VA Voice 5/7/12

“Some of the News That’s Fit to Print” May 7, 2012

The VA Voice Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, Vermont 05154 “Discere verba et opera Dei”

“Crazy For You” A Great Success On Friday April 27, 2012 Vermont Academy students put on a show that left the community impressed with the theatre program. With a cast of almost 40 people, it had the largest student and faculty participation in a VA theatre production for quite a while. The show was well developed and carefully crafted. The casts put in long hours of hard work, and were rewarded with warm appreciation from all of those who attended. Many said they were “pleasantly surprised” by the production. Others say that they knew it would all come together.

When Students and teachers were asked about the performance they gushed about their favorite parts and actors on stage. “Dave Persha and Tesar were hilarious in the fight scenes”, said Steven Randall. Nate Greene agreed and added that, “Mr. Donnellan was very funny too”. Many said that it was great to see fresh talent on the stage. Ms. Crowder said the show was full of “unexpected talent”. The play was filled with sly humor and John Lesser said that he really enjoyed the humor and that it “didn’t get old” the three times he attended the show.

Not only did people have a lot to say about the actors themselves, but the music, dancing, and the set were highly praised as well. Mr. Marks said that the show was “a great cohesive performance”. Crowder remarked on the impressive dance numbers and the singing as well. “I was really impressed by the set design”, said Allegra Handler. Overall the show got a lot of positive feedback and the actors rejoiced at the knowledge that the end product was a success. Congratulations to the entire cast, Ms. Tadlock, Mr. Cady, and Ms. Kimball for all their hard work.

Thanks to all those who made this musical a possibility and Kudos to the community for showing so much support to their peers! I’m sure we’re all excited for the many shows to come!

Letters to the Editor Have an opinion? Got a gripe? The VA Voice wants to hear from you! Send your letter to the editor at vavoice@vermontacademy.org and look to see it in print soon.

Volume 15, Issue 26

IN THE MARGIN by: Eamon O’Keefe

Chinese Dissident Escapes Chinese blind activist Chen Guangcheng escaped from Chinese prison and sought refuge in the US embassy. This caused a diplomatic crisis, but he was eventually admitted to a Chinese hospital.* Bin Laden Papers Released Marking a year after US Navy Seals killed Osama Bin Laden, the Combatting Terrorism Center at West Point, released 17 documents recovered from the raid of his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. The documents depict Al-Queda as a fragmented organization.

John Edwards Goes to Trial The former democratic presidential candidate John Edwards is currently on trial for six fellony charges involving illegal campaign contributions.

He allegedly used campaign funds to cover up his affair with Reille Hunter.

Newt Gingerich Drops Out Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingerich dropped out of the race on Thursday because of his diminishing chances at winning the race. This comes as a geat relief for Mitt Romney who will now focus his energy on president Obama.

Ask Mehmet Words of wisdom, philosophy, personal issues, insight.

Write him at meroglu@vermontacademy.org.

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The VA Voice

THE LITERARY CORNER

KEN BURNS PRESENTATION by: George Atkins On Thursday, April 26th, our community was honored with an interview and short presentation by renowned documentary filmmaker, Ken Burns.

A short clip from his documentary series, “Prohibition”, was shown to introduce the subject. Prior to the interview, students and faculty prepared questions to ask Mr. Burns, which were presented by Dr. Cohn.

Dr. Cohn not only presented the questions, but she moderated the interview and carried a stimulating discussion with Mr. Burns.

The interview had two types of questions: some about his series “Prohibition” and some about his process for creating his films and how he became a documentarian. Although much of the interview was in regard to the prepared questions, Mr. Burns expanded these questions and talked about many other fascinating topics related to these two.

There are a few interesting key points that Mr. Burns talked about.

His reason for not being able to choose a favorite film was that choosing one would be as hard as choosing your favorite child. He also talked about

May 7, 2012 Editors’ note: We solicit creative writing entries for the Literary Corner. Send your writng to vavoice@vermontacademy.org

The Exploring Professor Hemlock A series of work by Mr. Tesar

editing and the film process in general, and how he always had the final say in a film. Mr. Burns explained how the United States learned that the attempt to prohibit the consumption and possession of alcohol was a major failure Aspiring filmmakers will be interested to note that Mr. Burns has been making films for over 30 years, since he graduated from Hampshire College in 1975, with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Film Studies and Design. He has earned twelve Emmy Awards and two Oscar nominations, and twenty-five honorary degrees in his life. Mr. Burns was clearly a highlight of the Vermont Academy lecture circuit, and provoked interesting discussion in the days that followed.

VERMONT ACADEMY SPAIN SKYPE CALL by: Madison Cota Monday April 30, during morning meeting we had a school wide Skype call with Vermont academy in Spain. We got to see all our friends and ask them questions about their time there.

The questions ranged from what their favorite part was, what they miss about home, what has changed from last year, etc. Everyone in Spain seems to be having a great time, and there appears to be many positive changes that have been made to the program since last year. The one thing that hasn’t changed this year: Mr. Carreno was once again absent from the call.

The office was dimly lit, he liked it this way, just one shaded lamp on the desk. The windows were covered by Indian tapestries and the space smelled of tobacco, aged cellulose pulp, and damp dog. A Hudson Bay blanket was folded on the cot in the corner of the small room. The cot had come in handy many times when the professor stayed late reviewing his students work. The walls were covered by bookshelves full of all things that are kept in book shelves; bones and rocks found during walks, dust, and books. An open trunk occupied the middle of the room, and over time it was becoming full of text that once resided in alphabetical order in the cedar bookshelves. This was the office of the Exploring Professor Hemlock, a title he had given himself, but most agreed that it was well deserved.

Hemlock was a thin man. He stood an even five foot nine inches tall, with out his boots on and wore a monocle and often dawned a top hat. His facial hair resembled that of a musketeer, equipped with a greased mustache and a bit of chin hair. This is how he wore his facial hair while presiding over classes and living in Hanover. While on his excursions he did not have the time to manicure his beard and so he wore the hair on his face as it came in.

He usually wore a suit, but it was rarely clean. The elbows of his coat had been patched many times. He regarded these patches as badges of his gentlemen explorer status. This may have been the professor most coloniaist sentiment.

Hemlock also always enjoyed a three o’clock cup of coffee and cigarette. (cont. on pg. 3)

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The VA Voice

SECRET SERVICE SEX SCANDAL by: Matt Gendron

rassing.” General Martin Dempsey, The Secret Service sex scandal chairman of the Joint Chiefs of keeps growing. Recently, three Staff, said that he is embarrassed more agents have stepped down about what occurred and said that, because of the alleged actions in- “We let the boss down.” volving prostitutes in the city of Cartagena, Columbia. The incident The Secret Service is trying to happened on the weekend of April maintain the “secret” part of their 14. A total of twelve agents are mission. Some of the retired agents now being scrutinized and eleven have been told not to speak to reportof those agents are under investiga- ers. The women who were involved tion. There are at least ten people in in the sex scandal are trying to sell other branches of the military who the story to at least two magazines. are also under investigation. None of the agents have been formally I think that this sex scandal gives the secret service a bad reputation. pressed with charges.

The unfortunate events involved While in Columbia, preparing for only a minority of the members in the Presidents arrival, off duty se- the secret service, but many worry cret service agents were allegedly that people will associate the whole drinking and later got caught with organization with this sort of activprostitutes and strippers. Some the ity. I sincerely hope that this event agents picked up at least two wom- doesn’t cause people to lose sight of en at a strip club and later brought the incredible service that the men the women to their hotel. They got and women of this organization into a noisy argument that caught carry out every day to protect and the attention of hotel workers. Se- defend the president of the United cret Service Director Mark Sullivan States. said that the incident was “Embar-

May 7, 2012 The Exploring Professor Hemlock continued In the spring of 1926 the exploring professor Hemlock left Dartmouth College on sabbatical. For much of his adult life he had been planning an exploratory expedition to the Fra-Lakian Mountains, a mountain range that most regarded as fiction.

The range was said to be located in the underbelly of the Atlantic Ocean in a celestial orb that only could only be entered by those of Fra-lakian blood.

Hemlock hypothesized that Fra-lakia was the paradise described as Eden in the biblical creation story. The place where man and woman became aware of the difference to God, the paradise where a serpent, that had been once so often regarded as a symbol of change and growth, became demonized by tempting Eve to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. When describing the fall of Adam and Eve to his students Hemlock often acknowledged this the attempt of myth to combat indigenous cultures and man’s relationship with the Land.

He would often say, “ You see, the moment the snake, the fruit, and the tree become the catalyst in expelling the ignorant youth from paradise, the symbols become, for those of the monotheistic faiths, dangerous. Making all those peoples who regard and experience these life giving symbols with deep respect and love, evil. Evil is the serepent, evil is the fruit of knowledge, and evil is the tree where the serpent resides. Making evil the man who has remained in such habitats. But we must also note that ingesting the gift of the tree, the mirror to the self, is not all that different from those pious Catholics who one by one, with hands open accept the body of their Christ.”

This was well rehearsed by Hemlock during his many years of teaching, and those first year students who came into (cont. on pg 4)

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The VA Voice

VA STUDENTS CONNECT THE DOTS ON CLIMATE CHANGE

by Christine Armiger

On Saturday April 28, students from Vermont Academy joined Bill McKibbin and members of the community of Bartonsville, Vermont to make connections between extreme weather occurrences and global climate change. The meeting and subsequent photo shoot was part of McKibbin’s latest campaign through his climate action group 350.org. The Bartonsville bridge was deliberately chosen as a kickoff site for 350.org’s “Connect the Dots” campaign because it was destroyed last fall during Hurricane Irene.

According to McKibbin, we are now seeing ever more floods, droughts, and storms of increasing power across the planet. People are dying and communities are being wrecked. The impacts from climate change are unlike anything that has been seen before. But because the globe is so big, it’s hard for people to see that it’s all connected.

Trevor Reynolds, a four-year senior at Vermont Academy said he was impressed by his encounter will Bill. “After learning about all the stuff he’s accomplished, I expected him to be wearing a business suit and lecturing us about parts per million of C02 and what we have to do to stop global warming. Instead, he was dressed just like the rest of us and he spoke in plain and simple language about how we’re already witnessing the impacts of climate change in Vermont and other places all around the world. He reached out to us as young people, which is really important since we’re the one’s who are going to have to solve this problem.”

Trevor and some his fellow VA Students, not only participated in the photo shoot in Bartonsville, they also staged their own photo shoot back on their campus in Saxtons River. During the annual Vermont Academy Earth Day celebration, the community gathered with orange dots in hand (orange and black are the school colors) and positioned themselves into one great dot at the base of the ski jump that could not be used this past winter due to lack of snowfall. The photos were entitled “Vermont Academy Connects the Dots.” They will be submitted to the 350.org website on May 5th along with thousands of other photos taken from communities around the world as if to say—We get it. Climate change is real. It is now. It affects all of us, and it’s time to do something about it

May 7, 2012 The Exploring Professor Hemlock continued the explorers classroom would often do their best to imitate Hemlock well into the night and sometimes mornings while they shared drink and stories of their own youthful conquests, becoming as well rehearsed in the lecture as the professor had become in his three decades of teaching.

Still those young men loved the professor. Unlike many of the other teachers they were taught by, Hemlock captivated the young boys with stories of far off lands. Lands where magic still existed. He encouraged the boys to recall days where they played in forests and jumped through streams as heroes of their own personal myths. One must note that while the sciences were overtaking the world, Hemlock had a deep belief in what many call, myth, and he told his stories with such a enthusiasm.

The development in the sciences and furthermore the fervent popular religious communities often taught their students of the impossible. For Hemlock, all was possible, and that was very attractive to his hopeful students.

TO BE CONTINUED . . .

VA VOICE STAFF Editor Eamon O’Keefe Student Contributors Faith Smith, Madison Cota, Matt Gendron, Mehmet Eroglu, George Atkins Faculty Contributors Mr. Hearon, Mr. Tesar Faculty Advisor Mr. Frey