Hebron Review Spring 2019

Letter From The Editors Being editors has been an adventure like no other. It has had its ups and downs throughout the year, mainly in the form of technical difficulties; however, we are overjoyed with our final results in both the Fall and the Spring editions. We now have a great appreciation for the skills an editor must possess, from the actual proofreading to the human interaction to the complexities of formatting and designing.

Our mission when we took over the Hebron Review this year was to make it a forum in which students could write about their passions and take on important subjects. We wanted to push the mindsets of Hebron’s community and deal with more controversial topics. Reading and writing help people discuss modern issues and learn to open their minds to other points of view, and it was our goal to let the Hebron Review foster that energy in the 2018-2019 school year.

Looking back on the year, especially this Spring edition, we like to think that we have succeeded. In these pages we feature articles about ethnic diversity, gender neutral bathrooms, co-ed dorm rooms, conflict with indigenous peoples, and more. Not only that, but our Fall edition held articles about the GSTA and a human rights seminar, while an article on our blog about toxic masculinity has had over fifty student comments at press time.

As two of us move on to college next year, we have one piece of advice for the future editors: don’t stop pushing boundaries. Let the Hebron Review be something students can use to give themselves a voice about issues they care about, whether it’s on campus or not.

Let there be controversy. Let there be energy and heat. Let the students of Hebron dictate what needs to be discussed. The only way that you can change what needs fixing is by starting a conversation. So let the Hebron Review be that spark.

Table of Contents

On-Campus Events How To Survive an AP Class

1

An Adventure in China

4

First Annual Winter Games

5

The Thrill of the Dribble Balanced with the Love of a Playbill

7

My Snowboarding Journey

9

Scholastic Award Winners And the Summer Was Over

10

Sun, Wind, and Water

11

The Art of Separating

12

Modern Look on the Implications of the Second Amendment

13

Opinion Reflecting on my Judgments

17

On Futurism and the Impact of AI

19

Safety and Comfort at Hebron in the Form of


20

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms MAGA Students

21

Redefining Diversity

22

Looking at Coed High School Dorm Rules

25

On Campus Events

choose whether or not to heed my advice, but don’ t say I didn’t warn you.

How to Survive an AP Class: Told by an AP Student

By Emma Skelton ’19

AP classes are notorious for their difficulty, several hours of homework, and

(credit LA Times)

likelihood to make you cry. You spend the entire

Rule Number One: READ THE TEXTBOOK

year cramming for a three-hour test that (1) doesn’t count for your grade and (2) may not be

Now this one may seem to be stupidly

recognized by the college you choose to attend

easy to follow. Think again, pal. AP textbooks

in the future. So you may be asking yourself,

are longer than life itself and usually contain

“What’s the point?” Well…part of me wants to

more words than I can possibly comprehend.

say there is no point; don’t take the class; it’s

When it’s the end of study hall on a Thursday

more work than you want to take on. But that’s

night, and you still have a whole chapter of

the sleep-deprived part of my brain. The

reading to do that’s due the next day, it’ll seem

rational part says that AP classes set you up for

really tempting to simply Google the topic and

the intensity of college and provide you with

hope for the best. This is totally, completely,

skills you’re unlikely to hone as well in your

100% reasonable, and also totally, completely,

other classes. Also, most AP classes stop

100% what you should not do! While I

learning new information after the AP exam, so

understand just as well as anyone that

that gives you two weeks to relax and hang out

textbooks are not necessarily an enjoyable

and make fun of your non-AP-class-taking

read, they are also there for a reason. Actually

friends who have been laughing at you all year

reading the material and trying to understand

for choosing homework over Netflix.

as much of it as possible before you talk about

So by now, you’re probably wondering

it in class will help you in the long run on tests

how you’ll ever survive the AP classes you’ve

and papers and the AP Exam, trust me. I

decided to take. Well, don’t worry, friends!

would not have made it through APUSH

Don’t let 700-page textbooks and stories of all-

without reading the textbook. That said, it is

nighters scare you! A Certified-AP-Class-

possible to coast on doing the bare minimum,

Taking-Student is here to help! I've compiled

college credit from the exam.

my tips on how to survive an AP class. You can 1

but it is unlikely to give you a good grade or

required of you, and put all of your effort into

college credit from the AP Exam.

it. It will better your chances on the AP Exam, and allow you to hone skills that will show up

Rule Number Two: Talk to your teachers.

in your college courses, whether it’s concise

They’re here to help you and to teach you. essay writing or working under a time limit.

While it may seem at the moment that they are You may not get a 5 on the exam, but I'm actively trying to drown you in work, what they

positive that your teachers and parents will be

want most is to see you succeed and know that

proud of your improvement and effort

they helped you improve throughout the year.

throughout the year regardless of your final

The point of an AP class is to push you beyond

score on a test that won’t matter in ten years.

where a normal high school class would. So don’t blame your teachers for trying to better your education, and please, please, please don’t hate them. They’re people too, and I’m positive that they want you to thrive in their (credit College Board)

class. So if you are feeling overwhelmed or don’t understand the material, go talk to them!

Rule Number Four: Forget about the

Pose questions, set up meetings, ask for an

looming AP Exam.

extension if you’re unable to complete an

In all honesty, the AP Exam doesn’t

assignment on time. Don’t go into the session

matter all that much. Yes, there’s a chance that

hostile, and recognize that they just want to help you could get college credit, but in the long you. run, a standardized test doesn’t measure your intelligence nor your knowledge of a subject.

Rule Number Three: Do your best.

All any teacher can ask for is that you do your best. Though AP classes have a bad rep, try to go into them with an open mind. You’re likely taking the class because it’s a subject that interests you. So why not take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it? Whether it’s US history, English literature, psychology, calculus, or music theory, to name a few, you’re guaranteed to learn something new. So start

So instead of obsessing over practice exams and flashcards, take a deep breath and live your life. Your future will be so much more than a score on a test. Enjoy the class and the challenges you’ll face throughout the year.

High school goes by far too fast to be constantly worrying about one exam. Don’t get me wrong: you should still listen to the previous advice to put in your best effort and take the class seriously. But let go of your

with your best foot forward, do the work 2

anxiety about the final. Trying to figure out

do it or that you’re stupid or that you should

exactly what will be on the exam and obsessing

just drop the class. In the legendary words of

over memorization will only hurt you in the

the wise band Coldplay, “Nobody said it was

long run. Instead, study with your classmates

easy.” If you’re someone who is used to getting

(it’ll help you retain material better to work

straight A’s, it can be discouraging to see a C

together!) and learn what you can through

on your midterms. But trust me, it’s not the

participating in class, reading the textbook

end of the world. After all, C’s get degrees.

(wink, wink), and allowing yourself time to

Just kidding! In all honesty, as long as you’re

breathe.

putting in your best work, I guarantee that your grade will go up. AP classes take some getting used to, and by the end of the year, you’ll have the system down and laugh at yourself for the tears shed when you were a naive little nugget at the beginning of the year.

You can take or leave my advice, of course. But I guarantee that that AP class (or classes—go, you!) you’re contemplating will be worth it, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time.

(Credit FakingNews)

You’ll learn new content and new skills

Rule Number Five: Don’t be too hard

and have a huge feeling of accomplishment by

on yourself.

the time those two weeks of relaxation roll around in May. Yes, it’ll be hard. Yes, there

AP classes are difficult. There’s no

will be nights where you genuinely want to

denying it. You’re taking college-level classes as

throw your textbook and papers into a huge,

high schoolers, and that alone is a victory. I can

fiery mess and watch it all disintegrate into a

remember several nights crying over APUSH

pile of ashes and then run away and never

DBQs or the dreaded AP Literature poetry

look back. But you won’t. You’ll get through it.

practice exams. Please, if you take anything

I promise. And then next year you can be the

away from this article, don’t do this to yourself!

one to assure prospective AP students that AP

As a frustration crier, I can totally understand

classes are a torture worth taking.

shedding tears when you just don’t understand something. But don’t tell yourself that you can’t 3

An Adventure in China

customizable soup. After a few days in the

By Olivia Newell ’21

lovely city of Tianjin, we took yet another train to the smaller city of Pingyao. We only spent one night there, but it was well worth the stop

On March 7th, at three in the morning, we set out for the airport to start our long

for the enormous amount of dumplings we ate

journey to Beijing. Immediately after getting

and tea we drank.

off the plane, the students (Will, Brennen, Paige, Jamie, Kurtis, and I) had our first adventure, getting lost in the airport. After some desperate WeChats to Mr. Paul and Mr. Tholen, we found them and headed to our hostel. Thankfully, the next day started off a little better. We set out for the Forbidden City and Wangfujing, a busy street filled with crazy foods. We ate everything from scorpions to tarantulas to ice cream. It was a short but exciting time in Beijing. We soon hopped on a high-speed train to Tianjin where we spent the next few days.

Tianjin was a very different city from where we had been; it was calmer and warmer.

While there, we visited the Great Wall. While it seemed like we climbed thousands of stairs,

After sleeping in bunk beds on an

it was well worth the view at the top. We also

overnight train, we arrived in Xi’an. The

spent a lot of time in an area of shops called

weather was warm and the trees were

Da Hutong, known for the fake name-brand

blooming. We visited the Terracotta Warriors,

clothing sold there. It was at these stores that

learned how they were made, and even had the

Will bought himself the infamous fake Gucci

chance to meet the farmer who discovered the

tracksuit, which he wore everywhere, and

soldiers in his field. Xi’an was also our first

Brennen bought his Peppa Pig sweatshirt with

introduction to hot pot. There are three words

matching slippers. We ate everything from

to describe this meal; spicy, messy, and

“savory Chinese crepes” to Malatang, a kind of

delicious. After two days we left Xi’an for 4

Chengdu. In Chengdu, we visited the famous

and experiencing a new culture was something

poet Du Fu’s cottage and hiked to a revered

that all of us will remember and cherish for a long

temple on top of Qingcheng Mountain. Most

time. For me, this trip was well worth the

importantly, we saw pandas! Some were playful, fourteen-hour flight trapped between Jamie and some lazy, some hungry, but all were adorable.

Paige and was an experience I will never forget.

(That was maybe the first thing everyone on the trip could agree on.) We quickly became very familiar with Chengdu and found ourselves loving the dumplings we ate every morning for breakfast, the bubble tea shops, and the steak flavored chips that Kurtis ate for most meals.

First Annual Winter Games This trip was an adventure for

By Aarti Singh ’20

everyone. Whether it was Mr. Tholen attempting (and most often failing) to speak

Hebron Academy has always been an

Mandarin, Brennen learning to use chopsticks

exciting place all year round. Hebron has provided

(once again, usually failing), or getting lost on

numerous activities and competitions for the

multiple occasions, we all came together at the

students to take part in. These opportunities are

end of the day to laugh about it. Eating new

not only in classrooms or athletic fields but also

foods, speaking and hearing a new language,

on and off campus. The excitement for the 5

boarding students was doubled this year when

looked forward to their assigned events but

faculty member Mr. Paul came up with the idea

also showed up to cheer for their teams.

of hosting Winter Games for the very first time

Events on Day One were Broomball and

in the history of Hebron Academy. This, unlike

Badminton, with both “YMB” and “Obtain the

many other activities, was an event that

Grain” winning gold in each. The second day

connected the student body at a deeper level

attracted a huge crowd with events like 3-on-3

and strengthened the bond between both

Basketball, Curling, Pickleball, and Snow

faculty and students. The teachers and the

Sculptures. Teams wore matching outfits and

proctors took initiative in organizing the event

team chants were heard way outside the

and making it the best ever imagined. Our

athletic building. The results of Day Two were

school leaders took up the challenge of

quite a surprise as “the Old School” managed

recruiting their team members and winning the to tie with “YMB” and “Obtain the Grain” with championship. Moreover, the faculty were not

three medals and, following behind, “the

behind in grasping the opportunity of showing

Average Joes” and “Jack Pack” with two.

their strength as they entered the games with the team called “The Old School.” The excitement we all felt can hardly be explained with words. Being part of Eliza Quiñones’s team, “The Average Joes,” I was ready to perform any event and was determined to get a medal.

But for my surprise, it wasn't just me who was hungry for the prize, but everyone who participated. The

The final day ended with both laughter

best thing about the Winter Games was the

and joy. The ice skating, ice dancing, and

balance of both athletic and artistic events that

sledding events were the right way to

made kids of many talents join this amazing

experience the winter of Maine. The moment

event.

of the day would definitely be the entrance of The event was divided into three days to

balance off the athletic schedule. The kids

Mr. Tholen as a dinosaur which brought laughter amongst the competitors and faculty

6

kids. Mrs. Ftorek mentioned that her

daughter Bayley Bean has never enjoyed ice

the classroom, of course. Whether it be

skating as much as she did while watching the

playing on a varsity team or getting the lead in

dinosaur dance. Even though “Obtain the

the school musical, all of us go into our high

Grain,” led by Vedant Divekar, won the Winter

school careers with high ambitions to join

Games, the weekend was filled with

certain clubs and activities. In many public

competitiveness, fun, and enjoyment. Overall,

schools you are forced to choose what is most

no one on campus has ever enjoyed the winter

important to you and are restricted to only

as much as they did during the Winter Games

one activity for the entire school year, or at

weekend, and the community made it clear in

least that semester.

upcoming winters.

Being limited to only one activity and passion makes it nearly impossible for you to have the balanced lifestyle that you have strived for your entire childhood. While some schools’ limitations prove to be a deficit for many students, other schools encourage being involved with multiple school activities. Hebron makes it possible for you to enjoy the thrill of playing with your varsity team, as well as relishing the spotlight in your school play.

The Thrill of the Dribble Balanced

This winter there were more than seven

with The Love of a Playbill

By Katherine Ducharme ‘21 All throughout elementary and Middle School we are taught to balance our activities and explore new things. Parents encourage us to get outside of our comfort zones and not be afraid of change. This is all great throughout grade school, but as we become older our education tends to outshine most other activities and we are forced to only choose what is most important, outside of

7

student-athletes in the school’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher. I, along with

the other student athletes for the winter trimester, would juggle a rigorous practice and game schedule while still managing to keep proficient grades in the classrooms. Personally, I found balancing both of these commitments took a lot. My typical schedule would start just like everyone else's

then go to a cappella rehearsal with some

by attending all of my morning and afternoon

other members and rehearse until around

classes. After school would include a more

7:50. After this, I would come back to dorm

rigorous and strenuous program. Right after

for Study Hall and finish out my day.

classes I would typically hurry over to the Performing Arts Center for rehearsal that would range anywhere from 45 minutes to 2-plus

This was definitely a juggling act that took patience from both myself and all of my activity coordinators. Both my coaches and

hours (depending on the day and what my basketball schedule looked like). I typically had to leave rehearsal early to jog over to the

director were supportive of my commitments and were in constant communication with each other. While the winter was definitely a

Williams Center for basketball practice or, on most half-days, to the front of Halford to board the bus for our game. If we had practice it

busy time, I would not have changed it for anything. I had such a great time with the entire cast of the show and was able to meet

would typically run for an hour-and-a-half

new people and form strong relationships.

where we did everything from layup and

During basketball I was also able to become

shooting drills to full court sprints. Practices usually ended around 5:30, so almost all of the team would head over for dinner. If I missed

closer with teammates while playing a sport I love with other girls who love it too. From the other multi-activity students I spoke with, the

more than 30 minutes of practice I would

overarching conclusion was that they

usually stay and shoot around for some more

appreciated the opportunities given to them

time before dinner. If it was Monday I would

by both diverse programs.

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My Snowboarding Journey

Being a new Asian female member on the

By Emma Xu ’19

snowboarding team was a challenge for me at first, but I am proud of all the accomplishments and memories that I have

As a four-year senior at Hebron, I have tried many different sports through my

gained from this. Pushing yourself to try

entire high school career. I signed up for the

something new is always helpful because you

snowboarding team during my junior year at

will never know how much you can do!

Hebron. It not only became one of my favorite sports, but it also created countless memories for me.

When I was signing up for winter sports, I simply thought snowboarding was cool and decided to try something new. I remember during the first practice, I was struggling even before we started going to the mountains. I didn’t know how to put my boots on, how to get off the lift, or which way I should be facing when going down a mountain.

Despite countless failures, falling off lifts, crushing onto ice, and nearly breaking my tailbone, I survived my first snowboarding winter. The second year, as a senior, I could snowboard freely, do some tricks, and was even asked to compete along with other schools. Even though I had some embarrassing moments during the competition, like when I fell down from a simple movement when other competitors were watching closely, luckily with my rapid improvements I eventually won two championships.

9

Scholastic Awards

And the Summer was Over

by Samantha Gumprecht ’20

I was sitting by the window, the sun rays peeking through sheer dotted fabric as they swayed, cascading, creating a lulling calm. The smell of a hot early summer pushed through the screen. I was peaceful, happy and worry free, cuddled in the corner of my room as the minutes passed by. The sound of pebbles underneath the rubber of a tire stirred outside as they arrived home. Springing from my cozy little nook, I bounded down the stairs, each creaking as my foot pressed on them with excitement. The door swung open letting a wall of thick heat into the cool, dry house.

Someone unexpected had arrived, someone near and dear to the heart: my godmother. It felt like a surprise, and I was overjoyed to have them home. Mom brought in food and stories and smiles, charging the tone of the room with excitement. Chatting and catching up, sitting around the kitchen, happy to finally not be alone in the house all put a wide smile across my face. The smell of the sandwiches weaving its way out of the bag and the feeling of family filled the kitchen.

“I need to talk to you about something.”

Those mere eight words never mean anything good and always carry a bad shadow. That moment my gut sank and I nervously awaited the glooming speech. I had already heard those words before in my life and each time it was bad news that followed. I sat there fidgeting with my fingers, a tick I do when I get nervous or embarrassed. My appetite disappeared, the happy feelings had vanished. I heard my mom’s word, and sat there as piece by piece I dissected the situation.

“They caught it early enough honey.”

But what if it develops into something ten times worse?

“There are so many people around us who are ready to be there for us.”

I don’t think I could actually live without her.

“We are going to try our best to keep a normal routine.”

10

This is actually happening, my mother is one of the people affected, my family is going through this .

“They are going to operate and try to take most of it out, then we will go on from there.”

What if I lose my mom? I don't think I could actually make it through that.

The end result of the jumble of words I heard was “ I have cancer.” I sat there for a moment awestruck at the thought that such a far-off terrible thing was actually happening to me and my family right now. I had always heard of people having it and I knew people who were affected by it, but never did I ever think that this stinging word would become such a prominent piece of my life. Throughout my fifteen years of life I had been through trying moments and throughout all of it my mother was my rock. I held on tight to her throughout the worst of the storms. But now of all things that the storm could have struck, it was my rock, my mom. I was going to have to be the rock through this storm and it made me scared to death. I was going to have to be the one needed for comfort. I would be the one my mom needed instead of me needing her, it was terrifying to me. This wasn't just a stranger I heard diagnosed with this terrible disease, this was one of my people.

Cancer. Such a heavy word, weighted with pounds of emotions. The thought had never run through my mind that it would become a word I used in my daily vocabulary.

As tears poured down my face, the summer was over before it had even begun.

Scholastic Awards

Sun, Wind, and Water

by Ellena Frumiento ’20 High above the trees is a bright blue sky extending far into the universe. The air is warm and fresh; in every direction is an upward slope covered in thick forests. This body of water is what appears to be the only clearing in this vast woods. Each wave rolls across the surface with white bubbles dancing on top. The leaves whirl vigorously clinging to the tree branches. The rigging rattles as it clangs against the mast and colorful boats rock back and forth, yanking on their moorings. In my life jacket that used to be neon yellow, but is now so faded it is almost white, with my dark curls blowing, and my bare feet, I am sitting on the edge of Geronimo adjusting the sails to harness the wind; in one hand is the tiller and in the other is the main sheet. Sitting beside me is Kate, in her still neon-yellow life jacket, Ray-Ban sunglasses she stole from the lost and found, and her straight blond hair flying free, because her lucky hair tie sank. The water is splashing up and cooling the suncooked fiberglass that is burning our butts. The sun is baking our already pink faces. We arch our backs backwards so that we can dunk our heads into the cool water, but the forward movement floods water up our noses and into our ears; nevertheless, our mops of hair are now dripping cool water down our backs and faces.

Comfortable and ready, we trim in the sheets and point downwind just enough to pick up speed.

My hands are red and blistered from the lines I’m gripping. “Let it out just a little,” I tell Kate. As she eases the jib sheet, our sails transform into wings and we take off with power. The water starts splashing up, each wave seems to crash right into the boat as we plow through it, Geronimo is slowly becoming a shallow tub. The tiller begins to resist more and more. Suddenly our bow becomes a knife and starts slicing through the waves.

We emerge flying, skimming the surface of the water with more speed than you can imagine, water spraying up from both sides of the boat. I feel out of control. Trailing us is a wake you’d think would come from a ninety-horsepower engine. Together, Kate and I laugh from pure joy until our bellies hurt. In the distance a loon laughs at us and then dives under quickly to avoid the missile that is us coming at it.

“Hold on!” I yell, as Kate loses her balance because she was holding the jib sheets with her toes, an obviously pour choice. My arm instinctively flies out to catch her. Laughing, song lyrics from Hannah Montana start flowing out. Then the song switches to “How far I’ll go” from Moana, and then to the chorus of “West Virginia.” Soaking wet, with my curls dancing in all directions and her golden mane still flying in the wind, thirsty and sun-baked, we sail as the wind relentlessly blows.

Every part of my body from the inside out is happy. All I hear is the whistling wind and the laughter.

The water sparkles as if it were covered in tiny gems. The sky is so bright it hurts my eyes to look, and my skin is warm, absorbing as much of the moment as it can hold. Nothing else matters, the only things on my mind are the sun, wind and water.

Under the vast blue sky, encircled by the forests and mountains of Maine, on a small lake, in this sailboat, I feel like a tiny speck in this huge world surrounding me. But on this sailboat, beside Kate, under the warm sun and bright sky, soaring over the lake through a tunnel of mist, without an ounce of stress or worry, full to the brim with happiness, and feeling love, I feel alive!

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Scholastic Awards

The Art of Separating

by Sophie Chu-O’Neil ‘20

Birthdays are a special kind of milestone for every kid. No matter my age, I was eager to arrive at my next birthday. September 29, 2007 was my fifth birthday party. My best friend Susanna and her older sister who shared a name with me got to spend this milestone with me as well. In a big cabin on a hill, suffocated by trees and flowers, I was being celebrated. The upstairs was fun, but downstairs is where I felt magical. We had a hot tub under big slanted windows as if we were camping in a glass tent. The steam from the hot tub would float up onto the windows in order to become our temporary canvases. I do not remember the rules, because there were none. In a world consisting of nothing dangerous, rules were not necessary.

I left my friends in the hot tub and stepped out for what I thought would be a short moment and met my parents in the doorway. There was a look— a look that was impossible to read, but that I could still feel it. A foreign argument. Without any clue what was being said, whatever was being fought for or against, I could feel the anger. Except this time, it had all of the feelings but lacked every bit of the noise. I remember the art melting off of windows that let me paint on the sky. I remember the water starting to get a little too hot, the burning sensation of bubbles coming up from underneath my skin instead. The chemical smell of the hot tub bubbling up beneath me. To this day, I do not remember what color or flavor cake we had, but I know cake has not tasted the same since.

Some people may recognize divorce as the end to a big mistake. Typically this means that court does not go smoothly. The lawyers are as exhausted as the parents. Decisions become more difficult after the original decision to sever is final. Things rarely end amicably once this decision is made.

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However, the word divorce has a negative connotation that is not entirely deserved. Divorce seems like it would be the undoing of a mistake, but as an outcome of that mistake, I do not believe it was. I knew from a young age that it was better to have separated parents who were happy than parents who were together but constantly arguing and miserable. Yet seeing the silver lining only lasted so long.

I was switched off for holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, switching off weekdays and weekends (except for the second and fifth weekend of the month) to be with my mom every month for ten years. The routine was never confusing, because it was a new custom in our family: Saying grace at dad’s and not at mom’s. Hiding my atheism from my dad to protect us both. Doing homework at mom’s and not at dad’s.

Letting go for two days and getting it together with my mom.

I lived a real life with my mom; it was a healthy balance. I was comfortable having divorced parents—until I wasn’t anymore. Until we argued who gets which holidays. Until I was asked who was the favorite parent.

Divorce did not make me hate my parents; divorce made me get to know who my parents truly are as individuals. Every drawing I drew on the window is gone now. To be temporary does not make something of less value than something permanent. Although shortlived, the weekends I spent with my dad while he was the parent of an energetic six-year-old girl are a large part of who I am today.

By the end of this year, I will be sixteen. The difference between six and sixteen is that now I realize that everyone is simply a person—rarely more than that and sometimes much less. People are nice with every reason not to be, and rude with dollar bills in their pockets and a healthy heart beating in their chest. My dad is a person. My mom is a person. And I am on my way to becoming my own.

Modern Look on the Implications of the Second Amendment Scholastic Awards

by Iman Shepard ’19 The Second Amendment’s implication has altered within American society throughout the years. In 1791, when the amendment was first passed, life in America was vastly different from modern day America. Although the actual amendment has remained stagnant, the interpretation has altered, which can be seen through Supreme Court cases.

Another difference is the technology available to people, which is discernible in the contrast between Revolutionary-era weaponry and modern-day guns.

This further ties into the increasing trend of mass shootings within America beginning with the 1982 Miami shooting all the way to the recent Santa Fe High School shooting. Finally, the Second Amendment contrasts greatly to the gun laws in other countries, especially those with lower gun homicide rates.

The Second Amendment was first passed by James Madison in 1791 and is a part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment served as a compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The atmosphere within post-American Revolution society was slightly panicked and chaotic because of the lack of a stable governing body; the Constitution was only four years old. Fear of a tyrannical government established a sense of distrust within Americans that led to the passage of the Second Amendment. This amendment states that, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The ambiguity of the wording of the amendment allows for differences in interpretation, which has changed since the amendment was passed.

The collective against individual debate as well as the issue of state against federal law spawn from the vagueness of the amendment.

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There are two main interpretations of the amendment. The side arguing that the amendment is collective holds the ideology that states have the right to maintain a militia and that the Second Amendment is limited to those in a militia. Those who argue for individual rights believe the Second Amendment is applicable to everyone and there is no restrictions to state militias. There have been many court cases concerning the Second Amendment, including but not limited to, United States v. Miller and District of Columbia v. Heller. These cases are the core of the interpretation debate. United States v.

Miller (1939) was a Supreme Court case involving a Second Amendment challenge to the National Firearms Act of 1934. The Court unanimously ruled that if a particular type of weapon (which was an eighteen inch sawed-off shotgun in the case) does not have “some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument”.

The ruling is widely interpreted as an affirmation of the collective, militia-based interpretation, but can also be pushed into a narrow light and argued as a support for the individual interpretation. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), Justice Antonin Scalia’s viewpoint differs from the collective interpretation and offers support for the individual interpretation. Justice Scalia stated that the Miller case came down to, “the type of weapon [that] was not eligible for Second Amendment protection” and that, “the opinion provided no explanation of the content of the right.”

Justice Scalia also claimed, “had the Court believed that the Second Amendment protects only those serving in the militia, it would have been odd to examine the character of the weapon rather than simply note that the two crooks were not

Scholastic Awards militiamen.” Justice Scalia makes the point that the specificity of the Court’s claim regarding the actual weapon nulls the widely-accepted interpretation that the ruling was supportive of the collective interpretation, and this is also supplementary to the argument that the right to bear arms is an individual's right and is independent from a wellregulated militia. Furthermore, District of Columbia v.

Heller is a landmark case, meaning it established a significant, new legal principle that altered the interpretation of the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm independently of service within a militia for lawful purposes. This case also determined the Handgun Ban a violation of the Second Amendment and stated that the right to bear arms is not unlimited and that guns and gun ownership would continue to be regulated; this serves as a major addition to the individual argument. Ultimately, the contrast in interpretation in United States v. Miller and District of Columbia v. Heller denotes and highlights the indetermination of the Second Amendment by exhibiting the different ways the amendment can be viewed--whether as collective or individual.

Another change between 1791 and modern-day society is the technology available to people. The era in which the amendment was created was post-American Revolution, indicating that the technology was not as advanced as today. Revolutionary-era muskets, such as the Brown Bess or Charleville, typically have a one round magazine capacity. If skilled, a shooter can shoot three rounds per minute with fifty meters as the maximum accuracy range. There were no sights, and the main aspect of the gun was the bayonet used in hand-to-hand combat-not the actual fire power of the gun. Dissimilarly, a modernday gun such as an AR-15 has a thirty round magazine capacity, can shoot forty-five rounds per minute, and has a maximum accuracy range of 550 meters with little skill required to yield.

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The vast difference in technology is a major contrast between when the amendment was first passed and modern-day society. In an article

by The Washington Post, the argument is made that states: “This argument is based on ignorance of the history of firearms. It is true that in 1791 the most common firearms were handguns or long guns that had to be reloaded after every shot. But it is not true that repeating arms, which can fire multiple times without reloading, were unimagined in 1791… As of 1791, repeating arms were available but expensive… repeating arms were already in use when the Second Amendment was ratified, including the 22-shot rifle that was later carried on the Lewis and Clark expedition.”

The article is against gun control and is reliable but biased; while factual, it leans towards anti-gun control. The gun referenced in the quote is a Girandoni air rifle, which was invented circa 1779. The rifle can shoot about twenty-one bullets at a maximum accuracy range of 125 feet. The argument is made that the technology involving repeating arms predates the passage of the 2nd Amendment. This argument is true, but also misleading. It is factual to say that the ideas behind gun technology began before the amendment was passed, but it is deceptive to readers as it seems as though modern-day weaponry compares to that in the late 1700’s. The availability of repeating rifles is nothing compared to the accessibility of guns today. The price to both manufacture and purchase a repeating arm was astronomical in 1779 and most could not afford it.

Scholastic Awards Multiple truly significant developments in weaponry technology occurred during majors wars, such as WWI and WWII, which was after the passage of the 2nd Amendment. Although ideas for repeating arms occurred prior to the passage of the 2nd Amendment, the availability of weapons and the actual weapon technology are not comparable between 1779 and modern-day society. In another article by the same publisher, The Washington Post, an opposing view to the previous argument is depicted: “guns today are capable of inflicting far more carnage than anything the framers could have imagined. In itself, that isn't an argument for banning everything other than muskets. Technology evolves.

It makes no more sense to say an AR-15 isn't protected by the Second Amendment than it does to say that computers or ballpoint pens aren't protected by the First. But evolving technology does call for evolving regulation.” This argument contradicts the previous one as the first article advocates for gunrights while the second promotes gun-control. In the end, modern-day firearms are immensely different compared to Revolutionary-era weaponry. The argument that ideas for repeating weapons is true, but also fallacious when taken out of the context of the era. Because the technology of guns today varies greatly from when the amendment was first passed, a need for change around the regulation should be instilled, as seen in the argument in the second article.

In conjunction with the accessibility of semiautomatic, military grade guns, an increase in mass shootings has occurred within the United States. This upwards trend can be seen beginning with the Carl Robert Brown shooting in Miami in 1982 in which eight people were killed and continuing with the most recent Santa Fe High School shooting in which ten were killed.

15

The most used weapon during mass shooting is a semiautomatic handgun. The increase of school shooting has become an epidemic within America as well. The repercussions of this up-tick include the National School Walkout that occurred April 20, 2018 as well as the spread of the hashtag “NeverAgain”. Many students across the US support gun-control laws as the issue of mass school shootings becomes more an more prevalent across the nation. This differs greatly from when the Second Amendment was passed, as the matter of mass shooting was never even thought of.

This connects back to the point made regarding the change in regulation of weaponry because technology has altered so much since the Second Amendment was ratified.

There are many models America could possibly base gun regulations on. Two countries who strive in the gun control category are Australia and Japan. In Australia, the Port Arthur massacre of 1996 in which a young man murdered thirty-five people with a semiautomatic rifle sparked immediate change. In less than two weeks after this tragedy, the passage of the National Agreement on Firearms occurred. This action mandated licensing and registration and instituted a temporary gun buyback in which ⅙ of the assault weapons were taken out of public circulation.

Furthermore, the law requires licensees to demonstrate a “genuine need” for a gun and mandates a safety course. The results of the execution of the law speak for themselves as there have been no gun-related mass killings in Australia since the one in 1996. Japan is another example of a model country regarding guncontrol laws. Japan has the lowest gun homicide rate in the world.

Scholastic Awards The placement of the Firearm and Sword Law only permits shotguns, air guns, guns with specific purposes, and competition guns. The rigorous process to obtain a gun includes a written, mental, and drug test. Additionally, owners must indicate how their weapons and ammunition are stored and pass annual inspections. The implications of these methods display the positive results America needs to start seeing. Without regulations in place, such as those in Japan and Australia, America will continue to see the tragedies occurring everyday and the loss of innocent lives to gun violence. The systems in place in Australia and Japan are both feasible and practical regarding the current situation in America and will ultimately serve as a solace from gun-related violence.

The Second Amendment has stayed static in writing, but the interpretation remains fuzzy due to the ambiguity of the phrasing of the amendment. The differences in interpretation can be viewed through Supreme Court cases. Life within America differs within many aspects as well. Technology has changed, and the development of more advanced weapons has resulted in an increase in mass shootings that was not an issue when the amendment was passed. Other countries have taken steps to attempt to prevent mass shootings, with resounding success.

The whole point of the installation of amendments to the Constitution was to permit change as the country progresses through alterations that ensure peace and tranquility within the nation. America has advanced tremendously since the ratification of the Second Amendment, and the need for a modification or revision to the preexisting amendment appears to be a pressing and highly debated matter that is dividing the nation today.

Citations 1.“The United States Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online.” Amendment 2 - The U.S. Constitution Online USConstitution.net, usconstitution.net/const.html.

2. “Full Text of ‘National Firearms Act Of 1934.’” Internet Archive, The Library Shelf, archive.org/stream/ NationalFirearmsActOf1934/National_Firearms_Act_of_1934_djvu.txt.

3. “United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939).” Justia Law, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/307/174/case.html.

4. Ropeik, David. “Gun Rights Activists Say Gun Control Is Unconstitutional. Antonin Scalia Disagrees.” Big Think, Big Think, 8 Dec. 2015, bigthink.com/risk-reason-and-reality/gun-rights-activists-claim-any-gun-control-is-unconstitutionaleven-antonin-scalia-says-theyre-wrong.

5. Handgun Ban. www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/204431.pdf.

6. Kopel, David. “Analysis | Firearms Technology and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Apr. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/04/03/firearms-technologyand-the-original-meaning-of-the-second-amendment/?utm_term=.99f78ec7f48b.

7. Ingraham, Christopher. “Analysis | What ‘Arms’ Looked like When the 2nd Amendment Was Written.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 13 June 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/13/the-men-who-wrote-the-2ndamendment-would-never-recognize-an-ar-15/?utm_term=.2e41b4bf7107.

8. “Weapons Used in Mass Shootings in the U.S. 1982-2017 | Statistic.” Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/476409/massshootings-in-the-us-by-weapon-types-used/.

9. ABC News, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “1996 National-Firearms-Agreement.” DocumentCloud, www.documentcloud.org/documents/2796929-1996-National-Firearms-Agreement.html.

10. THE JAPANESE FIREARM AND SWORD POSSESSION CONTROL LAW: TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION. Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal Association, 2000, digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/ 1773.1/806/9PacRimLPolyJ165.pdf?sequence=1.

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Opinion Pieces

men’s sports here at Hebron? I began to

Reflecting on My Judgments

reflect and drew two conclusions.

By Sophie List ’19

The first conclusion is that Hebron focuses so much monetary and emotional

Anyone who spent time on Hebron

support on male athletics that it has become

Academy’s campus this winter would have

a predictable pattern. It is easy to assume

undoubtedly heard about the commercial

that almost any male student you meet has

being made to promote our school. When it

been recruited to play on a sports team. For

was first announced, naturally I was excited.

example, almost every single player on the

Hebron Academy is an incredible place that I

men’s varsity soccer team was recruited while

am proud to be a part of, and this commercial

not a single player on the women’s varsity

would help show others that as well. Then

soccer team was recruited. Additionally,

came the announcement about the all-school

there is a vast difference between the

scene where we would cheer on the men’s

coaching staff for men’s and women’s teams.

varsity hockey team. This was when I began

Some members of the men’s coaching staff

to feel a little apprehensive.

are recruited or brought in specifically to

Because the student body was not told

coach teams while the women’s coaching staff

explicitly about all of the scenes in the

consists mostly of any faculty member with

commercial that would showcase different

experience playing the sport. Both men’s and

aspects of life at Hebron, I assumed

women’s teams are expected to perform at

incorrectly that the entire commercial would

the same level; however, the women’s teams

focus solely on male athletics at Hebron.

seem to be set up to fail because of this

Although, fortunately, I was mistaken, and

unequal distribution of resources. This

although in the end I believe the commercial

inequality is not an issue that is unique to

shows that Hebron has so much more to offer

Hebron Academy; it is a much larger

than just male athletics, it is telling that

systemic issue in our society that,

without so much as a second thought I

unfortunately, Hebron is in some part

believed that Hebron would, in fact, make a

contributing to.

commercial that only featured male athletics.

This brings me to my second

My rush to judgment saddened me. I began

conclusion, that giving male athletes the

to question where this belief came from. Why

leading role in this commercial is helping to

did I jump to the conclusion that Hebron was

uphold a sexist system that dictates the lives

focusing on male sports instead of female

of women across our nation. When I asked

sports? Is there an unspoken bias in favor of

one member of the men’s hockey team why 17

he believed the commercial focused on the men’s hockey team, he said it was likely that “There’s more male hockey players that want to go to prep school than women, so maybe they just wanted to cater to them.” I absolutely understand where this assumption

Photo Credit: Devin Harrington

comes from, but I think the fact that fewer women are looking to play sports at the prep

not treating women’s athletics as a true equal

school level is partially because of the lack of

has damaging effects. While this commercial

representation of women playing sports in

for one school is small scale, it still subtly

the media. Because nearly everything in

reinforces the idea that sports are not an

sports caters to men, women do not see

important or viable option for young women.

playing sports in prep school or college, or as

The more that girls and women see and hear

a career, as being as practical or attainable as

these messages in our culture as a whole, the

it is for their male counterparts. This turns

more we begin to internalize and accept them

into a vicious cycle where because women do

as true. The filmmakers themselves are likely

not see sports as a career option for

unaware of the latent effect or the various

themselves like men do, they can stop playing

ways in which their work is interpreted by

earlier. This drop in sheer numbers of female

some on campus, particularly young women

athletes leads to fewer getting recruited. It

and female athletes.

Overall, I do not want this to take

can certainly seem justifiable then to target the male population when it comes to sports.

away from how amazing it is that Hebron has its own commercial. I think this is a huge step

I believe that by commissioning a promotional video that seems to favor men's

for the school in terms of publicity and

athletics over women's, Hebron is

showcasing what an amazing place Hebron

contributing to an outdated and broken

is. I am incredibly excited to see the final

system instead of taking the opportunity to

version of the commercial, yet I believe that

be at the forefront of a growing demand to

to truly live up to our potential as a school we

see women's athletics and female athletes

can do better as far as equal representation of

take their rightful place alongside their male

men’s and women’s sports on our campus. In

counterparts. Regardless of the possible

our position of privilege, it is our job to try

financial realities behind the decision to

and change these patterns, not continue to

showcase the men’s hockey team instead of

reinforce them.

the women’s, this lack of

18

On Futurism and the Impact of AI

are none other than humans. These humans

By Gwen Randall ’20

carry very real biases, as people internally do

With the increasing focus on

without targeted introspection, and often

technologically-centered schools and lesson

unintentionally translate these biases into the

plans, this model of teaching and learning

programs they are operating. Tech and

begs the question: “Are artificial intelligence

artificial intelligence design is often

systems only as good as the data

associated with a distinct demographic, and

programmers put into them?”

diversity is not a high point; it is in fact a low

The answer is much more complex

point, which can brings individuals down to a

than a simple yes or no. Artificial intelligence

few conclusions.

The intricacies in AI allow for

(AI) spans types of robotics, automatic telephone bots, interactive lessons online,

algorithmic human error to occur frequently.

and idea generators that are used for a

Coding, editing, recoding, wiring, and more

lengthy circumference of knowledge pools. As

in the process of artificial intelligence

some American schools have shifted away

construction set up dilemmas for small

from traditional learning methods, the ways

mistakes regardless of said biases. The

of online learning have become increasingly

separation of ‘social’ and ‘science’ in

accessible and enticing for students and

numerous fields of science, understandably

teachers alike.

excluding social science, produces a tricky situation. Those engineers and scientists who

Individual agency offers educators a direct place in managing a set curriculum:

believe that social structures and systems of

something to be cherished and celebrated.

oppression are not applicable to their work

Take a student and transport them to new,

may cause inevitable harm, as they are not

cutting-edge tech schools around the country,

holding themselves accountable for their

and it will seem like a different universe.

output into the world. Reports in the news

Artificial intelligence and other online

and various media outlets broadcast stories

resources run these select schools, where

about voice detectors not recognizing vocal

learning comes from a non-human entity: a

ranges associated with women, soap

database or a program designed for its very

dispensers not picking up darker skin tones,

own function.

and self-driving cars trained to target ablebodied silhouettes in priority—yet little is

With that being said, the creators

being discussed to examine the ways in which

behind artificial intelligence programming 19

marginalized people are discouraged from

Safety and Comfort at Hebron:

entering engineering fields such as AI design.

Gender-Neutral Bathrooms

Access to resources can make a difference,

By Oliver Pittman ’20

but significant changes in AI are yet to be

This year, one of the GSTA’s (Gay-

enacted under a system dominated by

Straight-Trans Alliance) biggest focuses has

harmful biases.

been the implementation of gender-neutral bathrooms around campus. Gender-neutral

As schools in America and abroad continue to embrace and cultivate the ways in

bathrooms make life at Hebron much safer

which learning applies to the digital age,

and more comfortable for many students,

critiques of artificial intelligence are integral

and we are so proud to have been a part of

to moving society forward. The power that

everything that has happened this year. Our

rests in grassroots organizing has already

eventual goal is to have gender-neutral

provided a blueprint to imagine a different

bathrooms in every building, and though we

future for tech and the people who are behind

aren’t there yet, we have made big strides

it. Diversity in tech must be uplifted, and

towards achieving our goal. As of now, there

gateways in education systems may also be

are gender-neutral bathrooms on the third

recognized and unlatched.

floor of Sturtevant school building, in the Athletic Center by the conference room, in the Art Center on the second floor, in the ground floor of the library, and in Sturtevant Home on the first floor. We are also very excited to announce that the new science/ STEAM center, Kaneb, will have genderneutral bathrooms! Though these might seem like small steps, they mean the world to gender non-conforming and trans people who have to fight fear and prejudice every day to simply use the bathroom. We are working to build a school and community where everyone is safe and welcome, and this brings us so much closer to our goal.

20

MAGA Students

By Anonymous I know that journalism is supposed to be professional and unbiased, but there are some things in life that just disable me from being objective. Two of those things are racism and lies. Keep these in mind if you

(Photo Credit: CNN)

choose to read on. smug smile on his face and his friends cheer

A group of teenagers from Covington Catholic school travelled to Washington,

him on and seem to mock the indigenous

wearing MAGA hats, for an anti-abortion

people.The Indigenous People’s March itself

rally (which wasn’t even about their own

was very peaceful, according to many others

existence or rights), and they ended up being

who had attended it, until they reached the

filmed for mocking Omaha Nation elder,

steps of the Lincoln Memorial. There, the

Nathan Phillips. When the video first

events broke down.

The amount of disrespect and

surfaced it looked like an angry stand-off between the 16 year old, Nick Sandmann, and

ignorance that is shining out of someone

the Omaha Nation elder.

Sandmann’s age is outrageous. This

However, after doing further research

disrespect, to me, is unacceptable. In my

and learning what Phillips was doing there,

opinion, if someone is old enough to wear a

my perspective changed entirely. Phillips was

political MAGA hat and attend a rally against

there for the Indigenous People’s March,

basic human rights, then that person is old

where many tried to draw attention to global

enough to be held responsible for their

injustice against indigenous people that is

actions and accept the consequences.

still occurring today. It looked like, from the

However, when Sandmann was interviewed,

video, the students were mocking the

the following conversation took place, in

indigenous people and their traditions, which

which Sandmann refused to take

included the drumming and singing that

responsibility.

Interviewer: “Do you feel from this

Phillips can be seen doing during the many videos that were taken. Phillips is singing and

experience that you owe anybody an apology?

making a rhythm with his drum as

Do you see your own fault in any way?”

Sandmann: “As far as standing there, I

Sandmann stands in front of him with a 21

was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips. I

Redefining Diversity

respect him. I’d like to talk to him. I mean in

By Eliza Quiñones ’19

hindsight I wish we could have walked away

I recently watched a YouTube video by

and avoided the whole thing. But I can't say

a man named Onision. He, a white man,

that I'm sorry for listening to him and

made an offensive video condescendingly,

standing there.”

not to mention incorrectly, telling black

On the other hand, there have been

women how to take care of their hair. He has

videos that show a completely different

since deleted the video, so while I would tell

narrative, which is why Sandmann tried to

you to go see for yourself, I cannot. The point

justify his behavior to the interviewer. The

I want to make is that he’s not the only

videos show a small group of black protesters

person who is misinformed on this subject.

(four people) saying derogatory words, which

While people don’t necessarily feel the need

are soon enough directed towards the group

to express their opinions to the public as he

of students wearing the MAGA hats. The

did, there are too many people who are

students, according to them, asked their

misinformed.

teacher to perform school-spirit chants to

I have definitely had firsthand

block out whatever the protesters were

experience with this, especially on the topic

saying, which amped up the energy level of

of hair. Most white people do not understand

the group. Sandmann has said that he was

African or curly hair. They don’t know about

standing there to stop Phillips from getting

maintenance, hairstyles, wigs, weaves,

involved. The contradiction starts when the

braids, extensions, edges, or anything. They

students are seen laughing and supporting

don’t know how annoying it is when their

whatever Sandmann is doing with a smug

eyes light up with amazement like they had

smile on his face.

seen a unicorn when they see my hair, or how

This can be turned into a huge

I don’t want to be rude but also do not want

educational moment for all students about

you to touch and play with my hair. Most

free speech and respect of minorities and

importantly, they don’t know how hard it is

people different from themselves. Regardless

to love this kind of hair.

of which side you believe to be true, this

I grew up in many different places

conflict shows the importance of kindness to

including Arkansas, Arizona, and Mexico, but

everyone as well as the true weight that

most of my growing, puberty, and “discovery

“harmless” jokes or comments can truly have.

period” or what most people call “high school,” was done in Maine, the second

22

whitest state in the country. Now, I put that

but it hasn’t. I still hear little girls wanting

fact in because it honestly has a lot to do with

straight hair or white skin, or feeling out of

the way I grew up. Obviously, since I’m not

place because they’re different or bigger than

white, I didn’t have a lot of close role models.

all the other girls around them. This breaks

I had no one to relate to, and so no one

my heart to hear.

coached me. You could say that I could have

With all of this surrounding me, I

looked beyond my community to famous

started thinking and realized that our society

athletes, singers, or actors, but that still

is not as diverse as we pretend to be. Yes, our

didn’t help.

country has many people from different

Ever since I was little what went

places; yes, our states do too; and yes, the

through my brain was that white skin,

largest American cities are known for their

straight hair, and thinness are beautiful. The

diversity. I just don’t think simply living near

classic Disney princesses are all white and

people of other cultures makes one part of a

skinny with straight hair. Actress and actors

diverse society.

were usually all white unless it was a movie

I think being diverse is being multiple:

about the ghetto or black lives. Most famous

having multiple identities, cultures, and

singers were also white. Sure, there was

experiences. Take New York City, for

Queen Bey, but when I was growing up she

example; it’s the most diverse large city in

was known for photoshopping her thighs

America. Many cultures are represented in

because she thought they were too big, so

New York City but the only thing they have in

that wasn’t exactly helpful either. Onision,

common is where they live. If you asked a

the man from the video I mentioned earlier,

person from New York City about a different

typed “beautiful women” into Google, and

race’s experience or culture, they could

while many of the women had wavy hair of

maybe name you an Americanized chain

different colors, he failed to point out the fact

restaurant that vaguely represents that

that all of the women were white.

culture and not much else. Now I haven’t

It's been hard, doubting the way I

done this and I don’t live in New York, so I

look, wanting to change not just the small

can’t say these things for certain, but this is

things about myself but everything, and

honestly what I believe. But I can talk about

hiding my experiences because of the lack of

Hebron and what I have experienced.

people I can relate to, but over time it has

Mirroring the population at large,

gotten better. I no longer cry about myself,

Hebron is not as diverse as it seems. We

but I do for others. You would think that the

capitalize on the idea that we represent so

society would have changed as I’ve grown up, 23

many different countries, but is it really representation when you have one token person from a country? Furthermore, is it really diverse when most of those token people are male? When looking at Hebron’s female population, at least in terms of racial diversity, there is one—I repeat one—black girl. If Hebron truly wants to live up to their claims of diversity, we should use this community to learn about, understand, and empathize with each other’s cultures. We should not contribute to the misinformation regarding other cultures like Onision does or like many white people around me do about my hair. We should not have token individuals who raise our diversity statistics.

Instead, we should help shape individuals who are able to empathize with and understand the myriad cultures represented at Hebron.

Picture Credit: Cara Hu

24

Looking at a Co-Ed High School’s

This rule also completely ignores the

Dorm Rules

existence of non-binary people. Many people

By Yagmur Kucukakyuz ’19

identify as neither as she nor he, which in theory should allow them to enter any dorm

“No people of the opposite gender are

room they want to. In addition, if people

allowed to be in each other’s dorms.”

inaccurately judge a person by appearance as

This is a very basic and common

female or male and make an outcry about the

rule at boarding schools. Many schools have

“wrong” gender being in a certain dorm

it to ensure the safety of their students, as

room, an uncomfortable situation for

well as ease the anxious minds of parents

everyone involved could arise.

sending their children away from home.

Non-binary people aren’t the only

However, this rule is not working well at

ones ignored in this rule. There are a number

Hebron for many reasons, such as the

of homosexual people who get to spend time

sexualities and sexual orientations of

in their significant other’s room for however

students, as well as the many platonic

long they want, while heterosexual friends

relationships that develop in high school.

don’t even have the option to stop by each other’s rooms.

The rule itself is understandable to a

Students of Hebron Academy have

degree. Allowing teenagers to go into each other’s rooms can create situations that

tried to propose an open dorm policy to the

aren’t easy to deal with; however, banning it

school on different occasions with different

reinforces the idea that no two opposite

approaches, such as writing proposals and

genders can exist in one room without

meeting with administration. However, these

making out or having sex. Even if people are

attempts have always led nowhere, with

heterosexual, they oftentimes just want to

vague promises of meetings in the future and

hang out with friends that don’t have the

admissions that progress is still to be made.

Overall, the rule is not that useful

same parts as they do. On top of everything, most boarding schools claim to prepare

because, in most cases, couples find ways to

students for college and future life. Yet there

be with each other regardless of regulations,

is no such rule in college or in real life that a

while platonic friends are unfairly denied the

girl isn’t allowed in a boy’s room or vice

privilege to hang out in areas other than the

versa.

gym or the union. Clearly, banning access to dorm rooms is causing more anger and issues than it is preventing.

25

The Hebron Review is a student publication, written, edited, and designed by Hebron students.