< Back You don't choose your family May 5, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Fran Garcia '26 Family style meals are a longstanding tradition of the Mercersburg Academy community. These occur in order to bring together students and faculty. Some however disagree with the tradition for various reasons that include the anxiety of having to sit with people you might not know. Others feel it's a great way to meet new people and strengthen the community. It's safe to say the opinions are fairly split, but as one searches for the right answer, it becomes clear that traditions like these are needed. When asking students who object to the tradition, most of their answers fall somewhere along the lines of disliking having to sit with people they might not necessarily know and not being able to sit with their friends. Indeed, we all are challenged during family-style meals to branch out and meet new people. If it does come to the point that no one wants to participate in a conversation, it's helpful for table proctors to plan out a question of the day or find other ways to get everyone involved. Tables rotate every two weeks so disliking a table is not something you will have to deal with for long periods of time. Students who feel like they don't get a chance to sit with their friends at lunch seem to forget about breakfast, most dinners, and lunch on the weekends when you are free to sit wherever you please and even go off campus to local restaurants. Having a meal with the same people for two weeks is bound to make you meet them and start conversations. For many, family-style meals have even been the commencement of great friendships and relationships with faculty members. The essence of traditions like this are what make a community great by connecting to a long history of what has helped our school define itself. Traditions like this make Mercersburg feel more like home. Traditions that create this feeling are highly important as we are a school that is overwhelmingly residential. (Besides sitting down for a meal, the tradition also includes a practice of great teamwork when it comes to being in charge of taking care of the food or the plates.) As divided as opinions about this matter might be, it is clear that Mercersburg is dedicated to keeping this tradition alive in order to help us connect with our past and each other. Previous Next

< Back Exercise your opinions November 15, 2024 at 11:00:00 AM Maddie Stonebraker '27 At many schools, participation in a sport is mandatory. While this policy aims to promote physical health and teamwork, the requirement can overlook students' diverse needs and preferences. Rather than making sports mandatory, schools should offer more flexibility for students fulfilling their physical activity requirements. By considering alternative physical activities and offering options beyond traditional team sports, schools could make physical education more inclusive, enjoyable, and beneficial for all students. Physical activity can improve fitness, reduce stress, and promote mental well-being, all essential for students' development. However, requiring team participation can make sports feel like an obligation rather than a positive, enjoyable part of the school experience. Forcing students into activities they dislike or aren’t suited for causes resentment toward physical activity, potentially leading to a lifelong aversion to exercise. Instead, schools should focus on creating a physical education program that encourages all students to find an activity they enjoy and which would be more likely to foster a lasting commitment to fitness. One problem with mandatory sports policies is that they often don’t accommodate students with unique needs or interests. Team sports like basketball, soccer, and football may be enjoyable for some, but not every student is comfortable with competition, and not every student is physically suited to rigorous contact sports. For instance, students with physical disabilities, mental health concerns, or simply different interests may struggle to find a place on traditional sports teams. When students have the option to choose activities that align with their interests and abilities, they are more likely to participate enthusiastically and reap the benefits of physical exercise. Furthermore, making sports mandatory can add unnecessary stress for students who are already struggling to balance academic and extracurricular demands. High school students are often under intense pressure to succeed academically, and many also have responsibilities outside of school, such as part-time jobs or family obligations. When students are forced to add a sport to this already heavy load, they may feel overwhelmed, and mandatory sports can become just another source of stress. Additionally, a more flexible approach to physical activity could promote inclusivity by incorporating activities that reflect diverse cultural backgrounds. Not every student grew up with a love for traditional American sports; for many, soccer, cricket, or martial arts is much more accessible and familiar. Schools that offer a variety of options, including individual and culturally diverse activities, demonstrate respect for students’ backgrounds and make physical activity more approachable for everyone. Overall, while promoting physical activity is an admirable goal, mandatory sports requirements often fail to meet the diverse needs of today’s students. Schools should instead offer a variety of activity options that allow students to fulfill their requirements in ways that are meaningful and enjoyable, support students’ physical and mental well-being, and help them build healthy habits that last a lifetime. Previous Next

< Back Graduation caps, not cop caps April 9, 2024 at 12:00:00 PM Susanna Huang ‘27 Recently, Campus Safety has planned to adopt the carrying of firearms on campus, hoping to increase the level of security. Proponents of the measure say that we can never be too safe. Indeed, it is hard to argue against prioritizing student safety. However, there is also a population of students who question the necessity of firearms in the community. The presence of firearms may create an atmosphere of fear where students may become intimidated by the very people who are meant to protect them. Granted, the school has taken steps to facilitate conversations between students and Campus Safety, such as organizing friendly “ride-alongs” in an effort to shift the perception of intimidation. Although this effort is appreciated, it may present a forced relationship and come off as disingenuous to some students who may perceive these efforts as “damage control” on the part of the school. The school should have focused on training in de-escalation conflict resolution techniques to build an atmosphere of empathy and understanding before turning to carrying weapons. Prioritizing training for conflict resolution can build students’ confidence in campus security’s competence in preventing dangerous incidents from escalating in the first place. Establishing authentic community engagement can foster trust and connection between students and Campus Safety. A safe school community should start with these in mind before deciding to militarize Campus Safety. Building trust and relationships within the community is more effective in keeping the campus safe and should have been the priority to begin with, not an afterthought. Previous Next

< Back Taylor and Travis’s tale October 20, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Max Friedman ‘25 In the past couple of weeks, social media has been abuzz over a sensational current event. It is nearly impossible to watch sports or scroll through Instagram without coming across this news maker. This occurrence has put two groups of people, both dedicated to their superstars, at odds. I am talking about Travis Kelce’s relationship with Taylor Swift. The relationship between the two celebrities came out of nowhere. Suddenly, on September 24, 2023, you could not go anywhere without hearing the news of the relationship. Initially, fans appreciated the amount of media coverage being given, with the NFL itself making a statement in support of the relationship’s media coverage. However, as time progressed, voices of criticism emerged, arguing that the coverage has gone too far. I believe that the media coverage should be reduced or halted altogether: let the superstars figure out their relationship. Others, however, are fully on board with the constant exposure and believe that it is needed to prevent further relationships. We do not live in a perfect world. When celebrities have relationships, the press responds with a full-scale exposure campaign. However, the tabloids must be careful with their coverage of personal situations. The news blitz could create greater uproar than the relationship itself, and in that case, would be an over-the-top response to the relationship. The media coverage may all but force Taylor Swift to move in with Travis Kelce, caving to the intense pressure placed by the media siege. It is an incredibly difficult situation, even further complicated by the NFL’s clear alignment with the goals of the press and the race for revenue. In fact, the NFL recently made a deal with Taylor Swift’s agent to allow her to play in football stadiums during The Eras Tour , after having previously prevented her agent from accessing the stadiums—in exchange for free tickets, of course. The relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift warrants coverage. There is zero question of that. However, the controversy lies in the extent to which the media is entitled to cover the relationship. For my part, I believe that the media is fully authorized to cover as it sees fit; when such a relationship happens, it must be discussed to the fullest extent possible. It’s simply strategic. The media has the NFL’s blessing, and until that is gone, they will continue to report on the relationship. As for Swift and Kelce, I wish them the best, and hope that they may find privacy once the coverage has run its course. All we can hope is that one day there shall be peace between the media and celebrities. However, today is not that day, and there is no end in sight to the excessive and invasive media coverage of the relationship between Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift. Previous Next

< Back Pocketing distractions September 19, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM Jiwon Chung ’28 Last spring, a new study hour rule was added to Fowle Hall and Tippetts Hall: the phone pocket policy. All ninth graders were required to place their phones in a pocket on their doors and keep the door open. Phones had to be in the pockets from the start until the end of the study hour, from 8 to 9 p.m. When students first heard the news, most complained about the new policy. The policy’s purpose is to help students concentrate fully on their work and be productive. Phone addiction is a common problem that students have experience throughout the world. The phone restriction shows that faculty notice, care about, and are seeking to address distractions that phones cause to students. Some academic work must be done outside of class time; however, students also need time for PGAs, dinner, and rest, consuming most of their time after school. Time for studying and working is limited, which is why study hours are necessary for most students. Phones encourage inefficient use of time during study hours, which is why faculty consider them a serious problem. As a ninth grader last year, I was not happy with the phone pocket policy. For forgetful people like me, remembering to place my phone in the pocket before study hours was a very common error that led to conflict between faculty members and me. It also felt unfair that only ninth graders were affected by the policy. Although I am a lower middler, no longer required to put my phone in a pocket, looking back I think about the policy. First of all, being able to finish without disturbance helped me concentrate throughout the hour and a half. Although phone use was prohibited, listening to music with Bluetooth AirPods (or any way that does not include physically interacting with a phone) was still allowed. Without phones, I wasn’t able to check notifications from Snapchat or Instagram; as a result, there was no need for me to wake up at 6 a.m. to finish the homework that I hadn’t been able to complete the previous night. There was time for processing while doing work, and I got more time for sleep Phone pockets are not just an unfair, strict policy that exists solely to control students. Instead, they provide opportunities for more diverse ways of studying, a better chance of long-term concentration, and a pure hour and a half for improving academic performance and skills outside of class. I hope more students who are required to put their phones in phone pockets, especially those who have had the same opinion as mine, are able to reflect on their performance during study hours and how efficiently their time may be spent. Previous Next

< Back Time to "Trump" the competition November 1, 2024 at 12:00:00 PM AJ Patel '26 In the upcoming election, I endorse Donald Trump because his policies on border security, gun rights, and economic growth align with my belief that competitive capitalism and private enterprise offer the greatest opportunities and highest living standards to the most people. Free markets—unlike systems weighed down by excessive government regulation—drive innovation and competition, create jobs, and improve prosperity across all sectors. By limiting illegal immigration and expanding the border wall, Trump's focus on the border prioritizes economic stability and safety for American citizens. This helps protect American jobs and resources from potential competition caused by unrestricted immigration. I believe it is important to prioritize opportunities and jobs for citizens of our country before anyone else; this is something that Trump and his Vice President, JD Vance, have consistently emphasized. Furthermore, I value Trump’s defense of gun rights. Trump’s commitment to upholding the Second Amendment protects personal freedom, ensuring individuals can protect themselves without unnecessary government interference. While I support the need for checks, Trump’s approach ensures that responsible gun ownership remains accessible for law-abiding citizens. Trump’s economic achievements reflect his belief in the power of free markets. His 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered corporate taxes from 35% to 21%, encouraged businesses to invest, expand, and hire more workers. His push for deregulation reduced government burdens on businesses, creating a more favorable environment for entrepreneurship. In contrast, excessive regulation can limit growth and innovation, restricting opportunities for individuals and companies, alike. The outcome of this election carries significant implications for the future. If Trump wins, I believe America will continue on a path toward economic freedom, personal responsibility, and opportunity. His business background enables him to make informed decisions that foster job creation and strengthen the economy. Conversely, Kamala Harris’ proposed tax increases, such as wealth taxes and higher corporate rates, could reduce investments and slow economic growth, diminishing America’s competitiveness in the global market. While both candidates share common ground in their support for small businesses, Harris emphasizes targeted aid, such as tax cuts, first-time homebuyer incentives, and forgivable loans to support underserved communities and new businesses. However, this creates an uneven playing field, reducing competitiveness by encouraging over reliance on government assistance, which may hinder longer-term business prosperity. Trump’s leadership has shown tangible results. From lowering taxes to securing the Abraham Accords, he has enhanced the nation’s standing internationally. His policies ensure that American interests remain a priority in trade, diplomacy, and national security. Although his style may be criticized, his track record demonstrates a commitment to delivering on promises that benefit citizens and position the U.S. for long-term success. Previous Next

< Back Elected by default November 7, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM Amara Okoye ’29 It’s election season at Mercersburg Academy. Candidates are making their campaign videos, and students are getting ready to cast their votes. Everything seems normal except for one thing: you can’t actually run for vice president! Mercersburg’s current system for electing class council members, which automatically assigns the vice president’s role to the presidential runner-up, is fundamentally flawed. It creates a forced partnership while also reducing the vice presidency to a consolation prize. The first reason for a change is the need for more unified teamwork. If both the president and vice president ran together, there would be more unified ideas and less discord. In the current system, the president might have to work with someone whose ideas they oppose or with someone they aren’t familiar with. Imagine meetings with endless debates and very little progress. This structure guarantees increased disagreements within the class council. A more effective model would allow students to run as vice president, partnered with the presidential candidate. This would ensure that the team was aligned and could move forward from day one because students deserve leaders who can work well together. The current system also turns a position of distinct leadership into a consolation prize for getting second place, making it feel like a fallback rather than a genuine victory. This completely undermines the joy and accomplishment of winning the vice presidency. One whose goal was to become president might commit to being a good vice president, but the “win” would be less enjoyable because it resulted from their failure to reach the primary goal. Committing to something is much harder when you don’t want it. While the vice president may eventually come to love their role, the designated class deserves someone enthusiastic about the work from the very beginning. The current election system might seem convenient, but it creates issues that make the vice presidency feel like the second-best. By moving to a system that gives the vice president an independent vote, we can have a vice president and a president with clear, unified goals and a passion for their jobs. It’s time for Mercersburg Academy to adopt a more effective, unified class council. Previous Next

< Back Regarding the Regents November 4, 2022 at 12:00:00 PM Kevin Hang '24 It’s about that time of year… the Board of Regents school meeting! Was it as bad as the one last year? No! Was it any good? Absolutely not. But hey, at least the photographer got their diversity shot for the year! After the Board of Regents school meeting last spring, the school has learned a few things: 1) Follow a script. Some of the Q&A answers last year were…questionable. Make the script inconspicuous (have them all hold their stapled packets to refer to, also have them point out that a question goes off script). 2) Filter the questions. We need questions that will reflect well on board members and ameliorate the students’ impression of them. Off-the-cuff questions are a big no after last year’s school meeting. 3) Look diverse! Last year’s panel raised a lot of questions about the board’s degree of representation from the student body. A pre-prepared question about diversity, as well as younger board members almost had me believing in the change… However, one glance to the sides of the theatre revealed where all of the old, white, male, board members were hidden: out of sight, out of mind. 4) Privacy is key. Block off the Edwards Room and close down two classrooms to ensure that the board gets its privacy, but at the same time we should also encourage students to speak directly to board members while they are here on campus! In all seriousness, these are glaring issues that the board and the administration need to figure out. This is not an attack on board members themselves’ or a discredit to the work they do for the school. I am simply sharing a student perspective as to how this meeting looks year after year. It is hard to feel as though these people represent us when we never see them. I don’t care about a single one of their answers. I don’t care whether they were Irving or Marshall, or that they love pretzel pie, and I don’t care about their Mercersburg Moment. What I do care about is the impact of COVID on our campus and what’s being done to mend it. I care about what they’re actually doing behind the scenes, and not that awful “joke” that one board member made about obesity and nutritional values. I care about being able to ask the questions that matter, and I care about being seen. Yet the board seems to take every step they can to dodge us and then complains that we just don’t reach out to them. We need more two-way communication. While I understand they’re all busy people and this is a volunteer commitment for them, at least provide an email that students can write to or open school meetings to a real Q&A. Until concrete steps are taken to address these issues, the Mercersburg student body will never take them seriously. As Betsy Mitchell famously said last spring: It goes both ways. The student body deserves just as much respect as the board. This dynamic doesn’t have to be an us vs. them; we have to be able to work together, so that the student body's needs are met in a realistic way. Previous Next

< Back Outsider in my own house December 8, 2023 at 12:00:00 PM Elise Gao ‘26 With the Israeli-Palestinian conflict raging abroad, it has recently come to my attention how little teens know about world events. In the age of the internet, where information is more accessible than ever, it is ironic that people are less informed, or even worse, misinformed. It is easy to be misled by the overwhelming amount of information available on the internet accessible through a simple Google search, even if you only click on the first link that comes up. However, during the age of technology, people–especially younger generations such as Gen-Z–prefer to watch a twenty-second TikTok as opposed to reading a news article from a reputable source. To refresh your vocabulary: misinformation is false news, and disinformation–a more common problem nowadays–aims to deliberately mislead by leaving out crucial facts. Many people fall victim to the latter. According to Forbes , teens prefer to get information through social media–a medium in which disinformation runs rampant. Due to the short attention spans most teens have regarding the internet, they are more willing to trust the first source that pops up on their feeds, rather than check for credibility or explore the information presented on other news sites. More often than not, influencers become their news outlet–accurate or not–over actual, reliable news sources such as the Associated Press or the New York Times . Part of the problem also lies with the growing disinterest in current events. Notably at Mercersburg Academy, in a town in rural America very isolated from the rest of the world, students–myself included–are less inclined to look up current happenings so long as they don’t interfere with our day-to-day lives. However, I believe that global events do matter and that it is important to check on them every once in a while. Just as the pandemic of absent voters in the youth demographic is detrimental, so is their absence or lack of knowledge of world affairs. Contrary to popular belief, global occurrences do have consequences in your life. The Russian-Ukrainian conflict is driving inflation–in particular, gas prices. Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia are rising due to Israel and Palestine’s ongoing struggle, possibly affecting some of your friends and peers. Educating oneself about the current situation is especially important with stakes as high as these. Once of age, your vote can help ensure that the agendas of those in power match the general populace. Since many of us can’t engage in voter activism, Mercersburg has held a brown bag lunch and offered resources to students interested in the topic, but the problem is that many people aren’t willing to inform themselves. So, students, I encourage you to spare some time to look up what’s happening in the world. Learn just a little bit about the world you live in, it’s quite a big place. Previous Next

< Back School spirit September 12, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM By Cole Piraino ’26 As I navigate the world of college admissions, I have observed that school spirit has been a point of pride at every school I’ve visited. Tour guides describe scenes of yelling at the top of their lungs, covered in face paint, in a jam-packed student section. These scenes entice me so much as to make school spirit a priority in finding my dream school. I long for such moments because spirit is something that Mercersburg now lacks. At one point in time, we witnessed similar scenes of passion. Irving-Marshall week used to be a time when the entire school showed up and showed out for their societies and the school. But the once-organized chaos has been replaced with pure organization. The over-regulation of where and how banners should be hung highlights this: who cares if we hang banners on the Burgin? So to those who appreciate the faculty involvement in the week and banner hanging: let the banners fall, bring back the chaos! I assure you, the original Irving-Marshall events did not involve faculty assistance in the use of duct tape. I don't want to sound self-righteous, but I pretty much blame everyone but the officers for the all-time low attendance in I/M week last year. Officers put in nearly a hundred hours each year, but when we show up to the gym in body paint, we’re always the odd ones out. Additionally, the varsity male syndrome of PG guys only showing up for their own Irving-Marshall events is now so contagious that it has spread to regular sporting events, too. As a lacrosse player, Coach Kerr has always encouraged or required us to attend the girls’ lacrosse games, emphasizing that we can’t expect them to attend our games if we don’t attend theirs. There are four hundred and fifty students in this school, but not even a hundred were willing to attend the boys’ soccer game under the lights last week: a perfect display of how people want support, but aren’t willing to give theirs to other teams. Furthermore, it is the same hundred students who you’ll see in the fish bowl on weekend nights, the same hundred in the crowd of Irving-Marshal week, and the same hundred who are there to experience the annual hypnotist or petting zoo. Our school spirit is at an all-time low. While seniors from my freshman year explain how their prospective colleges lack the community and school spirit that Mercersburg had when they were here, I doubt members of my class will say the same. We have no unified chants, we have no warcries, and we have no traditions or creativity coming from the bleachers. Last year, the Karux staff had to hand out cupcakes to convince people to buy their yearbooks. Now, the only purchases made from the school store are snacks instead of school merch. And heck! Nobody really reads the school paper! Previous Next

< Back The Ivy ceiling May 16, 2025 at 12:00:00 PM Justin Oh ’25 In the late eighties, my dad attended high school in Connecticut. From my youth, I remember him telling me stories of his high school experience: adjusting to life in America, making new friends, and studying in the hope of becoming an engineer. In most ways, his experience parallels my own - except for his college application process. My dad applied to five schools; I applied to many more. What has changed? And what are the consequences? The first question has some clear answers. Simply put, more people are applying to college while space in selective colleges has remained relatively flat. The massive endowments of the Ivy League have allowed them to recruit from the best students without looking at financial need. Schools have attempted to actively branch out to minority groups previously underrepresented in higher education. To be clear, I believe this is a good thing. At the same time, however, selectivity has risen dramatically. In 1990, Columbia University’s acceptance rate was reported to be 25%. Now, it hovers at around 4%. Furthermore, a low acceptance rate has become associated with prestige and academic excellence—something that just isn’t true. Colleges have historically competed with each other, whether for athletic glory, government funding, or just simply for bragging rights. But competition has become even fiercer since the creation of the U.S. News and World Report Rankings. For Harvard University, Princeton University, and Stanford University, the rankings contribute more to ego than to increasing their already selective applicant pools. But for less well-known schools, rankings have become the best way to get the attention of students and their families. The ranking system has made it easier for students to pick where to apply. Many students understandably want to go to a school with a high ranking, which has meant rising application numbers and sinking acceptance rates. And what do students do when acceptances go down? They apply to more schools. You can get the picture. As institutions for the public good, universities aren’t doing enough to solve the problem. Schools with large endowments, such as Harvard, have a moral obligation to increase their enrollment and make themselves more accessible. More controversially, I believe that the Ivies and their peers should enforce a cap on how many schools from their group a student can apply to. While this sounds radical, the United Kingdom already does this, with students being able to apply to either Oxford or Cambridge, not both. Even with these suggestions, the acceptance rates at selective schools will remain low. Not everyone who deserves a spot at an Ivy League school will get one. But even the act of acknowledging this issue and addressing it would help universities not only improve their perception among the wider public but also bolster their research programs and thus strengthen the institutions themselves. American Universities, a cornerstone of the nation’s success and the gold standard for universities all across the globe, ought to do better. Previous Next

< Back Getting the Cold Shoulder October 14, 2022 at 12:00:00 PM Greta Lawler '23 I’ve been getting a lot of laughs out of this proclamation, but I truly believe contracting COVID was a life-changing experience. After five years of perfect health and nearly perfect attendance in school, ten days of medical leave finally gave me the space to step back and see that the expectations I’d built for myself were far more flexible than I had previously thought. I’m incredibly grateful for the compassion I received from my teachers and friends and their imperatives to rest and recover before worrying about life back at school. Meanwhile, back on campus, it seemed that everyone I talked to was hacking up lungs, plowing through boxes of tissues, and trying to temper headaches with Tylenol. Unlike me, however, they were also attending class, PGA, dinners, and club meetings through it all. On top of the normal societal pressures to push through physical and mental ailments, many students in a boarding school environment are not yet adept at identifying that these ailments even exist. Without my mom to point out my low energy and feverish gaze, I was easily able to convince myself COVID symptoms were simply a bad case of allergies. For years, our parents were the ones who told us throwing up at 6pm meant we shouldn’t go to school the next day and determined how red our throats needed to be before they scheduled a doctor’s appointment. Alone at boarding school, when it seems like life isn’t going to slow down for you, it can be easy to push through sickness rather than face the consequences of pressing pause, including attendance points and missed assignments. Mercersburg sent out an email to students’ parents this past week regarding attendance policies. Bottom line: missing class is unacceptable. While I agree that this is important for students to understand, I also think the school should consider introducing a new policy that would allow students the opportunity to choose up to one day per term, with the approval of their adviser, when rest would have significant benefits to their physical or mental wellbeing, and receive a student health day. A student health day would entail a full day of rest–no classes, no PGA, and no evening commitments. While students are currently allowed to check into the Rutherford Health and Wellness Center at all times for any physical or mental health need, for many students, a stay at the Health and Wellness Center only increases their stress and discomfort. Students need the space to learn to make smart, informed decisions about their own well-being. It shouldn’t take COVID to realize completing homework is not a life-or-death situation. Evening commitments can be missed. Tours can be declined. High school, despite its relentless pace, is ultimately not a matter of any real urgency, and one’s health, both physical and mental, should always come first. Previous Next