The longest-running newspaper in historic The Reserve Record Hudson, Ohio VOL. CI....No. 7 WESTERN RESERVE ACADEMY, HUDSON, OHIO. FEBRUARY 2015 Murder Mystery Mesmerizes Classmates Offer Counsel Leung Has No Love for Sniper Crossword: Nerds, Rejoice! The Mousetrap, the world’s longest-run- Students from each grade give guidance In scathing critique, Ying Ka compares Guest editor Simon Ong ’15 gallantly ning play, comes to the KFAC theatre. to students one year younger. the controversial piece to propaganda. gives it a go with a geek-themed puzzle. PAGE 4 | ARTS PAGE 6-7 | CENTERFOLD PAGE 5 | ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 8 | ENTERTAINMENT Students Celebrate Two Surprise Free Days O’Connell By CAT BERRY ’15 Joins WRA On two very different winter days, Western Reserve Academy students By JAE HOON LEE ’16 enjoyed unexpected hours of free This February, due to recent facul- time, thanks to canceled classes. ty changes in the Modern and Clas- On Feb. 2, with newly fallen sical Languages Department, West- snow sprinkled serenely across the ern Reserve Academy welcomed front fields, sun shining down upon Spanish teacher Sean O’Connell brick row and classrooms filled to our community. O’Connell was with rumors of a Winter Carnival, able to make this abrupt transition conditions were perfect for a day possible in that his “last job was off of school. But students may re- technically part-time, without a member the day as when we almost binding year contract.” lost our Student Body President “The timing could not have been Trevor Levin ’15 and Senior Class better,” said O’Connell. He left for President Simon Ong ’15 to a very WRA on the last day of the first se- poorly timed yet clever morning mester of his previous teaching job. meeting announcement. KALLIE KROLIKOWSKI Previously, he was teaching Pre-K, There was a unique buzz to the Students celebrated the first day off, on Feb. 2, with traditional outdoor activities like sledding. Elementary, and Middle School this particular morning meeting, Spanish at a parochial school in with words like winter and carnival the day off.” decision was made during my Latin course, watched all of the ruckus Newtown, Conn., where he grew wafting from ear to ear. Some risk The Chapel, for a moment, was class. Tyson Oliver ’16 and his sug- outside of Wood House. up. He was also working on his takers even bet their homework that completely silent. But, after a mo- gestions were very important. And More than two weeks later, as a graduate degree in Spanish, for school was going to be canceled af- ment, the pews erupted with jubila- I could really tell George Wiggam bitterly cold front neared Hudson, which he spent a year in Madrid, ter morning meeting. tion. Burner saved not only the lives ’18 needed a break.” students bounded across inflatables Spain, as did fellow Spanish teacher Levin and Ong took the stage to- of Levin and Ong but also the well- Several faculty sources confirmed and devoured ice cream at Bick- Nick Cheadle, who attended a pro- ward the end of the assembly, intro- being of the student body. That that they too jumped when Burner nell Bonanza. In the middle of the gram at Middlebury College with duced themselves as student coun- English paper no longer mattered, made the call, but more because it event, shouts rang out throughout O’Connell. cil members, and announced that that Bio quiz would have to wait for forced a reorganization of their syl- the Murdough Athletic Center as O’Connell has quickly adjusted a very exciting event, long in the another day and the next few hours labi. Students, on the other hand, students received an email from the to his new job. He said he finds works, would in fact be happening were ours for the taking. took full advantage. They had Head of School announcing that “the WRA community to be very that day, to preemptive cheers. But Despite the rumors of Winter snowball fights and built forts on the next day’s class had been can- welcoming,” not just the Language the two were merely announcing Carnival, Burner was sure to note the front fields while others sled- celed as a safety measure. Department, who “have been fan- auditions for the spring play. that this day was not that event, nor ded on the cross country hill with Although the news was warmly tastic,” but also from his Spanish “When people were already stand- was it a snow day. “Snow days do whatever they could get their hands welcomed, the next day was less students who “have had incredible ing up in celebration, I realized we not exist at Western Reserve Acad- on (including dining hall trays and cheerful than the previous day off: patience” while he settles in. As a had made a huge mistake,” recalled emy: we go to school,” he said. “It pizza boxes). Brendan Kelley ’15 because the weather was so cold, younger member of the faculty, he Levin. But only a few minutes later, was a ‘free day.’” These free days, stated that on this much-needed students were told to remain in- hopes to bring diversity to the com- Head of School Chris Burner ’80 Burner said, date back to when he free day, he went sledding and had doors whenever possible, and day munity. made an announcement of his own. attended WRA and are declared “one of the best days ever” with his students were encouraged to stay O’Connell enjoys many out- As Burner approached the podi- with the purpose of giving the stu- little sister Brigie Kelley ’18. home. Apart from the Dining Hall, door activities, especially running, um, all eyes were on him. He spoke dents a break or of celebrating an For those inclined to stay inside, campus was unnervingly quiet. biking and skiing. Before starting briefly about the previous weekend’s event. With the production of The the Dining Hall provided lots of “I guess I got cabin fever, since I his career as a Spanish teacher, he winter play and the weather. Burner Mousetrap and the Knight Fellow hot chocolate, and the Green Key was relegated to my dorm and the gained teaching experience as a closed with a casual sentence that visit a week prior, Burner thought hummed with activity. And what Green Key,” reported Charles Pren- ski instructor in Vermont. Having would have a profound effect on it was the perfect time. did the man who gave us the free dergast. biked the Cabot Trail in Nova Sco- the students assembled: “My Latin Even with all these consider- day do on his day off? He caught “And it was bloody cold,” added tia and the last third of the Camino I class convinced me to give you all ations, Burner confessed, “the final up on work, stayed indoors and, of George Merriott ’15. de Santiago, he plans to bring his road and mountain bikes out here from home. Adams-Wall Becomes New Hobart Housemaster In addition, he plays the piano and organ, and is “thrilled to be far, he reclined in an armchair in here with access to WRA’s instru- By MICHAEL ZELEZNIK ’16 the Hobart common room, watch- ments.” He wants to help all inter- With the recent shuffling of fac- ing the Cleveland Cavaliers with ested in music with his experience ulty at Western Reserve Academy, the sophomore residents. They in music theory and composition. the position of housemaster at Ho- fooled around on their laptops and O’Connell’s various talents and ex- bart House has fallen on admissions chatted, having finished homework periences, as well as his resemblance officer Thomas Adams-Wall. No for the night. to Pretty Little Liars character Ezra stranger to the building, the man That evening, I asked Adams-Wall Fitz (who he claims is his evil twin), known to many simply as “A-Wall” to describe Hobart in five words. bring a new perspective to WRA. appears eager to assume the respon- He responded, “Best boys’ dorm sibility. Adams-Wall spent parts of on campus.” The sophomores were JENNY XU the past two years as an assistant quick to defend his claim. They to the former housemaster Vicki listed several factors: one boy is Mitchell. “the man,” someone else likes to Although Adams-Wall is among blast music, and still another is the the youngest faculty members, gentleman of the house. General residents report that he has served MAX BORRMANN giggling ensues. admirably in his first few weeks on Thomas Adams-Wall is excited to assume his new position in the dorm. Clearly, there is no shortage of the job. “There were some concerns Hobart pride. The boys value the from people that he wasn’t suited spects him.” that I’m was thrown into the role- communal atmosphere the dorm for the job because they thought Adams-Wall plans to rely on pre- -it’s great to know they have my creates, and they spend time with he wouldn’t be able to assert his au- fects such as Ajay Dakappagari ’16 back,” he said. each other rather than alone. It is thority to make sure the dorm was and Dan Dorman ’16, who have Hobart House is known on clear that any group with the chem- in control,” remarked Jae Hoon Lee lived there since they were sopho- campus as being among the more istry of the Hobart boys will not ’16, “but he has been doing a great mores. “Just getting to know [the relaxed dorms. Indeed, as Adams- have too many problems getting job, and everyone in the dorm re- prefects] and having them realize Wall described his experience thus along and helping each other out.