Wellesley High School
50 Rice Street
The
Bradford
Volume LXXVI(I), Issue 1
Female representation in class office dramatically increases
after title removal
Lizzie Berger ’22 and Kate Bhatt ’22
Senior News Editor and Features Editor
In the past, the high school’s
four class officers have been
predominantly male: one
female member typically sur-
rounded by three men. Why is
this the case? Perhaps because
of books, movies, and media
that perpetuate the outdated
stereotypes that associate
presidents with males, and
secretaries with females. Or,
perhaps because students’ votes
follow the election trends in the
White House, where women are
scarcely represented. Whatever
the case, class officers, teach-
ers, and students alike are ready
to change this long-standing
pattern.
“My sophomore year, it hit
me the hardest how much more
credit the male class officers
were getting, especially after
seeing all of the females in the
room doing so much work,
without it...When you see three
boys and one girl sitting on a
stage, that says something,”
said senior class secretary Au-
drey Turco ’22.
Last year, class office titles
were removed for the Class of
’24 and the Class of ’23. Since
this change, three females and
one male were elected for the
Class of ’24. This year, the
removal of titles carried on
to the Class of ’25, who also
elected three females and one
male for office. Ideally, the
high school wants the voting
From “Downtown” to “Ghost Town”: Wellesley’s retail nightmare
Felipe Lopez ’22
Editor-in-Chief
Taking a stroll down Wellesley’s
downtown “Central Square,” it is
obvious to any passerby that the
town has a problem with empty
storefronts. “For Lease” signs
plague the short walk, with many
empty fronts having been vacated
for months, if not years now.
With neighboring towns like
Natick and Needham’s down-
town scenes flourishing, why
has Wellesley not followed suit?
Commercial retail spaces in
neighboring towns routinely av-
erage 20 to 25 dollars per square
foot. However, in Wellesley,
many spaces average north of 30
to 40 dollars, with several spaces
for rent in downtown Wellesley
asking for 45 to 50 dollars per
square foot, per month.
To put this into perspective, the
average price per square foot in
Boston is 49 dollars, despite the
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system in place to underscore
the importance of gender bal-
ance and ensure that the four
class officers represent as many
voices as possible.
“If you’ve got four males or
four females, one could say you
are not representing your class.
We need to consider the impor-
tance of balance. I was asked
what I would do to make sure
that there was a gender balance
amongst the class officers in my
interview for this job, and since,
I have thought a lot about what
needs to be done, because it is
so important,” said Assistant
Principal Mr. Collin Shattuck.
“Elections purely need to be
the voice of the high school
students. Therefore, before the
election, it is so important that Photo courtesy of Livvy Fletcher
we emphasize and highlight
Junior class officers pose after a successful class barbeque. From left to right: Michael Bueker,
balance. It is also crucial to get
Livvy Fletcher, Aidan Ulian, Howard Xu.
a wide representation by having
diversity within the class officer their college transcripts. This also encourages the importance for all three of them. The idea
group.” decision was in the best interest of voting for candidates who is that you are not restricted
Although the advisors did of our leadership teams and our are best for the job, and not for by having to vote for people
receive some verbal concerns officers,” said Shattuck. superficial reasons including you connect with on a personal
from the community on the “Aside from the Treasurer, gender, popularity, or social level. You can vote for every-
removal of positions, they truly I don’t know if people have a pressure. one who you think will do the
believe it has accomplished great understanding of what “What we use now is a job well,” said math teacher
its goal of clearing the blurred the positions are supposed to system called approval voting, Mr. William Horne.
lines between roles and ensur- do. So to get rid of all the gray, where you can vote for all of The Class of ’24 class offi-
ing that every officer is equal. we thought, let’s just have four the candidates you deem fit cers appreciate this change and
“When we started this last class officers; let’s see if we can for the job. This way, if your have seen a more equal power
year, I got a few voices say- create more levels of coopera- two buddies are running for dynamic throughout their time
ing this is not a good idea. tion and collaboration. And I office and you feel obligated to representing the class.
I explained that the purpose think that has happened,” said vote for them, but you also see “I love that there are three
behind this is so much more Shattuck. another candidate who seems
than what students can write on The current voting system right for the job, you can vote CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
city of Boston boasting over 24
times the population of Welles-
ley, and the foot traffic being far
more desirable for businesses.
In just one block – a two min-
ute walk – from Wellesley’s Rt.
135 firehouse to the crosswalk
at CVS on Central St, there are
more than four empty storefronts
where restaurants or clothing
shops used to be.
“As a former Wellesley busi-
ness that was forced to termi- Photo by Felipe Lopez
nate our lease during COVID, I Throughout downtown Wellesley, many vacant spots remain abandonded for months.
would love nothing better than
the cost of space in Wellesley storefronts are unfairly high. considering the rates are about
to come back. Our space was
Center is prohibitive for this “I got my commercial space, six times more expensive than
underground, with no windows or
small, woman-owned business, 2nd floor at 18 Grove in Febru- my current space. You’d think
access to fresh air and meaningful
and others like me who would ary, and it was about one-fifth that during COVID landlords
rent concessions were not forth-
venture. That’s the sad reality of less expensive than the storefront would lower the rent, but I found
coming,” said Debra Goodman,
it and it breaks my heart.” right below me. I believe because that they kept rents the same or
a small business owner. “We
Goodman’s sentiment is I didn’t get a storefront I got a increased them,” said Alexis
adored our Wellesley community
echoed by fellow independent, really good value. On that note, Avila, owner of Prepped and
and hope to eventually be able to
small business owners, many of it’s not financially viable for me
return somewhere close by. But CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
whom feel the prices of retail to lease a commercial storefront
 NEWS
THE BRADFORD
NEWS EDITORS | Lizzie Berger and Hank Guo
For more NEWS, visit www.whsbradford.org
Female Representation in class office (cont.)
Three of four sophomore class officers. From left to right:
Trsitan Gardner, Bianca Horner, Emma Sutherland. (Missing:
Stella Tomayko).
From “Downtown” to “Ghost Town” (cont.)
Over and over, the bottom
line from small business own-
ers remains the same: rents in
Wellesley are too high. Small
business owners can’t compete,
and residents feel the conse-
quences.
“Meanwhile, Natick center
is growing with diverse and cre-
ative storefronts – an expanded
mediterranean market moving
next month where a pharmacy
used to be, two gift/paper stores,
a cute boutique, a great designer
consignment store, the coolest
collectibles shop, art galleries
and studios, street art, amaz-
ing restaurants including a new
Vietnamese coffee house and a
bagel place. What are we doing?”
said Wellesley resident Pam
Koskovich.
“A leisurely walk through town
isn’t fun when you can’t even
window shop,” noted another
resident.
Missing people, missing coverage: media has long ignored the presence of
Indigenous people
Fiona Zhou ’24
Staff Writer
In July of 2021, Gabby
Petito, a 22 year-old white
woman from Florida, went on a
road trip with her fiancé, Brian
Laundrie, to explore the West
Coast of the United States. For
the first two months of the trip,
Petito and her parents main-
tained daily communication,
until it abruptly stopped after
August 30. Petito was officially
reported missing on September
11, and Laundrie was consid-
ered a possible suspect in Peti-
to’s death when her body was
found in Wyoming. Laundrie’s
parents reported their son miss-
ing six days later on September
17. Authorities later found his
body at a Florida preserve.
Almost a year earlier, Jade
Wagon, a woman from the
Northern Arapaho tribe in
Wyoming was reported missing
at the beginning of January
2020. The case was opened and
| Vo l u m e L X X V I ( I )
Photo courtesy of Stella Tomayko
Not only do residents feel
this, but so do students from the
high school, and the surrounding
colleges. Specifically, students
grapple with the lack of restau-
rants and other dining options in
Wellesley.
“When I was a freshman at
[Wellesley] College, I got so
excited about the stores, restau-
rants, and other cool opportuni-
ties that were in downtown Cen-
tral St. The ‘townies,’ we called
them, and all of the awesome
restaurants and stores they had,”
said Wellesley College student
Jennifer Zhu. “Nowadays, the of-
ferings within a walking distance
from campus are gone. B.Good
just closed, Boloco is long gone,
Upper Crust – gone, Dunkin’ –
gone, Baskin Robbins – gone.
The only restaurant within walk-
ing distance is Alta Strada, which
is neither accessible nor afford-
able for college students.”
closed in the same month with
little national news coverage.
There exists a clear dispar-
ity between which groups
of people are covered in the
media. Wagon was not the only
missing Indigenous woman
whose death was not covered.
In fact, over the past decade,
710 girls in Wyoming of Indige-
nous descent have only recently
been reported missing, with no
media coverage or representa-
tion since.
According to NBC News,
over the past decade, 85 percent
of missing persons in Wyoming
were minors. Almost sixty
percent of them were women
or girls. Indigenous persons
were twice as likely to still be
missing after thirty days. While
multiple news stations and so-
cial media have been investing
time and money into the Petito
case, bringing the case to the
female class officers this year. I
think it shows that students are
respected regardless of things
out of their reach, such as gen-
der. I hope that everyone will
feel comfortable reaching out
to at least one of us, especially
considering that we are a pretty
diverse group and have differ-
ent relationships with different
people in our grade,” said class
officer Stella Tomoyko ’24.
“The sophomore class of-
ficers and I will do our best
to make a positive impact
by voicing our opinions and
making sure that everybody
feels heard and welcome at the
high school,” said class officer
Emma Sutherland ’24.
Nevertheless, the officers
believe that work towards a
diverse student leadership team
should not end at changes in
titles. In 2020, history teacher
Ms. Emily Gordon ran informal
meetings that happened organi-
cally with the female class offi-
cers to talk about power dynam-
Megan Lester ’22 agreed,
and added her insight as a high
school student.
“It’s tough for the freshman
and even middle school students
who don’t drive. When can’t go
anywhere by walking, you have,
maybe, three options for food on
a half day. Or you can order de-
livery which costs outrageously
high and isn’t feasible for stu-
dents anyways. Over time, I’ve
gotten so bored of what’s avail-
able in town,” she said. “Now
that I can drive, we usually go to
Newton or even Framingham for
better options in food.”
Lester’s personal experience
is no anomaly. The offerings
in neighboring towns such as
Framingham, Newton, or even
Needham are easily juxtaposed
with the barren scene in Welles-
ley. For years, the outcry from
Wellesley’s students and resi-
dents has been the same. What
forefront of the public eye, little
media attention has been paid to
missing Indigenous persons.
Rama K. Ramaswamy, Co-
President of World of Wellesley
(WOW), a local organization
focused on promoting equity
and diversity, is alarmed by the
lack of coverage of non-Cauca-
sian missing persons.
“In a sense that’s kind of
disturbing, because people like
Jade Wagon’s sister are out
there using the news media to
bring this inequity to light. We
now know, we do not under-
stand the discrepancy between
people who are reported miss-
ing and those who seem to not
be cared about,” said Ramas-
wamy.
Joan Aandeg, a member of
both Indigenous Peoples’ Day
(IPD) Wellesley and the Lac
Courte Oreilles Band of Lake
Superior Ojibwe, is not sur-
| ISSUE 1
ics, sexism, and possible action
towards making the females in
office feel represented, valued,
and respected.
Although these meetings
have not continued, Gordon
suggests that female leaders
attend the club Girlz To Lead-
ers, run by Turco and Catherine
Smith ’22.
“The club Girlz To Lead-
ers is oriented around what it
means to be a female leader in a
male-dominated world. I would
suggest that any female who
is seeking leadership support
should get involved with that
community of supportive lead-
ers,” said Gordon.
In the future, if the identi-
ties of the class officers fail to
represent the student body, the
advisors have ample ideas of
what the community can do to
increase gender diversity within
the election pool.
“We have a number of clubs
in our building that promote
females in positions of em-
can the town, and we as a com-
munity do about this?
The responses have been
mixed, with no one definitive an-
swer appearing. Some have pro-
posed subsidies – or incentives
– for budding small business
owners to bring their concepts
to Wellesley. Others support
a vacancy tax: a tax levied on
commercial landlords for having
a vacant property for more than
six, ten, or any number of months
that the town decides. New York
City flirted with that idea, and
proposed taxing landlords one
percent of the assessed value
of the property if it remained
vacant for more than six months.
Either way, the answer remains
unknown.
Regardless of what the answer
is, residents and students believe
a solution is in dire need.
“In my time at Babson, two
Dunkin’ locations have closed in
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Young girl carries a sign on Hollywood Blvd, LA at an event
elebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
prised by the selective media
coverage.
“It’s not surprising to me
that the media doesn’t cover
missing and murdered Indig-
enous people, because the
mainstream consciousness does
not acknowledge the existence
of Native people. Everyone that
has been marginalized, pushed
to the outside, minimized, those
are the people we need to hear
from the most,” said Aandeg.
In the past year, IPD Welles-
ley has seen a huge increase
| March 2022 | 2
powerment, and I would really
love adults at the high school
to see that and say, ‘You’ve
got something special, and
you would make a strong class
officer.’ That way, from the
bottom up, more women would
feel capable and supported to
run for class office, thus helping
the high school near the gender
balance we are looking for,”
said Shattuck.
The advisors emphasize that
reserving spots for different
gender identities is not a direc-
tion they ever plan on going in,
because they want to encourage
voices from people who iden-
tify beyond the gender binary.
“We could never reserve
spots for specific genders
because of the variety by which
people identify themselves.
Ultimately, we want more than
just males or females. [We want
people] to elect and advise
those who identify in vary-
ing ways is the end goal,” said
Gordon.
town. We used to have around six
or so in all of town,” said Babson
College student Kayleigh Larsen.
“There’s no way to say it other
than, this sucks. I came to Babson
thinking that Wellesley’s down-
town was an awesome vibe with
lively stores. That impression of
downtown is definitely fading,
and less incoming [first year
students] are coming to Babson
with that dated idea of Wellesley
now.”
In the end, with the downtown
scene fading, rents sky high, and
small businesses steering clear of
Wellesley, it seems that the even-
tual death of the downtown scene
is only a matter of time. Without
meaningful incentives to come
to Wellesley, nor the business
feasibility of even doing so, our
current trends will continue and
downtown might soon become a
ghost town.
of supporters. In total, sixteen
comittmee members worked
on educating Wellesley voters,
select board members, and town
meeting members. For the past
six years, IPD Wellesley has
been working toward establish-
ing Indigenous Peoples’ Day in
Wellesley. Indigenous Peoples’
Day was officially recognized
for the first time on October 11.
Article adapted for print. Full article is
available on our website: whsbradford.
org.
FEATURES
THE BRADFORD
FEATURES EDITORS | Kate Bhatt and Addie Schiller
For more FEATURES, visit www.whsbradford.org
Culturally Responsive Teaching: understanding the incorporation of race
and ethnicity into education (PRINT EXCLUSIVE)
Hank Guo ’23
News Editor
In February, the Wellesley
Public Schools district settled
a lawsuit alleging that their us-
age of “racial affinity groups”
and adoption of policy against
biased speech in its five-year
diversity, equity, and inclusion
plan violated the fourteenth
amendment.
Settling under the condi-
tion that Wellesley Public
Schools make it clear that
affinity groups are open to all
students, the national group
alleges restricting access to the
groups contributes to segregat-
ing students. Mirroring a wave
of criticism against anti-racism
practices across the country, the
high school has also become a
target for its integration of what
parents perceive as Critical
Race Theory frameworks into
school curriculums.
Critical Race Theory is a
framework of analysis taught
predominantly in law schools
and graduate level courses. CRT
is based on the idea that race is
a legally constructed idea and
biases influence all legal insti-
tutions and laws.
Critics of CRT maintain
that school implementation
creates hostility between racial
groups at schools and alienates
certain students. In an opinion
published in The Boston Globe,
Richard L. Cravatts, a journal-
ism fellow at the David Horow-
itz Freedom Center writes that
the usage of CRT creates “bina-
ries of right and wrong” that he
says are inhibitory to creating
inclusive environments.
“Schools need to be cau-
tious about indoctrinating
some students on how they are
victims of oppression and how
they should identify as such,
and how other students, by vir-
tue of their whiteness alone, are
oppressors and should apologize
for such, instead of fostering
racial equality and coexistence,”
said Cravatts.
However, some teachers at
the high school tell a different
story of discussion about race
and ethnicity in their classes.
Educators at the high school
and in the state have confirmed
that their usage of race and
ethnicity is not CRT, but linked
to a broader effort to create safe
in their classroom to create spaces where students see themselves and can bring
| Vo l u m e L X X V I ( I )
Criticism of perceived evidence of Critical Race Theory in school curriculums has polarized
K-12 education, sparking a national debate on what students should and can be taught.
spaces to examine the role of
race and ethnicity in identity.
Teachers at the high school
follow the idea of “Culturally
Responsive Teaching”, a rubric
backed by the Department of
Education. They aim to teach
students the ability to engage
with texts that encompass the
complexity of U.S. history.
Designed to present various
perspectives in school curricu-
lums, Culturally Responsive
Teaching also aims to provide
the connection between a
student’s background and their
education.
“I think it’s really important
that education be about un-
derstanding the full context in
which we live. And I think it’s
really important for kids to see
themselves represented in the
texts we read. And also, if not
through representation, through
discussion, bring themselves to
a fuller understanding of what it
means to be a person,” said Ms.
Alison McCormick, an English
teacher at the high school.
Christina Horner, an educa-
tor and Co-President of World
of Wellesley, a local non-
profit promoting diversity and
inclusion, adds on, noting that
Critical Race Theory has been
transformed into a buzzword.
“I really think that this cur-
rent lawsuit is another ploy to
“I think that every teacher should be committing to whatever it looks like
themselves.” - Ms. Alison McCormick
for articles, talking heads, and more
look on whsbradford.org
dismantle and discredit orga-
nizations and individuals who
are very clear about their social
justice priorities,” said Horner.
Teachers at the high school
have also emphasized the
importance of representing dif-
ferent racial and ethnic groups
in their curriculum to foster an
inclusive environment. Diverse
American Voices, a senior level
English class that offers Honors
and ACP level classes, aims to
support that effort through its
examination of race and ethnic-
ity in literature.
“My hope is that the impact
is positive and educational,
especially to BIPOC students
who may not have had many
opportunities to see themselves
represented in our English
curriculum. But it is vital to us
that our students understand
that no racial or ethnic group
is a monolith,” said Mr. David
Charlesworth, a Diverse Ameri-
can Voices teacher.
Through the representation
of various works of art and lit-
erature from authors and artists
from different racial and ethnic
backgrounds, DAV hopes to
highlight the exclusion minority
authors and artists have tradi-
tionally faced.
“Well, most immediately, to
counteract that exclusion, and
more deeply, to recognize that
| ISSUE 1 | March 2022
Photo by Felipe Lopez
the American narrative (what-
ever we take that phrase to
mean) has never been a single
story, a single narrative, a single
history. It’s about unfolding
the layers, the complexity, the
nuance of our shared national
identity,” said Charlesworth.
Teachers at the high school
build on the foundations of
Culturally Responsive Teach-
ing, which outline that must
“understand culture’s role
in education, their students’
cultures, and their own identity
and biases to 1) affirm students’
backgrounds and identities and
2) foster their ability to under-
stand and honor others’ cul-
tures.” Creating and developing
a supportive environment where
students are unafraid to tackle
complex issues is an integral
part of fulfilling that rubric.
However, the inherent
discomfort and the proposed
cultivation of a divide between
students of different back-
grounds have also been cited as
a reason to bar the integration
of race-based awareness from
education.
Thirteen states in the United
States have passed state bills re-
stricting the usage of perceived
tenets of Critical Race Theory
in school curriculums, limit-
ing ways educators can discuss
race and racism in classrooms.
| 3
Furthermore, four states have
banned teachers from teaching
material that would make stu-
dents feel “discomfort or guilt”.
However, many teachers
at the high school feel that it
is necessary to tackle the true
nature of systemic racism that
is institutionalized into social
constructs.
“We have to be active in
every single classroom, in
every single discipline, to build
toward a culture where we can
bravely engage in discussion
that is uncomfortable, because
the truth of our history, the truth
of education in general, is un-
comfortable,” said McCormick.
“And so we need to help our-
selves and then help students
build a tolerance for the kinds
of discomfort that challenge our
own thinking.”
Charlesworth adds to this
sentiment, emphasizing the
importance of discomfort in not
only education but also growth.
“If we uncritically exist
within our zones of comfort,
transformative learning can’t
happen,” said Charlesworth.
The frameworks of Criti-
cal Race Theory may not exist
in school curriculums, but its
complex understanding of race
and ethnicity and the roles
they play in defining American
culture do. Teachers at the high
school strive to cultivate an
environment where nuanced
examinations of the blatant and
covert racism present in the his-
tory of the United States. They
also hope for the incorporation
of a wide range of perspectives
through the representation of
authors from various races and
ethnicities to foster the develop-
ment of student identity in an
inclusive environment.
Using the basis of Culturally
Responsive Teaching, teach-
ers at the high school wish
to build on student cultural
understandings and give them
the opportunity to feel repre-
sented in Wellesley. Teachers
hope to build on a culture of
diversity, equity and belonging
at the high school through a
nuanced understanding towards
the perspectives of historically
marginalized groups.
THE BRADFORD | Vo l u m e
Looking to the future: how Wellesley students can grow into sustainable adults
Kaelyn King ’22
Executive Editor-in-Chief
Earth Overshoot Day marks
the date that humanity’s con-
sumption of natural resources
surpasses the amount that the
Earth can regenerate within
the same year. After exceeding
this limit, overpopulation and
excessive carbon emissions in
combination with humanity’s
demand for ecological resources
eats into the natural resources
allocated for the following years.
In 2021, Earth Overshoot Day
was July 29.
According to Sustainable
Wellesley, a volunteer-run non-
profit organization that engages
residents, businesses, and the
Town of Wellesley to take sus-
tainable action, there are many
actions an ordinary citizen can
take on a day to day basis to re-
duce their impact on the environ-
ment, and delay Earth Overshoot
Day.
“Many people assume recy-
cling is a big part of the equation
and while reduce, reuse, recycle
is great, 43 percent of Wellesley’s
greenhouse gas emissions come
from transportation — that is
traditional internal combustion
engine vehicles — and 56 per-
cent comes from buildings and
the energy used to heat, light, and
power them,” said Phyllis Theer-
mann, a member of the leadership
board for Sustainable Wellesley.
“Something you can do to
help as a high school student is
register to vote to support climate
conscious political candidates,
“Squid Game” review: an eye-opening criticism on capitalist society
Clementine Zei ’24
Special Projects News Editor
Most everyone played games
that were quintessential to their
childhood. Whether they were
on a playground, with cards and
pieces, or something complete-
ly different, these experiences
make up a nostalgic and happy
memory in many people’s
minds. That’s why no character
in the hit Netflix show “Squid
Game” expected their positive
childhood pastimes to turn sour
when winning these games sud-
denly meant life or death.
“Squid Game” first aired on
September 17, and immediately
became Netflix’s biggest debut
hit with 111 million view-
ers. The nine-episode series
highlights the story of Gi-Hun
Seong, a divorced father with a
gambling addiction. In financial
ruin, Gi-Hun agrees to accept
the business card of an agent
who informs him that by com-
peting in a series of games he
would be rewarded handsomely.
Without any other choice, Gi-
Hun accepts the offer and joins
455 other players to participate
in a series of classic Korean
childhood games – with a twist.
Instead of being eliminated and
sent home each round, play-
ers are killed off, one by one,
with each death increasing the
stakes of the prize. The ultimate
cash prize added up to a price
LXXVI(I)
encourage your household to get
a free energy audit or consider air
source heat pumps to make your
home more energy efficient, and
write to town government com-
mittees about your sustainability
concerns.”
Wellesley residents can also
invest in the optional Wellesley
Electric Customers Accelerated
Reduction of Emissions (WEC-
ARE) program for a four percent
increase on residential and com-
mercial monthly electrical bills to
support the Wellesley Municipal
Light Plant’s effort to buy renew-
able energy sources and fund
local sustainability projects like
community solar generation
facilities and power storage for
peak electric use times.
Additionally, the Town of
Wellesley’s Climate Action Com-
mittee is in the process of creat-
ing Wellesley’s Climate Action
Plan (CAP), spearheaded by
committee member and Welles-
ley resident Marybeth Martello.
“The CAP will identify ac-
tions the town can take to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions. It will
work to quantify them in terms
of cost–both financial, operating
and behavioral, relative to the
emissions reduction they might
achieve. This will help us priori-
tize as a town the next steps,” said
Theermann.
Wellesley’s recently updated
goals call for achieving net zero
greenhouse gas emissions by
2050, interim reduction goals of
equivalent to about 38.6 million
USD.
The concept of “Squid
Game” was thought up in
2008 when creator, writer, and
director, Dong-hyuk Hwang
was inspired by a comic that
consisted of players entering
life or death stakes games. The
unconventional storyline is
meant to spark discussion about
human nature, optimism, and
capitalist societies.
“It may be ironic for me to
say that, because there are some
terrible atrocities that happen
in the story but, I really wanted
to create a story that will be
immersive. I wanted the view-
ers who watch ‘Squid Game’
to start questioning themselve:
How am I living my life? Who
am I among these characters,
and what kind of world am I
living in?” said Hwang in an
interview with The Hollywood
Reporter.
With its massive cultural
impact and public recognition,
“Squid Game” has more widely
incorporated Korean Dramas
into Western media, exhibiting
that a good storyline can easily
overcome language barriers.
The show offers a never-before-
seen plot, complex characters,
and an interesting commentary
on modern society.
| F E AT U R E S
Photo by Project Plastics
The high school’s Climate Action Club collaborates with Project Plastic to clean up trash in
Wellesley.
fifty percent below a 2007 base-
line of emissions by 2030, and
75 percent by 2040. The Com-
monwealth of Massachusetts has
also committed to accomplishing
net-zero greenhouse gas emis-
sions by 2050 with interim goals.
On March 26, Massachusetts
Governor Charlie Baker signed
Senate Bill 9, “An Act Creating
a Next Generation Roadmap for
Massachusetts Climate Policy”,
which outlines goals for emis-
sions reductions, commitment
to Massachusetts environmental
justice committees, and enables
the Massachusetts Common-
wealth to generate 2,400 Mega-
watts of offshore wind energy
by 2027. This bill furthers the
The underlying message
of “Squid Game” is actually a
critique on capitalist societies
and the mobility of social class.
The philosophy of the games’
creator is that in real life, not
everybody has an equal chance
at wealth. There are class, sex,
education, and opportunity
discrepancies in the real world.
In the Squid Games, contestants
start at the same place and are
given an equal chance to win
the cash prize, trying to repre-
sent how in capitalist societies,
the laboring class is suppressed
by low wage jobs, poor work-
ing conditions, and necessity
for work, with a slim chance to
reach the top.
Each player enters into the
game drowning in debt and
financial ruin. They are so
desperate for monetary gain
that they are willing to sacri-
fice everything, including their
lives, to win the money offered.
The game seems to promote the
idea of equality and fair play,
but in the end, the game also
depicts the power dynamics
similar to capitalist society. The
game is run and viewed by the
world’s most wealthy people
who simply see the depicted
gore as equivalent to watching
a sports game.
The show’s unsettling
| ISSUE 1 |
local effort to increase the use of
renewable, cost-efficient energy
while opening up new job op-
portunities.
Then again, there are the
obvious, cost-free actions like
walking or biking instead of driv-
ing, reducing meat consumption,
reducing food waste, and getting
involved in the local mission to
take climate action.
“This year we wanted our first
project to be implementing com-
post in our high school cafeteria
former high school students Ian
Lei ’21 and Aditiya Acharya ’20
set up the outline for this to be
possible, but the slimmer budget
due to COVID-19 made it impos-
sible to enact this year,” said vice
juxtaposition of children’s
games with the consequence
of death makes the impact of
the show all the more dramatic.
The children’s games chosen
represent a time in the players’
lives when they were innocent
and unaware of the harshness of
society. Contrasting the joyful
setting and games with bloody
death highlights how modern
day economics and financial
pressure changes people. It is
hard to believe that the players
who were once children now
actively participate in the death
of their fellow contestants.
The issue of wealth dis-
Photo Courtesy of Netflix
Image of the circle triangle square business card is given to
potential paticipants for the Squid Games. Gi-Hun Seong calls
the given number on the card to be taken to the games arena.
March 2022 | 4
president of the high school’s
Climate Action Club Catherine
Smith ’22.
Despite this challenge, the
Climate Action Club pursued
multiple initiatives this year,
including a lower emissions cam-
paign and planting new gardens
around the school with natural
biodiversity.
“This year I really enjoyed
laying the groundwork for re-
juvenating the green spaces
around the high school,” said
club member and high school
student Grace Olson ’22. “Next
year I’m really looking forward
to planting in the gardens to pro-
vide food and pollen for our local
pollinators.”
parities that the series so grue-
somely depicts, is a prevalent
issue in South Korea today.
On October 20, over 16,000
protesters gathered in Seoul,
many wearing the “Red Suited
Guard” costumes. As the show
is partially inspired by the 2008
global economic collapse, many
working class South Koreans
can see parallels between the
show’s allegory and modern
society.
Article adapted for print. Full article is
available on our website: whsbradford.
org.
 OPINIONS
THE BRADFORD | Vo l u m e L X X V I ( I ) | ISSUE 1 | March 2022 | 5

OPINIONS EDITORS | Iris Xia and William Liu

For more OPINIONS, visit www.whsbradford.org

Why we should abolish the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools

The William Liu ’24 Free Speech Clause of the First stipulation for schools to say the nationalism. They see the pledge
Co-Opinions Editor Amendment prohibits public phrase “under God” is, in and of as instilling the core value of
Bradford schools from forcing students to itself, a promotion and endorse- patriotism in the American youth,
salute the American flag and say ment of monotheistic religions. not as indoctrination.
Editorial Board the Pledge of Allegiance.” Whether voluntary or not for “I think it’s valuable to stop
Representing the majority’s students, the pledge is the same every morning to be reminded
Editors-in-Chief opinion, Justice Robert Jackson prescription of orthodoxy that that we’re part of something big-
Kaelyn King wrote, “If there is any fixed star Justice Jackson rejected. ger than ourselves, and I don’t
Suzie Kim in our constitutional constella- The phrase “under God” was just mean the school community.
Felipe Lopez tion, it is that no official, high or only added to the Pledge of Al- I mean the nation, especially right
petty, can prescribe what shall be legiance in 1954 to distinguish now in this time where there’s
Senior News Editor orthodox in politics, nationalism, America from the largely atheis- such great division,” said Dr.
Lizzie Berger religion, or other matters of opin- tic Soviet Union, over a decade Jamie Chisum, principal of the
ion or force citizens to confess by after West Virginia State Board high school. “At the end of the
News Editor word or act their faith therein.” of Education v. Barnette. The day, or the beginning of the day
Hank Guo From 1943 to the present day, problem with the Pledge of Al- in this case, I think it’s important
though, the Supreme Court has legiance is thus rooted far deeper that we can remind ourselves that
Special Projects News Photo by William Liu left the legality of the pledge than just the phrase “under God.” we are all one people.”
Editor As school has returned to largely in question, avoiding a The government may not However, unity, patriotism,
Clementine Zei semi-normalcy, the Pledge of direct confrontation on whether establish certain political views and nationalism remain political
Allegiance has also made its the existence of the pledge itself to be orthodox, and that chief ideologies, regardless of popu-
Features Editors return. is constitutional. Many states, among the vaunted American larity. The underlying principle
Kate Bhatt Due to a combination of hy- including Massachusetts, have liberties is the freedom to ex- behind the First Amendment is
Addie Schiller brid learning, the pandemic, even created state laws that re- press one’s ideas without the the belief that, although a major-
and other factors, the Pledge of quire schools to hold daily recita- government’s interference. The ity may dictate legislation, the
Assistant Features Allegiance was not recited on a tions of the Pledge of Allegiance. pledge is a political statement majority cannot dictate the truth.
Editor daily basis last year. However, Regardless of the Supreme expressing one’s patriotism and Throughout history, from Galileo
Annabelle Nolan this year, alongside the normal Court’s ambivalence, this statu- renouncing self-determination; to Martin Luther King, the truth
high school schedule, the daily tory recitation, which includes ergo, the stipulation of the pledge has come from the minority.
Opinions Editors recitation of the pledge during the phrase “under God,” directly is the subliminal imposition of Whether most Americans believe
Iris Xia Block A has resumed this pre- violates the right to freedom of the government’s will through in self-determination or not, the
William Liu pandemic norm. religion. The First Amendment nationalistic indoctrination, not government cannot undermine
The Pledge of Allegiance has of the US Constitution states dissimilar from pledges utilitzed the principle of free thought,
Sports Editors long been revered as an embodi- that “Congress shall make no by totalitarian states such as especially in the impressionable
Caroline Thornton ment of core American values. law respecting an establishment Nazi Germany to foster subser- minds of youth.
Ben Galligan Yet by its very nature, the pledge of religion.” In other words, no vience in the populace. Until Some at the school are still
is an assault on the principles of government institution, includ- the onset of the Second World bothered by the pledge’s mes-
Arts Editor freedom and liberty espoused ing public schools, can unduly War, Bellamy’s original pledge sage.
Eva Wall by the Founding Fathers and advance, inhibit, or excessively even featured a hand salute that “My problem with the pledge
the Constitution, and should be involve religion. appears indistinguishable from philosophically is just the idea
Assistant Arts Editor abolished. For example, in 1962, the the Nazi salute. that you have to give yourself to
Maddie Merowitz Since its very inception, the Supreme Court ruled that it A citizen’s rights to self- your state in a mandatory sort of
pledge has been subject to nu- is unconstitutional for public determination and thinking be- way, which cheapens the sacrifice
Photography Editor merous controversies, including schools to hold prayers, even if yond the demands of the state of those who make that deci-
Fiona Zhou several legal disputes reaching they are supposedly voluntary, are also rooted in the very cre- sion voluntarily,” said Mr. Kyle
the Supreme Court. The pledge upholding this constitutional ation of American democracy. Gekopi, a social studies teacher
Business Manager was written in 1892 by Francis principle. On the same basis of The Founding Fathers rose up at the high school.
Adam Juma Bellamy, a socialist minister, to separating the state from religion, against British tyranny, rejecting Unity achieved under co-
commemorate Columbus Day, a public schools should not recite their patriotism and loyalty to ercion is not true unity but the
Staff holiday that the school no longer the words “students under God.” the British empire to forge their simulation of unity, which is at
Griffin Jordan observes due to Columbus’ own The nature of the pledge does own nation. the cost of the tenets of American
John Battaglino
dubious history. not dismiss its flagrant viola- Despite the pledge’s abnega- democracy. The very patriotic
Tate Bannish
Soon, the pledge gained na- tion of the Constitution, and the tions of core American values, values claimed to be strength-
Adam Juma
tional prominence, with many Supreme Court’s own precedent some still believe in the impor- ened by the pledge are weakened
schools making it mandatory for established the irrelevance of the tance of the flag’s deeper mes- by its compulsory nature. The
Advisors
their students. In 1943, in the students’ volition in the matter. sage. In a time of such political Pledge of Allegiance is the instru-
Amanda Brown and
case West Virginia State Board Even if the government does not turbulence and polarization, ment of the very same tyranny
Craig Mustard
of Education v. Barnette, the force individual students to recite many Americans find solace in that democracy seeks to prevent.
Supreme Court ruled that “the the pledge, the government’s the pledge’s idea of unity and
CONTACT THE
BRADFORD: Intervention time is integral to enriching student academics
Iris Xia ’22 and Addie Schiller ’22
Website: Co-Opinions Editor and Co-Features Editor
www.whsbradford.org
On December 1, the school telling us is that we need more
implemented a new half day individual and small group time
Email Address:
intervention block into the sched- with students,” wrote principal
bradfordstaff@gmail.
ule, where, from 8:35 AM to 9:50 Dr. Jamie Chisum in an email to
com
AM, students will have a chance the school community.
to catch up on missed classwork, Intervention proved to be es-
Mailing Address:
take tests, or meet with teachers sential in alleviating stress and
c/o Amanda Brown
for extra support. If students do encouraging students to catch up
50 Rice Street
not have any work to make up or on work if they needed to.
Wellesley, MA 02481
don’t feel the need to meet with a “I was able to spend my time Photo by Iris Xia
teacher, their school days begin doing a combination of make-
Phone: Students working in Madame Laborde-Casterot’s French
at 9:55 AM. up work, asking questions and
781-446-6305 class the week after coming back from break.
“We’ve been talking a lot at starting homework. It gave me
The Bradford welcomes the high school about the number a stress free chance to connect my strengths and weaknesses as Intervention time will be reoc-
letters to the editors. Please of students who feel behind aca- with my teacher, without sacri- a student by meeting with my curing every half-day.
send your opinions by email
demically, socially and emotion- ficing other time. The time also teachers one-on-one,” said Izzy
and limit your submission to Article adapted for print. Full article is
200 words. ally this fall. What our staff keeps gave me a chance to reflect on Mckay ’24. available on our website: whsbradford.
 Our School Y
T H E B R A D FO R D | Vo l u m e LXXVI(I) | C E N T E R FO L D | ISSUE 1 | March 2022 | 6

First Day
A c c a t o

REDZONE PEP

Halloween POWD
Year So Far...
T H E B R A D FO R D | Vo l u m e LXXVI(I) | C E N T E R FO L D | ISSUE 1 | March 2022 | 7

ober Club Fair

RALLY
SNOW DAY

DERPUFF

4/4
THE BRADFORD
The problem with gun control (or lack thereof) in the U.S.
Annabelle Nolan ’23 and Maddie Merowitz ’23
Assistant Features Editor and Assistant Arts Editor
After months without a
nationally-publicized school
shooting, Americans hoped that
the pattern was a thing of the
past. However, this desire was
shattered when on November
30, when a sophomore at Ox-
ford High School in Michigan
killed four and injured seven of
his peers. The following day,
democratic Michigan legisla-
tors vowed to prioritize gun
control issues and push stalled
bills in Michigan’s Republican-
controlled legislature. Unfortu-
nately, because the Republican
party currently has control over
Michigan’s legislature, it’s less
likely that gun control bills will
pass in the state.
Despite the legislative
stalemate, the events of
November 30 have prompted
many Americans to reflect on
A thank you to Mr. Craig Mustard,
from The Bradford’s editors…
Pictured from left to right: Suzie Kim, Mr. Craig Mustard, Fe-
lipe Lopez, Kaelyn King.
The Bradford would like to give
a special thanks to Mr. Mustard.
Mr. Mustard has been the long-
term substitute for The Brad-
ford during the first semester
of the school year. His experi-
ence in news writing through
Media Matters and as a retired
English teacher has helped The
“We’ll miss you!”- Suzie, Kaelyn, Felipe
(The Bradford EIC’s)
| Volume LXXVI(I)
gun regulations in the U.S. For
many, it has become clear that
gun control laws are far too
lenient, and stricter regulations
are necessary to stop tragedies
like the Oxford High shooting
from reoccurring.
Some citizens, however,
continue to argue that the right
to own guns remains a consti-
tutional liberty as well as an
essential part of the American
identity. Primarily conserva-
tives, they maintain that firearm
regulations infringe upon gun control measures such as
Americans’ right to use guns for
self-defense, hunting, and sport.
The solution to stopping gun
violence couldn’t be more clear.
We need proactive gun control
laws, extensive background
checks, and complex psycho-
logical assessments for prospec-
tive gun owners.
Photo by Annabelle Nolan
Bradford grow through many
challenges such as providing
guidance and encouragment
when covering difficult topics
and during our first layout after
the pandemic. The Bradford
greatly appreciates his time and
talents and wishes him all the
best.
| OPINIONS
According to a CNN study
conducted in 2018, there have
been at least 288 school shoot-
ings in the United States be-
tween 2009 and 2018. This rate
is 57 times higher than that of
the six most economically ad-
vanced countries combined. So,
why does the U.S. have such
a staggering number of school
shootings? The answer is clear:
easy access to deadly weapons.
The majority of adults, includ-
ing firearm proprietors, support
background checks and limits
on high-capacity assault rifles.
Yet, through gun shows, private
sales, and online sales, military
rifles can be easily purchased
by anyone, including children.
Moreover, according to USA
Today, few gun buyers are ever
prosecuted for lying on forms
| ISSUE 1 |
Graphic by Annabelle Nolan
they are required to complete as
part of their background check.
In many cases, information on
these forms makes the differ-
ence between being qualified
to buy a gun or not. If citi-
zens know they can get away
with lying, more and more
people will fake their eligibil-
ity to purchase guns. Countless
legal loopholes, like this one,
exacerbate the already lenient
background check process.
Japan, for example, a country
with over 127 million citizens,
experiences less than ten gun-
related deaths a year. This ex-
tremely low gun mortality rate
is attributed to the vigorous gun
registration and ownership pro-
cess; if a citizen wishes to own
a gun, they must first attend a
full day course, pass a written
test, achieve a minimum of 95
March 2022 | 8
percent accuracy on a shooting
range test, pass a mental health
evaluation, pass a background
check, and their friends and
family must be interviewed.
Plus, citizens must retake the
class as well as the shooting
test every three years in order
to keep their license. This
complicated process discour-
ages citizens from attempting to
purchase a gun. Those who do
earn their certificate must work
hard to retain ownership over
years. There is no doubt that
the U.S. should take inspiration
from Japan’s hugely successful
gun registration process.
The direct correlation be-
tween lenient gun control laws
and violent shootings in the
U.S. is abundantly clear. Every
day, eight children die and 32
are injured from gun violence.
The problem is evident, yet gun
control legislation is neglected
by most lawmakers. Ultimately,
it is up to our politicians to
prioritize gun control bills,
though individual action is still
valuable.
School administrators can
ensure that their schools have
resources for students who need
help, students can help build
supportive school environments
by practicing empathy and
inclusion, and perhaps most im-
portantly, students must tell an
adult if they are worried about
a peer. These actions may seem
simple but are the first steps to
combatting school shootings
and potentially saving lives.
Article adapted for print. Full article is
available on our website: whsbradford.
org.
SPORTS
THE
SPORTS EDITORS | Caroline Thornton and Ben Galligan
For more SPORTS, visit www.whsbradford.org
Photo courtesy of Zachary Biedermann
Zachary Biedermann crossing the finish line of the Boston
Marathon.
Special Education Team Chair
Ms. Katie Lynch and school
psychologist Mr. Zachary Bie-
dermann both ran the Boston
Marathon during its first ever
fall iteration this past October.
This was Biedermann’s first ex-
perience with the marathon, and
Lynch’s fifth.
The marathon being in Octo-
ber, rather than in April, affected
the training process for both run-
ners. They each experienced their
own obstacles in fitting training
into their lifestyle.
“This was my first [mara-
thon] so it was the only training
experience that I had. It was
hot, because we had to train in
the summer. So very hot, very
humid training runs. But I think
it prepared us well for it because
if we can run long distances in
the heat, we can run just as far
when the weather’s nice,” said
Biedermann.
“I start training five months
out, and I have to battle my train-
ing with my three children so I
do very early hours, usually five
o’clock morning runs in the dark
with headlights. In the summer,
the warmth helps because at least
you’re out and it’s warm but the
longer runs are definitely more
challenging because the heat and
humidity is hard. We also had a
lot of rain this fall,” said Lynch.
Lynch and Biedermann each
ran with their own inspirations.
When Lynch qualified for the
run, she had her grandfather on
her mind.
“I started running because my
grandfather was a marathoner.
When he ran the 100th Boston
Marathon, I was able to jump in
with him and run Heartbreak Hill
with him as a high schooler. That
BRADFORD | Vo l u m e
was amazing. Ever since then, I
have wanted to try to meet him
for close to 40 marathons. I’m at
11,” said Lynch.
Biedermann, on the other hand,
ran for Dana Farber, an institu-
tion meaningful to him.
“I’ve had a couple family
members that have been affected
by cancer so it was a really nice
organization to run for and raise
money with. I would encourage
anyone to look into Dana Farber
Cancer Institute. It is a great or-
ganization, they do a lot of great
work there, and they’re always
looking for donations,” said
Biedermann.
Both Lynch and Biedermann
had support systems that came
to see them including family,
friends, and even students from
the high school.
“Getting to Wellesley is always
amazing, because I live close
to here. I saw a lot of students
and parents, and then my family
was there as well. Honestly, just
that long, last 200 meters down
Boylston is emotional and excit-
ing. It feels like it takes forever
when it’s actually not that long.
The crowds are screaming so
loud and you kind of just look
at the finish line, but it takes you
a while to get there, and you’re
excited to finish. But at the same
time, you’re like, am I really
gonna?” said Lynch.
They also had family and
friends send them voice memos
and audio text messages to listen
to for encouragement throughout
the race. These messages mo-
tivated them alongside motiva-
tional music playlists and seeing
signs in the crowds.
“My mom came up from
Florida, so definitely seeing her
LXXVI(I)
The WPS faculty run the
Boston Marathon
Eva Wall ’22
Arts Editor
Photo courtesy of Katie Lynch
Katie Lynch afer finishing the Boston Marathon, her fifth mara-
thon.
along the way was really cool.
My friends came out and they
all made signs, and they put
my face on big poster boards
so that was really cool. When
you turn the corner and you see
the last stretch, it looks like a
really long way to the finish
line. Just running that last bit
is really, really exciting,” said
Biedermann.
As of now, Lynch is planning
to run again in April if her time
qualifies her. Biedermann is not
saying no to future marathons
or trying different cities and
courses, but he will not be
running in April. Lynch prefers
the April marathon because of
training and tradition.
“The training is a little bit
easier when it’s in April. I will
say all the times that I’ve run
Boston, I run in the 90 degree
heat, I’ve swam in the pouring
rain so the weather’s not nec-
essarily better, but it’s not as
humid. April is just where it’s
supposed to be. It’s just such an
iconic time to run it. I think for
my mental state it was harder
to run in the fall just because
it’s not typically in the fall,”
said Lynch.
Lynch and Biedermann
were impressed by how the
Boston Marathon Organiza-
tion organized everything, took
precautions, and led the “expo”
– the convention weekend
where running shoe vendors,
nutrition brands, and exercise
therapy companies set up shop.
They felt honored to have been
able to run one of the first
post-pandemic marathons and
appreciated the energy around
the whole event. It made them
feel even more connected to the
| ISSUE 1 | March 2022 | 9
2021 fall
sports recap:
success for
the Raiders
Boys Soccer
Regular Season Record:
5-9-3
Made it to the second
round of the MIAA State
Tournament
Girls Soccer
Regular Season Record:
10-3-2
Made it to the quarterfi-
nals of the MIAA State
Tournament
Girls Swim
Regular Season Record:
9-0
MIAA Division II State
Champions
Field Hockey
Regular Season Record:
14-2-1
Made it to the quarterfi-
nals of the MIAA State
Tournament
city of Boston.
“Just knowing that this was
a once in a lifetime fall Boston Boys Golf
Marathon, it will probably never Regular Season Record:
run again...that was just the kind 14-0
of the inspiration I needed to Placed second at the Divi-
realize that we are going to go
down in history for running that,”
sion 1 State Champion-
said Lynch. ship
Principal Dr. Jamie Chisum did Ryan Keyes ’24 won the
not run the Boston Marathon in individual state champion-
October, however, he has a great ship
deal of marathon and running
experience and feels passionate
about running. He acheived some Girls Volleyball
major accomplishments in his Regular Season Record:
running career such as becoming 11-6
a division three All American Made it to the second
in college and placing 71st at
the 2001 Chicago Marathon
round of the MIAA state
with a time of two hours and 32 tournament
minutes.
“When I ran that last marathon, Boys Cross Country
I wanted to run 2:32, I ran 2:32. Regular Season Record:
I hit my numbers, right along
the way, and that’s what was so
4-3
satisfying. I did it exactly like I 19th at the All-State
planned to do it. I don’t know that Championships
it could go better than that. Could
I have run 2:30? Or 2:29? Maybe Girls Cross Country
I could have. Would that have
made me so much happier than
Regular Season Record:
my 2:32? Not necessarily. So I 3-6
can be okay with that at the end 3rd at the All-State Cham-
of my marathon career, but I did pionships
love that process,” said Chisum.
For Chisum, Lynch, and Bie-
dermann, running serves as more
Football
than just a hobby or workout, and Regular Season Record:
impacts their life therapeutically 6-2.
as well. Made it to the first round
“It’s exercise, and obviously of the MIAA State tourna-
fitness is important but it’s also
mental health, it’s good to clear
ment
my head. It’s a good place to
think. Sometimes it’s good to be Beat Needham on
alone and sometimes it’s good Thanksgiving Day!
to run with other people,” said
Chisum.
THE BRADFORD
Opinion: The high school made the right decision to restart
winter sports
Caroline Thornton ’23
Co-Sports Editor
On December 29, the high
school athletic department sus-
pended the winter sports season
indefinitely, citing the increase
of COVID-19 cases on athletic
teams. The email sent out to stu-
dent athletes and families en-
couraged good decision-making
for students to prevent the spread
of the virus, specifically focusing
on students gathering for New
Year’s Eve.
This came after many teams
had games and practices can-
celed in the week before winter
break with the increase in COV-
ID-19 cases. In some cases, game
spectators were also limited to
two immediate family members
per player.
Most varsity teams missed
games and practices while the
season was suspended, and many
coaches and players were upset
with the decision. However, the
athletic department said they
hoped the shutdown would be
short-term.
They were correct: five days
later, on January 3, the the sus-
pension was lifted after discus-
sions modifications with the
Wellesley Health Department.
Many high school com-
munity members were nervous
about further spread of the virus
on sports teams. But with the
modifications introduced with
the resumption of athletics in
Wellesley, this risk has been
greatly reduced and young ath-
letes can get back to a sense
of normalcy in what has been
almost two full years growing
up in a global pandemic.
Athlete spotlight: Ryan Keyes
Ben Galligan ’23
Co-Sports Editor
Photo courtesy of Ryan Keyes
Boston Globe All-Scholastic Division 1 Boys’ Golf Athlete of
the Year, and Metrowest All-Star Ryan Keyes ’24 after becom-
ing a match medalist in the Division 1 state championship.
| Volume LXXVI(I)
Other school districts, such
as Framingham, also shut down
sports temporarily.
One of the new restrictions is
on the use of locker rooms. Lock-
er rooms are often a space where
athletes are not supervised, thus
lending these spaces to ignoring
masks and distancing policies.
At the high school, locker
rooms are being used only to
change quickly before practice
with mask policies enforced.
At Boston Sports Institute,
where the boys’ and girls’ hockey
teams play, locker rooms are
not being used at all. With these
stricter restrictions, sports be-
come safer for the WHS com-
munity.
Similarly, athletes must be
distanced and masked on buses
to away contests, with windows
open. Eating or drinking is pro-
hibited to allow for no situations
where masks are removed.
A study from the MITRE
corporation found that opening
windows on school buses cuts
transmission of the virus by 84%.
Everyone wearing masks cuts it
by 50%. Even though athletes
will be in close proximity on
buses, the chance of transmis-
sion is low.
Spectator limits also reduce
the number of non-competing
individuals in a competition
area, reducing the probability
that someone with COVID-19 is
present at an athletic event and
could spread the virus to athletes,
coaches, or other spectators.
The new restrictions intro-
duced allow for only two family
| SPORTS
Photo by Mike Casey
The girls’ basketball team resumed their season with a game against Braintree on Monday,
January 10.
members per athlete to attend
home contests. This also allows
for proper social distancing on
the sidelines of competitions,
which is sometimes hard to
achieve if there are many spec-
tators.
Finally, shutting down sports
will not stop kids from gather-
ing. It actually will most likely
increase the chance that students
will gather outside of school
since they do not have organized
after-school activities. This will
most likely be without masks
and indoors because of the cold
weather.
Gathering inside without
masks is very dangerous in terms
of COVID-19 transmission, as
Sophomore Ryan Keyes is
a star on the high school golf
team, but he only began taking
the sport seriously a little over
two years ago. Today, he is not
only one of the best players on
the team, but he is also one of the
finest golfers in the entire state,
after winning the Massachusetts
Division 1 championship this fall
at Wentworth Hills Golf Club
in Plainville. His team came in
second overall in the tournament.
“I was the first golfer from
Wellesley to do that and it was the
highest Wellesley had finished in
the state tournament so it was a
win-win,” Keyes said.
Teammate Andrew Ng ’22
loves how much energy Keyes
brings to the team.
“He can be calm and very
collected on the course when he
needs to be, but he can be very
high energy at the same time,”
said Ng.
Ryan looks forward to build-
ing his golf career through high
school and into college, where he
hopes to compete for one of his
dream schools. But right now
| ISSUE 1 | March
it increases the likelihood of
students spreading the virus to
their classmates and friends.
Making sure students are spend-
ing their outside-of-school time
in organized athletics where they
are required to wear a mask in-
side, is the safest choice to keep
students safe.
Although on the surface it
may seem wise to shut down
athletics in the midst of a spike
in COVID-19 cases, I applaud
the school’s decision to get the
winter season started again.
Not only are the new restric-
tions integral to lowering the
risk of spreading the virus on
athletic teams and in the school
as a whole, sports are unique in
he just wants to have fun on the
course.
“My most memorable moment
as a golfer was when I had my
first hole out and my best friend,
Lincoln Blake, and I bolted to-
wards each other to celebrate, ”
said Keyes.
While there’s no question
that Ryan has fallen in love with
the sport, his favorite part is the
work that it requires.
“You can’t fake being a good
player, the hardest worker will
be the best, and my strength is
probably my mind because, in
golf, one bad hole can ruin a day,
but I like to think I am good at
handling adversity,” said Keyes.
Wellesley High School Golf
coach Ken Bateman is amazed
by Keyes’s talent and dedication.
“Ryan was a great player for our
team all year, from the first match
until the last. He led the way at
the state sectional tournament
and the state tournament. He
listens to recommendations about
course management and works
very hard to be the best he can
be. Not only is he a great golfer,
2022 | 10
the way they bring the commu-
nity together.
Especially in the winter, when
the weather and large amount
of schoolwork can often be a
damper on students’ emotional
wellness, having something to
look forward to after school is
essential to maintaining a men-
tally healthy student body.
-----
Athletics are an important
aspect of many students’ lives,
thus the school’s decision
to safely resume the winter
season was the best call for
students and the community.
but he is also a leader on and off
the course. Many players already
look to him for guidance, and he
is only a sophomore.” Bateman
said.
During the offseason, Keyes
finds creative ways such as prac-
ticing putting in his basement to
keep his skills sharp. Yet during
the season, he is able to have
a much more rigorous practice
regime.
“In the season I always make
sure to be playing golf once a
day for around two hours in the
school year and closer to 5-7
hours in the summer.”
There’s no question that Keyes
is a hard-working and gifted
golfer, and coaches and team-
mates wonder what else he can
accomplish before he graduates.
“I cannot wait to see what the
next two years have in store for
him,” said Coach Bateman.
Article adapted for print. Full article is
available on our website: whsbradford.
org.
 ARTS
THE BRADFORD
ARTS EDITOR | Eva Wall
For more ARTS, visit www.whsbradford.org
Netflix’s satirical political comedy hits the target
Lizzie Berger ’22 and Maddie Merowitz ’23
Senior News Editor and Assistant Arts Editor
Released December 24,
Netflix’s “Don’t Look Up” is
a masterful satire that perfectly
captures the ignorance of to-
day’s political climate.
It stars Leonardo Decaprio
as Dr. Randall Mindy and
Jennifer Lawrance as Kate
Dibiasky, two astronomers at
Michigan State University who
discover a gigantic comet that
is hurling towards the earth.
With a 100 percent chance
of making contact in exactly
six months and fourteen days,
this comet will result in total
extinction of the human race.
Mindy and Dibiasky imme-
diately try to alert the world
of this perilous situation and
promptly meet with president
Janie Orlean, played by Meryl
Streep, and her hilariously
ignorant son, Jason Orlean,
played by Jonah Hill. However,
instead of taking action, the
president decides not to share
this warning as she believes her
approval ratings will plummet.
The struggle between spreading
information and misinforma-
tion continues for the entire
movie, resulting in a shocking-
ly accurate parallel to political
issues like COVID-19 in our
current society.
The movie stars countless
popular actors and celebrities.
These include Timothee Cha-
Sorry, but you have homework to do before watching “Spider-Man: No Way Home”
Fiona Zhou ’24
Staff Writer
You sink into your movie
theater seat, excited to watch
the new Spider-Man movie
that everyone has been talking
about recently. Little did you
know, however, that you are not
prepared for what is to come.
But fret not, this article will
help you get ready to enjoy this
spectacular film to the fullest.
Ending 2021 with a bang,
Marvel Studio’s “Spider-Man
No Way Home” is one of the
highest grossing films of all-
time, making a total of over
600 million dollars at the box
office. The movie has made
more than a billion dollars
worldwide. This places it at the
12th highest grossing film glob-
ally, edging past Black Panther
(2018).
Now, you must be thinking:
all these impressive stats seem
to make watching the movie
kind of intimidating, what
should I do? Simple. Just fol-
low these three steps:
Step one: Watch all the previ-
ous Spider-Man movies in
order.
The first step is actually
quite simple compared to the
| Vo l u m e
Photo courtesy of Pixabay
“I’m sorry. Are we not being clear? We’re trying to tell you, that the entire planet is about to be
destroyed.” - Movie quote by Kate Dibiasky (Jennifer Lawrence)
lamet, as a skater boy named
Yule, Ariana Grande, as a
famous singer, her boyfriend,
played by Kid Cudi, and Rob
Morgan, as scientist Dr. Teddy
Oglethorpe, contributing to the
movie’s sucess. “Don’t Look
Up” is now the second most
watched movie in Netflix his-
tory.
The extent to which this
movie comments on modern
politics is impressive, ranging
from corruption of the media,
to heartless billionaires, and the
resistance to vaccinations and
others. As many fans may
have heard already, the new
film hit pretty close to home
with audiences of all ages. If
you found yourself tearing up
or getting hit with nostalgia,
just imagine your parents who
have most likely watched the
first Spider-Man movie starring
Toby Maguire or maybe even
seen the other slightly more
recent Spider-Man movies with
Andrew Garfield.
For those eager to see their
favorite actors and characters
return, “No Way Home” does
exactly that and beyond. You
will find that many references
are all glimpses from the past
that cannot truly be appreciated
unless you have watched the
previous films.
So if you find yourself con-
fused and looking left and right
while other people laugh, smile
or cry, then maybe it’s time
to dig around that old movie
shelf, or browse through several
streaming platforms for those
old classics.
Step two: TRY TO AVOID
spoilers at all costs.
With the constant buzz all
LXXVI(I)
masks. When the astronomers
initially receive no reaction
from the president regarding
their discovery, they approach
a popular talk show called
The Daily Rip, hosted by Brie
Evantee, played by two time
Oscar winner Cate Blanchett,
and Jack Bremmer, played
by Tyler Perry. The talk show
mirrors the corruption of media
surrounding societal injustice
and politics today. The hosts
also downplay the discovery
and disregard the fact that
this comet will destroy Earth.
over social media, it’s kind of
hard to avoid spoilers. That is,
if you aren’t trying to avoid
them in the first place. On Tik
Tok, many videos, posts, and
threads have spoilers that are
not hard to find. It’s like the Big
Red NO button is right in front
of you and you have all the
power to hit that button or not.
I recommend that you resist
temptation. Even though the
movie is unpredictable, the
best way to experience it is all
at once. Let those plot twists
surprise you fully in the mo-
ment and don’t go out of your
way to search the ending.
Step three: Prepare yourself
for an emotional rollercoaster,
and I mean it.
Throughout the duration of
the movie, you will feel a wide
range of emotions. One second
your heart will be racing with
adrenaline and action, while
another you may find yourself
laughing casually along with
the actors. For me, the tough-
est scenes to go through are the
sentimental ones.
Now I’m not saying to bring
a box of tissues, but at least
| ISSUE 1 | March 2022
Instead of being alarmed, the
public sides with the media,
making a meme out of Dibi-
asky’s public breakdown.
However, the president
becomes attentive when she re-
alizes the comet may harm her
performance in the upcoming
primaries. Thus, she hires her
own scientists, including tech
guru Peter Isherwell, played
by Mark Rylance, to work on
solutions.
After discovering that the
comet actually contains trillions
of dollars worth of gold and
Photo courtesy of Flickr
“Spider-Man: No Way Home” poster. Flickr
have a shoulder to cry on when
you need it. Yes! Go watch
it with your friends, but be
prepared for a whole lot of tears
– both happy and sad. But most
importantly, laugh loud and cry
hard!
“Spider-Man No Way
Home” has presented itself
as one of the most humorous
and heartfelt superhero mov-
ies of 2021. If you enjoyed
Marvel’s other masterpieces,
such as “Venom: Let There Be
Carnage,” “Black Widow,” and
| 11
other rare minerals, Isherwall’s
mission shifts from comet de-
struction to comet preservation.
He plans to break the comet
into smaller pieces, allowing
it to hit Earth, and then mine
the materials for monetary
gain. Essentially, Isherwell and
the government disregard the
dangerous nature of the comet
in order to make their already
bulging pockets bigger.
While Dibiasky and Mindy
embark on a campaign to con-
vince the public to simply “Just
Look Up” to see the deadly
comet, Orlean undertakes an
opposing tour to convince the
public that the scientists are ly-
ing. She competes with a show
of fireworks and the catch-
phrase “Don’t Look Up.”
We recommend this movie
as a must watch for its en-
tertainment value, but more
importantly, for its political
insight. “Don’t Look Up” ex-
quisitely boils society’s current
political turmoil down into a
simple black or white question:
will you look up, to see the im-
pending comet of mass destruc-
tion, or will you keep your eyes
down and remain ignorant?
Article adapted for print. Full article is
available on our website: whsbradford.
org.
“Shang-Chi and the Legend
of the Ten Rings,” the latest
entry into the cinematic world
of Marvel won’t disappoint.
Although Toby, Andrew,
and Tom’s storyline are over,
in another multiverse, there is
a fourth Spider-Man waiting to
be written about and brought
to life. “No Way Home” has
kept the Spider-Man storyline
alive for viewers of all genera-
tions. Imagination never stops,
superheroes never die, and
stories live on.
THE BRADFORD | Volume LXXVI(I) | ARTS | ISSUE 1 | March 2022 | 12

The Bradford artist feature: Robin Lee ’23

Suzie Kim ’23
Editor-in-Chief
“[Art] is like a capsule of
whatever moment in time, emo-
tion, feeling, or pain you are
feeling,” said Lee.
Lee, a charcoal and pencil
focused independent artist, be-
gan her journey in second grade
and has continued to immerse
herself in art. Recently, Lee has
opened up her own online and
mobile shop in which she sells
her designs on stickers as well
as making customized draw-
ings.
Lee’s most memorable mo-
ment in her artist life was a fifth
grade art contest, as it inspired
her to express herself more
confidently through her art.
“The students next to me
made fun of my drawing. I had
bought new art supplies and it
was honestly one of the most
embarrassing and humbling
moments of my entire life. I
was so confident that I was go-
ing to win with my little draw-
ing,” said Lee.
Now, Lee remarks about
some of her favorite and
inspiring aspects about art, its
personal subjectivity.
“[Art] is like a little secret
you share with yourself. It’s
refuge,” said Lee. “It’s such a
subjective idea that is inter-
preted solely based on personal
experiences and is reflected
back to you. It can have a dif-
ferent perspective when you
come back to it, kind of telling
you like ‘oh, this is how you’ve
changed.’ I find it really inter-
esting how something that stays
so unchanged can represent
so much transformation and
growth.”
To deepen her passion in art
and explore more of the realm,
Lee opened her shop in August
of 2020 under the name
“Oetsuru.”
“It started as me doing free,
small commissions for friends
and people around me, but
it became more serious as I
started doing large scale pieces
and creating different products
like prints, stickers, or tattoos,”
said Lee.
One of the most challeng-
ing aspects Lee says she has
encountered in art and with
her shop, is the afterthought of
what she has created.
“I don’t really have a favor-
ite piece because I always end
up picking them apart the day
after and disliking it,” said Lee.
Nevertheless, one of her
most favorite drawings stands
to remain her favorite because
it can be used in many different
situations and, in Lee’s words,
“It’s just like, perfect.”
Lee hopes to keep art as a
part of her life in the future.

Shown on right, is Lee’s

favorite drawing.