The WALRUS The time has come, the Walrus said, to talk of many things: Of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. - Lewis Carroll Vol LXV, No. 5 St. Sebastian’s School March 2012 Seb’s Delegates Govern at HMC By Joe Dudley ‘12 they meet with their specific com- constitution and attempted to draft On Thursday February 23rd, mittee and attempt to draft a bill a constitution of their own. Sean, while most of the students at Sebs on the topic given to them by their playing John Langdon, and Kenney, were enjoying their day off, and moderator. After a bill is voted to playing Samuel Johnson, said it was either happily awaiting or dread- pass in their house committee, the a life changing experience to have ing the feedback from the parent- moderator moves onto another sub- the fate of a nation in their hands, teacher conferences, twelve juniors ject which the committee members but both confirmed that they thank and seniors made their way into the attempt to make another bill. They God every night that their constitu- Sheraton hotel in Boston for Harvard repeat the process until that session tion, where the “head honcho” reigns Model Congress. The mock congress is over, and after another session of supreme, was not ratified in real life. is designed to give high school stu- bill making, the authors and opposi- After Mark Cunningham got himself dents from all over the country the tion of the bill prepare presentations sick by preparing late into the night opportunity to not only experience for the mini-house caucus, where for his role, Thayer Wade took his the inner-workings of our govern- the whole republican or democratic place as Timothy Geithner in the Na- ment, but offer the chance to work house will vote on the bill. Whatever tional Economic Council. Thayer still with students from a variety of dif- bills pass through the mini-house claims that he has no idea where the ferent backgrounds. Of the three se- caucus, are prepared to be present- government’s funds were after the niors and nine juniors who attended, ed to the whole house and voted on. transfer to that anonymous bank ac- we all agreed it was enlightening to Due to the large numbers attending count in Saudi Arabia… While Sean see all of the differences and simi- Harvard Model Congress, there are and Kenney went back to the recent larities of the other high school actually multiple different Houses past of the constitution and Thayer students from different areas of the of Representatives, and it is always played monopoly with United States’ country. The juniors who attended interesting to see how one house money, I was the prince, Hugh of were Kenney Chen, Michael Haley, interpreted an issue compared to Vermandois, during the first crusade. another. In an attempt to study the roots The Harvard Model Congress delegates pose before they depart for the weekend in Boston. Kevin Looney, Brian Mullin, Mike Petro, Chris Riley, Ryan Schnoor, of the conflict in the Middle East, The students who were and Conor Thompson. The three the Historical Committee allowed selected for the senate were Mike seniors were Sean Frazzette, Patrick us to create our own version of the Petro and Ryan Schnoor. The sen- McLaughlin, and me, Joe Dudley. As first crusade. And in response to Mr. ate operations mirror those of the Thomasy’s announcement on Febru- Trustees Check Up a part of the process, each of us ap- th house. However, the main difference plied for roles in the house, senate, or ary 27 , I am indeed very skilled with is the number of students actually special programs. Within the house a lance; many skilled knights were in the committee. There are far few- and senate are committees which filleted by my point during the con- er students in senate committees each student is assigned to create quest of Jerusalem. on the State of the School than in house committees, creating a smaller group to work with. Each a more intimate experience. In the Harvard Model Congress special program must be applied to house one often gets to know a very was a wonderful opportunity to ex- By Mike Petro ‘13 they debated the merits of the New individually. Every person is given a they can be there. Just think, if you small percentage of the students; perience what its like to be in our Deal in front of a trustee. “Mr. Schell role within each committee and rep- Even Mr. Burke has a boss, were a trustee, would you want to whereas in the senate, you hear al- government, and see history from was very impressive, not that that resent that actual person; however, or rather, a group of bosses. For get up early just so you could go to most everyone’s input. The closeness the point of view of those actually surprised me…” Even those students although many of their views are 149 days of the 150-day academic sit through a couple classes? I know created in the smaller groups allows present. Ask any of the guys who at- who guided the trustees, like Sean limited by the geographic area they year, there is no higher author- that I definitely would, but I’m weird, the chance for less business-like bills tended, and they will tell how great Frazzette, enjoyed it: “It was terrific; I come from and personal interests, ity on campus than our beloved so the answer is probably no. to be passed. For instance, in his the trip into Boston was. I encour- got to meet some great people who the student is given the freedom to headmaster, but for that one other rookie year, Sean Frazzette’s senate age the younger students and the Beginning around 12:15, do what they can to make an amaz- interpret that role as they see fit. The day, the board of trustees descends changed the national anthem to a Juniors who did not participate this our brave band of academically ing impact on the school.” whole Harvard Model Congress is upon the campus, just to make sure Wakka Flocka Flame song. Although year to consider Harvard Model Con- praiseworthy seniors picked up their run by Harvard undergraduates, and that the school is running at normal he firmly denies it, it was rumored gress to try it. And on behalf of all assigned trustees in Ward Hall and As for the opinions of the teach- each committee has a few Harvard levels of magical goodness. Thurs- that Sean’s vote was for “wonton those who did go this year, I would brought them to the period three ers, I think we can all imagine that students that help moderate the day, March first was this year’s day soup” by Lil B. like to thank Mr. Sullivan, for allow- class (I guess it’s supposed to be having the trustee in the room can proceedings. of observance for the board. Paired ing us to attend the conference and period C, because officially, days are bring some pressure to class. That with students from the Cum Laude Each special committee is for chaperoning, Mr. Deschenes for numbered and periods are lettered) Mr. Wilbur (for supposedly good The students who were society, the lucky group of mem- unique and every Sebs’ student who making the online application and that occupied that time slot. One of reasons…) didn’t show up to his selected for the House of Repre- bers got the chance to revisit their partook in one had an entirely dif- briefings painless to access, and last those classes was Mr. Thomasy’s AP trusteed class more than solidifies sentatives are Michael Haley, Pat- high-school glory days and watch ferent experience not only from the to Mr. Thomasy for his dedication to US History. Mr. Jim Elcock ’77, P’08, this aspect of the day. The students rick McLaughlin, Kevin Looney, students and teachers try to act senate and house, but from each the program for so many years, with- the current president of the board of any teacher scheduled to have a Brian Mullin, Chris Riley, and Conor normal during classes throughout other as well. Sean Frazzette and out him I doubt me or anyone else sat in on those forty-five minutes trustee know this. A lot of prep work Thompson. The schedule for those the day. A full board meeting was Kenney Chen were in the Constitu- could have possibly shared in the of glorious Thomasy-time. Accord- goes in to ensuring that we all look in the house went as follows. First scheduled for after school. tional Convention. Where they took great experience of Harvard Model ing to Matt Donovan ’13 “He mostly good. All of those to whom I talked they would have a session in which agreed that the day went very well. on the roles of the authors of the Congress. The day itself is colored sat in the back corner and didn’t Nobody embarssed themselves or with a hint of wackiness, as the contribute much—well I guess he their classmates, and there was only whole schedule is flipped on its said a few words…” Mr. Thomasy minimal confusion about the sched- head. It runs from J period right into went over how to answer Docu- ule. I would like to thank all those Seb’s Robotics Aims to Take States what would normally be the last ment Based Questions on the AP who were scheduled to receive their class of the day, and proceeds to fin- exam, apparently asking Mr.