May 2014

The Merionite Ardmore, PA, 19003

May 9, 2014

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929 www.themerionite.org Volume 85, Issue 6

LMSD holds first girls leadership conference

Anna Skillings

Class of 2015 “Listen to the sound of your own voice,” said Stephanie Humphery, keynote speaker at Redefining GLAM: Girls Leadership An Active Movement. Bright and early on Saturday, April 26, LMHS hosted the School District’s first ever Girls Leadership Conference. Close to 100 people attended, including LM and Harriton students, alums, middle school “ambassadors,” guest speakers, and college mentors.

The conference focused on girls empowerment, exploring strengths, building confidence, and understanding the many ways to be a leader. Research shows that “in middle school, many girls become self-conscious, abandon things they love and focus on conforming to be accepted socially,” explained Paula Singer, conference coordinator and expert on girls leadership. For two years, she and Doug Young, LMSD Director of Community Relations, had been talking about holding an event to address this problem.

It all came together this year, and in early February, 20 girls from LM and Harriton gathered to form the leadership conference planning committee. With just eight weeks to prepare, they needed to make quick decisions such as the title of the conference, agenda, speakers and workshops. Also, they discussed whether to include boys and adults, but decided to limit the conference to girls.

Co-head of the planning committee, senior Elyssa Clauson, came up with the acronym GLAM, which came to stand for “redefining what is commonly known as glamour, and

emphasizing that confidence and taking initiative as the new glamorous.” Senior Maddy McFarland served as committee head and chose GLAM as her senior project. “I think it was definitely a success,” McFarland reflected. “All of the girls on the planning committee were happy with the conference.

The speakers and workshops were great, but the best part was listening to the conversations outside the workshops and realizing our conference was already making a difference.”

The planning group met many weekends during the ice and snow to nail down the conference details and develop publicity materials. On the day of the conference, doors opened at 8 a.m. After registering, girls added their comments to a display with the heading “Girls make good leaders because...” Keynote speaker Stephanie Humphrey, a media personality and tech expert, shared her own story of overcoming adversity as a young African-American woman working as an engineer in a white male-dominated profession. Her message to girls: listen to your own voice and go for your dream even if others discourage you.

A clip from the film “Miss Representation” showed how today’s pop culture degrades and underrepresents women. In small group discussions afterward, students shared their reactions to the film as well as their own personal experiences.

For the rest of the morning, participants attended interactive workshops on identifying leadership styles, standing out in college applications, managing finances, public speaking, making a good first impression at college and job interviews, de-stressing though mindfulness, and self-defense and relax-

ing with yoga. The workshops were led by faculty and students from Bryn Mawr College, Haverford College, and the University of Pennsylvania, as well as a professional yoga instructor and a graduate student with a black belt. Ellie Esmond, a presenter from Bryn Mawr College, said the workshops focused on positivity and encouraging girls to recognize “that we all have strengths we can maximize.”

Senior May Olujohungbe liked the public speaking workshop and said it really helped to get tips and see “how others perceive you.” She adds, “I’ll apply this during group presentations because I’ll be more aware of what I’m doing and how I’m coming off to people.”

“The self defense class was the most fun, and it was really helpful to know how to be safe, especially on college campuses,” shared junior Gretchen Alexander.

Junior Mariana Dougherty said, “The conference was a great opportunity to bring ideas to LM girls on how they can prepare themselves for life outside of school. Although many people think gender inequality is an old issue...examples surround us everyday, and we do not see them because it is so normal. On TV, women are always celebrated for their appearance while their intelligence and success are rarely valued.”

The conference organizing team was thrilled with the turnout and enthusiasm. “I couldn’t have been more pleased with the event, the program, the speakers, the turnout, the level of engagement from students and District staff...I would love to see this become an annual event,” said Young.

Girls at GLAM learned empowerment through speakers and workshops.

Photos by National Bitton

LM implicated in Main Line drug bust

L. Gardner/O. Johnston

Class of 2015/2016

It seems Lower Merion School District cannot stay out of the limelight. Two graduates of the Haverford School initiated its most recent scandal, the “Main Line Take-Over Project.”

Their master plan: create a drug operation that would provide marijuana, hash oil, cocaine, and ecstasy to local affluent high schools including Conestoga, Radnor, Harriton, and Lower Merion, in addition to Gettysburg, Haverford, and Lafayette Colleges. The business quickly expanded with the help of subdealers in each school, including one minor who currently attends LM. The investigation started in January following anonymous tips from a student at the schools. Today, the two founders of the drug business have been jailed and many of the sub-dealers face legal action. But more startling than the crimes these students committed, is the student body’s response (or lack thereof) to the allegations. Maybe students have become habituated to LM’s history of litigation or drug circulation in general, and most students have accepted the controversy without question.

All of these investigations were kept private until Monday, April 23, when more arrests were announced and the findings were made public. Among the discoveries by the police in the home of ringleader Neil Scott were five pounds of marijuana, an ounce of cocaine, and multiple loaded firearms, including an AR-15 assault rifle. Sub-dealers were, according to texts from

Scott, selling over a pound of marijuana a week in each school.

It was immediately clear that this drug ring was organized.

The scope of the ring pushed the event into the news, causing it to quickly spread throughout the community and nation.

People were shocked that such an expansive drug-distributing network could form in a suburban neighborhood, spreading to some of the top schools in the state. Parents reacted with horror, having been unaware of the commonality of drugs in their children’s school. Television broadcasters began to wait outside around dismissal to interview students and parents on their way home. Interviews and articles began to appear in national newspapers.

Students went home that Monday, when the ring was first announced, to be greeted by concerned parents. Classes on Tuesday began with teachers remarking on the event, often urging students to make good decisions and not give in to peer pressure. Hughes comforted parents in his letter, stating that “[the district’s] goal... is to help students develop the skills necessary to make good decisions, safe choices and to lead healthy, productive and successful lives.”

By Wednesday, however, gossip around the school had returned to normal. The Takeover was already old news. Within a couple of days of first learning of the drug ring, it had ceased to hold much importance in the mind of students. Most no longer discussed the matter and, when they did, it was mainly to make a joke of the event.

Jests and parodies of the project were circulated on Twitter, along with the coverage from Perez Hilton’s website, which sarcastically commended the leaders for being “SO creative” with their name. Even the texts between the dealers, “Every nug in the Main Line is about to come from you and me,” prompted jokes. “How long until Lifetime makes a movie based on the Mainline Takeover Project?” one student tweeted. Most students thought that the coverage of the scandal was blown out of proportion.

“It should be more accepted than it is. Students from LM score really high on the SAT, they get into such good schools.

The administrators should just look the other way,” a junior who wished to remain anonymous said.

Many students thought that the drug bust was good for the school and community, but disproportionate reaction occurred because LM has a good image. Compared to other, larger scale drug operations, the five pounds and $11,000 the police found between the dealers seemed unworthy of media scrutiny.

This generally apathetic reaction to the news of the dug ring reflects upon the nonchalant attitude of many students towards drug use. While the school policy stresses the illegality of possessing drugs, few students abide by the enforcement of the law. The drug culture at LM has become pervasive enough that, when brought to light by events such as the Main Line Takeover Project, students do not react with shock, but merely with an uninterested, “Oh, again?”

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May 9, 2014

The Merionite

Senior spanish class builds mosaic mural

Rebecca Tauber

Hispanic culture.

There is a quote on the mural from the song “Latinoamérica” by the Puerto Rican band Calle 13 When students think about language classes, we about what it means to be Latin American: the struggenerally call to mind grammar tenses, conjuga- gles, the hopes, and the spirit. The song won Song tions, and endless vocabulary. However, Spanish of the Year at the 2011 Latin Grammy Awards. The teacher Myra Rios’ Spanish 5 class is doing some- specific quote is “Trabajo bruto pero con orgullo, thing a little different. As part of the class they are Aquí se comparte lo mío es tuyo,” which translates not only mastering the language, but the culture as to “I work hard but with pride, here we share, what’s well. The students have been learning about Hispan- mine is yours.” This quote was picked because the ic immigration to the United States, Latin American students felt it represents not only Latin American culture, and the challenge of retaining one’s culture but also LM culture. in a new environment.

Along with the quote there are a lot of symbols Earlier in the year the class did a community ser- that make up the mural. There is a Mexican style vice project in which they collected toys and wrote sun containing a globe, with all the Spanish-speakstories for children in Equatorial Guinea, the only ing countries highlighted. Corn stalks symbolize Spanish speaking country in Africa. The games and the native lands of the Americas. A chain link fence books were donated to Simply Equal Education, a surrounds, depicting borders, and a man climbing it nonprofit organization that helps students in Equa- represents the break down of barriers. The border is a Mesoamerican design.

In terms of production, the Interschool Council gave a small grant to help fund the tour and mural materials. Senior Galen McMullen first designed the mural on a sheet of paper, incorporating elements visualized by a committee that was created. Art teacher Dan Hazel helped in the construction process. The sketch was projected and copied onto a larger piece of paper that was the final size of the mural. It was then divided into many smaller squares the size of the tiles that would be

Photo by Galen McMullen/Staff used to make up the muStudents’ tiles lie in wait on the shelves of the ceramics room. ral. Once the large paper torial Guinea and the United States receive a valu- was cut up, each piece was laid on top of a tile with able educations. The organization states that “if we a piece of graphite paper in-between. This allowed are going to leave the world in a better place, we for the sketch to be transferred onto the tile, labeled need to create the conditions where children have with the appropriate colors, and painted. The tiles the opportunities to engage each other… a chance were first painted with under-glaze for the color, for a child to see that they too can make a lasting fired, and painted once again with a clear coat. Hadifference.” zel chose this method because it allowed a lot of Recently the class has been working on a mural people to work together on the mural at once. Evento serve as a “visual to express experiences of be- tually, the tiles will be pieced together like a puzzle, ing Hispanic in the United States,” explains Rios. and the mural will likely go up near the LGI by the Conveniently, Philadelphia is the city with the most language hallways. murals in the country, so first, the class took a muAlthough we have been in the new building for ral arts tour, focusing mainly on Latin American a few years now, the hallways are still pretty bare. murals. The students then brainstormed ideas for This mural will be an artistic and thought-provoking the mural, wanting it to express both feelings about addition to our school walls, as well as a great way being a student at LM and school culture as well as to express LM and Hispanic culture and character.

Class of 2016

NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF World Affairs Club Travels to Washington D.C. On April 24, the members of the World Affairs Club traveled to Washington, D.C. The group visited the Supreme Court building, toured the main museum area and heard a lecture in the court chamber. They learned about the Court and its nine justices, in addition to the history of the building itself.

Afterward, the students headed over to the Capitol Building where they received an all-access tour with LM student and Senate page, Jordan Shub. A highlight of the trip was going into the Senate Chamber, the room where senators meet for discussion. Students were also allowed to go onto the Speaker’s Balcony, which provides an amazing view of the Washington Monument.

—Dena Behar, ‘16

LM make lip dub video for Coaches versus Cancer The brainchild of CvC heads Anna Goldenberg and Tori Klevan, the recent lip dub was one of the greatest showings of school spirit that LM has ever seen. On April 29, all 1,300 LM students joined on the first floor to rally around a select group of student government representatives and other school leaders as they mouthed the words to Katy Perry’s “Firework.” The video was created to raise awareness and money for Coaches vs. Cancer.

As of now, the video has about 7,000 views, news coverage from Fox 29, and has raised $3,000.

—Duranya Freeman, ‘14

BuildOn raises record amount and treks to Nepal

Ally Hummel

Class of 2017

Dozens of fundraisers have finally allowed BuildOn to achieve their ultimate goal: to build a school in Nepal.

BuildOn, one of LM’s largest clubs, raised a staggering $90,000. In just a few short months, the efforts of the 18 Trekkies and the rest of BuildOn will have brought to the rural Nepalese village of Jokaiya a new school.

The new school will have three well-ventilated classrooms, a chalkboard, and desks for the students. “The old school was pretty much falling apart,” says Social Studies Tom Reed. Sophomore Allie Rauch hopes that the school will motivate some children to go to secondary school to pursue their dreams, instead of being pushed into accepting the social norm of farming. They expect a 25 percent increase in enrollment the first year.

Many of the wealthier children in Jokaiya travel to private schools far away. This new school will enable them to get an education in the village.

The Trekkies interviewed all described their experience in Nepal as transformative. The friendliness of the villagers took some by surprise. “Right away, they took us in like we were family,” says freshman Samantha Tepper.

Unlike our society, where people consider self reliance as a strength and asking for help as a weakness, Jokaiyans value interdependence, unity and community. A women’s group in the village often described the pride they take in accepting all people, regardless of religion or anything else. The diversity of the community became evident on the first day, when the Trekkies were welcomed. The opening ceremony involved eight dances, one from each of the ethnic groups in the village.

The Trekkies lived with their host families in mud houses. Rauch says, “Our house had 13 people in it. It had four small rooms, with a separate structure for cooking. Animals roamed freely in and out of the house.”

The beds were plywood covered with a sheet.

Every meal consisted of dal bat, or rice and lentils, and the spiciness was a real problem for some of the American visitors. The Trek team ate with their host families every night, which was awkward at first due to the language barrier. Rauch added, “Fortunately, we had translators come by for a little bit each night to help us.”

Morning wake-up call came at 5:45 for most of the Trekkies. For Tepper and junior Hana Strouse, it was earlier. “A lovely rooster that lived outside my room

loved to ‘cockle doodle doo’ from 4:30-6:00 woke Hanna and me up every morning.” Everyone in the village participated in yoga at 6:30. Then, the Trekkies split up into two groups. One went to the worksite to dig five feet deep holes, mix cement, and sift sand. After a three hour shift, they’d switch jobs and go to the cultural workshop for activities like fishing, basket weaving, and pottery.

The team then had free time to play games, dance with villagers, or spend time with their host families.

As rewarding as this trip was, it was not without challenges. Adjusting to the new environment was a struggle, and some students became ill. The temperature often rose above 95 degrees, which is not ideal for working outside all day. The team spent more than 20 hours just traveling to Nepal. Tepper added, “As silly as it sounds, drinking the water was a hard part for me.”

There was no running water in Jokaiya, so the Trek team had to pump their own water. Because it needed to be purified, the water was mixed with a small amount of bleach, turning it yellow and adding mystery brown clumps to the warm mixture. Despite the dubious water, there was one aspect of Trek that awe-struck everyone.

“It was a beautiful culture,” said Reed, “And we learned a great deal from them.”

May 9, 2014

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The Merionite

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL/LETTERS

Preaching to the choir

Thanks to GLAM, Girls Leadership: An Active Movement, there is finally an outlet for girls in our LM community to discuss gender inequality. Their goal to educate women about extremely relevant gender-related issues is definitely taking a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, GLAM’s message is not reaching half of the student body. Men, despite being one of the main players in the gender equality game, were completely excluded from attending the GLAM conference, and therefore from hearing its important message.

Madeline McFarland, head of the LM student organizing committee, said that she thought, “Girls would feel more comfortable discussing gender issues, specifically body image, in an only female environment.” She went on to explain, “We wanted the gender conversation to begin with girls and maybe next year, when the discussion will be more open, boys would become educated and the conversation could go both ways.” While it is very important for girls to feel comfortable talking about possibly touchy subjects such as body image, it’s equally important for guys to be educated on a subject with which they are deeply involved and mostly uninformed.

The conference could have held a separate girls-only meeting to discuss particularly sensitive issues that girls might not feel comfortable talking about in front of boys. By completely eliminating boys from GLAM, the potential influence of the conference was limited.

In the area of gender inequality, men and women play equally important roles. Most boys are unaware of the magnitude of these imbalances and the daily impact felt by girls. When most high school boys think about gender inequality, they picture the classic high-powered male CEO with his female secretaries or the string of 44 consecutive male presidents. What they fail to realize is that the gender gap is not limited to adults—it has been ingrained in society and they are probably a part of it. In order to bring about the widespread change that GLAM calls for, it is imperative that men be made aware of these issues, so they can be a part of the change.

As it is, men are very reluctant to discuss these issues, for fear of being emasculated. When a man is labeled a feminist, rather than being empowering, it is a sign of weakness. In today’s society, no male wants to be associated with a word that derives from the word feminine.

If a feminist movement such as GLAM prevents boys from speaking out about the gender gap, then through what medium is it possible?

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

The Merionite

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

Ilana Nathans, ‘14 Robbie Warshaw, ‘14

Managing Editor

Andrew Scolnic, ‘14

News Editors

Op-Ed Editors

Features Editors

Copy Editors

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

Sports Editors Duranya Freeman, ‘14 Mitchell Gladstone, ‘15 Larry Robinson, ‘14 Arts & Julia Carstens, ‘15 Entertainment Emily Morris, ‘15 Editors

Letter to the Editor

I read with great interest the Merionite editorial, “Take A Chill Pill.”

How honest and brave it was. I offer the perspective of someone who’s been there/done that many years ago but some things never change. On an April day decades ago, I got the good news from the school of my dreams, the University of Pennsylvania. First I sobbed in gratitude and relief, and then I called my three best friends, also Penn applicants. Two out of the three also got into Penn. One did not. We were all 18 years old, and positive that our very destinies hinged on that news. The friend who didn’t get into Penn went off to a state college.

I’ve had a good life. So have the other Penn alums. But the state college grad has had a spectacular life and career. By most standards, her resume reads far better than ours.

So does college really matter in the end? Does the incredible sum of money poured out to these prestigious institutions of higher learning really make a difference in our lives? I’ve thought about that a lot. And I’ve come up with this conclusion: college does matter but not nearly as much as we think it does.

I’ve always been proud of my Penn degree. And I know that it opened doors to my first teaching job, because the hiring officer of a new school district confided that he’d chosen me over a candidate from an excellent state college who was clearly more seasoned and qualified. “We want the prestige of an Ivy League degree,” he said. It frankly made me feel queasy.

It also felt wrong.

When it came time to start the college search with our children, I tried to tame their aspirations. But as “Take a Chill Pill” so correctly suggested, the entire college culture has taken on monstrous competitive proportions. So they spent the last “carefree” years of high school establishing resumes that would impress those nameless, faceless application readers. Fun? Carefree weekends? No and no.

Our kids played the college roulette game and by some definitions, won.

They got into those colleges that always appear at the top of “Competitive Colleges” lists.

One member of our first college student’s graduating class became a shepherd. Yes, a shepherd. Those high school years the sweat and strain and the hefty college tuitions led to that? Our own student chose a life in public service commendable but low-paying. Our next two also found fulfillment not on Wall Street but in unexpected careers. Could they have gotten the same life fulfillment had they ditched the struggle and laughed and lived more carefree lives during those high school years? I strongly believe they could have.

In each case, college was a formative, molding, life-altering experience.

I honestly think that could have happened on any number of campuses. My late grandmother, an immigrant to this country, used to say that you really couldn’t trust anyone whose head was buried in the books all day. “What’s important,” she would say in her accented English, “Is to be a good person and to be happy.”

Her own education? Steerage on her voyage to America, and scrambling to make a life in a new country. So whether you get the “We welcome you...,” or the dread “We so regret...” answer, here’s hoping that the message is clear: College matters. But as the Merionite editorial wisely noted, “Life will work out.”

Sincerely, Sally Friedman (Zay Smolar’s grandmother)

Congratulations to the 2014-2015 staff of The Merionite!

Copy Editors-inChief

Divya Arya, ‘15 Zay Smolar, ‘15

Photo Editor Galen McMullen, ‘14 Layout Editor Joanna Odorisio, ‘14 Web Editor Olivia Johnston, ‘16

Managing Editor News Editors

Business Noah Ackerman, ‘14 Managers Leo Galbraith-Paul, ‘14 Advisor Mr. Chad Henneberry

Op-Ed Editors

Business Advisor Mr. Sean Flynn

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

Features Editors

Madelyn Schaeffer, ‘15 Julia Bell, ‘15 Olivia Johnston, ‘16 Emily Manin, ‘15

Isabella Dumitrescu, Editors ‘17 Todd Gilman, ‘16

Sports Editors Mitchell Gladstone, ‘15 Andrew McKinney, ‘15 Daniel Wilson, ‘16

Arts & Julia Carstens, ‘15 Entertainment Aine Dougherty, ‘15 Dena Behar, ‘16 Editors Jonathan Perlman, ‘15 Morgan Perlman, ‘15 Photo Editors Lily Taffet, ‘15 Sloane Woerdeman, Dana Handleman, ‘16 ‘15 Tori Klevan, ‘15 Layout Editors Kyra Kwak, ‘15 Anna Skillings, ‘15 Dylan Siegelman, ‘15 Web Editor Emily Morris, ‘15

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May 9, 2014

The Merionite

Question of the Month

OPINIONS

What do you look foward to most this coming summer? ing to go s d r a w a r ing fo tute! I work e k o o l ost nsti of th I’m m Franklin I nd it’s one out ere a jobs o the back t counselor th rewarding gd to sin p a cam allenging an ng forward ppella h ca ki most c m also loo y, a local a ’ l l I Phi there. roject nization.

P h t i , ‘14 orga ing w ffman o H n Steve

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Being able to go to France for two months and forget about school and homework.

Lea Pardini, ‘17

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Warm weather and great food!

Emily Drangis, ‘17

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This s umme r I am m more t ost looking forw han Lindsa 6 hours a n ard to sleep y Shap ing fo iro, ‘15 ight. r

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The infinite amount of time to watch Spongebob and Finding Nemo.

Gigi Grimes, ‘14

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I’m e xc “Bon naroo ited to go a ” and m I’m a usic festiv l al c s o with L e M jaz xcited to g alled o to It Rani B z band! aly arlas, ‘ 16

I’m going to be living in Italy for 5-6 weeks and will be attending a musical festival for viola. I plan to work really hard there, but also to tour the amazing coutry.

Drew Michie, ‘15

”

”

LM students will be visiting the above locations around the world this summer. This map is courtesy of Google Maps.

Be liberal with the liberal arts Class of 2015

As LM’s juniors and seniors plan for college, many will make the mistake of focusing on the highest paying majors or attending the school with the highest paid

Morgan Perlman graduates. As a result, some students will cast aside a liberal arts education for a more vocational one. They will take the functional approach and choose fields like business, engineering, or computer science over philosophy, English, or sociology. This is not to say that students are wrong for choosing a vocational education, but rather, they are likely to choose it without understanding the value of the liberal arts.

One must understand what I mean by liberal arts. I give liberal arts a simple definition—academic fields that provide one with a broad understanding of our world and emphasize thinking holistically rather than just pragmatically. In other words, to be educated in the liberal arts is to have acquired knowledge in areas of study other than those exclusive to making a living.

LM students who choose to study solely computer science, making every effort to avoid any field in the humanities with the intention of earning big bucks from a software company, will not be prepared to participate fully in society. They might contribute software for use on our computers but won’t be able to appreciate the theater reviews in the New York Times, reflect philosophically on their own life and existence, or

think critically about the art in the museum they walk by everyday.

The world can best be understood by having a diverse background or at least a desire to acquire it. Philosophy helps us problem-solve and understand our reality, existence, and the meaning of life. English builds imperative analytical skills and, of course, the crucial craft of writing. Sociology provides an understanding of everyday social behavior and phenomena.

Strangely, one such critic of a liberal arts education was President Obama. While giving a speech on employment at a General Electric plant, the President remarked that, “Folks can make a lot more potentially with skilled manufacturing or the trades than they might with an art history degree.”

An art history professor from the University of Texas sent a letter to the President defending the value of liberal arts: “We really work hard on teaching students… who come in and take an art history survey class how to think, read, and write critically, because that’s what you do with art.”

To her astonishment, Obama actually replied with a transformed frame of mind. He even told her, “Art history was one of my favorite subjects in high school, and it has helped me take in a great deal of joy in my life that I might otherwise have missed.”

Oftentimes, it takes people like art history professors to remind us of the basic life skills that the liberal arts provide. In the case of art history, it teaches students “how to read, and write critically” and how to understand the art around and through a historical lens. Obama’s original comment might have been pejorative, but like many Americans, he was still capable of realizing the rewards of the liberal arts.

American Studies Professor Andrew Delbanco of Columbia University dedicated an entire book to the contentious debate over liberal arts and higher education. In College: What It Was, Is, and Should Be, he

explained that, “The humanities may have the most to offer to students who do not know that they need them...

One of the ironies of contemporary academic life is that even as the humanities become marginal in our colleges, they are establishing themselves in medical, law, and business schools, where interest is growing in the study of literature and the arts…”

In the field of medicine, a background in psychology, English or even anthropology can provide a doctor with deep insight in the biological functions of humans, the ability to quickly analyze a complex medical text or even write one, and the ability to use the progression of human evolution to further an understanding of modern day humans. To be an expert in the field of medicine—one that makes groundbreaking contributions—it helps to be broadly educated. No one will take notice of a research study if the researcher can’t write. Through the liberal arts, the opportunities in medicine are multiplied.

In law, the liberal arts also apply in important ways.

A lawyer who can think philosophically can reflect on the morals of a law and the potential moral weaknesses of an argument. Lawyers also have the demanding task of crafting convincing and thoughtful briefs, and so a background in English is extremely rewarding. Even sociology is valuable to law because sociology is the study of society, and law is the mechanism through which society controls itself.

A liberal arts education can augment a vocational one. Education should be about our purpose in the world and not merely a fixation with wealth and prestige. As sociologist W.E.B DuBois wrote, “The true college will ever have one goal—not to earn meat, but to know the end and aim of that life which meat nourishes.”

As students it is our goal to not just learn for the selfish purpose of function. Rather, we should learn for a holistic understanding of the world and life.

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May 9, 2014

OPINIONS

The Merionite

Don’t be con-dumb about sex!

Yael Dormont basics: how to put on a condom or how to select a birth control method.

Other than those short lessons, students spent the majority of their sex education classes occupied with homework for other classes. While LM does not have a serious sexually transmitted disease (STD) or pregnancy issue, it’s still important that all students know which form of birth control to use, how to use it, and where to get it.

Just guessing here, one could assume that most students could not identify more than two forms of birth control, which is an issue. All students should have a basic understanding of which birth control to use, but more importantly, how to use it. A lack of information on contraception inevitably leads to a higher probability of getting an STD or getting

pregnant. Unless you are very open with your parents about sex, you may not know all there is to know about having safe sex.

It is incredibly important as teenagers entering the world to know how to have safe sex. While many teachers, parents and adults in our lives might not want to face that reality, we will all be having sex at some point. According to the Center for Disease Control, the average age for an American to lose his or her virginity is just 17. With that in mind, it is especially important that we educate ourselves and our peers properly. If the average age for people to lose their virginity is 17, LM should be offering comprehensive health classes to younger students. Our tenth grade health class ends only a few months before students turn 17. This is too late for proper education in many cases. Students need proper sex education much earlier than is currently given, so that all LM Students can go off into the world and have safe sex.

Along with the need for knowledge about safe sex, students need access to contraceptives. According to advocatesforyouth.org (an organization that provides information for youth to make responsible reproductive and sexual health decisions), the percentage for teens using condoms increased from 37 percent to 50 percent in Philadelphia schools—just by having condoms available at school. This also comes along with data stating that teens in the United States had the same levels of

Budgeting your future Class of 2015

As of June 2013, 76 percent of Americans were living paycheck-to-paycheck with barely any emergency savings, according to a

Laurel Yaros survey published by Bankrate.com. This statistic is a red flag—it suggests that a majority of Americans don’t have enough savings for when they lose their job or worse, are stricken with a medical emergency. It is likely that this 76 percent has poor financial literacy, which comes from being misinformed about or unaware of personal finance. At a certain point, everyone must take responsibility for his or her own money; I believe financial education should start in high school. It would benefit students to be money-conscious and able to develop smart financial habits.

This past year, a majority of LM’s seniors had to decide where they wanted to go to college. Tuition is a determining factor in that decision-making process, and I honestly believe that too many of us lack financial literacy. A personal finance class could clarify uncertainties about student loans. People who are applying to colleges should learn about the risks and the benefits of loans, and how loans could affect their futures. Private student loans do not disappear even when a person declares bankruptcy because there is no collateral; the government cannot take the brain out of a person’s head, but they can take a car or a house.

This is something that many college graduates don’t realize until they’re forced to pay back the loans. Very often people with bachelor’s degrees are forced to take entry-level jobs for which they’re overqualified in order to pay off loans. Interest rates can climb, leaving an eighteen-year-old responsible for tens of thousands more dollars than what was stated on his or her original loan. Although one might need these loans despite the risks, he or she

should at least understand the process.

What would one learn in a personal finance course? A curriculum could include IRA accounts, APR financing, credit scores, interest, taxes, and how to budget and invest earnings. Strategies such as planning ahead and priority spending are extremely useful for future financial security. Financial concepts that are unfortunately foreign to adults simply don’t have to be. Starting and running a business, benefits, profit and loss, types of investments (stocks, bonds, real estate), college funding, and scholarships are a number of topics that a personal finance class would hopefully simplify for students.

Oklahoma recently mandated that all high school students must pass a class on personal finance in order to graduate. Schools need the right tools when integrating a personal finance class into a high school curriculum, such as teachers who are not only knowledgeable about the subject, but who have good money habits themselves.

An article on DailyFinance.com reports that some schools will “embed personal finance modules into math [and] science” because this kind of knowledge is cumulative and there should be real-world application.

A survey done by The Council for Economic Education reported that only 17 states require a personal finance class as a graduation requirement. I think all 50 states should participate in this financial literacy movement; LM ought to be a part of this herd.

Having financial literacy is as valuable as learning about either contraceptives or the dangers of drugs in a health class. Many adults are insensible and/or misinformed when it comes to spending and saving, or they’ve learned about personal finance too late to correct their early mismanagement. Money is something that every single adult deals with on a daily basis, so what better time to learn the basics than when students are young and debt-free?

I know that once I’m out of college, it will be important to me to be financially independent, and I do not want to rely on my parents or find myself in an overwhelming amount of debt without a plan. If a personal finance class were mandatory for seniors to take, I am sure that each and every one of them would benefit in the future.

sexual intercourse as their peers in Canada and Europe (advocatesforyouth.org).

Both Canada and Europe have readily available contraceptives in bathrooms and even in vending machines. While we do not have sexual activity data in LM, it seems relatively obvious that we should have contraceptives readily available in school. No one wants to be seen by their peers, teachers, family or neighbors at Rite Aid or CVS, while buying condoms.

Having condoms available at school brings up the issue of where these condoms would be distributed, since it would be very uncomfortable if the nurses had to take down your information in order to get a condom. The best solution to this problem would be for Lower Merion to install condom machines in the bathrooms.

These machines could be installed just as they are in European bathrooms, the same way that tampon machines are in our bathrooms. While proper education on how to put on condoms is very important and would still be needed, by putting these machines in the bathrooms at LM, we could insure that all students had access to embarrassment-free contraceptives making LM student able to have safe sex.

Embracing your bossiness In all my years of living on this somewhat progressive planet, I have been called “bossy” many, many times. It has Class of 2016

Class of 2015

Sex-Ed at LM is brief and short lived. Most of us only had sex education for a brief stint during our sophomore year.

Many students barely even remember the most important

Dena Behar been a part of my vocabulary ever since I was old enough for my parents to scold me when I told others what to do. As many times as I’ve been referred to as bossy, however, no boy I know has. So, the only logical conclusion I can come to, is that bossy is code for catty. It’s a pejorative term we use for women who are leaders, because God forbid girls learn it’s OK to be the ones telling people what to do.

Recently, former US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano spoke about the lack of women in leadership roles. According to her, “We send messages that girls should not be leaders.” This is because when a woman gives a command, people view her as being bossy as opposed to decisive, like her male counterparts. Our country finds comfort in the backwards idea that men are meant to lead while women should stay at home and cook dinner. So when a woman challenges that offensive stereotype, she’s criticized and therefore discouraged from pursuing her goals.

This is our fundamental problem.

The campaign to ban the word bossy was launched by the Girl Scouts of America and LeanIn.Org, a nonprofit founded by Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer. Hollywood stars and political figures such as Beyoncé and Condoleezza Rice have joined in too. According to the campaign, instead of calling girls “bossy,” they should be described as having

“executive leadership skills.”

This day in age, women are striving to be in the top of their professions, and I consider myself part of that hard-working, driven group. So as someone who’s been called bossy all her life, I know how it feels to be told to change a part of you that’s unchangeable. Bossiness is a personality trait, and girls need to learn that there’s nothing wrong with it.

Beyond knowing that there’s nothing wrong with being a leader, some women embrace their “bossiness.” In 2011, Tina Fey released a book called Bossypants, that told the story of how she managed to make it onto Saturday Night Live and even create the popular sitcom 30 Rock.

Recently, former Secretary of State and potential 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton joked about naming her new book Bossy Pantsuit, referencing her classic look. Even though the titles may hurt the campaign’s message, these books still have a positive effect on women. It shows young, ambitious women that in order to be the boss, you need to be bossy—and there’s nothing wrong with that.

At LM, future female leaders can be found everywhere you look. All the class presidents are young women, and clubs such as Best Buddies, The Merionite, GSA, and Players are led by girls, too.

Recently, a program called Girl’s Leadership: An Active Movement, or GLAM, was started in the district. The program held a workshop where girls can learn basic finance, self-defense, and even yoga. Sophomore Margo Urheim, a GLAM officer says, “high school is a crucial time for girls to enhance leadership skills, and the Girls Leadership Conference is a great way to start doing that.”

We have a long way to go before all women can be leaders without being called bossy. But as Tiny Fey and Hillary Clinton pointed out, it’s not the word that inhibits women, it’s the way people view these women. It’s the way people associate leadership with men, rather than with women who are just as capable. Women who lead aren’t bossy, they’re leaders.

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May 9, 2014

FEATURES

The Merionite

As the year comes to a close, everyone is highly anticipating their summer plans. As F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote in The Great Gatsby, “…and so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” Summer is the time to do everything you’ve saved up over the year, totally let yourself go, relax, and just have fun. Everyone has a different idea of how to enjoy his or her summer, and here are some classic examples that represent our LM population: The camper: The camper lives by the motto “We live 10 months for two.” A week before leaving they will raid Bed Bath & Beyond, Target, or Kohl’s. Camp is a home away from home for those that attend, and no one understands the idea of camp unless they were/are campers. While at this magical summer oasis, the average campers spend their days and nights with best friends, eating some questionable food, participating in arts & crafts, sports, music, swimming, bunk bonding, programs, and so much more. By the end of summer, you can bet their arms will be full of friendship bracelets, bonds will have strengthened and it will have been the best summer since the one prior.

The sleeper: Every summer, we all have that one friend that sleeps all the time. They want and sometimes need to just lie in bed all day and all night. There’s nothing wrong with a little relaxation, especially after an entire school year of tiring work, but it looks like some of us have this rare gift from the sleep gods to be able to just sleep an entire summer away. Amen! The sleeper’s method of spending the summer is to just sleep, eat, lounge, and on rare occasions hang out with friends.

The summer schooler: Some people are a little bit better at planning than others (or maybe just need something better to do?), so they resort to summer school. They will attend for six weeks, learn, do projects, take tests, quizzes, and so on. When they get home, they will do homework, take a nap, and then find some friends to hang out with. On weekends, they’ll probably stay local or do some more work. Luckily summer school isn’t the entire summer, so the summer schoolers can take a couple weeks off for a break before starting school…again.

The Jersey shore goers: The shore season starts around Memorial Day Weekend during which it seems like all of LM treks down for a bit of

PROS

beach fun. While down the shore, beach goers soak up some sun, go for strolls on the shoreline, or go on bike rides. Maybe they even go for nights out to Atlantic City or the Boardwalk. Some get jobs at surf shops, clothing boutiques, food stores, or babysit. In Margate, New Jersey, the Dairy Bar or Two Cents Plain is a delicious spot where shore usuals and tourists go at any time of day. Mainly, the shore is a place where Jersey shore goers love to go to as a get away from their hectic lives.

The worker: Now that we’re older, more and more of us have turned to working the summer days away. Wherever there are job openings, they will take them. Whether it is at a pet store, ice cream shop, clothing boutique, summer camp, or café, summer jobs are sought after. Unknown to the average worker, summer job applications and interviews start way before the summer even starts, sometimes as early as mid or late fall.

Unfortunately for the worker, their youthful days as an innocent child are coming to a close.

However, all of their hard work pays off when they have their money saved up at the end of the summer to go to summer concerts and festivals, weekend getaways at the beach, or quick Wawa runs. Although the worker may not have had the most fun summer, their strategic method and good intentions will be good in the long run.

Some of us get a little bit more adventurous than others during the summer, such as going on teen tours or other planned youth trips, maybe getting an internship somewhere, or doing charity work. Although not everyone spends the summer the same way, we can all reconvene at the Ben Franklin Parkway (and then Staples for back to school shopping) to end our summer the same way before a new year of school.

The Pros and Cons of Summer Camp

NO PARENTS! Camp is great because it enforces independence and freedom! You don’t have parents there to tell you what to do.

No social media, no phones! You won’t be able to check Instagram and Facebook every five minutes. Many people might see this as a negative aspect, but to me it’s actually pretty relaxing and a nice break from technology.

Lifelong friendships! The people you meet at camp truly become your second family. The bonds that are made are so unique and unforgettable.

Happy memories! Watching kids laugh at camp is the most rewarding feeling. Everyone is so happy and carefree.

It shapes your character! Camp allows you to be yourself.

Everyone is so accepting.

Prepares you for college. It allows you to get a feel for what its like to be away from home for a long period of time.

Getting active. Exercising isn’t that bad when you’re doing it with your best friends!

Develop bonds with people all different ages. At camp it’s easy to become best friends with someone ranging from age eight to 20, no matter how old you are.

Positive people! Everyone is accepted for who they are no matter their differences.

By Lindsay Barson, ‘15

By Emma Shapiro, ‘15

CONS

It’s dirty. Yeah, camp is supposed to give you a taste of the wilderness, but do you really like all that dirt, cobwebs and the other unpleasantries of nature? I didn’t think so.

Camp food is terrible. ‘Nuff said.

Most sleepaway camps are very expensive, and the camps most main-liners go to are no exception, not even to mention all the clothes and other supplies that need to be bought as well.

No control. With all the planned activities, static scheduling, and constant supervision, camp can quickly fall into the same routines as school.

Homesick. Everyone who goes to camp feels homesick at some point or another. Where’s the fun in feeling abandoned?

Coming late. Not everyone starts going to camp at a young age.

For those who come late to camp, the pre-existing friendships and bonds can feel clique-y.

BUGS! Situated out near the wilderness, there are tons of bugs, inside and outside, crawling on your stuff, your furniture, and even you. Need I say more?

No boundaries. With so many people to a bunk, it’s inevitable that you’re going to “lend,” or lose a lot of your stuff, especially clothes.

You’re stuck there. Finally, if any of the above apply to you, and you’re unhappy at camp, you’re not leaving.

By Nicki Diacik, ‘15

Graphic by Madelyn Schaeffer/Staff

BEST SELFIE SUNDAYS

BEST TWEETS

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May 9, 2014

The Merionite

A new age tweeter

FEATURES

Everyone thinks of Facundo Fernandez-Duque (‘14) as the Argentinian soccer player, but little does everyone know that he is also an avid bird-watcher.

As a passionate orthonologist, Duque’s senior project involves this interesting pastime. Let’s take a look at how he got involved in this unique activity.

Q: How did you get involved in bird watching?

A: I grew up in Argentina, and my dad worked in a forest with owl monkeys. He is a researcher—he puts trackers on monkeys and watches them. I would go out with my dad and get very distracted by all the birds, so my dad gave me a bird book.

Q: What is your senior project?

A: Because I could not go to the World Cup for birding, I am mapping out where I would have gone in New Jersey and what birds I would see. Then I will go to some of the places I would go in New Jersey and try to see the birds I expected to see.

Q: What’s your favorite bird, and why?

A: The Harpy Eagle. As a little kid I loved eagles because they are so big and powerful. (I guess all kids like big and powerful things). Harpy Eagles have huge talons that are 3 inches long! That’s longer than a bear’s claws!

Q: What does a bird-watching competiton entail?

A: Participants get sponsors to give money for each bird they see. Competitions can be a full 24 hours or an entire year. People get really competitive.

Q: Why do you love bird-watching?

A: Well, I love nature and seeing all the little things the birds do. I am very observant so I like to notice all the birds’ movements—how they jump, how they collect things for their nests, and how they sing. They are beautiful and have a multitude of colors.

Q: Where do you bird-watch?

A: I bird-watch for the Lower Merion Conservancy in a place called Sonder’s Woods each month. I fill out a report for them, which they use as a bio-indicator to determine the health of the birds. I have also gone birding in Ecuador and South Africa.

Q: What’s the most fascinating part of bird watching?

A: I get a thrill when I get a new species and I can add it to my life list. It’s kind of like an adrenaline rush. I like watching their little actions.

Q: Is it frustrating to go bird-watching and never see a bird?

A: It is a little frustrating when I don’t see the bird that I want to see. I have target birds that I look for, depending on the time and day, and it is disappointing when I can’t see those. But there is usually something interesting to see anyway. There is almost always a common bird doing something different and interesting.

Q: Is it true that you wrote a college essay about bird watching?

A: Yes. I included orthinology in my college essays because I love it and I have done a lot of work outside of school on it. I worked on the hybridization of chickadees with a professor from Villanova and wrote a research paper on the Bearfaced Korsou. It’s going to be published in a prestigious Orthinological magazine in Argentina. Cornell also had me for a birding event. Only 15 people from the entire country got in.

Q: Will you continue bird-watching at Cornell?

A: Right now, I love it, and I’m going to continue birding as long as I love it. But if I find something else, like medicine or law that I like more, then I can always switch.

Q: How did your promposal involve bird-watching?

A: I asked Yudith Lopez to go bird-watching and I had placed a snowy owl (like the one in Harry Potter) stuffed animal in a tree branch. I was going to use a real owl but the guy who had it was on a trip to Peru and Panama. I was nervous to leave the owl in the tree and go get Yudith because I didn’t want anyone to take it.

It took her way too long to realize that it wasn’t real. There was a invitation to prom next to it, similar to the letter inviting Harry to attend Hogwarts.

Interview conducted by Emily Manin ‘15

Graphic by Chad Henneberry ‘89 St. Joe’s Prep From the comfort of their own homes to under the sea, this year’s senior class has some of the most innovative Senior Projects yet. The Senior Project begins with an essential question and ends with a final presentation. It presents students with the unique opportunity to explore a specific field through an extensive project. A successful Senior Project requires numerous hours of work, help from an experienced adviser, and a presentation about your experience.

The Senior Projects this year promise to provide the graduating class with rewarding experiences, and the rest of the student body with captivating stories.

Teaching a Senior Project

The stories behind what prompted each senior to select their essential question emphasize the varying talents of the Class of 2014. Following the path of education, Jack Weinrieb and Morgan Buck plan to use their time off from school to go back to school. Instead of going to an LM bus stop, Weinrieb will hop on a bus to Philadelphia to arrive at Girard College where he will be shadowing a fifth grade teacher. To help in the classroom, he will teach a couple of lessons and build a connection between himself and the students. Many students at Girard come from poor neighborhoods, so the school offers full scholarships to those demonstrating high academic achievement.

Weinrieb looks forward to meeting them and learning about their compelling backgrounds. He hopes at the end of his project he will “have a full and comfortable understanding as to what it means to be in the education field,” and the opportunity to give back to the school system. Buck, on the other hand, has chosen to return to the three years many of us try and pretend never happened—middle school. Buck plans to be a teacher’s aid in the health and physical education departments at Bala Cynwyd Middle School. The challenging task of creating lesson plans excites Buck, who hopes that everyday the students will walk away with new knowledge. The biggest challenge Buck anticipates will not be the students, but the teachers she has chosen to shadow.

Mr. O’Brien, Mrs. Edwards, and Mr. Stinson all have coached Buck in athletics, and restraining herself from messing around too much could potentially be more difficult than creating lesson plans that will not bore her students.

The buzz about Senior Project

On the other end of the spectrum, Noah Shandelman has chosen a project that proves his overcoming of a deathly childhood fear. When he was young, his father maintained a beehive, but he was too afraid to go near it to help out.

By the time he got over his fear of bees, the hive had died due to the harsh winter climate. Finally getting his chance with the bees, Shandelman will construct a beehive, and then pick up 3,000 bees and a Queen. As the bee population grows, he will expand upon the hive by adding more levels of hive boxes, which will

all contain honey supers to store the honey produced. Additionally, Shandelman remarked he “will pump smoke into the hive in order to calm the bees down, making his maintenance work easier.” Shandelman chose his project for the experience, but the honey he will get definitely won’t hurt!

Diving into Senior Project

Keeping with the spirit of adventure, Cayden Quain plans to receive his certification license for scuba diving. Quain has always wanted to scuba dive, but ironically, the prospect of swimming in the vast open ocean scares him. By following a specific sequence of training, Quain will get to take his first real dive. At the end of the project he will be able to travel to breathtaking tropical destinations all across the globe.

Building a Senior Project

Arielle Anderer’s senior project will also bring her to travel across the globe. After taking a class at LM, Anderer realized her great interest in architecture, which she was able to combine with her great interest in travel. Anderer plans to pack up her suitcase and bring any knowledge of Mandarin with her to the modern cities of China, where she will observe the buildings and the aspects that cause them to be different from those in America. Anderer mentioned how she is “most looking forward to getting to experience new culture and to design something that is different from the very generic American models I have designed in the past.”

For her final product, Anderer will tie her cultural experience together in designing a new building influenced by multiple types of architecture.

Senior projects are supposed to create a learning experience that a student would not necessarily receive in a school environment. Some projects may stem from courses offered at LM, like an endeavor in architecture, and some stem from regretted childhood decisions, like Kathleen Peng’s, who plans to step up to the piano bench for a second try. The most essential part of the Project is that the senior enjoys his or her final experience discovering the world as an LM student.

Interview conducted by Emma Ungar ‘16 Arielle Anderer ‘14 ponders the building she is designing influenced by Chinese architecture.

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May 9, 2014

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

When you run out of Netflix this spring...

Aine Dougherty

Blu, a confused bird in the Amazon jungle, and the Class of 2015 movie’s overall grasp on whimsical humor. You’ll As the school year comes to an end and finals, AP find yourself both gasping at the different dramatic tests, and senior projects breathe down our necks, plot lines and feeling Blu’s pain as he struggles to one of the best ways to decompress during free time fit in with his wife and the rest of the blue macaws is by going to see a movie. And fortunately, there is in his community.

On the other hand, action movie Captain Amersomething for everyone in theaters right now. ica: The Winter Soldier tells the tale of the mighty First of all, what started out as a book called Divergent was recently made into a captivating mov- Steve Rogers, or Captain America, fighting against ie with a great cast—Shailene Woodley plays Tris, the mysterious “Winter Soldier” while uncoverand heartthrob Theo James is her romantic interest ing secrets inside the S.H.I.E.L.D. agency. With named Four. A great blend of romance, tragedy, and appearances from fierce actress Scarlett Johanssen action, Divergent, a tale of a multifaceted girl try- as the Black Widow and a focused Samuel L. Jacking to fit into one distinct niche in her community, son as Nick Fury, this is must-see for Avengers fans. exceeded my expectations. Although it doesn’t have superhero enthusiasts, and really anyone up for an all the same details as the book, it is absolutely an exciting watch.

For horror fanatics, Oculus, a scary flick about a entertaining movie that boys and girls alike would possessed mirror, will make you jump out of your enjoy.

Next, if you liked Rio, and even if you didn’t, seats. Full of creepy illusions and ghosts, it is defiRio 2 is a cute animated movie appropriate for all nitely one to see with a friend or two —you’ll need ages. Even I, a skeptic of animated movies, found some to hug and scream with. Although a little conmyself giggling at Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of fusing at times, switching constantly back and forth between past and present, this terrifying movie is

great for a bone-chilling night out.

As for upcoming movies, soon, thousands of teenage girls and other comedy-lovers will be storming the theaters to see Zac Efron in one of his best roles yet. The movie Neighbors, full of stars like Efron, Dave Franco and Seth Rogen, will have you falling out of your seats laughing as a rambunctious fraternity clashes with a young family next door, sparking an epic prank war.

This month, the new Godzilla, a contemporary remake of an old classic, will be an entertaining science fiction film with outstanding modern monsters, action scenes, and special effects. Just make sure to watch the original Godzilla before going out in order to make an accurate comparison of the two.

Finally, based on one of the most popular books by John Green, the long-awaited Fault in Our Stars movie will hit theaters in June. Hazel, played by Shailene Woodley, is a terminal cancer patient whose romance with the fascinating Augustus Waters will bring you to tears and leave you full of questions. Even if you haven’t read the book, mark this one down on your calendar.

What do you see? by Tianna Lawrence When you look me in the happiness But always seems to get eyes And praying to god the used What exactly do you see? feeling will last.

Left with a few scars When I look in the mir- A bombshell that should From being emotionally ror I see an angel smile more often abused.

Ready to be set free.

But struggling to find When you look me in the A young heart that’s reasons to do so eyes been broken Overwhelmed by sorrow What exactly do you see?

And has nightmares Spirits running low.

You see a beautiful soul from the past A sweetheart who wants that’s been hurt, Waiting to get a touch of to be loved You see the beautiful me.

Poetry courtesy of The Becton Scholars

Hana Holquist

Hana’s Fashion Corner

The best thing about the Mansur Gavriel bags is that they are not brand driven in any way. The logo in each bag is written in extremely small lettering on the This spring, you’re probably looking for the perfect bag to fit all your spring bottom, and the three styles of bags aren’t exactly recognizable. Since most bags strive to stand out from a mile away these days, these simple totes and outfits. Well, if you’re like me that is…

This spring, the most popular bags out there are Man- bucket bags are incredibly and surprisingly refreshing.

So where can you get your Mansur Gavriel this spring? Well, it might be a litsur Gavriel bucket bags and totes. Designed tle harder than it seems. The bags are sold out almost everywhere, to the extent out of New York by Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel, the bags were made that long waiting lists now exist just to get your hands on one. The company has actually decided to increase the price of the bags by 25 percent due to with intention of being beautiful at their popularity, so people are even more eager to get their hands on a a reasonable cost. The two bag before another price increase pops up. It really only speaks to how codesigners have definitely amazing the product is when the demand is this crazy. achieved the goal of beauty; Rip offs and look-a-likes are everywhere, which isn’t that surpristhe bags are exquisitely handcrafted with high quality Italian leathing–the design is just so simple. But since the best aspect of the bag er, and each bag has a neutral-toned exterior, with a customizable, is its construction and not its brand, these fakes are not of much bright-colored interior. The cost is between $375-$495. I’d say value. that’s a pretty reasonable cost for something so perfect.

Don’t worry though, Mansur Gavriel will begin selling bags online You’ve been seeing Coach and Louis Vuitton bags on women’s in the upcoming season, and they’ve even created a few new designs. arms for years. The bags are great, don’t get me wrong, but the Watch out for these bags — they’re here to stay. brand is what makes the products so special and elite.

Art by Hana Holquist Class of 2015

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May 9, 2014

ARTS &ENTERTAINMENT

The Merionite

Emma Shapiro

Life is short-eat dessert first!

Class of 2015

Although Insomnia Cookies, Pinkberry, and Crumbs are delicious, they’ve become a little passé. If you’re tired of the mainstream eateries and want to try something tasteful and unique, continue reading. Along the Main Line, there are many hidden treasures, the crème de la crème, if you will, that deserve praise as well as room in your stomachs.

Located in Malvern, Strawberry Bakery is known for doughnuts. Owned by French baker Jean Pierre, this stop is great for dessert or a quick breakfast in the morning. Its many varieties of croissants, chocolate truffles, and espressos each harness elegant technique and encompass a mouthwatering savor.

The Main Line has been taken over by fro-yo, but fortunately, some hard ice cream places have survived. Most notably is the delicious Handel’s in Berwyn. With over 50 distinct flavors of ice cream, and large portions, the trek is well worth it. In addition to plain ice cream, you can get sundaes, milk shakes, banana splits, and even cakes and pies! Flavors include chocaholic chunk, peanut butter parfait, strawberry cheesecake, and more.

Crêperie Béchamel is best known for —you guessed it —its crêpes. In Wayne, you can get a finger-licking good banana-Nutella, apple pie, or bananas foster crêpe. Also, try the caramel s’mores crêpe with chocolate sauce, caramel cream, homemade marshmallow, and graham cracker crumbs.

In the heart of Narberth lies Le Petit Mitrón. When you walk in the doors, it feels as if you’ve entered a Parisian café. The bakery carries croissants, napoleons, and madelines.

Owned by husband and wife Patrick and Isabelle Rurange, this little patisserie will not disappoint!

If you can find it, you’re in luck. The cupcake truck “Dia Dolce” is lime green and can be seen rolling around the Main Line. Loaded with fresh, organic, local ingredients, the team was shown on the TV show “Cupcake Wars.” The delicious creations include bacon maple, white velvet, fresh lemon basil, and even cereal and milk cupcakes.

Aux Petits Delices in Wayne is another great way to travel from the Main Line to France. Its pastries are great and the restaurant is known for its chocolatier skills. Their hand made and polished array of chocolate and pastries are almost too pretty to eat. How-

Deepika Jonnalagadda

ever, once you start, you won’t stop.

French pastries are also available at The Art of Bread in Narberth. Its croissants and macaroons are a common favorite. In addition to pastries and bread you can order items such as sandwiches, salads, and coffee. This is a great stop for any time of the day and ordering desserts to go is always an option.

Last but not least, desserts from Cakes and Candies by Maryellen are scrumptious and keep your taste buds tingling. She’s a one-woman show and boy does she handle it well!

Her desserts are moist, diverse, and full of flavor. The endless color and flavor combinations leave you wanting everything in the store. Next time you’re in West Chester, pop in and you’ll see Maryellen baking her delicious cakes and candies. Don’t forget to get some to go!

Clearly not all hope is lost on the Main Line. Pop in to one of these fine eateries soon and you won’t be disappointed. Bon apétit!

Artisan milkshakes are the gems of the Main Line

Photo courtesy of Julia Carstens/Staff

Prepare to sing their praises...

Class of 2016

On Sunday May 18, LM A Capella will be commemorating its ten year anniversary.

Aces Harmony was founded in the 2004-2005 school year, followed by Aces Angels a year after. This year’s festivities include performances from both groups. The Ace Harmony line up consists of songs by the Script, Sara Bareilles, Bon Jovi and more.

The Aces Angels line up includes songs by Lorde, Marina and the Diamonds, the Spice Girls, and Madonna. Since it’s the 10th anniversary, A Capella alumni will also be partaking in the event. The former A Capella singers, some the original founding members, will be performing songs along with the LM groups. For freshman Sylvia Coopersmith, the alumni participation is especially exciting: “It’s my first time actually performing in the big concert at the end of the year after watching the groups perform for so long.

It’s really cool to just be on the stage singing with them and not just watching from the audience. Also, this year is special because the alumni are coming so almost everyone that I’ve seen in the past will be there for my spring concert.”

To prepare for the concert, members have been working hard, attending rehearsals, and singing their hearts out. For many, it will be the third performance of the week. The alumni arriving before the concert will only have one day of rehearsal to get everything ready. Music teacher and A Capella director Joshua Hunnex explains that the most challenging obstacle for the performers this year is the large amount of activities taking

place. The concert typically takes place earlier in the spring, but this year it is much later. The timing coincides with the ongoing LM Music and Arts Festival. With all of the events occurring in the same week, this poses scheduling conflicts for many members.

Another challenge the groups have had to tackle is learning choreography. In addition to singing and harmonizing, the two groups incorporate dance into their performances.

When asked why people should come to the concert, Hunnex responded “Because it’s a fantastic organization of great groups,” and continues, “People should expect food, music, and to have a good time. Just go in there, be loud, and enjoy the music.” Come out and join LM A Capella for an evening of celebration!

A cappella sing-chronizing at rehearsal

Photo courtesy of Julia Carstens/Staff

Elyse Roat Class of 2014

ACES OF THE ARTS How do you participate in the arts at LM?

At Lower Merion I take three art classes (AP Art, Ceramics 4H, Art 2H) and participate in Players. This past show I was the photographer.

What are your plans for after high school?

After high school I will be attending Tyler School of Art.

If you could get on a plane right now and go anywhere, all expenses paid, where would it be and why?

It would probably be Thailand. I love the food and it looks so beautiful there and the culture and art are bright and colorful.

What’s your best joke?

Did you hear about the angry pancake? He just flipped. Or, why was it called the dark ages? Because there were so many knights.

Photo Courtesy of Elyse Roat

Will Rosenbaum Class of 2015

How do you participate in the arts at LM? I am a member of the Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Winds, and Jazz Band.

What’s your biggest guilty pleasure?

I’d say the movie “Crazy, Stupid, Love” but I don’t really feel that guilty about it... So probably the song Year 3000 by the Jonas Brothers.

Favorite TV show?

How I Met Your Mother... Hands down...

I’m totally Ted. What’s your best joke?

A word to the wise: Borrow money from a pessimist—they don’t expect it back.

Photo Courtesy of Will Rosenbaum

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May 9, 2014

SPORTS

The Merionite

Vernier brothers integral to Central League title

Mitchell Gladstone

Class of 2015

With the last bits of daylight fading away, only sophomores Will Rieke and Lucas Kreuzer remained on the court in what was to potentially be the final game of the match against the reigning state champion Conestoga Pioneers. It had been six years since the Aces had defeated Conestoga in a Central League match, but after gritty wins at #3 and #4 doubles along with #3 singles, the LM players gathered on the fence, preparing to taste victory against their league rivals.

Once the ball slammed into the net and the final point came to a close, the Aces rushed onto the court. To anyone watching, the victory was clearly sweet for the team’s star, junior Simon Vernier. What made it even sweeter Senior Simon Vernier focuses in practice for him, however, was having the chance to notch such an important program win with his younger brother, Tibo Vernier, by his side.

Of course, the team’s Central League championship win should not be a surprise to most around the LM community.

Simon, a junior, was a key member of last year’s squad, which

advanced to the state quarterfinals and has been a steady per- tive on the court, no matter what.” Clearly, the positivity has former at the #1 singles position, dropping just one match so translated into on-the-court accomplishments this season, as Simon placed second in far in the Central League. Senior captains Larry Robthe Central League sininson and Andrew Legg have performed equally well gles championships. In in singles play. addition, the team capFor any freshman, expectations are guaranteed to tured the Central League be high when taking a starting role on a varsity unit. crown as it cruised to an But for Tibo, the pressure is only elevated by the fact easy 7-0 victory against that he is filling the spot of his oldest brother, Thomas Ridley on May 1.

Vernier ’13, now a freshman starter for the tennis team For a pair of siblings at Swarthmore College. that have become acWith just four years separating the three brothers, customed to winning the Verniers have spent many hours together on the throughout the years, court. Simon and Tibo both acknowledge that playing not just for the Aces, but and practicing with each other has been a unique opalso outside of school portunity to continually improve. play in local tourna“One of the things that really motivates me to pracments, just a Central tice hard is to try to emulate the success my brothers League championship have had as part of the Aces. Although there is presis not satisfactory for sure to follow in my brothers’ success, I am focused on myself and my own success,” said Tibo. Simon Freshman Tibault Vernier tries a backhand the Verniers. Simon knows that as the team agreed, explaining that while, “we get very intense duradvances further into ing our practices, the competitive aspect is the best part the playoffs, the pressure as the team’s top singles player is [of practicing with his brothers].” only going to grow exponentially.“The LM tennis team has Admittedly, their practice sessions can take a turn for the always been known for the strength of its singles and there worst at times because the highly competitive thread that runs definitely is pressure to uphold this tradition,” he said. through their veins. “The hardest part of practicing with my Despite all of the pressure and excitement surrounding siblings often is the fact that the competition between us leads a potential run at a state title, the brothers have remained to arguments and sometimes, physical violence,” said Simon. grounded and their intra-family rivalry is unchanged.

In inNonetheless, the junior recognizes being a middle child dividually asking Simon and Tibo which of the three brothpresents him with the chance to learn skills from his older brother and then pass them on to Tibo. When asked about ers was the best, they both simply responded, “Me.” Clearly, what was the single most important thing he has ever learned there is no lack of confidence for LM’s two tennis stars. from his brothers, Tibo quickly responded, “Always stay posiPhotos courtesy of LM Enchiridion

Rebuilding but on the rise

Quinn Harrigan

Class of 2015

As the senior stars of LM girl’s track sprint their way to college next fall, the team’s exceptional slew of underclassmen runners is beginning to show its prowess on the track. While many of the girls have been forced to adapt to a much higher level of competition in high school as compared to middle school, their rapid development has been a positive sign for the squad’s future success.

For many of the girls, the change in the atmosphere from middle school practices and races to high school practices and races has been enormously evident. Freshman Riyo Moore, who competes in the 200-meter dash commented, “Track is now much more competitive, and the people in all the events are overall much faster than in middle school.” Sophomore Leslie Gladstone, a distance runner in the one and twomile events, adds,“It’s a much bigger commitment because you have weekend invitational.

There are greater expectations for you as a high school athlete, just like in any other sport.” Led by their passionate longtime coach and former LM physical education teacher Sandra Hoopes, the girls are always expected to bring a consistent work ethic to the track each and every day.

Mid-distance runner and sophomore Abby Ritterband admitted that this change in effort has taken time for her to make it a habit. “Before 9th grade, I had never run so hard that I couldn’t go any further... and then kept going anyway.”

Though this switch from middle school track to high school track has been difficult, the sophomore and freshman girls have proven themselves ready for the next level of competition. Ritterband’s fellow sophomores Maria King, Lily Zekavat, and freshman Julia Utkus have all broken out this year, finishing high up in the Central League rankings for the 400-meter dash. Sophomore distance runner and a crosscountry specialist Melissa Graham has successfully translated her skills to the track and specifically the dreaded two mile run, qualifying for Centrals in both. Sophomores Sarah Doebley and Nikki Pendleton have each made their own mark on the sprinting portion of the team. The pair competed for the Aces on the 4x100-meter relay team at the world-famous Penn Relays on April 24. Sophomore Marie Payne has also

caught everyone’s eyes by picking up the 300 meter hurdles this year. Payne is currently less than a second away from qualifying for Central League Championships. The upperclassmen are not to be discredited. They are leading the team in spirit and in times; however, this year’s underclassmen are nothing to scoff at. They are exceeding expectations and giving themselves a name in the Central League.

Unfortunately, along with their achievements comes the anxiety as a result of their success.

The pressure of the expectations of this year is a lot of handle for an underclassman. Maria King elaborates on this topic saying before a race: “I mentally prepare by thinking through exactly how I want to run my race and trying not to get too stressed.” Julia Utkus adds that before each race she thinks to herself, “running a lap will go by before I know it.” Looking to her upperclassmen for guidance, Ritterband explains, “Before a race, [senior captain] Duranya [Freeman] tells me I’ll be great and I do my best to believe her.”

This season has only further demonstrated that the underclassmen of girls track are serious competition. Many are close to qualifying for the last meets of the season and plan to do so.

Excitement will undoubtedly follow this year’s qualifying meets and it is clear that these underclassmen will surely leave their mark on the track at Arnold Field for years to come.

Photo by Morgan Buck

Above: Seniors Brianna Conner, Hannah Schwartz, Duranya Freeman, Maya Mahmud & Morgan Buck enjoy senior day.

Started from the bottom...

Andrew McKinney

a band of mainly junior boys has Class of 2015 made it their mission to enhance For many years, a lack of talent the program and bring the team to has plagued the boys’ volleyball prominence in the LM community.

For a program that is essentially program. Although its players may starting over, there is clearly a lot have not been sub-par in passion, of growth that the team must have the results on the court simply were in order for a full turnaround. Yet not good enough. This year, howjunior Cory Litman believes in the ever, is different. With a plethora of abilities of his teammates, noting athletic juniors and an intense will that most of them have already been to win, the boys’ volleyball team is successful in at least one other sport. redefining the sport at LM. Guided by head coach Thomas He said, “Everyone on the team is Swope, senior captain Max Mill- generally pretty athletic, so we are er-Golub, and junior captains Joel naturally tough competitors and Dunoff and Greg Kastein, the group fare well against other teams. We started out in February with a sol- all practice pretty hard, and we have id group of eight players, but still already equaled the win total of the needed at least 12, in order to ad- past two seasons. We all intend on here to PIAA regulations. Quickly, playing next year, so the team could five players were recruited and two look to be serious contenders.” Evmore followed suit, rounding out a ery member of this team has the determination and work ethic needed 15-man squad.

When asked why he joined the to succeed, and the squad recently volleyball team, and how the team notched its first win of the season.

While there is a limited amount has responded so far, junior Drew of volleyball teams throughout the Michie said, “As someone who is state, the Aces have put fear into the new to playing volleyball, I really eyes of the opposition, and their pojoined it for the experience and entential for even greater success has joyment of the sport. After the news put other teams on watch.

From the got around that the whole team was front man to the back of the rotanew to the sport, I honestly felt that tion, the team has exhibited uniformade other people more comfortmity, competiveness, and a balance able to join because there wouldn’t be that much pressure in trying a between athleticism and fundamennew sport.” The Aces have quiet- tals to find a streak of success.

Regardless of what this team is ly built up a formidable program, able to accomplish over this seaplaying competitively against the son and next however this year’s volleyball elite of Pennsylvania, junior class of volleyball players such as powerhouse Christopher deserves a great deal of credit. For Dock Mennonite. guys who had never played a comAlong with their progress on petitive volleyball match until just the court, they have built a sense of a few months ago to suddenly pick teamwork and friendship. Michie up the sport and contend on the varfurther explained, “As teammates, sity level is certainly noteworthy.

If we all share a mutual brotherly love the team can continue with its expothat influences us to work hard in practice and games, and also to sup- nential growth from the beginning port each other.” While some peo- of this season, it most definitely ple around the school do not regard has the potential to become a heavy boys’ volleyball as a serious sport, contender in the state of Pennsylvania next spring.

12

May 9, 2014

The Merionite

954

Miles that senior Grace Leonard drove in one day to try out for team Canada’s synchronized skating team (She made it!)

0

SPORTS

Number of matches lost by senior tennis player Andrew Legg this year at #3 singles

220 73,000 46 Yards swum by senior Arielle Andrerer over this past Winter Break

Number of pounds that senior Daniel Buckman can bench press

Are we really any safer?

One year after the Boston Marathon bombing, security at sporting events is still subpar

Jonathan Rachlin

Class of 2015 Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev. The names still resonate with americans more than a year removed from last year’s Boston Marathon bombing, which killed 3 people and injured 264. The Chechen natives possessed a fervent hatred of the United States and saw it as their duty to disrupt American life on a massive scale. The brothers saw their opportunity in Boston on Monday, April 15, 2013, as the marathon provided the perfect platform to inflict fear.

Immediately after the bombing, many Americans voiced concerns over public safety, with a particular focus on areas where large crowds typically convene. Concerns involved sporting events such as the Marathon and questions about how such massive crowds concentrated in small areas could be adequately protected from potential terrorist acts were raised.

The bombing exposed massive holes in event security and revealed a glaring safety problem surrounding professional sporting events across the nation.

Many argued that a precise solution did not exist and only a global crackdown on potential terrorist threats could maybe solve the issue. Others believed increased sporting event security would ruin the experience of the event, as an intense focus on security would distract both participants and attendees from the competition at hand. Although divided by opinion, society came to an agreement on the broader subject at hand: athletic events were now prime targets for terrorism.

The complexity of “sports terrorism,” now unfortunately a commonly used term, is rooted in the psychological values of sport. Terrorists, such as the Tsarnaev brothers, understand that athletes, such as those in the Boston Marathon, invest maximum effort into training in hopes of achieving a goal.

Their goals, however, can be sabotaged by an act of terror.

In addition to derailing goals, sports terrorism deprives hopeful fans of the opportunity to see the final result of countless hours of preparation. These criminals have the perfect chance to impose pain, terror, and sadness upon athletes and fans not just attending the event, but all over the world.

Freshman Julia Utkus

Sports Played: Soccer and track.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be? A reindeer.

What was your biggest “freshman” mistake? I was talking at the printer, but not even printing anything and I turned around to see a line of seven people behind me.

What was the best of advice you’ve ever gotten?

My older sister told me that sleep will become your best friend, so take advantage of it while you can.

This combination of components makes sporting events an even more lucrative target than large-scale crowd-drawing events. Amidst growing concerns of susceptibility to this type of attack, the National Football League has taken precautions to increase fan safety, and decrease incident risk. The league instituted a major rule change, prohibiting fans from bringing bags or backpacks into stadiums, unless they conform to size and opacity regulations. In the wake of the Marathon bombing, most stadiumgoers received the program warmly and were glad to sacrifice a small bit of personal liberty for increased safety.

Despite the NFL leading the charge amongst the four major American sports leagues, glaring security concerns still remain due to a variety of flaws. Almost every major sports stadium in the United States enlists the help of private security firms, that employ part-time security personnel. The security personnel rarely possess any type of serious crisis management training.

In fact, according to an article by USA Today, 23 states do not require any formal training for security guards. .

Security analysts, who have routinely called for improved security measures, have long referred to stadium security as a “bells and whistles operation.” Amongst these measures is the elimination of the “low-bid” method of selecting event security. In the same article, Cory Meredith, the president of California-based event private security company, iterated the fact that his firm often “gets undercut (in bidding) by contractors who cut corners.” Many college and professional stadiums entertain service offers from a variety of security firms before choosing which to use, often going with the lowest priced company. Cost cutting drives the event-security selection process, rather than which company can offer the most

Sophomore Amelia Carpenter Sports Played: Field hockey, indoor track, and lacrosse.

Who is your favorite Superhero and why? Captain America, because Chris Evans is hot.

What is the best part of being on a team with such great spirit?

I love how our enthusiasm brings us even closer together!

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I am going on a service trip to Mexico to study sustainable living.

comprehensive event coverage. The majority of low-cost security firms cut corners and hire improperly-trained employees, putting event attendees at risk.

Although strides have been made on the sports security front, more needs to be done. Big-time and big money leagues need to invest in legitimate security teams that can dutifully protect attendees. Background checks should be required for security firm employees, as many hired today come with past criminal records. Increased training must be provided for event security staff, to improve both attack thwarting probability and crisis management. Solutions to a globalized issue such as terrorism are hard to come by, yet in individualized circumstances, such as stadium security, more drastic preventative measures should be taken.

Sporting events, usually regarded as a safe haven from the world’s perils, are now become the sites of that tragedies our world fears. While passion, pride, and hard work are all meant

to be the main focus of these events, terrorism is certainly now a distraction to the contemporary fan. Event security is lacking due to the big business of sports and its 21st century costcutting principles. Stadiums that once relied on sheer luck and faith in humanity for protection now must face the cost and pay the price for lack of safety, however large that price may be. The Boston Marathon bombing taught society invaluable lessons that cannot be ignored. Now is the time to finally reevaluate how vital security is to sports in today’s ever-dangerous world.

Art by Galen McMullen/Staff

Junior Greg Kastein Sports Played: Soccer and volleyball.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what it be and why? I would stick with my cat, he’s pretty awesome.

What has been the hardest part of picking up volleyball as a new sport? Learning all of the arbitrary rules, like have to rotate positions when possession of the serve changes.

What was the best of advice you’ve ever gotten? “Freeze your platform.” - Mr. Swope.

Senior Jack Kane

Sports Played: Golf and lacrosse.

Who is your favorite superhero?

Mr. Incredible.

What is the one thing you wished you did during your four years at LM? One thing I wish I did at was go to more football games.

What are you most looking forward to this summer? I’m most looking forward to spending the summer at home with my friends.