April 2017

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P2 Former Review writer named Pulitzer co-finalist P6 Rock of Ages: A look back at Banana Blender Surprise P13 Should St. John’s abolish grades?

ERIC HANG

Review • St. John’s School • sjsreview.com

2401 Claremont Lane, Houston, TX 77019. Vol. 68. Issue 5 April 19, 2017

TargetingTransgender

How the proposed Bathroom Bill puts Texans in a bind Design by | Jared Margolis Story on Pages 8-9

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News 2

News Briefs

Associate Headmaster search tabled

The search for a new Associate Headmaster will be postponed until next school year, Headmaster Mark Desjardins told faculty via email on April 3.

Five candidates were invited to interview for the position, but according to Desjardins none of the five visiting candidates appeared to be an “ideal fit.”

According to Desjardins, the school’s search consultant and staff benefitted from the visits and were able to gain “valuable insight.” Faculty comments about the visits will help the search consultants find future candidates. Select groups of students interviewed the candidates as well.

“A lot of the candidates asked us what we would change about the school and [about] student-teacher relationships,” freshman Will Heilmann said.

“They were all generally interested in our input.”

Although the search did not yield an Associate Headmaster, Desjardins said he was “grateful for the involvement and constructive input” of those who met with the candidates.

In the fall, the school will conduct a “more focused search effort.” Desjardins added that he is confident that the school “will find the right person to join our community.”

Mavericks win History Bowl The Mavericks took first place at the inaugural History Bowl tournament hosted by St. John’s on April 11.

The winning History Bowl team consisted of seniors Andy Huff and John Kennedy and sophomores Shomik Ghose and Ethan Pesikoff.

Students took charge of organizing the tournament and were aided by faculty sponsor Wendell Zartman.

Huff and Ghose placed first individually in the varsity and junior varsity categories, respectively.

The team will head to the National History Bee and Bowl, April 21-23, in Washington, D.C. “Along with the new experience of administrating a bowl, we were also able to perform well for St. John’s,” Ghose said.

By Eli Maierson, Andrew Duong and Stephen Kim

Review | April 19, 2017

April 24 Synthesis papers due May 3 College T-shirt Day

To see the January 2014 article about Review alum Evan Mintz, check out the Review Online.

JAKE NYQUIST

May 12 Senior Dinner Visit sjsreview.com for daily news updates

Alum named Pulitzer Prize co-finalist By | Irene Vazquez

Evan Mintz (’04) was sitting in the newsroom of the Houston Chronicle as the results of the 2017 Pulitzer awards rolled in. After veteran editorial writer Joe Holley was named as a finalist for editorial writing, Mintz began to look at the winning pieces. Then he realized that he had written two of them.

Executive editor Jeff Cohen verified that Mintz wrote two of the editorials, which appear in print without a byline. They then called the Pulitzer headquarters. A few hours later, Mintz was recognized as a Pulitzer co-finalist.

“It’s like being the field goal kicker on a team that just won the Super Bowl,” Mintz said. “Everyone else did a whole lot of work, but I was there too, and I got some points.”

Holley and Mintz were recognized for a series on gun culture in Texas. Mintz points to Holley’s deep knowledge of Texas history as one of the keys to their success.

“One of the things that made us stand out was that we wrote with a sense of informed moral force,” Mintz said. “The barrier toward guns is political. People have been led to believe, or choose to believe, that there’s some sort of threat to them and that the world will be less safe if their gun ownership is restricted. We try to write to that and explain that something is off.”

Mintz began his journalism career on The Review, writing opinions and helming the paper’s annual satire issue. He credits his St. John’s education for providing a foundation in writing. “[My job] is like a never-ending class where the topic is news in Houston, and every day is a term quiz that I have to write 500 words on,” Mintz said. “I remember US History, and every Friday there’d be a term quiz. You’d have to read up through then and be ready to write. Now that’s just my day.”

One of Mintz’s first and most noteworthy pieces for The Review critiqued Chapel, claiming it did not serve its stated purpose of providing a moral education and that the school could do more by

getting rid of it.

“A lot of alumni did not like that,” Mintz said. “It was funny for me as a 16-year-old getting these letters to the editor from 50-yearolds telling me I didn’t belong at St. John’s.”

The experience proved valuable, teaching Mintz how he could make an impact through writing.

“I could sit there and grumble or try to skip Chapel or suck it up and wait four years,” he said. “Instead I wrote something, and I’d like to think I made a Eric hang change and made people think about the role Evan Mintz’s (‘04) journalism career began at the Review, that Chapel plays.” where he edited the annual satire issue and wrote opinion Mintz later went on to articles. He spoke to Review staffers on April 12.

Rice University, where going on in the city,” Mintz said. “We don’t rehe was executive editor, columnist and Backpage editor for the Thresher. ceive as much media coverage as we used to: He then attended Yeshiva University Law School, We don’t have real, serious radio news outside where he wrote for the student paper, the Car- of NPR, no competing newspapers, and not as dozo Jurist and became the paper’s first editori- many reporters. I try to find any way I can to get al board editor. After returning to Houston, he in-depth knowledge of what’s going on.”

Mintz spoke to Review staffers on April 12 met a Chronicle cartoonist who mentioned that they were in need of a freelance writer during the about his experience writing for the Chronicle holidays. Mintz applied for and got the position, and the lessons he learned.

Mintz noted the differences between writing for freelancing for a year before joining the editorial The Review in his era and writing in the digital board full-time.

Mintz, now the most senior writer on the edito- age.

“I could write things here, and it would never go rial board, covers local politics, the energy indusbeyond the people who read The Review,” Mintz try and some national politics.

When Mintz goes to the office in the morning, said. “It wouldn’t go online, it wouldn’t go anywhere. I imagine if it had, I wouldn’t have been he goes through 60 websites looking for news.

“I’m trying to get real, deep knowledge of what’s able to write the way I wrote.”

SAC modifies prefect election process By | Sophie Caldwell

Fifteen prefect candidates made their case to students on Apr. 18 in the VST. Many of the speeches covered familiar territory — Field Day needs to be fixed (or eliminated), students need someone they can trust to preside over honor trials and everyone claimed to be a good listener.

But beyond the usual political rhetoric and self-effacing jokes, this year’s election assembly was somewhat different.

Head prefect Cameron Cook introduced each candidate, and their names were projected behind them during the speeches. Students voted in advisory, rather than voting in the VST, where they received handouts with pictures of each candidate so that they could better identify them.

Voting during advisory was intended to give students time to contemplate which candidates they felt would best serve the school and reduced the influence of their peers.

“It’s a small thing, but if we’re projecting names and then following up with faces on the handout available in advisory while voting, it might help,” Dean of Students Elisa Inman said.

Students were allowed to vote for as many as seven of the 15 candidates, including one vote for head prefect.

In order to run for head prefect, a candidate must have served on SAC for at least a semester in the Upper School. This year, eight candidates ran for head prefect.

Prefects worked on a plan to further improve the prefect election process but were unable to implement major changes since the student handbook outlining the election code cannot be altered until June.

Future changes may include circulating written, autobiographical statements from each candidate and a primary round of voting.

The four-day weekend preceding the election

prevented senior prefects from revising and publishing written statements from the candidates this year.

According to the student handbook, students can sign up to run for prefect as late as one week before the election, which does not allow enough time to vet the proposed written statements.

According to the prefects, SAC intends to vote on a resolution April 20 that will require prospective candidates to sign up three weeks in advance.

“We’ve brought the prefects back into the process of reviewing the speeches, which has helped,” Inman said. “Peers now give the majority of the feedback, and the group reviewing process, rather than just the dean, seems to work better.”

While many election speeches include comedic aspects, current prefects want to shift the focus of speeches away from humor and toward concrete ideas.

Prefect Camille Dawson said that SAC’s greatest challenge is that many students are unaware of the responsibilities that prefects have. “[Prefects] do a lot more work than people realize,” Inman said.

As in previous years, campaigning was still not allowed in the prefect election. Inman says that campaigning adds pressure to an already a highly competitive process.

“Allowing a campaign season would create new challenges,” Inman said. “We want kids to get to know the candidates and get to know what they stand for, without getting into mudslinging.”

Inman sees these subtle modifications to the prefect election process as a positive.

“These are steps in the right direction for sure, but I hope to see additional changes to the election process down the road,” Inman said.

grace sanders

Prefect candidate Johnny Coudsi outlines his qualifications while mixing in pop culture references.

SJSREVIEW.COM | APRIL 19, 2017

News 3

New Taub facilities allow for greater flexibility

By | Eli Desjardins and Henry Still

Welcome to the greatest show on turf. It’s not the turf.

Ringling Brothers, but the SJS Mavericks.

“The turf has been so well received that now In February, St. John’s completed an $8.5 mil- the school is considering turfing Scotty Caven lion upgrade of the Taub property, including the Field.” Arduini said. “Generally soccer players addition of an outdoor field roughly the size of and coaches don’t like playing on artificial surtwo football fields and a 10,000-square foot in- face, but both boys’ and girls’ soccer didn’t want door facility. Instead of the typical dirt infield of to go back to Caven after practicing at Taub.” a baseball diamond, the entire field, aside from While baseball is the primary focus of the adthe pitcher’s mound, is outfitted with FieldTurf. dition, the origins of the plan did not start with FieldTurf is used by many professional and col- improving baseball facilities. The new St. Luke’s legiate teams, including the University of Texas parking garage forced the baseball facilities to and the Houston Texans. Players and coaches move, and the plan grew from there. have stressed how advantageous the turf has “We always talked about putting the field in been. the corner where Blanco’s used to be,” Arduini “Not getting rained out is huge,” head coach T. said. “The concept of an indoor facility became Riley said. “We get to practice and work out ev- part of the project, and then we decided to exery day no matter what tend the field beyond the weather is.” what a normal baseRecent Athletic Improvements ball field would be.”

The turf has not caused any perforThe new facilities mance issues. accommodate a growRevamped Finnegan Field “Guys have had time ing school and athletto get used to it, and ic program.

Taub Baseball Field Opens we play on turf at oth“We added sixth er schools like Kinkaid, grade athletics this Ligums Practice Facility Opens John Cooper and year, which makes Houston Christian,” four middle school Riley said. “It’s played teams and 50-plustrue, but guys are sliding further when it’s wet.” players, all of whom need one-on-one attenThe outfield features a mobile fence, which can tion,” Riley said. “With the new facilities, be removed during non-baseball seasons, creat- there are more teaching areas, which means ing a full-size field for other sports. more space for kids to work.”

“When you look over at the facilities, you The new facilities will also boost athletic rethink baseball,” Athletic Director Vince Arduini cruitments, demonstrating the school’s attention said. “But it was a multi-sport project.” to athletics.

Football and soccer can also practice on the “If I’m a Lower School or Middle School basenew fields. ball player, and it’s an academic match, I would The Ligums Practice Facility is the biggest up- be very surprised if they weren’t interested in a grade from Taub Field. school like this,” Riley said. “You can see the “When we first started the project, we noted school’s investment in our athletes.” that the indoor ultimately may be used more The upgrades provide athletes with more trainthan the field,” Arduini said. “It’s really changed ing options. the whole dynamic.”

“No matter when, we can get a good practice Five batting cages allow for multiple players in,” pitcher Sachin Jaggi said. “There is always to practice. The batting cages are removable, space to get something done with the new famaking it a viable location for other teams to cilities.” practice during inclement weather.

The Taub upgrade follows a $2 million renovation to Finnegan Field, which added field hockey turf with high-pressure water hoses to create a faster surface.

Coaches across all sports have taken well to

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Senior Daniel Perrier scores a run in a 4-2 win over St. Pius X, March 22. The Taub Field features FieldTurf, which allows athletes to play in all conditions.

CAROLINE RAMIREZ

The new Taub baseball field follows the renovation of Finnegan Field. The Ligums Practice Facility includes indoor batting cages and new locker rooms.

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Features 4

Review | April 19, 2017

Senior Ellie Faraguna is a longtime advocate for women’s health issues. She attended the Houston Women’s March, Jan. 21.

Photo Courtesy of Ellie Faraguna

P5 Senior John Kennedy profits from programming Online Investigating SJS workout culture Visit sjsreview.com for daily news updates

Let’s talk about sex (education) Senior advocates for REproductive health program By | Irene Vazquez

The Lone Star State has the fifth highest teen pregnancy rate in the country. In five Dallas zip codes, as many as one in nine girls aged 15-19 have given birth.

At this time, St. John’s provides no formal sex education in the Upper School, but senior Ellie Faraguna wants to change that.

Faraguna started the year studying women’s health programs in Scientific Research and Design III, a course that allows students to perform and present independent scientific research.

Her preliminary investigations looked into the correlation between pregnancy rates and death rates for women in Texas. She found that the rate of pregnancy-related deaths in Texas doubled from 2010 to 2016, according to a study by the National Center for Biotechnology Information.

As she conducted her research, she realized that she had never received a formal sex education in her seven years at SJS. “We don’t even have an abstinence-only program; we have no program,” Faraguna said.

From there, Faraguna polled her classmates to see if there was public interest in receiving sex education. According to Faraguna, most people said that they would not go out of their way to search for sex education, but they would be open to learning about it should it be available.

From there, she was inspired to create her own proposal for a comprehensive sex education program, which she hopes to caroline ramirez present to administrators before she graduates.

Ob-Gyn Mary Poag (‘89) discusses women’s health and gynecology at a Women Helping Empower St. John’s currently covers sexual and reproductive health Each Other meeting.

Ellie Faraguna is pushing for a more comprehensive sex ed program at SJS. topics in a few disparate areas. In the Middle School, students have a meeting on puberty-related health topics, A second assembly separated by grade but not gender According to the same study, sex ed curricula frequently accompanied by a unit on reproductive systems in the sixth would take place, covering dating violence, rape and disregards education for LGBT+ people. Faraguna hopes grade life science class. personal boundaries. to remedy this problem and plans to include same-sex Last year, the freshmen took Social and Emotional Learning “I’m trying to impart the fact that if kids are having sex education in her proposal. classes (formerly known as Skills Class), then they need to be able to talk about Texas is one of the most dangerous places in the developed though the course was discontinued sex with each world to have a baby. Texas ranks this year. The course covered life skills below Kazakhstan and Libya in Yes, the safest sex is no other,” Faraguna such as time management, identity Planned Parenthood said. terms of keeping pregnant women and sleep. In its previous iteration, the sex. But let me arm you Statistics According to alive, according to the Dallas News. course dealt with sex briefly, but in the with the facts and give Faraguna, many On April 11, Women Helping context of drugs/alcohol and date rape. are Empower Each Other hosted Mary you information so you teachers According to biology teacher 80 supportive of Poag (‘89), an Ob-Gyn and mother Graham Hegeman, the freshman can be safe. percent of Planned Parentproviding sex ed of sophomore Daniel. She took biology course covers human anatomy hood clients who receive to students but questions and talked about women’s including a “relatively cursory” look at services to prevent they anticipate health and gynecology. Poag -Ellie Faraguna the reproductive system. unintended pregnancy resistance from covered defining women’s health “I wish that we did more in biology,” 10,000,000 parents. terms, finding a gynecologist, sex Hegeman said. “At the same time, we have just moved While Faraguna recognizes the and contraception. number of Planned Parentto having less time, so we’re going to end up doing less right that parents have to have their Though those who attended hood activists, supporters [reproductive anatomy] which kind of saddens me.” found the meeting informative, and donors Similar information is dispensed in the Anatomy and children opt out, she hopes that they many girls who wanted to attend Physiology course. Faraguna’s proposal would utilize two will not prevent other students from 2,470,000 participating. were unable to do so because of assembly periods to present students with sex ed. The Faraguna was inspired to take on fine arts commitments during the clients served by Planned assembly period has been used for school-wide assemblies the project by her mother and Cecile DaVinci period.

Parenthood affiliate health on internet safety and drug/alcohol abuse.

More than 600 Richards, the president of Planned Senior Elysa Tulek wanted to Under the new program, the first assembly would be centers in the U.S. attend the meeting but could not Planned Parenthood separated by both grade and gender. It will provide basic Parenthood and daughter of former because she had to attend choir. information on contraception, sexually transmitted diseases Texas Governor Ann Richards. affiliate health cent “My mom has been a really good “I really like the new schedule, and abstinence.

“Yes, the safest sex is no sex,” Faraguna said. “But let me arm advocate for me, and I’ve been able to talk to her about more than I thought I would,” Tulek said. “But my club anything,” Faraguna said. “If people don’t have that attendance has been decimated because of it.” you with the facts and opportunity, they’re Furthermore, because the meeting was hosted by WHEE, give you information so really missing out.” some male students felt discouraged from attending, even you can be safe.”

According to the Texas though the matters on reproductive health are informative Assemblies would be Freedom Network, for both genders. followed up by advisory over 80 percent of meetings in which More than 600 Texas school districts students would fill out taught abstinence-only Planned Parenthood a questionnaire to gauge or no sex education in Annual visits to what students retained affiliate health centers www.plannedparenthood.org the 2015-2016 school from the assembly, what year, which comes after information they already the Texas Legislature’s had and where they get 2009 decision to drop their information. health education as a “It’s important to high school graduation know if people are requirement. The study talking about [sex] at also showed that abstinence-only programs were often less home, if they feel safe talking to people about it, because if effective than no sex ed at all, leading to misinformation that’s not the case, then schoolAnnual should be a place where that Graphics by Ashwini Bandi and Clara Brotzen-smith visits to about gender stereotypes and contraception. information is available,”www.plannedparenthood.org Faraguna said.

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72 million

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Features 5

SJSREVIEW.COM | APRIL 19, 2017

Sophomore wins Linguistics Olympiad, advances to world finals

Senior CEO creates college counseling code

By | Sophie Gillard

GWENDELYN BUTLER

Senior John Kennedy developed software to supplement college counseling programs at public high schools. He also manages a barbeque business and analyzes statistics for the University of Houston men’s basketball team.

By | Manar Ansari and Hrishabh Bhosale John G. Kennedy asks not what his business “We are going to build out a lot of features for can do for him, but what his business can do for them based on what College and Career Readiness his county. would like,” Kennedy said. “They’re a department In 2015, Kennedy founded Mesa Digital with at HISD that has been our champion.” the goal of automating simple tasks through softKennedy is waiting to hear back from the Unitware. Kennedy was freelancing for Scribesense, ed States Department of Education (DoED). The a company that automates grading by allowing DoED is considering paying for the software with teachers to upload tests to a server which then a Race to the Top grant, which funds reforms and scores submitted work. Scribesense put Kennedy innovation in state and local district education. in contact with Chavez High School in HISD. Kennedy began his programming career in midIn HISD, counselors used to have two short dle school, when he sold a calculator program to meetings with students in which they would com- his classmates. By spring break of his sophomore pare student transcripts to Texas graduation re- year, he had built an application that could write quirements and recommend courses for the next a newswire-style story about an NBA game gensemester. erated from the box score and statistics on ESPN. There is a severe shortage of counselors in HISD. “This got me thinking about other applications The national recommendation by the American besides just journalism,” Kennedy said. “There’s a School Counselor Association is 250:1. In HISD, lot of human analysis that people take a long time where 28 schools lack even one counselor, the ra- to do that people mess up; it’s the idea that I starttio is more like 1,800 to one. ed a company around.”

In January 2016, Kennedy Kennedy has received help The fact that I can help from the local entrepreneur began working on his software, Mesa onTime, which 55,000 kids in HISD community and his teachers. automates the role of a school History teacher Joseph Sograduate just boggles liman first met Kennedy in counselor and presents a visumy mind. Schools aren’t eighth grade during basketalized roadmap of the steps to graduation, eliminating hugoing to get any more ball team tryouts. man error and giving coun“He’s brilliant, hardworkefficient. Schools aren’t ing, loves to think outside the selors more time to meet with going to get any less box and find different angles students.

One of the biggest issues to explain different processimportant. that contributes to the dearth es or philosophies,” Soliman of counseling is a lack of said. “He’s a really bright kid -John Kennedy with a great entrepreneurial funding. As a result of falling oil prices and property taxes, mind and a great entrepreHISD lost $162 million for the 2016-2017 school neurial future. I’m excited to see what he does in year. the coming years.”

“We made a deal with Chavez that we would As a Platform R&D intern at data analytics proprovide the software very cheaply if they gave us vider SAS Institute, Kennedy began searching for a lot of feedback and talked to other schools,” sports analytics jobs. Kennedy eventually found an Kennedy said. “Word got around because this is a unpaid position at UH in basketball analytics. problem throughout HISD.” “I don’t love sitting in a room and generating Kennedy was approached by HISD in October algorithms,” Kennedy said. “I love building techto discuss providing the software to every HISD nology that other people can use and get a tangible high school. outcome from, whether it’s a sports game or a high

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school kid trying to graduate.”

Kennedy’s passion for cooking inspired him to start a barbecue business. He caters events for church groups, small businesses and clubs at St. John’s all at no cost to his customers.

“I’ve always loved to cook. Barbecue was a way I could cook and not make a huge mess inside the house,” he said.

Rather than head to college in the fall, Kennedy plans to take a gap year and grow his business. He wants to develop his product, work with different schools and hand off day-to-day operations to his team when he finally goes to college.

“I don’t want to be a businessman in college; I want to be a student,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy recently shipped his software to a school in Denver.

“Schools are built to help kids, they’re not built to run efficiently,” Kennedy said. “If they run efficiently, it’s a side product of helping kids. With that in mind, we can build a lot of software that fixes the structural inefficiencies.”

Kennedy intends to help students graduate.

“The fact that I can help 55,000 kids in HISD graduate just boggles my mind. Schools aren’t going to get any more efficient. Schools aren’t going to get any less important.”

Kennedy values the business experience he has gained with Mesa Digital and plans to continue as an entrepreneur.

“I’d like to start another business,” Kennedy said.

“I’ve got a lot of ideas. I’ve learned a lot, and I’m ready to go.”

Scan the QR code to visit the Mesa Digital Website:

When Susie gets mad, she sends her friend Joe encoded messages using lines of pennies, each of which is either heads up (H) or tails up (T). Given a vague decoding tree, decode the message Susie sent to Joe: TTTTTTHHTTHTTTHHTHTTTHHTT. This question is adapted from a practice problem for the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO).

Stumped? Chances are, sophomore Andy Tockman is not puzzled by the problem.

Tockman won first place in the nation, earning himself a spot on the North American team. This summer, Tockman will compete in Dublin, Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad.

Tockman became interested in linguistics when he discovered constructed languages, or conlangs, which are languages created by humans and not developed naturally.

“The first conlang I learned about was Lojban, which is a completely logical language, and I got interested in linguistics from there because I thought it was such an interesting topic,” Tockman said.

Tockman discovered NACLO with some friends who shared his interest in linguistics.

To prepare for the test, Tockman utilized practice problems that covered topics like translation problems, number problems, writing systems and calendar problems.

On January 26, Tockman and nine other students went to the Headmaster’s conference room to take the first round of the NACLO test, which consisted of eight problems and lasted three hours.

Tockman and sophomore Dhilan Lahoti both made nationals, but Tockman was surprised to learn that he placed first in the country.

“I didn’t know what to think when I heard the news,” Tockman said. “I didn’t think I would get close to that.”

In June, Tockman will compete internationally. North America will send two teams to Dublin, comprised of the top eight scorers on the NACLO test. The teams will solve four individual problems and one team problem.

Tockman has not met his teammates, although they are planning to talk via Skype before the competition. In the meantime, he is doing lots of practice problems.

“It’s hard to study and prepare for the [International Language Olympiad] because it’s really just testing your ability to figure things out,” Tockman said.

More than 40 countries have participated in the competition, which has grown since its inception in 2003. Last year’s Olympiad was held in Mysore, India, with 30 participating countries.

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Culture 6

REVIEW | APRIL 19, 2017

April 21-22 Dance concert

To hear some of Banana Blender Surprise’s greatest hits, go to the Review Online.

April 24 Spring choral concert April 28-29 Frida Kahlo Fest on the Esplanade on Navigation

Culture in brief

Mavs shine at French Symposium While most upperclassmen were primping and attending prom, 28 French students travelled to Atascocita High School to compete at the Texas French Symposium on March 31 and April 1.

St. John’s placed second overall in the small school division.

Only one upperclassman, senior Irene Vazquez, competed.

“I’m really glad I could go,” Vazquez said. “I’ve competed every year, and it meant a lot to me to be able to attend this year and nab some first place medals.”

Vazquez and sophomores Sophie Gillard and Sara Lichtarge left early to attend prom. Vazquez notched first place wins in civilization and listening comprehension while Gillard took second in sight reading.

Sophomore Vivek Kapur placed first in guided speaking. Kapur competed at Level 5/6 despite taking French III at school because he has lived in France.

Other first place winners included freshman Mia Fares (listening comprehension) and sophomores Lucian Bennett-Brandt (piano solo), Joshua Tsai (grammar), Catherine Gorman (vocabulary), Raunak Kundagrami (guided speaking and listening comprehension) and Tara Samson-Williams (civilization).

Fine Arts travel to Oklahoma for ISAS For the 50th annual ISAS Fine Arts Festival, 29 students flew to the Casady School in Oklahoma. Over 3,000 participants from 40 schools attended from April 6 – 8.

Students in photography as well as 2D and 3D art had their work adjudicated by local art professionals and participated in workshops ranging from embroidery to screen printing.

Students also enjoyed performances from other schools, such as Kinkaid’s performance of “Into the Woods” and coffeehouse performances hosted by various schools throughout the three days.

Two theatre productions showcased scenes from fulllength plays as well as a oneact play, “Eurydice” by Sarah Ruhl. To accommodate festival requirements, the play was cut down to 45 minutes.

Briefs by Eli Maierson

PHOTOS COURTESY OF GERARD CHOUCROUN

Members of Banana Blender Surprise lounge next to their brown Suburban, the Brown Chariot. Band members included (from left to right) Jason Barker (‘89), Allen Hill, Conrad Choucroun (‘94), David Beebe and Gerard Choucroun (‘89). Gerard, Barker, Brown and John Amonett (‘89) teamed up in seventh grade but shot to popularity when they won a Houston-area competition their senior year.

Banana Blender band legacy lives on

By | Isabelle Andrews

It was Mardi Gras in New Orleans.

1998.

Houston band Banana Blender Surprise entertained a crowd awaiting rock ‘n’ roll legend Chuck Berry, who was nowhere to be found.

Banana Blender, as they are known to their fans, was a familiar name at St. John’s. Most of the group graduated from SJS and they garnered a cult-like following in Houston in the 90s.

Chuck Berry, who died March 18 at the age of 90, finally arrived in a rented Lincoln Town Car. “His guitar sounded like the loudest ball of mud you have ever heard,” guitarist Gerard Choucroun (’89) said. “He was a cantankerous dude.”

While they once served as the backing band for a music legend, Banana Blender’s origin was more modest.

In seventh grade, Choucroun teamed up with guitarist Jason Barker, drummer Shannon Brown, bassist John Amonett (all ’89) and singer David Beebe, who attended St. John’s but went to Lamar after his sophomore year. Bassist Allen Hill joined after graduating high school and Gerard’s brother, drummer Conrad Choucroun (’94), joined when the rest of the band was away at college.

Banana Blender’s path to popularity began their senior year, when they won a Houston-area Battle of the Bands contest hosted by 101 KLOL, a popular station at the time. The grand prizes were a trip to Los Angeles that they never took, a Charvel guitar and valuable recording studio time, which allowed them to complete their first album.

In keeping with the band’s name, most of the songs on their debut album are about food. While other popular rock bands at the time like R.E.M. and U2 had a distinctly angsty feel, Banana Blender took a lighter approach. Some of their favorite artists included the Beatles and the Fabulous Thunderbirds, an

Austin-based blues rock band that delivered the Top 10 hit “Tuff Enuff” in 1986.

The band’s lyrics hold a deeper meaning for songwriter Gerard.

“We knew we were well-off kids at St. John’s, and for us to be too emo felt insincere,” he said. “We were not suffering, and for us to play music about suffering seemed inauthentic, like we were being poseurs.”

According to Barker, inspiration stemmed not only from the group’s favorite artists but also from their high school experiences. Their song “Barbecue” was inspired by a woman who pronounced the word as ‘ba-bacoo.’

“At some point, Conrad kept saying ‘ba-ba-coo, ba-ba-coo, ba-bacoo,’ with some weird beat to it,” Gerard said. “It got stuck in my head, so I wrote some music to it.”

Banana Blender’s carefree sound reflects the personalities of its members.

“We didn’t take ourselves very seriously,” Barker said. “It was just clean, outrageous fun.”

The band did not rely on drugs or alcohol for their infectious energy — even if it seemed like they did. According to Beebe, their 1980 Brown Chevy Suburban — fondly nicknamed the Brown Chariot — got pulled over multiple times because of how weird they looked, but they were only “hopped up on RC Cola and coffee.”

Perhaps the group’s caffeine intake led to their marathon gigs, each of which was three to six hours long.

The longest concert they played was a whopping nine hours, but they did not play music the entire time.

Instead, every band member had a “solo spot.” For example, Barker did a “cheese lecture,” and the band set aside 45 minutes for a “Lecture by David” in which Beebe wrote a few pages of 30 topics and issues that he wanted to discuss. He only got through the first one.

Banana Blender Surprise performed at the Royal Crown Club.

They played their final gig in 2006 but are still involved in music.

With the exception of the ninehour show, Banana Blender would play their shows with no breaks.

“I mean, what happens during the break?” Beebe said. “People leave, and you wind down. Why you wanna wind down?”

In 1995, Banana Blender played their last gig as a full-time band.

They did not stop touring because of a falling-out between the members, but because Barker was going to attend medical school and Conrad was headed off to college. The band still played some shows until 2006, when Beebe needed vocal surgery and decided to finally take a break.

Today, several members of Banana Blender still work in the music industry, and those who do not still play for fun.

Conrad is a professional musician.

In March, he participated in South

by Southwest, where he was in the house band and played with every artist except Brownout and Grupo Fantasma.

Hill performs with the Allen Oldies Band, which has been part of the Houston music scene for the past 20 years. He also runs a music agency for local bands.

Gerard is a social worker at Presi-

dio Trust, a veterans’ program in San Francisco. He still writes songs, even if they are just for his children.

Barker works as an associate professor of infectious diseases at the University of Iowa. In his free time, he plays guitar in his basement.

Beebe never left the pandemonium of the music life. Since moving to Marfa, Texas, Beebe has been the Justice of the Peace in Presidio County.

He owns Boyz2Men, a Marfa food truck serving burgers and tacos. He is also involved in several Houston businesses, including the Continental Club. He is a DJ for Marfa Public Radio and also serves as the local Zapp’s potato chip distributor.

Beebe sometimes gives bass lessons and plays in a duo with “a 70-yearold Mexican dude” who plays guitar and sings.

Banana Blender has no plans to reunite any time soon, but they enjoyed their ride while it lasted.

“People can tell when there’s conviction, people can tell when there’s unity on stage, and when it’s about happiness and food and fun. That’s the best,” Hill said. “Some really great experiences were created by the petri dish of Banana Blender Surprise.”

SJSREVIEW.COM | APRIL 19, 2017

Features 7

Musicians play for prestigious youth symphony

By | Prithvi Krishnarao

The Houston Youth Symphony is regarded as one of the most advanced full-orchestra repertoires on the university and professional level. On April 26, the HYS, which includes six St. John’s students, will be playing alongside the Houston Symphony at Jones Hall.

In 2012, HYS was featured on the National Public Radio’s podcast “From the Top” and has frequently won prestigious national competitions such as The American Prize.

HYS includes roughly 350 musicians from the Greater Houston Area.

Junior Kevin Jung has played cello for the Houston Youth Symphony since third grade.

According to Jung, performing with the symphony is strenuous and requires a significant time investment.

“We get the music two weeks before we first have to start rehearsing it,” Jung said. “We rehearse six to 10 times for three hours each week. It’s about a month of work we put in for each concert.”

Senior Anna Zhu has been playing violin in the HYS for ten years. Zhu enjoys rehearsing with the Houston Symphony and their conductor, Andrés Orozco-Estrada.

“Every two or three years, we do a side-by-side orchestra concert with the Houston Symphony,” Jung said. “It depends on what piece we are

playing, but if we have the same program, then we sometimes play with them, and it’s pretty awesome.”

The Houston Youth Symphony has also performed alongside other professional choirs, bands and symphonies. For their 70th anniversary, the HYS performed with the Rice Choir.

Senior Caroline Witten plays viola and will perform alongside the Houston Symphony for the first time in April due to the past conflicts with Junior Classical League, a Latin competition.

Senior Eric Yang has been playing cello with the Houston Youth Symphony for four years.

“One of my favorite experiences was getting to play in Jones Hall my freshman year,” Yang said. “It was exciting because I had never been on stage with a professional symphony.”

Sophomore David Seo has also been playing violin for the Houston Youth Symphony for four years.

Students who perform for the HYS must strike a balance between rehearsals and school work.

Those who prioritize academics may not see the same progress in their performance.

“I don’t put in as much effort as I could, and as a result, I’m normally towards the bottom, chairing-wise,” Witten said. “I’m okay with

SONIA GRAS

Eric Yang receives a certificate from Strings Ensemble director Penny Meitz. He has played cello in the Houston Youth Symphony for four years.

JARED MARGOLIS

Anna Zhu plays violin for the Houston Youth Symphony; she is one of six musicians who balances schoolwork with performing. that because school is a lot of work, and [the symphony] is not a top priority for me, but I know some people put in a lot of effort and they can see those results.”

Jung practices for an hour and a half every day. He finds that the HYS motivates him to finish his homework earlier on weekends, which allows him to be more productive.

“Sundays are usually when most people do a lot of cramming, but because I have HYS, I do a lot of my work on Saturday so that I have time to go to rehearsal,” Jung said.

Recent HYS seasons have featured music by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler.

The Houston Youth Symphony provides a way for students from different grades and backgrounds to interact.

“Quite a lot of people do HYS from St. John’s, so I get to know people who I otherwise wouldn’t,” Zhu said.

Sophomore Hanson Yu plays cello for the Houston Youth Symphony.

“We have some extra rehearsals just for the Symphony orchestra on weekdays,” Yu said.

“They last two hours and start at 7:30, so they run really late.”

Yu joined the Houston Youth Symphony in eighth grade because he wanted to improve his skills as a cellist and gain more musical experience outside of the school orchestra.

“I really enjoy the relationships I make with new friends and how I can share experiences by creating music with them,” Yu said. “I also enjoy the rigor and challenge of the music, which is also a neat experience because it is a full orchestra and not just a string ensemble.”

“Playing with the Houston Symphony is really humbling because we’re put on the stage with some of the best players in Texas, if not the nation because the Houston Symphony is actually a really high-level performing orchestra,” Yu said.

“It gives me some great insight on how the real world works in terms of playing orchestra or pursuing a musical career.”

Yu also appreciates the experience of playing alongside people who are serious about music, as opposed to people just looking to have fun or to fulfull their fine arts credit in school orchestra.

“It’s just something that I like to do,” Yu said.

Yu intends to continue participating in the Houston Youth Symphony throughout high school.

The Houston Youth Symphony annual Spring Concert is May 7 at the Shepherd School of Music on the campus of Rice University at 7:00 P.M.

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SB6: 8

Transgender

describes people whose gender identity does not conform to what is typically associated with their biological sex

Nonbinary describes a person whose gender identity does not align with a binary understanding of gender (i.e., does not identify fully as either a man or a woman)

Biological Sex refers to a person’s biological status, typically categorized as male, female or intersex

Gender refers to the attitudes, feelings and behaviors that a given culture associates with a person’s biological sex

Gender Dysphoria refers to discomfort or distress that is associated with a discrepancy between a person’s gender identity and biological sex

Cisgender describes a person whose gender identity and gender expression align with their biological sex

Gender Expression presentation of an individual, including physical appearance, clothing choice and behaviors that express aspects of gender identity or role

Gender Identity a person’s inherent sense of being a man, woman or an alternative gender that may or may not correspond to a person’s biological sex Definitions from the American Psychological Association

Review | april 19, 2017

Battle for th Story by Sophie Caldwell Design by Jared Margolis and Ashwini Bandi The names of the students interviewed for this story have been changed to protect their privacy.

If the subject identifies as male or female, we will use he/him or she/her; in all other instances we use they/them. Students attend Houston high schools, not necessarily St. John’s.

For most people, deciding which restroom to use only takes a second of thought, yet for those whose gender identity does not match their biological sex, the experience can be fraught with anxiety.

After losing $1.5 billion dollars due to national boycotts and backlash from the NCAA, the state of North Carolina repealed House Bill 2 (HB2), which banned non-discrimination protections in local municipalities and required people to only use the bathroom that corresponds with their biological sex.

Just as North Carolina attempts to mitigate the damage from the passage of HB2 in 2016, the Texas Legislature is moving full-speed ahead with similar legislation.

On Jan. 5, Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announced the filing of Senate Bill 6 (SB6), which would require people to use the public bathroom that corresponds with their biological sex. SB6 would fine public facilities up to $1,000 for any violations.

‘I Would Just Forget I Was Biologically Female’ Albert is a student who identifies as a transgender male.

“There would be times when I would just forget I was biologically female,” Albert said. “I would always be really disappointed when I remembered, and that was my first sign.”

Biological sex indicates the sex (male or female) one is assigned at birth. Gender identity describes the gender with which one identifies, regardless of biological sex.

An additional element of one’s identity is gender presentation, which is the physical expression of gender through clothing, makeup, hair, pronouns or body language.

Albert grappled with the societal expectations to dress in a feminine manner. He told himself his reluctance was related to immaturity, but dressing like a girl never felt natural.

“I didn’t look like other girls in the way that I dressed, and I thought they were all so comfortable in their own skin,” he said. “Everyone looked like they didn’t have an issue with how they looked, but none of the clothes that I was trying felt right.”

Albert is now more secure in his gender identity, but he still waits until nobody else is around to use the women’s restroom. He often takes odd routes and avoids meeting others while inside.

Albert wants to use the men’s restroom at school, but since he has not told his classmates about his gender identity, he defaults to the restroom that matches the sex on his birth certificate. In public, he tries to avoid restrooms altogether.

SB6 will require people to use the bathroom that corresponds to their biological sex, which means Albert will be legally obligated to use the women’s restroom. If the legislation is enacted, many fear that SB6 will cause unnecessary stress for transgender and nonbinary people. Albert could face additional pressure no matter which restroom he uses.

Albert struggles with gender dysphoria — the feeling that one’s gender does not match the sex of one’s body.

“I have a mental version of what my body should be like, and it’s just so different from reality,” he said. “It’s like someone has photoshopped me and lost the original copy, and I can’t get back what I should be.”

Contending with ‘Overwhelming Femininity’ Devin is a student who identifies as nonbinary, which means that they do not identify as either male or female — their gender is outside the binary.

“It’s difficult to talk to people about it because not that many people identify as nonbinary, so it’s hard for people to relate,” Devin said. “I always get the sense that they understand to some extent but can never know how it really feels.”

Devin also deals with gender dysphoria. When looking in the mirror, Devin feels hopeless that they will ever feel comfortable in their body.

“It is extremely emotionally painful to have this image of yourself, think of the future, and look down at yourself and realize that you are nothing like how you wish you were,” Devin said. “It’s devastating.”

Though uncomfortable using women’s restrooms, Devin uses them out of necessity during school.

“It hasn’t been a huge problem until the introduction of SB6,” Devin said. “I’ve usually been able to make myself go to female bathrooms by sheer force of will. It’s difficult, but I don’t really have a choice.”

When alone in a public restroom, Devin feels less confined.

“I can usually suffer through it, but when there are other people in the bathrooms, it becomes more than just a collection of toilets,” Devin said. “It is a gendered space, a reminder of the overwhelming femininity I have to contend with.”

Making It Harder to Do ‘Basic Things’

the 2016 All-Star Game Orleans in light of Nort tory policies, and the N games in all sports from The 2018 NCAA men games are scheduled to but based on the NCAA olina, the NCAA could m is passed.

Houston just hosted brought in an estimated nue. If the NFL enacted state could lose hundred Republican leadership already accrued $176,00 HB2’s opponents.

The widespread animo olina’s HB2 also led mu Springsteen, Maroon 5 cel their concerts. PayP have scrapped plans to in Charlotte. PayPal’s e would have brought an e in annual revenue.

A group of global inv of more than $13 trillio Management and New Scott M. Stringer, spoke the significant harm to t anticipate.

Joe Straus, Speaker of t resentatives, crossed part likely impact on the Texa According to a recent s as stands to lose $3.3 bil ism and over 35,600 job

Transgender Cat

At St. John’s there are ciated with gender: a fam Devin is not alone in feeling uncomfortable Hall and a single bathr with using the restroom of their biological sex. office.

According to a 2015 survey of transgender peoAs a private school, St. ple, nine percent claim to SB6 have been denied access to Stud restrooms that match their no The only thing [SB6] isregar gender identity and 59 percent have avoided restrooms does is make it harder gend due to fear of being attacked O for people who already or harassed. bina have a hard time get- SJS Nonbinary youth face problems far beyond reting through life to do wide strooms: 75 percent of one of the most basic Near transgender youth feel peop things. unsafe at school, nearly ative 50 percent have seriously ing t thought about suicide and 25 percent reported having trap attempted suicide. a catch-22. Those who Though restrooms are not the only issue affect- they identify as would b ing nonbinary teens, they play an important role bathroom of their biolo in their sense of ostracism. vulnerable to violence. Th “The only thing [SB6] does is make it harder safer if they used the rest for people who already have a hard time getting appearance and gender through life to do one of the most basic things,” would be breaking the la Albert said.

North Carolina rele Advocates of SB6 contend that cisgender men backlash and boycotts, re might dress up as women and enter a female re- which has also been criti stroom to assault women. Despite there being the mandate that people no statistical evidence to support these claims, that corresponds with th Houston voters shot down the anti-discrimina- cludes an order that no tion Houston Equal Rights Ordinance (HERO) tion ordinances can be p in 2015, citing concerns that men would crossMany opponents pro dress and assault women in bathrooms. More- simply a more palatable over, in the event that such an incident should only to placate the NCA occur, sexual assault is illegal, no matter how it tion that increased penal is perpetuated. passed” in “the bathroo was removed from HB1 posed as separate legislat Economic Impact Magazine, “there is noth If passed, SB6 could present serious economic Assembly from extendin ramifications for Texas. North Carolina’s HB2 nondiscrimination ordin prompted a nationwide boycott of many busi- date draws closer.”

In Texas, the pro-SB6 nesses, services and products. The NBA relocated

“ ”

SJSReview.COM | apRil 19, 2017

he bathroom

from Charlotte to New th Carolina’s discriminaNCAA pulled all playoff the state until 2022. n’s basketball Final Four occur in San Antonio, A’s actions in North Carmove those games if SB6

the Super Bowl, which d $500 million in reved a similar boycott, the ds of millions of dollars. p in North Carolina has 00 in legal fees fighting

osity toward North Carusicians including Bruce and Pearl Jam to canPal and Deutsche Bank create hundreds of jobs expansion into the state estimated $20.4 million

vestors with a net worth on, led by Trillium Asset York City Comptroller e out against SB6 due to the Texas economy they

the Texas House of Repty lines to decry the bill’s as economy. study, if SB6 passes, Texllion per annum in tourbs tied to leisure travel.

tch-22

two restrooms not assomily bathroom in Flores room within the nurse’s

. John’s is not affected by 6. According to Dean of dents Elisa Inman, there o current policy in place rding restrooms and der identity.

Outside of school, nonary members of the community could face espread discrimination. rly 70 percent of trans ple have dealt with nege interactions while tryto use the restroom.

If passed, SB6 would transgender people in can pass as the gender be compelled to use the ogical sex, leaving them They would be somewhat troom that matches their identity, but then they aw. ented amidst the HB2 eplacing it with HB142, icized. Though it repeals e must use the bathroom heir biological sex, it infurther anti-discriminapassed until 2020. otested that HB142 was version of HB2, serving AA. Even though a seclties for those who “tresom of the opposite sex” 142, it was soon re-protion. According to Slate hing to stop the General ng this moratorium [on nances] as its expiration

6 political ad campaigns

9

BathroomBills What does the “Bathroom Bill” do?

that paint transgender people as sexual predators could increase the violence and discrimination already directed at transgender people.

Transgender women are almost twice as likely to be victims of physical violence as cisgender women.

The problems that trans people face in restrooms range far beyond Texas. In an interview with Rolling Stone, a middle-aged transgender woman from Virginia said, “My choices are: Go to the women’s room and probably be OK and break the law, or go into a men’s room until someone realizes why I’m there. After they’ve worked so very, very hard to label [us] sexual predators, God only knows what happens when I walk in or when I walk out.”

what will happen if someone in the bathroom suspects that I’m trans.”

If SB6 passes, Frankie is apprehensive that he will face difficulties when trying to use the men’s restroom.

“Legally, it would be much more difficult to exist as a trans person, but it heavily impacts the social aspects of it as well,” he said. “People would be much more willing to be abusive to strangers they suspect of being trans.”

Texans Speak Up

On March 7, a committee of the Texas Senate listened to 21 hours of testimony from proponents and opponents of SB6.

Colt Keo-Meier was one of those opposed. A clinical child psychologist specializing in trans‘Othered’ gender healthcare, Keo-Meier told the commitJesse is a student who identifies as a trans male. tee that the gender identity of both nonbinary He uses the bathroom that corresponds with his and binary people develops between the ages of gender identity while at school, but in public he two and four. He stressed the importance of societal and familial acceptance avoids bathrooms whenfor the wellbeing of trans ever possible. In Texas’s people, citing that 40 percent conservative environment, It already feels just a of trans people have a history Jesse feels “othered.” little scary to be trans of suicide attempts.

“It already feels just a “In terms of transgender little scary to be trans in in Texas, but this is healthcare, we are in an abTexas, but this is the next the next level. It feels solute crisis,” Keo-Meier said. level,” Jesse said. “It feels Keo-Meier is a trans man like the government like the government is tellwho transitioned over 10 ing me that it doesn’t care is telling me that it years ago. When he came out about me.” doesn’t care about me. to his Taekwondo instructor, Jesse’s presence in the at a dojang where he had volmen’s restroom has drawn unteered for 20 years, they glares. He is frustrated by told him that he was no lonwhat he views as a lack of ger welcome to work with children. understanding on the part of the state, especially State Senator Sylvia Garcia, who represents considering their unsubstantiated accusations of District 6, asked Keo-Meier what would prevent sexual violence. “[SB6] disappoints me because it shows me people from falsely claiming to be transgender: that the people pushing this bill really don’t “Could I really say, ‘I’m going to be a man beginknow what it is like to be trans or what being ning tomorrow. Everybody call me Sylvester’?”

“That’s one of the most common miscontrans means.” ceptions,” Keo-Meier replied before explaining to Garcia the rigorous process of confirming a Upholding “Common Decency” child’s gender, which includes a full psychological evaluation, documentation of the “insistenIn an official statement on Jan. 5, Texas Lt. cy, consistency and persistency” of their gender Gov. Patrick maintained that he supports SB6 identity and individual collaboration between because it upholds “common decency.” the parents and the school to ensure safety for all.

“This issue is not about discrimination — it’s According to Keo-Meier, who is working toabout public safety, protecting businesses and ward his M.D., if SB6 passes he will no longer common sense,” Patrick said. be able to attend medical school at UTMB-GalPatrick added that the bill, filed by Senator veston because he will be barred from using the Lois Kolkhorst (R – Brenham), was supported men’s restroom. by “an overwhelming majority of Texans.” SB6 On March 15, the committee voted in favor of has come under fire from LGBT+ groups for the SB6, eight to one. discriminatory nature of the bill.

“ ”

Frustrating and Disheartening Frankie, a male trans student, worries that the persecution of transgender students will increase if SB6 passes.

“It’s bad enough being harassed or penalized for trying to use a public restroom, but in schools there’s another level,” he said. “If a trans kid is being forced to use the restroom of the gender they aren’t, their identity is being invalidated.”

In middle school, Frankie had to use the girls’ locker room, an experience he found both frustrating and disheartening.

“It often made me feel like no one was listening to me, and [the school’s] only understanding of me came from the district paperwork,” he said.

Frankie’s high school allows him to use the men’s restroom, and he is far enough along in his transition from female to male that he is not questioned in public restrooms. Even in the early stages of his transition, he used the men’s restroom in public.

“I feel safer in the men’s bathroom the less I look like a girl, so I’ve gotten much more comfortable,” he said, “but I still worry all the time

SB6 requires that people use the bathroom that corresponds with their biological sex.

National Implications As SB6 made its way through the Texas legislature, President Trump was busy rescinding federal protections for transgender students, despite nationwide protests and initial resistance from Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos. Each state will be allowed to determine whether transgender students can use the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity.

In a statement on Feb. 22, DeVos supported Trump’s decision while emphasizing their duty to defend the rights of all students.

“We have a responsibility to protect every student in America and ensure that they have the freedom to learn and thrive in a safe and trusted environment,” DeVos said. “This is not merely a federal mandate, but a moral obligation no individual, school, district or state can abdicate.”

Jesse, however, does not feel protected by legislators.

“I am a person just like them, who loves their family and admires the bluebonnets on the side of the highway just like them,” Jesse said. “I just want to know that the state accepts me.”

SB6 defines biological sex as “the physical condition of being male or female, which is stated on a person’s birth certificate.”

SB6 will require school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt a policy that multi-occupancy bathroom facilities and changing rooms can only be used and are designated to be used based on biological sex.

Schools can provide accommodations, but those accommodations cannot include allowing a student to use a multi-occupancy bathroom designated for the opposite sex.

A public entity in violation of SB6 will face a minimum penalty of $1,000 for the first offense and $10,000 for the second violations and subsequent violations.

“Bathroom Bills” around the country

Pro-LGBT Legislation

Anti-LGBT Legislation

S Sports 10

REVIEW | APRIL 19, 2017

April 21-22 Boys lax SPC

Spring Sports Highlights

Tennis: Boys beat Kinkaid for the first time in 15 years Softball: Captain Alex Jones signs her National Letter of Intent for the University of Houston Track and Field: Boys’ 4x100 breaks own record Lacrosse: Girls’ lax notches big win against Episcopal, 18-8 Baseball: Taub Field opens

April 27-29 Spring SPC May 11 Maverick Awards Ceremony Visit @SJS_Review for breaking sport scores

Sports Shorts Kinkaid gets served by boys’ tennis Boys’ tennis is currently 4-0 in SPC, having beaten the John Cooper School, St. Stephen’s, St. Andrews and most notably Kinkaid. The last time the team beat Kinkaid was 2002.

Former boys’ lacrosse coach Sam Chambers now assists head tennis coach Steve Gleaves.

Chambers and Gleaves have implemented a new focus for practices revolving around volleying drills and communication among the doubles teams.

Much of these new developments have been dubbed “operation net.”

“Operation net” consists of serving and quickly getting to the net in order to end points efficiently.

Lead by senior captains Jared Aiman and Grayson Christ, the team is currently second seed in South Zone.

Girls’ tennis approaches net, SPC Senior Emma Shea and junior Hannah Johnston co-captain the team, which is currently 3-1 and tied for second in South Zone.

The team recently initiated Sunday practices to gain an edge over the competition.

The Maverick lineup includes sophomore Sophia Huynh at line one singles, Johnston at line two singles and freshman Katherine Johnston at line three singles.

The line one doubles team is made up of Shea and sophomore Leanna Shebib and line two doubles is sophomore Shelby Jordan and freshman Sara Doyle.

This team is no exception to the trend of an increasing amount of underclassmen on varsity sports with only two upperclassmen starting in league matches.

STEPHEN KIM AND CLARA BROTZEN-SMITH JOE GOBILLOT, BASEBALL (PHOTO BY JARED MARGOLIS), ERIC LEE, TENNIS (PHOTO BY ASHWINI BANDI), LAUREL WILLIAMSON, TRACK (PHOTO BY ELLIE FARAGUNA), JULIA WALLER, SOFTBALL (PHOTO BY ERIC HANG)

SPC Forecast GIRLS’ LACROSSE

SOFTBALL

GIRLS’ TRACK

GIRLS’ GOLF

Heading into playoff season with a 10-2 record, the Mavs will face Cy Fair in the city quarterfinals on April 19.

Leading scorers include junior Audrey Ledbetter and seniors Kate and Carson Copeland.

The defensive core is made up of senior Reese Vogel, sophomore Alexandra Lewis and junior Avery Morris.

The Mavericks are 6-8 with shutout wins over John Cooper, Kinkaid and St. Andrew’s.

On April 13, senior captain Alex Jones committed to play at the University of Houston; later that night she hit a home run in a 10-0 win against St. Andrew’s.

Junior Laurel McKelvey has also been a standout performers.

The Mavs are working towards their first SPC championship since 2013.

Senior Peyton Brown broke the school’s 3200 meter record with a time of 10:367. Brown is committed to run cross country at Princeton next fall.

Senior Katie Hasley broke her own discus school record in three consecutive meets.

Captains Olivia Zhang and Grace Wilson will lead the charge into SPC. In the most recent tournament held at the Cypresswood golf course, the team proved victorious. Cypresswood will also host SPC April 24-25.

The team’s low scorers are freshmen Christine Wang and Denise Pan. Wang’s scoring average is 71.8, while Pan’s average is 78.2.

BOYS’ TRACK

BOYS’ GOLF

The Mavs are looking to win SPC for the second consecutive year.

The Mavericks have had a record-breaking season. Sophomore Genson Hooper-Price broke the 100m and 400m school records with times of 10.74 and 49.37 seconds, respectively. The 4x100 relay team broke the school record at the Rice Victor Lopez Classic.

Seniors Christian Maines and John Kennedy captain boys’ golf. The Mavericks head into SPC with strong showings from new players.

New key players include senior Alex Ramzel as well as freshmen Stuart Wallace and Knox Suman. Junior Gregory Dayao has made consistent appearances in the tournaments leading up to SPC as well.

BOYS’ LACROSSE

By Sadde Mohamed

For breaking sports scores, follow @SJS_Review

Senior captains Wheeler Gibson and Byrn Ledbetter lead the Mavericks into the SPC tournament with a a 7-8 record.

Juniors Brock Cannon and Charles Sampson are the stalwarts of the Maverick defense and offense, respectively.

New head coach David Cohn heads the team. They depart for SPC in Dallas on April 21 and 22.

BASEBALL The team beat the West Houston Thunder on Senior Night April 13 with a walk off hit by junior Dylan May. The Mavs have a 11-9-1 record leading up to two counter games against St. Andrew’s and St. Stephen’s this week.

Third baseman Rob Wallace and second baseman Matthew Guyton’s strong all-around performance have complemented senior Joe Gobillot’s pitching.

Sports 11

sjsReview.com | april 19, 2017

Marx adds decathlon to athletic repertoire By | Saswat Pati

In March 2016, junior track captain Will “As a coach, you always have to adapt to the Marx met Ashton Eaton, a two-time Olympic athlete you’re coaching, but the athlete has to decathlon gold medalist at the World Indoor be willing to listen,” Mercado said. “Will is a Track Championship in Portland, Oregon. good person to become a decathlete because When he returned to Houston, Marx was he’ll do everything you tell him to do, and he inspired to start training for the decathlon often wants to do more.” himself.

Marx excels at sprints and high jump.

Marx placed ninth in his first decathlon at St. In his training, Marx pairs events that require Mark’s in June. In his second decathlon three a similar technique. For example, he pairs months later, he placed first. javelin and high jump because they have similar “The first decathlon event taught me to see planting motions. He also groups events that decathlon as one whole, two-day event, not 10 use the same muscle group in order to prevent separate smaller events,” overdevelopment in said Marx, “The intensity certain muscles. of decathlon was a major While Marx attriMarx Decathlon shift from the normal butes much of his Personal Records track events that I was improvement to his accustomed to.” coaches, his coaches Day 1 Decathlon requires link his progress to his 100 Meter Sprint- 10.94 sec a greater amount of hard work. training than any other “His work ethic is Long Jump- 6.09 m track and field event. phenomenal,” Battle The decathlon is split said.

Shot Put- 9.32 m into two days with five Marx’s least favorite High Jump- 1.83 m events each day. Each day event is the 1500-meter consists of roughly eight run.

400 Meters- 49.92 sec hours of competition.

“No one can train The events during the for it because working Day 2 first day are the 100-meyour long distance 110 Meter Hurdles- 16.94 sec ter dash, long jump, muscles underdevelops shot put, high jump and your sprinting musDiscus Throw- 21.35 m the 400-meter run. The cles,” Marx said. second day’s events are Because of the Pole Vault- 3.20 m the 110-meter hurdles, intensity and length, Javelin Throw- 31.78 m discus throw, pole vault, decathlon is not an javelin and the 1500-meevent at SPC. Marx 1500 Meters- 5 min, 9 sec ter run. Because the instead competes in events are split into two heptathlon, which is days, decathletes need similar to decathlon endurance. but only consists of seven events.

Marx approached track coach Delilah Battle Marx will compete in three decathlons this to coach him in decathlon because she competsummer and hopes to continue training in his ed in heptathlon at the University of Houston. senior year.

Battle introduced him to new techniques for “Doing decathlon has really helped me grow events he hadn’t competed in before. because of the responsibility I owe to myself Battle works with Marx on throwing and in my preparation and training in order to jumping while Head Track and Field Coach succeed,” Marx said.

Richie Mercado is Marx’s primary trainer for the other events. Mercado draws upon his experience as a decathlete for the University of Virginia.

ellie faraguna

Will Marx, right, clears a hurdle. Marx, a track captain, has set PRs in all 10 decathalon events since taking it up last spring. Marx decided to run decathalons after meeting two-time Olympic gold medalist Ashton Eaton.

Underclassmen surge onto varsity athletics

By | Natasha Faruqui

Freshman Catie Beck made varsity this year in three sports: she runs cross country in the fall, plays soccer in the winter and runs track in the spring, in addition to playing club soccer year-round.

A typical day for Beck includes two hours of track practice after school, followed by soccer practice with Houston Express from 8 to 9:30.

Varsity sports are traditionally comprised of mostly upperclassmen athletes, but this year has seen strong representation from the Class of 2020 — 80 freshmen have played varsity sports this year.

Athletic Director Vince Arduini links the surge of freshmen on varsity teams to the increased popularity of club sports.

“Kids are playing at a high level at a younger

age,” Arduini said.

Club sports require committed athletes. Texas Pride Field Hockey, a club team featuring many Mavericks, recently travelled to tournaments in Virginia, California and Indiana. The club enrolls students for their competitive teams beginning in the fifth grade and requires year-long commitment.

With the compulsion to excel in such a competitive environment, freshmen often feel the pressure to prove themselves to their teammates.

Freshman Claire Seinsheimer is the starting second baseman on the softball team. She feels the stress of competing with older teammates.

“It’s fun to be the youngest, but it is also stressful because you are expected to be on the

same level athletically,” Seinsheimer said.

For most athletes, making the team is only the first step. One of the concerns of freshman varsity athletes is getting playing time instead of sitting the bench.

“It’s all about putting the best players on the field that give your team the chance to win,” Arduini said.

Varsity practices can leave little room for free time, especially for freshmen still adjusting to high school, but freshman Cameron Mudd, who plays varsity lacrosse for the Mavs and Houston Lacrosse Club, says that being on a varsity team has not significantly impacted his workload.

Arduini attributes the increasing number of freshman varsity athletes to the trend of athletic

specialization among upperclassmen. Many upperclassmen prefer concentrating on one sport or spending time on academics and college applications as opposed to playing sports every season.

Students like Beck, who play three sports as a freshman, rarely play three sports as seniors.

Last year, 23 seniors committed to playing sports at the collegiate level. According to Arduini, specialization is a necessity to play in college.

“It all comes down to math. You only have so much time in the day if you want to be that college athlete.”

Eric Hang

Sophomore Lauren Harpold, batting, is a pitcher for the softball team. Sophomore Shelby Jordan plays line two doubles with freshman partner Sara Doyle.

Ashwini Bandi

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REVIEW | APRIL 19, 2017

ANTHONY DAYAO

Freshman Denise Pan tees off at Wolfdancer Golf Club. Pan shot a score of 75 on both days of the Lost Pines Golf Tournament, hosted by St. John’s in Bastrop, March 26-27, securing a second-place finish behind her teammate and longtime friend Christine Wang, who scored 75-68 at the tournament to claim the individual title.

Frosh golfers take aim at competition

By | Shani Israel and Soraya Stude

According to Golfweek, male golfers in America score an average of 88.1, while females score an average of 100.9 in a round. Some of the freshmen on the golf team regularly score below 80.

“In this particular group of freshmen, there are a handful who are very talented,” Head Golf Coach Joseph Soliman said. “There are some freshmen who have been playing since they were five or six years old.”

Freshmen Christine Wang and Denise Pan have been friends for years, but they practice separately to concentrate as closely as possible on their work.

The freshmen’s scores reflect this dedication, given that the girls have consistently put up scores much better than expectations for competitive golfers of their ages. Soliman states that they have transitioned smoothly onto the varsity level.

“It’s easier for them to adjust because they don’t feel as outnumbered by older kids,” Soliman said. The personalities that they have also help: they are very outgoing, have a great sense of humor and get along very easily with other people.”

Because golf is an individual sport and there are many public courses around Houston, there have been more golfers starting

the sport at a younger age.

Wang and Pan have been playing since elementary school and intend to play in college. Wang’s golf career sprouted from boredom. When she was sitting around the house one day, her mother took her out to play golf, and Wang has loved the sport ever since.

Pan took up golf because Wang’s mother suggested that Pan join Christine out on the course, and the two have been playing golf ever since.

Freshman Stuart Wallace has been playing golf since he was six, when his grandfather and father, who once played in the Texas Open, took him out to the golf course for the first time.

“My dad got into golf because his dad played, and it’s just something my family has always done,” Wallace said.

Soliman has utilized new coaching techniques for the advanced freshmen.

“I’m really more working on course management and explaining how you can maneuver through a golf course a little bit more efficiently,” Soliman said.

Wallace appreciates that practices are structured and tournaments

accommodate different levels of competition.

“Golfing in school is much more serious and a good fit. Outside of schools, it’s usually higher competition,” Wallace said. “In school there are a lot of great aspects, and tournaments are more competitive depending on what level you are in.”

Wallace enjoys the individuality that comes with playing golf because, although each player’s score can contribute to the team’s success, competition play is largely independent.

“You have to make decisions on your own,” Wallace said.

Wang shot a school-record 75-68 and Pan shot 75-75 at the Lost Pines tournament, finishing first and second as individuals, respectively.

Soliman is impressed by the aplomb the freshmen have demonstrated so far this season.

“Beyond skill, having the maturity level to be able to respond to adversity and to remain calm, cool and collected under pressure are some of the intangibles that really separate good and great players,” Soliman said. “It’s a lot easier said than done.”

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Opinions 13

SJSREVIEW.COM | APRIL 19, 2017

ON POINT

OFF TARGET

Rockets looking for long playoff run

April is the cruelest month

Coachella kicks off music festival season

North Korea keeps firing missiles

A modest proposal: do away with grades By | Christian Maines

When I started reconsidering the role of grades in St. John’s culture, I was reminded of a friend who experienced a head injury in his first year in the Upper School and spent months struggling with his classes.

In one class, he repeatedly went to a teacher for tutorials to catch up on the material. He tried time and again to learn the material, but due to his concussion, he couldn’t remember what he needed to pass the test. After feeling pressure to take the test, he failed.

That student was the victim of a culture obsessed with grades. There is little question that, within part of the St. John’s population, this culture exists.

The great lie is that students created this culture. People will tell you, as they have told me and my classmates, not to stress out about grades: they’re not that big a deal, it’s all in your head.

Graded work, class averages and grade point averages are constructs created as a metric for student success and improvement, but they have been transformed, wrongly, into the single most important measure of academic potential when it comes to college admissions.

Students certainly didn’t collectively decide that grades would become such an important part of our culture. St. John’s is not completely at fault either; the school is more or less in line with other private schools of its caliber.

It is ridiculous, though, to suggest that students can solve this problem with a simple change of mindset. Only parents and administrators have the means to change it.

Do away with grades.

No, you didn’t misread that. We should get rid of them.

If you really want to judge our school’s leadership by comparing ourselves to other schools, fine. Most schools haven’t gotten rid of grades. However, it may surprise you to learn that St. John’s has investigated reasonable alternatives to the A-F grading system with the Mastery Transcript Consortium, a collective of peer institutions.

In the 1960s, Yale Law School abandoned the traditional

4.0, A-F grading system in favor of one in which students pass, pass with honors, or fail classes.

Incentivize creativity, out-of-the-box thinking, or learning for the sake of learning rather than for a rubric or a test. When you start your job at Google, Goldman or GoPro, nobody’s going to give you a grade.

Your boss is going to care about the plans you come up with, or the outcome of your experiment or what creative proposals you offer.

Meanwhile, you can look back on your high school years and not regret that you wasted four years basing your value on a single number on Naviance.

If St. John’s does away with grades, the sky won’t fall.

Students can be evaluated in college admissions through essays, extracurriculars, letters of recommendation, interviews and standardized testing. A greater emphasis will be placed on those metrics, so intellect and passion will shine through.

In 2015, over 90 colleges joined together to create the Coalition Application, which contains a virtual locker for students to submit essays, information about extracurricular activities, examples of their work and more. If this is the wave of the future — emphasis on quality instead of numeric metrics — then St. John’s should get behind it.

Meanwhile, students are free to produce work they can be truly proud of — a research paper, an experiment that has

LILAH GABER

real-world implications for science or a beautiful painting that wins a national competition. We can dedicate more time to what we are passionate about, which admissions experts around the country agree is more important anyway.

It is worth emphasizing that the burden should not be on students to stop caring about grades. Without a wholesale reexamination of grades, the self-destructive culture and behavior of St. John’s students will continue.

St. John’s is a trailblazer, though. We re-invented our schedule, and we have rebuilt the school several times over since its inception. If any prestigious school in Texas is going to rebuild its academic culture to foster cooperation and creativity, there is no reason why it shouldn’t be ours.

Fashion double standards displace culture By | Amy Liu

In March, Vogue celebrated diversity by featuring six pages of model Karlie Kloss dressed as a geisha.

Meanwhile, black model Imaan Hammam and Chinese model Liu Wen warranted only one photo each.

In September 2016, Marc Jacobs introduced his spring 2017 collection by sending porcelain-skinned models down the runway sporting fake dreadlocks. When Zendaya, a black singer, wore the same hairstyle a year earlier, Fashion Police cohost Giuliana Rancic mocked her hair and said that it smelled of “patchouli oil” and “weed.”

It is frustrating that the beauty industry has used minority cultures as an aesthetic without paying much credit to those cultures.

For marginalized groups, our cultural habits are deeply intertwined with our experiences. “Trying out” a culture places it out of context. Seeing the custom so detached from its origins has just never made sense to me.

There are people of color who completely support these actions or don’t care. That does not invalidate the fact that double standards exist in the beauty industry. Reactions may vary, but the truth does not change: racial dynamics influence beauty standards.

Jacobs responded to criticism about his show by saying, “Funny how you don’t criticize women of color for straightening their hair.” Jacobs fails to distinguish between appropriation and assimilation.

We can’t appropriate a culture that is already established as the norm. We can only conform.

The Perception Institute, a group that

EMMA SHEA

conducts psychological research on gender, race, and ethnicity, conducted an Implicit Association Test in 2016 to assess bias against black women’s textured hair. Of nearly 4,000 participants, the majority showed an implicit bias against textured hair, and over 60 percent of white women rated it as less beautiful and less professional than straight hair. Research from Mintel estimates that the black hair straightening industry generated $684 million in 2012.

I don’t doubt the facts — my AfricanAmerican friend once wore cornrows to work and was told that her hair had to be changed.

Minorities often hide features they are born with in order to seem more attractive and more professional. Imagine the frustration of seeing those same features celebrated on white models strutting down a runway. There’s a reason why Marc Jacobs

did not feature any models of color who have real dreadlocks and why Vogue did not ask a Japanese model to portray a geisha.

Many people would rather see a white person showcasing a minority’s culture than the minority doing the same thing. The cultural styles we praise as high-fashion on white models are mocked on those from the culture of origin.

People can be genuinely interested in other cultural experiences, but there is a difference between appreciating a culture and exploiting it.

If we credit white fashion designers for their ideas but claim that ethnic groups have no ownership over their distinct cultural styles, then we marginalize them.

If we validate the beauty of a culture only when removed from its people, then we marginalize them. Most importantly, if we borrow from a culture but remain silent

about the social problems that affect them, then we permit moral dissonance.

I’ve encountered people who wear Native American headdresses as a fashion statement but could not care less about the Dakota Access Pipeline. How does one aestheticize another culture without supporting its people? Appropriation does not pay homage to a culture when that culture is not respected in the first place.

Accusations of political correctness plague the conversation about cultural appropriation. It’s easy to think that way.

Compared to racially-charged hate speech and violence, simply wearing a costume seems innocuous, but it stills reflects a system through which minorities are perceived as lesser.

There is no obvious harm in dressing like a “sexy geisha” on Halloween, but the ideas driving that choice speaks volumes about how people perceive Japanese women.

Racism is so deeply instilled in our society that people sometimes don’t realize when they are perpetuating it. That is why we must recognize the implications behind the action. Racism does not have to be explicit to create inequalities.

If we educate ourselves and respect other people, sharing cultures can actually help us evolve. While fashion magazines can portray other cultures in tasteful and accurate ways, why do they continue to place these features on white people? There are many gorgeous models of color who can do the same thing.

Learning the history and supporting the people behind a culture is much more interesting than just using some “exotic” accessories for an Instagram pic. Beauty has its origins. Let’s recognize them.

Opinions 14

review | april 19, 2017

Staff Editorial

A chance for everyone to fight racism On Feb. 14, Robert Greene, a senior consultant for a firm specializing in diversity-based organizational development, met with student leaders and representatives from each affinity group for a workshop on diversity.

Greene began the dialogue by asking nonwhite students to raise their hand if they found themselves considering and evaluating their racial and ethnic identities outside of school.

Every hand went up.

Greene then asked the white students the same question. No hands went up in response.

Now we must consider: Does St. John’s need a caucasian affinity group to confront racism?

Some students recalled the horror days of SWAG (Southern White Affinity Group).

Can a white affinity group be done in a way that’s productive and conducive to bettering our community? Can we trust our students to be responsible with such an opportunity?

Others look to the future and see the need for giving white students the space to explore their identity and existence—chances are they hadn’t before.

The caucasian affinity group would not be a vehicle of mass privilege shaming or an extensive, depressing history lesson, but rather a way to facilitate a necessary conversation among white students. The affinity group should be a space for students to explore and understand themselves; this is what the affinity group would aim to offer.

To help narrow the focus, St. John’s should consider an inclusive name for the group modeled after collegiate affinity groups of the same nature — a name like White Stu-

stephen kim

dents Confronting Racism. Such a group could mentor students in identifying racism and instruct members on how to talk to family members about race and collaborate with other affinity groups on confronting institutional racism.

Because of the inherent mistrust of white people discussing race together (which can conjure up white supremacist undertones), white people often avoid engaging in dialogue about race. This aversion inhibits white people from honestly processing their own emotions involving race and asking possibly ignorant questions. This prevents them from challenging themselves to do better and examining their identity more critically.

These efforts can be facilitated by an affinity group in which white students can be productive, aware members of the ongoing conversations of race on campus and improve the community of St. John’s.

The Editorial Board, in a vote of 5-1, affirms that the largest population at St. John’s shouldn’t be denied the space to understand their identity. Anything less would be irresponsible.

A white affinity group confronting racism is a legitimate possibility for St. John’s

future.

So often affinity groups are relegated to heroes and holidays. Consider events related to dragon boat racing, the Lunar New Year celebration, Black History Month or Cinco de Mayo. The lack of such celebrations may provide the affinity group with a chance to focus on substance and reflection.

While the name “white” may be a misnomer given the multitude of ethnicities and nuance between European cultures and peoples, the same subtle differences in culture of individual students at St. John’s are present in other affinity groups. Fortunately, applicable experiences are similar enough for affinity groups to function more or less smoothly.

During conferences and workshops like the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, white attendees should not sit down and stare at a wall while people of color grapple with their sense of identity. Other independent schools dedicated to the promotion and benefits of diversity have created caucasian affinity groups so white people can discuss and confront racism.

The move to develop a caucasian affinity group to confront racism should be spearheaded by white students. Neither the administration nor the Unity Council nor the Editorial Board should prop up an organization without a personal stake in the matter. Without proper motivation, the affinity group would be set up for failure.

The Editorial Board calls on white students to facilitate this conversation and see if they are up to initiating this conscientious, responsible change in the community.

Letter From the Editor

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Review St. John’s School 2401 Claremont Lane Houston, TX 77019 sjsreview.com Facebook SJS Review Twitter @SJS_Review Instagram @_thereview Snapchat sjsreview

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4th Place Best of Show 2016, All-American 2012-2016 Pacemaker 2015, Online Pacemaker Finalist 2015, 2017 Editors-in-Chief Christian Maines & Irene Vazquez Managing Editor Sophia Li Creative Director Jared Margolis Senior Assignments Editor Sadde Mohamed Assignments Editors Gracie Blue, Claire Furse, Dani Yan Design Editor Ashwini Bandi Assistant Design Editors Stephen Kim, Prithvi Krishnarao Photography Editor Nyla Jennings Copy Editors Sophie Caldwell, Iris Chen, Alexander Kim Business Manager Grace Amandes Assistant Business Manager Sukul Mittal Online Editor-in-Chief Amy Liu Online Editor Emily Chen Video Editor Max Westmark Social Media Editor Emma Shea Online Copy Editor Ryan Chang Staff

Izzy Andrews, Manar Ansari, Maggie Ballard, Hrishabh Bhosale, Clara Brotzen-Smith, Gwendelyn Butler, Eli Desjardins, Andrew Duong, Mia Fares, Natasha Faruqui, Sam Foshee, Lilah Gaber, Sophie Gillard, Mackenzie Glanville, Thomas Grannen, Mia Guien, Kate Habich, Eric Hang, Shani Israel, Reygan Jones, Sophia Kontos, Sophia Lima, Eli Maierson, Will McKone, Sinclair Mott, Saswat Pati, Robert Rae, Caroline Ramirez, Grace Sanders, Louisa Sarofim, David Seo, Jack Shea, Henry Still, Soraya Stude, Alex Tinkham, Aileen Zhang Shelley Stein

Don’t let admissions define success On March 30, Regular Decision admission results came out for a number of colleges and universities, including the Ivy League. High school students across the country frantically checked their emails and logged into their college websites to see admission decisions.

The next day, students in the Upper School expressed solidarity for those who had been denied from their top-choice colleges. Senior Caroline Witten brought Mardi Gras beads, which students who had been denied admission to all their Ivy League schools wore in mutual support.

For the last month, seniors have worried about their admissions decisions, and throughout April, many seniors will grapple with the decision of which college to attend. When the Review’s graduation issue comes out next month, juniors will analyze the college choices of the senior class, and the cycle will begin anew.

If you are an upperclassman, it may feel like college admissions are the only thing happening in the world right now. You’ve probably already heard from your teachers, college counselors, parents or Frank Bruni that the college you attend doesn’t define

who you are.

The sting of rejection takes a while to wear off, and we will not try to convince you otherwise. Instead, to get some closure on what is a stressful, protracted process for most students, we encourage you to think about what some seniors featured in this issue are doing during their final weeks at St. John’s.

Seniors are setting out to change their communities at St. John’s and beyond. Ellie Faraguna has been examining women’s health through Scientific Research and Design and has drafted a proposal to use assembly periods to teach Upper School students sex ed. John Kennedy has worked on a program to streamline academic counseling in public high schools.

Working on projects outside of school can help put things back into perspective — St. John’s provides students with remarkable opportunities, academic or otherwise, and no matter which school you will be attending in the fall, you will leave with the skills to be a leader in your new community. Seniors could also afford to take a note from underclassman athletes who are making strides for the Mavs or their club teams.

In a lot of ways, your college experience

will define you, but not in the way you might think. It isn’t about whether your diploma displays the name of one of the so-called elite colleges. St. John’s has already trained us to be elite, whatever field we choose.

Knowing that we’ll be heading to college in a few short months is somewhat intimidating because it means that we have to figure out what kind of people we want to be as we head into our collegiate and professional futures.

Don’t let the college admissions process diminish the intellectual curiosity, determination and optimism that St. John’s has inspired in us. À la prochaine,

Christian Besitos,

Irene

Advisers David Nathan, Shelley Stein (‘88), Chuy Benitez Mission Statement The Review strives to report on issues with integrity, to recognize the assiduous efforts of all, and to serve as an engine of discourse within the St. John’s community.

Publication Info The Review is published six times during the school year.

We distribute at least 1,000 copies of each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 631 students and 80 faculty members.

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 columns are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and taste. On occasion, we will publish letters anonymously. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received. Letters and guest columns can be emailed to review.sjs@gmail.com or hand-delivered to an editor or adviser in the Review room (Q210).

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Odds & Ends 15

SJSREVIEW.COM | APRIL 19, 2017

New Yorker Rejects By | Aileen Zhang

60 Seconds with Andrea Anaya

PRITHVI KRISHNARAO

grade 11 color orange hate to love ice cream (I’m lactose intolerant) love to hate gorilla glue happiness no regrets misery regrets olympic sport skiing fav spot on campus Mr. Posa’s room dream date spontaneous relationship status single comfort food corn dogs I wish I could fly a plane the best thing friends

treasured possession lower school diary spirit animal Jennifer Lawrence zoo animal baboooooons hero Batman <3 fictional character Tina Belcher book Goodnight Moon cafeteria food corn dogs tv show Freaks and Geeks movie Dazed and Confused phobia Band-Aids motto you gotta try everything once sing in the shower? who doesn’t? doppelgänger Penny from the Proud Family guilty pleasure corn dogs

“When someone loves a college very, very much, they apply Early Decision.”

Word for Word “

“

I’m punchy. I didn’t get enough sleep, and the seniors are out there mocking me with their racquet sports.

Operatic country music — that’s what we’re going for.

”

”

- Choral director Scott Bonasso

“ ”

Counting is actually really easy... you just keep going up.

- English teacher Clay Guinn

“

Pants are jackets for your legs.

”

- Senior Austin Schultz

- Senior Sadde Mohamed

Charted By | Aileen Zhang SJS ANNUAL BUDGET ANALYSIS

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Photostory 16

Review | april 19, 2017

ISAS celebrates 50 years

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4 Maverick artists brought their dreams to life April 6-8 for the ISAS Arts Festival: 50 Years of Catching Dreams. The Casady School of Oklahoma pulled out all the stops for the anniversary celebration, and the last night culminated in a fireworks display and rock concert. SJS sent 29 students to exhibit their skills, ranging from theatre to glassware and enjoyed the chance to take a break from the academic grind for the sake of art.

Juniors Emily Ragauss and Nicole VerMeulen share a laugh for

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a Kodak-worthy moment near the spray-painted bus (1). Senior 2D artist Emma Boehme spray paints the bus (2). Maverick artists cover photography teacher Chuy Benitez in streamers while building a dream catcher (3). Sophomore Lucy Curtis, a 3D art student, discusses her work with adjudicator David Stevens (4).

Senior Johnnycake officer Jason Souvaliotis shows off his chalk art (5).

Story by Irene Vazquez Photos by MARY SHANNON TOMPSON (1), ANNIE REN (2), EMMA BOEHME (3), CHUY BENITEZ (4), MADDIE MCZEAL (5)