The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10 by Holderness School

Volume 11, Issue 10

2.29.2016 A PUBLICATION BY HOLDERNESS STUDENTS FOR THE HOLDERNESS COMMUNITY

Alone in the Woods Without a Map

Emily Perkins ‘16

e come out here in search of something. It could be the fleeting courage that escapes us so often in our daily lives; or perhaps it is the solution to the problem we try not to face—always pushing it deeper into our minds, trying not to solve it until we have the answer. But out on the trail, there is no rule, no structure; the woods are as vast as exploration is endless. Outside the context of the world we know, there is opportunity to find ourselves in the skin only we know, to share light in times of darkness, and to ultimately create our own map outside the structure of the road maps that bisect our lives. Courage is notoriously contagious, and can come to grace anyone when they need it most. On Mt. Carrigain one of our group members found her inner strength waiting for her just a little way up the trail. We had been slogging up the switchbacks for hours when suddenly, I looked up and she was gone; the green backpack that had been my con- stant companion for hours had sped off somewhere into the distance. I stopped bewildered, and consulted with the people behind me about what possibly could have happened. Her tracks carried on up the steep slope,

scrambling and sliding up the treacherous terrain. A minute ago, she was huffing and puffing with the rest of us, but now she was just a symbol: a compass in the fog, a glimpse of a steady face in a mirror. The motivation to catch her distracted us from our own personal pain. We rallied, using our lost group member to ignore the deepest pain of all: the fear that we may not be able to do this. Unknown to us, we had another companion that day: it was hope, and it propelled us all the way to the summit. In the woods, on the darkest nights, one can find great comfort in the smallest glimmer of light. On the third day, we arrived in camp late and night was falling fast. Morale was low, and as the sweat sealed our seams, we began to shiver. The snow below us seeped through our many lay- ers, its frigid fingers grasping our flesh as if threatening to take us down with it. But then, a match was struck and the air began to roar and crackle, warding off the negative thoughts and the impending doom of darkness. The fry- ing pan began to sizzle, fending off the threat of ice cold solitude, bringing us the simple comfort of humanity in the vast wild. As we brought the communal food to our lips, we shared in the strength we needed for tomorrow’s journey. We talked and laughed, and shared in the age

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

old security that we lit a fire capable of fending off a whole sky full of darkness, and learned the lesson of what a single spark can do for an entire fire. Outside the comfort of a group and the comforts of society, we are challenged to find the most true comfort of all, the comfort of solitude. We fear the woods because we fear the unknown, and we fear solitude for the same reason. But so often, in the world that we know, there lie so many unknowns. We push them away—under our beds, to the bottom of our closets, and to the backs our minds; but still they lurk. Heading into Solo I carried my backpack, a trash barrel lid, a tarp, and 10,000 thoughts, questions, and insecurities. I lay down my backpack, and over the course of three days let down some of the many ideas reverberating around my head. Although it is hard to be alone, it is necessary to be able to reconcile the world outside and the world inside. There is an inverse relationship between being physically lost and mentally found. Out Back embodies this relationship, allowing for greater exploration of self, and the discovery of one’s core. We come out of Out Back, not lost but found, guided by the map inside of ourselves.

Courtesy of OutBack Tumblr

Alumni Advice: Senior Spring Reflections AJ Chabot ‘16, Ellie Teare ‘16

any of you may have heard the senior class groan over Senior Thesis assignments, worry about college decisions, or from a handful say “get me the hell out of here.” It only seems natural. Most of us have been here for three to four years and are 18 years old or older. We don’t see the rationale behind check-in, sit-down dinner, or, for some, school itself. A handful of us may not even understand Holderness anymore, or feel that we’ve lived here long enough to realize the “pointlessness” of parts of life here. I personally trust the majority of alumni when they tell me to “take advantage of every second you have left because before you know it you’re gone.” For those of us who were here last year, we know Nick Connor to be a lively guy with very little pessimism in his head. The few criticisms he does make he can’t help but maintain a smile throughout; however, even he realized that his class last spring “wanted to leave so bad.” With a group of 60 lifers, all had felt they did their time at Holderness and were ready to move on. As a junior, Nick remembers all the seniors being “super moody” and over time their moodiness only got worse up until graduation. As a junior, Nick remembers loving everything about Holderness, but once college applications rolled around and he started imagining life after Holderness everything seemed tainted. Remembering a sort of “us vs. the school” mentality towards the end of his senior year, Nick remembers graduation to be one of the happiest days of his life - only later to realize that it was also one of his saddest. “Living in Webby with all the guys were some of the best times I have ever had. In a strange way I actually miss the dances solely for their scary awkwardness. It’s nice to go to college and meet new people, but at the same time it was nice having so few people you need to

meet at Holderness. I miss hockey and basketball games, as well as JV sports (I still play intramural sports, though). When Doc Loc and Bruce B coached JV football and baseball - those were the days. Most of all I miss spring… pulling chairs out on the quad, sunbathing in 55 degree weather. You will never find a community like you did at Holderness. Do as much Holdernessy stuff as possible. Go set up a jump, check out our bike trails, and watch a Superstars hockey game. Witnessing the spectacle that is Superstars hockey may be my favorite memory from Holderness, followed closely by JV girls basketball.

Nick also valued becoming closer with administrators like Ms. Weymouth and Mr. Ford during his senior year. “They have to do what they have to do when someone screws up,” he said. “The craziest part,” he remarked, “is that all the things that annoyed me - all the values they drill into you at Holderness like integrity, honor, community - you will see them pop up. Whenever I miss my first class I still say, ‘God damn I have to get up at 6:30 tomorrow’. Believe it or not the school is preparing you for life, and you will take what you learn from here with you. You will end up missing Joe Gillis for God’s sake. I find myself missing Ben Chapin, Kelly Attenborough, and Jack Finn. I practically raised Ben Jerome and Will Blatz. I raised them, and I love them.” Katie Remein, for those of you who don’t know her, was a two sport varsity athlete, a Superstars prodigy, and a house leader of Pichette. For those of you who do know her, her big personality requires very little description. Katie remembers, “getting so annoyed with the whole small community thing. Having everyone know everything about you and people making little things big things because nothing “big” ever happens.” As Nick also mentioned too, Katie said, “it is when the year actually starts to end when everyone starts panicking.” Contrasting Katie’s griev-

ances towards our small community, she noted how at Holderness, “if you’re in a bad place teachers notice, but when you come to college no one cares.” Katie said, “I miss the people the most - and weirdly enough I got jealous of winter carnival this year. People don’t know how to have innocent fun in college. You learn how to “have a good time,” and “go out”, but there are rarely social gatherings when everyone is fully there, like OB or the Head’s House. Holderness taught me and encouraged us all to have and enjoy good, clean fun.” Katie continued, “the things the school thinks they are teaching you, they aren’t. The school thinks that by using words like honor, leadership, and community they are teaching us - but it is more so just being a member of the Holderness community that teaches us how to be good people. I’m not a better leader because I went to Holderness, I’m just a cooler person. And yes, as cheezy as it is, I still feel weird cutting the quad.” Ellie’s Thoughts: When I first came to Holderness, as a new junior, one of the things I noticed immediately that was emphasized over and over was community. It was hard as a new student to feel part of this close-knit community that seemingly everyone but I felt a part of. Only as my time at Holderness is coming to a close have I realized how much I will miss this community, that at some point along the way I became a part of it without even noticing. Maybe getting into dress code for sit down dinner is a pain, but I know I will miss sitting down at a table of people I know little about and laughing for a full hour. And although sometimes our school feels so small, that we don’t have room to breath, never again will I be able to walk down the path and smile as I see so many people that I already miss walking down the path and greeting every person, smiling as I see my friends, or people becoming my friends.

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Chae Hahn‘17

Special Programs, arguably the most impactful Holderness experience,

are here! These programs foster leadership in students and provide them with valuable life lessons, while serving as the ultimate class-bonding experience. With each program full of unknowns, we often find it difficult to anticipate exactly what lies ahead. Of course, this kind of uncertainty is what makes Special Programs truly special, but a “sneak peek” into the journeys all of us will soon embark upon can certainly be helpful. In order to alleviate the anxieties some of us are feeling and to celebrate the unforgettable memories students have made in the past years, I asked a few students to write about their unique Special Programs experiences.

What to expect from Out Back From the Class of 2016 to the Class of 2017 Whatever you’re expecting going into OB, I can guarantee you that it will be completely different. There’s no way to perfectly convey the ups and down of OB until you’ve experienced it yourself. Based on your background and attitude, OB will be different for everyone. But some things are the same: dreading the next step ahead of you, having to leave your warm sleeping bag in a minute, looking forward to the next mile when you can stop for lunch, anticipating when the water boils, and laughing with your group around the fire. Expect it to be hard : it’s not going to be easy no matter who you are. But you can play to your strengths. If you’re generally loud and enthusiastic, then do the best you can to keep your group’s spirits up; if you’re a strong hiker, then carry as much as you can. You don’t have to be “outdoorsy” or “crunchy” to do well on OB, as long as you go into it wanting to do well. -- Ellie Teare ‘16

HAVE A GREAT SPECIAL PROGRAMS AND AN AWESOME SPRING BREAK! LOVE, THE PICADOR

Even for those of you who don’t like the cold, the outdoors, hiking, camping or all of the above, I promise Outback won’t be as bad as you think. I sobbed the morning we left for OB in the grab and go, and I can honestly say it was the best 10 days of my time at Holderness.This is going to happen to you (and you’ll love it): You will eat more than you’ve ever eaten: The food on OB is the last thing you should be worried about. It’s honestly better than the food in Weld some days and there is always enough to go around. You will bond with your group: You can’t fully understand this until you go on OB, but there is genuinely no such thing as a bad group. No matter who you have in your group, you will make friendships that last long after you leave the woods. You will forget how dirty you are: 10 days without showering sounds unthinkably disgusting, but I promise it’s not. After the first day you barely think about it. Leave your deodorant behind, trust me, it will just turn into a frozen block you are stuck carrying around for 10 days. This is going to happen to you (fair warning): You will cry on solo: No matter who you are you will cry on solo, because you are happy, sad, lonely, scared or all of the above. No one comes back from solo without shedding a tear or two. You will get trench foot: Trench foot is real. Change your socks or face the consequences. Your honey will freeze: No matter how good of a job the honey bear of your group does, your honey is bound to freeze at some point. Keep it next to your skin at all times, even while sleeping. You will fall over: I fell over at least 10 times per day, so after 10 days I had fallen over into the snow with my backpack on a minimum of 100 times. Face first, into a tree well, on my back, into a river - I fell over just about every way possible. If I managed to fall 100 times on outback, you without a doubt will fall at some point, but there will always be a friend nearby to help you up. --Taylor Dobyns ‘16

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Waking up early every morning and working nearly all day was very

What to expect from Project Outreach: exhausting, but the nature of the work made it incredibly fulfilling. My from the Class of 2018 to the Class of 2019 personal favorite was working outside in the parks, often uprooting

Well, kids, I can assure you that you can expect a various forms of shrubbery in an effort to beautify the land for more lot out of PO. For one thing, you can expect hik- people to enjoy. Various relaxing and/or fun activities occupied our ing through frozen mud at 9 am on a Tuesday to free time ranging from exploring the actual city of Philadelphia to throw rotten nectars at Ms. Dopp! You can expect watching Rocky. -- Lolo Zabaleta ‘18 to play cards way more than you thought was hu- Project Outreach was a blast; so many fun memories were made in Philly. manly possible. You can expect to have easily the I was able to bond with my classmates and get to know them so much longest bus ride of your life. But most of all, you better. Most of the volunteering work we performed at various locations can expect that you will make new friends and were difficult, but all of us knew that we were doing it for a good cause. form new relationships with the faculty around. My take-away from the trip was that just a little help to a community in need can actually make a huge difference. -- Bee McLaughlin ‘18 -- Ben Jerome ‘18 At first, I wasn’t sure how I felt about this trip, as community service What to expect on PO? Expect to get to know your is not always the most exciting thing to do. However, PO was by far grade well, and I mean super well. One of the best one of the best experiences of my life. I think the most important parts of your day will be going into town, getting thing PO did for me was to open my eyes to the world around us. food, and walking around with your friends. Expect We drove through some rough parts of the city and met many peoto work really hard, knowing that all your work is for ple who lived in these areas. They were some of the most pleasant a worthy cause. Philabundance is awesome, so get people that I have ever met and were truly thankful for what we had pumped to work there. And most importantly, expect done for them. Overall, PO was a very fun and moving experience, to have lots of fun!! -- Stu Clifford ‘18 and you’ll enjoy it too. -- Nick Grammas ‘18 10 things to expect and do on AB: What to expect from Artward Bound: 1. Go into it with a decent attitude. You don’t have to be good From the Class of 2017 to the Class of 2018 at art or even like it at all to have fun. 2. Be prepared to be uncomfortable. Whether you’re on stage at improv and you don’t know what to do or you’re in From learning poetry (shoutout to my man Febo), to expericeramics and your pot comes out looking like a plate from encing dorm life for the first time, Artward Bound exposed Weld. 3. You’ll either love the forge or you’ll absolutely hate it, but it’s me to many new opportunities. The change in pace from the usual nonstop work, work, work routine to something that worth finding out. 4. You’re group will feel totally random at first, and they might has a bit more downtime was very nice. Bonding with the not all be your best friends, but if you just have fun with people in my group was arguably the best part of AB. I got each other, AB will be ten times better. to know fellow students that I wouldn’t normally talk to and 5. Your faculty leader will surprise you. shared some really fun moments with them. Yet another plus 6. Every workshop can be fun, so don’t get bummed if you of the program is that you walk away having learned somedon’t like yours and try every one at least once. 7. No one is too cool. Try new things in improv, and you’ll be thing; in my case, it was how to play the guitar, which until surprised by who is the best at it. my music workshops started, I had deemed impossible. AB 8. The process can be way more personal than you expect. Be was an incredibly fun bonding and learning experience for respectful but also take it as a chance to learn new things anyone who participated, and I doubt it’ll be any different for about each other. 9. Expect your instructor to be a really cool person, but your you sophomores doing it this year. -- Reese Thompson ‘17 final product to be less than stellar. 10. STOP CARING! This is the only special program where the Out of all the special programs, Artward Bound is by far the entire point is fun, so try and let loose. most underrated. You wouldn’t think that being stuck on -- Cat McLaughlin ‘17 campus for a week doing art all day would be fun, but you Everything about AB is to love. If you’ve never made a ceramic may be surprised by how much you will enjoy the experidish or played the bass, AB is your time to learn these cool, new ence and how quickly time will pass by. AB is the perfect skills. Everyone is a beginner in AB. If you haven’t performed opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and discover new interests, whether you’re making your own iron spoon under stage lights, you’ll have the opportunity to so among or performing in front of an audience for the very first time. your classmates and some guest artists. Dance and ceramics were my favorite activities, for they were both something I have You don’t have to be with your best friends or favorite teachnever tried before. Above all, the most remarkable part of AB er to have a good time. Your workshops might even sound for me was the easy-going, creative atmosphere that naturally boring at first, but if you keep an open mind and just give yourself a chance, you may be surprised by the things you comes out of you and your classmates. -Geoff West ‘17 will accomplish. -- Liz Casey ‘17

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Rhetoric or Reason?

Political Ads Get Real in Primaries Brooke Hayes’ 17

While the intent of political advertise-

ment is the benefit of the creator, or de-

struction of an opponent, these forms of language are often controversial sources of rhetoric, as exemplified by presidential candidate Donald Trump. If the goal of politics is to pick a suitable candidate for representation of the people with varying opinions, then the bashing of one another should seem futile, yet the impact of powerful words linger long after spoken. The focus of political advertisements often glorifies one ideal while pushing another to the side. In the 2015 Democratic Debate, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders could be seen hashing out prior events, particularly focused on the 2012 Benghazi attack and Clinton’s relation to the 4 American deaths. While this event deserved attention, it didn’t move the political discussion forward. This does not imply that every single discussion is a wild swing at the opposition, but having a core of factual evidence supporting one’s idea makes a much more convincing argument, backing up opinion with data. At the same time, not all political variation can be deemed right or wrong, as the basis for most of this disagreement is theoretical thought on operation. Yet politics in general consists entirely of opinion, something Trump proudly highlights. Some components can indeed be backed by economic evidence, for example, but how does one argue (factually) for or against a topic like abortion? This is where creativity in advertising is key, but how effective really is this technique? Beginning with the man who has been considered by man , to be one of the most controversial candidates for the 2016 Presidential race: Donald Trump. What many might not be

aware of is Trump’s spending on television ads- this number totaling to a whopping zero. Some political analysts claim that commercials on national TV are a necessary and advisable tactic for growing wide support. To some this may be an accurate and valid point, yet somehow Trump surpassed each of his fellow candidates with every poll. As of late November, Trump still led with a 9% advantage over all other Republican candidates. While support for the candidate is widely varying, his campaign tactics have taken an alternate route. While not everyone familiar with Trump will check his name on the ballot, his publicity has nonetheless made his opinions extensively heard. An article from Time magazine was titled “Here’s Roughly Everything Controversial Donald Trump Has Ever Said Out Loud,” articulating his rather poignant opinion. This argues in support that the rhetoric of campaign ads might not be a necessary evil to make an idea

known. Taking an alternate route does catch eyes and ears, something Trump has mastered. Trumps verbal attacks on the US/ Mexico border have enraged many, while his misogynistic tone has infuriated many others. It is fair to say that Trump does not adhere to our cultural practice of being “politically correct;” in fact, he has been seen sprinting in the opposite direction. Some believe that Trump holds very true to his ideals, whether or not the people agree with him. No matter the negative commentary circulating, Trump continues to speak his mind; to some, this proves a sincere dedication to his beliefs. This is a trait most people are looking for in a presidential candidate, toupee or not. When taking into consideration the seriousness of a vote, it is anticipated that each ballot will be marked after great thought. The background of each candidate plays an important role, and Political Ads Continued Pg. 7

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Antonin Scalia: May He Rest in Peace as the Battle Wages On

Maggie Cunha ‘16

Just when it looked like the presidential

primary season couldn’t get any more rowdy and contentious, Antonin Scalia, known as the intellectual anchor and one of the most conservative Supreme Court Justices, died unexpectedly while on a hunting trip in rural Texas. Scalia’s untimely death has caused a political brouhaha, with some Republicans asserting Obama should not nominate Scalia’s successor during an election year, and Obama pointing out historical precedence and his right to do so. Scalia was known for his strong intellect and, according to a statement from President Obama, “…will be remembered as one of the most consequential judges and thinkers to serve on the Supreme Court.” Scalia’s appeal is stronger on the conservative side, and he frequently filed separate opinions with strongly-worded critical responses to the majority opinion, particularly on issues such as affirmative action to which he was strongly opposed. Scalia also argued there was no constitutional Political Ads From Pg. 6 Trump seems to be far from the “norm.” After his education from UPenn, graduating with a degree in business, Trump set out in the real estate business. He found much success building and developing apartment buildings, and went on later to take control of his father’s company, the Trump Organization. Much to the amusement of the public eye, Trump is on his third marriage to Melania – 24 years younger. His involvement with the reality TV show The Apprentice has been a point of mockery for many . His previous experiences show very little involvement

right to abortion, and believed that the matter should be resolved by democracy: the people should vote on it.

Obama has pressed forward with his plan to nominate a successor, and a group of Republican senators has vowed to block any nominee. With Scawith politics but do show his knowledge in big business; a point causing doubt for some and hope in others. Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again,” is the kind of sales pitch used by politicians since the Age of Exceptionalism. Beginning in the 1840’s, the US had created an identity unique to its past and future in democracy. Americans found identity in the traits that set them apart from the rest of the world – things that made them great. Ever since this era, the use of American Exceptionalism as a tool for campaigning has existed. In the 2012 race, candidate Ron Paul used a

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

lia’s death, the court is evenly divided between justices appointed by Republican presidents and those appointed by Democrats, which could mean a strong likelihood of a tie on some of the important cases coming before the court in the near term, including important rulings on hot-button issues like immigration, voting rights, unions, affirmative action, abortion and contraception. While the ensuing battle will likely be an interesting diversion from the name calling and mudslinging of the recent debates, the outcome of this issue could potentially have a huge impact on the direction of the country. Ironically, Scalia was a strong defender of the powers of the executive branch, believing presidential power should be paramount in many areas. It’s likely that he would disagree strongly with those opposing Obama’s right to nominate his successor. Let’s hope he is not rolling in his grave.

similar theme, “Restore America Now,” suggesting a return to conservative measure. This combination of a conservative return, in addition to Trump’s new and quite unique ideas make him a stand-out candidate, with little advertising needed. He has mastered the art of free-marketing, using TV appearances, like Saturday Night Live . The use of campaign tactics is robotic and forced, seen as necessary to gain support. If the focus is taken off of attacking the opponent, the development of a unique argument can flourish. This strategy has been, and will continue to make his name a household one.

An Interview with David Flynn ‘96 Our Incoming Director of Admission Maggie Barton ‘16

The Holderness

community is excited to welcome Mr. David Flynn as the new Director of Admissions. Mr. Flynn was raised in Melrose, Massachusetts and attended Holderness for high school, graduating in 1996. He graduated from Framingham State College with a BA in English/Journalism in 2001. He spent two years at Elmira College in New York before transferring his junior year to FSC and completed his MALS degree in Social Sciences from Wesleyan University in 2008. He is a father of three and currently the Director of Admissions at Winchendon. He answered a fewquestion below so we could get to know him better.

young people in the community most. I have an amazing team in the Admissions Office that I get to collaborate with on a daily basis. My students make me laugh. I am proud of their many accomplishments. I will miss seeing them develop and grow as students, athletes, leaders, etc.

Q: As an Admissions Director, do you have any specific goals for next year? A: The simple answer is to continue to enroll great, mission appropriate students at Holderness. Truth be told, it will be important for me to get to know the School today so I am able to accurately tell the Holderness story to prospective students and their families. Although very familiar to me, Holderness today is a different, better version of the School I knew almost 20 years ago.

Q: Do you have a favorite memory from your time at Holderness? A: Too many to name, but here are a few: Varsity Hockey; ER (the TV show) on Thursday nights with the Elkins’; Cross-country skiing in the evenings on off days for hockey; Fun Spot; Doc Overaker’s Valentine’s Day carnation announcements; MJ Lafoley Race; Spring hikes up Mt. Washington; Senior Play (Willy Wonka); Watching Molly Stahler lead Outdoor Crew during the snowiest winter ever (She was awesome!); Biederman’s Balboa Sandwiches; Family dinners; Singing “The Mighty Quinn” during assembly…and many more!

Q: How old are your children and what are their names and what do you think the will like most about Holderness? A: Molly (5), Braden (3), Anna (10 months). They will enjoy running around campus with all of the faculty kids. They are very social and enjoy making new friends.

Q: What will you miss most about Winchendon? A: I will miss the adults and the

Q: Did you ever think you would be coming back to Holderness to work? How does it feel?

A: I chose to work in boarding schools because of my experiences as a student at Holderness. I have liked each school that I have been lucky enough to work at. However, Holderness is a school that I love. I am ecstatic to be coming back. Deep down I always hoped to have this opportunity.

David Flynn ‘96 with wife Amy and children Molly, Braden, and Anna.

Q: Other than your job as the Director of Admissions, is there anything else you are looking to do in the Holderness community? A: I am looking forward to being a part of the school community, outside of admissions. If there is a need to run the clock at a hockey game, assist at a practice, paint a set for the upcoming theater production, cover a study hall, I am happy to help in any way I can. The busier I am, the happier I am. Selfishly, I may not be able to do this in year one, but I never participated in OB as a student. I would love to love to experience this in the coming years.

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

Bored on Solo? Tired of Playing Cards on PO? Learn How to Make a Paper Crane!

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

Dougie DeLuca ‘16

Dorm Reports: The Few & The Proud

So far, the 2015-2016 school year has

been quite eventful. For example, our Boys Varsity Soccer Team took home the championship, Mr. Durnan broke his ankle right in front of the Lin’s House, Lower Hagerman flooded, we opened up our new rink and the biomass plant, and we survived a winter that consisted of more rain than snow. With all of these things and more taking place, it is an understatement to say that this year has been “interesting.” The main reason this year has been so “interesting,” is that the student body has created so many of these unique happenings. As such, it is only right to take a peek into the dorm life at our school. For many years, the Dorm Report has been a part of The Picador and this year, despite a lack of interest from various dorms, we are continuing the tradition. Although there is not a report for every dorm, here is a look into what some of the dorms look like in the 2016 Winter. Thank you to the leaders that took the time to write up a report. Webster: In the words of Ms. Dopp, "Webster is the best dorm on campus." In the words of everyone else, Webster is the best dorm on campus. Despite the mixed odor of sweat, ancient moist tea leaves, sheets from September, and strong Febreze failing to freshen any room, Webby continues to thrive. Our twelve freshman have matured stupendously throughout the year, from Nerf wars in the fall to late-night Skype conversations with junior Connell girls in the winter. However our dorm still manifests youth with our obsession of Pokemon and animal crackers. Through our endless hunger and thirst we continue to fuel the local economy. Connell: Connell is currently on cloud nine because we slayed winter carnival (unexpectedly) and especially since the com-

petition was tough. This could have been due to our highly experienced senior squad or to the moral support and night food supply of our very dedicated dorm parents (s/o to Lin, Glew & Wolf). Even with losing juniors to skiing, sophomores to late night laughing fits, and freshmen to Sargent Dorm we all come together on Fridays for Nacho Night. Next on the agenda: accepting applications for dates to our winning dinner at the Heads House. Houseman: Houseman dorm is a beautiful place to be. I like Houseman dorm, it is a lot of fun. According to Cooper Jay, "I especially like how on Thursdays Mr and Mrs Houseman let us into there home to enjoy treats. I am very happy that I live in Houseman." Dorm life is a learning experience. From the realities of sharing a bathroom to the joys of taking parts in late-night philosophical discussions, you'll likely discover new and different things every day. Living under the same roof with so many different types of people truly allows an individual to see the world with a whole new perspective. Day Boys: The Day Boys have been one of the least active groups on campus over the past few months. We recently added wallpaper to the wall. It is a random picture of Greece. On Valentine's Day not a single day boy got a carnation, which was pretty disappointing. Nate Sampo still hasn’t been seen doing School Work but still manages to have a 99% average somehow. Holten Flinders spilled chocolate milk on the ground and made someone else pick it up. Reece Thompson has continued the Thompson tradition of being JV Basketball MVP despite throwing out his back trying to complete a bounce pass. Keegan Penny is still singing wagon wheel in the DBR. Carter is listening to Kid Cudi’s new album. Hayden Dahl, our only freshman day boy, is late to class every day. Bryce

Murdick now goes to day boy anonymous meetings. The room smells like a month old fruit smoothie and the couches still smell like the 1980’s. Day Girls: The Day Girls have been off to a great start this year, even though we still don't know where to park and not sure what time chapel starts. This excellence also is shown throughout athletic ability. Pheobe Day was seen two days ago slipping on the paths, not once but four times. Tori, Cat, and Sydney have been killing it on the ice this year with a huge win against New Hampton last week on Super Stars. The basketball team is suffering with the loss of their star player; hopefully we will see Storm dunking again soon. Emily was spotted braving the rain at Tuesday’s night race. For more of an update stop by Lower Weld. Rathbun: Rathbun has probably been the loudest dorm on campus this year. Whether it is Owen’s high pitched voice traveling throughout the dorm while playing Madden, Charlie and Owen yelling at each other over who gets which side of the calzone, Charlie shredding the guitar, Chernin imitating Shia Labeouf, or Aaron yelling because that’s the only way he talks, Rathbun is a dorm where one must yell in order to be heard. On top of this, there is an unhealthy amount of PC/Xbox games played as just about every room contains at least one fully operational gaming computer and Owen can be seen at any hour playing either Madden or COD on the common room Xbox. When someone walks through Rathbun, which can be difficult due to how much our dorm has been closed, the amount of calzone boxes laying around may be a strange sight. For those of us who live here, it is an everyday sight that reminds us that we are home. When our dorm opens up again, come by and experience the greasiest and loudest dorm on campus for yourself.

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

Exploring Other Religions: An Alternative to Monday Chapels

Sam Shinn ’18 s I was walking out of Mr. Barton’s unusual chapel service two weeks ago, I felt refreshed. It was a chapel that was both interesting and completely unbiased towards any person or religion, and, in my mind, represented a change in the way we practice religion and approach spirituality at Holderness School. It got me thinking - what if chapel every Monday morning was like this? Instead of saying prayer and reading Bible verses, what if we as a school expanded our knowledge on multiple religions rather than just one? From my survey results, a large portion of our school agrees. When it comes to heavily religious chapel services and prayers, about a third of those surveyed felt neutral, while about 10% of our school feels uncomfortable or pressured into this practice. For the question I asked about what faith people were brought up by, I received a large variety of answers, ranging from sev-

eral denominations of the Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, and Atheism. Our chapel services could be unfair to our atheists, Buddhists, and members of other religions at the school, so I asked another question to propose a plan. From the answers I received, over half of the people surveyed said they would like to learn more about faiths like Hinduism, Buddhism, or Islam in a style similar to Mr. Barton’s chapel two weeks ago.

You may be thinking, “Well, why did you come to this school that was founded on the basis of the Episcopalian faith if you don’t like going to chapel?” Based on answers, the very large majority of our student body did not come to school for its Episcopalian faith and structured chapel sessions (to whoever answered “Sam Shinn” for why they attend school, it was much appreciated). According to the results of my survey there is a wide diversity in different faiths. It would be unfair to the Episcopal tradition of this school to call for an end to required chapel entirely. But, perhaps when the services are already split between those who wish to attend Eucharist and those who don’t, chapel speakers and the school as a whole could begin to explore new paths for the Holderness chapel program to explore.

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107 students responded to a survey asking what religion they were born into. The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10

I HOPE OUT BACK ISNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T UNBEARABLE

PURPOSE STATEMENT The Picador is a publication that serves to inform the Holderness School community and stimulate discourse through the thoughtful and respectful exchange of ideas, featuring the dynamic and insightful voice of the Holderness student body.

Editors Maggie Barton AJ Chabot Maggie Cunha Dougie DeLuca Carter Bourassa Chae Hahn Brooke Hayes

Visual Editors Moti Jiang Yiyang Mao Yoomi Ren Keying Yang Faculty Advisor Mr. Herring

Holderness School Chapel Lane PO Box 1879 Plymouth, NH 03264 603-779-5200 picador@holderness.org

The Picador: Volume 11, Issue 10