The BaccRag thebaccrag.com June 2020 @baccrag 2 | Quarantine 3 | Opinion 4 | Politics 6 | 8 | BSGE news Normalizing Read Diary Entries Decolonizing Our Where is the Class of Acne in the from Quarantine by Education by BSGE 2020 off to? the BaccRag staff! Media Alum Daleelah Saleh ‘19 NOTE FROM THE EDITOR: SAYING GOODBYE BY LALLA AICHA-ADOUIM ’20 going to miss with every ounce of my being. Man- SENIOR EDITOR sha, who has been with me on this journey since I honestly don’t know how to start this, how to say the beginning, who I am proud to call my co-editor. goodbye to BaccRag. It has been such a constant for I am so incredibly grateful for our friendship and the past four years and it is such a strange thing to proud of the woman you’ve become. From spending know that I have to let it go now. I remember my fi rst hours editing in Starbucks with you, to goofi ng off day, back in ninth grade, excited to learn about the during meetings, you have always been such a kind world of journalism and the energy from the editors soul and I have every faith that you are gonna have at the time - Moshan and Justin. It has always been one hell of a life. Aki, every conversation I have had my dream to become a journalist, so on that fi rst day with you puts a smile on my face, because of the it was so exhilarating to learn what that means. positive enigma you are. I wish you the best of luck I’ll be honest, it wasn’t always what I dreamed and I know that you are gonna continue to surprise of. Every year, by May there would be less than ten us all. And Margaret, who I can’t thank enough for people, and the fonts changed size on every issue. But supporting us these past three years, and always I still loved it, because it was a glimpse of the world being there to give us advice and guide us along the of journalism that I wanted. I got to write, grow my way. You helped us when Mansha and I were lost in voice, and grow as a person. Th rough conducting our worlds, and who knows where we would have But know I am so proud of you and your work, and interviews I learned how to not be terrifi ed of people. gone without you. of that one issue, which handing out was one of the Th e numerous political articles I fi rst wrote developed Th en of course, there is the staff . It has been highlights of my year. I hope you continue to grow my interest in politics. Th en as editor, I can’t possibly my greatest honour to have been your editor. I loved and write, maybe someday someone will show up in list all that I’ve learned in this space. I learned pa- watching your writing grow throughout the year, and the New York Times. tience (which I’ve always been lacking) and commu- the excitement you had for BaccRag. I’m sorry that I So that’s it, as I’m writing this it’s hitting me that nication, and for all of this, I am so thankful. wasn’t always there, especially in the beginning with this is really over. Sorry if this was too sappy, I’m real- Th en there’s the people I’ve met, who I’m college, and I wish that we had more issues published. ly emotional right now. With love, Lalla. IB ART SHOW 2020 BY MANSHA RAHMAN ’22 tive, each student introduced their own original and everything that you do, and focus on a specifi c theme SENIOR EDITOR unique perception to their work that makes it stand and develop a bunch of ideas that surround it, it’s a lot On March 13, 2020, the halls were fi lled with out. harder than it sounds,” says Yahav Nave. paintings and sculptures created by the class of 2020 For instance, Anab Khan tackled the prevalence of “Every artwork includes dinner form of technique for their fi nal art exhibition. Th e exhibition served as capitalism through his series of paintings that person- that we had to, it is us searching for our own voice the fi nal exam for IB art, each one centered around a ifi ed fast food, while Kayla Powers based her artwork and handing to do everything by yourself with mini- theme. around the theme of the intersection of identity and mal guidance,” says Elio Zebinato. One prevalent theme was bringing awareness to sex- disability. Each person is also required to write a curatorial ra- uality and feminism. Novaleen Aranyawikul, whose She even brought a wheelchair for people to sit in tionale about their artwork, just like every other essay, theme was based on women said that she chose this during the show to see her artwork from the point-of- it takes time and dedication. focus because, “We see a lot of things that women are view of someone who is disabled. Each person’s artwork refl ected their individuality ashamed for, nudity, masturbation, periods, men- Some students like Mrittika Howlader and Murtaza and personality, it refl ected a deeper meaning that struation, I wanted to tackle it in a scary manner so Ali even connected their art to science and technol- many people overlook when looking at artwork, al- that everyone could have to look at it and tackle the ogy. Murtaza Ali based his artwork on his interest in though, taking a step back and absorbing the artwork issues.” computer science, “I’ve had a passion for technology can make anyone see a unique perspective on many Some parents also resonated with the artwork, “As since I was really young, it kind of became my thing diff erent issues. a woman myself, especially a woman who’s in her and I wanted to create my art around that” Science On a separate note, to the class of 2020, your guys’ forties, make me reconsider my perspective versus has it’s place in artwork and makes the art show enter- artworks, from the sculptures to the paintings to the younger women growing up nowadays, what it really taining for a wide range of people. robot (Nice job Mrittika), and everything in between means to be a woman.” says one parent. Many people assume that IB art is signifi cantly were breathtaking and meaningful, don’t let anyone However, the show was fi lled with artwork that easier than IB computer science because art is subjec- tell you otherwise. revolved around a spectrum of other issues, such as tive, they are right to some extent when it comes to nature and mental illness. creative freedom, but art also requires documenting Some younger students criticized the senior class your progress, justifying each part of your artwork, For images from the IB art show, see page 5 for the seemingly repetitive and unoriginal use of and months’ worth of research. these themes. Yet, while some themes may be repeti- “You have to document the thought process behind QUARANTINE TIMES page 2 This section features diary entries written over the course of our days in quaran- .................... tine. Many have found joy in staying at home all day, others... not so much. .................... BY ALEKSANDRA enough to make eye con- and speculating whether BY AMY CHEN ’22 cause an hour later, I felt show symptoms of the OMYLAK ’21 tact. I recently taught him the cat sleeping on Mary’s FEATURED STAFF worse and so I finally COVID-19. Worse than FEATURED STAFF some Polish, which he table was alive. It's still hard to believe decided to get up and me, she dropped out of Unexpectedly, quar- happily began showcasing I think being emotion- how in the span of two check my temperature. work and stayed in bed antine has not left me to anyone close enough ally sound in these times months, more than 300k I was in shock at what for most of the day over isolated, rather it has to hear. comes gradually, and New Yorkers are infect- I saw before me- my the next 16 days without thrusted me into the Following suit is Radu, taking note of the little ed with the COVID-19 armpit temperature was getting tested. socially-distanced arms of my dad’s new best friend things, like new encoun- disease. We’re now into a little over 100°F. During the time she my neighbors. and our supplier of ters with neighbors, is the month of May and Before I realized it, was sick, I cooked, clean, While, I have been very homemade Kürtöskalács something that can make we continue to fight this tears started to well and fed her hoping she much aware of the people chimney cakes. To the the days significantly widespread pandemic. up in my eyes and the would get better soon. I to the left and right of me left of me is Mary, whose more enjoyable. Many loved ones are taste of salt ran down told myself to be more ever since I moved in 10 presence I have learned to Even though I feel every lost and this battle has my cheeks. Surely this optimistic but nothing years ago, but something sense by a grill smelling worthwhile academic taken a great toll on the was the coronavirus, I positive came into my about quarantine makes like the deepest fire pits in skill evaporating from economy.