[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row custom_padding=”27px|0px|27px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/cropped-masthead.gif” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”17px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Volume CXLIV Number 3 \/\/ March 7, 2018 \/\/ The Pingry School, Basking Ridge” text_orientation=”center” _builder_version=”3.2″ title_level=”h4″ title_font=”Crete Round||||||||” title_font_size=”18px” background_color=”#003366″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ make_fullwidth=”on” specialty=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”34.75px|0px|34px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”503,504,505,506″ gallery_captions=”,,,” fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ title_font=”||||||||” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#c6c6c6″ border_style_all=”solid” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#c6c6c6″ border_width=”3px”][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ header_font=”Crete Round||||||||” header_4_font=”Crete Round||||||||”]<\/p>\n
On February 22, 23, and 24, Pingry\u2019s Drama and Music Departments presented this year\u2019s winter musical, The Addams Family, a quirky comedy written by Andrew Lippa. Following the members of the infamous clan known for their dark and twisted outlook on life, the musical takes place over one wacky night filled with exposed secrets and new revelations.<\/span><\/p>\n The plot focuses on what happens when Wednesday Addams (Dorothea Miller, V), the oldest child and only daughter of Gomez (Lucas Vazquez, V) and Morticia Addams (Isabel DeVito, V), finds love with a normal Ohioan named Lucas. \u00a0When Lucas (Leo Zhu, V) and his parents come to the Addams\u2019s house for what they believe will be a simple dinner, instead they experience an unusual night of bizarre family traditions and meddlesome potions.<\/span><\/p>\n When Wednesday decides to tell only her father of her recent engagement to Lucas, Gomez, as a loyal husband and father, struggles to keep this secret. At dinner, while playing the family\u2019s time-honored game, \u201cFull Disclosure,\u201d in which everyone must confess an untold secret, Wednesday\u2019s brother Pugsley Addams (Katerina Deliargyris, V), attempts to stop the marriage.<\/span><\/p>\n However, this plan goes awry. In a dramatic fashion, Morticia learns of their plan to wed. Both families in shambles, the lovers, both new and old, must learn to forgive and to find their way back to one another. As the musical progresses, viewers watch both Wednesday and Lucas, Morticia and Gomez, and Lucas\u2019 parents, Mal (Andrew Cowen, V) and Alice (Maya Huffman, V) come to accept their differences and reaffirm their undying love for one another. The clan\u2019s elders, hoping for love to triumph, cheer on the lovebirds throughout the show.<\/span><\/p>\n Director Mrs. Stephanie Romankow brought a creative, and spunky take to this twist on the classic family. When choosing this year\u2019s musical, Romankow decided on The Addams Family because it \u201callowed all students to practice some acting, singing, and dancing,\u201d while it \u201cspeaks to all types of love\u201d as well as family life and forgiveness.<\/span><\/p>\n Proud to see everyone \u201ccoming together\u201d and \u201ccollaborating,\u201d Mrs. Romankow said that her favorite moments in the rehearsal process were when \u201ctwo actors would find a moment when they connect dramatically.\u201d\u00a0As the director, she was elated by the \u201cgiant puzzle\u201d the students, teachers, and parents put together.\u00a0\u201cIt was an honor \u201cto spend time with people who care about this musical,\u201d she said.<\/span><\/p>\n To create a complex and beautiful set, Mrs. Jane Asch and Mr. Christopher Abbott worked long hours, along with students and parents. Mr. Alan Van Antwerp served as the lighting and technical director, while Dr. Andrew Moore, as the pit orchestra conductor, directed student musicians throughout the show. Stage managers for the musical included Allison Matthias (V), Udochi Emeghara (V), and Quarida Benatia (VI).<\/span><\/p>\n Like many of her fellow performers, Sydney Stovall (III), a student involved in the production, considered participating in The Addams Family an opportunity to explore \u201cmy talents and other people\u2019s talents, and to venture outside my comfort zone.\u201d \u00a0<\/span> On January 12, 2018, Sarah Collins Rudolph and her husband, George Rudolph, came to the Basking Ridge Campus for the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly. Mrs. Rudolph is the only survivor of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing of 1963. On Sunday, September 15, 1963, Klu Klux Klan members placed a bomb outside of a window at the 16th Street Baptist Church and it exploded, killing four young African-American girls: Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson, and Carole Denise McNair. Mrs. Rudolph is the younger sister of Addie Mae Collins; at the time, she was only twelve years old. She suffered a series of burns and was blinded in one eye after the bombing.<\/span><\/p>\n During the assembly, Mrs. Rudolph answered a series of questions about subjects ranging from her life immediately after the bombing to how her religion has shaped her. She detailed the events of that day, from her parents rushing her and her sisters, to her and her sister’s reluctance to go to Sunday School, and finally their decision to go to the bathroom to freshen up. As the four girls were getting ready, the bomb went off, shooting debris into the room. The noise was so loud that her future husband, who was across town in another church, could hear the explosion clearly. Mrs. Rudolph immediately started calling for her older sister, Addie Mae, but she did not receive a response. A deacon, Samuel Rutledge, saved her, and she was rushed to the hospital. It was there that she learned of the death of all the girls who had been with her. After the bombing, the perpetrators bragged about their actions and how many children they had killed, while Sarah Collins Rudolph had to go back to school with an eye missing and the death of her sister haunting her. She described her frail emotional state at the time and the incessant panic attacks that plagued her.<\/span><\/p>\n As she grew up, she eventually reconnected with her religion; she detailed the role God has had in her life following this traumatic event. She and her husband spoke about the need for forgiveness in this day and age. Mrs. Rudolph spoke about her personal journey to forgiving the bombers despite their indifference and even pride in their actions. She refused to continue being bitter or to allow the event to have a negative impact on her life. Eventually, she married her high school sweetheart, who helped her after the bombing. When asked if she had ever considered leaving Birmingham, she said that she had never thought of leaving.<\/span><\/p>\n All in all, Mrs. Rudolph and her husband sent out a loud, clear message to the student body: Forgiveness is key. Her story of loss, faith, and kindness personified the legacy of love in the face of hatred that Dr. Martin Luther King left behind.<\/span> On Friday, February 23rd, Upper and Middle School students joined together in Hauser Auditorium for the 2018 Robert H. LeBow \u201858 Oratorical Competition. The competition, held annually and open to juniors and sophomores, was founded in 2005 by William Hetfield \u201858 and the Class of \u201858 in memory of Dr. Robert H. LeBow. Dr. LeBow, a renowned public speaker, traveled through developing countries with his wife, providing medical services to underprivileged communities.<\/p>\n Organized by Spanish and French teacher Mr. Richard Karrat, the assembly featured four-and-a-half- to six-and-a-half-minute-long speeches from six juniors who had qualified in the initial round.<\/p>\n The contest opened with a speech entitled \u201cThe Pingry Story\u201d by last year\u2019s runner-up Avery Didden (V). Didden celebrated the Pingry community for its members\u2019 unique passion for learning. She illustrated this point with the trivia game show HQ, noting that, while people she knew from other schools slowly forgot about the game, Pingry students continue to play. Pingry students understand, she explained, that the game is about more than just its prize money, and they embrace the spirit of trivia and learning the game promotes.<\/p>\n The next speech was \u201cThank You\u201d by Jonathan Chen (V). Chen began the speech by reminiscing about the childhood days when his father and mother cheered him on at soccer games and swim meets. He then transitioned into the memory of his parents\u2019 divorce and the devastation of seeing his parents split, as he regarded them as the \u201cbest team.\u201d Despite the feelings that came with the divorce, Chen recognized the \u201cendless love and support\u201d his parents continue to provide him; his final message was to \u201cthank your parents\u201d for all the hard work that they do.<\/p>\n Rashida Mohammed\u2019s (V) \u201cA Trust Fall\u201d followed. Mohammed opened the speech with an anecdote about a friend confessing to her about having an anxiety disorder. Later on, Mohammed confessed, \u201cThat friend I mentioned\u2014that was me.\u201d She offered inspiring words as she spoke about living with the disorder. Near her conclusion, she recognized that \u201chaving any form of anxiety is on a spectrum\u201d and highlighted the importance of representation.<\/p>\n Then, in traditional Chinese dress, Alisa Chokshi (V) opened her speech, \u201cLet Your Spark Ignite,\u201d by singing \u201cChengdu\u201d by Zhao Lei. Chokshi shared her life-changing experience as a member of a Chinese language immersion program, through which she resided for six weeks last summer in the city of Chengdu. As an American, Chokshi spoke about recognizing her inner ethnocentrism, the \u201cviewing [of other cultures] with the bias of one\u2019s own culture,\u201d and how her perspective changed while living in China.<\/p>\n The penultimate speech was \u201cBreaking Brand: Looking Past Brands for the Better\u201d by Miroslav Bergam (V). Bergam opened the speech with a story about how his family overlooked a cookout in South Carolina summer after summer due to its lack of branding. Bergam deconstructed the illusion of branding all around our lives and community, from cereal to computers to clubs at Pingry. He went on to highlight the \u201cdark side\u201d of branding: the exclusion and subsequent elitism between those who are \u201cin on the brand\u201d and those who are not. His final message was to be wary of the impact brands have on our lives and personalities.<\/p>\n The final speech was \u201cHow Media Makes Us Smarter\u201d by Ketaki Tavan (V). Tavan questioned the ways that television, movies, and other forms of visual media are seen by our culture. She challenged the assumptions that \u201cTV rots your brain\u201d and \u201champers creativity\u201d by arguing that one can \u201cconsume visual media\u201d with as much critical analysis as one can with literature. Tavan continued by analyzing Mudbound, a 2017 movie involving race relations on a farm in the Mississippi Delta, and Shameless, an ongoing television comedy about a dysfunctional family living in South Side, Chicago.<\/p>\n As the assembly drew to a close, Mr. Karrat named Mohammed the runner-up of this year\u2019s competition and then announced Bergam as the winner. Everyone in Hauser walked away enriched and though-provoked by the six fantastic speeches they had heard. On Saturday, January 27, Upper School students enjoyed a night filled with friends, fun, and food at Snowball, the annual winter dance. Starting at seven o\u2019clock, students filed in through the glass doors clad in an array of formal outfits, from party dresses to jumpsuits to bowties to button-downs.<\/span><\/p>\n Due to the Dolce Hotel in Basking Ridge being sold to new ownership, Ms. Kent, Ms. Weinberger, and Dean Ross decided on the Westin Governor Morris in Morristown as the new venue for Snowball.<\/span><\/p>\n Initially, students were unsure about the change in venue. \u201cI had never been to the Westin before, so I didn\u2019t really know what to expect,\u201d Hannah Gruber (V) said. \u201cI liked Snowball at Dolce, so I was hoping that the new place would be just as good.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Luckily, most students agreed that the venue was a great place to host Snowball. \u00a0The Westin features a large marble lobby, where students were able to check their coats before heading upstairs to the main floor. \u201cI really liked how we could check our coats on the first floor, and the actual dance was all happening on the second floor,\u201d said Aanya Lall (V).<\/span><\/p>\n Chase Barnes (V) added, \u201cThere was plenty of parking, and the place itself was beautiful.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Tables set up all around the dance floor provided ample seating. A large variety of food was served, including pasta dishes, Asian dumplings, mini sliders, and plenty of fruit and desserts. Soft drinks and Starbucks coffee were also available throughout the night.<\/span><\/p>\n Commenting on the cuisine, Lall said, \u201cThe food was great, and I especially liked the layout of it. Everything was organized so that it was easily accessible to all. However, I do wish there was ice cream like they served at Dolce.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Students also enjoyed the music. Some of the songs played included pop songs like Bruno Mars\u2019s \u201cFinesse\u201d and throwbacks like Dexys Midnight Runners\u2019 \u201cCome on Eileen.\u201d Songs produced by Pingry students were also featured on the dance floor, including \u201cPhoenix\u201d by Melissa Tungare (VI) and \u201cMaybe I\u2019m Crazy\u201d by Brandon Rosen (VI).<\/span><\/p>\n Barnes said, \u201cThe music selection was really good this year. All the songs were ones we knew and could sing and dance along to, and I love how they played songs that our peers wrote and sang. It made Snowball extra special!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Overall, Snowball was a night enjoyed by all. Student Body President Michael Weber (VI) said, \u201cThe Westin exceeded all expectations. Everything from the food to the decor was fantastic, and the student body really had a great time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Student government faculty advisor Ms. Colleen Kent added, \u201cThe feedback we’ve received from students has been overwhelmingly positive. We\u2019ve decided to book it again for next year.\u201d<\/span> In the past few weeks, we\u2019ve had the chance to Since before even I was born, both of my parents Nestled underneath the warm covers, I listened Nevertheless, it was anything but an unhappy life. My parents\u2019 love felt like the light of the sun\u2014brilliant, warm, and vividly palpable, but ultimately exer- cised through the physical barrier of distance. However, I never felt any resentment towards them, even as\u00a0a child. In fact, it is as a result of their absence in my\u00a0childhood that I believe I am able to better appreciate\u00a0them now. As opposed to being something that is taken\u00a0for granted, their presence is something that is alive\u00a0and dynamic, like a flower wriggling its roots through\u00a0the dirt or a fire breathing smoke through its embers. Throughout the years of my development, I have\u00a0grown up and become increasingly independent. One\u00a0by one, the adults who had watched over and cared for\u00a0me as a child have let go of my hand, and I have since\u00a0stepped forward to join them in line as a fledgling adult\u00a0myself. The responsibility for my own well-being has\u00a0now fallen squarely on my shoulders with no one else\u00a0to lead me.<\/span><\/p>\n That is, with the exception of my parents. Even now In parting, I would like to urge members of the [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text,Goudy Bookletter 1911″]<\/p>\n The first time I was ever exposed to the concept of affinity groups was during my freshman year at Pingry.<\/span> These groups were presented as \u201csafe spaces for students to learn more about their various identities and to discuss their questions, comments, and concerns with other students who share that same identity.\u201d My initial reaction was confusion\u2013I couldn\u2019t wrap my head around why we\u2019d want to create spaces that physically separated students of different identities when the ultimate goal of our community should be inclusion and acceptance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n After this initial introduction, I hadn\u2019t thoroughly revisited the concept of affinity groups until this year, when I was presented with the opportunity to lead the South Asian Affinity Group. With this opportunity came the task of thoughtfully considering the purposes and goals of affinity groups. Through affinity group leader training, I became more familiar with these objectives.<\/span><\/p>\n It became clear to me that affinity groups are a space to process and explore your identity with people who share it. I find this especially valuable as a minority in a community, country, and time. Even though I don\u2019t necessarily feel marginalized or targeted on a regular basis, I also don\u2019t feel like my environment is conducive to a complete freedom to embrace and grapple with my South Asian heritage. <\/span><\/p>\n Although I\u2019ve found the South Asian Affinity Group to be an invaluable space where I can connect with those who can relate to the challenges I face and questions I have regarding my identity, I do understand those who believe that these spaces are divisive. <\/span><\/p>\n In discussing the potentially divisive nature of affinity groups, I think it\u2019s important for people to first and foremost recognize that these groups aren\u2019t meant to end where they start. Rather than creating identifier-specific groups that are separate but equal, affinity groups should and do serve as stimuli for conversations within cultural groups as to how each of us can effectively support productive cross-cultural dialogues as well as consider how we fit into the bigger and more diverse communities of our school and the outside world. However, this purpose is a fragile one that may not always be fully achieved.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s easy for affinity groups to become the only spaces where honest, identifier-related discussions are held as members return to the larger community and forget about them. This results in limited change; affinity groups are a space for our smaller groups to make progress, but Pingry lacks a structure that allows for inter-group work between each of their attendees to take place.<\/span><\/p>\n Ideally, this structure would be the everyday interactions of our community in its natural state, and oftentimes I find that it is. I\u2019ve had plenty of productive and thought-provoking conversations with students with cultural identifiers different to mine that were inspired by conversations we had in our respective affinity groups. But I do think it\u2019s potentially na\u00efve to assume it unnecessary to have a bigger processing space where the progress made in smaller affinity groups can clearly be seen.<\/span><\/p>\n I also think that this lack of an inter-affinity group structure contributes to people\u2019s fears that affinity groups are divisive. The anxiety and suspicion that can arise from a lack of insight into the work done in other affinity groups has nothing to calm it, resulting in decreased buy-in toward them in our community. Not everyone trusts that the larger processing space necessary as a follow-up to affinity groups will take form naturally in the outside world. Therefore, it would be beneficial for both those who doubt affinity groups\u2019 effectiveness and for the realization of the ultimate goal of affinity groups to create this space at Pingry. There are many forms that this space could take; the two open forums we had this year where all students could attend were great examples.<\/span><\/p>\n I do believe that affinity groups are a step in the right direction on the path to equality and inclusion. I\u2019ve found my participation in them to be an important part of my connection to my South Asian identity. That being said, I do believe there\u2019s more to be done before affinity groups can fully accomplish their ultimate goal.<\/span><\/p>\n .<\/span> \u201cAt 17 years old, he\u2019s won it — the first gold medal for the United States at the 2018 Winter Olympics.\u201d \u201cShe\u2019s a golden girl! What a force to be reckoned with!\u201d As the Winter Olympic Games opened in Pyeongchang, South Korea on February 9, two breakout snowboarding stars, Red Gerard and Chloe Kim, shone on the glittering half pipe. Immediately they became Internet sensations and lit up headlines on newspapers around the world; they had made their mark, one for the ages, in this year\u2019s Olympics. Although these two young rising stars are beaming signs of hope in the 2022 Olympics, it is important to remember that the Olympics also celebrates stories of veterans.<\/span><\/p>\n There are several five-time Olympians competing in the Games this year, including Aliona Savchenko, a German pairs figure skater, and Kelly Clark, an American snowboarder. Lindsey Vonn, an American skier, is competing in her fourth Olympics, and Mirai Nagasu, an American figure skater, is in her second Olympics. These veterans all have their own outstanding stories of getting back up when they\u2019ve been wiped out, of taking up the courage to compete again after failing to qualify for the Olympics in previous years. After all their sweat and tears, they\u2019ve pushed through to make it to the podium. And even if they don\u2019t win, they continue to work even harder than before, inspiring athletes like Red and Chloe.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cToday I wrote history\u2026 This is what counts,\u201d Savchenko said after she finished her record-breaking gold medal free skate pairs program with her skating partner, Bruno Massot. Savchenko had been a Bronze medalist in both the Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, but never before had she clinched a cold, hard, golden medal in her hands. Although her age posed a challenge in continuing a physically demanding career, she fought on, and the results have paid off, as she is now the oldest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating.<\/span><\/p>\n Similarly, Kelly Clark at 34 years old defies her age in snowboarding. Although her last Olympic gold medal in half pipe snowboarding was over a decade ago, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, Clark continued to fight for gold at this year\u2019s Olympics. Although unsuccessful in her attempts and capturing 4th place instead, Clark has not regretted a single moment of the work she has put herself through. Instead, she looks to inspire the next generation, explaining, \u201cYour dreams are too small if they only include you.\u201d Kim acknowledged Clark\u2019s mission by presenting Clark with the Order of Ikkos Medal because \u201cshe just took me under her wing,\u201d in reference to meeting Clark when Kim was only eight years old.<\/span><\/p>\n This close relationship between Clark and Kim embodies the true meaning of the Olympics: to inspire and encourage the future to challenge their limits, break records, and above all, create a lasting impact that will change history forever. Whether it be figure skating, performing in a show, or even finishing an exam with the flourish of a pen, we are built to follow our dreams, no matter how big or small they are. Once we achieve those dreams, we become an example to the people around us who cheer us on every day.<\/span><\/p>\n As the Olympic athletes representing Team USA are in Pyeongchang to be the #BestOfUs, we students are in Basking Ridge and Short Hills to be the #BestOfPingry. Although the competition is strong and can be overwhelming at times, we must learn to overcome that feeling and \u201cskate\u201d to our own songs. Our own coaches\u2014our parents, counselors, and teachers\u2014are watching in the bleachers, advising us every step of the way even as we fall. At times we shine in the spotlight alone, and at other times we share the spotlight, hand in hand.<\/span><\/p>\n For each day that we walk through those double doors, we step onto the ice a little more confidently as we are ready to amaze this big wide world.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_signup mailchimp_list=”713def41c0″ mailchimp_account_name=”pingryrecord” mailchimp_api_key=”fd21e13408f802ced82d2e780aa7e059-us17″ title=”Get the Pingry Record sent right to your inbox!” button_text=”Subscribe!” description=” Subscribe to receive emails and updates on the Pingry Record’s most recent articles, photo journals, and issues! ” _builder_version=”3.4″ header_level=”h1″ header_font=”||||||||” header_font_size=”33px” header_letter_spacing=”4px” header_line_height=”1.4em” body_font=”Goudy Bookletter 1911||||||||” background_color=”#003366″ text_orientation=”center” max_width=”80%” module_alignment=”center” animation_style=”slide”] Subscribe to receive emails and updates on the Pingry Record’s most recent articles, photo journals, and issues! [\/et_pb_signup][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ make_fullwidth=”on” specialty=”on” padding_top_1=”0px” padding_top_2=”0px” padding_bottom_1=”0px” padding_bottom_2=”0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_bottom=”0px” padding_top=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”29px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text”]<\/p>\n \u201cEverything seemed so easy. No way we would get caught.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n This is a quote from the notebook of Eric Harris, one of the two perpetrators of the Columbine High School shooting in 1999 that killed 13 people. Since then, journalists have attempted to pinpoint some of the motives of the boys: Eric was, according to psychiatrists, a psychopath, Dylan Klebold was depressed, and together they wanted to \u201cwipe out as much humanity as possible\u201d (a quote from Eric). When considering what causes any killer to pull the trigger, mental health is often a critical issue. Nikolas Cruz, responsible for the recent Parkland shooting, had previously been diagnosed with depression. But for many mass shootings, there is another common characteristic among the perpetrators: they look to previous incidents for inspiration.<\/span><\/p>\n Since Columbine, there have been 208 school shootings in the US, and an ABC News investigation pointed to 53 attempted or successful school shootings in which the killer explicitly cited Columbine as an inspiration. How could a single act of violence turn into a cycle across America? The answer to this question, although complex, lies partly in the quote from Eric\u2019s notebook.<\/span><\/p>\n According to a 2007 survey, the US owns an estimated 48% of the world\u2019s 650 million civilian-owned firearms. We own more guns per capita than residents of any other country. The history of the Second Amendment and the prevalence of guns in the United States means that measures taken in other countries like Australia to essentially ban gun ownership would not work the same way in the US, but also that US citizens are more inclined to turn to guns as their mode of violence. This is made possible by insufficient state regulation of private gun sales. After all, everything was so easy for Eric; even though he had previously been arrested and local law enforcement had seen his website on which he wrote about making pipe bombs, he was able to buy a TEC-9 (a semi-automatic pistol) and three other guns at a private gun show where the seller was not legally required to perform a background check.<\/span><\/p>\n Federal law only requires background checks for gun sales by federally licensed firearm dealers, and states have their own laws for gun regulation. Currently, only 12 states (including NJ) and DC require background checks for all privately sold firearms, and six more states require background checks for privately sold handguns only. The statistics are alarming: a 2017 study estimated that 42% of US gun owners acquired their most recent firearm without a background check, and a survey in 13 states of state prison inmates who were convicted of gun offenses found that only 13% obtained the gun from a gun store where background checks are required. So, why is it that 32 states don\u2019t require background checks at all for private gun sales?<\/span><\/p>\n The arguments against background checks for private sales include the possibility that innocent citizens might be denied guns because of flaws in the background check system and the claim that regulations would be too difficult to enforce. However, these are justifiable risks of common sense regulations as the federal government works to improve the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. After the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, it is clear that the net benefits of preventing firearms from falling into the wrong hands outweigh any potential negative consequences.<\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, if state and local law enforcement struggle to enforce these regulations at first, perhaps private companies could help out by providing background checks for private gun sales. Walmart is the largest seller of firearms in the United States and performs its background checks through NICS. Being the largest private employer in 22 states, Walmart has tremendous influence and already requires employees who sell firearms to get a background check even when state regulation doesn\u2019t. Companies like Walmart could act as a sort of middle-man, providing more convenient background checks for local private sellers to enforce state regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n In the meantime, Pingry students and high schoolers across America who are both angry and fearful should not and are not remaining silent on the issue. Students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are sparking an incredibly powerful movement on a crucial issue, and as it gains momentum across the country, listening to students\u2019 requests and implementing common sense firearm regulations is the least state legislatures can do.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”66px|0px|56px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/ParrishOpEd.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px|||”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/12\/FungOpEd.png” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ inline_fonts=”Noticia Text,Crete Round”]<\/p>\n The following piece is the speech that I delivered for the Robert H. Lebow \u201853 Oratorical competi- tion on Friday, February 23. My inspiration for the topic has been witnessing the divisions and dis- parities brought about by brands beginning within my own family, around the topic of private school, and extrapolated to the brands that in uence all of us. I hope that readers and listeners of my piece take away a better understanding of how the forces of brands push, pull, divide, and control us, and how we can avoid these effects.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Across the bustling William Hilton Parkway on the languidly warm Hilton Head Island lies a small, canteen-style eatery. From what I\u2019ve gathered, it\u2019s an authentic Southern roadside cookout. Every summer, my family drives to South Carolina and boards just a short walk away from this establishment. Although we don\u2019t shy away from exploring the island, I noticed last summer that in all the 7 years we\u2019ve gone to South Carolina, we\u2019ve never once visited this place – I couldn\u2019t even tell you its name. I came to the conclusion that it was because of the complete lack of brand. The cookout had no glossy coat of branding, no eye-catching logo or polished exterior or catchy name to hold our hand as customers. It didn\u2019t have the bankable logo and iconic name of the Salty Dog Cafe, nor did it have the reputability of the Marriott brand that led us to purchase our timeshare in the rst place.<\/span><\/p>\n There\u2019s an implicit assumption that anything off-brand is inherently not up to par. We accept that Fruit Loops are a better cereal than generic \u201cFruit Rings\u201d, and that real Nike sneakers are more attractive\u00a0than their knock-off counterparts. People will pay over $500 for a plain white t shirt from the brand Yeezy and the majority of us default to Apple products because of their brand\u2019s preeminence in the technology market. Brands dominate our interests, our minds, and our wallets.<\/span><\/p>\n Branding has just as great an influence here at Pingry. Just think, why do you go to school here? Pingry as an institution does an amaz- ing job of branding itself, packaging its mission into the marketable tagline: Excellence & Honor. The new website, the construction of the lustrous BAC, and even the removal of sweatpants from Dress Down Days are all upgrades that\u00a0build Pingry\u2019s brand as a school that will make you a high-achieving, honorable person. And it worked: that branding is why we all applied and are here today.<\/span><\/p>\n Branding exists within the school as well with extracurriculars. iRT for example garners so much hype as a club because it builds an impressive brand. The lowercase i in their name serves no purpose other than to give off an image of swagger, their rigorous application process conveys a level of exclu- sivity, and the language used on\u00a0pingry.org promotes this iRT brand: mentioning they \u201ccollaborating with scientists at nearby universities.\u201d All of these factors market a first-class reputation, drawing in attention and applicants.<\/span><\/p>\n So, yes branding is everywhere, but is it a bad thing? While I concede that living a life without feeling and sometimes giving into the pull of brands is close to impossible, I want to highlight a dark, inherent truth about brands. The happiness and safety and coziness you feel when you are in on the brand, when you have the adidas or the macbook, is only possible because of the other- ness and perhaps even embarrass- ment that those on the outside feel.<\/span><\/p>\n For example, Gucci and Canada Goose are luxury brands only be- cause there is a population of people who don\u2019t have or can\u2019t afford their clothing; if everyone could buy it, those brands would lose all their glamour. In Pingry, the feelings of upset and jealousy towards iRT from those who didn\u2019t make it into the club is a major factor in elevat- ing the iRT brand as exclusive, mak- ing the club seem more sought after.<\/span><\/p>\n This reality applies to Pingry. It feels good to be a Pingry student not only because it\u2019s an amazing school,\u00a0but because it\u2019s an exclusive school that sends 100% of their student body to competitive colleges and has a name that people in the New Jersey area recognize and respect. But with that feeling of inclusion comes the exclusion that\u2019s inherent to all brands. This institution pro ts on the fact that people on the outside feel left out. Applicant families feel sadness and exclusion when their child gets rejected, and the Pingry brand is helped by this sadness naturally: it paints the school as more competitive and exclusive and draws in more applicants. I got re- jected from Pingry in Kindergarten, and that experience made my family view Pingry as more competitive, driving us to apply again in 3rd grade with a thirst to be included in this elite establishment.<\/span><\/p>\n Well, I got in in 3rd grade, and I felt the safety, the power, and the feeling of inclusion that comes with going to a private school. But as my family grew and grew, we came to realize that we can\u2019t afford to send all 7 of our kids to Pingry. The fact that I get to go to this school instead of some of my siblings simply due to birth order is made hideous by branding. When my siblings visit massive events like Homecoming or the Research Exhibit, they get glimpses of the fact that I\u2019m behind the gates of the shiny prep school and they\u2019re left in the default school system. This is not at all to say that a public school is subpar; rather I\u2019 m pointing out that brands by nature foster an elitism that divides people into the IN crowd and the OUT crowd. There are in and out crowds for who has what clothes, on who got into what colleges, and, yes, who goes to Pingry. This dark side of branding has been made abundantly clear to me because this dynamic plays out at the heart of my family.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_bottom=”0px” padding_top=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.87″ header_font=”||||||||” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#003366″ border_style_all=”solid” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#003366″ border_width=”3px” inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text,ABeeZee”]<\/p>\n When I heard about the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman\u00a0Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, my first reaction\u00a0was not to have one. \u201c17 dead, 14 injured…\u201d the car radio\u00a0droned, and I remember thinking, oh. Another one. And I I strive to be compassionate, but after years of hearing\u00a0about mass shootings every few months, the concept of a mass\u00a0shooting has lost its tragedy to me. It has become too regular\u00a0an occurrence for me to summon up the same intensity of grief Would I dodge behind cars? Would I run fast enough to\u00a0reach the BAC? Would I scream as my classmates were cut\u00a0down, or would shock prevent me from registering it?<\/p>\n Now and in the moment, I shudder. My heart pounds in\u00a0my ears. 17 dead in a high school of 3000 broke the Parkland\u00a0community; 17 dead in our entire school of just 1000 would\u00a0shatter us.<\/p>\n Something needs to change. But why hasn\u2019t it already?<\/p>\n Everyone who passed middle school social studies knows\u00a0that the Second Amendment guarantees the \u201cright to bear\u00a0arms,\u201d an important provision in the Revolutionary era for\u00a0establishing democracy in the face of tyranny and military While other rights have served the same purposes throughout\u00a0time and thus become established as simple, non-negotiable\u00a0rights, the right to bear arms has nearly lost its original purpose So the symbolic power of gun ownership drives gun\u00a0advocates and the National Rifle Association (NRA) to block\u00a0any legislation proposed to curb our near unfettered access\u00a0to military grade weapons. Instead, the national conversation But would these solutions be effective? I doubt it. And who would defend us? Should Dean Ross bring a\u00a0weapon to Morning Meeting, just in case Should Dean\u00a0Cottingham carry her pistol from her office to English class\u00a0in the same bag as her laptop and glasses case? Would I feel\u00a0any more safe surrounded by teachers with guns who have no\u00a0experience or desire to wield them?<\/p>\n The image is absurd. Surreal. And for me, the answer is\u00a0no\u2014no to armed teachers, and no to an \u201cimproved\u201d mental\u00a0health system that confuses adolescent rage and clinical psychosis and treats both the same.<\/p>\n Thankfully, students are stepping up. The survivors of Marjory Stoneman Douglas are speaking out, arranging marches\u00a0and protests, and challenging their representatives to take a And yet somehow, their suffering is not enough. In the\u00a0eyes of some prominent national leaders, our loss does not\u00a0make us qualified to speak\u2014it disqualifies us, because we are\u00a0too young. Too blinded by emotion. Our tiny, undeveloped Somehow, it is the people furthest away from the situationwho are qualified to speak. It is those who are calm because\u00a0they are remote, who are unafraid because they are unaffected.\u00a0It is those who are \u201crational\u201d and \u201cexperienced\u201d because they\u00a0will never have to picture themselves hiding underneath desks\u00a0and behind cars from classmates wielding AR-15s.<\/p>\n What would the victims of Parkland say to that?What\u00a0would the founding fathers think?\u00a0Maybe I don\u2019t know enough. I don\u2019t understand the intricacies of politics, the checks and balances, the hard-earned\u00a0compromises that got us to today. I definitely don\u2019t understand\u00a0the appeal of and attachment to assault weapons that so many\u00a0Americans feel so passionately.\u00a0But here\u2019s what I do know: I am 17. I go to a school\u2014like [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”24px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Columns.” _builder_version=”3.2″ title_font=”Crete Round||||||||” title_font_size=”40px” background_color=”#003366″][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ make_fullwidth=”on” specialty=”on” padding_bottom_1=”0px” padding_bottom_2=”0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_bottom=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text”]<\/p>\n The start of the new year always marks the release of new tech. In this column, I will talk about the latest technology releases, products, and news. I will also report on updates in Pingry Technology.<\/span><\/p>\n What\u2019s happening in the Student Technology Committee (STC)? This past fall, STC sent out an application and accepted new members to its team. Currently, the Acceptable Use Policy is being revised to become more relevant to the community\u2019s use of technology. STC is also interviewing students and faculty for feedback on Schoology, the online classroom platform that classes are currently using after the switch from Moodle. Furthermore, the virtual reality group is working on implementing Pingry\u2019s VR system into multiple fields of the school. Finally, the coding group is modernizing the Community Service Portal using the programming language, HTML.<\/span><\/p>\n In January, the Consumer Electronics Show 2018 (CES 2018), where technology products are released and updated, took place in Las Vegas, Nevada. Here are a few of the releases that I found particularly interesting: <\/span><\/p>\n First, smart mirrors began gaining prevalence in this year\u2019s show — think the Mirror of Erised from <\/span>Harry Potter, <\/span><\/i>which shows your heart\u2019s deepest desires, though these smart mirrors aren\u2019t quite as developed as the Mirror of Erised just yet. The Haier Magic Mirror allows you to try on articles of clothing virtually by superimposing images of clothing onto your reflection in the mirror. The clothes are scanned into the system via a Radio-Frequency Identification tag embedded in them. The HiMirror Mini is another interesting glass gizmo that allows you to track the effects of different skin care treatments. <\/span><\/p>\n Another interesting release is the rollable Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED), a 65-inch diagonal monitor created by LG. When not in use, the monitor, which can be used as a TV, can be rolled up into a long cylinder. The user can change how much of the monitor can be viewed by controlling how much of it is rolled up, similar to the way a projector screen can be pulled down at different lengths. This flexibility allows for different scaling options and optimizes the screen for different content. <\/span><\/p>\n My last pick is the Vivo X20 Plus UD, an innovative smartphone with a fingerprint scanner underneath the screen. One of the biggest questions leading up to the launch of the iPhone X was whether or not it would have an on-screen fingerprint scanner, since there would no longer be a home button that doubled as a scanner. Well, we now know the answer to that: no. While FaceID is a good substitute, fingerprint scanners work better in certain scenarios. It is a big deal that Vivo was able to keep a fingerprint scanner on a bezel-less screen without putting it in a less intuitive place like the back (\u00e1 la the Samsung Galaxy S8\/Note 8 and the Google Pixel 2). Hopefully, we will see this technology in more upcoming phone releases. <\/span><\/p>\n Apple made waves recently with its long-awaited launch of the HomePod. Although the release date was a smidge late (two or three months behind schedule), the smart speaker has racked up lots of good reviews and ratings. The HomePod is essentially a high-quality speaker with advanced Siri and \u201csmart home\u201d functionality, as well as the ability to play music from the Apple Music streaming service. The HomePod features impressive sound, coming from a large \u201cwoofer\u201d on top and seven \u201ctweeters\u201d on the bottom — an unorthodox layout. Sandwiched in between them is a six microphone array, which assures that Siri can hear you over loud music. The HomePod only works within the Apple ecosystem, which means that you will need an iPhone 5s or later running iOS 11 to operate it. The $350 price tag makes it a tough sell since it\u2019s stuck in Apple\u2019s ecosystem of products, but Apple fans should find it a reasonable purchase.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#7f7f7f” _builder_version=”3.2″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-11.15.21-AM.png” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ padding_bottom=”0px” parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”34.875px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-11.14.33-AM.png” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”40px||30px|”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”34.875px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider color=”#7f7f7f” _builder_version=”3.2″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ header_font=”||||||||” inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text”]<\/p>\n Black History Month is a time to learn, remember, and celebrate the past and present achievements of African-Americans. This year, Black History Month also included the debut of <\/span>Black Panther<\/span><\/i>, the highly anticipated Marvel film that ties together all the values of Black History Month, inducing feelings of empowerment and cultural celebration. <\/span><\/p>\n The film opens with an introduction to the fictional nation of Wakanda in East Africa. Many centuries ago, this nation was struck by a meteorite that contained vibranium, the most powerful metal on Earth. Wakanda then unlocked the powers of the Black Panther and five tribes emerged. Because of the strength of the vibranium, the citizens of Wakanda did not want it to fall in the wrong hands; thus, using the vibranium, they concealed their gorgeous and technologically advanced world to appear like a barren third world country. <\/span><\/p>\n Unfortunately, the King of Wakanda is killed while presenting at a United Nations Press Conference. His son, T\u2019challa, is left behind and must assume the role of the new King of Wakanda. The powers of the Black Panther are transferred to T\u2019challa and he must ensure that there is peace both inside and outside of Wakanda\u2019s invisible walls. One key component of Wakanda is that they have undercover spies posted in various global locations to inform the home base of any dangers to their safety. <\/span><\/p>\n One of the recurring problems that T\u2019challa and the kingdom of Wakanda face is the notorious arms dealer, Ulysses Klaue. Earlier, Klaue had found a way to break into Wakanda and steal some vibranium. Ever since then, he used the powerful metal to illegally create and sell deadly weapons. T\u2019Challa, with the aid of his female sidekicks Nakia, Okoye, and Shuri, go to South Korea on what they believe to be an easy mission to finally capture Klaue. However, T\u2019Challa meets his match, an outsider who possesses a vibranium chain. <\/span><\/p>\n At the same time, a former member of Wakanda betrays the kingdom by trying to expose all of Wakanda\u2019s resources to the world and potentially causing ruin and destruction if the vibranium ends up in the wrong hands. Black Panther and the entire Wakandan kingdom therefore face a problem that is even more potent than protecting their precious vibranium: how to address a traitor.<\/span><\/p>\n Black Panther <\/span><\/i>is a movie filled with action packed scenes, beautiful landscapes of the fictional African nation, and many drops of humor. Even though the film was a little over two hours, my eyes were glued to the screen the entire time. Aside from the brilliantly written plot, a major highlight of this movie was the African-American representation in the cast. Cast members included Chadwick Boseman (who starred as the Black Panther), Michael B Jordan (who played the Wakanda outsider and eventual villain), Lupita Nyong’o, Angela Bassett, Danai Gurira, and Daniel Kaluuya. <\/span><\/p>\n Another key element in <\/span>Black Panther <\/span><\/i>was female empowerment. Most, if not all, of King T\u2019Challa\u2019s main advisors are women. The strongest warriors in Wakanda are also women. Furthermore, the soundtrack for the movie adds to the theme of African-American empowerment with top artists such as Kendrick Lamar and SZA contributing to the score. This powerful representation of African-Americans and strong women in the cast helped <\/span>Black Panther<\/span><\/i> become the fantastic film that it is. <\/span><\/p>\n As a young African-American woman, it felt good to finally see people who look like me being in the majority of a movie\u2019s characters. Usually, superhero movies have a token Black person as a minor or stereotypical character. <\/span>Black Panther <\/span><\/i>rose above this norm and empowered African-Americans to take on strong roles. <\/span>Black Panther <\/span><\/i>is definitely a must-see movie. The electrifying music, cast, and plot make this movie excellent. I\u2019m already planning for when I can rewatch it!<\/span>
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#9e9e9e” height=”28px” _builder_version=”3.2″][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/MLK-Day-Speaker-Credit-Pingry-Communications.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ header_font=”Crete Round||||||||” header_4_font=”Crete Round||||||||”]<\/p>\nSarah Collins Rudolph Preaches Compassion\u00a0at Martin Luther King Jr. Day Assembly<\/h1>\n
By Annaya Baynes (V) and Udochi Emeghara (V)<\/span><\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″]<\/p>\nSix Speakers Present
\nat LeBow \u201853
\nOratorical Competition<\/h1>\nBy Noah Bergam (III)<\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/LeBow-2-IMG_4213.jpg” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ make_fullwidth=”on” specialty=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”509″ gallery_captions=”Miro Bergam, Ketaki Tavan, Vicky Chen, and Drew Beckman (V).” fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_gallery gallery_ids=”510″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_gallery][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2017\/10\/Screen-Shot-2017-10-26-at-2.09.16-PM.png” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.0.87″ border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#bababa” border_style_all=”solid” max_width=”66%” custom_margin=”100px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#bababa” border_width=”3px”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ specialty_columns=”2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”34.75px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″]<\/p>\nStudents Celebrate Snowball<\/h1>\n
at New Venue<\/h1>\n
By Darlene Fung<\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#9b9b9b” _builder_version=”3.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|42px|0px”][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Editorials and Op-Eds.” _builder_version=”3.2″ title_font=”Crete Round||||||||” title_font_size=”40px” background_color=”#003366″ animation_style=”fade”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_header][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ make_fullwidth=”on” specialty=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||27px|0px”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.87″ header_font=”||||||||” border_width_all=”3px” border_color_all=”#003366″ border_style_all=”solid” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”15px|15px|15px|15px” use_border_color=”on” border_color=”#003366″ border_width=”3px” inline_fonts=”ABeeZee”]<\/p>\nEditorial: <\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h1>\n
The Labor of Love<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
\nhear some excellent speeches about parenting. At the
\nLeBow Competition, Jonathan Chen (V) talked about\u00a0his parents\u2019 \u201cendless love and endless support\u201d and\u00a0urged us to \u201cthank those who support you,\u201d while at\u00a0last week\u2019s Morning Meeting, Mr. Keating shared stories about his own parents and encouraged us to \u201cpay\u00a0attention to how your parents are raising you.\u201d Even\u00a0Mr. Andrew Onimus, in his presentation at the Carver\u00a0Lecture, emphasized the support he received from his\u00a0parents in his struggle with mental illness. Spurred by\u00a0their example, I\u2019d like to take the time now to pen atribute to my own parents<\/span><\/p>\n
\ncommuted every day to work in the city. Sometimes
\nif I woke up early enough, I could hear from down the\u00a0hall the rustling sounds of my parents getting ready in\u00a0the morning.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nthrough a semi-conscious, sleep-clouded haze to the
\nsound of water striking tile in the shower like keys of
\na typewriter, the crisp click of my mother\u2019s high heels
\nand the swift zip of a jacket, and finally the distant roar\u00a0of the car ignition growing ever fainter as my parents\u00a0drove off into the dawn. As I heard but never saw my\u00a0parents in the mornings, these sounds were the only\u00a0confirmation that my parents did in fact exist prior to\u00a0six in the evening and did not simply materialize every\u00a0night out of thin air, complete with work-weary faces\u00a0and the perfume of the commuter train.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThe many grown-ups who watched over me during the\u00a0day treated me kindly, and there was no shortage of\u00a0love on the part of my parents either. But even if I can\u00a0say that now, looking back in retrospect, I can\u2019t deny\u00a0that there were times during my childhood life when I\u00a0simply felt that something was different.\u00a0Not missing, necessarily, not wrong either\u2014just\u00a0different. In the eyes of a young child learning to\u00a0observe the world around her, the small inconsistencies\u00a0between other families and hers must have imprinted themselves in her mind; a quick kiss planted on a reluctant cheek in the morning carpool line, a lunch box complete with sandwich and sticky note lovingly packed, a pair of arms outstretched in greeting, waiting at the door\u2014she must have circled them in her\u00a0memory as if they were objects in a game of spot the\u00a0difference.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nwhen I\u2019m expected to be able to walk on my own, my
\nparents still remain by my side and serve as a source of\u00a0guidance and support. But unlike the child for whom\u00a0the surrogate love of others eclipsed the solitude she\u00a0felt, I have since learned to become receptive to my\u00a0parents\u2019 love in every form that it takes.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nPingry community\u2014adults as well as adolescents- to
\nremember their parents and to be forgiving of them. If\u00a0there is anything in my perception of my parents that\u00a0has changed from childhood, it is that I have learned\u00a0that they are fallibly, beautifully human, subject to the\u00a0same emotions, desires, and fears as we all are.\u00a0The true strength of my parents\u2019 love manifests\u00a0itself in its endurance. Throughout all this time, it has\u00a0never wavered or faltered\u2014instead growing to overcome any barrier in its way, like vines of ivy winding\u00a0their way upward, ever upward in search of sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 – Megan Pan (VI)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
Affinity Groups: An Open Dialogue<\/h1>\n
by Ketaki Tavan (V)<\/span><\/h3>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-10.56.29-AM.png” _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][et_pb_column_inner type=”1_2″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/04\/Screen-Shot-2018-04-24-at-10.56.42-AM.png” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][et_pb_row_inner custom_padding=”31px|0px|0px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column_inner type=”4_4″ saved_specialty_column_type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″ text_font=”||on||||||” inline_fonts=”Crete Round,Noticia Text”]<\/p>\nHo Encourages Us to Be the #BestofPingry<\/h1>\n
by Felicia Ho (V)<\/span><\/h4>\n
Support Common Sense on Firearm Regulations<\/h1>\n
by Madeleine Parrish (VI)<\/span><\/h4>\n
SuBreaking Brand: Looking Past Branding<\/span><\/strong><\/h1>\n
by Miro Bergam (V)<\/span><\/h4>\n
Editorial: When Do We Get to Weigh In?<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
\u201cThe big question is: should the media be promoting opinions by teenagers who are in an emtotional state and facing extreme peer pressure in some cases?\u201d<\/h4>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 -Bill O’Reilly<\/h4>\n
<\/h4>\n
“Their sorrow can very easily be hijacked by left-wing groups who have an agenda,”<\/h4>\n
– Former Rep. JackKingston<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\npromptly forgot it.<\/p>\n
\nand despair that it once did. So on Monday afternoon, during\u00a0an unseasonably warm fire drill, I forced myself to feel the\u00a0visceral fear of those students under attack in Florida. For one
\nsearing second, I tried to imagine what might occur if an active\u00a0shooter were on campus.<\/p>\n
\nabuse. Since those days of muskets and bayonets, the Second\u00a0Amendment has become a symbol of ultimate freedom\u2014perhaps even more so than freedom of religion, speech, or press.<\/p>\n
\nas guns become more developed and dangerous.\u00a0Less thanphysically defending the republic against oppressive government military abuses, it has now evolved into taking an ideological stand for freedom\u2014to the point where owning a gun is\u00a0a deliberate exercise of that freedom, and the gun itself is used\u00a0only for recreation.<\/p>\n
\nis redirected toward improving the mental health system to\u00a0prevent the severely mentally ill from obtaining weapons and\u00a0arming teachers to defend students.<\/p>\n
\nIn my nightmarish reimagination of our Monday afternoon\u00a0fire drill, who would be behind the trigger? I may not know any severely sociopathic, mentally volatile aspiring murderers, but I can think of many socially isolated, frustrated, angry\u00a0teenagers who think they deserve better. Committing every\u00a0adolescent who fits that profile to a mental institution and a\u00a0lifetime of mental health stigma would be a greater offense to
\nconstitutional freedom than any gun control restrictions could\u00a0be.<\/p>\n
\nstand. The sorrow that ought to paralyze them is driving them\u00a0to greater action, and I am grateful for their leadership in this\u00a0fight for our lives and futures.<\/p>\n
\nprefrontal cortexes are too easily manipulated and influenced\u00a0by the freedom-hating left agenda.<\/p>\n
\nSandy Hook, like Columbine, like Marjory Stoneman Douglas\u00a0High\u2014and I am afraid. I may not have all the answers, but I think I deserve a chance in finding them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0– Megan Pan (VI)<\/span><\/strong><\/em><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Karuppur Commentary on New Tech (TEMP)<\/h1>\n
by Aneesh Karuppur (III)<\/span><\/h4>\n
Elliott Discusses Impact of Black Panther<\/h1>\n
by Alexis Elliot (VI)<\/h4>\n
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column_inner][\/et_pb_row_inner][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_divider color=”#b7b7b7″ _builder_version=”3.2″][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” custom_padding=”0px|0px|15px|0px” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/img.etsystatic.com\/il\/4b3c26\/1076730881\/il_570xN.1076730881_cr2b.jpg?version=0″ _builder_version=”3.10.2″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/students.pingry.org\/record\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/07\/a3311212894_10.jpg” _builder_version=”3.10.2″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/img.cdandlp.com\/2017\/12\/imgL\/114744752.jpg” _builder_version=”3.10.2″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/slm-assets2.secondlife.com\/assets\/8018986\/view_large\/Blondie_-_One_Way_Or_Another.jpg?1372953586″ _builder_version=”3.10.2″][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.84″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row make_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.84″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.0.47″ parallax=”off” parallax_method=”on”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.84″]<\/p>\nVerdesca Reviews Vintage Rock<\/h1>\n
by Alison Verdesca (VI)<\/h4>\n