Grace Smith ’19
Ella Zomber ’19
The change is obvious. Chapel is not the same. In the last four years, chapel has undergone some minor shifts like the choir processional, more non-hymnal songs, traditional Quaker worship services, the presentation of gifts, and the absence of the front podium. However, there have been some major changes like the larger vestry, decreased guest speeches, the no-clapping rule, and shorter services have altered chapel’s overall tone. Grace Szafara ‘19 says, “When I was an underclassman, my favorite speeches were from outside speakers and alumni and they really affected me. Now, those don’t really happen.” However, the largest change that both students and teachers feel the impact of the most is the absence of senior speeches.
Although everyone has felt the shift in chapel’s services, the seniors especially can recall a time their freshman year when chapel was jam-packed with senior speeches. Why has the number of senior speeches lessened? Mackenzie Lee ‘19 says, “Since seniors are super restricted in what they can talk about they don’t speak”. Others feel that the message of senior speeches has become formulaic and irreverent. Luke Giordano ‘19 opines “I guess I would comment on the repetitive precedent that’s been set. People giving speeches that focus on personal problems rather than more community-oriented topics. Not that there isn’t something to be said for personal growth, but a few speeches that address broader issues wouldn’t be bad”. Cheryl McLauchlan also feels strongly about how much seniors need to be heard; she says, “My favorite part of chapel is senior speeches. It makes me sad that people think that a speech must involve a hardship when it can be about a hobby or interest. I would love to hear from the seniors”.
Some think that the chapel’s diminishing influence on students’ lives is also affecting our communal worship. Rayhan Ali ‘19 believes that “I worry that a deficit in senior and outside speakers further exasperates chapel’s tendency to be formulaic to the point of eroding it’s spiritual and communal significance”.
The chapel stands as a pride of point on Episcopal’s sprawling campus, and for hundreds of years, its service has been regarded essential to school life. So what has happened to chapel? It seems like chapel organizers are running out of ideas and as a result executing badly-planned filler chapels. We need to reaffirm chapel’s function as the identity of our institution. Chapel is an important space, and it is unfortunate that underclassmen look at it in such a negative light. Perhaps the vestry should institute a comment box so that the Vestry can receive feedback from and serve the voices of the entire school. All students should be encouraged to speak their minds about chapel. It is pertinent that the service acknowledges and benefits the whole community. Additionally, seniors must start speaking. The teachers and underclassmen need to hear what the seniors have to say whether it be a personal struggle, interest, hobby, reflection, or advice for high school. The Class of 2019 must set the precedent that seniors have an obligation to speak to their peers.