12opinions THE REVIEW
GRADUATION 2013
EDITORIAL
Challenging SAC to take the lead The recent prefect elections for Student Affairs Council (SAC) reached a milestone, with 22 people running for six spots. Due to these unprecedented numbers, candidates were limited to one-minute speeches. In response to the high number of prefect candidates, SAC instituted a new rule for next year stating that only people who have previously run for SAC will be eligible for prefect. The Editorial Board believes that limiting the pool to candidates who have demonstrated interest and passion for SAC will help ensure that deserving and strong representatives are elected. For any other organization on campus, leadership positions are filled by those who have shown sustained dedication to the group, and SAC should be no exception. The Editorial Board wholeheartedly supports SAC’s new measure. However, the format of this year’s elections, which were not conducted according to the new rule, was sadly lacking.
With only one minute for speeches, candidates understandably resort to humor in order to make themselves memorable. In turning to comedy, however, some candidates have an unequal balance between jokes and serious suggestions or goals. We urge students to vote based on merit rather than on who delivered the funniest lines. In order to add substance, candidates need more than one minute to outline their platform. Though this strategy will inevitably cut into the school day, we think it is a necessary measure. With this year’s elections, the Editorial Board felt as though condensing the prefect assembly to its 40-minute confines was considered more important than conscientiously voting for our student representatives. We also suggest that elections be reformatted in order to allow for substantive discussion or debate. The Review would be more than willing to run a debate or forum of sorts for prefect elections. Granted, this would be difficult
dearreader,
I contemplated writing that clichéd final letter, full of reflections, ruminations and advice. But I feared I would struggle to capture my time at SJS in just a few overgeneralizations. So I decided to write a letter to my brother, currently a freshman. Hopefully, he and the rest of the underclassmen will take something from it. Dear Nicholas, You know I’m not the most emotional guy, but I have to confess, I started tearing up as I began writing this letter. Until now, the changes college will bring hadn’t yet hit me. Come September, I won’t see my best friend every day. I won’t have someone who I can count on to go outside and play catch with me or laugh at some funny internet video. Sure, I’ll be able to find people in college who know how to throw a football or share my sense of humor. But it won’t be the same. Because they won’t be my brother. The bond between brothers is a special one. In that bond, there exists something that I struggle to put into words. We’ve been fortunate to see that bond in action, whether it was Uncle Les at Grandpa’s side during his final days or Dad and Uncle Mike playing practical jokes on each other.
thestaff Andrew Vogeley
Parker Donaldson
Valerio Farris
Lydia Liu
Braden Doyle
Samantha Neal
Anya Ring
Amy Kang
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Carolyn Brooks
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Iman Charania
Nicole Lang
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The Review has been like an extended family of sorts. Just like I can’t imagine life without Nicholas, I can’t imagine my high school career without The Review. This year was particularly special. Although our dysfunction often reached points of pure ridiculousness, (I’ve always maintained that if MTV put up cameras in The Review room, we would have the best reality TV show ever) we still managed to take this paper to a new level. It was our goal to establish The Review as a major force in the Upper School. I think we’ve laid a solid foundation. I’m already looking forward to what next year’s conductors of the engine of discourse will achieve. It has been an honor and a privilege. Sincerely,
Andrew Vogeley Editor-in-chief
Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association-Gold Medalist 2011-2012 National Scholastic Press Association-6th Place Best of Show, First Class 2012
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This year was particularly special because it was the first one we spent at the same school. I’ve promised to stay away from the advice and overgeneralizations, but I think my SJS experience warrants a few. I hope they will be of some use. Work hard. Hard work doesn’t guarantee success, but it’s the one thing you can control. Take full advantage of your teachers. They make SJS a special place. They are not afraid to challenge you, pushing you toward ideas that you didn’t think you could (or didn’t want to) grapple with. And finally, don’t be afraid to say no. At some point, somebody will want you to do something that makes you uncomfortable. Just tell them no. Give them an explanation if you like, but don’t feel obligated. Knowing how and when to say no is not taught enough. I’m not sure those pieces of advice will make any difference. In the end, evaluate each situation for what it is and use your common sense, and I’ll be the first to admit, you’ve got a lot more than I do. I will always be there for you, even when I’m 1,600 miles away. Love, Andrew
THE OFFICIAL STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL
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managing editor
with 20 people, but primaries could be held to narrow the field down to a more manageable size. If the new regulations are going to weed out the less serious candidates and leave the most dedicated students, then SAC should be willing to take on more serious duties and assume a more prominent role. Currently, SAC has a widespread reputation as the group that organizes Homecoming and Field Day while standing by in the event of an Honor Trial. The Board wants to challenge SAC to become more transparent while focusing on substantive issues. SAC has the potential to be a powerful voice that does more than demand curly fries in the fast food line. The Editorial Board would be willing to facilitate discussions about major issues on campus that are under SAC’s jurisdiction. We understand that our suggestions are a major challenge, but these adjustments, along with SAC’s new measure, will benefit the school for years to come.
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Staff
Mikaela Juzswik Suman Atluri Winnie Brandfield-Harvey Eugenia Kakadiaris Nikhila Krishnan Daniel Brenner Joseph Caplan Pallavi Krishnarao Jessica Lee Guan Chen Cara Maines Rebecca Chen Elliot Cheung Gabe Malek Nina Manian Jake Chotiner William Clutterbuck Ian Mellor-Crummey Iris Cronin Matthew Neal Jake Nyquist Chloe Desjardins Joshua Dickerson Kanchana Raja Megan Routbort Amy Dong Elaine Dong Oliver Ruhl Claire Dorfman Emily Sherron Benjamin Shou McKenna Gessner Lin Guo Anirudh Suresh Stephanie Guo Jennifer Trieschman Caroline Harrell Hannah Tyler Scott Hereford Virginia Waller Orion Hicks Tiffany Yue Anna Huang Christopher Zimmerman
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David Nathan Shelley Stein (’88) Steve Johnson
Mission Statement
The Review strives to be an engine of discourse. We seek to inform and engage the St. John’s community.
Publication Info
The Review is published eight times a school year. We distribute 900 copies each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 584 students and 80 faculty. Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages.
Submission Guidelines
The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Headmaster or the Board of Trustees of St. John’s School. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the entire editorial board. Letters to the editor and guest columnists are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and good taste. On occasion, we will publish letters without a name, provided the editor knows the author’s identity. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received or advertisements. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the school. Either e-mail letters and guest columns to avogeley@sjs. org; give them to Andrew Vogeley or David Nathan in the Review Room (Q-210); or mail letters to The Review, 2401 Claremont Ln., Houston, TX 77019.