Voice

November 2011

Vol 15 • No 1

Stuff2-5

Comment6-9

Lit16-21

Arts22-26

Sports27-32

Life10-15

StuffStuff

Twin Face-Off • Harrison J. Bacon & Max Cabaj

When you see just one of these sets of twins in the halls, you probably speak to them only in pronouns in order toavoid embarrassment by using the wrong name. They seem to be able to finish each other’s sentences and thoughts,but have you ever wondered how strong the connection between them really is? In order to test how well they knoweach other, and even their twin telepathy, we asked one twin to answer the following questions about him or herself,and then asked the other twin to answer what they think his or her twin would say. Does the connection grow stronger with age? Does the link between telepathic brainwaves depend on gender? Read below tosee whose twin connection is better...

Shweta’s answers(about Shruti)

Shruti’s answers(about herself ) Question Dylan’s answers

(about Jake)Jake’s answers

(about himself )

Psychic Psychic

If your twin couldpick a superpower to

have, what do youthink it would be?

Flight Super Speed

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Alvin and the Chipmunks

What is your twin’s favorite movie? Caddyshack Happy Gilmore

Green Disney sweater Green Disney sweaterWhat is your twin’s

favorite article of clothing?

Oakley Sunglasses Red Hat

Big Sean Big Sean Who is your twin’s favorite rapper? Nicki Minaj CRC

Japan Japan What is your twin’sdream vacation?

Golfing in North Carolina Golfing in Ireland

How to Dougie How to Dougie What is your twin’s hidden talent? Can we skip this one? We’d better skip

this one.

2 2

Random number between 1 and 50,

excluding birthdays and other significant

numbers.

42 24

Chicken Tenders andFrench Fries

Chicken Tenders andFrench Fries

What is your twin’s favorite food? Pasta Pasta

Cross Country Cross Country What is your twin’s favorite sport? Golf Golf

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Separated at Birth • Lexi Smith

We all like to think we’re unique – but these look-alikes prove that you don’t have to be twins to be identical.

Emily Dolphin & Meg Bayliss Chris Ribaudo & Justin Lloyd

Dimitri Antoniou & Pedro Puelles Christine Gill & Emily Matthews

Chandler Nemetz & Sam Martin Pat Lizza & Richard Rosa

Tom Grogan & Derek Keough Erica Limont & Carly Alperin

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If you survived a turn of the millennium child-hood you were born in the 90s and chances are,

although you see the evidence of terrible plastic pants and over-sized glasses in your childhood pictures, you deny ever having anything

to do with that fashion faux pas. If you survived a turn of the millennium childhood, you most likely got a cell phone by

the time you were thirteen, but judge the “new generation” for getting mobiles in the first grade.You use babysitting as an excuse to check out what’s new on Disney channel and Nickelodeonand can’t help but be appalled by the quality of shows. What happened to Lizzie McGuire,That’s So Raven, Zoey 101, and The Amanda Show? And why in God’s name are Zack and Codystill on TV and living on a boat? I thought they lived in a hotel...

If you survived a turn of the millennium childhood you hopefully remember a world whereA Baby Story on TLC and Survivor were the only reality shows. Where Paris Hilton was theonly person famous for having no talent and the name Kardashian was known only because itwas the name of OJ Simpson’s lawyer. And speaking of OJ, if you survived a turn of the millennium childhood you’re not sure if Casey Anthony is the OJ of your generation or if OJhimself is.

If you survived a turn of the millennium childhood, you are part of the true social net-working generation. You lived for a while without IM, email, Facebook, Twitter, Skype, laptops,and cell phones but you probably don’t remember that time. You most likely had a MySpacefor about two minutes but look down on it now as Facebook’s cheap, slutty, younger siblingand you still refer to mirror-selfies as MySpace pixxx. You speak emoticon and leet speak butstill remember when “LOL“ stood for lots of love, not laugh out loud.

If you survived a turn of the millennium childhood you grew up alongside Harry, Ron,and Hermione and although you were only old enough to go to the midnight releases of thelast half of the series you act like you went to them all. You’re not ashamed that you cried whenDumbledore died and sobbed during the last movie. You unfortunately may have read Twilightbut only to say that it’s not as good as Harry Potter. And, thankfully, you knew a time beforesparkling vampires were the only important mythical creatures in the media.

If you survived a turn of the millennium childhood you had the terrible misfortune ofknowing what gaucho pants are. You remember the original panel of judges on American Idoland although Britney wasn’t your first concert, there’s a good chance it was your older sibling’s.You probably have been through several iPods but had an MP3 player or portable CD playerfirst, and buried deep in some old dusty drawer, you most likely have a few Gwen Stefani andHillary Duff CDs. You love the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync semi-ironically, semi-not. Youmight’ve even liked Aaron Carter at some point. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’d liketo pretend that you’re so mature now. Let’s be real though, your official “childhood” only endedabout three years ago, and in another three years you’re going to be looking back fondly onthese times and realizing how endearing these interests were, unless you liked Jon and Kate Plus8. In that case, you should be ashamed until the day you die.

Surviving a New Millenium Childhood • Franny Saunders

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LifeFresh Faces

Sarah Reynolds & Michaela Scanzillo photos

You’ve seen them around. In almost every corner of the campus, there’s a new addition to the TA community. Here’s a little bit more about each of them.

Teaches: English, seniors how toget into college

Loves: Sword in the Stone,Wegmans, exercise in general

Can: Write a song and run a marathon – at the same time.

Has: Started her school’s cross-country team

BENJAMIN GOLDSTEIN CHEF DOUG FOSS MARY BASHIR

JENNY SCHNEIDER

Teaches: A section of APES

Loves: The environment and herkids

Can: Play tennis, hikeHas: Gone to Windsor, UVM,

and Yale, worked in theWhitehouse, lived in therainforest, started her ownenvironmental consultingfirm, and married her Belmont Hill boyfriend

ELIZABETH CARROLL

Teaches: World History

Loves: Bournedale, his time as apeer advisor, and DeadPoet’s Society

Can: Now call his former teachers by their firstnames (’07 grad)

Has: Spent a total of 546 hoursbackstage

DAVID IRONS

Teaches: Numbers, shapes

Loves: 1984, Mathletes, The Princess Bride,speaking sarcastically

Can: Pass as Clark Kent

Has: A black belt in Aikido –in other words: can seriously hurt you

Teaches: Culinary Magic

Loves: Diver scallops, lamb stewwith white beans, hisamazing wife and two kids

Can: Make school lunch a five-star, gourmet affair

Has: A “micro-farm” of chickens

Teaches: Français

Loves: Shawshank Redemption,food with lots of colorslike ratatouille and rainbow sherbert

Can: Cause serious pain as acertified personal trainer

Has: Taught for 11 years

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Compiled by Peter Fitzpatrick, Allison Hoffman, Sam Martin & Mike Pratt

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Q: Where were you before Thayer?A: I grew up in Maryland, and then after college

I went back to teach at my old high school, the Severn School. After that I taught and eventually was the director of an all-boys school in Philadelphia called Chestnut Hill Academy.

Q: What brought you to Thayer? A: I think it had a lot to do with the

strength of the community, andthe pride the students have inthe school. You can’t fakepride.

Q: Has moving around beendifficult for you and yourfamily?

A: Well, I’ve been married forten years, and I have a nineyear old son and a six year olddaughter, so yeah, they’ve been re-ally good sports. They’re enjoyingthis area so far, especially the beaches.

Q: What is your favorite band?A: I grew up loving REM. They were right in

my era, just getting started when I was in high school. But they just broke up lastmonth, officially.

Q: I’m sorry. I’m sure that’s been tough.A: I mean, high school was, like, thirty years

ago. I’m over it.

Q: Speaking of high school, what was yourmost embarrassing experience?

A: Once in high school I had to recite a poem in front of the class, and I just couldn’t do it. I tried three times, and each time I couldn’t getout more than two words. I’m proud of how farI’ve come.

Mr. Thompson Tells All • Sam Martin

Q: What was your favorite sport in high school?A: To play? Lacrosse. I played in high school and

college. To coach, I’d say soccer.

Q: We have to ask. What’s the “R” in “R. Highley” ?A: Randolph. I’m the third one

in my family that has my name, Randolph Highley Thompson, and

one went by Randolph, and one by Highley. My parents and

everyone else have always called me Highley.

Q: What did you want tobe when you wereyounger?

A: As a kid, I really wanted to be a doctor; I just really

wanted to help people. Andnow I guess I’m still helping

people, but just in a different way.

Q: Any special talents?A: I’ve always enjoyed woodworking.

Q: What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever made?A: I once made a toy chest for my kids. I was rookie enough that I made a really bad wood choice. It’s made out of red oak,so it’s just ridiculously heavy. But we still have it.

Q: Greatest piece of wisdom?A: My college lacrosse coach never told me this, but it’s what he did. He took theblame when things went wrong, and passed

the credit when things went right.

Michaela Scanzillo photo

Highley Thompson, Thayer’s new Upper School Director, has been at Thayer for about three months now. Self-described as “not super extroverted, not super introverted,”

he is someone Thayer students want to know more about. Here are some answers.

The library opened its doors to us two weeks after the school year started, revealing new study rooms, a massive circulationdesk, and tempting window seats. But what are these new improvements really for?

While the window nook seats may have been built to help juniors through their tedious US history reading, they’re mostly usedby students with laptops chasing their high score or reading El Prez’s latest rant on Barstoolsports.com. The lounge is the designatedstudent hangout area, but most students consider its dungeon-like atmosphere to be uninviting, while the laptops, comfy furniture,and natural light of the library are extremely appealing. Should the library be a place where students can relax, surf the net, and chatwith classmates? Or should it be the quiet study area it was built to be?

Head Librarian Karen Starr describes the library as “the space on campus where students can come and study quietly.” Whileshe doesn’t necessarily believe in a completely silent library, she believes that students should be relatively quiet and respectful whilethere. Library Assistant Sophie Browne says, “It should be both a study area and a hangout spot, but people should be quiet nomatter why they’re in the library.” The librarians also often find that students are using computers in a way that conflicts with the“acceptable use policy” laid out by the IT department. However, students have been taking advantage of the “double-edged sword”that is YouTube. While educational material can be found on YouTube, it’s mostly used to watch such classics as “Charlie Bit MyFinger” and “Bill O’Reilly Flip-out” for the millionth time. While both librarians think that the library should be a quiet environment,they realize the appeal of the library in comparison to the lounge. “I totally empathize with the students, but you have to be mindfulthat it’s a different kind of space. Come here, but change your behavior a little bit,” says Ms. Starr.

While the library sees its fair share of distractors, the ma-jority of students are there to study quietly or get their workdone. “It can be annoying when you’re trying to study,” saysone student, who finds the antics of loud students disturbing.The librarians also observed that most students who come tothe library after school are members of the play trying to finishhomework before late-night play rehearsal. “They’re there toget their work done,” says Ms. Starr. While most students usethe library as a quiet study sanctuary, there are those whochoose to use the library as a vehicle for their loud shenani-gans.

An anonymous student, whom we’ll call Latrick Pizza, believes that the library should serve both as a study area andas a place where students can, “play some cyclomaniacs on thecomputer, catch up on “the stool,” and “crush protein bars.”Mr. Pizza believes that the current library rules are far toostrict, and that eating, liberal use of the Internet, and laughingshould be allowed. “Upon entering the library this year, I wasimmediately reminded of the Spark Notes of our summerreading book, 1984. Especially when I was told that laughingis not allowed in the library. What’s next to go, happiness?”While most students and librarians think Latrick is a distrac-

tion in the library, he believes that his constant giggling and general giddiness is library-appropriate activity. “I often find myself dis-tracted in the library!” says Latrick. “Whenever I’m close to a high score in a game I’m playing, the librarians will come by, and Ihave to minimize my page, and pull up a Wikipedia page of George Washington to make it look like I’m doing work, causing me tolose my progress in the game. It’s super distracting!” He acknowledges that he could hang out in the lounge, but he prefers thewarmth and comfort of the Bakker reading room.

The infamous phrase “With great power comes great responsibility” can certainly be applied to Thayer’s librarians. With themillions of dollars spent on library renovations, the responsibility to manage the library for both the use of current students and asan attraction to prospective students lies solely on the library staff. So next time you’re kicked out of the library for watching thelatest It’s Always Sunny episode on the computer or for causing a ruckus in the quiet section, know that perhaps it’s for the best.

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Life

The Library: Quiet Area or Classier Lounge? • Peter Fitzpatrick

Student, “Latrick Pizza,” perusing his Netflix instant queue during a freeA

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The BWC: Changing the Way Thayer Writes • Franny Saunders

Judging by the turnout at the Benelli Writing Center dedication, former Thayer Acad-emy headmaster and English teacher Peter Benelli was beloved. This year in his honor,Thayer Academy partnered with the English department to establish the Peter BenelliWriting Center, otherwise known as the BWC. It is staffed with 18 student fellows whohad to apply for the positions, and three faculty: Sarah Donovan, Erica Archabal, andKaren Jersild. The staff of the BWC is there to provide writing help to any student oncampus who seeks it out.

Mr. Benelli served Thayer for 24 years from 1967-1991. English teacher GeoffGoodale actually had Mr. Benelli as a teacher and reflects fondly upon the experience.“Fifty years ago I was challenged and inspired by Mr. Benelli, the then youthful, dapper,and charismatic English teacher—and recent Yale graduate. His pithy yet certainly in-sightful comments on our essays led us to think critically about the art of writing.  Wewould consider carefully what we were attempting to say, proofread scrupulously, andreview thoughtfully each turn of phrase-- always keeping in mind that Mr. Benelli wouldbe evaluating our writing.” For a man who inspired such effort from his students, theBWC seems the perfect way to honor his legacy.

When considering the possibility of starting a writing center at Thayer, Ms. Donovanwent out to observe a variety of centers to see what would work best. She found manysuccessful writing centers at the college level and also saw how beneficial it would be toher students. “Writing can actually be fun if the experience is designed in the right way,”

she reflects, “and students can give extraordinary help to other students in ways teachers sometimes can’t. It’s inspiring to watch stu-dents help their peers produce something they’re proud of.”

Turns out the fellows are really doing that. After a visit to the writing center, junior Josh Cote said that though he had never felttruly proud of work before, he did after a single meeting, which was a mandatory task for one of his assignments. Now he reflects,“Having gone, I know that it is the most helpful thing for an English paper.” Even though he wouldn’t have gone there of his ownaccord, he is happy in retrospect that he was asked to. “Now that I know about this tool, I will be going a lot more often. ThoughI'm an awful writer, my piece for Ms. King's English class came out surprisingly well.”

The writing fellows, too, get something out of the one-on-one sessions. Observes junior writing fellow Nikki LeFort, “What'sgreat about the writing center is it's set up to be a conversation between the fellows and their students. The BWC is a place wherestudents not only learn technique, but are also challenged to question theirwriting on a fundamental level. As a fellow it can be nerve-wracking to workwith someone from your own class. You question whether or not they'resmarter than you, or will ask a question you don't know the answer to. I lovebeing a fellow because I get the chance to learn about writing just as much asthe students I’m working with do. It's a process that involves both parties dig-ging deeper into a piece of writing, and taking away much more than just afew grammatical edits.”

According to Ms. Donovan, that really is the true purpose of the BWC:“to reinvigorate and excite kids about writing in any field.” It aims to do justthat not only through tutoring but also by hosting fun events relating to writ-ing. Several such events are coming up. Bryan McGrory from the BostonGlobe will be visiting and the BWC is hoping to host a book club. There hasalso been excitement surrounding a potential Annual Spelling Bee. There arerumors Brendon MacKeen may be the MC in which case the BWC couldturn into the coolest place on campus.

If you just want to rock out to some eighties music (the fellows’ favorites)or see a lethal game of Words with Friends (which occurs only during down-time, of course) or you actually want to get legit help with your writing (insertshameless plug here), sign up online or just drop by. There are lollipops.

An historic quartet of TA leaders: Former Upper School Director Marshall Litchfield,

former Headmaster Peter Benelli, former Business Manager Cornelius Bakker & former Athletic Director Arthur Valicenti

Peter & Carolyn Benelliat the dedication of the

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Dancing Queen • Sarah Reynolds

Many Thayer Academy students know Pam Sheiber as the “dance lady,” lurking around the CFA basement andteaching pointed toes and pas de bourrés to dance and theatre students. Stick around a while and you’ll discover she’smuch more than that. Ms. Sheiber was born and raised the spunky, dance-loving spitfire we know her as today. Choreography is inher blood as her mom was also a choreographer and “a hell of a tapper.” She takes after her father as well, though ina more surprising way: they were both expelled from Hebrew school. She, for being a feminist and he, for lightingthe rabbi’s toilet on fire. And yes, that’s a true story. She also attributes her love of dance and appreciation of the

culture behind it to her upbringing. She recalls a time when, at a young age,she enjoyed Latin dancing in Red Sox pitcher Luis Tiant’s house. “There werepeople there from Cuba, Mexico…” she says. “And we would dance.”Her career as a choreographer began in high school when she was asked to

choreograph Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel. And though she liked it, shefelt that dance was a passion, not a career. “I wanted to go and be on stage, but

I was one of those straight A with distinction kids,” sheremembers. “So the smart side of me said I would goto a good school. “

And go to a good school she did. She attendedBrown University as an undergrad and later receivedher Juris Doctor, a law degree, at Boston UniversitySchool of Law. And, like most things she has done inher life, she enjoyed herself. It was at Brown where sheagain embraced diversity. She heard about a week before school started where minority students couldcome and get to know each other. Of course, she wasnot happy at being excluded, so she went too. Sheended up joining an all black sorority and becoming alittle sister to an all black fraternity. One of the perks?Being accompanied to calculus by eleven of the boysfrom the fraternity assigned to carry her books and escort her from class to class.

After school she went on to a successful career asa lawyer. She notes that her favorite part was the actualarguing in court. She describes it as “like improvisa-tional theatre, but with facts.” She nearly cut her careershort, however, one cold winter’s day shortly after start-

ing her first job at a law firm. Ms. Sheiber, whose job required her to walk six blocks in the snow and freezing cold,decided to wear pants to work at a time when that was just not acceptable for women. When scolded by her boss,she simply refused to change and asked him if he wanted to walk that far with the snow blowing up under his skirt.“I should’ve gotten fired,” she says, laughing. Instead, she got moved into a fancy corner office with windows. Her equal opportunity, no nonsense attitude had paid off. But, how does one go from being a lawyer to teaching dance in a high school? The answer is motherhood. Apparently the “my child has an ear infection” excuse for missing work gets old quickly. She took a year off fromwork to be a stay at home mom, at which, she says, “I totally sucked.” But she knew she liked being on stage, andthe opportunities just poured in. She started teaching master classes in dance for musical theatre and it “blossomedinto this.” “This” is the current Thayer Academy dance program, a truly unique dance experience. In a format she calls“structured unstructured” she strives to maintain a program 100% dedicated to the students: a place where dancerscan “perform, feel beautiful, feel fierce.” She loves that the dance studio is a place where students feel comfortabledancing their hearts out or just sitting on the floor talking about their weekends. “It’s flattering,” she says. “I lovebeing mom to all of these kids.” Ms. Sheiber has been described in many ways in her lifetime. The rabbi at Hebrew school called her “an imper-tinent Jewish girl.” Her first boss told her she had “the nerves of a cat burglar.” And in the courtroom she was knownas the “red-headed pit bull with lipstick.” But, what matters to her in the long run is this: “Everything I ever did I always had passion for.”

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Arts

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Harry Bacon sings and playsguitar in Mr. Browne’s F periodjazz combo. So let’s be realHarry, you don’t actually playthe West African djembe drum.

Sam Martin joined a richhistory of romance, candlelit dinner-dates, and eveninggondola rides when shelearned to play the accor-dion. But Sam, don’t youhave to be a middle-agedItalian man with a mous-tache to be an accordionist?

Molly McGlynn & Victoria Graceffaproudly strum away on their tropi-cal “lutes.” Apparently the ukulele isa real instrument and not just a funsouvenir to buy on your way homefrom vacation.

Mr. Formato… You played keyboard in a rock band called“Newton & The Apples?”Nuff said.

Together, Ms. Neely & MikePratt form a formidable blue-grass duo of fiddle and banjo.But isn’t a fiddle just a violin?And how exactly does a NewEngland prep school kid endup playing this icon of thebackcountry?

The Chinese Guzheng is hugeand ornately complicated.When Serena Pang sits downto play, it’s hard not to won-der how on earth she cankeep track of her dancing fin-gers. But come on, Serena, youcouldn’t just pick up a guitar?

You Play What? • Dimitri Antoniou

Everyone’s seen a guitar, bass, or piano in action. But what on earth is a guzheng, and who besides Israel Kamakawiwo’ole actually plays ukulele?

The answers rest in the hands of Thayer’s obscure musical talents.

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Overcoming Obstacles in SportsChristian Allard • Anna Kenyon • Giovanna Pickering

Teacher: Throughout his athletic career, Highley Thompson had always been on the shorter side. His lackof height proved to be one of the main factors when hegot cut from JV lacrosse his freshman year in high school.Instead of being bitter about not making the grade, ourcurrent upper school head used it as a motivator: “Dur-ing the off-season, I threw the ball against the wall abouta thousand times a day. I knew that I had to have the beststick skills on the team to make up for a lack of height.”His hard work ended up paying off; not only did he makevarsity his sophomore year, but he was a starter and keyplayer. After that, Thompson went on to play varsitylacrosse at Princeton–a true example of how, with dedi-cation and determination, it is possible to overcome manyobstacles.

Team: For the past few years, Thayer varsity football hasbeen characterized by loss after loss after loss. Althoughtheir great work ethic did result in some improvement, itwas still devastating for the team and for Thayer as awhole. Now the team is emerging from these frustratingyears, breaking out of their slump. “The re-building yearsare over,” says senior captain Brendan Lawler. “We havea solid group of juniors and seniors who know how toput wins together.” The team’s success started over thesummer, when attendance to Captains’ practices was100%. The excitement to play and the dedication theyhave put in has yielded positive results.

Student: In 8th grade Joe Ferrera suffered a series of con-cussions that proved to have a huge impact on his sportscareer. While getting off the ice in one middle schoolhockey game, he was clipped by another player--slam-ming his head to the ice, and causing him to miss schoolfor three months after the fact. Such an incident was ob-viously a huge obstacle for him and it became apparentthat contact sports would no longer be an option. Anavid football and ice hockey player, Joe was forced to re-tire the sports and play only baseball. Although this wasoriginally a very challenging setback, Joe has made themost of it. “Trying to think of the positive things, I justfocused on what I could do to get better at baseball instead of not being able to play football or hockey.” He has pursued this baseball career with much drive,finding great success as a result of it.

Mr. Thompson in high school

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