On January 18th, many internet users logged on to learn that thousands of websites were coordinating a blackout to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act in the United States Senate. CitySquash high schoolers Marisela Palafox and Stacey Maceda were no different. And when Marisela and Stacy read more about the law in a CitySquash academic session a few weeks ago, they wanted to make their voices heard. Last Saturday, they came to the learning center to write letters to New York Senators Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillenbrand. Censorship was the focus of the girls’ concerns. “In my opinion, the bill would go against the first amendment, which protects the freedom of speech and press,” wrote Marisela. The poor economy and the right to access content for free were also issues the girls brought up. The bills are currently being rewritten, and Stacy and Marisela urged Senators Schumer and Gillenbrand to “keep [their] arguments in mind during these revisions.”

For the second straight year, CitySquash won four titles at the Urban Team Nationals which were held last weekend at our home courts at Fordham University and the StreetSquash Center in Harlem. CitySquash won the boys and girls under 13 divisions as well as the girls under 15 division. CitySquash high schooler, Marisela Palafox, won the girls under 19 essay competition for her essay on perseverance.

The tournament was a huge success in general, bringing together over 300 participants from ten NUSEA member organizations. The tournament was also the first time CitySquash hosted a tournament in its new facility at Fordham University. Congratulations to the CitySquash teams and all the competitors for a great weekend of squash!