the Pebble Spring 2017

the Pebble
Spring 2017
Color Kerfuffle
The Don-asty
Kendama King
advice
• culture • food • issues • spotlight

Spring 2017
Issue 3
Journalism Staff
2
editor-in-chief Jeongyoon Han
assistant editor Suzannah Peckham
editorial assistants Gavin Cardamone
Daniel Mezzalingua
staff designers Chris Hunter
Sam Goldman
Nathan Sonnenfeld
Daniel Braverman
staff photographers Sam Goldman
Chris Hunter
Daniel Mezzalingua
Nathan Sonnenfeld
staff writers
Daniel Braverman
Gavin Cardamone
Sam Goldman
Jeongyoon Han
Chris Hunter
Maddy Mafrici
Daniel Mezzalingua
Zach Montas
Nathan Sonnenfeld
Suzannah Peckham
Jacob Roy
contributors Maja Cannavo/ copy editor
Lily Grenis/ copy editor
and writer
creative director Chris Hunter
assistant creative director Sam Goldman
web design Nathan Sonnenfeld
advisor Jeanne Albanese
On thepebblemag.com
(scan QR code to the right or visit)
Original stories
“Go, Johnny, Go” by Gavin Cardamone
“Hear Our Voices” by Maddy Mafrici
Additional content on food, culture and
Competing Colors
Front and back cover
photo and graphic credit: Chris
Hunter & Sam Goldman
Model: Zach Montas

Manlius Pebble Hill School
5300 Jamesville Road
Syracuse, NY 13214-2499
Phone (315) 446-2452
thepebblemag@gmail.com
thepebblemag.com
Departments
letter from the editor
by the numbers
spotlight
ask an alum
advice
selfie
culture
interactive
fashion
food
seen at school
issues
big picture
Don Ridall: The Big 4-2
By Sam Goldman
Reflections on a storied
career page 18
Competing Colors
By Jeongyoon Han
MPH unveils a new logo
and colors page 24
Kendama King
By Daniel Braverman
Teen turns hobby into
business page 32
Our mission statement...
The mission of the Pebble is to create compelling
and accurate content for the MPH community. It is
published twice a year by the students of Journalism
Workshop.
spring 2017 | 3

The most frequently mentioned
president in 2017—besides the current
commander in chief—is probably
Obama, or, more to my point, Nixon, because
the president’s war with the press seems
to be going down the same slippery slope we
took 40 years ago. The political showdown on
Capitol Hill and attacks on journalists during
Watergate appear strikingly similar to current
events.
While the likely indefinite drama with
JH
the media will continue to give the staff on
the Pebble much to discuss, budding journalists
such as myself are now posed with an
unforeseen challenge. Never before has the
First Amendment been so under fire.
Censorship is a legitimate fear for many
reporters in the U.S. and an issue high-school
journalists also grapple with. As a private
school, MPH doesn’t have to allow for a
free-student press. But it does anyway.
My story about the confusion and concern
of some members of the MPH community
regarding the new colors and logo is a
perfect example of the school embracing our
right to free speech.
Given mass interest in the new colors, it
seemed logical to pursue, yet I was hesitant
that some people had negative views on this
topic. Interviews were awkward at times, as
some MPH community members felt uncomfortable
openly criticizing the school that
they love. I felt the same way, not only due to
my strong sense of loyalty to MPH, but also
because I feared what people would think
of me as the author of a piece that questions
something meant to help our school.
The reporting process is always taxing,
but with such an important topic, I needed to
triple the work a typical story requires. After
more than 30 interviews were conducted,
I submitted at least five drafts of the story
with more than 30 pages of writing in total,
created and conducted a student survey and
reviewed all facts and quotes for accuracy.
As tedious as it can be at times, all in all,
the journalistic process is crucial for us to
deliver the best stories to you. We, the Pebble
staff, strive to fulfill our recently established
mission statement: to create compelling and
accurate content for the MPH community.
With the power of free speech comes
letter from the editor
a greater duty for us to stick to our highest
standards of reporting.
If successfully implemented, journalism
has the power to spread new ideas; if not, the
impact can be extremely harmful. Similarly,
MPH has always been a place for its students
to do whatever inspires and compels them
(with some good, justified limitations) and to
express themselves without judgment or fear
of ridicule. A breeding ground for creativity
and openness, our entire school has thrived
because of this spirit, the Pebble included.
That we have so many unique and
thought-provoking story ideas is a reflection
of who we are as MPH students: members of
a student body that never settles for conformity.
We seize all opportunities to showcase
that, and as a student journalist who has
spent four years on The Rolling Stone and the
Pebble staff, I’m thankful to have been able to
contribute to this spirit of self-expression.
As I prepare to leave for college, I have
yet to accept the fact that I will have to part
ways with the funny, smart and inspiring staff
of the Pebble. But I’m also eager to see how
the Pebble will continue to reinvent itself.
With our website launch and a surge
of new journalistic talent in our staff, I see
countless paths that the Pebble can take. I
can’t wait to see which one it chooses.
4

By Gavin Cardamone
Lockers within
the school
Daily income of campus
shop: $100.69
Sheets of paper
MPH buys per
year: 1,750,000
Solar panels on the
rooftops of MPH: 117
Daily
average number
of reminders to
take attendance:
11.6
Graphic by Sam Goldman
58
Visual Art awards
won by MPH
Hours Mrs. Meehan spends
grading per week: 20 + 10 on
lesson planning = 30 hours
spring 2017 | 5

spotlight
Josh Clardy
Age: 12 years old
Grade: 6
Hobbies:
Kendama, instruments,
If he were an animal he
would be: Charizard (A
Pokemon)
Role Model: Grandfather
Why: They share common
ground, and they
are very alike.
Career Ambition: Chemist
Why: “I want to follow in
my grandpa’s footsteps.”
If he were an (actual)
animal he would be: A
wolf
Favorite Books: “Robinson
Crusoe”
by Daniel Defoe; “My
Side of the Mountain” by
Jean Craighead George
Description of Himself in
One Word: Energetic
6

Just Josh
Josh Clardy brightens each day with his unique talents
By Daniel Mezzalingua
Josh Clardy walks into the Upper School
Student Lounge with his favorite deck of
cards, which he carries everywhere. He holds
the golden cards out on the palm of his hand.
Seniors huddle around the 4-foot-5 inch
middle-schooler, and he is soon surrounded
by the towering students.
A senior is instructed to pick a card, any
card, from the deck. Josh places the card
back in the deck and shuffles. He removes a
random card and puts it in the senior’s hand.
The students gaze at Josh’s hand hovering
over the card as he waves his hand in a circle
and snaps. Then Josh tells the upperclassman
to flip the card over, and it’s the card that was
first selected. The students’ eyes widen as
they look at each other; then they laugh.
Josh often lights up the days of students
and faculty, especially Upper Schoolers feeling
the hectic rush of the day.
“When I was young, I always felt disconnected
[from] the older kids, but Josh just
thinks of himself as one of them,” said senior
Annie Weiss.
Josh, 12, is in sixth grade. This is his
first year attending MPH; however, Josh
has participated in the MPH summer camp
programs since he was 9 years old. He’s an
energetic, kind-hearted boy who always
looks forward to learning more about people.
Josh also enjoys science, performing magic,
playing with his kendama and Pokémon
cards, and playing instruments during his
free time.
Josh loves magic and practices it for
about 10 to 15 minutes a day. He’ll show his
tricks to just about anybody, and there are
few people he won’t approach. Josh’s favorite
part about magic is the reaction he gets from
people.
“Making them feel happy makes me feel
happy,” he said.
Magic isn’t the only thing Josh likes to
share. He also enjoys showing people flips
Graphic by Sam Goldman
on his kendama and playing melodies on the
banjo, guitar and drums.
“My favorite part about Josh is how
outgoing he is,” said Josh’s 15-year-old sister
Emma. “He will talk to anyone.”
Matt Vural, a chemistry teacher at MPH
who has known Josh since he was a baby,
agrees.
“He wants to meet people,” Vural said.
“He wants to see what makes them tick.”
Vural also admires Josh’s ability to find
and learn about new hobbies.
“He’s motivated to pick things up,” Vural
said.
Josh loves sharing his interests and always
looks to try new things.
“I think what I admire most about Josh
is that he is not letting himself be defined by
one thing,” said his father Ben.
Another passion Josh has is science, particularly
chemistry. Josh practices his passion
with his grandfather, Jon Clardy, a biochemist
at Harvard Medical School. Clardy supplies
his grandson with science equipment
and works with him on experiments.
“[His grandfather] does not see it as cute
but as a real interest, one that matters and
has to be taken seriously,” Ben Clardy said.
Josh visits Vural in his room every day.
He examines the lab equipment and asks him
questions. Vural appreciates Josh’s determination
to ask questions, which most kids his
age wouldn’t do.
“It’s unusual,” Vural said. “A lot of kids
wouldn’t have that kind of self-confidence.”
The 12-year-old’s love for many hobbies
prevents him from being defined by one
thing. He sees everyone as kind and is willing
to talk with anyone. Josh’s father describes
his son in one word.
“We always define Josh as Josh,” Ben
Clardy said. “That is who he is. Josh is Josh.”
spring 2017 | 7

ask an alum
From MPH to Center Stage
MPH alumna Katie Swimm shines in and out of the spotlight
By Gavin Cardamone
Alum Résumé
Katie Swimm, Class of 2002
Education: B.F.A. in Theatre Studies, B.A. in English from Niagara University (2006); M.A.
in Literature from Northwestern University (2012); current Ph.D. Candidate in Theatre and
Performance Studies at Tufts University. She is currently writing her dissertation, “Theatre of
the Mind: Towards A Dialogue between Mental Health and Theatrical Practice in 19th-Century
Britain.” Her work examines performances of madness in the broader context of nineteenth-century
medical discourse. She was a fellow at the Tufts Graduate Institute for Teaching
and a Graduate Assistant at Tufts University.
Career: Swimm works as a Graduate Writing and Public Speaking consultant for the Academic
Resource Center at Tufts. She has taught courses in acting at Tufts and public speaking at
Dean College. She teaches The History of Mental Illness on Stage and Screen at the Tufts Experimental
College and a course in Performance Studies at Dean College. Swimm also works
as an actor and director in the Boston area.
Resides In: Jamaica Plain, Mass.
Photo courtesy of Katie Swimm
8

Q: What are your job responsibilities?
A: Teaching about theater and performance in 2017 means a lot of different things. My career
has a lot of different components to it, which I like. I teach theater and performance history,
and I get to educate young college students about how our world is represented on stages and
in films. I do a lot of talking and thinking about how culture represents society, which is sometimes
positive and sometimes needs to be questioned. When I’m not teaching, I also coach
students on their writing and public speaking, helping them gain confidence around those
skills.
Q: What is the hardest part about your job?
A: The hardest (but best) part of my job is making sure all of my students get the individual
attention they need to be the best they can be.
Q: To what do you attribute your success?
A: I attribute my success to all the great teachers I’ve had in all the years I’ve been in school.
That includes teachers at MPH!
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I’m most proud of moments when I see students who have been struggling with something
succeed because of work we’ve done in my classroom or in my rehearsals.
Q: What did you want to be when you were in high school?
A: When I was in high school, I really wanted to be a professional actor, and teachers like
Laura Jordan, Annmarie Gregory, Michele Koziara, Mike Copps, Ted Curtis, Delia Temes and
Diane Cook all helped me pursue those dreams. But they also made me really curious about
other things, too—literature, history, great books and good writing. They encouraged me to
learn a lot about many different things and reminded me that there wasn’t a “right” path to
take. Because of that, while I still perform, I do a lot of other fun things too.
Q: Have you seen yourself change a lot since then?
A: That’s hard to say, because it’s been a long time! I imagine I’ve changed a lot — living in
three different major cities, having a lot of different jobs, and completing three college degrees
does that to you—but I still am pretty curious and love learning and doing new things.
Q: How did MPH contribute to your success?
A: For this, I’ll refer you to my previous answer: I attribute my success to [MPH teachers who]
helped me pursue [my] dreams.
Q: What advice do you have for MPH students?
A: Don’t limit yourself to being JUST ONE thing or having JUST ONE career. Explore as
many different avenues as you can. My life has taken some unexpected paths, and I’m better
for it, so don’t be afraid of learning something new.
spring 2017 | 9

It ain’t easy being greasy
Q: School has me stressed out, and
I find myself eating more fast food;
how do I deal with my fast food
addiction?
advice
A. Great question, me; addiction, in general,
is not something to joke about. Teens
are easily susceptible to succumb to the joys
of eating fast food, especially after participating
in many after-school activities, such as
sports, musical practice and jobs.
Temptations from different restaurants
— like hot chocolate from Dunkin’ Donuts,
fries from McDonald’s, burritos from Chipotle,
and the wax pumpkins at JoAnn Fabrics
— make students crave bad food. Here are
some ways to quit your fast-food addiction.
Here’s the situation: you’re hanging out
with your friends and they say something
along the lines of “Let’s go to Panera!” and
you say, “Leave me alone; I’m in the bathroom,”
and they say, “OK, but we’re going to
Moe’s after you’re done.” So now you’re stuck
going to a restaurant with unhealthy choices
and tempting desserts.
Here are a few tricks to help manage that.
Blindfolds. If you can’t see the food, how
can you pick out something to buy? Companies
sell so many of their desserts due to the
heavenly look of their chocolatey foods.
Now some of you may be saying, “But
Chris, I’ll look like a fool with a blindfold
on in the restaurant.” On the contrary, you’ll
have the last laugh in 10 years, when your
friends are morbidly obese and you’re lost in
Moe’s because you forgot to take the blindfold
off. Sometimes people forget to put the
blindfold on before they go into the store;
in order to combat this, apply the blindfold
before you drive there. Your friends will be
impressed with your confidence in your ability
to drive with only four senses.
If a blindfold is too “chic” for you, then I
highly recommend the foolproof “tying your
hands behind your back” method. Without
the ability to pull cash out of your wallet, the
Graphic and story by Chris Hunter
restaurant is forced either to give you the
food for free or call the cops on you. Either
way, you’re making progress toward breaking
your fast-food habit.
For the ultimate fast-food-habit-breaking
combo, combine both of my tactics — blindfold
and bound hands — for what I like to
call “Kidnap for a Big Mac.” Sit in the back of
your car in the parking lot while your friends
get their food. That way, when your friends
are arrested moments later, you will be too
stressed out to buy any food!
But here’s some real advice. Exercise is
key for a healthy lifestyle. You may be less
likely to indulge in bad food if you’re keeping
your body healthy with exercise.
Also, keep in mind that most healthy
eating is done in the kitchen — your own.
It’s very tempting and easy to go to Chipotle
after school, thinking that you should reward
yourself with fast food after a hard day’s
work. But stay strong and eat dinner at home.
Once you’re able to resist getting fast
food once or twice, it gets easier. Soon, you’ll
be able to turn down fast food easily, and the
path to healthier eating begins.
10

selfie
Food-court frenzy in China leads to cross-cultural connections and enduring memories
By Zach Montas
Before I departed for China on
the Model United Nations trip in
March, many people told me many
times that I would get sick from the food. I
never got sick. In fact, the food became one
of my favorite parts of the trip. These mundane
stories often go untold compared to
those about sightseeing or shopping, but they
often make for the best memories. Here are
stories of three meals from the other side of
the planet.
The first meal we had (not counting the
gross plane food) was in a food court on the
top floor of the mall across from our hotel.
Just getting there was an adventure, from
being exhausted after waking up at 3 a.m.
the day before and sleeping only on a plane
to weaving our way through the nonstop
torrent of cars on the street to searching
floor by floor until we found somewhere to
eat. By the fifth floor, our 6,000-mile jaunt to
authentic Chinese restaurants was complete.
I wandered around until I found a noodle
shop that smelled good. Armed with my
limited knowledge of Chinese, (that “thank
you” is “xièxiè”, and “Běijīng” means “Northern
Capital”) I attempted to order.
Those next five minutes were a mess.
I pointed to a prepared dish sitting on the
counter. The cashier pointed to the menu, indicating
the meal was 19 yuan (Chinese currency;
1 USD = 6.65 yuan.) So far, so good.
I pulled out 100 yuan, and the guy gave me
a look and shook his head. I was confused.
Maybe he thought the money was counterfeit,
so I pulled out a different bill. Now he
was laughing, shaking his head and pointing
towards the exit. His coworker came over
and made a rectangle shape with his hands.
I was about to leave but Jeongyoon,
keen observer that she is, walked by and
said they wanted me to pay through my
phone. I thought, “Of course! Apple Pay.
The future is here, in China.” I handed him
my phone; they laughed to each other and
gave it back. Eventually, after much fruitless
gesturing back and forth, he took my money
Photo taken by Zach Montas
and walked away. I was worried I had been
robbed, but he returned with change, and I
got my food.
Ultimately, the food was just OK, but
ordering it was unforgettable. I later learned
that upon entering the food court I was supposed
to purchase a card to use to pay at each
shop. Since the signs were in Chinese, I had
overlooked this. It was the first experience to
really make me feel like we were out of our
natural environment. At least that cashier
was kind enough to help out an ignorant
American.
This second meal is one I had again and
again once I found it. It was our fifth day, and
we were getting lunch at a different mall food
court across the street from a fancy hotel.
I was running low on money, so I wanted
the cheapest thing I could find. This mall,
however, was expensive. Gucci, Chanel, SLP,
and other high-end fashion stores filled the
first floor.
In the food court I saw a shop where
staff were quickly churning out wraps. The
cook stood behind glass, cracking eggs onto
a spinner that fried them into a crêpe-like
flatbread, then filling them with chicken,
vegetables and sauces and rolling them into
wraps. At the same time, a bunch of other
employees ran around behind him doing
stuff I could never figure out. The menu
(cont. on page 35)
(selfie cont. from p. 11) showed something
spring 2017 | 11

culture
By Suzannah Peckham
Summer’s around the corner, and that means lots of free time to read. Whether you’re addicted
to reading and it’s part of your everyday schedule or you have to plow through some books for
next year’s classes, books are key. MPH teachers and staff members shared their top recommendations
for summer reading.
Mr. Preston,
ELL Instructor
Recommendation:
“The Endurance”
by Caroline Alexander
Sra. Medina-Dooher,
Spanish Teacher
Recommendation: “Cien Años
de Soledad” (“One Hundred
Years of Solitude”) by Gabriel
García Marquéz
“It’s the gripping true story—with astonishing
photographs by the National Geographic
photographer who went along on the voyage—of
Shackleton’s Antarctic mission that became
icebound. It’s one of the great stories of human
survival. The author, (who alternates her prose
with diary entries of the explorers), transports
you a century back in time and a world away,
making it all astonishingly vivid.”
Mr. Gregory,
Physics Teacher
“I love the magical realism genre. It’s fascinating
how the author makes you an active reader of
his work. It is a story with twists and turns in
the plot. I like the novel because it isn’t easy to
predict or foreshadow. It’s where a dream and
reality are one and you don’t know anymore if it
is a dream or reality. Some aspects of the book
are almost mythological.”
Ms. Strickland,
School Psychologist
Recommendation: “Good
Omens” by Terry Pratchett &
Neil Gaiman
Recommendation:
“Serena” by Ron Rash
12
“It’s a comedic take on ‘The Omen.’ Supernatural
beings tasked with bringing about the Apocalypse
discover that they rather like the Earth the
way it is. It’s dark and hilarious.”
“I love the strong female figure she presents, but
I also abhor the way she goes off the deep end;
think gender role reversal with similar tactics to
MacBeth.”
Find more teacher recommendations
on thepebblemag.com

interactive
Spot the Difference
Spot the 10 differences between the two pictures!
Photos by Sam Goldman
Differences referenced from top picture: “J Non-Fiction” / Bushes on model / Title on book “Romans” / “Children’s Corner” /
clock on left / fire alarm on red wall / extra balloons / extra flower books / dinosaur / Small light beam
spring 2017 | 13

fashion
MPH freshman finds his place in a
booming fashion resale market
By Jacob Roy
Aaron Lesch, a freshman and fashion
enthusiast, takes out his phone
five minutes before chemistry
class is officially over. Mr. Vural has already
dismissed the class. As the room fills with
chatter about plans for the weekend, Lesch
looks at several offers he has received to buy
the Supreme hats that he has just purchased
online. By the end of the day, he sells the hats
after receiving five offers.
Lesch is a proud reseller of clothes and
sneakers and has practiced his craft time and
time again. He is a part of the ever-growing
fashion reselling business that was estimated
to be worth more than $1 billion in 2014
according to Stock X, a reselling website.
People who spend every paycheck (or all of
their allowance) on shoes, (often affectionately
known as sneakerheads), will do almost
anything to get that “one” pair of shoes. This
is where the reseller comes in; they see how
much a pair of sneakers are really worth to
someone and usually make a nice profit off
14
Photo by Sam Goldman
Freshman Aaron Lesch owns over 60 pairs of sneakers including the Bred V2s and the Crepe boots.
this.
Even though Lesch is a reseller and his
main goal is to make money, he also wants to
build his customer base.
“I want to make money, but I don’t want
to be completely ripping someone off,” he
said.
However, not all resellers live by these
same principles, which has caused controversy
within the sneaker and fashion community.
There are companies such as Flight Club
that resell many coveted shoes, and while the
sneakers they sell are legitimate, this company
usually resells the shoes for insanely high
prices when compared to their retail values.
At the same time, there are also individual
resellers who have resold fakes, claiming
them to be real. For example, James Pepion,
who made more than $2.6 million from reselling
sneakers, was investigated by the IRS
and Department of Homeland Security after
being accused of selling fakes that he claimed
were real.

Throughout the fairly short history of
reselling, the role of the reseller has changed
and resellers have been questioned about
their role within the sneaker community.
If the idea that a person can buy a pair of
shoes for the retail price and then sometimes
resell them for double or triple the initial
price is not controversial enough, many
resellers (including Lesch) have started to use
programs, or “bots” that put items in a cart
nearly instantaneously when the item releases.
The average consumer who goes online
and purchases the same item has almost no
chance against the person using the bot.
“You have to do what you have to do,”
Lesch said. “We’re not picking out what price
we want to
sell them
for; it’s
only what
the consumer
will
buy them
for.”
The
consumer
is often
forced to
purchase
rare or
hyped
shoes or
clothing
from a reseller due to the use of bots. There
are really two options if a consumer doesn’t
want to go to a reseller. The first option is to
wait for hours in front of a store that has the
shoes or clothing, and the second option is to
sit around with their eyes glued to the computer
screen in hopes of manually ordering
the items online, which is almost impossible,
as resellers can often get multiple pairs of
sneakers or clothing items.
“I think it’s ridiculous. I think it’s more
of a reflection on the actual market itself because
they’re able to take total advantage of—
[for] the most part—pretty ignorant buyers,”
said John Bierut, a loyal customer of Aaron
Lesch, sneakerhead and MPH graduate.
On the other hand, Lesch said resellers
help the market.
“Without resellers there would be no
hype,” he said. “I think resellers help divide
and change the community.”
In many cases, these resellers are also
passionate sneakerheads and use their own
money from their resell deals to get the shoes
that they want. The most successful resellers
are the most organized and most informed
as well. Some resellers have argued that part
of the money that they make from reselling
pays for the amount of time they’ve spent on
researching, planning and marketing.
Lesch will spend hours scrolling through
social media such as Instagram and Twitter
and will talk to his reseller friends in order
to make the most educated decision prior
to buying a pair of shoes or clothing item to
resell. The business
is also very
risky, and it’s
extremely hard
to predict if a
pair of sneakers
will be easy to
resell.
“There are
shoes that just
randomly sell
out,” Lesch said.
“Like the Master
12s from last
year… I wasn’t
Photo from http://www.supremenewyork.com/shop even thinking
about purchasing
[them], and then I heard [they] sold out,
and I was like ‘What?’”
Overall, the tricky business of reselling
is not going away. As long as Supreme keeps
dropping anything with its logo on it (literally
anything) and Adidas keeps dropping its
iconic Yeezy sneakers, resellers have nothing
to worry about.
“It’s something that we’re all going to
have to deal with,” Bierut said. “It’s just that
you have to find yourself someone that actually
isn’t going to rip you off.”
Lesch will continue to sit on his computer
every week to program his bot. His
customers will continue to go to him for
the shoes, hats and T-shirts that they didn’t
spend as much time or effort on getting, but
will pay more money to buy.
spring 2017 | 15

¡Comida Deliciosa!
Tres recetas mexicanas sabrosas para cocinar
food
Story and photos by Nathan Sonnenfeld
When I was 12, I visited my brother in California. We went to dinner
at a taqueria called Tacolicious. I was struck by the authenticity of this
restaurant compared to the Tex-Mex restaurants I was used to in
Central New York. I ordered a glass of horchata, a Mexican rice
drink with strong cinnamon and vanilla flavors, and a
plate of Baja-style fish tacos.
For my birthday a few months later,
my brother sent me a cookbook from
Tacolicious filled with delectable
recipes from the popular taqueria.
It was not long before fish
tacos, horchata and gazpacho
(although not from this
restaurant, a family favorite)
was a common meal in my
house.
Although we maintain
the majority of the original
fish taco recipe, we make
three frequent alterations.
We sometimes grill the fish
instead of frying it to make the
meal lighter. Secondly, my father
loves to crush chipotle peppers
in adobo sauce and combine it with
sour cream to create a creamy, spicy
topping. Lastly, we add guacamole,
because everything’s better with
guacamole.
And one thing I learned from this
taqueria is that real tacos do not have cheese in them.
Ever.
Above: Baja-Style fish tacos prepared
by Nathan Sonnenfeld. To make the
horchata (left) or gazpacho (right), visit
thepebblemag.com.
16

Baja-Style Fish Tacos
Time: 30 - 45 minutes
Servings: about 12 tacos; serves 4 to 6
1 ¼ lbs cod or similar fish, cut into
taco-sized strips
1 tablespoon kosher salt
Vegetable oil for deep frying
1 ¼ cups plus 3 tablespoons flour
3 ¼ teaspoons baking powder
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1 (12 ounce) can light-bodied beer
Corn tortillas
3 cups shredded green or purple cabbage
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
12 lime wedges
Salsa
Instructions:
Sprinkle salt on both sides of the fish.
Pour 1½ inches of oil into a deep, heavy pot
and heat oil to 350ºF.
Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
Make the batter while the oil heats. Stir
together flour, baking powder and salt.
Gradually add the beer and stir until
smooth.
To cook the fish, work in batches so
as not to crowd the pieces in the oil.
Using tongs, dip each piece into the
batter, let the excess drain off, and
carefully submerge it in the oil. Fry
for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown
and cooked through. Transfer the fish to
the baking sheet and season with salt.
Preheat a cast-iron pan to medium and
lightly oil it. When warm, add a corn tortilla.
Flip once it is soft and you can smell the corn;
maybe 30 seconds. Repeat with remaining tortillas.
Serve fish with the tortillas,
cabbage, cilantro, lime and salsa.
Recipe adapted from “Tacolicious,” by Sara Deseran
spring 2017 | 17

The
features
Don-asty
A reflection on Mr. Ridall’s 42 years at MPH
By Sam Goldman
The clock hits 11:05 a.m. Students
flush out of their classrooms, trudging
through the hallway on their
way to tutorial. In an attempt to soak up every
last minute of free time, some instead pile into
Don Ridall’s office to enjoy a few minutes of
laughter, counselor-level advice or the occasional
excerpt from his extensive collection of
anecdotes. The chatter echoes throughout the
main lobby.
Many minutes pass before students
realize they have an important test or essay
they could be preparing for. When they leave,
Ridall often delivers one last piece of advice, a
joke, or something for students to
ponder. No matter how stressed
they are, they’re more likely than
not to leave his office with smiles
on their faces. It’s been this way
for 42 years. In that time,
Ridall, 63, has grown to be
more to the MPH community
than gym teacher,
coach and athletic director.
He’s become MPH’s
dad.
“Mr. Ridall is a good
person to talk to, and
whenever I have problems
I just go into his
office and hang out with
him during tutorial,”
said Brittany
Grund, who
transferred
Photos courtesy of MPH
to MPH this year. “I’m very close to him even
though I’ve never had him as a teacher, which
I think tells a lot about him as a person.”
Some even say he is MPH.
“Mr. Ridall means everything that MPH
embodies,” said senior Lizzie Mafrici.
Sophomore Ronaldo Chen, a soccer player
and international student from China, can
be found in Ridall’s office every day—in fact,
many times a day.
“He plays a role of a father in America,
since my parents aren’t here,” said Chen, who
is in his first year at MPH.
As the longest-serving faculty member at
MPH, Ridall knows a little more than the average
student about the history of the school
and its students. Since 1976, he has taught and
coached thousands of students while winning
555 games as the boys varsity soccer coach.
His victories rank him second in all-time wins
among Section III coaches.
He has coached MPH to 39 sectional tournaments,
six sectional titles, four regional
titles, one state runner-up finish and
two state championships. He’s
been awarded Coach of the
Year honors eight times in
Section III, three times in
New York state and once
nationally.
He is well-respected
by the local soccer community.
“He is an excellent
tactical coach and has
18

always gotten the most out of his players,”
said long-time Christian Brothers Academy
Athletic Director John “Buddy” Wleklinski,
who has known Ridall for 30 years. “As
athletic director he has earned the respect of
his colleagues. He has demonstrated tremendous
passion for his chosen profession, so it is
easy to see why he has had such a successful
career. I would like to think that MPH really
appreciates all that he has done over the years.
I would assume that he has left some very big
shoes to fill.”
At the beginning of the school year, Ridall
began to transition out of his role of athletic
director. While he will continue to teach,
coach and chair the Physical Education Department,
he will also work with the Advancement
Office in alumni relations.
Jim Ryan, the new athletic director, said
an employee like Ridall is rare.
“You can kind of draw a comparison ...
in a lot of ways to Jim Boeheim at Syracuse
University,” Ryan said. “You’re not going to
get somebody to stay at a corporation or an
organization for 30 or more years anymore.
Most people will go and work someplace for
five or 10 years; that’s kind of the nature of the
professional workplace now ... It’s very rare to
interact with somebody who’s been here for so
long. He’s created a lot of great memories for a
lot of students and student-athletes.
“You never want to be the the guy who
replaces the legend.”
And alumni describe him as just that: legendary.
They also used words like passionate,
competitive, loyal, dedicated and motivating.
Former soccer player and 1980 MPH
graduate Mark Egan said that Ridall
instilled in him confidence,
direction
and purpose
that
allowed
him to
grow into
the person
he is today.
“Plain
and simple,
Don believed
in me,” Egan said
in an email. “He
was/is a true life
coach in every sense of the word. At the time,
he may not have known it, and I surely didn’t,
but his winning attitude, work ethic, positive
outlook and ... [stay-the-course] mentality ...
helped me become a believer. He made me
want to be a better person, player, teammate,
[student-athlete] and classmate.”
While Ridall’s office door is open to all,
there’s a special spot in his heart for his soccer
players, and he’s known for delivering inspiring
speeches to them, pushing them to the
next level on the field and off.
“He preaches and instills qualities like
leadership, dedication, discipline and accountability
into his team each year,” said former
player and 2016 graduate Joey Cerio. “As a
result I find myself projecting these attributes
[into] both my athletic and academic life
every single day, and I am confident that they
will remain with me forever.”
Ridall knows how to inspire a soccer
team: he’s been doing it since he served as a
captain to his high-school and college soccer
teams up to coaching present-day. Although
his methods are sometimes outside the norm,
it seems like he’s been around long enough to
know how to work the kinks out of his players.
This past fall, he inspired his team by
digging a hole symbolic of the losing streak
the team had. Ridall urged the team to fill the
hole and turn the season around. And they
did: with each win, they scooped a shovel full
of dirt into the hole, ultimately leading them
to qualify for sectionals.
Another instance of Ridall’s interesting
coaching methods was when a
past team was very talented,
yet had issues with certain
individuals’ egos. He had
players write
their names
on pieces of
paper and
then toss
them into a fire
where they “burned
their egos.” The team
went on to have a
successful season
after that.
Luke McKenney,
who played for Ridall
in the 1980s, recalls
spring 2017 | 19

Photo courtesy of MPH
Mr. Ridall yells instructions at the traditional Red and White Day egg toss.
playing varsity as a freshman. He said he
liked hanging out near the goal to talk to the
seniors, even after Ridall would call him to
midfield. One day, Ridall kicked a ball that
took one bounce and hit McKenney in the gut.
“Trust me, I never hung around the seniors
after that one,” McKenney said.
When Ridall speaks, there’s no fact-checking
to be done, no questioning his methods.
His experience, past and successful record
are enough evidence for anyone. Ridall often
speaks of the brotherhood of his soccer
players, telling them they have brothers they
haven’t met yet.
Last fall, when the soccer team went to
Tully’s to celebrate their sectional-qualifier
win, they ran into Eric Spevak, a member of
Ridall’s first MPH team. Spevak offered wisdom
to the players and congratulated them on
bringing the program back to its standard of
making sectionals.
But long-time assistant coach Tony Venezia
and others said that for Ridall, it’s about
more than just winning.
“He puts the well-being of his students
and athletes above all else,” Venezia said, “including
winning.”
Coaching was a career Ridall had a lifetime
to prepare for.
At the young age of 13, he knew exactly
what he wanted to do in life. Raised in Lysander,
a small town just outside of Baldwinsville,
Ridall grew up during the ’60s and ’70s,
which was a time of freedom, creativity and
limited distractions. Ridall often played variations
of kickball with the neighborhood kids,
ran between houses playing hide-and-seek
tag, and organized tournaments at the young
age of 7.
Growing up, his uncle influenced him.
He was the first of his family to attend college
and then became a physical education teacher
in Watertown. When Ridall was in seventh
grade, he shadowed his uncle at work. Ridall
knew from that visit that he wanted to be a
physical education teacher and that he wanted
to go to college at Cortland, just like his uncle.
At Baldwinsville High School, he played
20

soccer and baseball and ran indoor and
outdoor track, discovering his love for organized
sports. Ridall carried on this passion
at the collegiate level for two years at Auburn
Community College and then for three years
at the State University of New York at Cortland,
where he competed in varsity soccer
and track. He also earned his master’s degree
from Cortland, and after graduating, Ridall
followed his intended path and taught physical
education at Oswego High School for one
year before taking the job at MPH. Ridall was
hired as a soccer and track coach as well as a
physical education teacher. Two years later, in
Photo courtesy of MPH
my children,” he said. “It was the right place
for them to be.”
Cady Ridall, a 2016 graduate, said her
father has put his all into MPH.
“He works so hard day in and day out to
create this warm and welcoming persona that
so many people have come to love,” she said
in an email. “The only con I can think of as
having my dad be regarded as this ‘celebrity’
is sometimes I felt he was more popular than
me. (Which he totally loves.)”
The door to Ridall’s office is rarely closed,
but when it is, it shows notes from students
that say, “Mr. Ridall, you made my day,” and
Students, including his daughter Cady, dress like Mr. Ridall on “Dress Like a Teacher Day.”
1978, he became athletic director.
The students have kept him going all these
years.
“Probably the main thing is being able
to work with young adults,” he said. “See
the growth they make and hopefully instill
in them some positive work attitudes, work
ethic, dedication and things like that. And not
only to improve, but [to] enjoy themselves.”
Other job offers came in over the years
at both the high-school and college level, but
Ridall chose to stay put while his two children
attended MPH.
“Well, for me, it was the ideal situation for
“Mr. Ridall, you’re awesome.” Below these is a
sign reading, “Safe Space: All students deserve
a safe and welcoming school environment.”
Ridall’s office truly is a safe space where
anyone is welcome to take a break from the
drama of high school and have a conversation
with someone who will listen, someone who
takes interest, and someone who cares about
the kids here at MPH.
spring 2017 | 21

Alumni Memories
from the Don-asty
Compiled by Gavin Cardamone and Daniel Mezzalingua
“His first practice ever, we brought the football practice equipment out, and the look on
his face was, as they say, ‘priceless.’” —Barry Spevak, Class of 1978
“The best memories I have of Mr. Ridall are the early mornings of preseason soccer. The
attitude that he and Coach [Venezia] brought to every practice was the perfect combination
of hard work and good times. Those beautiful days will truly remain in my heart for
the rest of my life.” —Joey Cerio, Class of 2016
“In seventh grade when I played modified soccer with Mr. Ridall’s son Patrick, Cady was
being born but Mr. Ridall still had Pat show up for the second half to score a penalty
kick—dedicated to the sport!” —Steve Herron, Class of 2003
“During my sophomore year, we gutted out a win in overtime for the sectional championship.
That was a very special moment to share with him and always something that I
dreamed about since I became a ball boy for the varsity team as a little kid and watched
them win championships.” —Willie Kniesner, Class of 2013
“He was like a second dad to me, so there are so many great memories. I think the best
was winning the sectional championship senior year. The seniors on that team had been
teammates and good friends for a very long time, and winning that championship for Mr.
Ridall was a great vindication of his leadership. We had a multiple-goal lead with a few
minutes left, but I will always remember him coaching us and screaming on the sideline
until the final whistle. Giving him a hug on the sideline with a few seconds remaining [is]
a great memory.”—Brian Scruton, Class of 2003
“My best memory of Mr. Ridall [is] the famous 2000 State Championship ‘knee slide.’”
—Brian Perry, Class of 2002
22

“Passion + dedication + hard work = winning, in a soccer game or anything you attempt
to do in life.” — Barry Spevak, Class of 1978
“Never give up no matter what. At first this advice only related to winning on the soccer
field, but over time I realized that the same mindset is crucial for being successful in life.
Mr. Ridall understands better than anyone that sports mean miles more than what happens
[on] the field or court.” — Joey Cerio, Class of 2016
“Coach Ridall influenced me — and I use this approach to this day when assembling
teams for work assignments, or when I coach recreation league sports—to evaluate your
team and make the best of it and let the team know that everyone contributes. There are
no superstars.” —Luke McKenney, Class of 1980
“I came to MPH in ninth grade, so my first experience at the school was his soccer program.
Coach Ridall welcomed me, pushed me and gave me a sense of belonging. As the
years went on, our relationship matured and he consulted me as a captain and veteran.
He was even my Senior Thesis Project mentor when I helped coach [an elementary]
soccer team at MPH. Coach Ridall showed that he trusted my judgment, character and
abilities, and that is something I will always be thankful for.” —Tyler Greco, Class of 2012
“He had a big impact on my life, including teaching [me] how to win and lose graciously.
He truly cared for his players and wanted us to do well in school and life as well as on the
field. He supported us in becoming well-rounded young men and pushed us to give our
all.” —Dimitrios Telonis, Class of 2007
“On the field, he gave us guidance, but freedom to be ourselves. That’s what I loved about
him the most. He allowed us to play to our strengths on the field and to be ourselves off
the field. He was hard enough on us to [keep us] motivated, but nice enough that we
always had fun. When our teams came together, it was a beautiful thing. I have carried
over that lesson to my regular life. It is always extremely important to be yourself, because
otherwise, you will be unhappy.” —Willie Kniesner, Class of 2013
“He taught me at an early age to work hard, but to balance that hard work with a bit of
fun – or else what’s the point?” —Brian Perry, Class of 2002
“As an athlete on some of the less ‘visible’ teams at MPH, Mr. Ridall never failed to check
in with me about the team and my progress, sending me off with encouraging words for
the event, which made me feel truly supported and excited to compete. I was continually
impressed by his thoughtfulness and involvement in all of the sports teams at MPH, as
well as in various other groups and events at school.” —Lucy Zwigard, Class of 2014
spring 2017 | 23

Color
Kerfuffle
MPH’s new marketing colors receive mixed reactions among school community
members tied to the red and white.
By Jeongyoon Han
Photos by Dan Mezzalingua
When the Parents’ Association was creating
prototypes for new Campus Shop merchandise,
a volunteer asked Head of Upper
School John Stegeman if he wanted anything.
He requested a customized Manlius Pebble
Hill vest.
Stegeman wore his vest the first day back
from December break, surprising students
who passed him in the halls. It featured a
Pantone bright green, dark green and turquoise
inscription of “MPH” in the upper left
corner, a complete departure from the iconic
Farmhouse logo and the school’s red-andwhite
colors.
This became the debut of MPH’s new
green-themed logo. Many, including senior
and lifer Lilly Maresco, were confused and
shocked because in the past, they had seen
only red and white represent the school.
“It was confusing to see a new logo, I
guess, for the first time,” Maresco said.
Stegeman explained later that day during
Upper School assembly that the logo and
colors were part of a new marketing campaign
launched by MPH and partner Crane
MetaMarketing in an effort to emphasize
MPH as a place of intellectually driven
students and a thriving community. Red and
white, however, would remain the school’s
athletic colors.
Given the school’s financial crisis during
the 2014-15 school year and the subsequent
drop in enrollment, the administration felt
the school needed rebranding.
While assessing how MPH could best attract
prospective families, Crane determined
that the red in MPH’s beloved red and white
is uninviting: think red as in a stop sign. In
addition, Crane experts told the seven-member
MPH administrative staff overseeing the
campaign that the Farmhouse logo painted
MPH as an overly traditional institution
when in reality it’s a place for organic and
dynamic learning.
“We’re so many things, and [Crane]
wanted to make sure that when people drove
down the road and saw our billboard, or they
went on syracuse.com and saw our ad, or
they got a promotional piece in the mail, that
we stood out,” said Jennifer Neuner, MPH’s
director of events and communications.
“They wanted us to appear as something
different, which we already know we [are].
We needed to articulate that to the broader
community, and they didn’t feel we could do
that with the old material we had.”
Yet the reaction within the MPH community
is mixed. Some like the aesthetic of
the new logo and feel that it signifies a new
chapter for MPH, especially with enrollment
already beginning to increase. Others are
confused by the school having both the red
and white and the greens and blue. Those
who disapprove of the new colors feel that
they have no correlation with the MPH identity,
which is closely intertwined with the red
and white. Adding to the confusion, students
and faculty noted, was ineffective communication
from the administration, which created
a sense of disconnect between community
members and the decision makers.
The administration and Crane agreed
that the new colors and logo would, as Crane
program manager Christina Albetta said,
24

“convey a sense of possibility and growth” at
MPH.
“The shades of green and blue represent
possibility, opportunity (the sky’s the limit!),
energy, life and development—as in the
spring, green signifying growth,” Albetta said
in an email.
Arriving at these colors and building the
marketing campaign was a delicate process.
When Crane first pitched the green-themed
color scheme in June following months of
on-site interviews with 17 different focus
groups, the administration members were
taken aback.
“There wasn’t one single person in the
room at this presentation that didn’t fidget a
little bit when they saw those colors,” Neuner
said. “It is uncomfortable. It’s a hard thing to
grasp.”
But ultimately, these same people became
sold on the idea that change was necessary to
represent MPH as a school moving forward.
“I wouldn’t have accepted the color
change had [Crane] not been so persuasive,”
Head of School Jim Dunaway said.
Stegeman said he was aware that the new
colors would represent a break in tradition,
and as such, some people might not like it.
But he views the campaign as a necessary
departure from MPH’s recent troubles.
“I think that sometimes breaks from
tradition can be a really good thing,” he said.
“Part of what this marketing campaign was
intended to do was separate us from the
financial turmoil of two years ago, and so
if that’s what [we’re] trying to do, then that
break is a good thing.”
However, a considerable portion of the
MPH community interviewed by the Pebble
questions the school’s decision to introduce
the new logo and colors, as well as the concept
of having two sets of colors. The Pebble
interviewed 24 community members, and of
the 24, only four said they liked the addition
of the new colors. In an online Google survey
conducted by the Pebble, while 67 percent of
111 respondents (mostly students) said they
understood the reasoning behind the new
colors and logo, only 19 percent said they
supported the decision to introduce them.
Thirty percent said they supported it somewhat,
but 43 percent said they did not.
Some students, including senior Spencer
Krywy, said the new colors highlight the
disconnect between the decision makers and
the student body.
“I think they represent the new administration.
I don’t think they represent the
students,” Krywy said. “The administration is
pushing a very different angle than how we
feel.”
Annie Weiss, senior and Student Council
President, raises similar sentiments.
“It’s almost like we have two different
schools in some ways: one that we know
MPH as, and the other that we’re trying to
market MPH as,” said Weiss, who has been
at MPH since third grade. “It kind of makes
MPH less wholesome.”
Long-term implications are also on
students’ minds. Weiss said she’s concerned
by how strong MPH’s identity and sense of
community will be in the future.
“In a couple of years, I worry [the red and
white] could lose its meaning,” Weiss said.
MPH and Crane agreed that it was time
for rebranding. In 1970, when the Manlius
School and the Pebble Hill School merged,
MPH adopted the colors red (from Manlius’s
red and black colors) and white (from the
latter’s green and white). Since then, besides
a 2012 marketing campaign with the theme
“Uncommon to the Core,” the school hadn’t
updated its look or logo since the early 2000s,
when it wrapped “Manlius Pebble Hill: Think,
Imagine, Learn, Grow” around the original
Farmhouse logo.
As a result, Neuner said, the external
community viewed MPH as having an “oldschool”
and “failing” vibe; with the crisis that
almost closed the school, it was imperative to
prove to the external community that MPH
was thriving.
That one of the Pebble Hill School’s
colors was green, however, was not a source
of inspiration for Crane as it sought the best
colors to do this. The overlapping letters and
three different colors in the logo, rather, is a
nod toward the close relationship between
MPH, the Pebble Hill School and the Manlius
School.
For English teacher and department
spring 2017 | 25

MPH’s JV volleyball team.
chair Fred Montas, Jr., had Crane chosen the
green tones with that connection in mind,
the choice might have made some sense. But
this not being the case is only further proof
to Montas that the colors have little or no
connection to MPH.
Montas said he understands that the colors
are meant to present the school in a fresh
way to the community, although he doesn’t
understand what those particular colors convey
about the school. But, he said, he leaves
those decisions to the experts.
“Especially since it’s something that’s
targeted for people outside the school who
might not know it well, it’s hard to say what
it’s trying to convey,” said Montas, who has
taught at MPH for 16 years. “As someone
who’s been at the school for a while, it’s hard
for me to see it with fresh eyes. And, you
know, I’m not the audience for it. So it’s hard
to see what that’s intended to convey, because
I see the representation of the school in a
particular way.”
However, Montas said he has gradually
opened up to the new colors.
“Now, with the passage of time, these
colors are growing on me.”
Dean of Students Alex Leclercq has similar
sentiments—he doesn’t understand the
motivation behind the particular color choices,
but also said he leaves it to the experts. He
said he is glad the school retained the red and
white for sports teams, but after being at the
school for 16 years, he will dearly miss seeing
the Farmhouse logo.
“I think it’s been the most enduring symbol
of our school since its inception in 1970,”
he said.
This strong connection MPH has with
the building is why the school, depending
on the context, still uses the old letterhead,
which includes the Farmhouse, when sending
out mail to MPH alumni. In fact, depending
on the event and audience, the school
may use one of five different MPH logos: the
Farmhouse, the Manlius School logo, the
Pebble Hill School logo, the MPH Athletics
logo, and now, the new logo. It’s a tough
responsibility that the school took on even
prior to the marketing campaign. Neuner,
however, says that the extra work to balance
all these different logos is worth it.
“It’s nostalgic to come back and visit your
high school, and we don’t want to lose that,”
she said.
Yet the new logo meant for the external
community is now found internally—on
report cards, letters sent to students, email
signatures and on items for sale at the Campus
Shop. While some students and faculty
object to this cross-over, Neuner said with the
marketing campaign emphasizing the new
colors, this aids in consistency and efficiency.
To promote the campaign, the Campus
Shop has also released green-themed merchandise.
But Hana Sultan Awa, an MPH
26

parent and Campus Shop volunteer, said
she thinks that having two color schemes is
a poor choice for the school. She said it can
be confusing for new families and that some
other parents she has spoken to agree.
“To have one solid color [palette] ...
shows more solidarity in the school, [rather]
than having two kids wearing two different
colors representing the school,” she said.
The Final Product:
A Long Journey
Following the crisis, Dunaway knew
that something had to be done to improve
MPH’s image in the local community.
A donation from John Mezzalingua in
2015 specifically for marketing gave MPH the
means to contact Crane, who has extensive
experience with private schools and colleges.
When Dunaway first called Crane President
Patti Crane, he knew that MPH would
be in good hands because of her expertise:
she knew the Syracuse market for schools,
immediately referencing Christian Brothers
Academy as one of MPH’s main competitors.
Such familiarity, Dunaway said, was
crucial, as MPH would need to work with
a marketing firm that could help the school
convince prospective families to send their
children here because they see the school as
one-of-a-kind.
“We wanted people to be willing to drive
right past F-M or J-D to come to us,” Dunaway
said. “The goal is to make us better
known in the community and have people
have an image of us that we define. One of
the things that we wanted to do there was
to have a distinctive and consistent kind of
brand. I hate to use that word about schools,
but brand, so if you see a Coca-Cola can from
a hundred yards, you know that’s a Coca-Cola
can.”
Capturing MPH’s strengths and reflecting
them in the marketing campaign was crucial,
said Crane’s Albetta. The focus groups and
on-site visits made it clear to Crane officials
that MPH is a place for creativity.
Students line up in preparation for the Red and White Day egg toss.
spring 2017 | 27

“MPH is a thoughtful, organic place
headed into a new future and full of nuanced
teaching and insightful students,” she said.
Red, they concluded, wasn’t the best color
to reflect this, as it can be perceived as uninviting,
overly traditional and shrill.
“MPH’s athletic colors are vibrant and
strong—but that strength and saturation of
the red makes it a bit hard to work with in
brochures, advertising, and posters,” Albetta
said. “And with that red, we were limited in
finding companion accent colors we could
introduce.”
It was important to brand MPH as a
modern and thriving school to improve the
school’s credibility in the eyes of the Syracuse
community, Neuner said. MPH needed to
reinvent its image without reinventing itself.
“It wasn’t our programs, it wasn’t our
teachers, it wasn’t our students,” she said. “It
was our reputation that was on the line.”
That being said, Dunaway and the administration
wanted to ensure that the campaign
would depict MPH authentically.
“You can advertise something and make
it sound really good, even if it’s not,” Dunaway
said. “There are lots of things that have
great advertisements but when you buy them,
they’re not very good. And we didn’t want
that.”
While the logo and colors underwent
only about 10 modifications, coming to the
final draft for the
written component
of the marketing
campaign—one that
would perfectly encapsulate
the essence
of MPH—was a
much more meticulous
process. But
the administrative
team ultimately felt
that each and every
revision was necessary
in order to better
represent MPH.
Some
Unintended
Results
Kristin Bernazzani and Erica Stark, MPH employees, showing their school
spirit on a Friday “Spirit Day.”
Stegeman
maintains
that the new
colors and logo are
in the best interest
of the school, as
they help marry the
external and internal
community’s views of
MPH: in other words,
the external community
will see all
of the great aspects
that current MPH
community members
28

already know.
“When the newspaper
prints stories
about how the school
might close … then
on the outside, people
think, ‘What’s going
on at that school?’
And so I saw [the
marketing campaign]
as a way for us to tell
them, ‘Hey, no, we’re
doing all right, you
know. This is still a
phenomenal school,
and we’re coming
back, and … the future’s
bright.”
The administration
tried to reach out
to faculty, students,
parents and alumni
through various meetings
and email communications to explain
the new campaign.
Dunaway met with employees on Dec.
22 to notify them of it, and on Jan. 4 an email
went out to alumni. With the new website
launched two days later, Neuner scheduled
separate meetings for parents and for students
in January. Around 25 to 30 parents
attended their meeting, and only one student
showed up for the student meeting, which
Neuner held anyway.
Other students, like senior Nick Jerge,
spoke with Neuner one-on-one about the
campaign. He said he understands the marketing
standpoint of the new colors being
more psychologically appealing and thinks
the marketing campaign is of a very high
quality. However, he wishes the school had
chosen options in which MPH didn’t adopt
different colors because he feels that the
change represents a shift in the school, one
that is gravitating away from a “red-andwhite
school.”
“[Ms. Neuner] said how people saw the
Farmhouse logo and they saw a school that
they didn’t know was open anymore, but I
thought that was really weird,” said Jerge,
who has attended MPH since Pre-K. “[The
Farmhouse is a] symbol that you can’t just get
Seniors Nate Barton (left) and Sophie Novak (right) discuss some school work in
the Phoenix Student Center.
rid of. … I’m a little concerned that we want
to purposely shift away from it.”
Many agree that the initial communication
was poorly conducted: the Pebble’s
survey found that two-thirds of respondents
said the changes were poorly communicated
and introduced.
As the Pebble reached out to Neuner with
questions about the campaign, she realized
that another explanation was necessary
through a second assembly presentation.
Some said the second presentation
changed their perspective, but others had
always liked the new colors, including parent
Jennifer Reid, whose child has attended MPH
for two years.
“I think it represents a rebirth or a renewal,”
she said. “[MPH] had gone through
kind of a rough patch for a while, and really,
everybody in the last couple of years put in a
lot of work to make the school whole again
and to really set a good foundation. … It’s
kind of a new start for MPH. … It reflects the
direction that the school’s going in right now.
I think the school is expanding and really
broadening its outreach.”
Junior Jared Amankwah said that though
he was confused at first, he likes the colors as
well and agrees they can usher in a new era
spring 2017 | 29

Maya Huyge, Emma Gross and Ella Pisciarino wear their different MPH colors on a Friday “Spirit Day.”
for the school. “It’s probably more of a positive
and welcoming color scheme; it’s visually
which is strange to me,” Krywy said.
appealing,” Amankwah said.
Brian Sheehan, professor of advertising
He said he is glad the school retained the at the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
at Syracuse University, said that
red and white as well and that he thinks the
two sets of colors can coexist, as long as the having two sets of colors is not only confusing,
but an unwise strategy.
greens and blue remain for marketing purposes
and don’t get intertwined with school “In the business of marketing you can’t be
traditions.
half pregnant, … meaning having one foot in
Others, including senior Amina Kilpatrick,
have mixed reactions or serious con-
and new image and then still be using the red
the modern progressive camp of a new logo
cerns regarding the additional colors and and white for sports teams, for example,” said
logo.
Sheehan, one of the industry’s most soughtout
experts.
“I still am having trouble with the whole
‘two-sets-of-colors-to-represent-one-school’ Sheehan is a former account executive
idea,” Kilpatrick said.
and CEO for Saatchi & Saatchi, a global advertising
agency, where he worked on iconic
Those with similar viewpoints suggest
that the new logo and additional colors may campaigns for corporations like Toyota. He
be an inaccurate representation of MPH, called it a terrible mistake for the school to
since red and white dominate many aspects keep the red and white along with the new
of school life.
logo.
“I find it somewhat dishonest because it “Either … you … go all the way into a
does not represent the actual school colors, new era and redefine your school, or [you]
30

decide you’re a school with a tremendous
amount of tradition that you want to keep,”
said Sheehan, whose son happens to be an
MPH alum. “And don’t get mixed messages
into it. So you’re ultimately either red and
white or you’re whatever this is, blue, green
and teal. Trying to be both is really a dreadful
idea.”
Crane representatives and Neuner both
said they disagree. Pam Mason-Norsworthy,
Strategic Partnerships Manager at Crane, said
that marketing campaigns for established independent
schools need to respect the school’s’
history while also moving forward and that
marketing schools is different than marketing
products.
“We often need to contemporize a school’s
visual presentation and messaging while
still honoring the institution’s history,” Mason-Norsworthy
said. “That doesn’t mean
there’s a foot in the past and one in the present,
but rather that we respect the beloved
visual representations that have come before.”
Other schools that have worked with
Crane and implemented advertising-specific
colors appreciate this balance. St. George’s Independent
School in Tennessee, like MPH, has
two sets of colors, and communications director
Sarah Cowan said that despite there being
some initial confusion, the marketing strategy
has been successful for the school thus far.
“It’s not uncommon for institutions to
work within their school colors, but I think it’s
fairly limiting for an institution or corporation
to feel constrained by a specific color palette,”
Cowan said. “Recognizing tradition or history
is important, especially in a school; being
constrained by it in a difficult and competitive
market is not smart.”
An Administrative
Analysis
Looking back, Neuner and Stegeman
agreed that the school could have
better communicated the campaign
with the MPH community; Dunaway said the
communication was “good: not great, not bad.”
Neuner noted that the reception of the new
colors might have been even more positive had
the school presented in front of small student
groups and had discussions begun earlier.
But, Neuner said, the school also had to
balance its approach.
“It’s a little bit of a catch-22, because the
bigger deal you make it seem, the bigger deal
it is,” she said. “We thought that the more we
brought it up, and the more we made a big
thing about it, the more it would appear to ...
students that we were changing everything.”
Dunaway added that it would’ve been
impossible to take into account everyone’s individual
thoughts and that Crane was capable
of best showcasing MPH in its true form.
And for him, Crane did this through the
campaign’s language more so than the new
colors or logo, such as the main catchphrase,
the “MPH Effect,” which has also been more
specifically defined as the “tenacity effect,”
“integrity effect,” “readiness effect” and “preparedness
effect,” among several other descriptors.
“I’m amazed that there’s so much interest
in the colors, you know, we’re not talking
about the language, because that’s what describes
the school,” Dunaway said. “The colors
are absolutely secondary. When … prospective
parents read [the viewbook], they’re looking
at more than the colors. They’re looking at the
way it describes what it means to be a student
at this school, and that’s what’s compelling
about this place: it’s the kids we have here.”
That language was given special attention
by administrators, as they agreed that it is the
primary way to convey what’s special about
MPH.
“Lots of things have had an effect on you,
but the school has had an effect on you, and it’s
sometimes hard to define what that is, but if
we say the ‘MPH Effect,’ you know what we’re
talking about. … We want people, when they
hear MPH, to think, ‘MPH Effect,’ ” Dunaway
said
Ȧnd prospective families seem to be buying
the Effect. MPH has enrolled seven new
students since the campaign began, the highest
number of mid-year enrollees in at least five
years, Neuner said. Dunaway added that there
has been a 60 percent increase in inquiries into
the school from this time last year.
Now it’s a matter of time to see whether or
not the greens and blue and Farmhouse-less
logo will continue to draw in new families and
if the red and white can remain strong. While
the school has said that nothing has changed
(cont on p. 35)
spring 2017 | 31

Kendama King
How a teen hand turned his hobby into a business
By Daniel Braverman
Photos by Nathan Sonnenfeld
George Bruno cuts a piece of local cherry wood before turning it on the lathe.
A
lathe spins over and over again
and wood shavings fly into the air
while George Bruno, a 17-yearold
junior at Manlius Pebble Hill, shapes a
rectangular cherry wood block into an old
Japanese skill toy known as a kendama.
Five hours later, Bruno puts the three
pieces together, checks the measurements
one last time, and smiles. Before he can be
fully satisfied, Bruno completes his final test
for quality: he plays with it. As he lands his
first trick, Bruno nods and sets the finished
kendama to the side, ready for it to be put up
for sale. The toy may appear simple at first,
but there are more than 1,000 different tricks
ranging in difficulty that players can try to
master.
In January, Bruno combined his passion
for hand-turning kendamas with his passion
for entrepreneurship when he launched his
company, Handturned Kendamas.
Despite being in high school, Bruno has
been able to balance the amount of work his
company requires on top of his schoolwork.
Utilizing free blocks effectively to focus on
homework, Bruno is able to spend roughly
two hours a night during the school week
either woodworking, marketing, or doing
anything else involved with the business.
While some high schoolers might find
running their own company overwhelming,
Bruno has handled the added responsibility
well.
“It’s something that is very fun for me,
32

and I enjoy every minute of it,” Bruno said.
Bruno’s blend of hard work, passion and
superb craftsmanship has helped him gain
customers from all across the United States.
“I think with his handturned kendamas,
he can really make a difference in [the kendama
market],” said customer Andrew Benincasa,
a freshman at MPH.
Bruno
first became
fascinated with
kendama in
October 2015.
Four months
later, he started
to make the
skill toy. Before
thinking
about starting
a company,
Bruno focused
on making his
kendamas as
high-quality
as possible. It
wasn’t until
his Advanced
Portfolio class
with Teresa
Henderson,
chair of the
visual art and
design department,
that
Bruno began
to seriously
think about
selling them.
Through the
class, Henderson
developed
into a mentor
for him, guiding
him on
many aspects
of his business,
such as branding, photos, packaging and
marketing. Henderson and others who have
given him advice or assistance are why Bruno
sees being an entrepreneur while still in high
school as an advantage.
“Being able to run your own company at a
young age is really cool,” Bruno said. [It’s] an
experience [where] you keep learning things
as you run into problems and have to solve
them.”
While the idea of launching a company
was Bruno’s, his older brother and father both
influenced and inspired him. Bruno’s father
had a passion for woodworking from a young
age, and he shared this passion with Bruno,
who also found
it interesting and
decided to start
woodworking.
However, when it
came to entrepreneurial
endeavors,
Bruno’s
biggest inspiration
was his
brother Simon,
who also had his
own businesses
in high school.
Growing up,
watching his
older brother run
his own businesses
inspired
Bruno to do
something of his
own.
“I just
thought it was
cool how my
brother, since he
was my age, was
doing his own
little businesses
and just pretty
much figuring
stuff out on his
own and learning
through starting
a business,”
Bruno said. “I
While Bruno enjoys making kendamas, he finds playing with them even more always liked that
fun.
and thought it
really fit my learning style to do something
like that.”
When Bruno launched his company and
his kendamas hit the market, all five sold out.
Customers from places such as Los Angeles,
San Diego, New York City and Pennsylvania
all hurried to get their hands on one. To date,
spring 2017 | 33

Bruno has sold more than 40 products; however,
the majority of these have not been kendamas
but another product called a kururin.
Just before launching his company, Bruno
became fascinated with the kururin, a rolling
desk toy also from Japan. After making
three, each a different size, Bruno found the
shape he liked. He started to hand-turn them
and put them
for sale on his
website.
At the time,
the kururin
was a brandnew
toy, and
Bruno said
Handturned
Kendamas was
one of the few
companies
in the United
States to sell it.
Kururins tend
to be popular
among people
who play kendama.
Kururins,
called roru on
his site, have
been Bruno’s
most popular
product. Five
times in the
first month of
business, Bruno
released a
batch of four or
five kururins,
and each batch
sold out. Additionally,
one
of his kururins
made its way
to a customer
halfway around
the world in Japan.
In places such as California and Japan,
kendama has become a trend in which kids
spend their free time practicing, as opposed
to playing video games or watching a screen.
At MPH, Bruno has helped make kendama a
trend with a community of students ranging
Currently, Bruno has more than 10 kendamas in his growing collection.
from sixth to 11th grade playing. These students
are often seen together playing kendama
during snack, Upper School Kendama Club,
or Middle School Kendama Club. Bruno sees
all this kendama playing as a great thing to do.
In just a month and a half, Bruno’s company
not only benefitted the MPH community,
but his products have also been sold
to customers
all across
the country.
However,
there is much
more to come
from Bruno’s
company. He
is currently
working with a
distributor to
have his products
sold on its
website as well.
Additionally,
Bruno may release
apparel in
the near future
and recently released
another
skill toy called a
belgeri. However,
considering
how quickly the
company has
grown, Bruno
doesn’t know
exactly where
it’s headed.
“The way
that George
thinks is fantastic,”
Henderson
said. “The
limitations for
George are
whatever he
wants to put on
himself, which is really cool.”
Bruno’s website -
www.handturnedkendamas.com
34

(color cont. from p.31)
in terms of MPH’s identity, the Pebble’s
survey results seem to suggest that students
disagree.
Forty-eight percent of respondents said
that the new colors are changing the MPH
community and identity, while 37.8 disagreed
and 14.4 were unsure.
Senior Caroline King simply does not
believe the two sets of colors can coexist.
“I don’t think there’s a way to have two
sets of different colors,” she said, “which is a
shame.”
Many questions remain, but perhaps
most importantly, will the campaign’s new
colors, logo and words succeed in increasing
positive external perceptions of the school
and increasing enrollment? The MPH administration
and Crane feel that the answer is yes,
but only time will tell.
To read the rest of our interview
with Crane MetaMarketing Program
Manager Christina Albetta, visit
www.thepebblemag.com
(selfie cont. from p. 11) showed something
called the “Basic Design” that cost only 12
yuan, but I wanted to look for something
cheaper.
As I walked away the cook shouted
something, and the rest of the workers shouted
something back. I thought they were mad
at me for stopping but not buying anything,
so I hurried away.
I looked all over, even at American
fast-food places like Subway, but as it turned
out, the Basic Design was the cheapest thing
there. I went back and got it, and it was delicious!
The shouting thing was just something
they did after completing an order; it was
always the same phrase.I went back to get the
Basic Design twice a day every day for the
rest of the trip. I wish there was a dish like
that in America. I’ve tried googling various
wordings of “chicken egg crepe thing” to find
out what it’s called but have had no results.
The anticipation that came from watching
the cooks create the wrap lingers in my memory.
The final story comes from our day of
departure. We went to a bakery in the mall
for breakfast. As soon as the aroma of the
bread hit, I was transported to a world of
freshly baked goods straight out of a Studio
Ghibli film. Loaves of bread, each different
than the last, sat inside glass containers—
purple, yellow, and orange breads with fruit
fillings and ambrosial sprinklings. I chose a
coffee-flavored loaf with pineapple inside and
a green loaf with passionfruit jelly.
The staff warmed the bread, sliced it, and
bagged it; then we were on our way. Our next
stop was a grocery store in the mall. It was
a lot like an American grocery store, except
slightly off. Fruits were individually packaged
in bubble wrap. The cereals had the same
names as ours, but looked like off-brand
versions, with different mascots on the boxes.
For example, the Frosted Flakes box featured
a seal in a top hat instead of Tony the Tiger.
I was going to buy tea to bring back for
my family, but I figured it’d be getting warm
in Syracuse soon, so I opted for cookies. (The
cookies were finished within days, and there
was snow on the ground for weeks after we
got back.)
We left the store, and I ate some bread.
The Food and Drug Administration has
pretty strict regulations regarding fruit
crossing the border, but my pineapple and
passionfruit breads made it over without a
problem. I ate them over the next few days
and thought back to all of our adventures in
China.
spring 2017 | 35

Lately, it’s been impossible to escape
politics. Even in entertainment —
normally a respite from the flow
of news — we cannot avoid opinions on the
great injustices of society.
Most celebrity news is frivolous, but the
media coverage it gets suggests it’s important.
When celebrities get political, it’s covered
more than news that actually affects people.
As comedian Dave Chappelle joked, no
one cares what someone like Ja Rule has to
say in a time like this; however, celebrities are
bringing up politics more and more frequently.
In early 2016 the only topics I heard about
were Donald Trump and Kanye West. Now
the two have collided, with messages on Twitter
and meetings at Trump Tower.
In the country’s polarized state, this
omnipresent political dialogue causes controversy.
From Meryl Streep’s Golden Globes
speech to Colin Kaepernick’s kneeling during
the national anthem to Kanye West’s emergence
as an unapologetic Trump supporter,
when celebrities use their wide reach to say
something controversial, it riles people up.
Although celebrities’ large audiences may
imply that they have significant influence on
public beliefs, Robert Thompson, Director
of the Bleier Center for Television & Popular
Culture at Syracuse University, disagrees.
“Celebrities speak out about a political
issue, and it changes the minds of people
not about that political issue, but about that
celebrity,” Thompson said.
I had my own reckoning with this, when
Kanye, one of my favorite musicians and
personalities, went off about how he didn’t
vote but that if he had, it would have been for
Trump. Ignoring the fact that Kanye didn’t
vote, I was hurt that someone I respected was
endorsing policies I vehemently disagreed
with. I tried to defend him but eventually
resigned myself to the fact that he is just as
issues
On Screen and the Political Scene
Everyone has an opinion, to the discontent of the public
By Zach Montas
crazy as people say.
Of course, I still regularly bump Pablo.
How could I not? I can enjoy his art without
sharing his views. Celebrities can have their
say, and I can ignore them.
MPH senior Liam Meisner can relate.
He’s a fan of Sir Christopher Lee, known for
playing Saruman in the “Lord of the Rings”
movies. Before his death in 2015, Lee supported
the British Conservative Party, whose
policies Meisner opposes.
“I love his acting, so I’m not going to let
[his beliefs] get in the way of my appreciation
for him,” Meisner said.
Conservative senior Lisa Morocco agrees.
“If I have a political opinion, I do not
look to a celebrity to agree with me,” she said.
“If a celebrity agrees with what I think, it’s just
another person who feels the same way I do.”
It seems these students’ opinions are
more level-headed than those of the general
public. Compare the responses to the halftime
performances at the past two Super Bowls.
Beyoncé’s 2016 performance was contentious,
generating both praise and rebuke for her
unambiguously pro-black message.
In 2017, Lady Gaga’s performance was
lauded contradictingly on both sides. Some
loved it for its seemingly LGBTQ-positive
message, while others loved it all the same for
remaining apolitical. Some thought what little
statement she made was still too much, but I
found the performance very mild.
Tomi Lahren, former conservative commentator
for The Blaze, rejoiced at Gaga’s
lack of politics. “Yes, [Lady Gaga] has political
opinions, but on Super Bowl Sunday,
America’s game day, Lady Gaga chose to keep
her political opinions and/or distaste for the
president to herself,” she said. “How about a
round of applause, a hallelujah, and a ‘Thank
you Jesus.’” Lahren then contrasted her
praise for Gaga with her criticism of “Mrs.
36

Drug-Dealers-Anonymous, Beyoncé ‘Black
Panther’ Knowles, whose halftime show
Lahren despised.
According to Thompson, there are three
layers to the reasons behind criticism of
celebrities talking politics. The first and most
significant is a disagreement with what the
celebrity says. Second is a disconnect between
what the celebrity is known for and the topic
they’re discussing; it’s jarring when someone
who typically doesn’t engage in politics
speaks out. The third reason is context: a
celebrity endorsing a candidate at a campaign
rally is expected; the Super Bowl and the Oscars
are not inherently political functions.
This criticism manifests most often,
as Lahren demonstrated, with people denouncing
celebrities for talking about a hot
topic. Following Thompson’s theory, because
celebrities tend to lean left, the criticism most
often comes from conservatives. There is a
caricature of the “Hollywood elite” mocking
liberal celebrities for speaking out on social
issues despite being much wealthier than
much of the population. The idea is that
celebrities are out of touch and therefore
shouldn’t speak out at all.
Of course, as with anyone else, when a
celebrity says something inane they should
be ignored or countered with a better argument.
MPH history teacher Edward Curtis
said in his U.S. Citizenship class, “The great
thing about this country has always been the
freedom of expression, freedom of speech,
freedom of the press, and that means freedom
to express your opinion, even if it’s not a very
well-thought-out opinion.”
Celebrities can give their opinion, and
others can comment on it.
One of the most infamous examples of
the implications of free speech is the Hollywood
Ten during the 1940s and 1950s. Cold
War fear-mongering brought more than 40
prominent filmmakers before the House
Un-American Activities Committee for
leftist sympathies. Most complied and sought
leniency, but 10 stood up to the charges
on the grounds that the First Amendment
allowed them to support any political party
they wished. They were cited for contempt of
Congress, sentenced to a year in prison, and
blackballed from the industry.
Like the Hollywood Ten, celebrities have
historically leaned left. Athletes like Muhammad
Ali, writers like James Baldwin, singers
like Madonna and artists like Keith Haring
have engaged in sociopolitical movements,
such as the Civil Rights Movement, the
anti-Vietnam War effort and HIV activism.
Modern celebrities are similarly engaged.
There have been many different responses
to the statements and actions of celebrities.
Right-wing political minds such as Lahren,
the staff of Breitbart and President Donald
Trump act as if any outspoken liberal is a
communist sympathizer who is personally assaulting
their existence by saying “Black lives
matter” or “We are all immigrants.” Just like
anyone else, celebrities have the right to free
speech, and we lack the reciprocal right to
choose our sources of political commentary.
At the same time, the neoliberal response
of acting like a celebrity is revolutionary for
saying “Love trumps hate” is also annoying.
The nonstop updates on new political
developments, celebrity endorsements and
opinions from both sides of the aisle can be
exhausting, but the subjects fascinate me. Politics
is inherently divisive. There would be no
discussion or development if everyone agreed
with one another. While I tire of constantly
hearing about it, I understand its significance.
These events shape today’s world, and celebrity
engagement can make people feel represented
or isolated.
While some celebrities may be out of
touch, they have the same right to free speech
as others. We have the same freedom to say
how we feel about their statements. In an
open democracy, both celebrity commentary
and criticism thereof should be encouraged
in order to present the greatest diversity of
thought possible. Differences in opinion
shouldn’t be the cause of arguments but
learning opportunities for both sides.
Graphic by Sam Goldman
spring 2017 | 37

Work Hard,
big pic
By Lily Grenis
As the mecca for all seniors, the Student
Lounge is a popular place to relax after class.
38
Class of 2017 adds personal touches to traditional Student Lounge appearance
Leftover Chipotle salads, posters of rap preceding MPH, on the right. Though
artists, stray lacrosse sticks, half-empty the seniors have continued or revived
jugs of iced tea, club fliers, Princeton some longstanding Lounge traditions,
Review books, signs for sports teams, such as devoting an entire wall to college
class photos, Syracuse sweatshirts. rejection letters, other sights around the
These items may not seem
room are completely unique to their class.
interconnected, but in the final weeks Many seniors acknowledged the
of the 2016-17 school year, they have all sentimental value of the additions they
found their way into the MPH Student have made, such as photos of themselves
Lounge. Most have been taped, stashed as kids, a map with tacks showing
and scattered throughout the Lounge by where they will attend college next fall
members of the senior class.
and a photo of Anna Barnard, a former
Senior Caroline King explained that, member of the senior class who passed
while the seniors have undertaken a away earlier this school year.
deliberate initiative to personalize the “I see [the wall of decorations]
Lounge in a way that exhibits their close as intimate and a form of bonding,
class bond and the memories they have and it has pictures from all our years
shared together, miscellaneous artifacts of here at MPH, so it’s also memorabilia,
life as an MPH high school student have and as seniors reflecting on our MPH
had just as significant a presence.
experience, I think it makes us more
“I feel like what comes into the grateful for what we have now,” said
Lounge oftentimes just stays in the Student Council President Annie Weiss.
Lounge,” King said.
Despite these benefits, the Lounge
The Lounge has been a unique has historically had a bad rap with the
feature of student life at MPH since the MPH administration and underclassmen.
establishment of the McNeil wing in Members of previous senior classes, and
1994; it was incorporated into the initial occasionally this one, have been criticized
building layout but was later reduced in for denying freshmen, sophomores and
size. The room currently features a large sometimes even juniors access to the
table and a bench on the left and clusters Lounge.
of church pews from the chapel of the Though many current seniors
Manlius School, the military school maintain that all are welcome and invited

Lounge Hard
Photo by Sam Goldman
into their space, most MPH students
are of the mind that spending time in
the Lounge is a rite of passage earned by
ascending to the rank of upperclassman.
Aiden Meyer, now a junior, recalled
seeing the precedent students follow
regarding the Lounge as a logical
tradition when he was an underclassman.
“I think there’s slight exceptions to
[it] — I don’t think anyone’s ever literally
saying, ‘Get out of the Lounge;’ I don’t
think it’s ever bullying. But I think it is
kind of understood that you’re going
to want the Lounge to yourselves as
upperclassmen, so underclassmen stay
out. It’s an unspoken rule,” he said.
In spite of the traditions governing
the Student Lounge, some seniors choose
not to focus on the details in favor of
purely enjoying their time there. Senior
Kyle Davis said he doesn’t attach any
specific meaning to the Lounge, calling
it simply “a place to go and relax and
sometimes be productive.”
Like Davis, King said she views
the Lounge as, above all, a place for
her and her fellow seniors to hang out,
be themselves and enjoy each other’s
company, regardless of who wants to join
in.
“This is my home base,” King said.
“This is just where I always am, this is
where all my friends are. I don’t really
know what I did before I went in the
Lounge.”
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