Sentinel november 2010

St. Luke’s School

377 North Wilton Road - New Canaan, CT - 06840

November, 2010

A Different Kind of Storm Naomi Dubissette Arts Editor

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Spoken by Dr. King, these words personify the spirit of SLS as we move onward from the shock of a racist incident that penetrated the heart of our community. The day began like every other day at the Hilltop. Some bustled to their classes, some dragged their feet after pulling an allnighter; everyone was just trying to get through the day.

No one expected to witness what they did that day. When it was made clear at an all-school assembly that a student had written racist notes targeting a teacher, the widespread sentiment was shock, anger, and disappointment. Strong feelings resonated within each person throughout that day.

Although just one individual was victimized, there was not a single person who didn’t feel affected by the incident.

St. Luke’s students deliver a strong performance of “Lend Me a Tenor” friday and saturday night.

A Letter To The Adminstration

Girls Protest Pants Restriction

The following letter was presented to the school administration, with a copy to The Sentinel, last Friday: Throughout the years, the dress code has been a source of conflict between students and the administration, and in this letter we hope to both respectfully voice our opinions and constructively provide recommendations to the administration.

According to the St. Luke’s Handbook definition, the purpose of the dress code is to “emphasize pride in our community through neat and appropriate appearance at all times.” We whole-heartedly subscribe to this eloquent explanation, and believe that our recommendations to the dress code fit into the St. Luke’s definition.

Our request is simple, and we have put both thought and discussion behind our plea. We ask that corduroy pants with external pockets be included in the dress code. These pants should be in the same style as all of the other pants as defined as by the dress code, with the exception that corduroy pants should be permitted to have external pockets. We agree that jegging style and spandex tight pants are unacceptable school attire, and do not represent the great respect that we, as students, have for this learning institution. We do not wish for corduroy pants with pockets to be the “gateway pant” for other out of dress code styles, it is our only appeal.

There are several reasons behind our request for external pocket corduroys. This entreaty hinges upon the rarity of corduroy pants that do not have external pockets. We have yet to find an affordable pair of corduroy pocket-less pants that fit the dress code requirements. We define “affordable” to be under forty dollars. More expensive pants for dress code only contributes to class status symbols and exclusivity, which are two ideals that we find extremely unattractive and not conducive to learning. We believe that corduroys that have back pockets can look both neat and respectful.

Expenses play a large part in our logic behind the

allowance of external pocket cords. Last year, when the dress code was expanded to include slacks that had back pockets, many girls bought corduroy pants (that had back pockets) for the sole purpose of wearing to school. However, these pants were only good for one short year. To our shock, the recommended pants of last year now earn us an afternoon peeling potatoes. This year, many of the girls did not have a single pair of pants that fit in the new dress code, and had to outfit themselves with a whole new wardrobe. This was costly for the student body, and the formal pants required for school do not have a place in the average high-school girl’s weekend wear, rendering them virtually useless. Moreover, formal pants tend to be more expensive than casual styles, and our bills are racking up.

Another reason behind our request is pure comfort. Winters at St. Luke’s are cold, and walks up from the parking lots and down to the Art house can be very uncomfortable in flats and a skirt, or even chinos, which tend to be made with thin fabric. Corduroy is the warmest material that is currently in dress code and we would be most comfortable in corduroy pants on chilly days. Alas, finding corduroy pants that do not have pockets is like finding a needle in a haystack, and we are left high and dry.

As Seniors, the morale of the school is of the utmost importance to us. We have all worked very hard to get students excited about St. Luke’s. However, our hard work is often negated by the slew of detentions that are given out. While we understand that rules are rules and deserved be followed, we all feel the sting of each detention in the resentment and bitterness in the faces of our peers.

While this may sound dramatic, a detention may ruin a whole day, and as Seniors we wish to cherish each and every day that we have left at St. Luke’s.

We hope to lead the student body through example, by closely following the dress code. We are natural leaders for the upper school, and we recognize our unique ability to influence the thoughts of those younger than us.

Continued on Page 4...

Inside this issue...

Mr. Rager

The Random Kid

Dr. King once said, “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle.” In other words, “you don’t drown by falling in the water, you drown by staying there.” The true spirit of the Saint Luke’s Community was not broken, as we have stood by each other in such a fragile time. After the emotional assembly, advisory served as a time for students to reflect and share their reactions. Throughout the day they found solace in each other, teachers, and those who stood as allies.

There were many perspectives on this incident: the lenses of someone of color, the viewpoint of someone who is an ally, the perception of administrators, who feel responsible for safeguarding all members of the community. What about the position of the person who was targeted? While there were a variety of lenses, we all shared a common perspective…the point of view of a Saint Luke’s Community member, and in that way we were all affected.

Another strong reaction to the incident was one of potential vengeance. Most felt a desire to punish the perpetrator right away. While justice should always be served, the method by which we serve it should be through a thoughtful, strategic process. The leadership of Nelson Mandela serves as a commendable example for the world.

When given the opportunity to avenge the perpetrators of the Apartheid in South Africa, Nelson Mandela called for reconciliation and healing for his nation. Here at SLS, Mr. Holyfield, said the “incident is an opportunity to show strength, reasoning, and character in a time of adversity.”

It would be wise to follow this exemplar.

Fooball

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November 2010

A Tender Review Alex Robertson Staff Writer

Although many of us had hardly heard of the show when it was announced as the choice for the fall play and nearly all of us had no idea what to expect, the audience for the SLS production of Lend Me a Tenor was, in my humble opinion, one of the most responsive and engaged I had ever witnessed--even more so than that of, say, a popular film. Throughout the duration of the play, I (always the type who scans through the audience after a particularly humorous or affecting moment) found nothing but joy on the audiences’ faces, each one of us gladly following the play through its various over-thetop (and hilarious) scenarios. But, enough of patting me and my fellow audience-members on the back--more than anything, the overwhelming success of the play can be attributed to the brilliant work of all those involved.

Actors, directors, set designers; across the board, the work put into this production resulted in a phenomenal show. Firstly, let’s give it up to the actors (and actresses).

With only eight of them in the show, no name deserves to go unmentioned: we have the lovely Emily Bergmann as Maggie Saunders; Zach Batson, with just the right amount of anxiety, playing Max; Theo Kelly as the amusingly irritable Henry Saunders; Ethan Pearce and Lexi Zargar

FEATURES here, but ended up making something significantly less enjoyable. Now, this isn’t to say that there’s nothing to be enjoyed here, particularly after “Erase Me,” which sets off a chain of excellent songs: “Wild’n Cuz I’m Young,” “The Mood,” “Maniac,” “Mr. Rager,” and “These Worries,” the third of which samples the excellent St. Vincent’s “The Strangers”.

Editor in Chief Theodor Trampe Co-Editor Jenna Decatur Sports Editor Henry Clayton Arts Editor Naomi Dubissette

However, the majority of The Legend of Mr. Rager isn’t so much terrible as it is terribly uninspired, with Cudi perhaps getting a little too comfortable with his image as “that one rapper you can totally chill to,” a concept that worked for one album but doesn’t do much when duplicated. Plus, this one’s a whole four minutes longer than his debut. That’s four minutes you can spend asking yourself why you aren’t listening to Kanye West instead.

Get Your Fill

both acquiring first-rate Italian accents as Tito and Maria Merelli, respectively; Colin McIntire as the flashy bellhop (have you ever seen the simple entry of a character incite the audience’s applause? Now you have.); Julianne Wilson as the flirtatious Diana; and, last but not least, Clare Livingston giving a hilariously convincing portrayal of the ditzy Julia.

The work of the aforementioned actors and actresses, combined with the phenomenal behind-thescenes work (the play only featured one set, but, needless to say, the most was made of it), allowed this play to be the very one that made the audience the one I described above.

Each line was delivered smoothly, the energy between the actors was marvelous, and, of course, the play itself was absolutely hysterical. As Ms. Doran likes to say, the thrill of theatre is to watch those onstage “flying without a net”and, boy, did they fly.

The Sentinel Staff

Elina Berglund Staff Writer

Located in central New Canaan, right next to Brueggers, the Filling Station quickly became one of the most popular restaurants in town following its opening last year. Serving burgers, french-fries, and milkshakes, it may appear to be just another burger joint at first glance.

However, once you’ve made it through its vibrantly colored façade and enter into the bustling restaurant, it becomes clear that this place is far superior to your average Mickey D’s or Burger King. First of all, the food is made right in front of you, letting costumers choose their own toppings “subway-style.” The menu is quite varied - from

News Editor Nikki Bennett-Fite Staff Writers Maria Carlucci Sebastian Bates Ben Klein Alex Robertson Elina Berglund Contributing Writers Ethan Pearce Robert Galluccio Contributing Photographers Sam Fomon Megan Flood Facebook The Internet Faculty Advisor Mr. Flachsbart

Raging Up Short Alex Robertson Staff Writer

As much as it pains me to admit it, the “rap” part of rap music has never really mattered all that much to me. For me, rap is all about the vibes: hooks, beats, mood, whatever the rapper needs. What most listeners consider the “meat” of a rap song--the lyrics--always sort of fade into the background for me, although a smooth delivery or a clever line or two usually helps. This is perhaps why Kid Cudi’s sad-sack approach on his debut album didn’t annoy me quite as much as it should have. Something in the enjoyable atmosphere of the album simply allowed me to overlook many of the potential flaws, and, as a result, what could have been an unbearably whiny blog entry in album form was instead a pleasant “chillout” record.

And now the sequel is here, and, more than anything, I’m confused. Most of the elements here--from the rapping to the beats to the atmosphere--are in similar form to the debut, but something feels amiss. That is to say, Cudi pretty much tried to replicate the success of his debut

beef burgers to sloppy joes to cheese fries - the Filling Station has it all. Furthermore, as its owners are dedicated to serving only local, organic food, burgers made with “locally raised organic beef,” hot dogs that are “nitrate free” and “antibiotic and hormone free” milkshakes are all the rage here. For students looking to get low caloric, healthy items such as salads or soups, however, the Filling Station has little to offer. As Senior Lily Holland states, “The filling station is pretty yummy, but it’s a little on the greasy side to eat too often.” Nevertheless, everyone has a right to treat themselves to a cheese burger every once in a while! Prices are surprisingly cheap for such great quality, as a burger, fries, and a milkshake can be yours for less than $10 - a rare commodity in Fairfield County.

Not surprisingly, the Filling Station is one of the seniors’ favorite lunch spots – offering quality food for manageable prices. As Caroline Price ’11 sums it up, “its a pretty good place to grab a quick burger and shake.”

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November 2010

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JUST FOR FUN Students Vote Down Politics Sebastian Bates Staff Writer

November is many things to many people (autumn, ERBs, Thanksgiving Break), but without doubt the most important thing about November- at least in the media- is Election Day. Or so you would think.

In reality, though, it seems that, to St. Luke’s at least, November 2 has been and gone without much incident, despite this year’s closely contested midterm election being one of the most controversial in recent history. To find out exactly how interested we reallyare, The Sentinel sat down with some St. Luke’s students.

The results fully support the idea that those who cannot vote, do not care- which is worrisome when you consider that the seniors and juniors of today will be voting for President in 2012. When asked, only about half of the poll respondents could say who won the Connecticut gubernatorial race (Dan Malloy, Democrat) - and that was the best result.

As for who the senior Senator for Connecticut is, for example, not a single person could tell us, despite the fact that Joe Lieberman has served our state since the close of the Reagan Administration- thus placing the collective political knowledge of St. Luke’s future voters somewhere near that of Glenn Beck’s.

In other local politics, St. Luke’s fared badly.

When asked who the new Senator for our fair state is, less than 1 in 4 could tell us that Richard Blumenthal had been elected, despite the fact that he has been the state AttorneyGeneral for nearly 20 years.

Luckily, St. Luke’s did a little better when it came to overall control in Congress. 44% of those polled could tell us that the Republicans control the House, and 40% could tell us that the Democrats still hold the Senate- a better, but still disappointing statistic, considering that this is the sort of thing that could cause Obama to become a lame-duck two years ahead of schedule.

Perhaps most ironically, almost half of those polled were able to tell us about Proposition 19 of California. What is this “Prop 19” you ask? It’s a California measure to legalize recreational marijuana. While only

Horoscopes Nikki Bennett-Fite News Editor

Libra (24th September-23rd October): Don’t go into the library! You’re sure to be crushed by one of the stacks before the 2nd of December!

Scorpio (24th October-22nd November): I’d be careful about that cafeteria lunch on the 29th, something’s not going to sit quite right with you. Ha, sorry.

Sagittarius (23rd November-22nd December): If you have brown hair, don’t leave the house ever.

Capricorn (23rd December-19th January): You know that college you really want to go to. Ha. Aquarius (20th January- 19th February): You’re probably going to have a bungee jumping accident. They just don’t make those bungees like they used to I guess!

Oh well, I’m sorry, that’s too bad.

Pisces (20th February-20th March): Do you have a girlfriend? Boyfriend? Not for long!!

Aries (21st March-20th April): I’m not happy with you.

Taurus (21 April-21 May): What happened to your arm! Oh wait… this is awkward, but watch out on the 1st of December ! st

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Gemini (22nd May- 22nd June): Protect your inboxes, your evil twin is on the prowl.

Cancer (23rd June-23rd July): I see a root canal in your immediate future.

Random Kid of the Month What is your name?

Kevin Quindlen. People occasionally call me KQ, Mr. Prez, and Dr. Prez.

What are your hobbies?

Sometimes I organize school events like dances and things. Oh yeah, I’m also at town meetings if you haven’t noticed.

Are you good at anything?

I like to think I’m good at making up facts at town meetings. I do get heckled often though.

What’s your favorite color?

Aquamarine What will you do after you graduate?

I’m thinking about skipping college all together and just becoming a pediatrician. I’m not sure how to do that. Any advice?

Leo (24th July-23rd August): Wow, you’re future looks great! Except for maybe some crutches and aneurisms.

Virgo (24th August- 23rd September): Hope your house has meteor insurance!

Fun Facts Maria Carlucci Staff Writer

1. The average person has over 1460 dreams a year.

2. We forget 80% of what we learn everyday.

3. 82% of americans made a purchase at Wal-mart in 2002.

28% were able to tell us that the referendum, in fact, failed, it is interesting to note that California politics seem to be our strong suit…

While these figures may be a bit disturbing, they are probably not unusual. Disenchantment and disillusionment with the government, especially among teenagers, is almost universal throughout America, and it is hardly surprising that St. Luke’s- or indeed, any school’sstudents are feeling discontent with politics as usual.

4. There are 293 different wys to make change for a dollar.

5. Cheetahs can accelerate from 0 to 70 km/h in 3 seconds.

6. In most advertisements, the time displayed on a watch is 10:10.

Crazy Laws Maria Carlucci Staff Writer

1. In Arizona you could get up to 25 years in prison for cutting down a cactus.

2. In California, a city ordiance states that a $500 fine will be given to anyone who detonates a nuclear devide within city limits.

3. In California you may not set up mouse traps with out a hunting liscence.

4. In Colorado it is illegal to ride a horse while intoxicated 5. In Illinois it is illegal to give a dog whiskey.

6. In Acworth, Georgia all citizens must own a rake.

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November 2010

Our League Henry Clayton Sports Editor

In all honesty, I never thought I’d live to see the day. After Lord knows how many years of struggle and disappointment, they’ve finally done it. The 2010 St. Luke’s Football team has won the FAA Championship!

On Saturday, November 13th, the St. Luke’s Storm pummeled the King Vikings in a commanding 4820 victory at Pedrick Stadium. It was a surreal finish to a terrific season.

In case you’ve had your eyes closed since the start of the school year, the St. Luke’s football team has been nothing short of outstanding, playing the best season they’ve had in a long while. After four straight losing seasons, St. Luke’s was finally able to put together all the pieces in the puzzle and break out of its rut with pride and zeal. Now, after such a long, miserable drought, they’re finally back. Now I’m not quite sure what it was about this year’s team that was able to bring them back to life.

It could have been the new talent, new coaches, or new attitudes. Or it could have been the new mascot, or maybe the new uniforms that gave them the proper “swag” they needed to compete with fire and flare, and ignited the roaring flame within this team. In truth, something tells me it was a combination of all of the above that did it for them.

The colossal surge in school spirit amongst the SLS community this year certainly didn’t hurt either. In fact, I’m pretty sure that just about everyone who reads this attended the game on Saturday to cheer on the men in maroon. The monumental turnout from the St. Luke’s students, parents, faculty and staff was everything the team needed to finish off an incredible year. Said Senior Co-Captain Kevin Cross of the exceptional support from the community, “the fans were awesome! It meant a lot to us to have our guys supporting us all year.”

Every year, the football team carries on the longstanding tradition of squaring off against the rival King Vikings for the final game of the season. And for the past four years, King walked all over us – a demoralizing end to a season of disappointment. Every year ended in such a strikingly similar fashion – the seniors would walk off the field, heads in their chests and tears in their eyes, marking a most somber ending to their great efforts to giving everything they had to the program for such little reward.

This year, however, was different. It was a new team, and a new group of seniors, ready to make a change. This year, the dark, gloomy storm that usually permeated the November sky was nowhere to be found.

The sky was blue, the sun was shining – It was time to

SPORTS

The Connecticut Open Real Swordfighting Robert Galluccio Contributing Writer

It is not very often that St. Luke’s has the opportunity to host a professional sporting event – but the time has come. This weekend, St. Luke’s will host a professional squash tournament: The Connecticut Open will take place at our courts on November 19th through 21st.

The event, sponsored by the Pro Squash Tour, has attracted some of the world’s most renowned squash players, hailing from all around the globe. These players are the best in their sport, and the men’s and women’s draws include a former World #1 and the 5-time National Champion of Pakistan.

But let’s be honest, while it’s exciting for our school to host a squash tournament, most of you would rather see the stars of more exciting sports – like football, basketball, or even tennis – make their way to the hilltop.

That’s because these sports draw large crowds, the prize money is huge, and the athletes are well known. Squash is a little different. You have probably never heard of Natalie Grainger, the former World #1 coming to play in The Connecticut Open. While Grainger is one of the top female squash players in the world, she doesn’t have brand name recognition, and she doesn’t often get stopped for autographs. You also probably won’t see a posse of fans holding big “Grainger” signs at tournaments. This is all due to the fact that squash is still a fledgling sport in the United States; however, it has been gaining stature and popularity as the number of young players has exploded in recent years. The U.S. is playing “catch-up” to a host of other countries like Egypt, India, Pakistan, Australia and England, where the game enjoys immense popularity and Grainger is recognized as a star. In fact, squash has been around for more than 150 years and is played by more than 20 million people worldwide.

By promoting the sport at schools and public venues through sponsored tournaments across the United States, like the Connecticut Open at St. Luke’s, the Pro Squash tour hopes to broaden the reach of squash to a generation of new players and attract the attention of many more fans. This weekend, Grainger and her fellow competitors will display the amazing grit, talent, fitness and determination of some of the world’s best athletes. I encourage all members of the St. Luke’s community to attend this event and give the game of squash an honest try.

And who knows, squash might even get a couple of new fans from right here on the hilltop…

Dress Code Continued...

play football. And then it hit me: the storm was not up in the sky battering rain down onto the helmets of our players because this year, the Storm was on the field, demolishing the sorry souls of the Vikings, lost on their feeble voyage through the FAA, dazed and confused in the face of the gargantuan force that is the Storm.

Congratulations to the 2010 FAA Football Champs. You did it!

We don’t want to see ultra-tight jeggings on our younger sisters, and will make a conscious effort to obey and enforce proper dress code with both our friends and those who look to us as role models. We will try, to the best of our ability, to remain in dress code and talk to the younger girls about what is, and what is not, appropriate. As we are slowly but surely maturing, we are faced with many big choices in life and, we stand proudly behind our actions as citizens in the St. Luke’s community. We are varsity captains, student ambassadors, global scholars, members of the student government, and heads of clubs. We are St. Luke’s, and we have entered to learn, and we are on the brink of going forth to serve. We are serving the greater good of the female community by asking this one small allowance – please, let us wear cords with back pockets.

Juvenal once said that “ panem et circenses” was all that Rome needed to keep its citizens happy. We ask much less of our administration, only permission to wear corduroys with external pockets.

Respectfully, Senior Girls

Ethan Pearce Contributing Writer

Fencing, or “physical chess” as Mr. Luger calls it, has arrived at St. Luke’s School. That’s right. This winter, there will be an option to fence for your after school activity. Mr. Luger, a new science teacher this year, boldly announced the new sport in town meeting, getting an immediate response of 35 eager Amateur Fencers. Mr. Luger said that he started fencing when he was in college, and did it all 4 years. He believes that his experience in college will be similar at St. Luke’s, where he expects kids to learn to love the sport. One anonymous fan stated, “Are you kidding me? I’ve been wanting to swordfight since I was five years old!” While fencing is not necessarily fighting, it seems as though the general enthusiasm throughout the student body is high. Senior Brian Lobdell noted, “It’s 6-8pm – go home to relax and do homework, come back and fence.”

The new sport will undoubtedly get much attention from the student body; however, its late time and competition with basketball and squash may make it seem like a relatively “unimportant” sport. Nevertheless, it is not wise to underestimate kids’ desire to play with swords.

As Mulan once said, “I see you have a sword. I have one, too. They’re very manly and tough.” Obviously, the awesome attraction of sword fighting will make sure that the Fencing Club becomes one of the most prevalent winter activities on campus. This writer, for one, will most definitely be joining the Fencing Club, as I have an insatiable (much like every other teenage boy) desire to stab other people without the threat of injury. Ultimately, I have no doubt that Fencing will become a premiere sport in the St. Luke’s community. I smell a national championship in a couple years.

Top of the Hilltop Movie: Harry Potter 7 Album: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy TV Show: The Walking Dead Sport: Fencing Song: VCR/Wheels - Tyler the Creator Youtube: VCR (with Christian Langalis) Videogame: Call of Duty: Black Ops Event: Harry Potter Midnight Screening Celebrity: Kid Cudi Student Car: Maria’s Monster Truck Word: Swag College: Duke Accomplishment: Baggy Pants Day Group: Odd Future Drink: Neurogasm