THE VOICE VOLUME XXXII | April 2016
Table of Contents
On the cover: Celebrating the class of 2016
IN THIS ISSUE
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Senior Izzy Laskero takes us on a tour of the Bernie Sanders campaign office in Kansas City
The Senior Color Clash band won this year’s talent show- check out this page for a photo wrap-up of the month
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We took a trip to the store Clothz Minded in Westport for this month’s KC Crawl
It’s time to say goodbye to the senior thespians! Take a look at page 18 for profiles on PHS’s veteran actors and crew
buzz [College]
Weird College Traditions . . .
62 Shoe Tree: Murray State University (Murray, KY) - couples who nail
Avg. # of parties attended by college students each year
5,000 Over this many universities in the United States
their shoes to this tree will have a happy marriage
Healy Howl: Georgetown University (Washington DC) - students watch The Exorcist and howl at the moon on Halloween
Birthday Dunk: Occidental College (Los Angeles, CA) - this is
exactly what it sounds like... on a student’s birthday, their friends will throw them in the Fountain on campus
Softball: Carleton College (Northfield, MN) - they have a softball
$23.7K Avgerage college student debt in the United States
0.4 Percent of undergrads that attend an Ivy League
game each year that adds an extra inning per year the school has been in existence. Since the college was founded in 1866, this year there will be 148 innings.
Famous college dropouts include
Random Facts - Every state in the United States has more females enrolled in universities than males, except for Utah. - In 1996, Kermit the Frog gave a commencement speech at Southampton College. - Ohio University may be considered the most haunted school in the United States. One of its haunted dorms was even featured on the television show, Scariest Places on Earth.
Reggie Jackson, Steve Jobs, Ben Affleck, Woody Allen, Hans Christian Anderson, Dan Ackroyd, Kate Beckinsale, James Cameron, and Mark Zuckerberg.
Debate
The freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors battled it out during Color Clash week by wearing their class colors, taking part in a relay race during assembly, showing off their skills during the talent show, decorating the halls, and competing in an intense dodgeball tournament to determine which class would ultimately be crowned the winner. The Juniors took home the win with ____ points, followed by the Sophomores (# of points), Seniors (# of points), and Freshmen (# of points).
This past month, members of the debate team attended the National Speech and Debate Association’s District Competition. Four students qualified to Nationals: Inkoo Kang ‘16 and Daniel Stanley ‘16 in United States Extemporaneous Speaking (USX), Matthew Styslinger ‘17 in International Extemporaneous Speaking, and Olivia Lesley ‘17 in Information Speaking. The following week at MSHSAA’s State Qualifying tournament, partners Kang and Stanley qualified to State in Public Forum Debate, and Kang qualified again in USX.
The Musical
Color Clash
April: In Review
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After months of rehearsals and preparation, this year’s spring musical, Once Upon a Mattress, was a success. Complete with elegant dresses and men in tights (and senior Ben Wang’s first appearance in a Pembroke Hill theater production), the performance was a unique, comical twist on the familiar fairy tale “The Princess and the Pea.”
Basketball Robotics
In the district championship match, the girls varsity basketball team defeated O’Hara in a 54-51 victory. Senior Anya Loboda celebrates earning over 1,000 points in her basketball career at Pembroke. Congratulations!
Pembroke’s robotics team, The Legion, went 5-5 at the Greater Kansas City FIRST Robotics Regional Tournament, which was held at the Metropolitan Community College’s Business and Technology campus.
Middle School: A Look into Volunteering Ava Sweeny Staff Writer During this school year, some students have been working towards the Presidential Community Service Award. In order to receive a letter from the president, students must perform at least fifty hours of service for our community. This award is a fantastic way to motivate students to help and to get to know our community. 6th grader, Naina Singh, has performed around twenty hours so far and plans to do many more during spring break. Every time she finishes a service, she feels thankful: “Whenever I complete a community service project I feel accomplished, fortunate, and thankful … because I am always reminded that there really are less fortunate people in this world.”
Jack Sweeney, an 8th grader, has done around forty hours and feels that community service is a rewarding experience. “I chose to do community service because I enjoy the experience of helping people.” Whenever Jack completes a project, he feels fulfilled, accomplished, and happy that he was able to help the community. Community service is a great way to get out in the community and help. You can meet great people, learn something new, and even find a new passion! There are many organizations to choose from in Kansas City, so pick the one that is right for you and don’t forget to have fun! n
Here are a few simple steps to get into service for our community: 1. Find an organization that interests you. Make sure that that organization is safe and sends its money to a cause that is important to you. 2. Come up with ways to help this organization. This could be selling something, donating, or some organizations even have walks or runs that you can sign up for. There are plenty of ways that you can help. 3. Find a date and do it! ing something, make sure all of your merchandise that you are selling it in
If you are sellthat you have pre-made and a safe location.
4. Once you have completed your community service, collect the money (if applicable) and send it to the organization of your choice. Make sure to find the correct address before you send it.
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Coffee Break: A Look Inside Hi Hat Hi Hat, a coffee shop just outside of the Pembroke campus in Westwood, sells just about the best coffee in KC. Hi Hat has been awarded by being Certified Golden Cup by the Speciality Coffee Association of America. But, of course, Pembroke students would already know Hi Hat is the best because a large percentage of their coffee drinkers are from PHS. Other frequent coffee drinkers include many Sporting KC players and George Brett, to list a few.
The small coffee shop started as a gas station which was a Phillips 66. From then, it's been a grocery store, barbershop and hair salon. Hi Hat came after the hair salon 18 years ago to date in March. The shop’s patio has remained, with plentiful outdoor seating to satisfy customers. The owner, T. Jensen, has made the shop unique, with creative drinks and snacks such as the Nutty Irishman, which is a hazelnut and Irish cream latte. Also,
Jensen sells Roastrie roasted coffee, custom or organic blend, in 12 ounce bags, that are extremely popular. Interestingly enough, the shop consistently gets most of its business at 9 a.m. daily. Although it is closed on Sundays, you can purchase coffee from 6:30-6 every other day of the week. Stop in to get your fix soon! n
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Video Game Remakes: A Quintessential Tale of Hit or Miss Whilst wondering what to write about for this issue, I inadvertently stumbled upon an issue that has become quite prominent in the video game industry. In recent years, it has seemingly become a trend to take a previously successful video game and remake it. With that, it has become popular to remake a game in higher definition and dub it an “HD Remake”. The issue arises when it becomes a question of whether the company is doing sloppy work simply to make a quick buck or not. Are they simply slapping new textures onto a preexistent game and reselling it at full price to make more money? Or are they putting serious time into fixing the issues with the game and into making it more accessible in a more modern era of gaming? Let’s start with an incident in which this issue was handled poorly. The title that instantly comes to mind is the remake of The Last of Us. To give you some perspective, The Last of Us is a critically acclaimed zombie survival story set in a post-apocalyptic, modern-day world. You’d
be hard-pressed in finding somebody with a resoundingly negative opinion about this game. It has almost exclusively positive reviews, and it sold extremely well. That being said, it came out in June of 2013. The Last of Us Remastered came out a little over a year later--in July of 2014. If that seems a little too quick of a turn-over to you, then you’re right. Typically, a remake comes out because it has been several years since the original title has been released, and there are some generally accepted issues that could be resolved to enhance gameplay. But, like I said before, there are not many accepted issues with The Last of Us. This seemed more like an easy way for Naughty Dog and Sony to pull in some new cash after the release of the PS4 and less like a way to appease fans and surprise them with something which they’ve been waiting a long time for. Not all of the stories of remakes are negative, however. Nintendo has an almost exclusively positive track record when it comes to remaking titles. Though their associate Game Freak has also done an
incredible job in remaking titles in their critically acclaimed Pokémon series several times, I’ll be focusing on Nintendo’s work for this article. It is worth mentioning, however, that Game Freak always rebuilds their remakes from the ground up with completely revamped graphics and gameplay, totally setting the precedent for how this can be done well. As for Nintendo, recent years have shown that they, too, know how to tackle the issue of remaking titles. Their initial success in this area was, and still is, the remaking of titles for handheld systems. It is unquestionable that Nintendo has consistently dominated the platform of handheld gaming since the concept’s inception. Thus, when they port (or remake a title from one console for another) a title to one of their handheld systems, it is almost always in good taste. Phenomenal examples of this in recent years are the remakes of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. Both were ported to the 3DS system from the original N64 version in 2011 and 2015, respectively.
Below: Wind Waker HD graphics comparison
Not only were the graphics completely revamped, but also many updates were made to the gameplay, and some general immersion issues were also fixed. You could now take two of your favorite games on-the-go in completely revamped, accessible style. Even the more recent remake of The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker to Wii U from the Gamecube in 2013 was absolutely gorgeous and completely fixed several upstanding issues from the original game. What then, is holding back these other companies from making quality remakes? The desire to make a quick buck rather than actually taking some time to pay due respect to the quality of the title and what the fans want is the real problem. Never impulse-buy a remake of your favorite video game just because it has fancy new graphics. Rather, purchase a remake of your favorite video game because there are new exciting features accompanying a fancy graphics update on a fresh, new console that is accessible to you, the fan. n
Media Reviews
Natalie Dameron Staff Writer Flashback to June 1, 2015, the day when The 1975 seemingly wiped themselves from social media history by deleting all accounts after posting several messages strangely emphasizing the color pink. Fans panicked: the majority thought the band was breaking up, while the more optimistic batch jumped to the conclusion that the band was merely reinventing itself. The latter proved to be correct and, thus, the new album was born. “I like it when you sleep, for you are so beautiful yet so unaware of it,” although a mouthful and a bit cliché, is an exciting adventure into a different side of the 1975. Parting from the sounds of their first album, the band explores more instrumentals and easy-going tunes. That said, the lyrics do contain previous themes of personal tales of drugs (like in “UGH!”) and relationships (see “She’s American”). Many tracks are clearly influenced by artists such as David Bowie and INXS, specifically the songs “Fame,” “Love Me,” and “Need You Tonight.” The overall aesthetic of this album cover, with its neon lights and bright pink coloring, seems to be very 1980’s-esque. The instrumentation incorporates several elements of archetypal 1980’s music; the saxophone makes an appearance, along with the synth sounds which evoke an intense 80s vibe. The 1975 uses soft sounds, electric guitar riffs, and clever lyrics to create a fun and spunky album. There is such variation in songs, with the slow instrumentals to upbeat dance tunes, that the album really is great for anything. For an era that began with the deletion of all communication via Twitter and Instagram, I would say the product of this musical rebirth was a pretty-looking and great-sounding seventeen track album.
Shaina Desai Managing Editor
A revival of the popular 1987-1995 show Full House, Fuller House follows Danny Tanner’s recently widowed daughter, DJ Fuller, as she adjusts to a new life when she is forced to move back into her childhood home with her three sons, Jackson, Max, and Tommy. Full House was a defining part of my childhood so I enjoyed Fuller House immensely, even though the writing quality of the show is not extraordinary when it stands alone. Each character in Full House has a phrase unique to themselves, such as Uncle Jesse’s “Have mercy,” Stephanie’s “How rude!” and Uncle Joey’s “Cut it out.” Fuller House did an astounding job of including these quirky phrases and keeping the characters’ personalities similar to those in their original roles on Full House. The revival really did feel like a continuation because of the same house, personalities, and style of jokes. Although several new instrumental characters were introduced and old characters were placed into new roles in Fuller House, they seemed to mirror characters from the previous generation. For example, Kimmy and Stephanie mirror Uncle Joey and Uncle Jesse, respectively, because they move in with DJ, who is coping with the death of her spouse, just like Uncle Jesse and Uncle Joey do when Danny’s wife dies. Although I laughed while watching Fuller House, I know several people who were not as fond of the revival. I realized that in most cases, these people had not seen Full House or were not huge fans of the original series. If I had not been obsessed with Full House during my childhood, I do not think watching Fuller House would have been as enjoyable of an experience. The resemblance between individual characters’ personalities and the parallels between the two generations make the show a nostalgic throwback for anyone who loved Full House.
Paolo Laskero Staff Writer We live in a world devoid of cinematic secrecy. Movies are announced, cast lists posted, trailers dropped, and by the time the movie plays, there is little left to discover. For the cinephiles of the world, we walk into every movie theatre with a pretty good idea of what to expect. So rarely am I truly surprised by anything related to movies, but I was by the existence of 10 Cloverfield Lane. The title of this film was announced at the same time as the trailer dropped, which is unheard of nowadays. Imagine being the type of person that spends an obscene amounts of time on the IMDB news page, and watching the trailer to a fairly big name (sequel/spinoff to the 2008 movie Cloverfield) movie you have never even heard of. Not only was it a trailer to a movie that very few people knew existed, but it was also a really good trailer. A creepy, thought-provoking, intriguing trailer. Which is exactly what this movie ended up being: creepy, tense, thought-provoking, thrilling, and intense. The movie follows the story of a girl that wakes up in a bunker and is told by the other two men in the bunker that there has been an apocalypse. That is all I knew going into the movie, but here is what I knew coming out: the directorial debut of Dan Trachtenberg is quite impressive, but the more impressive feat is by the actors of the movie. There are only three people in the movie and all of them are phenomenal. Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Gallagher Jr. are fantastic, but John Goodman steals the show. Some people might be expecting this movie to tie in with Cloverfield, and while it may belong in the same universe, this movie stands on its own. The ending of the movie drags on a bit and was certainly strange but, for me at least, the end does not ruin the rest of a great movie. This movie proved that true intrigue is still alive. n
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Alice Rowland Back in September, we started this monthly process of providing dual political perspectives for the Pembroke student body by discussing current global and local issues. At the same time, we were #blessed with the gift of Donald Trump as entertainment and a subject for our upcoming articles. Comedians like Jon Stewart praised this gift from the “Comedy Gods,” but then not enough of the population laughed at the idea of building a wall and Trump soared into the (probable) Republican nomination. Meanwhile, millennials all across America are feeling the Bern with a deeply rooted (but, I believe, questionably motivated) distaste for Hillary Clinton. So now, just like our President did a few months ago, I will deliver a State of the Union of sorts as I look back at the campaigns this past year and look ahead to November. On the Republican side, you’ve got one candidate who is hated by all of his contemporaries in the Senate and another who has run numerous companies into bankruptcy. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton is the candidate who everyone just can’t seem to trust. I mean, Americans seem to hate Clinton for merely breathing, while Trump’s hate speech is just becoming the norm. Meanwhile, Ted Cruz is questioned to be the Zodiac Killer and looks like a melted candle, whereas titles of Madame Secretary, or First Lady, or Senator go unnoticed. So when you hear someone say, “I just don’t trust Clinton,” turn around and
politely ask them, why not? Because although you might not agree with Clinton’s politics, she has been subject to a level of scrutiny and personal attacks that our current President can only begin to imagine. And yes, she may be “a politician,” but when did being qualified for your job make you not qualified? When a woman wants to be president, that’s when. None of this is to dismiss the political importance of Senator Bernie Sanders and his call for a revolution. In fact, watching these two incredibly qualified candidates discuss countless issues and policies has been a great experience for America to witness because on the other side there is a complete lack of political discussion. While this election cycle has been witness to numerous attacks by terrorists, police, and locals governments on people of differing ethnicities, religions, and genders, the Conservative candidates have been comparing their hand sizes. And although they disagree on whether to fence Muslims in or fence them out, they all agree that a public identification system to keep track of them using serial numbers is the best way to “maintain national security.” The worst part of this past election season is that voters don’t understand -- or don’t want to understand -- the harm of these statements. What’s the big deal about building a wall? What’s the problem with carpet bombing the Middle East to get ISIS? While these questions also contain their
own answers, the real problem is that these statements are rhetorical games and not actual solutions. With climate change and terrorist attacks and police brutality, these are scary times. Institutions that we, as citizens of the greatest country in the world, are supposed to trust, have failed us. Our civil liberties, from our safety to our ability to access healthcare to our right to clean water that won’t poison us, have been called into question. Everyone, from our Presidential candidates to our current leaders, is scared. And thus we are supporting quick, simple solutions without thinking about their repercussions. It is easier to carpet bomb a problem and consider it fixed than to think about all the millions of innocent lives taken and the global war that would ensue. It is easier to isolate or build a wall around a problem than include and adapt to the changing world around us. So, as the election barrels on towards November and we hear countless statements of hate from both parties, understand it is okay to be scared. It is okay to be angry at the system and its treatment of individuals. But it is not okay to not exercise our right to change the system as citizens. It is not okay to sit back and let assumptions or sound bytes determine what deserves our attention. Because as future voters and as citizens of this great nation, we need to acknowledge our flaws and our strengths to ensure that the state of the Union will be indeed strong for years to come. n
James Parkerson The time has come for me to say adieu to all my readers and the female athletes of Pembroke Hill and to reflect on the presidential race. Despite all of our doubts, Donald is still here and stronger than ever. The Trump vs. Clinton showdown is inevitable at this point, the matchup that we’ve all been waiting (or dreading) to happen. Unless there is a contested Republican convention in which pretty much anything could happen, I’m going to assume Donnie will wrap up that nomination for the time being. And for all you Pembroke socialists out there, unfortunately there just won’t be enough embers in the Bernman’s fire to keep his presidential hopes alive. We’re left with two candidates who are polar opposites, a Republican party that is in the midst of an identity crisis, and a Democratic party that has made a dramatic leftward shift. We should never underestimate the power of a slogan. In an incredibly crowded Republican field, the Trumpster made himself stick out. He never clearly articulated his policies (maybe he doesn’t really have any), but Donnie understood the importance of branding and identifying what he stands for. When you think of Trump, his promise to make America great again sticks
out. He incessantly repeats this anytime he speaks, so you don’t really need to think; you expect it. Trump’s a businessman, but his candidacy has proved that running for president is really no different than selling a product or brand. As consumers, we all want consistency and reliability. When I’m walking through the grocery store, I’m not going to take the time to research all the different brands, their nutritional information, and consumer reviews. I’m buying the brands I know, the ones on T.V. with the catchy slogans and commercials, even if they don’t provide any substantive information on the product. Donnie sold his supporters on the Trump brand. The other Republican candidates spent too much time saying what they weren’t and comparing themselves to Trump. They didn’t build a recognizable brand for themselves. Trump, however, promised to make America great again, which is reminiscent of Obama’s slogan for hope and change in 2008. Huh. Donnie’s rise has infuriated the GOP establishment and shown the disconnect between the political elite and the common man. But even with the Republican party’s desperate attempts to attack Donald, he only grows stronger. The GOP has divided
into camps: pro-Trump and never-Trump. A divided party will certainly impede a Republican effort to win the general election and threatens the cohesiveness of the GOP in the future. The Democratic party is not suffering from a similar identity crisis but instead has embraced its leftward shift. Bernie Sanders probably won’t be the nominee, but he has definitely left an impact--a very dangerous one. Despite the $19 trillion debt, somehow socialism and its promises of free stuff seems to be a great idea. Bernie’s “revolution” has sparked a very real threat to our capitalist nation and our economic well-being. No-conviction-Hill has even grown more liberal throughout this year to appease the Bernie supporters as she’ll really do whatever it takes to become president. She does her very best to be a people pleaser but remains incredibly unlikeable nation wide. Aw, poor Hill. Well, at least you’re not in jail. I know nothing is certain, but we should all expect a Trump vs. Clinton showdown. A heavyweight matchup that America and the rest of the world will be dying to watch. Remember to vote, kids. As the wise Mr. O’Connell once told me in seventh grade, it’s our civic duty.n
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Grassroots Campaigning: A Day in the Life Izzy Laskero Contributor My canvassing partner, Josh, threw his hands up, and passionately described why he was standing on a stranger’s doorstep in the rain on a Saturday afternoon when he, a twentyfour year old musician, could be doing absolutely anything else. We were standing on Bannister Road half an hour from our own neighborhoods. At this point, we had already walked miles and we were actually enjoying ourselves, despite having wet feet and doors slammed in our faces. How could any of this be entertaining or even worthwhile? These days, we can become informed citizens from our beds. So, why would we still go out and do anything? When I proposed this article I was exhilarated by my first steps into a campaign office. The Bernie Sanders campaign office is in some sort of former bank on Broadway Boulevard. Superimposed over the peeling bank lettering, “Not Me, Us” posters litter the windows like vintage band posters. This tour’s tagline, “Progressive,” is unintentionally displayed in huge blue and white lettering next door at the insurance office. There’s no headliner listed over the faded “Central Bank” lettering. Inside, the left wall, the back wall, and the makeshift meeting rooms are overflowing with books and books and books. While the strip mall is anything but glamorous, no one seems to mind much. The supporters bubble over with enthusiasm. Later on, though, after a few days elapsed, knowing how much easier it would be to spend my night watching Netflix, I pled with my mom to just go home instead of phone-banking. For those unfamiliar with the technique,
The Bernie Sanders rally in Kansas City this past February. Photo credits to Grace Vedock ‘16
phone-banking involves calling up strangers and soliciting their support. Our generation is rightfully renowned for telephone inadequacy; I loathed it. My mom made me go in, though. We phone-banked in the ex-teller windows watching the Kansas City population speed by. Next to us, the young guys running the office told jokes and offered support calling our phone conversations “edible” and saying, “We killed.” One guy advocated listening as the most effective way of swaying voters and detested scripted conversations. He dropped out of the University of California - Santa Barbara just to work for the campaign. What I earlier wouldn’t have wished on any teenager, I now consider valuable experience. Swaying someone to vote is an unparalleled accomplishment. A couple weeks have passed now since I proposed this article. In the frankest sense, I do not want to write this article
right now. I do not at all. It’s not challenging or absurdly time consuming. It does, however, involve some effort and some time. In the same way, going out to campaign is decidedly less comfortable than staying home. The benefits aren’t even clear cut, I could know just as much about politics inside my home. Or could I? As Josh and I drove all the way out to that strange neighborhood to canvass, we tried to figure out why we were doing this. He puts it this way: “I think our lives depend on us being involved. I like to think that we have been blessed with a deeper understanding of what it means to be a person, and the connectedness of everyone and everything, but that understanding does no good if we aren’t active participants in our lives. Getting involved in campaigns and important causes are just some of the ways we can do that. ” Equally as unprecedented as this election
season, these years are unprecedented for us high school students. Our involvement is restricted to participation because our friends will be there, the meetings will have food, or we need material for our resumes. Adults, feeling morally obliged, will tell us, “You are the ones who will have to live with what happens now,” which always warrants passive eye-rolling from the apathetic listener. But they are right. We need to find things worth leaving the Santa Barbara beach, in favor of a makeshift office in Kansas City. We need to write the articles and do our best to make them good. It’s up to us to figure out a way to leave our beds, so that our futures aren’t the results of our half-hearted stumbling now. We need to find the things that have us effervescent with our hands raised in passionate explanation during a rainstorm on a Saturday afternoon when we could be doing absolutely anything else. n
Sarah Chamberlain Columist
4115 Pennsylvania Ave. Kansas City, MO 64111
Clothz Minded Clothz Minded is a small second hand store on Pennsylvania Avenue in Westport. Walking inside, you feel more like you are entering an upscale boutique than a thrift store. Reds and oranges turn to yellows then greens, as you walk past a line of dresses. While every item is different, all of the clothes somehow form cohesive racks throughout the store. Glancing around, you see cute clothing displays on the walls. Shoes on either side balance out the bags that hang next to them. Everything is ordered with practicality and visual beauty in mind. An interview with the owner of Clothz Minded, Nicole Ortega: Q: How did you know you wanted to do this? R: I used to work at a second hand clothing store when I was in college. I always dreamed about what I would do differently and what I would do the same. I dreamt about it for about ten years. Finally, I decided to try it on my own. I have always been a secondhand clothing shopper and sale rack shopper because I think it is fun to find something great but at a discount price. I also wanted to work for myself. Q: How would you describe the style which you are going for? R: It is definitely navigating towards a boutique style. Just because something is a trend right now does not make me necessarily choose it for the store. There are several things that are being worn out there, but I will not buy them for the store because I feel that trend is almost over. I feel like I have always had a pretty good fashion sense. I am up on fashion trends, but more importantly what will stick around and what won’t. Q: You do not have an age that you target, but do you have any other specific demographic that you target? R: I think that both a mother and a
daughter can come in here and both would find something for herself. It is less an age and more a person that is stylish who does not want to spend that money for that specific style. I have a lot of things in here that are still in the specific store from which they were originally bought. The demographic is more someone who likes to shop local, shop second hand, and is fashion forward. Q: What are your dreams and plans going forward? R: I want to spend the rest of this year concentrating on getting this store to run itself a little bit better without me so involved. Also, I would like to open a second store probably next year or in the near future. Those are my short term goals. Q: Looking around, everything is arranged by color. How did you decide that you wanted to organize your clothes in this way? R: Well, I feel like every brand runs so differently that size small could also look like a size large. Especially because of the fashion trends right now, the oversized garment is in style; I think that lots of different people can wear the same size. So instead of arranging by size, which I did for about a week in which everyone navigated solely by size and missed out on everything else, I started organizing by category and then color. For example, there are tanktops on the top, next long sleeves, and short sleeves on the bottom, but within these categories, the items are sorted by color. Q: Finally, how do you think the location and size of the store has impacted the environment? R: I think this store has been a great tester store for me. Because it is not too big, I have been able to run the store mostly by myself. So I have experienced every single role that you have to maintain to keep the store running. I also know what I would do differently in my next store. n
“Dam” Straight with Dylan Dameron I figured I should end Dam Straight with the same person I started it: The Dude. There are some strange questions surrounding The Big Lebowski that rarely get talked about. One overarching question is: what is the point? It just seems to be a movie that has no real plotline and no real resolution. It is really just a nonchalant dude thrown into a random situation while getting mixed up with seemingly random characters. Also, nearly every character in the film seems to think they are in a different film genre. There is an narcissistic bowler who believes he is the main villain but ends up disappearing from the film, a Vietnam War veteran who thinks everyone is out to get him, and a multimillionaire with a trophy wife. Even the narrator of the story is out of place because he is a cowboy. Nothing about the story makes sense except for one poor character, Donny. All the poor guy wants to do is bowl with his friends, but he cannot go one moment in the film without being ridiculed. Donny is not trying to be the star of the movie like everyone else. In fact, it seems like Donny is the only one who knows his actual role in the
film. Donny’s death is perhaps one of the strangest things to happen in the movie. It does not further the plot or help any characters, and it happens completely randomly. He is one of the only characters that could be considered normal, and he dies, which I think embodies the movie as a whole. This movie abandons normality by challenging everything a traditional movie should be. The protagonist, the Dude, does not want to follow his quest and is instead only pushed forward on it by the people around him. There is not internal motivation for the Dude to do anything. So what is the point? Well, I believe it was shown that anything can be made into a movie. Anything. The Big Lebowski shows us that there is no perfect structure to creating a good movie. Sure, following the patterns of the greats can help, but movies should not be constrained by general rules. Ironically, instead of inspiring people to be lazy and not care about the world, I believe The Big Lebowski has inspired people to create something, even if it’s random. But I guess that’s just like my opinion….man. Thanks for reading,
Sincerely,
Dylan Dameron: Dudeist, Jedi, Democratic Socialist, Evolutionist, Filmmaker
Affirmative Action in College Admissions
Godsend or Pitfall? Rachel Colligan Staff Writer Affirmative action in college admissions has been one of the most intensely debated topics in American politics for the last thirty years. The term “affirmative action” applies to policies that favor underrepresented minorities. With affirmative action policies, colleges consider race alongside other factors such as GPA, test scores, and extracurriculars in admissions and scholarship decisions. It is no secret that certain groups are generally overrepresented and others are underrepresented in higher education. This imbalance gives rise to many pressing questions. Will time naturally equalize education, or do we as a society have a responsibility to take “affirmative action”? Is affirmative action the right step to take? Does implementation of affirmative action policies actually have the desired effect of equalizing opportunity, or simply give colleges more pleasing statistics? Just as many other issues, the affirmative action debate has become politically charged and polarized. However, the complex issues lying underneath the surface are far from black and white. Those who support affirmative action cite reasons similar to those for the legalization of the policy. Because a diverse student body enriches the college experience, affirmative action is a way for universities to hand-select minority students. With this policy, colleges can legally monitor race to admit a more racially balanced
student body. On the flip side, opponents of affirmative action question both its principals and efficacy. Most opponents support diversity on college campuses, but disagree with affirmative action as a means to achieve the end. They reason that fighting fire with fire is never the way to go. In other words, fighting racism with racism will not eliminate racism, but rather amplify it. A recent study also showed that affirmative action helps wealthy minorities but penalizes poor non-minorities. It does not reach the target group of underprivileged minorities because the only consideration is race. In response to this failure, many institutions are instead considering poverty-preference admissions. This is an alternative to affirmative action that would better help those in poverty. It will support not only racial diversity, but also socioeconomic diversity. While affirmative action seems like a solution to America’s education gap, the issues under its surface show that it is not the best option. Instead, property-preferential admissions will help make college more attainable without furthering racism. After all, if the goal is making higher education a reality no matter what a student’s race or socioeconomic situation, affirmative action simply doesn't get the job done. n
Do You Support Affirmative Action in the College Admissions Process?
43.8% 56.2%
No
Yes
The Voice conducted a random poll of 121 Pembroke Hill students
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Helicopter Parenting: Too Much of a Good Thing? Isabella Way Staff Writer The term “helicopter parenting” was coined in 1969 by psychologist Dr. Haim Ginott, who said that some parents “hover” over their children like helicopters. We have all seen helicopter parents before: the mother who worries about her child growing up, wishing she could just wrap him in bubble wrap to keep him from getting hurt. We know them as the father who attended every single one of his five-year old son’s soccer games, hollering at him to go faster. These parents have good intentions, yet they have been described by many with words such as “suffocating,” or “controlling.” However, it’s more complex than simply saying a helicopter parent is a bad parent. A helicopter parent is defined as a parent who becomes overly-involved in their child’s life. People have been attacking this parenting style since the 1980s. One critic is Julie Lythcott-Haims, a Stanford University freshman Dean who wrote How To Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid For Success. According to Haims, helicopter parents deprive children of basic life skills like talking to strangers, coping with difficult situations, and managing money. She goes on to say that this “life skills deficit” will haunt
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kids when they go on to college. Haims is correct. Studies have proven that there is a correlation between overparenting and a child’s overall psychological health. From the parent’s perspective, they do not try to hurt their kid; on the contrary, most parents just try to do the best job that they can with their kids. I asked a number of students whether or not they felt they had a helicopter parent and how this has affected them. One agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity. V: Do you feel that your parents are helicopter parents, and why? A: Parent. My mom is pretty extreme, but my dad is pretty chill. She put my email on her phone, she’ll check my phone. Everyday she bombards me with questions about school in the car. V: Do you think she does these things because she cares? A: Yeah, she probably does it because she cares. V: How has this affected you? A: It’s probably made me take a closer look at my surroundings because when I get into the car, I know there will be lots of questions.
V: Are there any good things that have come out of this parenting style for you? A: It’s kind of helpful particularly with my email because she checks the spam mail. If I do have a problem, she’ll usually figure it out. At the other end of the spectrum, there is the parent that is not involved enough with their child’s life. Children sometimes need an advocate when they are faced with a problem. Both parenting styles are prevalent in today’s society, and neither is necessarily good. In an article from the Journal of Educational Research, psychologists Gail L. Zellman and Jill M. Waterman write, “Parent involvement in their children’s education has been consistently associated with higher student achievement.” In the end, we all have to realize that parents just want the best for their kids. Parents walk the fine line between hovering and disengagement. This is a hard tightrope to walk, and it can be difficult to find a happy medium between the two extremes. It is up to the parent to decide how best to raise their children, and we all must respect their decision. n
Celebrating our Seniors
Senior Thespians Saying goodbye to a family Hunter Julo Staff Writer As the musical curtain closes and the theatrical career at Pembroke ends for many of the seniors, it is nice to reflect upon four years of work and commitment toward the shows and the community that composes them. The Voice asked five questions to our eleven senior Thespians about their years and the shows that made or broke them. The diverse answers comes from varying types of commitment including acting, stage management, sound, set, orchestra, and combinations among those. First, the group was asked what they will miss most about the theater program as they move on with their lives. Unsurprisingly, considering the craziness that occurs in the theater, most gave answers expressing their appreciation for the acceptance of the community and the people. Maya Hill even said, “We truly are a family and, without their support, high school would’ve gone differently for me.” Taking a more comical approach, Dylan Dameron said he would miss “the people, family excluded.” Shaina Desai says she will miss the “laughs, memories, and constant dance parties.” The people who create the community are obviously a huge part of the whole experience, especially because they create the shows other people get to appreciate. Out of all of the shows they have participated in, each Thespian was asked to choose one that really stood out to them as the best experience. The overwhelming majority chose Urinetown. Elizabeth Shulman even said that the “memories made with that SM team are among my favorites from high school.” When asked to pick a favorite quote, a variety of shows were chosen, but many included the change in script when Matheus Ramos changed “I’m not sorry” to “I’m Matheus.” On the more sentimental side of the questions, the Voice asked these seniors how this program affected their high school careers. Maddie Tolsdorf said that it “encouraged me to be a more open and
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Brycen Saunders
Elizabeth Gerson
Maya Hill
“ ” Embrace your inner craziness, step out of your comfort zone. If there’s any place to do it, theater is that place.”
Dylan Dameron
Shaina Desai
Maddie Tolsdorf
confident person.” Having a support base is always important. Spencer Thut’s answer expresses a common known truth among the theater community: “It made me approach performance and art in a serious way, to treat it like work.” The Thespians know there is no way to make a good show if the effort is not inputted into it. It is fun and helps you thrive, but it is also a job. Thankfully for all those involved, it is a job with a healthy environment. Brycen Saunders says that he knew he “could always de-stress at rehearsal, regardless of the stress I underwent during a typical school day.” Pembroke can be stressful at some points, so it is nice to have a home away from home to go to in times of need. Perhaps one of the most important things a senior can give, we asked for their advice to the people who will take their places. As crew head of sound for Once Upon a Mattress, and lots more experience throughout his years, Andrew Cho wants the future students in his position to know not to “try to micromanage the actor’s voices.” Dylan Dameron gave a more direct message to the other Dameron, saying “Good luck, Natalie.” Aymeric Foyer, who helped in building many of the sets throughout his years, said that “You will do mistakes and will have to find a way to fix them. So just be prepared,” which is perhaps one of the best pieces of advice for people who will make things only for them to fall apart at the most inconvenient times. “Every job is important,” says Sarah Chamberlain, reminding everyone that not all of the work happens on stage or even during the show. Elizabeth Gerson, stage manager and valued actor, wants everyone, not just the people in theater currently, to know that you should “embrace your inner craziness, step out of your comfort zone. If there’s any place to do it, theater is that place.” n
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Science Olympiad Senior Snapshot
Hunter Julo Staff Writer
In order to commemorate four years of hard work, we sat down with our Science Olympiad seniors to talk about the best parts of their experiences.
How did you end up joining Science Olympiad? Megan She: The science hallway in the middle school always seemed to be bumbling with activity after school, so 7th grade me decided to give it a shot. Gunjan Gaur: Mr. Longhofer spent a year convincing me to join.
What has been your favorite event to compete in throughout all of years working on the team? Laura Hibschman: I’ve really enjoyed all of the events I’ve done in the past seven years, but one of my favorites has been Forensics. As I have explored the techniques that forensic scientists use to solve crimes, I have become exposed to a whole new world of science that I had never known of before. Saurabh Goel: My favorite event has been Dynamic Planet, which is basically an earth science event. I’ve been able to learn about volcanoes, earthquakes, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and oceans from this event over the years, and it sparked an interest in environmental science in me, which I began pursuing through Envirothon.
How has this experience shaped you as a person? Saurabh Goel: Science Olympiad has helped me understand the importance of teamwork. Even though each of us pursues our own events, it is still a team effort to progress to the national level every year. Everyone has to carry their own weight and help others succeed in their events. Gunjan Gaur: Science Olympiad has taught me how to cram a semester’s worth of material into one night.
What would you like to say to the younger students on the team? Francesco DiMare: Lil’ Wayne is a legend. Megan She: Work hard, but have fun. Winning is always nice, but in the end, you'll appreciate the memories more than the medals.
What is your favorite memory from working with the team or during a competition? Francesco DiMare: The vaseline cannon. Shaina Desai: My favorite memory is probably getting completely soaked at Universal Studios in Orlando with half the team and having to buy new shirts at Hard Rock Cafe. Also, all the card games. n
Tireless and Eloquent:
The Seniors that Make Debate Great
Alec Mitchell Contributor
Cormac Chester
What’s the craziest argument you’ve heard someone make in a debate round? There’s a theory called de-development that argues industrialization is destroying the environment and the only way to save it is to destroy industrialization Who was your favorite debate partner of the many you have had? Probably Spertus because he’s hilarious. Has your accent ever been a problem for judges? I don’t think so. I’ve gotten poor speaking ranks, but it may be because I was really aggressive. Who on the squad is the best romantic match for your current partner, Robert Cuddy? Alexis.
Daniel Stanley
Inkoo Kang
Mickey Ferguson
What is your favorite thing about overnight debate trips? Being able to take my suit off and just fall in a bed; there’s not a lot to love about overnight trips. Which partner is more intimidating to opponents? Inkoo. He’s the one they remember. He’s a scary dude. What are you looking forward to most at Nationals? It’ll be good to get back to work after relaxing in the summer.
What’s your favorite debate memory? Probably going to Neosho with the team. What was your least favorite tournament? Probably districts [extemporaneous speaking] my junior year. [It] sucked losing.” What is your favorite thing about PFD? Having a partner to debate with. When we’re on the same page with arguments, the teamwork is awesome. Which partner is more intimidating to opponents? Definitely Dan; he’s the silent killer. Once people know him they fear him.
Who is your favorite freshman on the squad? Austin Tang. How many years have you done Mock Trial? Three. How much time do you spend on debate every week? Five hours, not counting tournament, including them, about seventeen. What was your favorite Lincoln-Douglas Debate resolution ever? Mandatory organ donation.
Alexis Haley What was the most ridiculous thing you’ve seen in a Congressional Debate round? Some guy read “Goodnight Moon” during Congress districts. What is the hardest thing about being Lead Attorney for Mock Trial? Getting up and giving closing arguments in front of people who do this professionally; there is a lot of pressure, especially if you want to [practice law] professionally. What is your least favorite school to compete against in LD? Liberty or Liberty North What is the best way to pass the time between rounds? Listening to music or taking a nap. n Pictured: Mickey Ferguson (left) and Alexis Haley (right) pose for a selfie between rounds. 21
Capstone Feature Shannon Fang Managing Editor Grace Vedock Focus: To show museums are not stagnant, but rather fluid places of thinking and learning Became interested in this because: She worked at the Nelson and is a lover of art
Josh Konowitz Focus: How new statistics and analytics could change the way people coach and play sports Became interested in this because: He watched an interesting HBO episode on Kevin Kelley (a high school football coach who never punted on fourth down based on his statistics)
Elodi Bodamer Focus: The homeless population in the United States, specifically in Kansas City Became interested in this because: She realized how fortunate she is, and she wants to help those less fortunate and fight homelessness
Sophie Hickok Focus: Why there has been a rise in fundraisers and how the increase has affected people’s motivation to give nationwide Became interested in this because: She started own fundraiser: 5k Walk for Reed
Elena Humphrey Focus: Causes and effects on growth and development in Kansas City Became interested in this because: She has resided in KC her whole life, which is also her favorite city and home
Lauren McElhinney Focus: Drafting a new rule to eliminate the one-and-done rule in college basketball. Became interested in this because: She loves college basketball, especially KU
James Andrews Focus: Concussions in the NFL and high school football and if they can have a lasting effect on the players’ brain by causing dementia or other diseases. Became interested in this because: He is curious about what is causing people to fear the sport of football
Advice to Upcoming Seniors: Try to finish tasks before the deadline creeps up Do some research on your topic before officially choosing it/have a basic knowledge of your topic Focus on something that genuinely interests you because you will be spending a lot of time on it Don’t compete, it doesn’t have to be “better” or “longer” than anyone else’s
Fiona Eckert Focus: To rewrite the Second Amendment, which will secure both the safety of Americans and the rights of gun owners Became interested in this because: The San Bernardino shooting and the constantly debated issue of firearms brought this to her attention Elissa Bamberger Focus: The values of treasure to people and objects that define the culture of that time Became interested in this because: She loves history, garage sale searching, and desires to provide the audience with a different view of treasures
Drake Miller Focus: Examining the reasons behind NASCAR’s decline in the last decade and what can be done to correct the sport’s path.
Ellison Rooney Focus: The economic and health benefits of access to clean water in developing countries Became interested in this because: She learned about the challenges of living without running water when camping in Alaska and hopes to bring awareness of the water crisis Kit Frazen Focus: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in children and a type play therapy to treat it Became interested in this because: She wants to bring attention to something that is often overlooked and is written off as trivial
Spenser Thomas Focus: The positives of oyster recycling and the affects a large program could have on the country. Became interested in this because: He helped to set up a program in South Carolina that took used oysters from restaurants and recycled them
Bryan Jeong Focus: Drafting a more effective foreign policy regarding relations with China about North Korea. Became interested in this because: He is Korean and took Chinese for four years.
Emily Ervin Focus: Trend forecasting in the fashion industry. Became interested in this because: She loves to shop.
Senior Athletes Gina Pepitone and Bella Barnes Copy Editor and Staff Writer For many seniors, athletic careers at Pembroke are drawing to rapid ends. However, five students have committed themselves to sports teams in college and will continue their athletic careers.
Evan Peterson will attend West Point and run cross country. He shares, “At the start of my junior year I decided I wanted to run in college. After a summer program at the Coast Guard Academy, I realized I liked the structure of the academies.” Peterson is known for his unrelenting work ethic in academics and on the track. “It’s not easy to get fired up to run 8 or 9 miles everyday,” Peterson admits, “but having a team makes it possible … As long as I know I’m working towards something that is worthwhile for me, I can get through just about anything. I’m stubborn, and relentless, and I know that hard work pays off.” Sharing some helpful tips to other athletes and fellow runners, Peterson advises, “Listen to your body. This holds true in training, as well as in racing. That’s how I pace myself, and that’s how you reach your highest potential. Your only limit is you … You have to be fearless, and go after your goals with a tenacity that would scare your friends.”
Michael Keane will play football for Washington University in St. Louis. Accepted into the University’s School of Engineering, Keane will also pursue a major in biomedical engineering. Keane explains: “The reason I decided on Washington University in St. Louis was because of the focus on academics over sports, and the balanced perspective that the football program embraced … While at a camp, my future coach told the recruits: ‘You should prioritize the time you spend in your life based on what you value . . . At WashU, you will always be doing your academic work before your football work.’ After I heard these sets of values I thought to myself, where do I sign up?” Keane shares some insight into the recruiting process: “I would advise a prospective student athlete to work hard at everything you do. In order to play a college sport you have to believe that someone else is working on their craft every day, which would force you to elevate your practice time to that level … The player has to reach out to schools by emailing coaches and sending in tape. You cannot sit back and expect schools to come to you. I was told by many coaches that they want to know that you are interested in their school, just as much as you want to know if they are interested in you.” Looking forward most to competing in and winning championships in college, Keane admits, “I probably won’t have much free time, but to me that doesn’t really matter. I’m already doing something I love in football.”
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Yurie Heard will attend Pomona College and play tennis. At first, Heard was uncertain whether Pomona was the right choice for her: “I was stuck between Pomona and the University of Chicago. They are both prestigious schools and offer small class sizes and academic rigor. Pomona’s location and atmosphere was a lot more me … When deciding what school I wanted to commit to, I looked for a place where I would be able to maintain a balance between sports, school work, and social life. It was also key that the team had a solid relationship.” Heard has always been very dedicated to tennis. During her freshman and sophomore years at Pembroke, Heard was constantly traveling to tournaments or training. She shares, “With this constant moving around, I had to get comfortable with time management.” As for the future, Heard looks forward to the new experiences that lie ahead. “When you’re playing with a team, you know you always have a group of people cheering you on” Heard explains. “I’m excited to have a new support system for the next four years.” Ford Johnson will attend Rollins College and will play lacrosse. His dedication and love of the sport started early in his high school career, being awarded Freshman of the Year award. As a sophomore and junior, Johnson was selected to the All-Metro First Team along with several other all-tournament and all-star teams. Johnson was captain of the lacrosse team his junior year and will no doubt have just a successful season his senior year. “Ford is a dedicated player, teammate and leader,” said David Colbert, head varsity lacrosse coach. “His growth on and off the field has contributed greatly to our success.”
Alex Carolan will attend Rhodes College and play lacrosse. Carolan has been an outstanding athlete his entire high school career and has led the Pembroke lacrosse team to many victories with an impressive amount of goals and assists throughout each season. His junior year alone, Carolan scored 37 goals and had 12 assists. There is no doubt Carolan will have yet another successful lacrosse season at Pembroke, sending him off on a high note to college, where he will continue the sport. n
Francesco DiMare
Senior Visual Artists
From a young age, Francesco has been exposed to various art forms, and he has been in the Art Focus program since freshman year. His concentration, completed last year, revealed how, as science advances, machines begin to look more and more like animals--and vice versa. Francesco’s favorite medium to work with is metal because he enjoys “the contrast that is created when one [creates] and organic form out of such an inorganic material.” Next year Francesco will be attending Cornell University, and while he is going into engineering, he will try to take some art or design courses.
Olive Honan Designer
Veronica Loskutova
Mackenzie Yearby
Veronica Loskutova has always loved art, and she says, “When I was younger, no amount of rules could stop me from ruining walls and furniture or drawing all over myself.” She completed AP Studio Art last year, and her concentration was based off the Carl Sagan quote: “We are made of starstuff.” Her 2D portfolio explored the deep implications of this quote. Veronica says “[b] ecause the universe is almost entirely composed of empty space, humans occupy a small, lonely, and unlikely existence. We are only tiny specks in the vast, uncharted cosmos; our isolation fuels our inherent curiosity, our fascination with our place in the universe, and our drive to explore and uncover secrets about ourselves and the world around us.” Continuing her interest in the unknown, Veronica will be attending Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany next year, and while she does not plan to take studio art classes, she hopes to be involved in the art community.
Mackenzie Yearby has been interested in art since she was three years old and has been in the Art Focus program all four years of high school. She is in AP Studio Art this year, getting ready to finish up her portfolio. Her concentration explores abandoned and dilapidated buildings and housing in Kansas City. Since her portfolio is in the 2D design category, she can use all sorts of mixed media to create her artwork. However, her favorite medium is newspaper because it “add[s] texture to [her] work.” Even though she likes experimenting with new methods of making art, she still has appreciation for classical artists like Vincent Van Gogh, who is her favorite.
Alice Rowland Alice Rowland was “immediately enthralled” with art in middle school when she got to made a ceramic ice cream cone, and she knew she wanted to be Art Focus in high school. She took AP Studio Art last year, and while she did create a Drawing portfolio, her work blends boundaries between 2D and 3D. Alice’s life-sized drawings are displayed around the school in various locations. Her concentration was “a look into the ways in which people interact with space around them and with each other . .” Ultimately [her] goal was to take unnoticed or unconventional spaces and shift people’s perspectives on how they interacted in those spaces.” For example, she placed a drawing of a baby in the hallway, a girl in a burka on the stairwell, and a person screaming in the library. Her favorite artist is the street artist Swoon because her work “invades the viewer’s personal space,” much like Alice’s own work.
Christine Zheng Ever since second grade, when she first worked with clay bought from the Crayola Store, Christine Zheng has been interested in art. Her concentration is about “uniting the transitions of a person’s stages of life and the various ways in which a person perceives his/her internal and external environment depending on his/her age.” Christine’s portfolio is drawing, and her favorite medium to work with is oil paint “because of its fluidity.” She will attend Wesleyan University next year and does not plan to study art. Even though she became an Art Focus student sophomore year, Sarah Chamberlain has been interested in art since she was little. She is currently in AP Studio Art creating a drawing portfolio. She chose a drawing portfolio because she loves working with pen and ink, a medium that allows her to explore line and form. Her concentration is “a study of shadows’ relationship with the objects and people that create them.” She does not know where she is going to college, but she does hope to take some art classes wherever she goes.
Tucker Bates Tucker Bates has not been an artist for long; this is his first and last year as an Art Focus student, which means he is currently finishing up his portfolio. His concentration is one of few 3D concentrations this year, and he uses mainly metal and wood to create his pieces based off of old transportation vehicles. His favorite materials to work with are found objects, which he obtains at his job in a hardware store. Tucker’s favorite artist is James Corbett, whose work also focuses on recreating transportation devices out of metal. Next fall, Tucker will be attending KU and is not sure if he will continue to take art classes in college, but he does want to go into architecture. n 25
PHOTO POLL:
Davis Brooks Managing Editor
What is your favorite Kippy Terry:
Thad Blevins:
My favorite high school memory was definitely WPA sophomore year with Thad!
I loved my four years on the soccer team, but I have to say my favorite memory was WPA with Kippy.
Paige Penning:
Jack Copaken:
My favorite high school memory has been my time as manager of the boys’ lacrosse team hanging out with Bea Colbert on the sideline of the games.
My favorite high school memory is the Graz exchange. I loved being able to show my exchange student around Kansas City, and I also learned more about the Austrian culture through him.
high school memory? Bella Foote:
Parker Beaham:
My favorite memory was the moment my basketball team won the district championship this year for the first time in 10 years!
My favorite memory is going to be beating East in lacrosse this year.
Emily Cohen:
George Robertson:
My favorite memory was joining the swim team!
My favorite memory from my years at Pembroke has been playing football, specifically the BBQ and Pius games.
Seniors in Stuco As we say goodbye to the 2015-2016 year, we caught up with a few seniors in Stuco to learn about their time in student government. Baylor McCrary Contributer Charles Li Senior Class President “Being on Student Government has taught me valuable lessons in leadership and helped me become more a confident and responsible person. The one thing that I’ll always remember about Pembroke is the close-knit, inclusive community. I would tell upcoming classes to not be afraid of trying new things. It doesn’t matter if it’s a club or sports team; they’ll always be made to feel welcome. I hope I’ve left a legacy that speaks of dedication and effective leadership.”
Tripp Dearborn Student Body President “Being in student government has been an honor and I have enjoyed every aspect of it. Being a leader isn’t something i take lightly but at the same time its a challenge I take with very little seriousness. I’ll always remember the feeling of being so openly welcomed to the Pembroke Hill community last year. One piece of advice would be to go to school everyday with the goal of taking advantage of the good old days that high school is. My lasting impact would just be positivity.”
James Parkerson Senior Class Vice President “Being on student government has taught me the importance of cooperation. Pembroke is unique in that the small student body gives all students the opportunity to get involved in various school activities, clubs, and sports. I would urge the upcoming classes to take advantage of those opportunities. I will remember the friendships and the freedom with responsibility. I hope that my teachers and peers will remember me as a nice and genuine guy.
Ben Wang Student Body Vice President “Student government has taught me a lot about leadership, how to take charge of a situation or project, and how to get others invested in a common goal of our organization. Throughout all of high school, I was the worst at managing my time, and I know this is super cliché advice, but it really would’ve made everything a whole lot easier if I’d known how to plan things out. I’ll always remember the community aspect of Pembroke Hill. It’s a pretty small school, but that brings everyone closer. I think Pembroke has a lot of really great opportunities for us and it’s our job to take advantage of them.”
Steven Miyawkai Secretary /Treasurer of the Senior Class “Student government has made me a more resposible, experienced leader. My advice to is to try not stress over small things. I hope I made Pembroke Hill great again.” Ellison Rooney Senior Class Representative “I enjoy being a part of student government because it gives me the opportunity to voice the concerns of the student body and help others. It helps shape me into a more confident and caring person. I will always remember how engaging Pembroke is and how many different opportunities we have. One piece of advice I’d give to upcoming classes is don’t be afraid to branch out and make friends with kids in different grades and teachers.” Below: Current Student Body President, Tripp Dearborn ‘16
Elizabeth Gerson Student Body Secretary/Treasurer “While being on student government has helped with my leadership skills, I’ve really learned to value the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of my peers. It is so wonderful to see the creativity and excitement so many other stuco members bring to the table when we collaborate to work for a better Pembroke. It may be hard to remember sometimes, but we’re lucky enough to be at one of the best schools in the area, so definitely capitalize on the resources it has to offer. I hope more girls will be inspired to run for student government!” Inkoo Kang Student Body Representative “I believe being a leader has shown me that often times you have to do more than you’re expected. In fact, you have to do more than you physically can often times, and some of the most stressful times in my high school experience was during times when I thought I could physically not go any further. I would tell the upcoming classes to always get back up whenever they fail. I just hope my actions, words, or gestures influenced an underclassmen to go out of their way and share that same action, word, or gesture with future underclassmen.
Drawing the Line
by Sam Hrabko
30
1. Mickey’s headband is blue 2. USA on bottom changed to SAU 3. No water bottle on right 4. Logo is flipped on Ford’s shirt 5. Graphic is flipped on Ka’Terra’s shirt
Puzzles
Find the Differences
Crossword
ACROSS: 1. The only boy in AP French (first name) 6. This senior lives a ston’es throw away from the Wornall Campus (last name) 9. Shares last name with recent Broadway hit (first name) 11. Half eagle, half lion (first name) 13. “Frat ________” (last name) 15. Shares a name with a large city on the East Coast (first name) 18. Shares a last name with a synonym for “tale” (last name)
DOWN: 2. Recently spent a month in Shanghai for Chinese New Year (first name) 3. The only boy in AP Chinese (first name) 4. Editor-in-Chief of the Pinnacle (last name) 5. Doing their capstone on fast food culture (first name) 7. Recently met presidential candidate Ted Cruz (first name) 8. Past intern at the National Institute of Neurological Disorder and Stroke (first name) 10. Little sister Randi and Helen (last name) 12. Is going to attend the same college as her sister Elizabeth (last name) 14. Shares name with flower (first name) 16. This senior likes to duck hunt (first name) 17. President of India Club and Robotics enthusiast (first name) 19. First name is actually Otis (first name) 31
Letter from the
Editors
Avid readers, it’s time to bring our journey to an end. That being said, there’s no better time to reflect on this past year working as your editors. In our very first “Letter From the Editors,” we described our start on The Voice as beginning small but soon blossoming into a full-blown passion. As we look back on this 2015-2016 season, many different reasons come to mind as to why we develop our love for this magazine. We love creating content that stirs up the community. We love the feeling of relief we get when we send the paper to print (and the delight of opening a box of magazines fresh off the press). We love featuring members of our school whose talents would otherwise go unrecognized. However, the most important facet of our paper that we have come to love is undoubtedly our staff. Every single part of working on The Voice, from writing and editing the articles to designing the pages, is completely done voluntarily and extracurricularly. What does this mean for our staff? Put simply, the staff is comprised of students who have a passion for what they do. We have truly built a community within the magazine, which has been demonstrated by the impeccable amount of dedication by our peers. Our time working with the staff gives us only the greatest sense of optimism in the future of the magazine as we pass our positions on to the next generation of leaders. Parting will not be easy; The Voice has been such an important part of our lives. Out of all the various tasks we’ve had to take on for this magazine, saying goodbye will be the most difficult. However, we can depart from this magazine knowing we gave it our best as well as knowing its future lies in good hands.
Whispers
News Blurbs From Around School
Catherine Fredette ‘16.... is one of four seniors that has decided to spend her college years abroad, attending the University of St Andrews in Scotland. Aidan Adler ‘16.... is building a guitar for his capstone Ka’ Terra Faubion ‘16.... performed the “Star Spangled Banner” with an orchestra group before a Royals Game and was featured on the news. William Esrey ‘16.... plays two sports in one season and was featured in the Kansas City Star last year. John Rosher ‘16.... has been to fourteen countries
Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Gerson and Megan She
Readers, thank you. It has truly been an incredible journey. Sincerely, Elizabeth and Megan
THE VOICE
The Official News Publication of the Pembroke Hill School The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertinent events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Letters to the Editors. The editors reserve the right to not publish letters. The Voice also accepts advertising and like articles. The editors reserve the right to not publish advertisements. Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice. The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.
Senior Designer Laura Hibschman Copy Editors Emily Cohen Christine Zheng Gina Pepitone Head of Digital Cormac Chester Photographers Bella Barnes Mickey Ferguson Illustrator Olive Honan
Managing Editors Davis Brooks Shaina Desai Shannon Fang Gunjan Gaur Saurabh Goel Elizabeth Shulman Designers Shaina Desai Shannon Fang Olive Honan Lauren Washington Multimedia Editor Spencer Thut Middle School Coordinator Jacqueline Kincaid
Staff Writers Bella Barnes Sarah Chamberlain Natalie Dameron Shaina Desai Mickey Ferguson Bella Foote Pallavi Jonnalagadda Jaqueline Kincaid Kate Kramer Lindsay Luchinsky Gina Pepitone Lauren Washington Christine Zheng Hunter Julo Business Manager Maya Hill
Columnists Clay Lundgren – “Biased Opinions with Clay” Olive Honan and Maggie Burke– “The Buzz” Christine Zheng & Sarah Chamberlain –”KC Crawl” James Parkerson and Alice Rowland – “Calvin and Hobbes” Dylan Dameron – “‘Dam’ Straight” Mickey Ferguson “Food Fight” Faculty Sponsors Dr. Matt Clothier and Dr. Kim Banion