Friday, February 11, 2011 Vol CXVI Num. 10

Admits Shleifer beat him at H.O.R.S.E

Baby, It’s Cold Outside!

Snow days at the Academy During the research paper season, the

library becomes a second home for many. Surrounded by so many books, it is easy to become lost and overwhelmed. Have no fear, however, the librarians will show you the way. A common and dangerous misconception about librarians is that they do very little. The Cox Library staff exemplifies the true art and rigor of the profession. The hard work and dedication of the three full-time librarians (who all have graduate degrees in Library Science and Informational Services) and three part-time librarians make Cox Milton Academy’s most prized asset (ed. No pun intended? I hope not.). The Milton website states that Cox Library’s goal is “to stimulate the intellectual curiosity of the individual student and to enrich the educational environment of the School by providing a comprehensive and up-to-date resource center.” Cox operates under the school budget as well as several special endowment gifts. Since 1971, Cox’s attractive and comfortable atmosphere has drawn innumerable overworked students. The staff works tirelessly to create a supportive outside-the-classroom learning environment. Librarians are on duty from 8:00 A.M to 7:00 P.M, Monday through Thursday (with the exception of a 5:00 P.M closing time on Friday, allegedly for beer hour). Librarians are also available Saturday mornings and Sunday evenings. Few students, however, take advantage of this invaluable resource. The

outspoken librarians encourage students to set up appointments to discuss research projects. They even offer “Help Sheets,” on which students can outline the information they hope to obtain. Additionally, at the start of many major projects, librarians lecture on effective research. Librarians also maintain a collection of over 100 newspapers and scholarly journals, an electronic database, a selection of books written by Milton faculty and alumni, CD’s for the Jazz Collection and many popular DVDs. Approximately 1200 new books are purchased each year, and listed on the Library Resources webpage. As Ms. Williams, a Cox archivist who collects, records, and organizes historical documents and memorabilia, affirms, “Students should turn to the Library Resource Page for any information they need about the library. Library hours, new acquisitions lists, research guidelines, school and public library catalogs and various resources such as databases and Internet sites are all readily available.” Furthermore, the librarians maintain a very active inter-library loan system with local public and college libraries. In addition to the upper school support they provide, librarians work with the Middle School, holding periodic classes to familiarize younger students with the library resources and, hopefully, instill a passion for reading. Ms. Foley and Ms. Williams even modestly acknowledged that when they themselves are not in the library, they routinely drive for Community Service. Cox maintains an extensive

Nature strikes back: the snow batters the ground, the wind terrorizes houses and ice colonizes roads. Suddenly, the phone rings at approximately 9:17:26 PM, delivering the dreamy recorded message, “Tomorrow, I repeat, tomorrow is a snow day!” (Mr. Bryan Price, who works in Academic Technology Services, generally is the beholder of this kind voice, though this past snow day, “Phil” notified us). For those who don’t believe in cell phones, cancellations are posted on the Milton website. If the internet is still too much, one can call the school switchboard (617-898-1798) after 6 a.m., or tune into WBZ 1030AM or WCVB-TV5. Superstitious students often attempt to summon snow days by performing ritualistic incense burning or playing with jump rope made of live snakes. Ultimately, though, Mr. Bland makes the call. First, he consults the Administrative Council, which consists of the Upper School Principal (Mr. David Ball), K-8 Principal (Mr. Marshall Carter), Chief Financial and Operating Officer (Mr. Steven Moore), Dean of Enrollment and Financial Aid (Mr. Paul Rebuck), Asst. Head for Alumni and Development (Mr. Gordon Sewall) and Chief Communications Officer (Ms. Cathy Everett). Mr. Bland also speaks with

Reddicks Named Athletic DirectorAmanda Beaudoin ‘13, Writer and Sam Shleifer ‘11, Editor-in-Chief

A day in the life of a Cox librarian A Story Behind the Books

Mallika Iyer ‘13, Writer

Rachael Allen ‘14, Writer

After two years as Marijke Alsbach’s Assistant, Lamar Reddicks was named Athletic Director in late January. Mr. Reddicks has experience working in Milton’s Athletic program: coaching

boys Varsity Basketball, organizing events with the Athletic Council, and teaching P.E. Even without his experience in and passion for sports, Mr. Reddicks’ “connection with the athletes and his spirit for Milton will benefit the program,” says Sara Evans (II). When he takes control of Milton’s Athletic Department on July 1st, Reddicks plans to “take a hard look at everything that we do.” He hasn’t been making the final decisions the last two years, he told The Measure in an interview, so he can’t comment on specific changes. In the wake of Mr. Bland’s speech at Monday Morning Assembly however, Mr. Reddicks elaborated on two goals: attendance and sportsmanship. Mr. Reddicks “sees the upward trend in fan support continuing,” and always tells his Basketball team and all team captains to go to other teams’ games

“because that support will come back to them.” He does, however, hope that fan conduct improves. “We have people at games, that was not the case my first year. Now we’ve got to make sure we do it the right way, like Mr. Bland said.”

When asked about Title IX, the NCAA regulation which mandates an equal number of male and female athletes, Reddicks was hopeful. “Football inevitably throws (calculations) off, but we have a pretty good balance in the other sports. I hope to continue that.” The cheering of friends, teachers, parents, siblings, and of course Mr. Reddicks, gives the players “a huge energy boost” says Mike Godwin (I). Even as Assistant Athletic Director, Mr. Reddicks has made a large

impact on the spirit for Milton’s athletics; “he has singlehandedly made Milton basketball games something that everyone wants to watch” according to Jared Friedberg (II). Coaching basketball, however, is “very low on the list of things I do here,” says Mr. Reddicks. His next major concern is hiring someone that “doesn’t coach in the winter season” to take his job as Assistant Athletic Director. Mr. Reddicks is even “happy to come in Sunday night and put in the time” to find a good replacement. When asked how Mr. Reddicks will benefit the athletic program, students describe his encouraging, positive attitude; his friendly, approachable demeanor; and the energy he has brought to the program in the past and will continue to bring in the future. Mr. Reddicks wishes luck to all the teams as he joins them on their bus, encouraging them before they depart for an away game, recounts Alex Stratouly (I) and Jessica Li (III). Many students noted the immense improvement in the spirit for Milton athletics and also commented that they would love to see the positive attitude towards athletic events continue to improve. Milton offers 26 different sports

Snow Days continued on page 3 Cox Library continued on page 4

H I G H L I G H T S

Crisis in Egypt

The American Dream

Boys Hockey

NEWSAmy Chua

Mubarak, Egypt

I N S I D E

OPINIONRevolution in Egypt

US Deficit

College Weekend

Milton Double Standard

A&EBlack Swan

Super Bowl Ads

Gospel Explosion

Tiger Mom

SPORTSNFL Picks Finale

Super Bowl

Boy’s Basketball

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Lamar Reddicks

Ms. Alsbach, and even Mr.Whitmore, havegiven me a lot of great advice.

Reddicks continued on page 3

The Milton M E A S U REest. 1894

Editors-in-ChiefChelsea Mehra ‘11 and Sam Shleifer ‘11

News/FeatureRachael Allen ‘14

Amanda Beaudoin ‘13Ashley Bae ‘12Matt Chen ‘12

N’dea Hallett ‘11Mallika Iyer ‘13

Joseph Reynolds ‘11Xiaoyin Qiao ‘11

Sophia Sopuch ‘11Akanshu Srivastav ‘12

James Yan ‘13Erin Yang ‘12Lisa Zhou ‘13

OpinionNicole Acheampong ‘13

Nelson Barrette ‘13Ilve Bayturk ‘14

Robert Bedetti ‘11Sarah Costello ‘11Brandon Daly ‘12

Stewart Pollock ‘12Charles Wang ‘13

SportsKaty Bean ‘11

Thomas Englis ‘12Edwin Hamlin ‘13

Paul In ‘12Isabel Lester ‘11

Eric Nesto ‘12Brighid Noone ‘12

Edward Nwachuku ‘13John Platts ‘12

Andrew Strang ‘11James Wang ‘12

A&E Benjamin Bosworth ‘13

Emma Borden ‘11Elana Golub ‘14

Louis McWilliams ‘12Louisa Moore ‘14

Madeline Thayer ‘11Mary Devins ‘11

Dylan Brennan ‘12

Electronic Copies of the Measure Are Now Available

Shipping a copy of the Milton Measure to our subscribers is not environmentally friendly.

So in an effort to cut costs, produce a better issue, and get the news to you faster, the Milton Measure will be sending out its issues via the email.

The Milton Measure will be collecting email addresses of alums, parents, and anyone else who would want a copy and we will send you a pdf of our issues.

If you need a back copy, we will also start providing that service.

If you would like to begin receiving copies via email, please send your email adress to Chelsea Mehra or Sam Shleifer at:

chelsea_mehra@milton.edu OR samuel_shleifer@milton.edu

Managing EditorSidney Chiang ‘11

Layout EditorAndrew Beaudoin ‘11

Copy EditorJackson Tse ‘11

Senior EditorsSarah Alliegro ‘11

Lauren Kee ‘11Reed Palmer ‘11

Daniel Schwartz ‘11

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John Mitchell ‘11 and Gina Starfield ‘12, News/Feature EditorsNicolette Gendron ‘11 and Benjamin Scharfstein ‘12, Opinion Editors

Christopher Chu ‘12 and Joycelyn Yip ‘11, A&E EditorsAudrey Keathley ‘11 and Matthew Lebovitz ‘12, Sports Editors

Catharine Leffel ‘12 and Alexandra Sweeney-Vesty ‘12, Photo Editors Brian Krantz, Humor Editor

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Larry Pollans, Faculty Advisor

page 2 | February 11th, 2011 Editorial The Milton Measure

PhotographyPatrick Burke ‘12

Natalie Chaves ‘11Alexander King ‘13

Matthew Lebovitz ‘12Sean Leo ‘12

Nicole Meyers ‘11Yemisi Olorunwunmi ‘14

Alexandra Aulum-Pedersen ‘13McKean Tompkins ‘12

Andy Zhang ‘12

NOTE: our issue was sent out Thursday night. As of Friday, February 11, 2011, President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt resigned

from his post and relinquished all power to the military.

“When in the course of the human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another,” America must support them. When Egyptians took to the streets in late January to protest the repression of the 30-year Mubarak regime, the West did not know whom to root for. Mr Mubarak was surely not a democrat in any meaningful way, banishing political opponents from elections through intimidation tactics and passing Emergency Laws with his own party. Yet Egypt had grown under his government, and did not resist American interests. It blocked the flow of illegal weapons into the Gaza Strip, and pursued a peaceful relationship with Israel. Although Egypt is plagued by inequality, the stability Mubarak offered attracted foreign investment, and fostered economic development. Yet his handling of civil unrest has shown Mubarak’s hand. Should the United States be expected to quash the will of the Egyptian people (who seem dead set against their leader) and the ideal of democracy to promote “stability?” Mubarak, who has always referred to himself as Egypt’s “father,” reacted to calls for liberalization by imposing a curfew. Then he shut down the internet. In the words of one technology expert, “it was as if Egypt didn’t exist,” from January 28th until Mubarak announced he wouldn’t run for reelection and ended his internet blockade. This concession did not placate protesters, as Mubarak continued his campaign of lies and repression, hiring thugs to wage war on the streets of Cairo. The ensuing violence led to 105 deaths. In a speech on state television, Mubarak discussed the instability brought about by the protests in an effort to convince his people to stay home, fundamentally ignoring his role in the issue: he himself turned peaceful protests into war. While protesters have been installing neighborhood watch type civilian forces to prevent looting and destruction, Mubarak has been adding to the chaos, ordering police on camels to throw Molotov cocktails into crowds. Mubarak’s propaganda machine churns out conspiracy theories. Nile TV, a state run channel, blamed the protests on the Jews and the West. According to Time, Mubarak’s police have harassed foreign journalists. Mubarak himself famously said “there are no Egyptians in Tahrir square,” though this is blatantly false. The continuation of a Mubarak regime is not the worst possible outcome, however. Although some see its ascendancy as a long-shot, The Muslim Brotherhood has vigorously supported the protests. This extremist group, which intends to institute Islamic law if it comes to power, is a danger not only to Israel, but much more so to Egypt. Egypt should look to Iran, a rapidly declining and unpopular Islamic state to see the failures of Islamic rule. “For more than a week after the first protests, the White House avoided taking sides. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the Egyptian government was “stable.” Vice President Joe Biden dismissed a suggestion that Mubarak was a dictator. President Obama’s first televised statement made clear that the U.S. government expected to continue working with the Mubarak regime,” writes Julia Rubin for the Washington Post. The speed of transition, we believe, if less important than its result, but Mubarak’s resignation is necessary for Egypt to move forward. Only freedom will end the instability and food shortages; more repression will just lend credibility to extremists. Mr Obama needs to get on the right side of history, and request the Mubarak’s immediate resignation. Mubarak staying in power just isn’t worth it. America is even less popular in Egypt than Mubarak, and he will not last long, regardless of our wishes. President Obama was correct when he said that we had little control of the situation, yet we should still appear to be on the side of the opposition, an acknowledgment of the fact that sometime between now and September, Mubarak will be ousted. It is better to commit to a gentler future of Egypt, than to cling to its harsh past.

The Milton Measure News February 11th, 2011 | page 3

the facilities and campus safety teams. Occasionally, he will consult other Heads of Schools and his good friend, the Milton superintendent. In the event of excessive snow days, Mr. Bland will consider making them up, but have no fear; three-and-a-half is still a measly sum. Our school policy states, “all assignments, papers and tests due on a snow day will normally be due the next class day.” If a class uses a syllabus, students must follow the syllabus; however, “teachers may not give previously un-communicated assignments on a snow day due the day after the snow day.” In the case of long-term assignments originally due on the day after a snow day, they may, “at the teacher’s discretion, still be due that day or extended depending on the nature of that assignment.” When we return from our brief hiatuses, we are faced with trekking across our wonderfully “open campus” to attend classes. Staying upright and dry is often a nearly insurmountable challenge. However, the campus never reopens without being officially deemed “safe” by the tireless facilities department. During harsh storms, facilities often start work in the wee hours of the morning. Snow certainly has its pros and cons. Shoveling and traffic, according to Dan Schwartz (I), have “aggravated an already fragile back, mindset and, frankly, grip on reality.” On the other hand, those furry white flakes that fall to the ground allow us to build snowmen, go skiing, and enjoy nice, smoky fires on snow days, making the long, dreary winter bearable.

Snow Days continued from page 1

options, most of which have a varsity, junior varsity, and thirds teams. “The athletic program pushes the talented students and at the same time encourages beginners with 3rds teams and Junior Varsity opportunities,” says Cydney Grannan (II). Requiring P.E. Credit, through a sport or a P.E. Course, “broadens the sense of importance of athletics and exercise in daily life” for both strong athletes and people who are new to sports, comments Benjamin Bosworth (III). After freshman year, when everyone makes the team, where can a less serious athlete find a team at the appropriate level? Although we have intramural sports, does anyone participate in them? There are seven sports offered at the intramural level, and only three of them are offered on the 3rds, Jnior Varsity, and Varsity level. Improving the “availability of non-competitive options” would increase the number of participants in the athletic program and give students an opportunity to try new activities and get exercise, suggests Stratouly. Many athletes have small suggestions to improve their respective teams, but the strength of the athletic program combined with Mr. Reddicks as the new director provides confidence to all students that the athletic program, through Mr. Reddicks, will provide the perfect “balance between the fun and the competitiveness of the games,” says Godwin. Mr. Reddicks, according to Victoria Lee (II), is “a great representation of all the great things about Milton” and will do a tremendous job as the new Director of Athletics.

Calling for an end to the rule of President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptians, led primarily by students, have been protesting against poverty, unemployment, and corruption since January 25. Partly inspired by the recent uprisings in Tunisia that led to the end of the Tunisian dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, the people of Egypt are protesting for “greater freedom.” H o s n i M u b a r a k has been the president of Egypt for 30 years, coming to power after the assassination of his predecessor, Anwar el-Sadat, and later winning E g y p t ’ s first multi-c a n d i d a t e p res iden t ia l election. Although he has resisted significant political change even when pressured by the United States, a close ally and major donor of aid, Mubarak is now attempting to show a seriousness concerning reform. In response to this recent uprising, he dismissed the government in Egypt and is promising new democratic and economic reforms. However, President Mubarak intends to remain as leader until the September elections, where he will not seek reelection. The top leadership body of

Egypt’s ruling party, the six-member steering committee resigned earlier this month and is being replaced, with the powerful position of secretary-general going to Safwat el Sharif. While this resignation should be a symbol of victory for the popular movement, protestors are still not pleased with the regime, believing that the first step to reform should be the resignation

of Mubarak, whereas the regime is “just trying to help its image.”Egypt’s vice president, Omar Suleiman, is beginning to “work out how to ensure free and fair future presidential elections while sticking to the constitution.” The United States has been trying to help the Middle Eastern nation find national and global stability. Since Egypt made peace with Israel in 1979, the U.S. has given Egypt billions of dollars worth of military and aid. The United States administration is urging immediate political transition in

order to insure that extremists do not hijack Egypt’s political transition. President Obama has addressed that President Hosni Mubarak resign immediately, listen to his government, and accept his time as President. “I believe that president Mubarak cares about his country. He is proud, but he is also a patriot,” President Obama says. “He needs to listen to what is being voiced

by the Egyptian people, and make a judgment about a pathway forward that is orderly, but that is meaningful and serious.” Meanwhile, Hilary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, has urged Europe to help the United States in a wide-scale reform for global stability. Still, these protests in Egypt are not stopping. In video footage of the protests, thousands came down to Cairo’s main square, with leaders of the protests yelling through orange traffic cones. The crowd of protestors included laborers, farmers, students, all who were hoping for freedom. Police have been

using water cannons and tear gas against protestors chanting “down down Hosni Mubarak.” In other incidents, police have been seen beating protestors, or in a reversal of roles, protestors chasing police down streets. The regime is currently not allowing any foreign journalists and reporters into the country, so any information obtained has been done secretly. According to UN estimates, over 300 people have been killed since the protests began.

Reddicks continued from page 1

Milton’s response to Amy Chua’s “Tiger Mother”Are Chinese Mothers Superior?

Gina Starfield ‘12, News Editor

Tiger Mom continued on page 4

Amy Chua’s memoir Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother attempts to prove that “Chinese parents” are more successful at raising children than “Western parents.” Although Chua herself was born in the U.S. to immigrant parents, she claims to have raised her children “the Chinese way.” In her opinion, Western parents are far too lenient with their children, allowing for subpar academic performance. Chua believes Western parents are overly concerned about their children’s psyche and self-esteem, and are careful not to criticize their children; in addition, according to Chua, they give their children too much freedom. “Nothing is fun until you’re good at it,” she writes. “Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence.” “Hard work produces accomplishments which give rise to self confidence and thus future success as well,” she said in a television interview. She contrasts Chinese and other immigrant parents with Western parents, in that the former are not concerned about their children’s sense of self worth. They “assume strength, not fragility” in their children.Chua asserts that Tiger mothering has led to the success of her two daughters. Sophia, 18, played piano at Carnegie Hall when she was 14, and Lulu, 16, took violin lessons with an instructor at Julliard. Under her method, Sophia and Lulu were never allowed to attend a sleepover, have a playdate, be in a school play, watch TV or play computer games, choose their own extracurricular activities, get any grade less than an A, or play an

instrument other than the violin and piano. At one point, she forced seven-year old Lulu to practice “right through dinner into the night” to perfect a piano piece, withholding water and bathroom breaks and threatening to burn Lulu’s stuffed animals if she did not improve. Chua not only expects the best from her daughters in the classroom. She rejected handmade birthday cards from her daughters, declaring that she “deserve[s] better than this” for “spend[ing] half my salary on stupid sticker and eraser party favors” for their birthday parties. Reflecting on her own experiences, Ms. DeBhur comments that she herself was raised in a Western, independent way, saying that “my parents didn’t force me to fit a certain identity or achieve a certain kind of success.” While she acknowledges “that [Chua’s] assumptions of Western parenting ring somewhat true in [her] own experience,” she disagrees with Chua’s assertion concerning excessive Western focus on their children’s psyche. Ms. DeBhur shares, “I often received straight A’s in school without any reward, except maybe an internal sense of accomplishment, or any overbearing pressure from my parents.” On the other hand, Chua says Chinese parents demand straight A’s because they believe that, if their children work hard enough, they will get them. Chinese parents’ solution to low grades is to punish and shame their children into working hard. The Chinese parent will review hundreds of practice tests with the “low performing child” until the grade

improves to an A. Chua’s views have caused a lot of controversy. By calling her parenting style the “Chinese style,” Chua has hit a nerve on campus. When asked about Chua’s approach, Ms. WuWong responded, “I can’t see how she can claim to speak for an entire group of people. Since she isn’t an anthropologist or a sociologist, I have a hard time seeing how she can speak for an entire ethnic group.” When Chua writes “Chinese mothers,” she does not mean it ethnically, however, but stylistically. Parents that subscribe to her method are Chinese, though they may be Caucasian. Mr. Ball comments that “we should be cautious about drawing any sweeping conclusions about parents who share a particular background.” In addition, given that Chua was born in America, Ms. WuWong states that she could understand how a foreign parent may have a “narrow definition of success,” but that it does not make sense “why, culturally speaking, she [Chua] would have such a limited perspective on what it means to be successful in the U.S.” All mothers – regardless of culture or race – have a little tiger in them. Katie Chow (Class II) comments that, while her mother may push her to work hard, several Milton mothers do the same thing. It would be incorrect to assume that only Chinese mothers force their kids to succeed. As Katie says, “no matter where you go, there will be children who cannot go out on weekends

Egyptian President Set To ResignProtests Seal Mubarak’s Fate

Erin Yang ‘12, Writer

page 4 | February 11th, 2011 News/Opinion The Milton Measure

Situation in Egypt

The unrest in Egypt has grasped the attention of the American public in a way that the “Jasmine Revolution” in Tunisia was unable to. As the ousting of President Hoseni Mubarak seems less unthinkable with each passing day, serious discussion has begun on whether or not his successor will in fact be better or worse for both Egypt and the United States. Up until the current conflict, Egypt was seldom in the headlines, and compared to some of its Arab neighbors, it has remained a relatively peaceful and stable second-world nation over the past 30 years. Since Anwar Sadat’s assassination in 1981, Egypt has remained under the control of President Hosni Mubarak, a staunch U.S. ally and military strongman. While Mubarak is no doubt a dictator, (even the most popular leaders rarely win over 80% of the vote) he is also viewed by many in the West as the “lesser” of two evils. The U.S. has a long history of backing secular dictators over Islamist fundamentalists in the Middle East, even if the dictators are unstable and corrupt. The U.S. favored the corrupt Shah of Iran against Ayatollah Khomeini’s fundamentalists during the Iranian revolution, and later backed Saddam Hussein against “revolutionary” Iran during the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980’s, reports BBC News. The “worst case scenario” regarding the current situation in Egypt would parallel the Iranian revolution and its aftermath. In this scenario, Mubarak would be replaced by an openly Islamist, anti-American theocracy, led by the Muslim Brotherhood, a large international Muslim nationalist movement, which could align itself with Iran as a force of fundamentalism in the region. Fearing this disastrous outcome, many in the U.S. are

Stewart Pollock ‘12, Writer

On the most basic level, the French Revolution was caused by the Kingdom of France’s uncontrollable public debt. A more in-depth analysis shows that the debt, while already large, was immeasurably worsened by the unwillingness of the nobility and clergy to pay taxes, the inability of the King to make them, and the rest of the population’s resentment at being shouldered with the burden. In short, the greatest obstacle was not the debt itself, but rather the political dealings surrounding its reduction. Unsurprisingly, the politics concerning the U.S. federal deficit are no different. Soon, President Obama, with the consultation of the White House Office of Management and Budget, will ask Congress to approve his 2012 budget proposal. In the meantime, an 18-member deficit commission, chaired by former Republican Senator Alan Simpson and Democrat Erskine Bowles, will try to pass their own proposal for eliminating the $4 trillion in U.S. debt over the next ten years. Both Obama’s and the commission’s budget recommendations include unsavory choices, and choices in such a polarized political environment are never made satisfactorily. The White House proposal, for example, wants to save $400 billion by freezing non-defense discretionary spending. On the other hand, the deficit commission wishes to save a significant amount of money by freezing non-combat salaries and cutting back overseas deployments. While the Obama plan directs some cuts towards the Pentagon, most of its savings come from local aid programs, community service initiatives, and

environmental funds. Additionally, though President Obama wishes to reform the tax code, his budget will not largely affect taxation. The deficit commission proposes tax cuts for all income brackets, but also opts to close many loopholes. Both plans are worth discussing. One of the biggest issues in public dialogue on federal debt is the lack of real, factual debate. Discourse on the cutting of government programs is prone to rile the

emotions of those on either side, as cherished government spending is threatened and anti-tax feelings aroused. Unfortunately, both plans have their flaws. The Obama administration does not eradicate the deficit completely and fails to address issues of taxation, while the deficit commission’s proposal forces necessary government spending to shoulder

far too much of the burden, and does not go far enough in pursuing cuts at the Pentagon. While each has their merit, neither proposal makes the necessary combination of budget cuts and tax reform. Moreover, the recent extension of the Bush tax cuts has seriously hampered any efforts at deficit reduction; this is no doubt decision will obstruct Congress’ efforts to reign in Federal debt for the foreseeable future. The two plans also suffer by failing to perform real tax reform that would both be fairer to the middle-class and raise new revenue. The deficit commissions’ dual approach to lower rates and close loopholes for corporations and individuals alike will essentially cancel each other out; the Obama administration, having waffled on the Bush tax cuts, can only be expected to make ill-reasoned compromises on revenue policy. Real tax reform would work to eliminate the plethora of capital gains and corporate tax loopholes left unaddressed by the two plans, and work to substantially increase revenue. Ultimately, ones views on the deficit will depend on his or her underlying philosophy on government, and his or her qualitative value judgments of certain Federal programs. I personally recommend a visit to the New York Times website to play their “Solve the Deficit” game. One will realize that reducing the deficit is indeed much harder than it originally seems. The White House and Congress must cut with care, accept the realities of the tax code, and resolve the deficit in the least economically painful way possible. Given the precedent set by the French Revolution, it won’t be an easy task.

in December because they are already on a strict studying schedule for their exams in January.” However, many of Chua’s generalizations prove true. Alisha Zou (I) stated that her Chinese father forbid her from leaving the house last summer until she went through various SAT study books. She then explained how he proceeded to place her under “house arrest” for another week until she finished all of her college essays. Many believe that some of Chua’s generalizations of Chinese and foreign parenting stem from the need to get ahead, to break out of a lower social class. Katie Chow says, “Tiger moms push their children so hard because of the social divide in China and in other competitive Asian countries, like Korea. Parents are aware of the fact that there is a blatant social divide in China between the wealthy and the poor.” Chinese parents therefore may believe that they have to push their children to strive harder in order to succeed. In addition, many foreign parents want their children to work hard because they themselves had to work hard to build a life in America. As Deema Dahleh (II), a first generation American student, says, “Foreign parents put pressure on you to do well because they came to the U.S. and succeeded. They know that, through dedication and hard work, success can be achieved, so they pressure you.” Deema also acknowledges that first generation children, instead of blowing off their parents, accept the pressure because “you feel like you owe them for all they have done.” Ms. WuWong believes that Chua’s claims may stem from racism. She comments, “I remember my parents

telling me, when I was in junior high and high school, that I had to work twice as hard because I was Chinese, that people wouldn’t accept me unless I was twice as good as the next student. While from the outside, this message may seem to have cultural roots, I realized years later that my parents were trying to prepare me for the racism that I might face in American society.” In an article about the Tiger Mom in the January 31st edition of Time Magazine, results from the latest Program for International Student Assessment (December 2010) indicate that American students ranked 17th in reading, 23rd in science, and 31st in math, whereas students in Shanghai ranked first in all three categories. Education experts quoted in the article accounted for the difference by explaining that “Chinese students work harder, with more focus, for longer hours than American students do.” Ms. WuWong states, “Chua is promoting and justifying some of the most blatant stereotypes that Asian American activists and community organizations have been trying to dispel since the 1960s.” Even at Milton we operate under cultural stereotypes, expecting to find Asians in the top math classes and in the orchestra. Katie Chow notes that when she told one of her friends that she studied for exams over break, the response she got was, “wow, your mom is so Asian.” Asian students at Milton, however, perform in plays, participate in sports, and do various other “Western” activities, while Western students also play violin and do well in math. Nevertheless, Milton students continually break out of several stereotypes and assumptions that Chua illuminates.

resource collection, “especially in history,” according to our librarians. When speaking to Ms. Foley and Ms. Williams about their future goals, they said that they aim “to keep abreast of the new technology that is changing everyday and to maintain an excellent book collection that serves the needs of our students when doing research. We also hope to keep reading a component in a student’s education by making available an excellent fiction and non-fiction collection.” Eager readers already have over 46,000 hard-bound volumes

awaiting them, and that number is always growing. Cox Library, its wonderful librarians, and its vast array of exotic information are testaments to Milton’s commitment to education and creative learning. We are incredibly lucky to have such a resource. Ms. Foley and Ms. Williams justifiably state, “The Library Staff is proud of our library and we work very hard to maintain an excellent program.”

While watching an episode of The Biggest Loser last week, a few Millet girls were startled when Mr. Dunnington exclaimed, “You champs ready for the big show next weekend?” Once we realized he was talking about College Weekend, we let out a collective groan. It seemed to have crept up on the junior class, despite the long weekend and snow day following exams. As if the concept of an entire weekend devoted to the college process halfway through junior year is not daunting enough, the college office invited our parents too. I love Mom and Dad, but their presence at these kinds of high-strung events makes me nervous. Getting up on Saturday morning, I knew pretty much nothing. I knew I was in “group one,” there would be a student panel, and a speech by some college admissions officer. If I had to pinpoint the phrase I hear most often at

Milton, it is probably, “I’m never going to get into college.” But of course, we attend a college preparatory school so Milton will stress its importance. However, the school certainly could have made this weekend at least sound a little less daunting. Group one started with the student panel, which was conducted in an incredibly relaxed and jovial setting. The seven seniors sitting in front of us told us where they applied and how they approached the process. The message I took away was that no matter how you approach the process, it is going to work out: you will attend college once you graduate. I found this realization quite comforting. Next, we heard from an admissions officer at Harvey Mudd College in California. She was charismatic and informational, giving us the hard facts, but wrapping them in a

Cox Library continued from page 1

A review of College WeekendGet Nervous Class of 2012

Tiger Mom continued from page 3

Egypt continued on page 5

College Weekend continued on page 5

Figure from the White House

Getting Serious About the United States DeficitReaching a compromise

Mollie Welch ‘12, Writer

Nelson Barrette ‘13, Writer

The Milton Measure Opinion February 11th, 2011 | page 5

Since the beginning of time, men have hunted shirtless, swam shirtless, and boxed shirtless. So too have men painted their torsos and cheered for their favorite sports teams – also while shirtless. Societal norms have prevented women from performing these same tasks shirtless, but our race has adapted accordingly. Once upon a time, women also felt the need to hunt, so we invented the torn linen shirt (paired with a loincloth). Women wanted to swim, and along came the bikini. Women even wanted to box, and they had sports bras. So when a group of women from the Class of 2010 wanted to paint their torsos and cheer for their favorite Mustang’s sports, they felt that donning sports bras would be appropriate. Members of the administration told them otherwise. Apparently, some spectators felt uncomfortable. Male students have been painting their chests at Milton sporting events for years. This year, a group of students were told by administrators in the Athletics Department that the tradition could not be continued. Strangely enough, the administrators took no issue with the appropriateness of the tradition. Rather, by allowing male students to paint their chests when female students were told their actions were inappropriate, administrators feared enforcing a double standard. Thus, a historically male tradition was ended, thanks to a few spirited female seniors who wanted to participate. At first glance, the Athletic Department’s logic makes sense. Why should we enforce a cultural, gender-based double standard that is unfair towards women? The administrators’ logic, however, also falls victim to several instances of a gender-based double standard, but towards men. As a Humor editor for the Milton Paper (slight conflict of interests, I realize), I have firsthand experienced the double standard pervading the administration’s views towards jokes about teenage promiscuity. Back in November, the other Humor editors and I composed a list of light bulb jokes for the back

page (the list was then removed from the back page and published within an article). In a later meeting with the Paper’s faculty sponsor, I learned that members of the Administration took great issue with certain jokes that seemed to be targeted towards specific groups of individuals – groups that individuals did not choose to be a part of. One joke, they said, was particularly offensive: “How many DSGs (Day Student Girls) does it take to screw in a light bulb? Three. One to screw it in and two to wish they were the socket.” The Paper’s faculty advisor, Mr. Archer, cleverly pointed out that if one replaced “Day Student” with the name of a race or ethnicity, then the joke could easily be construed as racist. The editors and I came to understand the concerns of Mr. Ball and the rest of the Administration, after learning that the school could potentially be held legally at fault if, for a radical example, a day student girl ever committed suicide. No issue, however, was raised with a strikingly similar joke of ours that targeted an even more specific group of individuals – but of the other gender: “How many senior guys does it take to screw in a light bulb? One. They’ll screw anything.” A fellow Humor editor pointed out the possibility of a double standard, which Mr. Archer admitted was very plausible. This experience is not the only one I’ve had with Milton’s double standard, either. Earlier in the winter, some friends and I had an unexpected encounter while listening to the stereo in the boys’ locker room of the RSG. A female assistant ski team coach came into the locker room – in full view of the lockers, showers, and urinals – and uncouthly asked us to turn off the music. My friends and I had finished showering only minutes earlier, and had literally just gotten dressed. Aware of the meeting in the adjacent room, we had even put the volume on low. Although I didn’t think much of the strange encounter, Charlie Storey (I)was emotionally stricken and completely outraged

Head Monitor’s ColumnMilton’s gender-based double standard

Robert Bedetti ‘11, Writer

by the coach’s audacity. Imagine, he asked me, what the repercussions would be for a male coach who walked into a girls’ locker room? (For reference, a male tennis coach at another school was fired because some girls were videotaped flashing him while he was driving a van to a match, even though he told the girls to stop and was unaware of the video). Truth be told, our society has a clear gender-based double standard when it comes to promiscuity, sexual harassment, employment, clothing, etc. Currently, Milton hypocritically follows this standard in an attempt to protect women, but breaks from the standard to hinder men. Milton has two options for ending this illogical hypocrisy. By condemning all potentially offensive and inappropriate jokes, but allowing all spirited shirtlessness, the administration could also forget societal norms altogether by showing equal concern for the feelings and desires of both male and female students. More realistically, the administration can accept social norms and continue to pay special attention to the feelings of female students. This option would not be hypocritical if the administration would also recognize that screaming, shirtless males are a generally acceptable sight at a sporting event, while shirtless females can make spectators uncomfortable. Quite frankly, I neither think it matters nor care which option the administration takes. If administrators want equal treatment, then I’ll keep my shirt on at hockey games and won’t make any potentially offensive jokes about ridiculous Milton stereotypes. Next time a female coach comes into the boys’ locker room or I see a girl’s sports bra in public, I might just report it. If my male friends are allowed to paint their chests at hockey games, then we’ll stop joking about the promiscuity (or lack thereof) of female students, and we’ll turn the music off next time she asks. A gender-based double standard clearly pervades our society and our school. The administration should either accept it or reject it, and stop being hypocritical at the expense of the male population.

suggesting the government should do more to either support the embattled Mubarak or try or prop up a pro-U.S. successor. Yet it is wrong to assume that the ouster of Mubarak is inherently bad for the U.S., or even that the Muslim Brotherhood represents a real threat. Although Mubarak is an ally of the U.S., his departure from power is a forgone conclusion. Mubarak has already announced that he will step down after the next elections in September. However, it remains to be seen whether the Egyptian people are willing to wait that long. Regardless of whether Mubarak serves out the remainder of his term, his rule is essentially over. He can no longer be relied upon as a U.S. ally, and the Department of State should already be preparing to warm up to his successor, regardless of who it is. If the Muslim Brotherhood does indeed assume a position of power within the new government then even more pressure will be placed on U.S. foreign policy to embrace the new regime. Although they are ostensibly peaceful, the Brotherhood still preaches a philosophy that is fundamentally at odds with American goals in the region. On the other hand, they are a far less dangerous alternative than other Pan-Arab movements, such as Hezbollah or Hamas (the latter of which was originally a splinter movement off of the Brotherhood). For the moment, the Obama administration has taken great pains to keep a neutral stance on the protests and not prematurely try to predict their outcome. Secretary of State Clinton made indirect reference to the Muslim Brotherhood, and more generally fundamentalist movements in Egypt, when she said at a meeting in Munich, “There are forces at work in any society, and particularly one that is facing these kinds of challenges, that will try to derail or overtake the process to pursue their own specific agenda.” None of the State Department’s official remarks have ruled out the likely situation of working with a post-Mubarak coalition consisting of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Brotherhood itself is also not the most powerful voice of opposition in the country. The majority of protesters have no anti-American agenda, and thus far, none of the “mainstream” opposition leaders have tried to put their struggle against Mubarak into a broader international context. Several of these leaders have even indicated that they are willing to talk with Mubarak’s newly appointed Vice-President Omar Suleiman, suggesting the movement may be willing to temporarily compromise with the regime. It should be noted, however, that the Muslim Brotherhood and other hard-liners strictly opposed efforts to reach out to the Mubarak government. Ultimatley, only time will tell what lays in store for the Egyptian government. Regardless of the character of Egypt’s new leaders, the United States must try to maintain strong relations with the country. Egypt, under Mubarak, has been a key, if slightly troubled, ally in the Middle East. It is of utmost importance that our government does not repeat the mistakes it made following the Iranian Revolution. The tension between Tehran and Washington is a direct result of failure of the U.S. government to recognize when the Iranian Shah’s “time was up” and accept the legitimacy of the new government. This mistake cannot be replicated in Egypt. It could very well be that Mubarak’s departure paves the way for a liberal, democratic regime in Egypt. Indeed, the majority of Egyptians seem to favor this outcome, and almost no one wants to see Mubarak replaced by just another strongman. Even so, it is vital for the U.S. government to remain careful, while being cautiously optimistic. We must prepare for the worst outcome while actively seeking the best.

blanket of humor. Last, we stopped by the chapel for a session on the Milton-specific aspects of the college process. Mr. Skinner’s presentation, although frightening, was altogether very informative. He told us to broaden what we consider “good schools,” advice students and parents alike needed to hear. Though College Weekend was hyped up a tad too much, I found it tremendously helpful. It reassured me that I would get into college, while informing me about some important specifics. If I could change one thing about the experience, though, I would call it “College Morning.” College Weekend sounds like a monotonous, two day lecture series on a topic no one wants to think about. “College Morning” sounds more like what it actually was – a brief series of information sessions on a topic of importance. I would also separate parents from students. Students would be more comfortable surrounded only by their peers, and parents would be more willing to ask important, if embarrassing questions. Overall, the weekend was surprisingly de-stressing. The college office let us know we are in good hands. We are starting early and they are going to guide us through this entire process, step-by-step. Though a few minor improvements could be made, I found College Weekend essential and encouraging.

The American Dream: we hear about it all the time. Some people will spend their whole lives chasing after it. The formula is fairly simple, though. The foreigner, the underdog, the unexpected hero, finds his or her way navigating American society and somehow, against all odds, makes it big. It’s a story of triumph, of inspiration, of overcoming circumstances and finally finding happiness and security. It’s a story of success. But we need to consider redefining these so-called happy endings as the markers of a life well lived. Milton Academy is known as much for its stately buildings, manicured grass, and huge campus as it is for its academic credentials. We are all aware of the time, energy, and strange, unidentified fertilizers that are put into caring for our beloved quad. We have all seen the constant renovations made to preserve our aesthetic perfection. However, the question is, are these expenses really a worthy part of the Milton budget? Are these costs of great value? In my opinion, these efforts all serve as markers of the success we would like to present to society, yet may have very little to do with an actual sense of achievement. In general, the American rule of thumb goes like this – bigger is better. Compared to many other countries, our houses are huger, our roads are wider, and, let’s face it, our national food consumption and corresponding weight trump all. We are part of a culture that celebrates more as a mentality and equates, consciously or not, wealth with happiness and status with security. With these messages prevailing in our society, it’s no wonder that, while

a powerful man with a vacation home in Florida might be the symbol of success, the artist with a small apartment and cheap clothing might not be. However, if that artist is happy, if he can find satisfaction in the life he’s living, hasn’t he found his own success? Perhaps we need to reevaluate our definition of success. Perhaps we need to reconsider our actions, too. We are a community which prides itself in awareness: awareness of outside issues, local struggles, worldwide events. We need to apply this awareness to our expenses as well. Having the means to do something is no longer enough. Having the reason is what must dictate our major budget decisions. Are our actions in response to a need? Or are they just indicators of our success? Take a look at the world we live in today: natural disasters, economic meltdowns, and poverty are destroying lives. Regardless of the money we have, we can no longer afford to unjustifiably pay for indulgences. If awareness is important to us, then we cannot simply recognize the suffering around us, but we must also live a life that reflects this recognition. I am not suggesting we forgo all of our luxuries. I am simply saying we should indulge mindfully. Let’s enjoy what we have while seeing what we can give. Let’s take another look at the financial budget and maybe discover some personal limits. Maybe success isn’t a manicured quad or an impressive mansion or a paycheck. Maybe just having what we need and doing what we love can be the new American Dream.

Expensive ManureUpkeep costs inflate Milton’s budget

Nicole Acheampong ‘13, Writer

College Weekend continued from page 4

Egypt continued from page 4

page 6 | February 11th, 2011 Centerfold The Milton Measure

International

Source: www.funnysigns.com

The Milton Measure Centerfold February 11th, 2011 | page 7

Outside a dress shop, Hong Kong: LADIES HAVE FITS UPSTAIRS.

Tailor shop, Greece: ORDER YOUR SUMMERS SUIT. BECAUSE IS BIG RUSH, WE WILL EXECUTE CUSTOMERS IN STRICT ROTATION.

On the door of a Moscow hotel room: IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST VISIT TO THE USSR, YOU ARE WELCOME TO IT.

At a Budapest zoo: PLEASE DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. IF YOU HAVE ANY SUITABLE FOOD, GIVE IT TO THE GUARD ON

DUTY.

Shipton-under-Wychwood in Oxon, UK has a local plumber whose van announces: ‘The Lone Drainer - he come pronto.’

Sign in a bargain basement store: “DON’T GO INTO ANOTHER SHOP TO BE CHEATED - COME IN HERE.”

In Japan about using the hotel air conditioners: Cooles and Heates: If you want just condition of warm in your room, please control

yourself.

Advertisement for donkey rides in Thailand: Would you like to ride on your own ass?

Sign in a Paris restaurant: “WE SERVE FIVE O’CLOCK TEA AT ALL HOURS.”

In the office of a Roman doctor: Specialist in women and other diseases.

Sign in an American hospital: “GUARD DOGS OPERATING.”

On a medicine bottle: Adults: 1 tablet 3 times a day until passing away”

Sign in a Tel Aviv Hotel: “IF YOU WISH BREAKFAST, LIFT THE TELEPHONE AND OUR WAITRESS WILL ARRIVE. THIS WILL BE

ENOUGH TO BRING UP YOUR FOOD.”

Signs

February 11th, 2011 | page 8 Academia The Milton Measure

State of the Union

Source: the White House

The Milton Measure A&E February 11th, 2011 | page 9

Black SwanNatalie Portman: still hot

Emma Borden ‘11, Writer

Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” does not conform to the layouts and storylines of other popular dance movies (from “Center Stage” (2000), another ballet movie, to “Step Up 3,” a street dance/hip-hop movie). It neither depicts a romantic plotline, nor does it advance or describe the development of a love interest. Instead, it illustrates a more fanatical, paranoid “interest,” a sort of self-obsession, as the principal conflict in the film. N a t a l i e Portman is Nina Sayers, a “sweet girl” who dances with a distinguished New York City ballet company. When the director of the company Thomas Leroy, played by Vincent Cassel, announces that the theatre will be putting on a new rendition of Vladamir Begechev and Vasiliy Geltser’s ballet, Swan Lake (with music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky), Nina is determined to play the part of the enchanted Odette, the virtuous white swan who has been put under a curse and is trapped in the body of a swan. But having this role means that she must also dance the part of Odile, the evil black swan who distracts the white swan’s Prince and tries to foil their romance. As Leroy casts the roles, he is confident in Nina’s ability in dancing the role of the white swan. However he himself is doubtful as to whether Nina is capable of being passionate and reckless, characteristics crucial to the black swan. As Nina is consumed by the desire to play both swans perfectly, her mental stability deteriorates; she becomes obsessed with the retiring principal dancer of the company; she thinks a new and more vivacious dancer, Lily (played

by Mila Kunis), is after her role; she imagines inflicting injuries upon herself, and she feels powerless to escape her own hallucinations. As Nina’s visions become more confused with the reality of the world

around her, the audience becomes unsure as to what constitutes reality and what constitutes Nina’s imagination. After a brilliant performance, Nina collapses from a self-inflicted wound, yet this final moment itself is steeped with uncertainty: the audience is still left with a feeling of whether her death is fictitious or actual. While Nina’s mental state causes her to see things that are not there, likewise, the audience is witnessing more special effects than they may think. For example, in the editing of the film, crewmembers often had to be digitally erased from the scenes shot in the studio mirrors, and while many film viewers were astounded and greatly impressed by Portman’s ballet technique, she is often not actually dancing: instead, her head is digitally placed on the figure of Sarah Lane (a principal of American Ballet Theatre) and other professional ballerinas. Nevertheless, many of the movie’s dancing scenes are still breathtaking. It is difficult to make dance on film genuinely striking. Because one

cannot see the whole body in motion, one often feels cheated. A dancer’s job is much easier if he or she is being filmed, for it is not the entire body that has to master the choreography, but only the part of the body that is on camera.

For example, in the opening shot of the movie, the ballerina on Pointe has only to move her feet correctly to achieve the desired effect, not her torso, her arms, her face or her head. Often times dance on film is less powerful than dance in real life because a viewer cannot see the full capability and limitations of the body as a whole; instead he or she only sees the parts that the cinematographer

decides to show. However dance on film does work in “Black Swan,” partly because the fairy tale component of the ballet can be technically mediated and realized in cinema. For example, Nina’s “transformation” into the black swan is shown when she grows wings on stage, becomes physically more bird-like while standing in her room, or when, at a club, her make-up appears to be that of the black swan. To conclude, “Black Swan” is unique in that it takes a classic ballet and turns it into a modern thriller. Although not a cinematic masterpiece, it is certainly entertaining, intriguing, and melodramatic. As the film has been nominated for five Oscars (Best Picture, Actress in a Leading Role, Cinematography, Directing, Film Editing), it will be interesting to see how many Oscars the film will in fact obtain, and to think about which ones it actually deserves.

Gospel Explosion

On Friday night, Christian Fellowship and Onyx hosted the annual Gospel Explosion, a gospel concert showcasing songs and dances that celebrate the Christian religion. Many performers and concertgoers came from all over the Greater Boston area; in addition, quite a few of our classmates and peers here at Milton also came as participants to the event. Around eight o’clock, visitors from outside Milton, as well as the more familiar students, teachers and parents, began to flock to Thatcher for the evening’s performances. The night started with a performance from Liane Thornhill (Class III), who sang a stellar version of Dottie Rambo’s “He Looked Beyond my Faults.” Next on the performance schedule came Jovonna Jones (Class I) and Brittany Owens (Class II) who sang Kirk Franklin’s deeply emotional and resonating “Afterawhile”, gracing the audience with another great performance. Brittany followed up right after with another solo performance right after. Freshmen Titi Odedele and Yemi Olorunwunmi also sang a duet, an emotional rendition of Nicole C. Mullen’s “My Reedmer Lives,” that was performed brilliantly. The first half of the night concluded with more performances by out-off-school performers from various groups. The second half of the concert picked up with more performances from Boston area gospel groups. One performance that stood out was Andrew Nwachuku’s (Class I) self-written rap about struggling to keep faith and belief in God. Well written and well-delivered, Andrew’s lyrics wowed fans as both peers

Benjamin Bosworth ‘13, Writer

Promoting the NegativeA review of the Super Bowl advertisements

Louisa Moore ‘14, Writer

Allow me to imagine your Sunday afternoon this past weekend. Many of you collapsed on your couch and watched the Pittsburgh Steelers take on the Green Bay Packers in the Super Bowl XLV. In one hand, you held a chip smothered in salsa, and in the other, a can of soda. After the game proceeded to commercials, you remained glued to the TV. Why? Because super Bowl ad slots cost around three million dollars, (not including the cost of filming, actors, and sets, etc you knew they were going to be entertaining to say the least. Last year, approximately 100 million people watched the Super Bowl. This year, that total increased, meaning these commercials were designed to be bigger and better than last year’s. Recall the countless Budweiser, Doritos, and car advertisements that ran in previous years. Weren’t you interested? Maybe you went onto your computer and watched the ads again on YouTube. Or maybe you went out and bought what you saw on TV. Your continued interest in these products is the power of advertising. The excitement surrounding Super Bowl ads is fairly recent. The first “acclaimed” ad was the 1984 Apple Macintosh commercial. The ad was aired

only once on January 22, 1984: the day of Super Bowl XVIII. In addition, the ad won four awards, making it one of the greatest ads of all time. The ad shows a totalitarian state where people with faces covered in soot watch a large screen of their leader making an announcement. Meanwhile, a woman dressed in a white shirt and red shorts runs through the crowd and hurls an ax at the screen. At the end of the commercial, the screen reads, ‘On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like “1984.” The entire commercial, which was about the first ever Macintosh computer, was a reference to George Orwell’s “1984.” Ever since this Apple ad set such a high standard for all Super Bowl advertisements, we have continued to enjoy these 30-second ads. Inevitably, the content of these popular ads has stirred up much controversy this year. According to the New York Times, Fox Sports, broadcasters of the Super Bowl forbade the airing of a religious ad. The commercial, called “John 3:16,” was a 30 second clip showing a group of people watching football in their living room. The camera zoomed in on the

SB Ads continued on page 10

Standing on the balcony in the student center, upperclassmen look down upon the animalistic scene inside and surrounding the bacteria-ridden cave. Although often disturbed by sights ranging from snack bar hash browns smothered on the floor to aroused underclassmen boys, our eyes light up when we observe certain marvels. One of these marvels is the legendary couple, Eliza Ticknor (IV) and Kris Powers (III). The pair delights the school with their charm, blonde locks, and most importantly, passion for fashion. Eliza and Kris are only underclassmen, however, they possess an amount of stylistic wisdom comparable to Victoria and David Beckham. Witnesses of the couple’s style often wonder if Eliza and Kris have personal shoppers or stylists. After speaking with both parties, allow me to confirm that each fashionista selects his and her own pieces autonomously. Eliza describes her style as, “Sophisticated but youthful and fun,” while Kris says his fashion is, “simple,

classy, and appropriate.” When asked what three articles of clothing a wardrobe should never be without, Eliza tells me, “well-fitting jeans, a peacot, and tall, comfortable leather boots” are must-haves. As Eliza demonstrates, with these three staples, it is nearly impossible to go wrong. Eliza is also a firm believer in simple jewelry. This chic lady would not be caught dead without a ring, bracelet, and necklace. She tells me her favorite outfit to wear is, “My tall black boots, dark blue/black jeans, a flowy and bright colored shirt, blazer, black scarf, and jewelry.” Although receptive to new and radical trends from the runway to the bohemian streets, Eliza knows a fashion no-no when she sees one. In the kindest manner she can manage, Eliza shares, “It really depends on the person and their preferences, but personally, I don’t like Crocs. The Croc brand is going in the wrong direction...” Eager to know where Eliza finds her amazing clothes and accessories? The fashion hot spots, she claims, are, “LF, American Apparel,

Gospel continued on page 10

Milton’s Most Fashionable CoupleEliza Ticknor (IV) and Kris Powers (III)

Lauren Kee ‘11, Senior Editor

Fashionistas continued on page 10

page 10 | February 11th, 2011 A&E The Milton Measure

About a month ago, I received an email from my mother with the subject titled, “Must-read,” and the message reading, “this confirmed that I’m not a Chinese mom.” I hesitated when I first clicked on the web address, especially when my eyes landed on the title, “Why Chinese Parents are Superior”. A compilation of passages from Amy Chua’s new book, “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, the piece offered a look into the world of obsessive parenting. Chua, who is a professor at Yale Law School, chronicles her life as a mother of two young daughters and the wife of another Yale law professor, Jed Rubenfeld. For all of you who have also read “Why Chinese Parents are Superior” on wallstreetjournal.com, do not feel discouraged to read Chua’s full book. Wall Street Journal failed to mention that they lumped random sections together in an attempt to sell Chua’s memoir as a “how-to” guide for parents. To be clear, Chua doesn’t try to inform the reader how to parent. Instead, she gives us a glimpse into her own life as a mother. In “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother”, Chua constantly contrasts the strict Chinese style of parenting to that of the West. Suggesting that American parents lack the appropriate degree of authority, Chua believes that her style of parenting allows for her children to flourish. Based on her theory that children cannot live up to their fullest potential without being forced, Chua’s techniques are harsh enough to make the toughest of us wince. In lower and middle school, her two daughters were not allowed to attend sleepovers, have play dates, be in school

plays, watch television or play computer games, choose their own extracurricular activities, or get any grade less than an ‘A’. Predicting the reaction of her saner readers, Chua defends her rebellion

against the American style of parenting by using her two kids as examples. To summarize, Chua believes that their success stems from constant practice and focus. Unable to do anything else besides practice their instruments and study their schoolwork, her daughters have become extremely skilled and have won many contests. Mastering their skills has led to great achievement, exemplified by Chua’s

bold statement: “What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until you’re good at it.”Although Chua describes the many fallbacks of the new American parenting

methods, she also makes fun of herself for her extreme ways. What isn’t described or included in “Why Chinese Parents are Superior” is that Chua eventually discovers the vices of her own parenting style. Near the end of the book, Chua actually begins to retreat from her intense techniques because they start to ruin her relationship with her younger daughter, Lulu. Yes, Chua’s book starts off as

an argument for strict parenting, but it turns into a kind of ‘coming of age’ tale about herself. Although the widely-hated excerpt that has been circling the internet has already cast Amy Chua in an extremely negative light, everyone should give her another chance and read her full work. No one is forced to accept or agree with how she raised her daughters. Just simply read it to see another point of view. This compilation of Amy Chua’s ridiculous stories and criticisms of Western parenting does not disappoint. Many passages reveal thought-provoking questions: Does superiority in an area make up for years and years of stress? What is the real definition of “success”? Does one need to succeed to experience happiness? Chua’s writing style is lively and draw the reader in without a doubt. Her philosophies about love, determination, ambition, and achievement cater to a broad audience, and generates a variety of responses. Keep in mind, though, that the style of parenting Chua describes is not practiced by all Chinese parents. She is merely writing about her own ways. While you may be tempted to assume all Chinese parents share Chua’s beliefs, remember this is simply one person’s account. This book and life-story is more than enough to trigger deep conversations about racial stereotypes and definitions of “parental love”. When reading Chua’s piece, agree with, ridicule, or merely learn about one Chinese woman’s theories on parenting.

Urban Outfitters, J.Crew, The Tannery, Patagonia.” Available in the Boston area or online, merchandise from these stores is easily obtainable. While Eliza and Kris share a knack for fashion, the two have different methods in approaching their styles. Unlike Eliza, Kris tells me, “I don’t like spending my time shopping.” Practical yet stylish, Kris says he “saves time by getting most of my clothes from Barneys.” As opposed to most of the males at Milton, Kris does not take the easy way out in dressing himself. The majority of Milton boys wear the conventional outfit consisting of sweatpants or jeans, a sports team hoodie, and tims. A fashionista who wishes to remain anonymous gushes, “Kris is very New York meets classy meets youthful.” The same speaker shares, “I like how he manages to dress nicely without looking fancy. All guys should dress like him.” When asked what trend

should never be worn in public, Kris responded, “Wearing jeans that sag below the line of respectability.” Wise for his age, Kris diverges from the unfashionable pack. He claims he finds most of his style inspiration from Mr. Gwinnlandry. Everyone has those unfortunate days when you wake up on a bitter, winter morning, and the motivation to dress nicely is absent. Although hard to believe, even these fashion gods feel this pain. Kris tells me, “I’m rarely not feeling it, but, on an off day, [I rock] my pajamas.” Even when he is feeling especially tired and uninspired, Kris rarely struggles in the fashion department because as he claims, “I don’t have clothes that aren’t nice.” On these rough days, Eliza says her “go-to” ourfit is, “Solo yoga pants, a Hanes v-neck, a hooded sweatshirt, and moccasins.” A fan of Lauren Conrad’s style, Eliza values fashion even on days most people surrender their appearance. Eliza says, “Dressing is my way of

self-expression. Everyone can look cute and amazing when they try, but on those cold and tired mornings, is when people’s true style is shown.” When asked about the style of her significant other, Eliza tells me she prefers the preppy look on Kris. Her favorite outfit of his is the simple ensemble of jeans and a collared shirt. As delightful as a banana pancakes on Christmas morning, Eliza giggles, “Kris always dresses really well though; I have no complaints.” One of the most persistent members of the paparazzi following Eliza and Kris this year, Senior Isabel Lester analyzes the couple on a regular basis from the balcony. Isabel raves, “Everyone is eagerly anticipating their new look for the upcoming romantic holiday season. We’re all expecting something revolutionary, but we can imagine they’ll keep the classic New York-prep meets sporty chic combo. On behalf of the student body and in the words of Fabolous, ‘they be killin.’ em!’”

and strangers were struck by Andrew’s ability. As more groups performed, audience members were engaged and encouraged to participate in the music. They danced, clapped and sang along with the performers, showing the genuine characteristics of gospel music. In the midst of all of these performances, one performance, in my personal opinion, stood out. A group of young step-dancers known as the L.I.G.H.T. (Leaders Introducing God’s Holy Truth) Steppers from The First Holiness Church in Cambridge stood on the stage, about to wow the whole crowd. The group of dancers, who were ages nine and up, performed a piece about the importance of unity. They stressed the impact Christianity has on us through their accurate, loud and unified, stomping, snapping, and dancing. Every move was coordinated and precise as they moved together as a team. These steppers meant business and were, in my opinion, the best performance of the night. The last performance of the night was done by Milton’s own gospel choir, a group of twenty or so student and faculty singers. They sang two songs, the first being Kirk Franklin’s “Why We Sing”, highlighting the talents of Zachary Belnavis, Kamyra Edokpolor, Carolyn Lee and Liz Stanfield. The second song, “Oh Give Thanks”, was a crowd-rising energetic song. Gospel Explosion was a blast as people got together, celebrated the Lord with lively singing and dancing, and all in all, had fun!

TV to show a players face, painted with the words “John 3:16,” on both sides of his nose. Puzzled by these words, one of the viewers proceeds to grab his phone and look it up. At the end of the commercial, the final message reads, “lookup316.com,” and below, “A message of hope.” John 3:16, a reference to the Bible verse, reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish

but have eternal life.” Unfortunately for the makers of this ad, Fox Sports claims, “Fox Broadcasting Company does not accept advertising from religious organizations for the purpose of advancing particular beliefs or practices.” The high level of entertainment of the past Super Bowl commercials is undeniable. Remember the line from the 2010 Doritos commercial, “Keep your

hands off my momma. Keep your hands of my Doritos.” Or how about Dodge’s “Man’s Last Stand.” While we like to believe these commercials exist solely for our entertainment, their intention is to convince us to invest in a certain product. Despite the seemingly manipulative motives of these companies, we might not have been as interested in the Super Bowl without them.

Gospel continued from page 9Fashionistas continued from page 9

SB Ads continued from page 9

Do Not Read This Article if You Have Not Finished Your Homework A review of Amy Chua’s memoir

Joycelyn Yip ‘11, A&E Editor

The Milton Measure Sports page 11 | February 11th, 2011

NFL Picks Final Standings:Sam

Andrew

Reedo

NB

Matts

Bulldog

Noah’s Aunt

Wins118

117

117

113

109

33

4

Win Percentage56.73%

56.25%

56.25%

54.33%

52.40%

36.26%

19.05%

Weeks in the Lead6

2

6

1

1

0

0

Rodgers Gets His Championship Belt

Noah Bragg ‘11, Writer

Losses90

91

91

95

99

58

17

At approximately 10PM this past Sunday a new Super Bowl champion was crowned. The Lombardi trophy returned home to Wisconsin, for the first time since 1997, when Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers took a knee to conclude a thrilling 31-25 victory for Green Bay. After jumping ahead to an early lead, Green Bay led by as much as 21-3 in the second quarter and 21-10 at the half, the Packers held off a second half momentum shift in the Pittsburgh’s favor. Clay Matthews made what amounted to the biggest play of the game when he stripped Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall early in the fourth quarter. Green Bay recovered and Rodgers drove his team down the field, hitting the one and only Greg Jennings for what would be the winning touchdown. However, Pittsburgh came back within a field goal after Roethlisberger’s 25 yard TD toss

to Mike Wallace, followed by a two point conversion, cut the score to 28-25. Green Bay used up 5 minutes of clock on a drive that resulted in a field goal, but gave Roethlisberger the ball back with 1:49 remaining and a chance to once again lead the Steelers to victory and achieve Super Bowl immortality. Cardinals’ fans everywhere, or at least a few somewhere, could still feel residual pangs of grief from memories of Roethlisberger’s last minute Super Bowl winning drive against Arizona two years earlier. Green Bay’s defense, however, proved superior. The Steelers gained only one first down before three straight Roethlisberger incompletions clinched Super Bowl XLV for the vaunted Packers. “To God be the glory” repeated the divine Greg Jennings following the game, “it feels awesome... to God be the glory, that’s all I can say.”

Super Bowl Recap

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers’ Championship Belt Celebration

The Milton Academy Varsity Hockey Team (17-3-1) entered Wednesday’s game against St. Paul’s (10-7) ready to extend their unbeaten streak toeight games. Milton is the #1 ranked team in New England and has only lost one game in 2011. The Mustangs shook off a long bus ride to take an early lead, as the first period ended with Milton leading by a score of 2-1 thanks to goals by Sean Okita and Dan “Bunky” Merenich. Milton’s offense roared to life in the second period as Jonah Dwyer, Pat McNally, and TJ Schneider scored goals to extend Milton’s lead to 5-2

and put the game out of reach. With a big lead entering the third period, Milton relied on senior goalie Dan Bowen to keep St. Paul’s from making a come back. Bowen was strong between the pipes and only allowed two goals on nineteen shots. Milton continued playing their strong play, as Woodruff Hudson (I) scored a goal to make the final score 6-2. Senior Defender CJ Ganss led the team with 3 points. Milton looks to extend their unbeaten streak on Saturday when they host Nobles, who eliminated them from last year’s playoffs.

The Milton Boy’s Basketball team took to the court on Wednesday night to face a talented Roxbury Latin team. Led by their freshman point guard, RL put together a strong first half, yet eight first-half points from Dennis Clifford (I) and six from Eric Davis (II), left the Mustangs ahead by 4 at the intermission. After a halftime speech from Coach Lamar Reddicks, the team dominated the second half, allowing only eight points over the twenty minutes. Six assists from Travis Sheldon (I), ten offensive rebounds, and tight team defense

propelled the stangs to an easy victory. Greg Blaize (II) whose injury reduced his role to a spectator, commented that, “from watching the shift from the first half to the second half, I could see that our mentality was different. We were working as a team.” Alec Brennan (IV) added, “our defense was a lot better in the second half. We just wanted it more.” The team hopes to build off of the victory Friday his win when they host Lawerence Academy (10-9) in the ACC Friday Night at 7PM.

Clifford Stands TallNicholas Alves ‘11, Writer

Basketball beats Roxbury

Bowen Stellar in the NetAndrew Strang ‘11, Writer

Hockey on a winning streak

Daniel “Bunkie” Merenrich (I) Celebrates After Goal