Olivia Paul

Clear Majority of School Community Favors Trump Impeachment

February 4, 2020 by Olivia Paul

Donald Trump leaves Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews on September 26, 2019. (Reuters Pictures / Jonathan Ernst)

Two-thirds of Northwood School support the impeachment of President Donald Trump according to a recent poll of Northwood students, faculty, and staff, which was conducted this week by Mr. Jeff Miller’s statistics class. No matter how the community is sliced — faculty/students, male/female, domestic/international — a clear majority of all subgroups is in favor of impeachment.

The 67% of the Northwood community in favor of impeachment is significantly higher than support for impeachment in national surveys, which currently hovers at just 50.2%.

On Wednesday, December 30, 2019, President Donald Trump was impeached by the House of Representatives which passed two articles of impeachment — abuse of power and obstruction of Congress — on a mostly party-line vote that illustrated just how divided Congress and the nation are today. Trump’s impeachment came after a formal House inquiry found that he had solicited foreign interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential election to help his re-election bid and then obstructed the inquiry by instructing administration officials to ignore subpoenas for documents and testimony. The inquiry concluded that Trump withheld military aid and an invitation to the White House to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky in order to pressure Ukraine to announce an investigation of Trump’s political opponent, Joe Biden, and to promote a discredited conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, was behind interference in the 2016 presidential election. The president is accused of withholding military aid to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to start a corruption investigation into Biden, and his son Hunter.

Being impeached by the House does not remove the President from office, but rather refers to the US Senate the decision about whether or not the President should be removed from office. Most political experts believe the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate will vote to acquit President Trump as soon as this Wednesday, one day after his scheduled third State of the Union Address.

Northwood’s statistics class surveyed members of the school community about their opinion of President Trump’s impeachment, and the results of the survey show clear majorities of the Northwood community — when examined by age, gender or country of origin — are in favor of Trump’s impeachment.

Female members of the community favor impeachment significantly more than males, and males are more likely to have no opinion on the matter:

A larger majority of faculty/staff favor impeachment than students, and students are more likely to not have an opinion on Trump’s impeachment:

More than a third of international students have no opinion of the impeachment, but just 4% oppose it:

At tables in the dining room, in class discussions, and on the couches in the living room, Northwood is talking about the impeachment of President Trump.

Zach Sedlacek ‘22 is opposed to the impeachment. “I think the whole thing is due to the fact that they lost the 2016 election and how they [Democrats] can’t get over it they are stuck in the past when they should be working with Trump and the Republican congressmen to further American development,” said Sedlacek. “He should not have been impeached because he was just trying to make sure that an American wasn’t using his father’s power in Washington to gain financial benefit,” he said. “Honestly, the impeachment doesn’t even matter because he not gonna get convicted because the Republicans have control of the Senate,” added Sedlacek.

Mr. Jeff Nemec ’05, the chair of the social science department and senior class dean was in favor of impeachment, “because I think a person in that position should be held accountable and if the representatives or government feels that it is an impeachable offense we need to go through the process to hear it out,” he said. “I don’t think he will be removed from office because of the Senate structure,” added Nemec.

“I think Trump is a good president and does a lot for our country,” said Anneliese Munter ‘22. “I don’t think he should have been impeached,” she added. Munter acknowledges the President’s imperfections but doesn’t think they rise to the level of impeachment. “Despite lying, I think he has done a lot for our country and I think he has been blamed for a lot of things,” she said. Munter pointed to high-profile summits and meetings with world leaders that Trump has had. “I think that was very important in his presidency, the steps he took to make our country better,” Munter said.

“I agree that Trump should have been impeached because he’s been abusing his power and him being the president doesn’t seem to be benefiting America, even though he says ‘Make America Great Again”, said Miranda Bookman ‘20. “However, I don’t think he will be removed from office but the right thing for America, in my opinion, is that Trump should no longer be our president,” Bookman added.

Students in Mr. Miller’s statistics class conducted the poll as a class project to apply the statistical concepts they are studying to real-world problems. The poll was an internet survey open only to students and staff with Northwood School email accounts. Responses were limited to one per account and were collected between study hall on January 29 and the afternoon of January 30. The survey was sent to all 68 faculty/staff with email addresses and all 189 students. 107 people (42% of the population) responded.

The poll did not ask for respondents’ opinions on Trump’s removal from office, so it’s unclear whether this poll predicts sentiment on that issue.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Top Story

Get to Know Mr. Mellor

January 24, 2020 by Olivia Paul

Don Mellor ’71 at Pitchoff Wall in the Adirondacks (Photo: Mike Groll / AP).

According to the blurb on Northwood’s web site, Don Mellor ‘71…

… serves as English teacher, and Rock/Ice Climbing coach. He attended the University of New Hampshire and received his M.A. from St. Lawrence University. Don is an avid climber, with ascents of El Capitan, Half Dome, and most of the other major rock faces in the USA. He is the author of eight books, including area guidebooks, American Rock, Alpine Americas, and Rock Climbing: A Trailside Guide.

Staff writer Olivia Paul ’21 sat down with Mr. Mellor to get to know him better. Here is her report.

Don Mellor ’71 on a break from climbing in the Adirondacks (Photo by Phil Brown).

Throughout his 42 years of teaching at Northwood, Mr. Don Mellor ‘71 has had various jobs. He now teaches 10th grade English but in his teaching career, which is in its sixth decade, he has taught Sociology, Political Geography, and Earth Science. He was also Dean of Students for about 20 years and Assistant Headmaster for about four years. For much of his time here he was also the school counselor.

When he’s not in the classroom, Mr. Mellor has provided hundreds of students with unique athletic opportunities. He offers Rock and Ice Climbing as a sport and leads camping trips multiple times a year. Mellor is widely known as the Adirondack’s premier expert in rock and ice climbing and is responsible for giving the “climbing bug” to countless Northwood students.

Don Mellor ’71 on rock in the Adirondacks (Photo: Carl Heilman II)

Mr. Mellor believes in the independence and autonomy of high school students and he is a consistent advocate for their resilience. “I don’t feed off of kids’ lives like you would expect. Some people go, ‘Oh, it must be so gratifying to play a role in the lives of developing kids,’” he said recently. “No. I don’t connect myself to the kids’ failures or successes,” he replied and then referenced the doctors’ Hippocratic Oath to “do no harm.”. “Instead, I try not to do any damage [to their lives],” he said.

“I think my role as a teacher is to make the school a healthy flower pot for the kids,” said Mellor. Kids are growing little things, and they grow by themselves. But if there is poison in the soil, it’s hard to grow. Some of the kids here promote the growth of others, while some are like poison in the soil. I recognized that when I was Dean of Students.”

Don Mellor ’71 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge)

“I am forever passionate. The kids can screw up as long as they want, and I’ll still love them. But I have no tolerance for kids who poison the soil and make others’ growing up hard”

Mr. Mellor is an influential member of the Northwood community and has impacted a lot of people’s lives throughout his years here. “Northwood is unmatched by any other boarding school in that we have a town like Lake Placid. It is also very comfortable here, and that is what drew me to working at Northwood.”

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Young Alumni Make Patriotic College Choice

January 22, 2020 by Olivia Paul

Two Northwood School alumni from the class of 2019 have decided to combine patriotic service with academics and athletics by committing to play hockey for the United States Military Academy at West Point. Defenseman Andrew Gilbert and goaltender Ryan Wilson recently announced their commitments to West Point on their social media feeds. These former Husky hockey players chose to attend an institution where they not only have an opportunity to play hockey and get a great education but also commit themselves to serve their country as officers in the United States Army.

The U.S. Military Academy at West Point is a four-year Federal service academy on the Hudson River in West Point, New York. The Academy’s mission is “to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.”

Andrew Gilbert is from Fairfield CT and he went to Northwood for 2 years. He is currently playing junior hockey for the Jersey Hitmen. In a recent interview, he said. “I chose to commit to West Point because of the great education, the chance to play Division I hockey and also the opportunity to attend one of the best academies for leadership skills.” He went on to describe the requirement to serve after graduation. “After the 4 years of college, you are required to serve in the military for 5 years. After the 5 years I have the choice to stay in the military or to become a civilian,” he said. The coaching staff at West Point was a deciding factor for Gilbert, as was his family connection to the school. “I was compelled to make this decision because the coaches at West Point are some of the best and have really created a great program. My grandfather also attended West Point, and he has nothing but great things to say about the whole process.” The school spirit and atmosphere on campus also impressed Gilbert. “A couple of weeks ago I was at one of their home games and experiencing the atmosphere really sealed the deal for me. I haven’t second-guessed myself once. I am 100% committed and can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Ryan Wilson attended Northwood last year for his senior year and his successful stint playing for Coach Cassidy brought him a great opportunity to play in the North American Hockey League, which is where he is playing now for the Springfield Jr. Blues. “I decided to commit to West Point for a few reasons,” explained Wilson. “Obviously for the great hockey program they have become. Another reason is for the amazing education you receive while you’re there. It’s comparable to an Ivy League,” said Wilson, who also emphasized the benefits of the military and leadership training provided by West Point. “The endless opportunities you have once graduating from there was a big factor in my decision. When I was younger I used to love watching military movies, so getting the opportunity to play hockey, get a great education, and serve our country seemed like an unbelievable decision to make,” said Wilson.

Both former Huskies expect to enroll at West Point over the summer and play varsity hockey for as a cadet during the 2020-21 season.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People, Sports

Northwood Honors MLK

January 20, 2020 by Olivia Paul

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Dr. Martin Luther King (Photo: Wikipedia)

Today is the annual observation of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Dr. King was the most prominent leader of the American Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. He lived from January 15, 1929 until April 4, 1968 and was a Baptist minister and activist whose speeches and writing about justice, equality, and freedom were the foundation of the movement for racial and economic justice that King led from his arrival in Alabama in 1955 until his assassination in Memphis in 1968.

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence and civil disobedience, a philosophy inspired by his Christian beliefs and the nonviolent activism of Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi and American Transcendentalist Henry David Thoreau. In 1955, King led the Montgomery bus boycott, and in 1957 he became the first president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). With the SCLC, he led an unsuccessful 1962 struggle against segregation in Albany, Georgia, and helped organize the nonviolent 1963 protests in Birmingham, Alabama. He helped organize the 1963 March on Washington, where he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech, which is widely considered one of the most inspiring and influential speeches of all time. This speech is still quoted by many people to this day.

This spring, a group of Northwood students and faculty members will have the opportunity to walk in King’s footsteps and learn about the Civil Rights Movement up close and personal. As a part of the school’s LEAP program, they are going to the cities of Selma, Birmingham, and Montgomery in Alabama and Atlanta, Georgia for one week. They will visit King’s birthplace, sights of his most important acts of protest, and the churches where he worshipped, preached, and organized. It is going to be an enlightening and educational experience for all of the students.

In recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, two Northwood students Angelia and Adelia Castillo, both juniors who are the President and Vice President of the Multicultural Students’ Club (MSC), have organized a viewing of King’s famous speech followed by a discussion. It will be held today at 5:00 pm in the Multicultural Affairs Office in the Student Center.

Martin Luther King died a hero and we need to make sure his legacy lives on and that he is never forgotten.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Real World, Top Story

A Personal Look Behind-the-Scenes on the Musical

December 18, 2019 by Olivia Paul

Olivia Paul ’20 (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge).

It’s often noted that the majority of Northwood students are athletes. In the past, as a non-athlete, I sometimes felt out of place among my friends who are so passionate about their sports. So this year, I wanted to break out of my comfort zone to try something new. I joined the school’s drama program and took part in the musical “The Good Old Days.” I never thought that I’d be able to dance and sing, let alone dress up as a man in front of the school. But I’m glad I did.

It felt nice being a part of something. I worked hard with people that I had never talked much with and heard positive feedback from the audience. I also got closer to the crew behind the scenes. Without them, we could’ve never put on the show, and I would’ve never found my new passion for drama.

Many of the Backstage Crew were new to drama, just like I was. And all of them were glad that they had tried something new. Sarah Sheridan ‘21 co-wrote the play with Ms. Noël Carmichel, Theater Director, and managed the props. “I was on the edge of my seat for the entire play because I wanted to make sure everything on stage looked right. But ultimately it was a fun time,” said Sheridan.

Ms. Carmichael at a rehearsal of “The Good Old Days” (Photo: Northwood School).

Matthew Brady ‘22 designed costumes with the help of Maisie Crane ‘23. They went to local venues to borrow and order costumes and made a Google Doc to make sure all the actors knew what they were wearing. Brady said, “I decided to be the costume designer for the play because it seemed interesting. I liked hanging out with everyone and learning about the process of putting on a show.”

Chase Ormiston ‘23 was the stage manager. Although she had gotten a foot surgery only days prior to the opening night, she was still able to continue helping out. Ormiston was at every rehearsal, helping the actors by taking notes on all of our dances so we could become better. “It was really amazing to see the show come together in the last week of rehearsals,” she said.

Overall, everyone who participated in the production of the play got closer earned not only knowledge on how to put on a show but also long-lasting friendships. And we are thankful for that.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, Opinion

Get to Know Mr. Tony Miller

November 12, 2019 by Olivia Paul

Tony Miller joins Northwood as an instructor in the English Department. He will also be working with Noel Carmichael on the school’s drama productions. Tony is a Lake Placid native who graduated from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs with a degree in English and a minor in Political Science. He worked at the Bookstore Plus on and off for eight years and has also participated in a number of community theater productions over the past ten years. Tony recently worked as an adjunct professor at Paul Smith’s College, teaching English 101 – Effective College Writing for freshman students. Mr. Miller also loves theater, the Adirondacks and has an 8-month-old Bernese Mountain Dog.

That was the brief description of new teacher Mr. Tony Miller on Northwood’s home page. The Mirror staff writer Olivia Paul ’21 tried to get to know him a little better and filed this report.

Mr. Tony Miller (Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge)

How did you first learn about Northwood? Why did you decide to come here?

I grew up in Lake Placid, and some of my friends went to Northwood, so I always knew of Northwood.

When I heard of the opportunity to possibly work here, I was very excited because I didn’t know much about Northwood life or [what it would be like] working at Northwood. I wanted to learn more about the school.

When you first got here, what was your first impression of Northwood? Has it changed?

My first major impression was how the sense of community was even stronger than I’d expected. An example of this is the relationship between the students and the faculty.

That impression has changed only for the better. Northwood has also surprised me quite a bit with how much everybody works together for the common good. It’s really wonderful to see that.

How is Northwood similar or different from the schools you attended?

Northwood is very different from my high school for a lot of reasons. But it’s also similar in the sense of comradery and support amongst the students. It’s a lot like where I went for college because that’s where I was able to surround myself with so many people from all around the world and from all walks of life. At Lake Placid, I didn’t necessarily get that.

What was your favorite day at Northwood so far? What challenges have you faced at Northwood so far?

My favorite memory at Northwood so far was the musical [The Good Old Days]. Not that other days weren’t good, but to feel the energy and to hear people enjoying the show meant so much. Just to hear the buzz about it was what made it the most fun.

A challenge I’ve faced was just getting into the routine of Northwood life. But I adapted pretty quickly, and it’s not too much of a challenge now.

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Crew Team Fares Well in Tail Of The Fish

October 29, 2019 by Olivia Paul

Northwood Crew competed in the Tail of the Fish Regatta on the last Saturday of September. Named for its location, Fish Creek in Saratoga Springs, NY, this fall regatta typically attracts 300 boats.

From the 2018 Tail of the Fish regatta (Photo: provided)

Jessica (Su Hae) Jang ‘20, Captain of Northwood Crew, said, “Imani Hawman ‘20 and I only rowed together twice a week because she has skiing dry land the other three days. It was hard for us to train on the same day. But I think we all enjoyed the regatta.”

Jang and Hawman competed in Girls’ Junior Double and placed 17th out of 25 boats. Mr. Howard “H” Runyon, Crew Coach, was very pleased with the results of the first regatta of the fall season. “Because this was a rather small regatta, there was no lightweight double scull event for Jessica and Imani. So they had to race against big girls in the open weight double. Those two girls have never really gone out on a limb and raced hard over the fall distance. This year they made a hard effort all the way down the course.” Coach Runyon said. He added, “They haven’t had enough time on the water together yet this year to have the kind of precision they had in the spring last year. So given these factors, 17th was a good finish.”

Caroline Harrison ‘22 finished 6th out of 8 boats in Girls’ Juniors’ U17 Single. “Those who finished in front of her were from elite programs or were people from who train on Fish Creek every day. She will be doing very well in another year or two,” Coach Runyon said.

The girls’ side of the team is small, but there are a lot of strong returners. Since the old team members have either graduated or moved, the boys’ side of the team has to completely rebuild. However, Runyon sees immense potential within the new members of the team.

The crew team has competed in The Head Of The Fish Regatta this weekend, where Jang and Nora Dawood ‘23 raced in single events. Unfortunately, Harrison could not join them due to an injury. We wish the crew team the best of luck as they continue their season.

Filed Under: Sports

New Class Explores the History of Art in the Adirondacks

October 29, 2019 by Olivia Paul

Earlier this month, the Adirondack Art Exploration class ventured to Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake. While at the museum, students were treated to a private showing of original work by the artists Harold Weston and Rockwell Kent.

Scenes from a recent field trip to the Adirondack Experience, The Museum on Blue Mountain Lake by the new class, Adirondack Art Exploration (Photos provided).

Students in the Art Exploration class not only make art but also learn about artists that have lived and found inspiration in the Adirondacks. Ms. Ingrid Van Slyke, an art teacher, teaches this trimester-long elective. She took her students to the museum to share her passion for art in the hopes that her students gain a deeper appreciation of art. “I hoped that when they saw artworks in real life, they would make a connection to what they were doing in class,” Ms. Van Slyke said.

Prior to the visit to the museum, students watched documentary films about the lives of Weston and Kent, wrote journals on them, and made art in the style of Harold Weston.

A highlight of the trip for VanSlyke and her students was that they got to go see a part of the museum that the public doesn’t usually see. They went into the inners of the museum, down into a faculty area where the museum staff pulled out paintings from the vault that weren’t out on display at the time, so everyone got to see the real work that they had been learning about. It made an impression on the students. “Seeing Weston’s paintings in real [was a highlight] because it’s not the same as seeing it online. You could see the texture and it was really cool,” said Ryan Combe ‘20, a student in the class.

Adirondack Art Exploration is a first trimester fine arts elective and will likely be offered again first trimester next year.

Filed Under: Northwood Life

Humans Of Northwood: Arnezha Astwood ‘21

October 24, 2019 by Olivia Paul

Arnezha Astwood ’21 (Photo: Michael Aldridge)

“My name is ‘Nezha, I’m 17, and a junior. I’m from the island of Bermuda and I play soccer. I love being on the soccer team: it is like a family. We bump heads but we stick together. I like the people at Northwood and some of the teachers. I like how it’s a no-judge place and you can feel comfortable. One thing I don’t like about Northwood is the cold. My future plan is to go to a great athletic university where I can step closer to my dream of becoming a professional soccer player and or an accountant. In my free time, I usually play pool. You can find me most of the time down in the student center, I also like to play video games with my mates.”

As told to Olivia Paul ‘21

Filed Under: Northwood Life, People

Humans of Northwood: Miranda Bookman ’20

October 24, 2019 by Olivia Paul

“My name is Miranda, but my friends call me Bookie. I’m 18 years old, a 4 year senior and I’m from Syracuse, New York. I am on the Girls Hockey Team. Something I really like about Northwood is the town it’s in, Lake Placid. It is really beautiful and I love living in the heart of the Adirondacks. It’s really pretty. The people here have given me such a good experience here because of the connections I have made with people. I wouldn’t normally get that at a high school back home. I have met people from all over the world and people I wouldn’t expect to, so that’s been a really cool experience. After Northwood, I plan on going to college. I am applying to a couple of schools. Hopefully, I’ll go to Syracuse University by my house, but that’s not set in stone. I don’t know what I want to do yet, but I’m into psychology and criminal justice. When I’m not playing hockey I really like to run a lot, in the summer I love running with my dog and I also love biking.”

-As told to Olivia Paul ‘21