The Merionite Ardmore, PA, 19003
September 16, 2013
The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org Volume 85, Issue 1
Track renovations for 2013-2014 year Shreya Dundumalla
Class of 2013 Track runners can warm up for a new season as the LM track is renovated for the first time in 30 years. The first track at LM opened in 1989, and was later named Arnold Field after the father of the US Air Force and LMHS alumnus General Henry Arnold, class of 1903. This track’s installment was started in June of 1987 and cost the district $320,000. It included an all-weather 400-meter track with eight lanes, electrical hookups at each field for scoreboards, and irrigation sprinkler systems for the football and other fields. The original track had a life expectancy of twenty years. Over the past few years, the track has received an increased amount of maintenance and repairs. Since 2007, the school district has spent approximately $29,000 on repairs. With the worsening condition of the track in mind, the decision was made to renovate. In December, a design professional estimated the cost of the track renovation to be in the range of $700,000 to $850,000; in the end the total cost contracted at $830,335. After a public overview of the project in April, work on the track started on May 30 and was expected to be completed by August 9. The new track has a life expectancy of twenty to twenty-five years and contains the installment of a new running track and synthetic field. Furthermore, it includes renovations to the high jump and shot put areas, pole vault, and the long jump runway and pit. Work also included the installation of new fencing and gates, and minor grading work to improve storm water drainage. The new track has eight lanes and is an all-weather track that will be able to hold larger track meets. It also has the same maroon coloring of the previous track. Gary Musial, LMSD’s Maintenance Coordinator, stated that “the initial challenge on the project was meeting a tight schedule.” Work was estimated to be completed on August 9, but has been delayed due to extremely rainy conditions through the months of June and July, and unforeseen conditions related to the track sub-grade and subsoil. The problem encountered with the subgrade and subsoil was discovered after the existing synthetic surface and asphalt were removed. Over 50 percent of the track sub-grade and subsoil would not meet design criteria to support the new track surface. After removing the sub-grade material from the entire track and 20 percent of the subsoil material, the areas were stabilized, and asphalt and wearing courses were applied. This entire process totaled $149,335. Sports practices slated to practice on the synthetic fields by August 12 were moved to the new and existing natural grass field on the Arnold Field grounds. As of August 23, all work on the track, with the exception of the installation of the running surface, has begun and will continue daily as weather permits. The rest is expected to be completed shortly after. Many people are waiting to use the finished track. Junior Kirah Cahill, one of many who are anticipating the upcoming finished track said, “I think it’s really great that the school has so much money to provide an outstanding track for its users. So far the track looks great and I’m looking forward to using it.” The track is expected to be completely finished and open to LM athletes and the public on or
See TRACK, page 2
around September 7.
Photo courtesy of Galen McMullen/Staff Montgomery County Courthouse: Pennsylvania’s gay rights battleground
Mont. Co. fights PA for gay marriage Leslie Gladstone
Class of 2016 Last June, just eight days after most LM students emptied out of the building for the summer, monumental rulings by the Supreme Court changed our nation’s course in history. On June 26, The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s Proposition 8, two colossal barriers to gay equality were ruled unconstitutional. By overturning DOMA, the Supreme Court set a precedent that all legally married couples in our country, gay or straight, must be viewed as equals. Therefore, federal financial services, such as Social Security and veteran’s benefits, are now identical for gay and straight couples. Additionally, the striking down of Proposition 8 permanently bans California from restricting marriage to just between a man and a woman. These Supreme Court decisions reignited the fight for gay equality in the United States. Urgency for change swept the nation, blowing up social media, dominating news broadcasts, and enthusing the masses. Once DOMA
and Proposition 8 were ruled unconstitutional, the legal barriers of gay discrimination were shattered. Presently, thirteen states and the District of Columbia have legalized gay marriage. Pennsylvania, however, has yet to jump on the bandwagon. Nonetheless, recent events nationwide are responsible for stirring the pot and initiating a lawsuit in Harrisburg. Two weeks after the Supreme Court’s rulings, ten gay couples with the American Civil Liberties Union filed lawsuit against the PA state government and its marriage law which denies legal marriage to same-sex couples. Additionally, the Democratic Attorney General Kathleen Kane, who enforces Pennsylvania state laws, responded to the lawsuit with a bold statement. Kane announced that she would not defend the present marriage law. During her unexpected announcement at the Constitution Center on July 16th, Kane was quoted saying, “We are the land of the free and the home of the brave, and I want to start acting like that,”. Republican politicians were furious that Kane shirked her responsibilities as Attorney General and decided
See GAY RIGHTS, page 2
Art and music budget cut scare
Julia Haines
Class of 2014
For the past couple of months, the future of art and music education in LMSD has hung in the balance. Due to unsatisfactory writing and science PSSA scores in the district’s elementary schools, the school board requested more PSSA preparation. LMSD, however, ranks eighth out of 500 school districts for overall PSSA scores. To make time for additional preparation, the school board proposed to shorten “specials,” which are art, music, and gym. “Specials” originally met up to 35 times a year. Under the new plan, “specials” would only meet 31 times. This proposed schedule was met with outrage from teachers and parents alike. Ultimately, the school board chose to retain the district’s art and music programs in their entirety. When asked about the future of art and music education in the district, Doug Young, director of community relations in LM said, “We intend to preserve the arts and music programs for as long as possible at [LMSD].” LM’s budget, however, is going through what Principal Hughes calls “an overall tightening” This is largely due to spending and construction costs. Some LM students may have noticed this slight deficiency last year, especially in the art department. Art teachers have been increasingly reluctant to let students from other classes borrow materials. Hughes, explaining the new changes, said, “Teachers in the art department are very responsible now for their supplies and resources, but it’s always kind of been that way. We didn’t lose anything.” Art and music students
have access to the same quality of materials that they have always had. Despite budget changes, art and music programs at LM are still thriving. An increased amount of students are taking AP Studio Art and film arts classes. A new ceramics teacher, Peter Ranieri, will split his time between LM and Harriton. According to Mr. Hughes, one of the art and music departments’ strongest assets is the departments’ consistent curriculum growth. LM was one of the first art departments in the county to incorporate programs such as multi-media and graphic arts into its curriculum. “The art department is always asking, ‘What is the twenty-first century need?’” says Hughes. The music program at LM is equally remarkable. This past spring, the NAMM Foundation named LMSD one of the nation’s “Best Communities for Music Education.” This distinction was awarded to only 307 communities nationwide. LM’s stellar music programs have received praise from experts in the field as well. Hughes explains, “A couple of times we’ve had members from the Philadelphia orchestra play with our musicians. To hear them say, ‘This is the most incredible group of young people we’ve played with,” really exemplifies the talent that we have.” So why are the arts so valuable at LM? According to Hughes, “I always felt like art and music are really good foundations for everything that you do. Art really helps how you process things. It makes you a more well rounded individual, a well rounded student, and I think it gives you a really good preparation for what the future holds for each of us. You don’t have to be an artist to take an art class.”