October/November 2013 | VOL. C : No. 2
Transcription
October/November 2013 | VOL. C : No. 2
WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2013 | VOL. C : NO. 2 The British Are Coming! Fracking: Digging Deeper Chess: The Musical Caterham School students offer their ECHO Module uncovers the facts about A behind-the-scenes look at this year’s first impressions of the USA fracking charging Cold War production PAG E 2 | O P INIO N PAG ES 5 & 6| I N S E RT PAGE 9 | A r t s The longest-running newspaper in historic Hudson, Ohio Homecoming Weekend: Gatsby Style WRA Teacher Contributes to Search For Cancer Cure by Chunghwa Suh ’16 “All we’ve ever done is treat it, and not prevent it,” Mr. Robert Aguilar, a biology teacher here at Western Reserve Academy, explains the thinking behind the revolutionary research for a cancer vaccine. Aguilar is currently enrolled in the doctorate program at Cleveland State University where he is in the final stages of his Ph.D in regulatory biology with a concentration in molecular medicine. He is working towards developing a vaccine for testicular cancer. This vaccine development was a part of a project that started seven years ago, but ultimately did not succeed. Recently, Aguilar brought a new mindset. He used the same model of the original project but focused on a different protein, known as inhibin, which is widely expressed by tumors. Then, he tricked the immune system into attacking the specific cells that are unique to the cancerous tumors to shrink them. Aguilar explains, “The advantage in using the immune system is that it gains memory of which cells to kill and keeps it for years and years to keep fighting.” Like Aguilar, other researchers at the Cleveland Clinic are working on vaccines, but for different cancers, such as breast and ovarian cancer. The breast cancer vaccine, started eleven years ago, is currently in clinical trials. The vaccine prevented cancer in 100% of mice in the model. These results were published in a respected peer-review journal Nature Medicine. After the clinical trials for the breast cancer vaccine, there will be clinical trials for the ovarian and testicular cancer vaccines. The team has run into some difficulties along the way with funding, having applied for a grant from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, an organization known for hosting Cleveland’s 3-Day, a sixty-mile course in which participants walk for three days to raise money for community programs and to create awareness about breast cancer. Aguilar’s team applied only to be denied not once, but three times by the foundation. Susan G. Komen? Against finding the cure to breast cancer? Well, the answer is affirmative, in a sense. Without cancer around, the foundation would not exist. No more money and no more need for fundraiser and awareness events. The team was denied a fourth time by our own Department of Defense. This only shows what a huge industry has been built upon cancer and its progressing treatment. Foundations and pharma ceutical companies rely on victims for revenue. These events led Aguilar’s team to rethink their marketing The dance was organized by Student Council with help from parent volunteers, and it was no easy task to create such a memorable evening. Selena Walsh ’14, student body president, described the meticulous planning that went into the dance. “The whole idea of the Gatsby theme started with Alex Fellows’ [’13] mom during one of our meetings,” she said. “We all thought that it would be really cool, and there are so many ways to work Gatsby.” As the movie emphasized glamour and opulence, the student council tried to reflect these concepts by adding numerous decorations, bites of food, and of course, great music. “We had high expectations for the DJs because they had quite a reputation for bringing the party, and they had promised to impress,” said Selena. The grand total of students who went up on stage was well over 20, and according to Brendan Kelley ’14, the music had, without a doubt, brought the party to life. “The best part of the night for me was when I went up on that stage and got to see everyone dancing and having a good time,” he said. “You could tell that the DJs were doing a good job because everyone was dancing like there was no tomorrow.” Though the night eventually had to come to an end, the students were left with many good memories and were left eagerly awaiting the next school dance. Photo provided by wra.net Sweat, sequins, and singing all came together on October 26th in the Ellsworth dining hall. With Hudson DJs Andrew Kern and Erik Laszlo Johnson supplying the beat, Western Reserve Academy’s Gatsby Homecoming was a night to remember. From the Gatsby-inspired picture booth to the chocolate fountain, the dance was a carefully designed formula for success. by Morissa Clayman ’16 WRA students Alex Fellows '14, Maggie Olson '15, and Eric Chueh '14 worked at the Cleveland Clinic with the help of Aguilar's connections. strategy. Now, instead of marketing it as a vaccine, they will market it as a treatment to go along with chemotherapy and radiation. The plan is to gradually unveil the treatment as a vaccine to the market. Aguilar explained, “As far as we’ve come, the best treatment was either to expose patients to radiation or toxins. The treatments target any cell that divides quickly--hair cells, skin cells, liver cells--all get killed with chemo. Our method is very precise and only the cancer cells are attacked.” Five WRA students worked on the cancer vaccines this past summer during an internship with the experienced scientists. Alex Fellows ‘14 worked directly on the breast cancer vaccine. Each student grew cancer and bacteria cells and was very involved with the process in one of the three vaccines. Maggie Olson ‘15 recalls her experience, “I still can’t believe I got to do it-it’s groundbreaking.” The team’s research has made national news: it has appeared in The Huffington Post and ABC news. WRA should be proud to have someone like Aguilar as a part of our community. Mr. Robert Aguilar, Cleveland Clinic researcher and WRA faculty member. Costa Ricans Continue Cultural Immersion by Tricia Cunningham ’14 Students participate in 1920's inspired wardrobe in the theme of The Great Gatsby. Photos by Doe Every year, Western Reserve Academy hosts students from Costa Rica from the St. Jude’s School in San Jose. This year, four students visited for about ten days. The students that visited this year were Jimena Chacon, Dominick Howell, Maximiliano Morales, and Nadriely Nassimiento. They stayed in Ellsworth and Bicknell dorms with the other boarders at Reserve and attended the same meals. During the school day, the four students shadowed Reserve students and attended all of their classes. In the afternoons and during the weekends, the Costa Ricans did other things and visited different places: they shopped at nearby malls, walked to Continued on Page 3 2 Opinion Reserve Record Wake Up, Reserve! Sleep is Important A Hungry Vegetarian Speaks Out contain meat and still tasted great. Mac and Cheese and Baked Potatoes are great examples of vegetarian entrees. The pasta bar was open at every dinner in case I wanted something other than that night’s entrée. I usually never went hungry and the food was wonderful. Sit down meals usually also had some sort of large vegetarian option as opposed to just wild rice and steamed broccoli. Some examples include a black bean burger which tasted phenomenal and also the vegetarian chili was fantastic. Despite these complaints and critiques, I have full confidence that the dining hall really is capable of making changes to the menu. Photo by Forsyth by Niraj Naik ’15 Recent changes at the dining hall have left the menu more unfit for those with dietary restrictions. I have been a vegetarian my whole life and the vegetarian lifestyle is not too difficult to maintain. Most fast food restaurants, which deal with many more health recalls than menu complaints, offer great vegetarian options. Restaurants like Taco Bell, Chipotle, and Panera all have delicious meals that I enjoy eating. I find myself wondering how it is so difficult to find a good vegetarian option. Flik Dining Services offers a “vegetarian option” everyday, but it is often either a garden burger or some sort of tofu. I love both of those dishes as much as the next man, but I find myself wishing there was a better option. At sit down meals, I am forced to eat mashed potatoes, sliced carrots, and a roll, leaving me quite hungry. I did not encounter this problem nearly as much with last year’s dining service. Many of the meals did not even October/November 2013 by Trevor Levin ’15 As Western Reserve Academy settles into the patterns of a new year, many students - myself included - find themselves facing a nightly choice between finishing their homework and getting a healthy amount of sleep. The latest (non-scientific) Viewpoints survey suggests that juniors get an average of only 6 to 7 hours of sleep, with other classes faring only slightly better. The National Sleep Foundation recommends eight-and-a-half to nine-anda-quarter hours for adolescents, but with academic, athletic, and extracurricular commitments, many students find that impossible. Therein lies the problem: though students accomplish much during their waking hours, these demands cut deeply into their sleep, and the school suffers for it. Sleep deprivation for even one night impairs both knowledge acquisition and the ability to retrieve information, two crucial academic skills. In class discussions, a prized aspect of Reserve’s curriculum, students lack the energy to fully participate, and their brains can’t remember as much material. In addition, the poorer reaction time and reduced energy levels accompanying insufficient sleep affect athletic performance. Sleep deprivation reduces T-cells, suppressing immune system function. Recently, the school was ravaged by a series of cold epidemics. These colds, in addition to simply making dozens of students miserable, disrupt the functioning of the school, causing students to miss classes and practices. Lack of sleep even raises the risk of depression and other mood disorders. These risks, combined with the stress inherent in boarding school life, hurt the school’s mental health. Of course, no easy solution exists. Last year, the school moved the regular start time from 8:00 to 8:20; while the student body welcomed the change, perhaps a concerted effort to reduce the homework load would more seriously address the issue. While the WRA community prides itself on its rigor, the amount of homework becomes counterproductive when students cannot learn as well because they are drowsy, sick, or depressed. A more alert, healthy, energetic and participatory student body would surely recoup any learning lost from doing less homework. Photo by Doe British Guests Embrace WRA Two Caterham students share their thoughts about WRA culture. by James Alexander, Upper Sixth With my optimism for a smooth journey having been demolished by the customs queue in Chicago, my immediate impressions of America were not terribly complimentary. However, after a good rest and buffet breakfast, energy was regained and the group was ready to take on all that WRA could have to offer. Luckily, we found that at WRA, unlike the airport, everyone was sociable and affable towards us ‘outsiders,’ showing off American hospitality at its finest. Simply being flashed a smile or greeted with a ‘good morning’ on the walk to class was a breath of fresh air from the constant avoidance of eye contact and tutting back in the UK. A large part of my interest in this exchange trip was the food. Being what I can only describe as a ‘fast-food connoisseur’ of sorts, I made it my mission to try anything I can lay my hands on during my short stay – a mission that has taken at least 3 years off my life expectancy so far and given me a negative bank balance and an addiction to Swenson’s burgers that will force me to return to Ohio in the near future. Being a science ‘nerd’, I felt obliged to see what WRA had to offer on the scientific side of academia. Both the facilities and teaching quality impressed me greatly; I have never seen such enthusiasm shared by teachers and students alike. However, with Caterham having a total of 1100 students and WRA having 370, the biggest culture shock for me was how everybody knew everybody else, giving a family-like structure to the school. This is something that is incredibly rare to see in England, and I’m very happy that I was able to have a taste of it here. Not only was I able to watch how the WRA family worked, but I actually felt included as a part of it during the past week. I shall be ever grateful to every single student that has made this exchange so special for me and I am certain that our goodbyes shall not be final. Editors-in-Chief: Abby Hermosilla, Mitch Pollock Managing Editor: Nate Lund News: Rylee Nelsen, Kevin Yang Opinion: Hannah McKenzie Centerfold and Insert: Max Forsyth Community: Nate Lund Entertainment: Simon Ong Arts: Abby Hermosilla Sports: Charles Pearlman Crossword: Alex Wheaton Comic: Timmy Lund Photographers: Lisie Andersson, Max Borrmann, Max Forsyth, Abby Hermosilla, Nishika Raheja Writers: Helena Ahn, James Alexander, Arthur Aubergine, Emmie Claringbull, Morissa Clayman, Tricia Cun- The Caterham Students and supervisors (from left): Mr. Godfrey, Jamie Largerberg, Josh Elliot, George Smith, James Alexander, Sophie Belchambers, Angus Hayes, Raphael Hage, Mrs. Brown, Emmie Claringbull, and Harry Elgar. by Emmie Claringbull, Upper Sixth Having never left Europe before, coming to the USA was a big step for me. All of my ideas were based on what I saw in films and heard from others. Upon arrival, it was clear how friendly and open everyone was. The level of hospitality was incredible and the community of the school itself was uplifting and welcoming. Classes were more relaxed (compared to ours back home) but still retained a solid atmosphere, and I was welcomed to try a plethora of new subjects such as Chinese, Arabic and US History - despite knowing nothing about any of them! ningham, Michael Curtin, Noah Kontur, Trevor Levin, Lily Liu, Niraj Naik, Charles Pendergast, Nishika Raheja, Alec Rhodes, Chunghwa Suh, Liam Sullivan, Griffin Trau, Kevin Yang Faculty Advisor: Russell Morrison The Reserve Record is the student-run, monthly newspaper of Western Reserve Academy and the voice of and for the student body. It aims to educate its staff, writers and photographers on journalistic style, format, ethics and excellence, while entertaining and informing the student body and providing its readership a forum for community expression and discussion. The editors and staff have worked on every facet of this publication. However that didn’t prevent any fun! Another particularly enjoyable aspect was the cultural experience of school in America. We were lucky enough to have coincided our trip with Homecoming, which was a confusing concept at first. However, the dance was an amusing evening for all of us. Some other memorable experiences were witnessing a bit of an American football game and going to the Giant Family Party. I will miss WRA greatly after meeting such an amazing group of people - teachers and students alike - and I hope our paths will cross again at some point. Thanks to everyone for welcoming us in! The opinions expressed in the Reserve Record do not necessarily represent those of the administration, trustees or student body. The editors assume full responsibility for the contents of the publication and invite community responses. Please address any concerns, comments or requests to: The Reserve Record Western Reserve Academy 115 College Street Hudson, OH 44236 wrarecord@gmail.com 3 Community Reserve Record October/November 2013 The Open Key: WRA Students Travel To Pine Ridge Reservation Ahn ’15 their problems before getting caught up in negativity. Students Launch Weekly by Helena This past summer, nine Western Reserve Academy The individuals we met in South Dakota were powerstudents along with two faculty members, Mrs. Nata- ful, confident, loving, and optimistic in every aspect of Live Music Photo by Andersson Costa Ricans cont. Continued from page 1 their lives, and since the trip I have pushed myself to work toward building these characteristics in myself. It was truly an experience of a lifetime.” Griffith adds. When we think of poverty, we think of developing countries, like the island of Haiti, but the Pine Ridge Reservation is one of many places struggling in the United States. After a week of hard work under the blazing South Dakota sun, the students expressed much elation to see the finished work and how much of an impact their presence made on the residents. “The service trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation makes me realize that, although [an] individual’s strive for change can seem trivial, amazing things can happen when people work together,” states Liu. WRA students and faculty spent a week at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota Fall ECHOs Take On Interactive Approach Noah Kontur ’17 Usually when a student hears the phrase ‘class on Saturday morning’, they cringe in disgust at the mere thought of it. With the ECHO program, however, this is not the case! ECHO modules are a great way for students to discover their interests and learn more about a specific subject, therefore echoing the core subjects of the everyday classroom into more specific and hands-on studies. There are many ECHO modules that students agree are worth two and a half hours on a Saturday morning. Among these modules are two particularly unique ones: Engineering and Building for Change and an Intro to Archaeology. In Engineering and Building for Change, taught by Science Department Chair Ms. Wanda Boesch, students are encouraged to use both ingenuity and resourcefulness. From cardboard couches to storage towers, everything is built with limited materials: creativity is key. From the last school year, a major concern with most ECHO modules is the flux of assessments dousing the end of a typical strenuous week. Yet, Boesch “[tries] to do mostly in-class work and stay[s] away from tests and quizzes.” This hands-on approach really helps to create a stress free environment in which students feel more inclined to focus on the material and feed their interests and passions. This ECHO is great option for students who want to explore their interests in engineering in a fun and exciting way. In An Intro to Archaeology, taught by Dr. Lisabeth Robinson, students see how various kinds of information can be gathered from artifacts, ancient or modern. When asked about the attraction to archaeology as a field of study, Robinson states, “artifacts are left without bias: it gives us an honest record of how people lived.” In order to truly understand the significance of artifacts, the module is currently running a dig site in front of the David Hudson House, the first recorded house of Summit County, where several artifacts (from stepping stones to bottle glass) have already been recovered. In the archaeology field, especially, a hands on approach is very helpful to the class. This module has really taken a unique approach to understanding artifacts as students in the ECHO say they benefit greatly from learning how to appreciate the meaning and value found in everyday objects. From speaking Russian to learning tricks in calculus, from developing video games to writing children’s stories, there are dozens of ECHO classes that are available. The ECHO program has really succeeded by giving students an opportunity to learn about their interests (or discover what exactly interests them) and supports teachers as they take creative approaches in and out of the classroom and truly redefine the thirst for knowledge at Western Reserve Academy. Photo by Triggs Jiji Kang '17 performs at the second Open Key event of the year. lie Davies and Mr. Matthew Gerber, went on a “cultural pilgrimage”, as Lily Liu ’14 likes to call it. The group traveled to the Pine Ridge Reservation for six nights and seven days to do community service. Pine Ridge was established in 1889 in the southwest corner of South Dakota along the Nebraska border. It is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, larger than Delaware and Rhode Island combined. The group from WRA spent most of their days helping around the community, from redoing the sides of houses to building and delivering bunk beds. The conditions of the reservation helped WRA students and their faculty chaperones uncover how fortunately they all live in comparison. Abbey Griffith ’14 explained, “The trip to Pine Ridge gave me a lot of time to reflect on the community in which I live, the amount of financial help that places near and far from my home town and school need, and the number of simple things anyone can do to make a big difference.” In addition, the group spoke with many residents and heard several compelling stories about their lives on the reservation.The Pine Ridge trip not only helped the residents of the reservation, but gave the students time to reflect on their lives. “I realized how well everyone on the reservation coped with the... situations they were dealt. I hope everyone that has the opportunity to enjoy the Pine Ridge service experience learns to count their blessings and think twice about Photo by Davies by Trevor Levin ’15 TGIF, Western Reserve Academy’s weekly celebration on Friday evenings, has heralded the weekend from the Green Key for years. When Winston Wu ‘17 attended his first TGIF as a WRA student, he noticed something was missing. “I saw people hanging out and talking, but the stage was empty,” he said. Legend has it, during freshman orientation, Wu approached Erik Gross ‘17 about launching a regular open-mic series at TGIF. By September 21st, the club Open Key was up and running. With Gross hosting, students covered songs by Green Day, Imagine Dragons, and other, primarily recent artists, either accompanying themselves on guitar or using a karaoke track. After much success, Open Key hosted a second open mic night on October 12. Owing to the club, campus has witnessed much more student-created live music than ever before, from talented performers like Jiji Kang ‘17, Yuki Yamasaki ‘16, Nick Harris ‘17, and Trevor Lin ‘15. “It’s really cool to see people getting up there in an informal setting. Hopefully, it’ll prepare them for bigger events, like the Talent Show and the Ellsworth Jazz Fest,” said Live Music Club president Amy Squire ‘14. “[Open Key] is a great addition to the WRA live music program,” added co-president Alec Wilson ‘16. Though students are usually looking to simply blow off some steam at TGIF, the audience has been surprisingly attentive, and the events have proceeded rather smoothly. “Two thumbs up!” opined Cory Wepler ‘17, reflecting a broad sentiment of approval. Wu and Gross intend to keep Open Key a regular event, perhaps bimonthly. Music department chair Mr. Ed Wiles fully welcomes the idea. “I’m really happy with it. It’s important that we create opportunities for all kinds of music performance,” he said, following the second open mic. “These informal events can make performers more experienced and comfortable.” Students in Robinson's Archaeology ECHO Module dig up the front yard of the David Hudson House. Halloween Hits WRA Some of the best costumes from the Halloween Parade. downtown Hudson, went on the school’s Niagara Falls trip, visited the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, took a trip to Cedar Point in Sandusky, and did many other activities around Hudson and on campus that kept them busy. Overall the four students were able to improve their English with the help of the Reserve community and gained an authentic experience of student life in the U.S. (from left) Cristen Barnett '16 as a Despicable Me minion; Mr. and Mrs. Bonomo and Mr. Gilbert as candy; Jae Hwi Lee '17 as Aladdin escorted by Kurt Haller '15; and the Mylotts (Joey '15, Patrick '15 and Danny '17) as the cast of Star Wars. 4 Centerfold Reserve Record October/November 2013 October/November 2013 Centerfold Reserve Record 100 Reasons We Love Reserve W R A compilation of what students and faculty value most at Western Reserve Academy. List and photos assembled by Max Forsyth ’15 and photos taken by Lisie Andersson ’14, Max Borrmann ’16, Alan Doe, Fine and Performing Arts Chair, and Sasha Maseelall ’96. Line judging volleyball games! WRA mugs Chipotle - Spring mornings Faculty kids - Jae Hwi Winning athletics - A effort ratings - Echo field trips - Colleagues & students Our sense of community - When people hold the doors for others - Smiling faces - Señor’s milkshakes - Funny morning meeting announcements -Two scoops of batter when making waffles - Geno -When students say thank you after every class - The library and the library staff - Singing the alma mater Capture-the-Faculty Dave’s Cosmic Subs Our well organ ized recycling system - Our newspaper Early morning runs to Peet’s - Mr. Shu’s ping pong team! Team feeds When Mrs. Manoli signs my weekend sign-out sheet - First in Max Forsyth’s face during Twelfth Night line for drinks at TGIF - Receiving the weekend activities email - Move-out day - The new fhockey coach Mr. Warner’s handshakes - Relish - Dining hall hot chocolate -The diving team’s Halloween at WRA and the parade. hot tub - Preseason - Wilson reading room - Mr. Ong’s awesome lessons - “Seniors, you are dismissed” - Coffeehouse during exam week - ¡La clase de Señor! - The Atheneum - Ultimate Frisbee on the lawn Green Keys - The Reserve Record vs. Hardscrabble Rivalry - BUFO & Viewpoints rivalry - Midnight check-in on Saturdays - Mr. Morrison’s tea in Arabic class - Mr. Morris’s hand motions during passionate lectures - The 3D Art Room Mrs. Hedgspeth singing in the afternoon from her apartment The Dads Club - The Pioneer Women Brick Row The Lawns Wide Sweep - Spirit Week at Reserve The hockey pond - The Ong Library fireplace - Long vacation breaks - Casual dress sit-down dinners - The new milk dispensers - Generic cereal brands - “This I believe” speeches - Full open mailbox - Finishing the last exam of exam week Walking out of an English class through the window - Making coffee for Mr. Closen - Hayden used to be a cheese warehouse - The WRA Hawks homework load - Acting with compassion Academic honesty - Bow-ties Señor wearing shorts in the winter - Dining hall food Communal jelly - Wearing nike socks with boat shoes - Track practice in the rain with Señor - Patio Foursquare - PB and Listening to Ann Yu play J’s all day everyday - FLIK - Mr. Armbruster’s 3D art demonstrations - Small class sizes the violin. - Señor: The Man and Legend - Pioneer Pete Hudson squirrels and chipmunks. Above, the Reserve Record Staff attempts to recreate a photograph taken of the 1925-1926 Reserve Record Staff hard at work. In the original photo, the four boys are typing articles, arranging text and literally pasting pictures to a rough draft of the record staff. Top from the left sit News Editor Allan Ayers ’26, Editor in Chief F. Carder “Toots” Welles ’27, Sports Editor Paul Perkins ’27 and Features Editor John “Jack” Perkins ’28. Bottom from left sit Centerfold Editor Max Forsyth ’15, special guest Carlos Lizarraga ’14, Sports Editor Charles Pearlman ’14 and Co-Editor in Chief Mitch Pollock ’14. Faculty pets! Orchestra with Mr. Wiles Morning Meeting Adirondack chairs A Autumn in Hudson The WRAP. Finishing the cup rack at meals! 7 Entertainment October/November 2013 Reserve Record 8 Music Review: Volcano Choir's Repave The Eggplant*: Senior Class Attempts to Negotiate Day Off by Arthur Aubergine Class of “He Doesn’t Even Go Here” HUDSON—At a recent Morning Meeting in the Chapel, students and faculty members alike sensed that something strange was happening on the breezy autumn morning. The first halfdozen rows of pews were taped off and a large poster hung from the front screen reading “Salute your Seniors”. The sign fit well with the senior class’s decision to dress in military garb that morning, but no one had a clue as to what the seniors had in store. They were largely unwilling to divulge information regarding the situation. It wasn’t until halfway through the regular list of announcements, that a string of events led to one of the most unforgettable all school gatherings in recent memory. “All of a sudden I heard a low rumble coming from the stairwell, and the building began to shake. For a while I was scared for my life,” says a witness to the event. Another student remarked when interviewed: “I was just studying my flashcards like I do every Morning Meeting, when all of a sudden the sound of boots and savage battle cries came from somewhere close by and scared me senseless. I was ready to fight for my life.” During the chaos dozens of innocent freshmen, chosen at random, were taken from their seats to an undisclosed area as the rest of the student body looked on in silence. “There were just too many of them, there was nothing we could do to help the freshmen,” a student said when asked about the event. When one freshman was asked to comment, he merely stared off into the distance and mumbled nonsense, clearly traumatized by the morning’s events. Not only were freshman taken away, but also the head of school and various other teachers. The climax of the ordeal came when the seniors brought the Dean of Student Life, Justin Zimmerman, in front of those remaining in the chapel and attempted to negotiate a day off. The negotiating did not go very far, and the student body was dismissed to return to classes. At press time the results of the negotiation were still unclear and three freshmen were yet to be found. *The Eggplant is a mock news article, based on The Onion, in which certain issues at Western Reserve Academy and other relatable topics are inflated and contorted. Its sole purpose is to entertain the reader and it is not meant to be offensive. by Alec Rhodes ’14 Most attentive indie music fans will most likely recall the entire month of August 2013 as a painful time of high anticipation and overwhelming excitement for the release of Volcano Choir’s new album, Repave. Largely overshadowed by Justin Vernon’s Bon Iver work, Volcano Choir has very much stayed under the radar since its formation in 2005. The sudden interest in the group is the result of rumors that Vernon may be finished with his Bon Iver work. This leaves Justin Vernon fans no choice but to finally show some interest in Volcano Choir’s music. The band also consists of Wisconsinites Jon Mueller, Chris Rosenau, Matthew Skemp, Daniel Spack, and Thomas Wincek. Indie rock, indie folk, experimental, and ambient are all genres that can describe Volcano Choir’s unique mix of style. The group is currently signed with Jagjaguwar, a indierock record label in Bloomington, Indiana. In regards to the band’s current music, this particular album somewhat lacks the same introspective influences of Vernon’s earlier style, featured in the bands first album, Unmap (2009). The aptly named Repave creates an epically climatic feel that gives listeners a new sense of alertness, absent in other Vernon collaborations. In simpler terms: finally, music made by Justin Vernon that won’t put you to sleep! Bon Iver fans will enjoy the familiar sounds of Vernon’s comforting falsetto and ever present autotune in “Comrade” but will love the pleasantly surprising hard rock elements featured in “Byegone”. Other songs to note, “Alaskans” and “Almanac”, incorpo- Repave, the new Volcano Choir album rate shifts from characteristic Bon Iver-esque cozy acoustics to powerful modern drops with plenty of electric guitar and drums. This shift in style may cause some grief to Bon Iver fans, but from a purely musical standpoint, Volcano Choir pulls it off effortlessly. The relatively decipherable lyrics and definite sounds of Repave leave listeners with no unanswered questions. The “power balladry” helps fans somewhat relate to Vernon’s songwriting for what may be the first time. This aspect of the album is sure to help increase Volcano Choir’s selective audience. Repave has already graced late night television through a performance on Jimmy Kimmel Live early in September. After hitting the east coast, Volcano Choir will play in their native Wisconsin and Minnesota area through the end of October. Later this fall, the band will embark on their first European tour and then hit the west coast of the US in January. Crossword Puzzle 40 Clasp 41 Picnic visitor 42 Foot bottoms 43 Turkey preparation 44 Pro 45 Campus courtyard 46 Aspire 47 Mad Hatter accessory 49 Clock time, in Colorado 50 Stan. unit of volume 53 Hoarse 55 Can be utilized 57 Shield of Greek mythology 60 Transmission gear 62 Cut of beef 63 Break or destroy 64 Cashews, for example 65 Pizarro’s enemy 66 Juice solids 67 Across (alternate spelling) 68 Experience in a tactile way ACROSS 1 King’s address 5 Lively 9 Software in “testing” 13 Horse’s gait 14 Opera solo 15 Hot embers 16 Prego’s competition 17 Weaver’s device 18 Display case 19 Autumn starter 21 23 24 25 29 30 32 33 36 37 38 39 To go with the wind Thanksgiving staple Whichever Sit-down dinner job Revenue increaser Chill Small child Sporty car brand Transport in arms Vietnam massacre, “My__” Unit of hay Assembly of witches DOWN 1 Amoxicillin target 2 Late Mesopotamian 3 Cheek application 4 Decorative needle case 5 Sitting rooms 6 Stand-in voter 7 Cristo Redentor location 8 Thanksgiving dish 9 Greek legislative body 10 Ingest 11 What a Dr. gives 12 Fire remains 15 Cold, as the weather 20 Nothing to a Spaniard 22 26 27 28 29 30 31 33 Squirrel’s dinner Titan with a heavy load Cook with dry heat Open grassy area Is for two Went spelunking Vein contents Toward the rear of the ship 34 Boat of the Native Amercans 35 Sound starter 36 Fries accompaniment 39 Overthrow of government 40 Holiday meat 42 Pumpkin’s cousin 43 Orthodontst’s concern 46 Evaluate for taxation 48 Like autumn air 49 Slang for a high level math course 50 Differenct cut of beef 51 Pie serving 52 Type of colony in “Papillon” 54 Long for 56 First letter of the Arabic alphabet 57 Cleopatra’s bane 58 Flightless bird 59 Square dance partner 61 Shoveled Have a crossword clue to share? Want to write a review? Notice an error? Email the Reserve Record at: wrarecord@gmail.com Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @wrarecord Arts October/November 2013 Artist Spotlight: Camry Harris 9 A Visit to the Moos Gallery prevent art from becoming cluttered. Harris’s biggest influences are an artist who goes by “Nargyle” online, the anime Panty and Stocking with Garterbelt, “this really cool haunted castle book [Harris] would read when [she] was little,” and film directors Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez. When she is feeling uninspired, she often draws her own characters, as she knows their appearances by heart. Her advice to other artists is to be able to take and use critique. Once, when she followed a simple tip from another artist, the way she drew faces changed completely, and for the better. Harris also dabbles in other kinds of art, such as photography, sewing, costume design, and, recently, stop-motion animation. You can find her art at spryhaunch.tumblr.com. Photo by Andersson by Charles Prendergast ’15 The first forays into art for Camry Harris ’14 were Crayola marker drawings of girls during latchkey which she would trade with her friends, but she really started to consider herself an artist during sixth grade. Since then, she’s moved mainly to watercolors and art markers, but sometimes uses a tablet, acrylic paints, and pencils as well. She has also developed a distinctive style, which she describes as “cartoony” and “minimalist,” often including movement and “bold shapes”. Harris considers minimalism to be very important, saying it “makes things clear and beautiful,” and can Reserve Record by Kevin Yang ’15 Some visual artists specialize in one medium for their art, whether that be watercolor, sculpture, quilting or oil pastel. Others, such as Michelangelo, prove to be adept across the board. Out of these multitalented artists, a few exhibit originality by combining these different mediums into a new, hybrid form. Katie Schutte is one of those few. In her Moos Gallery exhibit entitled “Coalescence: revisited,” she displays her unique amalgamations of metalwork, jewelry, and crochet. “Uniting two traditionally unrelated areas of artistry is the main catalyst behind my work,” says Schutte. This catalyst of inspiration results in crocheted necklaces, diamond rings encased in nests of metal, wire brooches, and enameled steel panels. Much of the jewelry on display Photo by Andersson One of Harris's watercolor pieces. resembles sea creatures, but “instead of replicating existing organisms, I make my own species,” says Schutte. So at this exhibit, do not expect to find your traditional fish; rather, discover the new organisms which she creates: Nautiloidea and Zoantharia, Echinoida and Dendrogyra. In addition to these crafted creatures, I also was intrigued by the crocheted necklaces on display. One does not usually associate crochet with glamour, but as Schutte notes, “these pieces can connote high social status and access to material wealth even when made from materials and processes that would be banal on their own.” In other words, Schutte takes the most common of materials and turns them into top notch works of art. “Coalescence: revisited” will remain in the Moos Gallery until November 17, so stop by if you have the chance. Chess Takes Center Stage on Campus by Lily Liu ’14 Silver rain curtains overlooking from above, a sixteen feet by sixteen feet chessboard setting in center stage below: WRA 2013 fall musical production Chess was ready to impress the audience with an entertaining surprise. Written by Richard Nelson, the story unravels in the context of the political struggle between the United States and Soviet Russia during the Cold War: Hungarian-born American Florence Vassy (Miranda Fetterman ‘14), an assistant to American chess player Frederick “Freddie” Trumper (Davis Johnson ‘14) whose arrogance eventually provokes her decision of quitting the U.S. delegation, unexpectedly falls in love with Freddie’s Russian opponent Anatoly Sergievsky (Yuki Yamasaki ‘16) and thus commences a search for her true self. With music composed by former members of the Swedish rock quartet ABBA, Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and lyrics written by Tim Rice, who is known for his involvement in Jesus Christ Superstar and Evita, the scores in Chess never failed to amaze. “Chess is very edgy and versatile,” having been in the pit for the past three years, Ann Yu ‘14 joined the ensemble this year and remarked, “because it has rap, rock and roll, the ‘standard musical stuff’ and operatic qualities.” “Audience should really look forward to some awesome chorus numbers,” Simon Ong ‘15, who added to the musical a comedic touch playing Freddie’s marketing agent Walter Anderson, commented. “Members of the chorus work[ed] really hard and they have done a magnificent job.” “We also had some extremely gifted singers as leads” chorus member Danny Mylott ‘17 added, “and our orchestra sounded great.” Joanna Malson ‘15, who played Comic by Timmy Lund ’15 Anatoly’s estranged wife Svetlana Sergievsky, appreciates the dynamics of the cast. “We had a dream team cast and a dream team crew,” she said with delight. For some cast members, Chess marked their stage debut at WRA. For some others, nevertheless, it was a grand finale: if you could not make it to the performances last weekend, you have missed the last chance ever to see seniors Fetterman ‘14, Johnson ’14, Michael Nichols ‘14, and Emma Presley ‘14 performing on the same stage in a WRA musical. The lights dimmed and the curtain fell, Chess ended in the audience’s warm applause as the cast bowed one last time. Nevertheless, the melodies can still be heard around campus in various forms including humming and whistling. No matter it was for the amazing voices on stage, the intriguing story line, or the crazy dance moves the casts presented during “One Night in Bangkok,” Chess has definitely left great memories for many. Photos by Doe Florence (Miranda Fetterman '14) dazzles the stage on Friday night. Walter (Simon Ong '15) and Freddie (David Johnson '14) celebrate victory in Chess: the Musical. Freddie (Davis Johnson '14) and Anatoly (Yuki Yamasaki '16) battle in a deathly game of chess. 10 Sports Reserve Record October/November 2013 but it is his leadership that sets him apart Cleveland Browns Athlete Spotlight: David Ma nomenal, from other athletes. His attitude towards the game “Play”: Three-Season Sports Requirement Can Help by Griffin Trau ’14 It cannot be denied: we live in an age of specialization. In sports, for better or worse, the “jack of all trades” is slowly being phased out by the single-sport athlete. Once deep with multi-sport athletes, the NCAA now features only a handful of players who compete in more than one season. Why? The competition is better—athletes are bigger, faster, stronger, and more focused than ever. A collegiate varsity sport is often a full-time job for an athlete and a win-or-lose-your-job proposition for a head coach. Unfortunately, this model seems to be trickling down to the high school level. At Reserve, students technically adhere to a three-season athletic requirement so that they might receive state-mandated physical education credit, but fewer kids actually play three sports each year. In fact, a great many students would probably advocate for the requirement’s abolition if given the choice. Those in favor of removal or restructuring might fall into three groups: those who do not care for sports at all; those who enjoy sports, but wish to compete in less than three seasons; and those who wish to pursue higher level competition through specialization. While passionate pursuit of extracurricular opportunity in music, art, and/or community service is certainly commendable, I am not certain that such activity necessar- Varsity Girls Tennis: 14-2 Varsity Volleyball: 14-6 Varsity Girls Cross Country: 1-0 (and Tournaments) Varsity Girls Soccer: 9-5-3 Varsity Boys Soccer: 11-6-1 Varsity Golf: 12-4 Varsity Football: 2-7 Varsity Field Hockey: 10-6-1 Varsity Boys Cross Country: All Invitationals competition for admission and roster spots increases each year at the nation’s top colleges, it is becoming increasingly necessary to demonstrate the versatility required of a “next-level” athlete. Although field/ court/rink/pool sense, strength, and body control are crucial in all sports, the skill set that would seem unique to one sport often proves to be of great help in others. Prudence and laziness aside, what has become of the notion that a Western Reserve student-athlete has an obligation to represent his or her school and classmates? If every athlete contributed everything he or she had to offer, Western Reserve would certainly experience greater success in many of its athletic endeavors. Though AAU basketball, club soccer and lacrosse, or out-ofseason training might be modern day examples of “necessary evils” that help high school athletes climb into college sports, I hope that all will pause and evaluate Western Reserve Academy’s path to success over its 187 year history. The extracurricular requirement gives this special community far more than a checkmark on a transcript. We eat, sleep, work, and play together— that is what makes boarding school special. Shouldn’t it be a goal for all of us to do what we can to fulfill our potential and leave this place a bit richer than when we arrived? by Michael Curtin ’14 On November 3, 2013, the Cleveland Browns defeated the Baltimore Ravens in an 18-24 victory at the Cleveland Brown’s stadium. This was a big win for the Browns because it improved their record to 4-5, making them second in the AFC North. The significance of this victory is found in the fact that the Browns have not beat the Ravens since 2007. In the past twenty-nine games, the Browns have only won seven of them. In addition, the history between the Browns and the Ravens is one of the most notable ones in all of the NFL. In 1996 the owner of the Browns, Art Modell, moved the team from Cleveland, Ohio to Baltimore, Maryland. Modell moved the team for selfish reasons, and legal actions against Modell followed. After extensive talks between the NFL, the Browns and officials of the two cities, Cleveland accepted a legal settlement that would keep the Browns’ legacy in Cleveland. On February 9, 1996, the NFL announced that the Browns would be ‘deactivated’ for three years, and that a new stadium would be built for a new Browns team, as either an expansion team or a team moved from another city, that would begin play in 1999. Modell would in turn then be granted a new franchise, for Baltimore, retaining the current contracts of players and personnel, and thus the Ravens were born. The recent win on the Browns behalf not only provided fans with uplifted spirits after a 11-game losing streak against Baltimore, but also infused hope as the Browns enter the second half of the season. The game demonstrated the Browns’s gritty defense and timely offense, leaving the Ravens absolutely befuddled. Photos by Doe Fall Finale: Varsity Records ily substitutes for the experience associated with team membership. That said, I have often watched with frustration as many of my athletically talented schoolmates have dodged the three-season athletic requirement (without other contribution to the WRA community). As members of a college preparatory school community, should students not be required to use their time in meaningful ways? Although I understand that additional free time might be nice to alleviate the academic rigor of this fine school, is there not an imperative to strive for a level of excellence that comes from spirited participation in athletics? Today’s intercollegiate landscape, most certainly at the NCAA Division I level, has become the exclusive territory of the single-sport competitor, though many current college stars played multiple seasons as secondary school students. While college coaches continuously say, “We want multi-sport athletes,” what they really mean is, “We want wellrounded players who competed and proved themselves in multiple sports in high school, but who will compete in only one sport at this level.” For that Western Reserve athlete who chooses to specialize in hopes of increasing his or her chances for athletic recruitment, I would suggest that the benefits of a rich and diverse athletic experience at the secondary level far outweigh the liabilities. As Break Baltimore Ravens Photo provided through Google.com an his leadership responsibilities are as follows: “I’ve learned that an attitude in any situation helps and can change drastically from better to worse. In any situation you can also take and learn from someone else.” Ma will miss the times spent with his teammates getting pumped in the locker room to the sounds of electronic music and chants for Dear Ol’ Reserve, but will continue his soccer career in college. Finally, when asked his culminating thoughts on his experience with WRA’s soccer team, he says, “The team chemistry as well as the motivation to win games increases every year. For the people who didn’t necessarily take it as seriously have changed their attitude and now strive for success and hard work. I’m just glad I could be apart of this Photo by Doe amazing experience.” Photo by Hermosilla by Liam Sullivan ’16 and Nishika Raheja ’14 Encouraged by his father at age eight, David Ma now reigns as one of boys varsity soccer’s three captains. This is Ma’s fourth year on the varsity team. Along with being a four year letterman and a captain, Ma also received the MVP award for soccer his sophomore year. It is pretty safe to say that David is an outstanding soccer player, and his teammates would also agree: “David was a huge contribution to our undefeated season last year,” says teammate Nate Lund ’14. “You can see the difference “Dma” makes when he is on the field,” adds Jack Mckenzie ’14. Placed in a position of leadership, Ma says he has “learned to lead by example as well as vocally.” Even though the soccer team did not have the season they were hoping for after last year’s undefeated season, Ma and his great leadership pulled the team through their tough season. In addition, Ma looks forward to his fellow teammates’ performances. Reflecting on this past season, he notes, “When Alex Campana scored his goal against Hawken or when Jonathan crossed the sick cross and Campana scored on a volley, those were the highlights of my season.” David’s skills on the pitch are phe-