Ye Olde Feast: Madrigal Feaste a New Year Slithers In
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WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY February 2013 | VOL. XCIX : NO. 4 The Life of Ted Bear Need Advice? Super Bowl Recap The longest-running Find out what Reserve’s favorite bear does all Recent WRA alumni write their own stories back to Delve into the mind of Drew Perdue as he retells the newspaper in historic day the community most important game of the year Hudson, Ohio PAGE 6 | COMMUNITY PAGE 4 AND 5 | CENTERFOLD PAGE 2 | OPINION Rocketry Club: Building A Community Comes Together: Culture Night 2013 from the Ground Up by Trent Pacer ’13 says of the food, “I really enjoyed Nishika Raheja’s by Kevin Yang ’15 On Sunday, January 26th, Western Reserve Acad- Indian dishes which consisted of food I would never When it comes to assembling a rocket, a kit emy students, faculty, and family gathered at the have seen in everyday life.” Cynthia Pardo ’13, Co- would be the easy way to go. The easy way Murdough Athletic Center for SICU’s annual Cul- President of SICU, says, “For me, Culture Night is doesn’t cut it for Alex Wheaton ’14. “In a ture Night. SICU, Students for Intercultural Under- one of my favorite events at Reserve. It really makes kit,” says Wheaton, “they test it [the rocket] standing, has been organizing their annual culture me think about how lucky we are to be a part of a beforehand.” As head of the Rocketry Club, night for the past several years. The event is made community with such rich diversity.” up of two parts, student presentations on different Wheaton plans to move away from these Doe by Photos preassembled kits in favor of a rocket built cultures and a food sampling of cuisine from around from scratch. In a handcrafted rocket, accord- the world. ing to Wheaton, “a lot comes down to experi- WRA is blessed to have a rich diversity of students mentation.” No one is there to give the ideal from around the world and many students who proportions of the body to the nose cone or to laboured intensively in the weeks before the event suggest what materials to use; instead, Rocket- in order to share their culture with the community. ry Club allows for its members to find out for In-between the presentations, John Waldon ’13 and themselves what does and does not work. Robert Stephens ’13 kept the atmosphere upbeat The major project that Wheaton has in mind with their witty jokes and retorts. Charnley Worth for the club is a rocket that can break the ’13 gave a light-hearted yet enlightening presentation sound barrier. Ideally, it will be able to surpass on the culture of England, from descriptions of the the speed of sound within one and a half miles different foods to a hilarious imitation of the dif- after launch. “The higher up you go,” says ferent regional accents. Minh Pham ’14 and Tuong Wheaton, “the faster you have to go to make a Nguyen ’14’s presentation on Vietnam featured a sonic boom, because air is thinner higher up. enthralling rap in Vietnamese to the tune of Busta That’s why the rocket has to reach top speed Rhymes section of “Look At Me Know” by Chris in short time.” In addition to this speed-of- Brown. After the presentations, the event moved to sound-surpassing rocket, the club is planning the foyer of the MAC for a sampling of cuisines rang- to make a two stage rocket with a maximum ing from Moroccan to Mexican. Abby Hermosilla ’14 height of three to four miles. Although it lacks the proper funds at the Ye Olde Feast: Madrigal Feaste moment, the club has an ambitious sched- ule in mind. Sam Clark ’13 looks forward by Selena Walsh ’14 the night is transformed into the McCuskey Manor. to working on the rocket and anticipates the As we all endure another, cold, grey, neverending Choir director and the chair of Fine Arts Depart- afternoon delight of its upcoming launch. If Ohio winter, students struggle to find ways to keep ment, Midge Karam ’79 says, “My favorite part of you’re at all interested in rocketry or engineer- busy. However, last weekend, community members Madrigal is transitioning from the Processional to ing or just launching were delighted to find a jolly source of entertainment the Blessing. It’s very powerful and the choir always things into the air, in the annual Madrigal Feaste. does a great job with it.” Following the Blessing, Rocketry Club is a The Madrigal Feaste is a WRA tradition that choir members proceed to serve and serenade the good way to go. Af- began years ago. Audience members are delighted many guests of the king for the rest of the night until ter all, who wouldn’t with both dinner and a show put on by the Acad- the king and queen bid farewell and everyone goes want to brag about emy choir. The performance begins with the choir, home. Overall, this year’s Madrigal was a successful breaking the sound dressed in Renaissance garb, processing into the night full of men in tights and merriment. Wassail! south end of the Ellsworth dining hall which for barrier? Photo via Wheaton area where you could try on traditional Chinese part in a foreign culture, it also took on a greater A New Year Slithers In apparel. Of course, no Chinese New Year would be meaning. “For us, it’s the most important festi- by Kevin Yang ’15 complete without food; something not lacking at val,” says Gu. “For international students, it’s like On February 10, 2013, more than 1.3 billion the celebration. Students of Mandarin, Ms. Chen home,” says Ly. people in China and 10 million people in America and the kitchen staff set up tables filled with plates In China, New Year celebrations can last for two celebrated Chinese New Year. At Western Reserve of dumplings, fried rice, noodle dishes, bubble tea weeks; at WRA, all the festivities had to be packed Academy, Mandarin Club faculty advisor and Man- and pastries. into less than three hours. However, much effort darin teacher Feng Chu Chen and co-presidents When asked how this year’s party differed from was exuded in preparation of the activities, prior Kevin Ly ’13 and Dennis Gu ’13 extended this previous years’, Ly replied, “Last year, we held it in to the day of Chinese New Year. Gu exclaimed, celebration to the entire school. the Green Key, and it was mostly for Asian students. “thanks to Ms. Chen and to everyone who helped Mandarin Club had plenty planned for the festi- This year, it’s for everyone. There’s more food, more out.” While Ly mentionded that he would, “like val: the traditional lion dance, music and dancing, space, bigger budget, more activities, and more en- to thank the parents for funding this event and for martial arts and weapon demonstrations and singing tertainment.” While this event was an opportunity everyone who came to celebrate with us. This means from the Mandarin classes. There was even a photo to watch performances, enjoy good food and take a lot to many students here. Xie xie.” Photos by Doe, Xu and Walsh and Xu Doe, by Photos 2 Reserve Record Opinion February 2013 The Super Bowl, As Told by Drew Perdue We’re For Valentine’s Day by Drew Perdue ’13 me giggle a bit. As a library prefect, I certainly ap- by Brandon Kramer ’13 and Shyam Patnaik ’13, When I was asked to cover the Super Bowl for preciated the humor. (7) with love this edition of our favorite school newspaper, I Second Quarter Valentine’s Day....the day when boys dress up jumped at the chance. To me, the Super Bowl is a Doritos is on a different level when it comes to as Cupids and get to act like they care about love day of celebration that falls in between Thanksgiv- their legendary Super Bowl commercials. “Fash- and romance with $1 Crush-O-Grams. At WRA, ing and the Fourth of July since I tend to over eat, ionista Daddy” has my whole family in stitches. (7) we take Valentine’s Day very seriously and uphold and there is certainly a great amount of spectacle *Puts down slice of pizza* This Calvin Klein ad the traditions of this school-wide drama with that goes with the big game. I actually overeat on makes me feel pretty bad about myself. That’s why excellence, integrity and compassion. Although both days, but just go with it. I felt unsure as to I’m going to have to grade harshly. (3) random encounters with senior cupids occur more what I’d write on. The game itself? No. The com- I just finished watching the Budweiser “Brother- often than many are comfortable with, the day mercials? It’s possible. I was stuck. Then, I remem- hood” ad that depicted a bromance between a man gives students an ideal chance to express their true bered that I had been approached by the Record and a Clydesdale horse to the tune of “Landslides” feelings. To channel our natural creativity, WRA staff. They wanted ME. So, I decided to give them by Stevie Nicks. I lied down. I tried not to cry. I offers a cookie decorating workshop to provide a me. You are about to go deep inside the mind of cried a lot. (6.5) path to a crush’s heart through the perfect cookie. Drew Perdue. The following are my thoughts of “Viva Young” by Taco Bell might be the best But the scope of this day isn’t limited to the stu- the best ads in each quarter.