The Picador Volume 9, Issue 6 January 17, 2014 A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS FOR THE HOLDERNESS SCHOOL COMMUNITY By Celeste Holland ’14 For the past couple of days, there has been a lot of infor- mation leading up to the MLK day workshops. This morning we all had the opportunity to attend a couple of these work- shops, although we were not able to go to all of them. Some students had the oppor- tunity to learn hands-on about adaptive skiing at Waterville Valley and Loon Mountain, while other students were able to play wheelchair sports and sled hockey. Some of the other workshops focused on learning about inclusion, Braille, sign language, the media, and ther- apy animals. So why did we focus on dis- abilities for MLK Day? Con- trary to many people’s first impressions, the social justice that Martin Luther King helped to achieve has a direct connection to the Americans with Disabilities Act; the Civil Rights movement got the ball rolling and made it possible for the Disabilities Act to be passed. The ADA is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on a dis- ability. Disability is defined by the ADA as “...a physical or mental impairment that sub- stantially limits a major life activity.” The determination of whether any particular condi- tion is considered a disability is made on a case-by-case ba- sis. One of the goals of the work- shops was to increase our awareness of disabilities. For both people of color and peo- ple with disabilities, there is a gray area that surrounds so- cially correct language. For example, is it better to say someone is deaf or hearing- impaired? By having some understanding of this terminol- ogy, we are able to be mindful of the words we use in the fu- ture. Hopefully, one of the big take- aways from the MLK Day workshops is that there are always opportunities to get involved. Whether this is help- ing to raise a seeing-eye dog, volunteering at an adaptive ski program, or taking a sign- language course in order to become a licensed interpreter, there are always ways that we can help. MLK Day: It’s About Getting Involved Winter Carnival 2014: Are You Ready? Page 2-3 Sports At Home And Around the World Pages 5 and 6 Page 10
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The Picador
Volume 9, Issue 6 January 17, 2014
A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS
FOR
THE HOLDERNESS SCHOOL COMMUNITY
By Celeste Holland ’14
For the past couple of days,
there has been a lot of infor-
mation leading up to the MLK
day workshops. This morning
we all had the opportunity to
attend a couple of these work-
shops, although we were not
able to go to all of them.
Some students had the oppor-
tunity to learn hands-on about
adaptive skiing at Waterville
Valley and Loon Mountain,
while other students were able
to play wheelchair sports and
sled hockey. Some of the other
workshops focused on learning
about inclusion, Braille, sign
language, the media, and ther-
apy animals.
So why did we focus on dis-
abilities for MLK Day? Con-
trary to many people’s first
impressions, the social justice
that Martin Luther King
helped to achieve has a direct
connection to the Americans
with Disabilities Act; the Civil
Rights movement got the ball
rolling and made it possible
for the Disabilities Act to be
passed.
The ADA is a wide-ranging
civil rights law that prohibits,
under certain circumstances,
discrimination based on a dis-
ability. Disability is defined by
the ADA as “...a physical or
mental impairment that sub-
stantially limits a major life
activity.” The determination of
whether any particular condi-
tion is considered a disability
is made on a case-by-case ba-
sis.
One of the goals of the work-
shops was to increase our
awareness of disabilities. For
both people of color and peo-
ple with disabilities, there is a
gray area that surrounds so-
cially correct language. For
example, is it better to say
someone is deaf or hearing-
impaired? By having some
understanding of this terminol-
ogy, we are able to be mindful
of the words we use in the fu-
ture.
Hopefully, one of the big take-
aways from the MLK Day
workshops is that there are
always opportunities to get
involved. Whether this is help-
ing to raise a seeing-eye dog,
volunteering at an adaptive ski
program, or taking a sign-
language course in order to
become a licensed interpreter,
there are always ways that we
can help.
MLK Day: It’s About Getting Involved Winter
Carnival 2014:
Are You Ready?
Page 2-3
Sports
At Home
And
Around the
World
Pages 5 and 6
Page 10
Page 2
The Picador
How have you been training for this year's games? Do you
have any advice for others looking to prepare for the Car-
nival?
Parker Densmore: I have been mentally preparing since Su-
per Sunday. It is helpful to get ahead in homework, so you can
focus on the festivities, but I prefer to let all of my work stack
up; it adds to the overall feel of Winter Carnival.
Emma Abrams: I’ve been practicing my consolatory hand-
shakes, eating well (mainly Clementines), and practicing the
art of Shakespearean insults in order to have comebacks for
any chirps we may receive.
Hedi Droste: I've been in the gym almost every day training
for the Barton Olympics; they're the key to winning Winter
Carnival.
Alex Lash: I often participate in Ironman triathlons—usually
three or four times a month—with Gabriel Posada. It helps to
keep my body in shape while not tiring me out too much for
the upcoming games. As for others preparations—I eat
healthy. I visit the salad bar in Weld often and have adopted a
gluten-free lifestyle to ready myself for the vigorous Carnival
events.
Mikaela Wall: I’ve been doing somersaults in the snow for
three hours every day since November to condition myself
against the cold.
In which part of Winter Carnival are you most prepared
to destroy the competition?
PD: Definitely the Iditarod; with Trudeau and Sully pulling
the entire dorm, we are predicted to reach speeds that rival
Father Weymouth in a minibus.
EA: Heavy weightlifting.
HD: So prepared to win the dodge ball tournament.
AL: As a whole, I believe the Hill dorm will dominate in the
lip sync category. With twerkography that puts Miley Cyrus
to shame, and song choices that are unrivaled, the lip sync
should be a definite victory.
MW: Lip sync. The art of dance has always been a part of
my life, and I look forward to showcasing my gift for move-
ment in front of the whole school next week.
Winter Carnival By Lea Rice ’14
Winter Carnival is the biggest athletic competition of the year for every Holderness
student, and those looking to win must spend 11 months of their year prepping for the
snowy festivities. Some of our most elite athletes took the time to share their wisdom on
how they succeed year after year.
Page 3
Volume 9, Issue 6
Which aspect of the competition are you most nervous
about? Are there any other competitors that you think will
be your toughest matchups?
PD: I'd say I am the most nervous about the lip sync; it is by far
the most entertaining event, especially since our strategy tends
to be to plan our routine 30 minutes ahead of time. Scott
Merrill's lip sync skills may seem untouchable, but this year my
dorm is unleashing a secret weapon the will decimate the com-
petition.
EA: Pulling off a impeccable “flying V” maneuver in the
dodge ball game.
HD: I'm super worried for the Lip Sync because there are so
many other great dorms out there with a lot of talent—
specifically, Sargent because of its creativity.
AL: Personally, the most nerve-wracking event is the Iditarod.
The intense moments during this race show how well a dorm
can perform under pressure. The nervousness of not knowing
when your sled pullers will give out is enough to make one's
heart race faster than the sled speeding across the icy ground.
My toughest matchups will probably be the strong, determined
members of Rathbun dorm; the faces of Brett Hepler and Luc
Chanren would make any opposition shake with fear.
MW: I have nothing to fear but fear itself. My only competi-
tion is my previous record.
What mistakes, if any, did you make in last year's games,
and how will you improve in those areas this year?
PD: Last year during the Iditarod, our dorm's sled broke. In
order to improve upon this, we hope to get a better sled.
HD: During dodge ball things got a bit rowdy. I'd say it was
a major mental set back for us, so we're going to keep it clean
and PG13.
AL: I don't make mistakes.
MW: This year, I win.
Is there any closing message you'd like to give to any of
your competitors out there who might be reading this?
EA: Be warned, thou mewling onion-eyed, hedge-pigs
HD: Shenton, watch out.
AL: Back out now, while you have the chance.
MW: Team Wall. Join up before you’re beaten.
Page 4
The Picador
World News
By Linh Le ’15
Russia is currently enforcing a
new law, which bans
“propaganda of nontraditional
sexual relations around mi-
nors.” The main purpose of the
law, they say, is to “protect
children.”
In June more than a dozen
protesters were attacked by
anti-gay activists and police
hours before the State Duma
approved the legislation 436-0.
Those who were not arrested
were beaten by masked men
on a central street about a mile
away.
The law, which claims to sup-
port traditional Russian values,
charges offenders up to $156
per individual and up to
$31,000 per media organiza-
tions.
Anti-gay attacks are on the rise
in Russia. Pavel Petel, a flam-
boyant bisexual man from
Ukraine who built up a career
as a model, performance artist,
and DJ in Russia, and his part-
ner Sergey Ostrikov were at-
tacked. Petel has been worried
for his own safety since the
bill passed. He has also lost his
job because of the law.
“People in the regions are very
aggressive towards gays,” says
Petel. “Sergey and I were
lucky to be alive last year be-
cause some people wanted to
kill us. My fear has been
growing since then.”
While living in the Soviet era,
life was easier for Petel.
“There was no pressure to
make you chose who you
wanted to be,” he said.
“Russia would benefit from
appreciating gays,” said Petel.
“To me, gays are usually kind,
talented, genial, creative, and I
feel sorry that they’re leaving.
It’s not civilized. I think it will
be back to normal again in 10
years, but the new young gen-
eration should come to power
and change the laws. Maybe
we’ll see the first Russian gay
president in a couple years. Or
maybe it will be a woman.”
In the meantime, there have
been widespread calls for boy-
cotts and protests of the 2014
Sochi Olympics—including a
vodka-dumping demonstration
in Los Angeles. The gay rights
group, All Out, has delivered a
petition with hundreds of thou-
sands of signatures denounc-
ing Russia's stance on gay
rights. So far, however, Russia
has not changed its laws.
Sources: CNN, CBS News
A n t i - G a y A t t a c k s o n t h e R i s e i n R u s s i a