S.
SALMAGUNDY
Springing into Action
Issue 3 | May 2019 Miss Porter’s School 60 Main ST, Farmington, CT 06032
Editors in Chief Selina Chang ‘19 Claire Ji ‘19 Staff Writers Julia Luppino ‘21 Mariela Vazquez ‘21 Annika Philomin ‘19 Merritt Hall ‘19 Naima Small ‘21 Sports Editor Marjorie Plants ‘21 Inside the Bubble Arts & Travel Editor Jennifer Kang ‘20 Outside the Bubble News Editor Michelle Choi ‘19 Inside the Bubble News Editor Sofia Olivares ‘21 Opinions Editor Mara Farrell ‘21 Cartoonist Sara Park ‘19 Photo Editor Jenny Wu ‘19 Layout Editor Yeda Min ‘19
Editors in Chief | 03
Interview - Plettes | 12
Opinion | 15
Interview - Linda Cai | 07
One Acts | 14
Interview - Alizeh Raza | 20
About Airbnb | 05
Interview - Anne-Violette | 09
Illustration by Susan Driscoll
Cartoon | 13
Sports | 19
The Campus Master Plan | 21
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Editors in Chief
Editors in Chief W
elcome to Salmagundy’s Spring and Final Edition of the Academic Year!
Throughout this year, we have witnessed many exciting changes around us. Therefore, in this last Salmagundy issue, we have decided to honor those who have made significant contributions to our Porter’s community and beyond. Unlike our previous approaches, the staff members of Salmagundy interviewed or did research on a few individuals whom they believed could introduce fresh new perspectives to our understanding of the inside and outside of the Farmington bubble. You will be able to explore a variety of important topics, such as diversity, internationalism, passions, athleticism, and social reform, through these beautifully-crafted sentences. Hopefully, after gaining a deeper understanding of our campus life and beyond, some of you will “spring into action” and keep making long-lasting positive changes with an open and innovative mind.
~ Your Editors in Chief Selina Chang and Claire Ji
Editors in chief
Illustration by Susan Driscoll
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About Airbnb
How Airbnb Is Destroying Our Communities By Anya Lord
W
ith summer break on the horizon, my calendar is already full. Travel has always been a passion of mine (even if it is based on privilege). Yet, I try to be a savvy visitor. My travels normally entail extensive research about customs and languages. Usually, this also means staying at boutique hotels, preferably ones owned by locals. But around two years ago this all changed: I was introduced to the well known home rental marketplace of Airbnb, and I was hooked. Their mission of providing unprecedented access to local communities and of creating opportunities for more people to experience the world reflect many of my own values. My first Airbnb was a frenchman’s apartment in the college district of Paris, le quartier latin. His home was full of unique books and antique furniture. You really felt as though you were living in someone else’s shoes. The apartment was a perfect jumping-off point from which to immerse myself into Parisian life. The next Airbnb was the antithesis of the other. As the apartment was a series of Ikea showrooms, it did not quite conjure up the same warm homey feelings. However, the neighborhood was impressive. Located in The Gay Village of Montreal, there was no shortage of historical architecture and street art. But then I got to thinking: How could such an aseptically clean apartment exist in such a historic neighborhood? The contrast was odd, and a mystery. I began to dig deeper into the world of Airbnb and what people were saying
about the phenomenon. I discovered that not everybody was happy with the presence of Airbnb in their neighborhoods. Many were outright contemptuous of their Airbnb neighbours. Superficially, it seems that Airbnb is a very good business but the reality leaves more to be desired. People buy apartments in residential areas yet have no intention of ever moving in. They clean them up only to turn them over to vacationing tenants. In my opinion, Airbnb is displacing neighbourhood residents to make room for tourists and raising the rents for those who try stay. After realising that Airbnb might not be as great as it seemed, I began to look for tell-tale signs of an Airbnb invasion: 01. Streets lined with doors with lock-boxes hanging from their handles. 02. The oddly frequent clickety-clack of rolling suitcases on the pavement. 03. Neighborhoods that become ghost towns following the winter vacation.
In choosing where to live, people seek safety, friendly neighbors, affordable housing, and peace of mind. Airbnb is disturbing all of these. Our homes are where we spend our time, raise children, and hang out with friends. In short we want to live in vibrant communities. Yet, Airbnb’s short rental service is ripping these communities apart. Opportunist landlords who buy and then rent hundreds of units at a time and a severe lack of regulations combine to leave communities vulnerable to crime, wild house parties, dangerous strangers, and more. At the very least, more regulations should be put in place that will protect the integrity of year rounds communities. However, at its core, Airbnb’s mission still aims to open doors to unique cultural experiences. So the next time you’re deciding between a Frenchman’s passion and an Ikea showroom, remember they are not equal. There is a contradiction at the heart of Airbnb. It both unravels and weaves the strands of community.
About Airbnb
Illustration by Tommy Parker
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Interview - Linda Cai
Art in Main: An Interview with Linda Cai Congratulations to all the newly elected Nova Nine! I personally am excited to see the fresh ideas, changes, and visions you all have for the school. This year, Linda Cai ‘20 and Mayrra Sardjito ‘20 were elected as the co-heads Main. Some of their responsibilities in this position include making posters on Main shelf and organizing sit down dinner. Recently, I had the opportunity to interview one of the co-heads, Linda Cai. By Jennifer Kang
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What are specific things that the current heads of main are doing that you would like to continue to do next year? I would love to work with Mayrra to maintain the amazing quality of the posters and also continue to provide conversation topic sheets at sit down dinners to make sit downs more enjoyable.
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What are some ideas you would like incorporate next year as head of main? I want to implement new kinds of media for the posters, for example: tapestries, collages, and 3D Paper art. As I mentioned in my speech, I will try to work with administration to make sit down a little less frequent, for when something is more rare, we learn to appreciate its value and meaning more.
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Where do you find inspiration in your art? I mainly find inspiration from our daily lives, from imagination, or observa-
tion. I love flipping through magazines, appreciating artists’ drawings, taking photos to capture fun times, and just sitting and taking in nature’s beauty. Even the most extravagant artwork is composed of small and simple things, so I really value the little moments in life.
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What are you looking forward to as a co-head of main? I am honestly very excited for everything! The poster-making, sitdown hosting, seat-arranging, and more. It is an honor to serve our Porter’s community and I cannot wait for next year.
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What type of legacy do you want to leave at Porter’s as a co-head of Main? It is hard to say now because the idea of leaving or even being a senior is still crazy to me, but it would be amazing if people would remember our year as the year that the posters sparked joy, even if just a little bit, in their life at Porter’s
Interview - Linda Cai
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Interview - Anne-Violette
By Julia Luppino
The following responses are from Anne-Violette Astruc Zelaya, an international student from Nicaragua. I asked her broad questions about the current crisis in Nicaragua and she provided an in depth explanation of what is going on, how it has affected her and her family, and what the Porter’s community can do to help.
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What does the Porter’s community absolutely need to know about the crisis in Nicaragua? The political situation in Nicaragua had been deteriorating since the re-election of Mr. Daniel Ortega in 2016 to a third consecutive term amid charges of electoral fraud. He even elected his wife, Rosario Murillo as Vice President. Nearly 40 years after the leftist Sandinista Front led by Ortega expelled the Somozas that had ruled Nicaragua for decades, he is accused of becoming the
very dictator he helped depose all those years ago. But something changed on April 18th 2018. The Ortega administration approved changes to reduce significantly the social security pension for the retired citizens. Among the modifications to the pension system, both employees and employers must contribute more to the social security system, and retirees will see a reduction in their pensions, as more money will be taken out to cover medical expenses. When people protested the reforms, police and paramilitaries attacked them. The government ordered cable television providers to cut the signal to several stations not under state
control. University students took over college campuses, and masked residents armed with homemade mortars and other weapons set up roadblocks around the country that paralyzed commerce. Some protesters set fire to government buildings and burned cars, while the police responded with deadly force against even unarmed groups of protesters, human rights observers say. “Liz Throssell, spokeswoman for the United Nations Human Rights Office, called on the Ortega administration “to ensure that people are able to freely exercise their right to freedom of expression and to peaceful assembly and association.” But Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is also the first lady, issued statements
Interview - Anne-Violette
that were broadcast on state-controlled media on Thursday saying that the protesters were being manipulated for political purposes. Ms. Murillo said the protests were organized by “those tiny groups that inflame and destabilize to destroy Nicaragua.” These popular uprising left more than 850 dead, 1,000 imprisoned, more than 150,000 Nicaraguans have left the country and many to seek refuge in Costa Rica. Journalist have flown the country also. And Nicaraguans cannot protest, if you hold the Nicaraguan Flag on the street the Police comes to imprison you. The response from the government is brutal and repressive strategy to quell the opposition movement and has tightened The government shut down a popular television station, jailed its news direc-
tor and expelled international human rights observers. Private gas stations that had participated in strikes were shuttered. The police raided the offices of the country’s leading human rights organization and seized its computers. Nicaragua and international views In December 2018, the US Congress approved the Investment Conditionality Act, or Nica Act, a law aimed at crippling Mr. Ortega’s presidency economically by cutting off lending from international development banks. Many European countries are cutting off lending from international development banks. The OAS has sanctioned the Ortega government for its crime against an unarmed population. Even the International Socialist movement has expelled Nicaragua from being a member. Rallies now require a permit, which no anti-government group receives. People are afraid to carry the flag or sing
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the national anthem for fear of being viewed as a subversive. Government repression The Ortega administration channels all media requests through the office of the vice president, which did not respond to repeated requests for interviews. In past communiqués, Ms. Murillo described the protesters as petty criminals and gang members who were financed by right-wing political parties. Last but not least, Nicaragua’s allies are Venezuela, Cuba, Bolivia and Russia, all the countries where a dictatorship is instituted…. While the future of Nicaragua is uncertain, we believe HOPE is the last thing to lose. And one day Nicaragua will become a Republic Again: as Journalist Pedro Joaquín Chamorro said : “Nicaragua volvera a ser Republica”
At an enormous march on May 30, Mother’s Day in Nicaragua, more than a dozen people were killed by snipers. The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights has logged more than 322 deaths. Two dozen of the victims were minors. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/world/americas/nicaragua-protests-daniel-ortega.html https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/24/world/americas/ nicaragua-protests-daniel-ortega.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FNicaragua&action=click&contentCollection=world®ion=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=collection
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Interview - Anne-Violette
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about being away from
to get involved/to help?
What is the hardest part Nicaragua at this time?
It’s hard being away from the people I love and it’s hard to know that my friends, family and fellow Nicaraguans live this reality everyday. Sometimes, I feel helpless and think I don’t have the power to change the situation. However, I am hopeful that with my experience at Porter’s I will be able to help my country in some way, even if today it is not very clear how. Often, it’s difficult to go through my day acting”normally”, completing work or even talking to friends, when I know that at this moment someone’s rights are being violated for protesting their rights. At this moment, a mother could be crying over their disappeared son or daughter. At this moment, someone could be being tortured in a prison just for wearing the colors of our country’s flag or holding the flag that represents us. I remain hopeful that the situation will improve. By spreading awareness and rising to the dictatorship, Nicaragua has a future. As one of my favorite artists says, “Cuando la tirania es ley, la revolución es orden.” -Calle 13 Title of song: Adentro Artist: René Pérez Joglar (Puerto Rican) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk1DTB_q3P4
What can the community do
1.-Supporting all the International
Organizations that are passing resolutions (politically and economically) against the Ortega-Murillo government in order to pressure them to have anticipated elections with international observers, give freedom of speech to people, and allow them to protest freely without the fear of being killed. The International Organizations and countries who support a Democratic Solution in Nicaragua are: OAS, UN, European Parliament, Lima Group, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch. How to support them? Reading information and sharing it. It can be hard to make individual change, but the more awareness is spread, the more violence can be prevented and exposed to the world.
2.-Supporting all countries that are passing resolutions (politically and economically) against the Ortega-Murillo government in order to pressure them to: USA, The Lima Group, the European Union.
3.-On Flag Day, have a special thought
for all those who have been deprived of their liberty of movement and speech.
4.-Sensibilize other communities of the political situation and refugees from Nicaragua.
5.-Invite a Guest form an International
Organization who has supported Nicaragua against the Ortega Murillo government to speak at MPS. Get involved and help!
Interview - Plettes
Interview with the Plettes By Annika Philomin
01. What has been your favorite song that the Perilhettes have sung so far? Dollhouse/sweet dreams mashup - Jess
02. What has been your favorite Perilhette performance? Ancient weekend - Cherise
03. What performance are you most looking forward to? Graduation - Sonali
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Cartoon
Sara Park | Old & New
One Acts
One Acts By Mara Farrell
After another successful Miss Porter’s / Avon Old Farms production last weekend, it is once again clear that our students are not to be underestimated when it comes to the theatre. This time the twist came in the form of students taking on more than just acting roles. The One Act festival featured student lead short plays, all of which were directed by Porter’s girls. Putting aside the obvious desire to support female leadership, especially in this male dominated industry, the One Acts really were outstanding, so much so you would be surprised they were created by teenagers and not professionals. This particular production showcased a variety of themes and genres ranging from comedies, to surrealist stories, to parodies. Not only did the students work incredibly hard, but they also had a lot of fun! One actress said, “With every play you get these lines that are so funny or just so awful that it becomes an inside joke and we just quote it in different scenarios.” Sarah Mende, a junior who wrote and directed her one act, said that she liked the experiences of creating her own story and watching it go from an idea to a reality. “When I was sitting in the audience during tech week, I got to watch them on the stage in their costumes with
the full set doing something that I like came up with in my head at three o’clock in the morning. It was really wild that people had actually worked really hard on it and it had become real.” Her story was a surreal piece about a lost-andfound for concepts such as childhood innocence and wonder. When asked about her inspiration for writing the play, she said, “I’ve always liked kind of weird and surreal stuff but I didn’t think I was capable of creating it. So when I began to try this, [the idea] just came out. I tried not to think about it too much because every time I tried to write something, it ended up super grounded.” Many actors and directors agreed that being in a student lead production is very different from their previous theatre experiences. Jackie Mack, a junior and seasoned veteran on the Hacker stage, said it really allowed for the casts to bond and for everyone to try new styles on the stage. She described the difference between other productions where there was more uniformity in the directing style: “When you’re with other students it’s a completely different thing. It’s really fresh and new and fun.” Their passion and hardwork shined through in their performances and the overall quality of the show’s production in the One Act Festival.
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Opinion
New vs. Old By Jennifer Kang
Interview with Anna Murray (Head of Keepers):
01.
Merritt: What is the role of the Keepers of Tradition? Anna: The Keepers of Tradition are a group of 12 seniors, and their role is to uphold traditions and tradition culture at Porter’s. Traditionally, they intimidated the freshman, but now they are another group of upperclassmen that the New Girls can look to for support. They are involved in the traditions themselves and help maintain the respect for seniors and Old Girls throughout the year.
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Merritt: What role do traditions play in the Porter’s experience? Anna: I’d say that traditions are a very large part of the Porter’s experience because they’re something that every New Girl will go through: a bonding moment for the New Girls as a class. For me, they are when I’ve made some of my best memories here on campus. It’s a time when the community comes together outside of the classroom, and it’s a fun and exciting way to feel welcomed. It has this initiation-type feel, but it’s more just to get people involved and feel the energy of the community. You can’t experience Porter’s without going through the traditions your New Girl year.
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Merritt: What has been your favorite tradition while at Porter’s? Anna: That is a hard question. I like
both Welcome and German. In the past I’ve said Welcome is my favorite because that was the first time I really felt like a part of this community. But, I would also say German is my favorite because of that element of surprise. It’s something that you can only experience once and making it just right for the New Girls is really memorable. As a Keeper this year, running the German and seeing everyone’s reactions from the stage was an awesome experience.
evolved over the past few years?
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Merritt: What do people mean when they say they “miss the old Keepers” or “the way the Keepers used to be”? Anna: In the past, Keepers used to be much more intimidating and people would be afraid of them. For our grade, we went through a specific experience with our Keepers, and we wanted the following class to have that same experience. In my opinion, I think, through people wanting the Keepers to be more inviting, the original spirit of them have also lessened over the years. So, I think people miss what ‘the Keepers’ originally stemmed from. Since the whole idea was keeping up the traditions, that has become a little lost. But, we have also adapted new things while trying to maintain what the Keepers really mean. As a whole though, the old Keepers added a whole other level of excitement to the traditions. Now, the community energy during the traditions isn’t as intense as it used to be, and I think that intensity is what people miss.
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Merritt: To add onto the previous question, how have the Keepers
Anna: Welcome has definitely changed the most over the years. For our group this year, we wanted to find a way to keep the names involved because that was really important during our Welcome as New Girls. We feel like the changes that were made were necessary because of the new direction that the group is going in, but at the same time we tried to stay true to the original values of the group.
Merritt: Why do you think people push for the Keepers to be scary and intimidating? Anna: I think that has to do with upperclassmen wanting to feel like they are upperclassmen. It’s definitely not the New Girls who are pushing for it to be more scary, but rather it’s the Old Girls who have experienced the way it used to be. The “fear-factor” heightens the overall energy of the community. Especially for German, if you’re afraid of messing up you’re going to put more effort into learning the words. By having the safety net of not really needing to know it, the lack of incentive will make you less enthusiastic and excited about it.
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Merritt: Do you have anything else that you wish to say? Anna: I know people aren’t as open to the new direction that the Keepers are going in, but it’s really important that everyone supports the Keepers and goes along with what they’re doing. We do our best to hold onto our traditions and legacy in the best way that we can.
Opinion 16
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Opinion
Opinion
What’s in the past is in the past, and it’s time to move forward. We enjoy what we do, and we hope that the community enjoys it as well. We all applied for this position knowing that it was heading in a new direction; we were excited to bring our new ideas to the table and help transform the role while keeping it true to the fundamental values of the group.
Interview with Ruby Eisler (Old Girl sophomore):
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Merritt: What is the role of the Keepers of Tradition? Ruby: Their role is to maintain the traditions that we’ve had throughout the years and to excite everyone about traditions. They also continue on the legacy of prior Keepers.
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Merritt: What role do traditions play in the Porter’s experience? Ruby: I think traditions play a huge role in the Porter’s experience. Some of the traditions have been going on for a very long time, so they tie you back to the start of our school and make you feel like you’re embedded into the history.
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Ruby: I really like Fall German. It’s so fun. Freshman year everyone was stressing out in the day-student room beforehand, but it makes you closer as a grade. Then, once you figure it out, it’s so funny to see everyone’s reactions. This year as a sophomore it was fun to see the freshman that I’m friends with go through what I did last year.
Ruby: I know that there are things that have changed; upperclassmen will explain what it used to be like, which makes you feel like you’re missing out on something. So, I really like how the Keepers made that video for Welcome this year because it was a little scary and exciting at the same time.
Merritt: What has been your favorite tradition while at Porter’s?
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Merritt: What do people mean when they say they “miss the old Keepers” or “the way the Keepers used to be”? Ruby: I think they are referring to the scariness and the intimidation. It’s exciting because you know that the Keepers are just real people and not actually mean, but for one night they can pretend to be. I know it’s all not real, but in the moment it’s cool. When Ancients come back to school and talk about traditions, it’s sometimes sad for them to hear that they are no longer scary.
Merritt: To add onto the previous question, how have the Keepers evolved over the past few years?
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Merritt: Why do you think people push for the Keepers to be scary and intimidating? Ruby: I think that it’s part of the experience. If someone else has experienced the scary Keepers and told you stories about it, then that makes you want to experience it as well.
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Merritt: Do you have anything else that you wish to say? Ruby: It’s obvious that the Keepers are going to have to adapt to the times, but I think that there’s a happy medium. I think the Keepers this year did a good job with going forward while still having moments like the past.
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Sports
Athletic Advancements: An Interview with Brittany Gustafson, Porter’s Athletic Trainer By Mojo Plants
What is your name?
Brittany Gustafson
What changes will be happening in the athletic complex?
We will be renovating the space to provide health and wellness along with space for sports performance and lifting activities.
What are the ideas of the design for the athletic complex renovations?
Rather than small separate rooms, the fitness area will be more of a open, great room on an even level.
When will the renovations begin?
The goal is that this spring, the design of the new fitness facility will be released. The plan is to renovate by the 2020-2021 school year. We want to ensure that we give enough time to fully formulate the plan to make it the best it can be.
What is your role in planning these advancements?
I helped design the renovations with Avi (Porter’s Director of Athletics), facility members, and an architect.
What do you think will be the impact of these renovations?
I think that these changes will have a full community impact, for the current students, new students, and the faculty. They will promote the overall importance of encouraging health and wellness. We want to be able to improve in providing for the faculty and student athlete experience.
Interview - Alizeh Raza
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An Interview with an International Student: Alizeh Raza For some Porter’s girls, the school is a short drive, or a long bus ticket away. Home is easier to reach, and family is always there as well. For others, going to school can mean leaving home completely behind, immersing themselves into a new country, culture, or even language. There are many misconceptions about the international student experience, as well as the false stereotypes about the countries these girls live in as well. Today, I interviewed Alizeh Raza, a sophmore from Karachi, Pakistan. She explained to me, a day student, about what it’s like to be so far from home. By Naima Small
As an international student, what is the most difficult thing about coming to Porter’s? Alizeh: As an international student from Pakistan, the most difficult thing is homesickness. Although I lived in the United States for most of my life, I got so used to living in Pakistan and being around people who were like me and looked like me. It was difficult to be in a new environment where some people didn’t know anything about my country or how I lived and would judge me based on misconceptions. What do you miss about being back home? Alizeh: I miss my friends and family, because back home I used to go out a lot, such as going out to lunch with friends and family. I’d be out of home a lot to meet new people, but here at Porter’s I don’t get that opportunity all the time. However, I’m grateful that I’ve made close friends with whom I could go to lunch or dinner as well. What do you wish non-international students knew about your experience?
Alizeh: I wish non-international students understood that although we are considered as international students here at Porter’s, a lot of people such as myself have dual citizenship. I wish they knew that not all countries are underdeveloped. Some questions I’ve been asked before include, “Do they have houses in Pakistan?” or “Do they have water in Pakistan?” I wish that people were more willing to learn and accept that my country is not that different from theirs. To conclude, I believe that a lot of students at Porter’s would benefit from taking the time to learn about the international student experience. Attending a private boarding school like Porter’s gives all of us an opportunity to meet an amazingly diverse array of people, and there can be so much to learn about other cultures. Most importantly, students should be addressing their innate biases against other countries and cultures. By confronting stereotypes and being willing to listen to experiences different than one’s own, the Porter’s community can become a more inclusive and welcoming space to students of all backgrounds.
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The Campus Master Plan
The Campus Master Plan: Looking Forward The campus master plan is an ever-evolving idea that changes with the needs of the community. Recently, there was a discussion group which allowed students and faculty alike to give input to what the campus needs to grow and to flourish. In this discussion, there was a map of the campus and students placed three different colored sticky notes pertaining to particular questions on the map where it could belong. This article will look into the concerns and the possible future of the Miss Porter’s School campus. By Sofia Olivares
Concerns A yellow sticky note is a flag of concern. Students and faculty placed their yellow flags all around the campus to point out areas of improvement. There were 98 responses for concerns which all boiled down to these key topics: academics, campus, athletics, day students, dorms, green design, the health center, safety, and student life.
Academics For academics, the most prominent problems are sizes and the amount of classrooms. Many students feel that the spaces in Hamilton are too tight for collaboration to take place. The Harkness tables bring the class together into larger discussions, but sometimes splitting the class into smaller groups can make brainstorming discussion questions and bouncing ideas off each other easier. One problem thus arises: the classrooms in Hamilton are often too small so some classes may have to spread out over the building and mix with other classes that are also using smaller discussion groups. There is a
similar issue in the upstairs classrooms of Jones. Other points of concern for academics include wanting more places to sit in academic buildings and the air quality of the basement of Jones.
Campus Space Next, the campus space. There have already been a few answers to the main concern which is to have more spaces outdoors for students to hang out with their friends, especially when the weather becomes warmer. A recent addition to the main lawn that features a gazebo includes several Porter’s green chairs. These have been hot spots for students to study and hang out outdoors on a nice day. There are two other concerns for campus space, which are improvements to the drainage system and the size. The campus is too small and makes for a “cramped” feeling throughout.
Athletics Even though hype has increased, the space has not. The major concern towards athletics is the use of space. Many believe that the fitness center is
wasting space as there are three different workout rooms instead of having one larger room. The weight and fitness rooms could use a makeover and become more organized. Similarly, students feel that administration should update the locker rooms. Another major concern is the lack of monetary support for the students athletes at Porter’s.
Day Student Rooms Day student rooms are also spaces of collaboration, but they face a similar predicament as Hamilton and Jones. Many students believe they are too small and also too dirty. Of the 11 responses, 8 of them have discussed concerns over the underclassmen day student rooms. Another issue day students face is distance. For seniors, they hope to create a space at the center of the campus so that more people can hang out without having to make the trek across the street. For day student drivers, they want to reduce the walking distance from the parking lots to academic buildings. Currently, the main parking that is available to students include the pool lot, the tennis court lot, and the Grist Mill lot. Seniors also have
The Campus Master Plan
an area behind senior dorms.
Dorms Dorms are living spaces, homes away from homes, so students hope to make them more comfortable. The main concern is the lack of air conditioning. It seems like winter lasts forever in Farmington, Connecticut. However, when the warm weather comes, it hits hard. In the earlier months of school and sometimes the later months, the dorms can quickly get overheated, especially in the upper level floors. Sometimes the heat is so unbearable that students flock to the common rooms in search for a slightly cooler environment. However, there are other concerns such as doors getting constantly stuck, access between dorm faculty and students, and dorm bathrooms lacking items or being too dirty.
Green Design Green design is something Porter’s has also been working diligently to improve. Not all that long ago, the Pool Building was the proud recipient of solar panels. There was also the addition of electric car chargers in the parking lots. However, members of the Porter’s community continue to have concerns over energy efficiency and energy waste. Nevertheless, the responses did not detail where they could address these concerns.
The Health Center The theme of distance is recurring and it is not left out of the concerns about the Health Center. Members of the community worry that the Health Center
may be too far away from students who need daily medicine. Those who live in dorms just across the street have to walk to the light, cross the street, and then make their way towards the Health Center even though it is right in front of their building.
Campus Safety Despite many measures taken towards campus safety, there are still many concerns, mainly traffic. Whether it’s on Sarah Lane in front of the fire station, or in the small parking lot in front of Hamilton, vehicles moving through campus can be dangerous during the brief time between classes when many students are heading to different buildings. The other concern has to do with doors. Many doors on campus don’t close tightly or are always unlocked, such as some doors in the library and Olin Arts and Science Center. Security has been working to fix these issues and they are always only a phone call away.
Student Life Last, but not least, student life. From Main to the Riverview, students are hoping for some big changes. First and foremost, the student center. Many want a central place that has fun activities for students and a common space that is for nothing more than just hanging out in style. Currently, the Main building seems to be serving this purpose; however, the space is too small. Also, in regards to Main, many feel that the dining hall is not big enough to hold everybody and that the lines for food are too long. Others see potential safety hazards with backpacks all over the
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floor. The dining hall kitchen requires more space as well for an easier workflow. Overall, Main could use some heavy updates to all its spaces. The Daisy Café requires a similar treatment as does the kitchen in the Wean Student Center, the current location of Moonbeams Café. The Riverview Squash and Pool building have so many more uses, too. The theatre also requires a systems upgrade. As one student noted, “The sound effect is bad, and our lights do not have enough electricity to function.”
Conclusion To sum up, there are two major concerns: space and modernization. Most desire larger campus spaces so that it is easier for the community to come together. Many hope to have better support systems in which they are able to perform their best in academics and in extracurriculars while also feeling comfortable at home.
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The Campus Master Plan
Future The future. We all are looking forward to the years ahead and to all the possible changes. There were 105 sticky notes about the future on the campus master plan map. With highlights and concerns of the existing campus in mind, members of the community contributed ideas towards renovations and completely new constructions for the campus.
Renovations For renovations, it is mainly centered around living spaces like dorms and day student rooms. Hamilton can use either a renovation or an addition for larger classroom space. Some want to change the Main building to be an academic environment and move the Dining Hall into a new student center in a completely different building. Many hope to solve issues in the Athletic Complex such as water leaks and cramped spaces. There should also be renovations to increase accessibility to more elevators for those in wheelchairs or on crutches. The theatre could use both renovation and additions so that there is more space backstage and electrical power for lights and the booth.
Additions Students want an extra place to sit down outside of the classroom within Olin. The Athletics Complex could use an additional workout room, but this idea ties back into the renovation to maximize the space. As for the outdoors, students want to see picnic tables and hammocks so that they can take full advantage of the green spaces on campus.
New Constructions For new constructions, the main one that keeps making appearances and is generally popular is the new student center. A completely new building that can include a new dining hall, games, couches, a café, and many other things to make it the perfect hang-out space that doesn’t feel too tight or crowded. Some hope the arts can be more frequently displayed in museums, galleries, and performance venues for guests as well as students. Outdoors, students hope for a track and field area and a hockey or ice skating rink. Other general constructions and additions include more parking spaces, new sidewalks, and a closer Health Center.
What’s Next? To address any of these concerns, to preserve the best of Porter’s, and for the future to come to pass, the community will have to make many decisions. As of right now, the school still needs to find the funding for these large projects and also decide on the priorities of the campus master plan. This will be a long process, but the wait will be worth it. Special thanks to Katie Bradley who provided me with all the information reported above and to everybody involved in the huge task of creating the campus master plan. The whole community is excited and grateful to see what will happen in the near future.
The Campus Master Plan
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Issue 3 | May 2019