The Review
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TEXAS PERMIT 9081
The Official Student Newspaper of St. John’s School Vol. 60, Issue 1
2401 Claremont Lane; Houston, TX 77019 | http://sjsreview.net | review@sjs.org
August 2008
North Campus Transformed By CAROLINE GIBSON This summer, the SJS North Campus underwent some renovations. The goal of these renovations, which were planned by architect Bruce Berger of Dallas-based Armstrong-Berger, was to make the campus more compatible to the needs of students. Mr. Berger had to draw out several variations of his plans in order to see that this goal was met. As a result of these renovations, the cobblestone pathway of the North Campus was changed to a concrete surface, and new dimensions of the surface were created in order to prevent water from pooling. Headmaster John Allman added that an additional advantage to the new pavement is that up to seven games of foursquare can be held at once. Also, the new concrete can be used for chalk drawings. The Mini Quad underwent a few changes as well. Trees were removed and its pavement was flattened in order to make it a more desirable place for students. Nicole Gras (’11) said, “I like the tables and benches more than the awkward flowerbed.” Other changes include the removal and transplanting of trees and the planting of magnolias along the fence line of Mr. Allman’s house. “We are especially proud of that area,” Director of Finances and Operations Greg Swan said.
KATHERINE CARMICHAEL | The Review
Renovations to the North Campus include repaved walkways, contoured hardwood benches and additional plant life. A statue of two children, located in front of the admissions office, was donated by the class of 1957 in celebration of the 50th anniversary of their graduation from SJS. The $750,000 cost of these renovations was obtained from savings from previous renovation projects as well as private contributors. About $310,000
Maverick Sports Fall Preview Coaches and captains from every team discuss summer practices and what’s in store for the season ahead | See p. 5
Captains’ Chat A candid Q & A on the challenges facing the varsity football team in the upcoming season | See p. 7
Index News...........................2 Sports.........................5 BeyondSJS...................8 Photo Spread...........10 Features...................12 Opinions...................15 A&E.........................17
came from savings from the project that built Mewbourne Hall and restored the Quadrangle. Mr. Swan said that he thinks the improvement of SJS is “an ongoing process.” He added that plans to obtain more picnic tables and to paint them are in the works. According to Mr. Swan, the renova-
tions have been successful. “We’ve been getting positive feedback,” he said. He continued, “We talked to a significant cross-section of our community as we planned the project and felt good about what we were trying to do. However, at the end of the day, you also cross your fingers and hope everyone is going to like the end result.”
Summer jobs decreasing among students By LILIANA VARMAN This summer marked one of the lowest employment rates in recent history, as students seeking summer jobs faced unemployment to a greater extent than in past years. Assistant Headmaster Mark Reed attributed this drop in employment to the recent changes in the economy. “Any time the economy goes down, unemployment tends to go up because there are fewer jobs available and companies cut back. If [a] company’s not employing as many people, [it doesn’t] have as much of a need to employ teenagers,” he said. Another contributing factor is the return of elderly people to the workplace. Mr. Reed explained that when the market goes down, people who have invested in retirement packages see a decrease in the amount of money saved. As a result, the elderly return to work and compete for the
Senior summer reading review See how this year’s assigned reading stacks up pages 18-19
same jobs that teenagers seek, such as those in the restaurant and retail businesses. Nihal Ramchandani (’09) felt the effects of this competition firsthand when searching for a job this past summer. “A lot of [stores] are looking for older people who will be able to work full time. They aren’t really looking for teenagers who only want a job for a few months,” he said. After applying for jobs at stores such as Barnes and Noble, Robeks, Borders and Soundwaves, he finally found a job at Vector Marketing in June. “I sell knives, to put it bluntly,” Ramchandani said, adding, “That wasn’t supposed to be a pun.” At his job at Vector Marketing, rated by Forbes Magazine as one of the best summer jobs for teenagers, Ramchandani sold Cut-Co brand knives to specific clients. Although it was not his original intention to work for Vector, Ramchandani said his job
Debra Magee back from London After a year abroad, Ms. Magee reflects on cultural differences and life across the pond page 8
provided him with a lot of flexibility. “I can basically make my own schedule. I call clients and then we set sales meetings, so I do almost all my work on the weekend,” he said. Some teenagers seek summer jobs in hopes that these jobs will provide them with an activity to put on their college applications. However, given the recent rise in unemployment, such jobs are harder to come by. As a result, some teenagers are forced to fill up their schedules with other activities, such as doing community service or taking classes. College counselors Bryan Rutledge and Cara Matzen stressed that a candidate lacking work experience is not necessarily at a disadvantage. “Colleges just want to know that you spend your time in a way that’s valuable and meaningful to you. [Having a summer job] is not the only
See SUMMER p. 4
Behind the scenes of the SJS bookstore Feature profile of Ms. Medellin as well as a breakdown of textbook prices page 13