THE VOICE VOLUME XXXII | OCTOBER 2015
GOT SENIORITIS? PG. 12
5 Saurabh Goel ‘16 explains the details and differences of the new SAT; he also disscusses the importance of taking standardized tests in the first place.
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Mikayla Ferguson ‘16 compares the two gourmet burger restaurants BRGR and Blanc Burgers in her column, Food Fight.
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Reviews - 22 Splashnotes - 17 Sam Dowling Interview - 20 Q&A - 16 KC Crawl - 26 Dancers of the Issue - 6 Alone Time - 10
Table Table of of Contents Contents 24 Lauren Washington ‘18 interviewed Jeff Diskin, Pembroke Hill Baseball coach and Coordinator of Cultural Development for the Kansas City Royals, about the team’s affect on our city and their plans for the future.
13 - Senioritis 11 - Photo Poll 18 - AFS Profile 14 - Calvin and Hobbes 26 - “Dam Straight”
In his column, UnBiased Opinions, Clay Lundgren ‘17 discusses the originality of movie posters. He highlights old and new styles of movie advertising, praising classics like Psycho, and pointing out ovious flaws in newer posters.
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BUZZ Fall Facts
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PHS in Review: October Girls Golf places second in State and India Gaume ‘18 places first individually
Parker Beaham and Kit Frazen ‘16 are voted as Homecoming King and Queen Freshmen girls show their patriotism and school spirit for “America Monday” during Sprit Week
Girls Tennis wins third in State! Yurie Heard ‘16 placed first individually 4
New SAT Format Saurabh Goel Managing Editior In March 2016, major changes are coming to the SAT. For this year’s seniors, college applications will already be over, and the year will be winding down. For juniors, however, the college process is just beginning, and these changes are significant. A lot of students (understandably) dislike testing, but standardized tests are an important part of the college process. Not only do these exams help develop important skills, such as critical thinking, but they also provide an opportunity for students to directly compete with several millions of students around the country and the world. Standardized tests are perhaps the only objective measure for colleges and universities to compare their potential students. Grade point average, extracurricular activities, and internships are useful but can drastically vary from school to school and even from student to student within the same school. GPA, for instance, measures a student’s performance in each of his or her courses. However, if my peers, even within my own school, have easier course loads, or have teachers that grade more leniently, they tend to have higher GPAs. Does that mean that they are better candidates for colleges, or that they are taking rigorous courses? Not necessarily. School GPA aims to measure students objectively to some degree anyway, so why not establish a “national GPA” through standardized testing? While these tests may be stressful, they can help you see where you stand among students across the nation and tell you what academic areas to work on improving. So, what do the changes to the SAT mean for students preparing for college applications? The current format of the SAT consists of three categories of questions: Critical Reading, Writing (with a mandatory essay), and Math. These sections total to a maximum score of 2400. The critical
reading section contains a separate sentence-completion section, which asks students to understand how to use difficult words correctly. Currently, there is also a 1/4 point penalty for each incorrectly answered question. With the new format, the exam is reduced to two tests, a Math section and a combined Reading and Writing test, with an optional essay. The scoring will also be out of 1600 instead, with no penalty for wrong answers. The PSAT, which juniors and sophomores took this October, also reflects these changes. The overall focus of the SAT is definitely changing. While the old test tends to focus on a broad range of content and skills, the new exam has fewer questions with an emphasis on in-depth analysis of content and evidence. The math section has a renewed emphasis on problem solving and real-life scenarios, and the reading and writing section seems to require more thorough comprehension, with no separate vocabulary section. By doing so, the College Board aims to better align the test with skills necessary for college and career readiness. Just ask Kanye West; you don’t want to be a complacent career student scared to face the world. In some ways, these shifts make the SAT more similar to the ACT, which has fewer and longer sections. While it is still very early in the college process for juniors, it may be time to start thinking about which test you will take, considering these new changes. Identifying your strengths early on can help you decide whether to take the ACT, new SAT, or both. It is hard to assess either one’s relative difficulty level as it varies from student to student. Whichever one you take, keep in mind that while these exams are not trivial, they are, in the long run, a very small part of your life. So, do your best to prepare for them, but also follow in the words of hip-hop visionary Lil Wayne: Make jokes. No stress. Love. Live life. Proceed. Progress.n
Do You Plan to Take the SAT or ACT?
The above chart represents the responses from random sampling of the Pembroke Hill class of 2017 5
Dancers of the Issue Rachel Colligan Staff Writer
Maggie Burke Maggie Burke ‘17 and Long ‘17 may seem typical Pemjuniors, but thing speT h e y ’r e
Meghan like your broke Hill there is somecial about them. busy spending many of their hours after school dancing and perfecting their technique at this difficult art form. For them, the Christmas season is more than caroling and Christmas trees: It’s Nutcracker season. Their lives are a balancing act of high academic standards and a demanding dance schedule, but they both have many things they love about dancing, and that makes it all worthwhile.
V: When did you start dancing? Did you choose to dance or has it just always been part of your life? MB: I started at a small studio by both a Chinese restaurant and a dumpster, where I did tap and jazz. When I was about 6, I came to Kansas City Ballet, so I’ve probably had 10 years of serious dancing. ML: I started at KCB when I was 2. It was at Somerset Ballet, which was later bought by Kansas City Ballet to be their Johnson County campus. Two of my neighbors, Morgan Peterson and Anna Price, who were actually both students at Pembroke Hill, were in the Nutcracker when I was really little. After I saw them, my parents heard me pirouetting around upstairs in my crib late at night. They came up to check on me and I told them I was getting ready to be in the Nutcracker. V: Do you have any early memories from dance? MB: I remember a tap dance to a song from Aladdin, “You Ain’t Never Had a Friend,” which was interesting, to say the least. ML: Morgan and Anna were always role models. I did everything they did and was obsessed with ballet because they did it. I vividly remember my first Nutcracker audition. At that time, not everyone made it and you had to be a certain height. I was only 5, which is really young to audition, but I was tall enough--48 inches. I ended up being an angel. V: When did you decide that you wanted to keep dancing through high school? MB: I remember I decided between dance and soccer in fourth grade. But it really wasn’t a huge turning point because liked ballet better and just knew that was what I wanted to do. I really didn’t have to think about it. ML: I always knew. In the fifth grade, I had to decide. I was a soccer goalie and played other sports, but was moved into level 5 at ballet and had to choose. That’s when made official decision to stick with ballet. I was sad for week, but then fine because I
Meghan Long really love it. V: Can you put into words why you dance? MB: Well, dance has been something I’ve done for my whole life. I’ve just always been dancing and I can’t imagine life without it. I like the feeling of accomplishment after finishing and performing a piece. I also just like how beautiful and fun it is. ML: This is really cheesy, but when I was 10, I saw Billy Elliot for my birthday. Billy answers this same question with, “Electricity sparks inside of me and I’m free, I’m free.” That’s the most effective way of putting it into words what the feeling is like for me. It’s what makes me happy. If I don’t have class, I put on music and dance around my house. V: Where do you dance? Have you always danced there? MB: I have danced at Kansas City Ballet for ten years. ML: This is my fourteenth year at Kansas City Ballet School. I’ve also gone away for the summer to dance at the School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Next Generation Ballet over the past 5 summers. V: Do you study dance forms other than ballet? Do you have any favorites? MB: Yes. I’ve studied modern, character (folk), pointe, jazz, and variations at KCB. Also, I do jazz and contemporary for dance team at school. Contemporary is probably my favorite, just because you are able to cut loose and dance freely in ways that ballet doesn’t really allow. ML: At KCB we do various other forms of dance. I also did dance team for my freshman year of high school, so that was a lot of jazz. I really like broadway jazz, but ballet is my first love. V: What would you have time for if you didn’t dance? MB: Well, the musical, for starters. Also, the fall and spring plays. I would have Saturdays off, which would be great. Dance is such a huge time commitment that it is very restrictive on any other activities. However, people understand the commitment, and coaches and teachers will sometimes work with the schedule. I was able to be in the one-act this fall, for example, which was incredible and something I wouldn’t have been able to do if it wasn’t for the flexibility shown by faculty at Pembroke. ML: I think I would still play soccer and I would probably swim too. I had to stop taking piano and voice lessons a long time ago, both of which I loved. I don’t know, really. I can’t imagine I would do something that wasn’t artistically or musically oriented. V: Do you see yourself dancing in college? MB: Yes, I do. I don’t know how intense though. I won’t single major in dance, maybe a double major or dance as a minor. That all depends on where I go and what I pursue. ML: Yes, but not in a college dance program. I want to go to college, but also be in a trainee program or second company with a ballet company. V: Do you see dance as a career? MB: Well, I don’t want to be professional dancer, but teaching
“I love the feeling after finishing a good show, when everyone knows it was great and everyone is really happy. It’s relief mixed with happiness that you actually pulled it off” dance as a first job out of college is definitely an option. Still, it probably wouldn’t be a long-term career for me. ML: Yes, that’s what I always dreamed of as a kid. But the career of a dancer, just like any professional athlete, is highly competitive and doesn’t last long, so I want to go to college to have a second career path, probably something that involves science. I always say “whatever doors open.” V: What do you like most about dancing? MB: I love the feeling after finishing a good show, when everyone knows it was great and everyone is really happy. It’s relief mixed with happiness that you actually pulled it off. ML: Performing! V: What makes dance hard to balance with everything else? MB: The late hours are the hardest thing. We usually don’t get home until 9, so that makes balancing homework difficult. I also want to be involved at school and that is really hard to do with ballet. ML: The sheer amount of time you spend means you don’t have as much time for everything else. The physical intensity also makes you very tired. When you get home late and are really tired, all you want to do is sleep, but you can’t. So I definitely have to sacrifice sleep, as well as some social stuff. It’s about picking and choosing what I can handle. V: What is the most challenging thing about dancing for you? MB: Pointe, hands down. It’s really hard to push yourself when you’re in pain. For example, when your feet start to hurt after being on pointe for 2 hours and you still have 2 more to go, you have to find inner motivation to not give in and just keep dancing, which is something that I sometimes struggle with. ML: I’m a perfectionist. That’s part of the reason I love ballet, but in back of mind know perfection isn’t possible. Because in dance we are always striving for an ideal that cannot be achieved, it can be easy to beat up on myself. V: Do you like rehearsing pieces or performing them better? MB: It depends on the piece and the choreographer. If the rehearsal process is fun, then performing is really sad because it means that it’s over. Honestly, I think I prefer rehearsing because that is where you are with your friends and get the corrections that make the piece what it is for the performance. ML: Performing for sure, but rehearsing can be fun too, especially the final rehearsals when you can just enjoy dancing and you get to wear your costumes. I’m a big fan of costumes. V: Have you danced in the Nutcracker? What roles did you play? MB: Yes, I have. I was a Mother Ginger extra, a soldier, in the party scene, a ginger, and a trepak for 2 years. In high school, I decided to focus on dance team so I haven’t done the Nutcracker for the past three years. ML: Yes, this will be my eleventh year. I was an angel and mg extra when I was 6, a soldier for 2 years, a party girl, ginger, lead ginger, and trepak. Then I did flower and snow with the company for 3 years, and now I’m a tall angel in the new version of our Nut-
cracker. V: Many Kansas City families look forward to the Nutcracker every year. What is your favorite memory from your involvement with the Nutcracker? MB: I always liked Secret Santa in the dressing rooms before the Christmas Eve performances. We would just exchange tiny little gifts, but it was alto take a step back with all the people come close to over so months. ML: There is performance on and for some reaways my favorite. formance I always actually dream of sugar the Nutcracker is and the magic of Christmas. my holiday and I can’t without it.
ways fun and connect that you had bethe past three or usually one Christmas Eve, son, that is alAfter that pergo home and plumbs. For me, has always been It’s a huge part of imagine Christmas
V: What is your favorite thing to perform? MB: Contemporary pieces in youth ballet. I just tend to enjoy contemporary ballets mostly. Swan Lake last year in youth ballet was also really fun as well, though it was pretty difficult. ML: I love Balanchine ballets. I got to be in one when I was 12 called Mozartiana, and then this past spring I was invited to dance with the company in The Four Temperaments. The movement is so pioneering, even though the majority of George Balanchine’s ballets are well over 50 years old. Even today the movement and choreography is considered revolutionary, which never fails to astound me. At the end of every 4T’s show, the curtain would close with the entire cast on stage all doing the same step, and every time I would get chills when the last note finally died out. n
FOOD FIGHT BRGR vs. BlancBurger
Mikayla Ferguson Columnist I love burgers. Burgers are classic. That is why I decided it was time to compare my two favorite “gourmet” burger places in the KC area. At both restaurants, I sampled a burger as well as their take on truffle fries. BRGR is a cool and unique burger place that any foodie will love. They have excellent burgers but also offer a wide range of other sandwiches.
Blanc Burger is a modern and slick burger place that I would recommend to anyone. Although their menu is on the smaller side, their selections are still mouthwatering.
The BRGR is a burger with caramelized onions, American cheese, pickles, mustard, and an onion bun. Eating this burger made me feel like I was eating a fancy version of a regular burger, and it was great. The bun was thick and soft and fluffy on the top and bottom. The buns are never that important to me, but they were good. The burger meat was very tasty, but nothing special. The caramelized onions mixed with the gooey American cheese and mustard made the burger.
The All American Kobe burger has truffle butter, port wine onions, mustard, watercress, and a salt and pepper brioche bun. This burger is extremely enticing to me because of its truffle butter and onions! The bun was fine, and the watercress was a fresh undertone to the mostly savory burger. Each flavor morphed together to create an extremely tantalizing meal. My only compaint is that it was a bit greasy, but I’m guessing that was due to the truffle butter!
Score: 4.5/5
Score: 4.5/5
The Parmesan Truffle Fries are thick and very yummy. Parmesan is the main flavor coming from the fries, which was disappointing for me because I am obsessed with truffles! Also, if you are a person who doesn’t like getting their fingers messy, these are not the fries for you. Parmesan. Everywhere.
The Truffle Fries are greasy, slim fries with slivers of truffle strewn in them. Holy cow. These are so delicious and so bad for you. They became my favorite fries in the entire universe. The truffle flavor is heavenly. Note: these are also not fun to touch with your hands, use a fork. n
Score: 4.5/5
Score: 5/5
Loser... Winner! Overall Rating: 9/10 8
Overall Rating: 9.5/10
The Voice Podcast Take a listen to the our new monthly podcast for exclusive content, brought to you by Spencer Thut ‘16. Soundcloud.com/PHSVoice
THE VALUE OF ALONE TIME èThe Technology Generation and the Glorification of “Staying In” Mikayla Ferguson Columnist
With new technology and entertainment, teens today seem to be spending a lot more time home alone. In middle school, kids went to movies and the bowling alley, and staying home alone was odd. But now, going out once every other weekend is normal. The first reason that this could be is because of age. When kids get older and more mature their priorities change. Priorities can shift from being with friends and being cool to feeling relaxed in their own environments, especially their beds. A lot of people even take mental health days in order to feel better in our fast-paced world. Is the need for peace and rest the reason for the decline of social activity? I think it’s a factor. After a long week of quizzes and essays, the thing I look forward to most is laying in my bed and watching six episodes of Mad 10
Men until I fall asleep halfway through the seventh episode. But is this desire to be home alone because of the hard week I’d had, or because the accessibility of the tv shows I love to watch? This brings me to my next idea; is Netflix, Hulu, and Youtube the cause of this increase in alone time among teens? Netflix and other streaming services allow anyone to watch almost any tv show or movie anytime they want. I believe that this accessibility and ease when accessing a trothe of entertainment is a key reason teens like to stay home more. Streaming services like Netflix can keep you in a trance for hours, and often you don’t even realize how much time has gone by when binge watching a show. I personally have managed to watch four seasons of The Office in about six weeks, which is
seventy two episodes. Netflix can also become a huge time commitment, especially if you become emotionally attached to a show. Feeling the need to finish a season or even an entire series can be an extremely compelling option when choosing what to do with the time off on the weekends. Overall, the rise of spending time alone can be attributed one of two factors. One possibility is that with maturity, an individual can lose interest in social activities that seemed important when they were younger. The other possibility is that an individual can become attached to and excited about a particular streaming service like Netflix or Hulu and want to spend their time watching a beloved show. Either of these is a possibility, because everyone is different! n
Photo Poll
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SENIORITIS
Students adopt a new attitude as they take on the next three quarters of the year. Is it justified?
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Shaina Desai and Gunjan Gaur Managing Editors
“I got into college the Friday before winter finals and got a C on my math final and a B on my English final, two subjects I am considered to be good at.”
The senior slide, or “senioritis,” is an extremely common phenomenon known to alter the mentality of seniors. This notorious academic decline tends to occur after a senior has been admitted to a college of their choice, or even once applications (especially transcripts) have been sent out. Seniors of recent classes have embraced the slide, feeling a sense of entitlement towards it. The Class of 2015 even designed t-shirts depicting the letters of the word “senior” tumbling down a cartoon playground slide. A student does not have to have a torpedoing grade point average to be considered someone who is sliding; senioritis can also refer to one’s lack of motivation, dedication, and attitude. Several senior teachers have already given their classes minilectures about their disdain toward the senior slide, expressing that it is unjustified and unfair to teachers, not to mention potentially harmful to the student’s future. Says Latin teacher Mrs. Lacy, “Teachers spend all year helping prepare seniors for AP exams and helping them get into college, while seniors themselves slide and screw around in class because they believe their duties are over.” She believes the senior slide has always existed, but there is a recent twist to the mentality of seniors because of this sense of entitlement. Mrs. Hendricks of the math department adds, “It’s frustrating in the spring because you’re excited about where you are in the material, and you have seniors who aren’t pulling their weight in class.” Both teachers remark upon a lack of respect received from the seniors. Mrs. Barnett, as the current AP Biology teacher, teaches many seniors. She says about half of them slide, all to different degrees, and not many experience severe senioritis. She, like other teachers, understands why seniors slide, but does not believe the slide to be justified. Furthermore, she says slides in classroom attitude should absolutely not happen, no matter what changes a student’s grades may undergo. Mrs. Hendricks agrees with Mrs. Barnett’s opinion and understands that seniors want to move on from high school, but asserts that it “doesn’t mean that they can be done learning.” Indeed, high school, especially at a preparatory school, is a time meant to prepare students for university; just because a student has been admitted to college does not mean he or she is fully prepared. Furthermore, the end goal of high school should not be merely getting into a “good” college, but excelling wherever students go. Teachers are united in their belief that that students should not “quit” high school three months into their senior year--even seniors need a final push of preparation before they are ready to enter college. Furthermore, a senior year of half-hearted academics is liable to cause blips in grades during the new undergrads’ first few months of their freshman years. But, as to the student’s future studies, one member of the class of 2015, Dakota Van Deursen, despite admitting to having been hit by the epidemic, believes he was still “overly prepared” for
his college classes. Another college -freshman, Blue Valley High School Class of 2015, claims to have slid “100%” (in terms of motivation, not grades), and agrees with Van Deursen about the effect of her senioritis on the beginning of her freshman year at university: “I was right on track, surprisingly.” Neal Desai ‘10 claims to have slid only a little bit the fourth quarter of his senior year, and as a result, believes he was slightly rusty during the first few months of his freshman year, but still affirms that Pembroke Hill prepared him well for college. So, seniors: while you probably feel as though you deserve to slide this spring, consider your teachers and your own future before you decide to let go. It sounds appealing, but senioritis may just be a huge waste of time and money. n
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Alice Rowland
Let’s set the scene: it’s a crisp October Friday night. The entire student body is huddled on the echoing ice cold metal bleachers decked out in the finest of fleece fashion. Thus, it’s the perfect night to support “our boys” on the good ol’ football team, but look more closely: in the crowd is the entire girls’ field hockey team, still in their uniforms. They just played two games back-to-back earlier that afternoon and rushed over to make the game. With them are the qualifiers in both girls’ tennis and golf, who are competing early the next morning for the state title. There’s something wrong with this picture. Why is it that some of the school’s most successful teams aren’t given the opportunity to perform in front of such a supportive crowd? If we’re trying to make the losers feel better, then stop me now; otherwise, we need to ask: why do we only hear about the girls’ tennis accomplishments in assembly the next Monday even though they play right up the hill? To this day, women athletes have not been given an equal platform to showcase their talents. Women’s sports are not featured on the main broadcasting networks and female
high school sporting events are not allotted the same “prime-time” spots that the male teams are given. And despite Title IX, women’s athletics are still underfunded. The reluctance to put money into women’s sports is so dramatic that the global pinnacle of women’s soccer competition, the Women’s World Cup, was held on artificial turf out of FIFA’s financial considerations. To anyone who dismisses female athletes by saying that women aren’t as interesting to watch or aren’t as tough as men, I say, go look at the injuries the cheap artificial turf inflicted on Women’s World Cup players and tell me that that isn’t tough. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe, in fact, women’s sports aren’t as popular as men’s because women are not pretty enough when playing. Sepp Blatter, former head of FIFA, proposed that “women play in more feminine clothes...like for example play in tighter shorts...to improve the aesthetic.” Blatter shows that he is more comfortable
with female athletes when their femininity is emphasized in their uniforms over their strength and skill. In sports such as tennis, golf, field hockey, lacrosse, and volleyball, uniforms include skirts or tight shorts to provide visual evidence that even though these women are good athletes, they are still feminine. Although women in skirts might not seem as threatening, I don’t think it’s going to matter what Serena Williams is wearing when she beats all the best male tennis players in the world. Despite all the reasons for not watching women’s sports, from the fact that male sports events take the field in prime time to the idea that these strong female athletes make viewers feel insecure, women athletes are not going anywhere. Just like any athletes, they are practicing and training hard for when their day under the Friday night lights finally comes. n
James Parkerson
I’ve seen a tweet that goes something like, “Favorite if you would want your local WNBA team to win the championship or retweet if you would rather get 5 dollars.” Unfortunately for all those WNBA players, there are always more retweets than favorites. Sorry, ladies. A WNBA championship might be cool and all for you, but we just can’t pass up Honest Abe. It’s pretty apparent that men’s sports are much more frequently watched and discussed. They have way more zealous fans compared to those surrounding women’s sports--or lack thereof. This disparity is even apparent at Pembroke Hill; football, boys’ soccer, boys’ basketball, and boys’ lacrosse have much higher attendance than any girls’ sport. I think this comes down to three reasons: skill level, interest in the sport, and scheduling. Let’s take a crack at reason one.
In a general sense, this is very obvious to me. Would I rather watch Lebron James throw down some sick-nasty windmill dunks or watch some perfectly executed lay-ups by the graceful Los Angeles Sparks (it’s the only WNBA team I know)? It’s our nature to want the best of something. Why watch inferior talent? Exactly. You don’t. Seriously, nobody watches the WNBA. Alright--I’ll stop making fun of the WNBA, but, actually, I don’t think this reason for attendance disparity is very relevant to Pembroke. It probably still plays a part, but interest in the sport and game scheduling are much more critical to game attendance. Evan Peterson is one of the best cross country runners in the state, yet we never have any student spectators at our cross country meets. If people want to watch elite talent, wouldn’t cross country attract students to attend the meets? Nope. People just don’t have an interest in watching skinny teenagers in skimpy uniforms run
up hills and through the trees. I think the girls of PHS field hockey also suffer from this. I’ve never been to a single field hockey game throughout high school because I don’t want to watch a field hockey game. And to be fair, I wouldn’t go to a men’s field hockey game either if Pembroke had a boys’ team. I just don’t have an interest in the sport. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, high school boys’ teams get primetime games. Football will always hold down that Friday night game under the lights, and the boys’ basketball team will always play later in the day after the girls’ team. Please correct me if I’m wrong (hit me up on Twitter @JamesParkerson), but I’m pretty sure field hockey and volleyball always have games during the week--never on Fridays. For the students, we want to go to the games that best fit our schedules. Football games are convenient to go to on Friday nights. Volleyball on a Thursday night? Yeah, not so much. So, until Field Hockey becomes a whole lot more exciting and gets a primetime game, I won’t be cheering on the gals in kilts from the stands. n
Q&A
Natalie Dameron and Lindsay Luchinsky Staff Writers Q: If you had three words to describe yourself, what would they be? A: dental hygiene enthusiast Q: What brought you to Pembroke Hill? A: I came for the challenge of teaching bright minds, but I stayed for the bagels. Q: What is your favorite band? A: Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks Q: Have you always lived in Kansas City? A: No.
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Q: Have you always planned to become a teacher? If so, did you expect to teach high schoolers? A: No and no. Q: What is the best book you’ve ever read? A: The Monster at the End of This Book was the first one to blow my mind. I guess I've been chasing after that experience ever since...[faraway look in eyes] Q: What is your opinion on the zombie apocalypse? A: Let's just get it over with.
Mrs. Romick
Q: Do you play any instruments? A: No. Even my air guitar in no way approximates guitar playing.
Q: How would you describe your fashion style in one word? A: This is a hard one. I’m just gonna call it confident because I know what I like to wear.
Q: What is your favorite part about teaching? A: Nerding out with literature all day, every day on Jordan 3rd floor.
Q: What is your perfect pizza? A: Well I’m a vegetarian, so I’m gonna say tomato, pesto, rocket, which is arugula in America, and mozzarella.
Q: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go? A: Bed, cappuccino, book. n
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Q: What is your favorite restaurant in KC? A: Extra Virgin.
Q: What type of music do you listen to/what’s your favorite band? A: I’m very eclectic, so it depends on which day you ask me. I’m gonna say I like folk music and also electro instrumental. Q: If you could witness any event in history, what would it be and why? A: I’d be there for storming of Bastille. I want to be there at the forefront. Q: Favorite jellybean flavor? A: Root beer jelly beans. This has been a revelation to me since I came to America. Didn’t know they existed. Easily the best flavor. Q: Dogs or cats? A: Dogs. I have a labradoodle at home, a stupid name for a dog breed, but I love her. Q: Favorite Netflix tv show/movie? A: Ok, so I like documentaries a lot. Bill Cunningham New York is really good, and Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Those are two of my favorites. Q: On your first day as President, what would you do? A: I feel like it should be something big, but for Justin Romick, my husband, I’m gonna instigate one hour a day in which everybody gets free fried chicken. Q: Best Halloween costume idea? A: My favorite thing (if I ever have children I would do this) is when they make children dress up. For example, a baby as a taco or a hot dog, or sometimes it’s the older child as a monkey and the smaller child as a banana. That kind of thing. That’s my favorite. I would dress myself up as a taco or a burrito. Q: How did you meet Mr. Romick? A: We worked together in France. We went to the same university in France for four years.
Dr. Banion
Splashnotes:
Pembroke Hill’s New A Capella Group Alec Mitchel Contributer
V: Just briefly, what is Splashnotes? Andrew Cho: It’s a completely student-run a cappella group where the students can choose the music and hopefully have some fun. V: What kind of music do you sing? AC: I already have a few songs picked out as examples, such as “Yesterday” by the Beatles and “All About that Bass.” V: What has the club done in the past? AC: Last year, we had a few meetings where we mostly did setup for this year and sang some songs. At that time, it was an all-guy group. V: Do you plan on performing anywhere? AC: Actually, yeah. Via various contacts that we have, we may be able to set up gigs around town. And, at some point, we’ll probably be performing at assembly. V: How many members does the group have? AC: Presently, ten. V: Do you plan to sing by ear or use sheet music this year? AC: We have sheet music for anyone who’s proficient in reading sheet music, but we will also focus on proficiency with reading sheet music. If there’s anything I learned from my own brother’s a cappella group, it’s that sightsinging is extremely important. Look for the Splashnotes to be coming around soon! If you are interested in joining, you can contact Mr. Diffendaffer or Andrew Cho at jdiffendaffer@pembrokehill.org and acho16@pembrokehill.org 17
2015-2016 AFS Profile Maggie Burke Staff Writer
Estu Have people in America been kind to you?
Yes! American people are really nice! They are kind [to me] if we meet them in the street and everytime I see someone, they go, “Hi, how are you?” and, “Wow, your clothes are nice,” and I like it because in Indonesia if we don’t know the person and we say hi or hello it is strange, but here it is normal.
What do you miss most about your home? Family and friends. Oh, and spicy foods. My host mother even bought a chilli plant for me, so I can pick chilli everyday.
V: What is your favorite restaurant in KC? Chipotle because there is rice; I love rice.
What the hardest thing about moving here? Culture shock. Everything is new everyday. I meet new people every day. All of the things are new, so sometimes it is overwhelming and I feel tired, but it is challenging, and I like challenge.
If a stranger were going to know one thing about you, what would you want it to be? One thing? I am an exchange student.
What’s your favorite movie? I need to think about it... do you know Akeelah and the Bee? It’s an amazing movie.
American Field Service, or AFS, has helped bring cultures from around the world to America for over 65 years. For countless years, Pembroke Hill has had the opportunity to host two students each year. These students have hailed from countless countries, including Spain, Cameroon, and Italy, to name a few. Pembroke Hill’s AFS students this year are Estu Pawestri (17) from Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and Katoo Goossens (18) from Leuven, Belgium. We asked them a few questions to understand what life is like in their home countries, along with how they are adapting to life in the United States. We wish Estu and Katoo the best of luck as their year in America and at Pembroke continues. We are so glad to have you here, and thank you for sharing your culture with us! n
What’s it like learning in a language different from your first?
I speak Dutch. Who else on the planet speaks Dutch? People in the Netherlands, people in Flanders, and people in South Africa. So, you just have to know English, but English is my second language. I don’t question some terms anymore, but other times I’m just like, “What?” I have to get it straight in my head in Dutch and then change it to English.
What do you miss most about your home?
In Belgium, you do things yourself. You can just take the bus and go somewhere. Here, I always have to ask for rides because there’s nothing else other than a car.
What American stereotypes have you encountered? Are they true?
In Europe, we know all these [American] things, like there’s something called ‘high school’ here and there’s something called ‘prom’ here, and oh wait they also play ‘football’ here but we don’t actually know what it is. I know now, except for football. It’s too complicated. People have tried to explain it to me like, “Oh, that was an interception.” What? What are they talking about?
Katoo What kind of activities have you participated in here that you would have never been able to back home?
Sports and clubs...You see, in Belgian schools there are no sports, there’s no clubs, no parades, no dances, it’s just school. It’s academic, so you can imagine people hate school. But here, school is a social event, but in Belgium school is just necessary. You just spend your life there for 12 years.
Sam Dowling
Emily Cohen and Maddie Tolsdorf Copy Editor and Contributor
Steps into New Shoes
The Voice interviewed Pembroke Hill alumnus Sam Dowling ‘08. He lives in Manhattan, New York, pursuing his passion and career in performing, and he will soon make his Broadway debut in the first National Tour of the Tony award-winning musical Kinky Boots. V: How did you get into acting? I played Jesus Christ in Jesus Christ Superstar at Shawnee Mission SD: I got into acting/performing when I saw Showcase at PHS Theatre in the Park. I believe it launched me into the next level of when I was very young. I saw Debra Anderson’s middle school acting and performance. Although my first “big break” was playstudents performing on stage and just knew that was what I want- ing Drew in the musical Rock of Ages on Norwegian Cruise Line’s ed to do. I wanted to be in choirs and anything that would allow ship, the Breakaway. me to be up on stage. I remember specifically seeing a group of the boys singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” and I thought they looked V: Were there any especially influential people in your acting? like the coolest kids in school, which clearly I wanted to be! SD: A huge influence was Mr. Hill. He taught me all about how to truly develop a character and to keep journals on my characters. V: When did you know you wanted to pursue acting as a career? The head of my musical theatre program at Oklahoma City UniSD: I realized I wanted to pursue acting professionally when I versity, Dr. David Herendeen, was also a big influence. He always was a junior in high school and I played the role of Dr. Jekyll in believed in me. It’s so important to have somebody who believes Jekyll and Hyde at PHS. I realized that I didn’t want to do any- in you. thing else. I then researched all the schools that provided reputable Musical Theatre degree programs and ended up auditioning at V: What is the most difficult part of being a professional actor? several schools and ended up with a nice scholarship to Oklahoma SD: The most difficult part of being an actor is sometimes having City University. Alums include Tony award-winners Kristin Che- to sacrifice relationships in life. For instance, all of the relationships noweth and Kelli O’Hara. I had developed in NYC when I first moved there had to be put on hold for 7 months while I was on a cruise ship. Then I left for a tour V: What was your first professional acting experience? for almost another year. But at a young age in this career, you must SD: I consider my first professional acting experience to be when choose what is more important for you. Sometimes having a steady relationship with a boyfriend or girlfriend and not following your dreams is the right choice. For me the right choice has always been career first. I think the people who have had the most successful careers have not let their goals out of their sight. Anyone who is worth being with will love you for following your dreams! V: What is the best part of being a professional actor? SD: I feel like there are too many things that are great about acting so I will name a few. First, I have traveled the WORLD on somebody else’s dime for the past three years. I have visited Germany, England, Holland, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, and countless U.S. cities. Second, your days and years are NEVER the same. A lot of Americans become bored in their lives because they are monotonous. I get to live in the coolest city in the world, New York City. I meet dozens of people daily. One minute I’m in the White Mountains of New Hampshire performing a summer stock repertory season and the next I’m traveling the U. S. with a Broadway National Tour. Needless to say, there is no monotony in this career field. Lastly, the very best part is that I have the privilege of doing what I actually love on a daily basis. Whole heartedly, through and through, I am in LOVE with what I do. V: Finally, what is your advice to aspiring actors? SD: My advice to aspiring actors is never give up. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t do it. Take classes. If you are interested in something, learn about it, read about it. RESEARCH. Take voice lessons, take acting classes and dance classes. This is a real career and you can make a living. Lastly, have fun. If you aren’t smiling, you’re not doing it right!
Headshot of Sam Dowling ‘08
We look forward to seeing where Dowling’s career will take him next. On behalf of Pembroke Hill, break a leg! n
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album
MOVIE
REVIEWS OF THE ISSUE
Alec Mitchell Contributor Justin Timberlake’s The 20/20 Experience appears to exist in a world that, instead of being clear and focused, as the cover might suggest, is surrealistic and dreamy. In this dreamland, the listener travels among different musical styles, all of which are infused with Timberlake’s definitive, suave melodies. The album has moments of beautiful focus and clarity, but is pervaded by a confused, disconcerted composition and odd voice-overs. JT occasionally breaks away from the album’s pervasive madness, as he does in “Mirrors,” until at 5:00 the distorted voiceovers return, like the harpies of a frenzied mind. Some songs, such as “Strawberry Bubblegum” and “Spaceship Coupe,” with outlandish eroticism, push the listener to the brink of “why am I listening to this?” Moreover, the songs in the album, though only ten in number, are laboriously lengthy. Most songs seem to drag on much longer than they really need to, leading the listener to wonder: Must everything be twice the length of a normal song? Perhaps a better name would be Vision: 20/40. n
Christine Zheng Copy Editor Far Cry 3 is an oldie but a goodie; this open-world first-person shooter video game never gets old. Entering Rock Island, I am revisited by a range of emotions that usually starts with anticipation. The vast area of the island allows for plenty of space for shooting and exploring. Often, the anticipation stems from the boundless space, and the mission to save Jason’s captured friends from the pirate Vaas (I can’t help but be simultaneously amused and terrified by him) is sidetracked by curiosity. On the Island, there are many characters to befriend, and sometimes they will take you places that cause you to forget your initial intent. Clubbing on the island with random people is pretty fun, not going to lie. Anyway, after anticipation comes uncertainty. Outpost assaults require tactics like finding ground or a peak as your vantage point, and you never really know what kind of people you’ll encounter during the process--even the friendly ones can’t be trusted. That’s not to say you can’t have some fun and progress in your mission with the help of a mad German or skilled chemist (a bit like Walter White) named Dr. Alec Earnhardt. Ultimately, there comes elation, which has been accumulated through various experiences, such as killing the local privateer or pirate through a “from-behind” approach, or, my favorite, starting a fire around the target location with the flamenwerfer and burning down a band of jungle warriors. Really though, it’s just a good time throughout because there’s nonstop action and thrill no matter where you are or who you’re with. If you’re ever up for a vicarious, loaded gaming experience, choose Far Cry 3. You’ll love it. n
GAME 22
Paolo Laskero Contributor Every year since 2013, a blockbuster science-fiction space film has been released, and they each pushed the boundaries of what film can achieve. These three films were so scientifically accurate (for the most part), visually stunning, brilliantly directed, and vibrantly portrayed that they stretch the limits of film and feel real at times. In 2013, it was Gravity. In 2014, it was Interstellar. This year, that film is The Martian. From the expertly written script by Drew Goddard to the fantastic performances of both Matt Damon and the supporting cast, there are very few negatives. The characters truly come to life, the tension of the story builds to keep the audience on the edge of its seats, and the visual spectacle is extraordinary. Beyond the good qualities of the film, the story and themes presented by it stand out the most: the human spirit and the will to survive. It shows a glimpse of what the future could be like and what space very well may be like, too. In my review of The End of the Tour, I said that movie was not for everyone. This movie is the exact opposite because there is some piece of enjoyment everyone can find. This movie is about human nature and in that, if you are a person on the planet, you can relate to and enjoy this masterpiece of a film. n
Crows Coffee Curious Caffeination Sarah Chamberlain Columnist
Located at the corner of 51st St. and Brookside Blvd, Crows Coffee has a perfect blend of coffee and people. In a little over a year, Crows Coffee has managed to find its way into the heart of the surrounding community. The owner, Zach Moores, did not originally set out to open a coffee shop. However Zach said he had “always been in love with coffee shops,” so opening Crows Coffee was a natural thing to do. The most special part of Crows Coffee is its vibe. Every coffee shop has a different vibe: some seem a bit manufactured, while others are completely natural. Crows Coffee’s atmosphere fits into the second category. When asked about whether he had envisioned this feel for his coffee shop, Zach said he felt that it was what he had wanted, but it is “way more chill” and even better than he had imagined. Going into this endeavour, he knew that the “coffee is important, but the coffee shop is the most important thing.” This outlook is apparent in every aspect of the place, from the delicious coffee and food to the wide array of seating. You walk in and are greeted by one of the fantastic baristas. Everywhere you look people are chatting, working, and engaging with the space. The hum of music, grinding coffee beans, and murmuring that is not too loud but just loud enough. Another aspect that adds to the ambiance is the art. Decorating the walls of Crows Coffee is art ranging from photographs to metalwork to paintings. All the pieces are distinct yet work in harmony. Many have come from customers and their kids. Some even have an air of mystery given by their anonymous donors. Yet there is still a cohesive effect, maybe because it is representative of the community. Customers are not the only ones though who have had a hand in developing the walls of this coffee shop. The employees too have their art displayed on the walls of
Crows Coffee. Hanging around the entrance to the hallway in the back are portraits of all the baristas, drawn by the same employee who created the beautiful menus. Zach described them as “growing into the space.” Looking into the future, Crows Coffee is hoping to have art showings and participate in First Fridays. Art, though, is just one element that the community has added to Crows Coffee. Zach expressed that he “provides the [metaphorical] clay mold and the community comes in and adds all the little touches.” These little touches are everywhere. The most prominent example is the bathroom, which is covered in messages and drawings from Crows Coffee customers from opening day to the present. It began with the simple idea of letting Zach’s nephew sign his name on opening day, but today ink covers the walls. Zach describes the community as “the basis of what makes this thing great.” In the spirit of community, Crows Coffee buys their coffee from a local roasting company, Messenger. Not only that, Crows Coffee also has five different bakers deliver all their pastries daily. Crows Coffee is the perfect location to work, have meetings, catch up with friends, or just read a book. Great food, coffee, and company make this coffee shop your new favorite place. Whatever your reason for stopping in, this coffee shop will blow you away. n
Location:
304 E. 51st Street Kansas City, MO 64131
The Royals: Lauren Washington Staff Writer
Amazing On and Off the Field
The Kansas City Royals hype continues to rapidly excel as the season is winding down to a close. The last championship title for the Royals was in 1985, and they have recently won the American League Central crown two years in a row. Last year’s accomplishment was monumental, and this year the Royals not only won the crown, but they were the first team to clinch a playoff spot. Throughout the season, the Royals have smashed records and even enjoyed a special visit from rapper, Fetty Wap. On a scale of 17 to 38, meeting Fetty Wap was definitely a 38 for the team. The Royals kick off their World Series quest October 8th at Kauffman Stadium. The Royals baseball success has been outstanding, but their work off the field is just as stellar. Recently, I interviewed Jeff Diskin, former Pembroke Hill Middle School English teacher, current Pembroke Hill Baseball coach, and current Coordinator of Cultural Development for the Kansas City Royals. He shared some insightful information about the Royals’ phenomenal importance to Kansas City. V: In your opinion, how are the Royals important to the city? Mr. Diskin: The Royals are important to the city for many reasons. The team provides the opportunity for family outings throughout the spring and summer, and the tradition of a professional baseball team in KC has been important every year since the late 1870’s with the exception of 1968. The Royals are a source of civic pride. Just think how KC came together last fall during the 2014 post-season. Not many things can unite the city like a professional sports team. The Royals are also important because they serve as a role model for the younger generation. V: What kind of service to the community does the team provide? Mr. Diskin: The Royals are extremely active in the community. From activities held at Kauffman Stadium, to providing funding for worndown fields, to helping organizations with grants, the benefits of the Royals work in the community can be seen throughout Kansas City. Some of the examples include: Our Heroes Program, in which the Royals and Budweiser saluted a member of the military at each game throughout the 2015 season. Selected active duty and retired members of the United States Armed Forces were provided with four complimentary tickets, parking, and recognized during a special in-game tribute. Fans are able to nominate worthy individuals at the Royals website. For next year, Royals Charities is partnering with Braden’s Hope to feature 12 Kansas City Royals with 12 local childhood cancer heroes. 2016 “A Year of Hope Royals Calendar” is available for $10! All proceeds benefit important childhood cancer research. More prominent community service highlights include: Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, Royals Blood Drive, Dream Factory, Gloves for Kids, TeamSmile, Buck O’Neil Legacy Seat Program, Our Heroes Program, Royals
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Charities 5K Run/Walk, and grants like the Royalty Fields Grant Program. V: What future impact do you see the Royals having on the city? Mr. Diskin: I am glad that you asked this question because this topic is one that I am extremely excited about and one area where I hope to be more involved with in the future. Let me start by saying as long as Dayton Moore is the general manager for the Royals, they will always be involved in the city. I am going to focus the remainder of this response on one idea: KC Urban Youth Academy. Major League baseball is making a conscious effort to reach out to youths in the urban core of American cities. Currently there are 6 urban youth academies throughout the US (Compton, CA; Houston, TX; New Orleans, LA; Philadelphia, PA; Cincinnati, OH; San Francisco, CA). Kansas City would be the seventh. What makes KC’s more unique than the others is that it will be run by its player development department as opposed to its community relations department. The Royals envision a place that focuses on educational opportunities, physical fitness opportunities, and community togetherness opportunities. However, they also envision it as a place to develop professional baseball talent. By the fall of 2016, the Royals hope to have completed phase 1 of this process. Phase 1 is the completion of four fields (2 regular-sized baseball; 1 intermediate-sized baseball; 1 softball) at Parade Park downtown (just north of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum). Phase 2, which will be an indoor workout facility, is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2017. The academy is meant to serve as a resource for existing baseball and softball teams/leagues with additional after-school tutoring programs and activities for the families. This is a group undertaking with funds from the Royals, Major League Baseball, Major League Baseball Players Association, and state and local governments all being applied to make it work. The Glass family (owners of the Royals) have already pledged $500,000 to help with the yearly operating
budget of the academy. Keep in mind that all activities and player development that occur at the KC Urban Youth Academy is free of charge. It really is a huge undertaking and should have a tremendous impact on the Kansas City Community. They just announced this project publicly on Friday, September 25. V: What else do you want Voice readers to know about the Royals and your experience with the organization? Mr. Diskin: The Royals organization is filled with great people, and it all starts at the top. Dayton Moore sets the tone because he is the one that people interact with the most. During last season’s playoff run, I was astounded by the number of Royals employees who wanted the Royals to win because they wanted Dayton to see the fruits of his labors. It was truly amazing. They wanted it for him. But the tone is actually set even higher with the Glass family. They flew every member of the Royals organization who wanted to come back to KC last year for the World Series gala and the first two games of the World Series. This means the part-time scout on the island of Curacao whose main job is a refrigerator repairman was able to make it. This means the 52-year-old gentleman who oversees the maintenance department at the Royals academy in the Dominican Republic was able to go to the World Series. By the
way, it was his first time to ever be on a plane. In addition, every employee in the organization received a customized American League championship ring. Now there are three different rings, and the players and field staff received the top ring. But even the grounds keepers at our academy received rings. They had a formal ceremony and everything. Maybe the above examples do not resonate for high school students, but as you grow older you understand the importance of treating all people well. The point I am trying to make is that the Royals have done countless things that help others, yet so few people ever know about it. They undertake these tasks and get on with their business. Even working with me and allowing me to come back and coach baseball this spring at Pembroke Hill is another example of an act that they really do not directly benefit from but they made happen. I would also like to add that Pembroke Hill is being very open in allowing me to come back and willing to work with me to make it go well. I am deeply grateful to both institutions. Truly the Kansas City Royals are a source of hometown pride. The Royals baseball organization has been exceptional on and off the field. As Jeff Diskin’s in depth commentary indicates, the Royals are truly special. Let’s continue to cheer on the Royals this October and take the crown! n
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Unbiased Opinions
Have you seen a movie trailer recently? Heard the buzz about a new movie coming out? Then you’ve contributed to what gives movies an audience. But what do filmmakers do when they can’t get a person to watch a trailer, and they can’t depend on word-of-mouth? They have to rely on the good old visual medium of static picture. Movie posters have been around since the early 1900s--about as long as film has been a prevalent medium--and have been posted in and outside of theatres, in city subways, at bus stops, and on screens in Times Square. My question is this: why, then, are all posters now so unoriginal? Nowadays, it seems that once you’ve seen one poster, you’ve seen them all. The same motifs appear throughout poster after poster to catch your eye. They end up, however, being more boring as a result. This is evident in all genres of film, but it is increasingly evident in action films. Look at this picture from Fandango in which they have compiled 28 action films and dramas that have almost identical posters. The formula is simple: back-turned, ominous background, drab colors, foreboding
hand and head placement, and often a weapon in hand. Some stand out as more interesting in this particular picture than the rest, such as Watchmen (2009), the two Dark Knight (2008) posters in the collage, Spider-Man 2 (2004), and Walk the Line (2005). Why do these particular posters stand out? For one of two reasons: either they are conveying more about the movie (i.e. showing more background, or a background that is interesting), or it is original in its composition, like Walk the Line. The colors are interesting and the guitar especially catches your eye. But this doesn’t change the fact that they are still following the boring, old formula. To see good movie posters, we should first look at older posters. For instance, King Kong (1933) had multiple posters, all of which were visually captivating. They have a clear subject, but also supporting roles, enthralling colors, and most importantly, motion. Movies aren’t stagnant, so why should their posters be? Motion can be conveyed in other ways too. Hitchcock’s posters are a perfect example of this. In the poster for
With Clay Lundgren ‘17
Psycho (1960), the colors are intentionally dull, but they don’t detract from the image. It also conveys motion in the ways in which the characters are both arranged and also divided. The image is unsettling to say the least. The awkward cracks in the image enforce what the movie wants to convey: an uneasy atmosphere. In one picture Psycho conveys themes, characters and their emotions and drives, whether it be to stay alive, to appear as the killer, or even to appear innocent. Are you like me in the context that you adore well-designed movie posters? Well, no fear! Innovators are here! We need look no farther than indie films, documentaries, and even a few dramas and action films to see some real innovation and even a return to the style of the classics. For instance, in this poster for Drive (2011), there is an almost overwhelming sense of captivating color and image. You have Ryan Gosling’s character as the only person in the frame, and yet, it feels captivating. The colors are vibrant and interestingly placed. It conveys a sense of speed (there’s motion in it!), and portrays the neon-look that the film
goes for. Another brilliant modern poster is for 127 Hours (2010). This poster does all of the right things. It conveys the motion of climbing, and the progression of a day (the shift in color from the bottom of the background to the top). It appeals to people’s fear of heights and climbing, tells you the moment right before the crux of the story in one image, and has captivating colors. The cliffsides draw your eyes to James Franco’s character and the bolder separately and as one subject. It is gorgeously done. So, what’s the moral of the story? Don’t take movie posters for what they are. Just like movies, dissect them and understand them. Don’t allow yourself to grow accustomed to the boring, drab, posters of today. Look for the interesting ones and give credit where credit is due. And, if you’re ever in the movie industry, hopefully this article was helpful in telling you what to look for and to create when it comes to posters. After all, they sell your movie in one single, solitary image. n
“Dam” straight with dylan dameron Words of Wisdom from Dylan Dameron ‘16 I had the tremendous opportunity to see Robert Reich speak about his new book Saving Capitalism: For The Many, Not The Few. He presented issues and ideas that are of the utmost importance, no matter what you may think about Robert Reich or how you swing politically. He makes it clear that it is extremely important to be informed and discuss all points of view on an issue so one can properly form an opinion. For those of you who do not already know, Robert Reich is a renowned economist who desperately wants for both sides of the political spectrum to face the current economic issues. He says that a lot of these issues are not partisan but are concerns that everyone should have because they are going to affect our future. One of the most shocking facts he mentioned is that the average wage of the middle class has not risen over the past 40 years, while the top 1% of Americans has had their wages rise by around 200%. Also, in 1970, on average, a CEO made 22 times their average worker. Today a typical CEO makes nearly 300 times their average worker. These statistics are proof of what he states: giant flaws exist in today’s economy, and no one is trying to fix them currently. Another major problem he discussed is that a CEO can tell one of his “golfing buddies” about how his
company is about to make a major change and that will increase the stock value of his company. That “golfing buddy” can then go to a hedge fund manager and trade on the stock, and when the giant change comes around, that “golfing buddy” would make a hundred million (and sometimes billion) dollar profit. Surprisingly, this is not currently considered insider trading and is perfectly legal (in fact, it happens quite often). Reich believes that the only way to fix these flaws is to elect candidates who will fight for what is considered right by most of America. One of his strongest beliefs is that there is a necessity for rules in the economy; the myth that there is a free market and then a government separate from that is ridiculous because the government exists to ensure that the system is fair. The Q&A portion of the lecture was quite interesting. One person even asked if it was time for a revolution! I mustered the courage to ask Robert Reich what his opinion is about the Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. The FEC, which established that monetary donations to political candidates are considered free speech and any individual or corporation can donate however much money they desire. I could not have hoped for a better answer. This is clearly a topic that infuriates
him because as I asked the question I began to think this 4-foot-11-inch man was going to turn green and burst out of his clothes. He said that this decision is in his top three of the worst Supreme Court decisions of all time, and there have been a lot of terrible Supreme Court decisions, e.g. Dred Scott. This caused an uproar of applause. He was also asked a variety of questions about the Democratic Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. The audience was filled with with people who had signs that said “Feel the Bern” and “Bernie 2016.” However, Mr. Reich attempted to stay away from endorsing one candidate, but he could not help but agree with Bernie Sanders on multiple issues. For example, socialism should not be a term that immediately turns voters off; they should look at the political beliefs and actions of a candidate before they endorse or reject them. One word should not make people start “shaking in their boots,” as Bernie Sanders once said, instead, the current problems facing this nation and how they are being addressed should scare us. Through all of these problems Robert Reich remains very optimistic because he believes the current generation, specifically eighteen to twenty-three year-olds, is capable of cleaning up this mess.n
Comic of the Issue
By Sam Hrabko
30 1) Walking woman’s jacket is blue 2) Girl in bottom left corner 3) Light pole is missing 4) Boy in middle front has another pinwheel 5) Teacher’s hand is gone 6) Girl in pink sweatshit has a bow
Find six differences between the photos. Answers, upside down, are below.
Puzzles
Find the Differences
Crossword
Across 3 Most teachers perfer which serif font? Times _____ _______ 4 Fisrt name of Royals’ player 0 7 Our atmosphere is largely composed of what element? 8 Trendy handle- less Segways 9 Italian plumber brothers: Mario and _____ 10 In which PHS building is there a statue of a dancer? 12 What color is the Friday after Thanksgiving? 13 Which volume of the Voice are we in? 14 _____ City (soccer), _____ United (soccer), _____ Orchestra (band) 17 Last year’s senior gift was a new _____ 20 What is the Twitter bird’s name? 21 Dr. May-Washington has a large post of the Great _____ hanging in her office 23 What is our mascot’s name?
Down 1 This PHS adviosry shares a name with a classic video game and sci-fi film 2 What state is two above Missouri? 5 CNN: _____ News Network 6 This counrty has a short, dual- triangle, ‘cut- out’ flag 8 Mr. Medlock is fluent in this language 11 Faculty sponsor of the robotics team 15 Purple, green, and orange are what kind of colors 16 Famous actor, Kansas City local, and Royals fanatic 18 City in Indiana that shares a name with a light brown candy 19 The LA and Brooklyn _____ 22 The smallest sized drink at Starbucks
31
Letter from the
Readers,
Editors
Congratulations! You’ve made it through your first quarter of the school year. We’ve got a long road ahead of us, so we’ve decided now might be a good time to offer up some advice of our own. So, you’ve found your groove. You’re adjusted to the new teachers and workload, and you feel like you’ve established your comfort zone. While finding your ground has its benefits, we stand firmly behind our first piece of advice: don’t settle just yet. New opportunities will soon present themselves around every corner, so what’s the harm in stepping outside of your boundaries? You may find yourself engrossed in a new passion that makes your life in high school all the more rewarding (this guidance is near and dear to our hearts, as dipping our toes into The Voice our freshmen year, as you can tell, has been rewarding to say the least). Another essential to staying afloat throughout the year is the power of your peers. As the first quarter came to close, we all quickly realized, again or for the first time, that this year will be no walk in the park. However, it is so important to remember that you are not alone. The greatest benefits for surviving high school come from working as a community, not as individuals. Your friends keep you sane; never take them for granted. Finally, this lesson is especially relevant to us personally as we continue to venture into our senior year, and we state it not only for your benefit but ours as well: keep chugging along, and with your head held high. Rough days will come and go, and it would be a shame to look back on your time only to be filled with memories seemingly stuck in a negative light. The year will fly by in a flash, and as difficult as it may seem, there’s value in even an attempt to think positively. Thanks for listening to our two cents. We hope you’ll take our advice in stride as we charge head-first into the rest of the year. Sincerely, Elizabeth and Megan
THE VOICE
The Official News Publication of the Pembroke Hill School The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertinent events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Letters to the Editors. The editors reserve the right to not publish letters. The Voice also accepts advertising and like articles. The editors reserve the right to not publish advertisements. Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice. The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.
Whispers
News Blurbs From Around School george story ‘16... is in the top 20 in the state in rushing yards for class 3 football. jason cobb ‘17... has over 360,000 loops on a single one of his vines. shaina desai ‘16...made all-district choir. parker beaham ‘16 and kit frazen ‘16... won the pep assembly lip syncing contest with their rendition of britney spears’ toxic. 22 percent of the senior class... was recognized for their scores on the PSAT, with 13 students named national merit semifinalists and 7 named commended students sisters ellison ‘16 and caroline ‘18 rooney... will compete as doubles partners in the upcoming girls state tennis tournament.
Editors-in-Chief Elizabeth Gerson and Megan She Senior Designer Laura Hibschman Copy Editors Emily Cohen Christine Zheng Gina Pepitone Head of Digital Cormac Chester Photographers Bella Barnes Mickey Ferguson Illustrator Olive Honan
Managing Editors Davis Brooks Shaina Desai Shannon Fang Gunjan Gaur Saurabh Goel Elizabeth Shulman Designers Shaina Desai Shannon Fang Olive Honan Lauren Washington Multimedia Editor Spencer Thut Middle School Coordinator Jacqueline Kincaid
Staff Writers Bella Barnes Sarah Chamberlain Natalie Dameron Shaina Desai Mickey Ferguson Bella Foote Pallavi Jonnalagadda Jaqueline Kincaid Kate Kramer Lindsay Luchinsky Gina Pepitone Lauren Washington Christine Zheng Business Manager Maya Hill
Columnists Clay Lundgren – “Biased Opinions with Clay” Olive Honan and Maggie Burke– “The Buzz” Christine Zheng & Sarah Chamberlain –”KC Crawl” James Parkerson and Alice Rowland – “Calvin and Hobbes” Dylan Dameron – “‘Dam’ Straight” Mickey Ferguson “Food Fight” Faculty Sponsors Dr. Matt Clothier and Dr. Kim Banion