Search Results

< Back The only option February 16, 2024 at 5:00:00 PM Max Friedman '25 On January 27, a British oil tanker was struck by missiles coming from Yemen. The tanker survived, yet the event has already impacted the decreasing number of cargo traveling through the Red Sea. An Iranian-backed terrorist group in Yemen, the Houthis, coordinated the attack. In response to the conflict between Israel and Palestine, the Houthis, siding with the Palestinians, have vowed to attack all ships from nations supporting Israel. However, they have “mistakenly” hit vessels of other nations going to and from the Suez Canal via the Red Sea. UNCTAD estimates that since the commencement of the attacks, traffic through the Red Sea has decreased by 42%, and cargo traffic is expected to decrease even further. The United States has decided to respond by striking key Houthi targets. Each missile barrage has cost the taxpayers millions of dollars, and Lt. Gen. Douglass Sims estimates that the strikes have only reduced the Houthis’ offensive capabilities by 20-30 percent. President Biden himself said that the strikes have failed to stop the Houthis from disrupting global trade. These airstrikes have fallen under public criticism, as many see the strikes as a waste of time and money, and as having the potential to widen the regional conflict. I disagree with the sentiment. The strikes have not been significantly effective; there is no denying that. However, when looking at the alternatives available to President Biden, it is clear why America has chosen and will continue to execute missile strikes on Yemen. First of all, the United States cannot simply do nothing. The Houthi attacks have disrupted global trade to the point where the threat must be addressed. The delays as a result of redirected shipments have affected the prices of goods, and businesses that rely on a steady supply chain are at risk of shutting down. Several car factories throughout Europe have been forced to shut down for brief periods simply because they could not manufacture. Global food security is also at risk, as grain exported from Europe will now need to travel a significantly further distance to reach Asia and the east coast of Africa. If the war in Gaza continues throughout the year, the damage done to the economy will be significant. How else can America respond to the attacks besides missile strikes? Any other intervention besides an airstrike would likely result in an invasion of Yemen. I personally do not believe that a long war in Yemen would be supported by the American public, succeed in eliminating the Houthis, or even result in a better Yemen. Should America opt for a quick invasion purely with the goal of eliminating the Houthis, they would likely have a much harder time than anticipated. As the Israelis have shown, it is very difficult to accomplish such a goal. While Israel is attempting to eliminate Hamas in the 365 square kilometer Gaza Strip, the United States would have to remove the Houthis from the 530,000 square kilometer nation of Yemen., and likely result in more problems. Experiences in Iraq and Afghanistan have shown the US that removing one group from power will just lead to a power vacuum, a vacuum that will be filled as soon as American troops withdraw. Finally, the death toll would be unbearable to the American public. An invasion of Yemen has no cause behind it, no reason to lose thousands of American lives or hundreds of thousands of Yemeni lives. An invasion of Yemen would be an expensive, ineffective endeavor with a high death toll, and it would not be worth it for the United States to undertake such a dangerous attack. Recently, the United States conducted a strike in Iraq as well. This was in direct response to an attack from Kata’ib Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist group. This has raised fears of an escalation of tensions with Iran, who are also major supporters of the Houthis. What the United States is currently doing will not lead to war with Iran. In fact, it perfectly balances the tension at a level beneficial to America. Yielding to the Houthis would send a sign to the Iranian government that the United States will back down when faced with pressure, and they would likely become more aggressive with their tactics. Further encroachment, however, might force Iran’s hand, leading to a war. Iran is suspected to have nuclear weapons, and war between the U.S. and Iran could very well result in World War III. If America yields, it shows Iran that it is weak, and they will become more aggressive. If America becomes more aggressive, Iran will understandably retaliate, which could have dire consequences for both nations and the globe. By remaining in this state of tension, America is keeping its delicate relationship with Iran and Yemen in check and ensuring global trade security while keeping unnecessary casualties to a minimum. Previous Next

< Back Closed on Sunday October 14, 2022 at 4:00:00 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

Madeline Chu '27 < Back Here for a year? Madeline Chu '27 Oct 11, 2024 Mercersburg Academy proudly hosts a diverse demographic with students from 30 countries, including exchange students from Italy, Denmark, Germany, and Spain. Grace Megaffin, Director of Admission, stated, “This 12-year-old program provides an easy opportunity to offer a unique experience at an American boarding school for students who may live in countries where enrolling for four years isn't standard practice.” Most students stay for one year, but some decide to stay longer. German native Konrad Spory ‘26 is one who chose to extend his enrollment at Mercersburg. “I particularly enjoyed Mercersburg Academy students’ pride for the school compared to my previous school in Germany and how engaging teachers were with students,” Spory said. Lisa Tschiesner ‘27, from Germany, agreed, stating, “I really love it. The people here are so amazing. I’m having a great time here. I like my teachers and my friends are all amazing.” She added, “It is super impressive seeing the American style and the American spirit of how to deal with things.” Exchange students welcome the plethora of experiences unique to Mercersburg Academy and the United States. Mio Boege ‘26 from Germany said, “I am most excited to play tennis in the spring.” Blanca Coronado Pomares ‘27 and Luana Colell Navarro ‘27 from Spain added, “We are looking forward to Irving Marshall week!” Tschiesner said, “I am ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with family.” Deciding to commit to an exchange year can be a big decision. Navarro said, “When I was here visiting, I liked it so much that I just wanted to live the experience.” Both she and Cornando Pomares agreed: “We wanted to live the American Dream.” Tschiesner continued, “I’m really interested in the American culture.” Athletics can also be a determining factor in one’s exchange year. Megaffin said, “Mercersburg Academy’s swim program appealed to students in Italy and Denmark this year, two countries you can't find on many boarding school's lists of represented countries.” Spory said, “It's really fun to have so many sports and so many opportunities to showcase.” Many Mercersburg Academy exchange students first learned about exchange opportunities through existing contacts. “The best friend of my dad, she has an agency that does exchange years. So I heard about exchange years and thought I might as well just do one,” said Boege. Coronado Pomares explained, “My dad also did an exchange year and he was literally obsessed!” Even if Mercersburg’s exchange students stay for only one year, Megaffin said they are still Mercersburg alumni. She added, “Some exchange students do choose to stay through graduation because they enjoyed their year so much, so you never know!” Previous Previous Next Next

< Back Don't tik away free speech January 24, 2025 at 5:00:00 PM Lilah Weisberg ‘25 TikTok is as much of a threat to the average user as a papercut. In the aftermath of the recent US Supreme Court decision to support the TikTok ban, many are questioning the rationale behind it. Although TikTok has, ironically, already returned to the public square, the supposed problem has not been addressed. The fact that the US government was willing to ruin the lives of millions of small businesses and creators over false narratives warped by Congress reveals a much bigger issue in US politics. One narrative used to justify the ban is that TikTok poses a “national security threat.” The argument is that the Chinese-owned app collects personal information from US citizens. However, legal experts not affiliated with the US government have debunked claims about the types of information TikTok can access. They have found that it can access only very basic information from users, such as names, email addresses, and sometimes locations. Thus, the “threat” is exaggerated and propagated by the US government to push its agenda. So, if access to personal data isn’t the true concern, what is the real reason that the app is banned? FBI director Christopher Wray stated in direct reference to TikTok: “The FBI is very focused on the threat of disinformation, especially from foreign adversaries trying to use social media as a tool to influence our democracy, influence our elections, and sow discord.” This may sound like a reasonable concern, but the US government has no authority to restrict online activity to reduce the sway of politics. This is censorship! It is simply an excuse to consolidate more wealth in the hands of the wealthy, powerful American billionaire CEOs of other social media companies by forcing the partial sale of TikTok to American investors.. The idea that TikTok is a useless app is another narrative propagated by politicians. The fact is that TikTok allows businesses and creators to build their own platforms and thrive. With over 170 million monthly users in the US alone, the app creates the perfect opportunity for small businesses to advertise and sell their products. A study from Oxford Economics estimated that the 7 million American small businesses on TikTok generated 15 billion dollars of revenue and contributed more than 24 billion dollars to the US GDP in 2023 alone. The proposed ban would hurt millions of people by putting their livelihoods in jeopardy. In addition to the clear negative impacts that banning TikTok will have on millions of people and businesses, TikTok is also a sentimental app for millions of teenagers. Psychologists, parents, and teachers have said that social media is bad for teenagers and has various negative impacts eclipsing the pleasure from scrolling through mindless videos. What they don’t seem to understand is that social media contains our diaries, connections, and an escape from the dystopian world we are now living in. We are able to escape the idiocracy that is US politics, the pressure that is school and grades, and the fatigue that comes with being a teenager in the 21st century. Through sharing a few laughs or edits or encouraging videos, TikTok has become more than just an app to us. This unprecedented act of censorship puts in jeopardy the freedoms we were promised at the founding of the country. And with the Soviet-adjacent political atmosphere our country is approaching, freedom seems farther from reach than ever. Previous Next

< Back Yoonited we stand, divided he falls December 13, 2024 at 5:00:00 PM Taeeon Moon '25 On December 3, 2024, at approximately 10 p.m., South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an emergency national address. He justified his decision by asserting that the National Assembly had become a “den of criminals,” paralyzing the nation’s judicial and administrative systems. He claimed the measure was necessary to “eradicate anti-state forces conspiring to overthrow the liberal democratic order.” Ironically, the order, claiming to be preserving democracy, became the decisive factor that positioned Yoon as a suspect in destroying the Constitution. As the president is undergoing an investigation for potential treason, is it not a treason to attempt to overthrow one’s very democracy? Article 77 of the South Korean Constitution stipulates that the President may declare martial law “in the event of war, armed conflict, or a comparable national emergency.” However, even considering subjective interpretations of these conditions, South Korea was not experiencing circumstances that justified such a declaration. This discrepancy immediately ignited significant controversy within the country and abroad. The National Assembly, led by the opposition, swiftly passed a resolution demanding the repeal of martial law. The 190 lawmakers present voted unanimously in favor. Meanwhile, citizens protested in front of the National Assembly, calling for the order’s immediate revocation. Eventually, the Assembly formally dissolved martial law 155 minutes after it was declared, and President Yoon rescinded the measure approximately six hours after its initial announcement. If martial law had remained in effect, the military would have been authorized to arrest, detain, and conduct searches and seizures without warrants, utilizing military forces as needed. Proclamation No. 3 specified that all media and publications would be subject to military censorship, while Proclamation No. 4 banned strikes, slowdowns, and public gatherings. Therefore, citizens asserting constitutionally protected rights before the National Assembly likely would have been arrested and punished under these rules. The most constitutionally contentious aspect of the declaration was Proclamation No. 1, which prohibited “all activities of the National Assembly, local councils, political parties, and political associations, including assemblies and demonstrations.” Even in cases where martial law might be justified, the President has no authority to suspend the operations of a constitutional body like the National Assembly. Since the Assembly holds the ultimate authority to revoke martial law, its suspension would effectively eliminate institutional checks and balances. Threatening the foundation of democracy to power-grab on the part of a leader trying to stay in office is intolerable. I considered various possible reasons for enacting such a law, but none made sense. Following the incident, President Yoon faced accusations of sedition, and multiple lawsuits were filed against him. On December 9, the Ministry of Justice imposed a travel ban on Yoon, marking the first such measure against a sitting president under the current constitutional framework. The opposition attempted to impeach him, but the first impeachment motion failed when lawmakers from the ruling People Power Party collectively boycotted the vote. The President should be impeached because this incident insinuates that anything could happen tomorrow. The ambiguous motives behind the declaration of martial law have raised significant domestic and international concerns about the state of South Korean democracy. But don’t worry. This incident demonstrates that our democracy can function to prevent unanticipated autocratic control when constitutional checks and balances are effectively enforced. The swift action by the National Assembly and civic protests exemplify the power of an engaged citizenry and the democratic resilience of South Korea. Previous Next

By Tahir Hasanov ‘25 < Back And we had to go to New Jersey! Tahir Hasanov ‘25 Nov 3, 2023 On October 21, Mercersburg Academy’s girls tennis, girls soccer, girls field hockey, and boys soccer teams traveled to The Peddie School for their annual MAPL matchup. Peddie is a consistently strong opponent and the games were critical match-ups for Mercersburg’s teams. Field hockey player Ava Guzic ‘25 commented, “Other MAPL schools are usually really competitive. Out of all of them, Peddie often gives us a really good game.” The girls tennis team was busy last weekend, competing in back-to-back MAPL matches. On Friday, they played Blair Academy and won 4-3. However, Peddie, a contender for the MAPL championship, was a considerably stronger opponent. Head coach Mike Sweeney said, “ At Peddie we only managed to win one match, the #3 seed doubles team of Anezka Pospisilova ‘26 and Ava Marathe ‘26 came away with a convincing 8-1 victory. At #1 seed, Hisano Enomoto ‘25 played one of her better matches of the season, coming up just short against a strong opponent.” The final score of the match was 0-7 for Peddie. The team dropped 2-3 in the MAPL as they head into the final tournament on Saturday. Similarly, the girls soccer team competed in consecutive matches last weekend. The team played first against Perkiomen School on Friday and won 4-0. However, the match against Peddie the next day was more challenging. Madison Goodheart ‘24 said, “In preparation for Peddie, we have been practicing a lot of set plays, and strategic passing for our offense. Coach Pixler has done a great job of keeping our practices new and fresh, while also focusing on some details that can elevate our game from good to great.” The Falcons controlled possession for the majority of the game, but the Blue Storm’s defense held firm in the face of attack. The team’s single goal came from Grace Rachals ‘24 assisted by Nina McDowell ‘25. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. The team poasted a 0-4-1 record in the MAPL as they head into their match against The Hill School. The field hockey squad also played back-to-back MAPL contests last weekend. They lost to The Hun School of Princeton on Friday 6-0. On Saturday, the team shifted its focus to Peddie. Guzic said, “Last year, we beat them in double overtime plus a shootout!” Although the score didn’t go their way against Peddie, the team was able to accomplish many of the goals they had set in practice. Maria Rihn ‘24 said, “On the offensive side, we made use of stick handling and ball movement up the sides of the field to get possession in our circle. On the defensive side, we played containment defense and worked to make sure every dangerous player was covered when the ball was moving towards our goal.” The final score of the game was 0-4 for Peddie. Rihn added, “Unfortunately, many of the official calls were not in our favor, and, at one point, we had to play two players down. Regardless of this, our team hustled and continued to communicate, maintained spacing, and stayed hungry for a win, which I could not be more proud of!” Unlike the other teams, the boys soccer team played a single game on Saturday. This match marked the third last game in the regular season, so the team prepared rigorously. Dave Nguyen ‘24 said, “In practice, we tried to improve on some of our problems from previous MAPL games. We watched film, and practiced specific aspects of the game in preparation for Peddie.” The game itself was extremely intense, remaining scoreless through the first and most of the second half. Nguyen added, “Towards the very end of the game, Peddie scored 2 goals off free-kicks. It was an unfortunate way to end a largely even game.” Despite the loss, the team was able to play one of their best games so far this fall and now head to the final phase of the season. Previous Next

Arts Oct 17, 2025 Say it loud: Fall Spoken Word Kate Sui ‘29 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Cutting creativity Ethan Shi ‘28 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Homecoming: Arts take the stage Rachael Zhang ’28 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Unity in paint Amy Ye ‘29 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Amy Wilson: In the Wild Blue William Shen ‘27 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Brinson’s back: the director’s encore Shubhlean Kaur ‘27 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Recruiting male choristers! Claire Chow ‘26 Read More May 16, 2025 Won’t “Chiu” look at her go! Sarah Ali ’25 Read More May 16, 2025 “Graduation Ball”: one last dance concert Maddie Mamoudis '27 Read More May 9, 2025 Our Chapel: An Enduring Memorial James Coors '27 Read More May 9, 2025 Taking art beyond the classroom: Yuma Matsuo Madeline Chu '27 Read More Apr 25, 2025 "Save the music" charity concert Rachael Zhang '28 Read More Apr 25, 2025 Fake it till you make it: seeing love theater Janie Miller '26 Read More Apr 18, 2025 Community Chorus: Mozart's Requiem Audrey Hua '26 Read More Apr 18, 2025 B-Mo returns to the "Burg Ava Guzic '25 Read More Apr 4, 2025 From tendus to twerking Elizabeth Orders '25 Read More Apr 4, 2025 MASQed avengers Derrick Park '25 and Alice Yoo '27 Read More Jan 24, 2025 Art in the Big Apple Maggie Coors '25 Read More Jan 24, 2025 Taking a Gamble Rachael Zhang '28 Read More Jan 17, 2025 Seussical to the stage! Tristan Paulette '27 Read More

Features Oct 17, 2025 Signed, sealed, delivered Sophie Han ’27 Read More Oct 17, 2025 Not so cooked after all Bauhinia Chen ’26 Read More Oct 3, 2025 David Stephenson Kate Sui ’29 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Catya Bookhammer Kate Sui ’29 Read More Oct 3, 2025 Erin McHugh Kate Sui ’29 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Coolest spot in town Riley Choi ’28 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Alyssa Colen Maddie Stonebraker ’27 Read More Sep 26, 2025 Jessica Dobrin Maddie Stonebraker ’27 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Treat people nice-Lee Paris Zhang '27 Read More Sep 12, 2025 Civic-minded Christine Jiang '26 Read More May 16, 2025 Clothing & communing William Luo ‘27 Read More May 16, 2025 Ron(knee)-slappers! Michelle Zhang ‘28 Read More May 9, 2025 Craving crêpes? By Sophie Han '27 Read More May 9, 2025 Pour Mental Health Ariel Xu '28 Read More Apr 25, 2025 Caked up Bauhinia Chen '26 Read More Apr 25, 2025 All aboard! Christine Jiang '26 Read More Apr 18, 2025 Making History Riley Choi '28 Read More Apr 18, 2025 "HANDS OFF" ... everything! Sophie Han '26 Read More Apr 4, 2025 Free Mercersburg Tahir Hasanov '25 and Anderson Wang '26 Read More Apr 4, 2025 Five things you did last week Maggie coors '25 and Tristan Paulette '27 Read More

Hustle & Bustle Edition #1 Read More

Hustle & Bustle

Hustle & Bustle