Celebrating 125 years of Seattle Preparatory High School
The Seattle Prep Panther
THE ELECTION ISSUE
Cover Art by Moses Kent ‘19 November 8, 2016
www.seapreppanther.org
Volume 72 No. 3
Twitter: @seapreppanther Instagram: @seapreppanthers
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
EDITORIAL
Opinions...
on viewing America through a critical lens
EDITOR: MIMI JURION ‘17
Panther Staff Editors-in-Chief Mimi Jurion ‘17 George Kent ‘17 Managing Editor Emma Cooney ‘18 Photo Editor Mariella Saludares ‘17 Online Editors Mikaela Frigillana ‘17 Jeffrey Pelayo ‘17 Sports Editor Paul Winebrenner ‘17 Panther Staff Maggie Kerner ‘17 Olivia Smith ‘17 Annika Bjornson ‘18 Sophie Freeman ‘18 Kellen Kavanagh ‘18 Abby Arthur ‘19 Danny Bowers ‘19 Katarina Conces ‘19 Emma Connell ‘19 Mia Griff ‘19 Owen Hendricks ‘19 Gabi Jeakle ‘19 Moses Kent ‘19 Kate Leahy ‘19 Quinn Losse ‘19 Mark McClean ‘19 Myles Nowak ‘19 Mimi Parent ‘19 Sophie Piacentini ‘19 Noah Pingul ‘19 Chloe Saharic ‘19 Lilly Thompson ‘19 Isabella Yuson ‘19 Joe Robinson ‘20 Walid Vanegas ‘20 Grace Weiand 20 Moderator Micah Richardson
Editorial Policy The Seattle Prep Panther is a student created, student-run journalism program which provides the Seattle Prep community with accurate, informative articles and media while practicing the components of a professional newspaper. The staff aims to create an informative newspaper and website which focus on issues important to our high school community.
Mission Statement The Seattle Prep Panther is a forum for student work and the editorial board makes final decisions regarding publication. The editorial board’s responsibility is not only to present one viewpoint, but to reveal multiple perspectives. The views represented in the Panther or in online publications do not necessarily represent the views of the entire staff, the school, or the administration as a whole.
American Exceptionalism: It’s Overrated
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MIMI JURION ‘17 Editor-in-Chief
ne early A Day morning while finishing up an animated discussion about the controversies from last night’s presidential debate with my AP Government and Politics class, Ms. Healy asked us the question: “How many of you believe America is the greatest country in the world?” We warily looked around at each other as half of our class raised their hands. My eyes widened in surprise as I did not agree with this statement. In my opinion, John Winthrop’s vision that America is the shining “City on a Hill” is overrated. I believe that the notion that America is the “greatest” and “superior” over other countries is a result of our culture’s tendencies to disregard our faults. A couple of us shared our opinions with the class- defending America due to its diversity and jobs, or making the argument that other countries have more money and less war. Ms. Healy showed us a clip on
“America is not the greatest country in the world” YouTube from the HBO TV show, Newsroom, where the character Will McAvoy introduces the idea that America is not the greatest country in the world, through an impressive rant which exposes the facts. McAvoy stated: “we’re 7th in literacy, 27th in math, 22nd in science, 49th in life expectancy, 178th in infant mortality, third in median household income, number four in labor force and number four in exports. We lead the world in only three categories. Number of incarcerated citizens per capita, number of adults who believe angels are real and defense spending...” Personally, I was surprised that we weren’t leading the world with our strong education system or ranked the nation with the strongest economy. As you read this, you may be thinking that I lack American pride or that my views are pessimistic- but don’t get me wrong, I believe America is also a Mecca for those seeking independence, liberty and opportunity. For example, this country has personally affected my family because my dad immigrated to Seattle, Washington from a small town in Brussels, Belgium to find a job at Microsoft in the “Land of Opportunity”. My grandparents also immigrated to the United States to escape war and poverty in the Philippines to live in a country with a thriving economy and live out their “American Dream”. These personal connections in my life are all examples of American success stories. I hope that by sharing my opinion, we can acknowledge as American citizens that it is also our duty to view our country through a critical lens.
The Importance of Another Perspective
PAUL WINEBRENNER ‘17 Sports Editor
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s some of you may already know, I am half Belgian and travel to Europe twice a year to visit my family. Of particular interest to me, are European thoughts on the American presidential race, something I had a unique opportunity to ask this summer while working abroad. What I found was that many Europeans find American politics a rather silly spectacle. Before I begin to relate the thoughts of my colleagues and friends, I should begin with an introduction to the nation of Belgium. When surveyed seven years ago in fifth grade, the main thing that most of my classmates knew about Belgium, aside from it being a country, was that the Belgians make good chocolate and waffles. This is something I can testify to, but not perhaps the most politically important fact. Belgium borders France, the Netherlands, Germany and the English Channel. It is divided into two main parts, Wallonia and Flanders, Wallonia being the French speaking part, and Flanders the Dutch speaking part. The two halves meet in Brussels, the capital where everyone is at least bilingual in French and English at the very least. That in and of its self is a very interesting phenomenon in a nation like the United States where under the name of patriotism, many of our fellow countrymen and women decline the opportunity to learn a second language. Statistically speaking, just 25% of American adults self-report being able to speak a second language. In a city of 1.1 million like Brussels, nearly everyone, down to the street sweepers and bank tellers can speak at least enough English to communicate clearly where the Royal Library is. And this trend is not just limited to Brussels, in fact, two summers ago I traveled to Switzerland and found that nearly every Swiss person I asked directions from on the street was capable of speaking German, French, English, Italian and some speak more besides. The point is not that Americans are stupid or behind, but rather that our culture
is less centered on learning about other cultures, which is most likely the reason that the average American has no particular opinion on Angela Merkel’s political stance. This is the reason that a viewpoint from an entirely different cultural and political background is important. The main question that most Europeans posed to me about the presidential race was how reality TV-like drama can dictate the presidential race, with less regard given to the actual policy that each candidate proposes, and more to the personality and words that each candidate uses in their debates or speeches. The main point they had was that the presidency of one of the most important nations of the world, should not be flaunting their racism, or self-importance or respect for women, but rather that they should be focus on how they can actually aid the country in its time of need. With so many questions in the world about how to handle ISIS and the Syrian Civil War, not to mention the refugee crisis, my colleagues and friends argued that the world looked to the American president as a figure of international power and leadership, and that such a spectacle in the early stages of the campaign, only made Europeans less likely to turn to the U.S. for leadership. Such a point of view was unexpected to me, I had supposed that most would be anti-Trump and rather supportive of Clinton, but the answer I received was not about the candidates, but rather about our system of democracy and how it is viewed abroad. When I returned, I found I had gained a new perspective on not only how American politics looks abroad, the reasons behind the international interest behind the American presidential race. In short, as a great nation, with the power to wipe out the planet, naturally the United States is an international force to be reckoned with. But by becoming absorbed in the silliness of our politics, we have forgotten that to be good leaders, we must lead by example. The question is, what example do we want to set for those that turn to the American flag as a symbol of freedom?
“We have forgotten that to be good leaders, we must lead by example”
MOSES KENT ‘19 Staff Cartoonist
THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
GJC Tackles Homelessness Crisis According to King County’s annual One Night Count, More than 4,500 people were sleeping outside in Seattle and across King County, with a sharp increase seen in South King County.
Seattle Prep Global Justice Coalition will engage the larger Prep community in actions to combat homelessness throughout the year and during Peace and Justice week in April.
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PREP LIFE EDITORS: MIKAELA FRIGILLANA ‘17
Healy Encourages Students to Engage in Thoughtful Citizenship
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KATE LEAHY ‘19 Staff Writer
his year’s presidential election has been one of the most historic and unusual ever. AP Government teacher Ms. Healy shared her knowledge on the significance of this election, and why it is important for the students of Seattle Prep to be informed about it. This is the third year AP Government is being offered for seniors at Prep, and Ms. Healy is extremely happy about the high level of interest it has gotten from students. She believes “it supports the mission of Seattle Prep, which is to create leaders and students who support justice.” On the importance of teaching political rights to younger generations, Ms. Healy said, “I think that Seattle Prep students are in a unique position to be in as they enter the world. We need the smart, thoughtful graduates of Seattle Prep to play a role in our community. Our system of democracy depends on people engaging in the process and the easiest way to do that is to vote. My hope is that students are motivated to exercise their right to vote at a minimum,
but also to exercise their skills in other ways in the community.” Additionally, this year’s presidential candidates have caused many mixed feelings and unusual events to surface in the U.S. “Whatever the outcome, it will be historic. Either it will be the first woman president or a person who has a very different political background which we have not seen in a candidate before. It is unusual to have two of the most unpopular candidates running in this year’s election and the way their campaigns have played out has been unusual as well.” As an AP Government teacher, Healy has taught students about the meaning of this year’s election, and how it is an example of a time when the younger groups should participate. She also added that when a group doesn’t vote, their issues aren’t heard. “I try to encourage civic literacy and engagement among young people in my class and in the younger generations.” Finally, through all of the differences in this year’s politics, Ms. Healy hopes that regardless of the results, people will honor the more than 200 year election
Photo:Mimi Jurion AP Government teacher Ms. Healy guides her students through a discussion of the historical Presidential Politics. tradition, allowing a peaceful transition of skills developed during high school to the power for a stable democracy. fullest extent and recognize their ability to It is important for students of the play a role in the government through the Prep community to use their leadership elections.
Peace and Justice Week Centers on Homelessness EMMA COONEY ‘19 Managing Editor
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s Seattle Prep celebrates its 125th anniversary, the pivotal Catholic document, Rerum Novarum, also turns 125. Some students may be acquainted with this document, its name being the Latin for “On Human Work,” which defined Catholic Social Teachings. As Christian Service Director, Mrs. Ford, puts it, these teachings are the “Things behind the things” here at Prep, especially Global Justice Coalition (GJC) and Prep’s Peace and Justice Week in the spring.
To celebrate both these anniversaries and to address the declared state of emergency in Seattle, GJC has turned its benevolent gaze to the issue of homelessness. To some people, this may seem redundant. With so much exposure to the issue built in to Prep theology, what more could students possibly do? As it turns out, a lot. That’s where GJC comes in. Besides deciding on the issue of focus each year, GJC initiates conversations with people directly involved with the issue (this year with Catholic Housing Services and shelters), researches different proposed solutions, and presents its findings to the Prep community. That is as far as GJC can get on
its own. The real difference is made during Peace and Justice Week. Once GJC gives students the tools they need to make change, discussions can be held about next steps. These could include letters to council members, conversations about what initiatives to vote for on Washington State ballots, direct involvement in service, and more. To connect Prep with the Peace and Justice theme, Earth Day is going to work a little differently this year. Students have helped the surrounding parks so much in the past few years that the school’s efforts can be directed towards other issues. Instead of the entire school doing traditional envi-
ronmental work on Earth Day, half of the student body will be helping the homeless throughout Seattle at various shelters and Catholic Housing Services. For many Prep students, Peace and Justice Week may just be one more assembly to attend. To Global Justice Coalition, it is a chance to educate the school about a need and an opportunity for change. As GJC co-president Maddie Kopf-Patterson says, “People walk or drive past homelessness in Seattle every day. Peace and Justice Week brings issues to the forefront that are always there in the background.”
Fitterer Leaving Office
Students Say Goodbye to Fr. Paul after 38 Years
Photo:Tessa Winkelhake Father Fitterer receiving a gift during his 50th Anniversary Jubilee in 2014. Fitterer announced that the 2016-17 school year will be his last at Prep. ith the departure of one national MIKAELA FRIGILLANA ‘17 leader comes the stepping down of another, Prep’s very own Online Editor Fr. Paul Fitterer. The student body bids farewell to the beloved priest, remember-
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ing the enormous impact he has left on the school after 38 years of service, ministry and friendship. Throughout his time at Prep, Fr. Fitterer has led hundreds of school masses and participated in numerous retreats, including the Young Men’s Retreat, Kairos and Senior Pilgrimage. At these gatherings, he has seen the community come together while also getting to know and connect with individual students on a more personal level. MF: What will you miss most about Prep? PF: The smiles and friendliness of people... students and faculty. A faithful Jesuit for over 60 years, Fr. Fitterer shared what makes the life of priesthood so meaningful and beautiful. MF: What is your favorite thing about being a priest? PF: I’m able to move in people’s lives in a dimension that most people can’t - where they really live. Being a part of weddings, funerals, retreats, etc. and engaging and walking with people in that deeper part of themselves is a gift. Recently, Fr. Fitterer has visited several classes, namely theology and psychology, working closely with students on dreams and discussing their significance.
MF: Is it true that you interpret dreams? PF: Dreams are your best friends if you pay attention to them. I believe that they always have something to teach you. Senior Marnel Ramirez is one student currently meeting with Fr. Fitterer to talk about dreams. He says, “Fr. Fitterer facilitates and asks a lot of questions. I was challenged to pick up on things I didn’t remember, and recognize any symbols my dreams might be communicating. He’s really accepting - the way he talks is soothing and calming - and he knows how to slow down and take it easy.” MF: Any final words to the Prep community? PF: In this school year of 2016-17 we have a faculty, staff and administration and a student body that is without equal. You have been and you will continue to be an inspiration to me. Though Fr. Fitterer assures he will come back to visit, this 2016-2017 school year is the last time the Prep community will pass him as a regular face in the hallways greeting everyone with his loving presence and gentle smile. MF: What are your plans after Prep? PF: No plans. I simply hope to bring good closure to my time here and be open to where the spirit leads me.
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
PREP LIFE EDITOR: MAGGIE KERNER ‘17
The Class of 2020 is with Her
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JEFFREY PELAYO ‘17 Online Editor
t’s election season and it seems that the only students voting are those from the Class of 2020. In the beginning of October, freshmen students gathered in the Healy Theater to determine which candidates would represent them in ASB. Though each speech was promising, Julia Oles ‘20, Liv McAuslan ‘20 and Kate Shigo ‘20 were chosen by their peers to represent them in ASB office. Talk about female representation! Julia Oles ‘20 received the most votes, giving her the position of Freshmen Class President. Her speech consisted of references to High School Musical in an effort to deliver her overall message that she would try her best to make freshmen year live up to their expectations. Oles claims that she has great ideas that she would like to contribute to the student body,
Sophomores Weigh in on Presidential Election In a survey of 10th grade students, 56% of sophomores say they are following politics closely during this election season. In the
same survey, 63% of sophomores surveyed would choose Clinton over Trump or other candidates.
such as Collegio competitions and an April Fool’s pranking contest. Oles said “I think it’s important to be the voice of freshmen and get their input during ASB discussions. I thought it would be nice to represent my class because I like to be a leader. I want to be remembered as that freshman who didn’t just do it for a college apps because I like to do things for change.” McAuslin ‘20 also received a position on the team as freshman executive. McAuslin’s explained her leadership skills through a story about overcoming her fear of mountain goats and ability to never crack under pressure. Like Oles, McAuslin has many ideas that she believes would improve school spirit such as a Halloween haunted house. McAuslin said “I really wanted to become more involved and be able to get to know everyone. I also want to somehow make the freshman class cooler than other classes, which I know might be a chal-
Photo: Jeffrey Pelayo Kate Shigo, Julia Oles and Liv McAuslin are the new freshmen ASB officers. Each hope to bring enthusiasm and new ideas to their position. she suggests can be accomplished through lenge.” Kate Shigo ‘20 was also elected spontaneous spirit days. “I wanted to run for the position of freshman executive through a spot on ASB because I was class president her stories of past experiences that high- at my school last year and I enjoyed being lighted her leadership qualities. Unlike the a leadership figure among my peers,” said other candidates, Shigo took a more serious Shigo. All three female officers have a approach with her speech to illustrate her uniqueness and ability to be concise. Dur- lot to offer to the ASB table this year. Oles, ing Shigo’s term, she hopes to initiate more McAuslan, and Shigo clearly show that they intervals of “fun” days every week which are prepared for the work load that ASB provides.
and media which encompasses students daily lives. Education, religious beliefs, economic status, race and ethnicity also may influence children’s political views. Ms. Healy’s AP Government and Politics class stresses the importance of civics education because when citizens are knowledgable about politics, they have the ability to form political ideologies and a succinct political opinion and stance on issues. Senior, Natalie Pedersen ‘17 shared “I definitely get my conservative views from my sister- not so-
cial beliefs, but I believe big businesses are the primary way to support the economy. It’s tough to admit it, but it’s true.” Pedersen does not support the Republican candidate as she believes he is an unfit for presidency, yet she considers herself a supporter of the Republican party. The 2016 election uniquely differs from previous elections due to its controversial presidential candidates, therefore it is predicted that there will be more independent voters and swing states due to the lack of support people’s usual political party. This contro-
“I also want to somehow make the freshman class cooler than other classes” -Liv McAuslin
Students Influenced by Parents’ Political Ideologies
MIMI JURION ‘17 Editor-in-Chief
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hen a child turns 18 and becomes an adult, an abundance of responsibility comes with it, including a formation of their own political views and opinions. According to a recent Gallup Youth Survey, 71% of young adults say their social and political ideology is the same as their parents, which infers that kids are often influenced by their parent’s views. This may be because parents are more likely to voice their opinions at home which influences children to form similar beliefs. Political stances stem from a variety of influences, particularly from family
“71% of young adults say their social and political ideology is the same as their parents”
Student Voters Prepare to Cast Ballots in First Election
unusualness of this election had a very difMAGGIE KERNER ‘17 ferent effect on voters. Annabelle Grimm Staff Writer ‘17 will be voting in this year’s election. ost can agree that this year’s elec- When asked about her decision she said tion has been one of the strangest “Last year I was hesitant to vote, because presidential elections in U.S. his- I do not follow politics particularly closely, tory, but that will not stop most Seattle Prep but once the primaries were over, I decided seniors from casting their vote on election that it was more important for me to vote in day. this election than in any other”. There have been numerous scan- Mary Pat Lee is another senior that dals that have shocked the American peois excited to vote this year. ple and left many with “I have been watching the the troubling question “I decided that it debate and following the of whether or not either election very closely.” Lee was more candidate is fit to serve has made the decision to not as the nation’s next presi- important for me to only vote in this years elecdent. With this thought tion, but to make sure that in mind, many students vote in this election she is well informed before have decided that the than in any other” she makes her decision. best thing to do is to sim In both the Prep comply refrain from voting. -Annabelle Grimm munity and in the country At Seattle Prep, a number ‘17 as a whole this election has of seniors are able to vote turned out a significantly in this year’s election. larger number of voters than the election While most have made the decision to vote, of 2012. In 2012 57.5% of Americans that a few seniors decided not to participate in were eligible to vote voted, and this year that the election. number has increased to 66.8%. This elec Sean Linke ’17, stated that he tion has caused some people to joke about doesn’t like either candidate and cannot de- moving to Canada or refuse to participate in cide who to vote for because he thinks that the election, but in most cases this election both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are has inspired people to vote so that an unfit unfit for presidency. candidate is not elected to be the leader of However, in many other cases, the our nation.
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versial election is like a loose cannon- no one can control its eventual outcome. In contrast, some students oppose their parent’s political views on large issues due to several factors such as age and upbringing. Bella Oishi ‘17 said “I have different views than my parents on both gun laws and abortion, which is probably because my parents are older and didn’t grow up in a liberal state like Seattle.” Oishi’s political views do not align with her parents’ because of her own formation of political opinions. Children are exposed and made aware of their parent’s political stances and party affiliations by simply being around them, but it doesn’t mean that they fully agree with them.
ASB Members Opine on the Election SOPHIE FREEMAN ‘18 Staff Writer
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et ready because the 2016 Presidential Election is today! After what seems like a never ending campaign, it is finally time to choose between Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton. The Panther was lucky enough to interview ASB class presidents, Julia Oles '20, Carson Stockwell '19, Al Bernal '17, ASB executive Jack Killalea '17, as well as our student body president, Nate Weiand '17. Each ASB class president or executive was asked about the presidential candidates and what their thoughts were about the election. Much of the campaign has focused on Donald Trump's comments about women. When asked about this controversy, Sophomore class president Carson Stockwell said, "I think his comments are unfair and it's not right to be disrespecting women in any way." Julia Oles '20 responded to this question by saying, "I think people are overreacting to Trump's comments. He's been saying disrespectful things about women for years but people have decided to react now." Hillary Clinton has also received criticism throughout the campaign. The removal of emails from a private account has caught the country's attention. This is a complicated scandal and many would like to know if she has been honest about her email use. Carson Stockwell '19 said,
"I'd like to believe she's been honest but since it's come up over and over again, at this point I'm not really sure." Nate Weiand's '17 thoughts on this issue were slightly different. He said, "It's just something that we've heard of and something that no one really knows anything about." Senior ASB executive Jack Killalea noted there has been a decrease in younger voters and in response said, "If you don't want to vote then you won't but it is our responsibility to vote and participate in our democracy. Maybe if younger voters understand how much the government does for them, they will be more open to vote." The president's most important job is the ability to solve the country's biggest problem such as gun violence or the decrease in national debt. When asked what issues are most important when thinking about our next president, Al Bernal '17 said, "I don't want to say anything super controversial about my family's views but I think my family is especially concerned about gun laws or issues with abortions." This has been an unusual election with issues taking backseat to personality and civility falling victim to bad behavior and half-truths. This kind of behavior may contribute to the decrease in the number of younger voters as well as the overall debate about which candidate will best serve the country. The election, as Jack Killalea '17 stated, "The straw that broke the camel's back."
THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
Panther ASB Weighs in on Candidates Emma Connell ‘19 interviewed ASB Check out more from the interview class representatives and presidents on www.seapreppanther.org about their Presidential picks and the 2016 election.
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ELECTIONS EDITORS: SOPHIE FREEMAN ‘18 & EMMA CONNELL ‘19
Remembering President Obama: Reflecting Back on His Two Terms in Office CHLOE SAHARIC ‘19 Staff Writer
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ver the last eight years President Barack Obama has made a major impact on America during his presidency. Nearing the end of his term, some Seattle Prep students reflect on his time in office. Helen Sauvage, from the class of 2019, says that her favorite thing President Obama has done in past years is “making gay rights [a priority] because he cares about the people and wants to give them all the rights they deserve.”
Aileen Sarmiento-Velasco from the class of 2020 says her favorite thing about President Obama is how he does simple things for the community such as “when he reads books to the small children on Easter because it shows that he cares about the people and you will not see Donald Trump doing that anytime soon.” Another decision President Obama made is the decision to create “affordable Obamacare because it shows he cares about the people that can’t afford,” says Sophomore Jacob Le. However, Le disagrees with Sauvage’s opinion that President Obama did not
Students Debate Trump vs. Hillary ABBY ARTHUR ‘19 & QUINN LOSSE ‘19 Staff Writers
make any bad decisions during his presidency because he thinks he should have closed down “Guantanamo because it does not have a good image on our country.” Sarmiento-Velasco agrees with Le’s views on Guantanamo, but also does not like how President Obama “bombed the cities in Iraq.” Instead, she believes he should have “gone to the cities and evacuated some of the innocent people who did not deserve to die in the attack.” Despite some difference of opinion, Sauvage, Sarmiento-Velasco, and Le all agree that 100 years from now President Obama is going to be most remembered for
being the first black president. SarmientoVelasco believes this to be true because “it is a historical moment where a strong person of color was able to be a very important leader of our country.” As the election for president is approaching fast, many people will miss President Obama’s great leadership during his two terms in office. Over the next four years, the United States will get a new perspective from a different president but many will remember the positive impact President Barack Obama has left on the nation.
Mystery Quote: Students Respond to Candidate Statements MIMI PARENT ‘19 Staff Writer
To see if supporters will agree with anything their candidate says, The Panther asked students to read a quote said by the other candidate thinking their candidate said it.
Photo: Quinn Losse Liam McNett and Max Heid ‘19 hold differing opinions on who should vote. Whoever the next president is, the nation will have to make the best of their strengths while they remain in office. s the presidential election comes to experience has “given her a close view of a close, two sophomores, Liam Mc- what a president will look like” and that she Nett and Max Heid, discussed the would make a great president. controversies and qualifications of the can- Heid lives in a family where all of didate they support. McNett is a strong Hill- his close relatives are strong Donald Trump ary Clinton supporter, while Heid is more in supporters and love what Trump is trying to favor of Donald Trump. do for our country. Heid is not as extreme McNett is a supporter of Hillary in his confidence of Trump as his parents because of how knowledgable she is and are, however he agrees with his financial because of her constant involvement in poli- policies and ideas that will help America get tics. He believes that because she has spent back on its feet and out of debt. her 30 years in public service fighting for Heid didn’t hesitate in saying that children through the Children’s Defense he disagrees with Trump’s social aspects, Fund, creating health care so when talking about the of 8 million children, and locker room talk, he said it serving as the United States “probably shouldn’t have Secretary of State, she is the been said and was uncalled perfect candidate. McNett for” as he believes that stated that he thinks “she is Trump “doesn’t really have the most experienced presia filter.” On Hillary’s part, dential candidate that the Heid said that she is not country has ever seen.” taking full responsibility Questionable and for her actions regarding controversial topics were the emails. then discussed. Regard When asked why he being the locker room talk lieves Trump is qualified, on Trump’s part, McNett thinks that it was Heid said, “I don’t know if he is fully qualisomething nobody should ever have to hear: fied to be president.” Heid said this because “It is sexist, immoral, and wrong. It is noth- Donald Trump is not a politician, but a busiing that any person, let alone the possible nessman and he thinks that that is exactly President of the United States, should be what our country is in need of right now. saying.” Both McNett and Heid urge eligi On the defensive side, McNett ble students to vote. McNett said that others talked about Hillary’s emails and how she should vote for Hillary because she is gotook responsibility for what she did. McNett ing to fight for others and give them a voice said that realized it was a mistake and was as she has spent her whole adult life doing willing to own up to that. so, while Heid said that people should vote McNett thinks that Clinton is for Donald Trump because of his ideas on qualified because of her years of public illegal immigration and taxes. Their insights service, being the first lady, the Senator of are something that should be taken into acNew York, and much more. He believes this count when deciding who to vote for.
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“I don’t know if he’s fully qualified to be president” - Max Heid
Max Heid What policies or traits do you like about Donald Trump? To start off, I disagree with a lot of his social views. When I say I like Donald Trump a lot of people will say, “you hate women”. But I disagree with those things he has said about women, etc. I agree with his political views. I really like a lot of his ideas on tax reforms and some of his ideas on illegal immigration. Hilary Clinton Quote: (Heid thinks Donald Trump said it) “We can deploy a half a billion more solar panels. We can have enough clean energy to power every home. We can build a new modern electric grid. That’s a lot of jobs; that’s a lot of new economic activity.” What is your response to this quote? I think clean energy is a tough issue because it helps a lot but we don’t really have the money for it right now because solar panels cost so much. I guess it could help us but I don’t know if this is the correct few years for it to start happening. I think we have bigger things to focus on. Hillary Clinton actually said this. How does that change your views on Hilary Clinton? I also agree with a lot of Hilary’s social reform. Who ever said, it I still believe that it is not the year to mainly focus on that and there are more prominent crises. Isabella Ledesma What policies or traits do you like about Hilary Clinton? I like that Hilary Clinton doesn’t interrupt and say things like ‘wrong’. She’s more professional and business like. She is not rude or unprofessional in her speeches. She doesn’t yell as much. I also like her policies on abortion and women. She stands up for the rights of women. Donald Trump Quote (Ledesma thinks Hillary Clinton said this): “Every child in America deserves a great education and an opportunity to achieve their dreams. We will enhance education options for students through school choice and charters, and respect homeschoolers in their quest for educational alternatives. We will also make it easier for families to afford college so students aren’t buried in debt.” What is your response to this quote? I think everyone has the right to choose education and if someone doesn’t want to go to school and go to homeschool that’s totally fine. I don’t think the government has the right to tell you you have to go to school. That’s not really respectful Donald Trump actually said this. How does that change your views on Donald Trump? I wouldn’t change what I said. However, coming from Donald Trump, I don’t think I would trust it. Alex Blattner What policies or traits do you like about Donald Trump? I love his policies about immigration. The fact that he wants to have a closed border and enforce harder border control laws and ultimately reduced the amount of illegal immigrants in our country by building some sort of wall is something I love. Hillary Clinton Quote: (Alex thinks Donald Trump said it) “I believe the more we can do for the middle class, the more we can invest in you, your education, your skills, your future, the better we will be off and the better we’ll grow. That’s the kind of economy I want us to see again.” What is your response to this quote? This quote makes me like him more, for sure. I think that he really wants to get things done. Hilary Clinton actually said this. How does that change your views on Hilary Clinton? Oh, she did! Okay. I don’t hate Hilary Clinton at all. I think that’s a great idea. I just think it’s sort of unrealistic and require a lot of spending. But if she could get it done, then I would support her a lot more.
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
CLINTON
Popular Support at Prep S eattle is a democratic state, and Seattle Prep a democratic school. Many Seattleites supported Bernie Sanders in the primaries - an idea unrealistically optimistic to people in many parts of the country. But with Hillary Clinton as the official Democratic nominee for President, Seattleites and Prep students have rallied in her support for the 2016 presidential race. “She’s a really qualified politician” Cameron Tindall ’20 exclaimed. Tindall is a big Hillary supporter. Citing Clinton’s recent position as Secretary of State, he believes that she has the experience to lead our country toward equality. “She was the Secretary of State and she’s much more qualified than Trump. Also, she’s the democratic candidate and supports equality.” When asked about what he valued most in this election, Tindall answered “I’d say equality and justice for people of different
races.” Gabe Berger ‘17 is a serious Clinton supporter. He believes that she is “extraordinarily qualified” to become the next president. He explained that Clinton is smart, understands the problems that she being faced with, and knows how complex those problems are. Hillary has been surrounded by controversy regarding her use of a private email server to send government information. An FBI investigation is still open on her, though many have questioned its relevancy. To Tindall, the email scandal surrounding Clinton was something to look into, but ultimately irrelevant. “I do know a little bit about the emails, what is it, 20,000 emails? That’s a lot, so I think there is a big deal there, but there really isn’t evidence that she put our country in danger” said Tindall.
ocial media has an obvious effect on presidential election. When asked about the influence of the media on the election, Berger said that he does not distrust the media. “That idea has circulated a lot in this election cycle, but it’s not one that I claim to, in part because of my background. My mother worked as a journalist for about a decade so I’ve been raised to have appreciation for what good journalists can do.” He also made a comment about how an opinion is different from being biased because an opinion is supported by facts, unlike biases which “color the information you try to rely on.” Coverage of Clinton has been mixed. Whether biased or not, the news has been both brutal and supportive of her. Debate over the email scandals has been ongoing, and discussion about her dealings in Benghazi and her marriage to Bill Clinton have been both positive and negative. Online polls about the debates saw her as the loser, but later published scientific ones have put her ahead. Her dealings with wall-street have been both criticized and dismissed. And of course the Fox, CNN divide affects her as well, CNN often singing her praises, while FOX highlights
her downsides. Social media has affected Clinton as well. Whether being supported or criticized, Clinton and Trump have been some
The Liberal Media S
Cameron Tindall ‘20 hopes Clinton can lead the country towards equality and justice for everyone.
of the most talked about presidential candidates ever. The fact that everyone now holds a screen in their pocket being a major factor.
School Poll:
The Panther sent out a poll through email for students to vote to support their candidate of choice. 273 students participated. These are the results:
1: Hillary Clinton (61%) 2: Donald Trump (20%) 3: Gary Johnson (3%) 4: Jill Stein (2%) 29 students said they would abstain from voting (11%) 9 students would vote for a candidate not mentioned (3%)
Note: this poll was non-scientific. Voting was voluntary, and thus results may be skewed. The opinions described in this paper were not based on these results.
Democrats against Trump A
Gabriel Berger ‘17 thinks Trump is unqualified to be president due to lack of experience or compassion.
large part of support of Hillary has been based in dislike of Donald Trump. Trump is so disliked, he has even driven Republican officials into voting for Hillary. This trend is not absent from Seattle Prep. However, fewer Hillary supporters at Prep saw Hillary as a bad choice in the first place, and would have been voting for her regardless of the Republican candidate. Berger feels none of the reservations that other Democrats have about Hillary. On the other hand, from the lack of thoughtfulness and compassion to not having the disposition or experience needed, he believes that Donald Trump is unfit for presidency. He stated that he does not “get the impression that he’s spent more than thirty seconds thinking about any of his positions and that really bothers me because the President of the United States has to deal with complexities.”
He also mentioned that his demonization of immigrants, refugees, the poor, women, and people who do not look like him is indefensible. Tindall agreed: “We probably shouldn’t be calling Mexican people ‘bad hombres’ as Trump did. I think that generally, it’s important to have justice for black people because there is a lot of oppression and shootings of black people.” Tindall feels this also relates to women. “Like with women, that’s a big deal right now because Donald Trump is really disrespectful towards women right now.” Tindall also feels that Clinton being a woman further qualifies her for presidency as we have never had a female president before and, especially with Trump’s comments towards women, “I think it’s important that we have a woman president.”
THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
VS.
TRUMP
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Photo Credit for Trump and Hillary photos: Gage Skidmore, used with permission
Her Policies
His Policies
Guns: -Fight for common sense reforms -Keep guns out of the wrong hands and include comprehensive background checks
Guns: -Unwavering support of the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms -Prosecuting criminals, gang members, drug dealers -Empower law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves -Expand mental health programs to keep violent mentally ill from harming others
Foreign Policy: -Maintaining a cutting-edge military -Strengthening alliances and being wise with rivals -Creating new partners -Defeating ISIS, enforcing Iran nuclear deal
Foreign Policy: -Destroying radical Islamic terrorist groups -Terminate nuclear deal with Iran and ransom payments -Stop apologizing to enemies
Education: -Every child gets high-quality education -Right balance on testing, with less tests for elementary and secondary school kids -Support teachers with proper training/resources
Education: -Enhance options for students with school choice and charters -Respect home-schoolers and their choice of an alternative form of school -Make college more affordable
Health Care: -Defend Affordable Care Act, reduce costs -Crack down on drug companies charging too much -Provide new credit for those dealing with high health expenses
Health Care: -Repeal Obamacare -Give better access to high quality and affordable health care -Patient-centered health care system so patients and doctors are primary decision-makers -Sale of health insurance across state lines
National Security: -Dismantle global terror networks -Strengthen defenses at home -Launch intelligence surge -Keeps guns away from suspected terrorists
National Security: -Rebuild our military and reform our intelligence agencies -Prepare government for security challenges of cyberspace
Taxes: -Close corporate tax loopholes -Make sure wealthy can’t pay lower rates than middle-class -Tax relief to working families
Taxes: -Business rate cut by 15% -Individual rates cut to three brackets of 12, 25, and 33 percent -Above-the-line deduction for childcare costs
Environment: -Climate change is real -No drilling in the Arctic -No more tax giveaways to big oil/ gas companies -Great investments in clean energy
Environment: -Prioritize water infrastructure -End Obama EPA mandates that cost too many jobs and don’t have positive impact on environment
I
Trump Supporters Hate Trump
t was difficult to get an interview with Trump supporters at Prep. There are only a handful of actual supporters in the whole school, and even then, some didn’t want to be interviewed. Those who did, however, were extremely articulate and well informed. Perhaps in an environment where such a majority supports the other party, that’s a necessity. Sam Hickey ‘17 supports Trump, “but honestly, if it was anyone else he was running against, it would be a wrap. Like I’d vote for the person that he’s running against. . . I think that any other candidate would be beating Hillary.” This view seems to be a popular one from both sides. Both candidates are bad, but that one is worse. Jules Hancock ‘18 had a similar sentiment: “I don’t like Trump. I might even go as far as to say that I hate Trump. . . I would pick Trump, but with a lot of tears.” Hancock cited an interesting metaphor: “it’s like choosing between two surgeons. One surgeon has
done a lot of surgery but has killed everyone she’s done surgery on. The other surgeon has watched a lot of General Hospital.” Hancock believes that both candidates are bad, but Hillary dangerously so: “People have actually died because of the email scandal. People died and she keeps saying ‘that is so long ago, why do you care anymore?’ Well, because people are still dying because of her mistake. . . [Trump] is not as bad as Hillary, he hasn’t killed anyone, at least yet.” Isabella Bowman ‘17 is not a Trump supporter, although everyone seems to think she is. Her parents are voting for Trump, but, like Hickey, it’s not because they particularly like him. “They just can’t vote for Hillary, it’s just one of those things,” Bowman said, “they just hate Hillary so much that they would just vote for Trump based on that… they just think she lies all the time.”
Julia Hancock ‘18 may not support Trump, but she is opposed to many of Clinton’s ideas.
Reasons for Support
H
ancock feels that despite Trump’s failings, he’ll be able to compromise with a Republican house: “He’s an idiot. But I feel like he’s an idiot who would want to compromise with the Republicans. . . and also there’s the Supreme Court judge who needs to be nominated and that’s a big thing that’s going on right now.” Hickey had a similar sentiment: “The Republicans wouldn’t want to deal with Hillary Clinton. . . Because you have the house that’s Republican and Trump, I think there would be a lot more willingness to work together.” Hickey also mentioned the Supreme Court Justices resting upon this election: “those people are in there for life so that is a huge, huge, huge thing for this election.” Hickey feels that the election is more important than the person involved. It decides the future of the country. Bowman also talked about this election’s far reaching nature, discussing the republicans that have disavowed Trump: “I
thought it was kind of bad. Like, dude, it’s your own party. You have some obligation to back him. You don’t have to say ‘I love Trump,’ but you can say ‘I support his views on gun control.’ . . . It looks so bad for the party. . . If you focus on the person, no one will support him, but if you look at the policy, you’ll find some common ground.” Trump’s immigration policy is a big draw for his supporters, but the wall is not the biggest issue. “The wall thing is dumb, but we are having problems,” said Hancock, “I don’t think that we shouldn’t let Muslims into the country, but I do think the screening process should be a little bit better because I was once told by someone that one percent of people are going to be terrorists. You know, if I had a one in a hundred chance of dying a day, I would not leave my house. If there’s thousands of people entering the country, that’s going to be hundreds of people. . . I don’t think we should just say ‘you can’t come in.’ If they’re looking for
“He’s an idiot. But I feel like he’s an idiot who would want to compromise with the Republicans.”
a better life here and they want to contribute to our country, then by all means, welcome.” Hickey believes that Trump will actually affect things more than Hillary: “Hillary will be kind of like four more years of Obama. Trump has the potential to do some really good things. To make change, hopefully for the better.” And immigration is a big point to Hickey as well: “he says that we won’t let in any Syrian refugees until we’ve taken care of our veterans on the streets, and I think that’s just a perfect idea. I think we really need to help our vets. But he’s running against Hillary Clinton, which is by far the biggest reason I’d vote for him.” Each Trump supporter interviewed said they would have preferred a different Republican candidate. “I was and still am a huge supporter of Rand Paul,” said Hickey, “I think his policies are by far the best for America.” Hancock was a Cruz supporter: “I actually went to the primaries with my dad in an attempt to get Ted Cruz to be our nominee.”
Republican in Seattle B
Sam Hickey ‘17 says Republican ideas are generally not accepted in the mostly-Democratic city of Seattle.
owman feels that any Republican ideas get shut down in Seattle: “It’s gotten to the point where I’m just like ‘Okay, I’m not going to say anything,’ “ when divisive issues come up. “I feel like I have to be super liberal or else no one will listen to what I’m saying.” Hickey felt the same way: “I feel when someone hears you’re voting for Trump, it’s automatically just like ‘Oh, you’re that person.’ Like you’re racist, you hate women. They’re not really willing to listen to my reasons why.” He feels like Republican ideas get shut down too quickly in Seattle: “If people were more willing to listen to the reasons I have, or that other Republicans in Seattle have, there would actually be a lot more Republicans in Seattle.” “It’s not made fun of,” said Hickey, “you more just get a negative reaction. . . It
kind of is dismissive. It’s like ‘we already know everything we need to know about you.’ “ Trump supporters are an extreme minority in Seattle, but with such a dismissive environment, those that do still support him hold strong to their beliefs.
ANNIKA BJORNSON ‘18 Staff Writer GEORGE KENT ‘17 Editor-in-Chief JOE ROBINSON ‘20 Staff Writer ISABELLA YUSON ‘19 Staff Writer
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
ELECTIONS EDITOR: SOPHIE PIACENTINI ‘19
Clinton Finds Little Support from Millenials
According to a CBS News/New York Times poll released on September 15, Hillary Clinton’s support among millenials stands at 48% .
Who Said It?
NOAH PINGUL Staff Writer
“A 1. government 2. 3. “The only way big enough to give youyou everything youyou want, everything that we deal with is strong enough to take want, is strong enough to Syria is to join hands everything you have. ” ” take everything you have. with Russia,” Gary Johnson Gary Johnson or or Donald Trump Thomas Jefferson
6.
“I think the big problem this country has “I thinkpolitically the big problem is being correct.” this country has is being Donald Trump politically or correct.” Donald Trump Gary Johnson
or Gary Johnson
“I think bigthe prob“My overall goal is tothe level playing field for lem this country has is businesses. being politically correct.” american ” Donald Trump Hillary Clinton or or Gary Johnson Bernie Sanders
Among the same voters, Republican nominee Donald Trump trails at 29% support, and 21% of respondents said they would support another candidate or stay at home.
4. “If “IfI want I wanttoto knock a story off the front page, I just change my hairstyle.” 4.
Hillary Clinton Clinton Hilary or or Kim Kardashian Kim
“My “My next-door next-door neighbor’s two dogs have created more shovelready jobs than this current administration.”
5.
Richard Nixon or Gary Johnson Donald Trump “I
“I believethat that believe there should be no there should be no restrictions on firearms. restrictions on” firearms. None.
None. ” Gary Johnson or Gary Johnson Wayne Lapesbierre or (Director Lapesof NSA) Wayne
1. Gary Johnson 2.Thomas Jefferson 3. Donald Trump 4.Hillary Clinton 5. Gary Johnson 6. Gary Johnson 7. Hillary Clinton
Top 5 Presidential Scandals of All Time
SOPHIE PIACENTINI ‘19
Staff Writer
4
Although the 2016 Presidential Election has been riddled by accusations, scandal, and embarrassing moments for all candidates, it is unlikely to be remembered among the largest Presidential blunders in U.S. History.
The Iran-Contra Scandal
Grover Cleveland’s Affair
During Ronald Reagan's presidency individuals in his administration were involved in the Iran-Contra Scandal. Money that had been given to the U.S. for selling arms to Iran was secretly given to revolutionaries Contras in Nicaragua. The hope was that by selling the weapons to Iran, terrorists would be more willing to give up hostages People were outraged and many people in Reagan’s administration lost their jobs.
5
During Grover Cleveland's 1884 presidential election it was revealed that he had an affair with a young widow named Maria C. Halpin. She later gave birth to a son who Halpin named Oscar Folsom Cleveland. Cleveland paid child support for the child to be put in an orphanage believing Halpin was not fit to raise the child. After this information was released to the public it created quite the uproar. However, Cleveland was honest with the public and managed to win the election.
The Teapot Dome Scandal
Warren Harding’s “Teapot Dome” was a major scandal during his 19211923 presidency. Albert Fall, Secretary of the Interior was found to be selling the right to oil reserves in the Teapot Dome in Wyoming and other locations for personal profit. Hall was convicted and sentenced to prison time. Warren Harding took the blame for the scandal. Harding died in office.
Watergate
3
In 1972, five men were caught breaking into the Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate business complex. Richard Nixon and his advisors were responsible for the break-in. Nixon and his advisors worked to cover up crimes. The scandal was exposed by the Washington Post by journalists, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein. Nixon resigned before he could be impeached in August of 1974. Several of his advisors served in prison for their part in the break-in and cover up.
1
The Monica Lewinsky Affair
2
The most famous presidential scandal of all time goes to Bill Clin-
ton’s presidency. During Clinton’s second term a sex scandal arose. Clinton was accused of having sexual relations with a 22-year old White House intern, Monica Lewinsky. Clinton and Lewinsky both denied any "improper relationship.” Clinton went on national television and stated that he did not have sexual relations with Lewinsky. A full investigation was held and there was overwhelming evidence that the relationship had happened. Clinton was held in contempt of the court for giving a misleading testimony. The House of Representatives eventually impeached Clinton for obstruction of justice in December 1998. Clinton served his full term, after his impeachment.
Richard Nixon Photo: Public Domain Ronald Reagan Photo: Office of the President of the United States Grover Cleveland Photo: The Library of Congress All photos licensed under Creative Commons
Clinton’s Millenial Problem
LILLY THOMPSON ‘19 Staff Writer
As the 2016 election comes to a close, Hillary Clinton is having trouble exciting millenials, a group that has proven they aren't willing to accept just anyone to be their president. Although the final stages of the election have arrived, the race to the democratic nomination is where many millenial voters found their views echoed by Vermont senator Bernie Sanders. Sanders is an unlikely spokesman for millenials, a seventy-five year old white man from Brooklyn, New York, yet the fact that Sanders seemed to genuinely feel passionate about issues about tuition and campaign reform resonated with young voters who shared the same concerns. Despite efforts from Hillary’s campaign to connect with the younger generation- including social media like Snapchat and Instagram- her popularity pales in comparison to both Sanders and Obama, who had the largest young voter turnout
in recent elections, and whose message of change and hope ignited their hearts. Voters 18- 35 aren't a demographic to be ignored; Clinton’s campaign has recently estimated that they could account for 25% of the vote in November. In order to woo 70 million millenials (of whom only 50% or less will vote) Hillary Clinton must show them her authenticity and passion. Thus far in the 2016 election, Clinton has taken a pragmatic stance, often perceived by voters as the candidate closer to the establishment. Among millenials, many concerns about her connection to Wall Street and private email server have them reluctant to fully support the Democratic candidate. However, Clinton has one thing working in her favor: she shares a common enemy in Donald Trump. Widely detested by young voters across most states for his offensive comments and hypocrisy, Trump is an unthinkable option for most voters 18-35 to turn to. So, whether they choose to show up to vote and choose Clinton as the next president, or choose to not show up at all,
Photo: Gage Skidmore, used with permission Hillary Clinton at a rally in Arizona. As she comes to the final days of her race for the presidency, Clinton is finding it hard to gain support by the younger generation. millennials will have left their mark on the future direction of the country and have sent a message to future politicians look-
ing to garner support from young voters: authenticity, diversity and passion are what they look for in a candidate.
THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
Viewers Tune in to Debates in Record Numbers An estimated 84 million people ever.
watched Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in their first debate on Monday September 26, 2016, according to TV ratings data from Nielsen, making it the most-watched debate
These figures top the ratings for the 1980 debate between Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan, when just under 81 million people tuned in.
9
ELECTIONS
EDITORS: MIA GRIFF ‘19, QUINN LOSSE ‘19, KATE LEAHY ‘19
Saturday Night Live Finds Humor in Presidential Politics
S
GABI JEAKLE ‘19 Staff Writer
ince its conception, Saturday Night Live has been known for its satirical jabs at the state of contemporary politics. From Chevy Chase taking prat falls as Ford, to Tina Fey as Sarah Palin informing audiences about her views on Russia, SNL and politics go together like Hillary and pant suits, or Trump and walls. Not only is SNL a charming way to close up a week, but it plays an important role in the election. Saturday Night Live, in fact, may decide who our future president will be. This year is no exception. Perhaps the very best part of this election is the spoof-ability of the candidates. The two actors who formerly played Obama, Fred Armisen and Jay Pharoah, have both moved on from Saturday Night Live, meaning that, either P.O.T.U.S. himself will make a cameo, or we have seen all of the lame duck that will be seen for a while. A new wave of political faces has
made its way to our Saturday nights. Hillary Clinton is being portrayed by Kate McKinnon. McKinnon has previously played Ellen DeGeneres, Penelope Cruz, Justin Bieber, and Martha Stewart to name a few. McKinnon plays on Hillary’s celebration of Trump’s losses, and her willingness to work and fight for her seat as the first female president, to a ridiculous point. One of the first sketches of the political season featured Clinton running alongside a few happy go lucky bikers, trying to persuade them to give her their vote. Trump is currently portrayed by Alec Baldwin, who holds the record for hosting SNL, having hosted a total of 16 episodes, meaning he has seen his fair share of satire in the media. Baldwin has been both commended and criticized for his portrayals of Trump. They have been
called both “refreshingly honest” and “boring and unfunny”. Perhaps the imitation is “unfunny” to some, but boring is hardly an appropriate word to describe the range of mispronounced words and expressive faces Baldwin uses when imitating the republican candidate. Although the two candidates have gained much attention in the past few months, the characters are hardly new to the 30 Rock stage. As first lady, senator of New York, and Secretary of State, Clinton has been portrayed by a plethora of witty woman including Amy Poehler, Vanessa Bayer, Jan Hooks, and more. Trump has been portrayed during his time as a reality host, business owner, and candidate by the likes of Phil Hartman, Taryn Killam, Jason Sudeikis, and Daryl Hammond. Trump and Hillary themselves have both made appearances
on SNL. Hillary played a bar tender named Val, who helped console Hillary Clinton (portrayed by McKinnon) after a hard week of campaigning. Trump has hosted two episodes of SNL, one of which aired this political season. Media plays an important role in politics. Not only does it make voters more aware of the (dramatized) policies and ideals of the candidates, but it gives the candidates an approachability that would otherwise take years, if ever, to reach. In a sense, the fate of the election can sit in the palms of a few comedians. Saturday Night Live knows it’s demographic, and uses humor to appeal to them, the same demographic that the candidates would love to lock down in their favor. A late night sketch comedy show hardly seems like a professional setting for presidential candidates, which is why many have said that, if given the chance, they would refuse to host. But is it really a bad idea to reach out to a group that may otherwise have little knowledge about them?
er, unless there are some drastic changes, be able to achieve the true greatness that Game of Thrones achieves at its best moments. Westworld has all the elements. Set in a futuristic theme park simulation of the wild west, it explores the line between humanity and technology. It has a cool concept, world, mystery, and some interesting themes to play with – but what it lacks is focus. Or rather, it has the wrong focus. Westworld ends up falling into a common trap for sci-fi and fantasy stories, which is to focus on the world rather than the
characters. Game of Thrones had a similar situation, but far better focus. Where Westworld spends thirty minutes explaining the world and ten looking at characters, Game of Thrones spends thirty minutes looking at characters, and the world is explained later. What is the focus of the pilot of Westworld? A robot going through its daily routine (there’s a twist in there, but whatever). What’s the focus of the pilot of Game of Thrones? The relationship between parents and children. Game of Thrones shows us characters we can be attached to, and then it
explains the world (I guess there’s dragons or something). Its priorities are in order. Now this is not to say that Westworld can’t be a successful show. It could even be a good one. But it will never be a great one until the focus is on what matters. When Game of Thrones episode one ends, we have ten enticing characters to follow with a mysterious world as the backdrop. When Westworld episode one ends we have a cool concept with a lot of potential. Good, not great.
“SNL and politics go together like Hillary and pant suits, or Trump and walls.”
Westworld Underachieves on HBO
GEORGE KENT ‘17 Editor-in-Chief
HBO has a new show with a high budget, so of course it will be getting a lot of attention, but Westworld, a dark, strange sci-fi drama, has more than the usual hype. An enticing, topical pilot drew viewers in and started rumors spinning. Was Westworld going to be the next Game of Thrones? Well, no. It isn’t. Westworld falls into a trap that it’s common for fantasy and sci-fi stories to fall into, and shows like Westworld will nev-
MIA GRIFF ‘19 Staff Writer
“Say you’ll Bey on team Hillary too.” -Beyonce
They are Voting for Who?
Throughout the 2016 Election, many celebrities have thrown their support behind one of the major Presidential candidates, often appearing at rallies to persuade voters to follow their chosen candidate.
“No matter what candidate you support for the next presidential election, you have to admit it’s awesome a woman is up for the job.” - Kim Kardashian
“I’m voting for him. If I can get 20,000 people or more to vote for him, I’m gonna do it.” - Mike Tyson
“I believe he [Trump] can do things that would really make America great again.” - Stephen Baldwin
“This is not a partisan debate; it is a human one. I’ve always had a good time Clean air and water and a with him. Like I said, he’s been livable climate are ina friend of mine, supported alienable human rights... Leonardo DiCaprio Photo: “I think [she] stands for it is our moral obligaour team.” Siebbi ipernity.com/home/ everything that I want in “I think he [Trump] would - Tom Brady tion.” siebbi be very good for women’s Ellen Degeneres and Kim a president.” - Leonardo DiCaprio Kardashian Photos: Glenn issues.” - Ellen DeGeneres Tom Brady Photo: Jeffrey Beall Francis pacificprodigital.com - Caitlyn Jenner Caitlyn Jenner Photo: Alberto Frank Beyonce Photo: Nat Ch Villa All photos licensed under Creative Commons
Stephen Baldwin Photo: Gage Skidmore used with permission Mike Tyson Photo: Brian Birzer brianbirzer.com All images licensed under Creative Commons
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
SPORTS EDITOR: MARIELLA SALUDARES ‘17
Crew Wins Five Medals in Fall Finale
In the team’s last fall regatta, Seattle Prep Crew captured five medals and defeated over fifty crews across eight events at Sunday’s Portland Fall Classic. The Varsity Girls took home a bronze medal in the Women’s Junior Quad, while the Varsity
Boys missed out on the medals in the Men’s Junior Double by a mere three quarters of a second in a twenty-minute race. In its first season as a Varsity program, Seattle Prep has now medaled in a varsity event at every regatta it has entered this fall.
Hirst and Reischling: College Soccer and Defending State Title DANNY BOWERS ‘19 and MARK McCLEAN ‘19 Staff Writers
T
he 2016-2017 Panthers girls soccer team is quite possibly the greatest soccer team to ever play at Prep. The undefeated team is ranked #9 in the nation. No other Prep team has ever been ranked at this elite of a level. Helena Reischling (‘19) described the sensation, “It feels amazing to be ranked so highly. I’m proud of our team, we work hard for it and deserve this recognition. It feels great to be able to share this experience with my sisters.” Prep has played a few early season games outside of the state of Washington. When they traveled to Sherwood, Oregon they easily defeated top ranked Sherwood High School. The team is led by D1 bound athletes such as Helena Reischling ’19 and Sophie Hirst ’18. Reischling committed to the University of Washington this fall and Hirst committed to Boston College last season. Hirst describes the commitment process: “It really changed my outlook on soccer in many ways. One prominent way is now I follow College soccer a lot more since it is in my future. Watching all those games also helps me know what I need to improve on to succeed at the collegiate level.” Reischling on the other hand, described how the commitment has not changed her: “It hasn’t changed my outlook, it just makes me work harder and appreciate the sport more. I have always loved soccer and it feels good knowing I’ll be able to play the game that I love for at least seven more years.” When asked about their favorite soccer moments, Reischling said: “My favorite soccer moment was winning state last year because I was a freshman and it was really special to be able to go undefeated and create that unbreakable bond of a
Photo: Mariella Saludares Sophie Hirst (‘18) on the Girls Soccer team dribbles the ball against Ballard High School defenders during the Metro quarter-final game. Prep Soccer is currently seeking to defend their 2015 State Championship title. championship with my teammates. As soon Although Hirst is currently fo- Prep team last year and I look forward to as we won the title, I knew that we needed to cused on a state title, she says that her ul- playing with her at the next level.” Although both players have big fuwork even harder to get back here this year.” timate goal for her soccer career is, “to be The Panthers did go undefeated last invited to play on the full women’s national tures in front of them, they are focused on year, but had one tie against “We’re just trying to team. Whether it be the finishing this season completely undefeated, Holy Names with a score of Olympics or World Cup it claiming yet another state title for Seattle 1-1. That makes this year have a really good is still very far off from my Prep Girls’ Soccer. even more impressive an mentality while involvement in youth naundefeated season with no tional team programs so I ties. Hirst responded, “This making sure that still have a ways to go and Seattle Prep Girls Soccer season, my favorite mo- we do not underes- a lot to improve on to get ment was our win on senior there.” timate any night against Blanchet. It Hirst and Reischling • 16-0 Regular Season rewas really sad to know it also mentioned how they cord for 2016 season opponents.” was our last regular season looked up to their senior game with our seniors but it -Helena Reischling leaders last year and how • Ranked #8 in the nation also got me really excited about the upcom- proud they are of them now. They idealize in topdrawersoccer and ing playoffs , so that we can win it for them.” the current collegiate athletes Jalen WoodNSCAA national polls Currently, the team is preparing for ward ‘16 and Sam Hiatt ‘16 and aspire to be their playoff games. Reischling described at their level of success in the future. Hirst • 3 State Titles: 2010, 2011, the preparation: “We’re just trying to have a looks forward to joining Hiatt at Boston and 2015 really good mentality while making sure that College saying, “She’s a great teammate we do not underestimate any opponents.” and great leader. She helped to unify the
Girls’ Night Out Celebrates Volleyball Seniors on Last Home Game OWEN HENDRICKS ‘19 Staff Writer
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n Thursday, October 20th Prep’s volleyball seniors hosted “Girls Night Out”; an event that celebrates girls’ sports throughout Seattle Prep. The volleyball team also had Senior Night which honored all of the time and commitment that the Senior volleyball players have put in over their time at Prep. Once the JV Volleyball girls played and defeated Bainbridge’s JV 2-1, Varsity took the court. Prep volleyball got off to a great start winning the first set 25-22. After the first set Seattle Prep recognized the girls golf team (Currently 7-2) and The girls soccer team (Currently 16-0). Despite winning the first set, the volleyball team was unable to win another set and lost to Bainbridge High School 3-1. Prep served at 90%, and hit above .200. Sophomore Sophie Piacentini passed a 2.43 average her high for the season. After the match finished, underclassmen members of the volleyball team gave speeches about the seniors on the team, specifically explaining what they appreciated about them and why they will miss them next year.
The Seniors recognized were Allison Wilson, Madi Todd, Sierra Leza, Maddy Marquardt, and Katie Erickson. After the game Frederick Graham ‘17 said, “Girls Night Out was a great way to be able to celebrate girls’ sports and to be able to recognize all that dedication and commitment the Seniors have put in.” Helena Reischling ‘19 on the girls soccer team, she said, “It was great to see how many people showed up to celebrate and support girls’ sports teams at Prep.” Although this wasn’t the result the Panthers were looking for, it was still a fun and enjoyable way to celebrate the seniors and celebrate all girl athletes at Prep. After Senior night, the Prep Volleyball team ended their regular season 7-9, making the playoffs and playing West Seattle in the first round. Prep soundly beat West Seattle 3-0 and then played Lakeside on Thursday, October 27, unfortunately losing 0-3. Prep then entered the Metro tournament and played both Garfield and Ballard. At the Metro tournament, Allison Wilson (‘17) and Sophie Piacentini (‘19) both received second team all Metro award. The Panthers season ended in the District tournament with a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Roosevelt High School on November 3.
Sierra Leza ‘17 receives flowers and a hug from Coach Sullivan during the Girls Volleyball Senior Night ceremony. Senior Night coincided with Girls’ Night Out, a tradition celebrating girls sports throughout Seattle Prep.
THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
SPORTS
Coming in the Next Issue: Boys Basketball Aims for State
As the season turns to the cold wet Seattle winter, the bounce of basketballs in the Seattle Prep gym will com-
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mence once again. Look for the boys to build off of a strong season last year and head for state.
EDITORS: PAUL WINEBRENNER ‘17 & NOAH PINGUL ‘19
Trump has Long History of Involvement in Sports KELLEN KAVANAGH ‘18 Staff Writer
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hen looking at Donald Trump’s nonchalant smirk and iconic hair, athleticism is probably not the first thing to come to mind. Shockingly, Trump was a three sport athlete in high school, and was scouted by two MLB teams for his pitching ability. Even more surprisingly, he played varsity soccer for a season. FOX Sports has jokingly assumed he played right wing. Trump chose to eventually graduate from Penn instead of going pro, and the rest is history. With his new wealth, Trump did what any rich, young man would do: he bought a football team. In 1984, for a reported sum of 9 million dollars, Trump bought the New Jersey Generals of the USFL. There’s a reason you have probably never heard of the USFL. The idea behind the league was to play all of their games in spring, so that bored football fans could still see games. The league was all about entertainment. George Foreman, the legendary boxer-inventor, once presided over a wedding as a halftime show. Trump fit right in. Fast forward two years and the league had folded, largely because of Trump who wanted to play in the fall on the same schedule as the NFL. He hoped it would eventually lead to a merger between the
two leagues. Instead, after winning a court settlement of exactly three dollars and 76 cents, the USFL folded, and Trump lost his team. It comes as little surprise that in 2014, when Trump expressed interest in buying the Buffalo Bills, the team accepted a different offer. He did promise to keep the team in Buffalo, which came as a surprise to most people. In true Trump fashion, he took to Twitter to rant about it shortly after the decision was made. Just a year ago, Trump expressed interest in buying one of Argentina’s best soccer clubs: San Lorenzo. The same San Lorenzo that happens to be Pope Francis’ favorite team. Negotiations stalled shortly after a public announcement was made and Trump was once again thwarted in buying a professional team. Simultaneously, Trump was also trying to buy the Colombian soccer club Atletico Nacional for a sum of 100 million dollars. Yes, neither of these deals actually happened, but it is still impressive that he was able to attempt to negotiate two purchases of soccer clubs at the same time all while running for the presidency. Aside from owning teams, Trump’s new favorite sport is golf. He owns several golf courses and plays a lot. The PGA was pressured earlier this year to stop playing scheduled matches at his courses, due to his racist and sexist statements. Obviously, he is not a professional.
“He took to Twitter to rant about it shortly after the decision”
Even though he did not go on to play pro baseball, he is a professional in another sport. In fact, Donald Trump is a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. By a technicality, this makes Trump a professional athlete. Trump first hosted Wrestlemania at his casino in Atlantic City, leading to a longstanding friendship with Vince McMahon. This led to a showdown between the two in the popular Battle of the Billionaires series. Trump selected pro fighter Bobby Lashley to fight on his behalf. Lashley defeated McMahon’s hired gun, and Trump famously shaved McMahon’s hair in the ring. Trump has even executed a fundamentally sound
chair takedown in one event. Trump is a true New Yorker—his favorite teams are the Yankees and the Mets. Yes, the Yankees and the Mets. It’s kind of an unwritten rule you do not like both New York teams. It’s similar to liking the Sounders and Timbers. He’s been seen sitting behind home plate at both stadiums, and has worn jerseys of each team. While this blatant show of bandwagon culture may be enough for many people to not vote for him, just remember that Hilary has publicly stated that she supports both the Yankees and the Cubs. Good grief.
Photo: Gage Skidmore, used with permission Donald Trump pictured at a recent rally in Arizona. Thirty years after his USFL team’s failure, Trump is running for President.
Boys Cross Country Lopes On PAUL WINEBRENNER ‘17 Sports Editor
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n Seattle, fall is often synonymous with orange and red leaves, pumpkin spice lattés and football. Generally not included in that image of fall is the tough, muddy event that is Cross Country. Nevertheless, for a tightly knit group of Seattle Prep students, the fall brings the opportunity to run competitively once again. Senior Noah White ’17 gave an insight into the Cross Country team’s mentality as they prepare for yet another season in the wet Seattle fall. Over the past 4 years, the number of boys from the class of 2017 on the cross-country team has slowly dwindled, falling this year to only two. With so few shoulders for the leadership position to rest on, White and Jack Killalea ‘17 have had to step up their game to become role models for the rest of the SPXC boys as White noted saying, “Well, obviously the weight has fallen harder on our [Jack and my] shoulders, but really it’s a matter of presenting yourself as a model for your team mates. We are kind of the legends for being the only two left on the team.” Though there are few shoulders to carry the responsibility attached to senior leadership, the cross-country team could not be in better hands with the dedicated duo of White and Killalea. Given that cross-country is such an individual sport; it is often hard for crosscountry teams to come together as a group. To foster team chemistry the cross-country
team does, “a lot of team bonding through retreats like going on team trips to many different places” according to White. Obviously the retreats and trips help, but often, it’s the everyday camaraderie established by constant rapport with the team that brings out the familial nature in sports. To achieve this, “we have lots of fun with rap battles and other pre-meet activities that help us come together as a team. The other thing that really helps is year round practice, which helps us, bond together because we are around each other so much” said White. Serious dedication and a fiery determination drive the individuals to success, but a tight team chemistry, acquired through those year round practices and epic rap battles is certainly one of the most important aspects of being a cross country team member. As with any sport, consistency is the most crucial key to progress, but to achieve it, constant practice is the key said White, “The real key is running with consistency and not taking shortcuts. Achieving consistent improvements is definitely important because it gives you a goal to work for. In addition, hitting the gym is a key to success”. Despite the struggle, it is evident from the tone of White’s voice that the hard work and ice baths are the obstacles on the road to the great feeling of success, like breaking the 18 minute mark on the 5k run, one of White’s senior goals.
“The key to running is consistency” - Noah White
Photo: Rowan Forsythe Joe Sheh and James Brennan in hot pursuit of the race leaders. Both Sheh and Brennan made it to Districts, along with the rest of the varsity team.
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THE SEATTLE PREP PANTHER | NOVEMBER 8, 2016 | SEAPREPPANTHER.ORG
THE
BACK PAGE EDITOR: OLIVIA SMITH ‘17
Throwback pays tribute to Prep Past In honor of Seattle Prep’s 125th Anniversary, each month, The Panther will look back on a piece of Seattle Prep history.
This month, we look back to what students were saying about the 1988 Presidential Election of George H.W. Bush.
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“What is the first word you think of when you hear the name Donald Trump?”
“Hair” -Nathan Jensen ‘18
“Maddening” -Mrs. Lovejoy
“Arrogant” -Hana Nakata ‘19
“Pumpkin” -Jack Killalea ‘17
THROW
“Better than Hillary” -Maeve Conaty ‘20
BACK
The Panther staff has a long history of reporting on current national political elections. In the editorials above from December 1988, staff writers Ryan Craig and Pat Sullivan comment on newly elected President George H.W. Bush. The editorials show the diverse opinions on what skills Bush will, or will not bring to the presidency.