The Masters School
49 Clinton Avenue Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. 10522
Tower
VOLUME 75, NUMBER 3
@MastersTower Editorial Amidst a time of great change for Masters—from the announcement of the five-day boarding program, tuition adjustments, an new schedule and the reconstruction of the annual Jonestown trip— it is important to remember our true values and come together. Written in memory of Keaton Guthrie-Goss, Class of 2011.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2018
tower.mastersny.org
In This Issue: SPECIAL REPORT:
Masters’ former provider stirs protests, controversy across the U.S. eMMa LuiS, editor-in-chieF
Page 3
SPECIAL REPORT:
Out with the old, in with the new: Uber and Lyft overtake taxis Jacob Strier, neWS deSign editor Sarah Faber, StaFF Writer
Pages 8-9
SPECIAL REPORT:
Behind admissions: A look into how applicants come to be Masters students aLexandra bentzien, editor-in-chieF BOB CORNIGANS/TOWER
MASTERS STUDENTS AND TEENAGE residents in Jonestown, Miss., during last year’s service trip to the American South. In the past, Masters students spent multiple days volunteering there, engaging with locals and immersing themselves in the community. This year, the trip has been remodeled, and will include less time in Jonestown and visits to other Southern cities including Memphis , Tenn.
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School reconstructs Jonestown trip as Southern study Well-known, long-running service aspect reduced in favor of more touring
Logan Schiciano Sports Design Editor Masters students have journeyed down to Jonestown, Miss. for a service-based trip for the past 25 years. This year, the trip is changing, now carrying the title: “Beyond Regionalism: American Southern Cities Today.” The new trip will include visits to Jonestown as well as to Oxford, Miss., and Memphis, Tenn. Director of Global and Civic Exchange Dr. Robert Fish explained that one of the key reasons for limiting the time in Jonestown was due to logistical issues that made it difficult to accommodate a group from Masters for a whole week as in previous years. Junior Olivia Sharenow, who had the opportunity to go on the Jonestown trip last year, explained the significance of her experience on the service-learning experience. “Jonestown has been such an awesome tradition, and such a big part of our school,” she said. In the past, the Jonestown trip was conducted under the guidance of Sister Kay Burton, a resident of the small north Mississippi town. The purpose was to do repairs on active volunteers’ homes in the community, as well as do gardening and other work. This year, the trip has been transformed from this service-based foundation to include new educational elements.
As explained by chaperones of the trip, History Teacher Matthew Browne and Science Teacher Rene Hurley at a Morning Meeting in early December, students will have the opportunity to visit various sites and attractions including Graceland, Sun Studios, the National Civil Rights Museum and The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss), in addition to helping out in Jonestown, where the service time has been reduced. Fish outlined the goals of the journey. “We want students to go down to the South with questions about the region, and for them to come up with their answers based on what they see, what they experience and who they talk to,” he said. “I hope they not only have a chance to reflect with those who accompany them on the trip, but that they bring back what they’ve learned to Masters and continue these discussions,” he added. Dr. Nikki Willis, who is in her first year as the Head of the Upper School and was a big proponent of transforming the trip to include destinations other than Jonestown, explained her rationale: “It’s potentially problematic to look at Jonestown in isolation as a poor town in Mississippi. We want students to see the South in a broader context and how it helped shape the American identity,” she said. Hurley, who lived in Memphis for 14 years, further explained the issue.
“When I lived in the South, I had preconceived notions of New Yorkers, like New Yorkers have those same notions of the South.” Hurley hopes that this trip will not only help students learn about the culture of the South, but also realize what we all have in common as Americans. Fish said that students would only be spending one or two days in Jonestown this year and would commute to the town from Memphis, which lies about an hour away, to complete service projects. Sharenow expressed her concern about the change. “When we were staying in the town, we were totally immersed in the community and got to know the people and their stories. Experiencing that way of life for the week contributed a lot to the understanding of the struggles that the people were facing,” she continued, “By only being there for one or two days, it will be difficult to be invested in that culture.” Dena Torino, the MISH Faculty Coordinator and Director of Residential Life, was also involved in planning this year’s trip. Her takeaway with regard to the limited time in Jonestown was quite the contrary to Sharenow’s assessment. “Learning what’s happening in Jonestown is going to be enhanced by what we’re adding. It’s not just about the number of minutes and days but helping and doing the work and understanding it in context,” Torino said.
JACOB STRIER / TOWER
THE ANNUAL JONESTOWN TRIP has been ammended to include visits to more cities in an effort to showcase the American southeast. Above is a map portraying the cities. Willis noted that this was partly due to the fact that Burton was aging, along with the lodging situation in Jonestown becoming a problem -- last year everyone slept on the floor in the same room. According to Willis, in previous years there had been inconsistent participation and skill levels to complete the tasks; she wanted to work on creating an itinerary where students would uti-
lize the time spent Jonestown more effectively. According to Torino, Burton is very much on board with the changes Masters has made regarding the Jonestown trip. Torino also explained that she’s already started thinking about service trips in the future and how we can make them more purposeful and educational going forward.
Administration may scrap current schedule MitcheLL Fink Web Content Editor aMina choudhry Web Design Editor For almost all members of the Masters community, the schedule which dictates a Masters school day has looked the same throughout their entire time here. Yet by next school year, that familiarity of schedule, which hasn’t changed for over a decade, is slated to be shaken up in a big way. A task force of faculty and administrators came together to consult with outside consultant Bryan Smyth, an outside expert from ISM Management, who specializes in redesigning school schedules. Smyth
was hired in order to create options for the new schedule. “I am designing a number of possibilities that I’ll be presenting to the faculty and they will then take the prototypes I give them and either use them or modify them, and later implement them when they are ready down the road,” Smyth said. Students were also given the chance to give input into the new schedule as well, as a committee of 13 students and faculty met with Smyth to discuss possibilities. One member of the committee was sophomore Jazmine Hudson.“There’s not really one clear answer, because if one thing gets solved it creates a whole other set of problems, and because all of us had different opinions on it,” Hudson said. Though the entire school is impli-
cated in the results, the process is internal. Dean of Faculty Erica Chapman explained. “We’re trying really hard to have an internal process so that we can consider options,” she said. “That’s why I’m so sensitive to wanting to roll out the changes that are decided. The final decisions are made by Ms. Danforth. Until we have final decisions, I think it’s dangerous to talk about what if’s or maybe’s.” According to Chapman, this new initiative to change the schedule is like a regular check up. “Most schools look at their schedule every 5-10 years, so it’s just part of the healthy cycle of improvements for our school,” Chapman said. Every so often schools reassess their schedule to assure that it matches their mission statement. The current schedule was last changed in the fall of 2004.
The new schedule will be officially selected by January, and go into effect at the start of the 2019-2020 school year. “Schedules are tricky because they are filled with trade-offs, there is no perfect schedule and we have been very much thinking about what are some priorities we have. Student wellness is a priority, but what does that look like in a schedule?” Chapman said. A lot is up for debate including the Delta Phi system, break, Flex Lunch, and double periods. Sophomore Grace Falci weighed in on the current system, which includes double periods. “Having a double block for every subject is a bit much. At my old school we had extended periods for sciences so that we could do labs. I feel like that’s a
better way of making the schedule,” she said. Different students have different opinions, however. Sophomore Matt Nappo is a fan of the current schedule. “I think it’s a great system. I can’t think of anything that could be better than that system,” he said. Junior Judah Francella said that if the current schedule were changed, there would be backlash, and people might get annoyed. There are opposing opinions from faculty and students regarding double periods.“I don’t think we as an institution will institute all single blocks. That seems like a step in the wrong direction educationally,” Associate Head of Upper School Sara Thorn said.
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TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
Anti-racism group for white students combats prejudice “People of color shouldn’t always
AlexAndrA Bentzien Editer-in-Chief have to be the ones to educate white people about racism and oppression. We are taking responsibility for learning about racism, our own white privilege and how to challenge it as white people.” This is the first point in a statement of purpose that precludes the application for Masters’ new affinity group WARE, White Anti-Racist Educators. The group is headed by faculty and students whose aims are to provide an educational space on campus for white members of the community to learn about anti-racism, privilege, and diversity. WARE’s goals and intentions were developed over the past months by chemistry teacher and tenth grade Class Dean Eric Shear and Eva Seligman of CityTerm, with the help of senior Thomas West and junior Audrey Corrigan, as well as Karen Brown, Director of Equity and Inclusion. One of the central aims of the group is to discuss white privilege and to help make white students aware of the importance in being an ally, even though the experience of being a member of a marginalized group may not directly affect them. “I think once everybody examines themselves and learns more about privilege and race and everything else that goes with it we can come together and have the dialogue and the conversation of how we can help each other move forward,” Brown said. West acknowledges that it can be difficult or intimidating at times to participate in a setting like Diversity Ambassadors where the majority of people have directly experienced cultural appropriation and microaggressions. “Essentially, we wanted to create a space for students who didn’t necessarily feel comfortable talking about diversity with people of color because you can slip up so easily and suddenly people shut down and immediately assume a person is ignorant,” West said. Shear agreed with West and recognized the sensitive nature of the topics of discussion. “We don’t want kids to be worried about saying something,” he said. “This group needs to be a
space where people really think.” Shear was motivated to form the group after attending a conference surrounding the topic of white privilege where he discussed its effects. “Something that is hard to understand is that you’re complicit in a system that is terrible to a lot of people, and it can be earth-shattering at first to realize that,” Shear said. “I will very seldom experience oppression, but I wanted to know, ‘How can I make a difference?’” Another point of inspiration was the group AWARE LA, an activist organization in Los Angeles which self-defines as “an alliance of white anti-racists.” AWARE LA’s initiatives as an alliance include hosting monthly dialogues about identity and privilege and White People 4 Black Lives, a program which challenges cultural and institutional racism. Helping people within the Masters community to become allies is integral to the mission of the new group’s student and faculty leadership, according to Brown and WARE leaders. “It is a group for white students to educate themselves free of judgement, but also gives the responsibility to them to become allies. White people should be taking the initiative to educate themselves on how to make sure people of color in our lives are being respected and understood,” West said. WARE is set apart from other affinity groups at Masters is that, similarly to Diversity Ambassadors, it requires an application. The application form, which prompts students to review what they are most passionate about and what they consider most pertinent when discussing issues of race and diversity, is meant to provide a background to structure meeting agendas. The group’s emphasis on helping its members become allies is similar to that of Diversity Ambassadors, which sponsors diversity- and inclusion-oriented events and similarly discusses issues of identity and equality, although within a group of African and African-American, Asian, Latinx, Middle Eastern, and LGBTQ+ students. Brown hopes that each student who goes through WARE will be inspired to become an ally and an ambassador of inclusion, even if not officially for the Diversity Ambassadors. “This is a group of people who are saying, you know what, just because we are white, doesn’t mean that we can’t be allies. It doesn’t mean that
Amid scandal, Arkansas school suspends paper dAvid Oks Newsmagazine Editor Conflicts between high school newspapers and their administrations are not infrequent—spats over what’s acceptable to say or publish often push students to complain of schools muzzling their speech. Some schools’s amdinistrations institute “prior review,” by which they inspect papers before allowing them to publish. But one school has gone a step further. Har-ber High School in Springdale, AR (about 150 miles northwest of Little Rock), officially suspended the publication of the Har-ber Herald after it published an investigation into the transfer of five Har-ber football players to a different district high school. In 2017, Har-ber High was rocked by the transfer of five football players from Har-ber to its archrival, Springdale High School. Shortly after the transfers, the student journalists of the Herald decided to investigate. After significant shoe-leather reporting, the Herald published the results of a months-long investigation on Oct. 30. Written by Jack Williams, Molly Hendren and Matteo Campagnola, the story alleged disturbing violations of official policy on the part of Har-ber. Under district policy, students can only transfer and play sports via academic transfers; they can’t be recruited to transfer, or transfer simply to play a sport like football. Official school documents suggested that the transfers were academic in nature; but interviews with the transfered players themselves indicated that the transfers were motivated by a place on the new school’s
football team. The Herald story also reported on a video it acquired, in which one parent of a transferring player burned Har-Ber gear while complaining loudly about Har-Ber’s coach. District Superintendent Jim Rollins, though not commenting on the article’s truthfulness, called the article “intentionally negative, demeaning, hurtful and potentially harmful to the students.” It demanded that the article be taken down, and, shortly thereafter, ceased the Herald’s publication, justifying it by calling the article “extremely divisive and disruptive to the Springdale School District’s educational community.” The move resulted in a strong backlash, both from students and press-freedom advocates. “Yes, we are in a pretty Byzantine bureaucratic gray area right now,” Williams said. “They may object at the notion that we are suspended, but our publication abilities have been trifled with,” Williams, one of the authors of the story, told NWAHomepage, a local news outlet. “From what I understand of the situation, it doesn’t fall under any of the unprotected categories of speech or publication as discussed under that statute,” Student Press Law Center (SPLC) Staff Attorney Sommer Ingram Dean told NWAHomepage. “Everyone is hoping that the school district will review the situation and revise their decision,” SPLC President Hadar Harris said. She called on the school and the district to re-publish the article, reinstate the paper and eliminate review guidelines, saying that if the district doesn’t take those steps, “the students may decide to pursue legal action.” Contacted by Tower, Har-Ber declined to comment.
LILY WANG/TOWER
WARE, A GROUP DEDICATED to educating white students and helping them become allies differs from most affinity groups. Leaders of the group hope to inspire members to become advocates for social justice and inclusion. we can’t and don’t want to discuss our affinity for social justice and understanding diversity. I think that there is a group of people who have that in common and would like to be able to get together in a safe space and talk about it,” Brown said. The educational space will include two separate groups, one for students
and one exclusive to faculty, with both working towards different aims. The faculty group will be centered more on reflection, while the student group will be presented with information upfront to ground the subject of discussion with supplementary reading or video material. Once both groups have developed a foundation, they will begin
to meet together to exchange thoughts and ideas, and in the future plan to host a crossover meeting with Diversity Ambassadors as well. “There are going to be moments that are challenging, but we expect that people are present with their best intent,” Shear said.
Fonseca finds a job in Jersey
Courtesy of Tower
AFTER SERVING AS THE head of school for 15 years, Dr. Maureen Fonseca opens up a new chapter in her life as the head of school at the Elisabeth Morrow School in New Jersey. Fonseca looks forward to being part of a school community once again and working with younger children.
Mitch Fink Staff Writer lOgAn schiciAnO Sports Design Editor From dressing up as Eliza B. Masters and parading into Founder’s Day on horseback, to spending story-time with little fifth graders during the holiday season, Dr. Maureen Fonseca, our Head of School for 15 years (20002015), truly embraced the Masters spirit. Senior Arjahn Cox, at Masters for three years, in sixth through eighth grade, during Fonseca’s tenure, reflected on her legacy. “Dr. Fonseca was a pillar in the Masters community. She was always super kind to everyone and talked to students when she saw them around. She was loved
by the Masters Community and many of us were sad to see her go,” she said. Fonseca is set to begin a new chapter in her career, at Elisabeth MorrowSchool (EMS), a coeducational private school located in Englewood, N.J. The school serves students age three all the way through eighth grade. Originally from Guyana, a country located on the North Atlantic coast of South America, Fonseca came to the United States in 1974 to attend Vassar College. She was the founding head of St. Phillips Academy, an inner-city independent school located in Newark, N.J., which opened its doors in 1988. Following her stint at Masters, she returned to campus in the fall of 2015 for the opening of the Fonseca Center. She is now the CEO of an organization known as New York Edge, which according to their official website, “helps bridge the opportunity gap among underserved students by
providing programs designed to improve academic performance, health and wellness, self-confidence, character and attitudes for success in life.” Fonseca noted that the organization serves about 25,000 students. She will conclude her incumbency in June and move to Englewood, to assume her position at EMS in July 2019. Fonseca noticed Elisabeth Morrow’s very holistic approach to learning, which, she explained, is similar to Masters. This wasn’t the first connection she had made between the two schools. “I had heard them sing at Radio City Music Hall one year when both Dobbs 16 and Elisabeth Morrow’s orchestra were chosen to perform at a conference [the National Association of Independent Schools, NAIS, conference in New York in 2007],” she said. Some Masters students including freshmen Molly and Owen Higgins, Michael Couri, Ellana Swope, and Teddy Diamond, sophomore Julia Levin and juniors Lola Rock and Chelsea Hall, attended EMS prior to coming to Masters. Fonseca recalled the final step of the process. “After they brought in all the other candidates, the search committee met on the following Saturday. The chair of the search committee called to let me know that they had unanimously chosen me to become their next head of school,” she said. While Fonseca is moving on to another school, Masters still is very much in her thoughts. She had a message for the Master community: “It’s wonderful to see that Masters has continued to evolve and become an even greater place. I certainly miss you all, but any leader wants to know, that their school is stronger than when they left it. Masters is extremely dear to my heart and will always be.”
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
NEWS
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Masters previous provider stirs dining hall dilemmas across the U.S. SPECIAL REPORT: Emma Luis, Editor-in-ChiEf
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aggots, mice, flies and substandard food are all trademarks of the national reputation of Aramark, Masters’ former dining hall service provider. Unitil 2016, Aramark provided breakfast, lunch and dinner each day to Masters’ faculty and students. After Aramark’s contract was not renewed in 2016, Brock, Masters’ current provider, began providing for Masters. While no health and sanitary issues were reported in the 25-30 years that Aramark served Masters, Aramark faced consistent claims from institutions across the country of mistreatment of staff, substandard food, abusive treatment of animals, among other issues. Over the past ten years, even while they were the food-provider for Masters, Aramark, a multibillion-dollar multi-service provider, faced constant scrutiny from several state governments and institutions for various issues, such as substandard food, illness-causing foods, mold, mice, flies and maggots. Currently, Aramark employs over 130,000 people and serves thousands of schools, prisons and other institutions across the globe.
LOUIS BRISCESE/US AIR FORCE
AIRMAN TY-RICO LEA/U.S. AIR FORCE
TWO ARAMARK EMPLOYEES ARE hard at work in two different governmental institutions. Aramark has faced criticsm for almost a decade for mistreatment of employees, substandard food and low health grade ratings. Although Masters has no known record of health and sanitary issues with Aramark, Aramark was the service provider for 25-30 years for Masters.
Aramark in the spotlight
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n 2013, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges uncovered that food provided by Aramark to inmates at Burlington County Jail in New Jersey was spoilt and often caused illness. According Hedges’ article, which was published on TruthDig, several prisoners and officers at the County Jail reported persistent hunger, vomiting and diarrhea, among other symptoms. In 2016, Burlington County Jail decided not to renew their contract with Aramark after five years. County spokesman Eric Arpert told The Birmingham County Times that the reason for the change was due to “competitive pricing” as well as their new provider Gourmet Dining’s “long history of providing effective services.” Following the Burlington County Jail report, maggots were found in Aramark food preparation areas at Parnall Correctional Facility in Michigan. Maggots were also uncovered in Aramark food products at Michigan’s Charles Egeler Reception & Guidance Center and two Ohio prisons, the Ohio Reformatory for Women and Trumbull Correctional Institute. Aramark was fined by the states for over $450,000. In April 2015, claims surfaced that Aramark “served garbage” to inmates at the Saginaw Correctional Facility in Michigan. According to The Cavalier Daily at The University of Virginia, Aramark has
AN ARAMARK EMPLOYEE AT a governmental institution prepares a meal. Aramark is still the current food provider for a variety of schools in New York state, including Barnard College and previously Masters.
Aramark in the tri-state
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chools across Westchester County and New York City still remain clients of Aramark. The Taft School’s dining hall Instagram account (@Taft.Dining) features images of Aramark staff holding watermelon mousse, announcements for Farm to Fork dinner events and thank you notes from students. Yet, Aramark still remains under scrutiny at other schools. Aramark currently handles operations for all of Barnard College’s dining halls. According to The Columbia Spectator, earlier this year, the Hewitt Dining Hall at Barnard College received a B rating from the New York State Department of Health, despite receiving an A the previous year. The department report showed that Hewitt received 14 violation points, which included evidence of mice, filth flies and improper sanitation. According to Caren Halbfinger, Director of Public Affairs at the New York State Department of Health, health grade ratings from the Westchester
AIRMAN TY-RICO LEA/U.S. AIR FORCE
Department of Health are not given out to food service establishments in Westchester County. Thus, the Cameron Mann Dining Hall at Masters does not have any history of New York State grades while Aramark was the food service provider. Barnard College freshman and Masters alumna Campbell Ives is one of many students at Barnard who is speaking out against Aramark. “I was not fully aware of any controversies that happened [while at] Masters and wasn’t fully cognizant of how bad [Aramark] was until I got to Barnard,” she said. According to Ives, Barnard students are currently organizing a boycott to inform the administration of students’ outrage against the food service provider. “The dining halls at Barnard are frankly substandard compared to Columbia’s dining hall,” Ives said. Columbia University is not a client of Aramark and instead uses a different provider.
“underfed inmates and fed them dog food, worms and scraps of food from old meals.” Furthermore, Aramark has been accused of skimping on portions, various food safety issues including pests and overcharging states that used food for their correctional facilities. The Netflix documentary, 13th, explored the prison boom in the United States and made claims against Aramark about their motives in providing food to inmates. The film includes a portion that focuses on companies, including Aramark, that profit from the rising number of inmates and longer sentences. Aramark is criticized in the documentary for serving “substandard food” in order to produce higher profit margins. Dozens of national protests and movements have surfaced over the past five years with the claim that Aramark supports animal cruelty. One of these movements was kickstarted by The Humane League, a nonprofit organization that supports animal welfare on farms. According to an article published by David Coman-Hidy, executive director of The Humane League, chickens supplied by Aramark to all of their clients (including K-12 schools, universities and prisons) were “bred to suffer, trapped in filth and brutally killed.” The article also states that the chickens in Aramark’s supply
chain faced death through one of six ways: burned by toxic ammonia fumes from their own waste, overcome by their own genetics, genetically manipulated, scalded alive, crippled by the weight of their oversized bodies or slit open at their throats while alive and conscious. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), most commercially-farmed chicken that Americans consume are killed by slitting their throats open, often while the chicken is alive and conscious. In 2016, The Humane League started a website, AgonyAtAramark.com, (this webpage is no longer active), a petition, and the “Fast Action Network” that allows for students at Aramark-client campuses to arrange protests and events to declare their effort against the foodservice giant. Aramark did, however, announce policy improvements to chicken welfare after the burst in disapproval for Aramark’s treatment of animals. Despite accusations, Aramark was named one of the “World’s Most Admired Companies” by FORTUNE in 2018, alongside such companies as Apple, Netflix and Starbucks. The company was ranked as number one among Diversified Outsourcing Companies. Aramark also was named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by the Ethisphere Institute, ranking against Adobe, T Mobile and GE.
The switch to Brock
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or the 2016-2017 school in the community. We view it that not a wonderful space, but with a year, Masters made the way not as just food expense.” Bid- food service, we can really raise the switch from Aramark dle said. bar. That is why we did the RFP to Brock. Brock specializes in inAccording to Biddle, Masters proposal. We’ve been very pleased. dependent school and corporate was aware about the allegations Brock has done a superb job,” Biddining, in contrast to Aramark’s against Aramark for a period of dle said. specialization in hospitals, univer- time. “Before we began the RFP “The salaried employees who sities, school districts, stadiums (request for proposal) process, Ar- would be viewed as management and “other businesses,” according amark had been implicated in a change with the contract. Arato both of the providers’ websites. number of investigations regard- mark’s salaried managers stayed The switch from Arwith Aramark and went amark to Brock was deto another Aramark unit.” cided at the end of the BEFORE WE BEGAN THE RFP PROHowever, according to 2015-2016 school year CESS, ARAMARK HAD BEEN IMPLICATED Biddle, two thirds of the after examining MasIN A NUMBER OF INVESTIGATIONS REprevious Aramark staff ters’ relationship to ArGARDING PRISON CONTRACTS. THAT’S is still working at Masamark. NOT THE ONLY REASON, BUT IT WAS A ters under Brock. “For Chief Financial OfFACTOR IN OUR DECISION. continuity purposes, the ficer Ed Biddle notes Brock managers like to that Aramark’s priori- ED BIDDLE keep the hourly workers ties were shifting away who are already in place, from Masters’ goals. and give [the hourly work“Aramark as a company began to ing prison contracts. That’s not the ers] an opportunity to stay on and focus more on healthcare institu- only reason, but it was a factor in join Brock. The employees have a tions and prisons. That really did our decision,” Biddle said. choice of staying or leaving,” Biddle color their overall approach. They In 2016, Biddle led a RFP pro- said. are a firm that is extremely good at cess that outreached to six food There is currently a food advisomaintaining and producing a low- service providers. The process in- ry board in place that encompasses cost per meal. If you goal is to have cluded presentations of Masters, each division of Masters, including your meal cost $3 or less, they are campus tours, and ultimately end- the Upper School, Middle School, excellent at doing that. But that’s ed in the submission of proposals EFFECT, student athletes and not what you want for an indepen- that included costs. Out of the six City Term. The advisory board dent school.” Biddle said. providers, three were selected as focuses on improvements for the “The price was a lot higher for finalists, one of which was Brock. dining hall, for example discussing Brock. It represents an investment “Our dining hall physically is new additions to the menu.
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OpiniOn
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OP-ED
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
editors-iN-Chief alexandra Bentzien eMMa luiS
EDITORIAL
Lead News editor Sophia BrouSSet News desigN editors MorGan BrettSchneider JacoB Strier
Brave the storm of change; remember your roots As we approach the final days of December, it is not only a year that comes to a close – one filled with political changes and the ebb and flow of pop culture trends – but a chapter in the life of The Masters School. In the past months, our community has become aware of a multitude of changes: the design of a new schedule in the next academic year, the reconstruction of the Jonestown trip, a Masters service tradition for 25 years, an increase in tuition, the introduction of a new boarding program. The outcomes of change are unknown, and the unpredictability of it can be worrisome at times. Though the changes in the following year do not affect Mas-
ters’ current senior class, the classes and teachers left behind will be given the responsibility of remembering the legacy of the past while learning to navigate the changing tides of the future, and the present. Finding the balance between the old and new is one theme that remains constant, as is the certainty of change. In facing times of change, as we adapt to introductions of new structure, and new events, it is important to remember to remain true to our values as a school and as a community. In honoring the late Keaton Guthrie-Goss ‘11, let us remember to show kindness to those around us and practice empathy. His outlook on life re-
flected the benefits of noticing everything and everyone, not just to “study for the test,” but to acknowledge that a test might come from anywhere, at any moment. Even though we cannot prepare for every obstacle or spontaneous event, we can turn to each other to find support as we likewise help those around us. We should focus on coming together to celebrate our commonalities; though it may be difficult to comprehend viewpoints which differ from our own, we should respect the perspectives of others and try to reach a point of understanding through listening and consideration.
Lead opiNioN editor JoSeph GoldStein opiNioN desigN editors Michelle Wei dreW Schott Lead features editor aMita khurana features desigN editors annie ruBinSon daVid okS Lead sports editor ShaWn Farhadian sports desigN editors eliJah eMerY loGan Schiciano Lead web editor aNd adobe, aesthetiCs & arts editor tYler conWaY web CoNteNt MaNager Mitch Fink web desigN editor aMina choudhrY web produCtioN MaNager JacoB kriSS soCiaL Media MaNager GaBriel keller staff MaNager MaxWell Goldrich staff writers Mitch Fink GaBriel keller Sarah FaBer aCCuraCy & aCCouNtabiLity aNd advertiseMeNt MaNager YaSMine paScal
THE INTERNATIONALIST
photos & iLLustratioNs editor Vincent alBan
Genocide waged against women in Canada Casey Li
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class-action lawsuit of 60 First Nations women who were forcibly sterilized sheds light on a longstanding practice against indigenous people in Canada―eugenics. Native women have been sterilized without informed consent since the Confederation. Suggestions for sterilization are often, if not routinely introduced while women are actively in labor, under anesthesia or about to go under anesthesia. Many are harassed, forced or blackmailed into not seeing their babies or not being able to leave the hospital unless they agree to the procedure. Some even report that their fallopian tubes were tied, cauterized or cut during birth without notice or consent and were assured the procedure was reversible–even though it was not. Eugenics is a long-standing practice
in Canada that serves to wipe out its indigenous population. In 1928 and 1933, Alberta and British Columbia passed “The Sexual Sterilization Act” and “An Act Respecting Sexual Sterilization” outlining the procedure for sterilizing individuals with “undesirable traits.” These measures that prevent births within a group to undermine its ability to continue to exist is, in fact, an act of genocide. The universal legal definition of genocide, as established by Article II of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide in 1948, includes “intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group,” “deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part” and “imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group.” Nevertheless, Canadian politicians
and judges prefer to use the euphemistic term “cultural genocide,” which distracts from the true cause of eugenics―racism and colonialism― and lacks legitimacy as Canada threatened to opt of the 1948 Genocide Convention if the term were included in any article. In 2007, the United Nations revived the term but removed it once again due to pressure from Canada. Ironically, the Catholic Church, with its opposition to birth control, has colluded with the Canadian government and runs boarding schools that forcibly remove Native children from their families, a violation of the Genocide Convention. Systematic racism rooted in settler colonialism has carried itself to this day. Even when consent is sought, indigenous peoples in some contexts are unable to give legal consent due to judicial barriers. The lack of interpreters, informed consent and consent forms in
native languages also deprives native peoples of means to protect themselves. These practices and policies allow further encroachment of indigenous land and reduction of the number of native people to whom the federal government own obligations. Although a United Nations committee has recommended criminalization of involuntary sterilization and an Ontario Senator has called for a nationwide investigation, it is unclear as to what concrete steps will be taken to outlaw nonconsensual sterilization targeting First Nations women. Everyone should be entitled to professional and safe healthcare free of prejudice, and women should have the right to decide what happens to their own bodies.
CorreCtions from issue 2 While Tower strives to find and correct errors and misspellings in the production of the paper, there can still be mistakes that are brought to the attention of the Tower staff after the paper has been published.
Here are corrections from Issue 2: On page one, in the article “College office to provide test prep” the standardized test preparation company is referred to as Revolutionary Prep. The correct name of the company is Revolution Prep. On page five, in the article “Dobbs church welcomes refugee family” the caption refers to the Church as Southern Presbyterian Church. The correct name of the church is South Presbyterian Church.
On page eight, in the article “Girls’ Tennis focused on improving for future” the article states that the Girls’ Tennis team will be playing in the Fairchester Athletic Association (FAA) league. The team will not be competing in the FAA next year. The article also mentions current juniors, but does not include Alex Batson and Lola Rock, who will be seniors on the team next year as well.
staff iLLustrator ziqi WanG CoNtributiNg writers reed GilMore Sophie Grand BrodY leo tiM MathaS kira ratan ethan Schlapp kate SiBerY MattilYn Stone faCuLty adviser ellen coWheY oNLiNe Media
For more information, follow Tower on the following platforms: Website: Tower.MastersNY.org Facebook: MastersTower Twitter: @MastersTower Instagram: @MastersTower
distributioN proCess
Tower is hand-delivered on the day of publication to the Upper School. 650 copies are printed and one is put in each faculty member’s mailbox. In addition, a copy is sent to each of our advertisers.
sChoLastiC press affiLiatioNs, Letters aNd editoriaL poLiCy Tower is the winner of the Pacemaker Award for Overall Excellence, an award-winning member of the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), Columbia Scholastic Press Association (CSPA), Journalism Education Association (JEA) and Quill and Scroll. We encourage Letters to the Editor, which can be submitted to the following email address: TowerEditors@MastersNY.org. Published approximately five times a year, Tower, the student newspaper of The Masters School, is a public forum, with its Editorial Board making all decisions concerning content. Commentaries and opinion columns are the expressed opinion of the author and not of Tower and its Editorial Board or its advisers. Furthermore, the opinions conveyed are not those of The Masters School, faculty, or staff. Unsigned editorials express views of the majority of the Editorial Board.
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
NEWS/OP-ED
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NEWS: Policy of entering classrooms raises community questions Sophia BrouSSet Lead News Editor For years, Gold Key has served as the first glimpse of Masters for thousands of potential students. The carefully vetted ambassadors offer tours during their free periods and study halls, showcasing the best parts of Masters and explaining aspects of the school that are specific to the school. One of these unique characteristics includes the Harkness method. This year, rather than just explaining the method, which encourages discussion and exchange of ideas, tour guides now take prospective families into classrooms, an action that has raised some concerns amongst teachers and students. The policy has faced mixed reviewwith teachers or students. In a cluster sample survey* of Upper School students and teachers, 54 percent answered “No” when asked if they liked the policy which allows ambassadors to enter classrooms while 46 percent
responded “Yes,” that they do like the policy. “It’s distracting and I don’t think it makes sense to disrupt classes,” an anonymous member of Gold Key said, “The Harkness method isn’t that hard to understand with just an explanation. This isn’t a zoo, it’s a school.” “We tell our guides not to be disruptive but families do occasionally have questions while in the classrooms,” Gold Key co-president Emma Goodman said, responding to the concerns of those who think it could be distracting. Aside from seeing it as distracting, some have said that simply entering a classroom for a few minutes is not representative of the Harkness method. “I’ve never walked in on a classroom where the conversation has been a good example of Harkness. I go on about how great the Harkness method is and I walk in on a teacher lecturing their students. Teachers have specifically asked me not to go into their classrooms,” another anonymous Gold Key member said. All teachers surveyed answered “No” to the question of whether they liked the policy. When asked to explain, most ex-
EMMA LUIS/TOWER
A GOLD KEY GUIDE shows a prospective family the Pittsburgh Library during a tour. This year, a new tuoring policy was created by the Office of Admission in which students take families into classrooms to view active Harkness discussions. Despite positive feedback from families, teachers and students have reacted negativly to the change. pressed concerns about how they found it disruptive and suggested methods for reform like showing a video of the method in the waiting room of the Office of Admissions or spreading out the classroom visited so a teacher does not
PRO: New policy shows Masters as a example of Harkness
get visited more than once in a period. Head of School Laura Danforth is an advocate of the policy. “I was involved in [the implementation]. We were losing families because they didn’t really understand the Harkness approach to
Shawn FarhaDian Lead Sports Editor
In 1930 at Phillips Exeter Academy, the Harkness method was adopted as a learning style which emphasized student discussion and learning from other peer’s observations while seated around a large, oval table. Named in honor of oil magnate Edward Harkness, the creator of the learning style, the Harkness method has encouraged students, including those of The Masters School, for decades to participate in collaborative learning and obtain individual discovery in an educational environment. As a prestigious independent school, Masters showcases the Harkness method as a key tenet of its transformative educational environment and a way to differentiate itself from other elite high schools within LILY WANG/TOWER Westchester County and New York City. The Harkness method’s dis- A NEW GOLD KEY policy was created this year in which students will enter classcussion-based learning has woven rooms with prospective families for 1-2 minutes to view active Harkness discusitself into our school’s identity and sions. In his piece, Drew Schott argues this policy is a productive and needed addihas become a crucial factor of what tion to tours as it displays the uniqueness of an education at Masters. Additionally, makes a Masters education unique. he relays how seeing and hearing a Harkness discussion firsthand can help the As a result, when a family comes to student envision thomselves as a member of the Masters community. visit campus, it is critical that they see the Harkness method in use in Harkness discussion, especially in plaints to the Office of Admission order to truly see how much we, as humanities classes. For example, if that the presence of tours in classa school, value this learning method. a class has a 45-minute Harkness rooms diminishes the quality of a This September, Director of discussion during a single period, lesson. Additionally, Emma KatznelEnrollment Management Emma one or two tours may enter during son has shared that many families Katznelson briefed members of Gold that time frame. Although, with a say the highlight of their tour is the Key, the touring society whose mem- prospective family merely observ- classroom visit because it exhibits bers are ambassadors of the Office ing, and the only words being said the environment of a Masters classof Admission, about a new policy for are those of the tour guide asking room. showing classrooms As a Gold Key to prospective famtour guide for my ilies. Rather than second year, it has standing outside Masters is advancing in proficiently disbeen a privilege classrooms and playing the Harkness method, exhibiting the to take families pointing out the key factor that makes our school so different, around Masters oval-shaped table and so unque, from thousands of high schools and show them as done in the past, across the country the special place it tour guides would truly is. It greatenter classrooms -DREW SCHOTT ly excites me that while they are in tours now show session and show families Harkness their guests an acdiscussions, one of tive Harkness discussion. As tours to stand in the room, tours do not the school’s self-proclaimed stronhave begun entering classrooms, create distractions during Harkness gest qualities, allowing a prospective some students and faculty are feel- because one, silent visit during a student to see firsthand how this coling that the new policy interrupts 45-minute discussion only compris- laborative learning method will help effective Harkness discussions or es a maximum of three minutes, or them grow as a learner, as a speaker class lectures. However, despite in- seven percent of the discussion time, and as a leader. dividuals’ discontent, I believe this not enough to derail its quality. On both my own tour as a prospectour addition must remain in order Faculty and students are aware tive student in early 2015, and as a to show to a prospective student and of this policy and can expect a Gold tour guide last year, the only Harktheir family the key educational val- Key member and a prospective fam- ness experience I received and preue that our school prides itself upon. ily to enter a room at any time. As a sented was through a small window, A Harkness discussion affords a result, teachers may sometimes feel which showed the oval table, but not collaborative and encouraging envi- pressured to change the course of a the words being said, the questions ronment for students to have engag- class or students be compelled to say being raised and the powerful ening and thoughtful conversations. a comment. But that is not Gold Key gagement of the students. And so, even though the presence of and the Office of Admission’s goal. Members of the Masters commua Gold Key tour in a classroom may This policy is not to force certain be- nity must understand that the Office be considered a hindrance to the haviors or class objectives, but rath- of Admission did not create this poliflow of Harkness, the content and er to exhibit the natural occurences cy to sidetrack students in their acaquality of the discussion does not that make up studies at Masters. demic endeavours. Rather, by giving decline. Besides a Gold Key guide No teacher from any department Gold Key guides the opportunity to asking the teacher for permission to shall be forced to immediately shift enter classrooms with prospective stand in the far corner of the room to Harkness when a family enters. families, Masters is advancing in and observe–an interruption of mere Rather, classes should continue on proficiently displaying the Harkness seconds–these tours, in my opinion, thier path of learning, whether it be method, exhibiting the key factor do not create distractions that will a lecture about historical document that makes our school so different, detract from the effectiveness of the citations or a discussion about Invis- and so unique, from thousands of learning method. ible Man, in order to show the pro- high schools across the country. As a class period may run any- ductive and unique nature of a Maswhere from 55-110 minutes on a nor- ters education. Drew Schott is a member of Gold mal schedule. It is interpreted that Despite certain students and fac- Key. However, his views are solely his a majority of each class, though not ulty expressing disdain for the pol- own and not those of the club or the every minute, will be dedicated to a icy, there have been no formal com- Office of Admission.
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*Please seee out website, tower.mastersny.org, in the editorial section for more information our survey-gathering methods.
CON: Intruding on classes closes door on effective Harkness
Drew Schott Opinion Design Editor
teaching,” Danforth said. She continued, “They thought it was kind of too soft; they thought it was a bunch of kids just sitting around and discussing ideas and they didn’t understand what a Harkness approach was. And I thought, ‘Was this like buying a car without ever trying it? Without ever being shown the car in the showroom?’” Those in favor of the policy, from the Tower survey, said that the change “adds so much to the tour” that a tour guide cannot describe. Some say that, though a distraction, it is minor and has not impacted the flow of the Harkness discussion. Gold Key co-president Marcus Diaz said, “We only step in for two minutes and there are usually only three people in the room so I don’t see how it can be disruptive. We have conversations in front of people all the time and as a Masters student the expectation is to be able to express your ideas no matter who’s watching.”
This year, Gold Key, Masters’ admissions and tour guide club, has been instructed and trained to show prospective families the Harkness method up-close by entering classes taught by History and Religion and English department members in Masters Hall and Science and Math department members on the first floor of Morris Hall. In theory, this idea is foolproof―why not show off this unique, imperative quality to those who wish to see it? In practice, however, this policy’s implementation has brought along numerous concerns and issues. In a survey open to all students and faculty who learn in two sample classrooms on Masters Hall’s second floor and who are frequently visited by tours, 54 percent of respondents said that they do not like this new policy, including all teachers who were surveyed. Out of that group, 65 percent suggested that the best way to improve the policy would be to get rid of it all together. Just 17 percent of all student surveyed said that their decision to attend Masters likely would have been significantly influenced had this policy been in place during their tours in previous years. No faculty member surveyed indicated that this policy would have significantly influenced their desire to work here, either. The way that these “Harkness previews” are conducted has been described by numerous students and faculty as disruptive, disorderly and awkward. The beauty of Harkness includes full-fleshed conversations and sharing spaces that are most effective without the presence of any distractions. These Gold Key tours, however, only bring forth distractions. These interruptions are almost equivalent to the feeling a student or teacher might have while they are trying to articulate a thoughtful point or message, but hear two students across the table conversing and laughing, or see students on their laptops, uninvested in the class. Students and faculty can commonly agree on the fact that Harkness is effective due to its “flow,” and interrupting it multiple times will distract from the actual purpose behind the learning style itself. “The needs of current students should come before the needs of potential future students,” an anonymous teacher survey respondent said. “Teachers were not asked ahead of time how they felt about this policy. When they asked to have it revoked, their request was denied. It is incredible to think that, at Masters, a policy that has such an impact on students and teachers can be implemented without a discussion with either group over their objections.” Harkness and classes at Masters are incredible resources, but also far from perfect. There are never a full 50 minutes of “ideal Harkness-
ing” in every class, let alone Harknessing at all in some and tests in. With this concern in mind, it makes sense to mostly tour humanities classes, but does this not also put a greater burden on the members of these two departments than those of others? Inherently, the History and Religion and English faculties will have to add a now-crucial facet to their teaching methods: continuing to foster productive Harkness conversations with a clear, obvious diversion present in the room. “I think [the policy] makes [prospective families] feel awkward as well, as if they’re intruding. Also, sometimes we are discussing sensitive topics, and it does compromise the perceived ‘safety’ of the space to share ideas in,” noted another anonymous teacher. As one of the most prestigious secondary schools in the Northeastern United States, according to Business Insider, Masters has been able to attract families from all over the world―successfully― for years. The Harkness method, specifically, has been Masters’ crown jewel, an attribute that is marketed and advertised to trump all others. Every single classroom features a large oval table that fosters the discussion-based learning that has become ingrained in the lives of those who sit around it. Students and alumni have described it to be life-changing: a route seperate from desks and lectures and towards a more realistic, vibrant setting. The effectiveness of the Harkness method to students and faculty, in addition to the uniqueness it brings to Masters and the admissions office, is too large to ignore― which is why it must be preserved and unhindered. As a former prospective freshman and current Masters senior, I have loved and appreciated both the positive, “brochure” version of Masters and its imperfect reality, and I am truly grateful for having the opportunity to experience both of them. The tour I had four years ago―a memorable one that described the Harkness method in perfect detail while I peered through the classroom window and saw fully engaged students―resonated with me deeply and helped me make the right decision about where I wanted to attend high school. That earlier method, or a very similar variation of it, has proven to be effective for me and other members of Masters’ current community while simultaneously being efficient for tour guides, the admissions office and prospective families. There are and have been ways for Gold Key to fully display Harkness efficiently and not distract students and teachers during the most important hours of the school day, such as organized “shadow” days for accepted students. An alternative method to―or the elimination of―this current policy should be implemented as soon as possible to enhance the experiences of Masters’ population and its visitors and to allow classes to focus on learning without interruption.
6
OP-ED
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
Letter to the Editor: good sleep rests in School’s hands Dear Tower, Masters prides itself as a place where students have opportunity, in the arts, in sports and in academics. We tell our students that their goals are within reach if they work hard. Yet, this work can be exhausting. According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2014 Sleep in America poll, fewer than half of American children get at least nine hours of sleep per night, and a disturbing 58 percent of 15 to 17 year olds get fewer than seven hours of sleep a night. But teens function best when they receive eight to ten hours of sleep a night. This lack of sleep isn’t just numbers on paper; kids across the nation are harmed every day by bad policy and adult ignorance. At Masters, we aren’t beholden to any government agency in determining school start times. We MUST push start times back in order to give students the sleep they desperately need. One of the most compelling arguments in favor of pushing back start times is the policy’s positive effects on academics. In the early mornings, bleary students are often unable to focus on their classes, as any student who has to sit through a two-hour class just an hour after waking up can attest. According to a February 2014 study headed by Dr. Kyla Wahlstrom at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities, pushing school start times back resulted in a statistically significant increase in grade point average (GPA) for first period and third period classes, and sev-
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eral schools reported additional increases in composite standardized testing scores, likely as a result of increased student attention in early morning classes. Even if students don’t sleep later, extra time in the morning for them to eat a healthy breakfast is similarly valuable. In addition, later start times resulting in more sleep would result in more positive behaviors by students. Masters works hard to prevent students from committing self-destructive behaviors. From Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) to health class, we, as a school, attempt to inform about the dangers ranging from drug and alcohol use to those that can accompany teen sex. Masters has many current policies in place to prevent these actions. The zero tolerance policy and the sanctuary policy testify to this; Masters can point them out to prospective students and families to show that we are a sober school for sober people. Yet, these policies are ineffective in actually reducing the use of harmful substances; just this year, Tower’s special report on JUULing showed the increasing risk of e-cigarettes on campus and in the rest of students’ lives. According to the Teen Rehab Center, teenagers drink 11 percent of all alcohol consumed in the US,
At Masters, we aren’t beholden to any government agency in determining school start times. We MUST push start times back in order to give students the sleep they desperately need. -ELIJAH EMERY
and 21 percent binge drink. Around 20 percent of high schoolers nationally use marijuana at least once a month, which is enough to damage brain development. If Masters really wants to reduce these behaviors, helping teens sleep more is a better approach. According to a 2011 study headed by CDC researcher, Lela R. McKnight-Eily, cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use declined by 8-14 percent when teens slept eight or more hours each night, as compared to those who slept for fewer than eight hours. According to the same study, teen sexual activity de-
clined by 9-11 percent. Some arguments against pushing back school start times come from people who feel it would kill the ability of students to participate in school sports: games which don’t line up, later, unlit practices. However, these concerns ignore the problems with the current system. The primary concern in school sports should always be safety. According to a 2014 paper published by orthopedic surgeon Matthew Milewski and his colleagues,sleep deprivation was the single best predictor of athletic injury in adolescents. The results were striking. The paper found that students who averaged less than
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Masters really wants to reduce these behaviors, helping teens sleep more is a better approach. According to a 2011 study headed by CDC researcher, Lela R. McKnight-Eily, cigarette, alcohol and marijuana use declined by 8-14 percent when teens slept eight or more hours each night -ELIJAH EMERY
eight hours of sleep were 1.7 times more likely to suffer an injury than those who averaged eight or more hours of sleep per night, probably as a result of dulled senses caused by lack of sleep. This danger of injury carries over to other areas. When sleep-deprived students get behind the wheel, they pose a distinct safety risk. Masters day students often drive to school, so it should be concerning that the the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has called drowsy driving an “extreme danger.” Simply put, tired students are less likely to be careful on the road, more likely to make mistakes and more likely to get into accidents. According to Jonathan Adkins, the DAILY CLIP ART director of the Governors Highway Safety Association, “Teens and young adults are involved in more than half of all drowsy driving crashes annually.” Pushing back start times would go a long way in reducing instances of drowsy driving. A 2008 study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that a one-hour shift forward win school start times in a school district in Kentucky was correlated with a 16.5 percent decrease in teen crash rates, compared to a statewide 7.8 percent increase in teen crash rates. In Jackson Hole, WY, one school which pushed its start times back to 8:55 a.m. found a whopping 70 percent reduction in teen car accidents as compared to the year before, a
trend which has since continued. Finally, changes in school start times lower rates of depression and suicidal thoughts in students. According to the McKnight-Eily study self-reported rates of depression declined by 9-11 percent when students got 8 or more hours of sleep a night, and there were also significant declines in activity correlated with suicide, like making a suicide plan. Critics will say that kids should just go to bed earlier; considering sports and extracurriculars, many Masters students aren’t able to start on homework, or even leave school, until around 7 p.m. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that teenagers sleep 8-10 hours a day. Yet during puberty, adolescents become sleepy later at night and need to sleep later in the morning as a result in shifts in biological rhythms. Waking up at 6:00 or 6:30 cuts into badly needed sleep. Considering all of this information, it’s no wonder that the CDC, the American Medical Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics have all issued policy statements that endorse a middle and high school start time of no earlier than 8:30 a.m. We are currently in the process of changing our schedule, and it is imperative that we here at Masters follow these recommendations. We need to let kids sleep, and institute a later start time. Sincerely, Elijah Patrick Emery, ‘19
Removing dress philosophy would stifle free expression Jacob Kriss Web Production Manager Increased confidence, comfort and stronger relationships are all things that come as a result of our school’s inclusive and casual “dress philosophy.” Before coming to Masters I experienced a school with a strict dress code, where identical uniforms were assigned based on gender, as well as another school where the dress code required a uniform but allowed for some level of self expression through different shirt colors and ties. In my experience, I have seen that the process of forming student relationships in schools where students are unable to fully express themselves through their physical appearance lacks certain qualities that we take for granted as students. The increased confidence, sense of individuality, comfort and numerous other benefits promoted by a dress philosophy are greatly beneficial to our school’s unique and empowering effect on students in their ability to define themselves. The National Center for Educational Statistics states that 53 percent of all public schools in the United States have some form of dress code stricter than our Master’s dress philosophy. Larry Wilder, ED.D., & Scott Key, Ph.D.,’s article published by Fresno University in 2007, The Pros and Cons of School Dress Codes, states the benefits of school dress codes as “decreasing violence and theft, preventing students from wearing gang-related colors to school, instilling student discipline, helping to resist peer pressure, helping students concentrate on academics and aiding in recognition of intruders.” These are logical benefits that could be anticipated among many schools in our nation as a result of enforcing strict dress codes. On the other hand, Masters’ small student population coupled with rare instances of theft or violence, provides a safe environment for us to take ad-
vantage of the benefits that come with the freedom to dress uniquely. New students at Masters are impacted by the ability to choose their clothing the most; this is seen in their assimilation and the positive impact that their clothing has on the process of making friends and establishing an identity in the Masters community. This impact on new students is seen in Freshman Patrick CurninShane’s description of his experience with the Masters dress philosophy. “It has benefited my social experience quite a bit, it helped me make a lot of friends and wear my hats that my past schools didn’t allow. Curnin-Shane’s experience is representative of numerous benefits of our dress philosophy: his ability to wear what he wants allows him to learn while being comfortable in his clothing –something that affects everyone’s mood and productivity. Curnin-Shane’s experience of being able to determine who he would like to talk to based on their clothing is an example of the self definition that comes with the freedom to dress. Students are able to express their personality through their clothing and in doing this, their peers are able to visually anticipate strong relationships, allowing them to form faster and start off stronger. The success of the Masters experien ce can be greatly attributed to the freedom to dress with individuality, the qualities and comfort present in our student body are often overlooked in comparison to other schools in the United States. Our ability to identify ourselves through our clothing and the effects of this on our ability to get along and form close relationships greatly benefits the bonds formed within our community. The benefits that come with the freedom to dress could not be enjoyed if it were not for our school’s success of preventing occurrences present in other schools, such as theft which is an even larger factor in forming its pleasurable as well as successful experience.
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
OP-ED
7
Climate denialism shortchanges every student Jacob Strier News Design Editor In 2035, many of us high-schoolers will be trying to start and raise families, follow careers and enjoy adulthood. Instead, the reality we will face involves rising sea levels, increased air pollution and unnaturally warm winters. The second volume of the Fourth National Climate Assessment, NCA4, was released on Nov. 23, 2018. It gives an in-depth analysis of how our collective ecological footprints, especially though pollution and industry, will continue to negatively impact our earth. The release of this information, which has been compiled by hundreds of scientists and other experts, should be another wake-up call for us to reconsider our ecological impacts. According to the NCA4 report, rising temperatures will lead to an increased frequency of unusual weather events, which will endanger the wel-
fare of nearly all American citizens across the country’s diverse ecological regions. According to the NCA4, “Observations collected around the world provide significant, clear and compelling evidence that global average temperature is much higher, and is rising more rapidly, than anything modern civilization has experienced, with widespread and growing impacts.” One section of the report covering the Northeast pointed out that this densely-populated region, which encompasses New York State, is projected to be approximately 3.6 degrees warmer in 2035 than it was during the preindustrial era. This temperature change could mean milder winters, lengthening summers, and other seasonal change. According to the report, “Projected changes in the Northeast’s seasons will continue to affect terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, forest productivity, agricultural land use, and other resource-based industries.” Yet, at the highest levels of the United States government, the lack of response to these environmental
warnings is endangering our future. To truly protect American business President Donald Trump respond- owners, landholders and workers, ed to the report, claiming that he had President Trump ought to believe sciread some and that it was “fine,” but entists and try harder to effect posithat he did not believe it. President tive environmental change. Trump then went on to stress that the The extreme devastation of HurriUnited States was cleaner than ever, cane Harvey, the California wildfires and that he believed in the importance and other natural disasters should of clean water and air, which directly serve as convincing warning to the contradictdangers ed his preof envivious lack Yet, at the highest levels of the United ronmental of faith in States government, the lack of response to breakthe NCA4. these environmental warnings is endand o w n . P r e s gering our future. We must i d e n t - JACOB STRIER choose to Trump’s be proaclack of betive, not lief in the NCA4 is akin to a lack of reactive, when dealing with a crisis belief in our future, and the future of of such intense gravity to our society, all Americans he was elected to repre- and pressure our elected officials to do sent. The report projects widespread the same. economic issues as a result of climate As a recent New York Times opinchange, which will negatively affect ion piece by Paul Krugman pointed American citizens. Yet, the short- out, conservative politicians, includterm business growth favored under ing the late George H.W. Bush, have President Trump’s deregulatory and done important work to reduce levanti-environment policies are as un- els of acid rain and limit greenhouse sustainable as the natural resources emissions. These elected officials unon which many businesses rely. derstood that climate change and the
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protection of the natural resources and beauty of the United States is not a partisan issue, but a deeply American and global duty. Through taking Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science, I have learned about the various ways in which we, as members of the Masters community, can reduce our collective impact on the environment. We can make an active choice to recycle, not only at school but at home. We can refuse plastic straws at restaurants, carpool with friends and shut off the lights when we leave a room. We can sit down with our families or community members to discuss feasible or ambitious environmental goals to strive for in our daily lives. We can also look to make a wider impact, educating those around us about the indisputable dangers of climate change, which will affect all of us, regardless of our political or ideological orientations. Taking AP Environmental Science and reading the NCA4 has served as an eye-opener for me. I urge others to join me and insist on doing better.
Video games can lead to less stress and more interaction Maxwell Goldrich Staff Manager
Multiplayer video games are increasing in popularity–and contrary to many opinions, this is great for teenagers. According to Newzoo, this year’s digital game revenue yielded $113.3 billion of the global game market, a 27 percent increase from 2014. This increase in the global video game market can be traced to Dec. 2017 with the release of PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG), a battle game containing realistic war-like circumstances. This multiplayer game trend continued with Fortnite Battle Royale (released in early access format in Sept. 2017, and on more platforms by 2018), a similar game to PUBG. One of the main target audiences of these video games is high school students. The increased engagement with video games such as PUBG and Fortnite
has helped strengthen social relationships and substitute stress with friendly competition. These games changed the global gaming market, since gamers are suddenly free of the constraints of their gaming consoles. They can now play these games on their phones and other portable devices by downloading the free app. Marko Siitonen from University of Jyväskylä in Finland studied social interaction in online multiplayer communities in his doctoral thesis of speech communication. “Typical online games can be played fairly independently, without seeking closer contact with other gamers. However, social interaction is a strong motivator not only for playing multiplayer games, but also for forming lasting social relationships with other gamers,” wrote Siitonen in his thesis. Junior Jonas Kolker, an avid gamer, believes that the increase in the popularity of these games has a positive effect on high school students. “I think games that are multiplayer and online are good for
MAXWELL GOLDRICH/TOWER
SENIOR SHANE HALPIN PLAYS Shell Shockers, a multi-player game in which gun-wielding eggs battle each others with various types of weapons. Multi-player games, such as Shell Shockers, are popular among many students. Goldrich links this claim to the fact that video games enhance social relations. high schoolers to a certain extent. I think they’re fun and they allow people to play with their friends,”
Kolker said. Shell Shockers, a game in which gun-wielding eggs fight one anoth-
er, has recently become quite popular as well. Masters students are flooding the library to play Shell Shockers during and after school. Librarian Judy Murphy believes that playing these games during school has a negative impact on students. “Playing video games during school is distracting to students, and people should be coming to the library to work,” Murphy said. Kolker disagrees. “I think that games like Shell Shockers are par for the course at this point,” said Kolker. “There’s something very wholesome about just jumping on a computer next to some kids you don’t know too well and playing some random game online with them.” Overall, the growth of multiplayer video games enhances social interaction with friends and creates a more stress-free environment. As long as students can keep a balance with their school work and not let video games impede their education, multiplayer video games serve to benefit students socially and mentally.
Letter to the Editor: Masters is no longer a “power for good” in Jonestown Dear Tower, Since the 1990s, each year, a group of nine Masters students and faculty members has traveled to Jonestown, Mississippi for one week during spring break to volunteer with Sister Kay Burton, a Jonestown-based Catholic nun, who has lived and worked in that community for over thirty years. In the past, students had worked on home repairs and other projects. Sister Kay has witnessed Masters send 24 groups of volunteers to Jonestown, making this the lon-
gest-running volunteer group that visits Jonestown. The volunteers have worked on many homes that needed plumbing, electrical work and other improvements, like helping to build a track and a softball field. A year ago, Sister Kay visited Masters and stood in front of the entire Upper School, applauding our numerous efforts to assist Jonestown. She spoke on how important Masters’ relationship with their school and program was all the while, pointing to Masters as a beacon for selfless community ser-
vice. Now our actions seem to betray her very words. Starting this year, the annual Jonestown trip will instead be “A Tour of the American Southeast,” consisting of visiting museums, sightseeing, and only one day of service, as opposed to the five days that Masters usually spends with Jonestown community. The revised trip, explained by MISH Director Dena Torino, would be be an expansion of the Jonestown trip that Masters usually makes. “Building upon years of a relationship with Jonestown,
ROBERT CORNIGANS/TOWER
FOR THE LAST TWENTY-five years, Masters students have travelled to Jonestown, Mississippi to complete community service work during a spring break service project. However, this year, the trip will spend less time in Jonestown and instead travel to tour more cities in the South. Choudry believes that the change in the trip’s intinerary detracts from the longtime emphasis of community service. Choudhry in front row, third from left, stands with the rest of the Masters Spring 2018 crew.
Mississippi, this trip will visit communities in the American South in hopes of understanding better how the American South functions in relation to other parts of the country,” Torino said. It seems to not, however, build the relationship with Jonestown, but erode what we as an institution stand for. While getting students out of the Northeast bubble and exposing them to the diverse cultures that exist within the United States is important, it shouldn’t be done at the expense of a long-standing service tradition. It saddens me that Masters would misuse the privilege it has to help others and trade that in for sightseeing. The additions to the trip seem to embody good intentions in that students are striving to learn and understand the differences in our various backgrounds. Yet what I think what people fails to understand that service and learning aren’t mutually exclusive. That’s just it: Service Learning. We learn so much through the process of giving to others. Senior Tonya Sosa attended the Jonestown trip last year. She said, “To travel to Jonestown and see the effects of “white flight” and Jim Crow, not as a tourist but rather fully immersed in the community-it becomes a different kind of classroom one that I don’t think is comparable to the changes that will be implemented this year.” Through service, rather than a study tour, one experiences raw interactions with people in the South and truly internalizes the disparities that exist even within the United States. By becoming one with the community and immersing oneself within the culture you achieve more than a superficial understanding of race, class, and social structures.
When I attended Jonestown last year, I spent a week working on a family’s house, painting, gardening, cleaning, leveling the ceiling and fixing the wall boards. The last day of our trip, we went sightseeing and went to a museum. I can honestly say I remember almost nothing of the museum I saw. But, what I do remember are the lasting relationships I formed with the people of Jonestown through service. The trip raises the question as to what Masters is prioritizing. One should recognize what will be lost through the execution of this trip: the depth. The new trip could still turn out to be very impactful if carried out correctly, but it will miss the deep connections that come with having a strong relationship with the residents of Jonestown. Sister Kay, while, talking to the students at Masters in the spring of 2018, said, “I plan to stay and work in Jonestown until I can’t work or talk anymore.” How can we, who are so much younger not have the same fortitutude as Sister Kay? According to MISH director Dena Torino, this trip is running almost as a trial run. If what is expected becomes the reality, that is, the students are unable to truly make any meaningful connections from this trip, then we must urge our MISH officials to rexamine this trip in relation to our mission statement to be a power for good in the world. Sincerely, Amina Choudhry ‘19
8
FEATURES AND ARTS
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
9
Out with the old & in with the new
I
An ode to taxis
f it’s equally easy to take a cab or a Lyft, I would prefer to take a cab, because I feel like they’re the underdog. There are places where you can hail a cab, but at any given time of day you might have to wait a long time, or something might not even come, whereas if you use an app, you can have a guaranteed ride in 5 minutes. All things being equal, I’d rather hail a cab.
Uber Overtakes Taxis
ber drivers don’t have to have a medallion, so this U thing that cab drivers thought would be really valuable and job security, is worth much, much less now be-
cause of ride sharing apps. There’s been a spike in suicides of cab drivers in the New York area, because 20 or 30 years ago there were people who spent their life savings to try to get a medallion, counting on that being their retirement and livelihood for the foreseeable future. There might be cab drivers who are struggling to stay afloat, working really long days without making much money or saving money.
he convenience of using an app is really nice. There T are times when definitely the fastest and easiest way is to use uber or lift. I feel conflicted about it, though, be-
cause I know it’s had this very detrimental effect on the taxi industry, and that there are individual cab drivers who have really suffered because of Uber and Lyft coming into the market. If it’s equally easy to take a cab or a Lyft, I would prefer to take a cab, because I feel like they’re the underdog. There are places where you can hail a cab, but at any given time of day you might have to wait a long time, or something might not even come, whereas if you use an app, you can have a guaranteed ride in five minutes. All things being equal, I’d rather hail a cab.
Jacob Strier/TOWER
PETER BLIER, THE MANAGER at Central Taxi in Scarsdale, New York, dispatching incoming calls. Blier voiced concerns about the decline of the taxi business, which he has seen due to the popularity of Uber.
Central Taxi employees experience a declining industry By JacoB Strier News Design Editor
Inside the Decline of Central Taxi
Taxi driver Donna Albanese used to spend her busy weekend nights driving teenagers from party to party: now her weekend business at Central Taxi in Scarsdale, NY, is all but dead since the rise of apps like Uber, mirroring a larger decline throughout the taxi industry. A cab driver for 25 years, Albanese and other drivers at the company have been there for decades, and are bearing witness to industry-wide losses. “This was a job for people without a skill, profession or college degree. You could work hard, long hours, and make a decent amount of money,” she said. I sat down with Pierre Blier, the manager, to learn more. Amid the buzz of phone calls and the hum of drivers taking a moment to warm up in the intimate office space, Blier told me that Central Taxi is a long-time fixture of the Scarsdale community, and a company which parents trust to drive their children. Yet, business has faced economic losses in recent years. According to Blier, Westchester residents trust Central Taxi for a variety of reasons. He noted how Central Taxi drivers walk younger children to their art classes, and how the business routinely picks up physically and mentally handicapped passengers. The company cannot legally deny service to any customer. During the snowstorm this past November, which brought buses and Ubers to a halt, Central Taxi stayed open, catering to a line of people which he described as “70 people deep.”
here’s also recently the addition of the green cabs, T which are outer borough cabs. They look like yellow cabs except they’re a light green, and you can only hail them
in, not because it is profitable, but because the town wanted a live presence here.” Recently though, he said their live nighttime presence has provided a safe backdrop for people, many of whom are younger, to wait for Ubers. “Younger people who are passing through here will not even talk to us anymore. They whip out their phones, and stand there for 20 minutes waiting. They are afraid of us. If they asked us what our prices are locally, within a few miles, we are cheaper than Uber,” Blier said. This is a radical difference from only a few years ago, when local teenagers would call Central Taxi to find out where the house parties were.
Jeff Deamario, has been with the Scarsdale company for just over a year. As an Uber driver in Orlando, Deamario faced a range of difficulties which led him to distance himself from the company. “When I had a problem, there was nobody to talk to. I would be texting back and forth with nameless people. I said, ‘To hell with you guys,’” Deamario said. He also brought up the safety aspect of driving for Uber, “For me to drive for Uber, I didn’t even have to have passenger insurance,” he said. Blier said that if passengers have an issue with a Central Taxi ride or driver, they can call the office and speak to him directly. Uber Entails Erratic “People value the interaction between a human Pricing In terms of pricing, Blier being as opposed to an said that Uber is trying to app,” he said. gain market-share through lower pricing, eliminating Taxi Driver Laments competitors, before eventual- Decline Albanese said that ly raising prices. “Their low prices are lower than anyone ride-sharing apps like can do this for and stay in Uber take money out business, but then they have of local neighborhoods the surge pricing. During the and send it elsewhere. last big snowstorm, they were “I’m into anti-globalcharging a 380 percent sur- ism, having money stay in the community,” she charge,” he said. Blier said that a ride for said. “Now what’s hapa Masters student to JFK pening is all that monwould cost about 93 dollars, ey that was going to and a ride to the Upper West all these individuals is Side of NYC would cost 75-80 going up to the top to a dollars. Uber prices vary con- couple of people.” siderably based on demand Albanese also noted that teenage perspecand availability of drivers. tives have changed Central Taxi’s Relation- over the years regarding riding in taxicabs. ship with Masters Blier said that Central “Americans are very Taxi makes numerous runs to fad-oriented. It is the Masters throughout the week, in thing now to use often for families who live in Uber. Kids used to Scarsdale and its surrounding think we were cool, towns.“We actually do a lot of they’d see us and business with The Masters yell ‘Central Taxi.’ School,” he said. “Parents like Now, we’re not cool sending us with their kids. All anymore,” she said.
in outer boroughs or certain parts of Manhattan. The thing about green cabs is the sort of wrinkle in the cab driver vs uber debate because it’s now easier to hail a cab outside of Manhattan - Jonathan Karpinos
Uber influences medallions By Sarah FaBer Staff Writer Since the birth of the taxi industry, preserving the authenticity of New York City cabs has been a goal of the city. In 1937, after years of stand-still traffic and unlivable wages for cab drivers competing to offer the best fare, the New York City Council passed the Hass ordinance 50-4. The ordinance mandated that to drive a taxi, one must purchase a medallion – a license that allows a driver to legally operate a cab. The ordinance also set a limit for the number of taxis permitted to be in circulation. At its peak in 2013, the market value of a medallion was $1.3 million. Because
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/GETTY VIA FLICKR
UBER IS MOST POPULAR due to its efficiency and speed which can be attributed to it being an easy to use app. The app allows people to be comfortable with their driver, as they recieve ratings.
An ode to Ubers Y
ou can track it on your phone, and you know the price beforehand. I’ve taken Ubers to friends’ houses before I could drive, if there’s a party you’ll hear people say ‘let’s call an Uber.’ In the suburbs, there are no yellow taxis. There was a song called “Uber Everywhere”, when it came out people thought it was fashionable to Uber. Because you can see where it is, it is more reliable.
- Max Steinert
of our drivers are fingerprint
Young People Look Past and background-checked evTaxis ery year.” The last Metro-North trains enter the Scarsdale station A Taxi Driver Shares His after 2 a.m., and according to Blier, Central Taxi is there for Experience One Central Taxi drivpassengers. “Late at night we are here till the last train gets er and former Uber employee,
of the scarcity of medallions, it was a safe investment. Hoping to make a profit on the growing population of the city, drivers of some 13,000 cars invested in their own medallion. However, as of June 2018, the price of the medallion had plummeted to a mere $160,000-$250,000. So, if some cab drivers have invested their life’s savings on a medallion, how come Uber and other ride sharing apps can drive passengers without one? The answer lies in a small loophole. Services like limousines that are arranged in advance don’t require a medallion to operate because they aren’t picking up passengers directly off the streets. Because Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing apps are simply individual drivers picking up passengers in their own car, there’s no technical illegality.
ILLUSTRATION: LILY WANG LAYOUT DESIGN: VINCENT ALBAN WRITING: JACOB STRIER SARAH FABER
Masters students and faculty were surveyed about their use of ride sharing apps and/or taxis. The most frequent users of each were selected for interviews. Quotes from the interviews are displaed to the right. Interviews by Jacob Strier and Sarah Faber.
I
use Uber a lot more, at least multiple times a week. I think it’s effectively replaced taxi services. You can have it within 10 minutes. In my experiences with taxi they’ve been late, or just generally unreliable. The other part is price. To get to my house, a cab would be $35.00, whereas an Uber would be $14.87
- Max Levy
8
FEATURES AND ARTS
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
9
Out with the old & in with the new
I
An ode to taxis
f it’s equally easy to take a cab or a Lyft, I would prefer to take a cab, because I feel like they’re the underdog. There are places where you can hail a cab, but at any given time of day you might have to wait a long time, or something might not even come, whereas if you use an app, you can have a guaranteed ride in 5 minutes. All things being equal, I’d rather hail a cab.
Uber Overtakes Taxis
ber drivers don’t have to have a medallion, so this U thing that cab drivers thought would be really valuable and job security, is worth much, much less now be-
cause of ride sharing apps. There’s been a spike in suicides of cab drivers in the New York area, because 20 or 30 years ago there were people who spent their life savings to try to get a medallion, counting on that being their retirement and livelihood for the foreseeable future. There might be cab drivers who are struggling to stay afloat, working really long days without making much money or saving money.
he convenience of using an app is really nice. There T are times when definitely the fastest and easiest way is to use uber or lift. I feel conflicted about it, though, be-
cause I know it’s had this very detrimental effect on the taxi industry, and that there are individual cab drivers who have really suffered because of Uber and Lyft coming into the market. If it’s equally easy to take a cab or a Lyft, I would prefer to take a cab, because I feel like they’re the underdog. There are places where you can hail a cab, but at any given time of day you might have to wait a long time, or something might not even come, whereas if you use an app, you can have a guaranteed ride in five minutes. All things being equal, I’d rather hail a cab.
Jacob Strier/TOWER
PETER BLIER, THE MANAGER at Central Taxi in Scarsdale, New York, dispatching incoming calls. Blier voiced concerns about the decline of the taxi business, which he has seen due to the popularity of Uber.
Central Taxi employees experience a declining industry By JacoB Strier News Design Editor
Inside the Decline of Central Taxi
Taxi driver Donna Albanese used to spend her busy weekend nights driving teenagers from party to party: now her weekend business at Central Taxi in Scarsdale, NY, is all but dead since the rise of apps like Uber, mirroring a larger decline throughout the taxi industry. A cab driver for 25 years, Albanese and other drivers at the company have been there for decades, and are bearing witness to industry-wide losses. “This was a job for people without a skill, profession or college degree. You could work hard, long hours, and make a decent amount of money,” she said. I sat down with Pierre Blier, the manager, to learn more. Amid the buzz of phone calls and the hum of drivers taking a moment to warm up in the intimate office space, Blier told me that Central Taxi is a long-time fixture of the Scarsdale community, and a company which parents trust to drive their children. Yet, business has faced economic losses in recent years. According to Blier, Westchester residents trust Central Taxi for a variety of reasons. He noted how Central Taxi drivers walk younger children to their art classes, and how the business routinely picks up physically and mentally handicapped passengers. The company cannot legally deny service to any customer. During the snowstorm this past November, which brought buses and Ubers to a halt, Central Taxi stayed open, catering to a line of people which he described as “70 people deep.”
here’s also recently the addition of the green cabs, T which are outer borough cabs. They look like yellow cabs except they’re a light green, and you can only hail them
in, not because it is profitable, but because the town wanted a live presence here.” Recently though, he said their live nighttime presence has provided a safe backdrop for people, many of whom are younger, to wait for Ubers. “Younger people who are passing through here will not even talk to us anymore. They whip out their phones, and stand there for 20 minutes waiting. They are afraid of us. If they asked us what our prices are locally, within a few miles, we are cheaper than Uber,” Blier said. This is a radical difference from only a few years ago, when local teenagers would call Central Taxi to find out where the house parties were.
Jeff Deamario, has been with the Scarsdale company for just over a year. As an Uber driver in Orlando, Deamario faced a range of difficulties which led him to distance himself from the company. “When I had a problem, there was nobody to talk to. I would be texting back and forth with nameless people. I said, ‘To hell with you guys,’” Deamario said. He also brought up the safety aspect of driving for Uber, “For me to drive for Uber, I didn’t even have to have passenger insurance,” he said. Blier said that if passengers have an issue with a Central Taxi ride or driver, they can call the office and speak to him directly. Uber Entails Erratic “People value the interaction between a human Pricing In terms of pricing, Blier being as opposed to an said that Uber is trying to app,” he said. gain market-share through lower pricing, eliminating Taxi Driver Laments competitors, before eventual- Decline Albanese said that ly raising prices. “Their low prices are lower than anyone ride-sharing apps like can do this for and stay in Uber take money out business, but then they have of local neighborhoods the surge pricing. During the and send it elsewhere. last big snowstorm, they were “I’m into anti-globalcharging a 380 percent sur- ism, having money stay in the community,” she charge,” he said. Blier said that a ride for said. “Now what’s hapa Masters student to JFK pening is all that monwould cost about 93 dollars, ey that was going to and a ride to the Upper West all these individuals is Side of NYC would cost 75-80 going up to the top to a dollars. Uber prices vary con- couple of people.” siderably based on demand Albanese also noted that teenage perspecand availability of drivers. tives have changed Central Taxi’s Relation- over the years regarding riding in taxicabs. ship with Masters Blier said that Central “Americans are very Taxi makes numerous runs to fad-oriented. It is the Masters throughout the week, in thing now to use often for families who live in Uber. Kids used to Scarsdale and its surrounding think we were cool, towns.“We actually do a lot of they’d see us and business with The Masters yell ‘Central Taxi.’ School,” he said. “Parents like Now, we’re not cool sending us with their kids. All anymore,” she said.
in outer boroughs or certain parts of Manhattan. The thing about green cabs is the sort of wrinkle in the cab driver vs uber debate because it’s now easier to hail a cab outside of Manhattan - Jonathan Karpinos
Uber influences medallions By Sarah FaBer Staff Writer Since the birth of the taxi industry, preserving the authenticity of New York City cabs has been a goal of the city. In 1937, after years of stand-still traffic and unlivable wages for cab drivers competing to offer the best fare, the New York City Council passed the Hass ordinance 50-4. The ordinance mandated that to drive a taxi, one must purchase a medallion – a license that allows a driver to legally operate a cab. The ordinance also set a limit for the number of taxis permitted to be in circulation. At its peak in 2013, the market value of a medallion was $1.3 million. Because
ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP/GETTY VIA FLICKR
UBER IS MOST POPULAR due to its efficiency and speed which can be attributed to it being an easy to use app. The app allows people to be comfortable with their driver, as they recieve ratings.
An ode to Ubers Y
ou can track it on your phone, and you know the price beforehand. I’ve taken Ubers to friends’ houses before I could drive, if there’s a party you’ll hear people say ‘let’s call an Uber.’ In the suburbs, there are no yellow taxis. There was a song called “Uber Everywhere”, when it came out people thought it was fashionable to Uber. Because you can see where it is, it is more reliable.
- Max Steinert
of our drivers are fingerprint
Young People Look Past and background-checked evTaxis ery year.” The last Metro-North trains enter the Scarsdale station A Taxi Driver Shares His after 2 a.m., and according to Blier, Central Taxi is there for Experience One Central Taxi drivpassengers. “Late at night we are here till the last train gets er and former Uber employee,
of the scarcity of medallions, it was a safe investment. Hoping to make a profit on the growing population of the city, drivers of some 13,000 cars invested in their own medallion. However, as of June 2018, the price of the medallion had plummeted to a mere $160,000-$250,000. So, if some cab drivers have invested their life’s savings on a medallion, how come Uber and other ride sharing apps can drive passengers without one? The answer lies in a small loophole. Services like limousines that are arranged in advance don’t require a medallion to operate because they aren’t picking up passengers directly off the streets. Because Uber, Lyft, and other ride-sharing apps are simply individual drivers picking up passengers in their own car, there’s no technical illegality.
ILLUSTRATION: LILY WANG LAYOUT DESIGN: VINCENT ALBAN WRITING: JACOB STRIER SARAH FABER
Masters students and faculty were surveyed about their use of ride sharing apps and/or taxis. The most frequent users of each were selected for interviews. Quotes from the interviews are displaed to the right. Interviews by Jacob Strier and Sarah Faber.
I
use Uber a lot more, at least multiple times a week. I think it’s effectively replaced taxi services. You can have it within 10 minutes. In my experiences with taxi they’ve been late, or just generally unreliable. The other part is price. To get to my house, a cab would be $35.00, whereas an Uber would be $14.87
- Max Levy
10
FEATURES
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
Behind Admissions A SpeciAl report Written By: AlexAndrA Bentzien Editor-in-Chief
L
E
ach year, the Masters’ Admissions office is tasked with building a new class of ninth graders and adding members to the 10th and 11th grade and Thai scholars to the 12th grade, in a process that not only entails reviewing applications, but also extensive travel and outreach initiatives. This article takes a look inside the Upper School admissions office, reporting on how diversity and talent are considered, and what the office does to promote Masters at home and abroad. Reporting was based on interviews with Emma Katznelson, Director of Enrollment Management; Andrea Fischer, Director of Upper School Admissions; Aishling Peterson, Director of Middle School Admissions; and Head of School Laura Danforth.
Would this child achieve academic and social-emotional success?
ike many colleges, Masters’ admissions office approaches each application with the intention of “holistic review.” While student transcripts and standardized test scores (Masters accepts either the Independent School Entrance Exam (ISEE) or the Secondary School Admissions Test (SSAT).) are taken into consideration, there is no minimum average an applicant must achieve. Prioritized instead, is a prospective student’s ability to grow and contribute to the community.
“The key is that we’re looking for mission-aligned students,” Katznelson said. Masters’ mission statement: To strive, to dare, to do encompasses thedepth of intellectual, social and emotional curiosity the admissions committee reviews in each application. “You want to make sure that it’s not just one type of student from one type of background that’s at this school,” Katznelson said.
A little bit of art, a little bit of science: enrollment
A
Approximately 550-600 students apply to Masters’ Upper School each fall season (the majority for ninth-grade admission), a number which surpasses all four grades of the Upper School’s current population of 506 students. The unpredictability of the number of student accepted offers each year makes it difficult to create uniformity in each class’ size. “The whole class-size thing is a longterm process in terms of achieving balance. It would be great if I knew every person who said Masters is my number one school actually would come,” Katznelson said. To strive for a balanced class size, the admissions office will examine data and
A
trends from the past few years, specifically looking at yield rates for the amount of students admitted versus the amount of students who commit to attendance. “It’s not a perfect science and we try to stay as close to our enrollment numbers as possible,” Fischer said. According to Fischer, a grade’s population stays close to its targeted amount, and admissions is very conscious of the effect it has on one of Masters’ featured selling points: a school with small class sizes. According to Phillips Exeter Academy, the first school to incorporate the Harkness method, the original Harkness table as designed by Edward Harkness is supposed to accommodate at most 12 students.
Access programs
ffinity groups, Diversity Ambassadors, and the Equity and Inclusion initiative all work to ensure that members within the Masters community find spaces in which to discuss and celebrate diversity. Reflecting this commitment to diversity within the student body begins with admissions outreach to programs such as A Better Chance (ABC), the program which assisted Masters’ first black student, New Jersey Seeds, REACH Prep, Oliver Scholars and Prep for Prep that help students of underrepresented backgrounds during the independent school admissions process. Each year, the admissions office and heads of school will meet with the directors or CEOs of the programs in order to begin a conversation about the admissions process for the following school year. The organizations prepare current middle schoolers of different racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds to excel in an independent school environment through offering intensive prep programs that take place during summer and Saturday classes, not only assigning classwork, but homework as well. One non-profit, REACH Prep, not only provides tutorship for the ISEE standardized test, but also offers courses in math, English, Latin and History in an effort to prepare students with the knowledge they need to enter into a private school. “In our mission statement it literally says ‘a diverse group of individuals,” Katznelson said. “The fact that we’re a school that really says, ‘We want to ensure that we are a diverse community,’ is really important and not a lot of schools say that.” The admissions office maintains relationships with access programs through presenting at fairs in Westchester and the tri-state area, and also spreads recognition through word-of-mouth, which was noted as one of the admissions office’s “greatest tools” by Fischer, Katznelson and Peterson. Because of the long relationships Masters has forged with these organizations, the admissions office does not reach out to specific students within an access program, and there are no
spots guaranteed to students affiliated with an access program. Rather, these programs will begin interacting with Masters’ admissions office at the beginning of the academic year to find out more about the School. One way in which the admissions office introduces the campus and the community to prospective students from access programs is by inviting families to campus. Typically, a group will receive a tour and have the opportunity to speak with admissions officers on campus, as well as attend a student panel. Thirty students of the access program TEAK, which assists students who need full tuition and expenses covered during their time at Masters, were recently invited to campus and had the opportunity to acclimatize to boarding life by visiting the dining hall, using the pool and staying in the dorms. “These programs would always love as many of their kids to come to our school, but we have to be careful about choosing a handful from different progams, or having an alliance with just one or two programs,” Danforth said. Currently, the percentage of students who self-identify as people of color at Masters is 35 percent, according to Peterson. Self-reporting racial backgound is optional for students, and so this percentage may be close to but may not exactly reflect the true numberof students of color at Masters. “There are no quotas, but it’s not something that’s a subconscious thing. We do want a grade that is not homogenous, and [is] incredibly unique,” Fischer said. The percentage of students of color has been an approximate constant in past years. However, looking ahead to the 2019-2020 school year, Katznelson is aiming for students of color to reach an ideal representation in the student population at the 30 percent mark or higher. “I think realistically in terms of what independent schools look like, that’s very healthy,” Katznelson said. In comparison with nearby independent day schools, the student body of Hackley School has 36 percent students of color in its K-12 program, Rye Country Day School
has 32 pecent in grades 5-12, and Riverdale Country School has 39 percent in Pre-K-12, according to each school’s website. For boarding schools with a 9-12 grade program, the percentage of students of color remain fairly similar – Choate Rosemary Hal is 36 percent and Hotchkiss School is 33 percent – while Phillips Exeter Academy has 48 percent and Phillips Academy at Andover has 50 percent students of color, according to each school’s college admissions profile. For Danforth, it is important that diversity is not only considered in the stu-
F
Talent at Masters
or admissions, diversity also includes representation of different talents and interests, whether they be academic, athletic or artistic. The construction of the Fonseca Center in 2015 as a space where both arts and athletics were housed in the same building was meant to reflect the diversity of interests in the student population, whether it be theater or basketball, squash or music. “I see this as a school that offers kids opportunities. We are not asking them to choose just to be an athlete or an artist or a scientist. They can be all these things at Masters,” Katznelson said. Masters does not actively “recruit talent,” meaning that it does not scout for students with athletic or artistic potential to join the student body. “We do not have a quota for students– for example, we aren’t looking for a certain number basketball players and another number of people who want to perform Shakespeare,” Katznelson said. “We don’t have quotas in anything.” Fischer said. Special interests in an athletic or artis-
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tic field are commonly mentioned during the interview process, where a student will get the opportunity to speak about their experience and commitment to their activity. When a student has a pronounced interest in a specific field, the admissions office will provide a student with additional information about a program; in the case of a strong athletic pursuit, this might mean an opportunity to speak to a coach. Most often, student athletes who apply to Masters become aware of the school through coaches referrals, word-of-mouth and attending sports games or meets on campus. Demonstration of a talent is reviewed in the application and is not a part of the financial aid process: financial aid packages are handled independently and admissions offers do not include merit scholarships. The financial aid process is need-based with each package determined by a family’s individual application and a computer-based data program affiliated with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Boarding life
urrently, applicants to the Upper School are divided into two pools of “boarding” and “day” student and are considered for whichever program they apply for. The new five-day boarding program, which will be inaugurated in the fall of 2019, expands the choices a boarding student has in their on-campus living arrangements. According to Katznelson, promotion and outreach for both seven-day and five-day boarding programs has remained similar in nature, though students who are interested in fiveday boarding typically apply as a day student to other independent schools in the tri-state area. In the past years, interest in traditional boarding and private schools has declined in
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dent body, but among faculty and staff members, and that a commitment to diversity is reflected in academic learning. “I think we can always do a better job at diversifying the adults to have our adult body to look more like our student body,” Danforth said. “I think our curriculum needs to speak to all of our students. I know that different departments are looking at ways in which they can diversify their curriculum, and that’s very exciting.”
the United States: according to a 2016 U.S. Census Bureau study, enrollment in private schools dropped 14% since the previous study was taken in 2006. “One of the things, and this is something that is well-known in boarding schools, is that there has been a decline in a full-pay applicant. What we’re seeing with a lot of our peer schools is that students who typically would have been waitlisted or denied in the past are being accepted to a lot of these schools because they are full-pay applicants,” Peterson said. “You need to have enough full-pay applicants in order to offer financial aid to your other students.” According to Peterson, this only applies to domestic boarding. Peterson stated that Masters has managed to remain consistent with how they admit new students.
International travel initiatives
romoting Masters’ boarding program entails extensive domestic and international travel, which takes place year round and finds admissions officers in South America, Europe, and Asia. Peterson recently spent time introducing Masters in Germany on a multi-city tour which included visits to Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg, among other destinations. Each presentation begins with a one-minute speech which is specifically geared toward the German market. In order to provide the most relevant information in such a short timeframe, the North American Boarding Initiative (NABI) – a branch of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS) that spreads awareness about various boarding programs – provides background information on trends and interest patterns within the German demographic. For example, a presentation for German families will focus on tennis, swimming, and soccer, sports typically favored by German students, and highlight the engineering program as well as Masters’ close proximity to
New York City. Additionally, the rigor of Masters Upper School curriculum is emphasized, as a concern of many parents is that their children will fall behind while preparing for their Abitur, the German high school diploma. “There is this perception that coming to the U.S. is like summer camp, and that we don’t have the same type of academic rigor as German schools. We talk a lot about the AP courses, especially AP Bio, because they want to be kept up to speed in math and science,” Peterson said. One way Masters sustains an international base is through maintaining contracts with study abroad programs, like ASSIST, which provides international students an opportunity to learn at an American independent school. Developing “traction” – defined by Peterson as a base of one to three families – as a school in new regions or countries usually requires three to five years, according to Peterson.
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
FEATURES
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Uncovering how Masters’ classes of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 came to be EMMA LUIS/TOWER
EMMA LUIS & VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER
WIKIMEDIA CREATIVE COMMONS
AS APPLICATION SEASONS ROLLS around each winter, Masters looks towards the Admissions Office to admit students to each class. From tours and campus visits (pictured top left and bottom right), outreach, programs and ultimatly sending out admissions decisions (pictured bottom left), the Admissions Office is busy year round.
ISAAC CASS
International travel initiatives(continued) terson. Some places where Masters has already established a strong relationship is in Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong, and also in Germany; in the last few years, there has been an increasing interest from the Caribbean, where members of the admissions office attends fairs each year in Jamaica, Cayman, and the Bahamas. A trend among North American boarding schools is a rise in applicants from India, though this increase has not surfaced at Masters yet. The admissions office has experienced a small increase in applicants from countries including Turkey and Kazkhstan, which can be attributed to a change in political climate or educational system of the countries. “Wherever there’s a dip in the public education and if we see that a country’s system is declining or if they have a new political party reigning, it will determine whether families are looking for alternative educational resources,” Peterson said. China is also sending fewer students to
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U.S. colleges and universities, which is motivated by political reasons and a rise in the country’s own private education system. According to Forbes magazine, the Chinese government will invest $51.7 billion by 2020 in developing its domestic private education, an increase from $19.7 billion in 2012. However, Danforth still travels to China to maintain relationships with current families in the Masters community more so than to campaign on behalf of the school, and in the future is also towards the Pacific Rim at countries including Korea, Japan, Cambodia and Thailand to build traction. Making sure Masters represents a diverse body of international and domestic students is carefully considered during the admissions review. “We do typically limit from different regions. That’s a pretty common practice among all boarding schools just in order to ensure that you have a diverse student body,” Peterson said. Peterson was not able to provide specific numbersbased on region.
Tuition at Masters
asters has released the new tuition amount for the 2019-2020 school year, whose considerable increases are due to the incorporation of all additional fees – including the student activities fee and the facilities fee – into the cost of tuition. (The only fee which will remain outstanding is a fee which requires all international students to have health insurance.) According to an email sent out to parents, the inclusion of all fees was made in response to parent requests. Over the past week, students have expressed concern in the stark rise in tuition. However, Danforth explained that financial aid assistance will increase in conjunction with the cost of tuition. “If our tuition goes up, our financial aid will go up for that individual family. So each year, parents will apply for financial aid, and we look at the family income and base that accordingly,” Danforth said. Approximately 17 percent of Masters’ operating budget – 87 percent of which comes from student tuition – is reserved for financial aid, with an additional two percent going towards tuition remission for children of
faculty. The total budget for financial aid and tuition remissions is $6 million, according to Katznelson. Next year the change in the school’s boarding program to include not only seven-day boarding but also a five-day boarding option will reduce the amount of programming five-day boarders are required to attend. Additionally, the dorms will remain open during Thanksgiving break in the 2019-2020 school year, according to Danforth. The school’s tuition also reflects the flexibility of the Dining Hall program, which allows day students as well as boarders to eat three meals on campus each day. Other day schools in the area will only offer one meal, normally lunch, each weekday to its student body and faculty and staff. Though Danforth recognizes the importance to providing all members of the community access to a three-meal dining program, the amount of meals commuting faculty, staff, and students can eat represents a “huge dollar amount” for the school. Danforth said she wants to prioritize financial aid for Masters current students,
an intention which she has already discussed with Katznelson and Ed Biddle, Chief Financial Officer. “We need to absolutely make sure that our current families and students can benefit from the financial aid dollars first and foremost. It’s not just for kids coming in the door,” Danforth said. Currently, Masters’ financial aid coverage is guided by a need-based principle instead of by merit scholarships, though Danforth noted that there are times when exceptions are made. “There are always situations where you have someone who has already received 50 percent financial aid, and maybe the parents say, look, for an addition 5,000 dollars we’re in, we can’t really quite swing it. But for an additional bit of money we can do it. And maybe that kid is talented in a certain area and we’re trying to build the visual arts program, or we’re trying to build the girls’ soccer program,” Danforth said. Danforth expressed that she would ideally prefer Masters to be need-blind and have a higher amount of financial aid dollars reserved for students. “We have lost a lot of applicants in the past – at least in my time here – when you have perhaps a family that can pay full tuition but there’s another school that’s given them 50% tuition because they’re an outstanding athlete or an outstanding musician,” Danforth said. The acceptance process in terms of financial aid can be difficult, particularly with the acceptance of international students. Many U.S. colleges and universities do not offer financial aid to international students, with the exception being for Division I or II athletes. Even then, preference is given to aid domestic athletes, which results in international athletes being responsible for paying tuition. “I need to be careful not to set up a dead-end situation with some international kids. I want to make sure that they have access to college and university after Masters,” Danforth said. In the past years, Masters’ tuition has consistently increased with each school year. In a recent announcement by the School, Masters’ tuition is set to follow this trend and increase yet again for the
2019-2020 school year. For the 2018-2019 school year, tuition—excluding additional fees, such as the student activities fee, the international boarding fee and facilities fee— costed $45,900 and $64,000 for day and boarding, respectively. According to the announcement, for the 2019-2020 school year, annual tuition will rise to $49,000 for day students, $62,000 for the new five-day boarding program and $72,000 for seven-day boarders. This new tuition includes all additional fees that were not previously included in the 2018-2019 tuition cost. The rise in tuition marks an increase of between 6.7 and 11.8 percent, one of the largest single-year increases in recent history. Tuition has increased by a total of $3,620 for day students and $4,950 for international students since the 201415 school year, in constant 2018 dollars. A 2014 report from the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) pegged the average New York private day school’s tuition at $34,400, making Masters significantly more expensive than the average at a difference of $14,600 for day students alone. The mean household income in Westchester County from 2013 to 2017 was $89,968. According to a 2016 article by Business Insider, Masters is ranked as the second most expensive boarding school in the country. The number one ranked school, St. Albans, has an annual boarding tuition of $64,499, according to their website. Masters’ 2018-2019 tuition falls short of the St. Albans by $499, but will surpass their 2018-2019 tuition for seven-day boarding with the new tuition cost for the 2019-2020 school year. When it comes to Business Insiders’ 2016 ranking of the most elite boarding schools in the nation, Masters falls at number 25, behind 24 schools with lower tuition costs than that of Masters’ current 2018-2019 tuition, including Andover (boarding tuition of $53,900) and Phillips Exeter (boarding tuition of $46,905). For the 2019-2020 tuition cost, Masters will be the most expensive school on the elite boarding school list as well as the most expensive boarding school list.
TuiTion RepoRTing Done By AlexAnDRA BenTzien & emmA luis A moRe in-DepTh invesTigATive RepoRT mAsTeRs’ TuiTion will AppeAR in issue 4 of Tower.
on The Rise in
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FEATURES AND ARTS
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
Features & arts EMMA LUIS/TOWER
ROBERT SCOBLE/FLICKR
AMAZON ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS year that in addition to its Seattle headquarters, the online retailer will be adding bases in Crystal City, VA and Long Island City, NY. Many Masters alumni who reside in Queens are expecting to be impacted by higher prices and increased gentrification in the borough. Additionally, various citizens have protested the company, especially since the city is giving Amazon $3 million in tax breaks.
Queens-based alumni face possible uprooting as Amazon arrives
content about the announcement, with various online petitions and protests at the former Citigroup Building (1 Court Opinion Design Editor Square), Amazon’s expected temporary headquarters, occurring within recent Three-and-a-half years ago, Masters weeks. Additionally, Representative alumna Julia Dennison (Class of ‘00) Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) and and her two-year-old daughter moved City Council member James van Bramto Sunnyside, Queens, a community er have opposed Amazon’s decision, which contained affordable housing and questioning why New York City is giva diverse population. However, despite ing the company nearly $3 billion in tax Dennison currently living in a rent-sta- breaks while the city is hampered by isbilized two-bedroom apartment, she sues from subway repair to controlling is worried about housing prices rising student debt. drastically, which are catalyzed by AmAstoria, a neighborhood near Long azon’s decision to place their second Island City, contains families whose headquarters in the adjacent neighbor- roots have been in the community for hood of Long Island City, Queens. generations. Anna Sobel (Class of ‘99) is “Sunnyside was an affordable and worried that it will lose its history when fairly undiscovered neighborhood when Amazon enters the borough, especially I moved there. I as “mom-andwant to stay in pop” shops are Sunnyside if my “I’M GOING TO NEED TO losing their family expands, FIGURE OUT WHERE I’M GOING spaces to largbut I may have TO LIVE IN NEW YORK CITY. IF er companies to move to farI CAN AFFORD TO STAY, I WILL and corporather places from STAY.” tions. Sobel, my job such as -ANNA SOBEL a kindergarYonkers or Forten teacher at est Hills because affording a two- or Manhattan Country School, moved to three-bedroom apartment on my salary Astoria because of its unique commuwill be much harder when Amazon’s ar- nity, citing that her daughter’s closest rival in New York City inflates prices,” friends are from nations such as Kenya she said. and Mexico and her landlord grew up Dennison, an editorial director at in the same building that he currently Parents.com, will be one of thousands rents apmartents in. of Queens residents affected when “Astoria is a place that is built from Amazon moves 25,000 employees to history and community and is rooted in Long Island City. The move is likely generations,” Sobel said. to contribute to higher rents, extreme However, she believes that Amazon’s delays on the 7, N/R and F trains and arrival will cause thousands of people gentrification that has already started who have been longtime members of to decrease the diversity of the borough. the community, and possibly herself, to Many New Yorkers have expressed dis- be “priced out.”
Drew Schott
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“I’m going to need to figure out where initiatives, according to Hope Buerkle I’m going to live in New York City and (Class of ‘93), a Barnard College gradhow to be affordable,” she said. “If I can uate who worked in development for afford to stay, I will stay.” various nonprofits, helped move New In terms of living in New York City, York forward, and according to her, Quens has been interpreted as a cheap- Amazon’s arrival will do the same. er living option than the boroughs of Resident of Hunters Point, an area Manhattan and near the waBrooklyn, with terfront in various subway “A CITY NEEDS TO GROW IN ORDER Long Island lines that can TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE. ECONOMCity, Buerkle get inhabitants IC DEVELOPMENT LEADS TO MORE is pleased that to Midtown JOBS, POPULATION GROWTH AND AN the company is likely within 45 INCREASE IN REVENUE.” coming to New minutes. -HOPE BUERKLE York, which To save monshe believes ey was why will create jobs, Hannah Hickok (Class of ‘07), a gradu- continue the diversification of indusate of Smith College currently pursuing tries in New York City, and increase tax a degree at Teachers College, Columbia revenue. She is also hopeful that AmaUniversity, moved to Astoria when her zon’s move will expedite much needed apartment on the Upper East Side be- infrastructure improvements. For excame unaffordable. Despite her move ample, she stated that Long Island City for a cheaper apartment, Hickok knows currently does not have enough schools that her rent will likely skyrocket as a and community centers to meet current result of Amazon’s arrival, which may demand. not affect an employee of the company, “A city needs to grow in order to surbut will likely hurt local residents. vive and thrive,” she said. “Economic “With a future as a musician/music development, such as the establishteacher, I couldn’t live here on my own. ment of Amazon’s H2, leads to more I am lucky that I have a partner, who jobs, population growth and an increase is a lawyer, who helps contribute finan- in tax revenue that can be reinvested to cially,” she said. improve the city for all.” Since New York City began a camBuerke said that various individupaign to host the 2012 Summer Olym- als, invested in their respective Queens pics, Long Island City, the proposed lo- communities, may not feel supported cation of the Olympic Village, has been by the sanctioning of Amazon enterdrastically improved. Re-zoning has ing the borough. “Great debate is what led to residential development, City makes this city great, and the city must and State-run parks offering stunning address residents’ concerns; however, views of Manhattan have been estab- Queens residents should try to stay lished by the waterfront and ferry stops positive about Amazon’s upcoming arhave been added to relieve transpor- rival,” she said. “Over the next 10 to 15 tation pressure on the Subway. These years, I look forward to an even more
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thriving and beautiful Long Island City.” Hickok, however, believes that Amazon bringing industry and an influx of employees will diminish Queens’ community. “Queens is one of the most diverse places in the United States. But now with the addition of 25,000 people, which may cause citizens to move, the toll on the local community will be seen. We [ in Queens] are hyper-aware of what has happened in Brooklyn as it has become more popular, hip and trendy over the past decade. It is clear that we in Astoria don’t want to be the next Williamsburg,” she said. Frank Winters (Class of ‘07), an Astoria resident specializing in Theater Production and Playwriting, credits the cheap price of an apartment in Queens as his main reason for leaving Brooklyn. Living in a two-story house in which he rents a one-floor apartment, Winters views that the gentrification that Amazon’s move may bring is not an educated concern, but more of a broad trend. “I do not know what is going to happen in terms of Queens’ diversity and from what I can tell, neither does anybody else for certain. Although, it feels like the gentrification that has been happening in the borough will only be exacerbated by the arrival of Amazon,” he said, “only time will tell.” Dennison hopes that Amazon’s arrival will not greatly genrify the borough. “I’m worried about the repercussions of stomping out the real personality of Queens for the sake of one of the world’s largest companies,” she said.
Students talk diversity, inclusion at SPLC conference AmitA KhurAnA Lead Features Editor From Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, six students and two teachers from Masters attended the 25th annual Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) for students and the People of Color Conference (PoCC) for faculty in Nashville, Tenn. The conferences are led by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and were founded by a few hundred students of color who wanted a safe space for people like themselves. Every year, students and faculty from across the world come together to “develop cross-cultural communication
skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles,” according to the PoCC NAIS website. The theme for this year was “Listening for the Grace Note: Finding Harmony Amid Cacophony.” The theme tried junior Madison Burton’s “forgiveness skills,” she said. An ex-white supremacist came to speak at the conferenc to talk about his nonprofit, Life After Hate. They help individuals “exit hate groups today and to support those who have already left,” according to the Life After Hate website. “[The talk] tested me about how I think about other people’s pasts and how I forgive someone. It creates harmony between us,” Burton said.
SAGE FRANCIS
STUDENTS ATTENDED THE STUDENT Diversity Leadership Conference in Nashville, Tennessee earlier this month, discussing issues of race and justice with hundreds of others. The students, all Diversity Ambassadors, heard from speakers ranging from affinity groups to a former executive producer for CNN.
The three days of SDLC were packed with affinity groups, regional groups, family groups and keynote speakers. For example, on the first day of the conference Burton listened to keynote speakers, such as Lisa Ling, the executive producer and host of This is Life on CNN. She then split up into family groups, which are small groups consisting of about 55 people from all around the world. About six of those students were peer facilitators, who had to go through special training. With the family groups, Burton felt that she was “exposed to more people” and that she could be honest and start anew with herself. Afterwrd, she attended her affinity group and then rejoined her family and regional groups. The regional groups was more of a meeting place at the end of the day, but senior Sage Francis said these groups “allowed us to make more connections with people that live near us and to create a community of SDLC participants for NY independent schools.” Francis also attended the LGBTQ+ affinity group. “The first LGBTQ+ group focused first on people coming out for the first time and getting to know each other. Just seeing and meeting people like you can be a really strong experience especially if you don’t get that at other places,” he said. Every night, Masters students met to unpack, reflect and discuss on their busy day. Burton’s favorite part of
SDLC was her affinity group. “You’re never around that many people that are of the same race as you and have had the same experiences as you. These are people from all around the country that the only thing you have in common with them, as you know, is your affinity. It’s amazing to be able to bond with them immediately,” she said. Karen Brown, Director of Equity and Inclusion at Masters, explained that PoCC also had a lot of main speakers, such as Marc Lamont Hill, the host of Black Entertainment Television (BET) News and an award-winning journalist. “He was very profound. He had a grasp of the independent school world—in particular, what we needed to pay a little more attention to as far as people of color. Being those who have been historically marginalized in society, most times, in a lot of our institutions and schools, they are definitely the smaller population,” Brown said. In between these keynote speakers, Brown attended various presentations and breakout sessions. One breakout session Brown attended was about “putting together activism, community service and education, and how those come together.” Faculty and teachers also attended regional and affinity groups. “Those from New York all come together and we talk about some of the initiatives that many of us are doing in our schools,” Brown said. Every spring, any Masters fresh-
man, sophomore and junior student or teacher can apply to attend SDLC and PoCC for the following year. Since only six students can attend SDLC every year, Brown leads the Diversity Ambassadors program at school in order to broaden opportunities for those interested. “For whatever students’ interests are, SDLC is not the only thing out there. We have Diversity Ambassadors and a lot of wonderful clubs and organizations,” Brown said. To become a Diversity Ambassador, one has to go through the diversity seminar or SDLC. In the diversity seminar, students will delve deeper into the cultural identifiers they talk about in freshman seminar, “race, ethnicity, nationality, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, gender/gender identity and body image,” Brown said. They also discuss microaggressions, hidden and implicit biases and what is going on in the world right now. In October, Masters also holds the Saturday Summit on Social Justice, where Diversity Ambassadors can “share their wealth of knowledge with the rest of the Masters community,” according to Brown. “I encourage students to apply for SDLC, even though we can only take six [applicants]. You never know, if you start your sophmore year, you have three years to get in. I encourage those who are interested talk to others who have been,” Brown said.
TOWER/ DECEMBER 21, 2018
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Alumna selected as finalist for Miss New York suffered from mental illness herself, Bavaro hopes sharing her story will help destigmatize issues surrounding Staff Writer mental illness. “The date of the competition is actually the one year disGabriella Bavaro, ‘16, was scroll- charge date for myself from a mental ing through Instagram when she saw hospital. This issue is something I’m an advertisement for the Miss New really passionate about, and I really York pageant. Now, a few months lat- think we need to normalize it,” Baer, she is a finalist for Miss New York. varo said. “People are often sheltered Bavaro, a junior at the Gallatin from getting help and realizing that School of Individualized Study at these issues must be dealt with. I New York University, is current- think that discussion of trauma needs ly studying a mix of fiction writing, to happen.” marketing, journalism and perforThe pageant itself is a three-daymance. “Something that really stuck long competition at SUNY Purchase, out to me was that the current Miss near Bavaro’s home in Dobbs Ferry. New York is actually a huge advocate The pageant involves another interfor immigrants coming to New York. view with the judges (off camera) to She’s an immilearn about the grant herself contestant’s who worked THE DATE OF THE COMprofessionalnight school in PETITION IS ACTUALLY THE goals, views order to get a ONE YEAR DISCHARGE DATE on the state of degree and purFOR MYSELF FROM A MENTAL women today sue her dreams HOSPITAL. and female adhere,” Bavaro vocacy. “They’re said regarding - GABRIELLA BAVARO, ‘16 really looking her initial reafor a personalisoning for applying for the pageant. “I ty, a story, and an insight in that first thought that was amazing, and really portion,” Bavaro said. Next, contesinspiring, and I thought ‘Okay, may- tants compete in a physical fitness/ be this isn’t just about being blonde swimwear modeling portion and then and waving.’” an eveningwear portion. After the The application process involved pool of finalists has been narrowed submitting a headshot, writing about down, contestants are asked a final the ways in which the unique plat- question. form of being Miss New York would “At the end of the day, I’m really be utilized and a phone interview. grateful for the experience because of The winner of the pageant will not the amazing women and walks of life only go on to compete in the Miss USA that I get to see. [The competition] is pageant, but will also win $10,000, a really not something I expected to do. guaranteed modeling contract, and It’s really not my scene. Being able will have the opportunity to make to deal with feeling so out of odds is appearances. If she wins, Bavaro something that I think Masters really would use her platform to talk about gave to me in the sense that you go mental health reform and domestic into things with a really open heart violence towards women. Having and open mind.”
Sarah Faber
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BAVARO POSES WITH THE cross country team (third from the right).
BAVARO CELEBRATES FOUNDERS DAY on the left.
BAVARO SINGS WITH THE Tower Singers. She is on the far right. SAM MARTUCCI PHOTOGRAPHY and GABRIELLA BAVARO
MASTERS ALUMNA GABRIELLA BAVARO (‘16) has been selected as one of the finalists for Miss New York. A junior at New York University, Bavaro is looking to use her modeling platform to address destigmatization of mental illness. Bavaro was an active member in the Masters community, participating in activities such as cross country, Tower Singers and Dobbs 16.
Masters mourns the loss of Keaton Guthrie-Goss, ‘11
Willis takes reigns of English Department
alexandra bentzien Editor-in-Chief
MorGan brettSchneider
Gabriel Keller Social Media Manager
eMMa luiS Editor-in-Chief
Masters alumnus (William) Keaton Guthrie-Goss, a graduate of the Class of 2011, passed away at the age of 25 due to a surfing accident in Fort Bragg, Calif. on Nov. 29, 2018. Guthrie-Goss was originally from Garrison, N.Y, and was voted “Most Loved By All” for his senior superlative at Masters. He also participated on the lacrosse team and co-founded Masters’ Social Justice Club. The loss of Guthrie-Goss has been strongly felt by everyone who knew him. Keira Goin is a former classmate and friend to Guthrie-Goss who fondly remembers his presence. “In his time at Masters, Keaton was someone who could put a smile on anyone’s face. He was a radiant light on campus who was close with everyone. In speaking with classmates since his passing, everyone talks about moments spent with Keaton, and we all feel lucky to have shared so many important years with such a beautiful soul,” Goin said. Guthrie-Goss particularly enjoyed Masters’ welcoming environment. His mother, Cat Guthrie, remembered how happy Keaton was with the Harkness method and the personal, face-to-face interaction it offered. “It was always about connections with teachers and fellow students,” Guthrie said. His father, Joel Goss, remembers his son was “vividly social,” especially at Masters. “He loved Harkness because he got to engage with every person in the room,” Goss said. English teacher Darren Wood taught Keaton during 10th and 11th grade and was also his lacrosse coach during his time at Masters. “He was an incredibly kind person and everyone wanted to be his friend,” Wood said. “My most distinct image of Keaton is him flying down the field during a lacrosse game, despite having bruised ribs. Easygoing, sensitive and warm, Keaton nevertheless had an incredible capacity to throw himself wholeheartedly into what he loved. I wish when I taught him that I’d asked him to read, as all 10th graders now do, this line by Annie Dillard: ‘that you have to fling yourself at what you’re doing, you have to point yourself, forget yourself, aim, dive.’ I think that’s true for how Keaton lived and died.” Guthrie-Goss attended Beloit College in Wisconsin and graduated in
News Design Editor
At the end of the 2017-2018 school year, it was decided that the rising Head of Upper School Dr. Nikki Willis would fill in as interim head of the English Department for the entirety of the 2018-2019 school year. Former head of the English Department Bob Cornigans stepped down from being chair of the department in the spring
DANA GOIN, ‘11
THIS PAST NOVEMBER, ALUMNUS Keaton Guthrie-Goss passed away in a surfing accident in California at the age of 25. At Masters, Guthrie-Goss was a member of the lacrosse team, founder of the Social Justice Club and a writer. 2015 with degrees in creative writing and classics. Outside of his academics, Guthrie-Goss and his mom shared a love of surfing. He also loved to travel. He also enjoyed skateboarding and snowboarding, and though he wasn’t necessarily a “sports guy,” he liked playing sports with his friends. Guthrie-Goss was also a writer who wrote poetry and songs, and studied keyboard, trumpet and drums. After receiving his degrees from Beloit College, Guthrie-Goss worked in retail, was involved in farming and recently began working in the film industry as a production assistant in Los Angeles. He kept in touch with his family and friends by writing letters. The memorial for Keaton Guthrie-Goss was held on Saturday, Dec. 15. Wood noted that over 35 former Masters students attended the service. “He had so many friends from every walk of life,” Guthrie said. His dad, Joel Goss said, “Everything and everyone didn’t just have the potential to be important and interesting. It always was interesting to him because he just stopped and noticed,” Goss said. It was Guthrie-Goss’ request that he have a “viking funeral,” as he was opposed to the idea of a traditional service and preferred to have a celebration of life. He’d already thought about his own funeral since he had lost eight friends since he graduated from high school. His ashes were placed into paper
boats and sent off to sail in the pond where he liked to swim, fish and boat. At the service on Sunday, Dec. 16, they played two songs about the ocean and “All You Need is Love” and “She Loves You” by The Beatles. they asked everyone to sing, “He loves you,” for the final few verses. “We were all sad in hearing the stories about Keaton, but they were wonderful and life-affirming. If I can’t have him, then having him like this is second best,” Goss said. On Wednesday, Dec. 19, the Spanish Seminars class held a holiday benefit concert and bake sale to commemorate the loss of Guthrie-Goss. All of the proceeds were donated to Greenpeace and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. Spanish teacher Roberto Mercedes explained, “My main reason to propose to the Spanish Seminars class to support the idea of dedicating the benefit concert to Keaton is clear: Keaton was a social justice activist and he was on the side of best causes. Even beyond Masters, Keaton continues living, defending and supporting good causes.” Roberto Mercedes, who taught Spanish Seminars to Guthrie-Goss and advised the Social Justice Club vividly remembered his enthusiasm for Spanish language and culture, and his positive and progressive attitude. “I remember his beautiful smile, and I still can see him in my memory walking around Masters Hall,” Mercedes said.
of 2018. “After a year at the job, I felt more comfortable as a ‘foot soldier’ than a ‘general’,” Cornigans said. Although Willis currently does not teach any English classes at Masters, Willis has previously served as both a high school English teacher as well as a college-level English teacher for 20 years. She taught classes such as American literature and European literature. As chair of the English department, Willis leads department meetings, visits classes and “connects with individuals within the department to learn about the program,” Willis said.
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Ndiaye to play basketball at Illinois state game. Currently in his first year at ISU, Hailing from Senegal, former Ndiaye acts as a Masters student Abdou Ndiaye is “red shirt” player currently continuing his basket- meaning that he is ball career at Illinois State Uni- not playing for his versity (ISU). Ndiaye is the first first year to focus of his family to attend college, as more on academwell as attend boarding school in ics as he pursues America. a business degree. Basketball propelled Ndiaye Ndiaye still practo the United States, where he tices with the team played for Masters, The Nation and attends their Christian Academy, and now ISU. games, but he is The Nation Christian Academy is not yet eligible to VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER a private Christian high school play games. Ndiaye ABDOU NDIAYE SLAM DUNKS in a game against Brunswick School. and middle school located in Port plans on graduating Ndiaye is currently continuing his basketball career at Illinois State UniSaint Lucie, Florida, where he with a business deversity. graduated in 2018, after transfer- gree in 2022. ring from Masters. Masters’ Athletic Director Kevin According to Ndiaye, Masters While playing basketball at Versen noted that Masters had ac- was a home for him. While playing The Nation Christian Academy, cepted Ndiaye through The SEED at Masters, Ndiaye averaged 17.4 Ndiaye received many offers and Academy, a program focused on points per game, 10 rebounds per looks from top basketball colleges. educating Senegalese high school game, and 3.3 blocks per game. These include his five favorite basketball players and sending Unfortunately, he was not allowed schools: University of Mississip- them to high school in the United to play at Masters during his jupi (Ole Miss), Wichita State Uni- States. “Masters did a good job of nior year due to the Fairchester versity, Georgetown University, giving him [Ndiaye] the discipline Athletic Association (FAA) not and University of for the classes allowing students to play if they Nevada, Las Vein college and have previously repeated grades. gas and ISU. He the structure he Ndiaye completed his 10th grade gained interests needed. When year in both Senegal and at Masfrom these colattending school ters, making him ineligible. leges while averat Illinois State, The end goal for Ndaye is to aging 27 points Ndiaye can use play professional basketball for a per game at The that mindset he team in the National Basketball Nation Chrisadopted at Mas- Association (NBA). If not, he plans tian Academy. ters,” Versen to start his own business after colNdiaye said said. lege with his degree. “Coming from his thought proA c c o r d i n g Illinois State, he definitely has a cess in choosing to Boys’ Varsi- shot at going onto play professionISU, a member ty Basketball ally, especially internationally,” of the Missouri Coach, Matthew Versen said. According to Versen, Valley ConferKammarath, se- being in the Chicago area will alence, came from nior Ugochukwu low Ndiaye marketability to potenpicking a school Kachikwu, who tially to play professionally, as it that would alhails from Nige- is a city with a strong professional low him to progria, and alumna team, the Chicago Bulls. ress the most Ramatoulaye as a basketball Sy, a girl who player and also came to Masas a student. VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER ters through the ISU’s main ri- NDIAYE GOES UP HIGH for a jump- SEED Acadeval is Loyola shot and releases the ball over the out- my, both helped University Chi- stretched hands of multiple St. Lukes Ndiaye greatcago, a college players. During his Masters career, Ni- ly in adjusting that made it to daye averaged 17.4 points per game to living in the the final four of while grabbing 10 rebounds and block- United States the NCAA Na- ing 3.3 shots a contest. and attending VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER tional Champischool at Masonship this past March. According ters. “He found a warm and wel- NDIAYE SIGNS AN AUTOGRAPH for a to Ndiaye, it is better for him to coming community here [at Mas- fan at Illinois State University. While he attend a smaller Division I school, ters], teachers went over and is currently a “red-shirt,” he still attends rather than one with a larger beyond to help him and he recog- the games and participates in team and more prestigious basketball nized that and was grateful for practices; he is also studying with the hope of earning his bussiness degree. program, in order to improve his them,” Kammarath said.
VincenT alban Photo and Illustrations Editor
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
Boys’ Squash swings for championship Tim maThas Contributing Writer The Boys’ Varsity Squash team earned their third loss of the season with a 3-4 defeat against Riverdale on Monday afternoon. Seniors Noel Gorodetsky and Youssef Aly and junior Garrett Wenberg all emerged victorious in their matches, however their efforts fell short against a talented Riverdale roster. The team put up a resilient effort despite the absences of junior Taha Dinana and sophomore Reed Gilmore, who proved to be integral assets in previous matches. The team currently stands with a 2-3 record, having wins against the Browning School and Fordham Prep and suffering close losses to both Hackley School and Rye Country Day School. Although they are off to a somewhat underwhelming start, the team has high expectations for this season. Aly said, “We are trying to have a better record this year than last year, everyone is
more seasoned now so everybody has had more experience.” Experience isn’t the only factor that has contributed to the team’s success thus far. For freshman George Chang, veteran leadership has played an immense role in his development as a player this season. When referring to his upperclassmen teammates, Chang said, “They’re very willing to help. I can always go up to them and ask about certain skills, and they also support us a lot during matches.” Leadership will be key for the squad going forward as they hope to qualify for Nationals for the third consecutive year. This year’s team is very similar to last year’s, as six of the seven starters are returning players. Aly said, “We mainly have the same players as last year, so the dynamic hasn’t shifted that much.” The team hopes to build upon their very successful previous seasons, and ultimately win the Boys High School Division Three National Championship.
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(ABOVE) JUNIOR GARRETT WENBERG hits a forehand-drive in a match against rival Riverdale Country Day School. (Below) Taha Diana, also a junior, lunges for a bakchand. Both will play critical roles in the team’s anticipated success this year.
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SPORTS
TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
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Masters Fencing: a transition of coaches Longtime Olympic Masters coach returns for winter season
Fencers’ thoughts on Martin
Logan Schiciano Sports Design Editor Former Olympic coach, longtime head fencing coach and physical education teacher at Masters, Francisco Martin, has come out of retirement and is back leading the team alongside assistant coach Ben Theeman, a member of Masters’ Middle School Class of 2008. Martin returned after the resignation of two of the three coaches: Paul Friedman, a seventh grade Humanities teacher in the Middle School, and Carlos Ugalde. Friedman still serves as a teacher in The Middle School. Prior to Thanksgiving break, a meeting was called and the fencing team was made aware of the resignations by Athletic Director Kevin Versen. Junior Audrey Lockett, a member of the current team, recalled her initial reactions to the news. “I was just about to start lessons with Carlos and he was supposed to be with me throughout my journey. It was really sad because he really motivated the team and was not just a great coach, but also a great friend.” Lockett added, “It’s also hard to think of the fencing program without Mr. Friedman just because he’s been a part of it for so long.” According to Versen, Ugalde was in his third year with the program while Friedman had coached for 12 years, as noted by Middle School teacher Mary Chappell. Ugalde was also a former coach of Spain and Argentina’s respective national teams. Sophia Viscarello, a sophomore who fences sabre for the team, is grateful to fence under Martin. “To be able to work with [Mr. Martin] is really cool. He’s really nice, really funny and he just wants all of us to improve.” Teammate and fellow sophomore Sophie Neale has noticed a change in culture as a result of Martin’s return to the team. “There’s a lot of mutual respect between us and him. I also notice that there’s a difference in the team’s work ethic compared to last year. We’re also doing a lot more
Kate Sibery Contributing Writter Although Martin is a new face to the younger members of the team, several seniors knew him when he worked as their coach before his retirement. Senior Daniel Berov noted, “I knew him just briefly, I was on the JV team at the time. But he’s always just been in love with coaching, especially here at Masters.” Prior to his retirement, Martin’s coaching style was reflective of his highly prestigious background in the sport, including his experience as the U.S. Olympic captain for the 2012 games. Senior Jenna Bosshart recalled, “He was really intense, he definitely wanted everyone to kind of compare to his past, because he was an Olympic coach, so that was a bit intimidating, but we definitely saw results and he made us work really hard.” Martin is looking forward to a successful season with the team, his goal still remains to get the best results in competition while also motivating the team to work to the best of their ability. VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER
SENIOR DANIEL BEROV SCORES a touch against an opponent at Masters’ recent match against The Hackley School. The team’s experience this year has been characterized by legendary coach Francisco Martin, who has returned to Masters after two years of retirement. drills this year and practicing specific moves and skills, which I really appreciate,” Neale said. Versen also appreciates Martin’s renewed presence. “Mr. Martin brings a great deal of wealth of knowledge of the school, the community, and the fencing program. He has the most experience of any high school coach in the state of New York,” he said. Martin began working at Masters in 1984 as a soccer coach. He started the fencing program years later and it
has grown ever since. His impact was so great that the Francisco Martin Fencing Room was dedicated to him when the Fonseca Center opened in the fall of 2015. Outside of Masters, he served as the team captain of the U.S. Olympic Fencing Team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, U.S. team captain at the World Championship in Paris in 2010 and the World Championship in Catania, Italy, in 2011. Martin explained his motives for
coming out of retirement and returning to Masters, “It was a very unexpected situation. The school needed help, and when they asked me if I was available, I felt like it was my moral obligation to return.” Martin added, “Most of the people on the team have worked with me before, and they’re all very good. They welcomed me very warmly.” It has been close to a month now since Martin returned, and the team has already successfully competed in
TO READ MORE ABOUT Martin’s past and present with the team, read Kate’s full article on www.tower.mastersny.org five matches within the Independent School Fencing League, ISFL. Martin explained that the school intends to add to the coaching staff in the near future. “If all goes as expected, there are two alumni who are going to come and coach later this year,” Martin said. He was unable to share their names at this time. When interviewed, Kevin Versen, the Head Athletic Director, explained that he could not share details regarding the resignation of the previous coaches.
Match Recap: Masters vs. Hackley Matti Stone Contributing Writer On Friday, Dec. 14, Masters’ Varsity Fencing struck hard against The Hackley School, with the girls winning in all three groups. The boys also put up a good fight, but ultimately fell against Masters’ rival. After the match, coach Martin
said he is confident that the girls will win the league. However, both teams are filled with many new fencers, especially a lot of freshmen and sophomores. He noted that they need to develop their skill and style, but still have a lot of potential. In addition, members of Hackley’s team commented on the strength of Masters’ fencers and the beauty of the facility.
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MEMBERS OF MASTERS’ SABRE fencing team celebrate after a touche during their recent match against The Hackley School. Fencing is a sport that requires equal levels of physical skill and strategic acumen, earning it the nickname of “physical chess.”
Skill and strategy executed on the piste by fencers
To the outsider, fencers seem both anonymous and atomized. The sport seems to rest on individual skill and efContributing Writer fort―one pitted against another―rather Walking through the bottom floor of than teamwork, but a team’s chemistry the Fonseca Center, one can see masked is an important facet of their success. figures brandishing weapons. From a Off of the piste (fencing court), the sense distance, white-uniformed fencers in of community of the team is incredibly dark masks are indistinguishable from important. Varsity fencer and junior each other. But behind the mask, every Muriel McWhinnie explains, “Your fencer is executing a unique strategy. teammates can give you pointers during a bout [a set during a fencing match], and we all practice together and learn and improve as a team.” This is echoed by senior Rachel Aideyan, captain of the Girls’ Varsity Foil Fencing team, “I love to encourage and guide my girls to be the best that I know they can be, not only in victories on the strip, but also in personal growth as a fencer.” VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER Beyond teamwork and physA CLOSE UP OF sabre weapon. The sabre is one of the three types of fencing weapons, the others being foil ical skill, fencing requires mental agility. During a bout, a fencand epee.
nora FeLLaS
er’s head swims with questions about their opponent, such as, “What are they doing? What are their weaknesses? What can I do next?” McWhinnie explained that you need to anticipate your opponent’s next move in realtime to best counter it. The mental agility required in fencing is also illustrated by the weapon assignment process. Coach Francisco Martin, who came back from retirement this year to coach the team, “helps determine what weapon [new fencers] use based on their temperament,” said McWhinnie. The connection between a fencer’s personality and their weapon of choice highlights that fencing demands more than just physical skill. The team’s spirit and hard work have paid off, as the Girls’ Foil team won in their first match of the season against Chapin and are hopeful for more victories. With this decisive win, the foil fencers have proven that their sharp skills can foil any competition.
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COACH FRANCISCO MARTIN PACES on the side of the strip as a foil bout begins. Martin brings a wealth of knowledge to Masters including captaining the U.S. Olympic Fencing team at the 2012 Olympic Games. The piste at Masters bears his name.
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MASKS AND VARIOUS WEAPONS, including foil, are stored in the locker room. The boys’ foil team has had hotly-contested battles against Saint Ann’s School and Hackley School this season. Stay tuned for more coverage on the team to be featured in our next issue.
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TOWER/DECEMBER 21, 2018
SportS
Masters Basketball teams shoots for success
VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER
SOPHOMORE ISAIAH THOMPSON DRIVES to the basket to attempt a lay-up at Boys’ Varsity Basketball’s recent win against Brunswick. Though some of last year’s best players graduated or left Masters, new talent and relentless improvement has resulted in a winning streak. Boys’ Varsity Basketball is hungry for wins, with Boys’ Varsity Basketball coming off a championship last season and ready for more.
Boys’ Varsity Basketball dunks on opponents Brody leo & ethan Schlapp Contributing Writers Even after losing some top-notch talent from last year’s NYSAIS championship-winning team, the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team is still setting high expectations for themselves as they move into the 2018-19 season. Although the loss of star players can be damaging for any roster, the team seems confident in its new players and their willingness to fill in the shoes of those before them. Senior Fritz Pingel said, “I definitely think that there are a lot of players this year that have the opportunity to step up and make a difference on the court. I’m hopeful that we’re going to do well this season.” Pingel also added that, “[the team] has to work for everything” and that they “cannot take anything for granted” with a team full
of new faces. Team captain and senior, Rashid Woods, has noticed significant progress just in the past few weeks of practice. He said, “We lost our first game to the Hopkins School, but since then, we’ve been working on a lot of defense, rebounding and boxing out. A lot has changed since the first game.” The squad’s recent game results reflect Woods’ sentiment, as Masters pulled away with strong showings and wins against both Springfield Commonwealth Academy and The Brunswick School. Woods scored 28 points in the 77-70 win against Springfield, while sophomore Issaiah Thompson dropped 30 points in the 70-57 win against Brunswick. Sophomore Grayam Church, a first-time varsity team member, is confident in his coaches’ guidance in getting them back to the championship. He said, “If we do what the coaches say and execute every-
thing properly, I believe we will do very well.” Head coach and Upper School teacher, Matthew Kammrath, isn’t focused on playoffs yet, though. He said, “From a coach’s perspective, it’s more about us getting together and being good first and then worrying about where we’re going.” Kammrath makes sure to avoid holding his current team to the high standard of what his last team accomplished. He said, “The way we have approached this in the past is we want this team to be playing at the best of its ability.” Even coming off a championship title just last season, it’s clear that the Panthers are still hungry for more wins and hardware this year. The team will return to their home Fonseca Center court in the new year in a Jan. 8 matchup against league rival Greens Farms Academy.
Contributing Writer Amidst changes in leadership, the Varsity Indoor Track team reaffirmed their abilities at the first two meets of their new season. Masters has already recorded thirteen new personal records, and the boys’ 4x200 meter relay team consisting of senior Luke Ferrando, juniors Judah Francella and Dorian Gilmartin and freshman Tavin Staber had a first place finish with a time of 1:41. Just this past season, former head coach of cross country and indoor track Ford Palmer resigned, leaving the team to current head coach Kenyetta Iyevbele and as-
sistant coaches Stephanie Van Pelt, Chris Giesting and Isaac Updike. All four run professionally for the New Jersey/New York Track Club and collectively bring many years of experience. Giesting and Updike, hired to help coach the 22 enthusiastic runners, have had “a true taking to their position” in the eyes of Head Coach Iyebele. “I feel like the coaches have gained our trust, but overall, the runners we have are gonna work hard and still run well with or without the change,” junior captain Max Levy noted. Adding to the team is a strong base of underclassmen runners, namely sophomores Franny Mann and Logan Schiciano, freshman Maison McCallum and Staber,
THE ARMORY
Girls’ Varsity B-ball bounces back Kira ratan & Sophie Grand Contributing Writers
Indoor Track races towards a record-breaking season reed Gilmore
VINCENT ALBAN/TOWER
SENIOR KENDRA COOPER-SMITH DRIBBLES around an opponent at Girls’ Varsity Basketball’s recent, hard fought game against Staten Island Academy on Dec. 5.
who ran his leg of the 4x200m relay with a time of 26.76 seconds. Six out of the overall 13 personal bests tallied this year have been from the impressive efforts of freshman and sophomore athletes. Seeing the team’s early prowess, head coach Iyevbele is setting her hopes high for the season. She’s pushing for the team to achieve personal records and NYSAIS qualifiers, to reach for pedestal spots each meet and foster a well-connected community of runners.
JUNIORS JUDAH FRANCELLA AND Dorian Gilmartin, senior Luke Ferrando, and freshman Tavin Staber (L-R) stand triumphantly after winning the 4x200 meter relay during a recent meet at The Armory, with their coach, Chris Giesting, behind them. The season is off to an excellent start, boasting thirteen new personal records. This success is due, in large part, to younger atheletes: six out of these thirteen bests have resulted from the impressive efforts of freshman and sophomore athletes.
Between traveling to Philadelphia, PA for an intense tournament and holding a competitive home opener, the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team has started off their season with a demanding schedule. However, they’re pushing through with the help of veteran senior and new eighth grade talent. The team’s roster this year is unique, featuring eighth graders Dakota Daniello and Sabine Godwin. The basketball team is moving through their season with a record of 2-4. Despite recent losses, the strong team dynamics are evident both on and off the court. Daniello said, “Everyone gets along well and is supportive of one another.” On Wednesday Dec. 5, the team played a hard-fought game against Staten Island Academy. The energetic and excited students, faculty and families of the Masters community came together in full force to support the team for their big home opener. One highlight of the
contest was Daniello’s six-point second quarter. Sophomore shooting guard Brooke Tatarian said, “It’s just really awesome having the eighth grade girls step up to play with high schoolers. They are very mature for their age and are fitting in well.” During the first half of the game, Tatarian led the Panthers offense with 19 points, but the team’s defense was faltering in the second half. The Panthers trailed closely behind Staten Island for the majority of the game, even tying the game multiple times, but Staten Island came out on top with a 63-51 win. Regardless of the competitive nature of the game, both teams still remained respectful and demonstrated good sportsmanship. At one point, senior captain Kendra Cooper-Smith lent a hand to pick up a fallen Staten Island team member. As the season progresses, the team has their sights set on beating last year’s 20-5 record and dominating this year’s NYSAIS tournament with the guidance of coach Nick Volchok.
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