Tim King '12, Taylor Pierce '11, Harry Bachrach '11

On Friday, November 5th the Cross Country team had their biggest meet of the year, the EIL Tournament, at Franklin Park. This was where they raced against all of the schools in the Eastern Independence League, a total of 257 runners. The course was 3 miles long in which runners had to tramp through puddles and mud in the woods.

The Boys team had a strong victory winning the EIL Tournament with thirty points. Since they won they received a trophy that will be displayed in the athletic center and a banner will be hung up in the gym as well. For individuals the boys had four runners place in the top ten out of a total of 140 runners. Joe Conelly came in second with a time of 17:11, George Wright came in third with a time of 17:36, Harry Bachrach came in fifth with a time of 18:08 and Taylor Pierce came in ninth with a time of 18:12.

The girls team was able to qualify with six runners and came in eighth out of ten with 198 points beating Concord Academy (206) and Lexington Cristian Academy (312). Out of the 117 runners in the girls race three of the beaver girls placed in the top forty. Alexandra Bernard came in twenty third with a time of 22:46, Sonya Raab came in thirty fourth with a time of 23:56, Maya Blair came in thirty sixth with a time of 23:58.

Travis Hengen, fourth from right, visits Scott Brown's office

This last Tuesday Travis Hengen, former U.S. soldier, came to speak to the students and faculty about the Don’t Ask Don’t Tell policy.The “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” policy was put in place by the U.S. Military to restrict homosexuals from openly serving in the military. The policy prohibits anyone who intends to engage in homosexual acts from serving in the U.S. armed forces. It also restricts troops from talking about their sexuality, or “outing” one another. This policy was created to ensure that the morale of the unit would not be risked.

During the forum, Hengen opened up to us, let his walls down, and told us about the policy. He reminisced on his time in the army with happiness, anger, and most of all sadness. After the forum, I was not satisfied. I wanted to hear more and the Q&A with Travis that following Friday allowed me the chance to do so. We all sat around a small table in the green room like a group of old friends.

“What do you think the reasoning behind ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ is? Is it because of ignorance or acceptance?” I asked Hengen. He explained that the opposing argument that allowing homosexuals to openly serve in the military will ruin unit cohesion and moral. The military operates under a different set of laws called the Uniform Code of Military Justice; they are allowed to develop their own laws and practices to ensure what is best for the mission.

He also mentioned something that surprised me; Hengen told us that Senator Brown thought that gay men living and showering with straight men would ruin the morale of the unit. Since Hengen was not comfortable living with this secret he decided to come out to his superior. Hengen’s superior and unit members were very accepting of his orientation; however Hengen was still discharged. When it comes to DADT, one can be discharged honorably (meaning that they go to a superior or unit general and come out) or dishonorably (meaning they come out but also profess having acted upon it).

Travis Hengen in Uniform

Dishonorable discharge can result in arrest. Given different circumstances, Travis Hengen would give a lot to go back to the army and protect our country. Today, he is working hard as an activist in D.C to protect LGBTs serving in the military, but their rights are still to be determined. Should the government be allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military? Or is it a detriment to the unit and morale the U.S. military has worked hard to put in place?

Dear classmates, teachers, coaches, and friends-

The Island School Campus

Hello from The Island School! I am halfway through my semester here on Eleuthera and I wanted to update my school on what I have been doing the past two months, and what I still have left during my semester away.

There are 47 students and about 20 faculty members at The Island School. We live, eat, study, and explore on a campus that depends on solar and wind power, rain collection for water, and bio-diesel for transportation. Living on a sustainable

campus that strives to be zero waste is sometimes a challenge, but has taught me so much about conservation and living well. I truly feel “home” here and am deeply connected to the people and island.

We are currently in what we call an “8-day kayak rotation”, which means over the next three weeks we cycle through an academic week on campus, a three day “Down Island Trip” and an 8-day kayak expedition. Right now I am in my academic week on campus. This week I have done
a lot of work for my human ecology class. We are in a unit that focuses bio-diesel.

Yesterday in class I learned that fast food oil from the fryers can be made into diesel to fuel our vans and boats. During the 8-day kayak trip we have a 48-hour solo in which we are completely alone and isolated. It was really challenging and emotional at times but striving through it is what the school’s all about.

One of the big components of our time here at The Island School is research. I am in the Flats research group. Our research projects focuses on studying bonefish and the effects of global warming on marine life. This entails catching bonefish and simulating pH and temperature changes and then measuring their metabolic rates.

Students participating in class outside

The Flates research group is important at The Island School because it contributes so much to the Bahamian economy, and the data we collect could be useful in making regulations. I have really enjoyed learning about our impact on the environment and how to use the respo gear. In a month we have a research symposium in which we present our research findings and overview to our parents as well as government officials of The Bahamas.

I am excited to present research that I am proud of and that will affect life on this island even after I depart. There are six students in my research group and two faculty advisors, we have worked hard this semester on our project.

My favorite part of my semester so far has been my homestay- I was staying in a settlement called Rock Sound with my family- a mom, two daughters, and my buddy Wayde. We ate traditional Bahamian food (conch fritters, peas and rice, coleslaw, and grouper) and I loved being immersed in the community. This experience helped me to gain a sense of the island of where I am living.

Morning exercise is another big component of our time here at The Island School. We have the choice of either running a half marathon (13.1 miles) or swimming a “Super Swim” (4 miles) at the end of November. I have decided to train for the half marathon. It is going really well so far,
all of the faculty and students participate in morning exercise and my running has gotten a lot stronger and faster. I am feeling ready and confident for the long run! We do other workouts such as yoga, team sports, “run-swims”, and free-diving. It is amazing to start the day by run at

6:30 am and cheering each other on. We begin each morning by singing the Bahamian National Anthem before we work out. I feel really connected to the island I am living on and the people and community I am a part of here.

I miss everyone from home but am excited to continue on my Island School journey- I know there will be new challenges to come in the next two months. This has been an amazing experience already and I am thankful to everyone at Beaver for encouraging me to come here and for making this opportunity possible for me. I am excited to return to Beaver and share more about my experience at The Island School. See you in December!

Typical lethal injection chair

Each week in Mr. Mckinney’s bio- ethics class various topics are discussed. This weeks topic is the death penalty, should it be permitted or not. Throughout the week the students express their views on the topic and at the end of the week write a paper stating their view, supported by evidence.
The death penalty is legal in 37 states in the U.S., and there are five different types of execution: lethal injection, electrocution, hanging,lethal gas, and firing squad.

The views that have been expressed are whether or not the death penalty is morally, and constitutionally right. The cost of the death penalty vs. the cost of a life sentence in prison and the idea of retribution.

The death penalty is given to those found guilty of rape, torture, treason, kidnapping, murder, or perjury. One could argue that the death penalty honors human dignity by treating the defendant as a free human being able to control his or her own destiny for good or for bad. It does not, unlike opposite belief, treat him or her as an animal with no moral sense.
Constitutionally, the death penalty execution methods are believed to be the most humane, therefore not violating the Eighth Amendment. Another question that arises when discussing the death penalty is the cost of putting someone to death vs. the cost of a life sentence in prison. The death penalty costs $2 million per case whereas a life sentence is $1 million for 50 years.

There is no question that the cost of the death penalty is significantly higher than that of a life sentence in prison, or life without parole (aka LWOP). There also appears to be no question that, over time, equivalent LWOP cases are much more expensive than death penalty cases.

Yellow states allow the death penalty

There must be accountability for death penalty worthy crimes. People often confuse retribution with revenge, vengeance implies inflicting pain on the offender out of anger because of what he has done. Retribution is the rationally supported theory that the criminal deserves a punishment fitting the gravity of his crime.
Arguing the opposite end one might say that the death penalty is morally unacceptable due solely because the government should never take a human life, no matter what the crime.

Constitutionally, the death penalty is an unusually severe punishment. Unusual in it’s pain and in its enormity. This specific punishment treats humans as objects to be toyed with and discarded. As such it is a penalty that ‘subjects the individual to a fate forbidden by the principle of civilized treatment guaranteed by the [Clause].’ [quoting C.J. Warren from Trop v. Dulles, 356 U.S. 86, 101 (1958)] Ultimately the death penalty is a cruel and unusual punishment.

The question of the cost of the death penalty vs. life imprisonment is a recurring one. As stated above the cost of the death penalty is $2 million PER case whereas for life imprisonment is only $1 million for 50 years. The cost of the death penalty amounts to a net expense to the state and the taxpayers. In other words, the death penalty is clearly more expensive than a system handling similar cases with a lesser punishment, like life imprisonment.

Many may argue that retribution is just another word for revenge. By killing someone who has killed someone else is simply continuing this cycle of violence which ultimately destroys the avenger as well as the offender. Two wrongs do not make a right.

Voting in the United States is viewed as a privilege and something that many teens look forward to being able to do at the age of 18. Every person who votes makes a difference whether or not they feel like they do. It is a big step in your life to be able to have an input on the decisions of your city, state, or countries government. We decided to talk to a senior who is 18 and was able to vote for his first time in the past gubernatorial election.

Recently teen voting has been on the rise thanks in part to publicity

Kyle Proman was able to vote for his first time this year. The way voting works in his district is that the people were line up according to the first letter of their street name. After showing his ID to the desk, he was told where to go. He entered the voting line and was nervous about standing in the wrong line. I asked what he felt like after submitting his vote. “I didn’t feel like I had much of a decision or that my vote would make a difference, but it was cool to be able to have an input in the decisions in our government and the laws in our area”.

Voting is a big deal whether or not you know it. Being able to have that freedom and be able to voice your opinion is a right that the United States is lucky to have. Think back to the time when a large part of society was unable to vote, and notice how far we have come as a Democratic country. It is a big deal and the seniors definitely realized how fortunate they are to have the privilege.

Some have argued over whether or not electronic reading devices are a good thing, or a disaster.

Here are a couple of facts about the kindle that may help add some background information on this subject. The Kindle can carry many books and still take up the same amount of room. However on the side of books is the fact that they are cheaper if you buy only a few and the fact that they have color in them. Now that we have heard some of both sides lets get some expert opinions on this debate.

I interviewed four different teachers and they each had different things to say about the subject. Ms. Nickerson, the first teacher I interviewed, got her Kindle only recently. She said she loves the Kindle. Ms. Nickerson said that she does miss the feel of a book, but also says she misses being able to take a book to read in the bathtub. However, she said she loves the Kindle because books are cheaper and it is really convenient.

When asked whether or not she likes being able to look up words in the dictionary she said she absolutely loves being able to do so. On the other hand she admittedly doesn’t like the pictures on the kindle. Ms. Nickerson’s opinion ultimately is, although it has some bad perks, ultimately the good outweigh the bad.

The next teacher I interviewed was Mrs. Catarra. She bought her Kindle this August. She said that at first she was skeptical because, as a history teacher, she values books. The moment the Kindle entered her hands, however, she was won over. She thought she would miss books, but the convenience of the Kindle outweighs the nostalgia due to the fact that you can start your next book instantly, instead of looking in the bookstore for a new one.

Another thing she said in favor of the kindle was the fact that in using it one feels like they are helping the environment, due to all the paper used in books. On the topic of being able to see the definition of a word when you just select a word, she said that it inspired her to read in depth and actually learn what words mean. She also said that it inspired her to read the classics and pushed her past her comfort zone due to the fact that classics are free on the Kindle, whereas when she went to the bookstore she was always attracted to the flashy new covers.

When asked about pictures, she said there was something beautiful about the black and white pictures. Unlike Ms. Nickerson, Mrs. Catarra has no mixed feelings about the kindle, she enjoys it a lot and doesn’t regret getting it at all. However, not everybody loves the Kindle so much.

One such person is Mr. Yeoh. Mr. Yeoh does not currently have a Kindle. When asked his feelings about it, he strongly expressed his distaste. He said that he was old fashioned and that he doesn’t like the idea of electronic books. Mr. Yeoh also said he enjoys going to a bookstore due to a couple of reasons.

One such reason is browsing. Mr. Yeoh believes that browsing is an important part of visiting the bookstore and buying books. He enjoys looking around to find more books and seeking a new book by looking at covers and the descriptions. Another thing that he likes is the feel of a bookstore all together. It just has something special about it, which is, according to Mr. Yeoh, preferable to shopping for books online. Although he said he realizes that the Kindle is more green, he still prefers books. As one can see, not everyone is a Kindle fan.

Another book fan is Mr. Lippman. One reason he likes the book so much is because of the feel of the book beneath his fingers. When asked as an English teacher on whether the Kindle will inspire people to read he said that he really did not think that the Kindle will help promote reading. However, he does think that the I-Pad will do this very thing.

His reasoning was that the Kindle is only for reading, thus most kids will not buy it. However, the I-Pad is a device that has other uses, some of which will also appeal to children. Overall, 50% of the teachers were for the Kindle and 50% were against it.

Now it is up to you, will you try the Kindle and maybe forgo the book, or stick with what is familiar and continue reading books?

David Price ’14 came by to discuss his past, present, and future soccer career.

Price '14 drop kicks the ball across the field

Only four games into the season the freshman starting goalie has already made a name for himself with two great wins and two very close losses. As well as information about David, this interview includes helpful advice for those who are trying to be recruited for high school and college soccer.

How long have you played soccer?
Since I was six years old.
What position do you play?
Goal keeper.
Where did you go to school before Beaver?
Needham high school.
How did you get noticed by Beaver?
The team’s coach contacted my parents.
What were some of the other schools you looked at?
Rivers and BB&N.
Why did you choose Beaver?
I didn’t like the coach at BB&N, and the discussion style teaching at Beaver was a better fit from me.
What are some differences between Beaver soccer and where you have played before?
The style of play is different, the mentality and work rate differs between kids, and the kids on our team are bigger.
What advice would you give someone looking to get recruited by a school like Beaver?
Keep your grades up, focus, show interest in schools, contact coaches, and try to get the coaches to see you play.
Do you play for teams outside of beaver?
FC Greater Boston Bolts Development academy.
Do you plan on playing in college?
I plan on playing D1 in college.
How do you plan to get noticed by colleges?
Contacting coaches, having them see me play, playing at college showcases, keeping my grades up, and playing well.
What are your goals in soccer that you hope to accomplish at Beaver?
Continue getting better and developing my game, and becoming an all EIL player.

Price '14 sends the ball downfield

Is soccer you favorite sport to watch?
No, I like to watch basketball and Football, then soccer.
What do you do to stay in shape during the off season?
Playing club soccer, I go to CATZ 4 times a week, and I do goalie training with my club coach as well.

FUN QUESTIONS:
Favorite movie: Step Brothers, The Other Guys, and The Hangover
Favorite TV show: Entourage
Favorite candy: Obviously Sour Patch kids
Favorite subject in school: History and Math
Avatar, Good or Bad? Good but too long
Gatorade or Powerade? Gatorade
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Anything else you’d like to say? Come see us play!

This year Beaver was lucky enough to gain three freshman varsity soccer players who are new to Beaver.

Silmar Bueno '14 exhibits precise ball handling

Their names are Silmar Bueno, Zach LaCava, and David Price. We got to interview Silmar and Zach. Not only are they a great asset to the team but their hard work extends further than the soccer field. We hope this interview gives the Beaver community an inside look at these two exceptional student athletes.

What school did you go to before Beaver and where do you live?

Zach: I live in Wayland Massachusetts and I went to Wayland public schools.

Silmar: I went to Framingham public schools and live in Framingham Massachusetts.

How long have you been playing soccer and what position do you play?

Zach: I have been playing soccer since I was four years old so I have been playing for ten years. I usually play forward but at Beaver I play right wing.
Silmar: I have been playing soccer for eleven years and I play forward.

Do you play any other sports? Are you going to play any other sports at Beaver?
Zach: I play basketball, baseball, and I snowboard. At Beaver I want to play basketball and baseball.
Silmar: I do Brazilian jui jitsu.

Silmar Bueno '14 scores and celebrates

 

Why Beaver?
Zach: The soccer coach is a lot better than what I would have had at public school and the classroom sizes are a lot smaller.
Silmar: I toured the school and I liked the small classes so I e-mailed the coach and started talking to him. Being recognized for my talent at soccer along with the academic side is why I decided to come to Beaver.

What do you think makes a good athlete and soccer player?
Zach: You have to have passion and try hard. You also have to practice a lot.
Silmar: Determination, perseverance, hard work, focus, respect, and passion all combined makes a good athlete.

Why do you love soccer?
Zach: I love soccer because I feel like I’m good at it. Also my mom played soccer, so it runs in my family.
Silmar: It is my favorite thing to do and when I score a goal it is the best feeling in the world. Plus, I have fun doing it. My grandfather played pro soccer in Brazil and my dad played semi-pro in Brazil. So basically, soccer has always been a part of my life.

What is your strongest aspect on the team?
Zach: I have a good first touch and am good at playing the ball to my teammates.
Silmar: I have a lot of creativity on the field and it opens new doors for my teammates and adds a new playing style.

David Price '14 launches a ball downfield

 

What are your other hobbies?
Zach: I like to play other sports.
Silmar: I like to hang out with my friends and family. I also like to snowboard, and do jui jitsu.

What is one of your biggest goals in life?
Zach: One of my biggest goals is to play pro soccer.
Silmar: To be happy in whatever I’m doing. Soccer related I would love to go pro and play in the World Cup.

How do you like being on varsity as a freshman? What is it like?
Zach: I’m treated like everyone else on the team. I also get a lot of respect from other freshmen. You get to make a lot of new friends especially on a team with older kids. For example, you have the opportunity to meet people that you might have never talked to without being on the team.
Silmar: I have to show a lot more than other people do. I need to show everyone that I’m here for a reason and that reason is to make a difference. I am not looked at as a freshmen, but as a soccer player.

What is your favorite type of music to listen to or favorite singer? Zach: My favorite rapper is Wiz Khalifa.                                                            Silmar: I like hip hop rap, reggaetone, and techno music.

How do you distinguish yourself on the soccer field?
Zach: I’m the kid with the flowy hair and purple cleats.
Silmar: I’m the one with the big mohawk, neon yellow cleats and number ten shirt.

What is one place that you want to travel to?
Zach: I really want to go to Hawaii.
Silmar: One place that I want to travel to is Italy.

Favorite movie?
Zach: Stepbrothers
Silmar: Stepbrothers

Favorite color?
Zach: Blue
Silmar: Blue

Favorite food?
Zach: Steak
Silmar: Seafood

We are all looking forward to seeing what these two freshmen will contribute to the team and to Beaver, so come on out and watch boys varsity soccer.

“Come again, yeah yeah, come again, yeah yeah.”

Jasmine Houston '11 performing in South Pacific last spring

The various harmonies, melodies, and beats created by the ladies of Ikonoclastic are ones that are looked forward to by the Beaver community throughout the year.

The group, consisting of, Jasmine Houstonn ’11, Samantha Law ’12, Alexys Butler ’12, Alexia Simpson ’13, and Rachel Dolgov ’11, puts on a tremendous show each year at Ryles.

Some may think that people go to Ryles taste the fabulous Buffalo wings, but the main attraction is Ikonoclastic. Led by Ms. Norgaard the group re-creates popular R&B, pop, and soul/funk songs to its own arrangement, putting their own little twist on the music. The all-girls jazz band, an afternoon activity, usually meets in the winter term, but has been switched to the fall term this year.

The typical schedule of a rehearsal starts by all of the members sitting down and talking about songs they want to sing. Each girl puts her input into the song selection and soon, a list is formed.

Rachel Dolgov '11 performing in Women of Setzuan last year

Ikonoclastic is a very hands-on group; they change arrangements of songs, and experiment with keys and harmonies. Trials and trials are performed until the group is ready for the performance. Then the fun part comes: the performing.

The group puts no limitations on what they perform; there is a wide range of music. In the past they have performed, “Honey” by Erykah Badu, “Chasing Pavements” by Adele, “ABC” by the Jackson 5, “That Thing” by Lauryn Hill, etc.

In a quote by junior Samantha Law, she hypothesizes how the group will turn out this year, “I think the small group will be very close-knit and have a successful term.” The girls are all looking forward to a great year, and from what I hear, the group is off to a great start.