The Merionite

The Meri nite March 17, 2009

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929

Increased push for Proposed budget cuts funding and programs J. Dehlman/C. Chou and attending after school workshops. foreign language Along with reorganization in various district departments and the Class of ‘11/‘09 In response to the costly construction of two high schools, the eco- elimination of one literacy specialist and one educational technology nomic recession, and possibility of a reduction in state funding, LMSD specialist, the proposed reductions include cutting the Technology enrollment Business Manager Scott Shafer presented a new preliminary budget Mentor program and other after school technology workshops. The Conor Ferguson

Class of 2011 In response to federal encouragement, LM’s foreign language department has heightened efforts to encourage students to take four years of a foreign language.

In 2006 the Departments of Defense, Education and the Director of National Intelligence met at a summit with College and University presidents to launch the National Security Language Initiative (NSLI) with the purpose of, “expanding U.S. critical foreign language education beginning in kindergarten and continuing through elementary, secondary, and postsecondary education and into the workforce.” The agencies involved in this initiative decided to focus specifically on the languages Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Russian, as well as the Indic, Persian, and Turkic language families.

One of the NSLI’S main goals is for children to begin learning a second language in the first grade and continue studying that language through the end of their high school career or even into college, with the hope of ultimately being fluent in that language by graduation.

When the Departments of Defense, Education and the Director of National Intelligence met with College and University presidents in 2006, they announced that in order for colleges to receive additional government funding, they would need to readjust their policies regarding students and foreign language study. This new request has made some colleges change their previous acceptance process.

As a result now colleges will be looking for students that have taken at least three or four years of the same foreign language. Some colleges are even going as far as pressuring their students into taking foreign languages if they had not received an adequate amount in high school.

Many colleges have not yet mandated the change, but many are in the midst of considering it. Therefore Lower Merion administrators begun to emphasize the foreign language program.

“Our goal is to have all our students prepared for the college admissions competition”, said Lower Merion Foreign Language Department Head, Mary Kirchner.

That is why in recent weeks flyers encouraging students to sign up for foreign language programs have been posted all around the school.

Another way students are being notified of this initiative is by Kirchner herself. In the last few weeks she has been going around to every foreign language class and telling them about the importance of continuing to take the language. ”Knowing languages opens a whole new world,” said Spanish teacher Sandy Betegh. “It doesn’t have negatives—only pluses.”

Photo by Esther Hoffman/Staff

Recently posters throughout the halls encouraged students to take foreign languages.

plan to the board on February 17.

The plan includes reductions in district departments including the Pupil Services Budget and the Curriculum Office Budget, as well as the “Extra Pay for Extra Responsibility” Budget (EPER), which pays staff members for extra hours for activities like facilitating sporting events

Tech Mentor program is a staff development program to help teachers integrate technology in their curricula through work with other staff members.

“I see the cuts as a small loss to me personally but a huge loss for the

See Budget, page 2

Senior fundraiser floods cafeteria

Photo by Esther Hoffman/Staff

Teachers and administrators volunteered to “be dunked” including guidance counselor Katelin Hofmann pictured above.

Samantha Hershman

Class of 2009

On March 6, the senior class held their first and last dunk tank fundraiser, which resulted in a flooded cafeteria after P.E. teacher Jon Fadely accidentally kicked through the plastic dunk tank.

“The senior class officers were just goofing around in the athletic office trying to think of fun things to do and the idea [of a dunk tank] came up,” said Susie Boote.

The fundraiser was intended to raise funds for the class of 2009 and their expenses including senior prom at the Please Touch Museum. The senior class officers originally planned to hold the fundraiser each Friday in February, but eventually opted to select a few days to avoid the extra effort needed to transport the booth to and from school.

LM rented the fifty year old dunk tank from Episcopal Academy day camp for the two-day fundraiser in which LM students and staff paid to throw a ball at a target to

Harriton and Penn State team up Itai Doron

Class of 2011 This September, LMSD will begin a dual enrollment program with Penn State and Harriton High School.

The program, which encourages students to attend Harriton High School, provides students in the district the opportunity to earn 13 college credits applicable at Penn State Brandywine along with all other Penn State campuses, and possibly other institutions.

There are many collegiate level classes that the program has to offer. Course will be taught by Penn State professors, and based topics including introduction to business, the social, legal, and ethical environment of business, and economics. Even with this heavy load of work, high school classes are still required in the curriculum, though they are counted as electives instead.

This program will be available to every junior and

Movies to brighten your day See A&E, page 15

See Penn State, page 3

Happy St. Patrick’s Day from the Merionite

We hope you have a lucky day!

“dunk” teachers and administrators seated in the water-filled booth.

“We rented it from this guy [that] everyone calls George the Farmer,” said Boote.

“It was from around 1956, and had a lot of patches.”

Unfortunately when the booth arrived the day before the March 6 fundraiser, it contained small openings that leaked water.

“I was asked a week before the event to help out,” said Assistant Principal Scott

See Dunk Tank, page 2

Sex and Sexuality at LM

The Merionite takes a look behind closed doors see page 9 The latest fads to hit LM See Features, page 13

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite NEWS Economy prompts state to cut funding Fadely breaks up for Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools senior fundraiser From Dunk Tank, page 1

Kira Goldner

Class of 2010 Although 2009 applications to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence (PGSE) have already been submitted, Governor Ed Rendell proposed cutting Governor’s schools, among other enrichment programs, to decrease state spending in his 200910 economic plan. With no government funding, five of the eight schools have officially closed, and two others are running under different names.

The five-week long Pennsylvania Governor’s Schools of Excellence offer free admission and residence to selected participants chosen during a competitive application process. The concept originated in the late 1960s when education officials found extremely limited opportunities for training and career advising in the arts field.

In 1973, Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts was initiated with enormous success.

PGSE contains eight schools--Agricultural Sciences, Arts, Global Entrepreneurship, Health Care, Information, Society & Technology, International Studies, Sciences, and Teaching--located at various Pennsylvanian college campuses. These educational summer programs require $3.2 million in annual funding, but due to the current economic condition, Rendell decided that keeping these exclusive summer institutions would be irrational.

“As amazing as PGSA was, it’s more important to keep people in their jobs, policemen on the streets, and textbooks in already struggling schools,” said senior Mia Vallet, a PGSA alumnus of 2008.

“I do think our society ought to be invested in nurturing [highly talented and creative young people’s] talents and their passions,” said English teacher Michael Segal. “[But] to be realistic, I honestly can’t say that PGSE is indispensable for filling this need.”

Though the government sees cutting PGSE funding as necessary, the program does have its benefits.

Guidance Counselor Barbara Serratore expressed a firm belief that “to have a program that gives this type of enrichment to the gifted and talented students across the state, regardless of socio-economic status, is priceless. [And] That the Governor continues to state that he is committed to a first rate public education system seems rather incongruent with his most recent actions.”

Furthermore, Serratore dislikes the timing of the proposal.

“Had Governor Rendell said a year ago that the program would be cut for this year, there would have been fair warning, and possibly

Photo courtesy of Tom Simon

Students volunteered their time and skills at a local coffeehouse in support of PGSE. For more information, see PGSE, page 16.

a chance to find a [new] sponsor,” said Serratore.

The Schools had until March 17 to secure private or corporate funding after the February 4 announcement to cut the program.

PGSE alumni were enraged by the budget cuts and some were galvanized to action. Senior Stephen Bauder, PGSA ’08 alumnus, a senior at Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton, Pennsylvania turned to Facebook to fight what he found unjust. His Facebook group “Save the Govies!” contains more than 4,443 members.

Governor’s school alumni, or “govies,” banded together with faculty and staff from the various Governor’s schools, hopeful 2009 applicants, and other advocates to protest loss of the eight Governor’s schools.

With Bauder’s encouragement, PGSE supporters swarmed the offices, telephone lines, and inboxes of many state representatives with pleas to keep Governor’s schools in the budget. Andrew Smith, an administrator in the Facebook group, created a petition against the Elimination of the Governor’s Schools that received 11,181 signatures.

“PGSE doesn’t only provide the intense learning opportunity that accommodates as well as deeply challenges PA’s youth,” said Bauder, “it stays with each student as a stepping stone to higher learning across the nation.”

District cuts funding for technology programs From Budget, page 1

district,” said biology teacher and participant in the Tech Mentor program Sue O’Bannon.

However, the district acknowledges that there are many ways to get around the budget cuts and maintain professional development programs.

“Professional development—especially in the area of implementing technology for teaching and learning—is an on-going need, and it will be a challenge to meet that need without these programs. However, great challenges can also represent great opportunities for creative solutions that might not have otherwise been considered,” said District Supervisor of Educational Technology Bill Dolton.

While nothing has been finalized, extracurricular activity funding

is another major concern for teachers and something that affects students more directly. Even if the cuts to activities and athletics are not drastic, LM and the District as a whole is concerned with the future of club and sport funding.

“We do have to start looking for other ways to fund raise to support our extracurricular programs,” said principal Sean Hughes Nonetheless, due to increased enrollment, the District is adding some new support staff and campus aides and custodians are being hired at Harriton as the new building opens.

Between now and May 11, the board will study the proposed preliminary budget. Then with public input, the preliminary budget will be finalized as the 2009-2010 budget after a school board vote on June 15.

Kilpatrick. “We all designed the set up, and got [Supervisor Custodians Safety Security Dennis] Witt to bring the ropes for the crowd. When they delivered this thing I saw the putty at the bottom corner, and when they put the water in, it streamed out the bottom.”

Disregarding their misgivings about the tank, the senior class refused to cancel the event. Kilpatrick, along with custodians, mopped the floor as water leaked at a manageable rate as LM staff members including Principal Sean Hughes, Guidance Counselor Katelin Hofmann, and Environmental Science teacher Glenn Rosazza were dunked.

“I thought I could help make some money [by volunteering],” said Fadely. “Most kids in my classes who know me know that I love humor and love to see people crack up even if it’s me that you are laughing at.”

Fadely entered the dunk tank during C lunch, and unintentionally kicked the booth open as he fell into the tank of water.

“I was watching Fadely get tanked, but there were a lot of people in front of me so I couldn’t really see,” said senior Madison Highbloom. “Everyone started running in the opposite direction, and I didn’t understand why. Then my friend Chris picked me up and put me on top of a table. I looked down and there was a river of water.”

“I couldn’t believe it,” said Fadely. “I was laughing so hard when I looked down and saw the tub of water empty in two seconds and everyone was running for the hills. I truly believe it was fun for all. It was said to be one of the top ten monumental moments of all time here at LMHS.” While the deluge of water caused no known damage to the cafeteria, the tile floor became dangerously slippery.

“I realized we had to get the kids out of the cafeteria immediately,” said Kilpatrick. “It was a safety issue.”

Senior class officers hoped to break even during the first day of the fundraiser, and profit during the second day.

“It was not our fault that it broke,” said Boote.

“If we don’t owe anything extra and get our money back for the second day, we broke even and owe nothing.” However, the second day never occurred.

“The teachers who participated had fun, and even the custodians were bending to their knees in laughter when it broke,” said Boote. “We are still trying to think of new [fundraisers] and are very open to suggestions. We love to do goofy things.”

SUAVE raises money for a close-to-home cause Connie Hua

Class of 2010 While LM’s Students United Against Violence Everywhere club (SUAVE) has sponsored many different global charities over the years, this year it’s chosen a charity closer to home: the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP). At the end of March SUAVE will hold its annual gala to raise money and garner support for AVP “The entire charity is really exciting,” said senior and club president Yunica Jiang. “For the past couple of years SUAVE has really tried to be global in the causes we support, such as Orphans in Rwanda. But this year our members chose the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia instead. We really want to directly touch the community and neighborhoods around us.”

Parents of murder victims started AVP as a support group over 25 years ago and the charity quickly expanded, Today, the AVP funds a variety of programs, ranging from Student Anti-Violence Prevention programs in schools to counseling centers for victims of violence. Using the catchphrase “Together

we can end the cycle of violence,” AVP hopes to eventually stop violence through their numerous preventative programs and services it provides.

“We had a tough time deciding between the Anti-Violence Partnership and other great charities,” admitted Jiang. “But ultimately our members voted and decided to opt for an organization right in Philadelphia.”

SUAVE plans to take advantage of the proximity of AVP, planning to visit North Philadelphia and work with elementary school children in anti-violence workshops. Also, a representative from AVP came in specifically to talk to the club officers and members.

“That experience was really interesting,” said junior Alicia Danzig. “Everything SUAVE has sponsored while I was a member always seemed so distant. But having someone come in and talk to us really made me realize how badly victims of violence need our help.”

SUAVE collects thousands of dollars each year from private donators and fundraisers, such as the successful holiday gift-wrapping at Borders, but the majority of funds are raised

Photo courtesy of David Faich

Students in Ace Harmony performed at last year’s SUAVE gala. Through the gala and other fundraisers SUAVE raised over $8,000 dollars. at the annual SUAVE gala.

This year’s gala will be held at the Merion Tribute House on March 27 at 7:00 PM. The event will last approximately three hours and LM’s own Ace’s Angels and Ace Harmony will provide the entertainment. For the first

time, two very talented seniors will perform music as well. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students.

“Please come out and support AVP!” said Jiang. “It’s a great way to spend a Friday night!”

March 17, 2009

The Merionite College courses offered Theatre Arts shares poetry elementary students to increase enrollment with Samantha Hershman From Penn State, page 1

senior in the fall of 2009.

Although Penn State requires a minimum of only ten students, average class size will be between 15 and 20 students.

The classes take place over the course of two years, with the first year being worth seven credits for a cost of $1,905 and the next year worth six credits for $1,700.

The program has not yet accomplished its goal of persuading kids from LM to transfer to Harriton High School. According to an article published in the Main Line Times, the district expects to have enough participants to have a Penn State professor teach the program next year, however none of the students are LM transfers.

If the program does not attract enough students, the district plans to continue offering the course, but for high school credit with a high school teacher.

Penn State offers tuition assistance for the costly program, and administrators hope this will influence more students to join.

Harriton hopes to continue their dual enrollment program with Penn State in the future. They plan to develop the program by incorporating additional departments such as Geoscience Information Systems, Information Technology, and Human Development. Applications will be accepted until Graphic courtesy of LMSD.org March 23, 2009.

Class of 2009 In February, Theatre Arts classes traveled to Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion to lead a two-hour poetry workshop for second grade students.

“It was a way to introduce poetry to students at a young age,” said senior Nadav Hirsh. “There was an outline set up by our teacher, but most of the day was played by ear. We performed a poem we had begun in class, but other than that it was pretty new to us.”

LM students not only shared their theatrical abilities by reciting poems, but also by handing out notebooks for Mercy students to fill with different poems. Members of Theatre Arts class were then partnered with second graders. The pairs designed collages for the notebooks and created original poetry.

“It was great,” said senior Abby Spitzer. “The [younger] students got to decide which poems they wanted for their notebook, and if they liked each poem or not.”

Mercy students had been filling their notebooks with poetry ever since the visit.

“You have to know your audience and what it is that excites them,” said Theatre Arts teacher Jeanne Mastriano. “[Second graders] have an entirely different way of looking at the world.”

Mastriano is plannig a second field trip in which Theatre Arts students will perform for Kindergarten, first, and second graders.

“The students did a great job and were absolutely engaging,” said Mastriano. “They came back exhausted, but so fulfilled.”

“Normally, theatre is a lot of practice and perfection and work, but this was pure fun and spontaneity and theater at a moment’s notice,” said Hirsh. “It was not about being perfect, it was about doing.”

Indie Film Club crafts the perfect “Senior Prank” Maya Afilalo Hoffman as police officers.

Class of 2012 Last month, LM’s Indie Film Club held auditions for its upcoming horror movie, The Senior Prank, which will premier on LMSD TV Channel 6. The movie follows three students as they break into their high school after hours to carry out a monumental senior prank, meeting a crazed construction worker in the process.

“Our goal is to make a quality movie that could be entered into an upcoming film festival later this year,” said writer and co-director junior Gabe Siegal.

“We’re submitting this movie to the Main Line Student Film Festival at the end of March in hopes of publicly screening it at the Bryn Mawr Film Institute on Tuesday, April 28 at seven [PM],” said producer junior Elizabeth Moosburner.

Seniors Jericho Sav, Samantha Hershman, and James Irving were cast for main roles.

Sav and Hershman play students Evan and Rachel, and Irving plays the villain. Roles were also given to senior Nina Bar-Giora as the foreman of the construction yard, and junior Ethan Goldstein and senior Esther

“The audition process was pretty straightforward.

Each person [who tried out] was given a copy of the script to read over. Then the directors and writers called us into a room to read our lines for them,” explained Hoffman.

The club, founded in October 2008, is intended for students who have a passion for movie production. Its members are serious filmPhoto courtesy of Nick Burgos makers with previous filmJunior Amanda Farrell reads lines for the role of making experience. OrigiRachel during the recorded audition process. Film nally, members of the club Club members then reviewed tapes to cast roles. split into groups to make their own films, but the club has since decided to The club will host a film festival on the take a new approach to this process. night of May 8 in the auditorium. Any student “When the winter break ended we decided may submit a 10-15 minute long film to be that it would be most interesting and fun to screened. Proceeds will go to the junior class all work on a project together,” said producer and an as-yet-undetermined charity. junior Maris Jones.

“When we finish it will be a great accom“The club came up with the idea of making plishment and hopefully [will] show a lot of a horror movie based off the construction yard hard work and collaboration [from] all the LM in LM,” explained Siegal. students interested in film,” said Jones.

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NEWS

NEWS IN BRIEF

Commitee reviews grading policy

A Grading Committee has formed to discuss the accuracy and possible renewal of LM’s current grading policy and method.

While teachers have posted grades via Powerschool since the 2006-2007 school year, some disapprove of the system and view it as overbearing to the grading styles of individual classes.

The Committee hopes to “equalize the role of the teacher and the software [and] unify grades between the middle schools and high schools,” said Social Studies teacher John Grace. “[This will] create a universal grading system benefiting every student grades six through 12.”

The constant technological difficulties involving powerschool and the difficulty for teachers to maintain their own grading policy are both under review.

The topics of future Grading Committee meetings will include ways to perfect the “weighting system” which dictates final course grades of students.

Over the past three weeks the committee distributed a survey to students, parents, and faculty to gage their opinions on the grading policy. Students and teachers recieved the survey during English classes and parents were given it through an HSA meeting.

The committee will meet to discuss the results of the survey today.

--Maia Wikler, ‘11

New importance to the PSSAs

While three-quarters of the school was sleeping this morning, the juniors were taking reading and math PSSAs. However, this year the stakes are higher.

In the past, if a student failed any part of the PSSAs-reading, writing, or math--the school could report a passing final exam grade to demonstrates a student’s proficiency. Starting this year, the state will no longer accept school finals in place of unsatisfactory PSSA scores.

Because of this change, any student who does not pass his/her PSSAs will be put in supplemental literacy or math classes until s/he retakes the exams in the fall.

The students will stay in these classes until they pass the exams with a proficient score, a requirement for graduation.

--Carolyn Chou, ‘09

SADD assembly targets student stress

On March 27 Students Against Drunk Driving (SADD) will host an assembly for students featuring a speaker on mental health disorders.

Ross Szabo was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at the age of 16. Over the past seven years he has traveled the country retelling his story to young adults and answering their questions.

This month Szabo will speak to all four grade levels about the effects of stress on student life, and the way that students handle stress.

“High school, particularly junior year, is very stressful for students,” said 10th grade assistant principal Scott Kilptrick. “We need to focus on how stress affects our life. That’s what this assembly will do.”

“The main goal of SADD is to make students at LM aware of different issues and [encourage them] to stay away from making wrong choices,” said Senior and co-club president Julie Waters.

In the past the club has invited a date rape victim to speak to LM females and has hosted a drunk driving assembly featuring a simulator imitating the experience of driving under the influence. The upcoming assembly is one of a number of activities that the club has planned for upcoming months.

--Hana Rouse, ‘10

Junior class finds new fundraisers

Without Taste of Lower Merion, the junior class has been looking for creative ways to raising money for the 2010 prom, the ABC House, and the Lower Merion Scholarship Fund. The junior class officers proposed a school-wide game of “spoons,” more commonly known as “assassins,” and it was approved last week.

The game was originally denied by the administration because they were concerned about the students, specifically the seniors, causing problems and taking the game too far. However, with specific rules and organization, the junior class officers were able to persuade the administration. But first a trial run of 38 people selected on a first come first serve basis will be held next week.

For the full size game, each student or faculty member interested in participating will pay five dollars and be assigned another student who they must tag with a spoon. Participants will only be allowed to tag each other in school: during lunch, frees, and before/after school hours.

--Carolyn Chou, ‘09

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March 17, 2009

NEWS LM teachers receive national recognition The Merionite

Schanne recieves AP award FIRST founders honor Kressly D. Weitz/S. Hershman

Class of‘11/‘09 On February 19, the College Board declared physics teacher Rob Schanne a recipient of the prestigious 2009 Siemens Award for Advanced Placement along with a $1,000 grant.

Since 1998, one teacher from each state has been awarded for their demonstration of excellence in teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics courses.

The LM physics department offers two AP courses to all students: AP Mechanics and AP Electromagnetism (E&M), without prerequisite calculus or lower level physics classes.

“The splitting of the class into a two-year course has increased the number of students taking AP Physics from around 30 to over 100, requiring 3 quality teachers to handle the load” said Schanne in an LMSD news release.

“We have found that many students find they are capable of handling the Mechanics even as a first year course and without prior calculus experience. We teach them the necessary calculus in class, and while they may struggle with it at first, they become proficient by the end of the year.”

Rather than centering the class on the May AP tests, Schanne helped to focus the physics department on activities that spark academic interest including group projects, demonstrations, and labs.

As a result, students are particularly drawn to physics classes, and approximately 80% of the 120 Mechanics and 45 E&M students that enroll each year score a passing grade of 3 or higher on the AP exam. Also, 1% of all females in the US take physics in LM classrooms, and 90% of LM graduates have participated in the physics department, while nationwide only 40% of graduates have take physics classes.

“Our goals are to show stuPhoto courtesy of LMSD.org dents that they can enjoy learning; get students interested in science and physics in particular and to make the students better life-long learners,” said Schannee in the news release. “I do hope they learn some physics and get a greater appreciation of physics in my class.

But developing learning skills and an interest in science is my main focus. Students will probably not remember many of the concepts they learned in class unless they use it in college and beyond, but the skills they develop can last a lifetime.”

Sivahn Barsade

plished professors and mentors in the FIRST community.

“It is something very special that the This past month LM Robotics (DAWG- people who selected me are truly tremenMA) faculty sponsor Rich Kressly returned dous role models who are able to help the from the Regional FIRST Robotics Compe- Robotics community on a grand scale,” tition with an award of his own. Kressly was said Kressly. “To be thought of in the same honored with the sentence as these role Regional Woodie models is an amazFlowers Award. ing honor.

DAWGMA memKressly had prebers nominated viously worked with Kressly for this the FIRST organizaaward to show tion and before comtheir appreciation ing to LM. When he for his dedication arrived five years to the program. ago Kressly started “To have stuthe robotics prodents take the time gram as part of the to nominate me Technology and truly means a lot,” Engineering Club. said Kressly. “This He views his role experience was as a club teacher in one of the top five three parts: to teach moments in my new technology, to 15 years of teachteach hard work and Photo courtesy of Rich Kressly collaboration, and ing.”

Once DAWGMA members to teach how to use chose to nominate Kressly, the technology in the actual decision was up to previous winners right way. of the Woodie Flowers Award. The past hon“Helping others is a very important in orees created a panel which picked Kressly DAWGMA,” said Kressly. “I try to create from among fifteen other nominees for the a balance between fun and hard work why Regional Woodie Flowers Award. Members teaching skills to make the world a better of the panel included some very accom- place.

Class of 2010

Italian inspired display places second at flower show Hana Rouse

Class of 2010 LM’s Flower Show Club placed second at the 2009 Philadelphia Flower Show.

“We started planning for this year’s show as soon as we were accepted [last year],” said Flower Club sponsor Lynne Freeland.

“This year we did an arbor with a garden.”

LM was challenged to decorate a plain, white arbor following the show’s theme “Bella Italia.”

Drawing inspiration from Italian culture, LM intended to create a garden reminiscent of “grandma’s herb garden.” Their display included plants that might be used in Italian cooking, like rhubarb, rosemary, peppers, peas, and basil.

“The most important part of the garden was the three grape plants characteristic of Italy,” said club member junior Laura Sokil.

The show was held during the week of March 1-8. Judging took place on the first Saturday, and for the next seven days the show was open to the public.

After the first judging LM placed second out of four, and after the second, third.

“The judges gave us great praise and awarded us very high marks,” said Freeland. The only negative comment we received was that the arbor was not as full of greenery as possible, but that’s just because our plants didn’t grow as high and full as we wanted.”

Each year LM is given a certain amount of money with which to build its display. The Flower Show Club designs the exhibit the

year before so that the plants have enough time to grow.

Students set up for the eight-day show during the week before its opening after they received . Juniors Laura Sokil, Caroline Carpey, and Morgan Gerwitz, seniors Paulina Mercuci, and some LM alumni spent the Thursday and Friday before the show arranging plants.

“I love setup,” said Sokil. “When the show opens, the floor is so crowded that you cannot breathe so it is really cool to see the gardens up close and personal without the general public around.”

“I attend the flower show annually, and though I always enjoy LM’s display, I was especially impressed by its quality this year,” said junior Allie Cade. “LM’s exhibit fit right in among the professional ones!”

At the end of the show the Building and Grounds committee looks over the leftover plants and decides if any of them can be reused in LMSD. “A tree in the main courtyard, the statue on Arnold field, and a butterfly garden at a elementary school all came from the Philadelphia Flower Show,” said Freeland.

Anything that the district does not use is resold at a reduced price.

The Philadelphia Horticultural Society hosts the Philadelphia Flower Show annually. The show is the world’s largest indoor Photo courtesy of Laura Sokil flower show. Proceeds from the event go to Philadelphia Green, Community members gather at the Pennsylvania which uses the money to help Philadelphians take care of their Convention Center. to view the carefully planned city. plant arrangements.

Global News You

May Have Missed

Recently the Venezuelan people passed a national referendum that would overturn term limits for elected officials. Current President Hugo Chavez proposed this referendum in hopes of remaining in office to continue his Bolivarian revolution. While Chavez claims he plans on staying in office for another ten years, opponents claim he plans on establishing a lifetime presidency. Fifty-four percent of the population voted in favor of the referendum, and currently opinions differ amongst Venezuelans.

Two British soldiers were shot and killed on March 7 by dissident Irish republicans while picking up pizza. People fear that this attack may ignite Anglo-Irish tensions that have been relatively calm since the Good Friday peace agreement. Politicians in both Northern Ireland and the United Kingdom have condemned the attacks and insist that the violence will not hamper to peace process.

At the beginning of March, the International Criminal Court ordered the arrest of Omar Hassan al-Bashir, President of Sudan. Bashir was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity due to his “essential role in the atrocitites committed in Darfur. The Sudanese government responded to this charge by expelling Western aid groups such as Oxfarm and Doctors Without Boarders from Sudan.

High school graduate Tim Kretschmer, 17, murdered nine students and three teachers with a handgun at his former high school in Winnenden, Germany. Once he left the building, the suspect attacked four others and hijacked a car before police found him 24 miles away from the school in an industrial town Wendlingen, after having shot himself in the head.

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL/LETTERS

Sex education in need of review

In health class at LM, we never learn how to put a condom on a banana. We do, however, see what genitalia look like after being infected with syphilis. Something isn’t right here.

For some, sex education at LM comes from genital diagrams in textbooks; for others, from the movie And the Band Played On. It seems like the most basic aspects of sex fall through the cracks in most health classes as we focus either on extreme cases or over-technical details. When students experience this narrow, exaggerated form of sex education, they have little to relate to and ultimately cannot take the class seriously.

We need to learn about healthy relationships, and about how and when to put on a condom as well as how and when to take one off. We need to learn not only about different contraceptives, but where and how to get them. We need to learn about the emotional baggage and unnecessary competition surrounding sex. Health classes should teach about the spectrum of sexuality, discussing homo-, hetero-, and bisexuality and all the places in between. While these subjects are occasionally addressed, the lessons need to be more widespread. All of these discussions, we believe, would lead to students learning more and recognizing health as a serious class.

Certainly, the risk of STDs must be stressed, but this should not be in the form of worst-case scenario photographs that resemble scare tactics. The focus should be on prevention of STDs, not solely what the symptoms will be when you contract one. We only get a few classes of sex education as it is— with such a limited amount of time we should focus on the more important and practical topics. It needs to be addressed that in a school of 14 to 18 year olds, sex is kind of everywhere.

That is not to say that everyone at LM is having sex, because the majority of LM students are not. That majority, however, will become a minority in college, where students will already be expected to have a sexual education. Sex ed in this school doesn’t just have to get kids through high school; it needs to prepare them for college and the rest of life. Of course, there are plenty of other ways that we learn about sex, and in the long run, tenth grade health class will probably account for only a small portion of our sexual knowledge. But it does come at a vital time and can influence how we view sex growing up. Leaving students uncomfortable talking about sex and not serious about the subject is not the goal of sex education. It is the responsibility of Lower Merion to see that its students have a modern, rational view of sex.

The Merionite Published since 1929

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Arts & Entertainment Editors

Carolyn Chou, ’09 Liz Jacobs, ’09 Emma Saltzberg, ’09 Sivahn Barsade, ’10 Samantha Hershman, ’09 Hana Rouse, ’10 Chou Chou, ’09 Ethan Cohen, ’09 Niklas Thompson, ’09 Hannah Goldberg-Morse, ’10 Bina Peltz, ’10 Jessica Scolnic, ’09 Sophia Hirsch, ’09 Jenny Smolen, ’09 Hannah Weilbacher, ’10

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The editors believe all facts presented in the newspaper to be accurate. The paper acknowledges that mistakes are possible and welcomes questions as to accuracy. Inquiries regarding accuracy should be directed to the editors of the paper. Editors can be contacted via e-mail at merionite@gmail.com or in Room 116. To represent all viewpoints in the school community, The Merionite welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via e-mail or dropped off outside the Merionite office. The Merionite reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length or clarity.

Letters to the Editor

Elevator trespassers, please be more considerate Dear Editors,

There are a lot of students here at Lower Merion who get on the elevator, but who do not need the elevator. This really annoys us! This not only annoys us, but I am sure it annoys other students who need the elevator as well. There are times when I end up waiting for the elevator for a long time because there are students on the elevator who do not need it.

The elevator requires a key, and my theory is that elevator intruders get on when students who need the elevator are getting into the elevator. Students who get injured need the elevator during their healing process. Some students, however, keep their key after they heal.

There are other students who get on the elevator because either they are lazy or in a rush to get to their next class. Some students laze around during the five-minute break between each class and take the elevator to make sure they are not late. But that is their problem if they are late. “People shouldn’t use the elevator unless they need to,” says Briana White.

Sometimes I am late to class because I wait for the elevator for a long time. Sometimes, if I am going to the third floor in the el-

evator, and I am on the second floor, I have to go to the ground floor then stop at the first and second floors before finally getting up to the third floor. When this happens I have to stay in the elevator for five minutes, while the elevator picks up more intruders.

Although when this happens, my teachers are not mad at me for being late, it would be nice to use the elevator and get to class on time. “It’s hard to get to class on time,’’ says Hannah Brannau.

I am not just writing this article for me, but for all the other students who need to use the elevator. I think what we should do is have Mr. Hughes assign campus aides to take turns standing in the elevator during the five -minute breaks between classes. The campus aides could ask the student for their key or note, and if they do not have either, the students would be turned away to would take the stairs. And another campus aide could be assigned by the stairs to make sure the students get up the stairs. Please be more considerate for the students who need the elevator.

Thanks, Jeremy Libon, Alex De Pasquale, Nicky McAvoy-Hull

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite

OPINIONS

STANDARDIZED TESTING

Tests a necessary evil I opened the door to my house and ventured into my living room, and spotted an enigmatic plastic bag. I got very excited as I thought of the possibilities. A video game? Gift cards to the Apple Store? Something totally cool and out of my world?

To my dismay, the bag contained my worst nightmare: SAT, ACT, and SAT-II studying books.

Matt Rublin Shiny, new, thick Class of 2011 studying books.

The last things I wanted to see. My mom had left me a note inside: “You’ll be thankful later.” Thankful for boring books that will devour hours of my time to prepare for standardized tests?

I crumpled up the note and threw it away, just as I anticipated I would be throwing away many hours studying for these tests.

I always dreaded standardized tests such as the PSSAs. I was afraid I would fail miserably and get held back, humiliating myself in the process. Plus, I would get bored after an hour into the test and my mind would drift elsewhere. Who wants to spend over two and a half hours analyzing meaningless stories and completing math problems? (Cue a chorus of no’s and boos.)

However, the majority of those “PSSA” days are gone. My year ahead will be dominated with too many three-letter abbreviated college entrance exams. One word stands out in that last sentence: college. These tests are not for elementary school, middle school, or high school.

They are for COLLEGE, a critical step on the way to our careers/lives ahead. Therefore, we should step up our game and perform at a college level on these tests.

I know we want to enjoy our short time in Lower Merion, our safe haven.

However, we must look down the road.

Thousands of kids just like us will be embarking on the same voyage to college. In order for the colleges we want to pick us out of a huge crowd, we must make ourselves visible. These exams give a student the opportunity to show the desired college why it should accept him or her.

Standardized tests enable colleges to set a common standard (hence the name) for students from different districts and states.

Curricula and grading policies vary across all parts of the country. For example, someone who gets an A at Lower Merion High School might have a different ability level than someone who gets an A at a less challenging school. With these tests, though, everyone answers the exact same questions and a machine grades them. These results are useful, as the 2008 SAT Validity Studies reported the SAT is “an excellent predictor of how students will perform in their first year of college.” Thus, standardized exams let colleges compare apples to apples and see who is really “cut out” for the academic rigor of their school.

These tests are not just for students and universities. They are significant for American education as a whole. According to the 2006 Program for International Student Assessment, U.S. 15 year-old students ranked 17th out of 30 industrialized countries in science and did even worse in math, coming in 23rd. How are kids going to compete in our globalized society if they are

not being challenged enough? Educators need to stop holding our hands and work us harder. College entrance tests often lead teachers to adjust their curricula so students are prepared to confront the challenges that await them in the future. A 2007 College Board survey sent to almost 5,000 teachers and 800 administrators discovered that the writing section on the SAT has been a factor in changing writing priorities, attitudes, and expectations. Additionally, over 75% of those surveyed reported that the focus on writing in the classroom had increased dramatically since the addition of the SAT writing section. Writing is an essential skill that is required in almost every major field.

When teachers respond to standardized tests by placing more emphasis on certain skills, American education improves significantly.

While I think that the SATs and the ACT are important, it does not mean they are above criticism. Both tests are just as imperfect as anything else in the education system and certain reforms are needed. For example, some kids can get tutors and/or buy expensive studying books, while others cannot afford to do the same. Also, the duration of the SAT is absurd. If I can’t pay attention for a two and a half hour PSSA test, how would I able to function through four and a half hours? This test needs to be broken into sub-tests that can be taken on different days. Students should also be able to choose the fourth section of the ACT, which is currently science reasoning. The ACT should follow the SAT-IIs, which have given students the chance to be tested on any subject they choose. Students should not be tested on any fields that may prove to be irrelevant to their lives after high school. It is a waste of time and resources. Lastly, these tests should not weigh as heavily in college admissions.

Universities should not give these scores any greater emphasis than school grades, extra-curriculars, and other relevant factors. However, while the SATs and ACT have their flaws, they are still a necessity.

While I sigh, groan, and wish I was somewhere else while reading the big, bulky studying books, I now know their significance and how they can impact the rest of my life. I guess my mom was right when she said I would be thankful later.

A system in need of reform

Have you ever taken one of those “learning style surveys” that some teachers give out at the beginning of the year?

Where they ask you a bunch of random questions to determine if you learn better visually, aurally, or verbally?

Teaching based on how the student learns best is a fairly recent concept. Some Leah Rosenbloom teachers think Class of 2011 it’s a load of bull, but the idea behind the survey is a good one. After all, wouldn’t a student learn better if they could be taught in the most efficient way?

Educators have already pieced two and two together to realize this, but standardized tests still seem to be miles behind. Instead of giving the student an opportunity to show what he or she has learned in the most beneficial way to the student, standardized tests seem to glorify some students’ capabilities and diminish others’. If a teacher only assigns work in the textbook and expects the students to learn solely on reading, students who learn aurally will fail the class. It should be same with testing, but it’s not—almost all standardized testing is multiple choice, so students that test better using short answer or fill-in-theblank are left behind. It’s almost as if, for some students, standardized testing does not really test academic abilities at all.

If standardized tests were merely used at a high school level, the ripple affect would not be so big. However, standardized tests like the SATs affect what colleges a student is accepted into and later what kind of career a student can have, especially careers that involve tests like the MCATs and GREs. Because college acceptance relies partially on these test scores, students who do not do well on standardized tests might be left behind when really they might be extremely academically gifted, just not in the art of fill-in-thebubble.

This, however, poses a problem.

Sure, this method of testing is out-dated and unfair, but not much can be said for fixing it. After all, schools cannot give completely different tests to different students. This would defeat the entire purpose of standardized testing, and colleges would not know whom to accept when they are not familiar with each and every version of testing. Instead, a variety of problems should be included on the test. Not just fill-in-thebubble, “show-your-work” mathematics and essay writing, but problems like short answer analysis questions for the reading, sentence composition using vocabulary for the writing, and mathematical theory for the math section, things already in practice on the AP exams.

But with such a solution a whole new set of problems arises, since each test would require a whole field of experts to grade them and results could not be obtained as quickly or as efficiently as they are being obtained now. Results could not be compared as easily, and, depending on the grader, could be skewed.

Therefore, until the College Board comes up with something better, the only foolproof solution to this dilemma lies in the hands of the college admissions committees. Fortunately, most colleges have realized this already and don’t only look at test scores and grades.

They take the time to review the student’s whole application—the teacher recommendations, the essays, and the extra-curriculars as well. Also, to help diversify the application process further, I believe the transcript should be expanded to include gifted programs and classes outside of school as well.

This form of testing is called “standardized” for a reason; there is nothing personal about it. If colleges continue to use this as a source for judging students’ abilities, it is certainly necessary to have the test fairly benefit all types of learners and test takers, not just a small portion of the student body. Until the perfect standardized test is made to bring out the best in all students—if indeed this is at all possible—all we can do is hope the colleges of our choice have the good sense to judge a student by more than just a test.

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite

Equal credit for equal work: All electives should be valued the same

Did you know that your choice between missions process—and state schools are defivideo production and computer science, nitely more financially affordable. Consider a each listed as a standard elective is a choice student who would choose to be academicalthat affects your ly challenged, but opts for the “easy honors” GPA? Or that if course instead to maintain his/her GPA. Every you aspire to be angle of this situation is completely twisted. valedictorian, Jean McWilliams, the head of the Engyou would be lish department, explained that in an effort well-advised to to avoid homogenous classrooms and to not enroll in standard discourage certain kids from taking certain cooking and ce- classes, the school attempts to offer courses ramics instead of at both the standard and honors levels. She standard philoso- said this means “sometimes hard choices phy and speech? have to be made” in determining which I didn’t either. course will receive that precious little “H” And that’s where on the transcript. Due to the number of Rachel Cohen my search began. available faculty, there admittedly aren’t Class of 2010 What started always clear cut reasons as to why courses out as just a jour- are honors or not. Steve Barbato, the Disnalistic quest for the truth slowly but surely trict Director of Curriculum, Instruction revealed hidden issues in the walls of our and Assessment answered my query by school that run far deeper than my initial saying “Honors level designation are typipuzzlement led me to believe. The valedicto- cally driven by both academic reasons, as rian candidates account well as, student interest. for less than one percent The academic rigor in It seems outrageous of the student body. This an honors level course article includes them, that the school places should be designed to but it certainly is not students to a higher a higher level of value take exclusively about them. level of skill within that Why is it that some on the achievement of content area.” If this courses are factored true, then why do a science-gifted student issome into our GPA while honors courses others are ignored? I than the achievement of count and others don’t? decided to see what Albert Eisenan artistically gifted one. Senior the Student Handbook berg openly declared, said about all of this.

“As a student of Art “Elective courses fall into one of three Honors and AP and Honors classes, I can categories: Elective courses in the first tell you that the art classes at Lower Metwo categories are calculated in the GPA. rion are some of the most rigorous classes available, harder in fact than many class1. The course is a major subject area es that have counted towards my GPA.” and is needed to meet the graduaAn idea floating amongst some teachers tion requirement to accommodate the lack of staff would be 2. The course is a major subject to let courses be both standard and honors area and is not needed to meet the within the same room—and then students graduation requirement can opt for which track they would like to 3. The course is not a major subject take. That way Philosophy classes can rearea. Elective courses in this cattain their diversity and the work would just egory are not included in the GPA. be more rigorous for the honors tract students. History teacher Bill Quinn endorses The key thing to note from that excerpt this type of class. Such practices are already is “major subject areas.” When the school being implemented within our language deallocates GPA value to some electives but partment. AP Spanish and Honors Spanish 5 not others, LM sends a disturbing message are often combined into one class and a few that some subjects are more worthy of study. years ago an honors and standard Latin class Classes like theology and journalism count was taught together. Over at Harriton this is toward GPA because they are “major sub- also becoming a reality. The new Landscape ject areas”, --social studies and English--but Architecture/Horticulture course being ofmetal arts and video production don’t count fered in 2009-10 will be honors/standard because they are “not major subject areas.” depending on what the individual student The distinction that LM draws by valu- wishes to do while enrolled in the program. ing certain electives not only sends a genStepping back, there are a few eral message to the student body, but holds fundamental points to ponder. certain consequences for smaller groups In college, as Principal Sean Hughes as well. Art teacher Russell Loue hit home pointed out, every course, core and elecwhen he argued, “What about a student who tive, is calculated to determine GPA. wants to go to school to study art? Shouldn’t So why are we operating differently in those studies count toward the profile and high school? We are ultimately hurtachievement record of that student, meaning ing some of our applicants by not accutheir GPA?” It does seem outrageous that rately representing their achievements. the school places a higher level of value on A larger issue is the fact that our the scholastic achievement of a science-gift- education system is based on an ared student than the scholastic achievement chaic pre-industrial revolution model of an artistically or musically gifted one. that controls what our LM Student And what about students at the very top of Handbook determines as “core subthe class, who perhaps would like to take an jects.” As art teacher Louise Pierce put intellectually stimulating course such as phi- it, “LMSD really needs to come into losophy, but are left in this frustrating, awk- the 21st century.” It is embarrassing, ward position of inevitably being punished insulting, and ignorant to assert that in regards to GPA? The student doesn’t even English, history, science and math are have to be at the top of the class. A GPA-pres- more important than art, music, thesured student can exist anywhere within the ater, athletics, or technology education. student body. Schools like Penn State UniverSomething is not right with elecsity put an inordinate amount of importance tives. Actually, a lot is not right. Count on standardized tests and GPA during the ad- everything equally, or count nothing.

OPINIONS

“I tried to come up with a headline for this, but...Seniors ’09”

In tenth grade you would have called me studious. I liked to get home on time—right after school—and get right to work. Staying after school for nearly any amount of time caused me inordinate amounts of stress. Being late broke the continuity of my day. Most days, by around seven o’clock Niklas Thompson all my homeClass of 2009 work would have been dealt with.

I got home yesterday around five o’clock—and I was ravenous. I whipped up a scrumptious meal (coffee, orange juice, pop-tarts, yogurt with granola, and some Girl Scout cookies), which I naturally consumed while watching The Daily Show on Hulu. Around nine I resolved to do my math homework; halfway through, I started to play my guitar.

Then it was eleven, and I went to bed.

Senioritis is real. Beware.

Last year, when I was a junior, and would hear seniors talking about “senioritis,” I always assumed it was tongue-in-cheek. Surely this facetious “disease” couldn’t be as potent as my elders made it out to be. It was just one of those little indulgences that seniors took part in to flaunt their, well, seniority.

But now I’m a second-semester senior—and school just doesn’t seem as important anymore. Work doesn’t get done, my grades aren’t as high as they once were, and I seem, more and more, to be slipping into a pernicious lethargy. This “affliction” has an insidious character; it takes hold slowly, but once it sets, its bonds are strong. Often I find myself conflicted between doing schoolwork and things I real-

ly enjoy, resulting in a protracted internal debate, so that, in the end, I get nothing done. And then the guilt sets in; somehow my failure to work as diligently as I have in the past feels like a sort of betrayal.

And yet—let me rephrase what I said before: the unimportant aspects of school don’t seem to matter anymore. Anyone who is a student can relate to this. There’s always that assignment, that reading, that project that just seems inane, irrelevant— work that doesn’t actually contribute to a class. Work that is in reality mere busywork, that neither reinforces nor enhances the understanding of things you’ve learned in class. In the past, I felt obliged to do this work, but by what? Grades?

Some vague idea of college prospects?

Now that applications are in and the end of my school year approaches, grades are not as important to me. After all, they’re just less-than-perfect abstractions of how well educated I am; they are not essential to the process of education. What matters is the material I am learning. I still care about the interesting math and science my teachers show me; I still find pleasure in the literature we read for English. My guilt, then, is unfounded. Senioritis doesn’t detract from my education; it merely distills it into the essential elements.

Senioritis, then, is a good thing. It shouldn’t be referred to disparagingly as a “disease;” rather, it should be praised as a cure. It is a cure for the cynicism that permeates the grading and college application process. It allows us seniors to return to a bygone elementary-school period, where we went to school every day because we wanted to. Not because we wanted to get into college, and certainly without the judgment of grades looming over our heads.

Senioritis is a gift, an opportunity to regain that childlike curiosity about the world that we lose as we grow older.

“The Circle of Life”

Art by Conor Murphy

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March 17, 2009

FEATURES

The Merionite

Let-downs and pick-me-ups

By Rickie Weker ’11 and Katie Cochrane ’09 1. Pluto not being a planet:

Originally considered a planet, Pluto was founded on February 18, 1930. It has always been my favorite planet, not because it was the smallest planet or the farthest from the Sun, but maybe because of the influence of Disney or that one “Magic School Bus” episode about the planets. In 2006, Pluto was declared too small (not enough mass) to be considered a planet and was designated a dwarf planet. I was crushed.

2. The Kenan and Kel Show getting cancelled:

The show originally aired on Nickelodeon from 1996-2000, and centered around two high school boys growing up in Chicago.

Kenan was a schemer, while Kel was his clumsy best friend. All I remember is one day I was laughing hysterically at their antics and the next day they were gone – well, maybe they lived on in reruns. I can now see Kenan as a regular cast member on SNL, but I have no idea where Kel is.

Kenan and Kel, one of the greatest TV shows ever made - an utter shame it was cancelled.

3. Fasting Feasting by Anita Desai (required reading): For those of you who don’t understand why this is on a list of biggest letdowns, consider yourselves lucky (you seniors.) For those of you who do, well…. you know.

4. T-Pain’s voice not being real:

Let’s face it, Lower Merion, the third quarter can be painful, and the fourth quarter is worse. We’re in an economic downward spiral, we’re surrounded by pressure to succeed in class, and we’re buried under the flood of tests, projects, and college-related stress that seems to accumulate at this time of year. The only shining beacon of hope seems to be spring break, and we still have a good chunk of time between then and now. Feel like wallowing in the depression? Look to your left. You’ll see sophomore Richie Weker’s list of the top ten biggest letdowns of our lifetimes. Need something to brighten your day, keep you entertained, or at least momentarily distract you from your troubles? Look to your right, and find senior Katie Cochrane’s ten ways to bring light to your darkness. Either way, good luck with your slump.

It was un-American to squeeze green ketchup onto a hamburger. Not only was it visually unappealing, it tasted terrible.

And to make matters worse, Heinz turned the bottle upside down, but left the label right side-up. Why? Again, such anticipation, left so unsatisfied.

8. Elton Brand as a Philadelphia 76er:

Anticipation, like a bottle of Heinz ketchup (see below), was running high when the Sixers signed Elton Brand as a free agent for $85 million (note - it’s a future letdown that I probably won’t earn that kind of money). He was a franchise player and would give the Sixers a “presence down low” that has been missing for a long time. Now with the season over half complete, Brand is out for the season. Sure it is a disappointment, but the Sixers, who struggled with Brand in the lineup, are now playing their best basketball.

I’m not sure if the letdown is that Brand ended up out for the year on Injured Reserved, or if the letdown will be when he rejoins the team next year.

For a while, I actually believed that was his real voice, and it blew my mind...but when I found out that wasn’t his real voice, 9. Lip-synching it was a bit- Photo courtesy of clutchmagonline.com as the norm: tersweet moment for me. Bitter because Live should be live! Tremendous talent I’m an idiot for thinking that was his real performs on stage for all to hear. At the voice. Sweet because I pitied anyone Beijing Olympics, 7-year old Yang Peiyi who had a voice like that. sang at the Olympic Opening Ceremony while the cuter Lin Miaoke lip-synched 5. NBA Live’s decline in on stage. Yang was a seven-year-old with quality: a slightly crooked smile, and was relNBA Live was THE basketball video egated to singing back stage. And what game. Throughout elementary school and about Faith Hill and Jennifer Hudson? most of middle school, NBA Live had the They lip-synched during the Super Bowl. best graphics and controls. On the con- There was even dubbed-in music at the trary, NBA 2K was second rate with poor presidential inauguration for Yo Yo Ma, graphics. NBA Live hit its peak in 2005, Itzhack Perlman, Gabriella Montero and with Carmelo Anthony on the cover. NBA Anthony McGill, but at least they had a Live was released on All Star Weekend, to legitimate excuse (it was too cold for the great fanfare. From then on, the NBA 2K instruments.) Luckily Bruce Springsteen series took over and NBA Live began to was there to renew my faith disappoint. in humanity with his rocking rendition of 6. Napoleon ‘Glory Days’..

Dynamite:

There was so much hype 10. Coke botaround this movie and it tle just didn’t do anything for gummies: me. As someone who typiThe Coke bottle gumcally enjoys stupid mies are a disgrace Photo courtesy of candyaddict.com movies, it truly pains to the gummy famme to say this parily. They simply can’t ticular one was terrible. compete with Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, gummi bears 7. Heinz EZ Squirt Ketchup: and gummi worms. They don’t taste like This is a double let down. First, ketchup actual Coke but rather gummy garbage. should be red. It must be red! Mustard It’s a wonder they are still made. should be yellow relish should be green.

1. The weather:

That’s right, the weather. Look outside, it’s actually lovely. You may be stuck in classes, but the windows are open, letting in those warm breezes (and it’s still too early for bugs!).

You can opt to wear sandals and short sleeves, and you can eat lunch outside.

The world is your oyster if you’ve got a free (sorry, freshmen).

2. It’s St. Patrick’s Day:

you should buy the cocoa in the plastic or metal containers rather than the packets- it’ll save you a lot of trouble and money. You can replace cooking oil with margarine or butter, though the texture will be slightly different.

Top with frosting and sprinkles or enjoy it piping hot and fresh from the microwave. Be sure to soak the empty mug in the sink and wash by hand, as dishwashing will only make the cake stick to the mug even more.

5. Coffee House:

Time for a little shameless self-promotion--You’ve heard or read about the first one, now come to the next two!

There’s one this weekend, the 21st, and one over break, on the afternoon of the 7th. Now your social calendar is filling up and you feel like the most popular kid in school! (A great idea if you’re looking for an inexpensive date.)

6. The Spring Comedy:

Something to look forward to after break is the Players spring comedy.

It’s Moliere’s The Imaginary Invalid, and it’s rather funny. Bring a friend and laugh about butt medicine, romantic complications at soap-opera levels, and cross dressers!

If anything, you have an excuse to eat cookies with green icing.

Just say you’re celebrating your Irish heritage and you feel that it’s Photo courtesy of .hondurasdx.com 7. For the seniors: worth class time We’ve worked and waited to allow everya long time. We’ve seen one to share in your celebration. our fair share of painful semesters and intense classes. These next few 3. www.fmylife.com: weeks bring with them the beginning While the title of the website may not of the end: college acceptance letters. be especially family friendly, fmylife. For those of you who hadn’t crumbled com is one of the best distractions I’ve to the impressive power of senioritis, seen in a while. Scroll through pages this is your chance! Once you’ve been of stories about three lines long that accepted to college, does it matter if make your bad day look like a walk in spring break isn’t here yet? the park... (but?) maybe you deserved it. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait 8. Fun little factoid: until you get home, since the site is We’ve reached the Age of Aquarius-now blocked in school. on the morning of Valentine’s day, the moon was in the seventh house and Ju4. Cake in a mug: piter aligned with Mars. I Another incredible procrastination don’t make this kind tool, cake in a mug is something that of thing I may not have invented myself, but up.

I’ve experimented with the recipe to bring you the most delicious version I can think of. Mix nine tablespoons hot cocoa mix, four tablespoons flour, three tablespoons cooking oil, two tablespoons water, one tablespoon of vanilla extract, and one egg in a large Photo c mug. Place it in the microexami ourtesy of ner.co m wave set on high for two minutes and fifty 9.Phish: seconds.

If the hippies were satisfied with that The cake last bit, they’ll be extra glad to know will rise that Phish is back and on tour. Break from the out the Birkenstocks and hacky sacks mug and and leave the soap where you found settle safely it. and cleanly back into place, so don’t 10. Sean Salazar: worry Everyone’s favorite South African is Photo courtesy ofyouthtip.com about back from Arkansas for a brief stay. any He’ll be here for the week. Go say hello spillage. Feel free to experiment with before he’s off to the boonies again. your own mixtures. I’ve found that

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March 17,2009

The Merionite

SEX AND SEXUALITY

Sex and Sexuality Graphic by Sam Blum/Staff

The Merionite is a student publication that aims to not only inform the LM student body, but represent all facets of our student life. In the past four years, we’ve addressed cheating, drugs and alcohol, and religion, as well as current events, district policies and social issues. It’s our job to cover every aspect of high school life, not just those that are easy to talk about.

This includes sex and sexuality. Whether a high school student is having sex or not, we are surrounded by a culture that makes it an integral part of high school life. Every time we turn on the T.V. or open a magazine, we are exposed to intense yet contradictory attitudes toward sex.

Students whose sexuality falls outside the norm face a whole different set of expectations and stereotypes from their peers and society at large. Our high school years are the beginning of a long process of becoming comfortable with sexuality and sexual orientation, and it is important for The Merionite to act as a vehicle for these thoughts and educate our peers on the risks and consequences.

From hooking up to going out: the relationship spectrum Corinne Zucker

Class of 2009 Kids these days. Literally, there’s no stopping them. This is an embarrassing article to write, but I’m easily persuaded.

Apparently most people are.

There are two spectrums we’re dealing with here. The first is on a classic commitment scale, ranging from the one time foolish hookup to the long-term relationship. Although that first extreme may not “not mean anything,” there are no strings attached. Once you’ve hit that relationship status however, or may I say it, even “exclusive,” there are certainly some strings.

The second spectrum deals with sexual progression. Intensity of intimacy.

The exponentially increasing physical closeness shared between two individuals. Pretty much I’m talking about the bases.

What I’ve come to realize, however, is this: there is absolutely no correlation between the two.

The commitment spectrum is one with many nooks and niches, many idiosyncrasies known only to a few. Yet the general scale will always hold the classics. Casually hooking up with the same person will claim the first spot, after the opening extreme of randomly

one time sharing a (perhaps/perhaps not) mistake. This situation is very free often with little sentimental attachment.

“Lower Merion guys are notorious for just hooking up,” shares a student who requested to be left anonymous. “It’s for all of those not looking, who love to get with the same girl.”

Then there’s the traditional friends with benefits. When people talk about that pairing they don’t really know what to say. Are they friends or are they more than friends? You know they hang out, but you hear they might do more than just hang out. They’re inseparable either because they’ve grown up with each other, or because they’ve noticed how much the other has grown up. “It works until feelings start getting involved,” said another anonymous student. “Then it becomes awkward.”

“There is a commitment that often gets mixed up in the first two stages where people will think they want a relationship because they’ve been hooking up,” said senior Isaac Smith. “But they tend to realize that a relationship won’t work out, in which case friends with benefits is a recommendable and appropriate option.”

The infamous exclusive line is drawn down the friends with benefits group, separating the serious from the casual.

“Being exclusive means that you’re indulging in the physical aspects of a relationship, without – for the most part – any of the emotional baggage,” explained Smith. “A relationship, on the other hand, like with a boyfriend and girlfriend, means that both people in it take on all the emotional baggage of the other person with a smile, and that the emotional needs are me with just as much attention as whatever physical ones would also be desired.”

An anonymous fellow senior agrees that “being exclusive means two people are only hooking up (like having a physical relationship) with each other, while being in a relationship is the next step, because it’s also an emotional commitment, and takes more work.”

There is no correlation between these stages and the bases, however, for whatever reason. Some may blame it on the alcohol, while others simply want to have “more fun.”

In the end, it all comes down to labels.

From the outside, a couple dating for a year and a half are going to look the same as two good friends. And really, there isn’t a difference at all. We often try so hard to put a label on everything that people spend too much time trying to figure out what they “are” instead of just going with how they feel.

Getting by while being bi Nadav Hirsh Class of 2009

Imagine your life. That’s pretty much what it’s like not being straight at LM. There are some things that I have to go through that straight people will not – and I’ll get into that in a bit – but what most people need to understand is that LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) people are honestly no different than anyone else. I don’t sit in my room thinking about being bisexual. It is the fact that so many people don’t understand this that is the root of pretty much every problem that faces the LGBT community.

I am one of the luckiest people simply because of circumstance. I live in a community in which homophobia is, rightly, frowned upon, I have parents who I know will love me the same no matter what I do, I came into high school completely out of the closet, I was never really in the closet, except for a few weeks in eighth grade, and I have no concerns about my identity. I just kind of realized it. I ended up telling people because the conversation we were having was boring and I thought it might make it more interesting. I don’t have a real coming out story.

This is almost never the case, however.

So many members of the LGBT community are either stuck in the closet, faced with ridicule, told they need to be fixed, or terrified of being themselves.

Can you blame them? Kids are sent to places to be “fixed,” and those are the ones who have some of the nicer parents. Some kids are disowned because

See Bi, page 12

Let’s talk about abstinence, baby Emma Saltzberg Class of 2009

This special feature is about sex and sexuality at LM. Of course, that means we’re devoting a lot of ink and page space to sex—who’s having it, in what context, all that stuff. But, like we said earlier, The Merionite is here to reflect every aspect of LM life. And according to our survey, 66% of LMers aren’t sexually active, so it’s just as important to discuss abstinence at LM and the varying reasons people choose it.

The traditional, conservative viewpoint on abstinence is often linked to religious beliefs. In the Christian and Jewish religious traditions, sex outside marriage is considered wrong, and some teenagers choose to follow these teachings. This belief is most widespread among evangelical Christians, but it pops up in other sects as well. Orthodox Judaism has a practice called “shomer negiah” in which followers avoid any physical contact with non-family members of the opposite sex.

But many non-sexually-active teenagers’ reasons for abstaining are less clear-cut and more personal.

Religion may inform their choices, but it’s not the only factor. “Religion does influence my feelings about sex in that it (my religion) has given me more respect for my body. I don’t wish to give myself up to someone who can’t respect that,” said senior Beverly Johnson, a Presbyterian Christian.

Although The Merionite didn’t ask abstinent students to specify their reasons for abstaining, an article in the November 2008 New Yorker entitled “Red Sex, Blue Sex” described a “new middle-class morality” that sounds similar to many LM students’ views on sex. The article, which was based on the findings of sociologists at UT Austin, found that teens in liberal communities (of which, thanks to The Merionite’s October 2008 political survey, we know LM is one) “are tolerant of premarital sex (and of contraception and abortion) but are themselves cautious about pursuing it.” This certainly reflects LM students’ acceptance of teenage sexual activity: although only 34% of LMers surveyed have actually had sex, 76% think that it is “appropriate” for high school students to be having sex.

That is, most LM students are abstinent, but most also think that it’s OK for their peers not to be. It’s exercising personal judgment without judging others.

The article traces this caution to middle- and upperclass teens’ expectations for their futures. “Simply put, too much seems at stake. Sexual intercourse is not worth the risks,” it says. Does that sound like anyone you know? In an environment where we know we have so much to look forward to, we’re less likely to take risks in the present. It’s not a faith-based decision so much as a pragmatic one.

And then, of course, there are the students who feel ready to have sex, but simply haven’t gotten the chance.

Not everyone who abstains does it by choice.

Sex and sexuality at LM

March 17, 2009

Much of this special feature focuses on first-person perspectives and anecdotes. Sex and sexuality are extremely personal issues, and it’s important to let LM students tell their own stories and figure out where they stand on the various identity spectrums. At the same time, though, because sex is so personal, it’s something that affects everyone, so it’s also important to look at general numbers and trends, too—this way, we can get a sense of where our community stands as a whole. That’s where our survey comes in.

The survey was distributed to advisories during the week of March 6. Of the 584 student respondents, 327 were female and 256 were male. 31% were freshmen, 21% were sophomores, 21% were juniors and 26% were seniors. These sample sizes were relatively even, and the distribution of age—16% were 14; 23% were 15; 23% were 16; 22% were 17; 15% were 18—was even. The lower number of 14 year olds and 18 year olds are in proportion to the lower numbers in the school because they lie on the cusp of the high school age range. Age and grade work together to inform students’ opinions on sex and sexuality: as students mature mentally and physically, they think and feel differently about sex.

The respondents were disproportionately female—56% to 44% —and the sample was inherently skewed in that it was a voluntary survey, and respondents are probably disproportionately opinionated on the issue of sex. But with 40% of the total school population reporting, we have a statistically representative sample size.

Do you feel pressured to engage in sexual activities from…?

Are you sexually active?

Other

34% Yes

Questioning 2% Bisexual 2% Lesbian 0% Gay 1%

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:4;<41=6# Siblings

66% No

782#9254/# The media

Straight 94%

Friends3-42156# Teen sexual activity has increased both locally and nationally since 2005: compare the 30% of LM student respondents in 2005 that reported having had sexual intercourse to the 34% of students who said they were sexually active in 2008. 0n a national level, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 47% of teenagers in 2005 had had sexual intercourse; in 2008, it was 48%.

The 4% increase in LM student sexual activity since 2005 may truly be an increase in sexual activity, or the difference may be attributable to the language. In 2005, The Merionite asked students, “Have you engaged in sexual intercourse?” whereas this year, we asked “Are you sexually active?”

“Sexually active” is an intentionally vague term. We designed the survey to be open to ambiguity, because sex means different things to different people.

“Sexual intercourse,” for example, is hetero-normative, a term that only applies to sex between a man and a woman. Some respondents interpreted “sexually active” to mean engaging in activities other than sexual intercourse.

Another ambiguity here is the current nature of the term sexually active.

Does this apply to people who had sex, say, a few years ago, but are not having it now?

35% of male respondents reported that they were sexually active; 21% of female respondents reported the same.

Do you consider oral sex to be sex?

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Much of our sex ed classes focus on the pressure to have sex. It turns out that “peer pressure” is, in fact, the most common pressure LM students experience: 51% of respondents reported feeling pressure from friends and 9% from siblings. Pressure from partners affected 31% of respondents. The final pressure affecting students comes from the media—40% of survey respondents reported feeling that pressure.

If you are sexually active, did/do you use protection?

Never 15% Rarely 2%

Sometimes 7%

Always 61%

69% No

Emily Eisner

*+,-#./-012-# Your partner

Usually 14%

31% Yes

Sexual orientation:

Of sexually active students, 61% report “always” using protection, and 14% report “usually” using protection. The number of students who report “never” using protection—15% —seems unexpectedly high. This disparity may stem from students’ misinterpretation of the question: because there wasn’t an “I’m not sexually active” option, non-sexuallyactive students may have selected “Never.” This makes sense as people who aren’t having sex also probably aren’t using protection, but it’s not what we intended.

Do you regularly use derogatory terms like “fag,” “dyke,” and “queer”?

31% Yes 69% No

This question was asked to help us get a sense of how accepted homophobic language is in the LM community. One prediction: the next time The Merionite conducts a similar survey, this number will be lower based on the trend that homosexuality is becoming more accepted at a national level.

Being Bi at LM of who they are. There is a discussion going on in this country about whether it is OK to be gay or not. Many of you will recall the letter to the editor in last year’s Merionite arguing against being LGBT or supporting those who are. Stop and think about that for a second: people are actually debating whether you are a human being. No matter how much support is on your side, the fact that the debate even exists is too much to bear for many people.

There is an unreasonable high suicide rate among teenagers who identify as other than heterosexual.

As a bisexual, I have to live with the fact that people just hate me. There are people with signs saying “God hates fags,” hate speech, and disgust, not for the choices I’ve made or the ideologies I have, but for me as a human being. The LGBT community is one of the last groups that, in many areas, it is still acceptable to hate with no legitimate reason.

But saying this is also somewhat dramatic for what I have to go through. I do not deal with these issues in my daily life.

What is the case more than anything is just simple things that do not happen to other people. For instance, when people find out about a person’s sexuality, they tend to automatically think about that person as a sexual person. Once the word “gay” or “bi” is out there, it is as if I am defined by what I am attracted to. People, in a hilariously self-complimenting way, always assume that gay people have a crush on them just because they are among the gender to which they are attracted. No one does that for straight people. Straight people are not defined by what they find attractive, and straight people are not attracted to every member of the opposite sex. So no, I am not “turned on” by every guy I see, and same goes for girls. I have the same sort of likes and dislikes that everyone else does.

The one last thing I would like to just mention is what many people do not know about the LGBT community. I have a unique trouble, and that is the question of bisexuality. I have had people say, to my face, that bisexuals do not exist. This is one of the most bizarre and offensive things that I deal with, and not only because of the blatantly offensive nature of saying I do not exist. This is one idea that seems not be confined by those opposed to the LGBT community. Gay people may even be the guiltiest of making these comments. People who throw their support behind their gay friends seem to not think twice about saying that bisexuality is not real. Not only does this hurt, but it doesn’t even really make sense. You can follow liking the opposite sex, and you can follow liking the same sex, but both seems to be one step too far.

All the negatives being said, growing up in Lower Merion is an unbelievably lucky turn of events. I am able to write this piece and not be afraid. This is not the case in most of the country. Others in other circumstances would get beaten up for doing what I am doing right now. It will always be different for me in most of what I do. I will have to be careful about how I let my roommate next year know because some people are uncomfortable. I will have to hear the many awkward realizations with new people I meet who try desperately to avoid sounding homophobic when I am well aware they are not, they just do not know that. But through all of that, my life will not be much different than yours. I just hope that after reading this, some of you will try to make that difference even smaller.

From Bi, page 9

For appearance addiction, turn to substance Class of 2010

How many times a day have girls in our school walked into the bathroom to find another girl grooming her hair, refreshing her makeup or checking out her waist – or better, how many times has it been you?

Even in our high-school microcosm, a young woman’s appearance has trumped all her other wonderful qualities as the most important, the most necessary to success and happiness. And outside of school, society moves along with us. Our pop idols base their success off their sultry looks, and even our strongest role models cannot go a day without painting a mask over their faces and taming every stray lock of hair with an iron and some sticky gloop we like to call “gel.” In England, over half of girls from ages 12-15 answered that appearance was the biggest issue in their lives, and in America, over half of teen girls answered that they were either on a diet or thought they should be. As women today, we cannot deny the complete satisfaction, the complete sense of power that we elicit from being labeled “beautiful” or “desirable.” But why? Why should we let our own appearance

define our own happiness and our own sense of self?

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with wanting to look our best.

However, “best” has evolved into an unrealistic, unnatural version of who we are. We paint our lips, we darken our eyelids and we lengthen our lashes. We iron our hair, we pluck our eyebrows, we puncture our ears, we squeeze our toes and we hoist and supplement our breasts. These may be the procedures required to look “best,” but they certainly are not helping us to look any more like the women we truly are. Humans have developed a taste for women who don’t actually look like women – women who have contrived every detail of their appearance. This is the problem with our reliance on our appearance as our motivator, our confidence, our self-promoter, and our source of power.

Throughout history, women have occupied the pleasure-giving position between the sexes. From harems to housewives, women have been forced to spend their lives pleasing and providing for men. In addition to being the “care-takers,” women have been tools for male satisfaction. Moreover, feminine stereotypes have become requirements: women should be docile, women should be maternal, women

should be quiet, women should be sexy, etc. Even now, as more and more women reach positions of power, we cannot escape attacks that we are not beautiful enough, or we are not strong enough or we are too emotional. Hillary Clinton was attacked from every angle during her campaign last year. People claimed that she was too aggressive but too emotional, too fake and made-up but not well enough put together.

And what is worse, there is no way that Hillary Clinton could have reached her enormous success, her recognition as a strong, intelligent woman without painting over her face and cementing her hair in place.

Women and society are simply not taken seriously without putting an intense effort into appearance. While shadowing a female doctor at Pennsylvania Hospital, a patient exclaimed to me, “[my doctor] is the best! She’s always so well-put-together and beautiful!” Of course this was a compliment, but how unfortunate is it that this doctor, extremely successful and prominent, as well as intelligent and caring, was still being judged based on her appearance? Conversely, Ed Rendell struts around this city with caterpillar eyebrows and a stomach larger than his head and nobody questions his character, his intelligence, or his capability of holding a position of power.

Society imposes so many restraints, requiring women to artificially emphasize our “good looks” more than other qualities. The worst part of the whole phenomenon, however, is the willing part that women take in playing the game. Our incessant anxiety over our looks encourages the view that appearance is genuinely what is important about women. All of us have felt the need to look our “best,” to please and gain the so-called “respect” of our peers. But, in my view, this is not truly respect for us as whole human beings – with personalities, intelligence, accomplishments and ambitions. Appearances should absolutely not be our first, second or even our third priority.

How did we get to this point? While sexuality is important to the survival and happiness of humans, inequalities between men and woman have distorted our priorities. Essentially, both women and men are focused on the sexual gratification of men. Men need to be pleased. But women, for some reason, need to feel wanted, desired, and admired. Women have the ability to succeed at anything, and physical appearance should not be the only avenue to achieving success and happiness.

12

March 17, 2009

The Merionite

SEX AND SEXUALITY

The many colors of the sexuality spectrum Sivahn Barsade Class of 2010 Which are you - straight or gay? According to current research, only 54% of people are exclusively hetero or homosexual. So, for the other 46%, you fall somewhere on a sexual orientation spectrum. Today as sexual orientation comes to be treated as a demographic variable on par with race and religion, the ternary homo/hetero/bi sexual description cannot adequately describe a person. If a straight girl thinks another girl is hot then is she gay? No. If a gay guy hooks up with a girl is he now straight? No. As the American Psychological Association notes, “sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive heterosexuality to exclusive homosexuality and includes various forms of bisexuality.”

Knowing this, scientists have worked for over 130 years to find an adequate description of sexual orientation.

First of all, what is sexual orientation? It is not a result of a conscious choice and it is not necessarily correlated to sexual behavior.

Sexual orientation is a combination of sexual attraction, behavior, fantasies, and preferences. And as you may know, people do not necessarily express their sexual orientation in their behaviors. As mentioned above, this sexual orientation does not always fall into the three clear-cut categories the world now sees.

In the late 1940s, Alfred Kinsey created his Kinsey Scale to “emphasize the continuity of the gradations between exclusively heterosexual and exclusively homosexual… to show the many gradations that actually exist.” The Kinsey Scale features a seven-point rating

Exclusively heterosexual

Predominantly Predominantly heterosexual heterosexual but only but more than incedentally incedentally homosexual homosexual

including descriptions such as “predominantly heterosexual, only incidentally homosexual” and “predominantly homosexual, but more than incidentally heterosexual.” But as homosexuality becomes less taboo, scientists are working to create a more in-depth sexual orientation guide.

Today many researchers continue to use the Kinsey Scale, but more are turning to the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid (KSOG), which provides a more thorough taxonomy in determining sexual orientation. Klein included areas for past/present/ideal sexual orientations in addition to breaking down sexual orientation into sexual attraction,

Equally heterosexual and homosexual

Predominantly homosexual but more than incedentally heterosexual

sexual behavior, sexual fantasies, emotional preference, social preference, lifestyle preference, and sexual identity.

Today homosexuality is becoming more and more accepted, be it through entertainment or gay rights activism. But as more and more teenagers “come out” or “stay in the closet” the scientific findings described above suggest that one does not have to identify with a single exclusive sexual orientation. Sexual identity shifts are very common, especially during adolescence, says Professor Kelly Kinnish.

So if you think you are straight or gay but you suddenly experience a slight shift

Predominantly homosexual Exclusively but only homosexual incedentally heterosexuality

Graphic by Staff

in sexual preference, don’t freak out. As a teenager you are going through a wacky time hormonally anyway, and you do not have to sign up for one sexual orientation for life (but it is fine if you do!) Sexuality clearly does not fit into three simple categories, and, as Kinsey said: “Not all things are black nor all things white. The living world is a continuum in each and every one of its aspects. The sooner we learn this concerning human sexual behavior the sooner we shall reach a sound understanding of the realities of sex.” So heed Kinsey’s advice and embrace the continuum because after all, there is a 46% chance that you lie somewhere in the middle of his spectrum.

Limited visibility for gays on TV Carolyn Chou Class of 2009 As I mourn the end of my favorite televised lesbians— the women of “The L Word,” Showtime’s version of Sex and the City, but with gay women in LA— I have been thinking more about LGBT representation on TV and how it affects the way we as a culture view the queer community.

Certainly the land of network television has made strides toward being more inclusive, from gay soap opera weddings to LGBT minor characters on many shows, but cable TV is really where the best and worst of LGBT representation happens.

Let’s start with MTV. First you had “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila,” followed more recently with the Ikki Twins courting Narberth’s own Trevor Lord. Can anyone honestly tell me that these show has legitimized bisexuality at all? While obviously there are equally disturbing shows about heterosexual dating (“Flavor of Love” and “Rock of Love” anyone?), these women are representing a community that is hardly ever represented on TV and portraying bisexuals as sex-crazed sluts with most of the women contestants proclaiming that they have sworn off men after bad relationships. To be fair, MTV seems to enjoy portraying all minorities in a negative light. I mean, has anyone watched “How’s Your News?”

On the other hand, cable TV is also the home of Rachel Maddow, MSNBC’s articulate and witty host who has interviewed President Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and has graced the pages of Vogue magazine, all while talking about looking like a teenage boy and living in western Massachusetts with her partner of ten years.

Cable TV’s merits also include Bravo, the home of the late “Queer Eye for a Straight Guy,” with pop culture reality shows galore and many gay characters to go around, and Logo, the LGBT TV channel, owned by the same company as MTV and VH1. And while my criticisms of MTV run deep, I do credit them for their inclusion of

gay characters over the years on “The Real World,” and added to mainstream television. But TV still needs more finally this season a transgendered woman, who, while queer- centered shows to truly reflect our society and portrayed as overly sexual, comes across as genuine and culture at large. Positive reflections of gay people on is beginning conversations about gender that are so often television can reach everyone, from the closeted teenagleft off of TV. ers in small towns to the people who have never met an But for those of you who do not watch Showtime reli- openly queer person. giously, where “Queer As Folk” and “The L Word” both In the current political climate, visibility matters. began and ended, network television is finally starting to Whether life imitates art or art imitates life, positive get the message. Besides Ellen DeGeneres, the always examples of queer people on TV could really make the funny and always androgydifference. nous afternoon show host, primetime network TV shows are adding more queer characters, although they always seem to be in the background.

Emma Saltzberg “The Office,” “Gossip Girl,” Any sex involving someone younger and “Friday Night Lights” all than 13 is considered statutory sexual Class of 2009 feature minor characters who assault. Sex involving someone between are gay, and it seems more 13 and 16 and someone more than four and more that being gay is The laws that govern teen sex can be years older is considered statutory sexual not their only purpose on the confusing. They vary by the age of both assault—unless, that is, the two people shows. And who can forget partners, and they’re not always connected involved are married. So how old do you the Callie and Erica romance to the legal age for other milestones. have to be to get married? Well, without on “Grey’s Anatomy”—the Luckily for all of you, The Merionite is parental consent, it’s 18. (Seniors—you leaves speech anyone? But here to help. can add that to your list of things you can while these characters happen In Pennsylvania, the age of consent legally do once you turn 18!) At 16, you to be gay, they also happen to is 16. This means that once you turn 16, can get married with parental consent; disappear or fade off into the you’re legally allowed to have sex with it’s possible to get married at a younger background or end up with anyone older than you. On the younger age, but brides- and grooms-to-be need a someone of the opposite sex. side, it’s a bit more complicated. Thanks judge’s approval.

If these characters are going to to what’s commonly known as a “Romeo Although sex involving teenagers have romantic storylines, they and Juliet exception,” Anyone between younger than 18 is legal in many cases, either have to go straight or go the ages of 13 and 16 is legally allowed to there are still legal restrictions on some of home, it seems. have sex with anyone who is less than four its consequences. Young women under 18 As the only lesbian drama years older. So, skeevy as it may seem, seeking an abortion in Pennsylvania must on cable TV comes to an end, that seventh grade-tenth grade relation- get consent from one parent beforehand.

I must acknowledge that gay ship is technically legal—as long as it’s So now you know. characters are slowly being consensual.

The legality of teen sex

13

March 17, 2009

FEATURES From Savi to Siggs: Stuff LM people like The Merionite

Hannah Goldberg-Morse

Class of 2010

Stuff White People Like has been sweeping the nation recently. Both the blog and book have been great successes, and spawned numerous knock-offs. I decided to make it my personal quest to find out what, exactly, LM people like.

Water Bottles

The proliferation of reusable water bottles around Lower Merion can probably be attributed partially to the environmentally-friendly craze and partially to the fact that they are just so much more aesthetically pleasing than those plain, crinkly plastic types. The most commonly used models include the ubiquitous wide-mouthed Nalgene and the stainless steel Sigg varieties, both of which come in many colors, designs, and sizes – perfect for maintaining your individuality! But if you see a Sigg owner struggling at a water fountain, try to refrain from laughing – filling up the smallnecked bottle is “Sigg”nificantly more difficult than it looks.

binders range from the over-practical to the nonfunctional.

While the majority of these seem at least somewhat sensible, others are unfathomably useless-looking. Now, I am not trying to pass judgment on any single person’s aesthetic choice – quite the opposite, in fact. I have serious respect for anyone who can cram the typical Lower Merion load of books, binders, and papers into a miniscule purse. And on the other end of the spectrum, some LMers (myself included) don unnecessarily outdoorsy backpacks. While some assert that this choice is related to the inside volume of the pack, I sport one because it makes me feel as though I could ditch my books at any minute and climb a mountain with it

Savi’s Hut

Savi’s Hut may be the best part of the cafeteria, trumping even the vending machines. Savi has any tasty treat your heart may desire, as long that includes soft pretzels, slushies, mini pizzas, fries, or nachos with cheese. And I could wax on about those oh-so delectable M&M cookies for pages and pages. So, though, could many at LM, which means that there is a near-constant wait at the Hut during lunch, especially with the endless stream of students who skip the line. Please, everyone, have some tact and common courtesy. There are usually enough cookies for us all.

Free Periods

Technically, only about 75 percent of Lower Merion students like these, as freshmen are still stuck in those study halls. Don’t be too downtrodden, though; at least all you frosh are guaranteed computers or, at the very least, silence.

Because while some free periods can be the perfect escape from a difficult day at school, others can be unbelievably frustrating when the Help Center and library are full, you can’t find a spare computer anywhere, and you need to put the final touches on the major essay due next period. The moral of the story? Enjoy them. It’s a shame we have a closed campus, because a walk to Starbucks or the Farmer’s Market would be simply perfect for a free period on a beautiful spring day.

Impractical Backpacks

The vessels used for carrying LMers’ books and

Eliott Elbaum

where students are allowed to talk freely, hang out with friends, and even (gasp!) eat. And even though the decibel levels can reach astounding heights, the nooks and crannies of the room can be great for a conversation with friends. In the winter, though, be careful to take up a place far from the door, as the room can get drafty when the doors are opened.

Green Checks

Almost all LM students will experience the pure, unadulterated joy of green checks on WebAssign during their tenures at LM. Although some of our first encounters with WebAssign may be in Chemistry, most Physics students use the program in some capacity. The program generates problems based on textbook examples, and students enter answers into the boxes. The red “X” is dreaded, the green check eagerly awaited. The answer can sometimes take a few seconds to process, which makes the appearance of the green check all the more exciting. If you’ve never experienced the joy of a green check, you most likely will – and if you have, you know what I’m talking about.

Working bathrooms, Water Fountains and Computers

The downside of the school construction and technology boom is that we often find ourselves with broken bathrooms, computers that just won’t start, and less-than-functional water fountains. The upside, though, is that most of us have developed a newfound appreciation for the simple things in life – namely, things that actually work. When you’re used to bending over those water fountains with a heavy backpack only to find that the actual water fountain does not, in fact, work, a fountain that spews H20 can brighten your whole day.

After trying four different computers in the hopes that one of those screens will actually brighten, a green dot by the sign-in can seem a godsend. And finding a toilet that functions has been known to cause extreme feelings of elation after walking in on six different stalls with only buckets and leaking pipes inside. No longer will LM take for granted working utilities.

Image by Sam Blum/Staff strapped across my back. But wherever our preferences may lay on this book-carrying spectrum, our fondness for impractical packs will surely not diminish in the foreseeable future.

The Auditorium Lobby

Given the crush of people in the auditorium lobby at any given hour of the day, it would be hard not to put it on this list. The lobby is one of the few areas left in the school

Nights Without Homework

Sometimes, in a fortuitous turn of events, students at LM end up having nights without homework. These are fairly rare, so take advantage when you happen upon them. If you haven’t had the pleasure of a night without homework, you may be able to procure one for yourself by working frantically during your free periods. One of the only things better than one night without homework is a string of nights without homework . I had three in a row a few weeks ago, and it was heavenly.

Keep the recession at (e)Bay Class of 2011

For 11 of the 12 months of 2008, I was a die-hard New York Yankees fan. For one month, I became a Phillies fan—but it wasn’t even during October. It was actually November, because from November to February, I made close to $1000 selling commemorative Phillies newspapers.

I listed my first batch on eBay on November 1, which garnered me over $300; that was the beginning of my small business on eBay. Knowing that the current economic state of our nation could be the worst it has been since the Great Depression, it is very tough to land a decent part-time job. Believe me when I tell you that selling on eBay is a more than adequate solution.

Back when the Phillies won the World Series, most of my trips to the Wawa had nothing to do with their Signature Sandwiches. I was there to purchase Phillies newspapers, covering their historic victory. Because the newspapers cost just 75 cents, I

bought plenty of them, and boy, were they in high demand. My first major sale was a package of four newspapers that cost me a mere $2.25. They sold for $20. At that time, I could not believe that somebody would spend that kind of money on newspapers. The following week I sold another batch for $30. This buyer was actually getting them to give as an anniversary gift. The most surprising sale was a package of four papers that ended up going for $60.

Newspapers are great to sell, particularly when they cover a big event, but there are many other items worth selling on eBay. I’m sure that everyone at LM who plays video games knows that EB Games and GameStop give you horrible prices when you trade in used games. But if you sell a system with a bunch of games on eBay, chances are you’ll rack up some serious cash. Around the holidays, I made $95 selling a special edition N64 and three games.

Remember those Pokemon cards that we all used to collect?

Now they’re actually valuable! I

recently sold two individual cards for $40 and a big package of cards for $60. The one downside is that I now know more about Pokemon than I ever wanted to. But I say if it can help make an extra few bucks, it’s well worth it. I certainly don’t want to brag, but it is hard to convey the monetary benefits without being direct. My purpose in stating the amounts of money I made on these is not to brag, but just to illustrate how all of us probably have something sellable stuffed away in our bedroom closets and don’t even know it.

As some of you may know, I’ve been out of school with an illness, keeping up with my classes at home since January. E-Bay has been especially great for me as it gives me something constructive and entertaining to do while I am by myself. For those of you who are in school and want to make an extra buck, you still have plenty of time to sell on eBay. All you have to do is set up an eBay and a PayPal account, and have access to a post office. If you are under 18 and want to convert your sales

into cash, you’ll need to open a joint bank account with a parent.

That’s basically it. If you’re a student and having trouble finding a part-time job, selling on eBay is a great and easy alternative. If

anybody would like to get started with an eBay account online, and you have having trouble, or if you would like me to sell something for you, feel free to contact me on Facebook and I would be glad to help.

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite

FEATURES

The debonair, endearing, and “dashing” Michael Segal Kyra Sutton Class of 2009

You may know him as that bearded man who can be seen from his open classroom door, hunched over his desk hard at work. You may know him as an enigma, the man behind the AP Language course that all your sibling’s friends raved or complained about on a regular basis. Or perhaps he is best known for his cinematic brilliance due to his creation of an iMovie on the dash, which included much limb-thrashing and air-guitaring to portray the power of the little piece of punctuation.

English teacher Michael Segal has been rocking Lower Merion since ’99 and he’s not gonna stop for a long, long time. The AP class so often heard in conjunction with his name has since been passed on to others in the department; Segal referred to it as “immensely time consuming but at the same time exhilarating.” Sans AP, he continues to enjoy the teaching challenges LM has presented. The Cheltenham-raised Segal knew as far back as early adolescence that he wanted to teach English, so he “allowed [himself] to drift into it.” “I didn’t realize what I was getting myself into,” he tells me, “but nevertheless I’m happy I ended up this way.”

Despite his lifelong predilection for teaching, there are many other sources of pleasure in Mr. Segal’s life, and music is definitely among them. “I like all types of music,” explains Segal, whose childhood faves were Led Zeppelin and the Beatles. He also loves “jazz and classical but has trouble with overly abstract forms.” He doesn’t however, have any problems with industrial-sounding metal bands Pantera and Mushroomhead,

which were introduced to him by a junior wonder? “iMovie has been a big part of my this year. When Segal claimed he likes all family life and has led to my video on the types of music—he really meant all types of dash,” he says, his voice full of fond memmusic, as a quick online search into Mushroomhead informed me that they indentify themselves “by wearing masks that boldly display their distinct X-face logo” and have been photographed in blood stained clothing with their hands poised in claw-like positions So does Segal rock out to the head-banging music? Negative.

“I despise dancing and deliberately structure my social engagements to avoid it,” he tells me vehemently.

“I was forced to take a social dance class as Photo courtesy of Michael Segal a PE requirement for A still photo from Segal’s infamous “Dash” iMovie. teacher certification, and I’ve retained nothing from it except a feeling of shame.” But ories of hours spent in front of the blinking don’t jump to the assumption that he’s hope- green light of his Macbook camera. Sorry to lessly uncoordinated: Segal was a notable dash any hopes of an MS run-in at the Narcornerback for his AZA youth league football berth movie theatre, but his cinematic interteam, in which “Jewish youth from the Phila- est is limited to home-made films only: he’s delphia area socialized and then tried to outdo only seen three movies with his wife in the each other in a frenzy of competitive spirit.” past four years. He openly admits to being He also obviously “enjoys air guitaring.” “behind the curve in technology.” The most So does he frequently film himself air advanced dish he can cook with kitchen apguitaring, or was the dash movie a one hit pliances is a “cheeseburger with ketchup, or

Egg McMuffin,” and at age 21 he purportedly “accidentally” melted a stereo in an oven. Unlike many teachers, he has yet to delve into the world of Facebook or IM, and has sent only four text messages in his life— all on the same day, while trapped at the Chicago airport by a tornado. Rather than texting each other, the Segals enjoy more old school forms of quality time: biking, hiking, and “shooting playmobile pirates with cannonballs” provide some weekend fun.

But the best moment in Segal’s life?

His “brush with greatness,” when he had a chance encounter with Annie Dillard, a Pulitzer-Prize winning American author whose romanticized words on a melting moth are read to death by AP students. Though disgusted by her writing, pupils like myself are often excited to discover that our very own Segal not only met Dillard in person— he met her while clad in only boxer shorts.

We won’t divulge the full story here, but it’s worth mentioning that at the time of the incident Segal was reading a biography of Winston Churchill, an awkward stare was exchanged, and Annie then described Segal as a “model American.” This, Segal asserts, “must have been a favorable commentary on my physique.” (If he does say so himself Luckily for Lower Merion, Segal is quite the “model American”—though he and his German wife considered living and raising their children in Germany. While he loves Germany, MS is happy they ended up settling where they did: Narberth. What some refer to as the crotch of Lower Merion, Segal sees as “a sort of pinnacle of human civilization.” Straight from the pinnacle of civilized humanity himself.

MainLineDelivery.com: simplifying online ordering Jason Kraman

Class of 2010

MainLineDelivery.com provides a simple way to order food from your favorite Main Line restaurants online. All orders placed on the website go directly to the restaurants with all the necessary information pertaining to the order. If the restaurant doesn’t deliver, drivers from MainLineDelivery. com will deliver the food themselves. Main Line Delivery promises to

provide great service and deliver all food in a timely and orderly fashion.

MainLineDelivery.com was started by two Lower Merion graduates, Dan Ritterman and Rich Siegel.

Ritterman, who recently graduated from Penn State, and Siegal, who matriculated at Washington University in St. Louis, came up with the idea while at college. At their respective schools, Ritterman and Siegal saw similar online order businesses growing and achieving success.

These two LM alumni have satisfied a gaping hole in the Lower Merion food service community. Not only is their website easy to use but the ordering process is quite simple, so even the techno-challenged can procure their favorite foods with ease. The best part is that they pick up food from restaurants that don’t normally deliver, like Sam’s Grill.

This is awesome— especially for those who don’t drive.

Now anyone can

get food from their favorite restaurants and not have to worry about having no transportation, or having to go out to get food. Delivery costs are either two or five dollars. This service works because it is committed to the Main Line and doesn’t get cluttered with restaurants from outside neighborhoods.

Unlike past order-delivery companies, this one is organized and works, and will be a staple in the Lower Merion community for years to come.

It is an easy way for teens to satisfy their hunger with just a click of the mouse.

The website has already infiltrated the halls of LM. “ I love MainLineDelivery.com because of how easy it is.

It’s all my favorite restaurants in one place, pickup and delivery—it does everything,“ said sophomore Ben Levitt.

MainLineDelivery.com has at-

tracted others with its willingness to deliver from restaurants that usually only do take-out.

This is junior Shourjo Chakravorty’s favorite feature: “I love Sam’s Grill, and before Main Line Delivery sprang up I could only eat there when I got a ride. Now, I can eat Sam’s Grill all day and all night. “ MainLineDelivery.com continues to search for new restaurants and advertise the business throughout the community. The struggling economy won’t benefit the business, but Ritterman thinks “[they] are bringing a good service to the Main Line for a reasonable price.”

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March 17, 2009

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Films to reel away the blues Leah Rosenbloom

Class of 2011

The worst time of the year is here. That’s right: the dreaded third quarter. Times can be really tough these days with the continuouslyflowing schoolwork, the colds going around, and the unpredictable weather. LMers even go so far as to call this time of year the “Third Quarter Slump.” So how does a down-forthe-count LM student survive this depressing time? With that beloved all-American pastime, movies and popcorn! So, when you feel down, pop in one of these classic high school flicks, sit back, and relax.

10 Things I Hate About You

This extremely well-known and wellloved teen romance flick is based on Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew,” a comedy of female wit. Desperately-in-love transfer student Cameron (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) needs to find some way to take out his pretty

determined to make the necessary changes to benefit the school, which is not exactly what JD has in mind. Before she knows what’s happening, she and JD are responsible for the deaths of three classmates and JD has much more in store. This movie will have you on the floor laughing with its witty script and clever acting, perfect for a rainy March day.

drops the books and the glasses, brushes her hair and dresses to impress, Zack unwillingly finds himself falling in love with her. Unfortunately, Zack and Laney’s cliques don’t get along, and so the unlikely couple has to find a way convince their enemies to accept them as a pair. Much hilarity ensues, and the ending is so cheesy you could dip nachos in it.

Mall Rats

This crazy story takes off when five completely different types of people (the brain, the athlete, the basket case, the princess, the criminal) are stuck in detention together one Saturday. After spending much time arguing, the stereotypes are put aside, and the group pours out their deepest, darkest emotions and secrets. A cast of young actors who eventually became known as the Brat Pack make this movie even better.

Mall Rats is a raucous teen-angst comedy that tells a lot of truth about the woes of teenage life. Young TS Quint (Jeremy London) is afraid he has just lost the love of his life, Brandi (Claire Forlani), to her father’s teenlove game show—and he is determined to win her back. His best friend Brodie (Jason Lee) is fed up with love after his girlfriend dumps him and so he persuades TS to drown his sorrows in the mall instead. Little do they know, the mall really does hold the answers; TS finds out that the gameshow is being held there, and Brodie sees his ex-girlfriend Rene (Shannen Doherty), who, he decides, he wants after all. With the help of comedians Jay and Silent Bob, a magical psychic, Brodie’s favorite comic-book writer Stan Lee, and, of course, the mall, the guys will try to win back their ladies.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Photo courtesy of ctv.ca 10 Things I Hate About You updates “Taming of the Shrew” by William Shakespeare to tell this story of teenage love. crush Bianca Stratford (Larisa Oleynik). Unfortunately, her father has one rule: Bianca is not allowed to date until her sister Kat (Julia Stiles) does. The problem? Kat is repulsed by every single boy at school, and the feelings are mutual. To solve his problem, Cameron gets Patrick Verona (Heath Ledger) involved to test Kat’s inability to love, but Patrick is in for a ride he never prepared for. Complete with one of the most popular soundtracks of the early 1990’s, 10 Things I Hate About You is a certain winner.

Heathers

Cynical Veronica (Winona Ryder) has taken a position in the most popular clique in school, and is fed up with the way Heather, Heather, and Heather (Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, and Kim Walker) are running the place. Teamed with handsome bad boy Jason Dean (Christian Slater), Veronica is

If you have never seen this well-loved classic, now is the perfect time. Ferris Bueller (Matthew Broderick), a typical troublemaking high-school student, convinces his parents that he is deathly ill and can’t possibly make it through a day of school. Instead of chilling around the house, he breaks his best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) out of his own sick bed and his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) out of school to have an amazingly fun-filled, action-packed day dashing around the city. Unfortunately for him, the principal automatically assumes that Ferris is up to no good, and is determined to catch him. With help from the police and truancy officers, Ferris is in for much more than he planned.

All together, it’s hilarious and definitely a must-see.

The Breakfast Club

Sixteen Candles

Also starring Brat Pack member Molly Ringwald, this classic 80s movie is about Samantha Baker (Ringwald), a normal high school girl with a crush on the most popular boy in school, Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling). Nobody seems to remember her 16th birthday, so she goes on with her day normally. Later that night at the school dance, she gets mixed up in the bets of a nerdy freshman (Anthony Michael Hall) and ends up finding a little bit more of herself on the way. This movie has something for everyone, from the prom queen to the girl with headgear trying to drink out of a water fountain.

Clueless

Jane Austen fans will recognize that the film is based on the novel Emma, with Cher Horowitz (Alicia Silverstone), a charming, gorgeous, and popular high school student in the Emma role. With help from her friend Dionne (Stacey Dash), Cher plays matchmaker with two teachers and finds her hidden

She’s All That

This movie has been a trendsetter for all kinds of teen flicks. After being dumped by his Prom Queen girlfriend for a TV soap star, popular jock Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr.) makes a bet with his friends that he can turn the biggest geek in school, Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook), into a Prom Queen by prom night. When Laney temporarily

Photo courtesy of patersonpl.org Matthew Broderick stars in this hit film about the joys of being a teenager.

Photo courtesy of starz.com Sixteen Candles stars Molly Ringwald, Anthony Michael Hall, and John Cusack, three iconic teen actors of the 1980s. talent for the sport. When a transfer student, Tai (Brittany Murphy), obviously needs their help, Cher and Dionne jump into action.

While going through this experience, Cher realizes there’s more to life than popularity and clothing. With this under her wing, will she be able to find the boy of her dreams?

Better Off Dead

In this comedy, John Cusack plays Lane Meyer, a high school boy obsessed with his girlfriend, Beth (Amanda Wyss). When she dumps him for the captain of the ski team, Lane vows to win her back, no matter what.

Along the way he encounters a cute foreign exchange student, Monique Junot (Diane Franklin), who is living with the neighbors, a paperboy bent on getting his two dollars for overdue papers, and his crazy best friend, Charles (Curtis Armstrong). As Lane goes through his heartbreak and humiliation, you will find yourself sympathizing. Plus, it will make your romantic life not seem so bad, and it’s easy to enjoy all the laughs along the way.

Never Been Kissed

Josie Geller (Drew Barrymore), a 25-yearold copy editor at a major newspaper, is asked to go undercover at a high school for a feature story. As soon as she arrives at the school, she finds the same horrors she dealt with when she was a student. At first unable to fit in, she befriends the math club. Eventually, she is able to join the popular crowd to try and find her story, but finds herself reluctant to leave her smart friends. After searching for her angle, her crew finally gives her a tip-off to include a certain teacher (Michael Vartan), whom she is supposed to rip to shreds. Unfortunately for her, she finds herself falling in love with that same teacher and has to choose between two very important things: her dream guy, and her dream job.

Fashion trends for a new season Jordan Cooper

Class of 2010

Yes, winter’s not quite over. It’s still Uggs and fleece season and you can probably still see your breath when you stand outside on the corner waiting for your bus.

But don’t worry! You can focus on spring fashion while you wait for the last cold days to end. The most vivacious of seasons for the fashion world, spring is that time when you can give your wardrobe a complete turnaround. Boots become flip flops, sweatshirts melt

into tank tops, leggings give way to your favorite pair of denim shorts.

But before you reach for last year’s attire, here is a quick tour of trends for spring 2009.

The first thing to remember: relax. This year, forget about tight and fitted and stick to loose and comfortable. Silhouettes will have a less-defined shape than in previous years. That’s not to say that baggy and oversized will be trendy; think more light and flouncy.

Relaxed-fit pants cut above the ankle will be everywhere. This means you should hold on to your

boyfriend jeans, loose capris, and even the more creative “genie pants.” Shirts will be blousy with soft delicate fabrics. Tunics or caftan style shirts also work. Dresses this season will mostly be shorter and looser. Designers from Vera Wang to Marc Jacobs are displaying collections that prefer shapeless minis, while others like Michael Kors are showing more classic 50s inspired looks. However, this season isn’t about haute couture.

You’ll find the styles you want at affordable retailers, including H&M, Old Navy, Forever 21, and

Heritage 1981.

Colors too will follow the relaxed theme. Although bright colors never seem to go out of style in this the most cheerful of seasons, you will see more muted, easy-going colors this year. Creamy shades of white, lavender, or champagne are the base of this trend, and soft greens, yellows, and smoky blues will show up as well. All these will reflect this season’s softer look.

Nevertheless, patterns will still be a focus. Bigger, bolder patterns will appear in place of small, busy prints. Many will be interpreta-

tions of ethnic designs representing cultures from Native American to Indian. A new trend this year is the use of color blocks instead of defined patterns.

The best part about this season is that it will be much more lowmaintenance than springs we’ve seen before. The trendy styles are the styles you enjoy wearing: comfortable shirts and loosely fitted pants as well as fun, easy-going dresses. So don’t stress about this year’s spring fashions… unless of course you need an excuse to get out and go shopping.

16

March 17, 2009

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Students find new art outlet after PGSE closure Han Tran

Graphic by Sam Blum/Staff

Jake Wellens

Class of 2011

Are you going on a date? Celebrating a special occasion? Or are you just a dateless, occasion-less teenager whose income has managed to move in a direction opposite to that of our country’s economy?

If you are ever fortunate enough to answer yes to one or more of these questions, make sure you check out A La Maison, the new French restaurant on Lancaster Avenue.

If not, you might want to try McDonalds, which is just down the street.

Armed with note cards, a pencil, a companion, an empty stomach and a book of clichés, I entered A La Maison through the back door, which bore the letters “BYOB.” The place was empty, although it was still a bit early: around 5:20 pm. Copper pots and kitchenware hung from worn, yellow walls, giving the place a rustic, French countryside look. The waiting staff, appearing young and chic in their black outfits, conversed amongst themselves in French, and told us to pick any table we’d like. We chose a table near the large window, and sat down in the simple, wooden café chairs.

The menu was a single page, with an additional “Prix Fixe” option, which really wasn’t that much of a deal: $37.50 for an appetizer, an entrée, and dessert. The regular menu consisted of a selection of traditional French appetizers, several entrées, and six additional items belonging to the “Plat du Jour” list—dish of the day. The appetizers, ranging from onion soup ($7) to escargots ($10) to duck confit ($12), all looked intriguing, but expensive. The list of entrées consisted of dishes like Steak Frites ($27), Roasted Salmon ($22), Duck Breast ($26) and a few other chicken and fish dishes, all priced over $20. The items on the Plat du Jour list were all indecipherable to me, as I speak no French. I could, however make out the words “lamb with creamy white beans.”

After much persuasion, I agreed to order the escargots, something I had never before tried (the idea of eating something that dines on detritus and crawls around on its mouth leaving behind a trail of mucus has never seemed agreeable). I avoided anything duck, due to the fact that I own two domestic females (they make wonderful pets), and went with the Steak Frites. I also ordered the Plat du Jour, which happened to be the “Coquilles Saint Jacques,” which, as I learned, means scallops.

As we waited for our food to arrive, our waitress delivered a candle and a basket of warm bread & butter. It only succeeded in

holding off my hunger temporarily, as the food seemed to be taking an eternity. At last, the escargot crawled over to our table in a sizzling bowl covered in green spices.

There were six little guys in there, steaming in a vat of juices. Using a special tiny snail fork, I reluctantly plucked out the first mollusk, closed my eyes, and popped it in my mouth. A rush of hot garlic and butter filled my tastebuds, momentarily compensating for the fact that I was eating a shell-less slug.

It was simply delicious, and went down easily: not as chewy as I expected.

As time ticked by, a few more parties entered and settled at their tables. By the time our food made its way out of the kitchen, the place was about one quarter full, and the high ceilings made the volume reach a discomfortingly high decibel. The food took about 25 minutes to arrive, but it felt longer.

The steak looked large and satisfying lying there on its bed of French fries. I had ordered it medium rare, and that was exactly how it arrived. Not too red on the inside, not too charred on the outside. The sauce in which it bathed had a strong flavor of wine, giving the steak a subtle and unique fruitiness. It took a little getting used to, but overall, made for an exciting and flavorful dish that disappeared off my plate in only a few minutes.

The scallops were more interesting-looking than the steak, arranged in some sort of geometric design around a heaping mound of mashed potatoes, over which green beans toppled. The plate was covered with a delicately flavored, caramel-colored sauce. The scallops were tasty, but nothing too special.

After dinner came dessert, which was the best part of the whole experience. Everything on the menu looked amazing, but we settled on the Berry Crêpe ($8) and the Banana Chocolate bread pudding ($8). They arrived fairly quickly, which was a surprise.

The berry crepe was kept pretty simple with blackberries, blueberries and strawberries housed in a thin dough shell and topped with vanilla ice cream. It was refreshing, sweet, and light. The bread pudding resided in a ridged white ramekin under a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It was warm, moist, chocolaty and delicious, and contrasted nicely with the cold ice cream.

Overall, A La Maison makes for a unique occasional dining experience, but is too expensive to fit into most of our weekly schedules. The food is prepared to perfection, but comes at a high price, and takes a decent amount of time to arrive. However, I will certainly be returning - as soon as my wallet is once again full.

Class of 2011

them dropped the hoop, they had to stuff a marshmallow into their mouth. Another time, a group of six or seven got up and did some improv games in the style of [the TV show] ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’”

Some of the performances at the first coffee house included a jazz/funk band named Jahoney Mamma and the PootiePootie-Tang-Tang HUH! which comprised of junior Jake Bosin on drums, junior Nash Tomey on bass, and myself on guitar; senior Pedro Salinas telling a comedic story about his bowel movements (don’t ask); seniors Nina Bar-Giora and Karley Cohen playing music they wrote themselves; host Cochrance reciting her own poetry, and much more. At the end of all the scheduled performances, there

When Governor Ed Rendell cut a decades-old summer program called the Pennsylvania Governor’s School Of Excellence (PGSE) from the state budget, a new tradition was born.

Senior and former “govie” Katie Cochrane decided to hold a PGSE remembrance party called a PGSE Coffee House. PGSE was a popular free summer program funded by the taxpayers of Pennsylvania. The program offered selective five-week camps to talented high schoolers with diverse interests such as agricultural sciences, health care, teaching, global entrepreneurship, the arts, and more. Considering that the coffee house was focused on music and the arts, most of the “govies” present at the event were alumni from the arts camp: the Pennsylvania Governor’s School Of The Arts (PGSA).

Cochrane hosted the event on February 13 at her house.

The coffee house was a smashing success, so similar coffee houses will be held regularly.

The next one will be at senior Robin Schweitzer’s house on Saturday, March 21 (which is the first day of spring, so it should be a happy occasion).

Photo by Tom Simon “If these continue to be a success, there’s no reason they Though not a “govie” himself, senior Pedro Salishouldn’t keep happening,” nas reads his own work aloud at the PGSE cofsaid Cochrane. The coffee feehouse. house is essentially a pot-luck dinner with performances, and of course, was an open mic session where anybody coffee. Although the coffee house was was able to play if they wanted to. “The made to keep the spirit of PGSE alive, performances were groovetastic!” said you don’t have to be a former “govie” to Tomey. attend; everybody is invited. Now that “I had no idea so many talented people PGSE has been cut, the coffee houses are go to LM.” said Schweitzer. “The night providing a new outlet for high schoolers never became boring. It was awesome to to express their creativity. see what everybody’s passions are and “I can see that people have tried to what they work on in their spare time. move on and found other ways to practice The best part was that it was a really fun their art,” said junior Alex Chambers. “I environment. Everyone was there to see think they realized art can never die and their friends, hang out, and support each that they keep it alive by having fun and other in performance.” sharing it with others.”

If this sounds interesting to you, make “The coffee house is a place for people sure to go to the next coffee house on Satto get together and share what they’ve urday, March 21 at Schweitzer’s house got. Anything from music and poetry to (her address is 1111 Cloverhill Road in martial arts and comedy are welcome,” Wynnewood). Also, there is a Facebook said Cochrane. “In my opinion, it’s the event about the upcoming coffee house more out-there acts that are remembered: where you can learn more about it. If you at PGSE, two girls hula-hooped and told want to come, Schweitzer asks that you knock-knock jokes. Whenever one of let her know so she has an idea of how many people are coming.

Performances are scheduled by talking to Cochrane in advance, so just message her on Facebook, talk to her in person, or email her at kfcpeace19@gmail.com.

If performing isn’t your thing, come enjoy the food and sit in the audience.

You’ll see me there playing with Jahoney Mamma and the Pootie-Pootie-TangTang HUH! Oh, and make Photo by Tom Simon sure you bring some food with you.

After those gathered shared a potluck meal, seniors Nina Bar-Giora and Karley Cohen perform their original music.

17

March 17, 2009

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Spring arrives with Robin’s music Robin Schweitzer

Class of 2009

Our generation spends far too much time listening to bad music.

So I decided to write an article featuring music LMers often overlook: music with truly poetic lyrics, music by talented and original instrumentalists, and music for rocking out.

“Spanish Bombs” by The Clash: Ah, The Clash. That was a band with original ideas and passion for their music. They were punks in a time when being a punk was actually dangerous. They did it anyway, and did so well. Honestly, I couldn’t say which song of theirs is my favorite, so I just picked one of my favorites.

“The Golden Road” by The Grateful Dead: Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you have to admit that the guys of the Grateful Dead wrote poetic lyrics and were talented musicians. As seen from footage of their shows, their music is also good for dancing--at least according to some. I consider this song my personal anthem. If you ever hear me singing something about “laughing in her eyes, dancing in her feet,” that’s a lyric from this song. This is a wow-today-wasawful-how-do-I-make-myselffeel-better-oh-right-my-favoritesong sort of tune.

“Woodstock” by Crosby, Stills, and Nash: I listen to this on groggy weekend mornings. It is my soundtrack to the moments when I feel awake, but not quite ready to open my eyes. Yes, that’s pretty Woodstock. Seriously, though,

everything about this song is relaxing and uplifting. The chord progression, the twinkling piano in the background, the harmonic vocals … so soothing.

“Craic With Jack” by Eileen Ivers: Eileen Ivers plays her fiddle like Jimi Hendrix played his guitar. I have a fixation with traditional Irish tunes and with rock ‘n roll before it was commercialized.

My two musical infatuations combined sort-of equal Eileen Ivers.

“My Son” by Buffalo Eskimo: This song is really about the lyrics. The instruments blend into the background, supporting the words. “Be wise, my son. You’re not too young to know love when you hold it.” If you listen closely, you might take some valuable life lessons from this song.“Sing out my son, sing out. Don’t keep it to yourself. It messes with your health…” The lyrics feel incredible sincere; the song feels real and genuine.

“Mr. Brown” (Dylan Rhymes Remix) by The Angry Kids VS Bob Marley: We’ve touched on talented musicians, original musicians, and poetic lyrics.

However, our generation needs more dance music. I don’t know about you guys, but I have a “dance in underwear” playlist that I listen to frequently. For more social settings, though, I would like to stress that there is dance music that isn’t hip-hop — though some hip hop is great, don’t get me wrong. This is a song made for dancing, whether you are at a party or just at home in your underwear.

“The Good I Know You Know”

by Hoots and Hellmouth: Hoots and Hellmouth was a talented and original band that felt truly passionate about their musical career.

Unlike The Clash and The Grateful Dead, the members — and the band, for that matter — are all very much alive. This song isn’t exactly dance music, but it is poetic and thoughtful.

“Bron-Yr-Aur Stomp” by Led Zeppelin: Led Zeppelin is another band whose members were truly gifted. Everybody loves Led Zeppelin, or has at least heard of them, and no wonder. They were incredible musicians, unafraid of rock ‘n roll in a time when it was still relatively new. I picked this song from their seemingly endless collection of recordings because it shows their quieter (and instrumental) side, while still clearly demonstrating their talent.

“Get Rhythm” by Johnny Cash: Johnny Cash is another musician everyone seems to love.

This song is particularly adorable, upbeat, and discusses loving life despite unfortunate situations. My kind of tune.

“Fault Line” by Black Rebel Motorcycle Club: All XPN listeners know (or should know), the rock/blues song “Ain’t No Easy Way” by this band. That song is great for dancing in your kitchen while you make stir-fry. But because all XPN listeners know (or should know) that song anyway, I decided to include a different BRMC tune. This one is a little slower, a bit more reflective, but equally awesome.

“Wild Mountain Nation”

by Blitzen Trapper: Blitzen Trapper is similar to BRMC (see previous track). A little blues, a little rock, a little indie. All in all, not something you should pass up.

“Sevens / Michael Kennedy’s / The Cup of Tea (Reels)” by Liz Carroll: Like Eileen Ivers, Liz Carroll plays Irish tunes. She fiddles in much more traditional style than Eileen. I like to think of them as musical cousins.

“Stranger Than Fiction” (Album Version) by moe.: Yes, moe. is a jam band. No, I am not ashamed. But don’t let the idea of a “jam band” turn you off!

This song uses plenty of distortion on the guitar, and I’m pretty sure that’s a cowbell in the background. It is brilliantly simple in every way: easy chord progression, basic rhythm, and repetitive lyrics. Yet it is put together in a way that makes me wonder, “why didn’t I think of that?”

“Tamacun” by Rodrigo y Gabriela: If you’ve never experienced Rodrigo y Gabriela, I suggest you do so soon. A live video on youtube is the best way to go about your awakening.

They are much more impressive once you’ve realized that neither plays drums. The sounds you attribute to “wow, that drummer is really good” are not drums at all, but Gabriela hitting her guitar while she plays. Her hands move so quickly (I repeat: watch on youtube for the full effect) that you can’t follow them with your eyes. Excellent.

Photo courtesy of last.fm.com

Check out “Yohgurt Song” by the sometimes John Lennon and Yoko Ono back up band Elephant’s Memory.

“Don’t Drag Me Down” by Social Distortion: I first found this specific track on a skate video. You might not expect it from the other songs on this list, but punk and postpunk are two of my favorite genres.

Social Distortion, Dead Kennedys, X-ray Spex — I love ‘em all. This song in particular can prepare me for any stressful situation, and is a noteworthy member of the “dance in underwear” playlist.

“Whirly 3” by Afro Celt Sound System: Such good dance music.

Afro Celt Sound System is a fusion band that combines traditional Irish music, traditional African beats, and electronica. You probably think it’ll sound weird, like a moldy eggplant pizza. You are wrong.

“Yoghurt Song” by Elephant’s Memory: This is a song of the loveor-hate breed. There can be no middle ground with the Yoghurt Song.

Find out for yourself where you fall.

Note: it involves yodeling.

“I’ve got a lo-ta-ta-lot-ta yoghurt in me, takes a lotta yoghurt that’ll make me feel free!”

Local teen on iTunes Celebration of cinema Eric Cohn

Class of 2012

At first glance, Jake Snider appears to be a typical teenager attending Friends’ Central High School. He listens to music, plays for his school orchestra and jazz ensemble, and spends time with his family and friends—but one thing sets him apart from other teenagers: his musical prowess.

Jake Snider is especially known for his soothing voice and piano. His style is often compared to the music of Coldplay and Jack Johnson.

Snider’s CD, Green Lights for Granted, was released through iTunes on September 4, 2008.

It took over 14 hours in July of that year to record the album, which showcases Snider and his band’s unique sound.

“I think it’s cool that a kid so young can get on iTunes,” said senior Karley Cohen. “It’ll be a cool way for people to stumble upon his music and get into him.”

Even at a young age, Snider showed signs of a future in music. He began taking piano lessons at the age of five and even sang along at times. At seven-years-old, he formed and composed music for a band with his brother called the Piggies.

Eventually, he decided that it was time to start sharing his compositions with others. “[In the] summer of 2006, I played the first song I ever wrote at the talent show at Camp Kohut,” said Snider. “It was unbelievably well received, and gave me the confidence to continue writing and performing.”

Since then, Snider has been writing and per-

forming music with Emily Bach (harmonies and vocals), and Jeff Berman (guitarist, bassist, and drummer). He has played multiple concerts at the World Café Live in Philadelphia and MilkBoy Coffee in Ardmore. These concerts have helped him receive recognition around the Philadelphia area—fame may not seem too distant.

“I feel like Jake Snider could be famous,” said sophomore Rachel Zelouf. “He’s dedicated, determined, and a great guy in general. Once people hear his music, I feel like he could get really far.”

While Jake Snider may enjoy all the recognition, even he must admit that it was unexpected.

“Last year when I started being recognized for my music, I was confused because it is something I’ve been doing all my life,” said Snider. “But to the rest of the world…it was as if it was something brand new.”

Photo courtesy of snidercreative.com

Friends’ Central students Jake Snider and Emily Bach perform at Milkboy.

Danielle Moscow

Class of 2011

From the Philadelphia Cinema Alliance comes Philadelphia’s annual spring film festival. Beginning March 26 and continuing through April 8, this movie event, presented by TLA Entertainment Group, will screen approximately 250 films from 45 countries.

At first it was unclear whether the festival was going to happen this year or not. In December, there were quarrels between the boss of the Philadelphia Film Festival and Ray Murray, the owner of TLA Entertainment, who wanted to hold Philly CineFest. The fights began when Murray was irritated with some PFF members. Murray said, “There’s a Main Line group that wants to see a smaller, more boutiquey, Hamptons/Telluride type of festival. But film is a popular art.” The two were unable to work out an agreement, and the film festival was temporarily deferred.

But they eventually came to an agreement and the spring festival will be presented in a partnership as the Philadelphia Film Festival and CineFest 2009.

The festival will include experimental, narrative, and documentary films, as well as features and shorts. During the festival, Lifetime Achievement Awards will be presented, and there will be a juried competition for Best Feature, Short and Documentary, and an Audience Award. In addition, special

guest appearances will be made throughout the festival. The event will be held in various locations in Philadelphia, including the Prince Music Theater, the Bridge Cinema de Lux, International House, the Bryn Mawr Film Institute, and a few other places in the city.

As in past years, the film fest will include several themes. Previous themes such as Contemporary World Cinema, Danger After Dark, American Independents, and Cinema of Muslim World will be used again this year.

Fade to Black, a perspective on black cinema and France, is a new category for 2009.

The opening film will be (500) Days of Summer, an “anti-romantic” comedy starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel.

This movie was a crowd pleaser at this past January’s Sundance Festival. The closing film will be Lymelife, a comedy/drama, starring Emma Roberts, Alec Baldwin, Timothy Hutton, Cynthia Nixon and Jill Hennessy.

This film was also shown at Sundance, as well as at the Toronto International Film Festival.

For movie-lovers, this film festival presents an opportunity to see films that don’t normally get much exposure. Tickets cost about the same as regular movie admission: ten dollars, eight for a matinee. If you find yourself with some free time in late April or early March, head into Philly and check out the films.

18

March 17, 2009

The Merionite

SPORTS

Intramurals still spirited with shortened season

Ethan Goldstein

Class of 2010 In recent years, Intramural Basketball, started by social studies teacher Pete Dawson, has become ever so popular among LM basketball players “not good or motivated enough” to compete on the junior varsity or varsity teams of one of the premier basketball programs in the state. Students organize their own teams and have a good time competing against their peers, while at the same time playing competitive basketball. In order to keep the competition fair and not have one team be significantly better than the others, the teams sign up for either the Recreational League or the Professional League.

The Recreational League, also known as the “Rec League” has grown in size over the last two years.

Junior Drew Goldberg of the Black Lobsters believes that in the Rec League, “we don’t have the pressure of being a real school team and we can just goof off, but the competition is still present.” All of the teams that play are able to be friends at the end of the game, and though tensions may

credit for spending time and putting this league together,” said junior Ron Mentel from the Rec League Black Lobsters.

While the Rec League seems to have more of a relaxed style to its games, the Pro League is as serious as it could possibly get.

“If you want to play in Pro, be good at basketball. A rule of thumb is that if you have someone who has played LM Photo by Eugenia Jin/ Staff basketball at one The Intramural season culminated with the point you should be Black Lobsters winning the Rec league and alright,” said senior the Rockets winning the Pro League.

Cody Hornung of get high, everyone still has fun.

Green Street.

“The best thing about intramurals The Pro League brings the best is getting to play a competitive but fun out of these players and forces them game of basketball in an organized to leave everything on the court. Not league. I give [Dawson] a lot of trying for even one second could lead

to the game – changing shot. Senior Jericho Sav, playing on the team Reup, says “bragging rights are always on the line.” With stakes that high, winning is everything in Pro. It feels good to walk around with the feeling that you are the best of the best in Intramural Basketball. Both leagues have large perks for winning, and teams need to play their hardest every game to show what they’re made of.

This year the duration of the season was shorter due to the lack of space, but the players adapted well.

The season started on February 6 and ended on the 28. In those 22 days, each team played a total of four games. Some teams practiced in that short span of time to get their game down, and others went in cold and still played their hardest. With only four games in the regular season, there was no room for error, for one win could mean a spot in the playoffs while a loss could mean wishful thinking for next year.

After the short regular season, the playoffs took place during four consecutive days, during which the best teams went head to head for a

fitness and shot selection, while staying on court with tougher opponents.”

Such improvements were noticed as they notched some unexpected victories. However, it was not just performance on the court but also incredible camaraderie that paced the boys.

“One thing that I enjoyed a lot was the team unity this year,” said junior Mark Potter.

“It was one of my individual goals to support the team.”

Several crucial wins stood o u t o v er th e co u r s e o f th e season.

“I think our team stood out as a whole, but we definitely have some strong juniors that will lead the team next year, and some young talent in freshmen Matt Cooper and Will Tobias,” said Greenberg.

The girls’ squash team, led by senior Kara Silberthau and Harriton senior Katie Livornese, earned seventh place in

nior Yuxin Liu, who has been a both teams enjoyed the season, great new addition to the team. and their finishes at Districts “And for such an individual- and nationals have the squash ized sport like squash, the team players excited for next year. had great chemistry.

There’s always someone behind your court to support you.” They had good team unity with three freshmen starting on varsity and winning three of their five matches at the District Championship.

Photo Courtesy of Toby Leventhal All the Both squash teams ended their seasons at the players on Yale National Championship.

spot in the championship. One of this year’s quarterfinal games in the Rec League ended in a heart-stopping buzzer beater from junior Greg Jarmas of the Black Lobsters, when playing against the Force. This year’s playoff games were extremely close, and were described by junior Adam Sachs, hailing from the team Off in the Corner, as “intense”. This year’s finalists for the Rec League were the Black Lobsters and Off in the Corner.

For the Pro League the finalists were the Rockets versus the Flamingoz.

In a close game, the Black Lobsters ended up on top as Rec League champions, while the Rockets nudged their way to victory to become this years Pro League champions.

After having five Pro teams and fifteen Rec teams this year, it looks as if numbers will increase in coming years. More and more students are becoming interested and active in the fun yet organized atmosphere of Intramurals. Hopefully, attracting more players and returning to the earlier league format will lead to an even more competitive and exciting season next year.

Boys’ and girls’ squash teams end season optimistic for next year Gilad Doron

Class of 2012

The boys’ and girls’ squash teams capped off their 20082009 seasons with appearances at the Yale National Championships on February 7.

The boys, led by the second best high school squash player in the country, senior Danny Greenberg, earned sixth place overall in their division this year.

Greenberg has led the team for the past four years, and will be greatly missed. Ranked fifth in the nation in the Boys-Under 19 category, he will be attending the University of Pennsylvania next year, continuing his squash career.

“Our goal was to do well within our division throughout the season and finish well at high school nationals,” said Greenberg. “As a team, we worked hard to improve our

their division. They completed their 2008-2009 season at Yale in February as well, placing sixth. Viewed as a rebuilding season, their goal was to improve. “We lost a lot of good players last year, so we worked to re-establish the team,” said Silberthau. “Both the returning players and the new players worked hard and showed great improvement. Fortunately, we [have] a lot of new talent on which the team can continue to grow.”

Freshman Emely Levin is a particular standout. She won all of her five matches at the Yale National tournament. As a team, the girls won three of their five matches. Other freshmen show potential, particularly Sarah Hyman and Rachel Newman.

Not only did the girls work on their swings on the courts, but they also worked to build camaraderie. “I’ve always been a big fan of team spirit,” said se-

Merionite’s Monthly Health Tip: Mr. Kline Myth or Fact: Yoga is primarily an activity for women

Myth While many think that yoga is primarily practiced by women, in reality, nearly every professional and Division I collegiate men’s sports team have a yoga instructor on staff to help their athletes work on their flexibility. In fact, our boys’ varsity basketball team uses a yoga instructor in the off-season. The girls’ varsity soccer team participates in a “yoga for athletes” program during the fall season as well.

Photo by Esther Hoffman/Staff

The reason that all of the professional and college sports teams are incorporating yoga is that yoga has shown to increase flexibility and core strength which will improve posture and range of motion which will make you a better athlete. Yoga will also help to increase an athlete’s focus and concentration -- two very important factors in any sport.

19

March 17, 2009

Girls lax looks to improve with extra pre-season work Emily Eisner

and form a well-bonded and communiClass of 2010 cative team.

In addition, the team started its preThe girls’ lacrosse team has started season a lot earlier this year than in its preparation for the season early this previous years. year, offering optional field practices, “We are hoping that all the off-season yoga classes, spinning classes, and work will pay off,” said senior Leah weight room work-outs. After a frustrat- Sack. ing 2008 season, the team is full of new Right now, the team has yet to be split energy and refreshed excitement about into varsity and junior varsity; players having a successful season this year . are spending most of their practice time Last year, the team’s final record was working on conditioning and fundamen4-11, a dissatisfying result. Junior Grace tals. Gallagher also expresses enthusiGallagher identifies a major issue with asm about the team’s work ethic. “We last year’s team as a lack of unity. are all working really hard this year,” “I really want to see a more unified said Gallagher, and she notes that in adteam . First off, the goals this year [are] dition to a core group of strong seniors to have a better season than last year,” and a handful of juniors, many undersaid Gallagher. classmen are working particularly hard Senior Taylor Egolf agrees, adding and showing great promise. Sophomore that she “think[s] last year some girls Sarah Spector, already a dominant player maybe gave up a bit; [we] had a rough on varsity last year, has improved drasseason.” tically and “will be even more forceful Players on the team all express con- this year.” Freshmen Allison Partridge, fidence in this year’s team, noting “new Erin Gallagher and Tyler Redmond are energy” and “extraordinary dedication.” also working hard and growing into very Te a m m e m b e r s h a v e b e e n p l a y i n g strong players. together in fall and winter leagues in The team has many challenges, inorder to both improve fundamentally cluding the incorporation of a new goalie and working around construction; however, players all have positive attitudes about the team’s upcoming season.

The team’s main goal this year is to make the Central League playoffs.

According to both Gallagher and Egolf, this is a very attainable goal, especially with the commitment and energy that they have seen from all of the players so far this year. With newfound vigorous conditioning, solid fundamentals and strong team unity, this years girls’ lacrosse team Photo by Esther Hoffman/ Staff should have a successful season.

Offseason training has been key for the young team, looking to improve after last year’s disappointing 4-11 season.

SPORTS

Strong core of returning players leads boys’ lacrosse

Overall, the 2008 campaign was a very successful one for the Aces. Their 17-5 record was Class of 2012 a six-win improvement from the year before.

The 2009 campaign will prove to be an These victories included huge wins over tradiimportant one for varsity boys’ lacrosse, as tional powers such as Episcopal, Garnet Valley, this will be the first season that lacrosse will be Radnor, and Conestoga. Yet, the team believes sanctioned by the Pennsylvania Interscholastic that they can do more to improve this year.

Athletic Association (PIAA). This means that “I think our team has a great chance of the team will be competing in district and state having one of our best seasons in a long time”, championship tournaments. Previously, there said Eisenhard, who added that he is confident was only a state tournament. that the team will be able to fill the void left by This, among other factors, has the team last year’s graduating seniors including Dylan eager to improve on last year’s 17-5 season, in Chou, George David, Scott Blumenfeld, and which they finished third Josh Fox. in the Central League and “The guys worked ninth in Southeastern very hard in the offseaPennsylvania. son,” said Laubach.

“We have a strong The team had a winter core of returning playleague team and a fall ers,” said coach Chet league team, and they Laubach. Some returning think this extra work will players who could be imhelp in the long run. Still, portant to the team’s sucthe team realizes that cess this year include sethe key to their success nior captains Matt Dilks, is playing well together. who led the team with 54 As Laubach put it, “how goals last year, and Jake quickly we gel as a team Eisenhard, first team All will determine the type of Central League last year season we have.”

Photo by Esther Hoffman/ Staff as a defenseman, junior The Aces are very The team practices on the turf confident heading into this Jordan Wolf, who was during a pre-season workout. season. Hornung believes last year’s Main Line Player of the Year (Wolf recently committed that the Aces are one of the most experienced to play at Duke), and senior goalie and captain and talented teams in the Central League.: Cody Hornung, who was a second team All “I feel that the experiences that [we have had] League selection last season. are overwhelming and will be what sets us aside Playing in the Central League, considered from the competition.” by many to be the best league in Pennsylvania, Despite their confidence, the Aces know that will be a big obstacle for the team to overcome. they must work hard and take every opponent It features teams such as Radnor and Conestoga, seriously in order to win. both of which are ranked as being among the “We are looking forward to making a deep best in the area. The Aces are taking this in run in both districts and state playoffs, howstride, however, and are using it as a building ever we know that we must take it one day at block for success. a time and not look ahead of ourselves,” said “The Central League is always tough and Eisenhard. should bring the best out of us,” said Laubach.

Also, the team realizes that it needs contriBecause of the tough competition, some butions from role players as much as they need players have revenge on their mind. them from stars.

“My three main goals are to beat Springfield“Our team is only as good as the guys who Delco, Ridley, and Strath Haven,” said Dilks. do the hustle work in the background,” said “Since I’ve been here, we’ve never beaten those Hornung, who added that he believes that the teams.” Laubach also stated that he wanted the Aces can compete for the Central league title Aces to finish in the top three in the League, as and beyond. well as repeating as a top 10 team in the area.

Danny Kane

Goal:

Hobbies:

Favorite Water Ice Flavor: Quote:

Varsity Tennis Varsity Squash Make States next tennis season Hanging out with friends, playing sports

Sports:

Goal:

Hobbies: Mango

Favorite “Smile well and often; it Water Ice makes people wonder what Flavor: you’ve been up to.”

Quote: – Satchel Paige

Junior

Senior

Morgan Gerwitz

Sophomore

Sports:

Ezekiel Zimmer

Freshman

Emely Levyn

Faces of the Aces

The best athletes that LM has to offer

Varsity Wrestling Varsity Football Help LM wrestling qualify for district duals and personally qualify for States next season

Sports:

Varsity Cheerleading Varsity Swimming Crew

Goal: Hobbies:

Medal At States Hanging with friends

Favorite Water Ice Flavor:

Quote:

Watermelon “Cheat on your boyfriend,

not your workout.”

Weight Lifting, eating, sleeping, rugby, running

Harley Williamson

The Merionite

Chocolate

Sports: Goal:

Hobbies:

Varsity Basketball Run in states Reading books underneath the stars

Favorite Water Ice Flavor:

Quote:

“One man can be a crucial

ingredient on a team, but one

man cannot make a team.”

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

Mango

“Some people want it to happen, some people wish it could happen, others make it happen.”

-Michael Jordan

20

Volume 80, Issue 6

The Merionite Boys’ Lacrosse

As season starts, high hopes for talented boys lacrosse

Boys’ and Girls’ Squash

Teams end season at Nationals; phenom Danny Greenberg ends LM career See Boys Lacrosse, page 19 See Squash, page 18

March 17, 2009

SPORTS

Intramural Basketball

Intramurals as popular as ever despite shortened schedule See Intramural, page 18

Girls’ basketball shoots for more success in playoffs after Districts

C. Piccoli/E. Peltz

Class of 2009

After its impressive showings at both Districts and States, the girls’ basketball team holds a 26-3 record at print time and has already made its mark on the LM banner. Seizing the Central League Title and advancing to the quarterfinal round of States has impressed both players and fans alike.

Seniors Molly Hanlon, Lil Carney, Erin Knox, and Amy Woods, along with juniors Kiki Worku, Dana Albalancy, and sophomore Sheba Hall have paced the Lady Aces during the regular and post season.

“Everyone works really hard and we work well together offensively and defensively,” said Woods. “I don’t think we would change anything if we could—it has been an amazing season.”

It definitely has. The Lady Aces had a dominating regular season, finishing with a perfect record in the Central League. They have experienced only three losses—all of which were close—in games against the

Academy of Notre Dame (27-30), Archbishop Carroll (33-48), and the district semifinals against Cheltenham on February 25, losing by a single basket (33-34). With 41.4 seconds left in overtime, Woods, Carney, Hall and Hanlon had the Lady Aces leading 33-30. Within that minute, Cheltenham pulled ahead by one. At the final second of the game, Hanlon went for a long basket but missed. Questionable contact by a Cheltenham player on the play was not deemed a foul by the officials. Following their double-digit wins over Unionville, Council Rock South, and Upper Darby in the preceding rounds, the loss prevented the team from taking the district title and one of the top two seeds from the district for the state championships.

Despite the blow, the Lady Aces still viewed their prospects optimistically. In the last weekend of February, the girls played Downingtown West in a consolation game at Spring-Ford High School, winning 4834, and obtaining the third seed from Dis-

trict 1.

Opening the state tournament, the girls beat out Carlisle High School, 4931. Yet the team suffered a significant loss when leading scorer and team captain Hanlon injured her leg during practice, effectively ending her season.

But the Lady Aces played at their typical caliber during the second round match against Upper Darby on March 10.

Beating the Royals for Photo courtesy of mainlinemedianews.com the fourth time this season, Senior Amy Woods exults during the Lady Aces’ win the team got 17 points out over Upper Darby in the second round of States. of Hall and another doubledouble from Woods, winning At print time, the result of the quarterfiby a score of 46-32 and securing a spot for nal game was unknown, but no matter the the first time in school history in the state outcome, the girls’ postseason performance quarterfinals against District 12 champions has already solidified this season as one of Cardinal O’Hara. the most memorable in school history.

First round loss at States ends strong season for boys’ basketball

Drew Goldberg

Class of 2010 The unparalleled atmosphere of Aces playoff basketball inundated LM during the past few weeks. After ending the regular season with a 20-4 record, the boys’ varsity basketball team entered the postseason, looking to prolong its successful and surprising 2008-2009 run. Following its tremendous regular season, the team secured a bid to the state tournament at Districts, but fell to Parkland High School in the opening round of States.

The postseason began with the Central League semifinals against Penncrest High School. Throughout the game the team struggled to find its offensive tempo but luckily maintained solid defense from the opening tap to the last shot. With eight seconds left in overtime, Penncrest stroked a deep three to put the Lions up 43-41. With a few seconds to spare, junior Oliver Cohen found senior Harley Williamson for a buzzer-beating three that put the Aces up 44-43.

In the Central League Championship versus Conestoga, LM jumped to an early lead by

hitting big shots at key moments and applying consistent defensive pressure. Williamson, who finished with 11 points, attacked the Pioneers’ interior, displaying an explosive first step and finishing strong around the basket, including a hanging reverse lay-up at the first quarter buzzer. Help also came from Robbins who limited Conestoga’s big man Jake Cohen to 14 points. The Pioneers’ loss was their second of the season, putting their record at 22-2, with both loses coming to the Aces.

With the league championship under their belts, the boys looked forward to the district playoffs. In the first round the boys went up against Quakertown, and showed some of the best teamwork they had yet to exhibit, winning by a twenty point margin. The team displayed flawless defense by shutting down Marquette-bound senior Brett Roseboro and restricting him to just nine points. The entire active roster saw playing time, including senior Eric Stahler who had been injured and missed the 24 previous regular season games.

The second round against Central Bucks West turned out to be one of most nail-biting games of the year, when just before the end of regulation and LM down by three, Cohen drained a threepoint shot to send the game into overtime.

The boys eventually recorded the win with a score of 45-41, but it did not come easily.

In overtime, key performances came from Robbins inside the paint and Williamson Photo by Noah Zuares/ Staff who made all of his Junior Alon Seltzer drives to the basket during the free-throws. The win season-ending loss to Parkland on March 7. automatically sealed a

position in the state tournament.

“One of our goals all year was to win the Central League,” said head coach Greg Downer. “Our second goal was to get a state bid. It’s hard to get a state bid in this district. I knew Central Bucks was going to be tough.”

In the third round of Districts against Penn Wood the boys played hard but in the end could not come up with the win. In a valiant effort, the Aces ended the game and their district run, with a 38-35 loss.

“I’m proud of our team. Penn Wood is one of the best teams in the state, and we’ve played them close twice this season. [In the end] we made a couple of ill-advised shots, the game got tight, and we couldn’t put them away,” remarked Downer.

LM started off strong, holding the talented Penn Wood team to only seven points in the first frame and held a two point lead until the end of the first half. Williamson slammed a dunk in the first quarter and Oliver Cohen extended the lead in the second quarter with a three pointer to keep the Aces going. However, Penn Wood’s Duane Johnson dominated the court, slamming home two put-back jams in the first half to ensure a tie at halftime. The Aces came back into the game after half-time pumped up, but in the end could not keep up with Penn Wood.

Having lost their position in the district playoff run, the team faced Plymouth Whitemarsh to determine the seeding for the state playoffs. Sadly, the Aces could not triumph and lost 51-46. In the district consolation game versus fifth seeded Central Bucks South, the Aces played excellent basketball through the third quarter, but faced trouble as CB fought back in the fourth quarter. In the end of regulations, through hard pressed defense from seniors Vince Weldon and Nick Bibbs as well as offensive contributions from Alon Seltzer, the team was able to put the game into overtime. In overtime, Seltzer’s early three and a layup from Robbins put the game away with a 56-53 win.

Photo by Noah Zuares/ Staff

Greg Robbins releases a free throw during the Parkland game. The Richmond-bound senior ended his Aces career with the loss.

With the setbacks in districts behind them, the boys tried to enter the state tournament with a positive mindset.

“Our goal from the beginning of the season was to make the state tournament and I think our goal now is to make a run at the championship. But there are so many great teams in the tournament so we just have to take it one game at a time and really treat every game like it’s our last,” said Cohen.

Unfortunately for the Aces, their first game at States did indeed turn out to be their last.

Seeded to play Parkland in the first round, the team hoped to avenge its loss to the District 11 champs in the first game of the season. But the March 7 game did not go as planned, as the Aces shot 5-16 from the free-throw line and fell 57-53, ending their season.

Despite the disappointing loss, the Maroon and White provided another exhilarating ride for its fans this season, continually overcoming obstacles and odds.