Merionite February 2018

The Merionite

Ardmore, PA, 19003

February 21, 2018

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 89, Issue 4

Medical marijuana approved Minori Cohan ’18 Arts & Entertainment Editor

Photo courtesy of Dan Capkin Officers of SAGE invited local women politicians to speak about their experiences in government and the challenges they face.

[Clockwise from top left: Lily Kemler ’19, Julia Rudy ’19, Molly Kaiser ’18, Kate Harte-McCormick ’18, SAGE district coordinator Paula Singer, former congressional candidate Mary Ellen Balchunis, School Board member Robyn Vann Lynch, PA Representative Mary Jo Daley.]

Following months of discussion, the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners voted in favor of adopting its medical marijuana facility zoning ordinance on January 17.

Now, medical marijuana dispensaries will be permitted in specifically zoned areas, including Bryn Mawr, City Avenue, and the Rock Hill Overlay District. The ordinance also permits medical marijuana growing operations within the township, and for clinical research in Lankenau and Bryn Mawr hospitals as well.

Community members raised certain concerns, including Wynnewood commissioner Cheryl Gelber’s concern over safety and how close the facilities could be to residential areas. “That scares me,” Gelber said. “If we’re so concerned about thefts, what level of security are we really expecting?”

Another community member advocated that the Rock Hill Overlay District be removed from the permitted dispensary locations due to an increase in traffic, the narrowness of the road, and the close proximity to the heavily used Cynwyd Trail.

Please see MEDICAL MARIJUANA on page 2

SAGE discusses the gender gap in political leadership

Cancer support group forming

Zoe Shipenberg ’18

“Part of what we’re doing today makes a real difference,” said LMSD Board of Directors Robin Vann Lynch.

Vann Lynch was one of the three female politicians who visited LM on January 31 in order to discuss the need for more female leadership positions in the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives and the obstacles that have stood in their way for years.

The panel was hosted by LM’s Students Advocating for Gender Equality (SAGE), as they hoped to shed more light on the Commonwealth’s continuing gender disparity.

The audience consisted of a variety of grade levels and genders. SAGE group leaders proposed questions to each panelist, leaving the audience to listen to their responses.

With only a few minutes remaining, a couple audience members questioned the politicians. Bethany Eldridge ’18, who handles the LGBTQ+ pillar for SAGE, said, “Just hearing from these powerful women in our community is important to me; I can look up to them.” Eldridge described every SAGE meeting as “a little different,” but for future political meetings, she hopes that there will be “more time for questions.” Another audience member was English teacher Debra Hobbs, who felt the meeting was “a great opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to hear from female politicians who endured professional and personal hardship.” In response to Mary Ellen Balchunis, a Fulbright Scholar and former Congressional candidate who shared her personal accounts of harassment in the meeting, Hobbs stated, “I think people need to know the realities of these women.”

The three panelists included Vann Lynch, Mary Jo Daley, third term State Representative of the 148th Legislative District that includes parts of Montgomery County and

NEWS First female mayor oversees Narberth Julia Kreuzer ’19 highlights Mayor Andrea Deutsch’s historic role in office. page 2

Balchunis, Political Science Professor at LaSalle University.

“I feel optimistic about women in this political climate.

More women are putting their names out, and some of them are going to win. Conversation will change. I’m excited to see the number of women stepping up and putting their name on the ballot,” said Daley.

“The more we have diverse voices, [the better it is] for the democracy we all want to see,” said Vann Lynch, who has been a member of the LMSD Board of Directors since 2012.

As an African American woman, educator, and parent, Vann Lynch cares deeply about the role of education for black students in this country. “We are doing things on behalf of the whole community,” she said, as she described her professional role of “de-escalating frustration” while creating policies and having political discussions.Vann Lynch continued, “Everything in politics costs money,” as she expressed the challenge of raising money and advertising without support from the School Board.

Daley, who has run five times for State Representative, explains, “In politics, you learn to never say never,” and highlighted the importance of female politicians, “because they understand how important things really are in Pennsylvania.”

“I love being a State Representative. It is the most interesting job I’ve ever had,” she said. Daley relayed a story of a man who could not get Social Security benefits because he did not have a birth certificate. She and her staff helped him obtain a birth certificate and Social Security and now he is able to make money for himself. “It is a really incredible and satisfying thing that you can actually help people,” she added.

Please see SAGE MEETING on page 2

FEATURES Becton Scholars Dahlia Edwards ’19 explains the history of the program and why it was created.

page 15

OPINIONS Power in Pink

SPECIAL FEATURE #MeToo

Julia Rosen ’18 discusses the relationship between femininity and feminism.

How prevalent are the issues addressed by the #MeToo movement in the LM community? Learn through an indepth spread. pages 9-11

page 6

Ziwen Zhou ’19 Copy Editor Cancer is a word that no one wants to hear and is often a difficult topic to discuss. Unfortunately, many are afflicted with this awful disease. Due to the visceral fear and extreme personal difficulties associated with cancer, there is often a reluctance to discuss the issues that surround it. Many students at LM have been affected by cancer in their lives or know someone who has had cancer: family, friends, or even themselves. To help the students in those situations, the LM Counseling Department has partnered with Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia (CSCGP) to bring one of their programs to LM. The program, Straight Talk about Cancer (STAC), is intended to provide LM students affected by cancer with a place to talk about their experiences, express certain feelings they may have, and offer trained guidance to mitigate some of the negativity that cancer can cause.

Graphic By Amy Xi ’19 Please see CANCER GROUPS on page 2

A&E The legacy of Leonard Bernstein Gabby Barrett’s ’19 covers Philadelphia’s celebration of renowned conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein’s hundredth birthday.

page 13

SPORTS Super Bowl Champs Harrison Klevan ’18 details the Philadelphia Eagles’ memorable season that resulted in their first Super Bowl championsip . page 18

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News

February 21, 2018

The Merionite

First female mayor of Narberth Julia Kreuzer ’19

Women made history throughout the past year, from the women’s marches around the While the majority of Deutsch’s time as mayor will be spent working on keeping the town globe, to the #MeToo movement fighting back against sexual harassment. The LM commu- functioning, she has ideas for smaller projects that she would like to see implemented as well. nity has added to the list of accomplishments by electing the first female mayor of Narberth, For example, Narberth currently has many downtown celebrations, like Narbearth Day and Andrea Deutsch. Former mayor Tom Grady decided to retire after three terms, which cre- the Dickens Festival; however, there is no special day to celebrate the founding of Narberth. ated a vacancy in the borough’s government. In the Democratic primary, Deutsch and Bob Deutsch would like to see a “NarBirthday,” which she hopes to create during her time as mayWegbreit ran against each other and faced no Republican opponents. In the end, Deutsch or. One of her favorite things about Narberth is the “volunteerism… because [people] love was elected with approximately 59% of votes cast in her favor, and was sworn in on January [the] community and as a result we have wonderful events and a wonderful spirit of commu3. For the first time in the borough’s 123 year history, there is now a female mayor presiding. nity that is not found in other places.” With the community spirit known to be in Narberth, Deutsch is a dedicated member of the Narberth community and has many ideas for future borough events would be a promising addition to to current traditions.

Narberth’s future. She attended law school and worked as a litigator for ten years; howevThe motivation that Deutsch had to run for mayor stemmed from the 2016 presidential er, Deutsch is now running her own election. She was not pleased with business. Nearly two decades ago, the results and felt like “it was she opened a pet store in Narberth time for [her] to get involved.” named “Spots: The Place for Paws.”

She sensed that she might be able Running this business has helped her bring a “different viewpoint” to to forge community connections. the town’s governing. Deutsch Deutsch has also had experience believes that as the first female with borough politics in the past. mayor she can serve as a role modFrom 2012 to 2013, she served as el for the girls growing up in the a member of Narberth’s Borough Narberth community. She said, Council. Her time on the council gave “if it’s always a man, people don’t her experience with borough politics think they can ever grow into those and insight into how demanding govroles and I think it’s good to have a ernment work can be. Knowing what diversity of representation.” Being is needed to be a part of the borough’s able to see a woman in a role hisgovernment from her prior experitorically fulfilled by a man shows ence, Deutsch felt that her business the younger generation that they was in a stable enough position that have options. Deutsch does also she could take on more. believe, however, that “good poliAs she moved from resident and cy is good policy, and it’s not [her] business owner to elected borough femaleness that going to make the official, Deutsch promised to focus differences between good policy her energy on Narberth’s police deand bad policy. It’s ideas, and ideas Photo courtesy of Andrea Deutsch partment and economic status. The are gender neutral.”

After working with the Narberth community, serving on the Narberth Borpolice department in Narberth is Residents of Narberth were enstrong, but Deutsch wants to “update ough Council, the Narberth Library Board, the Narberth Democratic Club, ticed by Deutsch’s bid for a variety procedures and policies and make and Narberth Havurah, Deutsch has decided to continue to be a leader in of reasons. One Narberth family, sure that [Narberth has] the best po- the community as the Borough’s first female mayor. who wished to remain anonymous, lice force that [it] can.” As downtown said they supported Deutsch beNarberth is full of vibrant and strong cause of “the way she operates—it’s businesses, the new mayor also wants to work with the economic development division of not about her, it’s about Narberth.” Narberth community member Liz Brendze sees Deutsch borough council in order to ensure that more business should continue to come to Narberth. as an “enthusiastic, well spoken” person with a “good understanding of the mayoral role.”

She believes that she can act as a “spokesperson for the downtown and advocate on behalf of Brendze thinks that Deutsch “is willing to put in the work” in order to make Narberth a better the businesses.” place for all.

Cancer group

Medical marijuana

Cont. From CANCER SUPPORT GROUP FORMING AT LM, page 1

Cont. From MEDICAL MARIJUANA APPROVED, page 1

The first meeting for this new program was originally planned for early February, but current plans are to begin in the “immediate future.” Much of the credit for creating and coordinating this program goes to LM Counselor Tasha Gesacion. She created a similar program at Bala Cynwyd Middle School with CSCGP several years ago, and due to the good reception and success there, she decided that LM students could benefit from a similar program. According to Gesacion, meetings will “tentatively be held every week for a preliminary eightweek span” and will be led by an assigned CSCGP staff member and, if needed, LM Health and Wellness Counselor Janet Tompkins.

During each of these weekly meetings, a topic of focus will usually be presented, such as “What is cancer?” dealing with

changes associated with cancer, and handling the stress and sense of loss associated with the disease. However, the leaders of these meetings still encourage open student discourse and do not want the program to be overly regimented. Gesacion adds that occasionally “projects will be offered based entirely on student interest.” Students are also encouraged to utilize all the free services that CSCGP offers, including special funds, opportunities, and professional aid for parents, family members, and community.

Interested students can contact any member of the LM Counseling Department to learn more, or speak to Tompkins to find out more about the program.

Past testimonials from participants have indicated that this program can be a great resource for those who need it.

SAGE discussion Cont. From SAGE DISCUSSES “CLOSING THE GENDER GAP IN LEADERSHIP,” page 1 Balchunis pointed out some of the downsides to the political process. “The difference between politics and war is in war you know your enemy, but in politics, you don’t know who is your enemy and you never know who will turn around and stab you in the back.”

Balchunis was “retaliated against” by being sued for reporting sexual harassment. “I was the only woman in an all-male political department. It was the worst point in my life,” she said. Balchunis

took the case all the way up to the Supreme Court, where she won. She stated that people must “support the victims but also the witnesses” and “if you ever get the chance to help someone else, you have to do it.”

In terms of political involvement, Balchunis stressed how important it is for women to get involved: “Maternity care wouldn’t get pulled if there were [more] women in the Trump administration.

These are important issues that need to be addressed,” she said.

However, the ordinance also details clear restrictions that may put some community members at ease. Dispensaries must be legally registered by the state, and marijuana must be dispensed in a secure and permanent building.

In addition, the dispensaries cannot be located in the same facility as growing facilities, and there are stringent regulations in terms of security and hours of operation as well.

As of now, there are six doctors in Bala Cynwyd who are permitted to participate in Pennsylvania’s medical marijuana program.

Pennsylvania law states that those of at least eighteen years of age are able to use medical marijuana provided that they have their doctor’s approval and meet the medical qualifications.

Medical marijuana has been proven to help ease symptoms such as nausea, migraines, and arthritis, and also specific diseases such as multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and certain cancers.

As the newly approved ordinance pertains to LM, LMSD’s Lead Supervisor of School Health and Student Safety Terry Quinlan comments, “I think it is beneficial that patients with these serious and chronic health conditions together with their health

care providers have medical marijuana as an option in their treatment plan.”

Quinlan mentions that there is currently a clinical trial for medical marijuana at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for children with autism. “I am hopeful that medical marijuana will ease the symptoms and potentially improve the quality of life for children and adults with eligible health conditions,” she adds.

Currently, medical marijuana can only be administered during the school day by a certified “caregiver” who has been approved by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In other words, medical marijuana is not a medication that a school nurse would currently be able to administer to students under the age of eighteen.

However, Quinlan expects that school districts will “receive additional guidance in the very near future as we begin to see the medical marijuana program [develop] in Pennsylvania.”

In the meantime, the district will be looking to see if revisions are necessary on its medication policy based on new guidance from the Pennsylvania government.

Graphic by Sihan Wu ’19/Staff

News

February 21, 2018

3

The Merionite

Dawgma reaches out to community Paul Leeds ’19

For the past few weeks, the Dawgma Robotics Team “With our current lack of space, we had to make the field has been working towards their upcoming competition easy to store, so we made it able to be disassembled and by designing, building, and programming their robot reassembled using knobs. Each individual part was relfor this year’s game. A large component of this game atively long and thin, making it easy to store by lining is the structures with which the robot will be tasked to or stacking it up.” interact during competition. In the competition, these Dawgma also reached out to Norman Chaikin, owner structures are made out of materials like polycarbonof Norman Carpet in Conshohocken, PA. He sponsored ate, but prior to competitions the team makes a practhe team by providing them with carpets identical tice field out of wood for driver practice. to those used during competition, a contribution that This year, to make the practice field, Dawgma made the practice environment much closer to that of collaborated with Paul Downs, owner of Paul Downs the actual competition. This was extremely useful when Cabinetmakers in Bridgeport, PA. Downs specializes practicing and working the robot’s autonomous period, in making tables, and his list of clients includes Lockwhere it needs to drive and complete tasks without a heed Martin, NASA, the United States Navy, and the human controlling it.

Philadelphia Eagles. Each meeting, a few members The combination of professionally-built wooden Photo courtesy of Ben Frank field elements and competition-grade carpeting allows went to his workshop and, with his guidance, worked on creating precise wooden structures to mimic the Dawgma team members in front of their Dawgma to set up an area where the drivers can practice field elements the robot will compete with during practice field, built with the help of com- under the same conditions they will face on March 10 at competition. On Saturday, January 27, the team fintheir competition at Westtown High School. By reachmunity businesses. ished building the practice field. ing out and making new connections within the comA challenge with building the field was ensuring it could be stored. Isaac Frank munity, Dawgma is expanding and accomplishing new feats that were previously ’21, a Dawgma member who helped build the field, explains Dawgma’s solution: considered impossible.

District explores options for new school Sam Pitonyak ’18 The LM Board of School Directors decided on December 18, 2017 not to take back the school located in Narberth on Sabine Avenue off of Montgomery Avenue, and is now more strongly weighing the option of the property at St. Charles Seminary.

A major reason why the district chose not to take back the Narberth property was that the building could not fit enough students for it to be useful.

The Narberth school used to house students up to eighth grade, after which students would attend LM. The building can only hold about three hundred students, and given the location of the building, drop-off and pick-up for buses would also be a major issue due to the one-way streets and lack of a parking lot.

Laurie Actman, a member of the School Board, said the Board is “still actively exploring potential available sites for an elementary or middle school

Annual Mr. LM competition around the corner Molly Cutler ’19 News Editor

Mr. LM, a highlight of the school year for many, is gearing up for its ninth annual show. This satirical beauty pageant shows off contestants’ fun talents, and a winner is chosen by the audience and a panel.

The proceeds from this event go to the charities chosen by each contestant. In addition, for the first time, they will also be raising money online at www.crowdrise.com/MrLM2018. According to physics teacher Nora Christman, the advisor for Mr. LM, contestants “have already raised over nine thousand dollars for their charities.”

This year, the theme of Mr. LM is “We Could be Heroes,” which was chosen by senior class officers and director Sarah Cohen ’18. The contestants chose superhero alter egos:

Graphic courtesy of Nora Christman Charlie Altman ’18, competing for the American Cancer Society, will be “#1 Dad”; Davon Collins ’19, competing for A Better Chance In Lower Merion, will be “Lady Chiffon”; Justin Do ’18, competing for the Association for Science in Autism Treatment, will be “Captain Rhetoric”; Bethany Eldridge ’18, competing for the Calliope Joy Foundation, will be “Superfrizz”; Henry Finch ’18, competing for Paws & Affection, will be “Blue Steel”; Sam Fogel ’19, competing for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Foundation, will be “The Headmaster”; Jake Gurevitch ’18, competing for Coding by Kids, will be “Last Minute Man”; Joel Herbert ’18, competing for Step by Step, Inc., will be “Not Your Average Joel”; Will Savastani ’18, competing for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, will be “Brother Nature”; and Zack Slogoff ’18, competing for the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, will be “The Sniper.”

Over one hundred people are involved with making Mr. LM happen, including a student design staff. Slogoff reflected, “It’s really great to be a part of Mr. LM because you get to draw attention to individual causes and really have fun in the process.” Mr. LM will be on February 26, at 7 p.m., and tickets will be ten dollars. “The rehearsals are going great so far, and I’m sure it will be another great show!” said Christman.

so we can compare the potential of that compared to adding on to existing schools. We have recently conducted initial feasibility work on whether the Islamic Center site could accommodate an elementary or middle school... Our challenge is to find a site that can accommodate our needs both in terms of facilities and access within a reasonable budget.”

The district is now considering the St. Charles Seminary as a site for an additional school. On January 22, the School Board approved both a contract with an architectural firm, Gilbert Architects, and a contract with Frank Tavani and Associates, who will be analyzing traffic impacts in the area. Gilbert Architects will be asked to assess the feasibility of building a school for 1,100 to 1,200 students in this location, as well as incorporating athletic facilities into the property. The proposed school would likely be a middle school for students from grades five to eight.

EDITORS’ UPDATES Private mediator hired for contract negotiations Julia Rappaport ’18 News Editor For the first time ever, the teachers and staff of the Lower Merion Education Association (LMEA) have completed over half the year without a contract. This ongoing debate about teachers’ and staffs’ salary has been dragging on for months now. However, there has been a new development in the story: the LMEA and the school district have hired a “private mediator, who has worked with other school districts facing similar issues, to assist in [the LMEA’s] bargaining,” as reported in a joint statement by the LMEA and the school district. Before hiring a private mediator, the LMEA and the school district worked together with a state-provided mediator. However, the state-provided mediator only helped “[clarify] issues and [explore] potential solutions,” and did not actually help reach a solution.

The LMEA hopes that, by hiring a private mediator, they will be able to “reach a new collective bargaining agreement that fairly recognizes the contributions of our teachers,” states art teacher Russell Loue, a union representative for the LMEA and a member of the Bargaining Committee for the LMEA. From the very beginning, the LMEA has hoped to avoid impacting students and other outside members with the debate. While the LMEA still holds this goal, Loue states that it is “becoming more difficult as [the debate] drags on.” Noticeably, according to Loue, the LMEA has had a “drop in morale” as the deliberation continues. Nonetheless, the LMEA is hoping to reach a fair agreement that can make the school board, teachers, and staff all happy.

Ardmore Target set to debut Kathy Yao ’18 News Editor Target has officially announced that it will open its Ardmore “small format” store in July 2019. This specific location will include grocery items; a beauty section; apparel and accessories for women, men, and kids; and baby care sections, as well as a CVS pharmacy and an online order pickup center.

Over the years, consumers have turned to online shopping and curbside pickup for their essentials. In effect, Target has closed many of its larger locations to expand its smaller-store models in suburban and urban areas. So far, four mini-Targets have opened in the Philadelphia area: Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square West, Roxborough, and the newest location near the Art Museum, which opened in October. Along with the Ardmore location, three more miniTargets are set to open soon in the Philadelphia area.

The stores are located at the corner of Fifth and Spring Garden Streets, West Cuthbert and MacArthur Boulevards, and Broad Street and Washington Avenue.

The potential negative effects of a mini-Target opening in Ardmore continue to be a concern for community members. In particular, traffic and the impacts on small businesses are the major issues residents are discussing. To business advocates, however, the addition of a Target in Ardmore will have a positive effect on the community. In fact, some have predicted that it will bring more shoppers to the area. Either way, the community is going to endure potential positives and negatives that come with the new Target starting July of next year.

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News

February 21, 2018

The Merionite

MLK Day of Service inspires charitable work John Munroe ’19 The legacy of the civil rights mivement lives on, as this past Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 15, LM hosted its annual “Afternoon of Service.” Community members and representatives from each middle school and high school in LMSD gathered to honor one of the nation’s most iconic figures by fulfilling a day of service.

The program consisted of an array of stations where students could partake in a multitude of service activities. Some created Valentine’s Day cards for troops overseas, while others made bookmarks for senior citizen centers and put together quilts for patients at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

In addition, buildOn members from LM, Harriton, Bala Cynwyd, and Welsh Valley raised money by selling books. Members of the club also designed coloring books for the students of the school buildOn will be building in Nepal this spring. Scholars from Harriton’s POWER group, a program aimed at empowering African-American students, held a successful book drive. The Starfish Project for Children, which works to help younger people become more involved in service, hosted a specialized arts and crafts project, and the charity organization Cradles to Crayons hosted donation drives for clothing, school supplies, and toys for children in need. One of LM’s a cappella groups,

Soulace, and the Welsh Valley Lab Jazz Band provided musical entertainment.

Hundreds of attendees turned out to take part in helping the community.

LMSD School Board members Virginia Pollard, Subha Robinson, Robin Vann Lynch, and Diane DiBonaventuro as well as Superintendent Robert Copeland attended the gathering.

“I’ve been here now about a year and a half and when people ask me ‘what’s it like?’ this is one of the events I describe to them. Everyone is coming together to do some wonderful things,” Copeland remarked, according to the Main Line Times. School Board President Robin Vann Lynch shared the Superintendent’s sentiments, saying the event has “been several years in the making and it’s wonderful to see how this event grows.”

Photo courtesy of Anna O’Hora Community members participating in the day of service make cards for troops overseas.

Lower Merion Township named one of safest PA “cities” Sophie Yang ’20 How common are crimes in the Philadelphia suburbs? Lower Merion Township seems like a safe place to live, and according to a recent analysis by the professional security organization SafeHome, it is.

SafeHome, a security organization dedicated to making communities safer, conducts studies on security companies, publishes resources on safe home practices, and objectively compares security systems. Its recent analysis, “Safest Cities in Pennsylvania,” profiles the state’s top 25 safest cities. It uses crime report data from the FBI and information from the Chapman University Survey of American Fears to focus on the crimes most feared by Americans: murder, rape, theft, burglary, fraud, and identity theft.

According to SafeHome, Lower Merion Township is the fifth safest city in Pennsylvania. It qualifies as a city according to SafeHome because it reaches a population threshold of at least 39,000 people. This year, the township had a population of 58,369, a citizento-officer ratio of 388, violent crimes saw a decline of 8.7 percent since past years (at 32 crimes), and the trend of property crime increased 6.3 percent at 990 property crimes this year.

The township had a safety score of 85.57 (out of 100), which is determined by weighing several factors like crime rates and population statistics. Weights of different crimes are determined by

a combination of seriousness (determined by the FBI) and how much it is feared by society.

Crime rates weigh from 100 percent to 60 percent, and include (from highest weight to lowest weight): murder, robbery, assault, rape, larceny, burglary, and vehicle theft, as well as the trends in these crime rates within the past several years. Population statistics weigh, at 50 percent to five percent, less than crime rates, and include (from highest to lowest weight): population to law enforcement officer ratio, population change, youth population, and demographics. Statistics from this year are compared to those of previous years to calculate trends. Demographic data is presented by Metropolitan Statistical Area from the US Census.

In addition, many of the cities in the Philadelphia area are places where the most feared crimes are least likely to happen. Pennsylvania has a good safety range of 68.13 to 90.97 (out of 100). Northampton Township is the safest city in Pennsylvania, with a safety rating of 90.97. Philadelphia is ranked 24th, with an impressive safety rating of 70.98 for its population density. Other townships within the top 25 include Haverford Township, Upper Darby Township, Scranton, Allentown, Reading, and Pittsburgh. Lower Merion Township hopes to see an even greater increase in safety for the years to come.

Opinions

February 21, 2017

5

The Merionite

The Merionite Official newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org Columbia Scholastic Press Assocation Silver Crown 2013 Editors-in-Chief Dora Nathans ’18 Sophie Roling ’18 Managing Editor Nisha Arya ’18 News Editors Molly Cutler ’19 Julia Rappaport ’18 Kathy Yao ’18 Opinions Editors Andres Bermudez ’19 Caleb Shack ’19 Kelsey Stanton ’18 Features Editors Molly Kaiser ’18 Catherine McFarland ’18 Julia Rosen ’18

Latin America: the forgotten region How many times in the past few years have you taken time to ponder the recent turmoil in Venezuela, the social revolutions in Bolivia, or even the Communist revolution and overthrow in Chile? What about the French elections, Brexit, or ISIL? Odds are, you haven’t heard as much about the first three topics as the latter three.

If you struggle to conjure any information about the history or culture of Latin America since the Aztec and Hernán Cortés, don’t worry—you are not an exception. A lack of awareness of Latin American history is not unusual for Americans; in fact, it’s the norm. Even in the age of the internet with so much availability of information, the worldview of so many Americans, especially high school students, is lacking.

However, the LM curriculum is not entirely to blame for American ignorance about the existence of Augusto Pinochet. Those courses where LM decides the curriculum—Global Studies 2 for instance—are already overloaded with information. Many courses of this kind, with curriculums that connect all parts of the

world, struggle to reach Latin America. While stuffing these borderline bloated classes more would be one solution, it is not an ideal path to follow. Syllabi are already full from September to June, so Latin American history would have to take the place of information in the curriculums that administration and teachers have spent years perfecting. In fact, the solution should not fall on our educational entity at all.

We as students should take the initiative to inform ourselves about a major region of our world. The school pays for every student to have access to databases such as ABC-CLIO, ProQuest, and JSTOR, which give access to thousands of historical documents and journals. Even without these extensive resources, every student has access to Google and through it, the whole Internet. With a few minutes of free time, any student can become aware of the history of a whole nation or at least a few major events in its past. With a few more, a student can start to see the historical patterns and trends that have shaped much of Latin American history and are ingrained into Latin American culture.

The knowledge of this culture, too, is vital to a student’s development into a competent and conscious human being. Latin America does not just serve as the United States’ pants.

The continent-and-a-half is an entirely different subculture in what we commonly refer to as the ‘West.’ The culture of Latin America, while separate from that of the US, comes from a history that is deeply intertwined with ours. As Spanish teacher Sara Nemoy expressed, in history, “everything is interconnected…[events] always [have] a cause or a consequence [in] something else.” Without a knowledge of the past and present history of countries south of Texas, Americans lose the ability to empathize with an entire subculture of the human race.

We need to make an effort to close the centuries-long gap in our cultural knowledge in order to live our lives as more empathic, present, and perceptive people in our melting pot of a country and our interconnected world.

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

Arts & Entertainment Editors Minori Cohan ’18 Claire Ochroch ’19 Grace Wei ’19 Sports Editors Julian Ginzburg ’19 Zach Simons ’18 Zack Slogoff ’18 Copy Editors Benjamin Schmid ’19 Caroline Spencer ’18 Ziwen Zhou ’19 Graphics Editors Christopher de Santis ’20 Sihan Wu ’19

Articles and letters featured in the Opinions section reflect the viewpoints of individual contributors and not necessarily those of The Merionite editorial staff.

Free speech?

Web Editor Jake Gurevitch ’18 Business Manager Eric Bell ’18 Advisor Charles Henneberry Business Advisor Sean P. Flynn, Esq.

David Sommer ’19 The editors believe all facts presented in the newspaper to be accurate. All articles have gone through an intensive, independent fact-checking process to minimize factual errors.

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

Is free speech a right? The Constitution, our Supreme Court, and we the people seem to think it is; our school district, however, disagrees. Free speech is a right so fundamental that it is enshrined within our constitution.

Therefore, the school, as an agent of the government, has the duty to uphold it. This fact was determined in Tinker v. Des Moines (1969). To quote the court ruling, “It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.”

But for some reason our school district has decided to argue what “can hardly be argued” in their recent district policy: AR 259: Gender Expansive and Transgender Students - Ensuring Equity and Nondiscrimination Policy.

The policy states that the persistent and intentional refusal to use a student’s preferred pronouns is a violation of district policy (punishable if deemed harrasment). This, as you can imagine, is rather problematic to students who believe that gender is based on biological evidence as opposed to the opinion of the

student. The school would have to coerce students into expressing a belief they do not hold, which is antithetical to the values inscribed in our constitution.

In great contrast to free speech, there is no right to be called by ‘preferred’ pronouns. This distinction comes down to the very nature of a right. In his treatises on government, John Locke described that people without a government resided in a state of nature and, by necessity, established a government to defend their rights from other people: including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

The right to coerce others to address you in a certain manner is not present in a state of nature, and therefore is not a right that the government needs to protect.

Some would argue that not utilizing a person’s preferred pronouns constitutes bullying. They believe that utilizing the pronouns that correspond with a student’s biology is degrading and disrespectful, but to quote John Lennon, “Trying to please everybody is

impossible.” While trying to please transgender students, we are robbing other students of their rights. At the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves: can a free society remove the rights of certain individuals for the appeasement of others? The answer is obviously “no”. If we prioritized appeasement over rights, then movements such as Abolitionism, Women’s Suffrage, and, ironically, the LGBTQ+ rights movement would never have created change. Every action offends or disrespects someone: appeasing everyone is impossible.

The flag protesters in the NFL and students at LM who don’t stand for the pledge choose to disrespect the banner of our country, offending our police, the soldiers of our Armed Forces, and every patriot in this school. Is their free speech worth more than that of students who believe that gender is based on biGraphic by Staff ology? If the school can’t force us to say the pledge, how can they force students to utilize preferred pronouns?

The Tinker v. Des Moines (1969) ruling protects students’ freedom of speech See FREE SPEECH on page 6

CORRECTION for the November 14, 2017 issue: Dr. Kristina Ayers Paul, Ph.D., the Special Assistant to the Superintendent for Program Evaluation for LMSD, is not a specialized adolescent doctor nor did she state that children should sleep, on average, for nine and a quarter hours each night. Furthermore, several quotes cited in the article are associated with Dr. Paul but were rather said by community members.

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Opinions

February 21, 2018

The Merionite

Power in pink

Julia Rosen ’18 Features Editor “Excuse me, I think you’re in the wrong room.”

“What?”

“Yeah, this is Varsity Lincoln-Douglas [debate], I think you’re in the wrong place,” said my opponent politely. There was such innocence in his eyes; I could barely hold him accountable for the statement.

“No, I know,” I said, and the look of innocence transformed into a doubtful smirk.

My stomach dropped, and I tugged at my dress. I wondered what it was about the way I looked that had caused him to be so sure I was out of place.

Was it my dress? It had to have been.

I had known I shouldn’t have worn it, but it was my favorite at the time: pink and girly, the very epitome of femininity. In the following thirty minutes, my opponent proceeded to rip all of my self-confidence to shreds. Every response and every glance he gave me was condescending in nature. To him, the words I had worked so hard to prepare held no value. He squirmed in his seat, staring blankly ahead as I spoke, and afterwards he asked me for my number. I wish I had known at that time this was the first of many experiences. If I had, I would have come much sooner to terms with the core issue plaguing feminine women today: acting femininely often equates to the dismissal of your ideas.

This is a problem. We’re moving closer to a more inclusive meaning of identity, gender, and sexuality, but still the definition of a “powerful woman” is limited. This is especially relevant to us as high school students, as soon we will be venturing forth into the workplace. A mold is set for

Free speech

a “professional woman,” and if we wish to be taken seriously, we simply have to submit to it.

Who is this professional woman? She’s serious, a go-getter; she wears pantsuits, and black stilettos to make herself seem taller and more commanding—all reminiscent of none other than the male sex.

The professional woman gains our respect for a simple reason, beautifully explained in the following statement by Sheryl Sandberg, a top Facebook executive: “When I worked in consulting...there was one way to dress and there was one model for success, and that was really the male way.

And you found women dressing in the sort of female equivalent of the male suits.”

The professional woman finds success by making herself manly or overall invisible.

“When I’m at the lab, I dress as invisible as I can. I wear dark jeans, boring, longsleeved shirts and hoodies, and casual shoes. My hair is tied back into a sloppy bun, and my makeup is minimal. I look like I live in an organic granola commercial” (Vox anonymous source).

This is blatantly unacceptable. Feminism is the advocacy of women’s rights on the basis of the equality of the sexes. Removing the characteristics of sex from the equation does nothing to help this issue.

“Sexism is rooted in the presumption that femaleness and femininity are inferior to (and only exist for the sexual benefit of) maleness and masculinity” (Julia Serano).

Rejecting all gender norms is an internalized version of the same sexism holding us back. Fitting into the mold takes away our right to identity, and in my case, the femininity that is so significant to my sense of self. In my adolescence, I was conditioned to tame my fashion sense and personality in order for my opinion to hold weight.

I know now that this is a fundamentally flawed practice. Femininity and success are not mutually exclusive nor should they ever be considered that way.

Now when I embrace my femininity, I empower myself. Security in my identity leads to security in my decisions and overall life. To be taken more seriously, it is not up to us as women to change what is, to some of us, a key part of our selfhood. Society needs to mature in its view of power

Graphic by Sihan Wu ’19/Staff

Silent march

Sophie Feinstein ’19 Thousands of people across the country came together on January 21 to mark the conclusion of President Trump’s first year in office with graphic signs, pink cat-eared hats, and a passion for women’s rights.

Upon arrival at Eakins Oval, I watched as demonstrators streamed down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in pursuit of the large stage set in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where several speakers would address the crowd in the spirit of feminism and equality.

My siblings and mother were excited to join the thousands of other women and men who came out to protest, but I was fixated on the sight of a lone woman sitting beneath a streetlight. Her belongings were bunched in a pile next to her, and she held a cardboard sign pleading, “Hungry—Please Help!” I reached into my pocket, grasped for the few dollars I had brought with me, and asked my mom for any cash she had. I folded the money in my hands and walked towards her through the crowd. The woman looked up with red-rimmed eyes as I placed the money in her 7-11 cup.

“Stay safe,” I told her as I gave her a quick smile and began to turn back to my family.

“Thanks—you’re the only one who noticed me here,” she said.

I was stunned. For a moment, I stopped and tried to conceptualize what she had just told me. Fifty-thousand people—the official estimate of the crowd at the Women’s March on Philadelphia—and not one of them stopped to help the woman suffering right in front of them.

We are often taught that change begins locally. Our school is in a very close partnership with an organization that exemplifies this lesson—buildOn. Despite buildOn’s annual treks abroad building schools, the emphasis is on helping those in your own community first. It is hard, therefore, to believe that in a crowd of fifty-thousand people ostensibly devoted to helping and empowering women, nearly none stopped to help a woman in need right in front of their eyes.

In that instant, my entire mindset of the march changed, and I began to examine my surroundings more closely. I noticed the constitution of the crowd: an expanse of white faces capped in knitted pink hats snapping selfies in front of glittered signs, voices shouting, “The women united will never be defeated!” Their eyes watched the homeless women sitting on the sidewalk with a mixture of anxiety and pity, but none moved to help them.

I noticed the dozens of navy blue uniforms and black standard-issue shoes that shone in the sun; the police officers who

stood passively watching the demonstration with expressions of bemusement and nonchalance. I noticed the demonstrators thanking the police, even high-fiving them for attending and “protecting” the protest.

I noticed the steel barricades that guided demonstrators down the Parkway, the protesters who strolled through the streets with self-satisfied faces and sparkling “Dump Trump” signs while shouting, “This is what democracy looks like!”

Well, if that’s what democracy looks like, then I want no part in it. I don’t want to participate in a democracy that openly cooperates with the police, an organization that has traditionally been an enemy of change and a counteraction to social progression. I want no part in a democracy that champions an off-brand version of feel-good activism. Most importantly, I want no part in a democracy that tries to convince you that protesting is walking through the streets during permitted hours, on approved routes, with police marshals and permission slips signed by the very object of the outcry. A march that is facilitated by the government is not a protest but rather a celebration of how to criticize the government while working with the government—if you have a permit, it’s a parade, not a protest.

Historically relevant and influential demonstrations have all contained an element of disruption that is the direct result of not cooperating with law enforcement.

This disruption denies the status quo to those who benefit from injustice, forcing them to look into the eyes of those they are mistreating. For example, the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965 took place in the streets and on highways, stopping traffic for long periods of time. The Occupy Wall Street demonstrations of 2011 not only occupied public spaces such as parks and sidewalks, but also banks and businesses, causing many to temporarily close. Protests in 2017 following President Trump’s first travel ban operated in similar fashion: thousands of people filled airports and demanded the release of detained immigrants.

All true demonstrations contain this crucial element of disruption that make them impossible to be ignored or controlled by government officials and law enforcement. The Women’s March, by communicating its itinerary with and asking permission from local governments and law enforcement, made itself submissive and manageable to those agencies, putting the entire movement at the government’s mercy. At first glance, it may seem like fifty-thousand people walking through the streets is disruptive and revolutionary.

However, the number loses its power when you realize that local officials are aware of this fact and have made alternative plans to circumvent all fifty-thousand of them.

In order to realize and execute social change, we must stop working within the confines of the government we seek to change and start working outside of it. It is only when we stop working with law enforcement and local governments that we can be truly successful and progressive.

Cont. from FREE SPEECH on page 5 determining that the Des Moines schools could not suspend students for wearing black armbands to protest the Vietnam War. These brave students, who believed that the war was wrong, refused to give up their deeply-rooted beliefs; the ruling confirmed their right to uphold these beliefs in a school setting. Similarly, students who believe that gender is based on biology shouldn’t be forced to give up their firmly-held beliefs. A school district shouldn’t eradicate opposing opinions. Unpopular speech is still protected speech.

If a student can determine their own gender and the school can coerce students into verbally agree-

ing, the same should apply to religion. Members of the Christian sect Jews for Jesus claim to be Jews although their belief in the Trinity and the divinity of Jesus disqualify them from this title. The logical extension of our district’s policy would force students to call members of Jews for Jesus Jews. The logical extension of our district’s policy would also force students to call “transracial” individuals by their “preferred race.”

Is free speech a right? If you choose to agree with the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and the American people, then it is. A school district can’t force someone to present an opinion that they dis-

agree with. We respect the right to sit during the anthem, to express ourselves, and to display our own opinions. We cannot discriminate against those we disagree with by not offering them the same rights.

It is not the merit of the opinion but the humanity of the speaker that determines whether or not a person can express his or her own point of view– anything else would be textbook discrimination.

The issue of free speech over appeasement isn’t new, and people have argued for decades about the merits of censorship and other suppression. The Supreme Court has made the decision to uphold freedom: will you?

Opinions

February 21, 2018

7

The Merionite

Express consent

Caleb Shack ’19 Opinions Editor America is enduring a sprouting sentiment of sensitivity. In the resulting culture, people tend to blame others for even the most minor of transgressions without accepting any accountability themselves. “It was white. I didn’t get to choose and I prefer red, but it was white wine,” said Aziz Ansari’s accuser in the recount of her last evening with him (published on Babe.net). She then went on to claim he sexually harassed her, saying she felt uncomfortable with Ansari’s intentions and that he ignored her hints telling him to stop. Not until she said “no” did he stop. It disturbs me that a news source would deem this a valid accusation to publish as it completely devalues the weight of the #MeToo movement. What disturbs me even more is the multitude of people I’ve heard support the woman hiding behind the alias, “Grace.”

The plethora of ideas for what constitutes consent creates a thick, gray line separating what is evidently an unhealthy interaction from what isn’t. This line states that consent can be a definite “yes,” not a “no,” that you must hold the powers of Professor X to know what your partner is thinking, and so on—depending who you ask.

There is a certain trajectory some want to reach that is currently out of our range: to be a completely politically correct (PC) society. With the current culture of casual hookups, it is rare to find a couple robotically maneuvering around the bedroom and constantly making sure the other is comfortable. We should simply focus on being able to say “no.” Whether you are a boy or a girl, it is important for either one of you to be comfortable with saying “no” without fear of continuation or backlash.

So, instead of condemning everyone who utters a microaggression here and there, focus on the bigger issues like all of the valid accusations in Hollywood and New York, and use them as examples of what not to do and what needs to be different.

This PC culture which some preach is not beneficial towards the liberal cause and in fact gives reason for conservatives to draw back even more.

It is weird is to have to ask someone if you can shake their hands, hug them, or pat them on the back. This is where body language and social cues play in. However, in intense sexual situations as described by Ansari’s accuser, the only appropriate form of communication is verbal, and it’s pretty easy: “can I ____;” “yes;” “no.” In reference to Ansari’s case, I read Grace’s account of the night in full detail: after their date Ansari wanted to have sex and was told, “Whoa, let’s relax for a sec, let’s chill.” He then pursued this effort several more times before an explicit “no” prompted her leave although she claimed to have used body language to signal her discomfort. Overall, both people made mistakes in their discourse, hence why I and many others vehemently shut down her claim.

The bottom line is that most guys want to have sex. It is biologically engraved in our bodies to want to. Some people claim, falsely, that the majority of men are unable control this natural instinct. However, many men could do a better job.

What guys need to work on is reaffirming verbal consent throughout sex. This is usually considered to be a mood breaker, but it truly isn’t. Girls appreciate it when a guy makes an effort at total consent because it makes them feel comfortable, makes them feel like they can more easily say no.

If a girl says no, don’t push it!

So to all the guys out there: step up to the plate, be respectful, don’t force anything to happen, and most importantly, make your partner feel comfortable. If this is the culture we build, accusations will dwindle, and invalid accusations will lose their weight.

Student-sponsored sports

Alek Lexa ’19

my don’t charge anyone an entry fee; rather, incentives such as free food, themed event nights, and DJs are often frequent compliments to athletic competitions.

Schools that are members of the Central Athletic League are some of the best-funded schools in the country. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, LMSD spends more money per student than any school district in Pennsylvania, $21,399 per student. The average school dis-

LM is a very spirted school.

There is almost always a large fan base cheering on athletes at big events such as division and league championships. However, if students choose to attend an athletic event like a basketball game, they are charged an entry fee.

Although the $3 entry fee is standard across the Central Athletic League and is quite small, it is ridiculous that students have to pay to watch their classmates compete against other schools.

Students paying to watch their friends compete is not about money, but about principle.

Students shouldn’t need to pay to watch their friends and fellow students compete at sporting events as their parents have already paid an enormous Gra phi amount of c by trict Sih money in taxan in Southes to support their Wu eastern ’19 school’s athletic programs. /St P e n n sylvania aff Other schools on the Main Line― spends $13,205 competing in the Inter Academic League―such as Shipley, Penn per student—well above the naCharter, and Episcopal Acade- tional average. Because school districts that are members of

the Central Athletic League are well-funded, there is little support for the reasoning behind the decision to charge students an entry fee for athletic events such as basketball games. Nevertheless, the Central Athletic League still insists it needs additional funds for league expenses, including custodial staff for indoor events.

There are other ways of generating revenue that will not discourage students from supporting their schools’ athletes.

If money is an issue for the Central Athletic League, profits from concessions served at athletic events should be used to cover the cost of expenses such as referees. Currently, the profits from concessions help offset the home team’s seasonal expenses. Instead, school districts should use their multi-million dollar cash surpluses (according to the Inquirer, LMSD has 50-60 million dollars available for use—40 million dollars over the legal amount) to provide more support for school-sponsored programs such as sports teams.

School districts that are members of the Central Athletic League are some of the most well-funded in the United States, and it is ridiculous that with so much money available, students have to pay to watch their school compete in athletic contests. This needs to change, and any reason related to a lack of money available is simply not a valid argument.

Unequal Dawgstribution excitement of the LM vs. Radnor football game. This disparity left a void that ate away at the morale of the team, and halfway through the meet, defeat was almost guaranteed.

Eric Bing ’20 The Dawg Pound is undoubtedly an integral part of the sports experience at LM. Few things can bring the same level of energy and excitement to a team than a crowd of like-minded classmates shouting their support for our school.

Nothing can provide the same level of invigoration and stride than the cheers from a mob of classmates and friends alike. However, despite the clear presence of the Dawg Pound during basketball and major football games, not all sports groups receive the same level of support, if any at all.

For many participants of less popular sports such as swimming, field hockey, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, ice hockey, track, wrestling, and soccer, the Dawg Pound is clearly missing. I experienced this firsthand during last year’s climactic swim meet between LM and Radnor. The silence and emptiness of the stands stood in direct contrast with the frantic

the tide of a match. Unfortunately, a lack of support causes teams to become burdened by a negative mentality as they continue to tally up the losses. Sophomore Aviva Kosto, a member of the girls’ soccer team, feels that many sports teams like girls’ basketball and soccer lack the support of the Dawg Pound, and that their support really can make a difference. She recalls a match where she was being cheered on by the boys’ football team, and in that instance she felt that the support and cheers from their peers helped motivate them to win the match. But instances like those are rare, and there is little reason why they should be.

As proven by the basketball team’s recent victories, the presence of the Dawg Pound can help motivate players and can even help turn the tide of a match, not to mention that an increased presence of the Dawg Pound can subsequently increase the morale of sports teams and simultaneGraphic by Amy Xi ’19 ously give less publicized sports This is not to say that a lack of and athletes the recognition they fan support is the cause of every deserve. The Dawg Pound is an team’s loss, but as demonstrat- amazing and unique aspect of ed by the boys’ basketball team’s LM culture, and there’s so much recent victories against Harri- potential for it to grow and ton and the previously undefeat- expand beyond basketball and ed Penncrest, the support of the football. So let’s help it realize Dawg pound can and does turn that potential.

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February 21, 2018

Advertisements The Merionite

Special Feature

February 21, 2018

9

The Merionite

#MeToo

In Hollywood

2 18

Jane Spencer ’21

This special feature is intended to provide an in-depth look at the Time’s Up movement and how it relates to the LM community. Specifically, we are looking to see if the topical issues of this movement, such as the ambiguity of consent or the necessity of sexual education, affect LMHS culture and, if so, how students feel about this. The statistics and quotes presented in this feature were compiled from an anonymous survey sent to the LM student body and posted in the Aces Nation Facebook group. No questions were directly required to be answered, but there were a total of 486 different respondents. Fifty eight percent of respondents were female, forty percent male, and two percent non-binary.

Thank you, Management Sophie Roling, Dora Nathans, and Nisha Arya

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This year has been a very empowering time for all women that have struggled with sexual assault, harassment, and inequality both in and out of the workplace. Many women who have battled with these issues have come forward with their stories while many still remain in the dark. 2018 is the year to bring an end to these issues, so that no woman has to stand alone. The newly founded Time’s Up and #MeToo movements are doing just that.

At this year’s 75th annual Golden Globe Awards, the red carpet was a swarm of women wearing black to show their support for these movements. However, not only women sported black for the cause.

Many others, from the teenage cast of Stranger Things to Justin Timberlake, also wore black to show their support.

On the red carpet, numerous actors, actresses, and singers were interviewed about this movement and what it means to them.

One actress who is fighting especially hard for this cause is Reese Witherspoon. She was a victim of sexual harassment herself and came forward with her story last October. Witherspoon influenced others to wear black and called all women to stand together on the red carpet, demonstrating that award shows are not defined by the designer brands you wear, or who was the best dressed. Actress Eva Longoria explained to the New York Times, “For years, we’ve sold these awards shows as women, with our gowns and colors and our beautiful faces and our glamour. This time the industry can’t expect us to go up and twirl around. That’s not what this moment is about.”

Even though the Golden Globes was a major platform for the Time’s Up movement, the campaign extended much further than just the red carpet.

The week leading up to the show, many of your favorite celebrities were posting about Time’s Up, speaking out about “Why I wear black today.” Emma Watson, for example, used Instagram to voice her opinions on the issue: “The clock’s been ticking on the abuse of power. I stand in solidarity with women across every industry to say #TimesUp on abuse, harassment, and assault. #TimesUp on oppression and marginalization. #TimesUp on misrepresentation and underrepresentation.”

Social media platforms, such as Instagram, have been flooded with positive messages that stood up to these issues. Although many celebrities are using their influence in society to stand up to sexual assault, harassment, and gender inequality, the fight is not over. The time has come to make a difference. Time’s up now.

What not to say The following article is by an LM student.

Because of the student’s recounting of personal experiences with sexual assault, The Merionite has opted to run the piece anonymously.

At the assembly on consent that the Class of 2019 attended last year, I heard multiple rape jokes from the rows behind and in front of me. This is a great example of the culture of dismissing and making jokes about victims that exists at LM. “No means yes” jokes aren’t funny. They perpetuate an already rampant culture of dismissing victims’ trauma that needs to end. If you don’t know how to be funny without being offensive, you probably need to work on your comedic skills. Even smaller things like “Dude, that test raped me,” which I hear often in the halls, hurt victims. Rape isn’t a hilarious analogy, and it’s not “just a joke.” I am a survivor of sexual assault, and hearing someone compare taking a test to being assaulted makes me think of my own experience.

If someone within your earshot is a victim, he or she could have PTSD, and your “joke” could cause a painful flashback. This is not about people being “offended by everything,” because again, it is not a joke. It’s your responsibility to be better.

In the wake of the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, it’s crucial that we support victims of sexual violence. As a survivor of sexual assault myself, I have been asked what I was wearing, whether I provoked him, and if I liked it. Reflecting on what I “could’ve done” and thinking what happened wasn’t “bad enough”

after hearing people’s comments is something that I’ve struggled with since the event. Sexual violence is sexual violence, regardless of the specifics of what happened; don’t lecture anyone about things they could’ve done or ways they could have avoided the event. A couple of quick tips: nobody wants to be sexually assaulted or harassed, no one is ever “asking for it,” and it’s never the victim’s fault.

If a friend of yours tells you that he or she was assaulted, listen with an open mind, don’t judge, and above all, believe them. It is not your job to play judge, jury, or executioner when someone is confessing something so personal to you.

Yes, false accusations happen, but they’re much more rare than you’d think: a multi-site study including 2,059 cases of sexual assault found only a 7.1 percent rate of false reports (Lonsway, Archambault, & Lisak, 2009). The doubt of the assault ought to be cast in court, not by a friend.

It’s also a common misconception that men cannot be victims of sexual violence. In fact, male victims are often ridiculed because of the assumption that men should always want sex, which is both untrue and hurtful. Though it is statistically more common for a perpetrator to attack a woman, that doesn’t mean sexual assault never happens to men. Your friend’s experience isn’t automatically invalidated because he’s a guy. No, he wasn’t “lucky,” and yes, women can rape men.

So, now you have a vague idea of what not to say to someone when he or she confesses that they are a survivor. Well, what should you do? It can take a long time for someone to recover from trauma; January of 2018 marked two years since my event, and I’m still working through my own trauma. Offering support and kindness is the best thing you can do. You should check in occasionally to remind them that you’re there if they need to talk or vent, and that you still care about how they’re doing. Remember, though, that it’s not solely your responsibility to take care of your friend. If you think he or she needs help that you can’t give, or if he or she refuses to reach out for help, you may want to talk to a parent, guidance counselor, or trusted teacher to determine what to do.

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Special F

February 21, 2018

David Sommer ’19 Sexual assault is one of the most heinous crimes a person can ever commit. The pain, the violation, and the terror that the victim experiences is incomprehensible to those who haven’t experienced it themselves. Due to the immense bravery it takes to stand up to a rapist, we should take the testimony of a victim with the utmost seriousness. But, we must also refrain from taking the accuser’s word as gospel. The rights of the accused to a fair trial should never be abridged, even in the heartbreaking case of sexual assault. In higher education, both by the administration and by the people, due process is often trampled upon in order to quench our thirst for retaliatory justice.

Enshrined within the Fifth Amendment of our Constitution is the essential right to due process: the right to maintain your rights unless deemed guilty in the court of law. To quote Emily Yoffe of The Atlantic, “On too many campuses, a new attitude about due process—and the right to be presumed innocent until proved [sic] guilty— has taken hold.” According to Elizabeth Price Foley, a Florida International University law professor, the university rules benefit women at the expense of men in a “he said/she said” situation. This unfortunate change violates the accused individual’s natural right to due process, as it throws the burden of proof upon the accused. Without written consent, it is nearly impossible to prove that an act of consensual sexual relations was in fact consensual. The idea of guilty until proven innocent is antithetical to the American ideal of due process immortalized in our Constitution and makes it considerably easier for the innocent to be penalized.

As previously stated, it is very important to take the accusers’ testimony seriously, but the accused has the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty, both in our courts and in our minds. In our minds, we should not assume guilt before looking

at the facts as it is not just intellectually lazy, but is also unfair to the accused. There is no reason for a person’s reputation to be tarnished after a baseless accusation. If you were falsely accused, wouldn’t you also want a fair shake? Societal ostracization is an unfair penalty until it is obvious that sexual misconduct actually occurred.

In an incredibly disheartening case, University of Massachusetts undergraduate Kwadwo Bonsu was accused by another student of sexual assault. UMass responded by limiting his movements and associations. He was then falsely accused of contacting his accuser by friending her on Facebook, causing the university to remove his housing and restrict him from campus except for classes. He wanted to arrange a protest for the injustice he faced and in doing so used his accuser’s name, so he was promptly banned from campus. The university eventually declared him innocent, but still suspended him until graduation and permanently forbade him from setting foot on campus. To quote Yoffe, “The way in which Bonsu’s case was handled may seem perverse, but many of the university’s actions—the interim restrictions, the full-bore investigation and adjudication...—were mandated or strongly encouraged by federal rules that govern the handling of sexual-assault allegations on campus today.”

It may feel good to stand on the side of angels and fight crime by expelling every individual accused of rape, but this is a terrible policy as innocent people will be harmed in this war against sexual violence. It is not fair to martyr the falsely accused on account of our inability to follow the Constitutional right to due process and willingness to assume guilt. In a school as accepting and truth-seeking as LM, we must be willing to withhold instantaneous judgement and accept the accused’s right to defend themself against accusation.

“There is no sexual misconduct/harassment/assault happening at this school, and what a lot of people say about it and complain about are just ashamed of something they regretted because they can’t face the consequences of their actions.”

Janet Tompkins LMHS Wellness Counselor Sexual harassment is the making of unwanted sexual advances or obscene remarks (i.e. sexual comments, jokes, gestures, or name calling) in a workplace, school, or other professional or social situation. Sexual assault refers to sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent of the victim. Consent is clear, communicated, enthusiastic, ongoing, and can be revoked at any time. Anyone who is underage, asleep, unconscious, or making decisions under the influence of any substance is unable to give consent.

While these definitions may seem straightforward, people often find themselves confused or feel as though there is some grey area in these definitions. For example, with harassment the same behavior, a hug, may make one person smile but another person distressed.

No one should have to feel uncomfortable, so what should you do if you’re in such a situation? Share what is going on so that others can help you. When we stay silent, we put ourselves at risk of even more emotional issues as a result. All of those unexpressed feelings (anger, rage, helplessness, powerless, etc.) can become internalized and often individuals begin to blame themselves. There is still so much shame and humiliation from the stigma of sexual harassment and assault that

individuals can begin to blame themselves for something that isn’t their fault. Experiencing that trauma is hard enough, and not talking and seeking support makes it even harder to heal and move forward. Remember, if someone approaches you to tell you that they were sexually assaulted, take their statement with the utmost sincerity.

There is always someone to talk to whether it’s a friend, a relative (parent, aunt/uncle, sibling), a therapist, or any trusted adult (teacher, coach, doctor, therapist, etc). If you don’t feel comfortable sharing with anyone you know, there are support hotlines that you can call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (see below). Here at school there are tons of individuals that you could see: your Counselor, MH & Wellness Counselor Ms. Tompkins (that’s me), School Social Worker Ms. Montalvo, School Psychologist Dr. Edge, the nurses, any administrator, teacher, campus aide, or coach. We are all available to listen. All of the adults in this building are mandated to address sexual harassment and sexual assault. If you share that you are being harassed; however, there is an obligation to investigate it and come up with a plan to prevent it from continuing. If you share that you have been sexually assaulted, we are obligated to report that. In both situations, the school would work with the individual to develop a plan that is sensitive to their needs and helps them move forward.

Feature

February 21, 2018

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The Merionite

The Merionite: Have you seen LM health students in classes respond to the Time’s Up/#MeToo movements?

Shari Roeder: Throughout the year, we have had kids come in and discuss what they see in the news, but right now, I think it’s mostly just something students have seen on social media.

Katie Pisoni: However, on the midterm paper, I did see a select few students choose to write about topics such as sexuality and sexual freedom. Our unit on sexuality will begin in March.

TM: Are you planning on incorporating anything that’s been happening in the news into health classes?

P: The problem is that there isn’t an even playing field in the health curriculum. Not all students are aware of all current events. In the past we have included current events into the curriculum, like the Penn State fraternity hazing incidents, but so many students did not even know what had happened.

R: It depends on the passions of the students. If the student is more passionate on these topics, then they tend to research and be more informed on this issue. It’s nice that there is a ton of information out there right now about all of this, and it is encouraging to see all of these celebrities using their platforms speaking up about it now. I think it encourages people who don’t have this platform to speak out.

TM: Does the health curriculum take stances to help equip students in uncomfortable situations?

P: We do an activity on roofies, where students go around the room having conversations with each other and I add substances to their cups, generally without them noticing.

Later, we test using phenolphthalein, an indicator, to see whose cups were roofied, so students can see how much you have to be aware of your surroundings at parties. We’re also hoping to bring basic self defense to the curriculum in the future.

R: Self defense would be a part of the PE curriculum, and it’ll help students recognize different forms of aggression and their surroundings. Also, we practice things like how to say no because the more you practice, the more you know what you want in terms of your values and morals and you feel comfortable saying no in situations that might be difficult.

P: Also, it will help your actions match what you want in an interaction, so your body language and eye contact match what you want the other person to know.

TM: Is it difficult to teach students the line between consensual and nonconsensual activity?

R: That grey line is very real, and it’s thin when it comes to consent. For some people, in whatever relationship, having done something before doesn’t mean they’ll do it again, or maybe they’re just saying yes to satisfy some social pressure, which can be emotionally draining. One of the biggest problems is that some people do not know where that line is, and they’ll say things that they think are jokes. But if someone doesn’t tell them where to stop, they’re never going to know that they were wrong.

P: We have an activity in health that helps students practice excuses and ways to say no.

R: For example, you can make an excuse like “my mom called, and I need to leave” or “I’m focusing on school/myself right now.” It’s hard to just say no in social situations, so providing a reason often helps.

TM: Do you have any overall reflections on the sexuality curriculum?

P: One of the biggest things about health is that it is the class that you will probably use the most in the future. These topics are some of the most important topics that developing teenagers can discuss. Sometimes, health class is the only conversation some students will have about these ideas; they don’t always discuss sexuality at home or outside of class, which is why it is so important that we have this course here at LM. R: We need to understand that health is always changing, and we constantly need to maintain our own health as best as we can.

“As a victim myself, who was assaulted the year before I took health, I was extremely disappointed by the way that the class handled these issues. Even when we did discuss consent, people made rape jokes during the discussion, and the teacher did nothing to prevent those jokes from being made.”

Lily Kemler ’19 SAGE Program Coordinator Students Advocating for Gender Equality (SAGE) is LM’s very own social justice awareness and activism club. Based on four pillars that are intersectional with gender-related topics, the club focuses on race, LGBTQIA+ issues, male allyship in gender equality, and women’s empowerment. With the goal of educating and empowering LM students, SAGE hosts meetings in which members discuss relevant societal issues that relate to these pillars. SAGE works to provide a comfortable and safe environment for any student to voice their opinion and experiences with the myriad of issues we discuss.

Some of the most topical workshops this year have been about sexual harassment and rape culture in the country and community. As the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements have recently gained a serious following, SAGE is committed to making rape culture a prominent discussion topic. SAGE has hosted meetings dedicated specifically to the #MeToo and Time’s Up movement, as well as separate meetings about rape

culture in LM. Recently on January 31, SAGE invited students to a panel entitled “Closing the Gender Gap in Leadership” in which local politicians shared their experiences and offered advice on getting involved in politics. The speakers who attended included State Representative Mary Jo Daley, School Board Director Robin Vann Lynch, and former congressional candidate Mary Ellen Balchunis. The event was well attended: around eighty students revealed that the advice made them feel well informed and inspired. This year, SAGE has hosted workshops on the events in Charlottesville, issues of gender identity, the pressures of masculinity, and other various current events like the historic Golden Globe awards. Meetings are intended to allow students to share ideas and perspectives rather than debate political views. SAGE impacts the LM community by giving students a safe space to discuss important issues as well as working to build a more socially

“I didn’t think sexual assault was a problem at LM until I counted and realized that four girls, just within the class of 2019, have been raped in their time in high school.”

’19/Staff Sihan Wu y b s ic h p 0/Staff All gra e Santis ’2 d is r h C and

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February 21, 2018

Arts & Entertainment The Merionite

I, Tonya—Based on true events, I, Tonya is a

The Post—When there is a movie starring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks with Steven Spielberg directing, you can expect greatness. I was particularly inspired and impressed by Streep’s performance portraying Katharine Graham, the first female publisher of a major newspaper who faced adversity in the workplace. I thought the film, which takes place in the 70s, also effectively conveyed relevant messages and captured the zeitgeist of the current times.

The Post is certainly a politically-charged film, centering on the integrity of journalism and the continuous fight for the right to inform and defend the public through the Pentagon Papers. Even though I was probably the youngest person in the theater by at least twenty years, I believe this movie will be a pleasure for everyone.

Minori Cohan ’18 Arts & Entertainment Editor During the numerous days off from school, I had the time (but barely the funds) to see the many movies showing in theaters at the moment. I’m no Roger Ebert or Rotten Tomatoes, but here I attempt to express how much I enjoyed these films. They were all nominated for the 90th Academy Awards, which will take place on March 4. In the meantime, I encourage everyone to go see these films right now!

Coco—Normally

I don’t go to the theaters to watch an animated children’s film, but I’m glad that a Spanish project prompted me to do so. The movie centers on a twelve-year-old boy Miguel who dreams of becoming a musician despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. In attempt to pursue his passion, he finds himself in the Land of the Dead during the annual Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos. There, he embarks on a journey in search of his musical roots and seeks the approval of his family. The animations and colors of Coco are alluring, while Mexican culture and folklore are explored and brought to light. Above that, the film has a complex, engaging, and meaningful storyline that intends to induce all emotions, including both happy and sad tears. I have been partial to Pixar’s earlier works such as Monster’s Inc., The Incredibles, and Toy Story, but the visual spectacle of Coco definitely ranks among these classics.

*These statistics represent a sample of 115 student responses through an optional Aces Nation post

dark comedic tale following American figure skater Tonya Harding and her connection to one of the biggest sports scandals in history. I, Tonya reveals Harding’s “white trash” upbringing, her difficult life off of the ice rink, and her perspective behind the one fateful incident. Margot Robbie brings Harding’s story back to life with an Oscar-worthy performance, capturing all the ups and downs in her life that make this film so compelling. Allison Janney, who plays Harding’s cold and unsympathetic mother, won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and is currently favored to win the Academy Award as well, according to multiple sources. I, Tonya is especially popular with younger audiences, as this might be the first time they are hearing about the 1994 attack on Nancy Kerrigan and its extensive media coverage. I sincerely enjoyed every minute of this bizarre, almost unbelievable story on screen.

Lady Bird—This quirky indie film hits so close to Call Me by Your Name—Call

Me by Your Name, like Lady Bird, is an indie film and features Timothée Chalamet as Elio, a seventeen-year-old living in Italy, and Armie Hammer as Oliver, a graduate student who moves in with Elio’s family for the summer of ’83. The film was shot in director Luca Guadagnino’s small hometown in Northern Italy, where you could feel its beautiful natural surroundings. Call Me by Your Name was one of those films that profoundly affected me after leaving the theater. Chalamet and Hammer’s acting is so strong that you feel as though their characters’ love story is real and alive right in front of you. It is rare that a narrative film successfully observes its characters to that point. The cinematography, Guadagnino’s directing, Chalamet and Hammer’s exceptional performances, and Sufjan Stevens’ music all come together and bring this love story to life.

home, as Lady Bird herself is also going through her senior year of high school. Life as a seventeen-year-old is portrayed candidly by Saoirse Ronan, who plays a character that is both stunningly extraordinary and bleakly normal. The movie goes through important parts of life from discovering yourself, the complexity of a motherdaughter relationship, friendships and relationships that come and go, and, of course, applying to college.

Director Greta Gerwig captures the ups and downs of maturing into adulthood truthfully and humorously.

This distinctive film deviates from the standard, at times unrealistic depiction of high school life in other movies and TV shows, making it incredibly refreshing to watch. I’m glad I saw Lady Bird at this point in my life and I especially enjoyed experiencing it with my mother, who also loved the film. When the ending credits were rolling, she looked over at me with tears in her eyes and said, “You’re leaving me in eight months!”

Graphics by Chris De Santis ’20 & Sihan Wu ’19/ Staff

Arts & Entertainment

February 21, 2018

13

The Merionite

Ziphron Russel ’20 I’m not sure about you, but every weekend I always feel rather conflicted when it comes to what to do in the area. LM doesn’t have much to offer; let’s be honest, we have all been to Suburban Square one too many times. Though we love them, those Ruby’s shakes and overpriced candy can get old. The question remains, what is there to do on the weekends? We are only a short distance away from one of the most underrated cities in America: Philadelphia. Philly has a lot to offer, but the problem is finding something that is both fun and practical.

Two well known attractions of Philly are its museums and historical features. The Franklin Institute is familiar to most, but the less familiar Mütter Museum is just as entertaining. There, you can find anatomical exhibitions from conjoined twins to a contained slice of Albert Einstein’s brain. One of the best historical aspects of Philly is the Betsy Ross House where the first American flag was sewn. Two overlooked historical places include the National Constitution Center and the Liberty Bell. You can easily visit places that played crucial roles in shaping America, so I suggest taking advantage of what is right in front of you to learn something new.

If you are more of a hands-on type of person, “escape rooms” may be your forte. Some to try in Philly are the Liberty Escape Rooms, the Amazing Escape Room, and Escape the Room Philly. Imagine the thrill of you and your friends being locked in a room, using hidden clues to figure out how to escape. It is always fun to take on the role of Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

The legacy of Leonard Bernstein Gabby Barrett ’19

Leonard Bernstein is an acclaimed conductor, composer, pianist, and music mentor who would’ve turned 100 years old this year. His music has become timeless, causing many to hold celebrations in honor of his hundredth birthday this year. At a young age, Bernstein was engrossed in the wonders of music and started to practice piano which initiated his unforgettable career. After graduating from Harvard University in 1939, Bernstein enrolled in the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia on Locust Street. There, he would go on to study with the prominent conductor, Fritz Reiner, who became an influential mentor to Bernstein himself. At the school, Bernstein studied conducting, piano, orchestration, counterpoint (art of writing or playing a melody), and score reading. After graduating from Curtis, he became the Music Director of the New York City Symphony. During that time, Bernstein grew as a composer and developed his first musical score On The Town. This musical grew and was adapted for the silver screen starring Gene Kelly and Frank Sinatra. What really propelled him into fame was a Young People’s Concert television series in which he conducted the renowned New York Philharmonic and led them in riveting pieces like Gustav’s Holst’s The Planets. As the sixties rolled around, Bernstein collaborated with choreographer Jerome Robbins, writer Arthur Laurents, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim to create one of the best musicals to this date, West Side Story. This musical turned into a major blockbuster, taking home ten Academy Awards and becoming a classic in cinematic history. Personally, West Side Story has been a major part of my childhood. This romantic tragedy film and groundbreaking musical has inspired my own passion for musical theatre. Not only was West Side

Bernstein works intently on a new composition.

Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia A recent celebration is held at the Betsy Ross House in honor of Flag Day. If you seek a great outdoor experience, I would suggest spending the day at Marsh Creek State Park in Chester County. Though the ride is about forty minutes, the experience is definitely worth it. To name a few activities, you can hike, row, fish, ice skate, sled, and hunt. If that is not exciting enough, you can download the Geocaching app, which is a platform where people hide various objects in nature, and anyone can use the app to search for them.

If you want to experience more of what Philly has to offer, why not take a walk up the famous Rocky steps and visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art? It is the home to the paintings of many renowned artists including Pablo Picasso, Claude Monet, and Vincent Van Gogh. The Shofuso Japanese House and Garden has beautiful Japanese gardens and art. Finally, the One Liberty Observation Deck is the perfect place to get a breathtaking view of the city.

The deck is open from 10am-8pm, so you can catch the beautiful sunset over all the skyscrapers.

Remember that we do not live in the middle of nowhere. There are plenty of activities to do and places to visit all around us. Enjoy these activities by yourself, with your friends or family, or even with a special someone. Next weekend when you’re sitting around trying to figure out what to do, you can think about all of these ideas!

Photo courtesy of Visit Philadelphia The Mütter Museum features a vast variety of bones and skulls.

Photos courtesy of Visit Philadelphia Other activities include a trip to the Escape Room and a ride on Marsh Creek.

The famous Balcony scene featuring Tony Bernstein introduces the New York and Maria in Bernstein’s West Side Story. Philharmonic to the camera crew.

Story a breathtaking film, but the talent and emotion were palpable. The choreography, score, cinematography, and direction all fit together to create a masterpiece.

As we enter 2018, the hundedth birthday of Bernstein is being celebrated. Cities all around the world including Paris, Los Angeles, Rome, and Washington D.C. are honoring the artist who has brought so much love and joy into our lives through the universal language of music. Not only were his musical scores popular (West Side Story, On The Town, Wonderful Town), he has also composed many ballets, operas, film scores, and orchestral pieces (Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs, Halil, Fancy Free). His variety of composition is expansive, ranging from classical to jazz.

Because of his heritage and accomplishments, Philadelphia has been preparing a major exhibition of his works in the National Museum of American Jewish History. Titled “Leonard Bernstein: The Power of Music,” sound installations of his compositions, family heirlooms, and visual representations of his career will be revealed to the public from March 16 to September 2, 2018. The New York Public Library is also doing a similar presentation that is open now. Some intriguing sections of the exhibition include a breakdown of some of his orchestral works that immerse the audience into his mindset behind his pieces. Not only are museums showcasing his legacy, live concerts and performances are being held in honor of the composer. Philly POPS is an orchestra that provides an “eclectic and dynamic mix of musical genres presented by professional-caliber musicians and vocalists.” From February 2 to February 4, they will be performing a tribute concert called “Lenny’s Revolution” that highlights some of his songs composed for musicals, excerpts from West Side Story, and independent works.

Not only was Bernstein an amazing musician, he used his pieces to inspire social change.

His music helped many people during WWII by encouraging them to have hope during the daily crises that were occurring. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Bernstein was also influential in music education. When he earned a grant by winning the Japan Arts Association award for lifetime achievement, Bernstein hoped to start a school that aimed to integrate theatre, music, and dance into the school curriculum. His Academy for the Love of Learning was finished and opened in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 1998. From his scores, pieces, and the overall musical genius that he is, Leonard Bernstein’s music will always be remembered “Somewhere.”

A progression of Leonard Bernstein throughout his renowned career.

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February 21, 2018

Arts & Entertainment The Merionite

Xuan Feldman ’20 On January 20, thousands of people gathered to march along the Ben Franklin Parkway in Center City for the second year in a row to advocate for legislation and policies regarding human rights. Signs with various creative messages were waved in the air, most of them centered on Donald Trump or women’s rights. Time, creativity, and thoughtfulness went into the creation of these messages and signs, including those made by LM’s own Amnesty International and Students Advocating for Gender Equality (SAGE).

Halle Cooper ’18, an officer of Amnesty International, said she marched because “It’s important to create an environment where people show they care about issues that are importMany people used famous quotes by women and about women for their signs. One of these posters used the Malcom X quote, “The most unprotected person in America is the black women.” Another popular person to quote was Aly Raisman who recently gave an empowering speech against sexual assault.

Another poster gave a similar message: “Public Cervix Announcement: My body my choice.” These posters addressed the issue of legislation on women’s health being passed by committees made up entirely of men.

ant to them” and “it brings people together, and it shows the world that we care enough to unite and show our concern for an issue.” Her sign, a clever pun, said the “FEM-pire strikes back,” showing the unity displayed among women to advocate for what they believe in.

Below are some of the most memorable signs and outfits from the march. This medium has become very common way to bring light to certain issues as many posters have gone viral on Twitter and other social media platforms. Other objects from the protest such as pussy cat hats unify the crowds and create a sense of community among the protesters.

Two protesters wore jumpsuits with the seven forbidden CDC words written on them, including “transgender,” “diversity”, and “science-based.” They were there to fight for human rights and women’s rights. Advocating for freedom of the press and freedom of speech, they used the words to demonstrate their opinion that the government is marginalizing groups to the advantage of their own agenda.

A majority of the signs criticized misogyny in society and endorsed the empowerment of women, as one first-time marcher on the train had a sign that said, “Destroying the Patriarchy.” These signs are made to protest the mistreatment of women, such as discrimination in the workplace and in health care services. Others make statements on the racism often found within feminism and the need for intersectionality in the women’s movement. Messages such as “The Revolution will be INTERSECTIONAL,” and “Sisters not Cis-ters” conveyed these ideas.

All photos courtesy of Xuan Feldman ’20

Kathy Wei ’19 Need help learning how to tie a tie? Want to watch the new Taylor Swift music video? Looking for that cat video that has been all over your Twitter page? All of this can be found on YouTube. It contains everything from comedy sketches to educational videos, becoming the ultimate internet platform for video-sharing. However, YouTube has recently come under heavy scrutiny for its policies on demonetization and controversial content.

The main dispute stems from some people earning money from videos showing alleged child exploitation and racist behavior while other content creators are allegedly demonetized for no particular reason. One example is Logan Paul, an American YouTube “vlogger” (or video blogger) with a fan base of millions, who sparked outrage at the beginning of the year with a video in which he and two other friends visited the Aokigahara forest in Japan. This forest, known as the “Suicide Forest,” is notorious for the large numbers of people who travel there to commit suicide.

In his video, Paul films himself finding the body of a hanged man, showing the entire body while only blurring the man’s face. Some viewers were upset because it appears that Paul is showing off a dead body

to get more views and money for his video. Another YouTuber, Anna Akana, expressed her own distress about the situation by stating, “That body was a person someone loved. You do not walk into a suicide forest with a camera and claim mental health awareness.”

YouTube then came under fire for promoting Paul’s video to its “recommended” and “trending” pages.

Smaller YouTubers like Nathan Zed responded to Paul with videos of their own explaining why his actions were wrong and adding resources to get help for mental illness. As a result, YouTube later replied in an open letter that “[Logan’s] channel violated our community guidelines, we acted accordingly, and we are looking at further consequences.” They have taken action by taking down the video and having all ads suspended on his channel.

YouTube also allowed channels like “DaddyOFive,” run by Mike and Heather Martin, to earn money from playing pranks on their five children. The two parents have been reported to the Maryland police for abusing their children in these profanity-filled videos.

The pranks mostly focus on their son Cody, and include destroying his Xbox, pretending they were putting him up for adoption, and screaming at him for messes he did not cause. The Martins were eventually punished

by law enforcement, with hundreds of videos deleted from the channel. However, the channel itself is still up and has amassed over 176 million views in three years.

In the aftermath of these controversies, YouTube is beginning to take measures to police their content more rigorously. An “Intelligence Desk” initiative for early detection of controversial content relies on Google data, user reports, social media trends, and third-party consultants to find inappropriate content early and alert YouTube staff. From there, content will be removed or demonetized as seen fit. YouTube has also put stricter qualifications on creators, including those that require a certain number of views and subscribers to begin receiving money. The company is planning to add new content moderators, taking measures to make the site better for creators, viewers, and advertisers alike and apologizing for their past acts.

YouTube is one of the most popular video sharing sites that has been criticized for allowing video creators to to profit from controversial videos. Youtube now has to decide whether creators should be allowed to post controversial content or if certain restrictions are needed to regulate it online.

Features The Merionite

Eliza Keefe ’20

February 21, 2018

15

STUDENT GUIDE FOR

Teresa Cato ’20

The world is constantly changing. In the past decade, 13.2% The LM community might be getting tired of the same-old dining options in the area, of the ice in the Arctic Sea has melted and, according to NASA, attending the likes of Ruby’s, sweetgreen and Snap Pizza nearly every week. Luckily, with by 2050 the arctic ice will have completely melted away. As a the onset of new construction in the region comes a diverse set of new restaurants for result, sea levels are expected to rise by up to four feet in the diners to explore. next century, leading to storm surges, flooding, and increasingly Enoteca Tredici is a strikingly beautiful new restaurant in Bryn Mawr. Their menu destructive hurricanes. Conversely, heat waves and droughts are consists of Mediterranean food such as bacon-wrapped dates stuffed with manchego and expected to become ten times more common. One area already afblue cheese, flat iron chicken with brown butter lemon sauce, and spinach gnocchi with fected by these changes is Cape Town, South Africa, tomato vodka sauce. Diners commend the stellar service and family-friendly vibe. which is facing a drought so severe that residents For those looking for an American style meal, the Wakim family’s restaurant Marbles, are permitted only 13.5 gallons of water a day. To reopening in the building next to the Bryn Mawr movie theatre, is the place to go. This put that into perspective, the average American restaurant, which has been closed for the past fifteen years, will officially reopen this uses 80-100 gallons each day. Many predict that February after a little remodeling. Caroline Abi-Khattar, a member of the Wakim family, the city will have to evacuate by the end of the recalled, “Everywhere [our] family went, people would bring up Marbles. Generations year. Climate change is a pressing issue, and of families ate at Marbles; grandparents took their grandkids there, couples went there there is no doubt that humans contribute to it. for date night, women met for girls nights. There was so much loyalty.” With this same However, it is not too late to reduce your imcomforting and upscale appeal that past customers raved of, Marbles will offer updated pact. In our everyday lives, simple steps can decor and improved American-gastropub style dishes with Lebanese influences. be taken both at school and at home to reduce In Philadelphia, there are also many new, highly anticipated restaurants. For lunch our carbon footprint and help to slow the efor dinner, stop by Pizza Dad, a new modern pizza shop known for offering topping comfects of climate change on planet Earth. binations like sauerkraut, fennel sausage, sharp provolone, spicy mustard, and mozLM is quite an environmentally progressive zarella on a pretzel crust, or charred kale, cremini mushrooms, garlic, crème fraiche, school district; it is one of fourteen schools nagoat cheese, red onions, and a balsamic reduction. Pizza Dad also serves traditional toptionwide to receive a Green Ribbon School Susping combinations such as red sauce, mozzarella, fontina, smoked pepperoni, tainability Award. Being green at school is crucial. and fresh basil, or white sauce, mozzarella, fontina, ricotta, and fresh To begin, it is important to recycle. Yellow and blue oregano. Customers applaud their “amazingly good pizza with fresh recycling bins are scattered around the school. Uningredients and friendly service,” as well as their clean, stylish decor. fortunately, students often dump recycling in the One diner exclaimed, “I love the big windows that make you feel like trash cans or into paper recycling. Misplacing reyou’re eating outside!” cyclables is as bad and sometimes even Wiz Kid, a new hip vegan sandwich and salad shop, serves up Yucatworse than throwing them out; when an Chopped Salad (black beans, grilled zucchini, pico, poblano, cauliflowitems are incorrectly recycled, er, crushed tortilla chips, and cilantro green goddess dressing) and the wellthey are taken to a landfill, which known Wiz Kid Philly (seitan, mushrooms, fried onion, and rutabaga wiz). One wastes energy. Also, it is importcustomer claims, “Being from Chicago and visiting family in Philly a lot we’ve had our fair ant to remember that although share of cheese steaks (before going vegan). I actually found that this place serves better recycling is much better than Philly cheese steak than other real Philly cheese steaks that I’ve had!” garbage, the process is quite Finally, there is Wister, a new multi-course seafood restaurant located in Historic Old energy demanding. The best opCity. One diner, who ate there soon after its opening, loved the “the brown/grain bread tion is to use reusable containers with date butter, [which was] absolutely perfect with tons of molasses flavor, grainy chew, and bottles. Use as little paper as and a little sweetness off the butter. It’s right up there with Parc’s unbeatable bread you can. By doing your work digibasket.” They have received excellent reviews by Thrillist, Philadelphia Eater, Fox tally, you’ll cut down on waste and 29, and Heat Map, with reporters and food critics raving about their Sunchoke have a way to keep organized. Aside Soup with smoked salmon, fennel and hazelnut, their Scottish Sea Trout with from that, try to carpool, take the bus, black rice, brown butter, and bacon broth, and their Nutty Buddy candies with or walk to school. As we all know, fossil chocolate peanut ganache and caramels. fuels are not expendable, and are heavy pollutants.

Home is where we use the most energy.

Cutting down on waste is not only good for Melissa Bell ’20 the Earth, but it is also fiscally efficient. When In Lower Merion township, there are numerous ways an going to the store, bring reusable bags and buy individual can partake in community service. This is ideal organic and local meat and produce. Next, try Graphic by because community service is a mutually beneficial enterto wash your dishes in the dishwasher, and stock Sihan Wu ’20/Staff prise. Not only are you helping those in your community, you it as full as possible. Washing dishes in the dishare reaping the benefits as well! There are even studies that washer uses half the energy, a sixth of the water, have proven that people who partake in community service are and can save one hundred pounds of carbon dioxsubstantially happier than those who don’t. According to a Galide each year, compared to washing dishes by hand. lup analysis, people who choose not to engage in community serKeep your freezer well stocked, because it takes a vice generally have an average Well-Being Index that’s almost twelve lot more energy to keep an empty space cold. Likepoints lower than those who do. Lower Merion township is simply a wise, you can save energy by putting your washing great place to participate in community service, and it would certainmachine on cold. Ninety percent of the energy conly behoove everyone to do so. sumed washing clothes comes from heating the waIf you like seeing the direct effect of the positive changes you are ter, and modern detergents can get almost any stain making in your community, Jewish Relief Agency (JRA) is definitely out. For the same reason, take shorter, colder showan excellent option for you. It takes place one Sunday every month at ers. Another important way to help the environa warehouse in Northeast Philadelphia. People of all ages, abilities, and ment is to cut down on waste. When planning backgrounds are welcome. A typical trip would include packaging boxes meals, carefully approximate your portions. of food and then distributing those boxes to those in need. With the help Throwing out foods, especially meats, is a of dedicated volunteers, JRA delivers food to over 6,000 individuals and huge burden on the economy and landhouseholds in need. fills. Food requires energy, money, and Another program which helps those who are struggling in and around the Earth’s resources to be cultivated, and Philadelphia area is the Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network. Their throwing it out is a considerable waste. main focus is aiding homeless families in Philadelphia. They offer many opFurthermore, when food rots in a landtions including cooking dinner and bringing it to their headquarters, providing fill, it produces methane gas due to a and eating dinner with a family, staying as an overnight host to make sure the lack of oxygen and sunlight. Keep a bin families are comfortable and safe, driving families to the laundromat, stocking in your kitchen to put banana peels, egg up the kitchen for the week, providing private music lessons, offering homework shells, and other compostable items. Comhelp tutoring, and much more. posting organic foods is good for your backIf you are looking for a more accessible service opportunity with your classyard, and greatly cuts down on waste. mates, you can always help through LM’s own, buildOn, which organizes an asThe earth is deteriorating, but by following sortment of different community service opportunities. Some examples of these simple routines, we can reduce our carbon footevents include cleaning up the Cynwyd Trail, raking and weeding at the Gladwyne print. Though being green can be inconvenient, this incemetery, volunteering at food shelters, tutoring young children, and donating to convenience is crucial for the long-run health of the planet. Not only is toiletry and food drives. being green good for the environment, but it is also good for the wallet.

If none of these options appeal to you, there are multiple online sources you By cutting down on energy use, homeowners can save on their electrical, can utilize to find an ideal service opportunity. Createthegood.org, Justserve.org, heating, and water bills. Consider options such as solar panels and geovolunteermatch.org, Serv.phila.org, and teenlife.org can assist you in finding the thermal heating/cooling systems that can cut your bills in half, despite a perfect community service opportunity for you that is reasonably nearby. Commuhigh upfront cost. Being green is as simple as turning off the lights when nity service is a wonderful way to get involved and to contribute to the change you you leave a room, recycling your bottles properly, and composting your want to see. biodegradables.

16

February 21, 2018

Features The Merionite

Izzy Bruckman ’20

Sophie Meyer ’20

With the so-called rigid core curriculum and lengthy list of required courses implemented at LM, finding individuality in one’s schedule can be troublesome. Diversity in schedules comes from the unique electives students can choose to take. After communicating with a distinct group of peers concerning their thoughts on electives, I’ve compiled the most popular elective courses at LM into three subdivisions.

The first category consists of the lightest yet arguably most enjoyable electives such as Metal Arts, Ceramics, Basic Foods 1 & 2, Web Design, Video Production, Entrepreneurship, and Music and Modern Culture. These are great classes to take if you’re seeking to add some fun into your school day. These courses tend to be very hands-on and offer great beginner lessons in an array of subjects.

The second category is comprised of electives with more unique subject matter. Classes like Computer Science 1 & 2, Philosophy, Journalism, Theology, Architecture, and Astronomy are a little more involved grade-wise, but are great opportunities to educate oneself

Graphic by Chris de Santis ’20/Staff on content specifically geared towards a particular interest. These classes can be a tad bit more challenging, but the more interested you are in the topic, the less tedious the work will seem. Ethan Schatz ’20, a current philosophy student, remarked: “The question isn’t do I study philosophy, but does philosophy study me?” Again, these courses allow for a nice break in one’s schedule, and offer the opportunity for students to venture off the beaten path of electives and experiment in different areas of education.

The final category contains what are said to be the most rigorous yet rewarding electives offered at LM. AP Environmental Science, AP Computer Science, AP/H Psychology, Honors Anatomy, Honors Genetics, and AP/H Economics are certainly the most involved courses with the greatest workload. However, they are best for anyone seeking a challenge, or people who want to get a headstart on a career oriented interest. These courses offer the best insight into their respective fields of study, and provide great experience for what a course at the collegiate level may be like.

There are numerous other electives, such as AP/H Art courses, Band/Orchestra/Music courses, and many more, but the electives I’ve discussed are the most popular among my peers. There is no “best elective” to take; it truly depends on one’s specific interests and balance with other classes. My genuine advice would be to take a class you are fairly interested in. The beauty of electives is that there are no rules! You can take one you think will be most applicable to your real life, one that is most exciting, one that is the least stressful, one you know nothing about, or one that seems absolutely absurd yet utterly amusing!

What is a finsta you might ask? A finsta is a “fake” and fun Instagram account. While some might define it as a spam account, it’s actually a lot like Snapchat for people who like Instagram. Instagram is a social media platform that was launched by Facebook, Inc. back in 2010. It’s easily one of the largest social media platform used by teens and young adults (Snapchat is a close second), making it extremely influential in the world of social media. On Instagram, you can post pictures, videos, albums, and send messages to your friends through direct messaging. It’s used for a variety of different reasons. There are accounts that talk about food, showing videos of cooking or baking, and accounts that are more focused on beauty and tutorials. Each user has a public profile but can choose to restrict its followers. On most regular Instagram accounts, people let their acquaintances and friends follow, but on finsta, you usually only let your closest friends see your pictures.

Finstas generally have funny usernames, and sometimes they are a play on someone’s name. They’re mainly used to post funny or embarrassing pictures that users wouldn’t necessarily want to have shared with a larger follower base. “I would define a finsta as an account where you can post anything you want because you know exactly who’s looking at it and you only have to let your close friends follow it,” says Rachel Haim ’20. Finstas are generally for close friends and people who you feel comfortable seeing you in your most vulnerable state.

Finstas are commonly used among high school girls and are becoming more and more popular. While a lot of people don’t know what a finsta is, the trend is definitely growing. Often, people call their real instagram a “rinsta” and use it to post less silly photos of themselves and post far less frequently than they post on their finstas.

How did finstas start? According to many teenagers, the finsta was born when they started to use Facebook. The finsta happened sometime between when teenagers started using Facebook and Instagram and when they started using Snapchat. It’s hard to tell if the finsta will last much longer. The idea itself is hands down dominated by teenagers and young adults, but as Snapchat grows more popular, the phenomenon that is finsta may have to watch out. Despite its popularity, finstas may not survive through the next generation of social-media users. While Winstas are meant to be used for fun and laughs, they are sometimes used for cyberbullying and attacking peers.

Even though finstas are sometimes used to express anger or negativity, they’re mostly used as an outlet for teens to be silly and rant about their daily grievances without caring what everyone else thinks. Teens are constantly in a high stress environment, so finstas are their way of having fun and sharing it with their friends and aquaintances every once in a while.

Features

February 21, 2018

17

The Merionite

Elliot Ginzburg ’21

Dahlia Edwards ’19

What is your role in the Becton Scholars program?

Becton Scholars is one numerous of excellent seminars offered to the student body.

“I am the advisor, teacher, and mentor. I meet with the principal about areas Around ten years ago, there was a trend among African American students of not taking where we want to grow into next year.” honors classes as well as a troublesome academic gap between black students and the rest of the student body. In response, Principal Sean Hughes attempted to bridge this rift beHow does this program enhance our school community? tween students by diversifying classes and creating an environment where every student “It already has; students are earning higher grade point averages and higher stancould feel supported in taking a rigorous course. He began by working with the foreign dardized assessment scores. Becton Scholars helps all kids, not just those in the language department chair in order to develop the Minority Achievement Program (MAP). program, see that all sorts of students can do well academically. I encourage my The program consisted of enabling participating students to attend college visits, interact kids to talk about race and become comfortable with talking honestly: it helps the with guest speakers, and meet individually with the advisor to talk about taking rigorous entire student body.” classes and deal with the challenges they were concerned with.

The program later changed after the MAP advisor left and several other teachers became Do you believe that your program has the attention of all students involved. Hughes, along with Mrs. Saleema Smith (the current advisor of the program), at LM? made the program what it is today. The name was changed to Becton Scholars to honor Lt. “The longer it’s around the more our program will grab the attention of students.

General Julius W. Becton, a 1944 graduate of LM, retired US Army General, Director of the I’ll also have people spread it by word of mouth along with a complete information Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance Agency for International Development, among guide about the program that has been placed around the school including with many other prestigious titles. His name is often mentioned within the program. As Smith the guidance counselors. I think it is becoming more and more well known.” says, “I send Becton regular updates about our program. He is now retired and very proud of our Becton Scholars program.” Smith has been a major part of the program as not only How does the Becton Scholars program prepare students for the an advisor, but also as one of the main originators of the program (her first class of scholars future? are now juniors in college). She has helped in building the seminar to what it is now.

“This is all I teach and this program here is much more focused academically. We The current Becton Scholars program helps cultivate the academic and leadership poare focusing primarily on getting into college. Every year, step by step, we are fotential of students of black and Hispanic descent, grades 9 through 12. The seminar is incusing on getting into college and beyond. If you have joined Becton Scholars you cluded into the schedule so that the students meet with Smith twice per cycle. have made the decision that you are college bound. There is no maybe or maybe The program emphasizes enhancement and exposure to efficacious goal setting, study not.” skills, time management, and standardized test taking strategies. Additionally, participants work on developing leadership skills and proficient critical thinking that ensure success for Where do you see the program in the next ten years? the demanding instructional experiences in college and careers. The seminar also provides “That is actually what Mr. Hughes, Ms. deFranco, Mr. Kilpatrick, and I are curservice opportunities and trips that correspond with the program’s mission and purpose. rently meeting about. We try to see the way our school is headed, whether we need For example, students in their junior year are able to visit Howard University and then tour all of these supports or not. This raises the question: will all of this still be needed? the African American Museum of History.

Because I am a member of our community, I believe that LM is an institution, a Besides the academic benefits the program gives, it also provides a safe zone for the stuplace of academic excellence. I want us to get to a point where we don’t need a dents. Students often visit the comforting environment outside of the assigned class time program anymore and when every single person in this building feels like they to either get work done, converse, or simply decompress. Overall, the program grants the have a support system and feels like they are comfortable. And I hope for students students the ability to improve their academic side, but also experience a variety of other to feel like this is their high school, not just a high school they attend, which would activities that are associated with the seminar. Smith mentioned that one of her favorite make this program unnecessary.” quotes to go by in the seminar is by Oprah Winfrey: “I think education is power. “I think education is power. I think that being able to communicate with people is power. One of my main goals on this planet is to encourage people to empower themselves.” Though I haven’t spoken to every Becton Scholar in the program, I am sure that the majority of the scholars of the program, if not all, will agree that the Becton Scholars program is one of the most advantageous seminars to be a part of throughout their high school experience, their overall education, and later in their lives.

Elliot Ginzburg ’21

Freshman Ryan Lynch, a student involved with the program, believes that many students work harder to get good grades because they have a strong support system behind them.

Smith and Library Aide Yolonda McDuffy (an assistant in the program) strive to make sure each student in the program is successful at whatever they’re doing including school work, sports, Players, etc.. Lynch believes that knowing that you have people supporting you helps students do better and work harder even if they are having a hard time. She felt the need to leave a resounding message for people: “I feel like I have gotten to know a lot of other African American students who are hardworking and committed to school and/or extracurricular activities like me. I enjoy being in Becton Scholars because it pushes me to work hard even if I’m having trouble in something because I have others around me going through the same things and persevering.”

Ely miller-wilson ’19 Admirable Activity:

Photo courtesy of Ely Miller-Wilson

Junior Ely Miller-Wilson’s admirable activity is leading canoe trips in Northern Ontario, Canada. His unique summer camp, Camp Pathfinder, provides young boys with the opportunity to travel in canoes and live in the woods near Algonquin Park. The boys are entirely disconnected from technology and civilization for eight weeks during the summer. Miller-Wilson first began this activity as a camper when he was eleven, and became a trail leader when he was fifteen. Some unique aspects of the trip are that campers aren’t allowed to have watches, which provides an elusive self-reflective experience, according to Miller-Wilson. He has thoroughly enjoyed the experience, citing that it has helped build his leadership skills and has lended him many unique opportunities. During the trips, he has been able to visit Native Canadian communities and engage in cultural traditions with the tribes. Additionally, he has met two of his best friends on the trip, one from Spain and one from Africa. Miller-Wilson’s venturesome and open-minded attitude provides a great example for us all.

At LM: Miller-Wilson is an active member of both the crew and swimming teams, and his exuberant and friendly spirit provides energy to both teams.

Favorite Quote: “So many books, so little time.” -Frank Zappa

18

February 21, 2018

Sports The Merionite

Squash continues their dominance Sophie Meyer ’20

Photo courtesy of The Enchiridion

When asked what the team was looking forward to most, members responded, “Definitely High School Nationals.” This event took place the weekend of February 2-4. The event was in Philly this year, and HLM squash competed against schools from all across the country. HLM squash took four of their five sub-teams to Nationals, with 32 students at Nationals in total.

On game days, the team normally wears their HLM apparel to school, and they do spirit dinners before Nationals. However, there are only seven players on the girls’ varsity team who go to LM, so it’s not always easy to spot a squash player. For every game, they always go in with the same game plan: “Hit the ball tight, deep and Jared Sands ’19 scoops the ball in the middle of keep your opponent under pressure, an intense match. This hard work on the court height equals distance,” says Bartos. has propelled the team to a successful record.

The team practiced more than they against some great teams and placed very high at High ever have, and spent extra time in the School Nationals in Connecticut. At Nationals, they lost gym doing squash specific training.

Before each match, the team yells, a rough match against Rye High School, making them “Balls to Walls!” as they huddle up. They the second highest ranking public school in the U.S. cheer each other on as each match hap- This year, the boys finished first and the girls, who lost a pens. Bartos said, “One of my favorite key player due to illness, finished 32.

So far this season, the talented squad has had some things about this sport is that the team is so close. It may not be a ‘team sport’ tough losses to other great teams, such as Penn Charter in the traditional sense, but we all cheer and Lawrenceville. Recently, they defeated Episcopal and coach each other throughout the Academy’s JV team and have high hopes for their bout match. Player nine matters just as much versus Shipley. These ups and downs have helped the as player one. We always have each team grow and eventually perform well at Nationals.

There are four senior girls on the varsity team and other’s best interest in mind and want one another to succeed. I can’t believe two girls on the JV team. The girls had a senior day on I am leaving this team next year, but I Tuesday, January 9 to commemorate their dedication Above: Part of the girls team. A record 33 girls am playing in college so it makes leaving and achievements throughout their four years of playcompeted on JV and Varsity this year.

HLM a little bit easier.” ing. Many of the girls look to continue playing college as Last season, HLM squash battled their high school careers come to an end.

Photo courtesy of The Enchiridion

After being ranked the second best squash team for public schools in the U.S., Harriton and LM girls’ and boys’ squash built upon their already impressive status this season. With a total of seventy students from LM and Harriton participating in squash and five teams made up of those students, captain Emily Bartos ’18 says, “People are just starting to realize what an amazing sport squash is, and wanting to join in. HLM squash becomes more popular each year.”

The team practices at the Cynwyd Club in Bala Cynwyd, located only a short distance from LM. New coach Gina Stoker has gained the respect of her players quickly very rapidly. The team is excited to have so many new faces on the team, including fifteen new freshmen.

Winter track keeps competitive pace

Girls’ swim and dive takes third in Central League

Benjamin Schmid ’19 Copy Editor

*Qualifications are as of February 12

On the night of the much anticipated Radnor meet, the girls’ swim and dive team huddled together and lowered to the ground to begin their cheer. Maintaining their energy throughout the night, the team accomplished a sizable win over the Radnor girls’ team. Overall, this has been one of the best seasons the girls’ swim and dive team has had in years, and they could not be happier. The team had an outstanding start and is hoping to continue the momentum into the championship meets. Senior captain Kerren Matthews explains, “Overall, this has been the best season the girls’ swim and dive team has had in years.

My freshman year, we only beat a few teams, and we hardly had anyone qualify for Districts. This year we are one of the top teams in the league, and will have strong teams at all the championship meets. I’m very excited for the rest of the season!” The girls hope to sustain this success for many more years to come.

The girls finished the season with an outstanding 9-2 record and third place in the Central League.

On meet days, the team shows off their spirit. For away meets, the team dresses “classy,” but for home meets, spirit days such as “lax bros” and pajama day garner the team’s enthusiasm. The swim team’s senior day took place on February 6 at the home meet against Harriton. It was planned in advance by the juniors, who read speeches to the seniors, followed by a brief ceremony with flowers and other gifts. This year’s ceremony was bittersweet, and some tears were shed.

Junior Anna Kalandadze, who will be attending Districts, says, “I think Districts is a great opportunity for some super fast swimming! All the girls have been training really hard and I know that we will do well. I’m excited to spend two days with some of my favorite people and for more team bonding!” Senior captain Sophie Roling says, “I’m looking forward to sending a strong LM team to compete in From left, senior captains both Centrals and Districts and Nisha Arya, Kerren Matthews, maintaining a strong spirit and and Sophie Roling rejoice work ethic through the rest of after Senior Night. After a the season.” The entire team is successful regular season, the excited to close this season on a girls are looking to finish the high note. season strong at districts.

Photo courtesy of Sophie Roling/Staff

Photo courtesy of The Enchiridion

Even through the days with inches of snow and sub-zero wind chills, the boys’ indoor track and field team has been training. The runners on the team have continued to persevere in their training, whether it be on the slick roads or the indoor cardio machines, and the throwers and jumpers have been active in the weight room. These workouts have helped them arrive closer to their goals of qualifying for the Track and Field Coaches Association of Greater Philadelphia’s Meet of Champions (MOC), or even for the state championship meet. This indoor season, the team has qualified three relays for the MOC, the 4x200m, 4x800m and the distance medley relay (1200m, 400m, 800m, 1600m). Individual qualifiers for the MOC include Adrian Poe ’19 in the 60m hurdles; Brandon Okeyo ’18 in the 60m; Devon Tate ’19 in the 60m, 200m, and shot put; Romaine Rhoden ’18 in the 60m, 200m, 400m, and long jump; Charlie Herrmann ’19 in the 800m and mile; Joey Litvin ’20 in the 3000m; and Adontrell Williams ’19 in long jump. Individual qualifiers for the state meet include Tate for the 60m, Herrmann for the mile, and Rhoden for the 60m, 200m, and long jump.* In addition to the many qualifications for Rhoden, he was invited to the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston, which is an invitational for only the top high school athletes, and features many runners vying for record setting times.

Of the numerous meets that the boys’ team has attended, many have been at the indoor facilities at Lehigh University and Haverford College. Other meets have been in Glen Mills, Westtown, and Staten Island, a personal favorite of many team members. According to junior Nick Rhodes, “Ocean Breeze is a phenomenal place to compete with the best competition on the East Coast and it offers a special opportunity for our team to bond over the course of the day while still racing fast times.” This is the third year that LM has taken a team to the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, a $118 million facility that hosts the largest high school track and field invitational in the country, which features over five thousand athletes throughout a weekend in January. Ocean Breeze is a unique experience for competitors as they can race on the banked track, then go outside and run along the boardwalk and beach of Staten Island. During this meet, LM students used the advantage of the fast track in hopes of qualifying for the Meet of Champions or States.

Many of the indoor competitors for LM are content with their performance throughout the winter season, and all runners look forward to rolling straight into the spring season to follow. For most members, track is just one long season, with some teammates coming and going halfway through. As Litvin says, “It prepares us Junior Charlie Herrmann passes well for spring track.” The team is keeping their the competion while rounding a sights on fast times at the end of this winter season, but also on the personal records that will turn during his mile run. be attained in the warm, shorts-wearing spring.

Sophie Meyer ’20

Sports

February 21, 2018

19

The Merionite

How the Eagles won the Super Bowl Harrison Klevan ’18 The stage was set for a Super Bowl XXXIX (2006) rematch: The Philadelphia Eagles vs. The New England Patriots. When the teams last met on the national stage, the Patriots knocked off the Eagles 24-21. Due to poor clock management towards the end of the game and an “under-the-weather” Donovan McNabb, the Eagles could not get the win.

After the 2005 Super Bowl, there were allegations that the Patriots “cheated” and used an illegal tactic that later surfaced in 2007 as “Spygate.” The Patriots had supposedly taped defensive signals and used the knowledge to adjust the offense to the defensive scheme.

However, that was 2005, and thirteen years later in 2018, the “underdog” Philadelphia Eagles were there to take back what should have always been theirs. The key to this game was simple: how would backup QB Nick Foles play on the biggest stage of all against arguably the GOAT (greatest of all time) in the QB position, Tom Brady? Foles was nothing but spectacular as he threw for over 300 yards, three touchdowns, and even had a

touchdown catch.

The “Philly special” was one of the boldest and most aggressive play calls in Super Bowl history. When the Eagles had fourth and goal on the one yard line, coach Doug Pederson called a trick play that led to a touchdown pass for Foles. Following a Zach Ertz touchdown catch with under three minutes to play, the Eagles were up five points. The ball was now in the hands of Brady, and the whole world expected him to walk down the field and score a touchdown to win the game, except for one man.

Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham pushed his way into the backfield and stripped the ball from Brady, leading to a recovery by fellow defensive lineman Derek Barnett. The Eagles got the ball back and it ended in a Jake Elliott field goal that put them up eight. Holding off a late Brady push, the Eagles clinched the championship. The Underdogs defeated a Dynasty. After a long wait for a Philadelphia team to bring home a trophy, The City of Brotherly Love once again a city of champions.

Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles addreses the city of Philadelphia on the Rocky Steps, discussing how much this championship means for him as a player.

The Parade Zack Slogoff ’18 Sports Editor

Tight end Zach Ertz dives into the endzone as he catches the football. Luckily, the close call was not overturned as it proved instrumental in the Birds’ win.

Freshman Will Treiman What sport(s) do you play?

Ice Hockey What is your favorite thing to do on a snow day?

Play Pond Hockey What is the dumbest way you have ever been injured?

I got my foot stuck in a stationary bike.

What’s the worst smelling place you’ve ever visited?

The bathroom after my brother used it.

Imagine trying to take a step forward, only to be trapped within a sea of moving people, each one screaming their face off, pushing you in every direction. Such chaos is what occured Thursday, February 8 all throughout the city of Philadelphia. Imagine groups of people from all different places joining together to celebrate something that has never been done before. As the Lombardi Trophy is hoisted up the Rocky Steps for the world to see, the crowd erupts.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl parade was one for the books. Around a couple million people lined Broad Street in hopes of getting a glimpse of the newly crowned champs. Notable players such as Nick Foles, the injured Carson Wentz, tight end Zach Ertz, and safety Malcolm Jenkins all joined their fans to celebrate the big win. Eagles fans rejoiced with almost one million people in attendance. The team rode down Broad in buses, each one filled with different players—all waiting for their turn in the spotlight.

Schools across the area were practically empty: very few students were willing to miss out on the momentous occasion. “I didn’t want to miss out on something that might only happen once in a lifetime,” senior Sam Pitonyak stated. “I wanted to support the Eagles.” If the cold weather was not going to stop Philadelphia, with temperatures as low as 23 degrees, school was sure not going to either. Center Jason Kelce delivered a legendary speech in front of the Art Museum highlighting this team’s underdog status and how nobody expected the Eagles to be in the position they are today. It was extremely motivational and sent the crowd into a frenzied roar. “It was pretty electric,” senior Jake Stoller reports. “The environment was crazy, everybody was just screaming E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles! He united the whole crowd.”

The parade was most definitely a day not to be forgotten. As coach Doug Pederson mentioned in a post-game interview, “The whole city hopes this will be the first of many parades.” Let’s see if the city can handle it!

Sophomore Dahlia Levine What sport(s) do you play?

Swimming and crew What is your favorite thing to do on a snow day?

Go sledding with my brother and drink lots of hot chocolate.

What’s the worst smelling place you’ve ever visited?

Definitely the pool locker rooms.

How do you feel about putting pineapple on pizza?

I had it once...never again.

Junior Lauren Else What sport(s) do you play?

Cross country, indoor track and outdoor track What is the dumbest way you have ever been injured?

I fell off a chair during class and hit my head on the floor one time.

What’s the worst smelling place you’ve ever visited?

A farm in Iowa--it was scary.

What is your favorite thing to do on a snow day?

Drink coffee and watch Netflix

Senior Charles Hutton

What sport(s) do you play?

Wrestling

What is the dumbest way you have ever been injured?

Fake fighting What’s the worst smelling place you’ve ever visited?

Daykwon’s house How do you feel about putting pineapple on pizza?

No problem, as long as paired with the right flavor, i.e. bacon/BBQ sauce

20

Sports

February 21, 2018

The Merionite

Amount of penalty minutes spent this season

by David Wilf ’20.

53

2.6 Seconds left on the clock when Steve Payne ’19 scored the game winnner against Penncrest to secure back-toback league titles.

34

Amount of points scored by the girls’ team in their final win of the

All graphics are by our fabulous graphics editor Chris de Santis ’20.

All numbers are as of February 14th

The boys were the number one ranked public school squash team in the nation.

The amount of time it took Romaine Rhoden ’18 to run the 200 meter dash and break the school record.

95

1

The girls’ squash team played a total of 95 games at nationals.

21.91 9

7.13

The amount of time it took Aja Davis ’19 to run the 55 meter dash.

The number of meets the girls won during the regular season.

The amount of time it took Chris Harris ’18 to swim a fifty-yard freestyle.

23.65