The Voice - January, 2009

Voice

The JANUARY 2009

VOLUME XXV ISSUE V

the

OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER of the PEMBROKE HILL UPPER SCHOOL

esterday...

Y

Jan-Term: Today and David Kemper Senior Editor One year ago, it was JanTerm, and I had opted out of any of the slew of trips to New Zealand, Italy or Costa Rica, or David’s Cake Baking Class or Mr. McGee’s beloved Big Eighties class. Instead, I opted to spend my mornings tutoring at Gordon Parks Elementary School, nestled into Roanoke.

I would wholeheartedly recommend the experience to any

student.

The class had just finished reading a much abridged biography of Martin Luther King, Jr., but one student was still struggling with reading. I took him out in the hall, as I had in the days before to help.

He enjoyed being out in the hall: I didn’t have the heart to snap at him like the teacher would, and, stowed in the cove for the elevator, was a big blue scruffy couch, the kind with the springs that were long broken that let you sink

right in.

As much as he liked being in the hall, my pupil was antsy. He would fidget, stand up and jump around, but within a half hour we had progressed a dozen pages to the story of Rosa Parks, and he was beginning to remember more quickly how to pronounce “the.”

A long line of fifth grade girls was passing by on its way to art class, and we were halfway through a sentence when he started fidgeting again. Rather

than jumping up and starting to run about though, he started pushing his head into my left side, prompting me to ask, “What’s up?”

At first he said nothing, and he poked up his head. Then he whispered, “I don’t want her to see.”

I smiled and thought of all the awkwardness of an elementary school crush, and in my naivety, I thought I could help him out with this one by making him see early on the absurdity of hiding

from a girl.

“Don’t want her to see what?”

I pried.

He just kept repeating his phrase in a hushed voice, muffled only further by the extent to which he had burrowed his head in between my arm and the couch, so I inquired again. The line of girls had passed; this time he answered.

“I don’t want her to see me with a white boy.”

We turned back to our book on Martin Luther King Jr.n

Katie Smith takes off the pointe shoes for Jan-Term.

Katie Smith Staff Writer

In ten years of ballet, I had dealt with many deathdefying leaps. Yes, I could handle turns on the tips of my toes until I felt woozy.

I could deal with eye-high kicks.

But never had I been confronted with this: wearing metal shoes.

Well, technically only parts of it were metal. The tops appeared to be a glossy black.

Tying my tap shoes on for the first ever Jan-Term tap class, instructed by Ms. Butterbaugh, I felt like a colt in iron shoes for the first time. My steps were noisy as I was assured they should

be, and my feet felt clunky.

Could I possibly achieve anything resembling grace in these contraptions?

Under the careful tutelage of Ms. Butterbaugh, we all did. During JanTerm, the math teacher who has tapped since the age of two taught us the basic movements: spanks, flaps, ball changes, shuffles, and a host of other toe-tapping moves that rhythmically coincided with a whole gamut of musical styles.

On Friday, a review of everything we had learned was presented at a small gathering in the Centennial Hall theater. It was just the four of us—Rebecca Achtenberg, Elizabeth Ernst, Jay Todd Max and me—tapping our way

through a sultry Spanish guitar number.

Even though she wouldn’t let me wear a tutu, Ms. Butterbaugh did me a great favor in her Jan-Term class. Through sharing her joy of tap, she also broadened my horizons. She pushed me just far enough out of my comfort zone to realize that being outside of that safe little ballet studio isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

For it is only when I take off my pointe shoes that I realize my studio is pretty small to be my whole world.

Isn’t that what Jan-Term is about? So, this semester, let’s all take a break from our pointework and just do a little soft shoe. We might be surprised where that improvisation takes us. n

Elizabeth Ernst, Jay Todd Max and Rebecca Achtenberg learn tap dancing.

Photo credit to Katie Smith.

Community service at the Douglass Early Childhood Center is a great way to give back.

Côme De Montille Contributor Driving down Madison Avenue to start my community service at the Douglass Early Childhood Center, I realized how worried I was. The prospect of teaching kids, many of them having no knowledge of the English language, was making me extremely nervous. Being shy in the first place, I was dreading the first confrontation with my class. Would they be nice and quiet? Would they be loud and obnoxious? I had no idea.

The first thing I noticed after parking in front of the building was how decrepit and depressing the facade was. Bricks were missing, the wall had obviously not been taken care of in a long time, and my nervousness did not dissipate. Along with other members of my group, I entered the school. Although some effort had been put in decorating the walls, most of the inside was in terrible shape as well. The stairs

Photo credits to Côme De Montille

F e at u r e : pag e 4

James Helzberg “Jelzberg” Check out the man who inspires so many nicknames. Paul Black uncovers the many secrets to the life and times of James Helzberg.

FYI: pag e 2

A&E: pag e 7

NUTRITION

The Garret

Peggy Pruitt explores her eating habits and those of students at Pembroke Hill.

teams up with

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to preview its publication at the end of the year

5121 State Line Road, K ansas City, MO 64112

were dirty, the walls looked old and, in some places, the ceiling was missing! This was going to be a bad day...

But I was wrong. When I met the teacher with whom I would be working, I took a liking to her immediately. She was nice, helpful, and obviously loved working at the Douglass Center. The class was great as well. The children, most of them between three and five years of age, were great. I swear that some of them continually stared at me throughout the entire day. They were very talkative, bright young kids that, if given the right opportunity, would certainly succeed.

For the next three hours I drew pumpkins, made collages, and played with blocks. Because some of the children were from Mexico, I also go the opportunity to improve my Spanish. Overall, I had an amazing time. When I had to leave, all the children shouted “goodbye!” at the same time. It was a very instructive experience, and I recommend it to anyone who likes teaching kids while having fun. n

A&E: pag e 7 Check out the sports page for boys and girls basketball news.

Andy Yu takes an in-depth look at the freshman boys’ team.

2

FYI

JANUARY 2009

SCHOOL NEWS

Post-holiday guilt over poor meal choices Peggy Pruitt Staff Writer I don't eat well. I've never lacked for food, but I generally choose meals and snacks with too much fat, too many calories, and few nutrients. This tendency actually doesn't bother me most of the time, when heavy weekend meals are interspersed with the school week, during which I generally eat two meals per day.

Over winter break, however, I ate like a pig whenever I wanted, especially at parties and holiday dinners, and gained some holiday pudge. Am I doomed to eat until I become wider than I am tall? I asked some students a bit about food and eating, and their words gave me hope as well as easy habits for healthful dining on a regular basis.

"Overeating is overeating, but there are times like Thanksgiving when the big meal is traditional," says senior CJ Slaughter.

Maybe there are times when we need not feel glu onous for consuming enough food to feed an African village.

Emma Fulop, tenth grade, prefers fresh food to prepackaged, albeit delicious, snacks like those available in the bookstore. This

preference stems from eating habits learned at home. "My mom makes dinner every night, and she's the one who buys all the food. I think it's healthier 'cause she won't buy junky stuff and you know it's fresh. Fresh food makes you feel be er," says the sophomore.

CJ also says that if fresh fruits and vegetables were readily available at school, he'd choose them as o en as something heavier in calories.

I like fresh fruit as much as the next person, but aging apples and tired grapes are hardly palatable to me when Otis Spunkmeyer muffins are readily a ainable. It's hard to eat what I'm supposed to, especially if it doesn't really entice me. I share this sentiment with a rather unpopular group of people, although I am not one of them, yet. I speak of the 16 to 33 percent of children and adolescent Americans who are classified as obese.

Freshman Katayon Ghassemi expressed displeasure at the obesity epidemic in America's youth. "It's sad that people are starting this [obesity] so young.

They're ruining their bodies for no good reason."

No good reason is right.

Sedentary lifestyles and cheap access to empty calories are the terrible reasons which contribute to the growing girth of the American child.

This may be surprising; one way to combat poor snacking is to eat more. Everyone I spoke to eats breakfast in the morning, even if they have to eat at school.

Sophomore Will Sharp uses breakfast to add to his daily protein intake, which benefits the body in numerous ways, but specifically "builds big muscles," according to Sharp.

Another confession: I rarely eat breakfast. For eleven years I a ended public schools which provided free breakfast to everyone who came in time to eat it. I was spoiled in this way because I didn't really figure out how to provide a healthy breakfast for myself on a school morning. I'm still bemused by the memory of a donut hole served with a slice of American cheese, but I know the apple juice tasted extra delicious on those mornings.

It seems that many teens really do know how to eat well, and generally what to eat, but our actual diets are limited by our ability to conveniently obtain the most nutritious foods.

Sniffles: Hypothetical virus strikes Pembroke Hill Upper School in mind of imaginative freshman Danny Shum Staff Writer

The other day, I was walking aimlessly in a store looking for nothing in particular.

Soon, I started noticing the vast number of li le sniffles and sneezes I was surrounded by.

I started paying more a ention to this sniffling and sneezing and was astounded by the quantity and intensity of it all.

It was like a second language had was intermingled with all the cha ing, and everybody seemed to be fluent.

This reminded me of a report I did awhile back about influenza.

In my report, I went on and on about how efficiently influenza could spread itself. I started wondering what would happen if Pembroke suddenly was infected with influenza, or maybe even something like the Black Plague.

What would happen? Well, let’s see.

Let’s assume a deadly disease finally reached the Pembroke Hill Upper School community of students and teachers during Jan-term. The freshman would probably be hit first. The juniors would probably be the next to go, as they are already on the verge of death with applications. The sophomores would be next. Then, at last would come the seniors. The seniors would probably be unaware of their impending doom, however, as they are basking in their relief from college applications.

What would happen to the teachers? Well, the math department would be affected first.

Mrs. Hendricks would probably draw up a graph of the disease’s current path and probable future.

Mr. Beeler would invite the rest of the math department in and seal the door. They would enjoy cheese dip, poker, and Smart Board drawings until the disease had passed.

The history department

would put records in order so to preserve precious history. All the while, Mr. Sigler would be quietly analyzing the disease. He would probably discover a cure for it. If he did not, then Mrs. McIntyre and Mrs. Ketchum would.

Next would come the English department. Dr. Loeb would probably have read multiple books in the past about this exact scenario and would know exactly what to do.

As far as the foreign language department, Madame Huycke, who never gets sick, would probably remain unaffected and help care for those who were.

Lastly, the arts department would be hit. However, they would have just enough time to compose a symphony in honor of the deceased as well as a huge painting depicting the tragedy in hand. In the end, the only people le standing would probably be Madame Huycke and Mr. McGee.

Who’s the Bass? New baby for Upper School teacher Peggy Pruitt Staff Writer A er months of anticipation, Oliver Santiago Bass, son of popular Upper School Spanish and art teacher Carlos Bass, greeted the world on December 15, 2008 at Heartland Health in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Oliver is the first child of Carlos and Linda Bass. The moment of his birth is Mr. Bass' first significant memory of fatherhood. At least, he was in the room at the time.

"When he was born, I couldn't look. I just waited until they handed him to me. I didn't want to faint," says Mr. Bass.

Precious moments indeed.

The young family spent several more days in the hospital, during which Mr. Bass only le his wife's side to grab hamburgers, fries, and iced tea from the hospital cafeteria.

Li le Oliver Bass! Photo credit to Mr. Bass Mr. Bass is taking 'paternity' leave, which is as long as his total number of sick days.

He returns at some point in the next quarter. Meanwhile, Mr. Max Fearing will instruct Bass's art classes and Senora Van Zanten will cover his Spanish classes.

Fatherhood has been a whirlwind experience for Bass, who has sacrificed sleep for his

new son. Carlos and Linda's respective parents did come and stay for a week or two at a time to visit their grandchild and ease the burden on the couple.

Still, a er three sleepless weeks in his new role, Carlos Bass has goals for raising his new son.

"I want to teach him to be nice to people," says Bass who laughs, "and to respect authority!" But in all seriousness, "Right now what I want to teach him is to go to sleep," he adds wearily.

Oliver will initially learn English, but a li le espagnol may be in his future, too. Mr. Bass and his wife wanted their son's name to represent young Oliver's Mexican heritage, and Santiago, Mexico holds special significance for his family. Another name considered was Leon, a er Bass' grandfather.

More baby news from the Language Hall: Senora Martinovic is due with a boy to be named Ma eo, or Teo for short, February 7th.

Sophomore makes new family during Swiss Semester Mimi Starr Photo Editor I walked into JFK on September 4, 2008, worried about what the thirty-six strangers waiting in the gate would think of my crying about leaving my family. I didn’t know that 3½ months later I would walk out of that same airport with tears still streaming down my face, for the exact same reason. I was still leaving my family, only now it was my Swiss Semester family.

They were the thirty-six brothers and sisters that hadn’t le my side for the last semester.

Swiss Semester 2008 was the best experience of my life, no doubt. I’ll admit that sometimes I felt like I was going to die, and sometimes, dying sounded more appealing than the task ahead of me.

At night, my roommate and I would commiserate over our pending “long hikes” and ponder over if KR (the director) would actually make us finish the hike if we “fell” (jumped) off the face of a mountain. The answer in our minds was always a firm “Yes! Keep hiking!”.

We got through everything together from homesickness to rampaging geology teachers. On one occasion the geology teacher chewed us out for not working hard enough for Swiss Semester standards, on the same week that we had a 12 page paper due. Long story short, one girl fled the classroom in the middle of Mr. Matson’s rage, crying, and spent an hour that night balled in the fetal position on the hotel floor weeping about how much she hated geology.

But once we got past

Students enjoy the Swiss air.

Photo credit to Mimi Starr. the challenges (hiking season), I realized how much I loved Swiss Semester. We all had time to spend together to go to cafés and hit the powdery slopes, stopping on our way down to town to get cinnamon ice cream at Zum See, a cute mountain restaurant with homemade ice cream to die for, or a fresh crêpe from Stefanie, the town crêpe lady.

Leaving Swiss Semester was much harder than leaving home. We all cried for two days before hand, and when we got off the plane at JFK, people wondered if our plane had crashed we were crying so hard. What would you think if a quarter of a plane’s passengers were weeping hysterically?

I learned so much at Swiss Semester. I went as a young, naïve teenager, but I came back a more compassionate and independent young adult.

Geology class in Switzerland learns all about the nature of quicksand.

Photo credit to Miranda Starr

Senior harrassment of freshmen in Thespian Society is traditional Jenny Hughes Contributor “Uh…freshman?!”

A senior (who will remain nameless) calls in a voice that reeks of power and total Thespian domination, as we are told to seek out Mr. Hill.

Actually, this unnamed senior should not remain singular; that statement should be plural.

As freshmen we are expected to do the dirty work of all Senior Thespians; slaves to those who worked just as hard as we do to get the top of the Pembroke Food Chain- being a senior. We were continuously summoned by the name of “freshman” before we became a closer cast.

By no means at all, am I saying that seniors are cruel in anyway, I fortunately got to know many of them. One senior in particular feels protective over freshman actors and “hazing,” or being officially inducted into the Thespians. This practice seems to have vanished (luckily) even though Spencer Collet, senior, has

no shame in his love of hazing Thespian Freshman.

Every senior who has ever acted has arrived at a fall play audition as a freshman, just as intimidated as we were. Once we become part of a cast we all grew closer as Mr. Hill’s “nieces and nephews.”

But of course we receive no breaks from our freshmen duties. No, we don’t live in fear of school and wear helmets in the halls just in case Peter Wyche throws us in a trashcan, or Stephanie Goel tries to strangle us with her body sock for autistic children. That’s stereotyped high school drama that only occurs on the big screen.

The lesson learned appears to be “respect your elders,” and in a ma er of years, we’ll be seniors, conducting a group of timid freshmen in the One Acts.

Now that we have reached the second semester and will become official Thespians, I know there’s no reason to be intimidated.

Christmas luck: Pocket knife incident during holidays ends without serious injury.

Nick Curry Contributor Four Christmases ago, in 2004, I was looking forward to receiving a certain small present, my very own pocketknife.

I didn’t really want it for the traditional purpose of a knife but so that I could imitate the appearance of my father and brother.

When I opened the miniature, perfectly wrapped gi , I knew it was the knife I had eagerly anticipated. It was a small three bladed knife that was colored green. Like any other child, I became exited

for a few seconds, but then I put it down and continued opening the rest of my presents.

Then I got to one gi in particular, a big red box with a rock’em sock’em robots boxing toy inside. I wanted to play my brother, so I tried to open it only to realize that it had a plastic guard keeping it sealed.

I tried to open it for a few more minutes, became impatient, and searched for my knife. With the knife I pried at the box for a second, and then put the knife in the box and pulled as hard as my li le body

could. The results ended with, one, the box opening, and two, I stabbed the entire knife blade into my arm. I didn’t feel the knife in my arm probably because of the shock I was in.

Directly a er that happened, my dad, without knowing what had just occurred, yelled out to me to be careful with the pocketknife. Define irony. Then my dad called me in to eat breakfast. I hid my arm behind my back, afraid that I would ruin our Christmas if I showed them the flesh

wound.

I entered the room and immediately my father noticed that I was acting weird.

He told me to show him my arm, and I did.

My father leapt from his chair at the site of my bloody forearm. He then took me on a five-hour trip to the ER. Four years later, I gazed at my arm reminding me that what ever you do, you will always be cared for, and the true gi of the holidays is the health and well being of your friends and family.

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VOICES

STUDENT OPINIONS EMBRACE THE YEAR OF CHANGE

JANUARY 2009

The never-ending nightmare Harder work now, A mess David Kipke Contributor The recent military conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, a group considered around the world to be a terrorist organization, is the most recent chapter in Israel’s history of violent altercations, whether they be declared wars or sporadic fighting, with an Arab militant group.

The fighting started when four people in the Southern-Israeli city of Ashkelon died from rockets launched by Hamas, which had been launching thousands of rockets into Israel since 2002.

Images of civilian casualties caused by collateral damage from Israeli air bombings have been flowing out of Gaza onto front pages of newspapers and onto television screens, causing many people to sympathize with the Palestinians; however, what many people don’t understand is that Hamas is using the civilians of Gaza as a human shield as they hide safely in underground tunnels.

To anyone who

merely glances at newspaper stands or television screens without reading any further into the ma er, Israel has become a monster that is viciously a acking everyone in Gaza. However, no one sees the pictures of the dead terrorists, the blown up weapon arsenals, and the destroyed smuggling tunnels.

The crisis in Gaza has resulted in people all over the world now regarding Israel as a country of war criminals.

For a second, just take this ba le out of context.

Imagine that a Canadian militant group launched rockets from Winnipeg at St. Paul, Minnesota, killing four American civilians and causing all of the civilians of Minnesota and the northern states to live in fear of rockets raining down from Canada.

This is of course completely hypothetical, but imagine.

Would it be wrong for the United States government to launch an offensive to destroy the group that was killing its citizens? Think about it.

Also, this conflict in Gaza is eerily similar to the war between Israel and Hezbollah, a terrorist group which was also launching rockets into Israel, in Lebanon that took place

Abolish the curfew Sarah Cole Contributor Three in the morning, and the police are in hot pursuit.

Is it robbery?

No. Causing a disturbance?

No. So what’s the problem?

Minors out past curfew.

Kansas City Missouri’s curfew for teenagers is pointless.

In fact, many teens are not even aware of its existence.

The curfew varies from weekdays to the weekend. Sunday through Thursday the curfew is in effect from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., and Friday though Saturday the curfew is in effect 12 a.m. through 6 a.m.

Of two dozen polled students, a mere 40 percent actually know about the city’s curfew. An astounding 60 percent are unaware of the law.

These teens could legally be arrested for being out, when they do not even know it was illegal.

Is that fair?

I only learned about the curfew when at a police station recently. I noticed a small four by six inch sign that said something about a curfew in Kansas City.

It’s no surprise then that so few are unfamiliar

a law that many say is superfluous.

“The curfew isn’t enforced. The police don’t care. It’s a mere technicality in the law.” said Homayon Ghassemi, ‘09.

This seems to be the common consensus amongst most teens.

Whether or not the curfew is enforced or not is not the only problem with the law. The actual times of the curfew are also debatable.

A couple of students, when asked about the curfew, replied that it was at 1 a.m. They thought this because when they received their license, they were told all drivers under the age of 18 years are allowed to be on the road until 1 a.m.

Technically, if a licensed person of fewer than 18 years of age is driving past 11 p.m. - or midnight on the weekend but before 1 a.m., they are not violating any state laws.

Yet, they are in violation of Kansas City’s curfew law.

How does that work?

Honestly, the curfew should be abolished, or at least changed to match state laws.

Let’s change things for the be er and free the youth of our city from this unecessary limitation of our freedom.

Then, when these changes are made, maybe they could be publicized with a li le more then some random four by six inch sign at a police station.

in the summer months of 2006.

Despite a fullfledged assault from one of the most elite militaries in the world, Hezbollah was never defeated, and is now the most powerful political party in Lebanon. These wars have all but become commonplace.

As a Jew and a human being, it breaks my heart to admit that this seemingly eternal struggle between Israel and the Arab nations in the world will never find a peaceful end.

It may appear, on the surface, that Hamas is just another terrorist group that hates Israel. However, all of these terrorist groups are backed by Arab countries and oil tycoons that desire Israel’s destruction but, quite frankly, don’t want want to get their hands dirty.

This Israeli offensive will, without a doubt, eventually drive Hamas underground.

However, there will always be more terrorist groups waiting to have their arsenals filled with Iranian and Saudi weapons. I dearly hope that the United States will continue to support Israel, which is not only the most legitimate democracy in the Middle East, but also sacred land to Christians, Jews, and Muslims.

in the cafeteria

fewer finals later A system that pleases the student and the teacher

Evan O’Keefe Contributor For the majority of students, the fewest number of finals each semester is five, but five two-hour finals is a daunting task for most. A system exists that could help the students reduce the amount of finals they take and help get them be er grades in class.

Grade incenti-ves allow a student who earns a high semester grade, such as a 95% or higher, to be exempted from taking the final exam for that class.

This system will not only help students, but teachers too. Grade incentives encourage the student to work hard for a high mark in the course, encouraging be er behavior in the classroom.

Is this not what the administration has been trying to do for years? A er all, the new cell phone rule is purely to facilitate be er manners in the classroom.

In addition, the purpose of the classroom participation segment of one’s grade is to promote good etique e in high school and active participation in class.

True, some have cited the importance of regular finals to ready Pembroke Hill students for college. A er all, Pembroke Hill is a college preparatory school.

Yet grade incentives are not meant to eliminate finals, just ease some of the burden for students during crunch-time.

A decent number of schools are trying or have already switched their grading systems to this method.

In fact, Pembroke Hill’s neighbor, St. Thomas Aquinas, has completely switched to using grade incentives.

Grade incentives benefit Pembroke, its teachers and its students.

A er all, what does the administration have to lose?

In this year of change, let’s not be afraid to try it.

End the censorship Alex Nay Associate Editor Whenever I go to buy a new video game, I usually get one that is rated mature (for ages 17 and up).

According to existing law, I need to have a legal adult purchase such games for me.

During my most recent trip to the game store, I asked the store clerk to give me a break and sell me the game because I am only a year from the legal mark. However, he told me that if he were to sell me the game, he would be fined more than if he were to sell me alcohol. Ok, I’ve heard of some inane laws, but really?

We as high school

students have heard stories, speeches and an overabundance of advice warning us against the dangers of alcohol, and some have even endured the tragedy of losing someone to alcohol related deaths. When has a video game caused any pain that can even be compared to alcohol’s track record.

This law is ridiculous and a perfect example of the problems censorship has brought to this society we live in.

Such censorship is not limited to video games, but also plagues films, music and art.

A cinematic example of censorship is Darren Aronofsky’s tragic 2000 film, Requiem for a Dream.

Those who are familiar with the film know that it is not a feel-good film. It centers around three teenage lives that are u erly

ruined by drug addiction.

Aronofsky firmly believed that his original cut had an important message and a definite essence.

However, the studio felt that a pivotal sex scene was too inappropriate, so they censored it.

A er seeing the final cut, Aronofsky felt that his message had been undone, and the film did not represent his original intent.

When the film was available on VHS and eventually DVD, each copy had a li le sheet in the packaging that read, “Requiem for a Dream: EDITED VERSION.” Video games, music and films are all works of art. They each represent an individual’s perception of the world, and, especially in America, I find censorship’s impediment of the creativity and convictions in such art unacceptable.

Adiah Fauntleroy Contributor Since the beginning of the 2007 school year, the students of Pembroke Hill have not particularly favored the meals served in the cafeteria.

The fact that the school believes students should start eating healthy only increases our taste for more fa ening foods.

The Pembroke Hill School has completely transformed our meal choices.

Due to this fact, more students are found skipping lunch.

Some students on campus have said, “Have you ever noticed that when the cafeteria is serving fried or greasy food, everyone comes to eat?”

We want what gives us energy to thrive throughout the rest of the day.

Many have cited the increasing rate of obesity in American high schools as a reason for Pembroke modifying of its menu recently.

Except, when you sit back and look at the Pembroke community as a whole, most students are no where near obesity.

Those who do hold a lot of weight do not eat on campus anyway.

The administration’s effort to take on bad health is not paying off, and the majority of the students don’t like the different food choices.

Another student said, “The food is very bland which eliminates the flavor of the food.”

The non-flavored food is given to the students also for health reasons, and the staff believes that this is the only way to go, in the hopes of creating a healthy diet for their students.

One understands that they are trying to help us become healthy individuals.

Yet at the same time , they are driving us away from good health, and the healthy lives every student deserves to live.

From the Suggestion Box: Advertise with the Voice Define the meaning of life.

Tissue boxes and purell in the commons The Café should be open all day.

contact our business department at

voice.phs.business@gmail.com

No freshman study hall

WPA 2009

Move choir back to 12:10.

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There should be some assembly where all the maintenance people and lunchroom people are introduced.

Look at this ad Underclassmen should take a Pep club shouldn’t steal lesson from the seniors and be more Provide in school other people’s bulletin boards. open with our own groups of friends. meditation classes.

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FEATURE

january 2009

FEATURED ARTICLES

The Other Side of Santa Freshman Danny Shum reflects on his unusual curse and decides that Santa Claus is the culprit.

Danny Shum Staff Writer Ah, winter and the holidays!

‘Tis the season, you know? The season for wrapping paper, advertising, candles, seeing the crazed uncle just out of prison, and of course, presents.

You know what my favorite present is? It’s stomach flu! I get it each Christmas. And, if I’m really good, I might even get pneumonia. Santa never ever forgets me when it comes to stomach flu, though. He gives it to me every year without failure.

Sometimes, he even gives it to my whole family! And you know what? After getting it year after year, I have come to a conclusion regarding Santa: he’s one sick old man. The first couple of years, you’re thinking, “I have such bad luck.” Next year, you

think, “I am utterly forsaken by luck.” And the next year, you are lying in bed, eyes half open, and you conclude, “This has got to be *cough* some kind of sick joke...” But did you ever wonder why it always happens around Christmas? I did. I have decided Santa is sick. I mean that in the sense that he is ill as well as in the sense that he is sometimes covertly mean. The sad thing is it’s probably our fault. The poor sap has had to squeeze down our soot encrusted chimneys for the past couple hundred years because we started locking our front doors. He probably got the Plague from this, and then we shunned him to the North Pole as quarantine. Now he escapes for one night every year and delivers presents to people all across the world in an attempt to get people

to like him and allow him to come out of isolation. However, he apparently is still contagious and gives people diseases. So he could be a sycophantic individual secretly seeking a little revenge, or it could be accidental. After all, one of his trademarks is a reindeer with a shimmering red nose. Why does he have a shimmering red nose? He has a cold of course! This means Santa must have given him a cold, but who would deliberately make his pet sick! Maybe he is just a sick man seeking redemption. Who knows? I don’t. All I know is every year, Santa pays me a visit and gives me the stomach flu.

If he does the same to you, my advice is this: share the gift with your sister or brother. Spread the joy of giving. After all, tis the season.n

Enchanté, Madame.

Photo credit to Côme De Montille Côme De Montille Staff Writer I’m walking down the long winding hallways of the Pembroke Hill School and everything is dead silent—well, except for my wet and squeaky shoes. I walk down past the math classes, past the science classes, past the staircase that connects the first and second floor, and into the language

hallway. Although I have to strain my ears to hear it, there is a faint buzz coming from one of the doors. I am intrigued and get closer. What previously sounded like a buzz is actually Madame Huycke’s classroom. Madame and all her students are laughing and having fun. Suddenly I wish I had taken French IV. But I start thinking, and realize that most students know Madame Huycke only as a teacher or a mentor, when there is obviously a lot more to be discovered. Well I can clear things up.

The reason for the hilarity in her class is simple: Madame Huycke loves to laugh. In fact, one of her goals in life is to laugh a lot.

And when I asked her what her motto would be, guess what she answered? Laugh out loud every day.

“Laugh out loud every day. That’s

personal profiles

what makes me keep coming back.

My colleagues and students keep me laughing.”

Madame Huycke’s interests are also critical if you want to deepen your understanding of her. When asked who her favorite artists were she named Marcel Proust, a French author from the 19th century who wrote the famous work A la Recherche du Temps Perdu (In Search of Lost Time). Her taste in music is very varied and includes artists such as Tchaikovsky, Eric Clapton, the Dixie Chicks, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Madame also enjoys cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

When asked what her chief characteristic was, Madame’s family decided on stubborn. That, combined with her conscientious mind and hard-working habits, are a basic overview of Madame’s work ethic.

Gas prices never rose?

At a debate tournament a few months ago, I participated in the Student Congress event.

As you can tell by the name, in Student Congress the participants, or the “congress,” give speeches on topics similar to those that would be reviewed in actual Congress.

In one speech I gave, I brought up the subject of increasing rates of unemployment.

I was then confronted with the question, “Well, how do you know unemployment rates are increasing?” as though it was some idea I’d thought up myself.

I thought the increasing rates of unemployment was a commonly known and talked about subject. Apparently not so…

Then, in another speech, I brought up how gas prices were becoming impossible to afford.

Again, someone came up and questioned how exactly I knew gas prices were becoming difficult to afford.

I simply told them the

looks of pure anguish on the faces of people everywhere, strangers and friends alike, after they passed by a gas station and saw the current prices. I answered their question, but I was still a little disturbed the person did not seem to know about gas prices.

The rest of my round continued like this. My shock at the lack of awareness of current events of my peers grew by the minute.

I think we can blame this obliviousness on all the entertainment we youth seem to be so consumed with. Why should we watch the news or read a newspaper when we could go party, play some video game, or watch cartoons?

It is scary to think the people who will be controlling the world in a few short years don’t even know what’s going on, and probably don’t care either. I urge my peers pick up a newspaper, instead of a PSP. Or turn the channel to CNN instead of E.

One would be surprised to find exactly how powerful knowledge is…n

But my lengthy analysis of Madame Huycke would not be complete without an explanation as to why she decided to become a French teacher. Madame was born in Leavenworth, KS, yet grew up in Lansing, KS. She has always loved school, even as a young child, and in 10th grade was offered her first French course. When she entered the class, Madame fell in love with the language. She is quoted saying: “I knew right then that I wanted to teach French.” Madame graduated with a B.A. in French and an M.A. in French studies, and later went to study in France for a year. She knew, after having spent a year in Paris, that she wanted to go back to France. The French food, the language, the sites, and the overall history of the country all prompted her desire to return. Madame then returned to America, finished her studies, got married, and started working at Barstow. As soon as she learned a spot was open in the French department, she jumped on

the occasion and came to work at Pembroke. She has been working here since 1984. But, because I could never reproduce Madame’s love for French in this article, I decided I would quote her directly so that you fully understand her passion.

“Ever since my first trip to study in France during the summer when I was 19 years old, I knew I had to find a way to get back to France for an extended stay. I loved being in France, speaking French, meeting new people, eating French food, discovering all the sites, monuments, and museums and just being surrounded by such beauty, history, culture and the French way of life.” In a way, Madame is already French!

This completes my overview of Madame Huycke. But remember, next time you hear a weird buzz while walking down the hallway, look for Madame’s classroom.

That is probably where the noise will be coming from.n

Sarah Cole Contributor

Paul Black Contributor

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All Types of Glass All Plastics (1-7) (Deffenbaugh only recycles 1-2)

You might think you know James “Jelzberg” Helzberg: Pembroke Hill lifer, tennis player, relation to the diamond company founder, and sophomore classhomecoming representative. But did you know that James has an “in” with the Chiefs?

Because James’s father is the team’s gastroenterologist, James gets to travel to River Falls, Wisconsin each summer to

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PHS Class of ‘11

Nillan Patel Contributor Each and every year, the freshman class at Pembroke Hill is stuffed with new students from around the city, possibly around the country.

However, this year we were privileged enough to welcome a foreign student to the class of 2012.

On a typical, humid, Kansas City, July afternoon, Christian Nagy arrived from Germany after a seven-hour flight across the Atlantic Ocean.

Dealing with jet lag, the family settled into their

watch the Chiefs at training camp. James has gone to the Chiefs training camp every year since he was ten years old and has had various encounters with the players and coaches.

“In 2007, I was standing near Dwayne Bowe when Michael Bennett and Eddie Kennison strapped him to the goal post with duct tape and Saran wrap,” said James. James recalls Michael Bennett then dumping Gatorade on Bowe as punishment for being late to training camp, as Bowe was holding out for a better contract in what was to be his rookie season with the Chiefs.

When asked his view on the recent resignation of Chiefs General Manager, Carl Peterson, following a 2-14 debacle this season, James said he had “no comment.” One positive aspect that can be

salvaged from the Chiefs’ abysmal season is that they will obtain a higher draft pick in the 2009 NFL Draft. In the April draft, James believes the Chiefs should draft University of Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. Bradford, only a sophomore at Oklahoma, has thrown for 4,464 yards and 48 touchdowns so far this season. Although Bradford has not yet declared for the Draft, the 2008 Heisman Trophy winner would certainly be a solid addition to the team if he fell to the Chiefs at the third overall pick.

From his experiences at training camp, James has decided he would rather be a doctor than a professional football player. Considering James’ great grades and the fact that he no longer plays football, this is probably a good choice.n

new life in America, and Christian prepared for high school, only a month away.

“I am bilingual which makes learning a third language relatively confusing and tough to comprehend,” Christian mentioned to a couple of freshmen in the hall early in the school year.

Learning two languages is hard enough. But learning a third language, Spanish, on top of that adds stress and extra effort to the challenge of being a high school student.

Christian is fluent in English and German, having lived overseas for a total of nine years.

Sometimes he subconsciously speaks German and ultimately is forced, by his peers, to repeat sentences in German.

He also has experienced some benefits

from living in Germany.

As everyone in the city bundled up during the week of sub-zero degree weather earlier this winter, Christian rolled up his sleeves and let the “brisk” air whip past his body.

Christian has overcome many obstacles to make his transition to Pembroke Hill smooth.

“Kids here are really nice. I like the school a lot because everyone is really open,” Christian stated.

Another aspect that is extremely different in Germany from the US is the amount of fast food restaurants. “In Germany we only have McDonald’s, Burger King, and Subway.

In contrast, there is a ton here!” Christian explains.

Christian has succeeded in fitting into his new life in America.

He is exceptionally happy to return to the land he calls home.n

5

SPORTS SCHOLASTIC SPORTS

JANUARY 2009

Raiders Take It to the Hoop Both the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams have started their seasons, introducing new coaches and freshmen players.

Below are articles regarding the boys’ varsity and freshmen basketball teams as well as the girls’ varsity team.

Andy Yu Contributor It’s Monday a ernoon, 4 o’clock, and the Pembroke Hill freshman boys’ basketball team is practicing for the first time since before winter break. They are a li le rusty but are working hard to prepare for their game on Wednesday against University Academy. The team is optimistic for the game as they run through 3 man weaves and 3 on 2 drills under the watch of Coach Schroeder.

“I enjoy being with the boys here at practice. They practice very well sometimes, and we accomplish a lot. It’s just we’re a li le under conditioned,” Coach Schroeder said.

The Pembroke Hill boys’ freshman basketball team got off to a slow start, losing their first three games to Lincoln Prep, O’Hara, and Kansas City Christian. With the Rockhurst Tournament canceled, their last game was nearly a month ago. However, with each game, the boys continue to improve according to Coach Schroeder.

Their last loss, to Kansas City Christian, was down to the wire, but the team ended up losing. Yet this did not dampen the team’s enthusiasm.

Mason Evere says, “It’s fun, and I like being on the team because I get to play a lot during the game.” He added that he enjoyed practice because it is fun and easy.

The team really does seem to enjoy themselves at practice as they play 5 on 5, and even Coach Schroeder played once because one of the players, Peter, was not present.

For the future of Pembroke Hill basketball, the team seems to be in good condition with some future stars among them.

The boys have many games ahead of them as they continue and hope for a good season. Now, the boys are preparing for their next big game and the rest of the year. As stud Tucker Porter, ’12, says, “It’s awesome,” and it truly is.

Sydney Peavy Contributor

Photos credit to Noah Eisemann, Nillan Patel, Matt Logan, and Stephanie Mingos

Paul Black Contributor Just two short seasons ago, the Pembroke Hill boys’ basketball team was playing in Mizzou Arena for the Missouri 3A state championship. Last season was a rebuilding year for Raider basketball; the team finished with a 10-18 record under first year coach Glen McDonald. This year the team is aspiring for a be er season even a er being moved up to class 4A. The class upgrade from 3A to 4A is a product of the private school multiplier and the fact

that Pembroke Hill’s enrollment has slightly increased over the past couple of years. The private school multiplier forces private schools in Missouri to count each student 1.35 times instead of just once. The multiplier presumably accounts for the fact that some private schools could recruit or otherwise a ract students on the basis of their athleticism.

Despite losing the senior leadership of Will Wurster and Nick Butler, the team returns three starters from its 07-08 campaign in Joe Wilkinson, Michael Vaughan, and Brendan Stallard. Glen

McDonald is also back for his second year as head coach of the squad.

Although the season didn’t start as well as the team had hoped, the Raiders started 2009 in style, winning their first game of the season January 5 against Renaissance Academy 48-46.

“Hopefully we can build off this win and carry the momentum throughout the rest of the season,” said sophomore forward, Brendan Stallard.

Hopefully this win is one of many to come this year for the boys’ basketball team.

It is easy to hear the negative gossip around Pembroke Hill about the Lady Raiders basketball team, which is still recovering from losing excellent team Kristina Mingos, Rebecca Queen, and Betsey Brandt, and an outstanding coach, Mark Spigarelli.

Half way into the season, they have yet to be recognized. Most did not expect much from Pembroke Hill’s Lady Raiders. Even with a new coach, Jim McMurray, and new team members outnumbering the experienced, they continue to keep their strong bond on and off the court.

“Coach makes sure we stay together and work on fundamentals” says Adiah Fauntleroy, the Lady Raider’s strong post and leading scorer, averaging ten points a game.

Adiah also states the obvious, saying, “I feel like we work more as a team this year.” That is one thing the Raider fans have noticed the most. Players comment that they are learning to work as a team rather than relying on only one player’s talent. Fans are now able to cheer on each individual for her contribution to the team.

As a young and small team, the players continue to show leadership and heart in each game. Jackie Robinson and Evan Sterneck, the Lady Raiders’ team captains, continue to push their team through hard times, “No one expected us to win one game and now our record is 3-4. We learn something new about our team and what we need to work on, each game. Our job is to continue doing what we love while proving others wrong and representing our school.”

Throughout every game, one is able to see improvement from the ladies. Pembroke Hill doesn’t know what to expect from the team later in the season and next year, but it is evident that this young and fresh team shows promise.

Dance kicks off to a start With the basketball season also off to a start, the Raider dance team is practicing for the upcoming games.

TAP JAZZ BALLET The victorious dance team heralds a trophy at their latest competition! Photo credit to Adrienne Dunham.

Adrienne Dunham Contributor The Pembroke Hill Dancers−we’re more than meets the eye. With our new room and seven new members, the team is growing in more than one way.

We’ve been practicing for more than a month now, and our team has really become a true team. We start our practices with warming up, stretching, and an occasional “80s style aerobic workout.” The music starts out with slow songs or fast songs, depending on our moods.

We glide with leaps across the floor, trying our best to make them sharper, higher, and perfect. Our amazing coach, Tina, critiques our mistakes and pushes us to make corrections. A er leaping comes turning; singles, doubles, triples, even a few quads.

It takes muscle, posture, and selfdiscipline, and the team is always

Wesley Gross, senior, conducts the dancing ladies. Photo credit to Adrienne Dunham.

“It takes muscle, posture, and self discipline, and the team is always pushing themselves to the max to do their personal best.” striving to be the very best.

As the practices progress, we work on dances that Tina teaches us or ones that we have learned at a camp over summer. The dance team usually

has about a day or two to learn or remember dances for the basketball games that we learned months ago, but we pull it off pre y well. Competitions arej ust like performing, but with tons of people judging your every move.

One mistake and you could cost the team first place, but once you get out on the floor, the adrenaline rush starts to hit you, and you master the dance. The team only has about two weeks to learn a new dance. (A baseball theme and bats as props was in our most recent competition at Fort Osage High School.)

From the gli er and makeup to sweat and strength, our Raiders Dance Team has made a lasting impression on the school and community.

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6

A&E

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

FAVORITE FILMS

january 2009

Benjamin Button: A Movie for the Decade

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is a must-see film for all ages. Evan O’Keefe provides his profound insight on David Fincher’s new film.

Marty, Alex, Gloria, and Melman are four characters from Madagascar 2. While working together, the zoo animals learn life lessons and find their way back to New York.

Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Benjamin Button born as an old man in a baby’s body. A man like any other, who is incapable of changing time . the story. The film pushes the Evan O’Keefe envelope towards three hours, Contributor but each minute is better that the last. If you can endure the time

The Curious Case of limit then it will be apparent Benjamin Button was released to all that the brilliant acting and the theatres November 26, 2008. Brad unbelievable plot creates a movie Pitt plays Benjamin Button and that will not be forgotten for years Cate Blanchett plays the role of to come.

Benjamin’s childhood friend and This is not an action future girlfriend Daisy Fuller. movie and it is fairly lengthy, This gripping story so as most could guess the plot depicts a man born old, but does become slow at some points. instead of getting even older, However, the compelling story Benjamin grows younger with never loses your attention but not each passing year.

During for long. childbirth Benjamin’s mother dies, As the awards season and soon after his father abandons rapidly approaches, this movie him. Fortunately, another family is sure to be nominated for many raises Benjamin, and as a small honors. In addition, it will be no kid he meets another younger girl shock when this film begins to about his age. She however is like win Golden Globes and Academy most people; she grows older with Awards left and right. each passing year.

Brad Pitt will be The two share a nominated for best actor and Cate relationship as their lives cross Blanchett for best supporting when they are both young adults. actress. Overall, The Curious Case Much of the film is centered of Benjamin Button will make a around the unique bond between very strong push for best film Benjamin and Daisy. However, of the year. This movie will since they are aging in different be immortalized as one of the directions their relationship was greats, such as Titanic and The not meant to last.

Dark Night, so I would highly David Fincher, the recommend this film to all that are director, takes his time developing interested.

Christian Nagy Staff Writer You know how some movies leave you in an awesome mood?

They make you feel so giddy you want to turn around and walk right back into the theater and watch it again. Can’t remember any movies like this? Look no further than Madagascar- Escape 2 Africa, the sequel to the box office hit released a year ago.

This time Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, and Gloria the Hippo attempt to repair a plane and fly back to their home in New York, courtesy of the fearless penguins.

Joining them on the journey are three lemurs, all returning from the first movie, namely King Julian, Maurice, and little Mort.

On the plane ride to New York, the plane crashes, leaving the captive animals stranded on a deserted plain, clueless. This happens to be the mainland of Africa, and the friends end up running into more of their own species.

A big surprise is found when Alex finds out that his father (Bernie Mac) are the rulers of the herd, and Alex was taken away as a cub. When Alex fails to prove himself worthy of the throne, he is ironically banished from the herd. Marty finds himself nose to nose with another huge group of zebras, and begins to question his originality.

All the while, the penguins, led by valiant Skipper, are attempting to repair the plane again so they can take off and return (for real this time) to New York. But honestly, I think I might have already given away too much of the film already, so go buy your tickets and check out this film.

With plenty of one liners and a surprisingly deep storyline, Madagascar- Escape 2 Africa is a must-see for anyone who doesn’t mind smiling, as well as laughing.

Upon seeing the film for the first time, I was pleased to see that many of the actors from the first movie were able return, including Ben Stiller, and Chris Rock.

RATING: ****

From the makers of Supersize Me, I.O.U.S.A is “An Inconvenient Truth for the American economy.” Come see this life-changing documentary at a Jamal on the game show, wining his way to 20 million. Jamal uses memory flashbacks that he has to help him answer questions during the show.

special

screening Tuesday, January 20th and Wednesday, January 21st in Hall Student Center at 7:00 P.M.

Lidia’s Restaurant- True Italian, True Goodness Christian Nagy Staff Writer Located north of Union Station in a former railroad house sits Lidia’s Kansas City, an Italian restaurant with the unique sense of true Italy. Lidia and Joseph Bastianich opened the dining house and appointed Dan Swinney executive chef in January 2000. The very spacious dining room was originally designed to resemble a NorthernItalian building. However, since the restaurant is located inside a railroad house, it adds more originality to the surrounding.

Furthermore, the entire restaurant has a very peaceful appeal to it, allowing a comfortable visit.

Upon my visit to Lidia’s recently, I was greeted by friendly servers who appeared eager to serve. They explained that the diner has the choice of an entrée off the menu or the highly praised “Pasta Trio”, which is three different types of freshly cooked pasta the guest can sample and eat as much as they please of. This was the order I placed and I give it my highest praises. I mean, who can really say they would not eat

‘bottomless’ pasta? The Trio varies from night-to-night, but the three I was served were all excellent, ranging from a sausage spaghetti to a cheese-filled ravioli. However, on one of the dishes the garlic was somewhat overpowering.

The waiter that handled us was very friendly, and was very helpful in explaining the menu, the Pasta Trio, etc. It took very little time at all for us to receive our food, which was excellent, by three other waiters roaming around the dining area with tubs of pasta, whose job it was to fill empty dishes of guests.

Finally, we selected to end the evening by ordering desert. We decided to try the ice cream sampler, consisting of three (seems to be the magic number at Lidia’s) ice cream flavors.

However, the flavor selection was a bit absurd: a peanut butter and jelly flavor, a green apple flavor, and a chocolate hazelnut. All of which were delicious.

With all said and done, Lidia’s was arguably one of the top Italian cuisine destinations in the area, and a huge recommendation is passed to you.

Rating ****

“Yea, shake it! Shake it!

Oh, I’m a lady. I’m a lady, everyone! I’m a lady...not really it’s me, King Julian.

Which of you is attracted to me? Hands up!” (Quote from Madagacar 2, King Julian) “It’s a funny thing coming home. Nothing changes.

Everything looks the same, feels the same, even smells the same. You realize what’s changed, is you.”

(Quote from Benjamin Button, Benjamin Button) “Slumdog Millionaire is just the sort of ragsto-riches yarn that turns Academy voters’ heads.” (review quote for Slumdog Millionaire)

Slumdog is one in a million.

Mihir Vedantam Contributor Slumdog millionaire is a magnificent movie that has a great story line and also floods viewers with emotions. It even has genuine portrayals of areas such as the slums and even to top it off has two real Indian actors who act as the game show host and the cop.

This movie makes the viewer truly experience the emotions the protagonists and his friends and family through suspenseful scenes. I personally loved this movie and definitely will refer it to friends and family.

Another plus point this movie earns is that it actually follows the storyline of the book Q&A by Vikas Swarup almost 100 percent of the time unlike other movie and book pairs. With the proper organization and the smooth transitions between realtime and flashbacks, this movie is a true masterpiece.

Another plus point is

the uplifting ending that makes the viewer feel that the movie is truly great. Even the antagonists surprised me when I found out there were so any that helped drive the plot at an understandable speed.

The movie is about a boy who lives in the slums with his mother and brother, as the story progresses the boy loses his mother and is forced to work with his brother to make ends meet via stealing and selling goods. In the end the boy’s experiences help him win a game show. With this kind of an ending the viewer understands that anything is possible.

In a scale of 10 this movie definitely receives a 9.5 to a 9.7 because its only downfall is that the movie starts out a little confusing which may get a little annoying. Other than that the movie was perfect and I definitely believe you should see it!

Review: 9.6 / 10 great inspiring movie

7

A&E

january 2009

ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Classic Bestsellers Katie Smith Staff Writer During the last two summers, the world has born witness to historical literary events: the original printings of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in 2007 and more recently, Breaking Dawn, which concludes the Twilight saga.

All of the excitement and upheaval associated with their debuts has led many gushing fans to prematurely declare these works “classics.”

Though wildly popular, these novels are not classics—yet. Mere popularity does not make a classic.

When one thinks of a “classic,” a dusty tome forced upon decades of unenthusiastic students comes to mind. But this is not the definition of a classic.

In order to be considered a true classic, a work of literature must have two key elements: a sense of timelessness and a distinct influence on society.

First of all, a classic needs to be widely read in multiple time periods.

Though studying his work is not enjoyable for

The Last Lecture Nillan Patel Contributor

most, Shakespeare’s plays are excellent examples.

Written four hundred years ago, Romeo and Juliet continues to stir audiences and readers with its theme of forbidden love.

Similarly, young readers still sympathize with the misunderstood Holden Caulfield in Catcher in the Rye, penned by J.D. Salinger in the 1950s. Both of these works have weathered the test of time and have come out on top.

Secondly, a classic needs to have influence on the world, be this in the form of provoking social change, such as Uncle Tom’s Cabin, or forever altering the English language, as William Shakespeare did.

If a work of literature is powerful enough to bring about change or influence subsequent generations of writers, then it deserves to be called a classic.

So, let’s not be too eager to bestow that coveted title upon books written in the last decade. If they are up to the challenge, in time they may be granted such prestige.

But for now, they are exceedingly popular, chart-topping best sellers that have defined the literature of a generation’s childhood. Where they go from here, only time will tell.n

Art by Aaron Kinsey

To whom it may concern,

For those who still do not know, the Garret is Pembroke Hill’s official art journal. At the end of the year, a professionally printed book is published featuring high school students’ art and writing. We gladly accept all mediums of art as well as poems and short stories. This is a chance for all of the aspiring painters and poets in the school to have your work published on nice, glossy paper.

As the art lovers that we are, we strongly believe in an uncensored symposium, which means we respect your decision to use stronger language. Fortunately for us, the Garret is only distributed amongst the high school, thus the content we publish is allowed to be a bit more mature.

Submitting work is exceedingly easy: simply drop your art and writing in one of the folders in the English hall, arts building, or our drawer in the photography room. We will digitize it and get the precious fruits of your labor back to you as soon as possible. If you have any questions at all, feel free to ask any one of the editors in chief, Betsy Sallee, Anna Stelmach, Karen Qin, or Wesley Gross, or direct your questions to our faculty sponsor, Ms. Ramey.

Sincerely, The Garret Staff

Photo By Lane Washburn

Poem by Peter Wyche

Looking for a great book? The Last Lecture is a phenomenal, short book that every person should read at some point in his or her life.

The author, Randy Pausch, a professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was given only a few months to live.

This book is an accumulation of some of his greatest memories, each describing a life lesson.

Some of these lessons affect the working class, some the students, and some affect everybody.

Pausch explains events from each section of his life. He explains many experiences, old or new, all vital in forming the human he became.

One of the most important points Pausch conveys throughout the book is optimism. Even though he is dying from cancer, he cherishes the few months he has to live and exploits the positive consequences in a situation.

From common lessons such as “Tell the Truth” and “Never Give Up” to more complicated ones like “Don’t Complain, Just Work Harder,” Pausch explains them in a novel, comprehendible way.

This last lecture that he gave at Carnegie Mellon was a way to teach his children the lessons they needed to learn. It also will be used to let them hear their father’s stories.

Pausch has been teaching all of his life, and he uses his terminal illness as a teaching tool as well.

In the process, he has taught millions of these lessons and illustrated the dreams he was able to make reality. Pausch also starred on Oprah, where he shared part of his story across the country.

The Last Lecture is a great read for all age groups because it encompasses the dreams that are universal.

He also proves that it is possible to achieve any dream, no matter how wild.

In an attempt to teach his children, he taught a world. n

The Garret: Art of the

The numbers dance before me, weaving themselves into an effulgent symphony of light.

Numbers are not like people at all; they are fair, they make sense, they never argue.

I sit here staring at the numbers on the screen, these numbers that to anyone else would probably appear static, dead, uninteresting, and I see beauty.

I see order. I see reason.

If I believed in a higher power, I would say I see a hint of divinity in their arrangement.

Yet for all my efforts, I cannot derive their meaning.

I cannot see the lurking truth behind the curtain.

I spin around in my chair again and gaze through the skylight above into the night sky.

A night with no clouds, a starry sky… really, those stars and their arrangement are just another symphony of numbers. Cosmic, yes, but no different from the numbers which lie before me.

Issue

Art by Anna Stelmach

8 JANUARY 2009

THE FORUM

The People Have Spoken: A Response to Prop 8 In our last issue of The Voice, Carlton McClain, junior, and Spencer Collet, senior, voiced their opinions on the current events in California dealing with gay marriage. Below are the letters to the editor that we received concerning the articles: Dear Editor, A short response to the editorial against gay marriage (Nov./Dec. 2008): While I felt that Mr. McClain’s article was well wri en, I found myself skeptical of certain points he raised. In particular, McClain states that “Marriage is the sacred benefaction of the continuation of the human race through legal, religious, social, and spiritual approval.” This leaves me with the impression then that the sole purpose of marriage is reproduction and that those who do not intend to reproduce, cannot be married.

Does this then apply to a couple where either of the partners are sterile and cannot produce offspring? Some years ago my Grandpa remarried a woman with no intent to reproduce because it’s simply not possible at the age of 78. Would you then deny them the right to get married? You see, I always thought that marriage was a bond based on love and intimate friendship and not on furthering the human race.

Furthermore, McClain objects to the usage of the term “separate but equal” to describe the conditions of a same-sex civil union. His criticism is centered around the fact that the same term was also used to describe the treatment of African-Americans during the 1950s and 60s. I don’t believe, however, that the application of this term is meant to take anything away from the Civil Rights movement or AfricanAmericans in general. What would you rather have it referred to as, “apart but comparable”? C’mon.

In fact, the very point that McClain makes provides a strong basis for a case against the creation of civil unions in place of marriage. I doubt homosexuals would favor their union being referred to as “separate but equal” at all. In fact, the repeal of this phrase was a key focus of the Civil Rights movement, itself. In the instrumental Brown v. Board of Education case (1954), a orneys for the NAACP declared the term, stemming from Plessy v. Ferguson, as a custom in principle of racial

“

In my opinion, the American people made a bold statement—very loud and very clear. We did not want to redefine what marriage is. The American people integrally came to a consensus of what we felt was rectified, justified, and constitutional, and, with that, the American people reclaimed the great institution of matrimony.”

“This semester is going to be great.I’m going to get everything done way ahead of time—the night it’s assigned. I’ll DISECT every English reading… twice! I’m going to ace every test, and obey my alarm clock.”

They’re the pleading promises we make ourselves each time an opportunity approaches for us to make a “fresh start.”

A new year. A new semester. A new week. What happens? We can almost feel the shaky palms slithering violently across our foreheads partly on impulse and partly in a conscious a empt to stamp in some discipline, (fingers still tingling from yesterday’s “you-idiot-why’d-you-put-thisoff-till-now”), as the devious phrase, “this will be due Friday, so you’ve got some time” reverberates about the classroom. There should be a built-in cackle that comes with that sentence—or a bit of a southern accent that stretches the ‘i’ in time. Yes these promises are so faint we can see through them

even before we finish making them.

And so the pleading promise becomes less of a promise and more of a plea—a plea to believe ourselves when we march confidently toward the first day of school, inwardly yearning to scurry back under the comforter of winter vacation, earnestly wishing for another chance to fulfill the goals we made in early December.

But then again, weren’t all those goals set under a similar cloud cover: “Okay, I’m really going to accomplish this task…Oh I really hope I accomplish this task…Oh I probably won’t accomplish it, but it would be great if I could…I probably won’t accomplish it…

Oh I love doing nothing!”

I would be unfair if I didn’t say that we probably did achieve many of the goals we set out for, but I myself didn’t achieve nearly all of them. What goes wrong? Why do we never seem to live up to our own expectations?

Certainly we begin well, stepping courageously onto the vessel of education and challenge, ready for however powerfully the waves may crash, yet painfully aware

Dear Editor, CarltonMcClain represents one side of society that is very against the decency and rights that every person should possess, including the right to free marriage, including homosexuals.

I am appalled that certain people are sour enough to express openly their opinions on the decisions of others. It is not Mr. McClain’s problem by any means, that if people determine their own path to go down a different path than a relatively common one.

Civilization is only harmed by the ignorant actions of certain individuals who see themselves above a certain class of people.

In his article, McClain mentioned the oppression the African-American people. This

prejudice. The argument against the term “separate but equal” has already been made and would need no further reinforcement to reject it from application to gay civil unions.

In conclusion, though McClain’s editorial is well wri en and manages to avoid being offensive, it is clearly not well thought out, in particular

Let the Second Semester Begin!

Greta Shum Editor-in-Chief

two of the major arguments. I fundamentally disagree with the exclusion of homosexual couples from the “consecrated” ideal of marriage and hope that you can see the contradiction in certain of McClain’s points.

Sincerely, Carter Baum

Because all of the letters that we received regard McClain’s article, we have reprinted a quote from his article that summarizes his argument.

t

THE

It has been a long tradition in my family to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade every year from the comfort of our own living room. Thanksgiving had always symbolized the American spirit and opportunity that my parents had desired ever since they had moved from Mumbai, India to New York City some twenty years ago. This past Thanksgiving, glued to the television, indeed, we were; however, instead of the massive Snoopy and Big Bird floats coming through the streets of the Times Square, we were affixed on CNN, as the anchor declared the breaking news: “Terror in Mumbai.”

Terror, indeed, was what was taking place in the “City of Dreams,” and the panic had seeped its way through the television into our hearts. The city had been my parents’ home for twenty-five years of their lives, and to a lesser degree, Mumbai had become a home for me, too. I remember the unusual feeling of not standing

out in a crowd of brown people; I never felt out of place. I distinctly remember going to the Taj Hotel to eat masala dosas, or spicy Indian crepes, and walking by the train station in the morning with my grandparents. Now, before my eyes, I was watching all my memories fade. No longer would I look on that beautiful hotel and remember the time I had spent there. No longer could I go for walks in the city without being reminded of where the a acks had taken place. No longer could I go to India with the carefree a itude one has when going home.

The fact of the ma er is that unfortunate events such as the Mumbai massacre (perhaps not as devastating but, nevertheless, dreadful in their own rights) happen quite o en. Perhaps my reaction to the events that took place that Thanksgiving Day was only more intense because I had a personal a achment to the place. This scenario of mine can be broadened to a more general meaning: people never fully

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Dear Editor, I completely side with Spencer on the topic of gay marriage. Being homosexual myself, I would like to have the same rights as heterosexual couples when I am older. Now, yes, marriage is religiously defined as a sacred bond between a man and a woman, and I can completely understand where Carlton is coming from because of his religious beliefs, but the fact that homosexuals do not have the same rights as heterosexuals in most states is completely unfair and wholeheartedly goes against the phrase “all men are created equal.”

Sincerely, Devin Coleman

VOICE

EDITORS IN CHIEF that the clouds will block that Rima Abhyankar and Greta Shum sun eventually. Perhaps it is that The Voice is published monthly by the students of the Pembroke Hill School awareness itself that blocks our during the academic year. The paper is an open forum, distributed to the goals. We see the rapids ahead, students, faculty, parents, alumni, and other members of the Pembroke Hill and so they become far more community. Its staff editorials represent the view of the majority of the editreacherous. tors. All decisions concerning grammar, layout, content, and photography Why do we worry before are made solely by the editors themselves. All comments, concerns, and we’ve even begun procrastinating? complaints should be forwarded I think it’s only partially because directly to the Editors in Chief. we don’t have faith in ourselves and mostly because we simply As an open forum, The Voice encourages its readers to submit Le ers to the have the wrong impression. The Editors. These le ers can either be sent to The Voice at the Pembroke Hill road ahead is not dangerous School, 5121 State Line Road, Kansas City, Missouri, 64112 or be emailed and crevasse-li ered, but simply to voice.phs@gmail.com. The editors also reserve the right not to publish preparatory. We are challenged, le ers which they deem to be too long or contain questionable or unverifyable but I don’t think we should view subject ma er. it as a difficult road that aims to Senior Editors prepare us for the hard future Shajiah Jaffri (so that we are used to difficulty), David Kemper but instead a preparatory road that teaches us how to approach Assistant Editors the future so that we never see Spencer Collet anything as difficult at all.

Alex Nay So let’s take a look at Julia Marsh our grades, understand where we Slesha Patel need to improve, and then fulfill Corrie Vesely those goals we set in order to meet those improvements.

Associate Editors Okay, I’m not saying Micah Friedman ignore the challenges ahead, but Jay Todd Max just don’t expect to be defeated by them. Let’s expect to surprise Copy Editor ourselves this semester.

Gautam Anand

Terror in Mumbai, India Rima Abhyankar Editor-in-Chief

however, it is by no means a reason for bi erness, due to the fact that students at the Pembroke Hill School were not the oppressors.

McClain’s statement was, above all things, irrelevant, and he needs to a empt to be more accepting of different views other than his.

Anonymous G.

understand a situation until they, themselves, have an emotional a achment to it. When people hear the latest news of an a ack in the Gaza Strip or riots in Indonesia, it is difficult for them to imagine the trouble that others are going through if it does not actually concern themselves.

A er multiple phone calls to our family in Mumbai, we were given a li le bit of relief that none of our family was affected by the a acks. However, our relief was only temporary; while our family was safe, many were not.

The terrorists had targeted their type of victim, which resulted in over 150 deaths, of which over thirty were foreign citizens.

What is most shocking is how the terrorists could so ruthlessly kill innocent lives, without any morals impeding on their actions. In a society that is fit for progress – whether in technology, education, or communication – it is troublesome that there is significant regression of morals.

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