The RegisterRegister ForumForum Established 1891 Vol. 128, No. 9 Cambridge Rindge and Latin School May 2016 A Cappella Prom Night Dance/Works Continued on Page 6 More Pictures on Page 13 Continued on Page 14 Faculty, Students Push School Justice For a Forgotten Era well into the twentieth century By Committee for Staff Diversity during which time rampant racism Rosa Munson-Blatt among CRLS faculty. raged through the country. By Register Forum Contributor The program was created Stella Yeung Coincidentally, this meeting In the last week of April, the in 2007 by Professor Margaret Register Forum Contributor was held on the 62nd anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Kimbrough Scholars, in collabora- Burnham at the Northeastern Law The School Committee was decision. tion with the Civil Rights and Re- School. Northeastern’s law stu- taken aback when numerous deter- Mr. Archie DeLasalle, a pho- storative Justice of the Northeastern dents, aided by journalism students, mined students and teachers from tography teacher at CRLS, began Law School, traveled to Louisiana research the location and the details the Educators of Color affinity the comments with an introduction to unearth the truth and achieve of cases before presenting them to group attended the May 17th meet- to the group: “The Educators of some level of justice for the Jim judges and the courts. Sometimes ing to address a topic not on the Color group was re-started at CRLS Crow-era brutal murder of African families have been unaware of the agenda: the lack of diversity among in 2014 to address issues related to American Booster Williams. details of how their relatives died. CRLS faculty. the recruitment, retention and long- The Civil Rights and Re- “It’s my civic responsibility,’’ Burn- Time was allotted during pub- term flourishing of educators of storative Project (CCRJ) aims to ham stated, the founder along with lic comment for those passionate color.” DeLasalle also stressed how bring justice to Massachusetts about the cause, though it is usually a diverse staff may increase cultural African Ameri- “[This work] is my Institute of not allowed for non-agenda topics awareness along with an increase cans wrongfully Technology to be discussed per school commit- in AP/Honors class enrollment and accused and the civic responsibility.” professor Me- tee rules. Other individuals spoke college attendance rate. many murdered lissa Nobles, of out about the agenda topic of rais- Ms. Lee, a CRLS English in racially motivated cases occur- the law school’s project. “You have ing the cap on charter school fund- teacher, publicly commented, “I ring in the Jim Crow era. Many to make an account for the whole ing, and the Committee later voted have heard from parents on more of these murders and their circum- history.” The first of its kind, the 5-2 to oppose raising the limit. than one occasion that they are stances have gone unsolved for de- project is especially important in a However, most who came forward thrilled that their child finally has cades. The Jim Crow era spanned time of tumultuous race relations in during the time for public comment the period from the end of Recon- addressed the issue of diversity Continued on page 2 struction in the nineteenth century Continued on page 3 INSIDE THIS EDITION SUPERINTENDENT SPRING PLAYS STATE OF THE RF SAUNDERS Q&A ATHLETES Outgoing CPS superinten- Editor-in-Chief Tomek Ma- As spring sports come to a dent Dr. Jeffrey Young and ciak reflects and says his fi- close, the Register Forum incoming Dr. Kenneth Salim nal goodbye to the Register spotlights players nominat- are interviewed. Forum. ed from each team. Around School, p. 4 & 5 Around School, p. 6 Op-Ed, p. 9 A&E, p. 15 Sports, p. 23 Page 2 AAROUNDROUND SSCHOOLCHOOL May 2016 Register Forum CRLS Band Riles Up Ryles Jazz Club has practiced every day be- whole got overwhelmingly By Cambridge Rindge and Latin School cause it is a class offered at good reviews from its par- Anya Harp 459 Broadway, Cambridge, MA 02138 school. Jemma Kepner, a ticipants. Andrew Borron, Register Forum twitter: @registerforum freshman, has been singing a senior in the World Jazz instagram: @registerforum Contributor her entire life and jazz has Ensemble, explained how snapchat: registerforum wikipedia: Register Forum On May 3, CRLS Jazz played a special role in it. great CRLS’ jazz program bit.ly/crlsrf night was hosted at Ryles Said Kepner, “I’m not is: “It’s a wonderful way to [email protected] Jazz Club in Inman Square. gonna lie, I was quite ner- enter the jazz world and is The night was filled with vous before I went on stage. a pretty sweet place to meet incredible music, courtesy But once I was on stage I people.” He strongly recom- Editor-in-Chief of CRLS’ very own jazz felt myself calm down. I mends people try out jazz. Tomek Maciak ’16 program. The Big Band, the think we all did very well.” Said Borron, “I learned Editors Vocal Ensemble, and the Sonam Cheodon, a a lot about being a part of a Adrienne Ashe ’17 World Jazz Ensemble all sophomore in Vocal Ensem- team, and working with big Rafael Goldstein ’17 performed at the show. ble, said “A-Tisket, A-Tas- groups of people with dif- Liam Greenwell ’16 The Big Band started ket” was her favorite song ferent interests but a com- Cameron Lane-Flehinger ’16 off the show with an im- to perform. She explained, mon goal, like how to be a Diego Lasarte ’17 Will MacArthur ’16 pressive set of seven bassist and what role Sophia Nikolayev ’16 different songs. “Everyone knew it was going to be a I play in the...band.” Paloma O’Connor ’16 Martino Boni Martino Boni Grace Ramsdell ’18 Beadle, a freshman challenge, but in the end we Beadle gave an equal- in the Big Band, en- managed to pull it off.” ly positive review, Contributors joyed playing “Cara- saying, “I would Adam Abji ’17 Benno Kraehe ’16 van,” a song he described “A-Tisket, A-Tasket fit the definitely recommend the Cecilia Barron ’19 Rosa Munson-Blatt ’17 as quite difficult. “Everyone atmosphere at Ryles and we program to musicians that Emily Chan ’16 Ursula Murray-Bozeman ’17 knew it was going to be a were very comfortable and either want to broaden their Julian Cohen ’16 Honor O’Shaughnessy ’19 Jake Friedman ’17 Alvan Rhoden ’17 challenge, but in the end we confident performing it.” musical horizons or are al- Anya Harp ’19 Elliott Ronna ’17 managed to pull it off,” he The light-hearted song was ready interested in jazz.” Christo Hays ’17 Will Telingator ’17 said. Not only did the Big a definite crowd pleaser. Jemma Kepner also Giovani Jajoute ’16 Stella Yeung ’16 Bang “pull off” their perfor- The last group to per- recommended it, saying, Megan Kelliher ’19 Sun-Jung Yum ’19 mance, they performed each form was the World Jazz “Even if you’re a beginner, of their songs with undeni- Ensemble. This well-sea- the teachers are very good Faculty Advisor able skill and passion. soned group of musicians at helping you learn and ap- Steven Matteo After the Big Band, showcased six superb piec- preciate jazz music.” The Established in 1891 as the C.M.T.S Register CRLS’ Vocal Ensemble es. With their performance, program is open to experi- took the stage. They sang they proved that they de- enced musicians as well as “Listening to every voice, three songs: “Lullaby of served their place in the those ready for a challenge. printing what you need to hear” Birdland,” “A-Tisket, A- Panama Jazz Festival this Regardless of their expe- Tasket,” and “Uptown past January. rience in jazz, all the per- Funk.” The Vocal Ensemble The jazz program as a formers put on a great show. SCHOOL COMMITTEE Continued from page 1 an Asian teacher for English class. The unspoken message here is two-fold: first, that their child has gone through many years in the CPSD and is just now having their first experience with an Asian teacher, and second...that Ms. Lee teaches English, not science, not math or Chinese, but English.” Dr. Parker, a CRLS CP English teacher, stated, “This year I have been scolded by my evaluator for raising questions about inequity, being...‘divisive’ and creating low morale. This is indicative of a larger national problem that tar- gets educators of color by evaluators and con- tributes to reasons why educators of color leave At the May 17th School Committee meeting, Mayor Simmons and Superintendent Dr. Young listened to faculty and stu- dent comments about lack of staff diversity. the profession.” Photo Credit: Stella Yeung Junior Mari Gashaw said at the meeting, showcase that.” tration. “Some of the teachers here today, like Dr. Park- The Educators of Color affinity group pre- The group also requested training for edu- er, have made me feel so much more comfort- sented a list of demands, including creating more cators and administrators in understanding and able to speak up in class on issues of race. They “leveled-up” classrooms so all students receive reducing micro-aggressions, and that hiring com- have made me more comfortable to speak about the same high-level education, providing support mittees include two, if not more, faculty mem- my issues at home because I know they are more for educational professionals to pursue certifica- bers of color in addition to any administrators of likely to under- tions while also color on the committee. They asked for regular stand.” providing certifi- times for affinity groups to meet in school, and Sophomore “I have never had a black teacher, a cation preparation that an administrator be hired to be in charge of Juliette Low Fleury teacher who looks like me.” by the district, and recruiting and retaining educators of color and added, “I have nev- beginning assess- organizing educational events throughout the er had a black teacher, a teacher who looks like ments of CRLS faculty evaluators by the Law- school year.