THE VOICE
VOLUME XXXVI | November/December 2016
Is Competition Killing Compassion?
The Voice: October
Table of Contents 13
27
28
Personality quiz
media reviews
Which member of the Lunchroom
Feature
This month students reviewed
faculty are you? Take this quiz to
Recent events in our nation and our school
the mixtape Dreamchasers 4, and
find out.
have made unity and compassion hard to
the television show Black Mirror.
come by. We at The Voice explain why those values are more important than ever.
21
KC Crawl
23
15
Sexual Assault
This month Roxanne Reasco
Where we stand
‘17 and Bella Barnes ‘18 visited
Grace Parkerson ‘18 and Wil Row-
evergrowing issue of sexual
McLain’s bakery, a Kansas City
land ‘19 discuss border control with
assault in our nation and the im-
classic. Check out their review in
emphasis on the effects of the recent
portance of spreading awareness.
this issue.
election.
Lindley Legg ‘17 addresses the
buzz [Winter]
~Every winter, at least one septillion (that’s 1 followed by 24 zeros) snow crystals fall from the sky. ~Winter cold kills more than twice as many Americans as summer heat does. ~The average snowflake falls at about 3 mph. According to the Guinness World Records, on January 28, 1887, a snowflake 15 inches wide and 8 inches thick fell in Fort Keogh, Montana, making it the largest snowflake ever observed.
Did You Know? ~ Winter in North America is summer in Australia. ~ A New Zealand insect called the Weta freezes completely solid when temperatures drop during the winter. However, when temperatures warm back up, the insect unfreezes, thaws, and resumes its activities.
Around 12% of Earth’s land surface is covered in snow and ice.
~ The word winters comes from the Germanic wintar which in turn is derived from the root wed meaning ‘wet’ or water’, and so signifying a wet season.
~ A single snowstorm can drop 39 million tons of snow. ~ While is seems counterintuitive, the Earth is closest to the sun in winter.
~ Ten inches of snow will melt down to one inch of water.
Snow looks white because it is made up of individual crystals clumped together. The light that hits the snow bounces between ice crystals and the “color” of all the frequencies in the visible spectrum combined in equal measure is white. While white is the color we see in snow, individual ice crystals are actually translucent.
3 Student
What’s the Word?
Life
A View From Each Grade on: Finals
Finals
Charlotte Henry Columnist
Jay Mehta Columnist
Freshman:
Sophomore:
Final exams come around twice a year. Yet, somehow, despite all of our preparation, they never fail to surprise us when they show up. These tests, two per class, successfully manage to unite different grades in a state of stress and complete panic. No one knows if they studied enough, or maybe even too much, but everyone always seems ready to freak out. As a freshman, I don’t really know what to expect coming into my first winter set. However, if I can be sure of one thing, it’s that eighth grade finals aren’t comparable. Together, my peers and I have come to the unfortunate conclusion that middle school finals may have taught us valuable study skills, but when it comes down to the tests, we haven't seen anything yet. I highly doubt we will be seeing a whole lot of multiple choice exams. Unfortunately, we can only wait and see how much worse it gets. n
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Despite the practice with final exams Pembroke Hill students gain before they enter the Upper School, for freshman, looking ahead to winter finals is a nerve-racking experience. However, as sophomores, we are currently leaning over an even taller cliff. Now, finals serve an obvious purpose. Knowing this, of course, does not quiet the groans that their very mention generates. And for good reason. For example, finals may disadvantage students who don’t test well. However, we, as sophomores, fresh off the practice PSAT, and looking ahead to junior year, are acutely aware of the inescapable nature of tests like these. We are entering a world guarded at every door by high-stakes tests, from APs, to SATs, to ACTs, to GREs, to GMATS and LSATS, to MCATS. We are going to have to be equipped to take them when they are laid in front of us.n
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Student Life 4
An Inside Look: The AFS/YES Program Shannon Fang and Davis Brooks Editors-in-chief Eighty-five – this is the limited number of students selected from Indonesia to participate in the YES/AFS program. According to the official AFS (American Field Services) website, AFS is a not-for-profit intercultural program formed in 1914. However, the AFS high school exchange program was not created until 1947 by Stephen Galatti, an AFS volunteer, who believed that “promoting exchanges of high school students between the U.S. and other countries would foster a culture of cooperation and understanding among peoples and nations.” His goal was create a generation of world leaders. In 2002, the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) program was established in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. The U.S. Department of State funds the program, providing merit-based scholarships to students in predominantly Muslim countries to foster the education and relationship between Muslims and Americans. The partnership between YES and AFS is what allows two foreign exchange students to stay at Pembroke each year. The application for the program is extremely rigorous: There are three major steps in applying. The applicant first applies to their province and must take an English proficiency test and world history test, as well as submit an essay from a selection of questions. The second step includes an interview with the AFS/YES staff about the student’s daily life and world views. The third step is a team activity where each applicant is randomly grouped with others, presented with an issue, and is given an hour to present their solution. Nurul states that out of about 150 applicants in her province, only about one-third qualify for each successive step in the process. However, after the students are finally selected in July, they must go through an identical process to apply nationally. Abdul notes that the goal of the application process is to choose a candidate who “the YES staff thinks will fit into American communities and thrive.” The chosen students for the pro-
Left: Nurul Zamzami. Right: Abdul Yousaf
gram are then assigned to a city, school, and host family. They are awarded over $22,000 in scholarship and are required to complete 100 hours of community service and a social project upon returning to their home. Nurul commented that although many of her friends were initially excited about the program, they did not want to stay in high school for another year. However, this did not bother Nurul, who stated: “I don’t feel like I have to rush.” What motivated Nurul throughout the application process was not a grand vision or goal, but the unplaceable desire to “just want to go abroad.” Similarly, Abdul was always attracted to the idea of studying abroad, initially applying to the United World Colleges and other exchange programs, until he stumbled upon YES. In late May, when Abdul was assigned to Kansas, he admitted: “I looked up some stuff online about Kansas, and I wasn’t fascinated by the results, but now that I am here, I think it’s a really cool state, even if I do most of my activities in Missouri.” Abdul also pointed out the profound difference in homework between here and Jordan: “These past three months, I’ve had more homework than my freshman and sophomore year combined.” His host family, the Whitney’s, told him to expect a lot of homework, but he “did not think it would lead to the point of sleep deprivation.” On the other hand, Nurul notes that the homework load here is less than what she had in Indonesia. When I asked the AFS students about the presidential elections, Abdul pointed out that in Jordan, they have a king and do not elect a president, so being able to witness the election “is an experience.” However, he said: “It’s not really exactly what I expected, but it’s interesting to see how the Americans view each candidate and why they like them.” Nurul humorously noted how the presidential debates reminded her of her first year of debating: “It was just a place where they insulted each other and did not answer the questions.” She continued to state how, based off of perceptions of America, she expected the elections to be “more intellectual.” n
5
Student Life
Month in Review: November Catie Franano and Kaitlyn Storm Copy Editor and Staff Writer
Winter Sports begin!
Basketball, wrestling, cheer, swim, and dance teams have recently begun practicing, and are preparing for great seasons.
Top Left: Victoria Wall ‘17 dribbles past Michaela Tinoco ‘17. Top Right: PHS basketball team practices throwing lay ups. Bottom Left: Matilda Adolphsen ‘18 perfects her PHS cheer. Bottom Right: Sean Weisenfels ‘18 and Hank Graves ‘17 spar in preparation for the wrestling season.
Student Life 6 Fall sports awards ceremony
Fall sports athletes were honored at the fall sports awards program on Tuesday, Nov. 15.
Top and Bottom Left: Seniors with their Captain and Raider Awards. Bottom Right; Brandon Washington ‘17 and Alex Dickey ‘17 pose with their Josh Jackson Soccer Award after a great season.
Debate Success
Pembroke Hill’s Debate Team continues to succeed, and is currently ranked among the top 4% of programs nationwide by the National Forensics League.
The Debate team poses for a photo after another successful tournement.
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Middle School
Middle School Spotlight: Latin America Cultural Day
Carmon Baker Staff Writer Have you ever wondered about the culture of Latin America? What it is like and how it compares to our culture? On October 18th, students in the eighth grade got to experience some of the customs of Latin American culture. Students, along with their World Cultures teachers, Mrs. Culp and Mr. O’Connell, worked hard to prepare for the special day. Students divided into groups and assigned a Latin American country. Each group was responsible for constructing a tri-fold board filled with information about their country. Additionally, students had the option of making a traditional dish, or sharing music from their country. During the fair, students took their passports and traveled from booth to booth, collecting stamps or stickers from each country they visited. After the fair, the students migrated to Hall Student Center, where they listened to an eighth grade parent who talked about their experience working at Rio’s 2016 Summer Olympics. Next, came one of the most exciting activities of the entire day. A reggae concert was performed in Centennial Hall for the eighth graders. Reggae is a type of music traditionally performed in Jamaica. The energy at the concert was so amazing that students and teachers rose from their
seats, and started to dance! Afterwards, the students were served a delicious meal of Salvadoran Pupusas, thick corn tortillas filled with cheese, along with many other delicious treats, including: chips, guacamole, and salsa. After lunch, a capoeira performance took place. Capoeira is a very popular martial art in Latin America. After the performance, the students jumped into their afternoon rotations. Some students stayed in the gym to learn capoeira moves (like kicks and cartwheels). Other stations included a presentation about ecotourism, a tortilla making lesson, and presentations about Andean music and Samba dancing. Also, Jacqueline Kincaid ‘19 discussed her recent trip to Cuba. Eighth grade student, Charlotte Ganter, says she enjoyed Latin America Day because she got to “learn so much about Latin America”. Another student says that she thinks it is “important to experience difference cultures, so that when you are introduced first hand to the culture, you already know what is going on.” Overall, Latin America Day was a huge success, and many thanks to everyone who made this amazing day possible! n
Feature 5
Mr. Max: Substitute, Librarian, and Artist A look into Mr. Max Fearing’s Art Career
Gina Pepitone and Baylor McCrary Managing Editor and Director of Technology You may know Mr. Max Fearing as the knowledgeable librarian or cool substitute, but you may not know that he has been creating and showing art over the past 23 years. Mr. Max was introduced to art by his aunt, who had started creating art when she was 72. With this notion of “if she can start when she is 72, I can definitely start younger,” Mr. Max spends his free time painting and studying the artistic realm. Mr. Max explains how he is a self-taught artist, studying and teaching himself techniques. He regrets not pursuing art in college, but creating art makes him happy, contributes to his self worth, and gives him a purpose that is bigger than himself. Mr. Max has created many pieces - mostly paintings, but also some sculptures and ceramics. His website, maxfearingart.com, displays studios with some of these works. A lot of his works contain motifs, colors, and images of the native american southwest. He describes his style as a more abstract expressionism. His pieces balance ambiguity and representation; they concern his feelings and thoughts about humanity and society.
All art work created by Mr. Max Fearing
Mr. Max’s creative process begins with him “quieting the mind.” Creative artists like Mr. Max often find themselves lost in their multitude of thoughts and wading through a sea of endless imagination. Thus, before beginning a painting, it is good to clear the mind and let inspiration take its course. Mr. Max additionally notes that most of his inspiration comes from the talented artists at Pembroke Hill, both the students and teachers. Looking at and being around the amazing artwork in the halls allows him to look into other mediums and spark ideas about new pieces. For the last four to five years, Mr. Max has not had the time to publically display a lot of his art. Looking to the future, however, he hopes to plan a showing of his art. A 25-year retrospective, showcasing over 100 pieces, is a definite goal Mr. Max plans on achieving within the next few years. Be sure to stop by the library to either chat with Mr. Max or see some of his amazing artwork hung up on the walls by his desk and in the technology office room. n
9 Feature
An Interview With Connor Schell The Voice sat down with Connor Schell to talk about sports, his career, and his time at Pembroke Hill
Shannon Fang and Davis Brooks Editors-in-Chief
Connor eagerly takes us out the front door and points down the hill toward Shawnee Mission Parkway, “it was right down there, the building we used to work on the Voice.” He reminisces on his memories of being an editor of the newspaper: They used one computer to type in the article and X-acto knives to cut out the printed copy. On a big sheet of paper, the editors would physically paste the articles and pictures into the desired layout, and send it to print. On Thursdays, the papers would arrive, each page in a separate box. The staff would hold an “unboxing party” where they assembled the paper themselves by stacking the pages in the correct order. “It’s just funny how the tools have changed so dramatically,” he notes. Schell’s move to Kansas City coincided with Bo Jackson’s rise in fame, as well as a time period when the Chiefs nearly made the Super Bowl every year. Therefore, growing up, he fostered a love for these teams. Schell attended Harvard as an undergraduate who majored in American History. He was able to combine his love of baseball and history for his senior thesis, analyzing the Kansas City Monarchs and interviewing players. He later attended Columbia Business School, however, in the time in between, he worked at many dif-
ferent companies performing various jobs. Reflecting on that period, he says: “I think it helped me a lot because I was very fortunate to get a lot of exposure to a lot of different things, like media and business and different ways you can create content. I am incredibly lucky to have gotten the exposure to that stuff and working out what I wanted to do.” Schell landed a job at ESPN and pushed for a documentary series that would highlight important people or events in sports, called 30 for 30. Schell and his colleagues began this series hoping to “make people understand that there is some larger meaning in these stories because they changed the way we think about something.” The show won an Emmy in 2014 for Outstanding Short-Format Nonfiction Program and had an audience of over 2 million viewers. “At its best, we are finding context and connections and providing understanding of why something happened,” Schell says about the show, “the world is complicated and it’s dynamic, and these athletes are just people who are great in some ways and flawed in others. We just let our filmmakers explore what the truth is.” He continued, making the statement that the show is more than just sports storytelling: “The show is trying to tell cultural stories, where sports is your way in. We are exceptionally proud of the idea that
Hazard Lecture speaker Schell meets with a group of students to discuss his series, 30 for 30.
it is not made just for sports fans.” Therefore, although 30 for 30 is a sports series, the heart of the show runs deeper than just sports. The basis of the show, a cultural commentary, attracts viewers who are avid sports fans or people who could not tell you whether the Cavaliers are a basketball or football team. The success of 30 for 30 indicates the universality of honest and engaging storytelling. Yet, sports is undeniably an integral part of American culture. However, it is also
The success of 30 for 30 indicates the universality of honest and engaging storytelling. impossible to pinpoint why people love to watch sports. Schell tells us: “It’s different for everyone. It allows communities and people of different backgrounds to rally around something. It lends itself to that shared experience. It’s also entertaining, it can be fun – there’s a winner and a loser and defined rules, so there is an emotional outcome.” We have seen this happen in our own city when the Royals won the World Series, bringing together millions of people, regardless of race, gender, or background. We saw this happen when our school had a “snow day” to let us celebrate together. We ask Schell what his advice to us is, and he replies: “Pursue what you’re passionate about. Take a lot of pride in your work and make the most of the opportunities. Then, a lot of things start to work themselves out. Don’t feel bad about not knowing where you want to go or what you want to do, just try and get closer to doing what you love.” As the interview comes to a close, he sits back in his chair and looks around the quad, “it’s pretty amazing to be back at Pembroke Hill,” he says. Schell points out how the patio outside the commons used to extend to the middle school, how the gym looks the same, and how he remembers sitting in the seats of Hall Student Center. “I loved being here, the friends I made I’ll have for a lifetime, and some of the teachers I had absolutely helped create a love learning that stuck with me,” Schell shares with us. n
Feature 10
Should You Take a Gap Year? Rachel Colligan Staff Writer Taking a gap year is an exciting idea for many high school seniors dying to escape the unending barrage of exams, deadlines, and stress. Yet very few take the opportunity to complete a gap year because they are uncertain about this unconventional path. For many students, a gap year may not be the right choice. College counselor Mr. Medlock explains that, “students from affluent schools are increasingly overly supported by external supports such as parents and coaches.” Thus, for students who want to use a gap year to indulge themselves and have fun instead of head to college, a gap year is the wrong choice because it allows overreaching of external support systems. This can delay the inevitable transition into adulthood which occurs in college. Many students and families are uncertain about what a gap year would mean
“For students who want to use a gap year to indulge themselves, a gap year is the wrong choice because it allows overreaching of external support systems.” for their college career. Senior Kathryn Miyawaki, who is considering taking a gap year, explains that she is afraid that, “after being away from school, I wouldn’t want to go back.” This fear is magnified for parents, who often caution their children not to jeopardize their college careers by not go-
ing directly to college. In reality, however, many elite colleges are happy to accommodate gap years. For example, Malia Obama will take a gap year before attending Harvard. To ease the fears of families, college counselor Mr. Medlock explains that a gap year can actually improve the college experience in some cases. He says that a gap year allows students to “catch up with themselves and find perspective,” which can be difficult to do in the fast-paced world of a college prep school. He explains that high schoolers today, especially those at Pembroke, are purpose-driven by academics, sports, and extracurriculars, which can lead to a deprivation of self-knowledge. A gap year allows students to step off the treadmill of busy life and do something that interests them. In this year, students will often find more clarity about their future goals, allowing them to go into college with a vision. Kathryn Miyawaki further explains, “I don’t know what I want to study, so having a year would allow me to go into college with more of a plan. I think it would help me make the most of the four years.” For seniors who are unsure about their major, a gap year offers valuable time away from their current life with which they can
delve deeper into a personal interest, allowing self-discovery. For this reason, a gap year can benefit families in the longterm because it prevents students from
“Students will often find more clarity about their future goals, allowing them to go into college with a vision..” spending exorbitant amounts of money on unnecessary classes. Another upside to gap years is that it allows students to pursue interests without the burden of academics. This is a very rare opportunity, as neither the jampacked high school years nor the self-supporting post-college years allow this flexibility. Senior Cassie Wang, a dedicated dancer, is considering taking a gap year “if the opportunity presents itself.” She plans to audition for ballet companies in hopes of landing a contract, which would allow her to to learn choreography and perform. For students such as Cassie who have a clear focus, a gap year is ideal, as it allows them to fulfill a dream without endangering their college experience. The bottom line is that a gap year is not the right fit for all students, since it can allow overreaching of external support systems. However, for two specific groups of students: those who are unsure of their goals in college or those who have a clear passion they want to pursue in a gap year, taking a gap year is a fantastic opportunity which can lead to fulfillment and self-discovery. n
11
Student Life
Cross Country Spotlight: What running means to athletes Kennedy Coleman ‘17, Reece Jones ‘19, and Coleman Gliddon ‘19
Olivia Sabates Conributor Cross country is an invigorating sport known for its physical demands and dedicated runners. Not only do they finish races with grace, but they finish them with triumph. Many in the Pembroke community recognize senior Kennedy Coleman, sophomore Reece Jones, and sophomore Coleman Gliddon for their outstanding accomplishments throughout their running careers. Kennedy placed second on the school team and 33rd overall in the state cross country meet. Reece received second place during the state competition and ran the second fastest time in Pembroke Hill history for boys. He was also the fastest freshman cross country runner PHS has ever had. He got 42nd out of 1057 people in the boys open division race, meaning he
placed 16th in is individual race. This year, he was the 12th fastest sophomore, running a 16:38. Coleman has run varsity as a sophomore and set many personal records. This article gives an insight into their glory and shows what it takes to earn such notable achievements. Behind every excelling team there is always a motivation which drives them to conquer difficult obstacles. When asked of her motivation, Kennedy said: “My team motivates me. There are plenty of days when I don’t feel like running a 400 meter hill, but I do it because I love my team.” Motivation varies from one peer to the next, and Coleman seems to exemplify that by stating, “I’m not a naturally competitive person, so I suppose probably I’m the source of a lot of my own motivation in
Kennedy Coleman ‘17 running for the raiders girls cross country team.
terms of getting better as a runner. I’ve found that setting personal goals tends to be a lot more effective and a lot less pressure than trying to meet goals from an external party.” When asked about the highlight of the season, Kennedy said: “The highlight of the season was the district race. We walked away with a MSHSAA plaque and earned a ticket to the final meet in Jefferson City.” For most athletes, there is a role model they strive to resemble. When asked of his inspiration, Reece responded by acknowledging his teammates: “ If I had to pick someone who encourages me the most, it would either be Matheus or Ben. They are constantly encouraging me to push through the pain and challenge myself to achieve bigger and bet-
Student Life 12
From left to right: Reece Jones ‘19 poses with Coach Medlock and Coach Kapp after medaling in a cross country race. Jones running for the Pembroke Hill Raiders.
ter things.” Similarly, Matheus Ramos was a major role model and mentor in Coleman’s eyes, as well. Every team member participating in a competition has had to conquer obstacles in his or her career. Kennedy’s challenge is “overcoming obstacles, workouts, and every aspect of running.” Reece added: “I guess my biggest challenge this season was injuries. At the end of the track season last year, I hurt my Achilles tendon, so I was unable to train most of the summer…” Coleman agrees, admitting his challenge is “overcoming the physiological boundaries.” These three runners aspire to achieve more goals in the future. When asked about her goals, Kennedy responded: “My goal is to get back to the runner I was a couple years ago and finally be proud of my season. I've struggled with injuries, racing disappoint-
ments, and slow times for a while now. All I can hope for this coming season is to break out of the running rut that I have been in.” Coleman suggests to all upcoming runners: “Don’t try to go too far, too fast. Know thy-
“They are entities of well-rounded students and truly display the saying, ‘Work hard, Play hard.’” self -- know your limits and know when you can break them.” Kennedy wants to inspire prospective runners by saying: “Just get out and run. Running is one of those sports where anybody can be good if they put the effort into training. You don't have to be coordinated or athletic to run a good 5k. All you need is determination and lots of training.”
Reece shares a similar philosophy, saying: “All it takes is time and effort, and the rest just comes naturally.” Kennedy, Reece, and Coleman display what it means to be a part of the Pembroke community with their sportsmanship. One of the other runners, Julia Rosher, states: “The support from Kennedy during the season demonstrated how much the team values our motto, ‘team love.’” It is only fair for their recognition to be shared as an example for many aspiring high school athletes. They are entities of well-rounded students and truly display the saying, “Work hard, Play hard.” The Pembroke community is proud to call them Raiders. We will continue to support them, and we look forward to hearing more about their successes in the future. n
From left to right: The girls cross country team poses for a post-race photo. Coleman Gliddon ‘19 running for the raiders.
13
Feature
Competition, Compassion, and Division Bringing Pembroke Together in Times of a Fractured Nation
From The Voice Staff Pembroke Hill’s close environment in which everyone knows everything about everyone else, from our “reach” colleges to our latest test scores, fosters competition in an already competitive school. Seniors applying to college sometimes find it hard not to see others as their competition, and it has become common to hear comments such as “he/she won’t get into _____ school” or “thankfully he/she
college we are applying to, something is keeping us apart. Of course, it is hard to come together in times when the nation itself is so split, but we at The Voice believe that is why it is more important than ever to unite our student body.
“Many students feel we are, more than ever, divided.” isn’t applying where I am!” Though these are seemingly innocent remarks, they generate an unnecessary atmosphere of competition in our school. The four pillars of Pembroke Hill are respect, scholarship, integrity, and compassion, and while we do not always have a firm grasp on all four, the one pillar that most needs our attention is compassion. Many students feel we are, more than ever, divided. Whether by grade, gender, race, GPA, political standing, or which
In mid-November some of our staff sat down with Mr. Hill and a group of student leaders to discuss compassion and the assembly on November 15th, which focused on uniting the student body. Our
principal made his concerns quite plain: He was worried about the division in our school. “The folks that were your friends and teammates and lab partners on Monday – they’re still those people,” Mr. Hill said. He stressed that “whenever things are difficult, we go back to those relationships”. While the most current example of conflict at school is the election, there are plenty of other examples of a fractured student body at PHS – most notably, competition. Pembroke is an academically rigorous school filled with academically rigorous students. This is seen explicitly through the blatant asking of test scores
“Consequently, students view one another as an impediment to their success rather than a peer.” and grades. When someone aces the AP Physics I test or fails that biology test, this knowledge passes through our halls
Feature 14
faster than rumors. However, more importantly, it is the implicit effects of competition that creates a divide within our school. Competition creates the mentality that the only way to succeed is to defeat another student, either through grades, colleges, or sports. School then becomes less about learning and more about a race of achievements. Consequently, students view one another as an impediment to their success rather than a peer. This twisted view that interschool competition generates is poisonous, and when mixed in with polarized political and social views, a hostile climate is inevitable. However, we do not want the environment of Pembroke to mirror that of the current state of the U.S. Seniors: congratulate your peers when they are accepted, and give them consolation when they are not because you know how difficult the college application process is, especially during these coming months. Earlier this fall, our choir director, Mr. Diffendaffer, decided the students would not sing the national anthem at
the annual choir concert. He was afraid any attempt at protesting the national anthem would negatively affect the rest of the concert, an event that should bring students together instead of being politicized, and he also did not want anyone
“It is difficult to put aside your differences when you feel the person sitting next to you is fundamentally wrong, but always keep in mind that another person’s views are just as valid as yours are” to feel “alienated or not supported.” Mr. Diffendaffer’s choice to exclude the national anthem from the concert was by no means a symbol of political protest; rather, it was a way to ensure no political protest would arise that night, and to remind the students that while their political views matter, their relationships to each other matter more in a school environment. Although our school has been frac-
tured recently, we hope compassion will eventually prevail within our community. We saw it happen when raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We saw it happen when supporting Momin Tahirkheli ‘17 after he suddenly fell ill, and we also saw it happen when a close faculty member passed away earlier this year. As a school, we must focus on these positive accomplishments as opposed to the forces that separate us. It is difficult to put aside your differences when you feel the person sitting next to you is fundamentally wrong, but always keep in mind that another person’s views are just as valid as yours are. Instead of arguing with them, listen to what they have to say. We are in no way saying you, the students, should avoid conflict or discussion. However, we do ask that you exercise compassion and respect when speaking with others, that your arguments are aimed to provoke thought instead of anger, and that you act with maturity even when those around you do not. n
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Feature
Victim Blaming: The Inexcusable Excuse
63% of sexual assaults are not reported to the police, only .6% go to prison Lindley Legg Contributor Sexual assault is a growing problem in our country. What’s more alarming, however, is how few people report these instances. According to National Sexual Violence Resource Center, 63% of sexual assaults are not reported to police, and 90% of sexual assault victims on college campuses do not report the assault. There are many reasons why a person might not come forward. However, they all stem from one single issue: victim blaming. Victim blaming devalues the crime and holds the victim responsible, often justifying the crime based on a victim’s appearance or level of sobriety. Victim blaming stems from sexist ideologies and is extremely harmful to our everyday society. For the perpetrator, blaming the victim sends the message that the act committed is acceptable and that, if it occurs again, they will be able to continue to walk free of punishment. For the victim, this act undermines their entire outlook, leading to even more mental trauma. In the wake of a notable rape case involving a college student taking advantage of an unconscious, inebriated woman such as the People of the State of
California v. Brock Allen Turner, it is important to recognize how school administrators deal with sexual assault and rape. Victim blaming becomes apparent in almost all sexual assault cases, but it is not
Protestor holding up a sign that says “Blame the system not the victim.”
always the perpetrator that directs the blame. Sometimes, it is the people you’re supposed to come forward to. It is, for this reason, that with each case of injustice, it
becomes harder to justify the merits of coming forward because of the risk to oneself. This is the case at many schools, where because of the policies on reporting law breaking, a victim who was under the influence of alcohol can be punished for their intoxication while being assaulted or raped. While consuming alcohol under the age of twenty-one in the United States is illegal, if someone is violated while under the influence, they deserve justice. If one chooses to come forward, one’s sobriety should not play any role in the legitimacy of the claim. Every time you try to justify an instance with a remark on one’s outfit (“she was asking for it by wearing that skirt”), behavior (“they were flirting”), or sobriety (“he shouldn’t have gotten that drunk”), you are benefitting the perpetrator. By justifying the crime, you send the message that the crime is acceptable and one will go unpunished and that the victim is at fault for what occurred. Overall, victim blaming contributes to the growing problem of sexual assault and rape in our society. Every 109 seconds, an American is sexually assaulted, but only 6 out of every 1,000 perpetrators will end up in prison. n
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Feature 16
Dakota Access Pipeline Project Protest BeKa Leuschen Contributor
Views from Kansas City Natives
On January 25th, 2016, the Dakota Access Pipeline Project received approval from the North Dakota Public Service Commission to begin construction on the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline. Over the last year, peaceful protestors from around the nation have made their way to Standing Rock Indian Reservation in support of the Great Sioux Nation’s efforts to stop the pipeline construction. This is the first time in over 140 years that the seven fires of the Sioux Nation have been lit under one flag. Kansas City natives Ryan Roberts and Kevin Decker have spent the last few months traveling back and forth to the Sacred Stone Spirit Camp at Standing Rock. Both have participated in prayer circles, yurt building, and other peaceful demonstrations. Kevin has even met other protesters from around the world, including The Fault In Our Stars’ Shailene Woodley. When asked to be interviewed for The Voice, both Ryan and Kevin were excited to tell their story. At the time of the interview, Kevin had just been arrested for the second time. Living Situation: When first arriving to Sacred Stone in August, Kevin and Ryan slept in tents. Since then, they have upgraded to living out of a 1974 Dodge camper and are currently building a traditional yurt for the winter. Although they are living out of a camper, many are still living in tents. “The goal is for everyone to be tent free come winter,” Ryan said. “The camp we stay at is going to be a permanent community,” she added. “Schools are being built. There is a midwife tent. Root cellars, greenhouse. All built by us is funded by donations.”
Violence: Ryan stressed the incorrect portrayal of the protests by the media, showing the violence on the front lines: “I cannot stress enough that there are no armed people. Violence is all being led by DAPL and law enforcement.” Kevin was even arrested on October 27 when participating in a prayer circle. “Nothing violent on his part,” Ryan added, “Not that he ever would.” Photos: 1. Protestors at Sacred Stone opposing water contamination. 2. Protestors obstructing construction of the pipeline. 3. The Campgrounds at Sacred Stone. 4. Kevin Decker during a protest.
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How to Help: Even if you are unable to be at Standing Rock, you can still help. Standing Rock also has an active wish list, stressing the need for firewood and propane for the coming winter. “There are several ways people can help from afar,” Ryan emphasized. “Amazon has a wish list and there are multiple gofundmes.” If you are interested in helping, you can donate money to these sites, including to Ryan and Kevin’s gofundme. Photo Credits: Ryan Roberts and Kevin Decker
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Feature
The Rise of in Millenials
Why teenagers are more anxious than ever Lily Jiang Copy Editor In recent years, anxiety and depression in adolescents has been at an all time high. An environment created by factors such as a heavy reliance on technology or the everchanging requirements for social acceptance has begun to worsen the stress young adults face on a daily basis. Now, the average teenager must adapt to the complications of rigorous education systems as well as pressure to maintain a social media identity. The dilemma arises when students become overwhelmed by a sense of inescapability when it comes to their life choices. This lack of control students feel when presented with these environmental and societal factors has ultimately caused the rise in anxiety disorders. A recent study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health reports, “about 30% of girls and 20% of boys–totaling 6.3 million teens–have had an anxiety disorder,” an increase since 2012. When analyzing the education system, one of the leading causes of anxiety stems from the perception that a quality education is a necessity, rather than a privilege or choice. Students are striving for the best grades they can achieve, which often comes at the expense of their health, especially as competition rises.
“About 30% of girls and 20% of boys– totaling 6.3 million teens–have had an anxiety disorder”
Similarly, with social media, teens are pressured to maintain a positive presence online, where they spend so much of their lives. As a result of spending so much time on these media sites, negative comments and interactions with others can take a toll on one’s mental health. A constant, toxic weight is thus placed on adolescents’ shoulders, perpetuated by social expectations. Anxiety disorders and, subsequently, depression are difficult illnesses to treat due to their secretive nature. People who have these illnesses often do not feel comfortable talking about them to their peers or parents; they do not want to burden others with their issues. One way many people, including adults, can help with this problem is by being more aware and present. Even though phones can be a great tool, parents
and adolescents tend to have healthier, more open relationships when they have face-to-face conversations, instead of constantly staring at screens. At a school like Pembroke Hill, where social and educational expectations are so high, students begin to feel anxiety because there is a lot of pressure to do well. Add on the pressure and competition of standardized tests, and—for many students—the stress skyrockets. For some, a significant increase in stress can lead to depression and an overflow of negative emotion. Often, when these emotions are not addressed, people tend to create outlets where they can be released, whether they are safe or not. Many find creativity to be an outlet for their thoughts and feelings. When there are no alternatives, however, some look to self-harm for a temporary release. In order to help these individuals, it is pertinent for people to be present and open to communication. This attitude can make hurting individuals feel more comfortable to seek help. n
“One of the leading causes of anxiety stems from the perception that a quality education is a necessity, rather than a privilege or choice”
“At a school like Pembroke Hill, where expectations are so high, students begin to feel anxiety because there is a lot of pressure to do well”
Photo Poll:
Student Life 18
What is the best gift you have received? Ellie Ruland and Sophie Utz Staff Writer and Contributor
Jack Ramza ‘18:
“Once, on my sister’s birthday, my uncle gave me a huge check because he thought it was my birthday.”
Mac Mullen ‘20: “A phone”
Abby Long ‘20:
“I was 14 and got a Hello Kitty backpack from my grandma”
Joel Diffendaffer: “Becoming a dad”
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Columns
Written by Mrs. Abernathy
The Human i When assigned a book they have been told has value, students sometimes struggle to match their perceptions of what matters to those of the instructor. However, I have found that when assigning Tracy K. Smith’s Pulitzer Prize winning book of poems Life on Mars to my junior classes, there is little to no question what value is to be found there. As Smith said in a recent visit to Kansas City, “Reading puts you in inextricable proximity with someone who could change you.” This seventy-page volume of poems speculates upon the vastness of outer and inner space, and what we humans have yet to explore, encounter, and confront. Being in close proximity with these poems offers the reader an opportunity to slow down and consider his or her place within the vastness, but Smith’s poems also ask the reader to imagine what the spaces between us mean as well. In poems that teach one another how to read the scope of her project, Smith’s “IT & CO.” (placed in the middle of the first of a four section book) and the finale poem of the collection, “US & CO.,” when read in conjunction, also teach the reader how to ask questions about the human desire to comprehend our relation to something greater, and seemingly less comprehensible than ourselves. Whether that something is God, time, or the stars that “avoid the blunt ends / Of our fingers as we point,” Smith
Poet and author Tracy K. Smith
begins her poem “IT & CO.” by declaring that “We are a part of It. Not guests” (ll.6-7, 1). Despite our awareness of this connection, bafflingly, we must still be convinced that we belong to the world we wake up to every morning and experience as real. Like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, again and again we must “feel around making sense of the terrain, / our own new limbs, / Bumping up against
“Whatever It is we seek, she acknowledges the imagination is the driving force of our dedication to principle.” a herd of bodies / until one becomes home” (“US & CO.” ll.3-6). The same sense of awe and confusion we apply to the skies we also apply to the physical boundaries of our interior selves. Our bodies make the world experiential for us, make it real, yet our inner space still seems to be where we often feel a guest in our own flesh. This mind-body disconnection can also be experienced as a body-universe discon-
Columns 20 nection on several scales—one feels a sense of reduction when considering the scale of a human body to the nearly incomprehensible scale of a multiverse reality, where the mind is so boggled that there is little distinction between it and any other small organ; or, one might experience a sense of physical reduction when considering their mortality. How can I cease to exist, but yet, all this…? Smith answers for us: “How can It be anything but an idea, / Something teetering on the spine / Of the number i?” (“IT & CO.” ll. 3-5). The bravado of positing the question in such a declarative manner belies the fragility of the image that follows: Whatever It is we seek, she acknowledges the imagination is the driving force of our dedication to principle. As Poe said, “Invisible things are the only realities” (“Loss of Breath,” 1835). Our ability to conceive of a number like zero—nothing— invisible—is what drives the ability of humans to do calculus and thereby physics, mind exercises that test the limits of the physical. We find value in our ability to conceive of the invisible, but sometimes we forget to value how there is also a palpable reality to what we cannot see with the human eye. The language of math is a universal that Smith exploits to her advantage, but there’s also the metaphysics that Smith ponders—why we care so much about how our minds and bodies relate to the multiverse, universe, galaxy, solar system, planet, continent, country, state, city, county, neighborhood, street, cul-de-sac, house, hearth, and other hearts. Once we leave the continent, most of us have reached the extremity of our physical estrangement from place,
“Being in close proximity with these poems offers the reader an opportunity to slow down and consider his or her place within the vastness...” but at some point we all probe the cosmos with our imaginations, whether via daydreams, dreams, or purposeful narratives. As the daughter of one of the engineers who worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, Smith uses a telescopic lens to consider the human conundrum of making meaning—we seek meaning through “Bibles and bandwidth, blooming / Like a wound from the ocean floor” (“IT & CO.” ll. 9-10). Smith plays on both the concepts of scope
and binaries—we appear to seek within limits. Claiming It is “unconvinced by our zeal” and that It “resists the matter of false vs. real,” she questions whether answers are to be found in any human conception of our meaning (ll. 12, 11). Even when our religions, philosophies, scientific theories and evidences are applied—what can we say we know? She does not console us: “It is like some novels: / Vast and unreadable” (ll.13-14). Meaning is a product of our narrative. But it is also in tension with what we have yet to see, like dark matter—transparent but dense. But this is not where she leaves us. After a collection that confronts everything from birth to Bowie, Smith finally asks us to consider “US & CO.,” a poem that is sparse on the page, but intentionally so. The blank space between lines, always interrupting complete sentences, forcing the reader to confront discomfort with emptiness, asking the reader to make sense of disconnection, is what unifies the poem. It is the unseen that connects. It is the imaginary that fills in the blank space. Exterior, interior: We are here for what amounts to a few hours, a day at most. (ll. 1-2) The IT must become an US if time and space are to have meaning. We are the venue, the host, the guest. That we is only as limited as we imagine it to be—what fills the space is what we decide fills the space and then act upon to create. Is the atmosphere breathable or is it poisonous? We must never stop asking if the planet where we reside is merely survivable, but we must also ask is it habitable? Is it inhabited by humans able to acknowledge the spaces between us are also opportunities that have meaning when we let them? Smith asks us to confront our disconnection from this planet when she titles her collection Life on Mars. Instead of looking to other planets, places, empty spaces we can define with our humanity, Smith suggests we are already here, if we could just see. We live on Mars. This landscape is becoming unfamiliar to many—drier or wetter, hotter or colder. The air is difficult to breathe. Fellow humans seem alien. Why turn our eyes to the sky and point those blunt fingers anywhere but back at ourselves? As Smith ponders in the title poem: what if dark matter is the space between people / When what holds them together isn’t exactly love […] / how strong that pull can be, as if something that knows better won’t let you drift apart so easily” (“Life On Mars” 1.1-4). We may not love all of our fellow humans, but the invisible threads that tether us together, on this planet, have meaning that is worth discerning. n
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Columns
McLain’s Bakery 201 E Gregory Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64114
Bella Barnes Managing Editor Since opening its doors in 1945, McLain’s has always been a favorite of the Waldo community. Initially attracting crowds with their pecan sandies, McLain’s has added a full coffee and tea bar to its offerings. The bakery is also a place to relax with its leather couches, or to finish a term paper. McLain’s also boasts a collection of delicious pastries perfect for the holiday season. Wanting to hear more about the bakery, I sat down with Pamela Curry, McLain’s head barista. V: How long have you worked here, and what’s your job title? P: I’ve been working here for a little over two years. I don’t have an official title, but I’m the head barista, and shift leader. I work in the front usually, and ring people out. I also make coffee and tea. I do deliveries too. V: When does the average day at McLain’s start? P: Well, I work in the front so I don’t get here until 6:30. Our bakers get here between 2 and 5 in the morning to start getting everything ready for the day. They usually work until noon. V: What’s your favorite thing about working at McLain’s? P: I love learning about cakes, and different things like that. It’s been a lot of fun seeing people with different weddings and anniversaries, and to be a part of their lives in that way. V: How does McLain’s differ now from the original store opened in 1945?
P: Well, the store has changed hands twice from when the McLain family opened in the forties. One family owned it for almost 15 years, but then about 3 years ago the newest family bought it. But it’s always remained a family place. V: What kind of crowd does McLain’s attract? P: Everyone. Mostly families from the neighborhood because it’s so close to their houses. A few people drive for our sandies, but the crowd we get is mostly from around here. V: What’s McLain’s mission? P: We don’t really have one set in stone, but I most of it is to uphold the integrity of McLain family name. And in general making sure we are holding as close to original recipes, while introducing new things like our coffee and tea bar. Basically adding the new, and keeping the old. V: Is that constant evolution what drew you to McLain’s? P: Initially, I always knew I wanted to work at a bakery, and to get to know all
the owners, and work together. It’s been a lot of fun to see things change. It’s definitely a lot of fun, and it always keeps you on your toes. You definitely feel like you’re a part of something, instead of being thrown into the mundane. I always know it’s gonna be improving. V: What’s your most popular item on the menu? And what’s your favorite? P: We have two. Our butter roll, which is just a plain pastry. And then our Cup Cookie, which is a pecan Sandy with chocolate frosting on it. My favorite is our gingerbread cookie, which is seasonal. I like things that change, I get bored of the mundane. V: What’s it like working preparing for the holidays? Which holiday are you the busiest? P: It’s always hectic, I don’t think you can ever predict a holiday. You don’t always know what the day is going to look like. It could be Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving are our busiest, but Christmas is for sure the busiest of all of them.
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DAM
STRAIGHT
WITH NATALIE DAMERON As I ended my last article, I was wishing that you would vote. I said that our democracy and freedom as Americans depended on you voting. And we have found this to be true. I know that the election has dominated the news, all types of media, and nearly every conversation of our lives for the past 18 months. However, I want to conclude this political discussion with one last piece of advice: never stop fighting. There have been several attempts to bridge the gap this election has created, and yet it seems as though we are still divided. But, we must continue to fight. The worst thing you can do right now is remain silent. Although there are times to merely listen and contemplate, now is the time
to stand up for what you believe is right and stand against what you believe is wrong. Whether this means attending protests, joining secret facebook groups, or donating money to Planned Parenthood in Mike Pence’s name, staying involved is what matters. Now is not the time to retreat because this may not have been the outcome you, or anyone, saw coming. Now is the time to listen, think, and then act. There is strength in numbers. Although it is becoming more popular to write off peaceful protests as “whining” or “complaining,” I see them as the opposite. Where would society be without the civil rights protests? Or the protests against the Vietnam War? Previously in history, America has protested what people thought was wrong or unjust. When
did protests change from being powerful to condemned? I still believe in the power of a protest. Start with something small that can be developed into something much larger. Within the Kansas City community, numerous protests have taken place and various groups have been formed. Furthermore, the safety pin symbol has surfaced in schools all across the nation, including Pembroke. So I ask that you find what you are passionate about, and take matters into your own hands. Don’t sit this one out. Don’t take the backseat. Instigate change where you believe it is most necessary. Take John Mayer’s “Waiting on the World to Change,” and turn it into The Beatles “Revolution.” Most importantly, as my union-activist Grandpa Bill used to say: don’t agonize; organize. n
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Columns
Where we stand:
Wil Rowland Columnist After an election I envisioned turning out differently, it is time to address the policies that could soon be put into place by our Supreme Leader. Although the cornerstone of Trump’s policy is now focused on finding new ways to disrespect women, there was once a time when his most shocking remarks came when talking about border control. In Trump’s first campaign event, he released his charitable approach to deportation. Throughout the election, he ran on the figure of 11 million. Although it would be nice to just deport all of these people, there is unsurprisingly a lot more to this issue than Trump conveys. Throughout the history of America, there is a trend of viewing all enemies to the nation as fictionalized villains. From the British during the revolutionary war to the “commies” who were so universally hated during the Cold War, we make every opposer the epitome of evil. Now, I argue that the current bias of America revolves around a fear and often a hatred of the immigrants entering the country. They are painted by Trump as terrorists, rapists, and, most importantly, criminals. These claims have obviously been perceived
as somewhat truthful, as he has won the Presidency using such statements, but in fact the truth to Donald is more of an annoyance than a necessity. There is truth in the fact that native born men in America are incarcerated at a rate of over two times than that of foreign-born men. Similarly, among the youth, crime-rates are the lowest for uneducated immigrants, especially among Mexicans. This population is used as a scapegoat for the more complex issues facing the lower and middle classes. The blame game has been played by politicians for decades, however it is the first time in a long time that there has been so much widespread lying about an entire group of people. It is nearly impossible to argue for completely open borders and I certainly do not think that a policy such as this would be even moderately successful. The call for mass deportation or registry of all immigrants from Islamic countries violates a fundamental American value. The call to “Make America Great Again” is really an effort to making america white again, as immigrant labour and culture have historically helped the nation
flourish. Those who argue for completely closed borders, simply seek to punish a group they already fear for problems that are complete-
“Those who argue for completely closed borders, simply seek to punish a group they already fear for problems that are completely unrelated.” ly unrelated. Despite what many think, immigrant labour does not take away jobs nor harm native-born workers. It also does not cause states or the federal government any more spending. Unfortunately there is not a black and white answer to solve all of the economic problems that the U.S. is facing today. It certainly would be nice if all the immigrant workforce would stop being so productive so we could just deport them by the millions. However, this is not the reality, and so we cannot yet expel an entire group of people for just their ethnicity. n
Left: Sign supporting border patrol in Amado, Arizona. Right: Immigrant rights march in California. Bottom: Death Monument for US-Mexico Border.
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Should the United States Adopt an Open Border Policy? Grace Parkerson Columnist In the past months, I have heard many people joking about moving out of the country in response to the election results. Some celebrities vowed to move if their candidate lost, among them Amy Schumer. Honestly, I was thrilled when Amy Schumer announced that she’d move to Spain if Trump was elected. Unfortunately, she has since taken the statement back, saying it was “only a joke,” adding to her long list of jokes that nobody thought were funny. Maybe Amy remembered that nobody would care if she left America, but just as compelling might be that Amy realized moving to any country you wish is difficult because of the immigration regulations in most countries. The debate on open borders needs to be addressed because while upset celebrities are threatening to leave the United States, millions of people want to come in. Hillary Clinton once said that her “dream” is a “hemispheric common market, with open trade and open borders.” I think Clinton would find that her dream would become quickly turn into nightmare. With open trade and open borders,
we would be importing the best of what the world has to offer and the worst of what the world has to offer, with absolutely no ability to choose. Let’s back up a minute. The popularity of the United States as an immigration destination is unparalleled, and that is very lucky for us. We should all be grateful for the extraordinary people all around the world that choose us as the #1 place to move. Immigrants have been and will always be essential to the success of our nation. I understand why we are so popular with those choosing a new home. Here we can worship, believe, live and love as we like; we have the most extensive freedoms of any nation. It makes me proud that foreigners choose us as our new home. But Clinton’s dream of letting anyone in who wishes to come to America would jeopardize the very freedoms that make our nation so special. To keep a democracy or a society based on freedom and individual liberties requires a limit on the number of people coming in. Without borders, people who don’t respect women, the LGBTQ commu-
Where the Students Stand: Should america have mainly open or mainly closed borders?
nity, and American values would be able to freely come into the U.S. We should not bring in other people who do not respect our priority of liberties. Only people who want to become American should come to the country, ones who want to adopt our values. The number of people we let in is how many we can assimilate. That number should be as high as our country can handle. Just letting anybody in who might threaten the very values we fought wars over is not sensible, and I cannot support allowing people to come to the United States that don’t believe in equal rights. “A nation without borders is not a nation at all,” says
“Letting anyone in who wishes to come to America would jeopardize the very freedoms that make our nation so special.” President-elect Donald Trump, which is reminiscent of a Ronald Reagan quote, “a nation that cannot control its borders is not a nation.” What Reagan is saying here is that without control of immigration, would no longer stand for or believe in anything as a nation. Mass immigration would also amplify with open borders, creating major problems for the country. America would get overpopulated, the government would no longer be able to sustain proper public services, and the country’s safety would be in danger. Like any other type of group, America has the right to control who is allowed in the country and who is not. Having open borders could never work because America would have no way of controlling who comes into the country (hello, ISIS). There would be no way of keeping terrorists out of the country. There would be no way of keeping diseases and criminals out of the country either. With the implementation of open borders, the safety of American citizens would be greatly jeopardized. The reason that almost all countries steer away from open borders is because of its impracticality. There are few nations that can survive without borders, and the United States surely is not one of them. I believe that the national security is the largest factor in this debate; the United States’s priority is to keep citizens safe, an impossible task without national borders. n
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Columns
Unbiased Opinions with Clay Lundgren ‘17 An Open Letter to the American People I was going to write a piece on something else this month, but here I sit on November 9, 2016. Here I sit in a country so vastly divided and seemingly irreparably tainted by politics that I struggle to get through a single conversation without inciting a political argument. However, the arguments are often fruitful, and I feel that I have some points itching to be penned. Thus, I hope you’ll indulge me, just this once, as I describe some of the feelings I’m having at the moment. If, after reading this, you have differing views, I’d be happy to hear them. However, for the time being, here are my thoughts in prose on this post-election eve: What bothers me most about the decision from this election is not even Trump himself. What bothers me most is the people who elected him. Those who have sat at the back-burner of our democracy with their seemingly impossible racist, xenophobic, homophobic, transphobic, and islamophobic views now have a stage and a loud voice to legitimize their claims. This great American democracy has now reopened the platform for more Fred Phelpses and Jim Crows. These are the people who it was convenient for us to simply block out with our blinders. Well take the blinders off. Those who we chose to forget now have the forefront and hold the floor. We can no longer sit idly by and hope they never get another chance to bully, maim, defame, or destroy. They now feel strength in numbers--strength in knowing that half of the voting nation is behind them. Strength in knowing that they can discriminate with little consequence when the head of the free world would do little to stop them. This is not to say that all Trump supporters are inherently evil. That would be a sweeping overgeneralization. Trump appealed to many white voters who feel disenfranchised by the current administration. They’re allowed to feel that way. I don’t hate anyone for voting for Trump. I merely hope that, when push comes to shove, they will renounce violent action against the disenfranchised populations
of America. Moreover, the blame for this outcome, truly, lies with those of us who have vast privilege to our names. The phrase “Check your Privilege” is not a joke. Do it. Do us all a favor and understand that we, the categorical oppressors, the blissfully unaware, the lackadaisical bystanders are largely responsible for this. In not doing more, we have only further blighted all those we’d like to claim we respect. Maybe now the feeling is a bit more real for all of us. Through our inaction, we’ve created an imposing threat to so much of the progress from the last five decades. If you’re like me, and you’d like to think you’re not racist, then prove it. If you’re like me, and you’d like to think you aren’t a xenophobe or a homophobe, then do not belittle causes which deserve attention and extra momentum. If you truly believe in the betterment of our country, then do not disparage important causes like BLM or the Not-My-President protests. We’ve had our turn. Support others and their voices. This election is the white narrative. It is now time to give support to the Black narrative. The Latin narrative. The Gay narrative. The Trans narrative. The Disabled narrative. The Jewish narrative. The Muslim narrative. It’s time to support the outcries of sexual assault victims. It’s time to stop suppressing the marginalized voices of those who have not yet had a chance to have the same privileges as us. Until there is no wage gap, race gap, or hate crime, then we cannot stop. Until a person of color can do something as simple as walk down their own street past sundown without worry, then we cannot stop. We of privilege should all try a little harder to support everyone who is afraid, angry, or upset about the outcome of this election. Do not invalidate the fears of others just because you have not felt it yourself. If you have felt it, then you know what it is like to feel utterly belittled by those with more societal inheritances than you. Though your safety might not seem to be in direct danger, many of your friends, colleagues, loved
ones, or acquaintances may be frightened for their well-being in the wake of an election which showed to any non-believers that America is still in the past. That is not to say that there is not hope. We, together, can build a stronger tomorrow. Refuse to believe in the regressive narrative of making something great again. Believe that we are great now. Believe in hope, change, and that we are stronger together. Believe that by holding our heads high, locking arms, protecting those who need it, and forging ahead, we can overcome anything. We can change the narrative together. Arm-in-arm, handin-hand, if we hold our heads high, if we don’t let ourselves be intimidated by those who have taken the low road, then we can prevail. Whether you are liberal, conservative, or anything in between, you are firstly a human being. And we must stick together to overcome all challenges which we face. Am I angry, confused, and afraid about what has happened? Sure. But most of all, I know that we mustn't give up. I’m not going to give up. I believe that we can make a better tomorrow. I believe that if we join our voices together and speak, fight for just causes, and help those in need, then we can emerge from the next four years stronger and more united than ever before. In the coming months, should you ever feel disenfranchised, scared, or attacked, know that there are countless sets of open arms here in our community. Staff, students, and teachers alike are all here to help you in any way you feel you need. From hugs to open ears, we don’t want a single member of our community to feel out of place. Should you need immediate support, here are the numbers for various outreach lines in the US: The Trevor Project: 866-4-U-TREVOR Trans Lifeline: 877-565-8860 The GLBT National Help Center: 888-THE-GLNH Youth Talkline: 800-246-PRIDE The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-TALK n
Columns 26
This Month in History Max Keeney Columnist
Of course, no discussion of “fleeing in terror” is complete without mentioning Russia, a country that is to “overwhelming existential horror” as Saudi Arabia is to oil. On December 11th 1994, we have the occurrence of The First Chechen War. Boris Yeltsin drunkenly careened Russia out of the smoldering wreckage of the Soviet Union into the exciting, new wreckage of the Russian Federation. Facing the issue of Chechnya, a small muslim republic in the Caucasus that declared independence from Russia, Yeltsin ordered his army of freshly-recruited, poorly equipped troops to invade. We have no evidence that he was advised by a time-travelling Dick Cheney, but the evidence certainly points to it. Envisioning a quick war, the fighting soon became a brutal slog in which Russian forces bombed the Chechen capital of Grozny into rubble, ironically killing several thousand ethnic Russians and giving Grozny the dubious distinction of “most bombed European city since World War II.” The failure of the war in Chechnya was a major factor in Yeltsin’s eventual resignation to current president Vladimir Putin, who presumably keeps Russian troops in the region just to protect the Chechens from his personal wrath.
Bangladesh flag with Bangladesh inscribed in the middle.
December 23rd, 1805: Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, is born and immediately assigned six separate wives.
December
Salutations to my loyal readership. I sincerely appreciate each of you taking time out of your busy schedules of pro-Trump insurrections, anti-Trump insurrections and pro-Insurrection insurrections to enjoy my article. Wiser people have said, in times of division, there is nothing more important than compassion. Of course, those people don’t have magazine columns, and I don’t have wisdom, so instead I look forward to treating you all to the finest dregs of history the month of December has to offer.
December 10th, 1948: The UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights is proclaimed, and promptly ignored. Under the Declaration, the United Nations is fully empowered to send strongly worded letters asking bloodthirsty warlords across the world to please behave.
Finally, the very next day marks the anniversary of the Independence of Bangladesh from Pakistan in 1971. After dawdling on the subcontinent for nearly three centuries, the British wasted no time in extricating themselves from India in 1947, but not before drawing one more random colonial border, just for old times’ sake. At independence, the heavily populated region of Bengal was partitioned between India and the entirely-unconnected nation of Pakistan. The British originally planned to further divide Bengal between South Africa, Australia, and the Principality of Liechtenstein, but eventually decided it’d be enough to left India and Pakistan work it out. Despite making up more than half of Pakistan’s population, the region that would become Bangladesh was heavily underrepresented in the government in Islamabad. After drawback, Pakistan sent in troops to place Bangladesh under military law, which quickly spiralled into full blown genocide. Bangladesh declared its independence in March, and was supported by India and the Soviet Union. As per Cold War logic, the United States under Nixon supported Pakistan and refused to label the killings in Bangladesh a genocide, insisting that the systematic destruction of an entire culture could only possibly be perpetrated by communists, never the freedom-loving military dictators of Pakistan. Needless to say, “Tricky Dick” Nixon remains unpopular in Bangladesh.
And that’s all for this month. Stay tuned for my next installment on January, you’ll never guess the excitement I’ve got in store. Unless you like, open a book or something. n
27
Reviews
Paolo Laskero Contributor
TV Show Review: Black Mirror
Genius. It is the only world that I think fully encapsulates the essence of Charlie Brooker’s masterpiece, Black Mirror. Black Mirror is a series of independent anthologies that chronicles the perils of technology. The show retains an element of relevance due to its realistic tone and its parallels with our own world of ever increasing technology. The genius of the show is that it intrigues the viewer by exploring the concept of an interesting piece of technology, but then demonstrates the downfalls of that technology’s effect on a person. The show delves into ideas such as how society would react to a prime minister being forced to copulate with a pig, what the ability to record and playback memories can do to relationships; if is it within human capability to recreate loved ones after they die; how far a person will go to prevent information from being leaked by an anonymous source; what society would look like if everything was based on ratings; and what soldiers would be like with the power of a computer inside their head.
The show blends together the brand of psychological horror used in the Twilight Zone with the format of a Shakespearean tragedy. None of the episodes end on a particularly happy note and it is certainly a show with draining emotional effects. This usually leaves me feeling not particularly entertained, but the show holds the capability to keep you watching based on intrigue and impressive construction, despite such bleak subject matter. Season three was recently produced by Netflix after a two year hiatus, and it came back better than ever. The show beautifully captures realism through phenomenal acting talents of Toby Kebbell, Jon Hamm, Rafe Spall, Rory Kinnear, Hayley Atwell, Domhnall Gleeson, Bryce Dallas Howard, and Kelly Macdonald (to name a few), the masterful directing (keep your eyes on Dan Trachtenberg, that guy is going places), but most of all the utterly genius writing of Charlie Brooker. Netflix has already ordered a fourth season, and I personally cannot wait. I highly urge anyone and everyone to check out this show. It is genius. n
ALbum Review: DC by Meek MilL On October 28, Philadephia product Meek Mill released his long-anticipated mixtape, DC4, the fourth volume from his successful Dreamchasers series. It is no secret that Meek Mill is an unpopular figure with many other rappers, specifically Drake and The Game. This may be due to his love of dropping diss tracks and calling out other rappers over social media. His recent feuds with Drake account for much of his public image and infamous status, and although Meek drops hints of disses and his feuds in this mixtape, he has changed his main focus to his music. Meek Mill hails from Philadelphia, a city that boasts decades-worth of hip/hop as well as new, unfound rappers, and he found no trouble finding plenty of eastcoast talent to collaborate with. DC4 featured artists and producers ranging from local Philly counterparts like Lil Uzi, to XXL Freshmen like 21 Savage, to Atlantabased veterans like Quavo and Young Thug. To say this mixtape includes music from unique rappers of all horizons is
an understatement. Every featured artist is highly respected in his own right and each brings his own distinct style and sound to each track. Possibly Meek’s most widespread hit
from this mixtape, “Offended,” is a perfect example of the high quality music that Meek Mill is bringing now, but has lacked in his past projects. The instrumental not only matches flawlessly with the flow of 21 Savage and Young Thug, but the rap execution that Meek Mill displays in his verse, as well as the overall production, attention to every last detail. Mill’s rap style has greatly
Jake Jones Contributor matured, and this track fully captures his continued progression. My personal favorite track is “Lights Out” featuring Don Q. A rising star out of NYC, Don Q brings a gritty yet smooth sound to the song. I will admit that Meek’s sound is frequently overbearing as he is often heard shouting his raps, but surprisingly his confident demeanor paired with a well-produced background track make this song unforgettable. Meek Mill and Don Q make their presence felt and heard outright. There is little hype surrounding this song, but it has the chance to finally validate Meek’s ability to be a serious contender in the rap game. At the very least, Dreamchasers 4 is a vast improvement from anything Meek has ever released. Simply put, this mixtape will be memorable, and it has fully restored my trust in Meek Mill as a committed and respected competitor. I promise you will appreciate Meek Mill after you listen to this mixtape and if you don’t, you probably like Drake a little too much. n
Personality Quiz
28
Which Lunch faculty member are you?
Natalie Dameron and Lindsay Luchinsky Columnist and Contributor
Q: If you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life, what movie would you watch?
Q: What is your favorite band? 1) The Beatles 2) Arrowsmith 3) Kitaro or Mannheim Steamroller
1) The Sound or Shawshank Redemption 2) Trading Places 3) The Last Samurai
Q: If you could visit anywhere in the world, where would you go? Q: What is your favorite meal? 1) Two spinach and cheese enchiladas and a margarita 2) Pizza 3) Rib-eye Steak, green beans, onion and mushrooms, baked potato, butter and sour cream with ice tea.
1) Flagstaff, Arizona 2) Africa 3) Tibet
Q: What is your favorite hobby? 1) Singing and playing music 2) Feeding the homeless 3) Metalworking, forging and re-fishing.
Mostly 1’s You are most similiar to Brendan MacNaughton!
Mostly 2’s You are most similar to Cedric Kizine!
Mostly 3’s You are most similar to Robert Kinney!
Crossword
ACROSS 1. Google’s first phone 5. New boys tennis coach 6. Approximately ____ million fans showed up to the Cubs’ parade 7. Teacher sponsor of science bowl 8. Girls basketball head coach 9. Sophomore class president 12. The Daily Show with ______ 13. Sophomore retreat location 15. This recent PHS alumni who attends UVA was named Nation’s TOP 10 Army ROTC Cadets
DOWN 2. Community that is currently winning the Community Cup 3. This once-popular video app is being shut down 4. English department dressed up as characters from this movie for Halloween 10. Poet who spoke at our school and wrote Life on Mars 11. Hallelujah singer/songwriter who recently passed away 14. Hazard lecture speaker
30
Letter from the
Editors Dear readers, The four pillars in our school are posted on the walls of classrooms and hallways on bright red and blue paper: Compassion, Respect, Integrity, and Scholarship. With all the competition in academics and all of the political chaos, we saw a division forming in our school that mirrored the division that exists right now in our country. As one of Pembroke Hill’s four main pillars, Compassion cannot diminish because of competition. Our cover features the gratuity board in which students and teachers posted what they are grateful for. In times of strain and divisiveness, especially on topics that seem so personal, it is necessary to recognize the compassion in others and offer that compassion as well. We hope this issue enforces the idea that we are all one school and one community, willing to help each other despite our differences.
whispers
news blurbs from around school
alex dickey ‘17 and brandon washington ‘17 . . . won the john jackson award for soccer ethan lane ‘19 . . . made the kc metro district #3 all-district jazz band as a pianist natalie dameron ‘17 . . . was named a fox 4’s reaching 4 excellence young achiever madrigals . . . will be the featured choir at a spring concert in carnegie hall coach o’toole and coach hughes . . . both achieved 300 wins this season
Shannon Fang and Davis Brooks
The Voice Podcast
daniel bauman ‘18 . . . had his letter to the editor published in the kc star
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. Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice. The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.
Editors-in-Chief Davis Brooks and Shannon Fang
Senior Designer Olive Honan Head of Digital Lauren Washington Photographers Bella Barnes Illustrator Olive Honan
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
Middle School Coordinator Jacqueline Kincaid
Staff Writers Maggie Burke Paolo Laskero Kaitlyn Storm Ellie Ruland Rachel Colligan
Business Manager Baylor McCrary
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