The frst American one was made by Betsy Ross

February 13, 2020 Ardmore, PA, 19003

The ofcial student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 Volume 91, Issue 3 issuu.com/merionite

Mourning a legend

On Sunday, January 26, Aces Nation lost its heartbeat. In Calabasas, California, a helicopter carrying LM’s very own NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others crashed while en route to Bryant’s Mamba Academy. A thick fog, blinding drivers on a nearby highway, clouded the sky and caused pilot Ara Zobayan to crash into a hillside at an altitude of 1,085 feet. Most pilots would have turned back in such conditions, but Zobayan— licensed to fly in inclement weather—told air traffic control he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer. After losing contact shortly after, the helicopter slammed into the hill at 9:45 a.m. The news of his death shocked millions across the world and resonated throughout the very community that Bryant grew up in. Just a few years ago, Bryant had spoken to LM students on the impact the school had on him, telling them that “this is home for me. I didn’t go to college and have those other memories that other kids have. All my memories come from this school. That’s why Lower Merion is extremely special to me.” THE COMMUNITY’S REACTION

With his roots in the Main Line area, word of Bryant’s death echoed throughout the LM community. Minutes after hearing about the tragic news, community members flocked to the doors of the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium, leaving flowers, jerseys, and basketballs to pay homage to the legacy Bryant left on the school. As the memorial gained traction, news outlets came to record the heartfelt reactions of those who were touched by Bryant. Principal Sean Hughes noted that heartfelt reactions came in the form of “hundreds of emails from all over the world. People sending their condolences from Russia to China [...] I [cannot] respond fast enough.” in the gym. Just knowing that the team is playing in such a legacy really motivates [them] to play harder and try [their] best to embody the Mamba Mentality.” Jonathan Goldstein ’20 described the atmosphere around school after Bryant’s passing as “surreal” and said that he “was an idol to so many and his loss was truly tragic to the school community as a whole.” LM’S REACTION As a final goodbye, the school decided to pay tribute to Bryant and all the lives lost on Saturday, February 1, right before the LM Boys’ Varsity Basketball game at 1:30 p.m. Everyone who attended this event received a special shirt with the words “the heartbeat of Ace’s Nation” on the front. There were additional shirts available for purchase in front of the gymnasium, which sold out quickly. Hughes began the ceremony at 1:00 p.m. by giving a speech to all of the students, parents, faculty, alumni, and community members in attendance for the game. After completing his remarks, Hughes unveiled two art pieces that had been donated by artists from the Philadelphia area. The first one was an oilpainting portrait of Bryant playing for the Los Angeles Lakers by Philadelphia-based artist Perry Milou; the second was a sketch of Bryant by Easton Area Middle School art teacher Valerie Davis. Hughes then handed off the microphone to Coach Gregg Downer and Assistant Coach Doug Young—a former teammate of Bryant—who talked about finally bringing Bryant’s jersey home to LM. The signed LM jersey had been stolen from LM’s Kobe Bryant display case a few years ago by men with crowbars. Just last year, a collector in China had purchased the jersey along with several other monumental items and chose to return them to their rightful home at LM. Young called upon Bryant’s cousin John Cox and his family to help unveil the framed number 33 jersey on the wall of the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium, forever enshrining Bryant’s legacy. To conclude the tribute, the school presented a video chronicling Bryant’s experience at LM. As the emotional short film played, visible tears filled the eyes of students, parents, faculty, and fans alike. Dhaval Sharma ’21, Elliot Ginzurg ’21, and Haley Morgenstern ’20 News Editors

Hughes described the way that Bryant “brought global attention [to LM] based on his work ethic and commitment” as the reason why LM received such a display of support in the emotional days following the crash. To respond to the worldwide support, the LMSD Communication Director Amy Buckman gave a statement to reporters on behalf of the district, acknowledging Bryant’s tremendous impact on the community. Buckman stated, “the LMSD community is deeply saddened to learn of the sudden passing of one of our most illustrious alumni, Kobe Bryant.” She expressed how the district administration “has endeavored to provide the media with updated statements, access to our school building, access to our student athletes and alumni, and our coaches, while ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our students and staff members, who are grieving this loss in very personal ways.” Ensuring that LM will retain its feel of “normalcy,” Buckman explained that it was important to balance the media’s “need to inform the public with our efforts to provide a safe place to our school community at this difficult time.” The remarks were broadcast on various stations—CNN, CBS, ESPN—along with statements from students who were questioned about the school’s state after his death. Some students who were interviewed include Bridgett McCann ’21, Alexis Hunter ’21, and Matthew O’Connor ’19. McCann described the press conference, which brought together LM basketball players, as emotional and moving. McCann continued by illustrating the impact Bryant had on the LM basketball program. She said that the team feels “his presence Audible sniffles could be heard throughout the gymnasium as they mourned the loss of one of the school’s most influential figures. After the seven-minute video played, former LM basketball players who had shared the court with Bryant between 1992 to 1996 formed a ring in the middle of the gym around seven chairs commemorating the nine victims lost in the helicopter crash. All those in attendance joined together in a 33 second moment of silence to honor the lives that were lost. A FINAL FAREWELL Kobe Bean Bryant modeled what it meant to be an Ace. Rising up to the challenges he faced, Bryant put in endless time and effort to ensure he could be the best version of himself. Jeremy Treatman, one of LM’s basketball coaches at the time, said Bryant was “getting a key from a janitor and coming into the school at four o’clock in the morning, five o’clock in the morning, taking 500 shots.” Dedicated, determined, and diligent, Kobe Bryant best exemplified LM’s motto of “enter to learn, go forth to serve” as he strove each and every day to be the best possible version of himself. Photo by Max Harris LM will eventually donate many of the memorial items to various charities.

Graphic by Chris de Santis ’20/Staff Photo by Isabel Bruckman ’20/Staff Students showed support for the fallen victims by holding up an ace at the game.

NEWS LM helps fight Australian fres Read about the school’s determined eforts to aid the crisis in Australia. page 2

OPINIONS Good intentions, poor execution Read about one of the newest English classes being ofered at LM next academic year. page 5

If the A&E editors had it their way, these songs and artists would have won. page 13 A&E Grammy’s picks SPORTS In the wake of Kobe Bryant’s sudden and tragic death, The Merionite refects on his lasting legacy at LM. page 10 Forever an Ace FEATURES Learn about how relationships have evolved since our parents’ generation. page 17 Relationship evolution