Ms. Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea (From Rampage)

I am proud to be one of two sports editors for my school’s newspaper, The Rampage. For its most recent issue, I wrote an opinion piece called “Ms. Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea” about Hasbro’s new game, Ms. Monopoly. I’ve decided to share the article I wrote here as well as I feel it is an important topic that has not gotten much media attention. It is a good assessment of how far our society still has to go in regard to gender equality and representation. I also attribute credit to the hardworking editing staff of The Rampage who revised my article for press. Thank you!

Ms Monopoly: A Bankrupt Idea

On September 9, 2019, Hasbro Game and Toys announced Ms. Monopoly, the newest installment in their Monopoly game franchise. Hasbro promotes the game as a game where “women make more than men do.” Now, a few months out of the game’s release, it is safe to say that Hasbro’s new game was not a million dollar idea.

Hasbro’s website calls Ms. Monopoly “the first game where women make more than men” This slogan in itself is troubling, as it promotes the message that women make more than men, as opposed to sending a message that men and women can be equal profiters. 

The game also has questionable rules that also promote gender inequalities. The starts with female players receiving more starting money than the male players, as female players start with $1,900 while male players start with only $1,500. Female players also collect $240 when they pass “Go”, while male players only get the standard $200 of regular Monopoly.

These new rules imply a dangerous notion that women need more money or a “head start” against men to be able to make more money than them. This is sending a poor message to young girls as well as young boys, the target demographics of the game, as it is telling them that girls will always need an unfair advantage to keep up with boys.

Ms. Monopoly has also tried to modernize the game from its original variation, replacing railroads with rideshare companies (like Uber), and replacing utilities with Wi-Fi. It has also substituted its iconic real estate properties with products and businesses that were created by women such as chocolate chip cookies and female athletic shapewear. 

While it is a noble idea of Hasbro to highlight women entrepreneurship, they should have found a way to do it without having to completely rework the rules and structure of Monopoly to make women succeed. The message of the game is completely out of sync with modern society, as it ultimately undermines what a woman is capable of doing in business. Girls have been beating boys in the classic Monopoly game since its origins; they did not need their own version to win.

-Emma  

My Weekend in Philly: Cheesesteaks Not Included.

This weekend, my family and I went on an excursion to the historical city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And while no, I didn’t visit the Liberty Bell (my 5th grade field trip already covered that), nor did I eat any Philly cheesesteaks, I was able to get a close-up look at our nation’s former capital.

Philly, similar to Boston, is a city that in modern day still remains a center of evolving culture, diverse people, elite universities, and great sports teams, in addition to its incomparable roots in American history. Philadelphia’s connection to America’s past in inescapable; artwork, sculptures, and architecture from the beginning of our country still remain and are embraced. Philadelphia’s NBA even harkens back to America’s foundation, calling themselves the “76ers”.

However, Philadelphia’s bridge from the past to the present is what makes it. in my opinion, a more intriguing city than Boston. Almost like small cities within the larger whole of Philadelphia, you can totally remove yourself from the history and be immersed in a twenty-first century metropolis, bustling with contemporary art museums, stadiums and arenas, and a diverse and lively night life.

In my short visit to Philadelphia, i was fortunate enough to visit the University of Pennsylvania, one of the most esteemed universities in the world. A member of the Ivy League, UPenn is a university that prides itself on academic excellence, a robust yet flexible curriculum, and of course, the luxury of being in the center of a major U.S. city.

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to Penn; students were engaged in learning, taking on multiple majors, seeking summer opportunities, and volunteering their time to present to potential students. Students at Penn, like other elite universities, love to learn and grow as students and individuals, and that energy was very present on the Penn campus.

Similar to the city of Philadelphia, Penn is full of artwork, specifically sculptures, that are both beautiful and interesting, which is a good way to summarize the Penn campus. Buildings with old and historical exteriors are met with sleek and modern interiors, to maintain the” Ivy League look” if you will, while also creating the most productive work spaces for students.

While walking through the campus, I totally forgot I was in Philadelphia. The campus is big, but not too big, and has plenty going on. However, being able to step right outside the campus into a city like Philadelphia is a fantastic privilege that Penn students definitely take advantage of (and they’re encouraged to do so socially and academically).

Philadelphia was a city I liked more as I saw more, and a city I hope to return to. No, it is not New York, or San Francisco, or Washington D.C., but it is a great place to be, whether you're in the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed, or at a Taylor Swift concert, and certainly a great city to go to school, especially when there is a school at the caliber of Penn in the heart of it.

Me in front of the LOVE sculpture at the University of Pennsylvania!

Understanding Apple: Why They Can Make a $2,000 Phone

Today, September 11, 2019, Apple officially announced the anticipated annual line of iPhones (right in time for the 2019 holiday season). And although this year’s Apple event seemed pretty tame and routine compared to past years, their iPhone announcement appears to have been worth the wait; however, is this phone truly worth $2,000? And also, why is Apple able to ramp up their prices and still dominate the market?

Getting into the iPhone Pro, it turns out the months of rumors were true; Apple’s new flagship iPhone has been revealed as the “iPhone Pro”! The name, in my opinion, is very fitting, with the MacBook Pro being out for years and the iPad recently also going Pro. So what features have made this particular iPhone worthy of the Pro title?

1. The new iPhone has three cameras—yes, not one, not two, but now three (bulky and pretty unattractive) cameras. There is a telephoto lens, a wide lens, and an ultra wide lens. It may not look pretty, but it is powerful, and now there is support for slow-motion selfies, or “slofies” and now a dark camera mode that takes better photos in dark lighting, so those two features alone must bump the price up of the phone at least $500. But we will get into why people buy into this later.

2. 4K video footage now makes the iPhone have (at least on paper) the highest video quality on any smartphone in the world. And now Apple will finally allow users more editing freedom with their videos (yes, you can now crop a video—it’s about time!).

3. The A13 chip. Ah yes, this is the bad boy processor that warrants the Pro name. This iPhone will be almost too fast to handle. It also is giving users an extra five hours of battery life.

Pictured above: images of the three cameras included with the iPhone 11 Pro. Courtesy of apple.com

Now, all of these features are great, but nothing is really new or groundbreaking. So why on earth, many would ask, would anyone spend money on this particular iPhone, going upwards of $2,000?

The question of how Apple continues to charge ridiculous prices and still come out on top is perhaps one of the greatest economic (and psychologic, in my opinion) wonders of the twenty-first century. But the answer is quite simple: Apple is just that good.

Before all the Android lovers attack, I am not saying that Apple, specifically iPhones, are objectively superior to other smartphones. Other smartphones brand often create features that Apple adapts later on, or never adapt at all. Apple remains superior for two simple, yet critical reasons: the look and the ecosystem.

The Look

When you pick up an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or any other Apple product, you instantly know it is Apple. The sleek designs of their products have become iconic, and no other tech company even comes close to the beauty of Apple products. From the logo, to the stunning stock wallpapers, to the vibrant and playful app icons, Apple’s “look” is something that sucks consumers in, and that beauty is absent when looking at its competition.

The Ecosystem

While typing this on Safari, I could scroll up to the top right corner of my browser, select the share button, hit AirDrop, and within seconds share the link to this post to my phone, and whatever other iPhones, iPads, or Macs in my general vicinity. That is just one example of the highly advanced and unparalleled experience that Apple provides its consumers with. The Apple ecosystem makes everything in life easier; it connects all Apple products so seamlessly and efficiently, that living with any other tech would seem like more of a hassle than an assistant.

Apple products are simple. They’re simple to use, simple to love, and simple to sync together. And while other companies may boast bells and whistles that Apple can’t, the way that Apple has built its brand makes it almost impossible for Apple consumers to look back. Apple products truly make life easier, so yes, the iPhone 11 Pro is not the revolutionary phone Apple has ever made, not even close. And no, it’s not one I would say is worth Apple’s highest price tag. But it doesn’t matter; Apple has the liberty to charge $2,000 for a phone. And why? Because they’re that good, and they know it too.

Emma