Sentinel october 2012

St. Luke’s School

377 North Wilton Road - New Canaan, CT - 06840

October 2012

From the Oval Locker Jackson Prince Student Government President It’s that time of year again, when your President addresses you indirectly, through the Newspaper.

That’s right: you there, looking good in that collared shirt and closed-toed pair of shoes… “hey.”

Oh, you want to know all of the fantastically delicious and exciting ideas I have planned for our fine institution? You want to know each and every nugget of creative planning that dwells deep in the bowels of my brain? Well I’m sorry, I do hate to disappoint, but I cannot disclose. However, with Spirit Week and Homecoming on deck, I’d assume it’s all right that I, just this once, fill you in.

SLS Alumni (including former Student Government President Kevin Quindlen ‘11) at last year’s Homecomiung

The Storm’s a Comin’ Home Melanie Bow School News Editor

When the cold weather quickly replaces summer, when fall sports are in full swing, and when the academic shock of the first month of school has worn off, we can all look forward to the return of our favorite SLS tradition: Homecoming!

With the extraordinary array of booths, games, fundraisers, contests, and food, there is certainly something for everyone. Homecoming is a time when the community is bursting with school spirit and has the opportunity to see all the hilltop has to offer.

As the years go by and students inch closer and closer to their graduation, the phrase “last Homecoming” is heard more and more. Although this might be your last time beating a rival school and playing with the team you’ve loved since freshman year or your last chance to fry one of the legendary China Care dumplings, senior year is certainly not the last opportunity to be a part of this tradition.

With the large number of recent graduates returning this year it seems Homecoming has made a lasting impression on the spirit of the SLS community. As Emily Bergmann ’12 says: “I’m excited I have the chance to come back and enjoy fall on the Hilltop and catch up with my friends and teachers.” The name truly says it all: Homecoming is not only for our current students but it is a time when alumni return to their alma mater and reminisce about those glorious, long-lost highschool spent on the Hilltop.

When the executive committee and I retreated to our den of ideas two weeks ago, we went in with one, awesomely clichéd premise: make Spirit Week the best ever. That’s right, EVER! And not to sit too high on this horse I’m currently mounted upon, but I’m pretty confident we’ve done that.

As a school with a strong Department of Alumni Relations, St. Luke’s ensures that there is always the opportunity to be involved no matter how long ago you graduated. This year there are 130 alumni registered to attend Homecoming, but in recent years, the attendance has climbed all the way up to 250. Still, chances are that late registrations and “walk-ins” will bring us up to record levels.

In addition to the activities on Saturday, Friday will be the first Alumni Awards Night. This banquet is a chance for the School and Alumni Association to recognize recipients of the past Distinguished Alumni Awards, induct past students into the Athletic Hall of Fame, and introduce the first ever Alumni Artistic Achievement Award.

Also unique to this year is the unveiling of the St. Luke’s Historic Alcove, a project which has just been completed after two years of hard work and preparation.

“The current SLS community has been incredibly supportive of these efforts through their willingness to [participate] in the events,” says Director of Alumni Relations Mr. Hirx. Although we may only be aware of these efforts during Homecoming, over the course of the year there are about ten different events hosted by the Alumni Association and the Office of Alumni Relations that cover all aspects of the St. Luke’s community. These events range widely from the student vs. alumni basketball games to the senior and junior seminars, which help guide current students through the college process.

Although the opportunity for past students to

See Homecoming page 3

Our own Mr. President Starting Monday morning, we partake in a nationwide Love-Fest for our country. The way I see it is that Columbus Day should act as a sort of “dress rehearsal” for the week to come. So for the majority of you who plan on prancing around all week in outlandish costumes, I’d advise you to throw on some traditional “Spanish explorer” garb to test the waters; you know, get comfortable in festive clothing.

Then, bam! To start things off inclusively, we’ve established Tuesday as “Clone Day.” Clone Day is designed so that any number of people can dress up in a similarly intense outfit.

See Oval Locker, page 2

Inside this issue...

Pendulum Success

Homecoming Games Girls in Germany

All About Harry

2

HILLTOP NEWS

Pendulum Gets Gold

Oval Locker from page 1

Riley Vaske Contributing Writer

I expect to see Storm Troopers, Oompa Loompas, and most importantly of all, “crayons.”

If you pass by Mr.Flachsbart’s room on days two and five you might be able to catch a glimpse at the award winning Pendulum staff.

Let’s assume Clone Day was a success.

At that point, we take the opportunity to deviate from the established inclusiveness and pit each grade against each other in an epic duel of the “Eras.” From our most primal days as cavemen, strutting about among lions and dinosaurs (not really, but we’ll go with it), to the cyber world of the future, we shall see, once and for all, which period of the world truly reigns supreme.

As many members of the St. Lukes community know, The Pendulum is the school’s literary magazine, which received a gold medal this year from the Columbia Press Association. As the most important evaluator of school publications, the Association judges the literature, the art, and the layout of the magazine.

“This year we’re firmly in the category of gold medal with a total of 908 points out of 1000,” said faculty advisor Mr. Flachsbart. “I’ve been doing this for somewhere around fifteen years or more and we went from this cardboard cover, throwing everything together the last week with four kids, to a staff of (around) sixteen and a glossy print magazine.”

So what can we expect from the Pendulum this year?

“We don’t live to satisfy the Columbia Student Press Association. So if we think something should stay and they think it shouldn’t, we’ll keep it. They said we should mix up the font but we like to put it how the writer wrote it,” said this year’s editor Tommy Champion ’13.

“Tommy’s surprised and amazed by all the people who have joined the magazine this year,” said Mr. Flachsbart “and I am really happy with the ever increasing interest and quality of The Pendulum.”

So as the school year continues, the 2012-2013 Pendulum is definitely something to look out for.

Former Pendulum editor Emily Bergmann “passes the folder” on to new editor Tommy Champion ‘13

Bow Tie Tuesdays?

Will Twomey Staff Writer

Thursday couldn’t come at a more perfect time, as “Team Day” re-ignites that sense of pride we have for our favorite sports teams (at any level). I anticipate you all littered in face paint and rally caps, cheering up and down the hallways for your most beloved athletic squads.

And just as soon as the competitiveness reaches its climax, we orient all predisposed energy towards enthusiasm in our school: the immaculate St. Luke’s. On this day full of slow motion highfives and chest bumps, we will be so jacked up with school spirit, that Saturday’s opponents will oneby-one concede defeat in sheer terror of the mass of compatriots that stand before them.

I wish you all a fantastic Homecoming, and best of luck as the year proceeds.

Prince, out.

Bow Ties con’t.

“What has started out as a fun attire-driven initiative has gained momentum and and grown beyond both the upper school as well as gender.”

Each Tuesday has been dubbed “Bow Tie Tuesdays” by the club, which encourages anyone who desires to throw on a bow tie or bow and come to the meetings. Don’t know how to tie a bow tie? The leaders of the club stress that even if you do not know how to tie a bow tie, you are welcome to join and learn! Also, the club is eager for new members and hopes to make Bow Tie Tuesday a school-wide tradition at St. Luke’s. In addition, the club is currently planning a “meaningful community service project”, in addition to their tie-related activities.

When asked what made him join the Bow Tie Club, Noah Daniel ‘15 explained that “the club is a group of brothers and sisters and I wanted to be a part of the family.” So guys and girls, if you want to be a part of the BTC family, whether you have been wearing bow ties as long as you can remember, or you just started this Tuesday, head over to the next meeting for the club next Tuesday. This club looks like it will be around for a while.

The Sentinel Staff Editors in Chief Alex Robertson Sebastian Bates Sports Editor Ben Decatur World News Editor Mac Zech School News Editor Melanie Bow Staff Writers Ian Corbet Khush Dhaliwal Maria Juran Alex Levy Jess Quindlen Will Twomey Contributing Writers Tommy Champion Drew Lord Riley Vaske Josie Williams Jane Zech Scotty Zech Middle School Correspondent Colette Juran Staff Photographer Julia Muller Faculty Advisors Mr. Flachsbart Mr. Foley

Join The Sentinel

Do you like bowties? Do you know how to tie a bow tie? Do you want to learn? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then The Bow Tie Club is for you! The Bow Tie Club, (or “BTC” as its members refer to it) is a new club to St. Luke’s, and is seeking new recruits.

Do you like to write?

Take pictures?

The Bow Tie Club is true to its name. Essentially, the club is a group of guys and girls in the upper school who have a passion for bowties (for the guys) and bows (for the girls). The club’s faculty leader, Mr. Holifield, had this to say about the start of the club:

Continued, see next column

October 2012

Then The Sentinel wants YOU.

Members of the Bow Tie Club

Find out what you can do for The Sentinel.

October 2012

HILLTOP NEWS

Fireside Chat:

Harry Galbraith Ian Corbet Staff Writer

Visionary. Artist. Death-defying risk taker. Do these randomly assorted words have anything to do with Harry Galbraith ’14 ? The Sentinel sat down for a Fireside Chat with this enigma wrapped up in a paradox to find out.

Stomping Out Bullying at St. Luke’s Alex Levy Staff Writer

In the wake of the World Day of Bullying Prevention (“Blue Shirt Day”), many people have begun to take notice of the STOMP Out Bullying Club and initiative to spread awareness of an epidemic that is commonly overlooked: bullying.

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The CT Challenge Khush Dhaliwal & Maria Juran Staff Writers

The Connecticut Challenge is a St. Luke’s tradition, a televised academic competition that allows four of St. Luke’s brightest individuals to test their intelligence against other Connecticut high school teams composed of similarly qualified students.

Students are quizzed on their knowledge of basic subjects such as history, arts and literature, science, and math.

Many people believe that at a private school like St. Luke’s, bullying cannot and does not occur. Af- These subjects are dispersed over three rounds: ter all, aren’t messages about tolerance and diver- a multiple choice round, a lightning round, and a sity constantly being pushed at the student popula- free response round. tion? In the words of one faculty member: “Why do we have to worry about bullying here at St. Luke’s, where everyone is all fuzzy and nice?”

Sentinel: What do you like to do in your free time?

Harry: I’m actually interested in many different activities, from playing the drums to go-karting.

Sentinel: I loved go-karting as a kid. I always used to pick the blu…

Harry: The go-karting I do is nothing like that kiddy stuff you see at amusement parks. I race in adult tournaments.

Sentinel: That sounds really cool. What got you so interested in racing?

Harry: I’ve always loves cars and racing them has just been a logical extension of this passion. I don’t think that I will ever want to race professionally, but I’m definitely considering doing it as a hobby on weekends or something.

Sentinel: So, do you think we will ever see Harry Galbraith in the Indy 500?

Harry: Perhaps.

Sentinel: Who is your idol in the racing world?

Harry: I have to say my favorite racer of all time would be Ayrton Senna.

Sentinel: Changing topics for a moment; we’ve heard some rumors floating around that you have some unusual rituals you perform daily to keep your car in tip-top shape? Is there any truth to it?

Harry: Yes, I’m a fervent supporter of people treating their cars as they would their own children.

Every time before I start my car I turn on the engine and let it warm up for about ten minutes before I start driving. It helps keep the car in good quality for a long time.

When these comments were relayed to the club, several members had some colorful things to say.

As one member put it: “I think bullying is everywhere and it’s ignorant to think that just because we go to a private school, everything is perfect. You can’t have a school full of kids and think that bullying will not go on.”

This is absolutely correct, according to a poll of random students throughout the Upper School. When asked, an overwhelming majority of respondents (88%) believed that bullying has taken place at St. Luke’s and that the bullying is still going on.

When most people think of bullying, they think one student robbing another of their lunch money, but there is more to it than that. It is important to remember that bullying comes in all different forms, including social and emotional bullying, physical abuse, and cyber-bullying. In fact, part of the STOMP Out Bullying Club’s mission is to educate and spread awareness about these different patterns of bullying, and why they need to be stopped.

This year’s team is composed of such young genii as seniors Alex Robertson and Patrick Quinn, juniors Mac Zech and Sebastian Bates (serving as the team’s alternate), and sophmore Casey Zhu. Tune in every Saturday and Sunday to News 12 to see different teams compete. St. Luke’s first match is against Staples High School.

This year’s team shows great promise and deserves all our support and good wishes!

When asked about his co-worker’s statement, Mr. Holyfield, the faculty advisor for STOMP Out Bullying said that, “I would have to respectfully disagree from page 1 with my colleague. It is this thinking that makes return is a large part of the event, Homecoming me want to help to raise awareness about this issue is the perfect chance for current students to have even more. Anytime that you have a group of kids fun and “storm” the field with spirit. who want to spread awareness and help prevent acts that would keep students from achieving their highest level of productivity, I am ready and willing to support those students. To that end not only am I excited about this club, but I am proud of the kids who have come forth to serve.”

Homecoming

In a country where the third-highest cause of death for teenagers is still suicide, it is vitally important to raise awareness about bullying and its universal nature. STOMP Out Bullying aims to do this, and is confident that it does so with the full support of the St. Luke’s community.

Sentinel: If you could have any car in the world what would it be?

Harry: Realistically, it would be a BMW M5 but only one with manual transmission. But my dream car would be Alfa Romeo 32 Monza.

Sentinel: It’s always good to dream big. Steering to a new topic for a second…you see what I did there?..what would you say is your favorite TV show?

Much of this character inherent to SLS students is represented by different clubs and student-run organizations throughout our school. Clubs such as the Multicultural Student Union, Pendulum, Model UN, Black Student Alliance, China Care and Sentinel will be running booths to help support their causes. Many are looking forward to Free the Children’s first pie baking contest and of course Sixth Man will rally their usual spirit and energy for the games.

In addition to the events during the day, from 8 to 10 the annual formal dance will be held by the Upper School Student Council in the Seldin Performing Arts Center.

Harry: I like Top Gear (the British version).

Sentinel: Awesome.

Alex Robertson ‘13, knows everything

Members of the St. Luke’s STOMP Out Bullying Club

So whether you’re an alum, a teacher, a current student, or you’re just looking to have a great time, come storm the hilltop this Saturday!

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Almost a Masterpiece Alex Robertson Editor in Chief The essential problem with Paul Thomas Anderson (hereon P.T.A.)’s lauded new movie , The Master is that it’s a great movie stuck inside a merely interesting one.

Almost every individual scene is here is good, and some of them are absolutely phenomenal. But the movie as a whole is insistent on returning its audience’s questions with a unwavering blank stare.

As in: “Why did these two scenes come one after another?” (Blank stare.) “Why did that character act that way?” (Blank stare.) “Why is the entire last third of this movie so boring?” (Blank stare.)

The movie’s main inspiration has been singled out as L. Ron Hubbard--Philip Seymour Hoffman’s cult-leader character both speaks and looks like him--but I say it’s none other than the famously enigmatic Samuel Beckett.

All of which is to say that The Master produces a lot of questions and doesn’t answer just about any of them. Normally I’d laud P.T.A. for his (clearly intentional) ambiguity, but it doesn’t add up to much in the end.

The movie tells the story of a World War II veteran (Joaquin Phoenix) who gets caught up in the questionable practices of a cult called the Cause.

The basis of the movie is the relationship between Phoenix’s character and Hoffman’s, and it works wonderfully. The two give fascinatingly idiosyncratic performances--Phoenix brilliantly incoherent and unpredictable, Hoffman calm, collected, and subtly duplicitous--and bounce off each other well. The scenes that work best are those that essentially let the two go at it. In one mesmerizing shot early in the movie, the camera focuses on Phoenix’s face while Hoffman “Processes” him, asking him rapid-fire questions about his psychology, his love life, and his aspirations. The scene is indicative of P.T.A. and his actors’s ability to spin a lot out of a little, and it bodes well for the rest of the movie once it hits.

October 2012

ARTS No, my problem with The Master doesn’t lie in its individual scenes, which are great, but with how it all comes together. There’s a complete lack of coherence to the movie, and by the arduous final stretch, I had no idea where it was going to end up--and not in a good or especially exciting way.

For instance: once the movie separates Phoenix and Hoffman and you have to wait for them to inevitably come back together, it all starts to feel brutally pointless. This is more sad than anything, really, because it’s clear that P.T.A. is a talented director and writer. His shooting and editing are nearly immaculate, and he knows how to tense the audience up, and then let them relax.

With his newest movie, however, he’s apparently more interested in alienating his audience than engaging them. I think I get his motives--basically to make a movie that is not easily unlockable--but it seems like he’s intentionally taking something away from what could have been a valuable experience. In this, P.T.A. gets directly in his own and his crew’s way, making what could have been a minor masterpiece into something merely “interesting”. That’s alright for now, but I know what this director is capable of, and I want more.

Gangnam What?

Mac Zech World News Editor Some songs spread good vibes across the world.

Some songs shape their generation. Some songs inspire new art forms. Some songs shed light on pressing social issues. Some songs inspire national unity in times of hardship. Some songs will stay in the hearts and minds of all humanity for eternity, echoing into the infinite silence that is our known and unknown universe. But few songs have ever left the world as dazed and confused as K-Pop sensation Psy’s latest hit single, “Gangnam Style.”

This isn’t where The Master’s values end; there are a slew of scenes just as effective interspersed throughout the movie--especially one that finds Hoffman and Phoenix, super-ego and id, placed side by side in adjacent jail cells, yelling at the top of their lungs at each other.

found and looted for personal items. There is even a special taxi service in Seoul that specializes in following K-pop tour buses around for hours for the entertainment of up to 10 passengers.

Even though Korean record labels make a sizeable profit from domestic physical record sales, a much larger portion of the industry is based around the digital market. The Internet has also shown itself to be the most effective method of publicizing K-pop to western markets. Through the liberal use of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, Korean boy bands such as SPEED, JJ-Project, and She’z have captured a good deal of the European and South American music markets. K-Pop’s dependence on the Internet also has its downsides. The genre as a whole suffered a huge hit in the early 2000’s as online piracy became a common practice among the international community. In the past year however, South Korea has passed legislation calling for a crackdown and stricter legal punishments on online pirates. With new laws in place to protect against online piracy, many of the larger Korean Record labels have seen a promising jump in quarterly earnings.

There is no doubt that K-Pop has been and is still a powerful force in the international music market. Hundreds of Korean superstars now rival Justin Bieber for popularity, especially in Asia and Eastern Europe. Although some listeners may still shake their heads in bewilderment, the fact is, after 20 years of solid growth, K-Pop has proven its resiliency and will most likely continue to be a major genre of the 21st century.

Mugglemarch Sebastian Bates Editor in Chief

It’s been called “a positively propulsive read,” a “magnificently eloquent novel of contemporary England,” and “500 pages of relentless socialist manifesto masquerading as literature”. It’s been called visionary by some and “willfully banal” by others, and it’s left readers- including your faithful reviewer- scratching their heads at the idea that JK Rowling, perhaps the most influential children’s writer in modern history, was able to write a novel oozing sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll.

However, my favorite of all the phrases that have been used to describe this book, JK Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, is “Mugglemarch.” This joking subtitle was suggested by one well-read literary critic, and has been mentioned in almost every review since. In fact, I liked it so much that I decided to use it as the title of this article.

Gangnam Style: the single heard ‘round the world Whether through Itunes, Youtube, or even SNL, most SLS students have seen or at least heard at least excerpts from Psy’s extraordinarily popular new song. Although this catchy tune, released in mid July of 2012, has been many Americans’ first encounter with Korean Pop, the genre has gained a considerable fan-base in the last 10 years. These followers are renowned (and at times feared) for their radical devotion to their favorite boy-bands. On more than one occasion, entire school districts in South Korea were forced to cancel school upon the release of an especially popular album. This utter devotion at times crosses the line into obsession; there are dozens of instances where artists’ homes have been

Why am I so keen on it? Because it demonstrates a fact which many readers- especially Americansaren’t really aware of. The fact is, JK Rowling’s work, no matter how good it is or original it may seem, is firmly rooted in the literature of the British Isles. Just as Harry Potter is essentially another in a long line of English boarding-school novels, Rowling’s new book is a story of smalltown personalities in the vein of George Eliot who, in 1871, published Middlemarch, which sought to tell the story of nineteenth century Britain through the lives of the inhabitants of the fictional town of “Middlemarch”.

Taking her cue from Eliot, Rowling has set her story in a tiny fictional village (Pagford), and given her dozens and dozens of characters a disaster to react to: the death of a local hero and parish councillor, Barry Fairbrother.

See Books, page 5

October 2012

Babel: Bit of a Rehash Alex Robertson Editor in Chief There have been a lot of responses to Mumford & Sons and likewise their second album, Babel, and I’m not sure I really get any of it.

In the age of rapid-fire Internet music criticism, there’s bound to be a lot of polarization when any relatively hyped new album comes out. I don’t quite understand the process, but when a new album can land in your library three months before it comes out, the scramble to formulate a definitive opinion can quickly devolve into mudslinging. I get that. But people either absolutely love or absolutely hate Mumford & Sons, and I don’t get that at all.

This, to me, seems completely out of step with the band’s music itself, which has not changed much in the three years since Sigh No More.

They are still likable, rambunctious, and nearly Coldplay-esque in their unerring embrace of the Big Chorus. They are also still repetitious, cloying, and cheesy. Their music is still pleasing in small doses and perhaps a little sickening in larger (read: album-length) ones. They are a good band, not a great one. What’s the big deal?

ARTS This is probably okay with the diehard fans--and totally not OK with the rabid haters--but, the next time this big mess of a hype/anti-hype train comes rolling around, I think I’ll download a few choice cuts and sit the rest out.

Theatre Review: “Once” Tommy Champion Contributing Writer

“Once” the musical most certainly deserves the eight Tony Awards it received early this year.

Almost never, in Broadway history, has there been a musical that has a cast of such limitless talent, namely for their onstage instrumentation.

The plot line revolves around a classic love story between the two protagonists: Guy (Steve Kazee) and Girl (Cristin Milioti). The names are never revealed, allowing the anonymity of these lead characters to suggest the universal appeal of this story.

Let’s be real: love story tragedies (yes, to some extent it is tragic) are not synonymous with romantic comedies. Early in the story, Girl attempts to get Guy to fix her Hoover vacuum, claiming that “ze Hoover — it von’t suck.” The faltering accent coupled with awkward Czech sexual innuendo really just distracts the viewer and adds nothing to the overall message. But really, this is only a small aspect of an all around fantastic musical.

So should you go and see “Once” with your family?

By all means, yes. For the more sentimental theater-goers, songs like “Falling Slowly” and “The Hill” will make your eyes tear up. And for the rest of you, “Once” will dazzle you with delight. Without a doubt, “Once” stands as a highlight of 21st century Broadway productions.

NOTE: This article has been reprinted from our online edition. Log on to digitalsentinel.org for this and other articles, updated daily.

Books from page 4

The plot which results- one that is based, at least partially, on Rowling’s own experiences growing up in a small village and living in poverty- is witty in parts and shocking in others. The writing tends to the formulaic (as it did in Harry Potter), but the story is engaging, if ultimately depressing.

The two meet after Guy performs a heartwrenching solo musical performance — what he expected to be his last– after which Girl, who is Czech, proceeds to pester him endlessly to pursue music as a career. The two work through their own haunting past love experiences and ultimately find themselves deeply in love with one another. Throughout all of this is the theme of music and the unique ways it works in all of the characters’ lives.

All this leaves us with is an album that evades criticism because it manages to do something well, but also an album that evades replayability because that’s the only thing it manages to do.

The righteous, propulsive folk music that endeared many to this band is still here fully intact, but it’s dishearteningly bridled to the imperatives of a band clearly content with resting on its laurels.

story line, the directors didn’t need to try to make aspects of the plot funny.

The immediate consequence of his death is a campaign by the “Old Pagford” establishment to put a conservative onto the council. This wing is led by Howard Mollison, a figure with all of the corpulence of Vernon Dursley, and none of his charm. They are opposed by the liberals, led Sikh GP Dr. Parminder Jawanda. Town inhabitants on either side range from the local lords of the manor to a heroin-addicted single mother, while the local teenagers, uninterested in political squabbles, wage sometimes devastating war against their hypocritical parents (a la Holden Caulfield).

Babel basically maintains the Mumford & Sons status quo as best it can, insofar as it’s basically a twelve-song rehash of everything they’ve done.

The album is tough to write about because its values or flaws are so obviously there to anyone who either buys or doesn’t buy into Mumford’s general aesthetic. Almost every song follows the same basic formula: viciously strummed guitars, soft verses, loud chorus, banjo solo, rinse and repeat.

There is nothing inherently wrong with homogeneity, and each individual song on Babel finds the band hitting on a sort of sentimental folk pleasure with skill and ability. That said, I’m not entirely sure Mumford & Sons have found a way to really sustain this folky musical high--after five or so songs, I start to get a little sick of the relentlessly same-y patterns found throughout.

Opener “Babel” sounds a lot like “Whispers in the Dark,” which sounds a lot like “I Will Wait,” which sounds a lot like “Holland Road,” and so forth.

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The most phenomenal aspect of “Once” is the fact that it is actually a new production. With several exceptions, Broadway has recently tended to revive the old, beloved classics. However this musical is not only fresh, but extremely unique.

As most theater-goers know, the secluded pit orchestra (composed of a vast ensemble of instruments) typically produces the tunes, not the actors. In “Once” it is different: every single member of the cast acts, sings, and plays an instrument. Most likely for mobility’s sake–and the Irish setting–the ‘band’ of sorts is composed of banjos, drums, basses, guitars, fiddles, pianos, mandolins, and accordions, resulting in a soundtrack that really strays away from the typical “Phantom” or “Les Mis” styled songs. What results is a confluence of Irish, folk, Czech, and American styles that fits marvelously with the theme of the musical.

As with all productions, certain things that could be tweaked or changed. With such a compelling

One reviewer recommended this book to “sophisticated high school readers, and other connoisseurs of dark social satire.” I would tend to agree, but with a caveat: this is a book about modern Britain, for the British. Be prepared to look up some of the slang- and then to clear your search history!

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OPINION/EDITORIAL Senate Candidates Promote Recycling Mr. Flachsbart Faculty Advisor

I’m out in my front yard Saturday playing Frisbee with my dog when the mail truck pulls up to my mailbox. After a few more throws, I notice the truck is still there. Great, I’m thinking.

Maybe that book I ordered has arrived already!

But when the truck finally departs and I go out to check, sadly there are no packages. The mailman apparently needed all that time to cram 2 giant cardboard political flyers into my meager mailbox.

As it turns out, one is for Democratic Senate candidate Chris Murphy and the other for Republican Linda McMahon – or rather one is against McMahon and the other against Murphy.

By the time I’ve pried them out of my mailbox, my dog has given up on the Frisbee and headed off to dig more holes in the backyard, so I examine the ads at greater length. Really they’re quite entertaining. The anti-McMahon flyer depicts the candidate looking like a septuagenarian witch with heavy facial creases, unsightly pores, and disheveled hair as if she just removed her conical hat after casting a spell on some environmental activists. The other entire side is a wrestling belt with the giant label “Intercontinental Job Destroyer!” Back on the witch side we have a chronicle of all the shady ways McMahon allegedly abused her WWA employees.

The anti-Murphy ad features a photo of the candidate looking like a 14-year old middle school student whose mother still combs his hair, a pasty-skinned kid who never does his homework and frequently skips class. The giant flip-side graphic in this case is a middle aged couple (or are they an elderly man and his middle-aged daughter?) sitting on their couch with an open laptop, presumably trying to figure out how they’re going to survive if the forces of evil elect Chris Murphy and all their wealth is redistributed to the slacking 47%.

More appropriately, though, the couple should be trying to find out anything about either candidate that would compel someone to vote FOR them.

What does Linda McMahon think we should do about Iran? What measures would Murphy support to reduce unemployment? How do they feel about Education, Immigration, Energy? I don’t have a clue, and I doubt most voters do either.

And, I should interject, after reading the Medicare interviews this Sunday’s News Times, I still have no idea where either candidate stands on even that one specific issue!

So in the absence of any concrete information we are left to assume the Republican will vote to eliminate taxes, bomb Iran, dismantle all programs (including health care), and remove government regulations – except those regarding abortion. In turn, the Democrat will increase taxes, take away all our guns, encourage immorality and godlessness, and open our borders to illegal immigrants I wish the two Connecticut candidates for the U.S. Senate – the 2nd highest elected position in the nation -- would have the courage to say what they believe in rather than solely exchange pot shots about each other’s faults and missteps in the past.

But as it is, I’m forced to go with stereotypes and engage in a lot of recycling. Or maybe I could crunch up the cards and fill all those holes in my backyard.

Romney Victim of Leftist Spin

It was obvious that most of these posters were simply channeling the messages they had picked up from comedy shows such as SNL, the Colbert Report, and The Daily Show. Tumblr was even worse! Thousands of posts bemoaning the fall of Big Bird swept the social media site, outpacing Romney and Obama in volume of user traffic.

I don’t really know what to say except, SERIOUSLY AMERICA? More precisely, Seriously all you teenagers posing as ardent social activists and guardians of liberalism in America today? Do you even know the difference between Keynesian and Hayekian economics? Do you even know what social security is or what it means for you a future taxpayer? No, you probably don’t, do you?

When asked about the nature of American government Benjamin Franklin was quoted saying “(it’s a) Republic… if you can keep it” and unless the electorate becomes less apathetic and more involved with deciding the future course of our nation...well...we might as well just start learning Chinese now…

Mac Zech World News Editor

On the night of October 3rd, the political tide was turned; a beleaguered right wing watched in veneration as Mitt Romney, previously known as a robotic and disingenuous public speaker, passionately and expounded his views regarding domestic policy. Any remaining fears that Romney would crumble under the pressure of a national debate were assuaged after the first five minutes, in which Romney first made public his Five-point Job Plan, a proposal that has become a key tenet of his campaign in the post-debate political arena. By the end of the night, President Obama, who had most likely expected an easy win over the Republican nominee, was instead soundly beaten on almost all fronts. Romney’s coherent arguments for conservatism, backed by numerous studies and historical examples, outmatched the more anecdotal and proverbial tone that Obama decided to take regarding highly complex matters of economic policy.

Despite Romney’s obvious win at the debate, it seems as if the liberal media, aided largely my social media sites such as Tumblr and Twitter, have been able to craft a separate reality in the wake of the debate. By clinging, somewhat desperately, to petty axioms—“Romney is a liar,” ”Romney is a flip-flopper,” “Romney is the devil”—a small group of editors and writers have been able to neutralize much of the damage done to Obama’s deteriorating aura as the messiah of the left. It seems clear that pundits such as John Stewart are actively seeking ways of distracting the American electorate in order to keep the myth of a malicious Mitt in existence.

Even more depressing than the obvious media bias towards Obama and fluff (excluding, of course, FOX “News” Network, which I won’t even try to defend) are the polarizing effects of the propagandistic message that is present in social media sites—long-held bastions of leftist thought. I went on Twitter right after the debate and while I did see a few users (hats off to Drew Lord) concoct rational arguments for or against Romney, an overwhelming majority of the tweets clogging my newsfeed were nothing but poorly worded, emotional rants against Conservatism.

L: Linda McMahon; R: Chris Murphy

October 2012

Access Denied Sebastian Bates Editor in Chief

Watching the debate, I was shocked at Mitt Romney’s performance. For the first time in this campaign, Romney actually connected with me- as I’m sure he did with millions. The fact is, Obama had a bad night, and Romney came off looking like a human being.

Mitt 2.0 spent most of the evening laying out his newly-revised economic plan, which Obama repeatedly tried to characterize as purely a set of tax breaks for the wealthy.

While this is not the case, it is perfectly true that Romney’s proposed 20% cut in income tax across the board would lead to a massive increase in the deficit- perhaps even by the magic “five-trillion–dollar increase” that he decried as a liberal scare tactic. Does that mean that the nation will immediately enter into economic Armageddon? No- but it does raise questions about why a candidate running on an anti-deficit platform is considering a cut in revenue.

Romney says he intends to compensate for the cut by closing loopholes and limiting deductions. He didn’t elaborate and, in fact, when I tried to look up Romney’s Five Point Plan online, I got an error message: “Access Denied.”

In fact, Romney has been deliberately opaque about what a Romney Administration would look like since day one. Now, when he is desperate to capture the “moderate” vote, he has come out with a plan just uncertain enough to appeal to anyone unhappy with Obama’s economic strategies which, admittedly, would almost certainly raise taxes.

Due in part to this sort of evasiveness, I feel that “Access Denied,” rather than “We Can’t Afford Four More Years,” is the true RomneyRyan slogan.

JUST FOR FUN

RANDOM KID OF THE MONTH

Ami Lakoju ‘14 Sentinel: What is your name?

Ami: My full name’s Aminenye-jesu Lakoju.

People usually just call me Ami. S: What are your hobbies?

A: My hobbies include going to St. Luke’s and being a wonderful person.

S: Are you good at anything?

A: I play basketball and the drums.

S: What is your favorite color?

A: I was going to say aquamarine, but, now that I think about it, scarlet red.

S: What will you do when you graduate?

I’m thinking about studying business and finance as a major, and then going to work at GE. Ami in the Dining Commons

Top of the Hilltop

Movie: The Perks of Being a Wallflower Album: Cruel Summer Book: Fifty Shades of Gray TV Show: Homeland YouTube Video: Gangnam Style Sport: Volleyball

Restaurant: Sushi 25 College: Roanoke Drink: Pumpkin Spice Latte Word: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis

7

Top 10 Rejected Homecoming Booths 10. Underachievers Anonymous: Pay $5 and we won’t do your homework.

9. Young Communists: Pay $5 and we’ll redistribute it.

8. Texas String Tie Club: Pay $5 and we’ll teach you how to tie it.

7. Internet Addicts: Pay $5 and we’ll like your profile picture.

6. Dress Club Dodgers: Pay $5 and we’ll distract Mr. Holyfield 5. Varsity Silly-Walkers: Pay $5 and we’ll give you a silly-walking escort to the football game.

4. Al Gore Fan Club: Pay $5 and we’ll give you a biodegradable cardboard cutout of the man himself.

3. Witch’s Circle: Pay $5 and we’ll curse a person of your choice.

2. SLS Witchfinders: Pay $5 and we’ll find out who cursed you.

1. Kicked-in-the-Butt Club: Pay $5 for a swift kick in the rear.

Test Your Knowledge You may have missed out on the chance to compete on this year’s Challenge team, but try out these questions to see if you have what it takes to make next year’s team: 1) An ornate tent typical of those used during the middle ages is a: a. pavilion b. basilica c. hacienda d. propylaeum 2) Which is not a historical novel? a. Ivanhoe b. Ben hur c. The Forsyte Saga d. The Last Days of Pompeii 3) Which number is not paired with its atomic number a. silver - 47 b. carbon - 6 c. lithium -71 d. aluminum -13 4) What national monument is not in Arizona a. Organ Pipe b. Casa Grande c. Sunset Crater d. Devils postpile 5) Complete the title of this biography, “Little Sure Shot: the Story of…” a. Virginia Dare b. Molly Pitcher c. Annie Oakley d. Amelia Earhart 6) The Dalai Lama has lived in exile since what country seized full control of Tibet in 1959 7) It is a dance with sinuous hip movements and mimetic hand gestures that tell a story. Name this traditional dance of Hawaii 8) What geologic era is the age of ancient marine life?

9) What is the length of one side of a regular pentagon with a perimeter of 45 inches?

Answers:

1) a 2) c 3) c 4) d 5) c 6) China 7) Hula 8) Paleozoic 9) Nine

October 2012

8

October 2012

SPORTS

Drew Lord Contributing Writer

Homecoming Previews

As the weather becomes brisk and the leaves begin to change, both the Varsity Field Hockey and Cross Country teams hope for big Homecoming victories.

“Homecoming is the time we don’t want to disappoint,” Field Hockey Captain Janay Parrott ‘13 told The Sentinel. “We need this win to motivate us for the rest of the season.” Unfortunately, the Girls Varsity Field Hockey team has been in need of inspiration since the beginning of the fall season. They were hit hard in the first few games by rivals Greenwich Academy and Holy Child.

But the girls are undeniably playing well, especially with the help of newcomer Finley Frechette ‘16. “Finley has really proved herself in the past few games,” said Parrott. Seeley Fancher ‘14 agreed that the addition of other newcomers, like Eloise Somerby ‘15, has been beneficial to the team. “The new players have set the bar high. It is really motivating to watch them grow and fit into our team.”

The losses do not seem to hurt the morale of the Varsity Field Hockey team. “Our team spirit is very good,” said Fancher, “and we hope to harness the positive energy into a win.” The team has one more game versus Cheshire Academy before their big homecoming duel, and they hope to pick up a win. “We have the confidence and know we can do it,” Somerby claims, “we just have to play the best we can and hope for the win.”

Apart from watching the field hockey game at Homecoming, guests will also have the opportunity to participate in the 3rd annual St. Luke’s Fun Run, hosted by both the Upper and Middle School Cross Country teams. The participants in the Fun Run, a 5K run that begins on the upper field, will race through the trails behind St. Luke’s beginning at 10:30 on Saturday morning.

With a growing team, Co-Captain Wyett Dalton ‘14 is excited for the meets to come: “We are really looking forward to seeing how we do in the FAA’s.

It should be a great year.”

Both teams agree that support for the Storm is a crucial ingredient to a solid performance on Homecoming day. They both hope for large turnouts and to demonstrate their appreciation to the supportive St. Luke’s community with resounding victories.

“In general, support from the fans gives such a confidence boost to any team,” said Fancher. “We need as many fans rooting for us as possible.”

Ben Decatur Sports Editor Homecoming this Saturday, October 13th, features two fan favorite St. Luke’s sports teams: the undefeated Storm football team (vs. Rye) and Girls Varsity Soccer, who will face the Forman School with an even 2-2.

In the last game the football team led by Charlie Nelson, Myles Gaines, and Noel Thomas showed their skill with a 48-28 win over Hamden Hall.

The team has looked very impressive so far, as they have breezed through their first four contests. The team has scored a stunning 128 points while only giving up a meager 48 points.

When asked what the main focus for the Storm is going into homecoming Quarterback Charlie Nelson ‘13 responded, “The teams main focus does not change for this one game. Our only focus is to win each week. Although this game means a lot to the team and our community, we will treat it like any other game.”

Beating Rye will not be a breeze for the Storm.

The Wildcats were shut out in their first appearance against Tuckahoe, but showed incredible improvement with a 21-7 win over Bronxville.

Even after Rye’s win, the St. Luke’s squad still has confidence going into the game as star running back Noel Thomas stated, “I’ve never been more confident of my team in my life.”

The St. Luke’s Varsity Volleyball Team got off to a strong start this year winning their first two matches against Hopkins and Hamden Hall. After losing a couple of games, the team looks to get back on track with a win on homecoming. The team will be playing the Forman School at 1:30 in the Carey Gymnasium.

Cross Country Co-Captain Wyett Dalton ‘14 Varsity Cross Country Coach Corliss Spencer stressed the importance of the Fun Run as an exciting alternative to the chaotic and competitive environment of Homecoming weekend. “This is our third year doing the run,” Coach Spencer told The Sentinel, “and every year it has been a blast.”

Coach Spencer is encouraging everyone to come and try the Fun Run. St. Luke’s has always had a great turnout for the event, with participants including students, teachers and alumni. Rumors are even surfacing that Headmaster Mr. Davis will compete in the race. “I heard he’s been training for it all year,” said Coach Spencer.

But Mr. Davis may have tough competition. The Varsity Cross Country team has had a very strong start to their season, pulling out big victories against teams like King and and Harvey.

Junior Captain Sasha Clark is especially jubilant for the homecoming game. “I’m very excited for this game” she says, “Forman is a pretty good team but we should be able to hold our own against them. It will most definitely be an exciting game, so everyone should come and support!”

responded: “Better transitioning, exceptional hitting from outside hitters (Riley Vaske ‘14, Sasha Clark ‘14, Ally Frattaroli ‘14), great communication from captains (Sarah Donovan ‘13 and Christie Santoro ‘13), and strong defense in the back row.”

The stage is set for a homecoming full of excitement, as the football team looks to stay undefeated, while the volleyball team looks to continue their strong start. We urge you to come out and support the teams, as they will certainly thrive off the positive energy from the home crowd.

Will Twomey Staff Writer Homecoming is coming fast upon us, and with that comes exciting St. Luke’s Storm sports action! Two teams to keep your eye out for: Girls Varsity Soccer and Boys Varsity Soccer.

The Girls Varsity Team is truly a force to be reckoned with. Last year, they won the FAA’s as well as the NEPSAC’s, both truly incredible feats.

The girls’ record right now is 4-0-1, with big wins against teams such as Hopkins (8-1) and Taft (7-2), both emphatic victories. The girls show great scoring ability, but they are still striving to improve their game. Merideth Rogers, ‘15, explained what the team needs to work on before the big game, “On defense we need to work on covering the through ball, improve our communication, and keeping possession of the ball.”

The girls play Rye High School at Homecoming this year, a team they have quite a history with. Last year, the girls lost 1-0 to Rye at Rye’s homecoming, so this year they seek revenge. Captain KC Kelly, ‘13 had this to say when asked how she expects this game to be different from last year’s: “Being at home will have a huge impact because we have a big crowd...we want to get back at them because we’ve lost to them a couple years in a row so I think we all really want this win.”

Meanwhile, Boys Varsity Soccer, set to play Harvey, is off to a fast start this season. After a tough 2-9-0 season last year, the team’s desire to succeed is almost tangible. Right now, the boys have an impressive 3-1-1 record, with big wins against South Kent (1-0) as well as Canterbury (2-1). “We have been doing an excellent job in the offensive third, as well as creating a lot of scoring opportunities.” says Captain Christian Walsh, ‘13. “We need to work on communication, winning balls out of the air, and keeping our marks.”

The Forman team is 2-3 this year, beating Harvey and the Wooster School. The Lions lost their last game 3 sets to 1, and they look to regain the momentum when they battle the Storm this Saturday.

When asked what she looks to accomplish against Forman, assistant coach Ms. Goldschmidt “We feel very confident about the game against Harvey” Captain Jake Hammil, ‘13 said. Christian Walsh even went so far as to predict that they will win by a 2 goal margin against Harvey, a bold statement from the captain. Christian also mentioned how important it is that fans turn out for the game. “It will help fuel the win,” he said. This looks to be a very exciting game, and we should all turn out to cheer the boys on.