December 2013

Ardmore, PA, 19003

December 19, 2013

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org

Volume 85, Issue 3

Superintendent says Keystones must go

Ma’ayan Doron

Class of 2014 On November 5, 2013, Superintendent McGinley, along with a coalition of other superintendents, sent a letter to the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, the agency in charge of reviewing Pennsylvania State educational standards. The letter outlined problems with the Keystone exams, including the financial cost of the test, the detrimental effects of high-stakes testing, and a lack of communication between the state and schools. Their main request was to abolish the Keystones as a graduation requirement in Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, November 25 The Merionite sat down with Superintendent Dr. Christopher McGinley to discuss his views about the Keystones, their funding, and their effect on the LMSD curriculum.

Merionite: Keystones have been debated for a while now. Where do you stand?

I would just like us to think about what could come along down the line.

Things like the Keystone exams are programs that are designed by politicians and not by a school board, and I want us to have a conversation with our political leaders about them.

Our students generally do well on state standardized tests, so having another exam pushed upon us by the state is not new. I don’t think the Keystone exams are a bad assessment – I think they are a good assessment – I just don’t think they are necessary for as a school to impose as a graduation requirement.

Now, we will do what we are required to do by the state, but that’s not a major influence on how we would plan for the future of the district.

Merionite: Who is ‘we’? Is there any administrator within our district who is involved in this process besides you?

Dr. Wagner Marseille is the most involved. Mr. Richard Marta, the head of counseling, also has a role in the testing administration.

Merionite: Great. And so your main concern about Keystones is that you do not believe they are a necessary assessment because of LMSD teacher and student performance?

Correct. But I also think that the state government has a limited amount of dollars, and that they have an obligation to help schools and school districts that are not doing well. I think that they should take those dollars that they are spending on an exam we don’t need, and spend that money where it is needed more.

When you look at our SAT scores, our graduation rate, our ACT scores, you know we are doing fine. It is just an unnecessary interruption in student life to take these exams and

Photo courtesy of Julia Bell/Staff William Rosenbaum, a junior, takes his Literature Keystone exam. it takes away time from instruction. I think you would be much better off focusing on what the teacher is teaching rather than on taking Keystone exams.

Merionite: You said we performed well on Keystones last year. Would it be safe to say you feel that, as a district, performance on the Keystones reflects our students’ abilities?

We perform well when you look at the rest of the state. When we look at other assessments of the Keystone exam, scores weren’t as high in things like Algebra as I would have liked. So I do think there was some adjustment to the test itself, and I would think that as it is given over and over, things will be improved.

Merionite: And so the final decision date for Keystone exams has already passed.

Yes, just recently. But then again, it is a political decision. So, if there was a new governor, a new decision could be made. It is a political decision that is done, and it could be undone.

Merionite: So, the way it currently stands, will Keystones again be conducted near the end of the year, which is the same time as ACT and SAT testing?

See KEYSTONES, page 2

Board reverses school zone decision after verdict Madelyn Schaeffer

Class of 2015 On November 18, the Lower Merion School Board approved a controversial districting plan that has been discussed and debated for over a year now. The newly enlarged schoolchoice zone hasn’t been in use since 2009 and was the subject of a very publicized and failed discrimination lawsuit.

The old plan was reapproved after a three-hour meeting that ended with a majority vote of 5-4. The Board hopes that this new measure will adequately serve the needs of the two high schools throughout the upcoming spike in enrollment. The plan is expected to be able to do this by expanding the school-choice areas where LMSD students can choose to attend either high school. The newly expanded school-choice zone means that students living in sections of Ardmore, Narberth, and Penn Valley will have their choice of schools.

Those opposing Board Members argued that more students would choose Lower Merion over Harriton. They feared that

an underpopulated Harriton would lead to program cuts at the school. According to November 20 article in the Main Line Times, Board members such as Diane DiBonaventuro who voted against the plan explained that students often thought of attending LM as a privilege and going to Harriton as a burden.

The redistricting program approved in 2009 succeeded in creating equal student bodies at both schools. This plan brought $210 million dollars in upgrades to the campuses and what DiBonaventuro hopes to be a change in the perception of Harriton as an inferior school to LM. Freshman Sam Gamberg supports the plan and commented that “My house is located in the smaller choice zone and I used it to my advantage to chose LM over Harriton after attending Welsh Valley so I think that it’s a great idea to expand the choice-zone.” He stated that “It isn’t really fair how all of the kids who went to Bala Cynwyd have the option to go to

Harriton or LM but the majority of the kids who go to Welsh Valley are forced to go to Harriton.” This statement is the type of comment that DiBonaventuro fears will impact the sizes of the student bodies in both high schools.

School Board President, Melissa Gilbert, discussed the predicted future enrollment and past redistricting plans in great detail with others on the board and decided not to postpone the choice zone expansion for two years. Instead the board decided to pass the plan and expand the school-choice zone immediately.

Supporters of the plan brought up references to the 2009 lawsuit that was brought onto the school district by a coalition of families claiming the proposed redistricting plan was a form of discrimination. The School Board claimed that the new plan would heal wounds that the old plan had made.

See SCHOOL ZONE, page 3

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December 19, 2013

NEWS

The Merionite

LM cafeteria prices on the rise LM congratulates newly wed Shusta and Flynn Leslie Gladstone Class of 2016

Most LM students rely on the precious thirty minutes allotted for lunch each day. No matter what type of day a student is having, he or she can count on a block of unstructured time to relax and refuel. The consistency and stability of the daily lunch period can be very comforting to students. However, the recent price increases and portion size decreases have disturbed the LM cafeteria.

A month ago, senior Sam Czarkowski passionately posted in the Aces Nation Facebook group on the issues facing our school cafeteria. “Prices keep going up and it quickly adds up,” said Czarkowski. “Each week you are essentially buying an extra lunch. Who wants to pay a dollar for six fries and two dollars for three-fourth of a parfait.” Eighty-five students “liked” his post, empathizing with his frustrations. Senior Steven Hoffman can relate, he says, “I used to get breakfast at school every day because it was more convenient. Now I eat at home because it’s too expensive to eat at school. Because of this, I have to get up earlier, which threw off my routine at the beginning of the year.”

This is not the first time, however, that concerns have arisen. Last year, The Merionite published an article addressing similar issues but circumstances have not improved.

The decrease in portion sizes of chicken tenders, French fries, and daily specials are the result of Michelle Obama’s Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. This act declares that all students, regardless of their economic resources, must be provided with nutritional meals at school. In compliance with this initiative, the district is restricted to limit portion sizes of standard meals to two ounces of protein per serving. Lower Merion School District strives to provide free and reduced lunches for those students who qualify for the program. In order to obtain necessary federal government reimbursements for such programs, the district must abide by the nutritional standards established by the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. For those looking for a more filling lunch, a la carte meals such as omelet bar, the deli corner, the pasta bar, and the salad bar are not limited in size. As of now, these options are not included in the federal reimbursement program.

Unfortunately, LM’s cafeteria manager, Brian Watts, cannot promise that filling, substantial lunches will always be an option in our cafeteria. He said, “Next year, the new regulations are going to affect the a la carte meals that we serve… so our portion sizes next year could be drastically cut again, everything is going to have to be in compliance with the reimbursable meals.

Which is going to be a huge deal.”

Although larger portion options exist despite Obama’s nutritional regulations, all lunch prices are affected. As the district continues to comply with federal government standards, they are required to include more fruits and vegetables for their students. Fruits and vegetables can be the most expensive products and recent trends showing a rise in national food costs do not point towards relief for local lunch prices at school. “We’re a break even department,” says Watts. “[Lower Merion Nutritional Services] set those prices based on what the costs are going to be.”

The district believes that investing in healthy produce is a costly but beneficial choice.

Moreover, as food supplies remain expensive, the cafeteria staff needs to be careful not to throw out excess food. Watts makes it clear saying, “We don’t want to have a lot of extra food left over.

We don’t like throwing food out, obviously. That just increases the cost.” The unpredictability of the day to day lunch scene leaves the LM cafeteria staff in a tough position when making sure not to prepare too much or too little food.

Today, national legislation has greatly impacted the food service that LM provides. Lower Merion School District strives to give free and reduced lunches for those students who qualify in the program. As a result, measures such as decreasing portion sizes and buying more fruits and vegetables must be taken. As long as Lower Merion School District remains in compliance with nutritional standards, students can expect increases in lunch prices.

The wedding of English teacher Dana Shusta and History teacher Sean Flynn took place on December 13, 2013 on St. Thomas Island, US Virgin Islands. This interdepartmental marriage will be the first in recent memory.

Shusta and Flynn began working at LM at the same time eight years ago. They didn’t know each other personally and only knew of each other. However, Flynn had season tickets to a Flyers game and frequently invited other teachers to join him. As an avid hockey fan, Shusta asked if she could go with him and he agreed. Nearly two years ago, Shusta and Flynn attended a Flyers game as friends and colleagues, but soon their friendship blossomed into more – “possibly due to the combination of Broad Street Bullies and Chickie’s and Pete’s crab fries that night,” Flynn said.

A couple weeks after going to the Flyers game together, they went to the Winter Classic... but this time they were spotted. Students had seen them together and began tweeting about the “Shusta-Flynn sighting.” Shusta and Flynn realized they wouldn’t be able to keep it private any longer. Students were stunned; many students were especially shocked by the perceived differing opinions of the couple. However, these students were proven wrong. As Flynn explained, “I’d say that if someone’s political beliefs are a deal-breaker in a relationship, you’re focused on the wrong things.” After a heated political argument while on vacation at Lake Placid, they decided to talk politics calmly and be respectful when they disagree, acknowledging the other’s side.

When asked what she loves about Flynn, Shusta immediately lit up. “He’s brilliant.

And since the first time we met, he’s always had a dry sense of humor and it always makes me laugh,” she said.

According to Flynn, the Merionite would have to print a supplemental issue to try fit all the things he loves about her. “I’ll start with beautiful, smart, and funny as hell,” Flynn said.

Although they don’t see one other too often during school, they always have lunch and ride to and from school together. As Shusta explained, it’s wonderful to have someone who has your back and can make you feel better if something not so great happens at school as well as be close to talk to when something great happens! Their colleagues here at LM have been accepting and supportive of their relationship. “It just confirmed to me that this the best place to work,” said Flynn.

On behalf of the student body, teachers, and staff, the Merionite wishes the couple many congratulations!

—Eva Bonta,‘14

McGinley rocks foundation of Keystone exams From KEYSTONES, page 1 Last year was unusual because we had to catch up. Where we give the test now – the state gives us a window and we have to give them within that window – there is a fall window and a spring window. So, they could be near those exams, but it would involve fewer students taking fewer exams. If you’re in Algebra one now you’re in eighth grade, so you would take the Algebra Keystone exam eighth grade and not during your junior year when most college preparatory testing occurs. Then again, students take the literature Keystone exam during junior year, but we believe that it could just as easily be given sophomore year, so that will create better space for people who are taking AP exams in May. Will the PSSAs also be administered with the Keystones? I f so, is this not a nother distraction?

I have strong opposition to the fact that we also do the PSSA exam every year. So, separate from the Keystone exam, which is an end of course assessment, we have these general tests that we are giving year after year. When it started, we were giving these tests in grades five, eight, and eleven. That was supposed to be a system that the state could monitor to see how the schools are doing. Well, from my perspective, if you gave that exam and you had the Keystone exam, it would be fine. But now we’re doing it in grades three, four, five, six, seven, eight, and we’re wasting weeks of instruction time every year. We don’t need that kind of interruption in our program, we don’t need that to happen every year, and it’s a ridiculous waste of time. That’s what I would hope that parents would push on. Testing in general, to minimize the interruptions and to reduce the amount of testing that is controlled by the state.

Back to the Keystones, specifically: Is more class time going to be devoted to learning how to take this test? For ex-

ample, will there be regular practice tests given during class?

What influences our instruction of the Keystone exam is that it is not given at the end of the year like a final. The way the Keystone exam influences our instruction is that we might do things in a different order to make sure that if it will be on the exam then it has been covered in class. So it influences the order in which we teach things and some of the terminology that teachers use in class.

How will this exam be funded? Will any funding be taken away from other departments within LMSD? No. The state pays for the exam, but we do have to take time to organize and distribute the exams, and make sure that security is in place for the exams. So there is a whole lot in the process that takes place here, but the actual exams are paid for by the state, so there is not a huge cost in that.

However, there is a cost – since this is a graduation requirement – if a student is not proficient on all parts of the exam. We have an obligation to make sure that students can pass all required Keystones.

So where in your high school career are we going to give you extra help? It could be from a reading specialist or a math specialist, depending on the topic. But it could also end up being an extra math lab or something that needs to be fit into a schedule. That kind of support does cost money.

Now, we are already providing support, so it is not necessarily new money that we are spending on that.. But giving that test when we have to give it creates a new obligation for the district to help kids that did not pass.

According to the legislation, if a student does not pass a Keystone exam, the school district must provide a Pennsylvania-certified teacher to aid the student in a project or through tutoring. That will no doubt cost the district money.

Well, there are two opportunities to pass the exam. So, if someone takes the exam two times and is not proficient, we have the

ability to help the student do a project where they would learn the required skills, demonstrate that they are proficient, and yes, a PAcertified teacher has to supervise that process and then evaluate the student performance, and then attest that a student has those skills.

There are students who did not show themselves to be proficient on the Keystone exams who got an A in Algebra and who did really well on the teacher-administered tests. Maybe it was just a bad day, but maybe those kinds of tests just really freak them out and they are never going to pass that kind of test.

The third possibility is that there are some students who have some gaps in their learning and they need to learn more in order to pass it. But yes, this kind of extra help will cost money.

So not passing a Keystone will hold a student back. Is that from graduating high school or from graduating to the next grade?

Graduation from high school. It does not affect your grade sequence. Again, we have eighth grade kids who did not pass the Algebra exam and are now in honors Geometry. They have a history of doing well in math and are fine, but just did not pass this one test. However, because it is a graduation requirement, sometime between ninth and tenth grade they’ve got to pass that assessment. If they don’t, they will have to do a different project to demonstrate that they have the skills.

Back to the logistics – will those living within the district see their taxes increase because of the funding needed for the Keystone projects and tutors?

Our biggest challenge for funding in the future is that our enrollment is growing. The biggest influence on local property taxes will be the fact that last year we hired sixteen new teachers. When you add a few hundred students every year, you have to add to your

See KEYSTONES, page 3

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December 18, 2012

The Merionite

Benton Scholars host Tioletries Drive Alexandra Hummel

Class of 2015

Not many LM students have to worry about whether they will have shampoo for their next shower, much less whether or not they will have access to a shower at all.

According to the Covenant House’s official website, an international outreach organization that helps homeless youth, “Each year in the U.S. alone, as many as two million youth experience a period of homelessness, and every year more than 5,000 of these young people lose their lives to the streets.” When you have no idea where you are going to get your next bar of soap or toothbrush, getting them handed to you is a true gift, and two million American young adults are in need of these gifts.

Thanks to the Becton Scholars and the donations they have gathered from the LM community, many homeless teens in the Philadelphia area will soon be getting gifts like these. The Scholars’ recent school wide toiletry drive collected a total of thirty boxes of toiletries, which will go to the Covenant House.

The Becton Scholars, formally known as the Minority Advancement Program or MAP, are a group of 95 African American and Latino students in grades nine to twelve who are striving to be community leaders. Some of their objectives are academic: They focus on sharpening note- and test-taking skills, preparing college applications, and on helping to mentor and tutor each other. However, being a leader also involves thinking about how to help the larger community. Saleema Smith, the Becton Scholar group advisor, said, “Community leaders need to be able to help all people. Why not think about looking beyond yourself?”

The 30 boxes of personal care products will be donated to the Covenant House. Outreach teams hit the streets five nights a week talking to homeless young adults.

They offer “outreach kits” which contain toiletries, clean socks and peanut butter & jelly sandwiches to build relationships with teens living on the streets. The outreach teams made contact with more than 2,500 young people last year. Mrs. Smith added, “These kids may come from abusive homes. They may not trust adults. These donations are a way to start conversations, a gateway to help.”

Two Becton Scholars went the extra mile to collect toiletries for the drive: Najja Walker-X and Veronica Ellis. Najja is a freshman on the basketball team who ventured outside of school for donations. He drafted his own letter and left it in his neighbors’ mailboxes, urging them to donate toiletries. Najja also donated fleece blankets. The Becton Scholar advisor said, “It’s magnificent that he was that committed to being a part of this project.” Veronica Ellis, a sophomore, brought in 4 boxes of Ziplock bags to pack up the toiletries.

The Becton Scholars took their name from Lieutenant General Julius W. Becton Jr., an African American man who was born in the Main Line in 1926.

General Becton enlisted in the military and earned 9 different awards before retiring after 40 years of service.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and a Master’s degree in Economics. The General was president of Prairie View A&M University and the Superintendent of the Washington, D.C. School District. General Becton was successful in a time when our country was a difficult place for an African American to be successful.

This toiletry drive marked the Becton Scholars’ first service project. They plan to make service a tradition and continue to do the drive in future years.

Mrs. Smith said that the Scholars intend to exercise the LM tradition of excellence. In order to uphold that tradition, the Becton Scholars will be holding a walk-a-thon to benefit juvenile diabetes this spring.

Dr. McGinley Opposes Keystones From Keystones, page 2

information about the Keystone issue and any other state-level issues.

I think the most important thing that parents can do is to ask questions of the people that are running for governor, as the governor and his or her team decide these state-issues.

We’re in the election year for the governor of

Pennsylvania, so I think that we have to make sure that questions about educational funding, questions about Keystone exams, need to be asked.

Again, we don’t need testing interrupting studies and wasting instruction time every year. That’s what I would hope that parents would push on.

Building on Nepal’s soil: Buildon 2013 Bradley Kaplan

Class of 2017 BuildOn members are going to rural Nepal from eleven day, from April 6th to 17th, to build a school. They have chosen to bring twenty-one people are going on this trek, a combination of students and faculty from LM, Harriton, and BCMS. The trek costs almost $92,000, of which buildOn has raised about $42,000. The $92,000 needed for the trip includes the cost for the construction of the school, travel costs, support costs, and planning costs. Support costs include paying for an emergency driver, several interpreters, and a cook and meal expenses. The planning costs include the hiring of an engineering crew (who designs the school and oversees day to day instruction).

They will also be spending one night in Katmandu before traveling to their final destination. However, the trekkies and community members who help to build the school are unpaid, since they are all volunteers. Mr. Reed is very worried that the trek won’t be completely funded, because: “It’s an enormous amount of money.

The most we have raised in a year is $70,000. Over time we need to find creative ways to raise money. It’s hard to ask people year after year to support our different treks.” In addition to having enough money to build the school in Nepal, it is important to raise money for BuildOn students to go to Nepal, so there can be a cultural exchange between LM students and the Nepalese people. BuildOn is encouraging people to donate, because without donations, the trip won’t be completely funded, and LM students might not be able to go.

In order to fund the trek, BuildOn planned many fundraisers throughout the year. These fundraisers include an IHOP breakfast, a Chipotle lunch, bake sales, an Open Mic Night, and a Star Wars breakfast for sophomores. They will also be shoveling snow, raking leaves, babysitting, holding car washes, and sending out letters to ask for donations. BuildOn sold about 460 pies from Linvilla Orchard, (but it only took the BuildOn members about seven minutes to sort

them by flavor). They rely on participation from the school and community for fundraisers to be successful.

Social Studied teacher Tom Reed has some of his own opinions on the trek. When asked why BuildOn is building a school in Nepal this year, as opposed to another country, he said that even though Nepal’s ranking on the UN’s Human Development Index has steadily improved over the last decade, a quarter of the population is below the poverty line. In Nepal, if one is below the poverty line, it means that they earn less than $1.25 USD a day. Mr. Reed also said: “Ethnic conflicts and the lack of a skilled workforce are stunting Nepal’s development. BuildOn’s schools in Nepal have been successful in the past, so the LM Trek team wants to provide another Nepalese community access to a good education.” When Mr. Reed was asked for the most important reason people should contribute money for the Nepal trek, he said: “It allows a community in Nepal to offer its children more opportunities in the future. 100% of all money donated goes to the construction costs of the school and the costs to get our team to Nepal to join the community in building it.”

If it gets funded, there are many local people going on the Nepal trek. There are five freshmen, including Aviv Harel, Florence Kyomuhendo, Fiona Maruca (from Harriton), Samantha Tepper, and Shaela Wade.

There are seven sophomores: Becky Calaman, Keira Chandler, Jen Crainic, Rachel Leeds, Allie Rauch, Nick O’Leary, and Shane Weiser. The three juniors going are Carly Hoffman, Eden Harris (from Harriton), and Hanna Strouse. There are also three seniors, including Ji Soo Kim (who built a school in Menard, Haiti last year), Elizabeth Legesse, and Benji Pollock (who built a school in Taverne, Haiti two years ago).

In addition there are three faculty members going, including Ms. Bullit (from BC), Mr. Curyto (from Harriton), and Mr. Reed. Mr. Reed hopes our community shares his commitment to this project and will help fund both the construction of the school in Nepal and LM students’ ability to join the trek.

NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF AP classes: Hot or not?

Over the past few years many colleges have considered disregarding AP classes. The pressing question is if AP courses will maintain any validity and what it would mean for the students. Some colleges have reasoned that the courses are not truly college level courses, and that the frenetic pace required to cover all material for AP exams leaves no time for flexibility and in-depth learning. But some teachers and parents argue that AP classes offer a challenging curriculum, as long as students don’t overdo themselves with too many APs. Many students feel the need to put numerous APs on their transcript and become extremely stressed.

LM offers twenty out of the thirty AP classes available, and forty five percent of LM students take one or more AP class. Generally, LM students do very well on the exams earning a 3 or above.

The validity of AP courses continues to be a pressing issue but LM’s central administration has decided to continue offering them.

—Shreya Dundumalla, ‘15

Drood in Drexelbrook On Tuesday, December 3 the Main Line Chamber of Commerce held the Red Carpet Dinner at the Drexelbrook Events Center, where LM Players performed scenes f ro m T h e My s t e r y o f E d w i n D ro o d . E steemed guests included the Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett, officials from the Main Line Chamber of Commerce, as well as many high-ranking representatives from all companies sponsoring the event.

The Players performed two cast-favorite songs “No Good Can Come From Bad” and “Off to the Races”. The collection of chosen songs was indicative of the nature of Drood, a show within a show, with elements of drama, and comedy. Sound check, dinner, costume changes, warm-ups and excited speeches all came and passed until the big moment crept up. Then the Players presented a PowerPoint about the last three grueling months of their lives in ten minutes.

After receiving a hearty round of applause the actors took their last bows together, reveling in a successful end to a great experience.

—Melana Dayanim, ‘14

Fox’s Fight continues On November 30, Harriton High School hosted the 4th Annual Fox’s Fight. Fox’s Fight, a charity drive named for the late Andrew J. Fox , a graduate of Harriton High School, class of 1982. After losing a thirteenth-month battle to melanoma, the 42-year-old’s death created the Andrew J. Fox Melanoma Research and Patient Center at the University of Pennsylvania after he passed away in 2007. In just six years, the charity has raised $350,000. This year, Fox’s Fight is raising money by a 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Day.

—Julia Bell, ‘15

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL/LETTERS

Walk, don’t run to LM

It’s time that we cut our school district some slack. Every policy change or rule that it institutes is inevitably met with backlash from the community. In the last four years, we’ve seen the redistricting lawsuits and the Laptop-gate. We’ve had controversy over lunch prices, parking, and flipped classrooms. We have controversy over pretty much everything that happens. Right now, there is a change of policy being put into effect that, for some reason, is very unpopular. The expansion of walkzones is not a bad thing. If viewed thoughtfully, this is a very good thing for our school.

Most people would agree: making the new high schools the same size was a foolish move on the part of the district. Anyone could look at the map and tell you that LM would need to be bigger to accommodate more people who live within its boundaries. Unfortunately, the schools have been built, so there is no point dwelling on the past. By expanding the walkzones, the district is in a way acknowledging that they made a mistake. It has realized that LM and Harriton are two very different schools, and to try and make them the same just isn’t reasonable. The district is allowing more kids to attend LM if that’s what they prefer, even if it means that LM’s student body will be larger than Harriton’s. Rather than stubbornly sticking to a plan that wasn’t going to work, the school board was flexible. It looked at its mistakes and devised a new plan, even though it differed from the original.

Obviously, our school board isn’t perfect. Its members, like the rest of us, make mistakes and do some things wrong. We don’t have to blindly approve of all of their actions, but we should give them credit where it’s due.

Unsigned editorial on this page reflects the general opinion of student editors, not the views of individuals.

The Merionite

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 245 E. Montgomery Ave. Ardmore, PA 19003 www.themerionite.org Editors-in-Chief

Ilana Nathans, ’14 Robbie Warshaw, ’14

Managing Editor

Andrew Scolnic, ’14

News Editors

Op-Ed Editors

Features Editors

Copy Editors

Julia Bell, ’15 Ma’ayan Doron, ’14 Maddy McFarland,’14 David Bloom, ’14 Moriah Kofsky, ’14 Zay Smolar, ’15 Divya Arya, ’15 Tori Klevan, ’15 Madelyn Schaeffer, ’15 Alison Epstein, ’14 Anna Skillings, ’15

Sports Editors Duranya Freeman, ’14 Mitchell Gladstone, ’15 Larry Robinson, ’14 Arts & Julia Carstens, ’15 Entertainment Emily Morris, ’15 Editors Photo Editor Galen McMullen, ’14 Layout Editor Joanna Odorisio, ’14 Web Editor Olivia Johnston, ’16 Business Noah Ackerman, ’14 Managers Leo Galbraith-Paul, ’14 Advisor Mr. Chad Henneberry Business Advisor Mr. Sean Flynn

The editors believe all facts presented in the newspaper to be accurate. The paper acknowledges that mistakes are possible and welcomes questions as to accuracy. Inquiries regarding accuracy should be directed to the editors of the paper. Editors can be contacted via e-mail at merionite@gmail.com or in Room 200A. To represent all viewpoints in the school community, The Merionite welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via e-mail or dropped off outside the Merionite office. The Merionite reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length or clarity.

The editors of the Merionite express regret for some of the content in the article titled “Hard Core Courses.” While the article was intended to discuss the academic rigor of certain courses, it regretably also criticized certain teachers’ practices. We apologize to those who may have been offended.

Letter to the Editor

After reading the article titled “Hard Core Courses” in the last issue of the Merionite, we believe Mrs. Mastriano and her English 2 Honors class were portrayed incorrectly. The article was supposed to “take a look at what the teachers have to say” about the difficulties of their own classes.

Mrs. Mastriano’s class was seventh on the list of difficulty but her opinion of her class was wrongfully omitted, unlike any of the other teachers whose classes were on the list. While some of the activities in English 2 Honors with Mrs. Mastriano push you out of your comfort zone, it is the most rewarding class and experience we’ve had at LM. Along with the the academics, we learned many valuable life lessons. Mastriano taught us that our voices are important, and if we really want to change something, we can. We remember on multiple occasions when there were assignments that we didn’t agree with or were downright overly time consuming. She encouraged us to stand up for ourselves and petition against those assignments.

As for the other difficult assignments, they were always self-rewarding and would teach us something interesting and new. Her assignments called for a lot of group work outside of school, which allowed us to build friendships with people we had never spoken to before. We even had “bonding nights” when we would gather together to eat and watch movies. This year, our class is planning a bowling night as a reunion.

The article mentioned a quote by junior Zay Smolar, saying that his anxiety peaked when he had to “memorize a play for Mastriano and then got graded on [his] acting ability.” Smolar, however, thought the article incorrectly quoted him. He says that he sounded mean-spirited in the article and meant for his quote to come out more light heartedly. Students are graded on their ability to leave their comfort zone and become united with their fellow actors. Finally, the article mentioned the “infamous writers’ notebook” as one of the things that made the class challenging. While it did leave some students up all night frantically filling out pages the night before the quarter ended, it is the most tangible representation of the growth and lessons learned throughout the course of the year.

It is something we will carry with us forever.

We think Mastriano’s class is one all students should be able to experience, because the class leaves you more vocal, more self-confident and more honest than ever before.

Sincerely, Lindsay Shapiro and Veronika Szarlej

December 19, 2013

6

OPINIONS

The Merionite

Class of 2016

A Smart Use of Classtime

Zack Bookbinder

As the education system evolves, teachers are constantly looking for ways to allow students to comprehend larger amounts of information. Many teachers around the world have been implementing the idea of a “flipped classroom.” This method of teaching requires teachers to create videos for students to watch and take notes on at home. Teachers typically check if students are watching and learning from the online lessons by requiring that a small quiz be completed after each.

Many schools have adopted this model because of its success, which is attributed to the increase in support students receive in class. By learning concepts at home that typically monopolize class time, worksheets can be completed with the actual application of this knowledge with the guidance and immediate feedback of the teacher. English teacher Mr. Mays said that having his students watch grammar videos at home“freed up important class time that can now be spent working on critical reading skills and other hands-on activities.”

Another attractive aspect of these videos is the ability to pause, play, and rewind them. Sophomore David ManiIoff said that he “finds using these videos more enjoyable than in-class lessons” because he can alter the lesson’s pace to fit his needs. If a student misses class or doesn’t understand

a topic, they can refer to one of the growing companies such as Khan Academy that has free videos available online.

Academically, the flipped classroom has shown its worth. Mr. Mays noticed that the students in his tenth grade english class had “stronger in-class grammar test grades” as a result of watching these videos. A recent study conducted by a Detroit high school found that the effects of a flipped classroom are profound. In this school, over half of freshmen were failing English before the flip. After the flip, less than 20 percent of freshmen failed English. When students were interviewed, t h e y stated t h a t “Normally w e would get frustrated with homework and would quit when we didn’t understand problems.” After this change, three times as many students in this struggling high school passed. LM sophomore Griffin Murphy said that he “has noticed considerably stronger testing scores” i n his classes that implement the idea of a flipped classroom. With over 7000 high school students dropping out of school every day, our education system needs serious updating.

Classrooms

A Frustrating Impediment

Class of 2015

deppilF

Yael Dormont Learning at home by yourself makes sense to those of us who do almost everything online. Due to the success of Khan Academy, an online teaching program, some educators think that all students should

come into class able to do a problem after understanding and mastering the concepts taught in a videos. The proponents call this new method the “flipped classroom.” There is no research, however, that shows that this method

is beneficial.

Personally, when I do not understand something my teachers said that day, I do use Khan Academy to b e t - ter understand certain concepts before a test. For my AP history class, we read the textbook at home and then come into class and speak more in depth. This “self learning” works well for me with AP history, which is

supposed to mirror a college course. But in other courses, such as my trigonometry class, it is hard to learn the material at home and come into school with it mastered. I need to ask questions to successfully complete problems and fully understand the concepts.

The lack of support and encouragement in a virtual setting also diminishes my ability to perform on tests. The more the videos go on, the more lost I become.

The flipped classroom also relies on the quality of the videos. The unprofessional videos created by teachers fail to do the job of teaching the material. When one week’s assignment depends on what a student learned during the prior week, it is very hard for the students who don’t understand complex concepts taught in the video to understand what is being taught the next week.

I am extremely worried that we will suffer long-term consequences as a result of our educations dependending on videos. How can students succeed with calculus next year if they do not understand the fundamental concepts that they are supposed to have learned in trigonometry this year? Can we really call assigning and going over problems during class teaching? For over 100 years, the teachers at LM have followed the traditional way of teaching: teaching in the class, answering questions during the lesson, and clarifying and explaining when they see students with blank or lost expressions on their faces. These are the methods that have made LM into such a great school.

When videos can act in conjunction with teaching in the classroom, students will receive a better education. We should not compromise our quality education and academic success for the latest unproven educational fad.

Art by Gigi Grimes

Save downward dog for someone who needs it

Class of 2015

Every day after school, I go to practice for either cross-country or track. There, my teammates and I run several miles and do other workouts to help improve our strength, endurance, and overall fitness. What else do we all do? Spend 55 minutes each week in gym class.

After doing so much physical activity outside of school for my sport, why I am still required to spend an hour of school time doing sun salutations and inverted poses in Mr. Pavia’s yoga class? I’m not saying that there is anything wrong with Mr. Pavia or his yoga class, but is an hour of Phys-Ed a week really going to help serious athletes stay healthy? Don’t we get enough exercise from practice and competition? It is unnecessary for students who already play a sport to spend additional time in school to help “get healthy.” There is no good reason why athletes should be required to take a Phys-Ed class when they could spend that time doing work in a free instead.

Phys-Ed is supposed to keep students who would otherwise get no physical activity active and healthy, but it loses its purpose for kids who already get exercise through school sports. Students who compete in a sport should be able to opt out of taking a gym class during that sport’s season. I am now competing in my eighth sports season at LM, and I spend at least two hours at practice every day, working much harder than I would during any gym class. I probably burn more calories in one practice than I would in about four gym classes!

Playing a sport would keep anyone in significantly better shape than a weekly PhysEd class ever could. Yet, other athletes and I are required to waste about an hour a week in gym.

If the school were to give athletes the option to not take a gym class, there would be many positive results. This rule might entice students who otherwise wouldn’t play a sport to do so. Maybe students who are on the fence about doing a sport or are unsure of how to get involved in the school would be convinced to join one of our sports teams.

This could help create a student body that is more engaged in its school. Ironically, the

Jonathan Perlman

student body as a whole would also be more active with students opting out of gym class.

More students would want to join sports teams, which would keep them in much better shape than Phys-Ed can.

There are several other benefits to students and the school if this system were to be implemented. First, instead of spending time in gym class, students could use the time to get schoolwork done. This would be helpful for athletes who don’t want to get behind, which is easy to do when they have to go to practice everyday. Fewer athletes would be ineligible because they would have more time to do work. Also, it would prevent conflicts that might arise from competing in a sport and taking Phys-Ed at the same time. Like having to participate in gym class on the day of a competition and potentially getting injured during gym. It is only logical that athletes be allowed to opt out of taking Phy-Ed. The problem with the current system, however, is not the fault of the district. Pennsylvania law requires that all students take P.E. This is clearly a flawed law. Many states have passed laws requiring students to take gym class, with the intention of fighting the rising rates of childhood obesity around the country.

The problem is that the law does not only affect students who would benefit from a Phys-Ed class but also those who would not. Athletes, who are generally not obese and already quite active due to participation in sports, are negatively affected by this law. They are forced to spend school time taking an unnecessary class. Clearly, this time could be spent more productively. The law has good intention in trying to help prevent obesity, but needs some change.

Instead, the law should require all students to take a Phys-Ed class, but allow for some exceptions. If a high school student gets a certain number of hours each week of practicing and playing in a sport, then he or she shouldn’t have to take a gym class.

This would be a sensible policy, which would benefit all student athletes. They would no longer have to spend time in a gym class, and could use the time to keep up in school. Nevertheless, no athlete would be forced to drop Phys-Ed against his or her will. There are many students who enjoy the activities in gym class. But for those who don’t, spending valuable school time doing “downward dog” and Art byArielle Herzberg playing badmitton would be a thing of the past.

7

December 19, 2013

OPINIONS

The Merionite

Lowering standards for higher classes

Ishya Verma Advanced placement classes are considerably harder than their Honors or CP counterparts, involving hours of homework and weekly assessments. Students who take them are looking for more rigor and in-depth study of subjects that interest them. But recently, the District has been encouraging more and more students to take AP classes—even the ones who might not be ready for the workload and intensity. The resulting influx of students in AP classes has ended up changing AP classes’ values.

While those previously enrolled in AP classes were

there because they enjoyed the subject matter, now many But some don’t care about liking a subject or strugstudents take these classes without realizing what they’re gling in class. They’re just doing it for college. Apart signing up for. They automatically asfrom looking good on the application, sume they will do just as well as they colleges will often grant credit for did in previous classes. This greatly high AP scores and allow their stuchanges the classroom dynamic. dents to bypass introductory courses.

Instead of a group of interested and But many schools have now changed enthusiastic—albeit stressed—students their policies after acknowledging coming together, a few people with the that a high school AP isn’t the same as “Do I really have to be here?” attitude an actual college class. As Dartmouth ruin the environment, making the class spokesman Justin Anderson said, “We less enjoyable for the engaged students. want a Dartmouth education to take Uninterested students should stick to other place at Dartmouth.” “For college classes in which they will have to do less credit” just isn’t a viable reason to work for a subject they don’t like. take an AP anymore.

To make things even worse, the teacher People planning to take one or more often has to slow their teaching pace in AP classes should think carefully beArt by Madelyn Schaeffer/Staff class to explain a concept to a small group of fore doing so, making sure they are unprepared kids, which is inconvenient for everyone who capable of handling the higher commitment, willing to took the class to avoid this. These questions also reduce work hard, and above all else, actually interested in the the amount of material covered, which students will defi- subject matter. nitely need to know in order to do well on the AP exam.

AP classes should be reserved for And those unprepared kids not only don’t learn enough, the enthusiastic, motivated learner, and maybe then they but they perform poorly on the exam, which practically will regain their former merit. defeats the purpose of taking it in the first place.

Inequality incoming

Class of 2014

I recently went to see “Inequality for All,” a movie about the shifting

Arielle Anderer

gap between classes, based on lectures by Robert Reich. The majority of the people in the theater were middle aged; I was the only teenager there.

The truth is, for most of the people in that theater, the issues brought to the forefront by the movie don’t matter, at least not as much as they do to people in our generation. They won’t have to deal with the impacts of the decline in income inequality in the same way that we do. A lot of them are already receiving the benefits of social security, have already bought their first house, have steady jobs.

Those of us born into this generation, however, are not quite as lucky.

Income inequality directly impacts our education, our future jobs, our future families. Income inequality is a huge issue, one we don’t pay nearly enough attention to.

In 2011, the United States ranked 64th in the world in income inequality, behind countries such as Iran.

The richest 400 people in the US make more money than half the US population combined. The median income for the average male worker, adjusted for inflation, was $15,000 less in 2010 than in 1978. The top one percent, however, earns close to triple what they earned in 1970.

Half of all Americans are now considered poor or low income, and the value of minimum wage (adjusted for inflation) has dropped $2.77 since 1968.

These are more than statistics— this widening gap means that while certain individuals are thriving, others who would have been able to live comfortably years ago have to now struggle to make ends meet.

Income inequality is linked to recession, stagnant wages, and debt within the middle class. It threatens social mobility—those at the top are likely to stay at the top, and those at the bottom will have a harder time making it out of the cycle of poverty. It even threatens the integrity of our political system because the mega-rich can exert so much influence on public policy, drowning out the voices of the middle class. It is especially a threat to young adults, who are unemployed at almost twice the rate of any other age group. Yet even though it is a threat to our economy, the American dream and our democratic system, it is an issue to which our generation is not paying close enough attention.

There is a growing sense of apathy toward the government in newer generations. Americans are disenchanted with the way their government functions, and rightfully so; however, rather than working to fix the system, many of them have decided to ignore politics all together.

We have certainly had our moments, such as Occupy Wall Street, but these movements have quickly died down due to lack of leadership and definitive purpose. We need to decide what issues are important to us and fight for them, because issues that will affect our generation directly are being decided without us.

I am disappointed that while information is readily available to those who are willing to seek it, so many people choose to ignore it.

I understand that most of us cannot yet vote, but that doesn’t mean we can’t be informed about the world around us. It is our generation’s turn to band together as earlier gen erations have done in order to fight injustice. It is our duty as citizens to be informed and stay informed to hold our country accountable for its problems. Fighting income inequality should be one of our top priorities as a generation. We shouldn’t trust that the middle aged couples who go to see “Inequality for All” will solve this problem for us; we need to work to solve it ourselves.

God is not your teacher Holiday decorations always appear somewhere around Halloween, and

dorse any one religion.

Imagine for a moment that it were perfectly legal for public schools to teach and encourage the practice of certain religions. Christmas decorations and trees would be in hallways and classrooms.

Paper cutouts of menorahs and dreidels would be tacked to bulletin boards. There would probably be religious clubs and holiday parties; everything that exists now in shopping centers would also exist in public schools. Many students and families would be fine with it. Many would enjoy a more festive building. become ubiquitous by Thanksgiving. But a sizeable group of people in the They’re everywhere—lights on houses, school community would be uncomfortChristmas trees in restaurants and hotels, able. Maybe they would be those whose giant menorahs, and snowreligion isn’t common flakes hanging from streetin our community, or lamps. Just about every maybe they’d be those public place is decorated who don’t practice a for the holidays (along religion at all. Some with many private schools families would quietly and residences), with the tolerate their discomnotable exception of public fort, but others would schools. take steps to change The lack of decorathe policy or even turn tions in schools is not an to private non-denomaccident—it is against inational schools. This their mission statements to would be taking place allow anything that could in schools all over the be discriminatory. This is United States. This the reason behind teachers would not exactly be preferring ‘Secret Snowconsistent with the flake’ to ‘Secret Santa’— mission in our country religion and public school to be accepting to all. are not supposed to mix.

But there are ways There’s no doubt that this to enjoy the holidays can be a rather frustrating without religious acrule. Holiday decorations tivities. For example, and games are just for fun, Art by Madelyn Schaeffer/Staff p a p e r s n o w f l a k e s and no one has any intencould be hung. Games tion of being offensive. But the separation of Secret Santa could take place outside of school and religion is necessary and of school, and Secret Snowflake would there are ways to be festive around the have to do for in school. After all, gifts holidays with activities and decorations are involved in both, so it doesn’t really that are free of potentially offensive con- matter. notations.

All in all, any attempt to incorpoThe United States is a secular country, rate religion into the school commumeaning that we have no official religion. nity would backfire and alienate cerIf parents want their children to get a reli- tain students. Religion should be kept gious education, they send them to private separate from government programs— religious schools or religious education it generally doesn’t end well when programs. Public schools, which are run they combine. It may not be religious by the state governments, are not biased prejudice, but it would make it more to any religion. Discussion of various l i k e l y f o r s u c h a t h i n g t o o c c u r. types of spirituality is allowed in school, And that is something that we have but the school cannot do anything to en- to prevent at all costs.

Class of 2017

Class of 2016

31 percent of students take one or more of the 17 AP classes offered at LM. Is that too many?

Nina McKay

December 19, 2013

8

The Merionite

Question of the Month

OPINIONS

Does the idea of presents and holiday shopping take away from the real values surrounding the holidays?

“

The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear... and by giving super cool presents.

-Gigi Grimes, ’14

”

“

For Christmas at least, it is a holiday and time for giving and receiving. People are willing to put a lot of effort into getting gifts for their loved ones and in return they deserve to be excited about gifts being given to them.

-Elyssa Clauson, ’14

“

”

“

If by values you mean giving and being thankful for what you have, then no. If by values you mean religious values, then yes—but that may be a good thing.

-Nick Barnes-Batista, ’16

”

”

No, I think the spirit surrounding the holidays only enhances their values.

-Cory Litman, ’15

“

I feel that the real values surrounding the holidays are giving and caring for our loved ones. Taking time to buy presents and shop for friends shows much love, which is why people do it and why it’s the best time of the year.

-Drew Michie, ’15

”

“

“

I think that they tradition of giving presents gives people a chance to show someone they care. Of course the holiday season is not about material items, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t good at helping someone show what they cannot say.

-Brett Rapkin-Citrenbaum, ’15

If real values mean the religious traditions behind the holidays, then in certain cases, yes they have been somewhat diluted.

However I believe the holidays are more for getting to be around those who you’re close to, and presents/shopping is just another part of that.

-Arman Hassan ’14

”

”

Art by Galen McMullen/staff

Should we really shop ’till we drop?

Class of 2015

As November hits us, holiday spirit rushes to our heads, warping our minds, souls, and most materially, our consumer instincts. We get worked up into a shopping frenzy, supplanting traditional holidays with the puerile American ritual of buying. Our society so adores commodities that new, unofficial holidays were created through the collaboration of both retailers and consumers. Not only do we have Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but now Thanksgiving itself is recognized as “Brown Thursday.”

These all work in harmony to degrade the significance of Thanksgiving and the meaningful observance of religious holidaysw.

For avid consumers, the encroachment of holiday shopping on Thanksgiving comes with excitement.

Retailers’ opening on Thanksgiving Day was a pleasant surprise for many eager Black Friday shoppers.

After all, why should you have to wait until Friday to go shopping? What’s wrong with ditching the turkey to go to Macy’s? Who cares that store clerks have to work on Thanksgiving? Does the communion of the pilgrims and Native Americans over a historic feast nearly 400 years ago have any relevance in this era of doorbusters?

Many modern cultural scholars explain society’s mass consumption by applying the economic concept of neoliberalism. Under neoliberalism, the fundamental questions about life are answered in strictly economic terms. The questions include: Why are we here?

What are we supposed to do? What’s the purpose of living? According to neoliberal theory, we are here for one reason—to shop the market, consume goods, and

Morgan Perlman

thus acquire the trappings of success. In order to earn a successful citizenship in society, we must shop.

Barbera Kruger, a very famous conceptual artist with a particular emphasis on consumerist culture, captures this view in her art. One of her many notorious billboard-sized images contains a giant, domineering hand holding the slogan, “I Shop Therefore I Am.” Through those words, alluding to Descartes,’ “I think, therefore I am,” Kruger is chronicling our culture’s shopping mentality. She is saying that mindless shopping, instead of thinking, is what makes you who you are. This increasingly pervasive neoliberal value system helps to explain the tendency of consumers to prioritize shopping over the traditions of Thanksgiving.

We unconsciously justify shopping on Thanksgiving by believing that shopping does indeed answer the fundamental philosophic questions, such as “Why are we here?” and, “What are we supposed to do?” Corrupted by the necessity to shop, we ignore our true American roots and cast aside Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is the one opportunity for “public thanksgiving and prayer,” as George Washington announced in his Thanksgiving Proclamation. It is an opportunity to recognize that our freedoms and our very ability to shop came from the founding of this nation and the hardships that ensued.

It is a day when we have the time and leisure to be thankful—to give back, not take in.

The holidays of Brown Thursday, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday do not just impinge on Thanksgiving, but also degrade the religious holidays that prompt the shopping frenzy. Both Christmas and Chanukah, of course, share the custom of gift giving. The problem lies not in gift giving, but rather in the rationale behind the gift giving. It has become the norm to associate the word “gifts” with the consumption of material goods. We expect gifts to be material and consumed.

Wouldn’t it seem bizarre if a boy asked his parents for a Christmas gift that was immaterial, like a walk in the park?

Pope Francis, just a few weeks ago, released his first major statement in his papal career. In that state-

ment, he denounced the mass consumerism that can be associated with material gifts. He said, “The culture of prosperity deadens us; we are thrilled if the market offers us something new to purchase. In the meantime, all those lives stunted for lack of opportunity…fail to move us.” In other words, materialism distracts us from feeling empathy for those who are deprived. He also said that, as a result of consumerism, “there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor… and the desire to do good fades.” Through mass consumerism Christmas is deprived of the essence of Christianity.

It is deprived of empathy and charity. We are unconsciously convinced that shopping is where spirituality lies but instead it is where it is lost.

In Chanukah, giving material gifts originated from the tradition of giving gelt, which was a form of money. During Chanukah, people handed out gelt to ensure that the poor had enough money for a menorah and candles. It ensured that everyone, both rich and poor, could participate in the ritual of lighting a menorah, thus promoting equality. In modern times, Chanukah gift giving has paradoxically led to inequality. We often give expensive material gifts to people of the same or greater social class with the expectation of receiving gifts in turn. Such gifting is what the Pope denounces as sacrilegious behavior and a barrier to equality. If true respect were given to the roots of Chanukah, then we would not go on a shopping frenzy, and instead, we would give back philanthropically to the poor. Through holiday shopping we have completely lost our sense of Chanukah’s true origins and its religious value.

Consumerism has undermined the American tradition of Thanksgiving, (now dubbed “Brown Friday”) and the religious sanctity of Christmas and Chanukah.

We are left without empathy and scarred with inequality. That is why, as we progress through the holidays, we should take special care to reflect on the gifts we give and the gifts we receive. We should reflect on those who don’t have the opportunity to gift and be gifted. We should reflect on the true spirituality of the holidays we celebrate.

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December 19, 2013

FEATURES

The Merionite

‘Tis the Season...

Jamie McGee

To kick it off...Maroon Madness

Class of 2015 Wednesday, December 4 marked the 10th annual Maroon Madness held at LM. The event supported a great cause and offered music, food, prizes, contests and, most importantly, kicked off LM students’ most exciting time of the school year: basketball season.

This year’s Maroon Madness was even more exciting as the Aces returned from a huge State Championship victory against the Chester Clippers. After falling short to Chester in the 2011-2012 season, the Aces came back with a vengeance. Last year’s championship win gave LM its seventh State Title. The school celebrated for weeks after the win, and this Maroon Madness allowed us to relive the past season’s triumph.

This event was not only the start of the season for players, but also for the Dawg Pound.

The team needs their “sixth man” in order to perform at its greatest potential during the games—the Dawg Pound gives the players and coaches huge morale boosts.

Coach Gregg Downer knows the importance of the Dawg Pound and let everyone know that “our gold medals are your gold medals” last year in the special edition Aces Basketball Merionite. Any player or coach will tell you the same thing: the fans make it worthwhile. “You are the best basketball fans in the state,” said Coach Downer.

The night kicked off at six p.m. outside of the school with the traditional tailgate.

This year, the “Sixers Flight Squad” performed outrageous stunts and flips outside, followed by dance and fire performers. Students also enjoyed music provided by DJ DYNAMIKE (Michael Dunaeif) and delicious discounted burgers donated by Kelly’s Restaurant in Bryn Mawr. Following these exciting events, the Light the Night Walk began, led by Mary Ellen, the woman on stilts, the Sixers Flight Squad, and Mr. Hughes. Upon returning from walking around the school, the event continued inside the Kobe Bryant

Gym where even more surprises and excitement waited. Both teams were announced followed by an incredible “It’s More Than Just a Game” video put together by Dan Capkin and Doug Young, as well as Benji Dunaeif’s “Turbulence” video. In an exciting turn of events, the Philadelphia 76ers coach, Brett Brown, spoke to the students and community members about the importance of LM Basketball and Coaches vs. Cancer.

After his inspiring speech, the intra-squad scrimmage began. Throughout the night, the scrimmage was broken up to host multiple performances from the dance team, swim team, Best Buddies, TSA, indoor track team, drill team and, finally, the cheerleaders.

This event was not only incredibly fun, but it also supports a great cause. All the proceeds from Maroon Madness, such as the food, t-shirt sales, and suggested donation admission, go toward Coaches vs. Cancer. Last year, before the Light the Night Walk, Fran Dunphy, Men’s Basketball head coach at Temple University, gave a speech about the importance of helping the American Cancer Society find a cure for such a terrible disease.

It was a moving speech that inspired donations exceeding $3,500.

This year we hope to top that amount. For all those who missed it, make sure you attend this incredible event next year!

Do’s and Don’ts of the Dawg Pound

1. Wear the right spirit! You will look like a complete goober if you’re wearing a bright periwinkle sweater during a blackout-themed game.

4. Learn the cheers and cheer! No one wants that intimidating senior girl looking up into the Dawg Pound giving you death glares (we all know the type). Not to mention the players love hearing the support from the stands and call us their “Sixth Man,” an advantage not many teams can boast about.

2. Arrive early. Nothing is worse than getting stuck sitting in the top right corner of the Dawg Pound.

3. Prepare to travel. We’ve been to Williamsport, Reading, State College, and Hershey. Find ways to enjoy long bus rides.

5. Have fun! The Dawg Pound is all about having fun. So scream your head off and get hype for the rest of the season. #ACESWILD

By Tori Klevan ‘15 Art by Maddie Schaeffer\Staff

Coaches vs. Cancer Simone Burde

Class of 2017 LMHS fights cancer through the work of the Coaches vs.

Cancer (CVC) organization, a collaboration between the National Association of Basketball Coaches and the American Cancer Society. CVC was founded following the death of popular college basketball coach Jim Valvano, who passed away due to cancer. The national CVC Council has raised more than $87 million to help the American Cancer Society’s mission. LM has its own CVC committee, which hosts events throughout the school year to raise money for the incredible organization.

The LM CVC committee is led by seniors Daniel Buckman, Rayna Epstein, Anna Goldenberg and juniors Tori Klevan and Adrienne Rose. Most of the committee heads, such as Anna Goldenberg, got involved with CVC because of their love for basketball. However, there was a bigger picture behind Goldenberg’s involvement. She says, “In fifth grade, my father was diagnosed with cancer and from that point on I knew I was going to dedicate at least a portion of my life to giving whatever I could to help raise awareness and money to eventually find a cure.” People from all over the nation have had similar tragic experiences, and have come together through this organization sharing the same goal.

Since basketball is such a vital part of CVC, it is natural that the LM Coaches vs. Cancer fundraising events coincide with LM’s exciting and much anticipated basketball season.

The first CVC event, Maroon Madness, took place on December 4. According to Aceshoops.com and LM traditions, in past Maroon Madness events Temple’s men’s basketball head coach Fran Dunphy (who is a member of Philadelphia Big 5 Coaches vs. Cancer program) attended and spoke at the event. Committee head Adrienne Rose explained, “The event kicks off the basketball season, and all the proceeds go to Coaches vs. Cancer.” Her counterpart Tori Klevan added, “This event has a great yearly turnout and is always filled with great food and great entertainment.”

How can you get involved with Coaches vs. Cancer?

All committee heads are hoping everyone will come to the other fundraising events to experience the fun and see how remarkable it is to raise money for such a great cause.

Anna Goldenberg concludes, “We would love to have more students become involved if they wish—feel free to contact me if you would like to become a part of the committee.”

So come out and experience the great events of Coaches vs.

Cancer and become involved! (Email Anna Goldenberg at annagoldenberg14@students.lmsd.org with any questions!)

Photo courtesy of Cameron Pollack

10

December 19, 2013

FEATURES Information, technology, and happiness The Merionite

Todd Gilman

Class of 2016

“But every song is like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin’ in the bathroom…”

That is a good song. What’s it called?

Who wrote it? Where can I find this information? On the Internet of course.

The song is ”Royals” by Lorde. Who is that? She’s a 17-year-old from New Zealand. Wow, wait, when is she doing a show in the US? Suddenly, I know a billion things. Then I have a billion questions. This is soon followed by a billion answers. A couple decades ago, none of this information would have been available to me, but this is the 21st Century, and learning has never been easier.

Let’s go back half a dozen centuries or so ago to an Alpine monetary tucked somewhere in an isolated corner of Europe. There is a scriptorium where, by candlelight, a monk copies hundreds of pages from a book in his library, and the work is done by hand of course. He might even have a big collection and by that, I mean a few dozen of books. Imagine trying to

learn about the world when that small library is all you have, short of a perilous journey through Dark Age Europe.

Then, in the mid-15th century, a man in Germany named Johannes Gutenberg invented a movable type printing press.

That seems like nothing, but this one invention for the first time allowed for the mass printing of books. Now you could fill dozens volumes of an encyclopedia. Compared to the Dark Ages, there was so much information, and it was easy to make copies. Unfortunately, those encyclopedias were expensive and infrequently updated.

Today, we have evolved to Wikipedia ,where information is a click away.

Now information comes from different kinds of encyclopedias and presses.

There is so much you can do with this information. While ignorance will never be expelled from humanity, we have a great new opportunity to take one step further down the road to its dismissal from society. Think of what you can do with the Internet. I can access anything from the photos of my friend’s vacation while he is still away to 17th century maps of the Holy Roman Empire during

the 30 Years War. People have asked me sometimes why I know so many random facts. What happens is, I get lost in the annals of Wikipedia. It is possible to spend countless hours clicking from one page to the next. The Internet allows a person with boundless curiosity to dispel much of their ignorance.

George Orwell prophetically said that, “Ignorance is Strength.”

There is so much that we, the citizens of the world, can learn, but there is also so much that the world can learn about us. The world is no longer ignorant of the thoughts of individuals. The browsing history of many Internet users is often recorded.

The 21st century is interconnected by a series of two-way streets. These avenues

provide information but at the same time, they take information in return.

With all the information we give, we can’t forget what we take. This millennial generation is, without a doubt, the most information stimulated generation to date. We can connect to friends, listen to music, go to news, etc. What will become of Photo courtesy of Todd Gilman all this information? There are a billion questions. The great thing about this interconnected age is that there are a billion people out there who can give a billion answers to a billion questions. I walk away from the past and the ignorance. I run to the future and the knowledge it holds.

Underclassmen: carving out a new niche

Sarah Silberg

Class of 2016

A decade ago, walking into any AP (Advanced Placement) class and seeing row after row of sleep-deprived juniors was normal. Today, however, more of those spaces in AP classes are being filled by underclassmen. LM students have numerous opportunities to get ahead by taking summer courses or doubling up on math or science courses throughout the year. Many students have had positive experiences with advanced coursework due to the fact that they have been taking these advanced courses before they could make the decision themselves to take them. For example, some students are put into one or two-year advanced math classes in elementary school. It’s not a snobby thing to say the courses were too easy, because students needed to be more challenged. Underclassmen take more advanced classes to be more challenged, to make strong college applications, and to excel in their courses throughout the rest of their high school careers.

However, having students start in such advanced classes at such a young age raises the question for those who have not been taking the high-level courses since elementary school: Why are underclassmen now voluntarily taking these courses?

AP US History teacher Mr. Henneberry says, “The numbers of underclassmen (mostly sophomores) have increased for many reasons. Having already taken these difficult courses during sophomore year frees up a student’s schedule for junior year to take even more APs. By doing so, students are making their transcripts for college stronger and allowing themselves to take the most challenging courses available.”

Underclassmen, though underappreciated, work just as hard, if not harder than the upperclassmen at LM. Many of them find the advanced courses helpful and take full advantage of them while they have time in their schedules. Sophomore Eileen Wang took biology during the summer before freshman year. She said, “My parents made me take the course to get ahead because they knew that it would free up my schedule for junior year and more challenging classes.” Another sophomore, Alden Hallak, is currently taking AP US History, but has different reasons for taking the advanced course. Why would he take such a challenging course when he doesn’t need to? Alden answered, “I had nothing better to do and it seemed like an interesting course.”

Alden went on to say, “Though it is a brutally challenging course, next year I will have less of a workload.”

Nevertheless, the upperclassmen seem to think the underclassmen taking APs are working themselves too hard. Senior Arielle Anderer said, “I honestly think that it isn’t worth it to take so many APs as an underclassman. Especially with those underclassmen taking multiple APs, there ends up being an extra sense of stress that I personally believe is unnecessary.” Are AP classes really worth it? If a student does exceptionally well and is truly interested in the topic in the AP class, then of course they are. But if a student does poorly in an advanced class, it might have been better if they had taken honors instead. One of many frequently asked questions for upperclassmen is, do you mind having underclassmen in your AP classes? Senior Leah Ochroch responded, “I don’t personally have any underclassmen in my classes this year, but I don’t mind it. They put in the work over the summer to get to the AP level; I would only worry that because summer school is so compressed the sophomores in some cases might be missing or be weaker in some basic skills that could hurt their performance in the long run.” It could hurt them in the long run because they don’t have the maturity or the same work ethic as upperclassmen. Most underclassmen excel in their AP courses because they enjoy the topic and can handle the stressful schedule and tasks that come with it.

Underclassmen are taking more challenging, high-level courses in order to make their transcripts more appealing to colleges and to make junior year a little easier.

Many underclassmen students find being able to get ahead in the “easier” years of high school helpful, while some upperclassmen are opposed to it. It is a fine balance, but with the competitive nature of our student population, we should continue to see this trend grow.

It will be up to the teachers to set the bar for their students at the highest possible level. Juniors and seniors, if you could go back to sophomore year, would you have accelerated your course load?

Tips from a With the holidays in full motion, it is important to remember not to let grades falter. Midterm exams and are looming, as the stockings are Who better to turn to for advice Old Faithful? Here are ten handling this stressful time.

stress out or college application deadlines hung and the candles are lit. than the famous geyser, easy Old Faithful tips for

Rise to the challenge. Don’t let schoolwork be a drag; rise to the occa sion and take it on.

2. Reach new heights. Now is a good a time as any to set new standards

and achieve goals.

3. Try not to let the pressure get to you. Block out the anxieties

of peer pressure, college essays or other outside distractions and focus on

the present.

4. Don’t boil over. Stay calm, stay cool, and don’t get mad when

times get tough.

5. Venting can be helpful to lessen the pressures of high school

but not with too much steam.

6. Find your inner strength. One’s own clockwork should be

what matters.

7. Stay faithful to your work, hobbies, and activities in difficult times.

8. Be active socially, academically, and physically.

9. Enjoy the quiet moments in between. Instead of stressing during bits

of free time, take opportunities to relax.

10. It’s OK to let off a little steam. When all is said and done, cool off, relax,

take it easy and have a Happy New Year.

1.

Art by: Henneberry, ‘89/STAFF

by: David Vonderheide, ‘17

11

December 19, 2013

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Merionite

Alcohol at LM Dear Reader, The Merionite is presenting this study on alcohol usage at LM in order to promote a better understanding of the behavior of LM students pertaining to alcohol. We want to emphasize that we neither condone nor discourage drinking. We solely want to determine if the amount of alcohol usage at LM has increased since 2007, when a similar special feature was done.

We decided to maintain anonymity for a few articles in this special feature to protect the identities of the students who wrote them.

We believe that this allows the authors to give the most honest and genuine representations of the subjects the articles discuss.

We used social media to gather responses for our survey and believe that the student body answered our questions truthfully.

The Merionite hopes this special feature will answer questions generally written off as unanswerable and shed light on what we consider to be an important topic at LM.

“I look forward to drinking on the weekends. It is a great destresser after a long week of APUSH and other difficult classes.

I feel better about myself after a few beers.”

Sincerely, Ilana Nathans ‘14, Andrew Scolnic ‘14, and Robbie Warshaw ‘14

“Alcohol generally worsens my quality of life. As we grow older, there isn’t much to do around the neighborhood that’s entertaining. There’s no where to go. So now everyone drinks because it’s entertaining and fun and doesn’t get old. Now teens think that drinking is the only way to have fun.”

“Sometimes it’s good to loosen people up at a party and drinking lightens the mood, but it’s essential to know your limit. I think that if you’re going to drink you must do so responsibly and be smart about where you are and who you’re with when you do it. And many kids think that alcohol is the only way to have fun and be happy and that it will cure all of your problems, but it’s not. Never drink to feel better, only drink to feel even better. ”

“Drinking in high school prepares students for college, where a drinking culture will be even more prevalent. By doing it now, kids will know their limits and hopefully be more educated about drinking and make better choices when they are on their own in college. ”

“In the moment, it seems as though alcohol improves quality of life— you’re having a good time and living life without a worry. But in the end the repercussions are negative. It’s never worth it. Once you feel that happiness, being sober isn’t enough anymore… so you drink more, abusing alcohol in the end, equaling a worse life.”

“A positive aspect of drinking is obviously that it’s “fun.” You’re able to let loose and be a happier version of yourself. But drinking can also lead to serious problems, such as binging and getting cited. You just have to figure out a good balance and stick with it.”

“It’s easy to get dependent on alcohol at this age. If we are stressed about something happening in our real lives, we like to use alcohol as a break from reality—though many times it just ends up emphasizing our stresses. On the other hand, I personally like it because there aren’t as many social rules so it’s easier to make friends.”

“I think that drinking in high school has definitely fostered relationships with friends I wouldn't have normally met, but I definitely don't think that drinking was ESSENTIAL to my high school experience either. I had some great times talking to people I wouldn't have had I not been at a party and drinking but I've also had some worse headaches and study-less Sundays because I'm coping with hangovers.”

“Alcohol improves and hurts quality of life. Some people believe they can’t accomplish certain tasks (such as flirting with girls or boys) unless they’re drunk. Being drunk should not be an explanation for these encounters- people should be able to do these things sober.

However, alcohol is fun and can lead to friendships and bonding experiences.”

Table of Contents

Results of survey...................Page 12 “Why I don’t drink”................Page 12 Judge Zucker Interview..Pages 12-13 Advice from Ms. Pudlinski....Page 13 “Why I drink”.........................Page 13 Citation removal process.....Page 14 Alcohol on college campuses..Page 14 Story from a “citee”..............Page 15 The reality of fake IDs.........Page 15 “Drink now or forever close your mouth”....Page 15

“I think drinking improves the quality of life for that day/weekend, because you’re having fun, but in the long term, I think it completely worsens your overall quality of life. If people are relying on alcohol to be happy, or as a de-stressor, then they can never see the true beauty of life. Things always are resolved, and no drugs or alcohol are needed to get people through the hard times. Relax and enjoy life while you are still young. Be happy that you’re young.”

“I think it alcohol worsens my overall quality of life. I really don't like how a lot of my friends feel like they need alcohol to have fun. It's fun sometimes, but shouldn't become such an important thing.”

12

13

December 19, 2013

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Merionite Student survey results About a third of the LM student body (422 students) took this survey over the past two weeks. 72 freshmen, 72 sophomores, 107 juniors, and 171 seniors responded anonymously to the survey.

Information compiled but not featured in graphs include the following statistics: 44% of the surveyed freshmen have tried alcohol, 43% of the surveyed sophomores have tried alcohol, 84% of the surveyed juniors have tried alcohol, and 84% of the surveyed seniors have tried alcohol. Compared to the results from the surveys featured in the 2007 Merionite special feature on drugs and alcohol, the percentage of current freshmen, juniors, and seniors who have tried alcohol rose 9%, 24%, and 16% respectively.

The percentage of sophomores who have tried alcohol, however, decreased by 7%.

The various percentages regarding the time of first experimentation with alcohol and the frequency of alcohol use from the 2007 special feature are similar to those from this special feature.

Information from our Wellness Counselor

If you haven’t you tried alcohol, why not?

Do your parents know that you drink?

Ms. Pudlinski

Have you ever tried alcohol?

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What grade were you in when you first tried alcohol?

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Do you have a fake ID? If so, what do you use it for?

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Before high school

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Freshman

Why I don’t drink Class of 20??

Have you ever faced legal consequences for drinking?

How often do you drink alcohol?

Once a month

How do you get your alcohol?

More than twice a month

An older sibling

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Excerpts from a Q&A with Magisterial District Judge Karen Zucker Q: What are some legal consequences of underage drinking?

A: Whether you agree with it or not, in accordance with the National Minimum Drinking Age Act, Pennsylvania’s state legislature has set the legal age for the purchase and consumption of alcohol at 21 years old. The fine imposed for a first offense is up to $500 and for a second offense can be up to $1000. Further, if you are convicted of having a false ID, your driver’s license will be suspended for 90 days for a first offense, and you will receive a one-year suspension for a second offense. Make no mistake. If you choose to drink before the legal age, you are breaking the law.

Q: How can summary offense convictions affect a teenager’s future?

A: If you engage in risky behavior, are caught and charged with summary offenses such as underage drinking and using a false ID, or similar offenses such as disorderly contact, minor drug possession and vandalism (punishable by fines and/or up to three months in prison), and such charges prevail, you are risking your future. When a college application requires you to

explain away what you consider to be a youthful indiscretion, how will you feel about the impact that may have on your chances of admission? How about when the job you want hinges on an application that asks whether you have ever been convicted of a summary offense or crime? And if you choose not to tell the truth, understand that you may be committing the felony crime of perjury.

Q: How does expungement work?

A: When one reaches the age of 21, one may petition the Court of Common Pleas to expunge an underage drinking conviction as long as one’s driver’s license is in good standing. As for all other summary offenses, such as disorderly conduct or possession of a false ID, one must be free from arrest or prosecution for five years in order to petition the Court of Common Pleas for expungement. This does not mean that one must be convicted of another summary offense in that five year period. Rather, the act of simply being cited or arrested, even if one is found not guilty, tolls the five year period

an area that is crucial in memory functioning. When you ask yourself am I a heavy drinker, keep in mind that binge drinking is considered 5 drinks in an episode for a male and 4 for a female.

So we know why teens are drawn towards alcohol use and we know it can alter their brain structures, so what do you as an adolescent do about it? The longer you can delay the start of alcohol use, the healthier it is for you. Earlier use is associated with an increase in drinking problems later in life. But what if you’ve already started? Or maybe starting isn’t a problem for you; maybe now it’s stopping once you start. Do you find yourself drinking to alter how you are feeling? To escape stress? Is it easier to socialize?

Are you a little foggy about what happened while you were under the influence? Have you ever had a hangover?

These are all good questions to think about when you look at what goes on if you or your friends are drinking.

If these questions have left you concerned about your drinking patterns or a friend’s alcohol use, there are things you can do to get help. Everyone should have one adult they feel they can trust that they can go to for help; it may be a parent, aunt or uncle, teacher, coach, guidance counselor, just someone. This school has an excellent resource, an onsite mental health and wellness counselor (that’s me) that you can go see if you have questions, concerns, or need help. Through the district’s START program, a student could have a free assessment at Lower Merion Counseling Center to help determine if outside help is needed and at what level; that may look like individual or family counseling, an alcohol education program, outpatient drug and alcohol counseling to intense outpatient several times a week. The most important piece is that if you have concerns that you reach out for support. The sooner you seek help, the easier it is to create change and maintain a well-balanced, healthy you.

Why I drink

i uy Ib

There is a consistently common pressure at high school parties to drink and, more importantly, to consume alcohol for the purpose of getting “messed up.” Apparently this is fun, but I wouldn’t be able to make that judgment because I don’t drink. I am always the bystander, the designated driver, and the person who watches the party unfold from a completely unimpaired perspective. For me, this is fun: I enjoy just chilling, watching the occasional beer pong game, and just being a small part of the party. However, this is only the minor reason I don’t drink.

The more important reason is that, no matter what anyone tells you, drinking excessively is harmful to your body. It’s simple, I don’t want my body to be exposed to alcohol and its negative effects, such as the weakening of the immune system, brain damage, heart damage, etc. This does not mean I am opposed to drinking and the scene at parties. I understand that it is fun for the people who participate. However, just because everyone participates doesn’t mean something is not harmful. Some people like to feel the loopy effects but that’s just not me.

Perhaps the most important part of drinking is the “why?” What is someone’s motive for participating? It’s against the law, and we are taught not to do it excessively, so why do it? I believe that it’s mostly because of the example set by the people around us. Because so many people around us drink, there seems to be powerful peer pressure that sucks the rest of us in. This explains why many people who I think would not drink do. They feel weird not doing it and don’t want to be the odd person out. This is something I always thought about as I attended my first parties. I thought it would be weird to be the only person not drinking, but I also thought about if it was worth it—to drink solely to “fit in.” Obviously, I decided to be the lone ranger, a “loner,” as people jokingly call me. They would try to get me to drink, some being serious and some making a joke out of it. They keep on probing but they have never and will never make any progress.

There is a law setting the drinking age at 21. It’s there for a reason, like all laws, and so I obey it. I obey it because it seems logical and I don’t see a reason for me to drink. I obey it because if I don’t, I may get into a lot of trouble. I obey it because I choose to.

There seems to be this culture that teen drinking is “a given,” almost a rite of passage, that should just be expected. Knowing what we do about brain development, these assumptions can lead to some dangerous situations.

So what is happening inside an adolescent’s brain that sets up this risky formula? For starters, development in the limbic system tends to contribute to increased risk taking and novelty/sensation seeking behaviors. Another area of the brain, the frontal lobe, is slowly developing throughout these years. The frontal lobe is the area of the brain associated with planning, inhibition, regulating emotions, and understanding cause and effect. This is why if someone asks if you want to go cliff jumping you might say, “Cool! What a rush!” and are off the cliff, while I would be left standing there with “Elvis legs” thinking about the injury potential, missing work, family, etc. Does it make sense how this combination can lead to heightened vulnerability to alcohol use?

A common argument, particularly in a district with such high pressure and expectations for their students as LM, is that, “We work so hard during the week, we are just blowing off steam.” But what if you realized how counterproductive that was to all the work you do? We’ve heard a lot lately about how much more dangerous concussions can be for adolescents than adults. This is due to all of the development occurring in the brain. Each concussion is a trauma to the brain that needs to heal.

Heavy alcohol use can be viewed very similar in its ability to damage the adolescent brain. For example, studies of adolescent heavy drinkers show decreases in attention, speed of information processing, executive functioning, and memory. MRI scans show a decrease in the volume of the left hippocampus in adolescent heavy drinkers, this is

Af ri

Anonymous

LM’s Wellness Couselor

and the clock starts rolling again. Your “youthful indiscretion” can come back to haunt you for years to come Q: Are summary convictions and guilty pleas available to the public online?

A: The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has authorized all summary convictions and guilty pleas to be available to the public online. This means that this information is now available to college and graduate school admissions officers and employers. They can look and they do look. So, even if a conviction is eventually expunged, the “genie” cannot always get back into the “bottle” since once information has been posted on line, it will always be out there. In short, the stakes are higher than ever before and this is why summary offenses matter. If you are going to drink under age or engage in behavior which could get you cited, at least do so with your eyes wide open to the possible consequences.

-Robbie Warshaw ‘14

Anonymous

Class of 20??

I started drinking on the weekends during sophomore year because I thought it was the “cool” thing to do, and I was eager to experience the thrill of getting drunk. I began going to parties on Friday and Saturday nights and after a few months of this, getting drunk on the weekend became routine.

Adults seem to always blame underage drinking on a lack of proper education, but I’m aware of the risks of drinking.

I know that every time I chose to drink alcohol, I’m putting myself at risk of being caught by my parents, or even worse, the police, and that I’m harming my growing body and brain.

But after a while, the fears of having to go to the hospital were compromised by the fun I was having. Also, having cared for sick friends and seeing other friends care for sick friends, I am confident that my friends would take care of me if I got sick. Trusting the people I drink with is very important to me.

I worry about receiving an alcohol citation. I know the consequences an alcohol citation could have on my college application and future job aspirations, but this “college-obsessed mindset” was one of the things I wanted to forget about through getting drunk. I am always alert to the sound level of a party, as are the rest of my friends, and we always stay away from loud parties that we feel are likely to get busted.

Although drinking with friends is not the only way I have fun, it’s a way to become part of the social scene I’m attracted to. For myself and many LM students, drinking is considered part of the “high school experience.” Parties at friends’ houses consist of shots of vodka, flip cup, and beer pong.

Concerts almost always involve “pre-gaming.” But do I feel that I need to drink to be included, or that my friends would no longer accept me if I did not drink? Of course not. People that are driving obviously never drink, and people that “are in season” or “have to wake up early tomorrow” or “just don’t feel like it” aren’t belittled. Although it is more fun to join in the fun.

It’s exciting to feel uninhibited and confident when drinking. I’ve befriended people whom I otherwise never would have talked to because we got drunk together at someone’s house we barely even knew. Those friends won’t be the people I stay in touch with after graduating, but for now, I enjoy their company while playing beer pong or going to the Plat.

14

December 19, 2013

SPECIAL FEATURE

The Merionite

“Their one ‘get out of jail free’ card”

Robbie Warshaw

Class of 2014

Many LM students are aware that in LM Township, if certain conditions are met, an underage drinking citation can be removed from teenagers’ legal records. Students, however, are often unaware of the process of clearing a citation. This week, I sat down with Paula Singer, a co-founder and executive co-chair of the Lower Merion and Narberth Youth Aid Panel. The Youth Aid Panel is an alternative to court for first time juvenile (under 18 years old) nonviolent offenders. Singer said that, “The panel sees mostly underage drinking cases, but we also see trespassing, graffiti, and shoplifting cases.” There are dozens of panels across Montgomery Country, and they are situated geographically around school districts. The panelists (community volunteers who have been trained by the District Attorney’s office), often tell students that come before the panel that this “is their one ‘get out of jail’ free card.” Singer described to me the general timeline of a student who receives a citation to the same student having their record cleaned.

The Arrest A party is busted when the police come, and then the police decide whom they are going to cite. Generally, the police don’t cite teens who didn’t drink, although they can use their discretion to do so since any teen attending an underage drinking party is “guilty by association.” Kids who are cited then must call their parents or another adult to get picked them up at the party location.

A few days later, the juvenile detective checks to see if the teen has a prior arrest record.

If not, the parents are offered an alternative to their child (under 18) going to court. He or she can go before to the

Youth Aid Panel. But if parents choose to go through the Youth Aid Panel to clear their child’s record, they must first agree to a few stipulations.

The Stipulations Teens that go through the program must do it voluntarily and with the consent of their parent/guardian. Teens who have previously gone through a Youth Aid Panel process may not go through it again. Additionally, students can only go through aYouth Aid Panel if there is one in their area.

“Let’s say you’re a LM Township teenager, and you’re arrested for underage drinking in Radnor, there is no Youth Aid Panel in Radnor, so you would basically go to court” explains Singer. Those who go to court in Radnor would most likely need to hire an attorney and hope for the best.

If a Radnor student is cited in LM Township, she may go through the LM and Narberth Township Youth Aid Panel.

Lastly, no lawyers are allowed in the room when the panel convenes. Only teenagers, parents, and the panel members.

The Panel Each of the three area Youth Aid Panels consists of five to six volunteer panelists, and meets once a month. Once students have agreed to the above stipulations and have signed a contract, the panel is ready to begin. Each student receives 45 minutes with the panel. The panelists, students, and parents all sit at a table, and the panelists being by saying “we’re not here to establish guilt or innocence” as the teenager has already admitted his or her involvement to the police. The panelists then ask teens: “What happened?” to learn the background of the students’ arrest. The panelists often want to know whether the underage drinking was premeditated, and whether a teen was experimenting for the first time, was peer pressured into drinking, or often binge drinks. The panel also asks what consequences the teen re-

ceived at home. Lastly, “the panel often asks teens what they plan to do to regain their parents’ trust,” said Singer.

At the end of the conversation, the panelists convene to discuss the teen’s assignment, or “resolution” as Singer refers to it.

The Resolution All teens that go through the program must remain “arrest free and have no negative contact with police,” according to the contract. The contract also mandates that all teens remain “drug and alcohol free.” All teens must write a letter or apology to their parents. In addition to the letter of apology, the panel may assign alcohol education, community service, essays, projects, and monetary restitution (if there was damage done to someone’s property). Community service tends to be a common assignment, as the panel tries to use restorative justice in its resolutions. Restorative justice, in simple terms, is the process by which offenders repair the harm they’ve done. Teens who were arrested “took up community resources by breaking the law, so through the Youth Aid Panel they will do community service because then they will be contributing back to the community,” explains Singer. Every teen in the program is assigned a member of the panel as a liaison who will monitor his or her progress.

The Hope Some people would argue that the panel is unable to change the course of some teens’ behavior. Singer acknowledges that in some cases, teen’s conduct may be too late to correct. For example, a senior who is already into college and has been drinking for years most likely will not alter her behavior based on one citation. Singer hopes though, that “the teens’ and their parents’ experience with the Youth Aid Panel process helps to opens up constructive communications between parents and their teens about alcohol and other issues.”

The drinking continues: alcohol usage on college campuses Two LM grads and former Merionite editors, one who attends a university in a large city, and another who attends a university in a college town, discuss the presence of alcohol on their respective college campuses.

Margaret Meehan

LM Class of 2013, Cornell University Class of 2017

Contrary to popular belief, Cornell is not just “where fun goes to die and seasonal affect disorder goes to live.” While we do work really hard, Cornell has as good a social scene as it can get for Ithaca, New York. The party culture is what you would expect in an isolated area: frats, bars, frats, apartment parties, frats. The Greek scene is fairly large, with 30% of students involved. If you’re a freshman and you want to drink, your social life probably revolves around the Greek scene. If you’re a freshman who doesn’t want to drink, there are plenty of people who are in the same boat. Regardless, in the first weeks of school basically everyone storms Collegetown, where freshmen are introduced to Greek culture at frats’ off-campus and unregulated houses. If you’re drinking, Keystone beer is your only option at the open houses. Consequently, most people “pregame” in dorms before heading out. As the semester goes on, Greek parties move to the mansions around campus, and frats and sororities begin having closed events. The party scene becomes harder to come by for freshmen, unless you know someone or stumble through a secret door. This is when you either decide to go the Greek route and network your way onto every fraternity’s “nice” list, join a lowrank house, or join clubs or a team and find social scene elsewhere.

The people that are big drinkers—and like at any big school, there are many—are most likely involved in Greek life. But that isn’t to say that the other 70% of the school doesn’t drink or have fun; they just aren’t doing keg stands four days a week.

Even if you don’t go Greek, you will probably find yourself at Greek events. Also, many clubs have formals and parties multiple times a semester. And although the bars close at 1 AM, lots of students will go during the week.

Either route you take, as a junior and senior, the social scene moves away from Greek life.

So don’t freak out if you’re an independent and don’t have plans one Saturday night sophomore year while your friends are at a mixer.

I haven’t met any students who are unhappy with their social lives here, unless they are complaining about spending Saturday night in the library.

Art by Moriah Kofsky/Staff

Rebecca McCarthy

LM Class of 2013, NYU Class of 2017 When you think of college life, a couple things that come to mind probably include frat parties, beer pong, keg stands, and jungle juice. But when you live in the middle of the most exciting neighborhood in the most populated city in the country, things are definitely not this predictable. The drinking culture at New York University is difficult to pinpoint.

Greek life is definitely minimal, but it still exists. Frat parties are held in the apartments of upperclassmen or frat alumni and have a tendency to get shut down pretty early. But, as it is at most schools, they offer free alcohol (spiked punch, beer, open bars—depending on the party).

Dorm drinking and dorm parties are very prevalent. A lot of NYU students have fake IDs and are able to buy alcohol pretty easily.

Booze, twinkly lights, music, people—boom, instant party. Apartment parties exist too but are more common once you’re an upperclassman. In order to go to an apartment party, you either have to know people who live in an apartment or you have to have an apartment and throw one yourself. Shameless name drop: I know a girl who went to a party at the Sprouse twins’ penthouse apartment. A lot of people who move into off-campus housing move to Brooklyn because Manhattan real estate is so expensive, so there is a good apartment party scene when you take the subway across the river.

What about drinking games? What happened to beer pong or flip cup? People probably play drinking games at frat parties or at apartment parties, but it is more difficult since frat houses don’t exist. Space is so limited and parties are usually pretty crowded so it’s difficult to make space for tables to play drinking games. Drinking games are rarely

played in dorms because of limited space. The only people I know who have played drinking games got caught playing water pong once— there was no alcohol in sight—and they got in trouble because of its connotation with drinking games. So a lot of students know that it’s not worth playing drinking games in the event that an Residential Advisor will think you’re too loud and comes to check on what you’re doing and you can’t clean up quickly enough.

We live in the city, so clubs are popular, but the ability to get in and get alcohol definitely depends on where you go. Some clubs let anyone in; others lookout for fakes, so that scene is definitely hit-or-miss. If you’re going out, though, many have said that clubs are unbearable unless you “pregame.”

And then there are bars. Again, a lot of students have fake IDs and don’t have a problem getting in. But if you have an in with a bar tender, you can get in without ID. The bar scene is highlighted as one of NYU’s best nightlife offerings. However, one of the issues with bars and clubs is the expense, making dorm drinking common at NYU. It is the least expensive way of drinking. Clubs have a cover fee for getting in (usually at least $10 for girls and $20 for guys) that doesn’t include alcohol and liquor at bars is seriously overpriced. As you might expect, it is very common to see NYU girls attempt to get older guys to buy them drinks when they go to bars. Students can get alcohol at a much lower cost if they buy it at a liquor store and throw their own dorm parties or “pregame” before going out.

Drinking at NYU is just as prevalent and common as it is at universities, but it does require more careful budgeting because it is so expensive. While the settings in which people drink are certainly not traditional, they do satisfy the 20,000+ students currently enrolled.

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December 19, 2012

The Merionite

Citing a bad experience Anonymous

Class of 20??

I have never been an avid drinker, it just hardly appeals to me. Even before my citation, I would stay sober at most parties and only drank when I was really in the mood to. Unfortunately, it seems that the mood struck on the wrong night for it to do so. It was the typical series of events; we were a little too loud, the neighbors complained to the police, they showed up to investigate, and we got caught. As it all unfolded, I remember just looking around in disbelief wondering, “Is this actually happening to me?” followed quickly by the anxiety of hearing what my mother would say.

My father picked me up that night, and in polite words, thought the whole situation was “a load of [garbage].” He asked the police what the evidence was, and they pointed to a few beer cans lying around and a lighter. On the ride home, he just laughed to himself, saying how that was nothing in comparison to what he used to do, then launched into a story from his time at LM about ripping the sink off somebody’s bathroom wall at a huge house party and running away before anyone found out.

I came home to a fire-breathing mom. As soon as I walked in the door, she launched into a speech of how shocked she was. How could I ever do something like this? Have I lied to them about what I was doing at parties before? How the hell am I supposed to get into college now? It was a rough night to say the least.

The first few days were rough, but as time passed and I came to terms with what happened, it became less of a big deal. I knew it would be wiped from my record eventually, and I just had to move forward rather than look back. Unfortunately, doing so requires going through the Youth Aid Panel process.

About three months later, I was summoned to the Bala Cynwyd Library to talk to a group of middleaged people about the horrible things I had done.

I put on my winning personality and walked in to apologize for my grievous errors.

They acted like I had murdered someone. They set steely eyes on me and asked if I knew the dangers of drinking and driving, even though I had previously explained to them I did not drive to the party either way and would never operate a vehicle under the influence. After I was reprimanded and made to feel like a criminal, they asked me about my life, talked to my parents about me privately, then deliberated to decide my punishment. Both my parents and I explained to them how I’m a good kid who is actively involved in five extra-curricular activities, with leadership positions in three of them, who works 20 hours a week at a part time job, and who is extremely busy managing all of this while trying to get into a good college. They seemed impressed by my resume, and I felt hopeful for a moment.

They called me back in and explained to me that since I was so busy they were only going to assign me fifteen hours of community service, and since they

Andrew Scolnic

SPECIAL FEATURE

were bored of reading the usual dangers of drinking essay they dole out, they wanted me to create a 1015 minute PowerPoint presentation for them to hear about instead.

I was and still am furious about my punishment and how I was treated throughout the entire process.

I had to rearrange my entire schedule to fit in the community service, which could only be done in 1.5hour shifts. I had to go ten times to fill my quota, and would stay before and after to help out setting and cleaning up for different classes, but my advisors cheated me out of the extra time I had spent and only accounted for the hour and a half period of the actual class time I had been assisting with. Those of my friends busted at the same party, but who ended up at a different Youth Aid Panel, were assigned no service whatsoever, and just had to complete the standard apology letter and essay.

The whole situation should have been avoided in the first place. But since we live on the Main Line, the police have nothing better to do than breathalyze and write up 11 teens who were having a couple beers.

They acted as though it was one of the worst things we could have possibly done, like they had never gone to parties in high school themselves, and called in backup, totaling about ten cops milling around and writing us up for two and a half hours, when they easily could have scolded us and sent us home.

Time, energy, and money is wasted on criminalizing kids for underaged drinking. It happens and everyone is aware of it. Police spend hours busting parties that despite their efforts, are going to continue happening, and tax dollars are wasted on the hearings for the kids who were caught. Rather than treating kids like delinquents for something that’s unavoidable in a high school setting, the effort should be redirected into ensuring they know how to stay safe and out of trouble if they do decide to participate in drinking.

On top of this, the Youth Aid Panel treats everyone coming through as if he or she has a serious problem, and while in some rare cases the kids coming in may have actual addictions, the majority of the time it’s someone in my situation: having a little fun in the wrong place at the wrong time. My blood alcohol content (BAC) level was .042, which is well under the legal limit for an of-age person driving, but I was treated as though I was on the cusp on giving myself alcohol poisoning. The whole system and process is overly dramatic and unnecessary, and in my personal opinion, should be subject to some changes.

I should not have been drinking, that much is true.

I am well under the age of 21 and was caught doing something illegal, for which I have paid the price.

And while this citation will be expunged, if I am ever written up again, I will have both on a permanent record that will be around and publicly viewable for the rest of my life. So why is an affluent community like ours wasting so many resources on an unsolvable problem? Teenagers are going to drink; it’s just what they do.

Not Fakin’

Anonymous

Class of 20??

Like many other seniors at LM, I bought a fake ID at the beginning of the year. I ordered it through a friend of a friend, and paid $110 for two Connecticut IDs. Many seniors who buy fake IDs have no intention of using them to buy alcohol; they buy them so they can drink at restaurants/bars, or for college. Not me. Being a senior boy, I feel that it is my civic duty to my high school and friends to buy alcohol this year. There are a few different local places to go to buy beer. My older sister told me the name of the place where she used to go to buy beer, so I decided to follow in her footsteps and go to the same place. I vividly remember the first time I went on a “beer run.” As I stepped out of my car, I could feel my stomach churning. For some reason, I decided to wear khaki pants because I thought it made me look older, but it was the middle of summer and simply made me sweat. As I walked through the store looking for the Natty Light, I noticed the cashier glancing at me, and I could feel my stomach contracting. “He knows I’m underage,” I thought to myself, “this was a mistake.” When I found the Natty Light, I quickly grabbed two cases and brought them to the register. My mind was running in a million different directions as I placed the cases before the cashier. Did I really look 21? Would he take my fake away? But the cashier simply gave me a smile, and said that it would be $37.50. He probably overcharged me, but there was no way I was sticking around to find out. I hurriedly paid in cash, put the beer in my trunk and sped away.

As I drove away, I had a massive grin across my face; the cashier didn’t even ID me.

After my initial “beer run,” I’ve been on a dozen more. I have been carded on multiple occasions and never have had a problem. If you know the right places to go, buying beer is simple and hassle free. Buying hard alcohol in Pennsylvania, well that’s a whole dif-

ferent story. Despite rumors that my fake ID scans, I’m too nervous to test it in the state-controlled liquor stores, like a Wine and Spirits. In my opinion, it’s simply not worth losing my ID over getting a few handles of vodka. Occasionally my friends and I will make the trek out to a shady alcohol distributor in Delaware or New Jersey, but the trip is cumbersome. So, when people ask me for alcohol, I tell them, “I hope you’re okay with beer.”

Drink now or forever close your mouth Class of 2014

Before I even entered the building for the first time, I thought I had an inside view of what high school parties were like. I had seen my older brother, the class clown, go to and host parties, and I’d seen my older sister, the tech wiz, study diligently and opt to stay away from parties. I felt like I had a decent handle on the high school scene.

When I actually went to my first high school party, I realized how ill-prepared for the act of alcohol consumption I was. Besides learning from my siblings, I’d been taught about it through the DARE program, my parents, and other community members. So why, when I stumbled into the car when my friend’s dad picked us up, did I feel like I hadn’t known what I was getting myself into?

Then it hit me—nothing can truly prepare you for what it feels like to actually be drunk. No amount of basketball shots taken wearing drunk glasses, lectures given to you by your family, or glasses of Manischewitz wine at Passover dinner will really show you what it’s like to

feel out of your element and not capable of acting like yourself at some friend’s party a few miles away from the comfort of your own home. There’s a specific feeling that one gets when he or she goes beyond “buzzed” and becomes drunk. I realized this as I started walking sloppily, talking like a total goober, and probably laughing and making jokes about things that weren’t really funny.

From that point on, I understood it was important to figure out when I had crossed that line and how to avoid crossing that line in the future when I’m not in a safe environment.

Even so, at that first party, I was only a few miles away from my house and, like I said, my friend’s dad was driving us home. Had I been at a university, hundreds of miles away from my parents, what would have happened to me if something had gone wrong? If I had passed out in some strange frat house not knowing how to get home?

What if I had gotten cited and taken to the local police station—who would have picked me up? Looking back on it, had I been anywhere but at home, I could’ve ended up in a sticky situation. However, because of this experience, I now feel like I know myself: what it feels like when I’m drunk and when I’ve reached my limit and need to stop drinking.

I feel that my story is example of why every teenager that sees himself or herself drinking in the near future after high school should drink at least once before leaving for college.

Of course I’m neither encouraging nor endorsing drinking to excess, but there’s a learning curve to drinking that needs to be experienced—it just can’t be taught—because every single person reacts differently to alcohol, has a different “limit,” and acts differently when they get a little bit tipsy. When that day comes where you’re at a party far from your home and you accept the beer from your friend, wouldn’t you rather know what’s about to happen next?

“...there’s a learning curve to drinking safely that needs to be experienced—it just can’t be taught.....”

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

The holidays made simple

Christmas music Christmas music can be easily purchased at any time. There are thousands of songs and artists to choose from on iTunes, if you wish to own some songs to listen to year round. We suggest renowned holiday singers like Andy Williams, Michael Bublé, Frank Sinatra, and Mariah Carey.

If you do not wish to spend money, the radio station B101 is famous for playing a variety of Holiday tunes 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pandora.com and the Pandora app are also great ways to listen to Christmas music. TIP: If you are studying, but want some Christmas spirit to fill your room, search “Instrumental Holiday” on Pandora. You will hear soothing Christmas music accompanied without distracting lyrics—the best of both worlds!

Holiday attire Example 1: The “so ugly it’s cute” holiday sweater The sweater should be big enough that it prompts people to ask if it’s your grandfather’s, which of course it is! Keep in mind that the sweater cannot be simply red, green, or another solid color. An onlooker should definitely be able to tell this sweater was meant for the holiday season. For additional pizazz, wear a light up sweater! This will draw even more attention to your love of the holidays.

Example 2: Holiday-themed socks You simply won’t be merry until you put a pair on! By wearing them loud and proud so that they are visible to all, you will encourage the Christmas spirit in everyone around you. Even if your socks are not showing, (for instance, if they are under your boots or tucked inside your pants) they still remind you that the holidays are coming, bringing you inner joy.

Example 3: Holiday-inspired jewelry It adds a classy twist to the holiday outfit, usually consisting of the common sweaters and leggings. Try Santa or candy cane earrings or an ornament or Christmas bow necklace. Note: If you wish to see one modeled, seek out junior Quinn Harrigan who will be wearing a Christmas bow necklace for the entire Christmas season.

Holiday decorations for your room Example 1: Christmas lights You can purchase them at Rite Aid, Mapes, CVS, or any local grocery store.

They are cheap, accessible, and easy to hang when the time comes. Whether colored or just plain white, they will make your room cozy, twinkly, bright, and all things festive.

Example 2: Mini Christmas tree The festiveness of the mini tree brings the warmth and happiness of a real Christmas tree into your room. If you are creative and craft-savvy, you can make one yourself using supplies from Michaels, or any craft store. If you choose to buy one, visit Target, Urban Outfitters, Walmart, or various Home Goods stores.

Example 3: Scented Candles The flickering of the flame accompanied by the smell of the holidays will create an authentic Christmas-time ambience. They can be purchased from Bed Bath & Beyond, Yankee Candle, Target, or Giant. Our personal favorite scents are “Christmas Cookie,” “Mistletoe,” “Peppermint Bark,” “Home for the Holidays,” and “Christmas Eve.” Fake flame candles are also a great idea if your parents won’t let you have open flames in your room. The flickering will create the same serene, all-around pretty effect.

Christmas tree The Christmas tree is the quintessential item of the holiday season. Upon bringing your Douglas fir home, you must decorate it with various ornaments, lights, tinsel, and anything your merry little heart desires. This way, like customizing stockings, you make the holiday unique to you. Decorating should be a group event that unites people in the spirit of Christmas, ensuring camaraderie and love.

Art by Madelyn Schaeffer ’15

Holiday food traditions

Jessica Epstein

Class of 2017 During the holidays, families at LM celebrate with many different traditions relating to food.

Some are typical: latkes on Chanukah or ham for Christmas dinner. But some family menus are unique and have great stories behind them.

On Christmas Eve at the house of freshman Lizzy D’Alonzo, there is a special dinner called Seven Fishes. D’Alonzo explained, “It’s at my grandmother’s house every year because she is extremely Italian. My dad’s whole side of the family goes to her house, and when you walk in you instantly see seven different kinds of fish and each section of the table is dedicated to a type.”

D’Alonzo continued, “My great-great-great grandmother started this tradition in Italy. Back then you weren’t allowed to eat meat on Christmas Eve so instead you had seven types of fish for the seven sacraments. This meal used to only happen in Italy but through the generations it ended up here in America. Nowadays the rules in the Catholic Church have changed and it is okay to eat meat on Christmas Eve, but we continue to do it every year anyway.”

Interestingly enough, LM Biology teacher and varsity girls soccer coach, Mr. Ries, also celebrates the Seven Fishes tradition with his family. Ries’ family also has other traditions. “Three words, green Jell-O mold,” he said. “It’ s green Jell-O with fruit in it and whipped cream that you eat on Christmas.”

Ries said, “Not everyone likes it, but it’s tradition! My daughter Sophia does love it. My mother’s family back in the old country started making it, and my mother still makes it every year.”

Some traditions are more sophisticated than others. For Alison Epstein, a senior, the tradition— which is very exciting to her—is Pop-Tarts. “I was never allowed to eat Pop-Tarts during the year because of trans fats,” she says, “but I was allowed to eat them once a year on Christmas morning, and it was awesome. My sister and I eat Pop-Tarts every Christmas morning now. I love Pop-Tarts.”

Epstein explains that she toasts her Christmas treat.

Ms. Stiebitz, a new English teacher at LM, has a food tradition that is very dear to her family’s heart: her mother’s popovers. “She makes them from scratch for special occasions,” Stiebitz says, “a beloved tradition that started more than twenty years ago.” Stiebitz first discovered popovers on a family trip to Maine. “One of the highlights of the trip was afternoon tea at Jordan Pond House, a restaurant famous for their delicious, fresh-baked popovers. The popovers were such a legendary part of our trip that my mom wanted to replicate the treats at home.” They found a perfect recipe for popovers that dated back to the 1960s. According to Stiebitz, “The secret to the perfect texture she is the custard cups my mom bakes them in. The ceramic cups were handed down from my mother’s grandmother.” With the recipe, and the ceramic cups, the Stiebitz popovers are perfection. “As they bake, the buttery aroma that fills the house is a cherished reminder of our multi-generational family tradition of cooking.”

It is clear that LM families have special holiday food traditions that help make their holidays memorable. As Epstein remarked, “Now I sometimes eat Pop-Tarts during the year, but it still always reminds me of Christmas.”

FEATURES

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Holiday shopping At this time of year, just about every store has decked the halls.

Everywhere you go, an abundance of holiday spirit can be found, never failing to cheer you up and make you as merry as can be. As the holiday season is the season of giving, why not buy something for a loved one or that special someone to put him or her in the holiday mood? Even if you don’t plan on buying anything, it is still exciting to window shop and enjoy the holiday atmosphere.

By Emma House ’15 and Quinn Harrigan ’15

Thanksgivukah: hybrid holiday Emma Shapiro

Class of 2015 You’ve probably heard rumors, seen tweets, or read Facebook posts that “Thanksgivukah,” the hybrid holiday when Thanksgiving and Chanukah on the same weekend, won’t happen for thousands of years. But here’s the thing, Thanksgivukkah will, in fact, never happen again. Let me tell you why.

Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday in November and Chanukah is the 25th day in the Jewish month of Kislev. If Thanksgiving is always on the fourth Thursday in November, it gives the possibility of it falling on a day from November 22nd to November 28th. If it were the 21st it’d be the third Thursday and if it were the 29th it would be the fifth Thursday. Thanksgiving falls on the 28th around every seven years with leap year swinging it back and forth a little bit each cycle.

Now onto Hanukkah. The month of Kislev can begin as early as November 3rd or as late as December 2nd, making Chanukah begin as early as November 28th or as late as December 27th.

There is such a wide range of possible dates because the Jewish calendar is lunar and can even be altered to ensure Passover will fall in the spring. Rav Shmuel, creator of this complex system, established that every 19 years, the Jewish calendar and the Gregorian calendar would match up.

In 19 years, Chanukah will fall on November 28th again—perfect! The problem? Thanksgiving that year will fall 3 days earlier, November 25th.

According to the 7-year Thanksgiving cycle of falling on the 28th and the 19 year Jewish calendar cycle, it would be expected for the two to fall on the same day again in around 133 years (19x7). However, not completely. In 1861, 152 years ago, the two would have fallen on the same day. The problem? There was no Thanksgiving back then! In 152 years from now, in the year 2165, Thanksgiving falls on the 28th again, but of course, Chanukah does not.

We have leap year because each year it takes 365.25 days to fully circle around the sun so every four years the quarters add up creating another full day making a year of 366 days. But here’s the thing, each year is actually 365.2425 days, adding up to around 11 minutes shorter than a full year, and no one ever noticed or cared. Then came Pope Gregory XIII stating that when those 11 minutes added up it came to ten days missed, so basically everyone was living in the past. Pope Gregory fixed this problem by fast-forwarding the calendar at that time by ten days and getting rid of leap years unless the year was divisible by four. Finally came the Gregorian calendar, spreading throughout the Christian world.

Even after this discovery, the Jews held onto the Shmuelian calendar, still diverging from the Gregorian calendar by 11 minutes per year. By the year of 2165, we would expect Chanukah and Thanksgiving to coincide, but they don’t and Chanukah will be one day later. If the Jews stick with the Shmuelian calendar it will catch up to them in thousands of years. Eventually, Chanukah and Thanksgiving will coincide, but by the time they coincide again, the calendar would’ve been changed and updated so that Passover would fall in the spring, not in the deep summer as it would be if the calendar was not updated.

So that’s why Thanksgiving and Chanukah will never coincide again. I hope you enjoyed the hybrid holiday while you could and had a happy “Thanksgivukah!”

December 19, 2012

A

The Merionite

year in review

17

FEATURES

Raymond Jiang makes it into the All-State orchestra.

March 12

Aces Basketball wins the 2013 State Title against Chester.

April 1-8

DAWGMA makes it to Semi-Finals of districts.

May 6

TSA has 25 top 10 finishes, 11 of which were first or second place at State Conference.

May 28

Spanish students make a difference in Honduras.

October 18

February 21

Science Olympiad places fifth overall at States; Julia Bell places first in Rocks & Minerals.

March 26

The buildOn “trekkies� help build a school in Haiti.

April 8

buildOn collects 20,000 pounds (10 tons) of food for the Great Food Fight.

May 7

Girls Ultimate Frisbee captures State Title.

June 25

Boys Soccer wins the Central League Championship.

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

It’s hard out here for women John Adams

Following the 2009 release of her album “It’s Not Me, It’s You,” singer Lily Allen largely remained out of the public light. But after this three-year absence from the industry, Allen has returned with her new single “It’s Hard Out Here.”

After the misogynistic nightmare that was Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Allen’s song can easily be considered a retaliation. At one point in the song, she directly mocks the infamous balloon scene in the “Blurred Lines” music video. In her own video, Allen happily dances in front of her own set of balloons that form a crude phrase. This, along with numerous other references to “Blurred Lines,” mocks the sexism and the objectification of women in popular music, especially hip-hop. Even the song’s own title, “It’s Hard Out Here (For A B*tch),” pokes at the Oscar winning song “It’s Hard Out Here For A Pimp” by Three 6 Mafia.

The stereotypical modern-day rap video can be described in three words: money, cars, and women. Allen’s new song is no different.

Throughout the video the scenery changes often, from a surgery table to a gold-plated kitchen and so on. However, the main image is of Allen leaning against a Rolls Royce while scantily clad women dance around her, dousing themselves in champagne. Along with the women, she even attempts, (in stilettos), to twerk. Many have cited this as a giant (foam) finger pointing straight at the notoriously wild Miley Cyrus.

The women in the video are key. Allen treats them the way they are often used in rap videosas objects. Time after time, they are seen dancing in the background, being over-sexualized and referred to with possessive pronouns. This only helps to reinforce the idea that women are objects and can be treated as such. They are constantly slandered with insults and even today treated as second-class citizens in most countries around the world, including the United States. In her song, Allen turns the tables and hurls insulting phrases that are commonly said to women at men. “You should probably lose some weight ’cause we can’t see your bones/You should probably fix your face or you’ll end up on your own.” Allen finishes off that verse with, “Don’t you want to have someone who objectifies you?”

Another reason that the women are important is because they themselves have now

become an issue. Many have accused Allen of only using women of color in her video. She responded quickly, saying that, “If anyone thinks for a second that I requested specific ethnicities for the video, they’re wrong” and says that the women were selected based on dancing ability alone. Of the six dancers, four are black, one is white, and one is Asian. Allen also went on to give the Twitter handles of the dancers saying, “Ask the ladies yourselves.”

Setting all the fuss aside, the video’s main point is to show the objectification and sexism that women still face in popular culture.

Today, the success of women is no longer based on their talent, but on their looks.

However, being “a perfect 10” does not mean that a woman will go far. She must adhere to the strict standards of society, which obsess over women’s looks. For example, most popular singers have long hair, lest they get a pixie cut—a short, boyish style. For example, actress Jennifer Lawrence recently unveiled a new pixie cut, and the online website “Total Frat Move” had a strong opinion on it. “If you have any female interaction on social media, whatsoever, you may also have seen Jennifer Lawrence’s new “do.” Though every chick on the planet begs, “Can we just be best friends?

Why is she perfect?” you’d only [date] her if she lost ten pounds. Now, shedding some pounds might not even do it. Lawrence didn’t go full-on pixie short, but the results are equally disastrous.” They ever so gracefully ended the paragraph with, “She should have cut her dessert instead.”

Judging women based on looks is most prominent in the opening scene of the video.

Here, Allen lies atop an operating table while all around her doctors prick and prod, giving her plastic surgery and liposuction at the direction of her sleazy manager. Making a comment to a doctor, he asks “Jesus. How does somebody let themselves get like this?.” “I guess it’s just a total lack of self-discipline, I suppose…” the doctor answers. Both ignore Allen’s self defense that she’d just had two children.

Allowing us into her thoughts, she then begins the song, “I suppose I should tell you what this [chick] is thinking/You’ll find fine me in the studio and not in the kitchen/I won’t be bragging ‘bout my cars or talking ‘bout my chains/ Don’t need to shake… for you ‘cause I’ve got a brain.” However, the next line is a point made all too often, and ignored even more—“If I talked

about my sex life, you’d call me a sl*t/ When boys be talking about their [girls] no one’s making a fuss.” Why does our society allow men to revel in the idea of sexual conquest when women are shamed for the most mundane acts?

A song like Lily Allen’s “Hard Out Here” is long overdue. Until attitudes change, the line of the song that says, “Always trust the injustice ‘cause it’s never going away,” will sadly prove true. Go home and not only listen to the lyrics, but also watch the video.

You may feel that the image of a person singing while objectified women dance around them seems familiar, but the person being a woman (and not a man) is strange. In this case, you are just the type of person being targeted. Congrats, Ms. Allen.

Pencil drawing by Grace McKeon, Grade 9

Watercolor painting by Andrea Barnes, Grade 11

Watercolor painting by Nicki Diacik, Grade 11

Class of 2016

Student Art

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December 19, 2013

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Aces of The Arts

The Merionite Rob Katz- Class of 2014

Mira Leese- Class of 2014

How do you participate in the arts at LM? I am an ardent member of PLAYERS, and I sing Tenor in both Concert Choir and Ace Harmony.

I also take Advanced Metal Arts 4 Honors with Ms. Ackerman.

How do you participate in the arts at LM? I’m in Ace Harmony and a member of the Dance Team. I have also been involved in many PLAYERS productions and I am currently taking AP Music Theory.

When did you start performing?

Officially, in fourth or fifth grade, but my parents tell me longer.

What is your favorite song?

Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers and Misty by Sarah Vaughan. I like to sing jazz songs.

If you could hug anyone right now, who would it be?

If not my girlfriend, then probably Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart at the same time. They seem like really fun people.

When did you start performing?

I started performing when I was nine years old. I sang “The Circle Game”

by Joni Mitchell at the Penn Wynne Talent Show.

Photo courtesy of LM Players

Photo courtesy of Mira Leese

Sweater Weather Brett Rapkin-Citrenbaum

On the Christmas Movie Class of 2015

’Tis the season… for sweaters? As the temperature is regularly dropping below 40 degrees, we’re all trying to find some cute and warm attire. Look no further than the classic Christmas sweater! Trendy and cozy, this festive garment is all you’ll need this holiday season. The uglier the better when it comes to Christmas sweaters. If you can find a sweater with bells and light-up words, you better snatch it up! Saint Nick is sure to take you off the “naughty” list if your sweaters for this season are up to par.

Though it may be uncomfortable and heavy, you won’t regret the purchase of a proper Christmas sweater. But what is a Christmas sweater? How do I identify one? Why should I conform to the weird traditions and wear a scratchy, smelly, old sweater?

What are the benefits? All of your Christmas sweater questions are about to be answered! So grab some milk and cookies because it’s sweater time!

What is a Christmas sweater? Some people believe that all that matters is that your sweater is red and green, but I can assure you there is much more to it. Necessities for Christmas sweaters include bright colors (reds and greens are preferred), confusing and distracting patterns, 3-D aspects (e.g. cotton balls, sparkles, lace, etc.), an unattractive cut for your body type, cliché words and phrases like “Ho Ho Ho” or “Merry Happy,” and of course something that has to do with the holiday season. It is not a true Christmas sweater unless there is a snowman, Santa, a fireplace, snowflakes, a Christmas tree or a wreath on it. Of course, if you want to go above and beyond, there are bonus ideas to make your sweater go from average to amazing. For instance, sweaters that can play music in any way are always a good idea. Matching Christmas sweaters are even better. Whether it’s with your significant other, a family member, or just a friend, rocking matching sweaters is sure to bring you closer than ever.

Now that you know how to tell a Christmas sweater apart from a regular sweater, you need to know where to purchase one. Thrift stores tend to have classic, vintage Christmas sweaters for reasonable prices. Of course, stores such as Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Nordstrom carry all types of fancy, expensive Christmas attire… but you’re better than that. Making your own Christmas sweater is not only easy, but will show people your true dedication to Christmas. To create a DIY Christmas sweater, first, go out and buy a basic sweater. Next, take any shiny or Christmas-like items and glue them onto the boring sweater. Finally, string Christmas lights through the sweater to create a classic Christmas word or phrase. The product will be an eyecatching and adorable sweater.

Finally, I must address those reading this wearing a smirk and an all-black-outfit shaking their heads at the very idea of a Christmas sweater. Christmas sweaters help us embody something that is bigger than all of us: the Christmas spirit. By wearing a Christmas sweater, you are supporting happiness, love, tradition and much more. It doesn’t matter if you hate Christmas or if you grew up on a Christmas tree farm (like Taylor Swift), because the Christmas spirit lives in all of us. Could the Grinch’s heart have grown three sizes in one day without the Christmas spirit? No! And would Mr. Scrooge have helped Tiny Tim live a long, happy life if not for Christmas spirit? Of course not. Without the joy that comes from Christmas, this world would be in a much worse shape. So support Christmas and its message by strutting around the house in a Christmas sweater this holiday season. No matter who you are, a Christmas sweater is sure to boost your mood. For once in your life, conform to society! I don’t think you’ll ever look back.

Hopefully you are now fully equipped with knowledge on how to find Christmas spirit through an article of clothing. You know how to identify one, where to find one, how to make one, and most importantly why to wear one. This holiday season, please check your dignity at the door, because you’re wearing a Christmas sweater.

Sophie Bennett

Class of 2016

At last, we’ve reached December. The month famously known for an excessive amount of Christmas madness—Santas ringing bells for the Salvation Army, torturous amounts of Christmas music and of course, Christmas movies. Although there is always a slight variation to each film, throughout the years they have fallen into a repetitive theme decade by decade. The early years of movie making showed the spirit of Christmas. Classics such as, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “A Christmas Carol,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas” thrived, thus creating Hollywood’s obsession with producing at least one Christmas movie during the holiday season. As time went on, the industry produced more comedic holiday films and less movies were centered on the hidden meanings of the holiday. The movies, “Scrooged,” “Mixed Nuts,” and “Christmas Vacation” are examples of the late ‘80s new change in Christmas movie genre. However, this time period of Christmas comedy did not last long. The ’90s marked the invasion of Christmas movies for kids – a theme that is still evident in the holiday films of our generation. The entire “Home Alone” and “Santa Clause” collection along with “Elf,” “The Polar Express,” “Arthur Christmas” and many others have been very popular with Hollywood due to their ability to rein in millions of viewers and soar in box office totals. Although most of these family films only attract very young audience members, some are enjoyable for people of all ages.

After this period of children’s films came the start of the 2000s and an unexpected turn toward romantic Christmas comedies.

Stars such as Reese Witherspoon, Vince Vaughn, Cameron Diaz, Sarah Jessica Parker, Hugh Grant, and Liam Neeson have all joined in on the festivities. Some of these movies turned out to be less than enjoyable, like “The Holiday,” “A Boyfriend for Christmas,” and “Four Christmases.” Luckily, others have greatly enhanced the world of Christmas movies such as, “Love Actually” and “The Family Stone.” With such a diverse group of Christmas movies in our past, only time will tell what new Christmas storylines await us.

“Damascus” by Max Miller-Golub, Grade 12

December 19, 2013

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT What to wear this winter

The Merionite

Not sure what to wear? Worry no more-here is what LMers have been sporting this winter.

Senior Jeni Bennett shows how plaid can be used to accent a plain outfit.

Long sweaters, like the one junior Julia Christian is sporting, can compliment any outfit.

Both boys and girls can rock the beanie, like junior Hanna Strouse above.

Tims are becoming more popular and more commonly worn by girls (like junior Julia Bell).

Vests like junior Will Kuttruff’s are being worn more and more over an outfit for a little bit of extra warmth.

Riding boots, like junior Roni Fellah’s, continue being a favorite winter shoe for girls.

Infinity scarves like the one junior Emma House is wearing are both pretty and practical- their circular design ensures it will stay around your neck.

By Julia Carstens ‘15

‘Tis the season for decorations

Aine Dougherty

Class of 2015

As Christmas quickly approaches, many LM students may be wondering how they can get into the holiday spirit. The answer is simple- the easiest way to get excited for the holidays is to put up some fun decorations that make your house feel like a winter wonderland.

A crowd favorite are string lights. They can be strung around your Christmas tree or placed carefully outside on the bushes. They come in thousands of different shapes, sizes, colors and more, which can be overwhelming, so here are some tips for guidance. If you want to go the more classic route, plain white or multi-colored lights look great draped around a tree, on the bushes in your front lawn, or even around a stair railing to spread the cheer throughout the whole house. If you want to shock your guests, however, you could always put up more exciting blinking, flashing lights in many different colors.

Now that we’ve covered the lights, let’s discuss how to make your tree the most festive it can be. There are certain necessary items ranging from cheaper to fancier, store-bought decorations. Be sure to top it all off with a bright, shining star on top! And don’t forget stockings for the whole family, including pets. If all these suggestions still don’t satisfy your needs for cheer, you can move on to the fun extras like dancing Santas that sing “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and mistletoe for that special someone. And don’t forget, throughout December and your decorating process, non-stop Christmas songs are a must to truly get you in the holiday spirit.

And once you’ve covered your house in twinkling lights, wreaths, and other Christmas decorations, you can move on to the next exciting task –Christmasthemed snacks! Christmas sugar cookies are a tradition for many and should

be for all. Not only are they a fun way to bond with friends or family, but they are also delicious and perfect for anyone with a sweet tooth. One way to get creative is to make them shaped like Christmas trees, ornaments, stars, angels, reindeer and anything else you can think of. Red, green, yellow, and white icing and sprinkles are required as well. Don’t forget to leave some for Santa on Christmas Eve, along with a glass of milk and a candy cane or two!

If you’re still starved for holiday spirit even after the cookies, try building a gingerbread house. It can be made from scratch or from a kit, depending on your skill level. Once the house is assembled , top it off with your favorite Christmas candies, like candy canes and gum drops, and put the house in a place where your guests can admire your handiwork.

Hopefully, hanging colorful festive lights, decorating a cheery tree, baking delicious sugar cookies shaped like Santas, and making a gingerbread house will get you ready to have a very merry Christmas. If not, you’re most likely a Grinch!

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

The politics of HLM squash Tori Klevan

Class of 2015

A little known fact about the boys Each player plays four games and their Harriton-Lower Merion Squash team is seed at the end of the last game remains its extreme talent. Nine out of the ten ros- their rank. tered varsity athletes are nationally ranked So if you’re having a bad day and play in their respective age groups. However, one “off” game, it decides your role on the procedure for creating the intra-squad the squad. Many HLM players dislike this rankings does not reflect the complex method of ranking, as they feel it is an point-based rankings calculated by the unfair representation of their skill. In adUSA Squash Racquets Association. dition, the US Squash National rankings Players on squash squads must first be disprove the results of the tournament. ranked to determine whom they play on Second-ranked Harriton junior Harrison the opposing team Mayo is nationally during a match. ranked 104th in the boys First rank plays under-17 group. Sixthfirst rank, second ranked Lower Merion plays second, etc.

Junior Alan Litman is HLM Squash deternationally ranked 43rd mines their player in the same group, a rankings first by a huge difference. The king-of-the-court national ranking sysgame to determine tem is based on all of seeds, and then by the matches that each a ladder-style tourplayer has competed nament to decide Photo courtesy of Alan Litman in against players official rankaround the country, a ings. Once seeds much more accurate Last year, the team huddling up in prepare chosen, the representation.

Literation for Nationals. cutthroat comman is also ranked in petition begins, deciding the fate of the HLM below two boys with lower national squad’s success while also casting a wave ranks than himself, one unranked boy, and of tension amongst teammates. The lad- one boy ranked below him in a higher age der-style tournament seeds competitors on group. each step of the ladder. The highest seed As I sit in my Economics class each plays the lowest seed and other matches day, I hear constant bickering about how are arranged in that type of format. If “the rankings are wrong.” Guys on the you beat an opponent that’s a higher seed team are really torn up about the supposed than you, you take their seed, and they unfairness of the system, even though they take your seed. For example, if the first get the chance every couple of weeks to up seed falls to the fifteenth seed, the former their ranks. However, the squad has startfirst seed is now seeded fifteenth and the ed their season off with a 6-3 win against former fifteenth seed is now seeded first. Penn Charter, so no complaining there!

SPORTS Winter running motivation

By Tori Klevan ‘15 I get it. It’s winter, it’s freezing, you’re exhausted from long days at school, Netflix is screaming your name, and the only thing you’ve thought about all day is your bed. We’ve all been there. However, I’ve created a step-by-step guide that has helped me find the motivation to lace up and go on a run during these cold winter months.

Follow these steps, and you’ll be pounding the streets of Montgomery county in no time.

Step 1: Turn your swag on. By this, I mean find or purchase all of the gear necessary to go on a run in the cold. Yes, you technically only need sneakers and a pair of shorts to run, but that’s no fun and the ugliness of average running clothing is discouraging. At least 90% of the motivation I get for running is from putting on my swag. When I dress in my neon spandex, shiny sneakers, and intense-looking running clothes, I feel awesome and want to show off my attire to the neighborhood. Personally, I love Nike and will wear any of their products, but, it’s up to the runner to decide which brand meets their standards. If you need some new swag, ask your parents!

Lots of parents beg their kids to go out and get some exercise and would do anything to get them running, including buying them swag.

Step 2: Make a playlist. If you don’t run with music, you’re seriously missing out.

Running to a song with motivating lyrics or even a song with a steady beat gives you the adrenaline you need to run. Runners World Magazine studies show that listening to music while running reduces your perception of how hard you’re running by 10%.

Listening to music makes is easier to run faster, which is just about as encouraging as it gets. However, be careful. A big thing I learned from experience is not to put obviously annoying songs on your running playlist. Stay away from “Eye of the Tiger” and “Lose Yourself.” Songs I have on my running playlist are “Touch the Sky” by Kanye West, “99 Problems” by Jay-Z, and “Gettin’ Live” by GRiZ. I also suggest putting a few EDM songs on your playlist because if at any point during your run you feel like you’re slowing down, as soon as the beat drops you’ll get a burst of energy.

Step 3: Set a goal. Once you’re done the first two steps, you may be thinking, “I just did all of this stuff and now I’m gonna run aimlessly around outside in the cold.”

No! You must, must, must, set a goal. For example, think to yourself, “I’m going a run because I’m going to get in shape and get faster so I can make the varsity soccer team.” Good goals to get you started could be to lose weight, to get in shape, to run a half-marathon, or just to run faster for self-satisfaction. Nonetheless, running without a goal will be the number one reason you choose your bed over your sneakers.

Good luck and get out there this winter!

Strong leadership, strong start for boys’ ice hock-

Andrew McKinney

Class of 2015

After one of the most successful seasons in program history last year, the Aces boys’ hockey team has had an eventful start to the 2013-2014 season. With key wins against Boyertown, Upper Darby, and Haverford, the Aces are looking to carry last season’s positive outlook into this year. They started the season on a five-game winning streak, but followed their early success with two tough losses at the hands of Garnet Valley and Radnor. Nonetheless, the team has rallied behind its two naturalborn captains and a plethora of young talent.

Poised to wreak havoc in the Central League for at least the next two years, the squad is highlighted not only by upperclassmen skill, but also its talent across all four grades. When asked what the strengths of this team are, junior defenseman and cocaptain Jake Margolis noted, “The two biggest strengths are our depth and confidence in all of our lines’ abilities to contribute.” This depth has certainly been on display, as they have already received contributions from all players, whether from the first line or those at the end of the bench. From freshmen to seniors, this unit has showed that they have the potential to contend this year and for a number of years to come.

The Aces have definitely had to rely on their depth with the shocking and serious injuries to junior left-wing Noah Goldstein and junior defenseman Lucas Fraiman. Before the season, Goldstein took a knee-to-knee hit in a non-league game against the Wilkes-Barre Bruins. He suffered a sprained ACL and nondisplaced fracture in his right knee. He has Photo by Hanna Edelson undergone over a month of physical therapy, and is looking forward to returning to the Against Conestoga, Dylan Karvalis team soon. The Aces saw their roster dam(12) and Evan Wolf (16) celebrate a wellaged further with the injury of Fraiman. In orchestrated goal with teammates.

November, he was diagnosed with a spine infection that threatened not only his hockey season, but also his ability to walk for the rest of his life. Doctors, however, performed a successful surgery, and most likely, Lucas will eventually return to the ice. Fraiman will remain out of action for an Fraiman period of time, but the team will hope to use these injuries as motivation as

the season wears on. Margolis commented, “Another asset we have is how close our team is as a unit; everyone gets along and there is a true sense of a team atmosphere.” Along with the support of the Aces Nation community, things are looking up from a situation that first appeared dire.

For all the strengths that this team possesses, there are certain aspects that they need to improve soon in order to make a lengthy run in the postseason. When asked what this team needs to do to finish off a strong season, senior winger Mike Forster explained that the team “needs to get back to playing the way it did last year, playing from behind the net and grinding out goals.” If the Aces can secure the puck behind the net, they will have more opportunities to set up shots from the slot, the area of the hockey rink directly in front of the goaltender, and between the faceoff circles on each side of the rink.

Getting the puck in the front of the net will always result in more chances and more goals, regardless of how skilled a team is.

Photo by Hanna Edelson Finally, leadership will be key in the playoffs. The Aces will need Senior wing Mike Forster races down to put their faith in their two capthe ice after the loose puck. tains, junior Jake Margolis and senior Will Levin. Levin, a centerman, has been an assistant captain since sophomore year, but finally takes the role of captain this year. When asked how he has grown, and how the team has grown during his tenure, Levin answered, “I’ve been able to lead on and off the ice. Our team has definitely grown from my freshman year. Even though our coaching has changed, our leadership has not and that has been one of the reasons we’ve been so successful.” The leadership of Margolis and Levin has carried the team to this point, but if the Aces boys’ hockey team is going to advance further than in the past, it will have to depend on its collective success. Nonetheless, the team looks to contend for another lengthy trip into the Pennsylvania State Championships. The Aces will continue to provide us with hard-nosed defense, show-stopping goals, and relentless goalkeeping that will surely provide for an enjoyable rest of the season.

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

Rebuilding with youth

Mitchell Gladstone

Class of 2015

While the Aces girls’ basketball team was very much up and down last year, their season ended with a sense of hope lingering in the air. Now, in the second year of what many would consider to be a rebuilding process for the Lady Aces, Coach Lauren Pellicane is looking to the youth of her squad for continued growth on the court. However, such a young team must, in turn, look to its leadership, particularly senior captain and forward Danielle Baer. Certainly, with the loss of last year’s leading scorer Rosie Stahler, Baer is needed to provide a heavy dose of offense.

Both a shooter and post presence, she provides the team with the scoring that it lacked in bunches during the course of last year. Also, for a team that includes seven underclassmen, junior forward Abby Goldstein explained that, “one of the main goals will be to have good communication coming from not only the girls on the court, but also those on the bench.”

Baer ’s performance and guidance will be vital in the development of the youth for the Aces.

For a team with two prevalent

weaknesses (both height and experience), Coach Pellicane’s players have made it obvious that they will not let their faults hold them back this season. Despite now-sophomore Olivia Tevis’s transfer to Harriton, the Lady Aces return a reloaded backcourt featuring freshman Sophia Goldstein, sophomores Leslie Gladstone and Margo Urheim, and juniors Quinn Harrigan and Leonique Glasgow. Harrigan commented that the Aces will “use [their] speed to [their] advantage by getting the ball up the court quickly, but will really have to focus on boxing out and getting rebounds against the bigger teams.” Along with Baer, senior forward Sakia Leach is expected to help crash the boards and provide a force in the paint, as the Central League will challenge the Aces with big and talented squads from Garnet Valley, Conestoga, and Ridley.

Beyond its lack of height, this team is rounded out by a talented group of freshman. Although only Goldstein is likely to see significant minutes, the experience of growing on the varsity bench while getting to play for the JV will be important for the future of the Lady Aces. Gladstone noted that being a part of the varsity squad last

SPORTS

year gave her the opportunity to see the level of competition that she will face this year. Freshman guards Lizzy D’Alonzo, Eleanor Gaddy, and Kelly Harrigan certainly will be cogs in the Aces lineup for years to come, but this season will be, if nothing else, learning on the job. And interestingly enough, in what may be a first for the Lady Aces, the team features two pairs of sisters in Abby and Sophia Goldstein as well as Quinn and Kelly Harrigan. If the team is to have major success, though, they will all need to grow together as sisters on and off the court.

With blurred expectations for such a young team, many questions will have to be answered during the course of this season. Will the guards be able to overcome the lack of height when playing down low? Which underclassmen will make an impact on both ends of the court? How will the Aces fare in a challenging Central League? As for the prospects of the upcoming year, Abby Goldstein said, “It’s going to be an exciting season; don’t underestimate us!”

All of the answers to these questions will make for an intriguing season for the Aces girls’ basketball squad.

The challenge to defend William Rosenbaum

Class of 2015

The 2013-2014 Aces boys’ basketball squad will step onto the court this winter with a lot to prove.

After graduating 10 seniors—most notably guards Raheem Hall (Phelps Academy) and B.J. Johnson (Syracuse University) as well as forward Yohanny Dalembert (James Madison University)—the team is left with just five returning varsity players.

Of those five, just two are seniors.

Assistant coach Doug Young mentioned the youthfulness of the crew, pointing out that although the team will be young “there’s a great opportunity for new players to step up and contribute immediately.” While the team boasts plenty of new faces, the team will also look to a strong group of key returners to anchor this year’s side.

Having bid farewell to a great deal of height in the past two years—6’6” Darryl Reynolds (Villanova University), 6’8” Dalembert, and Johnson at 6’7”, the Aces are looking for strong play in the paint from forwards Jule Brown and Justin McFadden. In the backcourt, the ma-

roon and white look to junior guard Corey Sherman to hit outside shots.

McFadden, a 6’5” senior, committed to Binghamton University earlier this fall and is needed to grab key rebounds, play tough defense, and take some painful charges. In transition, look for the speed and ball handling of senior guard JaQuan Johnson alongside his counterpart, junior guard Nick Jones. A transfer from Archbishop Carroll, Jones is eager to make his mark in an Aces uniform and fans should keep an eye out for his knack to score in bunches.

As the reigning class AAAA state champions, the young Aces will have to contend with a difficult and competitive schedule, a challenge for any team with such lofty expectations. Although defending AAA state champions Imhotep Charter took out the Aces 58-54 in an early season matchup, LM is faced with yet another challenge on December 27 as they take on Jones’ former team, Archbishop Carroll. Then, on January 18, in a rematch of last year’s state semifinal, New Castle will travel across the state for an exciting game at the Kobe Bryant Gymnasium. On top of all of their

non-league contests, the Aces will have to deal with an always-tough Central League season, which will be highlighted by reloaded squads from Penncrest, Upper Darby, and Conestoga.

As in prior years, the Dawg Pound is anticipated to be in full force.

Head coach Gregg Downer has on numerous occasions cited the importance of a “pound” filled with ardent fans. When prompted about his expectations for the student section this year, Downer expressed his desire “that they show up in masses, make noise, have fun, and always bring energy to the gym.” He also hopes that the fans will travel as “support is very important, in both home games and away games.” In a recent survey, Dawg Pound members were questioned about their expectations for the upcoming year. While some expressed that they felt this season would be a “disappointment,” others were more optimistic and some even expressed their belief in a repeat championship performance.

Whatever the outcome, expect some exciting performances and many victories from a high-quality basketball squad.

Photos courtesy of Aces Hoops and Mike Goldstein

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

8

Aces boys’ basketball preseason state ranking in the Philadelphia Inquirer

15

Points scored by Aces boys’ hockey scoring leader Will Levin

5

Freshmen on the Aces girls’ basketball varsity team

SPORTS

16

Years in which the Dawg Pound has existed as LM’s student section

Should NBA teams “tank” their season for a better chance in the NBA draft?

Will Rieke

Tanks for playing Class of 2016

The NBA is a “superstar” driven league. In recent years, every team that has won a championship had one, two, or even three elite players. I hate to say it, but the NBA has become a league highlighting individuals, rather than teams. The most synchronized, unselfish team can only get so far until they eventually face Dwayne Wade, Chris Bosh, and Lebron James all wearing the same colors. Certain approaches in acquiring talent to be able to beat a team like the Miami Heat in a seven game series, are either through signing free agents or through the first few picks in the NBA draft.

A couple of teams tend to dominate the free agency market. Particularly, the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat have some key aspects in common: warm weather, beaches, big and bustling cities, and an abundance of wealth. These teams are popular targets where top players like to join forces together and take the league by storm. For the rest of the teams in the NBA attracting free agents is extremely difficult and they end up paying too much for the leftovers: the free agents passed on by the few destination teams who are usually extremely overpaid and on the decline in their careers.

These players are the perfect ingredients in placing a team in the dreaded state of mediocrity. The teams that have had superstar talent and have enjoyed success without signing the big free agents are the San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, drafting their way to success. The Spurs have won three titles in the last decade without signing any big names and securing all-stars Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, and Manu Ginobili all through the draft.

A prime example of a direct product of tanking is the Oklahoma City Thunder. This team was the laughing stock of the NBA as they had a winning percentage of .332 for four years. However, in that span of four miserable years they used first round picks to draft a trio of superstars: Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Their average winning percentage in the next four years suddenly jumped from .332 to .681 and they reached the 2012 NBA Finals.

In the Sixers’ case, their new management team understands analytics, how the NBA works, and how to “properly” tank. General manager Sam Hinkie has made it clear that he wants to escape mediocrity. The Sixers were stuck overpaying for aging free agents while drafting mid-level prospects and as a result, they were never able to achieve further success. In trading young all-star Jrue Holiday and filling this year’s team with unproven players on short-term contracts, Hinkie was thinking about the future and had a plan for the Sixers to climb to the top of the 2014 NBA Draft. This is where the elite talents such as Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker, and Julius Randle are likely to be available.

Tanking is the yellow brick road to success. Many teams now realize, in order to get better, they must get worse first.

Freshman Everhett Grimes Sport Played: Ice hockey.

What is your favorite holiday and why? Christmas because of the gifts.

What is the hardest thing about your sport? My size. In high school, I’m tiny compared with most guys, so I take a lot of hard hits.

What was your favorite movie from 2013? 42 - The Jackie Robinson Story

Sophomore Myles McGregor

Sport Played: Basketball.

What is your New Year’s resolution? I want to be more active in the community and help kids who are less fortunate than myself.

What is a sport that you wish you could play? I’ve always tried to skateboard, but I’ve never been succesful.

What is the song at the top of your 2013 playlist? Cole Summer by J. Cole.

Jonathan Rachlin

No tank you

Class of 2015 Professional sports teams are one of the great sources of regional pride in the United States.

They play a major role in the identities of cities and their fans place deep emotional value on the performance of those teams, especially in a sports-enamored city like Philadelphia. Imagine, however, if the sense of pride was reversed and uprooted, in a situation where a team sacrificed wins for the hope of future success.

Perhaps the most glaring fault with tanking is the effect on fans, as loyal fan bases are subject to a season of losing and disappointment. Tanking never guarantees a high draft pick as the NBA selects its draft order through a preferred lottery. Because the worst team in the league only has a 25% chance of gaining the first pick, tanking is a method of increasing the percentage through consistent losing. Upon further exploration, teams that successfully attain a high pick by tanking, often selecting players who never reach lofty expectations. The 2001 Washington Wizards exemplify the disastrous side of tanking. The team suffered through a cataclysmic 2000-2001 season, in which they earned an impressively awful .230 winning percentage, and in turn, were rewarded with the number one overall draft pick through the lottery sytem. Washington then selected Kwame Brown, a highly touted high school player out of Georgia, who went on to average a laughably disappointing 6.6 points per game. Still floundering through a career of attitude problems and underperformance, Brown serves as the poster-child for the anti-tanking movement.

The Sixers are currently putting not only their organization, but also the city of Philadelphia through a season of misery. General manager Sam Hinkie has admitted that the team is going to need a transition period if they want to be successful, but he has failed to acknowledge the team’s fans. For a fan base to come to the arena each night, only expecting to lose, is completely and utterly demoralizing. To any team, fan support is just as important as winning and a season of tanking equates to a lack of both.

Tanking not only devastates defective teams for a lengthy period of time, but it also increases the power of established organizations. Teams following the slippery tanking path often suffer blowout losses to top opponents, leaving a large disparity between the quality and lackluster clubs. Come playoff time, standings feature few teams with superb records, bolstered by frequently matching up with squads banking on defeat. The integrity of the NBA is therefore distorted, as a select group of teams gain an unfair advantage over others that have no desire to counteract their unsatisfactory performance. Tanking deprives fan bases of their passion and pride while detracting from the very principles upon which athletic competition is based.

Junior Keren Baranov

Sports Played: Swimming.

What is your favorite holiday and why? Definitely Christmas because I love the presents, food and holiday spirit.

What is the hardest thing about your sport? Getting up in the morning for practice before school.

What was your favorite movie from 2013? The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.

Senior Kathleen Peng

Sports Played: Field hockey, swimming, and crew.

What is your New Year’s resolution? To talk more during French class.

What is a sport that you wish you could play? I really wish that I could dance and also play soccer.

What is the song at the top of your 2013 playlist? Gotta love me some Wrecking Ball.

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December 19, 2013

The Merionite

Inside the college recruiting process

SPORTS

Senior athletes tell all

Daniel Buckman- Bowdoin College (Lacrosse) Georgia Grimes- Undecided (Field Hockey) Kathleen Peng- University of Michigan (Crew) Jack Kane- Lafayette College (Lacrosse) Alex Simpson- Ursinus College (Lacrosse)

Justin McFadden- Binghamton University (Basketball)

Why do you want to be a student athlete?

“I’ve always put academics first. I can’t go pro in field hockey, so for me what I’m getting out of college is going to be a degree. I’ve told myself through this entire process that I want to find a school that I absolutely love and is good for me academically. If I can play there that’s the bonus.”

-Georgia Grimes “Quite simply to continue the sport I grew up playing.”

-Justin McFadden

Why did you choose your particular school?

“I chose Ursinus because of the community it harbors. The coach would respond to any question or concern I had often before the day’s end. Since the coach’s arrival three years ago, the team’s record has continuously improved. Loren Pope, a New York Times editor, wrote a book by the name of Colleges That Change Lives, which included Ursinus college on its list. It appeared to me that this school would develop both my playing ability and my character.”

-Alex Simpson “I chose Binghamton because it was an academic fit. I’ll be able to study business at the exemplary School of Management. Secondly, Coach Dempsey believed in me and had a plan for the future. I came into Lower Merion when it already had a rich basketball tradition. Contrarily at Binghamton, I get a chance to be apart of the start of basketball tradition.”

-Justin McFadden “At Bowdoin, I’ll have an opportunity to succeed both academically and athletically.

The coach said the lacrosse team was the closest group of guys he’s ever coached. I also like a liberal arts learning environment where you’re closer with the professors.”

-Daniel Buckman

Photo courtesy of Gigi Grimes

Grimes (in white) fights for the ball against Boyertown.

“The big thing was that Michigan was the first school to be interested in me, and they really boosted my confidence regarding athletics, and myself in general. And the team, I absolutely loved the girls on the team and the coaches as well.”

-Kathleen Peng

How did schools let you know that they “wanted” you?

Left to right: Buckman, Kane, and Simpson are all smiles at their official press conference held at LM.

“I would get phone calls to go see campuses. Especially if it was a school of interest I’d visit. Then they’d tell me if I was one of the guys they would offer a spot to, or if I was on a list if their top guys ended up choosing another place.”

-Daniel Buckman “Coaches would say they wanted me and would pull for me in the admissions process. I received offers from Haverford, Amherst, Wesleyan, Colgate, Vassar, Tufts, and others, and am still talking to Georgetown. It’s really nerve-wracking waiting to hear back from coaches about if they like you or not.”

-Georgia Grimes “Coaches have different methods of showing their interest in recruits. Every lacrosse player knows there are handfuls of generic emails beginning with the infamous ‘Dear insert name here.’ There are genuine emails from coaches concerning their interest, but I felt the most respectable coaches would always make the effort to call a serious recruit.”

-Alex Simpson “If I was interested in the school, I would call the coach and set up an unofficial visit where they would show me the school, athletic facilities, and meet with me to discuss how interested they were in me and what it would take to secure either some sort of scholarship offer, or simply an admissions spot. It was in these meetings where I would either get offered, dropped, or told they needed to see me play more.”

-Jack Kane

Talk a bit about your recruiting process: showcases, college visits, meetings with coaches, emailing, offers, etc.

“While I would try to absorb everything I saw and heard on my visits, the coaches were determining if I was mature enough and possessed the charisma that they looked for in their players. I had to direct a lot of the conversation and ask the right questions to display my interest in the program.”

-Alex Simpson “Getting recruited in basketball is not an easy task. There is so much competition and so many talented players. The process involves different camps and showcases that get you playing in front of the right people, and finding the right AAU team that will give you exposure while complementing your abilities.

These AAU teams are your best chance to play in front of college coaches.”

-Justin McFadden

Photo courtesy of Alex Simpson

People think that you guys are lucky because you can complete the college process early quickly.

However, Why did youand choose the school thatthey you may did? not understand what you guys had to go through. What was the most stressful part of the process for you?

“I’m applying to [Michigan’s] nursing school, and I have to wait just like everyone else to see whether or not I got in. If I don’t get in, I’m not allowed to sign. And that makes it worse because I verbally committed, so I cant really be talking to other schools as a back up. And for all the other athletes that are getting recruited, we had to work our butts off to get to where we are now. I know for me that last year was probably the hardest year I have ever had physically. This summer all I basically did was train. Swim, work, row. But the hardest part? Getting back INTO shape. I basically went from nothing to something in that year.”

-Kathleen Peng

“Having to train for two hours every day and do my homework, because coaches don’t want you if you’re not smart so I had to keep up my grades, get enough sleep, email coaches, and then travel every weekend for hours to meet with coaches or go to tournaments, among other things. It’s definitely not the easy way out and going through this has given me a huge amount of respect for other student athletes. I think a lot of people would be shocked if they saw the amount of hours that go in to just preparing for one game. In the last four years, I’ve spent 1,500 hours on field hockey.”

-Georgia Grimes “I gave up many weekends in the fall and summer, often times waking up by four or five in the morning to play grueling amounts of lacrosse in hopes of being seen by coaches. Also, a highlight reel was an essential aspect of our exposure and took incredible amounts of time to make. It was difficult to keep them short and professional looking, while cramming in as many impressive plays as possible.”

-Alex Simpson

“You have to start marketing yourself starting in 9th grade: organizing a list of schools that you want to target, because unless you are a ESPN top 50 [lacrosse] recruit, no coaches are coming to knock on your door. The process is really random; some schools could look at you while others may not even consider you.”

-Daniel Buckman “The recruiting process really started for me when I was beginning my freshman season. I had a list of about 15 schools or so and I would email them my schedule, GPA, club highlights etc. Sophomore year, I would go all up and down the East Coast, playing in prospect camps and hoping to be recruited. Right before my junior year (this is generally considered to be the most important time to get seen in lacrosse), it became clear who wanted me and who didn’t.”

-Jack Kane

Photo courtesy of Kathleen Peng Peng (above, third from left) muscles through the water with teammates. McFadden (right) poses at his press conference held in September.

Photo courtesy of Aces Hoops