Quarantining Students: Keep- The Journey to the Center of Writers Claim Scholastic ing Up with School the Kaaba Awards Record by Emma VanBeek by Fariha Fardin by Hayden Orenstein Page 2 Page 4 Page 7

HHS90 Hayden Rowe StreetPress | Hopkinton | MA 01748 April 7, 2021 HHSPRESS.ORG Volume 3 | Edition 1 Mr. Scott Leads Massive Face Shield Project By Shreya Thalvayapati publicly, a greater number of volunteers got in- volved, and a working model was fine-tuned. Staff Writer Scott expected to be out of the face shield While many spent their months in lockdown manufacturing business in two weeks. But to binge watching Netflix and procrastinating from everyone’s surprise, the project went on for remote work, technology teacher Doug Scott led months from March to August. a massive project creating face shields to meet In total, Scott’s effort produced 6,000 face hospitals’ demand for more medical supplies. shields which were sent out to 28 states. COVID-19 caught the United States off-guard “It caught on more than we thought it would,” and hospitals paid a price for the country’s lack Scott said. of preparation. Another incredible achievement of Scott’s At the beginning of lockdown, there was an team was inspiring others across the country to incredibly high demand for personal protective follow their model, helping produce even more equipment (PPE) in the medical field, like face masks. shields, but the supply was concerningly low. “Because we made it easy for people to partic- Scott began looking at face shield designs and ipate, they got excited about it and they started different 3D printed PPE products after Massa- doing it,” Scott said. chusetts General Hospital released a public plea After some months, Scott’s team stopped re- for more medical supplies. ceiving requests for face shields as larger manu- What started off as a small project snowballed facturers have finally caught up with orders. into much more. “The demand for shields was incredible,” At first, shields were being created at a slow Scott said, reflecting on the spring. Photo by Shreya Thalvayapati pace and the demand was nowhere near met. “You can buy 10 face shields for like $20 Mr. Scott wearing a shield like one of thousands his team produced during the early Eventually, the project was marketed more now.” days of the pandemic this past year. Say Their Names: C-Wing Bathroom: Luxurious Lavatory? Stop Asian Hate By Frank D’Urso think this is the worst bathroom because of the By Kevin Gu Staff Writer sinks.” The problem is not unacknowledged by ad- Editor-in-Chief The C-wing bathrooms are considered by ministrators, however. some to be a preferred option, while others are “I think we’ve all experienced that where you The following is a speech delivered March discouraged from using it due to its lackluster have to spend longer washing your hands be- 20 on Hopkinton Town Common. sanitary fixtures. cause the water’s not coming out. So I think it’s As a Chinese-American, I wanted to point “They’re fine. They’re a good option,” said a tradeoff,” Pominville said. out and call out the injustices we have faced vice-principal Justin Pominville. “The reason for [the sinks] is to control the throughout these past few months. “There’s just generally fewer people in there. flow of water being used, it’s a frequent occur- I want to start off by thanking everyone who So I think students over the course of their day, rence where people will just leave the water showed up here today. I want to thank the if they do have to use the facilities, it’s nice to running, and it’s just a huge waste. From a Hopkinton Chinese Association for organizing be in a more private environment. There’s defi- conservation standpoint, that’s why [we have this event, the Asian community for gathering nitely less traffic,” Pominville said. them].” here today to voice our injustices, and I want Many students, however, feel that this is not Fortunately, a possible solution has been dis- to thank our non-Asian allies who have come enough. cussed by administrators, though it seems to here to show support for us. “I’d say it’s the worst bathroom, probably my have been halted by budgetary constraints. Let me make one thing clear: we are not here least favorite,” senior Will Tedstone said. “[It] did come up, and I don’t think we have today in celebration. We are not here today be- His statements are not baseless, as one of his the ability to do this but [we could implement cause we want to be, but rather, because we are complaints is a common one among the student motion-activated sinks]. Just to cut down on the Photo by Frank D’Urso forced to be. Because the circumstances that body regarding the C-wing bathrooms. amount of touching,” Pominville said. Cameron Burden trying to use the chal- are placed on us make it necessary for us to “The sinks suck. They don’t really work,” “We weren’t able to do it, given the pan- lenging bathroom sink in the C-wing. address them. Tedstone said. demic, but also just general sanitation. It’s defi- Today, we weep for our fallen elders. We “Second floor A-wing is my favorite. It’s got This sentiment is shared by another student nitely something we’ll look into in the future,” weep for the womens’ lives that have been that big stall,” Tedstone said. fiddling with the lackluster fixtures. Pominville said. lost. Today, our lives are in danger more than “The A-wing bathrooms are my favorite,” “The sinks are garbage, you can’t properly Until then, students will likely continue to ever. Burden said. wash your hands,” Cameron Burden said. “I prefer A-wing bathrooms. Today, I wanted to take this time to say that Jump to page 4. Into the Unknown: Applying Boston Marathon Will Not to College Amidst a Pandemic Occur in the Spring – Again By Tara Kester are done through video conferencing, and stan- By Melanie Cole dardized testing requirements have been re- Like many associations and companies amid Staff Writer moved. Staff Writer the coronavirus pandemic, the BAA’s priority As seniors nationwide embark on their college “I wish I had the opportunity to go and get a The Boston Athletic Association (BAA) an- is the “safety of participants, volunteers, spec- journey this fall, the pandemic alters many tradi- feel for a college through a guided tour. I think nounced that the Boston Marathon, traditionally tators, and community members,” BAA CEO tional college research and selection processes. that would be a lot more influential because I held on the third Monday of April, will not take Tom Grilk said. Senior year brings a lot of stress: getting good could see the inside of buildings and get a feel place until at least Fall of 2021. The BAA is working closely with local offi- grades, saying goodbye to friends, and for many for what they have to offer academically,” se- Massachusetts has yet to enter stage four cials and the state’s coronavirus advisory group deciding where they want to pursue their aca- nior Grace Prucher said. of reopening, which is the only stage that al- to move forward and determine the conditions demic interests as well as the degree necessary But with the negatives of the pandemic and a lows road races and other large outdoor athletic where an in-person marathon can take place. for their chosen career. hybrid learning model has given seniors more events to take place. The BAA seeks to announce a date, along According to the Georgetown Public Policy time to prepare and apply to colleges. This is the first time in history that the Bos- with details on when to register, regulations, Institute, “65 percent of all jobs in the economy “Hybrid learning has given me more time to ton Marathon, an event dating back to 1897, has guidelines, size, and other details. will require postsecondary education and train- work on my applications,” said senior Caroline been canceled entirely. Even during World War This degree of uncertainty has definitely taken ing beyond high school,” making college a must Flanagan. I, the event was changed to a ten-man military a toll on the Hopkinton, Boston, and all of the for many high school students. Unlike Hopkinton, many schools participate relay race. people involved, including runners, volunteers, But a worldwide pandemic has changed the in remote learning models - leaving hundreds of For the 2020 Boston Marathon, the BAA held and spectators. traditional process of college selection. Campus schools closed around the commonwealth and a ten-day virtual event in place of the in-person “The Marathon is one of Boston’s most be- tours are limited to a 10x12 screen, interviews Jump to page 2. race. Jump to page 4. April 7, 2021 HHS Press 2 Quarantining Students: Keeping Up with School from Home By Emma VanBeek Jessica Franks, are responsible for the same amount of information they normally would Staff Writer learn if they were in school attending class in- As a rising number of students test positive person. for COVID-19 within the high school, a much “Students are expected to stay up with their larger number of students who were potentially classwork, although it’s much harder to do with exposed to the virus are also getting sent home no in-class time and the expectation to teach to quarantine for two weeks. yourself all of the material,” said Franks. However, these students are expected to keep Although quarantine frees up many students’ up with in-school work and homework, so they time, it is difficult for students to stay focused do not fall behind in class. and complete all of their assignments on time These students, typically referred to as close outside of school. contacts, have been previously exposed to “Personally, I fell behind on a lot of my as- someone who has tested positive with COVID- signments, and I’m still working on catching 19, whether it is a teacher, a friend, a classmate, up with some of my classes, especially my AP or a random person they sat near at lunch on a classes who tend to load on lots of work,” said given day. Franks. Hopkinton schools have been closely moni- Franks had to quarantine in October and was toring students’ whereabouts within the school officially allowed out of isolation in November. in order to successfully contact trace and alert “Some of my teachers were more flex- the community about possible close contacts ible with due dates, especially for quizzes and who may contribute to spreading the disease. tests,” Franks said. According to principal Evan Bishop, a hand- “However, some were much strict and expect ful of students in the high school have come to all my work to be turned in on the day it was due for all the other students.” school while also testing positive for the virus, Photo by Emma VanBeek thus exposing and putting other members of the Psychology teacher Jennifer Griffey is one of Students in quarantine are expected to complete work while they are not in school. school at risk of contracting the disease. the many teachers who have tried their best to When a student is deemed a close contact accommodate their quarantining students. ask them to connect with a classmate for any an amazing job given the circumstances,” Evan they must quarantine or test negative. How- “Recently, I’ve seen a lot of kids missing class notes,” said Griffey. Bishop reminds students. ever, these students are expected to stay on top from class and I give them extra time to com- “[Our teathers] are working longer hours All students are still advised to practice social of their schoolwork. plete tests. However, I expect my students in and harder than ever before. They are doing distancing and avoid social gatherings both in Many of these students, including senior quarantine to stay up to date on notetaking and their very best and in my opinion, are doing and outside of school.

uling tests for all students,” regarding the test of weight on one test might be too much.” season to be scouted. policy for the class of 2025. But with standardized testing optional at “It has both helped me and hurt me,” Prucher Into the Un- But the omission of standardized testing in- many schools, the admission process does not said, a member of the varsity track team. cludes both positives and negatives. seem more lenient. Additional supplemental es- “I got fewer marks because we didn’t have known cont’d “The colleges are putting less emphasis on says are sometimes required for students who a spring season. But coaches are more empa- From page 1 grades, which I think is important because do not submit tests. Some are worried that those thetic and lenient towards athletes, which I someone can be well rounded and not have the who had the opportunity to test and did well think could help me.” nation. As high schools close due to the pan- best grades. I think it’s important to see what may be at an advantage. The pandemic has unquestionably altered the demic, so do testing centers for the standardized they have to offer outside of an academic set- “The few people that have good test scores college application process for seniors. Every- test like the SAT and ACT. ting,” Prucher said. could be put on a pedestal above everyone thing from testing to athletics has changed how “’Fully 85% of the “U.S. News and World Standardized tests have been a widely de- else,” Prucher worries. students view and decide where they want to Reports” Top 100 national liberal arts colleges bated topic for the last few years because For some, recruiting has also altered drasti- spend their next four years. now have ACT/SAT-optional policies in place,” ‘standardized tests areused as an easy “weed- cally. With the entire spring season of junior Stiil the question remains: since colleges opt according to a FairTest Data Table. out” method,” according to an article released year canceled, many seniors are worried that for a more holistic approach, less determinaned This includes prestigious colleges such as by Faisal Amin, a director of High Education their chance to get recruited is gone. by letter grades and test scores, is the admis- Harvard University, which released a statement, Practice. With the NCAA enforcing a blackout period sions process changed forever? “We understand that the COVID-19 pandemic Senior Caroline Flanagan said, “putting a lot for recruiting, many athletes lost their prime has created insurmountable challenges in sched- Student Responses Hopkinton High School’s to the 2020 Election By Ceara Perry HHS Press Graphics Editor EDITOR-IN-CHIEF ASSOCIATE EDITORS Kevin Gu Matthew Meek Seniors were able to vote for the first time in the 2020 presidential election in November. Andrew Mimmo GRAPHICS EDITOR Between the coronavirus pandemic and the Abby Cassady current state of politics, this election was un- Ceara Perry Fariha Fardin like any other. The voter turnout for the election was greater ADVISOR Emily Miller Marley Sensenderfer than ever before, with 62% of eligible voters Fred Haas participating in the election (AP). When asked about how they made their de- HHS Press is a print and online publication created by the journalism course and newspaper club cisions on who to vote for, seniors consulted at Hopkinton High School. HHS Press is an open forum of student expression, and all content friends, family, and the internet. Photo by Ceara Perry decisions are made by the student staff. The publication adheres to the requirements of Massachu- Social media sites such as Instagram and Signs in front yard of a Hopkinton home. setts Student Expression Law (part 1, title XII, ch. 7, section 82 of Massachusetts General Law): Twitter have been filled with political content understand some issues and where Biden and recently, mostly reminding people how impor- Section 82. The right of students to freedom of expression in the public schools of the common- Trump stood on those issues.” tant it was to exercise their right to vote. wealth shall not be abridged, provided that such right shall not cause any disruption or disorder Instagram infographics have proven to be “I feel like I saw so many different posts and within the school. Freedom of expression shall include without limitation, the rights and respon- useful for teenagers in this election because sibilities of students, collectively and individually, (a) to express their views through speech and opinions on people’s Instagram stories and I they present information in a digestible and symbols, (b) to write, publish and disseminate their views, (c) to assemble peaceably on school would usually click on them and read the in- accessible way. property for the purpose of expressing their opinions. Any assembly planned by students during formation connected to them,” senior Lucas Even students who were unable to vote in regularly scheduled school hours shall be held only at a time and place approved in advance by Nealon said. “I feel like that really helped me the school principal or his designee. this election stayed up to date and had conver- No expression made by students in the exercise of such rights shall be deemed to be an expres- sations with family and friends. sion of school policy and no school officials shall be held responsible in any civil or criminal action “I shared resources on social media and for any expression made or published by the students. talked with people I know who can vote. Al- For the purposes of this section and sections eighty-three to eighty-five, inclusive, the word stu- though I couldn’t vote, informing voters with dent shall mean any person attending a public secondary school in the commonwealth. The word sufficient information is just as important,” se- school official shall mean any member or employee of the local school committee. nior Natalie Clott said. All students interested in joining HHS Press should contact Mr. Haas or stop by A311for more Current events such as the coronavirus pan- details about when the club meets. demic and the Black Lives Matter movement influenced how students voted in this election. Letters to the editor are welcome, but only signed letters will be considered for publication. Letters “I think the atmosphere created the past four may be edited for length or clarity We reserve the right to refuse advertisements for any reason, years has been super harmful to many minority All unsolicitied advertisements will be reviewed by the student staff. groups...having a president that is not openly racist is important to me, threats to LGBTQ HHS Press rights, the coronavirus response, and getting 90 Hayden Rowe Street some diversity in office influenced my vote,” Hopkinton, MA 01748 senior Abby Cassady said. phone: 508-497-9820 There still remains a lot of uncertainty about fax: 508-497-9829 the outcome of the election, but Hopkinton stu- Photo by Ceara Perry email: [email protected] dents are staying tuned in. Political flags on Hayden Row Street. April 7, 2021 HHS Press 3 Volunteering During a Global Pandemic Mental Health & By Farhia Fardin Remote Learning Associate Editor Student Issues High schoolers have found it difficult to vol- By Boden Lussier unteer during COVID-19 with mask mandates Staff Writer and social distancing, so the National Honor Society (NHS) student board has lowered the It is no secret to anyone the last year has requirements to 15 hours among other changes. been incredibly wearing on everyone’s Natalie Clott, a member of the NHS board psyche. said they decided to require 15 hours for all Australia caught on fire, the world has members and will allow summer hours as well. been hit with the worst plague in human his- The board also decided to cancel group hours tory, WWIII almost started two times in two as they do not coincide with CDC guidelines. months, and the debacle of the U.S election. Clott volunteered at a dog shelter over the All of these events are a lot to take in over summer and consistently adds time at the HCA. just one year, especially having only been on “They have plenty of opportunities for Hop- Photos by Fariha Fardin this planet for eighteen of those. kinton students,” Clott said. Anne Zhu is excited to volunteer even during COVID. Through this global pandemic Since quarantine started, there has been a Siri Yerramsetti, the treasurer of the National she will try her best to give back to her community as much as she can. rise in mental health issues due to the forced Art Honors Society said NAHS also changed quarantine caused by the coronavirus’s high “The portraits help the children feel valued, their requirements. munity but it’s hard to do so safely,” Zhu said. infectivity. This left many individuals so- show them that many people care about their NAHS has also been coming up with ideas “It’s a constant internal battle between my cially isolated, and in some cases, secluded wellbeing, and provide them with a special to help students volunteer. They have ideas to need to give back and my fear of endangering from the outside world. childhood memory for the future,” the organi- create projects, for example, creating cards or myself, my friends, and my family.” While people of all ages are affected by the zation’s mission statement states. painting kindness rocks for senior citizens at Clott’s has advice for anyone looking to vol- virus, both physically and mentally, children “We’re providing them with plenty of volun- Fairview or Golden Pond. They also have plans unteer but is hesitant. and adolescents are affected by the pandemic teer opportunities so they can take advantage of to set up a Zoom paint night with senior citi- “If you really like volunteering at an organi- differently than adults. them and students don’t have to go out and look zens. zation you’re passionate about and you enjoy According to high school counselor Ms. for one especially during this difficult time,” A project that they decided to continue is their the work you do, it’s rewarding.” Tomaz, “There has been an increase in men- Yerramsetti said. memory project. This project invites skilled art It’s not just volunteering for the hours, it’s tal health issues in adolescents due to them Current hybrid student and a member of NHS students to make special gifts for children fac- volunteering to help yourself and others,” Clott feeling isolated and not being allowed to be and NAHS Anne Zhu thinks 15 hours is reason- ing substantial challenges around the world, in- said. “If you and everyone else is being smart with friends. I think that it helps that ado- able but there could be different circumstances cluding orphans, kids in developing countries, about it, it should be safe and make sure you’re lescents can use technology to communicate, for each person. and more. not putting anyone at risk.” but there are connections between technol- “Yes, it’s important to give back to your com- ogy and anxiety/depression.” Last summer, students in Hopkinton had two choices on what the learning model they Inside Look at Nishi Manikandan & the Chettiar Community wanted, remote or hybrid, with the former By Julia Lerner don’t believe the caste system really exists being the safer contact-wise and the latter Staff Writer anymore. being the more interactive. “When my parents immigrated to the US, However, issues are evident in both, espe- Many people value their heritage. For Nishi the existing Chettiar community in America cially remote learning. Manikandan, she feels her heritage has truly was ready to ease them into the new country. One of the inherent problems with remote shaped her into the person she has become. Similarly, I know that no matter where I am, I learning is communication or lack thereof. “My family belongs to the Chettiar commu- will always have a family that I can rely on,” Communication between student and nity, also known as the business class. Being a Manikandan said. teacher is crucial for learning, especially if part of this group has strengthened my cultural Manikandan values all that her family has done fully digitally as certain technological ties to family in India and America,” Manikan- overcome and is now part of a larger commu- issues can prevent one from even participat- dan said. nity. ing in the class at all. To most people, India is divided into two “Adults in the community have demonstrated The communication issues become even Photo by Julia Lerner parts: the North and the South. the importance of family, something I value deeper when considering how the teacher The Manikandan family celebrating Di- However, within that division, there are deeply,” Manikandan said. might not be in the same town, state, or coun- wali during the recent festive season. multiple subsections, one of which is the caste Manikandan carries her heritage with her try as the student. The time they respond to system. through cooking, baking, and dance. beloved community. emails and messages differ greatly. When learning about the caste system in his- She’s done South Indian classical dance “The kindness of the members in my com- What is even more challenging is that if tory class, most are taught an overview of the called Bharatanatyam for about 12 years now. munity is something that I will forever carry a student is assigned a group project with older and original version of it. This dance ties Manikandan to her roots and with me,” Manikandan said. kids from different time zones, coordinating The caste system once carried a bad reputa- lets her express herself and grow as a person. “Being a part of this community has encour- meetups is a lot more difficult. tion of discriminatory practices; now, it is not She has also become very fond of learning aged me to be my best and has provided me a Some are under the impression that remote like that at all, according to Manikandan. traditional Indian recipes and serving them to sense of social responsibility.” learning is easier and less stressful than hy- In fact, it is so different that many people her family and friends at gatherings with her brid learning, as it occurs from home rather than at school, and it gives more freedom to Picadillo: the student than they would have at high- • 2 cups chopped onion school. While the latter is true the former is Comfort of Cuban Cuisine • 2 cups chopped green pepper anything but. • Olive oil for sauteing When asked if remote learning is a reason- By Evanya Mathur “I always want my kids to value what they • 4 cloves garlic, minced have. So I make sure that while they buy what • 2 pounds ground beef able cause of stress, Ms. Tomaz said, “Yes, Staff Writer they like, they have respect and value for those • 1 - 8-ounce can tomato sauce I think on top of schoolwork students have items as well,” she said, “it is something that • 1 teaspoon cumin to do, teaching styles students have to adjust New England’s snowy winters contrast • 1 teaspoon oregano to, and different levels of classes, then devel- sharply with the sun-kissed shores of Miami, my mother taught me, and I will teach them.” • 1⁄2 cup chopped green olives oping two different schedules that alternate Florida. The over 1.2 million Cuban-Americans In Cuban culture, there is a very big emphasis • 1 small box of raisins • Salt and pepper to taste every single day is extremely challenging.” are key contributors to the vibrant colors and placed on the importance of family, including • 4-ounces white cooking wine (optional) “This would be hard for any adult to do. flavors of the southeast coast. spending time together on holidays, and just being close through the ups and downs. Directions: So, when you are thinking about adolescents, One way Miami native and mother of two 1. Saute onion and peppers in olive oil in a large Ms. Gomez, a lawyer, chose to balance her where their brains arent fully developed, it Ileana Gomez preserves a connection to her frying pan until onion is softened. Add the garlic can impact the executive functioning skills Cuban heritage, despite the distance, is through time between her job at U.S Customs and Bor- and ground beef. Mash the onion and pepper into creating chaos, anxiety, and stress,” Tomaz feeding her family the food she grew up making der Protection and her family, cooking with her the ground beef sauteing until the meat is browned said. and eating. family has helped her do that. through. Add tomato sauce, white cooking wine, Emotional dysregulation is the psycho- Throughout months of isolation due to the “It was a choice between a rigorous job at a cumin, oregano, olives, and raisins and reduce to low. Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes. Add salt and logical term attributed to this feeling and COVID-19 pandemic, Ms. Gomez has shared firm or a more manageable occupation to spend pepper to taste. can severely affect your functionality as an her culture through teaching her daughters more time with my kids, I picked the latter,” 2. Serve over white rice. individual. staple Cuban recipes passed on for generations. Gomez said. Cuban Sandwich: This feeling can be very overwhelming at “I knew that my girls wouldn’t know what it’s To freshman Bella, cooking new recipes and • Cuban bread or sub rolls (not french bread) times and can create an endless spiral of de- like to go up to a Cuban coffee shop and ask for enjoying time together has brought her closer to • Butter softened spair and hopelessness. a café con leche and a pastelito, but I wanted her mother and her Cuban culture. • Bread & Butter pickles • Roast pork If you ever experience feelings that you to make sure that they still kept a part of that “It has been amazing to be with mom and learn the recipes, it makes me love the culture • Cooked ham have trouble regulating, consider calling one with them even in a place like New England,” • Swiss cheese - mild of the hotlines listed below: Gomez said. even more,” said Bella. • Yellow mustard When Gomez moved to New England, it was For some, fitting in with the societal norms Directions: Crisis Text Line: text BUDDY important that her daughters, freshman Bella while still holding onto native cultures can be 1. Preheat griddle or large saute pan. Cut bread rolls to 741-741 (for free 24/7 support) and seventh-grader Gabby maintained their Cu- challenging. Seeking solace in the comfort of down the middle. Make sandwich with following National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: ban-American roots despite the distance from food and family provides the way to the heart ingredients: mustard, roasted pork, ham, cheese, and pickles. *Best if meat is room temperature before 1-800-273-8255 its hub of cuisine and culture, Miami. for Ms. Gomez and her children. placing on the pan to avoid overheating the bread. Trevor Project (for LGBTQ+ youth): For Gomez, Cuban food does more than feed In the spirit of connection and comfort, Gomez has shared her family’s recipes for her 2. Place sandwich on a buttered griddle or saute pan 1-866-488-7386 the soul, it offers an opportunity to teach her over medium to low heat. Use lid of a pot to press Cuban sandwiches, juicy Picadillo and rice. Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 children valuable lessons as well. Living down and flatten the sandwich. Before flipping over, away from her hometown and its rich Cuban “Cuban cuisine is fragrant, it is vibrant, and butter the top of National Eating Disorders Associa- community can test traditional morals and val- there is something for everyone. Whether you the bread then flip over and press again. tion Helpline: 1-800-931-2237 ues, but Gomez makes it a point to pass these like spicy or sweet, you can find it all.” 3. Grill for about 5 minutes on each side or until the Teen Line: 310-855-4673 on to her daughters. cheese is melted. or TEXT TEEN to 839863 April 7, 2021 HHS Press 4 Say Their Names cont’d From page 1 The Journey to the Center of the Kaaba we have reached our tipping point. After de- cades and generations of silent oppression, we By Fariha Fardin have reached our tipping point because we see Associate Editor so many members of our community killed on ْمُكَل ْبِجَتْسَأ يِنوُعْدا -the streets that it’s made it impossible to ig nore any longer. “Call upon me, and I will respond to you.” Silence is no longer an option. We will stand from “Quran” 40:60 together. We will remain resilient in the face Tanya Khan, then a fifth-grader sits down at of adversity. We will not be broken, and we her seat in her class, ready to learn. As she takes will not remain silent. out her math folder, the kid behind her mutters Let’s move on to what caused the recent something. spike in hate crimes toward the Asian com- “Paki.” munity. Kung flu. Chinese virus. Yellow virus. The term “Paki” is commonly associated with All of these are terms which have been used for “Paki-bashing”, which consist of violent attacks the global pandemic, all of which have nothing against people of South Asian origin. to do with the elders, and nothing to do with Tanya turns around and looks at him for a the Asian-American community. Spreading millisecond. The kid looks away. this hateful rhetoric - this false rhetoric - con- “ISIS woman,” he sputters at her. tributes to racism in its purest form toward the The class goes silent. Asian-American community. Tanya turns around once more. It puts a target on our backs. It puts a target “What?” she exclaimed at him. on our women. It puts a target on our elders. It He spits back at her. “Go back to your coun- Photo courtesey of Tanya Khan is absolutely unfortunate that I have to explain try.” why this is wrong and why this is dangerous. Go back to your country. That’s what he said. Out of her darkness, Tanya continues working towards a better life and inspiring others. Your country. The recent spike - a 1,900% increase in but I wanted to decide based on what I felt more More recently she has plans to go to Iraq and Tanya did not know what to do, what to say. Asian-related hate crimes - is not a coinci- drawn towards.” Iran for Ziyarat (visiting the tombs and shrines Where is her country? Tanya was born in Saudi dence. Microaggressions lead to real life, She then began working on praying five times of the family of the Prophet PBUH) with a Arabia and only lived there for a few months physical aggressions. Sinophobia ends lives. a day, her Salat, the second pillar of Islam. This friend this upcoming July. of her life. I am appalled that we are still facing acts of is an obligatory duty in Islam. She is also working on becoming a hafiz, an She moved to Pakistan soon after only for a hatred such as these in our day and age in Through her faith, she has been able to grow Islamic scholar who has memorized the Quran couple of months. Her family moved to Amer- America. closer to her culture. Tanya and a friend then by heart. It is a very difficult and respected ica with the hopes and dreams of any immigrant Now, let’s talk about this. My friend lives started the South Asian Affinity Group (SAAG) achievement in the Islamic community. family: a better life. with his grandparents. They come from Tai- club at the high school. Her favorite part of Islam is the Shahada. The Home to her was her quaint house in Acton, wan. My friend is afraid to let his parents go to “Tanya was very dedicated in her mission to Shahada is simply a Muslim profession of faith Massachusetts. That’s all she had ever known. the grocery store alone. He is afraid that they unite people and provide a safe space to people and is the first of the five pillars of Islam. The boy’s comment consumed her mind. She will get attacked in public. He is afraid that no from different backgrounds. That’s why we “All Muslims no matter their age, gender, or did not know what to say. She felt powerless. one will be there to help them when that hap- started SAAG together,” former co-president how much faith they have, say the Shahada. She was not aware that she was different from pens. And he is afraid that they might never and 2020 graduate Shazain Khan explained. That’s what makes us Muslim.” Tanya ex- everyone else. Tanya grew up in suburbia. She return home because they’ll have their faces “As I got to know her, however, I came to see plained. “And I think that is amazing. Islam is did not yet understand this idea of prejudice. slashed in the street. that she was rooted in her faith as well, perfectly the only religion that has this type of testament Why did people treat her differently? Why We need to stand together. We need to re- emulating the Islamic principles of tolerance, to truly declare your faith to Allah (SWT).” did no one speaks her mother tongue of Urdu alize these atrocities. We are afraid as an love, and kindness. With us coming from dif- Tanya shared her feelings about being in outside of her home? Asian-American community because we see ferent sects [of Islam]. I enjoyed the discussions Muslim majority countries when they play the This is the first instance she experienced that there are deranged individuals who are at- we had about religion in general, especially in Athan (the call to prayer). when she had stepped out of her bubble of bliss. tempting to take out their anger on us. We are SAAG, where such discussions helped every- “As the sound of the Athan echoes the whole As Tanya grew older, through middle school tired of having a target on our backs, and we one gain a better appreciation for the spiritual country, for this moment, it goes silent, no mat- into high school, she felt more and more of her are so afraid because society is pushing back diversity of the Indian subcontinent,” Khan ter your religion. Everyone stops talking, stops character and her faith leaving her. with all its force to silence our voices. They said. doing their work. The shops close temporarily. She tried to become more integrated in her are trying to erase these atrocities. “Her optimistic disposition has given me It’s peaceful. It fills my heart. I feel connected American culture, shying away from the “ter- Now, let’s talk about what happened on hope that South Asia can overcome its differ- with every single Muslim. I want everyone to rorist” side of her. March 16, 2021. Four days ago. A white man ences and begin the process of collaboration and experience that feeling.” She even stopped speaking Urdu at home and targeted three different spa locations and shot unity.” Islam gives Tanya a sense of belonging and was losing her religion in God. eight different people. Six of those killed were Tanya wanted to create SAAG because she a sense of unity. Every day she wakes up and During the middle of her high school career, East Asian women. My heart goes out to the believes every person of color, especially the goes to her prayer mat and realizes all her fel- Tanya went through difficult times questioning victims and to the families of those victims South Asian diaspora, should be known for their low Muslim brothers and sisters are praying her religion and her faith. She was struggling that have been affected by this shooting in true labels not labels society has made like “ter- with her. mentally and emotionally at school and home. Atlanta. rorist” or “ISIS woman.” Tanya herself claims “We’re praying in the same movements, fac- She was losing motivation and her passion for Let’s take a moment of silence to respect to identify as a Pakistani American. She insists ing the same direction towards the Kaaba, to- things once so important to her, for example, their lives. her Pakistani roots are first in her label because wards God’s house, and praying to the same her determination in her studies and her creativ- And let’s call this what it is: a hate crime. both her parents are from Pakistan and that is God, Allah (SWT).” ity in art. Domestic terrorism. And let’s also take a look the country she identifies most with. “Islam is not only a religion, it’s a doctrine, a “I thought I wasn’t going to make it out of it, at what the media has had to say about this. Now a rising senior, she has aspirations to way of life with the emphasis on peace. I wish but then I learned that the Prophet Muhammed “Eight Killed in Atlanta area Massage Parlor continue her journey in faith and her passion in more people understood that. The hate that it (peace be upon him) cried for us, he cried for Shootings, Twenty-One year old in Custody,” college and beyond. receives in modern-day media is not representa- me, for my faith,” she explained. “Eight Killed in Metro Atlanta Shootings, “I want to go to law school after undergrad... tive of the essence of Islam,” Tanya said. Soon after she rediscovered Islam on her own Suspect in Custody,” “Eight Dead from Mas- take one or two years and go to Jordan and Tanya constantly works to shift the media’s account. Islam pulled her out of the deep hole sage Parlor Shootings, Police have Suspect in study under a scholar, so I can learn more about perspective on Islam by writing articles, blog she was digging for herself. She felt as though Custody.” Shia Islam,” Tanya said. posts, and spreading awareness of Islamic well- she put more weight on trivial things in life and Where is the mention that this man went Jordan is one of the countries with a large being on social media. She is inspired by the not enough spiritually. She started by research- to places with primarily East Asian women? Shia population. At the time of the Prophet Mu- works of the Prophet (PBUH) and she inspires ing which sect of Islam she wanted to be in, Where is the mention that he targeted them? hammed (PBUH), 1400 years ago, there were many more through her passion and dedication Shia or Sunni. Where is the mention that this was a white trade routes and Jordan was one of the stops. to Islam. “My family is Shia and those were the ideas man, and where is the mention that this was a Tanya wants to minor in Arabic so she can Alhamdulillah. Thanks to God’s Will. and values that were imposed on me from a kid, racially charged hate crime? communicate better with people in Jordan. We, as Asian Americans, need to stand strong. And we need to say their names. Never forget the lives that have been lost. Say their “It’s definitely strange. I’ve become so used “We are optimistic that the Boston Marathon names. Repeat them after me. Boston Marathon to the yearly routine, and it’s sad to see fewer will continue its tradition of celebrating the Emphasize their lives. Do not let them be runners out there training. I’m hopeful though,” spirit of community and athletic excellence next forgotten. Never let our members be forgotten Coffone said. fall,” Grilk said. amidst these anti-Asian sentiments. Will Not Occur in Coffone is not the only hopeful one. The BAA “We know there will be many questions, and is hopeful as well and working hard to make we will look to address them in the coming Suncha Kim Jung Grant cont’d sure an in-person race can occur in Fall 2021. months ahead.” Soon Chung Park Daoyou Feng the Spring From page 1 Xiaojie Tan Hyun Yong Yue loved traditions,” Boston Mayor Marty Walsh We have lived in a society that has told us said. that because we are Asian, we have it good, “We look forward to holding the Marathon and that we’re not allowed to voice the injus- again to celebrate not only this world-class tices we face. We live in a society that neglects event but also the resilience and solidarity that the Asian community. In the public eye, we the people of Boston have shown throughout as Asians are supposed to stay silent and keep this crisis.” working. The Boston Marathon is one of the six major Not anymore. We will not stay silent as our marathons in the world, along with the Berlin, elders, friends, loved ones, and members of London, Chicago, Tokyo, and New York City our community are killed in the streets. Never marathons. again will we let their names be forgotten. Among these six, only two held road races Never again, as society attempts to erase their this year and they were only available to elite- stories. level athletes. Photo by Melanie Cole Let’s stand strong together and protect Asian A long-time marathon runner and Hopkinton The Boston Marathon startline remains untouched. It is traditionally repainted every lives. resident, Amy Coffone, has been disappointed. year, as it fades throughout the winter. However, this will not happen this year. April 7, 2021 HHS Press 5 Review: Cyberpunk 2077 – A Highly Enjoyable Mess Review: “My Agenda” By Boden Lussier more than enough to handle most of the en- Lastly, I found the story to be one of the is Unapologetically Staff Writer emies. Melee weapons are only really needed weaker parts of the game. It is nothing special Queer and In-Your-Face for a few quests. and it plays out like a stereotypical heist movie, For those who do not know, Cyberpunk 2077 Though I will say that fighting with a katana, with lots of prep time before the big show, and By Nia Rodriguez was one of the most anticipated games of the after being jumped by some street punks, and an occasional twist that the player often saw Staff Writer decade before its releaese. being able to punch somebody twice my char- coming a mile away. Game enthusiasts flooded social media with acter’s size with modified gorilla arms were I will say that at times I found the story en- Singer-songwriter Dorian Electra is apart of posts describing how anxious they were to play both satisfying and thrilling experiences. joyable, but overall it was lackluster, while the the new wave of artists in the upcoming Hyper- it. Advertisements for the game suggested it As mentioned, you can have cybernetics in- actual gameplay ranged from good to great. Pop scene. would present its own living world, at a level stalled pretty much anywhere if you have the After all, there are not many games that give The most notable acts within the genre con- not achieved in any game to date. It was even right amount of money saved up. Cybernetics you the chance to have a rockstar cyber-terror- sist of 100 Gecs, Slayyyter, Kim Petras, and rumored that Keanu Reeves was connected to can range from eyeballs that make you into a ist that is played by Keanu Reeves stuck inside Rina Sawayama, to name a few. From Electra’s the game, so of course, elevating the game’s walking pair of binoculars, or an arm cannon your head. campy and androgynous style, along with their profile considerably. that makes you into a threat to public safety. harsh, industrial-like production and electronic On November 20, 2020, the game was re- However, you can’t have all weapons in- vocals, they are undoubtedly no stranger to leased and instantly being played by millions stalled, even if you have all the money in the pushing their artistry to absolute extremes. of people around the globe. city, as there are skill requirements you have to Exploring similar themes prevalent on their Unfortunately, almost as instantly, reports of match or no installation. 2019 album “Flamboyant,” Electra’s “My extremely dissatisfied customers started flood- These requirements can be met by leveling Agenda” is an unapologetic queer anthem. ing social media. The initial release of the game up with experience points you can get from The song’s purpose is to immerse the lis- had more bugs than the Amazon Rainforest. quests or killing enemies. There are five skill tener into a satirical rendition of the “gay The developers have been scrambling to categories: Body, Intelligence, Reflexes, Tech- agenda” conspiracy theory, a theory in which release updates and bug fixes and have an- nical Ability, and Cool. conservative groups believe that the LGBTQ+ nounced they will release free downloadable The music in this game is another highlight – community intends to convert everyone to ho- content (DLC) and big software patches to fix some of the best I’ve heard in years, especially mosexuality. this mess of a game, though it likely will not be since it is exclusive and original to this game “My Agenda” strategically opens with the enough to repair the damage they did by releas- and not pulled from already released songs. sound of frog ribbits, later revealed as a refer- ing such an unfinished product. The voice acting in Cyberpunk is also top of ence to the song’s bridge. Electra then sets the All that said, the game has some amazing el- the line, with the surprising exception of Keanu stage with lyrics such as “I’ve got this plan ements - gameplay can be incredibly fun, and Reeves’ performance – he makes multiple emo- now” and “You can’t escape,” referring to their the scale of the world is absolutely amazing. tional scenes turn into stale slideshows. That’s inescapable homosexual agenda. For most, 90% of the time spent playing this not to say Keanu Reeves is bad at delivering his The track features the Russian feminist group game will be fighting or looking for a fight, and lines, he just does not put a lot of emotion into Pussy Riot. Screaming in Russian, the group de- let’s face it, that is exactly what the audience them most of the time. I need to point out that Cyberpunk 2077 as it mands the listener’s attention with their lyrics for this game wanted. Cyberpunk takes place in the fictional Night- stands today is under no circumstances a fin- regarding the homophobic laws in their home The gunplay in this game is excellent, there City, which seems to be a mashup of the worst ished product. I am still hopeful that this game, country. Following their verse, the song shifts are plenty of different types of guns to chose parts of Detroit and Las Vegas, where both in a year or two, can become the game it was towards an abrasive sound reminiscent of a from, some of which can be built into the cy- have been nuked thirty times over. It is dirty. advertised to be if the developers stay commit- 2016 dubstep remix. bernetics form of the characters. There are crimes happening in every corner of ted to fixing the bugs and expanding the story. One of the most established queer figures in The guns feel great, and shooting repeatedly the city, and gun stores on every street. It is a fun game, and I had a blast playing it music, the disco band Village People, makes an actually results in increasing recoil. The melee Driving in this game is less than stellar, as when the bugs did not get in the way. Yet, it is appearance on the track and accompanies Elec- weapons (swords, bats, and other hand to hand you feel like your driving on ice rather than still missing a lot of what it promised to deliver. tra on the chorus. Village People’s euphoric combat weapons) feel good too, but overall I asphalt most of the time. The vehicles them- Hopefully, when I play the game a year from vocal performance creates a victorious tone for was not impressed. selves, however, are nicely designed, if a bit now, I will not be bombarded with bugs and the song. The choice of melee weapons is lacking and ordinary compared to some of the more far- missing content. One of the more unexpected yet favorable they all tend to feel the same. On top of that, fetched items in the game, like the aforemen- That would increase my overall rating of the parts of the track is when the band boastfully they are not really necessary as the guns are tioned cannon arms. game considerably. sings in unison, “Out here flexing in my rain- bow suspenders.” Review: Gourmia Air Fryer Oven: A New, Healthier Style of Cooking By Emma VanBeek With fourteen different cooking functions, I’ve thrown in pizza, bagels, toast, vegeta- including reheating, dehydrating, and even a bles, salmon, pickles, and different types of fro- Staff Writer cookie function, the Gourmia has the potential zen foods. All of these foods took very minimal After becoming such a popular cooking ap- to serve several purposes in the kitchen. time to cook, and yet, they still tasted as though pliance over the last two years, many people The Gourmia claims to provide “you with the they were cooked in a regular oven or toaster. are still wondering whether air fryers are really tools to eat better and healthier without spend- One downside to the Gourmia is that it has to worth the money. ing hours in the kitchen prepping and cooking.” be properly cleaned after each use, especially When it comes to cooking, most people view Air fryers, like the Gourmia, use convection after using the air fryer function. air fryers as unnecessary, seeing their typical to circulate hot air and oil around food in order Both the interior and exterior can get dirty oven serves a lot of the same functions. to cook it. very easily, and it’s important to wipe down the However, the Gourmia Air Fryer Oven is There are over 30 different air fryer models appliance’s exterior and handwash any acces- Wrapping up the song, Electra sings about more than just an air fryer. that Gourmia offers. Models can range any- sories on the interior once it has cooled down. poisoning the water and turning frogs gay. A where from $70 to $300, depending on the All in all, the Gourmia Air Fryer Oven has sly reference to American radio show host Alex model’s size and various functions. I bought blown me away. My family and I use it almost Jones. the GTF7900 model, which goes for around every single day. “I don’t like them putting chemicals in the $90 at Target. Because I have such a large family, we tend water that turn the freakin’ frogs gay,” the far- It takes up the same counter space as a nor- to use it for meals like breakfast and lunch be- right conspiracy theorist once stated. mal toaster oven, and it even comes with a cause the Gourmia works better for smaller “My Agenda” is an Experimental pop track recipe book made specifically created for the meals and proportions. that perfectly encapsulates the current chaotic type of model purchased. However, if you have a smaller family, I political climate regarding LGBTQ+ issues Overall, this product seems like a very use- would recommend using it to prepare dinner. while simultaneously not taking itself too seri- ful and practical replacement for the old toaster Perhaps try throwing your protein in it or pre- ously. oven that I used to have. paring some vegetables in it as a side dish. Without a doubt, this track is for music fans The “multi-purposeness” of this product For the Gourmia Air Fryer Oven, the food with an acquired taste, but I believe everyone makes it quick and easy to heat up any type possibilities are endless and delicious. should spare a few moments to experience Photo Emma VanBeek of food. something one-of-a-kind with Dorian Electra. Review: Ziti’s Restaurant By Hayden Orenstein made bread created many crumbs. The toma- toes were juicy. It was common for the tomato Staff Writer juice to run out of the sandwich. The prosciutto was thinly sliced and added a saltiness, con- Off Route 9 in Westborough, in the same trasting with the tomato, basil, and mozzarella. shopping center as a Chick-fil-A a Stop and The homemade bread was delicious on its Shop and Burlington, is an Italian food place own. The basil, tomato and mozzarella gave the called Ziti’s. sandwich a refreshing bite I have not tasted in a Ziti’s is a family restaurant founded in 1991. while. The prosciutto was delicious providing They offer a variety of food, including sand- the perfect saltiness. wiches, pasta, and a bunch of other classic ital- The only problem I had was cleaning up all of ian dishes and deserts.. the crumbs and juices from the tomato dripping I ordered a sandwich with prosciutto, fresh out of the sandwich. mozzarella, tomato and basil on a friend’s rec- This was my first time going to Ziti’s and it ommendation. I ordered the sandwich for take- did not disappoint. out, and it was already done when I went in to Although I have only tried their sandwiches, pick it up. I would definitely return to Ziti’s and would The sub style sandwich was well wrapped in recommend it to anyone looking for a good paper. The sandwich was large and the home- Italian meal. Photo Hayden Orenstein April 7, 2021 HHS Press 6 A Trip To Remember: How Visiting Noor Orphans Trust Changed My Life By Iman Haidri Staff Writer

For many Shia Muslims, Iraq is a holy land. Similar to a Hajj, many Shia Muslims try to get a trip to Iraq sometime in their life. Shias believe that Prophet Muhammad’s grandson was buried there along with other family members. Going there during the month of Muharram is also very popular. Two years ago, I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Iraq with my parents, which was one of the most surreal and unexpected trips ever. During my trip to Iraq, we spent a few days driving around and visiting many families’ houses who were in the orphanage my mom Photo by Iman Haidri provides aid for. my mother has been helping for almost five the orphanage. Along with medical help, the orphanage aids In Iraq, it is said that if the father dies the years now. She hoped to help children like a six-year-old with fixing families’ houses, supporting their children become orphans, even if their mother When we made plans to go to Iraq, she boy who was about to undergo surgery to fix going to school, and helping many mothers ob- is alive. This is why many families belong in wanted to make sure I also saw the lives these his kidney. The operation was made possible tain jobs to provide for their families. orphanages across Iraq. children were living. by the orphanage. The issue is especially challenging in Iraq, Noor Orphans Trust is an organization that She made a point to ensure we are always Dr. Hasani also decided to help out by work- making it much more difficult to send money aware of our privilege. ing at a non-profit hospital. and supplies. While limiting resources for However, going to Iraq and seeing all of this “I found we were living in a much more priv- many of these families. first-hand was an eye-opener. ileged household than many other people and The main goal for Noor Orphans Trust is to For example, Ali is a four-year-old boy who wanted to help as much as I could,” Dr. Hasani provide families with money, water, education, lost his father at two years old. He lives with explained. He wanted to work at a non-profit and anything else they need. three other siblings at the orphanage for the last instead of a better paying job. Visiting these kids and understanding how couple of years. Visiting these houses made me realize how many of them lacked everyday basics to those Once we got there we met, Sister Kamelia, much so many of these young children struggle of us living in the United States made me real- who is a resident in Iraq, who works with the each day. Many of these houses did not have a ize how much we take for granted. Noor Orphans Trust. Her husband Dr. Hasani, roof, an entrance door, or even a stable room. Simple things like a bed to sleep on, a work- took us around to see families whose fathers To think how people go on with their lives ing toilet, a door to my room – all of these are and husbands have died and whose children with no shade or air conditioning in over the little things we do not think about. How- were very little. 100-degree weather and still with a smile on ever, to these families it costs almost a year’s Sister Kamelia and Dr. Hassani moved from their faces is inspiring. worth of familial income to afford something Yemen amidst the political issues that were Many families are living in houses like these as small as a front door. going on there. with no roofs, rooms, or beds. Overall, this trip made me realize how much They moved to Iraq to seek a safer life for The children of the orphanage range from all we should be grateful for what we have. their family and two sons. ages. Many are young children, however. Some It made me want to help out as many kids as Once they settled down, Kamelia realized are also older kids wanting access to education. I possibly can. Photo by Iman Hairdri The six-year-old shepherded on the left how many children were suffering. She wanted The children also have different medical con- It also gave me a new outlook on life, to be awaits kidney surgery to fix his kidney. to do as much as she could by helping out in ditions. grateful for the little things we have.

“Currently it has a limited role in the com- Reed Park: munity at large,” Parks and Recreation Director Jay Guelfi said. Hopkinton firefighter Patrick Gross grew up Hopkinton’s next to the park from 1970-1992. He recalls Reed Park as being the town playground. Neglected Park He remembered the playground had stainless steel slides, monkeybars, a climbing pyramid By Hayden Orenstein made out of metal pipes and a roundabout. The Staff Reporter playground was taken down in the late 1980s. “None of the equipment would meet any of The entrance to Reed Park is marked by a today’s safety standards,” Gross said. broken sign that has collapsed and fallen on a Hopkinton resident Alexis Miller also re- rock in the woods. called the playground as unsafe, especially the The path leading up to the park is uneven. climbing structure. Photo by Hayden Orenstein Nailed to a tree along the side of the path is “I’m sure the fact that it was rusting away reation Department in 2011 showed that less However, Howard said that she rarely sees an old wooden sign with traces of text so worn was not good for the kids,” Miller said. than half of those surveyed have ever been to anyone. away the sign is no longer legible. The field has also had many uses, it began as Reed Park. “It’s rare I see anyone else at the park. And As one enters the park, they see a cracked and a softball field for a women’s league. As soccer “If you don’t live in that neighborhood, most honestly, it’s usually my neighbors with their worn tennis court surrounded by a rusty fence. became more popular, they grew grass over the people will have no idea that that park is even dogs when I do see someone,” Howard said. Next to it, a sign held up by a wire, says N. L. diamond and made it a soccer field. there,” Guelfi said. Howard enjoys bringing her kids to the park. McIntire Field. Next to the sign is an exposed The field still has one foul pole, and a single In 2016, the Parks and Recreation Committee “I go there with my two children, and they rusty pole sticking out of a cylinder of cement. soccer goal without mesh remains in the forest voted to remove a dysfunctional bathroom that like to run around on the field and roll down the The field itself is an empty plot of grass. 15 feet away from the edge of the field. had become a target of vandalism and graffiti. hill to the field,” Howard said. Hopkinton bought Reed Park, located near Miller’s kid played soccer at Reed Park “The only time I recall them being used was Howard also said she has really enjoyed the Whitehall, in 1969. Since then, it has been a around 2009, where she recalled that the park when the Parks & Rec did summer camps,” park during the coronavirus pandemic. playground and a place to play sports like ten- had a flooding problem. Gross said. “During this pandemic it’s been great, be- nis and soccer. “When my daughter played soccer there, Wicked Local Hopkinton reported co-chair- cause it is so secret we have fun without the However as time has passed, many of the fa- it used to flood, and we wouldn’t be able to man Robert Dobinski saying, “It is an eyesore.” crowds,” Howard said. cilities that were built there had to be removed. have practice on parts of it because it was too The town keeps the field at Reed Park con- Many of the park’s trails lead to Whitehall Some residents who grew up next to the park soggy,” Miller said. sistently mowed. State Park and the Whitehall Conservation said they were underwhelmed by it as a place The tennis courts are surrounded by a rusty “We perform minimum maintenance on the Area the town of Hopkinton purchased in 2006. to play, and many other town residents have fence and the court’s surface is covered in field,” Guelfi said. Many of the trails are wide and they are ignored the park all together. cracks. The nets are partially worn although Hopkinton Resident Kelly Howard, who cur- marked by the Hopkinton Open Space Com- still functional. rently lives near Reed Park, said she enjoys the mittee. The tennis courts also have two basketball maintenance the town is doing to the park. For a while, the Parks and Recreation Depart- hoops, one of which is missing its rim, in con- “The field is always mowed and the grass is ment wanted to give access to the park directly trast to the rims at the high school courts, which nice,” Howard said. from Wood Street, but the price was deemed had been taken down earlier in the year as a Reed Park is still used to host tennis lessons too expensive. result of coronavirus safety measures. and is sometimes used for youth soccer prac- “The cost of that would outweigh the benefit Gross said the courts were in better condition tice. of actually opening it up,” said Guelfi. when he lived there. “Even though the courts aren’t in the best Guelfi said the Parks and Recreation Depart- Miller said she regarded many of the facili- shape, it’s still okay for beginners tennis les- ment currently has no plan to change Reed ties as dangerous or dysfunctional. sons,” Guelfi said. Park. “I don’t remember it ever being in good Guelfi said that the local residents value the “Reed Park currently, and for the foreseeable shape,” Miller said, “It was already past its park as an open space. future, is going to be used for the way it’s being prime in the 80s.” “I know that the residents do frequent the used now,” Guelfi said. The Parks and Recreation Department used park often to walk their dogs and to take walks Howard said that she would like to see the to run a summer camp at Reed Park. and to enjoy it more as an open space park tennis courts be resurfaced, and for the town Photo by Hayden Orenstein As the department tried to do certain activi- rather than an athletic field,” Guelfi said. to fix the basketball hoops and add soccer nets One of two hoops missing a rim from the ties at Reed Park, the public’s attraction to the On a recent fall day, two groups of people to the field. crumbling area that one time also doubled park has been limited. could be seen walking around the park and its She also hoped for more places to sit down in as a tennis court, near the parking lot. A survey conducted by the Parks and Rec- surrounding trails. addition to the two benches at the park. April 7, 2021 HHS Press 7 Student Writers Claim Scholastic Awards Record By Hayden Orenstein as successful as it was without his help, and I couraging students to submit. Most of the student’s success this year was in am so grateful.” Kevin Gu’s flash fiction “Little Mints” also the poetry category. Staff Writer Syed said he plans to enter the contest again won a prestigious American Voices award. Ellam believes the school’s poetry unit may The high school won 19 statewide Scholastic next year. “As for American Voices, we have never had have inspired some of the award winning writing awards for the 2020-2021 school year, Senior Marley Sensenderfer won an honor- that before,” Ellam said. poems this year. including seven gold keys, four silver keys, and able mention for her three poems, “Still Bleed- Kevin Gu 11 "American Voices Flash Fiction Little Mints eight honorable mentions. ing,” “Passions of Yesterday,” and “Icarus.” Nominee/ Gold Key Students ranging from tenth to twelfth grade Sensenderfer said that a reason for her suc- won awards in poetry, critical essay, short cess could be her unique style and her use of Kevin Gu* 11 Gold Key Poetry The Yangtze long words. story, personal essay/memoir, and flash fiction. Kevin Gu 11 Gold Key Poetry Viridescence “My tone is very formal and I think that’s Junior Afnaan Syed won a gold key for his Kevin Gu 11 Gold Key Poetry Hong Jing | Red Gold critical essay about the Uyghur Genocide. He helpful because it’s different than how other said he wrote the essay because the issue was people write,” Sensenderfer said. Brian Gu 10 Gold Key Short Story A Dark Brown Walnut-sized important to him and his faith. She likes poetry as a way to express her emo- Seed tions. “I was raised in a super-religious Muslim Ishita Khurana 10 Gold Key Critical Essay Sex and Gender Disparaities in “I use poetry mainly as an emotional outlet. family and one of the foremost Islamic prin- Global Healthcare Systems ciples that I was taught was the importance of It lets me say what I want to say without peer judgement,” Sensenderfer said. Afnaan Syed 11 Gold Key Critical Essay Uyghur Genocide Informative helping out your Muslim brothers whenever Essay they need it,” Syed said. For Sensenderfer it is important to practice Syed also said it was important for him and write a lot in order for people to find their Anjali Batra 10 Silver Key Poetry A Girl’s Ire to help the situation the best way he could, voice. Mia Carboni 12 Silver Key Poetry Doctrine “The more you do it the better you get. You spreading awareness. Mia Carboni 12 Silver Key Critical Essay The Relativity and Reclamation “There may not be much I can do about it, find your own style and your own voice and it helps you create your own brand,” Sensender- of Success: Black Progress as it but I decided that one of the things I could do Evolves in America was try and raise awareness about what is hap- fer said. “I know my writing from three years pening as much as I could, especially since this ago is not what it is now.” Kevin Gu 11 Silver Key Critical Essay The Preliminary Foundations atrocity is getting a shamefully low amount of Sensendefer said that she plans to continue of the “Kill All Men” Twitter media attention,” Syed said. writing poetry beyond high school. Hashtag Movement Syed explained the experience of writing was “It’s something I have enjoyed doing for a Chloe Baril 10 Honorable Mention Poetry Lizzie better than writing a typical school essay be- while now, so why not continue it if it’s some- thing I like doing?” Mia Carboni 12 Honorable Mention Personal Essay/ 48 Degrees cause of his personal investment in the analysis Memoir and broader situation. English department leader Sarah Ellam en- Kevin Gu 11 Honorable Mention Poetry Doormat “While writing an essay, as well as doing any courages students to submit their work for other type of major school project, may seem awards. Kevin Gu 11 Honorable Mention Short Story Saltwater like a tall and stressful task at first, as long as Ellam was delighted to see students find suc- cess in different types of literature. Kevin Gu 11 Honorable Mention Critical Essay Don’t Stress (or Be Depressed), you truly feel passion for what you’re writing Just Test: The Machiavellian about, you can find some enjoyment of your “I have never seen us win in so many catego- ries,” Ellam said. Nature of the Chinese Educa- own out of it,” Syed said. tion System English teacher Ben Lally helped Syed with Ellam also said that a lot of the students who Kevin Gu* 11 Honorable Mention Poetry Smother (Ululation) his work. won did all of their work at home as a personal “Mr. Lally was my sponsor for when I origi- project and that very few were school projects. Kevin Gu 11 Honorable Mention Poetry Week of an ABC “Most of the [writings] that won weren’t in nally wrote this essay, and he did an awesome Marley 12 Honorable Mention Poetry Still Bleeding; Passions of the context of the classroom” Ellam said. job helping me revise my work and bring out Sensenderfer Yesterday; Icarus the best in it,” Syed said. “I seriously don’t Many English teachers were involved in the *Denotes student pieces submitted through private instructors think my essay would have been anywhere near process by giving the writers feedback and en- State Scholastic Art Award Winners By Ruben Noroian tography. She included three projects relating to cyanotypes. Staff Writer Invented in 1842, the cyanotype is a type of image printing process which produces a cyan- This year Hopkinton students compiled a blue color print. total of 12 state-level Scholastic art awards. The theme of Barker-Hook’s photos was Among this year’s winners were two sopho- houseplants. more photography students. “It seemed like an interesting subject to Sophomore Owen Fitzpatrick received a photograph because of the wide variety in my silver key for his submission in photography, house, and I’m a fan of organic shapes in art.“ titled “My Mom Beat Cancer.” He submitted a Mr. Worrell was also impressed with her cya- diptych, a project where two images combine notypes. in a single frame. “I was checking in with her, and when she “My mom was beating cancer and it had af- showed me what she was working on. I was fected my family as a whole, so I thought it quietly going, wow, this is really good work,” would be a powerful message of overcoming Worrell said. something so horrible,” Fitzpatrick said. Since 1923, Scholastic has called for high He originally took the photos for his photog- school student submission of art, for adjudica- raphy class, where he was asked to get close-up tion from judges. face pictures. His teachers suggested he submit State award selection is based on demonstra- the work to Scholastic, while Fitzpatrick had Photo by Owen Fitzpatrick Photo by Libby Barker-Hook tion of a combination of originality, technical not originally considered it. Winning artwork from sophomore photography students were among dozen awards. skill, and a unique point of view. Awards range “My teachers suggested I should, since they from honorable mentions and silver keys to liked a lot of the photos and believed I had a “I was really moved by the power of what he Sophomore Libby Barker-Hook was also gold keys and American Visions and Voices shot. Without them, I probably wouldn’t have was trying to say with his photographs. Art is awarded a silver key for her photography, “Spi- nominations. entered.” about personal expression, and he was really der Plant Cyanotype.” Gold Keys are automatically considered for His photography teacher, Mr. Worrell, be- expressing something important to him,” Wor- She also took a photography class this past National Awards and released on March 17. lieved his work went above and beyond. rell said. semester. Learning about the history of pho-

The answer to that question is no. Since the ing is one thing, but the production experience Yet, vinyl is making its way back, as the Vinyl Isn’t Dead decline of record sales particularly in the 1990s, is a whole different story. younger generations begin to appreciate the art By Devin Gross vinyl records have made a major comeback. There are many intricate aspects that go into form and sound quality that comes with vinyl. In an era of digital music, vinyl records seem creating and releasing vinyl. Staff Writer to be gaining more and more popularity. Sound Performance USA is a record pressing Vanessa Goldberg, a manager of the Never- company that originated 25 years ago in Lon- Senior Nia Rodriquez described the experi- mind Shop in Upton, described the increase in don, but they have been open in a New York ence of unwrapping records and seeing the sales and popularity of vinyl records. location for the past 10 years. discs inside using the words “personal” and “More young people have been getting into Arthur Nalis, an employee at Sound Perfor- “special.” vinyl. I have seen lots of high school students mance described his experience of overseeing Vinyl is tangible. And the experience of buy- and even middle school students getting into productions, company tours, timelines, and ing it definitely plays a vital role in its popular- vinyl. We added a whole ‘Gen Z’ section with product release dates. ity. newer artists like Billie Eilish for the younger “Any pressing plant has all these jobs going “I personally like being able to hold my fa- people to choose from,” Goldberg said. through their company, and many different vorite albums. It feels more personal. Digital The shop sells other merchandise besides departments have to work together to get the music is cool for easy access, but there are also vinyl such as shirts, cassette tapes, posters, and products through.” people who like to enjoy their music on a more CDs, but vinyl records still remain the most The production, popularity, and sales of vinyl personal level,” Rodriguez said. popular, especially with the younger custom- may have changed dramatically over the past Vinyl records took the world by storm and ers. she described. few decades. The popularity may have gone were the most popular until the late 1980s, but The experience of vinyl selling and purchas- away for a while. did vinyl really die in the 1990s like some say? Photo Devin Gross April 7, 2021 HHS Press 8 Hopkinton Public Library: Open for the Community By Matthew Meek In a similar vein to regular curbside pickups, the library has also started a program allow- Associate Editor ing children, teens, and adults to fill out a form It is 2:00 in the afternoon on a cool early-De- of the types of books they like, and the library cember day. School has just let out. Buses and staff takes it from there. cars flood the Main Street intersection down- “I’ve started something called the Quick town by Hopkinton Drug and CVS Pharmacy. Pick Bundle service, where a parent or child When the light turns green, one of the cars can fill out a form of different types of books turns left, then left again, right past Pan Thai. they want, whether it’s picture books or chap- Heading up Church Street, the car pulls into ter books, and we will select some books for the parking lot of the Hopkinton Public Li- them and put that bundle together for them to brary. The driver parks and shuts off their car pick up curbside,” Children’s Librarian Andrea before hopping out and walking up the side- Conboy said. walk to the library’s side entrance. The library has managed to shift some of its Just before the library’s doorstep, the driver in-person programs to an online format too. finds a table with stacks of books. Each stack Young Adult Librarian Anne Thie stated, Photo by Matthew Meek is wrapped with paper and labeled with a name “COVID has forced all of our in-person activi- The curbside pickup table at the Hopkinton Public Library has proven popular. and pickup time. The driver takes the stack ties to go virtual, like Girls Who Code, book could they do and contribute to the community “My least favorite change is not being able meant for them and walks back to their car. clubs, craft activities, gaming afternoons, etc.” when everything about their working environ- to see many of my teen patrons in person, and Despite COVID-19 regulations, Hopkin- “One of the larger programs that we run here ment had totally changed.” have them be able to hang out and chill in our ton Public Library has remained open for the is storytime,” Conboy said. “I ran two story- The library staff has worked hard to make teen room,” Thie said. community thanks to its hardworking staff and times per week, each had typically about 20 sure that all of their available programs are as For those still wanting a more traditional li- some innovative new programs. kids attending.” accessible as possible to members of the com- brary experience, the Hopkinton Public Library One of the library’s most successful COVID- For example, Conboy used to run in-person munity. All of the information patrons need is has in-person hours on weekdays. The specific 19 programs has been curbside pickups. Li- storytimes consisting of stories, crafts, and available on the library’s website, and the staff times are subject to change, but they can be brary patrons call the library or fill out a form rhymes. Now she records and posts them to a is helpful with answering questions. viewed on the library’s website. on the library’s website, hopkintonlibrary.org, Facebook group 581 members strong. “If anyone is ever in doubt, call us, email us, “I’ve been delighted to have regulars walk to schedule a curbside pickup. “For a library group, that’s pretty sizable,” or give us a ping through our chat service; we in and wave,” Backman said, “Being able to “People really seem to like curbside pickup,” Conboy said. are always happy to answer questions,” Back- reopen the building a little bit has been a huge Reference and Technology Librarian Danielle Audiobooks and e-books have also seen a man said. boost, not just for the community members, but Cook said, “which is something that the library rise in popularity during the pandemic, likely Overall, the community’s response to how for the staff.” world was starting to experiment with a little due to how accessible they are through the li- the library has adapted has been positive. The A patron enters through the library’s side en- bit before for COVID happened, but it has brary’s website. library staff appreciates all of the support that trance, and, after the typical COVID symptom taken off now.” “Our electronic circulation is still well above what it would be this time last year,” Library the community has provided since the pan- questions and a squirt of hand sanitizer, they Director Heather Backman said. demic started. are free to browse books in-person. “People are more aware of, and are using “We appreciate people realizing that these The patron looks carefully up and down the more heavily, the resources that we offer that are challenging circumstances,” Backman said. shelves, being extra careful to only touch what you don’t have to physically come in the build- “We can’t do full services the way we are they plan to check out. ing to access.” now, but we feel the love.” After making a selection, the patron walks Even though the library has successfully Being a librarian is a social job. Before the over to the check-out desk and gets the book transitioned to a quarantine-compatible model, pandemic, the librarians spent most of their scanned by a librarian. The interaction is nor- getting that transition to occur, as well as losing workday interacting with patrons. Now those mal, save for the clear plastic screens between out on incompatible programs, has been chal- interactions are easily one of the most missed the patron and librarian as well as the extra lenging. parts of their job pre-COVID. squirts of hand sanitizer. Backman said, “As a manager, I had to work “I miss being in the building, and I miss The patron takes the checked-out book and with people to figure, when so much of their being face-to-face with people,” Cook said. follows the exit signs through the library’s Photo Matthew Meek job often involves working with people at a “I just don’t get to see the kids as much as I grand glass front entrance, pushing open the Checkout desk protected by clear plastic. customer service desk, what meaningful work would like to,” Conboy said. doors with a sleeved forearm. Holidays Have Always Been a Time to Come Together Neha Kunam: Living By Marley Sensenderfer & munity was so heartening.” projects that promote diversity. in Two Worlds A memorable moment for her was when a “It inherently shows diversity when com- By Zoe Coelho Mantra Rajkumar teacher said she was “celebrating the event for munities of different age groups come together Staff Writer her students, because they fill her days with joy and work together toward one mission.” Staff Writer and light.” Walsh wants PJB’s reach to extend to every Neha Kunam, at first glance, may appear as a Holidays have always been a time where “This year has been rough for the whole one of the diverse communities in town. gum-chewing, field-hockey playing, and outgo- people come together. They share meals and community,” Ram says. “Raise awareness,” Walsh said. “Tell people ing sophomore. exchange stories. They celebrate as one and “Now is the time for all of us to come to- in town that this is a place which has something However, there is much more to her than lean on each other for support. gether and work together- lighting up together to offer. meets the eye. Yet, during this pandemic, so many holiday as one, because sometimes, community can Walsh especially hopes that PJB’s message In her spare time, Kunam studies psychology traditions have been altered, moved online, or mean more than even family.” can reach the town’s younger folks. with a fascination for the intricacies of criminal canceled altogether. From family parties to Cherylann Walsh, founder of the Project Just “The young people here are our leaders of minds such as Ted Bundy or Jeffrey Dahmer. hugging friends and neighbors, so many trea- Because food pantry (PJB), also continued tomorrow,” says Walsh. She aspires to become a forensic psychiatrist in sured moments have simply not been possible working hard to support her community during Ultimately, whether celebrating the winter the future. this year. the holidays. holidays like Diwali, Christmas, Hanukkah, She enjoys wheel-throwing and creating pot- In situations like these, some isolate them- Every year for the winter holidays, PJB do- Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, or those in the spring tery as well as dancing competitively in the selves from the world, but others rise to the oc- nates 15,000 gifts for people in the state of these women are actively calling for help from classical Indian styles of Bharatanatyam, Kuchi- casion and become a force for change. Massachusetts and works with the town to pro- the entire community. pudi, Odissi, and Bollywood. Two of these inspirational people are Charu- vide for those in need. Even though families may be apart during However, living in a town that is eighty-four smitha Ram and Cherylann Walsh. In spite of Walsh said COVID-19 has hit food pantries holidays this year, there are still so many ways percent white, according the federal census, the complexities of a global pandemic, these hard this year. to support and uplift each other. with an emerging South-Asian community, two women have spent their holidays support- “So many people have had to close, but I Ram and Walsh continue helping others and can mean Kunam’s defining qualities might be ing, inspiring, and uniting the community. wanted to remain open,” Walsh said. making changes in the community, so everyone overlooked. Charusmitha Ram, a member of South Asian By introducing no-contact service, using a can all feel a little less alone. As an Indian-American student, living in Circle of Hopkinton, combined the holiday of contactless printer for list of food and other Hopkinton can be grueling since there is pres- Diwali with a celebration of diversity and unity items, and stepping up on deliveries, PJB has sure to appease both worlds. with the ‘Hopkinton Lights Up As One’ cam- been able to continue supporting those they “When I was younger in Hopkinton, there paign. serve during this pandemic. was a small South-Asian population,” Kunam Describing the motivations behind the event, “We want to be there for everyone.” explained. Ram said she noticed a feeling of increasing di- “You walk through that door and I’ll try “After a while, stereotypes started to exist, vision in her community this year, and wanted to get you what you need. No questions, no and I stopped raising my hand in class, bringing to channel Diwali’s message of peace and unity signatures,”Walsh said. Indian food to school, and was ashamed of my to bring people together. “Just a little bit of humanity into the world.” ethnicity.” “It’s just a universal feeling this year,” Ram Not all changes due to the pandemic have “There’s a ton of pressure to fit in with the said. “The nation is divided, the community is been easy, Walsh explained. kids at school and the South-Asian community divided.” “I used to give everyone hugs, but now I do since our parents sacrificed a lot and expect us “No town is spared from this kind of feel- virtual hugs. It’s killing me!” she said, laugh- to be high achievers.” ing.” ing. Although Kunam believes there can be some In the midst of these unsettling times, Ram On a more serious note, she added, “With slight intolerance for minorities, she maintains thought that people needed some positivity. COVID, you never know who could be in need. a brighter outlook. Through her campaign, people from all over There are even people who used to help us who “A lot of people in our grade are culturally- town lit lamps to show their support of others. now need help.” insensitive,” Kunam said. “But I think that if we The Hopkinton Town Common was lit up in These women have spent their holidays sup- look past our differences and focus on what kind an array of hues throughout the month, each porting others. They also have rallied for help of people we are, then we can become more ac- celebrating a message of unity and diversity. from the community. cepting and inclusive.” Ram said, “Seeing the posts from the com- Ram encourages adults and teens alike to do Photo Hayden Orenstein