november 2014 pdf

1
The Pelican
VOL. LXXII NO.8
ST. PAUL'S SCHOOL, CONCORD, NH 03301
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2014
EIGHT PAGES
Gay at St. Paul's: GASP No Longer a Fitting Acronym
“S
Putting the New Sexual Intimacy Policy Into Action
By BELLE GIBBONS '14
espite expressing a wish for “appropriate expressions of intimacy,” St. Paul’s School’s previous sexual intimacy policy left students struggling to understand what exactly constitutes “appropriate” behavior. In addition, the former policy focused more on encouraging students to abstain from all sexual activity and the potential consequences of such
activity rather than fostering healthy relationships. As a result of the general student confusion and disapproval, a group of faculty members and students met throughout last
Winter and Spring Terms to reevaluate and clarify the policy. “We really wanted to change how the policy demonized adolescent sexuality and was unclear in many areas about what
was appropriate or not,” explains Philip Grayson ‘15, a member of the committee who rewrote the policy. “We also realized that there’s a lot of miscommunication between students and
faculty alike about our community expectations. While the policy alone cannot completely change this, we hope that it, along with real community-wide discussion about these harder
topics, can make a difference in the School’s culture.” To further these wishes for the School, last winter’s LinC day focused on healthy relationships and sexuality. Speaker Bill Taverner
reaffirmed what was to be stated in the amended sexual intimacy policy, and students emerged from Memorial Hall feeling positive about the improvements to be made in student culture. Discussions of sexual intimacy at SPS were continued this year with the revised sexual intimacy policy being put into effect, with one of the major edits to the policy being
D
CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
what's
inside
Puzzle Competition, p. 4-5
Feminism at SPS, p. 2
Columns and Current Events, p. 6-7
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
By MURIEL WANG '14
trength in numbers—that’s what gives people power to come out, knowing that
we have a support system and understanding that there are people who are going
through the same things we are,” Corinne Worthington ‘15 affirmed when asked
why she thought students were comfortable coming out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning or Queer (LGBTQ) in front of the St. Paul’s School community. Since the
founding of the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) here at SPS in 1999, the School has encouraged
open dialogue regarding acceptance of the LGBTQ community. As American society has progressed to be more inclusive and accepting of all sexual orientations in recent years, so has
the SPS community. In fact, in a total reversal of thinking, community members who profess
to be against sexual orientations other than straight may be seen as close-minded. How has
the community shifted from a place where only one or two students were “out of the closet”
to one where many more students feel comfortable claiming their sexuality in a public space?
Mr. Colin Callahan, Fine Arts faculty member and Director of the Hargate Gallery,
described a time in the recent past when coming out to the community, or self-disclosing one’s
sexual orientation, took place almost exclusively in Chapel in the form of a Sixth Form Chapel Reflection. As infrequent as these reflections may have been, the positive attention these
reflections garnered gradually created a more encouraging environment for others, especially
underformers, to claim their identity in a public space. Mr. Callahan also mentioned that in
the first few years of the GSA’s existence, the group was small and consisted mainly of allies
rather than members who identified as LGBTQ. Now, however, the composition of the GSA is
more representative of its name, with around as many LGBTQ members as straight members.
The progress the School has made in becoming more accepting of all sexual orientations is commendable. The trend seems to show that most LGBTQ students feel more
comfortable coming out now than ever before. Ariella Brotherson ’15 commented, “In my
Third Form year, there were only a few people who were out, and they were mostly just
seniors. Now, we have underformers who are openly LGBTQ as well.” When asked why
she thought that was the case, Brotherson elaborated, “We’ve had a lot more discussions…
Having people who do not fit the stereotype of a LGBTQ person come out is so helpful
to the community.” Jack Becker ’17 stated in response to the same question, “People are
IZZY TERAN '15
definitely more open about it this year than last year… I really do think there has been a
change in people’s attitudes when the subject comes up; it’s a lot less taboo.” Another important aspect most of the community achieves well is the ability to, as Makale Camara ’17
expressed, “not make a big deal out of [someone’s coming out].” She emphasized, “No one [should treat] you differently just because you identify as queer (used as an umbrella term).”
Although the School has come a long way in terms of acceptance of the LGBTQ community, there are still several areas that restrict LGBTQ members from expressing their authentic selves. Becker voiced his opinion, “[A] road-block that some people have troubles with when they’re in the closet is the fear that the attitudes of people in
your dorm might change… It’s something that is unavoidable, really, at every boarding school.” Another aspect of a completely residential community is the quick circulation of gossip and instantaneous judgment. Camara expressed that the gossip behind closed doors or the snap judgments people make might discourage people from coming out.
Evidently, there are still numerous aspects of the community that inhibit some students from expressing their authentic selves. It is, however, comforting to know that the SPS community today is one that allows community members of different Forms, of different races, of different socioeconomic backgrounds, to publicly identify as LGBTQ amidst thundering applause.
2
Campus Life
B
Striving for Equality (in Heels, No Less): Feminism at SPS
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
eyoncé says it best in her song titled “Flawless,”
released in early 2013. She declares, “Feminist:
the person who believes in the social, political, and
economic equality of the sexes.” In present day society,
there is a common misconception that feminism is really a
disguised anti-men movement, where all feminists despise
anything and everything masculine. This is incorrect.
This year at St. Paul’s School, there have been
several attempts to address the issue of gender inequality
by creating clubs on campus that are dedicated to resolving
this problem. One group, comprised of three Fifth Form
girls, is determined to change the traditional way of life
here at SPS to make a more equal environment for all, men
and women alike.
Mimi Soule ‘16, Abbey Stamats ‘16, and Paola
Tabet ‘16 established a group with the goal of generating discussion about gender equality, in hopes of creating
a general awareness about the inequality present at SPS.
Mimi says that the three initially wanted to create this
group because, “Discussions like these are absent here,
and despite the multiple conversations we’ve had about
other forms of inequality, there has never been talk about
this issue before.” The conversations that interest them are
geared toward understanding the various unequal scenarios
present at the school; this goes for girls and boys alike.
“Guys think that we have it easier here and we want to
know why,” Abbey explained. They plan to complete projects, watch videos, and encourage such discussions on different gender inequality issues to get the School aware and
talking.
By SAMMY BRAINARD '15
These girls have each experienced a significant
amount of criticism and judgment after they created their
group. “People have been giving us a hard time about starting this club already,” Paola remarked. “That speaks to the
inequality present here.” The hope is that they eventually
will get boys on board in support of their group and goal.
Without the crucial male presence in the group, however,
boys are hesitant to attend meetings. They emphasize the
fact that, similar to the real definition of feminism, the goal
of their group is to not bring down guys, but simply to be
aware. “Whenever people give me [a hard time] for starting this group, I ask them why, and the reasons I’ve heard
are actually valid, because they’re under the false impression that we are a man-hating thing, and that the School
culture is favorable to girls,” Paola commented.
This is not the case. The girls believe there are
many instances where it is acceptable for boys to do something that girls cannot do without provoking some kind of
negative reaction. These are often small things. As Abbey
points out, “SPS is greatly based on tradition; we used to
be all-male and whether people realize it or not, it has been
brought into our society today.” Some examples of this traditional inequality include Boar’s Head and Mr. Millville.
They believe these events would never pass the Dean’s
office if girls took the place of boys in each of these events.
Similarly, Mimi mentions that boys often go without shirts
in the AFC with no one saying anything, whereas if a girl
were to be seen walking around the fitness room in a sports
bra, she would immediately be subject to countless stares,
comments, and would probably be told to put on a shirt.
LILLY SCHOELLER '15
On a separate, yet important note, making fun of
girls who act “un-womanly” has become a popular form
of humor. Some examples of behaviors that are considered
masculine include eating a lot, wearing sweatpants and
sweatshirts, and generally not caring about appearance. As
Paola puts it, “Since when is eating a lot of food considered
masculine?”
The three bring up key issues that need to be
talked about. While they are not suggesting that St. Paul’s
needs to change drastically and immediately, keeping an
open mind and understanding the goal of the group is all
that they ask for.
With all of the additions and revisions made, students have
felt almost overwhelmed with the encouragement of safe
intimacy. However, the School’s words have been inconsistent with actions taken against student couples by teachers and security. When many advisors check on students,
they knock while opening the door, hardly giving students
enough time to reply to the knock before the advisor has
entered. Regardless of whether a friend or a partner is visiting, it is frustrating to students who feel as if they cannot
be trusted to be left alone with a person of the opposite
gender. As a result of the constant “checking up on,” students have resorted to going to buildings and other spots
on campus. With the addition of the new locks on all the
buildings, many of these places are locked in the evenings, leaving student couples with nowhere to spend time
together and cultivate a healthy relationship.
Numerous complaints have also arisen from
students who have been with a partner, or even a friend
of the opposite gender, and have been stopped by a faculty member or a security officer. “It’s frustrating when
a teacher will stop my boyfriend and me when we walk
around holding hands,” says a student who prefers to
remain nameless. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong
with it, but they tell us otherwise. Security seems to have
the same mentality. My boyfriend and I have been asked
to leave certain buildings while just having a conversation.
It’s like security is on the hunt for people who appear to be
hooking up; if I was with another girl, I doubt I would have
been kicked out.” Despite living in a community which
“seeks to affirm and support young people in their search
for appropriate expressions of self and affection towards
others” as stated in the Handbook, many students feel as
if they are unjustly placed in a position where this is not
the case. In fact, many feel targeted simply for being in
a relationship. Director of SPS Security George Pangakis
recognizes this difficulty, stating, “We as a department
have been struggling as of late with balancing expressions
of affection with those displays that are inappropriate. In
some instances, we have not done a good job in striking
that balance. I have received some feedback that some student couples have not been happy with their interactions
with our officers for what they saw as low-level displays
of affection. In some instances, I agree with the students.
For instance, I don’t expect a response from an officer for a
couple holding hands or hugging…We also have not done
a very good job in communicating our concerns to those
students engaged in those activities and in some instances
our responses were more discipline-based than supportive
and learning-based.”
Exasperated students who feel as if the School is
being hypocritical have taken to expressing these views
to the Dean of Students Office and Security, who have
explored solutions to this problem. Mr. Pangakis continues, “In response to concerns expressed by students and to
better understand adolescent relationships, we are working
with the Dean of Students Office and the Health Center,
who will be providing the security department with training on these subjects and on how we can better provide services. We are also awaiting the results of our recent school
safety and security consultants report [which] suggested
they would be making recommendations in this area.”
Hopefully, these recommendations will extend to the faculty as well to change the way that all campus adults react
to student relationships. In this way, students and adults
alike can act in accordance with the revised sexual intimacy policy so relationships can grow in a healthy manner.
The New Sexual Intimacy Policy in Practice
that a student can no longer be subjected to disciplinary
action if one is caught being sexually intimate. “I like how
the new policy places more emphasis on healthy relationships rather than disapproval of sexual conduct,” says Victoria Bennington ’15. “It’s also a lot clearer; as students,
we know exactly what is expected of us and what is considered appropriate. Most importantly, it focuses a lot more
on the respect that should be present in any relationship.”
The decision was made to begin Intervisitation earlier this
year, rather than after Family Weekend as in years past,
to foster these healthy relationships. In-dorm discussions
of how Intervisitation relates to appropriate cross-gender
conduct accentuated this decision.
NICOLE KIM '15
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
3
Campus Life
Guest Poet Anis Mojgani Encourages SPS to "Shake the Dust"
O
By SOPHIE PESEK '16
provided by the Schlesinger family, the students convinced
the famous poet to visit the School and meet with students.
Mr. Mojgani commenced his visit to St. Paul’s
with a Sunday night workshop. There, he ran a series of
group and individual poetry writing exercises. Throughout
the experience, he urged students to explore emotions and
to not be afraid to put work out for others to see. “Be honest
with yourself,” Mr. Mojgani advises young artists on his
blog. “Be fearless in risk-taking.” Additionally, he encourages unorthodox imagery and experimentation. This seems
to be a common theme in Mr. Mojgani’s work.
During X Block on October 20, he shared a
number of his poems with the entire school. The audience
was unusually captivated for a sleepy block at 2:15 on a
Monday. He kept the students and teachers laughing with
his bizarre references and dramatic delivery, while raising
pertinent issues such as the fragility of life and the importance of individuality. Louisa was thrilled with the performance of the poet she calls her “hero.” “He harnesses the
simplicity of language and makes it so complex, beautifully. The balance is so delicate, and his borderline existence is fascinating.” Other students agree with Louisa.
“You never know what you're going to get with these sorts
of talks,” remarks Jack Becker ’17. “I was glad to see that
it turned out to be a wonderful performance that allowed
me to take a nice break from the hectic life here.” Mr. Mojgani’s visit serves a reminder for all students to appreciate
the nuances of life and to embrace their inner artist.
COURTESY OF MRS. SUZANNE ELLINWOOD
Student Spotlight: Jasmin Animas '17 and the Birthday Club
T
he 547 students at St. Paul’s School move at an everincreasing pace. Amidst all the rigorous academics,
athletics, and extracurricular activities, a student is
often immersed in his or her own personal bubble, unaware
of the less well-known goings-on about campus. Though
Jasmin Animas ‘17 is certainly preoccupied with her own
busy schedule, she has established the “Birthday Club,” an
on-campus group that aims to unite the School community through gathering signatures on personalized birthday
cards for each student’s birthday.
“I love making cards for other people. It started
off as something I would do for friends, but now it’s grown
to something I would like to do for the entire community,”
says Jasmin. Her mission is to transform the Birthday Club
into a school-wide collaborative project by giving everyone the opportunity to get involved. What defines each
card, she explains, is not the intricacy or quality of the
design, but rather the signatures and messages written by
members of the community. However, the number of signatures has not been as high as Jasmin had hoped. Many
are unaware that the 35 cards she and the Birthday Club
have already made have been laid out in the Schoolhouse
Reading Room and at the Rectory on Saturday nights,
waiting to be decorated with signatures and messages from
friends, classmates, and teachers. To Jasmin, the cards are a
tangible form of recognition for students, and are symbols
of thanks for their contributions to the community.
Ideally, Jasmin would like each card to be tailored
specifically to each recipient. “I try to incorporate personal
elements into each card and make it unique to the person,”
she says. “The problem is I don’t know everyone at School,
so I can’t make every card so personal. I would love to
have more student input, so people can help design cards
for their friends.” Jasmin estimates that each card will take
her anywhere from one to two hours. She continues, “The
creative process doesn’t take long. Once I have an idea in
By AUDREY OSBORN '17
COURTESY OF JASMIN ANIMAS '17
my head, I sketch it out and then start to make the card.”
The goal of the Club is to create one card for each student
at School, which would equate to the creation of around
50 cards per month of the school year. Though this may
seem like a difficult task involving an excessive amount of
glitter and glue, the participation and contribution of the
entire community will be the driving force of this project’s
success.
The Birthday Club is a unique project that can
unite the School community in a small but significant way,
as each card is a testament to both the individuality and
diversity of the St. Paul’s student body. So why not take a
break from the fast pace of life at SPS and express appreciation towards friends, classmates, and peers? Now, thanks
to Jasmin, students can.
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
n Monday, October 20, St. Paul’s School welcomed the poet Anis Mojgani to the School as the
first Schlesinger Writer of the year. Mr. Mojgani’s
impressive and extensive credentials include being a twotime National Poetry Slam Champion and winner of the
International World Cup Poetry Slam. He has performed
across the globe and is arguably the most famous spoken
word poet of today. How did SPS attract such an accomplished artist?
In Fall Term of 2012, a number of Third Form
Humanities classes viewed a recording of a spoken word
performance as part of their exploration of poetry. This
clip was Mr. Mojgani’s famous piece “Shake the Dust.”
The poem, which focuses on the necessity to reject routine in life, spoke to many on a personal level. However,
two students of Ms. Anny Jones, Louisa Auerbach ‘16 and
Muriel Wang ‘16, were especially inspired by the performance. “This was the first time I knew poetry wasn’t just
fluff,” Louisa reflects. Both students are passionate adherents of poetry and founders of the Dead Poets Society on
campus, a club which endeavors to “create an environment
where people can share and discuss the language of poetry
and prose without the fear of judgment.” Through their
relationship with Ms. Jones, they set out on a campaign
to invite Mr. Mojgani to SPS. With the funds generously
4
The Pelican Club
A Special Thanks to Dr. Christopher Morse
Isthmian
Like the Isthmian Club, each of these words and phrases has the letters S-T-H-M in them in order. Once you solve all the clues, the letters you placed into the boxes will spell your
final answer.
1. Continent that’s home to Guyana and Suriname:
S ___ ___ T H
___ M ___ ___ ___ 10. Member of a comedy team who sets up the humorous lines of the other:
___
2. A type of body tissue used in organs under involuntary control:
S ___ ___ ___ T H
M ___ ___ ___
___
TH
4. The more common name of the B-2 US military aircraft:
___ M ___ ___ ___
5. An SPS student in their last year:
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
S
___ T
H
T ___ ___
___ ___
___ T
H ___ ___ ___ M
H ___ M
___ S ___
___ ___
T H ___
M ___ ___ ___
9. An ornamental flower with a large roundish composite flower head:
___ ___ ___ ___ S ___ ___ T
H ___ M ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
13. A place to retire to:
___ S
T
H ___ M ___
___ ___ ___
H
___ ___ M ___
15. A long rentable vehicle to go to prom in:
ST
___ ___ ___
H
___ ___
M ___
16. The capital of Sweden:
8. Full, new, or gibbous, e.g.:
___
___ ___ S T ___ ___
ST
7. Action-movie actor Jason of “Snatch” and “The Expendables”:
S
T HM
14. A device to remove undesired contents of the digestive system:
___ ___ ___ M ___ ___
6. An edible fungus named after a sea creature:
___ ___ S
M ___ ___
12. The half of the planet with Asia, Europe, Africa and Oceania:
M ___ ___ ___
S ___ ___ ___ ___ T H
___ H ___
11. A lung condition with labored breathing:
___ S
3. Published after the death of an author:
___ ___ S
S T ___ ___
H
___ M ___
ST
___ ___
H ___ ___ M
17. One of the U.S. Virgin Islands:
S ___ ___ ___ T
___
H ___ M ___
COURTESY OF IZZY TERAN '15
Send answers to pelican2@sps.edu for a prize and club points!
5
Puzzle Contest
for Contributing Each of These Puzzles!
Old Hundred
Like the O.H. club, each of these clued phrases is made of 2 words that start with the letters O.H. Once you’ve filled in the answers, the letters in the box in each of the answers will
spell out a final message.
8. A famous landmark in Sydney, Australia:
1. One method of warming your home in winter:
O ___ ___ H ___ ___
O ___ ___ ___ ___
2. Dodger pitcher with a record 59 straight scoreless innings in 1988:
9. A group of Islands off of western Scotland:
O ___ ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___
O ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
O ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
O ___ ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
7. Silent film partner of Stan Laurel:
O
___ ___ ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
12. A common type of cardiac surgery:
6. Work-related danger:
O ___
___ ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
–
H ___ ___
___
13. A veteran or pro:
O ___ ___ H
___ ___
14. C, in Roman numerals:
O ___ ___
H ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Delphian
Just like the DelPHIan Club, each of these words contains the Greek letter phi (F) inside it. Once you solve all the clues, the letters you placed into the boxes will spell your final
answer.
8. The city in Tennessee where FedEx is based:
1. The technical name of pencil lead:
___ ___ Φ ___ ___
___ Φ ___
___
2. The first wife of Napoleon Bonaparte:
9. An NFL player from Miami:
___
___ ___
___ ___ Φ ___ ___
___
4. Former host Regis who worked with Kathie Lee:
Φ
___ ___ ___
5. Like a path climbed by Jack and Jill:
Φ
___ ___
___
10. A deep blue precious gemstone:
3. The ancient Egyptian writing system:
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ Φ
Φ
___ ___
Φ
___ ___
11. A symphony orchestra:
Φ
___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
12. The country with a capital in Manila:
Φ
___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___
6. Animal living both on land and in water:
13. Angels of the highest Christian order:
___ ___ Φ
___ ___ ___
___ ___ ___ ___
7. Compounds that cause runner’s high:
___ ___
___ ___ Φ ___ ___
Φ
___
14. An ancient mythic creature known for its riddle:
___ Φ
___
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
___ ___
H ___ ___
O ___ ___ ___ ___
___ ___
5. Your spouse or lifemate:
O ___
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
11. Musical theater partner of Richard Rodgers:
4. Waiting for the operator to talk to you:
O ___ H
H ___
___ ___
10. This includes regular flossing and fluoride treatments:
3. Author of “The Gift of the Magi”:
O H
H ___
6
Columns
Becker on November: National
Novel Writing Month
I
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
By JACK BECKER '17
t is night, and very late. I have
just closed The Price of a Child
by Lorene Cary. My pen is
capped and my books are packed
away for tomorrow. I’ve had a long
day of classes, Choir, more classes,
theatre rehearsal, more Choir, Deli
Line, and then homework, and I am
finally ready to go to sleep…only, I
still have 1,667 words to write.
Some know November as
“No-Shave November,” a time when
guys (and maybe some girls too,
I don’t know) go the entire month
without shaving. It seems to be a
nice, friendly competition—which,
most people don’t realize, is intended
to raise awareness about men’s health
issues—and has become a staple of
American culture. I, however, know
November as a different marathon:
NaNoWriMo. “National Novel Writing Month,” is a time when professional and amateur writers buckle
NICOLE KIM '15
down and participate in a writing marathon, striving to reach the coveted goal of 50,000
words and be crowned a winner of the year’s NaNoWriMo. This generally entails quite
a bit of writing each day if you hope to reach your goal: the recommended daily average
is 1,667 words, which is about as easy as it sounds. There are days where you might find
yourself with plenty of free time that you can spend writing your novel; the words pour
from your fingers like raindrops, splattering the pages and leaving no part dry. Or, you
could be like me at this moment—tired, mentally exhausted, trying to keep yourself from
looking at the clock because you know you won’t like what you’d see there—when meeting that daily average seems downright impossible. But if everybody decided to throw in
the towel when the going gets rough we’d have no books, right?
Well, no. Actually, we would probably have a much healthier, well-rested population during the month of November if this event did not exist. This might seem a little brash
of me to say, but all I know is that I was feeling much better last month when NaNoWriMo
was just an upcoming event in the back of my mind, where my story and characters also
waited to be shared. I got much more sleep, had much less anxiety, and retained a lot more
of my general sanity. And judging from the posts on the forums on the NaNoWriMo website, many others participating in the event tend to feel the same way.
So why do people subject themselves to this? For me, a part of it is the goal of
writing a full 50,000-word novel and the pride that comes with it. But my larger motivation comes from a different source: Maya Angelou says, “There is no greater agony than
bearing an untold story inside you.” This may sound dramatic (and it is a bit, not that I
would say anything against Maya Angelou) but it does have a degree of truth. When I have
a story I want to tell, or characters that are dying to speak, I cannot bear to do anything
but explore them and let those characters and events speak out, even if it means giving up
sleep and sanity. Sometimes, though, procrastination gets in the way, and no matter how
much I want to write, I cannot find that little brook of inspiration in my mind. That’s the
beauty of NaNoWriMo: it forces me to write the story I desperately want to tell. It doesn’t
listen to me when I say I’m too tired, or I don’t know what’s going to happen next; it stares
me down, until laughing and crying and drinking coffee at the same time to keep myself
awake, I force my fingers to move, and I write.
It pains me to think that this is only the second time I’m participating in NaNoWriMo and it may well be my last. If I can barely keep my head above water doing this as
a Fourth Former, then how will I bear to manage it as a Fifth Former, or, God help me, a
Sixth Former—times when I will definitely have egregiously larger amounts of work? I
don’t know. I probably won’t.
But although I say this now, come next Fall Term when the first of November
rolls around and the razors are put away, I bet I’ll be sitting in my room, trying to resist the
temptation to stay up for just one more hour to get those first 2,000 words in…and failing
horribly.
Solter on Coffee
BY RILEY SOLTER '15
I
’ve been fighting for progress concerning a vital issue
that has deeply affected the
St. Paul’s School community for
years now, but the administration
has yet to hear my voice. I have
no choice but to use the power of
the press and bring this problem
to the student body’s attention:
we need a coffee machine in the
academic quad. (Disclaimer: I
haven’t actually talked to anyone
in the administration about this
yet, but I figured this would be
the quickest way to broach the
subject.)
It’s no secret that sleep deprivation is a major issue on the SPS
campus. Practically every student
I know has fallen asleep, or at the
very least dozed off, in one of his
or her classes. We are so busy
here that it is impossible to do
all our homework, participate in
clubs and athletics, have a healthy
YOUNGEUN AHN '14
social life, and still get six to eight
hours of sleep each night. During my Third Form year, a Sixth Former spelled out this
truth about SPS life to me: “You can have good grades, a social life, or sleep. Choose two.”
Most everyone prioritizes socializing and academics over sleep. No matter how early the
internet turns off, sleep deprivation will always be a problem at SPS. And it has negative
consequences. I know I’ve failed a math test or two because I had been so tired during class
that I didn’t understand the subject material. It was a constant struggle to stay awake during
my Third Form Geometry classes all throughout Winter Term.
There is a solution to this problem, however. Caffeine is a sure-fire way to shrug
off tiredness and start moving. I can’t imagine starting my day without a cup of coffee,
which is appreciated in the Upper. Unfortunately, inevitably, the caffeine fades. And then
you crash, and you crash hard. Class becomes an unending battle to keep your eyelids
open. The full effect of last night’s five hours of sleep comes crashing down on you. It’s a
nightmare.
Imagine a School where as soon as you start feeling that wave of exhaustion, you
could zip out of class for 30 seconds and come back with a hot mug of coffee, re-energized
and ready for anything. With a burst of caffeine available at a moment’s notice, the student
body would be more awake during class, achieve better grades, and generally be happier. Here at SPS, the Upper is simply too far away. Coffee is completely inaccessible to
the student body except at meal times. A coffee machine in the Schoolhouse, Lindsay, or
Moore would completely change that. No company would ever design a workplace without
a coffee machine—why should a school, with one of the most rigorous curriculums in the
country, not have one?
Yes, I know coffee is available in the Tuck shop. But should students really be
expected to pay for a vital resource? Let’s not turn this into a socioeconomic issue. Also,
for those who believe that coffee stunts growth or is bad for you—that’s a myth. Dr. Bassi
has told me that two to three cups of coffee a day has numerous health benefits.
Imagine a rural boarding school campus in the middle of the fall. Students are
walking around, heads bowed, sluggish. They pass by each other on the pathways, barely
acknowledging other students, with hardly enough energy to muster half-smiles. Students
snap at each other in conversation, strained and irritable. In every class someone is falling
asleep. Now imagine the same campus again, with one small difference. It’s still rural, still
in the middle of autumn. Yet it’s a completely different place. Students mill about the buildings, driven and focused. They converse excitedly with their peers about ideas and projects.
Everyone is riveted in class, discussions becoming lively with friendly debates. The high
energy makes the campus a fun, infectious place to live, and it’s all fueled by constant
access to coffee.
That is the choice that we have before us, one small decision that would yield
incredible results. I truly believe a coffee machine in the academic quad, adequately supplied, would transform this campus for the better. And if this coffee machine were an
espresso machine? St. Paul’s would have one of the best campuses in America.
7
Current Events
Silencing Voters Through Voter ID Laws
M
By ALLEGRA CHAPMAN '15
I
NICOLE KIM '15
’ve decided to write something a little different from
my usual Hollywood rant, but bear with me because
despite by best efforts, I truly am a broken record so
this shouldn’t differ too much from my past work. The
topic today is music videos, specifically the rise of high
production values and the fall of music television. But first
I should preface with a little backstory.
I grew up watching MTV and VH1. My parents
(although, to their credit, pretty hip), did not know about
the massive shift that occurred on music television channels in the late 90’s from VJ-run music video programming to reality TV shows like Flavor of Love and The
Real World, allowing them to remain blissfully unaware
and unconcerned while my sister and I watched. They were
by no means neglectful parents, and we weren’t negatively
affected by this generation gap-induced oversight. Antonia and I instead ended up pretty normal, without much
to show for our MTV days except slightly above-average
knowledge of VH1 Top Twenty Countdown results and past
Rock of Love winners. In fact, watching arguably overlymature television actually affected me quite positively; it
instilled in me an appreciation for music videos that has
endured as a passion into my adolescent life.
Even now there are few things I love more than
re-watching the greatest hits of video directors like Spike
Jonze and Hype Williams. Both of these men generated
some of the most iconic images of pop culture and their
creative contributions to the medium helped establish
music video production as a true art form. Take for example the fisheye lens that has become synonymous with the
images of rappers such as Missy Elliot, Busta Rhymes
and Nas. This camera effect was singlehandedly popularized by Williams, and has since become possibly the most
distinct motif in hip-hop videos of the past two decades.
Meanwhile, Jonze defined his style through his knack for
producing creative, concept driven, and often low-budget
videos like Weezer’s Buddy Holly, the Beastie Boys' Sabotage, and my personal favorite video of all time: Drop by
The Pharcyde.
Much to my (and I’m sure many others’) dismay,
unique mainstream videos like these have become increasingly scarce in recent years. What once made pop music
videos compelling has now been replaced by bloated budgets, Beats by Dre product placement and extravagant
costumes. I realize that pointing this out may come off as
pretentious or “hipster-y,” but I am not aiming to put down
mainstream media. I LOVE mainstream media, probably
more than is reasonable. It took me about four years to give
up on Glee and I am no more resistant to a good Katy Perry
song than the next girl. All I am pointing out is that recently
popular recording artists have become a bit lazy, relying on
their high budgets to carry their videos, instead of using
that money to fund creative and original work.
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
By JOON LEE '16
for many citizens. However, the Shelby County ruling
has been used by many states to enact policies that have
made it harder to cast ballots. Chief among these has been
the recent push towards stricter photo-identification laws.
According to proponents, photo identification ensures the
accuracy of elections by preventing voter fraud. However,
a study by Loyola University Law School professor Justin
Levitt found that between 2000 and 2014 there were only
31 tangible cases of voter fraud that could have been prevented by identification laws. This represents 0.0000031%
of the one billion ballots cast during the period of the study.
To put things into perspective, you are twice as likely to
win a standard six-digit lottery than you are to encounter
an instance of preventable voter fraud.
Therefore, it seems that voter identification laws
do very little, if anything, to increase the integrity and
accuracy of elections. However, research shows that voter
ID laws do have a tangible impact in discouraging voter
turnout. What’s more, a study by the Brennan Center for
Justice found that these restrictions “fall most heavily on
young, minority, and low-income voters, as well as on
voters with disabilities.”
The true effects of voter identification were on full
display on election Tuesday. In Texas, for instance, new
laws required voters to present photo identification and
SOPHIE PESEK '16
prohibited students from voting with school or universityonths before voting began, it became clear that
issued IDs. Although Texas’ voter identification law was
the 2014 midterm elections were going to have
met with intense controversy and criticism, it was eventumajor repercussions. The two years leading up
ally upheld by the Supreme Court this October. Estimates
to the midterms had been an eventful period for the Obama
show that these policies left around 600,000 registered
administration, from the disastrous roll-out of Healthcare.
voters in Texas without valid identification. What is more
gov to the continuing diplomatic crises in Ukraine, ISIL,
disturbing, however, is that the majority of these potenand Palestine to the recent Ebola scare. The midterms,
tially disenfranchised voters are African-American, Histherefore, functioned as a kind of report card for Obama, an
panic, or low-income. Texan voters such as Eric Kennie,
opportunity for the public to judge both his policy initiatives
a 45-year-old Austin native who lacked a valid photo ID,
and his response to the various international and domestic
and Jesus Garcia, a Mercedes resident who had his birth
crises that had rocked American society in recent years. To
certificate stolen, were unable to cast ballots. By the end
many, the outlook for the Democrats on election night was
of Election Day, a voter hotline set up by the nonpartisan
grim. Disappointment with the Obama administration was
Election Protection Coalition received 18,000 complaints
hitting record highs, and the frustration provided a perfect
nationwide from voters who experienced difficulty polling.
springboard for a GOP takeover. As expected, the Republi
However, it is not simply voter identification that
cans prevailed on election night, seizing seven new Senate
has changed due to Shelby County v. Holder. The ruling
seats and establishing the widest margin in the House in
has also led to policies that eliminate same-day registra60 years. However, there is another, more disturbing trend
tion, toughen voter registration requirements, and cut down
in this year’s midterms that, although often overlooked, is
on early voting. Like voter identification laws, these polijust as significant as the Republican takeover: the continucies also disproportionately impact minorities and lowering disenfranchisement of the American electorate.
income voters, who often are less likely to possess required
This year’s midterms were the first federal elecdocuments and have less time to vote due to work comtions to be affected by Shelby County v. Holder, a landmark
mitments. And we haven’t even seen the full potential of
2013 Supreme Court case that struck down sections 4 and
Shelby County v. Holder. The law loosens regulation on
5 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The Voting Rights Act,
the redistricting of county lines, leaving many states suswhich had been established to counteract racial discrimiceptible to gerrymandering that could further distort elecnation at the polls, prohibited certain states from making
tion results.
changes to election laws without federal approval. These
Any successful democracy hinges on active parstates, which include Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas,
ticipation by its citizens. However, the various voter laws
all had histories of intense voter discrimination. However,
passed in the run-up to this year’s midterms have made
Shelby County v. Holder found that these provisions were
it increasingly difficult for certain segments of the popuoutdated. Although the Court agreed that “no one doubts”
lation to exercise their basic right to a ballot. Of course,
voter discrimination still exists, the ruling found that the
preventing voter fraud is important. However, stricter voter
Voting Rights Act was both excessive in its reach and
identification is largely useless against fraud; studies show
unfair, as it applied to only certain states. It seemed to the
that often, the simple enforcement of existing identification
Supreme Court that America was past its ugly history of
laws can prevent cases of election-day dishonesty. What
discrimination at the polling booth.
we have seen in the 2014 midterms is a system of elections
Shortly after Shelby County v. Holder was
where not all Americans have an equal say, and this is an
enacted, many states jumped at the opportunity to revise
extremely dangerous precedent to set. It is time that we
their various election-day policies. Some, such as the
give voter identification the attention and honest dialogue
adoption of online registration, eased the voting process
it desperately needs.
Music Videos
8
Coming Up This Winter Term..
Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF MRS. SUZANNE ELLINWOOD
The Pelican Staff
Graphics
Amber Bates
Christina Kim
Sophie Pesek
Emily Saunders
Lilly Schoeller
Izzy Teran
Photographers
Demilade Adeboye
Cat Etchart
Sarah Evenson
Arda Keni
Sadie Lee
Sun Woo Lee
Christine Leung
Gabriel Patenotte
Brunston Poon
Mac Taylor
Faculty Adviser
Ms. Minet Marrin
Steering Committee
Courtney Becker - Editor-in-Chief
Priscilla Salovaara - Assistant Print Editor
Antonio Roxas - Print Layout Editor
Hanna Chan - Assistant Print Layout Editor
Isabella Pirozzolo - Online Editor
Julia Schell - Co-Online Editor
Nicole Kim - Graphics Editor
Judy Tsai - Photo Editor
Maxwell Abram - Senior Editor
Noah Ruttenberg - Senior Editor
Paul Kigawa - Senior Editor
Amanda Morrison - Senior Editor
Sam Yonce - Business Manager
Writers
Max Baron
Jack Becker
Sammy Brainard
Allegra Chapman
Alex Dreyfus
Belle Gibbons
Marina Hostrop
Joe Kim
Henry Kremer
Sadie Lee
Joon Lee
Sarah McKean
Audrey Osborn
Sophie Pesek
Riley Solter
Webster Thompson
Muriel Wang
Nicolas Welch
Print Layout
Sam Chase
Sarah Kaplan
Helena Kwon
St. Paul's School
325 Pleasant St.
Concord, NH 03301