Letter From The Editors Being editors has been an adventure like no other. It has had its ups and downs throughout the year, mainly in the form of technical difficulties; however, we are overjoyed with our final results in both the Fall and the Spring editions. We now have a great appreciation for the skills an editor must possess, from the actual proofreading to the human interaction to the complexities of formatting and designing. Our mission when we took over the Hebron Review this year was to make it a forum in which students could write about their passions and take on important subjects. We wanted to push the mindsets of Hebron’s community and deal with more controversial topics. Reading and writing help people discuss modern issues and learn to open their minds to other points of view, and it was our goal to let the Hebron Review foster that energy in the 2018-2019 school year. Looking back on the year, especially this Spring edition, we like to think that we have succeeded. In these pages we feature articles about ethnic diversity, gender neutral bathrooms, co-ed dorm rooms, conflict with indigenous peoples, and more. Not only that, but our Fall edition held articles about the GSTA and a human rights seminar, while an article on our blog about toxic masculinity has had over fifty student comments at press time. As two of us move on to college next year, we have one piece of advice for the future editors: don’t stop pushing boundaries. Let the Hebron Review be something students can use to give themselves a voice about issues they care about, whether it’s on campus or not. Let there be controversy. Let there be energy and heat. Let the students of Hebron dictate what needs to be discussed. The only way that you can change what needs fixing is by starting a conversation. So let the Hebron Review be that spark.
Table of Contents
On-Campus Events How To Survive an AP Class
1
An Adventure in China
4
First Annual Winter Games
5
The Thrill of the Dribble Balanced with the Love of a Playbill
7
My Snowboarding Journey
9
Scholastic Award Winners And the Summer Was Over
10
Sun, Wind, and Water
11
The Art of Separating
12
Modern Look on the Implications of the Second Amendment
13
Opinion Reflecting on my Judgments
17
On Futurism and the Impact of AI
19
Safety and Comfort at Hebron in the Form of

20
Gender-Neutral Bathrooms MAGA Students
21
Redefining Diversity
22
Looking at Coed High School Dorm Rules
25
On Campus Events
choose whether or not to heed my advice, but don’ t say I didn’t warn you.
How to Survive an AP Class: Told by an AP Student By Emma Skelton ’19
AP classes are notorious for their difficulty, several hours of homework, and
(credit LA Times)
likelihood to make you cry. You spend the entire
Rule Number One: READ THE TEXTBOOK
year cramming for a three-hour test that (1) doesn’t count for your grade and (2) may not be
Now this one may seem to be stupidly
recognized by the college you choose to attend
easy to follow. Think again, pal. AP textbooks
in the future. So you may be asking yourself,
are longer than life itself and usually contain
“What’s the point?” Well…part of me wants to
more words than I can possibly comprehend.
say there is no point; don’t take the class; it’s
When it’s the end of study hall on a Thursday
more work than you want to take on. But that’s
night, and you still have a whole chapter of
the sleep-deprived part of my brain. The
reading to do that’s due the next day, it’ll seem
rational part says that AP classes set you up for
really tempting to simply Google the topic and
the intensity of college and provide you with
hope for the best. This is totally, completely,
skills you’re unlikely to hone as well in your
100% reasonable, and also totally, completely,
other classes. Also, most AP classes stop
100% what you should not do! While I
learning new information after the AP exam, so
understand just as well as anyone that
that gives you two weeks to relax and hang out
textbooks are not necessarily an enjoyable
and make fun of your non-AP-class-taking
read, they are also there for a reason. Actually
friends who have been laughing at you all year
reading the material and trying to understand
for choosing homework over Netflix.
as much of it as possible before you talk about
So by now, you’re probably wondering
it in class will help you in the long run on tests
how you’ll ever survive the AP classes you’ve
and papers and the AP Exam, trust me. I
decided to take. Well, don’t worry, friends!
would not have made it through APUSH
Don’t let 700-page textbooks and stories of all-
without reading the textbook. That said, it is
nighters scare you! A Certified-AP-Class-
possible to coast on doing the bare minimum,
Taking-Student is here to help! I've compiled
college credit from the exam.
my tips on how to survive an AP class. You can 1
but it is unlikely to give you a good grade or
required of you, and put all of your effort into
college credit from the AP Exam.
it. It will better your chances on the AP Exam, and allow you to hone skills that will show up
Rule Number Two: Talk to your teachers.
in your college courses, whether it’s concise
They’re here to help you and to teach you. essay writing or working under a time limit. While it may seem at the moment that they are You may not get a 5 on the exam, but I'm actively trying to drown you in work, what they
positive that your teachers and parents will be
want most is to see you succeed and know that
proud of your improvement and effort
they helped you improve throughout the year.
throughout the year regardless of your final
The point of an AP class is to push you beyond
score on a test that won’t matter in ten years.
where a normal high school class would. So don’t blame your teachers for trying to better your education, and please, please, please don’t hate them. They’re people too, and I’m positive that they want you to thrive in their (credit College Board)
class. So if you are feeling overwhelmed or don’t understand the material, go talk to them!
Rule Number Four: Forget about the
Pose questions, set up meetings, ask for an
looming AP Exam.
extension if you’re unable to complete an
In all honesty, the AP Exam doesn’t
assignment on time. Don’t go into the session
matter all that much. Yes, there’s a chance that
hostile, and recognize that they just want to help you could get college credit, but in the long you. run, a standardized test doesn’t measure your intelligence nor your knowledge of a subject. Rule Number Three: Do your best.
All any teacher can ask for is that you do your best. Though AP classes have a bad rep, try to go into them with an open mind. You’re likely taking the class because it’s a subject that interests you. So why not take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it? Whether it’s US history, English literature, psychology, calculus, or music theory, to name a few, you’re guaranteed to learn something new. So start
So instead of obsessing over practice exams and flashcards, take a deep breath and live your life. Your future will be so much more than a score on a test. Enjoy the class and the challenges you’ll face throughout the year. High school goes by far too fast to be constantly worrying about one exam. Don’t get me wrong: you should still listen to the previous advice to put in your best effort and take the class seriously. But let go of your
with your best foot forward, do the work 2
anxiety about the final. Trying to figure out
do it or that you’re stupid or that you should
exactly what will be on the exam and obsessing
just drop the class. In the legendary words of
over memorization will only hurt you in the
the wise band Coldplay, “Nobody said it was
long run. Instead, study with your classmates
easy.” If you’re someone who is used to getting
(it’ll help you retain material better to work
straight A’s, it can be discouraging to see a C
together!) and learn what you can through
on your midterms. But trust me, it’s not the
participating in class, reading the textbook
end of the world. After all, C’s get degrees.
(wink, wink), and allowing yourself time to
Just kidding! In all honesty, as long as you’re
breathe.
putting in your best work, I guarantee that your grade will go up. AP classes take some getting used to, and by the end of the year, you’ll have the system down and laugh at yourself for the tears shed when you were a naive little nugget at the beginning of the year. You can take or leave my advice, of course. But I guarantee that that AP class (or classes—go, you!) you’re contemplating will be worth it, even if it doesn’t seem like it at the time. (Credit FakingNews)
You’ll learn new content and new skills
Rule Number Five: Don’t be too hard
and have a huge feeling of accomplishment by
on yourself.
the time those two weeks of relaxation roll around in May. Yes, it’ll be hard. Yes, there
AP classes are difficult. There’s no
will be nights where you genuinely want to
denying it. You’re taking college-level classes as
throw your textbook and papers into a huge,
high schoolers, and that alone is a victory. I can
fiery mess and watch it all disintegrate into a
remember several nights crying over APUSH
pile of ashes and then run away and never
DBQs or the dreaded AP Literature poetry
look back. But you won’t. You’ll get through it.
practice exams. Please, if you take anything
I promise. And then next year you can be the
away from this article, don’t do this to yourself!
one to assure prospective AP students that AP
As a frustration crier, I can totally understand
classes are a torture worth taking.
shedding tears when you just don’t understand something. But don’t tell yourself that you can’t 3
An Adventure in China
customizable soup. After a few days in the
By Olivia Newell ’21
lovely city of Tianjin, we took yet another train to the smaller city of Pingyao. We only spent one night there, but it was well worth the stop
On March 7th, at three in the morning, we set out for the airport to start our long
for the enormous amount of dumplings we ate
journey to Beijing. Immediately after getting
and tea we drank.
off the plane, the students (Will, Brennen, Paige, Jamie, Kurtis, and I) had our first adventure, getting lost in the airport. After some desperate WeChats to Mr. Paul and Mr. Tholen, we found them and headed to our hostel. Thankfully, the next day started off a little better. We set out for the Forbidden City and Wangfujing, a busy street filled with crazy foods. We ate everything from scorpions to tarantulas to ice cream. It was a short but exciting time in Beijing. We soon hopped on a high-speed train to Tianjin where we spent the next few days. Tianjin was a very different city from where we had been; it was calmer and warmer. While there, we visited the Great Wall. While it seemed like we climbed thousands of stairs,
After sleeping in bunk beds on an
it was well worth the view at the top. We also
overnight train, we arrived in Xi’an. The
spent a lot of time in an area of shops called
weather was warm and the trees were
Da Hutong, known for the fake name-brand
blooming. We visited the Terracotta Warriors,
clothing sold there. It was at these stores that
learned how they were made, and even had the
Will bought himself the infamous fake Gucci
chance to meet the farmer who discovered the
tracksuit, which he wore everywhere, and
soldiers in his field. Xi’an was also our first
Brennen bought his Peppa Pig sweatshirt with
introduction to hot pot. There are three words
matching slippers. We ate everything from
to describe this meal; spicy, messy, and
“savory Chinese crepes” to Malatang, a kind of
delicious. After two days we left Xi’an for 4
Chengdu. In Chengdu, we visited the famous
and experiencing a new culture was something
poet Du Fu’s cottage and hiked to a revered
that all of us will remember and cherish for a long
temple on top of Qingcheng Mountain. Most
time. For me, this trip was well worth the
importantly, we saw pandas! Some were playful, fourteen-hour flight trapped between Jamie and some lazy, some hungry, but all were adorable.
Paige and was an experience I will never forget.
(That was maybe the first thing everyone on the trip could agree on.) We quickly became very familiar with Chengdu and found ourselves loving the dumplings we ate every morning for breakfast, the bubble tea shops, and the steak flavored chips that Kurtis ate for most meals.
First Annual Winter Games This trip was an adventure for
By Aarti Singh ’20
everyone. Whether it was Mr. Tholen attempting (and most often failing) to speak
Hebron Academy has always been an
Mandarin, Brennen learning to use chopsticks
exciting place all year round. Hebron has provided
(once again, usually failing), or getting lost on
numerous activities and competitions for the
multiple occasions, we all came together at the
students to take part in. These opportunities are
end of the day to laugh about it. Eating new
not only in classrooms or athletic fields but also
foods, speaking and hearing a new language,
on and off campus. The excitement for the 5
boarding students was doubled this year when
looked forward to their assigned events but
faculty member Mr. Paul came up with the idea
also showed up to cheer for their teams.
of hosting Winter Games for the very first time
Events on Day One were Broomball and
in the history of Hebron Academy. This, unlike
Badminton, with both “YMB” and “Obtain the
many other activities, was an event that
Grain” winning gold in each. The second day
connected the student body at a deeper level
attracted a huge crowd with events like 3-on-3
and strengthened the bond between both
Basketball, Curling, Pickleball, and Snow
faculty and students. The teachers and the
Sculptures. Teams wore matching outfits and
proctors took initiative in organizing the event
team chants were heard way outside the
and making it the best ever imagined. Our
athletic building. The results of Day Two were
school leaders took up the challenge of
quite a surprise as “the Old School” managed
recruiting their team members and winning the to tie with “YMB” and “Obtain the Grain” with championship. Moreover, the faculty were not
three medals and, following behind, “the
behind in grasping the opportunity of showing
Average Joes” and “Jack Pack” with two.
their strength as they entered the games with the team called “The Old School.” The excitement we all felt can hardly be explained with words. Being part of Eliza Quiñones’s team, “The Average Joes,” I was ready to perform any event and was determined to get a medal. But for my surprise, it wasn't just me who was hungry for the prize, but everyone who participated. The
The final day ended with both laughter
best thing about the Winter Games was the
and joy. The ice skating, ice dancing, and
balance of both athletic and artistic events that
sledding events were the right way to
made kids of many talents join this amazing
experience the winter of Maine. The moment
event.
of the day would definitely be the entrance of The event was divided into three days to
balance off the athletic schedule. The kids
Mr. Tholen as a dinosaur which brought laughter amongst the competitors and faculty
6
kids. Mrs. Ftorek mentioned that her
daughter Bayley Bean has never enjoyed ice
the classroom, of course. Whether it be
skating as much as she did while watching the
playing on a varsity team or getting the lead in
dinosaur dance. Even though “Obtain the
the school musical, all of us go into our high
Grain,” led by Vedant Divekar, won the Winter
school careers with high ambitions to join
Games, the weekend was filled with
certain clubs and activities. In many public
competitiveness, fun, and enjoyment. Overall,
schools you are forced to choose what is most
no one on campus has ever enjoyed the winter
important to you and are restricted to only
as much as they did during the Winter Games
one activity for the entire school year, or at
weekend, and the community made it clear in
least that semester.
upcoming winters.
Being limited to only one activity and passion makes it nearly impossible for you to have the balanced lifestyle that you have strived for your entire childhood. While some schools’ limitations prove to be a deficit for many students, other schools encourage being involved with multiple school activities. Hebron makes it possible for you to enjoy the thrill of playing with your varsity team, as well as relishing the spotlight in your school play.
The Thrill of the Dribble Balanced
This winter there were more than seven
with The Love of a Playbill By Katherine Ducharme ‘21 All throughout elementary and Middle School we are taught to balance our activities and explore new things. Parents encourage us to get outside of our comfort zones and not be afraid of change. This is all great throughout grade school, but as we become older our education tends to outshine most other activities and we are forced to only choose what is most important, outside of
7
student-athletes in the school’s production of Peter and the Starcatcher. I, along with
the other student athletes for the winter trimester, would juggle a rigorous practice and game schedule while still managing to keep proficient grades in the classrooms. Personally, I found balancing both of these commitments took a lot. My typical schedule would start just like everyone else's
then go to a cappella rehearsal with some
by attending all of my morning and afternoon
other members and rehearse until around
classes. After school would include a more
7:50. After this, I would come back to dorm
rigorous and strenuous program. Right after
for Study Hall and finish out my day.
classes I would typically hurry over to the Performing Arts Center for rehearsal that would range anywhere from 45 minutes to 2-plus
This was definitely a juggling act that took patience from both myself and all of my activity coordinators. Both my coaches and
hours (depending on the day and what my basketball schedule looked like). I typically had to leave rehearsal early to jog over to the
director were supportive of my commitments and were in constant communication with each other. While the winter was definitely a
Williams Center for basketball practice or, on most half-days, to the front of Halford to board the bus for our game. If we had practice it
busy time, I would not have changed it for anything. I had such a great time with the entire cast of the show and was able to meet
would typically run for an hour-and-a-half
new people and form strong relationships.
where we did everything from layup and
During basketball I was also able to become
shooting drills to full court sprints. Practices usually ended around 5:30, so almost all of the team would head over for dinner. If I missed
closer with teammates while playing a sport I love with other girls who love it too. From the other multi-activity students I spoke with, the
more than 30 minutes of practice I would
overarching conclusion was that they
usually stay and shoot around for some more
appreciated the opportunities given to them
time before dinner. If it was Monday I would
by both diverse programs. 8
My Snowboarding Journey
Being a new Asian female member on the
By Emma Xu ’19
snowboarding team was a challenge for me at first, but I am proud of all the accomplishments and memories that I have
As a four-year senior at Hebron, I have tried many different sports through my
gained from this. Pushing yourself to try
entire high school career. I signed up for the
something new is always helpful because you
snowboarding team during my junior year at
will never know how much you can do!
Hebron. It not only became one of my favorite sports, but it also created countless memories for me. When I was signing up for winter sports, I simply thought snowboarding was cool and decided to try something new. I remember during the first practice, I was struggling even before we started going to the mountains. I didn’t know how to put my boots on, how to get off the lift, or which way I should be facing when going down a mountain. Despite countless failures, falling off lifts, crushing onto ice, and nearly breaking my tailbone, I survived my first snowboarding winter. The second year, as a senior, I could snowboard freely, do some tricks, and was even asked to compete along with other schools. Even though I had some embarrassing moments during the competition, like when I fell down from a simple movement when other competitors were watching closely, luckily with my rapid improvements I eventually won two championships. 9
Scholastic Awards
And the Summer was Over by Samantha Gumprecht ’20
I was sitting by the window, the sun rays peeking through sheer dotted fabric as they swayed, cascading, creating a lulling calm. The smell of a hot early summer pushed through the screen. I was peaceful, happy and worry free, cuddled in the corner of my room as the minutes passed by. The sound of pebbles underneath the rubber of a tire stirred outside as they arrived home. Springing from my cozy little nook, I bounded down the stairs, each creaking as my foot pressed on them with excitement. The door swung open letting a wall of thick heat into the cool, dry house. Someone unexpected had arrived, someone near and dear to the heart: my godmother. It felt like a surprise, and I was overjoyed to have them home. Mom brought in food and stories and smiles, charging the tone of the room with excitement. Chatting and catching up, sitting around the kitchen, happy to finally not be alone in the house all put a wide smile across my face. The smell of the sandwiches weaving its way out of the bag and the feeling of family filled the kitchen. “I need to talk to you about something.” Those mere eight words never mean anything good and always carry a bad shadow. That moment my gut sank and I nervously awaited the glooming speech. I had already heard those words before in my life and each time it was bad news that followed. I sat there fidgeting with my fingers, a tick I do when I get nervous or embarrassed. My appetite disappeared, the happy feelings had vanished. I heard my mom’s word, and sat there as piece by piece I dissected the situation. “They caught it early enough honey.” But what if it develops into something ten times worse? “There are so many people around us who are ready to be there for us.” I don’t think I could actually live without her. “We are going to try our best to keep a normal routine.” 10
This is actually happening, my mother is one of the people affected, my family is going through this . “They are going to operate and try to take most of it out, then we will go on from there.” What if I lose my mom? I don't think I could actually make it through that. The end result of the jumble of words I heard was “ I have cancer.” I sat there for a moment awestruck at the thought that such a far-off terrible thing was actually happening to me and my family right now. I had always heard of people having it and I knew people who were affected by it, but never did I ever think that this stinging word would become such a prominent piece of my life. Throughout my fifteen years of life I had been through trying moments and throughout all of it my mother was my rock. I held on tight to her throughout the worst of the storms. But now of all things that the storm could have struck, it was my rock, my mom. I was going to have to be the rock through this storm and it made me scared to death. I was going to have to be the one needed for comfort. I would be the one my mom needed instead of me needing her, it was terrifying to me. This wasn't just a stranger I heard diagnosed with this terrible disease, this was one of my people. Cancer. Such a heavy word, weighted with pounds of emotions. The thought had never run through my mind that it would become a word I used in my daily vocabulary. As tears poured down my face, the summer was over before it had even begun.
Scholastic Awards
Sun, Wind, and Water by Ellena Frumiento ’20 High above the trees is a bright blue sky extending far into the universe. The air is warm and fresh; in every direction is an upward slope covered in thick forests. This body of water is what appears to be the only clearing in this vast woods. Each wave rolls across the surface with white bubbles dancing on top. The leaves whirl vigorously clinging to the tree branches. The rigging rattles as it clangs against the mast and colorful boats rock back and forth, yanking on their moorings. In my life jacket that used to be neon yellow, but is now so faded it is almost white, with my dark curls blowing, and my bare feet, I am sitting on the edge of Geronimo adjusting the sails to harness the wind; in one hand is the tiller and in the other is the main sheet. Sitting beside me is Kate, in her still neon-yellow life jacket, Ray-Ban sunglasses she stole from the lost and found, and her straight blond hair flying free, because her lucky hair tie sank. The water is splashing up and cooling the suncooked fiberglass that is burning our butts. The sun is baking our already pink faces. We arch our backs backwards so that we can dunk our heads into the cool water, but the forward movement floods water up our noses and into our ears; nevertheless, our mops of hair are now dripping cool water down our backs and faces. Comfortable and ready, we trim in the sheets and point downwind just enough to pick up speed. My hands are red and blistered from the lines I’m gripping. “Let it out just a little,” I tell Kate. As she eases the jib sheet, our sails transform into wings and we take off with power. The water starts splashing up, each wave seems to crash right into the boat as we plow through it, Geronimo is slowly becoming a shallow tub. The tiller begins to resist more and more. Suddenly our bow becomes a knife and starts slicing through the waves. We emerge flying, skimming the surface of the water with more speed than you can imagine, water spraying up from both sides of the boat. I feel out of control. Trailing us is a wake you’d think would come from a ninety-horsepower engine. Together, Kate and I laugh from pure joy until our bellies hurt. In the distance a loon laughs at us and then dives under quickly to avoid the missile that is us coming at it. “Hold on!” I yell, as Kate loses her balance because she was holding the jib sheets with her toes, an obviously pour choice. My arm instinctively flies out to catch her. Laughing, song lyrics from Hannah Montana start flowing out. Then the song switches to “How far I’ll go” from Moana, and then to the chorus of “West Virginia.” Soaking wet, with my curls dancing in all directions and her golden mane still flying in the wind, thirsty and sun-baked, we sail as the wind relentlessly blows. Every part of my body from the inside out is happy. All I hear is the whistling wind and the laughter. The water sparkles as if it were covered in tiny gems. The sky is so bright it hurts my eyes to look, and my skin is warm, absorbing as much of the moment as it can hold. Nothing else matters, the only things on my mind are the sun, wind and water. Under the vast blue sky, encircled by the forests and mountains of Maine, on a small lake, in this sailboat, I feel like a tiny speck in this huge world surrounding me. But on this sailboat, beside Kate, under the warm sun and bright sky, soaring over the lake through a tunnel of mist, without an ounce of stress or worry, full to the brim with happiness, and feeling love, I feel alive! 11
Scholastic Awards
The Art of Separating
by Sophie Chu-O’Neil ‘20
Birthdays are a special kind of milestone for every kid. No matter my age, I was eager to arrive at my next birthday. September 29, 2007 was my fifth birthday party. My best friend Susanna and her older sister who shared a name with me got to spend this milestone with me as well. In a big cabin on a hill, suffocated by trees and flowers, I was being celebrated. The upstairs was fun, but downstairs is where I felt magical. We had a hot tub under big slanted windows as if we were camping in a glass tent. The steam from the hot tub would float up onto the windows in order to become our temporary canvases. I do not remember the rules, because there were none. In a world consisting of nothing dangerous, rules were not necessary. I left my friends in the hot tub and stepped out for what I thought would be a short moment and met my parents in the doorway. There was a look— a look that was impossible to read, but that I could still feel it. A foreign argument. Without any clue what was being said, whatever was being fought for or against, I could feel the anger. Except this time, it had all of the feelings but lacked every bit of the noise. I remember the art melting off of windows that let me paint on the sky. I remember the water starting to get a little too hot, the burning sensation of bubbles coming up from underneath my skin instead. The chemical smell of the hot tub bubbling up beneath me. To this day, I do not remember what color or flavor cake we had, but I know cake has not tasted the same since. Some people may recognize divorce as the end to a big mistake. Typically this means that court does not go smoothly. The lawyers are as exhausted as the parents. Decisions become more difficult after the original decision to sever is final. Things rarely end amicably once this decision is made. 12
However, the word divorce has a negative connotation that is not entirely deserved. Divorce seems like it would be the undoing of a mistake, but as an outcome of that mistake, I do not believe it was. I knew from a young age that it was better to have separated parents who were happy than parents who were together but constantly arguing and miserable. Yet seeing the silver lining only lasted so long. I was switched off for holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving, switching off weekdays and weekends (except for the second and fifth weekend of the month) to be with my mom every month for ten years. The routine was never confusing, because it was a new custom in our family: Saying grace at dad’s and not at mom’s. Hiding my atheism from my dad to protect us both. Doing homework at mom’s and not at dad’s. Letting go for two days and getting it together with my mom. I lived a real life with my mom; it was a healthy balance. I was comfortable having divorced parents—until I wasn’t anymore. Until we argued who gets which holidays. Until I was asked who was the favorite parent. Divorce did not make me hate my parents; divorce made me get to know who my parents truly are as individuals. Every drawing I drew on the window is gone now. To be temporary does not make something of less value than something permanent. Although shortlived, the weekends I spent with my dad while he was the parent of an energetic six-year-old girl are a large part of who I am today. By the end of this year, I will be sixteen. The difference between six and sixteen is that now I realize that everyone is simply a person—rarely more than that and sometimes much less. People are nice with every reason not to be, and rude with dollar bills in their pockets and a healthy heart beating in their chest. My dad is a person. My mom is a person. And I am on my way to becoming my own.
Modern Look on the Implications of the Second Amendment Scholastic Awards by Iman Shepard ’19 The Second Amendment’s implication has altered within American society throughout the years. In 1791, when the amendment was first passed, life in America was vastly different from modern day America. Although the actual amendment has remained stagnant, the interpretation has altered, which can be seen through Supreme Court cases. Another difference is the technology available to people, which is discernible in the contrast between Revolutionary-era weaponry and modern-day guns. This further ties into the increasing trend of mass shootings within America beginning with the 1982 Miami shooting all the way to the recent Santa Fe High School shooting. Finally, the Second Amendment contrasts greatly to the gun laws in other countries, especially those with lower gun homicide rates. The Second Amendment was first passed by James Madison in 1791 and is a part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment served as a compromise between Federalists and Anti-Federalists. The atmosphere within post-American Revolution society was slightly panicked and chaotic because of the lack of a stable governing body; the Constitution was only four years old. Fear of a tyrannical government established a sense of distrust within Americans that led to the passage of the Second Amendment. This amendment states that, “a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” The ambiguity of the wording of the amendment allows for differences in interpretation, which has changed since the amendment was passed. The collective against individual debate as well as the issue of state against federal law spawn from the vagueness of the amendment.
13
There are two main interpretations of the amendment. The side arguing that the amendment is collective holds the ideology that states have the right to maintain a militia and that the Second Amendment is limited to those in a militia. Those who argue for individual rights believe the Second Amendment is applicable to everyone and there is no restrictions to state militias. There have been many court cases concerning the Second Amendment, including but not limited to, United States v. Miller and District of Columbia v. Heller. These cases are the core of the interpretation debate. United States v. Miller (1939) was a Supreme Court case involving a Second Amendment challenge to the National Firearms Act of 1934. The Court unanimously ruled that if a particular type of weapon (which was an eighteen inch sawed-off shotgun in the case) does not have “some reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well regulated militia, we cannot say that the Second Amendment guarantees the right to keep and bear such an instrument”. The ruling is widely interpreted as an affirmation of the collective, militia-based interpretation, but can also be pushed into a narrow light and argued as a support for the individual interpretation. In District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), Justice Antonin Scalia’s viewpoint differs from the collective interpretation and offers support for the individual interpretation. Justice Scalia stated that the Miller case came down to, “the type of weapon [that] was not eligible for Second Amendment protection” and that, “the opinion provided no explanation of the content of the right.” Justice Scalia also claimed, “had the Court believed that the Second Amendment protects only those serving in the militia, it would have been odd to examine the character of the weapon rather than simply note that the two crooks were not
Scholastic Awards militiamen.” Justice Scalia makes the point that the specificity of the Court’s claim regarding the actual weapon nulls the widely-accepted interpretation that the ruling was supportive of the collective interpretation, and this is also supplementary to the argument that the right to bear arms is an individual's right and is independent from a wellregulated militia. Furthermore, District of Columbia v. Heller is a landmark case, meaning it established a significant, new legal principle that altered the interpretation of the Second Amendment. The Supreme Court held that the Second Amendment protects an individual’s right to possess a firearm independently of service within a militia for lawful purposes. This case also determined the Handgun Ban a violation of the Second Amendment and stated that the right to bear arms is not unlimited and that guns and gun ownership would continue to be regulated; this serves as a major addition to the individual argument. Ultimately, the contrast in interpretation in United States v. Miller and District of Columbia v. Heller denotes and highlights the indetermination of the Second Amendment by exhibiting the different ways the amendment can be viewed--whether as collective or individual. Another change between 1791 and modern-day society is the technology available to people. The era in which the amendment was created was post-American Revolution, indicating that the technology was not as advanced as today. Revolutionary-era muskets, such as the Brown Bess or Charleville, typically have a one round magazine capacity. If skilled, a shooter can shoot three rounds per minute with fifty meters as the maximum accuracy range. There were no sights, and the main aspect of the gun was the bayonet used in hand-to-hand combat-not the actual fire power of the gun. Dissimilarly, a modernday gun such as an AR-15 has a thirty round magazine capacity, can shoot forty-five rounds per minute, and has a maximum accuracy range of 550 meters with little skill required to yield. 14
The vast difference in technology is a major contrast between when the amendment was first passed and modern-day society. In an article by The Washington Post, the argument is made that states: “This argument is based on ignorance of the history of firearms. It is true that in 1791 the most common firearms were handguns or long guns that had to be reloaded after every shot. But it is not true that repeating arms, which can fire multiple times without reloading, were unimagined in 1791… As of 1791, repeating arms were available but expensive… repeating arms were already in use when the Second Amendment was ratified, including the 22-shot rifle that was later carried on the Lewis and Clark expedition.” The article is against gun control and is reliable but biased; while factual, it leans towards anti-gun control. The gun referenced in the quote is a Girandoni air rifle, which was invented circa 1779. The rifle can shoot about twenty-one bullets at a maximum accuracy range of 125 feet. The argument is made that the technology involving repeating arms predates the passage of the 2nd Amendment. This argument is true, but also misleading. It is factual to say that the ideas behind gun technology began before the amendment was passed, but it is deceptive to readers as it seems as though modern-day weaponry compares to that in the late 1700’s. The availability of repeating rifles is nothing compared to the accessibility of guns today. The price to both manufacture and purchase a repeating arm was astronomical in 1779 and most could not afford it.
Scholastic Awards Multiple truly significant developments in weaponry technology occurred during majors wars, such as WWI and WWII, which was after the passage of the 2nd Amendment. Although ideas for repeating arms occurred prior to the passage of the 2nd Amendment, the availability of weapons and the actual weapon technology are not comparable between 1779 and modern-day society. In another article by the same publisher, The Washington Post, an opposing view to the previous argument is depicted: “guns today are capable of inflicting far more carnage than anything the framers could have imagined. In itself, that isn't an argument for banning everything other than muskets. Technology evolves. It makes no more sense to say an AR-15 isn't protected by the Second Amendment than it does to say that computers or ballpoint pens aren't protected by the First. But evolving technology does call for evolving regulation.” This argument contradicts the previous one as the first article advocates for gunrights while the second promotes gun-control. In the end, modern-day firearms are immensely different compared to Revolutionary-era weaponry. The argument that ideas for repeating weapons is true, but also fallacious when taken out of the context of the era. Because the technology of guns today varies greatly from when the amendment was first passed, a need for change around the regulation should be instilled, as seen in the argument in the second article. In conjunction with the accessibility of semiautomatic, military grade guns, an increase in mass shootings has occurred within the United States. This upwards trend can be seen beginning with the Carl Robert Brown shooting in Miami in 1982 in which eight people were killed and continuing with the most recent Santa Fe High School shooting in which ten were killed. 15
The most used weapon during mass shooting is a semiautomatic handgun. The increase of school shooting has become an epidemic within America as well. The repercussions of this up-tick include the National School Walkout that occurred April 20, 2018 as well as the spread of the hashtag “NeverAgain”. Many students across the US support gun-control laws as the issue of mass school shootings becomes more an more prevalent across the nation. This differs greatly from when the Second Amendment was passed, as the matter of mass shooting was never even thought of. This connects back to the point made regarding the change in regulation of weaponry because technology has altered so much since the Second Amendment was ratified. There are many models America could possibly base gun regulations on. Two countries who strive in the gun control category are Australia and Japan. In Australia, the Port Arthur massacre of 1996 in which a young man murdered thirty-five people with a semiautomatic rifle sparked immediate change. In less than two weeks after this tragedy, the passage of the National Agreement on Firearms occurred. This action mandated licensing and registration and instituted a temporary gun buyback in which ⅙ of the assault weapons were taken out of public circulation. Furthermore, the law requires licensees to demonstrate a “genuine need” for a gun and mandates a safety course. The results of the execution of the law speak for themselves as there have been no gun-related mass killings in Australia since the one in 1996. Japan is another example of a model country regarding guncontrol laws. Japan has the lowest gun homicide rate in the world.
Scholastic Awards The placement of the Firearm and Sword Law only permits shotguns, air guns, guns with specific purposes, and competition guns. The rigorous process to obtain a gun includes a written, mental, and drug test. Additionally, owners must indicate how their weapons and ammunition are stored and pass annual inspections. The implications of these methods display the positive results America needs to start seeing. Without regulations in place, such as those in Japan and Australia, America will continue to see the tragedies occurring everyday and the loss of innocent lives to gun violence. The systems in place in Australia and Japan are both feasible and practical regarding the current situation in America and will ultimately serve as a solace from gun-related violence. The Second Amendment has stayed static in writing, but the interpretation remains fuzzy due to the ambiguity of the phrasing of the amendment. The differences in interpretation can be viewed through Supreme Court cases. Life within America differs within many aspects as well. Technology has changed, and the development of more advanced weapons has resulted in an increase in mass shootings that was not an issue when the amendment was passed. Other countries have taken steps to attempt to prevent mass shootings, with resounding success. The whole point of the installation of amendments to the Constitution was to permit change as the country progresses through alterations that ensure peace and tranquility within the nation. America has advanced tremendously since the ratification of the Second Amendment, and the need for a modification or revision to the preexisting amendment appears to be a pressing and highly debated matter that is dividing the nation today.
Citations 1.“The United States Constitution - The U.S. Constitution Online.” Amendment 2 - The U.S. Constitution Online USConstitution.net, usconstitution.net/const.html. 2. “Full Text of ‘National Firearms Act Of 1934.’” Internet Archive, The Library Shelf, archive.org/stream/ NationalFirearmsActOf1934/National_Firearms_Act_of_1934_djvu.txt. 3. “United States v. Miller, 307 U.S. 174 (1939).” Justia Law, supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/307/174/case.html. 4. Ropeik, David. “Gun Rights Activists Say Gun Control Is Unconstitutional. Antonin Scalia Disagrees.” Big Think, Big Think, 8 Dec. 2015, bigthink.com/risk-reason-and-reality/gun-rights-activists-claim-any-gun-control-is-unconstitutionaleven-antonin-scalia-says-theyre-wrong. 5. Handgun Ban. www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/204431.pdf. 6. Kopel, David. “Analysis | Firearms Technology and the Original Meaning of the Second Amendment.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 Apr. 2017, www.washingtonpost.com/news/volokh-conspiracy/wp/2017/04/03/firearms-technologyand-the-original-meaning-of-the-second-amendment/?utm_term=.99f78ec7f48b. 7. Ingraham, Christopher. “Analysis | What ‘Arms’ Looked like When the 2nd Amendment Was Written.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 13 June 2016, www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/06/13/the-men-who-wrote-the-2ndamendment-would-never-recognize-an-ar-15/?utm_term=.2e41b4bf7107. 8. “Weapons Used in Mass Shootings in the U.S. 1982-2017 | Statistic.” Statista, www.statista.com/statistics/476409/massshootings-in-the-us-by-weapon-types-used/. 9. ABC News, and Australian Broadcasting Corporation. “1996 National-Firearms-Agreement.” DocumentCloud, www.documentcloud.org/documents/2796929-1996-National-Firearms-Agreement.html. 10. THE JAPANESE FIREARM AND SWORD POSSESSION CONTROL LAW: TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION. Pacific Rim Law & Policy Journal Association, 2000, digital.law.washington.edu/dspace-law/bitstream/handle/ 1773.1/806/9PacRimLPolyJ165.pdf?sequence=1.
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Opinion Pieces
men’s sports here at Hebron? I began to
Reflecting on My Judgments
reflect and drew two conclusions.
By Sophie List ’19
The first conclusion is that Hebron focuses so much monetary and emotional
Anyone who spent time on Hebron
support on male athletics that it has become
Academy’s campus this winter would have
a predictable pattern. It is easy to assume
undoubtedly heard about the commercial
that almost any male student you meet has
being made to promote our school. When it
been recruited to play on a sports team. For
was first announced, naturally I was excited.
example, almost every single player on the
Hebron Academy is an incredible place that I
men’s varsity soccer team was recruited while
am proud to be a part of, and this commercial
not a single player on the women’s varsity
would help show others that as well. Then
soccer team was recruited. Additionally,
came the announcement about the all-school
there is a vast difference between the
scene where we would cheer on the men’s
coaching staff for men’s and women’s teams.
varsity hockey team. This was when I began
Some members of the men’s coaching staff
to feel a little apprehensive.
are recruited or brought in specifically to
Because the student body was not told
coach teams while the women’s coaching staff
explicitly about all of the scenes in the
consists mostly of any faculty member with
commercial that would showcase different
experience playing the sport. Both men’s and
aspects of life at Hebron, I assumed
women’s teams are expected to perform at
incorrectly that the entire commercial would
the same level; however, the women’s teams
focus solely on male athletics at Hebron.
seem to be set up to fail because of this
Although, fortunately, I was mistaken, and
unequal distribution of resources. This
although in the end I believe the commercial
inequality is not an issue that is unique to
shows that Hebron has so much more to offer
Hebron Academy; it is a much larger
than just male athletics, it is telling that
systemic issue in our society that,
without so much as a second thought I
unfortunately, Hebron is in some part
believed that Hebron would, in fact, make a
contributing to.
commercial that only featured male athletics.
This brings me to my second
My rush to judgment saddened me. I began
conclusion, that giving male athletes the
to question where this belief came from. Why
leading role in this commercial is helping to
did I jump to the conclusion that Hebron was
uphold a sexist system that dictates the lives
focusing on male sports instead of female
of women across our nation. When I asked
sports? Is there an unspoken bias in favor of
one member of the men’s hockey team why 17
he believed the commercial focused on the men’s hockey team, he said it was likely that “There’s more male hockey players that want to go to prep school than women, so maybe they just wanted to cater to them.” I absolutely understand where this assumption
Photo Credit: Devin Harrington
comes from, but I think the fact that fewer women are looking to play sports at the prep
not treating women’s athletics as a true equal
school level is partially because of the lack of
has damaging effects. While this commercial
representation of women playing sports in
for one school is small scale, it still subtly
the media. Because nearly everything in
reinforces the idea that sports are not an
sports caters to men, women do not see
important or viable option for young women.
playing sports in prep school or college, or as
The more that girls and women see and hear
a career, as being as practical or attainable as
these messages in our culture as a whole, the
it is for their male counterparts. This turns
more we begin to internalize and accept them
into a vicious cycle where because women do
as true. The filmmakers themselves are likely
not see sports as a career option for
unaware of the latent effect or the various
themselves like men do, they can stop playing
ways in which their work is interpreted by
earlier. This drop in sheer numbers of female
some on campus, particularly young women
athletes leads to fewer getting recruited. It
and female athletes. Overall, I do not want this to take
can certainly seem justifiable then to target the male population when it comes to sports.
away from how amazing it is that Hebron has its own commercial. I think this is a huge step
I believe that by commissioning a promotional video that seems to favor men's
for the school in terms of publicity and
athletics over women's, Hebron is
showcasing what an amazing place Hebron
contributing to an outdated and broken
is. I am incredibly excited to see the final
system instead of taking the opportunity to
version of the commercial, yet I believe that
be at the forefront of a growing demand to
to truly live up to our potential as a school we
see women's athletics and female athletes
can do better as far as equal representation of
take their rightful place alongside their male
men’s and women’s sports on our campus. In
counterparts. Regardless of the possible
our position of privilege, it is our job to try
financial realities behind the decision to
and change these patterns, not continue to
showcase the men’s hockey team instead of
reinforce them.
the women’s, this lack of
18
On Futurism and the Impact of AI
are none other than humans. These humans
By Gwen Randall ’20
carry very real biases, as people internally do
With the increasing focus on
without targeted introspection, and often
technologically-centered schools and lesson
unintentionally translate these biases into the
plans, this model of teaching and learning
programs they are operating. Tech and
begs the question: “Are artificial intelligence
artificial intelligence design is often
systems only as good as the data
associated with a distinct demographic, and
programmers put into them?”
diversity is not a high point; it is in fact a low
The answer is much more complex
point, which can brings individuals down to a
than a simple yes or no. Artificial intelligence
few conclusions. The intricacies in AI allow for
(AI) spans types of robotics, automatic telephone bots, interactive lessons online,
algorithmic human error to occur frequently.
and idea generators that are used for a
Coding, editing, recoding, wiring, and more
lengthy circumference of knowledge pools. As
in the process of artificial intelligence
some American schools have shifted away
construction set up dilemmas for small
from traditional learning methods, the ways
mistakes regardless of said biases. The
of online learning have become increasingly
separation of ‘social’ and ‘science’ in
accessible and enticing for students and
numerous fields of science, understandably
teachers alike.
excluding social science, produces a tricky situation. Those engineers and scientists who
Individual agency offers educators a direct place in managing a set curriculum:
believe that social structures and systems of
something to be cherished and celebrated.
oppression are not applicable to their work
Take a student and transport them to new,
may cause inevitable harm, as they are not
cutting-edge tech schools around the country,
holding themselves accountable for their
and it will seem like a different universe.
output into the world. Reports in the news
Artificial intelligence and other online
and various media outlets broadcast stories
resources run these select schools, where
about voice detectors not recognizing vocal
learning comes from a non-human entity: a
ranges associated with women, soap
database or a program designed for its very
dispensers not picking up darker skin tones,
own function.
and self-driving cars trained to target ablebodied silhouettes in priority—yet little is
With that being said, the creators
being discussed to examine the ways in which
behind artificial intelligence programming 19
marginalized people are discouraged from
Safety and Comfort at Hebron:
entering engineering fields such as AI design.
Gender-Neutral Bathrooms
Access to resources can make a difference,
By Oliver Pittman ’20
but significant changes in AI are yet to be
This year, one of the GSTA’s (Gay-
enacted under a system dominated by
Straight-Trans Alliance) biggest focuses has
harmful biases.
been the implementation of gender-neutral bathrooms around campus. Gender-neutral
As schools in America and abroad continue to embrace and cultivate the ways in
bathrooms make life at Hebron much safer
which learning applies to the digital age,
and more comfortable for many students,
critiques of artificial intelligence are integral
and we are so proud to have been a part of
to moving society forward. The power that
everything that has happened this year. Our
rests in grassroots organizing has already
eventual goal is to have gender-neutral
provided a blueprint to imagine a different
bathrooms in every building, and though we
future for tech and the people who are behind
aren’t there yet, we have made big strides
it. Diversity in tech must be uplifted, and
towards achieving our goal. As of now, there
gateways in education systems may also be
are gender-neutral bathrooms on the third
recognized and unlatched.
floor of Sturtevant school building, in the Athletic Center by the conference room, in the Art Center on the second floor, in the ground floor of the library, and in Sturtevant Home on the first floor. We are also very excited to announce that the new science/ STEAM center, Kaneb, will have genderneutral bathrooms! Though these might seem like small steps, they mean the world to gender non-conforming and trans people who have to fight fear and prejudice every day to simply use the bathroom. We are working to build a school and community where everyone is safe and welcome, and this brings us so much closer to our goal.
20
MAGA Students By Anonymous I know that journalism is supposed to be professional and unbiased, but there are some things in life that just disable me from being objective. Two of those things are racism and lies. Keep these in mind if you
(Photo Credit: CNN)
choose to read on. smug smile on his face and his friends cheer
A group of teenagers from Covington Catholic school travelled to Washington,
him on and seem to mock the indigenous
wearing MAGA hats, for an anti-abortion
people.The Indigenous People’s March itself
rally (which wasn’t even about their own
was very peaceful, according to many others
existence or rights), and they ended up being
who had attended it, until they reached the
filmed for mocking Omaha Nation elder,
steps of the Lincoln Memorial. There, the
Nathan Phillips. When the video first
events broke down. The amount of disrespect and
surfaced it looked like an angry stand-off between the 16 year old, Nick Sandmann, and
ignorance that is shining out of someone
the Omaha Nation elder.
Sandmann’s age is outrageous. This
However, after doing further research
disrespect, to me, is unacceptable. In my
and learning what Phillips was doing there,
opinion, if someone is old enough to wear a
my perspective changed entirely. Phillips was
political MAGA hat and attend a rally against
there for the Indigenous People’s March,
basic human rights, then that person is old
where many tried to draw attention to global
enough to be held responsible for their
injustice against indigenous people that is
actions and accept the consequences.
still occurring today. It looked like, from the
However, when Sandmann was interviewed,
video, the students were mocking the
the following conversation took place, in
indigenous people and their traditions, which
which Sandmann refused to take
included the drumming and singing that
responsibility. Interviewer: “Do you feel from this
Phillips can be seen doing during the many videos that were taken. Phillips is singing and
experience that you owe anybody an apology?
making a rhythm with his drum as
Do you see your own fault in any way?” Sandmann: “As far as standing there, I
Sandmann stands in front of him with a 21
was not disrespectful to Mr. Phillips. I
Redefining Diversity
respect him. I’d like to talk to him. I mean in
By Eliza Quiñones ’19
hindsight I wish we could have walked away
I recently watched a YouTube video by
and avoided the whole thing. But I can't say
a man named Onision. He, a white man,
that I'm sorry for listening to him and
made an offensive video condescendingly,
standing there.”
not to mention incorrectly, telling black
On the other hand, there have been
women how to take care of their hair. He has
videos that show a completely different
since deleted the video, so while I would tell
narrative, which is why Sandmann tried to
you to go see for yourself, I cannot. The point
justify his behavior to the interviewer. The
I want to make is that he’s not the only
videos show a small group of black protesters
person who is misinformed on this subject.
(four people) saying derogatory words, which
While people don’t necessarily feel the need
are soon enough directed towards the group
to express their opinions to the public as he
of students wearing the MAGA hats. The
did, there are too many people who are
students, according to them, asked their
misinformed.
teacher to perform school-spirit chants to
I have definitely had firsthand
block out whatever the protesters were
experience with this, especially on the topic
saying, which amped up the energy level of
of hair. Most white people do not understand
the group. Sandmann has said that he was
African or curly hair. They don’t know about
standing there to stop Phillips from getting
maintenance, hairstyles, wigs, weaves,
involved. The contradiction starts when the
braids, extensions, edges, or anything. They
students are seen laughing and supporting
don’t know how annoying it is when their
whatever Sandmann is doing with a smug
eyes light up with amazement like they had
smile on his face.
seen a unicorn when they see my hair, or how
This can be turned into a huge
I don’t want to be rude but also do not want
educational moment for all students about
you to touch and play with my hair. Most
free speech and respect of minorities and
importantly, they don’t know how hard it is
people different from themselves. Regardless
to love this kind of hair.
of which side you believe to be true, this
I grew up in many different places
conflict shows the importance of kindness to
including Arkansas, Arizona, and Mexico, but
everyone as well as the true weight that
most of my growing, puberty, and “discovery
“harmless” jokes or comments can truly have.
period” or what most people call “high school,” was done in Maine, the second
22
whitest state in the country. Now, I put that
but it hasn’t. I still hear little girls wanting
fact in because it honestly has a lot to do with
straight hair or white skin, or feeling out of
the way I grew up. Obviously, since I’m not
place because they’re different or bigger than
white, I didn’t have a lot of close role models.
all the other girls around them. This breaks
I had no one to relate to, and so no one
my heart to hear.
coached me. You could say that I could have
With all of this surrounding me, I
looked beyond my community to famous
started thinking and realized that our society
athletes, singers, or actors, but that still
is not as diverse as we pretend to be. Yes, our
didn’t help.
country has many people from different
Ever since I was little what went
places; yes, our states do too; and yes, the
through my brain was that white skin,
largest American cities are known for their
straight hair, and thinness are beautiful. The
diversity. I just don’t think simply living near
classic Disney princesses are all white and
people of other cultures makes one part of a
skinny with straight hair. Actress and actors
diverse society.
were usually all white unless it was a movie
I think being diverse is being multiple:
about the ghetto or black lives. Most famous
having multiple identities, cultures, and
singers were also white. Sure, there was
experiences. Take New York City, for
Queen Bey, but when I was growing up she
example; it’s the most diverse large city in
was known for photoshopping her thighs
America. Many cultures are represented in
because she thought they were too big, so
New York City but the only thing they have in
that wasn’t exactly helpful either. Onision,
common is where they live. If you asked a
the man from the video I mentioned earlier,
person from New York City about a different
typed “beautiful women” into Google, and
race’s experience or culture, they could
while many of the women had wavy hair of
maybe name you an Americanized chain
different colors, he failed to point out the fact
restaurant that vaguely represents that
that all of the women were white.
culture and not much else. Now I haven’t
It's been hard, doubting the way I
done this and I don’t live in New York, so I
look, wanting to change not just the small
can’t say these things for certain, but this is
things about myself but everything, and
honestly what I believe. But I can talk about
hiding my experiences because of the lack of
Hebron and what I have experienced.
people I can relate to, but over time it has
Mirroring the population at large,
gotten better. I no longer cry about myself,
Hebron is not as diverse as it seems. We
but I do for others. You would think that the
capitalize on the idea that we represent so
society would have changed as I’ve grown up, 23
many different countries, but is it really representation when you have one token person from a country? Furthermore, is it really diverse when most of those token people are male? When looking at Hebron’s female population, at least in terms of racial diversity, there is one—I repeat one—black girl. If Hebron truly wants to live up to their claims of diversity, we should use this community to learn about, understand, and empathize with each other’s cultures. We should not contribute to the misinformation regarding other cultures like Onision does or like many white people around me do about my hair. We should not have token individuals who raise our diversity statistics. Instead, we should help shape individuals who are able to empathize with and understand the myriad cultures represented at Hebron.
Picture Credit: Cara Hu
24
Looking at a Co-Ed High School’s
This rule also completely ignores the
Dorm Rules
existence of non-binary people. Many people
By Yagmur Kucukakyuz ’19
identify as neither as she nor he, which in theory should allow them to enter any dorm
“No people of the opposite gender are
room they want to. In addition, if people
allowed to be in each other’s dorms.”
inaccurately judge a person by appearance as
This is a very basic and common
female or male and make an outcry about the
rule at boarding schools. Many schools have
“wrong” gender being in a certain dorm
it to ensure the safety of their students, as
room, an uncomfortable situation for
well as ease the anxious minds of parents
everyone involved could arise.
sending their children away from home.
Non-binary people aren’t the only
However, this rule is not working well at
ones ignored in this rule. There are a number
Hebron for many reasons, such as the
of homosexual people who get to spend time
sexualities and sexual orientations of
in their significant other’s room for however
students, as well as the many platonic
long they want, while heterosexual friends
relationships that develop in high school.
don’t even have the option to stop by each other’s rooms.
The rule itself is understandable to a
Students of Hebron Academy have
degree. Allowing teenagers to go into each other’s rooms can create situations that
tried to propose an open dorm policy to the
aren’t easy to deal with; however, banning it
school on different occasions with different
reinforces the idea that no two opposite
approaches, such as writing proposals and
genders can exist in one room without
meeting with administration. However, these
making out or having sex. Even if people are
attempts have always led nowhere, with
heterosexual, they oftentimes just want to
vague promises of meetings in the future and
hang out with friends that don’t have the
admissions that progress is still to be made. Overall, the rule is not that useful
same parts as they do. On top of everything, most boarding schools claim to prepare
because, in most cases, couples find ways to
students for college and future life. Yet there
be with each other regardless of regulations,
is no such rule in college or in real life that a
while platonic friends are unfairly denied the
girl isn’t allowed in a boy’s room or vice
privilege to hang out in areas other than the
versa.
gym or the union. Clearly, banning access to dorm rooms is causing more anger and issues than it is preventing. 25
The Hebron Review is a student publication, written, edited, and designed by Hebron students.