The Summit - February/March 2021-2022

Student Newspaper at University Scholars Program

NEWS

USP LIFE

ENTERTAINMENT

Volume 2, Issue 3 February 2021 1585 Paoli Pike, West Chester, PA 19380

OPINION

(from left to right) Carbon emissions from coal factory, plastic shipping bag used by popular fast fashion company Shein, and heavy traffic on highway

Carbon Emissions and What You Can Do By: Jacqueline Thell Staff Reporter

Climate change and carbon emissions have been a major topic of discussion over the last few decades. Carbon emissions are negatively contributing to climate change

and natural disasters. The primary culprit of carbon emissions is humans. We drive cars, use electricity, heat our homes, and purchase from companies that pollute our environment.

Pictured below is a graph of all carbon emissions in 2019 and which sector contributed what

puzzle corner

By: Sophie Cohen OP/ED Editor

Take a look on pg. 12!

Student Accomplishments The holiday season may be a time of rest and relaxation for most, but that didn’t stop these USP students who have worked hard during December and January, both in and out of the classroom.

Mary Kacergis One of our Web-Content Managers, Mary Kacergis ‘23, recently committed to George-

Sneak Peek

town Unito further academic athletic reers on Wome n’s

possible,” is one recommendation from senior Maria Hromcenco, leader of the Environmental Club at USP. If you have the opportunity or the resources to take the bus or train, it’s highly encouraged to do so. It also benefits the rest of the community to take

public transit. According to National Express Transit, “For every dollar invested in public transportation, approximately $4 in economic returns are generated, and for every $1 billion in investments in the Continued on pg. 2

The Support Group for Those Whose Birthdays Fall on Valentine’s Day

A late Valentine’s gift!

By: Erin Duffy USP Life Editor

percentage of the total emissions. As one can see, industry, electricity, and transportation are the primary culprits of this.

Transportation is the main contributor and you can help decrease emissions through many ways. “Try to use public transportation wherever

versity h e r a n d cathe

Squash t e a m .

“I’m really excited to be continuing my academic and athletic career at Georgetown in 2023.

Continued on pg. 5

NEWS

Chester County Covid Recovery pg. 2

You notice him right away.

You’re intrigued.

He’s the type of man who carries his confidence in his shoulders. His shoulders are raised to nearly the height of his ears.

There must not be much confidence weighing them down, you think. Around his neck there is a whistle which he has no intention of blowing but every intention of twirling around in a mockingly effeminate manner. You can tell just by looking at him that he gets his news from the grape vine. The grape vine being the man who runs the checkout station at Acme and Joe Rogan’s podcast.

Beautifully juxtaposed against, well, every other fiber of his being, is a pair of freshly shined dress shoes. You see him glancing at his reflection on the tongue of his left shoe. The curve of the tongue slims his reflection.

He smiles wistfully to himself, convinced that the Atkins diet was what initiated the slimming (he hadn’t gone on the diet yet but he had thought about it intently and for a decently long time).

He feels your eyes on him and shamefacedly shifts his gaze.

?

USP LIFE

Ask Rosemary Waldorf pg. 4

What first caught your eye – what made you notice him in the first place – is the sign. He holds it tightly to his chest in a way not unlike how a new mother tenderly, oh-so-lovingly holds… a large glass of wine. It reads “The Support Group for Those Whose Birthdays Fall on Valentine’s Day.” Your birthday falls on Valentine’s Day. You’ve always been disgusted by love – both in the giving and receiving departments – so having your birthday on Valentine’s Day was perfect. Every year you dreaded the nearing of the personalized birthday messages, the Valentine’s day chocolates, and sickeningly sweet love, but you were thankful that you didn’t have to endure it twice a year as most people did. You were much too sensible to enjoy such lavish displays of affection. All the falling head over heels was never really your speed, you were much more inclined to stay upright and live in contempt. You’d had a few boyfriends over the years, one too short, one too stout (one with a handle one with a spout… they mattered so little to you that they may as well have been chinaware) but they weren’t so much boyfriends to you as they were live-in escorts who you utilized to relieve

ENTERTAINMENT

‘No Way Home’ Review pg. 9

your parents’ warranted worries that you were unlovable.

You’re curious why someone would need a support group for this and so, you stumble over to the guy with the sign wondering what exactly this “support group” entails. The man holds out his business card and you take it because it would be rude not to.

A week later, you show up to the first meeting and there he is.

The guy with the sign. He insists that his name is Jeremy. He pulls out a notecard from his pocket and begins to read “And now by the power vested in me by my cousin Greg who’s real’ good at forging paperwork, it is my honor and delight to declare you married. Go forth and live each day for a month in a state of infatuation and each day after that completely miserably. You may seal this declaration with a–” a man from the audience interrupts, “Now, I don’t mean to be an utter pedant, but I’m afraid you might be reading off the wrong card.” He had probably just learned the word pedant.

Continued on pg. 10

OPINION

Why Covid Isn’t Over pg. 11

2 The Summit

February 2021

NEWS Chester County Seeks Community Involvement to Work Towards Normalcy By: Sanya Tinaikar Editor-in-Chief

In July 2021, the Chester County government allocated nearly $102 million in American Recovery Plan Act (ARPA) funds to reestablish the status quo and aid communities recovering from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. After a tumultuous six months with an exceeding number of cases, a newly-formed committee has resumed its work to review proposals on how to spend the ARPA budget.

Unlike other government-formed committees,

The Chester County Board Meeting

the assigned ARPA committee consists of 36 members evenly split between county government officials and non-governmental county residents—ensuring full transparency in the budget expenditures.

The direct involvement between the board and the Chester County community is a crucial part of the decision-making process.

“The ARPA funds provide us with a unique opportunity to ensure all of our industries and communities impacted by COVID-19 can be restored, and even strengthened,” Chester County Commissioners’

Photo By: Chester County

Chair Marian Moskowitz said at the board meeting.

“We are looking for citizen volunteers from across Chester County to help us review proposed projects to determine their eligibility and their priority for funding.”

As of now, the planned expenditure has been divided into four sectors: public health response, areas of negative economic impact, pay for essential workers, and water/sewer infrastructure; the mission is to provide ample help to disproportionately affected communities. Six teams, consisting of representatives from Chester County Government’s Finance Department, three county volunteers, and four community volunteers, will be formed to address each sector.

Chester County Commissioner John Maxwell emphasizes that expertise in APRA areas is not a re-

Carbon Emissions Continued

quirement in the team selection process. In fact, the board is looking for a diverse group of residents covering all ages, genders, and geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds.

This approach will ensure that the board acquires accurate data and an increase in response.

“It’s definitely a smart way to start,” said AP Government teacher Mr. Wentzel. “You are essentially taking the people who know how the processes work, who deal with the government every day and combining them with people who are living in communities to see where our funds are most needed.”

However, gathering “community leaders” poses similar challenges to conducting election surveys: is it through phone calls, emails, social media, or a simple flyer on the way to the grocery store? Deter-

mining who these so-called “leaders” are for each township can cause preliminary bias in the way the budget is being spent. “The difference is between who has the time to show up and who actually has the ability to show up and make an impact--so there are still factors that can skew things a little bit,” Wentzel said.

The Board plans to train all of its evaluation members on the criteria required for the use of APRA funds while keeping collaboration between different departments at a maximum. Between the various departments, volunteers, and county residents, Chester County is moving towards a full financial and social recovery from the pandemic. “I cannot think of a more exciting way for County residents to have a direct impact on supporting and strengthening their community,” said Commissioner Michelle Kichline.

Correction

By: Jacqueline Thell Staff Reporter

On pg. 4 in the Awards section, Paige Wills was incorrectly spelled.

Continued from front page sector, 50,000 jobs are created and supported.” Electricity production, such as the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, eats up the second largest share of carbon emissions. The World Nuclear Association calculates that over 40% of energy-related CO2 emissions are due to fossil fuel burning--a major catalyst in global warming.

Not only that, carbon emissions also increase substantially from industrial and residential buildings through the use of ventilation, heating, air conditioning, and appliances. Transportation i s gradually

feeding into the electricity sector as well with the invention of plug-in vehicles.

Additionally,

Awards Congratulations to the A and B Mock Trial Teams for an amazing final round at the district tournament this year! Hats off to the A-Team for becoming the district champions!

Photo By: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

the fast fashion industry is a major contributor to pollution and waste all over the world.

Faster changing fashion trends results in manufacturers producing clothes more and more rapidly. Fast fashion uses unethical labor practices, which leads to cheape r prices for the consumer--and in turn, leaves a large carbon footprint, which is responsible for up to 10% of total global carbon

emissions according to Ethical Consumer Research Association. It can be very easy to fall into the trap of buying fast fashion so buy second-hand whenever possible. If one has the means to, another great option is specifically sustainable clothing companies.

Carbon emissions impact one’s daily life without even realizing it. There are many things that individuals can do to reduce carbon emissions: decreasing overall consumption and using public resources wherever possible.

Kudos to Kai Unwin-Wisnosky, Domenic Fioravanti, and Sanya Tinaikar for all winning awards at the Chester County Science Fair!

Events Good luck to all seniors who are hearing back from colleges this month! We wish you all the best!

March 17-21: MS Field Trip to Marine Labe in Key Largo March 24: NJHS/NHS Induction Ceremony March 25: No School (Teacher In-Service) March 30: End of MP3 March 31: Start of MP4 April 11-18: Spring Break

February 2021

The Summit 3 NEWS The Summit Takes on

New Dinosaur Embryo Discovered By: Isabella Fontanes Staff Reporter

In Ganzhou, China, a perfectly preserved embryo of an ovirap-

different techniques such as scanning to create a complete picture of the embryo. That’s when they discovered an interesting con-

birds are commonly known to do something called “tucking,” where they curl themselves into a ball in the embryo right before they are supposed to hatch. The dinosaur embryo displayed the same tucking technique, which amazed researchers. It tells us that this behavior was developed in their prehistoric ancestors, furthering the information we know about the link between the two species. “ [It’s] quite a fascinating observation,” Weimaann said. There is hope that they continue to find more fossils like this to learn more and more about

Photo By: XING ET AL, 2021

torid dinosaur, lovingly named Baby Yingliang, was found.

Not only was this a fascinating sight to observe by itself, but it also gave scientists a better understanding of just how similar modern birds are to dinosaurs. The fossilized egg was laid during the Late Cretaceous period, from 72 million to 66 million years ago. Although the egg was technically discovered in 2000, it was put into storage in a museum for ten years; it was only reevaluated when construction began on the museum when they got a chance to relook at the fossil.

Because part of the fossil was covered in rock, scientists used

nection between the oviraptorid fossil and our very own modern birds. Fion Waisum Ma, a vertebrate paleontologist at the University of Birmingham in England and a co-author of the ground-breaking paper published in the journal iScience regarding the discovery described the fossil as “one of the best preserved dinosaur embryos ever found.”

“Recent research has revealed unexpectedly sophisticated, birdlike parental behaviors already present,” said Dr. Jasmina Weimann, a paleobiologist at the Califonia Institute of Technology who was not involved with the study. Modern

the prehistoric creatures that once Compiled By: Sanya Tinaikar

dominated the Earth. “It is possible to find more dinosaur embryos like this,” she said. “It is just a matter of time and luck.

With more fossils, we could study the development and behavior of baby dinosaurs in more detail and with stronger evidence.”

What is the first word you usually start with and why?

“I usually just use the first five letter word I can think of, but ‘audio’ is my most used.

The word covers most of the vowels, so I know which ones are going to be in the word for that day.”

- Liz Ko, Web-Content Manager “‘Tears’ or ‘Raise’. It has good vowels and commonly used letters.”

- Cailyn Lee, Managing Editor “I tend to mix it up a lot, but ‘adieu’ is always a good one!”

- Liv Johnston, Entertainment Editor “I start with ‘baker’ because baker768 is my password for social media, my emails, etc. and I like to keep things consistent.”

- Sophie Cohen, Opinion Editor

Model of oviraptorid dinosaur embryo

Catch The Summit online!

Get the latest on news, entertainment, and all things USP! @usp_thesummit @uspthesummit

Photo By: lida xing

“‘Raise’ or ‘Beaut’ because of the amount of vowels.”

- Zahra Siddiqui, Financial Manager Why do you like playing Wordle?

“Wordle has limited help. A lot of other word games tend to provide hints if you watch an ad, but Wordle strictly gives you five chances. I also like being able to talk to other people about it, and my mom and I are extremely competitive about Wordle.”

- Emma Kim, Financial Manager “I do like playing wordle, even if it frustrates me a lot sometimes. I’m not great at it, but it’s fun to play and to discuss different strategies with others. It feels communal almost, and something that everyone can easily access. It’s light-hearted and fun to talk about every day!”

- Isabella Fontanes, Staff Reporter “It’s not really a word puzzle if you think about it. You don’t have to have a good vocabulary to play. It’s more of a logic puzzle. It’s like the game ‘Master Mind’—but it’s just letters instead of pegs.”

- Mr. Baskwill, AP Statistics Teacher

Wordle isn’t the only game you can play! Try fun spinoffs like Taylordle if you’re a Swiftie, BRDL if you love birds, and Nerdle if you’re as much of a nerd as Mr. Markward!

4 The Summit

February 2021

USP LIFE Ask Rosemary Waldorf By: Sophie Cohen and Annie Lind OP/ED Editor and Staff Reporter

Dear Rosemary Waldorf, Help! I’m going to college next year and don’t know what to major in. My dad wants me to study economics, but I’m too afraid of white-collar criminals! My mom wants me to be a political science major, but I’m too scared of becoming a white-collar criminal. I personally want to study English, but they are both wary of that idea. What should I do?

Sincerely, Indy Cisive

Life is more fun when you just float wherever the current pulls you, fly wherever the wind blows you, and don’t ask where your Uber driver is going! A major in Economics or Political Science could be detrimental to your reputation. If you want to get involved in a scandal after graduation, you don’t want it to be the Forbes type (forgery, treason, taking political donations as a democratic socialist). You want it to be the People Magazine type (infidelity, having cellulite, being a woman over the age of 40, being a woman under the age of 40). If you’re passionately pursuing becoming an author, or being unemployed (although the two

USP Club Spotlight: Students for Rare By: Emma Kim Business/Financial Manager

Senior Cassandra Hung is the president of USP’s Students for Rare club, founded in 2020 during her junior year. The club is affiliated with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), a patient advocacy organization dedicated to those with rare diseases. Students for Rare also includes Vice President Sophie Cohen, Treasurer Cailyn Lee, Secretary Sanya Tinaikar, and Social Media Manager Sofia Loiacono.

In association with NORD, Students for Rare’s mission is to “promote rare disease awareness, education, and advocacy in our school while also encouraging students to explore careers and other opportunities within the rare disease space,” Hung said.

NORD Students for Rare works to provide opportunities for students to learn and recognize rare diseases in the process, such as through fundraising events.

For ex-

ample, Cassandra is hosting a fundraiser to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware. The event, Coins for Kids, is collecting donations in the USP lobby to help the Ronald McDonald House, and the grade that raises the most money (one from each of the USP middle and high schools) will win a pajama day. In addition, Students for Rare is collecting non-perishable goods as part of the fundraiser, including individually packaged store-bought snacks and disinfectant wipes.

Cassandra also hopes to host another event on March 9 and 10 at USP to raise money to support research grants via NORD. Students for Rare has impacted Cassandra on an individual level. “Rare disease awareness is not discussed often, so I hope that having a Students for Rare club at USP has done something to fill this gap. The rare disease community is so much larger than a lot of people realize, and having a place to discuss what is going on with NORD and other related topics is one way to continue raising awareness,” she said.

Hung persuades students

(From left to right) Cailyn Lee, Mrs. Hung, Cassi Hung at the Rare Disease Day table.

to become involved with Students for Rare as she thinks it is “an important experience for anyone who is personally impacted by or has a family member affected by a rare disease, as we hope to provide an in-school resource.”

Also, students who are interested in a career field relating to “health advocacy, medicin e, pharmacy, and more should consider learning more about rare diseases,” Hung adds.

Consider joining Cassandra for Students for Rare on high school Fridays during lunch in Bard’s Haven to learn about and advocate for rare diseases!

Erik Markward, Future Poet Laureate Read some of his early works here!

Dear Indy, I’m a big believer in doing everything your parents tell you to do. Kidding, if that was true, I’d still be doing their dishes for them… Oh! And I’d be in mad pursuit of Hugh Jackman to get him to fall in love with me so I could “finally settle down.” Most parents want the best for their children. However, they frequently base their ideas for their children’s futures on the missteps and experiences they’ve had throughout their lives.

My mom, for example, was dumped via singing telegram

by Hugh Jackman before she met my father so she sent me after Hugh too. Despite how this might sound, your parents don’t just give you advice to allow them to live vicariously through you. They may really believe that a major in economics or political science is what’s best for you. So do listen to your parents, but don’t blindly do what you’re told.

are often synonymous) — go with your gut (although People Magazine does condemn having a gut) and major in English.

When I was a senior in highschool, I wanted more than anything to be just like Gloria Steinem. So, I begged my parents to let me be a Women’s Studies major in college. However, my dad wanted a son, and the only thing worse than having a daughter would be to have a daughter who majored in Women’s Studies. So naturally, I got emancipated.

I double majored in Women’s Studies and Journalism, and I didn’t regret it for a second (well, except when I realized I left my toothbrush at my parents’ house after I moved out).

The point is, you should live your life for yourself, not your parents – even if you end up with a few cavities.

Best, Rosemary Waldorf

Light Wins Over Darkness Glowing light dines upon darkness Forcing it out of sight Ghostly, glowing shapes move in the abyss A glowing snake rears up with a hiss Blinding you with crimson light Ghostly, glowing shapes move in the abyss Hardly any black is In these times of light Glowing light dines upon darkness Even the kings of the dark make way for this shape-shifting mist Or nothing they see will really be in sight Ghostly, glowing shapes move in the abyss Reverberating sound cries in the midst Of the light blocking your sight Glowing light dines upon darkness Ghostly, glowing shapes move in the abyss

And no! No one in the Summit staff is receiving a 100% on their next physics test—thanks a lot Mr. Markward!

iddle The R

alking by see me w You can’t ing el me pass hy But you fe r my speech on w ea h ’t n a g c u in Yo try el yourself But you fe make no sound st I Going pa m there le sense I’ p o found e p t Bu gs I have in th y n a m Though e air stuck in th They get me g notices Everythin ere I am h w knows But none others me Nothing b e knows what I am on Because n pearance (none) d done! ap y an expecte Given m th re o m get I certainly

February 2021

The Summit 5 USP LIFE

Mock Trial and Model UN: Bring Home the Bacon By: Erin Duffy USP Life Editor

LaSalle Blue & Gold Invitational

The mock trial season is off to a strong start for USP’s mock trial teams; both teams have been working hard to prepare for the competition season with their coaches and mentor, Sean Duffy. Over the January 15th weekend, both the A and B teams competed at LaSalle University’s Blue & Gold Invitational. Out of the twenty-two teams competing, the A team placed 4th overall!

The team competed against Conestoga Valley, Jenkintown, Central, and North Penn High School. The opposing

team gave informal awards every round; Noah Wills ‘22 and Maria Hromcenco ‘22 won the best attorney for their respective sides, while Annie Lind ‘22 and Henry A d ams ‘22 won best witness

tral, and Wyoming Seminary.

Informal attorney awards were also given to Benjamin Williams ‘22, Alix Morgan ‘25, and Sophia Coleman ‘24.

In addition, Chloe Lee ‘25, Abby Gauntlett ‘23, and Kate Fogg ‘22 won informal best witness awards. Congratulations to both teams on a successful first tournament!

Ben Franklin Invitational

awards. Erin Duffy ‘23 was also given an Outstanding Attorney award at the end of the competition. The B team competed against Roman Catholic, North Penn, Cen-

Mock Trial A Team Group Photo(From Left to Right) Top Row: Maria Hromcenco, Erin Duffy, Henry Adams, Campbell Speakman Middle: Luke Benfer, Anne Mesiarik, Molly Romans, Annie Lind Bottom: Eeshwar Krishnan, Noah Wills, Faith Phillips, Sanya Tinaikar

On January 22nd and 23rd, both mock trial teams competed at the University of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Invitational. Out of the 53 teams, the A team tied for 5th overall! The team competed against Trinity Valley, Nazareth, North Pocono, and Abington Heights. Informal awards were given to Sanya Tinaikar ‘23 and Henry Adams ‘22 for their witness performances. Henry Adams even won an overall Outstanding Witness award at the end of the competition. Noah Wills ‘22 and Maria Hromcenco ‘22 also won informal best attorney awards! The B Team also had a great weekend with Sophia Coleman ‘24 winning an overall Outstanding Attorney

From left to right: Henry Adams, Domenic Fioravanti, Anne Mesiarik, Eloise Hagelaeur, Erin Duffy, Mary Kacergis, Opal Unwin-Winosky

Award! They also had an even split for their judge’s ballots, going 4-4! Big congratulations to everyone that competed!

ILMUNC Since November 2019, USP’s Model UN club could attend a conference for the first time! ILMUNC, or the Ivy League United Nations Conference, hosted by UPenn’s Model UN team, was held from January 27-30 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown. Seven delegates

represented USP in four different committees: Erin Duffy ‘23 & Mary Kacergis ‘23: ECOFIN(New Zealand) Henry Adams ‘22 & Anne Mesiarik ‘24: SOCHUM(Senegal) Domenic Fiorvanti ‘23 & Eloise Hagelauer ‘23: WTO(Morocco) Opal Unwin-Winosky ‘24: SPECPOL(Senegal) All the delegates had a fantastic time and are looking forward to attending next year!

USP Students: Scholars Outside the Brick Walls By: Erin Duffy USP Life Editor Continued from front page

Domenic Fioravanti and Giselle Pouchot

Noah Wills ‘22 has recently committed to the University of Minnesota to join their club gymnastics team in Fall 2022. Wills is currently a Level 10 gymnast training at Roth’s CrossPoint Gymnastics. The Gophers, the college sports team at UOM recently became a competitive club program through GymACT, an organization dedicated to “...creating, growing and maintaining men’s collegiate gymnastics,” according to The Minnesota Daily. Noah will join the likes of alumni Shane Wiskus, who competed at the 2020 Olympic Games; congratulations, Noah!

Zachary Cohen On January 3rd, Zachary Cohen ‘25 competed in the Winter National Championships, a part of the Junior National Championship Series for tennis. He placed third in singles and fourth in dou-

Join the Summit!

bles. Congratulations to Zachary and his partner on a successful tournament!

Macey Speakman and Kenzie Padilla Sophomores Macey Speakman and Kenzie Padilla competed in the Winterfest meet for the Phoenixville YMCA. The pair had an incredibly successful meet, with Macey Speakman earning her first nationals cut and Kenzie Padilla earning her 9th nationals cut! When a swimmer makes a national cut, they have qualified for the Nationals meet later in the year! Kenzie and Macey also swim for the same relay team, so they will compete in Greensboro, North Carolina; Macey will be swimming breaststroke, and Kenzie will be swimming butterfly in their medley relay. Congratulations and good luck at Nationals!

Macey Speakman holds her gold swim cap, given to swimmers when they first qualify for Nationals.

In January, the School of Rock in Downingtown put on their show ‘Yes.’ It featured Domenic Fioravanti ‘23 in the first half and Giselle Pouchot ‘24 in the second. This new format is something the school had implemented due to COVID-19.

The shows are cut in half with half the performers in each to minimize the exposure and spread. Congratulations to Domenic and Giselle on a great show!

People who join The Summit are happier, smarter, and better looking than their peers!

6 The Summit

February 2021 CENTERSPREAD

In Honor of Black History Month... black history month idea

February 2021

The Summit 7 CENTERSPREAD Designed By: Gia Barron. Liv Johnston, Sanya Tinaikar Writers: Zahra Siddiqui, Elisabeth Ko, Liv Johnston, Vania Omosemoje, Sanya Tinaikar

Born in 1925, Malcolm X was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and an African American Muslim. When he was six, his father was killed by a streetcar and when he was fourteen, his mother was sent to an insane asylum, subjecting him and his siblings to the foster care system. From 1946 to 1952, Malcolm X was in prison, where he found the Nation of Islam and converted. He replaced his last name “Little” with “X” to celebrate his African descent; he refused to keep the family name of his ancestors’ white slaveholders. He became a minister and worked closely with the Nation of Islam along with speaking out during the civil rights movement. After a dispute with the leader of the Nation, Malcolm X split away from the group in 1964, and just a year later, he was assassinated while delivering a lecture.

Written By: Zahra Siddiqui

Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000) was the first African-American author to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1950 for Annie Allen. She also served as poetry consultant to the Library of Congress, becoming the first Black woman to hold that position. Brooks was the poet laureate of Illinois and many of her works captured the civil rights movement and the economic climate, as they reflected the political and social landscape of the 1960s. Gwendolyn Brooks began writing at an early age and had published approximately 75 poems by the age of sixteen. Her first book of poetry, A Street in Bronzeville, was an instant success and opened many doors for her in the writing world.

Brooks taught creative writing at Columbia College in Chicago, Chicago State University, Northeastern Illinois University, Columbia University, and the University of Wisconsin, while continuing to write and publish. Gwendolyn Brooks’ poetry often dealt with the struggles and personal celebrations of ordinary people in her community, which helped increase understanding about black culture in America.

Written By: Elisabeth Ko

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was born in 1875. Despite facing racial opposition throughout his entire life, he became a successful composer, conductor, and political activist.

He began learning violin at a young age and later studied at the Royal College of Music. Taylor wrote a number of choral, orchestral, and solo pieces and was well-known for incorporating traditional African American music into his compositions. His most famous work, Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast, increased his popularity in both Europe and the United States, and he was nicknamed the “Black Mahler” as a result. However, his work did not stop there. Shortly after, he published a hymn to celebrate Liberian Independence, partnered with other activists, including Paul Dunbar, and through the arts, was able to become a voice for black people during the British and American Civil rights Movements. Unfortunately, his life was cut short by a case of pneumonia, and he died at the age of 37. Nonetheless, the story of his life remains inspirational to many today.

Written By: Vania Omosemoje

Toni Morrison was a critically acclaimed novelist. In her books, Morrison addresses the harsh realities of living in a racist world, while simultaneously showing the humanity in each of her characters.

Morrison does not treat suffering as a constant. Instead, she allows her characters to experience joy, hope, and love, as they would in reality. Morrison’s novel, Song of Soloman, was the first of her books to win an award: the National Book Critics Circle Award. Later, her novel, Beloved, won the Pulitzer Prize. Morrison won the Nobel Prize in Literature, along with various other awards throughout the years.

Written By: Alivia Johnston

Credited as a prolific writer and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou was a pioneering figure in literature and black history. Her works span a broad range of writing such as poetry, essays, plays, and memoirs, all of which she has earned international recognition and acclaim.

Her poem “On the Pulse of Morning” was recited at the first inauguration of former president Bill Clinton. Additionally, her autobiographies have been noteworthy in literary history; her memoir I Know Why the Cages Bird Sings was the first nonfiction bestseller by an African American woman. She was an active leader in the Civil Rights Movement as well along with prominent figures, Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X. Her works have been a strong symbol in the African-American literary canon.

Written By: Sanya Tinaikar

8 The Summit

February 2021 ADVERTISEMENTS

The Summit is seeking artists!

Do you like to doodle or draw cartoons instead of paying attention in class? Well luckily for you, The Summit is seeking cartoonists to join the staff! If you would like to join, please scan the QR code to fill out the google form!

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The Summit 9

February 2021

ENTERTAINMENT

The Futilities

Review: 'Spider-man No Way Home' By: Erin Duffy USP Life Editor Spider-Man may have “no way home,” but he certainly found his way to the top of the box office charts in Tom Holland’s latest movie. Spider-Man: No Way Home is the newest installment in Marvel’s Phase 4.

Released on December 17th, it was one of the most highly anticipated movies of the year, and it certainly did not disappoint.

SPOILER WARNING AHEAD!!!

To quickly break down this movie’s complicated plot, here are a few things you need to know. No Way Home’s predecessor, Spider-Man: Far From Home, left us after Quentin Beck or Mysterio revealed Spider-Man’s face. Following his unmasking, Peter Parker, played by Tom Holland, was immediately made Public Enemy #1. Mysterio framed Peter for murder, which led to the Department of Damage Control charging and arresting him. Here is where the special guests start to appear. First, we see Matt Murdock from the Marvel show Daredevil appear as Parker’s ‘really good lawyer.’ After he and his friends are rejected from college due to his tarnished reputation, Peter enlists Doctor Strange’s help to make everyone forget him. In classic Spider-Man fashion, of course,

all goes wrong, and Parker tries to track down an MIT administrator to get his friends into the school. However, he was attacked

by Otto Octavius (Spider-Man 2). We find out that when Doctor Strange’s spell failed, it opened portals into other universes. This brings all of the former villains from the previous Spider-Man movies back, and they are all looking for Peter Parker. Otto and Peter battle before Norman Osborne (Spider-Man) arrives, and Dr. Strange transports Peter out of the fight and back to the sanctum. However, it quickly becomes apparent that Peter is in trouble because The Lizard (The Amazing Spider-Man) is already in a cell; he then enlists the help of Ned and MJ. After working together, they locate Electro (The Amazing Spider-Man 2) and The Sandman (Spider-Man 3). The rest of the plot is spent trying to undo the previous mistakes of the many Peter Parkers, which leads to some serious nostalgia and emotional scenes.

This film is incredibly detailed, and it is clear that Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers put a lot of effort into the writing to make every character logically connect in one movie. This is the first––and potentially only–– time that we will get to see all three of the Spider-Man actors in one movie together––and it was

By: Sophie Cohen OP/ED Editor An Open Letter From The USP Ceiling Leak Hi, I’m the USP ceiling leak.

You know me, you love me – What?! Do you mean to say that you don’t love me? Well, to each their own, I guess, but to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure why everyone is so adamant about hating me. All I did was sneak through a little hole in the ceiling and leave a surprise for you all to see the following day. But you love Santa, right? Isn’t that what he does every year on Christmas Eve?

‘Spider-man: No Way Home’ movie poster

beautifully executed. The visuals are appealing, and there isn’t an overwhelming amount of CGI. However, to non-Spider-man fans, the intricate plot details and intertwining of past Spider-man characters might be too complicated to fully understand in a two

Photo By: The Walt Disney Company

hour span. In addition, watching Daredevil on Netflix is the only way one would know who Matt Murdock is. The movie is excellent for Marvel aficionados, but those who haven’t seen the others may struggle to understand what is happening.

Review: 'Fringe' By: Elliott Nace Staff Reporter

After completing my four-month marathon of Fox’s cult classic Fringe, I am left speechless. There is only so much of the show’s overarching plot that I can explore without tarnishing an initial binge.

J. J. Abrams, Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman head one of the most polarizing crime dramas to grace television; to demonstrate this, it feels incorrect to even classify the show as such. Instead, a show that begins as what many coined an “X-Files ripoff ” transforms into an experience whose scope breaches that of the supernatural monotony of its predecessor.

Fringe stars a cast of both reputable actors and newcomers who are all excellent in their respective roles.

Australia lends two talents to the show, the m o s t notable of them being John Noble (who many may rec-

ognize as Denethor in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy) as the eccentric Walter Bishop, best known for his unmatched genius and odd affinity for sweets. The other is Anna Torv, who portrays the stuck-up but empathetic FBI agent Olivia Dunham.

Canadian native Joshua Jackson is Peter Bishop, Walter’s equally brilliant son who ended up on the wrong side of the tracks. Other contributions include Lance Reddick of The Wire, Blair Brown, and a later appearance in the legendary Leonard Nimoy.

In addition to its promising foundation, Fringe manages to craft a universe that is rich in all things that define good television. The show’s science-based madness is leveled by its thorough characterization, dedication to existing plot points, and masterful stream of information.

On the topic of said information, episodes wrap up their own mysteries and unfurl larger ones; the viewer is never fully aware of how significant every piece is to pro-

tect the universe. Where the finale ends is fundamentally deviant from where the series began. Although that could be said for any show, Fringe ups the ante by transporting viewers across various scientific and emotional planes.

Changes in character are often the result of changes in the

Fringe characters poster

molecular fabric of the Fringe team’s surroundings. Another tactic not foreign to Fringe is exemplified in the final shot of the finale, which calls back to one of the series’ first episodes.

Speaking any more about the plot of Fringe, as I said previously, would tamper with the viewer’s experience.

To reiterate: everything about the show is fantastic. The cinematography is terrific (even considering the limited palette about FBI agents). But most importantly, the story is

Photo By: Fox

engaging, never misses a beat, and has the viewer constantly questioning what’s on-screen.

For what many would write off as another crime drama with no end in sight, it doesn’t get much better than Fringe.

I don’t get it; what did I even do to you? I left your precious carpets a little wet. So what! They needed a replacement anyway. I know when they were put in originally, the carpet installation company called them timeless—but when something is described as timeless, it generally refers to an object being stylistically timeless rather than materially timeless.

That carpet was old. And unfortunately, carpets don’t age like fine wine— they age like your grandfather’s opinions on voting rights.

Unfortunately, before I could finish what I had started – before I could wreak even more havoc on the school and your lives – Mr. Park discovered me and crushed my plans to wipe out the rest of the school. Not to get too personal or anything, but Mr. Park, you totally ruined my street cred! I kind of have a reputation to uphold. I mean, imagine if I took away your ability to ruin GPAs! How would you feel? Do you understand how reductive what you did to me is now? I’m kidding, I’m kidding.

You terrify me. And guess what: I was actually trying to do you a favor. I got word of the fact that you were teaching… I don’t know… how many? A whole course catalog full of classes this year. I guess I just thought if I let loose on those piles and piles of essays, assignments, and love letters to Carly Rae Jepsen (at the time I didn’t realize you had written those letters yourself), then you’d have a dramatically smaller workload. You see, this is why we can’t have nice things.

Watch next!

out

CPFA—you’re

Yours truly, The USP Ceiling Leak

10 The Summit

February 2021 ENTERTAINMENT USP Students’

Valentine's Day Support Group By: Sophie Cohen OP/ED Editor Continued from front page Jeremy looks up, then down, then up again. He’s just now realizing that he isn’t at a wedding. He’s horribly embarrassed. He digs furiously around in his coat pocket, sweating like a pig on trial, and finally picks out a small notebook.

“Sorry about that. That was from the other night, I’m a wedding officiant.” You figured. Finally, he begins again “Welcome to The Support Group for Those Whose Birthdays Fall on Valentine’s Day. If you’re here, you’ve probably always felt that your birthday was overshadowed, always ruined by having to observe other people’s professions of love, being forced to endure the Hallmark movies that litter your TV’s guide, and having to suffer through the 9PM commotion from your upstairs neighbors.” he pauses, “if anyone has any objections, speak now or forever hold your peace.” He had mixed up the notecards again, but you actually did have an objection. You had never felt the way he had just described and were confused by the fact that anyone else ever had. So, naturally, you objected. You relayed a cliche amal-

gamation of grievances against Hallmark Holidays. You went on and on about how love is for suckers, how these Holidays were invented to sell cards, and how it’s a blessing to have your birthday fall onValentine’s Day. Truthfully you had no idea what you were talking about, but you were passionate.

Of course, after you threw a chair -- the second one, they let the first one slide -- you were escorted out, but you’ve always hated poetic justice, so you’ve decided to reframe the happenings of that night to suit your narrative, and

Jeremy, and you asked him out (naturally). You figured he’d be perfect for you. He was clearly self absorbed, forgetful, disorganized, he’d probably never remember your birthday. There would, of course be something in it for him too, he would have a woman to spend both his birthday and Valentines day with. Anything for him would be better than the last four Valentine’s days he spent with his bank teller trying to convince her that someone stole his credit card and bought thousands of dollars worth of dating app

Favorite Recent Disney Movies

top rated disney movies Illustration by: Rachael Jordan

make for a better story.

What you’ve been telling people is: You waited till the end of the seminar, didn’t object once.

Then, you went up to the guy,

subscriptions. So, everyone gets to hear what they want to hear: that you’re finally in love — cupid had a field day and you lived happily ever after. Or whatever.

The Summit Volume 2, Issue 3

58 people responded to the survey conducted via our Instagram and Canavas message Compiled By: Liz Ko, Web-Content Manager

Read all things USP!

The Summit is the student newspaper at University Scholars Program located in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Its goal is to keep the USP community informed and to provide a platform for student expression.

The opinions presented in The Summit do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the staff and school board at USP. Any corrections will be printed on page 2.

100 copies of the newspaper are printed and distributed among students.

Questions, concerns, requests, and photos can be emailed to at thesummiteditors@gmail.com.

Editor-in-Chief: Sanya Tinaikar Managing Editor: Cailyn Lee News Editor: Cassi Hung USP Life Editor: Erin Duffy Entertainment Editor: Alivia Johnston OP/ED Editors: Sophie Cohen, Molly Romans Business/Financial Managers: Emma Kim, Zahra Siddiqui, Henry Adams Web Content Managers: Elisabeth Ko, Mary Kacergis Graphic Design Editors: Gia Barron, Alivia Johnston, Cailyn Lee, Rachael Jordan Staff Reporters: Vania Osmosemoje, Opal-Unwin-Wisnisky, Jacqueline Thell, Isabella Fontanes, Annie Lind, Sophia Coleman, Elliott Nace Teacher Advisor: Mr. Sommar, Ms. Todorovac

To see our previous issues, scan the QR code above!

February 2021

The Summit 11

OPINION Unavoidable and Unreasonable By: Molly Romans OP/ED Editor

Where do I begin? Do I start with the 38% of men who stated

Illustration by: Rachael Jordan

they would sacrifice at least a year of their life in exchange for a perfect body in a study by Dr. Phillippa Diedrichs with the University of the West of England? Or should I begin with the 83% of women in 2018 that reported they were unsatisfied with their bodies? Beauty standards, and their unrealistic portrayal of beauty, are not a new topic that has graced our presence.

According to an article written by the University of Washington, “One study reports that at age thirteen, 53% of American girls are ‘unhappy with their bodies.’ This statistic grows to 78% by the time girls reach seventeen.” The anger this instills in me is indescribable.

Out of girls even from the age of nine and ten, reportedly, “40% have tried to lose weight, according to an ongoing study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.”

Society is conditioned to believe that whatever body that becomes popularized in that era is the only accepted body type. The media refuses to advertise realistic body types and instead broadcasts the “ideal” body type. Only now have we started to make some progress in the media world surrounding beauty standards. Unfortunately, it is not something I have hope will continue—society as a whole struggles with excepting change, especially in such a drastic way. Yes, there are plus-size models in some businesses, but this has not stopped Instagram from pushing the toxic photos of the “ideal” body type for men and women.; it has not stopped social media from advertising acne clearing creams, laser hair removal, protein powders, weight loss pills, and plastic surgery. Not all of these would be necessarily harmful if they were not

also implying that these methods are needed to be acceptable in today’s society. In a study conducted

by Macquarie University and the University of New South Wales on 350 women, “even 30 minutes on the social media app [Instagram] can ‘make women fixate negatively on their weight and appearance.”

Even to use a personal experience, just yesterday, on an app that allows ads, I received five simultaneous ads that all preached scientifically impossible weight loss pills that claimed to burn twenty pounds of fat in one week. If beauty standards were reasonable, we would not be seeing these types of impossible methods and people as young as nine - if not younger - pursuing these harmful methods. If beauty standards were reasonable, there would not be, on average, over 8 million recorded people in the US with eating disorders.

The Importance of Childhood Media By: Alivia Johnston Entertainment Editor

“By watching something old, you find out you are new.”

–– Cristel Russel Media that we consume in our childhood influences us throughout the rest of our lives.

Experiences easily influence young minds, so the shows, books, and movies that you interact with at a young age can shape you into the person that you will ultimately become.

Though as we grow older, we may find ourselves growing apart from our favorite childhood stories. We look back on fond memories, yet forget what had drawn us to the narratives in the first place. Even if we have the urge to return to them, we may ignore such desires in fear of being seen as “childish” or “stuck

in the past.” However, there are significant benefits to revisiting old media. In 2011, the Journal of Consumer Research found that “returning to a much-loved book or TV show — especially one that a person hasn’t read or watched in years — can open up new pathways of personal insight.” Cristel Russel, Ph.D., compares returning to old stories to revisiting a childhood home. In consuming such media, we find forgotten pieces of ourselves and can develop them in new, meaningful ways. We can remember who we used to be and use that to stimulate growth in the present.

Krystine Batcho, Ph.D., is an expert on nostalgia –– an emotion often linked to childhood media –– and often uses her degree to educate others on the phenomenon. In an interview, Batcho says that “nostalgia not only motivates us to self-reflect and figure out who we want to

be in the future but also works to unify us with other people.”

Connecting with nostalgia –– no matter for how briefly a moment –– allows us to remember past experiences, relationships, and feelings, which can work to comfort us in our most difficult moments.

Recently, I got the opportunity to revisit one of my alltime favorite book series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians. This past summer, I ran a Percy Jackson Book Club for elementary school kids at the Downingtown Library. Not only was I able to reread books that I probably would not have picked up again otherwise, but I also got to experience them through an entirely new lens. Additionally, leading the club allowed me to pass my love for the books on to a younger audience, which gave me yet another reason to appreciate the stories. I was able to see how af-

Illustration by: Rachael Jordan

fected my students were by the books; they made connections and comparisons, reminding me of how dearly I held the series at their age.

Overall, this experience allowed me to reflect on how much I’ve learned over the years. And although the stories were famil-

iar, I was able to approach them through fresh perspectives, relearning old lessons in new ways.

I implore you to seek out similar opportunities! Revisit some of your favorite childhood media to remind yourself of how far you’ve come since first experiencing your favorite stories!

Covid Works Hard, But We Need to Work Harder By: Cailyn Lee Managing Editor

Currently, the USA has over 300,000 new cases of COVID-19 every day. Many o f our

teache r s , classmates, friends, and family members are among them. And because of this prevalence, because we see people we know have mild symptoms for a week and get

well, because we are all exhausted from two years of social distancing, masking, and disinfecting, it is easy to get comfortable with where we are and accept this as our new normal.

But the unfortu-

nate truth is that COVID is not over yet. The fact that you and the people you know have mild COVID and get well a week later does not, by any means, make this the case for everyone. Also, becoming any less vigilant about safety measures and increasing the risk of transmission increases the chances of creating new variants that are even more contagious and even more deadly.

Experts and science can only do so much to protect us when the landscape of the pandemic keeps changing.

This all boils down to one very simple idea: we should care about other people. We do not exist in a vacuum; we have a responsibility to protect

each other. As a community, we have to accept that while following safety measures, canceling events, and not seeing our loved ones may be inconvenient, our comfort is not more important than human life.

As I write this article, nearly 900,000 people have

died in the US alone. Joseph Stalin once said, famously, that a single death is a tragedy, a million deaths are a statistic.

This is not the time to start seeing these numbers as statistics. This is the time to remember our humanity, and to keep working to protect it.

12 The Summit

February 2021 OPINION

puzzle corner:gnomes andkisses

By: Gia Barron and Sanya Tinaikar Graphic Design Editor and Editor-in-Chief

Hey there! If you couldn’t make it to The Summit Valentine’s Day Party, don’t fear! We’ve included the scavenger hunt puzzle below just for you!

Our beloved Gnomeo has gone missing! And we need your help to find him! Decipher the clues below and figure out who has kidnapped Gnomeo!

All the clues are written in Caesar Cipher--one of the simplest and well-known ciphers of all time. Here’s a quick run down of how it works:

Hats off to (from left to right) Avery Ahlmer, Madeline Ahlmer, Claire Lee, Erik Markward, and Jenna Deitz!

Photo By: Isabella Fontanes and Kyran Brown

Normally, a=a, b=b, and c=c BUT in caesar cipher, there is always a shift! So, if there is a shift of one forward, the code would be a=b, b=c, c=d! Make sure that you know that just because b=c, c ≠ b! c=d! The key to this scavenger hunt is to find the shift in the code and decipher the clues! All the clues lead to the kidnapper. Find Gnomeo before it’s too late!

K YTKVG RQGVTA OA PCOG JCU CP G KP KV OA FCF KU C VGCEJGT JGTG

The Summit Crossword: February Edition The Summit Crossword: February Edition

ACROSS

16 In the ___

4 Currency used in Mexico, Argentina, and the Philippines

1 Author of 'The Tortoise and the Hare'

18 Used to steer a boat through water

6 Ms. Frizzle's transportation vehicle

19 Museum in New York City (abbr.)

7 Hawaiian flower garland

20 A hymn/song particularly used in The Bible

8 At the minimum (two words) 9 Popular Megan Trainor song

1 Where you take your car when it breaks down

12 American cable sports channel

2 Teaching of English to people who speak a different language (abbr.)

15 Field of study about intelligence displayed by machines (abbr.)

1

3 Snowman in 'Frozen'

2

6 Supervillain in DC Comics with massive mask to withhold pain 11 A catalog, record

DOWN

10 An unfair act by a player in sports deemed by the referee

5 Fix or build in a certain place or position

3

4

13 You "string" this vegetable 14 National Industry Recovery Act abbr.

17 Sound one makes when pondering over a difficult question

5

Letter From 7the Editor

6

Hey Summit readers, 8

20

19

17. Hmm 18. Oar 19. MET 20. Psalms

18

13. Pears 14. NIRA 15. AI 16. Heights

-Sanya Tinaikar, EIC

9. No 10. Foul 11. List 12. ESPN

17

5. Situates 6. Bane 7. Lei 8. At least

16

1. aesops 2. ESL 3. Olaf 4. Peso

Welcome to the very first edition of The Summit crossword! There isn’t a theme for this to expand on that in 11 the future! If 9 puzzle, but we would like 10 you want to be a test solver for future crosswords or submit your own (not necessarily crosswords), please email thesummiteditors@gmail.com or DM 12 13 14 15 us on instagram. We would love to have our own team of cruciverbalists and puzzle-makers. With that being said, happy solving!