The Blackfriar Chronicle - February 2016

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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. PAGE 15

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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