Merionite February 2016

The Merionite

Ardmore, PA, 19003

February 26, 2016

October 30, 2014

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org Volume 86, Issue 4

Chemistry classes to move to admin building Sophie Roling ’18 Beginning next school year, there will be four chemistry labs moved from LM’s main building to the administration building. This change will likely come as a surprise to many students, as it means that LM classes will now be divided between two separate buildings.

The main reason for the move of the chemistry labs is the large influx of students, especially freshmen, coming to LM. There will not be enough space for the increased number of students with the current number of science labs.

LM Assistant Principal Scott Kilpatrick says that the extra rooms, housed in the administration building, will allow more students to take classes in the science department, as there will be extra space in the master schedule, which is built around the science classes. Biology classes, however, will remain in the main building, due to proximity to the greenhouse and the fact that it is a freshman course. Physics classes will remain in the main building as well.

According to LM Principal Sean Hughes, Chemistry Teacher Larry McAfoos, and LMSD Please see CHEM LABS on page 3

LM’s dream team

Sketch provided by Christine Cornell/Courtroom Artist

Cosby watches as attorney Brian McMonagle questions former DA Castor about the alleged non-prosecution deal.

Cosby called to Montgomery County courthouse

Deepika Jonnalagadda ’17 News Editor

The widely entertaining Mr. LM pageant returned for its seventh year this Thursday, February 25 as ten contestants battled to win the crown and raise money for their respective charities.

Loosely based on The Breakfast Club, the theme of the pageant was the LM Dream Team. The theme was chosen by Director Alex Stern ’16 who started off with a list of 60 common high school archetypes, which was then narrowed down by the contestants. Preparation for the pageant began in November when contestants submitted applications, including a brief talent preview video. All of the applicants underwent ten-minute interviews in front of the senior class officers and sponsors until only 10 contestants remained.

This year’s lineup consisted of eight seniors and two juniors. Each of the contestants played a different high school archetype: Jon Adams ’16, Queen Bee; Michael Berg ’16, Jock; Adrian Corbey ’16, Cool Guy; Alden Hallak ’16, Nerd; Dana Please see MR. LM on page 2

Photo courtesy of Sophie Bennett ’16 Mr. LM contestants pose as their high school archetypes.

NEWS CodeLM

D. Behar/ R. Tauber Editor in Chief/News Editor This past February, The Merionite had the unique opportunity to send two reporters to the Bill Cosby hearing at the Montgomery County Courthouse. Our writers sat in on the hearing amongst reporters from news outlets such as USA Today, The New York Times, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

NORRISTOWN, Pa.—On February 2, the normally dreary borough of Norristown was full of life as news trucks and reporters swarmed to get a glimpse of Bill Cosby entering the Montgomery County Courthouse. The buzzing courtroom was packed with press, lawyers, law students, and public alike, all interested in the fate of “America’s Dad.” A hush fell over the crowded room when the frail comedian entered leaning on his cane, encircled by security guards.

Formerly a beloved comedian, producer, and star of The Cosby Show, Cosby has now been accused by over 50 women of sexual assault. The hearing was held to determine whether or not the case against Bill Cosby for the 2005 sexual assault of Andrea Constand should go to trial. Cosby’s lawyers had filed a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that former Montgomery County District Attorney (DA) Bruce Castor had promised to never prosecute the former TV icon.

While the hearing did not deal directly with the allegations themselves, it had the potential to make or break both the case and Cosby’s future. Although over 50 victims have come forward against Cosby, Constand’s case is the only one that has not passed the statute of limitations for sexual assault, making it the only one that can potentially put Cosby in jail.

Castor proved to be a key witness throughout the day.

He was questioned thoroughly by both the defense and the prosecution. Castor claimed that he made the promise not because he thought Cosby was innocent, but because he believed Constand was not a credible victim.

FEATURES

Students exelled in LM’s first annual inter-scholastic coding competition on February 9. page 2

OPINIONS Shutting down stigmas Leslie Gladstone argues that Mr. LM contestants should be exclusively male.

page 5

While dates of the allegations range from 1965 to 2008, many of the victims have only come forward recently, partially due to Andrea Constand, one of the first women to tell her story publicly. Constand met Cosby in 2004 when she was working for the Temple University women’s basketball team (Cosby’s alma mater). Cosby lived in Cheltenham. Constand claims that while at Cosby’s house, he gave her pills “to relax,” and that soon after, she found herself unable to move and being sexually assaulted by Cosby.

Castor said that the one-year gap between the incident at Cosby’s Cheltenham home and Constand’s official complaint to Canadian authorities diminished any forensic evidence, thus making her case extremely hard to prosecute. Castor claimed his actions would make it possible for Constand to take her case to civil court where she could receive a monetary settlement and where, in exchange, Cosby would be stripped of his right to claim the 5th Amendment, or to refuse to say something that may incriminate him. Therefore, in his testimony, Cosby admitted to having Constand at his house, having sexual relations with her, and even giving her pills. The only dispute regards whether or not the relations were consensual. Constand came away from the suit with a monetary settlement, and Cosby came away with the assurance from Castor that he could never be tried in criminal court for that incident. Case closed—or so it seemed.

Fast forward to this past fall, when attorney Kevin Steele defeated Castor in the election for District Attorney. Steele ran on the platform that he would be the DA to prosecute Cosby, because it “isn’t right” for “a wealthy defendant to buy his way out of a criminal case.” Once Steele won, he charged Cosby with sexual assault and reopened the case in criminal court. However, Cosby’s lawyers soon filed a motion to dismiss the case, on the grounds that Castor had previously promised to never prosecute Cosby criminally.

Please see COSBY HEARING on page 3

SPECIAL FEATURE The Oscars Check out some of LM’s favorite teachers as Oscar celebs. pages 8 & 9

A&E Trans Models Kelly Harrigan explains the process the administration goes through in filtering Dawg Pounds. page 10

Molly Gonzalez highlights two transgender models breaking bounderies on the catwalk. page 12

SPORTS Squash at nationals Boys’ and girls’ squash teams both defended their titles as the top public school teams in the country over President’s Day weekend.

page 16

2

NEWS

February 26, 2016

The Merionite

The SAT– take two

LM holds annual coding competition

Nisha Arya ’18 As the first round of the redesigned SAT approaches this March, College Board has released more information about the test as well as new ways to study. With some large structural changes, College Board mentions on its website that it hopes this new test will be effective and “more focused on the skills and knowledge at the heart of education.” However, these new changes may exacerbate the disadvantages that low income and ESL students already experience because of the test’s complicated wording of questions.

The math portion of the test focuses on three areas: Problem Solving and Data Analysis, Heart of Algebra, and Passport to Advanced Math. Dean Rosencranz, the Math specialist at LM, emphasizes, “The most significant change in the new Math section is to present more application problems. The questions model reallife scenarios, such as banking, interest, and mortgage: things that students will have to deal with.”

In the reading and writing sections, the redesigned SAT emphasizes reasoning, skills, and understandings most important for college.

Joyce Acton, a teacher in LM’s Challenge program, says that “many questions are based on analysis and interpretation.”

The optional essay in the new SAT is the biggest change from the current test. This year, students have 50 minutes to showcase their writing, in comparison to the current test in which students are granted only 25 minutes. While

“

...only time will tell whether these changes are for better or for worse.

”

the old SAT essay prompt asked students widereaching, subjective questions, the new SAT essay prompt asks them to read and analyze a provided passage. After reading a passage, students may be asked to determine how the author persuades an audience through the use of evidence, reasoning, and stylistic and literary devices.

One new guarantee is that students will read a passage from US founding documents or texts that discuss the nature of civic life. The US founding documents can include the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, or the Federalist Papers.

Please see THE NEW SAT on page 3

“When there is a big sports other LM team including game a lot of the students get Daldal, Hu, and Dai came really pumped up for it and in second place with 11 the best players from LM go points. In the advanced direpresent their school in their vision, Henderson’s team sport. This is the programended with a winning 16 ming equivalent of that. The points, followed by Harribest programmers from LM ton’s team with 13 points. go head to head with proThere were prizes grammers from other area awarded to first and secschools,” says junior Noah ond place teams: first place Rubin, describing CodeLM, competitors in each divithe programming competition sion each got an Arduino that took place in the library kit- a device that allows the on February 9. user to create circuits and Rubin first thought of holdcontrol them with code, ing this competition when he second place competitors went to similar coding comin each division each got petitions and the University one Makey Makey, a deof Pennsylvania and Widener vice that lets the user turn University. Last year, he ran practically any object into a coding competition excluan electronic controller, sive to LM. This year, with and everyone at the comPhoto by Rebecca Tauber/ Staff the help of a team includpetition got a Frisbee.

Roling, Rubin, and Swope pose with a sign welcoming stuing LM Computer Science The competitors were dents from ten different high schools to CodeLM. Teacher Thomas Swope and somewhat surprised at juniors Max Roling and Dathe difficulty level of the There were six algorithmic questions, vid Vonderheide, CodeLM included 10 questions, as they scrambled to finish as or word problems that are solved through other schools, giving many students the much as they could. No team finished formulas, and one open-ended question rare opportunity to participate in a codbefore the two and a half hour time limit for each division. Teams had a two and a ing competition. These schools included was up. Gurevitch, a member of the winhalf hour time limit to complete all quesHaverford, Henderson, Harriton, Plymning team in the intermediate division, tions. The questions took Rubin, Swope, outh Whitemarsh, Emmaus, Strath Haremarked that “the competition was reRoling, Vonderheide and others weeks of ven, West Chester East, and Rustin high ally fun and I thoroughly enjoyed the meetings to write and solve. The algorithschools. whole process. While the questions were mic questions ranged from solving math CodeLM gained Susquehanna Intervery difficult, we pushed on, and worked to writing code that capitalizes the first national Group (SIG), a firm that develtogether to solve them.” letter at the start of every sentence. The ops software that surveys the stock marSwope and the student judges for the algorithmic questions were graded by ket, as a sponsor this year. Swope was competition were also pleasantly surRubin’s website, while the open-ended able to recruit SIG through his current prised at how smoothly the competition question was graded by visiting SIG derelationship with the Bala Cynwyd based went. Roling summed up his feelings velopers, so the teams could get feedback company, which has both provided guest by saying, “we invested a tremendous from professionals. speakers and given Computer Science amount of time and work into CodeLM The intermediate competitors forLM students a tour of the company. SIG and we are glad that it ran so smoothly. were juniors Katie Dai, Esen Daldal, provided lunch and prizes at CodeLM. One of our goals was to raise awareness Evan Hassman, Shenqi Hu, Ben Loeb, Roling adds that, “we could not have acfor programming and STEM in our comand Hannah Si, sophomores Zach Goldcomplished this without the aid from the munity, and [through CodeLM] I think stein, Jake Gurevitch, and Isaac Rand, developers at SIG. They were an invaluwe succeeded in doing so.” and freshmen Shane Boyer, Charlie able resource and a tremendous help.”

When reflecting on this year’s comHerrmann, Brandon Kedson, and Zach The competition included two levels: petition, Rubin said, “CodeLM 2016 Schuh. The advanced competitors for LM intermediate, for students in Computer couldn’t have gone better. Everyone enwere seniors Alden Hallak and Jonathan Science 2, and advanced, for students joyed it and it was a huge success. I can’t Saewitz, junior Eli Bickel, and sophoat the AP level. Each team consisted of wait for CodeLM 2017!” Rubin, Rolmores Sebastian Connelly and Milad three students, and each school had one ing, and Swope are planning on making Masoodi. team in each division (with the exception CodeLM an annual event and encourage The intermediate team that included of LM, which had four intermediate and interested students to go to codelm.com Loeb, Herrmann, and Gurevitch placed two advanced teams and Harriton, which to find questions and pictures from this first, ending with 12 points, while anhad two intermediate teams). year’s event.

Mr. LM

Cont. from LM’S DREAM TEAM, page 1 Handleman ’16, Comedian; Dean Hughart ’16, Band Geek; Griffin Murphy ’16, Artist; Eddie Scott ’16, Gym Try-Hard; Emily Harnett ’17, Theatre Kid; and Erez Potok-Holmes ’17, Boy Next Door. Stern selected their archetypes based on their personal input, picking ones that resonated with them.

Beginning with the class of 2010, Mr. LM started as a senior class fundraiser and gradually expanded over the years to benefit local charities chosen by the contestants. After being asked to help the first year, Physics Teacher Nora Christman has since sponsored the pageant and continued to move it forward through her hard work each year. Since last year, one of the main improvements made to the event was increasing audience engagement and participation. Christman accomplished this by dispersing the talents throughout the night, instead of in one segment. Additionally, live tweeting during intermission and online voting to choose the winner were made available . The judging panel was comprised of representatives from each grade, faculty members, and last year’s winner, Drew Michie ’15.

The night started off with entertaining introductions by emcees Kyle Michie ’16 and Principal Sean Hughes. The first step to the contestants’ road to victory was delivering a solid talent performance, which contestants had been committed to perfecting for the show over the last few months. According to Christman, “Contestants this year were the most invested group, and everyone put everything they had into making it a fun show.”

This year’s talents varied wildly from Scott’s display of his food catching ability to Potok-Holmes’s performance of his original song “The Winds Voice,” an ode to a lost love. Handleman kicked off the talents with a daring performance of “Sweet Transvestite” from the British musical Rocky Horror Picture Show. Closing the talents was Adams who dazzled in an energy filled dance homage to Britney Spears clad in a sports bra. On that note, Adams advises “If there’s one place you should never take yourself too seriously, it’s high school.”

The schedule of the night was packed with additional livening performances made by all of the contestants including

a hip hop dance and a partner dance, both choreographed

by LM Dance Team captains Meredith Anderer ’16, Lindsay Wachs ’16, and Morgan Naiberg ’17. Additional guest performances included LM Dance Team and Standard Voices, an LM student acapella group.

At the end of the night, the goal of the contestants, in addition to winning the crown, was to raise money for their chosen charities. Each contestant chose a charity that had a profound significance in their lives: Adams, SS United States Conservancy; Berg, the ABC House; Corbey, The Covenant House; Hallak, the Syrian American Medical Society; Handleman, The Trevor Project; Harnett, Equality Pennsylvania; Hughart, the Settlement Music School; Murphy, Art Reach; PotokHolmes, the Music is Hope Foundation; and Scott, Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

The show was highly successful as months of rehearsals culminated in an evening of laughter and charity. Mr. LM has become a tradition over the years, its significance best described by LM Principal Sean Hughes as an event that “brings the whole community—students, parents, teachers, faculty—together to Photo by Deepika Jonnalagadda/ Staff celebrate the talents of comNaiberg ’17 and Anderer ’16 teach the Mr. LM contestants the group petitors.” hip hop dance during an after-school rehersal.

News

February 26, 2015

3

The Merionite

Cosby hearing

Chem labs

Cont. from COSBY, page 1

Cont. from CHEMISTRY CLASSES, page 1

The defense, led by attorney Brian McMonagle, cited Castor’s 2005 press release as evidence of this agreement between the DA’s office and Cosby’s legal team, arguing that the agreement was “baked in” to the release. They also argued that, as sovereign, Castor had the authority to make the deal that he did. McMonagle asserted that “a promise of a prosecutor... is absolutely 100 percent enforceable.”

The prosecution, led by Steele, claimed that the press release was not nearly clear enough in its wording. To strengthen their argument they cited Castor’s statement that if any evidence surfaced that would compel him to revisit the issue, he would. The prosecution also hammered Castor on the fact that he never personally contacted Constand’s lawyers about the agreement.

Although the majority of Castor’s testimony was supposed to help the defense, he insisted on where he stood with regard to the case against Cosby at large. “Let’s be clear, Mr. McMonagle. I’m not on your team here. I want [the prosecution] to win.”

On the second day of the hearing, the defense called a lawyer and a member of Cosby’s legal counsel during the civil suit where John Schmitt acted as a witness. Schmitt said that he would not have had Cosby testify freely at the civil suit had he not believed there had been an agreement. Therefore, the defense asserted Cosby’s forfeit of the Fifth Amendment suggests that there was an agreement, since Cosby would never have admitted to drugging and having sex with Constand in his testimony had he known there was a possibility the deposition could be used against him later in criminal court.

On the other side, the prosecution noted that there are official ways to document non-prosecution agreements, specifically to avoid the dispute that brought the entire hearing. The prosecution argued that the fact that Castor never officially documented something so important suggests that Castor’s decision only applied to when he was DA and not for all time.

The final witness who testified at the hearing was Constand’s main attorney, Dolores Troiani. Troiani’s testimony undermined some of Castor’s reasons for the steps he did and did not take with regard to Constand’s case 10 years ago. She suggested that Castor’s real reasons were political, since he was running for office, and that he likely did not want to “alienate fans of Dr. Huxtable,” the character played by Cosby on The Cosby Show. She further explained that at the time she was never under the impression that the press release meant Cosby could never be prosecuted in the future. She only found out about the defense’s interpretation of the press release this past fall.

After two days of testimony, Montgomery County Judge Steven T. O’Neill, an LM graduate, rejected Cosby’s motion to

Assistant Director of Operations Jim Morgan, will be a challenge, although we won’t know much there are four outdated labs in the building that until we are in the midst of it.” will be renovated for the move. These rooms are While the change will definitely create more currently divided into three separate sections, space in the main building by relieving overwith original 1930s carpentry. The administration crowded lab rooms, it may affect some students’ building was the second location for LM’s campus, decision to take AP Chemistry as an extra science. so the building is equipped with classrooms. All Isabella Dumitrescu ’17, who is contemplating classrooms used next year will be located on the taking AP Chemistry, says, “I am still interested third floor of the building. Two of the rooms will in taking the class, because I love the subject and be converted into biology/chemistry labs, which know the teachers well. Yes, having the class in will be equipped with lab stations on the exteri- a different building is a bit of an inconvenience, ors of the room, a more collaborative space in the but I’ll honestly probably leave everything I don’t middle, and a sliding wall for the Organic Chem- need for chem in the main building. If the labs istry lab room. The other two rooms will become over there are upgraded, a better environment multi-purpose with newer equipscience rooms, ment is definitely and a fifth room worth the walk.” for science will Additionally, with eventually be addthe move it will ed. Most of these be easier to find rooms will look science teachers identical to the outside of class, ones in the main as there will be building, with six almost no rooms islands facing one shared between wall. These rooms teachers and no will be used next science courses in year for college humanities rooms prep, honors, and as there are this AP chemistry. year Since the adAs many stuministration dent athletes building is not know, the crew internally conteam uses rooms nected to the main in the administrabuilding, admintion building for istration is still in their winter workthe process of disouts. As a result of cussing the walk this renovation, to classes outside. their rowing maCurrently, a plan chines will have is being devised to be relocated to to account for difsomewhere else ferent situations, on LM’s campus. such as the time According to Photo by Simone Burde/Staff period between Kilpatrick, this classes, and the A lab in the admin building which will be renovated move was nevregulations for stuer a part of the to match chemistry labs in the main building. dents. Most likely, district’s master the time between classes will not change. Safety plan. When both high schools were reconstructis obviously one of the most important issues that ed, they were designed for a maximum of 1250 will be encountered during this change. Although students each. With increased enrollment, the regulations are still being discussed, there may limited space is becoming a pressing problem. Albe some new precautions regarding locked doors though just the chemistry labs will be moved next when entering and exiting the buildings. year, more classes, including some in the humanSome students are concerned about the walk ities, will be moved to the building over the next between classes, especially if they are coming few years. The entire third floor of the building from the third floor of the main building and go- will eventually be renovated and updated, starting ing to the third floor of the administration build- with running water and gas for the chemistry labs ing. Others are concerned about the possibility next year. The gymnasium in the administration of having to walk outside in poor weather con- building will be closed starting this May when the ditions. Annika Edwards ’19, who will be taking renovations begin. chemistry next year, feels “worried about walking As of right now, the entire plan is still a work in outside on days when it is icy or snowing because progress. Although it will take some adjustments, someone might slip and hurt themselves.” McA- this change will set an example for the changes foos addressed these issues saying, “[the move] that will occur at LM for years to come.

“

... [it] isn’t right [for] a wealthy defendent to buy his way out of a criminal case.

”

-Kevin Steele, Montgomery County DA dismiss the charges. He ruled against the defense’s motion that Cosby had made an immunity deal with Castor, therefore ensuring a criminal trial. Cosby’s attempt to dismiss Steele from the case, on the grounds of Steele’s political rivalry with Castor, was also rejected by O’Neill. On February 16, O’Neill denied the defense’s motion to appeal the decision.

As a result, a preliminary hearing to decide whether or not there will be a criminal trial is scheduled for March 8. To make matters more complicated, it was earlier this month that Cosby had sued Constand for an alleged breach of confidentiality agreements they signed to settle the lawsuit in the civil case.

This motion had been filed on February 1, the day before the hearing.

When asked about whether the uniqueness of this case would set a future precedent, AP US Government and Politics teacher and attorney Sean Flynn said that no precedent would be set because O’Neill “simply believed one witness over another.” And that “even if there was an ‘agreement,’ it is not enforceable as a grant of immunity from prosecution.” According to Flynn, who is a former law partner of O’Neill and considers him a good friend, the judge will have to “determine if Cosby’s deposition testimony under oath in the civil case can be used as evidence against him in this criminal prosecution” in the criminal trial.

Cosby’s stardom still has a resounding effect on the media and the public. When he left the courthouse, members of the general public were waiting outside in the cold, cheering Cosby’s name. The upcoming trial will most likely receive worldwide attention, drawing the public eye to our own Montgomery County and bringing to light complicated legal issues, political rivalries, and Cosby’s legacy.

The New SAT Cont. from THE SAT: TAKE TWO, page 2 Although the new SAT has become more similar to the ACT, there are still some significant differences. While the ACT’s questions tend to be more artificial, they are also more straightforward than the SAT. ESL students may have a disadvantage due to over-complicated and wordy questions. In the reading portion, the new SAT replaced simpler passages with questions testing logic and comprehension, providing an unfair advantage to students with more resources. Instead of the SAT’s original purpose of judging a student’s readiness for college, the test may further divide students’ opportunity to succeed. Emily Murphy ’17 describes the new SAT as “tricky because even though the test has made some big changes, the wording is trying to deceive you more than it should.”

While the completely redesigned SAT will force students to discard their huge test-prep workbooks, College Board has partnered with Khan Academy to provide personalized tutoring in preparation for

the test. All students have to do is sign on to Khan Academy and sync their PSAT score to the website (or take a quick diagnostic) to receive a set of videos tailored to their own needs.

At LM, if students prefer a classroom-teacher set up, Rosencranz and Acton teach a prep course for math, reading, and writing. The course used to be specifically for the SAT, but beginning next fall they have combined the course for both the SAT and ACT. According to admissions offices across the country, most colleges will be accepting the current and new SAT for the class of 2017, though there is little preference between the new and old versions.

This new test is supposed to be more relevant to the success of a student and applicable to college topics and careers. Yet while this redesigned SAT may have been created as an improvement, only time will tell whether these changes are for better or for worse.

4

OPINIONS

February 26, 2016

The Merionite

Editorial: Eliminate gym class for athletes At the beginning of each semester, most LM students find themselves seated on the bleachers in the Bryant Gymnasium, signing up for their physical education classes. While gym class may be an enjoyable experience for some, it is an unnecessary hassle for many others. This is especially true for LM students who play a sport, in which case gym class proves to be redundant.

The purpose of gym class is to get LM students moving and healthy, which is certainly an admirable goal. However, students who play a sport already partake in anywhere from five to 15 hours of exercise per week. This begs the question: will a period spent in the Exergaming Studio (known colloquially as the Wii Room) really provide these students with meaningful physical activity? Even in the case of more physically active gym selections, such as basketball and dodgeball, a mere 40 minutes of exercise once every four school days is insignificant compared to the amount of exercise a student gets playing a sport before or after school.

While making gym optional may seem revolutionary to some in the LM community, it is not at all unheard of. For example, at Conestoga High School, also in the Central League, upperclassmen are exempt from gym if they participate in varsity sports or if they work out on their own outside of school.

This is not to say that gym class at LM should be eliminated altogether. For students who do not play a sport, gym class can provide a convenient opportunity for structured physical activity. Some gym electives, such as Lifeguard Training, provide invaluable skills to all students, whether or not they are athletes.

However, students who do play a sport should be exempt from the physical education requirement, at least for each season in which they are actively practicing and/or competing. These students, who are already burdened with completing homework after practice, will benefit from an additional study hall or free period. For them, gym classes should be an elective option, not a requirement.

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

The Merionite

The official newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org Columbia Scholastic Press Assocation Silver Crown 2013 Editors-in-Chief Dena Behar ’16 Olivia Johnston ’16 News Editors Simone Burde ’17 Deepika Jonnalagadda ’17 Rebecca Tauber ’16 Op-Ed Editors Adrian N. Corbey ’16 Todd S. Gilman ’16 Nina McKay ’17 Features Editors Isabella Dumitrescu ’17 Leslie Gladstone ’16 Alexandra Hummel ’17 Arts and Entertainment Editors Jon Adams ’16 Sophia Salganicoff ’16 Margo Urheim ’16

Sports Editors Kelly Harrigan ’17 William Rieke ’16 Daniel Wilson ’16 Copy Editors Dora Nathans ’18 Grant Wei ’16 Graphics Editors Samuel Gamberg ’17 Business Manager Justin A. Guo ’16 Advisor Charles Henneberry Business Advisor Sean P. Flynn, Esq.

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 to merionite.opinions@gmail.com or dropped off outside the Merionite office. The Merionite reserves the right to edit letters-to-the-editor for length or clarity. All unattributed images are courtesy of WikiCommons.

Letters-to-the-Editor Both letters-to-the-editor are written in response to “A flawed solution to a flawed problem” written by Rebecca Tauber ’16. Tauber’s Op-Ed, which appeared in the December 2015 issue of The Merionite addressed the petition to delay the school start time. Tauber argued against the petition.

To the Editor, In the previous issue of The Merionite, Rebecca Tauber expressed her opposition to the proposal to push back the start time of school. She feels that while there is undeniably a sleep problem, pushing back the start times is not a solution.

She begins by saying that pushing the school start time back a few hours would simply result in everything being delayed, which would not increase students’ sleep, just shift the schedule forward. Not only is this pure speculation, but it also fails to consider teenage sleep patterns. In the current system, in order to get the recommended minimum of eight hours, students would have to go bed by 10 p.m., which is not as simple as it sounds. During adolescence, our circadian rhythms shift to favor a late-to-bed, late-to-rise schedule.

According to CNN, a majority of teenagers are physically unable to fall asleep before 11 p.m. Therefore, by shifting our entire schedule two hours later, we would be more in tune with our natural teenage sleep patterns and would be more likely to get sufficient sleep.

Tauber then goes on to say that even if our sleep did increase from a new start time, this would have bad consequences for sports teams. I recognize the fact that a later start time would put a strain on sports teams, but the primary purpose of school is not athletics.

When Tauber confidently writes, “If time before school were used for practices, there would be no point in starting school later,” she conveniently neglects the fact that the many students who don’t play a sport during a given season would be able to sleep more. Furthermore, the minority of students who would be getting up at six a.m. for before-school practices would be no more sleep deprived than they are now.

Statistics show that sleep deprivation can lead to mood swings, obesity, substance abuse, immune disorders, and depression. Furthermore, performance in school and alertness while driving are often decreased by a lack of sleep. And while I could present numerous statistics about the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation, it is easier to just walk into any class at LM and observe the evidence. By saying that “even if students did manage to get more sleep with the delayed start time, the change would have a detrimental effect on sports,” Tauber is, in my opinion, putting far too much emphasis on sports and not enough on the entire student body’s mental and physical health.

Pushing school start times back is going to require a lot of cooperation from a lot of people, especially the sports teams.

But I think that when we reap the benefits, namely sufficient sleep, it will feel well worth it.

Respectfully, Dora Nathans ’18 Copy Editor

To the Editor, According to a 2011 poll by the National Sleep Foundation, American high school seniors sleep an average of 6.9 hours a night. This number is not too terrible when compared to South Korean students, who sleep an average of only 4.9 hours a night (and have a suicide rate of 10.7 per 100,000 adolescents per year!) according to a 2012 study. However, a decreased suicide risk is not the only reason why the recommended 8.5-9.5 hours of sleep (American Academy of Pediatrics) would be better for high school students. Among these other reasons include better productivity in school, better standardized test scores, less drug use, less obesity, and less irritability.

Rebecca Tauber seems to also be aware that more sleep is beneficial to students.

She, however, showed concern that changing the school start time would not change the amount of sleep the average student gets, and may even decrease the amount of sleep some students get. This argument does not take into account the science that the American Academy of Pediatrics has based their recommendation of an 8:30 a.m. or later start time on.

The natural sleep-wake cycle (or circadian rhythm) of a teenager changes up to two hours later at the start of puberty, making it difficult for many teenagers to fall asleep before 11 p.m. Even if we all fell asleep at 11 p.m., we would still not even fall in the range of the recommended number of hours for a proper night’s sleep. This is why the school start time must change. It is impossible for many of us to get a good night’s sleep (based on the science behind our sleep-wake cycles). It would, however, be possible for us if the school start time aligned with this biological cycles.

What about sports? Of course sports are a big concern in LM, but, contrary to what Tauber wrote, the change in school start time would not have an overly harmful effect on sports. While some changes would have to be made to the sports schedule, I do not believe that any would be too difficult to overcome for the sake of our general well being. I share Tauber’s concerns about lack of light, but this could be solved with flashlights (especially in sports without fields, such as crew and cross-country) and with lit stadiums, fields, and courts.

While installing lights may cost “tens of thousands of dollars” combined, I am fairly certain the school district can afford it, as the preliminary 2016-17 budget allows for an 800,000 dollar budget reserve and totals 258,934,268 dollars. If we had enough lighting for sports, the need for morning practices would cease.

In order to implement this later school start time, we could switch school start times with the elementary school. Elementary school students have a different sleep-wake cycle that allows them to wake up earlier and go to bed earlier because they have not gone through puberty. This would come at no cost to the district, as the same amount of busses would be needed, just at different times. This would give high school students a start time of nine a.m., allowing us to possibly get, or at least come close to getting, the amount of sleep we need if we fall asleep at 11 p.m.

A change in the school start time would not only be a simple shift in our schedules, it would better align with when our bodies are telling us to go to sleep, which would provide a multitude of benefits. The adjustment would require little more than some lights and a different schedule, and it would be well worth the price.

Respectfully, Bradley Kaplan ’17

OPINIONS

February 26, 2016

5

The Merionite

Mr. LM or Ms. LM?

Leslie Gladstone ’16 Features Editor In my four years at LM, one of my fondest memories comes from Mr. LM 2014. As a sophomore, I sat among a deeply moved audience listening to eventual winner Jack Weinrieb perform his incredibly candid poetry. As chills crept up my spine, I was grateful to be a part of my community.

Mr. LM is hands-down the best event our school has to offer. From A Capella groups, to LMDT, to MC Mr. Hughes, Mr. LM draws our entire community together.

Even more incredible are the contestants who bravely take the stage, let down their guard, and give their all, representing the diverse talent and character LM has to offer. However, when Mr. LM undergoes a fundamental change, it’s easy to find the essence of the event lost in translation.

Tradition runs deep at LM and Mr. LM

captures this passion. In the spirit of the edy and Mr. LM’s message loses its punch. event, the student body rallies together Without female participation, Mr. LM will to give back to the community. Originally continue to promote female equality. With proposed by the Class of 2010 as a senior female participation, however, Mr. LM will class fundraiser, Mr. LM has expanded to no longer be mocking the objectification of raise money for the Ardmore ABC House women; rather, it will be endorsing it. and the LM Township Scholarship fund.

Undoubtedly, our high school is home Currently, each contestant is also asked to to some extremely talented female perendorse a personal charity of their choos- formers, including vocalists, instrumental ing. LM takes pride in its traditions and musicians, and thespians. The inclusion we ought to preserve of female contests such a successful one. would in no way deFor such a passionate tract from the percommunity, a drastic formance quality of evolution of Mr. LM the show. But for will be hard to swalthe show’s sardonic low. There is little revalue, contestants at ward from breaking Mr. LM must be kept with tradition when male-exclusive. the philanthropic sucWhen viewed in cess based on commuterms of a satirical nity turnout is at risk. performance, an allThe basic framemale Mr. LM does work of the show renot violate the fedquires each contestant eral mandate Title Graphic by Isabella Dumitrescu ’17 to answer on-stage IX. Ensuring gender questions, walk a catequality in public walk, and perform a talent. Originally education, Title IX prohibits the exclusion staged as an all-male “beauty” pageant, or discrimination on the basis of sex. Mr. Mr. LM satirizes popularized female beau- LM, like a PLAYERS show for instance, is ty pageants such as Miss America and Miss casting participants in particular roles in Universe. In its mockery, Mr. LM strongly order to deliver the intended message. Incondemns the objectification and degrada- equitable distribution of male and female tion of women. But once females take to parts in a Players show would not violate the stage, they diminish the sardonic com- Title IX and neither does Mr. LM. Mr. LM

Philly music under assault

Roxanna Pasquier ’17 Widely considered America’s first rock city, Philadelphia has fostered a music community unlike any other because of its dedication to the up and coming live act.

The energy of experimentation and excitement can be felt everywhere from the wave lengths of WXPN, the local experimental radio station; through the infamous steps of the First Unitarian Church, which hosts rock concerts in addition in religious sermons; and even in the subway stops of the Market-Frankford and Broad Street Lines.

Every weekend, venues ranging from Union Transfer to Everybody Hits, a local batting cage, and even row house basements fill up with hungry music fans ready to see a new act. The booking agency r5 Productions, a staple of the community, has kept a promise to keep concert tickets priced as low as eight dollars despite having hosted acts such as TV on the Radio, the xx, Mumford and Sons, Arcade Fire, and even Ryan Gosling. Bands like Dr. Dog, The Districts, Cayetana, Kurt Vile, The War on Drugs, Hop Along, and others have helped draw national attention to the wonders of our music scene. The word is out, Philadelphia is cool, but it’s time the city government starts embracing the edgier side of the city.

Despite the economic advantage of marketing Philadelphia as the edgy city it is, Philadelphia City Councilman Mark Squilla (D) proposed a bill to amend the “Special Assembly Occupancies” section of the Philadelphia code, which regulates concerts. If passed this bill would have required music venue operators to provide the city with a list of the names and addresses of all concert performers as well as give the Police Department final approval of special assembly occupancy licenses necessary for shows hosting more than 50 people. Councilman Squilla’s intent was to capitalize on the music scene. However, this bill, which grants the police the power to approve concerts, violates personal liberties as well as exacerbates the growing public wariness of police.

Fortunately, the bill was quickly revoked after public outcry, but the message is clear: Philadelphia’s government doesn’t want to support the music scene that is the lifeblood of Philadelphia.

Over the past decade, Philadelphia has attempted to rebrand itself as a destination city by promoting its culture, family friendly activities, and historical importance. Specific examples include the moving of the Barnes Institute; the Papal Visit; the creation of public spaces such as Penn’s Landing, the plaza next to 30th Street Station, and the development of Dilworth Park; and the slogan “With Love, Philadelphia XOXO,” gracing the cars of SEPTA trains everywhere.

For some reason though, city officials believe that Philadelphia’s history as a city of intellectual enlightenment and rebellion needs to stay in the past. Instead of fostering an experimental community of musicians who dare to rebel (much like our Founding Fathers), Philadelphia’s government officials feel the need to shut down nonconformist voices. Prior to this bill Philadelphia didn’t exactly embrace its hidden musical gem, but never has the city been so open about its distrust of cultural expression. If enacted this bill would have instituted enormous obstacles for musicians, certainly harming the spirit of live music if not destroying it. If government officials want to project the image of a rebellious enlightened city, then they need to support the creative outlet of the city—its thriving music scene.

Instead of sparking controversy and arising suspicion of an invasive, authoritative government, Philadelphia needs to not only address but also reinforce the thriving music culture. While government programs have supported gentrification, promoting an interesting and enlightened city also supports positive connotations of a city overflowing with creativity and progressive conversation.

Philadelphia is no doubt on the rise, but it’s time that the government starts accepting the city for its edginess and creativity as well as its history and culture. Philadelphia is one of the rare cities in the world where individuals can both explore more refined sides of themselves through worldclass art museums and then experiment with local bands a few blocks down the street. To ensure a beautiful future for our beloved Philadelphia, the government needs to revisit its original ideals of intellectual creativity and be supportive in helping the artists of Philly cultivate an image of a city dedicated to exploration and discovery.

must cast males as contestants for the sake of its comedic purpose; the inclusion of female contestants undermines the intended anti-objectification message. Females participating as sidekicks, LMDT members, or A capella vocalists serve as equally important, yet different roles.

The safe speech controversy consuming college campuses nationwide reveals the sensitivity of the millennial generation.

Today, afraid to insult others, our generation continues to over-compensate with political correctness rather than have the hard discussions in order to fix the root of the problem. The recent change to Mr. LM contestants perfectly exemplifies this phenomenon.

We need to tackle real cases of gender inequality. As a member of our districtwide Title IX committee, I learned about the pressing inequities between male and female athletics at our school. At one of Pennsylvania’s most affluent school districts, you may be surprised to learn that female athletes suffer from inadequate inschool promotion, unequal field or court time and in extreme cases a lack of uniforms.

The inclusion of female contestants in Mr. LM is a failed attempt at resolving our school’s larger gender inequity issue.

Because LM is distracted with being politically correct on every minor male-female issue, we ultimately lose sight of the larger gender inequity crisis.

End midterms and finals

Michael Cheng ’18 Last month, midterms week came with significant bouts of stress for some as students took as many as seven 90-minute exams in rapid succession. Unfortunately for these students, their stress was in vain—the midterm exams they took will not provide them with the skills necessary to hold down a job in the real world. Rather, many students learned how to rote-memorize information, fill in bubbles, and then forget it all as soon as they walk out the door.

Instead of helping students improve their academic skills, midterms and finals do the opposite. These exams prevent students from developing the 21st century skills they need to succeed, reduce instructional time that teachers can use to help struggling students, and contribute significantly to the stressful academic culture at LM. Many LM students are stressed out about their exams. This should not come as a surprise, especially considering the academic environment here at LM—high school students are extremely stressed out about their grades, extracurricular activities, and college admissions. Considering LMSD’s new strategic goal of creating student-driven schools, can we really make LM student-driven when many students are overburdened by testing?

In addition to causing excessive student stress, midterms and finals also preempt actual classroom instruction and prevent teachers from being able to help struggling students. Every school year, midterms and finals use up over four weeks (two weeks for review and two weeks for exams) of instructional time. In other words, by eliminating midterms and finals, we would free up a whole month of time for teachers to teach and students to

learn. Instead of testing struggling students on concepts they do not yet understand and failing them, teachers would have time to help students master the material. Time would be freed up for students to take on innovative, real-world projects that could help them later down the line. Teachers would be able to spend more individual time with each of their students, rather than rushing through to finish their standard curricula. Eliminating midterms and finals would have profound effects on the district’s mission to help students learn the skills that they need to go forth to serve.

While eliminating midterms and finals may seem far-fetched, many other high-profile school districts, such as West Windsor-Plainsboro in New Jersey, have already done so and found major success. For instance, Montgomery County School District, Maryland’s largest school district, has eliminated exams. One Montgomery Board Member noted, “The point of education is not to prepare kids for more education [in the form of more testing]. The point of education should be to prepare kids for success in other areas of their lives.” By eliminating midterms, that district has reduced student stress and freed up time for students to learn real-world skills relevant to their future endeavors.

While the argument can be made that these exams prepare students for college, in reality, with SATs, ACTs, Keystones, and AP exams that already act as multi-hour culminating exams, do we really need mores exams that lead students to more stress? Wouldn’t our weakest students be better served by an extra four weeks of instruction to help them get up to speed than four weeks of testing to tell them for the umpteenth time that they’re failing? Don’t we owe it to our students to prepare them for innovative new jobs that don’t even exist today as opposed to making them take extra sets of examinations? Shouldn’t we encourage teachers to have more time to work one-on-one with students?

I strongly encourage the administration to think about eliminating midterms and finals the next time they meet to work on reducing student stress and better implementing the strategic plan.

6

February 26, 2016

OPINIONS The Merionite

Playing the Trump card Fear is by far the most effective emotion to use when compelling someone to agree with or support a set of principles. No one takes advantage of this Andres Bermudez ’19 more than Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump.

Trump makes extremely racist and prejudicial statements that would be considered unacceptable if made by anyone else in this country. Still, he won the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries.

Although Trump’s novelty is fading, people are still driven to vote for him. It is easy to be baffled by this situation. Even when his political strategy seems to be non-existent or beyond ridiculous, he appears to be appealing more and more to people all across the country, especially those outside the expected Conservative Republican demographic. But is Trump truly just a political joke, or is his presidential run the result of years of calculation and preparation?

Trump was born in 1946 to a wealthy family in Queens. He graduated from Wharton with a degree in economics, and then began his career under the mentorship of his father. Through a series of profitable deals when other companies were at the edge of bankruptcy, Trump’s company, The Trump Organization, accumulted a net worth of $2 billion by the end of 1997, despite having been $900 million in the red in 1990. Over the past few decades since then, Trump has shown a large amount of prowess in managing his financial affairs, and a somewhat innate skill at coming out on top in economically risky situations. He has also proven himself capable of navigating the upper eche-

lon of society in New York. Only in the past 10 years or so has Trump begun to show the characteristics of the eccentric, irreverent billionaire he is believed to be.

In 2004, The Apprentice premiered. The show really transformed Trump from a name associated with money to a crude caricature of a Republican. Featuring his classic line, “You’re fired,” the show’s basis showed how magnificently wealthy Trump was, and he was portrayed as an extreme, direct individual. Trump’s whole façade on The Apprentice is that of a man who hates “political-correctness.” He speaks harshly and directly with contestants and is not reluctant to insult the people on the show. The ideas this show suggests about Trump can be interpreted in many ways. One possible interpretation is that the entire show is the creation of a corporation with too much money that is lead by a madman. Another is that the TV show and all of Trump’s other moments of accidental outspokenness have been attempts to portray him as a character rather than as who he really is.

In a recent article in The Atlantic focusing on a collection of letters from Trump supporters titled “What Do Donald Trump Voters Actually Want?“ one supporter says, “political correctness is the main reason why America is in trouble.” In a different letter in the same article, a Trump supporter states that the businessman-turned-politician “has a proven record of managing money, minimizing debt, and maximizing wealth.” It would seem that the very characteristics that Trump has been showing off to the world since the early 2000’s are what some want in a president now.

On the contrary, in an interview in 1988 with Oprah Winfrey, Trump can be said to have been many things, but politically incorrect and overconfident are not among them. Rather, he is calm and collected. When he was pressured about whether he would run for president, he answered “probably not” but said he was reluctant to rule it out entirely. He never bragged about how much money he had, even though he was estimated to be worth $1.0 billion at that time. Older interviews with Trump are difficult to find for many rea-

sons, but in all that are freely available, Trump lacks the zeal and psychotic nature that is commonly associated with him today. Throughout these older interviews, which were mostly focused around publicizing his book, The Art of the Deal, Trump was pressed with questions about his wealth, but he never put a number on how much money he actually had. He would instead offer excuses like, “I have zero idea” (David Letterman interview in 1987), and then quickly drew the attention away from his money. He also spoke very eloquently and complemented candidates on both sides of the political spectrum when asked to comment about the 1988 presidential race. This juxtaposition of Trump, from the time before The Apprentice and after, draws some serious questions toward how organic Trump’s characteristics really are.

As much as Trump may deny it, he and the people around him have had their eyes on the White House for a long time. What really creates concern is the idea that perhaps the Trump some view as our best bet for a presidential candidate is not who he says he is. After threats of a campaign in 2008 and 2012, it is not a stretch to assume the Trump campaign has been waiting for the perfect time to strike. With sufficient time and planning, it is certainly feasible that Trump has created a persona that will appeal to certain demographics, and even to others outside those demographics. Our democratic system absolutely allows for this, and Trump supporters have every right to be part of their own niche. The ethical issue that occurs is when an influential and affluent figure recreates himself as a false character in order to be elected to public office.

This is especially troublesome when one considers the fact that this reformation was facilitated by Trump’s own deep pockets. This is not something that would be out of the question for him, especially given one particular statement he made during an Oprah interview: “I’ve never gone in to lose in my life.” We can assume that Trump is willing to use whatever means necessary to keep that statement true.

Early decision, late consequences Most college admissions officers and websites offer something along the lines of this advice in helping prospective students determine their Rebecca Tauber ’16 admissions News Editor plans: “If you are certain that [insert your dream school here] is your first choice, we encourage you to apply early decision.”

However, colleges, high schools, and society in general fail to openly discuss how, for many families, a student’s interest in a college is not the only factor in making the big early decision.

Early decision or “ED” is a binding early admission program in which admitted students apply to a school in early November and hear back by mid December. Accepted ED students are contractually obligated to attend that college. Nowadays, the pressure to apply ED is extreme, coming from many different sources. On the student’s side, ED can significantly reduce the stress of senior year. Admitted students find out and commit to their school in December, after which they need not slave over other applications and supplements. Additionally, colleges tend to have higher acceptance rates in their early applicant pool, so ED often gives students a higher chance of getting in to highly selective colleges. High schools also benefit from the admissions boost since it can increase the number of students they send to selective colleges. On the college’s side, the admissions office gets to fill spots in its incoming freshman class with students who are guaranteed to attend, increasing the college’s admissions yield.

However, while college websites and pamphlets advertising Early Decision present the option as the ideal plan for any student hoping and praying to get in to his or her top choice, colleges scarcely mention how financial aid factors into the “binding

agreement.” If anything, admissions offices might include one nondescript line at the bottom of the page explaining that a student may be released from the agreement if a financial aid package is not “sufficient.”

Thus presents the problem: What if a student applies ED to a school, but he or she does not get enough (or any) financial aid from that school, yet still is stuck in a binding agreement? While accepted students can get out of the agreement if they do not get enough aid, what authority determines whether a financial aid package is “sufficient” for a given family? While many schools boast that they meet 100 percent of demonstrated need for each family, often “demonstrated need”—as determined by the government or the given school—does not match what a family actually needs to afford college. In reality, many middle-class families receive little to no aid at all. Furthermore, ED gives all the power to the colleges and takes decision making out of the equation, eliminating the ability for families to weigh different options and bargain with financial aid offices.

Therefore, many families (mine included) opt on the side of caution. Instead of increasing my chances of getting into my top school by applying ED, I applied EA (non-binding early action) to the only school I liked that had such an option. And had I gotten in, I would have still applied regular decision to the rest of my schools in order to have financial options.

Come December, however, I did not feel secure or confident in my decision to stick with regular and non-binding admissions plans. Instead, looking at Naviance’s statistics of ED versus regular decision students at my top schools and watching my peers get in to top colleges, I felt anxious, stressed, and at a huge disadvantage. When April first rolls around, I fear I will find myself thinking, “If only I had applied ED, maybe I would have gotten in.”

I do not intend this article to be either a bitter rant against all the people who got into their dream schools early decision or a lament about how I got deferred from my early action school. Rather, I merely intend to bring to light how early decision is just another way the college game is rigged towards those who can pay.

What Colleges say about ED “Applying Early Decision (ED) to Washington University indicates that you have made WashU your top choice for undergraduate education” —Washington University in St. Louis

“At Dickinson, applying Early Decision is recommended for students who, through careful reflection and research, have identified Dickinson College as their first choice.”

—Dickinson College

“For applicants who have decided that the University of Pennsylvania is their first choice and who agree to matriculate if accepted, we encourage application under our Early Decision agreement.”

—University of Pennsylvania “If Gettysburg is your first choice, you are strongly encouraged to apply for Early Decision (ED) admission.”

—Gettysburg College “The Early Decision Program is a binding option for students who have identified that Tufts is their first choice and that they will enroll if accepted.”

—Tufts University

Opinions

February 26, 2016

7

The Merionite

Deconstructing the puzzle

Art by Wint Thu ’16

Isabella Dumitrescu ’17 Features Editor Humans crave explanations for the seemingly senseless, whether through scientific discovery or religion. Therefore, it is logical that, amidst the violence and irrationality of a shooting in a school or movie theater, communities attempt to connect the act with something they can comprehend.

In a recent publicized mass shooting last October, 26-year-old Christopher Harper Mercer brought five handguns to class at Umpqua Community College. In the aftermath of this tragedy, Mercer’s personal journal revealed his belief that he would be “embraced by the devil” after the shooting, as well as detailed accounts of past school shootings that he had studied.

Yet most media coverage focused on an ancient Yahoo post by Mercer’s mother that mentioned a self-diagnosis of Asperger’s— an outdated term used to describe a child on the spectrum of autism who possesses high vocabulary skills—for both her and her son. Mercer did attend and graduate from a school specializing in the education of children with special needs, though no formal diagnosis has come into light since the shooting.

When Mercer and the shooters of the Isla Vista, CA massacre (2014) and the Sandy Hook shooting (2012) were revealed to have been diagnosed on the spectrum of autism, broadcasting associations like CNN grabbed on to that detail and were quick to draw conclusions linking the shooters. When bystanders learn of an autism diagnosis in the history of a gunman, this disorder is usually

blamed. What is especially reassuring about a scapegoat of mental illness or neurobehavioral disorder, specifically a diagnosable one like autism, is that if your friends and family have not been labeled with it, you can retreat back into a bubble of emotional security, faithful that you are safe from unexpected horrors. However settling, this path of causality is a decoy, and psychopathy, whether diagnosed or unnoticed, is often the real condition behind the actions of shooters.

It’s easy to make assumptions about people who are different than you, especially when they have been labeled as having a disorder that is commonly diagnosed.

However, autism is not as simple as people may think, as it comes with a full range of symptoms, among which are a lack of social awareness, a lessened ability to speculate what others are thinking, and many other variations.

Just like those with a neurotypical profile, some autistic people find pleasure in helping others, while some may find interaction with groups stressful—everyone’s case is different. This individuality is what makes autistic people so hard to generalize. What links all persons with the disorder is that their autism does not cause them to behave

violently or to harbor a disdain for the sanctity of human life. According to a study by Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, “autism itself is not an intrinsically violent disorder, and individuals with autism specrum disorders are no more prone to violent behaviors than the general population.’

Some of these dissociative features of autism are misinterpreted, allowing prejudice to arise from beliefs of absence of empathy, kindness, and remorse. However, these descriptors more accurately match a persona associated with an entirely different disorder: psychopathy.

While autistic people may not realize how or why they are causing distress, those with psychopathy show no penitence for destruction that they have knowingly caused. This diagnosis has clearly been tied to many mass shootings, beginning with Columbine in 1999, and the symptoms medically ascribed to the disorder do coincide with manipulation, self-interest, and malintent—thus, the connection between violence and psychopathy is concrete, a stark contrast to the lack of relation between autism and violent crime.

Problematically, psychopathy has no known testable biomarkers, often allowing its signs to go unnoticed, while autism has

gained some increased public awareness over the years. This leads parents and teachers of autistic children to attribute any concerning behavior they may display to their autism, neglecting to see the larger problem.

The presence of simultaneous disorders is distracting, resulting in the condemning of the more publicized condition.

Although many prideful Americans will sport rainbow puzzle-piece flags in April to support “Autism Awareness,” the stigma that comes with being diagnosed extends from the playground to news stations, and tags children and adults who see things from a very personal perspective as aloof and alien. This type of social profiling, when linked with psychopathic shooters, encourages exclusion, harassment, and assaults toward autistic individuals of any age. The results are not unlike those of assumptions that all Muslims are Islamic extremists or that all Mexicans are rapists and murders, with the good isolated to the minority of these groups. The encouragement of separation within an already shaky connection between autistic and non-autistic people can only serve to exacerbate tense relations, leading further away from an ideal sense of acceptance.

Don’t tune out terrorism

Shuli Weinstein ’18 On Thursday, November 19, 2015, a terrorist attack occurred in the West Bank town of Gush Etzion, Israel, in which American citizen Ezra Schwartz was murdered.

Ezra, an 18-year-old teenager from Sharon, Massachusetts, was taking a gap year between high school and college to study in Israel, and was participating in various community service projects there during his time outside of school. On the day of his murder, Ezra and several of his friends had been delivering care packages to soldiers.

They were driving back to school, when suddenly, a vehicle driven by Palestinian terrorists rammed into the back of their car.

After this collision, the terrorists drove on, shooting into a number of nearby vehicles.

It was at that moment that a bullet was fired into Ezra’s car, killing him.

This senseless murder came as a horrifying shock, not only to Ezra’s family and friends, but also to me, a friend of Ezra’s

from Camp Yavneh in Northwood New Hampshire. In keeping with a pattern in which terrorism in Israel receives much less international coverage and recognition than terrorism in other countries, however, most Americans, Europeans, and the mainstream media largely ignored this attack.

Terrorist attacks against the Jewish people—like Ezra—occur on an almost daily basis in Israel. While there have been a few Americans, Europeans, and members of the media that have acknowledged the terrible tragedies occurring in Israel, the vast majority have not. As US citizens, as well as future world leaders, LM students must be proactive in becoming more informed about events occurring not only in Europe, but also in Israel. By ignoring the occurrence of terrorism in one country, we become enablers to the terrorists.

The lack of publicity from the U.S. and European media, and the media towards Israel can be shown throughout history. One manifestation of this bias was evident immediately after the attacks in Paris, France.

Following the attack in a Parisian concert hall, people began changing their profile pictures on Facebook to the colors of France’s flag in order to show their solidarity with France. However, though there have been numerous attacks in Israel, there has never been an option for a user to change his or her profile picture to an Israeli flag in an effort to show their support. While this is in no way intended to undermine the magnitude of the horrific attack in France, it is

troubling that there was no outpour of support for Israel after Ezra’s murder, which was effectively the same type of terrorist attack. This is particularly concerning given that one of the victims in the Paris attack was a U.S. citizen. The media was quick to cover the news in, Paris, Mali, Beirut, and Baghdad, the last of which did not even involve the death of an American citizen. Yet the mere fact that this attack took place in Israel led the media to go silent.

Following Ezra’s death, many American Jews became disappointed with United States President Barack Obama for not immediately acknowledging the attack. Not only did Obama not contact the family for several days after the incident, but he also had no problem focusing on other terrorist attacks that had taken place around the world after the Israeli attacks.

In fact, in a press conference in Malaysia that occurred a few days after Ezra’s death, Obama stated: “Today, families in too many nations are grieving the senseless loss of their loved ones in the attacks in France and in Mali.” Here, he points out that terrorism is occurring, but completely ignores the fact that an American citizen was murdered in a terror attack simply because it occurred in Israel.

Many Americans, most vocally Jewish Americans, were upset with Obama for ignoring this tragic event in Israel. As a result, over 100,000 people signed a petition, designed to ensure that Obama publicly recognize the attack in Israel, which ended up

being successful. However, no such petition was needed for an attack to be recognized in any other country. While the US-Israel lobby has been quick to point out these seemingly deliberate oversights in the media and government, it is vital that students at LM, encompassing a broader section of society, feel that they have the duty to ensure that their peers and their communities understand the similarities between the events occurring in Israel and those occuring in the rest of the world. As the next generation of leaders, we need to ensure that when terrorism occurs in any country toward any group of people, regardless of the political sensitivities of the then existing administration, such attacks must be recognized for what they are—terrorism.

America and the American media should ensure that the terrorist attacks occurring in Israel receive the same media attention with the same moral relevancy as the attacks occurring in Mali, Paris, and beyond. As the social media generation, we must use our power of global connectivity to share these incidents and to share our knowledge with respect to these events occurring throughout the world, so that all Americans and other citizens of the world remain aware of these events as they occur. By continuing to keep these events in front of the media, we can exert pressure on our generation and on our leaders to stand up to terrorism everywhere so that my friend Ezra and the story of his death will not be a story that we all must tell from first-hand experience.

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Special Feature

February 26, 2016

re c a

2016 Oscar Nominees s t !

Who’d play who in this year’s nominated films Mr. Kline as Leonardo Dicaprio The Revenant

Dr. McWilliams as Charlize Theron Mad Max: Fury Road If anyone at LM could survive a bear mauling, our bets are on Mr. Kline. With raw strength, Kline could fend off the grizzly with gut-busting kicks powered by his tremendous calves. Kline’s preference for shorts (no matter the temperature) proves he can tolerate the blistering cold of the western frontier. Honestly, Kline’s so macho he’d sacrifice his own comfort for the art of film. Unlike Leo, Kline would stomach raw liver and climb into a horse carcass without complaint.

Mr. Henneberry as Mark Ruffalo Spotlight

As faculty adviser to LM’s student newspaper, Mr. Henneberry would be the first to uncover controversy and propose a groundbreaking story to his staff.

As APUSH God, Henneberry has mastered the formidable Document Based Question, so he’s an expert at providing supporting evidence to bolster his claims.

Like Mark Rezendes, Henneberry is truly committed to journalism, staying at school until midnight to oversee the completion of the paper.

With her bravery and determination, Dr. McWilliams would have the best chance of rescuing enslaved students from a post-apocalyptic AP Language test. A strong-willed woman, McWilliams would initially believe she could take down CollegeBoard on her own. Quickly she would realize the magnitude of this task and befriend a few wandering students to help her on her way.

Battling her way through rhetorical analysis and synthesis prompts, McWilliams would counteract the grueling nature of her mission with a soothing contemporary analysis of The Great Gatsby. So we beat on, oil trucks against the sand storms. Students, be free.

Mr. Moyer as Matt Damon The Martian

Stranded on Mars with little hope of rescue and a dwindling source of potatoes, Mr. Moyer would know exactly what to do! Digging into his wealth of chemistry knowledge, Moyer would immediately think to replant his veggies, build a greenhouse, and decompose hydrazine in order to water his newly created sustainable food source. Ultimately, Moyer’s overwhelming enthusiasm and bubbly energy would help keep his spirits high as he faces an uncertain return to Earth on a barren planet millions of miles away.

Mr. Vinci as Sadness Inside Out

Mrs. Christman as Joy Inside Out

Around Vinci’s gloom, it’s likely you’ll end up down in the dumps too. Always unlit and with the blinds drawn, Vinci’s room is the last place to go if you’re looking for a little light in your life. Vinci’s adoration of Grumpy Cat ®, made evident by his calendar and tshirt, will serve to further dampen the mood.

With the highly anticipated weekend as your only glimpse of hope, you’ll likely try to avert your classmates with a discussion of upcoming plans. But Vinci’s depressing proposal of a weekend isolated in his backyard with his dogs will only provoke overwhelming pity and sadness in his students.

When there’s a lot of tension in your life and the force due to gravity is weighing you down, no one other than Mrs. Christman will turn the negativity around. While making sure AP Physics runs as smoothly as an unspecified mass on frictionless ice, she will not hesitate to journey into her long-term memory to retrieve her knowledge of kinematic equations. Not only can Christman keep you on track, but she also understands the value of team. Whether it’s teacher dances, Mr. LM pageants, or various yearbook jobs, she can pull the whole production together with great success.

Best Actor Best Picture

LM Students Predict Oscar Winners Sophie Bennet ’16, videographer and aspiring film major, shares her opinion:

The Revenant. This film is, for the most part, Oscar gold. It has a star-studded cast, incredible cinematography, and a historical component about the frontier in the 1800s. The only thing preventing it from winning is its excessive violence. Although this part of the movie is powerful, it’s not for everyone.

Leonardo DiCaprio. Although a phenomenal actor, DiCaprio has not yet won an Oscar. I do not find The Revenant to be his best acting, but he is long overdue an Academy Award. His intense and emotional portrayal of Hugh Glass, the determined yet broken frontiersman, is just the acting that the Academy loves.

February 26, 2016

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#OscarsSoWhite Molly Cutler ’19 The hashtag that’s been sweeping social media sites lately is not another trendy meme, big sports news, or celebrity gossip; it’s a movement for social change— #OscarsSoWhite. It’s the reaction to this year’s Academy Award nominations, because for the second year in a row, every acting nominee is white. However, the issue at hand goes beyond the catchy hashtag. “For 20 opportunities to celebrate actors of color, actresses of color, to be missed last year is one thing; for that to happen again this year is unforgivable,” says actor David Oyelowo.

His highly praised role as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the film Selma last year was also robbed of a nomination. Minorities have long been underrepresented in the film industry, but now, the spotlight on the Oscar nominations has given colored actors, directors, and writers a more publicized forum to discuss and advocate for change.

The statistics are stark. Just one woman of color (Halle Berry) has won the Best Actress award. Seven men of color have won for Best Actor (José Ferrer, Sidney Poiter, Ben Kingsley, F. Murray Abraham, Denzel Washington, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker). Over the course of 87 years, only 31 Oscars have been awarded to African-Americans. This underrepresentation has continued for almost a century now.

However, the problem lies not in a dearth of actors of color who might have merited a nomination this year. Academy voters neglected many well-reviewed performances by non-whites, including Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan, Benicio del Toro, Oscar Isaac, Zoe Kravitz, and Will Smith.

Another source of the issue stems from the movie industry itself, where diversity is often not prioritized. This applies to actors, but also to directors, producers, screenwriters, and basically every role in the industry.

These varied job positions make up much of the voting members of the Academy, which right now is 94 percent white. Because people tend to vote for people who look like themselves, this directly results in a lower number of nominees of color. Tim Gray writes in the entertainment trade magazine, Variety, “There were 305 films eligible [for Oscar nominations] this year. If hiring reflected the U.S. population, Oscar voters would have weighed 150-plus films directed by women, 45 directed by black [people], 50

by Hispanic [people], and dozens of mov-

ies by directors who are Asian Americans, LGBT individuals, people with disabilities and members of other minorities. Of course, the actual tallies were a fraction of those numbers.” In reality, the percentages of non-white members in the movie industry do not accurately reflect the makeup of the population as a whole.

The lack of on-screen representation is illustrated by the Every Single Word Project, created by Latino actor Dylan Marron.

He edits popular films by cutting out all the lines of white actors, leaving only the lines spoken by ethnically diverse actors. Watch on his YouTube channel as the entire Harry Potter series gets shrunken down to six

and belittling roles in movies. The Bechdel Test, created by the cartoonist and author of Fun Home, Alison Bechdel, measures the quantity and quality of female characters in films by recording if they meet the following criteria: (1) at least two named female characters, (2) who have at least one conversation together, (3) about something other than a man. Stunningly, only about 57 percent of movies pass—and a large fraction of those pass barely. It has become an effective tool to use to concretely call out sexist movies, and perhaps a similar test could be performed to measure the representation of people of color in films.

Not only is a lack of diversity in the

“Minorities have long been underrepresented in the film industry, but now, the spotlight on the Oscar nominations has given colored actors, directors, and writers a more publicized forum to discuss and advocate for change.” minutes and nineteen seconds, and Titanic is reduced to 55 seconds. Birdman comes in at 53 seconds. E.T. is ten seconds. Jaws is eight—but it’s only the title sequence, with no actual lines. Marron speaks eloquently in interviews about what this means. In the movies Marron has studied, there is so little representation of people of color that their lines never reach anywhere close to an equal balance to the lines said by white people. When white actors’ lines are taken out, the movie is reduced to a few minutes (or even seconds) with a plot barely comprehensible, but if non-white lines were taken out, the plotline would almost certainly remain coherent and interesting.

A similar problem occurs for women in Hollywood, who often face objectifying

Best Actress

Brie Larson. Although Room was a hard story to watch, Larson gave it all she had. The story is told through the eyes of an unaware, imprisoned child, and Larson as his mother is such a strong and commanding presence on screen. She is raw while motherly, which gives her an edge over all the other nominees.

movie industry dejecting and unfair, but it also affects the motivation for youth to enter the industry. When kids don’t see people of their ethnicity represented in the media, it can affect their morale and their drive to go into acting, which furthers this vicious cycle. The movie industry is not the only industry that has a problem with including minorities, but because it is so public, the lack of representation for non-white actors is much more striking. A young Whoopi Goldberg, when she first saw the character of Uhura on Star Trek, played by Nichelle Nichols, shouted in surprise to her family, “Come here, mum, everybody, come quick, come quick! There’s a black lady on television and she ain’t no maid!” Goldberg later said, “I knew right then and there I

Best Supporting Actor

Sylvester Stallone. This faded action star is finally in the Oscar spotlight. For the first time in years Stallone has given an incredible performance in Creed, making him a new and interesting pick for the Academy voters. His wins in other recent award ceremonies also indicate that the Oscar will be his.

could be anything I wanted to be.” Marron asked in an open letter to the Academy after this year’s nominations, “Do you have categories for performances that don’t exist because a producer didn’t want to ‘go ethnic’? ... Do you give out acting awards to kids who gave up acting because they didn’t see reflections of themselves?” Representation matters a lot, especially positive representation. Far too often, we see non-white characters who are dependent on white people, based entirely on stereotypes, or with a role serving as the butt of a joke. The goal isn’t just to have people of color casted in movies or nominated for awards; it’s to have people of color in positive, dynamic, multidimensional roles that can inspire children watching at home to one day be part of the same thing.

Though Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the Academy’s president who is also black, has recently announced changes in membership policy that she hopes will raise the percent of minority voters, some people of color in the Academy already have decided to boycott this year’s Oscars. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith, her husband (actor Will Smith), and director Spike Lee have stated that they will not attend, while others have said that to boycott would be to hurt black comedian Chris Rock, this year’s host, or distract from representation issues the rest of the year.

In any case, we can’t just care about this issue one time a year. As screenwriter Peter Wortmann writes, “The problem is of diversity in moviemaking. If you want more people of color feted at the end of the year, then hire them during the year. From the top down, the studios are, for the most part, run by white men and their white male underlings who make movies aimed at white audiences with white actors hired through their white managers and agents….

Hire more people of color. Hire more women as directors. Make better movies. The need is not for a more diversified Oscar slate.

It’s for a more diversified industry.” And as Goldberg said in an interview, we need to “make a stink all year, not just once a year but all year.” It’s important to recognize Hollywood’s problems with diversity whenever we can and to support people who are trying to break the mold—the white, straight man that Hollywood commonly sees as the only option will suffice no longer.

Best Supporting Actress

Alicia Vikander. This year Vikander gave two incredible performances: one for The Danish Girl, for which she was nominated, and the other Ex Machina. Both were Oscar worthy. Her portrayal of a conflicted, yet supportive, wife was astonishing.

Features Parental Advisory: Dawg Pounds

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February 26, 2016

The Merionite

Kelly Harrigan ’17 Sports Editor

Dawg Pound shirts. I can guarantee that you, fellow Merionite reader (or at least a friend of yours), has purchased one. More than 600 of the 1400 students at LM purchased a Dawg Pound this year. Despite being one of those proud 600, all I really know about the Dawg Pound-buying process is that early on in the first quarter you sign up for a personalized shirt and, a few weeks later, it arrives in your advisory. But there’s a caveat: your nickname has to be approved.

I’ve always wondered how the administration screens the nicknames to ensure no inappropriate names creep their way

lengthy, as she explains, “If you have 600 names and you spend a minute a name, then that’s 600 minutes,” or ten hours.

Then, she sends it to Walsh, who scans the modified list himself. Finally, the list is sent to the printer, where it is skimmed one last time before the shirts that countless LM’ers wear and love are created.

So what makes a shirt nickname inappropriate? For the school to approve a name, it must be tame enough for somebody’s grandmother or little brother to see, so anything obviously inappropriate is unacceptable. But nicknames with religious or subtly inappropriate connotations are banned as well. Since the entire community sees the shirts, they can’t seem offensive or inappropriate to anyone. “Our standards are no profanity, no sexual innuendos, and nothing to do

Dana Handleman ’16 onto the back of our shirts. How long does the screening process take? Who’s involved? What happens if your name is not approved? If you’ve ever shared these queries of mine, continue reading. If not, please still read because, you know, it’s fun to know things.

I sat down with English Teacher and Student Council Advisor Lynne Freeland and Athletics and Activities Director Don Walsh to understand the process of screening the Dawg Pound nicknames.

As they explained, the students running the Dawg Pound sales first screen the shirts. Then, they send the list to Freeland, who spends hours carefully sorting through the names. The process is quite

number.

Basically, any potentially red-flag nicknames are noted and explored. If they are unsure of where to place a nickname on the grandmother-approval scale, Walsh and Freeland typically contact the student involved, or simply look up the phrase online. That’s right; even your friendly neighborhood administrators look up slang. The bottom-line: if your nickname has an indirect or direct connotation that you’re unsure about, just play it safe and think of a new, clever, and undeniably appropriate nickname.

Although these precautions may seem a

Freeland explains, “and most kids say it’s fine to just put their last name.” Walsh agrees, saying “I get more ‘aw, I figured I’d try.’” It’s clear that both Walsh and Freeland genuinely care about, and take time to oversee, the Dawg Pounds, doing their best to make sure everyone who wants a shirt gets one. That means we, as students and t-shirt enthusiasts, can keep our spirit game strong.

Dawg Pounds are an enjoyable tradition that should be kept alive, so be grateful that we have them. Walsh and Freeland love the tradition themselves, as Freeland expresses, “it’s fun to see how creative you can be within 13 characters, but not in poor taste. I think it’s a tradition we would like to continue.” They also plan to make an effort to sell shirts earlier in the year, because as Walsh says, “We like them to be supportive for all seasons of sports.” More clubs and

Jacob Montenegro ’16

Nick Barnes-Batista ’16 with religion,” explains Freeland. She details the extent of these restrictions, stating, “If a girl’s first name is Mary, she could not do Mary Christmas.” Additionally, telephone numbers are not allowed because, as Freeland explains, “this is a community event, not just a school event. Every time we open our doors, we open them to the community,” which means that the entire community would then have access to that telephone

bit excessive, both Freeland and Walsh agree that it’s better to overcompensate than to undercompensate, which could trigger a complaint and end the Dawg Pound tradition altogether.

Now, you may wonder, what happens if my nickname is deemed inappropriate? Well, no need to fear. Walsh expresses how both he and Freeland want “to be able to keep the tradition and to keep it appropriate.” If they come across an inappropriate nickname, they email the student and ask to meet to discuss a different nickname, or compromise and give the student a shirt with his or her last name and graduation year. “We don’t say we’re not going to print your shirt,”

Deepika Jonnalagadda ’17 sports are trying to incorporate the Dawg Pounds into their own activities, further expanding the spirit created by the tradition of the shirts. So, if you’re not currently a Dawg Pound owner, I encourage you to get one next year in order to keep the healthy tradition alive.

Michelle Herzberg ’17 The High School Musical Reunion aired on Disney Channel on January 20, 2016, ten years after the release of the first movie. This was a nostalgic night for fans. While many of its then elementary school-age admirers found the movie less than relatable, it was an instant classic. But now that these fans are experiencing high school for themselves, they can’t help but compare East High with their own schools. The resemblance between LM and East High is particularly strong, making it easy to imagine what our lives would be like if we spent them singing in the hallways and finding true love instead of studying for the SAT. The emphasis on basketball at both East High and LM is perhaps the greatest similarity. Although we don’t display huge banners of the basketball team’s star players in the cafeteria and hallways, our school boasts quite a lot

of spirit of its own. We do, after all, have a shrine to Kobe Bryant in the lower atrium. LM students like to believe that the Dawg Pound is by far the most spirited fan section that America has ever seen, and it seems as though

of red and white. While our players don’t sing renditions of “Get’cha Head in the Game,” the determination and enthusiasm for East High basketball is practically identical to the LM mindset and spirit. In the third movie, Troy

East High students claim that title for their own school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The scene at the state championship game at East High in High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) is bursting with peppy cheerleaders, a wild band, and students who don’t dare sport anything but their school colors

Bolton sings “Scream” to express his frustration with all the stresses that high school brings, a situation that we students know all too well. Even the idea that the captain of the basketball team could enter the school at such late hours of the night isn’t too far fetched at LM, considering that sports

and clubs, such as Dawgma Robotics and Players, have late nights that keep its doors open far beyond the end of the school day.

The entertaining dance numbers in all three of the movies were scenes every young High School Musical fan wanted to recreate when they got to high school, but now the idea doesn’t even occur to most students. Even so, it’s entertaining to think what dilemmas could cause students to break out into spontaneous song and dance at LM. Perhaps Senior Seminar students would break out into song about how much they love math, or juniors might start a chorus expressing their frustration with all the stress and work they face on a daily basis. In “The Boys are Back” (HSM 3), Troy and Chad have to go to the local junkyard to find a spare part for Troy’s car, but of course many our students wouldn’t have that problem in the first place.

Although it’s fun to fantasize about, it’s better to simply let Disney Channel manage teen movies and let LM students manage the realities of high school life.

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February 26, 2016

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February 25, 2016

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The Merionite

Transgender trailblazers Molly Gonzales ’17

20 years ago, unless you were a straight, skinny, white female, younger than 24, you would not be spotted walking the catwalks of New York Fashion Week. Supermodel pioneers like Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks have helped thousands of models of color break into the industry, but unfortunately, there is still a stigma preventing trans models from doing so as well.

The fashion world should look out because NYU graduate and model, Peche Di, has plans to end this stigma. This past March, Di created the first modeling agency in New York City that is specifically targeted towards casting transgender models. The agency, called “Trans Models,” was created when Di realized the staggering lack of opportunities afforded to transgender models. “I choose to listen to my inner voice, not the random opinion of others,” said Di. Her goal is to showcase “beautiful people, regardless of race, gender, height, or shape.”

Many critics have accused Di of exploiting this new gap Hari Nef, who made her debut at Milan Fashion week in the industry for in the Gucci Autumn/Winter 2016 show. her benefit. However, Di says that she isn’t in it for the money. She created her entire agency out of pocket and doesn’t focus on making the front page of Sunday Styles, but rather aims to change our ideals of beauty.

Another person changing the face of the fashion industry is Hari Nef. A Tumblr queen, writer, Columbia alumna, and Philadelphia native, Nef, is part of this new generation of

model pioneers. You may know her from the hit Amazon TV series “Transparent,” which focuses on transgender issues, but she has other hobbies besides being an award nominated actress. Nef made history by being the first American transgender woman to sign with IMG, the modeling agency behind the rise of famous models like Gigi Hadid and Gisele Bundchen. Nef plans on changing the standards of beauty created by the fashion industry of years past, but she doesn’t want to be the “token trans model.” She is on a mission of change, just like Peche Di. Nef doesn’t want transgender models to become an appropriated trend. “I fear that the idea of gender fluidity will become a marketing ploy,” says Nef after modeling for Gucci menswear at Milan Fashion Week. “Trans people deserve to tell their own stories!”

Models like Di and Nef are courageous examples of people who are blazing the trail, or in this case, the catwalk, and changing the face of Western beauty ideals. Because of them and many others, the modelPeche Di, former Thai beauty queen and founder of ing industry is becoming New York City’s only trans-modeling agency. more diverse, not just in terms of race, but also in terms of gender. News of major brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton branching out and becoming more accepting of gender fluidity is proof that the fashion industry, an industry known for its discrimination, is working to adjust its standards in reaction. There is a slow, yet steady, shift happening in the fashion and film industry: to embrace models like Di and Nef, who reject the single cookie cutter mold for beauty.

What is Claire Ochroch ’18

I was entranced the first time I heard YOUTH by Troye Sivan. Instantly drawn to the music, I did what anyone would do: I Googled him. Long before releasing an album, Sivan got his big break as a YouTuber. Sivan posted videos online of himself singing, which led to his discovery and musical career. Also an actor, Sivan played young James Howlett in XMen Origins: Wolverine and Spud in the Spud film trilogy.

When YouTubers first started making music videos, many people did not take them seriously. But since then, YouTube has grown into a huge, money-making machine for creators, with a large group of creators whose sole income comes from making videos for their channels. Currently, creators make money from ads before their videos and from sponsored videos, as viewers do not have to pay for content.

Many of these creators use their YouTube fame to succesfully expand onto other platforms, such as television or books. To continue off this momentum, YouTube has decided to create a competing streaming service called, “YouTube Red” where people can pay to watch exclusive content created by their favorite YouTubers, thus mimicking pay-per-streaming services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime.

Many YouTubers, like Sivan, use YouTube as a platform to market their music. Some who do so produce and release their own albums; others aim to be discovered by a record company. When he was 19, Sivan, who currently has over 3 million subscribers, signed with EMI Australia, one of the country’s largest independent record labels. Soon after, he released two EPs and an album for the label. On August 15, 2014, he released a five-song EP entitled TRXYE, led by its first single “Happy Little Pill.” It peaked at number 10 on the ARIA Singles Chart and was certified gold by the Australian Recording Industry Association. Sivan released his second major-label EP, WILD, on September 4, 2015. During fall of 2015, Sivan released a music video trilogy with a continuous theme entitled Blue Neighbourhood comprising the three songs: “WILD,” “FOOLS,” and “TALK ME DOWN.” Sivan will support his debut studio album Blue Neighbourhood with his 2016 Blue Neighbourhood Tour. The global tour’s

U.S. venues even include The Filmore in Philadelphia. The album was released on December 2015, peaking at seven on the Billboard 200.

Another YouTuber who used her online presence to further her career is Miranda Sings, an Internet character

Courtesy of EMI Music Australia created and portrayed by American comedian and actress, Colleen Ballinger Evans. In her videos, eccentric and narcissistic character sings and dances badly, gives inept “tutorials,” recounts her daily activities, and discusses current events that she often intentionally misunderstands–all for comedic purposes. She often rants about her critics, reading hate mail directed at the character on social media; she responds to them with her catchphrase,“Haters, Back Off!” As of December 2015, the Miranda Sings YouTube channel had surpassed 800 million views and 5.8 million subscribers.

Keen to cash in on the success, Netflix has given a straightto-series order to a show based on the character. Ballinger Evans will star in the upcoming streaming show titled Haters, Back Off! The show delves into the oddball family life of Miranda Sings, and has landed an eight-episode order.

?

Due to the success of YouTubers both within and beyond the platform, YouTube has introduced YouTube Red to both compete with other streaming services and for YouTubers to create higher quality exclusive content. YouTube is hoping that films and shows from favorite creators with such limited availability will persuade some of its one billion monthly viewers to start paying $9.99 a month for the service. Additional features include the removal of advertising, the ability to download videos for offline viewing, and a bundled subscription to the Google Play Music streaming service.

YouTube has confirmed that one TV show and three featurelength films will be the first exclusive content released for its YouTube Red subscription video service.

One of the planned YouTube Red movies is a documentary starring Lilly Singh. Singh, a Canadian YouTube star and comedian who has amassed over 7.6 million subscribers, has gathered over one billion views under the pseudonym “Superwoman.” In 2015, she embarked on a global comedy tour titled A Trip to Unicorn Island. A feature length documentary under the same name, chronicling the tour, will premiere on YouTube Red in February.

Gamer Felix Kjellberg’s “Scare PewDiePie,” a reality-adventure series, is also part of the first wave of Youtube Red Originals. It will see the star, whose 42 million subscribers make him the most subscribed-to YouTuber, face “terrifying situations inspired by his favorite video games.” Other films set to premiere on Youtube Red include superhero film Lazer Team and Dance Camp, a musical featuring various YouTubers.

YouTube’s new venture is a game changer for premium online content. People are taking the work of amateur online creators more seriously than ever before, and YouTube Red cashes in on that. Many in the entertainment industry, having noticed YouTube’s unique content, had been reaching out to YouTubers already. YouTube Red enables the website to retain its own content creating cash cows and compete with services like Netflix by using the vast talent of its existing creators.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT The beautiful chaos of

February 26, 2015

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The Merionite

Dr. Debra Hobbs English Department

Alex Stern ’16 stars as mathematical genius Thomasina Coverly.

Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in LM? Brilliantly directed by Senior Jeffrey Katz, LM Players’ production of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia replicated a professional live theater performance. The intimacy of the Black Box theater moved the audience through Chaos Theory, the law of thermodynamics and ruminations of intellectual and emotional rebellion.

Set in the dual time periods of the early 1800s and present day, Stoppard’s play captures carnal desire waltzing with mathematical equations, an ambitious undertaking by a high school theatrical program. The opening scenes of the 1800s between Thomasina (Alex Stern ’16), a precocious and intelligent teenager and her tutor Septimus (Karl Meyer ’18) exude thematic reconnaissance. Thomasina asks her tutor, “When you stir your rice pudding, the spoonful of jam spreads itself round making red trails like the picture of a meteor in my astronomical atlas.

Arcadia

But, if you stir backwards, the jam will not come together again. Indeed, the pudding does not notice and continues to turn pink just as before. Do you think this is odd?”

Thomasina’s supreme intellectual curiosity compliments Lady Croom’s (Liana Giangiulio ’17) audacious assertions such as “it is a defect of God’s humor that he directs our hearts everywhere but to those who have a right to them.” The witty and entertaining dialogue between Hannah (Taylor Feld ’16) and her nemesis Bernard (Sam Gamberg ’17) foreground the visceral battles between heart and mind, art and science, past and present, and the unpredictable and the predetermined, which leave the audience teeming with its own intellectual curiosity and emotional understanding.

The production design staff and the entire cast and crew deserve high praise for collectively reminding us that “it’s the best possible time to be alive, when almost everything you thought you knew

is wrong.” If you did not get an opportunity to see Arcadia, you missed a luxurious tornado!

Taylor Field ’16 and Lizzie McAlpine ’18 in character as Hannah Jarvis and Valentine Coverly during a performance of Arcadia by LM Players.

Photos courtesy of Kate Genzer

MASTER of NONE Bethany Eldridge ’18 Photo courtesy of Netflix

Even in today’s society, unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to find diversity in any Hollywood production. Recently, this issue has been thrown into the spotlight, as a result of a lack of diversity in this year’s Oscar nominations, leading to popularity of the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite. However, this issue does not just exist in movies.

At LM, many of us regularly access sites like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, and typical television programming, and can enjoy binge-watching breaks. But the majority of quality shows continue to lack representation of many minority groups. Producer Alan Yang vocalized such sentements in his acceptance speech for Best Comedy at the Critics Choice Awards.

“Thank you to all the straight white guys who dominated movies and TV so hard, and for so long, that stories about anyone else seem kind of fresh and original.”

Comedian and actor Aziz Ansari attempts to

defy such television norms by handpicking actors from a wide range of racial backgrounds in his new Netflix series Master of None. Created by Ansari, the witty masterpiece Master of None is as downto-earth and diverse as it is hilarious. Master is the refresher that your television needs. Ansari is best known for his equally materialistic and hilarious character Tom Haverford in the hit comedy show, Parks and Recreation, but this new breakout show might be his best work yet.

One of the best parts of the show is how it breaks down countless unnecessary barriers in television and society alike. It features a strong, diverse cast without making their differences the butt of the joke. Instead, their differences are used to create relatable, funny situations. Ansari repeatedly calls out racism in the film industry while also maintaining classic romance and family storylines.

Ansari’s main character, Dev, differs greatly from characters the actor has played in the past,

but this role does not take away from his previous work.

While it is hard to pinpoint which episodes are best, the second episode, “Parents,” stands out, highlighting the realistic experiences of a man born to immigrants. “Parents” features the struggles of Dev and cowriter/cast member Brian Yang as they deal with their guilt and ignorance towards their parents’ lives. This storyline is so rich because of the lack of actors on screen who can truly represent this persspective.

The first season of Master of None is only the start of what I predict to be a hit show. Throughout the season, Ansari is able to call out uncomfortable realities of issues like racism in society by presenting such issues in a comedic format that our generation can easily relate to and understand.

So pull on that onesie and break out the popcorn, as you have a lot of binge watching to do.

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February 26, 2016

Sports The Merionite

Future looks bright for LM wrestling Camille Carr ’18 Wrestling is a sport that is often- are willing to do whatever it takes to was, Paul Mariani ‘18 said, “Getting times met with an unfortunate under- take home the win. to see new kids place in a tournament whelmed attitude. It’s a type of combat The team gathered a total of eight who hadn’t got to place yet,” allowing sport that requires quite a lot of agil- losses and four wins. When asked what the team to bond. ity, endurance, and strategy. It’s an in- his personal highlight of the season Leese described the season as “mecredibly stressful sport, with diocre at best” and when each match lasting periods asked about hopes for next of four and a half minutes season he said his hope would and additional overtime if be to win more. the score is tied after three The team, coached by Jim periods.

Perri, has a considerably This year’s team could large group of young membe called unsung heroes, bers. While in the wrestling consistently putting in work world, LM’s team is considevery day after school, comered to be on the smaller side, ing in at the crack of dawn the team predicts that they on the weekends for tourwill keep growing in the next naments, and enduring the few years. Teams from the nearly unbearable stress of middle school keep getting making weight. Ben Leese stronger, and LM’s team is ’18 described an experience expected to get more batches in which he “chugged ten of experienced wrestlers. pounds of water to help the It should be very interestteam get an important foring to see this team develop Photo courtesy of LM Enchiridion feit at the higher weight.” over the next few years.

Daniel Tsai ‘17 zones in on his opponent during a match.

Clearly, wrestlers at LM

Boys’ swim races past the competition Evan Hassman ’17 After the loss of many seniors, the LM boys’ swim team has proved their doubters wrong. The team finished with an 8-4 record, its best since 1997.

Not only is the team performing well as a whole, but multiple swimmers also have qualified for the district swim meet: Mackenzie King ’17 in the 100 yd backstroke and Max Roling ’17 in the 200 yd freestyle, the 100 yd butterfly, and the 500 yd freestyle, in addition to breaking the pool record for the 200 IM. Also, the boys’ 400 yd freestyle relay consisting of Colin Shea ’17, Roling, King, and Brien Coghlan ’17 qualified for consideration as they shattered the school record by three

seconds!

In sports such as basketball, a few good players can carry a team. In swimming, however, a few talented swimmers cannot cover up a team’s flaws. A wide breadth of talent is necessary due to the large number of races of various distances and strokes. Fortunately, the Aces have the necessary depth, as a majority of the team has qualified for the Central League Championships.

Senior captains, Kyle Michie, Ricardo Millar, and Jon Adams have kept team spirits high with a light and fun atmosphere. In addition to their typical captain duties, the trio leads the

team in a chant before every meet in which they yell the name of the 30th president of the United States repeatedly. Interestingly, none of the swimmers know why they chant “CALVIN COOLIDGE, CALVIN COOLIDGE” at the top of their lungs; they just do it.

Finally, after the seniors’ final meet of the season, Paul Speicher, the boys’ coach, explains the infamous story surrounding Coolidge the graduating seniors (the story cannot be published in order to keep the story secret for the underclassmen).

The Aces hope to continue their success and race well at districts to cap their best season in two decades.

Girls’ swim makes a huge splash Jon Adams ’16 A&E Editor As winter sports draw to a close, the girls’ swim and dive man class make a name for themselves both in and out of the team is celebrating one of their most successful seasons in re- pool, whether it be from her eccentric dancing during meets cent memory. Both as a whole and individually, LM’s aquati- to hilarious stories during team-wide spirit dinners. cally inclined athletes have competed admirably within the At the other end of the age spectrum is the senior class, Central League, one of the most competitive districts for comprised of senior captains Silberg, Ciaran Quain, Jordan swimming in the eastern half of Pennsylvania.

Stewart, Katrina Ocampo, and Annaika Khoday. During their As a unit, the girls have four years, the veterans have won some competitive team guided the team through meets, going into the Central multiple changes, most noLeague Championships with tably the departure of longa 5-4 record. Individually, time coach Katie Fitzgerald, automatic qualifiers for Cenwho moved to Germany. trals include girls from three Jeremy Byrne, currently the of the four grades. On the USA Swimming head coach board, diver Lucinda Eisenat Radnor Aquatic Club, restein ’16 has also scored the placed her. Byrne has transpoints necessary to qualify. formed the team in all asThe individual success of pects and at all levels, from the girls goes further, with warm-ups in practice to meet at least three girls going to lineups. centrals who have already Such changes, along qualified for the Districts with the team’s trademark swim meet (Centrals serves spirit, are the source of its as a last chance qualifying success this season. Silberg meet). Anna Kalandaze ’19 says, “During all my seasons Photo courtesy of LM Enchiridion has qualified in a myriad of Isabel Novacich ’19 competes in the 100 yd breaststroke. swimming for LM I've never events, ranging from the 100 seen so many records broken yd to 500 yd free. Annika Edwards ’19 has qualified in the 100 in one year. This group of ladies was extremely talented of yd back, and Sarah Silberg ’16 has earned a spot in the 100 yd course, but I think Jeremy always pushed us further than we free, 200 yd free, 500 yd free, 100 yd butterfly, and 200 yd thought we could go, and that's what really made the team a individual medley. success.” Quain frankly concurs, stating, “Jeremy has changed The class of 2019 has proven their worth throughout the our losing team into a winning team.” season, with six of the girls qualifying for Centrals and nearAces swim and dive has had a resoundingly successful sealy all earning a varsity letter, obtained only after scoring 20 son, sparked by a great start off the block with the addition of points throughout the season. Two of the most notable in- Byrne. The past few years have seen the girls’ team improve clude Kalandadze, who has broken six records, and Edwards, vastly; no longer relying on four or five fast swimmers, they’ve who has broken one. Melissa Gingold ’19 has helped the fresh- developed a wide range of talent among all four strokes.

Boys basketball shocks doubters yet again Zach Slogoff ’18 Another winter and successful season is coming to a close for the boys’ basketball squad. For what many predicted to be an “off year” following a state playoff berth and the departure of key players such as Jule Brown ’15, Corey Sherman ’15, and Asher Barry ’15, the Aces proved the doubters wrong. As of February 22, the boys have a strong record of 18-7 including the first three rounds of the District One playoffs. Behind the solid leadership of seniors KJ Helton, Jeremy Horn, Zack Magill, and Eli Needle, the Aces have kicked, scraped, and battled their way to district playoff contention.

The big stories of the season have been the breakout plays of juniors Noah Fennell and Terrell Jones. Fennell has put up elite shooting numbers, currently averaging just under three three-pointers a game. Jones has accumulated over 300 points in the season, including a career high of 35 points in a single game and an MVP win in the McCaskey Tournament, which the Aces placed first in over winter break. “I just go out and try to put my team in a position to win each game,” Jones commented on his play this season. With the help of players like Fennell and Jones, the boys’ team has proved themselves to be a competitive force to be reckoned with this season.

This season, the stats really tell the story of the combined effort put forth by the coaching staff and players. The coaches are committed to the players just as much as the players are committed to the coaches. In an impromptu speech given to the JV team, head coach Gregg Downer stated, “I tell my guys to go out there every game, and fight each round like it’s your last. One thing you can count on is that we’ll always put up a fight.” This is exactly what the Aces have managed to do, gaining three overtime wins during the regular season when victory was not easily assured from the start.

Although the results have been solid, there have been a lot of ups and downs this season as well. The boys struggled at times with consistency, putting up great numbers one night (over 60 points scored against Springfield) and poor ones a couple games later (just over 40 points against Haverford). A common area the team has struggled with this season has been their ability to get over tough losses and keep moving. As the season began to wind down, however, the team started to improve in this category.

The future is looking bright for the Aces, with the combined efforts of the upperclassmen mentioned previously and young talent.

For the first time ever, there are five freshmen on the team, including Jack Forrest and Steve Payne, who both have had a strong debut season, both players having seen key minutes in the District Playoffs thus far.

The Aces will be returning to the PIAA State Playoffs for the 6th consecutive year after cruising to a 64-48 victory over Upper Dublin in the second round of districts to qualify. The team then followed up this performance with an emphatic 68-45 win over Conestoga in front of a sold out crowd in the Bryant Gymnasium. The Aces having already lost to Conestoga twice before this season, were able to show up against a Central League foe when it mattered the most.

Of course none of that would have been possible if it weren’t for some last second heroics to save the season in the opening round of the district playoffs. The Aces trailed by one point with six seconds remaining in overtime when the ball was inbounded. Terrell Jones ’17 sunk a deep three at the buzzer, ending Penn Woods season and keeping the Aces dream at a State Playoff bid alive.

Regardless of how this season ends, one thing is for sure: this team shattered expectations, yet again, by losing key veteran players just a year ago and responding well with one of the youngest and most inexperienced teams in program history.

Sports

February 26, 2015

15

The Merionite

Breaking records in the Big Apple Eli Shandelman ’16

Photo courtesy of PennTrack Teddy Neckowitz ’17 leads the mile at the Ocean Breeze Race in Staten Island, NY. Neckowittz ran a personal best, 4:39, in the beautiful $112 million dollar track.

70 team and hundreds of racers gathered to race in the all-day invitational.

On Saturday, January 30, the indoor track team experienced an entirely different setting of racing. With a keenness for an eventful day of competition, waking up at 5 a.m. was slightly easier for typical teenage bodies. Catching the bus in the dark, the team was ready for what Staten Island had in store. Upon arrival, the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex amazed everyone. A $112 million facility funded by the city’s PlayNYC initiative, the meticulously designed establishment offers a state-of-the-art indoor track and field facility. The atmosphere was more special than a normal weekend association meet. Consisting of approximately four times the teams, 70 schools were packed into a single field house, anxiously warming up to prepare for a blistering day of racing.

To kick-start the meet, LM’s Matt D’Aquila ’17 competed in the varsity two mile filled with other exceptionally talented competitors. Matt had a consistent race and an inspiring finish, dropping an impressive time and earning a personal record of 9:45, tenth place out of fourteen runners. Doing some quick math, Matt ran an average of 4:53 per mile!

Arguably the most outstanding highlight of our team’s performance was freshman Charlie Herrmann’s race. In the freshman mile, Charlie executed a tactical approach

by pacing off other runners and remaining in a perfect spot of the pack. In the last few laps, Charlie made a powerful maneuver to get right on the heels of the leader and finally passed him for an incredible finish. Charlie’s unbelievable time of 4:46.43 smashed the previous freshman mile record by a whopping 16 seconds.

Other highlights included a convincing effort by junior Teddy Neckwicz, who ran a personal record of 4:39 in the mile, and came third in his heat. Along with Neckowicz, senior Will Rieke (4:44), junior Ethan Boyer (4:49), and sophomore Avery Shandelman (4:58) ran personal bests in the mile. In the freshman 800-meter race, both Jasper Lim-Goyette ’19 (2:15) and Nick Rhodes ’19 (2:16) crushed LM’s previous freshman 800-meter record. As for the sprinters, junior Ahmad Hall and senior Vincent Barnett ran exciting races in the 55-meter dash. Hall ran a time of 6.80 seconds coming in tenth overall, and Barnett ran a time of 6.86 seconds with an overall place of 16th.

Altogether, Ocean Breeze invitational was undoubtedly LM’s finest performance of the season. Filled with extreme competition and excitement, this well-organized event will be a long-standing tradition for the future of indoor track.

Hockey rebuilds amid a down year Julia Kreuzer ’19 season, the team is comprised of a combination of players who have helped them in games past and could in the future as well.

Legaspi believes a handful of players will become the backbone of the team in the coming years. For example, Sam Pitonyak ’18, a defensive player has shown commitment to the sport by joining an elite team, the Junior Flyers. Another underclassman with potential, Shane Leonard ’19, is a versatile player. Despite being small, Leonard is an adept defensive and offensive player.

Anthony Lepara ’19 is one of the toughest freshmen Legaspi claims he has ever met.

Legaspi describes Alex Crane ’19 as one of the most unorthodox defenseman, with Junior goalie, Lucah Saleh, saves a shot against Penn Crest. unlimited energy and strength. Finally, goalie Jack Treimen ’19 is a “low-key reclassmen, the ice hockey team hopes to continue to deally good player” according to Legaspi. He has a mature game, and Legaspi claims, when he grows, oth- velop for successful seasons to come. ers better watch out. With a handful of skillled under-

Freshman Aja Davis

Sophomore Halle Cooper

What sports do you play?

Volleyball, Winter Track, and Spring Track.

If you were to win an Oscar, what would it be and why?

Comedy, because my friends say I am funny.

What sport do you play?

Squash.

If you were to win an Oscar, what would it be and why?

Best score because I like music.

What is your preferred procrastination tactic?

Doing Buzzfeed quizzes because I like to know what Disney princess I am.

Would you rather have the ability to be invisible or to fly?

I would rather fly.

What is your guilty pleasure T.V Show?

Teen Wolf because it is very entertaining.

Would you rather be stung by a jellyfish or lose your phone for a week? Lose my phone for a week.

Photo Courtesy of LM Enchiridion

LM ice hockey has reversed its composition since the past two years. The team used to have a larger upperclassman to underclassman ratio, but now it’s the opposite, with a large number of freshmen on the team. The Aces have focused on rebuilding their team this season, and co-captain Luc Legaspi ’16 believes “as the players get older and stronger, their game will mature, and they will be central league championship contenders.” Even though the team is not as strong on paper as it was in years past, Dawg Pound turnouts have been substantial, which heighten team morale and determination.

Two games this season have stood out, in terms of success, amongst the others. The Aces have had more losses than wins this season, but their games against Harriton and Radnor showed their potential. Against Harriton, the Aces won 4-0. Everhett Grimes ’17 scored three goals and Legaspi scored the final goal. Goalie Justin Greenspan ’19 played admirably as well. When the boys faced central league rival, Radnor, they won by the mercy rule, which takes effect when a team leads with 10 goals, with a final score of 11-1. Even without a winning

Junior Finn Roberts What sport do you play?

Swim.

If you were to win an Oscar, what would it be and why?

Best actor. It’s a nice, noteworthy award.

What is your guilty pleasure T.V Show?

Death in Paradise because it is basically Sherlock in the Caribbean.

Would you reather be stung by a jellyfish or lose your phone for a week?

Definitely lose the phone because Jellyfish stings are a pain.

Senior Luc Legaspi What sport do you play? Hockey.

If you were to win an Oscar, what would it be and why? Best film editing because I get to cut out all the crap.

What is your preferred procrastination tactic?

My mindset is that all deadlines are relative, which means you do your work according to yourself and not teachers or others. Would you rather have the ability to be invisible or to fly? Fly, so I could be travel anywhere and still be home for dinner.

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Sports

February 26, 2016

The Merionite

203

22

National ranking of the girls’ HLM squash team

39.29

Career wins for LM girls’ basketball head coach, Lauren Pellicane

1984

6

Year of the previous 200m Freestyle record that swimmer Max Roling ’17 broke with a time of 1:49.70

Consecutive state tournaments for which the LM boys’ basketball team has qualified

Record feet Vanessa Poe ’16 surmounted in the shot put that broke the previous LM record, set in 1982

Squashing the competition Matt D’Aquila ’17 In the squash world, February can make or break a team’s season, as it gears up for the US Squash High School Championships. This crucial month spotlights a team’s long-standing legacy, and on the Main Line, legacy means everything. Schools like Haverford Boys, Shipley, and Baldwin have dominated squash in the area, and even the nation, for years. Before the 1990s, very few public schools housed squash programs because of limited funding, small talent pools, and a lack of necessary facilities. Finally, the tables have turned.

LMSD heads the talent shift. Both girls and boys represented the district at nationals, with the girls achieving a sixth place finish in Division II and the boys achieving a 10th place finish in Division II, results that equate to a 22nd and 26th place finish, respectively, in the entire nation. This makes the two teams the top public school teams in the nation. For the girls, this marks the second highest finish that HLM has ever achieved.

While HLM teams are well known in the squash world, they are less recognized within our own school. In 1997, the district formed HLM Squash, a joint squash team with players from both Harriton and LM. In 2004, LMSD “officially” sponsored HLM squash, and the team has grown substantially since, with over 50 players this year.

Last year’s HLM boys’ and girls’ teams finished both of their seasons as the top public high schools in the nation.

This year, they looked to defend their respective titles at the US High School Team Squash Championships in Philadelphia.

The girls’ and boys’ HLM squash teams looked to make a statement against the other top competition in the country from both private and public schools. Both squads had very successful regular seasons, though the girls’ team has performed extraordinarily well. This year, the HLM girls went 5-1 in the regular season and achieved fourth at the Mid-Atlantic Squash Regionals, competing in the competitive

Halle Cooper both have challenged their way up to top spots on the team.

These talented girls will prove to be the future of HLM girls’ squash down the road.

The boys’ team also vied to defend their dominion over all other public schools at the US Squash Nationals.

Last year the boys competed in Division 1 and placed 12th in the country.

This year, while dropping down a level to Division 2 because of the team’s weaker season record, the HLM boys

Photo courtesy of HLM Squash Complete with competitive players like Adam Gingold ’17, both the boys’ and girls’ HLM teams are ranked in the top 30 teams in the nation.

“Division 1.” Going into nationals, they hoped to maintain their supremacy as the top public school squash team. Captain Olivia Johnston ’16 believed that her team was still improving as the tournament approached, and said that the squad is “a force to be reckoned with,” which was exemplified in their multiple close victories against powerhouse Germantown Friends this season.

Competitive enough to compete in the highest division at regionals, Johnston says that the team’s depth was a key to their successful national performance.

LM girls are well represented at the top of the ladder with two of the squad’s top four varsity members from LM. Sophomores Emily Bartos and

Pictured: Emily Bartos ’18 (above left) and Olivia Johnston ’16 (right) battle in matches to retain their team’s top status.

were still optimistic about maintaining a strong national ranking.

Henry Dyer ’17 (captain), Adam Gingold ’17, Jed Burde ’19, and Zach Forman ’19 represent the boys as the Varsity elite from LM. Dyer and Gingold have both been on varsity since freshman year and are no strangers to competing at nationals. Burde, is currently ranked fourth of BU15 in the country and leads the HLM team at the number one position on the ladder. Although injured in the national tournament, Burde’s strong performance was an asset to the team throughout the regular season.

At regionals, the boys placed seventh and were pleased with their ability to bring their talent together for the critical tournament. Pleased with the performance, Dyer said he was, “pretty happy with the season despite a few close loses,” mainly to Shipley and Conestoga.

Both the girls’ and boys’ HLM squash programs have transformed themselves from new public school sports teams to powerhouses able to compete with the best private schools in the country.

Photos courtesy of the Enchiridion