THE NATION'S OLDEST ON THE WEB: COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL www.pingry.org/stu- NEWSPAPER dents/therecord.html VOLUME CXXXII, NUMBER 3 The Pingry School, Martinsville, New Jersey MARCH 10, 2006 Web Access to Social Sites Denied on Campus Computers sons and daughters could be shouldnʼt.” By CHANTAL BERMAN (VI) posting and accessing profan- While Mr. Vo said that there In a break with the non-fil- ity, personal information and is “no hard data” detailing how tering technology policy that inappropriate pictures during many students were access- has existed school hours. ing sites such as Facebook at Pingry for The decision to filter these from school computers, Upper the past sev- sites was deliberated and car- School Head Mr. Jon Leef said eral years, ried out by the Administrative that much of the evidence cited the admin- Group, consisting of Mr. Cox, by the Administrative Group istration and Mr. Leef, Mr. Conard, Mrs. was anecdotal, coming from the tech team Geacintov, Mr. Pratt, Mr. Cor- teachers and other faculty quietly imposed a web filter in vino Sr, Miss Boisvert, Miss members who witnessed stu- the days before winter break Hoffman, Mr Vanasse, and dents using these sites during on such social networking Mr. Vo. their frees and sometimes dur- websites as MySpace.com, On the reasons for the ban, ing class time. Courtesy of the Development Office Facebook.com and Xanga. Mr. Leef said, “There was re- Mr. Leef insisted that the The Rebel Poor stage a revolution in Urinetown, the winter musical. com. As a result, students can ally a wide spectrum of things web filter doesnʼt reflect the no longer access these websites taken into account, the primary administrationʼs trust in stu- from any computer currently reason being that these sites dents. “The web filter decision “A Privilege to Pee” Is a Privilege using the Pingry server. are just inappropriate for use was less about the Honor Code Director of Technology Mr. during the school day. They and the Tech Agreement and Quoc Vo explained that he are distracting students from more about being pragmatic,” to See in Urinetown the Musical had received several requests what school should really be he said. Mr. Leef added that the own” is about a small town Cladwellʼs daughter, Hope, from parents to block access about. And of course thereʼs ban was never discussed with By DIANA JIANG (III) experiencing a drought, played by Katie Jennings to these sites. The parents, he also the prospect of students Excitement mounted as causing everyone to pay a (VI), arrives at UGC from said, expressed fears that their sharing information that they Continued on Page 9 the audience in the sold fee in order to use public the “most expensive univer- out Macrae Theatre waited restrooms. No one can “pee sity in the world,” the plot anxiously for the curtains to for free,” and anyone caught thickens. be pulled back and the show peeing in the bushes is sent One night, Hope meets to begin. “Urinetown,” the to Urinetown. The people Bobby Strong, played by 2002 Tony-award winning sent there never return, Ricky Zacharias (IV), whose musical, was this yearʼs mu- so the remaining citizens father has just been sent to sical production, directed have no idea where or what Urinetown. Bobby feels by Stephanie Romankow it is. Urine Good Com- guilty about not helping and comprising 25 cast pany (UGC), run by the rich his father, but Hope tells Courtesy of Google Images. members. Mr. Caldwell B. Cladwell, him to “follow your heart.” The popular website Facebook.com is not accessible from school computers. In regards to the show, played by Jake Kreeger (V), It is love at first sight for actor Katie Jennings (VI), claimed that the UGC needs the young couple, and they said, “The entire cast has money to research a way unwillingly part from each worked really hard. The out of the drought. Years other. The next day, Bobby musical is a team effort, passed, however, without takes Hopeʼs advice and At Top Schools, 2006 Applicant dependent on every cast sign of letting up. Everyone leads a rebellion against Mr. member, and we are all re- is getting desperate, espe- Cladwell, so that the poor no ally excited!” cially those who do not have longer have to pay to pee. Pool Is “More Competitive” Written by Greg Kotis the money needed to use the When Mr. Cladwell and his early decision, early action, on increased competitiveness and Mark Hollman, “Urinet- “public amenity.” When Mr. men confront the rebels, the By CATHERINE CHONG (V) restrictive early action and of this yearʼs senior class in rebels kidnap Hope and take As second semester seniors early decision two. In the class schools nationwide, while her to their secret hideout. gradually succumb to full- of 2005, 68 out of 119 students others blame it on universi- Believing that Mr. fledged “senioritis,” many were accepted under the same tiesʼ decisions to decrease the Inside The Record Cladwell will do no harm still anxiously await their plans. While the percentage of number of students admitted to Bobby since they have admissions decisions from the students admitted early this early. regular applicant pool. Many year was 55.3 percent, 62.13 Although Director of Col- Hope, his daughter, Bobby seniors, however, already percent of the Class of 2005 lege Counseling Mr. MacLel- returns to UGC headquarters experienced that same feeling was admitted early. The less lan has only heard rumors that and is consequently sent off back in December while wait- than 7 percent drop is not a the early applicant pool was to Urinetown for causing the ing for the early admissions large percentage, but it was more competitive this year, he disturbance. The audience decisions. a decrease that was all too knows that it is true for some discovers that being sent to In this yearʼs senior class, familiar in schools across the schools. “Iʼve heard from col- 64 out of 103 students who nation. Continued on Page 8 applied were accepted under Many blame this decrease Continued on Page 9 Alumni Rock Out: Guster, Houston Calls, Tally Hall I jokingly suggested that he and the powerful connection between annual “Campus Consciousness By OLIVIA DELIA (IV) I write some original rock songs musicians and their fans… via Tour,” a “green” tour (which will As artists with unique sounds, that happen to be about the holi- an interactive eco-village while restrict bio-diesel to the buses, alumni Adam Gardner ʼ91 of day. The second I said it, he lit up working to ʻgreenʼ the tour and the wind power offsets to replace Guster, Rich “Okie” Okamoto and we both grabbed guitars and music industry as a whole.” energy used during concerts, ʼ00 of Houston Calls, and Andrew started writing what is now the Since 2004, Reverb has worked etc.) with an eco-village of kiosks J. Ellwanger (VI) Horowitz ʼ01 of Tally Hall have album ʻHanukkah Rocks.ʼ” with artists such as Barenaked for non-profits, alternative en- Max Cooper (VI) dances with a lucky senior citizen at the Environmental activists, Gard- Ladies, Alanis Morrisette, Dave ergy associations and eco-friendly Intergenerational Prom on February 14. See page 9. each created distinct identities for themselves in the world of alterna- ner and his wife, Lauren, formed Matthews, Jack Johnson, Avril products, as well as community Friday Night Lights? Midterms: Good or Bad? tive rock music. Reverb, a project aimed at raising Lavigne and Bonnie Raitt. service projects, discussions and “awareness and support for the en- This year, Reverb and Guster a food drive. Columnist Andrew Sartorius (IV) Midterm exams get a three-year vironment through building upon are teaming up to launch the first Gardner began attending Pin- proposes a plan for updating the school's checkup to determine their future at the ADAM GARDNER '91 gry in the ninth grade after start- outdoor athletic facilities. P 3. school. P 8. A member of the nationally ing his first band in eighth grade renowned band, Guster, Gardner with fellow Pingry graduate Cort Pam Stenzel: Informer or Alumni Making Headlines is recognized at a level which he Corbin ʼ91. As his Independent Study Project senior year, Gardner Performer? The Record investigates the lives modestly calls “pseudo-fame.” The Pingry community reacts to of former students who have made an Formed in 1992 as GUS, wrote and recorded “Final Flight,” guest speaker Pam Stenzel's controver- impact on the world. P 10-11. Guster came into existence in a six-song EP made with Corbin sial speech. P 4-5. 1995 and has released five al- and Stewart Range ʼ91. Which teams do you follow? ternative rock records appearing Gardner explains that Mr. Jim The Mysterious Breakfast numerous times on television and Little, former director of the But- Learn about this season's sports tondowns and Menʼs Glee Club, teams and their valuable players. P 12. radio. Their next album, “Ganging Ryan MacGibbon (VI) takes a “taught me all the subtle nuances deeper look at the magic of cereal. P 6. Up On the Sun,” will be released in June on Reprise Records. of music—the stuff that isnʼt writ- Sections ten on the music staff. He taught News...........................1, 8-9, 10-11 Additionally, Gardner is now Winterfest: Cold and Lifeless working on a project called the me how to express myself through Cassie Osterman (III) looks at the Commentary..........................2-3 music—a true gift.” Special Report..........................4-5 LeeVees, collaborating with Dave ups and downs of this year's Winterfest Schneider of The Zambonis to cre- “Forced” to take piano lessons dance.