Letters
Re: ‘Students Watch Obama Make History’
By Daniel Glassberg, Erica Harris, and Sam Dodge
To the Editor:
The article, “Students watch Obama make history,” incorrectly states that the Democrat Club alone hosted the November 4 Election Night event. We would like to clarify that, in fact, the Independent, Republican and Democrat clubs collaborated in all aspects of the event. We would also like to express our sincere thanks that so many of you chose to attend. In our eyes, the event was hugely successful both in terms of turn-out and provocative discussion. We hope to maintain this great level of political interest on campus by hosting more debate/discussion events throughout the year. We look forward to seeing many of you there.
Thank you,
Daniel Glassberg, Andover Independent Club
Erica Harris, Andover Democrats Club
Sam Dodge, Andover Republican Club...
‘Wonder Woman’ (10/10)
By Amy Falls '82, Chief Investment Officer
To the Editor:
As a child of the 70s, no heroic sobriquet could have given me greater pleasure than the one generously assigned by your paper earlier this month. No doubt, many participants in the global financial system are hoping that a band of Marvel superheroes will ride to the rescue. Unfortunately, in spite of herculean government intervention, the depth of this crisis will have profound and potentially lasting consequences for markets and the global economy. As I write, the S&P 500 index of US equities has achieved a new low, having lost nearly half of its value since its peak last October. Other global markets are down even more sharply. I believe we have taken important steps to mitigate the impact of the current turmoil on our school. Steadfast leadership from the Head of School, the Administration and the Board will ensure that Andover continues to pursue...
From a Friend Across the Pond
By Andy Schofield, Principal Designate, The Wellington Academy
To the Editor:
I was delighted to spend an hour in the newsroom of The Phillipian on my recent visit to Andover and was immensely impressed with your set-up and the quality of your paper. Thank you for taking the time to explain how things work. Student newspapers are rare in the UK and those with complete editorial control do not exist. That you have this at Andover is testimony to the integrity and professionalism of the students, as well as the degree of trust that has been built up over the years with faculty members and your head of school. In the UK we have what we call “student voice” in the running of the school but this can invariably be quite shallow or tokenistic. The Phillipian epitomizes a truly deep version of ‘student voice’ and says so much about your amazing school. I am...
Grasshopper Night Without SLAM
By Will Adams '11
To the Editor:
I will start by mentioning that I am participating in Grasshopper Night this year. Excuse a probable bias, but I feel the need to point out that the controversy surrounding SLAM’s and Azure’s exclusion from the show is absolutely unnecessary. I trust the producers’ judgment, and appreciate their resistance to the idea that groups should be included in the show solely on their history. We can speculate until the end of time of why SLAM or Azure did not make it, but all it does is run us around in circles. It is also insulting to those who are in Grasshopper Night, the implication that the show will not be as good or exciting without the groups. I kindly ask everyone to put it to rest; as pointed out by Mark Efinger, prolonging this issue will only lead to more hurt feelings.
Will Adams ’11...
‘All-School Politics’ (9/26)
By Seth Bardo, Instructor In English
To the Editor:
I found your editorial [two weeks ago] on the ASM speaker, Kip Fulbeck, to be a very poor reflection on the Phillipian’s board. In terms of tone, to refer to a speaker in a demeaning way (Kip Full-of-It), showed a lack of respect for him and for journalism, because diction, especially in an editorial, should be formal, unless, of course, you want to turn into a Murdoch publication. How would my criticism be viewed if I referred to you and your colleagues as the Flippant’s editorial board?
As for the editorial’s content, its suggestion essentially to bring to the school only speakers who are reasonable, who essentially lack passion or conviction, was ludicrous. I agree with Mr. Fulbeck’s central point which he exhorted to his audience: give a damn about something. In his speech he told the student body what he cared about but did not...
Response to Phillipian Election Polling
By Bijan Torabi '10
To the Editor:
It is hard for me to accurately gauge the political winds at PA, so I was excited to see In-depth’s Election Poll. However, my happiness lasted about as long as Tom Brady’s football season. While the poll asked some interesting questions, such as what percentage of students support their parents’ candidates, most of the results seemed rather suspect. Case in Point: that 100% of Juniors are backing Obama. This statistic was refuted by a quick search on Facebook, where I found several non-Obama-supporting Juniors in a mere two minutes. Furthermore, the poll asserted that 0 students at Andover supported a third party candidate. I personally am supporting Cynthia McKinney, the Green Party Candidate, for 2008, and I’m sure there are at least a few Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin supporters. I realize that it was impossible to interview every student in the school, and I...
Remarks on ASM Speaker Kip Fulbeck
By Carlos Hoyt, Linda Griffith, and Aya Murata
To the Editor:
Many students during their time at Andover will have the opportunity and challenge to present something to an audience. Such occasions are always multidimensional and sometimes fraught with dilemmas of what to leave in, what to leave out, how to engage and how to convey one’s core message(s) in a clear and resonant manner. If you are among those who have ever had to prepare and deliver a presentation, you know well what that challenge is like. One of the most unfortunate things that can happen to a presenter is that her or his core message is inadvertently challenged or even eclipsed by remarks and/or actions that are actually peripheral or even irrelevant to the essential content.
As questions and dialogue about last week’s ASM featuring Kip Fulbeck continue within our community, it is perhaps instructive to recognize that the unfortunate phenomenon of message distortion occurred....
Grasshopper Night Without SLAM?
By Thor Shannon '09
To the Editor:
Whether it is through acting, singing, playing an instrument or dancing, the performing arts at Andover have always held a special and essential spot in the heart of the school. They provide an amazing facet for self-expression, distinct from the classroom and the sports field, showcasing the multitude of talents that Andover students possess. Grasshopper Night has traditionally been the kick-off to the performing arts here at PA, the first real venue of the year for us to showcase these talents. It is a medley of our broad-ranging abilities, from juggling and acting, to singing and dancing. In recent years, however, certain acts have carved out a name for themselves as the highlights of this event, performing year after year to great acclaim from both students and parents alike. One of these acts is SLAM. At every pep rally, every basketball game and, in the...
A Statement From The Grasshopper Creative Team
By The Grasshopper Creative Team
At every audition or tryout there are people who regrettably are turned away and disappointed. The casting decisions of the Grasshopper Creative Team are final and not up for discussion. Please direct any further questions regarding this matter to either Mark Efinger or Erin Strong.
Sincerely,
The Grasshopper Creative Team...
‘Facehooked’ (9/19)
By Victoria Sanchez '09
To the Editor:
Julie Xie’s September 19th article, “Facehooked,” was an interesting read (although I would like to note that my life is not dictated by the website), and I want to add another aspect to her argument. Most students know a parent, grandparent or adult who is technologically clueless. Before people complain about the facebook changes, they should consider that if they keep resisting technology and internet changes, pretty soon, they might be the clueless ones. And then they’ll (we’ll?) just seem old. Victoria Sanchez ’09...