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Written by: Sameer Ahuja

Published: 12 June 2023

Created: 12 June 2023

Last Updated: 12 June 2023

Hits: 1936

Bully: “one who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable” (Merriam-Webster).

We are all familiar with the stereotypical image of a bully—aggressive jocks and “mean girls.” But with the rise of social media, bullying has turned from “personal” to virtual. Moreover, social media has not only enabled cyberbullying but also the defamation of celebrities and politicians. Sameer Ahuja, a Scarsdale Village Trustee and the President of sports tech company GameChanger, is worried that the improvement of deep fakes, digitally created images or videos of others, will only intensify these issues. 

Ahuja writes a newsletter, Consume at Once, that discusses how technology is transforming how we create and consume movies, videos, TV, games, sports, and social media. He recently wrote Deep Fakes are a Threat to Us All, which identifies AI’s societal implications and steps we can take to combat its effects:

"Imagine you spent your whole life preparing for a career in politics. 

As a child you immersed yourself in the stump speeches of famous Presidents and Senators. You studied arduously from undergrad to law school, familiarizing yourself with not just civics, but arcane minutia surrounding Congressional committees and bill passage. 

Finally, you find yourself in D.C., working towards your big break as a staffer for one of our country’s leaders. By now, you’ve paid your dues, maintained a sterling reputation, and scrubbed anything on the web that could be deemed even remotely problematic. 

And then 'it' comes out. 

And by it, I mean a video drops online. It depicts you inebriated one night out in college. In the clip, you say and do inappropriate things. Your heart races as you imagine all the pundits discussing this humiliation on CNN. You can visualize the memes they’ll create about you, demolishing any potential you might have had.

Yet the more you stare at this video, the more it occurs to you: this isn’t you. Your face seems doctored, and your voice isn’t quite right. But here’s the really bad part: no one will believe this isn’t you when you try to tell them. 

It looks so real. It sounds so real.

You scramble to think what to do next, but you can’t. Not with all the text messages flying in. 

'COULD THIS HAPPEN TO YOU?'

It wasn’t long ago that parents strongly emphasized limiting what their kids put on the Internet. (“Be careful what you post to Facebook! What might a future employer say?”) But does it matter anymore if suddenly anyone with a WIFI signal can produce a convincing deep fake and wreck your life? 

This is the world we are entering as AI becomes highly realistic. And it’s just the beginning.

Consider this. If the tech to create deep fakes was good only a couple of years ago—back when it was used to impersonate Tom Cruise, imagine what it’s capable of in 2023—the year AI went mainstream.

Zooming out to better grok societal implications, it’s fair to suggest every innovation comes at a cost. Fire’s invention enabled our food to taste better. It also made us susceptible to more burns, death, and mass destruction. Likewise, the nuclear bomb is credited for ending World War II—and killing between 130,000 to 230,000 people.

Our digital age, especially the Attention Economy, offers similar blessings and curses. AI gives us unprecedented abilities, especially to produce (ersatz) content. Yet as Spiderman teaches us, “With great power comes great responsibility.” 

So what can we do? 

It's clear laws haven’t caught up to the speed of innovation. Certainly, some punishment could be levied against perpetrators/disseminators of deep fake content. Yet the sheer volume of content being produced makes it nearly impossible to track down and prosecute each offender. 

No. Combatting this issue, wherever it pops up in the coming years, requires the human touch.

We must have a long-overdue national discussion—both on this issue and AI in general. That’s because 2023 is the year AI went mainstream.

Beyond building awareness of the problem, it’s past time we use a public forum to establish ethical guidelines. These should be designed to protect individuals from harm and ensure rights are respected. Victims especially must be at the forefront of our discussions, not simply an afterthought. 

One possible solution is to create a 'golden rule' outlining ethical principles to abide by when creating or sharing online content. Among other things, it should emphasize consent and respect for privacy. 

(Yes, I’m aware it sounds naïve to propose something voluntary.) To build momentum for my idea, I suggest giving it teeth by encouraging a groundswell of influencers to support it—creating positive peer pressure. 

There’s another consideration worth exploring: our cultural zeitgeist. 

To this point, production expectations can be another double-edged sword. Here’s why. For more than a decade, AI-based algorithms encouraged intrepid creators to pump out as much content as possible. As we know, YouTube and Instagram reward quantity and frequency.

Now for the flip side.

The more any of us put ourselves out there digitally, the more vulnerable we become. (As the story at the top of this article dramatizes.)

Already, music from popular artists like Drake has been imitated with surprising success. Of course, politicians are also particularly vulnerable. Presidents Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s likenesses have been replicated ad nauseum. 

Put simply, an increased digital footprint raises chances for imitation. This is especially horrifying for the millions who built livelihoods off content creation. But it’s even worse for 'civilians'—such as families who have been ransomed by deep fake kidnappers claiming to have their child.   

Fortunately, growing concern offers a foothold to turn this around. 

Last year, the White House introduced a Blueprint for an Automation Bill of Rights aimed at 'Making automated systems work for the American people.' Simultaneously, the EU drafted the AI Act designed to mitigate privacy challenges and establish automation regulations. 

Another positive? Many online platforms are community driven. 

Thanks to years of putting out authentic content, creators often have the benefit of enormously supportive communities. So while salacious stories about AI produce entertaining headlines, we can look to good old-fashioned humanity to counter digital threats.

For now, deep fakes aren’t going anywhere. 

What was once largely kept in the shadows—relegated to the fringes of the internet—has gone mainstream. (Pseudo) content proliferation is here to stay.

On the flip side? 

Authenticity and deeper human connection will become ever more valuable commodities going forward. Here’s to navigating our brave new world together, one day at a time."

Sameer Ahuja

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Written by: Joanne Wallenstein

Published: 03 June 2023

Created: 03 June 2023

Last Updated: 03 June 2023

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It’s been some week for the Scarsdale Boy’s Lacrosse Team. On Wednesday May 31, the team won the sectional title for the third year in a row, defeating rival Mamaroneck 10-7 at Yorktown Heights.

On Thursday night the seniors attended the prom – and then it was back on the field on Saturday morning in Mahopac where they played the Section 2 winner, Shenendehowa. At the end of the third quarter, things were not looking good for the Raiders. They ended the quarter 9-4.

But in a miraculous four quarter they scored six goal and came back to defeat Shenendehowa 10-9.!

Now in the final four they are headed to Albany on Wednesday to battle for the state title.

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Written by: Sajiv Mehta

Published: 25 May 2023

Created: 25 May 2023

Last Updated: 26 May 2023

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Boys’ Tennis – On Sunday, 5/21, the team was victorious in the Section 1 championship, sweeping the field 4-0. The very next day (Monday, 5/22), the Raiders won again, this time in the sub-regional round of the state tournament with a score of 6-1. Standouts like sophomore Sam Saeed will look to lead them past Ithaca at the Binghamton University tennis courts at 1pm on Thursday, 5/25. After failing to capture the section title last year, the team has proven to be resilient this year, going much further than just a section championship.

Girls’ Golf: At the Section 1 Girls’ golf tournament, the Raiders were successful yet again. As a team, they finished in 2nd place with a total score of 317. However, individually, they found even more success. Most notably, sophomore Emma Lee successfully defended her title from the ‘22 season, shooting even-par 72 on both days to clear the field and assert yet again that she is the best player in the section. She will have the opportunity to play in the New York State tournament in June, as will fellow sophomore Allison Khan. Sophomore Chloe Ji also had a solid two rounds, missing out on a state tournament berth by just one stroke.

Boys’ Golf – On Tuesday, 5/23, the Raiders competed for a team Section 1 title. After coming in 2nd in the regular season differential, they lost home course advantage for the section championship for the first time in half a decade. This meant that Scarsdale had to go try and win at Rye Golf Club, Rye’s home course. Other than Rye, Bronxville and John Jay Cross-River played. After losing to Bronxville by a wide margin last year, Scarsdale came to play this Tuesday, shooting 197, better by 8 than the closest other time, Rye. John Jay Cross-River shot 207 and Bronxville came in 4th place with a score of 217. Junior Justin Liu and sophomore section champion Leo Chu led the Raiders with scores of 2-over 38. It was another extremely successful year for Scarsdale, finishing with a record of 16 wins and 1 loss. They have now won 6 championships in the last 10 seasons.

Girls’ Flag Football – Scarsdale prevailed against a struggling Poughkeepsie team in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday, 5/18, winning 7-0. Then, on Saturday, 5/20, the team won a thriller at home against Clarkstown, leading them into the Section 1 championship against Eastchester at Mahopac High School on Wednesday, 5/24. Unfortunately, leaders like junior quarterback Ivy Boockvar weren’t able to overcome an extremely strong Eagles team, who won 20-0. Overall, however, the Raiders were still extremely successful for the second straight year, finishing with a record of 14 wins, 2 losses, and 2 draws. They will look to repeat their success for the third straight year in 2024.

Boys’ Lacrosse – This week, boys’ lacrosse began their playoff run in hopes of three-peating as Section 1 champions. On Tuesday, 5/13, the Raiders played Wappingers in the sectional quarterfinal and opened strong. They dominated at home, 15-1, with several players taking on a meaningful role. Junior Jake Goldstein led the team in points, as he has at several points this year, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists. Fellow junior Rhett Needleman also scored 3 goals. Scarsdale’s faceoff specialist, senior Colby Baldwin, also scored a goal while dominating at his position as usual, winning 12 of 13 draws. Now, the team looks ahead to a matchup against Carmel on Friday, 5/24 in the sectional semifinal.

Girls’ Lacrosse – Scarsdale’s season came to a close on Friday 5/19. In a tough first-round matchup against a dominant North Rockland squad, the Raiders fell, 12-4. Their final record for the season sits at 6 wins and 11 losses, but with Division 1 college recruits like junior Nina Franco on the team, they will look to rebuild and come out stronger next spring.

Softball – On Thursday, 5/18, the Raiders lost a close game in the first round of the Section 1 playoffs to a strong Ossining team. The final score was 10-6, Ossining, bringing Scarsdale’s overall record to 8 wins and 13 losses. With many key returners coming back next season, the team will look to make a key playoff run in 2024.

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Written by: Sajiv Mehta

Published: 18 May 2023

Created: 18 May 2023

Last Updated: 20 May 2023

Hits: 1935

Boys’ Golf – On Thursday, 5/11, Scarsdale rounded out the regular season with a match against Harrison at Old Oaks Country Club, winning 195 to 212. Junior Sajiv Mehta led the Raiders with a 1-over 37. The Raiders finished the regular season with 15 wins and 1 loss and 2nd overall in terms of differential. They will compete for a team section title next Tuesday, 5/23 at Rye Golf Club. Individually, 3 players from Scarsdale were all-section at the Section 1 Golf Tournament this week, with it wrapping up on Wednesday, 5/17. Scarsdale Sophomore Leo Chu won the tournament with scores of 74 and 73, a high distinction and one that gives him the chance to play at the State Tournament in June.

Baseball – On Tuesday, 5/9, Scarsdale beat Horace Greeley 10-8. Senior 3rd Baseman Ian Silberstein played particularly well, with 2 hits and 3 RBI’s. Wes Ulrich racked up the win with 2.2 innings pitched and only 3 hits allowed. On Wednesday, 5/10, however, the Raiders’ regular season came to a close with a disappointing 12-2 loss. They finished the regular season with a record of 8 wins and 12 losses. On Monday, 5/15, the team played in the first round of the playoffs against North Rockland. They were competitive for 4 innings before Rockland pulled away, eventually beating Scarsdale 12-4. Wes Ulrich pitched well again, going 4 full innings and allowing only 2 earned runs. Scarsdale was ultimately eliminated and their 2023 season came to a close.



Girls’ Flag Football – The Raiders defeated the struggling Trailblazers 7-0 on Monday, 5/15 to round out their regular season. Scarsdale’s season record ended at an impressive 12 wins, 1 loss, and 2 draws. They scored 23.6 points per game and allowed only 3.9 points per game. They were led by junior quarterback Ivy Boockvar.

Boys’ Lacrosse – Scarsdale closed out the regular season recently and will now look forward to postseason play. On Wednesday, 5/10, the team lost a nail-biter to rival Mamaroneck 13-10, ending a win streak four games long. However, the Raiders bounced back against a strong, successful North Rockland team on Saturday, 5/13, dominating with a score of 13-5.  The Scarsdale Youth Lacrosse program came to the game to cheer on the team. Senior Colby Baldwin had 2 goals, 2 assists, and was 17 for 19 on draws, and junior Jake Goldstein had 1 goal and 3 assists. Senior goalie Andrew Lehrman recorded 15 saves. The Raiders’ final regular season record sits at 10 wins and 6 losses overall and 8 wins and 3 losses in Section 1. They will be moving on to postseason play with hopes of three-peating as Section 1 champions.

Girls’ Lacrosse – The Raiders closed out the regular season last week and will be preparing for the 1st round of sectional playoffs. They played two teams with winning records, Byram Hills and Bronxville, on Monday, 5/8 and Tuesday, 5/9 respectively, triumphing in both matchups. This brought their overall record to 6 wins and 10 losses, lining them up for a matchup against
an extremely strong North Rockland team on Friday, 5/19. The Raiders have not faced Rockland yet this year.

Softball – Since the last Raider Roundup, the team played New Rochelle (Wed., 5/10), Mamaroneck (Fri., 5/12), and Mount Vernon (Sat., 5/13). These were the last three games of the regular season, and the Raiders won two out of three. Against New Rochelle, they fell 14-0 and at Mamaroneck, they lost 19-4. However, they bounced back against Mount Vernon, racking up a victory with a score of 25-5. This gives them momentum going into the playoffs – their first round matchup has not yet been announced. Their final regular season record sat at 8 wins and 12 losses.

Boys’ Tennis – On Wednesday, 5/10, the team beat Byram Hills in the last match of on the road 4-3, winning the league and ending the regular season. From Monday, 5/22 to Friday, 5/26, the Raiders will play in the team sectional tournament. Key players like sophomore Sam Saeed will look to lift Scarsdale to a team sectional championship against strong teams like rival Mamaroneck. Working in their favor is the fact that the first 3 days of the team sectional championship is at Scarsdale High School, giving the Raiders solid home-court advantage.

Girls’ Golf: This week, the team played their last regular season match at Whippoorwill Country Club against Byram Hills. The roster for Scarsdale included junior Anjali Schoetz, freshman Rory Winston, senior Ellie Bowen, sophomore Chloe Ji and Allison Kahn, and freshman Liya Chu. The Raiders did not drop a single match this season, meaning they are first in Section 1 yet again. They will look for a repeat of individual success at the Section 1 Girls’ Golf Tournament on Thursday, 5/18 and Monday, 5/22. Last year, then-freshman Emma Lee triumphed over the field to win the tournament. Fellow team leader Kahn will look for success, as will successful newcomers Chu and Winston.