THE May 1, 2017 theP park schoolOSTSCRIPT of baltimore | 2425 old court road, baltimore, md 21208 Volume 74.1 Issue No.8 Day of Civic Engagement moves inside US STUDENTS by ARENAL HAUT ’20 ORGANIZE With thunderstorms in the forecast for April 4, the second annual Day of Civic Engagement (DoCE) became DIVERSITY DAY an indoor only event. Originally, Rommel Loria, Director of Civic by ETHAN HARRISON ’18 Engagement and Service Learning, planned for it to occur for the Middle On March 29, the entire Upper and Upper School together; every stu- School community took an afternoon dent would go off campus to a variety to participate in student-led discus- of locations ranging from farms and sions on Diversity. The special half community lots to schools and food day was planned by a joint committee banks. of students and faculty. Monday morning, however, due To set aside time, the Upper to the forecast, outdoor activities School created a “Blow-up Wednes- were cancelled and all upper school- day,” Dean of Students Traci Wright ers from those activities were placed said. “We changed the schedule in into indoor activities. All middle the morning so all classes ended by schoolers (except for those who had 12:15, and activities started in the planned activities connected to their afternoon.” Advoc8 projects) attended their regu- The concept of Diversity Day lar classes. A separate day for them formed when a handful of students will happen on June 5. attended the National Diversity Lead- Loria planned the day in col- ership Conference in 2015 and 2016. laboration with a team of students “Our intentions were to bring our ex- and faculty. The planning committee periences back to our community,” met almost every week from right Atira Koikoi ’17 said. before winter break until April and “They had the responsibility to collaborated on the organization and photo by N. Blau ’18 bring something back, and we wanted the content. They also reached out something more than just an assem- Upper schoolers help students at Dr. Bernard Harris Elementary school make terrariums. to organizations, worked on student bly,” Wright said. placements, and talked about the for- I wanted to learn about,” Kendall portant day to have because of the ger systemic issues that are at play.” Students and faculty on the plan- mat of the Day. Clark ’19 said. experience that it can provide and the It might be difficult to face, but Loria ning committee met every Monday Lizzie Kane ’18 has been on the Caitlin Joseph ’20 agreed. “I exposure that it can provide students says understanding complex social to brainstorm. During the sessions, planning committee for the past two liked the Day of Civic Engagement to different opportunities to engage problems helps students see the “the student and faculty facilitators led years and found the experience re- because I got to do activities that I in the community,” Loria said. Park practical limitations of trying to fix groups focusing on race, gender, warding. “I like getting out of the wouldn’t normally do in a classroom highly values experiential learning, something that has not been given ability, socio-economic status, and Park community and into others, and setting.” and the Day of Civic Engagement enough attention until that point.” religion. the Day [of Civic Engagement] lets Loria also enjoyed it, but his “fa- exemplifies that. According to Kane, “the Day of After a pizza lunch, the discus- me share that passion with the rest of vorite part of the day is that it allows Clark agrees: “when you’re learn- Civic Engagement feels like a one-off sion groups convened in the Athletic the school,” Kane said. students to be matched up with an ing about ... someone who needs help activity for a lot of students, and that center, forming lines for an exercise The Day of Civic Engagement interest and allows them to, perhaps, or something that needs to be made is not what Rommel [Loria] and the called the community walk. Three was met with a largely positive reac- think about how they can be involved better, I think it’s better to go see for committee intend.” students led each expanded group, tion from the student body. “I really with something that they are passion- yourself and see where the issue lies.” Loria and Kane both see the day asking questions, and depending on enjoyed my off-campus experience ate about.” Loria also values how students as a “jumping-off point,” a way to the answer, one would either take because it provided me with a new Loria and Clark were clear about learn “not only about how people ad- teach students the life-long value of a step back, take a step forward, or way of learning about something that the value of the program. “It’s an im- dress an issue, but also about the big- civic engagement. stand still. For example, one statement was, “Take a step forward if you go to pri- Valeria Luiselli visits Upper School as resident writer vate school,” and everyone stepped by ABEL SAPERSTEIN ’17 forward. Students stepped backward plex relationship with language.” She if they answered yes to the statement Award winning author and es- spoke Spanish at home, but wrote “I expect to take out student loans to sayist, Valeria Luiselli, visited on English in school. When Luiselli re- attend college.” Thursday April 6 as this year’s Peter turned to Mexico she found a spoken This activity did not sit well with Baida Writer-in-Residence. Luiselli Spanish that seemed like a foreign some of the participants who were discussed her recently released book, language; Mexico City has a unique felt left out if they ended up the back Tell Me How It Ends, the topic of im- fast-paced slang. Instead of rejecting of group. Others were uncomfortable migration, her writing process, and her new relationship with Spanish, being towards the front of the group other books in an assembly to the however, Luiselli embraced it. “All because it made them look more Upper School student body. that foreignness” she said, “is what privileged or simply “better” than Born to Mexican parents, Luiselli made me into a writer.” everyone else in the room. spent large portions of her childhood Luiselli’s afternoon workshop “The questions were all geared in South Africa and South Korea with Angela Balcita’s “Art of the Es- toward the same thing like financial where her father’s job as a diplomat say,” and Max Wiggins’s “Creative standings, especially for the question took her family, until she eventually Nonfiction,” focused on constraints, ‘How much food do you have in your returned to Mexico for high school. specifically avoiding the letter “e.” fridge?’” Isabel Berner ’18 said. photo courtesy Communications Because of Luiselli’s travel-filled Luiselli, see p. 3 Diversity Day, see p. 3 Valeria Luiselli reads from her newly released book Tell Me How It Ends. childhood she “always had a com- THE POSTSCRIPT INSIDE FEATURES COMMENTARY ARTS AND CULTURE Thao Kahn ’17 sits down Maeve Thistel ’19 and with English teacher Angela Catie Turner ’17 revies the Upper Rachael Devecka ’19 discuss Balcita to discuss pasta, the School’s spring production #Anti- affinity groups at Park. essay, and the weather. goneAmericanTragedy. PAGE 4 PAGE 6 PAGE 8 Editorial // The Postscript May 1, 2017 2 Student journalism has its place Editors and reporters from Pittsburg High are not necessarily protected by the First School’s newspaper, The Booster Redux, Amendment. But Park treats us as though investigated the questionable credentials of we are; the administration does not ask to their school’s new head principal, Amy Rob- review our issues before they are published. ertson, after she was hired March 6. Our efforts are actively supported and “Everybody kept telling them, ‘stop pok- encouraged by the school, even when print- ing your nose where it doesn’t belong,’” ing the truth is painful. Booster Redux adviser Emily Smith said in The fact that we are not censored means an interview with The Washington Post on that we are able to publish the news objec- April 5. tively and also publish unvarnished student Despite facing opposition, the students opinion, no matter how controversial. This continued their investigation and published establishes trust between the paper and its the article in the March 31 edition of the readers. newspaper. The article revealed inconsisten- As the leadership for the paper changes, cies in Robertson’s educational background. we hope and expect Park’s culture will R obertson said that she received an stay the same. We trust that the school will MFA from the University of Tulsa, which always remain a place where inquiry is the student journalists confirmed does not encouraged and access to the truth is upheld. offer that degree, and an MA and PhD from These characteristics make Park a special Corllins University, which is not accredited. school in which to be a student journalist. A day after the article was published, Robertson resigned. This story shows the value of student cartoon by Anton Shtarkman ’20 journalism. With the knowledge of the im- portance of student journalism, our work— writing and editing articles and delivering them to the school community—becomes Guilt is not constructive in meaningful. At Park, we’re encouraged to ask questions of anyone and report on the answers. Faculty, conversations about diversity students, and administration are open and by BENNETT DEMSKY ’18 portant, which is that I very nearly “won” the willing to speak to us. We are never forced privilege walk. At the end of the activity, there to draw conclusions or make assumptions I am afraid to write this article. And so, I’ll were several straight white males standing at the because we can find the answers; we’re in start with some obligatory throat-clearing. very front of the gym, and I was one of them. I an environment where it’s easy to discover I don’t want to offend anyone by express- felt guilty about this, and I was not alone. the truth. This has taught us, firsthand, the ing my opinion about the community walk that “The community walk made me feel guilty,” importance of finding the facts. the Upper School participated in on Diversity Jacob Greenwald ’19 said. Greenwald also fin- cartoon by Mollie Eisner ’17 Because we’re at a private school, we D ay, and I’m afraid that I might. But I think ished towards the front of the community walk,. that part of the problem I want to address is While he believes that the walk was important, that oftentimes, people who look like me do because it “shows you that there are things that The Postscript not speak about issues of identity because they you don’t necessarily think about that affect are scared of being labeled racist or sexist. I’m what makes things easy for you.” Greenwald The Park School of Baltimore going to say what I believe anyway, and I hope believes that the guilt it induced can be detri- 2425 Old Court Road, Baltimore, MD 21208 it isn’t misinterpreted. mental, and I happen to agree with him. “When Tel. 410-339-7070 On Wednesday, March 29, the Upper School you feel guilty, you’re not going to contribute Parkschool.net/news/postscript spent the afternoon participating in Diversity to a conversation,” Greenwald said. May 1, 2017 Day, which was billed as a way for students to I was told in my session that the commu- Volume 74.1|Issue No. 8 have honest conversation about race, gender, nity walk was all about awareness, but the walk family structure, ability, religion, immigration, didn’t make me feel any more aware. The walk Editors-in-Chief or socioeconomic status. I learned a ton in my made me feel guilty. By and large, among those Mollie Eisner, Thao Kahn, Jack Sheehy session on learning differences, and I’m grate- standing near me, that’s exactly what the result ful I was able to have the opportunity to better of the walk was: guilt. White guilt. Rich guilt. News Commentary Arts and Culture understand them. Male guilt. And that does not accomplish any- Leah Genth Bennett Demsky Catie Turner But part of the day was not as productive, thing. Guilt does not accomplish anything. It Ethan Harrison Montana Love Cici Osias, Asst. namely, the community walk, in which the Up- never did and never will. Abel Sapirstein per School divided into several large groups, “I feel like white guilt in general is really Cartoons Sports lined up in the middle of a gym, and then unproductive,” Mahey Gheis ’18 said. Gheis Features Tyrese Duncan-Moore Spencer Levitt stepped either forward or backward depending helped run Diversity Day. “A lot of people at Lizzie Kane Josie Renkwitz Zach Stern, Asst. on how privileged they were. This sorting of the front may have felt guilty, but that’s not at all Dakotah Jennifer Anton Shtarkman Photography students struck me as antithetical to the purpose what we want, and in fact, that feeling of guilt Rachel Miller, Asst. of Diversity Day. deters from any real sustained action.” Gheis, Faculty Advisers Noah Blau The community walk was not an eye open- however, believes that the walk was still worth- Jon M. Acheson ing experience by any means. I already knew while. “Addressing colorism within marginal- Susan G. Weintraub that I was a fairly privileged person; I’d assume ized communities outweighed opportunities for that the people who also finished towards the guilt,” she added. School Population: Students—829; Employees—210 front were aware of that too. My guess is that I am a very privileged person, whatever that Distributed to Mailboxes of Upper School Students and Employees, those in the back of the gym, those with less means. I’m a straight white male in a family and Lower and Middle School Students by Faculty Request Mailed to Current Parents by Letter Perfect privilege, were already fairly cognizant of the with enough money to attend the Park School Copies Printed—1400 fact that at times, they were going to face disad- of Baltimore, and I recognize that. I try to be Member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Assn vantages because of their gender, race, sexual- actively aware of that fact as I move through ity, or socio-economic status. The walk did not the world. But I don’t see how making me feel Policies make me any more aware of my privilege than guilty about it accomplishes anything. If we We welcome letters to the editor, unsolicited op-ed pieces, and other contributions. Please send I had been before it. After the walk, when we want to have productive conversation about is- work to [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for language and were told to look around at where everyone sues of race, gender, class, religion, and ability length. Submissions are published at the discretion of the Editors. was standing, I saw exactly what I expected in the Park community, then we need to stop to see; most white people were up front, men making people feel guilty because of their privi- The Postscript is a wholly extracurricular publication of the Upper School committed to were further up front than women, and people lege. We need to engage in candid and consci- publishing truthful, objective, and high-quality content that informs the broader community. Our purpose is to hold the school and the administration accountable, and if we make an error, we of color were generally in the back. I’m not entious discourse about the role of privilege in ask you to hold us accountable, too. We encourage all members of the community to contribute more aware today of my privilege because of our community and in society instead of lining to the paper by writing letters to the editor. the community walk. everybody up in a gym and trying to quantify I feel like I should mention something im- that privilege. 3 News // The Postscript May 1, 2017

Spanish teacher Nancy Fink. Spanish and English teacher Archer Davis. photos by N. Blau ’18 Nancy Fink and Archer Davis to switch roles by THAO KAHN ’17 Jenny Sorel said. “When she first wanted to be full-time,” Davis said. “What was available co-taught English 9 with Howard [Berkowitz] have a conversation with me, I wanted to walk when I was applying last year was a part-time in December, which is now her own class, so Two Spanish teachers will switch roles next away, like ‘I am not having this conversation.’ position in the Spanish department. During my she’ll be adding just one more next year.” year. After 33 years teaching Upper School She brings so much to the school, so I’m very visits to campus for both the part-time Spanish Davis provides insight into integrated per- Spanish, Nancy Fink will work part-time next happy she will still be here.” and English positions and seeing the level of forming assesments, used to evaluate culture year, while Archer Davis, who teaches both For Sorel, Fink provides guidance and a per- curiosity and excitement of the students, I knew and communicative skills, which the modern Spanish and English, will work full-time. spective of the school’s decisions over the past I wanted to work here, even if it was going to language department is trying to incorporate “I’m going part-time so that I can continue 33 years. “I look to Nancy as a mentor. Fortu- be part-time for a couple of years.” as asessment tools. to stay in the community and work with stu- nately, she will still be here, so I can continue Because of the work Davis has already done While Davis will be teaching only Spanish dents, advisees, and Pride [Club], but also so to ask her for advice,” Sorel said. in both the English and Spanish departments, next year, Porcarelli would welcome Davis back that I can have free days,” Fink said. “In addi- Fink also provides institutional memory for both department chairs believe that she will into the English department. tion to teaching, I have begun weaving again. I both administrators and younger faculty. “If easily adjust to full-time. “ If there comes a time, we’d want her long to have more time to weave and to visit my we’re getting upset about something, Nancy can “I already think of Archer as full-time,” Eng- back [in the English department],” Porcarelli mother (who turned 90) more frequently. It’s remind us of what it was like 10 or 15 years ago lish chair Patti Porcarelli said. “She’s always said.“She has a wonderful rapport with the hard to do everything while teaching full-time.” and why we do the things we do now.” willing to help out.” students. You can see that they love the class. “I’m so relieved that Nancy is not retiring,” From Davis’s first visit, she knew that she Sorel agreed: “…There has been a nice pro- The modern language department is lucky to Modern language chair and US French teacher wanted to work here. “I had always wanted to gression. She started with two classes and then have her.”

Student group Writer-in-Residence Valeria Luiselli speaks organizes to US about immigration and her new book Luiselli, from p. 1 At about this time, the United States received This impediment led to a conversation about an influx of around 80,000 child migrants, so Diversity Day overcoming writer’s block: “Constraints help Luiselli and her husband, Álvaro Enrigue, de- Diversity Day, from p. 1 you out,” she said, as “constraints provide a cided to take a road trip to the southern border newness to everyday descriptions.” to better understand the situation. In small town Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Oklahoma, they found newspapers, which “an- “I think people were unsure of the goal of Questions, Luiselli’s most recent book, ad- nounced the arrival of undocumented children the community walk,” Wright said, “We just dresses the lives of immigrants, mostly unac- like a plague.” In Arizona they were met with wanted students to have the opportunity to talk companied minors from Central America. residents and border patrol officers suspicious and see what is was like for classmates that they Luiselli worked as a volunteer translator in of their accents and big-city appearance. They may not have known as well.” New York City for young undocumented immi- casually tried to calm nervous locals with a Director of Diversity Courtney Rollins said grants held in a Brooklyn detention center. Giv- cover story: “Oh,we’re writing a Western.” It that it was not anybody’s intention to put anyone en this experience she decided to do additional worked. Locals became much friendlier and under a spotlight. The goal of the exercise was research along the border with Mexico. The revealing in their views. only to see “what life is like” for other students. new book is structured around the 40 questions After discussing her research trip, Luiselli Another major goal of Diversity Day, how- undocumented immigrants are asked when de- talked about her own struggles working with the ever, was purposely trying to make people feel tained by U.S. federal agents working for ICE U.S. government as a Mexican citizen and how uncomfortable by putting them in conversations (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). her experience was different from that of a child that they would not normally be in. Luiselli spoke, using both hard facts and her arriving without documentation in the U.S. “We wanted to create a safe and brave own experience, in a manner that conveyed the Vetted by a vast and impersonal bureaucra- space,” he said, “while still putting our students difficulty of the work that she had done. Her cy, children as young as 7 are asked “Why did in situations where they might feel uncomfort- goal in the book was to “turn journalism into you come to the United States?” Behind their able, because in a way discomfort can be a sign a narrative.” hesitant and sometimes perfunctory answers, of learning.” Luiselli penned her deeply personal essay Luiselli explained, are often more profound and After Diversity Day was over, the planning before the election of Donald Trump. Revealing deeply disturbing experiences, including rape. committee spent time soliciting feedback. This the stories of immigrants, Luiselli pointed out, The process for child migrants—the question- will allow for improving Diversity Day in the has become even more relevant in the context naire and a series of court hearings—is “devoid future. “I feel like it should be something that of recent anti-immigrant politics. of the green card’s innocence, and instead rep- happens more than once in the year,” Koikoi Luiselli discussed her writing process for resents a more messed up reality,” according photo courtesy Communications said. Tell Me How It Ends and shared insight into to Luiselli. Valeria Luiselli, Resident author. “Just like calculus, physics, or writing class- how her own trouble obtaining a green card Luiselli’s message about the plight of child teenagers adjust to life in the United States. es it cannot just be a one-off situation. These shaped the book. In the summer of 2014, Lu- migrants into the U.S. from Central America Finally, Luiselli encouraged everyone in her conversations will continue,” Rollins said. iselli was the only member of her family who was not without hope. During lunch with stu- audiences throughout the day, if interested, to “These discussions can be a way of moving did not receive her green card and, consequent- dents, Luiselli discussed her own role in helping learn more about the issue and start their own forward toward a sense of understanding that ly, was forced into unemployment for a few college students taking a non-fiction writing organizations dedicated to helping child mi- impacts our community.” months from her job at Hofstra University. class found an organization that helps migrant grants. Commentary // The Postscript May 1, 2017 4 Communication critical for affinitygroups

It’s awesome and necessary to Affinity groups are making these de- by RACHAEL DEVECKA ’19 have a space where you feel safe to cisions as we speak and the broader and MAEVE THISTEL ’19 share your opinions and experiences. community isn’t told about them. As But shouldn’t the whole school be a result, potential allies are deterred Membership in an affinity group that safe space? from reaching out to the group, as it activity can be critical to the com- Affinity groups help students is unclear where they are welcome. fort of a number of Upper School talk through issues that need to be We need to bridge this communica- students. But do affinity groups, in addressed in the greater community, tion gap. which kids separate themselves by but excluding allies—supporters— For the third stage, the affinity identifiers such as gender, race, and because of their difference widens the groups would meet with allies and ethnicity, create the inclusive and in- fissure between identities. others in the community to figure out tellectually thriving environment that how to bring about change. No one promotes understanding? Open debate and allies can learn and grow by being insular. Let’s break it down. To make concrete change, you Communication is essential. If need a true diversity of ideas. Change Affinity groups at Park others aren’t included in the discus- is not exclusive. “There’s research sions, there is no real diversity and that suggests that people who can Affinity groups “serve the goal issues cannot be resolved. effectively interact with people who of providing a space that affirms the The most productive conversa- are different from them or who are identities of those in the group. A cor- tions happen between people on from different cultural backgrounds ollary of that is that it often feels like opposite sides of an issue. Yes, it is are more cognitively developed. a safer space where people can let important to have a place to speak People benefit from being able to go of some of the second-guessing,” honestly with people like you, but it interact with diverse groups,” Direc- Upper School Principal Nancy Dick- undermines diversity to have students tor of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion son said. share their beliefs with only those Courtney Rollins said. While there are many such groups, who are like them. Groups also need The fourth stage is to imple- there are no conversations about their allies if the problems they face are ment these changes and educate the place in the community. Who is wel- to be solved. If women did not stand broader community. “We would like come? What do they stand for? What up and show men the struggles they to actually accomplish something to cartoon by Josie Renkwitz ’18 are their goals? As we conducted in- faced, the Women’s Rights Move- address some of what we feel are ei- terviews for this article, it became ment would have failed. ther injustices or what we want to do clear that much of the community to be known,” Tracey said. “Being is (POW) began as an affinity group, but vantage of it. “Among any type of does not know. We don’t know what Proposal good but if you really want to change has since expanded to include more identifying group there is still a ton they stand for, we don’t know who your position you have to be willing open dialogue. “We want to have of diversity of thought,” Rollins said. is allowed into the meetings, and we We talked with several people to to be active and take some risks.” several meetings that are more like There is diversity of experience don’t know about the issues uncov- come up with a potential model for discussions, open to everyone, so that too. “It’s really important for people ered there. the role of affinity and ally groups. Balance we can hear stories from everyone to find commonality and to find dif- If these discussions stay behind The first stage would be to create in the community,” Lisa Eshleman ferences. Not all gay people are alike, closed doors, the broader community a group where students talk through This is a cycle. Not every meeting ’18 said, a leader of POW. “We have not all black people are alike,” Dean cannot, according to the school’s phi- their experiences, identify what needs needs to be about change or involve a lot of non-female identifying stu- of Students Traci Wright said. losophy “question their assumptions, to change in the school, and deter- everyone. Closed meetings are im- dents that are really on top of this. And, as we know personally, not develop empathy, and achieve a rich- mine the role allies will play in that portant to maintaining a safe, uncen- Feminism is an issue for everyone to all women are alike. er understanding of the world.” We, change. “The purpose of the affinity sored space for minority students. be a part of.” Every individual has their own as students, cannot benefit from “di- group is to have a collective sense of We do not wish to undermine the In our own community, allies are story, their own experience of living. verse perspectives and experiences,” ‘we-ness’ and a safe place to share important work affinity groups are already making a difference. “I did As a school, we need to learn from if we don’t hear them. the good, the bad, and the ugly as it doing already. However, there has to a lot of organizing for the women’s the experiences of people in our im- relates to the community that they’re be a balance. march. I got people metro passes, I mediate community––people we see Safe space living in…You have to identify key Johnson agrees: “I think it’s im- taught them how to deal with riots every day of our lives. issues,” Middle and Upper School portant because sometimes we be- and with crowd surges and how to If we don’t hear unexpected and Affinity groups are important to counselor Dave Tracey said. come complacent, even if we are navigate Baltimore,” Isaac Lichten- sometimes difficult stories from our giving students who find themselves The second stage involves com- knowledgeable about different ex- stein ’18 said. Allies are a valuable friends, we won’t be able to fulfill the in the minority a place to debrief with munication between the affinity group periences of different people, there’s asset. Excluding people who don’t high standard set by our philosophy others who are like them. “I think that and the school community. Tracey always still room for learning. identify as you do is detrimental to to “question our assumptions, devel- affinity groups are necessary because believes that the affinity group should “So I think the more conversations achieving change. op empathy, and achieve a richer un- they allow for people who share an decide the part allies play: “Some af- we have and the more exposure kids derstanding of the world.” We won’t experience to get together in a place finity groups might say, ‘Here’s how have, the more inclusive their mind- Different kinds of diversity be able to make positive change. where they understand what people our allies can work.’ Some affinity set will be and the more understand- Political correctness has gone too are going through,” Tyler Johnson groups say, ‘Let’s see how we can ing and aware they will become,” Park School has more diversity far if we feel the need to segregate ’17, a co-leader of Park’s Black Fe- get other people to shout as loud as Johnson said. of thought in our student body than ourselves to be safer; progress is only male Forum said. us or at least stand by us,’” he said. The Park Organization of Women we realize, if only we could take ad- possible if we educate each other. Whitewashing happens in places other than Hollywood by CICI OSIAS ’19 munities. In the Heights, written by playwright culturally sensitive? “If the play goes really well, then Park might Lin-Manuel Miranda, is about a Dominican Theater Director Peter King said that he justify using all white casts for plays about peo- Whitewashing is an issue that is prevalent community in Washington Heights, while West knew there would not be enough Puerto Ricans ple of color,” Lexi Mantilla ’19 said. “But if the in the Hollywood world. In productions with Side Story, written by Arthur Laurents, is about at Park to cast this play with ethnically authentic play doesn’t work out, it will send the message storylines centered around people of color, di- two rival gangs in Manhattan, one white and actors, but he hoped that his troupe would be that authenticity is important.” rectors often fail to cast qualified actors of color, one Puerto Rican. able to learn from this production. Similarly to Mantilla, King also thought and instead decide to use white actors. Because of the lack of Latino/Hispanic stu- “The ability to empathize is one of the best about what this play would mean for diversity Films as well known as The Hunger Games dents at Park, there will be no choice but to ways to mitigate bias,” King said. “And if those at Park. “I think this play has the potential to and Prince of Persia have been whitewashed, whitewash this play. But one thing to keep in of us in the white dominate culture can literally be an amazing opportunity for us to shine the but the issue does not stop there. Our very own mind is how whitewashing at Park is different put ourselves in someone else’s shoes and see diversity spotlight on our own Latino popula- Park School, as progressive as it may be, has en- than whitewashing in the larger-scale entertain- through someone else’s eyes, we will better un- tion here,” he said. “And, it would be nice to gaged in whitewashing, and continues to do so. ment industry. derstand somebody that’s not like us.” show that diversity isn’t just black and white.” Park is currently about 3% Latino/Hispanic, The main reason Hollywood whitewashing When choosing the play, King said, “What The only way we can truly avoid the white- but that does not stop us from putting on plays is so problematic is due to the multitude of eli- struck me was that the musical is all about im- washing of plays at Park is to have a more di- with predominantly Hispanic casts. In 2013, gible actors of color able to play the roles that migrants. The American story is the immigrant verse student body, which I hope will come with the musical was In the Heights, and the 2017 are instead given to white actors. But if there story. We are a country of immigrants.” time. But until then, we, as a community, must musical will be West Side Story. are not enough actors of color at Park to play the At a time when immigrants in this country make sure to keep having conversations about Both musicals take place in New York City roles, how do we choose between showcasing live in fear, King hopes that this play will pro- diversity and representation. and their stories center on Latino/Hispanic com- stories other than white ones while also being duce serious conversations. Commentary // The Postscript May 1, 2017 5 WE MUST AVOID A DIGITAL DYSTOPIAN FUTURE by MOLLIE EISNER ’17 say users still don’t grasp how dif- did not ask for permission, reacted to “Approximately 500+ sessions of ficult is it to entirely erase something the fact that they were featured in her Snapchat were open at any given time from the Internet,” Rheana Murray artwork. Potter said that she received of day [on the school WiFi],” wrote wrote in an article titled “What Re- complaints from very few, and was IT Systems Administrator Matt Watts ally Happens to Your Deleted Internet unapologetic to those who responded in the March 9 issue of Postscript. Messages and Photos.” negatively. Potter believes that the Throughout the school day, stu- The perception is that photos sent second something is posted on the dents continually sent and received over Snapchat disappear, when in Internet, it becomes public property. pictures of themselves and others. reality they are just hidden and will That means that other people’s The backlash that occurred after exist forever. photos on Facebook, for example, the Snapchat ban signified that stu- Our misunderstanding of the In- belong to Potter just as much as dents weren’t ready to give up this ternet has manifested itself in the they belong to the subject. Potter’s constant output. recent student-made posts on Wiki- analysis seemed cold, reminiscent of Over Snapchat, students send pedia. These posts were visible to some not-so-far-away but dystopian pictures of themselves, but they also anyone with access to the Internet, future. But it holds truth: the Internet send pictures of peers and even fac- and they contained vulgar language is public, and we have to be cautious. ulty members. Oftentimes, because and the names of students. Whether in This is the world we are rapidly students send so many pictures a day, jest or not, they violated the privacy approaching—a world where we feel they do not ask for consent before of the students who were named, in entitled to other people’s images, taking their photographs. addition to having consequences for names, and information. A world Our generation publishes, posts, the entire school community; namely, where consent is obsolete. A world and sends intimate information and no one using the school’s Internet can where output is more important than photographs daily. With every Tweet post or edit Wikipedia pages for three ethics. And the medium we’re using or Instagram post, the Internet seems years. can be accessed by anyone in the less and less daunting. We’re taught Another example: this year’s resi- world. to understand the minutiae of what dent artist, Charlotte Potter, shared In Potter’s artist statement, which we’re doing. The photo we’re sending her work during an assembly in the can be found on her website, she asks over Snapchat will disappear within fall, including pieces titled “Char- the question, “Where is the break three seconds, we think. We can grasp lotte’s Web,” a collection of glass between myself and the rest of the the exact number of likes on Insta- cameo pendants modeled off of her world?” gram photos. In this way, the World 864 Facebook friends’ profile pic- The break, I believe, is individual Wide Web appears limited to about tures; “Pending,” also made up of autonomy and the right to privacy. 300 Facebook friends. cameo pendants, but this time they Everyone should have control over The result: a fundamental and are modeled off of Potter’s pend- who they are—including their image, dangerous misunderstanding of the ing friend requests; and “Message name, and information. permanence of the Internet. Received,” a collection of hand- Fundamentally, when we lose Take the example of Snapchat: engraved texts between Potter and a these things, we lose ourselves. And “Even after Snapchat admitted photos former partner. because we value our own individual- cartoon by Tyrese Duncan Moore ’18 sent using the popular app don’t evap- A student in the audience asked ity, we should never take it away from orate into the ether after all, experts Potter how her subjects, whom she anyone else. How to have effective community development by LIZZIE KANE ’18 with Habitat for Humanity and Civic Works, it is clear that what the students are doing is some- From 2000 to 2010, the Park community thing the residents want, research shows that supported and built a dozen houses, the majority focusing on one issue might not be the greatest of which were in a neighborhood in North Balti- way to make significant change. more called Waverly. Led by Upper School sci- Franklin and Edwards also argue that gov- ence teacher Julie Rogers, a group of committed ernments should use distinct methods to address students fundraised, built, and in the process of community development. “If the problem of all that, met homeowners who were working on concentrated poverty is to be effectively ad- their sweat equity hours—labor that Habitat for dressed, government—local, state and fed- Humanity homeowners must contribute before eral—needs to develop approaches that are being permitted to purchase their homes with an geographic, holistic, and specific to the unique interest-free loan. There was a strong connec- set of assets and deficits that exist within neigh- tion to the community and a feeling that good borhoods.” work was being done. Our work with Habitat for Humanity and “When you’re building all within the same Civic Works does not have those type of ap- community, every time there was a house get- proaches. They choose to focus on specific areas ting dedicated, all the old homeowners would of weakness in communities, which help those come, so it was a little bit like a reunion,” Rog- communities, but the question is how much? ers said. Should Park be looking to take on a holistic Originally, Park started out by itself sup- method when the school engages outside of its porting Habitat, but eventually, many other own community? Right now, Park students have independent schools joined to form the Build- countless projects that are their own entities, photo courtesy Rommel Loria A-Block coalition. “It was probably somewhere but would our rate of positive change skyrocket along the seventh or eighth year of the program Students help clean a lot in the Barclay neighborhood in preparation for the if students adopted a more cohesive method? where we started thinking about the next phase creation of an urban garden. Park does a great job of getting out of its of Habitat, which was Build-A-Block,” Rogers with Civic Works’ Community Lot Team. For tively, say that holistic approaches allow for so called “bubble” and into other communities said. approximately one-and-one-half years, students better outcomes in neighborhoods. Writing in that would benefit from our help. Several other Over the past five years, the coalition has have worked alongside community members the book, Investing in What Works for Ameri- independent schools in Baltimore don’t have raised over $300,000 by doing annual fundrais- in the process of designing and transforming ca’s Communities, Franklin and Edwards noted, strong, ongoing relationships with non-profit ers like the Wegmans Silent Auction and Gala, a vacant lot in the Barclay neighborhood of “Poverty, and its many negative outcomes, can organizations. as well as Park’s Phone-a-thon. Students in the Central Baltimore. only be solved on a neighborhood basis.” The service work students do here should coalition have periodically gone on builds too. A question that lingers in my mind is this: Most organizations use the “silo” model, not be stopped, however, people like Shirley While the club at Park still works with Habi- does Park go about making positive change in which means focusing on one issue, for exam- Franklin suggest evaluating the work Park does tat for Humanity, it is now called the Neighbor- the best and most effective way? Experts in ple, affordable housing, in many different com- and our approach to civic engagement. Franklin hood Revitalization Club. The group of students the field of community development, Shirley munities as opposed to taking a more holistic raises the question: could there be a more holis- have moved away from solely working with Franklin and David Edwards of Purpose Built approach to change one community completely tic solution to help improve how our community Habitat and have started a new project working Communities and IBM Corporation, respec- before moving on to the next. While working helps others in need? Features // The Postscript May 1, 2017 6

photo by N. Blau ’18 Upper School English teacher Angela Balcita, also known as ‘Big Mama,’ sports sunglasses and frolicks with an Eastern Redbud tree in the fifth grade courtyard. Balcita has been working at Park for five years, teaching ‘The Art of the Essay,’ ‘Fiction Writing,’ and ‘Spanish Caribbean Literature.’ Each of Balcita’s classes begins with a ‘Daily Dose’ of grammar and an ‘Opening Question,’ designed to spark conversation and promote class participation while taking attendance. ANGELA’S FAVORITE THING IS ‘LITERALLY’ THE ESSAY

by THAO KAHN ’17 floor. The essay is my favorite thing. Purses I was editing a magazine [the Johns Hopkin’s curse in a class? lips. I have a husband. I have a daughter. The Center for Talented Youth magazine, Imagine Oh, I don’t know. I don’t do it too much. essay is my favorite thing. Laughs. Don’t let Magazine]. I was also writing a lot, and doing They’re not real curse words. Puts hand un- For my last ever Features article, I sat down Nico read this ever. Laughs. But she’s not a a little teaching here and there at the University derneath chin, stares at me. Laughs. There’s with Upper School English teacher Angela Bal- thing, so it’s okay. of Baltimore and Carver Center for the Arts, but no cursing in my class; it’s not allowed. Shakes cita to discuss types of pasta, Persian rugs, and Stares at wall, looks at me. Are you not go- this is my first full-time gig, and I’ve been at head repeatedly. the difference between “partly cloudy” and ing to press me on this? What kind of inter- it for five years. Shrugs, makes noise. Begins “partly sunny.” In addition, Balcita questioned viewer are you? It’s fine, I don’t want to talk to type on my computer and touch my watch. When and why did you start your open- my interviewing skills and tried to sabotage about it anyway. Laughs manically. What, I’m helping. Laughs ing questions? my typing. again. Ooh, good question. I started [doing them] Why is it your favorite thing, Angela? on the first day. Taking attendance is something What made you want to be a teacher? Too little, too late. You’ll have to go to class What’s the difference between partly we must do, so I just wanted to make it more Repeats question. Stares at bulletin board. and see. Puts finger to mouth. Grins. Laughs. cloudy and partly sunny? fun, instead of me just counting all of you, but Looks around the room. Hm. Blinks. Laughs. Laughs. Stares out window. Uh, hm… I don’t know…I really like when people partici- I’m really immature; I really like to talk about What do you wish you owned? sighs…on partly cloudy days, I will wear pants. pate in their class. At first it started as getting writing. I really like to get excited about things. Sighs. Wait, what was the question? I repeat On partly sunny days, definitely a skirt or a everybody’s voice in the room, to contribute I think I’m pretty good at revving people up the question. Oh, repeats question. A good, col- dress. Shrugs. The boots will probably stay the something, and so in the beginning, they were about things. Not necessarily my things, but orful Persian rug that fit perfectly in my tiny same regardless. Stares at the bulletin board, really superficial (easy) and pretty low-stakes. things they love. All these make for a very good house, but was not overwhelming when you purses lips. On partly sunny days, I wait for But I realized that as a course went on, peo- high school teacher, I think. I don’t know if I walk in. the sun, right? On partly cloudy days, I feel ple liked to share about themselves. They want- knew that right off the bat and put it all together, like Mister Weather Man has already kind of ed to bring a little bit of themselves to class, like but through some magical confluence, all these Why? put a damper on my day, but that doesn’t matter more than what they thought of the reading. things came into play and I am where I am and I think it would really bring my tiny house because I’m not going to let him. Right? I’m not So the questions got a little bit more risky and I like it. together. I have this tiny house, and it’s so small. going to let somebody do that. They’re gonna difficult, and morescratches nose, pushes hair For a long time, I thought if I just painted all try, but I’m still gonna be pretty perky and an- out of face, I dunno…more…nods…like a little If you were a kind of pasta, what would the walls white, the house would look larger. noying to everyone, whatever the weather be- bit more personal, I guess. And when you’re you be? Puts hands out. That turned out to be false. And ing. teaching a writing class, that helps, especially Fusilli, oh silly Thao. Smiles, laughs. Claps now everything looks bland. I think that if I get a personal essay class. It helps to ask “What do hands together three times. Dances. What else a nice, colorful, attractive, but not overwhelm- Why do you say literally with a British you fear?” and saying it in front of a room, and would I be? What would you want me to be? ing Persian rug, with lots of autumnal tones… accent? actually like coughing up to that fear in front of Like am I not fusilli, like tell me something I’m talking like a burnt orange, like a mustard Screams literally with a British accent. Are everybody. Nods. So I found it helpful for not different. I’m definitely not penne or rigatoni, yellow, a sienna, a deep, deep red. I think the you literally (said with a British accent) asking only getting kids to talk and making the room for sure. Farfalle is definitely like…Dan Jacoby. house will have more life. Puts hands to face. me that, Thao Kahn? I don’t even understand more lively, but it helped for our investigation I…am not orzo, maybe when I was little I was Covers hands with mouth. So yes, that is what that word you just asked me about. LITER- and writing. Essay writing. orzo. Touches hand to neck. I aim to be lasa- I wish I had. ALLY (said with a British accent) feels good; Stares at floor. Is that a Tylenol on the floor? gna someday, but right now? Fusilli. Fo’shizzle. it feels right. Laughs. Shakes shoulders. Laughs. God, are you guys doing drugs in my class- Laughs. Hunches over desk. Puts hands to How long have you been teaching? Shakes shoulders again and again. Again tries room?! Gets up to investigate. Oh, it’s just a mouth. Crosses arms. At Park or generally? Laces fingers together, to type on my keyboard, even though I’m now piece of gum. I’m glad you’re not doing drugs plays with rings. Moves hair out of face. I’ve several feet away. in my class. Tries to flick gum onto my keyboard. What’s your favorite thing to teach? been at Park for five years. Before that, I was Laughs. Stares at me intently. Pretends to look Sighs. The essay. Essay writing. Stares at home with my kid for four years, before that, How many times, on average, do you bored. Laughs. Features // The Postscript May 1, 2017 7 Independent Study: Warren translates the German poetry of Rilke

by RACHEL MILLER ’19 speaking poets. As for his level of they are arranged in beautiful, poetic fame, “He’s recognized as one of the ways,” Warren said. Inspiration for an independent greats of German poetry, especially In addition to working on transla- study can come from anywhere. For modern German poetry, but still he’s tions, Warren also meets with Wulf to William Warren ’18, this inspiration not Shakespeare,” Warren said. discuss the influences and meaning may have come from his English 9 The study is split: Warren meets behind Rilke’s work, which includes class, taught by Upper School Eng- with Brandt to discuss the translation the work Sonnets to Orpheus. This lish teacher Greg Brandt. of Rilke’s pieces, which were writ- collection of 55 sonnets was writ- According to Brandt, during a dis- ten in German, in addition to having ten in 1922 just a few years after cussion of poetry during the first few discussions with Wulf. To learn more Germany’s devastating defeat in the weeks of the class, a student asked about the translation process, War- Great War. this question: if you heard a poem in ren read two books: The Poetry of “Lately, what we’ve been doing, a foreign language, would you still Rilke by Edward Snow, and The Se- which I really enjoy, is just reading be able to sense the tone of the piece? lected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke through ‘Sonnets to Orpheus.’ He’ll This prompted Brandt to bring in a by Stephen Mitchell. Then, Warren read one, and we’ll both make a few poem by Rainer Maria Rilke. “[Fol- and Brandt separately began their first observations about it, and connect lowing the class,] I remember Wil- translation of the Rilke poem, “Der it to other pieces we’ve read in the liam saying, ‘Oh man! I’m actually Panther.” “We both do translations sequence,” Wulf said. “It’s difficult interested in learning German and and talk about the choices that we at first to know what Rilke’s talking reading Rilke!’” Brandt said. made,” Brandt said. about. He’s taking pass after pass, try- Warren is now doing just that. Warren recently wrote an essay ing to describe something.” This semester, he is taking an in- describing his process of translation; So what is Rilke taking passes at? dependent study—advised by both from choosing words with Germanic “Love. Also, a lot is about being a Brandt, who took German in high roots to looking for rhyme schemes, person in the modern era, and what school, and US English teacher Kirk translating is no easy feat. “When that’s like, and possibly how that’s photo by N. Blau ’18 Wulf, who also took German in high you’re reading it in German, it’s dif- changed since earlier times, and also W. Warren ’18 translates and discusses the work of Rainer Maria school—examining and translating ferent from reading it in English. Ger- how it’s the same,” Warren said. Rilke for an independent study with two teachers. Rilke’s work. René Karl Wilhelm Jo- man has a smoother, rounder sound, “It seems like a lot of these poems nets to Orpheus,’ and were trying to So we’ve been reading through all hann Josef Maria Rilke, better known and it’s more of an accented sound are repeated attempts to say some- figure out what it is that he is saying of [the sonnets], in hopes that what- as Rainer Maria Rilke, was one of than English. He’s using fairly sim- thing,” Wulf said, “I think if you were based on your reading of one of the ever it is that Rilke’s talking about the most influential modern German- ple, common, everyday words, but just dropped in the middle of ‘Son- sonnets, you’d just be lost. will become clear.”

Learning the rules: students motivated in the absence of authority by RACHAEL DEVECKA ’19 According to Gordon―who has pared for the future. thority. Park, on the other hand, “en- “Self-regulation is effective because been at Park since 1985―Dr. Parvin Park’s model is different from courages students to question their as- it opens the possibility for self-dis- It was break time. The students Sharpless, Park’s Head of School those of other schools, like Fort Gar- sumptions,” according to the school’s cipline. With written rules, there’s a paused the video, put down their from 1976-1995, was fond of say- rison. Because of this, it has a bit of stated objectives. Its main goal is to temptation to break them. Not hav- pencils and dispersed to the hallways, ing, “We don’t have rules, we have a stigma. Sophie Freitag, a freshman properly prepare them for life in “a ing rules written and stated…it makes bathrooms, and school store. After a conversations.” Although unconven- at Maryvale, said that part of Park’s society undergoing constant social you know what you have to do, what few minutes they returned, resuming tional, the method certainly works. reputation “is that they have no and technological change, changes makes sense to do.” their seats and work. It was much like Park’s philosophy explains why rules.” She explained that “Maryvale which demand both accommodation Finally, Park’s philosophy states an ordinary history class except that the school has adopted this model. has lots of rules because it’s a Catho- that the school seeks to inspire their there was no teacher. “Since the quality of expectation is lic school, and so there’s a lot more students to want to learn. When peo- Leaving classes without substi- most important, the belief that posi- structure because of the religious ‘In a system ‘based on ple are happy and doing something tutes is a surprisingly frequent and tive expectations produce positive aspect.” fear,’ children ‘tend to that they love, they are less likely to effective act at Park. Usually an- virtue is fundamental to the practice Jack Vanderheyden, a sophomore want to misbehave. other teacher will come in, take at- of the school,” it says. In essence, at Gilman, said that a self-regulatory be more rebellious.’ “I don’t think [the system’s] bad tendance, give directions, and then this means that the school assumes system might work. “However, at in regard to myself… I try to utilize leave to teach their own class. In the all students wish to behave well, and least for me, I chose Gilman for its and critical scrutiny.” my time to the best of my ability, and history class mentioned above, the will rise to the level of these positive system. I think it keeps students from as a result, I don’t find myself vio- students, despite being left on their expectations. screwing around,” he said. Park’s supportive model is any- lating the rules,” Kendall Clark ’19. own, watched a documentary that In this system, strict rules are un- Park is unconventional in its be- thing but fear-based. It encourages, With lots of autonomy and a chance had been assigned and took notes. necessary. Instead, everyone on cam- liefs. However, unconventional does rather than undermines relationships to learn what they want, Park stu- Although there was some goofing pus is asked to trust the students and not mean incorrect. In his book Un- between students and authority fig- dents are inspired to love what they off, they maintained control. Nobody the focus is kept where it should be: conditional Parenting, Alfie Kohn ures. “…We try to work things out are doing and become determined, cut class. Nobody did not come back on learning. explains that traditional strict, dis- together with [both] faculty and stu- focused, and self-disciplined human after the break. Everybody worked. ciplinary parenting is actually less dents,” Gordon said. beings who behave well because they The school has very few explicit ‘We don’t have rules, effective than most people believe. Rather than having established rules. Here, teachers do not act as dis- A website called “Aha! Parenting. rules which may not fit the specific ‘Self-regulation is ciplinarians, forcing learning down we have conversa- com” explains what Kohn and oth- cases, the school tries to consider a the throats of their pupils. Instead, tions.’ ers have said. student’s needs in any given situation. effective because it they operate on respect and trust. Stu- “Strict parenting deprives kids of “I like it. It’s very humane, and it asks opens the possibility dents trust that their teachers respect Matthew Hudes ’19 joined the the opportunity to internalize self- all of us to be thoughtful and open- them, and are there to help. In return, Park community in fourth grade. discipline and responsibility,” the minded,” Gordon said. This does not for self-discipline.’ students are expected―and trusted― “[Fort Garrison, my old school] was website says, adding that kids also breed rebellious children; the focus is to behave rationally, respectfully, and very different. It was terrible,” he fail to learn about thinking for them- on support. know it’s right. maturely. Students understand and said, “That school was very rule- selves and questioning authority. In a Unlike with strict parenting or any Back in the history classroom, the respond to the positive expectations. oriented. They weren’t very open- system “based on fear,” children also, strict discipline model, Park students clock slowly ticked away the time. This is how Park functions: self- minded.” He added that having too “tend to be more rebellious.” thrive on self-regulation. According Students spoke to each other quietly discipline. The absence of absolute many rules doesn’t promote actual The site also cautions that such a to the University of Nebraska–Lin- about the documentary film’s main rules and harsh punishments allow understanding of ethical and moral system “undermines the parent-child coln’s College of Education and Hu- ideas and cross-checked their notes. for understanding. “Every situation behavior. relationship.” This translates to Park man Sciences, self-regulation is “a Class was over; the students packed needs to be considered in itself,” Park Because he was having such a and other schools. desirable quality” which has “posi- up their things and left. math teacher Dr. Marshall Gordon horrible time, Hudes transferred to Like strict parenting, traditional tive effects on behavior and educa- The learning, self-directed and said. The system is focused on help- Park, which he much prefers, saying school disciplinary models do not tional outcomes.” complete, was done, this time in the ing the students succeed. its students are going to be more pre- encourage students to question au- Tomás Quintero ’19 agrees: absence of the teacher. Arts & Culture // The Postscript May 1, 2017 8 A final portfolio on display and it was hard to narrow down, but in with the aesthetic of the overall by DASHA KRISTICH ’19 I ended up choosing the work I made show,” Johnson said. Each year, a group of seniors put more toward the end of the year.” Vis- Brodie agreed: “I could only have up an art show from the work created itors could reach into the Plexiglass so much stuff, but it’s difficult to in their year-long Senior Studio class, box and rummage around in her col- come up with an idea and then stick taught by Carolyn Sutton. Students in lection of work. with it. I didn’t end up completing a this class prepare a portfolio of their An installation by Lincoln Pick- lot of the things that I started.” own art, and from this larger body of ering drew a lot of attention, as his Senior Studio, which has been work they create the Senior Shows, exciting photographs and combina- taught for more than a decade, al- which run for two weeks. tion of sculptures stood out. lows students to explore their own This year 17 students created ex- “After completing many different artistry and demonstrate their think- citing and bold art, which included projects over the course of the year, ing about art at the end of their high large scale three-dimensional work as a few select photographs and three school career. well as conventional painting, print- pitchers stood out as the strongest “The class allows for each student making, and drawing. appearance-wise, and I think I en- to take the guidelines of the class and Nate Johnson’s work featured 10 joyed creating them the most,” Pick- create art with their own aesthetic,” pieces centered around the human ering said. “I most enjoy photography Johnson said. “I incorporated doo- body. “I became interested in draw- because half the battle is catching dling and design. I’ve always loved ing bodies last year in Junior Portfolio people being themselves; I can't tell doodling, so it became a more ab- after having done some figure draw- them what to do. When I sat down stract take on bodies. A lot of the pro- ing work,” Johnson said. “I really to throw a pot, though, I was sitting cess starts with just a part of the body, liked Junior Portfolio last year, but alone and totally in my own head, but and then letting my creativity flow.” this year, we’ve had double the stu- I was forced to be in tune with others When describing her favorite dio time. We’ve also had total control when taking their picture.” work, Brodie focused on one specific over what we wanted to, along with The Senior Studio class creates piece: “It’s this comic that I made that some pretty open-ended projects.” the Senior Show not simply as a col- took about a month or so. It’s prob- Another artist, Jayme Brodie, dis- lection of their best individual work, ably the most fun I’ve ever had mak- played her dramatic line drawings in but as a synthesis or theme for the ing something, and one of the most an unusual way. rest of the work in the show. Although rewarding things.” “I put up a bunch of different there was no theme this year, the art- “I’m really glad that people have comics and zines that I’ve made, ists worked hard to make their class been able to pick it up and just read along with some illustrations. I also appear as a solid unit. “The most dif- it,” Brodie said. “Going into the had a pile of about four or five years’ ficult part of this was having so many gallery and seeing that things have worth of sketchbooks,” Brodie said. ideas, but having to throw some of changed—it’s really nice knowing graphic by Jayme Brodie ’17 “I had a lot of fun making everything, them away because they didn’t fit that people appreciate your work.”

Greek classic Antigone translated Schlitz’s newest book to modern tragedy for spring play reflects real life for kids by BRANCH SEIDENMAN ’19 winning author and a Caldecott-win- by CATIE TURNER ’17 ’17), Antigone’s husband-to-be, and Eurydice (Josie ning illustrator is sure to turn heads. Renkwitz ’18), his mother, also showed the interper- Laura Amy Schlitz, Lower School Before it was even out, Amazon had Sophocles’s Antigone asks what justice is. #Anti- sonal grief that grows from injustice. Librarian and two-time Newbery- flagged it as a #1 New Release, and it’s goneAmericanTragedy’s question is different: it asks The Diverse Chorus presented grief, but they also winning author, just released her latest also sitting in the top 5,000 books out how justice works, how we are implicated in it. Park’s showed reconciliation and joy, dancing and coming book, Princess Cora and the Croco- of Amazon’s tens of millions. The book production is original, and better for its originality, together in song. dile. The children’s book, illustrated by was dedicated to Park’s other Lower because of this framework shift. The White Chorus, like Creon, showed the internal Caldecott-medalist Brian Floca, centers School librarian, Twig George. This production shone with experienced actors. reckoning (and eventual move to support justice) of around a young princess who is sick “I think Twig is one of those people Ayjah Maggett ’17 played Antigone opposite Connor those on the side of power. and tired of her boring lessons and be- who is so kind to others,” Schlitz said, Moore’s ’17 Creon. His internal conflict compelling- #AntigoneAmericanTragedy rejects the notion ing over-scheduled by her parents, the “that I sometimes think she could use a ly represented the mindset of a person in corruptible that the sole theatrical mode for confronting injustice King and Queen. When her parents crocodile to bite some people for her.” power, Maggett beautifully portrayed a hero—­­and, should be realism. Instead, the drama of #AntigoneAm- won’t let her have a dog, she asks her George, who herself is an author, later, a martyr. ericanTragedy takes place in a realm of pure impres- fairy godmother for help. While the was surprised when she first opened Dakotah Jennifer ’18, as Ismene, showed a different sion, emotion, and relationship. fairy godmother is unable to give the the book. “I saw the dedication and conflict: whether to side with the stated law, or with Story and action were interwoven with tableau and princess a dog, she is able to give her started screaming,” George said, “It is her beloved sister, Antigone. Haemon (Max Bachvaroff song, chorus members moved as groups and as indi- something else—a crocodile. The catch an honor from a dear friend, colleague viduals, in harmony and in conflict. (and there’s always a catch whenever and brilliant writer. I always believed The play’s set is what most firmly places the pro- fairy godmothers are involved) is that in this book, Laura, and of course, duction in this world. An abstract backdrop of jagged the crocodile isn’t what one would call crocodiles.” red and black shapes and two diagonal ramps at the well-mannered. stage’s corners set a dissonant scene from the play’s Schlitz began the book almost eight beginning; a full spectrum of lighting ushered charac- years ago: “I’m overjoyed that it’s out, ters through the story. because it’s had a very long gestation But the centerpiece of the show, the piece of scenery period,” she said. that took my breath away, was the translucent black Floca’s dazzling illustrations are an- curtain, concealed for the first part of the play, that later other high point for Schlitz: “It looks unrolled to form a cylinder representing Antigone’s exactly like I pictured it would look. tomb. Lighting rendered the action within the tomb I am ecstatic with the illustrations; I invisible or visible, depending on scene. don’t think that they could be more per- In my four years of watching and writing about fect. They don’t just support the text in theater at Park, I have rarely seen a show as inventive, every way, they go beyond the text and as developed, and as moving as this one. add their own story.” It is extraordinary that students have the freedom Schlitz’s favorite illustration from to produce a show like this one. But it is even more the book centers around one of the extraordinary that students do produce shows like this. titular characters: “The one that I love It was students—headed by Assistant Director Atira the very best is the one with the croco- Koikoi ’17—who worked with Upper School theater dile venerating the cream puffs. I can’t teacher Peter King to create this play. It was students think of very many works of art that photo by N. Blau ’18 who produced this caliber of acting and design. capture that moment between desire Librarian Laura Schlitz published #AntigoneAmericanTragedy is a contemporary and fulfillment.” her eighth children’s book on graphic by Hannah Bloom ’17 story, told by contemporary youth. Any book released by a Newbery- March 28. Arts & Culture // The Postscript May 1, 2017 9

true, it certainly is the thesis statement for Feud. For a show whose entire concept is based on fighting, mostly emotional and psychological, although sometimes physical, Feud tries hard to explore what makes humans compete with each other, and why. While it doesn’t always succeed, it’s a hugely entertaining show with some real bite. Feud tracks the relationship of Joan Craw- ford (Jessica Lange) and Bette Davis (Susan Sarandon), mostly taking place on the set of What Ever Happened To Baby Jane? Over and over again, Crawford and Davis attempt to keep their rapport positive, both knowing that this film could be their last chance at to establish themselves for a new generation, but every time, they end up fighting. Creator Ryan Murphy (of American Horror Story) shows off his flair for camp with Feud, but manages to give his old tricks a new twist. What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? is a classic for many, and through the music and writing, image courtesy fxnetworks.com Murphy emulates the iconic film, makingFeud a lot of fun to watch. But it isn’t entirely silly and light. The story of Crawford and Davis is FX’s new shows Legion and Feud miss the mark about how Hollywood treats middle-aged wom- by BEN COHN ’19 it leaves character development in the dust. It mance on TV that is as physical, strange, and en, and Feud is most interested in exploring this. may have some electrifying and surreal action off-putting as Plaza’s. In every scene she’s in, Feud mostly works. One might think that the This spring, FX has debuted two new TV sequences visually inspired by silent films and she commands the screen. After seven years on combination of commentary on the film indus- shows: Legion and Feud. Both are by seasoned 70s Italian horror movies, but if you don’t know Parks and Recreation, seeing Plaza in such a try and camp would clash, and they sometimes television creators and writers, and both have a the characters, you have no reason to care. role is both terrifying and revelatory. do, but Feud is smart enough to keep them far keen visual sense, but the similarities stop there. All of the actors are good, giving some cha- But not even the acting on Legion can out- away from each other so that neither is fighting Neither is completely successful, but if they’re risma and character where the script lacks it, shine what it’s clearly proudest of: its atmo- for dominance. For a show that sounds like it already up your alley, then they’re worth a try. but none can match Aubrey Plaza, who gives a sphere, its music, and its costumes. Visually, should be just catfights and misogyny, Feud is masterful villainous performance as Lenny. The Legion is impeccable. While its sixties mod surprisingly mature. show asks her to do everything, from playing it costumes and color palette shine the brightest, it But without Jessica Lange and Susan Sa- LEGION straight as a psychologist to going insane as an can morph into neon-drenched films likeDrive, randon as Crawford and Davis, Feud would asylum patient, and Plaza takes all of this and John Wick, and Spring Breakers, or the dark, collapse under its own pursuits. Lange, who In the beginning of episode four of Legion, a runs with it. There is virtually no other perfor- sickly greens of a Tim Burton movie. has showed off her incredible acting abilities on man who lives in an ice cube appears on screen, The soundtrack and the score, a bizarre but other Murphy shows, is excellent as Crawford, and begins to explain the structure of a folk tale, somehow perfect mix of British invasion and but it’s Sarandon who really impresses. She im- a meta-commentary on the storytelling we are creepy synths, help set a strong mood for the bues Davis with an outward strength and pains about to see unfold. This is exemplary of Le- show, one of insanity and surreal horror. At one she has shoved to the wayside. gion: dryly humorous, cold (both tonally and at point in Legion’s sprawling, seventy-minute pi- And it’s not just the acting that gives Feud times literally), and surreal, almost to the point lot, there is a dance break to a French pop song its tone. The costumes and sets are all candy- of being exhausting. from the sixties. The show finds its identity in colored mid-century modern, and, as previously In FX’s first show in the Marvel universe, complete tonal and atmospheric abnormality. mentioned, the score gives the show just the Noah Hawley, the creator of Fargo, has cre- And yet this is another pitfall; all of its right edge to stop from teetering too far into ated something entirely different from other tricks, from memories to dreams, warfare inside a campy mess or a boring issue-based drama. superhero TV shows. Legion centers on David of someone’s mind, and people who live in ice Feud does lose energy as the season goes Haller (Dan Stevens), a patient at a mental insti- cubes, are ultimately distancing. When the show on, and it probably would have worked better tution who has a friend named Lenny (Aubrey is so intent on tricking and confusing you, it’s with six episodes instead of eight, but it’s still Plaza) and a crush named Syd (Rachel Keller). becomes hard to connect with. It’s impossible compelling throughout. There isn’t enough TV In addition to being schizophrenic, it becomes to trust what you’re seeing, and so there’s no out there that is fun, but doesn’t sacrifice more clear that David may also be telekinetic. This point in caring too deeply. It’s cold, resolved on complicated ideas. While it can be uneven, Feud is just about all the concrete information I can being all flash and no substance. is often great, and always entertaining. share, since early in the first episode, everything FX hasn’t necessarily struck pure gold with begins to go insane. either of its new shows this spring. They’re both Between horrifying monsters, body switch- FEUD for specific audiences, and if one really works es, and musical numbers, Legion throws every- for you, it’s unlikely that the other will just as thing it can muster at the viewer. “Feuds aren’t about anger, they’re about well. Both have faults, although Legion more The crux of my problem with Legion is pain,” Olivia de Havilland, played by Catherine so than Feud, but if my descriptions above that it seems intent on doing so many different Zeta Jones, says. image courtesy fxnetworks.com sounded interesting to you, then they’re prob- things, often pulling them off very well, but While I’m not entirely convinced that this is ably worth your time. Park musicals: an experience you won’t regret costume creation, set building, lighting work lighting and sound cues, and are the behind- and crew during the process that is not rivaled by DANIEL CODY ’18 and engineering culminate into one glorious the-scenes students who make the show work. by any other theaters I have ever worked with.” moment the start of the first dress rehearsal, Abi Klos ’19, this year’s lighting designer Moore thinks the tight relationships among Each year, Adele Dinerstein and Peter King, with the orchestra and the lights. for The Sound of Music, despite having no prior the cast members are a big part of that.“We be- the Upper School music and theater teachers, go “Dress rehearsal is the first time it feels knowledge of lighting, loved becoming a key come such a close group of people that all the through the painstaking process of choosing a real,” Connor Moore ’17 said. “As an actor, this player among the ‘‘techies.” time spent working on the show is enjoyable.” musical for the Park community. Many people is my favorite moment of all. It’s like magic.” “The job requires a lot of creativity and flex- Every actor in any Park production would hear the surprise announcement at assembly. Park is one of the few student theaters in the ibility when trying to make things work. It was agree that every show is unique, but the amaz- However, to a select few, this announcement area to operate with a live orchestra. It’s a fact a pain, but I had a supporting team of techies ing sense of community always remains the commences the magical and grueling challenge that is often ignored, but one that demonstrates who helped a lot during the rough times,” Klos same throughout the years. of creating a new world on stage. the one-of-a-kind experience given to the actors said. So, with tryouts fast approaching for next This past season, the musical was The Sound and audience. Still, even with a backbone and live orches- year’s musical, West Side Story, take these of Music, the iconic story of a musically gifted Another factor contributing to the one-of- tra, what would a Park production be without thoughts into consideration: the musical is a family who escapes the Nazi annexation of Aus- a-kind spirit of Park theater is John Trout, the its actors? What exactly is it like to be an actor? once-in-a-lifetime experience that nobody tria. Musical rehearsals typically begin in late set designer and tech crew’s “fearless leader.” “The Park musical experience is like none should miss out on. Athletes are more than wel- August and run until the show date. All the work Tech crew is the backbone of every production other I have ever experienced,” Moore said. come, and Peter and Adele would be thrilled to of line memorization rehearsal, choreography, at Park. Its members make the sets, write the “There is a sense of community within the cast have a large turnout. Arts & Culture // The Postscript May 1, 2017 10 Trial & Error makes very few errors and for one of the most villainous characters of disorders in front of them when building this all time in Dexter. So who knows? Maybe he character. As the plot progresses, we learn that did kill his wife? she also cannot remember faces—she draws a It is remarkable how Lithgow can transform circle and two dots when recalling a character. into this goofy character, right after embodying In addition, she has Stendhal’s syndrome, which Winston Churchill in the Netflix original drama causes her to faint in front of a beautiful piece of The Crown. art. “Look it up. It’s real,” she says. But the most Another nice surprise is Nicholas D’Agosto’s hysterical moment is when she walks into the portrayal of Josh Segal, the young New York office speaking with an English accent because lawyer who travels to East Peck to defend Hen- her flu shot changed her way of speech due to derson. In a funny moment, after finding out that a Foreign Accent Syndrome. his office space is a taxidermy shop, he gives There is a romantic allusion in the show the Jim Halpert’s “you must be kidding” look and the ambitious East Peck prosecutor Carol to the camera. Anne Keane, played by Jayma Mays, and Hen- Segal is the most “normal” person in the derson’s daughter, Summer, played by Krysta show, and in the beginning is distant from the Rodriguez, are the heroines of that line. provincial characters. In every episode, how- Jeremiah Jefferson Davis, played by Bob ever, he becomes more involved in this peculiar, Gunton, is Henderson’s brother-in-law who at image courtesy nbc.com small community. Of course, Segal will find first believes in his innocence and pays the de- more real friends amongst the untouched-by- fense attorney, while his wife, Josie, played by by ANTON SHTARKMAN ’20 played by Lithgow, is a poetry professor from vanity citizens of East Peck than among the Cristine Rose, silently walks through the scenes East Peck Community College in South Caro- “sharks” of the Big City; his New York friends and pries behind her husband’s back, sipping I started watching the NBC show Trial & lina who has been accused of murdering his do not wait long to take over Segal’s office dur- her cocktails. Error by accident—the TV was on, there was wife, Margaret. This concept does not sound ing his absence. It is, in my opinion, one of the best shows no basketball game that night, and I had already funny, but it is in practice. Segal’s team is nothing less than hilarious, on TV right now. It topped the absurdity of The seen Modern Family reruns. For example, when you see the naïve look and many times steals the laughs. His first as- Office, and managed to reach the same level The actors, with the exception of John Lith- on Lithgow’s face as he recalls the 911 call sistant, Dwayne Reed, played by Steven Boy- of comedy. The show does have some epic gow, did not look familiar—but a sitcom set in the night of the murder, it’s hard not to crack a er, whose name is homonym of the drug store moments, and I really hope that by the end of a small town in the middle of nowhere where smile. He put the 911 operator on hold to answer chain, is not the keenest in the world. But, he the first season the show will gain the status of characters look right into the camera was rec- the other line—he was waiting for the cable guy is sincere, dedicated, and would do everything “never tired of watching reruns” sitcoms. ognizable. to come all day. You cannot tell if Henderson is to earn his boss’s friendship. When meeting I urge everyone to watch this fantastic com- This new mockumentary is a blend of The more upset by his wife being murdered or the Segal for the first time, he says that the trial will edy. Even though there were some jokes that Office and Parks and Recreations with true cable guy not showing up. be a “battle of biblical proportions, like Moses were overused, its outlandish personality is crime dramas Making a Murderer or The Jinx. After the first episode, I was already con- versus Voldemort.” worth your time. Trial & Error, already on its eighth episode, vinced that a character as loveable as Henderson Anne, played by Sherri Shepherd, is the re- So next Tuesday, grab your popcorn and airs every Tuesday night. The best aspect of this could not be a murderer. But Lithgow is an ex- ceptionist in the office. It is hard to explain how enjoy an hour of straight entertainment—you show is the wonderful cast. tremely versatile actor—he won Emmy awards funny she is. I am sure that writers Jeff Astroff will have a blast. The main character, Larry Henderson, for being a funny alien in 3rd Rock from the Sun and Matt Miller had the encyclopedia of strange I would give the show a certain A-. On Drake’s More Life, two of the best tracks feature underexposed artists by XANDI EGGINGTON ’18 hype tracks. says, and the brands don’t even re- and HARRY LEVINE ’18 The best thing about Drake’s mu- turn the favor, with no “street guys” sical tourism though, is his inclusion in any Gucci or Louis campaigns. So, of some great, but underexposed art- he doesn’t wear a Rolex to break the On More Life, Drake returns with ists who are now exposed to the world cycle of these brands preying on the a 22-track “playlist,” where he takes stage. On More Life, two full tracks poor. A wise thought. the Drake brand global. His plan for are sans Drake, and they are some of He interweaves lines you would world domination in recent times has the best on the album. These include expect a man of the streets to say, like, involved taking bits and pieces from “4422,” which is sung by Sampha, “The police still arrest the homies/ various cultures and incorporating and “Skepta Interlude,” rapped by the No statement, no testimony/Spit in them in watered down versions, or song’s namesake. your face with extra bogey,” (that’s better said, the literal definition of On “Skepta Interlude,” Drake has phlegm), and lines you wouldn’t, like cultural appropriation. However, he given Skepta space, allowing the lis- “Record labels wanted us to listen/ employs this tactic very tastefully, teners to, in fact, meet the real Skepta. But it’s greatness only for the love of which has resulted in hits like “One Skepta, a British artist, released his Britain.” He comes off as a confident Dance,” and “Controlla.” album, Konnichiwa independently individual with solid bars, a great flow Most Drake fans don’t seem to last year, which received critical and and a unique style, a quintessential notice, or care, as he plucks his favor- commercial acclaim. The album went Britishness. His evisceration of this ite elements from cultures and puts Gold in the UK, along with spawn- beat shows two things: one, unlike them on his palette, ready to splat- ing four singles that cracked the UK Drake, Skepta actually is comfortable ter dancehall or grime on a track at Top 40. This includes “Shutdown,” in his own skin, not boxing himself any given moment. While he only whose music video has over 30 mil- in but not wearing himself thin either. dabbled in musical tourism last year, lion views. The album won the Mer- And two, Drake knew what he was appearing on UK grime star Skepta’s cury Prize, given to the best album doing when he gave Skepta his own “Shutdown” with a vaguely ethnic from the United Kingdom and Ire- track. Had Drake spit a verse himself accent, he dives headfirst on “More land, beating the likes of Radiohead he would most certainly have been, Life” into the role of globetrotter. and David Bowie. as the youths say, “bodied.” image courtesy Genius Drake’s version of globetrotter, But to everyone who’s never “4422,” the other sans Drake track by the way, is most similar to that heard of him, he acquaints himself on the playlist, is sung by yet another isn’t enthralling—it doesn’t hit you in he’s right next to you, his vocals are of the American tourist “walking quickly on Interlude. After the beat Brit. Drake fans may remember him the face like that of Skepta’s. But that panned completely left and right. He like an Egyptian” in the beginning springs to life, he snarls, “You don’t — Sampha — from his stunning fea- is how Sampha so beautifully weaves croons of a sorrow you don’t quite of Despicable Me. This is because know me you better get to know me.” ture on Drake’s “Too Much” from his his brilliance into his art. understand, one that you’re not sup- Drake borrows with no shame, trying And you do. For instance, he gives his 2013 album Nothing Was the Same. On his newest Drake feature, posed to completely understand. His out a London accent on “No Long views on high fashion, saying, “It’s “Don’t think about it too much, too Sampha takes advantage of the fact pain, unlike Drake’s, isn’t inspired Talk,” a Kingston accent on “Blem,” my time, I don’t flex a Rollie.” Ac- much,” he laments in an elusive fal- that Drake isn’t, in fact, singing by his ego. Sampha gives you, the and an Atlanta dialect on the opener, cording to Genius, this indication is setto. Sampha is a master lyricist, alongside him. “44, 22/You build it listener, the space to empathize and “Free Smoke.” Not that all of this not because of personal reasons, but often using the inherent percussive up to break it halfway through/Just fabricate your own understanding of borrowing is entirely a problem, as rather a big FU to brands like Rolex, elements of the English language to make the call, 22/But you’re just his heartache, or maybe, to fabricate songs like “Free Smoke,” “Do Not Gucci and Louis Vuitton. People are further instill his message into the the same as I ever knew,” Sampha an understanding of your own heart- Disturb,” “Sacrifices,” “Portland,” “robbing each other and killing each hearts of his listeners. He doesn’t sings in succession for the bulk of ache. His music is the ride, and you and “KMT,” are all capable of being other” to buy these name brands, he seek the lime-light, and his charisma the piece. To create the illusion that are the passenger. Sports // The Postscript May 1, 2017 11 Lacrosse teams look to further this year’s athletic successes

photos by N. Blau ’18 Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse gets off to a hot start Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse faces roster turnover by ZACHARY STERN ’19 by OLIVIER KNOPP ’19

Girls’ Varsity Lacrosse may be small in spring season, the team is aware of just how The retirement of legendary head coach nice to finally be on a team where everyone is numbers, but the team has huge expectations. good it can be. Lucky Mallonee after the 2015 season left the very serious about what they do and really into The squad of 14 girls is talented from top to This year, team leaders have placed an em- Boys’ Lacrosse team with more questions than it. People really care about the team.” bottom, tightknit on and off the field, and—bar- phasis on team chemistry. Captains Brooke answers. In 2016, however, the Bruins—led by The team’s unity and chemistry should help ring injury—could win Park its first lacrosse Cunningham ’17, Leder, Michelle Pais ’17, new head coach Josh Davey and a strong senior the Bruins down the stretch. Although there is a championship since 2013. and Eliana Sakin ’17 have brought the small class—walked away with a solid 8-5 overall plethora of talented upperclassmen, the Bruins The Bruins are off to a hot start to begin group together through team dinners, tough regular season record. The Bruins’ season ended will need underclassmen to perform as well. their 2017 campaign, standing second in the practices, and a group outing to watch Beauty after losing to Friends 13-5 in the MIAA B Con- “One of the first things Josh said to us as we IAAM B Conference at 6-2. They throttled rival and the Beast. ference Quarterfinals. started practices was that it’s not senior, junior, Friends on April 4 by a score of 12-7, and their From Yale commit Kenya Boston ’18, to Although there is plenty of talent on this sophomore, and freshman. It’s just the lacrosse two losses, both against undefeated Mercy, only year’s squad, the loss of seven senior players team,” Abrams said. “Bench players matter just came by a combined four goals. With such a was always going to be tough to overcome. as much as the captains on this team.” small bench, however, every single Park player “Not much is expected of us, and it’s very Despite the loss of seniors, Davey is not one needs to be able to continue to play at a high much a rebuilding year,” senior captain Bennett to make excuses. He expects only the best from level for the duration of a long season. Abrams said. “People came into this year not players and coaching staff. “The goal every year This is the smallest team that Girls’ Ath- knowing what we were going to look like, but has to be to win a championship. That’s what we letic Director and Head Coach Robin Lowe As a team we have people have stepped up and filled roles vacated talk about and work towards every day. We’re ’84 has fielded in her 21-year tenure with the by past seniors. We’ve come together and we’re taking things one practice at a time, one day at program, but, aided by a wealth of young tal- very high expectations. a really unique team.” a time, and one game at a time,” Davey said. ent, she is finding ways to overcome the small Abrams and others may be labeling this sea- “The big picture is a lot of the guys are sick of numbers. “We’re trying to figure out how to We need to work for son a rebuilding year, but this team certainly being mediocre or just above average, so we’re manage, and how to give people rest without does not lack talent. “We have a core group trying to figure out how to take that next step. necessarily taking them out of the game,” Lowe each“ game and work as of seniors who have played all four years who At the end of the day, if a championship isn’t said. “It’s made the players on our team much all really care,” senior captain and goalie Sam the goal then there is a problem.” more flexible and capable of playing both ends a team.” Cordish said. “We also have a lot of really tal- This season started strong for the team. In of the field.” ented young players, so it’s really exciting to their first game of conference play, they downed Conditioning has also played a large role in Sydney Lowe ’19 have that young talent to go along with the ex- Glenelg Country School 9-4. With almost their the team’s ability to combat its lack of depth. perience of the seniors.” entire schedule ahead of them, the Bruins stand “We are in much better shape than we were last In his second year, Davey looks to make at 1-0 in fourth place in the conference. year and this is because our team is so small,” the team his own. “Now that I have a little bit Although the Bruins have significant talent, captain Anna-Rose Leder ’17 said. freshmen Sonee Goles and Katelyn Mann, ev- more of a rapport with the guys, they know what it will always be hard to compete with the top The Bruins have worked relentlessly in ery one of the 14 girls on the team is contribut- my, and the coaching staff’s, expectations are,” teams of the MIAA B Conference who recruit. practices to ensure they can stay fit throughout ing in a significant way. Davey said. “Throughout this offseason there “The fact of the matter is Park isn’t the biggest games, and thus far it’s been one of their big- “Our lack of depth is a little scary,” Lowe has been more commitment than there was in school, especially in terms of our athletics,” gest strengths, as they have run several teams said. “But our level of skillset is really excit- the past.” Abrams said. “For a team like us, winning a off the field early this season. ing. This is probably the most top to bottom For some underclassmen, the competitive- championship will come through doing the little Many of the girls were on championship skilled team we’ve ever had. It’s time to win ness of the high school game is a welcome things that John Carroll and Friends might not teams in the fall and know what it takes to get [a championship] again, and I think this team change. “Middle school is a time to have fun,” do. It’s on us to give 100%, do whatever we to that point. Following a strong start to the has the potential to do it.” first-line attacker Ian Zumpano ’20 said. “It’s can, and the results will speak for themselves.” Brown, white, and centennial blue: the costs of showing off school colors by ETHAN BUSCH ’19 been talking about [these decisions] “In the past these purchases did seems to be attempting to rectify this. tion wants to make reasonable and There is a long history of athletes for a couple of years.” The timing of not always account for socioeco- These decisions were seemingly measured decisions. representing their teams and school the Athletic Department’s new rules nomic diversity,” San-Lee said. “For made behind the scenes, without If the team store pilot program not just on the field, but also in their about the school’s colors in off-the- families with one or more students consulting students much, if at all. is expanded as intended, the choice daily lives. Every year entire teams field team apparel coincides with a playing two or three sports a year, “I can’t tell you how or when stu- taken away from students will be re- purchase windbreakers, t-shirts, push that started with the Board of these sorts of things could get re- dents were consulted,” Paradis said. gained by giving athletes a selection sweatpants, hoodies, and other items Trustees to return to our brown and ally expensive [and] because these “Decisions about money often have of apparel while showing their sup- in order to show their unity and pride; white on-the-field as well. Accord- purchases are unofficial, our tuition to be made by the faculty, as we have port for teams. The program, which and also, because, let's face it, some ing to Paradis, the Board wanted to assistance program cannot offer any a greater sensitivity to families on this has run for a few teams in the past people like to flaunt team gear. “make an investment in nicer uni- help” issue.” Despite this, both Paradis and two years, is an online store where This year, there were some new forms, and help boost spirit with the The decision to limit the colors Brennan also acknowledged Park’s athletes can choose their own ap- restrictions put on apparel. There is new brown and white uniforms.” of the clothing came from the Ath- dedication to involving students in parel, and teams participating are now a limit on spending of $45 per According to Director of Finan- letic Department, and it fits with the decisions whenever possible. encouraged to choose one item within person per team. Additionally, colors cial Assistance and Enrollment Man- school-wide return to the brown and Even though there was a lack of the price limit for all members to pur- are restricted to official school colors: agement Mennette San-Lee, the rule white. “Our goal is that it feels like student involvement, the decisions chase. This allows for some choice brown, white, and centennial blue. regarding a dollar limit was made you’re part of something bigger than have been made with students’ and and also makes purchasing team gear For many this decision seems to be because of “ongoing concerns about yourself,” Athletic Director Jenny families’ best interests in mind. While more cost effective. out of the blue (!) but both new rules affordability and sustainability.” Brennan said. these new rules place some restric- These rules have certainly been have actually been in the works for Park is expensive, but accord- In the past, and even in the pres- tions on choice of color for the teams, implemented to lessen the financial a long time. ing to both San-Lee and Paradis the ent, not everyone has identified with there have been exceptions for situa- burden athletics can put on families, According to Head of School Dan administration has been looking to our ursine mascot, or our school’s tions where it was not possible to use and to demonstrate our school’s com- Paradis, “the Athletic Department has reduce the “hidden costs” of school. colors. The administration, however, brown, and ultimately the administra- mitment to our true colors. Nonprofit Org. U.S. Postage Paid Sports Permit #1262 Baltimore, MD The Postscript May 1, 2017 COMMON that goes into it, but I just feel like it’s similar to am super impressed by the purple Friday thing. Gettingby SPENCER LEVITT ’18 to know Jenny Brennan horse racing — the horse is the athlete. I think that is pretty awesome. It was funny, We know Jenny Brennan as the Director when I was interviewing for this job it was the of Athletics, but many of us are unaware she SPENCE If you had to compare yourself playing Friday before the divisional playoff between played college basketball, worked for ESPN, sports as a child to any professional athlete, the Ravens and the Patriots. So in every in- and she could probably make a career out of which one would you be? terview I had to be like, let’s just set aside our her sports trivia knowledge. allegiance. I worked at ESPN actually, that was I’m out. Jason Varitek and this Jen Rizzotti who my first job out of college. I was a marketing What is your favorite sports movie? played for UConn. They were just gritty play- and communications assistant for some of their by SPENCER LEVITT ’18 ers, you know what I mean? In some ways my alternative games: the Great Outdoor Games, Every issue of Postscript Favorite sports movie! Ouuugh. That is a older sister got all the actual sports talent in my and the X Games. So I got to look at the story of I have written my column. great question! Pistol Pete is right up there. Oh family. I sort of had like the heart and hustle. the athletes and try to figure out what the human And every issue of Postscript man. Remember the Titans. I do love Remember So yeah, players who play like that who don’t interest would be so I could feed stories to the I have been told that some the Titans. Yeah. have to be the show. press. I wrote bios on the athletes and things like middle-aged, sports- that — it was pretty cool, pretty awesome, but I loving Park parent What is your favorite inspirational quote? Who is your favorite sport team to follow? knew I was going back to education. enjoyed reading the latest “Common Spence.” Although the col- Um. “You miss one-hundred percent of the Either the Red Sox or the Patriots. Yeah, I’m LeBron or Jordan? umn is on the back page, it seems I do have a shots you don’t take.” Classic, right? like born and raised a New England sports fan. strong group of at least five loyal “Common Jordan. Although one of the funniest sports Spence” readers — including my parents. Who is one player you cannot stand in any So how do you feel about the Ravens? things I have ever heard is this radio show, Mike This is my last column, though; I will be sport? & Mike, and they had a guest on who read LeB- handing off the duties to the Steve Harvey I... like the Ravens? This is what I’ll say: I ron James’ letter about going back to Cleveland of the Upper School: Zachary Stern. A-Rod. I really don’t like that guy. I will just as the narrator from Shawshank Redemption. It Now, Stern is a great writer, and I have never forget the image of him slapping the ball was one of the funniest things. no doubt that he will write a great column. out of Arroyo’s glove in the ‘04 Series when There is one problem, though: if you have the Sox were coming back. Then he was like Anything else you want people to know? read “Common Spence” throughout the year, ‘what? I didn’t do it.’ I just feel like he — plus you have read about sports through the writ- he lied about, you know, using steroids. So Athletically? I’ve run two marathons. That’s ing of a staunch baseball fan. there’s that, too. kind of a big deal? I got to run one of them With Stern, however, (and I regret to in- with my Dad before he passed away which was form you of this) you will be getting the exact If you were the one to define which sports pretty awesome. That’s inspiration for my tat- opposite — the writing of a lacrosse player. are sports, and which ones aren’t, would you too. It says, “Thanks for holding my hand. Love, And, like any good baseball fan knows, there include golf as a sport? NASCAR? photo by N. Blau Pop.” When we would train for the race together is never a bad time to take a dig at lacrosse Jenny Brennan was Athletic Director we just randomly started holding hands when — and that is exactly what I am going to do Oh my gosh. I do include golf. I don’t in- at Concord Academy in Massachu- we finished our runs like we were crossing the in my last column. clude NASCAR. I feel like the car is the athlete setts before joining Bruin Athletics in finish line. Then he wrote that to me after we Baseball vs. Lacrosse is often a topic in NASCAR. I appreciate that there’s like work fall 2015. finished. That’s something that I’m proud of. for debate, but I will settle this right now: baseball is better. One of the primary argu- ments made against baseball is that it is too slow. And, I can see how people who have FEATURED ATHLETE: SAM CORDISH ’17 the attention span of a fruit fly (about three seconds) think it’s boring. For the humans capable of perceiving this, baseball is actu- by ZACHARY STERN ’18 ally way too fast — there is so much to keep track of: the count, the outs, defensive shift, Senior captain and starting goalie Sam continue to play at the collegiate level, hitting stats, number of men on base, and the Cordish is the anchor behind a tough de- joining the University of Pennsylvania list goes on. Baseball is a game of strategy, not a game of boredom. fense for Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse. In his lacrosse team next year. Also, we (baseball players) don’t all try first year as a starter last season, Cordish Cordish leads with his play during to look the same. A “dude” with long hair led the Bruins defense to the fewest goals games, barking out orders to defen- (what they’ll tell you is called lettuce) wear- allowed in the B Conference. This year, semen and making miraculous saves. ing a loud, colorful button down shirt, khaki he appears to be even stronger, having “He’s a player I can fully trust on the pants, and, of course, mid-calf socks is the only allowed four goals against Glenelg field,” junior defenseman Reed Potts said. quintessence of a lax-bro — and they all try Country School in the first game of con- “We play a zone defense that is designed to achieve this look. In baseball, on the other ference play. for him to make saves. Our defense re- hand, we are completely comfortable com- Cordish has been making shooters mis- volves around him.” ing together as team to play and not looking erable for over a decade. He began play- As the Bruins head into conference the same. ing goalie for Towsontown at four years play, they will be relying on the leadership Baseball is as American as one of the very old, before going on to play for club teams and stick of Sam Cordish to carry them stars on the flag. Watch Field of Dreams, Major League, The Bad News Bears, and such as Maryland Lacrosse Club (MLC), into the postseason for a third consecu- The Sandlot if you disagree. Watch lacrosse Laxworld, and The Greene Turtle. He will tive season. players try and rattle off a list of classic, household-name movies (it will be funny because they can’t). Sure, lacrosse fans might say they are : more athletic because they run more during games. The Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse team PARK SPRING SPORTS BY THE NUMBERS thought the exact same. But if you want your Steven Villacorta ’17 of Boys’ Lax won answer, go ask a member of the Boys’ Varsity goals scored in one strikeouts thrown Lacrosse team who won (handily) in handball game by Michelle Pais by pitcher Montana — spoiler: it was baseball. I understand while writing this that I will ’17 of Girls’ Varisty La- Love ‘18 against St. not be able to settle this debate. As with all 5 80% 12 the other important topics at Park, I hope the crosse against IND Timothy’s of faceoffs against Glenelg Country School conversation continues.