Ardmore, PA, 19003
The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929
December 22, 2014
Volume 85, Issue 3
www.themerionite.org
LM JOINS PROTESTS AGAINST POLICE BRUTALITY Photo courtesy of Zay Smolar/Staff Protestors from local colleges sit and lie on Lancaster Avenue during the four-and-a-half minute die-in on December 8.
Zay Smolar ‘15
Bryn Mawr. From the chants echoing off of local businesses to the disappointed yet Nyasa Hendrix joined her classmates, determined faces of students and children passionately marching through the bitter alike, it was clear that the most recent grand cold on Monday, December 8, continuing jury decisions caused pain. For the young the “Black Lives Matter” campaign that adults of this protest, questions like “Why has swept the nation. For the 18 year-old have a son? This country wasn’t made to Bryn
Mawr
College
first-year,
this
protest
protect him,” were echoed by Hendrix. She has deep personal roots. Race relations went on to say that children like her threehave played a major role in Hendrix’s life year old brother simply “aren’t safe.” And Hendrix is not alone. since birth; her grandmother is a 65 yearAll across the country—even in news old women who saw Jim Crow end in her shows—people are hurt, frustrated, and lifetime. don’t know where to turn. From networks Students from Bryn Mawr College, Havlike CNN to satiric-news shows such as erford College, and Villanova University met “The Daily Show,” news anchors have been at Bryn Mawr College and continued down stunned. After the Eric Gardner decision, Lancaster Avenue, ending at Haverford ColJohn Stewart showed this perfectly in his lege. The students, along with various comDecember 3 show, in which he stammers his munity members, marched down the road, way to saying, “I honestly don’t know what escorted by police, chanting “Black Lives Matter” and “We Can’t Breathe,” eventually to say.” Stewart and others note how tired stopping for a “die-in” on the road outside they are of the injustice they have been seeing in the country. Even the energetic Nyasa of the Ludington Library. The protest mirrors those taking place in Hendrix feels exhausted, noting that, she is New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Califor- “18 years old, and [she is] tired of protestnia, and Ferguson, Missouri. After a grand ing.”
This
sentiment
is
reflected
by
many
jury in Ferguson decided not to indict Of- other Americans too. In a Pew Research ficer
Darren
Wilson
in
the
shooting
death
Center Study, 57% of the country feels that of Michael Brown, the town erupted into the
decision
not
to
indict
Officer
Pantaleo
violence. Soon after, a grand jury in Staten was the wrong decision. The movement has gained traction at Island, New York, also made a decision LM, too. Among the protesters was senior not
to
indict
Officer
Daniel
Pantaleo
in
the
Julia Carstens, who participated in the chokehold death of Eric Gardner. It was “die-in.” She and other African-American this decision that sent the country into a protesters laid down, while other white bout of protests, often seen in the media protesters traced their outlines on the road as full of anger. or sat down, holding signs with messages According to Nyasa, “The media porsuch as, “Indict the System” and “Ferguson trays just the anger, but it’s hurt. There’s a is Everywhere.” lot of hurt.” This was the resounding feeling as the 300-student crowd strode through Please see “Protests” on page 4
Editor-in-chief
NEWS Student Parking
Rebecca Tauber writes about the ongoing bus parking situation, which could impact student parking in years to come.
SPORTS Fantasy football dreams The rising popularity of fantasy football among LM students.
OPINIONS Shame of the (Aces) Nation Brett Rapkin-Citrenbaum writes that LM should use their funds to support ailing Philadelphia schools.
FEATURES Spotlight on Ms. Connolly
Tori Klevan writes a surprising feature on LM’s only Math and Spanish teacher.
Protesters gathered on Lancaster Avenue to protest against police brutality and racism. Julia Carstens, senior, (pictured below) had her outline traced in chalk.
A&E One man, two jobs, and a lot of hummus
SPECIAL FEATURE Students’ first amendment rights in school A closer look at our own district’s policies and student attitude’s on censorship. Articles, interviews, and student survey results.