The Index Volume LXXII, No. 2
December 2010
Haverford, Pennsylvania
Jenny Boylan and the complexity of identity
Changhee Han ‘11
Speaking with both humor and candor, Jenny Boylan told a story to the Upper School in Centennial Hall. Like most of the “In the Arena” speakers before her, her story revolved around the theme of determination and courage and the challenge of coming to terms with one’s identity. Occasionally curling her hair behind her ear while speaking, Boylan presented herself as a calm and collected individual. Nothing about her seemed out of the ordinary. But there was one catch. Jenny Boylan happened to be born as Jimmy Boylan. With Haverford still in the early stages of discussing sensitive gender issues, the news that a transexual speaker was coming generated curiousity throughout the school. Teachers told students a week ahead of time - to prepare students and to de-sensationalize the gender aspect of the speaker. Students simply did not know what to expect. A transgendered person seemed too abstract of a concept for many. When the day finally came, students trickled into Centennial Hall, some scanning the stage for a first glimpse of the speaker. Expectations were high
as students sat down awaiting Boylan’s speech. After a brief introduction from Dr. Cox, Jenny Boylan finally took the stage and the audience grew silent. “I just want to say one thing before I start,” Boylan began while addressing former classmates and teachers, “I’m not the only looking different today.” Laughter rippled throughout the audience, and it continued throughout most of the assembly. For many, her speech quickly stripped away many of the misconceptions about transgendered people. “What’d you expect?” joked Boylan. At one point in her speech, she talked about a letter from a woman who wrote how Boylan “could have been someone she knew.” It was a poignant moment in her presentation where the audience realized that Boylan was
no different from anybody else in the crowd. She just happened to have been trapped in the wrong body as an adolescent. Fourth Former Erich Prince elaborated, “Few of us had actually come to know a transexual individual. By hearing from Jenny Boylan, we saw that she is a person instead of the generalizations that people tend to make. People with differences are still people.” For some, however, Boylan’s presentation did not have the same effect as it did on others. “It’s not anything new for me to have seen because I live in the city. It wasn’t surprising for me, and I recognize that others might have been unnerved by her presence, but the topic of transgendered individuals was not foreign for me,” remarked Fifth Former Dominique Town. Others felt differently. “I thought what she said about
how her mother said, ‘it’s impossible to hate someone whose story you know’ was really powerful,” remarked Sixth Former Jes Sacharok. Boylan’s presentation earned its success from her straight-fowardness with the audience. There was no self-pity and her speech portrayed her as a human being - as “normal” as anyone else. “She was very interesting. Sometimes we have had very boring speakers, but for her, it was hard not to pay attention. She had a lot of interesting life experiences to listen to and learn from,” commented Fifth Former Will Schwartz. For Boylan, her life was tumultous from the moment she knew she was not meant to be a man. Her marriage to her wife was shaken to the limits of their commitment, and she and her sister are no longer on speaking terms. However, Boylan repeatedly emphasized how her relationships with loving friends and family as well as former classmates and teachers helped her from plunging too deep into depression.
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Farewell to Jim Finnerty Grayson Sessa ‘13
One smiling face will be missed this year in Haverford’s athletic facility. Jim Finnerty, who provided the laundry service that allowed Haverford students to put their dirty clothes on a pin and have them returned clean often within time for the next use, retired this year. Jim, who turned seventy-six in September, had been working at the Haverford School for as long as many could remember, at least twenty-four years. Regarding Jim’s job at Haverford Sixth Former Abdul Sesay said, “People think that washing laundry is insignificant, but [Jim played] a major role in the community.” Always known for his warm, smiling face, Jim went above and beyond his job to greet students as they passed by the laundry room, becoming a friend in the otherwise-gray hallways. If not in the laundry room waving to passersby, Haverford students could often find him attentively watching the sports games occurring on Sabol Field, directly outside of the Athletic facility. The common denominator among everyone’s accounts of their interactions with Jim is a kind, welcoming spirit and a never-ceasing desire to form a personal connection with each and every Haverford student. Someone would be hard-pressed to find anyone who personally knew Jim and would not characterize him as a genuinely “nice guy.” Sesay said, “He always
stopped to ask you how your day was going.” Illustrating just how deep a bond Jim had with Haverford students and athletes, according to Sheila Maginn, Assistant to the Athletic Director, the very first person recent graduates would come and visit was Jim. Not only did he bond with alums, he also formed personal relationships with younger students. Of his memories of Jim, Fourth Former Fisher Pressman remarked, “He always remembered my name. He’s a nice guy.” Likewise, Fourth Former Michael Maggio reminisced, “He always remembered my name.” Perhaps the best example of Jim’s utter devotion to Haverford and the community is Sesay’s story of when he was running late to a sports game and missed the bus. While in most cases the prospects of reaching the game in time would be slim, Jim took time out of his own day to drive Sesay all of the way to Chestnut Hill Academy in time for the game. Similarly, Jim Finnerty went above and beyond his job to recover Fourth Former Henry Scales’s jersey, also just in time for a sports game. When asked of her most memorable experience while working with Jim, Ms. Maginn shared a story characterized by strong emotions. Jim was at the league basketball game the year that Haverford won, the same year during which Henry Fairfax, who is now our Director of Admissions, was
captain. As soon as Haverford won, Fairfax cut a piece off of the basket, ran over, and handed it to Jim. Maginn remembered the smile on Jim’s face as one of genuine joy since he was so happy to be included in the community in such a way. Jim’s time at Haverford was characterized by touching moments, such as these, that are engrained in the memories of all who were lucky enough to work with him. Ms. Maginn and Trainer Ms. Nicole Courtney summed up Jim’s reason for retirement as being “tired” and that it was “time for him.” His retirement from Haverford has little to do with health: in fact, despite his age, he was in great health at the time. As for Jim’s retirement plans, though he never discussed them in great detail, his friends believe that Jim, who lives with his brother and sister-in-law in an apartment inside their house, will use his newfound spare time to relax and continue gardening, a passion of his. Of course, they say, Jim will still attend and support Haverford at sporting games. With Jim’s departure, Haverford loses his joyous attitude and the useful laundry service that he provided. Thus, this year, the Haverford laundry system will be changing. Currently, according to Ms. Courtney, Athletic Trainer Mr. Bill Wardle will be handling laundering team uniforms at the end of each season. However, there is
no daily laundry service for practice outfits or uniforms at the end of each sporting event. On a more personal note, Jim is known for absolutely “loving his sweets” according to Maginn. In fact, every day he would bring a bag of candy with him to Haverford and eat it with his lunch. Courtney echoes many other members of the Haverford School community when she says, “We miss him,” but Jim does still visit Haverford and he surely will continue to do so. Jim’s legacy at Haverford is perhaps best summarized by Ms. Maginn in this way, “Somebody like that comes into your life once in a lifetime.” Clearly, Jim will be remembered as an ever-grinning fixture of Haverford’s welcoming community for a very long time.
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December 2010
News & Features A Letter from the Letter from the Editors-in-Chief President Dear Students,
Dear Index readers,
Now more than ever, both on a global level and in our community, it seems the vocal minority is taking over the silent majority. We are seeing it at political rallies, where a few people with radical signs or ridiculous costumes steal the spotlight from the message of the event. Here at school, we see it all the time. For example, several guys have left their trash on the tables in the cafeteria expecting someone else to pick it up. Or when a person steals someone else’s property and thinks it is acceptable. Those of us who do not participate in these things have to listen to countless announcements and lectures as if we did something wrong. Now that is not to say that those of us who do not really do anything wrong are perfect - because we are far from perfect. I also recognize that boys will be boys. But it is unfair for the rest of us to suffer the consequences of “group punishment” when only a few members of our student body are at fault. So what do we do? How do we stop that vocal minority from overshadowing us, the silent majority? First, we will continue to listen to those announcements and lectures with the hope that the wrong-doers will finally get the message. But this will only take us so far. The most effective thing you can do is for you to take action. If you see something that you think misrepresents the community, speak up. Have the courage to tell that person to stop and think about the consequences that virtually writes itself as a result of their actions. I think this is the best way to show leadership. Summon the courage to step up and say something. Now I certainly need to do a better job of this myself - there is no denying that. I am a firm believer in “practicing what you preach,” and I feel I would be failing you if I did not back up what I say. But we can only be successful in this if all of you tat make up the silent majority take this challenge seriously.
We would like to extend our deepest apologies for the delay in the second issue of The Index. The laptop we originally worked on to complete the newspaper was beset with technological problems that were out of our hands. However, we were given a clean slate with some new equipment and have revamped the paper as a way to signal a sort of rebirth of our beloved school paper. We will give our utmost effort to ensure this does not happen again and will continue to work closely with the Communications Department (to whom we give our utmost gratitude) to deliver a paper that you will fully enjoy. With that aside, we now encourage you to write for us. Your articles don’t necessarily have to be about the school; it can be a story about an interesting experience you had or an opinion you have on outside issues. Just let us know if you’re interested. We aim to please. In this day and age, many have argued that published news and literature is fast being rendered obsolete by the rise of electronic media. However, this is not the case. Magazines all across the country still retain a strong and faithful readership. The key to this phenomenon? It’s nothing more than simply having something to read in your hands. That’s easy. We can fulfill that part of the deal but the responsibility lies within our readers to provide us with articles that are relevant and appealing to our community. Surprise us. Send in a witty joke for The Outdex. Make us think with an opinions piece on politics. We’ll take care of the rest.
Your President, Armen Melikian ‘11
Ryan Blake and Changhee Han ‘11
Mr. fifer tightens disciplinary policies Gerard Hoeltzel ‘13
With every new school year comes change, an opportunity for minor modifications to be made in order to better The Haverford School community. With the announcement that Assistant Head of Upper School Mr. Rein would be leaving the school after fourteen years, many students were curious to see his replacement. Soon, students learned that Mr. Fifer, whom we all of knew to be a Form III and Form V history teacher, would be taking up the position. With a new leader in the Upper School, things were going to be slightly different. For one, many students last year began to notice the insufficient amount of time the school dedicated towards club periods, and to many this was something that was lacking in the community. This year, one of the new policies the school has put into action is the increased community time on Tuesdays and Fridays from 20 minutes to 30 minutes. In addition, clubs have been officially scheduled to occur every other Friday, compared to last year when it was at most once or twice a quarter. As a result of this change, many students feel as though they can do something in school that connects with their key interests and allows them to express themselves in various ways. According to Third Former Eamon Glavin,
“Community time and clubs allow us to become closer as a whole and experience new things. At Haverford we meet new people and enjoy doing things that we care about, adding more time for us to participate in those things is something that is obviously beneficial to the students.” Apparently this alteration is having a positive affect on student life, permitting students to stick to something and join a group that represents their passion. On the contrary, not every change is going to be as beneficial to each student. Some students have noticed how the level of strictness in relation to the dress code has been taken more seriously this fall. The dress code system has always been a tradition at The Haverford School. It is a way to unify everyone into a single community as well as help keep things in order. Fourth Former Michael Green states, “Being in dress helps me to focus in class, whereas on days where the school is dressed down, things [grow] somewhat unorganized and the usual sense of attentiveness is lost.” Student accountability is what Mr. Fifer was shooting for when he incorporated a few minor ideas in the school disciplinary system for the 2010-2011 school year. For example, attending class but being out of dress is now a violation of equal consequences to being late, and also, any teacher has the ability to select that option
from the “drop down” menu on the attendance list. Mr. Fifer believes that, “Everyone has always followed the dress code and abiding by the norms of it has never seemed to cause a problem.” However, the consequences for being out of dress have increased in order to ensure that this standard is held. It now stands that four “infractions” result in a detention for a student and, correspondingly, as one commits more offenses, one digs deeper and deeper into trouble. Although the bar has been raised, most students tend to have the same reaction when it comes to wearing a coat and tie. Fourth Former Matthew Galetta, responds, “Dress code doesn’t really affect me, I just wake up every morning and put my clothes on like usual. It has gotten to the point where I don’t really think about it.” With all that is going on at Haverford, schoolwork, athletics, and arts, depending on what kind of person you are, dress code is not something one should fret over. It is more important that we seize the opportunity of increased club times as well as everything else Haverford has to offer, and make the best of our time here at school for the next six months.
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December 2010
Smartphone War Android vs. Droid Tadas Antanavicius ‘12
Faces in the crowd: Mr. Tirado Tom Harper ‘11 Many teachers come and go in our lives, while others are influential for a short period of time but leave a lasting impression. One such person is Mr. Dacque Tirado. Many know him as a history teacher with a Bachelor’s Degree from Wesleyan University, a Master’s from Columbia, and a Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. We have seen him coach a Junior Varsity basketball game, volunteer as a faculty advisor for the Diversity Alliance, Diplomacy club, and the College Football club. The Index sat down and got to know the man beyond the Haverford gate. What is your favorite... Television Show: The Wire, it’s one of the greatest of all time. Movie: True Romance - few people know that it was written, not directed, by Quention Tarantino. Influential Teacher: I remember some of the most influential people in my life were my prep school teachers. War: American Revolution. President: James K. Polk - he said he was going to accomplish four things while in office but actually accomplished five. He then left office after serving four years. Food: Puerto Rican food made by my abuela (grandmother). Hoagie: Turkey and American cheese, mayo, sweet peppers, tomatoes and onions. Being from New York it is difficult to say “hoagie.” Favorite cheese steak: Delassandro’s. After a round of golf. Golf: It’s still a work in progress, but I broke 100 last spring. Songs on your iPod: “Microphone Fiend” by Rakim, “Javelin” by Dep and James Blake. Album: Midnight Marauders by Tribe Called Quest. Video game: Madden ‘92. That was the last video game I was good at. Pro Sports Team: Eagles. College Team: Tennessee Volunteers. Sports game: 1972 Olympics, USA vs. Russia basketball game. Sport to watch: Football. Sport to cotach: Basketball.
In the U.S., at least 20% of cell phone users own smartphones. This percentage could surge to as much as 50% by December 2011. At The Haverford School, these numbers are undoubtedly much higher already. Students have found various uses for these pocket PC-like phones: other than taking advantage of the enhanced gaming and social networking aspects of smartphones, some students have had their phones carry their schedules, and others their homework. Portable internet access provides a gateway to a limitless amount of information. These are but a few of the most basic features of your typical smartphone. There is an enormous selection of smartphones for potential adopters to consider. Based on statistics gathered in July, the leader in terms of U.S. market share is Research in Motion’s (RIM) Blackberry with 39%. RIM has kept its lead by virtue of its popularity among business users who make use of its tight integration with corporate emails and exceptional security features. Nevertheless, their dominance in the smartphone market has slowly but surely begun to dwindle as the iPhone and Android have begun to provide suitable alternatives for business users. In second, there is Apple’s iPhone with about 24% of the market. The iPhone was, up until about a year ago, the obvious choice for the casual, nonbusiness user who wanted the capabilities of a smartphone. Even so, ever since the spike in popularity of Android at the end of last year, Apple’s growth in market share has slowed, even fallen, in 2010. Finally, we have the upstart Google Android. Although Android has only captured 17% of the market thus far, it has grown up 14% from 3% since October of 2009 and is predicted to continue this astronomical growth. As the iPhone and Android have begun chipping into RIM’s lead in the market, many potential smartphone owners are faced with a challenging decision: iPhone or Android? The most obvious differences between the two are the choice of carriers and type of phones. The choice for a new iPhone is clear - the Apple iPhone 4 from AT&T, seeing as it is the only choice unless you opt for the cheaper iPhone 3GS. Meanwhile, Android has multiple options on every major carrier. Some of the more popular ones include Verizon’s Droid X and Droid 2, Sprint’s Evo 4G, and the Galaxy S series (available on all major carriers). These phones vary in size, shape, internal components, and some even have a physical, slide-out keyboard. Hardware differences aside, the iOS (the iPhone’s operating system) and
Player in Sports: Tony Dorsett, he was just so smooth. Team of All Time for an Individual Season: 1972 Knicks. I really like Bill Bradley because he is a senator from New Jersey. Vacation: St. Barth’s. Person/People you would like to have dinner with: Two dinners. One with Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis, and one with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Photo at Right: DIYTrade. com
Android have numerous differences in terms of software. Apple is known for its “it just works” approach. The user interface is simple and is something anybody could figure out in a matter of minutes. Apple does not allow for much customization or inconsistencies in hopes of keeping everything simple applications (“apps”) can only be downloaded from Apple’s App Store. Apps do not have permissions that would allow them to significantly alter the way your phone works, and there are several other rules in place that Apple enforces through its strict screening process for new apps created by third party developers. One key thing to note about the iPhone is that Apple is both the hardware and software manufacturer. This enables the two teams to work closely together and optimize performance and efficiency for their one common device. Android, on the other hand, is unmatched in customizability and “openness.” Widgets on the homescreens allow you to find information at a glance. No restrictions on the capabilities of apps make the possibilities endless, and overall you can make your phone do anything within the limits of technology. However, these extra features and capabilities come with a price. The average user could easily clutter his phone in an attempt to make use of all of its features. Not only would this result in a confusing phone overall, but the phone itself may have a hard time trying to get everything to work together smoothly - many things could go wrong and sometimes do. The huge variety in types of phones also means that Android does not run as smoothly on some as it does on others; it is not optimized for any particular phone, unlike iOS. Neverthless, if managed correctly, Android is capable of doing much more than iOS, albeit without the eye-catching fluidity of the iPhone. Overall, the iPhone’s advantages generally have something to do with quality. This is a direct result of its simplicity and controlled atmosphere; its shortcomings in its features are compensated by the extra work put into the features it does have and creates a smoother user experience with fewer bugs and glitches. Android excels in the quantity of features it offers, but you sacrifice some of the quality and the ease of use you would have with an iPhone. Yet, if you can deal with slight flaws in quality, Android has the potential to do much more if you are willing to work with it. Neither phone is simply “better” than the other; it all comes down to what you want from it personally.
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December 2010
News & Features Microfinance Club Amar Patel ‘13 “Microfinance gives people the tools to help them get out of poverty,” says Mr. Sweeney, the head of the microfinance club, on what first struck his interest in the subject. The club focuses on aiding entrepreneurs in poorer countries to start businesses and become successful by giving 0% loans in small denominations. The loans are most often given by non-profit organizations because banks cannot make profit from such small poor communities. Microfinance has become vital because the world is moving towards a market economy where only the countries with money are benefitting. The world would either have to wait for the poor people to increase their capital or intervene. “There are many benefits to joining the club such as learning how to start a small business, about culture, making real decisions for real people, and capital. This isn’t just like doing a math problem; it has real implications in the real world,” says Mr. Sweeney. However, the club will not focus on only one specific country, but will rather help numerous entrepreneurs in diverse locations. In order to give the twenty-five dollar loan, the club will need to do fundraisers such as dress down days. Mr. Sweeney encourages students to join by saying, “The most fun part of the job is that you, the students, get to make all of the decisions.” Sixth Former Nate Rodgers is a member of this club. What initially inspired Nate to join was the club’s “ability to help someone that banks cannot and that helping people on a global scale, by giving person to person loans, brings powerful change to that community.” Like many other students, Nate did not know what microfinance was until Mr. Sweeney introduced it to the school. But since then, Nate has become more aware that there are driven people scattered across the world who do not have the resources to start a business and put their more than capable minds to work. “Microfinance gives me the ability to help and restore hope for these entrepreneurs and their communities,” adds Rodgers. If you would like to participate in this club, talk to Mr. Sweeney or Nate Rodgers, for one of the most important actions you can do in this world is help another person in need.
Third Form perspective of school life Jake Mullin ‘13 Now that school has been in session for several months, the Third Form has now fully adjusted to the different atmosphere of Upper School. As many of you might remember, the change from Middle School to Upper School was challenging in many ways but was also beneficial in other regards, such as moving to a bigger building and having higher expectations for ourselves. The Index investigated some Third Formers’ personal opinions on the impact of the change to Upper School. Third Former Peter Blynn stated, “High school has been quite a change for me. The biggest adjustment has been the workload. The teachers are much less forgiving, but the classroom is more fun because all of us are much more mature than we were in Middle School. The building is bigger as well, so sometimes it’s necessary to sprint to get to class on time. Overall, I really like the high school and am looking forward to my four years here.” Some students who are new to Haverford altogether might be twice as nervous joining a school while only knowing a few students, or possibly none at all. According to Third Former Joseph Raymond, however, Haverford does a pretty good job of trying to introduce students to each other through such activities as the Bridge Program or football camp. “So far high school has been an awesome time for me. I had a great time getting to meet some of my future classmates at the Bridge Program, and I also had a great time at summer camp for football getting to know a lot of the upperclassmen and developing strong friendships with my teammates.” The Third Form is now fully settled into the flow of Upper School and althought it is tough, they have enjoyed all of it thus far.
PHOTO courtesy: Huffington Post
Patrick L. Meehan: Haverford Father and Congress Member James Shecter ‘13 While some of our fathers return from a day of work as a doctor, lawyer, or another runof-the-mill job, Patrick Meehan, father of Jack, Pat Jr., and Colin, has a career in politics. Mr. Meehan served as the District Attorney for Delaware County from 1996-2001, and U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania from 2001-2008. After a long campaign, Patrick Meehan won the 2010 congressional election for Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District (Greater Delaware County). Most students wonder if the Meehan brothers’ lives are affected by their father’s somewhat atypical career. Fifth Former Pat Meehan Jr. says, “We actually see him a lot more than you’d think. His office is right in our neighborhood, so he’s usually home for dinner if he’s not debating. It’s not as bad as most people think.” Pat also remarked that he does not have political aspirations, though he admires and respects his father, he would “rather take a nice 9 to 5.” I then asked if the Meehan brothers have had any interesting moments that they thought other Haverford students have not had. Pat answered, “I don’t know any other kids who have walked aroud neighborhood for a few hours putting pamphlets in doors, or who who have gone to galas in New York City in their dad’s honor. But before you’re old enough to be really aware of it, it’s already a part of your life.” Fourth Former Colin Meehan stated, “I’ve been on TV behind my dad a couple of times when he answered questions” and went on to say that his father’s position “doesn’t really affect [him and his brothers] that much” because most people “don’t make too big of a deal.” It might be a big deal to many families to see their families debating on television and written about in newspapers almost every day, but the Meehans seem to take it naturally. Mr. Meehan won his election in November.
Jenny Boylan Continued “I thought it was heartwarming to hear her reaction to the changes in Haverford. I had never seen the audience so quiet and attentive to a speaker before,” commented Sixth Former Rameen Vafa. This remark came in light of the behavior that the Upper School had been exhibiting to past speakers in Centennial Hall. The school’s Dean of Students Mr. Mark Fifer had made it a point to encourage the audience to behave like gentlemen. But given the bravery of the speaker and the seriousness of the topic, the Upper School displayed exemplary behavior that day. “You could hear a pin drop,” Mr. Miller remarked offhandedly to his War and Peace class. When she finished her speech, Boylan then entertained questions from the audience that ranged from how her family reacted to her decision to change her sex to how the school’s environment had changed from her time at Haverford. As soon as she finished answering questions, Boylan was given a rare standing ovation from the audience. She appeared astonished as rows of students and teachers simultaneously stood up in a wave to applaud her. But just as easily as her astonishment washed over, she quickly composed herself and humbly attempted to bid the audience to sit back
down, all the time with a huge smile on her face. On her online blog at JenniferBoylan. net, Ms. Boylan wrote, “It was one of the most astonishing moments of my life. In all the many ways I had imagined this morning might conclude, this was never one of the scenarios.” Her insight served as a reminder of the progress the Haverford School has made, whether it be in the form of Community Awareness Meetings or the Diversity Alliance. Her pleasant surprise at the changes in her alma mater served as a clear indication of how change, while slow, will continue to mold the way people think in future generations. Ms. Boylan concluded her blogpost with a lyric from a Paul Simon song,“I believe in the future, we will suffer no more. Maybe not in my lifetime, but in yours I feel sure.”
THE INDEX CONGRATULATES THE CAST OF THE GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR