Dear Readers, 

  

It is with excitement and pride that we publish this third issue of the Avenues Online literary journal, The Network.

 

Each issue of this journal focuses on a question that is relevant to current events. When current events were examined—the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the short-selling of Gamestop stock, the need for regulation of cryptocurrencies, and the threat of inflation—we realized that all these issues were linked by money. Displaced workers of the COVID-19 pandemic lacked money. Industries that could be flexible and adapt to the pandemic gained money at the expense of those industries that could not adapt. The manipulation of stock values caused some investors to gain money at the expense of others. Cryptocurrencies are a substitute for money, and inflation lessens the value of money. Thus, all these events are like a game because they change who has money and how much this money is worth. Some players win, and some players lose.

 

Therefore, these issues led us to ask the question, “Is Money Just a Game?” which is the theme of the Spring 2021 issue. 

 

To explore this question, Sohum Tripathi (’24) considers the morality of money and how each decision made when spending or making money carries with it an underlying moral question of right versus wrong. Emma Brashear (’23) interprets this theme from a health perspective by considering the relevant topic of quality-adjusted life years. Grace Pitts (’23) considers the financial impact of COVID-19 on foster children. Further, Yehuda Zilberstein reflects on the efficacy of cryptocurrency while Noor Alam (’23) writes about the importance of U.S. currency.

 

Yehuda Zilberstein (’23) interviews Dr. Dirk DeLo, AON Mathematics Faculty member, who discusses sailing, the value of mathematics, and the importance of using a spreadsheet in managing one’s own money.

 

The language page examines Mandarin, including its origins and history. This language was selected because of its relevance to the issue theme. Mandarin may soon be the language of business. China has the second largest economy in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world, and Mandarin is spoken by more than one billion people worldwide.

 

Tyler Landsman (’24) interprets this issue’s theme through a work of creative fiction, "The Broken Empire". Louise Culbertson, Julia Hristov, Fiona Poth, and Sohum Tripathi each interpret this theme through art. Julia Hristov (’24) uses two different methods—pencil on paper and black charcoal—to create two unique works. Louise Culbertson (’26), Malia Radcliffe ('25), and Sohum Tripathi (’24) offer a photographic interpretation of the theme. 

  

We hope that this issue will inspire more students to participate. This journal is a student publication, and its success is predicated on student participation. As the student editors, we hope that it will grow and that additional sections will be added as other students' interests are discovered.

 

We would like to give a special thank you to our Faculty Advisor, Ms. Amy Rosenberg, for her unfaltering belief in this publication and untiring support of our efforts. We would also like to thank Mr. Austin Volz, AON Director of Program Design, for his polyglot expertise. In addition, we want to thank Mr. Tim Carr, Head of School, and Mr. Nima Rouhanifard, Director of Student Life and Learning Upper Division, for their support of this publication. Finally, we want to thank all the students who contributed to this edition and their parents for believing in Avenues Online. 

 

Please enjoy this issue. We hope it engages you, enlightens you, and informs you. 

 

Editorially Yours,

Yehuda Zilberstein (’23) and Fiona Poth (’24)

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