Category: Features

By Ms. Miller’s Journalism Class 

Jeanne Arrigo, who plays Judge Barnes, addresses the crowd to begin the play “Defamation.” (Photo courtesy of Michelle Harris ‘17)

On Monday October 17th, the Wyoming Seminary community spent a day together to discuss sensitive social topics after viewing the nationally touring play, “Defamation.” “Defamation” is a courtroom drama where a black woman sues a Jewish man for defamation. The play included six actors and a jury of 500 audience members. At the end, the audience makes the ultimate decision of who is right, who is wrong, and why.

A group of 18 students and two faculty members saw the play last year at Malvern Prep High School in Philadelphia, and were asking to bring not only the play to Sem, but to bring the conversation with it. The goal of the play is to question topics that might otherwise be pushed to the side or too difficult to talk about in everyday classroom conversation.

When asked what the point of bringing Defamation to Sem was, Defamation Stage Manager, Anders Goodwin explained, “To get the civil discourse of race, class, gender, religion, [and] all of the things that come up in the play, to people who don’t have much exposure to it. [And to people who] have thoughts about it but haven’t had the chance to express their thoughts. These are conversations that we have to have in society but it’s hard to get these conversations started in a place that doesn’t feel threatening.”  

Sem Students watching a video about race in college admissions. (Photo courtesy of Parshwa Sheth ‘17)

A main goal of Monday was to get students to listen to each other and think about what they are saying, before they say it. “Listening to your peers and teachers, because you start to realize that everyone has their own views on the play. We’ve all seen the same thing but we all come out with slightly different perceptions on it.” Goodwin explains.

Following the play students were sent to afternoon sessions; two per student based on their choice. Many controversial topics such as race, religion, gender, class and the law were covered in the fifty-five minute sessions. Each session was hosted by faculty and special guests with relatively small group sizes of around twenty students.

This was a unique experience because these subjects are often not approached in a school environment. Sessions were varied, some being more informational and material based, while others were more discussion based. But the sessions not only informed students about what was going on in their world today but also what they will be facing in the coming years. Topics included safe spaces and free speech on college campuses, treatment of people with different sexual orientations, along with other concepts.

Some sessions ended with students being more informed, while others left students arguing with one another over their own beliefs.

Sem Students engaged in a discussion about Racial Segregation. (Photo Courtesy of Parshwa Sheth ‘17)

By Roy Phillips ’17
Last Friday, September 9, Wyoming Seminary Upper School students enjoyed a day free from school but not from hard work. Students were sent to volunteer in small groups to help give back to their community. Organized by Sem’s administration, Community Service Day is a new event that helps communicate and apply the school’s motto: “The True, The Beautiful, and The Good.”

Community Service Day also contributed volunteer hours towards each student’s requirement of forty hours. Service is required in order to graduate because, in the words of Mrs. Jane Slaff, “our core values are learning, leading, and serving.” She also says that the day of service is important to “appreciate giving back and to jump start making the community better.”

Community Service Day consisted of twenty-six different projects including ones dealing with animals, such as the trips to Blue Chip Animal Shelter, the SPCA, and Hillside Farms. Other outdoor trips were led to Camp Kresge, Camp Orchard Hill, the Wilkes Barre City Cemetery, and the JCC Camp.

Sem students unloading the van at JCC camp filled with wood after working hard all morning to collect it. (Photo courtesy of Jimmy Reilly ‘17)

Students helped out in a range of other activities, from assisting with projects at the Sem Lower School and visiting the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital in Danville, to writing letters to deployed troops and making posters for Breast Cancer Awareness.

Elizabeth DePhillips, Associate Director of College Guidance, was a leader in organizing the events of the day. She said, “[community service] is part of our essential core values, so [the day allowed] for new students to experience options for how they can get involved in the community, but also for returning students who have been a part of the community to really highlight all the great things they are doing in the community and how they are learning outside the classroom.” Students also enjoyed the day, as Sam Sweitzer ‘18 stated: “It brought everyone together and gave us a chance to have an impact on others.”

Wyoming Seminary students at Blue Chip Farms where they helped to take care of animals looking for a permanent home. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Bartron)

Being able to choose from twenty-six different projects allowed individuals to give their time and effort to causes they feel passionate about. Nina Magnotta ‘17 told us about her choice: “I picked Hillside Farms because I wanted to give back to a nonprofit that gives so much to the community.

Wyoming Seminary students at Blue Chip Farms where they helped to take care of animals looking for a permanent home. (Photo courtesy of Rachel Bartron)

Upon returning back on campus students enjoyed lunch with their advisors and an assembly about the volunteer work done by members of our Sem community. Mr. Chris Pons, Wyoming Seminary math teacher, spoke about his time in the Peace Corps, encouraging the audience to also get involved in international service. Mr. Jay Harvey ‘80, Upper School Dean, spoke of a recent alumna, Emily Bruno ‘92, who chose a life of service and gave back to people all over the world from all walks of life. Alan Stout, a representative from the local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters, also spoke how volunteering can help make a lasting impact on less fortunate children from around the area.

Jake Rosner ‘17 holds a poster for the group helping Operation Gratitude where students made cards and bracelets for our nation’s military. (Photo courtesy of Patty Deviva)

Students on the Community Service Board spoke as well, including Rose Zheng ‘18 who believes that the activities of the day were “cultivating the habit of community service.”

The excitement of the day will hopefully encourage students to get involved with volunteering more often. Ariana Buffalino ‘18 enjoyed her day at the Lower School and said that it “absolutely makes [her] want to do more community service.”
With so much going on, it is good to take a day and reflect on the school’s mission. At Sem, the students strive for the True, the Beautiful, and the Good. After a day of helping out, making others happy, and simply improving the community, the Sem student body and faculty look forward to the next opportunity to bring that mission to life.