runswick ChronicleThe

The Brunswick Students News Source May 2008

What’s InsideAround BrunswickAn Anniversary To RememberBy Will Seaton – Page 1(Continued on Page 5)

Senior Prank!By Scott Matthews – Page 1(Continued on Page 6)

Brunswick’s Rowing CultBy Turner Smith – Page 1(Continued on Page 3)

Sterotypes in MathmaticsBy Nish Gurnani – Page 2

Brunswick Spring ConcertBy Spencer Dahl – Page 3

Dance Corps’ Spring ShowBy Will Seaton – Page 4

Brunswick School TVBy Michael Marx – Page 5

5 Things to Think AboutBy Gus Ruchman – Page 6

President-Elect InterviewBy Scott Matthews – Page 7

Artist’s SpotlightSusannah BenjaminBy Will Seaton – Page 8

moe. Album ReviewBy JP Hare – Page 10

SportsWick Sports: A Mid-Season ReviewBy Dan Cassidy – Page 7

NBA Playoffs: Way too Long By Charlie Gerdts – Page 10

StudentEditorialsColumbia Scholastic PressBy Gus Ruchman – Page 9

Should Hillary Drop Out?By Oliver Sall – Page 11

Congress Holds Steroid HearingsBy Scott Matthews – Page 12

Page 1

By Will Seaton, Co-Editor -In-Chief

While most of us were relaxing on our spring break and enjoying our well-

deserved time off, a date passed largely unnoticed. March 17 marked the 5-year anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, a war whose end is still not in sight. Brought into the war by President George W. Bush in pursuit of weapons of mass destruction Saddam

Hussein was supposed to have in his possessions, the United States and its allies became embroiled in a war that no one thought would last as long as it has done. In fact, no one was sure entirely what would happen at all. After going in, it became apparent that the United States had no plan of operation beyond the removal of Hussein. Continued on Page 5

Seniors Solve Parking Problem

Iraq War Hits 5 Year Milestone

Brunswick’s Rowing CultBy Turner SmithStaff Writer

Rowing, more colloquially referred to as “crew,” is a sport that has grown rapidly

in our school’s community ever since its induction with the creation of the Brunswick School Boat Club (BSBC) in 1998. To some extent, the reaction to crew can be broken into two sections: those who love it (usually rowers themselves) and those who hate it, or to put it less critically, don’t “get it.”

While there are indeed many

people who have a certain level of respect for the grueling suffering experienced by rowers and the arduous commitment necessary towards success in the sport, there are always those individuals who continue to claim, “Crew isn’t a sport,” reduce one’s participation to simply a vehicle to “get into college,” or ask the worst of the worst: “Why do you row? There’s no point.” Crew is a test of both physical and mental strength, a sport that requires athletes in top condition who also possess strong minds with determination and perseverance.

Despite what people may think about the legitimacy of rowing as a sport, no one can doubt or question the backbreaking and punishing labor a rower must endure both on the water and on the erg machine. Picture yourself in the middle of an erg test: lactic acid is burning in your thighs and an extremely unpleasant sensation surges throughout your entire body. Feelings of doubt, poise, panic, anticipation, fear, and excitement, all bundled into one emotion, creep into

your mind as you squint the beads of sweat out of your eyes and steel yourself for the oncoming agony. As the meter countdown hits zero, you release the handle and chain in complete exhaustion, letting it clang against the front of the erg as you fall to the ground, the world spinning before your eyes. Just ask the squash players. They are quite familiar with the thumping beats of Daft Punk and Benny Benassi or the smell of sweat and vomit permeating the erg-infested hall outside the squash courts.

Many people also seem to believe that while rowing may be hard physically, it requires absolutely no athleticism, hand-eye coordination, or precision. The truth is that pure brute-force will move a boat, but will not alone win races. The sport requires perfect synchronization between the members of a boat, as well as a series of steps during the stroke which, if not carried out correctly, can lead to the failure of a solid crew, despite physical strength. Another component of the

common misunderstanding about rowing is the belief that rowers are somewhat self-confident and arrogant. Walt Whitman, one of the great American poets, wrote of taking pride in what one does in his poem “I Hear America Singing” (1860): “Each singing what belongs to him or her and to none else… Singing with open mouths their strong melodious songs.” In this work, Whitman celebrates the idea of ownership and pride in

By Scott Matthews, Co-Editor -In-Chief

It was a chilly Wednesday morning, April 30, 2008. The students of Brunswick and

GA were in for a rude awakening. A hilarious senior prank was completed by 7:00 AM: the seniors closed GA. The rumors flew around Maher Avenue: the path to GA had been rendered impassable by the seniors, and getting to GA would be “impossible” that morning. At first, most Brunswick students just believed that the seniors had parked ten or fifteen cars at strategic points around GA, blocking the path, the doors into and out of Massey Theater, the front and side doors of the GA Upper School, and the stairs down to the turf. These rumors were dead wrong. In a masterstroke of planning and teamwork brilliance, the combined senior classes did far more than find new parking spaces for a mere ten Continued on Page 6

Continued on Page 3

Hank Schless

They compute. They calculate. They boldly go where no Brunswick student has gone

before. They save the world from evil. Well, maybe not from evil but nonetheless the Math Team at Brunswick is truly a formidable organization. The future however looks rather bleak for them. A mere mentioning of the subject of math or math team in the hallway provokes a flurry of comments on its difficulty and much to my dismay, a significant amount of laughter. The sentiment is echoed among non-math teachers as well, with some remarking about how it was their weakest subject in high school. This stereotype that has been embedded within American culture seems to be growing stronger daily as more students are put off math at an early age. Gone are the days of the space race where the thrill of mathematics, science and engineering was a matter of national importance and kicking some Soviet butt. Something went wrong somewhere. M a t h ’ s undoing is embodied within the subject itself; unlike other subjects it is not merely the case of knowing how to do a problem, it is all about how much you’ve actually practiced doing it. Even the most math-inclined among us have experienced that terrible gut feeling of panic during a math test when you arrive at a certain problem and realize that it would make just as much sense to you written backwards. The subject’s nature to rely on previously built topics doesn’t help either as it creates an increasing handicap for those who initially

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 2

Editors-in-ChiefScott Matthews

Will Seaton

Staff Writers

Faculty AdvisorDr. Brian Freeman

Editor of PhotographyPreston Han

Therunswick Chronicle

Editors-EmeritusChris Antonacci

Greg Berger

The Brunswick Student’s News Source

Around Brunswick

Brunswick’s Best Befuddled By Math

By Nishant GurnaniSpecial Correspondent

Gus RuchmanOliver Sall

Spencer DahlCharlie Gerdts

Pat Doyle

Dan CassidyTurner SmithMichael Marx

JP HareTaggie Martin

struggled It’s quite easy to see how people would be turned off.

The diminishing appeal of Mathematics arises within high schools. As the entire country’s infatuation with the college admissions process grows, high school mathematics courses get more and more geared towards teaching subjects for specific tests. Walking into an Algebra II class in any high school, one witnesses this culture of teaching as much mathematics as possible to prepare students for the SAT. Instead of a creative process occurring, students are mentally fixed on this test culture and are less likely

to develop any real intuition about the subject, having just memorized methods to solve specific questions. In a class where rote-learning seems to be the preferred order it’s not very hard to discern the reasons for its unpopularity.

Childhood experience with a subject also dictates your level of enjoyment in the class. In my math classes outside the US, I remember spending at least a couple of weeks every semester,

not just learning any new topics, but simply playing math games and solving challenging math puzzles. However, my personal favorite

activity was doing research projects on specific problems. When you work for hours on a simple problem and begin to see patterns in your work and ways to extend the problem, you get an intellectual high. No amount of entertaining classroom instruction can replace this gut level excitement you feel when you make progress on an interesting problem on your own. I am certain if more American students were exposed

to this euphoric sensation, more of them would be inclined to pursue mathematics as a career. In a subject that is increasingly dominated by foreigners (such as myself) the chances for a math revival seem rather slim without a drastic realignment of the American educational system. However, it’s worth being optimistic and hoping that one-day I will be able to walk down the hallways of my Alma Mater and

hear students arguing about the most elegant solution to a math problem. I have a dream that one day I will be able to disclose my true love for mathematics and my desire to be a mathematician without facing looks of shock, horror, confusion or any form of amusement. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and embrace Math Team for what it truly is – a sport. I have a dream that one-day the American people will be able to finally do the math.

“Gone are the days of the space

race where the thrill of

mathematics, science and engineering was a matter of national

importance”

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 3Around Brunswick

Upper School Musicians Dazzle in Spring ConcertBy Spencer Dahl

Staff Writer

The 2008 Upper School Spring Concert was definitely a standout show for all those

who attended and participated. From the melodious choral groups to the huge sound of the Blue Notes, the concert was a tribute to the many hours that were put into perfecting the songs.

The show began with the Improv groups, smaller ensembles led by Mr. Shane Kirsch, whichplayed fun and entertaining tunes that the audience thoroughly enjoyed. Group 1A teamed up with Alexa Salamé on a performance of Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man,” an easily recognized classic that was performed flawlessly. Group 1B performed a rendition of the Eagles’ “Hotel California” with guitar solos by Andrew Grasso, Matt Wales, and Nick Fowler along with Allen Louis singing vocals. Annie DeAngelo and the Mountain Men of Maher brought a more country feel to the stage with the song “Restless Wind,” by the String Cheese Incident and another country classic, “The Devil Went Down to Georgia,” by the Charlie Daniels Band. Karl Hantho, Daniel Cassidy, and John Hopley played the famous violin part for the piece and played it without error. Alexa Salamé returned to the stage to assist Improv 2A in a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke,” along with the 2B horn section. For the final Improv performance, Improv 2B (with guest pianist Johnny Duennebier) played Topsy arranged by the techno group Meco. In addition to playing the extremely difficult melody perfectly, four of the six members took solos on the challenging piece. Trumpet player Nikhil Mehra lead off showcasing his thorough grasp of the chords followed alto saxophonist Gus Ruchman who dazzled the audience with sensational licks. Trombonist Scott Matthews stunned the audience with amazing poise and rhythm followed by pianist Johnny Duennebier who just rocks. Overall, every Improv group played the best concert that they ever have, a testament to the teaching of Mr. Shane Kirsch. The singing groups both performed to the highest level. The Mahertians gave a fabulous show,

entertaining the audience with three songs: Hallelujah, You Gotta Be, and Lonesome Road. Each

piece was sung beautifully and the audience thoroughly enjoyed each number. The M.O.B. also sang three of pieces from their repertoire: I’m Bound Away, Li’l Liza Jane, and Soon Ah Will Be Done. Each piece was unique and challenging, but these talented singers performed perfectly and showed the audience their amazing ability.

For the finale, the Brunswick Blue Notes played three of their favorite pieces. Opening with Chicago’s “25 or 6 to 4,” the audience was immediately feeling the vibe featuring Turner Smith on guitar. While it was highly entertaining, it represented merely a warm-up for the next piece, “Hunting Wabbits.” Arranged by Gordon Goodwin for Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, the arrangement is meant for professionals, featuring a high lead trumpet part, a rigorous saxophone sectional, and a difficult solo section. It was a yearlong project, and it was clear that everyone had worked extremely hard to master his part. The effort paid off as the saxophone section played the opening to perfection, a task that took nearly 3 months to work out. Trombonist Scott Matthews and tenor saxophonist Terence Einhorn each amazed the audience with his fabulous solo and lead trumpet Oivind Lorentzen hit all of his screaming high notes. As Director Mr. Paul Raaen said, “This concert was a crowning achievement for the band as their hard work and effort definitely paid off. Emotions were clearly as the seniors knew

it would be their last Brunswick performance and everyone was reminded of the tragedy suffered

by the Kirsch Family. The Blue Notes closed with a classic, Earth, Wind and Fire’s “September,” which ended the concert leaving

one’s existence, emphasizing the importance of possessing confidence in one’s hard work, individuality, and profession, thereby exposing a

romantic view of the working and middle classes in their struggles for survival in mid-19th century America. However, Whitman’s ideas can also be applied to rowing. Although

people may become irritated at an oarsman’s apparent self-confident attitude, this outward display is less a condescending self-righteousness than it is simply a sense of pride in his hard work, perseverance, and pursuit of both physical and mental perfection.

And alas, the old question comes back: “Why do you row? There’s no point.” The answer is simple: the thrill of the race. Pouring every ounce

of one’s energy into a struggle for victory and the unparalleled adrenaline rush create a surreal environment, transcending the painful hours spent

training. To quote the late Brazilian Formula-One driver Ayrton Senna: “Racing, competing, it’s in my blood. It’s part of me, it’s part of my life; I have been doing it all my life and it stands out above everything else.”

Continued from Front Page

Hank Schless

Hank Schless

Rowing Cult

the audience dancing in their seats. Overall, this year’s concert

was particularly significant for a multitude of reasons. First of all, this Spring Concert was the last time the seniors would perform at Brunswick and their singing and playing ensured that their final concert would be remembered. Also, this concert was the last time a Brunswick concert would be held at the Massey Theater. Everyone is excited for the new performing arts center that will be completed by next year’s opening. Finally, and most importantly, the atmosphere was full of emotion after the concert was dedicated to the Kirsch family adding a special significance to the fabulous show. The bar has been set high

for next year as this Spring Concert will be remembered for many years to come.

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 4

Dance Corps’ Spring Show: A Huge Success

By Will Seaton, Co-Editor-In-Chief

I was one of those lucky few. Those lucky few people who get to see athletic ability combined

with graceful form, excitement mixed with ease. I was one of those lucky people who got to experience the Dance Corps’ spring concert Up Side Down. Once again, the dance performance showcased the talent and beauty of the GA Dance Corps and all those on it. For those who weren’t so lucky, allow me to highlight the greatest parts of the dance. The girls on Dance Corps, as president Alex Pierce says, “work very hard to show the school what we do. We make sure that our pieces are as clean as possible and exemplify our talent in the best ways!” Their goal was completely achieved, as they proved to everyone in the audience how talented they really are. Seeing human bodies fly across the stage and twist into seemingly impossible positions, it is hard not to be amazed. At the most intense moments, I heard gasps all around me, a well-earned reaction. The performances are always a mix of different dance styles and techniques. Vice president Ariel Troy says that the goal for every performance “is to give the audience a different experience.” The dances are predominantly modern, but all the choreographers add a bit of jazz, ballet or hip-hop to create their own different mix of styles. Whether you prefer the smoother movements of ballet, the livelier motions of jazz or the upbeat actions of hip hop, Dance Corps concerts always have a mix of everything. For the girls who choreograph the dances, each style of dance is a way of expressing a certain emotion to their audience. The brilliant combination of so many different and varied styles keeps the viewer entertained and engaged throughout the show. Reaction to the concert was positive, as everyone walked out satisfied they had seen art at its finest. Greenwich Academy’s Amanda Thorman ’09 said, “There was so much that I loved that it’s hard to say one thing.” Brunswick junior Taylor Black said, “It probably was the best dance concert I have ever seen in my life.”

Even the girls who danced in the concert agreed that this one was a success. Maddy Leaman, dancer and choreographer in the concert, said, “everything really came together in the end to make a great show with a wide variety of dances. I think it was

one of our best concerts yet.” While every dance deserves

recognition, there were a few fan favorites that really awed people and kept them glued to their seats. “Not What I Planned At All” choreographed by Maddy Leaman was a poignant visualization about how “making mistakes is better than being perfect.” Laura Quinton’s “ba-bel” combined noise and accents

in an abstract piece that got people thinking about the every day sounds they heard. Ariel Troy’s piece “As Long As You’re Around Me” was

inspired by “the relationships I have with my friends” and sent a message to everyone about the importance of friendship, a last message to the girls she knows at GA. Alex Pierce’s dance “Can’t Take It Away From Me” was an affirmation of her own skill and

an incredible ending to an amazing show that left people gaping as they walked out of the theater.

Both Ariel Troy and Alex Pierce also performed in solos, getting the chance to show off their individual talent. Ariel Troy did a beautiful dance to Jon Mclaughlin’s “Beautiful Disaster,” with the dance having the same name. Her movements were as graceful and

elegant as were seen all night and she performed her last solo stunningly. Alex Pierce used her solo to show her father how much he meant to her.

Entitled “All Too Soon,” the dance was meant to show how “my dad is one of my role models and it was a way for me to thank him for his support and guidance for the past 18 years.” Her dad didn’t know about this special dedication and appeared

shocked when he saw it. It was a touching piece not only for her father, but also for the audience, with a few tears trickling down during the performance.

The seniors did an incredible job leaving their mark on the other girls of Dance Corps and on the audience. Every senior girl on Dance Corps was able to choreograph a dance this year and each dance was a reflection of the depth and proficiency the senior

class had. Graduating this year are Ariel Troy, Alex Pierce, Claire Delcourt, Lindsay Edwards, Maddie Harvey, Dana Hindman, Ashley Kellam, and Kate Salzman. These eight girls performed incredibly in their final performances at Greenwich Academy and showed the hard work they put in throughout the year.

Alex Pierce says about her fellow seniors: “We’ve been so close over the years, in school and at dance, and I can’t imagine dancing with other girls next year because these girls have helped me become the dancer that I am today.” As can be seen through the senior dance “A Tumultuous Affair,” choreographed by returning alumni Olivia Hardinge, the senior girls are an incredibly talented group of girls who embodied the beauty and motion that is Dance Corps.

As the senior class graduates, leadership is passed to a new group of girls. Hopefully this new group will live up to the standards established by the Spring Concert and Winterfest this year and continue to raise the bar for the girls of Dance Corps. With a final goodbye and eternal gratitude for all the support over the years from the captains and senior dancers, the hopes of artistic realization are passed on to a new group. Will next years Dance Corps be able to create a performance as beautiful, inspiring and jaw dropping as this year’s performance was? I do not know yet, but I will eagerly be awaiting the splendor that is Dance Corps.

Around Brunswick

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 5Around Brunswick

BSTV Looking to Spark New Waveof Brunswick Debate

By Michael MarxStaff Writer

Iraqi AnniversaryContinued from Front Page Now 5 years later, the United States is still trapped in the complicated political atmosphere of the Middle East. The death toll for American soldiers is 4,313, according to CNN.com, with countless other soldiers returning home and being affected by psychological disorders that ruin their lives. The war has cost around $500 billion and put us further into debt with our international allies. President Bush, in a speech given on the anniversary of the war, signaled that he has no thoughts about bringing home the troops. He does not wish to “jeopardize the hard-fought gains” in Iraq and does not want to present a weak front to terrorism in the world. Bush’s speech was filled with affirmations of the successes of the war, claiming that the increase in troops has turned Iraq into a place “where Arabs joined with Americans to drive Al Qaida out.” Bush has refused to budge and continually points to what he keeps describing as undeniable success in Iraq. Bush’s flat rejection of additional withdrawals of troops means that this war will go on at least until a new president is elected. If a Democrat is elected to the presidency, the war has the best chance of ending quickly. Both leading Democratic candidates have promised

to bring the troops home if elected. Senator Barack Obama opposed the war from the beginning, speaking against it to the Senate. According to his website, Obama wants troops home because “there can be no military solution to what is inherently a political conflict between Iraq’s warring factions.” Senator Obama introduced the Iraq

War De-escalation Act in January of 2007, with the hopes of bringing troops home by March 31, 2008. Owing to the opposition of Republican supporters of President Bush, the act failed and that date has come and gone. Obama’s opponent in the primaries, Hillary Clinton, has also announced her opposition to the war. Hillary has developed a three-step

plan to bring stability to the region and bring our troops home, displayed on her website. Within 60 days of her election to the Oval Office, she plans to start a series of action that “end our military engagement in Iraq’s civil war and immediately start bringing our troops home.” Her second step involves “securing stability in Iraq as we bring

our troops home.” She would attempt to broker a political peace and create a stable government. Her third and final statement would be to “convene a regional stabilization group composed of key allies” to “develop and implement a strategy to create a stable Iraq.” The one man who would continue the war is Republican Presidential hopeful John McCain.

The Senator is a strong supporter of continued involvement in Iraq as the region moves toward stability. While he may be against the majority of Americans who have turned against the war, he is still a staunch supporter who refuses to back down despite public opinion polls. His website describes his desire to “bolster troops on the ground… implement new counterinsurgency strategy… strengthen the Iraqi Armed Forces and Police… create the security necessary for political progress and stability… accelerate political and economic reconstruction in a secure environment” and “win the homefront.” All of his goals show continued support and involvement in Iraq, with no end in sight. He has desires to improve support at home, “explaining precisely what is at stake in this war to ensure that Americans fully understand the high cost of a military defeat.” His position has no timeline for withdrawal and focuses on raising support at home so that the war abroad can continue. Whether you are a supporter of the war or not, it will soon become clear after the election what will be America’s position on the Middle East. Until then, it is important that we consider what has happened over the past 5 years and reflect on what we think would be a good path to take in the future. The writer has his opinion; do you have yours?

May 2008

Not since RCA’s announcement that launched the National

Broadcasting Company on November 15, 1926, has there been such a legendary projection in the world of news. With the start of next year comes the introduction of one of Brunswick School’s most epic student-club initiatives: BSTV, Brunswick’s first Television Station. Through BSTV, anyone on or off campus will have access to streaming broadcasts as a way to obtain updated information on aspects of school life, and world news. As it is beyond our budget to install television screens, BSTV will harness state-of-the-art resources on the world-wide web for publishing content.

Webcasts and pre-edited visual recordings will be accessed by a link from Brunswickschool.

org or Wicknet.org and will consist of student reports, a monthly review with Tom Philip and other faculty, sporting event recaps, special guest assemblies and

student council announcements of upcoming activities, etc. A section of the website might also ‘televise’ student films from the Brunswick community.

There will be an average 3-6 new webcasts every two weeks, depending on the

popularity of the club. Members will meet 1-2 times a week during school hours, and senior members will be meeting outside of school in order to record, edit,

and update the site. Although the club will take some time from our busy academic/ sports related schedules, becoming a member will directly increase one’s popularity, grades, and sex appeal. (trust me)

So, if you’re interested in

broadcasting, computers, video production, sports journalism, political commentary, or simply being on camera, BSTV would be privileged to have your participation. All content will be published on the World Wide Web, for the ‘world’ to see. Girls really love that globalization thing – ‘taking charge’ of our world’s destiny – building the bridge to the 21st century. Too much of a stretch? That’s your call. The fact is, this is an exciting opportunity. Although the website will be debuting next fall, the station needs to build a staff in preparation. Anchor men, camera operators, sound mixers, and managers are in need at present—email Michael Marx or David Blumenthal if you’re interested, or want more information. Brown and White meets living color this coming fall. Join BSTV.

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 6

1. Back up your computer: The last thing you want to have happen around exam time is losing all of your notes since the dawn of time. Save to the Brunswick server or buy an external hard-drive. Want to be extra safe? Do both!

2. Get outside: Come on…

Around Brunswick

Seniors Wreak Havoc on Upper School Campus

or fifteen cars… there were at thirty-five o fifty cars lined up on the path from Patterson Avenue all the way to the front of GA and beyond. Of course, chaos ensued. Some students showed up nearly twenty minutes late for class. Some cars were parked so close to the GA buildings that students were given

no choice other than to walk right over them… which damaged many hoods. Mrs. Hubbard made a futile announcement over the Brunswick PA system asking seniors to move their cars. However, thinking on their feet, the seniors had intentionally blocked each other in allowing for no car to be moved, not even a little.

When the Chronicle went to seniors to find out who was in charge of the prank, they simply all claimed credit for the project. They announced that it was a total group effort, and was planned only 12 hours beforehand. Mr. Duennebier has seen a lot of senior pranks during his tenure at Brunswick. He particularly remembers the bad ones, such as when seniors crazy glued locks and caused thousands of dollars of damage. For this one, however, he had nothing but praise. “There were definitely some clever parts to this one, it’s definitely one of the best I’ve seen in a while,” he said. Nearly all of the Brunswick faculty with whom

the Chronicle spoke concurred that this prank was one of the best that they have seen in years. It was inconvenient to many but not at all harmful to people or property. The cleanup that followed took time, nonetheless. The un-named person who parked the last car, blocking in the rest, cleverly started a test first period and was unreachable. During the second period of the day, Mrs. Beste threatened to have the seniors’ cars towed to Stamford at their expense. With that announcement, the prank came to an end. Almost all of the seniors moved their cars to legitimate spots. Overall, this event will be remembered next year when it’s time for the current juniors to match the brilliance of this senior prank. Congratulations, seniors, you have set the bar very high. Enjoy the pictures.

Five Fast Things to Think About Coming Down the Home Stretch

By Gus RuchmanStaff Writer the weather is great right

around now. Studying is good, but take a break and toss around a Frisbee.

3. Do a random act of kindness: You don’t need to feed the masses or stop AIDS. Help out in town. Need suggestions? Neighbor- to-Neighbor.

4. Watch the news: A lot is

happening in the international, national, and local scene right now. It’s worth knowing about.

5. Try something new this summer: Summer’s a perfect time to do something you’ve never done before. Who knows? Maybe when we come back to school you’ll be able to ride a unicycle…while juggling bowling pins.

Continued from Front Page

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 7

An Interview With President-Elect Yarnell

Around Brunswick

Everything about the Upper School is changing for next year, ranging from the

new facilities to the new Student government. Many changes are already in the works: the 2008-09 Student Government has been elected, the Senior Peers have been chosen, the Chronicle has finished the transition of editors, the Society’s new Free Press has had its first issue of the political pamphlet, and most importantly, Brent Yarnell has drummed up excitement for next September. After he whipped the Upper School into a frenzy with his already famous “Stop the Lions” speech, Brent Yarnell brought a message of change that ranges beyond the traditional student government. I recently had the chance to sit with the President Elect and discuss some of his new ideas.Would you elaborate on your Stop the Lions Speech? I meant to emphasize that in the great jungle – the world – the Brunswickians are a people with a collective interest of our own. The lions are forces and events outside the Brunswickian community that inevitably shape the daily life of the Brunswickians. All aspects of human existence shape our daily environment and the way we live, the vast majority completely outside of our own control.

Lions are aspects of human existence that shape our environment in negative ways: lack of knowledge and understanding, prejudice and racism, poverty, suffering, and problems relating to the natural environment. Extra-curricular activities that focus on gaining understanding and tackling these lions serve to better the Brunswickian people and the jungle at large. Activities in the fields of service to those in need in the local community, services to improve the human-nature relationship, and activities to spread knowledge of the world at large enrich the educational experience by expanding student and faculty’s understanding of the world which will add to the knowledge of class experience, making students more comfortable being active in groups and participating in group leadership, and also in creating a cooperative and communicative environment in the school. They enrich school life.

If these efforts are directed at providing aid to the local community and economy, and the emphasis is placed on helping people instead of

By Scott Matthews Co-Editor-In-Chief

building character and expanding horizons, these efforts can also improve the world in little ways. I also believe that work that is done of self-motivated free initiative is much more productive and meaningful than work that is forced, because it is work of passion instead of work of compliance. I will explore ways to enable students to participate more directly in planning and decision making regarding their community

service and extra curricular activities as well as unify the student body as a group in this manner. This will involve coordination between the clubs, and finding ways to open up public activities to more popular participation.

Some think that your speech was very funny but lacked substance; what new activities are you planning on adding for next year? Well I’m sorry they feel that way. I wish they’d express that sentiment to my face. My administration will carry out management of the student center, install urinal dividers in upper school bathrooms, hold at least one extra open Mic night, hold at least one outdoor movie screening, and hold an end of year Luau. What changes are you going to make to the actual student government for next year?

I will make the student government more open to the participation and input of the student body at large, and more directly responsive to its desires. Expanding the responsibilities of senators and utilizing the homeroom as the primary unit of political organization within the school will accomplish this. Every month I will hold open meetings. Every homeroom must send a representative to these

meetings, and every student is allowed to attend and vote. This will allow me to constantly inform the homeroom representatives about student government developments, and get their input, criticism, and suggestions. The representatives will then be able to keep their homerooms informed. Senators will take a more active leadership role and interact with their grade via the homeroom representatives. Senators will be responsible for coordinating the community service activities of each grade. The main function of these is the homeroom trips to various community service locations over the course of the year. The chain of command will be Mr. Lyapin --> senators --> homeroom representatives --> homerooms for all mandatory community service activities. The

senators will also be involved in planning said activities with Mr. Lyapin. This will create more student participation and input in mandatory community service activities. Senators will also be divided into two committees. One committee will orchestrate out-of-school activities such as the Luau and open Mic nights; the other will orchestrate in-school activities such as maintaining the student center. I will be directly involved with both committees. Each committee will have one senator from each grade. This way students or homeroom representatives can influence these activities that affect us every day, such as the student center. When students have a problem, they have a number of people they can talk to. This will make student government more directly responsive to the needs of the student population. How do you plan to run the Society as well as the BSG? I do not run the society. There are three other co-dictators of the society: Cole Stangler, Owen Scannell, and Colin O’Connell. They will share equal input and responsibility with me, but even they do not run the society. The Society is a force, and is constantly propelled by its members. It is totally democratic and based on free association. I do run the student government, but it is not my government, it is the people’s government. I will run it with their consent and will do my best to deliver. How do you plan to keep the BSG separate from the left wing Society? The Society is not left wing. The Society is dedicated only to democracy; it is a dark day in America when democracy is considered left wing. Our Society Free Press welcomes writers of all political backgrounds and many of our writers hail from conservative Republican backgrounds. We accept all. We embrace freedom. I do not need to separate BSG from the society. They are naturally separate organizations with different objectives and functions. They are made up of different people. Specifically, the Society is a private club governed by its members. BSG is public and is the property of all the students. The Society operates by the will of society members, I will operate the BSG according to the will of the people as best as I can judge it.

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 8

Digital photography has exploded in popularity over the past few

years and one person who has wholeheartedly taken to this art is Susannah Benjamin, a freshman at Greenwich Academy. Meeting me in the freshman hallway of GA, Susannah shared her thoughts about this more modern art and what it means to her. At only 14 years old, Susannah has already received her fair share of notoriety. She had her work displayed in Meli Melo, the popular restaurant on Greenwich Avenue. She has won several competitions on the website betterphoto.com. She has won the International Kodak Award, which displayed her work in Times Square, as well as in a gallery in London. Most prominently, Susannah won the international ‘Digital Photographer of the Year’ in her age group as part of a competition hosted by her favorite UK magazine, “Digital Camera.” While the success she has gotten has been exciting, it is clear that photography means much more than simple fame to her and none of it has inf lated her ego. Modest about her skills with the camera, Susannah continually denied any knowledge of shutter speeds and camera lenses while we talked. However, as our conversation went on and I asked her how she took some of her pictures, she began bubbling with energy and showed how much she

Artist’s Spotlight: Susannah BenjaminBy Will Seaton Co-Editor -In-Chief

actually knows about all things photographic. Her knowledge is apparent and after only 2 years with a camera, she has proven that she and her camera can go far. Susannah has come a long way in quite a short time. She got her f irst camera when she was 12 years old. It was a Christmas present from her mom, and although she wasn’t sure about it at f irst, she quickly came to love it after taking it on a trip with her. She had dreams to be a writer at the time, but after using her camera, she began to love photography. She says “I love photography because it is about making a world with what you already have…Through photography I tell a story in every image.” Her talents have taken off since her f irst picture on vacation. She jumped into the art and began getting her friends to help her. Whenever they come over to her house now, they “know to be ready for a photo shoot.” She has even taken some friends to construction sites and rubbed dirt on their faces in order to get scenes worth taking pictures of. Taking about “500 [photographs] in a good shoot,” Susannah quickly increased her skill and has become very comfortable with her camera. Wanting to gain more skill than what was available to her at home, Susannah enrolled in a photography course at Cambridge, as part of the summer Oxbridge Academic Programs. “Ever since Cambridge, I’ve been

incorporating the background,” which she says has made her photographs more interesting, a new combination of a person and their interaction with their surroundings. Her skills increased and it was when she was in England that she entered the “Digital Photographer of the Year” competition. What does her family think of her art? “My parents are supportive,” she says, and they know that she really cares about her photos. She isn’t sure where she got her talent from, though. “My grandma dabbled in sculptures…very vaguely.” She says that other than him, she is the only artist in the family. They all support her efforts and know that she wants to do something special with her photos. Susannah has big goals in photography and it is hard to doubt she can achieve them. “I really just want to change the world. I want to be someone really big for my art.” She says she wants to become a household name, and while she would never compare herself to famous artists just yet, she says, “I want people to recognize my art.” Her art gets its inspiration from many places.

“Anything about photography interests me…I’m inspired by basically everything around me.” While inspiration can come from anywhere, her photographs focus on people and their expressions. “Their faces are always changing and I’m much more interested in things that can tell a story.” Looking through her portfolio, I can see that Susannah has this great knack of bringing out emotions in people that wouldn’t be found there otherwise. In the space of a few photos, she can quickly go from fear to tranquility to anxiety and more. This innate ability of hers is what will help catapult her towards her goals Susannah has already shown her vast potential, having won many awards in the few years she has been taking photos. She plans to continue her passion because when she takes pictures, she is “making something that will last much longer than you.” Hopefully her passion for photography will last as long as her photos do and that she will one day become a household name as she wishes. I hope this article helps people in the school community, at least, recognize what a talent she has.

Artist’s Spotlight

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 9Brunswick Sports

Wick Sports: A Mid-Season ReviewBy Dan CassidyStaff Writer

Columbia Scholastic Press Convention:By Gus RuchmanStaff Writer Huge Success

Anybody walking recently in Manhattan near 116th Street and Broadway was

probably confused, as the college students seemed a lot younger. On the Columbia University campus from March 19 through March 21, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association hosted its 84th Annual Convention for high school students interested in journalism. Hundreds of public, private, and parochial high schools from around the country, including Brunswick, were represented at the three-day convention. Additionally, 1,882 newspapers, magazines, and yearbooks were entered and eligible for the 2008 Crown Awards program. The spring convention boasted over 350 sessions falling under the categories of newspaper, yearbook, magazine, online media, video/broadcasting, law and ethics, and advisor information. These sessions included classes about writing and designing sports pages,

analyzing video and photographic media, issues of censorship in student newspapers, tips and tricks for Adobe Photoshop users, reviewing movies properly, and understanding libel laws. On a more personal scale, representatives of school publications had the opportunity to meet one another and trade their work in “swap shops.” Personal critiquing sessions were offered as well to provide unbiased opinions from advisors, journalists, and various professionals on how individual publications may be improved. Those leading the sessions included legal consultants, university students, faculty advisors, journalism professors, newspaper writers, editors, and photographers, graphic designers, and professionals from the world of broadcasting. Among the latter were Marcy McGinnis, a former senior vice-president of CBS News, and John Soliday, an award-winning director of television and film.

Much of McGinnis’s session centered on her own personal experiences during her 35 years working in broadcasting as a secretary, a senior vice-president, and everything in between. She emphasized the extraordinarily fast pace of the industry, saying, “That’s the kind of world you live in on television. People actually live by seconds.” McGinnis continued with anecdotes of her time with Princess Diana, the Pope, and at Cape Canaveral, as well as advice for budding young journalists about entering the business. In another class on designing sports pages, led by Jenny Dial, a writer for the Houston Chronicle, students discussed alternative methods of covering sports stories. According to Dial, the best way to design a sports page is to “make it simple, make it small.” In other words, in order to accommodate readers with short attention spans, use charts, bubbles, sidebars, Q&As, “Top 5” lists, and other

coverage to make the page unique. All this advice comes just in time for NCAA March Madness! The Columbia Scholastic Press Association Convention was once again successful in the number of students attending, volume of work represented, and quality of the speakers and sessions. The 85th conference next year will undoubtedly be of similar interest for aspiring young journalists.

Spring is back with the warm air, the rainy days, and most importantly, baseball, lacrosse,

tennis golf, and crew. This spring our varsity teams have thrived (for the most part) and have already locked up one FAA title and awaiting many more.

The Baseball team had a stellar trip to Florida, dropping only one game, the best they have ever done in years. This spring, they have put in some solid performances so far this season. Despite their record of 5-6 (overall) and 3-5 (league), the team has played very well. “We have lost a lot of games by 1 run,” said senior captain Jack Barrett. “we’re just a lucky bounce away from winning most of our games.” Brunswick baseball has won some big games this season including Kent, The Master’s School, KLHT, GFA, and Riverdale. “Our goal right now is to make the playoffs and we’ll take it from there,” said captain Mark Figgie. With the way the baseball team has been playing recently, I’d say that it is a pretty attainable goal.

Golf is off to a great start winning 9 of their first 10 matches. “We have played really well this year,” said captain Dixon Mallory. “it has been tough having 14 kids on

the team but Mr. Fischetti has done a great job giving everyone a chance to play.” The Brunswick golf team has had some big wins this year including some against RCDS and Hamden Hall. “We are extremely happy to have won the FAA championship,” remarked Mallory. “We lost in the finals last year and we really wanted revenge.” Brunswick golf

will also be competing in the New England tournament very shortly.

Brunswick Lacrosse has also gotten off to a great start going 6-3 so far this season. Although they have an extremely young team, they make up for their lack of experience with hustle and overall team speed. “We

have a dynamic offense that can beat our opponents in a number of ways, but we thrive in the transition game where our experienced seniors control and set the tempo,” said senior mid-fielder Phil Cutler. “Despite our lack of overall size we are a very physical team that loves to lay the body.” Being one of the top ranked lacrosse teams in New England,

Brunswick heads into the final stretch of the season with high hopes.

Brunswick sailing has also had a good season so far. Although they started out a little slow in the beginning, they have really stepped it up. “As the season has progressed we have become a lot stronger as a team,”

said senior captain John Howland. “We are currently on a four game win streak, defeating strong opponents including Darien HS, Staples HS, and Greenwich Academy.” The team is heading towards a very strong finish for the 2008 season.

Brunswick crew has started the season off really well. “We have had some injuries to two key kids, but fortunately we have a pretty deep team so Nick Pinto and Chan Mahaney have stepped in and contributed,” said senior Captain Ryan Potocki. “We are looking forward to the end of the year and the Connecticut state championships as well as the NEIRA championships.” The Brunswick crew team has about 7 Division 1 college recruits, so hopefully they can harness all of their potential and become Connecticut state champions.

Tennis has started off the seasons strongly with an 8-3 record as well as a second place finish out of 15 teams in the NEMA tournament in Maryland. “Our seniors have demonstrated great leadership this year,” said senior Karl Hantho. “but our freshman have really stepped up. They have been playing really well in singles matches and they took over the top spot in doubles.” Brunswick tennis is playing extremely well and should go on to have a great record at the end of their season.

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 10Student Editorials

NBA Playoffs: Going, Going... By Charlie GerdtsStaff Writer Still GoingFor some time now, the NBA

playoffs have taken too long to finish. The power of the

all-mighty dollar has corrupted the value of the game to the point of turning away the average fan with both games and series that are too long. With stars such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, and Kevin Garnett all leading their teams, marketable players are still in the playoffs. However, the number of teams making the playoffs is far too big and the seven-game series takes way too long. Overall the playoffs have been going on for 3 weeks and there is not an end in sight to the playoffs that will run for a gaping two months. The number of teams that make the playoffs is far too many. Eight teams from each conference make the playoffs while seven are eliminated. This egregious error of having more teams qualify for the playoffs than not qualify for them is one major concern with the layout. This is mostly done to create more games in which the NBA can make money. The number of teams making the playoffs leads to a regular season that is meaningless. If a team can make the playoffs with a losing record, why try? This is why the college game, in many respects, is

considered better. The meaningless regular season also loses the casual fan. The casual fan does not want to see a game where the players are not trying hard until the fourth quarter. Each series consists of seven games, which lengthens each one past the necessary amount of time. The first round series are a best of seven, where one team

must win four of the games. This is changed from the old five game first round. The five game series was a much better system because it allowed the truly better team, or the higher seed, to pass by the weaker without long, drawn out series. The teams that win in the regular season should be rewarded for their efforts, not potentially knocked out by a

weaker team that gets hot at the right moment. The five game series also add more drama. Every game means just a little bit more then the last. Going back to five game series would increase the value of the games and increase the number of viewers, benefiting both the sport and the NBA. The first round seven games series are too long already,

but with days off between each game, the series extends further. The NBA does this to create a schedule where every game can be played on national television, thus increasing the monetary value of the game. These breaks make it very hard for a team to gain any momentum off the last victory. It seems logical that games in the same city could

be played on back to back nights with one or two days for traveling. David Stern, commissioner of the NBA, has created a product that is very attractive to corporate sponsors, but not to the fan. Stern extended the number of playoffs teams and playoff games in order to create more games to market. Each game provides an opportunity for a corporation to buy ad time. Television networks pay huge amounts to buy the rights to broadcast what they deem as a good game. These decisions are made with money in mind, not the fan. From a purely economical value the NBA is having one of its better seasons, but it is losing interest with a lot of fans. The NBA needs to correct this flaw before each game becomes one big advertisement. There is no foreseeable change in the NBA playoff system because it is too successful at this point. If the league is making money, it is hard to argue a change needs to be made. David Stern and team owners are less inclined to change a winning formula. Until Stern and owners stop thinking about the dollar and start thinking about the fan, the system will continue to be flawed. Who knows, maybe viewers will get to see basketball in July one day!

A popular band that sits comfortably in the jam band genre, moe., formed at the

University at Buffalo in 1990, has become known as one of the top performers to turn a concert into an unforgettable experience. They describe their sound as a mix of Steely Dan, Led Zeppelin, and Gram Parsons, boasting two guitars, a bass, drums, and percussion. moe. is best known for their live performances, but they are not incapable of recording great studio albums, as they have had numerous successful releases. Their instrumentation is always impressive and their songwriting ability ranks among the best in the genre. However, in moe.’s latest release Sticks and Stones, the band seems to display a different character in their most experimental album yet. As many critics believe, along with the members of the band, moe. was trying to return to their “roots” and create simpler structured songs with

moe.’s Sticks And Stones: An Album ReviewBy JP HareStaff Writer

a much stronger focus on the vocals. This old mainstream rock sound was not what I expected to find when I purchased the album. Usually a moe. album contains far more complex, lengthy tunes with impressive guitar

improvisation, thick varied bass lines, rigorous drumming, and a touch of the electric vibraphone, which the percussionist so skillfully plays. None of these elements that make up moe.’s distinct sound were apparent during

my session with Sticks and Stones. The bassist seemed asleep in almost every song, and the drummer never deviated from that boring standard rock beat. The two guitarists, ranked under Rolling Stones’ top forty

guitarists of all time, never proved themselves worthy of that title in this album, either; I counted maybe three guitar solos in the entire album. Another disappointment was the lyrics and songwriting, supposedly

a focus in the album. These lyrics were boring and unoriginal and were nothing compared to other songs moe. has written. A lot of their past songs have contained wacky and senseless lyrics, but they still make amazing songs out of them. They did try to incorporate some violin in a couple of songs and created a more oriented folk song, which shows their openness to explore other areas of music, but they surely did not put in enough time to really further develop their ideas. All in all, I respect moe.’s attempt to break out of their usual vibe and experiment with different genres, but this album really didn’t do it for them. I am a huge fan of moe., I have about 6 of their albums and plan on seeing moe. for the third or fourth time this summer, and I can say this album reaches nowhere near their musical potential. Get Wormwood, The Conch, Dither, really any other album of theirs including one of their six prestigious Warts & All live series and you will then understand why moe. is one of the best touring bands around.

May 2008

The Brunswick Chronicle

Page 11Student Editorials

Should Senator Clinton Drop Out?By Oliver SallStaff Writer

May 2008

Critics of Hillary Clinton have long been calling for her to drop out of the Democratic

Presidential Primary race, ceding the nomination to Barack Obama. Proponents of both sides in this debate tout worthy arguments that

warrant consideration. Supporters of Clinton defend her right to continue in the nomination process (a right which she undoubtedly has) while maintaining the argument that a drawn-out and sustained campaign is not only beneficial overall to the Democratic Party, but is democratic in the truest sense of the word. These Hillary proponents also argue that Clinton still has a very realistic shot at gaining the Party’s nomination. Hillary’s critics and the math (crucial in ultimately determining who will gain the nomination) beg to differ. With John McCain clinching the Republican nomination early this

past March, he is free to clearly define his campaign while raising money uncontested. Clinton’s critics have expressed concerns that she is staying in the race despite her slim chance of victory; these critics also argue that her potential for a lasting negative impact on Obama’s campaign is not inconsiderable.

Here is where the advocates of a Hillary-dropout claim their strongest point. Hillary’s chance of winning is, legitimately, minute and highly unlikely. As it stands today, Obama holds a large total delegate lead of 1738 to Hillary’s 1603 (with a 1489-1335 lead in pledged delegates), and barring unlikely circumstances, it appears he will maintain that lead heading into the last primaries in early June and the Democratic National Convention in August. According to Newsweek’s Jonathan Alter and the highly regarded Slate Delegate Calculator, if Clinton wins the remaining primaries (of greater

significance: Indiana, North Carolina, Kentucky, Oregon, and Puerto Rico) by an incredibly whopping margin of 69% to Obama’s 31%, a scenario seemingly implausible, she would still trail Obama in total delegates by a tally of 1618-1617. Of course, this entire scenario hinges on whether the votes of Michigan and Florida

will ultimately be counted. Early in the year, Florida and Michigan legislatures pushed their primaries forward to mid-January, in direct contravention of Democratic Party rules, and were as a result stripped of their delegates. The problem here, for Hillary, is not only that both states are large in stature and delegate number, but also that she posted fairly large (and now, seemingly meaningless) victories in both states (although it should be noted that Obama’s name did not even appear on the ballots in Michigan). As it appears today, the decision regarding both states will stand and therefore their

delegates will not count, hurting Hillary indefinitely. Facing all of this uncertainty and improbability, how should Hillary handle herself? According to the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza, Hillary must keep the remaining undecided superdelegates from jumping ship and siding with Obama by convincing them that

with more time, her campaign can fairly make its case against Obama, and she can most strongly do this by stressing and pushing the message of national security with more insistence (as with her “3 a.m. phone call” advertisement). Cillizza argues that Clinton must not only “freeze the super-delegates,” but must settle on the image of “Clinton as a Fighter” to try and sway undecided voters. Of course, for any of this to prove meaningful, both Florida and Michigan must count. For if they do, Hillary might see her first chance of late to seriously cut into Obama’s striking lead in total delegates.

The Brunswick Chronicle

Student Editorials Page 12

Congress Holds Steroid HearingsBy Scott MatthewsCo-Editor-In-Chief

It’s no secret that the major American sports are facing a crisis of integrity. A multitude of serious

let downs include steroids in the MLB, corrupt referees in the NBA, “spygate” in the NFL, and a lockout in the NHL. Despite all-time high attendance records in the MLB and one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent history, the world of sports has been tarnished. Furthermore, Congressional over-reaching seems to have become an issue as well. With scores of Congressmen and Senators calling for hearings and Department of Justice investigations, the major leagues have been hurt and Congress has an all-time low approval rating in the high 20s. Steroids have been an issue in baseball since the 1990s. In March 2005, Congress held its first round of steroid hearings, specifically looking into past use with hopes “to confront [baseball’s] past and rethink its future.” The hearings were a result of the home run races that resulted in extraordinary numbers being posted by Mark McGwire and Barry Bonds. With the country captivated by the story and the extraordinary performance of these athletes, steroids became the center of mainstream discussion. The House Government Oversight Committee could not resist jumping in.

Chairman Tom Davis III (R-Virginia) led a nationally televised interrogation of seven players including Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Jason Giambi, Rafael Palmeiro, Curt Schilling, Sammy Sosa, and Frank Thomas. The committee also interrogated top MLB executives including Bud Selig (Commissioner of Baseball). The hearing was beneficial in that it helped the MLB expedite the process of revising its drug policy to become stricter, imposing game suspensions, and large fines for multiple offenses. Throughout the 2005 baseball season, the situation calmed down. The new drug policy stemmed the tide of harsh criticism from the media and the debate quieted.

However, the quiet ended in late 2007. The MLB had commissioned a report on steroids that was to be led by former Maine Senator and part owner of the Boston Red Sox, George Mitchell. The 311 page report was developed over a 20 month span and released on December 13, 2007. It named and provided evidence against 89 players including Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte, Miguel Tejada, Eric Gagne, Paul Lo Duca,

and Barry Bonds. The report also included 19 different solutions for the MLB to consider in order to curb performance-enhancing drug use. Congress wasted no time, immediately jumping into an extremely volatile situation. Said Congressman Chris Shays (R-Connecticut), “The Mitchell Report shows how pervasive a problem performance enhancing drugs have

been in Major League Baseball, the common sense recommendations the report has laid out should be enacted as soon as possible. I am looking forward to seeing how seriously they take this issue and how quickly they will implement these and other reforms.” A second round of MLB hearings were thus held on February 13, 2008. The all day hearing, again nationally televised, focused on

baseball hero Roger Clemens and his one-time strength and conditioning trainer, BrianMcNamee, whose stories about Clemens were diametrically opposed. Since Clemens and McNamee’s stories openly contradict each other, one of them lied under oath, a federal crime punishable with serious prison time. Clemens’ name was in jeopardyand people across the U.S. were left wondering who was lying. Doesn’t the House Government Oversight Committee have something better or at least more substantial to investigate? It seems to me that they wasted all of our – and their – valuable time holding a purely

cosmetic hearing that did not turn up any new information. Even Chairman Henry Waxman has publicly said that he thinks holding the hearings was a mistake. Still, the damage is done and people across America have been left uncertain if a revered and dominant pitcher is a fraud. Moreover, the congressmen and women involved in the hearings

shirked their more important congressional duties. Congressman Waxman’s webpage, for example, talks about his involvement in health and environmental issues. The opening paragraph says, “Rep. Waxman has been a leader on …universal health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, tobacco, AIDS, air and water quality standards, pesticides, nursing home quality standards, women’s

health research and reproductive rights, the availability and cost of prescription drugs, and the right of communities to know about pollution levels.” However, by focusing so much of his attention on Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee, the congressman has not been upholding his duties either to the people of California’s 30th district or to the citizens of the US who are suffering because of the issues he brags about advocating.

So when Congressman Waxman sent an 18 page memorandum to all 41 members of his committee saying he now wanted to investigate whether Roger Clemens committed

perjury and make knowingly false statement during the committee’s investigation, I had hope that Attorney General Mukasey would throw the letter out. Now, not only is Congressman Waxman wasting his time and his committee’s time, but he is also involving the Department of Justice and wasting their time. It is irrelevant and totally unnecessary for the Congressman to be making such

a big issue over Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee when compared to the bigger issues at hand in the federal government today. Still, it’s not just Congressman Waxman and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform that couldn’t help themselves from jumping into the realm of professional sports. After the New England Patriots were caught filming signs during week 2 of the 2007-2008 NFL football season, Senator Arlen Specter has mentioned that he wants to hold hearings into

the NFL - just because he is a fan. I suppose being a Senator gives him the power to subpoena whomever he likes and to hold an investigation, but being a fan disappointed with the game is definitely not enough reason for a Senator to investigate the NFL on the taxpayer’s dime. Furthermore, Senator Specter sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee; he is a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. So where does he get the power to investigate the NFL? It simply does not fall under his purview and is not what he was sent to Washington D.C. to do. Overall, it seems to me that some of our representatives in Congress have let us down. I’m fine with them investigating the MLB, NFL, NBA, etc., but I have a message for them. Please do that after you have ensured that every American has healthcare, after you have ensured a prosperous and growing economy and after you have solved America’s foreign policy issues. Then, and only then, will our government officials be free to do as they please. It seems that our representatives have forgotten that they were sent to Washington D.C. to actually govern, to serve the people’s interests. It seems that nothing is getting done in our nation’s capital. Washington has become a place “where good ideas go to die.” I don’t know about you, maybe I’m wrong, but I’d like our representatives to do great things for our country and not waste time with hearings into professional sports.

May 2008