The Pharcyde August 2012 by Annelise Hillmann

4875 Grandiflora Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL, 33418

August 21, 2012

Volume 33

Issue 1

Administrators praise improved AP scores By Casey Pearce Managing Editor

The recent AP exam scores delighted administrators when they learned that Benjamin students passed 91% of their exams. This pass rate is a four percent increase from the previous year. AP exams are scored on a scale of one to five, with scores above three considered passing grades. According to school

policy, if a student takes an AP course, he or she must commit to take the AP examination at the end of the year. In addition, 67% of the participants received fours and fives, with 36% earning fives and 31% fours. Compared to other schools in the area, Benjamin’s test scores are high. In 2011, Pine Crest School in Boca Raton had a 74% passing rate on their APs, according to its website.

See AP Scores page 3

Ford diagnosed with cancer, substitute hired By Lauren Bernick Co-Editor-in-Chief

Visual Arts Department Chair Mrs. Melissa Ford was diagnosed with breast cancer at the beginning of summer break. She is currently receiving treatment and will be on leave for what she anticipates to be 3 to 6 weeks. TBS was pleased to find Mr. Dennis Tishkowsky, a recently retired photography teacher from John I. Leonard High School who has been teaching visual arts for 31 years. “He is excited about the opportunity to help us out, and I am confident that he will bring a high level of expertise to those classes,” Head of Upper School Mr. Latta Baucom said. “We are very fortunate to have him.” Mr. Tishkowsky taught several photography classes at John I. Leonard High School.

“Everybody here has just been spectacular .... I think that my expectations are going to be every bit as high as Ms. Ford’s, and I hope she is happy with my results when she returns,” he said. “I hope my time here is brief for her benefit.” Mr. Baucom shared his hopes for Ms. Ford’s recovery and her enthusiasm to return to school. “I am sure we all share the same concerns for Mrs. Ford during this difficult time. We were encouraged to learn that her surgery went well, but we know that she still has a challenging recovery ahead of her. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Ford family,” he said. “When I spoke to her a few days before her surgery, she was already thinking ahead and was looking forward to getting back v to school as soon she could.”

BEN GERMANO / Co-Editor-in-Chief

The cast and crew spent nearly a whole day filming in front of the concession stand.

Campus used as set for movie Students and staff had the unique opportunity to participate in and observe the filming of the movie Ned Venture for two days this summer on the upper school campus, as the cast and crew shot scenes in front of the concession stand and in the video productions studio. The production team decided to film at Benjamin after touring the local NBC station as a potential location, because of the need to film a press release scene in a video production studio along with a school scene. The movie, which is directed by Mr. Ron

Stone, features one Benjamin student as an extra and behind the scenes work from several faculty members. The film was shot on July 7 and 8. The plot of the action and comedy film focuses on teenager Ned Venture, a middle school skateboarder, who comes across a stolen collection of diamonds while skating. The diamond thieves find that Ned Venture discovered their treasure and then attempt to regain possession of their diamonds in action scenes that feature high speed car chases, along with school-themed scenes. Benjamin was a perfect fit for the local movie to be shot, according to Locations Manager Ms.

Sheila Schwartz, who first recommended the location to director Mr. Stone. “We were looking for a grassy patch near a beach originally, until I saw the lower school campus,” Schwartz said. “I actually took a picture of the lower school campus with my phone and showed the director the location and he liked it.” The presence of a video production studio was also a factor in the choice to move to the upper school campus. One scene filmed on campus concentrated on Ned Venture, played by Jordan Bellace, who gets in trouble for gambling in front of the concession stand at lunch. The scene required extras

tempo and probably complexity, and that’s how we learn.” The change, he said, will allow assignments of greater weight in the second quarter to be appropriately averaged with those of a lesser complexity in the first. Junior Alexa LaBarbiera sees the merit in this change. “It will give students more time to focus and increase their grades [to their liking without] the normal nine-week time constraint,” she said. Senior Adrienne Propp, who was the ranking scholar of her grade last year, thinks the change will have a calming influence on what she described as the “quarterly hysteria” that comes about when quar-

ter grades are released. “However, I am wary about the effects this might have on the influence of my senior grades on my college applications if I decide to apply early admission anywhere,” she said. Mr. Baucom also pointed to Benjamin’s role as a college prep school as a reason for a change. “Although you’re probably still going to see more assessments in high school than you would in college, there still is a tendency in college for the assessments to be weighted more towards the end of a semester,” he said. Not all students are convinced, though. “It will come down to the wire for some and I think that’s extra pressure people don’t need. I also know lots

of students like to constantly keep track of their grades and this may complicate things,” senior Matt Bicknell said. “It’s an unnecessary change.” This is the second academic policy change Mr. Baucom has made since becoming Head of Upper School after Mr. Jay Selvig’s retirement in June 2011. Last winter, mid-term and final exams were relocated from individual classrooms to the gymnasium. “I think it will be nice starting second and fourth quarters with the grades I’ve already worked for,” junior Tyler Reback said. “If it’s all averaging together anyways, it makes more sense to not start over four times a year.” v

By Sam Greenspan Online Editor

See Ned Venture page 3

Quarter grades eliminated, average to run for semester By Ben Germano Co-Editor-in-Chief

A running average through both academic quarters will make up 80% of semester grades this year, while the remaining 20% will be the midterm or final exam. Head of Upper School Mr. Latta Baucom announced the change to the grading schedule, which he believes will be a fairer and more accurate assessment of semester work. In past years, each semester consisted of two individual quarter grades each worth 40% with the same remaining 20% allocated for an exam. At the end of about nine weeks, one quarter grade was final, and a

Alaskan Exploration Senior takes on the tundra in trip to Alaska page 8

new average began for the next quarter. This year, course work will be cumulative through 16 weeks, forming one block worth 80% of the final semester grade. Describing what motivated the change, Mr. Baucom cited the typical imbalance in difficulty between assignments in the first and second quarters and the problem with valuing them equally under the previous system. “The idea is to look at the course and the way the material needs to build, and the level of understanding that increases as the semester goes on,” he said. “If you think about how your classes go, they usually start a little slow, then they pick up

News: 1-3 Spotlight: 6-7 Opinions: 4-5 School Life: 8-11 Sports: 12

Out With the Old School-wide email system switched to Gmail page 11

Page 2 August 21, 2012

The Pharcyde View more news @ PHARBLOG.COM

TBS welcomes three new faculty members

v New additions to the Benjamin faculty respond to The Pharcyde’s Q&A. By Ben Germano and Lauren Bernick Co-Editors-in-Chief

Mr. Jeffrey Wong College Counseling

Mr. Benjamin Harper Social Studies

Any pets?

None yet.

Favorite color?

Dartmouth green.

Red.

What would you like your students to know about you?

I want my students to know that I really care about their success after high school and want to help in going through this exciting process together.

What do you hope to bring to college counseling at Benjamin?

I hope to bring a good deal of enthusiasm to the position, as well as my experience from my past career in order to help students navigate the college admissions process.

What past experience do you have in the college process?

I’ve spent the past four years reading college applications as an admissions officer at Brandeis University.

Mr. Greg Bickerman Computer Science

I love to cook and find new restaurants wherever I go. I’m also a diehard New England Patriots fan and love playing fantasy football.

What would you like your students to know about you?

BBQ (ribs in particular).

Favorite movie?

What do you hope to bring to the social studies department at Benjamin?

Pulp Fiction.

I plan on bringing enthusiasm to the classroom and a love of athletics and the whole TBS community.

Favorite music?

What past experience do you have in teaching or social studies?

I've been a lecturer at FSU for 3 years, and have been an active researcher in the social sciences for 4 years.

Punk rock and/or anything by Jack White.

Anything else? I can’t wait to meet everyone in The Benjamin School community!

Any pets?

A good NY-style pizza is hard to beat. I love trying all kinds of new foods.

Favorite movie?

Rocky, Lord of the Rings, Tombstone, and about a hundred others.

Favorite music?

CCR, The Doors, The Beatles, & a few older country bands like Blackhawk, Sawyer Brown, The Mavericks, and Dwight Yoakam.

Anything else?

I'm very excited to join TBS, and am looking forward to meeting everyone in the TBS community. Mr. Harper attended the American University of Rome, Italy, earned his B.A. in Humanities & History at Florida State University, an M.A. in Liberal Studies & Foreign Affairs at Dartmouth College, and has nearly completed his Ph.D. in History, Foreign Relations, Middle Eastern Studies, and Eurasian Affairs at Florida State University.

Mr. Wong earned his B.A. in Government from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

An incredible Australian Shepherd puppy named Strider, who's a little crazy, and who seems to be training for the next Olympic games.

A: I have taught college computer

I am an enthusiastic teacher. My goal is to get my students to be as excited about computer science as I am.

Any pets?

Nope, but I hope to get a cat soon.

Any hobbies?

Board games, rock climbing.

What would you like your students to know about you?

Favorite food?

I have a real passion for teaching and learning a little bit more about how we've arrived at the place we currently find ourselves.

Any hobbies? I love to travel and spend time with my wonderful wife; I love playing tennis, going boating, surfing and going to the beach, and spending time with my family.

Any hobbies?

Favorite music?

Anything a capella.

What do you hope to bring to computers at Benjamin? I hope to promote computational thinking and problem solving skills at Benjamin. I also hope to help integrate technology into classrooms outside of the computer lab.

What past experience do you have in teaching or computer science? science courses throughout my time at University of Oregon.

Favorite movie?

Favorite color? Yellow.

Favorite food?

Sushi.

Sneakers.

Anything else?

I love a good puzzle.

Mr. Bickerman earned his B.S. in Computer Science at Harvey Mudd College and an M.S. in Computer Science at University of Oregon.

The Pharcyde

News

August 21, 2012 Page

Baseball players stick together on summer team v Players and their coach discuss the dynamics of the spring and summer seasons. By Sam Greenspan Online Editor

When the spring season officially concluded for the varsity baseball team, several of the players started another season on the Palm Beach Rockets travel team that played throughout the summer. Five players from the school team were on the Rockets this past summer. They were junior Bennett Sousa, and seniors Matt Harris, Kody Ruedisili, DJ Paone and Brian Dolan. The Rockets played around Florida and in East Cobb, Georgia. The team took part in many showcase tournaments, which are designed to highlight the talent of individual players so they can gain attention from college scouts. Head Coach of the Benjamin team and Assistant Coach of the Rockets Mr. Brian Kaplan explained how his coaching role differs in the summer and school seasons. “My job in the summer is to make sure players get exposure to college coaches by playing them as much as possible,” Mr. Kaplan said. “In the spring, I am more concerned about doing everything it takes to win the ballgame.” Mr. Kaplan acknowledged that the summer season is more important for recruiting because college coaches cannot watch spring games, as the high school spring season conflicts with college baseball season. Senior centerfielder Kody Ruedisili, who plays for

Senior in movie as extra From Ned Venture page 1

who walked in the background with the intention of simulating the atmosphere of a day at school. The sole upper school student featured in the movie was senior Julia Adle. “I was an extra in the background and it took six hours to film one scene,” Adle said. “I thought I was just going to go and leave because I really had never been a part of anything like this.” Though Adle had never participated in the making of a film before, her father and Head of Maintenance Mr. Jim Adle had experience in the production industry which he used to assist in the production of Ned Venture. “I lived in Los Angeles for 20 years, where I worked in the music production industry,” Mr. Adle said. “I was also a musician on The Bob Newhart Show for four years, so I am familiar with these productions and how they are made.” Mr. Adle helped coordinate the filming of Ned Venture by making sure the campus was clean and security was tight, while helping the crew with any other issues they encountered during filming. Another member of the Benjamin faculty, Director of Multimedia Mr. Ken Archer, helped with the newscast scene, which took place in the video production studio. “My main role was monitoring the use of our facility and making sure nothing was damaged in the studio,” Mr. Archer said. “I also was an extra during the TV studio scene.” Julia Adle thought the shooting of the movie went well and enjoyed appearing in Ned Venture. “I liked being in the film despite the amount of time required,” Adle said. “I also think that because the movie was filmed on campus it made the experience that much cooler.” v

Photo courtesy of Erika Sousa

Junior Bennett Sousa covers first as he waits for the ball in a summer game.

the Rockets in the summer, thinks the school season serves a different purpose. “The Benjamin team basically prepares my teammates and me for the summer season because each individual’s goal is to get to the next level,” Ruedisili said. “The summer is mainly about getting in front of colleges. I have been talking to some college coaches who first saw me play in the summer.” Mr. Kaplan agreed with Ruedisili, but weighs both seasons with equal importance.

“Every time a player steps on the field or goes to the gym, that player is training to impress college coaches. The summer season is the end result of the hard work that players have put in year round and during the school season,” Kaplan said. Ruedisili thinks that the Benjamin players have strong team chemistry as a result of playing in the summer. “The Rockets have played together since most of us were 11 years old. We travel together, room together and play together,” he said. “I think the experi-

ence we gain playing together in the summer definitely can be attributed to the Bucs’ improvement over the last few seasons.” Senior Matt Harris feels that chemistry gained during the spring is also important because it helps players get attention from college scouts in the summer. “College scouts generally go to the games later in the tournaments, and in order to get there we need to play well as a team,” he said. Mr. Kaplan pointed to Harris as an example of how hard work and improvement during the school season translates to the summer. “During the summer, Matt Harris hit 89 miles per hour from the mound when he was only throwing 82-85 during the school year,” Kaplan said. One difference Harris sees between the school and summer season is pressure. “The school season is more fun for me, where the summer season is full of pressure because people are always watching,” he said. Though the summer plays a greater role in the athletic future of the players individually, the players take the spring season seriously. “We work hard throughout the whole year to get better as individuals for the summer and as a team for the spring,” Ruedisili said. “I think our drive to impress college coaches in the summer carries over to the spring, where we have made great strides as a team in recent years.” v

Eight AP classes boast 100% pass rates From AP Scores page 1

“The strength of the AP program at The Benjamin School is something we have become known for,” Director of College Counseling Ms. Kristen Learner said. “When I talk to colleges throughout the year, they comment about the strength of our students’ performance on these exams.” Eight AP classes at Benjamin achieved a 100% pass rate on their subjects’ exams: Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Studio Art, English Literature, European History, Calculus BC, French, and Spanish. Mrs. Nidhi McVicar, AP Microeconomics and AP Macroeconomics teacher, said, “I am incredibly proud of all the hard work my students put in this past year. Ninety-nine percent of them received 4s and 5s, so their focus wasn't on simply passing the exam, but really mastering the material for college.” Some students at Benjamin take more zout of these students, 92% of them scored a three or better on one or more of their exams. This percentage is significantly higher than Florida’s percentage of 61% and the world’s percentage of 51%. According to Ms. Learner, Benjamin has always had strong AP scores, which she attributes at least in part to the school’s strong academic foundation. “Students who are scoring perfect scores, particularly in math and world languages, have been on a journey to get there. It is exciting for that class, those students, and that teacher, but you kind of have to look back at how you got there,” Ms. Learner said. She believes that Benjamin’s AP program will continue to advance and improve. “I think that is such a compliment to the academic program at The Benjamin School and the design of it because it allows for that growth,” she concluded. v

Ninety-two percent of Benjamin test-takers passed one or more of their exams.

EMILY DUNKEL / Graphics Editor

Approximately two-thirds of Benjamin AP exams were fours and fives.

Page 4 August 21, 2012

The Pharcyde Jeers

Cheers

Student Athletes

Miscommunication

Several athletes committed to play sports in college this summer

Students were not informed of the email system switch before it happened

Editorial

The opinion of The Pharcyde

This is how (and why) we do it

If you are reading this right now, you have a voice. It’s as simple as that.

found within these sections.

poses editorials are to be considered the majority

The Sports section is just as it sounds, the place to

opinion of the Editorial Board, they almost always

As a part of The Pharcyde’s readership, you are the

go for the most in-depth coverage of Benjamin athlet-

reflect the opinion of our staff as a whole and are the

subject of our most basic goal: to cover the actions

ics. Looking into the big issues and small supersti-

official stance of The Pharcyde on a particular matter.

and opinions of the Benjamin community.

tions of our players and coaches, we hope to deliver

Op-Eds, on the other hand, are columns that

We aim to foster an open dialogue about school

a comprehensive look at the Bucs on and off the field.

reflect an individual’s view on an issue. They are

topics —the good, the bad, the controversial, and the

With all of the aforementioned sections, you

easy to identify, as the writer’s name and picture

comical. This goal, outlined directly in the mission

should expect reporting that is fair but firm on

are prominently displayed, and should absolutely

statement at the bottom of the page, is a task we work

whatever the topic.

not be considered the opinion of The Pharcyde. In

hard to achieve on a year-around basis and a responsibility we do not take lightly. The Pharcyde, like any newspaper, is divided into a series of sections, each of which has a role in fulfilling our purpose. From our News section, you can expect unbiased

fact, we often offer Op-Ed space to people on or off

An introduction to the student newspaper of the Benjamin Upper School

our staff with whom the Editorial Board may disagree, as covering all views fairly is important to our journalistic mission. While many things may differentiate these sections from one another, one common element unites

coverage of important issues of the day written by

them. We promise you the truth throughout our en-

reporters trying to illuminate all sides of a situation.

tire paper.

Mixed in will be fact-based insights into the activities

The Opinions section is different, a place where

We also promise you the opportunity to chime

and achievements of students, teachers, and other-

we hope thoughtful and decisive commentaries will

in whenever you are willing and able. We hope all

wise Benjamin-affiliated people. Balanced reporting

be found. While being unbiased is critical in other

of you will receive an offer to be quoted sometime

is of paramount importance, so keep that in mind the

sections, the Opinions section is the chance for Phar-

this year, but please come to us if you have some-

next time you are asked for a comment; it’s an indica-

cyde writers to insert their own views into the con-

thing to say.

tion the writer found your opinion important on the

versation.

topic at hand.

Suggest a story; submit a letter to the editor; or

Within the section are two types of articles. Edi-

write a guest column. These are all options. Even if

Our features sections, Student Life and The

torials, on the left page and unsigned by a particular

you don’t know exactly what you want to do, stop by

Scene, are composed of in-depth looks at the per-

writer, are the opinion of The Pharcyde. They repre-

room 149 and talk with us.

sonal side of stories. Features, as a general rule,

sent our collective voice on what we see as pressing

While there, take a look at the banner across the

are articles about people, not policy, and aim to re-

issues. This is an editorial, as it is an introduction to

front of the room that reads, “You have a voice. How

flect the human touch of sometimes-touchy topics,

The Pharcyde written from our voice as a unit, not the

will you use it?” It is a question we ask ourselves ev-

though often our most light-hearted material can be

voice of any individual. Though for technical pur-

eryday. We invite you to do the same.

The paper’s secret weapon

v Our advisor makes a rare, but long overdue, statement on his role with the paper. In his speech to the 8th graders last spring at their graduation dinner, Co-Editor-in-Chief Ben Germano spoke proudly about the role of The Pharcyde in the upper school. At one point he said, “I think the paper is a tremendous force for good on the upper school campus.” That is a bold claim but one he defended well and would defend again today if challenged. As I start my 10th year as the advisor, I agree with him, and I am immensely proud of the work of the newspaper staff. They believe strongly that fighting for ideas is important, and almost every day we have animated discussions about what is the larger good in the school, conversations that also include you students and faculty in the larger community. You contribute to that discussion when you offer to be quoted about your opinions. As Ben reminds us in his editorial, your comments and ideas energize the school as we work together to strengthen this notion of “community.” It is this diversity of opinions and talents that makes Benjamin a great school. At the same time, The Pharcyde seeks to be fun. We

Online at www.PharBlog.com

Founded in 1980 as The Spectator August 21, 2012 The Benjamin School 4875 Grandiflora Road Palm Beach Gardens, Florida 33418 Contact Info Phone: 561-472-3485 Fax: 561-691-8823 Advisor: Mr. Ken Didsbury kendall.didsbury@thebenjaminschool.org Co-Editor-in-Chief: Lauren Bernick lauren.bernick13@thebenjaminschool.org Co-Editor-in-Chief: Ben Germano ben.germano13@thebenjaminschool.org

Mr. Ken Didsbury

Advisor

want to make you laugh, and we want to make you cry. We want to tell you stories that are memorable. Last spring Hunter Toro told the story of Kristen Davis’s efforts to overcome cancer. That kind of personal courage is inspiring, and we need to be inspired. At the same time Lauren Bernick’s piece in this issue about Lindsey Slavin’s experiences on a glacier in Alaska is hilarious. Burnt fingers, scorched hair, and broken toes do not seem to be the stuff of laughter, but Lauren helps us to see the humor and also hear the comical exasperation in Lindsey’s voice.

Editorial Board Lauren Bernick Co-Editor-in-Chief Ben Germano Co-Editor-in-Chief Casey Pearce Managing Editor Sam Greenspan Online Editor Dean Sandquist Sports Editor Emily Dunkel Graphics Editor Ben Greenspan Copy Editor

Mission Statement The Pharcyde is a student newspaper produced to foster an open dialogue about topics that relate to The Benjamin School. The issues that appear throughout our pages may be light-hearted or serious, but regardless we aim to reflect the diversity of opinion within our school that we value so deeply.

Staff Writers

Rachel Smith, Averill Healey, Jerrie James, Riley Burke, Ashlyn Sendler, Paige Sode, Juliette Mercadante, Andy Weir

Staff Artists

Liam Fine Photographer, William Conran Photographer, Kelly Moran Illustrator

Kenneth Graham, the author of a children’s book, The Wind in the Willows, writes a passage in that novel in which he talks about the importance of stories in our lives. He writes, “The stories people tell have a way of taking care of them. If stories come to you, care for them. And learn to give them away where they are needed. Sometimes a person needs a story more than food to stay alive. That is why we put these stories in each other’s memories. This is how people care for themselves.” Part of their job as Pharcyde writers is to tell the stories that give shape and meaning to your high school days so that your learning experience is not a commodity you consume or merely “time served” but something much richer, occasions to be remembered and cherished even as you continue to experience your life at Benjamin. I am blessed to have this job as advisor, and I look forward to every class period because talented people are doing their very best work in the service of good. Enjoy the paper and help us make it better by telling your stories and sharing your ideas.

Membership The Pharcyde is a member of the Florida Scholastic Press Association, American Scholastic Press Association, Columbia Scholastic Press Association and the National Scholastic Press Asscociation.

General The Pharcyde, the Upper School newspaper of The Benjamin School, is published six times a year.

Advertisements The price of a full page ad is $200.00/issue. The price of a half page ad is $120.00/issue. The price of a quarter page ad is $90.00/ issue. The price of a business card ad is $50.00/ issue.

The Pharcyde is distributed to every student and faculty If you or anyone you know would like to member and is availalbe in the Upper School office. place an advertisement in The PharEach issue is mailed to every Upper School family’s cyde, please contact Casey Pearce at home address. casey.pearce14@thebenjaminschool.org. The Pharcyde encourages submission of Letters to the Editor. Send your feedback, criticism, or outside opinions in 150 words or fewer to ben.germano13@ thebenjaminschool.org. The Pharcyde reserves the right to edit all letters for length, grammar, and clarity.

The opinion articles in this paper are the opinion of the writer and/or The Pharcyde Editorial Board. They are not the opinion of The Benjamin School or our advertisers.

The Pharcyde

Opinions

August 21, 2012 Page

Laying down the law

v The Honor Council President addresses the current state of honor at Benjamin. Samantha Kochman Honor Council President With every new school year comes the opportunity for renewed focus, and this year the Honor Council is placing our attention on a higher level of academic integrity. Cheating can only be controlled to the extent that people are willing to put forth the effort to control it. It is our promise that our strongest effort will always be made, and it is our expectation that you will do the same. That being said, we realize that making the commitment to control cheating is easier said than done, so what follows are guidelines outlining exactly what you can do to help. As a school community, cheating is usually the result of laziness and a lack of time management. All students have the ability to do their own work whenever and however they choose. As a high school student, you need to deal with the ramifications of your actions. If you are a student who chooses to procrastinate, then you will have to deal with consequences such as the lack of sleep after a late night spent completing a project or cramming for a test. Cheating is never an acceptable choice. We expect that all students will protect their integrity and challenge themselves to do the right thing

What’s in a name?

KELLY MORAN / Staff Illustrator

when no one is looking. Another issue we face is the temptation to “help a friend” by giving an answer to a test or sending homework electronically. For those who participate in this type of cheating, the Council would like to remind you that “helping” others only hurts yourself. As students enter into more advanced courses, “helping a friend” turns into altering the curve and hurting your

own grade. The Council would also like to remind students that the honor code applies at all times, for every assignment, and every Benjamin School sponsored endeavor. Understanding and abiding by the honor code is imperative to a successful career at Benjamin. Together, the Honor Council and administrators maintain that there is no excuse for cheating, and this year we fully intend to enforce

our zero tolerance policy. Being an organization in a college preparatory school, the Honor Council seeks to help students prepare for further education. We need to put forth the little bit of extra effort to bring The Benjamin School to its highest caliber. The totality of our message boils down to a simple truth: Cheating is preventable, and it is up to all of us to prevent it.

It’s a question we get all the time: “Where did the name ‘Pharcyde’ come from?” Originally founded as The Spectator in 1980, the paper’s name was changed sometime after that. We don’t know exactly when or why, but there are two prevailing theories. 1.) The Far Side was a comic strip in the 1980’s. We think this is the most likely origin of our name. 2.) The Pharcyde is a hip hop group founded in 1989. Perhaps our staffers were fans at the time of the change.

A sense of entitlement

v All too often, Benjamin students take the opportunities presented to them for granted. Benjamin is an exceptional school. If anyone wanted to argue with this, our college matriculation speaks forcefully, as names like Yale, University of Pennsylvania, Duke, and Brown pop off the list. Yes, Benjamin is an exceptional school, but not everybody takes advantage of it. Some in the school community forget that Benjamin is a privilege and not a right. Many not only believe that the special attributes of our school are universal, but also trivial. One entity that goes underappreciated is academic coaching, an after-school program that students with a D average or lower in a class are required to attend. Nothing is wrong with a student earning a D if he tries his hardest and utilizes all of the help presented to him. What is wrong is when students do not use academic coaching correctly. Students constantly leave the classroom, claiming they are going to ask teachers a question. Instead, they wander aimlessly through the halls listening to music and then ask a teacher a very simple question to act as an alibi. Academic coaching is a great opportunity to help students earn better grades, yet it is abused by the students who need it most. If stu-

Ben Greenspan

Copy Editor

dents continue to exploit this, it should come as no surprise when their GPA shows no improvement. The laptop program, one of the staples of the upper school, is an incredible way for students and teachers to connect, as well as a very useful learning tool. Everything from VHL Central Supersites to Dropbox assignments, while loathed by many, are great ways of using our laptops. The restrictions on gaming and social media websites also add to the educational environment of the laptops. However, many of our students do not view their laptops in this manner. They are, instead, infuriated that they cannot constantly check Twitter or play the online version of

Call of Duty as a result of the school’s firewall. In lieu of using the exceptionally organized OneNote for diligent note-taking, students spend classes and study halls finding ways to dodge the internet restrictions by way of lesser known media and gaming websites. The school’s cherished 14 year club members are not exempt from this ignorance. In fact, they often perpetuate it. As the ones who have been at this school the longest, it may be natural to feel jaded about everything Benjamin. They should know better, but a certain segment of 14 year club members are the students who too frequently say “I hate this place” or “This school stinks.” The truest testament to the opportunities of ourschool can be seen when graduates return and, regardless of where they finished in their class, state that Benjamin prepared them extremely well for college and life. Students can be grateful for many different reasons, and possibly the greatest is that Benjamin allows them to go as far in their academic careers as they wish to go. We, however, must be willing to go that extra mile.

Have your voice heard.

Write a letter to the editor.

Send your thoughts, in 150 words or fewer, to ben.germano13@thebenjaminschool.org.

Page 6 The Pharcyde August 21, 2012

Office Bathrooms

Design by Lauren Bernick Graphic by Emily Dunkel

1) Mr. Wong

College Counselor

Mr. Wong, a new member of the college counseling team this year, stop by to get to know him. He could be your future college counselor.

If you’re looking for privacy and cleanliness, head straight to the office bathrooms. They are almost too clean.

2) Conference Room

Tech Department

For all of your technology needs, the tech department has all the answers. But avoid asking for assistance with your personal Mac laptop.

A to

This room is a quiet place to go when the library is too rowdy and it’s also where college counselors meet with their juniors. It’s always been a territory of juniors and seniors, so freshmen should steer clear.

3) Ms. Twitchell

Administrative Assistant, College Counseling

Ms. Twitchell is the general of the front office. Stop by for a good laugh or information on college counseling deadlines.

3 4

4) Ms. Learner

Director of College Counseling

Ms. Learner is a veteran when it comes to prepping students for college. If she is your college counselor, do not forget to check your Naviance account frequently!

Mr. Goldberg

Head of School

Constantly moving between campuses, this is Mr. Goldberg’s homebase on the Upper School Campus.

Board Room

Most of the time it is empty, but when it’s not you know something big is being talked about. Freshmen will report here for their annual lunch meeting with Mr. Goldberg.

Administrative Assistant to He

You can alw Mrs. Arbuzo different ta the office, a is queen of pizza li

Page 7 The Pharcyde August 21, 2012

Freshman’s Guide o the Front Office

Mrs. Arbuzow

Assistant to Head of School & ead of School for Academics

ways find ow doing asks in and she Friday’s ine.

Mr. Didsbury

Assistant Head of School for Academics

With the havoc of scheduling, Mr. Didsbury handles it like a professional. His office is the place to go if you need to talk to someone about academics.

Dr. Taylor

Director of Student Services If you ever need someone to talk to or are having trouble with your classes, Dr. Taylor is ready to help.

Lost & Found

Books, sweaters, chargers, jewelery, dirty gym clothes...

Dean Ball

Dean of Students

Coach Ball’s office is a great place to have a conversation, unless the topic of conversation is your behaviour.

Mrs. Kittrel

Administrative Assistance to Mr. Baucom

From forms to lost and found, Mrs. Kittrel is the mother of all knowledge.

Mrs. Donaldson Nurse

Mrs. Donaldson is so kind and personable, but she will catch you if you’re faking an illness to avoid class.

Mr. Baucom

Head of Upper School

No longer a rookie, Mr. Baucom is now the big man on campus.

Page 8

The Pharcyde

August 21, 2012

View school life @ PHARBLOG.COM

Alaskan adventure: Seeking freedom in higher altitudes

By Lauren Bernick Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Pharcyde caught up with senior Lindsey Slavin while she was in the hospital for a toe injury at the University of Alaska in the middle of her summer journey that she described as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” The day before her interview Slavin found herself alone for the very first time in her life, alone, save for a nearby wandering wolverine, with a burnt thumb, crisp hair that had just caught fire, and a seemingly broken toe at midnight on a glacier north of Juneau, Alaska. Slavin did not anticipate finding herself stranded in such a decrepit state during her Juneau Ice Field Research Program (JIRP), but the story of how it came about marked a journey of growth and independence. JIRP is a program that caters to high school and college students, and professional scientists with an interest in an interdisciplinary study of the fifth largest ice field in the Western Hemisphere, according to juneauicefield.com.

“At that point I was really like, ‘What did I get myself into?’” LINDSEY SLAVIN senior

Slavin was interested in this specific program because her father went on the same trip in 1973 and her older brother in 2011. A trip like this would be an emotional and physical challenge for anyone, but it was especially challenging for Slavin who had never even slept outside of her own house before, with the exception of a few school trips. “Going from never having had a sleepover to this is definitely a big extreme. But I was raised in a household that has always said, ‘Go big or go home!’ and I think this is the way to do it,” she said. “There’s a time in everyone’s life when you need to get out of the nest…this was my time.” The Journey Begins Slavin began her first excursion to the first stopping point, Camp 17, with only her 70 lb backpack containing everything

Photo courtesy of glacierchange.org

Slavin skiied 45 miles in two days to reach her second camp during her arctic adventure.

she needed for the duration of her trip. The group made it to Camp 17 after what Slavin described as a grueling 12 hours of physical and mental strain, climbing from 0 to 4,500 ft on their very first day. “The whole trip is really physically demanding. The trip up to Camp 17 was a completely vertical climb. We were rock climbing, belaying, and hiking all the way to the camp,” she said. “I was trying to climb up this vertical path while sliding in mud up to my hips. At that point I was really like, ‘What did I get myself into?’” At Camp 17, the group learned basic safety procedures they would need throughout their journey. The group learned procedures ranging from how to stop themselves if they fell off a cliff, to how to save someone if they fell into a crevasse in the ice. She compared the view to a scene in the movie, “Bruce Almighty.” She said, “It reminded me of the scene when they’re in heaven and everything is white. That’s exactly what it was like. The ground is white, the sky is white and you couldn’t even see the skis on your feet.” The first order of business for all of the students was to drop their backpacks, grab their ice ax, and dive backwards head first

Photo courtesy of glacierchange.org

Slavin breaks on “Lunch Rock” during her ski to Camp 10.

down the mountain they had just finished climbing. “They told us to just jump. I began sliding down this mountain backwards and I couldn’t see anything. I was going so fast, yet I had to manage to 360 myself around onto my stomach and stab this ice ax into the ground. I was afraid I might accidently stab myself with it. ‘Safety training’ they call it,” she laughed. Slavin spent June 28th to July 8th at Camp 17, where she adjusted to the altitude, celebrated her 17th birthday with a birthday pancake, and also dislocated her shoulder, the first of her many injuries. Reaching Higher Altitudes The next stop was Camp 10. The group skied mainly uphill, 45 miles in two days, sleeping one night on the ice. “If you carried a tent then you slept in that, but if not, then you just used a sleeping bag. The tent added an extra 20 lbs, but I was not planning on getting attacked by a bear,” she said. As Slavin expected, she experienced physical strain throughout her journey, but by the second day of skiing to Camp 10, her struggles became very apparent. “We finally made it to Camp 10 and I looked like I had just come out of battle,” she said. “I had blood gushing out of my nose, dirt all over me, was running on no sleep, no shower, and had thorns all over me.” Reaching Camp 10 was a major milestone for Slavin, a site that made her feel closer to her father and brother. “Camp 10 is where I have the only picture of my dad when he went on this trip. My brother took the same picture, and now I have one.” Although she had endured physical and mental exhaustion, Slavin felt obliged to keep a positive attitude. “If I was at home, I would be acting completely differently. But given the fact that I am completely alone in this environment without my parents telling me what to do, everything I do is my own

decision, and I’ve never had that freedom before,” she said. “At home I would be complaining, but I don’t have that option here. It’s me…in a foreign place with a bunch of strangers. I just have to push on.” Camp 10 was the location of the group’s self-applied research projects. According to Slavin, the majority of the college students on her trip, many of whom planned to major in geology or glaciology, brought their own equipment for this portion of the trip. Thus, Slavin was left to decide for herself what she wanted to research. With the guidance of a faculty member, Slavin decided to study with a fairly new technology called ground penetrating radar (GPR). While at Camp 10, she spent her days researching whether the radar could identify the different features of the bedrock underneath the ice and if so, what the different types of rocks were and how two different types of rocks could be right next to each other. Discovering Herself Slavin made clear that she did not choose this program because she has an interest in environmental science. Her interests were in learning about herself and proving her independence to her family. “It’s less about the research and more about getting to know myself, the real me. No makeup, no shower, no anything. Where we live, sometimes I can get distracted by stupid things. Whether it be gossip, how I look all the time, or the latest trend. Here, it is just the complete opposite,” she said. Slavin explained that her closeness with her family is the reason why she had never strayed so far from home, but hopes that completing this trip will prove to them that she is capable of overcoming setbacks and challenges on her own. “There has never been a trust issue with my parents; they

have always just been really concerned,” she said. “I hope this makes them realize how strong I am on my own. They don’t need to always worry about me…I’m growing up and they need to realize that. I mean, if I can do this, hunny, I can do pretty much anything.” The Final Leg Slavin’s can-do spirit guided her through the most frightening and hilarious moment of her trip thus far. She was finishing up the last day of her mass balance trip, digging holes in the ice all day for research purposes, when she could no longer deny that she was in pain. Her toe was sideways to the point where it could barely fit into her boot. She was taken by snowmobile back to camp to rest, cook food for the group, and prepare to leave for the hospital. She rested and prepped for the hospital, but the cooking portion of her night is where Slavin was put to the test. “The snowmobile guy lit this little stove for me, and I was left at this camp site with just 4 tents in the middle of a glacier near a wandering wolverine…I mean I’m scared to be upstairs in my house normally so to be plopped there and be expected to get hot water and food ready for everyone was just terrifying,” she said.

“...if I can do this, hunny, I can do pretty much anything.” LINDSEY SLAVIN senior

Slavin put a pot of snow on the stove, but to her dismay, within minutes the flame had burnt out. Having followed her parent’s instruction to never play with fire, Slavin was at a loss when it came to re-lighting the stove. “All I had was a lighter that I didn’t even know how to work. So it was just me with this lighter, trial and error, over and over. I lit my thumb on fire but luckily I was surrounded by snow, so I jammed my thumb into the ground,” she said. “Then I figured out that the propane wasn’t working properly, so I went to find a new canister. I turned on the propane all the way and a flame came up so high that it lit my hair on fire and I actually had to stop, drop, and roll in the snow. I never thought stop, drop, and roll, would ever happen.” Eventually she prepared the food, which the members of her group deemed “luke warm,” and made it to the hospital by helicopter in the morning where she stayed for two days. Beyond the funny moments, beautiful views, and stamina she had gained thus far on her trip, Slavin was most grateful for her renewed outlook on life. “The main thing I’m learning is that you have to risk going too far to see what your limits are.”

The Pharcyde

August 21, 2012 Page

School Life

Three students take summer courses at Columbia University By Emily Dunkel Graphics Editor

Seeking academic enrichment, seniors Liam Fine, Savannah Johnson, and Nataly Lambert enrolled in courses at Columbia University in New York City this summer. Fine, who attended the first three-week session of the university’s high school program, participated in a Constitutional Law course. “The class,” he said, “is taught by two PhD students at Columbia, both of whom are amazing teachers. Their expertise is enviable, and they really try to make learning fun. For example, our weekly ‘Constitutional Jeopardy’ game allowed us to apply our knowledge acquired throughout the week in a very fun and casual setting.” Johnson and Lambert attended the second session together, where they were roommates and took a course titled The Science of Psychology. Their class met twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, as did Fine’s Constitutional Law class. Lambert and Fine had different motivations in taking their respective courses. Lambert said, “I’m really happy I took a class that I had no previous background in because it made it a very worthwhile experience.” Fine, on the other hand, has a background in his course of choice. “I became very interested in the Constitution and the Judiciary during AP Government this

previous year. We only spent about two weeks on the subject, and I took this class so I could explore the very vast and enticing world of Constitutional Law,” he said. All three seniors agree that their experiences at Columbia have been very rewarding. Johnson felt as though her time at Columbia gave her an insight into college life. She said, “I really enjoyed staying in the dorm and getting a feel for what college will be like. It is great having freedom and having that freedom in NYC is amazing.” Having participated in many of the university-sponsored activities, Fine made the most of his three weeks in New York City. “During lunch, there are mid-day activities, which include anything from ethics talks, which are fascinating, to pick-up soccer games, and even college talks (learn how to write the perfect essay, Columbia info session, NYU tour, etc.). At night, the RA’s run scheduled trips, ranging from visiting NBC Studios to going to a Yankee game,” he said. Lambert and Johnson also took advantage of all of the interesting activities in New York City. Lambert’s most memorable excursion was seeing Sleep No More, a theatrical experience presented by the British theatre company Punchdrunk. “The play is a combination of Macbeth and Alfred Hitchcock, set in a haunted hotel. All of the guests wear masks and walk around the hotel as they wish while different scenes are being por-

Photo courtesy of Savannah Johnson

Lambert, (3rd from right), and Johnson (2nd from right), head to Catalpa Music Festival with friends during their time off from class.

trayed. The scenes are like nothing I have ever seen before, but ranged from graceful, theatrical dance to obscene nudity and gore,” she said. “I would recommend it to anyone with an open mind because it is so different and unexpected, but I absolutely loved it.” “I could not have been happier about attending,” Fine said. He recommends the program to anyone interested in taking a

summer course. “Columbia offers so many classes, all of which are taught by extremely qualified and fun professors. The activities are incredible and really allow anybody to explore aspects of NY that would otherwise go unseen.” He added, “The beauty of this program is that not only are you being educated at Columbia University, but you are in the heart of NYC.”

Frankel spends time in D.C. as Senate Page By Lauren Bernick

never wrong in that regard, but I did mistake a Senator for someone who was not a Senator once.” Although the day’s work was tiring and the pages “barely saw sunlight,” the members of Congress she met, such as John Kerry, John McCain, Harry Reid, and Mitch McConnell, and her firsthand experience of political debates and the legislative process made the program worthwhile. “I was there when both the Health Care bill and the Farm bill were passed, so getting to hear what the Senators had to say about that was really interesting,” she said. “I enjoyed just being on the floor and being able to know things that half the country

Co-Editor-in-Chief

Passionate about leadership, senior Sally Frankel took to D.C. to see how the leaders of our country work. Frankel participated in the Senate Page program in Washington D.C. for three weeks. This program allows high school juniors and seniors to work alongside U.S. Senators. In order to be a page, a student must be sponsored by a member of Congress. Upon hearing about the program Frankel immediately seized the opportunity, though it was very different from any program she had done in summers past. After completing a resume, an essay, and several other forms, she applied to Senator Harkin of Iowa and was accepted.

“This was a great opportunity to learn how the government works, how our country functions, and be a part of the whole process.”

“I enjoyed just being on the floor and being able to know things that half the country doesn’t really understand.” SALLY FRANKEL senior

SALLY FRANKEL

Frankel’s daily attire was a style she was unfamiliar with , “a navy pant suit and black ugly shoes.” “We stayed in a place called Webster Hall,” she said. “After about a two-minute walk, we took a metro which is for Senate use only to the Capitol Building.” Frankel described her average day as a page as draining, yet educational day, which always began around 8 and ended whenever the Senate adjourned. Each day she sat on the Senate Floor taking instruction from the cloakroom staff and two college interns. A Senate Page’s day consists mainly of delivering legislative material, preparing the chamber for Senate meetings, and carrying bills and amendments throughout the Congressional complex. “Depending on what time they were called into session, we would have to be there an hour before to set up documents on every desk including

doesn’t really understand.” Her experience bolstered her interest in politics exponentially. She said, “I’m definitely more interested in reading and watching the news. We were on the Senate C-SPAN every day so I’ve been watching that regularly. I’ve also been following the Aurora shooting and I’ve been keeping up with the issue on gun control.” Though Franklin, unlike most students who complete this program, does not see a future in politics for herself, she was grateful for the program and all that it taught her about leadership. “I definitely want to be involved in my community, just not on a national level. I’m big into leadership and this was a great opportunity to learn how the government works, how our country functions, and be a part of the whole process,” she said.

senior

Photo courtesy of Sally Frankel

Frankel for the Senate Page program by Senator Harkin of Iowa.

the presiding officer’s desk. Once they were called into session we would sit on the rostrum, the stairs in front of the floor, and whenever a senator was about to speak, we would be called in by the cloakroom and told to set up so and so’s desk,” she said. “We would have to get them a podium, their specified water, an easel or a staff chair, and then sometimes we had to do amendment runs.” According to Frankel, amendment runs were nothing short of “exhausting,” delivering papers to places such as the journal clerk office, the cloakroom, the parliamentarian’s office, Vice President Biden’s office, and sometimes to other Senate office buildings via the Senate metro.

“You have to take the original copy of an amendment and make 27 copies of it and then run the copies 27 different places on five different floors on the Senate side of the Capitol,” she said. “For instance, for the Farm Bill there were about 49 amendments and I had to make 27 copies of each amendment. Your goal was less than seven minutes.” On top of her daily duties, Frankel also had to memorize every Senator by his or her face, name, and state. “If they called down to the floor and asked if, for instance, Senator Reid was there, you had to look around and tell them… But if you were wrong then you would get in a lot of trouble and slow things down,” she said. “I was

Page 10

August 21, 2012

The Pharcyde

School Life

Reitman takes media internship in London By Casey Pearce Managing Editor

Senior Jake Reitman made a surprising discovery during his summer internship. Though schools focus student learning on the six main subjects, he learned that professional opportunities provide a wider variety of options that are not just based on these six areas. He loves photography but wants to broaden his horizons and pursue a career in either advertising or digital media, two areas in which he has developed skills over the summer.

“I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did while I was working.” JAKE REITMAN senior

Reitman had the chance to visit London and intern with Wellcom London, a new media and production agency. This photography internship specialized in photography, video, advertisement, and post production editing.

“I have a passion for photography and travel, and I [saw] this [opportunity] as a way to be productive and do what I enjoy,” Reitman said. This four-week program was much more fun than he thought it would be. During the internship, he stayed in the heart of central London in a student facility called Nido Spitafields. A typical day at this internship began with Reitman waking up at 8 and either taking a ten-minute walk to the agency or, if it was raining, taking a double-decker red bus to work. After making tea for himself and others in the photography department, he would start setting up for a photo shoot, or he would begin filing photos. “I usually sat on the computer and managed the photos being taken. I sometimes was able to take pictures of clothes on mannequins and rarely models,” he said. Throughout the program, Reitman learned not only about photography, but also about the United Kingdom’s culture and about how to work with clients in the advertising business. “I learn[ed] about the general culture, the language, the food, the slang and the formalities. I

Photo courtesy of Jake Reitman

Reitman, far right, spent a month in London interning at a media agency.

learn[ed] this by working every day and also taking classes through NYU at University of East Anglia,” he said. If Reitman had another opportunity, he said he would do this internship again, but next year’s college plans prevent him from doing so. Instead,

he plans on either backpacking through Eastern Europe or studying in London this upcoming summer. “It was definitely better than I thought it was going to be. I didn’t expect to have as much fun as I did while I was working. I would definitely recommend it to others,” he said.

Advice to freshmen: Picking political clubs is a tricky business By Rachel Smith Staff Writer

The fierce loyalties of members of the different political clubs—Yale Model United Nations (YMUN), Harvard Model Congress (HMC), or Junior Statesmen of America (JSA)—can intimidate even the most confident of freshmen when they are making the decision about which club to join. Despite the commitment of members to their clubs, at first appearance, the clubs can seem overwhelmingly similar. Yet, when freshmen look further, they discover that each club truly has a distinctive overall focus.

Yale Model United Nations

Yale Model United Nations takes place over a four-day weekend in January on Yale University’s campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Yale undergraduates, many of whom participate in Model United Nations conferences at the collegiate level themselves, run th convention. As a mock United Nations, Yale’s conference attracts diverse groups of students from around the globe, who, as stated on http://ymun.yira.org/ are challenged to… “Think more like global citizens, and to approach the issues of the day with a more global perspective.” Each student participant, or delegate, is assigned a different country to represent. Each one is additionally assigned to committees, which correspond with those in the actual UN and include the General Assembly, Economic and Social Councils, and specialized committees. Every committee then receives one or two topics which the committees’ delegates research in relation to their specific country, and use the resulting information to write a position paper which will help spark debate at the conference. “It’s a lot of fun because you get to meet and talk to students from across America and from all over the world and you also get to learn about different global issues,” YMUN president senior Carolyn Quigley said. The majority of each day during the conference consists of debate on proposed resolutions, which takes place in Yale’s lecture halls. However, YMUN participants are also able to enjoy the orientation, a dance, and a concert, which enable them to experience more of college life. Demonstrating her enthusiasm about both of the club’s advisors, junior and YMUN Vice President Ivy Missen said,

“Mrs. McVicar and Ms. Misselhorn, are hands down the best advisors out of all of the off-campus club advisers. They are very helpful with the argument papers, and they are always a call away if you have any problems.” Senior Saani Syed gave a piece of advice to students looking to attend this year, “Don’t be afraid to get involved because if you do get involved, it makes the experience so much better,” she said.

Harvard Model Congress Similar to YMUN, at Harvard Model Congress, Harvard undergraduates host the conference on their school’s campus; however, the majority of the HMC events take place at a hotel in downtown Boston. During the four-day conference in midFebruary, HMC participants have the opportunity to take on a specific role or job in congressional simulations. Most first-year participants from Benjamin either participate in the House of Representatives, as congressmen or in the Senate, as senators. These students spend their time at the conference debating, amending, and trying to pass legislation. Returning students can participate in more specialized opportunities including being a lobbyist, Supreme Court judge, or part of the media, according to two-year HMC participant senior Nataly Lambert who said “Students are given a variety of

jobs with the hope of mimicking how that group works in the real world.” These returning students often attend congressional sessions for specific purposes ranging from speaking, lobbying their positions, and documenting the session. “My first year when I went, I realized how little I knew about how our political system works and that I wanted to learn a lot more about it,” Lambert said. “It has… helped me realize that becoming a politician might be something that I would like to do,” junior Hannah LaBovick said. “I also learn a lot about how to deal with people and compromise and come up with proper solutions to problems.”

Junior Statesmen of America Junior Statesman of America differs from the other two organizations as it is entirely run by high school students rather than college undergraduates and continues throughout the entirety of the year with three different conventions. The most local and smallest part of the organization is each school’s JSA club, which is called a chapter. A number of chapters in a certain area form regions, which run their own events. Several regions then come together to form states; Benjamin be-

The Political Club Rivalry: HMC v. YMUN v. JSA

Artwork by Kelly Moran

longs to the Southeast State, and together, the states form a ‘nation.’ Two of the conventions take place in Florida: Fall State in Ft. Lauderdale and Spring State in Orlando, while the Winter Congress is in Washington D.C. The main event at JSA conventions involves debating proposed resolutions or bills; however, the exact debate format differs at each convention. No matter the debate format, all conventions begin with an opening speech delivered by the main speaker, followed by a subsequent speaker, and then ends with the concluding speech. Participants are able to participate in questioning in between each of the speeches. “Even as a timid freshman, I found that everybody at the convention was tolerant of my views, which is absolutely necessary to have a successful debate,” JSA president, senior Liam Fine said. “JSA has caused me to become very involved in politics and current events, and thereby, became a well-informed citizen. JSA has not only helped me develop my debate skills, but also the critical skill of formulating and supporting my opinions.” Each JSA convention also normally has several keynote speakers who share their views and opinions on national or global issues. Because of the local location and short length of Fall State, Fine said, “It is a great way to experience JSA in a less formal setting. I would recommend Fall State to anyone who would like to get involved in JSA and just test the water to see if the environment suits you.” He also emphasized all of the opportunities for exploring D.C. which Winter Congress offers, including touring the Capital Building, White House, and Supreme Court, and hopefully meeting with local Senators and Congressmen. Speaking to the future of Benjamin’s JSA chapter, Fine said, “This year, the club is planning on expanding its membership. With our new teacher advisor, Mr. Logsdon, and our newly elected officers, I believe JSA will become the dominant organization on campus, providing those who are intellectually curious and politically involved a chance to explore their horizons.”

The Pharcyde

School Life

From camper to counselor: A new hero arises President of student council and a sports aficionado, Dean has insight into many of the upper school’s programs. With this knowledge, he plans to share his experiences through his new column, The Presidential Perspective. idea that it would come this quickly. By Dean Sandquist Sports Editor

Every morning when I walked into the upper school gym, the campers at the Benjamin School Basketball Camp would scream my name in excitement even though I was half asleep. During those moments, I understood how much I truly meant to them. I was their superhero. Growing up, I always wanted to be one, but I had no

Year after year I have continued coaching at this camp not only because the hoops are lowered to eight feet and I can slam dunk, but because I make these kids’ day. Being a member of the Benjamin varsity basketball team, it is my duty to give back to our aspiring athletes… ages 5-8 to be exact. Whether it’s getting ice for an injured camper or

August 21, 2012 Page

teaching them how to make a layup, we set an example for these kids to follow just like our coaches did when we were youngsters. Due to the extreme ratio of campers to counselors, the task of coaching a huge group of kids allows me to live vicariously through them. By playing pranks on other counselors with the campers or watching “Space Jam” in the gymnasium halls, I felt the stress of report cards, AP scores, and college slowly fading away. However, when one door closes, another opens. With the academic stress out of my mind, the amount of energy these kids have causes more stress than any test I have ever taken. Nonstop, from 9-3, campers bombard their counselors with silly questions and even sillier antics. I cannot count the times I have heard, “I see London, I see France, I see Deano’s underpants.” When all the madness came to a halt, and it did eventually, I realized how wonderful that job was. I often think about the amazing memories I created from that week, but one truly highlights my experience. I surprisingly made the final round in the counselor dunk contest. I was up against senior Mike Wilson…I lost. But when I approached the hoop for my final dunk, I could hear a chant in the background, “Deano! Deano! Deano!” I took off... just like Superman.

School converts Outlook to Google Mail By Ashlyn Sendler Staff Writer

Seeking a more efficient emailing system, the Technology Department upgraded to Gmail from Microsoft Outlook while school was out of session. Tech thought that the previous emailing system had become too difficult to maintain, keep secure and was very expensive. Also it was tied down to an aging software and hardware that needed constant maintenance and attention to keep running. “Google offered us a fantastic email system that is full of modern features, extremely secure and is very reliable,” Mr. Russell Tepper, Director of Technology, said. He added that the new Google emailing system is free for our school. The Tech Department thinks that this new system will be beneficial not only for the small everyday use but also for larger functions. The system provides 25GB of storage space in the mailbox, which is much more than what was provided on the previous system. A big benefit is that, “The email system is now hosted across Google’s robust, distributed and redundant server network,” Tepper said. “In the case of a hurricane, and our campuses were shut down for any length of time, the email system would be completely unaffected.”

“This is an effort to use the system to...make communication and collaboration between our students and teachers as easy as possible.” MR. RUSSELL TEPPER Director of Technology

Maintenance renovates track, tennis courts By Juliette Mercadante Staff Writer

Over the summer, the maintenance staff at the Upper School performed multiple construction changes involving some of the athletic facilities. Next to tennis court nine, they created a new wall for lacrosse players to practice on even when they are alone. Junior goalie Anthony Cicio said, “This wall will benefit the current and future Benjamin lacrosse players. This new addition allows us and will allow future players to practice independently.” Junior defender Ryan Rengasawmy agrees, saying “Most of the schools with really good lacrosse teams also have this wall on their campus. Often, Benjamin lacrosse players are found bouncing balls off the sides of their houses or in back alleys of public places only to be told to stop,” he said. “The new wall isn’t some concrete foundation for lacrosse

players to improve their skills with; it’s what the future of Benjamin will be.” Rengasawmy continued, “It’s like playing catch; you go lefty right, than righty left and you keep switching hands making your passes crisp and clean. It will definitely help the development of our shots and make them so they feel more fluent. The wall really helps by making your off hand as good as your stronger hand.”

“I think these projects have improved our campus dramatically.” SHELBI SMOLAK senior

Not only did the lacrosse program benefit from the summer construction, but the track and tennis courts experienced much needed renovations.

“For the first time since this campus was opened, we resurfaced the track and the tennis courts,” maintenance head Jim Adle said. “We recoated the track and rebuffed the exterior which should provide the athletes with more traction. The tennis courts were resurfaced as well to increase player traction.” Senior Shelbi Smolak said, “I wasn’t aware of the construction that was happening throughout the summer on the tennis courts and track field, but I think these projects have improved our campus dramatically, even further improving the reputation of TBS.” Rengasawmy, Smolak, and Sexton seem to all agree that by adding a new lacrosse wall and resurfacing the tennis courts, it shows major improvements to not only the athletic teams, but also to the school itself. Dean Sandquist contributed to this article.

Tech spent the summer evaluating many different options for the new emailing system, but Google seemed to be the best choice. Tepper thought Google had the most features, best migration past, highest up time, lowest total cost of ownership and highest return on investment. “This is an effort to use the system to its fullest potential and make communication and collaboration between our students and teachers as easy as possible. All these options and features put a greater responsibility on our students to use the email system in a productive way.” Tepper said. In spite of the benefits it offers, several students were flustered to find that the old system had been shut down and they had not been notified of the new system. “I was really inconvenienced by the unannounced switch to gmail,” said senior and president of NHS Savannah Johnson. “I’m really struggling to get in touch with the members of NHS to inform them on events happening before school starts.” The email system is not the only thing that kept tech busy over the summer. The school has a new student record and school management platform called BlackBaud’s Education Edge, and the School will soon be launching a new website that is tied into Blackbaud. Finally the School will install a new phone system that will be compatible with the new Google Apps that are now open to our school, such as Google Drive, which offers 5GB of storage and is accessible with almost any device.

Page12 August 21 2012

The Pharcyde

Sports

Six students commit to college sports Bennett Sousa: Baseball University of Virginia By Riley Burke Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Erika Sousa Sousa, junior, committs to UVA.

This past summer, junior Bennett Sousa committed to pitch at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. As a sophomore, Sousa played a major role in some of Benjamin’s biggest program wins, and he was named to The Palm Beach Post’s first team All-Area. Head coach Brian Kaplan coached Bennett since his middle school days and has been with him through this entire process. “He has come a long way in the last three years and that’s due in large part to his ambition and work ethic,” Kaplan said. “He wants to be the guy who’s counted on

Charlie Nicklaus: Lacrosse Rutgers University By Dean Sandquist Sports Editor

This past summer, senior Charlie Nicklaus committed to Rutgers University to play lacrosse. Nicklaus, a varsity football and lacrosse player since freshman year, will play midfielder for the Scarlet Knights. “Rutgers was where I felt most comfortable on all my visits,” Nicklaus said. “The coach was amazing and he really impressed my family and me as well.” Rutgers, in New Jersey, is where graduate Rob Dattolo will play lacrosse next spring. Nicklaus said, “It’s nice to have someone I know at school and on the field. I think his presence will be a great help once I arrive because he will have some experience.” Despite a season ending injury last season, Nicklaus was still second team allarea. Last year he was first team all-area and he was second team his freshman

year. These accolades were very attractive to certain colleges as they began to contact him after his sophomore year. “I was communicating with many coaches after my second season,” Nicklaus said. “But among the ones who really wanted me, I felt like Rutgers and their program were the best fit for me.”

Photo courtesy of Yearbook Archives Nicklaus, senior, committs to Rutgers.

to help lead Benjamin Baseball to a district title and a state championship, and he won’t accept anything less than that.” At the beginning of his sophomore year, he opened communication with coaches at the University of Virginia. Then, he attended its camp, and the coaches followed up by watching him play in a tournament. Other schools interested in Sousa were University of Florida, Stanford University, Vanderbilt, LSU and Miami. However, in the beginning of the summer, he visited the University of Virginia, and told the coaches that he wanted to be a Cavalier. “I chose UVA over all those schools be-

Matt Harris: Baseball Elon University By Dean Sandquist Sports Editor

Senior Matt Harris committed to Elon University to play baseball. Harris, who had offers from Notre Dame, Tennessee Tech, and Fordham, decided to take his talents to North Carolina and play for the Phoenix.

Photo courtesy of Mrs. Erika Sousa Harris, senior, committs to Elon.

Arden Pettit: Softball Stanford University By Riley Burke Staff Writer

Photo courtesy of Arden Pettit Pettit, junior, committs to Stanford.

On July 3, junior Arden Pettit advanced one step closer to achieving her dream by committing to Stanford University’s softball program. Arden’s skills not only caught the eyes of the Stanford program, but also sparked interest from the University of Washington, University of Virginia, and University of North Carolina, among others. “Arden has tremendous athletic skills and carries herself in a very smooth, calm and under-control manner. [Arden] simply is what coaches

John Pavlov: Football FIU

By Casey Pearce Managing Editor

Senior Jonathan Pavlov committed to Florida International University to play tight end for the football team. “The reason I committed to FIU was because it was a great opportunity. Out of all the schools recruiting me FIU was the best choice [and] my #1 choice,” said Pavlov. Pavlov was confident when he performed on the field for a recruiting coach. Coaches were looking at him to play basketball, football or baseball. Pavlov knew that he wanted to play a sport in college; it just was a matter of which one. “The process was a really fun experience while it lasted. Every time I went to a college that was interested in me playing for them, I was treated like royalty,” he said. Some of the other schools recruiting Pavlov were Miami, middle

Tennessee, Colgate, Wagner, Illinois State and Lafayette. “The only reason I would not have chosen FIU over those schools would have been because of their program for my intended major, architectural engineering. But FIU has a great engineering program [and] that was the final factor when I decided to commit,” said Pavlov.

Photo courtesy of John Pavlov Pavlov, senior, committs to FIU.

cause the team, facilities, people and academics are all top-notch. I felt like I fit in the most at UVA,” Sousa said. “The coaching staff is tremendous and does a great job of developing their players and giving them an opportunity to play at the next level,” Kaplan explained. “It’s just an added bonus that he will likely get the opportunity to play in the College World Series as well.” “I am very excited about committing to UVA. It is such a nice place to play baseball and a very strong academic school. I just cannot wait until I get to go there and am very excited to see what the future brings,” he said.

would consider a ‘Blue Chip’ prospect because of her strength, size and these ‘it’ type qualities that are only found in a very small percentage of aspiring student-athletes,” travel coach Joe Della Rocca said. “I picked Stanford because it is the best softball and academic combination in the country. It plays in the PAC 12, which is the best softball conference, and its academics are incredible,” she said. “The opportunities that can be gained later in life by having a Stanford degree are too great to pass up.” Now that she has verbally committed, she can somewhat loosen up. “I get

“Elon wanted a player who can pitch and field in big game situations so it’s great that I get to play both shortstop and pitcher,” Harris said. “But best of all, I get to play with my best friend (senior DJ Paone).” Even though he is already committed, the process is not complete until signing day. “My committing will somewhat cause a little senioritis, however, nothing is official until I sign so I will continue concentrating on my studies,” Harris said. Harris led the team last year with a .438 batting average last season. Coming off their best season in recent years, the Buccaneer baseball team is confident for another successful campaign. “We all worked extremely hard this summer,” Harris said. “We’re poised for a much deeper run in the postseason and a possible state championship push.”

to relax in a way but I still have to keep my grades up and get the scores on the SAT and ACT … I still have to get admitted to the school.” Pettit’s coaches are thrilled that her hard work – four hours of daily training – is paying off and that she is one step closer to achieving her goal. New Benjamin head softball coach Mr. Wesley Logsdon added, “I am overwhelmingly happy for Arden committing to Stanford. I feel she made a fantastic decision, affording her the ability to receive an outstanding education while playing extremely competitive Division 1 college softball.”

Colby Kempe: Lacrosse Tufts University By Andy Weir Staff Writer

All-American senior Colby Kempe committed to Tufts University, his first choice, for lacrosse where he will play midfielder for the Jumbos. “I had offers from a lot of D1

Photo courtesy of Colby Kempe Kempe, senior, committed to Tufts.

schools, like Denver Holy Cross and others, but Tufts University is a better academic school, and they have an incredible lacrosse program,” Kempe said. Although Kempe still has his senior year, he is excited and has already met all Tufts University lacrosse coaches and several team members. “The coaches are funny, down to earth people and so are the players. Although, in Boston, the kids are not those preppy, ‘polo-wearing’ kids many perceive them to be,” Kempe said. Despite his committing to play college lacrosse, Kempe remains modest about his achievements and even feels that he has room for improvement. “There are a lot of kids out there that are better than me, but I achieved my success through several work outs, working on my stick skills, and shooting almost every day,” Kempe concluded.