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Grading systems differ by class BROOKLINE HIGH SCHOOL • DECEMBER 2016 • VOLUME 54 • ISSUE 3 • FOUNDED IN 1893 • 115 GREENOUGH STREET BROOKLINE, MA 02445 • THESAGONLINE.COM

Ben Mandl

Opinions Layout Editor

GRAPHIC BY JAKE BRODSKY, EVAN MAROHN AND IZZY GONZALEZ / SAGAMORE

Math courses typically follow the same grade rubrics among teachers. Other departments’ courses often vary based on the teacher.

Paraprofessionals extend consistent helping hand

In some classes, assignments are weighted similarly from teacher to teacher in the same course. In other classes like English and social studies, it is left up to the individual teacher to decide how much each piece of work is worth.

According to Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator Gary Shiffman, giving teachers the ability to choose the weight of each assignment in their own class provides the teacher more freedom to shape the class in order to accommodate their strengths.

“It allows teachers to experiment and teach in different ways, different styles to suit the classes they’re teaching, curriculum, the students themselves,

TEST WEIGHTS, p.2

CHRIS WAN FOR THE SAGAMORE

Many believe the use of glue mice traps is an inhumane solution to the problem.

NICK EDDINGER/ SAGAMORE STAFF

Paraprofessional Danny Costigan helps students in a Community Based Classroom.

Nick Eddinger Staff Writer

“10 years ago my son was diagnosed with a form of autism. He entered the Brookline Early Education Program and was placed in a special classroom for children on the autism spectrum,” Brookline parent Pam Palmucci said at a November School Committee meeting.

“Each day these amazing paraprofessionals would greet him like they were greeting movie stars. Their energy, compassion and patience encouraged him to move from his own world to ours. They

were my superstars.” Palmucci lauded paraprofessionals for their constant care and attention.

Paraprofessionals provide invaluable helping hands to students with special needs. They work in several programs that help students with disabilities at the high school. Paraprofessional Jessica Dunn, who works in the Bridge program, stresses the support they give to students.

“It’s all about helping them reach independence and different skills,” Dunn

PARAPROFESSIONALS, p.2

Mouse control policies raise ethical questions Rachel Vin Staff Writer

A mouse “glue trap” is a flat, adhesive board that immobilizes mice on the sticky surface. Once caught on the board, assuming that the mouse doesn’t collapse into the glue and suffocate, the mouse will die over several days of starvation and dehydration.

These traps are widely viewed as inhumane, and animal rights organizations such as People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and The Humane Society

condemn their usage. Despite this, they are still the only method of pest control that is allowed to be used at the high school.

According to Assistant Headmaster Hal Mason, glue traps are a harsh way to eliminate mice, but the magnitude of the rodent problem and the risks of alternative trapping methods leaves administration with no other choice but to use them.

“There are certainly mice in the

MICE TRAPS, p.3

THIS MONTH IN THE SAGAMORE: GREASE, p. 15

FREE TRADE, p. 7

SUMMER DREAMS, p. 19

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Grading inconsistent across some courses TEST WEIGHTS, from 1 the teachers strengths and weaknesses,” Shiffman said. “Some teachers do more projects, some do more traditional tests, some emphasize oral presentation skills, and all of those can affect how you weight assignments.”

English Curriculum Coordinator Mary Burchenal said that teachers ability to choose their grading systems can help them shape the class to what they are good at teaching.

“We encourage teachers to teach who they are and to have autonomy in the classroom,” Burchenal said. “If they are particularly expert at one thing or another, they may guide their classes slightly differently to have some flexibility in terms of what weight they give things, and that can reflect the individuality of the teachers.”

Mathematics Curriculum Coordina-

tor Joshua Paris said that it is fairer for students to have a course-wide grading policy.

“If you take one student in one section and another student in another section the way their grade is determined should be very similar,” Paris said. “In terms of fairness for the students, being in a different section shouldn’t drastically change the way their grade is determined.”

According to junior Shahar Hartman, overall he is hap-

py with the grading policy.

“I like having math the same because everyone is learning the same material and eventual-

ly being tested on the same stuff,” Hartman said. “But, I think that for classes like history, it would be tricky to have it all standardized. I’m in Dr. Carr’s class, and I think we do some different things than the other APUSH classes do, and so it wouldn’t be fair to grade us in the same way.”

Hartman said that he understands how b e i n g graded differently can be frustrating to some people.

“I can see how some people would be annoyed by being graded differently on similar things in classes,” Hartman said. “It could be frustrating to have you and your friend do badly on a test

GRAPHIC BY LEON YANG AND

or an essay but to have yours be worth a lot more than theirs.”

Burchenal said that in general she

Paraprofessionals help cultivate individual growth of students

NICK EDDINGER / SAGAMORE STAFF

Homewok time! Focusing intently, paraprofessional Ashley Boyd works with sophomore Josh Spiller on an assignment.

PARAPROFESSIONALS, from 1

said. “So we have dishes and laundry, and anything you would think. We’re just trying to make them independent and ready for the real world when they turn 22.”

The Bridge program serves students 18-years-old to 22-years-old who have completed high school. Bridge teaches independence in the home, community and workplace.

According to paraprofessional Brittany Hatzieleftheriadis, the Bridge program also helps students to learn and to improve at a more specific set of job skills.

“Some of our students have jobs at Boston University, either in the fitness center or in the dining hall, and we help them with their jobs there,” Hatzieleftheriadis said. “So if it’s serving, now they’re pretty independent, but when they

first started, we had to teach them how to do a certain job or a certain task.”

Reaching For Independence Through Structured Education (RISE) is another program where paraprofessionals work. RISE focuses on supporting high school aged students with autism spectrum profiles as well as students with similar needs.

Brittany Lerman is a paraprofessional working in RISE. She has been interested in this type of job for awhile.

“I have a cousin with moderate to severe autism and my sister also has a variety of behaviors, so I always knew that I like working with this population, and in high school I did a lot of volunteering with kids and adults with special needs,” Lerman said. “So I kind of wanted to do it in real life.”

Paraprofessional Lauren

Sobolewski works in the RISE program, and Sobolewski said that her main job is to support students through a typical school day.

“Well, basically what we do, at least in RISE, is we support kids in the classrooms, and that can be classrooms in our program or classes out in the rest of the school,” Sobolewski said.

“We also support sometimes with before and after school activities, and that support really varies from student to student.”

Lerman said that students in the RISE program have a variety of different needs, all of which affect what the paraprofessionals will be helping with.

“You might have students that are super independent and just need help in social skills and learning what’s socially appropriate, and you might have students who need more mental, physical, or emotional support.” Lerman said. “For others, I’m helping them step by step, breaking everything down in a way that they can understand it to the best of their ability.”

Lerman said that she enjoys seeing her students improve on their classwork.

According to Sobolewski, the most enjoyable part of the job is watching her students grow and understand what they previously did not.

“You get to see a kid who comes in, is possibly struggling with something, and then at the end of the book they’re like ‘Wow I get that,’ and they can make connections to real world situations, and it can inspire them to do things,” Sobolewski said. “That’s the most rewarding part of it.”

Nick Eddinger can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

thinks that more would be lost than gained by having a set system of grading.

“I think the tradeoffs, to make it all consistent to me, would cost more than the advantages you would get,” Burchenal said.

According to Shiffman, students might not learn as much as they could if there w a s a standardized grading system.

“If we standardize, we have to standardize so that all the teachers can teach whateve r it is,” Shiffm a n JASON ALTHULER/SAGAMORE STAFF

said. “That means means that we set a floor, but we’ve also set a ceiling.”

Ben Mandl can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

IT’S THE

BLITZ Go to: thesagonline.com Coming January 2017

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Current glue traps deemed inhumane

cause they don’t have enough room for the [snap bar to swing].” building,” Mason said. “The goal is to Mcnamara said the main conflict keep them under control, but it’s al- with having snap traps in schools is the most impossible to completely eradicate risk that children will get caught in the them. The school looks for any effective traps. way to get rid of rodents.”

“A lot of times the issue with schools Junior Evelyn Gilbert has several rats is when there’s children around you can’t as domestic pets. She said that people’s just have the snap trap, because chilhatred towards rodents makes humane dren could get injured,” Mcnamara said. treatment seem unimportant to them.

“With a glue board you can’t get injured.”

“They’re [the traps] really terrible Senior Hannah Farman, co-presiand inhumane,” Gilbert said. “Mice are dent of Veg Club, works with the club to known to freak out when they get stuck promote animal rights activism throughto them and chew at their own ankles, out the high school. Farman said she which is a terrible way to die.” dislikes the use of glue traps at the high According school. Farman beto exterminalieves that animal tor Todd Mcrights need to be If there was a namara, while acknowledged and humane alternative there are a discussed more openly at the high multitude of that could keep the school. obscure techmouse population niques, the “I have a under control, the primary two problem with glue methods are traps. It’s unethischool would probaglue traps and cal because it kills bly use that. snap traps. Mcthe mice slowly, so namara said they just suffer for Hal Mason, that snap traps a long time,” FarAssistant Headmaster are a more human said. “Most mane process to people get angry kill mice because they take the mouse’s when we talk about it, so I think people life instantly with a blow to the back of don’t want to think about it.” their neck.

According to Mason, the school According to Mcnamara, it is not would use a more humane trapping proalways practical to implement new snap cess if they were able to. traps.

“If there was a humane alternative “Sometimes when you’re dealing that could keep the mouse population with rodents they do become what’s under control, the school would probacalled trap averse, and they will start to bly use that,” Mason said. “I don’t think avoid the snap traps,” Mcnamara said. there is such a way to do it.”

“Also, sometimes you can’t get snap traps Rachel Vin can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@ in certain areas just because of space, be- gmail.com

MICE TRAPS, from 1

ANI MATHISON/AGAMORE STAFF

Senior Mercedes Paulino offers a student extra assistance in Spanish II Advanced.

Native speakers aid in language classes Vera Targoff Staff Writer

When Senior Mercedes Paulino walks into her Spanish class this year, she doesn’t sit with the rest of the students.

While the freshman in the room take out their notebooks and talk amongst themselves about the homework last night, she confers with the teacher on the lesson plan, and walks over to the other students, asking if any of them need help with anything. That’s because Paulino isn’t a student in the class, she’s a teaching assistant, and is helping teach the class of freshmen.

Being a student aid in a Spanish class is both empowering and satisfying for native speakers.

This semester, Spanish teacher Lindsay Davis has welcomed two native

Spanish speakers into her classroom as teaching assistants. According to Davis, this is proving beneficial to everyone involved.

According to Paulino, who is from the Dominican Republic, it is a really great experience to be able to bring her culture into the classroom.

“We’re talking about Dominican instruments right now, and Dominican culture, el folklorico, el merengue and stuff like that,” Paulino said. “That’s something I grew up with my whole entire life. That’s the culture that I grew up with.”

According to Davis, it is amazing to have other cultures in the classroom because although she has studied in Spain and Costa Rica, she has no experience with the Dominican Republic.

SENIOR AID, p.6

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Application-based classes lack gender diversity Iman Kahn

Arts Writing Editor Females outnumber males in Social Justice, Global Leadership, Racial Awareness and other application-based classes at the high school. For some students and faculty members, the greater amount of females in these classes has resulted in a lack of varied perspectives.

Social studies teacher Malcolm Cawthorne, who teaches the Racial Awareness class, said that an unbalanced gender composition of a class can make diverse discussion difficult.

“It would be better if we had more balance and it would represent the school better,” Cawthorne said. “On Racial Awareness, we do affinity groups by race, but also by gender and this year it’s been really hard. One of our sections only has two males in it, so it makes it hard to break up by gender.

We feel like it’s important, every time you break up into affinity groups, you get something different, and we’re missing that aspect.”

Additionally, Cawthorne

said that gender diversity is valuable in race discussions as well.

“When you talk about racial awareness, there are different things that come with our gender alignments as well,” Cawthorne said. “So, what it means to be African-American takes a different meaning when you talk about what it means to be an African-American male and what it means to be an African-American female. You can say that with all of the races and so, part of the reason we like that is because it helps us examine ourselves and our own personal identities deeper.”

Senior Justin Yue said he understands that many males are uncomfortable when expressing how they feel on certain topics in social justice.

“People who don’t know the full class, think it’s kind of an all-girl, feminist class,” Yue said. “That’s what people think; they think it’s all about women’s rights. No, it’s about everything, there’s a wide range.”

Junior Quinn Peters took Global Leadership last year and takes Social Justice this year. Pe-

MAYA MORRIS / SAGAMORE STAFF

Some application based classes, like Social Justice (above), are missing the male student persepctive.

ters said that she thinks some males may be reluctant to apply because of the high percentage of females.

“This dynamic has created walls because I don’t think many men want to apply for a class if they don’t think they’ll be able to be with their friends,” Peters said. “And I think many women don’t want to be in a male-dominated class where they fear their voices will be overpowered.”

Juniors Lena Harris and Wilson Hsu express their concerns that a lack of males in those classes will lead to a large,

uneducated group of people who might perpetuate stereotypes that more females have learned to avoid. Hsu, who takes Global Leadership, said that there is a need for more males.

“The goal of the class is to get different perspectives on global issues, so I think it’s better to have more guys for more perspectives,” Hsu said.

Both Harris and Yue agree that a lack of any group of people in such influential classes is a misrepresentation of the high school as a whole. Being the only male in his class, Yue en-

courages more males to join as it is beneficial to contribute another voice to the conversation.

“I think it would be very beneficial. Me, I’ve obviously changed. I’ve started to see things from a different perspective. This class has you thinking about how our system is really the true reality,” Yue said. “If, say more guys took it, they would be more educated about it and they would also try to make a change. Then that’s another guy.

That’s one more voice.”

Iman Kahn can be contacted at bhs. sagamore@gmail.com

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Multiracial club prioritizes supportive space

dents and teachers who identify as biracial and multiracial,” and as a place where students can, “discuss their personal experiences with being of two or more races.”

Meetings are every other Monday at 3 p.m. in room 340. Junior Lena Harris, an active member of the club, said that they are trying to work around varying schedules.

“We’re going to be trying in the future to get more meeting times because we do feel like this is an important issue, and we really want to get out there at the high school,” Harris said.

Harris said that one of the reasons

the club was formed was because the Poon explained. high school’s curriculum surrounding The group is still sorting out their race is lacking the perspective of multi- main goals for the year but are considerracial students. ing having a block at Asking for Courage “I feel like we don’t have a lot of rep- (the high school’s day of assemblies dedresentation as of right now in our curric- icated to race-related issues), fundraising ulum or in our school at all. So I wanted for trips or for charity and having events to make us known,” Harris said. “We’re with parents. Their main goal, according growing, we’re here.” to Lena Harris, is to build a supportive Senior Carina Feeney is another community among multiracial students. member of the club and said that those “One of the main goals is to first who are multiracial are often struggling build a real community,” Harris said. “We to find their place. will all know each other by name and “I know there are a lot of clubs at know about each other’s lives.” the high school that support students MIC has only had one meeting this of color, but I think what happens with year so it is all very new, according to students who are multiracial is that they Feeney. As a junior, Feeney only knew a don’t really know where they fit some- few students, but she already feels the times,” Feeney said. connection among the students.

According to Feeney, sometimes “I think we all have this common only one part of multiracial people’s connection of being more than one race identities is repand being multiraresented. cial; just that alone “I think a created some sort You’re not fit into lot of the probof connection which one. You’re not catlems that hapmade it easier to talk egorized as white or pen with race about personal exwhatever other ethare how you periences,” Feeney nicity you are. You are look and how said. unique and something people perceive Feeney said that special. you. So I think as a result of joining the biggest MIC, she has learned thing with peomore about different Carina Feeney, ple that are mulracial groups and is senior tiracial is that beginning to engage people see you in activities around and they don’t see the two sides of who the school pertaining to race. you really are,” Feeney said.

“After I got involved in MIC, I startNew member sophomore Ellora Da- ed to become more involved with other ley said one issue she faced as a young race issues around the school,” Feeney girl was being asked often why her par- said. “I think I became more aware of ents looked different from her. different racial groups.”

“When I was younger, a lot of the Feeney’s message to multiracial stukids at my school thought my mom was dents at the high school is to accept all my nanny because we didn’t really look parts of one’s identity and to encourage like each other,” Daley said. students to discuss their experiences.

Associate Dean Brian Poon is one “You’re not fit into one. You’re not of the advisors of MIC and said that al- categorized as white or whatever other though these multiracial students share ethnicity you are. You are unique and similar experiences, each student has a something special,” Feeney said. “I think different background. that it is important that there is a place “The unifying experience is that we where people can talk about their expeare multiracial, and while some of us riences.” have had similar experiences, we are also Sofia Reynoso can be contacted at bhs.sagaall individuals with different stories,“ more@gmail.com

that she definitely recommends talking to Davis if anyone is interested.

“Finding people that I can help because of the fact that I speak another language makes me feel so proud of who I am,” Paulino said. “It’s rewarding, helping other people, especially students, when I’m a student myself.”

Nigrovic agrees that having Paulino in class is really helpful and thinks that it would be something he would recommend.

“I think it would be pretty useful in most classes,” Nigrovic said. “Definitely world language and maybe even other classes outside of language.”

Davis feels that the program is a great way for international students to feel proud of their language skills, and to highlight it. She encourages anyone who is interested to reach out to her.

“I just want more students who speak Spanish as their first language to feel as if they have this amazing thing to offer,” Davis said. “And for more people to accept it and let that shine.”

Vera Targoff can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

Paulino leads a class lesson in Lindsay Davis’ Spanish class. As a native speaker, she is able to provides helpful resources and insight into the class.

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ANI MATHISON/SAGAMORE STAFF

Senior Ndaru Kartikaningsih and juniors Lena Harris and Emily Piken advertise the new Multiracial Identifying Community (MIC) Club at the Club Fair in October.

Sofia Reynoso Staff Writer

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s 2015-2016 data, 8.8 percent of the high school’s student body consists of multiracial students.

A new club known as the Multiracial Identifying Community (MIC) is forming from this growing population.

MIC provides students with a safe space to discuss unique issues pertaining to the multiracial experience.

A flyer advertising the club defines their group as “an affinity group for stu-

”

Language classes benefit from student-assisted teaching SENIOR AID, from 3 “She’s bringing this whole other set of culture and language that the kids would never hear,” Davis said. “I have nothing to offer kids in terms of that, when I’m there, so it’s like this whole other lens.”

Paulino stated that when a student is struggling to learn Spanish, she can relate to them because when she moved to the United States in 7th grade, she didn’t know any English.

“I know what it’s like to not know a language, I know what it’s like to learn a new language,” Paulino said. “I can relate to how they feel when I say something in Spanish and they have no idea what I’m saying.”

Freshman Ben Nigrovic is a student in Davis’ C-block class, where Paulino is a teaching assistant.

“She’s really helpful,” Nigrovic said.

“If you have any questions about really complicated things you can just ask her.”

Paulino said that helping people learn her language feels really good, and

ANI MATHISON / SAGAMORE STAFF

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Student-run BLACC committee holds all day teach-in A-block: Education Vera Targoff Staff Writer

The A-block BLACC teach-in centered around education. Seniors DaHana Smith-Rose, Chris Bell and Maya Morris and junior Grace Guterman led a PowerPoint presentation where they talked about how race plays a role in today’s education system. The presentation included statistics surrounding the achievement gap and a discussion about resources and graduation rates.

After the presentation, the audience shifted to sit in a big circle and

a few people shared why they came, which included individual students showing support and whole classes coming to watch. Discussion occurred about charter schools, the METCO program and topics that are covered in U.S. history classes.

Students asked how they could get involved, and everyone was invited to come to the BLACC meetings during F-block. Other ways that people can get involved include being active on Facebook and, on a larger level, reaching out to representatives or even calling the White House.

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

Students watch a presentation at the BLACC teach-in. The effort was an all-day event intended to educate students and faculty on racial issues in the United States.

X-block: Environmental Racism Mia Abulaf and Susanna Kemp News and Breaking News Writing Editors

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

Students gathered at the atrium all day to hear presentations about topics such as environmental racism, the school-to-prison pipeline, and cultural appropriation.

E-block: Black Youth Valentina Rojas

Breaking News Managing Editor Seniors DaHana Smith-Rose and Maya Morris and junior Grace Guterman, presented graphs and statistics labeling the immense disparities between suspension rates of Black and White students and how those lead to the uneven incarceration percentages in today’s prisons. The students leading the presentation also discussed how schools with a “no tolerance” policy or a demerit policy are also disparately enforced between Black and White students.

Trayvon Martin was used as an example of a victim of a strict “no tolerance” policy. He was suspended from his

By definition, environmental racism is when people with low incomes or those who are considered minorities are forced to live in dangerous or environmentally unsafe conditions; this was the issue presented in the X-block assembly by junior Grace Guterman and senior DaHana Smith-Rose.

The presenters gave examples of the issue. These cases included the introduction of cheap food chains into low income areas where there are signif-

school for carrying a plastic bag, according to Morris, which is why he was in Sanford, Florida visiting family and not in his hometown of Miami Gardens.

Guterman and Morris explained how the presence of police officers in underfunded schools has actually led to an increase in arrest rates for Black students. Instead of making the schools safer, they argued, they are pushing students into the school-to-prison pipeline by arresting and reprimanding them for minor offenses in an attempt to decrease violence.

After the presentation, Guterman, Smith-Rose and Morris invited the audience to form a circle and started a

VALENTINA ROJAS/SAGAMORE STAFF discussion which they began by asking Senior Maya Morris presents statistics regarding expulsion rates of students by race. what motivated students to come to the atrium for the presentation.

G-block: Black Lives Matter Opposition Cleo Falvey

Arts Managing Editor

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

Senior Dahana Smith-Rose led presentations all day Thursday, Nov. 17 in the atrium.

F-block: Pop Culture Evan Marohn

Breaking News Editor Three members of BLACC, seniors DaHana Smith-Rose and Sarah Dreyfus and junior Grace Guterman, orchestrated a presentation and follow-up discussion about pop culture and how it relates to race and racism.

The presentation covered racism in popular culture from the days of minstrel shows up until present day. The presenters talked about how blackface and other forms of racism are still present on social media and in some Halloween costumes.

icant numbers of people of color, which then led to an increase in diabetes and nutrition-related conditions. The presentation also addressed the lack of opportunity for people with low incomes to have access to health care such as diabetes care and EpiPens. Landfills, factories and nuclear waste in minority communities are also examples of environmental racism. The presenters also talked about combatting environmental racism, using Los Angeles citizen Ron Finley, who started community gardens in his neighborhood, as an example.

“Environmental racism kills,” Guterman said, adding that an example of this is drinking lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan.

The G-Block Blacc teach-in, led by senior Dahana Smith-Rose and junior Grace Guterman, focused on opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement, including groups such as White Lives Matter and All Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter began as a social movement in 2012, when a young black man, Trayvon Martin, was shot by a neighborhood resident because a resident assumed he was a criminal due to his race.

The presentation discussed White Lives Matter, a neo-Nazi group that began in response to the Black Lives

Matter movement. The seminar concluded with the group discussing the future of BLM and how, hopefully, it will thrive despite its opposition.

After the presentation was over, the group transitioned into an activity and discussion regarding systemic racism: Participants lined up in the middle of the atrium and took steps forwards or backwards depending on advantages they received, like being approved for a home loan or the privilege of sending their kids to a good school district. At the end, depending on where people were located in the room, they had to guess what socioeconomic status they had and what their race was.

Cultural appropriation was also a large part of the discussion. According to the presenters, many White celebrities such as Kim Kardashian and Kylie Jenner have been praised for wearing their hair in ways that have caused African-American women to be “shamed” in the past.

For the last 15 minutes of the block, those who attended the presentation were encouraged to speak about their experiences and opinions about race and racism in popular culture. Most of the discussion centered around cultural appropriation, with many attendees sharing their ideas about what they

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF think cultural appropriation means.

Junior Grace Guterman and senior Sarah Dreyfus lead a presentation on pop-culture.

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Recap: Recent Breaking News Check out thesagonline.com for the full reports

BRJE and Boston Workmen’s Circle co-host racial equity meeting

ANI MATHISON / SAGAMORE STAFF

Brookline residents gather for a meeting on racial justice and equity. The event was hosted by Brookline for Racial Justice and Boston Workmen’s Circle at Temple Sinai.

Valentina Rojas

Breaking News Managing Editor A meeting regarding racial equity in Brookline co-hosted by Brookline for Racial Justice (BRJE) and the Boston Workmen’s Circle brought a group of around 50 town residents together at Temple Sinai on Nov. 30. The theme throughout the night was finding systemic solutions to systemic racism in Brookline.

BRJE is a group that formed through unified outrage at the acts of racism in Brookline according to Abby Erdmann, former School Within a School English teacher and a founding member of the group.

“In this scary national government we need to focus on local government,” Steps to Success adviser and BRJE founding member Emy Takinami said,

“and put Brookline families of color first by changing the structure.”

BRJE members work to address issues of racism in Brookline through community involvement and engagement within municipal government.

Boston Workmen’s circle proposed a way to change systematic racism by using The Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). According to their website, GARE is “a national network of government cohorts working to achieve racial equity and advance opportunities for all.” They “believe government’s proactive work on racial equity has the potential to leverage significant change, setting the stage for the achievement of racial equity in our communities.”

GARE, created by the HAAS institute for a fair and inclusive society and Center for Social inclusion at UC Berkeley, has been implemented in cities across the country, including Boston.

Fair Housing Commission Deputy

Director Janine Anzalota spoke about GARE and the benefits of implementing it in Brookline.

According to Anzalota, GARE offers tools and pathways for jurisdictions to do work on racial equality. GARE includes a coalition of various governments in the nation that offer their experiences and resources to each other to help combat systemic racism.

Director of Community Health Programs at the South Jamaica Plain Health Center Abigail Ortiz spoke of the benefits of GARE. “I’m interested in changing policy at a large scale and passing multiple policies that reinforce each other and these tools [GARE] will get you there, it’s a way of getting at really long term historical stuff and it corrects what’s happening.”

“There’s a long history of government doing wrong,” Anzalota said, “and it’s government’s responsibility to do right by its citizens, this is the premise

of GARE.” According to GARE’s website, “Government’s proactive work on racial equity has the potential to leverage significant change, setting the stage for the achievement of racial equity in our communities.”

Anzalota listed some examples of policies that she said should be rewritten.

These include a status quo of no protections for people who have been arrested or convicted, policies for hiring that require qualifications that lock people out and affordable housing availability.

“This is an opportunity to hold your leadership accountable,” Anzalota said.

“We understand how scared folks are and we need an inside-outside policy to get GARE implemented. The community needs to organize and say “we want GARE” and push and write a warrant article to present to Town Meeting.”

Valentina Rojas can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

Professional Day addresses identity and race in educational atmospheres Sascha Wolf-Sorokin and Lauren Mahoney News Writing Editor and Sports Writing Editor

On Tuesday, Nov. 8, all Brookline educators attended a professional day at the high school focusing on the cycle of racism. Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, a psychologist and educator who has conducted extensive work regarding racial identity and race in education, gave the keynote address. Following Tatum’s presentation, educators broke off into discussion groups to further explore this topic.

Tatum challenged the faculty to think more critically about conversations regarding race in education and how the cycle of racism needs to be stopped.

Superintendent Andrew Bott introduced Tatum and stressed how important this day was.

“What a statement for us to come together and bridge these deep divisions,” Bott said. “This is not a one day event, this is a long term commitment.”

Tatum started her presentation by challenging the educators to think

of their earliest race related memory.

Most responded that they happened in the early education years; some were as young as 3 years old.

“What does it mean to grow up in a race conscious society?” Tatum said.

Tatum said that when students are not exposed to diversity in their education, they can draw conclusions that that lack of diversity correlates to the real world. Then, a cycle of racism starts and is reinforced by people and institutions.

“We internalize it and come to see difference as wrong or abnormal,” Tatum said.

According to Tatum, in general, once people become aware of the perpetuating cycle of racism they want to see it end.

“The reality is that when we become aware of this cycle there is often a human desire to interrupt it,” Tatum said. “It’s that dissonance that leads to the path of social change.”

Tatum said that this never-ending cycle of racism was inherited from long ago to the present day.

“It’s not our fault, but it is our responsibility to interrupt it,” Tatum said.

Tatum provided educators with the “ABCs” for how to combat the cycle. A

LAUREN MAHONEY / SAGAMORE STAFF

Psychologist and educator Dr. Beverly Tatum speaks to faculty members about the “ABCs” of combatting racism during the professional day on Nov. 8.

refers to affirming identity, B refers to building community and C refers to cultivating leadership.

Tatum said how one can not just talk a little about the cycle and then stop when they become uncomfortable. She said if one does that, it then comes back

worse when people remember their experiences of discomfort.

“If we wait until we are able to do things perfectly,” Tatum said, “we immobilize ourselves.”

Valentina Rojas can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

OPINIONS Blue collar vote goes red Jesse Lamba

Contributing Writer Globalization and the free movement of goods have been consistently championed by the United States. Both sides of the aisle have supported trade deals and advocated open markets for U.S. goods and services.

Deals such as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China have brought free trade and the plight of American workers into the spotlight. In the 2016 election, free trade was a hot button issue with both nominees.

This election was unique due to the Republican presidential nominee taking a stance against Republican values on trade and tapping into White and blue collar voters affected by “bad deals” negotiated by the Democratic establishment.

To understand the rhetoric bashing free trade, one has to understand the negative effects on American workers. Accord-

ing to CNN, America has lost 60,000 factories and millions of jobs over the past years.

Many associate that loss with NAFTA. Multinational corporations left in droves to move work to low-wage countries where people are forced to work for pennies an hour. The Clinton administration and the Obama administration both supported trade deals promising over 270,000 new jobs. However, data from the U.S. Department of Commerce showed that “U.S. multinational corporations, the big brand-name companies that employ a fifth of all American workers… cut their workforces in the U.S. by 2.9 million while increasing employment overseas by 2.4 million.” A report from the organization Working America on outsourcing found that “middle-class jobs have been the driving force of the U.S. economy for decades and these losses have done considerable damage to communities across the country.”

Traditional conservative

PUBLIC DOMAIN

According to CNN, millions of working class Americans have lost jobs within recent years due to free trade deals. Trump has promised to renegotiate these deals in order to bring jobs back to America.

ideology preaches free trade as a framework to help the American economy grow and prosper. In fact, former president George Bush and presidential candidate Mitt Romney were both staunch supporters of free trade agreements. Trump’s

running mate has also had a pro-free trade voting record (he voted in support of NAFTA) and still came out in support of trade deals even after Trump’s continued bashing of the open market. Over the past weeks following the election, the GOP

establishment has struggled to deal with a shifting view on free trade by a majority of their electorate. As The New York Times recently stated, “Republicans in Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Penn-

FREE TRADE, p. 9

America’s voters cling to polarized priorities Jason Altshuler

Breaking News and Arts Writing Editor In American politics, both “sides” have their priorities. Both have issues on which they base their votes. And both see the other side’s votes as directly repudiating the values they stand for.

For us liberals, it is easy to discount the voters who supported a disrespectful man as intolerant themselves. However, it is not this simple. Exit polls showed that plenty of Trump supporters are disgusted with his personality and tactics as well. Trump’s attacks against the “others” do not mean that his voters chose him because of this behavior, but despite it. (I am not talking about the Trump supporters who are outwardly racist, sexist and intolerant, as I believe this type of bigotry is fading, and too deeply rooted and wildly grown to be realistically redeemed by discussion. I refer to the more insidious modern version which seems to be more widespread and almost equally dangerous in its casualness.)

It seems many Trump voters prioritized the issues they deeply cared about (in particular, lack of jobs, Clinton’s “crimes,” the war on terror, etc.) over the issues that liberals often pay atten-

tion to. By electing Trump, they certainly were choosing the whole package, and we would be remiss to ignore the implications of their support. Yet if the entire focus is on this aspect of their vote, we lose sight of their actual concerns and reasons.

I would like to stress that I am not discounting the genuine terror felt by the minorities and groups victimized by Trump— I am deeply sorry that anyone has been subject to such animosity. It is on all of us to act in our local commu-

MAYA MORRIS / SAGAMORE STAFF

Due to the popularity of smartphones and social media, many people are becoming unaware of their surroundings and only focus on the image their screen is showing.

Teen notices an over-use of cell phones among his peers Max Barrett

JASON ALTSHULER/SAGAMORE STAFF

nities to ensure that past progress is not reversed.

What scares me is the rate and fervor with which the two parts of the US are diverging. No matter how disgusted I am with the results of the presidential election, a large portion of the country would have had similar feelings if Clinton

POLITICS, p. 10

Contributing Writer When I sat down to write this Oped I thought: “how could I make a fool of my mate Paul in this?” I was reminded of Paul’s recurring conflict with one of the trees on the North-most lateral side of Cypress Field. Paul collides with one of these tree boughs with his head on a regular basis. Turns out Paul is always deeply absorbed by the morning news on his phone screen, making him unaware of his collision course as he saunters along

to A-block.

Paul’s predicament is just one of the many manifestations of our digital imprisonment in the tyrannical grasp of our cellphones and smartphones.

Paul’s collisions are the sort of cellphone criticism Grandad may make, whilst shaking his walker at the “youngsters bumping into everything with their shiny telephones.” Although the thought of Paul, unconscious, late for A-block, with FOX news still open on his iPhone,

PHONES, p. 10

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ISSUE 3 OPINIONS

THE

SAGAMORE

thesagonline.com

THE

SAGAMORE FOUNDED IN 1893

Haley Bayne louie goldsmith Leon Yang Chris bell Jake Brodsky Cleo falvey sofia georgaklis sara hogenboom valentina rojas Maya morris bertina xue jacob spiegel EREZ Ben-Akiva Jason Altshuler marco georgaklis susanna kemp Evan Marohn mia abulaf Chloe jepsen ella kitterman sascha wolf-sorokin Paul Miller-Schmidt Jillian goldstein Sarah groustra iman khan ethan gainsboro lauren mahoney Maddie nagler izzy gonzalez Ben Mandl Rachel Myers ani mathison PETRA HUANG Marcella Anderson Lindsay Wise

Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Co-Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor, Opinions Features Managing Editor, News Managing Editor, Arts Managing Editor, Sports Longform Managing Editor, News Breaking Managing Editor, News Visuals Manager Layout/Social Media Manager Business Manager Website Manager Breaking News Editor, Writing Breaking News Editor, Writing Breaking News Editor, Writing Breaking News Editor, Writing Features News Editor, Writing Features News Editor, Writing Features News Editor, Writing Features News Editor, Writing Opinions Editor, Writing Opinions Editor, Writing Arts Editor, Writing Arts Editor, Writing Sports Editor, Writing Sports Editor, Writing Sports Editor, Writing News Editor, Layout Opinion Editor, Layout Arts Editor, Layout Photo Manager Staff Photographer Faculty Adviser Faculty Adviser

Staff Writers Chloe Barber | Sonia Bhattacharyya jan Bloch | elene chamberlin | yuen ting chow nicholas eddinger | daisy elliot josh fleishman | joshua gladstone sophiE hafner | sarah hughes | naomi jaynes natalie jew | emma kahn | madDie Kostant-Greeley | maisie kramer gabriel lee | jamie martinez jacqueline perelman | rebecca perelman Sofia Reynoso | conor ross | colby sutton vera targoff | lauro ufano-demb | zoe videlefsky rachel Vin | Jordan Watts | sabrina zhou The Sagamore is an independent, school-affiliated publication, produced monthly by the students of Brookline High School. It is an open forum for the BHS community.

Opinions expressed in this publication, unless otherwise noted, are not necessarily those of staff, faculty or school administrators. Individual articles reflect the opinions of their respective writers and not of the newspaper as a whole. Letters to the Editor are encouraged as a means of reader participation. All letters should be emailed to thesagonline.com. They are subject to editing for clarity and length.

EDITORIAL

Influx of false news floods media and deceives readers “Colorado Pot Shop Accepting Food Stamps – Taxpayer Funded Marijuana for Welfare Recipients”, “FBI Agent Suspected In Hillary Email Leaks Found Dead In Apparent Murder-Suicide”, “Hillary Clinton Runs Child Trafficking Ring Out of Pizza Shop.” These are all articles that have been circulated recently, accruing hundreds of thousands, even millions, of views. Each one of them is completely false, with no grounding in reality.

Over the course of the 2016 presidential election, you may have seen false news articles shared on social media platforms revealing “scandalous” events relating to the presidential candidates or topics regarding our nation’s political parties. Although some of these may have been easy for you to identify as fake or satirical, the “fake news” industry is relentless and driven by profits, meaning it is especially important right now to check your sources.

This influx of fake news articles has shaken up the world of news. As more and more false information is manufactured, readers begin to doubt their news sources. We at The Sagamore are particularly appalled by the false news epidemic because we report on news by following rules to always produce true and informative content. This type of speculation erodes trust and damages the reputation of journalism on a whole.

These false news stories are often released for profit. The National Public Radio podcast Planet Money recently conducted an interview regarding the spread of fake news. This podcast featured the mastermind behind a popular new site which produces fake news stories. This particular man makes somewhere from $10,000 to $30,000 a month producing fake news. This shameless plot for money is sadly infiltrating news streams across the country and in other nations.

Many news sites have recently reported on these stories in an attempt to inform people of the dangers of unknowingly reading and believing fake news. The student body should be especially aware at the moment of how important it is to fact check anything that seems suspicious and to always review sources of information.

The Huffington Post recently released a list of tips for identifying fake news that is very helpful, including searching for the author and publisher to confirm if they are a reliable source, looking for bias and checking other news outlets to see if they are reporting on it too.

It is very important for students to be aware of where their information is coming from. An unreliable source could be detrimental to any argument for debate, research paper or even class discussion. If more people are able to identify fake news, the websites involved in the practice will begin to hold less power over the world of social media and our discourse as a whole.

COPY CENTER 103 ROOM

CORRECTIONS Below is a correction from the November issue of the Sagamore. We sincerely apologize for any confusion that these errors may have caused, and we invite all students and faculty to communicate with us about any other mistakes.

- The Sagamore Staff 1. A headline in last month’s issue, incorrectly implied that RISE students do not have access to arts electives at the high school. They do. Additionally, we would like to clarify the purpose of The Bridge program. From the BHS website: Bridge is a self-contained classroom that serves students ages 18-22 with developmental disabilities, including autism spectrum disorders, who require highly structured, individualized transition services. Applied behavior analysis, social communication expansion, vocational training, and life skills development are all encompassed in the Bridge teaching methodology.

Bridge teaches skills to promote independence in the home, community, and vocational settings. This program services students who have already completed grades 9-12.

Subscriptions ($20 per year for addresses in the United States) and changes of address should be sent to: The Sagamore Brookline High School 115 Greenough Street, 02445

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Student argues for nipple equality Maya Morris

Visuals Manager Full cup, demi cup, convertible, adhesive, strapless, lined and the unforgettable push-up bra with an endless variety that span runways and the media. We see the romanticism of bras everywhere; any skinny young model in a lingerie ad can attest to it. Women are surrounded by influences that tell us: “this is what you should look like and a bra can help you (artificially) achieve that!”

Even before the age of puberty, we are encouraged to wear the piece of cloth that constitutes training bras. This is the preliminary step to preparing us for the end goal of our lives; to become a bra-beloving woman. Consequently, girls are then aspiring towards a goal before they are even biologically capable.

Yet, we still question why sticking tissue down your chest is the reality of most girls. Girls are educated to believe that their worth lies within

a bra.

The simple solution? Ditching

concealed and forbidden fruit of every woman: the nipple.

MAYA MORRIS / SAGAMORE STAFF

Participants of Free the Nipple campaign often do not wear bras.

This choice made by women is not for men’s pleasure or praise.

the bra. The issue? Once you ditch the bra, you are left revealing the

The nipple of a female bodied person is a structure shared by most

mammals. It has the sole purpose of nourishing and promoting growth.

Its beauty is founded off the nurture it gave to every single one of us.

The nipple of a male-bodied person is a structure that serves no purpose to our development as humans. The physical properties of the nipple replicate a woman’s exactly, but receive no ridicule for public display.

We evolve from depending upon the female nipple for life to exiling it from public “etiquette.” A female’s nipple, which is far more significant to our development as humans, is far more sexualized.

What determines its sexualization will perplex me forever, and why it is only applied to a female, I will never know. What I do know is that we, as Brookline High School, are the promoters of its sexualization.

To the men whom it may concern, “supporting” the movement is not equivalent to appreciating it for its sex appeal. I am not empowered

by your praise if it is followed by the words “it’s hot.”

To the women whom it may concern, your negative commentary is as destructive as a man’s sexualization. You can think I do it for attention, or for the allure of men, but your negative opinion not only pits women against each other, it gives men affirmation that they can subject women to the same scrutiny.

To all the opposition, supporters and genuinely confused, this is what it means to free the nipple. It means to appreciate the nipple, to destroy its sexualization, promote its worth as an anatomical structure and to equalize the female nipple to the sexually exempt male nipple.

Starting conversations, accepting each other’s bodies and joining in with this movement are all good ways that we can finally “free the nip.”

Want to write for Opinions? Contact us at opinions@thesagonline.com.

Presidential nominees discuss free trade issue

FREE TRADE, from 7

ble results for Trump. His protectionist viewpoints and wary outlook on othsylvania and Wisconsin have been forced er nations “stealing good paying jobs” onto the defensive by Democratic chal- stuck well with both rural and urban lengers criticizing their past support White voters. When Trump stopped in for free trade.” With Trump’s anti-trade Toledo, Ohio, the local newspaper, the rhetoric winning over working class vot- Toledo Blade, published a 1,400-word ers, many Republicans running for the story with the headline “Trump declares Senate in areas hit hardest by free trade he will bring jobs back to the U.S.” Ap(the rust belt) were split on the issue. proximately a week later, the Blade not White working-class Ameri- ed Clinton’s prolonged absence from the ca makes up half of all White men and area with a caustic article asking: “Where around 40 peris Hillary?” Only afcent of White ter multiple newswomen. This depaper stories and Only after multimographic was Trump rallies, did ple newspaper stories angry and frusClinton hold events and Trump rallies, did trated with the to show attention Clinton hold events pro-globalization to counties affected policies of the by bad trade deals. to show attention to Obama adminisHer inability to apcounties affected by tration and the peal to even a few of bad trade deals.

Republican estabthe uneducated and lishment’s love afoften rural White fair with the open voters in these key -Jesse Lamba market. A majorstates made this ity of the White election extremely working class said in exit polls of rust unique. belt states that “international trade The 2008 and 2012 election data takes away American jobs.” Three-quar- showed that President Obama won a ters stated that today’s economy is “not large majority of blue collar Whites, a good” or “poor” and nearly eight out of larger majority than Clinton in this elec10 said that their personal financial situ- tion and beating Romney’s 25 percent in ation was either the same or worse than the 2012 election, according to election it was four years ago. In the same poll, data. Interestingly enough, Trump shatmany people blamed the current party tered Obama, Clinton and Romney’s in office for the lack job opportunities. numbers and beat Clinton 71 percent to When Donald Trump first burst onto 26 percent in this election among blue the campaign scene, he directly ad- collar voters. In the key state of Wisdressed many of the concerns expressed consin, Trump won the demographic 63 by working class White voters. Trump percent to 34 percent. This one example consistently talked about “bringing jobs sets a precedent for the outcome of the back.” The Democratic nominee, Hil- other rust belt states. Trump’s sweep of lary Clinton, only vaguely mentioned, the White working class vote played a “putting working class Americans back key role as many of the swing states hapto work.” Trump also held the most cam- pened to be those with a high population paign events and rallies in communities of this demographic. This disengaged, affected by free trade and in the rust-belt “silent majority” vaulted Trump to victostates as a whole. ry over Hillary Clinton.

In fact, these rallies and key cam- Want to write for Opinions? Contact us at opinpaign stops yielded immediate and tangi- ions@thesagonline.com.

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SARA HOGENBOOM/SAGAMORE STAFF

Although many feel that stress is a negative aspect of being in high school, for some students it helps them achieve more, giving them the competitive edge to focus.

Competitive environment aids many in achievement Shai Branover

Contributing Writer Brookline High School is able to provide students with a multitude of benefits; a variety of sports, a large range of academic classes, a plentitude of clubs and extracurricular opportunities and, most importantly, a competitive academic environment. An aspect of high school culture that is always at the center of controversy, a highly competitive environment, in reality, provides an abundance of benefits that are crucial to the success of students.

I believe that the only way for a school to provide students with a path to a bright future is for the school to provide an environment where achieving excellence is encouraged. Furthermore, a high level of academic competition inspires students to work to their fullest

potential. It allows them to tap into the deepest parts of their brains, that usually cannot be accessed without a “competitive stimulant.” Strengthening a student’s habit to always create work that requires his or her fullest efforts helps build a foundation for that student to use when approaching work later on in his or her life.

While, of course, success isn’t only determined by pure academic accomplishments, the habits needed to attain excellence in one’s future do not come from doodling on a paper and claiming that you are learning to express yourself.

Those habits are built from working hard and learning to produce work and strive for a degree of excellence that maximizes all of your potentials. An environment that is not able to push students to put

STRESS, p. 10

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Post-election America needs unity POLITICS, from 7 had won. This tells us something. Some are pushing for the electoral college to ignore party affiliation and vote Clinton into office, but by disenfranchising the millions that voted for Trump, this would not solve the problem but simply exacerbate the division of the country.

Instead of ignoring opposing views until an election, and then proceeding to demonize and block them out, it is crucial to attempt to see their reasoning, if through gritted teeth.

Once, on Facebook, I read a post written by a Democrat discussing why Trump should not be President, having made so many bigoted statements.

An exasperated Trump supporter left a comment, something along the lines of “right, your feelings are more important than border security, the economy, and the Second Amendment.”

This statement surprised me. I realized, for a large part of the population, it is not that they wanted to vote for the bigoted candidate (though I am sure for some the presence of both white skin and a Y chromosome played a role); rather, they valued the robustness of the country over the feelings and comfort of

certain groups of Americans (whether an inexperienced reality-TV star is the better champion for a stronger America is a separate issue).

MAIRIN QUILLEN/SAGAMORE ARCHIVES

President-elect Donald J. Trump will assume office this January 20, 2017.

Will their behavior and favored policies likely vindicate those who despise minorities? Yes, and it we must fight this

fiercely. But viewing the election results as a majority of America actively working toward discrimination and persecution is wrong. We have all had different life experiences, and pay attention to different issues. Many live in communities in decline and feel abandoned by the entrenched elites. They view “draining the swamp” and “making America great again” as more important than what they see as “mean” words that Trump has “said.” From a social justice perspective, this lack of caring is equally sad, but it still needs to be understood. We must notice and accept the nuance.

To be clear, I am not encouraging anyone to accept Trump or to stop signing petitions and attending rallies. In fact, I am not talking about Trump at all. Rather, I am trying to understand the normal citizens who voted for him.

Trying to appreciate that many Trump supporters have the same disdain for Clinton supporters as liberals have for them. Put simply, we all need to listen more. We need genuine discourse during which we are explaining and not simply waiting to give a counter-argument. We need to learn to meet in the middle and compromise.

It is easy to fire off a ready-made list

Smartphone owners are captured by technology PHONES, from 7

MAYA MORRIS / SAGAMORE STAFF

The competitive nature of the high school motivates students to participate more in class and prepares them for the real world.

A junior’s work thrives when under pressure STRESS, from 9

in a maximized amount of effort fails to help them form habits that they will need when approaching tasks down the road.

I understand that such an environment can lead to increased amounts of stress. But, I believe that this stress, to some degree, is a necessary evil. We all dream of growing up and living truly “stress-free,” but this is, unfortunately, unrealistic.

The majority of students, as they become adults, will have to deal with stress on a daily basis. Learning to cope with it at a younger age, while difficult, may prove to eventually be beneficial. Without a high level of academic competition, we may not have the chance to learn to deal with this stress at all. Moreover, this same type of stress is prevalent in sports, as a player almost always feel the need to

improve and be the very best. If we cherish this feeling in sports, then why should we not cherish it in the academic sphere?

Do not mistake my point.

I do not think that the process of getting into college or taking standardized tests should lead to large amounts of stress, and I do not believe that stress is a good thing. I believe, in contrast, that we should learn to deal with stress and how to prevent it from affecting us negatively, as it will always be there.

We should regard academic competition as a privilege rather than an obstacle. School should be there to challenge us and bring out the best in us.

We must learn to use the highly competitive environment to thrive and develop our minds in new and better ways: to desire to be the very best.

Want to write for Opinions? Contact us at opinions@thesagonline.com.

of grievances against the opposing candidate and to pat yourself on the back for your righteousness. But, most likely, whoever you are talking to has heard all of the points before. It’s harder, but necessary, to go deeper, to explain your position, and to understand the other. If both sides cling to their extremes, reside in their echo chambers, and reject even the notion of compromise, nothing can be accomplished. The government shuts down, Supreme Court nominees are not given a fair hearing and in order to stop progress in one direction, the country stagnates all together.

We are all human and barring those who are imbued with a deep and hateful intolerance, we all yearn for a strong and unified country. Just in different ways. The absolute hatred that can be observed between people of differing political beliefs, particularly online, truly scares me. We must dislodge ourselves from our echo chambers, and seek objective information. If we continue to polarize and alienate others, and never understand them, the country will be unable to make any progress toward the vision of either side.

Want to write for Opinions? Contact us at opinions@thesagonline.com.

in the shadows of his perennial foe is deeply troubling, there are many less obvious dangers posed by our “Cellies.” Many of these threats are far less blunt in their methods of mental violation.

In social situations, gluing your eyes to your phone is common, accepted and even encouraged. Yet this sort of behavior separates people. Dragged into another dimension by the cold hands of Steve Jobs, we forget about the people around us.

Telephones and cellphones ostensibly serve the purpose of breaking down barriers in communication (I would say they are building them). Smartphones further this by integrating world wide web access and apps into these portable devices. Smartphones are merely a pawn in a greater scheme: a new form of capitalism, with a market branching out of advertising, defined by the monetization of user information and competition for the time and attention of the people. Smartphones and their programs cannot exist as utilitarian tools, for it is simply against the interest of the companies and designers of these products.

Just as cars are made to only last a few years, because otherwise the automotive industry would run out of customers, the sites and apps we access cannot simply show us what we want to see because then we would turn off our phones and move on with our lives.

Social media is the clas-

sic example: Facebook doesn’t exist to allows you to stay in touch with friends; that doesn’t take up enough of your time and energy for them to profit.

Everything we access through our smartphones and computers is designed to pull us in, to steal our time, to leave us always distracted– always checking the

phones because they are the most heinous crime against your mind. Unlike computers, these seven (or so) inch screens follow us anywhere and mask their motives. And, let me tell you, they are very successful. Today most students would tell you it is very difficult to be fully socially active without a smartphone.

MAYA MORRIS / SAGAMORE STAFF

To stay socially connected, students often turn to technology.

phone in your pocket because this is the dimension that defines how many bucks slide in the pocket of a jerk like Steve Jobs (rest in peaches) and Mark Zuckerburg.

You are being taken advantage of; you are a cog in a capitalist machine; you are being stolen from. And no, it is not something dumb like your phone number or address that is being stolen: it is your time, your most valuable resource, and these companies will continue to deplete it. Forcing ads on you for an hour is money for them.

I choose to focus on smart-

Companies like Apple and Facebook have done this deliberately. They want no escape, more distracted users, more time, more money. To them, your digital imprisonment means nothing more than profit.

You can call me a Luddite, but ask yourself one question: what do you do with your phone that is important? What do you do on your phone that is truly important? Very little. Maybe nothing. Don’t let your life be ruled by capitalist overlords on their digital thrones in our pockets and backpacks.

Want to write for Opinions? Contact us at opinions@thesagonline.com.

WINTER WONDERLAND FRESHMAN FORMAL Friday, December 16th, 7–10:30 40 Aspinwall Avenue TICKETS: BHS Atrium after school December 12–15 $10 before the event $15 day of event

NEW

Knocking The Glas Ceiling

FEMALE SENATORS CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (D-NV)

MAGGIE HASSAN (D-NH)

With a mother of Italian descent and a father of Mexican descent, Catherine Cortez Masto will be the first Latina senator. Masto served eight years as the attorney general of Nevada, where she dedicated a large portion of her career to advocating for women and children. She was endorsed by the former Democratic Nevada senator Harry Reid. Masto ran on a platform of economic reforms which included creating jobs, higher wages, supporting small businesses and lower tax burden on middle class.

A look at women in national politics

Hassan began her career in public service in 1999 when Governor Jeanne Shaheen asked her to serve on the Advisory Committee for the Adequacy in Education and Finance Commission. She has served three terms in the New Hampshire State Senate and has been Governor of New Hampshire for two terms. She ran on a platform of bipartisan fiscal responsibility, promoting small businesses and higher education reform.

Haley Bayne

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Maya Morris

Visuals Manager

Jason Altshuler

Breaking News Writing Editor

Sara Hogenboom

KAMALA HARRIS (D-CA)

TAMMY DUCKWORTH (D-IL) Duckworth is a former helicopter pilot in the U.S. Army who lost both of her legs and partial use of her right arm while on a mission in Iraq in 2004. Due to her injuries, she was awarded the Purple Heart. In 2009, she served as Assistant Secretary at the Department of Veteran Affairs and in 2012 she was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where she advocated for veterans, small businesses and increased infrastructure.

Longform Managing Editor

Harris, whose parents immigrated from India and Jamaica, made history by being the second Black woman ever to be elected to the Senate and the first Indian-American elected. She was also the first female attorney general in the state of California. Harris’ work includes support and involvement with criminal justice reform, women’s rights, protecting immigrant communities, fighting climate change and promoting economic growth.

Mia Abulaf

Features News Editor

GRAPHICS BY MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF INFORMATION COMPILED FROM CANDIDATES’ CAMPAIGN WEBSITES

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First Woman cabinet member--Frances Perkins: appointed Labor Secretary under Franklin Delano Roosevelt and served for 12 years. Created the Labor Standard Bureau and helped design the Social Security Act.

First women elected as governors--Nellie Taylor Ross (D-WY) and Miriam A. “Ma” Ferguson (D-TX): They won after Ross’ husband died and Ferguson’s First woman elected to was impeached. the Senate--Hattie Wyatt Caraway (D-AR): she was appointed when her husFirst woman electband died in 1931 but she ed to Congress (56th won reelection in 1932 and Congress)--Jeannette again in 1938.

Rankin (R-MT)

g on ss

WHAT DID IT MEAN TO YOU FOR HILLARY CLINTON TO RUN FOR PRE SIDENT? I think it’s an important thing for boys and girls to have role models and someone to look up to that cares about some of the issues I’m confronted with in my life or cares about and can relate to issues I personally don’t know much about and can speak to some of those things.

To have Hillary Rodham Clinton run for president was incredibly galvanizing, especially for folks who have been a little bit disconnected from politics or disengaged in some of the issues.

Jenée Ramos Dean of Faculty

Hillary Clinton could have been the first female president, which is a big deal. So when she lost, it was definitely sad to see because so many people were counting on her. I was counting on her a lot.

Briana Johnson Sophomore

I think it was really great that we had a woman running for president because it showed a lot of girls ‘hey, you can do anything.’ It showed that she’s super smart and it doesn’t matter she was a woman: she could do anything.

Madison Sklaver Freshman

Before this year, I hadn’t watched a presidential debate with a woman up there with a man. That was really good to see. And, even though Hillary Clinton didn’t win the election, she did win the popular vote.

This makes me very happy that there are a lot of people in the US who truly believe that a woman can be president.

Tory Shepeluk Sophomore

2007

2016

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19 1992

1968

First female major party presidential nominee: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

First Black woman elected to Senate: Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL).

First woman nominated as Vice President by a major party--Geraldine Ferraro (D-NY): Congresswoman nominated for Vice President with Walter Mondale in the 1984 presidential election. Her introduction at the 1984 Democratic National Convention: “Geraldine Ferraro...the first woman to be nominated for Vice President...size 6!”

First Black woman elected to U.S. House of Representatives--Shirley Chisholm (D-NY): Served until 1983.

First Female Speaker of the House: Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).

Senate Dress Code amended so female senators can wear pants in Senate: Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), Carol Moseley Braun (D-IL) and Nancy Kassebaum (R-KS) helped lead “The Pantsuit Revolution of 1993”.

ARTS

Grease cast combines focus with fun Yuen Ting Chow Staff Writer

The music stops, the actors complete the dance they have just learned and the cast immediately bursts into laughter. For some productions, rehearsals are serious, but for the cast of Grease, the element of fun is equally significant.

Although organizing a musical requires a great deal of hard work, the cast and crew of Grease aim to put on a unique production and have a lot of fun during the process.

Grease tells the love story of the greaser Danny Zuko and new student Sandy Olsson. After falling in love over the summer, they are shocked to see each other when Sandy becomes a new student at Danny’s school.

Danny struggles between his role as the leader of the greaser T-Birds and his feelings for Sandy, treating her harshly around his friends but nicely when they are alone.

Meanwhile, Sandy joins a tight-knit group of friends known as the Pink Ladies.

Sophomore Diego Echeverria De Cordova, who plays Danny, said that he appreciates

ANI MATHISON / SAGAMORE STAFF

Sophomore Joia Putnoi and junior Megha Shrivastava learn dance moves for the upcoming musical, Grease. The cast of actors, singers and dancers are already hard at work during rehearsals for the show.

the way the students are mak- Cordova said. “We’re reliving Grease come alive.

My most important thing is that they “ T h i s have a good time learning it, working it, is our vercreating it and performing it. sion of the Christien Polos, dance teacher very famous movie, and a bunch of adults grew up with ing it and making it our own.”

Polos said that the this movie,” Echeverria De

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school’s production will have a minimal set.

“It is going to be a lot of visual projection of places,” Polos said. “You’ll see the outside of a burger place, but it will be a projection of a photograph, rather than the set.”

In addition, Polos plans to make all the background photos

black and white, giving the pictures color when the music starts.

“The reality is black and white, like a black and white T.V. in the ’50s, but then in the musical numbers, everything goes technicolor,” Polos said.

According to Echeverria De Cordova, the casting was color blind, and students of all races are playing characters who were White in the movie.

“I am Latino, and I am playing Danny Zuko, a Caucasian male. There are people in the cast who are Asian, Middle Eastern and African-American,” Echeverria De Cordova said.

Rehearsals are from 3-6 p.m. and eventually start to increase as the show date comes closer. Sophomore Kaelan Woodward, who plays Doody, said that the long hours are worth it.

“Every hour is used effectively and leads up to a great show,” Woodward said.

Echeverria De Cordova’s goal for the cast is to form a close bond.

“There are freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, and I think not a lot of us know each other that

GREASE, p. 18

Gallery Review: William Merritt Chase at MFA

CHLOE BARBER/SAGAMORE STAFF

The Open Air Breakfast, painted in 1888 by renowned American painter Willliam Merritt Chase, is on exhibit at the MFA until Jan. 16.

Largely unrecognized for his accomplishments in the realm of Impressionist art, this is the artist’s first full show in over 30 years.

Chloe Barber Staff Writer

As one walks down the stairs to the dark lower level for the big exhibition at the art museum, a bright screen is seen, showing a sequence of Impressionist works, accompanied by a piano version of a waltz from the turn of the century. This sets the stage for the brilliant artwork of the same time period.

Between the large scale, dark oil paintings to the smaller, colorful oil pastel drawings, art critics

would be given many reasons to praise the William Merritt Chase show at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

Celebrating one of the most acclaimed American Impressionist artists of the late 19th century–yet often overlooked and forgotten nowadays–William Merritt Chase is currently showing at the MFA in Boston.

William Merritt Chase grew up in Indiana, but spent his adulthood in New York and traveling around Europe. Unlike many artists at the time, art was only a pursuit on the side, as he had a big family and had to support them by being

a teacher. He was a distinguished artist of his time, accepted into many popular, exclusive art societies, but was somehow abandoned over time by art critics as they clung to big names like James McNeill Whistler and Mary Cassatt.

Similar to many other Impressionist artists, he thickly applied paint to his canvases and used small brush strokes to portray his subjects.

Chase frequently included his family in his artwork, often accompanied with nature.

A memorable piece not to miss at the Chase show is The Open Air Break-

fast, 1888. Here, the artist features his wife Alice, their infant daughter Cosy, Alice’s sister and his own sister, everyone occupied with their own activity, whether it be lounging on a nearby hammock or feeding the baby. Although the painting is a substantial size, all of the people are concentrated in the center of the piece, possibly showing the unity of his family. Green is the main color, as trees, bushes and grass surround the subjects. Other colors are painted to represent patches of dirt that the grass didn’t quite cover, flowers in pots, and the white dresses of all four females.

“Modern conditions and trends of thought demand modern art for their expression” was the justification of his work, since Impressionist artists were viewed as radical for the time, using unlikely colors and uncommon techniques to portray the immediate impression of a scene or subject. But as the world changes as it goes through time, art shifts with it. William Merritt Chase was often named a “Modern Master” for his exceptional art and the MFA did a superb job of representing his preeminence.

The first full show on the artist in over 30 years, combining a detailed memoir of his life and the art that was inspired by it, William Merritt Chase is showing at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston until January 16.

The full review of William Merritt Chase at the MFA can be found on thesagonline.com.

Chloe Barber can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

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Music trips enrich cultural perspectives Sarah Hughes Staff Writer

A crowd gathers around a small group of musicians on a pier in San Francisco. The beautiful sound drifts across the dock, drawing more people into the audience to watch the high school’s jazz band (also known as the Music Collective) perform.

Trips provide bonding within a musical group, as well as a chance to meet new people and explore music from different cultures.

According to senior Alice Jennings, who went on the trip during April break, San Francisco was influential for jazz, in terms of its artistic history and unique culture.

“It’s so different, and it’s so refreshing,” Jennings said.

“It definitely helped us expand how we thought about music.”

During the trip, the group played for a range of audiences, including a group of veterans. Jennings said that the veterans seemed unresponsive to their playing at first, but later told the band how much they appreciated it.

Another memorable experience during the trip came when the jazz band played a

traditional Persian dance tune.

“When we played it outside there was a Persian couple and family that came up,” Jennings said. “They recognized it because it’s famous [in Iran], and then they started dancing and singing.”

She added that the trip was a great bonding experience and the group became very close.

Additionally, the jazz band got the opportunity to meet a lot of local San Franciscans.

According to Camerata director Dr. Michael Driscoll, the Camerata Choir anticipates the same on their upcoming trip to Spain during February break, when they will be visiting Madrid, Seville and Cordoba. The Choir will sing an array of American songs as well as choral music from the Spanish Renaissance. The group will also visit cultural attractions and museums in Spain.

Sophomore Callie Rabinovitz is looking forward to the trip and said the group has been doing fundraising to prepare.

“It is an expensive trip for so many kids to fly on the plane, we’ve already raised some money. We’re selling tickets, and we’re having a wine and cheese fundraiser,” Rabinovitz said.

Driscoll hopes that the

JASON ALTSHULER/SAGAMORE STAFF

Playing for the people on Pier 39: the high school’s Music Collective plays an outdoor concert on San Francisco’s famous pier in 2015. The group travels every two years to experience new music culture.

group will have some great performances in Spain, both for local audiences and with a native Spanish singing ensemble.

“It’s always a good thing to get to know people from different cultures and find areas of common ground,” Driscoll said.

“I think that helps build bridges worldwide, and music is a universal language. It has a special

ability to break down barriers.”

He also commented on the value of building community within the chorus.

“I hope also that for the students going it will be a memorable musical experience, but also an opportunity to get to know people in the chorus better,” Driscoll said.

Driscoll says that the

Camerata Choir’s past trips have gone well and created a strong connection between group members.

“It’s incredible being with all your friends and fellow singers for a week,” Driscoll said. “It’s memories that will last a lifetime.”

Sarah Hughes can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

A cappella groups exist without competition

PROVIDED BY SARAH SIMON

The group Perfect Pitch performs together in the black box during an a capella concert earlier this fall.

Emma Kahn Staff Writer

Perfect Pitch and NoteA-Fy: two all-girls a cappella groups, fighting for the top a cappella spot at the high school. Rivals? Not so much.

Contrary to popular belief and the fact that they are often compared to each other, Perfect Pitch and Note-A-Fy are actually more similar than not.

Junior Lizzy Budden, a member of Note-A-Fy, said that one of the few differences is that Note-A-Fy does not have one elected leader, while Perfect Pitch does.

“We have no elected leader, which I don’t think is true for any of the other groups,” Budden said.

Senior Katie Suh said that Perfect Pitch has three

co-leaders, including herself.

According to sophomore Katherine McElroy, those positions are given to seniors who have been in the group in years past.

“The seniors are technically the leaders, but a lot of their responsibilities are hosting practices at their house or something like that,” McElroy said. “You know, just being there for people.”

For Note-A-Fy member junior Ashley Choi, another major difference is the song choices of the two groups.

“I think that Perfect Pitch does more pop stuff that people know, whereas most of our songs people don’t really know,” Choi said. “We do Valerie by Amy Winehouse, and You Know I’m No Good, and then also we do a Beatles song. We do a huge variety whereas I think Perfect Pitch

mostly does well known songs.”

According to Suh, their rehearsal times differ as well, which contributed to the perceived separation between the groups.

Both Perfect Pitch and Testostatones, the male a cappella group, rehearse during X-block.

“Because Note-A-Fy rehearses after school on Thursdays, we don’t get to see them during X-block,” Suh said. “So I feel like a lot of people feel there’s more distance between the groups just because we don’t see each other as much, but there’s really no rivalry.”

According to Budden, the groups are actually quite similar. Not only do they sometimes perform together, but each of their respective groups value having a diverse group of people. She explained how they have access to members of different social groups that they would not have otherwise.

“It [a cappella] attracts anyone who’s interested in music and making music with other people who are passionate

about it, but in more a social, relaxed environment than being in a choir,” Budden said.

Choi believes that the relationship between the groups is not like what many consider it to be. She said that there is no potential rivalry, as they are all friends.

“I think that it’s easy to feel that there is [a rivalry] because people are constantly putting us up against each other, but at the same time we’re friends with people in different groups and it’s not like, ‘oh we’re better,’” Choi said. “We have mutual respect for each other because we know what it’s like to be in an a cappella group and we also know what it’s like to constantly feel like we need to compete with each other, even though we don’t.”

Emma Kahn can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

HALEY BAYNE/SAGAMORE STAFF

The all-female a capella group Note-A-Fy wears festive beach garb while performing in ReVisions in 2014.

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ISSUE 3 ARTS

Artist of the Month: Yana Lazarova-Weng Chloe Barber Staff Writer

I just found that I enjoyed it more.” rova-Weng connected with workAccording to Drawing teacher Eric ing in charcoal right from the start.

Latimer, Laza“When rova-Weng had she was a dedicated atworking The more I draw, the titude in class. with charcoal,” La“There’s a more I learn. Everytime timer said, social element I draw, I learn a different “she was to art classone student es, and some way to show emotion or who got all people focus depth. this charmostly on coal over that,” Latimher face er said. “Yana Yana Lazarova-Weng, wasn’t one and hands. sophomore She had of them. She no qualms was just very getting dirty like that. into the work and sincere.” about According to Latimer, Laza- She truly embraced all aspects, even the muddy, filthy part of it.”

For Lazarova-Weng, her drawings help her to express and understand herself.

“I definitely want to continue it because it helps me express myself,” Lazarova-Weng said. “The more I draw, the more I learn. Everytime I draw, I learn a different way to show emotion or depth.”

Sophomore Charlotte Cahill, Lazarova-Weng’s close friend, said that Lazarova-Weng embraces spontaneity and challenges herself.

“She just really has a creative side, and she just goes with whatever happens,” Cahill said. “With the charcoal, you can’t really plan it perfectly, so she just kind of goes with the flow.”

According to Cahill, friends consistently support Lazarova-Weng’s artwork PROVIDED BY LAZAROVA-WENG on social media. Having gained confidence Lazarova-Weng began sketching with from family and friends, Lazarova-Weng charcoal ever since taking Drawing I.

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CLEO FALVEY/SAGAMORE STAFF

Sophomore Yana Lazarova-Weng enjoys expressing her identity through drawing.

Pitch black, pure white, and every shade in between: a zoomed-in subject looking up towards something bright, irises reflecting the light. Swift, dark markings represent the shadows.

After taking an art class her freshman year, sophomore Yana Lazarova-Weng developed a passion for drawing, especially with charcoal.

“I’ve always been drawing,” Lazarova-Weng said. “After taking Drawing I first semester, I just kept drawing.

Susanna Kemp

Breaking News Editor Shawarma King is a Lebanese restaurant on Beacon Street, just outside of Coolidge Corner. At first glance, it seems like another fast food joint: A white sign taped to the window reads, “Don’t feel awful, eat Shawarma King falafel!” You pick up your food on paper plates at a counter, then sit down at one of the plastic tables.

Despite its appearance, the restaurant is comforting and the food is delicious. You can watch employees cook behind the counter, which gives Shawarma King a feel of family and homecooked meals.

Although it revolves around meat (literally, as beef, lamb and chicken rotate on large spits, ready to be sliced off), the restaurant includes many options for vegetarians. The restaurant serves falafel in a sandwich or alone, tabbouli salad (small, $6.99), lentil soup ($3.99), fattoush with or without chicken, and other non-meat meals.

We began our meal with a small hummus ($6.99) drizzled with olive oil.

However, it is also available topped with ground lamb or shawarma. The hummus had just the right amount of olive oil and paprika, making it rich and spicy.

The restaurant’s signature dish, a shawarma sandwich ($6.99), consists

of slices of chicken or beef with pickles, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions and tahini sesame sauce, all wrapped up in pita. The meat was juicy and the vegetables gave the sandwich a nice crunch.

The falafel sandwich ($6.49) is similar to the shawarma sandwich, the only difference being that falafel replaces the meat. The fried chickpea balls were chewy and satisfying. Although we enjoyed both the shawarma and falafel sandwich, we did think that the wraps had an overabundance of onions.

The fattoush (small, without chicken, $6.99) is a nice option for a lighter meal.

The salad comes with cubes of cucumbers and tomatoes, as well as pieces of pita.

We also ordered a lamb kibby ($13.99), a Lebanese meatloaf made with bulgur.

The beef was a little dry, but the yogurt sauce on the side moistened the dish.

The restaurant also offers an array of both canned sodas and house-made beverages, including fruit juices ($2.99), lassis ($2.99), and lemonade ($1.99). The lemonade is tart and refreshing, and an infusion of rose water makes it unique.

Although all the other food we ordered was fantastic, the standout of the day was the dessert: a small, square pastry called a Bird’s Nest ($2.25). The crispy phyllo offset the sweetness of the syrup that was poured over the pistachio filling, and the pastry was a perfect mix

PROVIDED BY LAZAROVA-WENG

Lazarova-Weng posts sketches, such as the dog and portrait above, to Instagram.

has begun to sell drawings to customers.

“I liked that people enjoyed my artwork,” Lazarova-Weng said. “I just started drawing portraits of people for free, but then my mom told me that I could charge for them.”

Latimer explained how determination and growth has been the key to Lazarova-Weng’s success.

“She struggled, but struggled in a good way,” Latimer said. “She was really trying to discover how she could outdo her former self. She made solutions and not problems. She just made things happen.”

Chloe Barber can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

of nuttiness, sweetness, and saltiness.

Shawarma King is perfect if you’re on the go and want a quick but tasty bite to eat, or if you’d like to hang out with friends in a relaxing environment.

Susanna Kemp can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

1383 Beacon St. Brookline, MA 617-731-6035 Monday: Closed Tues-Sat: 12 p.m. - 9:45 p.m.

Sun: 12 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

SUSANNA KEMP/SAGAMORE STAFF

Hummus ($6.99), left, and the Bird’s Nest pastry ($2.25), right, are among the many delectable offerings at Shawarma King.

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Q&A with Hamilton actor Nik Walker

From his humble beginnings on the stage of the Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium, Nik Walker ‘06 is currently preparing for his role in the critically acclaimed musical “Hamilton.” Walker said that he had wanted to be on Broadway since he was introduced to performing arts in freshman year drama class at the high school, and has been pursuing his passion for the performing arts since graduation. Walker is currently a replacement for the ensemble and for the roles of Aaron Burr and George Washington.

Gabriel Lee Staff Writer

Would you recommend trying to be on Broadway?

“It’s hard to recommend because you have to understand that Broadway and Hollywood are things that take a lot of work and quite honestly, I don’t want to call it luck, but it’s not a guarantee. I would recommend that people follow their dreams. My biggest advice is don’t worry about where you land. It’s not about if you make it on Broadway or not, but what makes you happy.”

Do you have any favorite moments when you’re on Broadway?

“After I made my first Broadway debut - my first bow, it was an amazing moment. My castmates lifted me up their shoulders and that was really fun. That was a moment that really meant a lot to me because it made me feel accepted.” ide ms outs s progra h p ra g r. to te u a Walker a hard Rodgers The the Ric

Walke r reun ites teach with forme er Ma ry Ma r mentor, stand drama rea.

Do you have any last words before we conclude?

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STAF F

“I want to thank everybody because I couldn’t do ED PROVID PHOTO what I do today without that high school. I want to LER ID V N O

BY ALIS give all my thanks to everybody who helped me along GRAPHICS BY JASON ALTSHULER / SAGAMORE STAFF this journey.”

Lounge shows celebrate SWS music and artistry

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

A wall of photos in the SWS lounge commemorates previous performers at the shows.

Zoe Videlefsky Staff Writer

Fairy lights line the stage. There is a brimming aura of positivity and support. The room is full of people on couches and on the floor at the School Within a School Lounge Show.

The SWS Lounge Show allows students to express their creative side in an accepting environment. Students say that the show brings the SWS community together.

The monthly show began with a group of students and staff who share a love of music. Keira Flynn-Carson, an SWS English teacher who was a drummer and DJ in college, was instrumental in creating the shows.

According to Flynn-Carson, there is a large variety of both performers and acts.

“The shows feature SWS and non-SWS students playing original songs and covers. The kids represent every genre of music including

rock, punk, folk, classical, bluegrass, EDM and more,” Flynn-Carson said.

Senior Alma Bitran said she plays cello, guitar or sings during the shows.

According to Bitran, the atmosphere of the show is encouraging and relaxed.

“People go up and play, even if their performance isn’t polished, and everyone still supports them,” Bitran said.

Senior Jack Reed, who helps organize the lounge shows, said that they have a big impact on the SWS community.

“I think they bring our community together, showcase talent and get people excited about music,” Reed said.

Reed said that he believes the lounge shows offer a unique insight into SWS and really gets students interested in the program.

“Going to them my freshman year is what convinced me to apply to SWS,” said Reed. “The Lounge Show showed me one of SWS’ greatest achievements: an air of coziness and rock’n’roll.”

Zoe Videlefsky can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

ANI MATHISON / SAGAMORE STAFF

Junior Megha Shrivastava rehearses a number from the upcoming Grease musical.

Director Christien Polos said he aims for all rehearsals to be enjoyable and entertaining.

Grease rehearsals prize cast bonding, diversity

GREASE, from 15

well,” Echeverria De Cordova said.

“I think we are a really fun group.”

Similarly, Polos’ goal is that all his students in the show enjoy the time spent in it and have a positive experience.

“Every night, they have to feel good about what they do. I want a great production, but my most important thing is that they have a good time learning it, working it, creating it and performing it,” Polos said.

Polos said that he tends to push the cast very hard, but everyone helps

each other as well. The students help each other learn the dance and lines and generally support each other.

Despite the hard work, Polos said that he enjoys rehearsals very much.

“I have a great time,” Polos said. “I laugh. I laugh at rehearsals probably more than everyone else does because it is just fun.”

Grease debuts on Feb. 1 at 3:30 p.m. and runs from Feb. 2 to Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in the Roberts-Dubbs Auditorium.

Yuen Ting Chow can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com.

SPORTS

Summer Dreams sponsors youth in need Natalie Jew Staff Writer

The Summer Dreams basketball fundraiser was anything but ordinary. On the court, students fought to give inner city children the chance to go to summer camp: an opportunity these children would not have without the funds raised by the tournament.

“I played for you today,” junior Richard Khazanov said to children from the 10 Boys Initiative. “It’s a good charity I love basketball and I don’t really get many chances to play.”

The 10 Boys Initiative founded by Executive Director Dr. Carroll Blake is an organization working towards closing the achievement gap between White students and students of color. It supports boys from the inner city to grow socially and academically.

According to coordinator of the 10 Boys Initiative Donkor Minors, the program teaches the boys strategies they need in order to be successful.

The second annual Summer Dreams charity tournament raised $700 to give youths from Boston Public School and the 10 Boys Initiative their summer dreams.

The children are boys that stand out in academics, according to Summer Dreams co-president Shai Branover.

PROVIDED BY SUMMER DREAMS Co-presidents Shai Branover, Isabel Lobon, Ethan Gainsboro and Fiona Lobon (left to right) worked to organize the annual Summer Dreams’ basketball tournament which took place at the Brookline Teen Center. This is the second consecutive year the event has been held.

It cost $250 for each boy to hopes to make a difference in raiser for the holidays.

“We’re going to do a candy go to Camp Manitou in Oak- the lives of the inner city kids land Maine where for five days by giving them the life changing cane drive or some sort of thing like that,” Isabel they get to water Lobon said. “We’re ski through East going to keep fundLake, zip line Youth that live in Boston may not alraising all throughdown trees, see ways have access to Summer Dreams-like out the school the Maine sunset experiences, so for many of them this is year.” and stargaze at The winners night. their first chance. of the three versus “We essenDonkor Minors, coordinator of 10 three tournament tially raise monfrom both the girls ey and sponsor Boys Initiative and boys bracket kids to go up took home Celtthere,” co-presiexperience at Camp Manitou. ics tickets donated from the dent Fiona Lobon said.

The Summer Dreams club Dedham Athletic & Health At the tournament, 20 teams played 18 games raising sells custom made t-shirts for Complex and Summer Dreams almost enough for the trans- the cause and according to Sum- advisor and social worker Paul portation and cost of the camp mer Dreams co-president Isabel Epstein.

Summer Dreams was for three lucky boys. The club Lobon, they hope to do a fund-

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Successful fall seasons result in numerous postseason bids

PROVIDED BY JANE PIERCE

The girls swim and dive team advanced to the sectional meet after a swimmingly great 12-0 regular season. They placed third at the meet and sixth at D1 States.

Jamie Martinez Staff Writer

Preparation is key for any major competition, especially during playoffs.

This fall, girls and boys varsity soccer, boys and girls varsity cross country, girls varsity swim and dive, and girls varsity volleyball all made it to the postseason.

The girls varsity cross country team ended their season at the divisional meet where they placed in eighth. Senior April Bagnani was the only member of the team who qualified for All-States.

She placed 28th overall in the meet. The team does many things to prepare for im-

portant races. According to Bagnani, it takes weeks to prepare for the two most important meets of the season.

“We have to plan way ahead. There’s not a huge strategy to it, you just have to feel good for the race. A couple days before we’ll visualize the race. Sometimes we go to the course,” Bagnani said. “We’ll walk the course or jog the course so that we know what it looks like.”

The boys varsity soccer team lost their first playoff game 2-1 against Lincoln-Sudbury after going into both overtimes and penalty kicks. Senior Zach Knopf thinks that they had some trouble scoring this season and wishes that a few

things had been different. “[We should’ve been] more aggressive, more hungry to score and just wanted to win every single game,” Knopf said.

“Not just going into [a game] to get out of it.”

The girls varsity swim and dive team placed third overall at sectionals, with multiple individual students winning their separate races. The team has a system for training called tapering. It ensures that the athletes are prepared without overworking them. The team moved onto the states meet where they placed sixth overall. Senior Courtney Carroll who broke the sectional meet record for the 400 freestyle relay with teammates sophomores Sasha Bourdine, Yasmeen Moukadesh and Valentina Rojas-Posada, as well as the 200 freestyle relay with sophomores Sara Song, Sasha Bourdine and Yasmeen Moukadesh, cites staying focused as an important part of getting ready for a meet. “[I made sure] I was staying focused throughout everything and making sure that the girls were focused,” Carroll said.

“That was my main concern and right now we’re looking really good.”

Jamie Martinez can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

brought to the high school by co-president Ethan Gainsboro as a sector of the original foundation Summer Dreams, founded by Gainsboro’s stepfather Jonathan Penn in 2009.

“We made Brookline High a branch of that” event manager Delia Kryzanski said. “We brought it here and everyone else joined from that.”

The organization is on Facebook and Instagram. However, according, to Fiona Lobon it gets around mostly by word of mouth. She hopes that it will get to wider audiences and more people.

This year Summer Dreams

DREAMS, p. 20

IT’S THE THE IT’S

BLITZ

BLITZ

Go to: thesagonline.com

Go to: thesagonline.com

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Poor team dynamics lower participation Chloe Jepsen

News Features Writing Editor Feeling out of place or unhappy in any group can be disheartening. Whether it be at school, at home, in an extracurricular, or on a team, we naturally navigate towards where we feel included.

Multi-sport athletes sometimes decide to drop one sport in order to focus on other aspects of their lives. Frequently, this is determined by the dynamic of teams and how that player fits in.

Senior Olivia Grimes stopped playing soccer her junior year. She played on the varsity team her sophomore year and made it again as a junior, but chose not to play. Grimes also plays basketball and softball.

Grimes said that the soccer team dynamic was one reason why she decided not to play her junior year.

“I played soccer until sophomore year and I eventually just felt really uncomfortable on the team. I never really clicked on the team like most people did,” Grimes said.

Similarly, senior Emma Cohen was a three season athlete her freshman year.

GRAPHIC BY LEON YANG/SAGAMORE STAFF As athletes progress through high school, they commonly focus on a single sport.

Cohen played JV basketball, JV soccer, and varsity lacrosse. She stopped playing basketball after her freshman year primarily because she wanted to focus on the other two sports she was playing.

“I played basketball in middle school and my freshman year, and I decided that I wasn’t going to play anymore because I knew I wasn’t going to play basketball in college, so I decided to focus on soccer and lacrosse more in the winter,” Cohen said.

According to Cohen, the team en-

vironment was an additional reason she chose to quit basketball.

“My freshman year I didn’t have that great of an experience. I was on JV basketball freshman year and the team dynamic wasn’t that great so I didn’t think that I would have fun anymore,” Cohen said.

Team reputations, true or not, can be reasons why students choose not to play a sport.

Junior Sophia Noble does winter and spring track and played soccer at the

Athletes recognized with league-wide accolades

award is a strong representation S t a r honorable mention. of the success his team had.

Gilbert said he Staff Writer Junior varsity cheerleader was surprised Long practices, late night Emily Gerson was named a Bay he received this homework, missing social State League honorable menaward and was events and losing time with tion. Gerson said that the award particularly hapfriends; these are all commit- didn’t necessarily define her py to gain recogments and sacrifices hard work, but instead nition in one of fall athletes must the entire team’s. the best high make.

“I don’t think school soccer In addition to that winning an leagues in the team recognition for award is necessarstate. their commitment, ily the end all be “When I selected athletes all of validation, received the tiare chosen because I tle I was shocked. for honorable know that there I didn’t really think I mentions and are lots of other peohad a shot at any kind Bay State Allple on my team who of recognition. We play Star Awards have worked realin one of the best leagues near the comly hard during in Massachusetts, so I never pletion of a seathe season. really thought about the posson.

Instead On cheer sibility,” Gilbert said. of individual w e According to Gilbert, while validation and award g o l d proud of his award, it is importself praise, bows to c e r t a i n ant to give credit to his team athletes who o u t s t a n d i n g because they are the ones who receive these cheerleaders after every comhelped him get the awards often petition, so a lot of people get award and be the best give credit to their a chance to get recognized,” athlete he can be. team for the recGerson said. “At the same “I was obviousognition. time, I do appreciate the ly excited to be recSenior b o y s recognition I get from havognized. It felt good varsity soccer player ing received the award and to know that my hard Zach Knopf was awardhave to give a lot of credit work over my four ed a Bay State Allto my team for their hard years had paid Star Award. work.” off,” Gilbert A c cording to According to Gersaid.

“But, I have Knopf, son, hard work to give all the credit to PROVIDED BY EMILY GERSON h i s is essential in the guys around me. team is an integral part of his cheerleading Specifically the success. three other guys “I was very excited when I in the back found out I had received this tiline, as well as tle but I tried to stay composed. and she i s Pe te r Jones in net.

I didn’t celebrate because this proud that the cheer t e a m ’ s T h e y took a lot of award isn’t just for me, it’s for hard work has PROVIDED BY LESLIE KAPLAN pressure off the whole team. I was just a led her to an of me, small part of the work that we award. and made my job did over the course of the seaSenior boys varsity soc- a whole lot easier.” son, ” Knopf said. cer player Jay Gilbert was also Daisy Elliot can be conKnopf also said that the named a Bay State League All- tacted at bhs.sag- amore@gmail.

high school until this year. Noble had played soccer since she was in first grade, and played on the freshman team. She didn’t have a good team experience because there were an insufficient number of players.

“It wasn’t great because there were so few girls that tried out for the team that everyone made the team freshman year. That was bad because even people who hadn’t played soccer before made the team. It was a bad team dynamic,” Noble said.

Noble continued playing her sophomore year, but because of the reputation about the team dynamic on the varsity team, as well as other factors, she decided not to play.

“I didn’t think I would have made varsity and even if I did, I don’t think I would have gotten very much playing time, and the varsity team’s appearance seemed cliquey and exclusive and over competitive,” Noble said. “I think that that type of dynamic would discourage more introverted girls from playing on teams because of a fear of being left out or called out for their differences.”

Chloe Jepsen can be contacted at bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

Daisy Elliot

PROVIDED BY SUMMER DREAMS

Senior Itamar Zik drives the lane during a game at the Summer Dreams three v. three Basketball Tournament hosted at the BTC.

Summer Dreams raises money and awareness DREAMS, from 19 welcomed basketball players of a wide range in skill level and anyone to come watch and support the cause.

“We just tell our friends who tell their friends and it just gets around,” social media coordinator Alex Dukhon said.

Initially, there was debate about how to raise money for Summer Dreams. However, according to Branover they chose basketball because they knew there would be a publicity for it and people would get involved.

“We just figured this would attract the most kids. It was something we could get a facility and a hype around to get money for the program.”

The Summer Dreams @

BHS club meets every X-block in rooms 208 and 209, alternating every week, to fundraise and plan for the 2017 Summer Dreams program.

“We really just want anyone to get involved that wants to, and you don’t have to come every X-block if you can’t,” Isabel Lobon said. “Anyone would be helpful.”

Boston Public Schools and Minors hope that together with the Summer Dreams @ BHS they can make a future for those who may not have one without their help.

“Youth that live in Boston may not always have access to Summer Dreams like experiences, so for many of them this is their first chance,” Minors said.

Natalie Jew can be contacted at bhs. sagamore@gmail.com

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PLAYER PROFILE

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Maddie Nagler

Sports Writing Editor

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WHAT ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO IN THE NEW SEASON?

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

KATHERINE MCELROY SOPHOMORE I am looking forward to having it be the second year. It will show a lot about the progress we have made over the years. Last year we were more of a club even though we were considered a real sport. It was more of a club because there were no cuts and everyone was just sort of playing, but now there will be cuts and we are going to have actual boys and girls teams.

How do you mentally prepare yourself for a match?

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www.clubztutoring.com/cambridge GRAPHIC BY LEON YANG/SAGAMORE STAFF

-AKIVA’S BOARDS N E B

did it. Chicago White Sox star pitcher Chris Sale is heading Erez Ben-Akiva Website Manager to the Boston Red Sox. The superstar southpaw’s price was The figurative hot stove of hefty, but this trade dramaticalthe baseball offseason is offi- ly improves the 2017 Red Sox. cially on fire. After multiple In return for Sale, the White seasons of speculation, dealin’ Sox received top prospect inDave Dombrowski finally fielder Yoan Moncada, flame-

I would say I just have to get in my own head and tell myself that I’ve got it. Basically everything I do for soccer, I do for squash. It is just more of an individual sport. Although it is an individual sport, I try not to think about that. I just give myself a little pep talk really.

thrower Michael Kopech, and two throw-in prospects in Luis Basabe and Victor Diaz.

Talks of a Chris Sale trade have been around for at least a couple of years as the White Sox have continuously floated around mediocrity; now, General Manager Dombrowski finally pulled the trigger.

Though the loss of Moncada and Kopech significantly weaken the Red Sox farm system, it’s much easier to stomach the trade when the White Sox original, earlier demands, which involved Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and more, are taken into consideration. Also, Sale is an established ace, whereas Moncada, though it is certainly likely he will become an all-star player, is still an unknown commodity with the bad habit of striking out too much.

With this move, the Red Sox rotation for 2017 becomes one of the best pitching lineups in baseball. The reigning American League Cy Young

SHAHAR HARTMAN JUNIOR I am really excited to improve. I switched from sprinting to throwing this year and it’s a whole new world, so I want to improve that.

Why did you decide to become a thrower?

I decided to become a thrower because I was constantly getting injured sprinting and it is really fun throwing shot put and javelin. I like the fact that it is a new challenge.

In what ways will you contribute to the team overall?

I will definitely cheer on all of the runners competing because I know how hard and nerve-racking it is to compete. I will also help the newer kids with learning the routines and how to do stuff because this is my fourth season of track. award winner, Rick Porcello, will likely be the third pitcher in the rotation, with Sale and David Price ahead of him.

Additionally, in six games last season against the American League East, Sale pitched to a 1.55 ERA and a 0.82 WHIP. That’s certainly a small sample size, but against the very talented, home-run-hitting lineups of the division, those numbers are simply godly.

There’s no denying that this trade has its risks. Chris Sale has a somewhat crazy personality - a bad combination with the vicious Boston sports media. The move also leaves the Red Sox minor league teams with a dearth of talent, but that is really only a minor worry at this point. Overall, this trade is a net positive. The Red Sox were already projected to be a top team in the league after a strong 2016, and now they have been vaulted even higher in the World Series picture.

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WINTER PREVIEW DAVID RUBIN

S Q U A S H

I N D O O R

T R A C K

APRIL BAGNANI

A L P I N E

S K I I N G

LAURO UFANO-DEMB/SAGAMORE STAFF

Coaches: Lee Eddy, Mike DeYoung

MAYA MORRIS/SAGAMORE STAFF

Captains: David Rubin, Katherine McElroy Coach: Steve Lantos Last Year’s Record: 8-6-0 After beginning last year, the Squash team hopes to build on their success. One unique aspect of the team is the variety of athletic experience that players have.

“The Brookline High squash team is made up of people from many athletic backgrounds,” Ruben said.

Sophomore David Rubin said that he appreciates the skilled players who make up the squash team and has high hopes for the team.

“With our team, we hope to qualify for nationals this year,” Ruben said.

As they enter their upcoming season, the girls indoor track team looks to improve upon their record last year and fill the gaps left by graduated members.

The girls track team lost 5 seniors last year, all of whom were key to the team said senior April Bagnani.

“We only had 5 seniors last year, but they were all top athletes in their event. I think we all are going to have to step up a little bit,” Bagnani said.

According to Bagnani it can be difficult to create team unity in track, but it is still important for the team.

“For track in particular the team is very separated because we are not all doing the same thing, there is long distance, short distance, throwers, jumpers,” Bagnani said. “So I want to get everyone together and do stuff outside of running.

SOPHIA MACLEAN JORDAN WATTS/SAGAMORE STAFF

Captains: Fiona Lobon, Isabel Lobon, Sophia Maclean, Aiden Nagle Coach: Anya Eckhardt After a successful showing in states last year, the ski team has big goals as they enter their upcoming season.

According to junior captain Sophia Maclean, one of the goals for the ski team is to increase the number of skiers they send to.

“Last year we sent six skiers to states and one of our goals for this year is to make that number bigger,” Maclean said.

Maclean said that because of the obligations of the coaches, a lot of leadership also falls onto members of the team.

“At races the coaches have to be watching the race, so it’s on the leaders of varsity to pump up everyone before their runs,” Maclean said.

Transitions between sports help athletes Jillian Goldstein

Opinions Writing Editor The transition between sports seasons is a crucial time where athletes switch gears and prepare to take on a different activity. For multi-sport athletes at the high school, they excise differently during this time, tailoring their workouts to fit the skill set for their next upcoming sport. Most making the change are excited to switch it up and take on a new challenge.

According to sophomore Katherine McElroy, who is moving from soccer to squash this winter, the work she does during her fall sport is enough to keep her ready for squash.

“I don’t actually do that much. I would say that what I do during the soccer season is enough to keep me prepared for squash.” McElroy said.

Junior Jake Boyd, who transitions from hockey to lacrosse said that there is no set workout plan for the time in between his seasons.

“There’s never really anything that you have to do, from what I’ve seen, but they recommend that you should do push-ups and sprints, and other things like that,” Boyd said.

“It’s your own initiative to do it yourself, it’s not that you have to do it.”

Junior Mary Corcoran says that having some time to rest in between sports is good, but keeping up the physical activity is recommended.

“Well, this year there’s only about a week between the fall

and winter season, so we’re just According to Corcoran, not going to run but, between athletes in transition also need indoor and outdoor when there’s to stay focused and relax. five weeks, our coaches usually “Some people get really tell us to take the first week off tired by the spring if it’s their because it’s not good for you to third season in a row, but I feel run every day for pretty much a like for me it’s very different bewhole year. Then he gives us cal- cause I do all different distancendars of what to do everyday es. I feel like doing the same and it’s different depending on thing all year is good because your level,” Corcoran said. it’s such a good base of training According to Boyd, he uses so you know you’re prepared,” his free time in between seasons Corcoran said. to get himself reAccording organized, while to McElroy, alIt’s more of a making a small ready being in a time for me to re- sport is usually amount of time to practice. group with school enough to stay “It’s more of a and mentally pre- consistent in time for me to rephysical capapare. group with school bility. and mentally pre“I would Jake Boyd, pare as opposed say generally junior to working out. that the fall Sometimes for lasports that peocrosse, I might go to the park ple do get them in shape, so with friends and warm up my those people have to put in less stick or something like that.” effort to be more prepared, so Boyd said. generally I would say that peoSomething that athletes ple who do fall sports are more need to consider during the prepared for winter sports,” time between sports is keeping McElroy said. their body in good shape acAccording to Corcoran, cording to McElroy. moving from sport to sport is “I would say, probably just actually very beneficial. injury prevention. It’s some“It depends on what you’re thing that we all really need to doing, but people who do take into consideration, taking cross-country will already have care of ourselves, so hydrating, the base of their training done. eating right and sleeping right. So, you’re just in better shape Just covering all of the bases in coming in and it helps you be terms of what it takes for us to more prepared,” Corcoran said. stay prepared and stay healthy,” Jillian Goldstein can be contacted at McElroy said. bhs.sagamore@gmail.com

“

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PETRA HUANG FOR THE SAGAMORE

Junior Mary Corcoran runs both cross country and winter track. During the transition time between sports, Corcoran continues to train but also gives herself some time to recover from the prior season.

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POWDERPUFF 2016

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