The Blackfriar Chronicle - February 2016

ZIKA AND MALVERN Service trips, Mr. Prosalik, and more- how the Zika virus affects Malvern.

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EDITORIAL:

SERIOUSLY EXAMINING STUDENT VOICE At a crucial point in Malvern’s history, students need to demonstrate that they care.

FEBRUARY 2016

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KEEPING UP WITH THE CLINTONS

FOUR YEARS, ALL WINS The swim team has won their fourth consecutive Inter-Ac Championship, led by a strong senior class.

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Former counselor Ms. Lauren Randle talks about working with Hillary Clinton and being Chelsea’s personal driver.

SURVIVOR STORIES

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From preparing for death to leaving your entire family to working for a cure – we cover Malvern’s cancer stories.

Student Newspaper of Malvern Preparatory School . 418 South Warren Avenue . Malvern, Pennsylvania 19355

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VOLUME 16, NUMBER 5

Despite being sidelined by cancer for a year, senior Mason Abate will play baseball at Elizabethtown College next year.

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Chastity Project co-founder to speak after initial postponement After December postponement of Jason Evert’s presentation, a new process to vet speakers is in the works.

Jack McClatchy ’17 NEWS EDITOR ason Evert, co-founder of the Chastity Project Ministry, will be coming to speak to students about the virtue of chastity on Friday, March 4 after his appearance was postponed in December.

Evert was originally booked to speak at Malvern on Friday, December 11. Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot announced that Evert's visit would be postponed in an email to parents on December 8.

Some members of the Malvern community have expressed concerns about Evert's perspectives on modesty and homosexuality. Others believe this program on campus will promote important discussions on Catholic teachings. After the December postponement, The Blackfriar Chronicle published student and alumni perspectives on Evert's presentation in the

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December issue.

Talbot's follow-up email to students on December 16 explained, "With each guest that we invite to campus, we strive to design an inclusive, welcoming, and thoughtful educational experience for all members of our community. We quickly learned that we did not have time to adequately prepare for Jason's visit. So we have decided to postpone this event until we are able to construct such an experience."

According to an email sent to parents, Evert will be speaking to Malvern students from 8th to 12th grade during a morning assembly at Chapel. However, according to Dr. Dorothy Sayers the talk will be FOUR QUESTIONS FOR JASON EVERT We reached out with some questions about the upcoming visit. Learn what he had to say.

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in O'Neill Athletic Center and will not include the 8th Grade.

Talbot said that there previously has been no set process to vet guest speakers.

“It’s pretty much been ad hoc,” he said.

“If there were no costs associated with it, the person just kind of showed up. If there were some costs, there was obviously a budgetary question.”

Talbot said that after Evert’s visit was postponed in December, he and the Academic Advancement Team, a collection of Administrators, Department Heads, and other members of the academic leadership, drew up plans for a process to vet speakers.

“It’s still in draft form,” Talbot said.

“But it goes through all the logical questions you would want to ask before you want to commit to bring someone to campus.” > PAGE 15

He went through a few blood tests at Paoli Hospital where they discovered that his hemoglobin levels were low. More intensive blood tests were then conducted at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

After the blood tests were positive for leukemia, Mason had to go down to CHOP that night.

“He set his mind to fighting and winning,” his older brother, Parker Abate ’15, said.

The support for Mason’s fight came immediately.

February 1 was a Friday, and on Monday February 4, Father Flynn announced Mason’s diagnosis to the school at the chapel service.

The crowded chapel was hushed as Father Flynn spoke. Students stared blankly at Flynn’s podium with their mouths slightly open. Mr. Legner did not have to remind everyone to be quiet in the place of worship. The community filed out of the chapel completely silent.

However, it did not take long for students to respond. The hashtag “#prayersformason,” was a trending topic in Philadelphia that night on Twitter.

The message of hope was shared by many, even by those without any connection to Mason or Malvern.

Celebrities Bryce Harper, Mike Trout, Claude Giroux, Katherine Webb, David Boreanaz, Evan Turner, Hoodie Allen, Ben Davis, Ryan Nassib, and Waka Flocka Flame all tweeted their support. > PAGE 10

J. FAUNCE / E. TATE

Ben Yankelitis ’16, Pat Ferraiolo ’15 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SPORTS EDITOR he 5 foot 9 inch right-handed pitcher has “good direction toward home plate,” resulting in a 79-81 MPH fastball, according to Prep Baseball Report. He mixes in an 11/5 curveball and a changeup, and exhibits “quick feet and short ball-to-ear release on pickoff attempts.”

“He loves baseball,” said Fred Hilliard, head baseball coach. “He loves the statistics, he loves watching it, he loves going to games, and I love that about him.”

On December 29, Mason Abate announced his commitment to play college baseball at Elizabethtown College.

“When I was in sixth grade I knew I wanted to play in college,” Mason said. However, the journey to college baseball that he saw as a sixth grader at Malvern was not the journey he ended up taking.

On February 1, 2013, Mason was diagnosed with leukemia.

Leading up to that unforgettable day, Mason had experienced some medical struggles which included a 106 degree fever on Christmas 2012.

EDITORS’ NOTE The Malvern community prides itself on being tight knit and caring. We all want to show care for those who need it.

There is a group of people within our community who have faced one of life’s most difficult challenges - cancer.

Each person has taken lessons and experiences that have helped them develop into the people they are today.

The staff of The Blackfriar Chronicle wanted to tell their stories.

This month’s issue highlights how cancer has affected Malvern’s community in many different aspects. We hope this issue can be a catalyst for creating an even more caring and loving community.

PAGE 7 > How the CARES Walk helps PAGES 1, 8-11 > Stories from our community

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February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

EDITORIAL Students need to take full advantage of all present forums for student voice and be given more opportunities in determining the direction of the Malvern experience.

Editorial Board alvern is at a crucial point in its history. Almost every day it seems like decisions are being made that are shaping the direction of the school. Students must have a valued and respected opinion in these decisions. Students play an integral role in daily campus life and will offer perspectives that teachers, administrators, alumni, and donors cannot.

In the past four years since the current seniors were freshman, we have moved away from traditional education into a hotlydebated 21st century learning style. We meant student-centered learning. Or projectbased learning. We aren’t really sure what it’s called these days.

We got rid of our library. We became a tobacco-free campus. We ended the 9/11 ceremony tradition. We became totally Google-dependent. We unleashed a diversity initiative aimed at 20% racial diversity for the student body in 2019. We developed new building plans.

Administrators like Mr. Ron Algeo and Mr. Tim Dougherty do a great job of being available for students to voice their opinions. However, nearly every member of our Editorial Board believes that student input on serious topics related to our learning is seldom seriously considered.

There have been instances recently where student voice could have helped make administrative decisions – such as the booking of speakers, especially when controversial, like Jason Evert. Or when Malvern decided to change to diet sodas. Or when Malvern decided entrepreneurship should be incorporated into the curriculum. Or when Malvern considers how successful projectbased learning is in implementation. Or when Malvern considers eliminating APs.

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Or when Malvern considers contract grading. Or inevitably when a transgender teacher or student wants to enter the Malvern community.

Currently, students have a few forums for student voice - limited mostly to Student Council, and this very paper.

The Blackfriar Chronicle is a great forum for student expression, but we aren’t close to perfect.

We hope more members of the community join conversations through letters to the editors, online comments, pitching ideas to our staff, or even joining us. Additionally, we will work to follow through with our proposals when our Editorial Board makes recommendations for the community.

Each month, we publish this column that is a collection of voices from a diverse group of students, yet we have rarely initiated change. We are working to make sure the monthly editorial is more than just a discussion starter.

Student Council is a great platform for direct student involvement in decisions.

However, for the success of Student Council, students need to take it more seriously.

In recent years, the Student Council speeches have been the primar y factor for students to decide on a candidate.

Unfortunately, that forum was best described by current Vice President Ted Holleran in his speech who welcomed the Duffy audience to “The Malvern Prep Funniest Speech Contest.”

Brothers, we need to act with more responsibility. We should be electing a candidate based off of their ideas about the school and their merits to be a representative leader for the entire student body.

We cannot even begin to argue for more

EDITORS NOTE: st udent voice, if we do not utilize the few opportunities we are given.

In addition, we propose that Student Council speeches should be replaced with a debate hosted by The Blackfriar Chronicle.

In the real world, it is the function of the media to hold the government accountable.

We think it would be beneficial for the students to hear the positions of the candidates on various Malvern-related issues.

There are other ways that the Student Council President should be involved in our community. He should be given a nonvoting role for the Board of Trustees meetings. While some information is confidential and we understand he cannot be privied to that information, it is highly possible that he could be allowed for parts of the meeting. It would add an incredibly important dynamic to the Board of Trustees for feedback, but also give him an official forum to execute his role.

As millennials we are too often cast to the general mold of social media-absorbed teens without any care for the world around us - politically, religiously, or otherwise.

We need to demonstrate that not only do we care, but we are willing to fight for it too.

If Malvern is truly embracing a studentcentered approach, we need to demonstrate that we have the maturity to understand the most important asset we have: our voice.

As journalists, we have learned there are always multiple perspectives to a story.

The students’ perspective is as necessary as any other while Malvern writes its future. y

Our January cover story “A Light of Exposure” explored how suicide impacts our community, and how we can help.

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I lost my best friend and fellow Malvern class of ’84 graduate on October 21, 1990 to suicide when he was 23 years old.

There was absolutely no social media at that time, but the prevalence of it today enables these feelings of isolation and despair to manifest themselves faster and more profoundly. I now have young adult sons of my own and I am ever vigilant and acutely aware of the simple things that can begin a cascade that places them in situations for which they may not be prepared to handle so that I can be ready to guide them and support them when needed.

For years I felt I had done something wrong, that I failed to keep my best friend from ending his life. I felt his parents and family always held me responsible, and that our mutual friends

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he unsigned editorial that appears on page 2 of The Blackfriar Chronicle each month is not an anonymous column. It represents the consensus of the entire editorial board.

As a team, we agree and stand behind every word.

The Editorial Board is a group of students composed of The Blackfriar Chronicle editors-in-chief, managing editors, chief investigative reporter, section editors, social media editor, podcast editor, a representative of the freshman class, and a representative from the Diversity Awareness Club. The group is meant to include a group of different students so all opinions and voices can be heard.

The group chooses a topic and forms a unified opinion about the selected topic for each issue of The Blackfriar Chronicle. Usually the topics chosen concern pressing and controversial topics within the Malvern community; however the Board is not limited to selecting topics that fit this description. We appreciate suggestions for topics from any member of the Malvern community.

After a draft has been reviewed by all members of the Editorial Board, the Board may reconvene to reach full consensus. If consensus cannot be reached, the column must either express this dissent in an agreeable form to all Board members, or a separate dissenting opinion may be developed.

Once the column is acceptable to all Board members, the column is published as an unsigned editorial.

The adviser is allowed to attend the meetings for supervision and guidance purposes, however the adviser does not contribute opinions or influence the members of the Editorial Board. The column truly represents student voice and consensus.y

Changes announced to The Blackfriar Chronicle Editorial Policy

CONVERSATION

t is critical to bring the topic of suicide to light. Many (if not all) young adults struggle with their coping skills and the pressures inferred from their surroundings. As such they seek pathways which they believe will help alleviate their feelings. Recognizing that these feelings occur is necessary to begin to establish supportive relationships, so that at-risk individuals have a community they can turn to when they feel lost or astray.

The Editorial Board is the student voice of the publication.

As of January 2016, The Blackfriar Chronicle is under limited and specific prior review by the administration of Malvern Preparatory School.

Any story that refers to fundraising is subject to a prior review by Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot.

This change comes at Mr. Talbot’s request. at the time questioned why I didn’t know what he was going through. The assumption was that it would be obvious he was suicidal because it was so unusual. Statistics show our young adults struggle more than we know. It is not obvious because it is an outlier, but rather more pervasive than we care to believe.

At-risk young adults are all around us. Accepting that statistic opens our eyes to recognize things that are hiding right in front of us on a daily basis.

From January 2014 through December 2015, the editors of The Blackfriar Chronicle were required to submit any story that cited an administrator for prior review by Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot.

I applaud the students and staff at Malvern for taking the step of educating themselves on how to recognize and intervene as well as being brave enough to bring taboo subject to light.y

As this is a private institution, the staff must comply with the request. We are working to the standards set by the Student Press Law Center (SPLC), Pennsylvania School Press Association (PSPA), and Journalism Education Association ( JEA), among others, but in addition we are acting in accordance with the Malvern administration.

John Lawler, Malvern Class of 1984 Posted at mpfriarslantern.com

In keeping with journalistic ethics and Malvern Preparatory School’s core values, the staff will provide advance notice to Mr. Talbot of any highly sensitive topics that may be covered in each edition.

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

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FRIAR LIFE Malvern experiments with business casual dress code in February

Following the money of the senior service trips

Change could be on the horizon for Malvern’s dress code.

How are senior service trips being funded?

Tommy Pero ’17 includes tucking in shirts, not wearing sweatshirts or FRIAR LIFE EDITOR flannel shirts, and buttoning shirts to the second highest fter a student proposal, Malvern has loosened the button. collar on its dress code policy for February as an With the exception of the Hawaiian shirts, Dougherty experiment for future change. said it has been going well overall. He observed that sweatThe new dress code is modeled after a “modified busi- shirts have almost completely disappeared and that more ness casual” look according to Dean of Students Mr. Tim shirts are tucked in.

Dougherty. The normal policy for pants, shoes, and butDougherty has not yet received feedback from parents, ton-down collared shirts still applies, but ties and blazers but he plans to send out surveys to teachers, students, are both optional. and parents to get feedback. He said that this feedback According to Dougherty, there are four purposes of will contribute to whether the dress code will or will not any dress code: to instill self respect in change for the following year. students, to ensure there is a serious purDougherty is uncertain about what pose in school, to have a sense of unity, this experiment’s results will mean for Mr. Dougherty and to give a sense of responsibility and the future of Malvern’s dress code. “I plans to send out accountability. don’t know what success will look like. surveys to teachers, Dougherty said the old dress code Maybe we’ll modify [the dress code] students, and fulfilled these purposes, but a question a little bit,” Dougherty said. “I don’t parents to get emerged of whether or not it was too know.” feedback. He said restrictive on the students since they However, it is certain is that some that this feedback may have to get changed for gym, work students and teachers did have opinions will contribute to with ceramics, or perform a chemistry on the change. whether the dress lab throughout the day.

“I think it’s great, especially for code will or will The next step for Dougherty was to seniors, like me, who weren’t going to not change for the stage an experiment to see if the modibe following it,” senior Nick Mensack following year. fied dress code could work. said. “I think they’ll keep [the new dress The main rationale for the expericode]. It’s just a good change for the ment came from discussions that whole school.”

Dougherty had with members of the Freshmen Brennan Robinson does community, he said. However, the timing of the experi- not agree and says the dress code was one of the reasons ment also coincided with a proposal created by seniors he chose Malvern a year ago.

Mike Morabito and Matt Pichola, following their work “I think [the new dress code] causes student to become in Social Entrepreneurship class. unruly and unattentive in class,” Robinson said, wearing “People [were] looking sloppy around campus. They a rubber-duck patterned tie. “They feel more relaxed like could wear a tie that was halfway undone and shirt barely they’re at home, versus in an environment where school tucked in and make it in dress code technically,” Morabito is important. said. “We were thinking if we take away some of the sloppy Former Head of School and Spanish Teacher Mr. Jim elements of it, then we could make it a little more present- Stewart still prefers suit coats and ties, and would like able. So, the less stuff you can mess up, the better.” to see dress up days implemented if the changes become Morabito’s and Pichola’s plan was similar to what the permanent. current dress code experiment is. When Dougherty saw “I think it’s a change for Malvern Prep to be involved their proposal, he recognized that their statistics and plan in a change like this, but so far it seems like the students were similar to his. are cooperating and it’s going well,” he said. “They do look “[Dougherty] already had a proposal written up neat and clean. Very few have their shirt tails hanging out because he was planning on doing something like this or not complying with the dress code.” further into the year,” Morabito said. “We kind of just Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot appreciated the took it a step further by doing it in Entrepreneurship Class, principle behind the dress code experiment. making all the surveys, and pretty much doing all the “What I like about this experiment is exactly that: dirty work.” it’s an experiment,” he said. “So, whether it’s a good idea Both proposals include “dress up” days. On dress up or bad idea to me is kind of beside the point. What I days, students have to wear ties and blazers for formal like instead is that we are continuing to build a culture in events. The experiment included the first dress up day on which we test out ideas and we try to learn from them.”

Friday, February 19. Dougherty said that he thought this “Things that work we’ll scale them up, and things that first test was successful. don’t work, we’ll change,” Talbot said. y Dougherty said students should wear the modified dress code with respect if they want to keep it. This

Nick Li ’17 SOCIAL MEDIA EDITOR enior Christian Service trip costs are not cheap. The full cost per student ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, according to Director of Christian Service Mr. Larry Legner.

Half of the cost is paid by Malvern and the other must come from the students themselves.

Raising money allows the students to experience what it is like to have to ask for everything and tolerate the response of “no”.

Every summer, going into their senior year, students are required to MP 2016 SERVICE TRIP SHIRT/ R. GABRIEL go on an extensive service trip to a location with people in need. On this said. “Especially if they lived far service trip, students do a variety of away and I could not directly contact service ranging from building houses them.” to teaching and accompanying chilHowever, Updike was only able to dren. This year, trip raise a little under half locations include the of his $2,000 goal.

Dominican Republic, “Raising Junior Justin the Philippines, Peru, money allows Titchenell also used South Africa, Costa the boys to GoFundMe to raise Rica, Armenia, and experience how his money. “I was able New Orleans. A it feels to ask for to raise $800 out of my unique requirement everything.” $1,200 requirement for to this service opporMr. Larry Legner my trip,” Titchenell tunity is that students said. “All I had to do must raise half of the was set up an account cost of the trip on their own. and share it on Facebook, and my dad “Raising money [on their own] shared it with his work friends.” allows the boys to experience how it While Updike and Titchenell feels to ask for everything,” said Mr. used the new convenient outlet for Larry Legner, Director of Christian fundraising, junior Rudy Gabriel Service. “We are not even asking for went the creative route. Gabriel creourselves, we are asking for money to ated t-shirts to sell in order to raise help other people in need, so we can’t money for his trip. Gabriel, who is even put ourselves in their shoes.” going to Costa Rica, decided to sell The overseas Christian Service shirts because he did not want to program started ten years ago with ask for money from his family, and a trip to Peru. The program had no because senior Tait McGlinn was sucmoney, and according to Legner, it cessful the year before. was too much to have every boy pay Gabriel, who has raised about the full cost. Mr. Legner said he half of his requirement of $1,500, is solicited corporate donors for dona- still working toward his goal. tions up to as much as $20,000.

“It was not as successful as I had Accord ing to L eg ner, t he hoped,” Gabriel said. “I had a hard Christian Service endowment is now time making the money back I had about $2.5 million. For the service originally put down on the shirts.” trips, only interest on the endowment Rudy is still selling his original covers the rest of the money that the shirts for fifteen dollars. The design boys are not required to raise. includes all of the service trip locaBecause st udents a re on ly tions as a picket fence sign. required to raise half of the cost, they Junior Jack Carpenter went a need to raise anywhere from $1,000 more traditional route for fundraising. to $2,000. Last year, the total cost of Carpenter was able to raise money the service trips was about $300,000, for his service trip by asking family and two years ago the total cost was members for donations. He repaid about $241,000, according to Legner. his donors through thanks and small In order to raise money, students favors such as plowing snow. have done a variety of different activiHowever, fundraising is just the ties. Fundraising efforts include cre- first part of the experience. ating and selling t-shirts, speaking at “Guys come back changed. They church, asking family members, and get that they’re blessed, and that it’s using money earned through summer their responsibility to help these work. people in need. They may never go A new way of fundraising that has back, but they may do something emerged is the use of gofundme.com. to help serve people in the future,” Malvern Prep junior Mac Updike Legner said. “When we go out, we used GoFundMe in order to raise don’t change the world. However, we money for his trip to South Africa. change our boys who can change the “I felt like it was the easiest way to get world 10, 20, or 30 years from now. y money from other people,” Updike

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The

BLACKFRIAR Chronicle

is a monthly student-run publication at Malvern Preparatory School. Its online affiliate is the Friar’s Lantern (www.mpfriarslantern.com).

Mission Statement The Blackfriar Chronicle and The Friar’s Lantern are the student-run publications of Malvern Prep. The principal goals of the publications are to provide accurate and relevant information to the Malvern community and to offer a forum for intelligent dialogue on all things Malvern. The reporting for these student publications is conducted thoroughly and edited by student leaders to ensure this accuracy to the best of our ability. In order to fairly provide all points of view, contributions from all members of the Malvern community are welcomed and encouraged through letters of opinion, student reporting, and respectful commentary. mpfriarslantern1@gmail.com / Twitter @friarslantern1 / facebook.com/TheFriarsLantern / Instagram mpfriarslantern1 EDITORS IN CHIEF SECTION EDITORS EDITORIAL BOARD Justice Bennett ’16 All editors Friar Life Media & Technology Ben Yankelitis ’16 Mike Flanagan ’16 Tommy Pero ’17 Jack Magargee ’18 Mike Harrington ’19 MANAGING EDITORS Sports Local/World News Print: James Faunce ’16 Social Media Editor Michael Droogan ’16 Jack McClatchy ’17 Online: Chris Bunn ’16 Nick Li ’17 Patrick Ferraiolo ’17 Podcast INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER Arts Desmond Papariello ’18 Tyler Pizzico ’17 Danny Malloy ‘18

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February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Friar Life Malvern blood drive comes at perfect time Boarding once offered Malvern blood drive overcomes hardships and helps those in need international campus experience Sean Ward ’17 REPORTER alvern held its annual blood drive on Wednesday February 18 under the guidance of the American Red Cross and math teacher and blood drive faculty leader Mr. Jim Stinger.

Every two seconds someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion, according to the American Red Cross.

To help, there are blood drives held across the nation nearly every day of the year.

However, according to Stinger, there is currently a short supply of blood available, due to the recent blizzard that hit the east coast in early February.

This is why the annual Malvern blood drive couldn’t have come at a better time.

The blood drive, which is run through the Penn-Jersey blood service region of the American Red Cross, is held every year on Malvern’s campus. After the blood is collected it is distributed to hospitals throughout the area.

It is open to all members of the Malvern community including faculty, parents, and students who are 16 and older.

Stinger, who has been running the drive for three years, says he got involved because he always gave blood.

When there was a need for someone to take over the leadership role he said he was happy to do it.

Stinger also realizes the dire need for blood to provide transfusions.

“One donation of blood can save three lives, but only 37% of United States are actually eligible to donate blood,” he said.

Travel history and medical conditions can prevent someone from giving blood. In fact, travel restrictions directly affect Malvern students who want to help the cause.

According to Stinger, some of the countries that Malvern students go to for service during their Junior years have travel restrictions implemented by the Red Cross. This means that these students are ineligible to

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give blood for a certain period after their trip.

“There is a possibility you could pick up something and be deferred to give blood,” Stinger said. This deferral usually lasts a year, according to Stinger.

On February 9, Stinger emailed the student body and faculty that he had checked with the Red Cross, and only people who went to Peru were considered a "low risk" for donating blood. His email stated that other service trip sites were considered "no risk" and those participants would be eligible to donate.

However, according to Stinger, the Dominican Republic and the Philippines were late additions to the risk list. Students and teachers who had gone on these trips were unable to donate blood.

Sports also made it difficult for some students to donate.

Students are not supposed to be active after they donate blood. “Extra swimming meets, basketball games, and wrestling tournaments make it so students are unable to give blood,” Stinger said.

The drive was scheduled during the week period between the end of winter sports and the start of spring sports, but playoff runs and other varsity events extend into this period.

Despite the obstacles, 44 members of the community donated in the blood drive, each giving a pint.

Even a loose bird in O’Neill couldn’t stop the drive.

The loose bird, which violates Red Cross sanitary regulations, forced the blood drive into the hallway from its original location in the gym.

This is not the first time a bird in O'Neill affected a Malvern blood drive. In 2013, senior Jack St. Amour knocked a bird from the rafters with a tennis ball.

According to Stinger, one in four people will need a blood transfusion in their lifetime. He emailed the student body that this year's blood drive topped last year's donation count, with many thanks to everyone who was able to help. y

Student Council has secured a new partnership and continues to plan more events on campus Tommy Pero ’17 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR tudent Council has organized a partnership with Villa Maria Academy for their annual THON and Talent Show event, according to Student Council President Alex Freud.

The event will take place on March 18 at Villa, according to an email sent to the Upper School. Malvern students can purchase a t-shirt, attend the event, and perform in the talent show.

Students interested in signing up to perform should complete the Google form attached to the email by March 8. To buy a ticket and/or t-shirt for the event, students should print out and complete the order form and bring it to Carney 206 between 8:00 and 8:15 by February 26.

Tickets to the dance and talent show and a t-shirt cost $25. Tickets to

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Before 1972, room and board on campus meant geographic diversity.

THE FRIAR’S LANTERN STAFF IN THE 1960S MAY HAVE LIVED ON CAMPUS MALVERNIAN

Garrett Hallinan ’19 During O’Neill’s time as a stuCONTRIBUTOR dent, Malvern students would wake t was a hot September day when up in Tolentine, go to the bottom Mr. Don O’Neill came to Malvern floor of Sullivan for breakfast, attend in the fall of 1954. He did not want the same five classes everyday, and to be there. It was his participate in extracurparents’ decision. ricular activities.

“I wanted to go to Fr. Flynn After your school La Salle,” O’Neill said. described activities, from 7:00 ”But my parents, they Malvern’s p.m. to 9:00 p.m., you wanted me to go to boarding school had to be in your room, Malvern.” as “exhausting according to O’Neill. A O’Neill was a great work for the priest roamed the corbasketball player and proctors because ridors making sure you played on the varsity it was 24/7, 7 were studying. Then team his freshman year days a week.” at 9:00 p.m. you could in 1954. Years later in go downstairs for rec1999, Malvern’s O’Neill reation, such as talking Center was named for and grabbing snacks at O'Neill and houses its basketball, the vending machines. But, lights swimming, and water polo games. went out every night at 10:00 p.m.

“My freshman year we played in About a quarter of Malvern’s stuVillanova Hall, what is now Stewart dents boarded at the time, and many Hall. There was just one court and it came from places in Central America was very tight. My sophomore year and Cuba. All boarding students they put in Dougherty Hall,” he said. stayed in Tolentine Hall, and there were two boys per room. “ My ro om m ate w a s f rom the dance and talent show without a t-shirt cost $15. Tickets to just the talCalifornia,” O’Neill said. “In total, ent show cost $10. T-shirts without a ticket to the event cost $12, according there were about 240 students, and to the order form. there was no middle school.”

Proceeds from the night will go to the Travis Manion Foundation, which Although O’Neill did not choose helps assist veterans and families of fallen soldiers. The theme for the evening to go to Malvern, he grew to love and is Red, White, and Blue, according to the email. take great pride in it.

Freud encourages Malvern students to attend the event and support “Malvern has grown to 650 kids,” the charity. “If Malvern and Villa could form a good relationship with this he said. “We are blessed by God for event, it could be very successful for years to come,” he said.

Malvern’s students and parents, Student Council is running a drive for supplies for the Junior Christian teachers and staff, and its leadership.”

Service Trips during the last week of February. An email from Dr. D’Lugos Mr. Jim Stewart came to Malvern and signs posted around campus indicate the requested items, including in the fall of 1970, its final year as school supplies, sports supplies, and children’s books. a boarding school. He was the Student Council is also planning another D Schedule tournament event Assistant Athletic Director, and he for April, according to Freud. also taught Spanish. Although it was What sport the D Schedule will involve is still being decided, but Freud long ago, Mr. Stewart remembers the ruled out one option. “No quidditch. I think everyone would appreciate no boarding students and kids before and quidditch,” he said with a laugh. during his time.

Student Council planned a Winterfest Dance in January, but had to “I remember a boy named Jose cancel the event due to not enough sold tickets. “It’s just one of those things,” Targae, who has come back to Freud said. “We can’t force people to go, and people didn’t want to go. So, Malvern many times to visit and it just didn’t happen.” reminisce,” Stewart said. “We helped In March, next year’s Student Council Executive Board will be elected. his son get into Villanova. I remember Freud said he is looking forward to the speeches and seeing who wins, but boarders before my time who had a declined to endorse a candidate to replace him. “I’m sure everyone will do good experience, like Jose Targae.” a great job,” he said. y > PAGE 5

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

5

Friar Life Seventh Grade Academy experiments with a week of no technology A week without phones causes students to think about their technology use.

Joe Lister ’21 before attending class.

MIDDLE SCHOOL REPORTER Seventh Grade History teacher he Seventh Grade Academy Mr. Jeffrey Carroll said that the engineered a no-technology seventh grade parents were very experiment that started on supportive of the experiment.

Monday, February 1 and ended Seventh Grade English teacher Friday, Februar y Mr. Leo Kindon 5. Students were said that the teachnot even able to use ers “felt that [the “[Teachers] felt technology for acastudents] spent too students spent too demic purposes. much time with much time with “I think everytechnology things technology things one had a lot of fun when they could be when they could be except for the first doing things which doing things which two days,” said sevare educational.” are educational.” enth grader Quinn “Not that Mr. Leo Kindon Hall. there’s any thing While the sevwrong with games, enth graders may not have had a but the amount of time spent with lot of fun the first two days, on a phone in your hand,” Kindon Wednesday, “everybody started said. “We just felt it was too much.” playing games, bringing in cards, K indon sta r ted not icing [and] making paper footballs,” a change from that with this Hall said. experiment.

Hall also said that the class “I think it made people aware knew it was coming before the of how much they’re playing with project launch. “My thoughts things, instead of doing other were all over the place,” he said. things,” Kindon said. “[Then] we kind of got the idea After watching the students that it was going to happen at the evolve over the course of the week, project reveal, because the subject Kindon said that what the students was technology.” were now doing “was different,” According to Hall, the stu- and asked, “Where was that earlier dents turned in their devices in the in the year?” y morning, and if they were late they would go directly to the teacher they were to turn their devices into

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> BOARDING, 4 Stewart described a campus that looked very different when he first arrived.

“When I came here, there was Dennis Hall (a classroom building that got knocked down), Vasey Hall (the old auditorium), St. Rita’s (where the Italian nuns lived and made meals for the priests), Tolentine Hall (where the students lived), and Albert’s Hall (where some students lived/where the priests live now),” he said.

Stewart believes Malvern has changed for the better over the last 45 years.

“Malvern is a much better school [now]. It has better students who are more academically qualified and have interests in becoming the best they can be,” Stewart said. “We have kids who are geared for and want to go to college.”

When Father Flynn arrived at Malvern in January 1973, Malvern was no longer a boarding school.

Boarding ended in June of 1972.

“I was never here when [boarders] were here,” Father James Flynn said, “but I have heard stories about when they were here.”

“The priests were the proctors,” Father Flynn said, “and there were

Priesthood discussed in classroom and beyond Faculty, students, and Augustinians offer perspectives on how Malvern supports vocations to the priesthood.

Evan Tate ’16 CONTRIBUTOR hen I was a senior at Malvern, a priest came and asked me if I’d be interested," Father Chris Drennen said. “I said, ‘no thank you,’ But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head.”

Father Drennen joined the Augustinian Order and now serves as Malvern's Director of Augustinian Identity.

Malvern prepares its students to go to college so they can become whatever they want: businessmen, engineers, doctors, lawyers, etc. Not many students go on to follow in the footsteps of Fr. Drennen to become a priest. Does Malvern have a direct impact on whether a student becomes a priest?

Senior Jimmy Faunce thinks that Malvern points more students towards the married life than the priesthood.

"Every year we have a man come and speak to us about the priesthood and how we should consider it and all those things, but you consider it for a day or so and then it’s gone," Faunce said.

Faunce believes that for a Catholic school, Malvern is lacking when it comes to stressing the priesthood.

However, some alumni credit Malvern as the reason they have considered or entered the seminary.

According to a post made by the

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blog Seminarian Casual on May 5, 2013, Jason Buck, Malvern Prep class of 2007, said he credits Malvern for nurturing his vocation towards the priesthood.

Buck wrote, “When I entered the seminary in 2008, I felt the Lord calling me to the diocesan priesthood... I am so thankful for the education and formation from the priests at Malvern Prep.”

Buck now serves the Philadelphia A rchdiocese as a priest at St. Andrew's in Newtown, PA. “I think [a vocation to the priesthood] is definitely part of our mission in both the theology department and also in campus ministry. Sure there are areas we could improve upon, but what I can tell you is we do talk about it in probably every theology class in the high school,” Director of the MECO program Mr. Andrew DiDomenico said.

Although DiDomenico does not believe it is the focus of every theology class, he does believe that the chapel services and MECO help a lot.

“I think through chapel services and through the MECO program, we are trying to challenge guys to truly think about themselves and what they want in life and through them thinking about that they'll, I think, begin to discover what God is calling them to be … their vocation,” DiDomenico said.

Although relatively few Malvern students have gone on and become a

priest or a deacon, some have considered the vocation.

DiDomenico said that while he thought about the priesthood while a student at Malvern, he first voiced the idea to Augustinians while a student at Villanova University.

“I would say at Malvern, the seed was planted for me and then at Villanova I really began to think about it— I really began to talk about it,” Didomenico said.

DiDomenico later began talking to the Augustinians at Villanova and began going to dinners with them.

“After I graduated from Villanova I became an Augustinian volunteer. I used that as a real year of discernment and what I discovered was that I was not being called to the priesthood. I was being called to the married life and I started dating my future wife,” he said.

Faunce, both a senior and a lifer at Malvern, has a slightly different opinion on how Malvern does when stressing the priesthood.

“Honestly, I think I’ve considered it, it has come into my thought process because I have, or at least I’d like to say, I have always taken my faith very seriously and I kind of think probably around the time of seventh or eighth grade I decided that I probably wouldn’t end up being a priest, but would consider being a deacon,” Faunce said.

Although that was the seventh grade, Faunce still considers the > PAGE 14

Campus drainage is ongoing issue Can the puddles on Malvern’s campus be stopped?

four of them. Three of them were Father Knapp, Father Menihane, and Father Gallogly. There was always a proctor with the students.”

Father Flynn said that one of the priests described the experience as “an ordeal.”

“It was exhausting work for the proctors because it was 24/7, 7 days a week,” Father Flynn said. “These kids were our responsibility.”

The priests woke up at 6:00 AM in Austin Hall. They went straight down to chapel and from there went to eat breakfast. Most of the proctors ate in a separate room from the students, but at least one of them watched the students eat. They taught their classes, watched over the students, said their prayers, went to bed, and woke up the next day to do it all over again.

Malvern’s boarding school days required great effort from the proctors, but it made Malvern a place where students from all over the world - Central America, Cuba, California, Malvern, etc. - could have the same Augustinian education. . y

Dan King ’19 CONTRIBUTOR or the past few years, students have had to walk through big puddles during big rainstorms or harm the grass around them.

“It's actually really annoying because you can't avoid them,” freshman Aidan Harty said.

“We certainly are aware of the puddles.” said Mr. Jeff Kinney, Director of Facilities Management.

New drainage was installed this summer to replace the old drainage grates in front of the Duffy Arts Building. “The problem is that the mulch from right next to there is washed down, clogging the pipe,” Kinney said.

Kinney described this installation as “preventative maintenance.”

“It’s not an overnight thing,” he said. “We have to make sure it is not clogged up during big rains. It’s a long term process.”

Kinney said that two drains are connected underneath with a pipe, and they release at St. Rita’s. There is also a release pool on the outside of the ring road.

“Down by the Learning Commons there is a ditch that we have to dig out,” Kinney said.

Kinney said it would be cost effective to put drains in other parts of campus, but said the pipes all have to lead downward.

Kinney said that the maintenance staff does their

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PUDDLES ON THE DUFFY SIDEWALK / J. BENNETT

best work to make sure everything works smoothly and that the campus is safe for students.

“We have priorities and other things to work on,” he said, “but we are well aware of the [drainage] issue and have been working to fix it.”

Kinney has noted that students often avoid the puddles by walking through the grass. “You know how much they love the grass here,” Kinney said. “They make sure no one is parking or walking on the grass.”

Students have noticed some improvements after last summer’s work. “The puddles were a huge pain, but now I can get around them easier,” freshman Matt Lamond said. y

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February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Friar Life

What it’s like to work on the Clinton campaign Former Associate Director of College Counseling Ms. Lauren Randle reminisces about her time on Hillary Clinton’s campaign and offers insight into this year’s election.

Tyler Pizzico ’17 said. “When I interviewed for the posiCHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER tion at Georgetown, the person interefore Ms. Lauren Randle came to Malvern as the Associate viewing me was a huge Hillary fan so Director of College Counseling, she had a very unique we talked about her a lot. So I went over experience with today’s leading Democratic candidate, to Hillary, and kind of in a joking way ranging from being her daughter’s personal driver to being in I said ‘I might not be working in the the trenches of her campaign.

White House but you’re still the reason Randle left Malvern in October 2015 and now works as I got my job at Georgetown.’” a senior college admissions consultant at the College Coach Hillary quickly stopped her and organization. said that was not true and that she got Before receiving her masters in higher education administra- the job because of her dynamicity, pastion at the University of Virginia, Randle set her sights on a career sion, and intelligence. Clinton was able in politics, going between two majors at Georgetown University. to make her feel special and valued even “When I went to Georgetown, I was dead set on becom- after the campaign was over, an interacing a government major,” Randle said. “But when I took some tion Randle describes as one of the best introductory courses I began to ask myself, ‘where are all the moments in her life. women?’ Of course, that is history. But personally, I was more Despite her allegiance to the interested in the future of politics and felt that the big piece of the Democratic party, Randle could not MS. LAUREN RANDLE AND HILLARY CLINTON / SUPPLIED BY MS. R ANDLE puzzle that was missing was gender equality. justify putting in the So I really switched my focus from government work that was required to work another cam- support that he has,” Randle said. “A lot of people want some to a blend of focusing on politics and women’s paign if she wasn’t as passionate about the cam- really radical changes in this country because things are just studies, which enabled me to create my own “It really is paign as she was while working with Hillary. not working out for the average American and they see a lot of concentration within American studies.” worth it to “When I had the opportunity to go over inequality. So they want someone who is really out of the box.”

For her, the decision to refocus her major work around and work for the Obama campaign, I strongly The part Randle said she does not understand is how Bernie could not have come at a better time. people who considered it, but I just didn’t feel as passion- Sanders is so successful with how narrowly focused some of his “I always loved Hillary,” Randle said. “But are passionate ately,” Randle said. “For me it wasn’t about win- views are. me applying for the internships really came about issues in ning or really the politics at all. It was about the “I do support a lot of what Bernie Sanders says, but my issue after my own personal revelation. She was really our country, personal connection I had with Hillary and the is his issues have a much more singular focus on wealth disparity in a position to make some noise in the political and I wouldn’t change I wanted to see world and I wanted to be in the middle of it all.” trade my in American politics.”

In her sophomore year of college at personal Even though Georgetown, Randle’s first personal exposure experiences for her political career to Clinton came on her Senate reelection camanything. has come to an end, paign in 2006. Her first experience was a good Randle is still very one, as Clinton won the reelection.

Ms. Lauren Randle much involved in the A year went by and Clinton decided to c u r rent c a mpa ig n run for the presidency in 2008. Now a senior, and is an avid Hillary Randle worked once again as an intern on her supporter. campaign.

“Something I don’t think people Randle has a surprising perspective on internship work. She give her enough credit for is that she called it, "the greatest thing in the world." absolutely has evolved since her defeat “Even though you didn’t get paid, you kind of had this posi- in 2008,” Randle said. “I think she is the tion of power. You can tell [your boss] no if you want,” Randle same person, but I think she is a differsaid. “One piece of advice I could give to young people is stick ent candidate.” it out, work for free, work your butt off. The amount of respect According to Randle, Hillary is still you get as an intern is astonishing.” very passionate about what she origiRandle certainly did earn a lot of respect. She was flown nally set out to do, fighting for the same out to Las Vegas to help with the caucusing and she was the changes since day one – however, she is only intern to ever be invited to the Clinton home to do events, going about it a different way.

MS. LAUREN RANDLE AND CHELSEA CLINTON / SUPPLIED BY MS. R ANDLE according to Randle.

“She has always fought for the same However, Randle received a call one night of her senior spring principles and the same goals. That is semester, asking her to work the campaign full time - this time what she is passionate about, that is who she is as a person,” in this country,” Randle said. “I think Hillary addresses that, but as Chelsea Clinton’s personal driver and scheduler.

Randle said. “She has evolved with the times and I think she also is a better candidate on a much broader range. I think that “It was surprising because they wanted me to be in North is going into this election more humble. She realizes she has to there are a variety of issues that are present that the president Carolina the next morning at 6 AM and I was still in D.C.,” work for votes just like every other candidate.” needs to be able to address and I don’t think Bernie can do that Randle said. “But without even thinking, I said yes. It was one Along with her personal changes, Randle believes a large with his current approach.” of those things that was now or never and I threw myself into it.” portion of Hillary’s success may stem from how the public is Randle expressed some frustration with how Hillary is Once she got to North Carolina after only ten hours of notice, perceiving her now as opposed to before. treated and how some Americans are currently approaching their another challenge presented itself.

“I think that people over time are seeing her a little bit dif- search for the next president.

“The funny thing is, I was driving her daughter through states ferently because she has had different roles. She has been the “I think that we need the best diplomat and Hillary is cerI had never even been to,” Randle said. “I had never driven one Secretary of State, she has been a Senator,” Randle said. “I think tainly that. America is more concerned with whether candidate of those big Suburban SUVs before; I actually hadn’t even owned she is less and less associated with her husband's presidency and is someone they could hang out with than if they would be the a car since I was 17.” now she is viewed as her own separate entity.” next best world leader,” Randle said. “Think of this analogy: If Despite initial nerves in such a new environment, she is glad Time has done more than affect her public status. It has given someone needed heart surgery, they wouldn’t want the nicest she got to spend so much time with Chelsea. her experience and has enabled her to show her personality more surgeon. They would want the one who is the best at what they “Something that really stood out to me was how excited she and more, according to Randle. do. In the same vein, we shouldn’t want the nicest president, we was for her mom,” Randle said. “It became clear to me that these “There is no doubt about it that she is a very intelligent should want the best.” are real people.” women, but her political journey has only made her that much Taking the politics out of it, Randle had one final piece of Randle was really impressed with Chelsea’s sacrifice and smarter. I consider her a policy wonk. It is very hard to find a advice. willingness to give up part of her own life to support what her topic she is not well versed in and experienced with,” Randle “No matter what your politics are, I really encourage evemother was doing. Through it all, Chelsea remained real, normal, said. “I think something that has really helped her is that she is ryone to be part of a campaign on any level,” Randle said. “It is and loving towards her mother, according to Randle. showing her personality now.” an awesome experience to see people working so tirelessly for a Another perk of driving Chelsea around was Hillary certainly “People always saw the intelligence in her but now more cause, rather than money or prestige – because trust me, there got to know who Randle was. After she lost the nomination, she and more people are seeing how funny and quick witted she is,” isn’t anything glamorous about working a campaign.” invited the entire staff over as a thank you for all the work they Randle said.

“But it really is worth it to work around people who are pashad done for her.

With all of Hillary’s changes for the better, Randle said she sionate about issues in our country, and I wouldn’t trade my “Hundreds, if not thousands, of people had just lost their is somewhat surprised about how close Bernie Sanders currently personal experiences for anything,” she said.y jobs. At that time I had just gotten the job over at Georgetown is to her in the polls. admissions, so I wanted to let her know that I was ok,” Randle “The part I do understand is how he has the kind of grassroots

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

7

Friar Life

C.A.R.E.S Walk offers direct impact Choices to support smaller organizations guide Christian Service’s vision for on-campus fundraising.

Tyler Pizzico ’17, Michael Harrington ’19 CHIEF INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER, REPORTER

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ome may be surprised to hear that Malvern participated in another walk prior to the C.A.R.E.S Walk – the annual Philadelphia AIDS Walk. Perhaps ‘participated’ is not the right word. Malvern excelled in this organized event, racking up awards for best high school participant many years in a row.

So why did Malvern switch despite all of this success? Why did we start our own walk?

“It bothered me greatly that 25% of the money that was raised went directly to the AIDS Walk Foundation,” Director of Christian Service Mr. Larry Legner said. “That means that a fourth of the money never reached any organizations that truly had the resources to help those in need.”

Legner envisioned a walk at Malvern that would be completely self-sufficient, giving every cent of donated money to organizations capable of helping those in need.

Recent data shows corruption in many prominent charities in America today.

A 2014 collaborative study between the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting revealed that out of the total money raised by 48 of the worst charities in America, $935.6 million was paid to solicitors and only $348.2 million was paid to charities with $43.9 million spent on direct cash aid to families.

Some of these “charities” collect money from donors and use it to benefit themselves and their employees, rather than following their stated mission statements. For example, the Kids Wish Network had $137.9 million raised by solicitors in the last decade, towards a stated mission of “granting wishes to children suffering with life-threatening conditions.” $115.9 million, just over 84% of money raised, went straight into the solicitors’ pockets.

According to the Times and CIR report, eight of these 48 worst charities name cancer in their titles.

Malvern students - many of whom will someday be lucky enough to be in a position to direct philanthropy - should learn to look critically at the organizations they are funding, and how they use financial support. It is important to ensure that money is being spent in a way that actually makes an impact in the surrounding community or society as a whole.

With this vision in mind, Legner started the C.A.R.E.S walk sixteen years ago. He sought out four organizations that would each receive a quarter of the donations.

“I had to get permission from the Borough and got some input from the surrounding community,” Legner said. “But after

EVAN BRADY WITH MEMBERS OF THE MALVERN LACROSSE TEAM / EVANFEST.COM, USED WITH PERMISSION OF BR ADY FAMILY

that everything just happened.

Things fell into place and we had ourselves a walk.”

The 5-mile walk around the campus and the Malvern borough is now is an annual event, scheduled in early October.

In order to remain completely autonomous and non-prof it, Legner has organized corporate sponsors over the years. For example, Wawa has been supplying food and drinks since the beginning so that all donations went directly to the organizations rather than into fueling the actual event itself.

Currently, the four organizations Malvern’s proceeds help are Siloam, The Cancer Support Community, Bringing Hope Home, and Evanfest.

C.A.R.E.S Walk used to benefit the American Cancer Society, but Legner dropped this organization because of its size. “The four thousand dollars we were giving them was not making as great of an impact as it could with these smaller organizations,” he said.

The organizations picked must meet two criteria. They must have a Malvern connection, and they must be related to cancer or AIDS, since C.A.R.E.S stands for “Cancer and AIDS Reaches Everyone Somehow.” According to Legner, these strong connections make for great partnerships.

One such connection is that between Evanfest and Malvern.

Even before his organization became involved, Bill Brady, one of the leaders of Evanfest and father of Evan Brady, has been a part of the C.A.R.E.S walk since its advent in 2001.

Mr. Brady is astonished by the longevity and success of the Evanfest organization, which he is proud to say was started by Malvern parents and students affected by Evan’s passing.

Like the C.A.R.E.S Walk, Evanfest has a charitable event at Malvern that has raised a significant amount of funding for a great cause. According to the organization’s website, grants from Evanfest help families to defray unforeseen expenses and diminish some of the stress and burden they experience when their child is stricken with a life threatening illness.

According to PhillyLacrosse.com, Evanfest raised more than $800,000 in its first eight years. The organization will host its tenth annual event on Malvern’s campus this April.

Evan Brady, a former Malvern student and victim of osteosarcoma, is the catalyst that brought this organization into existence. His parents and other members of the Malvern community have been part of the Evanfest board and have been doing this for 10 years, raising more funds each year.

“The money raised goes to help people whose children are

suffering from some kind of cancer… Evanfest helps families,” Legner said.

The families that are given donations must f irst apply and be recommended to the organization.

Like many of the children suffering in the families aided by Evanfest, Evan had to deal with pain and intense treatment while attending school at the same time, according to his mother Patrice Brady.

“He was on chemotherapy his whole freshman year. He was in remission his sophomore and junior year, and it recurred the summer of his junior year going into his senior year,” Mrs. Brady said. “We were the first people to get into the cancer center and the last people to leave. He was weak and tired and exhausted, and there were many times when we left the hospital and took him to a lacrosse game because as his father said, that was his best medecine.”

Evan was an avid lover of lacrosse, and when he was on the field he felt like a “normal kid,” according to his mother.

Evan loved Malvern, especially its lacrosse community, and all of Malvern was deeply saddened to see him pass away on September 21, 2005.

Even though many people were sad because of Evan’s passing, Evanfest is not a sad time. “I enjoy the friendships, the unity that we have together,” Mrs. Brady said. “Being surrounded by these wonderful people who are Malvern parents, alumni who are good souls and have so much goodness to share with people.”

Mr. Brady stressed the fact that any donation is valued and can help impact the community around us.

“One of the best thing that happens every year is Malvern does a dress down day,” Mr. Brady said. “That’s a one or two dollar donation by everyone there, and that has been awesome.

It may not seem like much, but that two dollars helps a struggling family’s electric bill, and it allows them to hold on that much longer.”

Mr. Brady knows just how important these donations are.

His personal connection to his organization’s cause enables him to empathize with those struggling today.

“Through my personal experience, I know just how hard it can be dealing with a life threatening illness like cancer,” Mrs. Brady said. “I am so grateful for Malvern’s involvement and I know the community is as well.”y

8

February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

Christopher Bunn ’16 MANAGING EDITOR hen math teacher Mrs. Diane Zulli thinks about her cancer, she focuses on the blessings.

"The number one biggest blessing of being sick – in this case having cancer – is the phenomenal love you get from people," she said. "The love and support I get from people is beyond anything that I ever imagined."

She described rides from neighbors, meals from co-workers, cards from students, flowers from the Mothers' Club, and a husband who has been beside her every step of the way.

"My teenager who used to be a regular teenager pretty much ignored me, because your mom is just mom," she said.

"After I got sick she started supporting me. She would make meals. It turned out she's a really good cook."

A mathematics teacher, Zulli originally went to the University of Delaware and Boston University to obtain a degree in Computer Science. Before entering Malvern six years ago, she taught college students.

Zulli is a two-time breast cancer survivor. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Zulli is one of the 1 in 8 women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.

Zulli was working at Malvern in 2013 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Her doctor was hesitant to say that she had cancer.

“The first time a doctor said ‘You need a surgeon,’” she said. “He would not say the word

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Tommy White ’17 REPORTER unior Andrew Clark was diagnosed with Leukemia at age three, and now he’s helping others in the same situation.

On February 20, the “Catch the Cure” fundraiser was held at the Main Line Sports Center in Berwyn in order to help raise money for research about Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). This is the type of cancer Andrew had when he was a child.

The event included various sports activities, such as dodgeball and Bubble Soccer, as well as a silent auction.

In September, Andrew learned he had been nominated for the Student of the Year campaign, which aims to raise money for helping kids with Leukemia. He was nominated by his friend, Mark Rodgers, who was treated with Andrew at AI Dupont Hospital for Children in Delaware.

Andrew joined the other candidates at the training sessions held in preparation for fundraising. He has met with Campaign Specialist Emily Fiore every other week for three months in order to get questions answered and update her on the status of his event. According to Clark, Fiore organizes all the time tables, sample forms, fundraising ideas, and contacts.

Andrew created his formal letters

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cancer.”

"He was not my doctor after that," she said.

The second instance of breast cancer occurred in 2015.

This time, Zulli expected the news. “This time I knew.

Getting called back after the test is not good,” she said.

For Zulli, waiting is one of the worst parts of cancer.

"Once you have cancer for the rest of your life you will have to ask,” she said. “You have doctor’s appointments, and doctor’s appointments, and doctor’s appointments, and test, and test, and test.”

After the tests, there is more waiting.

"Sometimes [tests] are fine, sometimes they are not, and sometimes they are ambiguous, which is what has happened to me several times," she said. "I have personally found that the waiting and not knowing is the worse than the treatment."

For Zulli, it was difficult to break the news to some family members. “It was very hard to tell my daughter. She was smart.

I tried to downplay it but she's intelligent and she looked it up on the Internet,” she said.

“The next hardest thing with my mother. She does not take things well. I no longer tell her. I just do not give bad news. She's older and she just can't handle it,” Zulli said.

In addition, Zulli’s treatments interfered with work. Often she could not control when she could not attend work or how many times she would be out.

“When you're healthy you just take for granted that you will be fine every day and that you'll come in every day. All of a sudden you're not so healthy and you have no control over it,” Zulli said.

Despite the surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation >PAGE 11

and emails. He had various posts on social media promoting the event and getting sponsors to donate money to help launch the event. They made t-shirts and various things to sell at the event as well. Andrew reached out to Malvern Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot and President Fr. James Flynn in order to get permission to post flyers to spread the word around campus effectively.

“I got Coach McEvoy to send out a couple emails every week about the event.” Andrew said. “I talked to Mr. Ruch and he was able to do the same thing.”

The Clark family decided what the money was being raised for, where to host the event, and what the event would include.

Andrew decided to raise money for ALL research, because that was the cancer he had when he was a child. He wanted to do something with sports and he wanted it to be an event for all ages.

“During the first meeting, he said he wanted to do something in the style of an auction.” Fiore said. “He also came up with an idea for a venue.”

Andrew plays goalie on Malvern’s lacrosse team. The team practices at the Main Line Sports Center, and he has seen auctions there in the past. He knew that this would be the perfect spot to host his event. He reached out to owner Pat Holloway and he and Fiore started to communicate.

The event turned out to be a huge success for the Clark family. They raised $12,000, and they are still waiting to hear about how much money they made in ticket sales.

“It was a great time and it was a great event,” Mac Updike >PAGE 11

PAGE DESIGN: J. FAUNCE

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

Danny Malloy ’18 ARTS EDITOR ow do you solve a problem that, at first glance, seems unsolvable?

Devote your life to solving that problem. That problem is cancer, and that path is the one Dr. Richard Yelovich ’73 has chosen to take.

"Cancer is able to change and mutate at a rate that has thus far outpaced developed strategies through different drugs and other anti-cancer methodologies to stay ahead of it," Yelovich said. "It is a challenge to make very small strides each year in the fight against it."

Dr. Yelovich is a radiation oncologist at both Paoli Hospital and the Comprehensive Cancer Care in Exton. He has been working in this field for 28 years.

“Radiation oncologists use high-energy x-rays to destroy cancer cells focused in on a tumor,” Yelovich said. “Radiation is non-discriminant, meaning it works the same on all tumors to target the DNA of the cancer cell.”

Yelovich said that there are three branches of oncology that work together to treat cancer patients- surgical, medical, and radiation forms.

Medical oncologists give chemotherapy to treat patients, while surgical oncologists use surgery to remove tumors and biopsies to find tumors.

Physicians and researchers in all three branches work together to treat the disease.

“Each patient has to be assessed given the type of cancer, the location, and the various characteristics to determine what the best form of treatment is,” Yelovich said. “Some cancers do not require radiation at all, like leukemia and lymphoma cancers which only need chemotherapy,” Yelovich said. “There are some cancers that only require surgery, and some only requiring radiation.”

After Yelovich graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1977, he did a residency at University of Pennsylvania’s Internal Medicine which

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exposed him to many medical practices, including oncology. He became interested in helping cancer patients during this time.

“Since I had not done a surgical residency, my choices were to go into medical oncology, or radiation oncology,” Yelovich said. “I chose radiation oncology to medical because that was my personal preference on how to treat patients.”

After working with patients with cancer for many years, Yelovich said that cancer has certain challenges to it than treating other diseases.

“The cells grows in an aberrant fashion,” Yelovich said. “With cancer, often times the cells are allowed to grow without the patient's knowledge until it results in a spaceoccupying phenomena resulting in pain or bleeding.”

Then this phenomenon - known as a malignant tumor - has the ability to spread. Tumors in multiple parts of the body can result in death.

The puzzle for a cancer researcher is to understand how these cells and tumors operate.

“We are still struggling as a science to understand everything that takes place on the cellular level, and the mechanisms that turn the cell malignant,” Yelovich said. “If we can figure out how the malignant cell operates then we can create better drugs to target specific cancers.”

Although there is still a long way to go to stop this disease, Yelovich identified some of the new advances in treatment, including the refinement of surgical techniques, new biological chemotherapies, and the >PAGE 11

Justice Bennett ’16 EDITOR-IN-CHIEF aría got in the car to leave for the United States without knowing a single word of English.

It was April 8, 2009, and her decision to pick up and go was not personal desire; it was life or death. She was leaving her two children and four-year-old grandson over 2,500 miles away.

María, a member of Malvern’s cleaning staff, had been diagnosed with serious ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer can be one of the most lethal cancers. According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), it is rarely identified early on and is difficult to treat in an advanced state. ACS predicts in 2016 that about 22,280 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and roughly 55% of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer will die within five years of diagnosis.

María was one of the lucky ones whose cancer was identified early.

“Thank you, God,” María said, in *Spanish. “Thank you, God.” When the news came, her brother was living in the United States. He recommended that she come because the machines and treatment options are better here.

She came to America with little money, so paying for treatment was difficult. Maria said that the doctors at Chester County Hospital in West Chester helped with her application for Medicare.

None of her doctors speak Spanish, so this can complicate things with her treatment. However, after the doctors successfully helped her get on Medicare, the government provided a translator that she can call on her phone whenever she needs it.

It’s a big difference from her former life in Tenancingo, Mexico, a large municipality with just less than 100,000 residents. Her home

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PHOTOGR APH Y: E. TATE, D. MALLOY, J. BENNETT

is about two hours away from Mexico City, but a 40 hour car drive away from Chester County.

When she came to the United States, her brother was here initially to help her as she went through surgery. But after the first year, her brother returned to Mexico, and she was left with no family nearby and a daunting nine years of cancer treatment ahead of her - chemotherapy, radiology, and all.

In Mexico, her son (27), daughter (29), and now 12-year-old grandson continue to grow up - their relationship mostly reduced entirely to cell phone pictures and long distance calls.

“I am very sad. They are so far away,” María said.

She said her doctors estimate that she still has three years of treatment left, which would complete a full decade of treatment and time away from her family and friends in Mexico. As soon as her treatment is over she is excited to return to her family.

Since she left, her family started building a new house María said she hopes to see that house completed someday.

María said she joined Malvern’s cleaning staff because one of her friends is on the cleaning staff and invited her.

“I like my job very much. It is very calm and peaceful,” she said. >PAGE 11

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

> COMMITMENT, 1 “All the tweets helped me a lot,” Mason said. “I also got a bazillion texts and it actually got irritating to a point.

I got so many, my phone would die in thirty seconds.”

Over the duration of his treatment Mason even received support from the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, Chuck Pagano, a fellow cancer survivor. Mason also received support from his favorite baseball player, Andrew McCutchen, who wore a #prayersformason wristband to honor Mason during a game.

Yet for Mason, it was his faith that helped him the most through his treatment.

One of his mom’s friends gave him a copy of the serenity prayer. He taped the prayer to his bedside to help him through what he was about to endure.

Mason remembers saying to himself, “I’m gonna beat this, I’m gonna play baseball again.”

Mason was facing three rounds of chemotherapy as a freshman in high school. After the third round, he would be tested and if all looked good he would have only one more round. If not, he would have to have a bone marrow transplant.

Senior Jake Mullan, one of Mason’s best friends, remembered what it was like seeing Mason during this time.

“I visited him in the hospital, and before I had an idea of what it was going to be – really gloomy and a low vibe,” Mullan said.

“But when I saw him, he was smiling ear to ear, and seemed very happy, despite the circumstances.”

It was this optimistic mindset that showed Mason’s strength and courage.

“He has an incredible drive that has kept him going through the best and worst of days,” Parker said. “I'd like to think that I would have been just as strong and determined as he was, but I'm really not sure.”

Mason’s message for himself during everything was normalcy. He relied heavily on a “recurring theme of keeping things normal.” Even though he was sick he wanted to act like it would be ok.

“My whole family was freaking out and I knew if they saw me being ‘chill’ and normal, they would not freak out,” Mason said. “That comforted me, so in a weird way I was able to comfort myself.”

He kept it “normal” in a lot of ways. “ T he y let me bring my Xbox, which was cool because it helped me

Chase Bennett ‘19

stay connected with my friends,” he said.

Mason video chatted with a close group of friends constantly.

He also tried to stay physically active. “[My mom] got on my butt to do physical therapy,” he said. “The whole time I just wasn’t laying in bed. I actually got to do stuff.” He fondly recalls playing floor hockey in the hospital hallways.

The nurses at CHOP also played a role in Mason’s journey. “They were awesome as they made it seem like we were just friends hanging out at a house,” Mason said. “It wasn’t just ‘I’m gonna do this and leave.’”

Mason vividly remembers one nurse who played video games with him. He had brought his Playstation 2 in and the nurse recognized the James Bond game Mason was playing. “It was his favorite game, so he just sat down and started playing,” Mason said.

After keeping it normal for three rounds of chemotherapy, Mason was eager to continue the process, especially after a call from the hospital while he and his mom were shopping at Target.

They told him they did not think he would need a bone marrow transplant.

However, Mason said they found the smallest bit of leukemia in the final tests.

For insurance reasons Mason had to be transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore to continue with his treatment and have his bone marrow transplant performed.

A bone marrow transplant consists of replacing damaged or destroyed bone marrow, soft and fatty tissue in the bone which produces blood cells, with healthy bone marrow cells.

To do this, there must be a donor of the healthy cells that match the makeup of the cells of the patient.

Mason did not know they had begun to look for a donor yet, when one day family walked into his hospital room and told him they had been tested. Parker was a 0% match. His sister Mackenzie was a half match.

His oldest sister Morgan was a perfect match.

According to the National Marrow Donor Program, 70% of patients do not find a match in their family.

“I was so excited,” Mason said. “It was so relieving that we found a perfect match.”

The bone marrow transplant was successful. On June 17, 2013 he was released from Johns Hopkins.

But he still could not return home. He had to stay in Baltimore for another month because his caregiver had to be Johns Hopkins. Mason and his mom stayed in a hotel using his dad’s travel rewards and a Johns Hopkins rate at the hotel.

He still had to take precautions in his daily life because his immune system was weak after the bone marrow transplant. He could not go anywhere. He had to eat lettuce washed by his mom with gloves on, and his food had to be boiled.

Mason kept f ighting and f inally returned home to Malvern on July 19, 2013.

While he suffered through that life threatening situation, Mason also had to deal with continuing his freshman academics.

When Mason was a freshman, Mr. Valyo was the Head of the Upper School.

“My role really was to facilitate that process with the teachers,” Valyo said. “He worked closely with the teachers between treatments. When he was not gravely ill, he was kept up to speed.”

While Mason was out, the teachers and the administration tried to lessen the stress of school while still providing the education he would need for freshman year.

“We gave them a lot of freedom as far as time was concerned,” Valyo said. “We tried not to give really specific deadlines; he did a phenomenal job to stay current and kept up the pace.”

Logistically, Mason attended many classes via Google Hangouts or Facetime while using Google Docs in the hospital.

“It was really hard,” Mason said. “Every time a nurse came in I had to mute myself.”

He was often tired because of the treatments during class.

But Jake had the opportunity to be with Mason on the webcam a lot, and always tried to brighten his day and keep him alert.

“It was fun. Teachers, please don’t get me in trouble – I might not have kept him completely focused all the time,” Jake said. “It helped keep him involved and we all enjoyed it.”

Mason’s courage and determination to be normal through everything helped him overcome the struggles of sitting in a class from miles away.

“What I admire most about him is how resilient he was and how he just overcame adversity which was really extremely impressive, especially for a freshman,” Valyo said. “This 14-yearold young man was on a mission to beat cancer, which he did, but also to excel academically.”

One of the “MVPs” behind the scenes of Malvern that helped facilitate this process was Mason’s freshman counselor, Mrs. Colleen Lewis.

“She was my ‘right hand man’ in this whole thing,” Valyo said. “She was the liaison and the conduit with having us all work really well together between the family, the teachers, and myself.

She was the nucleus and did a phenomenal job.”

In addition, all of Mason’s teachers helped him through the process. They tried to make the experience as smooth as possible for him: let him deal with his treatment first, then worry about school.

“We ranged different plans individually with his freshman teachers and the parents,” Valyo said. “We tried not try to overburden him with six specific deadlines in one week. Rather, we spread it out throughout the year and try to schedule due dates in little doses.”

Head of Upper School, Mr. Ron Algeo, also played a role in getting Mason back to school and keeping him up to speed.

“We have to have policies to be able to help keep the school streamlined and efficient,” Algeo said. “But, we try to look at each case individually and what is best for the student. With Mason, we thought that he had a proven track record of success and hard work and maturity when it comes to academics.”

Algeo believed that Mason was responsible enough to handle both the treatment and this new form of education due to his hard worth ethic and proven track record.

“One of the things that I really respect about Mason is his authenticity,” Algeo said. “He is very, very genuine. If he is sharing his thoughts about something, they are real. Not pretend or fake. He shoots right from the heart, and when you do that, you earn a lot of trust in people.”

Mason returned to school at the end of the third quarter sophomore year.

It was a significant change of pace for him. He had to follow a new schedule, and felt he was often caught up in the joy of simply being back with friends. He had to find a way to get back in the rhythm of things.

He found that rhythm through baseball. Mason returned to the diamond on Malvern’s junior varsity team as a sophomore.

“It was the best feeling,” Mason said. “It felt amazing to be able to play again and just have fun with it and not have to worry about a bunch of other things.”

“He was thrilled to be back out there with his peers,” Hilliard said. “Just seeing him with the guys, picking up his glove, it felt like he was back in his element.”

Mason said he could not remember his first game back because he was keeping it normal. It was just another game for him.

In his junior year, Mason was on varsity and finally got to play with Parker again.

“Being with Mason on the baseball field was an incredible experience my senior year,” Parker said. “It was so comforting knowing that I had my biggest supporter on the same field and in the same dugout.”

Mason’s journey was a time of growth for him and his family. In the darkest of times, he stayed strong. His relationship with his brother, Parker, grew as a result.

“Mason's diagnosis turned my world upside down,” Parker said. “My perspective on things changed. When something that drastic happens, it makes you realize how fragile life is.”

Parker said he spent as much time as possible with Mason during his months in the hospital. “It was tough with baseball and school, but I made it work because he was on my mind every second of every day,” he said.

Together, they played around together like they were kids and tried to have as much fun as they could.

“Movies and video games were > PAGE 11

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

11

Friar Life >ZULLI / BLESSINGS, 8

>CLARK / PAYING IT FORWARD, 8

requires observation afterwards. Infections would also ‘17 said. “We raised a lot of money and hopefully it will occur at random occasions, and he would be put into help cancer research.” isolation until they wore off.

“My experience at the event was blessed,” Matt “Although the hospital tries very hard to entertain Schellenger ‘17 says. “I played lots of bubble soccer.” the children who are admitted,” Mrs. Clark said, “it According to Mrs. Clark, “everyone has been very was always such a great feeling for all of us when he supportive.” There were students in attendance from was allowed to go home.” all grades at Malvern, with During his time in the a majority from the junior hospital, Andrew received class. She said that some somewhere around 18 difstudents worked at the ferent drugs, all with differevent, and that the silent ent functions. Some would auction went extremely be used to kill the cancerous well. cells and others were used People were also very to get Andrew through the supportive when Andrew side effects. was originally diagnosed Andrew managed the with ALL as a child. treatments pretty well, but At f irst, his parents there was sometimes pain, saw what appeared to be fatigue, and numbness. a rash around his back According to his family, JUNIORS AT CATCH THE CURE EVENT / SUPPLIED BY A. REBER and abdomen. When the Andrew was very strong treatments weren’t working, Andrew was examined by through his cancer experience. Mrs. Clark said he his doctor. It turned out that he was bleeding under would often “muscle through the whole thing day by his skin in those areas. Tests confirmed that Andrew day until it was over.” had leukemia.

Some days he would not even speak, so during these It was hard for the Clark family to hear this news. days his parents would try especially hard to make him “Our reaction to Andrew's diagnosis was typical of comfortable. While in the hospital he would watch those who are dealing with news this devastating,” Mrs. movies and play video games. Some days he even chased Clark said. “We were shocked, then scared, and sad. We the nurses up and down the hallways on his bike. wondered if there had been an error in the testing. We After seven years of treatment and uncertainty, thought we might lose him.” there were no more cancer cells in Andrew’s body. His Andrew said he was too young to remember his family continues to pray that no cancer cells will return. diagnosis. “It was harder for them then it was for me,” “When I meet a family that is battling cancer I he said. always try to just listen.” Mrs. Clark said. “When peoInitially, Andrew was in the hospital for ten days, ple are struggling to make sense of a new diagnosis, or during which he was stabilized and treated through the praying that a new treatment will work this time, they outpatient clinic. After this, he would go to the hospital have been talked to from every direction. They even find for checkups as well as chemotherapy. That process went themselves having to comfort their closest friends and on for nine months. family because everyone is sad and scared.”

Andrew’s life turned upside down. Instead of going Of course, his family was very relieved when to preschool, he got IVs, received a port, and had bone Andrew was able to go home. It meant the world to marrow biopsies. them and Andrew.

On some occasions, he would have to stay at the “It felt amazing [when I left the hospital].” Andrew hospital because he would receive a treatment that said. “We went out to lunch and just relaxed.” y

>MARIA / PERSISTENCE, 9

>YELOVICH / SOLUTIONS, 9

Every weekday from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. María is charged with cleaning the Middle School Modular Space and The Duffy Arts Center. From vacuuming all the floors, to cleaning the windows, to mopping the ceramics studio - she does it all.

“I am very grateful to God that he guides me in the United States to very good people that have big hearts,” she said with a smile that was almost too big for her small stature. *The reporter translated María’s interview to English for the purpose of this story, and consulted with a native Spanish speaker for accuracy. y

development of photon beam radiation treatment.

In the fight against cancer, any advances made are big ones.

Researchers and oncologists like Yelovich work hard to keep this disease on its heels.

“We make small but significant strides each year,” he said. y

treatments, Zulli believes that having cancer was a blessing.

“After my first diagnosis it took me two weeks before I thanked God, and told him I understood the message,” she said.“I needed to change my priorities. I need to live my values… I live a better life when I know that it’s not permanent,” Zulli said.

In both instances of breast cancer, Zulli underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment.

Before her surgery, Zulli expected to experience a lot of pain. “I waited for all this terrible pain and I even got ready for it by practicing meditation,” she said.

However, after her surgery, she never had significant amounts of pain. ”I'm still shocked,” she said. “I woke up from surgery feeling awake, aware, clear headed, and not in pain.”

“Discomfort? Oh yes. Was I sore?

Definitely. But it wasn't terrible,” she said.

Afterwards, Zulli underwent chemotherapy. “The first one was the worst, because you’re scared. You don't know what to expect. And you don't know yet how to use all the meds that you need to help with all the side effects.”

However, as she underwent more chemotherapy treatments, it became much more manageable. “Then after the f irst time you know what to expect. You know the people. You've got the routine down,” Zulli said. “I just told myself this is going to save my life and this is this what you’re going to do.“ Finally, she underwent radiation treatments. “By then I was feeling pretty confident. Because surgery wasn't bad and chemo wasn't so bad,” she said.

However, Zulli ended up disliking these radiation treatments the most. The “disruptive” radiation was every day for six weeks. “Your skin got burned and I had to try to keep my arm out for weeks. It was very hard. You would be surprised how heavy your arm is,” she said.

Among the wide variet y of conventional treatments Zulli has received, she has also tried alternative treatments as well. She has received acupuncture, which has helped her recover from the nerve damage from her surgeries. Through the University

of Pennsylvania, she has received Reiki.

According to Reiki.org, Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. “[It] is a cool kind of handson healing.” Zulli said.

To other people who are in the process of undergoing cancer treatment or who are recovering from cancer, Zulli highly recommends seeking out the various free resources that are offered. She described a free wig, free gym membership, nutrition counseling, and even some drawing lessons - of a sort.

“I've gone to a free class that has taught me how to draw my eyebrows,” she said. “I didn’t mind my head being bald, but I really couldn’t stand having no eyebrows. When I looked in the mirror it didn’t look like me. They gave me a pencil and taught me how to put eyebrows on. It was very easy.”

This year, Zulli has been dealing with a mass in her liver. She described this diagnosis as initially scarier than her other cancers.

“At first I was told that it was cancer, and that the prognosis was measured in months,” she said. “That was a little dramatic.”

However, after a few more tests, her outlook is now positive. “After a few days and a few tests, I was told that it was benign,” she said.

She said she feels better now than she has felt in several years.

Much like when she had breast cancer, Zulli is grateful for the prayers she received while she waited for her results. “I was reminded that I may not have been praying for a miracle, but others have been. For that I am grateful to so many,” she said.

“I will never again the rest my life say I am not loved,” she said. “After what I went through and the things that people have offered me – the things that people were willing to do for me were overwhelming.”

Zulli said she just sent out more than ten Valentine’s Day cards this year.

“That's not something I used to do,” she said. “But now you just appreciate life more. And the people in your life just know how much they mean to you.” y

>COMMITMENT, 10 always a go-to in the hospital,” Parker said. “Our relationship grew simply by hanging out, and putting all the bad stuff aside. We focused on laughing and having a good time with one another.”

Parker said that Mason is now his best friend.“Before his diagnosis, I did not tell him that I loved him nearly enough.

Now, we say it to one another at least once a day. Our relationship has grown so much from February 1, 2013 to now.”

Mason has taken all he has learned about cancer, faith, family, care, and love and brought it to Malvern.

He is a leader of the Malvern Blood Drive, and gave a moving speech during his junior year at a chapel service urging students to give blood to help others. According to the American Red Cross, many of the 1.68 million people expected to be diagnosed with cancer in 2016 will need blood, sometimes daily, during their chemotherapy treatment.

He has also shown great leadership as a MECO leader.

Mason was elected as a captain of the baseball team through a team vote.

“What he gives you every time he goes out there is his best effort,” Hilliard said. “What he gives you every practice is an attitude, a work ethic, and a winning mentality that makes us stronger as a program.”

Mullan will also be a captain with Mason and is grateful he gets to have Mason by his side.

“Mason has an energy that no one else has,” Mullan said. “He is one of the most inspirational people that I have ever met because he went through everything he went through, and is still the happy and energetic person he is today.”

Even with all this experience, courage, determination and wisdom, the decision to choose a college was still difficult for Mason.

The recruitment from Elizabethtown started during the summer before his senior year after he impressed a few schools at a showcase.

He finally narrowed down his choices to Elizabethtown and Albright College. “I prayed real hard about it,” Mason said. “I didn’t know what to do.”

After a session of prayer one day, Mason walked outside, looked to his left, and in a tree saw two blue jays.

Elizabethtown’s mascot is the Blue Jay. y

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THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY It’s not just a piece of cardboard New open-source virtual reality tools may have educational implications.

Despite safety concerns, students have adopted the gadgets. How will they be received on campus?

Kyle Leonard ‘19 The US Consumer Product Safety Commission has CONTRIBUTOR received 52 reports of hoverboard fires over the past three ne of the hottest gadgets on the market, the hov- months. erboard, has taken the world by storm.

Currently, zero hoverboards on the market meet the These automated, hands-free devices are the standards, so they all pose that “unreasonable risk of fire.” newest way of transportation. Built to go up to 10 miles Toys R Us has removed hoverboards from their webper hour, the hoverboards have especially intrigued kids site and Swagway asked users to “refrain from using their and young adults. boards in the interim.”

Sam Ford, a freshman, has a Swagway After hearing about this surprising On February 19, model. “I love my hoverboard,” he said. “I piece of news, freshmen Sam Ford and the US Consumer ride it around all day.”

Kevin Hagan aren’t going to stop riding Product Safety Now the real question begs to be their hoverboards, which they both own, Commission asked; are hoverboards allowed around any time soon. announced that Malvern?

“I’m going to keep using it. If it most hoverboards Dean of Students Mr. Tim Dougherty catches fire, it catches fire,” Hagan said. are dangerous and said no.

“I can’t do anything about it.” should not be used.

“It’s just too much of a liability, a Ford is on board with Hagan about safety hazard,” Dougherty said. “We continuing to use his hoverboard.

“Mine hasn’t don’t have anyone supervising, and kids “I think hoverboards are very innovawould ride without a helmet, so there are exploded yet, so tive, and mine hasn’t exploded yet, so I’m too many bad things that could happen.”

I’m going to keep going to keep using it,” Ford said.

Dougherty noted that hoverboards using it.”

Despite the allegations, Ford thinks would fall under the same rule as a scooter Kevin Hagan ’19 hoverboards should be allowed. or a skateboard, with a warning for a first “Hoverboards are a great way of transoffense, then confiscation, and possibly portation around campus,” he said. a detention.

In contrast, Hagan doesn’t like the idea.

It’s not only Dougherty who is concerned about safety “There would be too many kids riding on other peowith hoverboards. On February 19, the US Consumer ple’s hoverboards and getting hurt,” Hagan said. “It’s not Product Safety Commission said in a letter to manufac- a good idea.” turers that hoverboards that do not meet voluntary safety Time will tell if these state of the art transportation standards are dangerous and should not be used. devices will ever be allowed, but as of right now, it looks The letter stated that hoverboards that do not meet like students at Malvern will have to take their Swagways the standard “pose an unreasonable risk of fire.” They can off campus. y potentially catch fire and explode.

O

Trailer Review: Fuller House Nostalgia hit me like a truck.

Jack Magargee ‘18 MEDIA & TECH EDITOR ull House was the show that EVERY person below twenty watched. That explains why Fuller House is the show you always knew would happen in the back of your mind. It was just a matter of when.

With the original cast returning and some new younglings joining the Tanner family, the show promises to be a new take on an old classic.

Fuller House appears to be in the same house as its predecessor. The people at Netflix seem to love banking on the nostalgia of millennials.

The trailer starts off with the perfect frame: the iconic Golden Gate Bridge which also happened to be in the iconic opening for the original. It really forces you to start to hum: ‘Everywhere you look, everywhere you go….’

From there, it’s pretty much all downhill.

Seeing the age of some members of the cast is a slap to the face. I watched Full House when I was a baby. Why aren’t I like 40?

I have to say that as much as I love the originals, I don’t love the new kids. The cheesy jokes work just fine with 30+ year olds in the show but with the teenagers, it’s just annoying.

As much as everyone secretly wants this show, I’m legitimately scared for it. Don’t get me wrong, I want nothing else than for this show to succeed. But if they blow this, there is no way they try it again. The original

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was almost too good to make a follow-up.

I love the concept, and I think it’s amazing they could get so many cast members back. I am a closet Full House fan and I’m going to hold Fuller House to an even higher standard than the original – because after all, their budget must be huge on Netflix.

Overall, the trailer did not wow me. I feel like the only selling point of the show is nostalgia and the former success in the franchise.

Following in almost the exact steps as one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Fuller House has some lofty shoes to fill. It hits Netflix on February 26. y

Rohan Jhunjhunwala ’18 CONTRIBUTOR oogle Cardboard is a new entry in the exploding field of virtual reality which uses a phone and a relatively simple cardboard headset to enter into a whole new virtual 3D world. It has spread far and wide since The New York Times distributed the devices with the November 5 edition.

Most virtual reality headsets are very expensive. Google Cardboard simplified this, as all it primarily consists of is two reading glass lenses and some folded cardboard. The plans and code are both online.

According to Head of the Middle School Mr. Patrick Sillup, the technology was a bit confusing at first to get accustomed to, but he now uses it whenever he is connected to a story that has a virtual reality option.

Sillup is finding various classroom applications for the new technology.

He said that he used the technology as a virtual visit to Tokyo, as an effective way for students to visualize Japan’s capital. “Google Cardboard is the next phase in the constant evolution of learning tools,” Sillup said.

Sillup found it engaging and provocative for students to use to experience the whole new journey of virtual reality. Would this technology work campus-wide? “We would have to investigate what success would look like across a campus,” he said.

Plans for virtual reality on campus could come in many different forms as there are many features left untapped as of right now. Sillup said he is intrigued by its photo and video capability.

This technology even has implications in a wide variety of different fields, according to junior Zach DeStefano.

“The military currently uses VR in training, and businesses have begun to adapt VR technology for convenience in meetings,” DeStefano said. “VR is used by psychiatrists to help their patients go through therapy with the ability in VR to simulate situations that may help to treat, for example, phobias.”

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GOOGLE .COM

“VR uses technology to immerse the user in a simulated environment which allows for more natural and f luid interaction,” DeStefano said. He believes its possibilities are tremendous.

“VR allows a person to travel anywhere,” DeStefano said. “It is only reasonable that people will begin using this technology to travel to places around the globe without leaving their house.”

For example, perhaps someday the Malvern Exchange program could begin virtually. A foreign language class might spend a day “in” Spain complete with Spanish restaurants, for deeper immersion than a textbook.

According to DeStefano virtual reality technology has already started to bolster a technology in STEM fields.

However others urge caution for these new technologies.

Science Department Leader Mr. Kevin Quinn said that people always flock to see “what’s under the hood,” especially with the “next new thing.”

He advised the community to be cautious of hopping on the bandwagon too fast, since many kinks still have to be ironed out.

Quinn compared the situation to web 2.0 and iPads, where the first generation editions had bugs that needed to be fixed before widespread adoption could occur.

Sillup described the technology’s potential as, “next level stuff if done correctly.”

“The newness has definitely worn off, but I still like firing it up,” Sillup said. y

Are you interested in joining The Blackfriar Chronicle staff?

Contact Ben Yankelitis ’16 byankelitis60@malvernprep.org Follow us on Twitter @friarslantern1 Follow us on Instagram @mpfriarslantern1 Like us on Facebook at TheFriarsLantern Maybe we’ll get a Snapchat someday.

Thanks to Graphic Designers who contributed work to this issue: Jimmy Faunce ’16 John Bodner ’19 Chase Bennett ’19 Evan Tate ’16 (Photography) Ethan Rowley ’18

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

13

ARTS Malvern Theater Society set Liturgical Music grew “very big, very fast” to perform “Guys and Dolls” The chorus group is growing to large numbers under Director and cast comment on casting, practices, and their favorite characters.

director Mr. Ed Liga.

Ethan Rowley ’18 REPORTER iturgical Music has grown to 54 students in the group this year under director Mr. Edward Liga, one of the highest turnouts they’ve had.

Liga says that mov ing the meeting time from homeroom to Community Time has increased student participation.

“A lot of guys were arriving to school past 8:0 0 and then couldn’t really fit that with their transportation,” Liga said. “But now that it’s during Community Time a lot more guys have been able to participate.”

Malvern’s Liturgical Music group is well known for their performances during chapel services and masses, but Malvern is not the only place where Liga has implemented a similar group.

“We had something very similar that I had created at Bonner,” Liga said. “There was no other time for me in the school schedule, I was teaching 5 classes a day, so there was really no other time to get anything started.”

Liga said that he presented the idea of a music homeroom to Bonner’s administration, who liked the idea.

“It grew from the first year of being very very small to after a few years of doing it there were 60 guys in the homeroom.”

Liga brought the idea with him to

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MALVERN CAST REHEARSES AFTER SCHOOL / M. HARRINGTON

Daniel Malloy ’18 “He is weirdly persuasive but hugely ARTS EDITOR socially awkward.” n March 4, 5, 11, and 12, Since he is broke, he has to ask the Malvern Theater Society his friend Sky Masterson, played by will be performing Guys and senior John Skrocki, for the money to Dolls, an “oddball romantic comedy” gamble. Skrocki said that his characcording to the MTS website. acter is a “smooth and suave” fellow.

Dr. James P. Fry, Director of the “He is a very handsome, confident Malvern Theatre Society, said that man who definitely has a way with the the play revolves around two main ladies,” Skrocki said. “So, naturally, couples. the character fits me quite well.”

“There is Sky, Guys and Dolls t he h igh rol l ing is the f irst show [Sky Masterson] is a very gambler, and his Skrocki has a lead handsome, confident love interest Sarah role in. He said the man who definitely has Brown, who is the prepa rat ion was a way with the ladies.So, head of a mission,” completely different naturally, the character Fry said. “There is from when he first fits me quite well.

Nathan who is a joined MTS last -John Skrocki ’16 gambler, and his love year as an ensemble interest, Adelaide, a member. lead singer at a nightclub. They have “I didn't have to memorize lines been engaged for 14 years.” and I didn't have the stress of being a Fry said that the story is a “piece lead,” Skrocki said. “This year I have of classic Broadway.” He said this a lot more responsibility so I've been show is different from some of MTS’s pretty jam packed with different tasks recent selections. “It is definitely more I need to complete to prepare myself.” of a comedy than something like ‘The Napoli is excited to be a lead in Laramie Project’ or something like the play for the first time as well but docu-drama like ‘It’s a Wonderful is more thrilled because of the history Life,’” Fry said. “There is a lot of of his role. gambling that is going on.”

“I am not so much as excited that The story takes the audience from this is a lead role, but more about the underground sewers of New York the fact of who has played this role to Havana, Cuba, and even to the before like Nathan Lane or Frank heart of Times Square, according to Sinatra etc.,” Napoli said. “I think it the Malvern Theatre Society (MTS) is really cool to be following in their website. footsteps.”

When English teacher Richard Fry said that cast, crew, and Roper directed MTS, he tended to ensemble put in up to 8 hour weeks, select seniors for lead roles, Fry said. depending on role. Assistant vocal After Fry took over, things changed. director Mrs. Lindsay Miller, who “I favor the individuals who leads the arts department at The I think are right for the position Academy of Notre Dame de Namur, regardless of their year,” Fry said. explained the amount of hard work “This year it is mixed. There are sen- put in to make the show a reality. iors in lead roles to sophomores.”

“Musicals take a lot of time, dediThere are 3 underclassmen out cation, support and commitment,” of the 4 lead roles, with junior RJ Miller said. “It is great to see so many Napoli as Nathan Detroit, Notre boys and girls step out of their comDame Academy sophomore Emily fort zones and work together to put Kinka as Miss Adelaide, and Villa on a great show.”

Maria junior Elizabeth Mackenzie Skrocki said that everyone should as Sarah Brown. watch the performance, and he has In the play, Nathan Detroit, something for people to watch out for played by Napoli, plans to set up on the night of the play. the “biggest game of craps in town.”

“Keep an eye out for Ethan Napoli described his character.

Bedwell on stage, he's got a few tricks “He is a commitment-phobe and up his sleeve,” he said with a smirk.y he has horrible luck,” Napoli said.

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LITURGICAL MUSIC AT CHAPEL / D. MALLOY

Malvern. Malvern liked the concept, and the Liturgical Music homeroom was born.

“We started rehearsing in the Chapel since there was no Duffy Center at the time,” Liga said. “It started kind of small but it got really big, really fast.”

Junior RJ Napoli first got involved with Liturgical Music as a freshman.

“I would recommend it to others,” he said. “I think it’s pretty cool. It doesn’t matter if you can sing, it just matters if you want to sing awesome rock songs.”

Sophomore Alex Strimel said that Liturgical Music is unique to the area.

“I think we do a lot of great stuff in terms of performing at masses and different events throughout the school year.” sophomore Alex Strimel said, “I think that everyone during

the class is really engaged in it and having fun and I think everyone really enjoys it.”

Sophomore Rhys Werny said he first got involved in Liturgical Music as a freshman, “When I heard about it I thought it would be a cool experience besides from Men’s Chorus to sing even with a larger group of guys at masses and other performances, especially Stations of the Cross, that’s really fun.”

The choir performs a version of the Stations of the Cross each year at Easter. Each station is complemented with a different song. Songs featured range from the Latin “O Fortuna” to Styx’s “Renegade.”

“If [students] are into singing and they just want to relax and try out new songs then it’s a good opportunity.” Werny said.y

Artist of the Issue: Jacob Springer ’19 If you sing with Hugh Jackman, you definitely have a story to tell.

Rohan Jhunjhunwala ’18 REPORTER s a member of the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir, Malvern freshman Jacob Springer was presented with many great opportunities including singing with the famous Hugh Jackman, singing on “Good Morning America,” traveling to Carnegie Hall, and touring France.

“It was an amazing experience,” Springer said.

These opportunities were created because of Springer’s love for music.

“I really like music and spend a pretty good portion of time devoted to music,” Springer said. “It’s where I feel most comfortable.”

In addition to singing, Springer also plays the trumpet. While playing music, Springer enters a certain mindset.

“Musicians call it getting into the zone,” he said.

“Usually it gets to a point where I end up not needing to count my rests.”

Springer feels a sense of utter comfort while playing music like that. However, he is careful to assure that counting rests is important.

This may be because both of his parents are music teachers. He credits his passion for music to them.

Springer has no one particular favorite musician, yet his favorite genre is jazz.

“I love so many jazz artists it’s impossible to pick one,” he said.

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JACOB SPRINGER ’19 / R. JHUNJHUNWALA

Just recently Springer auditioned for “Cadets2,” an acclaimed drum core. He hopes to continue pursuing his love of music throughout his high school career.

Be sure to spot Springer at the next Malvern musical performance. y

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February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

SPORTS Senior swimmers go entire Malvern career without Inter-Ac loss

Freezing winter leads to problems for start of spring sports

The swim team has won their fourth consecutive Inter-Ac Championship, led by a strong senior class.

The baseball team faces many challenges as reigning state champion, but their biggest one may be the weather.

John McGlinn ’18 REPORTER he seniors on the swim team are one of few classes every to win an Inter-Ac Championship all four years in their sport, but the streak may not be ending just yet.

Led by captains Will Schaffer and Aaron Salinas, the swim team brought home their fourth consecutive Inter-Ac championship. The seniors have not lost a single Inter-Ac meet in their entire Malvern careers. “ We’ve been through a lot together, but it’s all paid off in the end,” Salinas said. “It’s amazing seeing swimmers completely change their mental and physical state just to help us win.”

Coach Jay Schiller is already looking forward to next year where he hopes a strong junior class led by Zach Maher and Cullen Robinson can execute.

“Next year’s team will have the chance to say they are Inter-Ac champions. The bar has been set by this year’s squad, but next year I think they [the team] will set up to the plate and deliver,” Schiller said.

Sophomore John Connors, who was a key factor in the success of the team in their final meet at Haverford, is excited for next year.

“The bonds that were made as we came together as a team will help us work hard together in the future,” Connors said.

Salinas will continue his swimming career at West Point next year,

Eric McLaughlin ’18 REPORTER he weather in February and early March is typically pretty harsh. With spring sports starting in below freezing temperatures, Malvern’s teams have lots of difficulties, especially baseball.

When the PAISA state champion baseball team starts practicing this year they are about one month away from getting on the baseball field. The fields are frozen and all of the spring sports teams must share the turf field on the Pelligrini Sports Complex.

While waiting for the baseball diamond to dry up, the team must make best use of its available resources. Once the wrestling season finishes the baseball team uses a batting cage inside of Alumni Hall. They also workout in the weightroom, hold pitching practices in the Dougherty Gym, and sometimes use off campus indoor facilities. However, practicing off campus has its difficulties.

“The problem with using the off campus facilities is that those are all businesses,” said Fred Hilliard, head coach of the varsity team. “They book up months in advance and we can’t do that because we don’t know what the weather is going to be like. We don’t want to spend money if we are not going to use those places.”

Malvern’s team tries to book as late as possible and hope there is an open slot. “Sometimes we’ll have to go in at 7 a.m. and other times not until 8 or 9 at night,” Hilliard said.

When at Malvern, the team can do hitting in the cages, some minor fielding stations, pitching stations, but they cannot get the feel for being on the field.

“On the field, balls bounce a different way, you can build a stronger connection with the team, and it gives it a game-like feeling,” sophomore pitcher Billy Corcoran said.

The other schools in the Inter-Ac have the same weather, but some schools can handle it easier.

“Penn Charter has drop down batting cages in their gym, Episcopal has indoor cages on campus, and Haverford has a turf baseball field and a fieldhouse, so we are a little bit behind regarding facilities,” Hilliard said.

During the fall, the baseball team can use the new outdoor batting cages on campus, but league rules restrict the coaches from working with more than 3 players at a time. Once the weather turned, they haven’t been able to use the outdoor cages.

“I’ve had some ideas to hold tryouts in the fall on a Sunday, so we can play on the field rather than the turf. It would also help to have them in the fall because kids are coming off of baseball season,” Hilliard said.

“They are probably in better shape in the fall than when they are not able to play in the winter.”

This has not yet been approved to happen since people are in their fall sports season, but it could settle the challenge of playing in February when you can hardly feel your fingers. y

> PRIESTHOOD, 5

Flynn isn’t quite sure how to rate Malvern when it comes to how they stress the priesthood in the classroom and on campus. He believes the students almost always end up in the career that best suits them.

“They might change majors in college because you don’t know going into college exactly what chemistry is going to entail at the college level.

So you might start out in chemistry and end up in physics or biology or something because goals change over time,” Fr. Flynn said.

“There are some kids who have been interested that were not even on my radar, but it’s one of those things when you sit down and talk with someone at a deeper level than just, ‘Hey, how you doing?’ or ‘Good luck in the game today!’” Fr. Flynn said.

Those deeper conversations are always sacred to Flynn.

“There's a wealth to most people that lies below the surface that you don’t discover until you have that conversation. Then you find out that the person is not really the person that they seem to be on the surface and they are actually much deeper underneath,” Fr. Flynn said.y

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T SWIMMERS CHEER TEAMMATES ON AT YEAR-END EASTERN INTERSCHOLASTIC SWIMMING & DIVING CHAMPIONSHIP. MALVERN FINISHED THIRD BEHIND PEDDIE SCHOOL AND HAVERFORD SCHOOL. / J. BENNETT

while co-captain Schaffer said he is deciding between a couple of Ivy League schools. Billy Beard, who was named All-American after his junior season, will be swimming next year for Penn State University.

Schiller said that his favorite moment during the season was definitely the last final win at Haverford.

“Our captains Will and Aaron went one, two in the breaststroke to seal the deal,” Schiller said. “When they did that Haverford only had an opportunity to tie the meet.”

Schil ler said that Bret t Mastrangelo, Zach Maher, John Connors and Louis Franzone “all swam out of their minds” in the last relay to secure the win. “That win prevented Haverford from even having a chance to tie,” Schiller said.

“Under the leadership of Coach Schiller and Coach Hornsleth, we have been inspired to be our best, and run our opponents down,” Salinas

said. “This team has helped me go beyond my limits and continues to inspire me.”

Aaron is in his fifth season as a swimmer for Malvern. He said he has seen the team grow a lot since since he started.

“In eighth grade, I remember swimming against Germantown in a combined high school and middle school meet, and I was the only Malvern swimmer to win an event,” Salinas said. “My freshman year, the theme was ‘Catch the Dream’ all the way through. The class of 2016 got hungry that season. We tasted victory, and didn’t want to lose.”

That ended being the case because Salinas and the senior class continued to shine throughout their Malvern careers. Their impact on Malvern will live on because of the school records they have set, and records at other pools like Episcopal Academy.y

Weightlifting: Growing in size and strength Coach and participants hope that successful program that is helping athletes to condition and focus continues to grow Henry Malone ’17 CONTRIBUTOR very day after school, if you stroll over to Dougherty Hall and check out the weight room, you’ll see a room filled with Friars trying to get #swole. But it didn’t always used to be this way.

Since 2012, Malvern has gone from having a four student weightlifting class, to having over 100 students participate in regional meets, all coordinated through the Olympic Weightlifting program and Director of Strength and Conditioning Mr. Erik Miller.

In the spring of 2012, Miller held an olympic weightlifting class that consisted of 3-4 students, and only one of the students competed in a meet.

“I ran the course, and the final was to compete in a meet, and one of those kids in that group qualified for Nationals in his first meet,” Miller said.

The following summer, Miller

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decided to make an effort to expand the program, and so he began to offer free weightlifting classes 3 days a week during the summer. The summer began with two or three kids, and by the end, it expanded to 12 kids. By the following October, there were over 25 kids lifting and competing in meets.

“I would say over 4 years, we’ve had at least 100 kids compete in a meet,” Miller said. “It’s been that type of steady, consistent growth.”

Mr. Miller hopes that the success of the weightlifting program continues over the next few years and hopes that he can find more students who want to get stronger and compete in the regional meets.

Sophomore Patrick Sayers has been a member of the weightlifting program since freshman year and has loved his decision to sign up.

“When I was going into freshman year here at Malvern, I was like ‘Oh, I'm not so doing a single physical activity, that probably isn't

a good idea.’ So, I joined the team and it turns out exercise is fun.”

Sayers also said joining the team has helped him become stronger and is a haven for him to clear his mind after a stressful day.

“Thanks to Olympic lifting, I actually hold some modicum of strength, whereas in 8th grade I was at least the 2nd most unathletic kid in the grade,” Sayers said.

Sophomore Joe Basiura also said that the weightlifting team has helped him in more ways than one.

“Joining the team helped me get in great shape, while at the same time meeting new people and making friends,” he said.

The weightlifting program is ever-growing and is looking for anybody willing to join, from the athletes looking for somewhere else to compete, to someone just looking to blow off steam after a long day. y

religious life, but not just the priesthood. He also considers becoming a Eucharistic Minister or another lay role in the Church. However, he does know that he wants to be involved in the church in whatever way he feels called to.

Instead of using college as a time to think about it, Fr. Drennen used it as a time to experience it.

“Right after high school I entered a program that we used to have that would take kids out of high school, and I went to Villanova University thinking I would get it out of my system and never persevere,” Fr. Drennen said. “And that was 1973… [but] here I am still hanging around.”

President Fr. James Flynn is proud of the numbers of alumni who have considered a vocation in the priesthood.

Flynn believes that with f ive Augustinians involved in the school and campus life, they present many models to students as to what it means to be an Augustinian priest.

“We bring in all sorts of speakers; whether a classroom teacher will bring someone in or whether it’s the school bringing someone,” Fr. Flynn said.

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

February 2016

FRIAR LIFE

SPORTS

> CHASTITY PROJECT, 1

For any student who may feel uneasy about some of Now that Malvern has committed to bringing Evert Evert’s views, Sayers said that it’s important to hear what to campus, Talbot and the Academic Advancement Team he has to say. have placed Theology Department Leader Fr. Chris “I’d want to talk with that student to find out what Drennen, OSA, and School Psychologist Dr. Dorothy they are uneasy about hearing,” she said. “I would also Sayers in charge of designing a series of conversations recommend they go and hear what he has to say, and come before and after Evert gives his talk. back and process some more.”

English teacher Mrs. Nicole Wilkinson, theology The Chastity Project’s website states that the organizateachers Mr. Andrew DiDomenico and Mr. Alexander tion promotes chastity through low-cost resource distriHaynie, and Biology teacher Mr. Stephen bution, media appearances, seminars, and Borish are also involved in planning these social media. The presentation Evert will conversations. be offering at Malvern is entitled ‘Love and Drennen said that after Evert speaks, According to Mr. Lust,’ according to Haynie. The website indistudents will report back to homerooms for Talbot, there cates that this presentation offers “encourdiscussions led by teachers. previously has agement for teens to maintain their purity “It will be about 10 to 15 minutes,” he been no set or begin again if they’ve made mistakes in said. “Just a little debrief of what happened. process to vet the past.”

Then, after that, whenever anyone is in their campus speakers.

Haynie is excited about Evert’s upcomtheology class next, there will be more proA proposal for a ing visit. “He brings a message of true, cessing, and there will be a chance to talk vetting process is authentic love, and his message is the mesabout any issues that arose.” now in drafform. sage of the Church – love, mercy, joy, and Drennan said the draft proposal they a life of discipleship and following Christ are presenting includes a faculty meeting – a life that takes heroic virtue, and in the before Evert comes. “At that meeting, we end, leads us to fulfillment and union with will explain the role of the faculty and how they can help Christ,” he wrote in an email. “He is very well regarded, process this message,” he said, referencing the homeroom and we're blessed to have him here at MP.” debrief and theology class discussions.

In December, Talbot stated in his email to students Sayers said that she and Drennen were approached by that he hopes the conversations around Evert's visit will Talbot to start this process in January. They then asked help students to "grapple with some really big and importhe others on the committee to help. tant questions."

She said that although some teachers or staff may not “I think one way or the other, whether students agree have a homeroom, they are invited to join a homeroom with his perspectives on chastity and celibacy, whether and the discussions after Evert speaks. they disagree, I hope that they take away an experience “I plan on joining a homeroom,” she said. “And we also of a serious conversation, one that is intellectually coherinvited people from the Counseling Department to do the ent, and one that is also aligned with our Catholic and same, like what we did for Chris Herren.”

Augustinian identity,” he said.

Chris Herren delivered a powerful message to the Drennen hopes students will take one perspective Malvern community about drugs and alcohol in October. away from Evert’s talk that aligns with Catholic teaching.

Sayers said there is still work to be done prior to the “It’s ok to be chaste,” he said. “It’s ok to not be sexually active.” y March 4 presentation. “We’re not all there yet,” she said.

“But I think we’re getting there.”

Four Questions for Jason Evert We reached out to the co-founder of Chastity Project with some questions about his upcoming presentation on March 4.

What do you plan to discuss with the Malvern Prep community?

Saint John Paul II said that within each of our hearts is a battlefield between love and lust. If we take an honest and demanding look into ourselves, we will notice this to be true. He also noted that the word “chastity” needs to be rehabilitated. All to often, it is viewed as a negative, prudish, and repressive attitude toward the gift of our sexuality. However, it is none of these things. Rather, it is the virtue that frees us to love.

Unfortunately, John Paul also noted in his book “Love and Responsibility” that when challenged with the message of chastity, some individuals resent it. They see chastity only as an obstacle to obtaining gratification. He explained that because virtue requires effort, some prefer to spare themselves the effort of being chaste, and minimize its importance, mock it, or act as if it’s evil, unhealthy, or unrealistic. To avoid the struggle, they lightheartedly opt for what is comfortable and convenient.

When I speak to the young men at Malvern Prep, I hope to explain that regardless of their past, they can still choose to embrace this virtue and become more free to love. The message will not be rooted in shame or fear tactics, but rather in the demands of authentic human love. If you visit our website (chastityproject.com) and click on “seminars” and then “endorsements” you can see what other teens have said about the presentation.

Can you comment on our school’s choice to reschedule your presentation?

I think it ended up being providential, because when another high school heard I was returning to your area in March, they requested an assembly for their students as well. If your talk had not been rescheduled, hundreds of other students would not have had the opportunity

15

to hear the presentation.

Our Head of School Mr. Christian Talbot has stated, regarding TWITTER @jasonevert your presentation, that “Hosting a speaker is not an endorsement.

It is an invitation to dialogue.” How do you suggest that our community builds dialogue around your views?

The most important thing that your community could do would be to form their opinions of my presentation after it is complete rather then before it begins. As Mr. Talbot noted, true dialogue involves hearing people who come from all walks of life, and discovering how we can learn from each other. I have had the opportunity to speak to more than one million teens on six continents, and when I lecture at such places as Harvard, Princeton, or the United States Air Force Academy, the students take for granted that my presence on their campus is not due to the unequivocal endorsement of their administration. Rather, these institutions of higher learning understand the importance of dialogue, and therefore are not opposed to having me offer my presentation to their students.

What do you hope our student community takes away from your presentation?

Every man struggles with temptations that inhibit our ability to love. My hope is that instead of solely focusing on elements of the speech that they disagree with, each student will open their minds and hearts to grasp onto something in the assembly that will help them to become a better man. In other words, eat the apple and spit out the seeds. (But don’t throw away the seeds, because you might find them to be quite useful one day). In the meantime, I look forward to meeting you all in March. Until then, be assured of my prayers and please include me in yours as well.y

Football takes up yoga While most of us are enjoying an extra hour of sleep on ‘Reverse C’ schedules, the football team is working hard on staying in shape.

FOOTBALL YOGA SESSION ON WEDNESDAY, FEB. 24 / P. FERR AIOLO

Dan King ’19 CONTRIBUTOR he football team began doing yoga on reverse C schedules.

There has been a large number of players showing up each time.

Freshmen quarterback Drew Gunther said “It actually really helps.”

“I was kind of worried if [the players] were going to enjoy it, but I asked them after, and yes, most of them do enjoy it,” said coach Jeff Carroll.

Yoga is not a new thing for the football team, Carroll said. “It was something we had done with the football program for a while in 2010, 2011, 2012. Around there we had another instructor come in.”

Coach Jim Panetta was the one who started then because he was into the yoga, Carroll said.

“This time around it was all of us coaches [that wanted to do it.] [Head varsity] coach Brady thought it would be a good idea.”

Professional football teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants have started to incorporate yoga into their training. Yoga is a different type of training that has shown to help athletes.

“It’s a different test of strength

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than traditional or conventional strength training with weights. It’s a lot more balance and concentration than anything else; whereas, weightlifting is just complete strength, so this is putting their bodies in different situations that are athletically applicable,” Carroll said, “I think that it’s a misconception about yoga, that it is stretching... There’s a lot of balancing and bodyweight strength training.”

In a study published in the International Journal of Physical Education, Sports, and Health, Luxmi Shurma wrote, “A particular sport can develop certain muscle groups while ignoring others. Over time, this process causes imbalances in the muscles and joints, leading to overuse injuries. Yoga helps the muscles, tendons, and ligaments move through a full range of motion, thus cultivating balance and core strength which is a huge benefit to athletes in their chosen sports.”

As well as studies that have shown that yoga is beneficial to athletes, Carroll said, “I think getting up and working out in the morning will help them in school, but it will definitely help in football.” y

16

February 2016

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

NEWS Malvern’s links to Zika wide-reaching How the Zika virus is starting to affect Malvern Jack McClatchy ’17 The virus currently is found in over 17 countries in South NEWS EDITOR and Central America, including two destinations for he Zika virus first made headlines in the United rising seniors on their Christian Service trip - Costa States this year, but has been affecting Brazil Rica and the Dominican Republic. since April of last year, and other Latin Director of Christian Service Mr. Larry American countries since January.

Legner said that Zika is just one of the diseases Mr. Michael Prosalik, who taught biology at juniors have to be vigilant about.

Malvern for two years (2013-2015), has been “We instruct juniors heading to Costa Rica, living in São Paulo, Brazil for about six months. for example, to get the flu shot, and they all have Now, he teaches biology and integrated science “No one I know to have hepatitis and tetanus shots in case they are at an international school. personally has cut or something,” he said. “They also have to get “No one I know personally has been diagbeen diagnosed the typhoid shot.” nosed with Zika,” he said. “But it is hard to get with Zika. But it is Legner said that although some parents have tested for the virus, and is even harder for those hard to get tested brought up concerns about the virus at various who might not have the resources to get tested.” for the virus, and meetings, there isn’t much threat to the students.

São Paulo is in southern Brazil, where avereven harder for “I think for the general population, the hysteage temperatures are below 80° Fahrenheit, those who might ria might be overblown,” he said. “But if I were a and Prosalik said that there aren’t that many not have the pregnant woman, I wouldn’t go near any country mosquitoes. resources to get with the infection.”

“Our windows and doors in Brazil don’t have tested.”

Legner said he would make sure that any screens,” he said. “My windows are open near 24 Mr. Michael Prosalik female chaperones heading to those countries are hours a day, and we haven’t seen many mosquinot pregnant, and ask them to go somewhere else toes - maybe a few here and there.” if they are.

Prosalik said that areas of Brazil hit harder He also gave each service group instructions to

by Zika include the state of Bahia in the center of the country, avoid mosquito bites, even those traveling to countries without with the largest city being Salvador. the Zika virus.

“My wife and I visited there over Christmas,” Prosalik said.

“Everything I’ve read is that the mosquitoes bite during the “We took the normal precautions, insect repellant, bed nets, day,” he said. “And I’ve told every group the first thing you do and there wasn’t a problem.” is put on sunscreen, have breakfast, and then the bug repellent, The Zika virus is spread through mosquito bites, and causes because it’s not just mosquitoes where they go.” rashes, joint pain, fever, and headache. There is an added risk Legner also recommends students use dryer sheet to fend for pregnant women, as there has been a link with Zika and off insects. microcephaly, a neurological disorder which results in abnor“They work fabulously,” he said. “People think I’m crazy, mally small heads in infants. but rub them on your clothes, put the sheet in your pocket, and

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they keep bugs away.”

School nurse Mrs. Catherine McGettigan said that while Zika may be overblown, “anything is possible, but not probable,” for the Malvern service groups.

She also gave a voice of caution about the lack of significant symptoms. “80% of the people who are infected with the Zika virus don’t even know they have it, because the symptoms are so mild,” McGettigan said.

“Even those that are infected aren’t that sick,” she said. “A lot of adults will push through and just go to work, saying ‘Oh, I’m catching something, I’ll be fine.’”

McGettigan said the last time Malvern dealt with the threat of a large infection was with the H1N1 flu in 2009.

“The teachers were to project a long-term teaching plan in case the students were home for four to six weeks,” she said.

“Luckily, they didn’t have to go there.”

Zika is not the only issue currently facing Brazil. Before Prosalik moved to São Paulo, the city and the country at large were facing issues with water shortages due to drought and mismanagement of reservoirs.

“Even after a large wet season, the reservoir levels are still lower than usual,” Prosalik said. “So there are still water shutoffs for some in the city. Where I live, we just have to abide by a limit to water use, so apart from conservation, it isn’t much of a problem to me.”

In light of the media frenzy over the virus, Prosalik said that there just needs to be general caution for Americans traveling to Brazil.

“Whenever you go to another country, there’s always something that’s different,” he said. “Zika is just one of many mosquito-borne illnesses, such as Yellow Fever, West Nile, and Dengue. Besides normal precautions, there isn’t much that can be done.” y

PERSPECTIVE

I’m offended that you’re offended… by everything Shying away from intellectual discourse only promotes intolerance and ignorance.

Hunter Peck ’16 offended” and label the opposing side as bigots, racists, sexists, COLUMNIST or any other of a plethora of buzzwords while ignoring factual n today’s progressive world of social and philosophical information entirely. change, one can get lost in the myriad of complex issues and The purpose of this piece is not to defend depraved people or ever-evolving viewpoints. their ideas from the criticism they deserve. Some positions are The internet constantly bombards us with thousands of obviously and undoubtedly incorrect and immoral, and should videos, soundbites, and articles produced by colbe treated as such. lege professors and students, mainstream media But, many positions being blocked out with outlets, and teenagers in their basements who What happens a shield of buzzwords and supposed offense are haven’t seen the light of day in weeks. This all when fighting logical and factual positions, deserving of intelcontributes to our culture of information hyperintolerance ligent debate. saturation, which makes it increasingly difficult ends up In this country, the First Amendment guarfor many to find their own voice and opinions in building antees the right to free speech for all, giving a sea of controversy. greater walls of anyone the liberty to field opinions or counter This army of online bloggers and contribuintolerance? arguments. It is this spirit of free speech and tors can be quite a formidable force when united impassioned debate which should be a defining behind a common cause. However, the informaforce in universities and the public sphere alike. tion being put forth often reflects in its inaccuraBut the contemporary trend has been in the oppocies how distant the writers actually are from the selected topic. site direction.

The sad fact of the matter is, many of these influential Most notably, the “safe space” movement on college camwriters and speakers reject any idea of intellectual debate, and puses all over the country has gained enormous momentum and remain as intolerant of other opinions as the ideas they seek to continues to grow. As opposed to being legitimate opportunicondemn and destroy. ties for students to gain professional psychiatric or therapeutic It’s a narrative of fighting supposed intolerance with more help for stressful or traumatic experiences, these spaces have intolerance. become a symbol for all those who would seek shelter from This narrative is militantly pursued among social media scary words or discussions in favor of ignorance and bigotry. communities, on college campuses, and among a vast number This movement is promoting giving in to opposing viewpoints of younger millennials seeking to make progressive change. by making intelligent discussion and compromise a thing to be The idea of fighting an opinion which one doesn’t agree regarded as bad and harmful. with by ignoring the problem or by hiding from the probMany proponents of the safe space movement can’t seem lem does absolutely nothing to confront the issue at hand. As to understand the difference between dissenting opinions and opposed to intellectual discourse between two opposing par- personal attacks. For instance, a March 2015 New York Times ties, many are now opting to simply claim their right to “not be column by Judith Shulevitz entitled “In College and Hiding

I

From Scary Ideas” describes a Brown University incident. The University had organized a debate between prominent feminist Jessica Valenti and libertarian Wendy McElroy on the subject of campus sexual assault. Members of a resident campus sexual assault task force led by senior Katherine Byron objected to the debate on the grounds that the dissenting opinion could serve to “invalidate people’s experiences” and be “damaging.”

This opposition prompted the University to offer a simultaneous talk on the role of culture in sexual assault, and student volunteers organized a “safe space” for anyone who was upset by the content of the debate.

People should be using the enormous resources at their disposal to confront ideas they find incorrect or distasteful, not to run away from them and claim offense without bothering to hear the other side’s argument. People on opposing sides of these issues are often good people with good intentions. They deserve a chance to be listened to respectfully and either swayed by logic and impassioned discourse or to be given a chance to sway one’s own views. All too often people would rather claim offense and demand that their institution shield them from any views that differ from their own. This growing idea that being offended entitles one to not be subjected to opposing viewpoints is simply ludicrous, and only serves to promote a culture of ignorance and intolerance.

Intellectual advancement has never been promoted without the exposure of ideas and beliefs from many different sources, and this trend of intolerance of different opinions will only continue to inhibit progressive discussion until it is countered by more outspoken critics of the movement.

The students of Brown University - and the students of Malvern Prep - should learn that engaging in intellectual debate is the only true way to combat incorrect information and promote positive change. y