Inklings March 2026 Issue

the

productivity trap

MARCH2026

Inklings investigates abuse of prescription Adderall at Staples

CONTENTS

more about us about the cover

3 | Editorial

In this month’s issue, Inklings investigated a growing trend of Staples students using perscription Adderall to increase academic performance

Inklings News is uncensored, unedited by administration, and does not allow prior review.

Opinions

The Editorial Board determines editorial opinions that are authored by the Editors-in-Chief. Inklings News serves as an open forum for the public and welcomes letters to the editor and other submissions. Send signed letters to inklingsnews@westportps.org. Submissions will not be edited prior to publication.

Advertisements

Inklings News reserves the right to not publish advertisements that promote products that could be harmful to student health.

Membership

Inklings News is a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Association and supports the Student Press Law Center.

The decisions of Inklings News and Westport Public Schools are made without regard to race, color, age, sex,religion, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability or any other discriminating basis prohibited by local, state or federal law

2

The Editorial Board reflects on lower attendance at girls’ sporting events.

4 | News Briefs

Read about the latest events in the Staples community.

5 | Civics Classes

Lila Boroujerdi reflects on the civics offerings at Staples.

must-reads

8 | Divided Nation

Kasey Feeley analyzes political division seen at two national events.

9 | Chorus Accolades

3 Staples singers receive national recognition for their talent.

12 | Urinetown

Go behind the curtain on Staples Players’ spring production.

Cribari Bridge

15 06

Learn about the ongoing debate around the future of a Westport landmark.

10

staff

Editors-In-Chief

Adderall Use

Inklings investigates Staples students’ usage of perscription Adderall

Andi Jacobs, Sophie Smith

Managing Editor

Will Enquist

Associate Managing Editor(s) Anna Petrosino

16

Creative Directors

Camille Blundell & Bianca Mastocciolo

Business Manager

Olivia Saw Advisors

Joseph DelGobbo & Mary Elizabeth Fulco

14 | Womens History

Learn how Staples is celebrating Women’s History Month.

18 | Student Submission

Addie Talbot discusses the disparities between the men’s and women’s lock rooms.

Track Champ

Sports Equality

Inklings examines disparities between boys and girls sports at Staples.

Editors

Lily Ashford

Katie Brill

Sutton Bulkeley

Ann Marie Maccaro

Chloe Mitchell

Ella Turner

Juliet Varsov

Editorial

STAPLES, LET’S SHOW UP.

Every Wrecker deserves fans

The Editorial Board voted 20-2 in favor of this opinion.

Women’s sports media coverage across broadcasts, streaming services, social media and digital publications increased by 10% from 2019 to 2022, according to Forbes. College softball and volleyball are breaking viewership records, and players like Caitlin Clark bring unprecedented visibility to women’s basketball. According to Ultimate Sports Network, average viewership for the 2025 WNBA season was nearly

gained so much viewership that ESPN introduced “Wom en’s Sports Sundays” for 2026, showcasing primetime women’s sports.

It is clear that engagement and support for professional and collegiate female athletes has increased, gaining viewers, fans and overall attention. So if women’s sports are growing nationally, why is that momentum seeming to stall at Staples?

In Westport, talent is undeniable.

The girls’ field hockey

boys’ basketball teams played in the FCIAC finals double header at Fairfield University, the crowds were starkly different. Many students decided to go only to the boys’ game, even though their ticket allowed entry into both.

Staples’ culture is not following the national trend of increasing support for girls’ sports.

The Board acknowledges efforts made to support all athletes at Staples by administration, including the single-ticket entry for both games. The Staples athletic department has advertised boys’ and girls’ games equally, primarily on their Instagram account.

These efforts are all beneficial and should be continued; however, it’s often not enough to even out the crowds. This issue extends beyond advertisements, ticket prices or even logistical challenges: it’s cultural.

Students frequently attend the “big games” where they can dress up on-theme and take pictures rather than watching each play. However, they rarely come to a game to simply support their own friends. In effect, Staples’ culture is not following

does not have to remain true.

The school has many opportunities to adjust our culture, to move past habits and towards inclusivity. By showing up for friends, we can encourage and support all sports.

On Saturday, May 16, for example, the girls’ lacrosse team is playing a senior night on the Staples football field. The field will be aglow with lights; the players, determined to secure a win. And an energetic crowd can help carry them to that victory.

But it has to come from the student body itself. As more and more students attend, more and more students will follow. Showing up is the simplest way to show what Staples stands for: celebrating everyone in our school.

Scan this QR code for spring sports schedules

News Briefs

Anna Petrosino ʼ26 Associate Managing Editor

School Calendar Change

The Westport Board of Education(BOE) approved a recommendation from Superintendent Thomas Scarice to alter the district calendar so that the school year will end on Thursday, June 18 for students.

“What I’m really trying to do is avoid going into the fourth week of June and to maintain continuity on the heels of a series of weather related closures,” Scarice said in a BOE meeting on March 5.

In a note to the Westport School community, Scarice emphasized an historical trend of increases in absences in that fourth week of June.

To accommodate the new

schedule, the previously scheduled Professional Development day for March 20 has been moved to June 22, and the total number of instructional days has been reduced from 182 to 180.

The BOE believes it is important to accommodate the students, families and faculties summer obligations between camps, work and academic summer programs.

“We as public servants need to be flexible,” Chair of Westport BOE Lee Goldstein said. “We haven’t used five snow days since I can remember, and I think it is a mistake to plan to the 24th (of June).”

Emergency System Implementation

After completing the first ever full evaluation since 2014, one of the most significant recommendations for Staples was an implementation for an emergency communication system to provide 911 access for any adult on campus.

“Staples has known cellular dead zones and the potential for intermittent network issues (particularly in large, non-instructional spaces, such as the field house, cafe, auditorium, stairwells, etc.),” Superinten-

dent Thomas Scarice wrote in a March 8 district email, “at the very moments when reliable communication matters most,”

The Facilities leadership, the Westport Police Depart ment and the WPS Technol ogy team formally proposed these updates to the Board of Education, which was support ed unanimously. The Board of Finance approved the request on March 10, and installation of the security system is set for this summer.

Civics shortfall: Rethinking civics course requirement

Lila Boroujerdi ʼ26

Web Managing Editor

“When I have to vote, I think I’m going to just write in a random person’s name. I don’t care enough about politics.”

Of all the conversations I’ve overheard (or eavesdropped on) in the Staples cafeteria, this comment has been one that has stuck with me the most. It’s not the person’s disinterest in politics that bothered me – that’s their prerogative. It was their complete disregard of a process that determines the leadership and policies that in uence not just their life, but those in their town, state and nation.

Per the State of Connecticut, the requirement of a civics course relies on “schools to o er instruction in citizenship and government and prohibits students from graduating [... without being] familiar with U.S. government at all levels.” Under this requirement, government is de ned as “democratic principles and [civic] participation.”

Current Issues: U.S. Media and Politics, per the Staples High School Program of Studies, aims to help students understand public governance and become more critical consumers of media. However, in speaking with some past students, the class does not feature in-depth coverage of the three branches of government, landmark Supreme Court cases or the election process.

students noting that reference materials come from 2020 and older instead of the current media rotation. In an age where misinformation has plagued mass media outlets, I do believe the course’s content remains important. However, its role in ensuring basic, “familiar” civic understanding “at all levels” should be rethought, considering that more than 70% of Americans exhibit low civic education as of 2024 according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

responsible citizen. If Staples is to continue to pride itself and commit to preparing students for the outside world, it must work to ensure a strong foundational understanding of our political processes.

In order to graduate from Staples High School, students must complete a half credit of civics, with the choice of enrolling in AP U.S. Government and Politics, Government A or Current Issues: U.S. Media and Politics. However, I do not believe that Current Issues should be o ered to students as an alternative to a traditional civics class, despite the that Current Issues should be course meeting state requirements.

While it does ensure baseline understanding of historic documents and legislation, some past students stated that the class did not engage indepth dialogue (either in the form of a socratic seminar or class discussion) related to their signi cance. Because of this, I’m concerned that the state’s requirement for students to be “familiar” with civics-related course content is going unful lled. I’m not alone in this thought, with the course gaining the reputation among some students as an “opt-out,” designed for those disinclined to engage in civics-based curriculum.

In taking a more traditional civics course, AP U.S. Government and Politics, I’ve become more equipped with the inner workings of our government, including checks and balances in addition to the electoral process. Because of the insights I’ve gained, I’ve shifted how I engage with and participate in politics.

I understand

Instead, the course centers more on responsible media usage, with

I understand that for a lot of Staples students, social science courses do not align with their academic interests (trust me, I share similar sentiments in regards to math). However, in our current media-saturated political climate, I believe that a basic introduction to our government and its structure is crucial to becoming a more informed and

Structural stando : Westport debates future of

Tanush Arora

ʼ26

Staff Writer

Will Enquist

ʼ26

Paper Managing Editor

Westport’s Representative Town Meeting voted 20 to 1 on March 4 in favor of asking the state to include pedestrian and bike lanes in any changes to the William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge while maintaining re-

historic Cribari Bridge

strictions on large commercial trucks. e vote marks a new in ection point in a long-running local debate over the future of the historic bridge.

State o cials believe the bridge is structurally de cient and in need of a long-term solution, ideally an “on-alignment replacement,” as expressed in a February 2026 report from the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). An on-align-

ment replacement would mean completely replacing the current bridge and building a new structure in its current location.

Conversely, many Westport residents argue the 143-yearold bridge should be rehabilitated rather than demolished on account of its historical signi cance as a long-standing landmark in Westport.

e state’s case for action rests on more than just the bridge’s age; in the 160-page report, CTDOT and FHWA

highlight numerous structural de ciencies, including a truss system that does not meet current wind-load standards, inadequate vertical and horizontal clearances, guardrails that do not satisfactorily protect the bridge’s trusses in the event of a collision and a 20-ton weight-bearing capacity that is substandard. Concerns over the continued use of the bridge have also been echoed by community members.

“In my opinion, preserving

PLANS The original bridge design dates from July 1884.

the existing structure is not a viable option,” Yulee Aronson, a Westport resident and professional engineer, said. “Sometimes, the history is better preserved in historical records rather than in real life. Westporters like to live in spacious new houses with modern appliances, not in tiny historical dwellings with no central air conditioning. e same applies to infrastructure.”

As a result of their concerns about the bridge’s structure, state o cials say the safest long-term solution may be to replace the bridge.

At the same time, many residents feel that the bridge’s historic elements should be preserved. e William F. Cribari Memorial Bridge is on the National Register of Historic

Places and has long been part of the town’s identity and association with the historic Saugatuck neighborhood.

“It’s one of the very few turntable-style bridges in the United States,” Representative Town Meeting Member Andrew Colabella ’07 said. “ e existence of that particular bridge and its current aesthetic design is [over 100 years old] [...] it’s just a beautiful-looking bridge.”

could allow large tractor-trailers to pass through the already congested Saugatuck transit district.

Sometimes, the history is better preserved in historical records. “ “

- Yulee Aronson, Engineer

Another major concern among Westport residents is that a new, likely larger bridge

“If DOT insists it be built to their standards for new bridges, [it] would make it bigger and wider, and open it up to tractor-trailers and semis,” local blogger Dan Woog ’73 said. “How would [residents] get through Saugatuck, o of Exit 17? What would that tra c do to Bridge Street and Greens Farms Road?”

Given its potential conse-

quences, any decision about the bridge’s future would likely bene t from active collaboration between town and state o cials.

“It’s crucial for the town to speak with a consensus to DOT. If [the] DOT does not sense that Westporters are at least relatively united, they’ll just impose their will,” Woog said. “ e heavy lifting has to be done by the rst selectman. He’s the one closest to DOT, and the one who will ultimately have the most in uence.”

Polarization Takes the National Stage:

Kasey Feeley ’26 critiques division of American culture

Kasey

Feeley ʼ26

Executive TV Producer

In February, audiences from around the world watched two major national stages, the Super Bowl LX and the 2026 State of the Union (SOTU), succumb to the dividing forces of polarization. Events that have historically brought rivaling Americans together, split into two partisan spaces.

When Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny was announced as the 2026 Super Bowl halftime performer, conservative echo chambers online went up in flames. Just a week before the game, Bad Bunny condemned Trump’s immigration policies and stated “ICE out” during his Grammy acceptance speech. The controversy led to the first-ever separate, concurrent “All-American Halftime Show,” aired by Turning Point USA, a conservative nonprofit.

Now compare that event to the recent SOTU address.

The SOTU is an annual bipartisan event where the President addresses Congress and outlines the administration’s legislative agenda and the current condition of the nation. But this year, the donkey bucked the elephant out of the pen. While opposing parties have historically provided follow up on-air responses that lasted a short and sweet half hour after the SOTU, this year was different. For the second time in history since

2018, democratic lawmakers held a “People’s State of the Union” (PSOTU) that aired simultaneously with the President’s SOTU.

The Super Bowl and the SOTU, while seemingly different, historically bring together opposing sides in one space, and while the opposing sides were never expected to agree, they still shared in the experience of the events.

Division is what allows our country to grow. Our allowance for disagreement is why our Constitution is considered a “living, breathing document.” But polarization is different. It is a disease bred from division, it is disagreement that is no longer productive. Because different sides refuse to share a common space with each other, ideas cannot cross partisan lines. We have to share spaces to foster productive debate, and to do so we have to put down our torches and pitchforks and sit on the same couch.

3 students selected for American Choral Director's Association Honors Choir

Zara Saliba ’26 Paper Managing Editor

The average music listener likely can’t tell the difference between time signatures and scales, but for Staples upperclassmen Demeil Betfarhad ’26, Josie Caricato ’27 and Lyla McEntee ’27, music is much more than lyrics with a melody.

Over the course of Feb. 25-28, the three were selected to perform in the American Choral Director’s Association (ACDA) Eastern Region Honor Choirs titled “Envision 2026.” The four-day event entailed hours of rigorous rehearsals, workshops with professional conductors and directors, and of performances at well-known venues in Providence.

From the friends they made to the memories of meeting notable directors and composers like Scott Hoying of the Pentatonix or seeing the New York City Gay Men’s Choir, all three of them have a newfound level of sophistication and understanding in the world of music.

McEntee appreciated the opportunity to work with a va-

riety of people in the field she’s so passionate about.

“You're able to really feel a part of something so much bigger than yourself,” she said.

To be selected for these choirs, the students had to submit audition tapes of them singing scales, a portion of the music for the ACDA’s performance and a song of their choice. After a period of review, they received their acceptance, one of the highest honors for choral singers in the region. For McEntee, the acceptance was shocking.

“I sang ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ because there's the solo in the beginning of it, and we sang that with Orphenians last year,” McEntee said. “I totally thought I wasn't gonna get in, which was so funny.”

Caricato and McEntee worked under Cindy Ellis, a renowned conductor and got the experience of working in the two-part alto and two-part soprano choir. Betfarhad, on the other hand, worked under Marques L.A. Garett’s group of tenors, bass’, sopranos and altos. All of them, regardless of where they were singing, sang newly commissioned pieces for the festival’s programming.

Every year, the convention switches from National to the Regional conventions. Betfarhad had the

opportunity to sing in both, adding onto his already-extensive repertoire from the Fairfield County Children’s Choir (FCC) Chamber Singers, the high honors group that meets every Monday and Wednesday evening.

gether, the experience was one that they will not forget.

“That's where I really got a lot of my experience, as I'm about to sing at Carnegie Hall for the fourth time with a bunch of very good conductors,” Betfarhad said. “[My love of singing] stemmed from FCC, but then again, also stemmed from fourth grade singing in chorus.”

Meeting people from across 11 states in the Eastern Region, the three got the chance to make friends from other schools and sing with other students who have had different musical training than themselves.

tu e d b y De m i

“There’s something really special about music, where there's certain moments when you're performing together in a group with people and you're able to feel each other,” McEntee said. “It's such a lovely feeling. Ever since I felt it, I've just been chasing it.”

“ I really cherished [it] a lot, because I met a lot of Wilton High School kids, New Canaan kids, and I found that they were very cool,” Betfarhad said. “They were fun to be around.”

Alto

A ‘boost’ at what cost?

Staples grapples with unprescribed Adderall usage

*Names with an asterisk have been changed for anonymity

Alexis Jacobs ʼ26 Web Managing Editor

Sophie Smith ʼ26 Editor-in-Chief

brain. Brains become overstimulated and overactive.

adjust, losing motivation, energy and focus.

*Jane ’25 was studying for an upcoming test in the Staples library when a classmate approached her with a simple “fix” to her stress: Adderall.

The student said that if *Jane wanted pills to help her focus, they could easily sell her some of their own prescription. She declined.

“I was really taken aback,” *Jane said. “I didn’t know that there was a culture of that here.”

The use of unprescribed stimulants like Adderall among teens appears to be on the rise. A study published in JAMA Network Open found that up to one in four middle and high school students report misusing prescription stimulants. This is likely linked to an increase in prescriptions: from 2022 to 2024, Adderall prescribed in Connecticut rose by 11.4%, according to state data.

This practice is present within Staples upperclassmen. Students *Emma ’26, *James ’26 and *Ally ’26 have admitted to being involved in unprescribed Adderall usage.

Stimulant medications are used to control impulse and energy levels by altering the brain’s levels of dopamine and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters play major roles in motivation, attention, mood and the body’s stress response. A person with ADHD has a lower level of stimulation, so medication helps to improve clarity and focus. But when people without a need for stim ulation take the medication, it has an adverse effect on the

*Emma admitted to occasionally taking unprescribed Adderall, provided by a friend, in order to prioritize schoolwork. She admitted that Adderall helped her focus and complete her work, but ultimately limited her use due to unwanted side effects.

“I felt more focused after taking the Adderall, but since I took it in the afternoon, I couldn’t fall asleep until almost 4 a.m.,” *Emma said.

However, not everyone who abuses Adderall is able to limit their usage.

*James, who has taken unprescribed Adderall on multiple occasions for schoolwork, described experiencing dependency.

“I only really take it when it’s really needed and even then I’ve been trying to stop,” *James said. “I got kind of reliant last year at one point, to the point where I couldn’t focus without it.”

Adderall is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance with a high potential for continuous abuse if not prescribed. According to Dr. Randi

Additionally, unprescribed Adderall usage can lead to serious consequences, including life-threatening reactions.

“You might wind up even with a heart attack or a stroke from too many substances,” Cohen said. “I have seen several cases where people develop psychotic disorders from taking too many stimulants…it’s often irreversible.”

She added that different dosages prescribed are dependent on various factors such as age, medical history, the severity of your ADHD symptoms, comorbidities, height and weight. If students take Adderall unprescribed, they risk taking a higher dosage than they can handle.

“There was a point where I took 20mg (which was too much for me) and was sweating a lot and felt like I had a really high heart rate (and really stressed),” *James wrote.

But teens don’t only take unprescribed Adderall for school reasons; they will also take it for social reasons.

“My friends have taken [my prescribed Adderall] before go

“I kind of got reliant last year at one point, to the point where I couldn’t focus without it.”

About

10%

of high school seniors have misused stimulants.

- Dr. Randi Cohen

Westport Phychologist

USAGE

- 5 day in-school suspension

“If you mix it with alcohol, it will make you feel not as intoxicated... [but] then you get really sick.”

POSSIBLE PUNISHMENTS FOR UNPRESCRIBED ADDERALL:

- 10 day out-of-school suspension

Staples Code of Conduct - *Ally - *James

But it’s also bad because you think you’re fine, and then you get really sick.”

Stimulant drugs make it harder for the body to regulate alcohol, which makes it hard to know when you have had too much to drink.

Additionally, mixing alcohol and stimulants increases impul-

DISTRIBUTION

- 5 day out-of-school suspension - Expulsion - Police referral

would only be compounded.”

Students’ use of stimulants is illegal and not tolerated by the school. The Staples Code of Conduct states that use of stimulants can result in a five-day in-school suspension or a 10day out-of-school suspension.

Selling or distributing stimulants can lead to a five-day outof-school suspension, expulsion

“I definitely would warn students to be aware of this,” Cohen said. “And also families to be aware of their stimulants being where kids can get to

them or people having their stimulants where their friends might unscrupulously get to them.”

From revolution to ridiculous: Staples Players Revives 'Urinetown'

seriously,” Roth said. “‘Urinetown’ is this broad comedy in which nothing is taken seriously, even serious issues.”

Even so, both stories revolve around injustice and rebellion.

For Griffin Delmhorst 26’, who plays the idealistic rebel leader Bobby Strong, the biggest difference lies in how those ideas are presented.

“The show has very similar central themes to ‘Les Mis,’ a rebellion coming from an oppressed group and love blossoming within it,” Delmhorst said. “It’s just a completely different style. While ‘Les Mis’ leans into the drama of this, ‘Urinetown’ leans into the humor.”

ter who does this,. Penelope Pennywise, the strict restroom manager played by Cat Betit ’26, embodies the exaggerated authoritarian figure, constantly enforcing the rules of the town’s bathroom system. Even so, her character still brings some of the most fun.

“It’s been very fun to get the chance to play such a funny and larger-than-life character after ‘Les Mis,’” Betit said. “I love being able to have a lot of fun on stage and make the audience laugh.”

Beyond the comedy, Betit hinted that the show still manages to surprise audiences along the way.

“There are some very crazy reveals throughout the show that are super fun to tell the audience about,” Betit said. “You’ll have to see the show to find out.”

That style required the cast to approach their characters differently than they might in a traditional musical. Bobby, for example, is written as an exaggeration of a classic heroic lead.

“For me, the most challenging part of playing Bobby is tackling the style of the piece,” Delmhorst said. “Rather than being ignorant to the stereotypes surrounding a leading role, Bobby leans into them and provides humor through them.”

Bobby isn’t the only charac-

While the humor of the exaggerated characters and fun twists make the show fun, Roth believes the show’s strength comes from its ability to balance entertainment with subtle ideas underneath the surface. Even though “Urinetown” touches on topics like environmental crises and corporate control of resources, Roth said the production intentionally does not push a particular political message.

“Right now there is so much pain and conflict in the world,” he said. “‘Urinetown’ may have a message, but it’s also two hours of silliness. It’s good to get together with people and laugh.”

Staples Players Spring Musical

Staples Players performed their annual spring show of ‘Urinetown,’ a satirical musical. They performed on March 12 at 7 p.m., March 13-14 at 7:30 p.m. and March 14-15 at 2 p.m. Staples Players give us a behind the scenes look at the rehearsal process and some captivating moments of the actual performances.

Girls lead the way

Female-founded Staples clubs shine

Chloe Mitchell ʼ28 Paper Editor

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re highlighting the female-led clubs at Staples that are shaping the next generation of student leaders. From community service to nance to coding, these clubs not only empower girls to explore their interests but also create spaces where their voices, ideas, and ambitions can thrive.

Service League of Girls

From the moment the Service League of Girls [SLOGs] was created in her freshman year, Romy Gordon ’26 knew she wanted to be a part of it. Over the past three years, Gordon climbed her way up to the top and is now co-president with Graysen Peters ’26.

“My sister created the club her junior year,” Gordon said. “I was seeing her inspire people, and I knew I wanted to do the same.”

Beyond her position, one of Gordon’s main goals is to achieve parity between SLOGs and its male counterpart, e Service League of Boys (SLOBs), one of the biggest Staples clubs.

“We’re trying to inspire girls, showing [that] one girl can make a di erence,” Gordon said.

rough local companies and businesses, they nd service opportunities for girls to give back to the community.

EWGordon’s favorite event is the Wakeman Town Farm community day that is hosted each fall with SLOGs volunteers.

“Even if just one person shows up, that’s making a di erence in our community,” Gordon said. “Everything we do helps others, and it’s just working together and being able to improve the local community.”

Females in Finance

lla Cohen ’26 has always been interested in pursuing a business major in college. However, she noticed that in a male-dominated eld, many girls don’t feel comfortable speaking up and voicing their opinions.

As president of Females in

Finance, she works to build a supportive environment for Staples students to learn and make connections.

“Last year in my economics class, there were [only] four girls,” Cohen said. “I want them to learn something new, but I also want it to be a community.”

At the meetings, Cohen works with Jocelyn Connors ’26

Girls Who Code

hen Kate Bulkeley ’26 and Mishi Khamish ’28 aren’t in the computer science room, they’re busy leading Girls Who Code meetings. ey strive to create a fun, uplifting outlet using Blookets, games, prizes and guest speakers to help educate the next generation of female coders.

and Selma Abdelsadek ’26 to design and present nance-related lessons to club members.

“I was de nitely afraid of speaking out. Now, at every club meeting I have to get up there and talk to people, and there’s like 25 people there,” Cohen said. “So it’s de nitely … allowed me to grow as a person.”

“When I rst tried coding, I realized how cool and fun it is, and I really just wanted to give people an environment where they could also do that,” Bulkeley said.

Khamish’s older sister and former president, Izzy Khamish ’25, introduced her to coding and Girls Who Code. After following in her footsteps, Khamish is co-president with

Bulkeley.

“Seeing women conquer obstacles and reach[ing] these super high positions that 100 years ago wouldn’t have even been possible is what keeps me going,” Khamish said. “I want to show them that other women in the younger generation are also trying to accomplish the same goals.”

SOARING

Promoted BUT

Staples pushes for equity while girls’, boys’ crowd gap remains

Serena Goldfarb ʼ28

Paper Editor

Piper Salik ʼ28 Paper Editor

when both Staples boys’ and girls’ basketball teams advanced to the FCIAC finals—a single-ticket double header— the difference in crowd size was hard to miss. The boys’ team drew in packed stands and a roaring student section. Just an hour earlier, the girls’ final played to considerably fewer fans and quieter cheers. Despite ramped-up efforts from Staples’ official and unofficial social media outlets to reduce disparities between the boys’ and girls’ teams, moments

like the FCIAC finals make clear that those disparities persist and that the current efforts have yet to fully close the gap.

Girls’ basketball player Kennedy Do ’28 said the smaller crowd reflects a pattern that has followed the team throughout the season.

“I think the turnout for our games is very weak and, compared to the boys, we have a [worse] student section,” Do said.

The basketball crowd may highlight a broader issue for many girls’ sports at Staples. According to an anonymous Inklings survey with 166 responses, 59.4% of students report attending more than three boys’ games across all sports this year, while only 28.5% attend

more than three girls’ games across all sports.

Many students in the survey cited logistical hurdles, like time slots, to explain the low attendance at girls’ games.

“Boys often get the later slot, which is often easier to attend [because it occurs] after people’s after-school activities instead of during,” a female student wrote in the survey.

However, a closer look at game schedules suggests this may be more perception than reality. During the regular season, boys’ and girls’ basketball share equal time slots between 5:30 and 8 p.m., and soccer schedules are also comparable, with girls often playing in primetime slots after 4 p.m. In some cases, girls even receive

more access: this season, girls’ basketball had 13 home games compared to eight for boys, and girls’ soccer had 10 home games while boys had 11.

According to the survey results, nearly half of Staples students surveyed said they skip girls’ games because of a lack of information being posted on social media. The survey responses cited that they see more posts advertising boys’ teams on social media and so they are more apt to attend those games.

However, this, too, may be a misconception.

When VJ Sarullo became Athletic Director in 2023, addressing the imbalance in advertising girls’ and boys’ sports was at the top of his agenda.

“When you start a media

Not Supported

presence, you just need to make sure every program is represented equally—whether it’s a boys’, girls’, or co-ed sport,” Sarullo said.

Under his leadership, Inklings confirmed that the official Staples account now posts scores, schedules and highlights for all teams equally.

But those efforts for equity are not found on all platforms, including the Staples Superfans Instagram page, a central hub for sports promotion. Survey respondents and athletes alike noted that boys’ games dominate the feed, leaving girls’ programs with far less exposure.

“The Superfans account is the primary way of promoting our sports,” one Staples football player, who requested anonym-

ity, said. “I don’t think the girls’ sports get the same amount of hype on the account.”

Inklings analyzed the SuperFans page and found that from October 31, 2025 to March 11, 2026, only five of 45 posts highlighted girls’ sports. Meanwhile, the most engaged posts feature boys’ football and basketball.

For many students, that imbalance may reinforce the perception that girls’ sports are secondary, an issue the school continues to grapple with as it works toward more equitable coverage.

Sarullo acknowledges the time it takes to address inequality.

“I certainly am not saying we’re perfect in any area, but,

I think we do have good support,” Sarullo said. “If I’m here for 20 years, you’re still going to be working on all these things over the course of the 20 years.”

But for athletes in the midst of their seasons, the wait for equality seems longer. While administrative promotion increases visibility, players like Do believe the shift must come from the student body itself.

“I think the school tries to equally promote the teams,” Do said, “but there is a clear pride within the guys’ sports compared to the girls.”

OPEN FORUM

Leveling the Locker Room

Walking into the girls’ locker room before a game at Staples High School, I expected to feel nervous about competing. Instead, I was distracted by the space itself. The paint is chipped, the walls are scuffed, and the room feels worn down from years of heavy use. The layout is tight and the atmosphere feels tired. It hasn’t been meaningfully renovated in years. The space feels neglected and clearly not a priority. Meanwhile, boys’ athletic facilities have been modernized and updated, creating a visible contrast between where male and females prepare to compete. When one environment improves and another remains unchanged, it raises an uncomfortable question: whose programs are being prioritized?

Staples prides itself on excellence in athletics. But excellence should not depend on gender.

Title IX guarantees equal opportunities in school athletics. Yet booster club funding structures and weak oversight allow disparities in facilities and

resources to persist. Without intentional accountability from the school, female athletes remain at a structural disadvantage even when no one explicitly intends inequity.

Booster Clubs are parent-led organizations that raise money to support specific sports teams. Their contributions are generous and often essential. However, the structure of sport-specific fundraising can unintentionally create imbalances. Dr. Ted Kinder of the National Federation of State High School Association writes that “it is this money earmarked for a specific sport that usually creates these inequities in male and female sports”. When donations are directed toward one program, that team directly benefits through upgraded facilities, enhanced travel opportunities, and new equipment, while other teams receive less.

The issue is not generosity, it is structure.

Although parents understandably want control over how their contributions are spent,

public schools that receive federal funding are legally responsible for complying with Title IX across the entire athletic program. Political scientist Gwendolyn Mink explains that Title IX is not self-enforcing and only works if schools actively deploy and defend it. Equity is ultimately an administrative responsibility. These structural issues

are not abstract. In 2024, Staples graduate Siobhan Jebb publicly described feeling “jealous” of the boys’ facilities and pointed to the visible differences between locker rooms. When student-athletes begin comparing preparation spaces intended to focusing on performance, something deeper is at stake. Facilities communicate value. They signal

whose programs are invested in and whose are expected to make do.

Some argue that Title IX has already achieved its purpose because female participation in athletics has increased dramatically since 1972, when Title IX was enacted. But participation numbers do not guarantee equal equity. A roster spot does not mean equal facilities. Access does not automatically equal equity.

True fairness requires structural oversight.

If Staples is committed to upholding its values, administrators could consider consolidating sport-specific booster clubs into one unified athletic booster organization to reduce earmarked funding disparities. Booster leadership meetings could include transparent funding guidelines to ensure resources are

distributed equitably across boys’ and girls’ programs.

These changes would not discourage fundraising or diminish successful teams. Instead, they would ensure that generosity strengthens the entire athletic community rather than unintentionally widen gaps.

Sports is not a “niceto-have” for girls. They build leadership, resilience, confidence, and community. The spaces where athletes prepare matter. It sends messages

about value, investment, and belonging.

The condition of the girls locker room at Staples may not seem urgent. But when one group consistently walks into an outdated space while another benefits from visible upgrades, the message becomes clear. Title IX promises a level playing field. That promise becomes real only when schools actively enforce it.

Staples has the opportunity to lead not just in championships, but in fairness.