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 15, 2010
Vol. XXXIV, Number 2
Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire
Heat Wave Crashes Over Exeter
CUP CRAZINESS
By AMANI LOGGINS Summer Times Staff Writer
Courtesy of L. Gene Howard
The radiant sun nearly blinded my eyes and my exposed skin sizzled under its overwhelming rays. As I walked toward my dorm seemingly miles away, my energy was zapped as if it was sucked right out of my body, and my cold water instantly became warm. Does this situation sound all too familiar? Well my friend, you have unfortunately been introduced to the infamous Exonian heat. During our first week of Summer School, Exeter experienced a bizarre weather trend consisting of over five days of unbearable heat inside and out of our dorms. Faces drenched with sweat, shirts discolored with distinct pit stains, and handmade paper fans dominated campus in dorms, classrooms, and assemblies alike. Strolling through endless heat waves after sitting in warm classrooms can be tiring without a doubt. As reported by Amaryllis Bernitsa, “The heat makes me more tired and I want to drink water all the time.” When comparing Exeter’s heat to that of her hometown in Athens, Greece, 16-year-old Amaryllis stated, “ You feel the heat more here because of the humidity.” Teachers were not spared, although the temperatures often resulted in relocation of classes to cooler spots. Global economics teacher, Noah Freeman bears the heat in his un--air conditioned classroom day after day. With his oscillating fan near his desk and drinking water close at hand, Freeman described the recent heat wave in two simple words: hot and sticky. Now for the ultimate questions: why isn’t there air conditioning in dorms or classrooms, and what can we do to defeat the stubborn heat? “I think that goes back to years and years ago when that wasn’t an expectation in most summer programs, if there would be air conditioning,” said the head honcho of Summer School, Ethan Shapiro. “In fact, there wasn’t air conditioning, if you go back probably 30 years, there wasn’t air conditioning anywhere.” He continued: “But the dorms never have had air conditioning and I don’t know if they ever will, maybe in 20 or 30 years they will. But typically for most of the year in New England, this is an unusual kind of
Students show their support for their favorite soccer teams while watching a World Cup game on the quad. Student Activities set up a screen to make the match available to be watched by all.
Ancient Tree Poses Danger By MIKE DUNBAR Summer Times Staff Writer
On Monday afternoon while the Exeter campus lay drenched and deserted, a tree limb on Tan Lane fractured under the stress of heavy winds and crashed down onto the lawn and sidewalk below. The Bradford Pear tree at the intersection of Tan Lane and Main Street is approaching its life expectancy. It bears the scars of the many New England storms it has endured, including a long gash in its side which has since re-grown
new bark but remains as a constant reminder to the barbarity of New England weather. Tree limb failure recently made the news in Manhattan, where a 6-month-old girl was killed by a falling branch at the Central Park Zoo. According to a study conducted by Kent State University, an average of 31 deaths in the United States alone are attributed to tree failures each year. “There’s very few of those trees left beSee STORM, page 2
Visa Issues Prevent Five From Coming By JOSE SOSA Ralph Blumenthal/The Summer Times
On Monday, a branch from a Bradford Pear tree fell down.
Students Battle Homesickness By NAZLI TUNCER Summer Times Staff Writer
As we grow up, we start to need more time on our own. We give more value to our privacy and sometimes all of the “excitement” in our house is just too much for us to handle so we just want to get away. But in the end when we do so, we are surprised to see that we actually miss that excitement. In short, we get homesick. When we get homesick, according to expert advice found on the Internet, we miss familiar things such as our friends, family, pets or our bedroom. This is because mundane surroundings and routines give us comfort and safety. In a new place, we realize that the contentment of our own house and loved ones is lacking. So we can’t feel as happy as we could have been and we struggle to fit in to this new and unknown world. However the good news is that almost everyone feels homesick
See HIGH, page 2
from time to time, even adults. So if you are feeling homesick you are not alone! Amy Hudgins, 15, from Albuquerque, N.M., says “Yes, I am homesick. I miss my sisters and my mom.” There are degrees of being homesick. Some people might feel anxious, lonely or sad. Others might have physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, or even depression. In situations like this, one should bear in mind that these feelings are not permanent. In most cases when the new surroundings and people start to become more familiar, the feelings of homesickness start to ease. Also there are always additional things you can do on your own to make you feel better. Here are some tips to help you overcome feeling homesick: Bring something with you that reminds you of home. It is always a good idea to bring an object that has sentimental value such as your teddy bear, pillow or blanket so that whenever you feel homesick you See STUDENTS, page 2
Summer Times Staff Writer
Five students who were eager to attend the summer program at Phillips Exeter Academy are not here. Their visas were denied by the U.S government and so, they couldn’t come. In an interview about this issue, Ethan Shapiro, the summer program director, declined to provide details, citing government security operations and the privacy of the students. However he said the staff and also the students here at PEA are very sad about the incident because obviously we wanted them to come here to enjoy Exeter with all of us and also make new friends. Recently, a mother of one of the kids, who lives in England, blogged about what
happened. In her account, found on the Internet, she said: “First we were told that he may not need a student visa, as the summer school, strictly speaking, is not ‘studying’ in the traditional sense. But then we were told that it might be better if he did get a student visa- so off we went to apply for it. His three fellow students were given the visa within one week - and with Dan, they decided that they needed further ‘administrative processing.’ We were never told why him.” This tells us that visa problems can happen and that we are all very lucky to be here with our friends and that we have to make the most of this experience and spend a great summer here at Phillips Exeter Academy.
Smiles of Summer School - Can you guess these smiles? Compiled by MADAI MONTES Summer Times Staff Writer
Try to guess the identity of each summer school student based solely on his or her smile. Answers are on page 8.
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