The Merionite Febuary 2008

The Merionite February 14, 2008

Volume 79, Issue 5

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929

LM construction breaks ground Conor Ferguson

Construction workers have begun tearing up Arnold Field to lay a temporary parking lot that will house cars during construction.

Black History Month alive in LM library Liz Jacobs

Class of 2009 Throughout the month of February, the library will be celebrating African American History Month by hosting videoconferences, jazz performances, literature readings and showcasing African American culture in a media museum. The activities are part of the library’s growing effort to make it a center of student activity, and instill student reading from peers.

“We are trying to expand your horizons to be more inclusive of all cultures,” said head librarian Pam McGlone.

On February 5, the library hosted a videoconference in which a Martin Luther King impersonator reenacted famous speeches from the Civil Rights pioneer. As he spoke, photographs of major events of the Civil Rights Movement played in the background.

These images are those of Jack T. Franklin, an acclaimed Philadelphia photojournalist whose over 500,000 pictures document the American Civil Rights Movement. “[The interpreter] was tell-

ing the story of Dr. King’s life as though he were alive,” said McGlone. “It was very moving to hear the speeches given in the context of the story of his life. We could see that [certain events] were powerful moments.”

The conference was brought to LM by MAGPI (the Mid-Atlantic GigaPoP in Philadelphia for Internet2), a program at the University of Pennsylvania that advertises videoconferences to local high schools. Over 80 LM students attended the conference, in to which two other schools, one from Ohio and one from Delaware Valley, also tuned.

“It was the best attended videoconference we’ve had and the students were most attentive. We are so lucky that our school has the technology to have these conferences and that each school in the District has a $10,000 plasma videoconference unit,” said McGlone.

The library also held a readin on February 4, when English classes came to the library and shared excerpts of African American authored novels with their

Will you be my Valentine?

peers. The fourth was a nationally designated read-in day by the National Council of Teachers of English Registry.

In the upcoming weeks, the library plans to showcase African American history and culture through the media museum, which will be on display in the library.

The museum will feature African American inventors—some of whom invented the Super Soaker, potato chips and traffic lights—and advertise African American authors. It will also share a traditional African garmet donated by math teacher Peter Davis, who grew up in Liberia. A computer will run video clips of significant events in the annals of African American history throughout each day for the remainder of the month.

On February 27, the LM Jazz Ensemble will perform during A-C lunches to highlight the rich music that has its roots in African American culture. The following day, February 28, members of the Drill team will host a game show testing attendees’ knowledge of African American history.

For more construction coverage, see page 2

Yofray Ray...

...on the art of being fly Maddie Bailis

Class of 2009

Since September, a neon-clad freshman has roamed the halls of LM. Immediately curiosity struck, and when word got out that he

And the Oscar goes to...

See inside for Valentine messages!

See pages 12-13

with Pennypacker Field. The Arnold Field parking lot will consume three of the four playing fields--only the football turf, tennis courts and the upper soccer field will remain for use.

“The newly constructed stadium will stay untouched through the construction process,” said Eveslage.

“The remaining grass field will be used for sport practices and games.

Practice locations may be affected; however, the goal is to keep the majority of games and practices on site.

“Furthermore, some of the sports teams will be using other fields within the District such as Merion Elementary’s grass field on Bowman Avenue. Along with using that field, all of LM’s baseball teams will be using public parks around the District to practice and to hold games.

“The majority of other sports’ home games will be held on the turf.

Instead of having one game per day, there could at times be two or three occurring one after the other.

“This is a very exciting time for LMSD. The next few years there will be a lot of inconveniences for everyone. Overall, when the construction is finished it will be a huge advancement for the District.”

Photo by Dot Goldberger/Staff

Photo by Dot Goldberger/Staff

Class of 2011 After more than a decade of discussion, LM construction has finally begun. Workers began laying the foundation of the new building on Pennypacker Field and working on the temporary parking lot on Arnold Field on February 4. Buses were officially moved off site on February 1.

More than 60 buses will temporarily park on Righter’s Ferry Road in Bala Cynwyd until June 30, 2008, but it is unclear if they will be able to stay there for the duration of construction because of the discontent of the Riverside Racquet Club.

“Right now the buses are planned to be moved to the old Connelly Container site on Righters Ferry Road. If for some reason that property is not available, the district has leased additional property in Upper Merion to use for bus parking during the construction of the high schools,” said LMSD Director of Operations Pat Guinnane.

All staff and construction workers will park on the temporary parking on Arnold Field when the lower parking lot is demolished along

See A&E, page 16 for the years’ best

modeled for the hipster emporium, American Apparel, everyone wanted to know...

“Who is Yofray Ray?”

See Yofray, page 14

An interview with ‘02 LM alum Jason Gee, a soldier in Iraq See Features, page 8

2

February 14, 2008

The Merionite

Start of a new era:

NEWS

LM in transition

Photos by Dot Goldberger, ‘08

‘08-‘09 student parking permits up in the air Rachel Cohen

Class of 2010

Because of Township zoning laws and lack of space to add additional on-site space for student parking, parking permit availability is up in the air for the 20082009 school year. It is currently unclear if there will be enough parking on campus for administrators, teachers, construction workers and heavy equipment used in the construction process, all of whom will get priority over students in the parking spot assignment.

“Currently there is no plan to eliminate street parking permits during construction. Ultimately, however, this is a decision that must be coordinated and reviewed by school administration, the local township commissioner, student government and the surrounding community,” said Director of School & Community Relations Doug Young.

“My understanding is that this prioritizing of parking spots applies to the temporary construction lot on Arnold Field. The final plan shows parking lots for students, faculty and staff in the two parking lots on the

LM campus,” said Township’s Director of Building and Planning Robert Duncan.

“Between April and May, 2008 the temporary parking lot on Arnold Field will be completed and ready for use.

Once Arnold Field is available for temporary parking, the rear upper parking lot outside the pool area will be closed and given to the contractors for construction of the new high school. Faculty, staff and administrators will park on the temporary lot. Contractors will also park their personal vehicles on Arnold Field. The parking lot in front of the Ardmore Annex will remain for staff and visitors through the end of the 2007-2008 school year. On June 23, 2008 the front parking will be closed, except for the portion immediately in front of the main entrance to the high school. This area will remain open for visitors and small bus drop-off. On campus there will be no student parking during construction,” said Project Executive of Foreman Program & Construction, Ray Sewell.

“This will be a difficult several years for all of us.

Anyone who can use public transportation to get to LM will be encouraged to do so, and parents will be

discouraged to drive their kids to school” said Township Commissioner Cheryl Gelber. The Township Commissioner’s role in the construction process is to approve the redevelopment plan to verify that the plan complies with the Township codes.

Although there will be some sacrifices made, the ultimate amount of student parking will increase significantly when construction ends.

“Although we don’t know the distribution of parking during construction, I don’t believe there will be many, if any spaces for students. However upon completion of the construction, it is my understanding that between 100 & 200 spaces are dedicated to students,” said Duncan.

“It’s going to be an inconvenience to those students who had wanted to have parking spots, but we’ll deal with it. Whatever happens, happens,” said sophomore Lauren Lewis.

The District will begin construction of the parking lots on Arnold Field very shortly. February 1st was the last day at the LM bus site, which will soon be knocked down.

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February 14, 2008

NEWS

The Merionite

A decade of food for a cause: NEWS IN BRIEF a TOLM committe members’ commentary K. Lederer/P. Marcucci

Class of 2009 The tenth annual Taste of Lower Merion (TOLM), a fundraiser presented by the junior class, will be held Sunday, February 24, 2008 from 5-8 pm in the Main Gym. The proceeds from the event go to the junior class prom fund, the ABC House in Ardmore and the Lower Merion Township Scholar Fund. The theme for the 2008 benefit is “Around the World,” which encompasses the idea of culturally diverse cuisine available. LM juniors are members of the various TOLM committees and junior parents Marie Egolf and Rebecca Moore are co-chairing the event. Various Main Line restaurants are donating food and decorations, and the event will have live music and a silent auction.

While a third of the proceeds go to the prom committee, a third goes to the proceeds go to the Lower Merion Scholarship Fund (LMSF) and a third to the ABC House.

LMSF provides funding for students in need of financial aid to engage in higher education. The ABC House (A Better Chance) in Ardmore provides the opportunity for minorities

with little prospect of attaining a thoroughly satisfying education in their hometown to attend LM. ABC’s objective is to integrate promising young students into an academically rigorous high school that will prepare them for college, skilled professions, and leadership in society.

Jon Huang is one of two juniors attending LM through the ABC program. Huang began the application process while in eighth grade and was accepted before his sophomore year. Applicants must prove their dedication and promise as a scholar through strong academic performance and standardized testing. He left behind a small school setting in Hartford, Connecticut, and a large family from whom he says it is difficult being away.

The ABC House is run by community members that make up boards for all aspects of the establishment, such as academics or house relations. Tutors, a permanent fixture in the House, are typically students from local colleges, available to assist the seven boys with their daily workload. “[LM] is much more competitive [than my previous school,]” said Huang. “I have a much better education now and I’m really happy.”

LM to switch to four year counselor system Samantha Hershman

Class of 2009 Taking effect for the 2008-2009 school year, LM students will be assigned to one counselor for their entire high school career, rather than switching counselors between tenth and eleventh grade.

This decision stems from the Guidance Department’s desire to foster stronger relationships with students--each counselor will now have fewer students from each grade but about the same number of total students.

“Having a single guidance counselor throughout a student’s career will help students during their transitions from grade to grade and will assure that at least one adult in our building will know your son or daughter well,” said Interim Principal Nort Seaman in the letter sent home to parents notifying them of the change.

“Most high schools follow this type of guidance department design,” said current ninth/tenth grade guidance counselor Jennifer Engler. “Counselors get to know their students very well. We know details about their families and their personal lives. Sometimes this information is difficult to share and it is helpful to maintain that relationship throughout all four high school years.”

Students will be assigned to their new counselor by grade and alphabetically by last name. These lists are completed and currently available to LM students and their parents. Although the Guidance Department’s decision will cause some students to switch counselors, many students will have the same guidance counselor as

Photo by Dot Goldberger/Staff

LM students will now be assigned one guidance counselor for their entire high school career previous years.

Each guidance counselor has a master’s degree in secondary counseling, including training in the college application process. Upperclassmen can consult their future counselors for college advice, regardless of the counselor’s current grade assignment.

All of the counselors have been preparing for next year by visiting different schools, teaching GATE classes, and participating in conferences on the college application process. In addition to that, the ninth and tenth grade counselors have been shadowing the current eleventh and twelfth grade counselors. “[The new Guidance Department design] makes transition easier in general and builds trust within the student and parent. On a separate note, logistically having all counselors in the same area,

working on the same things, will allow for greater collaboration and idea generation,” said Engler. “[We can also] better understand and describe our students in college recommendation letters. We can paint a more accurate picture of a student when representing them to colleges.”

Many students are greeting this change with enthusiasm.

“Now the counselors will have the opportunity to get to know us better and have more meetings with us,” said junior Esther Hoffman. “If the counselors had the chance to get to know us, they could send colleges better, more personable recommendations.”

Others, however, are worried that they will be “stuck” with a counselor who does not mesh well with them.

“I think that having the same counselor for four years has its up and downs. On one side, if you don’t think your counselor is right for you, you might struggle having the same one for four years,” said junior Katrin Weitzmann. “On the other side, having the same counselor means you can build a trusting relationship with an adult in the school. You will always have someone to turn to.”

All students will be required to meet in February with their next year’s counselor to enroll in courses for the upcoming school year. The Guidance Department hopes that this transition between guidance counselors will run smoothly.

“You are in good hands,” said Engler.

“We are excited to work with our all of our students, most current and some new.”

Latin to offer only Honors courses next year Because of a shortage of staff in the Latin department and an influx of enrollment, LM will not offer Latin at the college prep level for the 20082009 school year.

“I don’t like this decision because there is a lot of diversity among the levels of Latin students and it takes away something that a lot of people depend on. I definitely hope they’ll be able to figure out a solution to bring college prep Latin back,” said freshman Latin student Larz Goldsmith.

Students who took college prep Latin this year will be recommended by their teacher to either move up to the next year of Latin or to repeat their current year at the honors level. This was decided as the fairest way to accommodate the different learning levels of the students.

--Chloe Bollentin, ‘10

LMSD hosts local FLES conference In October, Lower Merion School District held its first ever Foreign Languages for Elementary Schools conference at the Academy House next to Bala Cynwyd Middle School focusing on the topic of technology in Foreign Language classrooms. The conference focused on exchanging ideas of how to use technology including how to use podcasts, inspiration (a program that builds charts), Webcam (a program that consists of virtual trips of different countries), PowerPoint, and many more interactive programs.

Teachers who attended the conference were from schools all over the southwest Philadelphia area that teach languages such as French, Spanish, German.

Most of the technologies discussed at the meeting were programs that the District either already has or can host with the current technology, so getting the technology and paying for it is not much of a problem. The minor difficulty is teaching the teachers how to use these complex programs. Teachers will probably have to go through a tutorial for the programs they will want to use.

This conference was not only held to help elementary school foreign language classes, but high school foreign language classes as well. Using the many possibilities of this new technology, teachers plan to construct more interactive classes for students in the future, making it easier for them to learn the information and, in the long run, produce better grades for middle school and high school students taking these language classes.

The conference stirred up discussion about technological use in elementary school foreign language classes, giving teachers innovative ideas for integrating in technology in the classroom.

“We hope to be able to make this an annual event,” said foreign language teacher Gail Infield.

--Itai Doron, ‘10

Science Olympiad goes for the Ag LM’s Science Olympiad team recently competed against 30 other schools in an Invitational competition at the Athens Area High School, in Athens, PA. Because LM has so many strong senior members, the team split up into two teams of ten members, rather than one fifteen person team.

The two teams did not each compete in all events but placed first in herpetology, forensics, cell bio, rocks and minerals. They competed against strong Pennsylvania and New York teams and are now preparing to compete in the regional competition on March 4 at Cabrini College.

“I thought individually that the team actually did pretty well. We still have a long way to go and we have regionals coming up,” said first medalist in cell biology Lilun Li. “We’re trying to get the teams together with the seniors and underclassmen, and we need to study a lot more to get to states or nationals.”

--Marianna Kozak, ‘10

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February 14, 2008

NEWS

The Merionite

Ace Apparel hits the halls LM students Jordan Cooper

Class of 2010 In an effort to revive school spirit and supply LM students with more stylized school apparel, juniors Mimi Eisen and Sam Blum recently created Ace Apparel, a student-run clothing operation that will design and distribute LM-related fashion. Ace Apparel is an alternative to the Dawg Pound, the school store that also sells LM apparel.

“It seemed like there was a lack of LM or Aces’ apparel and gear being sold in the school,” said Blum. “We thought it would be great if we could come up with our own line of stuff, something unique, creative, and different that would get students more into school spirit. We wanted to create something different than the typical maroon and white you see in the hallways.”

The initial sale for Ace Apparel is a gray tshirt with “LM” across the front, but, to break the norm, a brightly colored typeface was chosen that suggests what has been considered a retro vibe. Eisen and Blum have distributed the shirts, and hope to find a store or a permanent location similar to the Dawg Pound in the cafeteria to sell future products.

Publicity attempts have included a Facebook group and free pins with the Ace Apparel logo, but their name has gotten out primarily by word of mouth. Either way, the project has reached many students, many of who applauded Eisen and Blum for their idea.

“It’s cool that kids are taking the initiative to make something that they like,” said senior Richie Stark.

Students appreciate not just the ambition, but also what

it will give to the student body.

“If Ace Apparel is successful, an increase in school spirit is one of the things it will accomplish,” said Eisen.

“We want students, staff, parents, and alumni to be proud of LM, and proud to wear our apparel.”

Many students also see Ace Apparel as more than clothing that increases school spirit; it also doubles as an outlet for individuality and style.

“People will be more inclined to wear clothing enforcing school spirit when the merchandise doesn’t suppress personal style,” said sophomore Amanda Lewis.

The two have voiced their awareness of the hard work needed for running such a project, but hope for the support of the LM student body.

“Obviously not everyone is going to go for the idea,” said Blum.

The administration could play a role as well. However, interim principal Nort Seaman has expressed some concerns.

“AceApparel could be in competition with /Staff Sam Blum Graphic by the school store,” said Seaman.

Profits from any school sale such as store items goes directly to LM, a specific class, or a certain club. At this point, Ace Apparel is unsure as to where to give proceeds, but may consider donating to the junior class.

Students discuss race at SPIRIT

Sivahn Barsade

Class of 2010 On January 8 and 9, LM students of different racial backgrounds met to discuss various issues concerning LM as a part of the Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together (SPIRIT) program. The students were first divided into different groups according to race and then identified their concerns regarding LM ranging from the new schedule to racism. After brainstorming, the students came together from the previously racially divided groups to discuss issues as a whole. The second day was spent

trying to find solutions to the problems that the students listed. Top concerns included stereotyping, disrespect towards the school, teachers, and peers as well as teacher favoritism. “[Splitting up of students according to race] made a significant point. Many of our issues were different than other [racial] group’s which emphasized the racial divides still present in our school,” said sophomore Bea Abbot who participated in the SPIRIT program. “Overall it was a very interesting experience and very effective in creating dialogue among a diverse group of students.”

Superintendent Jamie Savedoff

introduced the SPIRIT program to the School Board. This free program was created by the Community Relations Service of the U.S. Department of Justice and will also be implemented at Harriton High School. The SPIRIT program aims to “improve communications among diverse student leads and reduce racial tensions in schools”.

Administrators hope to continue this program and others like to open dialogue among students.

“This is a good first step,” said the organizer of the SPIRIT program, Colleen Miller, “Race is an issue that is not talked about often, but this is a good start.”

showcase work at ISC art show Molly Rowe

Class of 2011 The Interschool Council (ISC) Art Show was opened for public viewing from January 25th to February 3rd and was sponsored by the Interschool Council of Lower Merion School District. ISC, organized

by LM parents Jennifer Lammer and Laurie Geers, is held annually at the Main Line Art Center and features artwork made by students from the District’s ten schools, from the schools of Havertown School District, and from local private elementary schools.

The first ISC Art show was held in 1989, when parents of students in the District decided that student artwork should be enjoyed publicly.

The event is organized by the parents of students in the District, who collect artwork chosen by teachers based upon the artistic talent that is displayed in paintings, drawings, ceramics, multimedia, and metalwork. In each of the District’s high schools, ten pieces are selected by each art teacher to be in the show. In the elementary and middle schools, about twenty-five pieces are submitted by each teacher.

Each school in the District has a representative from Interschool Council of LM, who helps to transport the artwork from the schools to the Main Line Art Center. The two parents have worked together to organize this event and collect artwork from the teachers for the past six years.

The Interschool Council, which sponsors the ISC Art Show, has been supporting the District’s elementary, middle, and high schools since 1947. The purpose of the Interschool Council of Lower Merion, which is a federation of homes and schools for each school in the district, is to support the schools by administering to the educational needs of students, and to enhance the scholarly experience of students in the district. Past projects of the Interschool Council of Lower Merion include Children’s Theatre, the publication of book lists for students and assistance in building the Lower Merion Scholarship Fund.

“It has always been a wonderful opportunity for the Art Center to give students [the chance] to exhibit in a professional gallery setting and for the community to see the vitality of the arts in our local schools,” said Judy Herman, who has been the director of the Main Line Art Center for the past twenty years.

The parents and students of LM are equally honored to have the show at the Main Line Art Center each year. LM senior Sarah Lammer, the daughter of Jennifer Lammer, has had her artwork on display at the ISC Art Show, and appreciates the Main Line Art Center exhibiting student artwork.

“It’s nice to have it all in such a friendly environment as the Main Line Art Center,” said Sarah Lammer.

“I have really enjoyed working with the teachers and the parent volunteers,” said Jennifer Lammer. “I am so impressed by the imaginative quality and sophistication of the artwork from the youngest students to the high-schoolers and it has been great fun each year to bring together that high caliber creative energy into one art show.”

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February 14, 2008

The Merionite

EDITORIAL

Assessing race and identity: An opp or tunit y f or di alo gue

In light of the fact that the United States is experiencing its first presidential race with a truly viable minority contender, we would like to open up the topic of racial identity for discussion. Racial differences have played a large part in our nation’s history, often controversially, and sometimes violently.

How should we confront racial tension today? Should we simply emphasize our cultural differences? Embracing our identities, instead of letting them constrain us, can desensitize us to others’ prejudices. By accentuating the differences that set racial groups apart, each patch of America’s elaborate racial quilt can become stronger than the prejudices that seek to weaken it. Let us say: “Yes, I am the Asian who loves math,” and “Yes, I am the Latino who loves salsa.” We can choose to view our racial and cultural distinctions as traits that define us as members of vibrant communities, rather than marking us as outsiders in a larger society.

But not everyone is a member of just one community. Multiracial people—like presidential candidate Barack Obama—must contend with membership in different races. They, like American society as a whole, must decide how much race informs identity.

We can envision a united “colorblind” society—ignoring that racial differences play a role at all in who we are. It is tempting to pretend that people are just part of one larger “human” race, and that the differences that do clearly exist are meaningless. But instead of promoting respect for distinctions, this idealistic mentality fails to acknowledge the complex relationship between race and identity—neglecting the issue of racism in the first place.

We can attack harmful racial prejudices head-on, not standing aside passively when we see anyone deciding what someone else’s race should mean. We can silence salesgenie.com’s recent Super Bowl commericals, which portray a panda named Ling Ling and an Indian IT worker who has “seven children to feed.” Only by drawing a clear and hard line between what is and is not acceptable will racial prejudice—of any form—end. But where is that line? And how does one eliminate prejudices without ignoring differences?

The 2008 presidential campaign has brought the issue of racial identity into the limelight. Once more, we are asked to examine and test our society’s preconceptions of race. Whether you believe cultural distinctions should be what define us, or if colorblindness should be what combines us, only through dialogue can we write the next page of our racial history.

Unsigned editorial on this page reflect the general opinion of student editors, not the views of individuals.

The Merionite Published since 1929

Editors-in-Chief Jon Blistein, ‘08 David Faich, ‘08

Arts & Entertainment Editors

Sophia Hirsch, ‘09 Jenny Smolen, ‘09

Managing Editor Samantha Rosen, ‘08

Layout Editor Sam Blum, ‘09

News Editors Carolyn Chou, ‘09 Liz Jacobs, ‘09

Business Manager Marissa Presser, ‘09

Op-Ed Editors JC Chou, ‘09 Niklas Thompson, ‘09 Features Editors Samantha Rosen, ‘08 Emma Saltzberg, ‘09 Jessie Scolnic, ‘09 Sports Editors Lex Carlin, ‘08 Jodie Eichel, ‘08 Elie Peltz, ‘09

Photo Editor Dot Goldberger, ‘08 Copy Editors Matt Taylor ‘08 Corinne Zucker, ‘09 Advisor Mr. Chad Henneberry Business Advisor Mr. Sean Flynn

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.

Editorials/Letters Letters to the Editor

“Stealing the Elevators” You may not notice but many kids are using the elevator without authorization. And for the kids that need keys, there is no adult authority to monitor who has elevator keys and who uses the elevator. Sometimes kids with special needs are late to class because other people who don’t need the elevator are using it-simply because they don’t like to take the stairs. I don’t need a key anymore, but I have realized over the last couple of years that kids and teachers think only about themselves and not about others.

One time I experienced a problem during 9th grade when I had a key because of my special needs. I got called to the nurse about my key. When I got there the nurse said, “give me your key.” I couldn’t believe it; they just asked a special needs kid to turn in their key. I had to explain

An Open Door Policy February 7, 2008 – the start of a new year for those of us that keep track of the moon’s movements. Billions of people around the globe open their eyes to wonderful new opportunities that await them in this year--4706 according to the Chinese calendar--from new fertilizer for the rice paddy to catching all 493 Pokémon on Nintendo DS’s Pokémon Diamond/Pearl. People of all shapes and races come together for the wonderful Lunar New Year celebration.

I myself am an avid celebrator of this holiday. Each year, I reflect upon how much I have grown and changed in the previous year or years. This past year, I sat in my room and meditated to myself for several hours, contemplating the Chinese year 4704. Yunica Jiang.

Fourteen years old. Rap enthusiast. Close-minded. Loved Chinese New Year for the delicious dumplings and red envelopes--did not want nonChinese people celebrating Chinese New Year. Two years, one inch, and fifteen WebAssigns later, I am a changed person.

For those underclassmen who have not yet heard the story, I wrote an article freshman year pleading non-Chinese people to stay away from this “sacred” holiday.

After some hate mail and angry glares in the hallway from upperclassmen, I started to doubt my opinion. But being the recalcitrant Chinese girl I am,

why I had the key, and then she let me back to my class with my key.

They should have checked their documents before they called me down. And the next time when I got on the elevator, it was full of kids who could have walked.

I didn’t say anything because it is not my place. The school should be more consistent with enforcing the elevator policy.

LM has major issues with the elevator. They should make magnetic keys that could be deactivated once the kid or teacher doesn’t need them anymore. In addition, more campus aids should be stationed near the elevator to make sure not just anybody gets on.

Campus aids should also have a list of specific names, with pictures, of the kids and teachers who need keys. This should be implemented as soon as possible because it will help kids with special needs and kids injured to get to their classes faster.

Joshua Shusterman Class of 2009

I did not succumb to the peer pressure from my schoolmates so I kept a straight face and made it through my freshman year without scars or bruises.

That summer, I took a trip.

I experienced great culture and great food for a month. The day before I left China, on my fifteenth birthday, I was in Shanghai, and I noticed a lot of white people who spoke Chinese better than I did. Then I had an epiphany: these people probably love China, and they probably understand the culture just as well as, or perhaps even more than, I do. I mean, I hold my chopsticks the wrong way, that gives me no authority over others on whether or not they can celebrate a Chinese holiday. So why am I being so selfish and opposed to others celebrating Chinese New Year with me?

Holidays, after all, are meant to be celebrated by people--the more the merrier. Even though there are already a couple of billion people celebrating the holiday, there is no reason to not let even more people celebrate it. Why not have an Open Door policy for this holiday?

I strongly urge you to go out and buy some paper lanterns and yummy kumquats, or if you’re really daring, try to make dumplings. Or if you want the Jiang-Zhang family recipe passed down from 1111 B.C., just ask me, I’ll be happy to share it with you! Who can resist this opportunity to delve into a rich culture and great Chinese food? Oh, and don’t forget to open your doors to let other people celebrate it with you!

Yunica Jiang Class of 2009

6

February 14, 2008

OP-ED

The Merionite

Our hetero-normative society Millenialism

Ah, February 14: Valentine’s Day. The day we give $2 to the sophomore class to find out who our true loves are, unless of course, you don’t happen to be heterosexual. In which case, well, um, we just won’t talk about it.

Celeste Lavin This Class of 2009 is essentially what the annual matchmaker survey says. If I select that I am female, it will present me with all male options as romantic possibilities, and female options as platonic possibilities.

It completely ignores any person who does not identify as a heterosexual. This problem of assuming heterosexuality is bigger than just the LM Matchmaker Survey; it is the problem of our hetero-normative society.

Nearly every institution in the US assumes heterosexuality as the norm. LM is always looking to be more inclusive and sensitive toward minorities, but as of yet, only racial ones. I am writing to speak up for our sexual minorities.

In health class, we talk about sexual protection, but almost only in regard to heterosexual sex. “Be cool, wrap your tool,” is discussed solely when that tool is going into, well, to continue the euphemism, a “tool box.” It was a huge step for schools to start talking about alternatives to abstinence, and I applaud LM for discussing the use of condoms and other contraceptives and protection against STDs, but we cannot stop there. We need to stop assuming that each of LM’s 1600 students are having, or will eventually have sex in a heterosexual way. For me, for example, a female never planning on having sex with a male, the whole condom talk was pointless. For men planning on having sex with men, that condom talk has to be presented in a different way. Especially in high school, when people are still figuring themselves out, we need to put all of the options on the table.

This hetero-normative mentality is not only in Health class, but in most anything we do: rooming on overnight field trips,

classroom conversation, advertising, and even our language.

The idea behind having a girls’ room and a boys’ room on overnight trips is to discourage sexual behavior, right? Well, if two girls are put in the same room, and if they happen to be lesbians, do you think that discourages sexual behavior? Of course not, but we never have to address this, because we just assume that all LMers are heterosexual. It would be irrational to ask people to identify with a particular sexual orientation, and then room them accordingly, as we shouldn’t demand orientation identification, so perhaps optional gender-blind rooming is our solution. This would not only stop the assumption that all students are heterosexual, but also acknowledge that two gay students of the same gender, or two hetero students of different genders housed in the same bedroom does not necessarily mean they will have sex.

(Even as hormonal teenagers, we have

frankly, that would be overly political correct, even for me, and awkward (hopefully one day it won’t) but just a hint of acknowledgment that not everyone is heterosexual would be nice.

Less so in the halls of LM, but still in our faces everyday is hetero-normative advertising. If they are not offering free food, how else are stores going to get us to buy their products?

Why, sex appeal of course! Any study of advertising methods will show that manufacturers constantly capitalize on society’s need to be sexy, but unless you are watching Logo (the gay TV channel, yes, it does exist) or are in the heart of the Castro (the gay village in San Francisco), you will rarely ever witness homosexual sex appeal in advertising. Think about it. Have you seen a same-sex couple in an ad? I am going to go ahead and venture a guess: no. After many, many years, we now have advertisements with non-white couples, and even bi-racial couples, but there is still this heteronormative idea in our advertisements that constrains Art by Niklas Thompson/Staff some sort us to male and of control.) Also, there are peo- female coupled icons. ple who don’t identify as male or It is a constant fight, and female, so this would eliminate at this point, some might even forced gender identification. find it to be a platitude, but I Gender-neutral or gender-blind will repeat it again: gay is not housing is not a new concept. a synonym for stupid or unUPenn, Haverford College, cool. Sure, language is an everBrown, and many other colleges changing concept, (prove it by already offer it as an option, and saying something “sucks” in I think LM is almost ready for it. front of your grandparents) but In and out of the classroom, as long as gay means homosexwe always have prompts, ques- ual, it cannot be equated with tions, or conversations involving “stupid.” Again, it displays the marriage, having children, or any assumption of heterosexuality of the other traditional “family” in our school and in our counvalues. So many people assume try. The fact is you do not know we will eventually get married, who is going to be offended which even for heterosexuals by your word choice. I hear is a misapprehension. But for it countless times a day, and those of us who are gay, it’s hard when I call people on it, they to explain every time we are usually pull a, “you know that’s asked that we don’t necessarily not how I meant it.” Okay, want to move to Massachusetts that’s true, I know you did or Canada, so we can’t really not intentionally use the word marry those we want to. This “gay” as an insult to hurt me goes back to the matchmaker or other homosexuals, but hey, survey too. Any romantic cou- it’s mean, and there are more pling in our society is assumed precise words you can use. male and female, clearly ignorThis Valentine’s Day (if you ing our non-hetero population. are not already keeping a skeptiIn any image of a family, in a cal eye on it because of its reliscience, language, or any other gious affiliation and encourageclass, the picture is typically, ment of consumerism) please mom, dad, brother, sister, and do not assume everyone around maybe grandparents if you are you is heterosexual. And if you trying to learn the word abue- are going to physically celebrate lo. I’m not suggesting that we your love with somebody, male have to use gay examples in ev- or female, or somewhere in beery classroom activity, because tween, please, use protection.

Think for a second. How different are you from your parents?

Well, if you are like me, that difference is quite considerable and I am not talking about the way you look or the way you speak.

In response to a recent 60minutes piece on what are called Sean Salazar the Class of 2009 “Millennials”, people born between 1980 and 1995, I began to think more about our generation. We are the iPod, cell phone, internet, YouTube, Google generation. The generation that only takes “yes” for an answer. The generation that has it all. Just as our older compatriots are entering the workforce, baby-boomer employers are noticing that we are something quite new; something wonderful yet terrifying. Sure, you may think, we are for the most part much more tech-savvy than our parents; we have overdeveloped texting thumbs and the amazing ability to multi-task. But it is more than that. According to 60-minutes, our childhoods have been marked by the participation trophies that epitomize an atmosphere that “we’re all special” and that “we can’t fail.”

Employers have to look for alternate ways to motivate our generation to work hard. It seems that many feel they should be rewarded for just showing up to work, rather than dedicating their time to it in order to succeed. The work ethic seems to have shifted further away from the traditional “work hard and you will get rewarded” philosophy. In fact, the business of consulting and encouraging CEOs to adapt to this new age bracket rather than the reverse (that we change to meet baby-boomer standards) is worth $50 billion.

Art

by

Nik

las There Tho mps is also plenty on/S taff of evidence that we are not as willing to work hard for an extended period of time to gain something we really want, whether that something is re-

spect, wealth, or any other desirable goal. As Calvin Trillin puts it in his TIME article The Young and The Debtless, “Now that those boomers are feeling an occasional twinge in the lower back as they take that big step up into the driver’s seat of the sport-utility vehicles they worked so hard to acquire, along comes another generation known not for wanting to be rich but for having suddenly become rich--seemingly without working very hard, or at least very long.” Today’s generation is all about the here and now.

And that is why it is hard for us to see why we cannot always have immediate gratification.

Information and entertainment are just a click away after all.

Need a real-world example?

How about those 21st Century peach-fuzz millionaires? We have all seen the cover of TIME magazine featuring Google’s acquisition of YouTube for 1.6 Billion. Silicon Valley is filled with young minds that see the world in a whole new light--this is surely responsible for the rapid change and innovation that has hit mainstream America in the last decade.

The entertainment and digital industries are expanding swiftly, and therefore, we are becoming more mobile, more adaptable, and more connected to the people around us. Or are we? Are not iPods a little antisocial? Have you ever seen two people in the same car talking to separate people on their cell phones? I have. There is also evidence that our attention spans have been shortened over time, with aid of the 12 minute TV blocks and over-stimulation from gadgets left and right.

Nowadays, convenience is central to most services, ranging from online shopping to online books, applications, and email.

There is a vast source of information sitting at home: The Internet; something our parents never had growing up. We are now at the tip-

ping point, where the more traditional way of life is giving way to a new era. As technology, our major ally in the search for success, is giving birth to opportunity and accessibility, it is creating a whole new lifestyle.

There is a lot of negativity and skepticism surrounding habits of our generation, but we’re not all that bad, right? We’re just different--a new branch in the continuous social evolution. Only time will judge where we will be in a hundred years from now.

7

December 21, 2007

The Merionite

An electoral enigma:

Why primaries and caucuses are undemocratic As this year’s November 4th election date draws ever nearer, the question of who will be each party’s presidential hopeful becomes a bigger and bigger issue on the public agenda.

The series of primaries and caucuses, beginning January 3 with Iowa and ending June 3 with Montana, New Mexico, and South Dakota, warHana Rouse rant the general Class of 2010 populace some say in the choice of the candidates. But while these gatherings do allow for some degree of democratic process, they counteract the American principle of allowing the people to determine their leaders.

Each individual state holds either a primary or caucus to determine the amount of state delegates allocated to each potential candidate. Primaries are held by secret ballot, while caucuses involve a much more complicated process. A presidential hopeful needs to earn a certain amount of delegates nationally (the “magic number” of 2025, Democrat, or 1191, Republican) in order to become his or her party’s official candidate. Delegates attend a national convention in the summer to vote for their party’s candidate. Each state is given a certain number of delegates according to formulas of who can vote relative to their population and the results of the primary/ caucus. A small amount of unpledged delegates, called “superdelegates” for Democrats or simply “unpledged” for Republicans, are not tied down by public decisions, but instead are free to vote at the convention based on personal political preference.

These unpledged delegates are my first gripe with election process. While they constitute only a small portion of the delegate count (796 of 4096 Democratic and 463 out of 2380 Republican delegates), in the case of an extremely tight race, their vote becomes very influential. Such delegates are “experienced” members of the party whose opinions are deemed superior to and more substantial than other members of the party, and the public. These delegates can sway the final outcome of the convention- should people’s opinions be “flawed”. If no candidate manages to reach the “magic number” and the race remains extremely tight, the final decision is bequeathed to these “superior” party members. Why should these people be given so much influence in the choice of candidates, when this is supposedly a democratic nation of the people, by the people, and for the people? In such a nation, at the very least, shouldn’t all the delegates be obligated to vote according to public opinion rather than to their own personal bias?

And as for the regular delegates, while their part in this selection abides much more closely to the principles of democracy, even their role is somewhat flawed. State delegates may be obligated to vote at the convention as assigned by their party, but if they desired to, they could actually change their vote during the National conventions.

And the formulas surrounding the allocation of delegates to candidates further obscure the process. In the Demo-

cratic Nevada caucus, Hillary Clinton emerged the winner, with 51% of the votes compared to Barack Obama’s 45%; yet Obama received 13 delegates to Clinton’s 12. How? The primary and caucus process involve many mathematical steps, but all they do is complicate an already intricate procedure. Relying on the raw numbers, rather then delegates and formulas, would result in fairer results, and would reaffirm America’s supposed belief in a democratic society.

Primaries are akin to the general election in that they involve the general populace voting by secret. Caucuses, on the other hand, stray entirely from the Democratic process. The Iowa caucus removes the “secret ballot” principle from the electoral procedure. An initial count is taken, and any candidate that has amassed less then 15% of this premature vote is deemed not viable in the overall choice. Any voter still undecided or who previously chose a candidate who has been removed from the ballot becomes attainable prey.

During this entire caucus process, there are plenty of chances for a person’s opinion and choice to be influenced by outside factors. Nothing about the vote is private.

The people who originally came in hoping to support one candidate, but found their choice removed from the race after not reaching the 15% viability threshold, have their right to express their opinions taken away from them. Instead they are forced to make a quick, new decision while surrounded by the constant pestering and bullying of the supporters of viable candidates.

Then there’s the timeline issue. The primaries and caucuses take place during a five-month span, beginning in January and ending in June. This system allots some states far greater influence on the results, while trivializing the choices of later-primary states. Because there is a “magic number” of delegates that a candidate needs, by the time the primary race reaches certain states, the candidate has virtually already been decided.

Early states like Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina may have fewer delegates than a population-rich state like Pennsylvania, but candidates focus a huge amount of time and resources on these areas because, if a candidate wins a victory here, the media coverage and momentum that follows raise their prospects of overall victory. Twenty-four states and American Samoa vote on February 5, and the large amount of delegates means that generally the election results are decided by this day, despite the many states that are still waiting to vote.

The Pennsylvania primary, for instance, generally has little effect on the results (though with the ambiguity surrounding this year’s election, Pennsylvania’s delegates may be of some importance). The opinions of certain states should not count more than others simply because of the dates they chose to hold their elections.

This year the nation cares about the electoral process, yet the people’s opinion is being obscured by clouted superdelegates, complicated mathematical formulas, skewed date assignments, and an obviously flawed and biased caucus process. If the United States wishes to continue calling itself a democratic nation, it must remedy the process of choosing presidential candidates. The electoral process may have been created to affirm equality and freedom of speech, but as it currently stands, it does nothing but impair these principles.

OP-ED

Overpopulation: A moral dilemma

Overpopulation threatens the future of our will opt to not have a child, even if it is for the planet and everything on it. Global warm- good of humanity. Thus the only option left ing, hunger, the energy crisis, pollution, is to quell our obsession with saving lives.

As hard as it is to say, in our time, people and astronomical are going to have to die. In 2008 13% of the amounts of sufferworld does not have enough food each day ing are all directly to sustain life. If we stop the support, next resultant of an exyear 0% of the world will not have enough cess of people livfood each day to support life; the end of ing on the earth. world hunger.

To cringe at this statistical As we continue observation is ignorant.

We must dissolve to overspread our the idea that a life of suffering and waste is resources in an better than no life at all.

If we fail to do so, attempt to help hunger, disease and overall suffering will be everyone, the avwidespread on a global scale in our lifetime. erage quality of Taylor Walker Absurd as it may seem, encourage your life everywhere Class of 2008 is being sacri- neighbor to continue smoking. Don’t give ficed.

Despite to charity. Be thankful for natural disasters, this, our species disease, anything which will claim many is obsessed with breeding and saving lives. lives at random. Discourage health care This practice will lead us to our demise. in its entirety. If you can sustain yourself, The current world population as published keep on doing it, but assist no one apart by the US Census Bureau is above six billion from family and friends. It’s not unfair that five hundred million. The United Nations pop- people will die that could have been saved. ulation division claims that the world’s popu- It’s unfair that innocent lives with as much lation will very likely surpass nine billion by potential as anyone else, are born into pov2050. The fact that our population will likely erty and suffering with no chance of escape. double in a mere hundred years provokes According to the National Research Ininteresting thoughts; however, the repercus- stitute on Food and Nutrition, only after our sions of such an occurrence are truly daunting. population is reduced by two thirds can evIf population growth continues as project- ery human on earth, regardless of place of ed, a lot of problems will arise before 2050. birth, live full lives without being hindered According to studies performed at the Na- by competition for limited resources. It is for tional Research Institute on Food and this reason that we cannot sit idly by.

Nutrition, by 2050 we will be facing Simply ignoring humanitarianism an agricultural crisis due to a lack will keep the world as it is now, in of farmable land and spiraling oil a constant state of suffering. We prices. Food prices will shoot up. must be vehemently opposed to The world will experience massaving lives and ardently against sive global famine. For instance, the ballooning of our population. the African country Malawi Living a life conducive to othis unable to feed its current ers dying seems like a morally population of 13 million. backwards, selfish, comBy 2050 its populapassionless and even tion is expected to evil endeavor. Conreach 32 million. sidering the amount By 2050 an esof suffering that timated 7.7 bilwill be present lion people will in 2050 accordsuffer from ining to current adequate saniprojections, is it tation, hunger any less backand extreme wards and evil poverty. Fosto continue sil fuels will promoting be limited population and imgrowth? possibly If we can expentrain oursive. Crime selves to Art by Niklas Thompson/Staff and conflict will arise look a mere 42 years into as resources become increasingly coveted. the future before we “save” lives, the entirety We’ve already seen such occurrences in of the human race and the individual lives of Darfur, where drought and desertification countless humans in the future can be actucombined with high population growth has ally saved from suffering. Now is the time come to intensify the genocide there. Apart when we can choose to end our humanitarfrom human affairs, increased human popu- ian ways. We cannot continue to sacrifice lation stands to irreparably damage animal our environment, our civil liberties, our qualand plant life by 2050. By 2050 Popula- ity of life, our ability to sustain ourselves tion growth will exceed economic growth just so more people can enter our world. worldwide. Our society as we know it will If we continue without change the human begin to sacrifice everything that is good sim- race in the 22nd century will number 12 bilply to allow more people to be a part of it. lion, with the large majority miserable and The year 2050 is not that far away. Our suffering because of famine and limited rekids and grandkids will live long past 2050; sources. If we can accept some losses now and most all current LM students will likely live change our unrealistic view of human life, the beyond 2050. It is apparent that our popula- 22nd century may see a human race 2 billion tion needs to stop growing or shrink. One strong, in harmony with the planet and thrivoption is birth control. Realistically though, ing in every sense. Unless literally billions of this approach cannot work. Human beings people die in the next 100 years, everything are never going to stop breeding. The will to that is beautiful and good stands to be lost to breed is one that is deeply engrained in every our race. Stop saving lives. Too many people strand of human nature by millions of years of dying won’t lead to the end of the world. evolution. Because of this, no rational person Too many people living undoubtedly will.

8

February 14, 2008

FEATURES

The Merionite

Insights on Iraq: An LM soldier comes home

Emma Saltzberg

Class of 2009

Jason Gee, LM graduate of the LM class of 2001 and U.S. Army Private First Class, recently returned on an 18-day “rest and relaxation leave” for a short break between months-long deployments in Iraq. Gee attended Penn Valley, Welsh Valley, and LM before graduating from Valley Forge Military College in May 2005, enlisting in the U.S. Army four months later.

Even though he has only a short amount of time at home, he found a few minutes to talk to The Merionite about his experiences. Here’s some of what he had to say.

On his decision to enlist in the Army: “Being at Valley Forge put me in a different [mind]set; I wasn’t scared of it because people had been there already. I mean, they had bad stories... well, they told me [that] the everyday life, it wasn’t too bad. There’s always those one or two chances where, just, things get hairy... I knew I would [get sent to Iraq]... I didn’t want to get deployed right away, and I also chose a job where I knew I’d be a little safer, behind the lines, and also get good training. I was still a little worried about being deployed, but

I was... not terrified.”

On his job in the Army: “I’m in the U.S. Army 2nd Striker Cavalry Regiment... I’m an M troop, Maverick troop is the full name. It’s their military intelligence troop. They do all the military intelligence assets and they provide intelligence and stuff for the unit, and they assist other units and stuff. ” On daily life in Iraq “Basically, we work 12-hour shifts. We work from zero-eight to 20 hundred, which is like eight A.M. to eight P.M. and another shift works from eight P.M. to eight A.M. ... I’ve done both of those.

Uh, basically we try to get as much sleep as we can, but I mean, we unwind too, after work. ...

“We... use slang terms like ‘you’re going back to the CHUs’, which is where we live. That’s what it’s called—it’s called a ‘Containerized Housing Unit’. That’s what CHU stands for. ... It’s like a normal-sized trailer like someone would live in. Basically it’s divided in half, and three people live in one half and three people live in the other.

“We live near Camp Liberty, near Baghdad, so the commute’s OK. I mean, it’s all walking and

stuff, but right now it’s the rainy season kind of—it’s been raining on and off, so it’s really muddy. ... The ground seems like it’s waterproof, because all the water sits on top. It gets really messy... the mud is really super-thin, so it just sticks to everything and piles up on your boots, so... it’s kinda nasty.

It’s great when it’s dry, because it’s like cement.”

On his plans for the future:

“My contract ends in late fall 2010. So right now I’m on ‘R and R’, which is rest and relaxation leave. I get 18 days because my unit’s [been] deployed for 15 months. I been deployed for six [months] in Iraq, and ... after this I’ll be back there for eight months or something—maybe longer, maybe not. I don’t know. They say we should be out of there by November, but we don’t know. Each

unit has [a] different timetable.

“Right now, my plan [for after 2010] ... is to go back to school. I want to get my ... bachelor’s [degree] either in Continuing Criminal Justice or... Electrical Engineering, which is similar to the job I have [in the Army], so they give us training similar to that. ... I may go officer, like ROTC, but ... it’s like two years away, so I got some time.”

His perspective on the war after coming home compared to what we see here: “It seems a little different...

Of course they [the media] dwell on the extreme good and bad, because they’re not going to deal with the average stuff because that’s not news. I mean, most of what they say seems—sometimes it’s extreme, but, I mean, that’s because the reporters see it differently... they’re not used to it over there, I think. I mean, we’re doing a lot of good over there, as far as I know.”

On care packages and receiving donations from people in the U.S.: “It doesn’t go unnoticed... It’s appreciated.”

Gee will return to Camp Liberty by the end of the month.

of IB is that there is an overarching focus on global analysis versus the objective nature of the AP courses. Rarely will you ever see a multiple choice question in History of the Americas, but rather asked to answer an essay about the origin and purpose of a certain political cartoon and what it implies for historians studying that era.

Assessments are both internal (essays) and external. The internal assessments are pieces of work done during the two years at school, while the external assessments are the numerous hours of testing which take part at the end of each course (mostly in May of senior year). Often in passing we hear our teachers referring to the places our midterm grades will be sent off to: whether they mention Ghana or Sweden, we know IB is all over the world.

Other major components of

IB are CAS, a requirement of one hundred fifty Creativity, Action, and Service hours. This is done in the hopes of making every IB student more connected to his or her community as a whole.

Lastly, there is the Extended Essay—usually amounting to about 4,000 words—on a specific subject area. I have decided to take an in depth look at varied roles of protagonists in Kurt Vonnegut’s novels; however, each Extended Essay must answer a question and reflect your personal research, not just the research of others.

Now to start dispelling a few of those myths. How much work do IB students really get? Well, in all honesty, there is no quota of work that our teachers stick to, nothing saying that work permitting more than 5 hours of sleep is not acceptable (though at times it seems so). However,

the pattern often emerges in IB that work comes in waves. One week I may only have one paper due, plus a few tests and some history notes, but it could be the calm before the storm. The next week I may experience rapid firing of daily tests and every possible project due on a single date.

Therefore, to succeed in IB, many have adapted their schedules to include time management. For the most part, myself included, students procrastinate developing this particular skill. Generally, it is not impossible to get to bed at a responsible time; however there will always be those days where it seems you have more hours of homework than hours in a day.

This year has proven to be the largest group of IB students at Harriton ever: 41 in total.

Yet essentially, it is two groups of 20 students spending almost every class together, developing a cohesive bond. Furthermore, I have seen an increase in studentteacher communication as we are always surrounded by the same group of teachers.

When asked about this aspect of IB junior Tad Komacek responded, “Many kids within IB do flock together.”

I believe it was Ms. Swercewski, an IB math teacher, who described the students’ relationships best in IB. “It’s like dating; you have to learn how to communicate and how to treat one another. After two years, you’re either engaged or ready to divorce.”

This leads to the ominous question: is IB a cult? Well, a little yes, mostly no. Although

matching tee-shirts have recently arrived, it is not a cult in strictly Kool-Aid drinking, ritualistic terms.

Additionally, is IB a quest for knowledge or just a transcript booster? Though people this year started the IB program for different reasons, from finding a greater academic challenge, to finally ridding themselves of those pesky multiple-choice tests, I have found that IB has not been at all what I had expected. Janette Qian, an IB junior, says that her reason for joining IB was to exit “the bubble,” adding that her “views and opinions are fixed on what [she has] grown up with and [is] familiar with.”

Undoubtedly, IB has broadened my horizons—not only to differing ways to approach any problem, but also to the implications of each problem for various global actors. Additionally, it was not until I started IB that I realized the value of hard work. Though I’ve always worked hard, I was truly never satisfied with my “A.” This all changed in IB, when those A’s became few and far between, even for the most dedicated student.

We all began to realize that Bs or even Cs are not degrading letters, but just help to differentiate our strengths and weaknesses.

So to all those in fear of becoming cult members to the IB program, fear not! If anything, I have become a more appreciative learner (and less frequent sleeper).

And, ironically, this article has amounted to approximately two of my one hundred fifty required CAS (Creativity, Action, Service) hours.

Photo by Dot Goldberger/Staff

LM alumnus and U.S. Army Private First Class Jason Gee is home for a few weeks between deployments in Iraq.

IB: intense brain-building

Rachel Eisenstadt

Harriton HS Class of 2009

What is so special about IB anyway? Beneath the controversy that surrounds this intensive academic program lies a genuine quest for learning. Having just finished my first semester as an IB junior at Harriton, I feel ready to divulge the secrets of IB, and hopefully dispel a few myths.

The mission statement of the IB reads, “The International Baccalaureate aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.” But how does this translate to high school classes? The six core courses of IB are taken at either SL (1 year) or HL (2 year) levels.

They are English, Mathematics, Science, History, Language, and Electives. The general sentiment

February 14, 2008

FEATURES

The Merionite

Cocoa-crazy

Isaac Lindy

ing beverage.

Junior Pam Kubiak says “I love to make homemade hot chocolate,” demonstrating another positive aspect of this dynamite drink: the creation. Simply stirring Swiss Miss packets with hot water can be exhilarating, while combining Ghiradelli’s mix with milk strays to the adventurous side. The more gourmet-inclined can make hot chocolate from scratch, eschewing prepackaged powders for pure cocoa and milk. For extra fun and flavor, adding marshmallows and even a dollop of whipped cream or infusing your hot chocolate with peppermint all are viable, delicious options.

Hot chocolate is clearly the supreme winter drink. As junior Jean Brown says, “It’s hot and it’s chocolate—what better combination could God make?” For, after all, hot chocolate incorporates all aspects of a winning concoction, combining comforting heat with rich, delicious chocolate. It offers endless creative possibilities, having the perfect taste t o mix well with virtually anything.

Hot chocolate simply is the best solution to curing those winter blues, filling the body with soothing sensations that wipe away winter depression. Hot chocolate is the perfect complement to any day, but especially a day filled with freezing temperatures, cloudy skies, and maybe a bit of unexpected snow.

Class of 2010

“The weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful,” sings Frank Sinatra and other classic crooners. Well, besides the fire, most people need something else to get them through the frigid, overcast months of winter; a holiday, a vacation, an activity, or sometimes just a beverage can do the trick. That beverage is universally known as hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate—or hot cocoa, whichever you prefer—dominates the winter drink category because, for one, hot chocolate is warm.

A platitude, yes, but high temperatures are crucial in making any winter beverage worthwhile.

The warm temperature of hot chocolate battles the effects of the bitter outside climate, unlike the cold quality of, say, eggnog. The heat of the drink also contributes to its renowned cozy nature—the reason why it is so often associated with secluded log cabins and picturesque ski lodges. Furthermore, its temperature allows hot chocolate to literally warm your body, while metaphorically warming your soul.

“Hot chocolate really hits the spot on a frigid winter day,” says sophomore Lauren Lewis.

“It’s nice after a day of shoveling the driveway, then coming in for a cup of hot chocolate,” agrees freshman Zach Ostrum.

Hot cocoa not only has a tantalizing temperature; it also contains chocolate. Quite obvious, absolutely, but it gives hot cocoa an edge over drinks like warm apple cider that would otherwise compete in the temperature category.

Chocolate lends hot cocoa valuable qualities and ingredients, including serotonin and sugar, two things known to improve moods.

Chocolate also possesses countless health benefits, being high in antioxidants and having the power to reduce high blood pressure. So, if you drink hot chocolate, you will be a healthier, happier person. “[Drinking] hot chocolate is one of my favorite ways to enjoy chocolate,” says senior Kellie Liston, probably because she feels so happy and healthy while drinking this amaz-

Tantalizing tea

Hana Rouse

E n g l i s h , E a r l G r e y, D a r j e e l i n g , chamomile, peppermint, peach, jasmine, chai, orange herbal, blueberry green—whatever your taste buds crave can be satisfied in one steaming mug of hot tea. Unlike other winter beverages like hot chocolate or cider, tea is not limited to only one style and flavor.

Tea is traditionally clas- sified into four types, green, black, white, and oolong, and each type boasts many variations, each with distinct tastes. If you search hard enough, you are sure to find at least one type o f t e a that appeals to you.

Te a i s t h e second m o s t popular bevera g e in the world, behind water.

W h i l e tea does not garner the same level of reverence in America as in other nations like Britain and Ireland (the top two tea consumers in the world) it is quickly gaining respect among popular culture. Studies have shown that incorporating tea into

Ring in the “Year of the Rat” Jenny Ma

2.

Clean your room. I know, I know—who wants to do that? But not only will you make your parents happy, you will also be sweeping away bad luck from the past year and making room for the good.

Class of 2010

3.

Add some flower blossoms to your house. Flowers and other blooming plants symbolize rebirth and prosperity.

Decorate your house.

Many Chinese homes are decorated with paper cutouts and other festive decorations in colors of red and gold. Have fun with this! You can find instructions all over the Internet on how to make a simple Chinese lantern. Don’t be afraid to add some personal twists like glitter.

4.

Order a New Year’s dinner from a traditional Chinese restaurant. Find one of the more old-fashioned restaurants in Chinatown and ask them for all the traditional New Year’s dishes. If you aren’t a fan of Chinese food, creating your own luck-bringing dishes will also bring a new year of wealth and prosperity.

Remember, dishes with fish or lettuce represent luck.

Pho

1.

y go urtes to co

ogle.c

om

Do you want a year full of luck and fortune? Even if you don’t know a word of Chinese, you can still get up and get festive. The Chinese New Year began on February 7 and will continue until the 19— t h e r e ’s s t i l l plenty of time to get into the holiday spirit!

Class of 2010

5.

Spread the joy. Give your friends and family members small presents to wish them good luck in the coming year. Wrap it in red and gold wrapping paper, or maybe slip some money into a traditional red packet. But don’t forget: money in odd numbers is bad luck.

6.

Set off some firecrackers (the legal kind, of course!)

Fireworks scare away the evil spirits. And your evil neighbors.

Bear in mind, traditions vary throughout the regions of China, as well as around the globe. You don’t have to go crazy trying to be culturally “accurate.” The main thing about the Chinese New Year is to have fun with your family and friends, and, of course, eat!

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daily life helps to reduce such stress and create a sense of tranquility.

In one experiment c o n ducted by Univers i t y College, London, subjects were exposed to a significant amount of stress, and then allowed to recover while drinking a s p e ci f ie d b ev e rage. After 50 minutes the group drinking tea showed a 47% drop in cortisol (a stress hormone) levels, as opposed to only a 27% drop in those drinking a placebo.

The average cup of tea contains 45 mg less caffeine than a cup of coffee, so while you are still able to get your daily fix, you won’t be overloading your system with too much caffeine. It’s also filled with antioxidants that help to strengthen the immune system, and have been known to reduce the risk of cancer and lower cholesterol. A high fluoride content also strengthens teeth.

Tea has beep proven to reduce the risk of heart disease and help your body fight off the flu virus. As an added bonus, tea is naturally calorie-free (since it’s really just water) and has been proved to help boost metabolism and promote weight loss.

Quite possibly the best feature of tea is its versatility: once the bitter nights of winter come to a close, you can convert your favorite cold-weather teas into iced form and bring them with you into the warm summer months.

So opt for a warm cup of tea instead of sickeningly sweet hot chocolate or addictive coffee. Not only will you feel healthier, but you will also have found a tasty, stress-relieving beverage. Happy drinking!

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February 14, 2008

FEATURES

The Merionite

Valentine’s Day:

Lovely, cute, or just plain revolting?

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that special Valentine’s Day has already happened. An anonymous senior says, “My ideal Valentine’s Day was last year when there was a snow day. I had some friends and my boyfriend over, and we spent the entire day playing in the snow.

Then he gave me a gorgeous bracelet. It was awesome.”

Be bold on this Valentine’s Day. Unless you are one of the people who celebrate Valentine’s day by wearing black and mourning for the stupidity of high school love, don’t sit on your couch alone watching The Notebook and devouring chocolates that you bought for yourself.

Stop fantasizing about your perfect Valentine’s Day and take some action!

Surprise your crush with a red rose, box of chocolates, handmade card, romantic candlelit dinner, or cute stuffed animal that sings “I love you” over and over again (note: make sure it comes with an “off” button because singing objects do get annoying). You may not be Elizabeth Bennett or Fitzwilliam Darcy, but who knows: maybe your thoughtful little gesture could make someone’s day—or kindle the romance of a lifetime.

Speaking of Scrabble—this board game is officially in at LM. Whether it be the traditional, Yahoo, or even Facebook version, Scrabble has become a pastime—some may go as far to say an addiction—among students. Junior Chris Rowe, who’s always played a lot of classic Scrabble with his b r o t h e r, is now hooked o n Scrab u lous, the

course, there is still an unmistakable note of pride and adoration in his voice when he recalls his best word on Scrabulous: “persona” for 79 points.

Yet of course, there do exist board game haters within our community. Junior Jordan Obrant is among the enemy. “They’re boring, pointless and an absolute joke,” laments Obrant. “I get really frustrated especially when I’m losing Connect Four.”

Senior Caprice Williams feels similarly: “You just sit there and move pieces on a board—it’s boring and a waste of time when you could be doing something like shopping.”

It seems that those who stand firmly opposed to good old board game fun are those who have the most difficulty winning. No matter— even they will soon be swept away by the trend, which is getting hotter and hotter among friends by the minute.

“All guys looking for a sarcastic witty line, if you’re with a girl, Monopoly’s the best,” says senior Bobby “B-Unit” Martin.

“You could just say I’m buying a house for me and my special someone and if the girl knows who you’re referring to she’ll laugh,” says Martin. According to Martin, a disadvantage to Scrabble is its lack of availability as a flirting tool, as you’re limited to the letters you have.

However, flirting or not, LM students have still managed to keep themselves thoroughly satisfied and enjoyed by taking part in board games. What exactly makes them so invigorating, you may wonder?

“I don’t know. They’re just so indescribably great,” muses Rowe. Now that we can be open and tolerant of our board game love, perhaps I can find a peer or two to challenge unabashedly to a round of Clue.

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Greeting Card Association estimates that women purchase 85% of all Valentine’s Day cards.

Senior Benny Kaufman says, “My dream Valentine’s Day is to spend a day at the zoo with Jacob Plotnick.”

Nice as that might be, he’s just kidding. “[It’s] waking up expecting nothing, and then during the course of events find out that someone likes me,” continues Kaufman.

The epitome of the perfect Austen-style Valentine’s Day is, senior Matt Gabalawi says, “To cross paths with a girl who regales me with compassion, charisma, and class.”

Yet not everyone is optimistic about the prospect of experiencing love or the perfect V-Day. Many people accuse St. Valentine’s Day as a Hallmark holiday that celebrates capitalism rather than love.

Junior Beverly Johnson says, “My ideal Valentine’s Day would be no one celebrating love because high school love is overrated. Everyone would wear black, a tradition I follow very strictly, to honor all those who have never or will never find true love. It’s a pity we have such a stupid holiday because all it does is make most people, myself included, unhappy about their current relationship status and feel very unlucky.”

But don’t lose hope just yet: for some,

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Kyra Sutton

we have all been exposed to Hans Christian Andersen’s works and their Disney adaptations since childhood. Even though we’re old enough to know t we will never live the life of Snow White or Ariel, we still hope to meet our own Prince Charming and live happily ever after.

Junior Christian Carpenter says, “My ideal Valentine’s Day includes a very attractive Irish or Italian man declaring his love for me, watching the movie 300 and eating mint chocolate chip ice cream with rainbow sprinkles while the Spartans are beasting the Persians.”

An equally passionate Valentine’s Day is epitomized by sophomore Allie Cade’s wish. “ We l l , Valentine’s Day is also my birthday,” says Cade, “So my ideal ‘valbirth-entine day’ would be the gorgeous, cello-playing love of my life proposing. Then he would play me the Franck piano-violin sonata (transposed for the cello), some Bach cello suites, and the Elgar concerto. And I would sit there and be very happy.”

Men have romantic sides too—the U.S. o Ph

Class of 2009 Not everyone lives to experience love the Jane Austen way. But, once a year, many people hope for that special romantic moment to actually come true—Valentine’s Day! The holiday commemorates Saint Valentine, a Christian martyr. It first became associated with romantic love in the Middle Ages. Since then, the exchange of flowers, chocolate, cards, and candy has become a common holiday tradition. The holiday has become a symbol of romance for all ages, from elementary school students exchanging store-bought valentines with their crushes to adults proposing to “The One” at a fancy Valentine’s Day dinner.

Students here at LM have Valentine’s Day wishes that range from simple wants to the heart’s deepest desires.

Senior Lindsay Fusfeld says, “My ideal Valentine’s Day involves receiving vegan chocolate.”

Junior Kevin Wu says, “I guess just playing tennis or spending time with someone I like would make a good Valentine’s Day.” Some want to put a new touch on the stereotypical romantic, fancy dinner-and-amovie Valentine’s Day. “Dinner at McDonald’s followed by a Bollywood movie would be nice,” says senior Monica Puri.

Nevertheless, yearns for picture perfect, fairytale-esque Valentine’s Days are not so uncommon among LM students. After all,

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Yunica Jiang

Board game bonanza

Class of 2009

I thoroughly enjoy the Saturday nights I spend babysitting—sometimes even more so than my nights out with friends. No, not because I’m a kid person or because the kitchen is stocked with great snacks. The fun I have babysitting can be attributed to one simple thing: board games.

The Clue skills that I once honed regularly as a youngster (back in the day when it was socially acceptable to stay home and sit around a board with your parents) are now unleashed once a month on poor eight- and five-year-olds, whose Clue-playing experience is not quite as extensive as my own.

The kids struggle to make their deductions as I execute my perfected strategy: asking about Mrs. Scarlett when her card is in my hand, noting my opponents’ every move on my small scrap of paper. Trampling these kids in the classic mystery board game always leaves me happy and smugly satisfied, though I can’t help but remind myself that a true feat must be won against someone my own age. But who to play with?

I’ve always kept my little Clue fixation somewhat secret from my friends—admitting to such an affinity is the equivalent of admitting utter lameness. Focusing your night around a piece of cardboard and a few plastic pieces is simply not acceptable at our age... or is it? It turns out that LM is full of many more board game fiends than one would ever realize.

Junior Alekos Syropoulos speaks fondly of Stratego, a two-person, battle-themed board game. Each player has 40 numbered pieces which represent officer rankings— but your opponent cannot see the numbers on your pieces. According to Syropoulos, there’s a lot of strategy involved in the set

up of the pieces and in remembering which pieces are capable of defeating the others.

As much as Alekos loves the game, he only really plays when he’s visiting his cousins in the summer.

“It’s good for family gatherings, or when you’re bored, but I don’t play it with friends in my spare time or anything,” says Syropoulos.

But others do enjoy board games in their s p a r e time, and even when they’re out with friends.

Senior Max Marine enjoys taking part in a fast-paced game of Risk on a Friday night with his buds. Risk is a game of global domination: players have the opportunity to attack adjacent countries with their soldiers, horses and cannons, and through competing dice rolls, each country is either defended or surrendered by the participants. The game’s objective: to conquer the world.

“I like it because it incorporates strategy, careful planning, treaties, and even backstabbing, and each of these four are fun to play around with,” says Marine, who has also been an avid Scrabble player for the past eight years.

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n e w Facebook application. In addition to giving him the chance to “compete against people [he] doesn’t live with,” this online version is a great tool for procrastinators like Rowe.

However, he speaks wistfully of the good old game, which actually uses a board.

“I kind of like the traditional way better because there’s more skill required than in Scrabulous because a lot of Scrabulous is just like... whoever has the best tiles, since there’s no time limit, and you can look up words to see if they exist,” says Rowe. Of

11

February 14, 2008

The Merionite Photos by Dot Goldberger/Staff

SENIOR COUPLES

Senior Lovin’ Love is in the air this Valentine’s Day. Here’s an adorable aray of some LM seniors and their sweethearts.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love, The Merionite

12

13

Will you be my Valentine?

To: Everyone Can you decode this? (4,2), (4,2), (8,3), (8, 1), (7,4), (2,1), (2,1), (2,1), (4,3), (3,1), (8,3), (7,1), (5,3), (6,2), (2,1), (3,2), (7,1), (3,2), (3,2), (9,3), (2,1), (9,3), (6,2), 1, !

From: That kid whose name you don’t know but should To: That kid whose name I don’t know but should Can you give me a hint?

From: You probably know who I am To: Yes, I know who you are 1. Put the characters in the right order before you convert them to meaningful characters.

2. Telephone 3. Count the number of characters and arrange them accordingly.

From: Don’t be embarrassed that you don’t know my name.

To: JC Chou You are my oriental love muffin From Anonymous To: Emily Happy Valentine’s Day! From,: Dan, Ned, and Jordan Catalano Dear Cutiepie, Even though we don’t think this day is that important I want you to know how much I love you and how happy I am to be with you. Happy Valentine’s Day! Millions of kishes, Lucas

To: Anna You are my shining Star From, Your secret lovers To: Mr. Segal You’re my favorite too!

From, –

To: Magistra Alexander You have the edge! Thanks for helping us go pharr.

From, Latin IV H To: Sylvia I can hear the bells!

From, Bianca

To: Dolphin Marriage?

From, The Merionite To: Mrs. Hobbs Isn’t this provocative?

From, Anonymous To: LM student body Happy Valentine’s Day! From, The Merionite

To: Chewbacca You make ME want to mwurrrgghrrrgh.

P.S. Anikan ain’t got nothing on you.

Love, Yoda To: Carolyn This message is way too small to fit something into, but...

Love, Dan P.S. Padiddle!

To: Paula Barg From car accidents to seizuresPsquared remains <3 From, Peter To: Merionite Why you so awesome!

From: The student body

To: Mr. Cahill You’re clutch. Rock on. Happy Valentine’s Day. From: Flo, Dubois, and TR To: Jason Benrbi We love and hate like a tattooed fist From: Skye

To: Ellie Peltz I love you Ellie Love, Ben Wachs To: Dot Roses are red, Violets are blue, You asked me to buy one, So I bought one for you From: Jeff

To: my beard Thanks for keeping me warm on winter nights!

From: Mr. Henneberry

To: Michael Segal <3 I’ll see you naked again if it’s the last thing I do!

From: Annie Dillard

To: B-Walk Happy V-day From: Lil Wayne

To: Emily King I hate you Emily.

From: Yuxin Lui

To: Michael Buchwald I love you Mike Buchwald. I want you!

From: Mark Krantz

To: Kyle Spencer Peters Basically we want on.

From: Caitlin and Jess

To: Martina Luh Ya! From: Celeste and Alexis

To: Ihop Making a reservation for Valentine’s Day since we don’t have dates.

From: Catlyn and Tickler

To: Jake Stop dancing with Lex in Spanish. Love you!

From: Cara

To: James Irving IIIII LIKE YOU! From: Wes Gunter

To: LMHS To all the kids who have the pride to keep our school clean!

From: Mr. Seaman To: Bina Peltz To my precious bind, You had me at hello, I’m through with Ellie And on to you.

Love, Ben Wachs

To: Cahill Love yaz! Xoxo mwah!

From: TJ To: Yuxin You are Chinese. I love you.

P.S. I hate you. – Emily From, Caitlin To: Gabe Walker I’m going to get you. Soon.

From: Pedro S.

To: Yoda My dearest Yoda, the force is strong between us.

Love, Chewbacca

To: Kelly Thank you, street poet. You were lost but now you are found.

From: M.

To: Carolina I love you!

From: Sarah Lowe To: I like your skirt!

From: Anonymous

To: Jenny Smolen Happy Valentine’s Day! From, Emily

To: Joe Stay determined From, Weight Watchers

To: Kasie PutLOVE The best theatre fresh man I know P.S. You prob. Hate me right now.

Fro: Cladia T.

To: Casey Be my princess =) From: Shourjo

To: Pumpkin Thanks for the compliment.

Next time I’ll rob the cradle.

From: Muffin

To: Goddess Group What gives you pleasure?

From: Enya

My Dearest Hannah DeCleene, My love for you has reached terminal velocity. At this rate we will last indefinitely. I know you and I can go the distance. If I could graph our love it would be exponentional. You stand at the center of my world, and your centripetal force forever pulls me toward you. You are my Fnet= ma.

Forever Yours, The love “machine” P.S. Inertia is doing great!

To: Everyone!

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love carefully. Use protection.

From, The Student Global AIDS Campaign

To: Junior Boy How lovely it is to see you after set two. Happy Valentine’s.

From: Blue Eyed Senior Girl To: Sophie Mellman Soph, from afar I’d admired your blonde hair and green eyes. You light up my French class and my life. Bonjour, my love.

From: Anonymous

To: The twins Happy V-day don’t miss me too much next year From: Da Boss To: Eric Arganbright Love you!

From: Lilith Barlow To: Tori You make my heart sing From: Bobby B

To: My Flight Simulation Games The fire in my pants burns for you Love, Lucas V-H Dearest Ari, I loooove you. I’m breaking up with Tyler. He sucks. You DON’T. Call me;) NOW! Love, Jean To: Tyler Steinbrenner Wear me!

Love, Men’s clothing To: Casey You light up my life and I can’t wait to spend the rest of our lives together. 10/14/07 <3 From: Aaron To: David Your smile lights up my world From: SJ

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February 14, 2008

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Stylin’ Out—the Yofray profile from Yofray, page 1 Maddie Bailis: So first off, is Yofray your real name? How did you get it?

Yofray Ray: Some call me Skittles, some call me Yofray, but my real name is Jeffrie Ray. [Yofray] was around for a while and I didn’t like it, but it kinda stuck, so I gave in.

MB: When did you start modeling?

Are you signed with an agency?

YR: I started modeling this summer with this urban store Anewyorkthing in New York. They just asked me to do it, and then I just continued from there. I am actually not signed yet—I’m working on that right now—but I’m meeting with Ford Modeling Agency very soon. I don’t know if I’ll get it, but I’ll at least try.

MB: How did you get the American Apparel gig? What else have you modeled for?

YR: Its funny how I linked up with AA. Well, in the summer I was just chilling on a bench with some friends outside of the store in the Lower East Side and the owner Dov Charney just started talking to me. He complimented my pink pants and asked me if I wanted to model for him. It was supposed to happen, like, five months ago, but we never got around to it. Finally, about a month ago I did the shoot. Technically I haven’t modeled for any other companies, but I’m about to

With Maddie Bailis

work with Kid Robot.

MB: Speaking of pink pants, how many pairs of colorful pants do you own?

YR: Oh man, I have just about every color you could think of, but my favorites are my pink, turquoise, red, orange, 80’s acid washed blue and yellow MB: Describe your personal style.

What/Who inspires you?

YR: Well it’s a mix between three people actually. I dressed crazy in middle school, then stopped, then after this summer I started it up again. Basically, I take a little bit of my godfather Ari (he made the Newport shoes), and a little bit from the Twins, these kids I know from Staten Island. They’re like my brothers. Anyway, those three created the belts I wear.

MB: Can you elaborate on “crazy”?

YR: Like random colors, colored beaters over shirts, bandannas, high socks, and dumb stuff... I think my style has progressed from then.

MB: Where is your favorite place to shop? What makes your style so good?

YR: Uh well, I usually just go to thrift stores around Ardmore, Bryn Mawr and Narberth and some generic Old Navy. I’m pretty cheap—the only thing I’ll spend over 40 dollars for is a hat or shoes.

Star Wars storms Center City Han “Solo” Tran

robots, Maglev trains that float in the air, spaceports, and a moisture farm community.

Get ready to board the Millennium FalFor those less scientifically minded, con and jump to hyperspace, because “Star props, replicas, and costumes from Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination” Wars are also on display. These include is coming to a museum near you!

Luke Skywalker’s sandspeeder from EpiThis traveling Star Wars exhibition, sode IV, a Yoda puppet from the Original which explores the sciTrilogy, C-3PO, R2-D2, ence behind George the Chewbacca costume, Lucas’ Sci-fi saga, is lightsabers belonging to being featured at the Luke, Obi-Wan, Darth Franklin Institute from Maul, and Count Dooku, February 9 to May 4. and the Darth Vader The main highlight mask that Hayden Chrisof the exhibition is the tensen wore for Episode actual science behind III. Aside from the acthe Star Wars universe tual movie artifacts, scale and how it is used in models of X-Wings, Ytoday’s technology.

Wings, and TIE Fighters LM History teacher are also present. Cameras Photo Courtesy of fi.edu Mr. Henneberry atare allowed in the exhibiMuseum visitors can ride aboard tended a special tion, so visitors can take the model Millennium Falcon Teachers-only prepictures of themselves view of the exhibit. “I learned a lot about with actual Star Wars props. the cinematography tricks that they used in “The most exciting thing was being face creating Episode IV. There were a lot of in- to face with the actual Millennium Falcon teractive games, and an especially cool one model,” said Heneberry. The museum also where you got to create a 3-D Jawa camp offers the chance to take a four and a half in which you are responsible for keeping minute ride in a replica of Han Solo’s Milthem alive and attracting more Jawas to lennium Falcon. That’s right, museum-gocome and work on collecting droids. It’s ers can ride in the Millennium Falcon’s like Jawa Sims. It was great until a group cockpit. Riders get to explore the depths of of sandpeople declared war on my Jawa space and see planets outside of our solar camp and wiped them all out,” said Hene- system as Anthony Daniels, who played Cberry.

3PO, narrates. Rides cost $5 per person.

Visitors learn about levitation technolTicket prices for the whole exhibition ogy, space travel, robots, and prosthetics. cost $20.50 per adult, $15.50 for children Prototype space ships and actual humanoid ages 4 to 11, and $16.50 for senior citizens. robots are on display. A hands-on educa- However, the evening prices, from 5-8 PM tional experience allows visitors to build on Wednesday to Sunday, cost $10.50.

Class of 2011

MB: What is your favorite item of clothing?

YR: Ahh that’s hard.

I’ll have to say my pink cords cuz’ NOBODY has those.

MB: What goes through your mind when you get dressed in the morning?

How do you decide what you are going to wear?

YR: Well usually I think of what I’m going to wear in the shower or when I’m sleeping. And I have every color pants, so that helps too.

MB: Does fashion run in your family?

YR: No not at all... I mean my mom has some funky stuff too, but she tries to copy me sometimes.

MB: Lastly, is there anything you wish you Photo by Dot Goldberger/Staff saw the Lower Merion student body wear more Freshman Jeffrie “Yofray” Ray keeps LM hallways fresh in between classes or less of?

YR: I think guys should stop wearing True Religion jeans stop wearing those slipper shoes from and popping their collars. Girls should Urban Outfitters and tight pants.

A Valentine’s dinner for two Jordan Cooper

Class of 2010

Valentine’s Day is the day to prove to your significant other how much they mean to you. Treating your special someone to the perfect date should be at the top of the list of Valentine’s Day musts.

Going out of your way to make something special for your significant other is always a solid plan for Valentine’s Day. For those with cooking experience, go all out and don’t be afraid to show off.

If cooking isn’t your thing, don’t push it. Find recipes with familiar ingredients and short, easy directions. A simple dish is better than a burned or mangled one.

Of course, whatever you make will be perfect, especially if you don’t normally cook—it shows that you are willing to go out of your comfort zone for the one you love.

A basic meal is a great place to start.

Prepare a small salad, main course, side dish, and dessert. A simple salad needs nothing more than lettuce and a few chopped vegetables with a vinaigrette dressing. The key is to get fresh ingredients for better taste.

For the main course, pasta is a classic option. You don’t need to get fancy; pasta from a box is fine. Follow the directions on the box carefully, then give your date the option of butter, tomato sauce, or cheese (try grated parmesan).

If you’re up to it, you can attempt a

homemade sauce.

For a side, choose something simple, like a vegetable that you can steam in the microwave. For added flavor, vegetables taste great grilled.

Putting energy into preparation and decoration can make dessert fun. For example, get your date’s favorite flavor of ice cream and decorate with Valentine’s Day themed sprinkles or small candies like M&M’s or chocolate chips.

No matter what you cook, presentation will give an extra flair. Set a table for two with a tablecloth or nice placemats and a cloth napkin. Place the utensils according to etiquette: put the fork on the left, the knife with its blade facing the plate on the right, and a spoon next to the knife. You could even get fancy and put sweet hearts on the plates and some roses in a vase on the table. Presentation makes a big impact, so try and arrange the food on the plate. Little touches like these can make a big difference.

But these are just guidelines; knowing your date is the most important part.

If you and your date aren’t the type of couple who enjoys a corny Valentine’s Day dinner for two, don’t worry about it. Go where the two of you will be comfortable. If there is a specific restaurant that sparks a pleasant memory, that will work too. Above all, have fun and remember that it’s Valentine’s Day: let the starry-eyed romantic in you be in charge for one night.

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February 14, 2008

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Maestro the Lion

Spice up your life!

Hannah Weilbacher

Class of 2010

I’ll tell you what I want, what I really really want! I want the Spice Girls!

That’s right, the Spice Girls are back. They have finally set up a world tour for Winter 200708. The pleather-clad, hairspraydoused, leg-baring girl group that brought Girl Power to the 90’s is making a comeback. Even if you are hesitant to admit it, the bigeyed child of the 1990’s somewhere in you has been dying for this day to arrive.

“I’ve always been a fan... I’m looking forward to having an amazing time and going to the best concert of the year!” said junior Keisha Mulugeta, one of the privileged few who get to attend the concert.

The “Return of the Spice Girls World Tour” kicked off in early December in Vancouver, Canada.

The girls are singing and shaking their way all around the world, from Las Vegas to Sydney to Hong Kong to London. They are sched-

uled to appear in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center on February 19, a day many fans have been counting down to for a long time.

“I’m extra psyched for this show,” said Photo Courtesy of welcomeconsumer.com Mulugeta.

Yes, the Spice Sporty, Posh, Scary, Baby, Ginger: now and then Girls are back, flare? Sing with that same girly but are they better than ever? In attitude? For their sake, as well as the 90’s, this band of sassy Brits ours, we hope so. charmed the whole world with “I think they might look a lot their infectious music, groovy different,” said sophomore Rabeats, and short skirts. The twen- chael Bowen. “But hopefully they ty-odd year old girls were at their will dance and sound the same. prime, but now, almost ten years They definitely will maintain later, they are all pushing their their spunk.” mid-thirties. And yet they conFans are excited to see what tinue to sport revealing outfits new image they produce, and with a tad too much glitter. But how these long years apart have hey, if you got it, flaunt it, right? changed them. With the success of While their bodies don’t betray their new album sold exclusively their age, fans are anxious to see at Victoria’s Secret, who knows if their talent will. how big of a comeback the greatWill they dance with that same est girl group ever can make.

Persepolis: An Iran you’ve never seen Chris Frederick

Class of 2009

In the last mainstream movie featuring Iranians (Persians, really), they existed primarily to be destroyed by obscenely buff Spartan warriors.

Another look at Iranians, more in line with the times, became available to moviegoers this December. Persepolis, directed by Marjane Satrapi, is based closely on her two autobiographical graphic novels, Persepolis and Persepolis 2.

The film follows her childhood and adolescence as a defiant but exuberant free spirit in war-torn Iran and her search for identity as an Iranian living in Vienna. Animated mostly in black and white, it does an excellent job of preserving the humor and playfulness of the graphic novels without toning down the darker parts—the Marjane on the screen is every bit as frightened in Iran and isolated in Vienna as she was on the page. The movie is even a bit goofier than the books, adding slapstick, cartoon-y humor that works great on screen.

Persepolis works because it brings Western audiences a mix of the familiar and the unfamiliar, putting into perspective freedoms we take for

Photo Courtesy of nytimes.com

Marjane Satrapi’s distinctive black and white animation illustrates a scene from her childhood in Iran

granted and challenging assumptions we make about the people of countries like Iran. We can enjoy looking at American pop culture of the 1970s and 1980s through the eyes of people thousands of miles away in a very different country, as when an Iranian student contemptuously declares that “ABBA is for wimps.”

Life in Iran is tough, though, and the audience is not spared unpleasant details. War with Iraq sends Iranian boys to battle with cheap plastic keys that will supposedly allow them to enter heaven as martyrs; women watch their freedom go out the window under a new regime; a missile strike kills Marjane’s neighbors, narrowly missing her own home.

After all her troubles in Iran, Marjane encounters difficulties of another kind in Europe, where she does her best to fit in among people who have never experienced war or repression.

She is accused of stealing, people make fun of her appearance, and a nun even explains with a knowing air that “Iranians have no manners.”

Though the story begins in Iran, not much distinguishes the setting as an Iranian one—Satrapi remarked in an interview that she deliberately made the surroundings generic to give her story universal appeal. The Tehran of Persepolis could be any city, except for the men peddling illegal “Estivie Vonder” and “Jichael Mackson” tapes in the street, or the ubiquitous veil.

Persepolis should probably not be taken as a model of what an average Iranian life would have been like: Satrapi’s family is thoroughly Iranian, but perhaps more influenced by the West than many—Satrapi goes to French-speaking schools, wears (or at least tries to wear) sneakers and jeans,

listens to Iron Maiden, and doesn’t wear her headscarf at home.

Still, it’s important to remember that this is the story of her life, a real story of complex characters in Iran and Europe told by a very real person, and not an objective, cut-and-dried documentary.

Persepolis portrays Iran and most Iranians in a positive light, even if it is not nearly as fond of the Iranian government or conservatives. Conservative Muslims would likely be offended by the film’s depiction of Islam—religion usually hinders the more lovable characters more than it helps them.

The Iranian government, in fact, was less than pleased when the Cannes film festival awarded its grand-jury award for best foreignlanguage film, denouncing the film as “anti-Iranian” and an example of Islamophobia. Satrapi’s portrayal may be somewhat one-sided, but her love for her country and for her fellow Iranians is deep, and it shows.

The graphic novel and the movie were made in France, and while the movie is in French, an English-language dub was on its way, featuring the voices of Gena Rowlands, Sean Penn, and Iggy Pop, among others.

Recently, however, Sony Pictures Classics announced that it does not plan to release a dubbed version—unfortunate, because an English version would have expanded the potential audience enormously, and given all kinds of people a chance to learn something about Iran.

In any language, Persepolis is worth seeing and enjoying for what it is: a light but serious movie about people living their lives in spite of everything.

Of Canvases and Canyons

Emily Sorenson

Class of 2010

The forest orchestra is off on its next adventure! Sam Squirrel worked hard with the rest of the orchestra preparing to tour Russia and the Grand Canyon, and LM’s orchestra worked hard to host the annual “Maestro the Lion” concert series, which started last week.

The concerts are a 17-year tradition, headed by orchestra director Thomas Elliott, that feature his invention of an orchestra mascot named Maestro the Lion. Around 4,000 elementary school kids attend the concerts annually to learn about music.

A series of picture books, The Adventures of Maestro the Lion, accompany the concerts to help rouse children’s interest and aid their understanding. They are written and illustrated by 2004 LM graduates Elizabeth Sher and Courtney Reeder, who both played in the LM orchestra and participated in the concerts. Now Sher is at Brown University, and Reeder is at Cornell University.

They created the first book for their senior project four years ago, and have been continuing them ever since. Although Reeder usually illustrates Sher’s stories, this time Sher wrote a story to accompany Reeder’s paintings.

This year’s story focuses on Sam Squirrel, a new French horn player, who is excited and nervous to be touring with the forest orchestra. When Maestro the Lion falls ill, Sam becomes his pen pal in order to keep him informed of the orchestra’s doings.

His letters center around the two pieces that the forest orchestra, and unsurprisingly, the LM one as well, plays: “Pictures and an Exhibition” by Modest Moussorgsky, and “Grand Canyon Suite” by Ferde Grofé. The book and program are aptly named “Of Canvases and Canyons.”

So why did Elliott start the concerts 17 years ago? He was

partially inspired by musical legend Leonard Bernstein, who hosted a children’s concert series at Carnegie Hall. “I love the interaction of the older students with the younger,” said Elliott.

“When an elementary student sees a high school student as a good role model, often the younger tries to emulate the older.”

The face behind the Maestro mask is always kept a secret, but the person wearing it this year said, “The Maestro concerts are awesome. They get kids who may not be so interested in music to really see what could happen.” Many are thrilled that the concerts are growing, because it encourages kids to become musicians.

Sophomore Laura Sokil remembers attending a concert.

“I was really excited to leave school,” she recalled. And what could be a better reason than to go to a concert? She’s now an enthusiastic flautist, so we may have Maestro the Lion to thank. Let’s hope that this year our concerts will inspire other young musicians, who will then take their turn on the stage.

On February 6 Maestro the Lion entered our auditorium, his true identity remaining secret to all the little viewers. So while they may want to know who’s behind the mask, they’ll have to be content to see only the face of Maestro the Lion, the benevolent orchestra mascot who enriches kids lives with the wonders of music.

Photo Courtesy of Tom Elliott

Maestro the Lion poses with some elementry school students at a recent concert.

16

February 14, 2008

The Merionite

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

A Night at the

OSCARS

The Merionite staff shares their picks for who should take home the trophy.

Best Picture: There Will Be Blood

Best Actor: Daniel Day-Lewis There Will Be Blood

Photo Courtesy of slashfilm.com

There Will Be Blood attracted acclaim from moviegoers and critics alike.

Paul Thomas Anderson’s There Will Be Blood is one of the most masterful pieces of American Cinema produced in recent years. Daniel Day-Lewis’s acting, the awe-inspiring landscapes of the American West, and the beautiful original score, composed by Jonny Greenwood, combine to create a trifecta of reasons why it is this year’s best movie.

Best Director: Joel and Ethan Coen No Country for Old Men

Photo Courtesy of abc.go.com

Photo Courtesy of worstpreviews.com

As Plainview, Day-Lewis delivers an emotionally-charged performance.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays a brooding early 20th century oilman in his latest film, There Will Be Blood. Central to the movie’s dramatic soundtrack and breathtaking visuals is Lewis’s engrossing portrayal of the misanthropic tycoon Daniel Plainview.

We could recommend this movie solely on the basis of Lewis’s stupendous acting.

Best Actress: Ellen Page Juno

Photo Courtesy of fandango.com

Bardem shines in his horrifying portrayal of Chigurh.

Javier Bardem gives a chilling performance as serial killer Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men. The disturbingly detached attitude he gives Chigurh makes for a fantastic performance wholly deserving an Oscar.

Best Supporting Actress: Cate Blanchett I’m Not There

Photo Courtesy of parol.nl

Joel and Ethan Coen on the set of No Country for Old Men.

Ellen Page as Juno on her hamburger phone.

Joel and Ethan Coen have created an instant classic with their interpretation of No Country for Old Men. The Coen Brothers have done a fantastic job in depicting the chase between cop, criminal, and citizen; and truly understand what it takes to make a great film.

We know her chances are slim, but we love Ellen Page just the same. She plays Juno—a teenager dealing with things “way beyond her maturity level”— perfectly, with just the right mix of quirky humor and emotion. Plus, we secretly wish we had the same cleverly dry wit as she does.

Jon Blistein

Best Supporting Actor: Javier Bardem No Country for Old Men

Photo Courtesy of timeout.com

Blanchett’s Jude Quinn looking pensive

Cate Blanchett gives an incredibly realistic portrayal of one of six Bob Dylaninspired characters. Hers, Jude Quinn, effortlessly depicts the flamboyant nature of Bob Dylan at the height of his fame in the 1960s.

“Discovering” infotainment Class of 2008

It’s been a rough year for television. And that means it’s been an incredibly rough year for me. The Writers Guild of America has put a serious damper on my TV watching schedule. I’ve been forced to search for replacements for “House”, “Aliens in America”, NBC’s Thursday night comedy extravaganza, and everything else in between. And while it looks like the strike may now be coming to a close, I’ve been able to fill my weekday nights with what is undoubtedly the Holy Grail of television entertainment: the Discovery Channel.

Now I know what you’re probably thinking right now: Who watches the Discovery Channel? Aren’t the only shows nature programs? The answers to those questions are

of course (a) smart people and (b) no, that’s Animal Planet. In reality, the Discovery Channel is one of the most sophisticated and entertaining TV channels around. It’s a fantastic combination of entertainment, comparable to any other network, and education—it’s infotainment at its essence.

The beauty of what the Discovery Channel has been able to achieve lies in their ability to understand and analyze our culture just as well as the larger television networks. As a society, for the most part, we are drawn to pretty much anything that can offer us quick and easy entertainment, whether that comes from a movie, song, or TV show. We want laughs, conflict, surprises, and explosions; the marketing team at the Discovery Channel obviously knows that. But the question remains: how do you give the masses what they want without forfeiting the educational

value of your programming?

Having found the perfect solution, the Discovery Channel can target the average American viewer and give them exactly what they want. The teasers for their programs show Mike Rowe making some sort of wise crack while walking around in a sewer on “Dirty Jobs”, clips of Bear Grylls jumping off a cliff on “Man Vs. Wild”, and countless explosions on “Mythbusters”. What you don’t see in these teasers, however, is the educational value that exists in each of these shows. “Dirty Jobs” shows us the “uglier” side of the job market that makes living our lives easier. “Man Vs. Wild” takes us to completely different worlds where few of us will probably ever go; and “Mythbusters” doesn’t just show you a car exploding for fun, they’ll tell you why and how as well.

Essentially, the Discovery Channel faces a dilemma. They want to teach you something, but the best way to get you to watch is to make sure you don’t realize you’re learning. For instance, take the preview for the new show “Smash Lab”, a “Mythbusters”esque program where a team of four scientists test products that could make the world a safer place. For the most part, the teaser simply shows trucks exploding, planes crashing into the ground, cars smashing into each other, and more explosions. At one point however, text appears on the screen that reads, “if anyone asks...” then a few seconds later, “say you’re watching for the science”, and then finally “but we know the real reason.” That is the essence of the Discovery Channel; that is why the Discovery Channel is so fantastic; and that is infotainment done right.

17

February 14, 2008

SPORTS

The Merionite

Lex Carlin

Intramural Madness

Class of 2008

Its that time of year again where the dedicated ballers among us crawl out of hibernation and hit the hardwood. No, not the members of the boys and girls varsity squads, but the dedicated athletes of the Intramural Basketball program. The league is currently in its tenth season and is stronger than ever.

Humanities teacher Pete Dawson spearheaded the formation of intramural basketball during his first year here at LM. “I played intramural basketball through high school, college, and law school so when I came here in ‘98 I asked the athletic director at the time whether or not the school offered intramural basketball to the students. In turn I was told that there was ‘open gym’ where students could go during frees and play basketball. But it was very unorganized and it was simply supervised by a campus aid. So it was then that I wanted to bring organized intramural basketball to the students,” said Dawson.

With prior experience in forming an intramural basketball league at law school, Dawson went to work in laying the groundwork for LM’s program.

Intramural basketball was an immediate success and has stayed that way to this day.

Intramural basketball is split into two leagues, the six-team pro-league, and the ten-team rec-league, with up to eight players per team. Six twentyminute games are played in the Ardmore Annex gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays from mid-December to the end of February. Upon the conclusion of the regular season, the teams head into the single elimination playoffs culminating in championship matches in both leagues.

In previous years students were able to come and go throughout the afternoon to watch their favorite teams, but after a number of thefts and other questionable activities, some changes were introduced in order to create a safer environment for the players and fans. The real major change is that now in order to enter the

Ardmore gym, students need to pay a one time ten dollar fee for an intramural basketball t-shirt, which serves as a form of id.

This way only the people who are allowed in are those who are there to support their team. Another non-safety related change was the shortening of the games down to twenty minutes. This allows a total of six games to be played through the course of the afternoon versus four, therefore allowing the teams to play more often.

Dawson’s major motivation behind the creation of an intramural basketball league was to give students of all abilities a chance to play basketball in a fun, competitive atmosphere - and many of the players can’t help but agree.

“I like the fact that players of all sizes and abilities are able to play and have a good time with their friends,” said senior Keith Deuber a member of the recleague’s Monstarz team.

When asked about what intramurals means to him, senior Andrew Switkay of Team Escott responded, “The Team Escott tradition. Every year we’re

under pressure to win the championship, and we want to end on top in our final year.”

Despite its strong ten-year history, the future of intramural basketball is currently quite cloudy. The impending construction looks as if it may put a hold on intramurals indefinitely.

“We’re the low man on the gym space totem pole, so with the upcoming construction limiting gym space even further, our future is truly up in the air.

But I am going to try and work with the athletic department so

that hopefully intramural basketball will be back in one form or another,” said Dawson.

Even though the future of the program is quite unknown, the athletes will continue to play their hearts out and enjoy the healthy competition between peers.

At press time the Decepticons stand at the top of the proleague with a perfect 5-0 reccord, followed by J.A.W.S. and Team Escott at 3-2, the Nugget Blazers at 2-3, and rounded out

by Swiss Cheese and 4 Your Pleasure both at 1-4.

Photos by Jodie Eichel/ Staff

Left: Andrew Switkay guards Scott Benson during their game last thursday.

Right: Devlin McConnell puts up a jump shot during 4 Your Pleasure’s loss to Swiss Cheese

18

The Merionite

Merionite’s Monthly Myth Busting Mrs. Hoopes Myth or Fact: Lower Merion High School has been running blood drives for over 25 years and very successfully.

The November, 2007 bloodmobile was the biggest in the school’s history. We are looking at the February 21, 2008 bloodmobile to top the November one with 153 pints and possibly more.

Anyone who is 17 years old and weighs 110 pounds and has their parents permission slip signed may donate blood.

Fast Facts

• One blood donation saves 3 lives.

• Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood.

• More than 38,000 blood donations are needed every day.

• A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood.

• Cancer patients need blood transfusions.

• Organ transplant patients need blood.

• Donating blood is safe----all sterile supplies are used and used for only one donor.

• The number one reason why people donate blood is because they “Want to help other people!”

• The only way we get blood is through blood donations. We can not produce blood synthetically.

• Approximately 60% of the US populations is eligible to give blood, but only 5% do in a given year.

• There are Lower Merion employees and students who have needed blood transfusions and were saved by blood donations.

February 14, 2008

SPORTS

A brief look at the LM sport stories you may have missed Fulginitti gets lucky number 70

Anthony Fulginitti has accomplished something that few wrestlers at Lower Merion have ever done. Last month he pinned his opponent breaking school records with 70 wins. But that was last month. As of press time, the 189-pound heavy weight, who this season is 17-0 with 10 pins, now has 74 wins under his belt. Only 16 have notched more wins as Lower Merion wrestlers. Coaches and teammates credit his strength, of course, and his great work ethic. He simply never quits. In seven wins alone this year, he has pinned his opponents in under two minutes. There’s no telling how many more wins he’ll get before the season is over.

Boys Indoor Track Wrap Up

The boys indoor track team has had a successful season, six class records have been broken to date. Junior David Bernstein set records in the 60m and 200m sprints, and junior Tim Reagan now holds the Junior class record in the triple jump. Junior Ben Furcht broke the junior class records in the open mile, 3,000m and 1,200m, while Neal Berman is the new record holder in the split mile. Sophomore Chris Baumohl broke the sophomore class record in the Open 800m with a time of 2:10.1. With separate first place finishes in the 3,000m, Berman and Furcht automatically qualified for the Meet of Champs. Tim Reagan provisionally qualified for the Meet of Champs in the triple jump before breaking his leg, while Sam Agoos and Chris Baumohl provisionally qualified as well. When the Aces went up to New York City in January, Furcht and Berman were chosen for the two mile Armory Race. Two hundred-five schools participated throughout the day with nineteen runners selected to race in the two mile. Berman finished in 12th place and Furcht earning a 6th place finish and plaque with a PA State Champs qualifying time of 9:44.34 in the two mile race.

--Elliot Elbaum ‘11

Freshmen Boys Undefeated Again

An undefeated season is rare. But two consecutive undefeated seasons is even rarer. Yet the freshman boys basketball team accomplished this astonishing feat, finishing the season with a pristine 20-0 record. Credit is due to coach John Fadely, who guided his teams with unwavering leadership and determination. From its earliest practices to its latest games, the team consistently set its standards high but still possessed a cautious attitude, taking one game at a time. With Fadely at the helm, one can expect the unexpected, and perhaps next year the team can extend its undefeated streak to three years.

Members of the team include Mike Buchwald, Jason Buckman, Mike Capkin, Luke Chambers, Avi Chatterjee, Colin Eisenstaedt, Darius Hall, Cameron Howard, Colton Jones, Mark Krantz, Michael Lyde, Matt McKenna, Max Molinari and Dan Peterson.

--Compiled by the Sports Staff

19

February 14, 2008

SPORTS

The Merionite

G. swim completes rebuilding campaign, sends sophomore to Districts Class of 2008

Finishing the season with a 2-9 record, the girls varsity swimming team has struggled to compete with only four seniors and a new coach. But with many new faces, they were able to start fresh.

“There are a lot of new people on the team since we graduated a lot of seniors,” said senior Marley Pillion, one of the team’s co-captains. “But we are doing better than usual.”

The other two co-captains, seniors Elizabeth Stellato and Elka Peterson-Horner, still remained optimistic throughout the season.

“The team has improved greatly and we have bonded together,” said Peterson-Horner. “We’ve gained integrity and class.”

“I like the sense of community,” said Stellato.

With Central League meets this Tuesday, February 19, the team will be sending three of their best swimmers to compete.

Junior Meredith Guss, Sophomores Eve Laren and Jennifer Jovinelly, and freshman Sarah Eisenlohr will be attending.

Eisenlohr, the team’s top freshman, will focus her efforts on the 500-meter freestyle, in which her best time is 6:07:75.

“I’ve been swimming for seven years, but never with a team,” said Eisenlohr. “We’re really interdependent, and everyone gets along.”

The team, which is AAA rated, also competed in the Silver Meets last night, although the last game of their regular season was on February 8 against Ridley High School. On March

Photo by Jodie Eichel/ Staff

Meredith Guss doing her practice laps before a meet against Springfield Delco.

1, the team will be sending Jovinelly to Districts.

“The team is awesome, and we have so much fun,” said Jovinelly, who will swim the 100-meter breaststroke. Her best time is 1:13:80.

Other strong swimmers include senior Liz Eckardt, juniors Liz Thompson and Paulina Marcucci, and freshmen Frances and Julie Loeb.

The team’s coach, Annie Rinehart, has four years of experience from her work with the Harriton girls swim team.

Since the LM team has had four different coaches in the last four years, it was a fresh start for both the team and for her.

“We’re working really hard and the team is getting better and stronger each week,” said Rinehart.

As a whole, the team seems to take pride in their noncompetitive attitude. Many members find it to be more about teamwork than about speed.

“The team is really fun and very enjoyable,” said Frances Loeb. “Our team stands out because we let people swim who haven’t swum on the team before.”

“They’re really supportive,” said sophomore Aliza Berger.

“My first event was the 500-meter [20 laps] and they were there for me the whole way through.”

Next year, the fate of the team is in the air, as the swimming pool will be under construction.

According to many swimmers on the team, one possibility is that they may have practices before school at either Episcopal Academy’s swimming pool or at the Main Line YMCA. “There will be a very different environment next year,” said Eckardt.

Photo by Jodie Eichel/ Staff

Greg Smith competing in 100 yard butterfly during the Aces victory.

Fresh faces dominate boys swim Connie Hua

With the loss of twelve graduating seniors, the boys varsity swimming team returned with only half of last year’s team and key open spots on the roster.

Despite the addition of several skilled players, the team is still not up to its former caliber. Yet progress is still being made.

“We got some new guys that turned out pretty well,” said cocaptain, senior Greg Smith.

The season started off strong, and the boys jumped to a 3-0 record. As of print time, their record is 4-6, but the team hopes to at least match last year’s record of 5-8.

Already, the team has begun prepping for Districts. They have qualified for in both the 200-meter Medley Relay and the 200-meter Freestyle Relay.

Hanging out with friends, swimming, water skiing, and playing tennis

Ideal V-Day Gift: Chocolate Quote:

Sports:

The best athletes that LM has to offer

Senior

Junior

Cross Country Varsity Basketball

End of the Season Goal: To win districts Hobbies:

Danny Greenberg

Freshman

Sophomore

Jen Jovinelly

Isabel Shapiro

Faces of the Aces

Sports:

Class of 2010

Varsity Swimming

Sports:

They hope to qualify for the 400-meter Freestyle Relay as well. Several players have also gained individual qualifications for Districts. Sophomore JJ Warshaw will be competing in the 100-meter Breaststroke and junior Drew DeSantola will compete in the 100-meter Butterfly. Greg Smith and Alek Klincewicz hope to qualify in the 100 Freestyle.

The upcoming schedule, as of print time, includes the Central League and the Silver Meet tournaments where different schools from the area compete against each other. Although both captains, seniors Evan Ostrow and Greg Smith, admit that several teams at the meets are very worthy rivals, LM hopes to perform well at both events. Regardless of winning or losing, co-captain and senior Evan Ostrow says, “I just want everyone to look back on the season with no regrets.”

Tobi Ajirotutu

David Faich

Varsity Squash JV Baseball

Sports:

The long shots

Varsity Basketball

End of the Season Goal: Swim a 1:12.0 in the 100yd breastroke and to break a minute for the 100yd freestyle Hobbies: Viola, baking, skiing

End of the Season Goal: Taking the starting running position from Sam Golden on the LM football team.

End of the Season Goal: Win districts and states

Hobbies:

Hobbies:

Ideal V-Day Gift: A plane ticket

Ideal V-Day Gift: Box of chocolates

“When life looks like Easy Street Quote: there is danger at your door” -Grateful Dead

“If at first you don’t succeed, Quote: skydiving is not for you”

“Give me that gold leprechaun!”

Chilling, watching tv

Ideal V-Day Gift: A hug and a kiss Quote:

“It aint over till it’s over”

20

Volume 79, Issue 5

The Merionite

Be Blood Savvy!

Mrs. Hoopes delivers facts on giving blood.

See Blood Drive Facts, page 18

Boys and Girls Swimming

Intramurals

Both girls and boys swimmers going to district meet.

See Swimming, page 19

February 14, 2008

SPORTS

Intramural basketball celebrates it’s tenth anniversary.

See Intramural Basketball, page 17

Basketball playoffs in full gear

Boys basketball back on top after decisive victory

Jericho Sav/Jodie Eichel

Class of 2009/2008

Defend. Share. Believe. This is the motto the boy’s basketball team has lived by since its words were first uttered during the 2004-2005 season.

The Aces of 2007-2008 have continued to believe in this mantra, infusing the team with the optimistic spirit necessary to endure a difficult schedule with matches against some of the top teams in the state.

“This year we are a real family, playing 32 full minutes of basketball. Coach Vernick used that before the Hazelton game and it has really stuck with us” said Carl Johnson.

From the first day of practice the team was extremely ambitious, setting the lofty goal of making a deep run in the State tournament. Although the team h a s s u ff e r e d k e y l o s s e s i n Central League play, they are currently 18-5 and possess an 8th seed going into Districts. In the first round game they faced Academy Park in possibly the last game on the storied Main Gym floor.

The Aces can attribute their success thus far to the collaborative effort of the team. With

six seniors, leadership has given the Aces an edge. Senior Carl Johnson is the team’s defensive stopper and has shut down some of the most explosive players in the Central League along with contributing 13 ppg. Perimeter specialists Steve Meehan and Ben Lucas, as well as bench players Andrew King Galloway Green, and Tobi Ajirotutu, round out the graduating class. Standout Greg Robbins headlines a stellar junior class, leading the team with points per game with 16. In a 51-39 win over Penncrest, Robbins joined the elite 1000 point club, moving up the ranks as one of the better players LM has ever seen. Additional support from juniors Eric Stahler and Harley Williamson and sophomores Oliver Cohen and Alon Seltzer has been instrumental in the boys’ success.

The Aces performed well for most of the regular season, but several surprising losses, unusual for a team picked to go far at States, impeded a chance for capturing the Central League crown and obtaining a favorable first-round bye in Districts.

Determined to make a statement, and start off with a bang

in the Central League, the Aces opened the season 5-0, including a resounding 56-31 win over Upper Darby and a buzzer beater against powerhouse Prep Charter. The undefeated start was shattered when Conestoga came into the Main Gym and left with a 54-49 hard-fought victory. After the heartbreaking loss, the team had a short memory and rebounded with a win over Marple Newton at the Wachovia Center. Central League dominance ensued and at mid-season, the Aces held a 12-2 record. Two tough

losses to Conestoga and Upper Darby followed, tarnishing an impressive Central League record. The Aces wrapped up the regular season with a match up against Radnor and its big three- seniors Dan Robinson, Steve Egee, and Shamar Harris. Unfortunately, a game with league championship implications went the other way and LM lost any chance of another Central League title and first round bye at Districts.

With their first district game against 25th seeded Academy Park, the Aces were confident

going into the first game of the 2008 playoffs getting the eighth seed.

The Main Gym was packed with fans and the Dawg Pound was their usual selves.

After the first quarter the team had a ten point lead and never looked back. The final score was 91-58.

Next up for the Aces in the district playoffs is arch rival Conestoga. The team lost twice to the Pioneers during the regular season and will try not to make it three.

Win or lose, this season will be one to remember.

Photos by Jodie Eichel/ Staff

Left: Point guard Carl Johnson with the ball, setting up a play with Coach Gregg Downer looking on.

Right: Guard Eric Stahler looking for an open man in the Aces blow out district game against Academy Park on Friday, February 8.

Blazing girls basketball zeros in on playoffs

Photo by Jodie Eichel/ Staff

Molly Hanlon setting up for a three pointer during an earlier season game.

Xinran Wang

Class of 2010

A year after surprising many with its young and resilient squad, the girls basketball team is now putting up a fight with favored Conestoga for the league title.

With the conclusion of the regular season, the team is ranked second in the league, and heading into District play with an eighth seed and an eight-game winning streak.

Last year, a team of mostly sophomores and a freshman finished fourth in the Central League with a 17-9 record, losing in the second game of District play to the 25th nationally ranked Upper Dublin team. So, an important goal of the returning team was to compete for the Central League title.

Led by juniors Molly Hanlon, Lil Carney, and Woods, the team now has a 17-6 record overall and a 13-3 league record, just two

games behind the league leading Conestoga. The young LM team has shown much improvement and spirit this season, even dealing Conestoga a surprise upset at their home court, blowing them out 41-29 for their only league loss of the year. Hanlon scored 25 points, and the Aces held Virginia-bound Chelsea Shine to only 9 points.

“That was a big time victory for us that will only help us leading into District play,” said coach Lauren Pellicane.

The other goal the team set coming into the season was to win two games in District play and qualify for the States tournament.

The big upset over Conestoga and the recent winning streak is providing the team with much momentum going into District play, building confidence in this young team.

“Losing our two seniors last year really put the pressure on the juniors to step up and take leadership,” said junior Erin Knox. “Our team is young, but we have come very far from last year and have done a great job this year,” The captains have really

stepped up to lead the team. Hanlon and Carney have been great offensive weapons and Woods has shown great consistency on both ends of the court averaging 8.4 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game. The captains have not only led the team on the court, but also provided much leadership in the locker rooms. The captains and returning players participated in numerous tournaments over the off-season, where they were able to meet incoming players as well as improve team chemistry.

“I think our team chemistry has been a big part of our success this year,” said Woods. “Our team has really come together and has worked hard for our wins.”

The rest of the team has stepped up as well. Knox has developed into a defensive stopper, sophomore Dana Albalancy has played consistently off of the bench, and sophomore transfer Kiki Worku has played excellent ball. Freshman point guard Sheba Hall has also been a big boost to the team’s depth after missing the first two weeks of the season with shin splints.

“[Hall] is one of the best on the ball defenders in the league and has shown tremendous poise for a first year point guard on the varsity level,” commends Pellicane.

The girls’ stamina was tested early in the season after suffering two heartbreaking losses to Norristown and Upper Darby. In both games, the team gave up the lead in the fourth quarter and lost by one point.

“Both losses have taught our team about mental toughness which we have gained more of throughout the season,” said Woods. “The next time we played Upper Darby we came ready to play—and played one of our best games of the season, earning a hard fought win.”

Though the team is currently unstoppable, the players are vigorously preparing for their playoff opponents and just concentrating on one game at a time.

“The only thing we need to work on is never over-looking a team. We need to come prepared for each game and be ready to play our best,” said Knox.