The Index Eutαxia Swzein Dokei
Volume LXXV, No. 2
October 2013
Haverford, Pennsylvania - haverfordindex.com
Do Students Follow Politics? Jack Henderson ‘15 evaluates whether or not Haverford students are as politically aware as they should be, arguing that they are not as intellectually involved. Jack Henderson ‘15
2016 is sooner than you think. On Tuesday, November 8th, 2016 students currently in every form in the Upper School will be legally allowed to cast their vote in the 58th presidential election. We may still feel like kids, but in just three years we will all take part in changing the nation. However, the modern day student has tended to shy away from politics. Students are not as intellectually involved in politics or aware of current events as they had been in past years and even decades. This problem has been brewing for years, and, although we are more globally connected than ever before, we have not become more informed of the world around us. Political scientists debate how this problem has originated despite the smartphones in our pockets that provide us with instant communication and access to virtually every piece of information at our fingertips. There is nothing more important in a democracy in which every person of a certain age has the right to vote than a wellinformed electorate. Some find it alarming that many young people do not understand the complexities of the political world and the
monumental decisions being made today that will affect their lives for many years to come. Some have argued that part of this problem may be due to the behavior of various media outlets because some news stations have based their content on viewer ratings, or what will get the most people to tune in to their channel. Media outlets used to pride themselves on successfully informing and educating the electorate by providing context and facts with their stories without all the hyperbole and speculation that have run ramped in the news recently. The news should present stories with different perspectives and opposing arguments in a simplified way that every participant can understand, so that the electorate may remain informed and prepared for elections. However, the media cannot take all the blame because it is the responsibility of the people to open their minds for an honest consideration of values and core beliefs. Sixth Former Jonathan Paras, co-president of the Politics and Global Awareness group, does not believe he is in the majority for paying close attention to politics. Instead, he thinks “many [students] follow politics in a very shallow manner. Rather than picking up glimpses of the political world
that they will shortly inherit through news coverage and dinner talk, students should dig deep and question everything for themselves.” In a survey conducted by The Index, 58% of student respondents occasionally follow politics, while 34% pay close attention to current events and 8% do not care about or follow politics. We can vote in just three years but many are concerned that we do not have enough knowledge about politics to make an informed decision. Fifth Former Brendan Burns feels, “We’ve grown complacent. It’s fashionable not to care about current events because we have the luxury of being able to not care since the United States is possibly the most prosperous nation in world history and currently in the most prosperous period of its history.” Burns argues Continued on Page 4 Sixth Former Terry Rossi, co-President of the Politics and Global Awareness Club. Sanjay Naryanan ‘14
Teacher Introduction: Mrs. Amanda Vos Strache Will Tackett ‘14 introduces new History teacher Mrs. Amanda Vos Strache, who is new to Haverford this year after coming from Episcopal Academy. William Tackett ‘14
Making a transition from a place of comfort can be difficult and even frightening, but that is exactly what Ms. Amanda vos Strache has done. Ms. vos Strache came to Haverford after teaching history for ten years, most recently at Episcopal Academy. She was happy teaching at Episcopal, so she was nervous about making the transition. What made the tradition smoother was the fact that Ms. vos Strache already knew a member of the faculty—Mr. James Griffin. Mr. Griffin himself came from Episcopal to Haverford. Seeing how well Mr. Griffin adjusted to Haverford and how much he liked teaching here became one reason why Ms. Vos Strache decided to come to Haverford to teach. On her decision to come to Haverford, Ms. vos Strache said, “I came to Haverford because I heard such wonderful things about the students and faculty.” After spending her entire career teaching in a co-ed environment, Ms. Vos Strache is looking forward to the experience of teaching at a singlesex school. So far she has already seen some differences. For example, she has observed that the boys are more willing to contribute to and participate in class discussions in the single-sex classroom than in the co-ed one. Aside from the obvious issue of singlesex versus co-ed, Ms. vos Strache has already seen some differences between Haverford and Episcopal. For example, she has more freedom within the curriculum, especially to teach things she is passionate about, as opposed to being forced to teach a certain way. Ms. vos Strache thoroughly enjoys teaching history and feels lucky to have “a job where I get to explore and spark my passion each day.” For her, the subject of history is fascinating because
Also inside this Issue...
football. Sports, in general, are her passion. She is already involved in the Haverford community as a member of the third team soccer coaching staff. Additionally, she “was roped into” being the faculty advisor for the new car club, despite knowing little about cars. However, she is learning a lot about cars as she goes. Ms. vos Strache will also be coaching junior varsity lacrosse in the spring. She also hopes to start a field hockey club. Field hockey, while traditionally a women’s sport in the
United States, is overwhelmingly popular as a men’s sport in Europe and the rest of the world. Ms. Vos Strache has some hopes for her first year at Haverford, in particular, she is looking forward “to getting to know more about the school, in particular supporting my students in their many interests and talents outside of the classroom. I hope to learn from the gifted teachers, coaches and directors who work here and hope that I can inspire in my own ways.”
of the social aspect. It is one thing to read about events from a third-person narrative and learn the statistics and dates, but it is another to think about the people behind those statistics and view history from an individual human’s perspective. Trying to figure out what these people were thinking is, to Ms. vos Strache, what makes history so fascinating: “The stories of the people and events that came before our time, especially those that appear in my US and Ancient history classes, fascinate me.” When she is not teaching history, Ms. vos Strache is spending time with her kids, running, or Ms. vos Strache is taking the place of the recently-retired Colonel Miller, teaching AWH and MWH. watching
This month’s issue offers a special treat: two full pages of the Outdex! Check pages 15 and 16 for October’s best Haverford-related oneliners and picture jokes.
Brendan Burns ‘15 delivers a masterpiece on Quantitative Easing, a program all Americans should be familiar with. On Page 13 and 14, he outlines the plan and what it has done to the American economy.
Sanjay Naryanan ‘14
Article Letter fron the President College Column Ms. Frankel Profile Dr. Nagl’s Installation Athlete of Issue: Zipf Fords Focus Engrade Immigration Debate Outdex
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