With the semester closing and finals nearing, we are yet again surrounded by endings. This year, LM is also grateful to welcome new beginnings. Thanks to artist Leo Sewell, LM was granted a handmade sculpture, the newest addition to our school. Rep-resenting our spirited mascot, a bulldog statue now stands proudly in the courtyard, surrounded by win-dows for all to enjoy. Familiarized with Harriton’s similar apple sculpture, both ideas, an apple and a bulldog, were suggested and approved by the Lower Merion Harriton High School (LMHHS) Alumni Association. The two designs originated after long discussions within the Association, and later were brought to action once the alumnus selected the artist Leo Sewell.

Growing up near a dump, Sewell was prone to playing with junk—in fact he’s been doing so for fifty years now. Using recognizable objects of metal, wood, and plastic, Sewell has developed his own assemblage technique. He tends to choose materials based on shape, texture, durability, and patina. Like our bulldog, his outdoor sculptures are constructed of found objects that are welded together. Size

isn’t the issue with Leo Sewell, whose pieces range from a life size housecat to a 40-foot installation. His work can be found throughout Philadelphia, including nearby facilities like the Please Touch Museum.

Many responses regarding Sewell’s bestowal sup-port the investment. Sophomore Arman Hassan be-lieves the sculpture “adds a bit more character to the building, and tradition with the bulldog will evolve over the years to come.” Staff and students are not only excited by the statue’s appearance, but show enthusiasm regarding its significance to the school. Principal Sean Hughes reflects on LM’s new addi-tion through recognition, “The LM/Harriton High School Alumni Association has been instrumental in celebrating not only our storied past but also our exciting future through a bevy of celebrations such

The official student newspaper of Lower Merion High School since 1929Volume 83, Issue 9June 5, 2012

The MerioniteOver the past few years, LM has been involved

in more than its fair share of lawsuits. While the infamous webcam lawsuits garnered an international spotlight, it is Students Doe v Lower Merion School District that has the potential to make more of an impact on the school district. The case was filed in May 2009, in response to the school board’s contro-versial 2009 redistricting plan. That plan, according to the plaintiffs, illegally used race (in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment) as a factor in sending a large group of South Ardmore students to Harriton High School, despite their ability to walk to LM. Now, after two controversial decisions by federal district and ap-pellate courts, the case has the potential to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

The case was first heard in the U.S. District Court in April 2010. The school district claimed that all redistricting decisions were made with respect to geography and other factors and that race was only considered to prevent isolation. This case was “novel,” because a neighborhood, rather than one or more particular individuals, was targeted, meaning that each high school student residing in South Ar-

dmore was sent to Harriton regardless of his or her race. Contradicting the precedent of Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, a Supreme Court case prohibiting the assignment of specific minority children to schools to encour-age racial integration, District Court Judge Michael Baylson ruled that Lower Merion’s redistricting deci-sion was, in fact, constitutional. Unsatisfied with the decision, the plaintiffs appealed to higher court.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the second-highest level of federal court, heard the appeal. The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) filed an Amicus Curiae (“Friend of the Court”) brief in favor of the school district, sup-porting the goals of redistricting. The NAACP Legal Defense Fund claimed that the plaintiffs’ case would undermine the landmark Brown v. Board of Education decision by opposing the goal of racial integration. Supporters of the Students Doe plaintiffs argued that the NAACP ignored the fact that the redistricting plan assigned students to schools on the basis of race. Even if the district were encouraging diversity, the plaintiff claimed, the policy was discriminatory. Like the District Court, the Third Circuit ruled in favor of the district, in December of 2011, suggesting that the District “used pristine, non-discriminatory goals as

Lawsuit reaches Supreme Court

See COURT, page 2

Bulldog dedicated in courtyardCarter Rauch

Class of 2013

Galen McMullen Class of 2014

Photo by Efi Narliotis/Staff

Sewell’s bulldog construction incorporates recognizable junkyard finds.

General Becton visits LMNoah Blodget

Class of 2014

See GENERAL, page 2 See BULLDOG, page 2

It is not often that a retired three-star general walks the halls of your school, and i t is even more unusual when that general calls your school h i s h o m e . O n M o n d a y, M a y 21, Lieutenant Genera l Ju l ius Wesley Becton Jr. walked into L M , 6 8 y e a r s after he gradu-ated. During a day fi l led with numerous f e s -t i v i t i e s , t h e s t o i c 8 6 y e a r old spoke about t h e f o u n d a -tions set in his youth, the rac-ism he faced in the mili tary, and the im-portance of integrity and loyalty. In an interview conducted by English teacher, Dr. Debra Hobbs and junior Josh Harper, Lt. Gen. Becton began by discussing his early youth, growing up in an apartment in Bryn Mawr. He highlighted his experience as a football player for LM as one of the most influential periods in his l ife. He also discussed the importance of a strong family unit and good education. When asked about those who served as his mentors , he responded, “I must always include my father, Julius W. Becton Sr. His influence is the reason I continue to use

‘Jr.’ after my name even though Dad died more than 40 years ago.” His biggest focus however, was the importance of educat ion. He s ta ted, “With a good education, you are able to unlock the doors to your goal . Educat ion serves as

the platform to your desires in l i f e . ” E d u c a -tion has played a major role in Lt . Gen. Bec-t o n ’s l i f e , a s h e g r a d u a t e d f r o m P r a i r i e V i e w A & M U n i v e r s i t y , where he later served as pres-ident, and has s i n c e e a r n e d h i s m a s t e r ’ s degree and an h o n o r a r y P h .

D from Muhlen-berg University. He stressed the

importance of truly applying yourself, as LM is one of the strongest programs nationwide.

As the interview progressed, the focus shifted more towards the genera l ’s va l i an t mi l i t a ry career and the challenges he faced, such as seg-regated ranks and Vietnamese guerrilla warfare. He commented often on the importance of integ-ri ty. He stated, “Integrity is non-negotiable. A man is judged by his integrity.” In addition, he noted that loyalty is just as important. “Loyalty is a two way street . I t should go up as well as

Photo by Doug Cotler General Becton (to left) visits the new bulldog

in the courtyard.

down.” Although Lt. Gen. Becton is a very humble man, it was impossible to look past his many military awards. He has earned the Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Germany, the Distinguished Service Medal, two Silver Stars, two Legion of Mer-it medals, and two Purple Hearts. Although he did not mention these awards during the interview, when asked, he did comment that these awards serve as a daily reminder of the rewards of perseverance, loyalty, and integ-rity.

Moving forward, Lt. Gen. Becton contin-ued his theme of loyalty and integrity when addressing his career in the government. Af-ter retiring from the army, Becton worked for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and in 1985, he was appointed by President Ronald Reagan as the director of the Federal Emergency Manage-ment Agency (FEMA). He then turned toeducation, becoming the president of Prairie

View A&M University and eventually, the superintendent of public schools in the Dis-trict of Columbia. In 1998, he retired from his post as superintendent. He now resides in Virginia with his lovely wife of 61 years. He has five children: four daughters and one son. Three of his children have served our country and his eldest daughter is married to a retired Lieutenant Colonel. He continues to speak to young adults about the values of education.

Instead of a dry, withered, old man with a cliché attitude, Lt. Gen. Becton presented himself as a strong man and peaceful ora-tor, with the ability to draw in the audience and evoke laughter from everyone. Dr. Debra Hobbs stated the following, “I feel [General Becton] is an American hero, and a source of inspiration, for generations of the past, pres-ent and the future. He provides a very strong foundation in the educational journey. Edu-cation was clearly the key for success in his life, both professionally and personally.”

the 100th anniversary of LM’s first graduating class, the ground breaking and corner stone ceremonies, as well as the dedication ceremony of the new building. Their tradition of service continues and we are grateful as we accept this beautiful bulldog statue, which will forever grace this courtyard where you all now sit.” Current students are thankful to have alumns who continue to show gratitude towards LMSD’s high schools. Even if spirit and tradition are overlooked through the viewer, students can still appreciate our newest addition, junior Julien Dauophars simply states, “It’s really cool!”

However, with praise comes complaint. Although most critics prefer to remain anonymous, there is some criticism floating through the halls of LM. Junior Au-drey Mills points out that she “likes the idea of it, but because everyone’s always locked out of the courtyard no one can ever enjoy it.” Other judgments conclude

that the money should’ve been used for other neces-sities of greater importance. Additionally, some staff and students have disliked the idea and appearance. In fact, these same viewers believe the statue at most takes up space. Student artists argue that the composition is weak and the assemblage is lacking. Others claim to be inspired by the work and are excited that LM has intro-duced professional art into its boundaries. Art teacher Russell Loue shared his views regarding the matter: “I will never be opposed to the purchase of art to beautify public space. I wish there would be more of that. But I do wonder what our students could have done with that type of assignment. Frankly, I think we could have come up with something even grander, and more con-nected to LM. I do appreciate the districts commitment to the arts and welcome the Dog to the art collection here at LM.”

Whether standpoints are found to be positive or negative, the statue is here to stay. We welcome the addition kindly as our courtyard is embellished with our school mascot. Sewell managed to both represent and incorporate LM’s tradition and spirit. Again, the bulldog sculpture can be found in the courtyard, closest to the windows lining the counseling offices. A final word from Hughes was, “Our new building is truly amazing and now, our school mascot will serve as a visual re-minder to us all of the cherished legacy of the LM experience—one that started over a hundred years ago and one that will con-tinue for years to come.”

the focal points of its redistricting plan.” While the “Opin-ion of the Court” did acknowledge that race was a factor in the district’s redistricting decision, the court concluded that race was not used impermissibly in violation of the Four-teenth Amendment. It seemed that the redistricting conflict was finally over, but the district was not so lucky.

Earlier this year, the Students Doe petitioned for a “writ of certiorari,” essentially requesting the Supreme Court to hear their case. This does not mean that the nation’s highest court will hear the case. In fact, a vast majority of cases for which Supreme Court review is sought never reach the Supreme Court docket. Only a fraction of the cases that are sufficiently controversial, often a result of conflicting decisions by lower courts, are accepted for review. The school district, opposing Students Doe’s petition for certiorari, claims that the consensus of the lower courts, as well as past court decisions, have settled the matter, and that review is neither necessary nor ap-propriate in this case.

There may be sufficient conflict, however, to draw

the Supreme Court to this case. According to the lawyer for the plaintiffs, David Arnold, “this case presents an opportunity for the Supreme Court to straighten out what school districts are allowed to do and as a result I think it’s a very timely case.” He may be right, as it is arguable whether the decisions of both the District and Circuit Courts conflict or harmonize with the Supreme Court’s 2007 decision in Parents Involved. Given the current com-position of the Supreme Court, certain justices may want to consider Students Doe to provide school districts with greater leeway to consider race as a factor in redistricting decisions, while other justices may want to use Students Doe to prohibit this practice entirely. This will hinge on each justice’s view of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

The most likely outcome of this legal mess is that the Supreme Court will decline to take the case, the Third Circuit’s decision will stand, and the case will end, once and for all. For now, at least, the final outcome of the case is far from certain.

June 5, 2012

The Merionite NEWS 2

NEWS IN BRIEFThe 4th annual Run for Our Schools, hosted by the

Education Foundation of LM, will be held Saturday, June 10, at 9:00 A.M. The run will start at the Har-riton High School track, at 600 North Ithan Avenue in Rosemont. There will be a 5K run, a 1.5 mile fun walk, and a track trot to reach all types of active sup-porters of the school district.

Besides overall and age group prizes for individual runners, LM can win two prizes: the Foundation Cup and the School Trophy. The Foundation Cup goes to the LMSD school with the highest percentage of overall participants and the School Trophy goes to the school with the top five runners.

Interested runners (or walkers!) can register on-line at www.educationfoundationoflm.org with their school.

—Maddy McFarland, ‘14

Run for our Schools

—Julia Resnik, ‘14

As the school year comes to a close, summer con-struction at LM begins.

According to the administration, all construction on campus has been finished, with the exception of Arnold Field. The renovation of the playing fields, which were previously paved over to serve as a temporary parking lot, began last month. The remaining construction for Arnold Field includes installing an irrigation system, replanting grass, and laying down topsoil.

While the field is scheduled to be finished by the end of June this year, the field will be given two off-seasons to allow grass to grow. With the two off-seasons taken into account, Arnold Field will not officially open until the fall of 2013.

Summer construction at LM

—Ma’ayan Doron ‘14

The United Way campaign was brought to LMSD in March by LM school and community relations director Doug Young to better the local community.

All the employees of LMSD came together to raise money, finally raising $8,000, only $2,000 less than the goal. Still, this was a huge increase from the amount raised last year.

Spanish teacher Dan Capkin, who helped Young spearhead the campaign, said, “It is a great way to give back to the community and I think we did a good job of spreading the word, and hopefully we can keep getting more people involved each year!”

United Way aids LM community

Supreme Court may hear LM caseFrom COURT, page 1

General Becton talks to LM studentsFrom GENERAL, page 1

Bulldog statue new to courtyardFrom BULLDOG, page 1

—Aviva Mann & Rebecca McCarthy, ‘14

In memory of her husband, Andrew Fox, LM Work Experience teacher Bonnie Fox encourages all to join the 3rd Annual Fox’s Fight 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and Family Fun Day on Sunday, June 10th. Basketball, running, walking, food, music, and other activities for the entire family will begin at 10:00 A.M. at Harriton High School. Additionally, a dermatologist will be on site to answer questions and provide information.

Andrew Fox passed away at age 43 in 2007 after battling melanoma—his wish was to bring awareness to the disease, and raise funds to research and find a cure. Since the Andrew J. Fox Melanoma Research and Patient Care Fund at the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania was founded, it has raised over $300,000. Help make this event a success and contact Bonnie Fox at foxb@lmsd.org for further information.

Battle melanoma with basketball

The Merionite OPINIONSJune 5, 2012 3

Question of the MonthIf you could ask a senior any question, what would it be?

Last month, the Op-Ed section asked all Lower Merion students, “if you could ask a senior any question what would it be?” We polled Seniors with the questions asked.

Check out what these wise LM graduates had to say.

How many times have you heard the words “you go to school to learn?” Unquestionably, academic success is something to celebrate. Yet the amount of emphasis placed on the grand title of Lower Merion Valedictorian, is incred-ible. It represents, in simple terms, the best of the best, top of the class, cream of the crop.

According to guidance counselor Mar-sha Rosen, the selection process is “pretty cut and dry.” The exact process includes having a 5.0 GPA at the end of junior year and having A’s in all classes for the first

three quarters of senior year. As there are usually a few students that fulfill these requirements, there are a few “tiebreaker” guidelines, such as total credits acquired and the number of AP/Honors courses completed.

Yet should the position be based more on citizenship and per-sonality? According to Rosen, the answer is no. “This is an academic honor. We have other awards at the ceremony that have to do with citizen-ship and such. There is also a class gradu-ation speech that seniors apply for and can present as well.”

S t i l l , t h e b i g g e s t h o n -or i s g iven to the one who has performed best in the classroom. There is a huge push to be well-rounded, but the demanding milestones re-quired to achieve this trophy ask students’ primary focus to be on the books. Shouldn’t there be a similar

honor for athletics? Art? Music? Of course the purpose of high school is to succeed academically — or

does it? And why is this the pinna-cle chosen? It is an utterly ex-

h a u s t i n g

race to earn the title, and many students race through their high school years striv-ing for perfection to achieve it.

Instead of making valedictorian such a huge deal, LM, and educational insti-tutions in general, should place greater weight on the graduating speaker. In order to avoid a popularity contest, the student should be selected by teachers, counsel-ors, even the principal. People who can recognize academic achievements but also place value on other area

Vale, in Latin, means “farewell.” Dicere means “to speak.” However, many times a graduating speaker might be the quietest one in the class. The valedictorian should not be one who has slaved for months over their grades, but a kid who has taken from LM all it has to offer in a variety of fields, and given an equal amount back. Enjoying LM in it’s entirety is the message that seniors should hear as they listen to their final farewell speech.

Revamping what it means to be Valedictorian

“”

1. Minor, but I’d say kids playing sports don’t take gym classes. 2. I would put more of a focus on giving a class that teaches general im-

portant life skills that are important to growing teenagers. Maybe learning how to understand your taxes or deal with banks, or fix you car.

3. Any actual educational system remodeling is too complex to put here.

Jack Holmes

“ ”

Cla

ss o

f 201

4

Duranya Freeman

How would you remodeleducation?

Oh boy. Well, I would get rid of the No Child Left Behind Act and state testing, raise the salaries of teachers, cut down the military funding and give the money to schools, make sure that arts are taught and never cut, and ensure that schools across the nation have an equal quality of teaching so students have an equal chance to do well.

Afnan Blankinship

Where do you see yourself in ten years?

Either doing physics research, or teaching high school physics (prefer-ably at LM).

Andrew Fritz-Lang”

“

What was the most important event in the news during your high school years?

What about it was significant to you?

Obama’s election. It was on my birthday, and it was the first time I was truly politically ac-tive and knowledgable about what was going on. It defined my involvement in democratic and liberal organizations.

Eliana Yankelev

“

Phillies winning the WORLD SERIES! So much Phillies love! Ashley Reusora“ ”

This is basically what I’m doing for my senior project. We can improve the technology integration at LM and Harriton significantly, especially with the one-to-one initiative. The problem is, teachers are lost because they don’t know exactly how they can leverage technology in a natural and effective way for learning. However, this isn’t the teachers’ faults, they really need a solid foundation of Professional Development that they don’t seem to be getting anymore. LM should be embracing Challenge Based Learning – it enriches the traditional curriculum by also teaching practical skills, like problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity, not to mention it makes incredible use of the technology we already have.

Daniel Friedman

“

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I see myself working either on Wall Street or in a homicide unit.Drew Horn“ ”

The Arab Spring revolutions because they showed that a small group of young people can really make a difference in their lives.

Adam Beardsley“ ”

With a wife and a good job planning to/starting a family.Austin Levitt“ ”

Being an entrepeneur...having my own business and trying not to lose.

Maclyn Bean“ ”

“

Owning a bookshop in Narberth.Avi Molder ”In ten years I see myself a surgical resident. I have always been interested in

medicine ever since I was little, and for my senior project I shadowed a colorectal surgeon and it completely reinforced my interest - instead of my interest just being talk (since I had no OR experience), I absolutely know that is how I want to spend the rest of my life.

Elizabeth Hecht

“ ”

I would get rid of summer vaction and span out that vacation time throughout the year; maybe taking two to three week breaks multiple times throughout the year.

Julia Morrison

“ ”

”

Art by Aviva Mann/ Staff

Q: What do you feel you accomplished in Haiti? A: The process is not over yet but we are helping the village of Taverne provide a better education for the children of the vil-lage. During the two weeks we also helped break some of the stereotypes that other cultures have of Americans along with the stereotypes that we, as Americans, once had about Haiti

and the culture. -Sara Kramer, ‘13

A: As a team, we funded and laid the groundwork for a pri-mary school and, as a result, provided better access to educa-tion for the village of Taverne. On a personal level, I felt that through immersion in village culture and language I was able to experience and gain an appreciation for the hardships that

my host family and others face day to day. The cultural ex-change achieved by both sides promoted an understanding of the universal importance of education and helped to inspire

us to get a lot of work done on the worksite. -Adam Cohen-Nowak, ‘12

4

The Merionite FEATURESJune 5th, 2012 5

NOTE FROM MR. REED Trek was a life-changing experi-ence for all involved. In my many years of teaching, I have never bonded so closely with or had more respect for a group of stu-dents as I have for the Trek team. The chal-lenges faced and overcome were enormous. From working with pickaxes and shovels on the worksite in the blistering sun, to overcoming language barriers while liv-ing with host families, Trek members never complained and made it look easy. There was great respect and love shared between our Trekkies and the people of Taverne. This was evident at the closing ceremonies where many a tear was shed. I can’t explain in words how proud I am of the 18 young men and women who sacrificed seven months of their lives to raise the $70,000 needed to finance the construction of the school, and then actually travel over 1,500 miles to build it. Due to their efforts, over 200 chil-dren of Taverne, Haiti will be receiving the education they deserve and the many fu-ture opportunities that come along with it.

Build n: Trek

A Typical Work Day in Ayitiby Julia Kramer-Golinkoff ’13

6:15 A.M. – Alarm clock goes off7:00 A.M. – Pasta breakfast with the other trekkies, Mr. Reed, Dr. Marseille, and Doug Young.8:00 A.M. – On the work site for a rotation of shoveling, rock car-rying, and cement making with half of the trekkies and along side some Haitian community members, both adults and children. 12:00 P.M. – Lunchtime; dire ak pwa (rice and beans), and fresh-ly picked mangos!1:00 P.M. – A brief chat circle, discussing our day’s experiences and how we are adjusting to the Haitian culture.2:00 P.M. – Cultural workshop. We would visit a voodoo priest, hear stories from survivors of the earthquake, and learn how to farm, or even make bread!4:00 P.M. – Pumping and purifying water to eliminate the pos-sibility of becoming sick by bacteria that may exist in the water.5:00 P.M. – Dinner time! Labouyi Bannann or, in other words, mush made by our amazing Haitian cook, Anna, who made every meal for us.6:30 P.M. – Time to go back to our host family’s house!6:50 P.M. – A much needed shower (using a bucket of water and dumping it on our head) in our backyard, under the stars!7:00 P.M. – Talking, dancing, and singing with the villagers.11:30 P.M. – Bedtime!

The Trekkies recently came back from their two-week trip to Haiti. Their fund-raising efforts have been covered in the Merionite regularly this year. The LM community is proud of all they have done for the people of Haiti so far.

The MerioniteAviva Mann,’13Rebecca McCarthy, ’13

Margaret Meehan,’13

Noah Levick, ’13

Ma’ayan Doron,’14Maddy McFarland, ’14Haorui Sun, ’14

Itai Barsade, ’13Duranya Freeman, ’14Andy Scolnic,’14

Ilana Nathans, ’14Nicole Wang, ’13Robbie Warshaw, ’14

James Johnston, ’13Sigmund Lilian, ’13Blayne Yudis, ’13

Editors-in-Chief

Managing Editor

Content Manager

News Editors

Op-Ed Editors

Features Editors

Sports Editors

Arts & Entertainment

Editors

Copy Editors

Photo Editor

Layout Editor

Web Editor

BusinessManagers

Advisor

Business Advisor

Kara Boutselis, ’13Moriah Kofsky, ’14

Darby Marx, ’13Jane Urheim, ’13

Efi Narliotis, ’13

Robert Zhou, ’13

Kei Nakagawa, ’13

Haydn Hornstein-Platt, ’13Daoud Schelling, ’13

Mr. Chad Henneberry

Mr. Sean Flynn

The editors believe all facts presented in the newspaper to be accurate. The paper acknowl-edges that mistakes are possible and welcomes questions as to accuracy. Inquiries regard-ing accuracy should be directed to the editors of the paper. Editors can be contacted via e-mail at merionite@gmail.com or in Room 200A. To represent all viewpoints in the school community, The Merionite welcomes all letters to the editor. Letters can be sent via e-mail or dropped off outside the Merionite office. The Merionite reserves the right to edit letters to the editor for length or clarity.

Q: What was the most memorable moment of the Haiti Trek for you?

A: The most memorable moments for me were my times spent at night with my host family and friends. During these times, i would talk with the Haitians for hours on end with my limited

knowledge of Creole and their limited knowledge of English. Our communication was a challenge, but through many body and

hand motions, laughs, and trials and failures, ideas were passed and conversations were had. This form of communication was

completely new to me and was an unbelievable challenge.-Julia Kramer-Golinkoff, ‘13

A: One night, I was playing with the Haitian kids that lived around my house, and I told one of the girls to draw a pic-ture in my notebook. She drew a picture of a person. I then asked her to write her name, and she just scribbled on the

page. This girl was 12 years old and didn’t even know how to spell her name. I spent the next 40 minutes teaching her and

now she knows how to write Sandrine.-Benji Pollack, ‘14

A: The most memorable moment was probably when we were saying goodbye to the village. The whole community had

come to see us off and there was so much emo-

tion between all of us.-Nancy Wu, ‘14

Q: What still needs to be done in Haiti?

A: There is really no way to easily summa-

rize what still needs to be done in Haiti. An

example that puts the situation in perspec-

tive would be the capital building. Driving

through Port-Au-Prince we passed the large

white building that served as Haiti’s capi-

tal. The whole middle of the once grandiose

building was crumpled in on itsself. It has

been almost two and a half years since the

earthquake and Haiti still hasn’t fixed the

building. To be cheesy I think the building

is a good metaphor to the country’s whole

situation. I think that we accomplished a lot

with our trip and the school we built, but as

a whole, the country of Haiti has a very long

way to go before it is stable.

-Efi Narliotis

Q: What have you learned about yourself through this experience?

A: Before Trek I was a very quiet person that usually would just stand off to the side of

things and watch but that all changed in Haiti. Within the first few days we all got out of our

little shells and really got to see our true selves. For me I realized I was actually pretty outgoing and not as shy as I thought. I enjoyed living in the moment and being made to sing and dance for the neighborhood kids. Trek really makes

you realize what kind of person you really are. -Jamie McGee, ‘15

A: This trip has put a lot in perspective for me. I have learned that I am more flexible than I realized, that when motivated by others I can shovel lots of dirt, and that language barriers

aren’t so hard to break down with a little bit of effort. I’ve also learned to appreciate all that

we have here in Lower Merion. The biggest take away I have from the trip is that as students we

need to value our education and not take a second of it for granted. We all get caught up

in the little annoyances and politics of high school but I’ve learned that a high school

education isn’t guaranteed in much of the world and I believe that we should all appreciate the

amazing one we are offered.-Efi Narliotis, ‘13

The Features editors recently sat down with Lower Merion Administrators Dr. Wagner Marseille, Director of Secondary Education, and Mr. Doug Young, Director of School and Community Relations to hear about their Trek experiences working alongside the eighteen Lower Merion BuildOn students in Haiti.

“I feel really really fortunate that I was asked to be a part of the trip because without the work that those kids and Tom Reed did over the course of the year, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity. They really made it happen and I owe a debt of gratitude to BuildOn and to the students for enabling me to have this kind of an experience.” - Mr. Doug Young

“[The trekkies] embraced the culture shock tremendously, I know there are great students across the world, and I know I’m being biased when I say this, but I don’t know of another group of kids that could do the same work. And I say that with a caveat that, the BuildOn directors told me that in the 20 years they have been doing this, helping build schools, this by far was the best group of students they have ever had. For a myriad of reasons. First, because of the amount of money we raised in a short amount of time. Second, the fact that students quickly assimilated to culture without the traditional “Why am I here?” “I want to go home” which happens in some of these trips. Which is to be expected considering it is such a culture shock, but it didn’t happen here. Third, no other group learned the native language as quickly as our students did. And as a fluent speaker of Creole, I was shocked

after 4 days that our students were speaking in complete sentences, not broken words. The community was extremely shocked and even more welcoming when they saw that these 18 students desperately wanted to learn their language, and that in every moment they got, they were trying to speak it.” - Dr. Wagner Marseille

Thoughts from two LMSD Administrators

BuildOn students and local villagers engage in a bonding moment.

Photos by Skyler Badenoch

The Merionite ARTS & ENTERTAINMENTJune 5, 20126

Summer is around the corner, and for teens that means pool parties, camp outs, road trips, and soaking in the sun. But we mustn’t forget one of the most important aspects of summer; the old-fashioned barbeque. If you are thinking that hosting a barbeque sounds too ambitious, don’t fret; with our tips, it can be simple and enjoyable. Here is a five-step guide to the ultimate summer barbeque. First, make sure you have all of the following supplies:

-Plenty of protein (ribs, hamburgers, bratwurst, hot dogs, etc.)

-Veggie burgers, fish and tofu (It is important to take the dietary restrictions of your guests into account.)

-A grill (and coals for those non-gas grills).-Buns (potato buns with sesame seeds are our favorite). -Various vegetables (we suggest corn, zucchini, onions, and

plantains). -Tiki torches (to create a luminous summer).-All the necessary condiments and dressings (mayo, lettuce,

tomato, relish, mustard, ketchup, and pickles).-The classic game corn hole for entertainment.-A boom box (the A&E summer playlist will add to the ex-

perience). Next, you need to spread the word about this BBQ so you’re

not left alone to eat all that meat. Facebook is a good resource for this, but if you want to make it more personal, handcrafted invites or evites are also acceptable.

After that, take time to prepare the food, and marinades. Marinades are essential, especially for things like ribs and fish. While the meat is marinating, start chopping the veggies and salad mix-ins to add a fresh taste to your meal.

The fourth step is to start grilling. You’ll need to make sure the coals are piping hot and the meat is finished marinating. Make sure you’re wearing a cute apron; grilling can get messy. And most importantly, make sure all the meat and fish are fully cooked—you don’t want to poison your guests.

The fifth and final step is to light the tiki torches, pump up the music, and set up a summery table setting (flowers and bright colors are always nice).

TIPS: * Make sure to keep raw meat separate from everything

else. * Make sure to keep citronella candles lit to repel those pesky

mosquitos. * Barbeques aren’t all about meat; side dishes like a fresh potato

salad or coleslaw make traditional additions to the meal.* Right before the meat is done grilling, put the buns on the

grill for a few seconds for a light toast.Good luck kicking off your summer with the perfect BBQ!

N.Agoos/A. SchusterClass of 2013

The art of planning the perfect summer barbeque

Greetings from your new A&E editors Moriah and Kara! We’re elated to have been given this position and cannot wait to manage the section ourselves. Margaret, Aviva, and Robert did a great job running A&E this past year and we hope to follow in their footsteps. As the 2011-2012 school year draws to a close, we wanted to take some time to reflect on the music, movies, fashion trends, food, and pop culture that gained popularity over the last year. We compiled a list of which fads lost momentum, and what took their place. In summation, the list both represents the past year, and the new one to come.

A year in review: A&E styleA&E Staff

Class of ‘13/’14

IN: Haiti iPhonesDip DyeTomsNetflix

OUT:KonyBlackberriesHair FeathersHigh TopsHulu

IN: Instagram Hunger GamesSilent FilmsTemple RunColored Jeans

OUT: Mupload Twilight3DAngry BirdsFlare Jeans

Art by Natalie AgoosJust your typical backyard barbeque

ingredients.

It’s no secret that junior year is one of the toughest times in a student’s life. As my days of being a stressed out junior draw to a close, I would like to take a few moments to enlighten the current sophomores on their first task of junior year, summer reading. Summer reading can at times can get in the way of reading those silly non-educational books that loom over our heads for the bulk of the school year; however, I have concluded that the literature chosen by the English department is not so bad after all. In fact, some of the books have made a lasting impression on my life. I’ve compiled a small guide filled with descriptions and comments by current students of all of the required read-ing for rising juniors to help you get started this summer.

11th Grade Honors and CPNickel And Dimed Barbara Ehrenrieich’s look at the unfair and

unrealistic minimum wage in America takes her from Florida to Minnesota. She takes on minimum-wage jobs such as a maid, a Wal-Mart employee, and a waitress. Many believe that the journalistic intensions are largely lost and taken over by personal complaints and that her feelings of extreme exhaustion and at times hopelessness during her exploration express the emotions felt by minimum-wage workers all over the country. Can a woman live on a mini-mum-wage salary and support herself?

Thumbs Up: Darby MarxMandatory for all honors and college prep

students

The Tortilla Curtain The Tortilla Curtain examines the collision

of two cultural backgrounds in Los Angeles:

illegal Mexican immigrants and middle-class gated community types. The book was writ-ten in 1995, but is still largely relevant today due to the constant disputes about the border and immigration. After the two cultures cross paths, the lives of both are affected negatively and essentially spiral out of control. The Torti-lla Curtain takes a profound look at upper and middle-class ignorance.

Thumbs Up: Jared Oriel Mandatory for all honors students

AP Language and Composition If enrolled in AP Language and Composi-

tion for junior year, you will have a bit more flexibility in choosing your books. Although all students are required to read Jonathon Kozol’s Savage Inequalities, there are five different op-tions for the second book.

Savage Inequalities I personally feel that Savage Inequalities is

the most important thing that I’ve read so far in my lifetime, with the exception of perhaps “Letter From Birmingham Jail.” Honestly, both Honors and College Prep English 3 students should dedicate some time to reading this book as well. At times, you might find yourself over-whelmed or bored by the repetitive style of Ko-zol, but upon closing the book you will retain all of the frightening details of the crumbling educational system within the United States. This book will not only add to your knowledge about education in our country, but it’ll help you out a great deal while thinking of examples when you get to argument prompts fourth quar-ter.

Thumbs Up: Andrew Pasquier Mandatory for all AP Language students

Outliers

Malcolm Gladwell books have a way of grasping your attention early on and asking intriguing questions. Outliers would be a good complement to Savage Inequalities. Kozol does a great job of asking ques-tions, but he leaves a lot unan-swered. Gladwell answers his own questions, which may counter the feeling of hopeless-ness that you will inevitably en-counter while reading Savage Inequalities. For example, is there a formula for success? Yes. Junior Josh Handleman says: “It kept me interested the entire time.”

Thumbs Up: Colby Berman, Audrey Mills

The Cheating Culture The Cheating Culture examines how Amer-

ica’s culture is leaning towards unethical soci-etal norms. The book discusses the economic climate as well as the unforeseen results of economic inequalities. Junior Carter Rauch ex-plains the book: “Basically, it was talking about how cheating on things like taxes, tests, and sports have actually become expected, rather than condemned.”

Thumbs Up: Nicole Wang

The Overachievers: Secret Lives of Driven Kids

The Overachievers, written by Alexandra Robbins, journalistically tackles the opposite end of the educational failures as Savage In-equalities. Robbins follows several high school students and exposes terrible issues with the competitive culture thriving in our high schools. Overachieving students must climb ladders, and score well on meaningless tests. Often, this does not lead to happiness or real success. The book explores the college-admission pro-

cess, and even the kindergarten-admission pro-cess as well as the lapses in logic or truth that lie within the current competitive system.

The Ghost Map The Ghost Map examines the London chol-

era outbreak in 1854. Not only does the book trace the source of the disease back to the origi-nal point of contamination, it also takes a look at the implications on science, city planning, and health in the modern world. Junior Robin Weiner says that “The Ghost Map was a fantas-tic book, it was very informative and read like a murder mystery.”

Stiff Stiff is the quirky, comical sister of the AP

Language summer reading options. Junior Al-exander Hatza loved it, claiming that “it was about the daily lives of cadavers. It was hilari-ous. It followed them from medical school, to crash test centers, to army test centers, to the cremation station. Then it talked about uses of the human body in past cultures.” Luckily, you don’t need to have any prior knowledge going into the book, and whether or not you’re inter-ested in dead bodies, you’re going to learn an awful lot about them.

Thumbs Up: Sara Cheloha and Hejin Buris-Lee

Passing the torch: a junior’s guide to summer reading

Haydn Hornstein-PlattClass of 2013

7 June 5, 2012

SPORTSThe Merionite

There are two main reasons why I love Ultimate Frisbee. The first: Ultimate is a beautiful sport. There is a certain grace and elegance attached to its core elements of throwing and catching, and watching elite players take these skills, expand on them, and utilize them in intense game situations is breathtaking. The simple backhand motion used by college kids tossing on the beach is the same basic action used by the world’s best players to hit a sprinting receiver 50 yards away. My sophomore year, the first year I really invested myself into the sport, I was fortunate enough to play with an extremely talented group of seniors who demonstrated that grace. Their skill and passion infected me and spurred me to make Ultimate Frisbee my main sport. Since the fall of my sophomore year (Ul-timate at LM is played in both the fall and spring), this beauty has led me to play six seasons of Ultimate for LM, six seasons of Ultimate league outside school, and one season of club Ultimate.

The second reason I love Ultimate is because it attracts a different kind of person than most other sports. Ultimate is a self-refereed sport. There are no zebras run-ning around blowing whistles during a frisbee game; all the calls—fouls, in/out of bounds, etc.—are made and decided by the players. This “Spirit of the Game,” as Ultimate terms it, means that while players are still intensely competitive, they also have the conscience to make the right calls, even when it hurts their team. Because of this and because Ultimate has never received the recognition of other sports (at LM and at most high schools and colleges it is not recognized as a school sport), the people who play Ultimate form a unique and tight-knit community. While it is impossible to classify those people, I have found they are generally welcom-ing, spirited, and somewhat offbeat. The welcoming and offbeat qualities result from Ultimate not being a mainstream sport, while the spirited aspect harkens back to the sport’s self-ref-ereed nature. Glance at the team picture or roster for LM’s boys and girls teams and you will see an eclectic collection of individuals, from varying backgrounds and social groups. Each player however, is con-nected by the same passion and love for the game. I fell in love with the game’s beauty and individuality sophomore year, and since then, Ultimate Frisbee has undoubtedly been one of the most defining aspects of my high school career.

For most rowing teams, the 2012 LM Crew season would be considered a re-sounding success. Three LM boats quali-fied for the Scholastic National Champion-ships, which were held over Memorial Day Weekend on the Cooper River in New Jer-sey. The Var-sity Women’s Four finished the weekend as one of the top ten boats in the nation. The Light-weight Men’s Four and the Junior Varsity Men’s Four also had im-pressive showings at the National Regatta. Several standout row-ers have gained interest from college recruiters, and there was incredible improvement across the board for both the men’s and women’s teams.

The breakout stars of the 2012 season were undoubtedly the boys of the Novice 4, who performed impressively not only at the early Manny Flick Regatta, but also at other local regattas, including the Cooper Cup and the Mid-Atlantic District Cham-pionships, where the boys earned medals against stiff competition.

Other bright spots this season included the Lightweight Boys Four, who quali-fied for the Semifinals of the Stotesbury Cup Regatta, the Second Varsity Women’s Four, who made finals at the Mid-Atlantic Championships, and the Novice girls, who had one boat advance to the finals of the Philadelphia City Championships.

Despite its sporadic success this sea-son, LM Crew can boast 22 Stotesbury Cup victories, too. These titles are rough-

ly the rowing equivalent of 22 football championships in Texas or 22 basketball championship in Pennsylvania. In recent years, LM had achieved large-scale suc-cess in the rowing world, and had shown the ability to compete at a very high level. The 2012 rowing season did not live up to that standard.

That isn’t to say that the upcoming gen-eration of rowers is beyond hope, or that the glory days of rowing at LM are a thing of the past. For one, it’s important to note that the rowing world has become much more competi-tive over the past fifteen years, and local crews, es-

pecially those from Catholic and private

schools, have began to domi-nate on the water. Many of the most dominant teams in

the sport aren’t bound by PIAA regula-tions, and thus can begin official practice much earlier than the Aces are able to. The team has also frequently changed loca-tions and coaching staffs the past couple of years, and the transition from practicing on Boathouse Row to Conshohocken has been rocky at times. However, from the successes of the novice boys to the cama-raderie among all rowers, this year actu-ally proved valuable. The tenacity shown by many of the rowers, who worked dili-gently despite injuries, illnesses, BuildOn service projects and bad weather, can only serve to make them better in the future. The rowers should be proud of their ac-complishments and hopeful for the future of one of LM’s most storied organizations. As senior captain Morgan McMullen puts it, “This season was crazy, but we all came together in the end. That’s what counts.”

Nico Lake Class of 2012

A season of Crew in review Lake’s take on a team effort

The boys’ and girls’ Ultimate Frisbee season has come to an end, and both teams experienced tremendous success. The boys’ team managed to take second place in the state, an unbelievable accomplishment. The girls’ team also had a very strong year with a final ranking of fourth in the state. Both squads worked hard and in the end have the rankings to show for it.

The girls’ team, also known as the “Lady Babaganouj,” per-formed well in the state championship playoffs. On the first day, the girls managed to sweep their opponents and go home with three solid wins. The next day the team was not as lucky, losing a devastating 8-6 game to rival Radnor. Yet their performance overall landed the girls the fourth ranking in the state. Although there is room for improvement in the upcoming season, the team managed to get invited to the Amherst and the Northeastern tour-naments this past season, which are two of the most prestigious tournaments in the nation.

Although they are technically a club team, every girl dedicated an immense amount of time to the sport this year, playing with

a serious and competitive attitude. Moving forward, the girls are hoping that young, promising players such as Marissa Shander and Colette Clark will step up. Overall, it was an excellent season for the Lady Babaganouj; Captain Jenna Perna-Elias went on to say, “I feel like everyone grew so much this season. We’re just a really strong team!” The girls only plan on getting better and proving to the naysayers that Ultimate Frisbee is as serious as any other varsity sport.

The boys’ team had an incredible season. Not only were they ranked second in the state; they were ranked forty-eight in the nation. Their state ranking is the highest achieved in the history of boys’ Ultimate for LM. On the first day of the state champion-ships, the boys dominated with three commanding wins over Downingtown East, Pine Richland, and Franklin Regional. On the second day, they showed even more dominance by beating Methacton 15-7 and destroying league rival Radnor 15-1. Unfor-tunately the boys lost a nail-biter to Fox Chapel, a team currently ranked seventh in the nation. Although separated by forty rankings in the country, the boys team only lost 14-12, showing effort and unbelievable heart.

The boys showed much improvement from last year and even managed to get a bid for the Northeastern tournament next season, which they failed to do last season. Although they will be losing senior captain Nico Lake, they will look to sopho-more captain Leo Galbraith-Paul to lead the team. Galbraith-Paul explained;“The team has become much more serious over these last couple of years while still preserving our excellent chemistry and spectacular work ethic.” Although there are minor things the boys will be working on next year, such as zone defense and perfecting their strokes on offense, winning the state championship is their number one priority. The boys definitely have the skill and heart to accomplish such a task and are going to keep fighting to make it a reality.

Overall both teams have something to show for their hard

work and devotion: exemplary rankings both in Pennsylvania and nation-wide. When asked about the team’s performance this season, head coach Christina Minecci responded, “I cannot imagine a better group of kids. Every one of them displayed all the heart, spirit, and character any of you could possibly have imagined.” Although the season has just ended, both teams will be practicing and focusing all offseason on ways to get better. With their supreme dedication, the Ultimate teams are rapidly paving their way to bringing home both state championships to LM. This season was hopefully just a glimpse of great things to come for LM Ultimate Frisbee.

Maddie McComb Class of 2013

Photo courtesy of Sam JenningsLM Boys Ultimate posing with their trophy from States.

Photo courtesy Efi Narliotis/Staff

The Boys Crew Team takes a break from their rigorous train-

ing.to huddle together.

Photo courtesy of Christine Minecci

Photo courtesy of Nico LakeSenior Nico Lake stretches for an impressive catch.

Sophomore Lily Eisner jumps up for a snare.

Frisbee reaches for Ultimate goal capping a great seasonMax Titlebaum

Class of 2013

Everyone runs for a different reason. Can that change the dynamic of a team? Yes. Can that affect the season record? Yes. Did that change the way I felt about the sport? No way in hell.

I’ve certainly had my ups and downs as a run-ner. My first time ever running competitively was as a freshman during a very cold and very unevent-ful indoor track season; I was out quickly with shin splints and hip tendonitis and never even touched a hurdle. Come outdoor season, I knew that I wanted to run hurdles and try the jumps, and I seized every opportunity I had to improve. It was an exciting season, in which I quali-fied for the District One Championships in both the 100m hurdles and long jump, breaking the freshman records in each. Prior to my fresh-man outdoor season, I wasn’t very sure of how “good” I actually was, and I had no idea how seriously I would take track. I also had no idea how far the sport would take me. A cliché statement, yes, but also a necessary and valid one.

Once I got into the swing of things, amped up my train-ing, and consistently worked on my technique, I started to roll. Indoor track my sophomore year went down to the wire in terms of qualifying for the state championships; the very last chance I had to make it in the hurdles, I did—and as a result of that adrenaline rush, I recorded a personal best in the long jump by over a foot. I travelled up to Penn State along with the Distance Medley Relay team that had also qualified, with absolutely no idea of what to expect. I barely knew anyone, I wasn’t re-ally acquainted with how to warm up properly by myself (since no coaches are allowed on the track), and I was so nervous that my legs were shaking at the start of the race. I finished pretty low in the rankings and didn’t make it out of the prelims. I ended up finishing tenth in a field of thirty girls in

the long jump, just missing medals. After complet-ing the indoor season, I set a lot of goals for myself for outdoor, and was ready to burst onto the scene as “that tenth grader.”

I won’t go into too much detail after that, be-cause at that point, things really changed for me. I picked up a new event in the high jump and made huge improvements in a short amount of time: I made states during the outdoor 2010 season in both that event and the hurdles. In a surprise turn of events, I made the state final and took home my first PIAA medal—I was never happier in my life to earn 7th place in anything. With each goal that I met, I set the bar even higher; making it to states transformed into earning All-State honors, and All-

State turned into a hunt for the state title.

There are so many stories to tell about how I have come this far, or about how I’ve developed my love and passion for the sport. I’ve warmed up with so many people, shaken the hands of so many of-ficials, smacked into so many hur-dles—track is a sport about people, enthusiasm, blisters, sock holes, ice baths, heartbreak, and joy. Track is about finishing dead last when you’re expected to medal, picking yourself up off the floor, and jump-ing to a personal best and a state medal in another event. It’s about forming strong relationships with people because they’ve seen you at

both your lowest and highest points; you respect one another even if you

would like nothing more than to see your competi-tor face plant into the track. I have learned so much about the sport through training sessions and com-petitions, and more importantly, I have learned so much about myself—not just as an athlete, but as a person, too.

When I first stepped on the track, never in a tril-lion years did I see myself one day winning back-to-back state titles. But now that I’m here, having run my last race in an LM uniform, heading to col-lege in the fall to run Division One track at the Uni-versity of Pennsylvania, I am so thankful for every emotional breakdown, every fouled jump, every heartbreaking loss—because in a sport where 1/100 of a second and ¼ of an inch determine the winner and the loser, every moment counts.

Photo courtesy of Patty Morgan/ PennTrackXC

Both the LM girls’ and boys’ track teams had memorable seasons. The girls’ team broke several school records and worked their way deep into the league, district, and state championships. Coach Sandy Hoopes was in awe when asked about the sea-son. She stated, “It’s incredible; six school re-cords and one Central League record. No other team in the modern era has done that. This team has broken the most records since its inception in 1975.”

Although the boys’ team did not receive the same recognition as the girls’ team, they too had very notable achievements. Senior Gilad Doron qualified for districts in the 1600m and 3200m, freshman Jonathan Peralman broke the 1600m and 3200m freshman records, and fellow freshman Frankie Tran nearly broke the freshman 400m record. Junior Itai Barsade praised sophomores Noah Shandelman and Dan Thames, who, according to Barsade “had great seasons.”

The girl’s track team during the 2012 season was amazing. The team was one of the top teams in the area, finishing fourth in the Central League with a record of 7-4. Coach Sandy Hoopes was in awe when asked about the girl’s season. She stated, “It’s incredible; six school records and one Central League record. No other team in the modern era has done that. This team has broken the most records since its inception in 1975.” According to senior Rebecca Winkler, the Aces’ main goal for this season was to “send as many girls to the district meet as possible as well as continue to be a strong Central League team.” With a coaching staff that star senior captain Eliana Yankelev said, “did a great job of keeping everyone in the loop by holding team meetings after every meet and encouraging all of our athletes to support each other,” combined with seniors that Hoopes described as “great, committed and dedicated to each workout,” the team was virtually unstoppable. With all the success that the Aces

achieved in the course of the year, Hoopes found it difficult to pick the best moment of the season, but she finally settled on, “seeing Eliana win the state championship.” Distance coach Dennis Hagan, whom Hoopes called “the best distance coach in LM history,” also found it challenging to pick a single defin-ing moment, but finally chose, “the first day of districts when the school record was broken by 11 seconds. This led to the LM 4x800 girls’ team making its first final ever.”

The Aces broke an impressive number of records this year, including the 4x400m record (broken by freshman Tori Kl-evan, Winkler, sophomore Maya Mahmud, and junior Gabby O’Leary), the 4x800m record (including Klevan, sophomore Duranya Freeman, senior Lacey Serletti and Winkler), the 1600m record (achieved by Serletti), and the 800m record, which Winkler shattered. Not only did the girls do well in break-ing records, but they also generally performed exceptionally in competitions. Some of these top performers included O’Leary, who placed first in the Central League for hurdles and Winkler, who went on to the district finals in the 800m.

Yankelev in particular had a monster season; she took first place in the Central League for the long jump, set a new Central League all-time hurdles record, and broke the LM school record in the district finals. Yankelev also completed the high hurdle indoor-outdoor double, winning back-to-back state championships in the indoor and outdoor hurdles and becoming LM’s first individual girls’ track state champion.

Despite all its success, the team was more than just a record-breaking force. The squad experienced exponential growth. Over a four-year span, the transition from young, inexperi-enced freshman to mature senior leaders was evident. Senior captain Eliana Yankelev further explained, “I never knew what I would make of it when I joined my freshman year. The coaches were all so willing to put in the extra hours to help me reach my goals, and continued to encourage and help me until my final meet. I’ve made fantastic friends who I can always rely on for support. It’s made me into a dedicated and successful runner.”

The 2012 outdoor track season will go down as one of the greatest seasons in the history of LM track. Hopefully both teams will be able to replicate such success in their 2013 seasons.

June 5, 20128

Alex Hatza Class of 2013

Why I row Every moment countsEliana Yankelev

Class of 2012

It has been said that rowing is the ultimate team sport. Between the precision required to effectively balance a boat and the long season of bonding time, individuals grow into a cohesive unit.

The “season unending,” as I like to call it, begins each year on Decem-ber 1 and runs straight through the month of May. From the first day to the last day, it is as physically demanding as any other activity, if not more so. In December, the team begins its weekly training, erging (training on the rowing machine), or weightlifting every night from five until eight. Ini-tially, as you might imagine, there is very little time for homework. By the end, however, when the practices get so difficult and intense that one goes straight home to eat and then pass out, there is no time for homework.

One might ask: “If the schedule is that demanding, why do you row? You must win, at least, right?” One might think that success is what would keep rowers coming back to this torturous sport year after year, but that would be entirely incorrect. In fact, some of the teams down at the river on race day still refer to LM as “slower Merion.”

We row six days a week, devoting roughly 26 hours from Tuesday to Sunday because we love it. We love the pain, the heartbreak, the exhaus-tion, the calls from the coxswain, the thunderous sound of the water rush-ing beneath the boat, the wind whipping our backs, and the glittering water on a sunny day, because they are all equally important parts of the sport.

Despite our unfortunate moniker, we are not truly an unsuccessful team. This year LM experienced moderate success in the racing of men’s and women’s fours and eights. The success would have been greater, but we faced many challenges this year. While other schools had set their boat lineups on the first day of the season and were able to practice together all season, learning each others’ tendencies, strengths, and weaknesses, the LM Crew Team had rowers (myself included) that bounced from boat to boat each week, thus preventing the necessary cohesion. In the sport of rowing, each and every rower must know the members of his boat inside and out in order to row effectively with them. The four or eight rowers must move and pull as one unit in order to stay balanced and avoid dipping into the Schuylkill River. The rowers and coaches, however, never gave up. This persistence led to several medal-winning performances by our boats at various regattas throughout the season.

The medals are not the most rewarding aspect of rowing, though. This sport is one of intrinsic motivation. To feel the boat slice swiftly through flat water as you and your teammates finally work together efficiently is beyond compare. Just like a runner’s high, the feeling of rowing cleanly and together is, simply put, euphoric.

In a season where oftentimes the only reward for rowing a good race was a handshake because we had placed fourth despite our best efforts, the team always held on to hope for another week. The season may seem unimpressive in terms of the hardware added to the trophy cases, but the team is as strong as ever in spirit. Every member, though sleep-deprived and physically battered now, is already eagerly awaiting next year’s tri-umphs.

Senior Eliana Yankelev with Coach Hoopes after winning the state chmapionship.

Photo courtesy of LM Enchiridion

Racing into the record books Sigmund Lilian

Class of 2013

SPORTS

Photo by Aziz KamounGilad Doron runing 1600m.