The Blackfriar Chronicle - January/February 2014

CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S STUDENT OF THE ISSUE!

RACE FOR THE CLAYWARD !

BASEBALL STARTS #1 IN STATE Can the Friars continue their championship run?

Malvern and Haverford fave off, in the pottery studio

Meet Nick Gabriele Class of 2015

> Friar Life, PAGE 3

> SPORTS, PAGE 5

> Arts, PAGE 4

BLACKFRIAR Chronicle

The

www.mpfriarslantern.COM

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014

VOLUME 14, NUMBER 5

Swimming takes second team championship

SQUASH TEAM TRIUMPHS AT NATIONALS

Friar swimmers remain undefeated for second consecutive year.

Juniors Lamond, Conduit, and Warzecha help Friars overcome early season drama to end season with a victory Brendan Hallinan ‘14 SPORTS EDITOR HE squash program has struggled since its inception in the early 2000s. The beginning of this year seemed no different. Seniors Colin Murphy, Brandon Parvesse, Conor Glancy, and Greg Miller quit the team before tryouts began.

T

The team has never had much success in the Inter-Ac. With the loss of four key senior players, the season seemed like it would be yet another disappointment.

“We all decided that the team wasn’t going anywhere because we’re not competitive at all so it would be a pretty big waste of time”, said Murphy.

“The coach is trying to rebuild the program which is good, but he shouldn’t spend his time trying to make seniors better.”

The sound of four seniors quitting a sport in their final year sounds harsh, but were they acting in the best interest of the program? Miller seemed to believe so.

“If Malvern has any chance at competing with their Inter-ac competitors, they need to focus on the future”, said Miller.

THIS HAPPENS EVERY YEAR FOR THE WINNING FRIARS. ROBINSON

Y

SQUASH WITH CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES

MOYER

“They need to focus their attention on the young, and start to develop skills at a very early point.”

At the national championships in Philadelphia, they were seeded in the fifth division that featured 15 other schools.

The juniors and underclassmen had to step up in a big way to salvage the season without any seniors. And did they ever.

Juniors Mike Lamond, Steve Conduit, and Vince Warzecha dominated throughout the tournament and lead the team to a 4-3 victory over the Hill School in the championship.

The team limped through a brutal Inter Ac schedule, but remained confident.

> PAGE 4

Senior Lounge Staying ... for now Although plans were made and may be made again, the lounge is staying for the Class of 2014 Brendan Hallinan and Joe DiSipio ‘14 EDITORS HE senior class can breath a little easier now. Mr. Dougherty told the Blackfriar Chronicle last month that the senior lounge will remain for the second semester.

T

Rumors that the lounge was to become an office had been circulating around the Class of 2014 for the last few weeks of the first semester. Those rumors can now be put to rest.

Dougherty said the plan to convert the lounge into a private office for the Dean of Students would have been too much work to accomplish in the middle of the school year.

Joe DiSipio ‘14 EDITOR IN CHIEF OU can find Malvern’s swimmers, with damp heads of hair, quickly gobbling down breakfast in Stewart on any given Wednesday morning. A 6:15 morning practice will work up your appetite.

And this year’s team has had a big appetite for success.

An appropriate, private space for the Dean of Students is necessary to conduct personal issues with students. The current office will not suffice for the future.

The original plan was for the lounge to become the office of the Dean of Students once the second semester began.

The plan was nixed because of “the momentum of the year” and the difficulty of transforming a room into an office in such a short amount of time.

Also, Mr. Dougherty did not want to take lounge away as some seniors were looking forward to their very first open period in the second semester.

According to Dougherty, a group of seniors was asked

FUN IN THE SENIOR LOUNGE

to explore alternatives to the senior lounge earlier this year, but no viable replacements were found.

The future of the senior lounge remains uncertain.

According to Mr. Dougherty, the lounge will become the Dean’s office and the lounge

HALLINAN

will be relocated. Another possibility is that the room becomes a common lounge.

On T hu r sd ay Ja nu a r y 23rd, the swim team captured their second straight InterAc Championsh ip after many morning practices and hard work. The team, often unheralded, was led to consecutive undefeated seasons by Coach Jay Schiller and his staff.

After losing last year’s senior duo of Paul Stockett (Purdue) and MP Salinas (USNA), captains Luke Bushner and CJ Schaeffer were tasked leading the team to with continue the winning legacy.”The leadership and talent on the team is ubiquitous,” according to Bushner.

“Of course our juniors and seniors really stepped up as veterans this year and contributed through leading both in and out of the pool.”

He credits the team’s success to a close-knit, family atmosphere and the seven practices and two lifts the team participated in each week. Those many hours in the pool and in the gym not only gave swimmers like Chris Nguyen great abs, but also a family. Together, they swept all competition and defeated every hated InterAc rival.

On Friday February 7th, the O’Neil Center played host to the InterAc Championships for each individual race. All 6 member schools participated in the day-long event. Malvern once again did very well with CJ Schaeffer’s first place finish in 200m Individual Medley and second in 100m backstroke, sophomore Billy Beard’s second place finish in the 100m freestyle, and Aaron Salinas’ second place finishes in both 50m free and 100m breaststroke.

Bushner is proud of the strong contributions of the underclassmen like Beard and Salinas. “We have freshman who are capable of stepping up and performing in key relay spots. Our sophomore class [swimmers] are some of the most talented swimmers I’ve seen and they add a lot of our depth.”

The swim team continued their great success with a strong showing at their final meet the Eastern’s Championship on February 22nd. The team travelled to LaSalle University to pit their swimmers against the best of the best from all over the East Coast. Taking third, Malvern ranks itself among the best swimmers in the region, if not the country.

The year’s dominance in the lanes is highlighted by the fact that it follows the school’s first ever InterAc Water Polo Championship in the fall. The chlorine crew has really made a splash in helping to will Malvern > PAGE 8

2

January-February 2014

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL BOARD

Academic Leadership Team Reveals Year-End Plan After delays and days off school, the plan for the end of the year is at the end of the design process.

EDITORIAL BOARD

W

some students and teachers with hectic schedules and busy days and nights trying to make up the work and time. AP Exams don’t get pushed back a week because of a little snow on the ground, and students are feeling the harsh reality of trying to get a full AP syllabus in with such few days.

the Editorial Board met in early January, the topic discussed centered around the whirlwind that happens at the end of the quarter. From five “assessments” in a day, two papers due the next, it seemed students are buried under piles of work at the end of every quarter. We had planned to air The teachers seem to be more under control. Many, such as some grievances about the hectic end of quarter Mr. Valyo, don’t have much reason to worry. woes, to be a voice for the overwhelmed Malvern “I am only a few sections behind last year,” he student. says. Mr. Roper is also confident. “My class is “WE’VE BEEN LOOKING not as far back as you’d think with all the days AT THE EXAM PROCESS, Our plans have changed drastically since then. off we had.”

AND IT SIMPLY The last time any student has faced a real week of DOESN’T MAKE SENSE.” school was that final week of the quarter, way back “I’ve seen this before,” continues Mr. Roper, in mid January. In the month since the end of the discussing past years of lots of snow interrup-MR. ALGEO second quarter, we had 20 days off from school, tions to the school year. “Teachers and students a reverse C, and one two-hour delay. To put it in make adjustments accordingly.” Mr. Valyo is perspective, we have had school on 12 days. We were scheduled for also optimistic: “I should be able to cover the material needed,” 17. Rumors have circulated around school regarding days added says Mr. Valyo, “unless there are more snow days.” to the schedule and the changes made to the end of the year, but now the rumors can be put to rest.

As difficult as it may be for both teachers and students, they both can work to lighten the load. “It’s lucky,” says Mr. Roper, You’d be hard-pressed to find any Malvernian who doesn’t “that the students and teachers can communicate about what’s fair enjoy a snow day. One of the best feelings is waking up and seeing and doable.” For teachers behind in their lessons, making up the that text from Malvern, knowing you have an extra day to relax. work doesn’t seem to be a problem if the plans are communicated Yet now students barely flinch when they read the text that school to the students. is closed, and the second quarter has seemed to be a jumbled mess.

With more snow on the horizon, more delays snd snow days What does all this mean for us as students? For seniors, it’s a may be the case. Mr. Valyo offered his perspective. “The Academic relaxing way to get through the harsh days of winter; however, the Leadership Team will meet and discuss options for making up interruptions and discontinuities caused by the days off have left days.”

HEN

This team, consisting of Head of School Mr. Talbot, Assistant Head of School Mr. Valyo, Upper School Head Mr. Algeo, Middle School Head Mr. Sillup, and Director of 21st Century Learning Mr. Whitney, has weighed the options of finding more time for class days. “We put the students first,” explains Mr. Algeo, “in every decision we make.” The teachers and parents follow.

Using these guidelines, the team looked at removing vacations days, but “issues with absentee rates” would diminish the effect of teaching. Another option was extending the school day, which would have problems with buses and travel.

The plan that currently exists is to change the end of the school year and the exam process. “This would give students five or six extra days of class,” said Algeo.

Experimenting with the new schedule that is planned for next year is also a goal. It would also call for the removal of exams for certain departments, a move that Mr. Roper is taking in stride.

“It means not giving a traditional final, and I’m okay with that,” he says.

Problems still exist. Seniors will already be finished by this time and AP exams will have passed. Yet this solution will allow teachers to experiment with alternative assessment techniques such as projects or portfolios functioning as exams and prepare the curriculum for the major changes taking place next year.

Even with the icy roads, Malvern is not hitting the brakes on 21st century education. 

OPINION

Is it racist?

When consolidation leads to superficial reactions, labelling is a little too easy.

John Monday ‘14 CONTRIBUTOR the Comedy Central television show Tosh.O, there was once a segment called “Is it Racist?” in which comedian Daniel Tosh would show videos with questionably racist overtones and he would decide whether or not the video was racist.

O

Because it showed his vulnerability and emotion with his own brand of speaking, that was not without its slang and accent, he was deemed an idiot by the majority of the people watching the interview. It was national news when Dee Dee McCarron, mother of AJ McCarron, star quarterback for Alabama, asked over twitter whether or not she was listening to English, referring to Winston’s interview.

This game seems to have carried over into everyday life now, with two developments involving sports stars. On social media everyone seems to now be playing the game with two now famous interviews from Jamies Winston and Richard Sherman, with people judging these athletes’ comments for their lack of eloquence and/ or respect in post game interviews on the field. Twitter’s tweets were twittering with questionably racist comments coming from all corners of the internet.

The Richard Sherman fiasco was a bit different. He yelled and called out 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree and proclaimed himself the best corner in the league. Although he may have come off as unsportsmanlike and petty considering the Seahawks won the game, people on twitter referred to him as a “thug”, a name which obviously carries racism with it.

N

Someone had better call in Daniel Tosh.

Jameis Winston and Richard Sherman are both big-time football players. Winston is the national champion quarterback for Florida State and Sherman is perhaps the greatest cornerback in the National Football League with the champion Seattle Seahawks.

Both of these men were shot into a larger spotlight after their postgame interviews in their respective teams’ victories. The two were given more attention than the typical post-game interview because they both conducted the interviews in a unique way. After the national championship, Winston talked about his drive to win the big game and all the adversity he went through in the game.

then judge. The internet has made this a much easier practice. With the simple typing of a few letters, a coarse and hateful comment can be made without a second thought. It is instant gratification to have an opinion that crosses one’s mind to be then broadcast to friends and family for reaction (hopefully agreement and praise aka a “like” “favorite” or “retweet). There is a want and a need to consolidate information so we can get the quick superficial view of a world which in reality is THE BIGGER AND more complicated and diverse than we can posMORE SYSTEMIC sibly fathom in 140 characters. Instead of looking PROBLEM IS PUTTING at things in a worldly enlightened perspective, THINGS AND PEOPLE thoughts instead boil down to Winston is an INTO CATEGORIES idiot, Sherman is a thug, or in an even more AND BOXES TO MAKE grandiose and hateful sense, black people are THEM EASIER TO idiots and thugs.

COMPREHEND AND THEN JUDGE.

So in these two instances there are two athletes who are put out to pasture for being either too “dimwitted” or “thuggish” in the way they approached their interviews. There is an obvious racial component to both of these labels if one chooses to approach their comments in that way. Racism still exists in this country, no matter what the supreme court says. The N word has slipped in time and again in reaction to stories like this.

Everyone is guilty of putting things into categories because the human mind simply works that way, but the problem of simply casting people off into easily recognized and dispensable categories is getting worse. Buzzfeed works to get the internet and “comedy” into little lists that can easily be gobbled up. Entirely separate and simpler lives are lived on Twitter and Instagram.

People today can hardly get through a conversation without pulling out their phones to revisit that virtual world in which every person, idea, and subject can literally fit in the palm of your hands.

But racism is not the overarching problem in these instances.

The bigger and more systemic problem is putting things and people into categories and boxes to make them easier to comprehend and

The problem is more systemic than tweets about Jameis > PAGE 4

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January-February 2014

3

FRIAR LIFE Marine Bio classroom converted into a zoo

FACULTY OF THE ISSUE

Faculty Feature: Dr. Joseph Oechsle

If you smell something in the bottom of Sullivan, its probably the animals

A student who has never taken one of Dr. J’s classes finds out what the buzz is all about.

Billy Bevevino ‘14 ARTS EDITOR HIS year the Marine Biology classroom in the basement of Sullivan Hall has stepped up its game. While in the past there have been a couple of tanks for fish and other species, this year is much different. Through the efforts of Dr. Fry, Mr. Buccutti and generous donors, the lab has transformed into a zoo.

T

Andrew Stetser ‘15 REPORTER

T

H ER E are few classes at Malvern that get the studentdesignated title of “Hardest Class I’ve Ever Taken.” Whether it be sophomore year Honors United States History I, junior year Honors British Literature, or any intense AP classes, one name is sure to bring a chill to the spine of graduates: Dr. Joseph Oechsle.

In Tom’s R iver, New Jersey, marine biology students on a field trip caught the first residents of the lab. Crabs and small fish caught that day were placed into a medium sized tank. This tank began what has now has flourished into a lab that contains chameleons, piranhas and even an alligator.

Dr. Fry explained that the species were specifically chosen based of the legal standards of the State of Pennsylvania. Although many might be surprised to hear that there is a live alligator on Malvern’s campus, owning this reptile and many other dangerous pets is perfectly legal.

The marine biology lab isn’t just for show. Students receive invaluable knowledge by coming face to face with live species. While looking at an organism in a book is one thing, coming face to face with one is a whole other experience. Hadid Thomas ‘14 said, “You get to see and interact with live animals, which is pretty cool.”

Having these animals in class everyday is more than just a great educational tool. It is also a huge morale boost for some students. The animals

CLYDE CHILLING LIKE A VILLIAN

BRIAN TATLOW

give Sam Linehauser ‘14 some encouragement to show up and participate. ”You look forward going into class everyday,” he said.

an over 200 gallon tank, there are plans to introduce live tilapia to the lab in the coming weeks. Additional animals and tanks that coincide with student’s research projects will also be placed in the classroom soon.

Surprised to hear that there is a live alligator on Malvern’s campus?

Even if you don’t take a class in the lab, stop by and take a look around the room. You don’t have to be a Marine Biology student to appreciate all the different animals living in the bottom of Sullivan Hall. Panamanian exchange student Jose Aquilar put it simply when asked about why he enjoys the lab so much:“I like the fish.” 

Owning this reptile and many other dangerous pets is perfectly legal.

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.

Editors in Chief Joe DiSipio ‘14 Brian Tatlow ‘14 Managing Editors Print: Dan McGlinn ‘14 Online: Matt Lanetti ‘15 Contributing Editors Friar Life Mike Higgins ‘14 Arts Billy Bevevino ‘14 Sports Brendan Hallinan ‘14 Beyond Malvern Jake Sorensen ‘15 Editorial Board Contributors Andrew Aprahmian ‘17

Contact: mpfriarslantern1@gmail.com

Justice Bennett ‘16

Students who work on high school newspapers and yearbooks: ____Get better grades in high school ____Earn higher scores on the ACT ____Get better grades as college freshmen _X__All of the above Source: Newspaper Association of America 2008 Research Study

AS: Thank you so much for doing this interview, Dr. J. It’s a pleasure to have you as the “Teacher of the Issue.” Now, I don’t know if you know this, but to the students here at Malvern, you’re one of the hardest teachers at Malvern. What, do you feel, makes your style of teaching so hard?

Dr. J: Well, let me just say that I used to be hard. Nowadays, any second grader from Norristown can pass my class. But as for my style of teaching, > PAGE 7

STUDENT OF THE ISSUE

A look inside the mind of a Malvern Renaissance Man

The

is a monthly student-run publication at Malvern Preparatory School. Its online affiliate is the Friar’s Lantern (www.mpfriarslantern.com). Editors’ meetings are every day 2 at 7:30 AM. Reporters’ meetings are every day 3 at 7:45 AM in Duffy 118, and are open to any interested student.

This is a man known by many at Malvern, not only for his rigorous classwork, his unforgettable catch phrases (“That’s borscht”, “Failed assassination attempt”, etc.,), and his complete rejection of the existence of the clock, but also for the service that he gives to the Malvern, Norristown, and mathematical communities. It was quite an experience interviewing him; however, I soon learned quickly that the man only has one speed: fast. And

it got even harder when he asked me not to use a voice recorder!

Student Feature: Nick Gabriele

Though there are already plenty of tanks and animals in the room, expect the lab to grow. With the addition of

BLACKFRIAR Chronicle

Excuse me. What I meant to say was Reverend Dr. Firefighter Joseph Oechsle.

DR. OECHSLE 2013 MALVERNIAN

Tyler Pizzico ‘17 Andrew Stetser ‘15

Michael McCarthy ‘15 REPORTER

N

Gabriele is a junior who is an Adelphia Society mentor, MECO leader, and varsity soccer player who truly exemplifies the Malvern spirit. We discussed where he has come from, his experiences at Malvern, and what he hopes for the future.

ICK

MM: Tell me about your background. Where did you grow up?

Where did you go to school before Malvern?

NG: I went to St. Norbert’s from kindergarten through eighth grade, and I grew up in Paoli before moving to Phoenixville when I was about ten years old.

MM: You are obviously involved in a variety of activities here at

NICK GABRIELE DAN MCGLINN

Malvern. MECO leader, varsity soccer, and Adelphia Society just to name a few. How do you manage to balance your activities and academics so well?

NG: Well I’ve always been a person who tries to get all my school work done as soon as I can. I do work at lunch and ninth period, just studying whenever I can. I try to give 100% > PAGE 8

4

January-February 2014

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

FRIAR LIFE

Malvern defeats Haverford in first annual Bowl-Off

Canterbury Pilgrimage takes detour to Malvern

Potters compete to claim the Clayward Cup and glory for Malvern.

Jake Sorensen ‘15 NEWS EDITOR

Jake Soresen offers his tale from the trail

Dan McGlinn ‘14 MANAGING EDITOR

T

the snow days make it feel like it was a year ago, what happened last month in Mr. Roper’s Honors Brit. Lit. would shock anyone who’s gone through his class. If you weren’t aware, Mr. Roper teaches quite possibly THEE most rigorous and difficult course in Malvern Prep, featuring such goodies as daily reading quizzes and oral 1-word pass-or-fail vocabulary tests.

This ritualistic approach of quizzing is only interrupted by the infamous presentations that require a tuxedo to get full credit in.

HOUGH

T

Inter-Ac opponents took to something other than the sports field to compete for a good cause. On Saturday, January 11, Haverford faced off against Malvern in what will hopefully be a tradition to benefit others: a ceramics bowl-off.

WO

The event took place in Malvern’s Duffy Center, where seven ceramics potters from Malvern and seven from Haverford sat down at the wheels for nearly three hours to throw bowls for Empty Bowls, which directs all proceeds to Bethesda Project.

In the end, the fourteen students successfully made over 160 bowls that were all donated to Malvern’s Empty Bowls that was held nine days later.

“It’s not often that people can make 160 bowls for people to eat out of, and it’s all for a great cause, which is awesome,” said Nick Helber, a Haverford student potter.

The event was the idea of Ms. Plows and the seven Empty Bowls Chairs, six of whom participated in the bowl-off.

The bowl-off was originally scheduled for December 21, but rescheduled due to snow. Ms. Plows and Haverford ceramics teacher Mr. Kris Nelson helped to make the event possible.

“This is the first time we did this collaborative throwing competition,” says Mr. Nelson. “To have the two schools come together on a productive basis where competition is secondary to the purpose of hunger relief...is refreshing.”

The competition was fierce. The seven students from Malvern (Seniors

HAVERFORD TEACHER KRIS NELSON WATCHES THE COMPETITION

Brian Tatlow, Michael Stangis, Conor Glancy, Matthew Jones, Drew Freed, Dan McGlinn, and Colin Hayes) are all experienced potters and were able to put their skills to work. Although the Haverford students put up a good fight and had some impressive techniques, such as throwing off the hump, Malvern edged out Haverford in the bowl count 90-73.

John Matthews, ceramics teacher at Conestoga High School, was the judge for the day. He offered helpful advice to both sides about techniques, forms, processes, and alterations.

“There is a relationship between the rim and the foot,” he commented to the eager fourteen students waiting on the results. “You’re not getting enough out of your feet...let the foot express itself.”

The fact that Richard Sherman is a Stanford graduate and had to work his way out from the streets to get where he is, and that professional athletes, especially professional football players, experience a lot of emotion through the course of a game, is a much harder thought to handle than “he is a thug.”

Also the fact that Jameis Winston and his lack of eloquence might come from a college sports phenomena in which the student athletes are simply passed through the system so they can be stars, is ignored when casting a simple judgement.

additions to the Empty Bowls event.

The biggest factor for Malvern was the different forms and altering by using different shapes and textures. “The risk-taking with form happens more [with Malvern].” In his final thoughts, Matthews noted that “the numbersgame” is what put the decision in Malvern’s favor.

“It was good to come away with a win,” said Malvern senior team captain Colin Hayes. “We had a fun time, and hopefully we can continue this in the future.”

Haverford collaborates with Agnes Irwin to host an Empty Bowls event every other year, and Malvern hosts one each year. Next year the bowl-off will be at Haverford to support their event, and we wish both teams the best of luck.

So while racism can be at the core of a hasty comment, the bigger problem here seems to be ignorance and the simplicity in which to disseminate ignorance, not a few racists.

The majority of people who judged Sherman and Winston were not fundamentally racist, but rather too quick to judge based on a medium and culture which caters to those snap decisions.

The lesson to be learned from all of this is that the mind is a terrible thing to waste. There is a great wealth of information and creativity on the internet. One can only hope the world learns to use it with the right frame of mind and purpose, rather than abuse it.

P.S. To stay to topic and defend Winston and Sherman more, to anyone who would criticize someone’s

WHO THOUGHT THAT MR. ROPER’S CLASS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FUN?

before the Christmas break. Basically, we would reenact Chaucer’s famous Canterbury Tales by basically walking around the campus telling stories. In a week before it actually took place, it would become an entirely new beast.

With our classes input, we changed it to a modern setting, with characters like the parson and the miller being shoved aside for the italian car salesman and the metrosexual. I could already tell that hilarity would ensue from that point on.

I bet some are you already thinking, “What is going on here? Who thought that Mr. Roper’s class was supposed to be fun?!”. Well, if it wasn’t clear enough, this departure from the usual struggle was meant to make us

Judged on quantity and quality, simply having more bowls was necessarily enough to put Malvern over the edge. Haverford had an impressive array of bowls, which were amazing

> IS IT RACIST, 2 Winston or Richard Sherman, it is universal; universal in that people cannot handle emotion and truth.

Truth comes from seeing the whole picture of a story and understanding why people do things, not just a vague understanding of something.

PLOWS

What had been ingrained to our junoir class’s mind, however, was about to be injected with 21st century learning.

We had been given the premise

English prowess after his team just won a national championship or the NFC championship, there is something seriously wrong with you. There is simply an attitude and excitement that comes from victory. Sorry to all of the editors and English majors out there, I hope the poor ignant masses ne’r upset you agein! 

>SQUASH, 1 At the beginning the season, this would have seemed like an impossible feat for the team. But the team stuck together and maintained a positive and confident attitude, at the guidance of the junior players.

more involved with the English curriculum of the class. It seemed that some higher ups wanted us to have a bit of fun with Ol’ Chaucer. And you know what? We did.

The first day out showed us that our class was capable of writing hilarious stories. Each and every tale was ridiculous in some form or another.

My personal favorite was the trio that went as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Tupac Shakur, and... someone I don’t really remember. The best part was hearing Tupac constantly yell “F*** the police!” and then later “Yes! F*** the Po-po!”. It was also funny to see Mr. Roper glance over at Mr. Valeyo (who followed pur group both days) for every expletive used.

People who went the second day definitely upped the ante in their stories. There was more absurdity, more hilarity, and, of course more swearing.

One notable story was the gold-medal winning Fisherman’s Tale, featuring former Malvern Teacher Mr. Riviollo as the man-fish. This was the day I went, where I told my awesome story of a Soviet WWII veteran in a Russian accent. When I heard some people ask if that was my real accent, I began to worry whether I had been actually talking enough at Malvern.

I can honestly say that the Chaucer Walk was so the most fun thing we’ve done in Mr. Roper’s class. I’m well aware of how forced upon it was. I’m well aware of how unpredictable it was.

And I’m still aware of how bizarre the whole thing was. But, even with its style that was radically different to what Mr. Roper did, I’m pretty sure that he’s gonna do this next year. I guarantee it. 

some great young players that are getting an opportunity to play. We’re trying to build a winning program for the next three to five years.”

And with a national championship this year, it seems the team is well on their way to becoming a force in the Inter Ac over the next couple years. 

When asked about his senior depleted team at the onset of the season, Coah Khan said, “I always look at the glass as half full. I’m not going to sit around and cry about it. We have

SHARE YOUR OPINION ON STORIES AND SEE WHAT WE COULDN’T FIT IN PRINT AT

mpfriarslantern.com

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January-February 2014

5

SPORTS #1 in PA is synonymous with Friar Baseball Looking for their 4th consecutive Inter-Ac championship, the Friars start the season ranked #1 Mike Higgins ‘14 FRIAR LIFE EDITOR

A

capturing their third straight Inter-Ac title last season, the Friars find themselves right back at the top of the rankings to start the 2014 campaign after being projected as the best team in Pennsylvania by Maxpreps.

FTER

It’s certainly hard to argue with that ranking as Malvern’s dominant pitching staff from last year is nearly exactly the same as the one who helped the Friars to a 27-9 record a year ago. Senior Gardner Nutter and junior Chris Butera will once again look to lead the team to victory from the top of the pitcher’s mound. Nutter compiled a 7-0 record last year and Butera added a remarkable 8-1 record as only a sophomore.

Senior shortstop Matt Maul who is headed to St. Joe’s said, “With pretty much all of our pitchers returning and a solid defense to back them up, we should have a good shot at the 4-peat for the Inter-Ac title.”

W h i le I nt e r -Ac M V P Jo e Poduslen ko a nd catcher Steve Robinson have graduated, Malvern will still have some serious pop at the plate to supplement the strong arms on the team. Third baseman Mark Gentilotti committed to Delaware to play baseball in the off season, and he certainly looks poised to have a break out year.

Also returning is the closer Tony Gruenling, a Babson signee, who said, “As a team our goal is to win the Inter-Ac and with the number of guys returning and the talent coming up, we should be able to do it again.”

The confidence of the team is definitely high, yet the squad isn’t getting ahead of themselves. Maul said, “We’re going to take it one game at a time, but we know we can score runs and that combined with our pitching and defense should help us to another successful season.”

Other than the always intense Inter-Ac season, some other exciting parts of the upcoming year are the Friars are heading down to Myrtle Beach, SC in late March to play five

Lacrosse looks to repeat as Inter-Ac champs Team looks to seniors for leadership to victory Brendan O’Connor ‘15 REPORTER

T

Lacrosse team had unprecedented success last year en route to an Inter-Ac championship. However, their heartbreaking loss to Haverford at the Inter-Ac invitational has left them with a chip on their shoulder.

In addition to their Inter-Ac rivals, Spring-Ford, Salesianum, Avon Grove, La Salle, Central Bucks East, The Hill School, St. Augustine’s Prep, Strath Haven, and Conestoga are on the schedule. We open the season with by traveling to Maryland for games against Loyola Blakefield and St. Mary’s.

HE

This team offers a mix of old and new faces as they look to build on last year’s success. At goalie, senior Carson Cocco (committed to Quinnipiac) will start. He was undefeated in his three starts last season. The defense will feature two-time First Team All Inter-Ac Greg Pelton (Duke), Chris Isenberg (Penn State), Ryder Harkins (Loyola), and junior Mike Mulqueen (Penn).

The midfield will include Kevin McGeary (Penn), Tripp Traynor (Penn State), Drew Schantz ( Notre Dame), and faceoff specialist Charles Kelly (North Carolina). Named to First Team All Inter-Ac last year, Ryan Hilburn (Boston University) is the leading returning scorer, and seeks to lead a talented group of attackmen including senior Conor Glancy (Army), and sophomores Adam Goldner and Kyle Anderson, who transferred from Downingtown East last year.

In Coach McEvoy’s second season, the schedule has gotten stronger. With the season coming closer, they seem to be ready for any competition .

ATHLETE OF THE ISSUE

Athlete of the Issue: Kevin McGeary ‘14 Tri-sport athlete gears up for spring lacrosse season Brendan Hallinan ‘14 SPORTS EDITOR

W

it comes to accomplished Malvern athletes, senior Kevin McGeary is at the top of the list. McGeary starts on three varsity teams: golf, hockey, and lacrosse.

HEN

games over a long weekend. Also the team got a few sets of new Adidas uniforms after Coach Hilliard negotiated a deal to outfit the team in all Adidas gear this past fall.

The entire team is absolutely ready to break out the mitts and get the season underway with the first scrimmages scheduled for the middle of March. Now they only have to hope Mother Nature will cooperate, so they can get back to preparing to compete for their 4th straight Inter-Ac Championship. 

Mills leads concussion forum Heads get together to talk about heads Joe DiSipio ‘14 EDITOR IN CHIEF S the football world focused on its annual showcase, the NFL playoffs, the Sports Medicine department discussed an issue of grave importance.

On January 8th, before a small crowd in the Duffy Center, head Athletic Trainer Bill Mills led a forum centered on concussions. Along with Dr. Kevin Walsh and learning specialist Ms. Brenda Eaton, Mr. Mills helped the audience to better understand concussions, their symptoms, and their treatment.

Dr. Kevin Walsh has been the athletic program’s team doctor for about 12 years. Walsh offered the perspective of a medical professional on the traumatic injuries. He explained the protocol for identifying and treating concussions as established by the Fourth International Conference on Concussions, held in Zurich in 2012.

Dr. Walsh is only one member of the Concussion Team, which

A

This past fall, McGeary was an integral part of the golf’s team championship season. He played in the 5th spot and was a first team All Inter Ac selection.

This winter season, McGeary is captaining the hockey team. The team is 12-5 overall and is in third place.

He has been a four year starter for the Friars.

In the spring, he will play a huge role as one of nine senior leaders on the lacrosse team. McGeary is one of the few lacrosse player who has been on the varsity team since freshman year.

He and his fellow Friars will be looking to repeat as Inter Ac champions this spring.

This upcoming fall, McGeary will be playing lacrosse for the University of Pennsylvania and will be studying in the Wharton School of Business.

BH: Out of the three varsity sports you play, which is your favorite?

KM: My favorite sport is lacrosse, but the others are close.

BH: What has been your fondest athletic memory for each team?

KM: My fondest moment in lacrosse is the Inter-Ac championship we won last year. For golf it is the Inter-Ac championship we won this year. For hockey it is the winter classic game we got to play in at Citizens Bank Park last year.

is rounded out by Mr. Mills, Mrs. McGettigan, Mrs. Cox, Dr. Sayers, and Ms. Eaton. These are the corps of advocates for students who suffered concussions. They treat, monitor, and aid any student who have experienced this traumatic injury.

“The future is now.” Mr. Mills was also proud to announce that along with working with Ms. Eaton and the Chester County Intermediate Unit, Malvern will soon become the Malvern Prep Sports Medicine and Research Center. As Mills pursues his doctorate, he will push one step closer to being on the forefront of concussion treatment and education.

MCGEARY CELEBRATES THE GOLF’S TEAM INTER AC TITLE MR. DUDA

BH: Exactly how many varsity letters have you racked up in your four years?

KM: I will have 10 by the end of lacrosse season, but currently have 9 letters.

BH: What are your expectations for the lacrosse team this year?

KM: I am really excited for this lacrosse season. I think we have a lot of talent and if we work hard we could hopefully win a championship.

BH: Will you try to pursue golf and/or hockey at Penn or will you focus solely on lacrosse?

KM: I would love to continue playing golf and hockey next year, but it would be too difficult with lacrosse and school.

BH: Which professional athlete would you compare yourself to?

KM: I could not think of any hockey or lacrosse players to compare myself to, but a golfer came to mind. Tiger is my favorite golfer and I am not saying I am like him with my talent levels, but we are both very confident in ourselves and sometimes overconfident.

Partnered with CHOP and the University of North Carolina, Mills will guide research done by Malvern students to benefit the study of concussions. One such research study will soon begin with the use of g-force monitors placed inside the helmets of lacrosse and football players. Mr. Mills and his team will study patterns of head trauma in practices and games.

Though the crowd was small on January 8th, the Concussion Management forum was a huge step in the groundbreaking developments to come as Malvern moves to the forefront in the field of concussion treatment and research..

6

January-February 2014

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

SPORTS

Seattle secures 1st Super Bowl New York (and New Jersey) host the annual classic Patrick Ferraiolo ‘17 REPORTER

“I

never seen a team choke like that in the Super Bowl,” said NFL analyst Mike Ditka.

He was, of course, talking about the performance of the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. With everyone expecting a very close and exciting game in Metlife Stadium, people were very shocked to find one of the biggest Super Bowl blowouts.

HAV E

to move the ball and get in scoring position. But, fate wasn’t with them.

With Manning winding up to fire a pass to wide open receiver Wes welker, the pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage, and gave the Seahawks linebacker, Malcolm Smith, who was later named Super Bowl MVP, an easy interception, which was returned for a touchdown.

been questions on Peyton’s leadership and athletic ability at his old age.

But, these questions will be answered later. For now we will just bask in the glory of the great Seattle victory. They earned this victory and for the first time in the history of the franchise, they are Super Bowl champs.

TECHNOLOGY

Newest Photoshop update allows 3D Printing A big step for Adobe software has potential for 3D printing Jake Sorensen ‘15 NEWS EDITOR

W

such as AutoCAD than Photoshop.

As a result, the inclusion of 3D printing tools in Photoshop will allow 3D printing to be much more accessible to the common user.

many people think of t he popu lar photo editing program Adobe All hope was lost. Walking into The final score of this Super Bowl: Photoshop, they think of anything Despite the fact that Photoshop halftime down 22-0, the Broncos Seattle 43 Denver 8 from the manipulation of images to itself is mainly geared towards proneeded the biggest comeback in Super Congratulations to the Seattle make images look nicer to creating fessionals, Adobe expects 3D printBowl history in order to win. But this Seahawks for an magnificent perfor(sometimes painfully obvious) fake ing within the application to be was Seattle’s day in the sun, and the mance in the biggest televised game photos. However, relatively easy. The The Seattle Seahawks dominated second half started with a Percy harvin of the year, holding the best offense what few people redesigned toolset the entire game from opening kickoff kick return for a touchdown. team in the history of the NFL to only know is that it is i n Photoshop is to the last snap. To start the game, 8 points. The team proved that they MORE COMPANIES possible to design simple enough so Broncos veteran quarterback, Peyton With a now unconquerable 29-0 can play anyone and defeat anyone.

ARE STARTING TO SEE and make finishthat newer users Manning, jogged his way to the 16 lead facing the Broncos, you could Having the best defense in the NFL, 3D PRINTING MORE ing touches to 3D c a n e a s i l y pic k yard line and participate maybe his might as well given the trophy to along with rising offensive stars leaves AS A VIABLE PIECE OF models inside of up and use tools last game ever. It all went downhill Seattle right then and there. After no question of whether they will be TECHNOLOGY RATHER the program itself. to ed it premade from there. that, the rest of the game was trivial. in the playoffs next year. I expect this THAN SOMETHING OF While new updates designs. However, The Broncos did score in the 4th quarteam to be Super Bowl contenders for A GIMMICK. to t he prog ra m Photoshop is still Following a safety on the very ter, but at that point it was all about a very long time. are usually smaller powerful enough so first play, the Broncos defense failed personal stats. Despite a poor effort, things such as bugs that more advanced to stop the Seahawks offense, giving Peyton Manning did have a record for Like this Super Bowl has proven: or the rare incluusers can make full them back to back field goals for a 8-0 the most completions by a quarterback Offense draws crowds, but defense sion of minor feause of all of what lead. After that, the broncos offense in the Super Bowl. Other notable wins championships.  tures, the addition of support for 3D 3D printing has to offer. In addition, did absolutely nothing with the ball, Broncos was wide receiver Demaryius printers marks a significant change for Photoshop also generates support giving momentum and the ball to the Thomas for the most catches in Super users, Adobe, and the future of 3D structures for the model automatiSeahawks to start the second quarter.

Bowl history. printing alike. cally, to ensure that the printer will produce complete and accurate results Walking down the field, a touchNow the big question for Denver Currently, one of the only ways in the long term. Finally, Photoshop down drive was concluded by a is this: Will Peyton Manning be quarto be able to manipulate and print a will also be able to support different Marshawn Lynch rushing touchdown, terback next year or will he retire? Not 3D model is to use much more commaterials, such as different metals, giving Seattle a 15-0 lead. On the having the opportunity to ride off in plicated CAD programs. There is ceramics, and sandstone. Currently, next Denver drive, manning seemed the sunset with a Super Bowl victory, a smaller percentage of people that many commercial and consumer 3D to settle down and finally started like Ray Lewis last year, there have know how to use CAD programs printers only support printing using ABS plastic, due to the fact that it relatively cheap to obtain and has the best results. While there aren’t a lot of 3D printers that support other materials, the support for other materials will hopefully encourage companies that Pat Ferraiolo thinks realistically about chances for the 2014 Phillies team create 3D printers to expand their support as well.

Pat Ferraiolo ‘17 in office. With all the talented have been underdogs before.

REPORTER free agents the Phillies could For example, the 1993 Phil’s This is also a big step for Adobe as have attempted to pick up, all were projected to only win well. The inclusion of 3D printing to S the days get longer, and the temperature they could accomplish were 58 games, and they went all Photoshop shows that Adobe is willrises, America’s National Pastime will be two barely functionable the way to the World Series ing to embrace newer, more promisback in the world again in just a few weeks. veterans. Also, this team that year. ing technologies. Conversely, this also The wait is finally over! Order will be restored in is already the Nursing shows that more and more companies the world once the umpires say ‘play ball’.

Home of Baseball, having Even though it is tough are starting to see 3D printing more one of the oldest rosters in the to watch Phillies game these as a viable piece of technology rather But, recently, in the past few years, watching a league. This line up includes shortdays, I think we can all agree that than something of a gimmick. With Phillies game has been anything but baseball. At one stop Jimmy Rollins, catcher Carlos baseball brings people together. No companies such as Adobe starting point, they were not a team, just 9 people running Ruiz, First Baseman Ryan Howard, and matter what is going on in the world, to increase support for 3D printing, around a field. Not living up to their expectations lets not forget the ageless wonder, second whether it be war, a bad economy, National along with the actual cost of 3D printin the last few seasons, it as seemed as if the city has baseman Chase Utley.

Debt, terrorism, or any other national disaster ing going down, we will most likely given up on team that they cheered only three years that no one should go through, people always find start to see 3D printers become as ago. With this year being an important one, lets take Despite all of this, the Phillies still have ‘High their way to the ballpark to watch baseball. There’s accessible as regular printers.  a look back at what the Phillies have done to prepare Hopes’ for this upcoming season. When asked about a reason why baseball is called America’s National for the next 162 games. this seasons expectations, manager Ryne Sandberg Pastime. stated, “We have a great team of veteran players who While the field was covered by snow in the offhave certainly been around the game for quite some So when your watching Ryan Howard strike out, season, the front office had an excellent opportunity time. With this team, I believe that we can make a or Jimmy Rollins make a bad throw, just be glad to really improve the team. But this year, GM Ruben run and make the playoffs.” you’re watching the game. It could be a lot worse.  Amaro Jr. and his staff completely wiffed in free agent signings. With numerous amounts of possiNow, the Phillies aren’t the worst team in the NEW SEMESTER, NEW SCHEDULE. ble free agents to offer a contract to, all the Phillies world, but you might have spent too much time at REPORTERS MEETINGS ARE NOW could muster are two battered, old, and worn out the bar if you say that the Phillies are postseason veterans to an already aging team. I didn’t know potential. I think Ryne Sandberg is wishful thinking. that Ruben mostly scouted at Nursing Homes for In my opinion, I believe that they will barely have Old Men. The two ‘baseball players’ are Marlon a winning record and miss the playoffs but 12-20 IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO GET INVOLVED THIS YEAR! Byrd and Bobby Abreu. Neither of these players games. Anything more than 85 wins is a miracle.

WE NEED FRIAR LIFE, SPORTS, AND LOCAL NEWS REPORTERS. JOIN IN. have had a decent year since President Bush was But, come April, who knows what will happen. They HEN

Phillies have ‘High Hopes’ for new season

A

DAY 3, 7:45 AM, DUFFY 118

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

January-February 2014

7

Robotics Team is ready for 2014 challenge Student-run team of Malvern and Villa Maria students prepares for games, goals, engineering, and sportsmanship Joe Martin ‘15 & Matt Lanetti ‘15

the corners of the arena.

R

IDING on

their success from last year, Malvern’s robotics team “1168” is ready to go. Last year’s challenge of climbing pyramids and shooting frisbees was certainly difficult, but it was no match to the combined effort of Malvern and Villa.

In 2013, 1168 won numerous trophies for their unique and creative design. 1168 was one of two teams on the east coast successful in building a robot that could climb to the peak of an 8 foot tall pyramid.

Each year, the rules to the ever-changing games are rather complex. However they do tend to be based on a simple premise.

“The competitions always find a new way to challenge us, but we can take it,” says Brian Sayers ‘15.

This year’s challenge doesn’t involve a pyramid, which is disappointing considering 1168 excelled with last year’s pyramid. Rather, it involves launching 28 inch balls through goal posts. On a basketball court sized arena, robots will attempt to shoot 2-foot diameter exercise balls through different sized goals. Extra points are scored if the teams of robots use assists and passes throughout the game.

At the start of each 2 ½ minute match, robots will be given a 10 second autonomous period, where they are not controlled by human team members, but by preprogrammed code. Goals made in this short period will earn additional points. Other ways of scoring points include passing a ball over a 6 foot tall truss that spans the arena at its midpoint, and placing balls in metal frames located in

>DR. J. 3 I use the style of teaching that was taught to me by the Jesuits. It’s all based on the concept of Ratio Studiorum.

AS: I’ve never heard of that. What is the Ratio Studiorum, and how does it relate to your style of teaching?

Dr. J: You can learn all about the Ratio Studiorum and my style of teaching. All you have to do is read my doctoral dissertation on it.

(Upon some research, I learned that the Ratio insists on teaching a few well-related subjects taught thoroughly, with frequent repetition, as opposed to a variety of subjects taught simultaneously.)

AS: Where did you get your degree?

Dr. J: Which one?

AS: You have more than one degree?!

Dr. J: I have many degrees. I got my doctorate at Princeton. I spent time at St. Charles’s Seminary.

When I was younger, I was sent to Rome for sixth months, and studied to become a priest at the Pontifical Roman Seminary at the Basilica of St. John Lateran. I also have my BA in Philosophy, my MS in Computer Science, and an MA in both Mathematics and Theology. Some people collect baseball cards; the Yankees collect World Series; I collect degrees.

AS: You spent a lot of time at learning at many different schools, but when did you start teaching at Malvern?

Dr. J: I accidentally came to Malvern thirty-five years ago. I guess you could say that the judge issued me the “life sentence.”

AS: How’d you “accidentally” come to Malvern?

Dr. J: Well, thirty-five years ago, one of the theology teachers left Malvern, and somehow that same day my resume appeared on Father Duffy’s desk.

AS: So you started out as a theology teacher?

The league Malvern competes in is known as FIRST robotics. FIRST robotics has turned engineering into a sporting event, through nearly 3,000 competing teams throughout the world. The competition itself is truly a sight to see. Teams have matching uniforms and various types of chants to cheer on their robots. Despite all the colors and chants, the thing that sticks out the most about the competition is the sportsmanship displayed by all teams. When 1168 climbed to the top of the pyramid, the entire gym erupted with cheers for the Friarbot. It is very different than the “win at all costs” mentality that comes with many sports.

Although the idea of robots competing in sport is rather unique, Malvern and Villa’s combined team of 1168 is unique in itself. Entirely student run, 1168 is managed by the upperclass students who have experience with the program. Scheduling, engineering, budget, and responsibilities are all defined and assigned by the students themselves.

ARENA FOR THE 2014 ROBOTICS CHALLENGE

the robot or coming up with ideas, it really is up to the students.”

“As a junior now, I, and the other upperclassmen, have a responsibility to teach the new students,” said Sayers If you are interested in joining robotics, speak Tom Allen ‘14, Robotics CEO, or to Mr. Quinn. 

“Our robotics program is truly student run,” says Mr. Quinn, Malvern’s robotics mentor, “The mentors take pride in not touching

How’d you get into teaching math?

Dr. J: I taught Church history and theology of marriage and college SAT prep my first year. I added German I and II, Moral Theology in place of CH, and pre calc in my second year. Pre calc became AP calc in my third year with Theology of Death and Dying and German III and IV. Then Latin replaced German and all kinds of Math replaced Latin. I also taught Logic for my first four years, and later Intro to Philosophy and Comparative Religions. I became all math about six or seven years ago, and all AP Stats, AB, and BC and Diff Eq more recently.

The Norriton fire company does, however, assist Norristown. And I’ve have been a firefighter since 1976.

AS: How’d you get started with them?

Dr. J: That was another coincidence. When I was younger, I lived behind a firehouse, and one night there was a fire. I heard the engines going off, so I ran down to the fire house to see what was going on. Then one of the firefighters asked me, “Can you drive stick?” Apparently that night they had no drivers on hand at the time. I had no idea how to drive stick at the time, but that I’M A NORRISTONIAN; night I taught myself. The rest WE MAKE TIME FOR is history.

AS: Is it true that you write EVERYTHING. for the AP exams?

-DR. J. Dr. J: In 1992, the College AS: Do you have any fond or Board recognized me as a notable experiences workteacher, and approached me to ing for the Norriton fire be a part of their grading team. Then, in 2000, I department? was asked to be on the writing team for the AP Dr. J: I have many, but I’ll share one with you Statistics exam. And that entails much more than that I thought was pretty funny. So a couple of just writing. When you’re apart of the College years back, there was a fire at the Norristown Board process, you also travel a lot. I’ve been Hospital. At the time, the hospital used to own to places like the Bronx and Kentucky, teaching a piggery, and somehow the silo had caught on students and also teachers about Statistics and fire. So as we arrived, we were wondering how how to teach it. the heck we were going to be able to put this fire out. I climbed up the ladder and into the silo to AS: Where do you get all this time to do see what was going on, and the odor was one of things like this? the most horrible smells I’ve ever experienced.

Dr. J: I’m a Norristonian; we make time for Instead of having grain in the silo, they filled it everything. with cow crap.

Then, somehow, the door closed behind me, and AS: So you have a lot of pride in Norristown?

I was locked in. I was yelling into the walkieWhy do you have such pride? talkie, “Get me out of here!” (now I probably Dr. J: A couple of years into teaching, a lot of had a wider vocabulary at the time). Eventually, the “Chestertonians” were giving me a lot grief they got me out. We were still thinking how to for being from Norristown. They were saying put out the fire. Then were realized that the only that only “criminals and scum” come from way we would be able to safely put this out would Norristown. After those experiences, I developed be to shovel all the “contents” out. So we each more pride in my community. took turns shoveling.

Now, at one point, it was my turn to shovel; AS: And you’re a Norristown firefighter, however, when I was climbing up the silo, the correct? shoveler must not have gotten the “memo”. So Dr. J: No. I’m technically a Norriton fire fighter. as I was climbing up the ladder, the brilliant man

threw his load off the silo, and I got a shovel full of flaming cow crap right on my face.

AS: You’ve been at Malvern for a long time.

What do you think was your favorite part about it?

Dr. J: Without a doubt, it’s Father Duffy. His character and persona made him a man for others. He always knew the right thing to do at the right time. He changed, saved, and made Malvern what it is today. He was, in my mind, the greatest thing to ever happen to Malvern, and it was a true honor to be able to say that I knew the man.

AS: He seems like a great man.

Dr. J: If you met him, you would know that instantly.

AS: Now I just have one more question before we wrap this interview up. The big thing in Malvern nowadays is 21st Century Education.

How do you feel about all the changes that are happening in education today.

(There was a moment of silence.)

Dr. J: What we need is the best of what has made Malvern a very good school for many people, and a well-piloted addition of new techniques and technologies.

Dr. J. is definitely one of the most interesting teachers at Malvern. But all of this is not his only impact on the Malvern experience. This year, I’ll be going to Peru on my service trip, but it wasn’t Father Flynn, Mr. Stewart, or even Mr. Legner who gave me and all juniors this opportunity.

Believe it or not, Dr. J. started the Christian program at Malvern. He ran it for twenty-three years, and originally took trips to Appalachia. While on one trip, he drove the fire engine of the Ivanhoe VA volunteer fire department, even though he had no idea where he was going.

So next time you see Reverend Dr. Firefighter Joseph Oechsle around, ask him about about life, Norristown, the Yankees, math, etc. But don’t blink, because if you do, you might miss his response!

8

January-February 2014

ARISTS OF THE ISSUE

Artist of the Issue:

Bernard Williams ‘17

BERNARD WILLIAMS

JIM CANUSO ‘17 REPORTER

M

own freshman rap sensation, Bernard Williams is new here, but he is definitely making a name for himself. I wanted to take a look at what rap music means to him and what kind of progress he is making with his skills.

Rap is more than simply talking in rhythm. It has a unique form of difficulty that makes it comparable to other highly regarded kinds of music. “Rap is hard because you have to express yourself from the heart and you can’t just make up any random words, unless you’re just freestyling just for fun,” said Bernard. In rap, you have to account for so many things when writing a song, he noted. Do these words go together rhythmically? Am I truly expressing myself from the heart?

Does the rap go well with the beat?”

And much more.

Every rapper needs a motivation.

“Basically, I just found it is as a way to express myself through music rather than just talking it out when I’m talking to somebody,” said Williams. Part of that motivation, however, involves human inspiration. I asked Bernard who his biggest inspiration was.

“That’s actually a hard one, because while I’m a Lil Wayne fan, I’m leaning towards Meek Mill now. I just find that Meek sort of like talks to me more so than Lil Wayne. Mostly because I’m from Philly and Meek is too. I see what he means in his raps and that’s where there’s a sort of connection.”

Bernard is making good progress with his rap. He mentioned his upcoming mixtape named “My City.” Look for it sometime in February or March.

A LV ER N’S

If you want to learn more about Bernard’s work, you can follow him on Instagram (@thefreshestprince___) and Soundcloud (Nardy Nard 1). 

THE BLACKFRIAR CHRONICLE

>SWIMMING, 1

>GABRIELE, 3

to a hopeful Heyward Cup victory.

With two championships this year already some credit must be given to Jay Schiller and his staff.

focus to whatever I’m doing at that time. When I’m at home I focus on my work, and when I’m on the pitch I just focus on soccer.

Mr. Schiller, who also serves as a Health teacher, has always been a great motivator. He encourages a fierce competitiveness in his classes with an emphasis on having fun and playing with class.

MM: You have been on the varsity soccer team since freshman year.

When did you first start playing soccer and why do you love playing it?

NG: I first started playing club soccer for TEYSA, Tredyffrin Easttown Youth Soccer Association, when I was about seven or eight, and I’ve played for them ever since. When I got older, I started playing on FC Europa, which the premier soccer team within TEYSA. Actually, when I was about ten or eleven, I had to decide between hockey and soccer and I decided soccer was what I loved more. In soccer terms, I’m not the most “technical” player. For example, I don’t have the greatest foot skills but I just enjoy being a defender and winning tackles, the 50/50 balls, and putting my body on the line for the team.

Schiller pushes his guys to work hard, as obvious through the team’s rigorous practice schedule and workouts. He has said that he is extremely proud of the team’s unwavering efforts and unity. Always fired up to talk about the water sports, Coach Schiller also knows how to have fun as seen in the picture above.

Though the pool sports are done for the year, you can still admire their success. Tw banners now hang in the O’Neil Aquatic Center, two banners that let anyone who jumps in that pool that Friars are the champs. 

MM: What would you say has been the highlight of your high school years so far? What are you most looking forward to next year?

NG: The highlight for me thus far has definitely been MECO. I was just the ultimate experience. I wouldn’t say it was “life changing”, but it definitely was eye opening. It just made me realize how much I love this place. SAVI was a real highlight as well. A couple months ago I went to San Diego, California to Saint Augustine’s Prep where I spent a weekend with students from all the other Augustinian schools in North America. It was great to meet all those really great people and share some of our Augustinian traditions with each other and discuss the core values we share.

I am most looking forward to just being as involved as possible in Malvern. I want to make the most out of my experience here. Thats why I decided to do the play this year, I want to take it all in. However, in particular I am looking forward to leading the next three MECOs. I really can’t wait to share that awesome experience with our classmates.

MM: A few weeks ago, four large posters which detail the plan for the future of our campus were put on display. What are your thoughts on the building proposals as well

WHITE FLAG

FRIAR CROSSWORD

as the move to a 21st century institution?

NG: I think innovation is always a good thing. I mean, we are a college prep school. The more tools and exposure that Malvern students have can only help us. However, I do tend to respond better to more “traditional” methods of learning. I’m more of a traditional note taker, listener to lectures, and problem solver at home. I’m not really into collaboration or group work, and that is something that I know I have to get better at. It’s hard to always be a team player.

However I think the new buildings can only help us as students. I like Malvern’s vision in which Malvern seems to be a pioneer in this type of thing. Once we set the example, I think a lot of other schools will follow.

MM: If you had to describe your Malvern experience in one word, what would it be and why?

NG: The word would be shaping. This is because Malvern has instilled the Augustinian virtues in me and these virtues have made me who I am today and will help me become the person I want to become in the future. 

Ricky Walsh ‘14