THE VOICE VOLUME XXXIV | September 2016
Are “Safe Spaces” limiting us?
SAFE SPACE?
The Voice: September
Table of Contents 17
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27
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Personality quiz
Which teacher are you? This month
media reviews Feature
we’ll match you up with a member
Are trigger warnings and safe spaces in
of PHS’s history department.
academic settings beneficial or detrimental
This month, The Voice reviews Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Young Thug’s latest albm, and the movie Tallulah.
to learning?
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13
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olympics
KC Crawl
Catherine Dema ‘17 discusses
Roxanne Reasco ‘17 and Bella
the recent Summer Olympics in
Barnes ‘18 visited Betty Rae’s Ice Cream this month
Where we stand In this month’s Where we Stand, our writers debate restricitons on voter ID laws in the state of Missouri.
Rio in the context of unity and sportsmanship.
buzz [September]
School by the Numbers
In the US about $7.7 billion is spent annually on back-to-school clothes. About 480,000 school buses carry 25 million kids to and from school every weekday. The biggest lower education school in world is the City Montessori school in Lucknow, India, with more than 32,000 students. The average classroom pencil can write approximately 45,000 words (or draw a line that is 56 kilometers long).
5 Best Education Systems in the World South Korea: Students go to school 7 days a week and the yearly education budget is about 11 billion dollars. The country also has a literacy rate of nearly 100%. Japan: Japanese students have almost unparalleled resources and access to technology. Additionally, their extracurriculars are emphasized and well-developed. Singapore: Fantastic primary education system. Focus on deeper understanding of material and conceptual learning.
Random Facts The tradition of giving apples to teachers dates back to the 16th century in Denmark, when parents would pay their educators with food since teachers couldn’t live off their small salaries. Didaskaleinophobia is the fear of going to school. Sociologists Richard Dukes and Heather Albanesi from the University of Colorado claim teachers shouldn’t use red pens in the classroom because the red grading pen can upset students and negatively impacts teacherstudent relations.
Hong Kong: High literacy, system based largely on the UK education system. Finland: Used to be at the top of the list, but Southeast Asian countries have recently taken the lead. Shorter school days and a lot of school-sponsored activities. Finnish students are taught by well educated, dynamic teachers.
3 Student
Life
What’s the Word?
A View From Each Grade on their: On Campus Hangout Space Freshmen:
Charlotte Henry Columnist In middle school every grade level has its own space. There is room for students to sit and talk without clogging up the entire hallway. So who would have thought that moving into freshman year at Pembroke Hill there would be no place for us to sit. The sixth graders have an entire hallway, and we have one bench beneath the stairwell. Everyone tells you that you are blocking “traffic,” but where else are the freshman to stand? We are stuck blocking everyone’s way, and there is nothing for us to do about it. Even the sophomores get upset, despite the fact that they are the ones who don’t allow us to share the bench space. I mean all we really need is an area that is not in the middle of everything. Seating isn’t even a necessary component. However, we are still looking for a solution. So for now the freshman class really has no hang out space, and as a result we become an inconvenience to those who do.n
Juniors:
Caroline Salzman Columnist
The one thing you hear over and over Freshman year is: “Do NOT step foot into the carpeted area of the Commons!” While the novice may think this to be a silly rule, it is extremely important to the social structure at Pembroke Hill. Every grade has their designated spots around the campus. The freshmen do not have their own specific spot, so they congregate in the hall outside of the study hall room. They seem to be unaware of the fact that they are blocking the hallways making it very difficult to get to a language class or the Bookstore. The sophomores have the benches outside of the study hall room. Once you become a junior you gain the privilege to join the seniors in the Commons. This is a very important step in becoming an upperclassman at Pembroke. You are finally able to enjoy the carpet and nice couches that everyone has told you to stay away from for two years. n
Sophomores:
Jay Mehta Columnist “Home? I have no home. Hunted. Despised,” wrote Ed Wood in Bride of the Monster. The first lesson freshmen are taught when they arrive (and sometimes even before then) is to steer clear of the carpeted area in the Commons, as that is the fiercely-protected territory of the seniors and juniors. As a result, freshmen tend to act as a gas, filling the space of whatever area is available to them. But what of the sophomores? You’ve seen them. Wandering bohemians without a true home to speak of. A class of over a hundred, confined to two benches that would uncomfortably fit ten. Students squeezed between benches like sardines in a can. A system that rewards seniority is justifiable. However, the move from the freshman to sophomore space seems lateral at best, and this middle-child treatment deserves reconsideration. n
Seniors:
Alex Hrinya
Senior year is a time for us Seniors to enjoy the final year we have with our peers, teachers, sports coaches, custodial staff, etc. It is not, however, a time for us to be worrying about where we’re going to sit in the commons. Time and time again, when I hastily run to the commons, hoping to find a spot to sit down during meetings, so I can do the homework I didn’t start the previous night, I end up standing in the commons because people like Bert Bean feel they’re entitled to an entire couch. You know who happens to occupy every space in the commons? The juniors. I walk in and look right, juniors. Look left, juniors. If I dare to look ahead? I see juniors. It’s one thing to hear Tommy Wolfe’s mezzo-soprano voice complaining about the school’s lack of gluten free options at lunch, but to not have a single seat to do my homework!? It’s absurd. As seniors, we should at least be delegated two tables and two couch areas because we had to deal with the third quarter of junior year, and trust me, third quarter of your junior year is the worst. It’s even worse than having to sit through a “The Hold Up” performance (ask a Junior about them). Juniors, I know it’s an exciting time for you, but at least let us seniors take back what is rightfully ours. It pains me to say it, but let’s make the commons great again. n
Remembering Dale Eshelbrenner
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Mr. Dale Eshelbrenner touched the lives of many in our community. These quotes from the student body are just a few out of many that show the incredible ways he has influenced us.
“Mr. Eshelbrenner was an incredible individual who strived to make every tennis player feel included. He did not solely focus his efforts on the best tennis players, but, instead, he was genuinely concerned with trying to help every type of player and enjoyed watching them succeed.”
“Twenty state championships as a tennis coach is an incredible statistic, but he should not be remembered by the numbers. He was a great man.” “He taught me tennis at Indian Hills Country Club. He was a great man and always ready with a smile.”
“Coach would always go out of his way to say hello to members of the tennis team around the school. He set an example of how I want to live my life.”
“I remember one day at basketball practice I saw him in the gym with his daughter, and you could see how much he adored her. I knew then what a wonderful person he was.”
“Coach Eshelbrenner was a great guy. As a tennis player, he made a bigger impact on me than one can imagine. He will be missed.”
“He is an inspiration in my life, and I will never forget him.”
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Student Life
Month in Review: September By: Kaitlyn Storm and Catie Franano Staff Writer and Copy Editor
Barbeque:
At the barbeque, a Pembroke Hill tradition, students, faculty, and families celebrated the first home football game. The Raiders won, 14 to 13, against Lincoln College Prep Academy.
One Acts:
Pembroke Hill students performed and directed one act plays, For Whom the Southern Belle Tolls and That Was No Lady, That Was a Private Eye.
Student Life 6
Club Fair:
Pembroke Hill’s clubs enticed freshmen, and possible new members with colorful posters and food at the annual Club Fair.
Fall Sports:
Fall sports has started back up, including football, girls golf, boys swimming, cross country, volleyball, girls tennis, cheerleading, boys soccer, and field hockey.
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Feature
Keeping Up With The Candidates Discussing whether students should follow the presidential elections
By Gina Pepitone Managing Editor As the 2016 presidential election nears, tension runs high in the Pembroke Hill community. Though many students have openly voiced and debated their personal political opinions, there are some that do not pay much attention to the upcoming election. Additionally, many people who are of age to vote are choosing not to because they are unsatisfied with both the candidates. John Butler ‘20, a liberal, believes that regardless of whether you are of age to vote or not, it is imperative to follow the candidates and be active in the election process: “I feel I should pay attention because I, and all of us, are part of the future of the United States, and, because of that, the 2016 election will affect all of our futures.” Roy Widner ‘18, an open Trump supporter, is in accordance with Butler in that this election will affect the lives of
all US citizens, including those under the age of 18, so it is extremely important to keep up with the election process. Unlike Butler, who encourages everyone to exercise their right to vote, Widner shares: “I’m not 100% opposed to the people that are unsatisfied with both major candidates and plan to stay home on election day. I would advise these people to vote with their conscience and look at the big picture, and also to look at the third-party candidates. It would be a shame to not exercise our right to vote when people in other countries have no voting rights at all. At the end of the day, people do have the right to vote as they please, or not to vote.” Specifically looking at how this election has affected the Pembroke Hill community, Butler has noticed, “People are now identified as their party name. The parties are so different from each other
that if you’re one or the other, it comes with having to hate the other party. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but it is because of this election.” Widner is also in accordance to this claim, affirming: “The atmosphere has become quite a bit tense, and I imagine for it to grow much worse later this month.” Widner also shares that being a Trump supporter, despite his “moderate conservative” values, he has been “branded a racist and sexist by some people.” This shows how far political discussion have escalated, and, with November nearing, the pressure of the upcoming election only increases. It will surely be interesting to watch the next few months unfold and see how the presidential election will further affect not only the Pembroke community but the United States as a whole. n
“People are now identified as their party name. The parties are so different from each other that if you’re one or the other, it comes with having to hate the other party. It shouldn’t have to be that way, but it is because of this election.”
Rio Olympics: International Unity (and Discord)
Feature 8
Staff Writer: Catherine Dema Every four years the world stops and turns its eyes to the Olympics to see feats of athletic prowess and of the human spirit. The modern games were introduced to unite people through the medium of sport and with the assumption that nations would set aside political agendas to take part in the event. The Olympic spirit around the world resonates, as the meaning behind the games establishes a mindset for athletes to strive toward. Olympians and fans alike look to the Olympic Creed for a concise understanding of such an ambiguous spirit: “The most important thing… is not to win but to take part.” Unity acts as a theme when describing the significance of the games, but vague words cannot describe the inspiring and disappointing actions the world witnessed in the 2016 Rio Olympics. In perhaps the most iconic representation of Olympic sportsmanship in Rio, Nikki Hamblin of New Zealand and Abbey D’Agostino of the United States got tangled up during their 5,000 m qualifying race in track and both fell down about 3,000 m through the race. D’Agostino quickly returned to her feet and helped Hamblin up. Both women tried to continue, but D’Agostino was clearly very injured. After running a few meters, she collapsed in pain. Hamblin re-
turned to help D’Agostino to her feet and the two finished the race together. The women were virtual strangers before the incident, but their selflessness led to a moving moment of relief after the race between the two. In addition to drawing international attention, the women were presented the Fair Play award by the International Olympic Committee (the IOC), a so-called embodiment of the Olympic Spirit. Rio also projected a less athletic display of the Olympic Spirit through a sim-
“The women were virtual strangers before the incident, but their selflessness led to a moving moment of relief after the race between the two.” ple selfie. South Korea’s Lee Eun-ju and North Korea’s Hong Un-jong captured international headlines after posting a selfie together from their gymnastics training session before the Olympics. Tensions between the two nations are high, and the simple act was seen as a rejection of hostility and acceptance of the meaning of the games. Yet, even acts that represented sports-
Photo Credits: Flikr creative comments
Photo Credits: (Reuters/Dylan Martinez)
Photo Credits: Flikr creative comments
manship and resonated worldwide were overshadowed at times by athletes who appear to have lost sight of the unity implied in the games. In judo, Egyptian fighter Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands with Israeli Or Sasson after losing his fight. He was sent home by his team and punished by the IOC, inviting international scrutiny. El Shehaby said he would not shake hands with an Israeli, and that the rules of judo did not require it. However, the IOC said his actions went against the spirit of the Olympics. By allowing political prejudices to dictate his actions, El Shehaby weakened part of the idyllic Olympic spell that exists only to highlight unity, not conflict. The 2016 Rio Olympics prompted understanding of the potential Olympic impact on world unity, but they should also serve as a reminder that mere gestures cannot fix deeply rooted issues and that peace needs to be worked for more than just once every four years. n
New Year, New Clubs
Student Life 10
Lily Jiang Copy Editor
Sprawled across campus is a scattered array of tables set up with brightly decorated, multicolored boards containing various advertisements. There is a great mass of people going from board to board with pens and pencils at the ready. The mass includes freshmen, who are searching for different tables while collecting stickers and candy during an annual event known as the Club Fair.
Outdoors Club
Outdoors club is for those who enjoy various outdoor activities. It gives students options of different activities for people who aren’t necessarily athletes. This club plans to meet twice a month to do one big and one small event such as hiking, camping, sailing, rock climbing, skiing, fishing, etc.
Trading Club
Trading Club is also being reintroduced. This year, the club is starting a virtual platform for trading stocks to compete with other schools. Students will have a total fund of $100,000 to buy their stocks, competing with each other, as well as other schools to earn the most money. The club is planning to invite different guest speakers to educate members about money, stocks, and personal finance.
Gardening Club
A second new club that is offered this year is Gardening Club. The club plans to meet regularly to tend to the garden recently started in the lower school. They are planting crops such as carrots, spinach, and cauliflower. The goal of this is to get students more educated and in touch with nature with the help of KC Community Gardens.
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Life
Interviews With the New
Mr. Schooley Voice: If you could only bring one food to a deserted island, what would it be? CS: In Turkey, they have amazing stuffed zucchini flowers. They're really exotic, stuffed with spices and raisins. V: What brought you to Pembroke Hill? CS: There was a chance job opening and Mr. Burke reeled me in! V: Why do you teach physics? CS: I love physics – I think it is the most important to learn about life. V: What's your favorite weird fashion? CS: White socks – only Americans wear them. I realized this while living abroad because you can always identify the American tourists by their white socks! V: What is the weirdest gift you have ever gotten or given? CS: Someone once tried to give me a cat. I wasn't mentally prepared for that kind of responsibility, so I refused politely. V: What do you think is weird about Pembroke Hill? CS: Late starts are interesting. They're unique, and I've never seen them before, but now I think every week should be a blue week! V: Have you always wanted to be a teacher? CS: Yes, I've always known I wanted to be a teacher, just not at what level. V: What's one thing students should know before they take your class? CS: They should be open to new ideas, curious, and willing to be challenged. V: If you could travel anywhere... CS: I've had lots of opportunities to travel, but also passed up some. A couple of places I want to go are the Great Barrier Reef and India. n
Dr. MacGregor Voice: If you could only bring one food to a deserted island, what would it be? MM: Twinkies … because they would never go bad! V: What brought you to Pembroke Hill? MM: The students! V: Why do you teach biology and environmental science? MM: I love the natural world! There is always something new to learn, and it is relevant to our everyday lives. V: What's your favorite weird fashion or odd trend you've seen at Pembroke or in Kansas City? MM: I love the hometown spirit of Kansas City – seems everyone wears some sort of KC/Royals hat or shirt! V: What is the weirdest gift you have ever gotten or given? MM: I give pet Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches to students. V: Have you always wanted to be a teacher? MM: In a roundabout way, yes! V: What's one thing students should know before they take your class? MM: That they may be the lucky student that gets the pet cockroach! V: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be? MM: Africa. V: Do you have any hobbies? MM: Backcountry hiking, cross country skiing with my dog, and eating! n
Upper School Teachers
Student Life 12
Mrs. Schooley Voice: You and your husband are from Turkey, right? OS: I’m from Turkey, but he is not. I applied to college and got into Dartmouth. That was my first time in America. Then, I met my husband and became homesick, so we both found jobs in Turkey and moved. V: Do you like Kansas City so far? What are your favorite things to do in Kansas City? OS: I love Kansas City. I love going to the zoo with my kids. Have you ever been on the stairlift? We also bike with the kids, and I can bike to school. I like how easy it is to get to everything, whereas, in Turkey, my commute to my job was three hours. I love the people of Kansas City, the restaurants, breweries, Oak trees, and that the city is so laid back. I have a bird feeder with seeds, and it is a relief to see a place with so many beautiful trees! V: If you could have any superpower, which would you have and why? OS: I’d probably want to be in more places than one. I’d like to read a book, take my kids to the park, and talk to my friends at the same time! V: You mentioned that you like to bike. Do you have any other favorite hobbies outside of school? OS: Well, I have a lot of hobbies, but since having kids, it is a little bit harder to do them. I love biking, reading, and hiking. We have these amazing binoculars that switch on, and we bird watch. I love being outside, staying up to read, canoeing, and sailing. I used to have a little sailboat in Istanbul, so we would sail the Aegean Sea. I also like to do crafts, like painting. I recently painted a fox in the kids’ bedroom. I paint little things like that. We also love travelling! We have been to France, Spain, and South Africa all in the previous year! V: What are your favorite books? OS: I like Love in the Time of Cholera, Magic Mountain, Jack Kerouac, and my favorite all-time author is Zady Smith. She wrote a book called White Teeth, and I read all her essays, too. There is also Megan Daum- she writes these amazing essays. She has this whole thing about American airlines. Of course, there is Steinbeck. I read a lot (laughs).n
Señora Ortega Voice: Have you lived in KC all of your life? SO: No, we actually moved over a month ago from Long Island, NY. V: Do you like KC? SO: I love it so far; especially the people. I’ve never encountered such nice people before. It takes a bit longer to get to know people in NY, and they’re not as openly welcoming as the people here. V: What are your favorite things to do in KC? SO: Well, I’m really just starting to know my way around. Right now, I really enjoy going to the barbeques, and we have really enjoyed going to the movies. I’m so busy during the weeks and weekends planning my lessons that I have not yet had a chance to go out that much to see all that is there, but I love the fact that everything is so close by. So, we’ve been going to the restaurants, to the movies, and to barbeques a lot. In Long Island, when we used to leave to go to a movie theatre, it would take us forty-five minutes to an hour. We are taking advantage of how close everything is. V: Do you have a favorite hobby? SO: I love to travel, and I love to read. V: What kinds of books do you like? SO: I love to write in my native language, so I love to read in Spanish first. Some of my favorite authors are Isabel Allende and Gabriel Garcia. V: What made you want to teach Spanish? SO: I always knew I wanted to be a teacher, even when I was a little girl. I remember gathering my friends and I would say, “We are going to play school. I’ll be a teacher and you can be my students.” My mother was a teacher and my grandmother was a teacher, so I’m third generation teacher. Why I wanted to teach Spanish is because of my love for the culture, and I really wanted to give my students the opportunity to learn about the language and learn about the Hispanic culture. V: If you could have any superpower, which would you have and why? SO: I wish I could see the future because I am such a planner. Then, I could plan everything out. n
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Student Life
Meet Your AFS Students
Lauren Washington and Sophie Utz Head of Digital and Contributor
Abdul Abuomar From Jordan to KC Voice: What do you think is an odd custom in the US? A: The only thing I found to be odd is that Americans don’t use the metric system, so I’m having some difficult times understanding everything. V: What were you expecting before coming to America? Has anything surprised you? A: I wasn’t really expecting much. I always thought life here would be similar to that in Europe. V: What is your favorite thing about Kansas City? A: How friendly the people are and the festivals that are thrown every week. V: What do you miss most about home? A: THE FOOD. V: How has the transition been coming to Pembroke? A: Pembroke is really similar to my school back in Jordan, so I wasn’t really surprised about anything except for being able to choose a sport, which isn’t something really common in Jordan since there’s only a PE class. V: What is your favorite American food, and what is your favorite food from home? A: My favorite American food would be hamburgers, and my favorite one from home is definitely Ouzy. V: What is your favorite class so far? A: English. V: What are some of your favorite activities to do outside of school and in KC? A: Going to festivals, play soccer, movies, swim, etc…
V: What was it like applying for an exchange student program? A: The entire process was very intense and rigorous since there would be lots of applicants, and it takes a lot of time to screen the applicants and see who qualifies and who doesn’t. V: How does school here differ from your school at home? Are there any similarities? A: Pembroke is similar to my school, Jubilee, but the only difference I could think of is choosing a particular sport to play in each season since we only have a PE class. You get to choose what subjects to want to take, what classes you want to enroll in, and so on. V: What are some of your goals and expectations to take away from this experience? A: I want to become more independ-
ent, make friendships that will last a lifetime, and just make the most out of my experience. V: What inspired you to come here to the United States? A: I wanted to experience what it’s like to live away from home and family on my own for a year and learn more about the diversity and mixed culture of the United States. V: What are some of the biggest cultural differences you’ve noticed in the United States? A: I’ve noticed the diversity here in the United States and how everyone has their own cultural background depending on their origin. V: What has it been like living with a host family? A: It’s been great so far! I really enjoy my time with the Whitney family. n
Student Life 14 Voice: What do you think is an odd custom in the US? N: I never see Americans’ custom as odd; I just find them different. So I can’t really say anything. V: What were you expecting before coming to America? Has anything surprised you? N: I came here without much expectations (in order to prevent myself from being disappointed) and you can’t be surprised when you don’t have expectations. However, I noticed that everyone here is just as warm as people at home! V: What is your favorite thing about Kansas City? N: The people. They are warm and polite. V: What do you miss most about home? N: I miss being around people I have known for a long time because I can act all goofy and loose without worrying what they will think about me. Being the new person in a community where the others already know each other and where they belong is pretty difficult. Also, since I’m representing my country, I must always watch my words and my actions: if they offend anyone and if that is the right thing to say.
V: What was it like applying for an exchange student program? N: I would have to write pages and pages to actually explain what it was like to apply. All I can say is that applying for this program requires a lot of sacrifices, but I’m also gaining more than what I sacrificed. To describe it shortly: it’s worth it. V: How does school here differ from your school at home? N: There are 3 main differences. First of all, students don’t get to pick their classes in Indonesia. Every students has the same fixed classes, and you can’t drop any of them. You just deal with it. That’s why I was ecstatic when I got to choose my own classes here! Second, in Indonesia, rather than the students, the teachers move from one class to the next class. It’s the other way around here, and I think it’s nice to be able to move your legs for a bit after each class.Third, we have school uniforms at home. Here, we don’t.
V: How has the transition been coming to Pembroke? N: I was lost quite often in my first days! Pembroke is really different from my school in Indonesia in terms of the system, but I think I cope with it well. I like my classes so far. V: What is your favorite American food, and what is your favorite food from home? N: Definitely bagel with cream cheese and lox. (Wait is that an American dish?) My favorite food from home would be lontong opor sambal goreng. It is a dish we always have every Eid Al-Fitr in Solo, my hometown. V: What is your favorite class so far? N: Latin I. V: What are some of your favorite activities to do outside of school and in KC? N: I enjoy going to the grocery stores with Mom and accompany her when she is doing her errands. There is so much to see inside the grocery stores!
Nurul Zam-Zami From Indonesia to KC
V: What are some of your goals and expectations to take away from this experience? N: I expect to be somebody who is more mature and open toward differences. V: What inspired you to come here to the United States? N: I was just taking the chance because I didn’t want to regret not trying. V: What are some of the biggest cultural differences you’ve noticed in the United States? N: In Indonesia, we eat rice with for every meals of the day: breakfast, lunch, dinner. I noticed that Americans don’t eat rice very often, or seldom, even. V: What has it been like living with a host family? N: Awesome. I really like my host family. I feel totally comfortable living with them! n
15
Student Life
Photo Poll: What is the favorite thing you did over this summer? Maggie Burke Staff Writer
Natalie Dameron ‘17
“I worked as the onset photographer and videographer for the film, Different Flowers, which was directed by my sister, Morgan. I took pictures while we filmed, and interviewed the cast and crew behind the scenes. It was the coolest experience ever!”
Grace Lattan ‘17
“I went to a screenwriting camp at Loyola Marymount University for two weeks.”
Jay Mehta ‘19
“Over the summer, I performed my National History Day monologue at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C! In my performance about the summiting of Mount Everest in 1953 and its effects on the Everest region and local Sherpa culture today, I portrayed the expedition leader John Hunt, Edmund Hillary, a modern day Sherpa, and NASA planetary scientist Alan Stern.”
Matheus Ramos ‘17
“I went to Buzz Beach Ball!”
Middle School 16
Middle School Welcomes New Principal! Carmon Baker Middle School Staff Writer For the 2016-2017 school year, the PHS Middle School has a new principal, Brian Bartelli. The Voice had an opportunity to speak with the Mr. Bartelli about his new role. V: What was your previous role at Pembroke Hill? BB: Director of Instructional Technology, and before that I was the seventh grade science teacher. V: How long have you worked at Pembroke? BB: This is my thirteenth year. V: What is your favorite part of being the principal? BB: Being more connected with the students. V: How does having daughters at PHS affect your point of view of the school? BB: I don’t think having daughters at the school affects my point of view. I do think that having children affects how I look at situations. It allows me to have a parental side of things and an educational side of things. V: How has your interaction with students changed since becoming principal? BB: It’s increased a lot. I’m out every morning greeting students. I’m out in the halls as much as possible. I try to stop in on classes two to three times a day to see what’s going on.
Mr. Bartelli in his new office as principal of the Middle School.
V: If you could plan one field trip for the whole school, where would you go? BB: Anywhere? In the world? Oh man. That’s a tough one. Probably Washington D.C. because throughout the field trip we could go to so many museums, and see the things we have studied during school. Not just the government, but also natural history, air and space, the list goes on and on. V: Favorite pizza topping? BB: Spicy Sausage.
Looking Back, Looking Ahead Ava Sweeney Middle School Staff Writer Summer has come to a close, and school has started up again. However, there are many things to be excited for when school starts up again. Whether it is your first or last year at Pembroke Hill, there are many things to look forward to. Let's see what students are excited for most this year! 1. Sixth grader, Stella Linn ‘23, had a wonderful summer. She went on trips to Washington D.C., and Charleston, as well as moved into her new Kansas City home. This year, Stella wants to meet and get to know people at PHS. 2. Seventh Grader, Henry Ruland ‘22, did many exciting things this summer. He went on the 6th grade Peru trip, traveled to NYC where he saw the popular Broadway musical, Hamilton, and swam a lot. This school year, Henry is looking forward to “learning new things and making new friends.” 3. Hadley Jetmore ‘21, an eighth grader, also had a ton of fun this summer. She traveled to Texas for the fiftieth annual Junior Olympics. She placed sixth in the nation for the 800 meter, and tenth place for the 400 meter in track. She also got into the Kansas City Youth Symphony, playing the violin. This year, Hadley is looking forward to getting to know her teachers, and she is extremely excited to be the oldest on the Showcase stage.
Hadley Jetmore ‘21 poses for a photo after placing in the Junior Olympics.
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Feature
Safe Spaces at Pembroke Hill:
Do we have them, do we need them, and do they limit us? Hunter Julo Managing Editor The University of Chicago fired up the ple’s traumatic experiences might lend a the information. Having the choice to opt sensitive debate of safe spaces and trigger need for a trigger warning. Someone with out of the material all together is quite difwarnings three weeks back with a letter to PTSD due to war is obviously obliged to be ferent. their incoming freshman class. In it, they warned before reading a book vividly deLife does not protect anyone from anyannounced that they do not condone aca- scribing combat in World War II. thing and, although classrooms should be demic censoring, including any cautioning A lot of people argue that life does not a place where students do not feel threatto graphic or discomforting material, often have trigger warnings, so neither should ened, certain exposure is helpful. Educating given in the form of a trigger warning. our classroom. Like most things, there are about issues, especially controversial ones, A trigger warning is given at the begin- always extenuating circumstances that helps people to evaluate their own views in ning of a piece of work in order to alert au- built the foundation for this conversation. a more factual based manner. Ignoring the diences of any content that could be poten- Not everyone has been through trauma in problem does nothing but ignore the probtially disturbing. They are often overused their life, however the people who have de- lem. and given to media that is However, students non-descriptive. Social meshould not be constantly “Exposure to various opinions is extremely dia platforms, specifically made uncomfortable. If a Tumblr, have diluted their class is reading a book that important for academic growth, but constant importance, superfluously graphically describes rape, exposure to different opinions can be paralyz- the teacher should give a triggering content. Because of this, ‘triggered’ has beto their students ing ... Needing a safe space sometimes does not warning come a joke among teenagthat their reading material make a person weak; it makes them human.” ers, one often divulged in is explicit before reading it, our classrooms, the comgiving students a chance to mons, and after-school prepare themselves. Who activities. I myself have both laughed at serve humane respect. does that hurt? Discomfort often strikes and used the term, mocking the social jusUChicago’s letter notes that their class- curiosity and new thinking, but comfort tice warriors who aimlessly throw trigger room discussions may “even cause dis- also eliminates fear. While UChicago has warnings and have devalued the meaning comfort,” but there is a defined difference jumped to an opposite end of the spectrum, themselves. between being uncomfortable and being I think it is important for Pembroke to evalDespite this, their development comes brought back to a place of agonizing emo- uate what kind of system we have now and from a place of good reason. I understand tions. Giving students a warning of alarm- if the proper one is in place. why they exist, as I suspect do most of our ing material could give them time to proThe Voice polled the upper school stustudents, and do not discredit that peo- cess the play of events before jumping into dent body, and most students believe that safe spaces and trigger warnings limit freedom because “one should be able to express him or herself without limitations.” The definition and idea of a safe space has been systematically changed with the idea that a safe space must include complete political correctness. As someone who values freedom of speech and opinions more than most other things, having an open forum environment is extremely important to me. Ideas are going to exist whether they are spoken or not, so why censor them? Some other students said that they do not agree safe spaces should exist, as one student remarks: “I hate weak people.” Is it weak to have suffered through a great deal and to continue on? This is where I largely disagree with UChicago’s approach to welcoming their new freshman class. Having safe spaces does not mean every classroom is a safe space. This would indeed limit a student’s ability to speak their mind. Having safe spaces means that there
Trigger
Warning
is a space outside the classroom, outside of highly tense and overwhelming areas, where students do not need to worry if people are constantly trying to debate with them. Exposure to various opinions is extremely important for academic growth, but constant exposure to different opinions can be paralyzing. Not every forum of speakers should require constant debate, only requiring students to be ready for verbal battle against their peers. Needing a safe space sometimes does not make a person weak; it makes them human. When people are trying to be vulnerable and express their emotions, they can do so without being attacked. Humans enjoy the company of like-minded people. This is why we have a politics club with a conservatives and liberal branch. This is why people sport ‘Make America Great Again’ hats and ‘Feel the Bern’ t-shirts. They are not used as a statement of “I am ready for a
“Do we have built in safe spaces at Pembroke? I do not think so, although we surely make our own.” fiery debate about capitalism.” These symbols are used to show our opinions. We create spaces where we will fight over our ideas and where we will rally together. Every single time we gather in this type of setting, whether it is in mutual commiseration or appreciation, we mimic this need for agreed upon interests and morals. Do we have built in safe spaces at Pembroke? I do not think so, although we surely make our own. If I need a moment to recollect during an overwhelming day, I go to the back of the library and listen to music, or go to Mr. Christian’s office where I can amicably debate film. Some people may es-
cape to play their instruments, or take out their energy on the field. We create safe spaces with the friends we choose to surround ourselves with and the daily choices we make. There are always opportunities to take a moment from being away from people if that is how you recharge, or to go to one of the more populated areas of the school if you strive off of communication. Whether in a high school, college, or workplace, we create places where we feel comfortable to openly express our opinions with others without feeling discriminated against. Safe spaces are simply places we, as students and just human beings, feel allowance to say what we want in an area where people will agree with us. If you think safe spaces are stupid, consider this the next time you claim they are a source of weakness. Safe spaces and trigger warnings do not equate weakness, they ensure strength. n
Students on Safe Spaces: “People cannot speak their mind anymore without worrying about being criticized or offending others.”
“A safe space can be defined as nearly anything someone thinks is safe. The question is relative to an individual. People should be able to go to their “safe place” to escape whatever vocal torment or ideological torment people are inflicting on them.”
“People should have the freedom to express themselves without limitations.”
Do you think “safe spaces” limit freedom of speech/ideas?
“Safe spaces are needed by people who feel alienated and need a place where they can talk to people like them.” “Offensiveness is incredibly subjective, so safe spaces prohibit nearly all speech outside of trivial topics.”
“Everyone deserves a space where they don’t have to worry about discrimination or things that are destructive.” “I hate weak people.”
“Everyone should be able express their opinions - no matter how controversial or bigoted they may be. It is important hear the opinion of the other side, ‘safe spaces’ prevent us from hearing those voices.”
“The real world has no safe spaces and it is a pointless concept.”
“Safe spaces are alright as long as you can still have freedom of speech without being prohibited from using certain words or phrases that do not reflect hate speech. When this is transcended, there is an excessive use of political correctness that certainly infringes on freedom of speech.”
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Columns
What Do Ethics and Calculus Have in Common?
Mr. Medlock Contributor “Integrity” stands as one of our fundamental values here at Pembroke Hill, at least according to the banners one sees on campus. I would like to unpack that word a bit, and hopefully, cast new light on its meaning and relevance for us in light of the election cycle, kneeling during the national anthem, and racial tensions on college campuses. I find it interesting that the term “integration” derives from the same root as “integrity.” There are math applications to these terms: to integrate means to find the area under the curve of a function, summing up all the small bits into one whole. An integer is a whole number. The notion of taking fragmented pieces and making them whole is the essence of integrating, both in a mathematical, and a social sense. The opposite of integrating is differentiating (mathematically), or segregating (socially). I would argue that there is a personal dimension to these concepts as well. None of us has got everything figured out; while we may have many strong personal beliefs, we are all well aware of bits and pieces of fragmented facts and views that we have not quite integrated into our bigger views, or that may reveal inconsistencies in our thinking. We are made aware of these
inconvenient tidbits by reading, paying attention to the world, and by having conversations with others, differentiating our own views from theirs. All of us, hopefully, are trying in earnest to connect the dots, create a more complete picture of things, and work out inconsistencies: in a word, we are all, to varying degrees, busy integrators. However, none of us has the one,
“The notion of taking fragmented pieces and making them whole is the essence of integrating, both in a mathematical, and a social sense.” true, complete, whole view. Everyone’s view is incomplete. Put more bluntly, you and I are wrong about some things, maybe even important things. We disagree on things and wonder how on earth the other could possibly hold that view: “How could you not respect the USA?” “How can you allow campus behavior that is so divisive?” “How could you support Obamacare?” “How can you believe
in god, evolution, global warming, etc.?” Sometimes reality is simple, like “rocks fall down” (unless you live in Australia), or “humans wish for happiness” (unless you are a masochist). Much of reality is complex, layered, often convoluted, sometimes not straight-forward, perhaps something you might not have guessed, and this is true whether we are talking about the physical reality of the hard sciences or the political, psychological, social realities of the soft sciences. Whether simple or complex: reality is as hard as nails. I heartily agree with physicist Richard Feynman’s sentiment, “reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled.” We have reached dangerous waters when the primary goal of our conversations, public or private, is to win arguments rather than to figure things out. Winning arguments seems to have trumped reality in recent decades, especially in our political discourse. I believe the alternative to this approach is that of integrity. Integrity means bringing humility to the table – placing greater emphasis on what is right over what I think is right. If I am truly trying to figure things out,
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I much prefer learning about my errors than being right, right? Integrity means an integrated approach, connecting the dots, turning everything on its head, discovering if I am wrong, trying to make a whole out of fragmented parts. The will-to-integrity and wholeness lies at the heart of physics in our quest for a unified theory of everything: an idea that unites the many things. There are contradictions to be dealt with along the way. A similar impulse lies at the heart of our country, codified in the back of our coinage, E pluribus unum (“Out of many, one.”); likewise, there are contradictions (read, conflicts) along the way. I observe three reasons why we fail
to behave with integrity. The first is laziness: we are all guilty of intellectual laziness because it is always easier to take things at face value, to leave views unexamined, to accept in accordance with one’s self-identified group
“We have reached dangerous waters when the primary goal of our conversations, public or private, is to win arguments rather than to figure things out.”
without questioning. The next reason is cowardice: because we are afraid to lose cherished beliefs, or frightened of the implications of changing our views. The third reason is arrogance: people like to be right. When they cherish being right over all else (including reality), then the ego is raised above the facts; winning arguments becomes more important than truly figuring things out. If you wish to approach interactions with integrity, I would offer up two suggestions, borrowed from the integral school of thinking: Rule #1: Everyone is wrong about something. Rule #2: Nobody could be wrong about everything. If you accept these ground rules, then every interaction with others can be fruitful. Would you like to know what is wrong or incomplete about your own point of view? Would you like to know what someone else might be correct about? Abiding by these simple rules means that every interaction can be an opportunity to learn. Follow these rules and you will not lose confidence, but gain more. With integrity comes unity, coherence, cohesiveness, put-togetherness, and soundness, like the integrity of the hull of a strong ship. So, check your ego at the door and approach your world with integrity. Pluribus is beautiful and everywhere; but, these days, I think we could use a little more unum. n
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Betty Rae’s 7140 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64114 Bella Barnes and Roxanne Reasco Managing Editor and Columnist Known for their inventive and delicious flavors, Betty Rae’s has become a mainstay of Waldo since its opening in March. Blending artisan technique, a baking career, and graphic design, Betty Rae’s presents the best of all worlds.Whimsical drawings by young patrons with sticky fingers line the walls, coupled with modern works by local artists. Betty Rae’s is a space for everyone. Lured in by the vibrancy of the small parlor, we excitedly tried a myriad of flavors (Lavender Honey is our favorite!).We spoke with the co-owner’s sister, Marian Nguyen, to hear more about the shop. V: How long have you been working at Betty Raes and what is your relationship to the shop? M: It’s my sister and her husband, David, who own the shop. David is the ice cream maker. It was their dream to open up an ice cream shop eventually, and they made it come true after they moved back to the city from Columbus. V: What is Betty Rae’s mission? M: To make really good ice cream. Good, homemade ice cream. David comes from a baker’s background. He’s worked at Sasha’s Bakery, Heirloom Bakery, and so his mission is to make ice cream, not only as good as it can be, but he makes everything
in house. He wants it to be accessible, too. He wants to develop really fun flavors, but he doesn’t want it to be something that kids can’t try, or that kids feel like they can’t try. V: What makes Betty Rae’s different from other ice cream options in Kansas City? M: We do a little bit of everything. We’ve got avocado carbon fudge, but kids see it so David tries to make it look fun, still. So, how do I make this look like it’s compatible? I’ll just make an avocado base because it’s so green and kids look at it because it’s bright green and they’ll want to try it, but it’s also just got really interesting flavors so adults don’t feel like they’re just getting peanut butter ice cream or just a chocolate ice cream.
V: What is your favorite item on the menu? M: I really like the King flavor. It’s a banana honey ice cream with peanut butter chips in it. I really like that one, it’s made with real bananas, so it’s like eating a banana peanut butter honey sandwich, but ice cream. V: What type of crowd does Betty Rae’s attract? M: All types, really. It ranges from families. Waldo is an up and coming neighborhood, there’s a lot more bars and stuff in the area, so we get the mid-twenties crowd that just want to try something new and a lot of foodies. There’s not a type of person that I haven’t seen in here yet.
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DAM
STRAIGHT
WITH NATALIE DAMERON Over the summer, my entire family was together, in one place, at the same time. For most families, this idea is one that goes without saying because they see each other every day. However, for the Dameron family, and I’m sure many others can relate, this is not the case because we are spread out across the country. Therefore, when we come together as one unit, only one of two things can be happening: 1) someone is graduating, or 2) someone is making a movie. This time, it was the latter. The movie was Different Flowers, written and directed by my sister Morgan. Beyond the fact that my family was happily reunited for a month, this movie gave me insight into the familial aspects of movie making. From the First Assistant Director to the art department PA’s to the camera operators, everyone knew everyone. Albeit this was a low-budget film on a fast paced shoot-
ing schedule, the cast and crew bonded instantly. Being the youngest member of the crew, I was clearly nervous, however, I was immediately welcomed with positive attitudes from every member of the movie. Each and every question I had was met with a hundred answers and personal stories of previous movie experiences. Although my real family was constantly involved (me as the onset photographer, Mallory as production support, Dylan as the onset DIT, and my parents constantly running errands and supporting the movie’s production in every way possible), there was another family in the works: the Different Flowers’ family. This family is what made the final days of production so hard. Being around people for fourteen hours a day, twenty-eight days straight, allowed for hundreds of memories to be made, stories to be shared, and a strong, family-like community to be
formed. I feel lucky to have been a small part of making my sister Morgan’s dream a reality and for being a part of such a unique environment. Luckily, as photographer, a lot of time is spent observing, which ended up being my favorite thing to do onset. I was able to watch the art department transform an empty farmhouse basement into a beautiful, vintage living room. I stood and observed the interactions between my sister and the cinematographer as they decided to change angles or use a second camera. While watching and observing everyone be so professional yet positive, I saw the hard work but also the love that goes into making a movie. This summer I was able to connect my real family with a new family through the magic of storytelling, and I’ve decided the Dameron Family and Different Flowers have a lot more in common than just their initials.n
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Columns
Where we stand:
Wil Rowland Columnist As the 2016 election season continues, all of America is captivated and disgusted by what they see from the two candidates who will represent our nation by next January. An old debate has been reignited about what, hopefully, most will do on that fateful day in November…vote. For many years, there has been talk of placing restrictions on voter ID laws in order to cut down on the potential for fraud at the polls. Conservative politicians have pushed to establish a set of requirements that one must have to be able to vote. Liberal congressman have pushed back, citing not only the numbers that point to the fact that voter fraud is nearly non existent, but the belief that these laws would make it harder for people living in cities or below the poverty line to legally vote. Although this may sound like another round of exceedingly boring bureaucratic debates, this issue touches on one of the most fundamental rights in our country and could have serious repercussions on not only the 2016 elections, but all elections in the foreseeable future. Conservative politicians point to voter
“Modern voter fraud is almost entirely non existent. ” fraud as the motivation for their restrictions and although some might think of that as a non-issue now, historically, it has been very prominent. In New York, Chicago, and even Kansas City, voter fraud was a significant issue in the twentieth century. However, modern voter fraud is almost entirely non existent. One study pointed to only 10 alleged cases of in-person voter impersonation in the United States since 2000 (Hancock). Despite this fact, the debate still rages on, as desperate politicians cling to a bill from which they may gain some political influence. Justin Alferman, a conservative house representative in Missouri, is sponsoring yet another voter ID bill, despite the state supreme court ruling all voter ID laws unconstitutional. Conservatives might argue that their demands are relatively simple and easy to meet, however, when looking closer, one can see that there is a clear attempt to cut a portion of voters out of the picture.
Although masked as a fight to eliminate the very real and major problem that is voter fraud, voter ID laws are designed to make it harder for minorities and people in cities to vote. Judges in Texas and North Carolina said that the issue lay in the fact that “the states required IDs that were most likely to be held by whites — such as driver’s licenses and passports — and disallowed those that African Americans were more likely to possess” (Barnes). Although this is highly incriminating evidence pointing to the fact that Republican politicians are trying to manipulate voting by eliminating a group that does not largely vote conservative, republicans insist that their bills will not disenfranchise any voter. Throughout the years, as various bills have been proposed and then filibustered, and then proposed and vetoed, there have been many compromises between the parties. For this reason, the bill that will soon be voted on, might be the most neutral and overall best bill that either party could hope for, suggesting one of two things. One: the political system in America, despite being the butt of jokes and known for being slowmoving and ineffective, actually worked, as each party balanced each other to create a bill that could make voter fraud even less relevant. Or, conversely, the bill will be so
watered down and ineffective that it proves to not only do nothing, but it has wasted the time of all parties involved. However, all of this is just conjecture, and in reality this controversy comes down to one question. Does the possibility of voter fraud justify efforts by state governments to limit access to the polls? Or, put another way, does the possibility of voter fraud justify the likely disenfranchisement of eligible voters? The right to vote is one of the most fundamental rights in this country. With voter ID laws, conservative politicians are attempting to make it harder for minorities, the poor, and urban citizens to vote, which can cause harm even if the bills never become law. By continuing the debate about voter ID, potential voters are flooded with headlines about what one might need to vote, which could cause some individuals to resolve not to vote. Considering the history behind voting, and the amount of time it took not only for women to vote but for AfricanAmericans as well, it is almost preposterous to think that there are actions being taken to discourage young people from voting. One hundred years after the abolishment of slavery, African-Americans were granted the right to vote. Now, less than 60 years later, these rights are being infringed upon. n
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Should Missouri pass a law requiring photo ID at polling stations?
Grace Parkerson Columnist
A proposed voter ID law, after brewing for months, was put to rest after Governor Jay Nixon vetoed a bill requiring a photo ID in order to vote in Missouri elections. Currently in Missouri, no photo ID is required in order to cast a ballot; like many states, all that is required to vote is a signature. The victorious opposition argued ID laws are unnecessary given the infrequency of election fraud. But why allow even a small percentage of election fraud when securing the integrity of it is so easily done? Free and untainted elections are the cornerstone of democracy. We have an obligation to ensure people cannot take advantage of our weakly protected voting system. The voter registry is riddled with problems; reports showed that 1.8 million dead people were registered to vote in the 2012 election and over 24 million voter registrations were not accurate. As James O’Keefe exposed in Project Veritas, it is extremely easy to access another person’s ballot. The truth is that voter fraud cases mostly go unnoticed today; New York’s Moreland Commission on Public Corruption discovered that in New York, cases
and complaints regarding election fraud were scarcely investigated. An easy solution to the problem of election fraud is the installation of photo ID laws, so why wouldn’t we implement voter ID laws? The primary criticism to ID requirements is that it is discriminatory against low-income citizens, who cannot afford the cost of a photo ID. But, the fact is that almost everyone has a photo ID these days. One needs a photo ID to cash checks, fly on planes, and buy alcohol, for example. Is it racist or discriminatory when the airport or grocery store asks for a photo ID? One also needs a photo ID to apply for food stamps and welfare, therefore any person the US government wants to help is held to the standard of proving identity through ID. American University conducted a survey and found that in three states (Maryland, Indiana, and Mississippi), less than 0.5 percent of participants did not have a photo ID. At this point, the government’s argument that photo ID laws are unjust and discriminatory is hypocritical and ironic, as you need a photo ID to enter all federal
Where the Students Stand:
buildings. Should the safety of our government be deemed more important than the safety of our voting system? Should the White House be more sacred than the integrity of the vote? In my opinion, America’s voting system is sacrosanct, and we should be working to protect it. Evidence has shown that voter ID laws have actually not deterred people from voting; in fact, the University of Missouri discovered that after Indiana’s voter ID laws were established, the number of voters in that election increased. Recent polls also show that the majority of Americans are in support of voter ID laws. According to an August Gallop poll, 80% of Americans are in favor of voter ID laws: 95% of Republicans and 63% of Democrats. Devising a plan to make IDs available to those with financial needs hardly seems an overwhelming obstacle. Given the importance of what is at stake, elections free and above reproach, it is not only worth our while to solve the small problem of ID accessibility, it is imperative. n
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Column
Unbiased Opinions with Clay Lundgren ‘17 Shadow of the Colossus and the Use of Negative Space in Gaming
Negative space in artwork is used to make the space which is occupied stand out. The same is true of its use in gaming. The negative space should effectively accentuate the space which is filled, and carry with it a lasting emotional effect. Shadow of the Colossus (SotC) follows Wander as he navigates the vast, empty waste of the Forbidden Land. The player’s goal is to find and destroy the Colossi. The landscape was to be desolate originally due in part to the limitations of the hardware of the time, but the creators turned this limiting factor into an incredible story device. The land is near vacant, with the few man-made structures in ruin and varying topography populating its gargantuan mass. This emphasized minimalism results in one of the most visually and emotionally striking games ever created. The journey in SotC is meant to feel empty. After taking down a Colossus, you are transported back to the huge Shrine of Worship where the mysterious being Dormin instructs you of the next Colossus you must face, eventually resurrecting the love of your life. The majority of these beasts do not attack without first being threatened, requiring you to seek them out. The negative space which makes up the majority of the Forbidden Land is all you see and feel on your spliced journies to take on these giants one by one. You are left with your only companion, a horse named Agro. You and Agro are all that you ever see besides the Colossi. The long rides to each Colossus take you by breathtaking scenery and a land long forgotten. This completely negative space gives you time to think and try to comprehend why this being, holding the love of your life, wants you to kill these seemingly innocent Colossi.
However, this unoccupied space does not only elicit sympathy for and questions about the Colossi. On your first ride you discover an enormous beast which seems unscalable. After a long fight, you realize how grueling and exciting these battles are. Thus, the lengthy rides to each successive Colossus leave you with questions like “What will the next one be like? How will I take it on?” The player’s mind is thus filled not only with conflicting ideals of whether killing them is worth it or not, but also how exciting the thrill of the fight is. Overall, negative space in gaming due to hardware limitations can yield a powerful and moving result. You then have games on the opposite end of the spectrum like Just Cause 3 (2015). The headlines for this game referred almost exclusively to how vast the world was to be, and how endless the possibilities were in this immense landscape. It was going to be one of the biggest game worlds ever created. The result was a vastly underwhelming, largely empty island with few things to do besides just look at pretty forests and mountains. SotC’s strongsuit is that the landmarks and Colossi which you see and find become looming daunting, yet exciting destinations. Since the vast emptiness in Just Cause 3 was not created by a hardware limitation, you are actively trying to find something to do in the empty space. The developers did not take into account how to fill it, only caring about making something enormous. Shadow of the Colossus is an incredibly thrilling, emotional experience informed by incredible, yet seemingly desolate landscapes. After roaming in search of your way, you eventually stumble upon a seemingly unconquerable task in the form of a monstrous Colossus, and your true adventure begins. n
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This Month in History
Two days after that, on October 4th, those of you who still don’t know the truth can celebrate the “Independence” of “Belgium” from the Netherlands in 1830. After supposedly annexing the territory that would become “Belgium” in 1814, the rule of the Dutch king became increasingly despotic until it triggered a totally-real revolt led by southern liberals, French speakers, and Catholics. The Brussels riots that began the “Belgian Revolution” are widely believed to have been triggered by a mob of people leaving a Nationalist play. Isn’t that just the most twee European thing you’ve ever heard? Going to a play made them fabricate a whole country? This further proves that the Belgians aren’t even trying anymore. We know you’re not real, you don’t need to make up these stories to impress us.
Finally, we can end the month with the perfect way to celebrate Halloween. On October 31st of 1961, Josef Stalin’s body was removed from public display in Red Square. When the Soviet Union endorsed Marxist Atheism as a state ideology, what they really meant was that people should worship old dead communists instead of old dead christians. As such, Vladimir Lenin’s body was embalmed and put on display in a mausoleum in Moscow (where you can still see it, for whatever possible reason one would want to spend time with a Bolshevik mummy.) Luckily for me and my article, full time paranoid alcoholic, and part time dictator Josef Stalin insisted on having himself interred next to Lenin after his own death. Under Khrushchev, the Soviet Government tried to distance itself from Stalin’s personality cult, and reasonably assumed that having his preserved cadaver prominently on display in their capital city was a step in the wrong direction. Khrushchev had the body of his predecessor removed and quietly buried under the Kremlin walls. And isn’t that what Halloween’s all about anyway? Hurriedly hiding the decaying carcass of a dead lunatic like some sort of macabre squirrel?
September
Hello again, and welcome to the second edition of the article I am inexplicably still allowed to write. Taking history and reducing it to pithy, petty diatribes about whatever happens to pique the author’s interest and/or ire has a long and noble tradition in the media that I am proud to continue. To all my readers, I only make one promise: This is a farce. On to our “History” for the upcoming month of October. Watch out for skeletons. October 2nd of this year marks the 81st anniversary of the Italian Invasion of Abyssinia in 1935. After centuries of resting on their laurels, the Italians realized that even Portugal had colonies, and Portugal is barely even real. Seeking to rectify this, the Italians set out to oppress some Africans of their own by annexing the yet-unconquered Kingdom of Ethiopia (commonly referred to by the Arabic-derived name “Abyssinia” at the time, though who would even begin to mess with a country with a name that scary sounding is beyond me.) The only minor flaw in their plan was trusting Prime Minister Benito “Living Cartoon Character” Mussolini to not make a complete mess out of everything. Blatantly flouting the laws of the League of Nations, Mussolini occupied Ethiopia and did such a spectacular job of it that Italy’s entire, miniscule colonial empire was gone by 1941. Thanks, Mussolini.
From October 25th to October 30th, we should all take some time to recognize all of the great things about our country embodied by the 1983 Invasion of Grenada. While the United States Congress reserves the right to declare war, the President is completely free to open up a can of “Police Action” whenever they suspect that [insert poverty-stricken Latin American country here] might not hate communists enough. After a coup in Grenada (modern population: 100,000), the United States (modern population: 350,000,000) sent troops to the island to depose the government and install a new one. Not to say that the Invasion of Grenada was pointless, I’m sure they were hiding something, we can’t be sure they weren’t hiding some sort of Communism-ray around there somewhere. But even if the most technologically advanced country on the planet ignoring international law to fight imaginary commies in Grenada was a completely logical occurrence, referring to the invasion as “Operation Urgent Fury” certainly doesn’t help lend it any credibility. “Operation Urgent Fury” is the name of a bad action movie, or a testosterone supplement you buy from Kyrgyzstan, not a military operation.
Anyway, that’s all for this month. See you all soon, and make sure to never bury necrotic Slavic dictators at home.n
27 Reviews
Jake Jones and John Black Contributors
Media Reviews
On August 26, 2016, Jeffery Lamar Williams (a.k.a. Young Thug) released his third, and arguably the best, mixtape of his career. With features from notable artists such as Gucci Mane, Travi$ Scott, Wyclef Jean, Offset, and Quavo, Jeffery combines different styles and sounds of Trap and Hip-Hop music genres. To achieve this wide variety and originality, Young Thug
worked with many different producers, most notably TM88 from 808 Mafia, but what distinguishes this album from any of his other works are his vocals. Young Thug pushes his vocal limits to create a high pitched, unique, uncharacteristic sound. In the song “RiRi,” Thug starts off with a strong, well-worded line mixed with a high-paced and powerful beat. It brings a new baseline by the up and coming producers Billboard Hitmakers. “Guwop,” which is made as a tribute to pioneer trap artist “Gucci Mane,” features Young Scooter and two thirds of the popular fellow Atlanta based hip-hop group, Migos. Offset and Quavo contribute through their fluent and catchy lines and this make the song easy to listen to. After Young Thug delivers a fascinating story in the first verse, and eventually Quavo enters the song with a slow well-flowed line which foreshadows the rest of the song. He gradually picks up and delivers a serious verse reminiscent of Migos’ best music. After Quavo’s verse, Offset immediately picks up right where he left off. Offset adds a slight decrease in pace and pitch, which flows well with both Quavo and Young Thugs’ verses. For those who don’t like rap music, we highly suggest you listen to it today, and we promise you’ll enjoy it. For those who like rap music, you’ve probably already heard this mixtape and we’re sure you’d agree that this is one of Thug’s greatest works to date. n
Paolo Laskero and Eliza Shaffer Staff Writer and Contributor
Rachel Colligan Staff Writer
The movie industry is changing. With the rise of the internet era and streaming platforms like Netflix, people are not spending money on going to the movie theatre. Netflix, which has nailed several TV shows, are starting to hit their stride in terms of original films. Tallulah is the story of a young woman (Ellen Page) who has lived in a van for years with her boyfriend; soon after he leaves her, she finds herself stuck with the one-year-old of a negligent Beverly Hills housewife. Once she realizes the gravity of her situation, “Lu” seeks refuge with her ex’s mom (Allison Janney), telling her that the child belongs to her son. The film, while entertaining, lacks in the quality of its script. Many decisions of the characters seem to be somewhat cliche, and the plot is very predictable. Despite it’s flaws, Tallulah finds itself being held together by the stellar performances given by Page and Janney. Their chemistry is what
For Potter fans, the newest magical story was almost as highly anticipated as any of the seven original novels. With this much hype, disappointment was inevitable; when Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was re-
allows the audience to empathize with their characters, and provide a heartwarming atmosphere that ultimately makes the movie worth a watch. This was a successful directorial debut for Sian Heder, as he was able to coax such raw emotion out of his two lead actresses. The movie finds a few moments of genuine heart and profound truth amongst a wacky, creative plot. Granted, there is nothing truly phenomenal about the film, but at the same time very few negatives. I suppose that this film certainly is not one of my favorites of all time, in fact, I likely won’t watch it again. But, I had a good time while I was watching it, and I would say that is a win for the early stages of Netflix original films. n
leased this past summer, many readers said the manuscript wasn't worthy of the “Potter” name. After opening the book, I found myself agreeing with the disgruntled fans. The adult characters of Ron, Hermione, and Harry felt distant, perhaps because of the script format or because Rowling did not do all of the writing herself (Jack Thorne and John Tiffany are listed as coauthors). The storyline is not as rich and complex as the previous novels because the many timelapses, which are necessary to keep the runtime of the play reasonable, read more like snippets than a flowing narrative. However, after adjusting my expectations due to initial disappointment, the play became much more enjoyable. Cursed Child reads more like a piece of fan-fiction than a Rowling novel, and once readers embrace this fact, the story is charming. It satisfies the curiosity generated by the epilogue of Deathly Hallows, following Albus Potter and Scorpius Malfoy, giving us a glimpse into the lives of now-middle aged Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Draco. The simple plot explores complex ideas, such as time and love by using time travel to delve deeper into past unfinished business. Although the beginning lacks depth, the climax packs in the high stakes, magical duels, and heroism that makes the Potter stories so distinct. While it does not attain the storytelling genius of its precursor novels, Cursed Child proves an engaging read. Fans of the series should read this story to satiate their curiosity and enjoy a hint of Rowling’s spellbinding world. n
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Personality Quiz: History Department If you could have dinner with one If you were stranded on a de- person from history, who would it be? sert island, what book would you want to have with you? 1) Your father 1) Stephen King’s The Stand (the long version) 2) The Confederacy of Dunces 3) Edible Plants and Animals on Deserted Islands 4) The Martian 5) The Outsider
What is your favorite hobby? 1) Watching anything on TV 2) Swimming 3) Reading and thinking of ways to annoy Bill McGee 4) Biking or running on a trail in the woods 5) Upcycling and repurposing furniture
2) Your parents 3) Eugene Debbs 4) Edson Arantes do Nascimento 5) Madeleine Albright
If you could be present for any major event in history, what would it be? 1) I would not mind being in Times Square on V-J Day in 1945. 2) Woodstock 3) The first meeting between Cortez and Montezuma in Tenochtitlan. 4) Present? Fly on the wall at the Constitutional Convention. Participating? 1970 World Cup Final in Mexico City. Brazil 4, Italy 1. 5) The inauguration of the first female president of the US
Mostly 1’s: Mr. McGee
What is your favorite type of music/favorite band? 1) ‘80s alternative, Sinatra, Springsteen, The Rolling Stones 2) Pearl Jam 3) Bill McGee’s barbershop quartet 4) At the moment, I can’t stop listening to Lord Huron’s album called Strange Trails. 5) Nneka
Mostly 4’s: Mrs. Jones
Mostly 3’s: Dr. Niermann
Mostly 2’s: Mr. Duckworth
Mostly 5’s: Mr. Richardson
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Crossword
ACROSS: 2. Show that won the Emmy for Best TV Movie 3. Freshman class president 4. This PHS alumni upset the No. 2 seeds in the US Open Tennis Championships 5. The new Politics Club sponsor for the liberals 7. Every year, the juniors volunteer at this food organization 9. Science fiction author who visited the lower school 10. The newly released iphone is missing a ______ jack 11. Ned Yost recently hit this many wins with the royals 14. Colin ______refused to stand up during the national anthem to bring attention to civil rights 18. New college counselor from Turkey
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DOWN: 1. Native mosquitoes in Miami tested positive for this disease 2. New downtown Kansas City form of public transportation 5. The sophomore retreat was moved due to what sport 6. New Robotics coach 8. These have recently been planted in the quad 12. The Homecoming football game was against this school 13. Willy Wonka actor who recently died 15. Middle school science teacher who also teaches freshman biology 16. The current exhibit in the Nelson Atkins is “Treasury from the ______ Empire� 17. The new Community ______ is similar to a competition in Harry Potter
Letter from the
Editors
Dear readers,
Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year. At the beginning of the year, we asked ourselves “how do we want to make this year’s magazine better from the last?” A few main things came to mind. We want to bring you more engaging articles that are relevant to the student body, we want our feature articles to create a dialogue between peers. We also wish to give the magazine a more unified look – and one that is uniquely ours. We are starting this month off with an issue we believe is pertinent to the school. In our humanities (or Medlock) classes, we often touch on hot button topics, and, though often joked about, it’s important to discuss whether certain topics should require a trigger warning or not. It is our hope that additions like the Personality Quiz and What’s the Word will help tie the magazine to the PHS community. We hope with each issue, more of you become involved with the poll so we can get an accurate view of the views in our school. We want the polll and these types of articles to make the magazine one that is more engaging and interactive for our readers. We’re excited for the new year, and we hope you are too. Shannon & Davis
The Voice Podcast By Jay Mehta
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whispers
news blurbs from around school
india gaume ‘18. . . got a hole in one at Oakwood Country Club using her 6 iron spencer schmid ‘17. . . broke the school record for the 200m freestyle and 100m butterfly 6. . . is the number of national merit semifinalists at PHS maggie burke ‘17. . . placed second in the sol abroad photo contest olivia sabates’ ‘19. . . released her second music video this month Editors-in-Chief Davis Brooks and Shannon Fang
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THE VOICE
The Official News Publication of the Pembroke Hill School The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School during the academic year to inform the Pembroke Hill Community about pertinent events and news. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill community. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography are made solely by the editors themselves. As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Letters to the Editors. The editors reserve the right to not publish letters. The Voice also accepts advertising and like articles. The editors reserve the right to not publish advertisements. Like us on Facebook at The Pembroke Hill Voice and follow us on Twitter at PHSVoice. Find us online at issuu.com/PHSVoice. The Voice is YOUR publication. Please read responsibly.
Senior Designer 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 McCray
Columnists Clay Lundgren – “Biased Opinions with Clay” Olive Honan – “The Buzz” Bella Barnes and Roxanne Reasco –”KC Crawl” Grace Parkerson and Wil Rowland – “Calvin and Hobbes” 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