< Back New class on the old stuff May 3, 2024 at 12:00:00 PM Shanuka Navaratne '25 Propaganda. What emotion comes to your mind when hearing that word? Do you perceive it positively or negatively? What our history department needs is more term courses! This is why I propose that Mercersburg offer a term course focused on the historical exploration of political propaganda. History teacher Rich Heffron’s Middle East term courses this year are a wonderful prospect for curious students. With additional history courses focused on diverse and targeted topics, students will have more mobility when navigating their course selections in history—similar to the English department’s plan for next year. From watching the History Channel with my dad to collecting political posters from Sri Lanka’s political uprising in 2022, I have always loved unraveling the intricacies of propaganda. I find it incredible how effective its appeals can be at swaying public discourse. Under its gaudy colors and dramatic fonts depicting romanticized ideals, there is a story. Osama Bin-Laden, Adolf Hitler, Mao Zedong, Kim Jong Un, Harry Truman, Greta Thunberg, Alexander the Great… These leaders have all used various manifestations of propaganda to platform their ideas. Their campaigns may often be distorted by misinformation, but that’s not always the case. According to the Oxford Dictionary, propaganda is “persuasive mass communication that filters and frames the issues of the day in a way that strongly favors particular interests.” Therefore, while it is manipulative in nature, propaganda doesn’t always have to be hateful or conspiratorial. Many examples of propaganda actually have positive overtones. Derived from the Latin verb propagare , which literally means to spread, propaganda is rhetoric that promotes a specific agenda for ordinary people to consume. This technique has been used by humans throughout history—from the Stone Age through classical antiquity and into the modern era. While its messages change with context, its primary function has remained consistent. Propaganda’s role in evoking sentiments that people never knew they held until such exposure has proved to be dangerous in the past. A catchy string of words or colorful cartoons could have made the difference in notable events of history. Propaganda is perhaps the smartest exploiter of the human brain, and I think that in itself is powerful. In an age of readily available information, we as a generation often disregard media literacy. In analyzing the evolution of propaganda and its past implications, we can learn a lot to help us going forward. Hopefully, by opening spaces of dialogue for topics that challenge our worldviews, we can understand this art from a different perspective. I believe that opportunities like these will foster critical thinking while allowing students to pursue personal interests is the quality that truly sets Mercersburg Academy apart from other schools. Previous Next

< Back Appointment: dismissed October 13, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Maia Somma ‘24 When reflecting on the quality of student life at Mercersburg, there is one thing that consistently comes up among students as a routine stressor: the sheer number of “required appointments” we have. A required appointment at Mercersburg means that the student body collectively has an obligation to attend some event or function; behavior points are allocated to anyone who does not show up. The menu of required appointments includes, but is not limited to: classes, PGAs, school meetings, X-Blocks, lunches, Monday night dinners, and dorm and class meetings. From the aforementioned list, one can already see that Mercersburg students have a multitude of obligations on a day to day basis. It is understandable that as a school we must require students to attend their classes and after school activities. However, what is very odd is the lack of flexibility regarding all the other things on that list, and the complete over-scheduling regarding non-academic matters. A typical Mercersburg schedule consists of mandatory lunch every school day, and attending dinners on Monday nights. We have dorm meetings on Sundays every week at 9:30 at night, even when there are no new announcements to be made. We have X-Block meetings every week that erode the “half-day” concept of Wednesday schedules. Quite ironically, sometimes the subject matter of these meetings concerns “mental health” or “well-being.” To me, my well-being comes from actually having a minute to spend by myself taking care of my never-ending to-do list, rather than listening to someone else spend an hour restating generic ideas about mental health that I could’ve looked up on the internet in 5 minutes. Even “class fun” is required for all students at the beginning of the school year, something that surprised me when I first arrived. School is naturally more entwined with our personal lives in a boarding school environment. However, I don’t think personal time and space is valued and prioritized enough on our campus. Between the rigorous academic environment and PGA scheduling, unscheduled moments are few and far between. If Mercersburg wants their students to excel, we must be granted enough time to study and complete our schoolwork. If the school values our mental health, personal time should feel like a given rather than a luxury. If we are truly a college-preparatory school, we should recognize that our current schedule does not reflect the amount of freedom and free time granted to college students. A greater degree of choice regarding how we spend our time would teach us far more about time management than a uniform structure which forcefully hand-holds us from 8 a.m. until lights-out. I believe Mercersburg needs more flexibility regarding non-academic required appointments. Missing a meal or a dorm meeting should not equate to missing a class. If Mercersburg really values the mental health of their students, they should consider giving them more autonomy. At the bare minimum, we should be able to decide for ourselves whether we feel like eating or not. Perhaps the scheduled X-Block time could instead connect with club and publication initiatives, which would give students a chance to more deeply connect with groups that they enjoy being a part of, but oftentimes lack the flexibility to do so. Changes like these could allow students to spend more time doing homework or even resting, both of which are just as important as connecting with the community. Previous Next

< Back Just mandate uniforms September 25, 2026 at 12:00:00 PM Nile Qureshi ’28 The changes that the student government has brought to the Mercersburg dress code have caused controversy among the student body. We were promised that a completely new closet would not be necessary. However, over the summer, I regularly found myself in stores searching for clothes that would actually fit the new dress code. Logos can't be larger than a quarter, no hoodies whatsoever, no embroidery, and absolutely no screen printing. Even a nice polo that has a slightly larger logo might be deemed illegal. The new rules have destroyed my entire closet, as most of my clothes incorporate at least one of the unauthorized elements listed. Many students are being cited daily for being slightly out of line. It is almost impossible to follow the dress code entirely with what most stores sell today. Therefore, the dress code needs to be re-evaluated to incorporate students’ opinions. A much simpler solution, though many may disagree, is a uniform. Uniforms ensure that every student follows the dress code while preventing students from spending an unnecessarily large amount of money on items that they are highly unlikely to wear outside the school day. Many preparatory schools require uniforms to ensure that every student looks their best and to show that the school day is in session. Our new dress code has added nothing but confusion and inconvenience. In addition to the dress code’s added restrictions, it has not achieved the stated purpose of making us more businesslike during class. Instead of strictly enforcing a dress code that is still casual, a required uniform would ensure each student is properly attired and reduce the time spent searching for an outfit. Additionally, visitors will be able to tell when classes are in session. The only drawback to uniforms is the idea of individuality. (The current dress code already hinders individuality to a certain extent, as many people express themselves with graphic T-shirts, large screen printing, embroidery, etc.) Apparently, the student government feared that uniforms would completely restrain individual expression. However, if we were to implement a uniform system, simply adding dress-down days and allowing the accessorization of the uniforms would address this concern. For example, allowing students to wear whatever they want on Fridays would give them the opportunity to dress however they like without a uniform, and enabling them to add pins or other items to their uniforms would also allow for individuality. Overall, the upsides of having uniforms during the school day heavily outweigh the drawbacks. Many students have spoken out about liking the idea of uniforms, yet they are dismissed as “unrealistic” or “not what Mercersburg is about.” However, the implementation of uniforms, instead of having vague details, would be beneficial given the principles behind the current dress code. Previous Next

< Back Ex-Ed day: the GOAT April 25, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM Mingyu Lee '28 When I first heard that April 14 would be Ex-Ed Day, I was enthralled that I wouldn’t have class. I didn’t really think about what we would be doing–I thought that anything but class would be magnificent to start my week off. Without much expectation, I boarded the van. The Class of 2028 traveled to the Conococheague Institute. I had previously visited the institute for my stage combat class in the fall term. Frankly, my first experience of Conococheague was far from great. It just seemed like an antique place with wooden cabins from the 1700s. The chilly, windy weather did not help either—everything seemed barren and lonely. It was 9 a.m. when all of my classmates and advisers arrived. It took longer than I remembered to drive to the Conococheague Institute. When I saw the schedule, I assumed the ride would consume roughly 15 minutes. In reality, it took 30 minutes for the van to leave with the first group of students at 8 a.m. As I sat in the van with my advisory, the familiar yet different landscape reminded me of driving back home for break. It felt like I had gotten back to my hometown after a long time, despite only a few months having passed. A lot of things had changed, but that wooden cabin right next to the paved road and the playground right next to it were familiar. It reminded me of the not-so-great experience back in the fall term. We kicked off Ex-Ed Day with a hands-on dive into 18th-century life in south-central Pennsylvania, back when the institute was called the Conococheague Settlement. Besides learning about the region’s history, I spent valuable time with my friends and classmates to experience and just have fun, like we were children again. I laughed with my friends, seeing them dressed in antique red clothes with a red beanie-like hat on. We also watched the adorable goats in the pasture, which kept avoiding our hands when we tried to pet them. Above all else, archery was my favorite. I spent most of Monday practicing, which explains my bleeding red hands. However, there was a clear reason we were there, apart from the delight of bonding as a class. The main question for the day was: What kind of a leader do I want to be? The leaders and teachers asked us to observe how the senior leaders, who had come out early in the morning to guide us to Conococheague, supported us. Through appreciation and reflection, I came to see them as role models. My personal goal developed in Ex-Ed Day was to create a space where everyone can have a great time, inspired by student leaders treating freshmen they barely know like their closest friends, helping us get accustomed to Mercersburg Academy. Overall, Ex-Ed Day was more enjoyable than I had expected. Although I cannot assume that everyone in 9th grade enjoyed it, I am sure most of us appreciated the time given to us at Conococheague Institute. Personally, it was one of the most memorable times in my freshman year at Mercersburg Academy. I hope people can get to know more about Conococheague Institute, including the upcoming freshmen class, with this new opportunity. Previous Next

< Back Time to listen up November 4, 2022 at 12:00:00 PM Jack Lewis ’25 What is the first thing that comes to mind in the typical Mercersburg student’s mind after hearing the words “required evening lecture”? They may be excited to learn something new, hear a different perspective, or meet an influential person, but oftentimes their reaction is the complete opposite. In the time leading up to a lecture, complaints and rants about the event are frequently expressed. This view towards the events from students is disrespectful to the speakers and the planners. Questions about the purpose of these events are repeated in the buildup to that Monday. But what is the true purpose of attending these events? In the 2021-22 school year, Mercersburg hosted various lectures of significance that are still discussed today. One of the common favorites was NYU Professor Dr. Dan Lerner’s lecture regarding ways to find happiness and balance between school and hobbies. Hearing this created immediate and different ways in which many students manage their daily lives. Most recently, Mercersburg invited Diana Lora ’00 back onto campus. Lora’s hilarious personality and inspirational message made the lecture a night to remember, yet the behavior of many students was disrespectful and inconsiderate towards Lora’s message. Students could be seen talking among themselves during the lecture, which reflects a growing negative attitude towards lectures in our community. These speakers are often misunderstood by the student population. The effort put into the construction and performance of the lectures can go unnoticed. However, the students are not entirely to blame. Mercersburg’s academic rigor can make it frustrating to lose one of the small amounts of time that may be put to use studying or completing homework. Though, as a student population, there are many benefits to attending lectures. Lectures are a great way to learn and understand certain concepts that you may not be exposed to in everyday classes, like how to manage mental health problems or understanding that success comes in many different forms. What is more, these events are not available at most other schools. Mercersburg is fortunate enough to have talented and important figures come to campus to speak about various topics. Lectures and speeches of various kinds have been a tradition at Mercersburg since its founding; they bring positive messages to the student population, and we need to appreciate them. Devaluing such events and seeing them as a waste of time is a stain on the reputation of our school and inhibits our learning. At a school where the education of the whole student is valued, we should always strive to be curious and respectful inside and outside the classroom. Previous Next

< Back Brushes down, bytes up April 12, 2024 at 12:00:00 PM Bauhinia Chen '26 Since its inception, artificial intelligence has extended to many fields, rapaciously superseding humans in competency. AI is often described as mechanical, soulless, and unimaginative, bound within the confines of unemotional computations. In recent years, however, it made its way into the realm of art, a form of human creation that is the antipode of precise analysis and rigid algorithms. Most artists are disaffected by this occurrence and deem the introduction of AI to have wreaked havoc upon the community. Although AI is indeed supplanting artists in some commercial areas, it shouldn’t be dismissed or considered inferior. Instead, AI deserves praise and appreciation. I argue that AI art is often better than what humans can produce. Of course, whether something is good or bad is subjective. However, a machine is objectively more technically skilled than humans, because it isn’t fettered the constraints of time, impatience, and human errors. The systems are quick, precise, and able to incorporate as much detail as directed. An AI program produces every work to impeccable standards within seconds. Its level of ornateness is nonpareil. While many attack AI art for lacking emotional depth, I find that the pieces are often brimming with feeling. Artificial intelligence is exceptionally good at capturing a strong ambiance with elaborate composition, dramatic lighting, and harmonious hues. They aren’t mechanical and insipid, but on the contrary, dynamic and beguiling. The incredible artistic prowess of AI facilitates its delivery of emotions and mesmerizes viewers with beautiful, heart-touching scenes. One of the main sources of abhorrence towards AI art is how it uses real artists’ works in machine learning without permission. While many see this as a reprehensible act of theft, I beg to differ. AI is simply doing what human artists do – learning through observation. By processing thousands of works of art, AI is taking inspiration from them. People scorn it for being unoriginal but forget that; as humans, we also learn by emulating countless other works or photos. None of us is truly original. We take inspiration from artists we like, sometimes even subconsciously, from everything we see daily. Our style is molded through accumulated practice. Our eyes are like AI algorithms, taking in and digesting what we see. In that sense, machine learning is scarcely different from how humans learn. Many artists dismiss AI art because they are jealous and reluctant to accept that humans are less competent. Instead of appreciating AI’s excellence, they perceive it as a threat. For decades, though AI has outstripped humans in many areas, it remained an inferior and innocuous existence as we thought that they would never be able to be creative and have feelings like human beings. However, the advent of AI-generated art means that AI increasingly emulates us in areas most exclusive to humanity – the ability to create and imagine. To defend the pride of humans, the art community discredits AI-generated art. Seeing that an inanimate machine can do what they do but even better, it is no wonder that artists are filled with resentment. They feel abased that something devoid of life and soul can surpass them in something as profound and emotional as artistic expression. I advise the art community to jettison the jealousy. Instead of disparaging it like a bitter loser would to their contender, recognize its competence and embrace its beauty. Previous Next

< Back Let's get intense September 27, 2024 at 12:00:00 PM Paxton Diana '26 For several years, Mercersburg Academy has offered intensive classes most recently during the spring semester as a wrap-up to the end of the school year. With policy and community changes, though, Mercersburg has decided to place intensive courses on hiatus. Suspending Intensives is a very bad idea for the school since they, besides being personally linked to students’ experiences, can help focus on opportunities that may benefit them in the future. Mercersburg’s Intensives have had a positive effect on me, and I’ve gained a major takeaway each year. I remember as a freshman having no idea what “intensive classes” were and being eager to find out. There were many options to choose from, such as culinary classes, field trip classes, sports classes, and much more. However, one class stood out to me: Garage Band. I have a “throwback to the '90s” musical taste, or what others would call “divorce dad music.” I listen to many classic grunge bands, such as Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Foo Fighters, and Stone Temple Pilots, to name a few. I aspired to become a great guitarist, just like the ones in those notorious bands, and thought that this was the perfect opportunity. However, there was one problem: I didn’t know how to play guitar. Thankfully, the intensive class lasted for two weeks. When I walked into the Burgin Center for the Arts where Garage Band was held, I noticed that my friends all had their equipment; guitars, amps, distortion pedals, drum sets, and microphones cluttered the room. I was empty-handed. I thought I hadn’t made the right choice. The Intensive instructor, Dave Holzwarth, noticed that my friend and I didn’t know how to play an instrument and offered to teach us. I ended up not learning how to play the guitar, but rather, how to play the bass guitar, an easier instrument to learn. Holzwarth held one-on-one sessions with me, teaching me how to play the bass guitar as well as guiding me to read the tabs of each song selected for our mini-concert at the end of the course. Each day in Garage Band, I had a big takeaway: I was getting better and better at playing the bass guitar, and I had a better understanding of how to read the tabs of each song. Sophomore year was slightly different. Mercersburg still held Intensives, but they were cut short by a week. I decided to involve myself in new pursuits and chose the college tour option. Mercersburg’s college counselors led lower and upper middlers to New England and New York City to tour prestigious colleges such as Yale, NYU, Brown University, and Tufts. This experience educated me about schools that I hadn't considered and allowed me to tour them in person, a feat difficult to achieve in a family with a very busy work schedule. Getting rid of Intensives is a bad idea because many students across campus look forward to a new learning experience, knowing that regular classes are done and summer is right around the corner. Intensives benefit students by sparking interests that might be pursued in the future. Previous Next

< Back Where's my phone at? September 18, 2026 at 12:00:00 PM Jada Bao '28 At the start of this school year, Mercersburg introduced a sweeping new phone policy. The intention behind it is undeniably for the good of everyone. By restricting cell phones along with headphones and earbuds during the academic day in public spaces such as the dining hall, the school aims to force us out of our digital bubbles, encourage more face-to-face communication, and foster a tighter-knit community. In an age of constant screen distraction, encouraging students to engage with one another is a goal worth supporting. However, a great intention does not automatically yield a flawless execution. In fact, a brand new system is usually imperfect in the start, having a lot of problems and holes in it. The core issue with the novel phone policy is not why it exists, but how strictly and inflexibly it is being enforced while the system itself is still going through a process of improvements. Transitioning from a policy where phones were allowed almost anywhere outside of class to one where devices must remain entirely out of sight during the school day requires immediate change of habits and quick adaptation. While the school sent out general notices over the summer, the exact details were not fully publicly announced (though accessible in the Blue Book) until a school meeting. Launching such a major policy shift and putting it immediately into action with no exceptions likely left most students scrambling, including me. Many could not remember their class schedule, missed critical updates that they intended to check later, or felt an overwhelming wave of anxiety about unread, time-sensitive emails during the day. To easily solve the problem, I feel like making announcements in dorm meetings before school started and giving advice of writing down or remembering your schedule in advance might have helped the students that were scrambling. Furthermore, the physical logistics to support this transition were overlooked. For instance, most students previously kept their blue cards in their phone cases. Banning phones out in the open without providing alternative card holders to put on backpacks forced a little bit of chaos and made the policy extremely hard to fulfill. Card holders are available from the tech and student life offices, but it doesn't seem like that was widely publicized. Similarly, students without watches now struggle to track time, especially when communal clocks like the one in the dining hall are behind the actual time. This can cause tardiness to class, meetings, or appointments, and make it feel necessary for students to sneak out their phones to check for the accurate time. The rigidity of the policy also clashes with daily campus realities. Banning phones in the dining hall during Saturday meals or informal dinners feels overly restrictive for times intended for relaxation. Likewise, forbidding phone use during free periods if one is in academic spaces like the library treats a self-directed study block with the same strictness as an actual class. When a student has their phone taken simply for holding it because they forgot to put it in their backpack when walking between classes, the enforcement feels punitive rather than constructive. When a school introduces a brand-new policy, logistical problems, but expecting perfection from students when the system is still developing is unreasonable. To truly achieve the community-building goals Mercersburg desires—which is a great intention—the administration needs to balance its firm vision with practical flexibility. Small but vital details such as supplying basic tools like card holders, ensuring campus clocks are accurate, improving advance communication, and allowing minor leeway while students are adjusting and the system is still improving would transform this policy into a shared success and actually achieve the intention of building a better community. Previous Next

< Back Grace for athletes October 9, 2026 at 12:00:00 PM Carlynn Schultz ’29 The light outside has long faded. As the bus pulls back onto campus from an away athletic game, the single thought on your mind is to collapse onto your bed. You finally manage to drag your exhausted body to your dorm only to have the dark hallway suddenly illuminated by the flash of your cellphone screen as you get a notification that you have been marked absent from the last two classes of the day. Accompanying the email is a notation declaring that you have accumulated six absences in the classes, adding yet another issue to your overflowing to-do list. That is the life of a student athlete. This is not a fantasy, but a reality that I lived through last year along with so many other students. The current attendance policy is set up in a way that does not take into account the schedule demands of students, nor does it account for or appreciate the massive amount of time given up by our students to represent our school, not just in athletics but in theater, Model UN, and other platforms. The policy, with its threat of loss of credit, punishes students for fulfilling their team and community responsibilities. Games and other performances are considered required appointments, leaving the involved students with an absence. Not only does the current policy leave students with no positive outcomes when torn between responsibilities, it also does not distinguish between absences due to carelessness such as oversleeping and absences due to school-sponsored events. As a result, a student who repeatedly skips class and a student who repeatedly misses class to represent Mercersburg athletics accumulate seemingly equal absences, creating an inaccurate picture of their respective commitments to academics. The policy also counts absences for commitments such as medical appointments and field trips, which are often outside a student’s control. These issues raise a simple question: how should the policy be changed? To this I answer that if, for a school-sponsored event, a student has notified the teacher in advance and completed or arranged to complete the work missed, they should receive an excused absence that does not count toward a loss of credit in the class. This distinction would create a record that more accurately reflects a student’s attendance while also reducing the anxiety and stress of students who participate in varsity sports or other off-campus PGA commitments. While some may argue that an absence from a class no matter the reason still has the same effect, this is not so. A student who has completed all the work for the class and is diligent in their participation even outside the classroom will have a much greater positive impact on the culture and learning of the class in comparison to someone who has chosen to cut the class. The Attendance Policy should show the difference. Students should not be punished for choosing between two responsibilities the school itself asks them to fulfill. When caught between a rock and a hard place, how are you supposed to come out without a scratch? Previous Next

< Back Pro-Affirmative Action September 22, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Adwoa Sankah '26 I strongly believe Affirmative Action is necessary, and it creates benefits for our society. To further explain, Affirmative Action is a government-organized policy which encourages and equalizes access to college opportunities for racial minorities, women, and other underrepresented groups. To fully appreciate the importance of affirmative action it's crucial to understand the historical context. Throughout a significant part of American history, highly-ranked colleges and the jobs they unlocked were effectively reserved for wealthy, predominantly white men. Affirmative Action confronts the deep-rooted racism and discrimination that historically made it difficult for marginalized groups to excel in higher education and professional spheres. With this policy, schools were less likely to prevent qualified students from attending their school because of their sex, race, ethnicity, and more. By enhancing academics and workplaces, affirmative action provides a more inclusive community. In an academic setting, studies have shown that having more diverse classrooms increases creativity by giving rise to new and unique ideas. Interacting with people from different backgrounds improves students' social skills and empathy: learning to relate to others, resolve conflicts, and work effectively in diverse teams. These skills are beneficial both inside and outside the classroom. In my opinion, Affirmative Action does not disadvantage white and Asian applicants. Instead, individuals are considered alongside their peers, meaning they must meet the same criteria and qualifications as everyone else. The policies are in place to address existing inequalities and systemic barriers, not to target or disadvantage white individuals. Affirmative Action also yields economic benefits. Giving individuals from marginalized backgrounds better access to higher education and better-paying jobs, they are more likely to achieve higher incomes and improve their economic circumstances. When historically marginalized groups have greater access to education and employment, they also have buying power. This leads to the increase of new market opportunities for businesses to supply to a more diverse consumer base than without this policy. To conclude, affirmative action is a step in the right direction to level the playing field for underrepresented groups. Originating from a historical era when racial minorities and women were systematically denied access to opportunities enjoyed by others, its active stance against bias and prejudice results in a more equitable educational environment and workplace. Affirmative action also fosters diversity, stimulates creativity, and enriches the collective intellectual capacity of society. Previous Next

< Back Conserve-ing your opinion September 15, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Andrew Leibowitz ‘24, Erika Tso Sowah ‘24, and Maria Akaras ’24 The Mercersburg News opinion page is meant to be a space where members of the student body can freely voice their opinions. In recent years, however, the page has fallen short of these standards, which we hope to rectify this school year. Rather than fostering diverse opinions, the page has typically published articles with more “mainstream” perspectives. This is understandable, of course, but true diversity of opinion is key to building an inclusive paper, as well as stimulating difficult conversations. Though we have a student body of varying political opinions, liberal-leaning views have typically been showcased. Past articles have also been rants, rather than adequately evidence-based opinions. As editors, we hope to change this trend by imploring our peers to share their fact-supported opinions. The line between rumor and fact, as we know, appears blurry at times, but when mere opinions are published, they can be harmful to the rest of the community. As well as promoting varying and even opposing voices, our goal for this year is to publish thoroughly researched opinion articles rather than rants. Essentially, “know before you go.” One major focus is to fairly and respectfully elevate conservative voices to bring constructive and informative discussion to campus through the newspaper. Though this initiative has been attempted many times in the past, conservative students have been fearful that their perspectives might be attacked by those in the community who hold opposing views. By promoting both liberal and conservative opinions side by side while also requiring the use of verifiable facts and information to produce informed arguments, we hope to have prominent conservative viewpoints spotlighted more often. Many of the issues showcased within our paper are Americo-centric, and we intend to enrich the paper by demonstrating the perspectives of international students on both American and global issues. Another perspective to elevate is that which comes from different grades. Often seniors are the ones writing opinions, thereby underrepresenting viewpoints held by underclassmen. By inviting a mix of students of all grades to write, we hope to ensure that the voices of all Mercersburg students are heard. It is ignorant to assume that a PG has the same worldview as a freshmen. In the end, the main purpose of Mercersburg Academy is to bring together a community of talented, thoughtful and intelligent students from around the world. It would be a mistake to not elevate ALL the voices that comprise our community, and the pages of the Mercersburg News are possibly the best place to demonstrate our community’s diversity and strength. Previous Next

< Back Closed on Sunday October 14, 2022 at 12:00:00 PM Reagon Houpt '25 and Nina McDowell '25 If you participate on any sports team or even in an outdoor education program, you can relate to post-game/excursion dinners on the road. Oftentimes, food options are limited to what is most convenient, usually fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy’s or gas station runs to Wawa or Sheetz. A fan favorite for a great number of students is Chick-Fil-A, beloved for its chicken sandwiches, nuggets, waffle fries, and lemonade (with extra ice). Although its products are crowd-pleasers, Chick-Fil-A has had its share of controversies and boycotts. Chick-Fil-A most notably has underlying Christian motives, hence their closure on Sundays. Dan Cathy, CEO of Chick-Fil-A, has financially supported the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the National Christian Foundation, and various other religious organizations, which openly stand against LGBTQ+ rights and the Equality Act, a bill that “prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.” In 2018 alone, Cathy donated over $1.8 million to groups that resist LGBTQ+ rights. Additionally, Cathy has previously voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, it’s not uncommon to witness homophobia seemingly everywhere. When PGA leaders make the decision to eat at Chick-Fil-A, this can arouse an internal conflict among students who identify as LGBTQ+ or loyal allies. After a long and physically exerting day, one cannot simply choose not to eat at the establishment if it’s the only available option. I question whether I feel unspoken pressure from my peers or embarrassment to admit that because of how I identify, I won’t eat somewhere that is so well-loved. Additionally, for someone with dietary restrictions, Chick-Fil-A’s menu can be difficult to navigate. Vegetarians are left with slim pickings, and there are even fewer options for vegan lifestyles. Nutrition is crucial for athletic performance; that being said, protein is especially important for recovery. Besides chicken, there are no alternative main protein sources offered at Chick-Fil-A. Waffle fries and a small side salad (sans chicken) are not enough to sustain an active teenage body. At home, it is easier to avoid corporations that clash with your moral beliefs, but when the only choices are to support the business or go hungry, this makes it difficult for students to feel in control. Choosing to take a PGA group or team to Chick-Fil-A is not only distasteful to the openly LGBTQ+ students, but it also has the potential to make those who are questioning their identities feel uncomfortable and the vegetarians go hungry. Previous Next