STEMinism: Recognizing the Gender Gap

This post, one in a series for the sophomore English blog project, can be found featured on L’Oreal USA For Girls In Science here. We live in the 21st century, a progressive time in which equality rules… or so we’re told. But is that really the truth? The disheartening answer, when it comes to STEM, is no. STEMinism is the act of closing the gender gap in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is less about actual feminism and more about reaching a balanced world of STEM. Are you a STEMinist? At The Hewitt School, the idea that STEM careers are better suited for boys simply does not exist. The all-female environment provides a space for unique opportunities where girls can pursue any and all interests. Having attended Hewitt since kindergarten, I have … Continue reading →

NY Paid Sick Leave Bill: An Interview with Council Member Gale Brewer

Imagine this: Your 14-year-old daughter contracts a rare blood infection that threatens her life. You take just two days off of work to take her to the hospital in the hopes of securing sufficient medical attention. The day you return to work, you find out your dedication as a parent has cost you your job. Because your employer is one of many throughout the United States who denies sick days to employees, you have been fired and no longer have an income to help pay for your daughter’s medical expenses. This exact situation mirrors the traumatic experiences of Juana Alvarez. Thanks to the newly supported New York sick leave bill, headed largely by Council Member Gale Brewer, unfair situations like Alvarez’s will be prevented. Though the bill, which has been in the works for many years now, … Continue reading →

Don’t Get Scroogled!

Bing it on, Google! What does that phrase remind you of? A ferocious fighting song, or perhaps sassy competition at its finest? When Microsoft recently launched their Scroogled campaign against Google, phrases like this one became the norm around technological circles. The purpose of the campaign is to encourage users to stop using Google’s Gmail service and to instead joinMicrosoft’s Outlook services. By echoing Google’s debated malpractice of targeting ads by grabbing keywords from emails, Microsoft has hooked users by appealing to the population’s privacy concerns, which have become increasingly relevant due to some of Google’s tactics. The “Don’t Get Scroogled” campaign targets a privacy problem that has many people worried. Google scans emails in order to target and tailor advertising alongside the message to the user. The question we, as consumers, must ask is whether this … Continue reading →

Justin Timberlake’s SNL Skit Explained: The Death of Hugo Chavez

Watch this: If you have no idea what Justin Timberlake is singing about, read on! Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias has died. As the only Venezuelan on the Hewitt Times (and one of the only six in the school), I feel obligated to cover this monumental event. If you decide to stick with me throughout this article, please be advised of two things: I do not ever celebrate someone’s death, this is a once-in-a-lifetime exception, and I am talking without any real expertise on this topic. I am no economist or historian, just a passionate Venezuelan. Chavez was Venezuela’s President for 14 years (and he was set to hold the position for an additional six years), but, as the NY Times puts it, “in the end, [he was] an awful manager.” For those of … Continue reading →

Featured Ed-vice Submission: LGBTQ

Ah, the carefree environment of anonymity is exactly what I need. Although you’re certainly not the only advice column I’ve sought out, I figured one more couldn’t do any harm. What are your thoughts on how I could discuss my identity as LGBTQ with my friends and family? My apologies if this is not a topic you are trained to deal with but it is an important one that not many would be comfortable to discuss. Thus I ask, if you found out your best friend, of the same gender, had feelings for you, how would you react? Should I be honest or keep my thoughts to myself so as not to ruin a friendship? If possible I’d like multiple opinions. This is a really tough topic…you’re right. But I agree that it’s an important … Continue reading →

Monthly Archives: April 2011

Hewitt in the Halls

by Maria Sabater Posted on April 26, 2011

Participants: What are you allergic to? How do react to whatever you are allergic to? Do you like to walk in Central park? Where is your favorite place to walk in Central Park? Nothing. Eyes watering… I love to walk in the park. The bow bridge over the pond. Cats. Throat itchy and my eyes shut/swell. I like to run in the park. The outer loop. Penicillin and seasonal allergies (pollen). Sneezing and whatever. But with Penicillin I get hives. Yes but who doesn’t? I like going through the zoo. Cold air. It feels like I am allergic to it. I would start to tear up, and my fingers would turn purple. Yes, I do. Around the reservoir.

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Our Newest Team Member: Peter Costas

by Marlena Rubenstein Posted on April 25, 2011

Awake hours before the sun has risen, eleven Hewitt girls sit in the white lobby of our school. There to greet them is Peter John Costas, better known as Coach Peter or just Coach. He is currently enrolled as a student at the University of Virginia, taking a semester off from his third year, so he can influence us and others on the technique and power that is crew. Peter is 21 years old and will graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Economics in the winter of 2012. When he graduates he wants to stay in New York and continue to write, row, and go to graduate school. “My passion and respect for the sport [made me want to be a coach],” said Costas, “From the first time I sat in a boat … Continue reading →

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Facebook Can Identify You Better Than Your Own Friends

by Anna Mendelson Posted on April 22, 2011

First there were those creepy Domino’s ads that show up on the side when you say the word ‘pizza.’ Then there were those squares that magically find faces in a photo. Now, Facebook cannot only recognize that a face is present- it can recognize whose face is present. With its new facial recognition software, Facebook is able to suggest tags by grouping similar photos together and then using the information from previous tags. Tagging photos is without a doubt one of Facebook’s most esteemed and distinguishable features. “Tagging is actually really important for control, because every time a tag is created it means that there was a photo of you on the Internet that you didn’t know about,” says Facebook’s Vice President of Product, Chris Cox. And now, tagging photos is more effortless and efficient … Continue reading →

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