Merionite May 2023

The offcial student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929

May 3, 2023

The Merionite

Volume 94, Issue 6

www.themerionite.org

A night to remember for a principal to remember

It was “an event that felt like Mr. Hughes,” said Spanish teacher Sean Capkin, a member of the Sean A. Hughes Memorial Committee. On March 10, over a year since the death of beloved LM principal Sean Hughes, a memorial fundraiser was held to honor his memory. Hughes had a long and distinguished career serving LMSD, frst as a teacher, then as assistant athletic director, athletic director, assistant principal, and fnally as principal of LM. Interviews with those who knew him reiterated one consistent theme: his unwavering commitment to the school, its students, and their families. His presence and character left an unforgettable and heartwarming sense of community at LM that persists to this day. The memorial party was a ftting testament to Hughes’ impact and legacy, and it was a deeply emotional and moving occasion that brought people together to celebrate his life and the lasting impact he had on so many.

Following his passing, close family and friends of Hughes produced a plethora of ideas to honor his memory: “Can we name the new junior high school after him?” “How about a memorial?” “Is it going to be a feld or a building?” “A statue or a mural?” Ultimately, the idea of an active garden was born, bridging the area between LM and the district administration ofces. The artist recruited to design and construct the memorial is Harriton High School graduate from the class of 2001, Miguel Antonio Horn. In order to raise money for this memorial, among other projects

Maya Zada ’26

to honor Hughes’ legacy, a chosen committee of Hughes’ friends and family from a variety of his communities came together. Once a fund was established, planning for the Sean A. Hughes Memorial Fund Kickof Party began.

The kickof event was held at the Great American Pub in Conshohocken. Funds were amassed from tickets for the event, rafe sales from prizes donated by Philadelphia sports teams, local businesses, community families, 50/50 tickets, and other smaller prizes. The Saint Patrick’s Day themed party was a colossal success. Altogether, fundraising exceeded expectations and goals, amassing a total of over 16,000 dollars raised.

The Sean A. Hughes Memorial Committee is an extraordinary group comprised of the committee president, Kristi Hughes, student representative Michelle Kelly ’23, as well as Hughes’ close friends and colleagues, many of whom are LM administrators and teach-

ers. However, one of the most noteworthy attributes of the event was that LM students participated as volunteers. With so many teachers, LM alumni, and students working together, it united the community, just as Hughes did. The fundraiser was just the beginning. In the future, the committee plans to host a golf outing and 5K run to continue raising money for the memorial, and children’s book, scholarships, and other items to honor Hughes’ legacy.

Campus ofcially closed

Alexa Saler ’25

Students are required to sign their names in when they enter the building late after having a free period, or sign out when they leave the school early.

Just a week before spring break, students sat down during advisory to watch a video. It was a presentation made by Dr. Johnson updating the student body, focusing on some issues that stirred mixed opinions. Discussed in this presentation were some new rules, most that would be implemented when returning from the break. While some of the new rules were generally accepted, one in particular caused much angst and disruption. This rule stated that students no longer had access to the majority of doors around the school during the day. Essentially, the main ofce and Kobe Bryant Gymnasium entrances were the only ones to be utilized by students. Additionally, they were not permitted to enter or leave school from the side entrances for free periods, appointments, or to move their cars. Instead, students are now directed to sign in or out at the ofce whenever they enter the building late or leave early as a result of free periods at the beginning or end of the school day. This new regulation impacted students greatly, as the ability to leave for any purpose, including to move their cars, is now limited.

While students still enter through these side doors in the morning, new regulation prevents students from exiting through these same doors.

NEWS

One of the most prominent concerns amongst students regarding Dr. Johnson’s decision is how students will continue to use twohour parking. Parking is consistently a problem for LM students, primarily due to the lack of lot space and an excess of students who drive to school. Seniors are able to enter a lottery for one of a few highly-coveted parking spots at the beginning of the school year. With such limited parking, many students, especially juniors who don’t have access to the lottery, opt to use the two-hour parking in LM’s surrounding neighborhoods, especially near Owen Road. These spots are mostly accessed via door 23, near the Spanish and Engineering classrooms. Students who need to move their cars before being ticketed after two hours in a spot typically use the door heavily throughout the course of the day. While this practice always violated LM rules, these new regulations prohibit this behavior, impacting LM students who previously used this form of parking.

Though the school rule preventing students from leaving the premises had been in efect before Dr. Johnson became principal,

OPINIONS

it was never strictly enforced by past administrators. This sudden change was abrupt for many students. In the past, especially due to students who could easily go home during the day or those who accessed their cars of campus, the idea of a “closed campus” was not entirely maintained. It became a privilege that students took for granted. However, students who didn’t expect the change in policy are now fnding alternative practices since they cannot leave the building to move their cars throughout the day, or leave campus if they have a free period. Some students claim that it leaves very few alternatives, if any, for students who must use two-hour parking. Additionally, this rule limits students’ ability to use the side doors during free periods to leave campus. One common spot for the student body is Suburban Square; some students frequented the open-air shopping center during frees or Lunch & Learn. Our school has always been considered a “closed campus,” but the previous lack of specifc enforcements allowed students to break this rule without severe consequences. Now, with administrators and campus aides policing the campus more heavily, and with sign-in sheets to ensure students don’t leave unless authorized, students are generally unable to exit the school and return from places like Suburban Square. This is accompanied by signs reminding students not to use any exits around the building during the day except the main ofce entrance. Additionally, if they have a free at the beginning of the day, they can come to school late but must sign in on the form in the ofce. The same goes for free periods at the end of the day, as students must sign out before leaving.

With this, students, especially the ones who use two-hour parking, are greatly impacted. On one hand, students who usually use two-hour parking could just take the bus to school. On the other hand though, two-hour parking might just be more convenient for them, their situations at home, etc. With all of this in mind, LM students may be confned to using alternate parking places like Suburban Square, or just taking the bus. One thing is evident in light of this news; the leniency at LM is coming to a close.

SPORTS

An indictment, a campaign March brought the madness as LM’s clubs and teams competed head to head page 3

LM clubs compete for victory

How will Trump’s recent indictment and media presence afect his polling in 2024? page 6

SPECIAL FEATURE

Jeopardy

Quiz yourself and others on the LM facts you never knew you needed to know pages 10-11

A&E TSWIFT on tour

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has taken the music world by storm page 14

FEATURES

Promposal playbook

As seniors gear up for prom, they fnd creative ways to “propose” page 13

Running better together

The Unified Track team promotes inclusivity and physical activity in a fun setting page 18

Olympics

Photos by Luke Shepard ’24/Staf

Graphic by Eliza Liebo ’25/Staf

SAGE conference: where we’re planted

Lela Miller ’24 Copy Editor

This year, for the frst time since 2019, LM Student Activists for Greater Equality (SAGE) partnered with Harriton SAGE to put together an in-person conference for students from both high schools. In past years, these conferences varied in themes, but always contained workshops, guest speakers, and discussions surrounding social justice issues.

On April 11, SAGE hosted a conference titled “Where We’re Planted,” a play on the phrase “bloom where you’re planted,” with a theme centered around local activism. SAGE officers from LM and Harriton worked for months, meeting regularly over zoom with their advisors Laura Stiebitz, Andrea Wilson-Harvey, and the Director of School and Community Relations Amy Buckman, to organize and schedule an exciting day full of interesting guest speakers and workshops led by many student officers. Kendall Johnson ’23, co-president of LM SAGE, expressed, “The conference was definitely a big job and took a lot of productive collaboration, compromise, and problem solving.” Part of the planning process included advertising and collecting registrees. In the end, close to 200 students from the two schools registered and were excused for the school day in order to attend the event. Stiebitz emphasized, “Launching our first in-person conference since 2019 took lots of team work and logistics—and working quickly under pressure as we navigated last minute changes.”

To start the day off, SAGE planned to host Josh Shapiro, PA’s governor, as their headlining speaker. For many members of SAGE, having the governor come to speak at the conference was very exciting. Noah Barkan ’24, SAGE officer and the club’s primary contact with Shapiro’s team, said he was very excited because “while grassroots activism is important, a lot of the big influence comes from politics and government.” Unfortunately, the week before the event, the governor emailed club members, letting them know that a last minute emergency came up and he had to reserve the week to stay in Harrisburg. Barkan admitted, “we were all very disappointed, but quickly came up with a backup plan and were able to get a video from the governor to show at the beginning of the conference.”

After viewing the video from the governor, students went to their first workshops, which they had chosen earlier. The conference offered seven workshops led by both LM and Harriton SAGE officers: Push Back Against Period Poverty, Conversations on Consent & Coercion, We Want a Future: a Greener LMSD, The Road to Civic Accessibility, Conserving the Community: Save Chinatown, The Trouble with Advanced Curricula, and The Importance of Pride. Most of the workshops incorporated information and action, while simultaneously providing a space for students to discuss the issues they were learning about.

Dylan Spivak ’24, who helped lead the workshop on pride, explained that her workshop focused on “book bannings in the Central Bucks School District that are disproportionately targeting queer literature” and “anti-trans legislation throughout

Pennsylvania.” They presented new information and discussed these topics, talking heavily about the ways local activism could address the issue. Stiebitz shared, “What I enjoyed most was watching the students lead the workshops: their passion is contagious.”

After an hour in their frst workshop, students were able to attend a second workshop of their choosing. Then, after an hour in those, the students came together in the auditorium for a fnal speaking event. The afternoon’s speaker was Dr. Lisa Spacek M.D. Ph.D., an infectious disease specialist who works with HIV AIDS treatment. She spoke about social determinants of health, how members of the LGBTQ+ community often don’t receive optimal care, and the shift that needs to be made towards providing optimal care across the board. Adina Olson ’24, who attended the conference, noted, “I was really inspired to take action after learning so much new information and having such powerful discussions.” Both attendees and SAGE ofcers enjoyed the experience; Johnson shared, “I am really proud of the product we produced and am really honored that I got to work with such a diverse, intelligent group of young activists.”

LM Mock Trial goes to Harrisburg

Noah Barkan ’24 Opinions Editor

After a brief hiatus, LM’s Mock Trial team packed their bags and headed to Harrisburg, the heart of Pennsylvania, for the 2023 state finals. They would return with a trophy, top seven status, and high hopes for next year. However, the team has had a longer journey than just a bus ride to get there. The defense team, composed of lawyers Noah Barkan ’24, Abby Braslow ’23, and Mihir Stiengard ’24 and witnesses Mia Hail ’23, Eliana Pasternak ’23, and Dylan Spivack ’24, crushed formidable foe Plymouth Whitemarsh, responsible for ruining the teams three-year winning streak at quarter-finals last year. The defense won all three jury ballots, their first sign of success with a 44-point differential, the highest out of all 22 teams over the three days of round one. One week later, the plaintiff team, consisting of lawyers Aniah Gagliano ’23, Aliyah Brownstein ’25, and Andrew Stearn ’25 and witnesses Sadie Liebo ‘23, Diego Soto-Ortiz ’23, and Sadie Woolery ’24, faced off against Mount St. Josephs, creating yet another stir in the Montgomery County Courthouse with the highest awarded total score in round two with 319 points.

Following their two wins, the team moved on to regional quarterfinals where the plaintiff team beat LaSalle College High School by a wide 63-point margin, becoming the only quarter-final round team to win all five jury ballots. But the team’s biggest feat was still to come. Semi-finals marked the toughest competition yet in which the defense team faced off against North Penn. The competition seemed tough from the very first table introductions and pre-trial matters. A shaky section of cross examinations eventually smoothed out into a strong conclusion to the trial. The team rejoiced over the Best Advocate award delivered to Braslow and Best Witness award to Spivack. However, the team went home

dejected and frustrated, without hope for a future trial. To the shock and excitement of the team, the ballots delivered the following day showed the defense pulled through with a narrow four-point, one-ballot win, earning the team a place in the finals. The plaintiff’s final round started off in hushed adrenaline as the team awaited what would determine their attendance at the PA state competition. A strong opening statement by Brownstein was followed by quick and effective direct and crossexaminations set up Gagliano to put the final nail in the coffin of their win with a showstopping closing statement that many jurors claim gave them chills. The team rejoiced as the verdict was read in favor of the Estate of Alejandro Desafios: Lower Merion High School. The team arrived in Harrisburg with high spirits and headed into their first trial. With a fierce opening statement by Braslow and killer objections by Steingard, the team felt comfortable heading into closing statements. The Best Witness award was presented to Spivack and Barkan scored his second Best Advocate award. When the verdict was released that afternoon, the team became the seventh best in the state, winning all but one ballot. Although it was a tough break at the second round, the plaintiff stayed strong with Best Witness Award going to Soto-Ortiz and Best Advocate to Brownstein. The team’s big win didn’t come easily, however. Big losses at University of Pennsylvania’s Ben Franklin Invitational Competition spelled a rough season this fall. Fortunately, the team was able to pull it together.. The team practiced hard, meeting almost everyday after school between January and March, practicing objections and reworking crosses. From their win at regionals to their top seven status at states, it’s clear the LM Mock Trial team has a bright future ahead of it.

Photos courtesy of LMSD

Despite the last minute cancelation by Govenor Shapiro the SAGE conference remained a roaring sucess with its assortment of workshops run by club ofcers.

Photo courtesy of Mia Hail ’23/Staf

LM Mock Trial hopes next season will be just as successful.

To add some new fair to standard Student Council events, Club Madness brought together clubs, sports teams, and various other groups from the school. The bracket-style competition included a cash prize for the winners that would go to each activity.

In a packed Kobe Bryant Gymnasium, the activities embarked on the frst round of the tournament: dodgeball. The round lasted two days in which twelve of the 24 teams that were in the tournament punched a ticket to the next round. The disappointed team that had lost that day did not walk away hopeless. As a result of only twelve teams being available for the second round, four tickets were available to round the remaining number of spaces to a total of sixteen teams. In a three way rock paper scissors tournament, the four teams moving forward found new life for the rest of the tournament.

The second round consisted of a “Sparkle” style spelling bee competition. After a word was presented to the teams, competitors went one by one in saying the following letters. With barely enough room to move in room 104, people cheered or jeered upon each team’s success or failure. After several arguments over the spelling of several words, the stage was set for the next eight teams in the third round.

The eight-team semifnals was capture the fag, the last athletic competition of the tournament. In the tournament’s return to the Bryant Gymnasium, the split gymnasium courts proved a more difcult space to “capture the fag” and avoid opponents. While fewer spectators were present for the third round than the previous two, the competitions still proved a popular attraction for many LM students. The four teams victorious that day include the Starfsh Club, LM No Place for Hate, the Physics Club, as well as Team Grant Curry.

Finally, to finish off several days of exciting competition, the round to determine the cash prizes winners ensued. The fnal competition was a trivia game in which the ques-

LM clubs compete for victory

Luke Shepard ’24 News Editor

tions were presented at the same time to all four teams. The team that buzzed in frst would have the opportunity to answer the question. Although many claim the round came down to errors on the website as to who buzzed frst, the Starfsh Club proved the clear victor in the inaugural Student Council tournament. For Student Council, the event proved successful overall. Besides the sheer number of participants, Student Council members noted the feeling surrounding the competitions. “The energy in the gym was high and we had a lot of students competing for the title,” noted Sarah France ’24, Secretary of the Radnor Committe. However, one of the particular strengths of the event was the diversity of competitions. Capkin mentioned, “I loved the eclectic mix of events we had—dodgeball, the spelling bee, capture the fag, and trivia—that played to the diferent strengths of all our clubs.” Club Madness proved a success that the Student Council hopes to carry into the future.

Though not every team of students proved to be victorious, friends and supporters watched and cheered on their classmates during various rounds of fun competition.

On March 20, 2023, the LMSD School Board voted 7-2 to approve a district wide change to school start times beginning in fall of 2024 for the 2024-2025 school year.

Elementary school will start last, at 9:20 a.m, and end at 3:50 p.m. Middle school will begin earliest, at 8:00 a.m, and end at 2:50 p.m. There is also a possibility of an even earlier start time for middle school in order to ensure there is enough bussing available for elementary school to end before four o’clock.

The high school day will run from 8:40 a.m to 3:30 p.m. The day will begin an hour and ten minutes later and end ffty minutes later, with a twenty minute reduction in the length of the school day. The school board hopes to make up for this gap by shortening the length of passing periods between classes.

According to the LMSD district website, the new schedule will “better align start times with teens’ sleep patterns” and improve the health and wellbeing of adolescent students. Currently, high schools begin at 7:30 a.m, followed by middle schools at 8:15 a.m. and elementary schools at 9:00 a.m.

The plan accepted by the board in March difered slightly from the originally proposed plan, moving the elementary school end time ffteen minutes earlier in the day and keeping the elementary school end time before 4:00 p.m. The accepted proposal also requires the district to provide before-school childcare to elementary school families, as well as support for staf transitioning to a new schedule.

This plan fails to meet the American Medical Society recommendation that middle and high school start no earlier than 8:30 a.m. However, with the new proposal, LMSD hopes to address challenges faced by elementary school families and high school students involving extracurricular activities, jobs, and the time required for transportation amid a bus driver shortage. The new schedule also poses challenges for students attending Montco Technical School, the vocational program available for LMSD students, which currently has the same schedule as LMSD and will not be changing its start times. Due to this, LM students involved in the program will have to miss additional classes or begin school earlier than their peers.

The board chose to delay the implementation of later school start times

until 2024, instead of the previously proposed date of September 2023. This decision aims to allow more time to fne tune the logistics of implementing a schedule shift. Current start times will remain for the 2023-2024 school year.

The move to delay to 2024 has angered and disappointed some students and families, who argue that the district is pushing back necessary action to protect the health of students. Junior Dylan Spivack, a student advocate for later school start times, feels “incredibly angry that the board chose to delay healthy school start times until 2024. They have been researching and trying to fgure this out for years and years, it is possible to make the change for next year…I do not only think that the later start times will help LM students, but due to the science I am 100% positive it will help the students…I tried my hardest to change the start times for 2023, but the board did not listen to me or the other students who begged for the change.”

Meanwhile, some students are worried about the impact the change will have on their lives outside of school. Junior Cate Bellaria says, “I don’t like how it afects after school activities because it’ll make us stay so late, and I may not be able to participate to the fullest…Changing start times means making a lot of kids choose between after school extracurriculars, their family, mental health, jobs, etc.”

Bellaria is glad the district is planning to delay until 2024, and believes, “we just need to take more time to think of a plan that benefits ALL of LM, instead of rushing into this potentially destructive plan. This isn’t the time to be implementing these huge new changes at a time of such unease with COVID-19 just ending, teachers being burnt out, and so many other issues—we just need more stability.” Others, like sophomore Gwen O’Bannon, acknowledge these challenges while eagerly anticipating the new schedule. “I know some people have schedules based on what we have right now, but I also think that change should be welcomed,” they said.

More details on implementation will be released at the upcoming school board meetings on May 8 and June 20. In the meantime, students are left to debate the outcomes of the Board’s decisions and speculate on what’s to come.

Graphic by Annie Zhao ’24/Staf

Photos by Mia Hail ’23/Staf

Graphic by Joy Rao ’25

Places to ACE your fnals

Tillie Szwartz ’25 Graphics Editor

Now that the weather is getting warmer and the trees are getting greener, the end of school feels closer every day. But, before summer begins, students have one more challenge to face: fnals. Although fnal exams can seem daunting, it doesn’t have to be this way. Studying looks diferent for everyone, so the key is to discover what’s right for you, and part of that means learning what location you work best in. Here are some suggestions to help you fnd a study space that you can leave feeling confdent for fnals.

Most people assume that the best place to study is somewhere quiet, but I prefer to work in an area with some background noise. If you work well in lively environments, cafés can make for great study spots. The Bala Cynwyd Starbucks has plenty of seating, some of which is almost always occupied by people working. I fnd that being surrounded by other people hard at work can make you feel inspired to work hard too. Another perk of studying in a Starbucks is that you can get some food and a cofee while you study, which will keep you energized and help your stamina. The Bala Cynwyd Starbucks is a particular favorite of mine because of the freplace and large windows, but other cafés such as the Wynnewood Starbucks or Green Engine Cofee in Haverford could also be productive places to get work done.

If you are the type of person who needs a quiet space to focus, you may want to stay away from busy areas, but this doesn’t mean you have to stay in your house either. Most public libraries have silent

study spaces so you can get the beneft of a change in scenery with out all of the noise. The Bala Cynwyd Library is a great choice. If you want to stay at home, try to move around within your house or room. For example, if you usually study in bed, sit at your desk or dining table. Sitting by a window is also helpful because natural light will help keep you awake and focused. If you like the idea of natural light, you could even take advantage of the spring weather by working outside. Another way to up your study game is by taking advantage of your frees or study halls. If you are a sophomore, junior, or senior, you have the beneft of being able to work almost anywhere in the building. If you like a collaborative environment, consider studying in the library. The library is a great place to study with friends, but it can get noisy at times. If you can get there at the start of the period, you may be able to secure a quieter spot in one of the single desks, but it’s not guaranteed that one will be available. If you work better in quiet spaces, the tables in the hallways of the second and third foors could be a better option.

Remember, it’s important to experiment with diferent options to see what’s most efective for you. Change factors within your location, like working with a group or listening to music. Also be sure to manage your time and don’t let your assignments pile up. A good way that I like to keep track of due dates is through Google Calendar. Whatever you do, just keep your eye on the fnish line. You can do this!

Tips for a productive summer

Once that last bell rings and school is out, the excitement is overwhelming. And while the initial wave of joy lasts for a while, it can fade away once you don’t know what to do with yourself. It can be extremely easy to get stuck in a cycle of unproductivity. The ten weeks of summer we are given is a huge chunk of time, and there is no need for it to go to waste. These are some of the things that you can do to spend your summer in the best way you can.

The frst step to being productive is to have a balanced and set routine. According to Northwestern medicine, “An efective routine can help reduce stress, which can lead to better mental health, more time to relax, and less anxiety.” If you keep your sleep schedule consistent during the week with only a little fuctuation, it will already get you on track. After a long year, relaxing and taking care of yourself is the most important piece of success ful summer. Doing something benefcial for your mind each day can make a huge diference. This could include doing a 5-minute journal every morning, listening to productivity podcasts, or even something as simple as making your bed each morning. In Charles Duhigg’s book The Power of Habit, he noted that making your bed establishes a direct link to better productivity and over all health. Even a task as simple as that can jump start your day.

Another way to stay active in the summer is to be outside as much as you can. After the brutally cold winters we endure, tak ing advantage of the warm weather is a must. Going for walks, bike rides, or heading to the many parks in our township like

AP exam advice

Amy Lee ’24

Stress is at an all-time high for students at LM as they prepare for the dreaded next two weeks: AP Exam season. For those who are taking their frst ever AP exams, this time may be especially worrisome. Not only do the exams test you on everything you’ve learned since Sep tember, but they’re also long, with some exams lasting over three hours.

Your anxieties and doubts are completely understandable, and many students have been in the same position as you. Some students who have gone through these exams have shared their own experiences on their feelings before, after, and in between, and hope fully they can give you reassurance as you head into your own exams.

First of is Amy Huang ’23 who took the AP Physics C: Mechanics exam, a difcult test taken within a timeslot of ninety minutes—essentially half the time of a typical AP exam. She recalls feeling nervous, since the exam took place right after her lengthy AP English Language and Composition Exam. Huang describes that, “The exam was fast-paced, but we had prepared in class with Mrs. Christman, so I knew what to expect and how to pace myself properly.” As this is a heavily math-based class, she recommends doing as many practice problems as possible and thoroughly going over each of your mistakes, rather than trying to memorize notes of long equations.

Next, Sasha Murray ’24 gave her take on the AP Chemistry exam. The AP Chemistry exam is also a notoriously difcult exam as it lasts for three hours and ffteen minutes. It also happens to be one of the frst tests administered during the two-week period. She studied for the test by actively following along in class presentations, as well as taking practice tests in her own time. Taking practice tests was the most helpful for her, especially for the multiple choice section (consisting of sixty questions to be answered in ninety minutes), as those questions were very diferent from the tests the students had taken in the class. She also noticed that “there were not many questions about the most difcult concepts, like acids and bases,” and advises “Although you should defnitely make sure you understand these concepts, don’t be too stressed out if they don’t come easily to you!”

Maggie Yin ’24 recalls that she felt “very confdent” walking out of the AP Psychology exam. This is a popular AP class for many students, as they fnd much of the material to be relatable and directly applicable to their lives. While this exam is also three hours long, she felt that there was enough time to answer the questions. The multiple choice questions were fairly straightforward, and practicing timed FRQ’s was very help-

South Ardmore or General Wayne is a fun and great way to spend your days. Additionally, practicing for fall sports on Arnold feld, hanging out on the LM turf, or using the wall to better your lacrosse skills are available throughout the months as well. According to the Mayo Clinic, everyone should “aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day.” When the busy school days start back up, it gets harder and harder to maintain ftness goals, so summer is a great time to center your focus. Lastly, hobbies that you thought you would never have time for are a perfect ft for the break. Learning a new language, practicing an instrument, getting ahead on school work for next year, and SAT or ACT preparation can fll your days and mind. It’s important to have creative outlets and tasks to increase your stimulation throughout the whole year, not just the school year. There are various art classes, job opportunities, and more that are all local and in the area. There are also nearby camps such as the JCC where you could apply to be a counselor or lifeguard by attending lifeguarding classes that are ofered for any age. If possible, early college programs, teen tours, and trips are an exciting way to fll your weeks as well. How ever, if you don’t spend time traveling during the summer, there are tons of zoom classes, even with college credit, available to apply for.

The summer is a valuable time that you should not take for granted. There are endless fun, engaging, and benefcial opportunities to immerse yourself in. However, don’t forget to rest and relax after the hard work you put in during school. You deserve it!

ful with pacing. Yin admits that she “went overboard with the prep,” recounting that, “the most extraneous thing that I did was go on Quizlet, look up every unit, and go through all of those — defnitely unnecessary and time consuming!” The test is mostly reliant on memorization, so having a general understanding of the terms seems to be the best mindset. She also pointed out that knowing the roles of the famous people (eg: Sigmund Freud, Jean Paiget) taught in the curriculum was benefcial.

Similarly, Daniel Vossough ’24 was surprised by how at-ease he felt when taking the AP Calculus BC exam. Despite hearing from peers that the exam was on the difcult side, he remembers that “it felt much easier than I had anticipated, which defnitely kept me from becoming drained.” Additionally, he found it helpful to fnd a rhythm when answering the questions, which gave him enough time to solve and check the questions. In terms of preparation, he found Khan Academy to be the most helpful resource outside of the classroom. While it may be hard to believe, he assures that “the test is relatively straightforward, and pretty much everything you see on the test will be something you learned in class.”

Perhaps the year of long annotation assignments had paid of, as Maya Taylor ’23 faced the feat of the AP English Language and Composition exam. According to her, this exam may be slightly harder for pacing, as students must answer multiple choice questions and write three diferent essays. She used an AP prep book to learn how to approach the multiple choice section, and practiced the essays using prompts from past exams. Additionally, students were able to take an in-school full-length practice exam, and have it graded by a teacher, which she claims was “really helpful to show me what I still had to work on.” Her key tip is to fgure out which essay is your strongest, since “if you do end up running out of time, you want your best essay(s) to be complete.” She also added that it was very helpful to read over the graded essays from past exams online, as you could rec ognize what the graders liked and didn’t like, and use it to your advantage.

It’s more than possible to take your AP exams with confdence. Aside from having an efective study plan, it is equally important to take care of yourself in the midst of your busy life. Test-taking relies on maintaining a calm and stable mental state, as much as it does on your knowledge of the material. It is vital for all students to stay hydrated, eat nutritious meals, take breaks from work, and keep a consistent sleep schedule, whether it is AP season or not.

Hannah Cohen ’25

Photo courtesy of Bala Cynwyd Library Facebook

Graphic by Annie Zhao ’24/Staf

Graphic by Tillie Szwartz ’25/Staf

The Merionite | Opinions

Ofcial newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org

Columbia Scholastic Press

Assocation Silver Crown 2013

Editors-in-Chief

Julia Dubnof ’23

Angela Ge ’23

Emmi Wu ’23

News Editors

Vivian Collins ’24

Mia Hail ’23

Zoe Hassett ’23

Michelle Kelly ’23

Luke Shepard ’24

Opinions Editors

Sam Abella ’24

Noah Barkan ’24

Joy Donovan ’23

Madeleine Fiks ’23

Features Editors

Ava Cohen ’23

Crosby Johnson ’24

James Korin ’24

Olivia Lee ’23

Lila Schwartzberg ’24

Arts & Entertainment Editors

Dia Ahmad ’23

Sebastian Havira ’23

Siobhan Minerva ’24

Gabby Tepper-Waterman ’23

Sports Editors

Shaine Davison ’23

Sarah France ’24

Nathan Grunfeld ’24

Gideon Wolf ’24

Copy Editors

Ben Cromer ’24

Jessica Dubin ’23

Dani Itkin-Ofer ’24

Lela Miller ’24

Senior Design Editor

Ilana Zahavy ’24

Graphics Editors

Eliza Liebo ’25

Matilda Szwartz ’25

Annie Zhao ’24

Julia Zorc ’24

Senior Web Editor

Katie Fang ’23

Web Editors

Sasha Murray ’24

Claire Wang ’23

Business Managers

Cam Gordon ’23

Eli Gordon ’23

Assistant Business Manager

Anna Costantino ’24

Photographers

Dylan Elgart ’23

Anika Xi ’23

Social Media Managers

Julia Russel ’23

Nolan Shanley ’23

Advisor Charles Henneberry

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 of outside

The Merionite ofce. The Merionite reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length or clarity. All unattributed images are courtesy of WikiCommons.

Editorial: The most dangerous game

The school year is coming to an end for seniors at Lower Merion, and as the shadow of graduation looms over the class of ’23, students are opting for childhood games as a way to stay connected as the promise of “the rest of our lives” slowly pulls them apart. Phone tag with potential prom dates, hide-and-seek with teachers on test days, and, most importantly, the time-old tradition of Senior Assassin (a game which is, under no circumstances, being played by LM’s Seniors.) Many schools have banned the strategic game of water tag, citing safety concerns over the presence of anything gun-related on campuses. This has led these games to be played entirely off campus, or in LM’s case, avoided altogether.

There is something to be noted, however, about the voluntary nature of the game. In order to play, you not only become a sort of prey, you too have to take on the role of an assassin. You have to arm yourself with a water-carrying vessel of your choice and actively try to “shoot” your target before the round is over. Everyone involved consents to the risks of being someone else’s target, whether this means classmates in your bushes, under your car, or on the prowl at random times of the day. It makes sense why schools don’t want something so competitive and intense in a place of education. Students shouldn’t feel distracted by the fear of getting “shot” by anyone, at any time, without any means to effectively defend themselves.

It feels ironic that our schools, despite being safe havens from fake guns, aren’t nearly as safeguarded against real ones.

Last month, the school administration issued a school-wide announcement of new safety policies. These included the locking and disuse of side and back doors, the implementation of sign-in sheets for

students entering the office past 7:30 AM, and most disruptively, the absolute prohibition of student parking in the 2-hour street sections adjacent to campus. Despite the appearance of a dramatic shift towards authoritative action, these measures to reduce the amount of students who leave and re-enter the buildings during the school day go relatively unenforced. They seem to mildly inconvenience the majority of driving students who didn’t end up getting a parking pass, but when it comes to safety, the difference feels negligible, especially as other “blind spots” go unattended. These measures don’t protect entry via the largest point of vulnerability for students during the school day: the traffic between the Chem building and the main office in between classes. Once overheard by an opinions editor was a conversation by two Class of ’25 Freshmen, who scoffed at the new attempts at increasing security on campus: “Everyone knows if there was gonna be a shooter, they’d just come in with the kids from the Chem building.” It’s a relatively well-established truth among students that the minutes in between classes breeds a sort of group anonymity, which provides a sort of direct “in” to the school.

These safety concerns are only exacerbated as gun ownership has too increased dramatically in the years post-Covid, with one out of every five American households having purchased a gun between March 2020 to March 2022. Despite the brief decline experienced when schools went fully virtual, school shootings have returned with a renewed frequency; surpassing pre-pandemic levels. With this too comes a renewed importance that LM listens to its students when it comes to safety. While the ACES mantras covered in this school year’s inaugural editorial focus on the responsibility that

students have toward keeping each other safe, they also reinforce the detrimental notion that students are to be held primarily accountable when issues of safety arise. When a fight breaks out, it is almost always seen as a reflection of the student body, and therefore, it becomes our problem to fix. Conflicts on campus and threats of violence often get reduced to issues of poor behavior or a lack of respect for authority, rather than incidents indicative of the antagonistic conditions that thrive in a high schools across the country. Sure, there is fault to be had with individual students, but displacing blame onto students for the actions of their peers is not only ineffective as a prevention method, but corrosive to the foundations necessary to build a strong school community. It is inevitable, as a public school in the U.S., that there will be shooting threats. The number of serious gun scares that have occurred in the district over the past 5 years cannot be counted on two hands. It’s foolish to pretend as though this is not the reality of schooling in America. There is no reason for email templates to circulate instructing students how to report their concerns; but this is the reality of schooling in America. Instead of accepting actionless platitudes about a safer future we aren’t taking any tangible steps towards, we should learn from the mistakes already made, whether by LM’s administration in response to community concern, or in more severe incidents across the country that have ended in lives lost.

Unsigned editorials reflect the general opinion of the many staff members and not the opinion of any single editor.

Articles and letters featured in the Opinions section refect the viewpoints of individual contributors and not neccesarily those of The Merionite editorial staf.

The problem with parking

If keeping track of assignments, extracurricular activities, jobs, and all the other aspects of a LM student’s life weren’t stressful enough, many upperclassmen are forced to keep track of one more important thing: parking. Despite LM having over 1600 students this current school year, there are only around fifty spots available for students in the senior class. This forces all the other students who drive themselves to school to find other spaces around campus.

Due to this, often LM students must leave their cars in the dreaded 2-hour parking spots. They know all too well the consequence of not moving their car: a hefty parking ticket. So how do students avoid having to pay this unfair fee simply to receive an education? They will sprint in between classes or excuse themselves multiple times a day so they can find a new spot. However, this comes with consequences. Many students will receive tardiness because of the short five minute break between classes or miss out on critical pieces of information being taught in class. This task might only take a few short minutes, but over time the absences and tardies pile up, hurting students in the long run.

Students who have fallen victim to this parking system have tried sharing their personal problems with teachers and administrators, but they all say the same thing. They will just question students on why they need to drive to school in the first place when there is a bus system. But what these administrators fail to understand is the fact that the bus system, though helpful, does not accommodate the needs of all students. Including traffic that

buses face during the afterschool rush, students could easily get a start on their homework if they were to drive home. Those who have after-school jobs will often not make it from school to their house then to their workplace in time if they use the bus. Additionally, there are students who have to pick up their siblings from their respective schools, and the bus schedule won’t allow them to get there in time. The administrators and teachers who claim that the bus system is fit for the students of LM fail to consider its flaws that restrict a student from their commitments.

If this current system goes on, students will continue to get in trouble, receive tardies on their transcript, and receive parking tickets for not moving. The best way to solve this problem is to create more spaces. It seems like the many field areas on the LM campus and across the street could be made into parking spaces for the student body. There is also room that is not being utilized to its full capacity in the bus loop. Our school is far too large to have such limited parking options for students and their specific needs. In addition to adding spots, LM needs to implement a new system that allows juniors to receive these parking passes to ensure that the students who will be driving can maintain their time commitments

As mundane as the problem of parking may seem, it impacts so many different, specific aspects of a students life that will cause them unnecessary stress. How are students supposed to thrive in a space as challenging as high school when the first thing they are faced with in the morning is the struggle of figuring out their transportation? Just because students have the responsibility of having a driver’s license does not mean they should have to deal with problems that aren’t their concern in the first place.

The Merionite

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Avery Pelleteir ’25

Vivian Collins ’24 News Editor

Infuence no more

Influencing is not a real job. The simplicity of taking a photo, editing it, and posting it is not difficult. If she really tried, my grandma could figure it out. Influencers get all-expensespaid vacations, free products, and exorbitant amounts of money for doing the bare minimum. The hype people like Charli D’Amelio and Alix Earle receive for taking pictures and videos of themselves is undeserved. There are millions of people in the world who work a million times harder than them and don’t even get paid half as much. So, how do they get there? How do they reach the coveted status of “influencer”? For some it’s dumb luck because the algorithm worked in their favor. For others, it’s strategy, posting everyday at the right time, and using the right hashtags. Either way, treating social media stars like talented, hard-working individuals is a waste of time.

Earlier this year, popular TikTok creator and makeup artist Mikayla Nogueria received some well-deserved backlash after complaining about the difficulty of being an influencer. A clip of her saying “try being an influencer for a day” started to trend on TikTok followed by people calling her out for being insensitive and out of touch with reality. Nurses, teachers, and even construction workers took to the internet to share their frustrations with influencer culture. Some influencers

tried to stand up for Nogueria, claiming that being a “content creator” is equally as important and challenging as more generic occupations. However, these attempts at saving Nogueria’s reputation were quickly shut down when people began comparing their schedules to those of influencers. The bottom line is, reviewing products that are sent to you for free and treating sick people at a hospital are not remotely comparable.

Even if a job in social media does require a little bit of effort, the actual influencers are not the ones giving it. It’s the manager and the publicists that make it possible for the users to be as successful as they are. They are the ones organizing events, establishing relationships with brands, and making sure that influencers avoid scandals. Despite this, most influencers still find themselves caught up in a scandal that leads to them getting canceled. When you’re making so much money and not doing anything to actually earn it, how hard is it to not be a jerk? And the large number of influencers that are racist, homophobic, transphobic, and sexist that often get to keep their platform further shows that influencer culture is unnecessary and problematic.

My personal favorite solution to this smear on the pop culture of this decade is to get rid of social media altogether; however, I know that is unrealistic. Social media services and their users need to be more diligent when it comes to canceling people and banning people from their sites. Or maybe they should just stop giving influencers platforms in the first place.

It’s a ChatGPT world

In the last few months, the role of artifcial intelligence (AI) in academics has become an increasingly important issue—from college campuses to LM itself. As the quality and utility of ChatGPT, Bard, and other such programs is fercely contested, it’s clear that the ramifcations of these technologies will be enormous. Proponents of these systems paint an idyllic future, where the fruits of AI and other inventions will help build a better world for all. But from what I’ve seen, the abilities of ChatGPT and other tools are far from revolutionary, with any lasting consequences these programs do have being more insidious than inspiring. Before any meaningful discussion of its implementation can take place, it’s important to recognize the abilities and limitations of the programs at hand. While I’m confdent that various applications for it will be discovered in the coming years, the current state of AI seems to be centered around lackluster versatility. Yes, you can use ChatGPT to write an essay, to research a topic, or perform any of a seemingly endless array of tasks. Insert whatever input you’d like and it will dutifully provide a response. But a closer look reveals the rot beneath the varnish. While its writing isn’t glaringly awful by any means, the content provided is woven through a dull, lifeless prose and any such content that is provided is frequently lacking in any sort of informational value. At best, you’re presented with a general overview of the topic at hand. At worst, large portions of the response will be fctitious in nature, as the program is more intent on producing content that sounds right than what is right. In fact, research from the organization Newsguard found that 82% of times the system will expound on an ontologically false question; e.g., explaining in detail how the earth is fat. It’s a technology even more hapless for any task requiring a hint of creativity. Since the program is synthesizing countless databases into an average, any response provided is similarly average. Don’t expect writers or artists to be replaced anytime soon by what’s essentially a prolifc exponent of mediocrity. I suppose it’s only fair to allow a proper defense. After asking ChatGPT about the

role of AI in education, it replies as follows: “As an AI language model, I believe Chat GPT has the potential to play a valuable role in aca demic environments in several ways.” It goes on to cite a number of points, ranging from acting as a “learning aid,” to its role in research assistance. But it’s simply naive to pretend the role of AI is going to be relegated to these felds alone. Recent studies have found that nearly a third of students in universities have admitted to using ChatGPT and similar tools to do their assignments. Frankly, I wouldn’t be surprised if a portion of the college admissions essays have been partially, if not entirely created through AI. While there may be some uses for AI as an auxiliary tool in writing, AI itself is antithetical to the very purpose of writing. Instead of inscribing any of your own thoughts or ideas, you’re simply regurgitating the watered-down thoughts of someone better. Though if you’re using AI to write your essays, it’s probably not much worse than whatever you would have written on your own. It would be foolish to deny the capacity for AI to grow and evolve in the coming years. But as of right now, the direct implementation of ChatGPT in any sort of academic setting is short-sighted idealism.

The cycle of cyberbullying

Access to social media platforms has increased significantly throughout recent years. An article written by IncrediTools has reported that in the United States alone, 90% of teenagers between the ages of thirteen and seventeen use social media, 75% of which have an active social media account. This growing presence of people on social media platforms is not only prevalent in the United States, but also in the whole world. An estimated 4.76 billion individuals have been using social media worldwide as of January 2023.

As is often common, the rise in social media users has also led to a rise in the misuse of social media platforms. Cyberbullying poses a serious threat to the teenage population as it is associated with an increase in sadness, anxiety, and other mental health disorders. The unpleasant truth about cyberbullying is that, most of the time, the perpetrators and victims of cyberbullying are peers. This significant problem raises some serious questions regarding our school’s attempts to stop cyberbullying. LMSD, like many other school districts, have implemented policies against bullying. An example of this would be Policy 246, titled “Discriminatory Harassment, Bullying and Hazing.” Under this policy, LMSD states, “The purpose of this policy is to promote and maintain a safe, positive and respectful environment that is free from bullying, hazing, and discriminatory harassment.”

Despite using buzz words such as “bullying,” “hazing,” and “discriminatory,” LMSD does not necessarily make an attempt to inform students about this policy. If you’ve been a student enrolled in LMSD for many years, how often do you actually remember the school reminding you about their anti-bullying policy? On a random A-day during the year, you’ll probably watch a 10 minute film about cyberbullying during advisory. However, showing students pointless videos with dramatic sound effects and adult actors playing high school children does not genuinely address the root cause of the problem; rather, it makes mockery of cyberbullying. As a result of LM’s poor enforcement of the penalties for cyberbullying and of its own policies regarding bullying, an incident of cyberbullying had occurred at our school. The incident had involved a freshman student and the social networking platform, discord. An anonymous LM sophomore student had reported, “I remember when I was

on Instagram earlier this year and there was a post made by an LM student. The post says something about their freshman sister being bullied in discord by a classmate in her Spanish class. I re member this was extremely controversial due to the fact that LM did not speak on or report this incident.” In addition to establishing ineffective “anti-bullying” policies, LM has always attempted to persuade children to speak with counselors on issues that they might have.

What LMSD fails to realize is the fact that victims of cyberbullying oftentimes have issues on speaking out, in fear of being labeled as a “tattle-tale” by their peers. Even when students actually speak out, a counselor might not always be the best option for students. Cyberbullying is an up and coming issue. It is only with the recent rise in popularity of social media platforms within the last few decades that cyberbullying has been something necessary to tackle on behalf of our schools. Counselors might have gone through school during an era where it was uncommon for students to have accessibility on the internet. Although guidance counselors are certified in understanding emotions, it is quite dif ficult to truly comprehend another person’s emotions, especially if they have been the vic tim of cyberbullying. Evidently, LM has not been transparent about cyberbullying, which unfortunately increases the likelihood that students may engage in or be the target of cyberbullying. The district has simply applied a “band-aid” to a bullet hole of a problem.

Alistair

Browning ’26

Ivan Liu ’26

When I wake up in the morning, where I spend my time, what I eat for lunch, what I can wear, the quality of my education, and whether I have to live on constant alert for bigotry, climate disaster, or violence are all out of my control. Instead, much of that control goes to a board of adults with no real expectation of listening to me or my needs.

The Lower Merion School Board has more power over the average day to day lives of students than any state, local, or federal government. As school board elections approach, the LM student body should be paying close attention to the candidates on the ballot.

As anyone currently in the midst of cramming for an AP Gov Test can tell you, citizens in a democracy are allowed a voice in the rules that govern their life. But while the phrase “Government By the People, For the People” is cliche to the point of meaninglessness, the school board is totally disconnected from the people they serve. From what I’ve witnessed, school boards run more like businesses by and for their stakeholders aiming to bolster property values, than a government by and for its people.

The school board’s constituency is a body of taxpayers, including almost none of LMSD’s 8,700 students and over 1,400 staf members, many of whom live outside the district. The vast majority of students are under the age of eighteen, and there are few if any established channels for receiving student input on board policies. While the recent student survey regarding later school start times is a step in the right direction, the school board categorically fails to listen to the concerns of LMSD students. Staf, who largely live outside of the district and commute to LMSD schools, are hardly more represented. Until that changes, the best, and only, tools students have is to look into the candidates running for school board, endorse the ones that align the closest with our values, and push for the creation of more avenues for student voice.

There are fve open seats up for election next November, and candidates will frst compete for party endorsements in the Primary Election on May seventeenth. Of an original slate of eight Democratic candidates and fve Republicans, the Democratic Committee of Lower Merion and Narberth has endorsed fve: Jason Her-

A School Board to vote for Free the Tennessee three

The Nashville school shooting was a recent horrific event in our nation’s history, which left the Tennessee House of Representatives in chaos. After such a tragic event, it is crucial to recover and work together to create a safer future for all. To prevent further shootings, which are carried out with legally bought firearms, harsher restrictions on firearms seems rational.

However, this proposed potential solution was not seen in the same light by Tennessee republicans. Representatives vehemently opposed any restrictions on guns which prompted hours of intense debate regarding a plan for the future. Ultimately, nothing came of the debate and no change was implemented. This inaction frustrated some Democrats. Representatives Justin Pearson, Justin Jones, and Gloria Johnson all took to the floor of the house to protest and make clear their concerns.

man, Shayna Kalish, Todd Ridky, Abigail Rubin, and Sarah Thomas. Voting in local elections can often feel like picking between the lesser of nine evils, but after sitting through candidate forums and sifting through written responses, I can endorse two candidates: Jason Herman and Shayna Kalish.

Jason Herman, an attorney and professor at Saint Joseph’s University, has committed to striving for environmental sustainability and full day kindergarten, and using his experience at the New York City School Construction Authority to oversee facilities and building projects through the district. In his written responses to questions intended for the School Board Candidate Forum hosted in winter of this year, Herman expressed a willingness to “engage students, listen to their concerns, support them, and include them in the decision-making process.”

Shayna Kalish, the only incumbent running for reelection, has impressed me with her openness to student input. I have to respect her knowledge and experience on the school board, and she was a founding member of the school board Equity and Anti-Racism committee. Every time she is asked to speak on her values and commitments, she prioritizes the needs of marginalized students and the “inherent value of every human being.” Having established candidates on the board who’ve been demonstrably willing to dialogue with students, and who are committed to anti-racism is inherently worthwhile.

My real endorsement: A student advisory board, made up of student leaders from both high schools and LMSD’s three middle schools, with the power to shape LM district policy. Official channels for representing students would allow those with the most expertise and the most at stake to push for policies they support. Student activists are quick to argue that months of conflict over Oakwell Forest could’ve been avoided by surveying the student body, and our school districts will never be able to properly address incidents of racism and bigotry within schools without input from the students actually affected.

Bodies like the Principal’s Advisory Council and the two non-voting student representatives currently pres ent at school board meetings claim to meet the need for student voice, the only real power that students have now is the ability to push for the election of new board candidates. This is a power students must use, and that should be used to elect candidates willing to make needed reforms. To learn more about the candidates, watch the school board candidate forum or visit the democratic candidate campaign website at leadinglmsdforward.com.

The three brave protestors came to the Tennessee House of Representatives with a simple mission: to raise awareness for gun control after the recent shooting. Their protest was peaceful but brash. Armed with nothing but their voices, they stood on the floor of the House and protested. A few days later, Republicans voted to remove the Pearson and Jones from the House, two African American men. Removal of persons is a measure that has rarely been taken since the 1800s. However, the even more concerning part is that Gloria Johnson, their white colleague, was not removed. While this is not statistically significant enough to accuse an entire body of racism, it brings up concerns. When asked to comment, a Republican representative stated that the Pearson and Jones were just “more violent” and that it had nothing to do with race. Still, it goes to show some of the prominent issues that exist within the government. Regardless of race, expelling lawmakers because of protest and nothing more unveils some deeper issues within our government in regard to intolerance.

Intolerance in the context of listening to new ideas is some- thing that has become all too common, and the stubborn position on gun control is an example of this. Instead of listening to these fellow representatives and trying to come up with a compr-

omise, the representatives’ constituents took the easy way out. The congressmen were elected by citizens to communicate and fight for policies that they believed in for the representatives’ districts. They were elected to serve their constituents and carry out their best interest from places of power. When those same individuals are cast out of the room of discussion for merely stating an adversarial opinion, the votes of their supporters are rendered meaningless. The very fabric of our democracy is torn. Expelling members as an act of political retribution instead of an emergency measure sets a scary precedent of limited democracy. This speaks to the very essence of our constitution. The core pillar of democracy in America is the right to free speech. America was founded on the values of free speech and the ability to protest. Without this, democracy is threatened. Since the expulsion of the representatives, they have since been reinstated. Regardless, the message that was left behind was clear. If intolerant lawmakers continue their reign of control in states like Tennessee, the progress that should have been created by democracy will continue to be halted.

Sam Donagi ’25

Mihir Steingard ’24

Photos courtesey of Leading LMSD Forward

An indictment, a campaign

As of March 30, Donald Trump, former President of the United States of America, has been indicted. Let me say that again. It is believed that the President of the United States committed a crime and will have to stand trial for that same crime. However, unless and until a jury fnds him guilty, he is innocent under rule of the Constitution. The prosecution’s precise case theory is not public yet, but the case is focused on a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 campaign. While many have questioned Trump’s eligibility to run in the 2024 election while he is facing criminal charges, there is no constitutional bar on a defendant, or even a felon, running for President.

Constitutional experts have explained that due to previous Supreme Court rulings, Congress cannot add qualifcations to the ofce for President.

Even if we were to amend the Constitution, where would we draw the line? It is difcult to do it based on the severity of the crime, as that can difer by state, federal law, and opinion. However, would we want someone serving a life-long sentence to have the privilege and opportunity to run for President? Do we trust our Democratic system enough to weed those people out? If Trump is a less extreme example of someone who should not be eligible to run, we need to act now in order to prevent and restrict those who are more extreme examples.

As for his candidacy in 2026, Trump recently said at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that he would

“absolutely” stay in the race for President even if he were to be criminally indicted. In fact, he seems even more motivated than he was in previous years, saying, “In 2016, I declared I am your voice. Today I add: I am your warrior. I am your justice, and for those who have been wronged and betrayed, I am your retribution.” He is defnitely ramping up this campaign, despite his recent controversy. On top of this newfound inspiration, there is also newfound confdence. Trump recently stated that he thinks the criminal charges will “probably enhance [his] numbers.” From this, we can conclude that although being a defendant, or even being incarcerated would defnitely make his campaign more difcult, it would be a practicality issue and not a legal one. Many have expressed their doubts about Trump’s 2026 campaign. However, in the end it all comes down to the voters. As James Sampler, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University, said, “the Constitution sets the minimum requirements, but leaves the rest up to the voters.” As proven on January 6 when his supporters raided the capitol building in an attempt to undo the election results, and when the Access Hollywood tape was released, showing Trump saying extremely vulgar things, Trump has gained a pretty dedicated support group. He is also very aware of this, recognizing it in a speech at a campaign stop in Iowa, saying, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters” so I can only assume that his confdence going into this race will not be completely unsupported. Despite this, I do not think he will be able to gather the left-over votes he needs. After losing the popular vote in 2016, and only winning by a hair in the electoral college, he would need even more support than he did then. I think the stain on his reputation from his charges, in combination with a multitude of other negative events, will be enough to keep him out of ofce for another four years.

Ban intolerance, not ideas

Every time I step into a library, I feel a wave of excitement. So much knowledge is waiting to be gained, resting on the endless shelves. My fngers itch to reach for my next great read, my eyes dart from spine to spine. I fnd book after book that I yearn to read, though as the stack in my arms increases, the realization sets in: I don’t have time. Paradoxically, my initial eagerness fades with every minute spent surrounded by the multitude of books, my excitement quickly extinguished by a sense of hopelessness. My ‘to be read’ list continuously grows, but my time to read diminishes as school consumes me. Ironically, school assigned reading is the best remedy for the dilemma of not having enough time to read.

Many students have expressed disdain for school reading. When teachers assign books, it strips the joy and motivation from reading. But, school assigned reading encourages students to explore new ideas and perspectives. In fact, some extremelt important ideas come from books with core themes of injustice, diversity, and identity, which have unfortunately become the target of book bans across America. Moms for Liberty is one force behind the book banning eforts. The group, focused on eliminating books that they believe are “manipulating” children from school curriculums, has taken action in districts across the country. Often, the conservative

organization claims that schools “poison” their children with harmful ideas communicated through books and traumatize them with graphic information. Yet they have no evidence to support their claims, and their targets contain themes commonly associated with left-wing ideals, revealing their political motivations. Several of the books under fre are classic school materials, and they are not necessarily “manipulating” or “poisoning” children because of their content. A psychologist in Williamson County Tennessee, one area harassed by Moms for Liberty, says she has not seen any children with trauma from the school curriculum, only children with trauma from being bullied and discriminated against because of their race, religion, or identity. Parents should be allowed to raise concerns relating to what their children learn in school. However, such concerns should be based on facts—not assumptions, biases, or harmful ideas. School assigned books with diverse themes provide opportunities for children to feel recognized in school. These books simultaneously ensure children are aware of the struggles of others, appreciative of their privileges and diferences, and are more open-minded. The Moms for Liberty movement highlights the fragility of our education system. School assigned reading is one way to ensure that students have access to a variety of voices and experiences, and it needs to be protected. Go to your local library. Ask your teachers for book recommendations. Read a banned book. Next time you are assigned a book or article to read in school, be appreciative that the teachers here at LM are able to do so, and that your education is not being restricted. We have to ask ourselves: is it more harmful to read Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451, or to live it?

UN security sham

The United Nations has once again posed an intricate question of morality as the leadership of the Security Council shifts once again this month: should an accused war criminal, presiding over a country unjustly invading another, be the face of global peace and international security? In a similar vein to the philosophy that a child kidnapper should not run a daycare, the Russian Federation should not run the Security Council. Yet still, the decision to once again bend at the will of brute force and economic advantage by the international community is certain to pose great dangers for the future.

The monthly rotation of the presidency to the Security Council has remained completely unafected by the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. This leads us to where we are at now, with a nation who consistently violates every fundamental rule of international peace and security supervising the body whose sole mission is protecting that security. As a result, nations such as Ukraine, who are often called to speak in front of the Council, have made a pledge of silence for the month of April.

There is currently nothing much that can be done to remove Russia from this position and, with the agenda they have set forth for this month, their tensions with the rest of the council are only going to rise. The United States has made eforts to urge Russia to conduct themselves professionally, and along with Britain and France, they are expected to lower the level of representation at events hosted by Russia throughout the month. Russia has set out to have three sessions, one of which took place on April 10, covering the “risks stemming from the violations of the agreements regulating the export of weapons and military equipment.” They have been handed the opportunity to call out Western nations and increase tensions on a silver platter.

The main concern with this presidency is the idea that the nation presiding over the Council is supposed to stay neutral. However, professionalism can easily be confused with neutrality, and, as seen in February of 2022, Russia is able to efectively immobilize the Security Council through abuse of its procedural powers as president, all while remaining “professional.” In their last month presiding over the council, Russia abused the powers and rules of the UN to “force unprecedented institutional condemnation of economic sanctions.” They had been anticipating the possibility of a military invasion and had already laid the groundwork for their propaganda eforts to erode the legitimacy of the Western coalition in the eyes of developing nations. When the invasion

eventually broke out, Russian propagandists were quick to use the earlier discussions to discredit the Western coalition and portray them as aggressors who were imposing unjust economic sanctions. Russia possessing this kind of leverage and power over the conversations that are had in the Council is the danger needing to be acknowledged.

Similar to how Russia’s misuse of the Presidency in February of last year rendered the Security Council inefective during a critical moment, we are facing a comparable situation now. As there are indications that global support for Ukraine may be weakening, it is easy to see how Russia may once again exploit their possession of the gavel to spread disinformation and create divisions between member states of the UN.

We are now at one of the most uncertain points of the war in Ukraine given the increasingly tense geopolitical relations. However, it is unlikely that there are many tangible efects of Russia’s presidency regarding the functionality of the UN. For example, there is unlikely to be any change in the actual balance of power within the Security Council as a result. That being said, it does show an evident disconnect within the current international system. It speaks to an overall lack of credibility and trust for the body that is supposed to protect against confict, and maintain a baseline level of peaceful eforts and diplomatic ties between nations. It is a situation not only of great uncertainty and possible danger, but of irony beyond belief.

Aliyah Brownstein ’25

Graphic by Ilana Zahavy ’24/Staf

Charlotte Conybear ’24

Graphic by Eliza Liebo ’25/Staf

Katie Potts-Drew ’26

AP art portfolios

Amy Lee ’24

In support of LM’s talented artists, let’s bring the spotlight to the AP Art students! It’s that time of the year again: classrooms are empty due to the seniors’ absences, students rush outside at the bell to grab a table for lunch, and many of us are only thinking about our Memorial Day Weekend plans. This also means that the upper atrium and frst foor hallways are fooded by various artwork from LM’s art students. Each morning, at the back bus circle, big display boards showcasing the AP Art students’ portfolios welcome students.

In the few weeks they have left, LM’s AP Studio Art students are fnalizing their various artworks for submission and display. With an incredible range of artwork, such as animal sculptures in AP 3-D Art, or digital sketches in AP 2-D Art, they prepare to impress the LM student body with their endless creativity and pure talent.

A few AP Art students gave their personal takes on the class, as well as providing some insight into their portfolios. Each of their unique perspectives proves the limitless nature of art, its connections to integral aspects of our lives and the aesthetic appeal it brings to our world.

Annie Zhao ’24 is a student in AP 2-D Art, and her reason for taking the class is simple: relaxation and down-time. As for many other artists, art is a pathway of escapism for Zhao. She felt that having an art class at school would be especially benefcial during her junior year. Currently, her favorite medium is digital art. She fnds it to be a much smoother and more afordable process compared to the hassle of using expensive supplies for a painting that may take days to dry. Relatably, most of her inspiration comes from Pinterest. She labels her portfolio theme “Indecisive,” without a particular central idea, as she prefers having the freedom to create pieces with ideas that come to her naturally. Zhao explains in her artist’s statement, “You could say I’m quite the picky person. The possibilities are endless, my mind either goes black or scatters amongst a million thoughts.” It may be that many of us relate to this sentiment, regardless of whether it’s in art or other part of our lives. Rather than suppressing her doubts and indecision, Zhao embraces its open-ended nature to portray in her portfolio. One way she shows this “go-with-the-fow” attitude is by incorporating water and nature, such as in a drawing of a character in water, in addition to an ethereal portrait, which she has given the title “water hair.”

Madelin Cerin Miguel ’23 took AP 2-D Art for “the opportunity to create artwork that will help me to achieve the point of impacting myself.” She enjoys using watercolors, as she can easily mix colors; however, she aims to utilize a variety of art mediums to diversify her portfolio. Her inspiration comes from a complex blend of thoughts, emotions, memories, achievements, and dreams. She

describes that in her process, “I try to take all my ideas along a single path, so that when I take my brush, I not only create a piece of art, but can exhibit my emotions and feelings.” Her theme centers around her independent identity, emphasizing that, “My emotions and feelings don’t just live hidden in my memory, and art becomes a journey to understand those parts of myself.” She has implemented this theme in her hourglass, planet, and butterfy paintings, which represent her grandmother.

Sylvie Weisbord ’23 took AP 3-D Art in the 2021-2022 school year, because she was inspired to create art with “common” materials in her metal works class because of limited resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is also taking AP 2-D Art this year. Her favorite mediums are anything paper-mache or cardboard, because they’re accessible and sustainable materials. She enjoys taking inspiration from the artworks of others, including writing pieces. For last year’s 3-D portfolio and this year’s 2-D portfolio, creatures have been her “visual through-line.” She explores this central idea by posing specifc questions, with last year’s being, “How can escapism and fantasy help to tackle the everyday?” and this year’s being “How do emotions manifest in the body?” In her 3D portfolio, her many diverse artworks included a giant paper mache dog, yarn mask, and a spinning automata!

Hadia Ahmad ’23 made a “spontaneous decision” to switch her AP Statistics course with AP 2D Art. During the summer before senior year, she recalls drawing at cafes while attending a flm course in New York, which ultimately led her to make the course change. Her inspiration consists of a wide range of designers and well known artwork, for example, Vivienne Westwood, classic paintings, Japanese artists, and even some cartoons. Her portfolio explores two sides to her: “who I am” vs “who I want to be.” Ahmad explains that she chose this particular theme because “I feel like I’m someone that’s obsessed with personal development, constantly in my head, day dreaming and wondering, what would it be like if I were a superhero or even a villain? Or other scenarios like that.”

Hadia’s work will clearly refect her inner thoughts.

The LM Art department will surely do a phenomenal job to end this school year on a terrifc note. Once the artwork has been put on display, I recommend taking a gallery walk, whether that be in the morning before class or during a free period. LM is full of talented individuals and you might just fnd your new favorite artist. You even may be surprised by the ways you relate to certain pieces!

Blossoming into the new season

Grace Shang ’25

are on the outskirts of the city in the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center or on the busy roads that run along the Schuylkill River, the cherry blossoms represent spring’s emergence and bring a delightful energy to the city. People all over the Philadelphia region enjoy such fowers, but not many know how they came to be. So how did such beautiful non-native trees come to be in the great city of Philadelphia?

In 1926, Japan gifted Philadelphia approximately 1,600 cherry blossom trees as a way to congratulate America on its 150 years of independence. Since then, even more cherry blossom trees have been gifted from the Japanese community. In 1933, Japanese citizens within the Fairmount Park area gifted Kelly Drive 500 cherry blossom trees. So each year during spring, the cherry blossoms within Philadelphia bloom to remind us of the connection and friendship created between two communities.

It is no secret that if you want to see the cherry blossoms in their full beauty, the place to go is the Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center. With its elegant traditional Japanese style house that you can actually go inside and see for yourself a glimpse of Japanese culture. On a normal day, families and friends can

sit under the trees and enjoy simple picnic’s, perhaps reminiscing about the Please Touch Museum that sits right behind them. But every year, around April 15, there is a cherry blossom festival celebrated at the Shofuso House to celebrate the beginning of spring. The calming ambiance of the house creates a great contrast with the busy city it neighbors. During the festival, they have a variety of events, foods, beverages, and even traditional Japanese ceremonies that anyone and everyone can enjoy.

This year’s highlights are the kimono fashion show. It presented a stunning variety of styled kimonos, Taiko drumming, traditional dance show, and cutest of all, a “pet in pink” parade. The cherry blossoms that once bloomed, and still bloom in Japan, now bloom in America to show the bond between the two bodies of people. The house is surrounded by a body of water containing koi fsh and a mini island in the center. It was built in 1953 by architect Junzo Yoshimura using traditional techniques and materials. To honor spring and new beginnings, what better way to celebrate than to look up and gaze at the blossoms swaying in the breeze and falling to the ground.

Art by Madelin Cerin ’23

Art by Hadia Ahmad ’23/Staf

Art by Madelin Cerin ’23

Art by Sylvie Weisbord ’23

Graphic by Ilana Zahavy ’24/Staf

The Merionite!

OPINIONS NEWS FEATURES

The year LM was founded

Mrs. deFranco’s favorite song

These students be found inside Emery Collection

The proposed start times for 2024

The number of articles The Merionite published about Oakwell

The year the Spycamgate case was settled

The number of rooms inside of LM (not including bathrooms)

Dr. Fadeyibi’s favorite place to travel

LD, Parli, are all a what

Mr. Kilpatrick’s favorite food

Every April, can be found Springs Moutain

Mr. Fadely’s favorite movie

This club’s is a slug

Dr. Johnson’s favorite sports team

This organization best friends the Red

*The first person to DM @merionite correct answers, before the answers 8, will receive a five dollar

Merionite!

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT FEATURES SPORTS

students would inside the Collection Room

Parli, and PF part of club

April, this club found at Seven Moutain Resort club’s mascot slug organization is friends with Red Cross

The 2023 winner of Amazing Ace

The singer of the LM Radnor Week fight song

LM Players’ plays that were performed this year

The name of LM’s a capella group

The first project of the Wood Arts class

@merionite on Instagram with the most answers are posted on Monday, May dollar Wawa gift card!*

The number of points Kobe Bryant scored at LM

When the boys’ XC team last won districts Arnold’s first name

The 2019 Girls Swimming State Champion

The coach who’s been working at LM the longest

Vivian Collins ’24 & Luke Shepard ’24 News Editors

Julia Zorc ’24 Graphics Editor

Diversity: what does it mean?

The frst thing that comes to mind when hearing diversity is ethnicity. And while ethnicity is a part of diversity, it isn’t the only thing that defnes it. The Merriam Webster dictionary describes diversity as, “the condition of having or being composed of differing elements.” Diversity can mean being diferent socially, culturally, politically, or even religiously. It’s about time people understood what it means to be diverse, and for institutions to stop publishing pictures of various races to show how “diverse” they are.

Here are a few opinions from students and staf at LM on what diversity means to them. Global studies teacher, Ms. Mirzanschall explains, “Diversity is diferent life experiences and interests… People don’t realize that, that is what diversity is. It’s being open to people that are diferent from you.” She essentially explains how diversity is an easily misunderstood subject. We can’t claim to be diverse or accepting if we’re not open to people different from us. Whether they have diferent views, or come from diferent backgrounds.

Grace Shang ’25 considers diversity “plain and simple,” nothing too complicated. She explains, “A marginalized society is not a good society… Diversity forces people to view things from a diferent perspective.” She mentions how a functioning society needs to be diverse in all its ways, and she isn’t the only one who thinks so; Anthony Labbad ’25 also states, “Diversity enables us to understand [each other] better.”

Likewise, to Liam Cox ’25, “diversity is bringing your own twist and each person having a unique character, whether it be physical, or emotional.” Clearly, diversity to certain students is all about being distinct in their own way. Why be

average when you can be something special? Furthermore, to Aniah Bethea ’25 “diversity is a collection of diferent people… with diferent life experiences.” Based on her defnition, she does not consider LM to be very diverse. She states the importance of diversity, as it “allows society to grow.” She also explains how support from both administration and students is necessary to achieve total diversity. However, when it comes to “pushing” diversity, whose job does that fall on: administration or students? Contrasting with the statement given by Bethea, Ethan Liao ’25 explains, “Administration gives the platform that allows us to spread diversity.” He believes the school has given students the necessary tools to share who they are with others. He also feels like the current administration has a “good spread across [diversity] and checks all the boxes.” As for Georgia Bond ’25, she believes “both administrations and students need to work together to create an accepting environment.” She further mentions that “administration should also work to hire a diverse faculty of teachers/staf.” Clearly, she believes the school could work better on diversifying its staf. Likewise, to Audrey Gardner ’26, diversity in LM is “[an] issue in certain spaces, but it’s been getting worse with attempts to make it better.” She also believes LM could work harder in achieving total diversity.

It’s important for people within a community to understand the true meaning of diversity. Diversity is much more than the color of your skin. It’s a variation of people with diferent stories to tell. Thankfully, a lot of students in LM understand this ideology.

Styling success

I recently went to the mall with my mom and tried on a pair of Levi jeans. Some parts were too tight, while others were awkwardly ftting. This was not the frst time this had happened. I had always been into fashion, but the process of fnding clothes that ft me properly was always frustrating. I wanted things to be the perfect length, without having to get a tailor involved. I also tried to use second hand websites, but quickly noticed a trend of overpricing on garments that the seller had gotten for ten times cheaper. Nothing seemed to be working, and I realized that this problem was not only frustrating for me, but many other people I know as well.

That’s when I decided I wanted to start my own clothing brand. This idea has been in the back of my mind for years now, but I always waited until I felt ready. After the frustrating experiences I endured while searching, I realized that I’ll never feel truly ready unless I start working up to it.

As I began creating it, I frst focused on the actual brand name. I decided on the name White Grape pretty quickly. I picked this because I used to work at a bubble tea place that sold a white grape punch. The name stuck with me as I thought it sounded pretty, but when I tried it, it left a sour taste in my mouth. However, my White Grape will leave people with a sweet taste, and a yearning for more.

I then began to work on my designs, which can be a lengthy and difcult process. I sit at an iPad for an hour, sketching designs. I color them, delete them,

color them again, and keep working until I’m satisfed. I spend a lot of time looking at Pinterest, cartoons, old runways, and friends for inspiration. Some looks that particularly caught my eye included Vivienne Westwood’s Fall 2011 collection, Anna Sui’s Spring 1994 collection, and the characters drawn by manga artist Ai Yazawa. All these looks possess similar qualities—feminine and clean, yet unique. I decided against manufacturing. I used to know how to sew back in middle school when we were forced to make pants, but now I’ve forgotten everything. I came to terms with the fact that it’s time for a refresher. I established that I’ll hand make every single piece. I’ve also come to hate the look of things that are mass produced. I want to work hard to give my clothing a classy, well-ftted look instead of sending simple designs to a manufacturer with cheesy slogans. I’m also hoping this decision will further my aims of promoting sustainability in clothing.

Furthermore, I’ll sell things on my own website, rather than using apps such as Instagram or Depop. That way I can give it a professional feel. Additionally, I have to create a logo, which I’m having a hard time coming up with. I decided against anything too detailed—maybe a simple grape that refects like a pearl would do the trick?

Everytime I think about the future of my company, I feel an enormous sense of enthusiasm, even if the fnished product is a while away. I hope that people will support me, and when the time comes, please be sure to purchase from White Grape!

Teacher Appreciation Week

Teacher Appreciation Week is from May 8 to May 12. Everyone should appreciate teachers all year round, but the week of May 8 is even more important. Over 130 faculty members support LM students each day. Some teachers do more than just teach though, they help with clubs and coach school sports in their free time. The week of May 8 is a perfect opportunity for students to show appreciation to the teachers who make positive experiences at LM possible.

Mr. Koetting is one of LM’s Chemistry teacher. This is his frst year as an educator, and his frst Teacher Appreciation Week. He was a student teacher at Harriton High School before beginning to teach at LM. Mr. Koetting explained that he always knew he wanted to have a profession relating to chemistry. However, he was not always set on being a teacher. While in graduate school at Villanova University, Mr. Koetting served as a teaching assistant. During this time, he greatly enjoyed working with others and being able to teach about chemistry. It was at this time that he recognized a calling to become a teacher. At LM, Mr. Koetting teaches four classes throughout the day, including two honors and two college prep courses. His favorite part of class is helping students with labs, which he always does beforehand to ensure that they will function accordingly. Furthermore, Mr. Koetting dem-

onstrates his commitment by teaching organic chemistry on Saturdays. When he is not teaching chemistry, Mr. Koetting enjoys running and biking and would one day hope to coach Track and Field. He is a prime example of one of the many teachers at Lower Merion that deserve our appreciation as students.

There are many ways for students to show their appreciation to our faculty this May. One example is by writing a letter of gratitude to exceptional teachers throughout the building. Students can be nice and respectful during Teach Appreciation week, which will help make their teachers’ day easier. Even just a simple smile to your teachers can go a long way in helping someone have a great day.

Outside of school, educators will be highlighted by companies and organizations for their dedication and hard work throughout the academic year. At Insomnia Cookies, teachers can get six cookies free with a fve dollar purchase. Staples ofers free gift box full of teachers supplies. Also, Barnes and Nobles ofers teachers 25% of purchases during Teacher Appreciation Days. These are just a handful of the numerous discounts ofered to teachers during the celebration of the hard work they do for their students.

During the week of May 8th, make sure you take a moment to thank the teachers who have impacted you throughout your time at LM!

Penn Wynne Elementary School teachers enjoy a teacher appreciation luncheon

Ella Hofman ’25

Dotun Okunade ’25

Graphic by Annie Zhao ’24/Staf

Hadia Ahmad ’23 Arts & Entertainment Editor

Two sketches for graphics that could be placed on White Grape t-shirts

Photo courtesy of Lower Merion School District

Graphic by Annie Zhao ’24/Staf

Sun’s out–now what? 7 ways to enjoy the May weather

Alessandra Cahill ’26

means that everyone is on the lookout for the next way to beat the summer heat! The frst option is Sweet Stuf in Suburban Square, which is a walk away from LM. If you haven’t tried their ice cream yet, try taking a trip with friends after school. Another popular place is Yapple Yogurt in the Wynnewood shopping center. Maybe frozen yogurt is LM’s next step for a May refresher. Finally, if you’re willing to drive (or happen to be at Conestoga high school for an away game), consider checking out Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream in Berwyn. What’s appealing about this parlor is its exotic favors such as cherry magnolia, strawberry cheesecake chunk, and French silk pie. Which ever you choose to visit this May will not disappoint.

movie night. You don’t need an expensive projector set up; good quality projectors that cost around $50 dollars can be found on Amazon, and a garage or side of a house will do as a screen. Set up chairs, blankets, pillows, hammocks, and get comfy for a fun night.

Let’s face it, this winter was a let-down. We had barely any snow, yet experienced days that were raw, brisk, and windy enough to make waiting for the bus at 6:45 a.m. miserable. However, spring is finally here, bringing sun and sweltering heat back along with it. As these seventy-degree days tick by (and more and more kids start wearing shorts to school), getting outdoors and enjoying the beautiful weather becomes more enticing. The days of huddling under layers of blankets are behind us. So, to take advantage of each warm, idyllic day handed to the LM community, here are seven easy and local ideas for how to take advantage of the May weather.

1. Take a hike! Although the Philly area isn’t famous for its challenging, treacherous trails, there are a few close ones that are worth checking out. Rolling Hills Creek in Gladwyne is a 1.4 mile loop that is easy and dog-friendly. In addition to the creek, hikers can walk through the forest surrounding it and see various old stone buildings built for mill workers back in the 1800s. If you’re looking for a trail that will give you more exercise, try the Crossbow Trail near Fairmount Park and the Mann Center. This 2.4 mile route is a little more challenging but offers walking, running, and mountain biking. Whether you’re going with your friends, your family, or by yourself for a beautiful walk with your head -

3. Have a picnic! It may seem overdone, but a pic nic can be a fun and simple activity to plan with your friends. Find your favorite local park, like Shortridge or South Ardmore. Pick a date, invite a few friends, bring some food, and enjoy! Just remember that your picnic may end up being an insect’s as well. Make sure to bring covers and spray if you’re worried about ants and other bothersome bugs.

4. Volunteer outside! You don’t have to be part of BuildOn to earn some volunteer hours on a beautiful day. There are a bunch of local Philly organizations you can sign up with. One is Fairmount Park Conservancy, which focuses on Philly park upkeep. You can sign up to volunteer one night a week or a single day—they have tons of options to work around a busy high school schedule. Another organization is CleanUpPhilly, which maintains recreational areas around the city like Cobbs Creek or Palmer Park. Never heard of them? Try checking it out. As for inside the LM community, make sure to check the Township website for future volunteer opportunities.

5. Host an outdoor movie night! Now that the days have become longer and the nights aren’t as cold, think about having some friends over for a simple

Promposal playbook

tion. For promposals with written components, I recommend misspelling the name of your intended date. This gives the impression that while you care a little, you certainly don’t care enough to stalk their social media account. Note: to avoid seeming like an idiot, this strategy does not apply to common names such as Max or Julia.

2. Surprise! When you catch a potential date of guard, they are more likely to say yes before thinking through the potential social ramifcations of going to prom with you. To preserve the element of surprise, I recommend dropping the question at the most unexpected times. Many memorable promposals are given during tensely emotional moments, such as after a test, following a sports game, or even during other promposals.

6. Plant flowers or a garden! If you’re willing to devote a couple minutes each day, starting a small garden on a window or in your yard is a fun and reward ing way to embrace the warm weather. If you have younger siblings, there is a plant sale at each elementary school this May. Ask them to pick up a plant or some seeds. If not, there are a bunch of small business greenhouses that you can visit for all of your gardening needs. Two highly-recommended nurseries are Taddeo’s Greenhouses located in Havertown and Plant and People in the city. Brighten up your backyard with some flowers or vegetables. Planting a few veggies will also lead to some delicious, healthy summer meals later on!

7. Run or walk for a good cause! If you’re look ing for a long-term spring goal or a way to exercise outside of school sports, consider signing up for one of the many runs that happen around the Philly area. One very close opportunity is the Ardmore Rotary 5k Race on May 20.

It is a run and walk that raises money for the Ardmore Rotary Club, a club that works to upkeep and maintain the Ardmore community. If you’d like to run for charity, there is a Philadelphia Bar Association 5k on May 21. This event benefits the Support Center for Child Advocates, an organization that helps and supports neglected and abused children. There are many more May runs in the area that focus on a variety of causes– check out RunGuides.com to find others.

As the end of the year approaches, everyone is look ing forward to summer and the end of the school year. Still, it’s not over yet. If you have some free time on a weekend or a weeknight, try one of these ideas. Whether you decide to train, volunteer, or simply hang out with friends, make the most of this May!

Prom is approaching, which means we’re entering the season of sharpied signs and awkward hallway confessions. When everyone is pairing up, it’s easy to feel left out. Luckily, there are plenty of nearly-guaranteed methods to land a date. Please note, while some of the advice is genuine, this article is intended as satire.

1. Keep it cool. A key element to a killer promposal is playing hard-to-get. You cannot seem desperate. Make sure your person of interest knows that if they refuse, you still have plenty of alternatives up your sleeve. This strategy also helps to maintain your ego in face of rejec-

3. Stay Smart. There is nothing more attractive than intelligence. If you have yet to show of your Powerschool grades to your person of interest (or if your grades are nothing to brag about because your teachers don’t like you), incorporate your smarts into your promposal. Whether it be busting out your Fe Man T-shirt or correcting your prospective date’s grammer, let them know that they should be honored to listen to your non-stop witty remarks on prom night. Consider expanding your vocabulary through the misuse of old English. Instead of, “Will you go to the prom with me?” try “Shalt thou accompany me to the prom dance this coming Saturday?”

4. Know Your Audience. Food is a great (and classic)

way to incentivize a potential date–whether chocolates, candies, or Trader Joe’s frozen miniature corn dogs from the bottom shelf of your mom’s refrigerator. Unfortunately, many lovebugs are plagued by dietary restrictions such as nut allergies and veganism. So if you’re bringing along a snack, it is good to check whether your person of interest is able to indulge. Say you’ve already cooked up a nice, juicy steak to ask out your unnamed love interest. But what if they are vegetarian? Consider wafting the elegant aroma of your scrumptious steak over to where they sit! If they smile, now you have got the green light! If they pinch their nose, don’t take offense, just change your strategy. Maybe even swallow the entire steak whole, dislocating your jaw like a snake to immediately eliminate the odor.

Love is very tricky business. When it comes to prompos als, nobody has all of the answers–not even me, the author of the article. But there are some tips to help increase your romantic yield rate. Hey, since you only live once, if you’re debating whether or not to ask out that special someone, you may as well go for it.

Lila Anaf ’24

Graphics by Tillie Szwartz ’25/Staf

Graphics by Ilana Zahavy ’24/Staf

Courtesy of Michael Smith ’23

The date is February 22, 1993. A new band out of the Abingdon School in Oxfordshire, England has just released their debut full length LP. This band is Radiohead, a newly formed rock band, yearning for the fame of Kurt Cobain’s Nirvana just a year after their massive commercial success Nevermind. Up to this point, Radiohead had released a few singles through the EMI label (owner of the Parlophone Record Label), none of which obtained much commercial success. However, there was one outlier. This single is one which we all know today as “Creep.”

Pablo Honey, the ofcial name of the aforementioned debut LP, had been in the works since 1992, after Radiohead’s demo tape Manic Hedgehog caught the attention of EMI Records. After signing with them, Radiohead released their frst single entitled “Creep,” followed up by “Anyone Can Play Guitar.” “Anyone Can Play Guitar” found little to no commercial success, but it was the other single that caught the attention of the public, specifcally the Israeli and American music market, by placing 78th on the UK Top Songs List of 1993. Their recording company knew this very well from the start. Today, thirty years later, almost everyone knows Radiohead for “Creep.” However, the rest of Pablo Honey has been long forgotten, gaining little to no attention. Though the critical reception of this album was originally mixed, the album received criticism for its bland, unoriginal, grungy sound, qualifying it as Radiohead’s “worst” album. But what is often overlooked is the signifcance of this LP in the Radiohead discography. The current sound of Radiohead has left its rock ’n roll roots for dead and started anew with their ground-breaking, experimental

Pablo, honey?

sound through the albums OK Computer and Kid A

From the beginning, Thom Yorke’s soft falsetto had not been heard of yet in the grunge scene. In turn, Radiohead’s lead guitarist Johnny Greenwood wowed fans with his unique and exceptional guitar slides, chucks, and overall abuse of his guitar, leaving the listener energized and excited.

There was no doubt, however, that Radiohead would have an impact on the Rock world. What was originally going to be a “throwaway” track became their most well known, and Radiohead failed to realize this without the help of their record company who encouraged them to release it as their debut single. “Creep” was not the only song that showed their potential. The entire album refected Yorke’s falsetto and Greenwood’s violent guitars. Without Pablo Honey, the fve piece would not be where it is today.

When it comes to Pablo Honey’s tracklist, the album opens with “You,” a short and simple energetic song that builds of of a dreamy, plucky lead and slowly transforms into a head bopping mixture of electric guitars and echoey guitar feedback. The second track, “Creep,” contains simple but memorable chords that resonate with listeners thirty years later and lyrics (relatable or not) that deliver lots of emotion with the three quarters mark of the song being the ultimate climax of Yorke’s vocals. The next song, “How Do You?,” is the weakest track on the album, often forgotten as New Musical Express (NME) criticized it for “breaking the album’s momentum… horribly.” Despite this, it contains a sample of the American comedy act The Jerky Boys’ prank call, which includes the famous line: “Pablo, Honey?”

The song fades out into “Stop Whispering,” the next track of the album. Containing a simple, two-chord progression that builds into a chorus of fast electric guitars and another one of Yorke’s Cobain-esque vocal deliveries similar to that of the “Creep” climax. The next track, “Thinking About You,” is Radiohead’s attempt at a rock ballad, dealing with topics of romance, failed relationships and regret, with a simple but attractive acoustic guitar strumming chords beneath the vocals.

“Thinking About You” is one of the album’s most sincere and heartwarming moments, which is quickly interrupted by “Anyone Can Play Guitar” with its loud, infamous guitar slides and bends performed by Johnny Greenwood, and plucky bass line performed by Colin Greenwood. The song fnishes with a memorable chorus and guitar solo.

The next pair of songs, “Ripcord” and “Vegetable,” deliver moments reminiscent of the Pixies loud-quiet efect, and contain catchy guitar work from both of the Greenwoods and Ed O’Brien. The follow up track, “Prove Yourself,” is a short and simple attempt at a rock anthem with a chorus of Yorke’s chanting “prove yourself” throughout the song. The penultimate tracks “I Can’t” and

“Lurgee” bring the tempo of the album down and prepare the listener for the fnale. The fnal track of the album, “Blow Out,” has been called one of the best Radiohead songs of all time for its wildly experimental sound compared to the rest of the album. It begins with a bossa-nova style guitar groove that slowly transitions into guitar chaos, and continues to build up until the peak, when it collapses in on itself and brings the album to an end.

Pablo Honey’s legacy often goes unnoticed, but the importance of it in Radiohead’s discography is immeasurable. Two years later, on March 13, Radiohead’s second album

The Bends would release to critical reception. This album brought Radiohead’s second batch of popular songs, which included “High & Dry” and “Fake Plastic Trees.” The Bends expanded upon what Pablo Honey started and built solid grounds for Radiohead to continue to thrive. Radiohead would release OK Computer two years later, and would be considered one of the most critically acclaimed albums of all time, next to Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon

As for Pablo Honey’s reception, critics said it was “one of rock’s brightest hopes.” NME claims songs like “Anyone Can Play Guitar,” “I Can’t,” and “Stop Whispering” are some of the only “unabashedly direct” tracks in their entire discography. Today, “Blow Out” has been considered one of the best songs in the entire discography and, unlike “Creep,” is liked by the band. It is still played at concerts up to this day, unlike the rest of Pablo Honey’s tracklist, which was gradually dropped from all live sets. On February 22 Pablo Honey turned thirty years old. Radiohead may have dropped its teenage angst phase, but the music still lives on. Whether you know them by their extensive catalog of music, or just by “Creep,” their debut release will always be an important part of the band’s history.

After four years, Taylor Swift is back and better than ever with her sixth headlining concert tour. This tour, “The Eras Tour,” began on Friday, March 17 in Glendale, Arizona, or as some Swifties like to call it, “Erazona.” If all goes as planned, it will conclude on August 9 in Inglewood, California. The announcement of Swift’s tour has been heavily anticipated ever since her tenth studio album Midnights came out and quickly climbed the charts back in October. It is rumored to be her last, at least for a while. This made the demand for seats extremely high. Some fans were not lucky enough to secure tickets after the infamous Ticketmaster fasco, which included many glitches and “bots” buying tickets before real fans could. Ourania Stois ’25 shares that, “I found them hard to get because of the high prices, so I couldn’t aford to buy them.” Molly Diamondstein ’25 agreed stating, “It was so hard! I waited in the queue for hours and the site kept crashing which was super stressful.” For the fans who were able to swipe the tickets, they are in for not only a great concert, but an amazing experience.

Swift is performing a whopping 44 songs, which many fans are excited about. The crowd is in for a treat as they get to listen to over three hours of songs from all ten of her albums. This set list also includes two surprise songs, specially picked for each performance location. Although her concerts for this tour have similarities, with components like her opening song, “Miss Americana and The Heartbreak Prince,’’ and her sets, Swift and her team are making sure that there are special pieces that difer at each gig. One way she does this is by interchanging the opening artists. This rotation includes fan favorites like Phoebe Bridgers, Gracie Abrams, Girl in Red, Paramore and fve other popular artists. Even though these changes are exciting, lots of fans are upset they don’t get to experience surprise songs that have already been sung. But, at Swift’s last Tampa concert, she announced that songs from her album Midnight’s may repeat. Some fans are upset she doesn’t include more songs from her third consecutive album

Speak Now, but it is rumored that she may announce Speak Now TV, a re-recorded version at one of her upcoming concerts. However, fans are happy with the fact that she plays seven songs from her most recent album Midnights, and her second most recent, Folklore Additionally, she has sixteen outfts throughout the night, each displaying elements from diferent periods of her career. However, some of these outfts vary from show to show. Many of them include sequins and sparkles, and each one gains more and more screams from the eager spectators. A couple fan favorites include her iconic “f shirt” from her album Red and the nostalgic gold dress from her album Fearless. As many know, Swift’s fans, the “Swifties,” have been waiting for the day of their concert for months. A lot of these Swifties, especially ones who use TikTok, have looked for easter eggs throughout the past season leading up to the opening night. These easter eggs are hidden messages inside Swift’s performances. Billboard adds to this by revealing that what makes Swift’s concerts so special is the “hyper-specifc planning and eye for gorgeous, perfectly plotted detail—all the way down to the colors painted on her nails during tour rehearsals.” This explains why her fans follow in her footsteps, dressing to the nines with an eye for detail. The New York Times shares that, “Fans did not appear to be playing favorites—many of them were dressed as Swift from various eras, as song titles, specifc lyrics, or as Swiftie inside jokes.” It is clear that Swift adores her fans, and they reciprocate that love.

Swift has three Philadelphia dates at the Wells Fargo Center mapped out for May 12, 13, and 14. She is happy to return to her home state to perform as it will be a full circle moment. She is also looking forward to seeing the fans at all sold out nights, as she broke the all-time record for the most concert tickets sold by an artist in a single day. Whether you are lucky enough to attend or bummed out you can’t go, many livestreams and content will be available on the internet. It will surely be an “enchanting” time for all of her fans!

TSWIFT on tour

Henry Lunger ’24

Graphic by Georgia Bond ’25

Hannah Cohen ’25

Graphics by Ilana Zahavy ’24/Staf

Graphics by Ilana Zahavy ’24/Staf

Upcoming movies

Vivian Collins ’24

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3–May 5, 2023: Directed by James Gunn, the third installment of the Guardians of the Galaxy series follows the Guardians as they struggle to adjust to their new life on the planet Knowhere. When Rocket Raccoon’s past comes back to haunt him, his team members must rally to protect him. They will face a brand new villain that threatens to tear apart what remains of the team. Will Poulter, from the Maze Runner franchise, will be taking on the role of Adam Warlock. Warlock was frst introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the post-credit scene of Thor: The Dark World and has not been seen since the post-credit scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. To prepare for this movie, Gunn suggests rewatching the last few Marvel movies.

The Little Mermaid–May 26, 2023: As the latest addition to the live-action Disney remakes, The Little Mermaid stars Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and Awkwafna. For the most part, the flm will follow the plot of the 1989 movie, however, with Alan Menken in charge of the music, there are sure to be a lot of unexpected turns compared to the older. Be sure to watch!

Editor

Barbie–July 21, 2023: This movie is probably the most anticipated flm of 2023. The movie features an all-star cast, an amazing director, and sets straight out of many people’s childhoods. The Barbie movie is the frst live-action iteration of the famous dolls. Margot Robbie, the actress playing Barbie, has said that she thought the script was great, and Ryan Gosling, the actor playing Ken, was excited to play the part of the ditzy boyfriend because his “story deserved to be heard.” The movie appears to follow Barbie in an idealistic neighborhood, who soon becomes tired of her picture perfect life and escapes to the human world. Be sure to watch this class turned live action!

Blue Beetle–August 18, 2023: In the latest installment of the DC Extended Universe, Blue Beetle follows Jaime Reyes, played by Xolo Maridueña, as he comes into contact with a piece of ancient alien biotechnology. As Jaime struggles to adapt to his new life as the host of a sentient scarab that grants him superhuman powers, he must also face the challenges of being a teenager. A superhero movie unlike any before, Blue Beetle is sure to be entertaining.

Everything Oscars All At Once

Sebastian Havira ’23 Arts & Entertainment Editor

In my last article, I made multiple predictions of who would reach the stage and cheerfully accept each Academy Award. After watching the televised program, I was not only displeased with the in accuracy of my predictions, but also by the ofcial winners of a long and tense year of exceptional motion picture art. At a striking view count of 18.7 million, the Academy Awards was an overall success; some ofensive jokes here and there (by comedic expert and host Jimmy Kimmel), winners stuttered through their speeches, and of course, a reminder to the audience that at no time will violence be condoned—a dig at Will Smith’s defensive outburst which caused him a ten year ban from attending the Academy. Although some jokes caused discomfort in the crowd, the majority of the audience responded lightly to Kimmel’s verbal capers. The comedic timing, social awareness, and the short, yet sharp, comedic liners were a vast improvement to the messy quad that attempted to create the same reaction at least year’s show, or even “comedian” Jerrod Carmichael at the 2023 Golden Globes ceremony. Aside from Kimmel’s appearance, I can assure you that most people were pleased with the lucky winners of the night, especially The Whale (a slow and at times stretched plotline of a morbidly obese English teacher), and of course, Everything Everywhere All at Once. Many LM students know my opinion on Daniel Kwan’s fey of a flm, which (is subjective) did not deserve all of the positive reception nor the Oscar

wins. I will continue to stand by my opinion when I strongly announce that Michelle Yeoh did not deserve the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role (Cate Blanchett should have been the lucky lady of the night to shed her tears in the spotlight). As for Brendan Fraser, his performance was convincing, but was it enough to win an Academy Award? I don’t think so. Austin Butler’s portrayal of the drug-addicted yet endlessly talented Elvis Presley was superior to Fraser’s gloom character searching for what? A relationship with his daughter? Instead, he should have invested his time and money in getting a pacemaker (this would have made the story more interesting at least). The peak of my heart throbbing in pain was when Everything Everywhere all at Once won Best Picture. If I had the privilege of deciding who would win the highest award of the night, I would have given it to Ruben Östuland’s social comedy-drama, Triangle of Sadness, or Steven Speilberg’s coming-of-age drama, The Fabelman’s. Although my opinions clearly do not align with those judging the pieces, I cannot deny the historical signifcance an Asian actress winning Best Actress in a Leading Role has on our societal norms and how we perceive non-white races in the entertainment industries. Yeoh has opened endless doors for minorities by representing them in her work. If anything were to be recognized during that night, Yeoh’s win would be the headlining feature—continuing the strand of historical wins (Parasite being the frst international flm to win Best Picture, Ariana Debose being the frst openly queer woman to win Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Troy Kotsur being the frst deaf man to win Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and now Michelle Yeoh being the frst Asian woman to win Best Actress in a Leading Role).

It was a clean sweep for Everything Everywhere All at Once, winning seven of the eleven Oscars it was nominated for, however, I would have preferred to see more diversity in the winners for each category. The only thing that keeps most viewers engaged while watching the program is knowing that each flm has an equal chance of being the fnal winner of that category, however, many nominees were unfortunately shadowed by the abstruse Everything Everywhere All at Once (which had to be the nadir of my entire night). Hopefully, the nominees next year are more diverse and less prosaic.

Metallic Philadelphia

Oren Goldberg ’25

On April 14, Philadelphia’s own, hardcore mainstay Jesus Piece’s much anticipated sophomore album, …So Unknown, was released on Century Media Records, co-produced and mixed by Randy Leboeuf of The Acacia Strain fame. While at the time of writing, the full album has yet to have been released, the band has released four singles from the upcoming LP over the past four months.

The frst single, released in December of 2022, titled “An Offering to the Night” provides a solid mix of old and new. The track wears its nineties infuences on its sleeve. Teeming with rifs that wouldn’t sound out of place amongst hardcore legends of yesteryear (Earth Crisis, Strife, Indecision, Madball, etc.), but with a bigger, louder, and deeper production that elevates the track to the modern-era. I found the aforementioned production to be intriguing, if not overdone at times. While I welcome clean and concise tracks, there is defnitely a line where the soul starts to get sucked out of a song. Although, that is not a huge problem here. This track isn’t inventing anything new, but it doesn’t need to do that. It’s a solid single that does its job of getting the listener excited for what comes next. Think of it as a great leadof hitter; it gets on base quickly and sets up the potential for something that will get the crowd excited and ready for more.

Next, in January of this year, came single number two, titled “Gates of Horn.” The track keeps steady with the big, loud, bassy production, but with much more of the death metal infuenced rifs that were present in the band’s previous release, 2018’s Only Self. This track opens up with a much more mathcore-esque segment, teaming with chopped up time signatures and high-pitched discordant rifs with the timbre of a fre alarm a-la Converge, Botch, or early Dillinger Escape Plan. “Gates of Horn” is a much

catchier, more intriguing ofering than the track mentioned above. This time, the production aids in the heaviness, with the booming bass enhancing the aggression of the slower segments. “Gates of Horn” is a fantastic second ofering.

Third, comes “Tunnel Vision.” Released the day after the Super Bowl, it’s appropriately angry for a group of Philadelphians. The track is the most conventionally “hardcore” of the bunch but that’s not a blight. In fact, it allows the talents of the entire band, but specifcally the vocal talents of Aaron Heard aided further by the mixing and production. I found this to be equal parts catchy, moshable, and musically intriguing; the perfect package. I don’t have a baseball metaphor for this, but “Tunnel Vision” is the best track of the bunch.

Now for the closer, the fourth and fnal single, released last month, entitled “Silver Lining.” Again, the track falls within convention, but doesn’t quite hit the mark this time. It’s not bad but something’s missing. The killer is the production.

I have been praising it throughout, but this time the track’s reliance on quantizing everything, but the over-mastering of the track as a whole makes “Silver Lining” lack character and sound incredibly generic. Furthermore, it lacks a lot of the catchyness that the other tracks have. It blends in too much and doesn’t stand out as a single. “Silver Lining” wants to be a cleanup hitter, but in reality would be better suited to hit sixth or seventh.

All in all, So Unknown is shaping up to be one of the better releases of the year as Jesus Piece themselves are seeming to live up to the hype that is surrounding their new album, continuing to build upon the success they’ve had over the past half-decade, and further cementing themselves as living legends amongst the hardcore world, all the while putting the Philly scene on the map.

Photo courtesy of Jesus Piece

Graphic by Tillie Szwartz ’25/Staff

Graphic by Julia Zorc ’24/Staff

News

Guess the movie

**These descriptions are not meant to be accurate descriptions of the films.**

Captain America looks better in a cable knit sweater.

Step-siblings, makeovers, and learning to drive.

Girls take scrapbooking a little too far and jingle some bells.

Llama learns not to gentrify with waterparks.

A kingdom catches a cold.

Pretty prince turns amphibious a er talking with a shadow man.

Teenage tinker in Scandinavia brings home a bunch of oversized pets.

Mommy issues lead to a bad haircut.

You wanna know the difference between them? One has class and the other doesn’t.

The Merionite Games

By Ilana Zahavy ’24 Senior design Editor and Emmi Wu ’23 Editor-in-chief

H E K I C D L

Words must be 3+ letters, have the center letter, and only contain letters in the honeycomb.

"You would cry too if he liked you."

"Get rid of its pants!"

"I would go to GW but that psychic told me to stay out of politics."

"If I start the movement, I CAN END IT."

"I'm the biggest nepo baby here."

"I've been drinking the yellow filtered water for weeks and I'm fine!"

"It shows."

"The girl in my human geo. class needs to stop pain ng her nails..."

“Have you gotten tested since?”

"If my love for frogs doesn't show my gender and sexuality identity, I don't know what does."

"F**k the environment, I'm not taking the bus."

Overheard in the hallways

By: Emmi Wu ’23, Editor-in-Chief

**Comments overheard in the hallways are collected om an Instagram poll and may not reflect the general opinion of The Merionite staff**

"It's red, it's Po, it's the shortest teletubby."

"I love war; it's my favorite!"

"I miss back in the lab."

"She's turning into a weeb."

"I should send the admissions o ce a picture of him drinking a borg."

"I heard they're ge ing married in the cou yard."

"So he's good at math?" "NO."

"all of your friends are npcs."

"Why is Joe Biden yassified...?"

"Why do you type so loud. . . shut up."

"That picture of you with that big a** knife is all over the internet."

"He definitely got a perm."

"I'll be a hooker!"

"Oh my gosh. ok at that forehead."

Running better together

Aaron Silber ’26

Track and field is one of the fastest-moving sports in the world. People fill up the stands to see how fast these dedicated athletes can move. From the 100 meter dash to the long jump, there are plenty of events to choose from, and with enough practice, you could even begin to compete at the highest levels. Normally high schools have a boys and girls track team, but at LM, there is one more team that is pushing the sport even further. The Unified Track Team is not only a serious track team, but it also gives people with disabilities the opportunity to race other people just like them, while working together and forming strong connections to the athletes who don’t have disabilities.

A sunny afternoon after school is where you would usually find the Unified Track Team practicing. After their warm-up, practice usually begins right away. Unified Track has a lot of events that are also included on the spring track team, such as the 100 meter dash, 400 meter dash, 800 meter run, long jump, shot put, javelin, 4x100 relay, and 4x400 relay. The athletes dedicate themselves entirely, and practice is certainly an impressive sight. “I really like running. I usually run really fast and really far!” says Declan Bro phy ’26, who competes in the 800 meter run. The special thing about running in Unified Track is that everyone encour ages each other to try their best. There is no negativity included within the team, which means that you don’t have to feel any kind of pressure. In fact, sometimes athletes even root for the other Unified Track teams competing against LM. Once you join the team, you instantly make a bond. As Saron Mengesha ’25 explained, “There are a lot more people like me. I don’t feel like an outcast.” Other athletes have joined the team simply because they

want to have some fun. “I like to have fun at Unified Track. I always feel proud of myself when I cross the finish,” says Aaron Arnold ’23, who runs the 100 meter dash. One of the coaches of the Unified Track Team is Coach Samantha Parks. She also has experience coaching the Hatboro Horsham team. When asked what sticks out to her the most while coaching this team, she responded, “Usually, what I find memorable about Unified Track is everyone helping each other out. One example is when everyone in the crowd cheered for Conor to cross the finish line in the 100 meter dash. It brought tears to my eyes.” She also loves to see the enthusiasm from all of the athletes on the team. “I like the community. I like the sportsmanship of everyone because it really helps other people feel included.”

Recently, the Unified Track team competed in their very first competition of the season at Hatboro Horsham high school against the hosting Mad Hatters and the Wissahickon Trojans. Not only did their relay team crush it, but many of the athletes finished in first place in individual events. Arnold, Ethan Silber ’24, Kyle Glover ’23, Aaron Silber ’26 and other athletes finished their heat of the 100 meter dash in first place. Cees Goswiler ’26 and Christopher Hugg ’24 impressed in their races, while Aaron Silber put up the longest jump of the day. Alek Dune ’25 and Glover threw really far in the shot put, and the relay teams, including the 4x100 and 4x400 blew the audience away with their performance. Another aspect of the Unified Track Team is that some individuals and the relay team are competing in the Penn Relays, the biggest track and field event in the country. The 4x100 is really honored to have the chance to compete against the best teams, and hopes to crush the competition.

Serving the competition

Alex France ’26

Each spring, as the school year winds down to a close, the boy’s volleyball team returns to the court and warms up their arms for another campaign. This year, the Aces are flled with young, talented, and eager players looking to improve and progress their game. Despite felding a varsity team with mostly sophomores and only one returning member, the team has played competitively over the course of the season, despite having a losing record. While they may be hungry for more wins in the present, players are extremely optimistic about the future of the program. As the only returning varsity player, outside hitter Tristen Arellano ’25 has shined as an explosive playmaker, slamming down spike after spike. He showed out in LM’s game against Avon Grove HS with a remarkable sixteen kills (plays resulting in points for his team). Defensive specialist Joshua Dang ’25 has also contributed with fourteen digs (saving a point) in one game against Spring-Ford HS. Dang says he is “proud of what we have been able to accomplish and the improvement my whole team has made from where we started as freshmen last year.” Overall, this is a close-knit and passionate group of young men who are ready to show the Central League what they can really do.

Despite being such a young group, this unit plays like a machine, churning out aces, sets, and serves on the court. Of course, none of that could be possible without working hard to perfect their craft day in and day out. The Aces routinely bring their best to practices, as the real work is done well before game day. Intense drills centered around serving, spiking, and passing fuel their success. The team knows that their hard work will pay of, and Dang is “looking forward to sticking with the team and showing how good [they] can be.”

Girls in the boat

LM girls’ crew has gotten of to an explosive start, with excellent performances from JV and varsity athletes helping them defend their position as one of the top teams in the area.

A particularly intriguing story thus far has been the girls’ JV 4+ boat, which contains some of the team’s best young rowers. On March 26, strong performances from Quinn Baker ’24, Greta Oberdiek ’24, Esme Oxman ’24, Maria Reynolds ’24, and coxswain Vivian Orova ’24 carried the boat to a frst-place fnish at Manny Flick #2. One week later, the squad proved that their success was not a fuke. On April 2, they took frst place at Manny Flick #3, overcoming tough competition to ensure their spot as one of the most competitive 4s in the area. Looking ahead, a large part of the girls’ focus lies on maintaining their winning streak. Amidst all of this however, they are also working toward something even more impressive: youth nationals in June. When members were asked about their biggest goal for the season, a bid at nationals seemed to be the team’s collective dream. For this talented squad, the prestigious regatta is more than achievable. A lot of hard work lies between now and June if the team hopes to book a ticket to Florida, but the team’s exceptional commitment, camaraderie, and coaching make them excellent contenders. The squad’s explosive start is not a stroke of luck. All fve girls displayed their dedication to the team by attending grueling winter workouts—a decision that Reynolds is especially proud of. “I think I grew both as an athlete and a teammate during those difcult training months,” she says. Oxman shared similar sentiments, saying that she is “most proud of the efort I put in before the season even started. It’s hard to motivate your-

Oberdiek, Oxman, Orova, Baker, and Reynolds, listed from left to right, pose for a photo after their victory.

On the right, the very same boat can be seen putting in some hard work along the Schuylkill River.

McCann ’24

The Aces’ excellent team chemistry is another factor which they believe will lead to greater success in the future.

Unfortunately, the LM Aces boys’ volleyball program has struggled to fnd much success over the course of past two seasons, fnishing with a losing record in both years. They are looking to get back on track and close out this season with some big wins against Avon Grove, Haverford, and North Penn. If they can fnish the season with a few more ticks in the win column, that momentum could carry them towards a stunningly successful season in 2024. While the playofs may be out of the picture at the moment, this team remains confdent that brighter days lie on the horizon. The development of their many sophomores is sure to be integral to the team’s future success, as their full potential remains relatively unknown. In the upcoming years, Coach Marie Hamilton has a demanding but also exciting task ahead of her, training a raw group of players who have a strong passion for the game and want to get out there and dominate. So, don’t be surprised when you’re reading an article about LM boys’ volleyball and their sudden resurgence this time next year.

self to train in the of season, but that’s when the real work is done.” The team worked hard and sacrifced for one another all winter long, and now they are reaping the benefts.

Baker, Orova, and Reynolds cited the team’s close camaraderie of the water as another contributor to the boat’s success. They stated that they are “all friends on and of the water,” enabling them to “communicate openly to one another during times when the boat may be struggling. It is crucial to the boat’s success for everyone to work cohesively, and having developed a friendship with one another gives us the opportunity to work better together and produce better results.” Oxman added that each girl in the boat started crew at around the same time, which has allowed them to develop together.

The girls also expressed gratitude for their coaching staf and acknowledged the role coaching has played in their success and growth over the past few months. Baker, Orova, and Reynolds mentioned their “great relationship with [their] awesome head coach, Kirk Beckman,” as well as their gratitude for being able to work with Olympic coach Sean Hall, saying “He has helped us grow exponentially. We are excited to work with him for the rest of the season.” Oberdiek also emphasized the positive impact coaching has had on her: “My coaches have been attentive and given constructive criticism that allows my boat and me personally to improve, all while improving what we’re already doing right. Before we race, our coach also gives us motivational talks, both to light a fre under us and to let us know that he just wants us to row our best.” The girls hope to stay at their best for the remainder of the season, wherever that may take them. If their performances so far are any indication, the sky’s the limit.

Aine

Graphic courtesy of Special Olympics

Photos courtesy of Maria Reynolds ’24

Photo courtesy of Joshua Dang ’25

Swinging for the fences

Josh Greenberg ’24

Swinging back from yet another disappointing season, having missed the playoffs last year, the LM Aces baseball team has clawed their way to a promising start in the Central League. Led by second year Head Coach Colin Quinn and Assistant Coach Brandon Mussellman, the Aces have made it clear that they are a serious team looking to add to an almost empty banner of Central League Championships.

On day one of tryouts, Quinn stated that “no spot is guaranteed.” Staying true to his word, Quinn and Mussellman decided to make more cuts than in prior years, setting the precedent for the rest of the season to come. This year, the Aces’ coaching staf decided to flm every inning of play and scout every opponent, not only in the Central League, but also against out-of-conference foes like the ones from Illinois and Kentucky that the team faced over spring break in Vero Beach, Florida. Learning from their rookie seasons, Quinn and Mussellman have made it clear that to be a serious program, they have to act like one.

Coming out the gates, the Aces lived up to the coaches’ expectations. Facing last year’s Central League Champions, Garnet Valley, Van Willner ’24 led the way for the Aces on the mound, winning 5-0. With no runs scored, eleven strikeouts, and only two hits allowed in the full game, Willner earned DELCO player of the week. Next, against Conestoga, Sam Wright ’23 and Isaiah Negron ’24 proceeded to hold the Pioneers to just one earned run,

securing the Aces a 3-2 win heading into the team’s spring break trip to Vero Beach.

Throughout the years, the Aces have held a tradition to go on spring break trips to warmer places down south. Although these trips are highlighted as an opportunity for the players to compete in a series of games (and for the coaches to watch them and further determine the lineup), the now annual trips are also designed as a team bonding experience. Despite the 1-2 record against a couple talented opponents, the players gained valuable experience and enjoyed the trip, having fun with mini golf, spikeball, and the ocean.

The week following spring break, the Aces returned to Central League play with three faceofs: Ridley, Springfeld, and Harriton. With Ridley struggling at the start of the season, the Aces went into the bout without a doubt on their minds, but the Green Raiders made it close. Going into the top of the seventh, the Aces were down 4-1, and the bats had been cold all game. After a string of hits, walks, and hit by pitches, Gus Wright ’25 came up to the plate with bases loaded and two outs down 4-2. This was easily the play of the year thus far. Stroking one to deep left center feld, Wright reached second base knocking in three runs to put the Aces up 5-4. With momentum on their side, Everett Whalen ’23 held the Green Raiders scoreless in the bottom of the seventh to propel the Aces to victory.

Unfortunately, this was the end of the Aces’ Central League winning streak to open up the season. After starting the season 0-6, the Springfeld Cougars upset the Aces 4-1. Following the disappointing loss to the Cougars, the bats went cold against the Harriton Rams in a heartbreaking ninth inning 2-1 loss. Even though they started the season out hot, these two blowing performances summarize the Aces’ ofensive struggles. Through fve games of Central League play, the Aces are hitting a measly .211, with only a handful of bright spots. However, this dry spell does not accurately depict the team’s potential. With lots games left in the regular season, many of the team’s talented hitters who have struggled so far are eager to prove themselves. If the Aces can get their bats going to help out their star-studded pitching staf, “2023” could pop up on the Kobe Gym’s Central League Champions baseball banner.

Dashing to D-I

Alex Goonewardene ’24

Andrew Gannon ’23 is a captain of LM’s track and feld team. He recently committed to the University of Portland for their track and cross country programs. Here, he will join his brother, LM alumnus and the current school record holder in the mile, Trey “TJ” Gannon. This year, TJ ran at the University of Pittsburgh. Andrew’s main events are the 800 meter and the mile. He has been a key part of the team’s success for years, as the anchor leg of the school record setting 4x800 meter relay last year. Furthermore, for the last two years,

Who or what made you start running?

“I was forced to run my freshman year by my brother TJ. I hated it at frst, but practice slowly became the part of the day I looked forward to the most. I’m now really greatful for pushing me to participate.”

What made the University of Portland the best choice for you?

“The University of Portland is a top-ten distance program in the entire nation. Also, the coaches are great at producing talent as they have created many professional athletes. I also love the idea of running with TJ again. It just seems like the perfect ft for me.”

What lessons do you draw from running and apply to the rest of your life?

“Every time, patience and consistency will lead you to success. You might very well not succeed at frst and there will certainly be ups and downs, but never give up. The only way to truly fail, is not to try.”

he was the leader of the track team’s distance medley relay, earning two consecutive indoor states medals and a trip to New Balance Indoor Nationals. He also made noise last year as, against a feld of some of the top competitors in the state, he became the Central League champion in the mile. He had an explosive season debut this year, with an impressive double at the Central Athletic League meet #1, where he won both the 800 meter and the mile. Here, he gives an insight on the ongoing season and his view on everything running.

What are your goals for the season?

“I would defnitely love it if I were able to stay undefeated in all of my races up until states. It would be absolutely amazing to break the 800 meter school record and my brother’s school mile record this season.”

How does LM track and feld stand out from other teams?

“Across sprints, distance, and the field, our culture is very encouraging and supportive. Whenever someone’s competing, everyone makes sure to cheer them on and push them to do the best they possibly can.”

Who are your running idols?

“I look up to talanted runners and Olympians like David Rudisha. More importantly however, I look up to the people close to me in my own life. My coach Neal Berman, who ran at the University of Wisconsin, has really helped to push me to improve myself. My brother TJ, who ran this year for the University of Pittsburgh, has served as an amazing example of what dedication can bring.”

Photo courtesy of Andrew Gannon ’23

Graphic by Calleigh Newbert ’26

Photos courtesy of Tom Weishaar

Avery Bickell’23 scores 100 goals!

On March 17, Avery Bickell ’23 scored her one hundredth career goal for the LM girls Varsity lacrosse team. Bickell, more commonly known as “Bick” has been a key player for the Aces since her freshman year when she began her 100 goal campaign on the varsity team. The quick, standout attacker will continue to play at the University of Maryland. The senior demonstrates a colossal excitement for her college commitment, itching to jump into what she describes as the “most decorated program in womens’ lacrosse.” She can be identifed on the feld by her bright red and yellow headband, but you’ll have to strain hard to locate her before she’s fashed past and scored another goal.

Pressure is placed on all varsity athletes when they step onto the feld, but when having the looming possibility of 100 career goals on the mind, it’s easy to crack under pressure. Bickell describes, “I knew

Sarah France ’24

Sports Editor

before the game there was a chance I would possibly reach 100 goals, but if I thought about it too much it probably wouldn’t have happened, so I stayed calm and played my game and I ended up scoring it at our frst home game.” A milestone as important as this is something an athlete will never forget. Bickell refects on her goal, describing it as, “I lost my balance and was on the ground after I scored, but I felt great! I had a hard drive to the net, dodged past two defenders then ripped a shot to the top left corner.”

Players spend years adding skills and moves into their toolbox. Avery’s toolbox appears to be bottomless. She likes to describe herself as a “really crafty player,” and she continues to add that she likes to, “fnd a lot of weird ways of getting the ball in the back of the net, whether it’s behind my back or if I’m literally lying on the ground in front of the goal and have to get a shot off.” Her coach Brian Feeney agrees, stating that she is a “quick thinker who is crafty and able to create shots even when it appears none are available.”

Four years ago, freshman Bickell scored her frst goal. Little did she know, it was the frst of one hundred that she would score in her LM jersey. She remembers it clearly and treasures the memory. When asked to explain the moment, Bickell responded, “My frst official goal for LM was at our very first game at Germantown Academy. I remember winning the draw and sprinting down the feld looking to go to goal but also for my teammates. I drew two defenders, pulled away from their double team, then re-dodged, snuck in between them, and fnished low on the cage.”

Many goals later, the world started to notice. She became an enticing recruit that numerous colleges took notice of. Ultimately, the senior committed to the University of Maryland during her junior year. Currently ranked as the number four womens’ lacrosse program in the NCAA, the Terps ofer a dedicated group of teammates, coaches, and support staf to help foster Bickell’s development. Not only is it an athletic powerhouse, but Bickell shares a strong ing their logo on her headband for years and shares that she has “dreamed of playing for Maryland since I was little.” She exclaims, “I’m super excited to

to play for the GOAT, my head coach, Cathy Reese. I can’t wait to be a part of the next generation of Terps!”

Of course, her legendary campaign could never have happened without hard work and dedication. But behind every machine is a group of engineers tinkering and carefully watching each gear and wire. Bickell credits much of her great success to her “amazing coaches, teammates, and family for sup porting [her] crazy dream.” Bickell is surrounded by driven teammates who have enjoyed great success this season, collectively boasting a winning record.

Freshman Owen

Davis

What sport(s) do you play?

Soccer and outdoor track

What are you most proud of regarding your sport?

Breaking 5:10 in the mile for the rst time

Which famous person would you want to have dinner with?

Lionel Messi because he’s my favorite soccer player

What is your favorite song to listen to before a game?

“Eye of The Tiger” by Survivor

Junior Faith Law Sophomore Allison

Pham

What sport(s) do you play?

Basketball and lacrosse

What are you most proud of regarding your sport?

How much I’ve progressed throughout my years of playing lacrosse.

Which famous person would you want to have dinner with?

Jackie Chan, he just seems like the most wholesome person ever.

What is your favorite song to listen to before a game?

Any Drake/Childish Gambino song

What sport(s) do you play?

Soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track

What are you most proud of regarding your sport?

I’m most proud of learning that I am truly capable of pushing myself.

Which famous person would you want to have dinner with?

Tom Holland because Spiderman is my favorite superhero in the MCU.

What is your favorite song to listen to before a game?

“Trance” by Metro Boomin

Senior

What sport(s) do you play?

Ultimate frisbee

What are you most proud of regarding your sport?

I’m proud of my sick cutting skills.

Which famous person would you want to have dinner with?

I would have dinner with Ice Spice.

What is your favorite song to listen to before a game?

“Moonlight Sonata” by Beethoven

All photos courtsey of respective athletes

Bickell enjoyed her frst media day in January.

The game chain was awarded to Bickell after

Graphic by Chloe Morton’25

Lior Cohen

her well played match.