December 09 Pine Needle

The Pine Needle Volume XCI

December 2009

Richmond, Virginia

Number 2

Class Cup Is Not Dead

By Jason Pacious ’10 Editor-in-Chief

Economic Concern p. 2

Blocking It In

St. Christopher’s will move to semesters and modified block schedule

By Wells Baylor ’11 Junior Contributor

Alumni Spotlight: Matthew Mathiasen p. 3

The Moores p. 3

Next year will mark major changes at St. Christopher’s with a switch to semesters, a new modified block schedule and a revamped Minimester program that will include all students, grades 9 through 12.

The administration said that the changes, which are three years in the making, stem in part as a reaction to a changing world in which many services can be imported across the globe. To ensure that students are well prepared for an increasingly global economy, St. Christopher’s will increase class time to focus on the “why” and not just the “how”.

“The questions we asked were, ‘What are we teaching and how we are teaching it to prepare

the next generation for a world that we don’t even know what will be like?’,” said Mr Szymendera, Upper School head.

Creating new skill sets to allow students to “think, communicate, problem solve, adapt and create for whatever comes your way in the 21st century” is one of the driving forces behind the schedule change.

Flexibility was one of the reasons behind the move to a modified block schedule, which has longer classes two days a week. The extra time will promote “different teaching strategies and styles.” Students should expect more hands-on approaches. The longer class period will also allow teachers creative flexibility in designing lesson plans. Mr. Szymendera described the change in schedule as a move to create “more lab-type situa-

tions in all classes.”

Part of the move to longer classes, explained Mr. Szymendera, was a move toward more “depth over breadth.”

However, no schedule is perfect and “there is no such magic bullet.” Instead, the new schedule will allow more flexiblity in how each class is structured. It will “force us to rethink what we do and how we do it.”

Minimester will be linked to humanity classes for all underclassmen.

The change in schedule resulted from practical and ideal reasons. “Small changes were needed to fix inconsistencies in the current schedule and improve some weaker areas in our schedule,” said Mr Szymendera.

See Page 8 for more information

The St. Christopher’s Bell Tolls for Thee

By Kyle Wittenauer ’10 Senior Editor

Swine Flu p. 4

River City Crew p. 6

At the beginning of this school year many students were perturbed by a major change: the absence of the annual Class Cup. In recent years the Class Cup has become an integral part of the school community and its nonappearance has raised questions.

“The major reason it has not happened yet it is just time constraints,” said Mr. Billy Abbott, dean of students. “We used to have many open afternoons, but now they have been filled up by other student activities.” With the recent schedule changes that accommodate more three-day weekends, it has been harder to fit in other activities.

Still the administration plans to hold competitions during several long lunches.

For example, when the underclassmen took the PSATs last year, the remainder of the day was given to Class Cup competitions. These included the epic Ultimate Frisbee rivalries and capture the flag battles. This year, however, all students returned to classes following the tests and movie (for seniors).

Also, the administration is trying to limit students’ time out of class.

“In past years, the Class Cup has been haphazard, so we are figuring out ways to organize it better,” said Mr. Abbott. “We are also looking for students to take greater ownership of their activities.” He added that students are welcome to submit ideas for the Class Cup consideration.

“We like fun,” he said, “There is just not a lot of time for it.”

It’s 7:55 a.m. on a cold Monday. The familiar loud, yet simultaneously calming intonations emanate from the Upper School chapel bell and hang in the air before settling on the dew-covered practice fields off in the distance. The early morning chatter that escalates with the arrival of each additional student dies down as the gathering crowd files into the chapel.

The entire Upper School body recognizes the sonorous ring that resonates as the clapper strikes the inside of the big brass bell, but how many have taken the time to learn of its origins or have even taken more than a glance at the bell itself?

Since around 1914 -- the same year the chapel was built -- the Upper School bell has been a symbol of St. Christopher’s.

The bell that beckons students into chapel each morning was formerly located in the old Middle School building. That building -- located between the bookstore and Herrington Hall -- was torn down in the 1970s with the completion of the new Lower School building. Whether or not students actually enjoy its morning ringing, most recognize the bell’s iconic significance.

It was relocated to the bell tower in 1965 when the tower was donated by Dr. Thomas Murrell, Jr. ’34 in memory of his father and in his words “to the glory of God.” Tommy Mur-

The bell quietly witnesses a century of gentlemen.

rell III followed his granddad and dad to St. Christopher’s and graduated in 1967. Upon his death in 1993, the Murrell family donated money to renovate the bookstore which was subsequently renamed the Murrell Bookstore.

Then, a few years ago, the class of 1975 generously preserved the bell and its tower when the edifice was suffering from some outward signs of age.

A close examination of the bell, whose belly is about the diameter of a beach ball, reveals corrosive, barnacle-like bumps all over its exterior. These are evidence of its many years of exposure to elements, and they are symbolic of the daily work it does in service to St. Christopher’s Upper School.

On this particular Monday

morning, and like many others, Upper School Head Tony Szymendera pulls the metal handle as the heavy contraption tips the bell making the clapper hit the inner wall. The bell sounds.

It was a long, fun-filled weekend. Indeed, many students (and perhaps a few teachers) dread this start to the week, but none of them are truly loathe to the ritual of the ringing bell.

As the bell sounds, it conjures different reactions from all.

“When I was a junior, all I used to think when the bell rang was, ‘Man, I sure have a long run from the Junior Lot,’” said senior Christopher Delaney. “’I better hurry, if I don’t want to be late.’”

But for others, this signal of the start of school prompts a more enthusiastic response.

“It’s the most exciting time of

day,” said occasional bell ringer Mr. Billy McGuire, science department chair. “It means it’s time for school to start. For me, it’s like what the ‘Star Spangled Banner’ is for athletes. It means it’s time for the fun to begin!”

Old but not weary, heavy but not inefficient, the bell is prominently important in our community. Aside from its daily announcement at the start of school, the bell is rung on very rare, special occasions.

“We did ring the bell when the state held its special moment of bell ringing and prayer in memory of the individuals killed at Virginia Tech,” said Headmaster Charley Stillwell.

Mrs. Alice Flowers recalls that the bell was rung “once when a well-beloved English teacher, George Squires, died before the end of a school year, and we were all summoned to chapel for the sad announcement.”

So, next time you hear the chapel bell’s rich tones ring forth, don’t just bemoan its immediate message. Remember it is steeped history and its dedication in memory of Dr. Murrell and to the glory of God. After all, it encompasses that which binds the St. Christopher’s community each and every day.

But even with all the hype, one of St. Christopher’s sages, Mr. Jim Boyd, prefers to see the bell in a less sentimental light.

After all, as he puts it, “It’s just a bell.”

School Life

2

December 2009

Economic Concern in the Community Administration Looks at Tightened Budgets, Adjusted Resources

By Kurt Jensen ’11

can’t do their program,” said Mr. with cash, we’d consider walkSzymendera. Still, teachers had ing to U of R [rather than taking to forgo annual raises and begin buses] because it’s right there,” If there were a prevalence of to make decisions with supplies said Mr. Spears. In many ways, water coolers in St. Christopher’s and resources. the pressures of the economy are School, you might hear talk of Dr. Smith, for example, is healthy, slimming exercise. economic pressures on the close- using a more cost-effective Yet in others, it limits opknit community. primary document source book. portunities and experiences In November of last year, The “We knocked a couple of books such as the traditional summer Pine Needle featured promiI really liked, because they were Europe trip. Interest in the trip nently plans for a new student too expensive,” he said. “Parents’ isn’t as high as it has been in the center and cafeteria to be built on bills are big enough as it is.” past. “Last year, it was the same top of what is now the Williams Because of concern for the thing,” said Mr. Towell. “NumDining Hall. As of September, state of the economy last year bers were down, but we still the building is “not officially on and the conservative “green” went.” hold,” according to Headmaster program in effect, teachers had In the halcyon days of the Charles Stillwell. already imposed their own retrip, the group was comprised “We don’t begin a building strictions on spending and come of upwards of 70 students. “We project until we’ve raised 75 per- in under budget. This year’s probably won’t get the numbers cent of the cost,” he said, “and budget was determined at a level we once had,” he said. Still, the in this economy, it’s a slower preceded by these differences. trip isn’t uneconomical. “It’s not process.”

In the Lower School, students a package trip; we do everything The “slower process” of the who fondly reminisce about field on our own, so we stay longer nation’s economy is trips to Jamestown (two weeks) and spend less than affecting not only “We were wor- might be disheartened most school trips.” improvements to to learn that a group While the effects of the ried about how of students will not the school, but also economy aren’t overtly drastic, maintenance of its be sent this year. “Inthere is an unmistakable absence our families most important asset: stead, we’re going to in the Upper School Library. the community. “We were doing.” the Henricus HistoriFormer librarian Peggy Boon were worried about cal Park,” said Lower still teaches yoga to the faculty how our families were doing,” School Head David Menges. on Monday nights, but she is no said Mr. Stillwell. “More famiThis decision is a part of longer a member of the crowd. lies than ever before applied for new Lower School budgeting After her husband lost his job financial aid.” philosophies. “We’re trying to with medical benefits, Mrs. Boon Looking at the figures, there be more creative with transporta- needed to make a change from are 121 new students this year tion issues around field trips,” her part-time position. “I needed according to Director of AdmisMr. Menges said. That includes to try to find a job with medical sion Cary Mauck. 43 students “trying to take advantage of benefits,” she said. “We didn’t left: “about five for financial the rich educational issues in know how long it was going to reasons,” he said. The enrollment the Metro-Richmond area” and last.” is only one student behind where “looking at the nature of some of While her husband was only it began last school year. “We felt the assignments the boys do” in out of a job for three months, really proud that we were able to regard to resources. As well, “the she needed to consider what find ways to help people,” said teachers are much more mindful was best for their family. “We Mr. Stillwell. of conserving energy,” he said. had to prepare for the worst and Still, the budget is a signifiIn the Middle School, a hope for the best,” she said. She cantly larger concern. “We want smaller division with only three is now working full-time as the to try to be as smart as we can be grades, teachers are advised to director of library services at St. with how we’re spending,” said “be thoughtful and intentional Gertrude’s High School. “I’m Mr. Stillwell. Whether it’s asking and frugal in their assessments providing a lot more security for questions like, “are we being as of what is essential,” my family.” careful as we can be?” or looksaid Middle School Thinking back on “We had to ing at limiting “extra expenses,” Head Phil Spears. her time, here, she every division and department is “We were already prepare for the misses the comlooking at tightened budgets. in a place where we worst and hope munity. “When you “The good and the bad thing were saving,” he said. work somewhere, you about our budget is there isn’t “In terms of impact- for the best.” build relationships,” a lot of fat in it,” said Upper ing program, there she said. “I definitely School Head Tony Szymendera, wasn’t anything specific we miss all the people at St. Christo“so when things are tight, we needed to get rid of.” Whether it pher’s.” don’t have a lot of places to go concerns more closely managing In regards to the economy, she and cut obvious things.” magazine subscriptions or pizza shares a common sentiment of In the Upper School, specifiparties, it’s the superfluous that all Americans tied to the welfare cally in regard to professional was re-examined. of the nation, one that expounds development and teacher proIn each division, there’s a lev- upon the need for security: “I grams, alternative, cost-effective el of economic consideration that don’t think we’re out of the solutions are sought. “Nobody’s is principle in both good and bad woods yet.” budget has been slashed so they economies. “Even if we were fat Junior Editor

Making Strides for Cancer

By Jack McDowell ’12 Sophomore Contributor

Mrs. Sue Varner, Dr. Kim Hudson and Mrs. Laura Dugan have all been affected by breast cancer. As a result, they pulled together a team to participate in a walk to raise money to research the deadly disease.

Mrs. Varner, who teaches Upper School Spanish, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago. The mothers of Dr. Hudson, an Upper School re-

source teacher and Mrs. Dugan, a Middle School language teacher, both had breast cancer.

The walk, which took place Oct. 18 in downtown Richmond, aimed to raise awareness of the cancer. Asha Bandal, Sean Nagle, Ed Sharp, Kimberly Mayer, Ken Miller, Gene Bruner, Susan Kirk, Lisa Vogt, Rosie Smith, Laura Ambrogi and Annette McCabe and others composed “Team STC.” Mrs. Varner is a major advocate for supporting new types of

research. Mrs. Varner’s cancer couldn’t be detected by a mammogram, technology commonly used to scan people for cancer.

When the newer MRIs detected the lump, the doctor told her that her cancer could have been in her body for as long as five years.

By taking this walk, these STC teachers, along with many others, hope to increase awareness so that research will continue.

The walk had great attendance making it one of the most successful of its kind in Richmond.

“Perception is changing,” Mrs. Varner said in talking about how breast cancer is sometimes overlooked.

But the statistics are daunting.

One out of every eight women is diagnosed with it and it impacts many others as their family and friends cope with the consequences. The cancer is such a tough topic to talk about because it is “such an intimate part of a woman’s identity,” Mrs. Varner said.

Maraschino Cherries; Hard Work and Poetry

By Henley Hopkinson ’11 Junior Contributor

Thomas Lux’s father never missed a day of work for 17 years. This same spirit of hard work and persistence is an integral part of the recent visitor’s career as a poet. He is always working on at least five poems and has worked on as many as 20 simultaneously.

“I work in a dogged methodical manner,” he said.

Son of a milkman and a switchboard operator from Northampton, Mass., Lux has established himself as a respected poet, publishing 11 books. He came to St. Christopher’s this October to read several of his poems and to talk about reading and writing poetry. Lux mentioned his father’s occupation in reference to one of his poems about a time in his youth when his hometown was divided in half by a flood, and his father took a boat to work.

Lux didn’t really become involved in poetry until after high school; he noted that growing up as a boy in the 1950s meant writing poetry was somewhat “suspect.”

Lux also commented on the “dullness” of the 1950s in his poem “Refrigerator, 1957,” in which red maraschino cherries are the most exotic thing with

which the poem’s speaker is familiar. Lux said that his poems are often angry attacks at injustice. In addition his favorite literary devices are metaphor and onomatopoeia.

After reading a few poems, Lux answered students’ questions. Lux stressed that a poem could mean nothing, and it is not necessarily the reader’s job to try to uncover a hidden meaning. Instead he said that reading a poem for the first time should give the reader a sense of visceral pleasure, and only after this may some analysis and interpretation be attempted.

As for composition, Lux repudiated the claim that poetry only comes from some sort of “divine intervention.” He said that he intentionally writes when he is not in the mood. Placing rules upon writing, like strict rhyme or meter, does not hinder creativity, but instead bolsters it, causing the mind to think harder, Lux said.

He believes that writers should “always be imitating” great works of art. In a related statement, he said, “reading is 80 percent of writing.”

Students received Lux’s visit appreciatively.

Junior Connor Wood said he specifically liked the discussion about “the face value of a poem instead of hidden meaning.”

Mrs. Vizcaino Goes to Rome

By Jack McDowell ‘12 Sophomore Contributor

Mrs. Wanda Vizcaino was invited to attend an October ceremony in Rome where Pope Benedict XVI commemorated Saint Jeanne Jugan and others.

In the 1700s, Jugan founded Little Sisters of the Poor, an organization that takes care of the elderly poor. Mrs. Vizcaino was asked to go to Rome for a week to attend the service officially naming Jeanne Jugan a saint.

While her mother was a resident at the Little Sisters of the Poor’s Richmond branch, Mrs. Vizcaino became heavily involved as a volunteer, most recently as a major organizer of a family festival to raise awareness for the facility.

“I’ve their work and how they truly treat the elderly poor with such honor and dignity,” she said. “They treat everyone the same whether they have money or they don’t have money.”

Mrs. Vizcaino wasn’t visiting Rome for pleasure. She said, “I don’t know how many times I was told, ‘You’re on a pilgrimage, not a vacation.’” Even though it wasn’t “vacation,” she got to do some pretty cool things.

When she arrived in Rome,

she noticed graffiti everywhere.

This is part of their culture as well as art, which has a major impact in Roman people’s lives.

The most amazing part of Mrs. Vizcaino’s trip was the services in St. Peter’s Square that she attended to canonize Jeanne Jugan. Along with Jugan, four other people were recognized as Saints. The Pope talked to each group of people in a separate language for about 15 minutes.

The most touching part of the trip to Mrs. Vizcaino was one of the services that talked about how Little Sisters of the Poor helped out so many people. The talk made Mrs. Vizcaino emotional.

Overall, Mrs. Vizcaino said that the trip was a once in a lifetime chance and said, “If you ever have the chance to go there [Rome], take it.”

Features

December 2009

3

Alumni Spotlight

Mathiasen Takes on L.A. Fashion

By Jabriel Hasan ‘11

that was calm, quiet and full of good intentions.

It wasn’t meant to be rude. Their anxiety, I would later realize, was simply a byproduct of living in a fast-paced place. I could tell that nothing about them was accustomed to Richmond. I almost immediately sensed that our interview and their visit to the Old Dominion were satisfying, but too slow. I felt their fidgeting, and I struggled to write as fast as they spoke during a visit to school this fall.

Mathiasen’s beginnings were intriguing.

He was born in southern Texas near Mexico in a town called Harlingen. For high school, he moved to Richmond, beginning his freshmen year in the math and science program at Godwin High School.

“This type of society did not exist where I come from,” he said. Moving to Richmond, he told me, was a culture shock.

Mathiasen transferred to St. Christopher’s at the start of his sophomore year and graduated in 2004.

Here, he participated in a variety of activities. He worked on the Ampersand tech crew and was a member of the swim team.

As for every new student, there were definite challenges, he said. He was unaccustomed to the school’s customs; the dress code, the many requirements in academics and athletics. He was most surprised by the Honor Code -- that he could leave out something valuable and it not be stolen. But he “branched out,” he told me, and the administration and faculty supported his endeavors 100 percent. He thanks Mrs. Varner for helping him connect with other students, and he cited the option of being able to take classes on both campuses as beneficial to social interactions while here.

He had no regrets regarding his St. Christopher’s experiences. The challenges that he faced, had made him “grow up.” He enjoyed his time here.

“It was totally worth it, because I had a huge lead once I stepped out into the world,” he said.

In our interview, he credited the school for instilling some of his key values. Be an honest person. Be a good person. Be dedicated.

He spent three years in Dallas. He chose to attend Southern Methodist University as a pre-med student.

While in Dallas, he made some discoveries about himself that would change his career goals again.

Junior Contributor

I had never met anyone like him before. I thought that he only existed in the movies or on television. He was interesting, and definitely not typical of the South, of Richmond, of St. Christopher’s.

He wore a checkerboard plaid shirt, unbuttoned past dress code. His jeans were loosely stuffed into slightly distressed army boots.

He had pale skin and hair dyed jet black. His appearance told part of his story. I couldn’t decide where he was from.

He was an artist of sorts who had formed his own personality separate from society’s conception of the norm.

I sat down with him and two of his travel buddies from the West Coast. One played with his phone, quietly laughing whenever I made a joke. The other sat with her legs crossed, sometimes taking a cell phone call, sometimes engaging in deep conversation with us.

They all had a recognizable impatience

After putting aside his interests in photography to pursue a career in medicine, he realized that the medical field was not for him. He enrolled at the Art Institute at the start of his sophomore year to envelop himself in photography. His decision was a turning point in his life but he would change his college and major again.

He then moved to Los Angeles. His interests were now in fashion, a field that had never crossed his mind at St. Christopher’s. At the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, he studied merchandising and product development. He learned everything that he needed to know, he told me. I began to quiz him on his city, his lifestyle and his thoughts on the industry.

“LA life is completely different,” he said. “It’s definitely relaxed, but it’s a cut-throat life. It’s definitely a town where if you don’t have a stronghold as a person…you will lose yourself completely, and not in a good way. My job is seven days a week, unappreciated and annoying…you work hard so that you can play hard.”

He now works at Elmer Avenue, an indie style clothing line that recently showed at L.A. Fashion Week. There, he has developed a definite aesthetic.

“I think fashions are real,” he said. It’s moving to a point where it is understood and the general public is learning to make it relevant to their daily lives, he said. He obviously has spent some time pondering this subject; his passion was evident.

Mathiasen is inspired by last-name-only designers: Dior, Galliano, Varvados as well as Rag and Bone, Rock and Republic and Band of Outsiders, some of Elmer Avenue’s style. He loves music, surfing at the beach near downtown L.A. and going out to eat. He still loves photography, his original passion.

Matt Mathiasen was like no one that I have ever known, only what I have seen on television and in magazines. Our interview showed me that there really is far more to people than appearance, that an unexpected personality can lie under the foliage of hair and clothes, an individual to know and embrace.

Black Dog’s Last Walk

By Ben Resnik ’11 Junior Contributor

“I thought it was a bear.”

So thought senior Edward Custer when, at age 6, he first saw Black Dog. The St. Christopher senior’s continued involvement in the life of the elusive stray chow that patrolled Windsor Farms and other parts of the West End is a story within the story that has been part of west Richmond’s local lore for almost 20 years.

Black Dog’s distinctive look, personality and, above all, elusiveness made him a local legend during his extraordinarily long life. He became a normal and distinctive part of everyday culture in the West End. He hung out in Custer’s neighborhood, sometimes sleeping in front of Custer’s house and was fed by Custer’s neighbors, the Murrays.

Unfortunately, his death was

not so legend-worthy. “He was going blind,” said Custer. In mid-July this summer, at around 2 a.m., Black Dog was killed in a hit-and-run near Cary Street.

While the manner of his death is not remarkable, Black Dog’s power lies in his ability to elicit powerful emotions and memories. Tales of his many adventures and escapes gave his story a life of its own; it is difficult to have a conversation about him without giving accounts of his abilities to avoid capture.

These stories were in many cases propagated by the Murray family who raised money in Black Dog’s name to donate to animal shelters and other charitable causes.

His life and story brought out what was best and worst about the community he patrolled.

“A lot of people were trying to make money off him for greedy purposes,” Custer said.

At the same time, the good feelings and memories that he invoked have also led to an outpouring of kindness to honor

Black Dog sighting two days prior to death.

his name. He was “seen as a protector,” as Custer said, and this status has furthered his legend even after his death.

Custer was present as the famous stray was put into the ground. Custer dug Black Dog’s grave on the Murrays’ farm, making him a literal part of the Black Dog history.

With the dog dead, it is now the responsibility of Richmonders to keep his memory alive, not only through stories of him, but by remembering the strong feelings of goodwill that those stories imparted to their listeners.

With numerous Facebook groups and even the Richmond ASPCA working to raise money and do good in his name, it is plain to see that the altruistic legacy of Black Dog will not be buried with him. “Black Dog made us safe,” said Custer. “He was Richmond’s dog.”

Photo: Rennie Merhige

The Moores Rock Fall Festival, iTunes

By Harrison Houlihan ’12 Sophomore Contributor

Fall Festival attendees were treated to The Moores, a student band comprised of sophomores Scottie Prudhoe, Preston Cochran and Carl Henry White.

The Moores have been playing since the ’07-’08 school year through several name and lineup changes. Originally The Mark Holloway Band, and then Sonic Abuse, The Moores have played several established venues such as Alley Katz and Rumors.

Prudhoe describes the music as “spicy… alternative rock… with splashes of grunge and folk.” The Moores’ style is admittedly different from the majority of music heard on Richmond radio. “[We] try to make music for people to like, but if they don’t, it doesn’t matter.”

The Moores had a noticeable absence from live shows during the summer, spending their time in the home of Cochran recording their first album. The album, entitled “Loneliness and Sorrow,”is on iTunes and, according to Cochran, will make the perfect stocking stuffer. He describes it as “33 to 40 minutes of pure Moore’s goodness.”

I asked Cochran to describe the music with a single adjective.

He said “the music is a beautiful explosion in a sonic soundscape that will set your mind free.”

Sydney Schreiner ’10 described the music as “calm and chill” and said it made her feel “at ease [and] relaxed.”

For more information, check out the Moores’s webpage at: www.Myspace.com/ themooresmusic.

School Life

4

December 2009

Pangraze ’10, Custer ’10, and Dalton ’11 relax at the Spirit Week cookout.

Spirit Week

By Patrick Delaney ’10 Senior Editor

The brain child of seniors Drew Pangraze ’10 and Tucker Braden ’10, St. Christopher’s Spirit Week swept through campus and left high levels of spirit and $4,019 for charity in its wake.

Pangraze adopted the idea from his old high school in Greenville, S.C. where once a year spirit and charitable intentions are combined in the form of activities and fundraisers. Realizing the potential for school unity and wanting to raise money for Peter Paul Development Center, Pangraze worked with Braden and Student Council to turn the first week of November into a memorable and lasting accomplishment.

“I’m proud that we were able to raise so much money as a school,” Pangraze said. “I know

it will really help those kids.”

Throughout the week, Student Council orchestrated a variety of activities including theme dress-up days (jerseys, intimidation and red/grey), car washes, dinner and lunch sales, Middle School sports camps, T-shirt sales, change drives, a casino night, a Qdoba sponsored dinner and a school-wide pep rally.

These festivities culminated in an impressive performance of “Antigone” by Ampersand, an epic win for Varsity soccer over Cape Henry Collegiate School and an intense, albeit disappointing, Varsity football game against rival Collegiate School.

As one of the more original activities, Casino Night was a favorite among students. Jack McDowell ’12, one of the Texas hold ’em dealers, was impressed with the turnout. “A lot of people showed up and most played by the rules,” he said. “It was huge success and is sure to continue in

future years.”

The pep rally was another favorite. “I enjoyed the pep rally the most,” said Kyle Wittenauer ’10. “It was much more creative and organized than I’ve seen in the past.”

Tucker Thompson ’11 agreed.

“The gym was so pumped up and loud that I had trouble hearing,” he said.

Mr. Szymendera was equally impressed with the week’s successful debut. “The senior leaders were smart in their approach,” he said. “They seemed to understand the scope of this project and the need to have as many students as possible involved.”

Pangraze was adamant on the fact that he does not want Spirit Week to end in 2009. “My hope is that the future students keep adding to Spirit Week each year.

Hopefully it will become a tradition.”

Seniors sport their red pants at the Collegiate game.

Wofford ’10 leads the soccer team in spirit.

Swine Flu is No Myth

By Jack Jessee ’10 Senior Editor

Betcha Didn’t Know!

By Woody Stanchina ’11 Junior Contributor

When Mrs. Elsa Woodaman spent her senior year of high school in Rennes, France she and her friends often hung out at a popular jazz restaurant in the early evenings.

After connecting with some other French teenagers, they

started following local musician Pascal Obispo. Mrs. Woodaman and the musician got to be pretty close friends, but unfortunately the relationship never went anywhere else. Especially since five years later Obispo became a famous rock star in France.

Mrs. Woodaman will deny anything of this if you bring it up.

Enter Ethan O’Neill

By Alex Beale ’13 Freshman Contributor

Fourteen-year-old Ethan O’Neill joined St. Christopher’s from Maggie L. Walker Governor’s School approximately six weeks into the school year.

O’Neill appreciates how nice the students and teachers are and seems content with his new environment. “It’s

all good,” he said.

O’Neill was on the Junior JV soccer team and is now on the track team. In his first trimester, he ended up with a 11.4 GPA even after starting several weeks late.

“Ethan is a humble, gentle kid who has an easy smile and a warmth of personality that lends itself to our community,” said Mrs. Sue Varner, his advisor.

According to a Pine Needle review of available information, swine flu has not yet significantly affected St. Christopher’s.

Several students here have already contracted H1N1, but the number of ill students pales in comparison neighboring schools such as The Collegiate School and Douglas S. Freeman High School, which experienced huge absences as a result of the illness.

Other Virginia schools have been hit even harder. Amelia county schools were closed for an entire week due to a large outbreak and the death of a young student.

As the temperature outside drops, more and more students, parents and teachers are stricken with various forms of influenza.

In years past, the flu was more or less a minor inconvenience. Ill students were kept out of school for a few days and passed the time watching TV or playing video games. This year, however, will present new problems. The rise of H1N1, commonly known as Swine Flu, has emerged as a new and potentially dangerous threat.

Schools are often the first places affected by sickness.

The daily interactions between hundreds of students and faculty provide an easy path for the spread of viruses and bacteria, and often one ill child can infect many others.

St. Christopher’s has taken special precautions to avoid

such massive absences. Automatic Purell dispensers have been placed around the school in prominent locations such as the dining hall and the weight room.

Signs that teach proper hand washing technique are scattered throughout school restrooms, and students are frequently reminded to wash their hands for at least 20 seconds. In the Lower School, the branch with the greatest potential for outbreak, keyboards, doorknobs and other objects students touch are washed daily.

The school nurses are also playing a large role in prevention. Nurse Cookie Johnson said “Students who have ‘red-flag’ symptoms such as a fever, sore throat, severe cough and body aches are sent home and asked to stay home.” The nurses have also worked together with the administration to create an emergency plan in the event of an outbreak.

The school coordinated with the City of Richmond Public

Health Department to administer the H1N1 Flu Mist to students, faculty and staff but the virus still remains in short supply throughout the country. The lack of a widely available vaccine has a leading factor in the hysteria surrounding the virus.

The student body’s response to the virus has been ambivalent.

Senior Jack Scherger said, “I honestly don’t think many more people will be sick than last year, everyone is making a big deal out of nothing.” Others seem to be afraid of the virus’s potential effects. Senior Rennie Merhige said “I could not be more scared of swine flu. It could devastate the school.”

The hysteria, however, may be overblown. To date, the virus is a relatively mild strain of the flu that is only dangerous to the elderly, very young and those with pre-existing health conditions.

School Life

December 2009

5

Tragedy Strikes in McVey

By Harrison Houlihan ’12 Sophmore Contributor

The mark of a good play is when you know exactly what is going to happen, yet you are still entertained. So much of our entertainment today relies on surprise twists and endings to keep audiences entertained.

Ampersand’s recent production of “Antigone” took a different tact. In the very first scene of the play, the Greek chorus (Ben Resnik ’11 and Kelsey Glander ’12) lays out the fates of the play’s characters. Antigone (Lee Blackmer ’12) is young.

She doesn’t want to die, but she must. Creon (Jamie Ruml ’10), Antigone’s uncle, emerged as the

ruler in Thebe’s civil war, and has left Antigone’s brother, Polyneices, to rot on the battlefield.

Emotions flare up on all sides when Antigone is caught burying the body, a crime punishable by death.

Dialogue heavy scenes would have been unwatchable if not for the fantastic acting of Ruml and Blackmer.

Other highlights included Nic Marlton’s successful on-stage debut as Guard number one.

Providing comic relief came easy to Marlton as he was pretty much just cast as himself.

On top of his significant role on stage, Marlton was in charge of designing the set. The entire crew deserves recognition for

bringing his vision to life.

Also deserving recognition is the lighting and costume crews.

For many years students have been treated to fantastic interpretations of costumes thanks to Julie Wilson. Unfortunately, this will be the last production with Julie heading costume design as she is leaving to work with Cirque Du Soleil. Good luck Julie!

This production was yet another reminder of how fortunate we are to have a consistent theatre program and a director such as Rusty Wilson. Thank you to everyone who came out and we look forward to seeing you at our winter production “The Importance of Being Earnest.”

Sports

6

December 2009

Ted Gottwald (center) and Rennie Merhige (right) sign to VMI. Bryce Chalkley (left) commited earlier to Virginia Tech.

Saints Commit to VMI

By Patrick Delaney ’10 Senior Editor

Every year St. Christopher’s has a handful of athletes who continue on to the collegiate level, and this year is no different. Three Saints have already committed to the same school.

Rennie Merhige, Ted Gottwald and Campbell Henkel were all recruited by and given scholarships to Virginia Military Institute.

Merhige, who also caught the attention of West Point Military Academy, University at Buffalo and Gettysburg College, said “it has always been my goal to wrestle at the next level, and VMI is the best fit for me.”

Not very concerned about the notorious Rat Line, he knows the wrestling will be more intense. “I guess I’m a little nervous, I just want to do well,” he said.

Overall Merhige is looking forward to his next four years at VMI. He is excited about going to school with two fellow saints and said “having Ted on the same team should also help with

the transition.”

Gottwald, who was also recruited by West Point Military Academy, did not always think wrestling would be in his future.

As a matter of fact, he said “I was pretty sure I wasn’t going to wrestle in college. It wasn’t until I did well at Nationals that I started to seriously consider it.” With regards to the hazing, Gottwald finds solace in an anecdote from his dad who played football at VMI. He recalls that his dad, in remembering the grueling workout sessions administered to the freshmen (euphemistically known as “Sweat Parties”), said that while everyone seemed to be dying the wrestlers barely broke a sweat. With this knowledge in mind, Gottwald knows his challenge will be in the actual wrestling with which he knows Merhige will be a sound support system.

Henkel, who had interest from Wake Forest University, East Carolina University and Liberty University, made his decision to

Hamil Jones blows by his defender in his younger years.

pitch for the Keydet’s baseball team. Although at first apprehensive about the military aspect of VMI, Campbell says “I’m going in with a positive mindset and am glad that two of my best friends are coming too.”

Campbell also noted that he will make sacrifices in order to graduate from the demanding institution. “When things get tough I’m going to focus on where I want to be in four years,” he said.

Cheerleading Debate Continues

By Tucker Thompson ’11 Junior Contributor

The debate as to whether or not St. Christopher’s should have cheerleaders has been contested for decades. The saga continues this year as spirited seniors fight to continue the tradition.

In the past, cheerleading was a more spontaneous and football-oriented student-run activity where seniors would dress up and go to games to cheer the team on, usually from the track.

This year the administration is not allowing officially sanctioned cheerleaders; however, they are allowing enthusiastic fans to cheer from the stands.

Dean of Students Billy Abbott said, “The student body needs to come up with a more inclusive model of spirit for more contests.”

Currently administration is waiting for a proposal from the student council or student body to set up a system for cheerleading.

Student reaction to the absence of cheerleaders at homecoming and Fall Festival was mixed. Some students ap-

pear apathetic while others are disappointed the format has been changed. A disheartened Jack McDowell ’12 said after the Fall Festival Norfolk Academy football game, “There seemed to be a lack of compelling cheers coming from the student section.”

Others argue that the cheerlead-

ers’ presence in the stands motivates students to cheer louder.

The debate rages onward, yet the administration is holding fast to their verdict until an appropriate alternative is presented and approved.

Coach Jones Ushers in New Era

“Hamill-Time”

By Tyler Franz ’09 Special Correspondent

As a former St. Christopher’s fan and then player, Hamill Jones has always been an active member of the school basketball community. Now he can say he’s pretty much done it all now serving as Varsity head coach.

“The neat thing for me is being the head coach at my school,” Mr. Jones said. “[As a kid] I used to go to every Varsity game and go out on the court and shoot when the game was over. Sixteen years ago that’s what I was doing, and to go from a fan to a player to coach is exciting because I’ve always had so much invested in this program.”

The move was part of a greater initiative by the school to try to hire coaches who also teach.

Chris Brown, the previous head coach, will coach as an assistant for Henrico next season.

“Chris did a great job but I also think it’ll be helpful to have a full-time faculty member as the leader of the program,” Mr. Jones said. “A lot of my coaches are still around. Mauck, Jump, Hudepohl and Franz all helped me a lot as a player. Now to be coaching with them and helping kids in the same way that they helped me is pretty neat. It’s a reminder to me of what I’m supposed to do for kids.”

Junior Drew Pangraze, who played for Coach Jones at the JV level, looks forward to working

with Jones again this year.

“We ran a lot [on JV with Jones] and did a lot of suicides, so we’ll definitely be in shape,” Pangraze said. “He’s a good coach and doesn’t put up with mediocrity.”

Mr. Jones believes that his status as a single, young man will help him put more time and energy into the team’s success.

As a former Washington & Lee University basketball captain, Mr. Jones brings both high school and college experience as well as JV head coaching experience to the job. He also looks forward to upcoming challenges.

“The hardest thing will be finding ways to get guys playing more basketball and at a younger age” Coach Jones said. “To be successful we can’t just show up for three months. We need guys playing year round.”

Mr. Jones looks forward to working with a group that includes eight of last year’s top 10 scorers and anticipates future success. “Any time you have a good group of hungry seniors, you’re going to be dangerous,” he said. “I think we’re going to surprise a lot of people.”

Through his first four games as head coach, the basketball team is 2-2 with key conference wins over Trinity Episcopal School and Norfolk Academy.

Tyler Franz, a freshman at the University of Miami, wrote this article before graduating last spring, and recently reedited it on special request. He currently writes for The Miami Hurricane as well as the university’s business school magazine.

Sports

December 2009

7

River City Crew Photo and Story

By Kurt Jensen ’11

Students Row for Fall Sports Commitment

Junior Editor

“There was a dog down there, this big, quacking,” said a Collegiate student, holding his hands less than a foot apart. “That’s Satan,” said St. Christopher’s junior Quinton Robbins.

The half duck, half rodent dog made his way up the path from the launch to the boathouse at Robious Landing Park on the James River in Midlothian, walking mostly unnoticed by the almost 26 teenagers making up the River City Crew fall session.

In the Richmond area, only James River and Trinity High School offer rowing as a Varsity sport. Unaffiliated with any specific school, River City Crew is the only organized

junior private rowing club in Richmond.

Four St. Christopher’s students chose to row as their fall sport commitment, joining a group representing several city schools, but predominantly Collegiate students. “When I first came to the program, it was mostly Collegiate, but Deep Run has gotten involved, and there’s a guy from Highland Springs,” said junior Patrick English.

Highly inclusive and socially diverse, the boys and girls take full advantage of a unique social experience. “I think it’s awesome you get to do sports with other schools instead of just St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s,” said sophomore Ran Johnson. “They’re a bunch of cool, interesting people,” said English. “I thought they were

really, really welcoming.”

Executive Director and Head Coach Tom O’Rourke stood a head above a socially engaged crowd. Barking assignments through his bottom teeth, he quickly ushered three separate boats of eight positions each down the way to the launch.

Coach O’Rourke is hands-on and fully dedicated to the athletes and to the sport. “He’s not very openly emotional, but you can tell he loves everyone and loves coaching,” said Robbins.

Participating together in what is considered the ultimate team sport, a deep sense of camaraderie exists throughout the crew, in every synchronized dip of the oars and in the metallic voice of the coxswain’s speaker.

“We’re all out on the water having the same goal. If anyone’s

slacking off, it shows,” said English.

Crew is a definitively unique sporting experience that builds strength. “In order to do well at it, you have to work and not just be naturally gifted,” said Robbins.

On a team level and an individual level, rowing pushes boundaries. “You’re pushing yourself to your limits, then pushing yourself farther than that,” said English. “I get a lot of satisfaction out of that and the competitive drive of the race.”

Rowing regattas also represent a competition intensely bound to ideal teamwork. “You have to stay at your teammates’ level,” said English. “They’re only going to do well if you do well, since you’re all in the same boat.”

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Rennie’s Winter Sports Predictions 1. Brandon Jeske, after competing in the finals of the prestigious Super 32, will come into the wrestling season with a lot of momentum behind him as he looks to place at Prep Nationals in Lehigh.

2. Indoor Track lost a lot of senior leadership after their undefeated state championship season, but look for younger guys to take the reigns and for Alex Gannon and Hiter Harris to crush more records.

3. Hamill Jones should bring new philosophies to the basketball team in his first year as Varsity head coach.

4. Indoor soccer will have a stellar year despite losing the talents of Fitz Henry Boze ’09 and Wood Revercomb ’09.

5. Mikey Bogese, Billy Belt, Si Wofford -- finesse, strength and slap stick. Not many remember the last time there was this much senior leadership on a Saints swim team. Last year there was one senior diver. The team is senior heavy this year and looks to be competitive.

Last winter season was one of the most successful in school history: Wrestling won its eighth consecutive title, Indoor Track snapped FUMA’s streak and won a state title of their own, and Indoor Soccer won their end of the year state tournament. Last season will be hard to top, but with leadership from the seniors and other driven athletes this year should prove to be as productive as the last.

8

December 2009

E T T O C H A N G E

Enrichment Next year, school-wide changes include a new approach to Minimester, where faculty members will sponsor a week-long experience for all Upper School students with programs now run in conjunction with St. Catherine’s.

Minimester, as we know it now, has separate activities from St. Catherine’s.

This will change, as St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s will run the same program.

“We feel comfortable going to a similar approach,” said Mr. Tony Szymendera, Upper School head. Previously, St. Christopher’s had an issue with the duration of minimester, as it is two weeks long and followed by spring break. All in all, three weeks without classes hurts all students.

Also, all Upper School students will participate in the new one-week program.

Mr. Szymendera said, “We can complement and supplement the curriculum.”

St. Christopher’s supports the idea of experimental learning, which offers first-hand experience of what students are learning in class. “We’ve always felt that experiential learning or getting out of the classroom to do things is something we’re supportive of and want to do,” said Mr. Szymendera.

Mrs. Elsa Woodaman, Upper School language teacher who also coordinates Minimester, describes the new enrichment week as “a great opportunity to expose our students to new experiences and forge deeper relationships between students and teachers.”

The disadvantages of the new minimester system hit the faculty the hardest, as they will need to prepare and host meetings throughout the year to plan their activity. Mr. Szymendera expects that boys and girls will participate in activities together.

Next year, St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s will switch to modified block schedules. A modified block schedule will only make changes to two days of the school week.

Monday, Tuesday and Friday classes will remain the same whereas Wednesday and Thursday will have lengthened classes. On those days, students will go to class in either their first, third, fifth or seventh period classes or their second, fourth, sixth and eighth period classes.

On the even period days, the extra eighth period will be used for special activities or be broken up to create more free time. This will allow some flexibility when planning special events such as chapel speakers or Class Cup activities.

After deciding to move to semesters and a modified block schedule, the administration brought the plan to the Student Life and Academic Policy Committees, the Parent Association as well as the Coordination Committee, which plans policy between St. Christopher’s and St. Catherine’s. Once the group offered some suggestions and their approval, the administration brought it before Upper School student leaders from both schools earlier this fall.

The administration is now in the process now of introducing the idea to parent groups and will open up discussions for all Upper School parents in January to glean reactions, questions and ideas. New students and their families will also be oriented to the changes in schedule.

As part of the adjustment to semesters next year, academic requirements will also be different.

The school is requiring a new mandatory grade 12 history class, a grade 11 or 12 religion class and a grade 9 art class.

The new religion class will only affect rising ninth graders and not those upper classmen who have already taken religion in ninth grade.

Due to the changes in schedule there will be fewer course options in some areas. Logistically, students will not be able to take as many electives in two semesters as they would in three trimesters.

“On one end is the ideal for what we think we should be doing, and on the other there are the frustrations of packing everything into a schedule,” said Mr. Szymendera. The elimination of some available classes will result from these new requirements.

“One of the downsides is it will cut back on the number of elective options you have,” said Mr.Szymendera. Part of the goal of St. Christopher’s is to prepare students for the future and the school believes these are necessary changes to make that happen.

- - Jack McDowell ’12

- - Joe Dragone ’13

- - Will Turner ’12

Block Schedule Graduation Requirements

Mollen Seizes an Opportunity

By Jabriel Hasan ’11 Junior Contributor

From snack-seeking boys to bargain-hunting Christmas shoppers, not much intimidates Mrs. Mary Mollen.

Mrs. Mollen, mother of four St. Christopher’s alumni, had been a part of the school since 1984, and worked at the St. Christopher’s bookstore for 14 years.

She gave up her position as bookstore manager at the end of last year to buy the Toy Center.

Mrs. Mollen felt completely sure of her decision, even if it meant leaving St. Christopher’s and battling with some tough economic times.

“I felt that the positive outweighed the negatives,” she said.

The Toy Center has been on Patterson Avenue since 1966, and according to Mrs. Mollen, the store seems to be quite monetarily productive. If it were not

for Mrs. Mollen’s purchase of the store, the West End staple may have closed its doors for good.

Don Golladay, the store elf who started in 1985 handling all model train repair and building toys that are sold pre-built, praised Mrs. Mollen’s commitment.

She has already made numerous upgrades in terms of increasing stock, improving lighting, painting and redoing the floors. She has also increased the number of play centers, making the store more child friendly.

“Mary has a passion for children and loves to see them have a good time,” Mr. Golladay said.

Though Mrs. Mollen does not have a good standard of comparison because the previous owner was in the process of closing the store, she thinks that she might do better.

Surprisingly, she feels like her customers are actually willing to spend money. She also knows

that she has a stable clientele that will continue to be attracted to the store. “People are always going to buy a toy for their kids.

You’re going to scrimp on buying something for yourself before you deny your kids.”

The incentives that Mrs. Mollen provides to her customers may help. The Toy Center offers layaway, a fading favorite in many big businesses, assembly and gift wrapping. She also will place special orders for products not sold in the store.

In terms of merchandise, the store has maintained most of its old stock with a sprinkling of new items. Lionel train sets, a store tradition and Mr. Golladay’s specialty, are featured prominently this holiday season.

“You don’t have to spend a lot of money for a good gift,” she said.

Despite our fragile economy, Mrs. Mollen thinks that she will do relatively well. She is willing to push through “the down time.”

Her store offers some special products, things that aren’t sold at Kmart or Toys R’ Us. The feeling that a customer gets when walking through The Toy Center differentiates it from any big box chain.

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Op/Ed

December 2009

9

Healthcare: Truths, Flaws and Lies

By Wells Baylor ’11 Junior Contributor

There is a major flaw in health care in the United States. How can a country that spends more per person on health care than any other country in the world be ranked 37th in overall performance? A bipartisan effort from both republicans and democrats is looking for answers to why this is true. The fault lies not with the doctors, the patients, the drug manufacturers or even the individual health insurance companies. The culprit is that health care in the United States is an industry.

As with every industry, money is the driving force behind a company’s vitality, and without profits a company will quickly sink. In order for a medical insurance company to make a profit, it must spend less money than it takes in.

Unfortunately, insurance premiums are not enough to keep a company afloat. How insurance providers cut costs to create profits is by denying coverage. If each insurance company approved every claim filed that company would quickly go bankrupt.

Out of necessity, not greed, medical insurance companies must routinely deny lifesaving operations. They need to put money before people, and that is the problem.

Under the current system, when a costly life-saving operation claim is filed, someone at the company must comb through that patients records and look for an excuse, a reason to deny that person the coverage they have been paying for. This must be done to minimize losses and keep the company afloat.

This system has been in effect without any major reforms or alterations for the majority of Americans for over a decade.

A government-run health-care system would work differently by the simple fact that government institutions are not designed to gain money. Government programs are able to operate without profits and sometimes even at a loss.

Fire stations, police stations, public roads and schools are not designed around creating a profit, and as a result, more money is able to be invested in these crucial services because less money must be cut to create a financial surplus. The United States military, the most advanced and powerful in the world, operates at a complete financial loss.

If we can spend money to protect our citizens from the outside dangers of terrorism, we can spend money to save their lives at home.

Look to other countries. In France, patients take precedence over profits, and as a result, France is ranked No. 1 in overall performance by the World Health Organization whose goal it is to combat and eradicate disease. Health care is ranked higher all other first world western nations with socialized health care, partly because every single citizen in these countries has health insurance. Health care in the United Kingdom remains profit free and has been

working effectively since the end of World War II. Many people assume that universal health care will result in prolonged waits for emergency procedures, rationed care and unmotivated doctors. While waiting times in foreign countries with a public option are often higher, how long patients wait is determined by how immediate their medical needs are, not by the patient’s financial situation.

However, the idea that in these countries, people wait years for critical surgeries is completely overstated. In fact, Business Week and the Commonwealth Fund have both found that the waiting times in the United States are often as bad as or worse than those in similarly industrialized countries.

The Commonwealth Fund, whose purpose since its foundation in 1919 is to achieve higher quality health care through the building of hospitals, the funding of medical schools, and more recently through the examination of the U.S. health-care system, has even found that some countries with socialized health care, such as Great Britain, have shorter waiting times for appointments and scheduled elective surgeries.

Many fear that less effective health care must be rationed out to citizens in order to keep costs down, but the quality of health care is simply rated higher in industrialized countries with universal coverage.

Countries with socialized health care do not lack motivated doctors. According to the World Development Database, France actually has more doctors per capita than the United States with 3.3 doctors per 1,000 people, and the United States, England and Canada all have similar figures at 2.3, 2.2,and 2.1 doctors respectively.

It is unfair to assume that these doctors care less about their patients because they are paid less than some of their American counterparts. Like all doctors, they value human life more than money and dedicate themselves to curing the sick.

A common and not unfounded fear is that the new taxes needed to pay for such legislation would complicate an already messy recession, but the truth is that the cost of health care is the cause of 62% of personal bankruptcies and 49% of home foreclosures. Due to the affordability of many European health-care systems, medical bills are almost never the cause bankruptcies or home foreclosures.

Our country needs health-care reform to insure 36 million citizens without any access to health insurance, to protect the millions more with inadequate coverage and to stem the tide of bankruptcies and foreclosures caused by medical bills. We need reform to insure that the money we spend on health care goes to curing the sick and not to health insurance companies’ bottom lines. As a nation, we must overhaul our current system and model the new one after countries that have had it right for years.

THE PINE NEEDLE STAFF Editor in Chief: Jason Pacious

Senior Editors:

Patrick Delaney Jack Jessee Kyle Wittenauer

Junior Editor: Kurt Jensen

Senior Contributors: Rennie Mehrige Drew Pangraze

Junior Contributors: Wells Baylor Jabriel Hasan Henley Hopkinson Ben Resnik Woody Stanchina

Sophomore Contributors: Harrison Houlihan Jack McDowell Will Turner

Freshman Contributors: Richard Hankins Joe Dragone Alex Beale

Faculty Advisor:

Mrs. Kathleen Thomas

Publications Consultant: Mr. Greg Weatherford

By Kyle Wittenauer ’10 Senior Editor

In an idyllic society, every citizen (and perhaps even every non-citizen) would have equal and ready access to high quality health care. For that matter, everyone would have warm, dry shelter and plenty of food on the table. Unfortunately, we can only continue to strive toward utopia knowing how unlikely paradise on earth really is.

There is no question that our country’s current health-care system is in critical need of reform, and the debate is a quagmire. In the interest of brevity and clarity, we will eliminate subjective concerns and pare the debate down to three overriding objective factors concerning universal health care—cost, quality and access.

Compared to the current system, only one of these considerations will absolutely increase: cost. Moreover, the United States is hard pressed to look to any other government-run health care program for a model of how to institute and administer a universal health care system.

France‘s universal health care system is often looked to as a model, but upon close examination, it is an excessively costly socialist venture -costs covered largely by businesses and their employees but legally dictated by the government. According to HealthcareEconomist.com, France’s program is largely funded by the 18.8 percent health-care tax that employees pay, including a 12.8 percent payroll tax borne by the employer. The patients also pay a 10-40 percent co-payment for services plus any difference between what the doctor charges and that (fixed amount) which is paid by the government.

In addition, 92 percent of people in France carry complementary private health-care insurance to offset out-of-pocket expenses.

The Canadian health care system is another one largely funded by the government.

I can personally attest to how it has fallen into the trap of declining quality and access.

After a severe ski crash in Alberta a few years ago, I was taken by ambulance to the hospital where the only treatment I received was a visual observation for a concussion, a couple ibuprofen tablets and an occasional checkup from a very busy nurse. Even though I was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, I suffered facial injuries and potential neck trauma. Though my parents asked several times for the most basic procedures, I was unable to get so much as an X-ray before I returned to the states. Upon discharge, I did not even receive antibiotics in spite of the fact that my braces had torn through my upper lip. That evening I started to run a fever. Fortunately, my parents had brought amoxicillin with us.

Prior to leaving the hospital, because we were not Canadian citizens, we had to pay $1,500 out-of-pocket -- for an ambulance ride and minimal sub-par medical intervention. Upon returning to the states, my parents filed a claim with our private insurance company which did reimburse them according to the terms of our plan.

In addition, my dad is a physical therapist. He treats a Canadian citizen who travels regularly to Richmond, at his own expense, to receive therapy for injuries sustained in a traumatic car crash. Immediately following the accident, in spite of suffering severe head and orthopedic injuries, he lay on a gurney for eight hours in a hospital hallway before receiving any medical intervention. He said this is accepted as the norm in Canada.

The World Health Organization ranks the United States 37th in health care among developed countries. According to an October 21st Wall Street Journal article, this “oft quoted” statistic is terribly “flawed and dated.” Look first at the factors considered in compiling the ranking,

and then consider comments by Dr. Philip Musgrove, the editor-in-chief of the WHO report that supported the findings. He said, “[There are] so many made-up numbers [resulting in] a nonsense ranking.”

Interestingly, even WHO admits the difficulty and relative randomness in ranking health-system performance. And after removing spending from the equation, the United States actually ranks 15th and has the greatest range of quality assessment of any country ranking ahead of it. Kind of makes one question WHO’s objectivity.

Though the United States unequivocally needs reform to make insurance premiums and health care more affordable, a universal system will absolutely result in unmanageable patient loads and limited access to medical procedures. It will also dramatically decrease compensation for health-care providers. It will quickly and negatively impact the quality and quantity of services and providers.

Now consider the range of health-care services – basic to extensive. Who should have access to what procedures? Who makes the decision about medical necessity? And what procedures should be covered under a government plan?

Under a universal healthcare system, the government always establishes a reimbursement fee structure.

It also decides which services are covered and which ones are cost prohibitive.

The government rations health care.

Talk about limiting access!

In late August, CNN aired a feature story highlighting such pitfalls inherent in a government-run system, citing examples from nations that have universal health care such as Canada and Great Britain. There, standard protocols for cancer treatment and other routine, but relatively expensive, procedures are limited by such considerations as the patients’ age and overall health. At some point, this selective rationing of established protocols borders on euthanasia.

Citing cost and shortage of doctors, the report also underscored the lengthy waits to procure basic non-invasive procedures such as MRIs and even longer wait times for basic operative procedures such as orthopedic surgery, services we consider routine and readily accessible in the United States.

The answer to healing our health-care system is not a government-sponsored program. We must find ways to reduce spending while continuing to incentivize the best and brightest minds to enter the medical field and while maintaining high standards of quality. According to FactsForHealthcare.com, we need to eliminate fraud and abuse, make hospitals more efficient, hold the public more accountable for its own preventative health care (i.e. diet and exercise) and implement tort reform to lower the cost of malpractice insurance thereby lowering the cost of healthcare services and insurance premiums.

And Americans are hard pressed to look to any other government-run program for a model of how to institute, fund and administer a universal health care system. Crisis already looms in the Social Security Administration and the Postal Service. Corruption, fraud and waste abound at Fannie Mae, Freddy Mac, FEMA, Medicare and the welfare program.

The government’s role is to eliminate fraud and waste, initiate more basic legislative reform and place the burden of devising ways to deliver more affordable health care on state governments, hospitals, insurance companies and private legal firms. Its role is not to provide universal health care in any shape or form.

The bottom line is, with all its imperfections, the free market system will always produce the highest quality and highest quantity of product. It will demand the most competitive prices as long as the most efficient and effective legislation is in place to encourage affordable health care for all citizens.

The Back Page Meet the Editors

The Pine Needle editors were getting a little restless up in the pub (publications office for those not in the know) and decided to place each other’s faces in what we hope are only imaginary places. These turned out to be so hilarious that we placed them in this issue to emphasize the hard work we are always putting in. Enjoy.

-- The Editors

Jack Jessee recently went to a local patriotism rally. We’ll admit, he got a little carried away.

Kyle Wittenauer is practicing to audition for the role of Ba Gua Master in the upcoming movie “Kung Fu Panda 2.”

Jason Pacious bought this new costume for playing COD and Halo and attempted to enlist in Task Force 141. His pownage of other gamers has increased dramatically.

Patrick Delaney takes out his rage on an innocent child after discovering that the dining hall has again run out of strawberry shortcake ice cream bars.

There’s not a lot to say about the Raps & Taps editors.

Let’s just leave it that Titus Matthews, Jack Scherger, Zane Seals, Ryan Van Sumeren and Rennie Merhige live in their own special world.

While the rest of the Raps & Taps crew were in the pub office Ian could not be found.

This is the only picture we recovered.