April Issue 2014

THE REVIEW

ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL STUDENT NEWSPAPER 2401 CLAREMONT LANE · HOUSTON, TX 77019 · VOLUME 65 · ISSUE 7 · APRIL 30, 2014

by Samantha Neal

S

enior Aubrey Brennan (not her real name) heard the sirens and knew she had to get away. Quickly.

It was the summer before her senior year, and Brennan was in no condition to drive. In a snap decision, she and two other girls accepted an offer from a friend of a friend to drive them home. He swore he was sober, so Brennan rushed into the stranger’s small car, more concerned about the

Online this Month Senior graduation package, SPC Recaps, ISAS dance video and 60 Seconds video feature

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approaching cops than securing a safe ride home. But little did she notice the faint imbalance in his step, the flush of his cheeks, the slight dilation of his pupils and the slur in his speech.

At first, the drive was unspectacular. But as the driver tried to turn off the freeway, he lost control.

The car spun three times, narrowly missing the barrels lining the side of the highway and the other vehicles on the road that night.

“That wasn’t even the scary part,” Brennan reflected. “The

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scary part was that it didn’t even fully register that I almost died when it was happening.”

No one in the car was injured.

Everyone returned home that night despite the near fatal accident.

After the initial shock wore off and more time elapsed after the incident, the once-traumatized passengers returned to their original habits, and the incident became a party story.

See Page S1 for full story

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THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

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NEWS

In Brief News around campus Havel Wins Art Recognition After years of working on critically acclaimed projects, art teacher Dan Havel and his creative partner Dean Ruck have been recognized as the 2014 Artists of the Year by Art League Houston. Havel and Ruck have been working together to create art for 18 years.

“We did our first project together way back in 1996, but we really started working full-time together in 2005,” Havel said.

Havel is thankful for the award that he and Ruck have received.

“It’s truly an honor to have been recognized,” Havel said. “They have been giving out the award for years to artists who have made a difference in the Houston and Texas art community, so we are humbled by this award.”

Havel and Ruck repurpose architectural structures into works of art, bringing attention and recognition to ordinary spaces.

The award does not merely end with recognition by the Art League Houston.

Havel said, “We get to create a new piece for the Art League’s September show, and we will get an exhibition in their galleries.”

UH Professor Speaks to Microfinance Club Dr. Saleha Khumawala, a University of Houston professor, spoke to Microfinance Club, April 17, about her program and how it impacts local poverty and small businesses.

“We were looking for microfinance organizations to try to expand our reach, to learn more about microfinance from an expert and to better the club,” sophomore David Lu said.

Microfinance refers to microcredit, the small loans with a short payback period intended to help people start small businesses.

Khumawala emphasized the importance of education, as well as these loans, in overcoming poverty and becoming an entrepreneur.

“Domestic poverty is characterized by

“I think Earth Day is one of the most important parts of the year,” freshman Arisa Sadeghpour said. “It’s more than celebration; it’s about responsibility.”

Band Ensembles Perform

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Change through art Art teacher Dan Havel and his creative partner Dean Ruck constructed a temporary sculpture in 5th Ward using a grant from the Houston Art Alliance.

limited resources — food, housing, education and employment,” Khumawala said.

“Without education you are not empowered.”

Sophomore Leah Vogel said, “The presentation gave a different perspective on not just funding businesses but also giving them the tools to succeed.”

Junior Qualifies for 2014 Linguistics Olympiad Team Junior Deven Lahoti will take his problem-solving skills abroad this summer when he travels to Beijing, China, to represent the United States in the 12th International Linguistics Olympiad.

After taking part in both open and invitational rounds of the North American Computing Linguistics Olympiad, Lahoti scored fourth in the nation, placing him on a team of four that stretches across the continent. The olympiad consists of language-based problem solving concepts, with past questions ranging from French and Latin to Japanese Braille and Vietnamese. The competition focuses on similarities that exist between languages based on

grammar and vocabulary.

“It’s not so much about learning to speak different languages,” Lahoti said. “It’s more about analyzing certain aspects, figuring out how they work and classifying them.”

Lahoti will compete against upwards of 25 teams from across the globe, solving problems as both an individual and with his teammates.

“I like problem solving,” Lahoti said.

“Learning about other cultures is also a cool added bonus.”

Respect Mother Earth The Environmental Coalition of Students (ECOS) promoted environmental awareness during Earth Week, April 21-25, with presentations and activities.

Librarians Peg Patrick and Marylin Sharp organized an earth-themed library display with ECOS sponsor Priscilla Elliott. Along with a renewable energy display about green energy industries and posters with environmental facts, the club also sponsored an endangered animal raffle and collections for electronics and plastic bag recycling.

“What it gonna be like?” a group of welldressed jazz musicians asked the audience during the band concert, April 21.

The show featured performances from all levels of the band ensembles, from the fifth grade beginner band to the jazz band that rocked the VST with the aforementioned battle cry from “Attitude Dance.” Other highlights from the evening were the Wind Ensemble’s performances of the theme from “Superman II” and Gustav Holst’s “Second Suite in F.” The concert marked the seniors’ last performance. Band director Darrell Parrish gave each senior a rose and a certificate to commemorate the occasion.

Junior Connor Eichenwald said of their final performance, “It was pretty emotional to see the seniors go.”

Students Collect Accolades at Junior Classical League Latin students attended State Junior Classical League (JCL) at Westwood High School in Austin, April 11 and 12.

JCL consists of academic tests, certamen, art and costume contests and ludi (sports).

At Area JCL, SJS received fifth place overall and first place in Advanced Certamen.

At State JCL, SJS placed thirteenth, and the Advanced Certamen team placed second.

Senior Anna Huang got first in Level IV Mythology with a perfect score.

“I’ve put a lot of time and work into JCL over the years,” Huang said. “I’m glad that it paid off.”

Junior Henry Paradise placed first in Reading Comprehension: Prose (Level IV), senior Katherine McFarlin won first place in Girls’ Costumes and junior Vinay Gajula placed first in Level IV Advanced Grammar and Level IV Decathlon.

Compiled by Brooke Kushwaha, Amy Liu, Inaara Malick, Megan Routbort, Oliver Ruhl and Michael VerMeulen

Faces in the Cloisters

Get to know your classmates better Marisa Murillo

Wilson Foshee

Jeffrey Fastow

“What if I’ve lived this exact moment in the past? What if we’re all just cells or atoms?” Freshman Marisa Murillo often ponders such questions.

Murillo is a founder of the String Theory Club, which makes knit or sewn models of scientific and mathematical concepts.

“I hope that making cute, huggable models will allow students who love math and science to explore their creativity and familiarize concepts,” Murillo said.

Murillo is the only girl on the Ethics Bowl team and participates in Eco-Marathon and MAPS. She has also acted in a Spanish-learning DVD series.

“I wish to be inquisitive and step out of my comfort zone,” Murillo said.

For leisure, Murillo reads works on philosophy and physics. She is currently working on a science fiction novel.

Though many children collect baseball cards and other sports memorabilia, not many continue into high school.

For junior Wilson Foshee, this hobby has turned into a small business.

At age 13, eight years after he began collecting cards, Foshee opened an eBay store specializing in NBA and NFL memorabilia as well as autographed sports cards.

Foshee originally began collecting memorabilia from players he enjoyed watching. Later, he began to sell his cards to purchase more expensive packs and boxes.

“I hope to expand my business by getting my name out to collectors as a trusted seller,” Foshee said. “Trust is huge in the sports memorabilia business, as lots of fakes and forged autographs are out there.”

Foshee reinvests his profits to purchase better cards for his store. The best card he sold was an Anthony Davis rookie patch autograph for $1,500.

This summer, senior Jeffrey Fastow will attempt to help his SJS peers in the same way that he was once assisted with SAT prep.

The first two weeks of June, Fastow and fellow senior April Chang, both of whom scored in the 99th percentile on their SAT’s, will hold introductory courses on both the SAT and PSAT for rising sophomores.

“The SAT is a high-stress, touchy-feely subject, but I really enjoyed taking a class from kids who just graduated,” Fastow said. “We decided to start it partly because we wanted to offer a cheaper, more personal and efficient method for freshmen to take the SAT, partly because we are broke.”

The course will cost $225.

“We are focusing primarily on developing good critical thinking skills,” Fastow said. “They will serve students well in whatever test they sit down to take.”

Compiled by Amy Liu, Matthew Neal and Michael VerMeulen Photos by Jared Margolis and Samantha Neal

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

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NEWS BUZZING IN

Senior-laden Quiz Bowl earns second at State, preps for LASA rematch at dual national finals Tournament high scorer Carlo De Guzman leads team into final round

by Irene Vazquez

T

he quiz bowl team finished second at the 15th Annual Texas Quiz Bowl Championship, April 5, which was held at Trinity University in San Antonio.

Although senior Claire Jones was unable to play due to a conflict with the ISAS Arts Festival, the team, consisting of seniors George Davies and Carlo De Guzman and juniors Deven Lahoti and Vinay Gajula, went undefeated in the preliminary rounds, including a 335-305 defeat of the Liberal Arts and Science Academy (LASA) in Austin.

In the finals, LASA came back to win two matches and claim the state championship, which SJS had won in 2013.

“We did about as well as we expected at state, but not as well as we’d hoped,” Lahoti said. “I expect we’ll do about the same at Nationals.”

De Guzman finished first overall in the Texas state tournament, with 20 points per game more than the second place individual competitor.

“Although I’m disappointed that we didn’t win, I think we played just as well as we did last year, especially when you consider that we were missing Claire,” De Guzman said.

Over Memorial Day weekend, the varsity team consisting of De Guzman, Jones,

CHRIS ROMERO

Team Texas Seniors Carlo De Guzman (far left) and Claire Jones (second from right) were selected for the Texas All-Star team, which placed second at a national tournament this past summer. The SJS Quiz Bowl team will compete in two national tournaments this May.

Davies and Lahoti will compete at the Partnership for Academic Competition Excellence Tournament (ACF style) in Reston, Va. SJS will send two teams to the High School National Championship Tournament (NAQT style) in Chicago, May 30 to June 1. The B team at HSNCT will consist of freshmen Andy Huff and John Kennedy along with junior Vinay Gajula and senior Daniel Bland.

The team knows that the road to a national championship will require a win

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against LASA. “We haven’t played against LASA with a full team on the types of questions we’ll see at HSNCT,” Jones said. “Based on the matches we’ve been playing against them, things should be pretty exciting.”

Last year at HSNCT, SJS placed fourth with the same varsity lineup.

“At least for the A team, I think we have a solid shot at a national title despite tough competition,” Gajula said. “The newly formed B team is aiming for a top 30 finish at the HSNCT.”

Going into Nationals, SJS is ranked third in the nation, behind LASA and Ladue from St. Louis.

“LASA is definitely a great team, and it’s always competitive playing against them,” De Guzman said. “I think we can beat them if we’re at the top of our game.

We can’t afford to make mistakes against LASA.” SJS won the Winter Rodeo and the St. Mark’s tournaments this year. They placed second in the Fall ACF and the ACF Texas Invitational.

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

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FEATURES WHEN IN ROMA

‘Its language has become my own’: School Year Abroad exposes students to new cultures

by Matthew Steiner and Michael VerMeulen

On a chilly day last October, junior Lin Guo traversed a bay in Normandy to reach the Mont Saint-Michel Abbey.

“It was one of the most fun experiences of my life,” Guo said. “We walked across a bay to reach the island, on which the monastery is, because of a tradition of pilgrimage. It was crazy because the teachers had warned us that pilgrims and visitors had died on their journeys. I remember how surreal the moment was when my group finally reached the island. ” Guo has taken part in such adventures through her participation in the School Year Abroad (SYA) program, which she learned about from representatives who visited her French class last year. They presented the juniors with the opportunity to attend school in a foreign country for a year. Guo seized the chance and applied to live and study in France.

“France has definitely changed my worldview and shaped my future ambitions and goals,” Guo said. “I’ve developed a very genuine love for France, its culture and especially its language. I feel that its language has become my own.”

Guo did not always plan to be a part of the SYA program.

“I decided to apply for SYA on a whim,” Guo said. “I thought that the idea of living in another country was cool—kind of a dreamy, romantic notion. When I was accepted, I deliberated if I would really go or not. What made up my mind was that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Junior Eleanor-Day Kornberg is studying even farther from home as part the SYA program in China. She enrolled in Chinese I sophomore year and quickly took to the language.

“I decided to participate in SYA because I was bored with my life in America and wanted a change,” Kornberg said. “The

culture fascinates me, and SYA was an opportunity for cultural immersion. I’ve learned a lot about Chinese culture and language through SYA.” For its participants, SYA is much more than just a language-immersion program.

“I do think I’ve grown,” Guo said. “I’m more independent and mature in my thinking, and I’ve started contemplating issues outside my daily personal life.”

SYA students begin to learn more about themselves through their experiences.

“I like SYA for the self-discovery aspects, seeing how I’ve reacted after being thrown into a completely foreign situation,” Kornberg said. “I’ve gained confidence in my ability to maneuver life on my own.”

Some SJS students feel a full school year abroad is too big of a commitment. For them, SYA’s summer program is a better choice. Junior Emily Sherron opted to participate in this program last summer.

“I really considered doing the full year program, but my parents wouldn’t let me apply for it,” Sherron said. “The summer program was five-and-a-half weeks.

We started by touring different parts of Rennes. After about a week of travelling, we met our host families. We went to school in France at the same school they use for the full-year program.”

In even five weeks, students develop close relationships with their host families.

“The first couple of days with my host family were the most uncomfortable days I’ve ever been through because I was with strangers and there was a language barrier.

After awhile, I got really close to them. I’m an only child at home, but there I had four host siblings,” Sherron said. “By the end, I really felt like part of the family.”

Students who plan on spending a full school year abroad look forward to exploring opportunities that are not available at home. Sophomore Elizabeth Moore looks forward to enjoying these opportunities next year in Zaragoza, Spain.

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Cross-cultural exchange Junior Eleanor-Day Kornberg (second from left in background) looks on as First Lady Michelle Obama greets Peng Liyuan, the “Chinese First Lady.”

“I hope to join a Spanish cooking class so that I can learn more about Spanish cuisine,” Moore said. “I also want to take Flamenco dance classes.”

Many students interested in SYA worry about how well they will be able to communicate in a different language, but a handful of students have a head start of mastering the language.

“To be accepted into the Spain program, students are required to have completed Spanish II,” Moore said. “Right now, I’m taking AP Spanish Language and Culture, so I’d say I’m very familiar with the language, but I’m not confident enough in my Spanish-speaking skills to say I’m fluent.”

Many students opt for a year abroad because upperclassmen returning from their trips have such high praise for the program. “[Seniors] Caroline Craddock and Stacie Dudley came back from their study away

programs and spoke about how these programs were the best decisions of their lives,” Moore said. “Because of what they said, I knew that this was too good of an opportunity to pass up.”

While in foreign countries, many students’ experiences give them a better sense for their plans in the future.

“Ever since I was little, I have always wanted to live in Europe,” Moore said.

“Through SYA, I’ll be able to see if I’ll want to move there permanently as an adult.”

A lot of the SYA experience is about exploring new options, and this is exactly what Moore plans on doing.

“I’m a lifer at SJS, so this program will be an incredibly different experience,” Moore said. “I also hope that during my year in Spain, I’ll make lasting friendships with my classmates and host family. It will be one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.”

Behind the Scenes Awards Ceremony

by Rebecca Chen

As girls in dresses and boys in suits strut the beige carpet into the theater, anticipation builds to discover this year’s award recipients.

The nominees depend on a variety of factors.

As expected, teachers first look at standout characteristics.

“Aside from being a solid A student, its more about who uplifts the class and their comportment,” history teacher Jon Peterson said. “Among the top of the top students, it comes down to who has the most value to you as a teacher.”

Teachers meet to discuss their nominees.

During these meetings, they may advocate for students. Deciding winners and nominees is a give-and-take process.

“If you spend your capital one year, you don’t do it the next year,” Peterson said.

A teacher’s top choice may not be available if that person is nominated for too many awards.

“We try to make a case for why, if somebody’s up for multiple awards, that person should get the award for language, for example,” World Languages department head Aline Means said. “We give examples

for how that person excels in that particular subject.”

Besides the standard two awards per course, departments also have specific awards. For example, the World Languages department has the Yvette Stork Award for a student who excels in multiple languages.

All teachers may vote on the Scotty Caven Scholarship and the James J. Murphy Award, which are exclusively for seniors. The James J Murphy highlights a student who constantly displays courtesy, a sense of humor, and integrity. Athletic leaders who have a passion for learning, teamwork, humility, compassion, work ethic and a drive for excellence are eligible for the Scotty Caven Scholarship.

Teachers also also vote for 16 Maverick Award recipients. The Maverick Award honors students who demonstrate the five tenets of SJS: care, courtesy and consideration, honesty, loyalty and spirited devotion, and dignity.

Although faculty are recommended to vote for four Maverick Award winners from each class, the decision may be difficult for those who do not know certain classes.

“I don’t have a freshman advisory or teach freshmen, so my votes are mostly

JAKE NYQUIST

Badge of honor Each year, teachers select students from their classes to recognize at the annual awards ceremony. Winners of academic awards receive medals (pictured above).

about name recognition for that class,” Peterson said. “I fight for my departmental awards more because I have a greater stake and I think I can speak more for academic performance than who they are outside the classroom.”

Although teachers do consider who deserves awards throughout the year, the

deadline can sneak up on them.

Peterson said, “Over the course of the year, I file stuff away that shows someone is awards material, but it still catches us by surprise in April, which is probably the busiest month for teachers.”

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FEATURES THREE-YEAR DIPLOMA

Students flee the nest, roost at college early

by Iris Cronin

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hen she graduated from SJS in 2006, Whitney Alsup had never stepped foot on the Quad.

She had also never had Senior Tea or parked in Senior Lot. But Alsup’s lack of senior privileges was not a punishment or an effect of school-wide changes. Rather, it was a symptom of a much simpler issue: she was not a senior.

For Alsup, who departed the Storied Cloisters after her junior year, early graduation was a logical decision.

“I planned to attend the Oxbow school program in Napa during the spring semester, so I figured that not returning after half a year of being away wouldn’t be a huge transition,” she said. “I was also really ready to leave. SJS was a difficult experience for me in a lot of ways, and I was ready to move on.”

Early graduation, while not unheard of, is uncommon at SJS. “We prefer students to stay through their senior year,” Head of Upper School Ann Louise Hagerty said. “That final year is about building and maintaining a sense of community. When students choose to leave early, it gives the impression that they’re just here for a piece of paper.”

Most are content to wait four years for that coveted diploma.

“In recent years, I can remember just a handful of early graduation candidates,” Hagerty said. “Usually there are extenuating circumstances, like financial issues. Or perhaps the student never really felt a deep community tie to begin with.”

Such was the case for Alsup who, despite having attended SJS since first grade, did not feel connected with peers in her grade.

“There is a feeling of reward that you find when you experience completion of a part of your life with a community, the kind that you really only get from sticking it through for four years and finishing together,” Alsup said. “I didn’t have that kind of community at SJS.” Even under the right circumstances, the process comes with sacrifices.

“My relationships with friends certainly didn’t suffer. I was sad, though, that I didn’t stay and have that last year with the teachers I had rapport with.” Alsup said.

“Early graduation was a transition, and in some ways I was not ready.”

For others, social cost is a big consideration.

“Some cons include missing both an en-

WHITNEY ALSUP

So long, farewell Whitney Alsup (’06), who attended Rice University after graduating from SJS a year early, was an active member of Imagination. Her art piece “Missing You” (pictured above) graced the back cover of the 2004 winter edition of the literary magazine.

tire school year with friends and the experience of being a senior,” a current junior who considered graduating early said.

Junior college applicants have to take all the same steps as their senior counterparts, including essays and letters of recommendation.

“I think I would have benefited in some ways from a more rigorous college search and research period,” Alsup said. “I made the decision to apply early with a month to complete all four applications I submitted.”

After graduation, Alsup attended Rice University, transferring to the Rhode Island School of Design after two years. She graduated from RISD in 2011 with a BFA in printmaking.

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“My experience at Rice was not what I wanted, though it was rewarding. I ended up somewhere that made me incredibly happy though,” she said. “RISD was an amazing time and everything I could have wanted from my college experience and more. College was honestly a lot less work than SJS, especially academically.”

Academics are not the only factor in determining whether early graduation is a good fit.

“I wouldn’t say that there’s a type of student we actively encourage to pursue this path,” Hagerty said. “Usually individual applicants will come in and initiate the conversation with administrators and advisors.”

For the most part, these applicants are

self-determining.

“I think going to college earlier requires maturity, both intellectual and social, as well as independence,” the junior said.

Veterans of this process caution those who are interested to carefully consider the benefits and drawbacks.

“I always had pangs of regret, doubts that I had done the wrong thing. It took me a long time to feel that sense of completion with something, and it represented a regret that I wouldn’t recommend others take on intentionally.” Alsup said, “I think SJS is a wonderful academic community, one unlike any I have encountered anywhere else, one you will not find in college. It’s worth taking the time to see it through.”

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

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ENTERTAINMENT PAGE-TURNING PROFIT

Studios adapt young adult novels to films Film adaptations seek to balance accuracy with creative license

have only watched the movies may not know characters like Peeves the Poltergeist or truly appreciate the centaur Firenze.

These discrepancies still could not derail the pop culture freight train that made J. K. Rowling the world’s richest author.

by Brooke Kushwaha “Harry Potter was a success because everyone loves British stuff and British he last Harry Potter book came accents,” Harry Potter Club president out seven years ago, the final Meghna Dara said. “It attracts people of all movie premiered two years ago and yet ages, and the series was longer, so people would-be-wizards of the hit franchise either were able to grow up with it, or start still eagerly await their missing Hogwarts reading it when the last book came out acceptance letter. Fans of the dystopian and grow to love it.”

Hunger Games series debated Team Peeta In order for a novel-turned-movie to be vs. Team Gale vs. Team Katniss long after a box-office success, it must already have a “Mockingjay” hit bookshelves, supposedly popular and near cult-like devotion. The resolving the matter. course of eight movies in a decade gave The pervasive culture of young adult Harry Potter fans plenty of time to join novels proves that this sweet spot between the worldwide phenomenon, but few other child and adult fiction marks a profitable series can be opportunity so lucky. The for Hollywood latest franexecs and chise hopeful, authors alike.

“Harry Potter was a success “Divergent,” Adapting denovels into because everyone loves British received cent box office movies has stuff and British accents.” numbers but become an a lukewarm increasingly popular enMeghna Dara fan-base.

“I expected terprise. Some more from the moviegoers Divergent movie and was disappointed claim superiority for staying ahead of the by the book’s transformation to the big curve by reading the books before watchscreen,” sophomore Ellie Strawn said. ing the movies.

“Twilight,” with its sparkling vampires “Success can really depend on how close and fit werewolves, prompted the rise of the movie stays to the book,” sophomore the supernatural teen romance genre.

Mia Mirkovic said. “The Percy Jackson “Even though ‘Twilight’ was a bad book, series is a prime example of a good book it was a relatively new idea, so it did well in ruined by an inaccurate movie.” theaters,” Mirkovic said.

Unfortunately, not every novel gains Movies like “The Mortal Instruments” stardom on the silver screen. Although the Percy Jackson series sold well in bookstores and “Beautiful Creatures” attempted to due to its modern twist on ancient classics, piggyback on Twilight’s success, but to no avail. “The Mortal Instruments” brought the movie scored a mere 49 percent on in $90 million total gross worldwide comRotten Tomatoes and received scathing pared to the most recent “Twilight”, which reviews from literary purists.

The main obstacle when making a movie brought in nearly $830 million worldwide.

“Beautiful Creatures” grossed $60 milwith a rabid fan-base is catering to the exlion worldwide, equaling its production pectations of those fans while still making budget. the story accessible to a larger audience. “‘The Hunger Games’ and ‘Harry Potter’ “I don’t like how they try to make the did really well because they had a really movie as an alternative to the book rather good marketing team, as well as a director than a retelling,” sophomore Michael and film crew that was really dedicated to Steiner said. “When people stray from the preserving the integrity of the books in book in order to get more viewers, it ends the films. Same with ‘Lord of the Rings,’” up alienating the fans that came to see the freshman Emma Shea said. “I feel like movie in the first place.” other book-to-film adaptations were solely Film franchises such as Harry Pottery made because they were popular books, face difficulties when trying to condense 1,000-page stories into two hours of screen first and foremost.”

From a profit standpoint, no matter time. While the movies retained key plot how large the fan base, a book-to-movie points and characters, more nuanced and franchise aims to draw in audiences who intricate details were omitted. Fans who

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ANDREI OSYPOV

have never picked up the book. Only 50 percent of those who watched “Divergent” had actually read the series. Yet some purists insist reading the novel is critical to enjoying the movie.

“I’m a firm believer in reading the book before the movie,” sophomore Julia Boyce said. “I like imagining how the characters look and then watching the movies and seeing other people’s interpretations.”

In 2012, fans protested the casting of Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games” due to her blond hair and naturally rounder features that did not satisfy her character’s gaunt description. Luckily, this narrowly-held opinion did not affect the movie’s box office boom. Controversy adds to the pressure of bringing a fictional world to screen, but no matter how lackluster a screen adaptation, Hollywood will continue to consult the book-to-movie formula.

“A successful movie has a lot of factors

— good actors, director, cinematographer, soundtrack,” Dara said. “If you get even one of those wrong, a successful book could have an unsuccessful movie.”

COMING SOON “The Fault in Our Stars” (June 6) based on the 2012 novel by John Green “The Giver” (Aug. 15) based on the 1993 novel by Lois Lowry “If I Stay” (Aug. 22) based on the 2009 novel by Gayle Forman “The Maze Runner” (Sept. 19) based on the 2009 novel by James Dashner “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1” (Nov. 21) based on the 2010 novel by Suzanne Collins

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

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ENTERTAINMENT SOUNDWAVES

Dance showcase channels Sirius XM stations Addition of Saturday performance allows for increased attendance

by Emily Sherron

When most people feel like dancing to Sirius XM radio, they are confined to the driver’s seat. This year, members of the Upper School dance program got a whole stage.

The radio-themed show emphasized the connection between song and dance, allowing choreographers to include diverse styles of dance and create a flow between each number.

“The radio theme was pretty interesting because it allowed us to explore new styles of dance,” Terpsichore dancer Isabel Wallace-Green said.

In line with the theme, each dance was named after a Sirius XM radio station and matched with that station’s genre of music.

Dances ranged from a disco number, “Shake Your Groove Thing” (70s on 7), and a Bollywood dance, “Hadippa” (World Beat).

“We always dance to these stations in the car, so it was cool to see that in a slightly ANNA HUANG more choreographed way on stage,” junior Turn the radio up Seniors Camilla Manca (left) and Janine Louie (top right) take the stage for Terpsichore and Intermediate Caprice, Robert Kempner said. respectively, during the dance concert, April 25-26. Terpsichore closed the show with a Bollywood number, “Hadippa” (bottom right).

This year, the dance department decided to add a second performance on Saturday the experience twice is even better.” dances at the concert. chore’s cage dance as well. night. Initially, some thought that this The option of choosing from two shows “My dance was the Caliente station, and “The cage dance has a really neat concept second show would diffuse the hype of the offered greater flexibility for audience I thought it was such a fun and exciting that comes across both emotionally and Friday night performance. members as well. theme,” Caprice I dancer Hally Carver physically through the props,” Terpsichore “I’m not sure I completely like having “Even though it’s twice the work, it said. “By having the radio stations, it dancer Aanie Shah-Phillips said. two shows because it seems more adrenallows people who have conflicts on one of flowed to have a wide variety of dances.”

The cages were two half spherical domes aline-pumping to have a one-night-only the days to Dancers in all levels appreciated the stabilized with a geometric frame for dancprogram,” Walgo and enjoy creative potential of the radio theme. Their ers to move in and on. lace-Green said, the dances,” works were set to popular tunes, disco “In my time here, we’ve only used porta“But I think it senior Zack beats, electronic songs and more. ble handheld props, so it’s great to see how just shows how “Our Bollywood number is Lee said. “‘Hey Ya’ is such a jam,” Intermediate we can use stabilized equipment and move the program is something unlike anything While Caprice dancer Renee Roberts said. “Since through it,” Wallace-Green said, “We also growing.”

Terpsichore it used to be played on the radio all the came up with some pretty cool tricks.”

Performers we’ve ever done.” and Adtime, it’s perfect for the theme.”

An ACL injury forced Wallace-Green embrace the vanced CaThe theme allowed for dancers and to sit in the audience during the dance chance to perIsabel Wallace-Green price already audience members alike to experience new concert last year, so this year held particuform in mulperformed styles. lar significance for her. After being out of tiple settings, most of their dances at ISAS, Terpsichore’s “Our Bollywood number is something dance for eight months, the show was her including in middle school chapel, April dance “My Body is a Cage” (The Blend) unlike anything we’ve ever done in a dance long-anticipated return to the stage.

25, and at the recent ISAS Arts Festival, and Advanced Dance’s upbeat number show, and we got incredible support for “It’s awesome to make a comeback April 3.

“Neckbrace” (BPM) debuted at the dance it at ISAS,” Wallace-Green said. “It’s the from my injury with the Bollywood piece “We work really hard for the whole year, concert. Each Intermediate Caprice class most energizing dance in our program and because it reminds me why I love to and it’s so rewarding when an audience premiered one dance in middle school everyone has stage time.” perform,” Wallace-Green said. “I can’t help appreciates our work,” Advanced Caprice chapel, and Caprice I debuted all their Many people looked forward to Terpsismiling every time I hear the music.” dancer Sophie Gershenwald said. “Having

Maverick Munchies Mia’s Table

by Megan Routbort

With Mia’s Table, Johnny Carrabba proves that his culinary knowledge is not limited to the Italian peninsula.

Located behind the original Carrabba’s on Kirby, the restaurant has a casual atmosphere reminiscent of a backyard barbeque.

The menu primarily features traditional country fare. Nothing screams southern more than Mia’s chicken fried steak platter, complete with green beans, mashed potatoes and a spicy twist — jalapeno cream gravy. Hamburgers are an equally mouthwatering menu offering. Instead of a traditional bun, they come on a warm sourdough baguette. The Italian sausage burger and meatball burger both feature that distinct Italian twist.

For those looking for something not as heavy as the Hill Country’s finest cuisine

but equally as delicious, the restaurant offers a lighter fare menu. So-called “skinny” food includes buffalo options (a leaner alternative to ground beef and steak) and salads including the fresh Green Goddess salad. Those with other dietary restrictions or preferences can choose to order from the near-identical gluten-free menu.

The hand-spun Bluebell shakes are a must for any Houston native, but my goto choice is pairing a hot chocolate chip cookie with a generous portion of the rich and creamy ice cream that Mia’s dispenses for free.

On nice days outside, Mia’s patio is packed with patrons, and the scent of barbecue in the little red smoker wafts through the air. The sheer number of people milling around inside shows that Mia’s gets a positive endorsement from Houston’s foodies.

DIRECTIONS AND INFO Mia’s Table 3131 Argonne St. (713) 522-6427 Monday-Sunday: 11 a.m.- 9 p.m.

Average meal price: $15

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

8

BEYOND YACHT ROCK HEROS

Using social media to pay tribute to lite rock

COURTESY PHOTOS

Music legends A former lead vocalist of his high school band, Andrew Curry (left) joined Glenn Tilbrook, former lead singer of Squeeze, on stage in 2009 to perform an impromptu duet at Tilbrook’s solo concert in Houston. A life-long fan of lite rock, Curry self-produced a lite rock tribute album (on right) last year with the help of a Kickstarter campaign.

Alum utilizes passion for music in second career as album producer

by Megan Shen

Andrew Curry (’88) shares at least one thing in common with Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg – his college dorm room also served as the launching point for his creative endeavors.

“I had some conversations with my college roommates, and we realized that we enjoyed secretly listening to all these corny 70s lite rock songs,” he said.

Inspired by his discovery of fellow lite rock fans, Curry started the Monsters of Lite Rock Facebook page in 2012.

Although he created the page over two decades after attending Trinity University, he soon found that many people still had interest in lite rock.

“Before long, the page got several likes, and a few musicians had joined the page as well. One of them decided to pick up a camera and record himself singing one of the lite rock songs,” he said. “I posted it and got a great response, so I wanted

to see if other musicians would want to make professional recordings that I could compile into an album – as it happened, a lot of them did.”

To raise funds for the project, he launched a Kickstarter campaign in February 2013, which successfully raised over $10,000 from lite rock fans. Yet the challenge to create his album was just beginning.

“The artistic side of picking out songs was the fun part, but the business side, like getting all the rights to the music, was completely unfamiliar to me at first,” Curry said.

“Drink a Toast to Innocence,” which included 28 reinterpretations of 70s radio classics by current pop artists, such as Mike Viola, Bleu and Linus of Hollywood, was released last April.

For Curry, the project was the culmination of a lifelong passion for the fine arts. After receiving undergraduate and graduate degrees in Theatre, he worked for several years at the Alley Theatre and later at the University of Houston.

“But my interest in lite rock goes back to the music I heard as a little kid in the ’70s,” he said.

Catching up with former exchange student Sophie Rosahl During her visit to Houston this week, former exchange student Sophie Rosahl plans to enjoy one of the state’s best offerings.

“I’m looking forward to doing lots of shopping,” she said, “especially at some of those huge outlet malls. You know what they say: everything’s bigger in Texas.”

Rosahl, who lives in Erfurt, Germany, spent her junior year studying at SJS. “I needed to come back and see all my seniors before they all disperse across the country to different colleges,” she said.

Rosahl also reunited with her host family, the Shafers. Upper School math teacher

Kim Shafer was her host mother, and Katie Schafer (’18) was her host sister.

“The Shafers are just like family now,” Rosahl said. “When I left them last year, it felt like a big hole had opened up.”

In addition to shopping, Rosahl plans to spend her visit soaking up the Texas sun.

“For many people it’s too warm here, but I love the weather,” she said. “It’s so different from Germany.”

But differences aside, Rosahl is no longer a stranger to Houston or its residents.

“For me,” she said, “it’s really been like coming home.”

by Iris Cronin

Curry continued to develop his musical tastes at SJS, where he sang lead vocals in his band, Pennywhistle.

“Eric Garland (’90) and I were an acoustic duo for the most part and wrote all our songs together,” he said. “We never expected to be rock stars, but we were popular enough to get to play some live shows, sell almost our entire stock of records, and even get a little bit of radio airplay on KTRU, the now-defunct Rice University radio station.”

Despite the difficulties, Curry says the process of compiling his album was a valuable learning experience.

“Initially I didn’t realize how many moving parts went into a project like this,” he said. “Managing the legal, marketing and artistic aspects and putting it all together has definitely sharpened my organizational skills.”

Curry used social media to reach out to lite rock fans and asked several of his favorite indie pop artists to contribute their covers.

“The idea that musicians I admired were willing to sign on with a rookie like me, someone they’d never met, was very satisfying,” he said.

With the success of “Drink a Toast to Innocence,” which has been featured in numerous Best of 2013 lists, Curry plans to continue his musical projects.

“I’d love to do it when time allows. It’s all financed by me and the fans, and there are no set deadlines, so that that helps make music a fun side project,” he said.

His next album, “Here Comes the Reign of the King,” featuring British hits from the early MTV era, is tentatively set for release in July.

“I decided against a sequel to lite rock and instead moved to a completely different genre. It’s going to be a compilation of songs from British bands in the ’80s that were super popular in America.”

Curry encourages students to pursue their own unique ideas and passions.

“There were all sorts of moments when I thought no one was going to sign on, but unless you reach out to that first person, you’ll never know,” he said. “You’d be surprised at how many like-minded people there are out there. Even if you don’t think it’s going to happen, try it anyway.”

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

Story by Pallavi Krishnarao Photos by Jake Nyquist

Editors’ Note: We recognize that the behaviors detailed in this article do not apply to the entire SJS student body. We also understand that the consumption of alcohol by high school students without an adult’s supervision is illegal and that Texas enforces a zero-tolerance policy for minors driving under the influence of alcohol. Neither The Review nor the SJS administration condones or seeks to glorify such behavior from students; however, we decided to pursue this topic to shed light on an issue that poses serious risks for the drivers, passengers and bystanders. We appreciate that we were able to speak so candidly with our sources, and we have changed their names to protect their privacy. In this article, a person “under the influence” is defined as having consumed any amount of alcohol or drugs within the previous three hours.

All statistics came from The Review’s census of the senior class.

DRINKING CULTURE

“For us, drinking and driving is normal,” senior Heather Benson said.

“Us” refers to the 34 percent of SJS seniors who have driven while under the influence.

Binge drinking is defined as three or more drinks within an hour. Approximately 62 percent of seniors far exceed this limit.

“If that’s the definition, I pretty much exclusively binge drink,” senior Michelle Simpson said.

The general consensus is that seriously harmful drinking occurs infrequently.

“Physically dangerous drinking is rare, but drinking that has risks with the police

S1

IN FOCUS

stress. or other consequences happens weekly,” “I’d say stress definitely contributes to Benson said. the drinking that occurs,” Simpson said.

Twenty-six percent of seniors have “After being stressed out all week, it’s an attended school-sponsored events while easy way to relax and get your mind off under the influence. things. It’s nice to have something to look “People drink during the school week to forward to on the weekend.” watch sports games, both on campus and In addition, sadness contributes to on TV,” Benson said. drinking.

Boys are 1.3 times more likely to binge “Lots of people drink when they’re sad,” drink than girls. For some, drunken sheBenson said. “Some people decide to drink nanigans are a source of amusement. a lot after a breakup and after rejections “Guys think it’s funny. Guys will get wasted and think it’s hilarious to do stupid from their early college applications.”

Others argue that stress is unrelated to [stuff] that they wouldn’t do when sober,” drinking. senior Grant Montgomery said.

“I would Senior definitely arKaitlyn Clark gue that stress recognizes that plays no factor the drinking “So much of what we do is in drinking,” culture is difLiam ferent for boys. trying to protect what students senior White said.

“It’s much “I think those more of a ma- have worked so hard for.” who tried cho thing for guys. People Elisa Inman drinking out of curiosity don’t expect became those girls to be able who had more fun on weekends, and from to drink a lot,” Clark said. “With guys it’s there more and more people would hear like, ‘You are a [wimp] if you can’t handle a couple of beers. You should be able to and have the curiosity to drink.” handle your liquor.’’’

The most common reason cited for drinking is enjoyment.

Sophomore Hailey Sanders says that “People do it for fun; they think it’s a the high-stress environment at school new experience. Not drinking is fun, but contributes to binge drinking.

“Drinking serves as a stress reliever beonce you drink you realize how much cause the workload is really hard, so people more fun you could be having,” Montbuild up stress, and then on the weekends gomery said. they just want to get plastered,” Sanders Clark agrees that having fun is the bigsaid. “Then people realize that they could gest motivation for drinking. have been doing work instead of partying, “Being drunk is fun for a lot of people, so then the stress builds up and then they and they just want to get drunk,” Clark said. “That’s a bigger factor than peer just do it again.” pressure.”

Simpson views drinking as a way to ease

Although peer pressure does exist, it is typically not a huge factor in choosing to drink.

“SJS is better than most schools about peer pressure. People respect your choice not to drink,” Benson said.

Montgomery does not feel compelled to drink by his peers.

“For me, I don’t drink, and I don’t really feel like I have to,” Montgomery said. “A lot of people do it to know how much they can handle before college.”

The behavior of upperclassmen plays a role in younger students’ decisions to start drinking.

“The drinking culture trickles down from upperclassmen,” White said. “I would say it’s peer pressure, but it’s very indirect.”

Simpson started drinking the summer before junior year due to the influence of upperclassmen.

“I had some older friends who were doing it, and I was around them,” Simpson said. “I was sort of opposed to the whole idea of substance use before, but they were kids I trusted and respected, so I was like, maybe drinking isn’t that bad.’”

FROM DRINKING TO DRIVING

Like drinking, drunk driving is also a practice that is learned from older students.

“If a guy in the grade above drove home drunk and everyone was laughing about how stupid it was, and he got home and was fine, then people start thinking maybe it’s something worth risking,” Montgomery said.

Continued on S2

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

S2

IN FOCUS

Continued from S1 Despite national awareness campaigns from organizations like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), driving while intoxicated remains a problem, one that has persisted for generations.

“You learn what is normal from the people older than you,” Benson said. “It would take the grades above you to not do it for us to stop it. It would be like positive peer pressure.”

Because most drunk driving occurs within a relatively short radius of River Oaks, students rarely get caught. According to MADD, a typical first-time offender has driven drunk at least 80 times prior to being arrested.

“Maybe one or two people have gotten into an accident, and the police let them off the hook. It’s very rare,” Montgomery said. “That’s why people do it; they’ve heard very few stories of people actually getting in trouble. If they don’t get caught the first time, they just keep doing it.”

Montgomery believes that drinking and driving occurs gradually as students get more accustomed to drinking.

“Most people start drinking after freshman year. Very few freshmen drink right off the bat. Then they start hanging out with older kids who are drinking,” Montgomery said. “They are so worried about drinking that they believe that they will never drink and drive. But when they get comfortable with drinking, they are willing to take it one step further to drinking and driving.”

White sees a different pattern in the frequency of drinking and driving.

“Underclassmen drinking and driving is rampant because they are still trying to hide the fact that they drink from their parents,” White said. “Driving home while drunk is a way to keep [drinking] a secret. More parents are open to their children drinking senior year, so students are not afraid to be driven home by a friend or to spend the night somewhere or even to be picked up by parents if absolutely necessary.”

Regardless, drunk driving is a widespread phenomenon, with 17 percent of seniors admitting to haven driven under the influence five or more times.

“We don’t have a drinking problem; we might have a drunk driving problem,” Benson said. “It surprises me that no one has gotten in a serious car wreck.”

At least one student drives drunk every Friday and Saturday night. This problem affects even those who do not drink

and drive; 45 percent of seniors have ridden with a driver who was under the influence.

“It’s a community thing. It happens pretty much every weekend,” sophomore Dylan Parks said.

Driving short distances also contributes to the amount of drunk driving that occurs.

“It happens all the time. People don’t think twice about it.

People tend to live in same neighborhood, so they drive from one part of River Oaks to another part of River Oaks,” Clark said. “I know people who live in Tanglewood who go to River Oaks parties are less likely to be drinking a lot.” forming drunk driving habits

According to the New York Times, on an average night of partying, a typical teenager will consume 9.3 drinks, leading to a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .261 for the average 18-year-old male and .312 for the average 18-year-old female, which is more than three times higher than the legal driving limit of .08. Blood alcohol content is a way to quantify alcohol intoxication in terms of percentage of ethanol in blood.

Though most would prefer not to drive drunk, some believe that drinking does not significantly impact their driving abilities.

“It is irresponsible, but it is not necessarily dangerous,” Benson said. “Some people, even when drunk, are better [at driving] than people who are sober.”

Simpson said that she can drive home while drunk as long as she is aware of her capabilities and functionality.

“I know people disapprove, and it’s not exactly that safe, but I like to think I generally know my limits even while inebriated. I don’t think I’ve ever been drunk while driving,” Simpson said. “I’d classify it as tipsy, but I know that doesn’t make a difference to most people. If I can move properly and have full control of my body and can clear my mind for the relatively short drive home, I think I can drive.”

Simpson tries to be more consciously aware of her surroundings when she drives after consuming alcohol.

“When I drive, I just chug water and try to sober up before I leave. I drive slower than I usually do and force myself to stay aware of surroundings,” Simpson said. “Also, I turn the music off because I know that could potentially be very distracting.”

Alcohol leaves the body at a relatively constant rate of .015% of BAC per hour, regardless of weight and gender.

The general rule of thumb for drinking and driving is to wait one hour for every drink consumed. According to the National Health Service, though drinking water can help mitigate the unpleasant effects of a hangover, it does nothing to sober individuals up. Nor does taking a cold shower, breathing fresh air or drinking hot coffee.

Most students agree that those who drive after drinking are not those who have completely lost control of their senses.

“For the most part, if someone is super drunk, they already have other plans [for getting home]. The ones that drink and drive are the ones that are drunk but not about to pass out,” Montgomery said.

Others view drunk driving as a necessary evil.

When asked about how often he drinks and drives, Jackson responded, “Not that often, actually. Almost always it’s within River Oaks.”

But as Jackson thought about his habits, awareness dawned, “Oh [shoot]. Ah [man]. So, it’s like 20 miles. High or drunk? Anywhere between 5 and 20 miles. Honestly though, it’s not that often. Maybe two or three times a month. Two times a month.”

Jackson admits that drinking and driving is not worth the risk and even sometimes regrets doing so after sobering up.

“I think it is bad, but sometimes it is inevitable and necessary,” Jackson said. “You have a curfew, you can’t sleep at someone’s house, no one wants to drive you, you have your car.”

On the other hand, White has driven drunk once and does not plan to do so in the future.

“I was in a state where I did not remember driving,” White recalled. “I managed to drive home safely, but I also know that when I left the house at which I drank, I left alone, and had someone seen me, they would not have let me drive.” why risk it

Some students attempt to hide their drinking habits from their parents, so they resort to drunk driving in order to avoid parent suspicion.

“Being in high school and under the strict supervision of my parents, I have to find a way to get home somehow,”

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

S3

IN FOCUS

JAKE NYQUIST

Simpson said. “I can’t exactly leave my car somewhere because my parents will find out. It just comes down to needing to get home above all else.”

Students take the risk of driving while intoxicated because there is a greater chance of parents finding out that they have been drinking than being pulled over by police.

“People want to drink but don’t want to get in to trouble.

People don’t want to ask to stay the night because that leads to suggestions that they will be drinking,” Montgomery said.

“They choose to drive drunk because they are less likely to get pulled over by cops than to get in trouble with parents.

Even if parents agree to give students rides home after drinking, most still choose to drive home under the influence.

“People drive drunk because of convenience and a failure to plan,” Benson said. “They don’t trust their parents when they’re told they can get picked up whenever they need to be.

They just want to avoid that conversation.”

According to Clark, designated drivers are rarely completely sober.

“People think they can drive buzzed after one or two drinks, but then they get buzzed and want more. People expected to drink a couple of drinks and don’t plan on getting drunk. But once they are a few drinks in, they forget that they aren’t supposed to be drinking that night or it seems like a better idea since they are drunk and have low inhibitions,” Clark said. “Then it’s hard for people to just have one drink when everyone around them is really drunk.”

Senior boys were 1.63 times more likely to drive after three hours of consuming alcohol than females and 1.93 times more likely to drive within an hour of consuming three or more drinks.

Benson said, “Girls only drink and drive on their lightest drinking nights.” take a safer way home

Houston’s relative lack of public transportation decreases options for those under the influence.

“Houston being an entirely car city does make a difference.

I know people who can get really drunk and it’s not a problem,” Clark said. “People in New York take the subway or cab home. In part, it’s because of how Houston is set up.”

An emerging solution is Uber, a smartphone app that con-

nects passengers with drivers of vehicles for hire. However, city ordinances prohibit this kind of taxi service to operate, even though Houston’s status as the fourth largest city in the U.S. and lack of public transport make it an ideal candidate.

According to city laws, cabs must be arranged at least 30 minutes in advance, which limits functionality.

“Living in Houston makes it much worse. If we had Uber, I think people would use it,” Benson said. “For college kids, drinking and driving is a way worse thing than it is for us.

I think the problem is mostly a southern problem, even a Texas problem.”

Clark, whose out-of-state college friends previously have driven drunk as SJS students, observed that most college students started to take cabs after coming back to Houston.

“They were cabbing everywhere, and I was surprised because I’ve seen these people drive drunk before. In [another state], drunk driving is severely looked down upon. There was a huge taboo, which I think should exist,” Clark said. “I don’t know why that is in [another state] but not in Texas.

It’s not a financial reason because most SJS kids can afford it.”

Sleeping over at someone’s house can be an alternative to drunk driving.

“You can sleep over when there are issues with driving,” Benson said. “I think my parents basically understand that I am drinking when I spend the night at someone’s house, but they’re okay with it because they know that I am not driving.”

Students can plan in advance for transportation.

“People should arrange designated drivers,” Montgomery said. “People need to be more responsible. Just don’t be stupid.”

There are practical concerns for finding designated drivers.

“No one wants to be the designated driver,” Benson said.

“The people who don’t drink don’t want the hassle of driving a bunch of drunk people home, and they don’t want to risk getting in trouble.”

Some say that the school can play a larger role in combating drunk driving.

“They could have more awareness programs during class meetings,” Jackson said.

Clark views the problem as lacking a foolproof solution.

“Perhaps an educational program that the school could provide would prevent [drunk driving] from happening as

frequently,” Clark said. “But teenagers are irresponsible by nature, and I don’t think there is a 100-percent perfect solution to this problem.”

SAFE RIDES

In the 1980’s, students from SJS operated a Safe Rides program independently of the school. It was started by SAC members and those in a local Boy Scout troop who utilized the school’s campus for this endeavor.

“The people who volunteered went through some training, and they were absolutely sworn to secrecy. It was anonymous,” Interim Head of Upper School Ann Louise Hagerty said. “If people called, they were taken home, and that was the end of it. The volunteers never reported the incident to anybody or talked about it afterwards.”

Though the club was ended partly due to a lack of callers, some drunk drivers insist that such a club would be useful.

“I would actually use a Safe Drivers program. I think other people who drink and drive frequently would also opt to use it,” Jackson. “If we had designated drivers all the time, I would never drive drunk. I do not want to risk dying, killing someone or getting in trouble.”

Simpson echoes this viewpoint.

“Though I would definitely use it, it would be hard to implement,” Simpson said.

Others are not so optimistic of the success of a Safe Rides program.

“There are few problems with this: it is completely anonymous on paper, but the people who you get in the car with know that you were too drunk, and some people think that it encourages drinking because it is a fallback and there are no consequences,” Clark said. “But people will drink either way. SJS wants to encourage everyone to not drink at all, like an abstinence policy. But the better route for education is to encourage zero drinking for designated drivers.”

Anonymity is a key concern in the formation of such a program.

“I would argue having a safe rides program most definitely [would decrease drunk driving] if students were not afraid to use it in fear of being caught by parents or the administration,” White said.

Continued on S4

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

S4

IN FOCUS SJS SENIORS BY THE NUMBERS

92% Tried alcohol

68.1% Illegally consumed alcohol

6 out of every 10 SJS seniors have consumed more than 3 alcoholic beverages in a single hour

53.3% Drank in the last month

43% Drank monthly for past 3 months 100% 80% 60% 40%

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of SJS seniors have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs more than 5 times

Continued from S3 ADMINISTRATION’s views

The school’s zero-tolerance policy is an impediment to instigating such a program.

“Supporting, endorsing and facilitating an organization that, while noble in its intentions, enables students to drink while underage may not be in the best long term interests of the school,” Headmaster Mark Desjardins said.

Dean of Students Stephen Popp shares a similar perspective.

“It’s a policy that is rooted in the well-being of students,” Popp said. “We expect that students will abide by our zero tolerance policy at school functions, including games, for a number of reasons. We particularly don’t want students driving to and from games under the influence.”

Additionally, the school opens itself up to the prospect of lawsuits and other liability issues.

“When discussing the rideshare program, liability jumps out at me right away,” Popp said. “If you think about the mission statement of the school, we value ethical, spiritual, physical, emotional well-being and development. These are important principles that guide us. While the ride along program has good intentions, it may be problematic. While the program may not be feasible, it is really important that the word goes out that people shouldn’t be drinking and driving.”

Upper School Counselor Pat Reynolds conducts awareness programs for students in 8th through 10th grade.

“In both Skills 8 and 9, I teach under the philosophy that for underage folks, it’s illegal. The brain, in particular the frontal lobe, is still developing, and there may be other health reasons. We highlight binge drinking because that’s the most prevalent in middle and high schools,” Reynolds said. “In 10th grade, we have the Healthy Choices program, where an attorney comes and talks about very specific legal ramifications. Then opposite him, recently we’ve had students from Archway Academy come and tell their stories.”

Reynolds recognizes the school’s role as an educational institution.

“Understanding the cognitive part of what it does to your brain appeals to our population,” Reynolds said. “We are educators, so I think it’s our responsibility to provide contemporary research, statistics and tools to survive avoid negative consequences.”

Popp maintains that preventing drunk driving is not solely in the hands of the school.

“There are a lot of factors at play here; the school is not the only actor involved— the school has a role, but so do parents and the broader community,” Popp said. “This is a community discussion.”

Assistant Dean of Students Elisa Inman says that drunk driving probably occurs among high school students, in large part,

because they have not yet been exposed to its possible repercussions through life experience.

“From your data, it sounds like kids frequently watch other people do it and walk away unscathed,” Inman said. “What is so sad is that every year in x amount of high schools in this country that is the mentality prior to a tragedy at their school.”

Inman asserts that school policy is rooted in ensuring student well-being.

“So much of what we do is trying to protect what students have worked so hard for. We look like the fun police all the time, but I think it is part of the job,” Inman said. “Because of the life experiences we’ve had, we see the bigger picture or at least we see the bigger picture more regularly than students see it. We understand what they are risking if they make bad decisions.”

Popp’s primary concern is making sure that students don’t jeopardize their futures.

“We’ve worked with you for multiple years, we’ve gotten to know you and we care for you. We see all the promise,” Popp said. “So it’s not about shaming, it’s not about judging; it’s about helping you guys get to where you want to be.”

Additional reporting by Parker Donaldson, Gabe Malek, Jake Nyquist, Samantha Neal and Chris Zimmerman

METHODOLOGY All data was collected based on a census of the 142 members of the senior class, with seven people declining to respond. Though it is impossible to guarantee that this data is completely accurate, great care was taken in crafting the questions and the gathering of anonymous responses.

The questions were based primarily on those featured in in a thirty-nine year longitudinal survey sponsored by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on teenage drinking habits. The questions were tested on subjects, both non-drinkers and drinkers, prior to conducting the survey to ensure clarity of questions.

We modeled our methodology on the 2013 survey sponsored by NIH, so we have no reason to believe that our data collection was flawed. This is the same study cited by the Surgeon General and endorsed by Freedom from Chemical Dependency, an organization that St. John’s will use next year to conduct a study of parents and students. We have done our best to ensure that this survey is an accurate representation of the senior population.

The distribution of this data is a binomial distribution. The range of the standard deviations is 2.59 to 5.80, and the mean of the standard deviations is 4.90. A standard deviation is measure of dispersion from the “true” average.

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

9

OPINIONS EDITORIAL

Safe Rides program can combat drunk driving Driving while under the influence of alcohol is dangerous.

This statement isn’t an earth-shattering revelation. Countless scientific studies have confirmed this fact, and tragic headlines appear in the news every day. At a school with bright, talented students, such a remark can even be discounted as obvious.

Yet after a night of partying and drinking, some students still choose to drive themselves, and often their peers, home. They believe it’s their only choice.

In the 1980s, SJS had a Safe Rides program. Students would convene on campus on Friday and Saturday nights, waiting for their peers to call in and request a ride home. No questions asked, no names revealed, no parents contacted. After a few years, though, the club was disbanded due to a dwindling number of callers.

Starting in eighth grade, we formally learn about the dangers of drunk driving and underage alcohol consumption. The talks continue into high school, with skills classes during freshman year and the Healthy Choices

program for sophomores after the PSAT. When students actually start driving, the onslaught of information stops. And thus the drunk driving begins, warnings from previous years long forgotten.

We propose the Safe Rides program be re-established at SJS. This would encourage responsibility from everyone involved.

Members shoulder the task of safely transporting their peers home; callers demonstrate responsibility when taking the steps toward ensuring the safety of not only themselves but also others on the road. We also encourage students to both volunteer for and take advantage of the services that

would be provided by this program.

Several administrators have expressed concerns regarding the revival of a Safe Rides club. We understand that there are serious liability issues with allowing high school students to drive their peers late at night. Schools with an independently affiliated Safe Rides program have tried to decrease the chance of such issues by filtering potential drivers through a selection process; the program at Syosset High School in New York picks drivers based on “character, maturity, and dedication to community service” and requires their students to be drug free and sober at time of service.

As an

extra insurance, the Syosset Safe Rides club dispatches two members to respond to every call. If this is the risk that must be taken to help prevent drunk driving accidents, we feel it is a worthy exchange.

The phenomenon of underage drinking is not going to magically disappear. It is practically impossible to stop or even significantly reduce the number of teenagers engaged in substance abuse. If we cannot combat the larger issue at hand — underage drinking — we should at least try to mitigate the tangential consequences.

Ignoring this potentially life-threatening practice in order to avoid endorsing underage drinking is not the solution.

We believe it is possible to curtail the frequency of drunk driving and reduce the number of students who feel the need to drive while intoxicated. Re-establishing Safe Rides would not mean that the school or administration endorses students’ consumption of alcohol. Rather, this step would mean that the community as a whole cares about the well-being of its members. And we do.

TIFFANY YUe

From the editors

Journalism, confidentiality and the pursuit of truth

One wasn’t enough.

We got positive feedback from our gambling article last issue and felt like, for once, people looked at more than the picture on that page. Thus, we chose to delve into potentially controversial territory again this issue with our investigation on drunk driving. It was too important an issue to ignore.

Everyone knows from the numerous healthy choices seminars that driving after consuming alcohol is dangerous and illegal, but the overall attitude seems to be that getting behind the wheel after a couple drinks is generally permissible.

We are not trying to fill a quota of articles that push boundaries. We feel that it is our duty as a news organization to report on information relevant to the community.

Drunk driving definitely has consequences that, if not brought to light, can change our lives drastically.

Unlike the gambling piece from last issue, we have found that this issue is not confined to a certain demographic. Boys and girls alike, from sophomores to seniors, admitted to driving drunk at least once, if not more. This

R

fact may not surprise some, but we hope that our article sheds some light on the drinking culture at SJS and encourages students to take action in preventing classmates from making poor decisions.

We would also like to thank the administration for their support and assistance while we investigated this touchy subject.

In pursuing this topic, one concern was how to maintain confidentiality while conducting interviews, collecting survey data from the senior class and writing the article.

The identities of our interviewees were not released to any teachers or administrators. First and foremost, The Review respects the privacy of the student body; we never want to broadcast personal information.

When approaching this article, we knew that we would need hard facts to bolster its credibility. We would like to thank the 135 seniors who completed the census for their honesty and trust. These responses were also kept completely anonymous and have greatly helped with this article.

Above all, The Review’s mission is to be truthful. We would not have written this article if it were not applicable to the community. We promise that this article does not exaggerate. This isn’t our attempt to chastise those who drive after consuming alcohol. We care about our classmates and their well-being, and we hope this article will help them reconsider their actions.

Don’t worry, next month we’ll have our annual college spread.

Love,

Samantha Neal, Alyyah Malick and Lydia Liu (S + Al + Ly = Sally)

The Review · St. John’s School · 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019 · review.sjs@gmail.com · 713-850-0222 blogs.sjs.org/review · Facebook SJS Review · Twitter @SJS_Review · Instagram @_thereview

Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown 2014, Gold Medalist 2012 & 2013 · National Scholastic Press Association-6th Place Best of Show (2012), First Class 2012 & 2013 Editors-in-Chief Lydia Liu, Alyyah Malick, Samantha Neal Senior Design Editor Parker Donaldson Online Editor Amy Kang Assignment Editors Rebecca Chen, Pallavi Krishnarao, Megan Routbort Design Editors Jessica Lee, Christopher Zimmerman Photography Editor Jake Nyquist Video Editor emma Gobillot Copy Editors Iris Cronin, Tiffany Yue Asst. Online Editor Cara Maines Online Copy Editor Oliver Ruhl Social Media Editor Srini Kumar Business Manager william Clutterbuck Asst. Business Manager Gabe Malek

Staff Suman Atluri, Jay Bhandari, Kelly Buckner, Joseph Caplan, Stefania Ciurea, elliot Cheung, Jake Chotiner, Chloe Desjardins, Claire Dorfman, Caroline Harrell, Anna Huang, Priyanka Jain, eugenia Kakadiaris, Brooke Kushwaha, Mikaela Juzswik, Amy Liu, Christian Maines, Inaara Malick, Jared Margolis, Katherine McFarlin, Isabelle Metz, Matthew Neal, Andrei Osypov, Kanchana Raja, Megan Shen, emily Sherron, Matthew Steiner, Jennifer Trieschman, Irene vazquez, Michael verMeulen, virginia waller, Max westmark Advisers David Nathan, Shelley Stein (‘88), Steve Johnson

Mission Statement The Review aims to inform the St. John’s community, prompt discussion, and recognize achievements and struggles through our print and online presence.

Publication Info The Review is published eight times a school year. we distribute 950 copies each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 574 students and 80 faculty.

Policies The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Headmaster or the Board of Trustees of St. John’s School. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the entire

editorial board unless otherwise noted. writers and photographers are credited with a byline.

Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the school.

Submission Guidelines Letters to the editor and guest columnists are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and good taste. On occasion, we will publish letters anonymously, provided the editor knows the author’s identity. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received. either email letters and guest columns to review.sjs@gmail. com; give them to David Nathan in the Review Room (Q-210); or mail letters to The Review, 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019.

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

10

OPINIONS COLUMN

Earth Day spirit should be evergreen

by Amy Liu

Last week, our Earth received its seven days of recognition with #gogreen Instagram posts, glamorized recycling bins, green clothing, photos of furry animals plastered on bulletin boards and various other awareness antics. However, if all the dazzled-up disposables used for this celebration ended up in a landfill only days later, sadly, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Due to activities such as mining and deforestation, ecosystems are polluted with accumulated trash. Two billion people have inadequate sanitary conditions, like contaminated water, while half a billion people breathe air that is dangerously unhealthy. Numerous farmers struggle to live on poor land, pushing entire countries to the verge of famine.

Unrecycled plastic is made entirely from new petroleum each time, straining resources and leading to greenhouse gas emissions. Nowadays, the high demand for these materials requires 15 million barrels of oil annually. Throwing away one aluminum can wastes as much as pouring out half of the can’s volume in gasoline, while recycling each can saves enough energy to power a television for three hours. If the national recycling rate improved from a dismal 17 percent, we would not face the imminent doom of fossil fuels dwindling until they are too expensive or environmentally damaging to retrieve.

A solution to diminishing fossil fuels, renewable energy generates limitless power without pollution and global warming emissions. Wind generates the highest energy return on investment (ratio of usable

energy acquired to energy expended), yet the U.S. does little to harness its abundant wind potential. Renewable energy investments are usually spent within the U.S., frequently in the same state or town, allowing our energy dollars to fuel local economies rather than travel overseas.

Meanwhile, exports of renewable energy technologies manufactured in the U.S. provide a boost to the trade deficit.

We are constantly exposed to facts like these, in articles we scroll over on laptops, in TV commercials and in lectures at science field trips. For a moment, they evoke a reasonable twinge of guilt, or at least agreement, before fading from our minds just as quickly. We know exactly what environmental responsibility entails and its benefits. If there were a manual compiling all the laws and reasons to go green, it would not reveal anything new. What keeps so much of the population from actually applying all this knowledge?

Being isolated in a tight bubble of affluence and comfort makes it difficult for the notion of crisis to actually resonate.

The box-loads of bottled beverages casually offered everywhere makes tossing just one in the garbage seem negligible. When seeing the tall trees in neighborhoods or the fresh produce in Central Market, the thought of destroyed habitats and massive rubbish piles just don’t come to mind.

I’m not saying that the lack of repercussions suffered in our sheltered community makes us ignorant. But eventually each bit of damage inflicted will escalate until the whole society feels — and regrets — the negative impact.

Earth Day can be more meaningful

than an obligatory festival used as a golden badge to say, “I showed I care.” Even if eco-friendly spirit cannot be genuine in everyone, we can at least acknowledge that those with the power to improve worldwide conditions could really utilize that power more consciously and in a long-term way.

I’m still impressed by how Earth Week activists managed to lavish the Earth with more affection and sympathy than I’ve ever seen.

In fact, I anticipate the creative ways people come up with to express Earth Day in 2015. Mother Nature may or may not be amused. But environmental awareness can’t end at 11:59 p.m, April 22, only to be revived after another 25,550 million plastic bottles are dumped in the ocean. For better and for worse, this is our world.

AMY LIU

10

Top Ten Promposals

by Megan Routbort and Irene Vazquez

1. Sirens When the River Oaks police pulled over junior Brooke Upchurch one night, she certainly didn’t expect them to be helping junior Ben Bliss ask her to prom. Police told Upchurch that they had gotten an alert that her car had been spotted driving recklessly through River Oaks. When Upchurch got out of the car to call her mom, Bliss asked her to prom.

2. Hanging Around Senior Preston Ray asked senior Caroline Owens by writing “Prom?” in red tape on a hammock in the Quad. Owens almost missed Ray’s promposal because she was running late to advisory with Dr. Bellows, whose room was right by the hammock.

3. Throwbacks Senior Douglas Moody asked senior Cameron Hull at AOS, where they both attended middle school. Senior Sloane Gustafson called Hull, saying she had a flat tire at AOS. When Hull went to pick up Gustafson, Moody was there holding a sign that read “Prom with Doge?”

4. Force-full Question Senior Cade Shanks used his Physics II project to ask his lab partner, senior Nikhila Krishnan, to prom. The two worked together for two months, building and programming an elevator. In the final run in Mr. Carr’s room, the door opened to reveal a figurine holding a sign that said “Prom?”

“Ours was the only one with an auto-

ISABEL WALLACE-GREEN

Flowers for sale Junior Matt Zlotnik surprised fellow Flowers advisee Mackenzie Mott with a flower arrangement asking her to prom.

matic door that swung down to open,” Krishnan said. “I’ve never been so proud of something I’ve made in my life.”

5. Smell the Roses Junior Matt Zlotnik’s prom proposal simultaneously won the prize for Most Romantic and Most Punny. Using several dozen fresh blooms, Zlotnik covered the desks of Ms. Flowers’s room, writing, “Prom?” to ask fellow advisee Mackenzie Mott. For the rest of the day, Mott walked around with an armful of roses.

6. Ante Up Senior Daniel Jellins spelled out his promposal on playing cards to ask senior Sira Ntagha. When playing the game “Speed,”

Jellins flipped the cards over to reveal the word, “Prom.”

7. Best Prom Song To ask junior Alex Sheinbaum, junior Shehzad Charania, who performed Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” at ISAS, climbed onto the picnic tables during lunch and recited a rap he wrote for the occasion.

Charania tweaked the lyrics to T-Pain’s “Best Love Song, which junior Isabel Wallace-Green helped him pick.

8. Fruit-fest Junior Sarah Hansen has a not-so-secret obsession with Canadian electronic musician Merrill Beth Nisker, better known by her stage name Peaches. Junior Frank

Spence asked Hansen to prom by presenting her a batch of five fresh peaches, each with one character of “Prom?” written on it in Sharpie.

9. Musical Notes Even though he’s better known for his prowess on the tennis court than his moves on stage, junior Billy Guo asked junior Katherine Wu to prom by serenading her.

Junior Jessica Lee provided piano accompaniment.

10. For the Needy Senior Thomas Dawson dressed up as hobo under bridge and got girlfriend Lexie Wilkinson to drive by.

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

11

OPINIONS SENIOR MOMENT

‘Chill out’: Reflecting on the stressed mindset

by Elliot Cheung

During my seven years at SJS, I’ve noticed that many students seem to use the same mantra: too much work, not enough sleep. I’ve never really shared the sentiment.

I must give a quick disclaimer. I’m going to be sharing my mindset on how to approach the SJS workload, but despite how I may appear, I’m not perfect. Maybe you’ll disagree with how I think, and if you have your own way of handling yourself, you can continue on your merry way; I promise I won’t mind.

I can’t even count the number of times friends have approached me and ranted about how impossible their workload is; how stressed they are with papers, or tests, or projects or whatever other evil schemes teachers have cooked up for that week. Or how they stayed up until sunrise attempting to cram entire textbooks into their heads. Or how the Rockets keep losing, which is a problem I can’t really help solve.

I have a few magic words of wisdom for these friends who come to me in their times of need. Words that I believe more people need to live by: “Chill out.”

Two simple words that SJS students can’t seem to understand. Many of my classmates say they can’t really comprehend going to bed at 10:30, having hours to spare playing videogames on school nights, or watching a movie on a Tuesday night.

But it’s how I live, and how I have lived for years. Maybe I’m just lazy, but at least until second semester senior year kicked in, I’ve generally been pretty good at getting my work in and keeping up in class. Which leads me to believe that either I experience time differently than everyone else or that overworking yourself 24/7 isn’t necessary to get through SJS. The easiest way to understand the whole “all work and no play” mentality is to break it down. The way I see it, everyone wants to get the most value out of their resources, namely time and energy. For example, spending an hour studying for

AMY KANG

Do not disturb Senior Elliot Cheung follows his own advice to relax despite extreme academic pressure by taking a quick break against a tree in the Quad on a sunny afternoon.

a history test might be the difference which I am using mainly to make me look between making an 80 and a 90, whereas like a better student. At the base level, the spending that hour sleeping might put you law states that the more resources you put in a much better mood for the day but get into something, the less value you get for you a lower score on the test. Both ways of your resources in return. For example, investing your time have value, and there’s studying for an hour could realistically a clear tradeoff increase your of choosing grade by 10 either path. points. But The problem that does not with thinking “Be confident in your ability to equate to evlike this is ery hour spent do the work, and you’ll realize that everyone studying being it’s not actually so bad.” values things worth 10 differently. more points.

Some people Elliot Cheung Think about may think it, after spendthat getting ing that first an hour of sports in is worth more than bit of time covering the basics of a subject, sleeping an extra hour. I think that SJS there are only details left to study, and after kids tend to put too much value on grades. that, the details get more specific and nitI hear stories of people, totally sane people, picky. I can’t even fathom how little value spending upwards of 10 hours studying for there would be in putting a tenth hour a single quiz. This behavior doesn’t make in, but clearly some SJS students think sense to me. In economics, there is a conit’s worth it. The same concept applies to cept called the law of diminishing returns, working on papers, projects, worksheets

and the like.

This is where the “chill out” mentality comes in. I value leisure and relaxation fairly highly. So much so that if I’m confident in my ability to do fine on a test, I often neglect studying in exchange for sleep or hanging out with friends. I’ve never felt the need to stay up past 2 a.m. for a paper, even if I start writing the day it’s due. In my mind, having less stress is worth more than maybe getting a few more points on my average, not to mention that my sentences become a tad bit incoherent later at night. So maybe my GPA could be higher if I spent more time working or studying, but more value can be found elsewhere.

Another important aspect that I don’t see enough in others is confidence. Or more specifically, confidence that everything is going to be fine. Too often people stress out because they don’t think they’ll be able to finish all their work, then end up doing it all with plenty of time to spare. So much unnecessary stress is generated because people don’t trust themselves to handle things. Be confident in your ability to do the work, and you’ll realize it’s not actually so bad.

I don’t mean to say that everyone should stop studying and slack off. There’s a balance that’s different for everyone, and it’s hard to find. Maybe you’re one of those people that have no problem working long hours or perhaps even find satisfaction in it. I applaud that. Everyone is different. Some people can’t stand not being productive. I am not one of those. People might say I’m more on the lazy side of the spectrum, and I can’t really refute that, but I got through SJS with pretty solid marks and got into some good schools, so I’m not complaining. I’m not saying I recommend trying to be me, because that’s a pretty foolish idea. I do, however, think that if you find yourself cracking under the SJS workload, you should consider rethinking how you value the different aspects of your life. Try and relax more. Lighten your workload. Chill out.

DISCUSSING THE UNDISCUSSED

Sexual assault, an issue too serious to ignore

by Rebecca Chen

Maybe you hate feminists and their tirades about seemingly inconsequential issues such as girls wearing pants. Maybe you believe that avoiding sketchy characters and unsafe locales can prevent sexual assault. Maybe you think that rape is a heinous offense but don’t think it would ever happen to you.

Yet sexual assault is an all-too-real crime that affects us all.

Guys, please don’t stop reading this article just because you think WHEE has this issue covered. Girls, please don’t hate on males for these crimes and think this article will do the same.

I’m writing because I believe that we have a distorted view of sexual assault.

Many of us believe that sexual assault

could not happen to any of us and view the recent stories about college experiences as extreme events.

We are wrong.

Sexual assault has happened to people on this campus who must live with the consequences every day. No SJS bubble will protect us in the future, and in fact this bubble has also already ruptured for some.

The prestigious universities that most of us aspire to attend are not safe havens either; widely publicized tales of sexual assault have arisen from institutions such as Harvard and Yale. Worst of all, these tales reveal not only the prominence of sexual assault, but administrations’ responses to these assaults.

Colleges across the nation have refused to take adequate measures to protect the victims of sexual assault. Harvard’s policy did not define one student’s rape as sexual assault and would not reassign her rapist to a different House. Amherst College would not even allow the victim to switch dorms and committed her to a psychiatric ward.

People have picked up on this trend, and we should not ignore it either. Even BuzzFeed has an article about students who are suing a college over its mishandling of

several rape cases. Sexual assault was never an issue to ignore or put aside, but the pervasiveness of these accounts should signal for all of us, female and male, to act like the mature, well-educated and understanding people I know we are.

We should be enraged that sexual assault survivors have been mistreated by their administrators and also scared that the same thing could happen to us. I think most of us know the stats by now--two-thirds of victims know their assaulters, women have a one-in-five chance of being raped, and more than 50 percent of rapes are never reported--but do we also realize that a whopping 97 percent of rapists never spend a day in jail? And that a rape occurs every two minutes?

Sexual assault is a more prevalent and unpunished crime than we think. We need to open our eyes to this frightening reality and take action. Some of you may scoff at this possibility and doubt our ability to help (we’re only high school students!

We can’t do anything) but that school of thought seems to condone the limited amount of aid that institutions have provided sexual assault victims.

Yes, sexual assault may not occur regu-

larly on the SJS campus, but, as we have all seen, it does take place on college campuses. In a few short years, we will be setting foot on these campuses and entrusting administrations that do not have a great rep with handling sexual assault to protect us and fight for our safety. School regulations are usually ingrained in colleges for decades, so we cannot expect that these regulations will be changed on their own in time for us to benefit. Instead, we have to show that we consider sexual assault a serious crime and value the protection of the witness over some out-dated rules.

Articles like this opinions piece and the many college-students’ accounts are not enough to foster change. Instead, these articles should fuel a motivation to do all we can to modify the way sexual assault is viewed and the victims are treated. We can write to our congressmen, regulate our use of rape terms, promote discussions that include both genders, and so much more--we can do anything we want, but the point is that we should be doing something. What good is a democracy when its citizens don’t seize the opportunity to change their society?

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

12

SPORTS GETTING SWOLE

Weight room warriors amass self-confidence

by Irene Vazquez

O

n a typical weekday afternoon, the loud voices and pounding bass lines that permeate the weight room can be heard all the way down the hall. Even athletes from sports not traditionally associated with strength training can be found in the weight room throughout the year.

Students train in the weight room as part of sports practice or to work out on their own. Director of Strength Training and Conditioning Virgil Campbell helps athletes and coaches to develop programs unique to each sport.

“If you want to be the best, you have to pay a price,” Campbell said. “Some are more willing than others.”

Many athletes indicate that the fear of judgment from stronger athletes, regardless of gender or age, can hinder their use of the weight room.

“I feel judged when I bench half or a third as much as some guy in there, but that’s normal,” a sophomore girl said. “I take satisfaction in judging my friends who bench a lot less than I do. The weight room is just a place of intense judgment for everyone.”

Some try not to take note of other athletes in the weight room and instead concentrate on their own workout.

“It’s really about focusing on what you can do and not what those around you can do,” sophomore softball player Emma Wertheimer said.

Athletes agree that hard work is the most important value in the weight room.

“People judge based on whether or not you’re working hard, not how much you’re lifting,” junior wrestler Jerald Barbe said.

Overall, the general atmosphere is a positive one.

“I just make sure that I treat everybody with kindness and respect so that they will feel valued and continue to want to strive to get better,” Campbell said.

Though many athletes are productive in the weight room, some students feel that barriers of either age or gender prevent them from getting work done.

“Sure, everyone can use all the machines, but I feel timid for some reason,” the sophomore girl said. “I usually try to use the machines towards the back or in the side hallway. I’m usually afraid of [angering] some football or wrestling guy by hogging a machine doing weakling weights.”

Some say that girls would rather go to the weight room as part of a structured team practice or with friends.

“During lunch when we go, it’s 100 percent female, because it’s just me and

ANNA HUANG

Bro, do you even lift? Eighth grade student Eli Desjardins, who plays lacrosse, trains in the weight room after school. Under the guidance of Director of Strength Training and Conditioning Virgil Campbell, athletes in any sport can improve their physical strength.

a friend,” sophomore runner Margaret said. “It’s just a general feeling that a guy Trautner said. “When we go after school, could crush me with his bare hands.” it’s about a 40:60 ratio, but it’s more if we Another freshman boy notes that this take a group of girls. We don’t really like to sense of intimidation initially hindered his go in alone.” productivity.

Female athletes may also feel like they do “After you’re in the weight room a not belong in the weight room. while you not only build muscle but also “I feel uncomfortable because I feel like self-confidence,” he said. “With this, you I’m barging in since weights are probably can overcome any intimidation you feel.” more important to sports like football than Though sports like football and wrestling they are to sports like track,” the anonymay put emphasis on strength and condimous sophomore girl said. tioning, male athletes are not without inse“I try to push myself, but then I just curities in the weight room. In addition to look stupid when I can’t lift it over my team practice, many male students who are head,” not athletes can freshman be found in the field hockey weight room. and softball “I suppose “It’s really about focusing on player Elysa it’s societal Tulek said. pressures and what you can do and not what “It kind of image issues that those around you can do.” makes me make guys more afraid to inclined to go push myself Emma Wertheimer in by themselves at the same and lift,” junior time because Joe Kang said.

I’m afraid to look like I’m weak.”

“That and the prospect of Summerfest seaOthers feel out of place in the weight son where wearing tanks or going shirtless room because of their age. are necessities.”

“All these older boys are in the weight Many agree that the desire to work out room and know what they’re doing,” fresh- stems from the desire to fit a certain socieman softball player Lauren Biegel said. tal standard.

“Generally, I’m a little clueless.”

“I think that guys believe that big Some people cite strength as a factor that muscles are attractive on them,” sophointimidates them. more volleyball player Hunter Hasley said.

“I’m not that strong, so when I see guys “Most girls are just not as interested in curling ridiculous amounts of weight, I’m getting buff.” intimidated,” an anonymous freshman boy Football players display a chart in the

weight room showing who attended morning workouts, dubbed Gorillas. Sometimes non-football players may attend, but the program is focused on ensuring adequate strength for football.

“It’s technically optional, but a lot of people go to get ready for the season,” junior Stephen Wang said. “They have Gorillas to maintain shape throughout the offseason.”

Junior Daniel Leebron said, “It’s also a point of pride for those who regularly go, as it shows your dedication to the team.”

Some girls feel that other females in the weight room put pressure on them.

“Sometimes, I feel as if the girls judge me for taking weights seriously and not talking to other girls in the weight room like some other girls do,” sophomore runner Lillian Chen said.

Some athletes, however, feel that these expectations deter from the work that needs to get done.

“Some people aren’t motivated and go in there not knowing what they are doing,” a freshman boy said. “They’re in there because they feel external pressures to be in there. The self-motivated person always has the advantage over the person relying on others for validation.”

Freshman football player Byrn Ledbetter notes that the pressure from the coaches and other teammates can affect the quantity and quality of work in the weight room.

“It’s just natural for males to compete,” freshman Gregory Estrera said. “One way to compete is to try to get stronger.”

Upon further review Boys’ Lacrosse

19

Consecutive years that boys’ lacrosse has taken spring break trips.

The tradition began in 1995 and allows the team to bond early in the season.

This year, the team traveled to Newport Beach, Calif., for four days and played other high school teams in southern California. Last year, the team traveled to North Carolina.

189

Total points scored by the team over the season.

The team has played a total of 19 games, including four games on the spring break trip.

Junior Peter Cordill was the highest scorer on the team with a total of 36 points this season. Sophomore Trey Lewis had the highest shooting percentage, 66 percent.

14

Number of players the team graduated last year.

“I hope that players grow together as a team, trusting each other to do their job,” Head Coach Sam Chambers said. “Each season brings together a new mix of players. We hope to get a better idea of who we are and how to execute our system, usually through better communication.”

JAKE NYQUIST

Taking control Captain Carl Bernicker reaches for the ball in a home lacrosse game. The team’s final record was 7-8.

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

13

SPORTS BATTER UP

Softball team seeks championship double play Squad clinches firstseed position in South Zone heading into SPC

by Christian Maines

Striking out 17 of the 21 batters she faced, sophomore Anna Brooks Pascha helped usher the softball team to victory against Houston Christian and clinch the top spot in South Zone.

“We lost five seniors last year and a lot of talent, but what is so exciting are our four freshmen who are doing a great job filling big roles,” captain Meredith Lloyd said.

The softball team consists of fourteen players, including three senior captains and seven underclassmen. Besides Pascha, other standouts include sophomore Jessica Vlasek and junior Rebecca Reza.

“Jessica is a powerful hitter and a very dependable player,” captain Helene Snyder said.

All team members will need to work together for success in the Southern Preparatory Conference (SPC).

“One of our main strengths is the way we support and lift each other up. We play not for ourselves but for our teammates,” Lloyd said. “I know that if I make a bad throw, the person on the receiving end is going to do everything they can to make a great play and pick me up. This trust is key to the mental game as well.”

Before winning SPC last year, softball had their last victory in 1996. The team has high hopes to defend their champion-

JARED MARGOLIS

Eyes on the prize Junior Rebecca Reza looks to make an out at second base in the 2-1 win against Episcopal, April 16. The softball team, which ended the season with a 6-1 record, heads into the SPC tournament, May 2 and 3, as the first seed in South Zone.

ship title.

“As of now, we are 2-0 in SPC counter games,” Snyder said. “I think we’re in really good standing—we have a really good pitcher, solid fielders, solid hits, and we have a really good team,” Snyder said.

Yet the team knows that they cannot slack off now.

“Moving into the SPC tournament, it will be important to instill some kind of urgency into the team, that refusal to lose and drive to win,” Lloyd said.

The softball practices throws, fielding and batting positions.

“There are always areas to work on: offense, defense, pitching, hitting, etcetera.

We don’t ever stress one area more than another,” Coach Dan Muschalik said.

Outside of school practice, nine out of the fourteen players on the softball team play on summer and fall club softball teams.

“Our strength is the overall experience of each team member and coach in softball,”

Muschalik said. “All of our team members have either started playing in middle school or have played competitively outside of St. John’s.”

The SPC tournament will take place on May 2 and 3.

“Winning SPC with the majority of the returning team from 2013 is memorable, and we look to add another one in 2014,” Muschalik said.

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

14

ODDS & ENDS

Extras ANNA HUANG

Starry night The campus was transformed into an artist’s haven to host the Independent School Association of the Southwest (ISAS) arts festival on April 3-5 with lights decorating the outside of the VST. Students participating in different art disciplines ranging from photography to dance along with student, parent and faculty volunteers attended the festival.

Sixty Seconds

SAVE THE DATE

with Emma and James Boehme

April 30 Final Assembly in the Lowe Theater

We filmed freshmen Emma and James Boehme’s responses to our 60 seconds, and they will appear on The Review Online.

Name Emma Boehme | James Boehme Grade 9 | the square root of a question mark State of mind human | 72-year-old man trapped in a teenager’s body Known for Yaaas | my sonorous voice Color Crimson | Purple, the color of royalty Happiness is an emotion | ALL HAIL THE GLOW CLOUD Misery is also an emotion | having to figure out what these questions mean Sports team No | Varsity P. E. Olympic sport Figure Skating | Olympic-level not caring about the Olympics Fav spot on campus Quad | Mr. Garmon’s office Dream date April 11 | Are you coming on to me?

Relationship status Twin | Married to myself

Comfort food Freebirds | John Peter’s Oranjuice Hate to love James | my sister (Emma) Love to hate Ignorant people | my sister (Emma) Guilty pleasure Freebirds | innocent displeasure Cafeteria food idk | a bagged lunch Place to live Greenland | existence I wish I were a panda | that this list of questions was shorter Treasured possession Freebirds | My “Welcome to Nightvale” t-shirt The best thing Freebirds | “Welcome to Nightvale” Spirit animal Sophia Chang | Khoshekh Zoo Animal Red Pandas | -Hero -- | Tamika Flynn Superpower Passive Agression | The ability to silence people TV show Workaholics or New Girl | GAME OF THRONES Movie Grand Budapest Hotel | Driving Miss Daisy Book The Great Gatsby | not Never Let

Me Go Fictional Character -- | Hyrem McDaniels Phobia feet | Hylophobia Video Game Legend of Zelda: Windwaker | Dark Souls Stress reliever music | listening to show tunes Motto “Life is a thing” -Emma Boehme | Nope.

Sing in the shower? I prefer baths | Absolutely Website Buzzfeed | computerpowertest. com Hidden Talent I can lick my clavicle | None. Why hide your talents?

Doppelganger Sophia Chang | Myself.

Don’t trust the imposter I am tired | dandy Anthem Stronger than Me | Razzle Dazzle I’d rather not | not Secretly -- | a minotaur Item of Clothing shirt | my ITS sweatshirt Follow us? I guess | No. Social media is silly

Mr. Elliott: “Canada has made overpasses above freeways so that elk can migrate.”

Lauren Hodgson: “Awww. They would.”

George Davies discusses his future plans in Astronomy You’ve never looked at the voltage on the side of your calculator batteries? You need to take some No. 2 pencils and stab your eyes out.

AP Biology discusses Canadian kindness towards animals Luke Kramer: “Can I ask a question?”

Dr. Peterson: “Of course. You raised your hand. The world is your oyster.”

Mr. Carr teaches a physics class about voltage

By the numbers

APUSH receives pearls of wisdom from Dr. Peterson

AP Exams to be taken by SJS students

May Day Synthesis papers due for Juniors and Seniors Last day of school and College T-shirt Day (for Seniors)

2

Spring SPC in Dallas Baseball vs. St. Mark’s, 9 a.m.

Boys’ tennis vs. Oakridge, 9 a.m.

Girls’ lacrosse vs. Greenhill or Houston Christian, 1:00 p.m.

Softball vs. Casady, 11:30 a.m.

Girls’ tennis vs. All Saints, 11 a.m.

Track and Field events all day

3

Spring SPC Finals (Check @SJS_Review on Twitter for score updates and game times) Special Olympics

4

Star Wars Day (May the Fourth be with you)

Word for word Soundbites around campus Well, I would like to be the ruler of a small, post-apocalyptic kingdom, but that probably won’t happen.

May 1

5

Cinco de Mayo AP Exams begin

It’s like balls in an urn, but it’s not actually balls in an urn, but it really is balls in an urn because everything is balls in an urn.

Dr. Sharp discusses a review problem in AP Statistics As your velocity changes, so does your mass. That’s right, relativity makes the Catholic rituals pretty freaky.

Mr. Turk discusses relativity with Honors Physics

6

National Teacher Day

7

Academic Awards Ceremony, 4:15 p.m. in the Lowe Theater

11

Mother’s Day National Eat What You Want Day

15

Athletics Awards Ceremony, 6:308:30 p.m. in the Lowe Theater

16

749

National Bike to Work Day French Symposium Showcase, VST during lunch AP Exams end Senior Dinner

17

Armed Forces Day Kantorei performs in Zilka Hall at 7:00 p.m.

JAKE NYQUIST

APRIL 2014 THE REVIEW

15

ODDS & ENDS

Blast from the Past

Reflecting on running with biology teacher Paula Angus Girls today have many more sports teams to choose from than I had in high school.

My choices were limited to volleyball, basketball and track.

My nickname “Twiggy” explains my lack of talent in volleyball and basketball, so track was my natural choice.

After doing some research into how to gain endurance, strength and speed, I started sneaking into the “forbidden-to-girls” weight room during a free period. When I was discovered by the girls’ PE coach, Coach Bentley, she gave me a detention, but she later supported my efforts by supervising my workouts.

Running became my passion, and I continued training throughout the summer. I

Charted 

By Tiffany Yue

discovered my real strength was in distance cross country in college. My run has been running and worked with Coach Bentley tempered to a walk in recent years, but I to start a girls’ cross-country team the still reap the same benefits, as I am spurred following fall. on by my FitBit friend group.

In college, I ran cross country and startSome things about high school, college and life in general never change, including ed doing road races during the spring and a good dose of stress. A moderate amount summer. Looking back, my commitment to a team and to myself helped me manage of stress can be motivating and stimulating, but it’s all in how you manage it. my study time, eat healthy and also I encourage students to find kept me from binge drinking at a healthy way to manage frat parties, since I always stress, such as physical volunteered to be the desactivity in the great ignated driver.

Running became my outdoors. As I tell my Did you know? students: “Go outside meditation and my The skeleton in Ms. and play!” stress management as Angus’ room is I went on to letter in

named Clarence



McComic

By Katherine McFarlin

Time

How Seniors Spent Time This Week

ERROR: value too small

Grad Parties

#

Dance Show

Synthesis Papers

Classes

SJSproblems

It’s hot again, and we don’t have an indoor cafeteria. ...

People will steal school supplies more often than money. ...

Taking final exams as a senior. ...

Underclassmen complaining about stress during synthesis paper week. ...

The inner conflict of a second semester senior about whether or not to put effort into school. ...

Not being a second semester senior and having another four weeks until summer begins. ...

Having to post a Facebook status to figure out our SJS Problems each month. ...

Featured Tumblr acceptedco2018 As seniors gear up to head off to their respective colleges, the realization that they will be attending school with thousands of new classmates can be a little overwhelming.

Luckily, it is easier than ever to get to know future roommates and study buddies, especially with Facebook groups for each college’s class of 2018. Maybe this ease of communication is a little too powerful because these outlets make people susceptible to over-sharing, sounding dumb or pretentious, or just posting flat-

out weird things.

The Accepted Class of 2018 Tumblr compiles the strangest and most humorous posts from various Class of 2018 Facebook groups.

Some sample posts include a Northwestern guy enlisting the help of his future classmates to get Ellen DeGeneres to attend prom with him, a future USC Trojan asking if it would be okay to bring tarantulas next year, and a UC Berkeley student asking if Troy Bolton (from High School Musical) was still a Cal student.

THE REVIEW APRIL 2014

16

REARVIEW

1. Harsha Bandi

2. Justin Bernard

baby days

3. Isabelle Metz

6. Stuart Jones

4. Kristen Willson

5. Jack Simmons

Each spring, familiar — though perhaps a tad outdated — faces line the hallways of the Quad as senior baby pictures depict the near graduates from their earlier years. For this photostory, The Review asked seniors to revert to their younger days.

Re-created photos by Jared Margolis