Marlton Gives Back, A8
100 Years of Saints, A7
White Plays on ESPN; Commits To West Point, A5
INSIDE
The Pine Needle Volume XCIII
Richmond, Virginia
October 2011
Number 1
STC Turns 100 Saints celebrate with cake, cheers, Dr. Chamberlayne, gala and Tom Wolfe
NH’13
Irene Devastates
More than 408,000 people were without power after Hurricane Irene tumbled through central Virginia. St. Christopher’s remained without power for six days and the start of the Upper School had to be held up the road at St. Catherine’s. Amid all the chaos and confusion, students found their way to classes and were back on the campus of St. Christopher’s after two days.
-- Jack McDowell ‘12
Visit pineneedleonline.com to see pictures of the war-zone like conditions around the STC campus. For stories about how the STC community was affected, turn to page A2.
Nester and Robertson Get Big Opportunity By Will Turner Editor-In-Chief
Jack Nester ’12 and Mac Robertson ’12, two aspiring Àlm directors, have gotten an opportunity to work with some big names in the past six months, including Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and VCU basketball coach Shaka Smart. The two seniors have been working on a project called Connector Moments, a compilation of video interviews with prominent leaders throughout the state of Virginia. Other leaders include Google Executive Chairman
and former Apple Inc. board member Eric Schmidt, Fox News anchor Brit Hume, Hampden Sydney President Dr. Chris Howard and UVA head football coach Mike
London. The videos will be shown at the Symposium before each speaker makes their presentation. Each leader was asked to discuss qualities that make a good leader, as well as to reÁect on their experiences. Nester and Robertson were most impressed with Dr. Howard. “He was really
personable,” Robertson said. “He wasn’t as nervous as others. He was so open and nice, but when he wanted to get a message across, he was clear and concise.” Nester and Robertson had some help in the interviewing. Ned Farley ’14 and Jim Partee ’12 did camera work for the Mike London interview and Collins Burlee ’13 and Adam Richardson ’12 helped interview Gov. McDonnell. “The main thing I took from the whole thing was that all of these people who we interviewed all had some-
thing different to say about leadership, and I was able to take a little bit from each of them,” Nester said. “Brit Hume, who is a Fox News correspondent, even showed me a better way to hold my boom microphone so that I wouldn’t get tired.” Both Nester and Robertson have interest in pursuing their Àlm interests at least through college, and Nester wants to take it even further. “I hope to eventually be able to write, direct, and produce all of my own movies,” said Nester.
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The Pine Needle
Continued from Front Page
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October 2011
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Come On Irene
The Doctor Has Left the Building How many things older than a 100 years do you know that can destroy your house and completely upend your life? Two large poplar trees did exactly that to Dr. Andy Smith right before the start of school. While Hurricane Irene caused a lot of damage to many people and caused us to start school late, none in the St. Christopher’s community were more effected than Dr. Smith. “At about 6 p.m., a large poplar that was in my front yard fell and came through the living room and master bedroom upstairs,” he said. “At the time I was about 8 to 10 feet away in the dining room..” He Àgured if one tree fell another could follow so he left to spend the night at a friend’s house. He returned the following morning to Ànd his other large front-yard tree had fallen on the guest bedroom.
When the ‘monsoon’ came during the Àrst week of school, contractors set up large blue tarps over the gaping maws that the trees left. “I was surprised to Ànd that the tarps let almost no water into my house,” he said. While no one was hurt, he lost furniture as well as a priceless picture of a Tibetan Chinese man tossing prayer cards aloft near the summit of a 15,000-foot mountain in western China.. Possibly the most lasting effect of this disaster is that Dr. Smith does not know when the repairs will be completed and he can move back into his house. He is now renting a place while his house is rebuilt. Unfortunately this is Dr. Smith’s second devastating hurricane experience. In 2003 Isabel a tree took off the sunroom at one end of his house. “My next home will be a community like Windsor on the James where there are no trees, no shrubbery of any kind,” he said. -- Nicholas Horsley ’13
Harper’s Hurricane Blog Ms. Sarah Harper lived for nine days without power and cooked on a camp stove. That and more of her hurricane experience is detailed in a blog she keeps with her husband Christian Cousins, a new Upper School Spanish teacher. Ms. Harper and Mr. Cousins recently moved to Richmond from Austin,
Texas. Upon arriving, they were welcomed by the earthquake and Hurricane Irene. Ms. Harper has been keeping up with Irene’s damage in the STC community and in the west end of Richmond on the blog. To see check it out, go to http:// harpins.wordpress.com/. -- Jack McDowell ’12
Shabooms: Shattered Dreams The local gentleman’s club, Shabooms, was devastated during Hurricane Irene. The name for the club was inspired by Kenny Powers. Its founding members held all sorts of events there, ranging from cookouts to NASCAR 08 battles on the Playstation. The club’s founding members included junior Chase “Clarence” Crowder and seniors Ned Valentine, Tucker Brown, Holt Walker, Jesse White and Blair Farinholt.
Pledges included Trent and Tom Parrish. A tree in Crowder’s neighbor’s yard did most of the damage to Shabooms. The roof of the gentleman’s club was knocked off and the foundation was cracked. When asked how the club members would deal with this heart wrenching accident, Crowder simply said, “We’ll start from scratch.” -- Jack McDowell ’12
Valentine Goes Out on a Limb Senior Ned Valentine was affected by Hurricane Irene’s damage while driving through Windsor Farms. Valentine was driving on Old Locke Lane with Tucker Brown and Tom Parrish when suddenly a cat jumped out onto the road. Instinctively, Valentine swerved to miss the cat, but ended up hitting a huge tree limb, which was on the shoulder of the street overhanging the road. The tree ended up busting the side mirror, scraping the right side of the vehicle, and smashing the windshield of Valentine’s 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The assessed damage on the
car was around $10,000. “I got a face full of glass but I’m not complaining,” Valentine said. “I’m just lucky to be alive to tell the story.” -- Jack McDowell ’12
Galstans Get Hit Imagine your whole world collapsing around you, literally. That’s what happened to sophomore Bailey Galstan. One tree fell on his house and one on two of his cars. One of the cars was going to be Bailey’s but is now
worthless. The Galstan family had to stay in a hotel for a week, and now is living in the partially destroyed home. It was a tough few weeks but the Galstans have bought a new car and life is back to normal.
-- Stephen Bunda ’14
School Opens at St. Cats If you can make it happen, why wouldn’t you? It turns out that we can make it happen, and we did. And though it took some work and patience, the show went on. In the wake of Hurricane Irene, St. Christopher’s had no electricity – that meant no phones, no internet, no electricity, no nothing. Administrators and division heads from St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s were forced to resort to other methods in order to get together and form a plan. “We would meet every morning at 10 a.m. at the end of the Athletic Center driveway to Àgure out what we needed to do,” Mr. Szymendera said. Never mind the debris strewn about or the mammoth pines tangled in the limp power lines now lying across the road. This was a huge thing to pull off. Mr. Johns was up until 2 a.m. on Wednesday morning working with pen and paper to get the schedule, among other things, straightened out. Without the help of our friends down the road, none of it would have been possible. Not only did St. Catherine’s open every last one of its classrooms to us, but it also opened the doors to its cafeteria. Asked if he was glad about his decision to have school at St. Catherine’s, Mr. Szymendera said, “Absolutely, this helped us get on the right track.” Though it was weird having sports practices without school, it was nice to be able to dive right in this week without having to do all the intros. Among other things, one event which might be explored for the future is the joint lunch with St. Catherine’s on opening day. This was the Àrst time both schools have had a joint lunch to open the school year. Most students can agree that this was a fun experience. A big thank you to everyone at St. Catherine’s for your help and hospitality. We could not have done this without you. Good luck with the Àrst semester. -- William Maddock ’15
[ Epes’ Experience When all the weathermen were forecasting that Irene would pummel the coast, my brother-in-law and his wife decided to evacuate their endangered city of Newport News and move inland to Richmond. By mid-day Saturday they realized their mistake. We sat in our den (not exactly huddled because we still had power), listened to the wind howling, and watched trees and branches fall all around us. We lost one tree but were more worried about the swaying of the two huge trees in neighbors’ yards. We made it through the night but my inlaws would have been hard pressed to get out of there faster. I have a feeling they won’t be evacuating to Richmond ever again! We had an easier time than most because we were among the 25 percent that never lost power. I found that people did not like that and could get kind of testy upon hearing it.
October 2011
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Spears Family Takes Cover I was playing with my family in the STC gym at 5 p.m. on 8/27, Irene’s Saturday. We walked outside and I said to my wife and kids, “See, it’s not raining or blowing that hard!” We then walked a few more steps towards home and saw a 150-foot oak tree strewn across our driveway and St. Christopher’s Road, Àve power poles taken down or severely bent. By the time we got to the tree, my 3- and 5-year-old boys were dumbfounded, never having seen anything like it. I picked ’em up and said, “Your Daddy was WRONG. Let’s go play in the basement!” We slept there all night. -- Mr. Phil Spears, Middle School Head
-- Mrs. Debbie Epes Fourth Grade teacher
The Pine Needle Staff Will Turner Editor-in-Chief
Senior Editor
Jack McDowell
Senior Contributors
Cameron Barlow Harrison Houlihan J.P. McGuire Scott Waterland Jesse White
Junior Contributors Alex Beale Nicholas Horsley Morgan McCown Wesley Owens Hamilton Shaheen
Sophomore Contributor Stephen Bunda
The Pine Needle McVeys Make News Harrison McVey ’13 was one of the many victims of the notorious Hurricane Irene. The only difference is that Harrison and his family captured the work of nature in action. At about 5:30 p.m., McVey’s mom was taking a video of the hurricane as a tree in their front yard fell. McVey’s father was outside and he ran across the camera to inspect the tree. During the hurricane, McVey had had his friends Sam O’Ferrall ’13 and Doug West ’13 at his house. You can hear the three in the background of the video in awe of Irene. “My dad and I had to cut out a tree that was in our driveway during the eye,” McVey said. “That was kind of scary.” Later McVey saw an ad on the weather channel requesting videos of Irene. He sent in his video and hoped it would be shown. Later that day, his grandparents called to tell them they had seen the video on the Weather Channel. Fortunately, no one was hurt, but the video shows the brute strength of the massive storm.
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Close Call for Menges Family The brunt of the damage around St. Christopher’s took place in the yard of Lower School Head Dave Menges. At 5:30 p.m. on the Saturday evening of Hurricane Irene, a 150-foot tree in his front yard came tumbling down. The fallen tree took down power lines and knocked out the transformer in front of Mr. Menges’s house. Mr. Menges was startled by a loud thud outside of his home. Immediately, he and his wife looked out of the window to see what had hap-
pened and saw the massive tree. Not only was the Menges family lucky to avoid damage to their home, but they were lucky that their daughter, Erin, was not hurt. She had left the house two minutes before the tree fell to go to a friend’s house down the street. “What happened was a big inconvenience, but good things came from it and it made me realize how fortunate we were,” Mr. Menges said.
-- Page Kemp ’12
-- John Tyson ’15
Where Were You During the Earthquake?
Before Irene, a 15-second tremor that measured 5.8 on the Richter scale hit the Tuesday, Aug. 23, at 1:51 p.m.
“It interrupted my nap during two-a-days.”
-- J.T. Beck ’13
“I was getting a haircut when the earthquake struck. We had to evacuate the building, and they forgot to cut the hair on the back of my neck.” -- Logan Ende ’15
“I was asleep with a sandwich [in my hand] and when the earthquake hit I woke up and threw my sandwich up in the air.”
-- Henry Atwill ’14
Freshman Contributors Sam GrifÀn Kameron Holloway William Maddock Liam Ryan John Tyson
Faculty Contributors
“Everyone on X-Box live was freakin’ out.” -- Ben Putnam ’13
Mrs. Debbie Epes Mr. Phil Spears
Faculty Advisor
Mrs. Kathleen Thomas
“I thought it was a tractor trailer going by.”
-- Zack Huster ’15
October 2011
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Ball Has Big Summer By Alex Beale Junior Contributor
Adam Ball is making a name for himself in golf. Scratch that, he has made a name for himself. You may have seen him on ESPN this summer as he was featured on SportsCenter twice. GolÀng seven days a week and competing in various national tournaments, Ball was busy this summer. After winning Preps and States this spring, he won the Virginia Junior State Play. He tied for third in the Virginia state stroke play and won the U.S. Junior Amateur 4ualiÀer. He went on to compete in the U.S. Junior Amateur, the biggest tournament in the world for golfers under 18, and made it all the way to the semiÀnals. “He has the right feel. He has the right swing. He has
the right competitive attitude,” said Mr. Jack Bolling, Varsity golf head coach. “The opportunity is there. The talent is there.” Ball will captain the Varsity squad this year as a junior. “He is leading by example,” said Mr. Bolling. “He conducts himself well on and off the golf course.” Numerous big name colleges have contacted Ball, including Oklahoma State University, which is currently ranked No. 1 in the country. However, Ball most likely will play right here in town at Virginia Commonwealth University, which is ranked in the top 30 for golf and where his father, Matt, has been head coach for eight years. “My dad has been a teacher to me my whole life,” said Ball. “He has coached me through everything.” As for after college, Ball hopes to play professional golf. “That’s the goal,” he said, “It’s always been my dream.”
Yorgen Commits to ECU By Alex Beale Junior Contributor
Almost as soon as he was eligible, junior Charlie Yorgen made a commitment to attend East Carolina University, and accepted a scholarship to play baseball. “I’ve been down four or Àve times and with each visit I’ve been able to get comfortable with the campus and coaching staff,” he said. “I wasn’t going to pass up that opportunity. [ECU] has everything I want in a school.” Until then, Yorgen hopes to improve, and with two more seasons to play, he
wants to accomplish great things for the team. “I work really hard,” he said, “I would like to continue to get better in every aspect of the game. And I would really like to win states before I graduate.” Head Coach and Upper School Head Tony Szymendera looks forward to having Yorgen contribute to the team’s success for the rest of his time here, and hopes he will play well at ECU. “I hope he gets an opportunity to contribute and play early, and be as successful as he has been here,” Coach Szymendera said.
Saints Send Three to the Commonwealth Games By Morgan McCown Junior Contributor
For the second year in a row St. Christopher’s has had three players compete in the Commonwealth Games, a summer All Star baseball competition. “Having three guys play is highly, highly unusual,” said Head Coach Tony Szymendera. Juniors Porter Reinhart and Jack English, and senior captain Tyler Yeatts participated July 8 – 10 along with other top 15-to-17 year-old players. The event was held in Salem, Virginia, and included some of the top baseball players in the state. Each year, many college scouts and representatives come to watch the boys play, and many players are recruited. The players are separated into four teams: North, West, East, and Central, to represent each part of the state. St. Christopher’s boys played on the Central Team. The players were Àrst recommended by Coach Szymendera to the Central team head coach, and then were looked at by their staff. The staff consulted with several college and professional scouts before choosing players the scouts most want to see, Mr. Szymendera said. In addition to the three
players who played in the Commonwealth Games, junior Charlie Yorgen was also selected, but did not attend because of another baseball commitment in Atlanta. Senior Worth Osgood was also nominated. The players who competed in the games have already built impressive baseball resumes. Reinhart was All-State last year as a sophomore, and was a big producer getting hits for the team. Reinhart enjoyed the tough competition this summer, and liked playing with other kids aspiring to play college baseball. “The competition was really good overall, and the North Team was really good especially,” said Reinhart. The North team, that won the tournament, had a player who had already committed to the University of Georgia. Although it was a fun experience, Reinhart said he does not plan to return for the games next year. He hopes to already be committed to a college team. English also had a great experience. His favorite part was meeting new guys from around the area, and getting to know coaches who will be valuable resources in the future. English was strictly a pitcher for the Central team. He got to play three or
four innings, and made them count. He received some interest from both college and professional scouts, including Old Dominion University, as did Reinhart. Yeatts pitched and batted well in the weekend games. He showcased well on the mound, saving three of four games, and went 2-3 at the plate. He received several emails from coaches, saying they liked what they saw out of him. Both English and Reinhart are eligible to come back for the Commonwealth Games next year, but Yeatts can’t because he’ll be a rising freshman in college. He hopes to be committed to a college team by then, and to be getting ready for his Àrst year of college baseball. The Central team ended up going 2-2 versus the other teams in the tournament and placed third overall, but the Ànal standings aren’t the main purpose in the game. It’s about how you do individually, and which scouts see you. “The games are more of a showcase event for college coaches and professional scouts,” said Mr. Szymendera. “It helps the boys be seen and ultimately/potentially recruited to play college baseball.”
Whitlock Wins Big By Jack McDowell Senior Editor
The 6’2”, 145-pound Eddie Whitlock achieved a feat in STC cross-country history that hasn’t been accomplished since 1987. Whitlock won the Woodberry Forest Invitational with a time of 17 minutes and 5 seconds. A cross country race is 3.2 miles. After the race, Whit-
lock said, “I felt satisÀed with the work I put in over the summer.” Whitlock ran pretty much every day in the summer, accumulating more than 800 miles of long distance running. With this type of work ethic, Whitlock has a bright future in distance running and he says he is hoping to break this record soon.
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October 2011
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The Pine Needle
Chalkley Kicks His Way Clutch FG onto Football Team Saves Saints By Sam GrifÀn Freshman Contributor
Saints Sailing Swaps Seasons By Hamilton Shaheen Junior Contributor
The joint St. Christopher’s and St Catherine’s sailing team has traditionally been a spring sport. For the Àrst time in its history it has moved to the fall. The team, coached by accomplished sailor Mike Karn with the help of asistants Jeff Cronheim and Ramiron Gavier, opted for the more popular sailing season for other schools. Consequently, the team should face better competition. “The fall is a much better season for sailing especially since the water is warmer allowing the team to get a quick start, and the switch allows the team to have a preseason with clinics and practices which is not possible in March,” said Coach Karn. Negatives include the loss of many sailors who had to choose between their regular fall sport and Ampersand. A negative for some sailors is an actual preseason, which ironically is viewed by the coaches as a positive. This year’s captains Carl White and Zane Smith have been on the team since freshman year. White had a lot to say on the season switch. In addition to warmer temperatures, the preseason allowed for early team unity and practice that was previously not possible, he said. “One thing that has not changed are the weekly competitions,” he said. “Although regattas every Saturday leave me with just Sunday for a weekend, I don’t mind because nothing beats sailing, rain or shine.” St. Catherine’s captains Helen Moyers and Liz Pace have their fair share of sailing experience. Pace is in favor of the switch because “you remember more skills, the team is on even practice amounts as other teams, and no need for pricey wet suits
to protect you from hypothermia,” she said. The members of the sailing team are devoted to their trade, waking up at 6 a.m. or earlier every Saturday to make it to school before 7 a.m. They then take a twohour bus ride to the Norfolk yacht club or Christchurch School to compete in an allday regatta. Regattas are a lot like track meets in the sense that the sailors wait for their heat, race, and then go back to shore. The race begins with a countdown to the start. As the buzzer sounds a Áeet of about 20, two-man sailboats take off for a buoy maybe two or three football Àelds away. They round the buoy and sail back to the start, which is the Ànish of the Àrst race. They will do this two to three times depending on the wind. Each week the course varies. It could be longer or shorter depending on the wind. Regattas rap up between 2 and 3 p.m. when exhausted sailors slump back to the vans and ride back to Richmond. On Tuesdays and Thursdays the sailing team also stays out well past the designated time for ending athletics (6 p.m.) to anywhere from 7 to 7:30 practicing roll tacks (maneuvers to change directions involving the shifting of all the weight on the boat to one side to purposely bring the boat close to capsizing, then rapidly jumping to the other side of the boat to bring it back upright) and many other techniques out on the James River at Osbourne Landing. The sailing team will continue having regattas until mid October when the Sailing Championship begins. At this point each team’s win and loss record will be reset.
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Friends and family have told Chalkley for years that he should be a football kicker. It wasn’t until this winter that he decided to punt soccer and go for it. Chalkley and his dad went out to Knowles Field with footballs and a tee just to see how it would go. “My Àrst kick wasn’t very good it was a line drive miss,” Chalkley said. He kicked for a while not great, but he didn’t give up. The two spent hours practicing and looking up information on the internet. Chalkley came to St.
Chris in 7th grade as a soccer player. Now 5’ 9” and 150 pounds, he’s not the ideal weight for a football player. He and Charlie Williamson share kicks, neither has been named “starter.” Chalkley, being a new player, hasn’t received as many opportunities but still got his chance to shine. He nailed a 37-yard kick in the Ànal minutes of the game against St. Anne’s BelÀeld and kicked a 52-yard Àeld goal in practice. He attributes much of his success to his dad. “He pushes me really hard and helps me get better any way he can,” Chalkley said.
On Saturday, September 17, Jordan Chalkley woke up knowing he had a football game. What he didn’t know was that the game would fall on his shoulders. St. Chris vs STAB. The game started off in a dead heat 0 to 0 at half and stayed 0 to 0 deep into the fourth quarter. Both teams had many opportunities to score but neither took advantage. Once into the fourth quarter St. Chris drove into Àeld-goal range. On second down of the drive Chalkley was told to warm up. With limited time, Chalkley was forced to go in. “I was so nervous,” Chalkley said with a chuckle. He walked onto the Àeld on fourth down, set up, and got ready to take the kick. After the snap, Chalkley kicked it high and far. He watched it and watched it and watched it. “I thought it was gonna go right,” he said. Then the ball started to hook and sailed through the uprights for 3 points. Chalkley ran around celebrating, high Àving teammates, hugging coaches. Chalkley had just won the game for the Saints. -- Sam GrifÀn ’15
White Plays on ESPN Commits To West Point By Cameron Barlow Senior Contributor
Henry White had a big summer and he has committed to the United States Military Academy. Most guys dream of playing on ESPN in their favorite sport. Henry White ’12 was living the dream this summer when he played in the Warrior 40 lacrosse game on national television. Also this summer, White played in nearly 10 lacrosse games on top of training and conditioning. All of this hard work paid off as White was selected to play on national television. The Warrior 40 was a collection of the top 40 lacrosse players across the country. The players also had one day of practice before competing in the game. “It was one of the best experiences of my life,” White said. White also decided on where he would continue his lacrosse career in college, switching his commitment from Virginia Military Institution to the United States Military Academy. From the beginning, White was looking towards the military. “West Point is a great
opportunity not only for college but in the military afterwards.” White remains focused on his senior season with the lacrosse team. He has some big goals for the Saints. “If we work hard and Àll a couple spots, we have no reason not to be back in the state championship,” he said. Last season, the Saints lost in a tough championship game against Episcopal High School.
White had a minor setback over the summer when he tore his ACL in a pick-up lacrosse game. “The surgery went really well and the ACL is feeling good,” White said. He hopes to be back before the start of the season after going through rehab. Despite the setback, White had an impressive summer and looks to end his Saints career on a high note later in the spring.
October 2011
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New Kids on the Block: Matthew Chriss After graduating from Brown, Matthew Chriss accepted an offer to intern at St. Christopher’s. Mr. Chriss decided on history as his major, with teaching in the back of his mind. He currently teaches one section of World History I, but will eventually teach up to three courses. Mr. Chriss has enjoyed interacting with his students while teaching them along the way. “Teaching has been something I have always wanted to do,” said Mr. Chriss, “and so far it’s been fun and very rewarding.” Although he has enjoyed his time teaching, Mr. Chriss has no set plans for teaching in the future. Mr. Chriss played lacrosse while attending Brown, and plans to help coach our Varsity lacrosse team this upcoming spring. He is also a member of Richmond Club lacrosse, and says he has been “thinking about trying out for the pros.” When offered a position coaching, Mr. Chriss said he was excited to “re-amp the team.” But after “hearing about the lacrosse team’s successful year,” Mr. Chriss said, “I am looking forward to riding the wave” of success.
-- Jesse White ’12
Carey Pohanka When we think about giving something up for Lent, it is often food related. For Ms. Pohanka, this is not the case. “Every year for Lent I give up Facebook,” said Ms. Pohanka. But Twitter? “Never.” Ms. Pohanka grew up in Charlottesville and attended St. Anne’s BelÀeld, where she played soccer, lacrosse, and Àeld hockey. After graduating, she attended the University of Mary Washington and earned a bachelor’s degree in French. She also played lacrosse and Àeld hockey at MW. She has continued her involvement with these sports as a referee and coach. After college, Ms. Pohanka held various jobs, including one stint at a call center. Everyone has their tricks for getting rid of telemarketers, and she encountered many interesting strategies. “People would pretend to be little kids,” she said. She was working and taking calls as 9/11 happened. “I was taking phone calls and talking to people as it was happening,” she said. She then returned to school and earned a teaching certiÀcate in math and history. After teaching French and geography at Fredericksburg Academy, Ms. Pohanka moved to Richmond and accepted a job here at St. Christopher’s. She is now the Upper School Academic Instructional Technologist. “I can learn and do something new with my life I can reinvent myself. I will never be one of those people who hates their job,” said Ms. Pohanka. Her mother taught at St. Christopher’s in the early ‘90s and her brother graduated from STC in 1994, so she was already familiar with the school. Said Ms. Pohanka, “I am energized by being around people.” Anyone who has met her will deÀnitely agree. “She is extremely positive and enthusiastic in her approach with people,” Mr. Szymendera added. “Ms. Pohanka is a fantastic addition to the Upper School faculty.” She is now working on a master’s in Educational Technology through an online course from the University of Florida. She will graduate in December. -- William Maddock ’15
Meet the New Upper School Teachers
Christian Cousins This summer, Mr. Christian Cousins came to St. Christopher’s all the way from Texas. He was born in Dallas and lived in Austin. He and his wife, Sarah Harper, a Middle School Spanish teacher at St Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s, moved to Richmond Aug. 2. He teaches Spanish and is also a JV soccer coach. “I speak English and Spanish,” he said, “and I can get by in Catalan and German.” Cousins has a true passion for teaching and languages. “I love language and just the idea of languages,” he said, “I enjoy showing students how languages shape how we think and who we are.” A graduate of Trinity College in Connecticut, he holds a B.A. in Hispanic Studies. For graduate school he attended the University of Texas in Austin where he earned his master’s in Hispanic Literature. Cousins is on track to acquire a Ph.D. in Contemporary Spanish Literature at UT within the next 18 months. Needless to say, he is qualiÀed to teach Spanish here, and makes a great addition to the school language department in addition to the community. -- Alex Beale ’13
Cole Hawthorne “When I Àrst visited St. Christopher’s, I immediately sensed the close community I was surrounded by. Everyone I met was extremely nice and welcoming. Once I accepted the position I was very eager to become a part of such a tight-knit community.” This is Mr. Cole Hawthorne, a young, new teacher straight out of Hampden-Sydney, where he graduated last May. Hawthorne is a Collegiate School graduate. At Collegiate he was a three-sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and lacrosse. At HampdenSydney, he majored in chemistry and played lacrosse. “It did feel a little weird being at St. Christopher’s, but not as different as I had imagined. I had never imagined wearing a St. Chris T-shirt, much less teaching and coaching there,” he said, “After I threw on my Àrst article of Saints apparel I was ready to go.” Mr. Hawthorne teaches chemistry and physics and is a coach for the Varsity football team. He is also coaching freshman basketball and Varsity Lacrosse.
-- Alex Beale ’13
Clarke Miller A familiar face around the St. Christopher’s campus, Mr. Clarke Miller ’06 is now ofÀcially a teacher at the school. He was a student here for 14 years and is glad to be back. “I became a teacher because I had the opportunity to sub in the Upper School last year,” he said. “It was a lot of fun, so I decided to stick with it.” During his time here as a student, Miller played football for all four Upper School years (two on JV, two on Varsity). In the winter he played basketball as a freshmen, threw shot put during his sophomore and junior years, and wrestled as a senior. He also threw shot put in the spring. After graduating from St. Chris, he went to Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pa., where he played right tackle for the football team. Mr. Miller is now teaching 9th and 10th grade health. He helps coach the varsity football team and also works with the JV and Middle School teams. In the winter he coaches shot put, and in the spring he coaches shot put and discus. “Do your work and hand it in on time. There aren’t many easier ways to improve your grade,” he said. “Always be honest with yourself about your effort, whether in school, athletics, or your personal life. You’ll know if you’re really trying your best.”
-- Alex Beale ’13
Ross Gitomer After four weeks of school you may think you know Ross Gitomer, but I would bet you still have something to learn. Mr. Gitomer is one of the many new teachers this year. Mr. Gitomer teaches Algebra II and helps coach the wrestling team. This is his Àrst teaching job since he attended Blair Academy and University of Virginia for graduate school and earned his master’s degree in teaching. Mr. Gitomer had been looking at private schools in Virginia, and he had St. Christopher’s in mind since he had wrestled here in a tournament while in college. Athletic Director John Gordon was his biggest help in getting here. Before St. Christopher’s, Mr. Gitomer wrestled at both Blair and UVA. While wrestling at UVA, he had the privilege of wrestling last year’s National Champion Anthony Robles. If you don’t know, Anthony Robles is 125 pounds and only has one leg. The birth defect gives him somewhat of an advantage in wrestling. Mr. Gitomer wrestled him Àrst round and lost. He said that Robles had an advantage because opponents can’t use most of the normal attacks used on legs. “He was freakishly strong,” Mr. Gitomer said. “He is an amazing person and role model for all young people Throughout this year Mr. Gitomer will help coach the wrestling team and he wants to help kids however he can, in and out of the classroom. “I’d really like to have an impact on the students, in terms of their academic careers,” he says. He looks forward to coaching the wrestling team and learning how to become a better teacher and coach from some of the experienced people here. “I’m really excited to be here and so far I’ve really enjoyed my time.”
-- John Tyson ’15
October 2011
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They Clean Up Nice Wish We Were Invited!
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The Pine Needle
October 2011
100 Years of Legacy By Wesley Owens
with the Episcopal church,” said Mr. Stillwell. Faith builds character and “at the end of the day Junior Contributor what we care most about is what kind of people For a century, St. Christopher’s has experienced the highs and lows of America’s Golden Age we become.” Today, the greatest symbol of this faith on our and Ànished the season with remarkable energy campus is the historic chapel situated near the and class. Athletic Center, which, many are surprised to As the sun rises to usher in learn is actually the school’s original gymnasium. a new era of the school’s hisFormer Headmaster Warren Elmer chose it as tory, let no one forget that the the current site of the school’s religious life bestudent body owes its success cause he said it reminded him of an “old country to the traditions we cherish, church” he had known in his youth. and those unforgettable Saints In the spirit of faith, Dr. Chamberlayne who instilled in us the virtues of founded the Missionary Society in 1924 givfaith, honor and character. In ing rise to decades of dedicated service from the truth, “the reason for our sucstudent body and introducing one of the school’s cess,” said Headmaster Charley Stillwell, “is that the things that are at the core of our mission were most integral traditions. As its Àrst good deed, the same 100 years ago. What has changed is how the Áedgling organization held a concert to raise money for the Richmond the world around us operates.” Community Fund and Indeed, the school has had to cope with some various other charities. major world changes over the years, and some Through hard work and of the resultant practices were short-lived. For instance, from 1917 to 1919, as World War I drew a spirit of teamwork, the Missionary Society has to a close, St. Christopher’s began preparing stuendured to this day. dents for combat by carrying out mandatory miliIn its effort to provide tary exercises. Every boy had his own uniform education for mind, soul, and riÁe, and assembled with the other cadets and body, St. Christoeach morning to participate in marching drills. pher’s, even from the earOther traditions from these early years have ly years, has maintained stuck with us. “During the Great Depression, a tradition of athletic many parents could no longer afford to send their excellence. During the 1922-23 school year, St. children,” said Mr. Stillwell. It was at this point, under founder, Dr. Churchill Chamberlayne, that Christopher’s experienced its Àrst winning season in all three major sports: baseball, basketball, and the notion of Ànancial aid Àrst became a reality. with an amazing victory over Christchurch School Since then it has allowed many of Richmond’s of 87-0, football. From there, the St. Christomost deserving students to attend regardless of pher’s football team went undefeated in 1924 and socioeconomic background. won its Àrst championship title in 1926, setting Another important focus has been the emphathe stage for years of success in the future. sis on faith and spirituality. In 1915 St. ChrisVictory or no victory, students and alumni topher’s adopted its motto, Initium Sapientiae agree that what makes the experience at this Timor Domini. The phrase has become a rallying point for students and alumni as well as a celebra- school so unique is the bond among the students. “There is a lot about the dynamic of the student tion of their Christian heritage. On June 11, Àve years later, the school ofÀcially body that is very similar,” said Mr. Stillwell. “We still maintain close friendships among students began its relationship with the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. “Our school is proud of its connections and close relationships with teachers. If some-
thing has changed it is related to the fact that college admission has become much more competitive. Students are under more pressure.” Pressure can often encourage students in other school environments to behave dishonestly. In the forward to school’s history book, “The First Fifty Years,” Headmaster Robert W. Bugg wrote that “school is composed of many elements…and is not the result of the efforts of any one individual.” Of these elements, the most important, Mr. Stillwell noted, is the Honor System and the fact that it is student run. Since its installation in 1915, no other institution has done more to shape the identity of St. Christopher’s. “The First Fifty Years” author DeWitt Hankins wrote, “The Honor System was – and remains – a code which, translated into words and actions by boys from the days of their early youth, formed their character in a decisive manner.” So the legacy continues – but not without considerable thought and planning. This year marks a turning point in the school’s history: a point where the time has come to expand the range of courses and programs to meet the needs of a more global, competitive society. “We are in the process of preparing for a world that is constantly changing,” Mr. Stillwell said. “We must take advantage of our traditional background while at the same time opening your eyes to the world around you.” In conjunction with the 100-year celebrations and completion of the Luck Leadership Center in January, the faculty and board are working on a new second century mission statement that will be released later this year. “At a fundamental level,” said Mr. Stillwell, “the school’s job is to help each boy develop the skills to become leaders in this ever-changing world,” but Àrst and foremost, we must remember that “it is the school’s focus on character that will continue to keep St. Christopher’s relevant in the years to come.”
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Saintennial Special
October 2011
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Portraying A Founder A Visit from Dr. Chamberlayne By Kameron J. Holloway Freshman Contributor
Dr. Churchill Gibson Chamberlayne visited St. Christopher’s after many years of questionable whereabouts to celebrate the school’s 100th birthday. Some Lower School students believed that the man was the actual school founder. Junior Chase Crowder thought that he was a true blood relative of Dr. C. The tall, bald, bespectacled mystery man dressed in a black suit that everybody was talking about was a professional actor, Mr. Joe Inscoe. The Saintennial started
off with the welcoming of Dr. Chamberlayne and his wife Elizabeth in the Lower school gymnasium. Mr. Stillwell had the pleasure of introducing Dr. Chamberlayne before he spoke. Dr. Chamberlayne talked about how the school has grown from just 16 boys to almost 1,000. After reciting the school prayer, second and third graders sang the Àrst verse of the school song alone, with everyone joining in for the remainder. Dr. Chamberlayne received many gifts, including a framed picture from St. Catherine’s Student Body President Sara Verghis and a giant birthday card from the kindergarteners and Àrst graders. St. Catherine’s stopped by for a special happy birthday song. The fourth and Àfth graders recited a poem written by fourth grade teacher Mrs. Debbie Epes.
After all of this they presented a tall cake with white icing adorned with glitter and school pictures. It was ready to be devoured but was never served. Word has it that the cake was actually made of cardboard. We all did get cupcakes though which made up for this disappointment. The dining staff served hot dogs, hamburgers, and Capri Suns to the entire school. Mr. Stillwell announced that we will most have cupcakes again when students, faculty and staff gather again on the football Àeld to form the number 100 for a photograph.
“We can’t all be scholars, but we can all be gentleman.” So said Dr. Chamberlayne in 1911, and he repeated these words of wisdom when he returned to St. Christopher’s for the Saintennial celebration. Kameron Holloway and I interviewed Mr. Joe Inscoe, the 6’ 1’’ actor who played Dr. Chamberlayne. Mr. Inscoe has played other famous personalities including Abraham Lincoln and Franklin Roosevelt. He was familiar with St. Christopher’s because he attended The College of William and Mary and met a few STC graduates there. Mr. Inscoe said he found this role to be easier than others he has had because Dr. Chamberlayne shared many of the same values as his grandfather, who passed these values on to Mr. Inscoe. They include hard work, sportsmanship, and the idea that all men are judged by their strength of character. Said Inscoe, “It was incredibly special.” -- William Maddock ’15
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The Pine Needle
October 2011
School Marvels at Marlton’s Mural By Harrison Houlihan Senior Contributor
Tom Wolfe Inspires Students By Scott Waterland Senior Contributor
The reason that people write is entertainment this is what alumnus Tom Wolfe ’47 believes. He enunciates, saying that entertainment is anything you pass the time with pleasurably, without exertion. “Almost nobody goes at writing with ambition of anything substantial,” Wolfe said. During his Friday, Sept. 23 talk, as part of the weekend Saintennial celebration, Tom Wolfe discussed writing. Wolfe, the most famous person ever to graduate from St. Christopher’s, is not just famous, “but famous for the right reasons,’ Mr. Smith said. One reason is Wolfe’s novel, “The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test,” which Mr. Smith says is probably the most important book ever written in Richmond. Other works include “BonÀre of the Vanities,” and “The Right Stuff.” “Tom Wolfe is famous because he’s a Àne writer who searches fearlessly for the truth,” Mr. Smith said., seemingly contradicting Wolfe’s comments about entertainment. The alumnus waas one of the creators of New Journalism, a trend that involves a reporter’s subjective interpretations and Àctional dramatized elements to emphasize personal involvement.
He uses a large amount of dialogue in his novels “Dialogue is the easiest form of literature to read,” Wolfe said. According to Wolfe, writing requires just two things: a theory of life and reporting. His theory of life is that everything is determined by status. Secondly, he says, a writer has to be willing to go up to random people and ask questions to Ànd out if they have information that the writer wants. “Reporting is not only essential for nonÀction reporting, but also for novels and even poetry.” Wolfe described poetry as “the music of language.” Wolfe said that one thing he wished he had done was take notes while he was a student at St. Christopher’s as a reference for future stories. As a result of these many stories, Wolfe, by his own doing, has made a name for himself in multiple genres. In the words of Mr. Smith, “He’s been called a contrarian—apparently because he seeks the story that other writers have overlooked or have been afraid to touch— and he’s been called a satirist, apparently because he examines the data with an energy that borders on ferocity. He tells the truth as he sees it—whether or not that truth is Áattering to his subjects, as often it is not.”
Every school year, students apart from the freshman know largely what to expect when they walk into Chamberlayne Hall on the Àrst day of a new school year (or in the case of this year, the third day.) A graduating class will come and go, teachers may be replaced, and new faces are always present. The one thing that can be counted on to remain comfortably the same has always been Chamberlayne. With the exception of the addition of a few video screens and the mysterious yearly relocation of hallway computers, we can always count on the off-color walls and glossy tiles. Fittingly it is the centennial year that more change is taking place on our campus than ever before. In addition to our beautiful new student center that will be enjoyed by generations of future Saints, the basement of Chamberlayne has undergone a dazzling facelift, courtesy of alumnus Nic Marlton ’10. Marlton’s distinctive style has left its mark on Carnegie Mellon, downtown Richmond, and now our own campus. The massive mural starts at the doorway to the staircase and stretches all the way to the closet/language ofÀce. It depicts many iconic locations on the James River and the city around it. The most instantly recognizable landmarks are the train trestles, the Brown’s Island rope swing, the Mayo bridge, and the Federal Reserve building. A few members of our community are also de-
picted, though in a more abstract form. Keep your eye out for Felix Shapiro ’11 wading through the water in his distinctive Hawaiian shirt. You can also spot the Rev. Melissa Hollerith learning about Richmond history, Dillon Siff ’11 and Mr. Green paddling on the river, and Scottie Prudhoe ’12, Jamie Ball ’11, and myself on our bikes. Robert Kernodle ’12 is also in there somewhere. This summer Marlton was approached by Mr. Towell who was impressed with the mural he did in Church Hill DeWitt Hankins. The administration then gave him the opportunity to do a mural to tie in with our historic celebration of the centennial. While Marlton described this idea as “incredibly broad,” he was sure he wanted the piece to “embody the ideas of Dr. Chamberlayne and the school’s commitment to the community.” At Àrst glance I wasn’t quite sure how the river tied into the centennial. I was mainly excited that all the places my friends and I frequent during the summer were now going to be immortalized in the basement of Chamberlayne. Prime real estate for sure. Marlton explained that the river “represents the community as a whole. Not just the St. Christopher’s community, but the greater Richmond community that we are all ultimately
a part of.” With this in mind, the mural takes on greater meaning, as the river is used by the poor and rich, young and old. During the hottest months of the year, it becomes its own community, where socio-economic background, race, and other factors become irrelevant. Everyone is there for the same reason-- to enjoy the beautiful James River which is wholly unique to Richmond. Reception to the mural has already been positive. The most important opinions are from those who spend most of their time in the basement. Mrs. Woodaman gushed about the piece. “As an urban dweller, it’s nice to see the city represented like this,” she said. “It can’t just be cows standing in a Àeld all the time.” I encourage anyone to go and see for themselves the places featured in the mural, as it really does take on greater meaning if you have been to the sites yourself. If you don’t know how to get to the speciÀc area shown, I’m sure Mr. Green will be happy to direct you. Fall is approaching fast so get out there while you still can and enjoy the river community.
Winn Composes Centennial Jazz Set By Liam Ryan Freshman Contributor
While the rest of his family was on vacation in Germany, Mr. John Winn was busy writing music for the Saintennial. During a 10-day period over the summer, Mr. Winn composed Àve new songs to celebrate the Saintennial. The Jazz Band, consisting of 16 members, will preview some of the songs at Fall Festival. They will also be holding a Nov. 14 concert in the Middle School auditorium. This concert will be their last before the new black box theatre opens in the Luck Leadership Center. Mr. Winn’s songs employ 13
instruments, and have room for improvision. Each song is based on the history of St. Christopher’s and the music prevalent throughout the generations. “It’s like I’m paying homage to a certain era,” Mr. Winn said. “Chamberlayne’s Dream,” the Àrst song in the set, is based on the music of New Orleans. It starts out somber
and becomes festive near the end. The song outlines a New Orleans funeral procession that is heavy on the way to the graveyard, but transforms into an upbeat swing upon the return as it moves into a celebration of life. The set’s second song, “A.J. Bolling’s Golf Cart Boogie” is based on the musical stylings of the 1935 Swing era. “In that particular case, I was trying to paint a picture with sound,” Mr. Winn said. He wanted to be able to give listeners a clear mental image of Mr. Bolling riding around campus in his golf cart. The third song, “McVey’s
Admonition: Keep Off The Grass,” is based on the samba of 1963. The theme of the song recounts one of former headmaster Mr. McVey’s pet peeves: students walking on the grass instead of the sidewalk. Also, Mr. Winn revamped the school hymn for the set. He says that it’s a “souped up, pretty, but jazz sounding version of the school hymn.” “The melody is verbatim but the chords are completely different,” he said. Mr. Winn compared the contrast to “[taking] Chamberlayne Hall and putting it in Alaska or Greenland.” The Ànal song of the set is entitled “If It Gets Too
Funky(Build a New One) pays homage to the old cafeteria. The old meaning of funky meant bad or rank, while the new meaning is a type of music. Mr. Winn wanted a clever tie between the old meaning and the new, the old building and the new leadership center. Alex Shedd ’15, a freshman in the jazz band, said, “The songs are really awesome and are going to be a really cool way to celebrate the Saintennial at Fall Festival.” So to all those interested in music as well as the history of St. Christopher’s school, be sure to catch the Nov. 14 show.
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October 2011
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Opinion/Editorial
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Much To-Do About Laptops By Nicholas Horsley Junior Contributor
LAPTOPS!! They’re all the buzz this school year since St. Christopher’s decided to move to a 1:1 computer model. Many people are asking a lot of the same questions and while the laptop blog is helpful it can be confusing and not quite clear. During the summer, many of the faculty went to Memphis for a conference that was centered around laptop programs. After their return I caught up with Mr. Cuevas, who is one of the faculty spearheading this transition, and asked him a few questions. Here’s a sampling.
Q: Will the school adopt its own basic laptop option as an option for the program? A: Essentially we have for the standardized model. There are no options and we also purchased the same computers for the faculty who were due to have their computers refreshed. In the Upper School, we’ve made recommendations and we’ve also made arrangements with MacPro Solutions and HP to provide families with options and some discounts. Families in the Upper School were also given the option to use a laptop that they may already own so long as it satisÀed our minimum requirements. See the blog for the minimum specs. Q: What will happen to the computer labs and carts of netbooks if everyone from 7th
grade and above is getting laptops? A: In the Middle School, we moved away from computer labs last year and replaced them with netbook carts. There are four carts that will be used by the 6th and 8th grades. In the Upper School, Dr. Smith has a laptop cart in his room to accommodate the juniors and seniors who were not required to participate in the laptop program. The following year, the netbook carts will be reallocated to other areas on campus and some of the netbooks themselves will be used as spares because grades 6-12 will be part of the 1:1 program.
Q: What has the school done to prepare? A: We have done incredible amounts of prepara-
Q: How will you cope with the Mac vs. PC compatibility issues (especially with St. Catherines)? A: In theory, this is the beauty of the Open Model in the Upper School as compatibility becomes more of a nonissue. As part of our technology coordination with St. Catherine’s, both schools are now Google Apps for Education Schools. This essentially provides communication and collaboration tools in the cloud so it becomes platform independent. In addition to Google Apps, we are encouraging teachers to continually seek web based apps rather than clients that need to be loaded onto each computer.
Q: Will the network be able to handle the extra few hundred computers? A: We’ve been pretty aggressive about upgrading our network infrastructure… Let’s just say from a wireless perspective, our campus is glowing. The school’s backbone is set to 1 Gb/s, we have 3 internet pipes to handle trafÀc. … Moreover, the construction of the Luck Leadership Center has required that the tech department be proactive with regards to the day to day needs of the curriculum and its impacts on the network. This fall will be a great test of the steps we have taken to prepare for this increased load and we will continue to monitor and evaluate the needs as the Luck Leadership Center comes online.
Q: , noticed the publications ofÀce received new iMacs. Is the student center going to have iMacs as well? A: Yes, we are including iMacs for the digital arts classroom in the Luck Leadership Center.
tion for the 1:1 program. We’ve increased our wireless footprint, increased our band width, increased the electrical load in our buildings, installed new lockers in the Middle School, become a Google Apps for Education School, and conducted an extensive professional development workshop this past summer. I would also be remiss if I did not mention the many conversations that took place last year in the Middle School and Upper School.
Go to the Pineneedleonline.com to read the full Q&A with Mr. Cuevas.
American Jobs Act: Free Lunch? By JP McGuire Senior Contributor
It’s paid for. What? Really? No way, the federal government has something paid for? Well theoretically the American Jobs Act is paid for, according to President Obama at the University of Richmond on Friday, Sept. 9. The Robins Center was stuffed with more than 9,000 people. The Secret Service was everywhere and Richmond International was shut down – along with Interstate 64 from the airport to West Broad. U of R had somehow attracted one of the most powerful men in the world to come share with the student body, and many others, what was going on in Washington. But, back to the point. If you’re like me, you’re going to Àrst wonder about how anyone could proclaim that a bill costing upwards of $447 million dollars could be paid for when the country is eyeball deep in debt. To clarify, the American Jobs Act is not your average bill. The federal government, yes, will be forking out funds to the American public, but the American taxpayers will
be held more responsible for supporting their country and most importantly “stimulating” their own economy. The president started off simply saying that America needs more jobs. I would hope that anyone, liberal or conservative, upper class or lower class, would agree on this. The average unemployment (for all citizens age 16 and older) was 9.2 percent in June. This number seems low, but the national percentage has almost doubled in the last 10 years. The American Jobs Act aims to lower that rate and address other issues. Four major parts comprise the whole thing. Tax Cuts: Everyone complains about taxes, rightfully so. The act would slice payroll taxes in half for most citizens, excluding members of the higher upper class (income of $250,000 and above) – meaning most people are going to keep more money in their pockets. And second, this would make reforms to the current rates on other taxes and plan for regular tax reductions in the future. Workforce: This bill is here to help the common man. In hopes to rebuild an American “blue collar” workforce, this bill is designed to help put people formerly unemployed, back on the job. These “blue collar” jobs
include teachers, police ofÀcers, emergency responders, and laborers such as bricklayers and steel erectors. In addition, this bill will help modernize schools to better prepare young Americans for the jobs we have now, as well as new positions created in the next generation. Help Americans Get Jobs: It is hard to imagine that anyone who served America (whether voluntarily or drafted) is now unemployed, but, sadly enough, war veterans make up a large portion of the unemployed. This new bill would aid these veterans and anyone who has been “laid off,” to become employed again. Tax cuts for businesses that hire will be created and discrimination will be discouraged to create more opportunities. Families: These nuclear groups of people ARE the future of America thus, families need to be better supported by the federal government so that they may prosper. In addition to payroll tax cuts, there will be fewer taxes on the middle class families with higher earning families and individuals paying more. And small things are included, like helping people reÀnance their mortgages to reduce their monthly payments. This is very, very important because of the money the
government spends on food stamps, welfare checks, and other forms of beneÀts. I believe this bill will get America working hard to dig ourselves out of our own debt and make citizens happier through tax reform. It may be unpopular, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and sacriÀce a little more for the country. To quote Coach Michael Turner, “You suffer the consequences, we reap the beneÀts.” Take a look back. In 1935 America had beans in terms of cash on hand and was in the middle of the Great Depression due to the lavish overspending of the Roaring ’20s, as well as unmonitored stocks and bonds. President Franklin Roosevelt spent great amounts of money on America (including the war effort), and along with a lot of workforce pride and even more elbow grease, magically America was signiÀcantly less broke. I’m not saying that is what will happen with this bill, but the idea closely parallels that of President Roosevelt: Get the people working, again.
We welcome and encourage any stories, artwork, editorials, letters to the editor and photos. If you’d like to contribute contact Will Turner turnerw12@stcva.org
Nicholas Horsley horsleyn13@stcva.org
Alex Beale bealea13@stcva.org
The photos for this month’s Pine Needle were taken by Nicholas Horsley ’13 and Richmond photographer Jay Paul.
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The Back Page
[ The Pine Needle ] October 2011
Matt Chriss: Height: 5’ 10” Weight: 154 lbs. Level of Aggression: 4 Favorite Movies: Wall Street 2: The Rise of Taj/ Back to the Future Part Deux
Christian Cousins: Look-a-like: Buffalo Bill
Ross Gitomer:
Cole Hawthorne:
Clarke Miller:
Level of Aggression: 10
Height: 5’ 6 ½”
Tone of Preference: Monotone
Nickname: Favorite Sport: “You can call me El NASCAR Nino…it’s Spanish for… The Nino.” Favorite Activity: Sleeping in the wresFavorite Music: tling gym “I WANNA ROCK… ROCK” Motto: “Are you ready Activities: to rumble?” Lighting stuff on Àre
Weight: “110-115 give or take”
Weight: 12 Stone
Favorite Toys: “DeÀnitely gonna go with Hotwheels on that one.”
Party Trick: “Imitating JG Wentworth commercials... ladies love it.”
Favorite TV Shows: “Anything Nickelodeon, especially Blue’s Clues with the old Steve.”
Favorite Hangout: The Cafeteria
By The Numbers 114 - number of likes Charlie Yorgen’s ECU commitment status got on Facebook 250 - number of likes Charlie hopes to get on his next status 73 - average amount of “mean mugs” Mr. Tune dishes out daily 3 - number of times Mr. Abbott smiles per year 182 - number of times Landrum Tyson has texted Martha Blair “I luv u” 0 - number of Adam Richardson’s legs that work 89 - Days until Brunch!!! 25 - number of days until “The Game” 4 - average number of Jock CCV sit-downs with “the ladies” per week 15 - over/under on days until the school enforces the coat and tie rule 60 - number of missing signs Holt Walker has posted around Richmond looking for his Redskins hat 5429345 - the amount that the school’s electricity bill is going to go up due to the new laptop program 525600 - number of minutes spent Àddling with the locks bought for all the lockers 23.5 - the number of people who actually use their locker
The Back Page is open to the community for ideas and artwork submissions.