Vote for our new name now!

Just to the right of this message we've put up the newspaper name poll. Vote now for your favorite! The eight finalists were chosen by the newspaper staff from a pool of around 60 suggestions. They are:

The As-Yet-Unnamed Beaver Newspaper
The Beaver
The Beaver Believer
The Beaver Bugle
The Beaver Reader
The Eager Beaver Reader (You Better Be a Believer!)
The Lodge
The Navigator

For anyone who's here for the first time, take a minute to look at some of our 45+ articles, our various polls, and the video montage shown at last week's Wednesday Forum. More content keeps coming every few days, so check back regularly, even over winter break.

By the way, we're always happy to get new submissions, no matter the subject. If you're a writer, photographer, videographer, or anything else, we'd love to showcase your work. Feel free to email anyone on the staff, including (but not limited to!) Dan Katz, Jessica Penzias, or Toph Tucker. We're also looking for anyone who has experience with Blogger (or just web design in general) or an interest in graphic design. Middle School, Upper School, Faculty, Alumni--you're all invited to contribute!
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Welcome to the... the... the what?

Welcome to the all-new student newspaper!

This is still a very early incarnation of the site--we're still tweaking the layout, design, and (of course) content. But we hope you enjoy our first few articles.

You'll notice we have no name! That's where we need your help. Over the next week or so we'll be fielding suggestions, and then you can come back and vote on your favorite.
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NOTE: Name suggestions are now closed, but please vote in the name poll in the right column!

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How do I vote for my favorite submission?
Go to the main page of the website! In the right column are the choices for the title. Select the title that captures your attention! We will announce the winners at All School Meeting when the voting has closes!

What can I win?
The winner will receive a $30 iTunes gift card and a signed copy of Andrew Emmons' new CD.

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Here's a list of past names of Beaver publications.

If you have any suggestions or comments at all, please feel free to leave them in the comments! Thanks for stopping by, and come again soon!

NOTE: Comments will not show up immediately, but don't worry, it works. :)

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Editor’s note: Defining a Generation

DANIEL KATZ

We are a species that needs and wants to understand who we are. Sheep lice do not seem to share this longing, which is one reason why they write so little.
- Anne Lamott

In an op-ed piece from the May 26th issue of the Boston Globe, author and journalist Thomas Friedman attempted to define our generation of youth. He eventually referred to us as the “Quiet Americans.” I suppose the label itself seems a bit harsh, so he went on to clarify his thoughts: “They are young people who are quietly determined not to let this age…take away their hopes or steal the America they are about to inherit.” Yet, even after his explanation, I was left oddly bewildered. I suppose that I would never characterize our generation as passive.

The whole idea of defining a generation is often overdone. It is human nature to feel the need to put a label on every aspect of life, and organize it chronologically. When we locate something that may seem indefinable, meaning it does not fit into any of our predetermined manila folders, human nature forces us to identify it as either supernatural, misunderstood, or religious. The fact is that it is comforting to state an identity: despite how superficial and unauthentic labeling generations may be.

I have heard our generation branded in a handful of ways: from generation 9-11, to generation-X. Recently, I even heard it referred to as generation ADD, which makes more sense than I would have initially expected. However, the idea that our generation is “quiet” seems a bit out of line. Perhaps we are not parading in the streets, burning effigies and bras, but I believe that our voice as a collective youth is stronger than any generation before us. A simple search on the internet (arguably the most significant identification of the generation) proves how lively we truly are. Showing discontentment and civil disobedience has never been so simple, neither has sharing and promoting ideas. We are a generation of Americans defined by our redefinition of the norms. We are undoubtedly, and notably, open to new and innovative choices. We push the limit, and we disregard timidity. We crave additional knowledge. Considering the record size of America’s graduating high school class, I believe we have come to view education as the gateway to progression. It is becoming more and more the norm to move on to a higher education after high school, which logically results in a brighter and more knowledgeable generation. But quiet? No, we are not quiet.

When walking through the halls of this school, it is clear just how loud we truly are. We all have opinions on how this school, and every aspect of this world, is run and we are not afraid to allow our voices to peek through the cracks. While all of the opinions may not be productive, it is important to open our minds to every angle of a subject. Perhaps there is a point to the entire ADD generation philosophy. We get tired and bored by systems and robotic protocols almost instantly, and we struggle to pursue positive progression because of our restless nature. Our hands shake at the sight of a policy we choose not to comply with, and we act – often in a collective force of some sort. A teacher of mine recently stated that her only complaint here at Beaver was that the students do not take assignments and grades passively and quietly; instead, Beaver students question the authority of the teachers, and choose to argue in order to attain academic satisfaction. She seemed discouraged by the characteristic. I was proud, and I still am proud of the ideas our student body promotes, and the actions that result.

It is because of that very pride and recognition of the potential of our student body that I take great pleasure in introducing you to the new Beaver newspaper. Together with Co-Editor in Chief Jessica Penzias, I am proud to dispatch to the Beaver community a safe and effective medium for expressing discontentment and debating issues. If something bothers you, write an editorial about it. If something interests you, convince us why we should care at all. This is your chance to have a voice, and acknowledge the voices of your fellow peers. Take the initiative to show just how loud and insightful you can be. Inspire, and allow yourself be inspired. Respond to other student’s opinions, and learn from other student’s experiences. Complain if you feel the need, but explain to us why the matter is worth whining about. Embrace this new addition to the Beaver community. Define your own generation.

Welcome to The Beaver Reader: Student run, student written, and student fueled.

Quiet generation? We’ll just have to see about that.

Daniel Katz
Co-Editor in Chief
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Meet the newspaper staff

Staff profiles and photos coming soon. List of staff positions after the break.

Dan Katz and Jessica Penzias- Co-Editors in Chief
Mr. Lieser- Faculty Advisor

Adam Buchbinder- sports writer
Ali Cooper- regular school features columnist
Carrie Widmer- Copy editor and Arts writer
Dana Spigelman- Sports editor
Daniel Woo- arts section writer
Eli Goldfarb- regular movie reviews
Emily Belowich-sports writer
Erik Tobias- sports writer
Gabi- School features writer
Hannah Hutton- Arts section writer
Jeff Higgins- Op Ed
Jehane Semaha- teacher profile writer
Juliana Locke- Op ed
Laura Bulkeley- Sports editor
Liz Cobb- Business manager/ Student council news
Maddy Kiefer- School features editor
Marco Fabrizio- Sports writer
Max Campion-sports writer
Nicole Cassels- Design Chief
Olivia Carye-Hallstein- Photographer
Sam O’Reilly- Op ed
Sara Marsh- Arts writer
Sarah Mink- Art Director/ Current events writer
Taylor Haigler- design chief/ Arts section editor
Toph Tucker- Managing editor/ Current events editor
Tyler Starr- Arts/ Sports writer
Vivek Pai- Production manager
Zach Levandov- Writer

Read more!

Help and Submission Information

Who started the newspaper?
Dan Katz and Jessica Penzias, Class of 2008, started the newspaper in 2007.

I've read every word on the site and want to know more!
There's plenty more Beaver news at the official site: http://www.bcdschool.org/
As for non-Beaver news, at least one person on the newspaper staff (Toph Tucker '08) recommends the venerable msnbc.com.

This stuff is great, but there should really be an article on _________, and I happen to have written one!
Let someone associated with the newspaper know. Try Dan Katz '08, Jessica Penzias '08, Toph Tucker '08, or the English teacher Mr. Lieser (our faculty advisor). Email them, stick something in their box, or leave a comment here. Or just run up to them and literally shove your article in their face--but not too violently! Wouldn't want to give anyone a paper cut.

The comments aren't working.
In order to cut down on spam, we've instituted comment moderation, which means that every comment must be approved by an administrator in order to show up. We're not trying to censor you, we're just keeping inappropriate content off the site. We've experimented with turning moderation on and off, and we will continue to. It's easier for everyone if we can leave it off, but to do so we have to be confident that the comment system isn't being abused. (Note that when we say "abusers," we're not referring to you loyal readers, we're referring to random folks from Timbuktu who spam us with links to their free credit report site.)

Your polls are awesome, and I have an idea for a really good one.
Thanks! If you have an idea for a poll, leave a comment or email Toph Tucker '08. (My full name is Christopher, so FirstClass won't recognize Toph. Christopher Tucker works just fine.) We love polls, and we're always on the lookout for new ones!

Yeah, but mine's really weird.
Listen, we currently have a poll by Nick that asks, "What country is better than the U.S.?" and the only two choices are "None" and "Trick Question." And it's the best poll ever. That said, we won't post any and every suggestion we get, so try to make it interesting and intriguing.

Weird things are happening. Articles are disappearing, or showing more than they should, etc.
Let us know. Be specific! What page is misbehaving? What browser are you using? Internet Explorer and Firefox each have their share of issues with the site. A few pages are currently acting a little strangely in Firefox. We're working on it.
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A History of Beaver Publications

This newspaper is just the latest in a long line of Beaver publications. For your enjoyment, and as inspiration for the name contest, here is a list of past publications.

The Beaver Log
Starting in 1924, this used to be a quarterly in-house printed publication. Each spring’s issue included photos and memories of the senior class (this section evolved into the current yearbook). It included poems, short stories, school news, and artwork. In 1947 (through 1967), the Log transformed into the Log Booklets: printed three times a year, and consisted of poems, short stories, news and little artwork. As of 1947, the name The Log was strictly used for the yearbook—consisting of mainly senior material, published at the end of each academic year.

Beaver Bulletin
Community-based (parent and student) magazine (1948-1995)

Beaver
Primarily an alumni community magazine (Much like BCDS of present. 1999-2003)

The Little Log/The Chip
1920s and 1930s lower and middle school publication

Beaver News
Community-based magazine (1988-1998)

Gazette
Student newspaper (1981-1986)

Beaver Newsletter
Student newsletter (1979-1987)

Heliconian
Arts magazine: poetry, artwork, photos, short stories (1984-present)

Beaver Bark
Replaced Booklet/Little Log (1955)

Beaver Breeze
Alumni magazine (1957-1960s)

Beaver Bullet
Community-based magazine (1987-1988)

Beaver Forager
Student newspaper

Beaver Review
Like the original version of The Log (1960s)

Beaver Imprint
Student newspaper (1990s-2000s)

Beaver Matters
Alumni newsletter (1990s)

Beaver Press

Beaver Star
Student newspaper

Beaver Tale
1940s student newsletter

Beaver Times
Student newspaper (Mid-1990s)

Beaver Today
Community bi-monthly magazine (Late 1990s)

Beaver Weekly
Grade 5 newsletter (1950s?)

The Cheshire
Middle School magazine (late 1970s)

Folio
Similar to Heliconian (1984-1985)

F(x)
Similar to Heliconian (Late 1960s-1970s)

Hammond St Journal
Newspaper elective project (Late 1990s)

Karma
Similar to Heliconian (Late 1960s-Early 1970s)

Kohoutek
Similar to Heliconian (1974)

Lookout
Parents Association newsletter (Late 1980s)

Lower School Bulletin
(1940-1942)

Middle School Literary Magazine
(Early 1990s)

Monthly Mailer
Community-wide newsletter (Mid-1990s)

Navigator
Student newspaper

The New Chip
(1948)

The News
Community-wide newsletter (Late 1980s)

Newsletter
Community-wide newsletter (Late 1980s)

Parents Newsletter
(Late 1980s)

Pilot News
Middle school newsletter (Early 1990s)

President’s Report
What is now the Annual Report (Late 1970s-Early 1980s)

Refractions
Similar to Heliconian (Early 1970s)

Splinter
(Mid 1950s)

Suspension
(Early-mid 1960s)

Thought Prints
Similar to Heliconian (Early 1970s)
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