Fall: 2013-2014
Prep Pass/Fail: An Experiment
While most Exonians began their work at the dawn of fall term hoping to achieve strong grades, some of the 237 preps in the Class of 2017 may have done so with the goal of simply earning a “pass” on their official transcript. In the spring of 2013, Exeter’s Curriculum Committee proposed the plan for a pass/fail prep fall so that incoming freshmen could better acclimate to the Academy’s rigorous academic guidelines, and the plan went into effect for the first time this fall. The experiment, which will last two more years before undergoing faculty review, was passed in faculty meetings by a close vote of 76 in favor to 51 against and 16 abstentions. In addition to the majority of faculty, many members of the Class of 2017 seem to agree with the decision, as they believe it allowed them to ease into the Exeter community without the emphasis on letter grades. But there are still many faculty members that disagree with the outcome and are eager for Exeter to return to the previous system. Although the specific grades do not appear on transcripts, midterm and end of term grades are still received by Exonians and parents as to know where the student stands and how he/she is doing.
Adviser Block Fixed Into Weekly Schedule Despite Objections
For many years, students and faculty have noted the lack of adviser/advisee communication at Exeter, and several candidates for the Executive Board of Student Council (StuCo) announced their intention to fix the drawbacks of Exeter’s adviser system. In early November, an adviser-meeting proposal developed by the advising committee after meeting with students and faculty was passed 89-23 in faculty meeting. The plan involved a mandatory, 30 minute weekly meeting between adviser and advisees on Wednesdays, in which the group ideally discusses any matters the students have as well as issues and topics the administration wants faculty to consider with Exonians. But many students, who endorsed a meeting every other week in a StuCo vote, opposed the weekly plan. In a poll of more than 500 students, 79 percent objected to the introduction of weekly adviser meetings. In response to the backlash, the administration noted they may adjust the time and length of the meeting, but the addition to the Exeter schedule is here to stay.
Why So Gendered? Questioning Equality at the Academy
On an early September morning, students woke up and went to class, only to see hundreds of white posters plastered on doors, windows and walls all throughout campus. The signs read, “Why so gendered?” and “When did you consent?” with some of them featured dress code passages of the E Book that highlighted the “for girls” and “for boys” sections. The mystery elevated when both Exeter’s Gay/Straight Alliance and the Feminist Union announced that they had no involvement in the campaign, and the Exonian that taped up all the posters remains anonymous to date. Although the action violated certain rules, like not posting on doors or windows, and the message behind them is unknown, the posters sparked a multifaceted dialogue about gender issues in the Exeter community.
After seeing the posters, many students and faculty believed that it was time to discuss gender-neutral spaces, including bathrooms, and how these spaces and also gender-specific locations affect peoples’ comfort, while others used the campaign as a time to converse about the dress-code and how it could be made more equal and less biased for both genders. Many students also held a negative opinion of the poster campaign, believing that it was inflammatory and ultimately confusing in its message.
Some students responded creating signs of their own and writing on the original posters. Another view was that the signs may have been posted to raise controversy and kindle conversation rather than send a specific message; if that is the case, then the campaign surely succeeded in bringing this topic to the attention of everyone at the Academy.
Trustees Reject Divestment
Over the fall months, poster distribution, panels and protests all took place at Exeter to discuss the possibility of Exeter’s divestment from fossil fuel companies. Divesting, a process that involves selling off investments in certain companies, has been a tactic used often by past leaders and movements. Recently, many environmental figures have encouraged businesses, schools and universities to divest from companies that utilize fossil fuels for profit. Following this movement, Exeter’s Environmental Action Committee (EAC) planned a campaign urging the trustees to divest the more than one billion dollar endowment and make a statement to other similar academic institutions. The group hosted a rally outside a trustee meeting, and panels were held for both Student Council and the whole school in which the positives and negatives of divestment were discussed. Although the campus was divided on the issue, with many students and faculty for and against the undertaking, the trustees unanimously voted in late October to not support divestment; deciding it was not effective in affecting public policy or confronting the issues of climate change, and would reduce the endowment, allowing fewer under-privileged students to attend the Academy on financial aid. The decision came as a blow to the Environmental Action Committee and the supporters, but they resolved to continue to address other environmental problems at the Academy.
Lamont Health Center Renovated
An elegant entrance, fully-fitted classrooms and a cozy waiting room are all part of the restored Lamont Health and Wellness Center. After months of construction setbacks, the facility reopened in early October. For many years the old building lacked simple services, including permanent emergency exits, pushing Exeter’s administration to deliberate various options for an enhanced health center for over a decade. In 2011, The Academy decided the best plan of action was to gut and rebuild the existing structure, and after two years of fundraising, they began construction. Exeter also planned to improve other aspects of the location that were not health-related. Two rooms were created for students and clubs, and several features helped protect the environment and advocate for sustainability: both a green roof on the entryway to the building and a rain garden composed of plants and sandy soil have been added to lessen rainwater runoff and pollution. The new center has pioneered the idea of the efficient, sleek and environmentally-friendly building.