10
THE REVIEW I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
CULTURE
by Ashwini Bandi and Sukul Mittal
Chimpanzee playwrights, a woman 23 hours into labor and construction workers with secret identities were just a few performances in this year’s winter plays. This winter took a slight departure from past plays, with directors highlighting intimate performances. WINTER PLAY
15 minutes Sophomore Sophie Clayton performed one of the eleven monologues featured in “Talking With...” Clayton played an actress preparing for a show.
Eleven different characters, ranging from a crazy actress to a religious snake handler, took the stage for “Talking With…” by Jane Martin. Performed on Jan. 29 and 30, the play featured a collection of eleven monologues by an entirely female cast. Each monologue was five to six minutes long. “All of the characters are so different and have different quirks about themselves. I think it’s really cool that [the show] goes under the surface,” said sophomore Sophie Clayton, who plays a young actress. While the characters may seem eccentric, all of their actions are driven by desperation. “Talking With…” showcases each of the characters in a vulnerable state where they have an honest conversation with the audience. “Every character is obsessed with one thing, which seems kind of silly, but at the end of the monologue you realize that there’s a deeper meaning behind it,” freshman Katy Shafer said.
Instead of suggesting a clear, unifying theme, the play is open to many different interpretations. “There’s not necessarily one thing that connects all the characters. When you come see it, you develop your own thread as an audience member,” director Avital Stolar (‘08) said. The nature of the play resulted in less interaction between cast members. “It’s kind of like jumping into the deep end,” sophomore Frances Hellums said. “When you have someone else who you are interacting with, it’s more about reacting. When you’re in a monologue, you’re by yourself. It’s all on you.” Hellums plays a woman in labor who is giving birth to a deformed child. “My monologue is leading up to giving birth and dealing with the situation and talking through it,” Hellums said. Despite the pressure of performing solo, the actresses appreciated the positive aspects of performing monologues. “You control whatever’s going on. If you mess up, no one will know,” Clayton said. Clayton also believes that the play was a valuable learning experience. “It’s a really good skill to have. You have to be able to be in a monologue and not depend on anyone else in order to go further,” she said. “I do enjoy being in musicals, but I think this was a good experience.”
MARISA MURILLO
Winter season features diverse one-acts, monologues
Monkey business Senior Zoe Margolis, junior Kyra Link and freshman Will Rippeto portray monkeys in the play “Words, Words, Words,” by David Ives. WINTER ONE-ACTS
The one-acts consisted of two 10-minute plays performed in the Black Box Theater, Jan. 9. According to Fine Arts Director Bill McDonald, an excess of eager actors and actresses lead to the addition of winter one-acts. In the first play, “Words, Words, Words” by David Ives, actors portrayed chimpanzees being forced by a mysterious scientist to write a classic English play. “It’s nerve-wracking, but also very nice, to have the opportunity to be in the play and eventually the musical,” said freshman Will Rippeto,
who played a chimpanzee. The only freshman in the cast, Rippeto has been acting since he was young and will perform in the musical later this spring. Students also played three New Jersey construction workers who believe they had famous secret identities in “Mere Mortals.” “I really enjoyed the cast that I was working with, and I also enjoyed getting to put a beard on my face,” said sophomore Emma Boehme, who played a construction worker along with junior Gabe Malek and sophomore Matthew Walsh.
CULTURE
11
SJSREVIEW.COM I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
Videographer predicts Academy Award victories, travesties by Emma Gobillot
Awards season is upon us. As expected, the glitz, glamour and gowns provide fodder for tabloids and Fashion Police, but something much more important has taken the spotlight: diversity in the film industry. This year’s Academy Award nominations have been criticized for a lack of diversity. The acting nominees are all white, and no women were nominated for director or screenplay. Most notably, “Selma,” a biopic exploring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous march from Selma to Montgomery, was mostly snubbed, receiving nominations only for Best Picture and Original Song. By failing to recognize director Ava DuVernay, the Academy missed a historic opportunity to nominate the first female African-American director. “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” directed by Wes Anderson (‘87), and “Birdman,” starring Michael Keaton, each garnered nine nominations. “Boyhood,” directed by Bellaire High School grad and prominent Austin filmmaker Richard Linklater (1979), nabbed six nominations. The Oscars will be presented on Sunday, Feb. 22. BEST PICTURE
The Nominees: “American Sniper”; “Boyhood”; “Birdman”; “The Grand Budapest Hotel”; “The Imitation Game”; “Selma”; “The Theory of Everything”; and “Whiplash” Will Win: Boyhood Could Win: Selma Should Win: Boyhood Snubbed: “Interstellar”
“Boyhood” will win (and should) because of its innovative and intimate examination of one boy’s adolescence filmed annually for a few weeks over 12 years. BEST DIRECTOR
The Nominees: Alejandro González Iñárritu (“Birdman”), Richard Linklater (“Boyhood”), Bennett Miller (“Foxcatcher”), Wes Anderson (“The Grand Budapest Hotel”) and Morten Tydlum (“The Imitation Game”) Will Win: Linklater Could Win: Iñárritu Should Win: Linklater Snubbed: Ava DuVernay (“Selma”) Do not confuse Best Director with Best Picture; this award goes to the director who is most innovative and effective in bringing his or her story to the screen. This year, Linklater’s grand vision and revolutionary execution of “Boyhood” make him the likely winner.
Each actor gave a great performance, but Redmayne separates himself with his mesmerizing portrayal of Stephen Hawking in the “Theory of Everything.” He deserves the Oscar because he embodied both Hawking’s brilliance and his tragic physical degeneration due to ALS.
wife, an Alzheimer’s patient, a psychopath, and a recovering addict. Moore will definitely win this award because her performance was phenomenal, and the Academy tends to vote for roles that involve a terminal illness.
BEST ACTRESS
The Nominees: “Birdman”; “Boyhood”; “Foxcatcher”; “The Grand Budapest Hotel”; and “Nightcrawler” Will Win: “The Grand Budapest Hotel” Could Win: “Birdman” Should Win: “Nightcrawler” Snubbed: “Gone Girl” and “Interstellar” Anderson’s screenplay, the only comedy in the category, will win because of its peculiar, irreverent story.
The Nominees: Marion Cotillard, Felicity Jones, Julianne Moore, Rosamund Pike and Reese Witherspoon Will Win: Moore Could Win: Pike Should Win: Moore Snubbed: Cotillard, but for “The Immigrant” instead of “Two Days, One Night” Best Actress presents the most diverse group of performances: an average woman, a loving
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Which Wes Anderson films have you seen? 79% 66%
BEST ACTOR
59%
The Nominees: Steve Carell, Bradley Cooper, Benedict Cumberbatch, Michael Keaton and Eddie Redmayne Will Win: Redmayne Could Win: Keaton Should Win: Redmayne Snubbed: David Oyelowo (“Selma”)
54%
Rushmore
MATTHEW NEAL
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Moonrise Kingdom
Results taken from Review Online poll of 97 people REBECCA CHEN
‘Into the Woods’ explores darker side of fairytales by Irene Vazquez
Reminiscent of the Grimm Brothers’ original fairy tales, “Into the Woods” paints a darker image than Disney’s typical story. Directed by Rob Marshall, “Into the Woods” tells the tale of a baker (James Corden) and his wife (Emily Blunt) who have been cursed by a witch (Meryl Streep) to be childless forever. To reverse the curse, the baker and his wife must find a milkwhite cow, hair as yellow as corn, a cape as red as blood and a slipper as pure as gold. Their story intertwines classic fairy tales: Cinderella, Rapunzel, Jack and the Beanstalk and Little Red Riding Hood. All the characters must venture into the woods to get what they want: for Cinderella (Anna Kendrick), the ability to go to the Prince’s festival; for the baker and his wife, a child; for Jack (Daniel Huttlestone), money to feed his family; and for Red Riding Hood (Lilla Crawford), a visit to her grandmother. Like most other Stephen Sondheim musicals, though many characters seem to have received happy endings, everything goes to pieces after the first act. The movie is studded with stars from many genres with big names
like Johnny Depp and Chris Pine. Huttlestone may be familiar for playing Gavroche in “Les Miserables.” Though many theater fans were worried that Marshall would prioritize acting over singing ability in his casting, the actors all rose to the occasion. Pine in particular exuded charm as Cinderella’s prince. In “Agony,” Cinderella’s prince and Rapunzel’s prince (Billy Magnussen) compare the misery of their respective, unobtainable loves, each trying to outdo the other. The dramatic, over-the-top parody of the typical prince’s fate left many giddy women (and some men) applauding like mad. Streep’s voice has improved since her last movie musical adaptation, “Mamma Mia,” in 2008, and Streep was even nominated for both a Golden Globe and Oscar for Best Supporting Actress. Blunt was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical as well. Anna Kendrick is the current darling of the movie-musical world, with four films featuring her singing in the last three years, most notably in “Pitch Perfect.” Kendrick was nominated for a Tony Award at the age of 12, so anything less than the best from her would have been disappointing. In order to achieve a PG rating,
some of the darker elements of the musical were taken out, including Rapunzel’s death. Marshall, who also directed “Chicago” and “Nine,” ensured that the show did not descend into sugar-coated Disney magic, and the film was even nominated for Best Motion Picture— Musical or Comedy in the Golden Globes. In order to get the film down to two hours, Marshall cut several musical numbers, including one of my personal favorites, the reprise of “Agony,” which features a more dramatic turn as the princes lament their dissatisfaction with their respective marriages, longing after newfound loves. The role of the narrator, an integral member of the cast in the stage version, was also omitted. Despite these understandable constraints the movie stayed true to its story and messages. Achieving one’s goals comes at a cost, great and small. Regardless of the witch’s best intentions, children don’t always listen. People aren’t always good or nice, but they may be right. Even though a story’s conclusion may not seem happy for ever after, it is possible to move on with one’s life. “Into the Woods” is an intriguing story. Its songs are catchy. Even if I weren’t reviewing it, I’d see it again.
‘INTO THE WOODS’ SHORTLIST MPAA RATING: PG for thematic elements, fantasy action and peril, and some suggestive material DIRECTOR: Rob Marshall MAIN CAST: Emily Blunt, James Corden, Johnny Depp, Anna Kendrick, Chris Pine and Meryl Streep RUN TIME: 124 minutes
12
OPINIONS
THE REVIEW I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
‘Je suis Charlie:’ attacks reveal nuances in free speech
2015
BROOKE KUSHWAHA
1920
LIMITATIONS ON FREE SPEECH by Gabe Malek
Je suis Charlie. Je ne suis pas Charlie. No, I am not indifferent to the recent terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo publication in Paris, far from it; however, I will not align myself with either distinct group in fear of oversimplifying a complicated and multifaceted topic. The Je Suis Charlie popular movement arose as an act of solidarity following the murder of 12 staffers at the office of satirical French newspaper Charlie Hebdo. One misconception is that anyone opposing the Je Suis Charlie movement therefore supports the extremists responsible for the murders. A clear middle ground exists between backing free speech and siding with religious militants; one can support limiting the right to expression without believing that force is necessary to implement this limitation. Some think that those who agree with Je Suis Charlie support the alleged racism of the satirical cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. In actuality, those who align more with this side of the debate are advocates of general free speech rather than the cartoons’ content. While I personally might have not have chosen to print the inflammatory cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad, I adamantly support the right to publish them, even those deemed offensive. To the argument that these images were crossing a line of appropriateness, I would counter
that our society should not have a line that can or cannot be crossed in the first place. The offensiveness of artwork, cartoons or any published materials is relative to the viewer; I did not find the cartoon of Muhammad offensive, but I can understand why a large group of people did. Laws dictating what type of expression is allowed are downright dangerous. If given the power to censor and regulate the media, government officials could filter out anything that they consider a threat to their power or the stability of their countries. This extreme scenario unfortunately exists today in countries like North Korea, Myanmar and Belarus. In 2009, the North Korean government imprisoned two American journalists for entering the country without visas and then sentenced them to 12 years of hard labor. The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that 221 journalists were imprisoned worldwide in 2014, with China alone detaining 44 reporters. If Americans want to live in a society where we are allowed to say what we want but silence racist and hateful voices, we must do so by exercising our own freedom of speech. New York Times columnist David Brooks points out “healthy societies[...] don’t suppress speech, but they do grant different standing to different sorts of people.” His opinions piece on the Charlie Hebdo attack added that people “who want to be heard attentively have to earn it through their conduct.”
As much as I would like to sensor groups such as the Westboro Baptist Church for spewing homophobic rhetoric at the funerals of dead soldiers, I recognize that we cannot respond to these people by limiting their right to voice their beliefs. Instead, we must ignore these members of our society to the point where their voices are muted; yes, they will still have the same rights as other citizens to say what they wish, but their words will speak for themselves, and their opinions will be so disregarded that their rhetoric will become meaningless. One roadblock to free speech is hypocrisy. Some people are in favor of uncensored media until they find speech targeting themselves. Universal freedom of expression cannot be achieved while this glaring contradiction exists. As Americans, we must support uncensored dialogue for all people and organizations, even those that we would not align with otherwise. Instead of retaliating with censorship towards certain individuals or groups, Americans must raise their voices and use their own right to free speech to counter the wrongheaded notions that they feel others are preaching. In most situations, the louder and more reasonable voice will prevail, or at least one hopes. People often disregard the important voice of the satirist because some publicized satirical pieces are crude and senseless, yet when satire is clever and well thought-out, it can be influential in expos-
ing flaws in culture and government that we would otherwise overlook. As much as we hate to be the butt of a joke or the target of satire, we should recognize that there is some value in being offended. People often enclose themselves in their own personal bubbles of superiority. According to Brooks, satirists help reveal “our weaknesses and vanity when we’re feeling proud” and “expose those who are incapable of laughing at themselves and teach the rest of us that we probably should.” Without satirists and comedians poking fun at our flaws, we would be lulled into a false sense of perfection. While most American students feel that their freedom of speech is secure, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education found that sixty-two percent of American universities have speech codes that restrict speech protected by the First Amendment. Living in a country where citizens are guaranteed the fundamental right to freely express themselves, we can easily become complacent about censorship. Yet we, as citizens, should remain vigilant about our rights. The unfettered ability to express our opinions and voice our concerns is one of the most valuable things we have. Perhaps French philosopher Voltaire said it best, “I do not agree with what you have to say, but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it.”
OPINIONS
SJSREVIEW.COM I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
13
Affinity groups should highlight culture, not ethnicity by Sophia Li
Ask any student how many friends they have of a certain ethnic background, and I guarantee they will not have an answer for the following reasons: 1) They have never kept count. 2) They never intend to. Ask me to talk about myself, I would offer a variety of details: My pet guinea pig is named Ham (which is short for Mahogany) or I have no idea how to make brown from primary colors or I was so excited when I reached the last tile on 2048 that I almost threw my phone at a freshman passer-by. Saying that I am East Asian would never occur to me. I am not ashamed of my heritage, but my ethnic background represents such a small piece of who I am. My relative lack of interest in my ethnicity notwithstanding, I have come to realize the importance of affinity groups in the Upper School. Recently, I was rehearsing for the East Asian Affinity Group (EAAG) chapel when one of my friends said something in Chinese, and half the room fell down and started laughing in response. When I tried to translate the meaning to the people still standing up, they looked at me with a befuddled gaze and proceeded to back away two feet. I could relate to their reaction because this joke is hilarious in Chinese but makes no sense at all in English. A friend once invited me to her family’s
Hanukkah party. Fifteen minutes in, I failed to laugh at almost all the Jewish references her grandmother made, and I also referred to the latkes as circular hash browns. Then I somehow managed to
we both play Grand Theft Auto, but when it comes to culture, we are so different that it’s almost scary. Culture will spread and blend with other traditions, but even if you go to Paris, or to Fiji, to Mars, you will take a small part of your culture with you. Affinity groups allow us to maintain the core values of our heritage no matter where we travel. I came to the United States when I was three years old. I consider myself a full-fledged American. I believe that chicken McNuggets are actually made of chicken. I constantly complain about our government while doing nothing about it. But I still remember the old Chinese fables my grandmother used to tell me at bedtime. And I get the Chinese jokes. Affinity groups are essential to our community because the United States is replete with so many different beliefs, traditions and religions. EAAG is important to me because I can relate to its members in a way I cannot with people DESIGN BY CHRIS ZIMMERMAN from other cultures. PHOTO BY COLLINS YEATES Some people may think that affinity groups create fractures break the top off a dreidel. within our school community. This is not I had never felt more embarrassed in my true. The bonds that unite us are deeper life. than the color of our skin. My friend and I have many similar interests. We both write short stories, and
You only live once, so focus on happiness over grades
JARED MARGOLIS
Why so serious? Although happiness can seem hard to attain at times, students should work hard to focus on maintaining emotional wellbeing as well as academic success. Every now and then, remember to put on a smile and concentrate on life’s simple pleasures. by Alexander Kim
The pursuit of happiness. Many philosophers and great minds have racked their brains for an understanding of the ideal highlighted in works from the Declaration of Independence to Kid Cudi’s “Pursuit of Happiness.” What is happiness? For some, happiness is listening to Pharrell Williams’ incredibly repetitive song. For others, not so much. Whatever the case, happiness is the fleeting sensation we keep chasing like a cat and a laser pointer. One catchphrase, YOLO (you only live once) emerged in the summer of 2014 and inspired poorly-conceived daredevil
stunts for way too long. The phrase’s core tenet is to live life to the fullest and be the happiest you can because, as the phrase indicates, we only have one lifetime to do the things we love. (Unless you love riding motorcycles off rooftops). Although I do not believe that YOLO should be interpreted as a free pass to do whatever I want, I still admit that the phrase carries some truth. YOLO encourages us to live spontaneously and break out of routine. There are other ways to live happily without referencing Pharrell. Doing something you love, spending time with loved ones, binge-watching Netflix. Each person has their own activities that make
them happy. Enjoy spending time with my pet dog to remain happy throughout the school week. Others prefer playing video games or watching internet cat videos. Even though these small acts may not impact people’s lives in a critical way, they provide a sense of contentment and satisfaction. Being happy does not require good grades or awards, even though they can help placate parents. Getting a 99 on a history essay feels great, but is it truly happiness? Some students will break out into celebration after a successful test, but they may also cry about a failed bio lab. Why tie your happiness to a number? The student with a 55 on a math test has
every right to feel disappointed, but he or she should always remember that there are more tests to come, a time spent moping about a bad grade, a lost election or a failed experiment is time that can never be recovered. Happiness does not come easily, and many people live their whole lives with only glimpses of happiness. Many have a warped perception that happiness will accompany perfect grades or great wealth, but happiness can come in many different forms. Being with loved ones, meeting friends, or seeing your waiter bring your food to the table are just a few things you can do to be happy.
14
OPINIONS
THE REVIEW I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
STAFF EDITORIAL
Maintain proportion in the face of global outrage There is perhaps no greater unifying force than outrage. This fact became remarkably apparent in the weeks following the Jan. 7 attack on French satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo,” a publication that sparked controversy after publishing provocative cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. “Je suis Charlie” posts filled up Instagram feeds, crowded Facebook pages and launched astronomical Twitter trends. The “Je Suis Charlie” movement itself—three simple words, intended to demonstrate solidarity with the French people and attack victims, even from oceans away—brimmed with tense subtext. “Je,” in French, means “I.” This pronoun grew and grew in significance until it encompassed not just individuals, but arguably all of Western culture. “Charlie” too loomed larger in the public psyche, becoming inexorably tangled up in notions of Western values and traditions like free speech. As the attacks and the af-
termath unfolded in Paris, the whole world was watching, but it was the western world that was seething. And the Charlie Hebdo attacks quickly sparked a massive outcry from people near and far. The problem, then, is one of proportion. United in anger and strengthened by sheer numbers, the western world lept to the defense of “Charlie Hebdo.” But did the magazine really deserve the vehement support it was offered? Is this really the peg upon which we wish to hang our free speech hat? We must consider the possibility that a great deal of cultural momentum was wasted upon a soap box that cannot bear our weight. “Charlie Hebdo” is not a universally banned work of literature. It is not
an underground newsletter, geared towards dismantling an empire. “Charlie Hebdo” is a cross between “The Onion” and a comic book, and it often relies on pure shock value and vulgarity to create humor. Yes, “Charlie Hebdo” has the right to generate and publish whatever content
they deem fit; that is what free speech means. But this magazine is not well suited to be the foundation of a broader freespeech movement. None of this excuses the horrific loss of life during the January attack. That too was an extreme overreaction to a publication with benign, if immature, intentions and proclivities. So, in this time of outrage, of discussion concerning free speech about culturally sensitive content, the Editorial Board urges mindful media consumption. Being informed about global events is important, but so too is maintaining perspective about the sources of this information and the broader significance of the events. Outrage may seem easy. In the heat of the moment, it may even seem right. But we shouldn’t let anger deprive us of rationality.
ASHWINI BANDI
From the editor
Find personal coping mechanisms JARED MARGOLIS
Dear Readers, I’m crouched at the top of a chilly mountain peak in the Sierra Nevadas, every inch of my body shivering as my father fiddles with a camping stove, attempting to heat water for me to cradle between numb fingertips. “Shoot,” he mutters, as he fails to light the flame for the fourth time. “It won’t work. Should we keep going?” Through the sound of my chattering teeth, I muster a yes. But I’m still utterly befuddled; how did a bookworm like me end up carting a forty-pound pack through the Stanislaus National Forest? Flashback to March 1, 2012. I’m sitting in Ms. Sloan’s World History class, doodling notes and hearts in my dogeared copy of Sundiata. When the classroom phone rings, I don’t think anything of it. But within 15 minutes, I’m curled up between my mother and sister in the backseat of our family’s sedan, driving my father to the airport where he’ll travel to Chicago to mourn the death of his father, my Opa. What followed was the most challenging year of my life. Death is something we’re trained to expect: through religion, the media, great literature and the oft-told tales of our parents. We’re taught that death is inevitable and that we shall eventually overcome the havoc it wreaks on
our lives. But what we are not taught is how to cope with the deluge of emotions that is unleashed after a great loss. And for me, it was impossible to understand what to do. Catharsis didn’t come until a year and a half later, when my father decided to recreate the backpacking trip he’d taken with Opa on the Pacific Crest Trail. Somehow, despite the extreme physical conditions and discomfort, the strangeness of spending an extended period of time with nobody to keep me company but my father (who is a wonderful man but a textbook introvert), the wind, and my perpetually frozen fingers, I felt at total peace for the first time since Opa’s passing. When I interviewed Emma Erwin (check In Focus on page 8) one thing she said stood out to me above all else. As we sat outside of a Starbucks on a nippy December night, exchanging tales of our adventures, she shared an epiphany she had experienced while hiking in Patagonia. Following a summer spent coping with depression, she took a semester off of college to scale mountains, lead hikes and ford rivers. Friends accused her of running away from her problems. Smiling, she’d tell them, “I am dealing with them. If you can’t find the answers to your problems while alone in the great outdoors, you’re not going to be able to cope with
them anywhere else.” Emma and I cope with tragedy in similar ways, but not everyone reading this can, or wants to, climb a mountain in the Lone Star State. Amidst the maelstrom of feelings that are unleashed while studying at St. John’s, from inferiority complexes to stress to occasional triumph, I believe that for each of you, there is something that will make you feel at peace. It may not be conventional. But as you approach the remainder of the semester and the many peaks and valleys it will inevitably bring, I urge you to embrace your coping mechanisms and devote time to them. Go cuddle your puppy. Play a video game. Bake some fatty chocolate chip muffins. Don’t stop until you have rediscovered a sense of wonder. Know that you are not obligated to follow any one path. Remember, not all those who wander are lost. And wandering is where the magic begins. Best wishes,
Megan Routbort
The Review · St. John’s School · 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019 · review.sjs@gmail.com · 713-850-0222 sjsreview.com · Facebook SJS Review · Twitter @SJS_Review · Instagram @_thereview Member Columbia Scholastic Press Assn.–Silver Crown 2014, Gold Medalist 2012 & 2013 · National Scholastic Press Assn.–4th Place Best of Show (2014), 1st Class 2012 & 2013 · All-American 2014 Editors-in-Chief Rebecca Chen, Megan Routbort Deputy Editor Iris Cronin Senior Design Editor Jessica Lee Online Editor Cara Maines Assignment Editors Brooke Kushwaha, Oliver Ruhl, Megan Shen Design Editors Matthew Neal, Tiffany Yue, Christopher Zimmerman Photography Editor Jared Margolis Video Editor Emma Gobillot Copy Editors Gabe Malek, Matthew Neal, Irene Vazquez Asst. Online Editor Amy Liu Social Media Editor Inaara Malick
Business Manager Gabe Malek Asst. Business Manager Lucy Elkins Staff Grace Amandes, Ashwini Bandi, Anna Cauthorn, Emily Chen, Lin Guo, Alexander Kim, Sophia Li, Christian Maines, Sukul Mittal, Sadde Mohamed, Marisa Murillo, Emily Ragauss, Michael VerMeulen, Max Westmark, Dani Yan, Collins Yeates, Austin Zhang, Olivia Zhang Advisers David Nathan, Shelley Stein (‘88)
Mission Statement The Review strives to report on issues with honor, 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 eight times a school year. We distribute 1,000 copies each issue, most of which are given for free to the Upper School community of 583 students and 80 faculty. Policies The Review provides a forum for student writing and opinion. The opinions and staff editorials contained herein do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Headmaster or the Board of Trustees of St. John’s School. Staff editorials represent the opinion of the entire
editorial board unless otherwise noted. Writers and photographers are credited with a byline. Corrections, when necessary, can be found on the editorial pages. Running an advertisement does not imply endorsement by the school. Submission Guidelines Letters to the editor and guest columnists are encouraged but are subject to editing for reasons of clarity, space, accuracy and good taste. On occasion, we will publish letters anonymously, provided the editor knows the author’s identity. The Review reserves the right not to print letters received. Either email letters and guest columns to review. sjs@gmail.com; give them to David Nathan in the Review Room (Q-210); or mail letters to The Review, 2401 Claremont, Houston, TX 77019.
ODDS & ENDS
15
SJSREVIEW.COM I FEBRUARY 12, 2015
Sixty Seconds Name Kara Wollmers Grade 11 State of mind Just making it to spring break Known for Probably being loud Color Green Hate to love Listening to Christmas music in November Love to hate Sperrys Happiness Apple juice from Starbucks Misery Forgetting Chick-fil-a is closed on Sundays Sports team JJ Watt Olympic sport Half-pipe Dream date Somewhere with good food Relationship status Lol Comfort food Escalante’s
Guilty pleasure Buc-ee’s M&M fudge Cafeteria food We have a cafeteria? Place to live Isabelle Metz’s house I wish Eminem, Iggy Azalea and Drake would make a song together Treasured possession My Nalgene The best thing Having your outfit complimented by Joseph Hanson Spirit animal Jonah Hill Zoo animal Platypus Hero Olivia Pope Superpower Invisibility Fictional character Katniss Everdeen Book The Hunger Games
Soundbites around campus Pure mathematicians are a rare breed because they don’t reproduce. Mr. Friedman explains love in Partial Differential Equations
Validating Dr. Rawson’s life choices Emma Wertheimer: Yes, the character went insane because he felt trapped. Dr. Bellows: If I were standing in a crowd at a football game, and I needed to go to the restroom, and I felt trapped, does that mean I could stab everybody? Emma Wertheimer: Well, if you’ve gotta go, you’ve gotta go. Discussing insanity in AP English
Snarknado
By Brooke Kushwaha
TV show Scandal Movie 21 Jump Street Video game Not FIFA (sorry!) Phobia Not bringing your calculator on the first day of school two years in a row. Oh wait… Stress reliever Spotify Motto Anything Drake says Anthem Till I Collapse Sing in the shower? Especially after a tough day Doppelganger Basically any other ginger I am afraid to admit I’ve never had tapioca tea I’d rather be P(h)unny Follow us? Sure!
Blast from the Past
Word for word Dr. Rawson: I used to be a lawyer, you know. Sloan Rucker: Really? Dr. Rawson: Yeah, I’m still a member of the Texas Bar. Sloan Rucker: But you escaped!
JARED MARGOLIS
with Kara Wollmers
Relive Jack Soliman’s unorthodox first date
In most respects, the fall of 1990 was an uneventful time for a 20-year-old, sports-crazed Baltimorean attending college in Nashville. There was no NFL team in Baltimore, and the Orioles had just completed a pathetic 76-85 season. Little did I know that I would experience events that would have repercussions affecting the rest of my life. As a young Filipino-American struggling to grasp the personal meaning of racial identity, I ventured into the depths of the Asian American Students Association (ASA). I hoped to lean on new friendships that would help me understand my own concept of identity, as well as find some female companionship, which I had been seriously lacking. My friends at that time were not your stereotypical college partiers. On weekends, we hung out in the dorms, debating historical arguments, discussing philosophy and evaluating politicians and the different positions they espoused. After a night of arguing about the status of race relations in the US, one of my friends suggested we all go to Tennessee State University, a historically all-black college, to see Minister Louis Farrakhan speak. Farrakhan was the spiritual leader of the Nation of Islam, the group most known for their self-help message to African-Americans and their aspirations for Black Separation. Throw in a measure of historical hatred for white people and you had all the makings of a great night out with the guys, only three of whom were African-American. As the event approached, I summoned up the courage to talk with Joyce, a cute, smart girl from ASA. A lunch here and a coffee there, and the next thing I knew, we were hitting it off nicely. I had overheard some of my friends talking about bringing dates to the Farrakhan visit, and naively thought this could be the perfect opportunity to ask this girl out for the first time. Yet on the day of the event, much to my chagrin, there was only one other girl attending. As we entered the sold-out, 15,000-capacity arena where Farrakhan would talk, two things hit us: First, we were the only non-African Americans
COURTESY PHOTO
in attendance. And second, for security purposes, attendees were first separated by gender, frisked and sent through metal detectors. Before I could say anything to Joyce and the other girl, we were lead in different directions. A few minutes later, we were reunited and moved on to our seats. As Farrakhan’s message of Black Pride reverberated through the arena, urging the nation’s most talented African Americans to avoid places like Harvard and Vanderbilt in favor of institutions like Fisk and Howard, it was made clear that my friends and I, dressed in Commodore gear, probably weren’t appreciated that night. Ironically, the organizers made us feel welcome. Whether it was the cordial greetings from the security guards or the warm smiles that met us following Farrakhan’s stated disapproval of African-American attendance at Vanderbilt, we were given every opportunity to listen and learn about a new perspective. In retrospect, I could have very easily scared off a truly amazing girl, but instead we shared an invaluable experience together. Twenty-four years later, we laugh at the memory of our first date with the militant Black Separatist Minister Farrakhan, but we now know that night was just the beginning of our great journey and partnership. I guess you could say I was pretty lucky.
16
REARVIEW
Teachers’ pets 1.
3.
2. Sorry, everyone. No matter how hard you work in class, you’ll never replace the fuzzy fellows that come first in the hearts of these teachers. In numerical order: Spanish teacher Cara Henderson with Sally and Peanut; Chinese teacher Jing-Nan Gea with Charlie; Coach Richie Mercado and Tabby; history teacher Melinda Sloan with McKinley and Teddy; photography teacher Chuy Benitez with Sally and Ruby.
2.
4. Photos by Jing Gea (2) Marisa Murillo (1, 3, 4) and Emily Ragauss (5) | Story by Megan Routbort
5.