Correction

By The Phillipian Editorial Board

In an article about two Uppers who are attending the World Debate and Public Speaking Championships, the date of the competition was incorrect. It is March 15. Also, there will be two debaters from Roxbury Latin, not one. The Phillipian regrets the errors....

A Note From Sawabini

By James Sawabini

About once every three weeks for the last thirty weeks I watched someone cry. They were always easy to recognize. Down in the newsroom, they would stare into the screen of their computer with their eyes swelling or choke-up as they tried to respond to a question. I think I was a better psychiatrist than Editor in Chief. I wonder what drives us – Phillipian staff, as well as everyone at Andover – to fight the way we do. Sure, some of us have our futures in mind. But college acceptance, or fame, or fortune, do not suffice to explain our fight. As if a primeval drive to achieve, our pursuit of excellence often goes beyond rationality. When you haven’t slept for days, endeavoring to push the envelope is suddenly much less attractive, but we do it anyway. It was in this spirit that The Phillipian grew...

Correction

By The Phillipian Editorial Board

In a Sports article about the Boys Squash team last week, the name of Tony Zou ’09 was misspelled.

The Phillipian regrets the error....

Our Changing Identity

By The Phillipan Editorial Board

How diverse is Andover, really? We presume that Andover is no longer the rich, white, Northeastern “prep” school that it once was, and we only need to look to our diversity to prove it. We also presume that, given this change, we are prepared to approach a century of outstanding diversity.

But Andover is less diverse than we realize, and we may be in for a rude awakening.

Andover is still a school of mostly well-off Northeasterners. It is true that racial diversity is well-represented. In fact, it is better represented than diversity in geography. But the fact is that geographic and economic homogeneity is still common.

The majority of students still come from just a few states. In fact, nearly 42 percent of Andover’s student body hails from Massachusetts alone, and 55 percent comes from Massachusetts, New York or Connecticut. In a country of an estimated 305 million people,...

Editorial

By The Phillipian

Go Fish

The Uncommons managers have “caught on.” Its Fishing for Feedback system has changed; what started as a seemingly silly alliteration and a one-way suggestion box has morphed into a meaningful dialogue. Student input is heard; suggestions are responded to. Dialogue has found its voice in the form of a mystical red pen. Call it trivial, but this system embodies a fundamental principle of communication. Suggestions are posted in a public forum; all, even the most ridiculous, are responded to with clarity, conscious attention and honesty—all in a positive and constructive manner. We receive acknowledgement and appreciation for our feedback, and candor when our ideas are unfeasible.

It seems all too simple, but this form of public, honest and constructive dialogue may be the essential element in creating a community of free exchange. Maybe we need to apply the concept of Fishing for Feedback to a broader setting—because...

Worth the Walk

By Editorial Board

The first week in Uncommons was deliciously successful. There remains, however, some concern regarding the efficiency and accessibility of the facility.

Uncommons is in many ways an improvement on Commons. While we may be attracted to the novelty of moving into a new facility, the food quality, presentation and overall atmosphere have more than exceeded expectations. Overall, students, faculty and the dining staff alike are pleased with Uncommons. Dining has become a time-consuming affair, however. On top of the time spent trekking the extra distance from Commons, students, faculty and staff burn time in longer food lines. Some of the confusion may be remediated when Uncommons finishes placing signs which will indicate the various food stations, but longer lines may be a reality of our new dining situation. For those who do not make it to breakfast, finding a mid-morning snack has also gotten harder. While the Ryley...

Picking the Next Dean

By Editorial Board

For the first time in the Phillips Academy’s history, students will be involved in choosing a new Dean of Students. The question is, how?

Student involvement in this process should be a conversation. Our thoughts should be heard, our questions answered. The administration should have a chance to respond and question us in turn. Those involved in the decision-making should actively seek out student opinion and create a forum to allow for continuous dialogue. Candidates should give students the opportunity to become acquainted with them, should be available to answer students’ questions and inquiries, and should allow discussion throughout the course of the application. The process should be transparent. The selection is one that will directly affect every member of the student body. The Dean will be in charge of our disciplinary system, housing system, and student organizations. Students should know who is applying, how the application process...

Corrections

By The Phillipian

On page A5 last week, a statistic noting the acceptance rate for post-graduates was incorrect due to an editing error. The acceptance rate for PG’s is 18 percent. In last week’s page A1 news article titled “Andover Goes Need-Blind,” Secretary of the Academy Peter Ramsey is incorrectly paraphrased as saying that discussion with Trustees and potential benefactors of Andover’s capital campaign prompted the Trustees’ vote on need-blind admission. Instead, Ramsey said that Senior Administrative Council meetings and a discussion by the executive committee of the Board of Trustees led to the vote.

The headline for a news article on page B1 in The Phillipian last week, “PA Technology Updated Every 4 Years; Old Equipment Donated to Charity,” did not accurately reflect the process by which old computers are given to charity. Only if no other place on campus needs the computers, nor do any students on financial aid,...

Common Courtesy

By Editorial Board

We are constantly taught how to be better students, better athletes and better artists, but not necessarily better people.

Every Wednesday, speakers at All-School Meeting remind us of our motto, non sibi, the success of Non Sibi Day and the spirit of community service. However, students should practice this ideal beyond designated time periods. We as a community must address the unfortunately typical substandard behavior that seems to pervade our campus.

As students, we have the responsibility to respect and maintain school property. All across campus, however, there is evidence of students’ blatant lack of respect for community space. Commons tables are strewn with dirty cups and half-eaten bowls of cereal; on Trayless Tuesday, the dining halls are left in careless disarray. Students frequently deface various desks, bathroom stalls and school furniture. The lamps in the Garver and Freeman Rooms are stained with profanity. Our disrespect for our surroundings...

Competing Freedoms

By The Phillipian Editorial Board

At Exeter, students in shirts and ties will dutifully report to class tomorrow for their usual extended work week— Monday through Saturday. Their lives are more regulated, their freedom is more limited and their creativity more often stifled. But with a shiny new student center, a one billion dollar endowment and a commendable, new, (effectively) needs-blind admissions process, Exeter’s facilities and resources are more appealing than ever. In the race to catch up with Exeter, we cannot allow Andover’s most important distinctions —freedom and trust— to fall by the wayside or go unappreciated. Exonians may enjoy the fruits of their most recent capital campaign, but these things are immaterial in the grand scheme. The beauty of Andover’s occasional Saturday class schedule is that it breaks up the monotonous workweek by spreading class out, but permanent Saturday classes only keep students from ever relaxing. Perhaps Exeter parents are...