The Summer Times - July 30, 2015

THE SUMMER TIMES ‘The Summer Newspaper of Phillips Exeter Academy’

Vol. XXXIX, Number 4

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Hey! Read us on the W peasu eb! mmer times. com

Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire

Ralph Blumenthal/The Summer Times

Official T-shirt from 2010 (left) shows the Phillips Exeter Lion rampant chained by the neck. In this year's version (center) the chain has disappeared. The metal icon outside the Alumni Office on Elm Street has also lost its chain — perhaps recently?

What's My Lion? Mascot in PEA Mystery

To be or not to be chained: That is the question

By ANGELICA L. MARTINI Summer School Staff Writer

The Exeter lion has seen a hidden change here recently that has struck small controversy among long time Exonians because of its history at the school. For many of you who haven’t noticed -- in fact, the Exeter lion has been unchained.

Where did the chain go? And why?

What appears to be a lion on its hind legs is indeed what meets the eye. Many confuse the Exeter lion rampant with a griffin. A griffin is a mythical mix of an eagle and a lion; if a griffin were depicted it would appear with a beak. Firstly,

to make the situation unambiguous, the Exeter mascot is indeed a lion.

The derivation of the lion comes from the founder John Phillips’s family itself. Nathaniel Hurd created a bookplate for John Phillips in 1775 before the school’s opening in 1781.

Later at an unknown date John Phillips was removed from the bottom of the crest and was replaced with “In usum Academia Phillipsiae Exoniensis” after it became the property of the Academy. In this insignia was born the Exeter lion that was taken from the middle of the symbol.

Russell Weatherspoon is a long time Exonian who finds that this situation needs to be addressed.

Curtain Going Up!

“I’ve been working on getting information for about three weeks now, and I hope that this week I can get some substantive statement,” said Weatherspoon.

Since his time at Exeter beginning in 1987, Weatherspoon noted that he has seen Exeter's red color drift from lighter to darker, but he only recently noticed the chain was were missing.

In fact, a metal lion cutout with the initials "PEA" planted outside the Alumni office on Elm Street near the Dining Hall seems to bear signs of a recent un-chaining. The collar is there See LION, page 8

Leadership Secrets From Charlie Hamm

By ALEXANDER PURI

Summer School Staff Writer

Julia Benghiat-Jurist/The Summer Times

Night of One-Act Plays and Monologues debuts tonight and continues tomorrow in Fisher Theater. See full story page 8.

The founder of Exeter Summer School’s Leadership Program, Charlie Hamm, came last Thursday to speak to the students of the program, as they undertake several projects to raise awareness of issues in today’s world and impact the Exeter community.

One word kept coming up in descriptions of Hamm: “Amazing!”

The purpose of the program, according to the Phillips Exeter Summer School catalogue, is to strengthen

certain leadership qualities of its students, such as self-confidence, oral and written communication, ethics, decision making, and problem solving.

In the words of Dr. Kent McConnell, leader of the program, “its fundamental purpose is to try to give students an opportunity of leadership that they were unaware of.”

Several of the students who joined the program did so because of the benefits that the key aspects of leadership can offer in life.

“Being able to lead, being able to speak, doing all that stuff is important,”

See LEADERSHIP, page 3

Hollywood Duo Wows PEA Film History Class

By LINDSAY KUSNAROWIS Contributing Writer

When you imagine a typical history class, you may conjure up an antiquated idea of an old man standing in front of a chalkboard, lecturing a room of bored teenagers for an hour a day. However, Phillips Exeter Academy is not the typical humdrum school, and Back to the Future: History of Film is anything but boring. Taught by Shana Gilbert, a documentary-maker (among myriad other careers), this class covers one hundred years of an artform called: film—a five week intense journey chock-full of discussion and analysis of famous films such as "Citizen Kane" and "Bladerunner."

On July 17, this already unique class became a little more special with a surprise encounter with a dynamic duo, the husband and wife team of Victoria Riskin & David Rintels. This screen-

writer/producer power couple visited the class in the library and imparted some never-before-heard stories about the most famous film productions of all time. It was Hollywood Royalty at our door.

Ms. Riskin is the daughter of Fay Wray, the actress known for her role in the original "King Kong." Riskin's father, well-known for his exhaustive list of screenplays, is probably the greatest screenwriter of his time, or any other time for that matter. While Ms. Riskin, a screenwriter and producer herself, is the former president of the Writers Guild of America, her husband, and Exeter alum, Mr. Rintel, also a former President of the Writer's Guild, is a screenwriter of such works as "Not Without My Daughter." They arrived at our class just in time to share their stirring Hollywood See KING KONG, page 3

Courtesy of filmreference.com

Going ape: in the 1933 classic "King Kong," actress Fay Wray struggles in the grip of the colossal gorilla. Wray's daughter, Victoria Riskin, and her husband, David Rintels, both Hollywood screenwriters, made a surprise visit to PEA July 17th.

Oh, Baby!

Summer School is bursting with new life! Here are four recent arrivals and four sets of parents.

Can you guess who belongs to whom? Answers on page 8.

Photographed by Julia Benghiat-Jurist Summer Times Staff Writer

2

THE SUMMER TIMES

THE SUMMER TIMES Summer Times Staff Reporters Julia Benghiat-Jurist Renea Harris-Peterson Angelica L. Martini Cristobal Picon Alexander Puri Kayla Vega Jawuan Walters Taylor Weeks Kanat Yavuz

Summer Times Layout Editors Alec Greaney Michaela Streep

Faculty Advisor

Ralph Blumenthal The Summer Times is written and edited by Mr. Blumenthal's B format Journalism class and contributing writers throughout the Summer School. It is produced by Summer Times Proctors Alec Greaney PEA '14 and Michaela Streep PEA '16.

The Summer Times welcomes original articles and Letters to the Editor emailed to peanewspaper@gmail.com. The editors reserve the right to print articles and Letters as space permits and to edit them for content and clarity.

Thanks Exeter, I Learned so Much Angelica L. Martini

Summer Times Staff Writer To start, I have to admit that coming to Phillips Exeter Academy wasn’t my first choice. I had hoped to attend a summer program at Brown University, and when that fell through, I was less enthused by my acceptance to Exeter. Despite my disappointment, to say the least I have had one of the best summers of my life and if I didn’t go to Exeter I would not have built the relationships and learned as much as I have.

As these weeks count down, every day adds a weight to my shoulders making it harder to wave goodbye.

In retrospect I am certain there was a part of me that knew PEA was the right choice for me. On my first day everyone was so friendly and kind. I felt like I belonged here. For a while it was illusory to me that people from all over the world would come to this school to study until I was on campus and heard all of the different languages. To my surprise a lot of the students spoke more than two languages. But it is not just the international students who surprised me. Though I had been to the north before, coming from Memphis, Tennessee, where people are very conservative in their culture, the north of the United States was a change also.

In just a short three weeks so far I have become so knowledgeable in different beliefs and have been astounded by the unity of everyone at Exeter. Even though many of the students at Exeter represent countries that don’t get along, the students are best friends regardless. I have learned different phrases in German, French, Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, Mandarin, Turkish, and Greek.

I learned so much thanks to my peers. Before coming to PEA I had never heard of Harkness. Now I know that it is by far one of the best methods to get students thinking and interacting with each other. Teaching the Harkness method to students around the world is valuable and essential to the growth of education globally.

It is hard for me to give words of advice because I don’t think that any advice is needed. Coming to Exeter is a learning experience: learning about the world around you, learning about how to adapt to being on your own, learning to accept others, and learning to have fun. Everyone and anyone who has the opportunity should be feverish to find the true meaning of Exeter within their time here: unity.

Chances We Never Took

By SNEHA SHROTRI Contributing Writer

OPINIONS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

#BlackLivesMatter Renea Harris-Peterson

Summer Times Staff Writer When searching the internet about facts to back up my argument about the murders of black people, I couldn't wrap my head around all of the contradicting numbers. Sadly, it turns out the Internet isn't as reliable for statistics as I thought. One concept I could grasp, however, was the fact that too many black people live in fear, because they know that the next headline about the latest murder could be about them.

Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Eric Garner, Reika Boyd, Tamir Rice, Tarika Wilson, Aiyana Stanley-Jones, Walter Scott, Freddie Gray, and Sandra Bland are the names of just a few black people who are no longer alive. I could go on for what seems like forever listing names, because this is just the beginning. This list does not even begin to accurately describe the number of black people slain like their lives are dispensable. These cases are merely the ones that ended up getting media attention, while hundreds of others go unnoticed.

I am tired of using dead people's names to try and get the point across that black lives matter. I am tired of trying to use statistics to try and persuade others to believe that people blessed with melanin deserve to live.

It is important for me to describe what the black lives matter movement is about. To start off, white people are born with a natural privilege over people of color because of the system set up in America that benefits them. Institutional and structural racism are issues black people face daily, along with microaggressions and having to deal with cultural appropriation.

Many rush to say not all cops are bad, but struggle to believe that not every young black boy in a hoodie is a thug. Claiming an unarmed black person needs to dress and speak differently in order not to be killed, is like blaming women and what they wear for being raped. A black person doesn't have to be "a good kid who had a promising future," for his life to matter.

I don't want another black name to become a hashtag for the wrong reasons."Black lives matter" was created with the hope that eventually "all lives matter" will be an accurate statement, because in today's society, it doesn't seem true. To me, it seems like in America, "black" and "guilty" are the only things that are actually equal. Gun control is a serious

problem in America so, of course, white people are also killed. But the difference is that white people aren't killed by the police because of their skin color.

As one Outkast lyric says, "across cultures, darker people suffer more. Why?" Some people don't understand the need for a movement like this. To them black people seem to be doing fine, because there is a black president after all! But let me give you a few examples of why this movement says specifically "black lives matter."

People who say "save the polar bears," are not saying "I don't care about any other animals, they don't matter." They are focusing on the one group that is facing an issue. When it is someone's birthday, you don't go and smudge their name off the cake because you want it to be everyone's birthday. Or when you're at a 5k walk for breast cancer, you wouldn't start yelling "cure all diseases," because it just doesn't make any sense.

Saying black lives matter, is in no way saying other lives don't matter. It is actually a pretty simple concept when you think about it, but ignorance stops people from understanding it. All in all, the black lives matter movement was created to bring awareness to a pressing issue that wasn't getting the recognition it deserved.

The enslavement of black people has ended, but are black people truly free? With white supremacist terrorist groups like the KKK still practicing in 2015, the answer to that question is no. This country was built on the genocide of one race and the enslavement of another, and it is going to take a long time to break down the oppressive system that is in place. Too often, minorities's own personal are experiences are dismissed and discredited because people don’t want to believe that America, oh great America, land of the free, isn't exactly that noble. Achieving equality and justice is a tedious walk up a mountain that is going to take a long time. We have most definitely made amazing progress, but there is still more work to do.

Langston Hughes once wrote, “Negroes - Sweet and docile, Meek, humble, and kind: Beware the day - They change their mind.” To me, it feels like a revolution is coming. If only bullets could kill racism, discrimination, and the traumas of slavery instead of innocent black people, America would be a different place.

The Terrifying Bear

By FARAJ FARAJZADE Contributing Writer

Its jaw is huge, and can rip out one part of your body in one bite. Its teeth are almost bigger than human fingers. The intimidating look on its face sends fear through you. Its popping-out weird eyes look like they have horrendous demons inside. Its furious and horrifying roar says all for the animal. It's wild, angry, huge and is demand-

ing leadership.

Of course, I also wonder how it got there and who chopped its head off. That person must be really brave, because he killed a bear while it was roaring. Anyway, this secret will probably never open for me because I am leaving in two and a half weeks.

Don't They Deserve More?

By SNEHA SHROTRI Contributing Writer

Excuses are all we give for the way we treat them, Have you ever thought about the way their expression seems broken?

Simplistic lives remain a mystery to our minds, Wouldn't theirs be more complicated?

Disappearing into the unknown, Is a fear of many who are alone.

Although our disappearance is uncontrollable, It still makes us inconsolable.

The day that they finally snap, the blame falls on them, Why can't anyone see how much it hurts?

It pricks the heart so hard that it draws blood, How come they don't know that harsh words are equivalent to stab wounds?

However, there is one thing worse than this, It’s something that we’re all too quick to dismiss.

Scarier than making any big change, Is regretting all the decisions that sounded strange.

They believe they have nothing to stand up for, When will someone finally tell them that they matter?

Not everyone has a chance of recovery, Shouldn't they be worthy of your strength and respect?

It’ll leave a ghost behind, Haunting you gives it power to make you restless.

This emotion is the opposite of “living like it’s your last day” So strong that it keeps you struggling like its prey.

Living becomes difficult for some, Doesn't it become our responsibility to guide them?

This is the time where they need, Why does society shut them out?

She walks out and he lets her go, He holds on but she says it was over a long time ago.

We push away but don’t try to stop it, Eventually we end up falling into a pit of darkness and say we quit.

Helping them should be our number one priority, How can we leave them to face the world themselves?

Parents are constantly told that their child has some problems, But at the end of the day, don't we all?

“What if” at the beginning of every sentence, At the end of it all calls for repentance.

Fear clouds your mind at every turn, Keeps making your stomach churn.

Changing one life changes so many with it, After all, don't their parents and siblings feel grateful and joyous when that one life changes?

When they return after recovery, Aren't you the ones who go after them and ask them to be your friend?

Every day you walked by, My heart started to fly, If only I would have run into your arms, When I knew that it was only me for you.

Materialistic wants are all right but what about the phrase "Don't judge a book by its cover"?

How can you push them around one day and then want them to walk by your side the next?

The day your harsh words get through can send them over the edge, So don't you think it's high time we watch our tongues?

THE SUMMER TIMES

NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

3

Famed Screenwriters Surprise Movie Class KING KONG, continued from 1 stories and personal memories with us.

Afterwards, the class questioned Gilbert about this encounter and the state of film at Phillips Exeter Academy.

Class: Can you set the scene for us?

Gilbert: Every summer I take my class to the secret film room on the second floor of the Library. It's a private, locked room full of screenplays that have all been previously submitted to the Academy [Awards] for recognition. Plus, no other library or school I've ever been to owns such an extraordinary gift—it's pure aura. All I previously knew was that an Exeter alum donated the scripts each year along with the entire wall of old 16 mm film reels of classics such as "Battleship Potemkin."

On this day, we happened to be reading the introduction of the "Citizen Kane" script when they arrived. And to make it a bit special, I reserved the super-secret

film room. Except this year, something extraordinary happened.

Class: What was your initial reaction when you were told that David Rintels and Victoria Riskin were coming to visit this class in the library?

Gilbert: When we arrived the Head Librarian greeted me specifically to say that the donor of the collection is stopping by the room at 10 a.m. in the middle of our class.

Needless to say, I was excited.

Class: How did their stories about Orson Welles affect your perception of Orson Welles, his movies, and the screenwriting process?

Gilbert: It was amazing when Mr. Rintels and Mrs. Riskin walked in...I had just finished saying in all my ignorance that I wasn't quite sure how much of the "Citizen Kane" script was written by Orson Welles and how much was written by John Mankiewicz. I assumed that since Welles's

name was on the script, he contributed equal work. I assumed wrong. However, Mr. Rintels proceeds to tell us the real story of the young Welles offering Mankiewicz $10,000 just for putting his name on the script...Citizen Kane was Mankiewicz's masterpiece and he didn't want to do it, but back in 1940, $10,000 was our equivalent of millions, so at the advice of another screenwriting friend, he took the money.

Orson Welles was never acknowledged for his masterpiece; he never won the Oscar for the film that is now considered the greatest movie of all time. Maybe stories like that one were lost along the way; we don't really know the truth of how Welles made "Citizen Kane." That glimpse into the actual History of Film was priceless and I will be retelling the story to classes for a long time.

Class: Does film still have value at Phillips Exeter Academy, and why?

Gilbert: I hope so. I think the History of Film is simply the history of the human

story since just before WWI. The invention of the film camera is the defining invention that provided the world a front row seat to the evils of war during WWI & WWII. It's the mode of art that exposes injustices and repairs the human heart. It how the world simultaneously experienced 9/11. Good OR bad, film entertains and challenges and inspires us to figure out what we believe, what we hope for, what our purpose is on earth.”

Class: Did this visit affect your interest in watching, studying, or making films?

Gilbert: Yes, of course! Any moment with the Greats, the ones who have gone before us to create an artform, is inspiring. Film is an art that only lasted 100 years, we're at the tail end of an era, and soon it will be lost forever. My only wish is that we could have had them with us a bit longer. On their way out the door, Mr. Rintels says so kindly without a hint of sarcasm, "I'd like to take this course."

To Be a Leader Access Students Don't Always Lead Probe Art Heist LEADERSHIP, continued from 1

said Patrick Lineham, 16.

Patrick’s fellow student Max Cromback echoed his desire to be a leader as well as his stance about the importance of leadership in the life.

“I’ve always wanted to be a leader when I was young,” Max said. “I think it’s very useful for later in life.”

Much of the leadership summer revolves around the program. Students are required to take both Leadership and Society and the Practical Leadership Seminar, while they are also taken on excursions to institutions such as Dartmouth, Harvard, Brown and the J.F.K library in Boston.

Meanwhile, they also become a member of a “capstone” team, which works on a project that can engage both Exeter and the broader community.

“The notion is that students will not only carry ideas of leadership into the PEA community, but into the broader community as a whole,” said McConnell when describing the purpose of the project.

Some of the "capstone" projects include Fit Week, a week in which different athletic activities are planned for the Exeter students to compete in, and the Unicef project, which aims to donate money to children in Africa so that they can afford drinkable water.

Many students in the Leadership Program felt that they had learned some important aspects of leadership, especially from Hamm. As Exeter’s leaders were working on their projects, Hamm spoke to them

about some of the challenges he overcame in life, like dyslexia and several other learning disabilities. Hamm also spoke about his career, which involved advertising, marketing, and banking. Students found Hamm’s visit inspirational.

“Everyone had different expectations about what he would be like, but eventually we got to meet him and he was just this amazing, bright man,” said Esteban Vizciano, 17.

“He spoke with such ease, and the wise words came so fluently out of his mouth, so I think that was something that, you know, had an impact on each and every one of us,” he said. “I think that he was an amazing guy that really inspired me.”

Meanwhile, Max echoed Esteban’s fondness for Hamm’s talk, citing the fact that he was given some important advice about leadership.

“He basically told us that communication is the key to everything,” said Max. “He told us to always take a step back when you have a problem.”

While the students in the leadership program are learning about important elements of leading, some have actually learned about the experience of being a follower, especially in teamwork and communicating within a group.

“I think the most interesting thing I learned in leadership is how to be a follower,” said Patrick. “Sometimes it’s hard to step back and be a follower. I think the biggest thing I’ve learned in leadership is actually how not to lead.”

Guantanamo Bay: A Stain on America

By DENNESHA ROLLE, KIAN TAURANI, and CHRIS BACKOS Contributing Writers

Guantanamo Bay is a miserable U.S. Military prison camp that should be shut down. It is located within Guantanamo Bay Naval Base that fronts in Caimanera, Cuba. Guantanamo Bay was founded in January, 2002. Since then, 779 men have been held here. The purpose of Guantanamo Bay is to "detain extraordinarily dangerous persons, to interrogate detainees in an optimal setting, and prosecute detainees of war crimes." said former Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld. Guantanamo Bay proves to be more than that however, with 9 recorded deaths.

Guantanamo Bay is not what it seems and should be shut down.

Guantanamo Bay is cheating the system and breaking the law. The Bush administration was in power during the establishment of Guantanamo Bay. It said that Guantanamo Bay could be considered outside of U.S. legal jurisdiction. Therefore, detainees were not entitled to any protections of the Geneva Conventions, which specify that human dignity must be respected at all times. Additionally, prisoners of war must be treated humanely and must not be compelled to complete dangerous or unhealthy tasks.

Because none of these were said to apply, the U.S. now had a capacious loophole. Torture and degradation were now logical possibilities. The U.S. used G.B.’s location to break the law and go against all morals and what is ethically correct.

That is just one reason why Guantanamo Bay needs to be shut down.

So why hasn’t G.B. been shut down already? First of all, there is the ridiculous fear that many Americans have. This is that when the prisoners are released they will cause mass destruction. There have been a number of attempts to shut down Guantanamo Bay; however none have been successful. The U.S. Congress is very hesitant to release G.B.’s prisoners because legally they must be released on U.S. soil. Congress fears the unlikely potential havoc that the prisoners might cause.

President Obama has made it a point that Guantanamo Bay would be shut down. For example, on January, 22, 2009 he issued a request to suspend proceedings at Guantanamo military commission for 120 days and to shut down the detention facility for 1 year. This appeal was eventually denied by Congress. Guantanamo Bay seems to be an insurmountable obstacle. Everyone should be in agreement over the suspension of G.B. Is it ok to torture people to preserve a fragile peace of mind?

For example take ex-detainee Mr. Iqbal from Lahore, Pakistan. He was detained at Guantanamo Bay for more than 6 years! It began when he boasted to an Islamic State group about having the ability to make a shoe bomb. Unfortunately, there were two American officials who had heard this and so they arrested him.

He was eventually moved to Guantanamo Bay. Following his imprisonment he was brutally tortured and completely stripped of all his human rights. Once he was released he had chronic injuries from 6 years of torture. G.B. must be closed down or horrendous tales like Mr. Iqbal’s

By SAM KIM

Contributing Writer

The C.S.I. Access cluster had a great trip in Boston this past weekend.

Everyone got off on the right foot on the first day. The first day could be highlighted by visits to the M.F.A (Museum of Fine Arts), and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. All the kids seemed to leave the museums knowing a lot more about the works of art and their composition. The Gardner museum was amazing to see and definitely raised a lot of questions for all the kids. Just so many simple details made the museum so much more interesting than your average museum. Walking from section to section made you feel like you

were living in different centuries. Museums are placed as buildings with a lot of pictures on the wall. But the thing that made the Gardner museum so much more interesting for the kids is that it’s hardly a museum. I’d consider it as a beautiful house with a courtyard and four stories. I know for a fact that no other museum has made a group of kids as interested as the Gardner museum made the C.S.I cluster.

But if you were to take a vote on the student’s favorite part of the day almost all of them would say, watching “Shear Madness." It was entertaining to every single audience member. Every kid was excited to choose who the killer was. Kids were laughing the whole time, and it seemed to be the best choice for the C.S.I cluster.

Courtesy of Christine Greenwood

Some of the 56 Access Exeter CSI students who spent three days in Boston: (front, left to right) Jada Johnson, Joelle Scheinin, Ginny Little, Maggie Lyles, Annabel Lyons, Isabella Huang, KemKem Ogbuefi, Dominga Gemucio, (back) Sidzel Ramirez-Figueroa, Dylan Shen, Aanjan Sikel, Ankit Hete, Ryo Kuno, Neruda Perdomo.

Only a nice meal at the Hard Rock Cafe, and a great night sleep at the famous Omni Parker Hotel could cap a great first day.

The next morning’s breakfast at the hotel might have been the favorite part of the trip. Every student went for seconds at the hotel buffet. The highlight of the day was definitely the scavenger hunt.

Everybody got a great tour of Boston while searching all over. All the kids got a great walk and enjoyed working together as a team.

After the scavenger hunt, the cluster went to Quincy Market to get lunch. All the students loved the free time to shop and be with their buddies. The cluster listened to Mo Walsh, an author who wrote “Lucky Strike.” We thank her for bringing up excellent points about her story and answering the kids's questions about the processing of writing a mystery novel. Later that night, the kids went on a ghost tour. It was really interesting and

was a great time to have everyone hang out together. The stories were great and got many kids scared before bed-time.

It was sad for everyone on the last day to be packing their bags in the morning.

But another great breakfast was something to look forward to. We listened to another guest speaker, Mr. Anthony Amore, who is the head of security at the Gardner museum. He spoke about the biggest art theft that occurred at the museum 25 years ago.

He also had great points that made a lot of kids bring up great questions and learn a lot about the details of the theft.

The last activity was to watch the recently opened movie, “Pixels.” The movie was a good way to wrap up a great trip.

Overall the Boston trip was great for all the kids who met other students also in the cluster, and found many similarities in each other. It brought everyone closer, and now we all look forward to the last two weeks of Summer School.

will live on.

The U.S. must stop accessing all these loopholes and stop taking advantage of being such a wealthy country. If G.B. is closed, the U.S. might cease to be so prejudiced as well. G.B. allows the U.S. to make and follow through with false accusations. Currently there are 45 people being held without any evidence against them but are listed as “too dangerous for release.” Additionally there are 76 people still being held after the government has already cleared them. These innocent people are being tortured. Eliminate G.B. and eliminate unnecessary torture.

America is disregarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as well. Article 5 states “No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.” However, over

200 FBI agents reported abusive treatment at G.B. The U.S. is deliberately breaking the agreement with the UDHR. Just because the U.S. is a wealthy country, it doesn’t mean that it doesn't have to obey the laws. The U.S. broke the laws with G.B. and it now the camp needs to be shut down.

As stated above, the U.S. has committed many different violations using Guantanamo Bay. The U.S. Should immediately shut down Guantanamo Bay. It violates many human rights laws and is the location of unjust torture. The Congress needs to agree to vote to shut down the detention camp. Considering the number of offenses committed in Guantanamo Bay, there is no reason to keep it open. Guantanamo Bay must be shut down.

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THE SUMMER TIMES

LIFE

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Going to College? Diversity Groups: Process Starts Here “Feeling Safe & Warm”

By JAWUAN WALTERS Summer Times Staff Writer

Soon many Exeter summer school students will begin applying to college.

Since the college application process is daunting, it is best to start researching colleges as early as possible.

Because college involves different paths and affects every student differently, there is no perfect approach -- or even agreement that college is for everyone. According to rising senior Angelica Feliz “there is greater chance of success” when attending college. Another rising senior, O'janié Walker agrees: "I will be able to take care of family and my community." This is something the college counselor Pam McDonough agrees with.

College is “an opportunity to expand learning," she says, calling it a place for “self-discovery.”

It is a widely known fact that college can be expensive. But according to McDonough there are ways to pay for it.

There are financial aid packages that come in the form of grants, scholarships and loans. When student are selecting colleges she advises focusing on three criteria: Academic -- finding a school that offers classes that interest a student.

Economic -- a college that is affordable.

Social --a college that offers an array of extracurricular activities.

To make sure students are fully competitive for the college process, they must have taken challenging courses in high school and preferably have done well in each of them. The importance of standardized test scores “varies in influence in each college," according to McDonough.

Exeter offers many opportunities to

learn about college. Rising senior Angelica Feliz believes Summer School has prepared her for college living. “I realize time is scarce and must be utilized,”she said. She also realized the need to “study more” and how “diverse the world really is.”

The recent College Fair brought representatives from at least 60 colleges to Exeter so students could learn about different types of schools. Also there have been college tours to Boston University, Bowdoin and Dartmouth College, among others. All of this leads up to the Common Application, the type of application that most colleges use, which opens August 1st.

During the college process, advises Walker,"one must not be lazy" and should keep up on deadlines.

Recently I had the chance to attend a college trip offered by Summer School.

On July 22nd, I journed to Bowdoin College in Brunswick, ME. One of the reasons why I am attracted to Bowdoin is that the standardized test is optional.

Also it has majors that interest me and outside internships that can further my career. While there, I toured the beautiful campus, furthering my interest in Bowdoin College.

While the college process can be confusing, it is manageable. McDonough advises setting up a calendar, studying the possibilities and taking advantage of resources that are available to students at their schools. As a minority and first generation college student, Angelica Feliz believes she has a harder road, but not an impossible one.

To better herself and her community, she said, "as minorities we should still strive to attend college.”

By KANAT YAVUZ

Summer Times Staff Writer

We have all seen those Diversity group posters but very few of us actually know what the groups are all about. When people are walking past those colorful posters, they are missing a lot. The Diversity groups’ main purpose is to help you get through your struggles while you are in a different atmosphere for five weeks. Some of us feel homesick, some of us often have cultural needs that should be supported and some of us feel the need to join a group full of different or similar people in order to adjust to Exeter.

When I first came here, I felt away from home," said Manaa Al Otaibi, of Saudi Arabia. “Now, I feel like I knew this group of people before. I feel close to them.”

The Summer Times interviewed Heather Pettis, Viviana Santos and several students who attended the Diversity group meetings.

Pettis and Santos work together. “We are a tag-team on this!” said Pettis. Even though they have a hard job, they have a nice friendship and they manage to go through it, together, in the best possible way.

“We have two parts to our job.," said Santos. "One of them is to coordinate the diversity of the summer school, the other one is to provide support for kids who are feeling out of place. We are more than happy to help students out and give them the support they need.”

There are five Diversity groups: The Middle-Eastern and Muslim Group, The International Group, The Native Americans, The Black and Latino Group and The GayStraight Alliance. All five groups have different strengths and different needs. This year, attendance was poor for the Diversity groups.

“As technology develops, people prefer to go through their struggles using it, which actually can make it much harder," said Pettis. "A face-to-face conversation is always the best way to communicate with people. Not

only do you feel closer to them, but you also go through the struggle in less time, without damaging yourself or others.” Added Santos: “Exactly, and we are here to help you out.”

Diversity groups will make you feel home. Just like you’re home, you will feel safe and warm, here at Exeter. Faisal Aljaber said: “I basically joined this group to get a taste of home. I miss it there, really.”

It’s good to have people who will listen to your concerns and what you want to do to feel like you’re home. All of us felt kind of homesick when we first arrived here, but we learned how to make Exeter, our home for five weeks. “Joining the group helped me a lot. Now it’a group of home, away from home.” said Alyaah Buachale. “I got homesick, I missed my country, especially the food. This diversity group helped me to get through this struggle.” said Faisal Kutbi.

As time passes, teachers start to observe the progress students make as they go through the struggle. “We are seeing a lot of progress in a very small amount of time with our students," said Pettis. "We are here to make kids understand how to make the best of a situation, students who attend our diversity groups really do understand how to do such a thing.”

Every year, Diversity groups change due to students’ different cultures. Santos said: “Diversity groups are based on students’ interests and their desire. For example this year, the five groups we have are pretty standard.”

Students! It’s still not too late to join the Diversity groups. If you ever feel bad, visit or join the Diversity groups. Tell them about your feelings, tell them what’s good and what’s not. “I love it here," said Faisal Aljaber. "This is the best place to be. If you miss home, if you miss someone or something, join the diversity groups, seriously. Not only will you go through your struggle, but you will make the best of what you are dealing with, whether it’s good or bad.”

Let's Give Thanks For Ambrose Swasey Dance Nite Gets Mixed Reviews

By KAYLA VEGA

Summer Times Staff Writer

Living in the town of Exeter for five weeks, we get accustomed to the area. We walk downtown to go to some shops and restaurants, while taking in the scenic views. A name that each of us Exonians are sure to come across is “Swasey.” We pass the bandstand, also known as the Swasey Pavilion, and some of us even visited Swasey Parkway for the July 17th Independence Day Celebration.

Now, here’s the question on everyone’s mind: Who is this "Swasey" guy?

Ambrose Swasey was born on December 19th, 1846 in Exeter, and attended our very own Phillips Exeter Academy. Throughout his life, he practiced a number of professions, from engineer, inventor, and machinist, to entrepreneur, executive, and philanthropist. Among his most celebrated accomplishments was the Warner and Swasey Company, a tool manufacturing business founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1880 in partnership with Worcester Reed Warner. In addition, he also created the turret lathe, which was used by factories to create duplicate parts used in machines. Swasey died on June 15th, 1937 in his hometown of Exeter.

Now that we know who he is, let’s get to his contributions to our community, shall we?

Just a few blocks away from campus, we have the unmissable band-

stand, or Swasey Pavilion. Before we had the beautiful one we have now, Exeter would manually move in a seasonal wooden bandstand in the summer, where the Exeter Brass Band would perform every July. After discussing building a new bandstand with friend and sculptor Daniel Chester French, Swasey arranged for his friend Henry Bacon to design and build a new one.

By August of 1916, the new and improved bandstand called the Swasey Pavilion was placed in Exeter. The Exeter Brass Band, founded in 1847 continues to play on the bandstand to this day.

In addition to the Swasey Pavilion, Swasey also donated the Swasey Parkway. Tired of seeing the town dump on the bank of the river, he decided to clean the place up and give it to the town of Exeter. In November of 1931, the Exeter Shore Parkway was born.

Soon after it was created, the Exeter community dedicated it to Ambrose Swasey, and renamed it Swasey Parkway in his honor. Currently, the Parkway with its scenic views is commonly used for running, town celebrations, and photography.

Ambrose Swasey was and remains a crucial member of our community surrounding Phillips Exeter Academy.

Due to his generosity and contributions to our society, he managed to create beautiful structures that add to the charm and culture of Exeter, New Hampshire.

By CRISTOBAL PICON Summer Times Staff Writer

The first dance of the Summer School program took place in Granger Hall of the Science Center. At the beginning of the party, the place was filled. Most people were dancing inside the Hall, while many others were taking pictures outside, where it wasn’t dark.

Music was very controversial during the event. While some were really enjoying the DJ’s performance, many others were very unsatisfied about it, especially Latino students.

Bel Amaral, a Brazilian student, was very direct when asked about the music. She said it "kind of screwed up the whole thing.”

“When we asked the DJ about playing Latino music, he said that that kind of music was not allowed,” said Nazarena Fernandez, an Argentinian student. “The genres were very boring to me.”

“Not necessarily Latino music, it needed more variety,” said Gabriela Serpa, a student from Puerto Rico. But Mariana Torres, also from PR, said that the environment clearly needed music in Spanish, “music that you can dance,” because everyone else was just “standing there, doing nothing.”

American students shared their opinions as well. According to Jackson Ikenberry, “music was okay, it seemed like they didn’t have much rave music, which was kind of upsetting, but the selection of music later on was better.”

Others had mixed feelings. “The dance was lively in terms of music, but the all-around feel-

ing, when something played I didn’t connect with, made me bored” said Nicholas Whiteside.

“The worst part was when we got all hyped for the beat to drop and the DJ would change the song.”

“Music was boring” said Na’imah JohnCharles. “I wouln’t have played techno for half of the party.” Nevertheless, Benneth Yoc said that at the beginning he didn’t like it, “but when they started to play electronic music, people started to dance.”

On the other hand, the absence of food was an issue for many. After a few hours, a number of people went to The Grill, mostly because they were hungry or perhaps tired or bored with what was happening in the Science Center.

“They should have definitely put [on] some food during the dance,” said Nazarena. Like her, Mariana said that “snacks are important.”

“There should have been food, especially more drinks than just water,” said Jackson. “It wasn’t that big of a problem, but if they had food I wouldn’t complain,” said Bel. However, food was not an issue for Cem Bencuya, a Turkish student, who claimed that “it was a clever thing to make the dance in the Science Center,” because as Gabriela said, “The Grill was open, so we could just walk there.”

At the end (around 10 PM), everyone was just hanging out in the area outside the Academy Center. But they weren't finished dancing.

Even a Dominican student, Jorge Fernandez, brought his speakers and started to play genres like bachata or merengue.

Unsung Star of D-Hall: Troy Saunders

By KANAT YAVUZ

Summer Times Staff Writer

Here at Exeter, we know our teachers, we know our classmates. But who knows the countless people who labor behind the scenes to make the Summer School such a satisfying experience?

Take Troy Saunders, for example.

Saunders, 54, is the supervisor in the Dining Hall dishroom, making sure students have clean plates, glasses and cutlery to eat from. Saunders is from Boston and he has been working here at Exeter for nine years. He works hard — 8 hours a day.

He started off low. “At first, I was a pot washer, I worked part time here and full time at Osram," Saunders said, referring to the lighting company. He

says the following about his job: “It’s not hard but it can be quite tedious at times. Depending on the time of the day, it can be overwhelming. There is a lot of work to be done in a very short amount of time.”

During his free time, he deals with his own transportation business. He lives in Rochester, New Hampshire, with his wife and they have a son and daughter in their 20s.

Saunders said that his wife’s mother died and that his wife wasn’t able to go to her mother's funeral. It was a hard time it was for his wife. In her sadness, Saunders said, she hallucinated that she was talking to her mother. She would cry all the time.

But he helped his wife through the trauma, crying with her at times. He was there for her and as time passed, she got

Ralph Blumenthal/The Summer Times

Keeping the dishes clean: Troy Saunders has worked here 8 years.

better and better.

“What really matters is having a shoulder to cry on," he recalled. "I wanted my wife to be happy, I did not like seeing her crying. I was there for her and I for sure know that if I ever have to go through such a struggle, she will be the one holding my hand and supporting me. This is what all family is about. Love and support.”

Saunders told about his memories of talking to students and helping them with the problems they face. “I supported a lot of people here," he said.

"A lot of kids... I can’t stand watching people getting sad. I have the need to help them in every way.”

We asked Troy Saunders: “How do you do it?”

He replied: “Dedication and willing to do anything for my family.”

THE SUMMER TIMES

COMMENTARIES

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

5

To Advance Health: My Freedom Adventure Stem Cell Research

By DIVYA SETH

Contributing Writer

Embryonic stem cell research is scientific research which utilizes embryonic stem cells to research how the embryonic stem cells, harvested from human embryos called pluripotent stem cells, can be used for regenerative or reparative medicine. The embryonic stem cells specifically come from the inner cell mass of a blastocyst or egg fertilized four days after conception. At this stage of development the blastocyst has only about 150 cells.

Pluripotent stem cells have the potential to differentiate into almost any cell inside the human body. The differentiated pluripotent cells can be used to repair damaged or degenerated organs. The ethical dilemma surrounding embryonic stem cell research is mainly focused on the moral standing of stem cells induced by human embryos rather than the research itself.

In vitro fertilization involves the combination of an unfertilized egg and sperm. Eggs can be fertilized in vitro and then incubated to become an embryo.

The embryos can then be inserted into the uterus and can result in a pregnancy.

However if the embryo is not placed in a uterus, it will not survive. Therefore, in vitro fertilization provides not only a clinical approach to fertility but a method to harvest stem cells with embryos that will not be harvested from pregnant women, but instead a lab. These cells will not survive without being inserted into a uterus and have not developed an axis to grow on, a spinal cord, brain, heart, or gastrointestinal tract. No body systems develop until four days. Therefore, in vitro embryos have not started fetal development yet and do not have any mental or physical capacity. Thus they do not have the capacity to feel pain or move.

Furthermore, embryos that have not been induced via in vitro fertilization have the same growth as in vitro fertilization and do not have capacity to feel pain or move.

In addition, if embryos are used for re-

search to cure diseases and degeneration, then the sacrifice of embryos outweigh the potential death of many humans due to disease and degeneration. Therefore according to the principles of utilitarianism, the consequences of using embryonic stem cells hold moral importance and are ethical because of the maximum utility or health benefits achieved.

Using empirical evidence, researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have determined a method of deriving stem cells from skin cells, without an embryo, proving that there are ways to induce stem cells. In research involving stem cells, multiple trials are run to assure accuracy. Furthermore, the validity of the results is examined by other research teams. The accurate empirical information is based on evidence. Stem cell research has and can lead to stem cell treatments which can allow us to treat a multitude of previously untreatable diseases such as nerve damage or degeneration disorders such as Alzheimers, MS, and paralysis.

In addition organ damage and burns can be treated because when stem cells are placed around specific cells, then they will differentiate into that specific cell.

For example, if an adult is in a car accident and the nerve cells in his spinal column are severed, then if stem cells are placed at the site of breakage, they would become new cells and can heal the spinal column.

Embryonic stem cell research is ethically justified because it has a significant clinical application or specific goal.

The banning of stem cell research and treatment would hinder the progression of better healthcare, and will leave us unable to easily cure many diseases and degenerative disorders. Therefore the benefits outweigh the consequences because without this research, healthcare will not improve. Currently, embryonic stem cells have been successfully used by patients with spinal cord injuries and blindness.

In addition, embryonic stem cell research has been successful in therapeutic cloning, organ regeneration and hair loss.

California Dreamin': Drinking Ocean Water

By DIVYA SETH

Contributing Writer

Currently California is suffering the worst drought that it has ever suffered in its recorded history. Not only does this drought, caused by a lack of precipitation, affect the readily available water for citizens to use but it also affects agricultural production and jobs in a state that is currently $132 billion in debt.

In fact 25% of the food in the United States is produced in California. Israel, a country that has been perpetually in drought for essentially forever, has taken major steps to avoid the effects of drought on its country. So how has Israel continuously beat its drought in the present situation, when its agricultural sector is being hurt and it is also suffering extreme water shortages?

Desalination plants.

If you don’t know, desalination plants remove minerals and salts from salt water leaving behind fresh water fit for human consumption or irrigation. Israel’s desalination program now supplies over 35% of Israel’s fresh water. Desalination relies on high energy consumption and does indeed have an environmental impact. However, by using natural gas and renewable technology, such as solar energy, to power desalination plants we can lessen the environmental effects while providing ourselves with an abundance of

potable water.

Furthermore, desalination plants in the long term help the national economy because other countries surrounding Israel have similar problems with water, but have not invested in desalination plants. As a result Israel can make money on the water that it desalinizes and sells to neighboring countries. In the long run, this will allow Israel to maintain economic stability, especially as the price of water rises.

Currently three small desalination plants already have been operating in California. However, the drought has pushed the proposal of fifteen more plants. By implementing desalination plants in California, the state can start making money to help relieve debt, provide water for its citizens, and also demonstrate the wisdom of learning from ally countries such as Israel to better the state of California economically, aquatically, and environmentally.

If we learn from our neighbors and embrace trying situations such as a drought, innovation can come out of it and we can create a more sustainable and productive society.

In a way this alludes to learning from new friends at Exeter this summer.

If we break out of our comfort zones and meet new people, we may discover new things that can affect our own communities back home.

By NICHOLAS HSU Contributing Writer

Freedom.

That's what you most immediately think of when hearing about a five-week summer camp in America, the land of freedom, no less. Doubly so, as I am over half the globe from home. It really is a gift to be at the beautiful Exeter campus with diverse dorm and classmates, learning a plethora of subjects with others of similar interest. Because of that I thank my parents profusely for giving me this awesome opportunity.

Freedom, the double edged blade that threatens us all. Suddenly faced with an abundance of it, I was almost drunk with anticipation. Being able to go wherever we want to, whenever we want to, to do whatever we want to really is amazing.

For our language class, we started with Russian, a language that quite frankly I have no idea about, especially because we have little to no real exposure at all to the country. My image of it is fuzzy, only images of a wide blanket of white stretched across the land and to quote a classmate “Tanks rolling on the snow.” Through our teacher’s passionate teaching, descriptions and thoughts on her homeland, we gained a more indepth and personal feel of Russia, which I feel is the true takeaway of the Global community cluster, to change our view of the world.

In literature class, we delved deeper into the culture of Russia, from Aesop Fable-like stories that remind us of greed, to slightly more gory ones about loyalty and sacrifice, to a doctor’s humbling confession to loving a patient.

In contemporary world issues, heated debates surrounded us on one controversial subject: is it moral to kill someone to distribute his or her money? Humbling articles that document atrocities and injustices, plainly against the universal declaration of independence, all meant to question how we think of certain things. Friendships ruined because of heated drama filled debates on human rights,

bonds formed from study sessions that gradually turn into netflix parties.

I decided to try out crew for the first time.

Though a little dull at the start, once we got onto the water it was extremely enjoyable, a small breeze hitting our backs, rowing further and further, drawing an arrow shaped trail along the river. It feels great, the ability to row your guts out, to push all frustration onto the air, and feel refreshed afterwards.

Walks through downtown, the cute small musty stores lined along the streets, bring out the peacefulness and serenity of the town (until my friends and I come along), a perfect contrast to the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong, my home.

A dense jungle of steel and glass, summoned by the will of architects and people to build bigger, taller and better. From the top of those spires, they seem like ants, tiny creatures, hurrying around, all with a different goal, different purpose.

Just as the traffic lights go green, they surge across the yellow paved roads in a flurry of movement, like pent up water unleashed from the tap.

Neon billboards flash in unison, almost like they are pulsing and shimmering, creating an irresistible glow. Harbour ferries glide gracefully along the water, creating a frothy trail of foam in their wake.

Across the harbour during sunrise, one can see the rays of the sun bouncing upon the latticework of the interlocking metal beams and the glazed windows panes, a iridescent crystal symbol of the modern world, the face of Hong Kong.

Life in Hong Kong is so much different. Each day seems to pass so quickly, in a blur, and days seem to merge into one another without distinction.

Everyone is so hurried, perhaps the lifestyle of Hong Kongers are to blame. As humans, we love to create a routine and follow it, and us even more so. Here, the days are clearly defined, memorable, clearly etched into my memory, truly enjoyable days that I will surely remember for a long time.

A Magical Day

By RYAN WANG

Contributing Writer

I will never forget that day, the most memorable day in my life. That day I performed the first magic trick in my life.

I started learning about magic 6 months ago and fell in love with it. At that time I realized that magic is not that easy to perform; every magic trick always takes a few weeks to practice. I never learned about performing magic before so I needed to start from zero and learn from the easiest move. There is no teacher who could teach me so I needed to learn by myself.

I tried to find all the information about performing magic online and practice by myself.

It is hard to find someone who can really teach online, because there are not a lot of people interested in performing magic. After two weeks I finally learned of some magician websites that I could learn things from and started to practice my first magic tricks.

It is really hard to start doing magic tricks, because slight of hand is not something that people can easily get good at. I spent a lot of time to improve my slight of hand skill; sometimes I will practice a move again and again for an hour. During that time I always think whether it is worth spending so much times doing this.

My answer to myself is not always the same.

Sometimes I really want to give up, and sometimes I will think it is worth it to do all of this.

After few more weeks I finally had the confidence to perform magic in front of people.

That morning I woke up as usual and went to school, but in my bag there were some playing cards that I didn't usually have. After school there were still some people hanging out with their friends in the hallway. I took my cards out and walked straight to them. I asked them: "Do you want see something really cool?”

“Sure!” they said. Then I started performing my magic. I took the cards out of the box and used the slight of hand skills that I practiced for a month.

“How did you do that?” they yelled, “that is so cool.” At this time I knew I succeeded. I looked at them and said: “this is magic.”

I went back home and I was so excited about the magic I did that day. At that moment I knew everything I did in this month was worthwhile and I will keep doing it. Now when I have a hard time practicing the magic I will always think about that day -- the day that made me want to be a magician.

Memoirs of a Mermaid

By Elena Jacchia

Contributing Writer

My parents always told me that I learned to swim before walking. Probably this is not completely true considering that for my dad the concept of “swim” is throw into the water a little girl with water wings and see if she moves in a nearly straight line. But one thing is sure: I always fared better in the water than on the mainland.

I was one of that kids who could stay for hours and hours playing in the sea, until my mom made me go out because of my almost webbed hands. But lucky for me, my parents are also enamoured of the sea and

we used to spend our holidays on a sailboat.

I was responsible for recovering things on the seabed. This included also picking up the fuel cap in the “clean” water of the port…

In this way I started holding my breath and then scuba diving.

Having started to dive when I was ten years old and getting my first license, I’m pretty advanced for my age and once I will be over eighteen I can became a scuba diving guide. Despite my father’ s terror of me working forever as a dive instructor, I think that I will try it, not as a permanent work, but only to follow my passion and to pay for my studies.

My Tortured Love Affair with New Orleans

By TAYLOR WEEKS

Summer School Staff Writer

I love New Orleans for the turbulent parties, the festivities of Mardi Gras, the Crawfish Bowls, the Saints games that play on nearly every television, New Orleans parish, the beauty of Audubon Park, the local soccer games that happen every day at a local school from 5-9 with pick-up soccer on Wednesday, the number of times I went into a dinner and broke bread with friends and families, the number of timesI stayed out late to party at a friend’s house, or just chill with friends, as well as the Gumbo, the Crawfish, the little walk from my house to Ferret street with all the stores, to finally, the number of people whom I know within the city just though conversation through any of the reason I’ve listed.

However, the city, which I love to the bottom of my heart, is also my biggest bane in life.

You see, in this city, where there are many things that are good about the city, there are many other things I must worry about when I travel in any part of the city.

Maybe it's the number of shootings which I have seen, or heard from the inside of my house, or trying to provide a proper education for myself due to the school-to-prison pipeline system that runs rampant throughout the city, or worrying about whether this is the day where I get harassed by the police over running to Tulane to play a pick-up game of soccer, or dealing with the peer pressure to come off the track I’ve been on to provide for the family at times when it got rough or to hard to handle.

There were times when I had to take up a

role as sort of a money provider in my father's absence. I remember having to work odd jobs in the neighborood to provide food, and money for the family, when my mom’s paycheck wasn’t enough. Things got so bad that even the police gave me a hard time wherever I went. I remember having a police officer search my bag of Arizonas and ice-cream, thinking that it was alcohol or drugs that I might have been carrying, and melting $20 worth of ice-cream, which at the time, was a large amount of money to lose.

When people say that they love New Orleans for Mardi Gras, I think to myself, “If only they saw the other side of the festivities,” as Mardi Gras could bring heartache to someone as the number of crimes increases during that time.

I also tend to think of the number of beads that are thrown during Mardi Gras, that if we could

even cash in a quarter of the worthless plastic.

I think about the time when I had to do odd jobs to buy my own toys, my own games, my sister's lunch, my and their treats, and at times, provide dinner when we had to scrape. I remember having to see a homeless man everywhere I went back in the day. I used to give $1-5, and chatted about life with a couple. I forged a couple of lasting friendships by just talking, sharing ambitions and dreams with people who wanted to talk with someone for a while.

I sometimes think that I carry their dreams with me. With those dreams, I carry a burden that many fail to carry all the way. However, I still carry it with my head up high, mainly because of the love from my mother, my sisters, my uncle, aunts, my grandma, my cousins, friends, and my mentor.

6

THE SUMMER TIMES

SUMMER LIFE

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Savoring the Literary Life at PEA What We're Reading (For Pleasure) This Summer

By CRISTOBAL PICON & ALEXANDER PURI Summer Times Staff Writer

While many students at Exeter’s Summer School are reading quite a bit for their academic classes, a handful of students reading for pleasure are enjoying a variety of different genres this summer.

These genres include (but are not limited to!) action, suspense, science fiction, comedy and thriller. Adult fiction in particular was a popular genre according to Amber Fernald, who works at the Exeter bookstore.

Some of the biggest hits at the book store were “Papertowns” and the “Fault in Our Stars,” both by John Green, and “Divergent,”

by Veronica Roth.

However, there were some students whose choice of reading material did not correspond to the big hits in the library and

bookstore. Jackson Ikenberry, 15, for instance, has been enjoying the second novel of the saga "The Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones."

“I like the whole idea of people betraying each other, I think that’s very cool,” said Jackson. “People have different motives and there’s not one set main character, there are many different characters.”

Meanwhile, Kenneth Harlley expressed fondness for the book, “The Girl on the Train,” by Paula Hawkins He stated that he liked his book, “very much,” before going on to cite the unpredictability of the novel.

“You don’t expect what is going to happen, basically,” said Kenneth.

"Be More Chill," "It’s Kind of a Funny Story" and "All the Light There Was," were some of the other books students have brought from home. "The Hunger Games"

trilogy and "The Song of Ice and Fire" saga were also very popular among students (at least six interviewed people claimed that they were reading books from either of these sagas), which suggests that TV shows and films have a very important influence on the people’s book choices nowadays, specially in the young audiences.

Although many are mostly interested in science fiction, action, romance, comedy, etc, it was very interesting when a group of Muslim students told how much they enjoyed reading the holy book of Islam, the Quran.

For some, reading for fun is a year round hobby that they always keep time for. For others, however, finding time to read for pleasure is a challenge in light of school work, extra curricular activities, and other hobbies.

“Honestly, I don’t read much to begin with,” said Jackson. “I used to read a lot

when I was little, but now I don’t…I haven’t been reading as much as I would have liked because of video games, and school work, and skateboarding. [There is] not a whole lot of time for reading.”

On the other hand, Marilyn Miller, manager of the Exeter bookstore, suggested that more students have bought books this year than in previous years.

“I think that it’s been better this summer because the titles we’re offering fit better for the students,” said Miller.

A number of new books were ordered over the last few days and are expected to arrive throughout next week.

“We figure that students will want to read on the way home,” Miller said.

Homework Assignments: A Selection of Classics

"A Streetcar Named Desire"

By LEA BUTROSOGLU Contributing Writer

"A Streetcar Named Desire," is a play written by Tennessee Williams. It is the story of Blanche, a young woman who lives in Mississippi and goes to visit her older sister, Stella, in New Orleans. As soon as she arrives, she abruptly criticizes her sister’s house. Additionally, Blanche tries to adapt to her new environment and encounters Stella’s surroundings.

During the first five scenes, I identified six important characters: Blanche, Mitch, Stanley, Stella, Steve and Eunice. Firstly, Blanche teaches English in a high school.

She is a widow: her husband killed himself when she was young. Thus, this caused her to become a sensitive person and to always want to be complimented. Secondly, as she had a shattering marriage, she looks for love and conceives that she has found it by meeting Mitch.

Mitch is one of Stanley’s friends.

His personality can be juxtaposed with Blanche’s since he is emotional and delicate: his mother is sick. However, Mitch is not married. Furthermore, in my opinion, Stanley is a very outstanding character in this play, after Blanche and Stella. He is a worker. Although he is Stella’s husband, he does not get along well with Blanche.

However, he acts sympathetically with her in the first scene and their argumentative discussions make it easier to understand Stanley’s behavior. In fact, he is a potent man who enjoys bowling and poker. Yet, he sometimes demonstrates violence towards his wife, and his eruptive behavior will lead him to confront Blanche in few scenes.

Finally, Stella is a pregnant woman who lives in a building near Eunice, who has a relationship with Steve, Stanley’s friend.

She loves Stanley so much that his low social position and his appalling behaviors do not affect her.

In the first scene, the reader is directly positioned as an observer near the building in which Stella lives. The short description of the place at the beginning helps us to perceive it. Stanley arrives from the butcher and throws the package to Stella. A moment later, Stanley makes his way to bowling with his friends and Stella joins them.

However, Blanche arrives just when she left since Blanche’s arrival was not planned.

Blanche is lost, confused when she sees the building in that she was not thinking about arriving at a place like that. Eunice, realizing that she was lost, makes her enter Stella’s house. Blanche becomes more and more astonished as she sees her sister’s house. She even asks herself where she was going to sleep. As soon as Stella arrives, they start a never-ending conversation regarding what happened and how Blanche had lost Belle Reve, their big family home in Mis-

sissippi. Furthermore, when Stanley arrives home from bowling, he meets Blanche and they have a talk about Blanche’s marriage.

Blanche ends the talk by saying that she is not feeling well.

In the second scene, Stanley is suspicious of Blanche. He thinks that something sounds wrong in the Belle Reve story. He talks to Blanche and mentions the Napoleonic code. Blanche takes a shower and dresses up. Stanley starts questioning her on her clothes. However, Blanche hesitates to talk in front of her sister, so she asks Stella to go out for a soda. As soon as she leaves, Blanche shows some of her papers to Stanley, and finally Stanley understands that he was not right about Blanche’s behavior since he thought that she had swindled him.

Next, Stella and Stanley’s friends arrive at the same time and while the men begin playing poker, the women are planning a girls’ night out.

The play continues with the poker night at Stanley and Stella’s in scene three.

That night, two important things happen: a controversy between Stanley and the two women, and the encounter of Mitch and Blanche. Firstly, Stanley gets drunk and this causes him to demonstrate violence.

He throws the radio from the window. Stella yells at the men and goes to Eunice’s house with Blanche. However, Blanche then realizes that Stella has returned to Stanley who was shouting for her to come back.

Secondly, Blanche and Mitch, who had met during the poker night, get on very well.

The fourth scene consists of two characters having opposed opinions: Stella and Blanche argue about Stanley’s behavior.

Since she was upset with Stella in that she had returned to her husband the past night, Blanche starts conveying her ideas that Stanley’s manners are not acceptable and that she can not live with him. In addition, she tells her that she can help her escape from this life. However, Stella disagrees and insists that she is happy.

In the fifth scene, Blanche and Stella are having a laugh inasmuch as Blanche is explaining to Stella how she lied to her friend, who could, in her opinion, save her from her situation. In addition, as Stanley asked Blanche about her past, Blanche starts wondering if her sister had heard gossip about her. Stella tries to comfort her.

Blanche truthfully tells her sister that she wants Mitch to like her. Furthermore, Stella leaves with Stanley and a young collector appears. Even though Blanche was waiting for Mitch, she kisses the young collector and then tells him to leave. Finally, Mitch arrives with flowers.

To conclude, I think that Tennessee Williams has a very clear and comprehensible writing style. This enables us to fully understand the story and makes us feel like we are part of the play.

"Nine Stories"

By CARLOTA HOPKINS GUERRA Contributing Writer

Nine Stories written by J. D. Salinger, is a collection of nine short stories. We are going to look in more detail at three of the stories: “A Perfect Day for Bananafish”, “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut” and “Just Before the War with the Eskimos.”

“A Perfect Day for Bananafish” is the first short story in the book. A woman called Muriel Glass is staying at a hotel room in Florida with her husband. The story begins at the hotel room.

The young woman is waiting for a phone call from her mother. When the call finally gets to her, her mother keeps asking her questions about her husband, Seymour. Muriel’s mother right from the beginning makes us notice her concerns about Seymour. It makes us also feel worried about Muriel as her mother keeps talking only about Seymour. It is the central topic.

We learn that Seymour has psychiatric disorders and mental issues as he had just recently been let out from the hospital. He was part of the World War II army. The mother keeps telling her daughter that that Seymour “may completely lose control of himself”. Muriel keeps telling her mother that she is exaggerating too much and that she can perfectly handle her husband’s behaviour.

Then, the setting of the story changes to the beach. Seymour is at the public beach where we meet Sybil Carpenter. “She was wearing a two piece bathing suit, one piece of which she [did] not [need].” This little girl speaks with Seymour and goes to the water with him. We immediately know that little Sybil is a spoiled kid as she reproaches Seymour for letting another girl called Sharon Lipschutz, sit with him the night before at the piano while he was performing.

Finally, Seymour gets in the water with Sybil and tells her about the “Bananafish.” He tells her they are like ordinary fish but they eat bananas. They look for the food in holes in the sand, but when they try to get out of the hole they are too fat and therefore die as they are trapped. The little girl believes this bizarre story and claims she actually saw one.

After leaving the beach, Seymour returns to his room where his wife, Muriel lies asleep.

This is when he kills himself with a pistol he had in his luggage.

In this short story we can see how the theme innocence runs thoroughly throughout the story. We can notice how the curious and pure world of children contrasts with the selfish world of adults.

I loved about this short story the imagination that was put into it. The author does a great job making us infer the mental problems Seymour has. The main plot of the story is great and catches my attention from the first line. I would really recommend this short story.

The second short story, “Uncle Wiggily in Connecticut” is about two female friends who left school the same year due to different reasons.

The two women meet and while having a lot to drink, discuss one of the girls’ love crisis.

One tells us how much she loved Walt Glass when she was single. She tells her friend how much she regrets marrying her former husband Lew, and not Walt. However, we discover that Walt got killed and she tells us all her unforgettable moments with Walt. After drinking all afternoon, they both fall asleep. After Ramona, the daughter of one of the women, walks in, her mother starts crying when she puts her to bed remembering Walt.

This short story is obviously much more dramatic. We learn about their lives and we really want to know what is going on. The fact that both of the characters are drunk, gives the whole story a twist as we don’t know if what they are saying is fully reliable.

We can notice that both women aren’t mature enough as they escape their problems by drinking alcohol. This gives us a bad impression about the main characters.

The third story, “Just Before the War with the Eskimos”, is about two girls called Serena and Ginnie. They are high school classmates and they play tennis together every Sunday.

However, Ginnie thinks the right thing to do is to tell Serena that it was about time for her to pay Ginnie back all the money she owes her from the cab. So we get told how Ginnie tells Serena in the cab when they are coming back from their usual tennis match that she wants her money back.

The story is mainly focused on the conversation between Ginnie and Franklin, Serena’s brother. They met at Serena’s house as she had to go in to get the money Ginnie was asking for. She discovers that Franklin knew Ginnie’s sister, Joan. Our first impression of her isn’t very good as Franklin curses her as the "Queen" of the snobs. Franklin also tells Ginnie that he dropped out of school and that he couldn’t get into the army due to heart problems.

At the end of the story Serena appears again but Ginnie changes her mind and doesn’t want the money anymore. She then invites herself again that same afternoon to Serena’s and Franklin’s house.

This story I didn’t enjoy as much as the others. The other two stories grabbed my attention more than this one. However, it was very well written with powerful adjectives and verbs. It was narrated in the third person and the most noticeable theme in this story is rejection. We can see again and again the rejection of something. For example, Franklin rejected society as he dropped out of school and he got rejected by the army.

In all three stories war is present in the background. This gave negative aspects to the characters. A clear example is in the first story.

Seymour committed suicide due to the war.

Going to the war for Seymour just gave him mental problems making his experience in the army bad and prejudicial for him.

In conclusion, we can definitely learn and enjoy a lot from "Nine Stories." I recommend it to every single person as it is really entertaining and well written.

Artist Benjamin Halpern: From Photos to Paintings

By ALEXANDER PURI Contributing Writer

Last Friday, Phillips Exeter alumnus and practicing painter Benjamin Halpern spoke to the Summer School’s artists about his career in both architecture and painting, while illuminating some of his paintings and the process behind them.

Halpern, who has earned degrees in engineering and art from Stanford University, is currently pursuing his graduate degree in architecture from the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. His website contains an abundance of paintings created from photos that he himself took. As he spoke to about twenty five students, in addition to a handful of teachers, Halpern shared his thoughts about his approach to his paintings.

“What I’m trying to do, more than anything else, is represent the emotion in the faces,” he said. “I consider the paintings very photographical.”

Halpern takes as many as one hundred photos of a single subject, all of which are close to his subjects’ faces, before deciding which one to work with. Some of his paintings are even based on pictures he took of people who he passed on the street.

“As I’ve explained," he said, "my paintings have always had a strong relationship with photography. It’s really an integral part of the process.”

Apart from describing the process behind his work, Halpern also went to offer some artistic advice to the Summer School’s artistic students.

“I would say to be playful,” suggested Halpern. “Explore what ever interest you have, don’t feel like you have to do anything.”

“I think with any art...there’s a correlation between how passionate you are and how good at it you are...So I would say just explore, try different media.”

Meanwhile, the very students to whom Halpern was speaking are currently embarking on several projects of their own. In architecture for instance, students draw a floor plan of their dorm room in addition to designing their own house and floor plans.

“What I like most is that you have the chance to design our own house and see what kinds of ideas we can get from each other,” said Jacob Nixon, 17.

Apart from being allowed to be creative, Jacob also pointed out that the class will have benefits for him during the school year.

“It will also help me in my architecture class in high school,” Jacob said.

Similarly, in ceramics, students are working on multiple creations, such as pots or bowls while also learning some key principles of the art.

“First, you have to learn the basics,” said Marco Sandoval, 17. “Ceramics is mostly technique and patience because, come time, pots or bowls do come out the way you want, so you have to keep trying.”

Marco cited how the class has helped him to improve in ceramics as well. “I have been better with my technique of making pots and bowls,” he said.

THE SUMMER TIMES

SUMMER LIFE

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

7

The Summer Times Review of Books "Charlotte's Web"

By PAULA WILKE Contributing Writer

The children's novel “Charlotte´s Web“ was written by Elwyn Brooks White.

White was born in July, 1899, in Mount Vernon, New York, and was an famous American author and poet. He died in October, 1985, in North Brooklin, Maine.

The novel is about a pig, called Wilbur, who meets the spider, Charlotte.

Both live on a farm. The farmer wants to kill Wilbur, but Charlotte tries to prohibit it. The main characters are Charlotte, Wilbur and the eight- year-old girl, Fern.

The novel starts with the birth of Wilbur at the farm of Fern´s dad. Wilbur is weak and small. That is the reason why the dad wants to kill him, but Fern appeals to her dad and convinces him that she can take care of the pig. Fern is very smart and assertive. After some weeks the pig has to move to the uncle of Fern. Wilbur is sad

and does not know other animals here. But then he meets the spider Charlotte, who is very smart, and becomes a member of an animal community. She knows that the uncle, called Homer Zuckerman, will kill Wilbur at Christmas.

She explains to Wilbur, what will happen to him. Wilbur is nervous because he does not want to die. “I just love it here in the barn,“ said Wilbur. “I love everything about this place.“ Willbur asks Charlotte if she can help him. The spider promises Wilbur help, although she does not have a plan. Wilbur and Charlotte get to know each other better with time; she teaches him how to spin a web and then she gets an idea, how she could help Willbur.

Charlotte spins a web, in which she writes words. These words describe Willbur as a fantastic and extraordinary pig. Through these words, she tries to prohibit the slaughter of Wilbur. When Mr. Zuckerman sees the web with the

Courtesy of Google Images

message “Some pig" he was thinking that he “received a sign- a mysterious sign."

Fern´s uncle goes to the minister´s house and explains what happened. “Everybody knew that the Zuckermans had a wondrous pig." From then on, Wilbur and the Zuckermans become famous. Wilbur is represented as an amazing and miraculous pig. The miracle of the message is explained by the minister in the church: “The words on the spider´s web proved that human beings must always be on the watch for coming of wonders."

Charlotte succeeds; Wilbur won´t die at Christmas. In order that the people can gaze further at Wilbur, Charlotte writes new words in her web. For this purpose she gets help of a rat, called Templeton, who helps her with finding good words: "TERRIFIC, RADIANT." Fern spends a lot of time at the Zuckerman farm and plays with the animals. Her mother, Mrs. Arable, is worried

about Fern's attitude. Therefore she contacts the doctor, who can put Mrs. Arable´s mind at ease.

Wilbur asks Charlotte, if she wants to come to the fair. But Charlotte does not want to got there because she has to protect her web and lay eggs.The fair is a special event, for animals as well as for people.

In the night before the fair, Zuckerman dreams, that Wilbur will win a prize.

I think, that Wilbur will win a prize. But I think that Charlotte will get into trouble because she thinks of her new babies.

Elwyn Brooks White uses simple language and he often quotes conversations and thoughts of the animals and people.

In conclusion, I like the novel because it is funny to read the conversations between animals, especially between Charlotte and Wilbur. The spider, Charlotte, bolsters the pig, Wilbur, and protects his life.

"The Great Gatsby" "Catcher

in the Rye"

By PEDRO KAYAT Contributing Writer

The book "The Great Gatsby", written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, has a first-person narrator, a man named Nick, who also writes the story. His family has pushed him to attend a business college. He had moved recently to New York and lived near a guy called Gatsby, who was very rich and had a mansion. The narrator introduces two more characters to the book: Daisy -- Nick’s cousin -- and Tom, her husband. There is a green light coming from Gatsby’s mansion that intrigates Nick because he doesn’t know what that is.

Nick and Tom were in a train heading New York and Tom convinced him to get out of the train in one of the stops. They went to George Wilson’s house (whose wife was Tom’s lover).

They went to New York and threw a party there and Tom got drunk. At this point, Gatsby is well known but no one seems to have a concrete information about him; he is mysterious.

One of the things that Gatsby was known for was that he threw huge parties at his house. One day he invited Nick, who went to the party. When he got there he heard a lot of people talking about Gatsby. No one really knew where he and his wealth came from. A woman named Jordan speculates that Gatsby is a German Spy, graduated from Oxford and had already killed a person. At the party, Nick sat at a table with a man who said he looked familiar and introduced himself as Jay Gatsby. Nick noticed that Gatsby put himself out of the party and stayed watching his guests. Nick starts to be attracted to Jordan who had a mysteri-

ous conversation with Gatsby.

Nick went to a trip to New York with Gatsby who started talking about his life but the stories seem a little improbable and Nick is not believing Gatsby. Nick meets Jordan in New York and she tells him about the mysterious conversation that she had with Gatsby. He was in love with Nick’s cousin Daisy for a long time and Gatsby wanted Nick to invite her to Nick's house for drinking tea and Gatsby would show up there to see the love of his life.

When Nick was back at his house, he was surprised that Gatsby’s house was quiet. He saw Gatsby, who seemed very exited and nervous. Gatsby was trying to make Nick feel good because he wanted Nick to help him with the plan to get Daisy back. Nick agreed with it.

O n t h e d a y o f t h e e n c o u n t e r, Gatsby was very nervous and sent someone to cut Nick’s grass and sent flowers to him. He was worried that, even if they got back, it would not be the same as it was when they were young. The encounter was pretty good and they even forgot that Nick was there. At one point, Nick stood up and left them alone.

Gatsby is a mysterious guy in the begining of the book. As the book advances, he starts to reveal himself and the reader can notice that like all people, he has his good qualities and bad qualities. Jay is insecure, he is strange, anxious, but also can be a good man. This book shows that wealth isn’t a happiness fountain.

Throwing parties all the time and spending money doesn’t made Gatsby as happy as when he met Daisy.

Courtesy of Google Images

By MIKI TAKAHASHI Contributing Writer

Holden Caulfield, 17-year-old boy who goes to a boarding school, gets kicked out of the academy due to his poor grades. He plans to leave the campus and head to New York before the vacation, so that his family would not notice.

For the duration before he leaves, he gets into huge quarrel with his roommate, Stradlater. An awkward relationship compels Holden to leave the place earlier than his planned date. After he reaches the hotel in New York, Holden has the interesting experience of seeing a “very distinguished-looking guy” taking “out all women's clothes, and put[ting] them on”, and “a man and a woman squirting water out of their mouths at each other.” This is a simple summary of the first hundred pages that I’ve read.

“Such an unique novel.” This thought came to my mind after I started reading the book, "The Catcher in the Rye." “Unique” may sound vague, and some may ask why I chose this word for description. It is simply because there was some distinguishing factor this novel had that I never seen in other books. The way the protagonist narrated the story allowed this novel to strengthen its originality. Holden’s narration is more conversational compared to majority of other novels which often follow certain plot and use formal language. In comparison, Holden talked almost always in an informal language, using words such as [deleted], [deleted] and [deleted] frequently. He also often did not follow the flow of the book, and jumped on to a different topic. These distinguishing factors which may sound puzzling to the readers, actually made the story so much easier, interesting, and enjoyable to read.

As I have stated above, this book was viewed from the first person. This was one thing that I enjoyed since it gives the reader a realistic vision of what Holden feels, sees, senses, and observes as he goes through various experiences.

Furthermore, Holden gives so much background

information as he explains his life experiences.

This was another interesting part of reading since it was not written like a typical book stating the details, but was written in such way that attracts the audience. For instance, when Holden talked about baseball in his narration, he suddenly changed the topic to his past younger brother who was very intelligent and loved to play baseball. Like this, this story was not formed on top of the background information, but was developed as the story flowed.

During the first part of the story, my impression of the main character, Holden Caulfield, is that he is slow and dim, which is how he explains about himself. The fact that he had failed five subjects obviously proves his stupidity in his academic learning. However, seeing the words he uses in his narration as well as his attitudes towards people made me think that he may be consciously making himself look stupid. In order to find out more about Holden as a character, I will need to be keep on reading, though.

There was one factor which made me very interested in Holden: the fact that he barely talked about people in positive way. For instance, when he describes people at the school including Stradlater and Ackley, and other faculty members, he talks in such negative way, using many words that makes the readers see those character in a negative way. The only people he talks positively about are his younger sister, Phoebe, and his brother, Allie, who passed away due to leukemia. As I noticed these differences, it flickered through my mind that this may have something to do with the fact that he prefers to be alone at school, separating himself from his friends, as if he is trying to stymie himself from establishing friendship with them.

Again, these factors in the book bring me back to the word “unique." The characters, their personalities, narration, and the stories -- everything was new and unique for me. And I’m excited to find out more about Holden and his story as I continue reading this book.

"Goodbye, Columbus"

By ELENA JACCHIA Contributing Writer

Courtesy of Google Images

"Goodbye, Columbus" is a novel written by Philip Roth in the sixties, the era in which the book is set. It is about the love relationship between the two characters: Neil Klugman and Brenda Patimkin. He is a poor Newark boy, and she’s from the suburban Short Hills.

The story is narrated from the point of view of the protagonist, Neil, who is a 23-year-old Jewish man who lives with his uncle and aunt. Both of them are simple and modest workers with an unusual personality. A veteran of the army, Neil works in a library and he doesn’t have any particular project or ambition to look forward to.

On the other hand, Brenda and her family, composed of her parents, her oldest brother, Ronald, and her younger sister, Julie, are completely different. They are pretty rich and interested in social life and appearances,

especially Mrs. Patimkin. At first these strong differences do not seem to frustrate the characters but the progress of the relationship became more and more evident. Brenda’ s parents do not like Neil because he is not from a wealthy family and does not have a great job either. Mr Patimkin is more open minded and tolerant, but Mrs. Patimkin is superficial with no regard for others’ feelings especially Brenda’s.

In fact, Neil's presence worsens the already conflicted mother-daughter relationship. Instead Ronald and Julie get on well with Neil because they only consider his personality and not his background.

Although the plot is not one of the most original things I’ve read, this book is particular for the subtle characterization of the main characters. In fact, thanks to the accurate descriptions, the reader is able to clearly

define each character– from Aunt Gladys, Neil’s aunt, to Mr. Scapello, Neil's boss.

While P. Roth does not describe characters physically, he describes their habits, lifestyle and behavior instead. Moreover, a lot of details the reader can get come from the dialogue.

For example, we do not know why Neil lives with his uncle and aunt.

At first, the reader is led to believe that his parents are dead, until Brenda asks him and it is revealed that that is not the real reason why he lives with his uncle and aunt. It turns out they are not dead; they live in Florida, but Neil prefered to remain in Newark with his job. The relationship between the protagonist and his job in the library is particular. He likes working there but he considers it only as temporary work.

Anyway, while he does not really care about his job, he enjoys observing

people, especially a poor black kid whom Neil befriends.

More interested in his job are Brenda and his parents who do not find it enough. This is one of the reasons there is a constant tension in the young couple. Indeed they belong to two very different worlds and this makes Neil feel a strong sense of inadequacy.

The language that Roth uses is quite simple, but not banal. In fact the book alternates parts of narrative, which are the more difficult, and parts of speech that are easier for the informal way in which they are written.

Even if the reader knows from the start that the novel would not have a happy ending, it is is still an interesting book that shows and describes the 60’s reality in the US–it not only describes the social differences between Brenda and Neil, but also between white and black people.

8

SUMMER LIFE

THE SUMMER TIMES

THURSDAY, JULY 30, 2015

Go and Play

By JAWUAN WALTERS Summer Times Staff Writer

Monday's Assembly featured the group of Stanford lecturers who teach The Creative Process cluster. Each of the four described their upbringing and talked about how it influences the work they do today.

And they all advocated one activity above all: play.

"We are creators," said John Barton who attended Exeter like his father and heads the cluster. "We make things. In short, we play."

He called play the major factor that influenced all of their work. He described play as “intense, rigorous and can happen anywhere.” It seems play allows creativity to flow and new projects to be formed and completed.

"I play and play and play, with curiosity leading the way," said John Edmar, another of the team.

All of this is part of the creative cluster, in its second year here at Exeter Summer School. In this cluster students from around the world dream up and design new

Julia Benghiat-Jurist/The Summer Times Staff

Actors run through final rehearsals in Fisher Theater Wednesday night.

On Stage Tonight & Friday

By JULIA BENGHIAT-JURIST Summer Times Staff Writer

Courtesy of Jeff Ward

You don't have to tell the Deans of Fun about play-- Here they promote the Polar Bear Swim.

projects with the help of lecturers from Stanford University. In each class play is always invited. According to Annalisa Boslough, a Stanford graduate student lecturing in the cluster, play embodies creativity, community, engagement and experience.

“We see play as Harkness,” said another lecturer, Amy Larimer. Harkness allows students to design projects without fully knowing the end result, she said. The cluster's crowning project so far this summer has been the geodesic Dome outside the Academy Center. "We brought the Harkness Table to the Dome." said Larimer.

"Play is not frivolous."

Now you see it, now you don't: The two portals to the Assembly Hall sport different crests with lions chained and unchained.

Courtesy of Ralph Blumenthal

Drum roll, please!

The curtain rises tonight on the first of two 7 p.m. performances of six one-act plays, with several monologues sprinkled throughout.

Burke Scarbrough, the director and theater teacher here at Exeter, describes the grouping as “funny”, while the monologues are more “dramatic and touching.”

The monologues are read by the students; however they have no relevance to the plays they are surrounded by.

The first play is called, “Come into the Garden Maud”, written by Don Nigro.

A man is awakened from his sleep early in the morning by a phone call from a woman claiming that his cat is in her garden. He does not own a cat, and she insists that it is his, so they proceed to argue. As Mr. Scarbrough describes, “Everything goes terribly wrong”.

The second is “The Origin Story of Lewis Hackett” by Ron Burch. This play consists of a variety of scenes between Lewis and his boss, imagined by his coworkers, as to why he has been promoted but they haven’t. The central theme of this play is gossip.

“Bite Me” by Nina Mansfield is the third. A woman receives a gift covered by a blanket, in a cage. The contents of this gift

will be discovered and dealt with over the course of the play.

After intermission, “Untitled #2” by Jim Gordon is next. Two art critics who seem to be similar come upon a crisis when they discover that their interpretations of a certain painting clash. As they begin to quarrel, we are able to witness the importance of winning the argument for each of them.

Dan Hershfield’s, “Courting” has a double meaning in its title. One connotation is that two characters are on a date, and thus he is “courting” her. However, the play also takes place in a restaurant turned into a court. Two other characters switch back and forth between their court persona -- lawyers -- and their restaurant persona: waiters.

Finally, “Small World,” written by Tracey Scott Wilson, is composed of six actors who are paired off into three separate dates.

It is revealed that they all have, at one point or another, dated each other. They tell their memories about their other fellow daters.

This play, like the second one, is centered around gossip.

The monologues, placed between the six plays, are read by different people on the different nights, and have a contrasting feel with the one-acts. The variety allows for a comedy-filled, fun night. All of them will be performed on Thursday at 7 p.m. and again on Friday night at 7 in the Fisher Theater.

PEA Lion Unchained LION, continued from page 1 but the chain looks missing.

More puzzlingly, the old lion with the chains and the new lion without the chains seem to co-exist. The Exeter bookstore stocks logo merchandize in both varieties. The tables in The Grill, various memorials around campus, and even the student activities Facebook page still show the lion with the chain. The two entrances to the Assembly hall bear different lion crests referencing the town's namesake -- Exeter, England --one, chained, one unchained.

So, no help there.

“On the T-shirts they handed out to both the Access and upper school students the collar is there,

but it doesn’t have the chain,” said Weatherspoon.

The presence of both versions shows that this change has occurred recently, yet no one of the Exeter administration has stepped forward publicly with an explanation.

“The “we” itself could come from a number of different places,” said Weatherspoon, speaking on who might have confirmation of the refashion.

The director of the Phillips Exeter Communications department, Robin Giampa, was contacted, but was away on a school retreat and unable to provide a response. So far no one has come forward with answers or statements as to why the chains would be removed. We hope we can report soon on the bottom "lion."

BABIES R US: Did You Guess Right?

Jason & Rosie BreMiller

Katie Van Wert, Burke Scarbrough & Lucy

Elizabeth Reiter, Rob Feigal-Stickles & June

Liz & Miriam Morse