THE SUMMER TIMES
First Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid Mailed from 03833 Permit Number 78
‘The Summer Newspaper of Phillips Exeter Academy’
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Vol. XXXV, Number 2
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire
BIGGEST SUMMER SCHOOL EVER DRAWS 781: DIVERSITY “R” US
Courtesy of Alex Braile PEA’10
Where we’re from: As the sizes of the circles indicate, this year’s biggest foreign contingents are from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan, followed by Venezuela and Saudi Arabia. A state-side chart is found on page 2.
Danger at the Crossings: Girl OK after Hit-and-Run By LAYLA RAO Summer Times Staff Writer
On Monday night, July 4, a car hit an Exeter summer school student who was crossing Front Street at Tan Lane about 9 p.m. The girl, an Upper School student in grade 10, escaped serious injury. Many students who were walking back to their dorms from a demonstration of the Harkness Method witnessed the accident and criticized the driver’s reaction. Instead of immediately rushing from her car, they said, the driver, an elderly woman, remained inside for some time, and then proceeded to get out and walk over to the student. Oddly, after seeing the student with many faculty members surrounding her, she returned to her car and after several minutes, she drove away. Many there called it a hit and run. But one witness managed to snap a photo of the license plate and the driver was quickly tracked down by the police. It was not immediately known whether she would face charges. Fortunately, the student, whose name is being withheld by The Summer Times for reasons of privacy, suffered only minor scrapes and bruises. She was able to return to classes the following morning.
Although she was on crutches for the first few days, she was able to participate in swimming and had almost completely recovered within a week. One of the witnesses of the accident, Chelo Barton, 15, of Sam Francisco stated later on: “I never expected this to happen, especially in Exeter. The drivers are all so patient.” Although many witnesses testified that the student was not at fault, the hit and run on July 4th has proven that not all of the drivers in this small town are paying as careful attention to pedestrians as they should. This is not the first time a student has been hit by a car while attending Exeter and although it is a rare occasion, this has happened to a few students in the last decade. Because this is a school campus, it is as much the responsibility of the students as it is of the drivers to make sure kids are crossing the streets safely. Students need to be taking extra precautions to avoid having this happen again. At morning assembly, Summer School director Ethan Shapiro urged the students to be cautious while crossing the streets and to make eye contact with the drivers.
Warning Call: The Sun also Rises -and Blisters, too
See CROSSING, page 2
Like Magic, More HP7 Tix Appear By GINNY HARMON Summer Times Staff Writer
At 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning, hundreds of students flew out of their dorms, racing to secure spots in the long lines leading to the upstairs of the Academy Center, where they hoped to get tickets to see the last installment of the Harry Potter series. Ticket sales began at 7:30 a.m. Originally, there were to have been 190 tickets for sale, but due to high demand, the number was raised—miraculously— to 270 earlier this week. As of noon Wednesday, there were still a limited number of tickets available.
Crimestoppers: Exeter is hardly a hotbed of crime, but here, as everywhere, human nature applies. Which is to say: watch your possessions. Don’t leave money or other valuables (cameras, etc.) lying around your rooms. Last year outsiders were caught stealing backpacks from the dining hall and gym -- and some of the same suspects have been recently spotted on campus again. So be warned. Don’t be casual with your valuables.
F IELD D AY R EPORT She Said: By YARITZA SANDOVAL Summer Times Staff Writer
By ELENA PETRICEVIC Summer Times Staff Writer
Summer is supposed to be a blast, but there is a potentially dangerous downside to this time of the year – blistering heat, sun burn and dehydration. Dehydration is the lack of fluids needed within the body. It is categorized as mild, moderate, and severe, based on the lack of fluids not being replenished. On Wednesday, July 6, a student from Dunbar Hall was hospitalized for dehydration- she had not had enough water. The severity was unknown, but a witness described it as severe. The witness, Elizabeth Holcomb, a member of the Dunbar Hall dorm faculty, stood beside the victim of dehydration until the paramedics arrived. Ms. Holcomb stated that the girl was “very weak,” “she could not stand up straight,” and that she was having “muscle spasms.” Ms. Holcomb was concerned because the girl could not communicate. The only method of communication was blinking or hand squeezing to yes or no questions. “When I saw her she was just very weak,” Ms. Holcomb said. “She was holding herself up.” This experience was terrifying but in the end the girl, whose identity is being withheld by The Summer Times for privacy, was okay after a trip to the hospital. But this story should be a cautionary tale because dehydration can lead to dizziness, confusion, and lightheadedness and potentially to unconsciousness.. The key to preventing dehydration is to drink a lot of fluids and eat fruits and vegetables with water such as See SUN, page 2
Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
Summer school students from every dorm and their day affiliatees participated in Field Day last Saturday, July 9. Coming on to the field, each dorm made its presence known with spirited chants. While dorms settled in, chants and cheers continued to be heard. The sidelines were filled with sweatyfaced students in their personalized dorm t-shirts and shorts. The sun was blazing, but Field Day 2011 launched into the first game: the sack race.
Students in Langdell Hall cheer after winning their last relay. Langdell came in second overall.
See SHE SAID, page 2
He Said: By ARTHUR WEISER Summer Times Staff Writer
Last Saturday was Field Day, an event that takes place each year here at Phillips Exeter Academy around the sports field. The principal goal is to tighten the social links between the students of each dorm but also to stage competitive sports activities. Actually, sports may not be the right term here in Exeter where the dorms competed against each other on various trials one more wacky one than the other in order to win the victory. See HE SAID, page 2
Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
Boys in Main Street Hall march towards the fields. Main Street placed third overall in Field Day.
THE SUMMER TIMES
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NEWS
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
WHERE WE’RE FROM STATE-SIDE
That Mess Outside? It’s Progress By URWAH AHMAD Summer Times Staff Writer
Courtesy of Alex Braile PEA’10
New Hampshire, New York and California contribute the most students to the Summer Session. Forty of the 50 States are represented, and students come from as far away as Alaska and Hawaii. In addition, 48 countries are represented.
From the Field: What They Saw SHE: MAKING MOMENTS LAST, ON CAMERA AND IN MEMORY.
HE:
ON COMPETING AND WINNING , BUT STILL FORGING BONDS .
SHE SAID, continued from page 1
HE SAID, continued from page 1
The female dorms were up first. Students waited eagerly behind the white lines painted in the green grass to receive their sacks. When all the students were ready, every anxious face was waiting to hear a single word: GO! All one could see was girls’ hair bouncing in rhythm to the hopping. All one could hear was the screams of dorm names. Many students fell but quickly picked themselves up in hope of still finishing first. While some students ran back to their dorms in triumph, others ran back laughing, ready for the next game. When it was time for the male dorms, the competition was more intense. Again, students scampered across the field. Some tumbled. Some hopped at the speed of lightning to the finish line. There was an obvious winner for this game, but the next two games could crumble or assist dorms’ chances of winning the title. Students from each dorm jogged or sprinted to the starting line to participate in the three-legged race. For every pair of students, there was one thick black rubber band. Each student had to slide one leg in. Many students practiced with their partners walking or running behind the start line; all very determined to win this race while struggling to understand the synchronization needed to dash across the field. When it was the male dorms’ turn, they did the same. One student moved his or her right leg and the other student would move his or her left leg. This caused students to be jerked in different directions. Most of the time, these students toppled over. However, some were clever enough to figure it out: left, right, left, right, left, right. The Izzy Dizzy was the last game but the hardest. Each female and male dorm prepared lines of ten students each to race. Once the first student of each line sprinted across, he or she had place his or her forehead on a bat and spin around it 10 times. Not only did the student have to stand upright but he or she had to sprint back to his or her dorm’s line. In this fastpaced race, some students, mostly the male participants, ran in a nonlinear path and plummetted over a group of students in the sidelines, triggering shrieks and screams. Now, it was time to tally up all the points for each dorm. For the female dorms Bancroft won with 22 points, followed by Langdell with 21 and, tied for third Hoyt, McConnell, and Moulton with 15. For the male dorms, Webster won with 38 points, followed by Wentworth with 28, and Main Street with 12. Field Day came to an end but all the fun and laughter was not only captured only in photographs but in memories.
Saturday, the earth shook: the slogans of the dorms were so powerful and loud that they sounded like war songs resounding on a battlefield. The armor of the gladiators did not inspire peace either: We could, for example, perceive on Main Street’s shirt several rabid moose ready to pounce on the enemy, or even « Superman’s S » on Webster South. This battle was looking bloody even before the fight. Despite a fighting spirit in every student, a happy and peaceful atmosphere dominated the event. “This sense of belonging to a community, to find that you are part of a group even if you don’t participate in the trial was really cool,” said Qi Zheng, a 16–year-old boy from China. Social cohesion was actually the main feeling as students from lots of dorms such as Main Street were grabbing each other’s hands, forming human circles, laughing among themselves, making new friends. The 2011 edition of the Field Day began promptly with a sack race that looked tough for each participant. The countdown (“3... 2... 1”) began, and they were already gone like horses at the track. The races went on one after the other; not a single competitor would drop out. The first places were very tight as shown on the pictures: we almost needed an instant replay like in the real Olympic games. It also made for wonderful moments for spectators as the spectacular stunts at the finish line were not lacking. In fact, some participants threw themselves on the finish line like starving dogs to take the first place. A stunning event in general that made the happiness of the Webster Dorm, as it won three races, a great performance. The afternoon continued with an event that literally tightened the links between students since they had to run in pairs with a plastic ribbon at the ankle, a very difficult trial for them since it combined coordination, speed and tactics. Speaking of tactics, they were not lacking: some students used the “hopping” technique, others tried the “run without thinking,” and finally those who had a real tactic with a rhythm. We noticed that the girls were really good in this event: some ran like the wind as if nothing had happened. Impressive! Finally, the last event was the most dangerous one for both the public and the participants. Indeed, they had to turn ten times around a baseball bat and then run as fast as possible fifty meters, with a completely disoriented view and the intestines still mixed up. The encouragements were not lacking for this trial such as the one by Webster’s advisers: “If you fail this, we cut internet for the week.. These words gave them wings since they won the race by a considerable lead ! “And the winner is... Webster Hall!” When these words resounded in the field, Webster’s students exploded with joy. They ran and shouted simultaneously, “Webster! Webster !” A splendid moment of joy and happiness as the fervor of the group echoed through the entire stadium. As Jules Caesar said “Veni, Vedi, Vici.”
Boys in Main Street Hall circle up during the field day festivities. Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
The campus of Phillips Exeter Academy is very large and consists of 126 buildings and 26 dorms, many of which are old. Everyone must have noticed the construction going on around campus. Some of the buildings need to be renovated and there are other smaller projects which are just renewing the buildings and other facilities. There are three major projects and approximately 100 smaller projects. The three major projects include the renovation of Phillips Hall, the roof replacement of the Mayer Art Center and upgrades to the steam distribution around the Love gym, Bancroft Hall, Webster Hall, Wentworth Hall and Kirtland Hall. The renovation of Phillips Hall includes roof replacement and window replacement. Since the building is fairly old the bricks have to be restored so it doesn’t collapse. The steam system, electric system and telecommunication systems are being corrected, as well. Most parts of the building are going to be demolished and then renovated. Since the project is very large, it will be done in two phases. The Mayer Arts Center’s west side will be painted. Not only is the roof being restored, but the skylights which will be replaced by energy efficient and insulated skylights. Scaffolding is going to be installed over the entire building, and the steam distribution system is going to be replaced near the places given above. When the system is replaced, it will be more efficient. Some of the smaller projects include exterior painting of Knight House as well as some repairs, exterior painting of Amen Hall and repairs, and the waterproofing of Wheelwright Hall. Every project is different and requires different numbers of workers. The numbers range from a few to about 75 people working on the Phillips Hall renovation. All the projects will be completed by the end of August in time for the regular Academy session to begin.
Safety First: Crossing Wisely CROSSING, continued from page 1 Many adults had noticed that before the accident, kids were not crossing the street in the designated crosswalks. However, the accident seemed to cause the students to take crossing the streets more seriously. According to the campus police, students have made a noticeable change to the way they have been crossing the streets since the accident. The police have noticed that more kids are stopping to look both ways and wave at the drivers. The accident has proven to be a wake up call, and since that night, students have been taking the necessary precautions to keep themselves safe.
Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
Security Officers, like William Armstrong, aren’t always on duty, so students need to be cautious- cross at the crosswalks, look for cars and wave at drivers.
Sun of a Beach (Don’t Forget the Sunscreen) SUN, continued from page 1 strawberries, watermelon, and cucumbers. The second danger of the sun is sunburn. Some unwisely use tanning oils and sun enhancers to fit a popular image. Bad sunburns tend to be very painful and tend to lead to peeling skin so minor discoloration occurs. Repeated sunburns potentially can cause skin cancer. There was a beach trip this past Sunday in which there were many cases of
sunburn due to use of tanning oil or absolutely no sun protection. Walking around campus, one can see those who neglected to use sun protection; these people are spotted because of the bright red coloring of their skin. Overheated dorms also spell discomfort if not danger for those on higher floors. Be aware, drink plenty of water and ask for fans if necessary. With these precautions, you can still enjoy a safe and joyous summer!
THE SUMMER TIMES
NEWS
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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
“I -W ITNESS ” N EWS : STUDENT REPORTS ON A WORLD IN TURMOIL From street protests to wildfires, revolution to secession, our very own peers watched history unfold and, here, share their accounts.
Athens: Belgium: Russia: Wild in Breaking up The Fire the Streets is Hard to Do this Time By CHRISTINA PSYCHARI
By ALIX DUFOSSÉ
Summer Times Staff Writer
Summer Times Staff Writer
Being a Greek citizen and living in the center of Athens, I have witnessed history. I have experienced one of the most difficult periods Greece has been through. The Greeks had always been known in history for their culture and their civilization. In the ancient world, Athens was an economic, cultural and social center. Many professors study the achievements of the ancient Greeks. Nevertheless, nowadays the Greeks have managed to change the way they were viewed by the world. The last few years have been some of the worst that Greece has ever been through. The main problem that we Greeks are experiencing is the national debt, which is too high for such a small country. Our creditors and the European Union have, in order to help us, imposed an austerity plan with drastic cutbacks of wages and increases in taxes. This has led to social unrest. Demonstrations and attacks against politicians happen all the time. Most Greeks are frustrated and can’t stand this suffocating situation anymore, that’s why they’ve started to protest. During the last month many Greeks gathered every day at Constitution Square, in the center of Athens, in order to express their disappointment to the Greek Government. They have placed tents on the streets and live there, trying to change their awful reality. Even though some, or rather most, of the citizens of Athens were protesting in a civilized and calm way, there were also some groups of people who tried in every way to destroy the only things we Greeks are left with: our history and our dignity. They managed to turn the civilized demonstration into an angry fuss that nearly destroyed the center of Athens. For many days this year the city center was closed, no cars could enter, and everything was a mess. There were fights and, fires; the police were firing teargas. It was an atmosphere that nobody could stand. I must admit that watching all these episodes happen was one of the most embarrassing and difficult things I ever did in my life. I remember trying to study history for our exams in May. The Alix Dufossé/The Summer Times weather was really hot and I needed to open Christina, 16, hails from Athens. the window in order to get some air. But I couldn’t open the window because when I did, I could hear screams and shouts coming from people fighting in the center. I can also recall one day when I went to Constitution Square in June and I saw broken sidewalks and tents set up on the street where people lived to show their disappointment in the government. I could feel the anger, the frustration and the sadness in the atmosphere. Seeing everything that happened, watching people vandalizing our country, the place where our generation is going to live, was just so unfair. While watching the news or getting out of my house and listening to all the fights I kept thinking: “How can people have the right to destroy someone else’s future?” I’m not implying that Greek citizens should remain silent while they lose their job, or their rights. Citizens should express their feelings but in a civilized way that shows how disappointed they are and how urgently they need change. Not only isn’t it fair to our generation when some groups of people start destroying everything, but also by causing damage to our culture we destroy at the same time any chance we had of moving forward. We all need to work really hard and believe no matter what that we can get through this difficult situation. And that’s how eventually we will move out of this dark channel and into the light.
In order to understand why Belgium doesn’t have a government, you have to know that Belgium is pretty much divided in two parts, the French-speaking part, Wallonia, and the Flemish-speaking part, Flanders. Tensions between the two parts of Belgium are at an all-time high. The Flemish party is separatist which means it wants to separate Belgium into two countries; the Francophone party disagrees. On June 13, they tried to form a coalition but that didn’t last long. Even though there isn’t a government, Belgium still presided over the European Union smoothly thanks to the outgoing Prime Minister, Yves Leterme. Apart from the fact that Belgium is now the world record holder for the longest time without a proper government, everyday
Courtesy of Google
Street violence often erupts into police involvement and fires, as seen above.
By JIYOON PARK Summer Times Staff Writer
Courtesy of Google
Dutch-speaking Flanders and Francophone Wallonia are grappling with a breakup. The Belgian government is divided over Flanders’ bid to secede. life in Belgium hasn’t changed much. Ever since the beginning of the crisis, people who want Belgium to remain united have placed the Belgian flag on their windows. The small businesses have been hit quite hard. When you walk around the center of the city Ixelles, you can see shops closing one after the other. A lot of people have decided to celebrate the fact that “little” Belgium has broken a world record. In Ghent, large groups of people decided to streak on red nose day -- the day dedicated to shaming the political etiquette in Belgium. Other groups of students hand out free French fries in the streets. A lot of Belgian men have decided to boycott shaving until an actual government is set up, so coming across bearded men has become customary. It is hard to get around Brussels because transportation strikes have become ordinary: the tram, bus, and metro drivers usually go on strike during exam weeks or important weekdays to create the biggest mess possible to show how angry they are about the political situation. Basic town functions like trash pick up, and the post have stopped working correctly, so it gets very frustrating when 2-week-old garbage starts piling up on street corners. For the majority of Belgians , the lack of government just proved that a country can pretty much run itself , it doesn’t shut down or go out of control as soon as politicians stop running it. For the most part, everyday life hasn’t changed. Therefore Justin Robertsen/The Summer Times most people Though a native to France, Alix, don’t feel like 16, lives in Belgium and details her establishing observations on the government in a new government is a the country she now calls home. priority.
In August 2010, a massive wildfire swiped through Russia, causing many problems around the country. The cause of the wildfire was the heat, which many people do not associate with Russia, since it is known as a country with a harsh, freezing winter. For the past two years that I spent in Moscow, the heat of the summer of 2010 was extreme compared to the others. Summer 2010 set a record for the highest temperature in Russia, which was 44℃ (111℉). When the wildfires were ocJustin Robertson/The Summer Times curring, I was living Jiyoon, 16, originally from in one of the coolest Korea, has lived in Russia with areas of Moscow, and when my family her family for the past two years. first moved in, the owner told us that we would not need an air conditioner for Russian summers. She told us that many houses in Russia do not have air conditioners, but after the continuous wildfires, I have read that the number of air conditioners sold increased rapidly. The summers in Russia were usually very dry and hot (not as much as 2010), and as the heat was overwhelming, even small sparks eventually turned into fire, and spread throughout the whole country. The fire did not start in Moscow, but it eventually, reached nearby, causing my school to delay our return from summer holidays due to the smog that could cause health problems. The airports Domodedovo and
Courtesy of Google
Here, the wildfire consumes a Russian forest. Vnukovo, which were near the fire, accepted outgoing flights but airplanes that were coming to Russia needed to land in different airports in Moscow. The sky was grey, and many people around Moscow were wearing masks outside, because of the smog. The carbon dioxide level in Russia increased more the three times the usual, and the fire caused the deaths of approximately 56,000 people, and the destruction of more than 2,000 houses. Many families in our district, including ours, were expecting the wildfire to last only for a couple of days. But, it lasted from the end of July to the start of September. Because my parents were concerned about our health, we decided to stay in Korea until the fire was extinguished, but our flight to Korea was very uncomfortable and long because the direct flights were all full. It wasn’t only the flight to my country, but other planes were also full with other people around Russia who were trying to get out of Russia until the fire calmed down. I spent a couple of weeks in Korea, and came back to Moscow when the fire finally stopped. Many people in Russia were expecting another chaotic event like this for this summer too, so many planes were booked. But this summer has been cool, about 15℃ (59℉). Maybe it was just the summer of 2010 that was different, but it is an event that nobody that was in Russia would forget.
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OPINIONS
THE SUMMER TIMES
Fairness for Gays
THE SUMMER TIMES SUMMER TIMES STAFF REPORTERS Urwah Ahmad Alix Dufossé Virginia Harmon Colin Keane Adam Marquardt
Jiyoon Park Alejandro Penate Elena Petricevic Christina Psychari Layla Rao
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
Soren Eggerling
Justin Robertson Luisa Sanabria Yaritza Sandoval Djinnie Timoleon Arthur Weiser
FACULTY ADVISOR
Ralph Blumenthal The Summer Times is written and edited by Mr. Blumenthal's A and B format Journalism classes and contributing writers throughout the Summer School. It is produced by Summer Times Proctors Jocelyn Bohn PEA'11 and Meg Hassan PEA'11. The Summer Times welcomes Letters to the Editor, which can be sent via email to peasummer@gmail.com. The editors reserve the right to print Letters to the Editor in a timely fashion and to edit them for content and clarity.
Summer Times Contributing Writer Gay rights are a hot topic in political debate circles as of now. I strongly feel that everyone deserves equal rights, including homosexuals. I am not gay myself, but my parents and I all have friends who are. I believe that denying gay citizens the right to legally marry is unconstitutional. “The assertion that ‘all men were created equal’ was of no practical use in affecting our separation from Great Britain, and it was placed in the Declaration not for that, but for future use.” Based on that quote, I might tend to think that Abraham Lincoln, the famous 16th President of the United States, would have agreed with me, whether the issue is voting rights for women, freedom for African-Americans, or legal marriage for gays and lesbians. But the U.S. isn’t just the only country with this problem. Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are just a few of the countries where homosexuality is punishable by death. Although it is extremely important to have gay and lesbian marriage rights in the U.S., the global community should be focusing on at least outlawing prison and death as a result of being homosexual. These heinous crimes against every human’s rights are terribly wrong and should be focused on more by the international community. You shouldn’t be killed because of who you are; people should embrace it. I believe that people have a right to their opinions, bias, thoughts, and feelings. It is my belief that having any form of being homosexual against the law is unethical. It says in the Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations that everyone has freedom of opinion and expression. I fail to see how homosexual and lesbian rights do not fall under that category. As I finish my paper, I leave you with a question. Is it illegal to be who you are at heart?
‘Blessing’
Diverse School, Diverse Tastes
Chloe Ene
Alix Dufossé
Summer Times Contributing Writer
Summer Times Contributing Writer
*The following piece is a poem written by the author, Chloe Ene. For most of the students at Exeter, lunch and dinner means time to hang out and socialize – and critique the food. The dining experience is different from one person to the other, especially because Exeter has such a wide range of nationalities attending this summer session. What will constitute an amazing meal for one student might be another’s nightmare. For example, I have talked to some students from the south who told me the food here was tasteless, and that there was a lack of sauces and spices. However I find certain meals either too spicy or too seasoned. But the food itself is of good quality, the service in the dining hall is great, the meals are always hot, and there is usually enough of everything for everyone. It is important to point out that the meals are balanced, covering most of the food groups. It is easy to maintain a healthy diet; there are different kinds of
Sadness engulfed the Sun. Madness engulfed the people. The Big Apple had been eaten by the monster of melancholy. The plain definition of tragedy. No Blessing.
Yorkers were hollow. A full emptiness hovered in their lackluster bodies Blue skies were an innate owning a television. Being blue was the norm. The world was a crashing vase. Suicide crept up the door of folks’ lives. No Blessing.
Is that hope on the horizon? Would heaven truly grant them back what they once abused? The predictions were food to the famished humans. Would they actually see the sun? And never have to set an eye on ashen firmaments again? Blessing?
fruit and vegetables available. One of the biggest issues that students here complain about is the lack of diversity, especially in the morning foods: the same items are served almost every morning, eggs, bagels, French toast, and cereals. The dining hall would be enjoyed on a greater level if the range of options were wider. Many students would appreciate simpler meals; some find that the dishes here are too elaborate for a school cafeteria. The items which have gotten the best feedback were the drinks, because there is so much to choose from. You can try a different beverage every day, and the deserts are thoroughly enjoyed -- especially the Oreo ice cream cake. In the end, food preferences differ from one person to another according to what that person is used to. The food served at the dining hall should reflect the diversity that makes Exeter such a special school.
A Pair of Poems Maya Alexander
Frowns began to turn upside down. Anticipation grew like an instantly lit flame. Anxiety flushed into the streets. Literally. The day finally came. And passed. No sun. No blue skies. No Blessing.
Summer Times Contributing Writer *The following two pieces are poems written and submitted by Maya Alexander.
please shoot me with your arrow. I just want to go back to the days where love wasn’t so stupid.
‘STUPID’ Things went back to what was considered “normal”. Day-in, Day-out lunacy ruled Little Mary never saw light. No Blessing.
Love is stupid. I can’t believe I thought there was a cupid. All this I thought he was, looking at me, thinking I hold the key to his heart. But I could see I was wrong. I thought his love was strong enough for me to hold that key to where his heart would be. How could I be so naive thinking he would like a girl like me? I can’t believe it was all a dream. Well, at least that’s how it seemed. So, if you’re out there cupid,
It was so BRIGHT! So sudden. Heat was a birthday present for those who knew it Bright azure captivated the heavens Elation
The Blessing continued forever. The Blessing from a Supreme Deity. One that still cared about His people. Who could ask for such a gift? The Unending Blessing.
Dark of Harkness? Whether you like the Harkness method or not, there is no denying the history and uniqueness that comes with its implementation at Exeter. Edward Harkness, a philanthropist who inherited a vast fortune from his father, an early investor with John D. Rockefeller, envisioned a classroom environment in which the teacher guides the students and together they would work to learn and share ideas from every individual perspective. Needless to say, that vision shined through. Having adopted the system that would later be so successful, Exeter welcomed a new form of learning. The original Harkness tables were used in the discussions across campus, but after these tables failed to work due to the difficulty of meeting everyone’s eyes with the wrongly shaped tables and really having the experience of a meaningful discussion, it was decided that the tables would be constructed and refurbished inside the classroom in an oval shape. So really the Harkness Method has and always will be specifically designed for Exeter, with oval tables manufactured and tested in each and every one of the school’s classrooms. Now, this system has received both positive and negative reports. Considering that it is early in the session, students aren’t able to fully decide whether or not they will
‘WHO I AM?’ I am me, someone no one else can be. I believe in individuality because it’s what makes reality. It’s my time to shine, so don’t try to steal the spotlight because it’s mine. I try to make a change in the world. It only starts with one; then it’ll spread like light as if it came from the sun. People hear me out because I don’t want to shout: I am me, and that’s someone you’ll never be
Alejandro Penate, Summer Times Staff Writer
ultimately benefit from it. Still, students aren’t discouraged from voicing their opinions about it. Avery Ni, 15, from Taiwan, felt the process benefited all students. “It’s interesting. You learn from other students and it’s an experience you don’t get in other schools,” he said. “In a regular school you compete against each other but in the Harkness circle, you work together and learn together.”
“
Edward Harkness... envisioned a clasroom environment in which the teacher guides the students and together they would work to learn and share ideas from ever individual perspective. Needless to say, that vision shined through.
”
Other students have experienced the Harkness method before -- just under a different name. Mitzi Perez, 16, from Richmond, California, found a familiar learning process here. “The Harkness Circle reminds me of the Socratic Seminar back home,” she stated, “although math and science departments can increase their concept of discussions.”
Daniel Brown, 16, from London agreed there were limitations to the method. “It is a good idea, although you only know what the circle knows,” he said. “You only know what you’ve researched. Everyone around the table has one piece of evidence that they share with the circle. So when it’s over, everyone will know the same thing.” Michelle Moy, 17, from Chicago said the technique was “encouraging.” “When you’re at the Harkness Circle, it encourages you to be part of the learning environment because it forces you to teach yourself and your peers since the teacher isn’t there to direct the conversation,” she said. It’s definitely too early to start judging whether the method will be effective or not for this year’s crop of students, but one thing is for sure: Exonians are ready to make their voices heard and don’t feel shy about expressing the way they feel about their education. When you have such a diverse range of students, this is what happens: different opinions and arguments form on how to learn and really this is when together we can be our best. So as long as the Harkness Method continues to foster expression of thought and ideas I think we can all agree everyone engaging in this method will benefit greatly. We can’t expect anything less at Exeter, because this is truly one of the best places to be at to learn about different things and find your inner voice, The Harkness Circle just facilitates that.
EXETER LIFE
THE SUMMER TIMES
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
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Spotlight On: Intern Heath Alexander By DIGINNIE TIMOLEAN and YARITZA SANDOVAL Summer Times Staff Writers
Heath Alexander, 26, is an intern in the history department this summer. Mr. Alexander from Charlotte, N.C., joined the National Guard in 2002 when he was 17. Starting in 2005, he was mobilized to Iraq for his first of two tours. We sat down with him to ask him some questions.
Q: Did you get a phone call saying you were going to be mobilized? A: No. I remember clearly. It was during breakfast. They said they already assigned me to a unit and I would leave in two weeks. I was walking to the cafeteria. I grabbed my bowl of cereal. I thought, “What I was going to do?” This was crazy. Imagine getting a phone call saying you were going to war.
Q: Why did you want to join the National Guard? A: I wanted to be an officer, and the National Guard would give me experience in that field.
Q: What did you do over in Iraq? A: A bunch of guys in my unit were assigned to carry artillery and drive trucks. We were based in Kuwait, near the ports. When a brigade was coming, we would have to carry their artillery. Q: Did you ever get attacked? A: We did. Very infrequently and not as dramatic as you would think. We once had IEDs, roadside bombs, when we were driving but it was very random. I was very fortunate. I was not hurt. They were some units around us that did get hurt and some soldiers died. Q: How would you describe your experience? A: It’s such a distilled amount of time. It is hard to describe it in one emotion. A lot of the time, I was bored. I also had fear. One person said the best way to describe war is lots of boredom punctuated by a few moments of sheer terror. That is accurate.
Q: How did your parents react when you told them you wanted to join? A: I needed my parents’ consent, but they were not happy about it. Eventually, they agreed. I was old for my grade. I was in junior year, and I was turning eighteen in a few months. By that time, I could join on my own. I would have missed some of high school if I would have joined later.
Q: Were you engaged? A: During the two weeks I came back, I proposed to her. She wasn’t excited for me to go back.
Q: How was the training process? A: The training is the same as any other division of the Army. I would have done basic training after my junior year and again after my senior year. Every person has to go through boot camp no matter if you are a soldier or a chef. After boot camp, there is specialized training. Boot camp was two months and specialization training was another two months. That is why I wanted to do the Reserves and not the Army. I wanted to go to college.
Q: When were you mobilized the second time? A: I was mobilized in December 1, 2008. I only had six months of training. I went over in May 2009 in a totally different mission with a unit of soldiers with their own area which was in farmlands south of Baghdad. Q: Did you see more action that time? A: I was doing a job that would have if it was 2005 but by 2009 this had gotten quieter. It was once the Sunni Triangle of Death. In 2005, U.S soldiers would not have gone in that area because it was controlled by Al Qaeda.. People told how frightening it was when Al Qaeda was in control because women had to wear head wraps. Many people were more afraid of Al Qaeda than the Americans. Compared to when I went before, there was a change, but it was still dangerous. There, fifteen soldiers and I were in charge of security.
Q: When did you join the Reserves? A: I joined one year before the Iraq War in 2003. I specifically remember hearing my recruiter saying: “Don’t worry about that Iraq thing. It’s going to be over before yoyu’re out of basic training.” There was a lot of debate over Iraq. Q: Did you believe your recruiter? A: No.
Q: Did you know Arabic? A: I knew a little because I took a course in college. There were Q: Did you want to go to Iraq? Justin Robertson/The Summer Times always translators like Megan, an empowered woman in Iraq. There A: That is a good question. Let’s say I didn’t want to go to Iraq. I History intern Heath Alexander served two tours in was a great risk for her and her family. Her daughter was actually kidwould have to say I wanted to go to Afghanistan more. But I shouldn’t Iraq with the National Guard, emerging unscathed. napped. It was very, very dangerous when she traveled from the base use this word “want.” I saw it as my duty. back to her house. Q: Did they say the specific place you were being mobilized to? Q: At what point did you go over to Iraq? Q: When did you get back? A: They didn’t say where we were going, but at that time it was A: Well, I got mobilized in May 2005. This was during my freshmen A: January 2010 and I was not injured. year of college. I had an opportunity not to go. I was doing ROTC in clear: we were going to Iraq. college. ROTC is officer training, and many colleges have it. The ROTC Q: As you look back now, are you glad you went? Q: If you had taken the ROTC option, what would have hapinstructors told me I could get experience as an enlisted guy and work my A: I was glad I went. I am not glad in the sense that we did something way up to an officer. My plan was to become an officer through ROTC. pened? When I was going to be mobilized, the ROTC instructors told me I could A: I would have stayed in college. I would have come out of college great in Iraq—not at all. Not even saying that I personally accomplished sign a contract to stay. That was a big decision I had to wrangle with. I as an officer but I would have been committed for five years. I would have something great. It has made me who I am. It was a formative experience. I would not want to go again on another tour, but I could not imagine my not wanted to look back and think I was trying to wiggle my way out. decided to go because I signed up for this. life if I didn’t join the Army.
Test Your Potter IQ By GINNY HARMON Summer Times Staff Writer
1. In what year was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s (Phi losopher’s) Stone first published? 2. From what is Harry Potter’s wand made? 3. Who teaches the Transfiguration class at Hogwarts? 4. What did the writers of the Marauder’s Map like to call themselves? 5. Who wrote A History of Magic and where did he/she live?
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6. Where do the Dursleys’ live? 7. What are the names of the three brothers who received the Deathly Hallows?
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8. Name all of Ron’s siblings. 9. What animal could James Potter transform himself into? 10. What class does Charity Burbage teach at Hogwarts? Courtosey of Google Images
Find the Answers on Page 8.
Sequels and Prequels Abound By ADAM MARQUARDT Summer Times Staff Writer
Sequels and prequels bookend this year’s line up of blockbuster movies. And not everyone is happy about it. “They suck the idea dry straight dry,” said French student Marius Kerner. The roster consists of “Transformers: Dark of the Moon,” “X-Men,” “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” “The Green Lantern,” and “Super 8.” The summer presents an opportunity for movie-makers around the world to prove themselves the true champion of special effects. This year’s contenders for the prize are certainly not new to the game. One thing is for sure, computer animation will progress to unseen heights as moviegoers will be dazzled with the various ways a shot can get manipulated. However, this raises the question whether movie makers have become too inclined towards continuing series with solid fan bases that lack originality. The current list of movie blockbusters is littered with storylines following frequently adapted screenplays. These story lines following epic characters from the daunting and loveable Harry Potter to the dynastical team of X-Men. These continuations are great for the increasingly visual America that marvels at the beautiful explosions and the loyal comic cravers around the world. Movie makers have become almost too aware of this cult following and can exploit this fan following. For example, “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” grossed through the roof with $645 million at the box office; however the movie received across the board negative reviews. This contradiction arises bec a u s e t h e l o y a l Tr a n s f o r m e r s fan base wants to see its favorite transformer blown up on the big screen. Then there are a lot of people
Courtosey of Google Images
Courtosey of Google Images
Courtosey of Google Images
Pictured above are three of this summer’s new releases. Movies this summer are action packed.
who know nothing about Transformers, but just want to see the explosions anyway. Some of this fan base does not really care if the movie actually has a developed plot. Moviemakers have edged into a territory where they are ultimately safe from the perils of a flop. So, the question: why make an original story line when so many people already like this existing story line? Well the answer to that for Lucas Outumuro, the 11th grader f r o m Ve n e z u e l a w h o y o u m a y know as the kid who always listens to house music and plays soccer, is “that if they always torture an adapted screenplay that’s been used and abused so many times then there may never be an original screenplay.” The preservation of art in movie making has become an urgent cause. Marius FrancoisKerner, a tenth-grader from Paris, could be recognized as the student who wears rings and is almost never seen without a Bob Marley or Jimi Hendrix shirt. “Movies are getting far too commercial and too far from the arts,” Marius commented. Which pretty much sums up the trend of movies in the critical eye. The main issue is not the adapted screenplay. Some movies that have pushed the art of movie making to new levels have come from adapted screenplays ---for instance, in recent history, “The King’s Speech. “ However what separates the adapted use of that film from “Transformers” is that “The King’s Speech” used zero dollars for special effects. The result of the explosionfree use of a beautiful screen play is some Oscars and good reviews, compared to $the money minting box office of the critically bashed “Transformers.” The current trend in movies over this summer and past summers suggests that movie makers are more concerned with the extra bucks rather than all the critical acclaim.
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EXETER LIFE
THE SUMMER TIMES
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
When One is Fun in the Sun: the Loneliest Da Deans Done Do It Number
trip to Boston. Students are free to roam Boston and explore the city for themselves. Mr. Gargas reiterated this saying that “students seem to always love going to Boston, it’s easily one of our Top 3 every year.” Although they are the Deans of Fun, a serious side comes with the job as well. These three must maintain a “business-like” attitude, Mr. Calnan said, in order to successfully run these trips. As well, Mr. Calnan noted that “there is a lot of thought that must go into planning a trip.” The three must juggle a limited amount of space for each trip and keep track of who has passed the swim test, as well as other requirements. Some of you may be wondering what do the Deans of Fun actually do all day. Well, Mr. Gargas described: “It usually begins at 5:00 a.m for a Polar Bear swim, followed by office hours from 8:30-3:30 with a few meetings sprinkled in. After that we will have an on-campus event in the Agora or Dining Hall, then a mini-competition (volleyball, dodgeball, etc), after those are over we have dorm duty.” There you have it. As you can see the Deans of Fun are continually working hard to make sure the 93rd Phillips Academy Summer School session is the most fun one yet. Mr. Gargas made it clear that “it isn’t all fun and games, but we love doing it!”
By COLIN KEANE
Summer Times Staff Writer
By LUISA SANABRIA Summer Times Staff Writer
When arriving on campus, a place of different traditions and people from all over the world, students feel exited to meet and learn from each other wondering whom will they end up living with. But after a long day or night of packing and traveling all exited to meet their new companion for the rest of the summer, they find themselves confined in a small single–bed dorm room with no one to share laughs and secrets, and lacking the opportunity to have a new best friend. What some students are experiencing at Phillips Exeter Academy is quite alarming. Their homesickness seems to increase because they are all alone in their rooms; sometimes they feel scared, anxious and lonely. Maria Corina Celis, an 11th grader from Cilley Hall, shared the tragedy of being all by herself. “I like going to the gym because by doing this I wake up every morning with joy and will go on with my day as usual!” Filippos Lymperopoulos, Greece, 16. “The first night was terrible,” she said. “I was shaking in my bed, I could hear distant sounds of trains and animals that kept me awake and frightened all night. There was nobody to whom I could share my excitement about Exeter.” She kept talking about how lonely and scared she was. Even though she made friends after all, she still is quite lonely when the clock strikes 9, when she has to go to her room and affront this terrible experience. Other students feel that by being alone they have their own personal space, they feel free and they can do as they please with no one to bother or to complain to. Here at Phillips Exeter Academy, “roomies” are a major concern. Not only can you feel lonely but you may also fear that you will dislike whoever sleeps in your room. Usually people are lucky but that’s not always the case. Should sleeping alone be considered a benefit or a disgrace? Would privacy come before meeting new people? The answer is uncertain; it usually depends on the individuals preferences. But what everyone needs is a pinch of luck. And in the worst of cases a simple email from your parents or talk with your advisor may solve any problem.
The names Jan Trueman, Brian Calnan, and Matt Gargas may not immediately ring a bell but are known to many as “the people who stand up in front during assembly and tell us about the fun stuff we can do here,” says Adam Marquardt, 16, of San Francisco.. This year’s Deans of Fun all four-year veterans in the office, are looking forward to entertaining the 781 kids at the 93rd Phillips Exeter Academy Summer Session. They will be offering a large variety of trips: to colleges, ice skating, numerous beaches, Canobie Lake Park, and Water Country. Mr. Calnan noted “Canobie Lake Park and Water Country are always very popular, as are the shopping trips” but, “recently, ice skating has become quite popular, too.” This year also includes a special Harry Potter trip available to 270 students. Beginning July 13 at 7:30 a.m. tickets went on sale for the Saturday afternoon showing. Mr. Gargas said “the trip that will definitely sell out this year will… of course [be], Harry Potter.” In addition, those who have the required forms will allowed to be attend the Boston Commons, an unsupervised
The Deans of Fun show their serious side. From left to right: Jan Trueman, Brian Calnan and Matthew Gargas. They plan trips and events for the Summer School students.
Minako Yashiro/The Summer Times
From Bahrain With Love: Tales of Arab Spring By GINNY HARMON Summer Times Staff Writer
While freedom is a luxury enjoyed in America, many parts of the world do not have these rights. Throughout this past spring and summer, people in the Middle East have been fighting for these basic freedoms. Here at Exeter, students come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and a number of them come from parts of the world that have been affected, even if indirectly, by these uprisings. Jana Alfaraj, 16, and Reem Alfaraj, 15, both of Saudi Arabia, are attending the upper school this summer. At a meeting of Arab and Middle Eastern students in Phillips Church Monday night, they explained that the rebellions were like a domino effect that began on February 14, 2011 when a man set himself on fire in Tunisia because he could not find work despite his qualifications. This injustice inspired other Arabs to also rebel and fight for their own rights. Egypt was quick to act, and
once Egypt rebelled, protests and riots began in Libya, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria. Another student, Ahmed Bubshait, 15, also from Saudi Arabia, explained that his life was not greatly affected by the revolutions except that he and other Saudi Arabians were not allowed to enter Bahrain anymore. Ahmed said that prior to the rebellions, he would visit Bahrain for entertainment two to three times a month. Lynn Abukhadra,15, of Bahrain experienced the revolution in Bahrain firsthand. She remembers that schools were shut down for two weeks and students were forced to make up hours of missed school. When asked about the level of danger, she said that there were people screaming and tires burning. “Police now travel in groups in case of ambush,” she said. She added that these officers were not even from Bahrain, they needed to be imported in case the police wanted to rebel as well. Nasibah Khashogg, 16, of Saudi Arabia also commented on the level of danger saying, “People are dying every day.”
Lynn also commented on the social changes that she has noticed since the revolutions began. She said that a big part of the revolution had to do with religion, because about 90% of Bahrain are Shiite Muslims, and only 10% are Sunni Muslims, yet the Sunni’s were in power. These protests have destroyed friendships because Shiites and Sunnis who used to get along now are fighting each other. In Saudi Arabia, these revolutions, and particularly the riots in Bahrain, affected the social lives of the people living there. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are neighboring countries that are connected by a bridge. People from Saudi Arabia often go to Bahrain for movies and other entertainment. But during the protests this past spring, the bridge was closed to keep protestors from entering. Reem Alfaraj commented that since the uprisings began, all people seem only to talk about politics. Fortunately, schools in Bahrain have reopened, and the bridge linking Saudi Arabia was reopened -- just in time for students to come to Phillips Exeter for the summer school.
“I fell in love with this place”: First Impressions “..I thought it would be harder to make friends because the campus was very big...” - Naomi Ava Distant, age 14, from the Bronx ,originally from Jamaica
time division between classes, sports and hanging out with friends is really good.” - Miguel Velasco Triska, age 16, from Spain ”Hot, hot, hot” -Andres Isava, age 16, from Venezuela “Big and spacious, I even got lost” – Luis C. Rodriguez , age 17, from Venezuela
Ginny Harmon/The Summer Times
“...a lot of kids spoke multiple languages so I felt kind of intimidated.” -Michaela Hirakawa age 16, from Oahu, Hawaii “Hum... I don’t know... It’s a really tricky question. Living in Spain, I never saw an American college before except in pictures. Phillips Exeter Academy looked like the typical American college. My first two classes, Exploring American Culture and Becoming a Confident Writer for Nonnative speakers, were passing so fast they were insane. I’m disappointed by the size of a two-person room: When I compared my room to others in my dorm, it was even smaller than single ones. A very negative first impression for me..But my overall impression was very positive as the
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Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
“I fell in love with this place right away, it’s all green and ecological” - Fernando M., Venezuela
I’ve never enjoyed math class before.” -Chloe Ene, age 13, from Nigeria
“ I have gone to many Summer Schools before and Exeter is a more diverse campus where you can meet different kind of people and learn many different cultures.” -Carlos Hurtado, age 15, from Dominican Republic
“I like the people here. I wish we would spend more time together instead of doing homework.” - Begum Karaoglu, age 15, from Turkey
“After classes, you have freedom! I feel that I’m getting prepared for the college life style.” -Elizabeth Vera, age 17, from California
“Big place. I like my classes. Squash is all right. There are nice people here.” -Nicholas Cheung, age 16, from Hong Kong “Big. Hot. Impressive. Very nice people here.” -Josh Chesters, age 16, from England
“It was hard leaving my family back home but I have found one here.” - Samantha Logan, age 17, from Washington “I thought, ‘what did I get myself into?’ I didn’t know what to expect. I was not mentally prepared to be long distance.” Carolina Macias, age 16, from California “I was nervous because this was the first time coming to America. I thought I was going to be sad because I wasn’t going to have my family or friends.” - Gelei Mai, age 16, from China
Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
“It’s awesome. It’s so easy to make friends. It’s a different kind of learning.
Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
THE SUMMER TIMES
EXETER LIFE
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THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
E XETER PLEASURES : E XOTIC AND F AMILAR By JUSTIN ROBERTSON Summer Times Staff Writer
The little town of Exeter is dotted with many local points of interest. Students often wonder how they, as residents, can spend their spare time in the summer months. Many do not realize the opportunities in their backyard. The library is a great source of information, learning, and yes, even fun. Students can go to this place which contains vast amounts of reading material. Whether this material is for a research project in class, or just entertaining reading about famous movies, there’s always something for everyone. Even if you just need to get away from all the stress and noise, there’s even a lounge on the third floor where you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the view of Exeter. Feeling hungry? The Grill, just across from the Phelps Science Center, in the Academy Center, is always a bustle of friends getting together, chatting away. Students can buy food, drinks or even just sit down with some friends. Plus, there’s even a game center just one floor beneath The Grill. Filled with a pool table, table tennis, foosball tables and even a couple arcade game machines, the space offers plenty for everybody! Even if you’re not feeling up to a game, the various couches and comfy chairs will provide ultimate comfort for you and your friends. The game center is open weekdays from 6pm-9pm and Saturdays from 2pm-5pm. Need some time to relax your mind by playing some music? The Forrestal Bowld Music Center offers a selection of instruments, mainly a wide variety of pianos, available to all students
who have a passion for music. Open daily and to all students, the center includes practice rooms. Mr. Sinclaire is available in his office at certain points during the week if you’d like to learn more about the available Courtesy of Yunjee Kang/ The Exonian options within the Music hall. Have a sport you always love to play where you come from? Well then head on over to Love gym. There are endless opportunities available to all students. The weight room allows students to reach their potential in muscle-toning. Weight room hours are from 8am-8pm. For a refreshing dip, jump into the pool for free swim. Free swim is open to all students who have passed the swimming test, and is open Monday-Friday from 12pm-1pm and 5pm-6pm, and on Saturdays from 2pm-4pm. To alleviate stress, the squash courts are there for those who need to let out some steam. The gym is always open to students who want to get out and be active! For a nice scoop of ice cream, downtown Exeter’s ice cream shop, Stillwell, offers the sweet treat for a great low price in a variety of sizes. If the dining hall is crowded for breakfast, Me
and Ollies at 26 Water Street has you covered. It has the appeal of Starbucks, but easier on the wallet. On the menu: fresh baked bagels, house blended coffee, cookies, muffins, and breakfast sandwiches. There is also a weekly farmers market held every Thursday
Courtesy of The Exonian
2:16 pm to 6 by the Saltonstall Boathouse. Local farmers come and set up booths to sell their goods at fair prices. And while you’re at the farmers market browsing the produce, a nice walk by the river beckons. Whether you’re a music enthusiast, a sports fanatic, or just a student who needs some time to get away from all the chaos, there’s always an opportunity just around the corner, quite literally.
Talents Glow in Art Studios Workout By DJINNIE TIMOLEON Summer Times Staff Writer
Many students in Exeter summer school are taking art classes from oil painting, printmaking, drawing and ceramics, to architecture and photography. Though most of these students have not taken art classes before, they are dem-
onstrating a striking creative talent. The students in the art classes are encouraged to grow artistically. Everyone is treated like a professional artist. All the classes are working in different media. Printmaking is creating work that will be showcased in the upcoming art show, the oil painting class is working on canvases (and painting pool balls realistically), and ceramics is making slab-built bowls
while exploring a variety of forms and techniques with clay. “I love teaching art because it doesn’t feel like a job; it’s inspirational because Exeter students are brilliant!” said Tara Misenheimer, instructor in the arts. Ben Putnam, an instructor in the Ceramic arts, agreed. “My favorite part about teaching here in the summer is the diversity of the students.”
All Photos by Justin Robertson/The Summer Times
Maniacs By LUISA SANABRIA and CHRISTINA PSYCHARI Summer Times Staff Writers
Sports is the new fashion in the Phillips Exeter Summer Session. Many students feel motivated by the sports program and physical activity is never enough for them. Even though we have enrolled in sports classes, including running, lacrosse, tennis, volleyball and other activities that at the end of the day leave us exhausted, these people seem to never get tired and always like to exercise. Some students, both boys and girls, wake up early in the morning, and before breakfast go to the gym, or go jogging around the school campus. After this they go to their classes, their sport and even if it seems enough they end up in the gym for a little more workout. You may wonder, “How can these students have so much energy?” or “Don’t they ever get tired?” For them there’s a simple answer, “No.” They feel highly motivated by the school surroundings and facilities that offer them an efficient exercising environment. “I like exercising because it keeps me active, it eliminates my boredom, and it’s a good way to spend my free time,” said Andres Torres, 16, from Puerto Rico. Daniela Suarez, 16, from Venezuela agreed. “The school facilities are what make me get up and go exercise” she said. “They are really attractive and motivating.” The same goes for Filippos Lymperopoulos, 16, from Greece. “I like going to the gym because by doing this I wake up every morning with joy and will go on with my day as usual!” he said. When it’s really hot during the summer, students prefer to go to the swimming pool where they can exercise and cool off at the same time. The school’s many jocks seem to enjoy physical activity and it is easier for them to practice sports as the school offers them all these facilities such as tracks, basketball courts, soccer fields, tennis courts, the gym and the swimming pool. Last Saturday, all students participated in field day, where they enjoyed exercising by playing games and competing with each other, in teams formed by dorm, with a prize for the winning dorm.This shows how Phillips Exeter Summer School motivates students to practice many different sports and activities.
Making Food into Art: Dining Chief Heidi Brousseau By GABRIELLE BLACKMAN Summer Times Contributing Writer
While students maintain their own hectic schedule of attending classes, participating in athletics, extracurriculars, and finding time to socialize, the administration and faculty are working hard to make sure that life at the Academy runs smoothly and efficiently in the summer. One of the most crucial tasks at the Academy is to keep everyone well nourished so students and faculty alike may perform to the best of their abilities. The team of chefs, servers, custodians, and managers of the Elm Street Dining hall continuously go above and beyond the call of duty to cater to a variety of tastes and cultures while keeping a vigilant eye on nutritional aspects. Unit Manager Heidi Brousseau is in her ninth year at Exeter, and twentieth year in food services, and certainly approaches her craft with enthusiasm and passion. Ms. Brousseau grew up in Massachusetts. Her school lunch was rather different than what she oversees today. Most days she took her lunch to school in a brown bag and dined on miniature pizzas. However her lunch routine would soon evolve as after graduating from high school, she studied at the University of New Hampshire where she received her Bachelor of Science in nutrition. After college
she worked at a nursing home in food services as excellent piece of art.” The Dining Team plans its work off fourwell as the nutritionist: “After working at the nursing week-cycle menus which home for awhile, I realized are broken into fall, winter, I wanted to shift from a and a combined spring and clinical environment to a summer menu. “Our menu is more academic one. I like not really any different in the the food management more summer. We still utilize seathan the clinical aspect.” In sonal ingredients. We have 2002, Ms. Brousseau joined high standards and thorough the Academy dining team. planning goes into each and Not only does Ms. Brousseau have a BS in every meal.” Every aspect of the Elm Street dining hall is nutrition, but she also has monitored closely from the a deep passion for food. A food itself to the service. self proclaimed “foodie,” While some of the most she admits to owning a popular dishes are the chick“plethora of cookbooks” en tenders and the homeand enjoys combining flamade pizza, Ms. Brousseau vors to form the perfect and her team are keeping dish. Molly Samson/The Summer Times an eye on the nutritional “My culinary style aspect. “Our menu is very kidwould be characterized as natural and fresh,” she said. “I love supporting local friendly,” she said. “We have A items such as tacos, businesses for my personal food needs as well as and American classics such as macaroni and cheese, but we also have B items, dishes such as baked fish. within my job.” Ms. Brousseau takes great pride in what she and We balance favorites with healthier options.” Another highlight of the dining hall is the emher team provide for the Academy, and the summer session is no exception: “A menu is art. It can be an phasis on many homemade products as possible.
The bakery creates all the pastries and desserts from scratch. This session of Summer School has students from over forty-five counties so it is critical for Ms. Brousseau to consider the various tastes and dietary requirements which is precisely what she does. “We look at our menu from different views and how the dishes mesh together,” she said. “We consider texture and color.” However as challenging and demanding as her job can be, Ms. Brousseau has nothing but kind words for Exeter kids: “They are awesome. They are so appreciative and I really can’t say anything bad about them.” Ms. Brousseau and her team are constantly searching for new and innovative ways to improve the dining experience. “It’s a challenge!” she declares with a little chuckle, “We always want to do something new like the granola bar we introduced last year.” For inspiration, she searches through trade magazines and observes how other colleges and universities run their dining services. “ have a great team,” she said. “Teamwork makes us who we are. The end of our mission statement says ‘with a personal touch’ and that is exactly what we do. We have a theme each year and our theme this year is ‘focus on food.’ But it’s not just about the food. We are focusing on every aspect from quality to service.”
THE SUMMER TIMES
PHOTOSPREAD
THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011
Sweet Summer Daze
Harry Potter Answers: 1. 1997 2. Holly and a phoenix feather 3. Professor Minerva McGonagall 4. Moony, Wormatail, Padfoot, and Prongs 5. Bathilda Bagshot; Godric’s Hollow
6. Number 4 Privet Drive 7. Antioch, Cadmus and Ignotus Peverell 8. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, George, and Ginny 9. A stag 10. Muggle Studies
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS: JUSTIN ROBERTSON, RALPH BLUMENTHAL, ALIX DUFOSSE, GINNY HARMON AND URWAH AHMAD
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