The Voice - January 2017

THE VOICE

VOLUME XXXVII | January 2016

ARE PEMBROKE’S FUNDS DIVIDED FAIRLY?

The Voice: January

Table of Contents 28

Personality quiz Do you have an idea of which member of the math department you are most similar to? Find out in this month’s personality quiz.

Required reading

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Required reading often seems like one of the neverending parts of being a Pembroke student. Is it beneficial? Gina Pepitone ‘18 and Rachel Colligan ‘18 assesses why reading is worth it.

19 Teacher Feature Growing up in a small Missouri town, Dr. Banion has experienced various political climates.

Read her excellent personal tale of how different political environments affected her, especially following the recent election.

Feature

Do you ever wonder how Pembroke money is distributed? Do sports and arts really recieve the same amount? Find out the truth in this month’s feature article by Lauren Washington,‘18 and Catherine Dema ‘17.

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KC Crawl

This month Roxanne Reasco ‘17 and Bella Barnes ‘18 visited Donutology, a world of flavor and creativity.

23 Where we stand Grace Parkerson ‘18 and Wil Rowland ‘19 discuss health care, and the new plan forAmericans as we move intoa new presidency.

buzz [New Year’s]

Good luck New York

The original New Year’s Eve Ball weighed 700 pounds and was five feet in diameter. It was made of iron and wood, and was decorated with 100 25watt light bulbs.

In Italy, people wear red underwear on New Year’s Day to bring good luck all year long.

Spain and Peru have similar traditions, in that they eat 12 grapes to bring good luck in the 12 months ahead. However, in Peru they eat a 13th grape to insure their good luck.

The new one is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter and weighing 11,875 pounds 2,000 pounds (907kg) of confetti are dropped on the crowd in Times Square at midnight.

Internationally, one of the biggest celebrations is in Sydney, Australia. More than 80,000 fireworks are set off from Sydney Harbour Bridge.

In Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico, some families stuff a large doll, which is called Mr. Old Year, with memories from the past year. They also dress him in clothes from the outgoing year. At midnight, he is set ablaze, thus burning away the bad memories.

Ancient Times The first New Year was celebrated 4,000 years ago by the ancient Babylonians.

In ancient Rome the new year began on March 1.

Ancient Persians gave New Year’s gifts of eggs, which symbolized productiveness.

2017

The tradition of dropping the ball has continued in Times Square, except for in 1942 and 1943. The ball was not lowered because of wartime restrictions.

Black eyed peas, ham, and cabbage are considered good luck if you eat them on New Year’s Eve or Day because it is believed they will bring you money.

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Student Life

What’s the Word?

A View From Each Grade on: JanTerm Charlotte Henry Columnist Freshmen: JanTerm is an entirely new concept to freshman who have only ever heard of the week in the middle school hallways. The unique opportunity to choose three classes that you attend exclusively for an entire week provides a pleasant break in the usual school routine, and the extra week off of normal classes is generously welcomed. Of course being a freshman does carry a down side. JanTerm tends to work like most high school endeavors, upperclassmen have priority in choosing classes, and then freshmen select from the rest. However, it is hardly unfair.

Eventually everyone becomes a senior and has the opportunity to pick first.

Personally I found it surprisingly easy to choose a couple of classes from the remaining options that interested me. It only became difficult when I was forced to search for second and third options. Overall, it seems to be unexpectedly simple for freshmen to find at least a couple classes that interest them, and ultimately everyone only seems to have one class that they dislike.

Being a freshman during JanTerm week may seem a bit daunting, but in reality almost every course is interesting in its own way, and it is exciting to take part in a new experience such as this one.

Jay Mehta Columnist Sophomore: A week of school set aside for students to, well, do their own thing, whether that be in the form of interesting classes, an independent study, or community service, is surely a welcome change. It is an excellent concept which allows high school students the rare opportunity to individualize their learning and transition smoothly into second semester.

On the outside, it may seem as though underclassmen would be unhappy with the seniority involved in choosing classes, the truth is, as with most seniority-driven institutions in the high school, we understand the system and look forward to taking advantage of it when it’s our turn.

The bottom line is we wholly appreciate a week of doing something different -- a week to try something new, find a new angle on something we already like, or focus on specific work -- because it offers the opportunity to receive a more liberal education, and become a more open-minded student.

Caroline Salzman Columnist

Alex Hrinya Columnist

Junior:

Senior:

Jan Term provides a smooth transition between the relaxing two weeks of Winter Break to the hectic second semester of Junior year. One of the many classes offered during Jan Term is a college preparatory class that is extremely pertinent to Juniors as we have just received our college counselors and started the college search. Julia Rosher ‘18 enjoyed this class and said “hearing from other past students of Pembroke Hill really helped put into perspective how much Pembroke prepares you for college and even life after college. It was very helpful to hear from people who just went through the whole process and were able to share their opinions, a side that we normally do not hear from our teachers or parents.” During the class, Graduate Sergi De Anda ‘16 shed light on the many social and cultural benefits of going to college abroad, surprising many students.

Entering my freshman year, I always believed that JanTerm would be a time where I could further explore my many interests in an academic setting. However, as a freshman I didn’t choose courses and was randomly assigned. At first I thought this would be a nice experience, as I could start to better appreciate things such as 1980’s movies and how natural disaster movies are cool. Yet, all I gathered during the week was that the 80s were overrated, and Twister makes Oklahoma seem nicer than it really is. In a nutshell, JanTerm should be replaced with another week of vacation. Instead of eating uncooked ramen with my junior friends and traveling to foreign lands, I’m forced to attend classes which literally have no significant bearing on my life. Even the one year I did sign up for classes, sophomore year, I was often more focused on the fact I had real school coming up instead of focusing on how I was going to survive running a single lap on the track, let alone a couple miles. More vacation equals better student performance, and hopefully this change will be instituted for future generations of Pembroke students.

The Freshman Trade-Off: Homework and Freedom

Ana Stanovcic and Grace Green Contributors

The transition from middle school to high school can be both challenging and positive for freshman. High school comes with more freedom for students on campus and in the classes they take, freshmen receive more opportunities to choose classes that interest and pertain to them.

However, it also comes with an increased homework load and more time spent on clubs and sports: “I have to manage my time better because I have a lot of homework, and I play sports”.

Spencer Sabates mentioned that he has less time to finish his homework, and he must be efficient with the little free time he has. Most freshman agree that the homework load is almost double that of the middle school, but they enjoy the clubs, free time, and sports teams in high school.

“Although I have a lot more homework this year, I love having so much freedom on campus,” Emma Kershenbaum said. She says she has had time to talk to everyone in her grade and she loves the intimacy of the freshman grade. Freshman have plenty of time to engage with other freshman in each of the seven classes they attend throughout a school day. They also have the option of joining a multitude of fun and interesting clubs that are facilitated by upperclassmen.

“I like that there’s more opportunities to be involved in clubs” Robert Green said. Robert Green explains that his involvement in clubs and sports has helped him meet upperclassmen and become more engaged in the close knit community of Pembroke Hill. “I enjoy the close relationship

Freshman hanging out in the hallways around school.

“Although I have a lot more homework this year, I love having so much freedom on campus”

Student Life 4

and excessive guidance the high school teachers give me,” Robert Green says. Robert Green, along with other freshmen, realize the importance help the teachers give the students. The advice the high school teachers give students becomes incredibly beneficial.

For many freshman, the responsibility that comes with grades when planning college applications can be a shock. While middle school grades are important, they will only be seen by parents and teachers; freshman year grades will also appear on a college transcript.

“My grades always mattered to my parents, but I definitely think about them more now that I know I’ll be applying to college in a few years,” Maddie Gearin says. Fortunately, the increased responsibility also comes with an increase in the freedom that freshman have throughout the day.

“I like how there is more freedom in between classes and with meetings period,” Avery Brandmeyer said. “I like how there are so many options for the classes I can take.” For Brandmeyer, the options for clubs and classes that she enjoys in high school make the workload easier to take on. This year’s freshman have opportunity to participate in a variety of electives as well as any of Pembroke’s 29 high school clubs.

Though the transition is not always a smooth one, the high school gives freshmen freedoms along with responsibilities to help them be as prepared as possible for college and their futures. n

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Student Life

Months in Review: December and January By: Catherine Brooks and Catie Franano Contributer and Copy Editor

YIG:

Pembroke Hill students attended the Missouri YMCA’s Clark State Youth in Government convention from Demember first through third in Jefferson City. The Pembroke Hill delegation did extremely well in both the legislative and judicial sectors of the convention. Pembroke Hill students earned many honors, such as Matt Bailey and Jake Jones’ bill being signed into YIG law and Erin Lowe being elected Secretary of State for the 2017 convention.

Messiah:

The Pembroke Hill Choir performed George Frederic Handel’s The Messiah at Visitation Church. Pembroke Hill’s choir performance of this work is a tradition that has been going on for 50 years. The choir learns and practices The Messiah every Friday of the first semester leading up to their performance.

Student Life 6

Janterm Classes: Students participate in two of the large selection of classes offered during January Interim Week. Students in Emma Depp and Christine Seo’s class learn how to oil paint (top left). Students learned the Ukranian art of using beeswax and dyes to decorate eggs, resulting in stunning designs (top right). Students in Pembroke Hill’s infamous ScavHunt class are tasked with making a map of the United States out of deli meat (bottom left). Student play card games in 500 Card Game (bottom right).

Janterm Trips: Two Janterm trips were offered this year. Mrs. Dai and Mr. Griffiths hosted a trip to China, where they traveled to Beijing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Shanghai. Mrs. Abernathy and Ms. Taber hosted a trip to Yosemite, California to learn about environmental awareness and self-reflection through non-trational ways.

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Middle School

Middle School Fall Play Carmon Baker Middle School Contributor Imagine sitting in a dark theater, the sounds of a thunderstorm rushing around you. The audience at the annual Middle School Fall Play waited with anticipation. Then the lights come up. A scared girl, known as Dorothy, says to her dog: “Oh Toto, I’m so scared. What is this place? Where is Aunt Em?” This year’s play was The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

by Tim Kelly. Directed by Ms. King, this play was a hit. The storyline follows Dorothy (Morgan Mos ‘21), a girl from Kansas, and her dog Toto (Isaac Appel ‘21) as she tries to find her way back home to her Aunt Em (Harper Knecht ‘22). She befriends people the benevolent Glinda (Mia Randolph ‘21), Scarecrow (Ava Sweeney ‘22), Tinman (Anya Asjad ‘21), and the Cowardly Lion (Sadie Konecny ‘21). She must find her way to the Emerald City, where, hopefully, the Wizard of Oz (Nicholas May ‘22) will send her back to Kansas. The show also featured flying monkeys and treacherous poppies.

A few cast members shared some of their thoughts about the production. Mos said, “It really wasn’t hard to play the enemy of someone who was my friend in real life. It was better for me to get to know her character.” Mos’ enemy was the Wicked Witch of the West, played by Charlotte Ganter ‘21.

While they were enemies onstage, rehearsals were still lighthearted and fun. Morgan recalls one of the funniest rehearsal moments: “During dress rehearsal, I threw the bucket of glitter at Charlotte, and it got stuck to her face paint and she started freaking out. It was so funny!” The bucket of glitter was meant to represent the bucket of water that Dorothy dumps on the Wicked Witch during the play.

While the cast is vital to the performance of any play, audience members often forget about the help that is needed backstage to make the production successful. Eighth grader Charlie Doering-Powell was one of the many crew members that made the performance so amazing. Reflecting on his experience as a crew member, he stated: “My favorite part was the rush of having to transfer things on and off the stage. It was really fun.”

The play was not only an amazing experience for the audience, but also a magnificent, learning experience for the students who decided to take part in this wonderful production. n

Middle School Holiday Traditions Ava Sweeney Middle School Contributor Emily Pattison ‘23 celebrates Christmas with her family. Her tradition is that her mom always makes deliciously creamy peanut-butter chocolate balls around the Christmas season. Her family also wakes up very early on Christmas to unwrap and reveal their longawaited Christmas presents.

Isaac Appel ‘22 celebrates Hanukkah. His family doesn’t have traditions for Hanukkah, but on Christmas they always head to the movies and then eat Chinese food for dinner.

Middle Schoolers rehearsing their fall play The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

the Election Taught

Feature 8

What is the Election Teaching our Children

“No Hate” rally in Minnesota on November 9th, 2016. Photo credit: Flickr Creative Commons

Catherine Dema Staff Writer A couple of months ago, I wrote an article titled “What is the Election Teaching Our Children?” I began writing this article assuming what children were learning from the election, but I was surprised by the responses from young students and their teachers when I actually talked with them.

With all of the rhetoric and rudeness of the campaign, I imagined children were confused because adults weren’t acting the way children are taught to. In school and at home, children are instructed to act with “Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Scholarship,” among other admirable traits that the candidates failed to exhibit due to blatant disrespect for mediators, opponents, associates, the media, and the American public.

However, I spoke with some lower and middle schoolers, and they were not caught up in this disparaging words and actions of the election. Instead, they were inspired to act. I now realize that, contrary to my original assumption, young children within our school were not angry and scared before the election. I was, rather, projecting my own fears, for my classmates and I were the ones who ultimately felt frightened and powerless.

Yet, as I said in the last article, our school cannot be a bubble

from which we see the world in a distorted form. Children across the nation saw Donald Trump elected as president, and they witnessed the resulting panic and chaos. These children don’t know what their futures hold and far too many fear for their lives and the lives of their families simply because a man who is interpreted to be racist, bigoted, sexist, and unqualified was elected President of the United States. Immediately following the election, protests and a flurry of hate crimes erupted across the country. These passionate displays of belief on either side not only teach children that they may need to fear for their safety for reasons out of their control, but also that the country is “hopelessly divided.”

I was able to grow up under the ignorant impression that most people are good, will do what they say, and wouldn’t go out of their way to hurt someone else. Children today, however, are forced to face the bitter truth that the world and the people in it are not always perfect. These children, often used as justification for many issues by both major political parties, are having their naivete stolen from them because some adults refuse to act civilly and to listen to all opinions offered. n

Note: This article is in no way a critique of the president-elect or of his policies or a reflection of any personal political views, it is simply an observation of reaction to the election and the rhetoric involved in the campaign.

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Life

Rescuing Excess Food for Those in Need Pembroke Chef Brendan MacNaughton’s mission to help feed the homeless

Bella Barnes and Clara Rabbani Managing Editor and Contributor In the United States approximately 1.3 billion tons of food are wasted per year.

Hotels, schools, and homes are the main culprits of this travesty. According to Harvesters, there are 383,750 people in need of food in Kansas City alone. Sensing a chance to help those in need, Upper school Sous Chef Brendan MacNaughton began a food rescue program, and is actively working to combat food scarcity in Kansas City.

We sat down with him to discuss his project, and opportunities available for PHS students to get involved.

V: What is the mission of your project?

B: As a musician, I have been in a lot of different situations in my life. I know a lot of my friends who have tried to make a living doing music, living in their cars and honestly, a hot meal is tough to come by. When I first started working here, we didn’t used to do this, and a lot of food was wasted.

That just was killing me.

V: When did you start your food rescue program?

B: It started one day when we had like 250 leftover grilled cheese sandwiches. Whatever it was, there was a field trip and we did not get the information, so we made enough for everybody and had so many leftovers. I just knew I couldn’t throw them out, so I got online and went looking for homeless shelters around the area and found this place that I usually go to, the Kansas City Rescue Mission, and [the program] has kind of just taken off from there. Then, I started bringing food more and more, and I went to a seminar over the summer with my company and they started talking about getting students involved in similar programs, and I thought it was a great idea to just have some help.

V: How long have you been working here and how long have you been doing this program?

B: I am coming up on six years working here, and I have been taking food to shelters for almost 4 years. It has come to the point where a couple times they have had me come in and cook for them, which is cool!

Chef MacNaughton transporting leftover food from Pembroke to bring to KC Rescue Mission.

V: What is the age group you mainly serve?

B: The place that I usually go to is mostly men in their mid twenties and up. You have to go to a separate place to drop off food for women and families than you do for the men, and you have to get there by 1:30-2:00 p.m. to serve them. Something I want to work on is getting programs geared more towards women and families.

V: What is something you have discovered about yourself through this project? How has it been to give back to the community?

B: I enjoy being able to do it. I was relieved years ago when I came to the point that I was bringing it so often that I realized I needed to ask permission for taking food off campus, and everyone was behind it.

That took off a bit of the pressure and I was happy to be doing it in the open. But I am not doing it for any sort of recognition, it’s that there are people who are hungry, and we have food, so it makes sense for me to help others out. There is a place on Broadway, Catholic Charities, and every once in awhile I pass by there and see people lined up. Years ago, Catholic Charities helped me out in a situation and I would love to give back to them.

V: How have you impacted the lives of others beyond providing food for the hungry?

B: At KC Rescue Mission, most of the people I have interactions with are just regular people who are trying to overcome whatever they need to get over and do better. Some of the people I talked to know I am a musician and have come out to see me play. I’ve gotten to know some people really well, and that has been a really cool thing.

V: What opportunities are there for Pembroke students?

B: Initially, it will be in helping me pack up the stuff, wrap it up, label it, and get it out to the van. What I envision is some students coming with me on Friday to deliver, help bring it in, and get an eye of what is going on. Also to meet some people themselves, and look for opportunities to help serve them. Hopefully, they will be of even more help than what I am currently doing.

One way for students to sign up is through email. They will get community service hours, and though I am sure that is the motivation for some students, we should be more interested in the action, and not the reward.

If you are interested in helping Chef Brendan and others in the Kansas City area, please speak to him during lunch, or email him at bmacgemini@gmail.com. n

Feature 10

On Observance and Becoming A “Good” Person Nurul Zamzami Contributor Born and raised in Indonesia, I was used to a religiously homogenous environment.

There was not much diversity in my school since Muslims make up around ninety-percent of the population. Although Indonesia is a secular state, religion has always been a predominant element in decision making by the government. Many parents send their children to religious boarding schools each year; others send their children to public schools where religious instruction is also compulsory, but children focus only on their own religion. Families regularly attend communal prayers, since observance and piety are considered benchmarks of morality. For years, I believed the notion taught by my teachers: One needs to be religiously observant to lead a good life, and only people who have lived a good life will be eternally rewarded with a heavenly afterlife.

The religious education I received taught me that one’s religion is either “right” or “wrong.” I believed only one religion could be the “correct” one since it’s impossible for other religions to hold various perceptions of God and also be “correct.” These teachings have perplexed me. What chance does Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, or Confucianism have for being the right religion? What would happen if I were obser-

vant of a “wrong” religion? What chance at the afterlife would I have if I did not live according to the “correct” religion? I was raised in an environment that valued piety.

I was already overwhelmed by these ideas regarding observance and worried that I was not observant enough. Additionally, the concern that there might only be a slim possibility of finding the “correct” religion nearly forced me to give up faith altogether.

Before I had the chance to give up, it was

“At its best, religion is a way of life. Religion should not demand people to focus on finding ‘the true God.’ Instead, I believe religion should direct people to do good.” time to leave for the United States. For the first time in my life, I live in a relatively diverse community. I stay with the EisemannMark family, and I am discovering more about my own religion as I learn about their Jewish faith. We have long discussions which have challenged my thinking on religion and have made me look deeper into

other religions (specifically Judaism). I have begun to realize that the point of religion is not merely Afterlife. At its best, religion is a way of life. Religion should not demand people to focus on finding “the true God.” Instead, I believe religion should direct people to do good. When I view religion this way, I no longer worry about the right or wrong religion.

The past five months, I have met people who are unaffiliated with religion, yet are no less moral than others who are religious.

Religions may teach moral values, but a person does not need religion to be a moral person. Morality and religion simply do not determine each other.

Having been exposed to new religions has made me realize that there is much more to people than their view of God. As a person who was raised in a homogenous community where people try to determine the quality of a person by their observance, I’m glad that I have learned to see beneath all the religious attributes that we portray.

What I value in myself and others is no longer observance and piety, but rather sympathy, understanding, and respect that we have for one another as fellow human beings. To me, that is all that should matter. n

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‘Member South Park?

Feature

Harrison and Zandy Swartzman Contributors 2016 was one hell of a year. It started with the death of a gorilla and ended with the American people having to choose between a giant douche and a turd sandwich.

This year sent people reeling, and the absence of quality satire was sorely felt. Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert couldn't have picked a worse time to leave Comedy Central. John Oliver is good, but he's not as funny as his predecessor.

And, Trevor Noah is just too bitter to be funny after Trump's election.

In these satirists’ absence, many Americans turned to drugs and memes. Thank god for Trey Parker and Matt Stone's twentieth season of South Park. We tuned in every

Wednesday and were not disappointed by the prescient and ever insightful lunacy of South Park.

In the first episode of the series, South Park introduces member berries. These berries talk to people about "membering" (remembering) the good old days. At first, the member berries’ significance was unclear. However, as the season wore on, they grew in importance and meaning. In the first episode, as Randy, the father of one of the main characters, eats his member berries, they proclaim, "membe Star Wars, membe Ghostbusters,” and recall several other fond memories of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Then, the berries start to “member when there weren't so many Mexicans,” and “when marriage was

between a man and a woman." Immediately, Randy understands that something is wrong with these berries and he starts to research them.

These berries satirize nostalgia and sentiment. They represent the rejection of globalization, and a longing for “the good ol’ days.” However, as Trey Parker and Matt Stone indicate, the past is never as great as our memories of it. Randy comes to the conclusion that “every great empire reaches a point when going backward can seem more appealing than forward. When the world is changing so fast it makes us yearn for the old ways, when life seemed simpler. But it doesn't mean those old ideas are good for us now.” n

Coronal Mass Ejection

Feature 12

2016 may have been bad, but at least this didn’t happen...

Gus Erdman and Lily Jiang Contributer and Copy Editor

Space for Dummies

When will the next one happen?

What exactly is a Coronal Mass Ejection (CME)? It is a large release of plasma, originating from different regions on the sun’s surface, that often follow solar flares. These ejections happen in these areas every three to five days. However, the only ones we should be worried about are the ejections in the form of billion-ton balls of plasma. Ones that are directed towards Earth happen once roughly every 150 years, and we are due for another one soon. There is about a 12% chance that we see one in the next 10 years.

Coronal Mass Ejections have actually happened in the past and are projected to happen in the future. In 1859, a CME hit the United States that, if replicated today, would shut off all power grids across the world. Another similarly sized CME fortunately missed Earth in 2012, but hit one of the satellites. Had the CME impacted with Earth, however, the United States would have lost an estimated 1-2 trillion dollars in damage. In 2014, experts concluded that there is a 12% chance of a large CME hitting the earth in the next 10 years. Therefore, life as we know it may come to an end in the next 10 years because if all the world’s nuclear power plants were to suddenly lose power and melt down, we would all die.

Why should you care?

What is NASA doing?

While Coronal Mass Ejections might seem really boring, their impacts are beyond catastrophic. A CME that breaks through Earth’s atmosphere will act as an electromagnetic pulse (EMP) and turn off any power grid in its path. If a CME were to hit the United States, we would lose power and electricity, leading to the temporary loss of Air Traffic Control, nuclear power plant cooling systems, television, and worst of all, WiFi. Experts predict that the impacts of a CME would result in a massive amount of damage, costing 1-2 trillion dollars, and million of lives lost in the United States alone. Besides, imagine a week, a month, or a year without WiFi.

Coronal Mass Ejections are currently being monitored through different systems all around the world. For example, new satellites and observatories, such as SOHO, in the case of an ejection directed toward Earth, are able to provide us with a view of the area and potentially a warning. If a CME were to hit Earth today, it could wipe out our power supply, destroying the National Power Grid. However, we have recently deployed the GOES-R satellite to monitor for any Coronal Mass Ejections, and with an adequate warning, provided by this satellite, we would able to turn off the power grid, preventing power loss and additional destruction.

oming ction c ss Eje a M l a n A Coro

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13 Student

Life

Swiss Semester

Dickey ‘19 and McLiney ‘19 discuss their experience of their semester abroad in Switzerland Olivia Sabates and Ellie Burke Contributors The small town of Zermatt, Switzerland, is quite possibly the most quintessential image of Europe that one can find. The snowy village, which sits at the base of the iconic Matterhorn, is stock full of quaint houses, cobbled streets, and bright lights. This scenic municipality is also home to Swiss Semester, a program that allows two Pembroke sophomores to live and study like the Swiss for a full four months. Not surprisingly, these two slots are hotly contested; tens of PHS students apply for the once-ina-lifetime experience each year. The 2016 spots, however, were given to Emily Dickey ‘19 and Cap McLinley ‘19. Having just returned from their time abroad, Emily and Cap sat down with The Voice to give the details of their European adventure.

Beginning their day at 6:50 a.m., Emily and Cap describe their Swiss schedule much like a summer camp itinerary: depending on the season (ski vs. hiking), they would either have 3 or 4 classes in the morning, a five-hour break in the afternoon (where they would ski, hike, climb, or conduct a geology lab), and their remaining classes before dinner. According to Dickey, “Following dinner was a study hall, which ended at 9:45. Lights out was at 10:15. Most nights [, though,] my roommates and I stayed up after lights out to finish work, journal, and talk.” McLiney contradicts Dickey, teasing, “Staying up after lights out was not ok!” However, despite their exciting, jam-packed work week, Dickey claims

that, undoubtedly, the best part of her trip was the two weekend biking excursions that she took to Gruyere and Bern. When asked about these trips, Dickey exclaims, “It was so fun to travel across Switzerland by bike and spend a night in different towns . . . [which had] different dynamics than Zermatt. I was able to bond with so many people over the amazing food of Gruyere, the amazing views on both trips, and the difficulty of biking uphill all day.”

Similarly, McLiney enjoyed the physical activities such as, “The skiing as well as the rock climbing throughout the trip.”

Overall, both sophomores enjoyed their semester so much that, when asked if they regretted any part of the trip, they swiftly replied no. In fact, it soon became apparent that this opportunity is one which Emily and Cap will never forget, for it helped them shape their study, social, and travel skills in a myriad of manners. As Dickey says, “This experience has helped/will help me in so many ways. I made friends from across the United States (and London) that I will be friends with for the rest of my life.

I did things I thought would be impossible for me to do. I learned how to manage my time, stay positive, and to be a better person. It has made me more dedicated toward reaching my goals. The program made me realize that there are so many amazing places I don’t know about; it makes me want to explore the world! Swiss Semester gave me a second family and a second home.”

Despite these amazing perks, McLiney did feel nostalgic towards Pembroke, as he con-

fessed, “I regret not being in town for the football season. It was very hard to miss it.”

Needless to say, after living such a hectic, adventurous life in Europe for four months, it was difficult for Dickey and McLiney to adjust back to life back here in the States. Not only did they arrive home to a new president, but they also missed social media trends, American holidays, and all the Pembroke Hill gossip. McLiney states, “It feels a little weird being back. Having been out of the loop for so long, there has for sure been a cultural adjustment period.”

Likewise, Emily claims that the biggest challenge of returning to the USA is simply adjusting back to her everyday activities: “I feel so much less productive here than at Swiss Semester. And, it’s strange not having my friends always around to hang out, get food with, or talk [to].”

The Voice last asked Emily and Cap to give their best piece of advice to future Swiss semester participants. In their eyes, it’s all about living in the moment.

As McLiney says, “I would recommend that if accepted you go into the program ready to take advantage every opportunity presented, even if it seems crazy. The program goes very quickly.” Similarly, Dickey warns, “Don’t stress about school work; enjoy where you are. Yes, you should study for classes, but you don’t want your memories of Swiss Semester to be in your room, studying for your next test. You should make time to hang out with friends, to go into town, and to do activities; these are the moments you will remember!” n

Left: Emily Dickey with Swiss Semester peers. Right: Cap McLiney (left) and Emily Dickey (right) pose for a photo on Alphubel Mountain/ Photo credit: Emily Dickey

Is Required Reading Beneficial?

Student Life 14

Assigned reading is often a common complaint among students. Here, we examine it’s necessity in our curriculum.

Gina Pepitone and Rachel Colligan Managing Editor and Staff Writer Required reading is a cornerstone of learning at Pembroke Hill, as English classes plow through around twelve works each academic year. Yet, many students grumble about assigned reading as they would about cleaning their room. What is behind this seemingly ubiquitous resentment towards assigned reading? How is assigned reading still relevant, both inside and outside of the classroom?

While the stress of high school is one reason that many students avoid reading assignments, many also believe that reading is irrelevant and boring. Debunking this common idea, Mrs. Abernathy explains that English teachers like herself strive to select works that are “engaging and worthy of students’ time.” However, the ideal reading list is always a work in progress, as English teacher Dr. Clothier says. He admits that he is still working on expanding his library beyond literature by “dead white men.”

Despite the effort of English teachers to choose engaging, important literature for their classes, 62% of Pembroke Hill students have not read all of their assigned reading according to a recent Voice poll. Rather than read challenging assigned texts, these students use SparkNotes or Shmoop. Their dilemma is understandable because reading for English class is a mammoth task for already-overloaded Pembroke Hill students. However, avoiding reading can actually hurt students in the long run.

Dr. Clothier explains that students who turn to the internet for easy answers are doing themselves a disservice. He says, “Making sense of this complex world is a difficult task that, much like making sense of difficult literature, requires people to be considerate and critical.” In using internet summaries, students read watered-down and over-simplified versions of classics instead of the real thing. Although reading

Thoughts from students:

“Required reading is only effective when the class agrees upon the value of the reading before the book is read.”

difficult literature is time-consuming, it is excellent preparation for living in a complicated world. Real life is just as complex and confusing as literature, but there is no Sparknotes for it.

By powering through assigned reading, students nourish their minds. If BuzzFeed and Twitter are the desserts of the literary world because they are easy on the palate, then assigned reading is the vegetables. It is not supposed to be easy; Mrs. Abernathy says that her goal is to not assign “feel good” reading, but rather to assign reading that is “intellectual exercise” for students.

In deciphering challenging works, students arm themselves with the ability to understand others. In the ever-changing world, relating to those who are different from us is an essential skill in the professional and personal life. Students can hone this ability by completing the arduous, yet rewarding task of assigned reading. n

It is more appropriate for students to be required to read what they actually care about rather than whatever the teacher thinks is best.”

“There is this effect where a book that you would have loved to read in your spare time does not seem as interesting or riveting if it was not assigned.”

“I may not always like the required reading, but I understand the purpose behind each book.”

15

Feature

Sports, Arts, Academics: Catherine Dema and Lauren Washington Staff Writer and Head of Digital

3 7

percent of students felt funds were mostly given out fairly

2 7

percent of students felt funds were mostly given out unfairly

2 4

percent of students felt the distribution of funds were not at all fair

1 2

percent of students felt the distribution of funds were completely fair

Fair funding will always be a disMr. Miller explained that funding is puted subject – complaints that the approached for a “what’s needed, not arts are underfunded, yet consensus for what’s available” basis. The money that Centennial is nicer than Pierson; is not given to the most popular sport: speculation that male sports are given “We try very hard to fulfill the needs more money, but belief that field hockand wants, but the primary objective is ey has the biggest budget. to fulfill the needs of everyone.”

This confusion and frustration surMiller states that “the division of rounding how the school allocates funds may not always seem fair befunding is exhibited through the cause it’s about what is needed for school-wide poll. For instance, 37% of teams, clubs, and departments to sucstudents felt funds are mostly given ceed, and some need more than othout fairly, while 27% of students think ers.” they are mostly not. Additionally, 12% The athletic department possesses believe that the school fully distributes a large number of expenses for its money fairly, and the final 24% of stuvarious teams. Athletics receives about dents think that the funding is com$400,000 as a total lump sum each pletely unfair. year, which is then divided between Many students argued on behalf of the sports by the Athletic Department. a sport or Likeactivity they wise, for a p p e a r e d “The division of funds may not always seem academto partici- fair because it’s about what is needed for ics, the pate in and teams, clubs, and departments to succeed, funding condemned is estaband some need more than others.” o t h e r s . lished Some beo v e r lieve that the time inarts receive less funding than athletstead of ics and that “different teams are given an irregular amount each year. The different exposure because the footdepartment chairs makes authorized ball program has a lot more money purchases that are sent to the principal than the soccer program even though each month through a report. soccer wins more.” Another student Similarly, Mr. Mike Hill, the upper wrote that “there is a clear bias based school principal, assigns individual on popularity of sport and school acbudgets for each club. The funding knowledgement.” Rather than come to for Science Olympiad is allocated difa general consensus on which sports ferently than, for example, Outdoors were over and underfunded, students Club which does not require any fundcontradicted each other with specific ing. examples.

After speaking with Dr. Kimberly To eliminate some of the uncertainCho about Science Olympiad, she exty, we interviewed James Miller, Pemplained that their department has a broke’s Chief Financial Officer. Essenset budget, and they can easily request tially, the funds are separated into six for any adjustments for the next year. parts where 11% goes to facilities, 8% When asked if there were any disparito instructional departments and for fities with the funding, Dr. Cho stated nancial aid, 2% to administration, 70% that she feels “we are appropriately to salaries and benefits, and 1% for infunded and well supported because surance. the school actively gives us what we

Feature 16

How is Our Tuition Divided? need to thrive.” portation to and from meets, there’s On the other hand, funding for not a lot of equipment.” athletics is commonly the most disMr. Earnest then summed up the puted between students, so we spoke ability of the athletic department as with Mr. Earnest. The athletic budget he believes “Pembroke is much better is split between each sport, coaching than most because you can pick up salaries exthe phone cluded, and “For the athletic budget, the school is and call the athletic someone really generous to us. They never say in busineeds are decided usand you can’t go here, you can’t go there.” ness ing a fivesay this year plan. is what The five-year plan determines the happened and we need this amount of necessities through examining how money,” which showcases the flexibilmuch each sport spends in the past ity and capability of the school’s fundfive years. The needed equipment is ing for our sports. not based on gender or accomplishBoth Mr. Earnest and Mr. Miller ment, and if a team goes over the set noted that Raider Club, separate from budget, adjustments are made. school funding, has been exceptionally Mr. Earnest continued, noting that beneficial throughout the years. The transportation costs are oftentimes Raider Club exists for multiple efforts the greatest expense: “The only way to support the athletic department with we see a big jump in numbers for any the more expensive and larger objects, sport is if we add additional contests such as new field hockey nets or soccer and additional travel, and there’s goals. The Raider Club receives the list enough flexibility in the budget to do of requests from the athletic staff and that.” decides which items to fund.

However, he explained that “for We spoke with Mr. Miller about the athletic budget, the school is reif students should know more about ally generous to us. They never say the financial side, and he agreed it is you can’t go here, you can’t go there. If “important to know where the monwe don’t go places, it’s not because we ey comes from and where the money don’t have money.” goes, but even when people are told Apart from transportation, the jerall the information, they don’t always sey budget is separate from the sport’s remember it.” budget, as there is a certain amount Many of our parents know how all solely for uniforms. A rotation system the finances are handled, but Miller is in place for new uniforms to avoid noted that “not everyone agrees on any exclusion. the same thing with a budget because Therefore, funding is based on the everyone has different interests or deneed of a sport – those that require sires within their sport, club, or departmore equipment are given more monment.” ey. In this case, “fairness” is based on Therefore, the ever-conflicting how much need is met, not on havthoughts on funding is a result of each ing the same absolute budget for each student looking at the subject through sport. his/her own distinct and specific lens.

Chad Holmes, the head swim Students participate in many different coach, affirmed this as he “doesn’t feel activities, which then shape how they unfairly funded. It costs more to run perceive funding. n those larger programs. Swimming is mainly renting out a facility and trans-

Total expenses for ‘15-’16

$23,947,670

“”

Funding is approached for a “what’s needed, not for what’s available” basis.

$400k

given to athletics department as lump sum

17 Student

Life

A305: Bringing Back Jazz The story of two Pembroke Hill juniors creating a band out of their love of music Isabella Way Managing Editor The stirring sound of a saxophone breaks the silence of Centennial Hall as Ross Copeland, Thomas Way, and George Abbott each play their solo, in turn. The instruments come together beautifully as Jay Mehta comes in on the drums, Wil Rowland joins on the guitar, and Coleman Gliddon plays the keyboard. Audience members sway to the lively music and applaud enthusiastically as A305 hits the final note of this memorable performance. The passion these students have for jazz is clearly visible.

Mr. Dekker explains that what is most interesting about the band is that it is entirely student-organized. It was formed last summer by Coleman Gliddon and Thomas Way. Band members decided to practice together during the week purely out of a love for jazz, finding ways to create music while keeping up with academic demands of Pembroke Hill.

Many wonder, “What is behind the name A305?” When asked about the origins of the unique name, Jay Mehta responds: “We were sitting around, and I think it was the first time we had ever discussed a name. We threw around some ideas and then someone asked what the name of the band room was and the rest is, well, evident.” The Voice wanted to know why band members are so dedicated to jazz and what drives them to work to keep it alive. The band members seem to agree that two aspects of jazz appeal to them:

One challenge to A305 is balancing academics and extracurriculars with jazz practice. Gliddon admits, “It’s a challenge. We rehearse during breaks whenever possible and occasionally on weekends . . . For me, stuff like Science Olympiad, etc. always takes priority over A305, although I try to practice as much as possible on my own.”

Band members practice between 2-15 hours per week, either as a group or on their own.

The futures of these talented musicians look extremely bright.

None of them are seniors, so they still have more years to play together. They are playing at an upcoming Pembroke auction on April 22 and they are working on lining up a few more gigs. The school community is proud of these achieving students, and looks forward to hearing of their continued successes. n

“To practice and learn jazz, you have to learn all of the rules and practices of music to create beautiful music, and once you have learned them, you disregard them.”

Jay Mehta ‘19 practicing drums in the band room.

First, jazz has no structure. Second, it brings people together.

Ross Copeland believes that jazz is about breaking rules, saying: “To practice and learn jazz, you have to learn all of the rules and practices of music to create beautiful music, and once you have learned them, you disregard them.” Gliddon agrees, saying, “Jazz is the ultimate expression of individual freedom in music,” and Way adds, “There are no errors and no rules.”

The students also are committed to jazz because it is something they can do as a group. Mehta writes, “Everyone in the band really respects each other and supports each other, so it is a really positive and safe environment to be in . . . The guys are great people, and I love spending time with them.”

Left to right: Abbott on trumpet; Rowland on guitar; Way on saxophone; Mehta on drums; Gliddon on keyboard; Copeland on saxophone

Photo Poll:

Student Life 18

If you were teaching a Janterm Class, what would it be?

Ellie Ruland and Catie Franano Staff Writer and Copy Editor

Will Park ‘17 and Avery Mooney ‘17:

Emma Sheldon ‘19: Harry Potter Class

Real scavenger hunt

Karoline Park ‘19: Playing with Puppies

Tommy Wolfe ‘18 and Vishesh Patel ‘17: The Evolution of Christian Rock

Mariah Connor ‘20: Sign Language

19 19

Columns

Written by Dr. Banion

Fue

I

l for the Political Fire

grew up in rural southeast Missouri, where the majority of adults were farmers or factory workers. Almost everyone I knew was white and Christian, and Democrats were dying out with our grandparents’ generation. It was all of the clichés you would expect: pick-up trucks, back-road cruisin’, church picnics, and small-town gossip. I didn’t learn much about the wider world while living there, but I was always an avid reader. So I went on to study literature, and my twenties was spent in one of the most liberal of liberal environments: among the poets, playwrights, storytellers, and literary critics of the academe. I’m sure that environment conjures up a few clichés for you too, and I can report that many of them are quite accurate.

I am reminded of this split between right and left, and especially how it manifests itself in rural and urban dwellers, in small ways in my everyday life. Just a few weeks ago at a holiday party, a colleague announced that the gas fire we were standing next to was “fake,” cheating us of the “authentic” experience of a wood fire. In the moment, I could only mumble something about wood fires being messy and a lot of work, which isn’t exactly a compelling response to a philosophical conversation about the nature of authenticity. But having lived in a house primarily heated by wood during part of my childhood, what I associate with a wood fire is the endless work of cutting, hauling, kindling, and keeping up the fire. (And when not actively doing those things, one is sure to be debating and negotiating all angles of the praxis and theory of the wood stove, which also is a lot of work.) To romanticize the notion of a wood fire is to ignore everything I know about keeping a house warm with one. Even so, I realize that for many people, a day spent outdoors with a chainsaw cutting and hauling wood is great fun, not just work. But where I grew up, for most it was a matter of income, upkeep of land, and warmth for their families.

It was quite common for high school boys to drop out

“

to start their own entrepreneurial enterprises selling mulch and prepared logs to people in the city, the very same kind that authentically crackled in our fire places over the holidays. In small exchanges such as the one with my colleague, I resort to a knee-jerk pragmatism that comes from a background far removed from the philosophizing of the academe and even mainstream middle-class values. Yet I recognize my allegiances are never pure or certain, as I’ve worked so hard to educate myself out of the world I grew up in only to feel miscast in the world I’ve educated myself into.

I have been thinking about this split in my life a lot this past year, and I have been thinking about it even more deeply as the inauguration of our next Pres-

Yet I can relate to, in a small way, his argument that the truth is often in the middle.

It’s just that I am not sure how habitable the middle is. ident approaches. I thought about it after juniors put their own political opinions on the line during class seminars on race, self-reliance, and civil disobedience just hours after the election results came out. I thought about it after I voyeuristically watched relationships fall apart on social media in the weeks following the vote. I thought about it as coworkers cried, as students expressed their feelings of fear or alienation to me, and as many people in my life encouraged the nation to “just move on.” I thought about it as a read a recent New York Times op-ed by comedian Trevor Noah. He concludes his article about the troubling prominence of political extremism on the left and the right by urging the divided country to recognize that “life is more in the middle than it is on the sides.” In no way am I claiming to have an experience similar to Noah’s, a

”

Columns 20

Dr. Banion’s father and siblings hauling hay.

person of mixed ethnicity who grew up under apartheid in South Africa. Yet I can relate to, in a small way, his argument that the truth is often in the middle. It’s just that I am not sure how habitable the middle is.

The few times I felt I truly lived in the middle ground was with my dad. He’s been gone for over thirteen years, and I realize now that what he did most nights was an extraordinary act of love. He was a farmer, and after a very long day of hard labor, after finishing up dinner and the nightly news, he would pop open a cold one and sit at the dining room table with any of his children who wanted to talk. These hours broke down walls that the parent-child relationship built between us. He would tell us anything about himself we wanted to know, from his childhood traumas to his biggest regrets to his deepest-held moral and religious beliefs. I knew about his experiences with sex, with drugs, with death. Sometimes I would wake up in the middle of the night to hear my dad still conferencing with a brother or sister who had been drawn into a conversation. Talks with dad had no time limit.

Older now, I can appreciate how unusual it is that I knew most of the political positions my dad took and his reasons for them. He knew a lot of mine, too, though some I proposed just to shock him. (To my disappointment, shock tactics didn’t really work with him.) We listened. We disagreed a lot. We tried to reason with each other. We rarely changed the other’s mind, but we

admitted when the other person had a point. I got to know my dad and he got to know me simply because he was willing to sit and talk with me for however long I was willing to be at the table with him.These conversations were more than “talking politics,” and they remain something sacred in my memory because they were times when I could live comfortably in the tension that is the middle. But these moments could happen only because within that tension was the knowledge that nothing we could say would shake our belief in each other’s fundamental goodness.

Negotiating a middle is a kind of labor, and like tending to a wood stove’s warmth, it requires a level of care and vigilance that is belied by the simplicity of the result. I don’t have a concluding message about healing or moving forward; I am just remembering what it was like to be at the table with my dad. Memory is more often a mirror to the self than it is a reflection of the past, and I know this remembering is nothing more than a faint wish to return to what I will never experience again. Still, if a rough synonym for wish is hope, it is possible this wish could be urged into a hope. And perhaps the hope is not just for me, but for us--that we could speak to one another without fear, without reserve, no matter how fiercely we disagree, and that we would remain sitting together long into the night, talking still, even when the day behind was long and the morning ahead will come too soon. n

21

Columns

Donutology 1009 Westport rd.

Kansas City, mo 64111

Bella Barnes and Roxanne Reasco Columnists Since opening in October, Donutology has quickly become one of the most popular bakeries in KC. Specializing in making donuts with a personal flair, Donutology encourages customers to experiment and create their own unique flavors, with over 40,000 possible combinations. Donutology, beginning in 2011, under ownership of entrepreneur Andrew Cameron, has expanded since its genesis in Leavenworth. We sat down with donut maker and barista Dimitri Horton to talk about Westport’s most unique bakery.

V: How long have you worked here, and what’s your job title?

DH: I’ve been here a little over a year. I’m shift lead, so I can do it all: make donuts, talk to people, make coffee...

V: What is the Daylight Donut Company?

DH: We’re an independently owned company, and we get all of our ingredients from the Daylight Flour Company in Tulsa.

Our ingredients are actually grown in Kansas though, so we’re local. We’re part of the Daylight Donuts of Kansas City, so we have stores all over Kansas. We started out in 2011 in Leavenworth, KS. We have a central bakery where we bake everything for our stores, and then they’re delivered overnight so they’re still fresh.

V: What’s your favorite thing about working at Donutology?

DH: The variety. We’ve got mini donuts, over 40,000 different combinations to choose from, and our classic Daylight Donuts. I also love learning how to bake new things. It was a lot of fun to learn how to make espresso too.

V: Have you always wanted to bake? How did you come to Donutology?

DH: I had a roommate, and his girlfriend was working at the store in Lenexa. I really

needed a job, so I interviewed as soon as I heard the opening was there, and I’ve loved it ever since. I weighed about a hundred pounds less before (laughs)!

V: Would you say it’s your favorite bakery in KC? DH: Yes, I come here even when I’m not working.

V: What’s the story behind Donutology?

DH: We were started by a guy named Andrew Cameron who opened his first donut shop in Leavenworth, and he’s expanded from there, and now has 8 stores in 6 years.

I remember we used to get 10 trays of doughnuts before, and now we’re getting 25 trays and selling out.

V: You’ve really seen the whole process!

What has kept you so involved in Daylight Donuts?

DH: Yes, I really love this company. It’s because they’ve been like a family to me.

V: What’s the best thing about being located in Westport?

DH: I’ve felt very welcomed here. I’ve always loved Westport because there is so much to do here. A lot of people come in after a long night, around 10 o’clock, and have some doughnuts to kind of sober them up (laughs).

V: Can you tell me more about the link between the restaurant and science? Experimentation?

DH: It was just a really cool idea: “Donutology: The Study of Doughnuts.” We’ve got it down to a science. We actually launched a doughnut to space a few weeks ago. It went 100,000 feet in the air with a weather balloon. We launched it about 2 hours into Missouri, and it ended up on a farm in Illinois. We have a video of it, and we’re preserving the doughnut to display as the “First Donut in Space.”

V: What’s the most popular item on the menu? And what’s your favorite?

DH: One of our most popular items is our maple bacon doughnuts. They became so popular that on the weekends we make Maple Bacon Long Johns, and they’re amazing by themselves, but you can get them filled with Bavarian cream too. We’re also known for our classic donuts, and our huge cinnamon rolls. They are about the size of my face! My favorite mini doughnut is actually the Lemon Meringue, which has butter cream icing with graham cracker sprinkles.

V: If Donutology was a music genre, what would it be?

DH: Indie. Absolutely indie.

Columns 22

DAM

STRAIGHT

WITH NATALIE DAMERON “This is real.” This is the first statement one is met with when entering the world of virtual reality, specifically when using the completely immersive headset called HTC VIVE. When staring at these three, obviously ironic, words through the massive goggles, it’s hard not to laugh. Of course this isn’t real! And yet, within moments, your brain completely believes the opposite. Sitting at the bottom of the ocean, watching blue whales and great white sharks swim above you, it’s hard to focus on whether this is real or not. One moment you are sitting in space painting in 3D and the next you are fighting zombies in the wilderness.

Each experience is completely immersive.

With noise cancelling headphones and controllers for both hands, there isn’t a detail that went unaccounted for.

The ethics of virtual reality are fragile.

One could spend hours in virtual reality, without finding any reason to leave. Once

you do leave, it is similar to what I imagine coming out of a sensory deprivation tank feels like. This is when the contemplation begins. The unique experiences that are available with the click of a button in virtual reality would cost thousands to obtain in real life. I can easily see how this world can become addictive. Experiences from all over the world are at your fingertips. There is only one thing lacking: human interaction.

There are no real interactions in virtual reality. Everything is a simulation. This is when movies such as Her and episodes of Netflix’s Black Mirror start to hit a little too close to home. Even if there is a multiplayer setting, these interactions are in artificial environments. Along with scarily accurate experiences, I fear that virtual reality may interfere with the development of our imagination. Instead of children dreaming up scenarios of fantastical lands, they can

just click a button and be there. Although this may seem like an advantage, I hope it sparks ideas and fuels imagination, rather than putting it out.

Virtual reality has caused many questions within my mind. It makes you question your surroundings. What is real? Is this moment really happening? I imagine if excessive time is spent in this artificial world, it would be hard to distinguish what is real and what isn’t. Only being in this virtual reality for thirty minutes, I began to forget where I was. When the game ends, another begins. There are never ending opportunities, but what is the point if you have to experience it all alone? I think one of the most important aspects of life is human connection and interaction with others. This is one thing that can’t be created in any virtual world. n

23

Columns

Where we stand:

Wil Rowland Columnist The end is near. After 8 years, Obama’s reign as commander in chief is ending and with the change of parties within the executive branch comes massive claims to repeal the more invasive of Barry’s bills. And although I am a fan of the many different puns used to insult the Affordable Care Act the endless opposition to Obamacare is tiring. Health care has been one of the most controversial topics in Obama’s time and although the debates grew a little less heated within the last year, it will soon become a hot-button issue again. If the Tea Party is able to do all that they claim, Obamacare will soon be an issue of the past, along with Hillary Clinton who will surely be in prison. As with all things, federal rights come into conflict with states rights as many governors seek to make change happen. In Kansas, Brownback is attempting to gain larger control of the health care system and so make changes to what many believe to

Healthcare rally at the State House in Montpelier, VT.

be a flawed system.

Regardless of controversy, Obamacare will go down as a turning point in American healthcare. Through its reforms huge amounts of Americans previously unable to receive health care are now assisted by the government. Fundamentally, it has changed how the public conceives the government’s role in health. Along with this reform however comes more spending. Premiums are high, and despite the increase in numbers of the insured, the uninsured have to now pay steep prices before their own plans become effective. Many believe the plan to be too harsh, and seek to repeal the law in favor of a more gradual and stable change. States like Kansas look to be freed from federal law to draft a more specialized system that fits the state. Brownback’s policy to privatize Medicare is regarded as one of the most important of his first term.

While facing initial success, the system vio-

lated a federal law clouding the future of “Kancare” with uncertainty.

The controversy around Obamacare comes down to the classic federal v state, systems v limitations debate. Governors like Brownback install plans to undercut the Affordable Care Act and privatize health programs which although limiting spending and providing a healthy alternative have been criticized for leaving many lower income citizens behind. Both plans have flaws and so it very quickly becomes an endless bureaucratic struggle. The most important thing to remember is that behind all the numbers and statistics are real people. Individuals are dependent on the reforms and policies we debate about and so the foremost question when talking about healthcare is how the people who really need it will be affected. n

Columns 24

Should Healthcare Be Provided By The Government or Sold in a Competitive Market?

Grace Parkerson Columnist Healthcare in the United States was one of the leading issues during the 2016 Presidential race. Hillary Clinton advocated to keep the Affordable Care Act in tact while Donald Trump promised to repeal and replace Obama’s legacy. The people chose Trump, and the people do not want to go down the road that ObamaCare was leading us towards. The American healthcare system has been a bust ever since ObamaCare was signed into law in 2010; the glimpse of the US veering towards universal care proved a disastrous route.

ObamaCare, colloquially known as ObummerCare, attempted to bring us closer to universal health care and failed miserably. The experiment of ObamaCare should have never happened in the first place - the American public did not know the truth regarding ObamaCare when it was first passed in 2010. Obama lied to the American people with statements like “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor” and “If you like your current plan, you will be able to keep it.” These were empty promises, and the President knew that.

Kathleen Parker says that “this sin of omission wasn’t an accidental oversight. It was a feint because many Americans wouldn’t have followed the wizard had they known

the truth.” In fact, House minority whip Steny Hoyer said he and other government officials knew that around 40 percent and 67 percent of Americans would lose their plans, but still omitted this information to the American public. Following ObamaCare, 50 States lost over half of their insurers and most states lost over 80% of insurers.

And, in spite of it’s name, The Affordable Care Act has been anything but affordable.

Contrary to Obama’s claims that insurance premiums would be reduced by an estimated $2,500 annually (per family), a

“The overall options of insurers and plans through ObamaCare have worsened for most Americans” 2014 Forbes study showed that ObamaCare increased the cost of health insurance by an average of 41 percent. Despite what the Obama administration has been telling us, ObamaCare has been a complete failure - this failure confirms that the U.S. government cannot be trusted to provide healthcare for its citizens.

A common argument for universal health care is the fact that that most countries provide universal health care. This suggests that America should imitate these European countries… but we don’t want that. It’s characteristic of Americans that we don’t like being taxed. Countries like Britain have universal healthcare that each citizen pays for through income tax. The basic rate for all taxpayers for the National Health Insurance in the UK is 20% of their income - 15% more than the tax rate for America’s middle class. Anything greater than the basic income is 40%, then 45%, all for healthcare. The people gunning for universal health care might not be aware of the toll it will take on Americans, especially the middle class. Many liberals choose to completely disregard these factors - they think that somehow everybody should have access to “free college” and “free healthcare.”

I hate to break it to them: nothing is free, especially not healthcare. Lucky for us, the results of the election show that we are not heading towards universal health care anytime soon. Trump is about to be inaugurated, and he will uphold his promise to repeal and replace ObamaCare; thankfully, our stint at trying to imitate our European friends is over. n

Where the Students Stand: 28%

72% Protest at Minnesota Capital 2010

25

Columns

Unbiased Opinions with Clay Lundgren ‘17 Hold ‘Em: The Beauty of Betting Strategy Poker would seem, initially, to be a game of pure luck. Whoever is dealt the best cards wins, right? Hold ‘Em at the professional level, however, is primarily a game of betting. For instance, an amateur player might feel out-of-luck if they aren’t dealt a pair. Though I will agree that a large portion of poker is knowing when to fold, the real magic of this complex game takes place in the betting. A player who is able to bet well could just as easily bluff a 2-7 offsuit as win with a pair of fives. The difference between your average Joe and your poker pro is a knowledge of the numbers. For the purposes of this installment of Biased Opinions, I’m going assume that you, the reader, have at least a baseline understanding of Texas Hold ‘Em. Let’s now assume that I’m dealt a 7-8, both of spades, and my opponent is dealt a pair of sixes. Let’s also assume that I have no knowledge of my opponent’s hand, like in a real situation. I look at my hole cards and know that while any pair is currently beating me, a middle pair (such as a pair of sixes) does not have a great advantage over my cards. The beauty of 7-8 suited is that it gives me ample opportunities to pair, make a straight, and make a flush-my hand is actually quite good. The player with the pair opens the betting. I now have the opportunity to read his bet and it’s value to decide whether I should simply call or whether I should raise. I personally favor raising. Not only does this communicate that I could be strong but it also gives me the opportunity to continue betting down that path once I see the flop. I’m not looking to get the player out of the hand, as I’d like his money, and 7-8 suited is not a hand you get very often. Therefore, I make a raise high enough so as to draw his

attention, but not enough to make him fold.

It is very unlikely that he re-raises with his middle-pair, so he will likely call.

Let’s now assume that the flop comes ace of hearts, 10 of clubs, and 4 of hearts. I’ve missed pairs, flushes, and straights. The other player, however, has also not improved. I now have the opportunity to communicate that I have either a pair of aces, tens, or most importantly, a flush draw.

My hole cards no longer matter. I am now playing a theoretical hand with the community cards. This elegant strategy allows me to bluff multiple possible hands at once.

My opponent opened strong, so I can figure that he has a pair. I have first action, so I will now bet about ⅔ of the current pot.

This shows that I likely have something good, and it’s a continuation of my raise from earlier, so I’m continuing the story that I have a good hand.

Bluffing is all about knowing the probability of making your theoretical hand, knowing your opponents’ tendencies, and knowing when and how to bet the right amounts. There is a very good chance that he gets away from his sixes now, but I didn’t make a pot-sized bet or over-bet, so he might be curious to see if he can pick up another six on the turn. If he raises, I will probably fold seeing as I have nothing, and it is possible that he had a pair of fours or tens pre-flop. However, let’s say that he calls. I now know that my theoretical hand almost certainly has him beat. If he had trip tens or trip fours, he’d want to stop me here and raise before I could get my flush which he thinks I might have. In just calling, I’ve essentially won if any hearts come on the turn or if another ace or ten lands. In that situation, I’ll know he likely won’t call a very large bet, since he had something pre-

flop which didn’t really improve. Thus, I’ll either do another ⅔ pot-bet or move all-in.

The former is to make it look like I want more of his money, and the latter is to show him that I will win. While both can make him fold, going all-in will almost certainly make him fold. Were I in his position, I would fold my sixes in this position 100% of the time.

In his defense, being in first position preflop with a middle pair is not exactly easy.

It’s hard to know whether or not you should open up big or initially check to keep your hand mysterious, and then call any bets. In this way, poker is largely about position as well. Being “in position” pre-flop, I had the opportunity to read my opponent’s bet before calling, folding, or sizing my raise.

Being “out of position” post-flop actually helped me, as I was able to maintain the story that my hand was strong.

I realize this particular column of mine turned out to be somewhat of a lesson in bluffing, but I hope it communicated to you the vast complexities and elegant subtleties found in poker betting strategy. This is also only the tip of the iceberg. Reading players’ tendencies even further or checking with good hands to bluff weakness are other solid ways to get your opponents to play the game the way you want. Betting is about half of the equation, and knowing the probability of winning the hand with your cards is the other half. More than anything, though, I’ve found that the two best ways to learn are to watch lots of poker and to play with your friends. If you couldn’t tell, I really like poker -- a lot. This particular piece was also meant as a sort of cool-down to start off 2017. My last few columns are coming up here in the following months, so get ready for some seriously Biased Opinions, and as always, thanks for reading. n

Columns 26

This Month in History

As the first day of the new year, January first has more than its share of historic events, including the discovery of Rio de Janeiro by the Portuguese in 1502. In a display of the creativity and ingenuity that propelled them to great power status, the Portuguese named their newfound territory “The River of January” after the fact that it was January. Later Portuguese settlers would found the modern port city after large deposits of gold and diamonds were found in the neighboring territory of the indigenous Tupi people. This interaction between the Tupi and the Europeans would give rise to several proud Brazilian traditions, including “rampant murder,” and the ever-popular “slavery.”

On the topic of swampy rocks, a few short years later, the United States opened the Ellis Island immigration center in 1892. Shining as a beacon of liberty across the Atlantic, hundreds of millions of immigrants set off seeking a brighter future in the United States. The United States took great care in processing these new arrivals fairly, spending a whole six seconds on examining each immigrant and only rejecting them if they were diseased, had a criminal record, were rude, looked sort of stupid, were non-white, were Southern European, were Eastern European, were Jewish, or were immigrants. While some people call this policy an example of Eugenic racism, it actually makes perfect sense historically.

After all, nothing’s scarier than boatloads of strange people who want to live on your land. Just ask the Native Americans.

Ellis Island, 1905.

January

Max Keeney Columnist In a shocking turn of events, the reign of the year 2016 was brought to a bloody end on December 31st as calendars across the world were seized by forces loyal to an entity currently known as “the year 2017.” Mirroring the similar chaos that followed 2016’s abrupt takeover from the aging 2015 exactly a year beforehand, stock markets have been thrown into disarray and world governments still loyal to 2016 are rumoured to be considering the use of tactical nuclear strikes to halt the growing threat of time. Using time-dilation technology previously only deployed to keep the savage people of Utah a comfortable 200 years behind the rest of the planet, scientists hope to address this issue within months. In the meantime, I would like to offer my humble column’s congratulations to the glorious, eternallyruling 2017. Long may it reign. As tribute to our new temporal overlord, I bring humorous tales of Januaries past for the amusement and titillation of its loyal subjects at Pembroke Hill.

On the same day, in 1877, Queen Victoria was declared Empress of India. This elevation of the British monarch to imperial status was met with celebration by the British and mass confusion by the Indians, who were having trouble remembering when exactly they chose a white lady on a swampy rock on the other side of the planet to be their Empress.

January 5th, marks the anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s victory in the Cambodian Civil War in 1976. As a government, the Khmer Rouge are widely noted for doing the impossible and making North Korea’s regime seem thoughtful and cautious. After ousting the U.S allied Republic of Cambodia with the aid of North Vietnam, the Khmer Rouge initiated massive economic reforms by evacuating all of their cities, burning them down, and then forcing the urban intellectuals (which here means everything from “college graduates” to “people with glasses”) to grow rice and dig their own mass graves. Turns out that it’s hard to build a socialist paradise after you’ve killed a quarter of the population of your country, and as such the Khmer Rouge government eventually collapsed under Vietnamese invasion.

Queen Victoria, Empress of India.

On January 25th, 1971, Idi Amin took power in Uganda and won a massive victory for equality as Africa’s first openly-Scottish president. While Amin had been a highranking general in Uganda’s armed forces prior to the coup, his true passion in life was frothing-at-the-mouth insanity. During his reign, Amin banned Asians from Uganda, openly supported the Holocaust, declared an unprovoked war on Tanzania (whose president he called a prostitute,) demanded that Queen Elizabeth of Britain send him her underwear, and finally declared himself to be the king of Scotland (and, obviously, had the white residents of Kampala carry him around the city on a throne.) I wish I had made a single word of that up, there is literally no joke quite so absurd as Idi Amin’s actual life.

27

Reviews

Olive Honan Senior Designer Directed by fashion designer Tom Ford, Nocturnal Animals tells the story of art gallery owner Susan Morrow’s glance backward into life with her ex husband. After years of silence, he sends her the manuscript for a book he has written and dedicated to her; the violence of the novel and its eerie similarities to their life together haunt Susan as she attempts to reconcile their relationship. The movie flashes between three storylines: Susan’s present life, her past with her ex husband, and the events of the novel. Expert cinematography links the separate stories together through similar color motifs and repeated symbols. Ford’s style and eye for detail are

Movie Review: Nocturnal Animals no doubt influenced by his career in fashion design, so if you like visually pleasing films, Nocturnal Animals is a must-see.

However, unlike many other movies where cinematography is the main focus, the plot of Nocturnal Animals is also very well-developed. It is simultaneously relatable and creepy, frightening mostly in how realistic the characters’ relationships are. Beautifully executed, convincing, extravagant, and thrilling, Nocturnal Animals is one of the best movies in theaters right now and is definitely worth your time. n

ALbum Review: Four your eyes only by J. Cole In J. Cole’s latest album, 4 Your Eyez Only, Cole speaks out on the black lives matter movement and the importance of family. The most surprising part of the album is that Cole takes a different view on women than most rappers. Especially in the two-part song “She’s Mine” and the upbeat melody “Foldin Clothes,” Cole talks about the importance of women and how he wants to do the right thing when it comes to taking care of the women in his life. His mentality on relationships is much more realistic, as he discusses folding clothes for his girlfriend, watching tv with her, and eating breakfast together.

Also, Cole makes his voice heard regarding racial issues in his new songs “Neighbors” and “Change”. In these songs he focuses on discrimination affecting colored

Margaret Burke Contributer Are you a fan of Gone Girl? Chances are if you’ve read that best selling thriller

by Kansas City’s own Gillian Flynn (who knew Bishop Miege was so scary?), The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins isn’t too far behind on your to-read list. So, if you’re also looking for book full of mystery and murder, you should bump this novel up on your list and start reading now.

Rachel is a loner who watches a perfect couple live their perfect lives in their perfect home from her train window each morning. However, one particular day she witnesses something that sends her own life barreling past the point of sanity.

Soon, she finds herself part of a murder

communities in today’s world. Especially in “Neighbors”, Cole attacks stereotypes by saying that all of his neighbors assume that he is a drug dealer due to racial profiling, without evidence to back it. Throughout the entire album, Tupac seems to be a large influence. Even the album title, 4 Your Eyez Only, is similar to Tupac’s 4th album, All Eyez On Me. Between the album title and the lyrics, Tupac seems to be an intense in-

Jake Jones Caroline Fromm Contributers

spiration for Cole. Having similar sounds and inspirations as Tupac has added to Cole’s success regarding his newest album.

One of the most interesting tracks on this album, “False Prophets” was released as a precursor to the album. This track features a quite simple beat and sample. The simplicity of this beat binds well with Cole’s fantastic flow and lyrics. Many will find this track boring, but with a closer look, this song is quite genius. This song shows that Cole is not afraid to call out fake rappers. People may say this track lacks originality, but over all else, this track proves that J.Cole is one of the realest rappers in the game. He stays true to his style and he is not flashy. No other track on this album better exemplifies that than False Prophets. n

book review: The Girl On the train investigation full of unforeseeable twists and events that are hard to fathom. Sure, this book doesn’t necessarily have the most enticing vocabulary, and some characters’ motives and personalities are cookie-cutter versions of previously created archetypes, but I have to give it to Hawkins: this ending isn’t one you will predict (at least not if you’re a mentally-stable human). Overall, this book isn’t half bad. There is also a movie that just came out in 2016 starring Emily Blunt, which you can go see once you’ve finished the book, so that’s a plus.

I read Hawkin’s novel over winter break and I’ll tell you, it was a nice break from the world of Virginia Woolf and philosophy

in Taber’s senior English class. I haven’t seen the movie, so I can’t give you a proper evaluation quite yet, but, if you’re at all interested in this novel, add it to your Spring Break reading list. n

Personality Quiz Which math teacher are you?

Natalie Dameron and Lindsay Luchinsky Columnist and Contributor

Q: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, which movie would you watch?

Q:What is your favorite thing about the Holiday season?

1. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective 2. Legally Blonde 3. Love Actually

1. Cookies 2. Hanging out with family and watching movies by the fire 3. Lights

Q: What is your favorite candy?

1. Sour Punch Straws 2. Snickers 3. I don’t like candy. I prefer baked goods, like cookies.

Q: If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

Q: Where would you travel to, if you could go anywhere?

1. Turtle 2. You can’t beat a chocolate Labrador Dog! 3. Cat.

1. Mars 2. Hawaii 3. Australia

Mostly 1’s: Mr. Laible

Ms. Palmer All of the 3’s

Mrs. Hendricks All of the 2’s

28

Crossword

ACROSS: 2. Disastrous New Year’s Eve performance 3. Dr. Clothier’s favorite novel 4. Six Pembroke students started a band that plays this style of music 6. Pembroke enters artwork in this competition every year 8. Friday night headline of Coachella 9. Kansas Congressman’s son does this dance move at his swearing-in photo-op 10. Trump’s pick for Labor Secretary was the CEO of this fast food chain 11. Most college applications are due January the ______ 13. Janterm trip destination

DOWN: 1. Won Best Picture at the Golden Globes 2. State that recently legalized recreational marijuana 3. Teacher making the community crests 5. Swiss Semester students stay in this city 7. Artist of Nelson Atkin Forty-Part Motet sound exhibit 12. City with highest murder rate

30

Letter from the

Editors

Dear readers,

During our first meeting as Editors-in-Chief with the senior staff, we discussed our wishes for the direction of the magazine.

The idea of longer, investigative articles continued to arise in our conversation – specifically, how the school divides its funds.

Criticism and complaints about the disparity in school funding is not uncommon, yet they are almost always based on one’s own perception, not facts. We specifically wanted to address the two most commonly disputed areas of funding – arts and athletics. The goal of the article is to inform, to stop speculation, and to provide insight into how the system works.

Money is always a delicate issue, but we believed it was important to write this article. We believed it was important for people to know where their money is going and how it got there, especially at a school where tuition is so high. We are not perpetuating any ideas, but rather, providing information on a disputed issue. “Fair” is a difficult word to define, and it is up to the reader to decide his or her own views.

The cover features Student Body President Momin Tahirkhelli as Roscoe, the school mascot.

Shannon Fang and Davis Brooks

The Voice Podcast

whispers

news blurbs from around school

jay mehta ‘19 and mr. knopik . . . were chosen for the normandy: sacrifice for freedom history research program tate benson ‘18 . . . ate a scorpion while on the janterm trip to china nazr el-scari ‘17 . . . made 5 of 7 3-pointers in a basketball game against central highschool george embry ‘19 . . . based his persona around a wolf for the wwe-style wrestling janterm class brett barnow ‘17 . . . aka “weepy b” released two freestyle raps on soundcloud this month

By Jay Mehta

iTunes

Soundcloud

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.

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The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.

Editors-in-Chief Davis Brooks and Shannon Fang

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Managing Editors Bella Barnes Hunter Julo Gina Pepitone Isabella Way

Copy Editors Lily Jiang Jacqueline Kincaid Grace Lattan Catherine Franano

Designers Gina Peptione Bella Barnes Hunter Julo Multimedia Editor Jay Mehta

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Columnists Clay Lundgren – “Biased Opinions with Clay” Olive Honan – “The Buzz” Bella Barnes and Roxanne Reasco –”KC Crawl” Grace Parkerson and Wil Rowland – “Where We Stand” Natalie Dameron – “‘Dam’ Straight” Max Keeney – “This Month in History” Charlotte Henry, Jay Mehta, Caroline Salzman, Alex Hrinya – “What’s the Word” Faculty Sponsors Dr. Matt Clothier and Dr. Kim Banion