Similar to nationalism

Caryl Shepard ’22 The United States and Iran have not experienced an amicable relationship since the formation of the modern Iranian government. In a volatile interrelation, which can be dated back to the U.S.’s involvement in overthrowing Iran’s shah in 1953, as well as to the Iran Hostage Crisis of 1979, the two countries have never truly been allies. In a feud that has gained international attention for its severity, the tension between the two countries displays no sign of halting in the near future. The ingrained sense of hatred associated with this feud within the two countries has undeniably acted as a source of stress and anxiety for the populations of both countries. Recently, the ties between the U.S. and Iran have escalated to a point not seen in years. Although this conflict could certainly find its origins in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, and was further intensified during the post-9/11 War on Terror, it was undeniably present for years predating this war. On January 3, the U.S. launched a drone killing prominent General Qasem Soleimani and an Iraqi militia leader, who were allegedly plotting various potential attacks that were harmful to American citizens. This act has greatly amplified the strain on the relationship between the two nations, with Iran threatening bigger action if tensions continue to rise. The strain associated with this international conflict has undoubtedly trickled down to the American population. However, unlike other conflicts occurring in previous years, the U.S.-Iran accord has surprisingly evolved into a source of humor for the younger generation. All over sites such as Twitter and TikTok, young adults have taken to poking fun at how the current unrest between the U.S. and Iran would inevitably result in a large scale “World War III.” Since the tensions between the two countries have expanded, the hashtag #WW3 has been viewed over 1.6 billion times on TikTok. Furthermore, rumors of potentially reinstating the military draft, in which men from the ages of 18-26 would be compelled to join the military, have caused widespread angst and surprise among many teens. This can clearly be observed in the U.S. selective services website, which shut down the Friday following the Iran attack due to an overflow of users searching for information on a potential draft. However, many experts claim that this rumored draft is highly unlikely as the U.S. has not actually employed the draft since the Vietnam War in 1973. Many psychological experts conclude that young adults are utilizing the dark humor associated with the increasing political threats to cope with the severity of the situation and its possible escalation. According to NYU clinical psychologist Rebecca Berry, people will turn to humor in order to avoid facing the potentially drastic consequences that could transpire if a war was to ensue, “If we think of World War III, if we look into that, any of us could be really scared. So it helps us quell that uncertainty by trying to make light of it.” No matter the platform, the hysteria and humor associated with the mounting political tension has taken much of the population by storm. How do LM students view this issue? Many students reciprocate an attitude similar to the more humorous one displayed on many social media platforms. However, students are taking advantage of this opportunity to find something lighthearted amongst the seriousness of the situation. According to Zoe Agiv ’22, “It’s nice that Gen Z can make memes out of very serious stuff.” The ability to use comedy to diffuse some of the tension associated with the situation allows for many people, especially high school students, to better tackle the possible implications of the attack in Iran. Meanwhile, some students further underline this humor, but warn that the possibility of a large scale World War III occurring is extremely unlikely. According to Sonia Laby ’22, “I believe that the idea of World War III going around social media is ridiculous and it’s for entertainment purposes only. It is obvious that we are not on the brink of a war because in order for that to happen many more countries would have to be involved.” While joking about the situation may be amusing, many recognize that there are countless soldiers and military personnel who will now face a much more unstable situation in Iran and surrounding countries. As highlighted by Sydney Zelinger ’21, “The memes and jokes about the World War III situation are perceived as funny but in reality, there are soldiers risking their lives on the front lines in Iran and areas in the Middle East, so I think it’s important to think before posting something potentially offensive on social media.” Although World War III and draft memes are nearly inescapable when one opens up various social media platforms, LM students urge their fellow peers to consider their influence online in relation to posting war-related content. Fortunately, the possibility of a looming war is unlikely, so the online hysteria associated with the recent political events will probably die down soon. Finally, while many are using dark humor associated with the war to put themselves at ease, others say its is vital to think of those directly affected by the attacks in both the U.S. and Iran who cannot simply turn off their phone to avoid the ongoing conflict. Graphic by Chris de Santis '20/Staf Graphic by Chris de Santis ’20/Staf

For years, musicians of the LM Music Department have proudly represented our school in various prestigious competitions and performance opportunities throughout PA. This Spring, the 2020 competition season will allow LM to spread its legacy and continue its run throughout various regions of PA. This year’s entire performance and competition lineup includes the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) festivals, Jazz Band’s “Cavalcade of Bands,” Choir’s Invitational at North Penn High School, and various ensemble evaluations at Upper Dublin High School and Phoenixville Middle School for orchestra and band, respectively. Each of LM’s core ensembles will be put on full display as they tackle challenging repertoire and complicated pieces at these events. PMEA festivals are among the most prestigious events in the state. They being with district orchestra, band, and choir, and then extend farther into regionals, states, eastern, and national levels. LM sends many students to each ensemble annually with this year being no exception. The extremely high level of competition at these festivals has undoubtedly helped young musicians at LM grow. Jason Ren ’22, who has been participating in the ensembles for the past three years, detailed his extremely “gripping” and “competitive” experiences along with the “exhilarating” feeling of being compared to “some of the best musicians in the entire state.” An overture into music Madison Li ’21

Please see AN OVERTURE INTO MUSIC on page 4

New courses impact students

At LM, our course roster is constantly expanding to fit the ever-changing needs of the student body. For the upcoming school year, there will be additional courses available in science, math, english, and art. Many LM students have expressed a desire to learn more about the environment. Our course roster already includes an AP Environmental Scence option, but for students wanting a less intense course, a CP Environmental Science option will now be available. According to Science Department Chair Kevin Ries, “students will develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and establish the skills needed to make informed branches from the skills learned in biology." The overall goal of the course is to give students the opportunity to extend their knowledge from biology. The current computer science curriculum requires students to start with computer science 1 and 2, both of which are semester-long courses. They are usually taken back to back in one year. Following that, students proceed to AP Computer Science A and eventually Computer Science Seminar. Next year, there will be two more options for new students interested in this subject. For many students who begin high school with prior coding experience or are just advanced in STEM, Computer Science 1 and 2 prove to be too simple. Next year, a course called AP Computer Science Principles will be available for students seeking an extra challenge. According to teacher Thomas Swope, “the first semester will be everything from CS 1 and 2. Then, we get into cybersecurity, we get into the idea of big data and privacy, and things like how the internet works and how information is transferred.” Additionally, for students who wish to continue studying computer science past the Seminar course, there is now an official Artificial Intelligence/Cybersecurity class. Moreover, with the changing English department, juniors and seniors will now be able to choose from eight classes rather than the few permitted before. According to the English Department chair Brian Mays, “if students come out of our school having taken English classes that they chose and found engaging to their personal interests, and if, as a result, they enjoy the process of reading and writing better than they did before—that’s how we know our program is successful.” The options contain two additions: Voices in African American Literature and Film and Literature. The former will study different genres to explore race, culture, and identity in African American literature, along with famous Latin American and Asian American works. Finally, Film and Literature is a course for those who, as stated by English teacher Sean Fash, “have ever seen a movie and couldn’t stop talking about the ending, or what the movie meant, or how it made you feel.” He continued, describing the social biases that deemed film studies of less intelligence than literature. The class aims to prove how wrong that notion is. Additionally, in the art department, a brand new curriculum has been added to for the Studio art course, which now offers a special focus on the art style of woodworking. Studio art has previously included elements such as painting and drawing, and this change will allow students to pursue this additional art form. This class remains a semester long course. Woodworking may appeal to students who love art and want to maintain practicality in their pieces. These various new courses provide LM students the opportunity to better-customize their curriculums within the parameters of LM's commoncore requirements. Julia Dubnof ’23