October 2016 Index

The Index Eutαxia Swzein Dokei

Volume LXXVIII, No. 2

Abuobiada Khujali Elamin ‘20

October 2016

Haverford, Pennsylvania - haverfordindex.com

Is Homework Necessary?

A fairly recent study called Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? by a trio of Duke researchers concludes, “No strong evidence was found for an association between the homework-achievement link and the outcome measure.” Homework may just be an unnecessary burden to students.

At younger grade levels, studies show that there is no correlation between the amount of homework given and academic achievement. At the high school level, researchers do not see much persuasive evidence for homework’s positive benefits either. There seems to be little to no correlation between homework and test scores. A study by another researcher, University of Texas at Austin professor Timothy Keith, showed a strong correlation.

Keith revised the study a decade later after adding new variables. He found that there was no strong correlation. The only subject that did have a good correlation between homework and scores was math. Why do we still insist on giving it?

English Teacher Mr. Kyle Traynham said, “I use homework in my course to

Typical student’s canvas page

help students practice, whether it’s grammar, vocabulary, exercises and above all, reading… They come to class armed with questions and comments to help the course move forward.” In Mr. Traynham’s eyes, homework is a means to help students better understand the subject and come up with provocative questions. “Now,

Index Staff

homework created for accuracy, in lieu of completion, are two different dynamics.

I grade homework to see if students completed it, but also to allow them to work on it in their own time. Having students complete homework helps them perform better on assessments. History and English are typically fashioned around reading and

critical thinking.”

Math Department Chair Ms. Susan Mitchell believes homework is a staple part of a course. She said, “Ideally, a teacher introduces a topic to a boy and he spends 20 to 30 minutes outside of class reinforcing the topic and making connections to prior knowledge.” She still believes math can be learned without homework; the class just won’t be able to move at the same pace. Ms. Mitchell agreed with Mr. Traynham that there is no real substitute for homework; they just have to find a form that can be done in school. Ms. Mitchell said, “It is very easy to identify the students who are doing their practice outside of class. It is rare to perform well on a quiz or a test without practice, just like in a game or a concert.”

Third Former Vincent Squazzo said, “I feel like some of the homework that we do really drills it into my brain and doing all that repetition at home and that review really helps me.” He feels that history needs the least amount of time for homework and that math and language need the most time, and English and science are somewhere between.

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Inside Politics: Election Issue Hillary Clinton Profile Donald Trump Profile Yeshwin Sankuratri ‘20

Turning sixty-nine on October 26, former first lady, senator, and Secretary of State, Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton is relying on her vision for the future of America and her political experience to conquer this year’s presidential election.

This Democratic nominee has proven to be a fighter and will do everything in her power not to be denied the Oval Office for a second time. Widely known for her notorious email-scandal, Hillary Clinton hopes to prove all her critics wrong and show the American people that she deserves a chance at ultimate leadership.

Hillary Rodham grew up in a middleclass family in the suburbs of Chicago.

Her father was a World War II veteran and entrepreneur, while Hillary’s mother stayed at home to care for the children.

After graduating from high school, she was admitted into Wellesley College. Getting her feet wet, she quickly found herself in the field of politics and became actively involved in the social justice movement.

Ms. Rodham quickly found herself enjoying politics and decided to enroll in Yale Law School. It was at Yale where Hillary met Bill for the first time. After denying Bill twice, they finally married in a small ceremony in Arkansas.

It quickly became apparent after her college years that she wanted to give back to people all around the world. After Bill was sworn in as the Governor of Arkansas, Mrs.

Ryan Sanflippo ‘18

Clinton pledged to reform the healthcare and educational systems. And in 1977, Clinton co-founded Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. It was one of the state’s first children advocacy groups.

More success and opportunities’ arose for Hillary when Mr. Clinton was elected as the Commander-in-Chief of the United States in 1992. Despite all setbacks, Hillary took it upon herself to fight for affordable health care for all American citizens. She worked day in and day out to successfully create the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and helped cut the uninsured rate for children in half. In 1995, she was exposed to more leadership when she was chosen to lead the U.S. delegation at the UN World Conference in Beijing.

Many individuals within the government did not support her going to this conference because they wanted her to speak about a less “polarizing” topic. But with resilience and perseverance she moved forward with her talk. She believed that she needed to spark the conversation about human rights and their abuses, or no one else would.

In the end, her message was a strong one, “If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s right

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Also inside this Issue...

Haverford Students on current political issues, starting on Page 7

Today America has the lowest domestic labor participation rate since the 1970s, experienced the worst economic recovery since 1940s, and had the lowest homeownership rate in 51 years. On top of that, almost 13 million more Americans are on food stamps, eight million Americans are living in extreme poverty, the median household income lower than it was in 2007. In a nutshell, Donald Trump wants to “reform the tax code and trade policies to make it easier to hire, invest, build, grow and produce in America. Stop China from stealing our jobs, renegotiate NAFTA, cut unneeded regulations, and make America the best place in the world to do business.”

On taxes, Trump plans to simplify the tax code into three simple brackets, 12%, 25%, and 33%, with a 0% rate for many.

Most importantly, Trump plans to decrease the business tax rate to 15%. The return of business to the states will make up for the reduction of the rate. Overall Trump’s main plan is to cut wasteful spending and come up with more efficient spending to help eliminate the national debt.

Usually when people think of Donald Trump’s policies, the first one they think of is his plan to build a wall on a border with Mexico. Although this is not such a horrible idea in theory, it is not such a great one in reality. To build a 1,989-milelong wall and have Mexico pay for the entire thing is a figment of the candidate’s

imagination. However, Trump is correct in the fact that we need to secure our borders. Just because Trump is against illegal immigration does not mean that he is against legal immigration. He wants to “promote a system of legal immigration that serves the well-being of the American people.”

Fall Sports coverage, starting on Page 14

donaldjtrump.com

Donald Trump thanking supporters at a rally

Continued on Page 6 Article Denmark Trip Ms. Yeaton Profile Third-Party Candidate Gun Control Immigration A U.S. Divided Politics in the Classroom XC Stuns Malverns Outdex

Page 3 4 6 7 8 10 13 15 16

Page 2

The Index

Editorials

The Index Endorses Hillary Clinton

2016-17 Editor-in-Chiefs Samuel Turner, Connor Lees, and George Rubin tackle the presidential election from a student perspective

Index Staff

This presidential race has brought fiery partisan conflict, divisive and incendiary rhetoric, and an attack on the political establishment. The Index will not add to this polarized debate but rather make a rational argument for the candidate most worthy of your vote.

While it is a matter of personal opinion whether Hillary Clinton is qualified for the presidency, she has more experience in government than past presidents. Of all our past presidents, none have had absolutely no government experience: Trump would be the first. Donald Trump would argue that his experience running a successful business qualifies him for

the job. While he may be right in some regards, Clinton’s political experience far overpowers anyone in the 2016 presidential race. There is something to be said for her time as a law professor and First Lady of Arkansas, her eight years as First Lady in the White House, and her time as senator and secretary of state.

Whatever her critics say, they won’t argue that she doesn’t know her way around Washington.

And her time in government has yielded some significant accomplishments. Her Global Health Initiative was enormously successful at reducing the infant mortality rates and

We’re off to a good start, and I would be remiss if I were not to mention that. I like where we are as a student body, and I like seeing smiles on people’s faces when we are in the hallways. I hope all Haverford sports teams are successful as always, but to be honest I’m not really concerned with that sort of stuff.

In the lunchroom the other day, I noticed something worth sharing. For those of you here last year, seats at lunch tables were almost “assigned.” The other day, though, I was in the lunchroom looking for a place to sit. I saw a table of fifth formers next to a table of sixth formers, and I wound up sitting next to a table of third formers. To me, that is a sign of growth in the right direction.

The growth that I’m talking about is still relatively abstract, but this year

I have mentioned some broad topics like love that I’d like to see more of.

What happened in the lunchroom speaks volumes to me. Every day though, I see trash. Everywhere. EVERYWHERE. In the library, in the lunchroom, in the locker rooms, outside the cafe and Centennial…

That is unacceptable. I have heard some people talking about how “Sodexo is here to clean.” There is an important distinction between maintaining and cleaning. The wonderful Sodexo staff is here to maintain the grounds, and they do an amazing job. They are not cleaning ladies and gentlemen, they are employees of the school who are paid to maintain these beautiful grounds.

All I ask of all of you reading this is to keep this place spotless, and make sure the Sodexo staff has the easiest time

October 2016

promoting global health in general. She helped secure 21 billion dollars of federal aid after the 9/11 attacks. As secretary of state, she negotiated a ceasefire that quelled the Israeli/Palestinian conflict for two years. She has a proven track record of working with the other side, which is exactly what our legislative body needs considering Congress has an 11% approval rating.

In terms of economic policy, although Clinton advocates raising taxes on the wealthy, at least she supports lowering taxes on small businesses. At a time when we as a country face sluggish economic growth, an ever-increasing wealth gap, and poverty-stricken post-industrial workforce, we need big economic change.

Although The Index considered endorsing Gary Johnson, unfortunately the way our current voting system works, a vote for Johnson is a vote for Trump.

While it is noble to vote for who you believe in, for your vote to count you have to vote for the candidate you dislike the least.

Unfortunately for now, the only alternative is Trump.

Isn’t our government divided enough already? Do we really need someone who enjoys constantly having petty fights on Twitter, and who says he knows more about the war against ISIS than military generals? At least Hillary eventually concedes her mistakes, even if it takes years of constant prodding from the media. Trump is unapologetically offensive towards women, AfricanAmericans, Latinos, and others. Even

worse, if Trump gets elected, he will be the one appointing up to four justices to a Supreme Court that currently lies on a narrow balance between the strict constitutionalist and the “liberal” supreme court justices.

The Index Editors-in-Chief endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton.

History lies in the hands of the American people.

maintaining the grounds. I don’t want to see any more trash, wrappers or bottles or

napkins. Keep this space clean. Don’t take Haverford for granted.

Letter from the Student Body President Evan Scott

The Index’s

2016-2017 Staff

Connor Lees ‘17, Editor-in-Chief George Rubin ‘17, Editor-in-Chief Samuel Turner ‘18, Editor-in-Chief Bill Wu ‘17, News Editor Will Henderson ‘18, Opinions Editor P.J. Rodden ‘18, Sports Editor Grant Sterman ‘18, Politics Editor David Bunn ‘17, Photography Editor Harper Weigle ‘17, Website Technician Andrew Lengel ‘17, Outdex Editor Mr. Thomas Stambaugh, Faculty Advisor Ms. Alicia Evans, Faculty Advisor

All opinions and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Index or the school. The Index is designed and produced digitally. Photographs may be retouched. Submissions and letters to the editors regarding any and all articles are welcomed at index@haverford.org.

President Evan Scott advocates for clean space

John Nostrant

The Index is a student-run publication of the Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the Haverford student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford’s place in world affairs. The Index presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change.

The Index, a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, is composed on Mac OS X, using Adobe InDesign CS 2015. Its surveys are conducted via SurveyMonkey and are advertised on Facebook to current Haverford students. Southern Dutchess News prints 200-400 copies of each issue, and its editorial staff distributes them in the Upper School on the day of release. The Index serves the needs of a total school population of 1091 community members, consisting of 975 students and 116 faculty members.

Contact The Index: 450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041 index@haverford.org Twitter: @Haverford_Index http://www.havindex.com/ (610) 642-3020 x. 1222 Volume LXXVIII, No. 1 - September 8, 2016

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The Index

News & Features

October 2016

Denmark Trip A Success Nick Chimicles ‘17

We sat on a spotless, graffiti-free train speeding through the countryside outside of Copenhagen. Many of us lay heavily on our bags, half asleep from a long day’s travel, thirsty for a cup of coffee. We arrived at Gentofte station, and stepped off of the train to inhale our first breath of clean Danish air. To our left came an army of tall vikings, dressed in fancy polos and form-fitting trousers. “Here they are,” said Upper School Counselor Ms. Janet Heed, our faculty advisor. We nervously accepted their warm smiles and welcoming hugs, before we headed to a new home.

Over the course of one short week, we experienced a culture which differed from our own and forged relationships which might last a lifetime. “[The] trip was a transformational experience,” said Fourth Former Aram LaVan, “[and] it was made all the better by the presence of friends.”

The exchange group consisted of six Baldwin sophomores and seven Haverford Fourth Formers. Each one of us stayed individually with a Danish host and his or her family, who cared for us as if we were their own. We were accompanied by our hosts when we travelled in and around Copenhagen. Many of us enjoyed sitting at the dinner table of our hosts, eating

a delicious home-cooked meal, while having meaningful conversation on global topics. We travelled together through the streets of Copenhagen, took classes and presented at an architecturally beautiful high school, and enjoyed ourselves at amusement parks and restaurants. “I feel as though I truly experienced the city because I was with a native,” said Mickey Fairorth. This immersion factor was coupled with our independence to experience Copenhagen as we pleased.

With our hosts as our guides, we went to sandy beaches and delicious restaurants as well as explored historical sites like Kronborg Castle. “Being immersed in the Danish culture first hand is what made my trip memorable,” said Alexa Diecidue, a Baldwin sophomore.

Diecidue also spoke to the global perspective gained from the trip: “Living the lifestyle of a Dane and going through their daily schedule gave me a chance to look at the similarities and differences of what kids our age are doing in another part of the world.”

As we return to the halls of Baldwin and Haverford, we carry a new perspective of the world and an understanding of a foreign culture.

Fourth Formers Intel Chen, Nick Chimicles, and Jason Chen with Danish friends.

Intel Chen

Summer Spotlight: Chris Williams Nick Chimicles ‘17

At Haverford, each student goes beyond the classroom to pursue his interests. Whether it is a varsity sport, a theater production in Philadelphia, or doing scientific research at a university, each student has an amazing story that they bring to the community.

Chris Williams has one of those stories.

Since middle school he has pursued his interests in programming, and has recently participated in research incorporating his skills at Penn Medicine. Nearly all

of his computer science skills were selftaught, including a knowledge of machine learning and asynchronous inter-processes communication, which he used at Penn to generate models of genetic data. His revolutionary work will meaningfully impact the field of genetics and disease.

His programming interest began with Robotics where he was introduced to the C programming language, his area of expertise. In his sophomore year, he pursued his first of three independent studies during

Sixth Former Chris Williams studying in a pod

Summer Spotlight: SGLI

Intel Chen

Satch Baker ‘18, Eusha Hasan ‘18, PJ Rodden ‘18

In July of 2010, the Punahou School of Honolulu, Hawaii, launched its first ever Student Global Leadership Institute (SGLI), a youth leadership organization that gathered students from around the world to learn about and discuss some of the world’s most pressing issues. In previous years, topics of equity, health, food, and sustainability served as the themes. Chai Reddy, lead director of the SGLI program, stated, “The purpose of the Institute is to develop a community of international youth leaders who understand and are engaged in shared global challenges and who galvanize positive social change.”

This two-week event is focused on the theme of conservation as it applies to culture, species, and the environment.

As part of the experience, students plan and develop a project idea that would have a long-lasting impact in their local communities and schools relating to the theme of conservation. Through this learning process, students not only gain new perspectives on the world, but also acquire paramount leadership skills that benefit them in the future.

Over the past five years, the SGLI leadership program has grown

which he was able to create a multi-client chat server that is an equivalent to one seen in a video game chat and is similar to the framework of a larger messaging service like Facebook Messenger. Later, Chris shared what he learned with the Haverford community by giving multiple “Lunch and Learn” presentations. He later earned the Rudolph Hamma Blythe, Jr., Computer Award. By the summer of his junior year, Chris had gained a wealth of knowledge on the subject of computer science that prepared him for an extraordinarily summer research program.

Medical researchers have established a link between one’s genetics and one’s reactions to different diseases, as well as how diseases are related to genetic mutation. There are many life-threatening diseases which are connected to gene mutation such as cancer and sickle cell anemia. Despite there being a fair amount of research done on the subject, there is still a relatively small amount of data that is available to researchers in order to further understand this linkage. The data is simply too hard to obtain. It must be taken from patients suffering from disease, and it is quite personal, meaning that many are exponentially in size and participation from students and schools globally. This year’s conference consisted of 82 students from 26 different schools and 11 different countries. Rising Fifth Formers, Eusha Hasan, Satch Baker, and P.J. Rodden represented Haverford, accompanied by teacher-advisor-mentor, Science Department Chair Mr. Tom Trocano.

With Hawaiian paradise on the horizon, we went out to discover the cultural backgrounds of students across the world, to understand the impact of humans on the environment through global conservation, and to learn what the youth of this generation can accomplish to alleviate these issues.

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reluctant to share it.

At Penn Medicine, in the Greene Lab of the Department of Pharmacology, work is being done to model the relationship between genetics and disease by using machine learning. Machine learning is a subdivision of the study of computer science that relates to a form of programming where the computer learns and adapts without being explicitly told to do so, which is an aspect of artificial intelligence.

This summer, Chris worked in the Greene lab applying his knowledge of machine learning to help develop the generative measures to create new, anonymous, genetic data. This data can be distributed to researchers and be used to further understand how disease mutates and how it is related to one’s genetics.

Also, it isn’t connected with any person which completely eliminates the privacy impediment of the past. The computer programs which Chris helped develop will allow for medical researchers to create medical treatments based on the relationship between genetics and disease, which could revolutionize the medical field and save the lives of many.

Punahou School Seal

Punahou School

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The Index

Features

October 2016

Ms. Yeaton Joins Library Staff Samuel Turner ‘18

Ms. Yeaton presides over the library.

Haverford is excited to welcome Ms. Meghan Yeaton as a member of the Upper School Library staff. Ms. Yeaton was not always destined to be a librarian: she always wanted to be a paleontologist. Her love of dinosaurs first led her to considering paleontology, but she eventually decided that she would become a forest ranger. She pursued wildlife biology as her major at University of Massachusetts until realizing she also didn’t really want to be a forest ranger. With a full heart and an open mind, Ms. Yeaton decided to move to Tokyo, Japan for several years to teach English. This work served as a me-

dium for her to explore the world, and she just happened to fall in love with teaching. Born in New Jersey, growing up in Massachusetts and Florida, and eventually moving to Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, Ms. Yeaton brings to Haverford not only her immersive experiences in Japan and extensive scientific background but also knowledge of a full palate of American lifestyles.

Given her penchant for teaching, Ms. Yeaton followed her heart and decided to get her graduate degree in Education.

Armed with a science major and education degree, Ms. Yeaton went on to teach

Troy Gibbs-Brown

science for seven years, but she often found herself lingering at the library.

Consequently, while still teaching science, Ms. Yeaton also dedicated herself to working towards a Masters degree in Library Science. While her path to becoming a librarian may appear circuitous, Ms. Yeaton said, “I would not do anything over because I am very happy where I am now, and if I did anything over, there is a good chance I might not be here today.”

In retrospect, Ms. Yeaton wishes she had even gone with her gut more: “It’s really challenging to tune into the things you’re passionate about and invest energy into those things and not get sidetracked into

what you think you might want or what other people may have wanted for you.”

Nonetheless, Ms. Yeaton has weaved throughout her life the theme of doing what you love, and she encourages others to follow the same course.

For these reasons, she has always admired her father since he is the “kind of person who does everything it takes to do what he wants to do. Everything he sets his mind he is good at because he puts in the time.” Ms. Yeaton, like her two young children and husband, enjoys putting time into day trips, outings, and anything outdoors. After a long day outdoors with her family, there is nothing Ms. Yeaton would love more than a slice of New York pizza and an ice-cold root beer to gulp down while watching her favorite TV show, Stranger Things, or favorite movie, Amelie. In her first month at Haverford, Ms. Yeaton has traded TV and movies for books as the Haverford School welcomes her to the community. Ms. Yeaton said, “I’m very proud of working in the library at Haverford because it’s such an exceptional place. I have never seen a library that is as strong as Haverford’s is. I am just really thankful and impressed that I get to go there. My goal for the next year is just to get to know Haverford, get to know the library, and all of the people – the students and faculty members that make it work.” The Haverford School community is equally thankful and lucky to welcome Ms. Yeaton as we embark on the 2016-17 school year.

Sustainability Alliance

Lincoln and Douglas: famed raconteurs

Speech and Debate Grant Stermon ‘18

Every school year, some of the brightest minds at Haverford will come together and form The Speech and Debate Club.

As with previous years, the club looks for students from all forms and experience levels to join. First, it’s a chance to learn about current events (some that you may not have ever heard about) and to express your thoughts and opinions on these topics in a safe space. It’s a great way to improve your public speaking, persuasion, and research skills, and you get a sports credit if you take it seriously. The Speech and Debate Club provides a platform for those outspoken students who love to share their opinions and those who are looking for a place to finally speak their mind without judgement. Whether through debate or speech, every student has the opportunity for growth in this club.

Over the course of the school year, the

Marsh and Vannerson Public Domain

debate team will meet every Thursday in Sr. Lluch’s room from 5:30-6:45pm.

There are a few different types of speech and debate that students can choose from, including solo, with a partner, and covering different types of issues. So please come even if you are slightly interested, because there will be a category that fits your personality. Led by faculty members Sr. Lluch and Mr. Traynham, the group will spend time researching, discussing points, and constantly debating each other to sharpen its skills. The preparation will lead to several competitions, which are for the most part once a month, that include local and national debates all across the area. If students would like to learn more about this club or the work/time it requires, they should talk to Jack Biddle, Luke Egan, or Grant Sterman. Everyone should at least give it a try because it is a fantastic club where students will have a lot of fun and learn new things while not putting in an extreme amount of work.

Eusha Hasan ‘18 The Sustainability Alliance is a campus organization dedicated to the conservation of the environment. The club began as a project for former librarian Ms. Kirk and present Director of Information Services Ms. Snyder to bring a recycling program to the upper school.

Ms. Kirk, who has since left the school, and Ms. Snyder are both avid conservationists who put out their best effort to affect greater change within the community. With an end goal in mind of educating youth people, both librarians sought to recruit students to clean out the recycling bins of Wilson Hall and put out the recycling containers every Wednesday for pickup. The club forged the opportunity for students to appreciate the importance of conservation by doing work and reaping the fruits of their labor: the school’s trash waste reduced significantly, and we had donuts every week!

This year Sodexo has agreed to continue the recycling program, allowing the Sustainability

Homework, cont.

He says “In English class we do stuff like we talk about a book or grammar… but for homework we usually do a reading or write an essay or study vocabulary. I think those should stay at home because you are in solitude and have the time to work on it.

[In history] we mostly just do the notes at home maybe or study for a test. I think we could do more notes in class or maybe do something related to the topic in class. If you have a language it’s mostly translation

Clinton, cont.

and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are

openclipart.org

Alliance to regroup and plan out new ideas to better the school environment. Club leaders this year are Eusha Hasan, David Aspinall, Emilio Fink, and Matt Tucker. As Fifth Formers, all four understand the shoes that they must fill, but all are willing to face this challenge. Currently, the club is brainstorming a big-picture project idea for the year, but Ms. Snyder is more than willing to bring fresh minds onto the team. If anyone is interested in joining, please visit Ms. Snyder in the library; she is always happy to have new Sustainability allies.

or a grammar packet that could maybe be done in class.”

Overall the Does Homework Improve Academic Achievement? study shows evidence for the case against homework, but homework’s importance goes beyond the current level of scientific study. For the near future, it looks have Haverford’s homework is here to stay.

the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard.”

This is the kind of leader Hillary Clinton is. She stands up for what she believes is right, and she delivers.

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Stage Crew

The Index

News

October 2016

Daniel Resnick ‘17

The Haverford School Stage Crew, located in Centennial Hall, manages all affairs behind the stage for school productions and also the general needs of Centennial Hall. Managed by Mr. Dan Solderitsch and Mr. Steve Stephenson, the Crew meets after school to manage backstage. Every day we often sweep or mop the stage. Out of show weeks, Stage Crew acts as a “manager” of sorts for Centennial. The crew often inventories the lights or cleans the shop in preparation for upcoming shows. Stage Crew begins to pick up rapidly when production for the play or musical begins, increasing the time commitment to each meeting to build the set, prepare the lights, and prepare the sound. Every aspect of backstage theater (barring live music) is handled by the Stage Crew. During dress rehearsals for the production, members of Stage Crew are often at school up until 10:00 at night, sometimes later.

Outside of the school productions, companies often rent out Centennial Hall for their productions ranging from dance recitals to religious congregations. The Stage Crew handles these affairs as well.

We set up for them, and sometimes work with the companies to set up whatever they plan to produce. This is more prevalent during the Spring Season, where both major

Service Board Will Henderson ‘18

The 2016-17 Service Board is spreading awareness of its biannual theme: hunger, poverty, and homelessness. Many of this year’s events will focus on this idea, all of which will be capped off by Empty Bowls, a night dedicated to supporting the fight against hunger in the greater Philadelphia area. By “organizing fun and engaging activities with the Baldwin and Agnes Irwin schools,” Fifth Form Co-President David McKay said, “we hope to get the school community more involved in service.” Below is a list of some, but not all, of the service events the Service Board will be facilitating this fall: Peanut Butter & Jelly Club The Peanut Butter and Jelly Club will have several sandwich -making gatherings this year, and it continues in its efforts to get as many attendants as possible. We

The set for Haverford’s production of Billy Bud last year

productions by the school are finished and Stage Crew is beginning to calm down for the year. More outside jobs begin to appear in Centennial, and various Stage Crew members volunteer for paid and unpaid

work with Agnes Irwin to make as many bagged lunches as we can to feed the homeless in Philadelphia.

We donate our bagged lunches to people at Project HOME to distribute to people living on the streets of Philadelphia. If you are interested, contact the club’s leaders, Jeff Li and Sam Turner, or ask any of the club’s members to add you to the Facebook page.

Bryn Mawr Tutoring The Bryn Mawr Tutoring project is a biweekly program for Haverford students to tutor younger kids in the area. We usually have a large list of students volunteering for this, and can always add more. Please contact any Service Board members if you are interested.

Riverbend Shiverfest Every year, Haverford and Agnes Irwin students support

SGLI, cont.

These two weeks consisted of service

project learning, independent and group research, presentations from local professors, and ample down time to enjoy and explore Honolulu.

Rested on a hill overlooking the city, students spent the majority of their time at the Punahou School. In the opening days, we began to familiarize ourselves with the other students, advisors, and faculty through brief ice-breaker games and small talk. What fascinated the group was the opportunity to meet students from different cultures, languages, and countries across the world. Hearing their unique perspectives on life and the differences and similarities that between our cultures was remarkable.

The opening week of the trip focused mostly on developing lasting relationships with other students and learning about conservation within local Hawaiian

Ms. Dawn Blake

jobs with groups who rent Centennial.

This makes up the bulk of work done in the Spring season. The last outside job for Stage Crew members is to set up and take down the Sixth Form graduation. However,

Stage Crew doesn’t end with the school year; many outside jobs are offered during the summer. The Haverford School Stage Crew is dedicated to its craft year-round.

the Riverbend Environmental Education Center by participating in its Halloween festivities.

Students will be able to dress up and scare people on the “haunted” trail. All proceeds will go to support Riverbend.

AIDS Walk/Buddy Walk The AIDS Walk will take place in October with students from the Agnes Irwin School to fight AIDS. The Buddy Walk will also happen in October to help children with Down Syndrome. Sign-ups for these events can be found in the Service Learning Center.

The Can Drive The annual Can Drive will begin in November this year, and cans will be collected between Haverford, Agnes Irwin, and Episcopal Academy. The cans will then be donated to centers like St. Barnabas and Project HOME.

communities. In the first couple days, everyone in the program hiked up to the iconic Makapu’u lighthouse before the break of dawn to sing together “E Ala E,” a native song summoning the rising sun.

Afterwards, we all travelled to Malama Maunalua to help pick invasive species of seaweed out of the bay, with the goal of preserving the marine ecosystem.

Members also travelled deep into the Hawaiian mountains to learn about and protect native animals at risk of extinction due to the growing threat of deforestation.

Concluding the week, we participated in a traditional Hawaiian party known as a Luau, hosted by the President of the Punahou School. Here, we met with our new friends from the program and took the opportunity to socialize with SGLI alumni and parents.

From the first day to the last, we made lasting friendships. Both the activities

Last year’s water polo team halping at St. James School Haverford Communications

organized by Mr. Reddy and the free time we had were dedicated to affirming these bonds and forming lasting memories.

If one of us ever needs a future business partner or just a friend with whom to spend time, friends from SGLI will always be there.

With inspiration from speakers like Mr. Allen Murabayashi, who facilitated the process of finding a project idea and implementing it, we were on track to plan out a project idea, which will later be presented to the Haverford community.

In the last few days of the trip, Mr. Reddy connected us with Mrs. Jennifer Tanabe, our project mentor. Through her help and guidance, we listed potential ideas, eliminated the unrealistic ones, and agreed on one that would suit what we felt would affect the greatest change at Haverford.

After making a powerpoint slideshow, we presented our idea to the rest of the students

as a way to receive feedback and hone in on specific problems that could be fixed.

Once the project idea was fully revised, we created a small one-minute video quickly summarizing the project’s goal and how it could be achieved.

Our experience in Hawaii cannot only be defined by the inspiring people who voiced their knowledge to the student body and the multitude of service opportunities, but also by the lasting bonds and relationships formed with all 82 students from around the world. We never would have thought that we would have the opportunity to come into contact with people from the other side of the world, let alone form lasting friendships with so many of them.

Wherever we may find ourselves in the world, whether it be an eight-hour layover in Hong-Kong or a week in Denmark, we can reconnect with an old SGLI friend.

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The Index

Politics

Gary Johnson Profile

October 2016

Connor Lees ‘17

The American people are not too fond of either Republican Presidential Nominee Donald Trump or Democratic Presidential Nominee Hillary Clinton. According to Real Clear Politics, 53.4% of Americans fold an unfavorable view of Secretary Clinton and 57.7% hold an unfavorable view of Mr. Trump. Enter Gary Johnson: The Libertarian Presidential Nominee.

Polling at 7.4% nationally, Johnson has emerged as a third choice for Americans who do not want to vote for either of the major party candidates.

What even is a Libertarian? Libertarians land on the opposite side of the political spectrum from Authoritarians who believe in complete government control.

Libertarians advocate for as little government as possible.

So who is Gary Johnson? Johnson is a former Republican governor from New Mexico. New Mexico historically leans Democratic, and Johnson was elected to two terms, winning his first election by ten points. As governor, he cut taxes fourteen times. Johnson and running mate William Weld are former Republicans who favored less government as governors.

Johnson believes that one of the biggest issues facing the United States today is the national debt. As president, Johnson would work towards balancing

the federal budget, which means that the government could only spend up to what it collects in taxes. He suggests that government agencies like Federal Reserve be reformed and unnecessary government spending end. As for the economy, he believes in the “invisible hand” of free market capitalism and free trade. To spur employment, Johnson as president would cut corporate taxes so corporations would have more money to hire new employees.

He supports clean-air and clean-water regulations, would not ban abortions, opposes all gun control measures, and supports the legalization of marijuana.

Due to the ages of the two major party candidates — Mr. Trump is 70 and Sec.

Gary Johnson speaks to a crowd of supporters at a rally

Clinton is 68— fitness for the presidency is an issue this election cycle. At 63, Johnson has climbed to the summit of Mt. Everest and the tallest peaks on all seven continents and finished 20 marathons.

Gary Johnson has an outside chance at becoming president, but he is a wild card in this crazy election cycle. Johnson in polling at 24% in his home state of New Mexico, and fivethirtyeight.com gives him a two to three percent chance of carrying New Mexico’s five electoral votes. In the race for 270 electoral college votes, five votes could be the difference between a Trump or Clinton win and a draw that gets sent to the House of Representatives.

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Johnson also has a chance to win Alaska’s three electoral votes. If New Mexico goes to Johnson and Sec. Clinton and Trump hold the states they are favored to win now, then they end in a 269 to 269 tie, and House of Representatives will determine the president. Fivethiryeight. com gives this scenario a 0.015% chance of happening, but who knows, maybe in January The Index will be writing about President Johnson’s inauguration and what that means for America.

Jill Stein Profile Christian Quinn ‘20

2016 Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein poses with greenery.

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Jill Stein is a physician, Harvard graduate, published author, and she is now running for president for the second time representing the Green party. The Green Party is a political party based around peace and the environment. According to the official Green Party website, it was founded in 1984 and has had a presidential candidate every election since 1996.

Jill Stein herself ran for State Representative of Massachusetts in 2004 and Secretary of State in 2006, winning neither. She also ran for president in 2012, though she was not a threat, receiving less than 0.5% of the national vote.

This time around, Stein is more serious about her campaign, and she is a more serious threat. No, she cannot be considered a possible winner of the election, but she is raising awareness for the Green Party and making their goals more well known.

The problem with the Green Party is that they are more a subdivision of the Democratic party than one with its own opinions. In its defense, with so many black and white issues, it is hard to take a

different stance than the two major parties; but this very reason could hold them back for a long time until they produce a legitimate candidate for presidency, or any form of office.

This election is bigger than Jill Stein, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, or Gary Johnson. The winner of this election will not only lead our nation for at least the next four years, but will most likely be the one to either help us solve our problems with the Middle East, end racism in our country, bolster the economy, or let the country crumble. Jill Stein and even Gary Johnson know that they are not going to win this election. The campaigns they are running right now are not in hope of winning, though they may deny that.

They are running to raise awareness of their parties and what they are about, and hopefully break the two-party system.

Stein’s numbers in the polls, around 4% of the national vote, will not get her into office. But if things go as she wants, there will be a Green Party candidate in the Oval Office soon enough.

Trump Candidacy Overview, Cont.

Sure, Secretary Clinton may have more experience in foreign policy, but just because she has experience doesn’t mean that she will do what is best for the safety of our country and the world at large.

Before the Obama-Clinton administration took over, Libya and Syria were under relative control, Iraq was experiencing a reduction in violence, and the group that we now know as ISIS was a non-factor.

Eight years later, Libya, Syria, and Iraq are in ruins, ISIS has gained significant power and control in the region, and a

refugee crisis threatens Europe and the United States. Trump plans to pursue aggressive coalition military tactics to crush ISIS. He also wants to create an international cooperation to cut off ISIS from their funding and cyber capabilities.

Trump represents a change from the current, corrupt system of which many people are sick and tired, a system embodied by his challenger, Secretary Clinton.

Donald Trump and Mike Pence shake hands.

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Page 7

The Index

Opinions

October 2016

Haverford Students Take on the Issues

We Need Gun Control Jake Weinstein ‘17

Gun restrictions in the United States have been a hot topic for quite some time. People in favor of guns give many justifications as to why they are safe and how gun rights are protected by the Second Amendment. These people who believe their rights to guns should be protected may not be paying attention to statistics collected by news organizations. The numbers are eye-opening.

According to a small arms survey conducted

by CNN in 2007, the United States owns on average eighty-nine guns per one-hundred people. This statistic is based off the fact that U.S. residents own roughly two-hundred seventy million guns. CNN also gathered statistics from 2001-2013 that stated there have been 409,496 murders due to gun violence, as opposed the 3,380 murders due to terrorism.

Comparing these two is like comparing apples to oranges, but the usefulness of this statistic lies in the lengths to which the United States will go to combat the war on terrorism vs. gun violence. The final piece of this puzzle lies in the last set of statistics gathered by CNN. This number also analyzes the years between 20012013. According to CNN, for every five murders due to gun violence, three of those homicides are actually suicides. The statistic alleviates some worry in regards to how rare a mass shooting is compared to a suicide, but it bolsters the argument that only those who are mentally

capable should have access to a gun. According to the website Mental Health America, 30-70% of suicides are completed by those who suffer from bipolar disorder or crippling depression.

In order to prevent the deaths of thousands of American citizens, it would be worthwhile to look into putting a restriction on firearms.

Many argue that the United States government does not have right to restrict gun ownership, because of the rights given to the community by the Second Amendment. “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed” (Bill of Rights) may have seemed like a realistic law in the late18th century, but things have changed over the past two-hundred years. Guns and people have changed, and different problems exist now as opposed to those existing in the past. Guns are quicker, more compact, and are able to carry more rounds. Some people believe that they have the right to bear arms, but the truth is guns are too dangerous for everyone to own.

Statistics have made it very clear that guns are the cause of many murders as well as the leading cause of suicide. People cannot hide behind the Bill of Rights any longer. It is difficult to say how guns owned by citizens will be taken from them, or who will continue to have the right to own a gun. The problem is growing as time passes. Gun rights need to be restricted.

Guns Are Not the Problem John Comai ‘17

The Orlando nightclub shooting in June, and the subsequent sit in by House Democrats to draw attention to the issue, has again opened a discussion about gun ownership and the federal government’s role in regulating firearms.

Unfortunately, this dialogue has misrepresented the left, especially in our more radical corners, when it comes to the issue of gun rights.

The deaths of those killed in Orlando, and in every other mass shooting, are nauseating, to say the least. However, remaining fixated on this very small portion of tragedy obscures the industrial efficiency in which American society breeds violence and misery, and serves to marginalize efforts by oppressed groups to defend themselves against a social and political hierarchy that aims to control them.

Gun deaths accounted for 1.3% of all total deaths in 2013. Of these, suicides outnumbered homicides by a factor of nearly 2 to 1. In fact, suicide rates in the US have been steadily on the rise, seeing a 24% increase from 1999 to

2014. None of this data points to tightening gun restrictions. If anything, this should be sobering evidence that there is a fundamentally broken way in which we address depression and mental health, especially for young men, whose suicide rates outnumber that of women at a factor of 4 to 1. If we continue to accept the mental health status quo, suicide will continue its sickening spike, regardless of arbitrary gun safety measures. As for homicides, gunrelated killings are dwarfed by the amount of deaths caused by social factors, which make up about 36% of nationwide mortality, according to an estimate by a 2011 Columbia University Study published in the American Journal of Public Health. Such social factors include “poverty, low levels of education, poor social support...income inequality…[and] racial segregation.” A more dialectical look at American mortality reveals the deadly nature of malignant modern social factors, which are products of the failed capitalist project of

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Minuteman Statue in Lexington, MA

neoliberalism. Neoliberalism’s deadly doctrine of deregulation, privatization, and globalization has undermined the working poor, exposing them to deadlier social conditions and quelling efforts to unionize against corporate exploitation. A look inside America’s previously bustling industrial hubs will show cities and countrysides alike devastated by this poisonous ideology, whether it be Detroit, Buffalo, or Stotesbury. When considered in context with gun violence, it makes clear that the “second amendment debate” is a political sideshow meant to distract the public from more pressing, systemic problems that claim far more lives.

Speaking of systemic killing, few are more efficient at it than the US military, police, and border control, whose lawless executions seem to be conveniently left out of the equation when liberals lament about gun violence. It seems to be taken for granted by gun control advocates that the state is an effective arbiter of how violence should be applied, despite its obscenely bad track record in doing so.

Michael Bloomberg, former mayor of New York City and founder of Everytown for Gun Safety, had no problem with gun violence while he was in office, as long as it was perpetrated by his police department. Unapologetic imperialists such as Hillary Clinton see it necessary to impose tight gun control laws to prevent violence, but apparently had no issues with the violent acts committed by US troops, presumably armed with guns, in Iraq, judging by her vote to invade the country in 2003. The idea that the state should be the only entity with the privilege to use force is nothing short of tyrannical.

On the other hand, it is liberating for oppressed groups to posses the means to defend themselves. Black communities using guns to protect themselves has been a staple, especially in the south, of American gun culture. In Oakland, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale empowered black Californians to use their firearms to ensure that the police acted

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responsibly, and stopped senseless killings as a result. The Zapatista Army of National Liberation, or EZLN, has been a fighting force in southern Mexico against neoliberalism, which has put a crushing weight on Mexican workers. None of their victories against the Mexican government could have been achieved without arms. Without guns, the Spanish trade unions would have had no chance to stand up against Nazi Germany ally Francisco Franco, and agitate for the leftist policies since the civil war. Even Martin Luther King Jr., civil rights icon and nonviolence activist, carried a handgun to protect himself.

In retrospect, it is hardly surprising that a society built and sustained on imperialism, conquest, slavery, and racism suffers violent reverberations of hateful ideology. Combating these reverberations will require some introspection. Is there some connection between our feeling of entitlement to projecting violence throughout the world and the haphazard way we murder each other on the streets? We demonize regimes such as the DPRK and the Syrian Arab Republic for daring to take a stance against the US, but fail to express the same outrage about the horrifying violence we inflict at home and abroad. 72% of Americans supported the decision to invade Iraq months after it was made. In September of 1968, only 54% of Americans thought the US made a mistake in sending troops to fight in the clearly unwinnable Vietnam War. Even the fact that close personal and political friendships with war criminals such as Henry Kissinger are not considered to be immediate political suicide is a testament to how little we truly care about the violence that we purvey around the globe.

To fight back against gun violence, we should begin with taking a more comprehensive look at how our society creates it.

Page 8

The Index

Opinions

October 2016

Free Speech in the Presidential Campaign Grant Sterman ‘18

This has undoubtedly been an election of firsts. It has repeatedly broken the status quo for the presidential race. The main party candidates for the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, have proved even the most seasoned political analysts wrong time and time again. Slanderous comments and near-illegal actions have been attributed to both candidates, yet both still have much support as the election quickly approaches. “Off-brand” comments have been made by several contenders for this year’s election. A large portion of the public finds these attacks and slip-ups out of place on the campaign trail, while others see this change of behavior as politicians -- generally known for being closed-off and unrelatable -- defying the political correctness filter. But where should the line be drawn between candidates freely speaking their minds and retaining presidential character as the model citizen of the United States?

The First Amendment states that Congress has no right to prevent a citizen’s freedom of speech. However, slander and defamation are both illegal and viable reasons to sue. In addition, private institutions may enforce their own policy on freedom of speech. In politics, there are no defined rules -- simply common courtesies that have existed for decades. While politicians have every right to speak their mind, the Constitution does not technically allow slanderous comments. However, these cases

are rarely acted upon, and it is considered to be political suicide to sue a political opponent on grounds of defamation and slander. Therefore, candidates are left in a limbo of speech policy, where there is no true line as to when a comment goes too far and how a political candidate should or should not act.

There is one school of thought in favor of, for lack of a better word, “censoring” presidential candidates. These people believe these politicians should not be able to make vicious personal attacks, inflammatory remarks, or politically incorrect statements. To these people, the president should be a role model to future and current Americans, one who exemplifies proper behavior and respect. Their stronger point, however, is that allowing for candidates to speak freely provides a scapegoat for lacking an answer to questions on policy.

For example, in the Republican debates, Donald Trump notoriously took aim at his opponents by using his speaking time to attack his opponents rather than answer the question posed to him.

When asked about past remarks, he would just state that political correctness is outdated and that his fellow opponents have neither the guts nor the stomach to tell the truth. But, this new era of politicians and free speech applies not only to Trump. Hillary Clinton, while some may argue not to the same degree as Trump, has also strayed from the normal diction of a politician. She has on multiple occasions been asked to respond to attacks made by fellow politicians and rather than dealing with them

appropriately, she has responded with a jab of her own. In response to a Trump attack on the Benghazi scandal, Clinton said, “There’s no risk of people losing their lives if you blow up a golf course deal. But it doesn’t work like that in world affairs. Just like being interviewed on the same episode of 60 Minutes as Putin was is not the same as actually dealing with Putin” (CNN).

The people in favor of the traditional behavior of a politician are mortified by this new wave of word choice. These people want to focus debates and rallies on policy and personality rather than verbal warfare.

The other school of thought advocates that free-speech belongs in politics. Impeachment and death aside, the President will represent this country for at least the next four years. Some think that the natural and emotional actions of candidates are the best measure of their character. Candidates need to be seen for all of theirs flaws, so the public knows how they will conduct themselves in high-intensity and timesensitive situations. Additionally, speaking their mind connects politicians and the public.

Politicians have been historically characterized as robotic, emotionally unavailable, and morally and intellectually superior to a citizen. Showing the thoughts and mistakes of this election’s presidential candidates helps to bridge the gap between the people and the President.

Still, I strongly believe that free-speaking politicians DO have a place in our society. This certainly does not condone every line spoken in this election cycle, but if this right can be used

salad” metaphor describes a United States where immigrants fail to assimilate, instead more retaining their native culture. They then identify less as an American and more with their previous ethnic group.

So what’s the big deal? Well, the big deal is that a country cannot survive when it is divided by ancient racial and ethnic lines. All immigrants and Americans alike need to first identify as Americans then as their ethnic and racial group. Like “E Pluribus Unum” expounds, America must be a nation where a common nationality forms out of varied ethnic and racial groups. Out of many ethnic groups needs to come one America and one American culture.

Assimilation is the sole route to developing this common culture.

Assimilation involves five steps. First, all immigrants — and current citizens of the United States, for that matter — should believe in the values on which our country was built.

Values such as freedom, equality, democracy, optimism, capitalism, and individualism must be shared by all immigrants entering this country. Without the shared belief in American values, immigrants will not integrate well into American society. Second, all U.S citizens

must be able to speak English. This is already a requirement for American citizenship, but it is extremely necessary for the cohesion of the United States. A common language is a crucial medium for the binding of a nation of immigrants and varied ethnic groups. Third, assimilation must require a participation in civic duties. All immigrants should be expected to follow the laws of our country, participate in civic responsibilities like jury

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in order to stop fighting between the government and rebel forces. The negotiations in Geneva that produced the ceasefire agreement lasted for thirteen hours. The beginning of the ceasefire was set for Monday, September 12, coinciding with the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha.

The ceasefire applied to all forces currently fighting in Syria, with the exception of the Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, a former Al-Qaeda affiliate. It intended to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Syrian city of Aleppo, and, if successful, to instigate a peaceful political transition away from the Assad regime.

It also called for Russia to prevent the Syrian military from launching airstrikes against the opposition forces.

Together, the United States and Russia aimed to establish a “joint implementation center” during the ceasefire to coordinate their efforts against terrorism and extremism in the war-torn country.

A week after the negotiations, on Saturday, September 17, an American airstrike meaning to target ISIS instead killed 62 Syrian troops and injured 100 others. This catastrophic incident reinforced the Syrian regime’s belief that the U.S. secretly supports ISIS in ousting Bashar al-Assad.

Merely two days later, a UN humanitarian aid

convoy and warehouse led by the Red Crescent, an equivalent of the American Red Cross, were bombed by aircraft to the west of Aleppo, in rebel-held area. Approximately 19 civilians and 12 aid workers were killed. According to American officials, Russian warplanes were behind the bombing: “We have no indication that anything other than Russian tactical aircraft were in the air at the time the convoy was struck. We have seen no indication that it was anything other than an airstrike, ” said an American official.

Russia has denied any involvement.

In response to the attack, the UN General Assembly suspended all aid convoys in Syria and characterized the event as a war crime.

Secretary General of the UN Ban-Ki-Moon denounced the attack as “sickening, savage, and apparently deliberate.”

The ceasefire agreed upon by the United States and Russia was another American attempt to put an end to the war in Syria peacefully and to fight terrorism. The United States and Russia support opposite sides of the conflict, but one common enemy they face in Syria is ISIS, which emerged stronger from the chaos caused by the war. The proposed “joint implementation center” in the agreement was to be a common platform for both countries to fight ISIS, but such cooperation has not yet come about.

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pragmatically, it does have the ability to display the candidates’ raw personality -- rather than their scripted selves -- to the public. Ideally, a pattern of inflammatory comments should cause supporters to change their vote. If free-speech is a core value of modern society, then the most distinguished members of society should be allowed to utilize it too -- just with righteous repercussions.

Divided Nation - Immigration and Assimilation in America Charlie Rahr ‘17

This thirteen letter phrase — “E Pluribus Unum,” translated to “out of many, one” — is inscribed on the back of America’s coins and featured on the seals of government officials.

Americans have heard this phrase time and time again, but I doubt many Americans actually know what it represents. Is it just some Latin phrase now irrelevant in today’s America? Or, is it the foundation of American society? This phrase is the bedrock on which this country was built and is the foundation for America’s future.

There is no denying that the variety of peoples that have settled in the United States have strengthened our nation. The world’s best and brightest have come to the U.S to chase their own version of the American dream, regardless of their background, race, or ethnicity. In years past, America was referred to as a “melting pot,” a metaphor that signifies immigrants of many diverse backgrounds leaving parts of their heritage and customs behind in order to embrace a common American culture.

Today, many Americans have shunned the “melting pot” model and believe that America is more of a “tossed salad.” The “tossed

News Analysis: Quagmire in Syria Toby Ma ‘21

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Amidst the turmoil that has plagued Syria for the past several years, the country enjoyed one week of relative peace recently. This, however, was short lived. Conflict rose again between the regime and opposition forces on September 20, ending the seven-day ceasefire in the wartorn country. The Syrian Army was the first to declare that “the U.S.-Russian ceasefire deal that started on September 12th is over,” citing numerous violations to the agreement made by rebel forces.

The ceasefire was negotiated on Saturday, September 10, between United States of America Secretary of State John Kerry and

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duty, and be willing to fight for their country.

Fourth, immigrants must have a knowledge of our history and what has allowed our country to become one of the most prosperous in the history of the world. Fifth, all immigrants to this country should follow the traditions of this country. They should take part in singing the national anthem and reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance.” They should also participate in celebrating holidays like Thanksgiving and the Fourth of July. The non-religious nature of these holidays ensures that every American can celebrate. The five parts of assimilation outlined above are important for a sense of patriotism to develop among immigrants and Americans already residing in the United States.

Without a shared set of values, traditions, and beliefs, a country cannot survive. The United States will not survive as a Union if immigrants do not assimilate. It would become a society where Americans become even more divided on racial and ethnic lines and where individual differences rather than national similarities are emphasized. For the sake of America’s future as a unified nation, immigrants to this country must assimilate into the wider American culture and society.

If the ceasefire continues to disintegrate, it could lead to more problems in the future for the Obama Administration and the interests of the United States. The US has attempted previous ceasefires, all of which have failed to establish long-term peace. Another failure by the Obama Administration would continue to reduce their already tarnished credibility in Syria.

Consequently, if the ceasefire fails, wellfunded extremist groups such as ISIS will continue to grow in favor as a more capable organization that can overthrow the Assad regime.

In the eyes of the Syrian people, America is indirectly supporting the regime by attacking the most powerful rebel groups such as ISIS and Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, refusing to push Assad from power, and all while failing time and time again to negotiate a peace in the area. The more unsuccessful attempts made by the Obama Administration and possibly the next President of the United States to create a lasting peace in Syria, the less the Syrian people believe that the United States is really trying to help them.

“I think more than ever before in the conflict, the U.S. is seen as desperate to help the regime

Continued on Page 9

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The Index

Opinions

Putin’s Russia Strikes Back Nick Chimicles ‘19

It is no secret that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are friends. But, Trump is alone in this fidelity, and this relationship has arguably harmed his campaign. Trump’s reasons for this unusual relationship are likely grounded in unjust economic affiliations with Russia and a desire for Russian cyber-attacks on his political opponents. Russia has accepted Trump’s friendship with open arms and has already been accused of hacking the Democratic National Committee’s servers for the benefit of the Trump campaign. However, there is a great amount of speculation surrounding this issue. Rob Glaser, a leading left-of-center donor, said to the Atlantic: “There’s frankly a lot we don’t know about the relationship between Putin and Trump.” What is truly unclear is the reason why Trump and Putin have engaged in such a relationship, but, by analyzing the facts, it becomes clear that it benefits both men politcally.

After the collapse of the U.S.S.R. and the end of the Cold War, Russia became a shell of the world superpower it once was, and the United States expanded its military and economic imperialism. Now, Russia, with Vladimir Putin at its head, desires to regain its previous global glory.

The first sign of this intent was marked

by Putin’s order to invade Ukraine and annex the Crimean peninsula. This sudden assault shocked the world, and especially the former Soviet satellite states. The economic situation in Russia declined on account of Western economic sanctions that caused the ruble’s value to drop by about 43% compared to the dollar, according to the New York Times. Still, Putin’s desire for Russia to be respected as a world power persisted and recently entangled Russia in the Syrian war. Russia’s involvement, which mostly consists of ordering airstrikes and supplying weapons, has had little “strategic impact” according to Mark Galeotti, an expert in Russian international relations. He describes the majority of Russia’s foreign policy officials as “the people who are busy trying to create a new Soviet Union.” Through Russia’s veto

Vladimir Putin slyly staring

in peace-talks for the Syrian War, Putin has secured access to military bases and ensured that any postwar government will be an ally of Russia.

Russia has been failing to regain its previous power, its economy is in distress because of Western sanctions, and hostilities between it and the United States have been returning to Cold-War levels. With all of these dilemmas, there is no easy path to power for Russia. But who could be the one to help Russia back up onto its feet? Which American insider could lessen the harsh policies handicapping Russia?

The answer is Donald J. Trump, the Republican nominee for President of the United States.

The bromance between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump has become an impetus for jokes. However, this friendship disturbs many voters, who believe that the relationship could lead to Russia regaining much of its past power and expanding once more into Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Glaser shares these concerns as he worries that Putin may “engage in a full-on invasion of Ukraine thinking he has Trump’s blessing” and that Putin will “subvert

October 2016

US democracy through cyberattacks…[and] will go all in on doing so throughout Central Europe until he has re-created the hegemony of the Soviet Era.” While this is simply theoretical, the consequences of Trump’s policies are not. His policy suggestions could likely lead to such an expansion by Russia. Recently, Trump, when referring to countries he believes do not supply the United States with enough reimbursement for its defense, told The New York Times that he “would be absolutely prepared to tell those countries, ‘Congratulations, you will be defending yourself.’” Such policy would allow Russia to expand into nearby Baltic states because of the absence of U.S. military support. Trump also supports isolationist policies; he plans to accept fewer immigrants, to disconnect the economy from China, and -- most importantly in this case -- to withdraw militarily from many foreign affairs. The latter would mean less involvement in the Middle East and Europe, areas in which Russia has a strong interest.

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton holds the opposite end of the spectrum.

The relationship between her and Vladimir Putin has been described by The Wall Street Journal as mutually distrustful. Clinton’s foreign policy proposals are largely dissimilar to those of Trump. For instance, she has not condoned the possible expansion of Russia and has supported continued involvement in the Middle East. Her policies are certainly disliked by Putin. Recently, Fyodor Lukyanov, the head of the Council of Foreign Defense and Policy in Russia, remarked that, “Clinton is the embodiment of a very clear school of thought of liberal interventionism, [which] Russia sees as a threat to its sovereignty.” The interventionism to which he refers is a term used to describe the United States’ involvement in foreign affairs, the most recent example of which is its “interventions” in the Middle East.

This foreign policy was adopted by the United States after World War II and is responsible for its global responsibilities. The United States’ power stretches to the borders of Russia,

whose citizens and politicians, as described by Mr. Galeotti, “see their country as surrounded and besieged by an aggressive, all-powerful United States.” Putin now sees the United States’ interventionist foreign policy as an impediment to his course of reclaiming Russian influence. With Hillary as the proponent of interventionism, it is no coincidence that the two are unfriendly - to put it mildly.

Subsequently, the tension between the Democratic Party and Russia’s interests was cited as a reason for Russia to hack the the servers of the Democratic National Committee. The widely regarded theory is that it was an attack supported by the Russian state directly targeted at Clinton’s campaign. However, while there is evidence that the hackers themselves were Russian, there is no definitive evidence that the attack was in fact state sponsored. Trump said on July 27, “Russia, if you’re listening, I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing.” This call, which has been interpreted as a plea for Russia to commit foreign espionage, is described by the Foreign Policy Magazine as “startling and unprecedented.” As such, Russia is currently accused of attempting to sway this U.S presidential election in favor of Donald Trump.

In Russia’s campaign to regain its sovereignty and expand its influence back to the levels of the past, it is imperative that the leader of the United States be sympathetic to Russia. If that were not the case, Russia’s economy would be devastated, as already exemplified by Russia’s economic turmoil after the invasion of the Ukraine as caused by Western sanctions. It is not inconceivable, therefore, that Russia would use its advanced cyber capabilities to assist Trump and undermine Clinton.

Through all of this, Trump benefits as well: his chances of beating Clinton increased significantly after the DNC hack. Trump also boasts that Putin is a far better leader than Obama, all the while denying any proof of a deeper relationship with Putin: “I’m a negotiator,” he said in response to questions on his relationship with Putin, “We’re going to take back our country.”

ceasefires and attempts at peace continues, it will be only harder to create sustained and longterm peace.

“Every time they [the Obama Administration] try something that is not a perfect solution,”

criticized Hassan, “the situation after that option fails is much worse than before.” If the United States cannot find an answer to the civil war, then there will be no foreseeable relief in Syria.

religious beliefs have been “burdened” can use this statute as defense, especially in a court of law. However, sometimes the intended motive is not always the way laws like these play out.

For example, just recently a bakery in Indiana known as the 111 Cakery refused to prepare a wedding cake for a gay couple. According to CNN, 111 Cakery owner Randy McGath claims that this refusal was “according to his religious beliefs,” but he has been serving gay couples for years in a location that is a hub of the LGBT culture of Indianapolis. Moreover, this decision has served as an epicenter for outrage in a state that has not only legalized gay marriage but is generally accepting of LGBT culture. Many critics of McGath claim that it violates the rights of not only homosexuals, but also those of the LGBT community itself.

Intention is one thing, but impact is another.

It is illogical to say that a law like the RFRA will be able to play out in “true effect.” People will undoubtedly exploit this new law as a crutch and use their “strong religious views” as a justification for refusing to provide service based on ethnicity, sexuality, and the like. In addition, Arkansas and Mississippi are already signing this law into effect, inciting a new wave of support that will indubitably grow if not addressed promptly.

Even in spite of its corrupt exploitation, the law stands in stark contrast to the principles of the Constitution. Even though the Supreme Court ruled the RFRA to be unconstitutional in 1997, Congress has had the broad authority to carve out exemptions from federal laws

and regulations it itself may have organized.

Consequently, states have now been able to pass said laws. The Constitution rests on the idea that everyone has equal rights, including the right to service, but the RFRA blatantly undermines the right for people to freely purchase goods or services that are within legal limits.

This law is fundamentally flawed. Many famous CEOs and companies have already begun to express their distaste for the regulation.

For instance, Apple CEO Tim Cook took to the Washington Post in an op-ed column and said, “On behalf of Apple, I’m standing up to oppose this new wave of legislation — wherever it emerges.” NCAA President Mark Emmert (according to CNN) announced, “We are especially concerned... [with the new enactment of the RFRA].” Even Indianopolis Colts owner Jim Irsay claimed all fans are welcome, as he tweeted, “The Colts have always embraced inclusiveness, tolerance, and a diverse fan base.

We welcome ALL fans to Colts Nation. ONE FAMILY!” With the unequivocal support of many big names in such established enterprises, critics of the new law eagerly anticipate how Governor Pence plans to respond.

This new statute has instigated much disagreement and controversy. There are many who continue to support this new law and many others who feel this law needs to be revoked or at least heavily altered. Will the application of the law match its intended motive? Whether in agreement with the idea of the RFRA or not, everyone should take a moment to consider what this law means for our country and future.

Foreign Policy, cont. somehow,” says Hassan Hassan, a fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy in Washington, D.C. If the United States is to gain ground in Syria, they need to find a good solution and

The state flag of Indianna

fast. The civil war has already raged for five years, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths and a refugee crisis in Europe comparable to the one after the end of World War II. If the Obama Administration’s track record of failed

Wikimedia Comments

Religion Freedom?

Neetish Sharma ‘19

Governor of Indiana Mike Pence stirred up controversy when he signed Indiana’s Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA).

Once the law was enacted, a wave of opinions rushed in either in countenance or disapproval for the law. Advocates claim that it simply serves as a protection for religious freedom of all individuals, while critics argue that the

law could allow businesses as well as people to discriminate — particularly against the LGBTQ community — on the basis of religion.

Either way, the new law has made the Hoosier State into a fierce battleground of opposing perspectives.

The law states that the government “shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion” and that individuals who feel as if their

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Metaphorical ripping apart of continent

The Index

Politics

Is America the most divided it has been in the last several couple decades? Many would argue yes, believing that the presidential election is tearing the country apart on the basis of differing political views. People are scared, and the world is more vulnerable to nuclear warfare, terrorism, and climate change than ever before.

October 2016

Index Staff

Is the U.S. More Divided than Ever?

Harrison Fellheimer ‘18

Quite to the contrary, I believe that the U.S. is more unified than it has been in the past.

Many equate this election cycle with picking between the lesser of two evils. As a result, people are not sticking with either the Republican or Democratic Party; instead, they are picking the candidate whom they believe is the most suited for the job of running the United States of America. Thus, people are going to

have to rely on one another more than ever, listening to and respecting people’s opinions.

On the other hand, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump presents America as divided and hopeless. Donald Trump stated in a written release after the Dallas attack, “Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope. Crime is harming too many citizens. Racial tensions

have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.”

While many of his claims are partially true, he has been the instigator for the lack of unity among Americans.

This election has been discussed by possibly the widest range of citizenry to date, ranging from teenagers to the elderly. Though people may often disagree on certain critical issues, they are interacting with each other in a more open and global environment than ever before.

Some question whether or not it is even worth it to vote, but this would disgrace our freedom and the greatness of democracy in this county.

This is the “land of the free,” and it is our duty as citizens to voice our opinions. Whether people realize it or not, they are collaborating more and more as the election approaches.

Group meetings, clubs, organizations, etc. are being formed so that people may express and discuss their interests. Discussion about the lack of unity in this country and about the polarizing opinions with regards to the election has ironically been an effective medium in bridging people together.

Likewise, people can look at the recent police shootings in one of two ways. First, racism is still a prevalent issue in the U.S. and black people may be singled out. Second, today is a time of progression for the country in which we are addressing existing tensions for long-term solution. As Obama stated, “Nobody’s more hopeful than me…I’m Mr. Hopeful when it comes to these issues. I’ve said from the start we’re not as divided as we seem and I think we’re going to solve it.”

Ironic Ire of Kaepernick Critics Luke Egan ‘18

Until recently, the national anthem has served to unite all citizens of our country despite differing cultures, ethnicities, and religion in salutation to those who have sacrificed for the liberty of our country. But, in the last several months, the anthem has done quite the opposite. Spearheaded by San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick, “anthem-gate” has turned into a divisive nationwide issue with many saying he is bravely protesting injustice and many others saying he is disrespecting the country. Amidst all of this controversy, there is an evident lack of consistency when it comes to people’s values and criticisms. The majority of this hypocrisy comes from Kaepernick’s critics, who claim that his actions are unpatriotic as they disrespect the United States of America and its values.

The most recent development in the situation arose on September 11, when several NFL players, such as Arian Foster, kneeled during the national anthem. As expected, the protest drew mass amounts of media coverage and outrage, particularly from the right wing, who argued that kneeling was disrespectful to the victims and first responders of 9/11l. However, when examined more closely, this claim reeks of hypocrisy. Indeed, many of those irate about kneeling during the anthem are the same people who voted for and supported politicians on the right, such as Mitch McConnell, who opposed the Zadroga, or the 9/11 First Responders Act. McConnell, among others, tried to politicize the issue of the first responders’ healthcare; he attempted to force a bill reallowing the exportation of crude oil from the U.S. instead of simply and peacefully passing the bill. In response to McConnell’s actions, a 9/11 first responder said, “He held us hostage and it’s not right. It’s not right.” Given that many of those condemning Foster’s actions on 9/11 are Republicans, it seems almost too ironic that an actual 9/11 first responder condemned the majority leader of the Senate and one of the most prominent Republican figures.

Another potent source of hypocrisy comes from within the support of NFL players themselves. Many of those outraged about kneeling during the anthem have cheered for and even purchased the jerseys of actual convicted criminals. Look no further from our own school, where dozens of students eulogized Michael Vick, who was charged with the federal felony of a dogfighting conspiracy. Yet,

he was welcomed back into the NFL with open arms. Furthermore, Jared Allen, a Minnesota Viking and celebrated defensive end, was charged with two DUIs, but he still enjoyed a long and celebrated career in the NFL, free of much of the criticism that Kaepernick and Foster have endured. Elvis Dumervil, currently a linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, has two assault and battery charges, yet he too has not been the subject of any outrage. Kaepernick and those in alike situations, however, have been told to stop playing football, while their organizations have received similar orders from critics to remove these players.

To support someone who has broken laws and think he should receive a second chance in the NFL yet believe someone exercising their First Amendment right should be removed from his team shows a serious breakdown in consistency of morals. If the people who claim offense to Kaepernick’s actions truly care about this country, they should be more worried about criminal actions that negatively impact our country, such as cruelty to animals, driving under the influence, and assaulting people.

Sixth Former Jack Brown stands as the national anthem plays.

49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has been the subject of recent national media attention.

Ms. Linda Walters

nydailynews.com

Page 11

The Index

Opinions

October 2016

One Veteran’s Opinion on the Kaepernick Controversy Dr. William D. Ehrhart

Dr. Ehrhart with his early morning cup of coffee.

David Bunn

I was very positively impressed by the editorial in the September Index headlined “The Index kneels with Kaepernick.” And I was very surprised when I heard that at least some members of the Haverford School community took exception to what the editors had written.

Indeed, in my opinion, the editors bent over backwards to be respectful and nonconfrontational. For instance, they assert that “everyone removes their hats, puts their right hand over their heart, and stands in silence out of respect for the soldiers and the country they protect.” But not everyone does. I don’t.

I don’t even wear a hat, at least in part so that I don’t have to take it off when the anthem is played. And I don’t put my hand over my heart, but only stand with my hands at my side.

This is oversimplification of a complicated matter, so let me try to explain why it’s complicated for me. As many of you already know, I joined the U.S. Marines when I was 17 years old and voluntarily fought in Vietnam, where I was wounded in combat, and eventually promoted to sergeant and awarded an honorable discharge.

By no stretch of the imagination can any knowledgeable person construe what I did in Vietnam as having anything at all

to do with your right to go to the church of your choice or marry the person you love or choose the brand of shampoo you want.

I did serve proud and arrogant men who, however well-meaning they may (or may not) have been, were utterly ignorant of what was happening in Vietnam and why, but I most assuredly did nothing to protect my country, let alone serve my country or the best interests of humanity. That anyone would respect me or want to thank me for my “service” always leaves me wondering.

And I wonder how many of today’s American servicemen and women are actually engaged in protecting our country.

Do we really need to deploy U.S. military forces to at least 150 other countries around the world? Do we really need twelve aircraft carrier battle groups to protect our country when the next largest carrier fleet consists of one used ship bought by China from the Ukraine? Is deploying NATO troops to former East Bloc countries and placing missile defense systems in Rumania any less aggressive or provocative than Russia annexing the Crimea?

We could debate those points, perhaps, but here are some other points to think about: According to the World Health Organization, the United States ranks 37th in health care (quality, accessibility, and cost) behind such nations as Portugal, Colombia, and Morocco. Our infant mortality rate is the highest in the developed world, surpassing such nations as Slovakia, Belarus and Cuba.

Depending on which barometer one uses, U.S. secondary education ranks as low as 29th (behind Slovenia, Latvia, and Vietnam) or as high as 14th (behind Russia and Poland). No survey in recent decades has placed the U.S. in the top ten.

The U.S. puts more of its citizens behind bars than any other nation on earth (724 out of every 100,000). Our closest competitor is Russia at 581 per 100,000.

African Americans comprise 13.2% of our population but since 1976 have made up 34.6% of those we put to death by statesanctioned execution.

If the number of Americans living in poverty were organized as a sovereign state, those 45 million Americans would be a nation larger than 165 of the 195 coun-

tries in the world today. Meanwhile, the top 1% of our population possesses 40% of our national wealth while the bottom 80% possesses only 7% of our national wealth.

For the most recent figures I could find (2013), 11,208 Americans were murdered by other Americans using firearms.

Between 2005 and 2015, 71 Americans died by acts of terrorism in the US while 301,797 died by gun violence.

Annual US military spending is greater than the next 17 countries combined. We spend six times as much on defense as China does, and 11 times more than Russia.

At the same time, we provide 50% of all arms sales to the rest of the world. Russia, our chief competitor, provides less than a third of that amount.

And we haven’t even gotten to the prob-

stance of each of the statements above is true.

So when we play the national anthem before sporting events as a sign of “national pride,” as the Index editorial suggested, I wonder just exactly what it is that I’m being asked to be proud of? It seems to me that I’m being asked to forget, ignore, overlook, or condone a whole lot of stuff we all ought to be ashamed of and trying to do something about.

When I hear people dissing Kaepernick—or the editors of the Index—I find myself wondering what any of them have been doing besides feeding at the trough.

It’s easy to stick an American flag pin in your lapel and get all teary-eyed when “The Star-Spangled Banner” gets played.

But Carl Shurz did not say, “My country

Dr. Ehrhart served in Vietnam War in 1967.

lems Colin Kaepernick is trying to bring to public discussion: police brutality and minority oppression. In 2015, for instance, 102 unarmed black Americans were killed by police; only ten officers were charged with a crime, and only two were convicted.

While unarmed whites are also killed by police, blacks make up 37% of the total although they are only 13% of the population, figures which uncannily reflect our legal execution rates as well.

While one might quibble with the exact statistics in any given example above (as Mark Twain famously said, “There are lies, damned lies, and statistics”), the sub-

Courtesy of W.D. Ehrhart

right or wrong.” What he said was, “My country right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” What have those who’ve been dumping on Kaepernick done to set our country right?

And if Colin Kaepernick wants to sit through the national anthem, or kneel, or stand on his head and blow bubbles, that’s his right. Not his privilege. Not an act of treason or a lack of patriotism. It is his right as an American. When the symbols of freedom replace the substance of freedom, we’re all in a whole lot of trouble.

Student Response to Kaepernick Editorial William Henderson ‘18

Over the past several weeks, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has drawn the attention of millions by kneeling during the national anthem. Although The Index stated in the last edition that it kneels with Kaepernick, I respectfully disagree. Kaepernick may well have a legitimate point: police brutality and race issues in general have become a pressing problem over the past several years. But, I can think of few worse ways to show your support for a cause than kneeling during the national anthem. Many more people likely disagree with the idea of kneeling during the anthem than the root of his message; as a result, his presentation of his cause distracted from the cause itself.

Above all, Kaepernick’s decision to kneel was not well planned; he has diverted attention from what may be a good cause.

In the last two years, several black men have been shot at the hands of policemen.

Several policemen have also been shot by black men. But no matter how you

see the issue, there is clearly something wrong, something to fix. It is estimated that last year police killed just over one hundred unarmed black people, some of whom were killed after having committed a crime and some of whom were killed in much more harmless situations. On the other hand, about fifty police officers were killed last year. Clearly, both statistics are too high, and many people have voiced their concerns. Be it the justice system, gun laws, police training, public schooling, or any other element of this issue, there obviously needs to be some sort of change.

Colin Kaepernick agrees.

Movements around the country, such as Black Lives Matter, have started marches and protests, which have generally been peaceful, and some of these campaigns have drawn thousands of people. But, the reason they have been successful is because supporters feel comfortable joining in on the marches or chants: nobody (usually) is disrespected and the groups successfully advertise their messages. Not everybody, however, feels comfortable sitting during

“The Star Spangled Banner.” In fact, I would argue that most people are not comfortable sitting during the national anthem. What Kaepernick does not realize, unfortunately, is that the best way to solve a problem of oppression is not by disrespecting people that you want to agree with you; it is by creating a movement that unites everyone.

Kaepernick currently has a six-year deal with the 49ers, where he is guaranteed $61,000,000 and receives an additional $19,000,000 per year. With that kind of power -- financial and otherwise -- why not create real change in the world instead of just outrage and division? Disrespecting people to advance your agenda is not the answer. Making it easy for people to stand with you, however, is. Organize protests, lead marches, but do not offend other people in the process. Martin Luther King, Jr., once said, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” Stop fighting fire with fire.

Open source photo from unsplash.com

Page 12

The Index

October 2016

Opinions

Ms. Turlish Weighs in on Gender and the Presidency Ms. Hannah Turlish

The day after I turned 14, Geraldine Ferraro was named as Walter Mondale’s running mate. It was the first time in United States history that a woman was a national candidate for one of the two major political parties. Mondale had a tough task as the challenger to Ronald Reagan’s re-election bid, and Ferraro’s nomination provided a major boost in polling numbers. Mondale went from being 16 points behind in polls to pulling even with Reagan for the few weeks after the Democratic Convention, and many attributed the gain to Ferraro.

She was vibrant and funny, a former teacher who went on to get a law degree, head a NYPD Special Victims Unit, and win her Congressional races by increasingly wide margins.

As a self-centered teenager, I thought of the announcement as a slightly belated birthday present. Despite having grown up in the 1970’s -- the era of Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), National Organization for Women (NOW), and ungendered toys -Ferraro’s nomination seemed miraculous.

Even if only for Vice President (an office “not worth a bucket of warm piss” as famously said by one 19th-century Vice President), her nomination was a statement of what could be possible for women. I was an ambitious girl who was at times described in the same way Ferraro was: tough, critical, and brash. As such, it felt good to see her on stages and front pages of newspapers. It was irritating, however, that she had to face questions about whether she was “tough enough” to face the Soviets, but her dignified and informed responses were cheering.

And then the attacks came. Her husband, John Vaccaro, was a real estate developer who initially resisted releasing his tax returns (they filed their income taxes separately, which is a completely

legal option for all married couples and that makes financial sense for many Americans). When relentless Republican pressure for release of his returns persisted, she told an ill-timed and ultimately devastating joke: “You people who are married to Italian men, you know what it’s like.” Despite being a first generation Italian-American herself, she was labeled as a financially shady and anti-immigrant candidate. Her pro-choice stance drew fire from the Catholic Church, all while prominent male Catholic politicians, such as Ted Kennedy and Mario Cuomo, did not. And a few days before the one debate between Ferraro and Vice President George H.W. Bush, which was widely declared a draw, Bush’s wife Barbara publicly referred to Ferraro as “that four-million dollar -- I can’t say it, but it rhymes with ‘rich.’” The relentless attacks and scrutiny persisted, and in November 1984, Mondale and Ferraro lost in one of the largest landslide elections in our country’s history.

Four years later I became of voting age, but it took twenty more years for my first opportunity to see a woman on a presidential election ballot … and it was Sarah Palin in 2008. For those who wonder if I am backing Hillary Clinton simply because she is a woman, Palin is the clearest example of how that is far from the truth. Palin opposed (and still does, one assumes) abortion rights in all cases, including rape, incest, and unviable fetuses; opposed gay marriage and bans on assault weapons; favored abstinence education and the teaching of creationism; and called for oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She wore her disdain for intellectualism proudly and seemed to enjoy the increasing amount of ridicule that she received. It was all

Ms. Turlish teaches U.S. History.

very depressing. That I was also able to simultaneously enjoy the thrill of an African-American man elected President of the United States certainly helped, but it was painful to watch Palin do her share to make our national political discourse nastier and less rooted in intellectual rigor.

Now we have the presidential candidacies of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Refer to what I summarized about Ferraro and think about it in the context of Trump’s run; the parallels are clear but with almost completely opposite outcomes.

Meanwhile, this will be the first time that any of us will experience a woman running for President, and the level of scrutiny that

David Bunn

Clinton has experienced is, in my opinion, at least partially gender-driven. Those Clinton e-mails? The Bush administration destroyed as many as 22 million. Buddies with Wall Street? All previous Presidents have been as well. Why do we care if she doesn’t smile enough or is at times a stiff orator? Why is it such an outrage that she might have made mistakes handling Benghazi? She knows where Benghazi is (as well as Aleppo, Gary Johnson), and she has served our country for most of her life. All people make mistakes, but as the Matt Lauer debacle showed, she is held to an entirely different standard — just as Geraldine Ferraro was 32 years ago.

Mr. Lengel Sees History Repeating Itself Mr. Tim Lengel

After a several decades of technological innovation, economic volatility, concerns about immigration, and social change, a monumental presidential election pits an accomplished career politician against a fiery populist who promises to protect the average citizen from the depredations of an entrenched elite. The year? 1896. Or 2016. Take your pick! One of the many benefits of studying history is that you’ll understand how we got to the status quo, and so far this presidential election seems like a dead ringer for one that was decided 120 years ago.

This is an unusual and confusing presidential election – there seems to have

been a real shift in the basic contours and assumptions that have guided campaign strategists for the past several decades.

Part of this is due to Donald Trump’s unorthodox style and brash personality, but a larger and more fundamental factor might be found in the wisdom of famous historians. In his famous series of essays, The American Political Tradition, Richard Hofstadter wrote of the 1896 presidential election that “third parties are like bees; once they have stung, they die.” Hofstadter was writing in the middle part of the 20th Century and couldn’t have anticipated the rise of third parties in the early 21st, but his insight can help us analyze the current struggle. The rise and fall of the Tea Party

Mr. Lengel is teaching a Government and Politics course this year.

David Bunn

and Occupy Wall Street a few years ago is a perfect illustration of his argument that small movements can influence the two major parties.

Both the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street were populist critiques of the entrenched power of a Washington, DC system that seemed to have forgotten “average folks,” and, as different as their policies were, the goals were similar. They wanted to level the playing field against the forces of rapid change gripping the United States – globalization, urbanization, entrenched wealth and privilege, and a government that seemed unwilling or unable to get anything done.

As the Tea Party “stung” the Republican Party, some of its ideas about curtailing government spending and forcefully limiting illegal immigration became part of the national conversation. Trump seized on these Tea Party ideas during his demolition of more traditional Republican candidates en route to his nomination this summer.

On the left, we need look no further than Senator Bernie Sanders’ Progressive insurgency to see the enduring influence of Occupy Wall Street. As a result of Sanders’ prodding, Secretary Clinton has incorporated criticism of “Big Banks” and the cost of college into her platform. And all this is to say nothing of the historically strong showing for Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson.

In an ordinary year, Secretary Clinton’s

resume would probably be enough to ensure her a victory. This is no ordinary year, however, and the national mood seems to favor an “outsider” candidate.

Will the experienced, moderate candidate win this election, as happened in 1896? Or will Mr. Trump defy the odds to become the most unlikely president of the modern era? Only time will tell.

The 1896 election gripped the national attention like no other contest has before or since. Bryan’s famous “Cross of Gold” speech so whipped up the Democratic Convention that one delegate, a reporter noted, “lost control of himself and literally grabbed hold of me and pulled me up from a sitting to a standing position on my chair.

He yelled at me, ‘Yell, for God’s sake, yell.’” Compare this fervor with the roiling emotions of Trump’s rallies, and again we see the parallels between 1896 and 2016.

79% of the voting population participated in the 1896 election – the highest turnout in our nation’s history – and we haven’t hit 60% since 1968. Perhaps, if we’re lucky (and you Haverford men who are able to vote, register to do so by Pennsylvania’s October 11th deadline!), the participation rate will once again soar. Always remember the old dictum that “decisions are made by those who show up”! If you care, vote.

Page 13

The Index

Opinions

October 2016

Politics in the Classroom Bill Wu ‘17

With two controversial presidential candidates, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton, running for president this year, interest in politics has increased exponentially nationwide.

Although Haverford is shielded by a “semipermeable membrane,” this newfound enthusiasm for politics has raised concerns about the role of politics in the classroom.

A few weeks ago, The Index conducted a survey; it assessed the student body’s overall sentiment towards politics and how it should be handled in classrooms. Out of the 158 respondents from the student body, 95% agreed that students should be familiar with modern-day political topics in the country. When asked, “Are connections to politics an important part of classes,” the number of participants that answered “Yes” dropped to 70.1%, with a noticeable portion of students (29.9%) answering “No.” Perhaps, the students that agreed with possessing general political knowledge and disagreed with including politics in the curriculum felt that political awareness was better attained from outside sources.

When asked to rate their level of satisfaction with Haverford’s implementation of politics in the curriculum, half of the student body was neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, 20% of students were dissatisfied, 20.6% were satisfied, 5.8% were very dissatisfied, and 1.9% were very satisfied. This indicates that the student body is split in opinion; however, the next question represented students’ core beliefs: “Should politics be covered/discussed more or less in classrooms and why?” Among the 59.4% of students who replied with “More,” common points of reasoning were that Haverford students have the duty to understand and vote in the upcoming important election;

that the Preparing Boys for Life motto in Haverford includes political knowledge; and that students should be able to form opinions, be able to express ideas better, and learn something from the opposing side through balanced discussion. Among the 24.1% that elected the option of “Don’t know/No Opinion,” common thoughts cited the bias and animosity among students with differing views that could create unnecessary tension; that politics could be distracting; and that school is a place to learn not fight over politics.

Among the 16.5% that chose “Less,” many contended that politics frequently derail classes into irrelevant material, lead to conflict and imposing opinions on others, and -- above all -- entail preaching onesided opinions that would mold a student’s opinions before he is exposed to enough information or real life experience to form his own.

The only reason that some may have been neutral or against further political discussion in classrooms is that they disagree with the current methods of implementing political discussion in class, as shown in the 25.8% total dissatisfaction rate.

Everyone, including teachers, has the right to their own opinion; however, a more balanced environment is ideal for sharing and cultivating different opinions.

When political discussion is one-sided, those with differing opinions will most likely feel alienated and close their oncereceptive ears, inhibiting personal growth.

Opinions are not taught but should be exchanged and developed in a healthy way within an accepting environment. Only in this manner can a student begin to assess all of the available options and choose a viewpoint, based on logical decisions instead of on imposed ideas and opinions.

Why You Do Not Need a New iPhone Every Year Vincent Scauzzo ‘20

People like what is new. A new car, new watch, new shirt, or new phone -- people simply like the new. And that is fine. This may be human nature. But, to like something only because it is new is not a valid reason. Companies like Samsung, Apple, Motorola, Oneplus, and more all roll out new devices annually. They always comment on how much better the new versions are as compared to the outdated versions they replace.

Better is a relative term, and, in the age of new and improved, becoming better is a constant theme. Software, chips, batteries, and cameras are just a few of the phone parts that are constantly reworked and improved. But again, better is relative.

The phones that are available today are miles better than they were five or six years ago: they are faster, they take better pictures, they have more space, and they are far more capable. Recently, however, the innovations on cell phone technology have plateaued. No one is trying anything novel, which is quite ironic considering how the phone company CEOs boast that their latest products are “new and improved.”

Let’s consider Apple. Apple makes a great product. They were one of the first companies to make a smart phone, and when they did, it flipped the current industry on its head and completely changed the game. In the late 2000s and early 2010s, Apple sought to develop new cameras and software updates around the clock. They were always trying to improve their last product, and such efforts

in part led to the technology that we have today. However, ever since the passing of Steve Jobs, the company has struggled to maintain its revolutionary pattern. Yes, they came out with the larger iPhone 6, but this was a response to bigger phones already in the market.

And it’s not just the phones that have leveled off. Progress in computers and tablets has also stalled -- until very recently with the iPad Pro. But, yet again, the iPad Pro was made to compete with devices like the Microsoft Surface and other keyboarded tablets.

The recent launch of the iPhone 7 confirms this struggle to innovate. Yes, the phone has a new camera, chip, color, and a few other doo-dads, but if you click the “compare phones” button on the Apple website, the similarities between phones is amusing. In fact, there is so little difference between the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 7 that I am surprised the Apple marketing team allowed the comparison feature on the website. Do not even get me started on the lack of headphone jack; instead of coming up with new features and gadgets, Apple has resigned to taking away useful features in what they call “innovation.” Apple creates a new product every year, but if you look at the details, you will find little to no change between the new phone and the one it replaces.

People buy products because they like them. It is as simple as that. But recently, items that were purchased for special occasions are now becoming “impulse buys.” Take the cell phone, for example.

What used to be a special purchase is now a routine one. In today’s world, a cell phone is expected of you; lacking one earns you insults such as “outdated” or “unchanging.” There certainly are many benefits of having a phone -- camera, internet access, and ease of communication to name a few -- but to always have the latest model is useless. If the device that you have is only a little better than the latest one, then you should not get a new

phone. If the new device is miles better than the one from three years ago and you have that device, then yes, you should consider getting a new phone. Really, who needs a new phone? Although phones have become a critical aspect of everyday operations in this modern world, rushing to buy the latest version is a waste. Instead, do some research, find a phone you like and that fits your criteria, and stick with it for a few years. You’ll be just fine!

All articles are available online at havindex.com

Index Staff

Page 14

The Index

Sports

October 2016

Soccer’s Slow Start to Season Speeds Up P.J. Rodden ‘18

Sixth Formers Caleb Clothier and Solomon Dorsey converse during a practice

From the beginning of their season, the Haverford Varsity soccer team has displayed grit, determination, and a willingness to adapt and improve from their previous performances this past September. This month marked the Fords’ first major appearances, competing against some of the nation’s top programs.

Key preseason games set the tone for the Ford’s season. After three closely contended losses to the South Kent School, The Kiski School, and The Hill School, many would remark on the Fords’ slow start to the fall soccer season. Nonetheless, following the preseason defeats, the Fords reflected on their past losses and quickly revitalized their team’s overall performance. Fifth Former Nikolas Golz said, “We haven’t had the best start to the season, but recently we have been playing much better and getting the results we wanted.” Teammate and goalie Will Baltrus later added, “In the start of the season, the results may have not been there, but the intensity of our play has continued to progress.”

Kyle Alday

Quickly learning from their mistakes, the varsity squad went on to achieve two swift victories against Pennsylvania’s Lansdale Catholic High School and Holy Ghost Preparatory School. Baltrus said, “The mentality of a Haverford soccer player is that no challenge is too immense to take on.”

Following these two victories, the Fords soccer team went on to face Conestoga, a formidable opponent ranked #6 in the state. The strong lineup from Conestoga’s poised varsity program presented the Fords with their first major matchup of the season. Under the lights of their home turf, the Fords showed resilience throughout the match that left both team scoreless at the end of regulation time. The Fords battled their way through two overtime periods, where they ultimately fell short in the second period of the golden goal overtime, losing the game 1-0. The Fords could not overcome this deficit due to the impenetrable defence and consistent attacking offense that the Conestoga lineup

brought to Lancaster Avenue on Saturday.

Sixth Form Captain Caleb Clothier said, “Conestoga is one of the top teams in the nation, and we put up a good fight in the second half in particular. Things obviously didn’t go our way in the second overtime, which hurt after such a long and hardfought game.”

The close defeat to Conestoga would not deter the Ford’s mindset, but rather motivated them to work harder to achieve their ultimate goal of winning the Inter-Ac title. Fifth Former Parker Gravina said, “One of our biggest strengths lies in our depth: we have many players that can make an impact off the bench. If we want to win the Inter-Ac, then we will definitely need to work on our finishing, but I am confident that we can improve.”

As the season progressed, the team put their past results behind them and focused in on the challenges ahead. Baltrus said, “We take on those top teams in the country to prepare ourselves for the intensity of the Inter-Ac. The last few results have shown

upper school squash programs. Khan said, “I am excited to have the opportunity to work with a group of exceptionally talented squash players and push their limits. I am looking forward to unifying the lower school enrichment, middle school, and high school squash programs. This way all the squash players at the Haverford School will have a smoother transition when they move from lower school to middle school to high school.” Khan is looking to develop the next generation of squash players in the pattern of great ones that have preceded them. He said, “I want to provide my students with a sense of familiarity at an early age. This way they can learn and develop themselves into the squash players who follow the traditions and cultures of the school.”

In the past two years, Coach Asad has led the middle school squash program in a dominant fashion. Under his leadership, the middle school team reached back-toback finals during the past two seasons.

After winning the Division I title in 2014, the middle school squash team also claimed the championship title at the Middle School Team Championships Tournament in 2015.

Before his time at Haverford, Khan moved to the United States from Pakistan

in pursuit of a higher education, which he found at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. While at Denison, Khan played No.1 on the team, competing against Ivy League schools and leading the team to become the best club team in the nation after defeating Stanford University in the Team Nationals hosted by Princeton in 2005.

Squash runs in Khan’s blood. Before moving to the United States, he won the Under-13 National Championship in Pakistan and was awarded the MVP title after winning the All-Pakistan InterCollegiate Squash Championships in 2003 and 2004.

Looking ahead to the season, Khan has set many goals for the team. Khan said, “The success of a program is measured by winning titles. Therefore, my long term goal is to build a dynamic and resilient squash program. A program that produces teams that are national title contenders for many years to come. In order to accomplish that, I believe, this program needs to produce squash players who have strong character traits. It is essential to have squash players unified as a team and have traits such as discipline, humility, sportsmanship and leadership. That is the fundamental approach to winning

that this investment has paid off.” He later added, “Offensive productivity has increased as we have scored seven goals in the last three games. Josh Ridenhour and Griffin Wada have been rocks at the back this year for us. As long as we defend well, we will do well this year in the Inter-Ac because, if you don’t concede, you don’t lose. The idea of a fifth straight Inter-Ac title has been keeping us going this whole season.”

The Fords dedicated their practices to improving on their weak spots, so that they would come out even better and more prepared for their upcoming Inter-Ac matches. This attention to detail immediately paid off: the Fords confidently cruised past The Phelps School, resulting in a final score of 5-0. The display of dominance in this game and the high quality performances from all players set the tone for the team’s expectations and level of play of which they were all capable.

Most recently, the Fords faced Penn Charter in their first Inter-Ac matchup.

From the blow of the whistle, the Fords’ offense dominated as they led 2-1 at halftime. The defense looked strong and composed in the second half, but a quick goal from Penn Charter resulted in a tie at the end of the second half and after a penalty kick. Baltrus said, “It was a huge result to get a point on the road against one of the title favorites. But, our mentality keeps us craving more.”

As their season continues, the Fords look to maintain the high level of quality performances and consistency that they have shown in their past matchups against schools like Conestoga, Phelps, and Penn Charter. Looking deeper into their schedule, the Fords will focus on each game one by one, determined to emerge victorious over schools like Malvern Prep whom they face at home on October 14.

Clothier said, “Every game is going to be a challenge, but I think that our tough early season schedule has prepared us well. E.A. Day will be a battle this year, as E.A. is definitely one of the top contenders for the Inter-Ac title... but so are we.”

Haverford Welcomes Squash Coach Asad Khan P.J. Rodden ‘18

The 2015-2016 Varsity Squash team finished with incredible results under the leadership of former head coach Andrew Poolman and former captains Sean Hughes, William Means, and Drew Clark.

Ending with a 12-1 overall record and a thrilling run to the finals of the High School Team Championships, the 2016 squash season was one to remember. Exceptional performances throughout and a high quality and depth of players made the Fords one of the top teams in the country and one of the best teams Haverford has ever produced. Concluding the squash season, after bringing years of admirable success, leadership, and commitment to the team, Coach Poolman decided to step down as head coach.

In the early weeks of the fall season, a light beaming from the squash courts may have grabbed the attention of students, faculty, and staff walking through the entrance of the Athletic Center. Practicing with Haverford squash students and preparing for the upcoming season, Asad Riaz Khan is no stranger to the Haverford courts. This year, Haverford welcomes Coach Khan as the new director of squash, overseeing both the middle school and

national titles, and my immediate goal is to focus on that.”

Judging by the quality of talent that the Haverford squash team possesses, the year looks promising as the Fords’ squash team looks to top their results from previous years. With the knowledge, expertise, and talent that Khan possesses, the team will surely have a promising season ahead.

Haverford Communications

Khan coached middle school squash the last two years.

Page 15

The Index

October 2016

Sports

Cross Country Beats Malvern For First Time in 15 Years P.J. Rodden ‘18

The Ford’s Varsity Cross Country team cruised through the month of September, displaying dominate performances, beating personal records, and setting a high standard for the rest of the season. Under the leadership of Coach Brian Long, Coach Tim Lengel, and Sixth Form Captains Anthony Calvelli and Nick Magnani, the team currently stands undefeated (40) after facing off against the top cross country programs in the state.

Beginning their season on home turf, the Fords sailed past Springside Chestnut Hill and then escaped with a tight win against Germantown Academy just a week later.

Following these Inter-Ac matchups, the team set their sights on winning two-team events that would set a victorious tone for the following matches. The team placed third overall in both the George School Invitationals and the Westtown Invitations, bringing back exceptional results to Lancaster Avenue. Captain Nick Magnani said, “At the George School Individual, we entered the day looking to run hard and run together. In the process, we came away with a third-place plaque beating Germantown Academy by four points for it. Following at Westtown, we also got third while falling short to two excellent public

school teams and beating all of our private school competition. Anthony Calvelli, Will Merhige, and I left with personal medals as well. We have left every meet with positive results and shattered expectations.”

In the first week of October, the Fords faced one of the Inter Ac’s top competitors, Malvern Prep, in a closely contested dual meet. Magnani said, “We beat Malvern Prep and expected to win against them for the first time in fifteen years. They have an excellent #1 runner, but our depth got us to places 2,3,4,6,7 leading to a massive

victory. We train to run in packs and over the past two seasons, we have found a new level of success in the cross country program that we have not seen in quite some time.”

Looking deeper into the Fords’ schedule, the team looks to top their result from last year and ultimately claim the Inter-Ac championship for the first time since 2001.

Calvelli said, “We are looking strong going into Inter-Acs, PAISAA Championships, and E.A .Day. These meets will be close, but we will be in contention for the win at

Inter-Acs and E.A. Day and for top three at the State Meet. The key to our success will be continuing to run as a tight pack.

Our pack of [me], Will Merhige, Nick Magnani, Taj Bland, and Aditya Bhise have been finishing very close to one another, which should work to our favor in a championship-style meet.” Magnani concluded, “With the talent we have this year, I’m sure we can win both Varsity and JV Inter-Acs as well as help keep the sweater on EA Day for the third straight year.”

Cross Country faced off against Springside Chestnut Hill Academy last month.

Mr. Jim Roese

Football Ends Non-Conference Slate with Blowout Connor Lees ‘17

Quarterback Tommy Toal looks downfield against Penn Wood.

Kyle Alday

The Perkiomen Valley offense lined up inches from the end zone. Away in Collegeville, the Fords were about to go down by three touchdowns to one of Pennsylvania’s top teams. Their twentyone game win streak was on life support.

The Perkiomen Valley quarterback snapped the ball and found no receiver open.

He scrambled out of the pocket to his right, stopped, set, and threw the ball behind his

receiver near the pylon. Fifth Former Nate Whittaker, trailing the receiver, cut behind him for the interception. Whittaker dug his cleat into ground, let the receiver fly past him, and took off down the sideline. He sidestepped one of his blockers, and then accelerated past the stunned Perkiomen Valley offense all the way to the opposite end zone.

“Nate’s interception was the spark

Matt LaRocca ‘18

expectations are obvious for us. We want to win the league and we want it bad this year. The league is always a tight contention, but we think we will be able to take it this year as long as we continue to work hard.” To win the Inter-Ac title, the Fords need to play as a team and continue their hard work during the thick of their season. The team has also emphasized the importance of trust for their continued success. If they play as a team, nobody can stop them. Tricolli said, “There are two keys for the team’s success this year.

The first is for us to remain focused and driven throughout the season. The second is for us to stick to our game plans and we will find success.”

Before dominating the Inter-Ac league, the team must adapt to the obstacles standing in the way of Inter-Ac glory.

Tricolli commented, “Every game in the league is important. We can’t ease off for

for us, that gave us hope especially with them being on the goal line,” Sixth Form Receiver and Linebacker Ismail Morrison said. “That momentum carried us and gave us a chance to come away with the win.”

Whittaker’s interception breathed new life into the Fords, but that momentum was squandered when Perkiomen returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown. “We didn’t play our best football and it hurt us in the end,” Morrison said.

The Fords fell 27-24 for their first loss in twenty-one games that night in Collegeville. “The win streak was nothing to us; Everyone was used to winning,” Sixth Form running back Mallik Twyman said. “[Since the Perkiomen game] we’ve got two more wins in our bag going into Inter-Ac play, and we’re focused on not losing another game.”

With the way the Fords have been playing recently, Twyman might be right.

The Fords took out an undefeated Penn

Wood team 48-28 at home and a talented West Catholic team 37-34 in a wild, comefrom-behind win at Widener University.

“That win brought everyone closer because we did that together, being down two touchdowns at the half and bringing in the win was the best feeling I ever had,” Twyman said.

The Fords wrapped up a successful non-conference slate with a blowout win versus John Carroll, 49-14. Head Coach Michael Murphy in The Index’s football season preview said that “Carroll would be the team’s toughest non-conference test.” After trailing Carroll 14-12 at half, the Fords came out in the second to stomp Carroll and leave Baltimore with the win.

“They had players who were supposed to have a great effect on the game, but we paid that no mind,” Morrison said. “We went out and played football and came away with the big win.”

any team.” The most intense opposition will come from Malvern Prep, a two-time defending Inter-Ac champion. Malvern has retained many of its key players from last year’s championship team, so they will pose the greatest threat. Along with Malvern, the Fords will also face intense competition from Germantown Academy and Episcopal Academy. “We have

Malvern soon, and that’ll probably be our toughest opponent. But G.A. is also looking very strong this year, so we have to watch out for them. E.A. can also still be a sneaky team that could catch us off guard,” remarked Tricolli. Despite the competition, Tricolli and the Fords are confident they will prevail.

Water Polo Beats Top-Five Team Before Inter-Ac play has even begun, the 2016 water polo season has distinguished itself. Sixth Former, captain, and goalie M.J. Tricolli said, “I think the season has gone well; we have played to our expectations and have done well in most of our games so far this season.” The Fords boast an 8-4 record, which includes wins over powerhouse water polo programs like Gonzaga and Souderton High School -- teams that the Fords have not beaten in recent years. Despite opening up this season’s campaign in a convincing fashion, the Fords aren’t satisfied. They have their eyes set on an elusive prize: winning the Inter-Ac title, something the Fords have not done since 2009.

An Inter-Ac title is a must for the Fords this year since anything short of it would be a letdown. Tricolli said, “The

Haverford faces Pingry in the Beast of the East tournament

Mr. Jim Roese

Page 16

The Index

October 2016

The Outdex Will Pechet ‘17, Andrew Lengel ‘17, Joe O’Brien ‘17, John Comai ‘17, Grayson Nunnelee ‘17, Tucker Matus ‘17, Nick Magnani ‘17, Chris Delaney ‘17, Satch Baker ‘18

During his first speech to the Upper School this year, Student Body President Evan Scott taught us how to clap.

The Trump Campaign has confirmed that they received a letter from Upper School Head Mr. Green recommending Trump replace his Mexican-American Wall with a Semi-Permeable Membrane.

Congratulations to Mr. Keefe, who won a lifetime supply of coffee from La Colombe via a sonnet writing contest.

One of Student Body Vice President Rajat Ayer’s rejected campaign platforms was the building of a wall to separate the underclassmen from everybody else so that they “know their place.”

Report: Dr. Paul Chan ‘91 is still uneasy from Dr. Nagl whispering “you’re smart” forcefully into his ear as they shook hands at the end of his lecture.

The Outdex does not kneel with Kaepernick.

Shortly after the Service Board assembly, the Lower School nurse’s office was put into a state of emergency as the entire Sixth Form reported in with uncontrollable tremors, excessive sweating, and a notable lack of eye contact. The general consensus seems to be that symptoms kicked in after Mr. Fifer declared that something they had done had been caught on tape.

Sixth Former Kirk Oliver drives a Chevy Colorado with Texas plates but lives in Pennsylvania.

The time of year is almost upon us when Scott Deck has to pretend to not be cold in his shorts.

Mr. Green is so proud of his cell membrane analogy that he still has it up on the TV’s almost a full month after the assembly.

The Service Board, along with that creepy guy down the street, has been watching you since you were little.

The yearbook staff had to tell John Comai he could not be in a senior picture until he is actually a senior.

Mr. Keefe in his college days (actual photo).

Garrett Johnson ‘19