The Coat of Arms
Volume 44, Number 4
Menlo School, Atherton, California
Thursday, February 8, 2017
serving Menlo's upper school since 1975
Lack of parking frustrates students
Administration's attemps to fix the issue not satisfying students
Feb. 9 - Feb. 11: Winter play See the Menlo Drama Department's production of Shakespeare's comedy "Twelfth Night."
by KATE JEFFRIES
Ever since the change in parking lot assignments, with the previous senior lot becoming a junior and senior lot and the previous junior lot becoming one of the three on-campus faculty lots, on-campus parking has been an issue. Currently, there are 156 spots that are allocated to either carpool or generic spots for students in the lot known as the Junior-Senior Lot. The Coat of Arms asked every junior and senior student, the only grades allowed to receive a parking permit, if they drove to school, taking into account those who carpooled, drove electric vehicles, or had special accommodations; 189 of those students answered that they regularly drive to school. Nine students did not respond. With that data, 33 students can’t get a proper on-campus parking spot. The methodology is further explained in the final paragraph. Dean of Students Tony Lapolla emphasized that there has never been enough parking for everyone on campus. “If everyone was on campus at the exact same time, all juniors and all seniors, we would not have enough parking.” Lapolla said. “By combining the juniors and seniors into one lot, the biggest lot on campus, we are giving [the students] the best opportunity [to find a spot],” Lapolla said. However, even with this change, it is common to hear stories of students having to park on the street even if they
AHEAD
Feb. 12 - Feb. 16: Writers Week The week of Feb. 12 is Writers Week! Get excited to see all different kinds of writers give talks during lunchtime.
Feb. 14: Valentines Day
Aerial view of Menlo's senior and junior parking lot along Valparaiso Avenue. Photo courtesy of Tripp Robbins.
arrive to school on time. “I got to school around 8:28 a couple weeks ago so I had to park on University [Drive] and I couldn’t leave school during lunch to move my car since I had a teacher meeting so I got a ticket,” junior Kevin Chen said. The ticket Chen received for not moving his car out of the two hour parking spots on University, the closest street to the Menlo campus, was $45. Additionally, Chen recalls his parents frustrations with the ticket. “My parents were pretty mad, they almost took my keys away,” Chen said. Junior Luca St. Goar has also received numerous tickets for being forced to park on University Drive even when he has arrived to school on time. “I have paid over $100 for parking tickets [which] Menlo should refund because it’s their fault,” St. Goar said. Many Menlo students share similar experiences to Chen and St. Goar or have witnessed the issues caused by Menlo’s lack of parking in their classrooms. “People have gotten tickets because
they have to park on the street noying how everyday there are and they’re late to class which is plenty of visitor spots that aren’t [...] impeding on our education,” used,” junior Charlie Hsieh senior Katie Guardino said. said. “There are usually a few The lack of on-campus park- visitor spots open that we can’t ing also hinders students’ ability use which is unfair because we to sleep in when they have a free actually need to be on campus period first in their schedule. and they don’t,” Guardino said. Oftentimes students refrain from Yet upperclassmen are still sleeping in during their free pe- ticketed for parking in the free riods since it is unlikely that they visitor spots. Junior Matt Flower will find a parking spot after the believes that there should always first block of the day. “Normally be parking available for upperparking isn’t a problem, but it classmen who return to campus would be nice if there were spots during off times of the day. “I available when I sleep in,” junior believe that if students leave Maxwell Patterson said. campus during a free period or Guardino echoed this senti- lunch and come back and there ment. “There’s never any parking are no spots, they should be alunless you get to school super lowed to park in visitor parking,” early, which seems unfair and Flower said. counterintuitive since the adminWith the obvious lack of istration made start time later so spots compared to the number we could sleep,” Guardino said. of student drivers, the adminisIn addition, many students tration has attempted to aid the have voiced their frustrations issue at hand through different regarding the empty visitor spots initiatives. being off limits to students even when there are numerous visitor spots available and all the student Continued on page 2 spots are full. “It’s kind of an-
Spread some love on this special day. Give roses to your special someone, hang with some friends or tell you family how much they mean to you!
Feb. 19 - Feb 23: Winter Break
Enjoy a week of winter bliss. Hang with friends, read a good book, spend time outdoors and relax.
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Trump's presidency sparks varying responses
by ADDIE AHLSTROM
Menlo students reflect on Trump's presidency a year from his inaugaration
people’s taxes in the end,” junior Brian under Trump. I think our foreign policy is much better. I think the way we are Mhatre said. Other students seconded this opinion. regulating the free market is much bet“I love what he’s doing with tax reform in ter. I think the tax plan is much better,” that it’s getting more money in peoples’ Mhatre added. “Of course I’d rather pockets and not dealing with bureaucracy,” [have a president] who wasn’t going to make these crazy outlandish statements freshman Ben Siminoff said. Junior Thomas Woodside voiced a dif- that make many people look bad, but I ferent opinion. “[The tax plan] is going to think at this point I would rather Trump drive us into a lot more debt and I’m not [be] in office than Obama.” Contrasting opinions focus on the convinced the economy is really going to grow like Trump says it will,” Woodside benefits of the stoic presence that Obama offered in comparison to Trump’s. “The said. Creative Commons image: Gage Skidmore on Flickr Differing viewpoints also circulate reason I think that Obama is better than around what Trump’s top priority should Trump is because he’s a composed Jan. 20, 2018 marked President Trump’s first be. Many believe he should concentrate president who doesn’t say things that full year in office, with the various changes that on following through with his promised insult a lot of people,” freshman Jessica have unfolded since his inauguration. The success policies. “I think what Trump should re- Peters said. Republican and Democratic students of his presidency thus far has been widely debated, ally be focused on is getting through the with some applauding his policy efforts and others infrastructure bill he discussed while he alike agree that Trump is certainly flawed in some aspects, whether that be shaking their heads at his unconventional behavior. was running,” Mhatre said. Students also emphasized Trump’s need through his policies or the way he presMenlo students are no different in voicing their opinions about the advances and setbacks the na- to raise his approval rating, which is cur- ents himself to the people. “I think he’s tion has experienced as a result of Trump’s victory rently at 37 percent. “I think he has to deal really hindered himself in the way he’s with the fact that he is not supported by the used Twitter and the ways he’s spoken one year ago. Some mixed opinions from the student body stem majority of Americans. […] The President at times. […] Things like the sh*thole from whether Trump’s recent tax plan will stimulate doesn’t work for the people who voted for comments recently, even though he economic growth or only sink the nation deeper into him; the President works for the people of could’ve not meant them in a racist kind of way [...] takes away from the debt. “I think the recent tax cut will foster even more the country,” Woodside said. Even so, when compared to the Obama good policy he could be focusing on,” economic growth because of the cut to the corporate tax rate, which has been and will continue to administration, a few students prefer Mhatre said. Continued on page 2 raise wages, decrease unemployment and cut most Trump in office. “I think we are stronger
Photo of the Issue
Senior Joe Foley guards an SHP player as Menlo fans look on. Staff photo by Bella Scola.
News: 1-3 A&L: 4-6 Spread: 7-10 Opinions: 11-13 Sports: 14-16