Third GOP Debate Recap

By Neel Lakhanpal '16:

The third Republican party debate took place in Boulder, Colorado Wednesday night. It was broadcast on CNBC. Overall, I think the candidates kept their composure in the face of difficult and incendiary questions. There was, in my opinion, a surprisingly even distribution of speaking time among the candidates despite multiple candidates polling well below five percent. I don't think this debate really clarified much. I don't think anyone did bad per se, other than maybe Bush, who looked resigned and seemed to have little energy left in him.

At center stage were Donald Trump and Ben Carson, who are both polling in the twenties and leading the pack. Neither stood out to me; Donald Trump seemed to act normally, albeit a bit toned down compared to a few months ago. Carson was quiet and didn't say anything too surprising. He kept his rhetoric on social issues unsurprisingly conservative, making remarks such as "I am not homophobic because I think marriage must be between a man and a woman."

A few other candidates stood out, notably Ted Cruz. Although I don't think he is a very serious contender, he made an apt remark on the media today. He said that the moderators were attacking each candidate's individual record instead of talking about "substantive issues," which was true to a certain extent. Ohio governor John Kasich also made his name heard, standing out in the first few minutes by escalating his attacks on the frontrunners Carson and Trump. Kasich was quite aggressively shut down by Trump thereafter, though.

All in all, the debate did not settle much. I think it may have brought some candidates such as Kasich a bit more into the foreground. But the two frontrunners remained calm and did not raise any eyebrows. We will look forward to debates in coming weeks to see how they shape the upcoming election cycle.

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What I Learned from Shakespeare

By: Zachary Rosen '16

I need coffee.

Do not do handstands when your pockets are full of flour. Please don't. I've already swept that floor twice. Just don't do it.

Wear a second pair of boxers under your first pair of boxers. It may save your life one day. Or your dignity.

Make sure to fall off of things gracefully. And, if you cannot, try to avoid hitting your head or getting dirt in your mouth.

LOUDER!

Making sure your eyeliner/wings are symmetrical is more difficult than open heart surgery.

You do not look cool with a mohawk; you look like a Doctor Seuss character.

I need more coffee.

Do not paint yourself with ink. It will not come off and you will have weaponized abs for the rest of your life.

You can, in fact, improv Shakespeare! We didn't do it during the performances, obviously... but no one said anything about rehearsals!

Daddy long legs do have souls. And they are all going to hell.

It is best to avoid spilling Ginger Ale on you costume designer's mother's wedding dress. It won't stain, but she'll secretly resent you and plan your demise.

How are these wedding pants getting dirty?! We literally wear them for one scene and sit down the entire time!?!?

BRING. ME. MY. COFFEE.

Despite all the difficulty, putting a play together is worth it. You create something beautiful, and the cast becomes a second family. It's fun, it's empowering, and we will all miss it.

Also coffee...

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Editorial: Our Nation's Broken Food System

By: Jack Zuschnitt '16

The American food system is broken. It is corrupt, defective, unjust, and failing. A bag of

deep fried potato chips costs as much as a good piece of fruit. Independent family farms have shifted from being the norm to being a rarity. Corn byproduct can be found in toothpaste, soda, and milk. The vast majority of the miracle drugs, antibiotics, are fed to slaughter bound animals instead of humans. An obsession with efficiency and money has driven the American food system from greatness to embarrassment. The American food system is broken, as evidenced by how industry dominates agriculture, government is consistently ineffective, and consumers are uneducated in regard to food as a whole.

Over the last half century, corporate industry has taken over agricultural trade in what is now called agribusiness. Agriculture is no longer controlled by independent farmers; ​r​ather, it is controlled by mammoth companies, bringing in billions of dollars every year. The natural goal of business is to make as much money as possible, while spending the least amount of money possible. This philosophy is appropriate for most business practices. But in regard to food, it is unacceptable. Food production should focus on quality, not quantity. Food of higher quality tastes better and is better for health. As the documentary Food Inc. asserts, the stated goal of the current food system is to "produce a lot of food, on a small amount of land, at an affordable price.” While this goal may sound acceptable, when our health and that of our environment are severely degraded, a problem arises.

When profit is the only impetus to farm, many sacrifices are made in production and many unorthodox farming techniques must be used. To keep crops healthy, fertilizers are dumped onto crops,​ w​hile all of the extra nutrients run off into nearby water during rain storms. Pesticides are sprayed to kill weeds, fungi, and insects. These pesticides can poison wildlife and wreck havoc on biodiversity. As of 2007, the U.S. was responsible for the use of over a billion pounds of pesticides per year. The theme is clear. As farming becomes more efficient, our environment constantly takes a hit. Another ugly aspect of industrial agriculture is the rising regularity of concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs. CAFOs are places where animals are crammed together, fed unnatural diets, and pumped with antibiotics, maximizing profit while also violating any imaginable animal rights. It is estimated that 80% of antibiotics used in the U.S. are fed to animals. To make it worse, most antibiotic fed animals are not sick at all. This use of antibiotics creates resistant bacteria that could prove to be detrimental to human health. When money is the sole goal of the food industry, an abundance of negative impacts are created. The United States’ government has continuously failed the American food system. Washington has done everything to help out farmers who grow commodity crops (mainly through subsidies) but almost never supports the farming of fruits and vegetables. As David Wallinga, an expert on the food system, notes, “For more than a century, U.S. policy has promoted U.S. farmers’ capacity to increase production, generally of the kind of commodities, ­­like corn, wheat, cotton, rice, milk, and later soybeans,­­ that lend themselves to large-scale production, easy storage, and long­ distance shipping.” He later stresses, “U.S. agricultural policy has generally not offered incentives or supported farmers to grow fruits and vegetables.” In a country where the average adult eats half the amount of daily recommended vegetables and almost double the amount of daily recommended grain, the government must shift its focus to the healthier options of fruits and vegetables.

Along with behemoth industry and a negligent government, America’s food system suffers due to the uneducated consumer. Sometimes, lack of education is to blame. For example, consumers often purchase genetically modified food without knowing so, for labels are not required on GMO products thanks to strong lobbying from big business. In most cases however, consumers only require a quick lesson to see the impacts of the food system. One must simply think about his most recent meal to begin seeing the flaws in the system. Here is an example. Last night, Sam and Sally ate a steak dinner with mashed potatoes and green beans. They purchased said items from their local grocery store, picking the meat and veggies from an open refrigerator (which was a terrible waste of energy). Before making it to the store, the steak, potatoes, and beans were shipped from Texas, Idaho, and California respectively. It takes every meal thousands of miles to make it to the average American’s plate, and most Americans have never even given this idea a thought. Here is another quick statistic: it takes 2,000 gallons of water to process a single pound of beef. As a country, we need to educate ourselves on the basic practices and negative aspects of our food system.

While the American food system is broken, there is a fix. The fixes will not be cheap, easy, or quick, but as issues worsen, the fixes will become necessary. There is no one final fix to the problems of the food system, rather many smaller fixes, but this is irrelevant without the help of the public. As a country, every citizen, business, and government official needs to accept that the food system is flawed and work together to fix it for a common benefit. Citizens’ voices matter, for without the individual, the whole is nothing. Without universal support, the American food system will never recuperate. 

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Exciting New Club at Severn - SWAG (Supporting Women Across the Globe)

By: Katie Dubinski '18

Every year at Severn, there are dozens of new clubs that pop up at the club fair, on a very wide range of interests. One new club in

particular has piqued the interest of many students: SWAG, or Supporting Women Across the Globe, a feminist based group focused on advocating women's rights. I sat down with the club’s co-leaders, sophomores Yasmeen Meek and Sophie Connors, to learn more about it.

KD: What brought you to start this club?

YM: Well, the issue has always been important to me, for one thing. I've been greatly influenced by my grandmother as well: She was the only girl to go to middle and high school in her village in India, and was one of the only people, male or female, to go to college. She graduated with a PhD in physics. I also am bothered by the way the media portrays women. An article should not be about what a women is wearing but what her ideas are.

SC: At Severn, we have different groups for multiple different aspects of diversity: LGBTQ, racial diversity, etc. However, whenever feminism has been brought up in the past, eyes have been rolled, and for the most part, people tune out. I wanted to raise awareness and educate on the true

meaning of feminism and more importantly, on the violence that women

around the globe face daily.

KD: How would you define feminism?

YM: The dictionary definition is "the advocacy for women's rights on the grounds of social, political, and economic equality to men."

SC: I think that feminism is really about 100% equal opportunities for all genders.

KD: What is SWAG trying to achieve this year?

YM: This club mainly wants to spread awareness through discussions and dialogues and expose people to the problems that women and men face globally due to sexism.

SC: I want to clarify the meaning of feminism and also bring attention to the women across the world who deal with unimaginable suffering because of sexism.

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Severn Runs

October 17th marked the 14th anniversary of the Baltimore Running Festival. There were over 24,000 participants, whether running the 5k, the relay, the half-marathon, or the full-- and over thirty of them were from Severn. Every year, the Severn Cross Country team trains for and participates in the half-marathon, doing long runs every Friday and building up mileage to get to 13.1.
Training for the half can be difficult. Running is a mental sport-- runners have to push through the pain of injuries like shin splints and tendinitis in order to finish. But it's all worth it. Senior Erica Mott says that running the half-marathon was, "the highlight of my athletic career. It was the most fun I've ever had. People were lined up on the side of the road the whole time, cheering us on."

Although the cross country team has run the half for nine years now, this year was slightly different. Three runners, seniors Archer Willauer and Neel Lakhanpal and junior Camryn Rosen ran the full marathon -- 26.2 miles. To prepare, they increased week by week from fifteen up to eventually twenty-two mile weekend training runs, building up stamina and running for about four hours at a time. "The early Saturday mornings spent training were all worth it. I've never felt so accomplished," says Camryn of her commitment to the extra long runs. Archer Willauer ran the marathon in under four hours-- a hugely significant accomplishment for any marathon runner, let alone for a first-timer.
Whether it's the half or the full, running at that distance is an amazing thing, and Severn congratulates all of the teachers and students who participated.

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Theatre Goers Club: An Inspector Calls

By: Zachary Rosen '16

A few weeks ago, the Severn Theatre Goers club went into Baltimore to see An Inspector Calls at the Everyman Theatre. The play was written in the mid 1900's by J. B. Priestley and follows the story of an Inspector Goule as he questions various members of a family about their involvement in the life of a girl who had just committed suicide (or did she? Do we know? We seriously aren't sure. This play messed me up and I no longer have a full sense of reality).

The play is heartbreaking in its revelation that we all affect those around us, even in the most little of ways that we do not think of. It encourages all of us to respect and love our fellow man and to be careful of what we say and do to others. The acting was superb and the characters were compelling (even the maid, who only spoke once but she had a quietness about her that was horrifyingly unsettling), and it leaves you wondering what kind of person you are.

And the tech was amazing! At the end, the walls pulled up and there were a ton of mirrors everywhere and everyone was looking at themselves and realized what horrible people they all were.

The story ends in a way that is open to interpretation and we really weren't sure what we were supposed to think. Everyone spent the entire bus ride home debating and arguing and it still haunts me.

In any event, the play is no longer being shown at Everyman. However, the Theatre Goers Club is going to Everyman to see a new play, Fences, this November. And if the new show is anywhere near as good as An Inspector Calls, and I imagine it will be, then I encourage you all to go.

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The Mourning Meating: Horoscopes October 20

By: Zachary Rosen '16

Aries: Prepare for battle. Bring knee pads and duct tape. Do not worry about heavy clothing; Argentina is warm this time of year.

Taurus: Congratulations on running your marathon, Taurus. Your brother is very proud of you.

Gemini: You move, slowly but steadily, across the cooling earth, the dried mud and the forms of dying leaves. You crawl without thought and without malevolence. You are a daddy long leg. Take care.

Cancer: Remember to brush your teeth and brush your hair and brush and brush and brush. The underbrush catches fire and the animals run across the savannah. Look at that gazelle go! She’s late for work.

Leo: Be careful. You are being watched. We shall meet under the dying light of sunset beneath the eaves of the Lincoln memorial in three hours. This is of the utmost importance; do not forget.

Virgo: Your fashion sense is impeccable, and you should feel very good about yourself. Also, can I have five dollars... Panera Bread is expensive... I’ll pay you back...

Libra: Are you ok Libra? You look tired. Are you getting those eight hours? You know sleep is very important. Sleep and keeping yourself hydrated. Gatorade®! It’s got electrolytes!

Scorpio: The stars seem to be saying that you shouldn’t try any strenuous activity this week. Also, you did really well on that math test you were worried about. Upper 80s to mid 90s, somewhere in between. The stars aren’t sure.

Scorpio: 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233

Sagittarius: Do you know the muffin man? The muffin man? The muffin man? Do you know the muffin man, who lives on dreary lane? Please... I’m begging you. I’ve been looking for him for weeks.

Capricorn: Lobsters make great pets. 

Aquarius: Get a hold of yourself. This is no time to be hysterical. Aliens might be invading, but whining won’t do anything about it.

Pisces: Я быстро иссякают идеи . Что я делаю со своей жизнью? Какой смысл в чем больше ?

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The Mourning Meating: Severn Classes

By: Zachary Rosen, '16

Hello Severn students. Now that school has been going on for a while, many of you have probably gotten back into the thick of things with your classes. However, there have been a few modifications to the curriculum of many courses. The changes are as follows-

All Chemistry classes will hereby be studying alchemy with a focus on transmutation of mercury and lead to gold and platinum (respectively). The AP chemistry classes will, for their final exam, be expected to reproduce Nicholas Flamel’s philosopher’s stone in under three hours.

All 10th grade English classes will be studying the untranslated works of the brilliant Russian short story writer Nikolai Gogol. 

All 9th grade English classes will now devote their time to the study of the as of yet un-decoded Harappan language.

All United States history classes will now be studying Alternative US History, which details the rule of our vampire overlords.

All biology classes will create life using a 2006 Macintosh computer, a pack of chewing gum, and a blowtorch.

AP Physics will now build a nuclear warhead. The purpose of this nuclear warhead is as of yet undecided. Do not cross the AP Physics students.

Math students will count. They will count... and count... and count. There is no god. There is no Severn. There is no you. There is only the counting.

The Civil Rights class will determine, through a rousing debate, whether corporations are people. They are not.

New Business Ventures will, for their final project, be asked to destroy the US economy using only a Motorola Razor, a stop watch, and some kale.

Yearbook will, in addition to their normal duties, also be studying that strange new book that recently turned up in the Severn library. Nobody remembers ever purchasing it... it seems to be wrapped in barbed wire and bound in human skin. There was a message tucked into the barbed wire that read, in violently unsteady handwriting, 'DO NOT OPEN!' But what can go wrong?

The Anatomy and Physiology class has a new component; they will build a whole human being from scratch (using the new 3D printers available in the innovation lab).

International Relations will now be taught from the perspective of North Korea.

The following language classes have been added to the Severn school curriculum: Chinese, Basque, Norwegian Arabic, Esperanto, Klingon, and Fear.

All art classes have been canceled, because art is dead.

If you have any questions about scheduling or classes, please direct them to the corpse of the monkey buried under the pendulum in the Creeden spiral staircase.

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Midsummer Madness

By: Yasmeen Meek '18 and Jimmy Diamondidis '18

With the opening day of A Midsummer Night's Dream just around the corner, it will be the first time in twenty years that The Water Street Players present one of Shakespeare's classics. This show also marks Severn's first outdoor production, which adds a new and exciting element to the performance. As Jane Huang '18 stated, "Performing outside and in multiple locations, in a way, breaks the fourth wall. I think it's really interesting to see how the audience follows the storyline, adding a level of intimacy between the audience and the performers." Director Ron Giddings, who first envisioned taking this production outdoors, reflected, "The amphitheater has provided so many challenges and opportunities for performance outside. From the beginning, it's been a lot of fun working on all of the pieces of this show. Shakespeare's never been so much fun to rehearse."

The cast's chemistry off stage contributes to the success they find on stage. Speaking with the actors, they all seem to agree that the fun they have rehearsing the play is what truly makes it outstanding. Especially Alanna Sokoloff  '16: "This year, I have found we are closer than ever. I can honestly say some of my favorite people are in the cast and I think that translates really well to the stage." This fall, The Water Street Players welcome newcomers Jared Reilly '19, Madeline Iazzetta '19, Quinn Roes '19, Kendall Jacobsen '19, and Charlie Olmert '17. When Charlie was asked about his decision to officially become a thespian, he said, "Whilst on vacation in late August, I got a text asking if I wanted to be in the play. Going a bit out of my comfort zone, I said sure, and came out to auditions. It was the best decision of my life. Walking about my house, my parents are constantly being bombarded by my outbursts of 'Odors, man, odors!'"

The cast and crew of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" have had a fantastic time working together to put on a hilarious and memorable show for the audience. The Thursday and Friday shows are sold out, but go online today to get your tickets for Saturday! Hot beverages and snacks will be provided, but be sure to bring blankets as the majority of the performance will take place outside. Enjoy the show!

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