The MARCH 2009
The Rundown Upcoming Pembroke Hill dates and events: n March 14th, 2009
Spring Break Begins!
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March 14th, 2009 Science Olympiad State Competition
March 17th, 2009 n St. Patrick’s Day!
n March 30th, 2009
Classes Resume
n April 31st- May
2nd, 2009 Middle School Showcase Performance
n A Reminder to
the Junior class: Schedule your spring college couseling meetings soon!
VOLUME XXV ISSUE V
Voice the
OFFICIAL NeWSPAPeR OF the PeMBROKe hILL UPPeR SChOOL
Class of 2009 wins Color Wars Seniors
Freshmen
710
Juniors
595
Sophomores 240
455
Adam Weindling Contributor
The Class of 2009 dominated the competition during Color Wars’ third year as a part of Pembroke Hill. The week of intramural competition was created in 2007 to build school unity and spirit, and ever since, Color Wars week has been touted as one of the greatest weeks at the Upper School. A senior victory only made this year better, a victory the Class of 2009 deserved after winning nearly every event. When it came dawn to sporting the grade color, the seniors took the cake. An average of 77% of the class wearing red every day, while the sophomores’ lackluster attitude and lack of leadership put them in last place with only 59% of the class sporting their color. Adding to this, the senior class easily defeated both the sophomores and freshmen in dodgeball, sealing the Class of 2009’s legendary status of never loosing a single game of dodge ball in the history of color wars. Taking second place in dodge ball was the Class of 2012,
The senior dodge ball team celebrates their victory. Photo credit to David Kemper
which, through outstanding organization and enthusiasm, shows a lot of potential for the future and pulled off a second place ranking overall. Decorations this year were much milder than past years due to the restriction on what could be put up, but the seniors made the most of it by decorating the commons in a sea of red, earning them another first place. The faculty skits were interesting, to say the least. First up was the Class of 2012 with Dr. Niermann and Mr. Schmidt designing yellow trash bags to wear, an act
that fell short of entertaining. The sophomores displayed their lack of leadership by not even having a skit, somehow succeeding in being even worse than the trash bag fashion. The juniors picked up the slack with a hilarious rendition of Eiffel 65’s Blue, with Mr. Diffendaffer lip-syncing and with Mr. Bass and Dr. Niermann as backup dancers. Last up were the seniors who again took home the cake, with some clever rhymes spat by the likes of Mr. Griffiths, (LG’s Assistant girl), Mrs. Lenger, and Mrs. Reams. The only competition the seniors didn’t take was
collecting canned goods. Here the freshmen brought the most, followed by the juniors, seniors and, of course in last, the sophomores. In the final count, the seniors won with record smashing total of 710 points. The freshman displayed their rookie talent by coming in second with 595 points. The juniors took third with 455 points and the sophomores came in last place with a measly 240. A big shout out goes to Mrs. Reams who made this all possible, without whom Color Wars would not be the same.
Students enjoy WPA but not the dance. David Kemper Senior Editor
Over a hundred Pembroke Hillians poured into Centennial Hall February 6th for the 2009 Women Pay All dance, and a mere hour later, most had poured right back out. “The WPA dance was undoubtedly a flop” said an
anonymously polled senior girl. The student body agrees. Twenty-five randomly and anonymously polled students gave the dance an average rating of a three out of ten. “I don’t understand how the homecoming dance was so fun and had great music and then WPA was such a
bust,” asked one of the anonymously polled sophomore girls. Others were glad to explain. “Why was WPA the worst dance I have ever attended? Firstly, the music was not loud enough. I was able to communicate with others without raising my voice at all.
Sorry, but the music needs to be very loud at these events seeing that there is nothing else to keep people interested. If you disagree with me, ask yourself why the dance cleared out so quickly, and why there were long periods of time where a dance floor was nonexistent because no one was dancing,” explained a junior guy. “In
addition to the volume complications, the DJ was poorly chosen... And, the lights were practically on! It ruined the mood of the dance.” Among the most criticized of the dance was the music.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
What happened to Mr. Craig’s ‘stache? Spencer Collet Assistant Editor
For any student in choir, or frankly any student who has ever seen the man, Mr. Craig’s moustache was for the past four years a dominant feature in his physical appearance. The saga of Mr. Craig in his moustache awesomeness begins a decade ago. “I’ve had some sort of moustache for the past ten years.” Craig stated in an interview, so when asked if he was his appearance surprised him after the moustache was gone the answer was a definite yes. The good news about that, however, his surprise at
his appearance did not cause him to return to his hole and thus we are not in store for another six weeks of winter. According to Craig, he began quaffing his facial hair into the handle-bar moustache we knew and loved mainly because of his active roles in both the Renaissance Festival and a Victorian Christmas Caroling group. Between these two activities the handle-bar moustache was present the majority of the school year. When asked how he achieved his moustache greatness that existed in epic proportions, Craig responded with the prophetic, two-word answer, “hair wax.” The moustache, however, did not come without setbacks. According to Craig, a
bad moustache day was known to happen. These days would include the moustache really going in whatever way it wanted, regardless of how much wax he put in it. When asked how other people, outside the school community, reacted to his moustache he revealed that most people in the Midwest refrained from commenting on his moustache prowess. Rather, he received far more comments about his fantastic facial follicles from people that reside in the East Coast. Mr. Craig’s moustache was of the prowess that evokes such fanfare as “Hail to the Chief,” however, in his new shaven state Craig exudes a tone of new
Student Life
Raider Athletics
See what Pembroke Hill students think of February’s ! Many of the students have mixed responses to this years WPA Dance. Contiunes on Page 3
See how the did this season! An evaluation of this year’s season and insight from the players. Page 6
WPA dance
team
girls basketball
5121 State Line Road, K ansas City, MO 64112
sophistication, much different from the Victorian aura he embodied with his long time friend, the moustache. When asked whether or not he would be open to hosting the first annual Bob Craig Moustachio Bashio next year, a competition in which male faculty would be encouraged to grow moustaches the entire month of Manuary as they would be judged on overall strength and resemblance to historical figures, he chuckled and said maybe. The moustache being gone is nothing more than a change of pace according to Craig, and though the student body loves the new look the moustache will still have a special place in all of our hearts.
Student Forum Spencer Collet
See what has to say about Pembroke’s drug policy. Spencer Collet suggests a radical change in the way school handles drugs and alcohol issues. Page 2
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VOICES
mARCH 2009
SCHOOL NEWS
Suggestions: One student questions school’s drug policy ketchup packets. we need more ketchup
we should have baked potatoes for breakfast more treats
sell izzes in the cafe david is awesome i suggest we have bowls of candy on each table get faster water machines in the lunchroom put hand sanitizer in the commons cafe. now
more cowbell get softer toilet paper David Kemper. I suggest that you marry me. sumatra (type of coffee) is gross. different kinds! (kenya’s good)
Start using the expression “bee’s knees” and “the cat’s pajamas” Dip in commons
More games in the commons Wednesday is a late-start day
Let us stay later than 4:30
desani has a ph equivalent to sprite let’s learn to write in cursive highschool is oldschool! ha, that rhymed
gold pants for president Everybody’s got a water buffalo. yours is fast but mine is slow, where we got them I don’t know but everybody’s got a water buffalo
Spencer Collet Assistant Editor
Before Pembroke Hill went “green” and published its school handbook online, students received a copy every year during the opening assembly. We took the handbook, and there was an expectation that the students would read it. For the most part, the handbook is comprised of common sense rules and regulations. Don’t wear provocative clothing, don’t bring weapons to school; you know, the usual “do unto others as you would have done unto you” guidelines for behavior that provide a healthy learning environment. There is, however, another topic of recent debate among students in the student body, which is directly tied to the drug policy the school includes in the handbook. Recently, and by recently I mean this year, the gray area between what is and what is not the business of the school has become an important issue. I would like to preface the examination of Pembroke Hill’s drug and alcohol policy with a disclaimer. Illegal drugs are exactly that: illegal. Also, the entirety of the Pembroke student body is underage in respect to drinking. Thus, in legal terms, these are all things that we should not be doing. However, that is not the question that I will examine in this article. Through discussions with both administrators and students, I will outline the interpretations of the current policy. I will then editorialize the issue, and in that provide both positive and negative feedback on the existing policy. For lack of a better term, this serves as a warning that this is a taboo issue among many people, but The Voice is an open forum and thus serves as the perfect medium in which to discuss this issue. The drug policy that exists in the current Pembroke Hill Student Handbook is as follows: The consumption of alcohol by anyone
under the age of 21 is prohibited by law. State and federal laws also strictly prohibit the use and possession of illegal drugs or controlled substances. Pembroke Hill abides by these laws. Therefore, students may not use, possess, or be under the influence of alcohol, illegal drugs or controlled substances (for which the student does not have a prescription or uses in a manner inconsistent with the prescription), or unauthorized inhalants at school, on school property or in the immediate vicinity, or at school-related functions. Possession, transfer, or sale of drug paraphernalia is also prohibited. The process for school intervention for students that are in violation of the above policy reads as follows: Whenever a school employee reasonably believes that this policy may have been violated, the school may conduct a search of school property, private vehicles on school property, or students and their backpacks, bags, purses, coats and other items of personal property. The school may also test students for drug or alcohol usage and may require any student suspected of violating this policy to submit to a screening test at school or immediately proceed to a testing center chosen by the school with the full report sent immediately to the principal. Testing will be done at the expense of the parents, and parents will be notified of the test results. Refusal to submit to such a test will result in immediate disciplinary consequences. The policy also recognizes what is and is not Pembroke’s jurisdiction by stating: In general, what students do at home or elsewhere off campus at any nonschool-related activity is the concern of the students and their parents. If students’ misconduct outside of school is brought (with supporting details) to the administration’s attention, the school will notify the parents. At this point, it is the responsibility of the parents to determine appropriate action. The above sections sound like a load of legal terms and vague guidelines. To put
this issue into a more understandable perspective, an anonymous student shares an experience with the administration and the application of the above policy. “They pulled me in on the first day of classes. They said that over the summer they had examined the marijuana problem at school and they felt the problem had become large. They wanted to know who was involved, why it was so big, and if I had been smoking marijuana.” This student stated that the administrators asked his parents to have their son take a drug test. Though there was no threat of disciplinary action if his parents did not oblige, according to this student, “The tone that disciplinary action would occur if my parents didn’t make me take the test was evident.” The school administration could not confirm this event took place, seeing as disciplinary actions are private matters. For that, I say thank you to our Pembroke Hill administrators in respecting student privacy. Kathy Williams-Griffin, Dean of Students ,stated that, “The teachers are reasonable in their practices. We are not on a witch-hunt. We want to know you kids and prepare you guys for college. We do not want to have to turn you in for suspicion of abusing alcohol or other illegal drugs, but we will not overlook it.” Furthermore, Principal Bloemer said that the handbook was, “in the spirit of our school motto and mission. It is an aid to the school community.” Furthermore, the school administrators set up a board comprised of students, an inquiry committee if you will, to gain information on the drug use at Pembroke Hill. A student on this board, who would like to remain anonymous as to not be removed from said committee, divulged that the administration recognized that they had knowledge of drug use at Pembroke, yet had no way to punish students short of catching them in the act. continued on page 3
Let our true voices be heard
Shajiah Jaffrey ‘09 expresses her concern about censorship Shajiah Jaffri Senior Editor
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” These are the words of the 1st Amendment of the United States Constitution. These words have served as a buffer, preventing the government from treading on our civil liberties. The Congressmen are unable to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine or try to pass anything else that could attract the wrath of the American Civil Liberties Union. However, this does not mean that the civil liberties we often take for granted are safe. Take freedom of speech for example. There are limits to this freedom that can be justified. Take, for example, shouting “fire!” in a crowded movie theater when there is no fire or bigots spouting vicious limits. These limits are usually in place because certain “expressions of free speech” endanger the safety or cause harm to others. But a greater threat looms on the horizon, and its name is censorship. Whenever a journalist cannot publish an article because it is deemed “offensive” or “controversial” by the higher-ups, then that is censorship. When certain
words and phrases that are used in everyday conversation are purged from paragraphs, then that is censorship. When someone with an opinion or idea is gagged before they even have a chance to open his or her mouth, then that is censorship. And that is not fair. It is understandable why some people would support censorship or stronger “limits” on freedom of speech. Sometimes certain expressions of free speech are considered objectionable. Surely people found George Carlin’s “Seven Dirty Words” objectionable. But even if you do not agree with what someone else says, should their right to say it not still be defended? I’m sure Voltaire would agree. It is disappointing how people can place so little trust in others and assume that whatever someone else will say or do will be offensive. What happened to innocent before proven guilty? Why worry so much about what a person could say and silence him before that person can even open his or her mouth? Why can’t they trust the others to make responsible decisions and think before they speak? Granted, not everyone is responsible, and not everyone stays in the lines of what is permissible and what is not. But let them step on a few toes and piss off some people. It will be a learning experience for them. I realize we are all governed by rules. Rules
keep society relatively stable, secure and structured. Rules are necessary. But rules can also strangle creativity and expression. Some rules can cause more harm than good. And while we should follow the rules that are set in place, at the same time the people who make the rules should understand the importance of the freedoms we are privileged to have. Freedom of speech-the ability to express ourselves—should be used to its full potential. People should use this freedom responsibly because, in my opinion, a little self-censorship is okay if one knows beforehand that the next words he or she shares will stir up unnecessary trouble. After all, people should be responsible for their work and should try to be respectful of others. Or at least not too disrespectful of other people. But self-censorship is just as bad as censorship if it’s out of fear. What’s the point, then, of having this freedom if we’re too terrified to use it properly? What’s the point of having this freedom if we can’t use it to share ideas and opinions and report what is true? It does not mean anything if we cannot utilize it. Some people have the responsibility to inform others and need this freedom to accomplish that task. Thanks to freedom of speech, we have access to a wide array of
opinions, ideas, and facts. The truth is not kept hidden from us. This freedom allows us to challenge theories and different viewpoints. It encourages us to ask questions and learn.
But most importantly, it allows us to express ourselves, with no restriction, with the one tool at our disposal: our voice. We only have one voice; let it be heard.
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THE HILL
marcH 2009
school news
Science Olympiad hits the ground running The state competition approaches quickly, and PHS is confident. Greta Shum Editor-in-Chief
PembrokeHill’s Science Olympiad team has an impressive history, thus making it difficult to live up to the team’s unparalleled reputation, much less set a record. Nevertheless, this year’s team has done just that. The group is small, but its members are talented and valuable. And while we have scarcely enough to have a full team, the recent Regional competition proved the significance of quality vs. quantity. However, according to Michael Dietrele, obtaining quality and quantity would be preferable. Michael placed first in each of his five events (with the limit at five events) setting a PHS record—definitely not something to sneer at! While Michael was not the only member who performed well, he certainly stands out as an inspiration for the rest of the team. This year began with the memory of our lost seniors of last year, who not only set the bar high at every tournament, but performed just as gracefully as they did successfully. Our new team was small, not to mention humbled, but after diligent preparation, we stepped up just as gracefully to the Regional ‘plate’ and took first. But what makes this team different? The student body is not shocked when Mark holds up the trophy at assembly. What is so significant about this year? The answer is the people.
for the work you too have done on you personal events. Even if I studied ten times as much as Michael does—which is physically impossible because there are not enough hours in a day and because he is the most diligent person I have ever met—I still would not come close to understanding the material that seems to be common sense to him. You may write to The Voice, “Greta, that’s not a person—that’s an encyclopedia.” And I might agree with you, except that I’ve laughed just as hard with my teammates as I have studied. You will never know a greater group of personalities, and I believe that is exactly where the success comes from. That perfect combination of being able to laugh with people you respect so much inspires you to work even harder. Studying becomes something to look forward to both because of that friendly and enjoyable association and because you strive to impress your amazing teammates. This solution of talent, diligence and fun has one result. It may not be one of Mr. Jones’s explosions, but it’s just as meaningful: Hope. We’re leaving for State soon and the competition is strong. But no matter what happens, we are hitting Columbia, Missouri with a running start.
A victorious Regional Science Olympiad team poses for a photo with the first place trophy. Photo credit to Mrs. Wells.
One of the advantages of having so few people is our appreciation for each member. Everyone knows the responsibility that comes with taking up an event. It is your duty to become an expert in your area. However, the sheer talent of each student on the team is certainly evident. It is necessary for each person to study their topics, but ask Mark Reardon a question about physics and you will walk away not only enlightened, but wondering, slightly dazed, how much voltage he’s got in that brilliant brain of his! Emily Bamberger came up to me one Saturday practice and asked me to point to one of my
WPA dance is a flop. Continued from Page One “You could not hear the music; however, when you could, you would hear the cha cha slide, “cottoneyed joe”, or the chicken dance. The only potentially OK song played was ‘Circus’ by Brittany spears,” wrote one sophomore girl. “The dj didn’t play dance music. He played like... Journey, and Journey is awesome and all, but you don’t dance to Journey,” said Priyanka Patel, ‘09. The music’s effect was fatal. “A dance party without music dies very quickly,” explained one senior boy. Even a flop of a dance can’t keep a Pembroke Hillian from having a good night though, and the rating of the whole of the WPA experience was high. “Everything else was good, we just minimized our time at the dance,” wrote one junior boy. This was a general consensus amongst the students polled. The quality of the overall WPA experience, dinner and after party included, received an average 7 out of 10. Côme de Montille, ‘10, captured the general feeling. “The dinner and after party were amazing. The dance itself was terrible.”
bones so that she could name it. I tapped my wrist with my pen. Some muscle that she could probably identify twitched in her eyebrows and she murmured, “Which one?” “All.” I demanded. Without missing a beat, she rattled off about seven unrecognizable names of bones, each with about seven syllables. The last one was, “I’m pretty sure…” Scientific name: Incrediblous humilitous. It’s such a blessing to be able to walk into those practices, knowing you are truly in the company of greatness. And for some reason that greatness greets you cheerfully, respecting you
Student Rating of the WPA Dance (1 being awful & 10 phenomenal) 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1
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Student Rating of the overall WPA experience (1 being awful & 10 phenomenal) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Wake Up, America! 1 0
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Alex Nay Assistant Editor
I’m not usually one for documentaries. I actually had little intention of seeing this one. The announcement during assembly made IOUSA sound interesting enough, but I felt no immediate urge to go to HSC at 7:00 on a Thursday evening to watch it. But, in the end, I resolved to go, and I’m glad I did. Before seeing IOUSA, I knew a few things about the national debt (the basics, mostly). I knew that we were out ten trillion, China is our largest debt-holder, and our debt is bad
for the United States. The documentary filled in the blanks for me, which I discovered were quite substantial. I guess you could say that we’ve dug ourselves into a pretty deep hole, which is an understatement. In his “Fiscal Wake-Up Tour,” David M. Walker presents some frightening facts, one of which is that our national debt per capita is about $31,000. Let’s take a step back and understand the gravity of this.situation Every man, woman, and child of the 304,941,288 people living off the fruit of American land owes what many Americans make in a year.
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IOUSA goes into great detail explaining exactly how this happened. Strikingly and most surprisingly to me, the film explains this with extraordinary bipartisanship. I figured the documentary would end by blaming George W. Bush or something along those lines, but I was wrong. It also shows average Americans’ responses to general questions about our debt. Mostly, the film demonstrates that we are living in blissful ignorance of the serious problem that the debt poses for the future of Americans.
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That’s exactly why I found this film so effective. It confirms that the debt is a problem for the future of Americans. China has to come collect eventually, and when that day comes, our parents won’t be paying for anything. The United States national debt is our predicament, meaning we are going to be the ones who have to deal with the repercussions of the superfluous spending throughout past years. What’s most frightening is that people don’t even know this problem exists. Andy Grove, the founder of Intel, put it best when
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he said, “America is in danger of following Europe down the tubes, and the worst part is that nobody knows it. They’re all in denial, patting themselves on the back as the Titanic heads straight for the iceberg full speed ahead.” IOUSA conveys the extent of our national debt crisis, and shows that it’s about time we took Mr. Walker’s advice and “wake up” before we dig ourselves into an inescapable hole.
Critique of Pembroke’s Testing Policy Continued from Page Two
The student also recognized that the school’s drug policy had a major loophole in that it had no way to reasonably prove that the student is intoxicated at the very moment the student is at school so long as the student is only using drugs. The current drug policy is one gigantic gray area. Some would argue that this is beneficial seeing as the school may exercise discretion as well as not having their hands tied by any specific policy. This gray area, however, places the burden of proof wrongfully on the student. The school must only “reasonably suspect” a student is under the influence of drugs at school, on school property, or in the immediate vicinity of school. There is no current field sobriety test for measuring whether or not a person is intoxicated from smoking marijuana. That test is not scientifically possible at this juncture. Furthermore, the school uses urine tests as their method of testing, which can detect usage of marijuana, or any other drug, from up to two weeks in the past. The school uses this test even though there are saliva tests that can only detect up to twelve hours in the past. Though it may seem as though the saliva test is less effective, for the purposes of the school’s policy it is absolutely perfect. The test only has the capacity to test for what happened in the immediate past, rather than the distant past, which may include weekends and vacations, which do not fall under school jurisdiction. The current burden of proof resides with the student. The school needs only to suspect drug use before it is able, under their guidelines, to administer a urine test. This seems fine, but then the student must be able to prove that he is not intoxicated at school if he tests positive, seeing his own private time can be detected by that test. The school chooses not to use a saliva test that could easily serve the purpose of determining whether or not the policy has been directly broken. Rather, the test of choice is one that carries with it the possibility to invade a student’s private life, whether it is on breaks or weekends. I realize that students should not be using drugs. They are illegal. However, the school also realizes it is not its place to act as our parents. I can say that my legal guardians are not school administrators. I don’t believe they would want to be my legal guardians anyway. Rather, my parents are my legal guardians and as such they are responsible, legally, for my upbringing. They take this responsibility seriously, and I can speak for them in saying they don’t need any help from the school. I implore the school to revise its drug policy by specifying that a saliva test is the only acceptable testing option for the school. This test would limit the margin of detectable time to one reasonable enough to be used as evidence for the school’s current statues while also respecting the fact that what a student does in their private life is not the business of an educator, but rather the business of a parent.
4 MARCH 2009
FEATURE FEATURED ARTICLES
My dearest Dr. Niermann, May I call you Thomas? Thomas, Thomas, Thomas. I have heard many a tale of your glorious locks of glory. Although you received the Order of Merlin, Third Class, are not an Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and have not, most importantly, won Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile award five times, as I have, you clearly are a close second. Fame is a fickle friend, Thomas. Celebrity is as celebrity does. Remember that. As a fellow bearer of magnificent tresses, I know well the burden that we share. Let me offer some advice, dear Thomas. Throughout my travels (for full details, see my published works), I have learned well that hair such as ours is not easy to come by. In fact, it takes time, effort, commitment, and CONSTANT VIGILIENCE to perfect and maintain these masterpieces that rest upon our heads. No matter how many bad haircuts or “hack jobs” we come by, we always manage to overcome. I am impressed, Thomas, that you, being a Muggle, can produce hair that is nearly as perfect as mine! I don’t know what I would do without Sleekeazy’s Hair Potion. You must give me the name of the product that you use! You see, Thomas, I did not always have great hair. It was not always this presidential. You are lucky, my dear friend, for possessing this stupefying magnificence. As a sign of my respect, I have attached a signed photo of myself, for your viewing pleasure. Share it with your students, and remember: I didn’t get rid of the Banden Banshee by smiling at him; it was my hair. Yours truly,
Gilderoy Lockhart
Order of Merlin, Third Class Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League Five-Time Winner of Witch Weekly’s Most Charming Smile Award.
i tried Dear girlfriend number forty-seven, a love poem – (sigh, ahem) you are a rusty syringe some used cans dirty diapers or cigarette butts. your eyes, so beautiful, the brown of a rotting tree stump in the humid late morning sunlight. if you ever happen across a moldy shower curtain, if you ever salvage a warm refrigerator, if you ever breathe the exhaust of a large truck, think of me. our love is like a toilet scum a jocular itch or dried vomit of the (delicious) lobster bisque variety. i am the film on top of cooling nacho cheese, yellowing latex paint, that gaggy feeling you get when you brush your teeth, pus from a maggot-covered wound, and the black stuff at the bottom of a dumpster. i know of a great little place, a nice little oil spill, full of dirty birds and dead otters, where we can spend our short holiday. we are not two very special people won’t you run away with me? write back soon, benjamin
MY DEAREST ODYSSEUS, I am sorry to hear about Penelope’s leaving you for Zeus; typical, though, that Zeus would pursue your Penelope. You know the god of gods has a propensity for the ladies. Turns out your lovely Penelope wasn’t so loyal after all. I’ve been hesitant to write this letter to you. I’m actually quite shy, and you are like a god in my eyes. It has been hard for me to find your current address because you’re constantly moving around, but Hermes gave it to me last week. So, alas, I am writing you a letter to confess my deepest and sincerest love for you, Odysseus. I have been searching my whole life for an intellectual, and while I am unsure as to how well-read you are, I know that your cunning is unmatched. I can only hope the strategy I have to land you in my heart, i.e., this letter, is as successful as that whole “No Man” trick you pulled with Polyphemus. That trick was so genius, Odysseus. Having the opportunity, even for a moment, to sit across from you and be a victim of your mind games, would be like having free sushi from Jun’s for the rest of my life. Then I could share the sushi with you, Odysseus. Have you ever been to Japan? I know you are as strong as you are intelligent, and perhaps you could do one-arm push-ups in front of me, tear arrogant suitors in half in front of my eyes, and do the plank pose, as we do at track practice, for a half an hour. I must confess that when you were preparing to fight the town beggar, Irus, and you took off your cloak and revealed your bulging muslces, I became flushed, and my heart rate quickened. I bet your chiseled physique looks just as marvelous as that statue of King Leonidas in the pass at Therompylae. And I think about how you threw the discus farther than any of the Phaeacians while you were on Schería. I bet your arms are as defined as words in the dictionary. I would be more than happy to provide you Costco-brand olive oil, and I’ll wash your fleecy cloaks and tunics for you, too, although we’ll have to go to my parents’ house because I don’t have a washer and dryer. I’ll do anything for you, Odysseus. I know Calypso offered you immortality to keep you on Ogygia; I can only offer my undying love and a humble abode in Brookside. I make really fantastic asparagus, and I’m going to name my first dog Argus. You are the greatest warrior of all time, and if you refuse my love, then know that I’ll at least continue to tell your story to freshmen until I retire.
With deepest respect, love, and admiration, Ms. Rosenfield
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FEATURE FEATURED ARTICLES
MARCH 2009
My Dearest James Herriot, How on earth can I put it? When I read your electric words, my heart glows with the thought that your sweet memories inspired the picturesque illusion that grows in my imagination. These romantic images fill my life with meaning—a meaning flavored with ardor. Oh to see your gentle hands—those hands that carry such powerful abilities both to heal animals in pain and to carry me away to that fairyland called Yorkshire. I wonder, could you heal the ache in my heart? Could you heal the yearning I have to understand completely and totally when you describe how enchanting the countryside is? How on earth can I put it? I cannot merely ask, “Where have you been all my life?” simply because I have been reading your words all my life—in addition to the fact that I know where you have been—dead. Well, that’s alright. As we know, death cannot stop true love. Yes Jim. That is what we have: true love. Each of your stories is like curling up in a blanket, or listening to an enchanted lullaby, or dreaming. I escape in your words. I curl into them—I imagine your melodious voice reading them, like you speak to the farmers on the telephone—and I imagine the trips you make all over the Dales. Jim, if only I could lived on a farm in Yorkshire. I would call you up to look at every living creature that touched that farm. Jim, I would put the things in danger if it meant you could come around! How on earth can I put it? Jim, you are the most seductive man I have ever read the autobiography of. Bring me into that Yorkshire Dales of the fifties, and let me listen to your Scottish brogue out in that glorious landscape. Jim, you filled five books with your words. This letter holds mine. Yours forever, Greta Shum
Dear Deanna,
I remember the first time I ever saw you. I was sitting at my desk, focused on my work when I heard your voice behind me. I stopped. I raised my head. I sat motionless, straining to hear your voice again. When I heard it, I slowly turned, curious about the person whose voice sounded like honey poured over butter. Then I saw your face. Your large dark eyes shone like polished mahogany. They seemed to hint at an understanding, an awareness, deeper than I had ever known. Your long hair cascaded past your shoulders. The light seemed to dance over your silken, wavy tresses. You spoke again, but I have no idea what you said. Your appearance was intoxicating, and I drank you in. Suddenly you turned to walk away, and that is when I knew I had to see you again. But before I could speak, you were gone. You had disappeared around the corner of a long corridor. I wanted to follow you, but I knew it was impossible. I reluctantly went back to my work and hoped fate would give me the chance to see you again. A week later, I got my chance. I was working at my desk, just as before, when I heard your voice lilting above the din. You were talking with someone about the Academy, and that is when I noticed it – you were wearing a Star Fleet uniform! You were a member of the crew on the starship Enterprise! I soon learned that you were a Betazoid from the planet Betazed. You were empathic so you could read people’s emotions. And the ship’s captain, Jean Luc-Picard, relied on your unique abilities for advice. I became addicted. I could not see enough of you. You seemed so smart, so poised, so serene. You always seemed to know the right thing to say. And the curves you put in that Star Fleet uniform could bring even the toughest Klingon to his knees. But I knew I could only love you from a distance. The space-time continuum was an obstacle too great to overcome. So I settled for seeing you once a week on FOX-TV. My love for you has remained steady since that first moment I saw you. And even though our regular rendezvous ended years ago, there is a special place in my heart, where my feelings are not bound by space and time, where my love for you burns with the heat of a thousand suns. In those quiet moments when I think about our past, I stare longingly at the blank TV screen and quietly whisper your name….Deanna Troi. Love, Tom
Oh my dearest Fitzwilliam Darcy, Alas, you do not know me, Mr. Darcy, but this small detail should not get in the way of what I am about to convey. I have adored you for as long as I can remember. Your magnificence has left me unable to even consider other young men like Mr. Rochester, Heathcliff, and Edward Ferrars. How much I have sacrificed in my devotion for you! How long it has been since you have walked the halls of Pemberley or cast the young ladies visiting Netherfield Hall a haughty stare! Two hundred years and more? I write to you bearing disappointing news. There have been a slew of imposters attempting to emulate your flawless charm. Colin Firth in 1995 attempted to manifest your masculine physique by swimming in a pond (but instead only portrayed his shameful gracelessness). More recently, Matthew Macfadyen endeavored to depict your confidence (and rather, perpetually looked constipated). How could they even think of trying to imitate your greatness? This is a task of the most impossible kind. I am sure that a great deal of young ladies has thrown themselves at your feet and begged to be of your company—after all, you are the inheritor of all of Pemberley and with 10,000 pounds at your disposal, it is too irresistible of an offer for some of them. But, you must know that I am not in love with you for your money or your standing in society. Rather, your coolness, confidence, and sympathetic nature have rendered me speechless. Your seemingly arrogant character masks a sincerely generous and upright personality for which any woman longs. While your undying love for Elizabeth Bennet is half of your charm, you must understand that two hundred years later, one must move on. I, for one, am confident that she is not the woman for you. “From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry,” she tells you. How she talks! Truly, is this the woman who you wanted to call your beloved wife? I think not. Fortunately for you (and me), I am here. I, for one, am centuries younger than Lizzie. No matter how pretty you may deem her, you must remember that from the very beginning she was “not handsome enough to tempt you.” Shame on you for wasting your time with her! I strongly encourage you to dwell upon your choice of said woman and remember that I am forever yours. Love from your one true soulmate, Rima Abhyankar
Dear Holden Caulfield,
I lied before. I don’t just love you—I’m in love with you. There’s a significant difference, for sure. I love my mother and I love shoes, but I’m certainly not in love with my mother, or in love with shoes. But you, I am in love with you. Every time you on rip on those phonies at school or on the street, I want to give you a high five. But not a regular high five—one on the cheek. And I wouldn’t use my hands, but my lips. Don’t you see, Holden? I love you a million times more than Stradlater could ever care for whatsherface. I love you a million ducks on the pond in Central Park. But I’m also in love with you, and quite madly at that. I’m sure that if you’d only return my feelings—and respond to even one letter—that we could be happier than you ever were among the phonies who distract you. You’ll never be depressed, I promise. Be with me, and I’ll fill your lungs with clean, clean beautiful air. You can toss your cigarette junk in the garbage, and we can be happy and tar-free. Won’t you, please? In all the love in the world, Me.
All graphic credits to Ericka Schubert
SPORTS
5
RAIDER PRIDE
may 2009
Small but Mighty
Boy’s Tennis Now in Full Swing
Christian Nagy Associate Editor
Let’s quickly flash back to 1975: Gerald Ford was president, the top song was, ‘Rock and Roll all Nite’ by Kiss, and the first ever episode of Saturday Night Live was aired. But what also started in 1975 was Pembroke Hill’s 33-year string of consecutive Boy’s Tennis District titles. For over three decades, the Raiders have been dominant; from Gerald Ford to Barack Obama, from Kiss to Tech N9ne, Pembroke Hill has stood atop its opponents time and time again. From the beginning of the streak in 1975, we return to last year’s 2008 competition, where a dramatic doubles victory starring James Helzberg and Nick Gheorghita, along with the rest of the team,
Blives for game-setmatch.
sealed another District title by a mere half of a point. And so the fire of Raider success kept burning brightly. No one would be able to take as much credit for this streak as Head Coach Dale Eshelbrenner. When asked what this streak means to him, he replied, “It means that a lot of different Pembroke Hill tennis players have been able to take part in the success throughout the years. It shows the great tradition that there is here and also serves as a motivator to the players.” Currently with a very impressive record (10-1), the Raiders appear on a one-way street to extend the District streak for yet another year. But the players have their sights on a higher prize, the Missouri State Championship. “We’re going for all the marbles,” says Freshman Kevin Hornbeck of the team’s aspirations. Although this year’s squad is full of freshmen, Seniors Tommy Aliber, Chris Sommers, and Nick Gheorghita, as well as Juniors Teddy Fitzgibbons and Andrew Garner are showing the underclassmen the ropes. Coach Eshelbrenner says, “I’m very impressed with the upper classmen. They have shown great leadership…Especially with Tommy and Teddy now picked as captains.” If the season so far were to be described in a single word, that word
would be excellence. Time after time, the Raiders have blown out their opponents due to their fantastic talent. Pembroke was handed its sole loss when competing against a very well respected Blue Valley North team in a match that truly could have gone either way. However, the biggest success so far this season is the narrow 5-4 victory over Shawnee Mission East, a team often regarded as one of the top teams in the city. The duel with Shawnee Mission East featured the match of the season thus far, with Pembroke Senior Tommy Aliber defeating his SME counterpart in a 7-6, 6-7, 11-9 slugfest. Pembroke’s JV has also had some great success. Most recently, the squad coached by Max Fearing placed second in a tournament, missing the title by only one point. Until this point in the season, the JV Raiders have also only lost once, and, like their Varsity teammates, have played superb tennis. “It’s a lot of fun to be able to represent your school as a Raider,” says Freshman Nillan Patel. Coach Eshelbrenner does not prefer talking about the possibility of winning a state title; however, he does say, with a grin, “it’s a goal.” And it’s a goal that this team will be striving for until the very last point.
Junior Varsity: For the Love of the Game paid millions of dollars
David Kipke Senior Editor
When somebody thinks about high school sporting event, crazy student sections, cheerleaders, and talented young athletes probably come to mind. There is so much glory and excitement for every team involved in high school sports, or should I say, varsity team. The junior varsity team’s experience is incredibly different than that of the varsity team. Take away just about all of the fans, take away the cheerleaders, and take away (not all) but certainly substantial amounts of talent, and what do you have? A junior varsity sporting
event. Here is a place where an athlete can find almost no satisfaction in playing a sport other than playing the sport itself. In other words, what happens on the field or on the court is all that happens in a junior varsity game. No players are playing just to have their name in the paper the next day, in fact, a year from each game, there will probably be no concrete proof of that given game ever taking place. Junior varsity athletes are playing their sports because they love their sport. I am not at all saying that varsity athletes are not also passionate about their sport, but in a world where professional athletes get
to play each year, one can’t help but sometimes question their motives. Is Alex Rodriguez really playing because he truly loves baseball? Or does he enjoy the $25 million salary and having his face all plastered all over New York? Society worships these professional athletes, some of which may not even love the game that they’re playing. But, this can never be said of the junior varsity athlete, who toils away day after day to play games in front of empty stands. They compete for the sake of competing and no other reason. This article is for the unsung heroes of high school sports: here’s to the JV team.
Jordin Nelson jumpin’ to the finish. Andie Forsee Staff Writer I’m pretty sure Pembroke Hill School has the smallest track team in the entire Kansas City area. Schools like St. Teresa’s with only one gender, or even puny schools like Lutheran,
have more kids than we do. But numbers aren’t everything. Sometimes it’s about mad skillz, which we definitely have. Matt Logan, Katayon Ghassemi, Tiffani McReynolds, and Sydney Peavy have been reppin’ the Raiders by bringing in the first place
medals. Then again, it’s not all about the wins either. It’s also about the awesome times and fun memories (may our tent rest in peace). Distance definitely has the most fun, no matter what everyone else says. The mile and two mile are the most grueling events in track, but we cheer each other on with shouts of “ODYSSEUS!” led by Ms. Rosenfield, of course. Next week we run in districts and it’s going to be one long, hard day. If you see any track team members wish them luck. We may be small, but you can eat our dust.
LAX Advances to Post Season Alex Nay Senior Editor “The Past and Future Success of the 2009 PHS Lacrosse Team” As the 2009 lacrosse season comes to a halt, the Raiders have a lot to be proud of. The Varsity squad currently stands as a formidable contender for the Missouri State Title with an immediate record of 11-2 (not including three upcoming games against Marquette, Fort Zumwalt, and Columbia Rockbridge). Captains Will Bolen (Attack), Ryan Grojean (Defense), and Dexter Pearson (Midfielder) have lead the Varsity throughout their notable season and continue to do so as they move forward into the post-season.
The leading scorers of the team are Will Bolen with 39 goals, Jacob Sinclair with 35 goals, and Guerin Schwarberg with 12 goals. The Junior-Varsity team has had enormous success this season as well. On Wednesday, May 6th, the JV made Pembroke Hill Lacrosse history with a victory over Shawnee Mission East which resulted in a perfect, undefeated season. They played and won a total of seven games. The leading scorers of JV are Walter Bixby with 15 goals and Tyler Peterson with 13 goals. “We’re learning the game and getting a lot of quality wins,” says new Head Coach, David Colbert. This is Colbert’s first year as leading the team since Chris Kliewer left.
Colbert served two years as assistant coach before 2009, and has changed things up a bit this year. “We’re trying to have more fun, work on the basics and keep it simple.” And it seems to have worked out pretty well thus far. On the 15th of May, the Raiders play their first post-season game and embark on their journey for the Missouri State Championship. “We should match up against all the teams we’ll be facing,” Coach confidently added. With such an impressive track record, the team should do very well in the post-season, and hopefully, come back satisfied. According to Coach Colbert, all we need to do is “execute and ride our horses.”
“Get Your Swag On!” -Carter Baum
You could fill this space. Write for the VOICE. Bolen passes. woot woot
Thanks for the memories, Seniors.
Larios saves a goal.
4
A&E
mArch 2009
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
Art of the Issue
Homayo Ghassemi, ‘09, looks out across the Montana landscape. Photo credit
One Senior’s Journey Homayon Ghassemi Contributor
I’ve often found myself staring back into that airplane’s seemingly dismal cabin. I have replayed the events of that day repeatedly in my mind and even now, with benefit of hindsight, I can’t piece it together with any meaningful clarity. It truly seemed unreal except for that airplane. I remember my knees nearly giving way as I climbed into that plane, dressed from head to toe in an awkwardly covered jump suite. I dragged my body to a seat between Ranger Dave and RJ. Brain sat in front of me. The plane began to accelerate violently as the propellers chopped against the frostbitten air. With each passing moment, the plane glided further and further above Montana’s majestic Lost Prairie. I felt my heart throbbing against my chest. My hands were trembling. Sweat trickled down my forehead despite the falling temperature. I heard a seemingly distant whisper. I looked over at RJ. He was praying. A sobering sense of humility passed through me as I stared out of one of the airplane’s windows. That picturesque image seen through those
foggy goggles has stayed with me to this day. Reaching 13,000 feet, Brain signaled for me to get up and gently pushed me out. I was falling, back first, into the clouds. I don’t really remember much of what occurred after leaving the plane. The sensation of free-falling was remarkably forgettable. It was certainly surreal, but the location of this endeavor and the people involved were more important than this experience itself. Montana was the first place where I truly began to encounter the unspoiled beauties of nature. Here, I learned to fish, hunt, canoe, and ride horses. As I grew older, I came back to Montana in a new capacity. I began as a volunteer for the U.S. Forest Service in the Great Bear Wilderness during the summer of my junior year. It was that summer that I met Ranger Dave, RJ and Brain. I labored daily alongside these three men as we worked to excavate new trail and maintain existing ones. I quickly learned that trail work was tedious and miserable. It was not only physically challenging but also mentally testing. Though I thought I was in pretty good shape, each of these fifty something year-old
The Secret Garden
guys out-did me nearly every time in the speed and quality of their work. Working on the trail, I heard a lot about the past of each one of these men. They had come from diverse backgrounds and worked many different jobs from ski-lift operator to resort manager. The incredible work ethic of each of these men was evident on the trails. Though none of them possessed a college degree, they all possessed a great understanding of nature and a sensibility that even the most educated often lack. These men were rugged individualists, free-spirited fellows who possessed a unique understanding of both nature and life itself. It is true that none of them had pursued typical careers. They did not spend their lives in one occupation, but they pursued many passions. They worked as commercial fishermen, farmers, construction workers, ski guides, and adventure consultants. It soon became obvious that these men were good at heart, calm in spirit, and content with life. My time with RJ, Ranger Dave and Brain soon began to near its end but not before I heard more about these men’s experiences as smokejumpers. Ranger Dave, a shorter man with a Mr. Pringle like mustache, once told me: “I can’t put in words what it feels like; you’re not falling but the wind is cushioning you.” I was no doubt intrigued. Flying home, I couldn’t help but think about Ranger Dave’s words, and I knew right
then that’d I would have to try it. Ranger Dave along with others lived their lives with a certain undeniable audacity; they lived without fear, and to an extent they instilled a little of this boldness in me. I came back to Montana six months later to skydive with my old friends. I jumped first, and as I landed, I remember turning to Brain and saying, “That was so incredible.” He looked over at me and smiled; this was his 1,800 jump, and he proclaimed “It never get any less thrilling.” I looked over at his feet; he had jumped with sandals on. My story is not so much about skydiving as it is about what it represented for me. RJ, Brain, and Ranger Dave profoundly altered my perspective. They taught to maintain an open mind and made me realize that intelligence can come in different yet equally important forms. They taught me that we can learn from the lives and experiences of anyone, regardless of his background. Nearly everyone has something to contribute. I learned in life that few things are as necessary as a humble mind, a calm heart and a peaceful spirit. I owe this newfound knowledge not only to these three men, but to all the people of Montana who have time and again welcomed me back. These defiant, hard-working and modest people of “this last best place on earth” have helped define the wiser, more worldly and open-minded individual that I am today. n
Read and be read. Spencer Collet, ‘09, played Dickon in the musical. Photo credit JoLynn Caldwell. Mimi Starr Photo Editor
The musical, The Secret Garden, was a wonderful production full of great music, amazing actors, and enthusiasm. The story follows a young girl, Mary Lennox (Rebecca Achtenberg), as she becomes orphaned by an outbreak of cholera in India and moves to England to live with her gloomy, hunchbacked uncle, Archibald (Dave Nair). She finds the key to her late Aunt Lily’s (Kristen Nelson) garden and works to bring it back to life with her maid Martha (Jordan LeMay), a gardener, Ben (Adam Young), and Martha’s brother, Dickon (Spencer Collet). She also finds Archie’s crippled son, Colin (Nelson Collet), who cannot walk and is cared for by Archie’s brother, Dr. Neville Craven (Jay Todd Max), who resents Archie for having inherited the manor. Mary also helps Colin learn to walk in his mother’s garden and, ultimately, brings a broken family back together through music and the magic of the garden. n
join.voice.phs2009@gmail.com Now accepting articles for the April issue
Art by Elena McCallister and Caffery Brooks
Notorious leaves something to be desired Max Mays Contributor
Biggie, did you just fart? Because your music blows me away. Unfortunately, the movie didn’t. Christopher Wallace, a.k.a. The Notorious B.I.G. , was a big man, weighing over 300 pounds. However, what made him the greatest rapper of all time was not his big size; it was his undeniable skill and flow with the microphone. George Tillman, the director of the new hip-hop biopic Notorious, was successful in casting a big man, the 340-pound Jamal Woodard. Unfortunately, Jamal, in his big-screen debut, never had the acting talent to portray such a hip-hop icon. In fact, I’m not sure that many actors today, regardless of talent, could play the larger-than-life Notorious B.I.G. If only Denzel Washington could put on some pounds. The film begins the night of March 9, 1997, the date that Notorious B.I.G. was shot and killed. While driving away from a party in Los Angeles an unknown assailant opens fire into Biggie’s car. A flash occurs, and the movie transports the audience back to the early 80s when Biggie is a tenyear-old child, rocking the all-white Nikes and still going by his given name, Christopher. Time progresses, and Biggie begins to deal drugs. Drug dealing becomes a part of his lifestyle, and Biggie eventually becomes one of the most well known dealers in
all of Brooklyn. The law eventually catches up with him, and Biggie lands in jail. Confined to only his cell, Biggie spends all of his time writing his now famous rhymes. Biggie meets Sean Combs, a.k.a. Puff Daddy, soon after law enforcement releases Biggie, and his fame skyrockets. Thanks to hits such as “Juicy,” “Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems,” and “Hypnotize,” Biggie has gained recognition as one of the best rappers of all time. Unfortunately, the movie does not focus enough on his music, but instead decides to turn the spotlight towards Biggie and his relationships with Lil’ Kim and Faith Evans. Although I will be the first to admit that both of these women are certified dime-pieces, I would have rather learned more about the creation of so many of Biggie’s timeless hits. Fortunately, the outstanding soundtrack saved the movie. The entire theatre will experience a mixture of some of the 90’s more prolific hip-hop pieces, as well as a new song by Jay-Z, called “Brooklyn Go Hard.” This soundtrack kept the movie interesting, and the live Biggie performances were full of energy. However, the film itself did not uphold to the high standards of Biggie’s music. The acting and screenplay left something to be desired, as the great hip-hop film remains a dream. Perhaps a film on 2Pac would do the trick. n
8
THE FORUM
MARCH 2009
‘Tis the Season for...
THE LIST
With their graduation from Pembroke Hill only a few days away, the members of the Class of 2009 finally reveal where they plan on attending college in the Fall of ‘09. Name
college ^
College / University
Name
College / University
Camellia Abou-Odah Univ. of Southern California
Alan May, II
Drake University
Alex Andersen
Southern Methodist University
Ross Merrill
University of Pennsylvania
Jessica Batlle
Dartmouth College
Curtis Mertensmeyer
Tulane University
Emily Benson
University of Col. at Boulder
Marissa Meyer
University of Kansas
Erin Bleakley
Southern Methodist University
Stephanie Mingos
Rhodes College
Becky Boeshaar
Texas Christian University
Arvind Miriyala
University of Kansas
Caroline Brown
University of Kansas
Coren Morgan
University of South Carolina
Zach Buckner
Wash. University in St. Louis
Laura Munro
College of Wooster
Chris Burcham
University of Miami
Philip Noonan
St. Michael’s College
Brennan Caldwell
Yale University
Molly O’Laughlin
Harvard College
Katharine Collett
Bates College
Drew Patton
William Jewell College
Tony Cordaro
University of Pennsylvania
Seth Pierce
Rollins College
Lauren Cromer
University of San Francisco
Robert Powell
University of Virginia
Morgan Dameron
Univ. of Southern California
Will Preston
Hamilton College
James Deacy
University of Denver
Catherine Queen
Wheaton College
Mario Didonna
Univ. of Southern California
Coleman Reed
University of Tulsa
Kate Dingley
Wells College
Mitch Reisler
Arizona State University
Sam Ellis
University of Arizona
Andrew Robb
Carnegie Mellon University
Alex Emery
Southern Methodist University
Hilary Rosen
Trinity University
Max Feinstein
University of S. California
Jin Sanders
Wash. and Lee University
Emma Fisher
Pitzer College
Kamryn Schalker
Wash. University in St. Louis
Matthew Gessen
Hamilton College
Catherine Schroeder
Yale University
Will Getchell
Savannah C. of Art and Design
Linden Schult
Claremont McKenna College
Laura Gibbons
Wash. University in St. Louis
Zack Sigler
Virginia Military Institute
Ryan Gibbons
Santa Clara University
Jamie Sloman
Michigan State University
Benton Glaze
George Washington University
Charla Smith
Belmont University
Kiersten Goza
Boston College
Kelsey Smith
University of Kansas
Jack Greenbaum
Occidental College
Caitlin Stadler
University of South Carolina
Adam Hallquist
Emory University
Nick Sweeney
Rollins College
Nate Harris
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Jordan Tabbakh
Wayne State University
Diego Heatherman
Boston University
Kelsey Turner
Montana State U. - Bozeman
Brian Herman
University of Redlands
Tyler Tvedten
Boston University
Gordy Jenkins
Tufts University
Matt Ungashick
Rhodes College
Alex Jenny
Arizona State University
Will Vaughan
Univ. of Missouri - Columbia
John Jewell
Illinois Institute of Technology
Brooke Vittor
New York University
Lilly Jianas
Ohio Wesleyan University
Mary Wagner
Regis University
Alex Johnson
Whittier College
Amelia Wells
Princeton University
Randy Johnson
Connecticut College
Brittany Weltner
Southern Methodist Univ.
Charlie Kelly
Wabash College
Gregg Wertz
Wartburg College
Nicolas Kemper
Yale University
Ethan White
University of Redlands
Chelsae Komar
Gonzaga University
Jordan White
University of Connecticut
Graham Laird
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Anna Woodsmall
Colorado College
Dilini Lankachandra
Columbia Univ. - Columbia C.
Alana Young
Univ. of Missouri - Columbia
David Lee
Dartmouth College
Rachel Lewis
University of Kansas
Mitch Lied
University of Oklahoma
Brady Lonergan
Emory University
Megan Magill
Miami Univ. - Oxford Campus
May 2009 Dear Class of 2009, The Voice would like to congratulate you for all of your grand contributions to the high school over the past four years. We wish each and every one of you both success and happiness in your college years and beyond. Yours truly, the Editors
The Voice Editors-in-Chief Emily Cuddy, Axel Shum, Caitlin Snavely Senior Editor Rebecca Gilmore News Editors Jordan Payne and Shajiah Jaffri School News Editor Rima Abhyankar and Greta Shum Sports Editor Jack Winter Arts and Entertainment Editor Chelsea Johnson The Forum Editors Hunter Chamberlain and Maura Sunkel Copy Editors Whitney Cain and Lizzie Gheorghita Photo Editors Alex Curry and Lilly Stitt Photographer Caffrey Brooks Graphics Editor Peter Wyche Business Manager Anna Austenfeld Faculty Advisor Lauren Rosenfield Assistant Faculty Advisor Sara Eshelbrenner The Voice is the official high school newspaper of the Pembroke Hill School. 5121 State Line Road. Kansas City, Missouri, 64112. The paper is an open forum distributed to students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community nine times a year. Reader response is welcome in the form of letters to the editors. The Pembroke Hill School 5121 State Line Road Kansas City, MO 64112
The Voice
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage Paid PERMIT NO. 3976 Kansas City, MO