To the Editor: New Perspectives on Diversity

By Kelicia Hollis ’08

To the Editor:
I have taken a look at a few recent articles in The Phillipian, and I have been surprised by what I have witnessed. That said, I feel that it is part of my duty as a writer and someone very interested in issues of diversity to respond with my own perspective to some of the very one-sided opinions of others.

Unfortunately, some of our students see a problem in looking into issues of diversity at the school, as if there is something wrong with wanting to embrace and acknowledge differences. After reading last week’s Commentary article, “A Quiet Future For Diversity,” I was amazed by the quote, “I fail to see how the segregation of public schools in the 60’s has much to do with Andover in the 21st century.” Really? Now my question is: has anyone read UCLA’s recent essay handed down in August...

Let’s Retire “Ridiculous”

By Carlos Hoyt

To the Editor:

Neither a one of you nor a one of your opinions, insights or courageous expressions is ever worthy of scorn, derision, mockery or humiliation, which are all definitions of “ridicule.” Elaboration, explication, dialogue, debate, refutation and critical deconstruction are all fair and potentially valuable responses to anything that shows up in our forums for the exchange of ideas. I am impressed and enriched by the sophistication that frequently characterizes what I read in our paper and hear at our discussions and debates. I get distracted, however, when such terrific discourse is turned away from the analytical and towards the ad hominem by a declaration that something someone said, claimed or did is ridiculous. Proviso: The “Features” section of The Phillipian, of course, must and should remain a safe haven for ludicrousness, absurdity, inanity and good-humored ridicule. By all means, Features writers, carry on.

Yours in civil...

9/11: A Question of Focus

By Corey Simpson ‘08

To the Editor:
I am writing in response to Nicole Okai’s article, “Why We Didn’t Observe 9/11,” which appeared in the Commentary section of the Phillipian last week. I admire Okai’s initiative in trying to clarify the issue, and I agree that many people continue to be affected by the events of September 11, but I simply cannot approve of the logic or the method that she used to make her point. Okai’s article responded to a letter that was submitted by Erica Harris ’09 several weeks ago, which voiced an objection to the criticism the administration had received for neglecting to officially commemorate the sixth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Harris acknowledged the importance of remembering the tragedy, but does not condone the widespread attention it continues to receive even in the face of the obvious urgency of current issues such as Darfur, Iraq, and...

Cross-Dressing, the GSA Dance and Redefining Culture

By Peg Harrigan

To the Editor:
Over the course of many Octobers I have been delighted to see the stately columns of Samuel Phillips Hall adorned with the colorful array of rainbow fabrics. Each year this simple yet elegant GSA-sponsored activism in support of the rights of the LGBT community never fails to brighten my week. On the opposite end of the spectrum, I am compelled to write the editors after reading the disparaging and fearful opinion of students who choose to cross-dress in “drag” attire at the GSA-sponsored dance. The unsupportive letter recently published in The Phillipian would suggest that cross-dressing promotes a type of recruitment on the part of the GBLT community and/or the GSA. From my point of view, each year at the GSA Dance members and their friends challenge gender stereotypes and cultural assumptions based on appearances. For that matter, each week I see Blue Key...

Pros and Cons to the One-Card System

By Christian Anderson ’09

To the Editor:
Thank you for your excellent reporting in last week’s Phillipian on the proposed one-card key system. Your articles reveal a lot to be excited about, and they also reveal some more troubling details. The new card, which will link all forms of student activity to a single electronic database and store these data indefinitely, has serious privacy ramifications. Although some data retention is unavoidable (and perhaps desirable), I am appalled to learn that the Phillips Academy administration has no qualms about using the new system to track student movement on campus. The one-card system is being portrayed as an all or nothing deal: if we want improved convenience, we’re going to have to accept degraded liberty. In truth, the retention of data from one-card door-scanners would be an avoidable and unjustifiable abuse of students’ fundamental right to privacy.

Society as a whole moves closer and...

President Collins on the Grasshopper Ticket Lottery

By Teddy Collins ‘08

To the Editor:

I would like to thank Jeff Abboud for writing, and The Phillipian for printing, last week’s commentary article “Grasshopper Blues” (10/19). As Student Council’s role is to represent the opinions of the student body, all feedback, positive or negative, is greatly appreciated.

The Grasshopper ticket lottery was an attempt to solve the dire problems of the previous ticket distribution system, in which students had to stand on line for hours, early in the morning, and many who arrived as early as 6:15 a.m. waited in vain, losing their sleep and going away empty-handed. In discussion with Mr. Bacon of the Theatre Department and Frank Pinto (Head of Technology for Student Council) we developed the idea of an online system of ticket acquisition. We decided on a lottery because a first-come, first-serve system would likely jam the network, and, unless we started offering tickets very early...

Pros and Cons to the One-Card System

By Paul Chan ’10

To the Editor:

There are many benefits to the one-card system. I am a supporter of such a system, yet I believe it has many flaws and costs that many people, students, staff and faculty alike may not be willing to pay.The benefits provided by the one card system are enormous. By allowing financial transactions to take place, we are eliminating the amount of cash the students need to carry around at any given point. Laundry and vending machines may have readers installed and may eliminate the need for heavy and bulky quarters. We will be able to access new and different places of study or work. Later stages of the one card system will hopefully further integrate Blackboard with the school. An online sign-in system may be implemented that utilizes the card. However, several costs are associated with this new found freedom and flexibility. The most prominent...

An Open Letter From Barbara Chase and Rebecca Sykes

By Barbara Landis Chase and Rebecca M. Sykes

Dear Students:

We recently received a petition signed by roughly 600 of you, expressing your support for a student center. We understand that the petition was circulated prior to October 2, the first opportunity we had to share plans about student spaces that will be created when Commons and the Ryley Room close for renovation. At that meeting students heard specifics about the conversion of the Underwood Room to a dedicated student center, the renovation of the GW lounge and the arrival of the “Ryley Roller.” Many of you offered feedback and suggestions about those ideas. That evening students engaged in a thoughtful discussion with Dean John Rogers about realistic expectations for the library’s study environment. Students also learned that during the planning for the Commons renovation, the option of building a separate student center was carefully considered and rejected in favor of integrating student activities within existing...

Responses to “GSA Dance: A Celebration of Lewdness” (10/12)

By Ben Talarico ’11

To the Editor:

Sebastian Becker’s article “GSA Dance: A Celebration of Lewdness?” caused much talk among my friends and other people in the Phillips Academy community. Many people saw Mr. Becker’s view on the transsexual aspect of the dance as homophobic and out of line. In one part of the article, he simply put, “I am not a homophobe, but the idea of having a transsexual dance to promote the culture and rights of homosexuals is ridiculous.” He also wrote, “A very minimal part of stereotypical homosexual lifestyle consists of cross dressing.”

At first, I thought that Mr. Becker’s tone was homophobic. But he has a very important point. He wrote, “The GSA needs to lose its arrogance and find more appropriate ways to attract new members.” Mr. Becker is right. It is ignorant to assume that all homosexuals would feel the need to cross dress. Homosexuality is not...

Responses to “GSA Dance: A Celebration of Lewdness” (10/12)

By Nicholas Koh ’08

To the Editor:
I want to commend The Phillipian for publishing Sebastian Becker’s ’10 commentary, “GSA Dance: A Celebration of Lewdness?” It is very refreshing in this day and age for someone to speak so strongly on behalf of his views and the views of many others. The GSA Forum called in Sam Phil on Monday evening serves as a testament to the incredible atmosphere of discussion and dialogue his article catalysed. While everyone may not agree with his views, I think the free speech his article typifies is absolutely vital to the success of Phillips Academy as a diverse community.

Diversity brings differences as well as similarities. While it is important to emphasize our shared humanity and the common beliefs many of us hold, it may be even more critical to cultivate the differences that make us all unique. Mr. Becker, in his stellar commentary, does just that....