Haverford preaches the three A’s: academics, athletics, and the arts. Haverford also boasts that students will become honorable members of the community, having learned the necessary social responsibilities that are needed to be integrated later in life. And still further, Haverford has an Honor Code with the direct purpose to “facilitate the moral, social, and character development of each boy and prepare students to address moral challenges honorably.” Haverford has fallen short of the mark. It is appalling that while Haverford prides itself on these idealistic principles, students cheat, steal, break the law, and in many cases act with the behavior not in accordance with these ideals; ideals which were signed by each and every student of the school. The mission statement reads, “The Haverford School prepares boys for life.” Perhaps preparing boys for life is synonymous with teaching arrogance, self-entitlement, and the ideology of self over all. Let me explain the rationale for this challenge to Haverford, my second home for the better part of thirteen years. I am no longer going to stand idly by as my peers act as though they are free of responsibility, honor, or respect. This message is against the status quo, against the conformity of the time, and against the student body that has been content to go along with the flow. I want to first address Haverford’s stated principles. The coins that Dr. Cox hands to

those members of the community who have distinguished themselves reads “Respect, Honesty, Courage.” These three principles are some of the most important qualities that a Haverford student, a member of the

community, should hold. These, however, are not the end of the list – the Walk of Virtues stands as a constant reminder of those virtues which are also an integral part of becoming a man, of being prepared for life. In fact, Haverford even has the Honor Council, an esteemed body of justice and impartial fairness, which is tasked with making sure the school is even more honorable now than any previous time in the school’s long history. But this is apparently all for show. Like

some gaudy display of wealth, these virtues, these principles that should guide one’s life, are more show then reality. In reality, Haverford is not a very honorable place. First there is the cheating. Like some rampant disease, cheating runs free in our classrooms. Sure, you can find the classes where students are there to learn, but the majority of students is subject to the disease.

Cheating has become so commonplace that it is no longer an offense. Even in the honors levels of classes there is a large amount of this cheating – perhaps even more; the students in the advanced classes feel as though they have more to lose, and are therefore inclined to cheat more often. I recently accused a fellow student of perpetual

cheating, to which he responded that everybody did and that is was not a big deal; not only did he say that cheating was normal, but he also asked a group of his friends sitting around if they had ever cheated, and all ten or so raised their hands, save one. This is one illustration of how common cheating has become. In fact, those ten mocked the one for having not cheated before; this type of peer pressure can encourage students to feel as though cheating is the accepted standard. And not only is cheating a problem, but it

is also applauded, even recognized, by both the school and on the national level. Student, ranging from athletes to intellectuals, all receive different types of awards – however, some are attained through dishonest means, which has the ripple effect of making cheating a more viable option. Whether it be the Cum Laude society or a national sports award, students are recognized for their achievements that were gained dishonestly, which further corrupts the system. Now one could contest that the school does try to curb, to stop, this behavior. Some could say that students are overworked and that the natural progression of too much work and too little time is the easiest out – cheating. However, students should be motivated to learn, should be motivated to take part in the classes, and should be motivated by the learning, not the grade. The current system of grading has caused students to overemphasize the importance of a letter, and not the skills being taught. Some could say that it is this system that perpetuates the cheating problem in the school, but the root of the issue is the student. The system could change drastically, but it is in the hands of the students to take responsibility and learn for the sake of learning, and not a grade. This discussion leads to another concern within the school: the terrible way that students treat one another. The students at Haverford tend to be mean and mocking towards one another. Now, I am guilty of this charge too, but this still looms as one of the most pervasive issues with the school. Now, some may say “boys will be boys” or “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” but this is as false as it is ill-conceived. Boys are not innately nasty, brutal, or cruel – that’s breeding.

Continued on Page 7

Model UN Team Continues Search for Global Fixes

During the period of time from January 27th to January 29th, the Haverford School Model UN Team attended the Ivy League Model United Nations Conference, or ILMUNC. ILMUC is hosted by the University of Pennsylvania and has been held in Philadelphia for the past twenty-eight years. The conference involves over three thousand delegates from one hundred and eighteen schools in twelve countries and six continents. Major Model UN conferences such as ILMUNC are structured around committees that discuss a large variety of global topics. These topics range from issues regarding

cyberspace and global warming to political and humanitarian crises. This year, ILMUNC included 24 different committees. The list consists of UN General Assembly committees such as Disarmament and International

Security Committee, the Special Political Committee, the United Nations Children’s Fund, as well as committees dealing with refugees, natural disasters, and

the United Nations Educational Scientific

and Cultural Organization. Furthermore, ILMUNC offers crisis simulation and specialized groups ranging from the United Nations Security Council to the African Union to the International Court of Justice.

Continued on Page 2

Fifth Former Fisher Pressman thinks that Haverford’s policy of not allowing student into the locker room except after

school dur-ing sports is unfair. Read his call to ac-tion.

Page 8

Eating with Sam stays close to Haverford and investigates the Mexican cuisines that Haverford students frequent the most. If you are looking for a new lunch spot or simply a second opinion, check out this monthly column.

Page 4

The IndexVolume LXXIII, No. 7 March 2012 Haverford, Pennsylvania

Eutαxiα Swzein Dokei

Jonathan Paras ‘14 Greg Boyek ‘14

Debate Team Reaches Ex-cellence in Year of ChangeSending teams to States and many prestigious national tournaments - where they saw success - marks a successful year for the Debate team.

Also inside

the Issue...

Blood DriveMusic RecommendationsDavis’s Book ReviewArtist of the IssueSports CoverageMLB UpdatesFood in School? DebateLocker Room Opinion

Parker Lecture OpinionsGun Control DebateInsurance DebateCollege Recruitment OpinionOutdex

3444

5-6688

Article Page9

101111

12

PageArticle

“To talk and to speak well are two different things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks” -- Ben Jonson, a contemporary of Shakespeare’s. Better words could not be used to reflect on the importance of speech. The debate team this year has not only mastered the art of speech but has put it to use with the eloquence of Ancient Greek lawyers. Debate is known at Haverford for many things. Whether it is the memories of former Debate Coach Mr. Brett Boham and his frenetic driving or of the open air feud with mock trial, the debate team year in and year out has acted as a channel for those talented speakers and debaters. This year was no different. To begin, the team underwent a change in advisors: English teachers Mr. Andrew Scibilia and Mr. Kellen Graham stepped up to take the responsibility. Adapting quickly, these

teachers, coupled with the guidance of senior members like Fifth Formers Grayson Sessa and Fisher Pressman and Sixth Former Dave Harris, allowed for an atmosphere of learning and subsequent success. There are a few major categories Haverford competed in this year. Public forum, one of the most popular, is a two-on-two fact-based debate over a pre-established “resolve” (debate topic). Each speaker from each team has an opportunity to enunciate his point. Shortly afterwards there is a crossfire between the respective speakers that leads to a summary, a grand crossfire with all speakers, and a final focus that sums up the debate within two minutes. Lincoln Douglas is similar to public forum but has a one-on-one style and the topics are generally based on more arbitrary and philosophical things, whereas public forum can rely more upon factual statistics.

Continued on Page 2

Opinion: Pressman on Haverford’s Challenges

Fisher Pressman ‘13

Haverford’s Model UN team recently attended the 28th ILMUNC.

Haverford’s Model UN team recently attended a confer-ence at which they participated in eventful global delib-erations.

ilmunc.com

glamour.com

haverford.whipplehill.net

Fifth Former Fisher Pressman explains why he thinks Haverford can do better when it comes to teaching basic values.

Fisher PressmanA website that sells essays on novels frequently read in Upper Schools.

Continued from the Front Page

Haverford performed well at early competitions such as those at Lower Merion High School. Leading the charge was the veteran public forum team that included Sessa and Pressman. Other veteran members such as Fifth Former Tyler Brooks also saw success in

delivering speeches at such competitions. However this year also incorporated many newcomers to the debate field. Third Formers Manav Khandelwal and Brendan Burns represented public forum along with Fourth Formers Jon Block, Terry Rossi, Naryan Rustgi, and John Harmon. Additionally, Fourth Former R.J. Meiers worked well in Lincoln Douglas debate. One of the high points of the year included the Princeton debate, in which Sixth Former Kelly Mao and Fourth Former Graham Gaddes

debated in public forum with distinction. Achieving great success, the Sessa/Pressman team, who also attended, “broke” (made it to the sudden-death rounds) with a record of 4-2, placing in the end in the Top 16. More success followed at Marple Newtown with all public forum teams going neutral or better. When The Liberty Bell classic at Penn

came around, four of Haverford’s public forum teams competed. Of the four, one team with Fourth Formers Terry Rossi and Jonathan Paras managed to break with a 4-2 record and go on to the final 32.

From there the team managed to debate its way to the top 16 teams. This same team went on to compete in the local district qualifiers and has now qualified for the state championship near the end of the month of March. Many in the debate team have stepped up to fill the void created after the graduation of last year’s class, and the talent is no less remarkable. Ultimately, everyone on the debate team should be very proud of a more than stellar performance this year that shows no signs of stopping in the future. ■

Page 2 The Index - News & Features March 2012

News & Features

The Index2011-2012 Staff

Tadas Antanavicius, Editor-in-Chief Grayson Sessa, Editor-in-Chief Erich Prince, Head of Photography Peter Thompson, News and Features Editor James Shecter, Sports Editor Amar Patel, Arts & Entertainment Editor Fisher Pressman, Opinions Editor Jonathan Smith, Outdex Editor Keenan Mosimann, Visual Editor Jonathan Paras & Graham Gaddes, Website Managers Mr. Thomas Stambaugh, Faculty Advisor

The Index is a student-run publication of the Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the Haverford student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford’s place in world affairs. The Index presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change.

Volume LXXIII, No. 7 - March 21, 2012

All opinions and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Index or the school. The Index is designed and produced digitally. Photographs may be retouched. Submissions and letters to the editors regarding any and all articles are welcomed at hsindex@gmail.com.

The Index, a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, is composed on Mac OSX, using Adobe InDesign CS5. Its surveys are conducted via SurveyMonkey and are advertised on Facebook to current Haverford students. School Publications Company of Neptune, N.J., prints 200-400 copies of each issue, and its editorial staff distributes them in the Upper School on the day of release. The Index serves the needs of a total school population of 1091 community members, consisting of 975 students and 116 faculty members.

Contact The Index:450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041hsindex@gmail.comhttp://www.haverfordindex.com/610.642.3020 x. 1222

Corrections from the February Issue of The

Index:

The Index would like to recognize that

Squash finished fifth in the nation, and also

defeated the fourth-place team 6-1 a week

later.

Dear Student Body,

I was speaking with a friend the other day, and as we both reflected on the year thus far, we agreed that we couldn’t believe it was already March. There are only three months of school left. To the Sixth Formers, there are really only two left before we begin our senior projects. Personally, I was shocked, and for the first time, sad that summer was so close. Perhaps it takes being a Sixth Former to really feel that tinge of regret that the school year is coming to an end. The time is rapidly approaching when we will be finished with being a student at Haverford, and there will be no more opportunities to try everything this school has to offer. The year has been great so far. From sports to other extracurricular activities, Haverford students have been excelling, and there is no reason not to expect members of Haverford to keep excelling this spring. If you did not get a chance to see it, then you missed out because Haverford’s production of Hairspray showed a professionalism and dedication that left the audience entertained and also amazed. It was a testament to the wide range of skills that our student body possesses. I’d like to give some parting words to each form as we near the start of our final quarter of the year. To the Third Formers, you have all grown so much since September. Finish the year strong now that you are no longer learning the ropes and enjoy your spring. Fourth Formers, you are almost ready to move on to being Upperclassmen; however, take as much time as you can to enjoy your Fourth Form year. Next year the college process will be daunting and time consuming. Although you will make the most of it and enjoy the year, please appreciate the time you have now. To the Fifth Formers, you are a great class and I know the school will be in good hands when we pass on the rosettes to you in May. Get ready to be the face of the school and to take on the responsibility that comes with being the oldest. And finally, to my fellow Sixth Formers, I know some of us have been struck with the “senioritus” that is so common in the last year of Upper School. Let’s finish these last two months strongly and leave the school with a great last impression. I’m so glad to have shared the halls with all of you these past few months.

Your President,Peter Rogers ‘12

Dear Reader,

All Haverford students were there when Sixth Former Dean Feinman gave a deep, insightful reflection about his life and what he learned as a result of his experiences. In that reflection, he presented us with a quotation that encompassed his talk quite clearly and concisely:

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. - Mark Twain

When you look back at your time at Haverford, will you find yourself plagued with regret? Filled with thoughts of “what if” and “I wish”? Thinking about what could have been is the worst feeling that one can experience. If you try and fail, at the very worst you are left no worse off than you were before. If you try and succeed or discover, however, then your life has been permanently made more fruitful. So go forth. Try new clubs, new classes, new sports. Introduce yourself to the student sitting alone at the lunch table; he might end up being your new best friend, forever changing your Haverford experience for the better. Audition for the play. Try out for that sport that has always intrigued you. The opportunities are endless, and you have nothing to lose by giving some a try. As always, perhaps The Index can be the home of your next venture outside your comfort zone. Do you have a strong opinion on a popular school-related issue? Have you witnessed some injustice or accomplishment that has gone unrecognized? That’s what The Index is here for, and it’s up to you, the student, to speak up and fill its pages with the lore of Haverford for current and future generations of Haverfordians. Don’t be afraid to give something new a try whether that be The Index or something else. It’s never too early if you are a Third Former and never too late if you are a Sixth Former. We all have our whole lives ahead of us, and the things we experience in this sheltered world of Upper School will only help us deal with what lies ahead.

Sincerely,Tadas Antanavicius ‘12 & Grayson Sessa ‘13Editors-In-Chief

Continued from the Front Page

Each school attending the conference represents one or more nations. This year, Haverford’s Model UN team represented Madagascar and brought fourteen delegates. These delegates were divided into pairs, each of which attended a different committee. In committee sessions, the formal debate protocol of the real United Nations is applied. For example, the delegates must raise their voting placards to propose motions for various committee procedures. These procedures include moderated caucuses, in which a series of delegates are each given a limited time to speak to the committee. Delegates can also motion for unmoderated caucuses, which are informal discussion. Once resolutions have been drafted, the voting procedure is initiated. Motions for various procedures and resolutions are all passed with majority votes. Delegates must work with delegates representing other countries to compromise on points and form voting blocs in order to draft and pass resolutions. Sixth Former Dave Harris says that ILMUNC “was a worthwhile experience because, aside from the wonderful people that you meet, it gives you the opportunity to speak and persuade groups of people that your ideas are correct. You also have to do this from the perspective of another country which takes you out of your comfort zone.” Representing Madagascar, he says, forced him to think differently about issues such as water rights.

Another Sixth Former, Deepak Bhagat, laments, “I wish that I had engaged in [Model UN] earlier in Upper School.” Although he attended ILMUNC beginning his Fifth Form year, Deepak says he “will definitely try to stay in Model UN throughout college.” Mr. Rory Hart, advisor for the Model UN Team, says that “It was an enjoyable experience for everyone that went … from the sophomores attending the conference for the first time to the seniors who were experiencing their last experience … it sets the stage for a lot that we can build on for next year.” According to Mr. Hart, Model UN is “looking to expand [its] membership … and expand [its] calendar … [to include] a conference that is hosted by Georgetown University’s International Affairs Department.” Mr. Hart further states that he was looking to possibly having the Haverford Model UN team host a conference with the Inter-Ac Schools. Overall, Mr. Hart says that “the students … came back with informative reflections on the committee topics and it seemed to be a very positive experience.” ■

Letter from the Editors Letter from the President

Haverford’s Model UNDebate Team Soaring

Haligoluk StaffThe 2011-12 Debate team.

Page 3 The Index - News & Features March 2012

Grayson Sessa ‘13

News & Features Haverford School Com-pletes Yet Another Suc-cessful Blood DriveThis year’s collection numbers show a continued uptick in student, faculty, and parent donations.

The Haverford School notched yet another successful Red Cross blood drive this past month. For donors and onlookers, the measures of success may be a little confusing: how much blood will actually make a difference? And after all, any donations are always a big help for patients, so what are the noticeable factors of a successful blood drive? The Haverford School and the larger community are consistent givers, but this year there were a few small but significant increases in donations. Community Service Director Ms. Jini Loos recorded the total amount of viable blood donated as 75 pints. However, this amount was in addition to seven Double Red Donors. The Double Red program is a fairly new system in which donors can give two units of red blood cells. These extra donations are made safe through a device that returns the

plasma and platelets back to the donor. Because of the extra amount of red blood cells taken, these Double

Red donations count for two. Haverford’s blood drive was fortunate enough to have a fair amount of these extra donors. As a whole, these seven people contributed 14 pints of

blood, bringing Haverford’s donation total to 89 pints. But what will be the actual significance of these donations? Ms. Loos explains that, “The Red Cross splits their donations into three different categories, so if we multiply by 3 - we’re over 225 patients served by what our community gave!” Last year’s collection was a little lower: 71 “productive” pints and six Double Red donors, equating to a total of 83 donations. Although this year only marks a small increase in donations, the Service Board has high goals

for next year, hoping to bring in nearly 100 pints. The Service Board wants to increase participation every year, but there are some specific ways that it is hoping to encourage more students to donate. First, it will be debuting a new video with clips from this year’s drive that should motivate people to donate. This video will hopefully encourage more first-time donors to donate by dispelling the fear of the unknown and showing

them just how easy it is. In the long run these students are likely to continue donating, so Ms. Loos sees them as an important component of a plan to increase donations. At the present moment, all members of the community, including parents, students, and faculty, are able to donate: in fact, this year’s blood drive said that roughly 40% of the donations came from faculty. Fifth Form Coordinator Harry Rosenberg says that “several parents” contacted Ms. Loos and came to give blood this year. Unfortunately, the general public cannot currently donate to the Haverford drive because the parking would cause too many difficulties. Still, with plans to increase participation and allow the entire Haverford community to donate, including sixteen-year olds, the future of the Haverford blood drives looks bright. ■

Replacing the IrreplaceableFourth Former Will Tackett checks in with the various search committees to find out how the search for a new Headmaster is going.

Will Tackett ‘14

Headmaster Dr. Joseph Cox’s retirement announcement left the Board of Trustees as well as the faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni of Haverford with the tall task of filling the void. Searching for a new headmaster is one of the most important jobs the Board is faced with, and it is not done often; there have been only eight headmasters in Haverford’s 128 years. The present moment is therefore critical. The decisions being made in the coming months (Dr. Cox officially steps down on June 30, 2013) will affect the overall direction and nature of Haverford. The burden of this formidable task will fall mainly on the shoulders of the Board of Trustees, more specifically, the Search Committee that has been assembled. This Committee, led by Mr. John Stoviak (‘69) who is also the Chairman of the Board and Mr. Bill Yoh (‘89), consists of parents and alumni that are currently on the Board. In addition, there is a faculty-staff sub-committee headed by Ms. Becca Davis, the Dean of Faculty. The whole process began with the formation of the Search Committee, which then selected members of the sub-committees, making sure to include people with a range of perspectives and opinions. Next, the search consultant had to be selected. The Search Committee chose Spencer Stuart, a consulting firm that has a department specialized in searching for new school headmasters. This group has led the search for the new head of Phillips-Exeter Academy, a prestigious boarding school in New Hampshire, and of the Trinity School, and recently completed the search for Brown University’s new president. The search consultant’s job is to assist the school in framing what is wanted in the new leader and then provide a pool of candidates from which to choose. They help to narrow down the initially wide pool of candidates into a manageable number for the Search Committee to evaluate. Prior to developing a candidate pool, there is a lot of information gathering, and the Search Committee is in the midst of that phase at the moment. “It involves asking the entire Haverford Community - students parents, faculty and staff, alumni, and board members - what they see as the school’s major needs in the future and what sort of traits they would like to see in our next head,” says Mr. Yoh. This information is acquired through surveys, focus groups, and one-on-one meetings. What the Board learns is then assembled and “condensed” into what is called the “opportunity statement.” This document acts as both a summary of the school and what it stands for. Essentially, it is a job description containing information vital for any interested candidate. The initial pool of candidates is created through recommendations and nominations. It is ultimately trimmed down into a set of semi-finalists, then finalists, by the committees and the search consultant. The final step in the process is the Search Committee’s recommendation to the Board and the Board’s subsequent decision. With the future of Haverford on the line, the major decision-makers want to get all the information they can before coming to a verdict. One exercise used by some of the committees is to have each member create a list of the top five traits desired in a new headmaster. For example, Mr. Yoh talks about two traits he personally would like to see the next headmaster embody: “One, an inspirational leader, meaning that the school community will rally around [him/her] and be inspired by [his/her] passion and commitment, and two, an educational visionary, meaning someone who has a strong grasp of what the educational requirements are for boys in the 21st Century.”

Ms. Davis also has her own criteria. She would like the next head to model “a lifelong love of learning” and “promote a faculty who is passionate about knowing more and growing as teachers regardless of years of experience.” It is important to note that the search efforts are not trying to find a second Dr. Cox or someone radically different from him, but rather someone who has his or her own vision of the school’s future. Dr. Cox has accomplished impressive things in his career at Haverford and the Search Committee and others certainly look at that success as a guide. However, as Ms. Davis puts it, “Dr. Cox’s achievements have been considerable. The next head will have the benefit of being able to build upon them.” In a constantly-changing world, Haverford must be able to adapt in order to remain a premier boys school. Therefore, someone with a combination of the qualities displayed through Dr. Cox’s success, combined with new ideas and a fresh personality is the most suitable. The opinions of the faculty, alumni, parents, and students are critical in this process. After all, they make up the vast majority of the Haverford community and should have a significant say in who leads them. The Search Committee is tapping into this wealth of diverse opinions and observations through tools such as e-survey and focus groups. Although Dr. Cox is leaving, the future is still bright. In his letter to the Haverford School community, Mr. Stoviak writes, “Through this transition...we will continue to have [Dr. Cox’s] strong leadership, outstanding and dedicated group of faculty, coaches and administrators and an experienced, thoughtful and strategically focused Board of Trustees.” And once the transition is over, and Dr. Cox is truly gone, the school will still be in good hands as the leaders of the search are confident that Haverford’s reputation will attract plenty of capable candidates that are passionate about education. ■

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

History of the Parker Lectures

Ms. Dawn BlakeMr. Watkins with Jane Parker Scott and Dr. Cox.

This year, the Davis R. Parker History Lecture was presented by TV Political Analyst Joe Watkins, a Philadelphia native, who spoke about a timely and significant part of political current events. No matter what one’s political beliefs may be, Mr. Watkins presented an enjoyable and interesting look at the Republican primary from the perspective of a former Washington insider-turned-political news analyst. Mr. Davis Parker, Haverford headmaster from 1966-87, was a “passionate history scholar,” according to Upper School Head Mr. Matthew Green. “The series of lectures are designed to bring history to life,” and “they have expanded to fit social studies, government, and more.” Mr. Sandy Mercer, the school’s archivist and a history teacher at Haverford when Mr. Parker was headmaster, has attended all of the Parker Lectures. “Mr. Parker loved American history, especially the Civil War,” he commented. “I was head of the history department when they were first introduced. The first speaker was Gabor Boritt, a historian at Gettysburg College.” Other lecturers were Civil War scholars as well, such as Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. James M. McPherson, professor of American history at Princeton University. Mr. Mercer remarked that though the lectures started with a speaker about the Civil War period, it has been “a good thing for the

scope broadening to include contemporary [issues].” The Parker History Lectures were proposed to honor the memory of Mr. Parker by his predecessor, Leslie R. Severinghaus. Dr. Severinghaus wanted to bring in attendees from throughout the community and local area. He also wished for the lecturers to enrich the curriculum of history classes here at Haverford by having them participate in the classes that day. The lecture series is endowed by Dr. Severinghaus and Mr. Parker’s estate, and is directed by Mr. Parker’s wife, Jane. It is supported by donations from faculty, alumni, and friends of Mr. Parker. Parker History Lectures in the past have covered a wide variety of topics. Last year’s lecturer, Jeff Shaara, gave the Haverford Community a look into the way he crafts his unique brand of historical fiction. History Department Chair Mr. Donald Miller says that he “really enjoyed how [Jeff Shaara] wrote his historical fiction. He didn’t just make things up … he read letters and diaries.” But Mr. Shaara was not only an informative speaker with great historical knowledge, he put it in a form “that you could read and understand and be captivated by.” Mr. Green was also enthralled by Mr. Shaara’s lecture. “I enjoyed the opening part of his speech” when Mr. Shaara told the story of Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg from the eyes of a young Confederate soldier. Mr Shaara demonstrated his wide base of historical knowledge during

a lunch discussion with Mr. Green; he remembers him “talking about the extent to which China was devastated during World War II.” Fifth Former Elias Economou also says that he enjoyed Shaara’s lecture the most out of the three Parker History Lectures he has attended. “The Parker Lecture I remember most fondly,” he says, “was Jeff Shaara. He really went into detail about how he created his characters through [primary source documents] instead of just creating a broad picture of the historical event.” Economou explains that of all the Parker History Lectures, this one had the greatest affect on him. “[Shaara] really talked about the work that goes into creating a novel and all the research that goes into [understanding] the historical event,” he points out. Ms. Sara Adkins states that she also felt that Shaara “really connected to the students … there were lots of good questions.” The 2010 lecture was given by ABC White House correspondent Ann Compton. Ms. Compton told an enthralling story about the many experiences of her career reporting on American presidents. Some of the historically significant moments she recalled were the 9/11 attacks and the fall of the Soviet Union. All of these major events were accompanied by personal anecdotes describing her own experience with the famous people and events that most people can only read and watch through the media.

Continued on Page 7

Greg Boyek ‘14 and Matthew Larson ‘14

Page 4 The Index - Arts & Entertainment March 2012

Sam Bloch ‘13

Arts & Entertainment Eating with Sam

Continuing with my recent binge of the cuisine of our neighbors to the south, I decided to compare the two major Mexican restaurant chains in the area. Chipotle and Qdoba both offer similar food, but to me one clearly tastes better. First I went to Chipotle where I ordered my usual burrito bowl with brown rice, black beans, double steak, mild and corn salsas, cheese, lettuce, and guacamole. The only fair way to do this comparison is to break down every element of bowl. So, I really like the brown and white rice at Chipotle. I started ordering the brown rice recently and I found that it tastes almost identical to the white and, more importantly, the texture of the brown rice is nearly the same. The cilantro that Chipotle puts into the rice is great, but sometimes they do put a little too much in and it becomes the dominant flavor in the dish. I always get black beans on my bowl, but I’m not really sure what kind of flavor they add. Every time I have eaten one of the black beans by itself, it has had the cilantro flavor that the rice has. Still, I order the beans because they are really good for you. I love meat, and Chipotle puts high quality meat in your bowl. The high quality steak combined with the excellent spices that they add somewhat liberally creates a fantastic protein for your dish. The two salsas are both fresh and tasty. The mild tomato salsa is a tangier salsa that packs a little kick. The corn salsa has a much bolder, spicier flavor that results from the addition of poblano and chili peppers. Chipotle uses normal cheese. There really are few special things to say about a blend of generic jack and white cheeses. The lettuce is always fresh and crunchy, but it still tastes like normal lettuce. The guacamole is one of the most important elements of the dish. It adds a creamy texture that contrasts every other element of the bowl. It also adds a great spicy and citrusy flavor that is unique to guacamole. Overall, the burrito bowl at Chipotle is excellent. The day after I ate at Chipotle, I went to Qdoba to see which one was really better. I ordered the same thing at Qdoba with the exception of adding Qdoba’s queso sauce and substituting white rice for brown rice because Qdoba does not offer brown rice. I didn’t like Qdoba’s rice, as it got really mushy and watery. I probably just got a batch that was slightly overcooked because I have had

their rice before and it has been better. Still, it was a minor weakness in my burrito bowl experience. The black beans at Qdoba are exactly the same as the black beans at Chipotle because black beans are black beans. I like the flavor of Qdoba’s steak, but I did not like the way it was cut. Qdoba dices their steak

into small pieces that are a little more difficult to eat. The queso sauce that I got on the burrito bowl was excellent. It added a great cheesy texture and taste to the burrito. The queso was definitely my favorite part of the bowl. I also got normal shredded cheese on the burrito, but if I were to return to Qdoba, I would skip this cheese because it doesn’t add anything to

the bowl that the queso sauce doesn’t add. The mild tomato salsa looked exactly like Chipotle’s, but it was not nearly as spicy. The same goes for the corn salsa, but I found the corn salsa to be rather bland. The lettuce at Qdoba is classic lettuce. It’s crunchy and doesn’t really have any flavor at all. I wasn’t really a fan of the guacamole. The portion was much smaller than that of Chipotle and the flavor was not nearly as good. In addition to my burrito bowl, I like to get chips and guacamole as a little side dish. Chipotle’s chips are nice and crispy, but they are often too salty. Also, I have found that while the chip is crisp, it is also quite brittle, so it breaks easily when dipped in the thick

guacamole. On the other hand, Qdoba’s chips are thicker and less salty. As a result, they taste and work better than Chipotle’s chips. Qdoba also gives a much larger portion of chips. At first I thought that this

was great, but when I had a half a bag of chips left and no guacamole I felt a little depressed because the chips were going to waste. I just have to add one thing about the service at both restaurants. The service I got at Qdoba was much more enjoyable than the service I received at Chipotle. At Chipotle, I waited for upwards of fifteen minutes because the line was barely moving. The restaurant was completely understaffed. Also, the burrito work was a little bit sloppier and some of the bowl spilled out over the sides. At Qdoba, the service was much friendlier and faster. Still, I usually go somewhere to eat not because of the service but because of the food. Overall, I liked the burrito at Qdoba, but I liked Chipotle’s much more. The food is simply a higher quality. If you are in the mood for a quick burrito, I recommend heading over to Chipotle. ■

Mr. Kolade’s Music

Mr. Luqman Kolade

Tony Williams – “Another You - ft. Kanye West” – The first thing that drew me to this song wasthe fact that there were two new verses from Kanye on it. After my first listen, I found myselfas interested in Kanye’s cousin, Tony Williams, and his smoothed-out delivery as I was in whatKanye said. The chemistry between these two is obvious and enjoyable, as both sound verycomfortable on the guitar and piano laden track. While still a “head nodding” tune, this soulful Bink! production manages to be both hip-hop and tender R&B ballad. As the first single from Williams’ King or the Fool, this is a great introduction to an artist that has been around and unknown by many for a number of years.

A$AP Rocky – “Celebration” – Hip-hop’s new wunderkind does not disappoint on his latest track. With this ode to the good life that he’s been living ever since his internet smash “Purple Swag” and the accompanying mixtape, LiveLoveA$AP, led to a million dollar deal, A$AP Rocky spits his blend of Harlem swagger tinged with southern influence on his latest track. This unlikely combination has made him the most sought after hip-hop artist out of the city of its birth since maybe 50 Cent. While the song does not have much depth, Rocky’s delivery and the surprisingly upbeat production show a different side to the rapper that, up to this point, was known for his realistic, but dark lyrics. ■

Chip Tha Ripper – “Ride 4 You - ft. Kid Cudi & Far East Movement” – My favorite rappers from the Midwest surprisingly join forces with L.A.’s Far East Movement. While Chip’s style may not seem to blend with the “hip-pop” stylings of Far East Movement, the song works in a way that balances “poppy” with a dash of hip-hop. Chip’s gravelly message of loyalty to his girl is both heartfelt and fun to sing along with. This is a song that could definitely make its way on the radio, and it doesn’t hurt that it has Kid Cudi singing the hook and verses from the newly popular Far East Movement. If you don’t know Chip, this definite head-nodder is a pretty easy way to get introduced to his style. One of the standouts from his recent Tell Ya Friends mixtape (which may have the cover of the year), this Dot Da Genius produced track delivers on all fronts.

Fourth Former Christman Henderer had to decide whether to take 3-D or 2-D Art his Third Form year. His original choice was 3-D, based on the recommendations of other students, but he ultimately opted for 2-D Art. He had already begun working with the medium as far back as Lower School and had continued on through Middle School. His experience in Lower and Middle School drove him to choose the 2-D Foundation class with Mr. Chris Fox, despite there still being spots in the 3-D course. After his successful Third Form year in the artist’s studio, Henderer continued his art career by taking 2-D: Design, a course where students are exposed to a range of forms and styles of two-dimensional art. There, he learned one such medium that has since become one of his favorite styles: intaglio printing. Intaglio printing is a process where a drawing is transferred and etched into a “plate.” The grooves are then filled with ink

and pressed onto a sheet of paper using a large roller. Henderer liked this particular project because he considers himself “a drawer rather than a painter,” he said. “Printing is really based in drawing, but also has a permanent feel to it and can’t be undone [like a normal drawing would].” Henderer also has done some landscape paintings. These are often inspired by places he has actually been to before: “I did a mountain scene last year based on a mountain range I hiked while at camp.” Aside from his contributions in the art studio, Henderer also sings in the Notables and participates in the string orchestra, where he plays violin. Although his music and visual art lives do not cross often, there is sometimes overlap and some of his artwork is inspired by

his musical activities. “For my final project, I am thinking about doing a print or drawing of the Notables as a good-bye present to Mr. Michael Stairs because he is retiring after this year.” Upperclassmen often get the most credit for their talent, whether it be artistic, academic, or athletic. As a result, the talents of Third and Fourth Formers are sometimes overlooked. Henderer is an example of one such underclassman. There is no question, however, that he has as much talent as any Sixth Former and in a broad spectrum of art at that. Henderer’s art career is only just beginning, but his experience with the decision between 2-D and 3-D art lets him offer some insight. To Second Formers facing the same decision as he once did, he offers this advice: “If you’re enjoying middle school art classes with Ms. Nancy Agati or Mr. Nathan Pankratz, then you should continue with 2-D art because I think it has been a really great experience, continuing what I’ve done from Lower School and Middle School.” ■

Underclassman’s Art Stands OutWill Tackett ‘13

“Ex Libris” Book Review

Niticon Davis ‘13

The Alchemist, written by Paulo Coelho and published in English in 1999, is an inspiring story of listening to one’s heart and following one’s dreams. According to The New York Times, this novel has been translated into 67 different languages, which gives Coelho the position of the world’s most translated living author, according to the 2009 Guinness World Records. The plot of The Alchemist follows Santiago, a shepherd from southern Spain who has recurring dreams of treasure in a far off land. He goes to see a fortune-teller, who interprets these dreams for him and tells him that his treasure can be found in Egypt. This information takes Santiago on the journey and adventure of a lifetime, during which he finds love, himself, and his destiny. Unbelievably, Coelho wrote The Alchemist in only two weeks in 1987. This pace Coelho has explained was because the story was “already written in [his] soul.” This book has often been categorized as almost more of a self-help book than a novel, which is a valid analysis, since Coelho’s main purpose in writing novel was to encourage people to have the audacity and the courage to follow their dreams. Each character that Santiago encounters teaches him an invaluable lesson about people and human nature. Coelho writes, “When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it” (Coelho, 23). The novel’s main theme is finding one’s destiny, which is to say what one is meant to do with their life. This novel definitely incites much introspective self-analysis. It makes people ruminate on what their dreams are and to a greater extent, whether or not they are following them. The style in which the novel is written is not complex, which only adds to the magnitude and the clarity of the essential message. It is very engaging and grasps the reader’s attention from start to finish. Since Coelho is Catholic, the novel contains a strong religious subtext; however, this does nothing to take away from the universal appeal of the novel. The Alchemist is Paul Coelho’s enchanted masterwork that appeals to all faiths and beliefs. ■

Index Staff

Chipotle.com

Qdoba.com

Index StaffOne of Henderer’s sketches.

Will Schwartz ‘12

Baseball Team Optimistic about Coming SeasonThe team’s hope to claim the Inter-Ac title, which was narrowly missed last year, comes from the greater sense of camaraderie and team spirit.

Page 5 The Index - Sports March 2012

Sports

As Haverford’s baseball team awaits their season opener, it is optimistic about the talent to contend for the Inter-Ac title that eluded them last year. Talent and depth lead many in the squad to feel very confident about the team’s fortunes for the upcoming season. As usual, the schedule will not only be filled with a slate of competitive Inter-Ac games, but also a number of non-conference challenges, featuring defending PIAA Class-AAAA state champions Conestoga, perennial Catholic League powers Monsignor Bonner, usual Central League contender Marple-Newtown, and last year’s number-one seed in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament, Mercersburg Academy. The Fords have a large roster of strong players who will all play a role in a season that could see more than 30 games. The most important position for any baseball team is pitching. The pitching staff is very deep this year, led by Sixth Form righthanders Eric Close, Vince Piccioni, Matt Broomall and Sam Henderson. Fifth Form left hander Matt Galetta should pick up where he left off last year as a key contributor to the pitching staff. Fifth Form newcomer Pat Valentine, who spent the previous two season’s

at St. Joseph’s Prep, should provide a strong presence on the mound in non-league games. Inter-Ac transfer rules prevent Valentine from participating in league games this year. Also, Fifth Former Stewart Denious and Fourth Former Connor Burke provide further depth in the pitching staff, and the potential of flame-throwing Fifth Former Stephen Fitzgerald providing some relief innings this year is a cause for excitement among the squad. There is equally good competition for the catching position as both Sixth Former Tom McCarthy and Fifth Former Sam Bloch look very capable of having great seasons at the position. Needless to say, the coaching staff will have a selection dilemma on their hands. The corner spots in the infield are open as key contributors Sixth Formers Nick Craig and Vince Rondolone have graduated, but the spots look in good hands due to the highly talented underclassmen that look to replace them. Burke looks ready to have a breakout season at first base, and outstanding Third Former Kevin McGowan shows great promise to play a key role as the team’s third baseman. Piccioni is capable at both third base and pitching, but the young talent at the corners should allow him to rest his arm between starts and potentially act as a designated hitter. The middle infield is

in the steady hands of returning Sixth Form starters Andrew Landolfi and Gus Costalas, who were both outstanding last season. Their experience should be vital in helping the team achieve its aims. Sixth Former Dylan Anderson and Fifth Formers Jack Armstrong, Trevor Atkins, and Joe Solomon all look solid and should impress when called upon. The outfield looks strong as well with returning starter Fitzgerald leading the way as the team’s probable center fielder while Sixth Formers Will Schwartz and Zach DePietro, Fifth Formers Matt Galetta and Drew Field, and Fourth Former Steve Scornajenghi are all competing for the remaining two spots. While there was plenty of talent on a team that did very well last year, the Fords were not as united as they could have been, and as a result many felt that the team may have had the skill to win the Inter-Ac in addition

to the Pennsylvania Independent Schools tournament. Sixth Former Co-

captain Eric Close certainly agrees with this, stating, “We have great senior leadership this year, and even though there may be a slight talent drop off from last year, our team camaraderie is so much greater than last year’s. As a collective unit we will be able to challenge for the Inter-Ac title that alluded us due to a few mishaps and bad influences in the team.” Fellow co-captain Landolfi had similar feelings, commenting, “We have a great group of Upperclassmen who can take on the leadership roles, and we have some younger kids who are definitely going to make great contributions to the team.” There is a strong feeling among the team that if everybody continues to work hard, great things can be accomplished this year. Please come out and support the baseball team. ■

Tennis Team Prepares for Season of SuccessNot only does the team have some of the most upperclass-men talent in recent memory, but several star underclass-men have shown up to add even more depth to the team.

Haverford’s two-time defending Inter-Ac Champion tennis squad is more set than ever to defend its title. Never before has such a talented group of tennis-playing Third Formers been available, and, as if the younger guys are not enough, the team has so many talented Upperclassmen that it is set to dominate yet again. Needless to say, the future has never been brighter for Haverford tennis. Head Coach Mr. Antonio Fink has in his hands an overachieving group of tennis superstars. Last year’s team went an astounding 8-1 against league opponents, losing only to the formidable EA by a narrow one-match margin. Additionally, three times throughout last season, the Fords beat their opponents without losing a single match (7-0 sweep). The Fords were also awarded the trophy in late May at the Inter-Ac Championships, where every player medaled. Now that the team has such an overabundance of sheer talent, the sky is the limit. Despite the ineffable quantity of skill Haverford Tennis already possessed, the incoming Third Formers add significantly to the talent pool. Players like Ben and Zach Lieb, Andrew Gushner, Nathan Kidambi, and Jackson Simon “take our team to the next level,” in the words of Fifth Form Captain Jordan Lieb. He also added, “We already had such a great group; and now we’ve somehow become even better.” Sixth Form Captain Dan Brennan remarked, “There’s no question we’ve got a ton of talent this year, and there’s a great chance we go undefeated. But, the most important thing with such a talented group is team chemistry and camaraderie.” Brennan also added, “We

need to all band together and work as a team, like we have in past seasons, to achieve our ultimate goals.” In addition to accomplishing a perfect season, Fords Tennis is aspiring for a top-3 finish at the New-England Mid-Atlantic

Tennis Tournament, otherwise known as NEMA. NEMA is held in Baltimore in late April, and it is essentially a battle for the best independent school tennis program in the Northeast. The Fords finished just outside the top ten at last year’s event. The squad has had two total team losses (excluding tournament play) in the past two seasons – a pretty remarkable feat. This year, however, a superb record will be no easy undertaking, despite the aforementioned talent. In addition to all of the league-matches, Haverford Tennis will square off against skilled non-league opponents like Lawrenceville, Blair, Radnor, Shipley, Harriton, and St. Josephs’ Prep. Assistant

Coach Dr. Mark Gottlieb acknowledged, “Sure, we’ve

got a tough schedule this year, but the boys are more than ready to step up their level of play for the challenges.” Practice makes perfect in all sports, especially tennis. So far this season, the team has been practicing in chilly weather, which is not exactly favorable for tennis. “It’s been pretty cold so far,” both Dr. Gottlieb and Brennan admitted, “but if we put in the work now, we’ll play that much better when it finally warms up.” Whether they are running, conditioning, or hitting, the players always practice. “We’ll practice on the courts in all weather except rain,” commented Coach Fink. Although the team has an indescribable amount of talent, the one aspect they have always lacked is fan support. Come out and support the tennis team whenever you get a chance. It will certainly be worth your while. ■

James Shecter ‘13

Track & Field Team Hopes to Live up to Last Year’s TeamThe speedy Third Formers and maturation of the team’s most successful runners give the team lots of hope for the coming season.

Josh Pau ‘13

Following a record breaking Winter Track season, Haverford’s Spring Track team looks forward to rival the previous season’s accomplishments. Last year, the Spring Track

team had an exceptional showing at the Inter-Ac Championship with Fifth Former Chris Morgan placing third in the triple jump, Sixth Former Geoff Bocobo coming in second in the 200-meter dash, and Fifth Former Lucas Elek winning third place in the 800-meter sprint. Other notable accomplishments included Fifth Former Andrew Wiener’s fifth place finish in the 200-meter race and Sixth Form Captain Brendan Purcell’s fourth place in the 110-meter hurdles. Last year’s spring track squad struggled through a cold and rainy season, which forced the cancellation of several meets. The team also had to push through with a team of relatively inexperienced runners because a large group of core, three-season runners had graduated. Now, the runners have more knowledge of strategy and have gained more fitness. Their work has been shown already: many runners have broken previous personal records, such as Elek, who set the school

record this year for the 800-meter race at an astounding 1:57. On last season’s Sixth Formers lost to graduation, Elek said, “They will be missed, but we didn’t really lose anyone.” This year’s Sixth Formers, including Purcell, Bocobo,

and the ever-charismatic Jack Meehan, have taken over the leadership role. They have created a strict but fun environment, and they have set goals for the team this year. This year, the Spring Track team is working towards building a tightly-knit community and improving together. But, “Most importantly, we hope to compete near the top of the league at Inter-Ac champs and score as many possible points as we can,” remarked Purcell. The Spring Track community has also gained some promising prospects in the new Third Form class. Normally, in the beginning of the season, most

newcomers tend to fall behind some of the Upperclassmen during the workouts, but this has not been the case with this year’s rookies. They have exceeded expectations of the Fifth and Sixth Formers. Fifth Former Grayson Sessa remarked, “From my perspective on the distance team, the Third Formers have been...exceptional because of their wholehearted commitment to improving.” The underclassmen have also shown strong mental toughness and a dedication to the sport. The season is about to kick off with the first meet against Harriton on March 15, “But the real meet is the Penn Track classic on the 31st,” added Elek. The Spring Track roster is looking strong this year and with the new and improved runners, the team may be serious Inter-Ac contenders. “We have a legitimate shot to win the 4x400 meter relay at Penn Relays for the Inter-Ac, a feat we haven’t accomplished in an extremely long time,” asserted Purcell. ■

Index StaffThe Track & Field sprinting squad in a workout.

Index StaffFourth Former Henry Ortmeyer playing tennis.

Index StaffHaverford Baseball player throwing from left field.

Page 6 The Index - Sports March 2012

Jack Henderson ‘15

Sports Crew Squad Likely to Contin-ue Winning PastWhile most teams practice during their season - and some even during school vacations - the Crew squad outdoes them all by practicing year-round to help ensure a winning season in the spring.

Lacrosse Team Elon-gates Winning StreakRanked Number 2 by ESPN Rise, the Lacrosse team seeks to use its immense talent to continue the 27-game winning streak that the season began with.

Success in crew at a national level is a tradition. The Haverford School has enjoyed for as long as anyone can remember. The Haverford School’s crew program is one of the most distinguished and highly regarded Upper School teams in the nation. This year, the team is looking to continue prior years’ success by competing in the Manny Flicks, City Championships, and in the largest, most competitive Upper School event in the world: the Stotesbury Regatta. Crew is a sport like no other. Often in team sports, the game focuses on individual play, and teams rely solely on star players. However in crew, the team must act as a single unit to perform effectively, thereby making it the ultimate team sport. Crew is the perfect example of the phrase, “You are only as strong as your weakest link.” Head Coach Mr. Jim Barker has taken this idea to heart, leading a prestigious crew program dating back multiple decades and experiencing his 50th consecutive Stotesbury Regatta last year. Coach Barker’s knowledge, reputation, and guidance is a large reason why Haverford has more American Upper School national titles than any other school in history. Since Coach Barker’s first season as coach for Haverford back in 1962, The Haverford School has won over 150 City Championships and more than 100 Stotesbury Cup Championships. The crew team is looking strong this spring. Although there are only two Sixth Form rowers - Captains Jake Gaskill and Pat Meehan - the team more than makes up for it with plenty of experienced Fifth Formers and a developing class of Fourth Formers. The team hopes for wins in many divisions and in various boats. Among the Fifth Formers are Captain Max Freundlich, Michael Maggio, John McMichael, Wick Egan, Jack Kling, Gerard Hoeltzel, Amar Patel (coxswain), Mario Maggio, Ryan Kinsey, Sam Blitzer, and Colin Meehan. This outstanding number of Fifth Form rowers benefits the entire team tremendously with its leadership, experience, and competition among each other. An large group of talented Fourth Formers has taken to the river to help represent Haverford’s Junior Varsity team. These rowers are Gavin Adams, Eamon Glavin, Charlie Battersby, Chris Boerner, Gray Warden, Chet Bickhart, Colin Adams, R.J. Meiers, Bryan

Rodriguez, Sanjay Narayanan, Leith Dennis (coxswain), and Beauchamp Zirnkilton. This strong group of Fourth Formers will help bolster the Junior Varsity lineup into a force at races. Unlike all other sports, the crew season did not start in early spring, nor even the winter or fall. In fact, the season never started because the previous season never ended; the team just lost Sixth Formers and gained new Third Formers, practicing and training all the while. With the coaches’ summer camps, the team rowed almost every summer day at the river. In the fall, the team had daily practices and races, perfecting their stroke and technique. Winter forced the crew team indoors, where they worked out on the “ergs” or rowing machines. And finally, now in the spring, the team will race in several competitive events and let the hard work and diligence pay off. Like every team, the departed Sixth Formers from the previous year have left, and it is time for fresh faces to fill up the roster. The Third Form rowers - Jordan Siegal, Greg Kirwan, Mathias Fink, Eric Petersen, Jack Henderson, Kyle Bowman, Berkeley Melvin (coxswain), Curran Browning, Rick Rodriguez, and Cheyse Johnson - are learning little things every day and are progressing into the future stars of the team. The next four years of Haverford Crew looks bright. On this year’s squad, Meehan, Gaskill, and Freundlich lead the team in practice every day with their experience and dedication to excellence. While they are very vocal when motivating their teammates, they also lead by example and help the subsequent leaders of the team develop into their future roles. With races still yet to come, nobody is quite sure about the upcoming season. However, many feel that this season is going to be thrilling, successful, and an experience no one will ever forget. ■

What should you look for in the upcoming MLB season?Fifth Former Drew Field profiles some of the most signifi-cant changes to keep your eye on this spring.

Drew Field ‘13

Number 1: A star-studded free agent class emerged at the end of last season, including Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, and Jose Reyes. All three of these players elected to change teams during the offseason. Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Angels and joined fellow free-agent pitcher C.J. Wilson in a revamped and explosive Angels’ roster. Fielder signed with Detroit to team up with Miguel Cabrera in what will become the most expensive, and possibly the best, 3-4 hitter combination in the MLB. Reyes decided to “take his talents down to Miami,” forcing the former Marlins’ shortstop, disgruntled Hanley Ramirez, over to third base. Will these players be able to live up to the dollars and expectations that they bring with them to their new homes? Number 2: The crop of young prospects heading into this season is particularly strong,

especially at the top. Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, and Matt Moore will soon become household names, and all should get significant time on the field at some point during the 2012 season. Trout is an outstanding five-tool outfielder for the Angels who can influence the course of game in so many different ways and probably has the highest floor of these

three players. Harper is a former number one overall pick for the Nationals and has unbelievable power potential and a cannon for

an arm. Moore is dominant southpaw pitcher for the Rays with easy high 90s velocity coupled with excellent command and control of his secondary pitches. Will these players get a chance to show off their talents this season, and,

if so, how much of an impact will they have for their clubs? Number 3: In what has been classified as arguably the two greatest collapses in baseball history, the Boston Red Sox and Atlanta Braves look to rebound on their historic

September letdowns. While these teams took very different approaches to their offseasons, the Red Sox hiring a new general manager and head coach and the Braves essentially sticking with the status quo, they both will try to reinvigorate their fan bases with strong 2012 campaigns. Number 4: The final topic heading into the season is the hometown Philadelphia Phillies. After two consecutive disappointing years for the Phillies, it will be interesting to see if they can get over the hump and win the World Series like they did in 2008. In what was thought to be a relatively weak NL field, the Phillies have stood out as the crème de la crème of the NL during the regular season the previous two years, but that success has not translated into the postseason. Can this dominant Phillies’ pitching staff compensate for an aging lineup? The window for success may be closing for this team with star players Cole Hamels, Hunter Pence, and Shane Victorino all slated to become free agents at the end of the year. ■

Sanjay NarayananThe Crew team practices at the river.

It was only a year ago that The Haverford School’s lacrosse team began what came to be the most exciting, phenomenal season in recent memory. The team finished with a perfect 23-0 record, solidifying the number-one ranking in the nation. So how will the Fords do as they start this season, riding a 27-game winning streak? Will the new faces of a different Sixth Form class, supplemented by new Fifth Formers and Fourth Formers, most of whom have never played at the varsity level, be enough to “repeat”? The lacrosse world cannot wait to see the maroon and gold step on to the field this year to face a harder schedule and teams gunning to knock them off. The 2012 season started on a rainy Friday, but nothing less than excitement filled the air. The coaching staff has remained very similar to last year’s staff, headed by Coach Mr. John Nostrant alongside an elite group of assistants and other coaches who all have experienced a tremendous amount of lacrosse. Additionally, the work of the trainers has been remarkable and everyone on the athletics staff allows for the smooth running of a large, talented team. Assistant Coach Travis Loving said that the Sixth Formers contribute the most to the team. He went on to say how Philladelphia lacrosse has developed in the past five years, and some may even believe it to be surpassing what was know to the country as the “lacrosse hot-bed” in Maryland. He also notes that the game against Conestoga will be key, along with the matchups against Malvern and other league opponents. Many important games will be played at home this year, as was the case with the

season opener against St. Paul’s, giving the opportunity for supporters to come out and watch Haverford face up against another nationally ranked team. Haverford will also be playing a much harder schedule, which includes several games against teams who are peaking with upperclass talent, including Conestoga, Malvern, and Gilman. According to ESPN Rise, Haverford School’s preseason rank is #2 nationally (first in the state), falling only 4 votes short to Calvert Hall in Maryland. This, to some, is disappointing, especially after the way Haverford finished the season last year and considering that Haverford still possesses 10 student-athletes who have committed to Division I colleges for lacrosse. On the other hand, this rank also may be slightly inflated because of how Haverford finished last year. Either way, the only way for the team to prove itself is to win tough games. The team this year is composed of Sixth Form team leaders Will McNamara, Will Gural, Sam Rohr, Zach Rego, the Bailey brothers, Scott Warren, the Blynn brothers, along with key players such as Jake Landman (Form V), Gavin McBride (Form V), Peter Blynn (Form IV), Connor Black (Form IV), and many others.. The team is both incredibly deep and skilled - qualities which will prove to be important as the season opens up and draws on. Haverford’s lacrosse program seems to have no weaknesses, evidenced by its incredible players at all levels including Third and Fourth Formers on JV: hard workers that are the future of the program. The year looks promising as one of the most anticipated sports seasons begins, and with it will undoubtedly bring memorable moments and unbelievable performances. ■

Index StaffHaverford making a goal shot in a game with the McDonogh School.

sportslogos.net

Logan Atkins ‘15

Boys are not innately nasty, brutal, or cruel – that’s breeding. And Haverford perpetuates this; no wonder that kids treat each other so poorly, even in jest, if the school does not try more to curb this type of behavior. And yes, there have been efforts to change this hard reality, but little real change has been made. Even with the school-sponsored Community Awareness Meetings (CAM) or the Honor Council, students still find it acceptable to call one another names and harass each other. And this problem is even prevalent in the classroom. If a student so much as misses a problem in math, or a question in science, or an accent in language then that student is lambasted by the whole of the class for the minor mistake. Minor mistakes can cause a whole class to mock a single student, hurting his self-esteem and disenfranchising the student. Not only is this bullying present in the classroom, but also on the fields, in the halls, and even on the Internet. It would strike some as odd that teammates would mock one another or give each other a hard time, but this happens far too often. In the hallways, it is very common to hear snide remarks made to one another or the taunting of a student for a small action. And all of these problems cannot be left at home – they follow the students home on Facebook, Twitter, and other Internet sites. Here the kids continue to bash one another in an even harsher manner then before, exacerbating the issue of bullying. Another prevalent issue is the student

behavior. The types of behavior that take place both in school and out of school is abhorrent. Students receive DUIs and get in trouble with the law over the weekend. And this isn’t even the bad part – in school, this behavior is still prevalent, with such illegal activities as both selling and smoking marijuana, using tobacco products, and partaking of other illegal substances such as alcohol. Yet another issue is the mentality of the students. Look at the second semester Sixth

Formers – they have checked out almost completely. Take it from one of the editors of the yearbook, that is it is almost impossible to corral the Sixth Formers into writing a simple paragraph, with months of time and plenty of reminders. And as part of the checking out some seniors have stopped doing work, have stopped participating in their education, and have stopped caring. Now while this can be a school issue, it is primarily the students wasting their time and their passions as part of the “idea” that after you are a senior, you have the right to check out. In fact, this issue was shown by the large

number of students who simply did not go to school, but instead went to the Wing Bowl. They wasted their time, their parents’ money, and they felt entitled to do so. Some students at Haverford have the mentality that they are better then anyone else, that they are entitled to what the have, that they deserve stuff simply based on who they are or where they go to school. Students at Haverford take on the mentality of pretentiousness, self-aggrandizement, and vanity; it is customary for students to feel as though they are better then others, which directly contradicts the mission of the school. To “prepare boys for life,” the school should teach better and institute humility and respect, which, as previously stated, is not. There is also the issue of theft. Leave your computer in the locker room, and its gone. Leave your wallet in your locker and it may be stolen. This is absurd if we live in a community grounded in the principles of mutual respect, honor, integrity, or honesty. And though the school pretends to make a big deal of these issues, little has been done in the way of theft, whether in school or in the gym. While the school has tried to prevent these types of theft, there is little they can do. They have already limited access to the place where the majority of the theft takes place, but they

cannot take full measures like adding cameras or having members of the staff watch over the confusion. But these radical changes cannot happen, and so the issue remains as a problem which cannot be fixed. And this is the sad part. Haverford is selling the ideas of “respect, honesty, and courage,” is sharing the oh-so-important virtues that “govern” the school,

is printing literature on how amazing the schools’ community is – but the school is not. Problems are as rampant now as they have ever been. Student are increasingly getting away with more, the teachers are becoming more lenient, and the administration is taking less of a stand (e.g. Wing Bowl). The school would rather cast a blind eye, would rather preserve their name as one of the best schools in the country,

would rather let students act amok then stop the problem.

In fact, the school publishes The Haverford School Today, which details how perfect, how ideal, how nice Haverford is. The school stages photos and cherrypicks positive features. The magazine gives off a faulty image in the hopes of gaining attention and encouraging alumni and community donations. Most schools have these types of publications which paint idyllic versions of reality. But Haverford is not like most schools. Haverford can be, should be, a step above the rest. Haverford should rise to the challenge of living up to the images shown in The Haverford School Today. ■

School Must Work To Live Up To Its Message

Page 7 The Index - Opinions March 2012

Opinions

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

haverford.whipplehill.netThe Haverford School’s logo.

Continued from Page 3

Mr. Kevin Tryon says he enjoyed Ms. Compton’s speech. “I liked her tremendously,” he explained. “She had a lot of stories about various presidents that she had reported on, which were very good.” Three years ago, in 2009, the Parker History lecture was given by Professor Paul Kennedy. Professor Kennedy, a British born Oxford educated historian, is a professor of history at Yale University and has authored nineteen books on topics such as the United Nations and the great superpowers of the modern world. Mr. Miller says that Professor Kennedy “gave two very different lectures. At night it was all about relationships around the world. Economic power, Russia, China, U.S. - it was a very adult lecture.” However, Professor Kennedy also gave a fascinating story in his lecture for the students “of how the allies really won World War II. It was a story of innovation.” Mr. Miller went on to give an example of how “it took a daughter of Roosevelt, who knew a polo player in England, to get the two countries … to marry the [American] engine with the [British designs for the Spitfire] plane to win the air war in Europe.”In 2008, Retired Lt. General Julius W. Becton Jr., another local Philadelphian, gave a meaningful speech telling the story of his life. Becton attended Lower Merion High School before joining the military, where he served in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. After this time he went on to become director of The Federal Emergency Management Agency and also led academic institutions such as the District of Colombia Public School System. Ms. Adkins says that “he was not unlike our

own headmaster, having served in the military” before heading academic institutions. “He was particularly fun to have since [the students] saw somebody from the ‘neighborhood’ have that kind of impact on the world around us.” In 2006, Aaron David Miller, an author and public policy scholar presented the Parker History Lecture. Mr. Miller had served as an advisor to six secretaries of state; he is an expert on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and discussed the future of the Middle East. Mr. Donald Miller remembers the speaker stating that “Iran had the potential to start a multi-generational war [with the US] … before a lot

of the [issues] with the nuclear weapons was in the forefront”. Mr. Tryon also thoroughly enjoyed Aaron Miller’s speech, admitting, “I liked his the best. He had six lessons he explained to the boys - they were very good.” In particular, Mr. Tryon remembers that the former White House advisor explained a situation when he was asked to give advice to President Clinton about foreign policy. Instead of giving information he felt was correct, he simply told the president what he wanted to hear, which he came to regret later. Mr. Miller says that the students were so engrossed by the speaker that “that they

wouldn’t let go. He spoke in Centennial Hall … we had to cut off the question and answer period … we came over to Ball Auditorium and when he was finished talking with one group and needed to use the latrine they followed him down the hall! That went on all morning - and at lunch, I had to turn boys away at the door!” Mr. Miller says the students felt that Aaron Miller “was a great sage who really knew how the world works.” 2005 brought Christopher Buckley, a political writer and editor of Forbes Magazine. Ms. Adkins says that she enjoyed that speech because Mr. Buckley “was this erudite, articulate, incredibly witty, well-read writer… He was able to tell stories and connect with [the community].” Not only was he a great writer, Ms. Adkins says, but he was able to hold an audience. Mr. Tryon remarks that Mr. Buckley was not just interesting, but “he [also] had great stories to tell about his job, and was very funny.” The Parker History Lectures are not only for the purpose of enriching curriculum at Haverford; they benefit everyone in the community. Mr. Mercer remarks

that the lectures have been “fun and instructive [because] individuals

tell their own stories. [The school has] been quite successful by bringing in scholars and participants, and this has been an opportunity that the students have seized upon.” Ms. Adkins explains that many of the speakers “give great fodder for discussion. I think that’s the goal of [the Parker History Lectures] - we all talk about it and are a part of it.” This year’s Davis R. Parker History Lecture was part of a long tradition of meaningful speeches - a tradition that will remain an important part of the Haverford community for years to come. ■

History of Haverford’s Parker Lecturers (News)

Ms. Dawn BlakeMr. Joe Watkins, the 2012 Parker Lecturer, spoke to Haverford about the Republican nomination.

OpinionsPage 8 The Index - Opinions March 2012

Pressman on New Locker Room Entry PolicyFifth Former Fisher Pressman thinks that the new locker room policy - where student athletes can only enter at the end of the day - is unfair and ought to be repealed.

Fisher Pressman ‘13

The Locker Room: a dynamic place where

social pressures dictate law, where even the simplest action is taboo, where boys make the transformation to men. However, Haverford has deemed that this place, this sacred place, is no longer our right; we have been stripped of the ability to effectively prepare for athletics, get ready for the day, or perhaps work out throughout the day. And by doing so, we have been stripped of our voice. This cannot stand. In the recent past, the administration had already made some changes to the locker room. They had changed the doors, required

the use of a key to enter, and made it more difficult to play sports and get ready for the athletic events of the day.

But now, we can’t even get in during the day. We can’t work out. We can’t perform our athletics as before. We are being treated like middle schoolers. We are being treated like kids. The common student-athlete can only practice briefly in the morning or at the start of sports. That’s all. No double free

workouts. No lunch lifts. Even the sophomores in physical education class will have to wait about until they are allowed to enter. And all of this in a year. Two years ago, it was commonplace to have the doors to the locker room unlocked and ajar, ready for the eager student to come in, change, and prepare for any sport. But that is no longer the case. The administration has taken things to far this time. Sure, the locker room can get a bit out of hand. Sure, there are the occasional issues like theft, drugs and tobacco, and the maybe in some extreme cases bullying or

physical issues. And sure, the school is liable for these minor issues. But these have gotten better. In fact, every year the theft decreases. The minor issues become less and less of a problem. And all of these issues are dealt with on a case by case manner, not some communal punishment which effectively hurts the students and the athletic programs at the school.

So why do they choose now to punish us? My friends, I cannot say why now is the time they have decided to throw us to the wolves. Is it not a right to use the facilitates we pay for? Why punish the whole Upper School, close to 400 students, for the mistake of one or two? This is not justice – this is tyranny. And I will not stand for it.

But that’s the great thing about being a student. You can empower yourself. And here is how we fix this issue. Sign a petition. Call the school. Complain to the administration. Have your parents call. You forget who is really in charge in the school – the students. When we come in numbers we are an unstoppable force. We are smart. We are vocal. We know what we want and how to get it. Why

let something like this stand in the way of what we want, nay, what we deserve. And so, my friends, it is up to you to change this. It is your job to stop the misuse of power, to curb the powers of the administration, to dictate law. And so this small issue is actually much bigger.

Some may choose to see this locker room as

just that, a locker room. But it’s more then that. Now is your chance to fix the issue. Take a stand and do what ought to be done. Raise your voice. Let the school hear what you want. This is your decision, make it heard. It’s your school; don’t let a few people tell you what is right or wrong. Remember, all change starts slow, but with enough of a following, all change can come. ■

Students Debate “No Food or Drink in School” RuleFourth Former Jonathan Paras believes that the school rule ought to remain in place.

Third Former Connor Atkins thinks that removing the ban would benefit both students and the faculty.

Jonathan Paras ‘14 Connor Atkins ‘15

“Students cannot bring food or beverages into the buildings without permission. This includes bottles of water,” states the Upper School Handbook. But is this truly fair to the

students? This rule takes away opportunities that Haverford students want and should be able to seize but are not allowed to. And why won’t the school allow them? Although this rule helps keep the Upper School clean, it also hurts both the school and the students. Upper School students have a great amount of responsibilities and privileges and being able to eat in the building should be one of them. Lunch time is an

excellent time to do homework and see teachers; however, some students have to make the decision between eating lunch and staying up late doing homework or skipping lunch and doing homework instead. If allowed to bring food into the Upper School, students would not have to make a choice between these two but instead could accomplish both of these tasks simultaneously. If this responsibility was not

used wisely by the students, then teachers should be able to take it away. However, this would also help the teachers. If they want to see students for extra help but because of sports or extra curricular activities, they cannot meet after school, then the student would be allowed to eat lunch while seeing the teacher. Because some students live more than an hour away from school, not everyone has time to get breakfast in the morning. By allowing them to bring a snack into the school, the students would be able to see their teachers and finish their work while eating one of the most important meals of the day. By allowing students to catch up on work with teachers and finish homework, changing this rule would help the school, the teachers, and most of all the students. ■

Its 8:30 AM. Class is about to start. The rush into the Upper School classrooms is in full swing. With coffee and peanut butter cracker in hand, a student swiftly arrives at his class just in time to be marked present. Consuming these quickly, an often-overlooked scenario unfolds. The student spills his coffee all over the carpet and on his pants scalding himself and ruining the carpet. The student next to him bends down to pick up the cup and throw it away as a polite gesture while the first student moves to get paper towels. Lo and behold, thirty minutes later the student who threw the cup in the trash has an allergic reaction and ends up in the nurses office due to the peanut butter residue on the cup. Now while this occurrence is rare, it is one that is completely possible were there unsupervised eating and drinking within the school. To take it further, in a world where Haverford abolishes its policy about supervised eating in the school, the students’ parents could take legal action against Haverford for the cause of their sons’ illnesses and hold them accountable for it. This itself should be reason enough to convince one that the current policy has its benefits. While there are many complaints about not being able to have that cup of coffee or that snack, something as mundane as the spilling of coffee or the eating of a food to which a certain student is allergic has bigger ramifications that one would expect. Not only would it be putting Haverford at risk legally, but the student would be harmed as well. That is why this current policy is in place: Haverford is not liable, and eating and drinking are done only at advisory or specific meetings. If this were not enough, a simple look at the habits of the average high school teen should be. They are not exactly known for the cleanest of habits. Gum chewing in school and sticking it to the bottom of desks is bad enough, but try to imagine a school full of teenage men eating and drinking. It would create a recipe for negligence and dirt. When someone does not own something, they tend to not take care of it as if it were

their own. While many students are personally invested in Haverford and have respect for

themselves and the school, there are those who simply lie outside of this select group. Allowing food and drink in the school would allow those few careless outliers to have the potential to cause more trouble by something as simple as leaving a mess, spilling drink on a computer, or leaving trash in the hallways. While it seems hypocritical that food is allowed during times like advisory, these “exceptions” are always supervised, assuring that rooms are not left in shambles and students are not exposed to food that could trigger allergic reactions. Ultimately, the current policy protects both the school and student, leaves no room for legal clashes, ensures that the Upper School is kept in a relatively clean condition, and protects the expensive technology that the school has set up around its hallways. ■

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

Graham GaddesHaverford student drinking coffee inside the building.

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

The Odee CompanyA Nalgene water bottle that Haverford students frequently bring into school.

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

A few weeks ago, Mr. Joe Watkins came to speak for the annual Davis Parker Memorial Lecture. Mr. Watkins was well spoken, bright, and clearly knowledgeable in the inner workings of the US government. Watkins’ main point was that the presidential nomination was Mitt Romney’s to lose, something with which I agree especially after the results of Super Tuesday. He had other points, such as Rick Santorum not being as strong a candidate as Romney, the major news networks’ partisan nature causing a large divide, and that a candidate who is ultra-conservative can usually not win in the general election. Specifically, Mr. Watkins stated that the longer the primary drags on, the more Romney will be “forced” towards the conservative branch of the Republicans. Citing Barry Goldwater’s infamous defeat at the hands of Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, he argued that conservative candidates do not appeal to the American public and can therefore never win a general election. This opinion is false. True, Barry Goldwater lost the 1964 election in a landslide to Lyndon B. Johnson, but what about Ronald Reagan’s triumphant victories in 1980 and 1984? Reagan is universally hailed as the last “true” conservative to win a general presidential election, carrying forty four and forty nine states against his democratic opponents in both of his elections, respectively. If conservatives can never win a general presidential election, how was he able to crush his opponents? But first of all, let us examine the circumstances surrounding the Barry Goldwater loss. Goldwater, who had views not unlike Ron Paul’s on the domestic front (but his opinions were vastly different regarding foreign policy), went against Nelson D. Rockefeller in the Republican primary. Rockefeller, the governor of New York, was a staunch moderate Republican, contrasting with Goldwater’s more conservative views. In the primaries, Rockefeller lost, and Goldwater clinched the nomination. To the majority of the “Republican establishment” this was a step backwards and many moderates, instead of embracing Goldwater, refused to help campaign or vote for him. Also, Goldwater did not vote for the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (despite voting for previous bills in 1957 and 1960 that were similar) and as such was labeled a racist by Johnson and the democrats. Another thing was that Goldwater had a habit of making odd comments that would come back to hurt him (like saying that nuclear weapons should be used in Vietnam, etc.). With all of these factors combined, it is no wonder that Johnson won in a landslide. However, can anyone see Mitt Romney actually doing the things that Goldwater regrettably did? Is Romney a “racist,” as Goldwater was painted? No. Has Romney made comments that can be perceived as discriminatory or as war mongering? Candidates are usually more eloquent and well spoken than they have been in the past, so such soundbites are harder to come by. Has Romney lost the moderate or conservative base? No. As far as I can see, none of the errors that applied to Goldwater apply to Romney. One has to remember that John F. Kennedy, a popular incumbent, had been murdered the year before; therefore, sympathy votes were more than

likely cast for Johnson. Without any (or at least, the majority) of these things, Goldwater could have at least made the election close, and maybe even won it, however unlikely it may have seemed. Now, we can observe the 1980 presidential election. There was an incumbent, Jimmy Carter, who had about 40% approval ratings early during election year (they later dropped). Gas lines and increases in oil prices were common the year before. Carter highly criticized Reagan’s economic plan, but did not produce one himself. Eerily similar to this upcoming election, isn’t it?

Reagan absolutely destroyed Carter. Though the media can never seem to remember Reagan’s win, it proved one major point: a conservative can win a general election against an incumbent. Now, fast forward to 2008. John McCain, a decidedly moderate candidate, ran against Barack Obama. The final result? He lost by about ten million votes. How can people say that Republicans have to have someone “moderate” in the general election if this has already been shown not to work? Now, others can make the point that McCain was running after a very unpopular incumbent, George W. Bush, was leaving office, but Obama has enough baggage that he could lose (Jeremiah Wright, etc.) by being seen as a radical. There was just something about McCain that did not give voters a reason to vote for him, and that may have well been his moderate views. So why does Joe Watkins, and many of his fellows, have such a hard time believing that someone conservative cannot win a general presidential election? It does not matter if Romney moves to the right or not, but if he does, it won’t hurt his chances; rather, it may help him slightly. The fact of the matter is, if he can have a positive message, the economy continues to be shaky, and gas prices rise, voters, conservative or not, will flock to Romney. ■

Greg Boyek ‘14

OpinionsPage 9 The Index - Opinions March 2012

Parker Lecture 2012: Students Debate Republican NominationFourth Former Greg Boyek believes that the ongoing Republican primary draws candidates to the right and will ultimately hurt their chances in the general election.

The speaker for the Parker History Lecture, political pundit Mr. Joe Watkins, said that the Republican nomination for the Presidential race is anybody’s guess at this stage. But he was unequivocal on one topic: Mitt Romney is the most “electable” of the leading Republican candidates. The longer Rick Santorum stays in the race, Mr. Watkins said, the more he drags Mitt Romney to the right, and the less likely Romney is to win the election in November. Rick Santorum, Mr. Watkins went on to say, would lose to President Obama in a

landslide. I certainly agree with Mr. Watkins’ points.

Although Santorum has been able to draw support from the right-wing primary voters

recently, his political stances would turn away moderates who might vote either way in the Presidential election. As Mr. Watkins pointed out, many of those voting in the primaries hold strong political beliefs farther to the right than those in the general public. The biggest issue this November will be the economy, no matter how much Republican candidates now are tearing each other apart on socially conservative grounds. Even the most conservative among the GOP believe that the Republican candidate should be more associated with economic issues than the social topics with which Santorum is associated. Romney has launched a new campaign slogan: “More jobs. Less debt. Smaller government.” Economic issues are clearly in the forefront of his campaign. Romney’s campaign is working to show his empathy with voters. As Mr. Watkins said, voters want to see that the person they are electing really understands their gripes with the economy, and Mr. Romney appears to have that ability. Should Santorum take the nomination, he would send independent swing voters back to President Obama. Their issues with Santorum’s social conservatism would far outweigh any worries they might have with the incumbent President. Furthermore, the base of a party cannot win an election – they must hold broader appeal. Santorum would lose to Obama in a landslide proportional to Reagan’s defeat of Mondale over twenty-eight years ago. And fortunately for the Republican Party’s chances in November, Romney appears to be the most likely to take the nomination. However, Romney’s campaign, in order to win the primary, has had to emphasize its conservatism repeatedly to deal with opposition from the other more right-wing candidates. Take, for example, this point from a Wall Street Journal article from March 5th: “For Mr. Romney, staying on top of the nomination has meant attending 20 debates at which his basic argument was to declare repeatedly for two hours “I really, really am a conservative.” Unfortunately, bickering in the campaign now will make Romney a less appealing candidate in the fall. According to a Wall Street Journal/NBC news poll, 38% of independents think President Obama is better than Romney. In comparison only 22% feel Romney is a superior candidate to President Obama. On Sunday, March 4th Speaker Gingrich appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press. MSNBC had this to say: “Gingrich says he has no doubts that the Republican presidential candidates who fall short of winning the nomination will unite behind the eventual nominee - despite the often tough rhetoric

the contenders are throwing at each other during the campaign.” But that is precisely the issue. No matter what kind of statements are made by the candidates who do not make the nomination, the nominee will still have had every one of his flaws broadcast by the other GOP candidates. Whichever candidate takes the nomination will have put himself in awkward ideological positions to defend himself on the nationally televised games of political twister called “debates.” As a result, he will not be able to win the broad spectrum of voters necessary to take the election this fall. Even if Romney takes the nomination, the primary process will have made Republicans on the whole less appealing for moderate voters in the Presidential

elections this November. ■

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

exposemittromney.com

Matt Larson ‘14

Fourth Former Matt Larson disagrees with Mr. Watkins and thinks that nominating a moderate may be worse in the general election than nominating a conservative.

OpinionsPage 10 The Index - Opinions March 2012

Fifth Formers Debate Gun Ownership and Gun ControlFifth Former Stewart Denious argues that gun ownership is an important civil liberty and that gun control carries unforseen negative effects.

Fifth Former Joseph Solomon argues that instituting greater gun control is necessary if America seeks to lower violent crime levels.

Stewart Denious ‘13Joseph Solomon ‘13

The recent school shooting in Chardon, Ohio, is a terrible tragedy for this nation, and naturally many television pundits have been quick to renew their calls for the government to enact more gun control. After all, gun control has worked so well in the past: Clinton’s Brady Bill, waiting periods, restrictions on certain

firearms and the now standard background checks, all reduced violence, right? Guess again. The Center for Disease Control recently reviewed all the various types of gun control, and it could not document that any of these restrictions have reduced gun crime in the slightest. In fact, it found that the Brady Bill was absurdly wasteful. 2,356,376 background

checks were

performed the first year the Brady law took effect, at a cost of about twenty four dollars per check. Out of all those background checks performed, only four people were prosecuted. That comes out to around 14.1 million dollars per successful check. This is on top of the fact

that local police stations had to assign officers to run these checks, taking them off the street. Why, if the full power of the United States government is putting so much effort into stopping gun violence, haven’t these measures worked? Perhaps one reason is that the people who commit crimes often don’t care if there are laws prohibiting gun ownership. Look at major cities, where gun control laws are often the most stringent. Rates of violence both gun and non-gun is significantly higher than anywhere else. Criminals are still finding guns and committing heinous crimes no matter how much regulation is put on the purchase of firearms. The

Department of Justice confirmed this; most criminals buy their guns illegally and without much trouble. The study went on to say that the one factor most intimidating to a criminal, is

not the police, not possible prison time, but you, another person, who could possibly be armed. This study was the reason some states have recently passed laws deregulating the purchase of firearms. These laws have come to be known as “right to carry” or “concealed carry.” The idea of walking down the street next to people who could possibly be armed is a frightening idea to some people, they say we’d be living in a state of terror. But ‘lo and behold, thirty six states already have right-to-carry laws, including Pennsylvania, and ABC’s 20/20 interviewed state safety officials in all these states and not one said there was any rise in crime. This fact may puzzle some people, but consider this; guns are used three times more often for defensive purposes than criminal ones. These even apply to school shootings, believe it or not. The Los Angeles Times reported two such cases: in one Mississippi high school, an armed administrator apprehended a school shooter until police arrived and in a Pennsylvania high school, an armed merchant prevented further deaths. People often look to Europe as the shining star of gun safety. France, Germany, Spain and most of all England all have very restrictive gun policies. In England, handguns are flat-out banned for private ownership. But in another study, the U.S. Department of Justice found that there were forty percent more muggings in England, and burglary rates were almost one hundred percent higher than in the United States. Moreover, rates of crimes involving handguns are on the rise. In fact, such crimes were at a seven year high at the time of the study. The argument of my piece so far has been mainly based on numbers, and while I think they are hard to dispute, many would say the stats can be skewed by various factors. So for my final arguments I will address the more abstract attacks on the rights for gun ownership. The Second Amendment has been called outdated, pointless, and a threat to a free and safe society. Some people even try to argue over the true intentions of the founding fathers when they wrote those famous words. “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” One argument is that the founding fathers wanted this right to apply only to the militia or army. In response I would point you to the original draft of the amendment, as written by James Madison. “The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; a well armed and well regulated militia being the best security of a free country but no person religiously scrupulous of bearing arms shall be compelled to render military service in person.” Madison’s original wording very clearly states what this amendment was supposed to do. The individual right, a point often contended by anti-gun advocates, is outlined in the first clause. The second half merely states that just because one person owns arms does not mean they have to serve in the militia. To close I would like to leave you with a thought-provoking question. Perhaps our constitutional rights fall by the wayside, perhaps the gun control lobbyists win out and guns are outlawed and anyone owning a gun is thrown in jail. Then what do we have? Only the army and the police with guns. Does this sound any safer? Take a look at historical countries where this was the actual law. Here is the list: Hitler’s Germany, Stalin’s Russia, Mao’s China, North Korea, Ibi Amin’s regime in Uganda, Cuba, Pol Pot’s Cambodia and the list goes on and on. Our first defining document as a nation, the Declaration of Independence, speaks to my point, “That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government.” If only the army and police, who are under the control of the government, what is to stop them from instituting an Orwellian style police state? ■

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

A main arguing point of pro-gun advocates is that it is not the guns that are the problems, but rather the people with the guns that cause the issue. While that argument in itself is ridiculous - if it is the people having guns that is the problem, then why should people be allowed to have guns? The argument is a fallacy. Pro-gun advocates will point out that Switzerland, the country with the highest percentage of households with firearms at around 35-40%, has a much lower crime rate than the United States, but such a claim is misleading. The population of Switzerland is nearly 100 to 110 times smaller than that of the United States, so of course there will be less crime. Even with the extremely strict gun laws in Switzerland, where any gun-owner must carry a permit that requires them to be take gun safety courses and take tests demonstrating their knowledge of gun laws, the amount of intentional firearm deaths per 100,000 people in Switzerland is the second highest in the world, behind only, you guessed it, the United States. In fact, there is an obvious trend relating to the percent of households with firearms and the amount of firearm deaths per 100,000 people. It is no coincidence that six of the top-seven countries in percent of households with firearms constitute the top-six countries in firearm deaths per 100,000 people; in fact the top three in percent ownership, Switzerland, the US and Finland are #2, #1 and #3, respectively, in deaths by firearm per 100,000 people and those same three are #2, #1 and #3 in homicides per 100,000 as well. In fact, the United States has the highest rate of homicide per 100,000 at a shocking 3.98%, about three to four times higher than Switzerland at number two, with the United States losing around 10 to 12 thousand lives a year to murders committed with firearms. Another key argument of pro-gun supporters is that having a gun in the home serves as personal protection. However, two studies by the New England Journal of Medicine have concluded that having a gun in the home makes it 2.7 times more likely that somebody will be a victim of a homicide, not an act of self-defense, in that home. Furthermore, pro-gun supporters may cite a survey done by Gary Kleck that concluded that around 2.5 million people use guns for self-defense annually. Kleck surveyed 5000 people, 1%, or 50, of which responded that they had used a gun in self-defense. Kleck then used that 1% of people and assumed that if 1% of his 5000 surveyed used guns in self-defense, then that must mean that 1% of the entire country uses guns in self-defense. Even though this is how most surveys are completed, Kleck’s survey is rendered entirely unreliable due to the results of a similar survey conducted by the National Crime Victim Survey. At around the same time of Kleck’s survey, the NCVS conducted a survey of 90,000 people, 45 times more people than used in Kleck’s survey, and concluded that guns are used for self-defense well less than 100,000 times a year. In fact, using the same survey method as Kleck, a survey conducted by the Washington Post, in which participants were asked, “Aside from military service, have you ever been threatened with a gun or shot at,” 23% responded “yes” concludes that nearly 69 million people are victimized by guns annually; though this statistic is clearly unrealistic, it also discredits any argument that Kleck’s survey proves that guns are used for self-defense, when in reality households with guns are more likely to have a homicide take place in them. Finally, a key anti-gun-control laws argument made by pro-gun advocates is that if guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have them. While this argument may seem convincing, if you compare guns to illegal

drugs, in that illegal drugs are still circulated even though they are outlawed, the argument is entirely misleading. Guns in the United States nearly always start off as legal, and then some way, somehow they enter the black market, which is when the criminals are able to obtain those guns. In fact, nations with very strict gun control laws, like the United Kingdom and Japan, have tremendously low firearm homicides per 100,000 people (around 0.15 and 0.02, respectively). Therefore, if gun-control was a priority of the United States, criminals would not be the only ones with the guns, because the means by which they get those guns would be eliminated. I return to the statement “guns don’t kill people… people kill people. ” Saying this is exactly like saying “glasses don’t see…eyes see,” which in itself seems like a reasonable statement, however it is entirely incorrect. Without those glasses, those eyes, in fact, do not see. Those glasses provide the means of seeing for the eyes. Such is the case with guns and people, in that guns provide the means of killing for the people, providing those means around 10,000 times a year. The basis of the preceding argument is that while pro-gun supporters will argue that guns are not the problem, but that it is the people; the truth is that the problem is, and will always be, the

guns and that until the United States realizes the urgency of this problem, we will continue to lose around 10,000 Americans every year until we finally install strict and total gun-control. ■

Ralph SolemizA political cartoon by pro-gun advocates, lambasting the idea that guns are the cause of violence.

bvinews.com

OpinionsPage 11 The Index - Opinions March 2012

The Effects of College Recruitment for AthleticsThird Former George Hall explains his view of why exces-sive recruitment of athletes can damage the athletes’ lives and the institutions they attend.

George Hall ‘15

Some college experiences are all about sports. If you read or saw The Blind Side, remember when Lebron was in high school. Or if you have had a few phone calls from Division I Lacrosse coaches, you know how weird, and potentially cool, it can be for athletes. If you have a sibling or parent who went to a Big Ten school, you know how incredibly intoxicating it can be to be a student with numerous different fun things to do at large schools. There is not enough space on this page to cover the impact of economics of athletic programs in colleges - recruiting, alumni support, faculty recruiting and even profits from spirit wear - can make or break a school. But few people rigorously consider the unintended consequences and intangible costs of admitting students who cannot manage the academic workload. Have you ever been on a team where one guy consistently shows up unprepared, late, or without his gear? Just one guy can have a negative effect on a group if others in the

group perceive there are not consequences. A few guys will step up no matter the slacker, but most will start to slide. This is reflected in these common expressions, “Water seeks its own level,” or “Only as strong as the weakest

link.” And another effect: what is the opportunity cost of not accepting the next most qualified academic student even if he is not headed for the NBA? Despite the celebrity status, ego gratification and high-

level coaching and playing experience, most athletes are ill-served by the current college athletics system too. Too many promises made, too many great athletes recruited, too many injuries, and too much travel and excessive pressure make college almost impossible for these guys, many of whom see athletics as their ticket to a better life. But an education was the fare, not a great draft season. Fewer than 1% of college athletes make it to the pros. 99% are left with spoiled dreams and a substandard education, reflecting poorly on their alma mater and reinforcing race and socio-economic conflicts and discrimination. All while taking down the level of the classroom experience for other students. For example, in Texas, football is a religion to some people at all different levels. The

University of Texas’ college football team is worth $805 million dollars. To put that number into perspective, The Jacksonville Jaguars, a pro football team just sold for around $45 million dollars less. There are seven other colleges worth over $500 million dollars too. The truth is, some students are not fulfilling the proper expectations of being a student first, athlete second. In fact, unqualified athletes are being admitted to colleges because of their athletic abilities. Think about this: the average GPA at a university is a around a 3.0. This is in the B range. The mandatory grade point average to compete in a sport is a 1.8, this is about a 72%, or a C-. Are we truly serving these athletes by saying it is okay just to “get

by” as students? What if one of these barely passing student athletes gets injured and cannot play anymore? His grades will prevent him from advancing in another area of his talents. The Haverford School is no stranger to the tension between recruiting for athletic dominance and maintaining a culture of academic excellence. Our community is richer, more diverse, and a lot more fun because we have a robust scholarship program. But there cannot be any tolerance for sub-par work. Unfortunately, this is a world where this happens and students know it. All athletes need to know that their education is more valuable than their athletic ability on the field. ■

Should Young Males Have to Pay Higher Insurance Premiums?Fourth Former Jonathan Paras believes that scientific data and basic logic make it natural for “higher risk driv-ers” to pay more in insurance premiums.

Fifth Former Josh Collins believes that charging certain groups of people higher rates is nothing more than a form

of prejudicial stereotyping. Jonathan Paras ‘14

Josh Collins ‘13

As a school of all boys, Haverford and its students are all stealthily discriminated against. And not by just anyone, but by the very people insuring the vehicles used to get to school each day. As they provide a service that is mandated by the government, car insurance companies charge a higher premium on male drivers than female drivers based not on driving expertise, school accomplishment, intelligence, or personal history. No. These insurance companies are charging discriminatory rates based solely on the fact that the customer is male. And yet, this troubling fact receives little attention. Proponents of these differing rates may maintain: “car insurance companies are businesses; therefore they have the right to charge differing rates to males and females.” This is a weak argument. The fact that insurance is mandated by the government effectively makes insurance government sponsored. Therefore, the fact that government-sponsored organizations are basically engaging in blatant sexism is completely against the current stance of the government regarding equality. what would happen if the car insurance companies were adjusting prices based on race or religion? Such blatant discrimination would not be tolerated neither by those being discriminated against nor by the government in anything it is involved in. And yet the equally blatant sexism occurring in the industry today is all but ignored as a “statistical necessity.” The argument put forth by insurance companies is based on statistics. They claim that, statistically, teenage males are less competent drivers than teenage girls. Therefore, their differing rates are not sexist, but justified based on hard statistics. Such a statement does not make up for the blatant sexism that would be abhorred in any other arena. Any hint of sexism that emerges elsewhere: in the workplace, in the educational system, or in government is immediately squashed or turned into a scandal. Just because males may be statistically better mathematicians, if at any point a woman was

denied from a position based not on credentials but on the fact that she was a woman, chaos would ensue, and people would be ridiculed. This leads to a double standard that exists in the world at large, magnified in the car insurance arena. It is true that women spent, and in some countries still do spend, much of time as subordinate to males. They were discriminated against severely until fairly recently even in the United States. However, the fact that women have just recently come to be considered equal may have skewed the vision of sexism. When women are being unjustly treated in today’s society, there is usually uproar and a correction is made and everything returns to normal. However, if men are treated in a sexist manner, as is the case with the car insurance industry, society is not at all up in arms. Such a subconscious differentiation between sexism against women and men is not the fault of society, but it is something that should be recognized. Finally, examine the sense of the differing rates. Boys at the Haverford School, for example, are all high-achieving intelligent young men. One does not attend Haverford without a base amount of intelligence and common sense. Therefore, what sense does it make to charge more to insure an upstanding, intelligent boy than, for example, a girl with failing grades, a history of violence, and measurable reckless behavior? Yet, sadly this is exactly what insurance companies do, staring blindly at their statistics and taking no heed that the numbers on the page are more than numbers; they are you and me. ■

Insurance rates. They seem like a never ending wave of bills that cement the idea of driving being a privilege, not a right. No one likes to pay more expensive bills, but one has to look at a few key issues that come with letting sixteen-year old boys drive. One will often hear people say teenagers drive like they are missing a part of their brain...maybe they are.

In all seriousness, this statement is not entirely false. They are not benefited by the fact that there is an important part of the brain that has not matured yet. It is called the dorsal lateral prefontal cortex, and it is involved in decision making and

the recognition of consequences and future ramifications of actions. This part of the brain does not mature until the late 20’s. The fact that the part of the brain that is meant to ensure one makes good decisions is not even developed yet gives credence to the argument that a large enough portion of sixteen-year old males will make terrible driving decisions. It lends itself to the stereotypical crazy teenage driver. Teen crash rates on a yearly basis number 300,000, with 6,000 of those resulting in death of the driver. The numbers do not lie. Death is not something taken lightly, neither by parents nor the insurance companies. So while insurance rates should be high, these can mitigated slightly by taking driving courses and proving to the insurance companies driving competency. Some may

say that it is against the law to be biased and judge people based upon age or gender, but the insurance companies are not doing anything illegal at all. There is a growing misconception that driving is a right when in fact it is not. Driving is a privilege that is earned and kept, and upon receiving even a learners permit, one enters an agreement with the state over this issue. It is on the driver to maintain good driving practices and their agreement with the state. Insurance companies can charge higher rates for males without issue. Some people may also make the claim that driving is a necessity for some (if public transportation is not an option), but this argument is flawed. In order for it to truly remain equitable, the status quo must be preserved. If bending and catering to the whims of those within a select group (such as sixteen-year old males) who define it as unfair, then we must have an inaccurate definition of equability. It is not as if I enjoy paying higher insurance rates for having to drive a car, but I understand the costs and demands that come with doing so. So while the state forces insurance, it does not force driving itself; public transportation is always available regardless of ones ability to operate a vehicle or not. Ultimately this argument comes down to misconceived notions. Insurance companies are businesses, and the insurance rates which are issued to young, teenage, males reflects their tendencies to get into many situations which those of older age or opposite gender simply do not. There is no reason or ability to change this unless one believes that insurance companies should forfeit their profits entirely and that somehow everyone deserves to use and operate a motor vehicle. All these reasons also explain why female drivers are given lower insurance rates. The same part of the brain matures earlier. There is irrefutable proof in crash statistics: they simply do not have as many accidents. Because of these reasons, the status quo concerning insurance rates is equitable; it eventually rewards good driving once one is able to prove driving skill. Looking on the bright side, it is not as if one is a sixteen year old male for his entire life. ■

Poll of 100 Upper School students who responded via Facebook to a SurveyMonkey survey conducted in early March.

Dawn BlakeLacrosse recruits from this year’s Sixth Form class.

Keenan Mosimann

The OutdexPage 12 The Index - The Outdex March 2012

The Outdex is The Index’s humor page and is not true nor intended to hurt or offend anyone. Please email hsindex@gmail.com with any concerns.

Following the success of “Paying Attention” co-taught by Mrs. Davis and Mr. Slack, Mr. Green has decided to add more co-taught classes to the curriculum next year. A sample includes: “Macro-Environmentalism,” taught by Mr. Maley and Dr. Gottlieb and “Defense Against The Dark Arts,” taught by Mr. Loving and Mr. Fox.

Moved by the images shown at the Gwinn lecture, Grant Jamgochian booked a flight straight to Rwanda to rejoin his family of silverback gorillas.

In Haverford’s quest to always use cutting-edge technology, crutches are now banned from the campus; being replaced with small scooters for injured students. In other news, 27 kids returned to school Monday with doctor’s notes detailing various leg injuries.

The Chess Club is suing the film Project X for copyright infringement as they never gave permission to Warner Brothers Studios to film one of their parties.

The MLS season has started and the local Philadelphia Union are in a slump. However, as only eleven people in the surrounding area actually pay attention to the MLS, nobody cares.

Peyton Manning has signed with the Denver Broncos. Insert Jesus/Tim Tebow/Holy Trinity/John Elway/God/Christmas/John Fox/All Saints’ Day joke here.

Ever since faculty members have been stationed in the library full-time, the homicide, theft, and vandalism rates have all gone down.

Wearing Beats headphones around school makes everyone wonder what intriguing music you’re listening to. Sorry we had that backwards, it’s awesome you have high quality headphones, but do yourself a favor and take them off. You look ridiculous.

Instead of gambling money on March Madness Brackets, the buy-in for the recent tournament has been five Haverford Coins.

The traditional “World War I Trials” are starting up for the Fourth Formers. The winner is determined by who can search Google (or Bing if you’re into that) the best.

With the special victims unit having been called in, the locker room had to be closed down.

In the news...

kneewalkershop.com

Jonathan Smith ‘12, Fitz Tepper ‘12, and Fisher Pressman ‘13

If these are crutches, then a bike must be a wheelchair.

Legal tender in Haverford township.

This is what Peyton Manning is to Tim Tebow.

Index Staffgeeksugar.comKatie Holmes with Beats by Dr. Dre.

The library under new management. library.wheelock.edu