PEA Prepares for Upcoming Accreditation Elm St. Dining Hall
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First Class Mail U.S. Postage Paid Mailed from 03833 Permit Number 78 “Te Oldest Preparatory School Newspaper in America” Vol. CXL, Number 16 Tursday, May 17, 2018 Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, New Hampshire Exeter to Hire Coordinators For Next Year By MAI HOANG and SHIVANI TRIPATHI Staf Writers Afer encouragement from students and faculty, Exeter opened to faculty members the opportunity to fll part-time positions of LGBTQ+ Program Coordi- nator, Asian Student Program Coordina- tor and 9th Grade Program Coordinator for the 2018-19 school year. Although the ofcial job description for the LGBTQ+ Program Coordinator position will be released in a week, many community members have already ex- pressed enthusiasm for the new position’s potential. “As one of the adults involved with Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA), I look forward to the possibilities that a Senior Ryan Alcorn enjoys the warmer weather. Numi Oyebode/Te Exonian focused position like this will bring for our LGBTQ+ students,” Reverend Heidi Heath said. Academy Life Task Force Drafts New Proposal She believed that although LGBTQ+ By DON ASSAMONGKOL ule is not implemented, the task force still members who choose not to serve as an students have “wonderful resources on and SARAH RYU hopes to add a slot for community time for academic adviser would then be asked to campus,” there is still room for improve- News Editors next year. take on the role of an “academic guide.” ment. “I would identify a lack of LGBTQ+ Te Academy Life Task Force (ALTF), a Upper Janeva Dimen felt that the ad- Te task force hopes to form a commit- adults of color on campus as a place for committee created last spring to improve as- dition of a designated “community time” tee to investigate the possibility of establish- improvement, for example,” she said. pects of campus life, recently sent to faculty format to the weekly schedule would af- ing Class Deans—who, as part of the Dean of Lower Justin Li shared similar senti- members an updated version of a proposal frm the school’s commitment to building Students Ofce, will advise members of each ments and hoped that the new coordina- that suggests creating a group of academy an inclusive student community. “Making specifc grade. Tis investigation is planned tor will emphasize the numerous support life coordinators, improving living spaces time for proctor meetings and dorm meet- to fnish by next fall term, with discussions options for LGBTQ+ students on campus. and holding additional training for diferent ings during the school day would increase in faculty meeting beginning in winter term. “Te support is extensive, but it isn’t well leadership groups on campus. community and incorporate day students, The work of the Academy Life Task advertised,” he said. “I don’t think that According to English Instructor Tyler who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend,” Force will continue throughout the next aca- the school pushes these support systems Caldwell, the committee is divided into three she said. demic year, according to Dean of Residential to the students. I had to try very hard to subgroups that focus on diferent elements One of the Academy Life Task Force’s Life AJ Cosgrove. “Tere are two critical fnd support systems for myself.” of academy life: residential housing, acad- additional suggestions was to restructure the areas where more time is needed to address Li added that this position would emy life programming and advising. “Each Assembly Committee to include the current questions and create proposals: advising and have a signifcant role for the commu- subgroup evaluated the efcacy of current chair, two faculty, the Dean of Students, the restructuring the Dean of Students Ofce,” nity. “It’s necessary for the school to pro- practices and investigated or brainstormed Director of Equity and Inclusion, the Di- he said. vide someone to be a liaison between the new structures or practices that would ben- rector of Student Well-Being, the Director Te committee will continue to meet school and students. Tey can mentor eft our students,” he said. of Student Activities and the Chair of the regularly, making changes with more discus- them about LGBTQ+ life and the school The committee recommended that Health Department. Tis process is cur- sion and feedback from the faculty. “Most specifcally,” he said. protected time be built “into the weekly rently underway, and Assistant Principal of our proposals aim to streamline or make Senior Katie Goyette hopes to see schedule for academy life programming Karen Lassey will oversee its completion. more efcient the great work we already do COORDINATOR, 2 in all of its diferent forms.” To accomplish Another of the committee’s suggestions in academy life. Hopefully next year we can this, the school’s Scheduling Committee has is to enhance the advising program. Te continue to build of that work and expand proposed to ft into the weekly schedule, ALTF suggests adding more faculty advisers or enhance our academy life program in cre- specifically for Wednesdays, designated to the current pool to reduce the number of ative, innovative ways that further benefts PEA Prepares “community time.” If the proposed sched- advisees for each faculty member. Faculty all of our students,” Caldwell said. for Upcoming Elm St. Dining AccreditationBy ANNE BRANDES, EMILY KANG and SENAI ROBINSON Hall Considers Staf Writers Exeter is in the midst of undergoing review by the nation’s regional accreditation RenovationsBy JACOB FEIGENBERG, association, the New England Association of MAI HOANG and SHIVANI TRIPATHI Schools and Colleges (NEASC); a judging Staf Writers committee will visit campus next April to verify that Exeter is adhering to NEASC’s Two wooden ballot boxes were sta- standards for private institutions. tioned at the entrance of Elm Street dining Faculty members head each of the 13 hall next to a row of modern-style chairs committees that assess various facets of and blueprints of three alternative ar- life at Exeter including the school’s gover- rangements for the dining space. Exonians nance, student life and faculty and fnancial heading in and out of the dining hall casted Pictured above are the chairs students voted on for next year. Eva Cardichi/Te Exonian resources. “We determine whether we meet their ballots on the chair designs and hall aspects or indicators of each standard. We renovations from April 9 to April 20. warmer, more inviting space, without sac- most popular choice for the second chair.” identify areas of strength, as well as areas that Over the summer, as part of Dining rifcing seating,” Leonard said. She empha- Leonard also met with Student Coun- need our attention,” said Governance Com- Services’ renovation efforts, Director of sized her desire to create “more fexibility cil’s Executive Board to introduce the plans mittee co-chair and Mathematics Instructor Dining Services Melinda Leonard and and functionality in how the dining spaces and chair samples. Te Board held an all- Laura Marshall. Director of Facilities Management Mark can be managed and cleaned.” council meeting to discuss the diferent Committees were formed in winter Leighton recommended the replacement Principal MacFarlane and Chief Finan- options last month. term and met a total of nine times through- of dining hall chairs, as the current ones cial Ofcer David Hanson reviewed ARC’s Lower and Co-secretary Ayush Noori out the winter and spring terms. Residential are worn out due to old age and use. Te proposals in early April. Hanson noted that described the overall reactions to the reno- Committee Member and English Instructor two decided to bring in an architectural aside from the change in arrangement and vations as positive. Personally, he thinks Tyler Caldwell explained the importance of design frm called Architectural Resources chairs, there would also be upgrades on Elm Street dining hall needs renovation accreditation. “Tough the accreditation Cambridge (ARC) to develop possible new “behind the scenes” equipment and systems. because unlike “cozy” Wetherall Hall, it process can be time consuming, I think it is layouts for the dining hall. “We are planning to spend roughly $350,000 creates an atmosphere that’s “more factory helpful for us to study and understand areas Together, ARC, Dining Services and on all new seating and design,” he said. “Tis like.” Noori also noted that the current of the school in which we do well and areas Facilities Management developed two comes from facilities management’s operat- seating arrangement may not encourage of the school that need more attention and diferent options for Elm Street’s interior ing budget and capital budget.” students unacquainted with one another work, especially as we continue with our layouts, both involving the breaking of long Afer the meeting, Leonard set up the to sit together. Strategic Planning initiatives,” he said. tables into smaller ones, a wider variety of ballot system on April 9 to gather com- Senior Wendi Yan, who conducted Te accreditation process will last two seating types, such as lounge areas complete munity feedback about the two types of a capstone research project for her An- years and includes one year of collecting with cushioned seating, and tables of difer- chairs they liked best; she is currently in thropology class last term about seating reports and one year of writing recommen- ent heights. Leonard emphasized her desire the process of reviewing the responses. “Te arrangements in dining halls and Exonians’ dations. “Tis year has been self-study phase to preserve form and functionality. chair that had the fexible back on it [with socialization patterns, would agree. Yan one. We’ve had major programs including “Over the course of this year, Dining the red cushion], I believe it was the most and her group went about breaking up the every academic department prepare reports and Facilities have met with ARC to develop popular choice for frst chair,” Leonard said.