Die-Ins a Symbol of Peace in Boston
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VOLUME XLVII JANUARY 2015 See page 2 for details about the Argo logo contest. THE OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE BOSTON LATIN SCHOOL Die-Ins a Symbol of Peace in Boston By Ming Ying (II), Forum Editor Over the past few months, ing children from Mayor Marty inspired to protest out of a hundreds of protesters in Boston Walsh and Boston Police Com- growing concern about racial feigned deaths in “die-in” dem- missioner William Evans. prejudice, but also out of a onstrations and marched in defi- For Chi, however, even sense of community: “I de- ance of alleged police brutality in opposition to discrimination is cided to join because I did a Ferguson and New York. multilayered, especially in terms workshop over the summer on Several Boston Latin of race. “Asians such as myself racism, and at the same time School students joined the ranks tend to be in a gray area as many the Ferguson event started to of these spirited protesters. Chi of us are not colored, but at the happen. My mentor brought Kwok (I) was among those tak- same time, we are not white. Go- us all to come.” ing part in a die-in near New- ing to a protest was my way of Unlike many others, bury Street on Monday, January showing that moderate people Eden harbors no resentment 5. “I’m against the systematic are part of the problem as well, toward the police. She realizes racial profiling and police bru- because they allow the oppres- that the ongoing situation is tality towards people of color,” sion that is happening.” more than just a pro-police, NORA CAMERON (I) NORA says Chi. In other parts of Boston, anti-police debate, but rather Back Bay - Protestors demand justice. Driven by personal con- protesters took a more tradi- a campaign for broader so- viction, Chi knew that what he tional route. Eden Bekele (I) cial awareness. Even as police that’s happened yet,” says Eden. glorified contrast to the looting, was seeing was wrong: “When participated in a Ferguson pro- started to arrest those in the As for Chi, action is just rioting and emblazoned protests I started doing research of my test around six weeks ago. The front ranks, Eden and her fellow as vital as making people aware: in other cities across America. own, it was impossible to say march, which began at a police protesters remained collected. “I believe that it’s important And lastly, stands the simple that it wasn’t about race. It’s hap- station and ended in front of a “I think that police do serve and for us not to stay moderate but fact that we care. Although none pening every 28 hours, which I prison near the Massachusetts protect [the community], but to be outspoken allies of black of these high profile events oc- believe is faster than lynching in Turnpike, met with stiff police sometimes they do get away people.” curred in Boston, thousands the nineteenth century.” resistance. with some things,” Eden says. The Boston protests were able to take initiative out The die-in, which lasted “When we were by the But after a slew of protests, have sent us several unmistak- of principle rather than location. for hours in the middle of the prison, the police made a bar- the question remains: What has able messages. The first is the Though what the future holds is street, blocked traffic but aroused ricade, so we made our own changed? Although both Eden strength of Boston’s unity, that yet to be seen, activists such as no sort of retaliation from pass- barricade. We latched our arms and Chi share common ideas, friends and strangers of all back- Chi and Eden have reason to be ers-by or police. Undoubtedly, together and pushed, and then an answer remains in the fog. grounds and ages can work in confident—if not in the fact that the people were aware of stern, the people in front started get- “I would hope that the protest harmony toward a single goal. racial injustice may end, then at repeated warnings to keep the ting arrested.” Eden says. would make more people aware The second is peace among Bos- least in that Boston will push on peace and to avoid traumatiz- Similar to Chi, Eden was of the issue, but I’m not sure if ton residents, which stands in calmly and collectively. BLS Students Storm the Economics Summit By Vicky Grinberg (I) & Cassidy Giacoppo (I), Staff Writers mirror the real world. The three categories “Mr. Kearns really helped because he of high-income, middle-income and low- could relate last year’s experiences to us income must all compete against each and we learned from others’ mistakes.” other and use whatever resources they Others simply want to thank him for his can. Because some countries are richer positive attitude. “Kearns is such a boss. in certain resources, teams must learn to I've honestly never seen a teacher put recognize and utilize their advantages. so much effort into preparing for some- Using marketing, financing and thing,” says senior Caitlyn Morrison- negotiating, the members have difficult Gillis. Some students’ disappointment tasks ahead of them. The summit events over missing the summit was somewhat include a geography test, a signature alleviated by Mr. Kearns’ genuine pride campaign for economic proposals, trade for the work done in class. alliance sessions, trading sessions, a Since so few students went to the MR. KEARNS global proposal debate, an Economics and summit, Mr. Kearns is planning an “in- MR. KEARNS Globalization test, a number of quizzes, house” summit. Alicia Hayes (I) says Foxborough- BLS students represent Netherlands and Argentina at the and costume and poster judging. that Mr. Kearns is “ordering all of the Economics Summit. Among all the moving parts of this trading cards from the summit organiz- Seniors and juniors at Boston Latin in the cancellation of school, however, competition, every team has an enormous ers” so that the in-house summit will be School (BLS) have been preparing for the BLS teams were told they would not be responsibility. Success in each part of the similar to the actual summit. Hopefully, International Economic Summit (IES) attending. contest can secure points for a team, and this will be a fair way to compensate the for several months. The competition— “We were pretty upset when we sometimes whether a team moves onto students that did not have the chance to including representatives from several found out we weren't going to the sum- the next challenge depends on how well go on January 8. New England states like Massachusetts, mit,” economics student Caitlyn Morri- they performed in previous ones. For Last year, 12 Boston Latin School Connecticut and Rhode Island—is a high son-Gillis (I) admits. “All the preparation example, to earn points in the debate, the teams attended and most placed among school event. and anxiety somehow seemed futile.” team must win enough points in previous the top countries. BLS secured first place There, “student teams represent While some were disappointed at the assessments like the Economics Test to for the second year in a row, out of ap- countries from around the world and use letdown, others took a more realistic qualify and move forward. proximately one hundred teams each skills acquired in the classroom to nego- approach. Danny McLaughlin (I) added Alice Li (I) was on one of the teams year. Participants say that the hard work MR. KEARNS tiate trade alliances, develop economic that "Mother Nature was trying to tell us that attended; her team represented was worth it in the end. policies and debate real world issues,” something." Argentina, which came in 6th overall. “All that effort paid off once they explains the IES website. Nevertheless, two teams braved out “We both worked so hard and spent so announced top three table displays, Ultimately, this Boise, Idaho-based the weather and attended the competition much time on our projects that we had which Argentina won, and top three organization has a simple goal: for at Gillette Stadium on the “cold day.” One sleepovers. I know that the Netherlands costumes (Netherlands won that, having students to absorb economic principles team would go on to win the whole thing! stayed up until 3:00 in the morning and hand sewn their own costumes), and the through a concrete and real-world ex- The way the summit works is that Argentina spent 5 hours working on overall winner, which was the Nether- perience. complicated, to say the least. A team rep- its poster board the day before.” lands,” Alice Li added. This year Boston Latin School (BLS) resents a country and has a goal to raise its Economics teacher Mr. Kearns was Participants say that next year, eco- was supposed to participate for the sec- country’s standard of living. Some coun- integral to their success. Students this year nomics students should be ready to bring ond time in a row. Due to the plummeting tries start with more money and some say they had a jump start thanks to him. their A-game and bring back the first temperatures on January 8 that resulted with less; this is done purposefully to Elizabeth Hynes-Bruell (I) says that place trophy for the third year in a row. Page 2 Argo Boston Latin School Argo Editorial Board EDITORS’ NOTE Isabelle DeSisto, I Editor-in-Chief Anna Peng, II Editor-in-Chief Sylvie Stoloff, I News Editor Whether you were lounging around sip- Furthermore, the Omnipotent She-Wolf Anton Xue, I News Editor ping hot chocolate while enjoying Harry Potter is as sassy as ever, while fulfilling her mission Jonathan Zou, II Assistant News Editor Weekend, hitting the slopes, or (alas) crying over to educate the uninformed masses of BLS in Sophia Tang, III Assistant News Editor SAT prep and college supplements (but let’s not pop culture.