The Blackfriar Chronicle - January 2016

SCHOOLOGY IS OUT AFTER ONE YEAR

EARLY COMMITMENTS AT AN ALL-TIME HIGH.

YOU CAN’T TRUMP THIS

Learn why, and what to expect from the new 2016-17 system.

Coaches and counselors don’t like it. Students have mixed views.

Mrs. Gustitis worked with Presidential Candidate Donald Trump for almost 10 years.

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EDITORIAL:

STRIPPING DOWN THE DRESS CODE We need input in evaluating dress code policy and enforcement.

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WHEN A STUDENT FIGHTS CANCER Junior Nick Calvaresi shares his life-changing story about fighting brain cancer.

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BLACKFRIAR Chronicle

The

www.mpfriarslantern.COM

JANUARY 2016

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ndrew Miller stood in the middle of a forest attempting to hang himself on May 22, 2013.

Two years before, Andrew was a senior at Malvern and was headed to college on a full academic scholarship, but classes were never really his thing.

Andrew always loved working on extracurriculars, especially the arts and theatre. He said that not going to college was not really presented to him as an option at Malvern, but he wishes it had been.

Andrew never had a drink of alcohol or rip of a bong during high school, but

by the time he reached second semester of his freshman year at college, he was using drugs heavily.

“The first time I got high… one of the first thoughts in my head was ‘my God I should really not ever not feel like this.’”

Andrew said. “I was just a fan of feeling good, and I would do anything to feel good.”

By his sophomore year he was addicted to cocaine and selling pot, pain

medications, ecstasy, and cocaine for some friends on his campus.

His education completely fell to the wayside.

His grades were not meeting the requirements for his academic scholarship, but he said the college never addressed his declining GPA, so his grades continued to falter. Ultimately, he finished his last semester at that college with a .7 grade point average. > PAGE 8

Increased knowledge of the head injury has forced both trainers and athletes to become more aware of potential repercussions.

Michael Droogan ’16 SPORTS EDITOR unior Cullen Pina unknowingly sustained a concussion before his soccer game on October 7, 2014 and continued to play for the next eight games.

It took three weeks for Pina to realize something was wrong.

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“It wasn’t like I was trying to hide, I just tripped warming up and everyone started laughing,” Pina said. “My hands were in my pockets and my head flung back, but I didn’t feel, ‘Oh my God my head is killing me.’ I didn’t go home that night and say ‘I feel funny.’” > PAGE 13

J. FAUNCE ’16

Defeated.

Disconnected.

Suffering.

Desperate.

Hopeless.

VOLUME 16, NUMBER 4

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

EDITORIAL Editorial Board ne student is wearing a collared shirt, belt, tie, and sport jacket - in complete dress code, but around him he sees: Another student is wearing a collared shirt and belt, without a tie, with a sweatshirt - an obvious violation of the no-sweatshirt policy, but he goes the whole day without punishment.

Another is wearing a collared shirt, belt, and non-Malvern sweater, without a tie - an obvious violation of the tie and Malvern sweater policy, but he leaves for practice without any repercussions.

Another is wearing what he usually wears - a collared shirt, with a tie and sport jacket, without a belt - but that day he gets cafeteria duty for his violation. His fellow brothers all around him are also not in dress code, but he is singled out for violating dress code.

What is that student in dress code left to think? What is the student who gets in trouble left to think?

At its core, the dress code has three major goals: developing a student's self respect, fostering in him self-discipline, and engendering a sense of unity with his peers, according to an email sent to the faculty only by Dean of Students Mr. Tim Dougherty.

The dress code has become extremely relaxed over the past months. It has become more and more common for students to wear sweatshirts, and not wear ties or sport jackets. Students have been rarely reprimanded for these offenses, but during the week of Jan. 11 Dougherty sent out two emails to students indicating that dress code would now be enforceable with a same-day detention.

Dougherty can send out emails to students all he wants, but if we don’t understand the purpose behind the policy, it is worthless.

However, we are presented with a conundrum. If we keep the dress code as strict as it is currently stated in the student handbook, students will continue to rebel and the administration will continue to turn the other way. If the dress code is taken away or reduced to a level of intangibility, the student body will not meet the three goals introduced

by Dougherty.

However, there is a happy medium.

Over the past few years, Malvern has adapted its learning style to an ever changing business environment. With the advancements in technology in the 21st century, certain styles of learning have become obsolete and certain skills have become necessary to be successful.

The same holds true for dress code.

According to a survey run by The Telegraph, 34% of

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business professionals no longer wear suits to work and only would for a big meeting, conference, etc. The rest of American workers are comfortable wearing something vaguely presentable and devoid of stains. This is where that medium comes in.

Malvern is a college preparatory school with a mission, of course, to prepare its students for college. However, Malvern also seeks to instill in us values that we can carry with us in our professional career and beyond, thus preparing us for adulthood. Since colleges rarely have dress codes, and since most professionals are straying from suits, why is Malvern still enforcing the same dress code from decades ago?

Malvern has had a long tradition with the current dress code, and a significant portion of the community still supports it as is. But traditions change, and while we don’t know what the specifics of the change will be, one thing is certain - the students need to have a meaningful voice in a decision to reevaluate the dress code.

Students can look presentable in a button-down shirt, dress pants, sperrys, and a belt. They don’t have to be condemned to wearing their brother’s ripped suit jacket and the raggedy Malvern embroidered sweater.

With a more relaxed dress code, students will be more likely to adhere to its requirements while still getting the feeling of unity, self respect, and discipline.k

AARON SALINAS ’16

Religion: A force for peace Religion ought never to be a justification for war, but only to make peace.

Hunter Peck ’16 CONTRIBUTOR n the long and troubled history of the Middle East, conflict, specifically religious conflict, has unfortunately been all too prevalent.

From the most expansive and deadly example of religious war in the region, the Crusades, to the heinous acts of ISIS, conflict spurred by religious radicalization continues to this day.

In recent weeks, diplomatic relations between two of the largest and most influential powers in the Middle East have deteriorated to a near disastrous state. Saudi Arabia and Iran represent the two largest countries in the region both in landmass and military prowess. Their combined influence spreads not only throughout the region, but ripples throughout the Muslim world ideologically and affects nearly every country on earth economically.

These two countries have always had a rocky relationship, in the early 1980’s Saudi Arabia backed then-U.S. ally Saddam Hussein in Iraq during the Iran-Iraq war after the Iranian

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hostage crisis. In 1987 several hundred Iranians staged protests on the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca Saudi Arabia which resulted in bloodshed and the temporary severing of diplomatic relations.

In 2015, over 45 0 I r a n i a n pi lgrims to Mecca were killed following a bridge collapse, prompting Iran to swiftly lay the blame on Saudi Arabian incompetence and neglect. Saudi Arabia and Iran have most recently found themselves on opposing sides of several proxy wars in the region in a sort of modern day cold war, including the civil wars in both Syria and Yemen. In Yemen, Iran-backed rebels frequently fire artillery and rockets into Saudi Arabia in a rare example of direct physical conflict between the two nations. However it is the most recent set of circumstances which have prompted renewed fears of a larger, regional conflict in the Middle East.

Within Islam there are two major denominations, Sunni and Shiite or Shia. Sunnis represent the vast majority of Muslims at about 8 0 % , a nd S aud i Arabia has a large Sunni majority. Iran on the other hand is nearly entirely Shiite, and this religious difference is the root cause of their conflict. Sunnis and Shiites have an extremely bloody past in the region, and claim members of the other denomination are apostates. As a result, when Saudi Arabia executed a Shiite holy man in early January for leading Arab Spring inspired protests against the Sunni government in the country, Iran became outraged. Iranian citizens attacked and burned the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, harsh words were exchanged, and in the end Saudi Arabia severed all diplomatic relations with Iran.

The ripple effect was immediate and severe.

Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Sudan all downgraded or eliminated diplomatic ties

with Iran in solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The cause of this recent conflict is so strikingly due to radical religious motivation that it is sparking a new wave of fears of a broad Sunni vs.

Shia war in the region. This sectarian conflict is already being played out in the streets of Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Bahrain, and Lebanon in battles between rival religious militias. The world can only watch and hope that it doesn’t broaden into a direct war between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and grow into a regional conflict between ideologies.

This warmongering between nations and ideologies brings me to my point: There is no basis in any western religion for religious warfare. The rhetoric being spewed by a handful of radical clerics in the Middle East and abroad has tarnished the name of Islam and religion everywhere.

As men and women of God in the Malvern community, we must remember that God preaches peace and love, no matter what religion you are. Religion ought to never be a justification for war, but only to make peace. When it comes to the Middle East, we can only hope and pray that those who seek destruction find justice, and that peace prevails. k

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

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FRIAR LIFE Counseling Department, students work overtime for college deadlines

Teacher of the Issue: Mr. John Bohannon

The Counseling Department is a flurry of activity around the November deadlines, but the hard work begins early and ends late.

Resident published author and teacher shares his story.

Matt Pichola ’16 GRAPHIC DESIGNER t is 11:30 at night and you are up doing work for a deadline that needs to be met tomorrow.

You could have had this work done much earlier in the week, but instead you are up doing last minute work late at night.

Sounds like 21st century education collaboration gone wrong? Maybe.

But this is also how Counseling Assistant Mrs. Susan Sarafinas spent her Saturday night on October 31.

Sarafinas said that the college process on her end begins during junior year.

“Basically, I start with making sure that your junior year transcript to your senior year course schedule is in line — meaning that you obtained all the credits necessary for graduation,” she said.

The Counseling Department physically loads the transcript into each student’s Naviance account. Then, students work with the college counselors to determine the colleges to which they will apply.

“We will start building your Naviance file, so first MRS. SARAFINAS, ALWAYS HELPING / T. WHITE off and most importantly is your transcript,” Sarafinas said. “Then we will make sure your counselor statement “Leading up to those Sunday deadlines, I was going is prepared.” my entire work days here, 7:30 to 4:00, 4:30, 5:00, and Next, comes the secondary school report, the counse- then some time in the evening depending on how much lor report, and the teacher recommendations. volume came in from the kids,” Sarafinas said.

That part, at least, is automated. “We have deadlines ‘Some time’ could be very late. “I did submit up until 11:30 on October 31,” Sarafinas said we give the faculty in order to obtain those documents,” Sarafinas said. “They will upload them As long as the student applying does automatically to Naviance, which is his part before the deadline, Sarafinas said great.” she believes that it’s only fair if she does This year’s Sarafinas said that for a class of 116 her part as well. senior class is students, the applications far exceed the Some months tend to be signif iprojected at cantly busier than others in the College applicants. “This year we are at about 800 about 800 college applications,” she said.

Counseling Department. applications.

Accord ing to the Nationa l “So in November, that's always Managing this Association for College Admissions the busiest month for college advising. workload takes Counseling’s 2014 State of College October 15 deadlines don't get the press long hours & Admissions Report, college application that November 1 deadlines get,” Mr. Ian dedication numbers have been on the rise. For 10 Harkness, Director of College Counseling, of the past 15 years, more than 70% of said. colleges reported year-to-year application Harkness, along with Sarafinas, also increases. has a busy schedule during these times.

“Each morning I would wake up around 5:00 or 5:30 The week before any college application is due is basically crunch time on the second floor of Tolentine. to read a few essays or write a few recommendations before November 1 and November 15 can be some of the busiest school,” Harkness said. deadline dates, according to Sarafinas.

Harkness’ early mornings during deadline time are Sarafinas said those dates can mean many hours of accompanied by busy work days. submitting applications, “provided that technology is on “During the day it tends to be constant meetings with my side, the programs are running smoothly and there’s students or teaching class or working on this college prono delays in processing as far as the actual network itself.” cess in person,” he said.

Not only does Sarafinas spend entire school days conAnd again, don’t be fooled, Harkness is also a man of stantly working on these application submissions, she also late nights. “I might write two or three more letters in an evening,” he said. spends a good amount of her own her time doing so. > PAGE 10

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The

BLACKFRIAR Chronicle

is a monthly student-run publication at Malvern Preparatory School. Its online affiliate is the Friar’s Lantern (www.mpfriarslantern.com).

Mission Statement The Blackfriar Chronicle and The Friar’s Lantern are the student-run publications of Malvern Prep. The principal goals of the publications are to provide accurate and relevant information to the Malvern community and to offer a forum for intelligent dialogue on all things Malvern. The reporting for these student publications is conducted thoroughly and edited by student leaders to ensure this accuracy to the best of our ability. In order to fairly provide all points of view, contributions from all members of the Malvern community are welcomed and encouraged through letters of opinion, student reporting, and respectful commentary. mpfriarslantern1@gmail.com / Twitter @friarslantern1 / facebook.com/TheFriarsLantern / Instagram mpfriarslantern1 EDITORS IN CHIEF SECTION EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD Justice Bennett ’16 All editors Friar Life Media & Technology Ben Yankelitis ’16 Mike Flanagan ’16 Tommy Pero ’17 Jack Magargee ’18 Mike Harrington ’19 MANAGING EDITORS Sports Local/World News Print: James Faunce ’16 Social Media Editor Michael Droogan ’16 Jack McClatchy ’17 Online: Chris Bunn ’16 Nick Li ’17 Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 Podcast INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Graphic Designer Desmond Papariello ’18 Tyler Pizzico ’17 Matt Pichola ’16

Michael Harrington ’19 REPORTER man who has worked as a bartender, bookseller, bricklayer, folk singer, and Mister Softee truck driver has opened up to shed light on his past and his thoughts on Malvern’s future.

Engl ish teac her M r. John Bohannon was born in Philadelphia, but his family moved all over when he was little. “I was raised in an Irish-Catholic family with 4 brothers and sisters, and my aunt and my grandmother lived with me as well,” MR. BOHANNON / M. HARRINGTON he said.

Following his years at and Ireland,” he said. He Cardinal O’Hara High has published a book – a “My proudest School, Bohannon went collection of poems entiaccomplishment to the Penn State Honors tled “The Barmaids of Tír at Malvern is program. na nÓg.” whenever I am “After undergraduate, Bohannon, who plays able to turn a I started teaching, and I the guitar and mandolin, student into a went to graduate school has also been a part of reader.” at night at West Chester several bands.

University,” Bohannon While some teachers said. have offices in St. Rita’s or Tolentine, Teaching is not the only job that Bohannon’s office is located underhe has ever had. neath the stairs at the bottom floor Bohannon has worked as a barof Carney.

“I had been the moderator of the tender, construction worker, bookseller, bricklayer, folk singer, Mister newspaper, and they had an office Softee truck driver, advertising copy- in the basement of Tolentine. I had writer, and more. filled it with books and everything else,” Bohannon said. “When I “Before teaching at Malvern I was in an advertising agency... I stopped being the newspaper moderdid it for 11 years,” Bohannon said. ator, I had nowhere to put that stuff.”

“Then Fr. Flynn called me and asked He describes his use of his curif I would ever think of coming back rent office as just an efficient use of to teaching.” space.

He jumped on Father Flynn’s Recently, Bohannon left his long, offer and ended up coming back to silvery locks for shorter, cleaner look. teaching in 2000. Bohannon applied Many students were not used to the for a teaching job at Malvern while he change and were curious about deciwas working as an advertising copy- sion. Bohannon said the haircut was just an “on a whim” type of decision. writer, but did not get the job at first.

Three years after sending his applicaBohannon has helped in a project tion, he got this call from Flynn ask- to put a miniature bookcase right next ing if he was still interested. to Good Counsel Hall and where one Bohannon has been at Malvern of Malvern’s sidewalks abruptly ends. for about 16 years, and he has a few “The thing at the end of the sidethings that he loves most about the walk is a free library for anyone... if school. they want to take and borrow books, “Number one, the people I work little pieces of art, [or] anything,” he said. “If they want to put something with– my colleagues, my fellow teachers,” Bohannon said. “Number in there, they are welcome to do that. two, the freedom that teachers have It’s a place to share what you like.” to shape their curriculum.”

He has also scattered a multiHowever, something in particular tude of little squares of paper that makes Bohannon very proud. have something cool on them all over “My proudest accomplishment campus. at Malvern is whenever I am able “They are what we are callto turn a student into a reader,” ing ‘guerilla art’. It means that it just appears. When everyone came Bohannon said. in on Tuesday morning, hopefully He thinks that the future of Malvern will have more servicethey were surprised by the pictures, driven projects and an even better poems, and sayings,” Bohannon said. service program.

“The idea is to make you smile or Outside of his role as an English laugh or even maybe think.” k teacher, he has a few hobbies that he likes to spend his time doing— such Thanks to Graphic Designers who as reading, painting, and writing. contributed work to this issue: “I had published a good number Jimmy Faunce ’16 Chase Bennett ’19 of poems and short stories in magaMatt Pichola ’16 Des Papariello ’18 Jack Walker ’18 Ethan Rowley ’18 zines and journals in the US, UK,

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Friar Life

Arts program, school celebrate Father Duffy’s influence From Tolentine, to Stewart, back to Tolentine, and finally to Duffy— the Malvern arts program has finally found its home.

Tommy Pero ’17, Sean Ward ’17 The project was estimated FRIAR LIFE EDITOR, CONTRIBUTOR to cost 11 to 12 million dollars n Saturday, January 9, Malvern celebrated the life of and have an overall footprint of Malvern’s former President Fr. David Duffy and the 36,000 square feet. Once the tenth anniversary of his passing.

Board of Trustees approved it, “He was the lighting rod that saved the school in ‘74,” Board Malvern needed to start fundChairman Mr. Stephen K. Cloetingh said. raising, according to Stewart.

Fr. Duffy cast the deciding vote to keep the school open in The first step of the fundthe 1970’s. Without him, Malvern Prep may not have survived a raising process was the Quiet period of declining enrollment and financial struggles.

Phase. In this phase, Malvern Today’s students never attended Malvern under Fr. Duffy’s tries “to raise significant dolleadership, but they still remember him as they pass by the the lars from a small group of peoDuffy Center sign everyday. ple— people who can give a One attendant of the anniversary celebration remarked that seven figure gift,” Stewart said.

Fr. Duffy would not know the difference between a ballet and an At the end of the Quiet orchestra. But, Fr. Duffy always recognized the arts’ importance Phase, Malvern had raised over seven million dollars. to Malvern.

When current Arts Department Leader Ms. Jackie White Then it opened up the fundwas hired in 1995 to help build the arts program, she described raising to the rest of the school the upper school arts as “kind of glorified baby sitting.” and outside community. The Arts classes did not have a strict curriculum, and students rest of the donations were FR. DUFFY & THE DUFFY CENTER / ILLUSTR ATION, IMAGES @MALVERNPREP TWITTER, GR APHIC DESIGN 1 did not come to class consistently. Students would come in if they still being gathered while the wanted to and draw or do other arts activities. building was still under conThe theatre program was nearly two decades ahead of the struction, according to Stewart. almost had a full fly, where backdrops can be pulled all the way art program. In 1976, Fr. Duffy hired current To design the building, Malvern hired Voith and out of the frame of the audience, but instead had a half fly.

English Teacher and College Counselor Mr. & Mactavish Architecture firm. According to There was also a proposal to have a green roof, where sod would Richard Roper to run the program, which was White, the architects were very open to input be layered on the roof, according to White. “previously unorganized.” from Malvern and the arts department.

Construction began in the summer of 2006, and Malvern’s Fr. David Duffy Malvern wanted to build an arts program “Everyone had input for every aspect,” White newest building opened one year and a half later in January of always recognized to rival other schools in the area, according to said. “I had input where every outlet would go.” 2008. Unfortunately, Fr. Duffy never saw the completed building. the arts’ White. To achieve this, White created a ten year “I was told by Mr. Stewart to dream big and He passed away in January 2006 — just three months after he importance to plan. see what happens, and that’s what I did,” Roper found out the building was named after him.

Malvern. said.

The plan commenced on the top floor of While Fr. Duffy was not there with them, the rest of the Tolentine with a small 15-person orchestra and He wanted a trap door on stage, a full fly Malvern community was able to enjoy their new arts facility.

The Duffy Center a developing visual arts program. The program system to pull backdrops completely out of view “Everyone was excited to have that building in,” Stewart said. stands as part of from the audience, sophissoon needed more space - and more arts classes.

With new facilities like a ceramic studio, his legacy. ticated lighting, and more. studio art rooms, a graphic design room, a Tolentine was very different from what it recording studio, a pit orchestra, dark room, is today. When Malvern used to be a boarding One of the concerns Director of the Arts about moving to a larger school, Tolentine housed the dormitories. When Ms. Jackie White band rooms, and open space for events, “[The the arts program moved into its halls, the rooms were very nar- building would be a decrease in intimacy still hopes to see the Duffy Center] raised the level and the bar of row and the hallways were wide. Classes soon became crowded, and connection between each of the parts expectation for the students to achieve,” Del Arts expand into one according to White. of the arts department. To combat that, more area: Pizzo said.

Malvern decided to renovate Tolentine two years after the arts teachers suggested incorporating a lot of Almost 21 years and a 14 million dollar Dance moved in, and the program temporarily stayed in Stewart Hall. windows, according to White. building after White first made her ten year plan One year later, the renovations were complete with visual arts on Malvern also brought in the project to build Malvern’s arts program, she still is hopthe top floor and the orchestra on the bottom floor. manager from the Kimmel Center to help ing for the program to expand in one more area.

Despite the renovations, White said the new conditions were out with the design, and consequently the Duffy theatre was “To put the icing on the cake, we definitely need to have less than ideal. influenced by the Kimmel Center’s design. dance,” she said.

“It was crazy,” White said. ”It wasn’t soundproof. As soon Prior to the Duffy Center’s completion, Malvern’s music Regardless of what the future holds, Trustee Member and as any music was played you could hear it all the way up to the department periodically performed at the Perelman Theatre in President of the Alumni Association Bryan Forcino said that if top floor.” the Kimmel Center. Del Pizzo said he liked the way the Perelman Fr. Duffy could see Malvern and the Duffy Center today, “He White worked with other teachers and current Assistant Theatre sounded so much that when the architect asked him what would be extremely proud and he would say, ‘It’s not necessarily Head of School Mr. Steve Valyo on shaping the curriculum, and he wanted, he said, “‘I want the Perelman Room,’ and they said, because of the things I did, it’s because of the things great things ‘We can do that.’” bringing in more teachers. that we did.’”

The project did not come without setbacks. The total build“We started hiring people that have a love for the arts,” White Forcino added, “He’d have one of those great Duffy smiles said, “and I think that started selling it.” ing came in over budget at 14 million dollars and the footprint on his face.” k Upper School Music Director Mr. Emanuel Del Pizzo was shrunk to 33,000 square feet, hired in 1999, and Music Teacher Mr. Ed Liga was hired in 2000 according to Stewart. to help improve the music department.

Vasey Hall had to be torn Del Pizzo started Malvern’s Jazz band and Liga improved down because the Malvern the choral program. The theatre program grew to having up to Borough did not allow two two hundred students from Malvern and other schools in a single buildings w ithin 75 feet of each other, according to show, according to Roper.

“It kind of broke down barriers where people thought that Stewart. Vasey Hall housed arts were only... for certain people, and it started being more the previous theatre which was accepting,” White said. built in the 1950s.

In 2005, the final year of White’s ten year plan, a new idea “We knew it had to come surfaced - a new building to be the epicenter of the arts. Sure down because it couldn’t do enough, The Board of Trustees decided to build it. anything but be a theatre, so White’s plan did not account for the new building. “It was we took it down,” Stewart said. never in the cards,” White said. “It was unbelievable.”

Because the building’s Despite White’s surprise, former President Mr. James Stewart footprint shrank and finansaid the timing of the building was appropriate. cial reasons, not every item on “We had told Ms. White back in ‘95-’96 to do a ten year plan, the wish list made it into the because I thought in ten years we would grow out of that [the building. previous facilities] – and we did,” he said.

There were proposals to The new building would be called the Rev. David J. Duffy, have the back hallway behind O.S.A. Arts Center. Fr. Duffy was very happy and humbled when the stage designed to include a he found out the building would be named after him, according black box theatre and the stage to Stewart. to have a trapdoor. The theatre DUFFY CENTER AT TWILIGHT / J. BENNETT

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

5

Friar Life

You can’t Trump this experience Director of Purchasing Mrs. Nancy Gustitis reminisces about her time working alongside multi-billionaire and Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

Tyler Pizzico ’17 CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER rom making executive decisions in the elevator of Trump Towers to making strategic marketing changes for Trump Castle, Malvern’s own Nancy Booth (Gustitis) was an integral part of Trump’s success.

Gustitis, whose maiden name and name during her managerial career was Booth, started her management career at the Golden Nugget Hotel Casino, a property owned by Trump’s rival Steve Wynn. She started at Wynn’s company as an Assistant Restaurant Manager and was promoted six months later to Restaurant Manager.

In 1984, Gustitis was promoted to VIP Services Manager in Wynn’s Hotel Division. Her new position tasked her with running 189 hotel suites for the high rollers, handling all the VIP guests, and accommodating entertainers, such as Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and their entourages.

In 1987, Gustitis was a part of a group of executives that left Wynn’s Golden Nugget and went to work for Donald Trump.

She took a job at Trump Plaza and became Director of Customer Service - a position that put her in charge of the seven retail stores, limousine operations, bell desk, front desk, health spa, vending, children’s nursery, beach operations, beauty salon, mailroom, and coat check at the hotel.

DONALD TRUMP, CENTER; MRS. GUSTITIS, NEXT TO HIM ON THE RIGHT / COURTESY OF N. GUSTITIS In the same year, she started her professional relationship with Donald Trump which evolved into a friendship that would State Marina which was run like a hotel under a 100 year lease hand,” she said. “At first I was a bit nervous about my job security continue for nine years. agreement with the state of New Jersey. because this kid’s father was ultimately my boss. I thought his One of her most treasured memories, an experience she still Her leadership at that marina would result in Gustitis's bodyguards were going to tell me exactly when he was going to work and what he was going to be doing” remembers vividly nearly three decades later, is when she first favorite memory from her experiences with Trump. met Donald Trump.

Gustitis worked closely with the state of New Jersey to ensure Gustitis was soon relieved of her apprehension and pleasantly Since Trump Plaza was under a massive renthat the Trump organization was in compliance surprised. Donny was just another teenager whose dad made ovation at the time, she temporarily worked out with the marina's lease. him work.

“He was incredibly humble. He didn’t want anyone to know of Trump Towers to redesign all the retail stores With her experience in mind, Trump called In 1987, his name or who his father was,” Gustitis said. “In fact, he used with the Vice President of Retail Operations.

Director of Purchasing her in for a meeting to ask for a favor.

On the first day of the redesign project, she "His bodyguard called me and asked me to a fake name on his name tag. He was such a nice kid and never Mrs. Nancy stepped on the elevator and turned around to come over to talk with Donald,” Gustitis said. once played the ‘dad’ card. He was treated the same as all the Gustitis began see Trump along with his hulking bodyguards “He opened right up by saying ‘I know you’re other employees and he liked that.” a professional boarding behind her. really close with these guys from the marina Ivanka and Erik were the same, kind and respectful just like relationship with “He looked at me and said ‘Hi, who are and I want you to get them to agree to changing their brother.

Donald Trump you,’” Gustitis said. “So I introduced myself and the name to Trump Marina.’”

People may assume Trump's children are privileged, but which evolved into told him my position. He then asked me where I That was a Sunday, and Trump wanted a Gustitis described them as humble and hardworking. Similarly, a friendship that worked before and when I told him the Golden call back with good news on Tuesday. people may assume Trump is egotistical and arrogant from some would continue for Nugget, he smiled. He and Steve Wynn were “Of course I was pushed for time, but I of his television appearances. nine years. called the state the next day,” Gustitis said. always big rivals, so he was extremely happy to However, the personal experiences Gustitis has with Trump know we left to come and work for him.”

“Like I had thought, they said ‘Nancy, the name may warrant a second look.

A few seconds later, in that elevator, Gustitis will never get changed.’”

“Donald certainly has a showman side to him,” Gustitis said. would make her first corporate decision under Trump.

Not defeated, Gustitis came up with a plan that required “But that is all an act. In my nine years working for him, I never “He asked me, ‘What do they have over at Golden Nugget another name change. saw him talk to anyone like he does on TV. Don’t get me wrong, that we don’t have at Trump Plaza?’” Gustitis said. “And at this “I came up with the idea to change the name of Trump Castle he is a strong-willed man and won’t take no for an answer, but time we were going through that big renovation to Trump Marina instead,” she said. “Then by he is a good man at heart.” virtue of the fact that it’s right next door, peoWill Trump’s domineering, ‘get the job done’ attitude work but the one thing we weren’t redoing was the ple will start to call the actual marina, Trump in the political realm? That is for the people to decide. health spa. High rollers and entertainers of the marina. It would only make sense.” day were starting to like them more and more so “He was and still is a very successful business man. But “I imagine he I told him we needed a better one.”

Gustitis called Trump. She told him that that’s just that - business. I don’t know his political ideologies or decided to run In the course of an elevator ride, Trump the state would not let them change the name. whether his business principles would translate well,” Gustitis because he wants Then she told him her idea. decided to trust Gustitis and gave her permission said. “All I know is he always loved our country and he always to see some His response? "Perfect, do it." to start the construction of the new health spa. will.” changes in the “I went back to the president of Trump Plaza According to Gustitis, Trump’s response Rumors have been flying around that Trump is not in the country. Isn’t that and told him the news,” Gustitis said. “They was reminiscent of the ‘ just do it’ attitude election to better the country, but rather to better himself. why anyone runs? I shortly thereafter hired an architect and within Trump possessed— an attitude she first saw in Gustitis was quick to dismiss that pretense. don’t think he has “He already has money and fame so I do not think he needs six to nine months we closed the old spa and the elevator in Trump Towers. any false motives started working on a new $4-5 million health It was a great idea according to Trump. more of that,” she said. “I imagine he decided to run because he at all.”

However, it was also a multi-million dollar wants to see some changes in the country. Isn’t that why anyone spa.”

This experience stuck with Gustitis. She idea. The name change required hundreds of runs? I don’t think he has any false motives at all.”

In October 1996, Gustitis met her husband, Gene. His son believes her interactions with Trump are indicaintricate changes from the signage to the name tive of the kind of man he truly is – not necessarily the man we on the soap bottles. Despite all of that, Trump once again trusted went to Malvern, so she decided to move to Pennsylvania and see on the GOP debates or on The Apprentice.

Gustitis’s plan and within six months the project was completed. get a job at the Malvern campus store.

“He treated us all well,” she said. “I used to sit next to him Perhaps that great success prompted Trump’s next decision, Next time you stop in to the campus store, rather than just just like [a student] would sit next to a peer. I worked with him to promote Gustitis once again. In 1992, she became the Director take the free piece of candy, ask Gustitis about her experiences. for nine years and he never disrespected anyone nor was he ever of Hotel and Marina Operations and ran the entire hotel includ- She certainly has more fascinating stories she’d love to tell. k disrespectful to me.” ing the Retail Operations, Marina, 800 hotel rooms and suites, Are you interested in joining The Blackfriar Chronicle staff?

“He promoted women and he always respected everyone’s housekeeping, bell desk, PBX (private branch exchange) operaContact Ben Yankelitis ’16 opinions, never displaying a sense of superiority,” she said. tions, and sales and marketing. She was in charge of everything byankelitis60@malvernprep.org A promotion would soon come for Gustitis herself. She was except the casino and food and beverage.

Follow us on Twitter @friarslantern1 moved over to Trump Castle in 1990 where she assumed the role It was during her time running the marina that Gustitis met Follow us on Instagram @mpfriarslantern1 of Director of Retail and Marina Operations. This placed her in all of Trump’s children, Donald, Erik, and Ivanka.

Like us on Facebook at TheFriarsLantern Maybe we’ll get a Snapchat someday. charge of the familiar retail stores along with the 729 boat Farley “Donny came to work for me the next summer as a dock

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Friar Life Skilling and drilling or achieving and goal setting?

Is math still about getting the right answer, or is it more than that?

Garrett Hallinan ’19 CONTRIBUTOR hen Mr. Kevin Moore, the AP Calculus and Academic Algebra II teacher, learned math it was simply about skill and drill process.

“The concepts are all still the same and the content is still the same,” Moore said. “However, when I was learning it, there was very little collaboration. Now, it’s more about learning the material, collaborating with others, and using others to have discussions about math.”

Math Department Leader Ms. Lauren Lesch believes it is the teacher’s responsibility to share their love of math with others willing to learn.

“We are using different ways of assessing the students, finding ways of providing them feedback, and looking to get the student’s reactions,” Lesch said. “It is important to constantly be evaluating ourselves as teachers and math educators.”

Ms. Lesch, who is also the AP Statistics and Precalculus teacher, believes it’s not all about the final answer.

“I absolutely look at the process in addition to whether a student is getting it right or wrong,” Lesch said. “If the student is getting it right, let’s see how he got there. If the student is getting it wrong, let’s see how he got there and can we identify where he went wrong. It’s important to identify where [the student] went wrong.”

Freshman Greg Gaasche thinks his Honors Geometry class is not too difficult but that there are some tricky things about it.

“The math at my old school was easier,” Gaasche said.

“The teacher guided everyone through it; whereas here, if you truly want to learn you have to meet with the teacher during community time.”

Gaasche says his goal for a class revolves around maintaining a high GPA and earning a the grade he wants, while Sophomore Max McCool has a different motivation.

“My main goal in math is to learn and develop new

A look inside Student Council’s workings for the second semester.

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M PHOTO ILLUSTRATION / D. PAPARIELLO

skills that I will be able to use later on in life,” he said.

Max is in Algebra II Honors with Ms. Zulli, and he likes her style of grading.

“Ms. Zulli teaches by both correctness and process,” Max said. “I agree with this style of grading because one without the other does not do a student any good. The process is just as important as the correct answer, and the correct answer is just as important as the process.”

Junior Will Burgess and senior Pat Finley both believe math will come in handy for the future.

“My main goal in math is to prepare for the SAT and for my college major, business,” Burgess said. “I know that math is a big part of business and that is why I take it so seriously.”

“I am looking to be an engineer, which is heavily based on math and physics,” Finley said. “It’s pretty much applied math.”

In the math classroom at Malvern there’s a mixture between performing and learning. Students perform to get the A/A+ to boost the GPA and learn so that they can apply math toward their futures. k

Winter is here, and so is Winterfest Malvern Prep’s semi-formal dance, Winterfest, returns for its second year.

Nick Li ’17 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR ast year, Student Council decided that Ma lvern needed an event other than Homecoming to bring the entire student body together. In that spirit, Winterfest was born. This year, Winterfest comes back, potentially marking the start of a new tradition.

Winterfest is a semi-formal dance like Homecoming. Students will be able to bring a date with them to the dance. This year’s dance will be held on January 30 at 7 p.m. It is meant to act as “Homecoming Part 2”.

However, un l ike w ith the Homecoming dance, Winterfest will be held in Stewart Hall rather than the O’Neill Center. Stewart Hall will be transformed into a winter theme with lights, snowflakes, and snowmen decorated all over the space.

Tickets for Winterfest are now $25 per couple, only available for purchase online on the Malvern Prep website. The price was reduced from the original $30 cost after students were unhappy with how expensive they are, according to Student Council President Alex Freud.

Tickets will be sold until Wednesday, January 27.

While the event is less than one week away, who will DJ the event is unknown. Student Council is also trying to persuade sophomore Des Papariello, who

L

Tommy Pero ’17 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR idway through his presidential year, Student Council President Alex Freud said that Friars can expect "a lot of new stuff coming" for the second semester.

Freud previously said that Student Council organized an event where students could pay a fee that would go to charity in exchange for the freedom to not shave for the month of January. However, “Januhairy” has moved to “Febuhairy”, Freud said an email about Febuhairy will be sent out soon with more details. He expects the cost to be between five and ten dollars.

Student Council is continuing their work with Villa Maria Academy on their large Christian Service event that will take place later this year.

Villa created a contest to design the best t-shirt to be sold at the event.

It is open to Villa students and will soon be open to Malvern students.

An email will be sent out to the student body with more information, according to Freud.

The most recent event Student Council organized was a volleyball tournament on Friday, January 22.

The tournament featured seven student teams and one faculty team.

DJed at homecoming, to be the DJ at Winterfest.

Junior St udent Counci l Representative Ryan Franks said, “[Last year’s participation] was not as high as it could have been. It was last minute due to being advertised during Thanksgiving break.”

Though many students’ expectations for the first ever Winterfest were not very high, many still had a positive experience. “I had a fun time [at Winterfest],” junior Mike Mingey said. “Not going to lie, it was pretty lit.”

This year, student council plans to increase student participation through increased advertisements. Winterfest was officially announced by the student council on January 13. Since then, flyers for the event have been seen all over campus.

The student body is preparing for Winterfest in high spirits.

“I’m super excited for Winterfest this year. It’s not even funny,” sophomore Sam Sweeney said. “It is going to be a good time.” “[Once we] make it an annual event, more and more people will come out every year,” Franks said. “It’ll pick itself up naturally and we anticipate it to become a tradition.”k

While Student Council President Alex Freud was disappointed in the lower than average number of student teams, he was still optimistic about the tournament.

“I think it’ll be interesting to see a faculty team in [the tournament] just because it’ll spice it up,” Freud said before the tournament. “Regardless of how many people signed up, I think it’s still going to be fun.”

Student Council organized the second ever Winterfest scheduled for Saturday January 30. For more information please see our story below on Winterfest.

At the halfway point of his tenure as Student Council President, Freud is happy with his work, and optimistic for the rest of the year.

“I hope I’m doing well,” he said.

“Volleyball’s new. Febuhairy’s new.

The big thing is we’re hoping the Christian Service event can go really well.”

Just as last year’s President Ryan Doane passed on Winterfest to the future of the school, Freud wants to cement his legacy.

“I’m hoping that if this Christian Service Event [with Villa] goes well, then that could be something I could pass on to the future years,” he said.k

Student of the Issue: Sean Oates ’18 Sophomore enjoys water polo, Student Council, and English class.

Colin Price ’18 REPORTER ophomore Sean Oates is a “lifer” at Malvern Prep who started in the sixth grade.

Hailing from Downingtown, Oates is having a great year both inside and outside of the classroom.

He is a proud member of Student Council, and plays on the varsity water polo team.

Oates’ favorite activity is water polo. The water polo team had a great year, finishing with seven wins and only one loss in the Inter-Ac, winning the league outright. With an overall record of 21 wins and three losses, this marked one of the best seasons in Malvern history.

Oates was elected class representative for the sophomore class at the end of freshman year.

In his free time, Oates enjoys watching football, schooling his friends in the video game NBA2k, and just hanging out.

English is Oates’s favorite class this year. He is enrolled in Mrs.

S

SEAN OATES ’18 / C. PRICE

Wilkinson’s Honors English. “I like that we have open discussions in class about what we're reading,” he said.

His favorite part of Malvern is, “how teachers are really willing to spend extra time with you if you need it.”

Oates’s favorite teacher this year is Mrs. Gordon. “She makes sure that you have a thorough understanding of things and she's willing to work with you outside of class,” he said.

His favorite movie is “21 Jump Street.” k

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

7

Friar Life New changes, new faces for Empty Bowls The Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, Villa Maria Academy, and Malvern teamed up to assist in the operation of the annual event.

Motivational speaker Chris Williams visits Malvern On Tuesday, January 5 2016 Mr. Chris Williams spoke to the underclassmen on his keys to success.

HANDMADE BOWL CENTERPIECES AT EMPTY BOWLS / D. MALLOY

Danny Malloy ’18 REPORTER otre Dame and Villa Maria joined Malvern students to help with Empty Bowls this year, along with other changes.

Empty Bowls is an event at Malvern which raises money for the Bethesda Project, an organization that helps the homeless and poor in the Philadelphia area.

Money is raised by a ticket fee to get in, and purchases of bowls that are made in the ceramics studio by anyone in the Malvern community.

Tait McGlinn ’16 said the process of making all the bowls, 1,020 in fact, through open studios brings the Malvern community together.

“It's a time for alumni, families, and friends to just come in and throw,” McGlinn said. “Its great to have because a lot of the alumni come back and it is good to see their faces.”

Along with making bowls, another part of the setup included setting up the gym for the actual event. Sam Li ’16, student head of service, explains the work put in by student volunteers to make this happen.

“We’ve had 3 separate days where students from Notre Dame, Villa, and Malvern have been coming after school set things up,” Li said. “Everyone was just working hard.”

Students from Notre Dame and Villa Maria volunteered to help with the event for the first time. Grace Kuroki, one of the student leaders from Villa, enjoyed volunteering her time.

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“I think it's a great opportunity to volunteer with your friends and help serve other people,” Kuroki said.

“It means a lot more than just a bowl or soup; it's helping the homeless.”

A major change this year was that the event was moved from the Dougherty Hall gym to the larger O’Neill center gym. Larry Legner, head of Christian Service, said the change was due to an expected increase in attendance..

“We have the two girls schools teaming up with us and we have more people,” Legner said. “We are not as crowded in as we were over in Dougherty.”

Matthew Miller ’13, a student leader of Empty Bowls 3 years ago, described how the event has grown since he was here.

“It has grown physically,” Miller said. “There is a lot more soup and more bowls, around 1,100 this year, so that has doubled since I've been here.”

Kate Plows, ceramics teacher who runs Empty Bowls at Malvern, said that Villa and Notre Dame were a huge help for the event.

“It was the first year, in the 8 years I've been doing this, I had a chance to breathe,” Plows said. “From a logistics standpoint, the student volunteers were amazing.”

Plows said that she is interested in how the partnership with Villa and Notre Dame will grow in the years to come.

“Having the girls involved with the leadership was awesome,” Plows said. “I’d like to explore that partnership further, and see what more we could do together.” k

VILLA, NOTRE DAME, AND MALVERN CHAIRS CELEBRATE AFTER THE EVENT / T. MCGLINN

CHRIS WILLIAMS SPEAKS IN DUFFY CENTER / T. PERO

John Magargee ’18 ending, whether it be “always expect MEDIA & TECH EDITOR the best” or something simple like “be otivational speaker Chris grateful.”

Williams gave a presentaHe stressed the importance of tion at Malvern this week. keeping a positive attitude. He used The purpose was to follow up on the the analogy about when you think a questions asked during day is going to be good, it will be and when you the talk given by Chris think a day will be bad, Herren in November “When you it will be. according to Algeo. have the Wil liams played opportunity As to why Williams Division I basketball at to do the right came, Lappas explained Manhattan University how a spea ker was thing, do it.” under Social Studies needed to talk to the Teacher Mrs. Harriet underclassmen while -Mr. Chris Williams the seniors had their Lappas’s husband, head assembly. She thought coach Steve Lappas.

W hen Wi l l ia ms he was perfect. and Coach Lappas a rrived, His speech felt tailored to Manhattan was one of the worst Malvern as a school and as a student teams in Division I, however by body. He knew the audience very well the time of Williams’ graduation, and was able to incorporate aspects the Jaspers would reach the NCAA of school from being all male to the tournament. sense of brotherhood.

Another feat of Williams’s life Williams and had lunch with the would be seizing the opportunity of Diversity Awareness Club before his handing out the championship rings presentation. There, it seemed as if he to the Miami Heat after their NBA really got a feel for the school, asking Finals victory in 2013. questions ranging from “Where are Though he may be about two decthe students from?” to “Does this feel ades out of college, Williams made like a real world environment?” sure we knew his jumpshot was still Two of the major concepts Williams touched upon were ser“wet.”

Today, Williams is a motivational vitude and gratitude. He thought speaker who tours around the country our Christian Service program was and presents on positive energy and wonderful and a very good thing for keys to success. high school boys to be doing. In his His style was very f luent and presentation, he explained how he did effective. He began things with service every Sunday with an elderly some call and response questions friend of his. that pulled in the listener and forced “When you have the opportunity them to pay attention. The rest of the to do the right thing,” Williams said, presentation was a slideshow with “do it,” the “keys to success” which he broke Chris came off as gracious for down and explained slide by slide. being where he is and was very graNearly every slide had some cious for the opportunity to come to wacky photo that was sure to have a Malvern. story behind it and he certainly had As he said at the end of lunch a lot of stories to tell. All of them with the Diversity Club: “Being here had a message that was clear by the is a tremendous service to me.” k

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8

January 2016

> A LIGHT OF EXPOSURE, 1 He was barely going to class, and when he was - he was usually high.

Andrew didn’t want people to know about the drug and alcohol use, though. He wanted to keep the facade of the outgoing, wholesome, good kid that everyone knew him as back in high school. Not even his parents knew the true extent of his struggles.

“It’s not that they were blind,” Andrew said.

“It’s that I was blinding them.”

Even in high school, before his challenges with drugs and alcohol, Andrew said he felt he was unable to develop meaningful relationships.

"Through high school - even before high school... I had felt like I couldn't be myself, like I couldn't be honest," he said.

He said that he saw a therapist during high school, but he did not work at therapy, and was able to convince his parents and others that he was OK. The double life in college wore down on Andrew, and his drug use, specifically cocaine, was unsustainable.

“I couldn’t continue to survive how I was because the drugs weren’t really working anymore,” he said. “Just physically it stops eventually, and you have to do so much just to feel OK.” He did not feel like he could tell anyone that he needed help.

“I felt completely alone,” he said. “I felt like there was no way to connect to anyone, even if I had really wanted to.”

Without help and the drugs wearing off, Andrew decided in April he would take his life, and on May 22, 2013 he set out into the woods, never intending to return.

“When I decided that I just wanted out, I really stopped battling... and just kind of gave myself over to feeling completely hopeless and alone,” Andrew said.

Andrew did not show up for any of his work or school obligations that day, which was irresponsible, "even for me," he added.

His friends searched until they found him in the woods, attempting to kill himself.

“I was unable to complete that act,” Andrew said. “I was vacant and sort of defeated [when my friends found me]... I was sort of stuck.”

His friends took Andrew back to his house and called an ambulance and Andrew’s parents. At the hospital, Andrew was put under a 24-hour watch period for three days. It was at the hospital that he spoke to his parents for the first time after his attempt.

“My parents came in and they were terribly upset but happy that I was existing, and basically said ‘anything you need to do at this point, we’ll be here,’” Andrew said. “At that point I told them everything that was going on.”

The nurse of the hospital approached Andrew with an ultimatum: either admit himself to a psychiatric hospital with a special focus on drugs or she would have to forcefully do the same thing, which would result in it showing up permanently on his mental health record.

He chose the first option.

“It kind of felt like [an asylum],” he said.

“There were people that I thought were just flat out crazy.”

Andrew didn’t really feel out of place

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

though.

“After about the first day I realized that I was there for a reason,” he said. “Whether or not I felt like I belonged, I was there and that hadn’t happened by accident.”

When he left that facility, he went to an in-patient institution to help with his addiction.

Sure enough, Andrew has been sober since that nearly fatal day.

The stats and the factors

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bout one in six children seriously consider suicide and one in 12 attempt suicide, according to a 2013 CDC study.

Accord ing to the same study, the percentage of students who seriously consider suicide or make a plan for suicide decreased from 1991 to 2007, but has since started to increase.

D r .

D a n Romer, Director of the Adolescent Communication Institute at the University o f Pe n n s y l v a n i a’s Annenberg Public Policy Center bel ieves that increase is due to the recession.

“If you look at suicide rates across all the ages in 2008 they all went up,” Romer said. “The economy affects everyone.”

Romer also believes there is some merit in the idea that suicide is less taboo than it used to be and that as a result, suicide rates are higher.

“Suicide has become more accepted as a solution for people... especially those with an incurable disease,” Romer said, “and that probably filters down into people’s mindsets in general that if you don’t think life is worth living, suicide is an acceptable solution.”

In the Greater Philadelphia Area, suicide has been in the headlines often recently, with six student suicides in 13 months at the University of Pennsylvania and Cay man Na ib, the 13-year-old Shipley student who was found dead after hundreds joined in a four-day search.

In 2015, 60 Chester County residents died by suicide, which is the most in at least the last 25 years, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Health EpiQMS database.

Mrs. Trac y Behringer, Community Outreach and Education

Consultant of the Chester County Mental Health / Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities office, said that this number is probably lower than the real number.

"Suicide is often underreported," Behringer said. "Even though the information we have are confirmed suicide numbers, it's probably not all-inclusive."

Dr. Matthew Wintersteen of Thomas Jefferson University and Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Against Youth Suicide Prevention

Initiative supports that claim. “To rule a death a suicide, you need really compelling evidence,” Wintersteen said. “It’s hard to get a real grasp of the number of suicides. It’s probably underestimated, but we don’t know by how much.”

Social Media

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he growth of social media - like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram - is another possible explanation for the increase of youth suicides since 2007.

The potential negative effects of social

media were especially highlighted in the death of Madison Holleran at the University of Pennsylvania.

Social media use went from nearly nonexistent in 2004 to almost universal in 2010.

Social media, and most specif ically Instagram, is host to a specific teenage culture that shows only the best of oneself - your best smile at a dance with your happy date, your best selfie, your best competition. Teens may not share their ugly pictures and saddest moments with people on Instagram.

In an interview with Huff Post Live, clinical psychologist Ramani Durvasula said, “We engage in social comparison, but [teenagers] are sort of comparing these ideal selves,” he said.

“It's a contest to see whose ideal life is better than the other person's.”

Wintersteen thinks social media also plays a role with cyberbullying.

“You can go to your school right now, say something about somebody in front of your whole school in two seconds and you can’t take it back really,” Wintersteen said. “And then you have those idiots that chime in say ‘well why don’t you just kill yourself?’”

A survey of almost 2,000 middle school students published by the National Institute of Health, found that students who were cyberbullied were twice as likely to attempt suicide.

However, Wintersteen also pointed out there are several benefits of social media when it comes to youth suicide. “Social media can be really helpful because it gives you an opportunity to express how you feel,” Wintersteen said.

He also mentioned the ability for easier connection between many people who are suffering.

Romer, who studied the effect of social media and online discussion forums on youth suicide, found that social media platforms where most of the people students are talking to are friends and family are not risk factors, and provide a lot of support.

“We think that [support] counteracted the possible negative effect,” Romer said.

Another study that analyzed chat rooms and social media effects on youth suicide published by the National Institute of Health is more conclusive about the effect of social media. “In sum, evidence is growing that social media can influence pro-suicide behavior,” the study stated.

Romer said his 2011 study “advocated that organizations and the government should be more proactive in putting information online for people who are alienated... [and] who are going online and looking for support.”

However, with the speed in which technology is changing Romer said “You’ve got to be constantly looking for ways to counteract.”

In the end, social media presents new threats, and opportunities for preventative measure. Until there is more information and research done on the issue, the field remains inconclusive about the effect of social media on youth suicide rates.

Socioeconomic status

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n the late 1990’s, Professor Suniya Luthar set out to study trends of misbehavior in low-income families. As a comparison group for her study she used families from a private

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

school in an affluent suburb.

In her demographic of households with a median income of over $150,000 per year, she found that more of those students had problems with substance abuse and depression than in the low-income families, especially in the male population.

The average household income of a Malvern family is estimated to be $311,125, according to an optional, self-reported survey of current parents done by The Fidelum Group in 2015.

Two of the most proven risk factors of suicide are depression and substance abuse, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

According to Luthar’s study, 59 percent of suburban males self-reported using any illicit drugs compared to 39 percent of inner-city males.

By that same study, the percentage of suburban males who suffered from serious depression was five times that of the inner-city boys.

“The belief in the past was that those kids from your higher socio-economic families can’t be suicidal, like ‘look at all the benefits they all have? You’re driving around in a Range Rover at 16 years old, how could you be depressed?’”

Wintersteen said. “You have to look at what’s behind all of this. There’s a belief you have to be really good.”

Wintersteen related the concept of socioeconomic status effect on suicide rates to suicide rates for medical students. Medical students are one of the most at risk student populations, Wintersteen said.

“They’re so used to doing really really well, but then you get put in the context of a lot of other people who also do really really well,” Wintersteen said. “And suddenly you’re not the best anymore and you spent your whole life being the best.”

Wintersteen believes there can be that sort of culture on the Main Line of Philadelphia.

“There’s a lot of pressure to do really well some of that is self-imposed and some of which is other people,” Wintersteen said.

However, Wintersteen doesn’t believe that pressure is exclusive to wealthy suburbs. “For inner city kids there's a huge push... to make something for yourself.”

January 2016

analyzed the difference between teenagers who were in the hospital after surviving a suicide attempt and teenagers who died from a suicide attempt. The main difference between the two was not socioeconomic status, race, or anything else except whether there was a gun in the house. According to that study, if there is a gun in a house with a child who attempts suicide, they are two and a half times more likely to be dead.

According to Wintersteen, 67-80% of suicides by firearm are from guns within the house.

As a result, Wintersteen had a message for any parents who have a gun in the house and a kid who is struggling: “Ask yourselves the question ‘how would you feel if your child shot themselves with your gun?’” he said.

With non-firearm methods such as suffocation or poison, more common among teenage girls, there is a time to regret an attempt and survive it by calling 9-1-1 or telling someone.

But with a gun, there is no time to regret.

Help

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n June 26, 2014, the state made a major step in youth suicide prevention with the passing of Act 71. Act 71 requires that all public schools adopt a youth suicide awareness and prevention program and provide ongoing professional development in youth suicide awareness and prevention for professional educators in buildings serving students in grades 6-12.

Gender

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n Hollywood, American boys are fed a perception of masculinity with stars like Vin Diesel, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Liam Neeson. Being a man means being bold, courageous, strong, and powerful.

In the music industry, American boys are enthralled by songs of difficult lives of drugs, alcohol, and sexual conquest.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, boys are four times more likely to commit suicide than girls, and our society’s expectations of men to be “manly” could be the reason.

School Psychologist Dr. Dorothy Sayers said the difference in suicide rates for males versus females comes down to two things: impulsivity and method.

“Boys are much more aggressive in how they make an attempt and boys are more impulsive,” Sayers said.

That aggression may come, in part, from all the downpour of imagery associating manliness with toughness and force.

Wintersteen believes it almost entirely a result of method, and not really impulse at all.

“High school is all about how you fit in and there is this interpersonal struggle like ‘who do you hang out with?” Wintersteen said. “I think girls get it just as much as guys get it, but at the end of the day it comes down to boys are more likely to use guns.”

Wintersteen referenced a study that

Starting with the current school year, every public school teacher in the state of Pennsylvania is required to have four hours of professional suicide awareness training every five years.

Malvern is not legally obligated to follow Act 71 because of its independent school status.

Faculty and staff received a Crisis Management Suicide Policy and Procedures document which outlines the steps they should take if a student threatens harm to himself and/or others, according Mrs. Neha Morrison, Director of Human Resources. Faculty and staff must read through this policy every year, however they do not train to the Act 71 standards.

Organizations such as The Chester County Suicide Prevention Task Force (CCSP) are a major source for professional development in youth suicide awareness.

According to Behringer of CCSP, the organization offers several free trainings at major public schools in the area that send students to Malvern - such as West Chester Area School District.

Behringer, who has been with CCSP since its inception in 2005, is a certified trainer of

QPR. QPR or “Question, Persuade, Refer” is one of only 12 suicide prevention programs or interventions nationwide that have met the rigorous quality of research and dissemination requirements to be deemed “evidence-based.”

Someone trained in QPR learns how to recognize the warning signs of suicide crisis, know how to offer hope, and how to get help and save a life.

“You can teach anyone... three basic steps to help someone in an emotional or psychological crisis,” Behringer said.

The program, which lasts a little under two hours, can certify teachers, students or anyone to be an official gatekeeper. A gatekeeper is someone in a position to recognize a crisis and the warning signs that someone may be contemplating suicide.

On Thursday, January 14, 17 Malvern students, and two faculty members became gatekeepers in a coalition between The Blackfriar Chronicle and Peer Educators.

Beyond the county level, there is also the Pennsylvania Against Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative (PAYSPI). Dr. Matthew Wintersteen is the co-chair of the public/private collaborative organization.

PAYSPI is a network of people from the academic and clinical sides, but also survivors and government employees who all work to reduce youth suicide in Pennsylvania.

PAYSPI offers lots of resources for ACT 71 as well as an annual PSA contest for high school students based around youth suicide prevention.

Winners of the 2016 competition w i l l be announced on February 24, according to their website payspi.org.

Sayers, Behringer, and Wintersteen a l l had the same message when it comes to dealing with a friend who is depressed, has suicidal thoughts, or change in behavior: Tell someone.

“We don’t recommend that adults or kids keep it to themselves,” Mrs. Behringer said. “It’s too much for an adult, let alone an adolescent.”

Often times, students may conf ide in their friends after making them promise not to tell out of fear for potential consequences. Even in those cases, they all say a student absolutely needs to tell someone.

Wintersteen has seen students who knew about a suicidal friend and didn’t say anything.

“That student has a lot to carry,” Wintersteen said. “You don’t want to be that kid.”

For a list of warning signs and available resources please refer to the additional graphics.

Losing a son

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rad Harkins, a member of the Malvern Class of 2004, came home from kindergarten with his best friend on May 15, 1992, like any other day.

Brad’s mother Carol, now the co-chair of CCSP, had been out shopping when she got a call that her ninth-grade son Jim did not show up to his Downingtown Area School District school that day. She drove home and asked Brad to go up and check on Jim and see if he was ok and just decided to play hooky for the day.

He returned downstairs to report to his mother that his 15-year-old brother Jim was asleep, but Jim wasn’t really sleeping.

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Jim was a three-sport athlete and an absolute goofball, Carol said.

Jim was the type of kid that would wear a shirt and tie when his baseball team had to, but against societal norms, Jim was the type of kid to wear his shirt and tie with gym shorts.

“He was absolutely larger than life, funny, that kind of thing,” Carol said. “But he was also very serious about what he wanted to achieve and was hard on himself.”

Her favorite picture of Jim has him on the sideline of the soccer field with a Georgetown bucket hat on. Keep in mind, that was back before bucket hats re-entered the realm of “cool.”

Jim succeeded on the baseball diamond, soccer field, basketball court, and in the classroom.

“He was always in a sport,” Carol said. “He had just made the American Legion [baseball] team and was playing travel soccer.”

During his freshman year, his grades started to slip a little bit and Carol started to become aware that he was drinking alcohol. His travel soccer team was breaking up. Most of Jim’s friends had girlfriends at the time, and Jim was disappointed that his date to the freshman dance wasn’t his girlfriend.

“They were really the normal teenage struggles,” she said.

Now, it is evident that may not have been the case. Carol believes that Jim may have had slight undiagnosed ADD, and depression that he never voiced.

Carol’s son Jim ended up shooting himself fatally the day of that freshman dance, with his father’s handgun. > PAGE 10

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January 2016

> A LIGHT OF EXPOSURE, 9 After seeing Jim, Carol told Brad that some terrible accident had happened with Jim and immediately called 9-1-1.

“I was just in like total shut down mode like there, but not there,” she said.

The first few days and weeks were tough for the Harkins.

“For a long time, you just feel like you’re in an alternate reality,” she said.

Carol couldn’t eat or sleep for the first few weeks, and the grief was actually physically painful. She was almost just totally shut down, and the only thing that lifted her out of it was that she had another son and daughter that she really had to be present and care for.

Carol said there was an abundance of love and support from the community after Jim’s death. There wasn’t even enough room at their parish St. Philip and James for everyone to join in the funeral service.

“It was amazing to me, the support that we received,” Carol said.

She didn’t feel that there was any external stigma and no one really said anything insensitive, but she felt a stigma anyway.

“You still just feel like ‘well, what’s wrong with us?’” she said.

Carol eventually had to explain to Brad and her then-middle school daughter that Jim had taken his own life.

They all went to group counseling sessions and really got involved with a group called Compassionate Friends. The Compassionate Friends is an organization that helps provide grief support after the death of a child.

Naturally, she tried to be strong and protect her children from seeing her cry. She also believes that her children did the same thing for her. Their family grief counseling sessions and time with The Compassionate Friends were their ways to express their feelings and move along in the grieving process.

“The grieving process really doesn’t stop,” Brad said. “It kind of just dwindles, and you can cope with it throughout time.”

Carol went back to school at Immaculata University the fall after her son’s death, and by “no coincidence” majored in psychology.

She later became a peer facilitator in The Compassionate Friends, joined CCSP five years ago, and is now one of the co-chair of the organization.

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Carol finds her work very rewarding now. “[Giving back] is really the only way to make sense of everything,” she said.

As for Jim’s brother Brad, he said that selective memory has successfully blocked out most of his knowledge from his traumatic experience back in 1992. Brad joined Malvern’s Class of 2004 in seventh grade.

Carol decided to send Brad to Malvern in

part because she wanted him in a smaller, more supportive environment after everything he had been through.

Brad found that care in some members of the community. Brad, now a Penn State University graduate, happily works as accountant at a local Malvern firm.

According to Brad, there is a scholarship established in Jim’s name at Great Valley High School for a student who lost someone close to them over the past year.

The Life After Strengthened.

Connecting.

Improving.

Better-than-ever.

Working hard.

A

ndrew has now started to put his life back on track.

“Now that I am choosing not to cover up who I really am, I have to find out what life as me is going to be like,” Andrew said.

Although Andrew never finished his bachelor’s degree, he now happily works in a coffee shop and in retail to support himself.

“I love it because I get to talk to people all day... [and] help solve problems,” Andrew said.

“I am challenged and I get a lot of different experiences per day.”

Andrew is starting to develop some meaningful relationships and said he currently has a great therapist that he meets with twice a week.

His life still isn’t perfect, but he would never contemplate doing what he did again.

Andrew is now 2 years and 8 months sober, but that hasn’t come without difficulties.

“It’s like going into your closet, taking a lighter and burning anything that you’ve ever worn. Then stripping off the clothes on your back and lighting them up. It’s like being completely naked,” Andrew said. “You have to basically start sewing. You get some fabric from some 40-year-old alcoholic, who is your sponsor, and he gives you the basics. Then you go to your family and they give you some needles. Then you go to some meetings and you get some thread, and eventually you just start sewing until you have something halfway decent to wear.”

He still gets cravings, but he just tries to think about where it would take him. “I think about the long-road it would pitch me on that I would probably not return from,” Andrew said.

Andrew, now without the demons of his double-life, is starting to develop some honesty in his relationships, especially with his parents.

“My parents and I have never been closer... just because I don’t lie to them,” he said, “which I know maybe sounds a little bit obvious, but to me it’s like a total revelation.”

For Andrew, that honesty about feelings and personal struggles is really at the center of it all.

“Shame dies in the light of exposure. Fear of who we are starts to dim in the light of exposure,” Andrew said. “Obviously that's incredibly painful and difficult, so for me to say, 'just do it,' like I'm in some sort of terrifying Nike advertisement is not realistic. But I think at it's core... it's an issue of honesty."

As a society, we aren’t always honest with ourselves about suicide. It can be difficult, gutwrenching, tense, and emotional, so we avoid honest conversations about warning signs and ways to help. But every day in the U.S. in 2014, 15 people under the age of 24 took their own life, according to the American Association of Suicidology.

Andrew was and is far from alone.

"It seems daunting almost to say this affects everyone, but in reality, that unites us more than anything,” Andrew said. “It tells us that there are people who have been through the same things. It tells us that there are people that we can talk to that understand these incomprehensible things.” k *Andrew Miller is a pseudonym, or fake name, for the real source. The source is anonymous to protect family and friends who may not be ready to speak about the experience yet.

This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism & Media Literacy class, Fall 2015.

> COLLEGE COUNSELING, 3 In total, Harkness had to write 40 recommendations this year for students. The process of writing these recommendations can take months.

“I started writing the second week in September… most of them were done by November 1,” he said.

Harkness was new to the Malvern counseling department this year. Now that he has got the sense of how everything goes, he has made some different plans for next year.

“I think next year will be different because I'll start writing some of those recommendations over the summer this year,” he said.

For the College Counseling Department, there is one recurring factor that helps keep everyone organized.

“We are lucky to have Naviance, a system that really works,” Harkness said.

Naviance keeps each person organized in a different way, but in general it is very helpful to the Counseling Department.

According to Naviance’s website, “The Naviance college and career readiness platform offers a variety of solutions that

enable students and families to collaborate more effectively with counselors and teachers and allow school administrators to optimize student potential and learning outcomes.”

“I like Naviance because it shows me on the back end what you have done as an applicant, I can see when you have submitted your applications… but I can also see each of the pieces submitted from our office,” Harkness said.

The Counseling Department also supplements Naviance's organizational tools with their own method: blue slips.

“Our own process, the blue slip process, also works quite well because it actually makes students kind of tune in to each of those schools and what are they asking for,” Harkness said.

The blue slip process is a process in which each student fills out a short form for the college(s) they are applying to, what kind of admission (rolling, early action, etc.), and who wrote their teacher recommendations.

This whole process of applying to college also has an affect on the student's day and work load.

“The end of the first quarter was approaching at the same

time of my application deadline and it’s hard to get all the work done on both ends in time,” senior Evan Tate said.

On top of the work that college counselors do, they also meet individually with students to help them through the process and make the choice easier.

“My counselor actually ended up recommending my top choice to me,” senior Joe Markferding said.

But along with counselors, students spend significant time up late at night completing work for their college applications.

“It was New Year's Day and it was about 11 o’clock and I remembered I had to finish my Delaware application so I finished it in about an hour and submitted it,” senior Chris Abbott said.

The College Counseling Department has their own ways to stay organized and focused, but how do the students do it?

“Watching Netflix and listening to music helps me focus.

My dad is also on top of me to make sure I get all of my work finished,” Tate said. > PAGE 11

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

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SPORTS Trending: #RunMP Malvern basketball is lighting up the O’Neill gym with its unique fast style of play.

PIXABAY.COM / ILLUSTR ATION / STAFF

Early recruiting at an all-time high An increased number of freshman and sophomore commits in the lacrosse program has coaches and players feeling pressured.

Danny Malloy ’18 a little longer I would have had even more REPORTER options,” Anderson said. “But I feel like I made a pretty good choice.” ow would you feel if you were a Kids get the freshman and already had your Anderson explained how the early impression that they college picked out? recruiting process works. are overvalued, and Head lacrosse coach John McEvoy “They will ask your coach to have you the kids that don’t ’86, said that 4 current sophomores call them, because they can't technically get recruited think call you yet,” Anderson said. “You set up had this experience last year when they that they’re no good. committed as freshmen to colleges for a visit. Then they tell you, ‘we have a spot For me to manage lacrosse. to offer you on the team,’ and you verbally both of those “In lacrosse, this first started happencommit.” things on a team is Anderson felt that there was a lot of ing with the current seniors as freshmen,” challenging.

McEvoy said. “It is a relatively new thing pressure on him to make his choice early. going on in lacrosse.”

Mr. John McEvoy “I feel like I could have expanded Head Lacrosse Coach McEvoy does not believe this new my knowledge of schools better before I made my decision,” Anderson said. trend is positive. “I don't think anybody likes it - including the college coaches McEvoy thinks this pressure begins that are in the middle of it,” he said. “But it's the reality, with the college coaches, and transfers to students and and it's how some feel they need to be competitive.” families. “[Kids] feel like they are falling behind,” he said.

According to McEvoy,young students to commit “I think families feel pressure to do so, and at the end of before they understand what the commitment means. “A the day this is happening because the coaches feel pressure kid might commit as a freshman or sophomore and change to commit kids.” his mind,” he said.

Mr. Ian Harkness, Director of College Counseling, McEvoy also said that the mental side of early recruit- said that he and college lacrosse coaches, like Princeton ment is something that he needs to manage on his team. University coach Chris Bates, are working on a proposal “Kids get the impression that they are overvalued, to the NCAA to limit early recruiting.

“I think coaches on the college side are on board and and the kids that don't get recruited think that they're no good,” McEvoy said. “For me to manage both of that on want to change that to help themselves, knowing it is helpa team is challenging.” ing students,” Harkness said. “But I think it is still very Junior Mike Fay committed to Notre Dame for much a proposal.” lacrosse as a sophomore. He explained why he chose to The proposal states that players can only commit after commit early.

January 1 of their junior year. However, there are some “I was comfortable with Notre Dame as a good fit for roadblocks for this to be implemented. me,” Fay said. “I visited as many schools as possible and “The NCAA doesn't want to limit recruitment for only did a lot of thinking, which ultimately ended up with me one sport,” Harkness said. “The NCAA is dealing with 40 making a confident decision to pick Notre Dame.” other sports and they've been reluctant to change.”

Fay said that he has no regrets about his decision.

While acknowledging some of the downsides of early However, senior Kyle Anderson, who committed to recruiting, Fay believes that there are positives to his Harvard as a sophomore, has one minor regret. decision.

“I had a pretty good sophomore year, so if I had waited “I can enjoy the rest of my high school experience, while focusing on my studies and practice,” he said. “I don't have to stress about finding the right college for me > COLLEGE COUNSELING, 10 anymore.”

Fay said that the process has its advantages, if you do “I had to maintain a 3.0 GPA, so I set myself it the right way. goals and told myself that I couldn’t do things like play XBox until I got my school work finished,” senior “Not all kids handle it in a mature way,” Fay said.

Chance DiFebbo said.

“I believe the early recruiting process is a benefit to kids The college application is a group effort between who are responsible and mature enough to be patient for the students and the counselors to make sure everythe right school.” thing gets submitted on time. Although the work Anderson said to weigh your options and use patience can be time-consuming and stressful, the College if you get offers early.

Counseling staff still love their jobs for different “There's no reason to feel pressure to commit early,” reasons.

Anderson said. “You can wait and probably get better “I love my job… If I’m pushing paper for you and offers and looks from better schools that you would want to go to.” clicking buttons and that’s the part that I am aiding you in doing so, I get to enjoy that smile on your face Even for a player who does not get offers in his first or that sweatshirt announcing where you’re going,” two years of high school, McEvoy said that things can Sarafinas said. k still work out.

“If you are a little later bloomer physically, and you This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism develop mentally - it's okay,” McEvoy said. “If you can & Media Literacy class, Fall 2015. play, and you're good, someone will want you.” k

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MIKE HOLLINGSWORTH GOES FOR A SHOT AGAINST PENN CHARTER / M. DROOGAN

Ben Yankelitis ’16, Eric McLaughlin ’18 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, REPORTER ith Malvern down 6 to Episcopal with less than a minute left, the ball was in senior Will Powers’ hands. He dribbled down the court and pulled up way beyond the 3-point line - swish.

Malvern got the ball back with 20 seconds left, down 3. Again Powers had the ball. Again, he pulled up beyond the arc, shot the ball, and tied the game up.

The Friars ended up falling short, but it showed how no shot is too deep.

Any open shot is a good shot, even in crunch time.

“No one else in the Inter-Ac plays the same way that we do,” Head Coach Mr. John Harmatuk said. “It is different from what most kids are taught when they begin to play basketball.”

Once the Friars get an open shot, they shoot. They are not opposed to shooting from five feet from beyond the three point line. If that shot is not open right away, the guard drives and kicks it out to the perimeter in order to find another open shot. The result is – well, in a win against Haverford, connecting 16 times from three.

Then, they’ll get right up on the opponent playing full court press in the first quarter. Harmatuk has called the style of play “RunMP” as the Friars’ pace of play is unusually fast.

“I would say that we are a highspeed, up-tempo team,” Harmatuk said. “We want to take as many shots as we can, but we also want to put pressure on the other team through our defensive play.”

Harmatuk arrived at Malvern in 2013. Previously, he had coached at Cypress Springs High School in Texas where he guided his team to the regional semifinals of the state’s 5A Division playoffs, utilizing the same type of up-tempo offense he uses now.

The 2015-2016 Friars started off their season successfully. Through their first five Inter-Ac games they are 3-2, only suffering defeats of one point and four points. Over Christmas break, they won the Haverford Tournament as Will Powers was named Tournament MV P and sophomore O’Shaan Allison was named to the AllTournament team. “[RunMP] is definitely different from anything I’ve played before,”

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Powers said. “It’s a player’s system – who wouldn’t want to go out and shoot 18 threes a game?”

Powers has played very well in the offense and is on pace to join the 1,000 point club of Malvern Prep basketball thanks to Harmatuk’s system.

However, RunMP does not just revolve around the guards. While it could potentially pose itself as a struggle for the “big men,” 6’ 6” senior Mike Hollingsworth loves it.

“A lot of big guys walk up the floor and are used to playing slow,” Hollingsworth said. “[RunMP] gives me the opportunity to score easy baskets as I’ll be ahead of my opponents.”

After this happens, teams will start collapsing on Hollingsworth quickly getting two guys on him as they sprint up the f loor. So, Hollingsworth simply dishes it to the perimeter for an open three.

Chris Anderson ’15, who thrived in Harmatuk ’s system while at Malvern, has continued his basketball career at Lebanon Valley College. aid RunMP helped him transition into the style of college basketball.The RunMP style even trickles down through the basketball program.

Malvern’s JV team practices and plays the same way as the varsity. They also look to outrun the opponent and when they have an open shot, they take it. “[RunMP] definitely prepared me for the speed of the game in college,” Anderson said. “Guys are a lot faster and stronger, but playing in [Harmatuk’s] offense really gave me experience playing fast.”The junior varsity team enjoys playing in this high speed system. “I like the style of play and I think it is a lot of fun to play in,” said Jack Leyden, a sophomore on the JV team.

On the court, Run MP is amazing with acrobatic layups and Steph Curry-range three-pointers.

Off the court, RunMP shirts, sweatshirts, and sweatpants can be seen all over campus.

On l ine, Ha rmat uk , a lso a Technology and Society teacher, has branded the basketball team using #RunMP on the @MPFriars account and the @MalvernPrepHoop on Twitter. Before and after games, members of the Malvern community can see the #RunMP filling their feed.

Run MP is not just a phrase anymore. It has become an infectious culture. k

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

SPORTS

NEWS

Athlete of the Issue: Will Powers

Harrisburg budget battle more than just a headline

Senior basketball captain Will Powers sits down to talk about his Malvern experience, and his love for basketball.

How have real people been affected by the ongoing budget battle?

Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 SPORTS EDITOR ill Powers is just 34 points away from reaching a milestone 1,000 points for his Malvern career. His excellent work ethic, tremendous coaching, and sheer skill all played a role in getting him to this point.

Powers, a Swathmore native, joined the basketball team when he came to Malvern his freshman year from St. Francis in Springfield.

“I’ve been around basketball my whole life,” Powers said. “I’ve always had a good feel for the game.”

Powers is excited about being able to get 1000 points, yet he realizes it is less about personal achievements, and more about the good of the team.

“It truly is an honor,” Powers said.

“I never really thought about it until early on in this season. People just kept telling me I was getting close, so that’s how I found out about it.”

Powers had help throughout his career from both his parents and his coaches.

“I feel that everyone that helped me along the way is ‘responsible’ for this record,” Powers said. “My parents sending me to different camps and paying for different things, my coaches teaching me different ways to score, teammates helping giving me open looks to the basket.”

Coach Harmatuk ’s ‘Run N’ Gun’ style of basketball differs from Powers’s freshman year Malvern coach, Mr. Jim Ru l lo. Under Harmatuk, Powers has been able to excel and allow him to get more chances to score.

“The speed of the game is definitely faster. With Coach Rullo, we ran a lot more plays, but this system allows us to get more shots

Jack McClatchy ’17 budget because of the battle in Harrisburg,” said Linda S. NEWS EDITOR Adams, Business Administrator for the Pottstown School eople across Pennsylvania have been talking about District. “We can go another eight months without going the ongoing budget battle in Harrisburg. into our reserves.”

Democrats and Republicans are in a deadlock The ability for Pottstown to go on for as long as it over passing a budget for the 2016 fiscal year that was could is not because of a wealth of funding from propdue on June 30. The lack of a budget has erty taxes, but an adaptation to what is resulted in freezing funding for state seralready considered a lack of funding from vices such as education and the prison “This isn’t the Harrisburg.

“Most of our budget comes from the system. first time we’ve One roadblock hit by Democratic operated without 22,000 citizens in the district, most of Governor Tom Wolf and the Republican funding from whom are low-income,” John Armato, L eg islat u re is what to do w it h Harrisburg, but this spokesperson for the Pottstown school Pennsylvania’s growing deficit. Wolf ’s is the most serious district, said. “We need more help from budget proposed a raise in income taxes, occurrence.”

Harrisburg, not less.” as well as a severance tax for oil and gas And what does this mean for students companies.

Jeffrey Sparagana in the district? Sparagana said that the Superintendent of This ongoing impasse has led to district has moved to spending only on Pottstown School District various attack ads levied against the “essential” things in the district, which Legislature about their inaction with has negatively affected the students. this issue.

It is a different story for students in Economics teacher John Ostick said the Tredyffrin-Easttown School District, that a deficit is when a budget spends considered one of the best school districts more money than it takes in. “It is usually created when in the country. Art McDonnell, Business Manager and the deficit is not doing so good,” he said. “It all depends Board Secretary for the district, said via email that day-toon the situation on hand whether or not fixing the deficit day operations have not been significantly affected. is a high priority. In the long run it is very important to “However, the lack of [s]tate funding has meant comfix, but it is very difficult to do so.” mitting other monies to meet operational needs,” he said.

That doesn’t mean that a deficit is always a bad thing, “In addition, any reduction in [financial] reserves translates Ostick said. “A deficit usually helps to create jobs, but to less investment earnings.” they should really be in moderation. It’s when they get McDonnell also said that portions of the state budget enormous that they become a big problem.” have been approved which has partially released education This battle has far-reaching effects in Pennsylvania’s funds for schools, lifting some of the burden for districts education system, as school districts rich and poor are across the state. making adjustments in their budgets to keep their doors Just how much the ongoing budget battle affects open.

Pennsylvania’s schools will be seen in June, when school “This isn’t the first time we’ve operated without fund- districts need to draw up their budgets for the upcoming ing from Harrisburg,” Jeffrey Sparagana, Superintendent school year. of the Pottstown School District said, “but this is the most The T/E school board accepted the proposed budget serious occurrence.” for the 2016-2017 school year at a meeting on January Sparagana said he was frustrated at the Pennsylvania 25, 2016. legislature because of their actions.

The Pottstown school board has not passed a budget “It’s an irresponsible act by legislators to hold school for the 2016-2017 school at the time of publishing. districts hostage,” he said.

“We can’t put off drawing up a budget like Harrisburg,” In the absence of funding from Harrisburg, the Sparagana said. k Pottstown School District, as well as other school districts, have had to operate solely on district property taxes.

“Right now, we are missing about 30% of our full

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WILL POWERS ’16 / J. FAUNCE

up,” Powers said. “I am a pretty good shooter, so with this style of play, I am able to shoot more and more shots lead to more points.”

Before each game, Powers does not have any certain rituals or superstitions, but enjoys listening to the overhead music and shooting three pointers from the corner to warm up.

Powers had some advice to young players hoping to join the team.

“Just keep working on your skills and add as much value as you can to let Coach Harmatuk know that you are a valuable part to his program,” he said.

This year, the Friars are 3-2 in the Inter-Ac, and 11-8 overall. “We have a game on February 2 against E.A. We would love to have the student body come and support us,” Powers said.k

Sports reporters needed.

Contact Pat Ferraiolo pferraiolo70@malvernprep.org Mike Droogan mdroogan60@malvernprep.org

Malvern students identify overwhelmingly Republican, survey finds It’s no secret that Malvern Prep leans to the right, but how did this happen?

Chris Abbott ‘16 CONTRIBUTOR ith the 2016 Presidential election coming up, most students at Malvern are in agreement that a Republican candidate is the best option for the position.

S e n ior M a r t y Mc G u c k i n has associated himself with the Republican party for as long as he can remember.

“In fourth grade I remember my dad was talking about the election in 2008,” McGuckin said. “I kind of bought into that and I got really into what the party is all about.”

McGuckin’s parents are both members of the Republican party, and he said that it had a direct influence on him growing up.

“As I got older I started watching all the different news channels and was getting information about

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politics, so I can definitely say that I’m happy with my decision to be a Republican,” McGuckin said.

57% percent of 110 Malvern st udents sur veyed, identif y as Republicans, while 77% percent of the same 110 students’ parents are Republicans. The correlation is no coincidence, as a recent Gallup Youth Survey has indicated. Around 7 in 10 teens (71%) say their social and political ideology is about the same as their parents.

“I think kids are very susceptible to what their parents tell them, especially younger kids like freshmen,” senior Brendan Mullen said. “I think they tend to take their parents’ word as law.”

In the same sur vey 42% of Malvern students said that the reason for choosing their party was because of their parents, while 19% said that it was because of watching the news.

Science teacher Captain Robert Boyce thinks that having such a lopsided viewpoint on politics isn’t such a good thing.

“Schools, including Malvern, do not present a balanced approach to the political situation,” Boyce, who is registered Republican, said. “I would like students to pick a party based on the analysis that they themselves have done.”

Boyce has been a member of the Republican party since 1972. Boyce’s parents were originally Democrats, living in the heavily Democratic area of Upper Darby, but switched to the Republican party in 1972.

“I only vote for the people I think would do the best job,” Boyce said.

Jon Heisler ’12 is studying History and Education at Mount St. Mary’s University. He said that he chose his party based on the cornerstone of Republican ideals - states’

rights.

“I think their focus on small local intervention is the biggest difference I see between the two parties,” Heisler said. “That’s probably the reason most Republicans including myself chose > PAGE 15

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

13

SPORTS > CONCUSSIONS, 1 Mr. Wil liam Mil ls, who leads the Concussion Team at Malvern, said the first 3-5 days after a concussion are the most important in getting it treated.

Every athlete takes a computerized baseline concussion test before a season, according to Mills. “If they are thought to have a concussion I will bring them in for evaluation,” he said.

“Balance, eye movement, and thinking ability are all included in the test.”

Pina said he gradually felt the onset of headaches, but it wasn’t until he really felt dizzy after a game that he went to see Mills.

“The program will shut down if it thinks no one is taking it,” Pina said. “It took me four times to actually finish the test because my scores were so low that it kept shutting off. Once I finally finished the results came back and said I had a very, very bad concussion.”

Concussed athletes are sent to the Sports Medicine program at CHOP to get treated by either Dr. Matthew Grady or Dr. Christina Master. Mills said he is working with Master on his doctorate dissertation team.

“In addition to Dr. Master, we also have a connection, Ted Gangley ’82, who is the Director for CHOP’s Center for Sports Medicine and Performance,” Mills said. “As an alumni he helps in any way we need. It would normally take two weeks to get an appointment but our students can get them in two days.”

Just like an arm sling is prescribed to a patient with a shoulder injury or a boot to a patient with a sprained ankle, a “black box” is prescribed to students with a concussion, according to Mills. The black box consists mainly of resting in a dark room and watching TV. Things like reading, using a phone, or doing homework are all off limits.

“The only two methods to treat a concussion are rest and sleep,” Mills said. “Sleep is especially important because it allows body to focus its energy on healing the brain. I have a lot of students who will sleep 12 hours a day, which is probably good anyways because students here are exhausted to begin with.”

The concussion team led by Mills has four other faculty members – School Psychologist Dr. Sayers, Learning Specialist Mrs. Francine Cox, Middle School Learning Specialist Mrs. Carissa Casey, and School Nurse Mrs. McGettigan. The team shares responsibilities to help the student through all facets of recovery.

Mills is tasked with the most important, and possibly most difficult job: diagnosing and identifying concussions. Mills estimates that 40-50 percent of concussions fly under the radar because the athlete either doesn’t know he has a concussion or he knows and just ignores it.

Assistant Athletic Trainer Mike Reinhart and Mills attend every game. “If we see a big hit we take the player out right away,” Mills said. “That being said, we can’t see everything so often times it comes down to the player to be able to identify and take himself out.”

In addition to Mills, Reinhart and the players, the coaches also play an important role in identifying concussions. As a Master Trainer for Heads Up Football, Head Coach Aaron Brady said he is very knowledgeable on concussions.

Additionally, all of the coaches on the football team are Heads Up certified.

According to their website, Heads Up Football is a comprehensive program developed

by USA Football to advance player safety in the game of football.

“It’s my job as the coach to create an environment where players know if they get a concussion, they’re out of the game,” Brady said.

“I know they want to play, but trying to be the tough guy and play through a concussion is just gonna hurt you in the long run.”

“Your brain is too important,” he said.

In the past 5 to 7 years, understanding of concussions has increased exponentially. Ninety

percent of what we know about concussions was learned in the last 5 years, according to Dr. Patrick Kersey. Kersey, who is Medical Director of USA Football and former Director of Medicine for the Indianapolis Colts, said this increased knowledge has caused backlash across the country against contact sports, specifically football.

“Concussions are not a football problem. They are not related to the sport of football.

Concussions can happen in any walk of life,” Kersey said.

“You are 10 times more likely to get one while riding a bike or jumping on a trampoline than you a re play ing football.”

However, others criticize this comparison.

Orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist David Geier stated that when the comparison is narrowed down to just boys, the concussion rates become relatively even. When the study is narrowed down further to boys aged 14-19 the concussion rates while playing football actually exceed those while riding a bike.

The mainstream media has latched on to t he stor y of c on c u s s ion s .

The feature f ilm Concussion, starring Will Smith, has made national headlines since its December release. The film profiles pathologist Dr. Bennet Omalu as he researched brain damage in football players who suffer repeated concussions in the course of normal play.

“A lot of recent information has come out trying to damage the sport of football and that there’s been a big cover up in the medical world but that’s simply not true,” Kersey said. “As a practicing physician and clinician in the NFL who worked closely with players during those times it is offensive to me to be projected in that vein.”

Across the country many players and parents are making the decision to stop playing football out of fear that it is not a safe enough sport. Prominent figures like Barack Obama and Lebron James have said publicly that they won’t let their sons, or hypothetical sons, play football.

Some players at Malvern have also considered the potential consequences of playing the game they love.

“I was always ready to give the game up if I had another big concussion,” senior football co-captain Patrick Finley said.

In 8th grade, Finley sustained a major concussion. He said if he received another one he would simply stop playing for the safety of his brain.

Despite garnering attention from colleges, Finley told Brady during his junior year that he did not want to pursue football at the next level.

“One of the biggest reasons why I don’t want to play college football is because I would

probably play linebacker and they’re so prone to head-to-head collisions,” Finley said. “I don’t want to screw up my brain for the rest of my life. I just feel there’s no way around it. You can change the technique but you can’t change the game.”

Kersey said he believes if a concussion is treated appropriately and recovery is seen to full resolution, then he considers an athlete fully cleared to play. Malvern’s football team has instituted a path to play policy in order to fully heal a concussion, according to Brady.

“Once a player has a concussion they can’t come back until five days after symptoms subside,” Brady said. “So the players know if they’re diagnosed with a concussion there’s a good chance they miss the next 1-2 games.”

Finley said at Malvern this possible missed playing time is what causes players to hide concussions.

“If you get your bell rung or something, they don’t want to miss plays. So they won’t say anything,” Finley said.

“They don’t want to miss one or two games of a game that means so much to them.

Sitting on the sideline sucks and you can’t see the injury, which makes it worse.”

Pina learned the hard way what happens when a concussion goes untreated.

He resumed classes the week before Thanksgiving break, nearly a month after his diagnosis.

“During the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas break I would just come into school and sit in for two or three classes then go back home,” Pina said. “I couldn’t participate in classes or take any assessments. I would just sit.”

Pina said that he got a lot of support from Cox in making sure teachers understood his limitations and don’t stress him out.

“Once a student is diagnosed with a concussion, it is my job to communicate with the teachers and keep them updated on the progress the student is making,” Cox said. “Most teachers are very receptive, but sometimes they can get nervous if they haven’t been updated in awhile.”

Pina said the hardest part of recovery was the inactivity.

“I’m used to playing soccer all the time and other activities, so just sitting around I was ridiculously out of shape,” he said Dr. Sayers said that students who are so used to being very active find it difficult to take the necessary time to rest. “In some cases students could have depression symptoms flare up or experience depression-like symptoms,” she said.

Teachers and classmates noticed a change in Pina.

“You could see the wheels turning and just not catching anything,” Pina said. “You could see my eyes were really cloudy. I would just look really confused or really tired.”

As the recovery dragged on, Pina’s frustration built up.

“I asked the doctors why this was taking so long. They said the first weeks are the most important in healing – and I played the first two weeks,” Pina said. “So the healing was really, really delayed.”

Pina slowly started to transition back into class, but he said he went through the whole second quarter without doing a single assignment.

“I met with my counselor Ms. Randle at the beginning of the third quarter who basically took all non-essential classes off my schedule, basically shaving my day down to three classes,” Pina said.

Although Pina started taking notes and participating more in class, he still didn’t take tests that counted towards his grade.

“We would use my grades to gauge the progress I was making,” Pina said. “I continued to meet with Mrs. Cox and she helped me communicate with teachers, who were all extremely accommodating. No one was forcing anything.”

By the end of the third quarter Pina said his grades were back to where they normally were. The only problem was that he just spent a good portion of the last two quarters not getting graded.

“It was Dr. Master who first brought up to me the idea of repeating junior year,” Pina said.

“I thought there was no other option because I wanted to get into a good college and I wouldn’t be able to with the grades I had.”

Pina said he spent the final months of the year just resting and preparing to start back up with classes the following year.

“It was predominantly an academic decision, but I want to play soccer in college so having an extra year for soccer as well isn’t a terrible thing,” Pina said. “If I was gonna take an extra year it was only going to help. There was no downside to it.”

Before this experience, Pina said he knew little to nothing about concussions. Looking back on it, his soccer history might explain why his recovery process was so long.

“I played defender for most of my career, but when I came to Malvern as a sophomore I was shifted to goalie,” Pina said. “Last year I was moved back to defense and since I was the biggest guy, my main job was to win headers. After games I would get headaches and I just assumed it was from not being used to heading the ball.”

These constant headers in soccer can be equated to the constant head-to-head collisions lineman experience in football at the beginning of each play.

“Maybe after each individual game you’ll be ok, but after four years all the small hits add up,” Finley said.

Despite the extended recovery, 80% of people come back from concussions within two weeks, Pina was able to come back the next year at full strength.

“Life’s back to normal, playing soccer, playing basketball,” Pina said. “I actually did better the 1st quarter of this year than last year.”

In hopes of strengthening concussion prevention Mills is focusing his doctoral research on the connection between posture control and concussions.

“We’re trying to work on a device that will detect the force of a hit – which allow us to detect concussions without just visual aid,” Mills said.

Mills has also partnered with Temple Medicine to try to develop a biomarker based on a blood test on players. If the biomarker is elevated, it will indicate that a player had a concussion. Mills said he plans to test it on the hockey team.

Mills is committed to research in hopes that he will make athletes at Malvern as safe and educated as possible.

“Sometimes it makes me nervous because I’m learning so much now,” Mills said. k This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism & Media Literacy class, Fall 2015.

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Media and TeChnology

Joseph Markferding ’16 CONTRIBUTOR ow does your phone know what a website looks like? How does it know what to display on-screen when you tap on your favorite app? How does one teach a machine to do all these things? And, how do they do these things?

It’s a simple answer, really: by reading code.

“Code is the language of machines,” Science Department Leader Mr. Kevin Quinn said.

“The neat thing about code is that it’s a language that we can learn and use to interact with and talk to machines.”

Quinn was formally introduced to computer science in his junior year of high school when he took an AP Computer Science course. He was intrigued by the more inner workings of technology, and any current students of his will tell you that he still is today.

But, why should the average Joe care about the language of code? What is it about code that makes it such an important facet of computing?

“Coding, or programming, is a way of writing instructions for computers that bridges the gap between how humans like to express themselves and how computers actually work,” Mr. Tom Standage, Deputy Editor of The Economist wrote in a September 2015 blog entry. “Writing a program and then running it is magic, in a way. The numbers, letters and symbols of code are transmuted into instructions executed by microscopic circuits to achieve the desired results."

“I like to know how things work, and, hopefully, other people also have that curiosity,” Mrs.

Ann Marie Veca Schilling, Ursinus College Professor of Computer Science & Math said in an interview with The Blackfriar Chronicle.

“If you’re wondering how your phone works, or how your coffee-maker works, or how your microwave knows when to turn on and turn off, you should be interested in programming.”

“Learning and understanding code can open up a way of thinking called computational thinking,” Quinn said. “Computational thinking is the ability to put problems and questions in a format that a machine can think about it.”

This idea of computational thinking is at the root of a programmer’s job. Posing complex questions to a powerful piece of machinery in a way that can be understood by the machine is simply what they do.

But, why is this important? Should the world be training the new generations in the art of computer science? Some argue that programming skills can be applied to numerous fields, not just computer science.

“I don’t know if we need more people who are choosing computer science as their job,” Quinn said. “I think we need more people that have that [programming] skill and to have those people bringing their skills into other jobs and other fields.”

“I consider programming a creative outlet. Any type of engineering or problem solving requires a creative aspect,” Schilling said.

“I think it would be beneficial to everybody to learn how to code because it brings both problem-solving and creativity together and helps to become a more well-rounded, full person - even if programming isn’t your job.”

Since the technological revolution, technology has advanced at an incredible pace and has quickly become indispensable in our society.

Now, the younger generation, those born with the technology, are growing up and beginning to enter the workforce.

The New Face of Programming “Growing up I was interested in programming from playing video games,” junior Zachary DeStefano said. “So then, naturally, I became interested in making games based on my own concepts.”

DeStefano has created and released three apps for Android and Apple tablets and phones under the moniker Z-Licious Games, and is currently working on a fourth unnamed app.

DeStefano said that starting broad is an important part of his process.

“You want to start about a little bit general, get something that’s fun, and have people test it and then hope they say it’s fun,” DeStefano said.

“I just start out with a simple idea that I think would be fun, and just go from there trying to get the basic layout completed first,” DeStefano said. “And if you can get that base going, then you can start adding other features.”

Two of D eStefa no’s apps, Tiny Miner and 8-Bit Beatdown, have received high ratings and reviews in the app store and have been praised for their heavily stylistic retro graphics and ‘extremely addicting’ gameplay.

But for DeStefano, the applications and possibilities of programming and code don’t stop at video game production.

“I’m also looking into things like biology and biomedical engineering, there’s a lot of computer science in use there. There’s also a branch of economics that uses computer algorithms to predict certain things in the economy,” DeStefano said. “You constantly see computer science integrated into new fields, so, whatever field you’re looking at, computer science will be there.”

“That’s how all of these things come about, like robots in the workplace and in factories,” senior Zac Chan said. “There are robots being used in the military, they’ve got drones with cameras. That’s all coding to help make that work and make that happen.”

Chan became interested in programming in 8th grade when he built a desktop computer from scratch. Since then, he has taken multiple programming classes to further his knowledge

of programming and computer science.

DeStefano described a recent project where he applied his programming skills.

“For statistics, I wrote a script that gathered random Twitter accounts, and extracted information about their location. Then, it gathered all of the tweets from a certain time range and determined whether the words used in the tweet reflect a generally positive or negative message,” DeStefano said. “We then compared these ratings to world and state happiness ratings and local crime statistics to see if there’s any correlation.”

“I’m definitely looking into programming as a career. I would still continue do it in my free time even if it wasn’t my career,” DeStefano said.

DeStefano has been working with other students at Malvern to help spark a larger interest in programming on Malvern’s campus.

“A couple of us [students] have been working to try and establish a programming club at Malvern,” DeStefano said. “We’re hoping to have a whole range of people, people who haven’t tried coding before, or even people who are experienced but want to learn new things or need some extra help.”

Hour of Code: A Programming Initiative There have been past initiatives to bring computer science to the masses on campus. One such example is the Hour of Code which took place in the Learning Commons in December.

“Through Hour of Code, we hope to show that anyone can program and that it is fun to do,”Quinn said.

The initiative involved the use of Spheros, plastic balls that are remote-controllable via a coupled iPad application. The application allows users to stack pre-set lines of code or create custom lines of code to control the movement of the robo-ball.

The Hour of Code initiative was designed to dispel the myths about programming, primarily that programming only involves sitting in a dark room in front of a computer writing lines upon lines of code. In reality, programming is a skill primarily rooted in creative problem-solving, which makes its teachings applicable to a multitude of situations in the real world.

In fact, if our society continues to advance as fast as it has been, programming may become the most important skill of all. After all, how is it possible to survive in a society of machines without being able to speak their language? k

Michael Harrington ’19 REPORTER is going to be a very big movie year for corporations like Disney, Fox, and Warner Bros. The hype is very strong for some movies, while others aren’t as well known yet.

A movie that has already hit theaters is “Point Break.”

This movie is about a group of criminals who perform thrilling stunts to steal money and give these riches to the poor. The story focuses on a young FBI recruit, Johnny Utah, who infiltrates the organization. This movie has gotten low rating from critics, but you might enjoy it if you love action-packed adventures.

Disney has a few productions up their sleeves that are going to be released this year. The first and least-known is “Moana,” which takes place in ancient Oceania of the South Pacific. It is going to be released in November 2016.

It centers around a young teenager navigator named Moana and her hero, the demi-god Maui. Moana takes on her ancestor’s quest to find a fabled island with Maui. This movie seems like an animated adventure filled with fun.

Disney is also releasing “Zootopia” in March 2016. “Zootopia” is an animated movie that is made up of action and adventure. It illustrates a world that is made up of talking animals that inhabit the city of Zootopia.

The story is centered around Judy Hopps, the first rabbit to join the police force, and her first case as an officer. There definitely seems to be a lot of comedic elements to the story.

“Deadpool” and “X-Men Apocalypse” are being released by Fox, while “Captain America: Civil War” is being released by Marvel. There is already a lot of hype for all of these movies.

The movie, “Deadpool,” follows Wade Wilson, as he hunts down the man who ruined his life. Wade takes on the alter ego, Deadpool, and uses his accelerated healing abilities to make

himself a very tough opponent. The movie is an action comedy with some very crude humor. It is being released February 2016.

“Captain America: Civil War” is about a feud between Captain America and Iron Man. This leads to turmoil between the Avengers, and its members are forced to take sides in the fight, resulting in a deadly civil war. It is being released May 2016.

“X-Men Apocalypse” is about the first and most powerful mutant, Apocalypse, who has been worshipped as a god for thousands of years. After awakening from a lengthy sleep, he recruits fellow mutants to take over the world. Professor X gathers his own team to stop Apocalypse’s plan from coming to fruition. It’s being released in May 2016.

DC also has some very cool-looking movies coming out in 2016 like highly anticipated “Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice” and “Suicide Squad” movies.

“Batman vs. Superman” tells the story of

Batman’s personal vendetta against Superman, and how they must set aside their differences and work together to stop Lex Luthor from destroying Metropolis. Wonder Woman also plays an important role in the fight for Metropolis.

“Suicide Squad” is the story of a secret government organization that recruits supervillains who have been put in prison. The organization uses these villains on extremely dangerous black ops agents, and in return, the criminals get shortened sentences. The movie comes out in August 2016.

Members of the squad include Harley Quinn, Deadshot, and a few others. Even the Joker will make an appearance. This movie seems to be like no other because of its focus on villains instead of heroes.

All of these movies and many more should make 2016 a great year for movies. If you are an avid movie lover, then this is your year. k

How does one tell a computer what to do?

Well, by speaking to it, of course. But the language used is slightly different than English.

H

2016

This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism & Media Literacy class, Fall 2015.

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January 2016

15

Media and TeChnology > STUDENTS REPUBLICAN, 12

Out With In With For the second year straight, Malvern will be changing its system for online grading.

Jack Magargee ’18, Danny Malloy ’18 IT department had to manually MEDIA AND TECH EDITOR, import every student’s grades into REPORTER Blackbaud.” fter just one year with the Algeo said that Schoology was Schoolog y, the Malvern reluctant to fix these problems. administration announced in “Every time we call Schoology, January that it will not be used again they don’t fix it,” Algeo said. “For the next year. last month and a half, every time we Upper School Head Mr. Ron call, we don't even get a live person.

Algeo said that Malvern got caught They don't get back to us for two “on the bad end of a business deci- weeks.” sion” between Blackbaud, the dataAlgeo described the decision and the search for a replacement a base which holds all student files, and Schoology, the learning platform the “total team approach,” with faculty, school is using this year. technology staff, and administration “They weren’t involved in many the same company meetings in the fall. but they were work“Every time we call The new system ing together,” Algeo Schoology, they don’t is called OnCampus. said. “Schoolog y fix it. For the last OnCampus’s parand Blackbaud are e nt c o m p a n y, month and a half, Whipple Hill, was starting to part ways every time we call, now and we’re just we don’t even get recently acquired by Blackbaud. getting left with all a live person. They these issues.” don’t get back to us Sillup explained Middle School for two weeks.” some of the benHead Mr. Patrick ef its OnCampus -Mr. Ron Algeo Si l lup sa id t hat will have over parents could not Schoology. download an official student record, “ You can access discussion a student schedule, or past per- boards, post things, manage your portfolio, access announcements, formance, among other issues like attendance. [and] access official records,” Sillup “The fact that the platform itself said. “It would be able to serve you, is unable to record your whereabouts your parents, and our colleagues beton a given time is concerning to me,” ter and that’s always the goal.”

Sillup said. “Schoology’s [attendance] For those who are fans of feature doesn't talk to our big dataSchoology’s smartphone app – don’t base [Blackbaud.]” worry, OnCampus is also available on Blackbaud should have stored the App Store. all the past grades, transcripts, and Director of Technology Mr. other information from Schoology Terrence Norko and Assistant Director of Technology Mr. John at “the touch of a button.” However, Algeo said that didn’t happen, which Street declined to comment. was problematic for the technology Alego seemed to sum up the gendepartment and registrar. eral thoughts of the administration “It literally would not import when he said, “It’s a short term pain grades into Blackbaud,” Algeo said. and we’re hoping it’s going to be a “At the end of the first quarter, our long term gain.” k

A

of kids on campus who identify with the Republican party, but this party.”

Democrats are also welcome to But how do Malvern parents choose their political party? Why join,” Pero said. “I’m sure we’ll have are most parents Republican? a lot of student interest.”

Heisler thinks he has the answer.

Maybe some of that student interest stems from political con“Republicans tend to come from upper-middle class families, and versations at home. those families tend to have a tradi“Every time there is a debate or tion of being Republican,” Heisler something is going on in the news said. politics are brought up,” senior Evan Tate History teacher “I think most Robert Colameco is a said. “So I would say I kids through registered Democrat discuss politics pretty a nd h is p ol it ic a l their high school often.” years tend to awakening was simiAccording to the previously mentioned reflect what lar to many Malvern survey 34% said polistudents’, in that he their parents believe. I think chose the same party tics is “often" discussed that was true of that his parents were. at home, while 51% said me too.” “ I t h in k most “sometimes.” kids through their -Mr. Robert Colameco A recent study by high school yea rs The British Journal of tend to ref lect what Political Science focuses their parents believe,” on how early political Colameco said. “I think that was socialization prompts parent-child true of me too.” dissimilarity. The study proposes Of the 110 Malvern students that children who come from homes who participated in the survey 7% where politics is a frequent topic of of those identified as Democrats. discussion are more likely to talk “My advice to voters would be about politics once they leave home, to find out where canexposing them to new didates on both sides viewpoints. Some may “I think sta nd,” Cola meco even switch parties. said. “I recommend that being Boyce said that the them to listen to the Independent is a only reason he’s regisradio and read the very smart pick, tered as a Republican is newspaper so they a lot of people so that he is eligible to just blindly vote can really think about vote in the Republican to one side” what they’re hearing primary.

-Brendan Mullen ’16 from both sides.”

“Besides the fact that I’m technically Both Colameco and Boyce seem to registered Republican, agree on one thing I consider myself a true despite their political differences.

Independent,” Boyce said.

They think that students should Independents at Ma lvern account for 17% of those that be presented with Republican and Democratic sides equally, rather answered the poll, bringing forth than being constantly surrounded the question: How did they choose their political party?

by Republican or Democratic voices alone.

“I think that being Independent T he Republ ica n voice at is a very smart pick, a lot of people Malvern is without a doubt a strong [Republicans or Democrats] just one. Junior Tommy Pero recently blindly vote to one side,” Brendan started The Young Republicans Mullen, registered Republican, Club, with Boyce serving as the said. “I think Independents look at club’s proctor. the candidates individually rather “We’re looking to have a group than the party and that’s pretty

Trailer Review: “Independence Day: Resurgence” Hollywood brings back another iconic franchise, twenty years after its original movie was released.

Jack Magargee ‘18 MEDIA & TECH EDITOR hat do “Godzilla,” “ K i n g K on g ,” “Ghostbusters,” “Terminator,” “Ben-Hur,” and now “Independence Day” have in common? They all are movies that are getting 21st century adaptations for almost no reason.

The trailer for Independence Day: Resurgence took me completely by surprise.

I’m not the biggest fan of the franchise so I wasn’t the first person to see the trailer but now it’s been a month since the trailer was released and there has been no buzz.

To b e f a i r, I ’v e n e v e r s e e n “Independence Day” but I do know what happens and the trailer, with all its references to its predecessor, really makes it

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hard to get behind this movie at all. They operate under the assumption that the viewer remembers the first movie.

Don’t get me wrong, the scenes shown in the trailer were a perfect balance of drama, it’s just that there are too many assumptions made by the crew behind the trailer. It could have been amazing if there was a brief summary of the previous movie at some point.

The cast is very solid. Names like Jeff Goldblum and Liam Hemsworth are enough to carry a movie. However, it’s important to understand that Will Smith will not be reprising his role from the original movie.

I give this trailer a B because it was interesting – it just lacked explanation.

“Independence Day: Resurgence” brings the fight for freedom back to theaters on June 24, 2016. k

smart.”

Of the independents who answered the poll, 58% had either an Independent parent, or a household with one Republican parent and one Democratic parent. It has been speculated by The British Journal of Political Science that those who gather information from both parties, or grow up with Independent parents, are more likely to become Independent.

Senior Marty McGuckin, registered Republican, has a different viewpoint on those who identify as Independent.

“The people who claim they’re Independent I think are really just Democrats who think that other kids [Republicans] at Malvern won’t like them because of their beliefs,” McGuckin said. “And they are too shy to say they’re Democrat or they’re disappointed that they’re not Republican.”

Heisler thinks that Independent voters are likely to eventually choose a party.

“Having that many independents [at Malvern] I think is just the element of uncertainty for students,” Heisler said. “I would expect that in years to come much more will go to a democratic standpoint rather than staying independent.”

Seniors will be voting in the upcoming Presidential election, so it is important to pay attention to politics in the upcoming months and find out where one stands.

Heisler has some words of wisdom for new voters.

“The person who’s in charge will create the environment you live in after college,” Heisler said.

“Think about what you want to do four years down the line, think about how you want to live, and think about which one of these candidates will cause the world you want the most in four years.” k This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism & Media Literacy class, Fall 2015.

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January 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

PERSPECTIVE

I

t has become so common that we think nothing of it: Many students spend time during their breaks focusing on homework when they could be focusing on family and relaxation.

Although many students receive work to do over break, our community has mixed emotions on this assigned work.

“Most of the time during weekdays [on break], I do not really have anything to do,” freshman Logan Caddy said. “So I can just get the work done and it does not really bother me.”

Others are opposed to the thought of school work to do over breaks.

“It’s called break, it’s supposed to be a break - like no work,” junior Cullen Pina said. “I had to spend three hours on two separate days doing work.”

“I mind work over break because break is meant for spend- cultivating other critical life skills." you left off when you get back.”

Studies have found that the “memory loss” is not actually ing time with your family and relaxing,” senior Kevin Roussey Higgins believes that breaks should be a time of rejuvenaas bad as it is most likely believed to be. said. “It says it in the name, break— a break from school.” tion for students.

Independent Schools Management (ISM) However, there can be times when work is “There is short term memory loss, but the re-learning curve President and Senior Scheduling Consultant, necessary. is exact mirror image of the forgetting curve,” Higgins said.

“Our opinion Mrs. Roxanne Higgins, views breaks similarly Advanced Placement (AP) classes need to “So there is no real need to keep that going in the break time.” is that there to Pina. ISM completed a scheduling analysis "maintain a pace," Math Teacher Mr. Kevin Moore However, there will always be the possibility of work over should not be for Malvern in 2013. said. “For the AP exam we have a set day, and we breaks, and almost certainly group work. homework “Our opinion is that there should not be have to cover a certain curriculum.”

“I find it to be 100% busy work just to keep you on your over break homework over break at all,” Higgins said in a Even those who believe in no work during toes,” Roussey said. “I see the reasoning behind it, but I at all. Break phone interview. “Break should be break.” breaks tend to understand the rationale when it strongly disagree with it.” should be Higgins interviewed Malvern students comes to AP courses.

In many situations, group work or collaborative projects break.” about their average workloads during ISM's “In an AP course you are trying to cover the can be difficult to complete as a result of the logistics.

Mrs. Roxanne Higgins visits to campus. content by the time the AP exam comes around, “Yeah I didn’t do anything over break. We were all on Independent School Management “On a regular homework night, the averthen there might be some homework,” Higgins said. break and didn't feel like doing anything,” senior Chris age is 2.2 hours [of homework], with the range “But we [at ISM] believe strongly D'Ascenzo said. “People are out and it is hard going as high as 3.5 hours,” Higgins said. “That that break should be break.” to get everyone in one place at the same time.”

“We want to is way too much. On a heavy homework night the upper school Head of Upper School Mr. Ron Algeo said “I find group work to be very difficult over be intentional student spent an average of 3.3 hours on homework. That is that teachers should be intentional in assigning break,” Updike said. “One reason is that one or and clear about ridiculous,” she said. work over break. more people might go on vacation over break and why [teachers] “We want to be intentional and clear about A study by Stanford University Senior Lecturer Denise you're stuck doing it with whomever is available.” are giving Pope published in 2014 suggests that more than 2 hours why [teachers] are giving homework and how it There is no solid answer to this dilemma, homework and of homework can diminish its effectiveness and be counter is going to be beneficial for [students],” Algeo and will continue to be a difficult topic until how it is going to productive. said. some sort of middle ground is found. be beneficial for The study also suggested three impacts of too much work Students also seem to understand their “There should be optional work over break [students]” or homework in general. teachers’ rationale when it comes to class work that will also be assigned when you get back,” Mr. Ron Algeo The first of those is stress. Pope talked with 4,317 students over breaks, whether it be an AP course or not.

Roussey said. “So you can get ahead, that is the Upper School Head best solution I think.” during her study and found that 56% of those students said that “I guess they just want to make sure you school work was a large part of their stress load. don’t just check out and lose touch with all the Algeo thinks that there is always room for The second is the diminished health of the students. work,” Pina said. “But I mean it is only two weeks. You can let improvement.

Students admitted to being sleep deprived and having head- us have a nice little relaxing time.”

“Maybe there are some tools that we allow students to “Most of the time if you have a big break most of the kids be able to do voluntarily,” he said. “So maybe no mandatory aches from their work.

“Most [students] are not getting the amount of sleep that they might forget the stuff that you have learned,” Caddy said. “So assignments, but you have some opportunities to do some if you can keep up with what you are doing in class.” need because they do have too much homework,” Higgins said. you’d like to stay fresh.” k The final product/result is less time for family, friends and “Material can be easily forgotten over break but if they give other activities. Pope and her fellow researchers found that you work you can touch up on topics,” junior Mac Updike said. This story was developed in the senior elective Journalism & Media the students were "not meeting their developmental needs or “Then when break is over you're ready to pick up from where Literacy class, Fall 2015.

A junior’s survival story and a lifechanging experience.

Tommy White ’17 REPORTER n November 4, 2008, at the young age of 10 years old, junior Nick Calvaresi was diagnosed with brain cancer. At the time, he thought it was no big deal.

“I didn’t really know what [cancer] was at first,” Nick said. “I just thought I had some sort of sickness.”

Nick originally thought that is was just a really bad headache, so he thought that after all of the cancer testing, he would just go home.

However, Nick’s CAT scan wasn’t clear about what was going on and he went to the Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania to get an MRI. It was after that MRI that doctors concluded Nick’s headaches were a result of a small tumor

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in the cerebellum of his brain. The cerebellum is responsible for posture, balance, and coordination of movement.

“My parents were very emotional to this news,” Nick said. “They were very sad that I had to stay in [the hospital]. I never thought it would be a long term commitment.”

After being diagnosed, Nick had to get brain surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia so that the tumor could be removed. He was in the hospital for about a year. Nick had a lot of visitors while he was in the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He got a lot of visits from the Downingtown community in which he lived. He was attending the Brandywine Wallace School in Downingtown.

He did various activities to keep him occupied, including coloring, but he was very excited when he was discharged from the hospital after a year of recovery.

“I have a scar in the back of my head where they entered,” Nick said. “I don’t remember anything after they began the procedure.”

But it wasn’t over yet, he then had to get chemotherapy treatment in Jacksonville, Florida, since it was the only place that was available at the time. So, he and his mother had to live there for a few months while he underwent the treatment, but he was able to go home for Christmas.

The daily chemotherapy consisted of one hour of laying in a bed in a straight fashion with a helmet that delivered the treatement.

During his free time in Jacksonville, Florida, he was home-schooled just like he was at home.

He and his mom would do various activities as well. For example going to the zoo, going to football games, and various outdoor activities.

It was kind of convenient in the sense that it was winter during the time, so it felt nice to do these outdoor activities.

After a few months of living in Jacksonville, Florida, Nick was finally cleared to go home.

For the rest of his life, he will only go into the hospital for checkups. At first he would pretty often, like once a week. Every year the amount of checkups get smaller.

“Now I go in once every half year for a checkup. It went from year stays to only half year stays, then quarter year, all the way down to where I am now,” Nick said. “It will eventually be once every year, and I think it will be once every four years after that.”

“I was very happy because I could go home and live my regular life,” Nick said. “I didn’t want to be that kid whose life was lived at the hospital. It felt great sleeping in my own bed.”

Nick is very thankful for the support that he got. He said that it was great seeing all the people who cared about him. As a cancer survivor, he helps out at many organizations. He will also be helping out the cancer awareness event that cancer survivor junior Andrew Clark and his family will be hosting.

“I would say to anyone who has cancer that they should keep fighting, that it is a hard experience, but you can get through it,” Nick said. k

WE ARE PLANNING AN UPCOMING THEMED ISSUE ON

CANCER & SURVIOR STORIES with personal & family stories, scientific angles, social, religious, philanthropic themes.

Got an idea? Want to help?

CONTACT Ben Yankelitis . Editor-in-Chief

byankelitis60@malvernprep.org

@ben_yank