The
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September 2018 Volume 19, Issue 2 lightningboltonline.com Sage Hill School 20402 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, CA 92657
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Flik: Making Lunch Fun Again Food Choices in Cafe Now Include Pasta Station, Sushi Bar
Ashwin Chona “Lunchtime should be a fun time where students get to come to Flik, get some food, hang out with friends, and enjoy themselves.” This is the motto that Executive Chef Laura Catala and Flik have for this school year. Going into their third year at Sage Hill, Flik has revamped the student dining experience with plans to take a substantial step forward towards increasing student satisfaction and happiness. “Based on the feedback received from students this past year, [Flik] just wanted to try something new and see how it went because the student’s happiness with our food is our highest priority. Everything [Flik] can do for the students is important to us because we want as many students as possible to dine [at Flik],” Sharon Luengas, Flik Director, said. Flik plans to do everything in their power to exceed the expectations of the students. Flik plans to meet the students’ demands by improving the quantity and quality of the food and diversifying the food choices.
“This year [Flik has] more options. The Shack has been rebuilt to be a burger bar. The Green Cart is now the pasta station and sushi bar. Eventually, we are going to roll it into other options as well, like a taco bar, an ice cream bar, or things like that,” Catala said. Everyday, Flik offers something different to eat. At the same time, there will be static items, such as cheeseburgers, sandwiches and salads. Flik wants feedback so that they can put what people want into the menu, whether it is ethnic or their favorite food. “[Flik] is going to go beyond anybody’s expectations. This [month] was our trial where [Flik] could gather all the information from the students. As the year goes on, [Flik] is going to keep adding more options and variety. At the same time, if there is anything [the students] want [Flik] to do, we are willing to do it, whether it is a luau or Mardi Gras,” Luengas said. Biweekly, the app My School Dining posts the menu for the following month at Flik. Students are encouraged to voice their opinion on what they want
Natalie Rosenberg | The Bolt
Even though Flik Director Sharon Luengas (left) and Executive Chef Laura Catala (right) are fairly new members to the Sage Hill Flik family, they already feel at home. served for lunch at Flik so that lunch on campus can be as enjoyable as going off campus. “The improvements by [Flik] this year from a sushi bar to an ice cream bar has made getting lunch from Flik a good value. The improved quality and quantity of the food on campus exceeded [my] expectations of [Flik],” senior Mateen Robhani said.
Only one month into the school year, Flik is seeing greater satisfaction from students regarding the food served. By listening to the students and implementing their request, Flik is already experiencing the results. “This year, I felt [Flik] answered [my] concerns with school lunch by having a sushi bar. I love sushi, so having sushi
available [on campus] makes lunch awesome,” Junior Leslie Frankel said. If the long lines outside the Shack are any indication, Flik is going to have a successful year this year. If anybody has any questions for Flik or any suggestions, there is a comment board inside Flik for suggestions and the Flik staff is willing to help.
Changes Come to Career Series This Year Lily Button Career Day is a prime embodiment of Sage’s mission to prepare students for life beyond high school. This year, it will be broken down into three separate “panels” featuring professionals from various fields of study. These “Career Panels” will feature 3-5 speakers each, while placing a greater emphasis on students’ specific interests than in previous years. “The first [session] is going to be medical and science, the second one is going to be business and entrepreneurship, and the third one is going to be more arts and creative,” Bethany Pitassi, Assistant Director for Global Outreach, said. In addition, the modified format will enable students to meet a larger group of
speakers. The goal of the Career Series is to represent diverse professions, giving students the opportunity to explore their interests and make connections in the workforce. “Each speaker will present their certain areas and then there is going to be networking time so the students can have a one-on-one conversation with the speakers afterwards,” Pitassi said. Some students are tentative about the new changes. “I feel the [old system] was a bit better because you got the freedom to choose what you wanted to be and it related more to your interests. But this way is more organized,” sophomore Melinda Don said. Others welcome the new format. “I think it’s useful in the fact that you get to learn more that you are interested
in…it’s helpful to know if you’ll like [the subject] or not,” junior Joyce Jogwe said. These meetings will be held directly after Service Learning days on Oct. 3, Dec. 5, and Feb. 13 in the McNeill Merz Loft. The 2018-19 school year also brings updates to the Sage Hill Internship Program. Better known as SHIP, this unique course sets students up for the future by providing them with the resources to construct resumes, perform interviews and acquire internships. This year, the program will introduce multiple levels, based on students’ prior experience. “Level 1 is really figuring out that process and what is included in the process. Also learning and practicing how to interview. Level 2, all you have to do is write
an application and hand in an updated resume and then if you want to go to the resume review or interview practice, it’s available to you but it’s more optional. It’s more like a resource,” Pitassi said. SHIP also connects students with various out-of-school opportunities, such as Shadow Days for all ages and internships for anyone over the age of 16. In the past, SHIP has helped students pursue their passions outside of the classroom, into the workforce. “I [was] a UCI research assistant at the Economics Center of UCI in the Corporate Welfare Program. I signed up for the program through SHIP...there was already a connection,” senior Haley Rovner said. SHIP workshops will commence in early November.
ALUMNI
“
CHECK IN
I thought, hey, if I could do this everyday of my life, this would be amazing. – Kristen Shiraki
Editorial, Page 2
News, Page 3
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Class of ‘18 In College Community, Page 4
Features, Page 6
Opinion, Page 8
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The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
Tens of thousands of elections are taking place in 2018 at the local, state and national level, and the midterm congressional elections happen to be right around the corner. Every 2 years, there are national elections for the 435 seats in the House of Representatives and this upcoming election happens to be very important to Republicans and Democrats alike. Heading into the election, Republicans hold a majority 236 House seats to Democrats’ 193 seats. However, Democrats are vying to flip the House, because this election in particular is more competitive than the typical midterm election. There are a few reasons why this is an especially competitive election season. Historically, the party of a newly-elected president is known to be more vulnerable than usual in the following midterm (Ballotpedia). Also, 63 of the top 77 battleground races are currently under Republican control. Additionally, as of early September, 37 Republicans and only 18 Democrats announced that they would not be running for re-election in November. It is much easier for a candidate of either party to win an open seat than it is to beat an incumbent seeking re-election. California has 52 House seats up for election, and Sage Hill is located in the 48th congressional district– one of the top 5 battleground districts in the country (Axios). The 48th congressional district consists of coastal Orange County, including Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach. There are two candidates running to represent the 48th congressional district of California– incumbent Dana
Editorial
Rohrabacher and newcomer Harley Rouda. Dana Rohrabacher is a Republican who has represented the 48th congressional district since the redistricting in 2012. However, he has served in congress for 14 terms, or 28 years, representing different districts in the Southern California area. According to Rohrabacher.com, some of his primary stances defend America’s patent system, focus on innovating space technology and oppose “all efforts to legalize the status of those currently in the United States illegally”. Harley Rouda is a Democrat
running against Rohrabacher to represent the 48th. Rouda won the primaries in June by a mere 125 votes to fellow Democrat Hans Keirstead. According to HarleyforCongress.com, some of Rouda’s primary stances aim to eliminate offshore drilling, create common sense gun reform, and fix the education system. So, why is this specific race so important? Historically, Republicans have controlled the 48th, but Rouda is putting up a hard fight in efforts to flip the house. In 2016, Rohrabacher won over 58% of the votes to se-
cure his 14th term in the House. However, Democrat Hillary Clinton won the district over Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of 1.7 points, showing how Democrats have a chance at gaining greater control of the district in future elections (Ballotpedia). Anyone 18 years old or older by Nov. 6th is eligible to vote, and anyone between the ages of 16-18 can pre-register to vote. In this election in particular, we must educate ourselves on the candidates and vote. We have the power to affect the legislative agenda in Washington– we just need to act on it.
THE BOLT
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he Bolt, published seven times a year, is a student newspaper and serves the public forum at Sage Hill School. Its content - news, editorial, opinion, and feature - is protected by Education Code 48907, the state student rights law and the California Constitution which guarantees all citizens the right of freedom of speech and of the press. The Bolt accepts signed letters to the editor from members of the Sage Hill Community which may be posted as comments to our website, lightningboltonline.com, or addressed to editor-in-chief Hannah Woodworth and put in her mailbox on campus. These letters may not exceed 150 words or they will be edited for inclusion.
Editors-in-Chief Halah Biviji (Storm), Daniel Fishman (Online), Madison Harris-Weiner (Bolt), Sarah Kim (Storm), Hannah Woodworth (Bolt) Editorial Board Lily Button, Miranda deBruyne, Karli Davis, Alexis Kelly, Trevor Klein, Sydney McCord, Cammi Phillips, Alicia Theoglides-Rodriguez Adviser Kelly Parker
Ali Ansari
Adam Hung
Yuna Baek
Valentina Lin
Jonathan Chance
Kate Mlouk
Ashwin Chona
Polina Mogilevsky
Miranda deBruyne
Isabella Mora
Jacob Gibbs
Austin Robertson
Ian Grimm
Natalie Rosenberg
Linda Hachim
Annie Tang
Lily Humphrey
News
The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
New Faces of the Community
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Charles Duffy, College Counseling
Sydney McCord When it comes to college admissions, Charles Duffy, Sage Hill’s newest Associate Director of College Counseling, is no stranger to the process. Hailing from south Florida, Duffy has worked on both the high school and college side of the college application process. “I was working at a independent school in Miami, Florida called Palmer Trinity School. [I was a] college counselor there,” Duffy said. “I used to work at the University of California, San Diego as an east coast admissions rep[resentative]. After completing his masters degree, Duffy began to search for a college counseling oppor-
tunity, and was open to traveling the entire country to find the best fit. “I knew from my previous experience at Palmer, that I really enjoyed college counseling,” Duffy said. “I also really liked the [Sage Hill] college counseling website. It focused on choosing a college that’s the best fit for the student, so not just choosing the most prestigious college for example. So I went ahead and applied, and the rest is history.” Although Mr. Duffy is not directly counseling the class of 2019, he definitely has plenty of sage advice to help them along through this often difficult process. “Finding the right fit is so
important, and so is keeping the stress levels low,” Duffy said. “You’re going to hear your friends talk, you’re going to hear your parents talk, and everyone is going to be giving you different advice and it can become stressful. But just take a step back, breathe, and relax. You’re going to end up going to the school that is the best fit for you.” Most of all, however, Duffy advises seniors to enjoy their final year of high school. “It’s an exciting time for seniors because they have their whole life ahead of them,” Duffy said. “The college experience is really exciting. Don’t let this whole process stress you out.”
Valentina Lin | The Bolt
Megan Vanni, Science Teacher Jacob Gibbs
Valentina Lin | The Bolt
After teaching for five years in Orange County, Ms. Vanni joined the staff at Sage Hill as both a Chemistry and AP Environmental Science teacher because of its sense of community and emphasis on learning. Prior to teaching at Sage Hill, she taught at Santa Margarita Catholic High School and Rancho Santa Margarita Intermediate School. Her passion is for teaching, but Vaani originally had a different career path in mind. “I actually wanted to do
research in college, but I quickly realized that it wasn’t for me since it was very repetitive and there were little results” Vanni said. She found her passion for teaching after she took on an internship involving instructing middle school students in biology and chemistry. Some of her favorite aspects of the Sage community include the Sage Center and the involvement of the student body. “The students here are much more involved in the day to day routine [than at the other schools I taught at] since the
class sizes are smaller and its is easier to establish a connection with the study body,” Vanni said. From a faculty standpoint, she furthers that Sage is very different from the previous schools she taught at, which she liked for several reasons. “The Sage Center and aspect of interdisciplinary style of teaching is exactly the environment I was looking for as a teacher,” Vanni said. Vanni has made it clear that Sage already feels like home, even after just a couple of weeks.
Jeffrey Crockett, Theater Teacher Natalie Rosenberg New theatre teacher Mr. Crockett is enjoying the Southern California sun after his move down the coast. After teaching at the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco for 22 years, he is excited to embark on a new adventure at. With many friends down here, he has had a smooth transition. “Community is important to me. My friends are important to me. And I love living closer to
them,” Crockett said. The Sage Hill community is important to him as well. Interested in learning more about the faculty at Sage, he is enjoying getting to know co-workers from other departments such as math and science, as well as the arts. “I’m impressed with the real commitment for learning. Not just for students, but for faculty as well and I think that’s a big part of supporting the community here, which is really cool,” Crockett explained. Mr. Crockett has also
been enjoying co-directing the upcoming fall musical, Legally Blonde. “It’s a really fun show! I’m really happy we chose it. One of the things that is really exciting for me is that there are 33 people in the cast. It gives me the opportunity to really get to know a lot of people quickly,” Crockett said. He is looking forward to working with the students involved in theatre again in the winter, as he will be taking the lead on directing the play.
Madison Harris-Weiner | The Bolt
Kristen Shiraki, History Teacher Kate Mlouk
Alicia Theologides Rodgrigez | The Bolt
On campus this year, we have a new, yet familiar face. She was a long term substitute last year, but has now found a permanent teaching position at Sage Hill. A teacher who truly does it all, Kristen Shiraki has taught Physical Education, Yoga, History, Economics, and now Patterns of Civilization and AP Psychology, all while pursuing her hobby of half marathon races! Since the beginning of her teaching career, Ms. Shiraki’s passion for her students shines through in everything that she
does. In college, she was originally an International Relations major. She began a program that allowed her to teach International Relations from UCI at a high school. Instantly, she discovered her aptitude for teaching. “I thought, hey, if i could do this everyday of my life, this would be amazing,” Shiraki said. Ms. Shiraki’s passion continues to shine through in her teaching philosophies. “The most important quality [in a teacher] is that they care about their students as individuals. Everything else is secondary,” Shiraki said. Ms. Shiraki is very happy to
be back, and appreciates Sage’s emphasis on community. “The community creates an opportunity that values the student as a whole by providing opportunities that go beyond academics,” Shiraki said. This unique unity drew her to Sage in the first place. Having taught at public schools with over 30 students per class, she recognizes the importance of Sage’s small class size in creating student-teacher relationships. We are so lucky to have someone so dedicated, passionate, and talented in our community!
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The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
CHECKING IN WITH Anuli Ononye
‘I feel really privileged to have had a Sage education, especially now that I am in college’ Karli Davis Anuli Ononye attends Cornell University and is planning to be a Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major on a Pre-Law track. Though this may seem like a lot to take on, she feels she was truly prepared to handle all these studies because of her time at Sage Hill and her high school experience. “I feel really privileged to have had a Sage education, especially now that I am in college,” Ononye said. “Sage gave me the opportunity to have really dynamic discussions and educations experiences which a lot of students did not have while in high school.”
Ononye was involved in many groups on the Sage campus, such as Feminist club and the soccer team. She contributed greatly to the Sage community and she misses the people at Sage Hill the most. “My advisory was really close, and it always made my week to get to spend time with my friends while eating Hippo Cookies of Sprinkles’ Cupcakes.” Ononye said. “Along with my advisory, I also miss my advisor T-Meg a lot, as she was always a great person to talk to about school and life in general. Going to such a big college now, I miss having such a tight community to
go back to every week.” Her piece of advice to any student at Sage Hill is to take advantage of the many opportunities the school provides. “In college I am encouraged to try new things and there is a lot of pres-
sure to get involved in and to thrive in what you’re good at.” Ononye said. “At Sage, I participated in a lot of clubs and got involved in a lot of things, which helped steer me towards the classes and extracurriculars that I am now involved in.”
Miles W
‘Work hard, but don’t forget t it, high schoo Karli Davis Miles Wilson is currently studying Visual Arts and Computer Science at Princeton University, while also being a member of their division one water polo team. He feels that his time spent at Sage Hill balancing his academics and athletics is what prepared him best for college. “The classes at Sage are rigorous and demanding and with things like sports practices and free periods you are forced to make choices about how you use your time.” Wilson said. “I
have had to use the same time management skills I used in high school in order to keep up with my studies and manage my social life in college.” Wilson is most looking forward to taking classes in the fields he is interested in now that he is at college. “Coming to college I have been able to specialize and focus my studies in the place that I want.” Wilson said. “However, being in college I do indeed miss my family, friends, and home. It’s crazy going from
Photo courtesy of Anuli Ononye
Ashton Carroll
‘Don’t let yourself settle for what seems easy or comfortable’
Photo courtesy of Ashton Carroll
Karli Davis Ashton Carroll currently attends Boston College as an undeclared prelaw student. She is planning to apply to the International Studies Program in the Spring as well, which offers curriculum to students who are interested in the international studies of arts and sciences. Though she misses the good California food and weather, she is excited to begin this new journey on the East Coast. “I am excited for all the school spirit Boston College has. I cannot wait to tailgate before football games and support Boston and the runners on Marathon Monday!” Carroll said. “ I also miss the people at Sage,” Carroll said. “You really appreciate the community Sage has once you are two thousand miles away with not a familiar face in sight.” Advice she would give to students
is to take advantage of all the opportunities in this safe and uplifting environment. “Don’t let yourself settle for what seems easy or comfortable.” Carroll said. “Seek experiences that are challenging and don’t fear messing up for failing.” Carroll felt prepared for her college studies as she left Sage Hill, but being in this small community for so long, it was different to now be on a campus with so many students. “In many ways, I felt prepared for college.” Carroll said. “Several of my classes are small discussion based courses and I am involved in a leadership program here that Sage prepared me well for.” “Was I completely prepared for a three hundred person Econ lecture? Not at all! But college is all a learning experience anyway.”
munity
The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
H THE CLASS OF 2018
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Brooklyn Button
‘Maximize your experience there. Above all, make school a place that you are excited to go to’
Sydney McCord After living in both the Netherlands and Iowa, Brooklyn Button moved to Southern California and completed her senior year at Sage Hill School with the graduating class of 2018. Now, Button remains in Southern California and attends Claremont
Mckenna College, where she runs cross country and track and field, and is planning on studying economics and engineering. During her time at Sage, Button was involved in Sage’s female acapella group known as the Sweet Adelines and was also a part of the TedX service
Wilson
learning group. “I feel well prepared to succeed at [Claremont Mckenna],” Button said. “Sage Hill fosters an environment that encourages students to use Sage’s resources, such as its teachers, extracurricular opportunities, and driven peers.” Additionally, Button is looking forward to new experiences college has to offer, inside and outside of the classroom. “I am looking forward to being involved and integrated into a new
community at CMC,” Button said. “There is so much to do and so many new faces to meet. I also love running for the cross country team here!” When asked what advice she would give to a current Sage student, Button answered: “Maximize your experience there. Join activities that you are interested in, attend events, ask questions in class, and integrate yourself in the community! Above all, make school a place that you are excited to go to.”
to have fun. Before you know ol will fly by’
Photo courtesy of Miles Wilson
sunny Southern California to the cold and rainy streets of New Jersey” Wilson was involved in many aspects of the Sage Hill community as the Student Body President, a member of the robotics club, and a competitor in spoken word poetry to name a few things. Time management was an important skill he developed during high school. “Work hard, but don’t forget to have fun,” Wilson said. “Before you know it, high school will fly by.”
Photo courtesy of Brooklyn Button
Priya Kamdar
‘College is a very different environment, but I definitely think Sage helped me prepare for it’
Photo courtesy of Priya Kamdar
Sydney McCord After graduating from Sage Hill with the class 2018, college freshman Priya Kamdar attends the University of California, Berkeley with plans to study electrical engineering and computer science. “College is a very different environment,” Kamdar said. “But I definitely think Sage helped me prepare for it.” Kamdar learned about the school when attending the Berkeley Model United Nations Conference during her sophomore and junior years at Sage. She could see that the students and faculty alike shared a curiosity and love for learning that she knew she wanted to be a part of. “The students here are a part of incredible things!” Kamdar said. “I’m
looking forward to meeting more people and hopefully joining a project involving machine learning because I think that field is really fascinating.” During her four years at Sage, Kamdar was involved in several clubs and activities including volleyball and Debate. It is fitting that her advice to current Sage Hill seniors and students alike is to be present and active in school and extracurriculars. “My advice would be to take advantage of the opportunities to join clubs, travel during Spring at Sage because it is an amazing experience, and get to know your teachers.” Kamdar said. “They genuinely care about you and it is hard to find teachers that can give you that much attention anywhere else.”
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The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
Features
Annie Tang | The Bolt Music is an extremely important aspect of Charlotte Cohen’s life as she has been playing for many years. She performed some of her favorite pieces including Prelude No9. in E Major by Bach, Sonata in C Minor by Beethoven and the First Arabesque by Claude Debussy.
Charlotte Cohen: Artist of the Month Pianist wows community with her senior recital and array of artistic talents
Miranda deBruyne Senior Charlotte Cohen is an involved member of the Sage Hill community. She served as junior co-chair, is a co chair of student ambassadors, and is a valuable part of the Struck Art and Literary Magazine. In addition to these accomplishments, Cohen is a talented artist, both in visual arts and on the piano. Cohen has always had a natural affinity for the arts. “I’ve always loved to draw. I was always the one at the table using ketchup at restaurants to draw smiley faces on my plate, which is something if you know me well you could totally see me do,” Cohen said. In addition to her visual arts, Cohen has been playing the piano for the majority of her life. “I have been playing the piano since age 4. Piano and art stuck, unlike activities such as gymnastics and tennis,” Cohen said. Regarding Cohen’s visual art, her style has changed greatly throughout her many years in art. “It’s interesting - because I have always loved to draw with pen, I have seen my style evolve. In middle school I believed the best drawings were the most photorealistic, while now, I believe I have finally arrived at my own style, which is looser, more abstract,” Cohen said.
Cohen described her love for both visual art and piano. “I have learned that allowing my work to be loose gives me the freedom to easily edit what I am working on, which is the most useful thing as an artist. I feel like a piece is never done, and it’s hard for me to put things away,” Cohen said. Cohen’s two mediums, her visual art and her music, have a strong connection for her. “I access the same part of my brain when I am performing or painting in Art class. It’s sort of this autopilot, where I are so focused, but the focus comes so easily,” Cohen said. “So they are connected. Certain composers remind me of arts, like Debussy’s work to Monet’s. Both have this sort of flowiness to them, it’s beautiful and I love it.” Although Cohen is an extremely talented visual artist, her true passion is piano. “There’s something really cool about piano for me -- it’s like, this piece was written more than a hundred years ago by someone living an entirely different life that me. How can I connect? How can I play the piece like it deserves to be played?” Cohen said. Cohen expanded on where she draws inspiration. “High school has helped a lot with [channeling my experiences into my music] - the more I have learned
and the more friends I have made, or good times or bad times I have been through, music has always been a way to connect to those feelings. So I draw my inspiration from what’s going on in my life, and that’s usually when I play my best too,” Cohen said. On Friday, September 7, Cohen gave her senior piano recital, a performance over a decade in the making. “[At age 9], I began to regularly compete in competitions and perform. At this point, I was unaware of where my piano journey would take me,” Cohen said. Cohen spent the last few summers preparing for this recital. “Last summer, I completed my third year at the Interharmony International Music Festival in Tuscany, Italy, a two-week program,” Cohen said. “The word I would use to describe it is intense-- everyone is an insanely talented musician. Everyone at the festival really supports each other,” Cohen said. Cohen’s recital was a success, drawing a large number of people from Sage, her piano studio, family members, and former teachers. “I am so proud of how my recital went, it was amazing to be able to share this aspect of myself and something I have worked so hard on for so long” Cohen said.
Las Cafeteras’ Lively Performance
The Los Angeles group combines traditional and modern music for an exciting performance Alexis Kelly This month, the Studio at Sage Hill welcomed Las Cafeteras, a cross-genre music group based in East Los Angeles. Spanish teacher Sally Sefami invited the group to Sage with the intent of sharing the group’s lively performance style with her students. “Last year I went to see them at the Segerstrom Center with [Spanish teachers] Dr. Brophy and Mr. García Cruz, and there was this incredible excitement around who they were and their message,” Sefami said. “When I got back, I talked to [theater teacher] Mrs. Kildare and told her about this group that I thought the students would love to hear.” Las Cafeteras brings a mix of different cultures, with music that combines traditional Latin American instruments with a modern, southern California feel. Because the Spanish department made the Courtesey of Sally Sefami concert mandatory for their classes, the event genSpanish students and members of the Sage community attended erated a large enough crowd to fill the entire thethe first event in the Professional Performances Series on Tues- ater. Many Spanish students enjoyed the chance day, Sept. 11, featuring Los Angeles band Las Cafeteras. to see the language used outside of the classroom
through music. “I really enjoyed the performance,” senior Eliza Feffer said. “I was pleasantly surprised because normally when you have to go to something for school, you don’t know what to expect, but it was really high energy and exciting and I loved seeing a style of music that I hadn’t been exposed to before.” Las Cafeteras’ music has roots in the experiences of immigrants living in the United States and conveys a strong political message. “I think that they connect with the audience very well, but not in a way that says ‘you have to think like me,’” Sefami said. “They have a very articulated political message, but I think that they are open to saying what they believe without making people feel uncomfortable.” Although not everyone may agree with their political stances, Las Cafeteras brought the Sage Hill community together through their music and ability to involve the audience. “They were political, but I thought that above all they had a universal message of equality, which everyone can relate to,” Feffer said.
8 Backpage A Potential Reformation 2.0? The Bolt September 2018 Sage Hill School
How can the Vatican clean up the toxic reputation it has acquired by covering up many sexual abuse allegations? Jacob Gibbs For centuries, the Catholic Church has buried secrets deep beneath the Vatican in order to protect their reputation as the religious powerhouse it is known to be. In the past two months, more allegations of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church have been uncovered. However, the acts of abuse of from both priests and higher-ranking religious figures were not the most controversial aspects of the scandal that rocked the church. Rather, it was the coverup of information and allegation that lead to the harsh criticism of the Catholic Church’s actions. Since the beginning of the 1990’s, a child abuse scandal in the Republic of Ireland has represented the pure evil that unfortunately, yet essentially, exists in both society and the individuals that make it up. Hundreds of young boys, and several girls, came forward, accusing different priests and reverends of non consensual abuse. However, the impact of the problems that were unveiled in Ireland originated around the idea of the Catholic Church’s attempt to cover these allegations up. As a result, thousands of members within the Catholic Church strayed away from their faith, and even more moderately religious Catholics around the world began to question the authority and reliability of the Catholic Church. As the abuse scandal regarding the Catholic Church in Pennsylvania has caught the attention of the public recently, more members of the Catholic Church are beginning to question their faith. As a result, Pope Francis has openly apologized for the Church’s previous coverup attempts and has met with victims globally. Despite his attempts to clean up the mess that figures of the Catholic Church have created, the Pope has many
duties and cannot play the role as janitor of the Catholic Church. Therefore, the question is raised. Why does abuse occur so frequently within the Catholic Church? With the Catholic expectations of abstinence and homophobia rooted deep into the Catholic Church, it can be said that male priests and reverends are so focused on being the perfect Catholic figure. However, since they are unable to explore themselves, they resort to taking advantage of their imbalance of power and attempt to keep these examples of abuse locked away. One problem is that Church authorities and society in general do not fully appreciate the gravity and lifelong consequences of sexual abuse. Meanwhile, the larger problem is that traditional views of religious authority made people believe that the clerical leadership would make the right decision. That, coupled with a widespread belief that God’s law supersedes man’s law, made victims and their families less willing to report to the civil authorities.
In a more closed society, without mass media and the Internet, it was much easier to think that incidents of abuse were either isolated or even the fault of the victim, as illustrated by the abuse scandal in Ireland. While the behavior of the Church’s leadership cannot be condoned, it must be understood in order to prevent it from recurring. Alas, the very solutions that would solve the problems of the abuse scandal with the Catholic Church are undeterminable. Should churches implement better background checks on their priests or should they abolish their restrictions put on members of the Church, which are possibly leading them to act out licentiously? The answer lies in the very reason Christianity was split into thousands of branches. Different members of the Catholic Church have different priorities in regards to their faith. While some members are very conservative, others desire a more liberal, humanist approach to practicing Catholicism. However, it is challenging for one religion to satisfy the
infinite wants that members of the Church desire without splitting into many denominations, much like Protestantism after the Reformation. While the Pope’s meetings with the bishops may serve to focus attention on the role of Church leadership in the scandal, a fundamental solution to the problem is unlikely to occur because of these meetings. The Church continues to pursue incremental change while a more profound doctoral and organizational transformation takes place. In order to prevent this from occurring again, the Church must put emphasis on Church leadership and fully open their records regardless of the consequences that may proceed. Furthermore, they must commit to change by educating their parishioners. As a result, previous members of the Church may be more open to revisiting the ideas of Catholicism. It is also important for the Church to reevaluate their views toward gender roles and sexuality in modern society. Popes in the past have been heavily criticized, due to their inability to adapt and change in accordance to contemporary views. As a result of these more recent scandals being exposed to the public, it is essential that they acclimate to the growing changes in our community, rather than either remaining unchanged, or conforming to modern values all together. While the ultimate solution to putting a halt on corruption and abuse in the Catholic Church can neither be changed overnight nor in the upcoming year, the future actions of the Vatican can heavily influence where Catholicism will be in generations to come. Even though it is not necessary to begin a second “Reformation,” it is still important for the Church to modify some of their outdated values and previous efforts to cover up scandals, ideally allowing their messages of salvation and faith to take precedent.