the school day, to any school teacher working through the daily stresses of a challenging job.

Second, the concern about how teachers use their time during the school day hit deeply into one of the common themes of the contract negotiations: the desire among teachers to be treated respectfully. To many teachers, a concern that free-time during the school day might be used for trivial activities suggests a lack of trust

in their professional judgment, and you can imagine that this hurts.

Let’s pivot now to the virtue of respect in general, one of our school’s core values and a principle of character expressed (I checked) in nearly every Newton school’s core value statement. The yearning to be treated respectfully is a fundamental human experience, and because of this, anyone who demands it from others accepts a reciprocal responsibility: If I want to be treated respectfully, I have to treat others respectfully. That’s the simple equation.

Note that this is not the same as, “If you treat me respectfully, then I’ll treat you respect-

fully,” which makes respect a conditional act.

No. Respectful treatment is not “If you / then I”; there is no waiting and there are no conditions. Everyone, regardless of how they behave, deserves to be treated respectfully. That doesn’t seem right, you’ll say. Here’s why it is: respectful treatment is not quite the same thing as respect. I can’t insist that you respect me (I can’t make you feel a certain way), but I can ask you to treat me respectfully, to show respect, as our school’s core value suggests.

And so we teachers are reminded of this as we re-enter the school building along with our students and administrators. Our

responsibility to treat both our students and our bosses respectfully is enlivened by our own recent experience. This means recognizing that some of our students, colleagues, or administrators may have strong feelings about the recent strike that are at odds with our own; likewise, families and other Newton community members may see the strike from a different lens than the one many of us are using. We teachers have to both appreciate this and maintain the same level-headed respectfulness that we asked from others.

Yoga students and teachers say namaste to recognize the deep goodness in every person in the studio, even those they disagree with or dislike. They say it when their relationship is rekindled at the opening of the class and then again to say good-bye. Thus, they are always reminding themselves and each other of their shared humanity and shared desire to be treated with respect. Namaste.

Our responsibility to treat both our students and our bosses respectfully is enlivened by our own recent experience. photo by Evan Ng

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the lion's roar

METCO

The program provides Boston students opportunities in suburban schools and a welcoming environment, but the community at South has been stigmatized and misunderstood

By Grace Sousa & John Timko

I

n his freshman year, junior Kaysean Jones left his private school in Marlboro to attend Newton South, a vibrant but unfamiliar public school.

The transition brought its own set of difficulties, with the struggle to integrate and make connections weighing heavily on Jones’s first year of high school, especially as a black student in a predominantly white community.

“There are times when I feel divided from non-colored students,” he said. “When I walked into classrooms where I was the only colored person, the room would go from lively and talkative to quiet.”

However, when Jones was introduced to Newton’s METCO community, he found solace and acceptance at South.

“Mr. Foster took me in and told me ‘Hey, there’s this room called METCO [Goodwin Commons] that is a safe space for Black people,’ and he brought me to a place that made me feel welcomed,” he said.

Little did Jones know that Goodwin Commons would surpass its designated role as a common space and become a haven for South’s METCO students, and students of color overall, to form a tight-knit community. Goodwin Commons evolved into the “METCO room,” a place where students of color can be themselves.

“The room allows us Black students to come together. We goof around, we always have high energy and it’s hectic,” said Jones.

Yet, as the METCO room thrived as a sanctuary, it simultaneously became a focal point for stereotypes and prejudice, conflicting with the ideal of acceptance that is central to South.

African Americans in the inner cities, to bus them to suburbia,” he said. “As the METCO program grew, it grew to bring forth more minority representation and not just African Americans, but also Latino Americans and Asian Americans.”

Redlining in Boston separated African Americans into specific districts with poorer access to city services, including public schools.

Batson, a mother from Roxbury, began to speak out about deficiencies she noticed in her children’s schools.

Batson chaired the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, and in 1963, she testified to the Boston School Committee about the discrepancies between resources for Black and White students. The Committee refused to acknowledge the presence of racial segregation in their schools and declined to take responsibility for it.

In response, community members in Roxbury engaged in civil disobedience. In 1965, two parents, Ellen Jackson and Elizabeth Johnson, launched Operation Exodus in 1965 to enroll Roxbury students in the majority-white schools of Boston neighborhoods.

Initiatives like this inspired the creation of METCO, which sought to allocate state funding to transport students from Boston to suburban schools and has become the largest voluntary school desegregation program in the country.

Integration

Newton is the largest participant in the METCO program, with 420 students enrolled in 2021-22, and students enrolled in all 21 Newton schools. By the numbers, each school could have 20 students from the program.

But South METCO advisor Katani Sumner said that dividing students into those available slots can be difficult and lead to lopsided numbers at different schools in the district.

“It’s based on where there’s free space. So for a while, there were no METCO students at Countryside because it was too crowded,” she said.“So then we purposely didn’t want to have any kids there because you don’t want to have two kids in the whole school who are METCO students. It doesn’t make sense, logistically, transportation and otherwise.”

Junior and METCO student Danaye Tikue, said that he experienced isolation during his elementary school years because of lopsided slots for METCO students.

In 1966, 220 Boston-based Black and Latino students ages five to 16 rode buses to seven suburbs: Arlington, Braintree, Brookline, Lexington, Lincoln, Newton and Wellesley to attend its public schools.

The Metropolitan Council for Educational Opportunity, or METCO, was started by the leaders of the Brookline and Newton school systems, who teamed up with activist Ruth Batson of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to combat racial segregation in suburban schools.

The Newton School Committee voted unanimously to participate in the program starting in 1966.

South METCO alum Jamar Green said the METCO program today has even more diversity than when he participated.

“It was specifically targeted towards

Enrollment Challenges

“At Mason-Rice Elementary, I was the only Black person in the school. I was taller than everybody, I was louder than everybody and I looked different from everybody. I had no friends,” he said.“Teachers made it seem like I didn’t want to play with other kids but in reality, the other kids didn’t want to hang out with me.”

Sumner said that the space limits in elementary schools can lead to skewed numbers at the high school level. This year, Sumner said there are just 46 students in the program at South, while North has over 67.

Senior and METCO student Jada Green said that with a smaller number of METCO students, it was more difficult to create a METCO community at South than it was at North.

“It was hard because South is accepting fewer and fewer students, so the community varies from year to year since the school decides how many slots they want to open up for METCO students,” she said. “North has a lot of METCO students so their METCO community is huge, whereas ours is very small.

It’s hard to make a community out of a small number of kids.”

Battling Stereotypes While Goodwin Commons has evolved into a haven for South’s students of color, stigmas surrounding the METCO program and community reveal a critical need for education about them.

Senior Anastasia Senfuma, a member of the METCO community, said that she confronts the stigma associated with assumptions that she is a METCO student and preconceived notions about where Black students reside.

“Some people assume that because I’m Black, I can’t live somewhere in Newton,” she said.“It’s definitely a stereotype because I don’t like people assuming that I’m in METCO. There’s nothing wrong with being a METCO student, but I don’t want people assuming that because I’m Black I must live in some area in Boston.”

Along with the misconception that Black people can’t live in suburban areas, Jones said that there are negative associations attached to Boston.

“People started to assume that I was a METCO student and that I lived in Boston just because I spent a lot of time in Goodwin Commons,”hesaid.“Whenpeoplethinkof Bostonthey

think of ghetto conditions, living in poverty or people being involved in gang-like activities.”

Tikue said that the stereotypes about METCO are due to people linking news reports about crime in Boston to the METCO room.

“When a White person thinks about Boston, they think about ‘Fox 25 News, so and so gets shot in Boston’ and people will say to me, ‘Yo, that’s where you live, you saw that shooting, right?’, and I’ll say ‘No, I don’t live in that area,’” he said. “People [apply] the stereotypes they see on the news and social media to METCO.” Senior and METCO student Jaylon Phifer said that the Goodwin Commons, a space unofficially affiliated with the METCO program, gets different attention and has more surveillance than other common spaces in the school.

“There has to be a teacher in the room or somebody to watch us for some reason, and if there isn’t, they lock Goodwin Commons,” he said. “Goodwin is not treated as equal as the other commons. I think that is because we’re African Americans, and we tend to be loud and make a ruckus, and it makes deans feel the need to come over to us.”

2023 METCO alum Paris Figuereo said that South’s staff surveil the METCO room

issuu.com/thelionsroar

because the METCO community is perceived as rambunctious when in actuality, it is a loud space because Black students are offered the comfort to be expressive.

“The METCO room is highly secured by a lot of staff and they pop in and try to see if we’re doing anything bad,” she said. “Students don’t want to be put into teachers’ subject piece of thinking that METCO students are aggressive and very loud, but it’s that’s the only space where we don’t have to code switch and we can be our true selves with our peers.”

The misconceptions, such as assumptions that all Black students are part of the program, perpetuate stereotypes and hinder compassionate understanding.

Even White students within the METCO community face judgment and stigmatization. Senior Zoe Zalkind said that people have judged the connections she has made with METCO students since joining the community.

“Since I started becoming more a part of the METCO community, people have questioned my friendships with people in METCO,” she said. “I’ve been stigmatized because I’m friends with kids from METCO, people have said ‘she’s only friends with Black people’.”

Senior Jack Cowhig, a white member of the METCO community, said that he has encountered stereotypes about his behavior based on the time he spends in the METCO room. “ I ’ve definitely had

people say that because I’m around Black people and that I’m in the [METCO] room so much that I’m trying to act Black or that I’m trying to be something that I’m not,” he said. “Just because I’m hanging around people I enjoy, doesn’t mean I’m trying to act a different way. These are just the people I like to be around.”

Green said that she attributes stigmas to a lack of education about the program and its participants.

“I think of the METCO program as something that helped me get into the public schools, it doesn’t define my social life, but I think there’s a lack of education about the program,” she said. “Most of the time, I have to explain myself when I say I live in Boston. I want people to know that I’m a regular student, I just have to travel farther to come here.”

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Unity or Division?

Goodwin Commons has been the hub for students of color at South, not just those in the METCO program. But while it has become a popular gathering space and created a supportive environment, it has become defined primarily by the program itself. It unofficially developed into an area exclusive for Black and Latino students and inadvertently created a divide.

Tatianna Trotman, a junior and METCO student, said that her friends have been reluctant to join her in the METCO room, for fear that they would make the atmosphere awkward.

“I have an interracial friend group, and when I’m in the METCO room some of my non-Black friends won’t want to come in,” she said.“They think it’s not their space, that they’re intruding or that it’s awkward. A lot of people think this space is for solely Black people.”

Tikue said that the METCO room has unintentionally divided students at South based on their skin color.

“We’re not saying you can’t come into METCO, but because there are so many Black people in here all of the time, it has given off the message that it’s only for Black people,” he said. “The room creates a barrier between the Black and White students because people feel like there’s places they can and cannot be.”

Goodwin Commons, not initially labeled as the METCO room, has created a sense of apprehension for some students like Zalkind, who, as a non-Black student, was unsure whether the room was a space she was welcome in. “ I assu med that be cause the METCO office wa s right in Goodwin Commons, the area was for METCO students in general.

I wasn’t aware that the space was also a common area,” she said.“Students just call that area METCO as well, so I assumed that’s what it was.”

But Zalkind said that as a frequent visitor to the commons, she has felt invited, and now spends a good amount of time there.

“Once I started coming into the room a lot I was super welcomed there and I was never really judged for being in there,” she said. “I usually go when I have a free block, in between classes and during lunch blocks. I go in whenever I can during school.”

Cowhig said he was uncertain about coming into the METCO room and hopes for a broader understanding that the room is open to everyone.

“I’ve seen people walk into METCO, terrified to come in or wanting to leave as soon as possible. When I first went to METCO, I had the same thoughts because it’s what people tell you, it’s a room where no white people can go,” he said.

“The room shouldn’t have the stigma of it being a room for only Black students, and I hope that people realize that.”

Sumner said that she acknowledges the challenges faced by white students in entering

Graphics by Adrienne Lirio Photos by Grace Sousa

the METCO room, and that she is actively working to rebrand the space as Goodwin Commons. She and South’s deans aim to eliminate the perceived exclusivity and assure students that the room is a communal space open to all, regardless of background or ethnicity.

“White kids come to the door and it’s like a fourth wall. I want to say ‘You can walk in, it’s okay.’ It’s important that students have a space where they can chill and you don’t have to be a METCO student to enjoy that,” she said.

“That’s why I and all of the deans are explicitly mentioning to freshmen that this space is called Goodwin Commons.”

What the Community Means Despite facing challenges, the METCO program and its community have helped foster understanding and a safe space for Black and Latino students in a majority-white school.

Green said that the METCO room is more than a common space — it serves as a sanctuary for students of color.

“Goodwin Commons is the only place in school where there’s a lot of Black people, but it isn’t METCO exclusive, it is a safe space for all Black students to come together,” she said.

“When we are all in there everyone is being silly and goofy and we’re always laughing. The weight of having to code-switch is off your shoulders. Everyone acts like themselves.”

Sumner said that she is dedicated to ensuring the resilience and pride of the METCO community, and she emphasizes the significance of creating opportunities for students to embrace their identity and take pride in being part of the METCO program.

“As much as I’m concerned with METCO students’ academics, I’m also concerned about how well they’re doing in terms of embracing who they are and their culture,” she said. “The METCO director and I make sure we put together METCO events so that they feel good

about being a METCO student because, in the past, students didn’t want to mention that they’re METCO.” Phifer said that the bonds formed in the METCO community go beyond the academic realm. In the METCO room, outside expectations disappear, and people can be themselves and truly connect to their community.

“African Americans have been oppressed for a while, so the METCO room is somewhere we can be comfortable and feel safe,” he said.

“Everybody knows each other. It’s like a tightknit community and a family.”

Trotman said that the creation of a space meant for people of color to be comfortable was necessary at South.

“When the METCO room is locked or shut down, it’s clear that we all have no place to go, and then we feel like outcasts whenever we have to sit anywhere else in the school because [the METCO room] is our home,” she said.

Trotman also said Goodwin Commons has value as a place for Black people to feel comfortable and find their peers.

“This space created itself because it was needed. Without it, I wouldn’t know half my friends and I would be one of the only Black people in my class,” she said.

As a father to current METCO students, Jamar Green said that he has enjoyed seeing the METCO community grow since he was a METCO student himself, and he thinks the next generation’s METCO community is strong enough to tackle challenges together.

“My generation’s METCO students weren’t go-getters when it came to forming a community. We didn’t have a METCO room, so I think it’s amazing that there’s now a room where Black people can congregate,” he said.

“Today’s group of young people are very vocal. The young people have committed to diversity, equity and inclusion more than when I was going to high school. But with this progress is the stereotype of the METCO room, and that may be something this generation’s voices deal with.”

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the lion's roar

page 15 February 16, 2024

FEATURES issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 6

WinterFEST Wonderland Newton Community Pride celebrates the season and the Newton community with its third annual WinterFEST festival

By Ria Santhanam & Bethesda Yeh

E

ven in a winter besieged by anomalous temperatures and fickle weather conditions, the show goes on for Newton Community Pride’s third annual WinterFEST. Throughout the Jan. 27-28 weekend, local vendors, performers and artists gathered in communal parks and venues for a snowy showcase.

The brainchild of Newton Community Pride executive director Blair Lesser Sullivan and the nonprofit’s board members, the yearly festival began at the tail-end of COVID-19 to foster more connection within the community.

Now, WinterFEST is in its third year, and Lesser Sullivan said it is an event with indoor and outdoor activities suitable for anyone to participate in.

“There's so many different things for everyone to do and for all ages to enjoy,” she said.“It's great to see everybody out and about.”

Susan Paley, senior vice president of community relations for The Village Bank, WinterFEST’s main sponsor, said that Newton has fewer community-wide festivities during the winter.

“People would normally, on a day like this, be sitting inside and be more solitary,” she said. “This gives people the opportunity to get together outside and

enjoy the weather.”

This year’s WinterFEST commenced with a Winter Walk through Cold Spring Park offered by Newton Conservators. Barbara Bates, who serves on the nonprofit’s Board of Directors and led last year’s walk, said she enjoyed introducing others to nature through the walk.

“There is nothing more wonderful than seeing people's faces light up when they see something that they've totally missed out in the woods,” she said.“They start to connect the dots between how good they feel outdoors and the natural benefits that being in the outdoors can give them.”

For the Timba Messengers, a local Latin jazz and salsa band playing at a soup social at Hyde Playground, this year marks their first performance at WinterFEST. Lead singer Gaby Cotter said that she hopes to make the audience feel both engaged and at ease.

“If [I] see people that are kinda shy, but they are engaging with the music and don't know how to dance, how to react to it, my goal with [those] people will be to make them feel comfortable enough to stand up and move,” she said.

photos by Alyssa Chen

People would normally, on a day like this, be sitting inside and be more solitary. This gives people the opportunity to get together outside and enjoy the weather.

Susan Paley The Village Bank “The Timba Messengers music style is you are free to just raise your hand … and do whatever you feel is dancing for you.”

WinterFEST is an exciting opportunity for many local nonprofits and businesses. On Sunday, the second day of the event, the Newton Centre Green hosted a variety of performers and artists as well as the tents of local vendors and organizations.

Welcome Home, a Newton-based nonprofit that collects and redistributes items to those in need, once again held a blanket drive after the success of last year’s. Co-founder and executive director Julie Plaut Mahoney said that the nonprofit is always looking for opportunities to collect goods in public settings and to spread the word of their cause.

“The visibility really helps us in general,” she said. “We literally cannot get enough blankets, so WinterFEST is very, very important for us to collect blankets [immediately].”

José Lugo, one of the leaders of the Indigenous dance troupe Tokalli Macehualli, said the group attempts to reconnect with their historical past through their traditional Mexican dances.

Performing on the grass, the group’s resilience was radiant as they danced through the falling snow and frigid temperatures, celebrating their heritage in the event.

Lugo said that their dancing is a testament to their devotion to reconnecting with their cultural identity.

“There's something about this dance that gives us life,” él said. “We are a young group just learning how to return to an indigenous way of life.”

The Tokalli Macehualli, Lugo said, also stands as a symbol of Indigenous representation and celebration. By performing in the Newton community, the group brings love and heart to

the festival.

“We try to bring a message that the first peoples here, the original peoples of the Eastern Woodland tribes, are still here, and they work very hard to remain in their identity and their ways,” él said.“[The festival organizers] want us to help them in maintaining their spaces so that the public can see Indigenous representation.”

Also displayed on the Green were ice sculptures by Images On Ice, an ice sculpting company in Brockton. Intricate ice statues of penguins and bears are paired with an interactive ice picture frame and a WinterFESTthemed ice throne for family photographs. Craig McConnell, owner of Images On Ice, said his job is always a happy occasion.

“People really enjoy ice, even basic pieces,” he said. “They get excited about it, and I see smiles on people’s faces, which is what it’s all about.”

During an especially idle time of year, Paley said many see WinterFEST as a chance to congregate.

“Right now in particular, it's important to do things that bring everybody together,” she said. “And this event is one that does bring people together.”

Ice sculptures on the Newton Centre Green

page 16 | features

the lion's roar

Headline serve headline headlineat headline Students community school store First Last AndrewPosition PetrillaPosition & Eli Scharf

Features Features Reporters reporters Remember to always match your body the pandemic text upAlthough with the blue guidelines! not put Although the COVID-19 COVID-19Do pandemic weakened many programs at South, text on themany last line of the at column!!! weakened programs South, it it brought brought about creation school store, where Ithe hopped off of thethe plane at L.AX, about the creation of the school store, with wherea students can buy everything from snacks dream andcan mybuy cardigan.

Welcome to the land to of students everything from snacks to school merchandise. fame excess (woah). Am I gonna fit in? Jumped school merchandise. of of store is in the Much cab, here ampurpose for the first time, look Much of Ithe the purpose of the the store is to to help students prepare for the future and foster my right, and prepare I see theforHollywood sign.foster This help students the future and connections in the community. is all so crazy! so famous! connections inEverybody the school school seems community.

Transition Specialist said My tummy's turnin'John and Curley I'm feelin' Transition Specialist John Curley said that even once he was in-person with his kindaeven homeonce sick.he Toowas much pressurewith and I'm that in-person his students again, the lack of access to working nervous –again, That's taxi man turned students thewhen lack the of access to working opportunities made it to them on the radio, and a Jay-Z song was on! And opportunities made it difficult difficult to help help thema develop business skills.

Jay-Z song was on.

And a Jay-Z song was on. develop business skills.

“Students really lost have So I put my hands up, ability they'reto “Students really lost the the ability toplaying have aa job that either paid them money or that taught my that song,either the butterflies away.orI'm job paid them fly money thatnoddin' taught them some working cash register, my head like,skills yeah.like Movin' my hips yeah. them some skills like working cashlike, register, customer things that I got my service, hands up, they're playing my song, customer service, things that all all of of us us benefited benefited from when we were school,” he they know okay.

Yeah, it's party from whenI'm we gonna were in inbehigh high school,” he asaid. said.

Director of Secondary Special Educain the Director U.S.A. Yeah, it's a partySpecial in the U.S.A. of Secondary Education tion Melissa Melissa Gamble Gamble said said she she found found it it hard hard to to believe that South didn’t have a school believe that South didn’t have a school store, store, as as it’ it’ss aa staple staple in in many many other other schools schools across across the the country, so she worked hard with country, so she worked hard with Principal Principal Tamii Tamii Stras Stras and and the the Booster Booster club club to to create create one one that was run by students. that was run by students.

“When “When you you can can go go in in and and buy buy stuff stuff there there that you can wear, it's really cool,” she that you can wear, it's really cool,” she said. said.“I'm “I'm so so proud proud that that South South finally finally has has aa store.” store.”

Since Since most most students students were were remote remote during during the pandemic, there were many the pandemic, there were many empty empty rooms rooms at at South, South, which which allowed allowed Curley Curley to to help help set set up up the store in a former teachers’ lounge. the store in a former teachers’ lounge.

“It was a big hit,” he said.“It allowed us to

“Itteaching was a bigand hit,”use he itsaid. allowedspace.” us to do some as a“It teaching do some teaching and use it as a teaching space.”

Junior Michael Jones works at the store Junior Jones worksorganize at the store and said thatMichael he enjoys helping the and said that he enjoys helping organize the store before it opens. store before it opens.

“It’s like working in a real store,” he said.

“It’ s like working inpeople a real store,” he said.

“I can always talk to other and help out.”

“I can always talk to other people and help Junior Kaitai Chen agreed and saidout.” that Junior Kaitai he enjoys stocking theChen shelvesagreed and operatand saidcash thatregister. he enjoys stocking ing the the shelves and operating thestore is “My favorite part of the cash register. helping to serve all the customers that “My favorite of come through here,”part he said. the store is helping to South’s wide variety of serve all thehelp customers programs students prethat come pare for theirthrough life after high here,” said.Gamble said the school,heand South’s wide of that store is an extension variety of proopportunity. grams help

students prepare for their life after high school, “It's hopefully allowing students who and Gamble said the store is an extension of might be interested in or who are taking the that opportunity. business classes at South the opportunity to “It'susehopefully students possibly some of allowing their skills withinwho the might be interested in or who are taking the store,” she said. business classes at South opportunity to Vocational skills the teacher Amanda possibly use some of their skills within the Watkins said the learning goes beyond busistore,” sheskills. said. ness Vocational skills teacher Amanda “Students are able to connect with Watkins said the learning goes beyond eachotherandgainconfidenceintheirbusiabilness skills. ities,” she said.“Taking a student-centered “Students we are have able to connectmany with each approach, observed stuother and gain confidence in their abilities,” dents begin t o find a voice in their s h e said.“Taking a studentcommunity.” centered approach, we have observed many students begin to find a voice in their community.” gr gr ap ap The store is only hic hic by by Ri Ri early stages, ley in its ley Ca Ca br br many era and era people don’t k n o w about it yet, b u t C u rley said he hopes that will change.

"My hope is that it's not just something that only a

certain population of students gets to do or can The store is only in its early stages, and access,” he said.“That eventually it's something many people don’t know about it yet, but Curley that is just a part of South.”

I'm really happy that I'm reallyhas happy that Newton South a school Newton South has a school store...

It fosters school store...

It fosters school spirit and brings kids spirit and brings kids together. together.

Melissa Gamble Director of Secondary Special Education Melissa Gamble Director of Secondary Special Education said he hopes that will change.

"My hope is that it's not just something that only a certain population of students gets said she looks forward to seeing to do orGamble can access,” he said.

“That eventually it's how the store evolves. something that is just a part of South.”

“I'm really thatforward NewtontoSouth Gamble saidhappy she looks seeing has a school store," she said.

“It fosters school how the store evolves. spirit and together.”

“I'mbrings reallykids happy that Newton South Unlike many school stores, Curley said has a school store," she said.

“It fosters school that the point of the store is to improve the spirit and brings kids together.”

South Unlike community, rather than to profit. many school stores, Curley said “It'spoint alsoofanother opportunity for the that the the store is to improve the community to see that our school is more South community, rather than to profit. than just about and learning and getting “It'sbooks also another opportunity forinto the college,” he said.

“There's more to high school community to see that our school is more than than just that.” just about books and learning and getting into college,” he said. “There's more to high school than just that.”

1 in 2000: Asher Baron, "an open and pure heart" Alyssa Chen & Leila Mostaghimi Features editor, features contributor

Picturing a corner in South’s universe of a classroom full of warm, gentle lighting, comfortable bean bag chairs, and vibrant fidget objects almost sounds too good to be true, but special education counselor Asher Baron has made that dream a reality..

Asher has fostered this cozy space for the nearly two years since they began working at South, and their inviting office is a testament to their passion for easing the student experience. They said that their drive for education sparked when they noticed the general lack of support extended to students.

“I want to be a counselor in schools because I want to support students,” they said.

“There's a lot of adults and people that are in positions of power, and they take advantage of that and make kids feel bad.”

Sarah Gentile, a school adjustment counselor in the special education program, mentored Asher when they first began teaching at South last year. She said that Asher’s friendly nature has allowed students to feel safe in uncomfortable settings.

“Asher forms really natural, comfortable

connections with students,” she said. “In the counseling capacity, that enables students to feel like they can open up and really share their challenges, their vulnerabilities and anything tough that's going on so that they can get the help they need.”

Special education teacher Kate Nardell said Asher’s motivation to guide and support students stems from not having that same reassurance when they were in high school.

“They wanted to be the person in school that they didn't have,” she said. “A role model that [students] could look up to, and that compassionate person that they were looking for.”

Asher’s kindness extends to their office, which they’ve deliberately designed to foster calm feelings among their students, featuring objects like softly lit, dimmable floor lamps and a relaxing water calligraphy set. Special education teacher Emily Shire said that every detail in Asher’s office has a purpose, down to the lighting.

“They have different lighting, and there's

all sorts of different sensory things which anyone would appreciate,” she said. “The space is very welcoming and inviting and calming. They really wanted to create a space that people felt comfortable coming to.”

Special education teacher Krissy Noonan said that Asher’s efforts to create a safe space at South, both literally and figuratively, makes them a key person in students’ lives. “[Their] being able to connect to students on a personal level and make sure that they know that they have a go-to person is the hallmark of their work,” she said.

John Curley, a transition specialist in the special education department, said that working alongside Asher, who is passionate about advocacy, shows him how powerful advocating for people of all identities can be.

“As a cisgender, straight man, getting to work with somebody that's really involved in advocacy and working with students that identify in different ways than I do has really helped me see the importance and need for that work,

to push other people to be uncomfortable,” he said.“[Seeing] the importance of that work has really helped me stay dedicated and realize the importance of allies. And that trickles down to anti-racism and anti-ableism and all these other things that are really important to us at this school, but in our community as well.”

Being able to connect with students of many personalities is no easy task, but Gentile said that Asher’s ability to forge genuine relationships with students is due to their sincerity in bringing positivity to the people around them.

“Asher makes everyone feel like it is okay to be yourself,” she said.“They have a really open and pure heart, and they genuinely want to help make the world a better place.”

Curley said that Asher’s impact on the South community is recognized and appreciated by all, staff and students alike.

“Having somebody like Asher, especially a counselor, is hugely important, and that's been a benefit to a lot of students. I'm glad that they're here.”

Asher Baron's office

photos by Alyssa Chen

issuu.com/thelionsroar

features | page 17

THE COMMON APPLICATION The Roar follows four seniors with different interests as they navigate the college application process. Their identities will be revealed as they make their decisions.

By Theo Younkin

A

H

aving been accepted to Penn State, the Pratt Institute, Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt), Maine College of Art and Design (MECA&D) and School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Rose* will hear from California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) and Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) later in the spring.

While she won’t make her final decision until she hears back from all the schools she’s applied to, she is strongly considering attending either MECA&D, SAIC or the Pratt Institute.

lthough the Regular Decision application deadline has passed, Ben* still has more work to do on his college applications.

As a musician, he has yet to begin a unique process that most applicants to college would never dream of undertaking: live auditions.

Having passed pre-screens, the precursors to live auditions, at the Manhattan School of Music, New York University and the New England Conservatory, Ben has started preparing his repertoire for the final rounds of auditions.

He said that while the admissions departments do their best to ease the stress of

the process, the auditions themselves remain fundamentally daunting.

“I got the impression that they wanted to try to help people move through this with as little stress as possible, because I received a bunch of emails where they were saying, ‘do not be stressed. We just want to hear how you want to play,’” he said.

"That's definitely helped to take some of the edge off. But it is an audition, and I have to prepare stuff, and I only got one shot.”

Ben said that learning he had passed the pre-screens helped ground him throughout the uncertainty of the application and audition processes.

“Leading up to that point, everything

Having submitted all her applications, Rose said that, if she were to go through the process again, she would have spent more time discussing her future with the adults in her life.

“I went solo with the whole college thing and now [my mom and I] are both in very different places about where she wants me to go and where I want to go,” she said.

“She [focuses on] which school is the best ranking-wise, but I try to look more at what the school offers, what the workload is going to be, and what the environment of the school is.”

As her high school career creeps to a

close, Rose said that it feels surreal to know that the next chapter of her life is just around the corner.

“It feels weird knowing that I’m going to have to take all my classes even though all my applications are in, and some have already come back,” she said.

Rose said that she’s looking forward to pursuing her interests at a higher level and can’t wait for the future.

“I'm really excited to do what I want,” she said. “I want to work with kids. I want to be in education. So I'm really excited to just go work where I'm really excited to be there all the time.”

T

graphics by Emily Zhang

P

reviously known as Lila*,Avi Kuperman has committed to Emerson College, where she plans to play softball and study marketing, communications and film.

Kuperman said that committing to the school finally gave her the certainty about the future that she was missing throughout the notoriously uncertain application process.

“For me, it's been two years of just knowing where I want to go and playing the waiting game,” she said. “So now that it’s finally done, and I got lucky enough to be able to go to my top choice, it feels pretty good.”

Kuperman said that she’s looking

om*, accepted to the University of Western New England, University of New England, University of New Haven, Franklin Pierce University, University of Maine and the University of New Hampshire, has yet to hear back from UMass Amherst and Rutgers University.

He said that as he is waiting for admissions decisions to arrive, it’s essential for him to remember that he’ll end up attending the school best suited to him.

“I know that there's nothing in my power that I can do to make this process go by any faster,” he said. “The right schools will [respond to me] if they really want me as an athlete.”

Tom said that as he begins to consider

the schools he may eventually commit to, it’s important for him to feel like colleges are truly invested in his future as an athlete.

“A lot of coaches … are just recruiting players rather than recruiting a person,” he said. “When I visited the University of New England, I could tell that they actually wanted me because [the coach] would introduce me to the other kids at the school … he knows my name, he knows what school I go to, he knows the position that I play and how I would fit into the system.”

Tom said that as he prepares to transition from the world of high school sports into becoming a collegiate athlete, he’s looking forward to being part of a community that is as committed to football as he is.

forward to beginning the next chapter of her life in the city, made possible by Emerson’s central location and resources in Boston.

“Emerson is next to the Boston Commons, so I'm excited to be in the city and have a designated area [where] I can be,” she said. “Sometimes the city can be a little scary or a little dangerous, so I'm looking forward to having an area that I'll be able to rely on.”

Looking back on the application process, Kuperman said that she wished she had begun her application earlier than she did.

“I would have started everything a little bit sooner,” she said. “I was working on

October 31st for a November 1st deadline.”]

Kuperman said that as the application process draws to a close, it’s important to avoid speculating about the factors that could affect admission chances and focus on other priorities in students' lives.

“Try not to think of all the what-ifs, because it's not concrete process. You could have a perfect application and still not get into a school,” she said. “Wait and try not to think about it because you're just going to dig yourself down a rabbit hole.” *Names changed to protect students' identities

had been really stressful… so it was definitely like I had reached a milestone in my process because it's a pretty big step,” he said.

“But it did mean that I had to keep working, because, obviously, that's not the end of the process … I was just very excited to keep working through it and keep moving forward.”

Ben said that planning for his post-high school future has made him look forward to connecting with others who share a similar passion for music.

“Every time I meet other music students, it's amazing to see how other people approach music and interpret it,” he said. “Meeting new people and seeing new perspectives on music is something that I'm really excited about.”

“A lot of people on the [South] football team were hanging out with their friends and playing on the side. They didn’t play and did it as more of a fun thing,” he said. “[In college], everybody's taking it seriously so you have to take it seriously too, and there are also serious consequences to not taking it seriously.”

Tom said that it’s important for other students also applying to college to prioritize patience and remember that their hard work will pay off in the end.

“If you believe in yourself, then I'm sure other people will believe in you too,” he said. “And if you really put in the time, work and effort, then trust yourself and have faith in what you do.”

photo contributed by Avi Kuperman

page 18 | features

the lion's roar

UNESCO group plants peace in Portugal James Garrett, Jerry Gong & Lukas Shrestha Features Contributors The annual United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) conference takes place in Lisbon, Portugal, where students from all over the world come together to share projects relating to an assigned theme. Last year, the theme was equity in education, and this year, the theme is peace.

South’s UNESCO club strayed away from a monotonous PowerPoint presentation by creating a garden full of paper flowers representing peace. The five group members scattered QR codes throughout the plants, each leading to a peaceful poem written by a different American author.

Sophomore Maya Gerard said she hopes their project has a positive impact on people who see it.

“We want people walking by to pause and have a moment out of their dayto-day rush in daily hectic lives to

think and be thankful for the peace they have,” she said.

The UNESCO project aims to connect global action with local impact, with their slogan, “think globally, act locally.” Sophomore Will Everett said the group has a local vision for the project, displaying it at City Hall and at South’s library after bringing it back from its showing at the conference.

“We were all hoping to reach our community as a whole by placing the project in different places,” he said. “We're hoping to give people a moment of reflection.”

Along with the club's local impact, Gerard said that one of the biggest reasons she joined the club was its mix of travel, education and global impact. “[This] conference is a really nice way to bring together people from all over the world and achieve these goals and discuss the wide variety of ways there are to do this and how creativity from every individual person can add to it,” she said.

Through their collaborative efforts, the club reflects UNESCO values both locally and globally, embodying the spirit of collective photo contributed by Maya Gerard

graphic by AJ Nguyen

UNESCO members pose with friends in Monte, a suburb of Funchal, Portugal

Scan to visit their project website! action towards a more peaceful and interconnected world.

Amid the weeks of preparing and planning, Gerard said that the bonds of the club’s five members have undeniably strengthened.

“At first, if you put us all in a room together, none of us had good conversations or interacted,” she said, “But the farther into it we got, the closer we got.”

Junior Liam Glanville said that each member’s commitment brought them closer together.

“We're all giving up stuff to be here. We all have to do stuff outside of school, extra work to make our project,” he said. “We all have to contribute a lot and everyone notices that contribution and it streams around.”

That bond between the team members that they’ve built throughout the year is an embodiment of their project goals. Junior Oscar Mulcahey said this is especially important at a time when the world is in conflict.

“Peace is something that the world really needs right now,” he said. “Peace is something that everybody needs, and this project in this conference is something that can help with that.”

[Abigail for Now] South Stage TV is back Turn to television: First Last

By DanielPosition Hariskov, Laura Feng & Position Theo Younkin

Features contributor, features Remember to always matchreporter, your body features editor text up with the blue guidelines! Do not put text on the last line of the column!!!

This winter, Stage returning I hopped offSouth the plane atisL.AX, withtoa the silver screen with its first TV performance dream and my cardigan. Welcome to the land of in twoexcess years.(woah).

“Abigail, forI gonna Now” tells story fame Am fit in?the Jumped of a teenage girl who is forced to connect with in the cab, here I am for the first time, look to her peers while coping with the reality of living my right, and I see the Hollywood sign. This in a psychiatric facility. seems so famous! is all so crazy! Everybody Junior and My tummy'sstage turnin'manager and I'mEmber feelin' Mahnke said that planning for a TV produckinda home sick. Too much pressure and I'm tion requires a re-structuring of the rehearsal nervous – That's when the taxi man turned process to tell a story through an entirely dif-a on the radio, and a Jay-Z song was on! And ferent medium: film.

Jay-Z song was on. And a Jay-Z song was on.

“There's otherup, levelthey're of complexity So I puta whole my hands playing that comes with working with cameras, rather my song, the butterflies fly away. I'm noddin' than just actors and audience,” they said.

“There's my head like, yeah. Movin' my hips like, yeah. face note down, but I gotand my emotional hands up, work they'retoplaying my song, there's the added element of cameras, noting they know I'm gonna be okay. Yeah, it's a party down camera Yeah, cues and things change, in the U.S.A. it's a when party in the U.S.A. and making sure that the actors are aware of which camera is on them.”

Freshman and actor Ella Jane Metters said that the production’s camera-based format has forced her to adjust the acting methods she uses to tell the show’s story to the audience.

“For plays, you’re trying to be big, dramatic, and [have] really big expressions, and make sure the person in the back row can hear you,” she said.“For the screen … you want to be more subtle and have the emotion be more in your eyes and body language rather than loud gestures and expressions.”

Sophomore and sound designer Madi Neel said that the show’s unique format requires her to plan for moments in the performance that she wouldn’t normally consider when designing for a typical production being performed

on stage.

“For a TV show, you’ll have to manually put in sounds for … what you could naturally hear the actors doing on stage,” she said. “You definitely have to think about sounds of things being placed on tables, sounds of doors, and things like that.”

The production’s unorthodox format isn’t its sole unique feature. English teacher and

graphic by Denise Chan photo by Theo Younkin

co-director Jasmine Lellock said that the show’s atypical plot is what allows it to easily discuss complex subject matter.

“Mental health is something I see students struggling with and was hoping to [address],” she said. “It’s a very weird play with a sci-fi twist, so I thought that would be a fun way to explore what could be a really challenging topic.”

Sophomore and actor Andrew Lindsay

said that the show’s emphasis on mental health connects with the common struggles of the average South student.

“A lot of the challenges that the characters were going through felt really real and interesting, and they're not really things we talk about all that much,” he said. “[We all face] the mental health challenges of being a high school student, especially

The cast of Abigail, for Now rehearses for their performance

with the grind culture of Newton South, but also the isolation that comes with being a teenager and feeling like you're alone whether you really are or not.”

Mankhe said that the developing relationships explored in the production communicate the importance of connections at South.

“You see the growing connection between all these different people that are kind of forced to be around each other because they all

live in a psychiatric facility,” they said. “But it's seeing the growth of the relationships between the different characters and seeing the connections that are made and that really is important to the Newton South community.”

While the characters on-screen grow closer, the cast forges connections and friendships at rehearsals for the show. Metters said that productions like “Abigail, for Now” foster valuable connections between cast members. “[Theater] is a good way to express yourself, and it’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a good way to step out of the everyday school life and do something really special with you and a bunch of other people,” she said.

The value theater brings to South extends far beyond the rehearsal space. Technical director Ryan Spruck said that the technical theater process plays a crucial role in his personal development and the development of his students.

“I learn how to be a better person every day through my interactions with students and the students learn how to be better humans every day,” he said.

“They learn how to take criticism, they learn how to make decisions, they learn how to stand by those decisions, and then they also learn incredible information about interacting with other people.”

Above all, Lindsay said that theater serves as a refuge for students searching for a getaway from their demanding schedules.

“For a lot of people, it's a little bit of an escape from our day-to-day lives,” he said. “[We’re] able to play instead of being so hyperfocused on schoolwork and the stressors of day-to-day life."

Audiences can watch “Abigail, for Now” on March 6 and 9 live and in-person at South or stream the production online.

page 19 February 16, 2024

SPORTS issuu.com/thelionsroar

Volume 40, Issue 6

THE TRACK TO

RECOVERY

Three athletes detail the challenges and lessons learned from heartbreaking injuries

T

By Charlie Bluestein

he human experience contains its fair share of challenges; for an avid athlete, one of the greatest is a career-altering injury. That's what faced me on the morning of Dec. 12, 2021, the day I got a double osteotomy — a bone-cutting operation — on my legs.

I had been an athlete for as long as I could remember, playing baseball year-round and running cross country in the fall. I 'd never dealt with anything more than the flu in my life, and yet, there I was, getting prepped for surgery in New York City.

As the anesthesia coursed through my veins, all I could feel was the gravity of the work I would need to do to return to athletics.

I woke up a few hours later to two broken legs and a new challenge ahead of me: recovery.

I sat in a wheelchair for five months, unable to put full pressure on my legs as the bones reformed. Stuck at home, I spent the time working with tutors and teachers to keep up with school, doing physical therapy and lifting daily.

During that period, I discovered the true nature of sports injuries: the ultimate struggle of recovery is a mental one. Being sidelined while others pursued the activities I loved was uniquely challenging, but also motivating, as it pushed me to fight to get better. The recovery shaped my mentality and forced me to work incredibly hard.

In May of 2022, I took my first steps after a five-month healing process. I spent the summer building my strength back up from zero and reconstructing the muscle mass in my legs.

Sophomore year was much of the same, continuing the rebuild while focusing on what I wanted to achieve and how I could get there.

Nearly two years after my surgery, I finally reintegrated back into the sports I loved. Cross country was a challenge, trying to run fast on legs that didn’t quite yet know how to handle it.

I was nowhere near the fastest, but I tried to step up and become a leader. I’m incredibly proud of the progress I’ve made, but I still recognize there is room to grow.

I

By Max Hubbard

f you walk, your lower legs withstand thousands of pounds of force, day in and day out. Your robust muscles fire in unison, step by step, completing the ridiculously intricate task of hauling all 206 bones in your skeleton anywhere you tell them to.

Now consider running: the pounds of force your legs receive begin to number in the millions over a distance as short as three miles.

For me, those numbers contextualized the stress fracture in my lower left fibula that had developed over the 50-mile weeks during

By Sarah Schwartz

W

hen you’re lying curled up on prickly turf, an unfathomable amount of pain coursing through your entire body, unable to straighten your knee, certain that your ACL has just been ruptured, you’re naturally flooded with thoughts.

The first thought that hits you real hard, somehow harder than the tackle that unexpectedly took you out from behind, is the realization that you’re going to have to sit out the entirety of soccer season… annnnnd basketball season. Your only two sports. Nice one.

That’s a hard pill to swallow, but you force it down, in all of its bitterness.

But when you aren’t frozen in a fetal position in the middle of a scrimmage, when the fog of pain and medication clears, the nightmare of your new reality sets in: agony and distress that permeate each small mo-

photo by Bella Ishanyan

ment of your everyday life.

Showering — the simplest of tasks that should be soothing and therapeutic — is now a frustrating and demoralizing struggle. It takes everything in you to hoist yourself up against the precise angles of the sink and towel rack to acrobatically hobble into the shower (just barely avoiding a complete wipeout).

Eating is now balancing a plate full of food as you crutch your way back to the couch, the only safe haven left in the world (once again, barely evading a complete wipeout). The minor

pieces of autonomy, actions we all take for granted, become so beautiful and meaningful once they are taken from you.

The days and weeks and months that followed that moment on the ground were the worst days of my life.

I’d sit on the couch unable to move my throbbing knee, my hamstring feeling like someone was stabbing it with a knife.

Tied down to the couch, reliant on the wonderfully mortifying group effort it took to scooch an inch to either side, I was left with

my cross country season.

Even if it seems like everything is working as it should, the science makes sense when our bodies break down.

Bound to a boot, I stopped running, walking and even bearing weight on my fractured leg. My hopes of racing in state championship reduced to hopes of just getting healthy; a couple weeks without running became six.

The hard work I'd done over the summer — the fitness I had built up — was gone.

I was forced to ask myself: why do I run? That’s where the magic happens. Not the actual training my body is capable of, or the way I can race a mile, but in my mind.

In the time since, I’d be lying if I said my (bleached) head was fully in the sport, but I’ve stayed true to the vision I worked so hard for before my fracture.

Moving my focus from running to cross training and weightlifting let me stay dedicated even when my legs couldn’t support me — I committed myself to showing up.

People would tell me that injury isn’t the end of the world, but it definitely felt like it was when I got sidelined from the greatest season the team had ever had.

But as my leg healed, that feeling faded.

What didn’t fade was my love for running, the hope and confidence that I would get my speed back.

Now, I’m running almost every day and slowly but surely, I’m bringing that hope into reality.

Yes, our legs are strong, but our minds are stronger.

little else to do but think.

The thoughts: rage at the universe.

“How could this have happened?”“I must’ve done something to deserve this.” “What am I supposed to do now?”

But these were unproductive thoughts that overshadowed the days where there were true moments of joy: the days where I’d start putting weight on my ballooned ankle, the days I could go to the bathroom by myself, the days I could get myself into the car to go see the sunset. But even on these better days, the days filled with small steps of progress, I still found myself crying myself to sleep each night, so hung up on the literal steps I still couldn’t take.

There are good days and bad days, but mostly there are good moments and tough moments. Cliché as it may be, I’m moving forward by cherishing the good moments of each day.

“Be where your feet are.” That’s what a TikTok told me. And it’s very true.

page 20 | sports

the lion's roar

Melting snow freezes ski teams' seasons Levin Brenner & Sid Khanduja Sports reporter & sports contributor

With the inevitable levels of greenhouse gasses continuing to rise, the average global surface temperature rises with it.

As a result, invaluable snow melts, and while these impacts are felt worldwide, South’s Nordic and Alpine ski teams are experiencing these effects locally: on their training grounds.

This season, copious rain combined with a lack of snowfall left the Nordic team unable to train for weeks.

Junior Nordic captain Polina Kontorovich said that this “rocky” start not only hurts the top athletes who need to prepare for the state tournament, but also serves as a detriment to the new skiers still learning the sport..

“To learn how to ski, especially when you've never done it before, you need to learn a bunch of new techniques,” she said. “You really can't do that without having snow, so getting the new kids skiing and ready to race has definitely taken longer.”

Senior Nordic captain Liam Sakakeeny said that without adequate snow coverage, viable training ground shrinks, making training dangerous for both new and advanced skiers alike.

“It's definitely been hard to find space to not be in people's way while also having enough space for us to do what we need to do,” he said.

“It was especially challenging at the beginning of the season when there was [only] the one little blob of snow that we had.”

Former Nordic team captain Ben Modiano said that having ample training ground is crucial in learning the sport safely.

“The new skiers [don’t] have an open space to learn, to feel safe, to learn all the new strides that they need to learn because they're just getting run over by these experienced skiers who are going down the trails,” he said.“Without the excess snow space, the elite skiers who still need to train run into these beginner skiers, and it's really unfortunate for both parties.”

Regardless of starting their season with little snow, the Alpine team’s top girls’ racer, sophomore Summer Flannery, said she sees some benefits. She said being forced to hold dryland training — off-snow practice — has given the team a sense of community. “[The season started] out rocky with dryland training, but everyone's getting into the groove of it and really bonding with each other,” she said.

South’s ski teams are no strangers to unfortunate weather patterns and patchy snow.

Modiano said that in his 12 years of skiing, the amount of snowfall has continuously decreased.

“In ninth grade, Weston, our training ground, didn't have that much snow, and the next year had even less, to the point where we were skiing during half of the season instead of the three-fourths that we normally hit,” he said.

Not only does the lack of snow affect training, but it has also taken its toll on the Dual County League (DCL) races, said senior Alpine captain Lucas Boyce.

“Last year was awful. We had basically every race get postponed and had to do two races in one day multiple times to get everything in before states,” he said.

This season, gaps in snow coverage forced Nordic race officials to change the first race’s

organization completely to accommodate for less trail space, leaving some of the newer skiers feeling stranded. Sophomore and Nordic skier Thayer Bialek said the new setup was hard to adapt to.

“It was like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool without learning in the shallow end first,” he said. “It was the first race of the season, and it was completely different from anything we had ever done.”

Despite the rocky start, both the Alpine and Nordic team racers have managed to put up impressive results.

The Nordic team is currently leading the

Mass Bay East League, and the Alpine team’s top racers, Gavin Abbiati and Summer Flannery, placed first and 12th in the Mass Bay Welt Alpha League respectively.

Modiano said that he is troubled by the impacts of global warming and concerned for the future of the Nordic team and for all skiers at South.

“I'm worried about the new skiers and for the team because I do love the Newton South team,” he said. “It was really a huge part of my Newton South experience, and if other people are no longer able to have the same experience that I had, that would be really unfortunate.”

graphic by Clare Cho

Don't underappreciate uncommon sports Olivia Whitaker Sports reporter

soccer because it is dependent on passing and teamwork.

While the newer PLL is quickly growing in the crowded United States sports scene, the NLL is ultimately the better league for people interested in watching lacrosse because the league has an easier format to follow, and the style is more exciting and fast-paced for the casual viewer.

While lacrosse is just recently gaining in popularity, motorsports have been a major

We all know and love mainstream league sports like basketball, soccer and football. Lebron James, Lionel Messi or Tom Brady jerseys can be seen walking down any busy street.

These sports all have popular leagues that draw people to the sport, like the NBA, the Premier League and the NFL. But what about the sports that are only now rising in popularity, like lacrosse, motorsports and wrestling?

These are three major emerging sports with growing fanbases in the United States and around the world. For these unfamiliar sports, finding leagues to watch can be a challenge.

In professional lacrosse, there are multiple leagues, such as the National Lacrosse League (NLL) and the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).

While these leagues have similarities, the way they play lacrosse is completely different, even though both feature the same sport.

With 13 teams separated into three divisions, and all of the games played indoors on an enclosed and melted ice rink, the NLL plays box lacrosse, a variation much more common in Canada and Europe than it is in the United States.

Box lacrosse is often compared to hockey, as its aggressive style comes with violent graphic by Alexis Sam hits and fights. sport internationally for decades. Within the Founded in 2018, the PLL features field complicated motorsports realm, there are many lacrosse, the less aggressive alternative to the different leagues, with the National Association NLL’s play. This type of lacrosse is much more for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and popular in the United States, and it’s the type Formula One (F1) being the most popular. of lacrosse you’d find if you went to a game here NASCAR is an American auto racing at South. Field lacrosse is often compared to company founded in 1948. There are three dif-

ferent series under NASCAR: the Cup Series, Xfinity Series and Craftsman Truck Series.

The Cup Series is the top division, where 33 drivers compete, and the top 16 players go into the NASCAR playoffs to be crowned champion.

NASCAR tracks typically aren’t very complicated with more focus being on the pure speed of the car. The Daytona 500, a 500-mile race in Daytona Beach, FL, is broadcast nationally to millions of fans across North America.

But F1, the highest division of Formula racing, is the superior league. F1 tracks are more interesting to watch because of the amount of turns and twists that they have, requiring more finesse and skill from drivers.

In F1, 20 drivers race for ten teams.

They race for 23 weekends of the year all

over the world, traveling to countries such as Australia, the US, Japan and more. There is a team championship and an individual driver's championship, and drivers win points from races to help them win these titles.

Wrestling has also been gaining popularity, especially within the United States. The two main wrestling leagues are the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE).

The UFC is a competitive version of wrestling, where athletes try to win by a knockout or by judges decision.

There are strict rules on which strikes are considered legal or illegal, and wrestlers only compete within their weight group.

It is also much more difficult for athletes to be considered the winner of a match in the UFC than in the WWE. On the contrary, the WWE is broadcast purely for entertainment, and the matches are pre-rehearsed.

Matches in the WWE are not solely between people of the same weight class, and the rules are much more lenient to create the most enjoyable match possible.

Overall, the better league between the UFC and WWE depends on whether you prefer watching wrestling as a competitive sport or just an outlet of entertainment.

Both leagues have fun moments and are enjoyable to watch for wrestling fans watching at home. While sports like basketball, soccer and football are fun to watch, sometimes the most exciting sports stories can come from uncommon leagues that are still developing and finding their place in the sports realm.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

sports | page 21

The Parlay Problem Controversy concerning illegal teenage sports betting emerges photo courtesy of nola.com

By Jonny Giragos & Ronen Heimlich

T

here isn’t anything more captivating than a big sports game. Fans cross their fingers and hold their breath, putting faith in their team to cinch a victory.

But in recent years, some students at South have put a little more than just faith in their favorite teams.

With more and more students leveraging money on sports, sports betting walks the line between being a harmless pastime and a dangerous addiction.

A glance at the recent trends of sports betting indicates that it’s a dangerous addiction: between 60 and 80 percent of high school students report having gambled for money in the past year, according to the National Council on Problem Gambling.

Aside from being widespread, sports betting is a difficult activity to stop once started; a study by the American Psychological Association finds that young men, including those below the legal limit, are most vulnerable to becoming addicted to betting.

Generating over $21 billion in revenue in 2023 alone, betting has been a beloved American pastime and lucrative industry for over a century. Since sports betting was legalized by the Supreme Court in 2018, there has been a steady increase in its national activity, with an even larger market for betting on games illegally.

For kids, online betting apps like Fanduel and Draftkings allow for easy connections to

the gambling world, despite these apps being completely illegal for those under 18.

The nature of these apps allows high school students to easily lie about their ages, or simply put in a parent’s information; these students can easily access the addicting world of prop bets, points spreads and parlays with just a click of a button.

While most students aren’t in a financial position to spend hundreds of dollars on betting, eye-catching deals that promise “bonus bets” allow students access to, for example, over $100 in free bets after committing only $5 of their own money. These high-risk, high-reward situations normalize risking irresponsible amounts of money.

The addictive nature of gambling creates middling levels of success for most.

A sophomore at South said that while they’ve won around $150 to $200, they’ve lost just as much or more.

Without the massive payouts many highend sports bettors can receive, the motivation to continue betting comes from a different source for many students. Having a just couple of dollars on the game is enough for students to care about games otherwise irrelevant to them.

While the majority of students aren’t successful with their bets, many students simply enjoy the tension that comes with whether or not their bet “hit.” The pride of getting the correct stats and the possibility of making a quick buck engages users.

With addictive qualities and money on the line, sports betting continues to hook in a large underage population. Unlike the tobacco or the alcohol industry, states allow for unregulated advertising on sports betting, allowing for sportsbooks to say and portray anything in their advertisements, including false promises, misleading images or incentivized deals, all of which help to lure in a younger audience.

Aside from being inventive, sports betting advertisements are everywhere; DraftKings spent $1.19 billion on marketing activities in 2022, and with largely nonexistent regulations on advertising, this number only looks to grow in the coming years.

Although widespread, should sports

Done living up to

These students are able to easily access the addicting world of prop bets, point spreads and parlays with just a click of a button. betting be so easily accessible, especially to minors? Many point to the addictive qualities and the growing number of US citizens with gambling disorders: 5.7 million in 2020, according to Statista. Many students with very little economic freedom can develop these harmful habits by simply downloading DraftKings or Fliff, and can get inspired to bet through other gambling activities like poker.

With resources for gambling addictions stretched thin by the new wave of legal gambling, how will our generation fare with the temptation of gambling? The adopted mentality to “not quit before your big win” is a harmful one, but is unfortunately commonplace among high school students.

For many students, gambling is simply a way to increase excitement about an otherwise irrelevant sports game or make a quick couple of bucks. However, the trends show that this is exactly how addiction starts, and the line between harmless and harmful can be easily crossed in teenager’s minds.

The looming possibility of pain-free profit just off a player or team’s performance entices teenagers into risking their own money and introducing themselves to the crippling, cold world of gambling.

graphic by Riley Cabrera

Isabella Starkman Sports Contributor Livvy Dunne.

Love her or hate her, there’s no denying the Louisiana State University (LSU) gymnast’s star power both in and out of the gymnasium.

She has amassed the largest social media following of a college athlete in the world with 4.9 million followers on Instagram and 7.9 million followers on TikTok. But of her millions of followers, commenters generally fall within one of two camps: people making inappropriate remarks about her body or people complaining about how she is ruining gymnastics by photoshopping her photos.

The hate Dunne gets is ludicrous.

Dunne’s competition photos are deemed too revealing by critics who claim her leotard is hiked too high or her pose is too seductive.

These comments prompt others who claim she is leading gymnastics to be more sexualized than it already is.

Often, gymnasts' incredible muscles and healthy bodies are, for some reason, not seen as attractive. Society and social media deems that for a woman to be attractive, she must be healthy. But Livvy Dunne shows that it’s impossible to achieve these standards because women can’t be too healthy or in shape either.

Although the internet over-sexualizes Dunne, the patterns of her photoshopping speak to society’s harmful beauty standards.

Side-by-side comparisons of official published images and the versions she posts on social media shows that she edits her photos to make her shoulders seem less toned, her torso less triangular and her hair more voluminous, all of which are characteristics that are“optimal” for a beautiful female body.

However, there’s nothing wrong with her body. Dunne is a Division I gymnast on one of the best teams in the country and her body is able to do things most people can’t fathom, yet she is ashamed of it because it's not perceived as pretty by today’s impossible standards.

I don’t blame Dunne for conforming; the self-doubt instilled in her by the millions of comments about her body can be overwhelming.

The scrutiny each of her photos attracts as the public debates whether she is too sexual or too muscular, and therefore unattractive, sets a striking precedent of beauty standards that are undoubtedly unattainable.

page 22 | sports

the lion's roar

UPenn commits Ben Kogan and Tim Shine Cooper McFarland & Sam McFarland

Sports reporter & sports contributor For athletes pursuing sports at the collegiate level, the complex and demanding recruitment process is daunting.

South seniors Ben Kogan and Timothy (Tim) Shine took on this challenge and both emerged with spots to play for the University of Pennsylvania, a Division 1 (D1) Ivy League university.

Kogan committed in December 2023 as a fencing recruit, and Shine committed in March 2023 for the soccer team.

When they first started, neither of them had any idea they would one day play D1. But Tim said it was UPenn that reached out first.

“I was like wow, this is actually a possibility for me. And then I strived for it,” he said.

Like many exceptional soccer players, Shine started at a very young age. Lily Eng Shine, Tim’s mother and a history teacher at South, said that Shine’s journey with his sport began as a child.

“He's been playing soccer since he was itty-bitty, like Newton kindergarten soccer,” she said. “Everybody did kindergarten soccer, which was the best thing, so he met all his closest friends before kindergarten even started.”

But not everyone gets such an early start.

At the age Shine was joining a club team, Kogan still had no idea he would become a fencer.

Kogan’s career started at 10 years old when he ended up inside a fencing club while getting his sister from a birthday party.

“I saw the club and fencers there, and I

photo contributed by Ben Kogan

thought, wait, this is cool, I want to try this,” he said. “I ended up trying it a week later and really liked it.”

Kogan didn’t let his belated start stop him from rising to the top.

His club teammate, South senior Eddie Maklin, said that Kogan’s work ethic and drive led him to success.

“He’s stubborn in a good way. He doesn’t stop until he gets what he wants,” he said.

In the eight years Maklin has been fencing with Kogan, he said he has watched his friend go from a novice to a strong leader.

“He’s a great leader and role model for everyone,” he said. “He’s always quick to help people, cheering, giving advice. He’s always there with the team.” photo contributed by Tim Shine

Ben Kogan poses in his fencing uniform

Timothy Shine walks off the soccer field

Kogan’s girlfriend, senior Liza Odikadze, said the reason for his success is his dedication.

“He achieved a lot these past three years.

He’s someone that does not skip practice,” she said. “He’s someone that stays after practice, and will leave the club last.”

Shine’s commitment to soccer is equally strong and steadfast.

His club team requires that he abstain from school sports, so Shine doesn’t play soccer for South; however, in the offseason, he often trains with South soccer team members like senior and captain Ben Dietrich, who said he admires the effort Shine puts into pushing his limits.

“He always wants to do more,” Dietrich

said.“He always wants to play. He always wants to do more reps. He plays soccer like every day.”

The long hours spent training can take a toll on academic performance, and Shine said that finding balance can be difficult.

“When I'm not able to get all my work done before practice and I have a big test or project due the next day, that means it’s going to be a long night,” he said.“Staying disciplined sometimes gets hard. It really comes down to time management, like a lot of things in life.”

Kogan said he shares the struggle of balancing training and schoolwork, especially because of fencing’s emphasis on maintaining academic excellence.

“In fencing especially, they care about GPA and grades a lot more than other sports,” he said.

Kogan said that without a future in professional fencing, college fencers need to be more academically prepared for their postcollege careers than student-athletes in more mainstream sports.

“Pro fencing is just not a real thing,” Kogan said. “You can’t get sponsored because the whole idea of sponsors is they sponsor you because people see you, but nobody sees fencers.”

But Kogan has put plenty of effort into his schoolwork, and Shine and Kogan said they are ready for whatever challenges UPenn has to throw at them, whether it’s academic or athletic.

“I’m really excited about UPenn’s rigorous academic atmosphere and of course being part of the fencing team,” Kogan said.“It might be difficult to balance the two, but honestly, that only motivates me more.”

Super Bowl chronicles: A fun Sunday for all Tyler Germain, Owen Halberstadt & Mitchell Lookner Sports contributor, sports reporters Every year, surrounded by at least eight opened bags of different chips, over 100 million people in the United States gather around their televisions, phones or computers as the flashing lights and unmatched pomp signal the arrival of the pinnacle of sporting events: the Super Bowl.

While many football fans cherish the big game as a holiday, the second Sunday in February having been circled on their calendars for months, others have non-football-related reasons for tuning in.

With something for everyone, Super Bowl parties are thrown nationwide as friends and family come together to watch the biggest sporting event of the year.

Growing up as a die-hard football fan, I have always deemed Super Bowl Sunday as the greatest Sunday of the year.

My dad and I buy enough snacks to fill our shopping cart, and soon, my whole table is layered with bags and bowls of food to enjoy during the game.

As soon as the coin is flipped, the pregame festivities settle, and I’m on the edge of my seat, aware that National Football League (NFL) history is being made each time the ball is snapped.

Each play has a chance to affect the legacy of a player, coach or franchise.

Going into every Super Bowl, I know it has the potential to be an all-time classic that I will remember forever.

Play calls like the Philly Special (a trick play by the Philadelphia Eagles that sparked the New England Patriots’ defeat), iconic comebacks like the Patriots surmounting a

28-3 deficit or Malcolm Butler’s championshipsealing interception for the Pats create heartbreaking and thrilling moments that have been cemented in the sport’s rich history and seared into my mind forever.

On the other side of the couch, my family questions why players wear numbers on the back of their jerseys instead of the front and

comment on how run plays are just a bunch of men “piled up on each other.”

This year, a certain popstar's relationship with Kansas City Chiefs tight-end caused the conversion of two equally passionate yet very different fanbases. But this juxtapostion is an accurate reflection of the diverse crowd surrounding the TV during a family watch party.

graphic by Makayla Gilchrist

Most of my family isn’t interested in football, but the halftime performance reels them in. They comment on the performers’ outfits and backup dancers, critiquing the performer while trying to recall their rise to fame and gossip about their personal lives.

Afterwards, they fervently share their opinions on the show, debating whether or not the performance met their high standards.

For those who can’t wait until halftime, commercials pique interest. Super Bowl commercials are more entertaining and humorous than your average advertisement.

Not only are they fun to watch, but many of them are being aired on television for the first time.

You may witness NFL Hall of Famers tackling each other at a wedding to celebrate the league’s 50th anniversary, or a society on the brink of apocalypse because they don’t have chips to dip in guacamole made from“Avocados From Mexico.”

The glitzy musical performance and tongue-in-cheek advertising is merely an addon by the NFL to bring in a broader audience, but it works to perfection.

A non-sports fan couldn’t care less about watching a game where a bunch of guys tackle each other, but throw in a funny advertisment or two and put Rihanna or Katy Perry on at halftime, and you’ve got everyone in America watching.

As a life-long football fan, I eagerly await every year for the biggest football game of the year, while my family tunes in for the games’ embellishments.

Almost every year the Super Bowl brings us all time classic moments, iconic plays and memorable commercials — the perfect end to the NFL season, and a great way to entertain everyone in the family.

issuu.com/thelionsroar

fun page | page 23

CROSSWORD!

30

Roar's Valentines

8QWLWOHG &URVVZRUG /DEV

To Dmi tr

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er delive

ryman) 9 ÕÀ ÃÌi> `Þ «À vi ÃÃ > Ã keeps us

calm on even the stressful most print and delivery Thank yo days. u for sch eduling vacation you s around our publi r days — cation you're th e best!

tors i n a j r u o o T with r putting up

fo Thank you until p craziness -u our send s out of n you kick u 11pm, whe ur for nd thank yo rm 1201. A pers that und the pa cleaning aro ÀÕ Þ Ì i À° 9 Õ >Ài Ì ÌÌiÀ Ì i y l and f our schoo backbone o The Roar.

Our love st ory is enem ies-tolovers, thou gh lately, w e've been feeling a lo t more love <3 Thank you for the hea lthy competitio n, NSPA me mo and photo sharing.Fore ries ver the top three st udent publi cations!

DOWN

1) Duration of the teachers’ strike in days 3) Winter___, in___ation, ___ival 4) Winners of Super Bowl LVIII 5) Many a talking-stage relationship 8) Is your name _____? Because you have everything I’ve been searching for.

11) Richard’s giggleworthy nickname 13) Blue and yellow furniture store

16) Like heart shaped chocolate, post Feb. 14 17) Position of our beloved Bella and Emma 19) Family member music award

ANSWERS:

Fifteen, Abigail, Fest, Chiefs, Situationship, Hearts, Tortured, Google, Formula, Teddy, Dick, Connection, Ikea, Starbucks, Palindrome, Discount, EIC, Cupid, Grammy, Forty, Alpline

Across

To Regulu s & Denebola

All our love, The Lion's Roar

ACROSS 2) South stage production…for now.

6) What cards, artichokes and animal have in common 7) The poets in Taylor’s department 9) Common word in math and racing 10) Roosevelt/lingerie/bear 12) Is your name Wi-Fi? Because I’m feeling a ______.

14) Coffeehouse conglomerate with a mermaid logo 15) Examples: “taco cat”, “racecar”, “murder for a jar of red rum” 18) Diaper-wearing, arrowtoting, love angel 20) This is the last crossword of Volume ____

Down

Today's Roaroscope

KWWSV FURVVZRUGODEV FRP YLHZ Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18):

Gemini (May 21- June 20): Love is a comedy of errors, and you’re the main character. Your candlelit dinner may become a fire hazard, and kneeling to tie your shoe might end up with an engagement to tie the knot.

Libra (Sept. 23- Oct. 22): You will experience a real-life romantic novel with a twist ending — unexpected and possibly involving a hunky pirate? Try to avoid poetic confessions or impromptu dance-offs.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20): As a water sign, expect waterworks; whether it be rain-soaked professions of love, your tears mixing with the condensation of your ice cream tub or wetness in other places…

Aries (March 21-April 19): Slow down and remember that chocolates may melt, but impulsive commitment sticks around.

Take a moment to actually read the fine print of your V-Day card before signing your heart away!

Cancer (June 21- July 22): Embrace your sensitive side, and someone will embrace your constant waterworks. (We’re thinking a Libra, Pisces or Capricorn)

Scorpio (Oct. 23- Nov. 21): For your, dating is like monopoly — strategic, competitive and always with a slight chance of ending up in jail. May the odds be in your favor.

Leo (July 23- Aug. 22): You don’t chase, you attract. Your attempts at subtle flirting may be so subtle they go unnoticed. Seducing you is like trying to navigate through a corn maze blindfolded — bring on the corny pickup lines!

Sagittarius (Nov. 22- Dec. 21): You live your life like a game of pin the tail on the donkey — blindfolded and full of surprises.

Let’s hope your Valentine’s Day isn’t the same … unless you’re into that *wink*

Taurus (April 20-May 20): Your love life resembles a sitcom: expect the “multiple dates, same night” trope soon! Focus on one target, or you'll end up hitting yourself in the foot.

Virgo (Aug. 23- Sept. 22): Cupid will shoot you with an arrow that doesn't come with an instruction manual. Embrace spontaneity or a Scorpio, Taurus or Cancer near you.

Capricorn (Dec. 22- Jan. 19): Love is magical, so be prepared for a few disappearing acts. If the passion in your relationship has vanished, bring it back with the adrenaline rush of a surprise skydiving date.

k l a b

c d e j

Your eccentricity sets you apart. If your partner doesn’t enjoy their gift of neon-green roses and Cheeto-flavored chocolate, find someone who does: a Leo, Aries, Libra, Gemini or Sagittarius!

g f i h

Follow @nshslionsroar for 10 years of good luck – it’s your cosmic destiny!

On the cover...

There was a strike, it was long — you get the drill.

Traditionally, we write an editoral to put forth a solution to our community's issues.

This time, we're taking a step back.

Page 6

photo by Grace Dempsey

Volume XL The Lion’s Roar

Letter to the Editors

Newton South High School’s Student Newspaper

Bella Ishanyan & Emma Zhang

140 Brandeis Road Newton, MA 02459 ss.lionsroar@gmail.com

Editors-in-Chief Bella Ishanyan

Emma Zhang

Volume 40 Editors-in-Chief

Managing Editors Grace Dempsey

Risha Sinha

Section Editors News

Andrew Feinberg Irene González de las Casas Jenny Lee Alex Zakuta

Features

Opinions Eden Levitt-Horne Jacob Lewis Angela Tao

Centerfold Grace Sousa John Timko

Sports Joey Giragos Julia Lee Sarah Schwartz

Alyssa Chen Ava Ransbotham Theo Younkin

Media Managers Social Media Levin Brenner Tate Slater

Pawdcast

Renee Lu Ashish Uhlmann

Graphics

Photos

Denise Chan Lynn Kim Adrienne Lirio

Evan Ng

Faculty Advisor Ashley Chapman

D

earest Bella and Emma, We write this today, united by the love and profound loss we feel for two leaders who have passed on to a higher, and no doubt better, place.

Emma, you were not just an Editor-inChief and Features Editor; you were a constant source of light and warmth in our lives, a force of nature whose energy and spirit were as boundless as your capacity to love.

Bella,you were not just an Editor-in-Chief, Centerfold Editor and News Editor; you are a woman of many talents, but above all, you are an extraordinary mind. Your spirit, teachings and memories continue to inspire us.

Emma, your laughter is a melody that played on even the darkest days of send-up. You have a zest for fonts that is infectious, and a proof turnaround time that is indomitable. Your joy for beautifying pages, acquiring shrek stickers and donning pastel purple taught us to appreciate the little moments — and to capture them as killer fluffy end-quotes!

Bella, your were our anchor when we were adrift, our compass when we lost our way.

Your expansive life-experience, iconic phrases that slowly seeped into our vocabulary (“it be like that sometimes”, “hot n sexy”) and eclectic music taste extend your influence beyond the four walls of room 1201. You didn’t just teach lessons of journalism; you taught lessons of life.

As we bid farewell to you, our cherished friends today, let us not lose ourselves in the sorrow of loss, but rather find comfort in the memories we shared.

Your work on The Roar was not just a job orhobby.Itwasapassion,amission,acalling.Your legacy will be carried on by your loving daughters, Grace Dempsey and Risha Sinha.

You will be remembered in every article edited, every tear shed over InDesign, every song on our paste-up playlist. We are so honored to call you our fearless leaders.

We pour one out for The Roar careers of Bella Ishanyan and Emma Zhang.

Forever and always, Grace & Risha