10/25 Update: I Listened To the Billboard Top 10 So You Don’t Have To

Photo Credits: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

By Gianna Beltramo

Hello, and welcome to my column! I’m Gianna and I have frequently wondered what is going on in the world of popular music, and this is my attempt to figure it out. Every other week (and yes, I know that the Billboard lists update on Tuesday, which is highly unfortunate because it means that I’m doomed to forever be at least a week behind), I will be rating the top songs in the US as well as dishing out a steaming hot plate of commentary. (Please note that in the event that the Billboard doesn’t change that much, I might also do some music video reviews or something else on the side to spice things up a bit. On a similar note, when I was reviewing the songs, I did not watch the music videos to stop that from influencing anything. This is about the music.)

10. Lemonade - Internet Money & Gunna feat. Don Toliver & NAV

I have noticed a trend in rap music: crackly lo-fi intros. Perhaps I am simply out of touch with music trends, because it took listening to no less than five such songs for me to realize that they had all the same components and weren’t actually being original. I think I have too much faith in people to do their own thing and not just blatantly copy others. I’m very glad that rap songs are so short, because this one is not good. The individual aspects of this song seem alright, but they combine to form something that seems like a bit of a mess, in my opinion. It feels like there should be more to say about this song, but there just isn’t anything particularly special worth pointing out. It just kind of...exists. 73/100.

9. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

See 10/4

8. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

See 10/4

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

See 10/4

6. Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo

See 10/4

5. Dynamite - BTS

See 10/4

4. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

See 10/4

3. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake

See 10/4

2. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

See 10/4

1. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior

See 10/4

A Cumulative Ranking

(Songs are ranked on a scale of 1/100 based on how much I personally liked them, as well as whatever comments on the actual quality of the music I made.)

Blinding Lights - 95 (A)

I Hope - 91 (A-)

Laugh Now Cry Later - 89 (B+)

Mood - 87 (B)

Savage Love - 81 (B-)

WAP - 77 (C)

Lemonade - 73 (C) 

Dynamite - 70 (C-)

Rockstar - 66 (D)

Watermelon Sugar - 64 (D)

Newfound Student Voice at Athenian: The Story Behind @athenianprotectors

By Kati Wilkes

The summer of 2020 was filled with uncertainty and apprehension due to the coronavirus, but that didn’t stop Athenian students from coming together to try and make social change. 

Student voice is constantly encouraged at Athenian, but doesn’t mean that it’s always heard. With a rise in general student activism and newfound energy to enact change, two anonymous students created two different Instagram accounts for students to use to voice their thoughts, opinions, concerns, and proposals for change at Athenian. The first account, @athenianprotectors, was focused on giving students a platform to talk about issues, both inside and outside Athenian, related to sexual assault and harassment.

“When I started to see other schools and individuals speaking up about their personal experiences, I realized that our community needed a similar platform. We needed a place where people can be supported and feel comfortable sharing their stories,” says the creator of the initial account (@athenianprotectors).

Anonymous platforms, just like the two at Athenian, have become increasingly popular on high school and college campuses all across the country. Most notably, in 2016 students at Harvard created an anonymous app called Campfire that served a similar purpose. According to The Harvard Crimson, the student-run newspaper, the forum was created to foster campus-wide discussion about classes, social issues, and allegation of sexual assault. 

As of now, the @athenianprotectors account has posted around one hundred anonymous submissions; none of which have any names or information listed that tie the accusations to specific individuals. However, it was noted recently at a community meeting that most students were able to figure out who the submissions were talking about based on their own knowledge and experiences. 

The initial account was met with some backlash from members of the student body. There was some questioning of the validity of certain allegations that were posted as well as submissions that tried to undermine the seriousness of the platform. The administration has also voiced some of their own concerns about the forum.

The student leading @athenianprotectors says, “There was a lot of positive feedback towards this platform that reinforced the need for students to have a safe space to get support. As expected, there were also some mixed responses from the student body, as it is hard for a site like this to meet everyone’s needs.”

The platform, as of recently, has become a point of controversy within the school. Administration members have made statements to students stating that due to the anonymity of the forum, it was difficult to do thorough follow-up on the content of the postings.

“Things were being posted but nothing was being brought to the school. The school wasn’t being informed, it was being posted on a site, so the school couldn’t do anything with the information,” says Amy Wintermeyer, Head of Upper School.

The administration continues to urge students to use more official channels of communication with the school itself if they want to report anything. More information about those specifics can be found in the student handbook, or students can reach out to the administration directly.

“I worry about kids needing help and not getting help because it’s being done on a site and not being reported to adults who can help,” adds Wintermeyer.

For some students, that wasn’t a good enough answer. They want the concerns they voiced to be acted upon. The community is attempting to find a way that everyone in the Athenian community, both students and administrators, can work together to resolve any possible issues. 

The second account, @athenianchange, was started shortly after the first account began posting because the creator wanted a platform where students could talk in the same open manner about issues other than sexual assault and harassment. 

“I saw how the first account was causing people to speak up more publicly about stuff that I’ve been hearing about for years, so I wanted to make another platform to start a discussion about other issues at school like sexism, racism, xenophobia, etc,” the account creator said. 

The @athenianchange account has nearly 140 posts, though it should be noted that there were nearly twice that amount of submissions. Most of those were either duplicates, responses to other posts, attacks on people with no basis, or threats towards the owner of the account.

“I only really wanted to post things that were productive and could actually spark some conversation at school. I, by no means, censored people I didn’t agree with, I just didn’t think it was in the account's best interest to post submissions that were blatant jokes or just complaints about me and the account,” adds the account creator.

Somewhere along the way, the account owner asked students to respond in the comments below previous posts if they wanted to make a comment of any sort or agree/disagree. They hoped that by doing that, they could better start a conversation and make it easier to have a real discussion with someone, instead of just submitting anonymous responses. Not much has been done formally to address the more general issues and ideas that were shared on @athenianchange.

As the summer came to an end, some students wanted to continue the conversations that were started via the two accounts. Tess Shotland ‘22, the founder of the new student group, “Uncensored,” (no affiliation to the old uncensored meetings) hopes that by bringing more students together to talk in a school environment can help make some change. 

Shotland says, “I wanted to [start uncensored] because I didn’t want to be anonymous. I wanted to be able to talk to other people about what I was saying instead of just posting it and being done because that wouldn’t really do anything.”

The conversation has just begun, and she hopes that by creating this new platform even more students will be able to speak their minds and really be heard. The group is currently working to create a safe space for students to gather and share their ideas and opinions about current issues at Athenian. Their hope is to connect with Forum and Community Meeting leaders to create a plan of action. 

“It's harder to say no to a group of students than just one student,” says Shotland.

#TogetherAtHome Concert Review

Photo Credit: Entertainment Tonight

By Sahana Garg

For our second piece together, I bring to you #TogetherAtHome. The idea behind this series is to bring live music to us all when, as we all know, we can’t go out and enjoy it. This was started by Chris Martin, the lead singer for band Coldplay. 

Chris Martin is an English singer-songwriter, producer, musician, and philanthropist and a multi-Grammy award winner. Coldplay is one of the world’s best-selling musical artists/groups.

In collaboration with Global Citizen, Martin has brought us a series of Instagram-lead concerts performed by many A-list artists including but not limited to, John Legend, Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, Charlie Puth, Niall Horan, Miguel, Bazzi, and more. The goal of this series is to raise awareness about COVID-19 and to donate money to help in the search for a cure. The length of these programs ranges from about twenty minutes to almost two hours.

Immediately, you will see how amazing this series is, and for that reason, I will give it an overall rating of 9/10. Its beautiful purpose shows the power that music really has and how it can influence people to be better and help make the world a safer, healthier place. Due to the phenomenal number of artists that performed, there are many options, but often you will notice that some performances are better than others. Some concerts, including John Legend’s, contain full-length pieces, enough talking to make it interesting, and even some comedy. I would rate his performance a 10/10. Sadly others, such as Chris Martin’s himself, were far too much speaking. There was not enough music and in the entire half-hour, there was only one full song.

I also noticed that the comments took away a lot from the episodes. It made them seem less real as well as distracted both the musicians and the viewers. Reading them also took a lot of time out of the sessions and some were also inappropriate and mildly uncomfortable and unprofessional.

Despite some pitfalls, this series was still an amazing source of entertainment and music during this tough time. If I had to recommend one episode to watch, it would definitely be that of Charlie Puth’s. This may be biased as I really enjoy his music, but he put on a great performance, the background was beautiful, he didn’t get too distracted by the comments but still performed what his fans wanted, and overall the acoustics were amazing and his voice was spectacular. 

In conclusion, I think that the concept of  #TogetherAtHome is amazing and I hope to see more from this series in the future. Before I finish I would also like to shoutout Global Citizen’s collaboration with our queen, Lady Gaga for the Together At Home Benefit Concert for the World Health Organization. Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you soon!

The Inside Scoop: Ben & Jerry’s “Milk” & Cookies

Photo Credits: Keith Homan / Shutterstock.com

By Kati Wilkes and Savonnah Wong

For our second scoop into the world of non-dairy ice cream alternatives, we tried out Ben & Jerry’s “Milk” & Cookies ice cream. We stopped by our local Safeway and picked it up, eager to see if it lived up to its reputation. In place of dairy milk, this ice cream has a base of sunflower milk and butter, making it vegan. Since it’s vegan, it’s an even more accessible choice for those who aren't just dairy-free. 

The sunflower milk base creates a creamy texture that is very similar to traditional dairy ice cream. While either scooping or enjoying this treat, it’s nearly impossible to tell that what you are eating is not “normal ice cream.” There is not much more we could ask of Ben & Jerry’s in making a non-dairy alternative.

As for the flavor and fillings in the ice cream, the “Milk” and Cookies variation really stays true to its name. It’s filled with a swirl of Oreos and chocolate chip cookies, which adds to the creamy yet smooth consistency of the entire concoction. The flavor is rich, yet not overpoweringly sweet, so with every spoonful, you get a taste of everything wonderful that the ice cream has to offer.

Though the frozen desert certainly is a wonderful alternative, it is far from perfect. The vanilla “ice cream” base has a bit of a weird flavor due to the roasted sunflower seeds that are used to make the sunflower milk. The vanilla taste is almost overpowered by a burnt undertone. However, in the scoop that has everything mixed together, the “burnt” taste really is not an issue at all. 

Taste: 🍦🍦🍦/5

Consistency: 🍦🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Similarity to Ice-Cream: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Overall: 🍦🍦🍦/5

The 100th Anniversary of Women’s Suffrage: How Far Have We Come?

Photo Credit: The Guardian

“Ida B. Wells”

By Alison Chabala

August 18, 1920, marked the centennial of when the nineteenth amendment was put into effect and women were able to vote. On that day, a long-sought-after women’s rights milestone was finally reached. Indefatigable activists like Ida B. Wells and Susan B. Anthony led the prominent women’s rights movement while straining under the omnipresent burden of sexism in America. But even after this achievement, many were still motivated to pursue the next steps towards gender equality, because there was still so much more to be done. In fact, it wasn’t until 1965 that women of all races could vote. 

Women across the board have faced adversity due to discrimination. But surprisingly, statistics have shown that more women have voted than men in every presidential election since 1980. According to a Pew Research article, “In 2016, 63% of women who were eligible to vote said they cast ballots in the presidential election, compared with 59% of men.” Where does this disparity come from? Why did almost 10 million more women vote in the last presidential election than men? Statistics show that this trend has become even more prevalent over the recent elections. 

An interview with humanities teacher Stephanie McGraw adds a new perspective to help discern the root of this trend. 

“When you go back in history, like when women got the right to vote in 1920, a lot of people thought there would be this ‘woman’s vote,’ and there wasn’t,” McGraw said. “It starts in the 1970s, what we call ‘the culture wars’, And then in the late 70s, there was a huge backlash against Roe v. Wade, and abortion, the ERA (Equal Rights Amendment), and the ERA actually got defeated in the 80s. So I think a lot of women decided that the way to change society is through the vote.” 

The surge of women voters in 1980 has been attributed to what has been called the “Ronald Reagan effect.” That was the year of the election between Ronald Reagan and Jimmy Carter. In his campaign, Republican presidential candidate Ronald Reagan advocated vehemently against abortion, and gave his opinions of the role of women. 

According to The Atlantic, “the party dropped its support of the Equal Rights Amendment, embraced an anti-abortion position, and courted conservative Christians who lamented the effect of working women on “traditional” families.”

This, many claim, is when women started to take sides based on their own individual opinions and the incongruences and differences of voting among women were revealed.  McGraw adds how subsequent events helped ignite the fire of the women’s voting. 

“The Anita Hill hearings, 1992, was the year of the woman, and it was part of my coming of age, because women were so upset with the senate judiciary committee, headed by Joe Biden, reacting to Anita Hill, who had accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment, and it was a bunch of like old, white guys who basically ignored this black woman,” McGraw said. “So for me it's women frustrated with the system, frustrated with the patriarchy, and the lack of representation, and feeling that the vote is the way to have their voices heard.” When asked if she thinks if higher voting rates of women have any deeper implications, she said, “Yes. I do.”

Photo Credit: The New Yorker

“The Anita Hill Hearing”

Recent events have swayed potential outcomes of the 2020 presidential election between Joe Biden and President Donald Trump. Democratic Associate Supreme Court Justice and feminist icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg passed away in September due to complications from pancreatic cancer. 

According to by NBC news, “A Pew Research poll from early September also showed that 66 percent of Democratic voters viewed the Supreme Court as ‘“very important’ in the election, compared to 61 percent of Republicans.” Ginsburg’s death has many possible implications: if her seat is filled by a nomination from President Trump, an indubitable threat is posed for abortion rights, LGBTQ+ rights, among other issues.

 “I know statistically, the supreme court energizes the right, much more than the left, so I think Trump being able to get a third, really conservative, pro-life person on the court is really going to energize the right.” McGraw said. “But [with] the supreme court vacancy, I’m not sure, because there’s so much on the line, and I think that a lot of conservative women who were disgusted by Trump and weren't going to vote for him, I think because they are so adamantly pro life, I think they might come out and vote.” 

The consequences of this presidential election will ripple across the country. And regardless of why more women vote, the women’s vote will be very influential. 

“There are so many variables that come into play,” McGraw said. This 2020 election will be very consequential for a myriad of reasons, and the vote is the most important to vocalize your ways to invoke change, because they are intrinsically powerful.”

My Friend, Fire: Native American Practice of Controlled Burns Suppressed

Photo Credit: Alf Manciagli/Shutterstock.com

By Renee Tian

Flickering flames, eagerly stretching their tendrils towards the sky, spewing out smoldering fumes that bring burning tears to your eyes. It crackles, knowing the destruction it harbors, and leaves a barren wasteland behind, ashes dancing in the air. Fire, one of the five key elements of life and spirit, is widely known to be the root of obliteration, wreaking havoc on communities and claiming the lives of loved ones. An average Californian would describe fire as destructive, having seen the frontlines of the chaos it brings. That’s what we have been taught, from only seeing the aggressive aspects. Yet, another side to this narrative exists. Fire is natural and healthy for the ecosystem—a source of life, even. It has existed on Earth for longer than humans have, and it is not the dangerous creature that people see it as. 

For centuries, Native tribes have been utilizing this very element to foster life and create balance on our land. These flames are guardians of the land, not destroyers. According to the Cultural Fire Management Council (CFMC), traditional “cultural burns” are controlled fires annually set to “lead to a healthier ecosystem for all plants and animals, long term fire protection for residents, and provide a platform that will in turn support the traditional hunting and gathering activities of Yurok.” It burns off underbrush and encourages new plant growth, creating healthier forests and less wildfires. 

Rick O’Rourke, a traditional fire practitioner describes it as “an amazing, healing, life-giving, rejeunivative tool” that helps “[make] trees more fire resilient and [into a] fire-adapted landscape.” He started practicing this method when he was 11, taught by his grandmother while spending the summers at her home. It was used for house protection from wildfires then, and has since grown into his greatest passion—one that he loves to share. 

O’Rourke describes performing cultural burns as “to use [fire] and to respect it like a relative or dear trusted friend.” It is a delicate ritual that requires years of experience to become properly in tune with the fire itself. “As the Fire and Fuels Coordinator of CFMC, he travels around California educating communities about the importance of fire in their landscape, while performing cultural burns there. 

In 1910, cultural burns were banned and considered arson by state and federal agencies. O’Rourke, also a Yurok tribe member, stated that his elders determined that since “there were so little [Natives] left, it was not an acceptable risk” to continue their practices. Recently, in the past decade, it has been made legal again, after scientific research proved it was environmentally beneficial, and fire departments across California have started implementing this method for fire control. It took over 100 years for the government to recognize the value of these burns, and they now use the same tactics that they banned Natives from performing. However, O’Rourke holds no grudges against his fellow firefighters.

“One of the most important parts of working with local state and federal agencies is creating a trust relationship and being at the table. If you’re not at the table, you can’t talk with them. You gotta be at the table and invite them in and share,” said O’Rourke. 

He works with these fire departments on a clean slate and encourages them to implement traditional techniques into their routine. Although O’Rourke is a qualified wildland firefighter himself, he asserts, “I’m a firefighter but I don’t like to fight with fire. I like to work with fire.” Their goal is to prevent wildfires before they happen, instead of stopping them once they are already in action. 

While O’Rourke may hold no resentment to the people he currently works with, others feel the hypocrisy of the U.S. government should be acknowledged. Brittany SchlaeGuada, a second-year teacher at Athenian, attributes the exclusion of Native fire to how “in America, we devalue the cultural knowledge of people who are not white.” She believes that the society we live in today does not allow certain cultures and spiritualities to be practiced. History has been unrelentingly oppressive towards minority groups, as she states that our country was built on “the foundation of white supremacy and oppression.” 

At the heart of what she does is the desire to  enlighten future generations about ways to help and discern inequity. SchlaeGuadachooses to teach through a lens “of environment injustice and racism,” highlighting environmental issues that “disportionality [affects] certain groups of people.” 

A common factor both educators stated is how crucial teaching the future generation is, and spreading awareness. SchlaeGuada implements these into her teaching, while O’Rourke teaches kids at local schools. As knowledge is multi-generational, and passed on from elders to the youthful, it’s impactful to teach them how to recognize injustice. 

Each and every culture brings valuable information to the table. Only by acknowledging that, and working together, can we progress and thrive. Mistakes have happened before in the past, and not all of them are amended yet, but it’s imperative that history doesn’t repeat itself. Knowing exactly how to incorporate and value different cultures allows society to flourish and nurture a healthy, trusting environment. 

The first step to ensure that we are on a prospering path is to inform others. To get people to recognize an issue is to talk about it. If we don’t, we fail ourselves and our future generation. Bringing awareness to environmental issues essentially saves civilization, as every single one of us are connected to the environment.In fact, we are the environment. In the spirit of our past and future, SchlaeGuada affirms to “be willing to listen to people that are different from [yourself].”

Does Athenian’s Leadership Pillar Deserve its Place?

Photo Credit: The Athenian School

By: Zoey Patterson

International and Multicultural Understanding, Education for Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Outdoor Adventure, Leadership, and Service. One of these things is not like the others.

The original Round Square pillars did not include Leadership. It was added later per the suggestion of King Constantine II of Greece, who had long been involved with Round Square, and the Athenian upper school did not accept it as one of the school pillars until 2018. I can only assume the reason for this is that adding it as a pillar simply doesn’t make sense.

In my freshman year, I took the “Dyke Brown’s Mandala” March term class, taught by Gabe Del Real and Sarah Freedman, in which we dove into the history and philosophy of Athenian and, by association, Round Square. This culminated in the creation of a pictorial representation of the Mandala and the Pillars which featured stick-figure icons that represented each section and pillar as simply as possible. While creating all of these icons required a lot of thought, one of the biggest challenges we faced was making a Leadership icon that wasn’t exactly the same as the one for Service. In its purest form, what more is there to leadership?

One way of looking at the issue is that all the other pillars are specific guidelines for how to be what the Round Square website calls a global citizen. Essentially, they represent concrete actions that students ought to take in one way or another. In the context of Dyke Brown’s mandala, they are the way a whole student can use their capabilities and understandings to do not only what is good, but what is just. We should adventure outdoors, or serve our communities, or learn how best to participate in democracy. Leadership, however, is more vague. It’s not a specific type of action so much as a recommendation for how to partake in these actions. 

In taking a leadership role, we choose not only to engage in an activity ourselves, but to help others do the same. We guide a group of people to achieving a common goal, perhaps helping them decide how and what. We work to unite them, with the greater purpose of satisfying a unanimous desire. This is service, and it is why a leader must be selfless. And most importantly, the common goal could be anything, like international and multicultural understanding, or education for democracy, or environmental stewardship, or outdoor adventure, or community service.

When I’ve mentioned to others that I think Leadership doesn’t make sense as a Round Square pillar, I’ve been met mostly with confusion. I have no doubts that this is because most members of the Athenian community don’t really think about the Round Square pillars—why they exist, what they mean or why they matter. Most students can’t remember them all, even with a handy acronym. They’re just nice things that we should work towards. They’re fancy words we use to show off how progressive our school is. We don’t see them as guidelines for how to apply the potential we develop as we become our whole selves, even though they’re fundamental to Athenian’s mission. It would be next to impossible to actually change the Round Square pillars, but the least we can do is think inquisitively and critically about them. Understanding that leadership doesn’t quite belong, and why, means truly understanding the Round Square pillars and taking them as guidelines for specific action, rather than as values we already uphold in how we run the school that are easy to talk about. It means understanding Athenian’s true mission and how it relates to the Round Square pillars, which I think makes being an Athenian student all the more meaningful.

Meet Catherine Lu

Catherine Lu

By Zoey Patterson

Catherine Lu is Athenian’s new Mandarin teacher. She moved to the United States from China four years ago, and is interested in what she could learn at Athenian about American culture.

“I feel that through school, the place I work, I know this country, or this culture...I just feel there’s still so many things about this country I need to know and to learn, and I feel school is really a good place [to do that],” Lu said.

Lu is also excited to learn about Athenian culture specifically, and expressed a particular interest in the international students.

“I’m very excited to now have a lot of students from China, and I just feel, I don’t know, just naturally close to them,” Lu said. “This year, two of them applied to be my TAs, and I’m very excited about that, too.”

The outdoor aspect of Athenian also appealed to Lu when she chose to come here, especially because of her previous teaching job in San Francisco.

“The driving and the commute can be very stressful there, and...I’m not very good at parallel parking, so whenever I’d drive there, I’d just feel so scared...and so I was like, hmm, maybe I should work in a more open space area,” Lu said. “When I found this opportunity came up...I had never heard of this school before, but I see Danville, and there is open space, and you know, it’s more nature—I was like, hmm, maybe I should explore that school.”

Not only does Lu have TAs she’s looking forward to connecting with, she’s also a ninth grade advisor.

“I feel that my favorite part of being a teacher is having a close connection with my advisees,” Lu said.

The fact that they are in ninth grade also interests Lu, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I feel, as ninth graders, they might feel all different kinds of emotions when they join the Athenian high school in this situation, so I will try my best to help them to have a better, more smooth transition,” Lu said.

Lu herself has definitely felt the effects of the pandemic, as it has impacted some of her favorite hobbies.

“I love swimming and hiking. That’s why I feel a little depressed during the pandemic, because I cannot go swimming anymore,” Lu said.

But the pandemic has not put a damper on every aspect of Lu’s life.

“I feel like this is a fun part of my life, especially now, considering, you know, the outside world, and the pandemic, and everything,” Lu said. “Whether I can come to the class, it’s just to calm myself down and to remind me there’s still good things in life and we still have hope.”

How Would A Coronavirus Vaccine Work?

Photo Credit: Joel Bubble Ben / Shutterstock.com

For the past several months, the coronavirus has ravaged the world, forcing the public to incorporate new and foreign practices into their everyday lives. While a few have flourished in the midst of this global pandemic, the general consensus remains that COVID-19 has been disastrous for a significant portion of the international community. In the hope of regaining some semblance of normalcy in society, discussions have arisen in scientific circles regarding the development of an effective and efficient COVID-19 vaccine. 

Firstly, to examine the plausibility, efficacy, and timeliness of a COVID-19 vaccine, two fundamental concepts should be understood: viruses and vaccines. 

“A vaccine gives you a toned down infection… which trains your immune system to know what to attack, but it does it in a harmless way that doesn’t kill you,” biology teacher Elizabeth Wright said. “Outside of a cell, a virus can’t reproduce or hurt you… They are intracellular parasites, meaning once they get inside our cells they can completely take over and turn our cells into virus factories.”

Vaccines, while potentially effective in mitigating the severity of viruses, can be incredibly difficult to contrive. These adversities are often so prevalent that several months ago—when little substantive research on the coronavirus was available—scientists were forced to remind citizens that there was no guarantee a COVID-19 vaccine would ever be developed.  

“We can't make an absolute assumption that a vaccine will appear at all or... whether it will pass all the tests of efficacy and safety,” said Dr. David Nabarro, a professor of global health at Imperial College London, who also serves as a special envoy to the World Health Organization on COVID-19, as quoted by Rob Pichetta, a CNN reporter. 

Fortunately, recent developments in coronavirus research suggest that medical experts may be within reach of vaccine finalizations. The events of September 23 corroborated this possibility, with Johnson & Johnson becoming the fourth firm to enter the final stage of COVID-19 vaccine development. This may seem adequate reason for celebration, but Johnson & Johnson, along with their competitors, are now tasked with conducting the most substantial leg of their research: numerous potential vaccines must be administered to thousands of people to test for efficacy and safety. While the enormous sample of testees may appear excessive, it is a necessary component of potential vaccine evaluation. 

“Different people with different backgrounds have different responses to drugs and vaccines… Certain drugs work differently for different people,” said biology and chemistry Teacher Maria Luca. “It depends on your biological sex, your genetic background, and your family history, and a lot of other factors.”

Thus, given the various immune responses different individuals have to the same vaccine, it follows that the COVID-19 vaccine  must be tested on a diverse sample of people to collect comprehensive data on its efficacy. 

Another logistical challenge is vaccine distribution. To retain their antiviral properties, vaccines must be stored at specific temperatures while they are being transported to various medical centers. The transporters are responsible for preserving the vaccines’ temperature within a range of three degrees celsius, which, in turn, curbs vaccine denaturation.

“Denaturing is when proteins lose shape, sometimes because of temperature,” said Wright. “Our immune system recognizes things that are not us by shape, so in order to train our immune system what to fight against we have to give it the right shape. This vaccine has to have the same shape as the virus to be effective.”

If the logistical nightmare of vaccine transportation is resolved, society has yet another obstacle to overcome in its quest to vanquish COVID-19, namely, acquiring herd immunity. Achieving herd immunity is possible via two methods: mass infection or mass vaccination. The former could entail mass death, whereas the latter mandates the successful development of a vaccine. Once a coronavirus vaccine is procured, herd immunity would be achieved by maximizing the amount of immunized people, incapacitating virus reproduction by barring it from potential host cells.   

“[COVID-19] is a highly transmissible virus,” said Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the Chief Scientist for the World Health Organization, in a published interview with Vismita Gupta-Smith, the Information Officer for the World Health Organization. “We think it needs at least 60 to 70% of the population to have immunity to really break the chain of transmission.”

Obtaining herd immunity is especially crucial for individuals who are physically incapable of receiving vaccinations, and, therefore, have limited protection against the virus. 

“The idea behind vaccines is to expose you to a small part of the virus or a weakened version of the virus,” said Luca. “If you give it to someone who is immunocompromised it might not work like it is supposed to.”

Consequently, those individuals who are incapable of being vaccinated will rely on the rest of society to vaccinate and isolate the spread of the coronavirus. For this reason, vaccination can be considered as more than a self-centered medical operation, but also a public health service. 

Bearing in mind the tribulations that accompany vaccine development and distribution, it is important to continue all safety procedures until medical experts instruct otherwise. Not only will this behavior limit the spread of COVID-19, but it will also lay the foundation for effective and efficient vaccine usage. 

Meet Phillip Hadley

Phillip Hadley

By Zoey Patterson

Phillip Hadley is the new Applied Calculus teacher at Athenian. Though he’s teaching his Nexus class from Nova Scotia, he’s looking forward to interacting with Athenian students.

“Back in 2008, I started swim coaching at Athenian, and I was at another school at the time...the students that I was working with through the swim team, they were mature, they were motivated, they had a tremendous sense of a responsibility to the community and to themselves,” Hadley said.

Hadley also expressed interest in working with other members of the Athenian community.

“I’ve really been enjoying and appreciating the community of educators,” Hadley said. “There are so many passionate teachers at Athenian that care so deeply about the art and the science of teaching.”

Hadley explained what he liked so much about interacting with the teachers in particular.

“When you’re around passionate people about anything, I think that it’s infectious,” Hadley said.

Hadley’s own passion for math was rather latent, and all but absent when he was a student.

“I did not enjoy math in any of my secondary education...and then I ended up doing my degree in physics and philosophy, so I dealt with a lot of math,” Hadley said.

He particularly enjoys the class he teaches, Applied Calculus, partially because of its appeal to students.

“A lot of our examples come from peer reviewed papers, so they’re not things that are just made up, so it’s very easy to answer that question students invariably ask me, which is ‘when is this math ever useful?’” Hadley said. “Well, in this case, it’s super useful!”

The world around us, Hadley added, makes the course’s subject matter ever more relevant and helpful.

“We do a lot of modeling and a lot of data analysis and a lot of looking at graphs and tables, and I think that that is tremendously important, knowing how to do that well, and effectively,” Hadley said. “We are just inundated with graphs and tables and charts, and being able to sort through those and think about them critically, I think, is an important skill to have.”

Math, however, is not the only powerful thing Hadley finds important in his day-to-day life.

“I can talk about film all day long...the power of film, to me, is it’s visual,” Hadley said.

Hadley has two favorite films: M, a 1931 German film, and The Bicycle Thief, a post-World War II Italian film, and loves both because they harness this power.

“With M, it’s a silent film, and yet the storyline is very easy to follow, and I would say even more so with The Bicycle Thief, because...it’s in another language and there’s very few subtitles, and I always say you could get along just fine without the subtitles,” Hadley said. “They really come back to the actors’ acting and...the cinematography.”

While Hadley’s strengths and passions seem to be film and mathematics, less enjoyable things have also played a role in his life and shaped who he is today.

“When I was a teenager, I used to do door-to-door sales in my first year out of college, and then became a car salesman, and the lessons that I learned in people skills in those two experiences were absolutely tremendous,” Hadley said. “I’m a terrible salesman...but I learned an awful lot about people during that time.”

This year, Hadley is excited to learn about the people at Athenian and how they’ve changed since he started coaching swimming here.

“Somehow, miraculously, the kids are even better,” Hadley said.

What really takes place inside China’s concentration camps?

Photo Credit: Huseyin Aldemir / Shutterstock.com

By Ilah Ross

Nestled on the outskirts of the Xinjiang district in China sits one of the Chinese government's “re-education” camps designed for the Uighur Muslims, an ethnic and religious minority group. Places where, according to China’s ambassador to the UK, “Uighur people enjoy peaceful, harmonious coexistence with other ethnic groups.”

However, despite the idyllic description painted by the Chinese government, this re-education camp does not look like a place for introspection and learning. Instead lies a series of cement buildings surrounded by barbed wire fences, with guard towers and military personnel pacing along the perimeter with weapons in hand. Inside these intimidating buildings are an estimated 1 million Uighur Muslims, who are being systematically detained, tortured, interrogated, and forced into labor against their will because of their religion.

The Uighurs are an ethnic and religious minority group originating from Central Asia who have historically had a fraught relationship with the Chinese government. After the state of East Turkestan was annexed by China in 1949 and renamed Xinjiang, the relationship between the Uighurs and the Chinese government worsened.

Following attacks in 2013 and 2014 that Uighur militant groups were responsible for, China introduced restrictions on the Uighur people as a whole. In late 2016, China began to detain Uighur Muslims living in the Xinjiang district, arguing that the Uighur people pose a security threat to the Republic of China. In 2017, the government of Xinjiang further restricted Uighurs’ religious freedom by introducing laws which forbade men from growing long beards and women from wearing head coverings. Since these laws were passed, many mosques have been destroyed in Xinjiang with no compensation for the Uighur people. 

Due to China’s ambiguous and misleading representation of the purpose and inner workings of these internment camps, it is impossible to determine the exact amount of Uighur Muslims that have been detained. However, many sources, including the Washington Post, estimate that the number is around one million. 

Though the majority of Uighurs are denied any knowledge of why they were detained, many leaked documents from a source inside Xinjiang show that individuals are jailed for reasons as trivial as having more than three children, wearing a veil, applying for a passport, traveling abroad, internet browsing, or even the frequency of their prayer. Once an individual is involuntarily imprisoned in the camp, they are subjected to “torture, solitary confinement, forced birth control, [and] forced brainwashing sessions about Communist Party propaganda,” Mark Moore wrote in an article for the New York Post.

By night, the prisoners endure this torturous mistreatment, and by day, many are sent to fenced compounds where they produce apparel which is purchased by US companies, such as Nike, Adidas, H&M, Calvin Klein, and many others. In addition to being subjected to forced labor, there have been many accounts describing hair weaves being sent to salons and individuals in the U.S. made from hair forcibly taken from Uighur prisoners.

The countless disturbing reports which have surfaced exposing what is really happening in these internment camps pose an important question: why are so many Americans unaware of the reality of this situation? There is no definitive answer as to why the situation with the Uighurs is largely underreported in the media. 

“The reality is that things happening in foreign countries can feel far away, so the situation with the Uighurs is unfortunately something that’s fairly easy to slip through the cracks,” Mark Lukach, Chinese History seminar teacher at Athenian, said. “Since there’s so much going on currently in the United States, and even more narrowly, in the Bay Area, there’s kind of a saturation point of attention.” 

Lukach discussed the question of why the Chinese government considers the Uighurs a threat.  

“Since its founding, Communism has been in conflict with religion. Since the Uighurs are a Muslim group, China doesn’t like them. China has gotten scarily good at using modern technology to keep track of citizens, so they are able to oppress the Uighurs very effectively because of this technology”. 

Though many nations vehemently insist that religious, racial, and ethnic persecution are things of the past, China’s treatment of the Uighur people confirms a very different reality.

How Does Climate Change Connect to the California Wildfires?

Photo Credits: StratosBril / Shutterstock.com

By Noelle Woodward

In the last few months, thirty-one people have been killed and over four  million acres have been burned all over California, resulting in deadly smoke, ash, and apocalyptic orange skies across the west coast. 

The California wildfires have been burning since August, with little signs of letting up soon. What started as record heat waves and an unusual lightning storm has grown into the most devastating wildfire season California has seen in many years. Worsened by global warming, these fires are likely to return next year, resulting in even more destruction.

“Experts agree that human behavior, land management, arson, and the effects of climate change caused by human industrial activity helped spur these massive fires, worse than any in recent memory,” wrote science journalist Matthew Rozsa in Salon. 

The fires, which mainly started from a major lightning storm in late August, have escalated due to a lack of rain, record high temperatures, and fierce winds. They are now releasing huge amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, exacerbating the already dangerous heat waves in California.  

“One thing [heat] does, it causes the ground [and] plant life to dry out, which makes it a lot easier once things do catch fire, for things to spread and burn very quickly,” said Environmental Science Teacher Brittany SchlaeGuada. “The warm air also causes weird things to happen like the lightning surges we had which isn’t typical for this area. The actual temperature effects are due to global warming and climate change, and the fires are a subsequent repercussion of that.”

Beyond identifying the numerous factors that contribute to the escalation of wildfires, it is also important to note the key differences between climate and weather in order to understand the causes behind them.

“Climate is essentially the long-term average weather,” wrote Dean L. Urban, Professor of Environmental Sciences and Policy at Duke University in an email to Salon. “So in the west now we’re seeing a warming climate, plus a long-term drought, plus freakish short-term weather (for example, the lightning storms in [California], and the crazier than usual winds). Climate change and weather are linked, of course, in that under climate change we expect warmer weather but we also expect more extreme events.”

The widespread impact of wildfires this year has caused many Californians to seriously consider the influences and effects of climate change.

“[When] people think about climate change, they think [about how] the weather gets hotter or ice caps are melting,” said SchlaeGuada. “[They think about these effects of climate change] that are far away, not really measurable, and that don't usually come into contact with our lives, but the truth is that climate change and its effects are kind of everywhere and people are starting to realize that with the seriousness of fires this year.”  

Although the denial of climate change has decreased as people start to personally experience it’s effects, it still makes a difference when public leaders recognize and respond to it’s presence. 

California’s governor, Gavin Newsom acknowledged this influence of climate change in a September interview: "The debate is over around climate change. Just come to the state of California. Observe it with your own eyes. It's not an intellectual debate. It's not even debatable.”

However, Newsom hasn’t just accepted the reality of climate change. He has begun taking much-needed action on behalf of California to reduce it’s impacts. 

“One thing that [Governor Newsom] just signed recently was an executive order in the next 15 years to make California's car market 100% emission free.” said SchlaeGuada. “So that all new vehicles sold in the state of California 15 years from now will all be electric vehicles or some other type of renewable source. He's taking strides to try and push California in a better direction when it comes to climate change.” 

Newsom isn’t alone as he combats our climate crisis. Many Californians have been coming up with their own proposed solutions over the last few years. Some popular suggestions include forest management and stronger fire regulations, which although easier to implement, will only provide temporary relief. 

“If we do not address the climate change issue, no amount of forest management is going to avoid this sort of situation in the future,” said Professor Francis E. Putz, botanist at the University of Florida in an interview with Matthew Rozsa.

It is clear that we need a long-term plan set in motion- and soon-  as many climate scientists have predicted the wildfires to continue in the coming years, likely getting worse over time. 

How the Pandemic has Changed College Admissions for the Class of 2021

Photo Credit: Rawpixel.com/ Shutterstock.com

By Amanda Cutrer ’24

In March, Americans were told to shelter in place, changing the world as they knew it. At first, bread baking, puzzles, and “Tiger King” served as pastimes for many. However, as the quarantine progressed, people felt anger and stress from the changing world with many working from home, being unable to see family, or experiencing other hardships. 

For the class of 2021, not only have they started their senior year in distance learning, but the previously unchanging college admissions process is transforming, unleashing a wide variety of emotions among the senior class. 

The SAT and ACT exams were repeatedly pushed back, and many students found themselves unable to take a test. Danielle Nader ’21 signed up for at least 8 cancelled tests, causing her to feel a lot of frustration and stress. 

“Being told I can no longer take the test that I’ve worked and studied so hard for is very disheartening and disappointing, especially because I have zero control over it,” Nader said. Since then, she was finally able to take one, but many students like Nader will be applying without having taken a test.

Though many students feel helpless in terms of testing, the majority of colleges are becoming test-optional or test-blind to accommodate. Even the UC system has already announced it will be test-optional for 2021 and 2022 students and become test-blind in 2023 and 24, so not having a score on a standardized test may be something students will have to get used to. 

Schools are saying that a lack of scores will have minimal impact. They say that when reviewing an application, it is about much more than a test score.

“[The] admissions team takes a wide-ranging and holistic approach to application review,” said Ross Bronfenbrenner, Associate Director of Admissions at Macalester College. “Our system is not based on a formula, but rather on a nuanced understanding of each applicant in their own context.”

Small and large schools alike always work hard to get to know each student that comes on campus, so even though Athenian students won’t have high test scores to show off their smarts, the schools understand the difficulty of Athenian. 

“I know Athenian’s rigor and procedures regarding grades and coursework well. Not having test scores will not affect this year’s applicants,” said USC admissions counselor Will Peters.

Students can take a deep breath when submitting an application without test scores. Unfortunately, the class of 2021 has also been unable to visit colleges, a practice that many students and families partake in and enjoy when getting a sense of which school is right for them. Mark Michelini ’21 was concerned with finding his perfect fit. 

“I always counted on being able to visit one of my top schools in person and having an ‘aha’ moment when I realized what my first choice was,” Michelini said. “This has been completely thrown out the window.” 

He was able to adapt and find new ways to see where he wants to spend the next four years, such as Zoom calls with admissions counselors, alumni, and current students. Seniors like Michelini that expected to discover their top choice in person were faced with a dilemma, but luckily, colleges have done a lot to provide ways to get to know the school. 

“Every single school now has put tons of resources into their virtual engagement options, and it’s astounding,” said Athenian College Counselor Tillie Gottlieb. “I think it’s actually easier and I have so many more students engaging than ever before.” 

The amount of information available to prospective students online has increased immensely this year. This allows any student, even if they would not have originally been able to visit colleges, to check out any school across the world from the comfort of their home. Seniors can go to college nights and explore websites to learn about different schools.

In addition, there are many amazing virtual opportunities to replace the typical extracurricular activities that are not available in quarantine but would normally be included in an application. These opportunities are readily available for Athenian students. 

“I look at people like Mark Friedman who are making amazing opportunities in terms of service that are virtual and safe,” Gottlieb said. She also mentioned the possibilities of  “international and round square opportunities that are there, so much engagement with our equity and inclusion office[...], the athletic clinics, [and] people who lead forum.”

Athenian is providing students with a wide array of virtual ventures that help show what your interests are without having to physically attend a Round Square event, put on a play, or do any of the other activities that used to constitute a significant part of life. 

Right now, the stress surrounding college is very valid and common, but it’s important to look around and see what wonderful new resources are available as a result of a terrible situation. It’s impossible to  know how the admissions process will continue to change in coming years, but for now college applicants will have to explore and embrace the online world we’re living in.

10/17 Update: I Listened to the Billboard Top 10 So You Don’t Have To

Photo Credits: lev radin / Shutterstock.com

By Gianna Beltramo

Hello, and welcome to my column! I’m Gianna and I have frequently wondered what is going on in the world of popular music, and this is my attempt to figure it out. Every other week (and yes, I know that the Billboard lists update on Tuesday, which is highly unfortunate because it means that I’m doomed to forever be at least a week behind), I will be rating the top songs in the US as well as dishing out a steaming hot plate of commentary. (Please note that in the event that the Billboard doesn’t change that much, I might also do some music video reviews or something else on the side to spice things up a bit. On a similar note, when I was reviewing the songs, I did not watch the music videos to stop that from influencing anything. This is about the music.)

10. Mr. Right Now - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin feat. Drake

Everything about this screams “why.” Allow me to phrase it as a question: Why? I don’t know. I have no answers. Nothing makes sense anymore. This song is just bad. I dislike it so much that I can’t even think of a reason. I just do. Considering that these three gents have almost 31 million YouTube subscribers between them you’d really expect this song to have more views. And while I understand that music videos generally get more views than just the audio versions, these people have taken the polar opposite of what I like to call “the Justin Bieber approach” and have only posted the one video. That can only be a good thing: the less of a presence this song has in the world, the better. 64/100.

9. Runnin - 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

If asked to identify a single word in this song that is not “runnin,’” I would be unable to do so. It’s akin to a plate of spaghetti, in that you can identify what it is as a concept, but upon close examination all you can see is a tangled heap. Sure, you can pick out bits of different strands of pasta, but you can’t actually separate individual noodles. This song is kind of a mess (much like that simile), but it’s not the worst mess I’ve ever heard. The combination of vinyl record-esque crackling and creepy whispering at the beginning provides for a momentary unintentional ASMR experience before you’re forced to listen to the rest of the song. This may be an odd comparison, but the way he says “runnin’” reminds me of Seek & Destroy by Metallica (which is much more my-speed, and also an all-around better song). It’s not absolutely horrible, but I would describe it as being somewhat less than “okay.” I have no idea how to translate that into a number, so I’ll give it a C+ and call it a day. 78/100. 

8. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

See 10/4

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

See 10/4

 6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

See 10/4 

5. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake

See 10/4

4. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior

See 10/4

3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

See 10/4

2. Dynamite - BTS

See 10/4

1. Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo

See 10/4 

A Cumulative Ranking

(Songs are ranked on a scale of 1/100 based on how much I personally liked them, as well as whatever comments on the actual quality of the music I made.)

Blinding Lights - 95 (A)

I Hope - 91 (A-)

Laugh Now Cry Later - 89 (B+)

Mood - 87 (B)

Savage Love - 81 (B-)

Runnin - 78 (C+)

WAP - 77 (C)

Dynamite - 70 (C-)

Rockstar - 66 (D)

Mr. Right Now - 64 (D)

10/10 Update: I Listened to the Billboard Top 10 So You Don’t Have To

Photo Credit: Christian Bertrand / Shutterstock.com

By Giana Beltramo

Hello and welcome to my column! I’m Gianna and I have frequently wondered what is going on in the world of popular music, and this is my attempt to figure it out. Every other week (and yes, I know that the Billboard lists update on Tuesday, which is highly unfortunate because it means that I’m doomed to forever be at least a week behind), I will be rating the top songs in the US as well as dishing out a steaming hot plate of commentary. (Please note that in the event that the Billboard doesn’t change that much, I might also do some music video reviews or something else on the side to spice things up a bit. On a similar note, when I was reviewing the songs, I did not watch the music videos to stop that from influencing anything. This is about the music.)

Hi! Great column. Moving forward, I would really suggest changing the review format so that there is less repetition and something for you to do in the weeks moving forward. 

10. I Hope - Gabby Barrett feat. Charlie Puth

See 10/4

9. Watermelon Sugar - Harry Styles

See 10/4

 8. Savage Love (Laxed - Siren Beat) - Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo 

See 10/4

7. Rockstar - DaBaby feat. Roddy Ricch

See 10/4

6. Blinding Lights - The Weeknd

See 10/4

5. Mood - 24kGoldn feat. Iann Dior

See 10/4

4. Laugh Now Cry Later - Drake

See 10/4

3. WAP - Cardi B feat. Megan Thee Stallion

See 10/4

2. Dynamite - BTS

See 10/4

1. Franchise - Travis Scott feat. Young Thug & M.I.A.

At this point, I’m immune to surprises. This song simply exudes popularity. It was made to be #1, though that’s redundant considering most singles are, in fact, created with that very goal in mind. Maybe I’ve not grown immune to Billboard-induced surprise; maybe I’m finally realizing that such a ranking was not created for shock value. Upon pushing the dreaded “play” button, my brain immediately thought “Wow, WAP went grunge” and that’s not the kind of idea that is easy to rid one’s mind of. Upon further inspection, it only kind of sounds exactly like WAP. He really overdid it with the bass, though. Oh boy. You start the song and your ears explode. It’s an experience, and that’s all I will say about that. Coming back to that “grunge” idea, however, it sounds the way a hazardous waste facility smells—or at least the intro. After that, it lightens up a bit. Less strange background clanging noises. If I had to compare the energy/vibe/mood/tone of this song to that of a concept I made up in about ten seconds, it would be this: an Instagram post consisting of a very blurry, poorly-lit selfie of three 26-year-old men (two of whom are wearing sunglasses) in a dark room at 10:42 PM and a caption reading “vibin with the homies.” At the end of the day, I got more entertainment out of writing this review than listening to the song, so I’m going to give it (the song) a 73/100. 

A Cumulative Ranking

(Songs are ranked on a scale of 1/100 based on how much I personally liked them, as well as whatever comments on the actual quality of the music I made.)

Blinding Lights - 95 (A)

I Hope - 91 (A-)

Laugh Now Cry Later - 89 (B+)

Mood - 87 (B)

Savage Love - 81 (B-)

WAP - 77 (C)

Franchise - 73 (C)

Dynamite - 70 (C-)

Rockstar - 66 (D)

Watermelon Sugar - 64 (D)

The 1910’s: Music Through the Ages

“Scott Joplin” Photo Credits: The Library of Congress

By Alekhya Maram and Anna Ravid

The 1910’s marked the beginning of a new era of American music. The advent of joyful ragtime amongst African Americans in the Deep South starkly contrasted with the realities of wartime America. Ragtime, a precursor to jazz, quickly flourished, and this new style of playing enthralled audiences, especially the bright piano playing of Scott Joplin.

Joplin, born to a formerly enslaved father and a freeborn mother, is credited with popularizing and influencing ragtime. His most famous piece, “Maple Leaf Rag,” is still widely known today— if not by name, then certainly by ear. While there are no recordings of Joplin, his music was preserved through piano rolls, a preservation method by which each note played is perforated on a roll of paper. This roll can be fed into a self playing piano in order to mirror the live performance of a famous artist.  

According to Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, “Joplin's death is widely considered to mark the end of ragtime as a mainstream music format; over the next several years, it evolved with other styles into stride, jazz, and eventually big band swing.” 

Photo Credit: The Library of Congress

While the springy tenor of ragtime makes for easy listening, it lacks in complexity when compared to blues and jazz. The songs are often so whimsical they border on childish, and after listening to a few, it becomes hard to distinguish one from the rest. 

Around the same time ragtime was developing, blues were born out of the plantations in the Mississippi Delta region. Originally, blues music was improvised, and lyrics usually pertained to feelings of melancholy and sadness. Guitar players often used a bottleneck slide instead of strumming, creating a sad voice-like effect that exemplified blues guitar. One notable artist who emerged during the 1910s was W.C Handy, known as the “Father of Blues.” Born to a family of methodist ministers, Handy was prohibited by his father from playing any instrument other than the organ. Thankfully, Handy did not comply. At the start of the decade, Handy moved to Memphis and began his career as a musician, performing frequently at the Beale Street Clubs.  His most famous compositions, “Memphis Blues” and “St. Louis Blues,” were inspired by his experiences in the titular cities. 

As opposed to ragtime, which was primarily played on the piano, the blues music of the 1910s included brass instruments. Surprisingly, W.C. Handy’s blues music bore more similarities to the buoyant melodies of jazz and ragtime than the melancholy tones usually associated with blues. Those dolorous tones, along with lyrics describing the many woes in life, would reemerge in later decades, bringing blues music back to its roots. Though Handy’s blues compositions represented significant achievements in the genre, his songs don’t capture the deep soulfulness that makes the style so distinctive. 

In 1917, the year of Scott Joplin’s death, ragtime exited the musical mainstream, giving way to jazz. Though jazz and ragtime music originated in black communities, the first jazz and ragtime recordings featured white artists, as black musicians were often barred from entering the recording industry. The very first jazz record produced contained the song “Livery Stable Blues,” performed by the all-white Dixieland Jazz Band. 

The production of this record marked the entrance of jazz into mainstream society, a force that would both shape and reflect the coming decade: the Roaring Twenties.   

Cyber Seats Concert Review

By Sahana Garg

For all the music lovers out there, I understand how hard it is to experience the miracle of live music during Covid-19. Being stuck at home, you can’t go out and experience amazing concerts. But, all of our favorite artists are doing things to help us connect during this time. 

During this series, I will be introducing digital concerts that make it feel like the world isn’t so different now. You will gain insider musical knowledge, tips, and music recommendations. 

To kick off this column we have Girls With Guitars. This is a weekly series started by Bay Area R&B artist H.E.R.. The goal of the series is to showcase the talents of female artists around the world. Every episode features two to four guest stars, such as Tori Kelly, Alessia Cara, UMI, Tiara Thomas, ChloexHalle, and Willow Smith.

So far, there have been seven episodes and there are plenty more to come. Every song performed was accompanied by a guitar and all versions of these songs were acoustic. Every artist performed at least one original song, one personal favorite song, and some even sang unreleased music. 

Photo Credit: Music Connection Magazine

There were some flaws in this series. This series was conducted over Instagram Live, so all the episodes were very glitchy and there were many instances where guests were kicked off the program. The large amounts of talking in between detracted from the musical experience. Throughout every two-hour episode, only four or five songs were performed. The majority of the show consisted of conversations about music. During these talking sections, the artists provided insider knowledge about their musical origins, icons, and favorite quarantine music. Another excellent aspect of this series was getting introduced to new artists such as Tiara Thomas who originally wrote the song “Bad” by Wale, and Priscilla Renea who wrote the songs “California King Bed” by Rihanna, “A No No” by Mariah Carey, and “Worth It” by Fifth Harmony.

Overall I would rate this series 8/10 but would still recommend it to any R&B lover. I definitely enjoyed watching these and will most definitely be looking forward to more episodes.

Song Shoutouts: 

“Thinkin Bout You” by Frank Ocean

“Slow Down” by Skip Marley and H.E.R.

“Ex-Factor” by Lauryn Hill

“Bad by Wale” ft. Tiara Thomas

“Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan

The Inside Scoop: Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto

Photo Credits: Alp Aksoy

By Kati Wilkes and Savonnah Wong

For our first scoop into the world of non-dairy ice cream alternatives, we decided to pick up the Talenti Roman Raspberry Sorbetto from our local Target. As suggested by the name of the product, this non-dairy alternative has a similar composition to most traditional sorbets. However, unlike those traditional sorbets, this Talenti “sorbetto” boasts a similar consistency and taste to most fruit-based ice creams. 

At first glance, this sorbetto has a similar, creamy texture as one would expect with any traditional fruit-flavored ice cream. Unlike most non-dairy sorbets, this refreshing treat doesn’t crumble nor does it have an icy texture whilst scooping. This perfect emulation of ice cream’s consistency doesn’t leave much left to be desired. 

In terms of taste, the Roman Raspberry flavor carries a perfect balance between sweet and tart and doesn’t overpower you with pure sugar, which is fairly common in most fruit-based ice creams. The This light flavor and rich consistency meld together to create the perfect frozen dessert. 

Our only complaint would be that due to the sorbettos fruit and water-based composition it tends to melt quite quickly. After having the pint out of the freezer for only 20 minutes, the perimeter of the container had melted into a mildly, thick liquid that resembled the consistency of a smoothie that had been left out for just a bit too long. Though this was a bit of an inconvenience, the liquid still tasted the same as the rest of the sorbetto and it didn’t pose any real issue in the enjoyment of this iced confection. 

Taste: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Consistency: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Similarity to Ice Cream: 🍦🍦🍦/5

Overall: 🍦🍦🍦🍦/5

Personal Responsibility Is A Key Component of the Climate Change Battle

Photo Credit: DisobeyArt/Shutterstock.com

By Alekhya Maram ’21

“Climate change.” Though the phrase is rooted in science and data, it has become fraught with emotion, evoking images of inundated islands, raging forest fires, and cities choked with pollution. Despite the near consensus of the scientific community, the growing body of climate research, and the pleas of younger generations, the United States (and much of the Global North) has failed to make any substantial headway in combating the issue. Emissions have continued to rise steadily, and we have already exceeded 1 degree of warming. 

The question begs to be asked: how have we allowed this to happen? Why have we elected an intellectually impotent president bent on eviscerating environmental legislation? Why are we constantly highlighting the economic costs of transitioning to green energy when the cost of warming-induced damage is slated to exceed today’s global GDP? Why have we continued to turn a blind eye to the crisis when we have seen an uptick in the prevalence of climate-related disasters within the last decade?

At the heart of the climate crisis is convenience. Plugging your phone into the wall, taking a bite of your tri-tip sandwich, climbing into your car each day—none of these actions necessitate any thought. For better and for worse, capitalism has created a culture of convenience, where anything and everything one could possibly want is at one’s fingertips. Everything is just so easy, and for this reason we have allowed ourselves to be lulled into a kind of complacent inertia. 

It’s not just convenience that makes this crisis easy to ignore. It’s the distribution of the climate burden. Despite the fact that the United States and Canada emit some of the highest levels of CO2 (both per capita and overall), the Global South will be most impacted by the repercussions of climate change due to its proximity to the equator, poor infrastructure, and a dearth of funding. South and Southeast Asia will be hit particularly hard, as hurricane-fueled deluges, extreme heat, sea level rise, and malnutrition converge to create unlivable conditions. If we do not take action now, millions—if not billions—of people will suffer. 

If we are to have a chance at preserving humanity, we in the Global North must understand that we cannot continue living in excess. The importance of tackling emissions produced by corporations, and transitioning to 100% renewable energy cannot be overstated. But the change can’t end there.

We must also acknowledge our individual responsibility in creating this crisis. Even if we were to become 100 percent net-zero emissions today, our overconsumption would still be driving Earth towards the point of collapse. Halting global warming will require nothing less than a lifestyle change. We must downsize our homes, make a switch to public transportation, eschew meat in favor of plant-based diets, preserve our fresh water, and much more. We must give up the simplicity of convenience, and most importantly, the privilege of not having to think about the consequences of our actions. Because pretty soon, they'll be impossible to ignore. 

Ask Athena: Athenian's Advice Column

Ask Athena is Athenian’s very own advice column that aims to help readers think through common challenges. Students may submit questions about all aspects of life, inside of school or out. The answers in this column are the opinions of Athenian’s patron goddess, Athena, and are not meant to serve as definitive solutions to the questions posed. Questions may be submitted at any time via pillar@athenian.org.

What should I do about a teacher that I do not have a very good relationship with? 

The first thing to consider is why. Do you show disinterest in class? Do you not complete homework assignments? Make sure your participation and your work show your commitment. Attending C&C is an excellent opportunity to show interest and improve your understanding of course material. Teachers tend not to prefer students who disrespect them or what they teach. But if the teacher is treating you in a way that feels unfair, the best course of action is talk directly to them. This may not resolve the problem but it will inform the teacher that the relationship needs attention. It’s usually in both of your best interests to make sure you have a good relationship. If you’re having a serious issue you can’t resolve one-on-one, talk to your advisor about what to do next.

What should I do when my opinion goes against what a majority of the school thinks? Is it worth it to say anything if people will judge me for having a different opinion?

Open discourse allows everyone involved to develop more educated ideas, and you have the opportunity to express ideas without being shunned. If the issue is important to you, and the opportunity arises to have an open conversation, share your ideas but also show respect. Just as you are smart, capable, educated and secure in what your life experiences have taught you, so is the other person. There is always room to learn and grow and engage in productive discourse. With that said, people’s minds are difficult to change. This has been proven time and time again by behavior heuristics such as confirmation bias. Be prepared for opposing points of view. If you want to stand by your opinion, think critically about whether your beliefs are driven by logical and coherent reasons. When you speak about your beliefs, aim to show a new perspective, even if you cannot convince them. Your goal should not be to have others suddenly agree with everything you say, but for them to respect your point of view. If you aren’t confident in your reasoning, don’t say anything. But if you think you can present your idea in a way that sheds new light, it is absolutely worth it to express your opinions. 

How can we not have terrible mental health while going to a school that is so difficult (and don’t give me self-care, go for a walk)?

DISCLAIMER: This is an advice column asked and answered by students. Responses should not be considered qualified medical advice. If you are having an issue with mental health, please lean on adult members of our community like our upper school counselor, Rose Stoloff, or please consult an outside mental health professional.

Mental health challenges can occur for many reasons. In some (not all) cases, finding strategies to proactively manage potentially stressful situations can be helpful. As an example, if some of your mental health struggles stem from a sense of feeling overwhelmed by the Athenian course load, you might consider rethinking how you manage your time.

Self-care may be a good way to manage stress that’s already set in, but it doesn’t necessarily solve the root causes of stress. Though workload management strategies might not be simple to think through and implement, making small changes in lifestyle and habits can make a big difference. 

Personally, I’ve found that the best way to improve my own mental health has been to manage my time well while doing homework. I do this by regulating myself into not getting distracted (watching YouTube, looking at social media, etc.), and not procrastinating. I find that the best way to finish homework is to get into a “zone” where I’m very productive and sustain this flow for as long as possible. If you try this, you can take breaks if you feel it will help your productivity, but I find breaks to be disruptive. As with all attempts to find life hacks, use trial and error and do what works for you. Hopefully, once you reduce feelings of overwhelm, you can also have time for activities that help you relax.