Eastside:April 2023

www.eastside-online.org

Vol. 55 No. 5

Cherry Hill High School East: 1750 Kresson Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003

April 2023

CHRIS IS CROWNED

Chris Korneyev wins Mr. East 2023, followed by Mr. Saxxy (Sidd Pejavara) and Mr. Rome-ance (Rome Ciocco)

Mr. East 2023 recap:

Jiwoo Lee (‘24)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Mr. Chris, Chris Korneyev (‘23), delivers a speech after he was crowned Mr. East on April 20.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

East theater performs “Into the Woods” News, Pg. 2

East Robotics builds a legacy Features, Pg. 5

Philadelphia showcases murals Community, Pg. 10-11

NEWS

Page 2

BOE Update ■ By Aiden Rood (‘23)

Eastside Editor-in-Chief

From diversity issues to district lines, many core political issues have come into play in the recent developments with Cherry Hill’s Board of Education (BOE).

Board members have dealt with controversial and offensive comments about diversity, equity and inclusion. They have also taken controversial votes on the issues of elementary and middle school redistricting. Other votes have included disputes over funding for playground and staff conferences. Overall, the BOE’s first few months of 2023 have been eventful and impactful.

At every BOE meeting, members of the public are allowed to speak for up to three minutes about issues that are important to them.

As long as they speak appropriately and address the board directly, commenters can speak about anything they want. However, some BOE meetings have seen commenters go too far, making what some may see as racist or otherwise controversial comments. Members of the public should attend BOE meetings and make their voices heard, bringing more productive ideas to the BOE. In more standard events, the BOE has discussed and voted on the controversial issue of redistricting. With Rosa International Middle School ending its admissions lottery this calendar year, the Board has been engaged in the complex process of deciding which kids will go to which schools moving forward. Community members should be sure to watch past BOE meetings and attend future ones in order to understand the impact on their kids’ future school assignments.

In other important votes, the BOE was divided over whether to approve funding for playground construction and conference attendance costs for staff. BOE member Kim Gallagher, newly serving on the Board in 2023, voted against the measures, while others ultimately approved the funding.

Future meetings will likely continue to involve these issues, while also addressing the budget for next school year.

Additionally, upcoming meetings will likely have a central focus on responding to the major recent news of Dr. Joseph Meloche’s move to work in a Pennsylvania school district. The BOE will likely need to appoint an interim superintendent to fill the role after Meloche leaves early this summer.

That person could be an administrator who currently serves in the district and would seamlessly take the helm to keep things running. Then, the BOE will eventually have to conduct a wide-ranging search to find someone who could lead the school district for years to come.

EASTSIDE

April 2023

East theater takes a journey “Into the Woods”

lengthy rehearsals each day for all of the actors, stage crew and everyone Over the course of two involved in the production. weekends, East theater “You’re typically there took a journey “Into the until 9 p.m., at least for Woods” as they performed this show, running the the spring musical. The show, so you have to fit in cast performed the show on your homework at different six different dates: March times. And when you are 3, March 4, March 5, March double casted, you are still 10, March 11 and March expected to go to the other 12. cast’s performances and Since “Into the Woods” watch so that you can take is a long notes for yourself,” s h o w Gilman said. (lasting However, even over three with the tiring hours) schedule, those with lots involved in East of music, theater love what dancing they do. Gilman and elaboand Haroz love rate set making memories and coswith the cast and tume decrew. sign, the “This year was cast began the first year that auditions I got really inin early volved in theater Novemat East and it was ber, and really fun to meet began resome new people hearsals and bond with our in late Nocast,” Haroz said. vember.

Overall, “Into Each acthe Woods” was a tor audisuccessful productioned for tion for East thea specific ater. In fact, “Into part with Jiwoo Lee (‘24)/ Eastside Photo Editor the Woods” is up a specific East theater performs “Into the Woods” as their spring musical. for many presti“Into the gious Paper Mill Woods” song. The directors cal. After winter break, house while other pieces Playhouse Rising Star then decided which roles blocking rehearsals began were borrowed or rented Awards. These awards are best fit each actor. For exand the show really started from other schools or comthe equivalent of the Tony ample, Aviv Haroz (‘24) coming together. panies. “Into the Woods” Awards for high school theauditioned for one of the Compared to other East utilized lots of props and ater. The cast had to film princes with the song “Agoshows, the actors found had multiple set changes as one of the shows and send ny,” but was given the part “Into the Woods” to be more different scenes occurred. the video to Paper Mill of the Baker. Jake Gilman challenging when preparThe directors and stage Playhouse. Judges from the (‘24) auditioned for the part ing for the show. managers worked tirelessorganization also attended of Jack with the song “Gi“This music is way more ly for the months leading one of the shows in person. ants in the Sky” and was challenging than other up to the show, as well as The award recipients will given that role. shows that East has done during the performances to be announced later in the As per usual, the six in the past. It’s very wordy make sure everything went year. shows were designated eiand memorizing all of the smoothly. The directors Once again, East thether a “Red Cast” show or words is difficult and there were Ms. Sandi Makofsky ater has produced a phea “White Cast” show. Some are also a lot of nuances in and East teacher Mr. Pete nomenal production for roles were double casted, the music,” Haroz said.

Gambino. Assisting them their spring musical. Even meaning that two differAnother challenge that in the preparation for the though “Into the Woods” ent people played the same the actors had to overcome show were Angelina Wang just concluded, the preparole in the two different was learning how to act (‘23), Rachel Hornstein ration for next year’s shows casts. However, some roles with music playing con(‘24) and Sara Lampf (‘25) will begin shortly. As for (like Haroz in the role of stantly. While East shows who served as Stage Mannow, the cast and crew can the Baker) were not double always use live music (orager, Assistant Stage Manlive “happily ever after” casted. chestra or band) during ager and Apprentice Stage and take some time to relax “They double cast only their performances, it is exManager, respectively. and admire their tireless when they feel as if there tra difficult with this show The weeks prior to hard work that they put are multiple people who since “Into the Woods” is a opening night consisted of into this show.

■ By Jillian Koenig (‘24)

Eastside News Editor

can play [that role]. They don’t cast a role just to double cast, but if two people are capable of a role, they will double cast them,” Gilman said.

Once auditions concluded and the cast was formed, vocal rehearsals began occurring during the lunch breaks. These vocal rehearsals consisted of the actors learning the multitude of songs in the musi-

“full-composed” musical.

“The show is what’s called ‘full-composed,’ which means that while we’re acting, there is still music being played by the orchestra, so figuring out the timing on the scenes and how that weaves into the songs is very challenging,” Haroz said.

As for the set design for the show, some props and set pieces were made in-

East prepares for annual People’s Choice Awards ■ By Brooke Levy (‘26)

Eastside Staff

Thirteen years ago, Mr. Darren Gamel brought the People’s Choice Awards to East. Inspired by a program at Rancocas Valley High School, where he had previously worked, he “saw how much it meant to the students and the community and the connections it built.”

Gamel wanted to bring the positive impact he had seen to East’s community, and it is now a loved tradition. This formal manner of acknowledgment is meant to show students who don’t usually get awarded some deserved appreciation.

Things that are acknowledged go beyond athletics and academics as most awards don’t. Gamel describes the recipients as being “unsung heroes” or students who haven’t been as honored as others.

Also, unlike many other

awards, they are not categorized. This means that the awards aren’t “Kindest” or “Best Work Ethic.”

Staff can nominate students for whatever they see as important, most often character. This shows the students that their positive behavior is recognized and appreciated.

Before the award ceremony, all varieties of staff members (teachers, security, administration, etc.) will receive an email inviting them to nominate up to two students. They can write a short paragraph detailing why one of their students deserves this honor. Usually, the student has had a profound impact on the teacher or other students in the class. Gamel noted that “about 30-40 faculty members usually nominate students.”

On April 25 from 7 to 9 p.m., around 50 nominated students and their families will be seated in the audi-

torium. The students will not know who nominated them until it is time for them to accept their award.

Co-hosts Gamel and Mrs. Laurie Grossman, or the teachers who wrote the nomination, will share the paragraph from the email.

All of the students will receive some form of reward, like a medal or certificate.

Superintendent Dr. Joseph Meloche or East principal Dr. Dennis Perry will give a closing statement, and then everyone will be moved to the cafeteria.

Here, many facets of the East community pitch in to celebrate the students.

Photography teacher Mr. Bill Kovnat takes pictures (which are later given to the nominees framed) and one of Mr. Tim Keleher’s musical groups will play.

Refreshments will be provided.

Cherry Hill West partakes in a similar program, called “Night of Stars.” It

has been occurring for 20 years.

Their activities director Ms. Carole Roskoph said, “it is a way for the community to recognize the human connection between faculty and students.”

Other schools are also seeing the benefits of this program. Gamel said that “some parents [who have attended the People’s Choice Awards] that work in schools have said that their district does something similar.”

These benefits include incentive and recognition.

The idea of a reward may make students want to act kinder, or after getting one, continue to do so. Additionally, it is always nice for the families to see and hear how their child acts outside of their supervision.

Overall, the People’s Choice Awards will be a joyful night filled with great students and fun on April 25.

NEWS

April 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 3

Class of 2023 looks forward to a Senior Prom on “Cloud 9”

also have access Eastside News Editor to the The senior class is on outside Cloud 9 to be wrapping part of up their last year of high the Vie. school.

It offers The senior class will be a larger hosting their final formal outside dance in their high school v e n u e experience on June 1, 2023. t h a n The dance will be held at their last the Vie by Cescaphe in venue at Philadelphia.

Auletto The senior class Student Caterers.

Government has planned a TickCloud 9 theme for the seets will niors to have a memorable begin to prom night. go on sale As the graduating class when it wraps up their last East gets closevent with prom, Senior er to the Class President Siddarth date of Pejavara (‘23) plans to the prom. make this prom one that is The seunforgettable when plannior Lucas Tang( ‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor class ning and coordinating the Senior Prom will be held at the Vie by Cescaphe in Philadelphia. event. offi“Planning prom this cers “[They have coordinated] time and the class repreyear has been pretty fun. are trying hard to valet parking, bathroom atsentatives wanted to have We had some difficulties make prom tickets less tendants, a photographer, a fresh and newer feel to finding DJs and lighting, than $100 dollars.

DJ, great food and a newly their prom. but we were able to find Class representarenovated outside room,” It is also very spacious some,” said Pejavara. tives encourage everysaid Mr. Mike Mancinelli, a and will hold the large seAll of the class officers one to continue to be senior class advisor. nior class comfortably. The have worked hard to make involved with fundraisThe location has been set Vie is located in the heart of sure the whole senior class ing through chocolate in Philadelphia at the Vie center city, not too far from has an enjoyable and memsales and restaurant

by Cescaphe, known for its City Hall. orable time at prom before fundraisers.

Tickets elegance and great food.

The Vie accommodates they all go their separate will start to go on sale A senior prom has not the size of the senior class way. after spring break. been held there in a long and their dates. They will ■ By Izzy Sobel (‘24)

“[I am] hopeful for a great turnout and for everyone to have a safe and memorable experience,” said Mancinelli. “Prom is the last school-sponsored class event not on campus, which culminates the East experience. [I] would love to have everyone in attendance to share the experience.”

The senior class will be holding more fundraising opportunities to help lessen the cost of the tickets. SGA is looking forward to a great night as they celebrate one last time together.

Watch Lucas Tang (‘23) take a tour of the prom venue:

Seniors have a magical time at Disney World

design, creating a funthemed stay for East stuEastside Online Culture Editor dents. Pop Century is one of Disney’s largest resorts, On Thursday, March 16, composed of multiple buildthe Class of 2023 left Cherings. For the trip, the East ry Hill East for the “happistudents were all assigned est place on Earth.” to the same section.

On the annual senior Prior to the trip, desigtrip, the East senior class nated parks were chosen for gets the chance to explore each day. Heidt expressed the Walt Disney World how they “had to stay at the theme parks as well as Uniassigned park until 2 p.m. versal Studios in Orlando, and then [they] could go Florida. For this year’s trip, wherever [they] wanted.”

The assigned park was chosen by the East trip organizers, but the 2 p.m. rule is mandated by Disney World. In order to “park hop,” or go from park to park in one day, guests must stay at the first park until at least 2 p.m. and then they can travel to the second park.

The students had the independence to move Sophie Heidt (‘23)/ For Eastside about DisSeniors pose with Olaf on the Disney senior trip. ney World through its the seniors left East bright opportunity to experience internal transportation sysand early on March 16, and the new attractions that retem, consisting of the Walt they arrived back home on cently arrived at the theme Disney World Monorail Monday, March 20, after a parks.

System, the Disney Water full day at the parks.

The students stayed at Transportation, the Disney In the weeks leading up Disney’s Pop Century ReSkyliner and the Disney to the trip, excitement built sort, one of the many hotels Bus Transportation. Stuwithin the senior class as on Disney property. One of dents chose which mode of they waited in anticipathe perks of staying at a transportation to use based tion for the event that repDisney resort is free transon the location of the park resents the culmination of portation to each of the or resort. their high school experiparks. The resort follows All methods of transporence. a 20th-century pop culture tation are free throughout ■ By Ella Goodstadt (‘24)

Sophie Heidt (‘23), a senior who attended the trip, shared that she “was so excited to go on all of the rides and relive her childhood experiences.”

While at each park, the seniors had access to the numerous rides and attractions of Walt Disney World and Universal Studios.

This was especially exciting for students who have never traveled to the parks or for those finally getting the

the Walt Disney World Property. There were set times when students were required to leave and return to the resort; other than that, they were on their own.

The only exception was the day at Universal Studios. The entire group traveled together to and from the park because Universal Studios is not on Disney property. A chartered bus was provided.

The adventures began as soon as the seniors departed from Philadelphia and Atlantic City on Thursday. Upon arrival in Orlando, the group had a full day ahead of them in Magic Kingdom. This park is divided into four sections: Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland. Main Street USA greeted the eager students at the front of the park, with Cinderella’s Castle straight ahead. The seniors then went on their way to begin their magical experience.

On Friday, day two, the seniors ventured off to Epcot. The front of the park demonstrates Walt Disney’s ideal futuristic society. Part of the excitement was built up around Epcot’s latest attraction, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The enclosed roller coaster, based off of the hit Marvel movies, opened in May 2022.

At the back of Epcot, students traveled around the globe through the World Showcase, featuring pavilions of food and culture of 11 countries.

Saturday was spent at Universal Studios, where the seniors explored the Wizarding World of Harry Pot-

ter, Jurassic Park, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon and more. The seniors spent Sunday walking around the various sections of Hollywood Studios, including Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Toy Story Land, Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard.

On Monday, the final day of the trip, the seniors ventured into the wild of Animal Kingdom. At this park, they explored the sights of Asia, Africa, DinoLand U.S.A., and the breathtaking Pandora: The World of Avatar. Sadly, the trip had to come to an end, and the seniors returned home later Monday night. Overall, the trip was an incredible success and an unforgettable way to help wrap up the seniors’ high school experience.

“It was great to have time with friends and spend time with so many new groups of people. It was overall such a fun trip,” said Heidt when reminiscing on the experience.

Watch Natalie Finkelstein (‘23) vlog her Disney experience:

FEATURES

Page 4

EASTSIDE

April 2023

East alumnus works on Elvis Duran show ■ By Emily Boyle (‘23)

Eastside Features Editor

In the monotonous wheel of unending work days, sleepless nights and double-shot espressos, the modern American worker looks for a spark of fun in the midst of mundane normalcy. Escapism can be found in all sorts of places, though many find comfort in listening to the radio on their way to work. “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” provides this companionship to millions of people during their morning drive. East graduate Jake Tuff assisted in making this show a reality, working as its video producer for four years.

Upon graduating East, Tuff attended Rider University in Lawrence Township, New Jersey. He began working on the award-winning college radio station 107.7 the Bronc, and was surprised to find how much he enjoyed it. From there, Tuff applied for an internship on “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show.” Tuff dedicated four semesters to the show, working two days a week in his junior and senior year. Graduating college in May of 2015, Tuff’s career began abruptly.

“They called me and they said ‘Hey, we have this job, but you would have to start tomorrow.’ And I said ‘Ok… I’ll see you tomorrow,’” recalled Tuff.

Thus began a four-yearlong journey he will never forget.

Working as a video pro-

ducer, his job was broad and ever-changing. Mainly, it included documentation; preparing for celebrity interviews, shooting them, editing them and posting them onto social media were a large portion of his job.

He also worked closely with sponsors of the show, which took him to some incredible places. The Singapore Tourism Board, for example, sponsored a paid trip to the Republic of Singapore for members of the show. Tuff’s job was to follow them around and document the experience. Other places he traveled with “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” include Chicago, Miami, Mexico, The Dominican Republic and Maine.

“There was no day that was the same, and I think that’s what made it such a fun life,” Tuff said.

Yet, working on a morning show comes with its challenges. Tuff had to wake up at 4:45 a.m. each work day if he wanted to make it in on time, which he identified as the least rewarding part of his job.

Even still, this downside was met with an overwhelming amount of positives. The unique work environment was something most freshly-graduated college students don’t get to experience.

“The job of the morning show was to entertain people on the way to their job,” Tuff said. “It wasn’t like a normal nine-to-five.”

Ultimately, in December of 2019, he decided it was

Courtesy of Elvis Duran and the Morning Show

Tuff (second from left) films a 2018 segment for Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. the right decision for him to move on in his career. Currently, Tuff works as a content creator for Empathy Wines, a division of a larger alcohol company named Constellation Brands. His job is to produce marketing materials for several wineries, keeping up with their online presence and connections with the consumer. However, his experience with “Elvis Duran and the Morning Show” will follow him wherever he goes. It taught him how to make quick decisions and adapt to new or uncomfortable situations.

With all of his success,

Tuff ties it back to his time as an East student. After taking Broadcasting in freshman year, he knew he wanted to pursue a career in production of some sort.

“I’ve been editing videos since middle school, and fell in love with that broadcasting class,” Tuff said.

His biggest piece of advice to students interested in his field of work is to build connections. Using social media, doing so is easier than ever. He emphasizes the importance of following through, ensuring that your name will be remembered by potential employers. Once offered a

position, one should always accept it.

“That doesn’t mean overload yourself with work, but if there’s an opportunity that comes your way, do it. Even if it’s not exactly what you think you want to do,” said Tuff.

As someone who originally wanted to work in television production, accepting a position he was unsure of was pivotal to his career. While taking risks can be frightening, it is necessary in order to reach one’s full potential. Tuff is a perfect example of this, and he couldn’t be happier with the path that he chose.

Currently, East esports actively competes in League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros and Valorant.

The club has adjusted its schedule to be flexible for each member of the team to ensure complete preparation and guarantee teamwork at the higher competitions.​​ “In the high school league, we got second in the state while last year we got fourth. It’s a big improvement,” said Jacob Lomas (‘24), member of the varsity League of Legends team.

This year, the team recorded their best performance by far. The League of Legends team qualified for the state championships, placing second in New Jersey. Their dedication to gaming and practices in and

out of school shined through this astounding accomplishment.

President Amanda Chen (‘23) commented on the struggle of battling the stigma against the gaming community, often facing judgment and negative perceptions.

“Although I thought the same when I was younger, I’ve come to realize being a part of this community is one of the most fun and meaningful experiences I’ve had,” Chen said.

To overcome this obstacle, she focuses on the bonds grown and memories made before, during and after the hours of practice. The gaming platform has now become Chen’s comfort zone, and she hopes to see more members join this welcoming community.

The past few years haave seen the popularity of esports skyrocket, as the vast improvements in its quality and techniques of games has drawn many students to the world of gaming.

This transformation is shown through the growth of Esports Club alone at East. Initially having 68 members, the club now holds 125 members, visibly highlighting its progress. The computer lab is now quite busy during open hours.

Either interested from previous experience in gaming at home or simply urged to participate by a friend, their different paths of joining the esports team have all led to the same destination — a stress-free time of feat and friendships through games.

Esports Club finds success in recent competitions ■ By Jiwoo Lee (‘24)

Eastside Photo Editor

Going down the list of sports hosted at Cherry Hill High School East, eyes lighten up with surprise and curiosity when they come across a particular sport — esports. East has recognized esports as a varsity sport, as it undergoes the processes of tryouts, practices and varsity letters, similarly to the other athletic teams.

Esports Club was founded by an East alumnus, Stefano Sul (‘22), almost three years ago. As students returned from the remote academic year, the transition back to technology sparked interest in gaming and online communication. With this combination, East Esports was born.

“Often during games the team environment is encouraging and fun. There is a lot of open communication and the players show their trust and respect for their teammates. It is a bright atmosphere where our students will work together to reach their goals,” said varsity member Kayley Phan (‘25).

Not only do esports center around the performance in gaming, they also emphasize the teamwork built through working together to achieve the win. Many of the students join the club for its encouraging environment and close community.

The club meets regularly: Varsity and junior varsity teams practice once a week prior to their weekly tournaments with their partners.

Infographic by Sophia Liu (‘24)/ Eastside Features Editor

FEATURES

April 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 5

East Robotics builds a successful season ■ By Ava Crawley (‘25)

Online Features Editor

East is widely known for having just about any club you can think of. There’s one for everyone, whether it’s Interact Club, Women in Sports, Culinary Club or even Ping-Pong Club. However, one club, in particular, has proven its success for 13 years and plans to keep that streak going.

Starting with one research project and two determined students, the Robotics Club was born over a decade ago. Brandon Rush (‘12) and Aaron Sirken (‘12) knew that a robot would be the perfect idea for a research project. However, what they didn’t expect was how far their robot would advance in competitions.

After they competed at the VEX World Championships in 2009, Rush and Sirken, with the help of Mr. Joseph Dilks, a computer science teacher at East, used their newfound passion to create the East Robotics Club in 2010. Since then, East Robotics has had 13 World Championship appearances. They have also won several State Championships along with awards at competitions including the Excellence Award, Think Award, Build Award, Skill Award and Design Award.

East’s Robotics Club is currently one of the most successful VEX Robotics programs in New Jersey.

Without each dedicated member, including Dilks, this success may not have been possible.

Dilks is known as the first advisor of the robotics team and remained the main advisor until this year. In 2017, Dilks received VEX’s Teacher of the Year award while at the World Championships, proving his commitment to the club and his immense appreciation for each student involved.

This year, however, a parent advisor volunteered to step in and become East Robotics’ main advisor.

Jose Johnson was inspired to take on this position after he caught sight of how much his son, James Johnson (‘24), and daughter, Madison Johnson (‘25), enjoyed the club. Johnson revealed that he, similar to his son, was interested in building from a young age.

Johnson admits that following Dilks’s legacy can be difficult considering he was the one who helped foster the Robotics Club and get it to where it is today.

“It’s a big shoe to fill,” said Johnson.

The year has had its challenges, but Johnson appreciates how involved and cooperative everyone in the club is, including Dilks, who continues to cheer on East’s seven different teams as the club’s secondary advisor.

Since the start of the season, each of the seven East Robotics teams have spent hours perfecting their skills. They worked on building robots, programming, improving their driving skills, creating new ideas, rebuilding robots, and even researching teams they are competing against. Technically, East Robotics only meets two days a week from 2:30 to 4:00 pm, but Johnson and the students often extend practices to multiple days a week in order to get as much preparation as they can before competitions.

“Personally I love being around the kids. I love seeing what they do and seeing how they think,” Johnson says. “A lot of people never touched a wrench or screwdriver at the beginning of the year and now they are building new designs.”

Unlike other schools, East relies on relatively simple tools to construct its robots. Johnson often brings in tools from his own garage to help the different teams. Because robotics parts are about $10,000 a year altogether, acquiring high-tech tools and remodeling the Robotics room is far out of the budget, es-

pecially considering this is the first year East Robotics is being funded by East.

“I consider ourselves the Iron Man team,” said Johnson.

Many of East’s competitors have more advanced and sophisticated tools and technologies, such as Millburn High School. Nevertheless, though East’s equipment is not the shiniest or newest, the students continue to make it work day after day. With these tools and their creativity, cooperation, and intelligence, they are able to build robots just as good as those built with thousand-dollar machines and cutting-edge technology, if not better.

This year, East Robotics has participated in numerous competitions, including the tournament at Valley Forge where they won five out of the six awards. Their success at these tournaments led to their appearance at the New Jersey VEX State Championships.

East’s M team placed 3rd in skills at the State Championships, allowing them to advance to the VEX World Championships and marking the 14th year in a row an East team has qualified this selective tournament.

Though East only has one team advancing this year, all other teams plan to travel to Dallas, Texas, to cheer on the M team. “[I’m] definitely nervous, but excited too. It’s beyond words honestly,” said a member of the M team, Eric Fang (‘24).

He and the rest of his team prepare each day at practice after school or during lunch to ensure they are ready for the World Championships, where they will be competing against 50 countries and 800 teams. “[Robotics] taught me leadership, how to work with people, and how sometimes it’s not about winning,” Fang said.

Johnson described how East, unlike some other schools, focuses its Robotics Club solely around the

Karina Gupta (‘24)/ Eastside Media Editor

East robotics competes at the state championships at Bell Labs.

Karina Gupta (‘24)/ Eastside Media Editor

Students practice with their robot on the playing field.

Lucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Robotics team members work on their robots. students. The students have become a tight-knit community, inspiring and challenging each other throughout the season.

From Johnson’s perspective, the simple key to East Robotics’s success is that,

above all, all the students truly want to be there and they show it. Not just this year, but for the past 13 years, leaving it no surprise as to why the East Robotics Club has such a strong and continuing legacy.

Take a Robotics Room tour:

Infographic by Sophia Liu (‘23)/ Eastside Features Editor

COMMUNITY

Page 6

EASTSIDE

April 2023

Philadelphia fabric exhibit allows visitors to interact with art

ric Workshop and Museum Artist Advisory Committee, the Artistic Director will In the center of the Philextend invitations to artadelphia art world lies a ists to take part in the Artmuseum priding itself on ist in Residence Program: a a unique experience with program that covers instalinteractive activities such lation art, performance and as shadow art and card video in addition to the supgames: The Fabric Workport of conceptual painters, shop and Museum. sculptors, architects and The Fabric Workshop designers. and Museum is a non-profit Once an artist is selected arts organization based in for their work to be disPhiladelphia, Pennsylvaplayed, they are exposed to nia. It collaborates with new methods, supplies, and resources that weren’t previously available to them.

An artistic alliance creates new opportunities for the artist’s own work and brings novel ideas that push the boundaries of modern art.

Katie Sullivan (‘25)/ Eastside Staff An artist has between one up-and-coming, domestito three years to complete cally and internationally their display before it is renowned artists to prointroduced to the public in duce new work in abstract the Fabric Museum. mediums and materials.

When walking into the The museum offers a museum, one notices that unique experience for arts the art displays are spread in the selection and disacross three floors. The display of their works. After plays available to tourists consultation with the Fabare switched out regularly, ■ By Isabelle Berger (‘25)

Eastside Opinions Editor

so one would have two completely different experiences after two visits to the museum.

On the first floor, visitors are first invited to paint on a large plaster wall.

This is one of the things that makes being there so unique: visitors are invited to interact with the art instead of merely viewing it and walking along.

After this, they will view a popular piece: a suit made

by Nick Cave in 2009. Cave is an artist who has made suits out of throw rugs, buttons, human hair and other items found in thrift stores.

For this particular display, he made a suit out of many small, colorful stuffed animals.

On the second floor, most of the art is done by Henry Taylor, an artist whose works are featured in the collections of the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh and the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, among others. His work is diverse and often symbolic.

Taylor’s abstract sculptures and use of nontraditional media make him a sought-after artist for both art exhibits and museum visitors.

The final floor of the museum also holds a symbolic meaning. The first room is completely empty, housing

Kaylee Yoon (‘25)/ Eastside Staff

nothing but light from a lantern on the floor. Yet as the visitor walks on - even in a straight path - they find that their shadow reflected against the wall begins to shrink, symbolizing the journey of age and time.

The final room is organized as if it were a small house with windows one could peer into. Taken back to other countries and ancient time periods, the visitor is shown masks, clay pottery on the walls, and anything that would normally make a building feel like home.

In one part of the room,

the visitor is invited to take off their shoes and sit on homemade pillows lying around a table. The table holds a card game in which one asks a question and draws three cards.

The cards have sketches on them, and the visitor is told to utilize negative space to draw their own conclusions about the answers to the question.

Overall, a visit to the Fabric Museum is an interesting experience. The museum allows visitors to be whisked away into another world, and even to interact with it.

Banksy art exhibition offers unique experience ■ By Gia Gupta (‘24) and Ellie Noh (‘24) Eastside Community Editors

You may just walk past it; in fact, some people were asking where the entrance was. You are opening a door into a mystery – the unknown. But walk inside “Banksy Was Here: The Exhibition” in Philadelphia and you can discover clues to uncovering the journey of one of the most renowned but simultaneously elusive artists of our time: Banksy.

Located at 901 Market Street, the immersive art exhibition is nestled in Center City’s Fashion District. The Banksy exhibition holds 80 original works combined with an array of elements like sculptures, photos, interactive art displays and information tracing Banksy’s life and impact on the world.

Banksy began his

career in the 1990s as a graffiti artist in Bristol, contributing to speculation that he is a British artist. Growing in his career as a street artist, he has gained widespread fame for his satirical art that does not shy away from commenting on hard-hitting socio-political issues. We immediately recognized some of Banksy’s renowned works as we walked through the room called “The Great Gallery.”

This includes “Girl with Balloon,” which shows a girl reaching for a balloon that is in the shape of a heart. This piece of art has been utilized for various movements including the 2014 ‘Stand with Syria.’

This work was also wellknown after a framed copy dating to 2006 began to automatically shred itself following it being auctioned live for $1.4 million. These works and more are explored in his exhibition in Philadelphia, home to its own collection of street art, thus making it the perfect home for

Banksy’s works.

To introduce the artist, the exhibit took us into the recreation of Banksy’s art studio where his art comes to life. Fitted with colorful sprays and various uncompleted works, the chaotic nature of the studio gives viewers a glimpse into the artistic genius that is Banksy.

Soon after, we entered an industrial themed room that was filled with rats. “The Rat Room” draws parallels between rats and graffiti artists, both of whom work concealed in the shadows, to the disdain and scorn of many members of the public.

Aside from Banksy’s art, viewers can learn about him through informational videos that are placed throughout the exhibit for a multimedia experience. For instance, we were first met with a hallway with graffiti on the sides as we went into a room blocked by only the fabric of a curtain.

Inside, guests become immediately immersed with a 360-degree digi-

tal display to highlight Banksy’s works and are taken through a ride of curiosity.

The other highlights of the exhibition are the areas centered around interactivity.

When learning about Banksy’s discovery of stencils, guests are invited to try their own hand at stencils with a chalk activity on a wall (be cautious: the chalk somewhat stains).

This activity reaffirms the exhibition’s commitment to let the viewer learn about Banksy’s journey but also go on a journey of discovery – whether it is through art or finding a new perspective.

But the pinnacle of the exhibition is the graffiti room. After exploring the journey of Banksy and how he has used graffiti art to share his message, guests are once again invited to leave their own mark. You can take a sharpie and leave your permanent mark anonymously on the walls amidst trailing digits of pi, warnings that “this is a simulation,” creative

drawings and inspiring quotes about life. What made the experience so remarkable for us was that as we began uncovering the mystery of Banksy’s identity, we learned that the person walking behind us, even one of us, could be Banksy.

The captivating yet incomprehensible story of who he is leaves viewers of the exhibition with a deeper appreciation of the stories that surround us every day, for the things not said, and of everything that will be left unknown.

When we finished going through the exhibit, we stepped out into the city again, but this time, we did so with a keener understanding of art, advocacy, bravery and the power every individual has to leave a mark – some with spray cans in hand – on the world.

We left the museum with the lasting impression that to change the world, sometimes you yourself have to dare opening the door into the unknown.

Lucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor

OPINIONS

April 2023

EASTSIDE

Page 7

Clubs offer diversity East is becoming overrun with clubs ■ By Daniel Ovadia (‘25) Eastside Staff

From September to February, students at Cherry Hill East have the opportunity to create their own clubs. Students can petition to start any club they want, and if it gets approved, it opens up so that students can join.

As of right now, there are over 120 clubs at East.

Some people may view this number as a testament to the increasing engagement of students, while others view that large number as a problem.

At East, you don’t have to jump through many hoops if you want to get a club started.

The steps to creating a club at East are fairly simple. Clubs all begin with an idea. Then a club creation form is filled out, which provides basic information like why you want to start the club, the room number, when you’ll meet and who your advisor will be.

After that, the student meets with Mr. CJ Davis, the activities director, or Ms. Debbie Barr, the secretary of activities, who will approve or disapprove of the club.

“A lot more [clubs] get approved [rather than] rejected,” said Barr.

Barr said this is entirely intentional, as students are supposed to be able to nurture their individual interests by creating their own clubs.

“It’s a pretty easy process, but it should be an easy process,” said Davis.

According to Davis, the wide selection of clubs is like a buffet in that the selection is so wide that a student can pick almost anything that sounds interesting to them. The vast amount of clubs at East is a great opportunity for all students to explore new interests and hone existing ones.

The clubs at East have the power to alert students to passions and careers that would otherwise not have crossed their minds. If a student discovers a passion through a club, then East’s clubs are benefitting that student.

Although 120+ clubs is a high number, East has over 2,100 students, or roughly 20 students per club.

Clubs are a way that students at East can create smaller communities out of a large school, and they give East students the opportunity to make friends with similar interests.

Clubs bring students together, which strengthens the community that East prides itself on.

Simply put, the more clubs there are, the easier it is to facilitate East’s sense of community.

But, there have been speculations that some clubs at East are thinlyveiled attempts for a student to be able to put “president of ‘x’ club” to look good on a college application.

This shouldn’t be a concern because this would hardly be advantageous to students.

Colleges aren’t im-

pressed by involvement in clubs that hardly meet or are simply unnecessary.

According to the Princeton Review, “you shouldn’t try to game the college admissions process by joining only clubs you think colleges want you to participate in.”

The same is true for starting clubs, where colleges don’t necessarily care if you start a club if it does not do anything.

Barr said that a good way to prevent a student from starting a club for college purposes is to require students to “get signatures of people who are going to join.”

Without passionate members, there isn’t really a point in having a club at all.

While all of this is true, that doesn’t mean that East should stop encouraging the creation of clubs.

All that means is that clubs need to be promoted more to students through announcements and fairs so that more students are aware of them.

One step in the right direction is the eighth grade club fair that East hosted recently. Eighth graders were able to show up to East and walk around to booths that different clubs set up. Now, next year’s incoming freshmen will know more about the clubs here than ever before.

Getting future students excited about joining particular clubs will create involved students for years to come, because these students now have had the opportunity to discover students passionate about the same things as them.

On another note, having 120+ clubs does inevitably lead to a potential overlap between different clubs activities.

However, East already has a policy of rejecting clubs that too closely resemble others. For example if there was a Crustacean Club at East, a Crab Club would likely not be approved.

In fact, according to Davis, repetitive ideas are one of the main reasons why clubs have been rejected in the past.

East still reaps the numerous outlined benefits of having as many clubs as it does. Clubs provide a unique benefit to students at East in coming together and forming a sense of community.

Not only this, but having such a large number of clubs also provides students the opportunity to make friends, become more skilled in their passions and learn about potential career options that they may not have discovered otherwise.

Taking away having so many clubs would be taking away some of the most important pieces of the East community and culture, merely for the sake of getting that large number of existing clubs down to a “suitable” number.

In the end, this would be both unhelpful to the student population and downright unnecessary.

■ By Asher Boiskin (‘24)

Eastside Online Opinions Editor

The increasing balance of the Cherry Hill High School East student to school activity proportion has, in recent years, gone mostly unnoticed. In the 2020-2021 school year, for example, one club existed for about every eighteen East students, which the student body generally accepted.

Yet, as the proportion continues to balance — there is currently one club for every seventeen or so East students — some students are concerned. And, a new, important question has also arisen: Where do we draw the line with clubs?

“There are clubs for every niche topic. While clubs are good if they have a lot of interest, I’m not sure if even half of these clubs are regularly active,” Hunter Levin (‘24) said. “There are just way too many clubs for every topic and theme.”

What Levin said is true: East indeed has many clubs based on niche topics, such as with Reptile Club, Neuroscience Club and Crochet Club. Of course, most will concede that niche clubs are completely beneficial to East if the student body has interest in them or the club has a measurable impact on the community. Too often, however, clubs do not satisfy those requirements

— and some of them are being created solely for their founders’ benefit: another activity slot filled on their college resume.

“Club oversaturation undermines the competitiveness of getting leadership positions. Everyone wants to look good for college, but I think it’s a matter of putting in the work to get positions in clubs that already exist. If you create a club, it just undermines that whole idea,” said Anthony Cicco (‘23), a leader of Rosa Bridge.

To find out more about club oversaturation, I visited the Activities Office and obtained access to recent club creation form submissions. There, Cicco’s claims were more than proven true: forms had been submitted for topics like web design and artificial intelligence, despite East Computer Science Club’s already significant presence within the community.

Oversaturating the East community with clubs about niche topics such as web design and artificial intelligence could hurt clubs focused on more general topics, such as with the Computer Science Club. It could draw away members from the Computer Science Club, for example, and make leadership positions within the club less competitive or important. Moreover, a clear solution is already present for students seeking to create clubs for such niche topics: advocating for lessons or activities

relating to their proposed club to be included in a similar existing club.

“I’ve been doing Bridge for four years, and we’ve accumulated a lot of members,” Cicco said. “When you make all these new community service clubs, though, it makes East community service efforts less organized and more split up. It makes it oversaturated. In a way, it undermines the whole point of community service.”

Perhaps the club creation dilemma could be solved by making it more difficult to create clubs. The school, for example, could require students to show that there is strong interest or demand for a club to be created. To do so, the school could require those proposing clubs to obtain signatures from a predetermined amount of students that would attend its meetings and events. The school could even potentially encourage existing clubs to merge, if they are focused around the same topics.

As more and more students seek to create clubs, we slowly approach a day when there will perhaps be ten clubs for every student. While this may not be of immediate concern, club leaders and participants are already facing the aforementioned negative consequences of club oversaturation. Therefore, the administration should start developing or implementing remedies to the dilemma.

Isabelle Berger (‘25)/ Eastside Opinions Editor

Over 120 clubs have been approved at East, some without a known purpose.

OPINIONS

Page 8

EASTSIDE

April 2023

Graphic novels provide an “easy way out” of summer reading ■ By Manar Hadi (‘25)

Eastside Opinions Editor

Every summer, students in Cherry Hill choose a book to read and complete a project on. For high school students, the project may be a two-column notes packet, in-text annotations, an outline or a mind map.

Students have a choice of four or five books to choose from, and those who are taking an honors or Advanced Placement course read an additional assigned text.

It’s important to note that students from grades 9-12 all have the same choice of books. Due to this,

the books are often an easier read to acclimate to the reading level of an incoming ninth grader. In fact, there is even a graphic novel option available.

But should graphic novels be an option for summer reading?

While some argue that having a graphic novel choice provides many benefits, there are clear disadvantages to it.

To students taking Advanced Placement courses, an expectation is that the student should be able to read more difficult books.

Choosing a graphic novel is often a cop-out to choosing actual books. Graphic

novels are typically easier and quicker reads due to the fact that there are images and limited words. If students are to choose a graphic novel for an easier read rather than books, they should not be an option.

The goal of summer reading is for students to truly connect with a specified theme and learn specific lessons.

However, students will not absorb this through a graphic novel. Graphic novels often limit a reader’s imagination, as characters are already designed and there are no real descriptions that a student can

create in their head.

“Most graphic novels aren’t as rich and robust compared to novels we are already used to reading,” said Mrs. Jodi Morley, an English teacher at Cherry Hill East.

Graphic novels also prove to be difficult for teachers. When analyzing a text, it’s much easier to dissect a book rather than a few speech bubbles in a graphic novel. What are students and teachers supposed to analyze if the only thing the page says is “Hi!”?

Since graphic novels and books have clear differences, it exacerbates teachers’ requirements for their les-

son plans.

Alternatively, graphic novels do provide some benefits to certain readers.

For those who dislike reading and those who struggle with it, graphic novels supply an easier and more comprehensible read.

Many students can relate to lacking interest in verbose books. Therefore, the option of graphic novels gives an easy way out.

Nonetheless, graphic novels should not be a choice for summer reading.

Not only do they obscure a student’s absolute comprehension of a theme, but they serve as an inconvenience to teachers.

Katherine Li (‘23)/ Eastside Art Director

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OPINIONS EASTSIDE

Page 9

MCD should bring back the fashion show

■ By Isabelle Berger (‘25) Eastside Opinions Editor

Every year at the end of March, students gather to watch numerous culture clubs perform at the Multicultural Day (MCD) dances. As a whole, MCD is a day filled with snacks, games and community.

In the weeks and months leading up to MCD, each culture club has the chance to prepare an elaborate dance to showcase to the student body, as well as a booth with various cultural snacks and games. MCD is student-run, so a culture club’s involvement in the day is directed entirely by student leadership.

“I want the kids to buy into it, so I always defer to them for [ideas],” said Ms. Yanell Joseph, the current advisor for MCD. Joseph has worked hard every year to supervise MCD but says the bulk of the credit goes to the students in the clubs. The students are the ones who choreograph and perform in the dances, prepare the booths and put together the entire MCD celebration that the student body has come to know and love.

Admittedly, the past few years since returning from virtual learning have been rocky for presidents and advisors of MCD. After the pandemic, it was difficult to adjust to a MCD celebration in person.

“Obviously we couldn’t do a real MCD for a couple of years,” said Sabriye Yilmaz (‘23), co-president of the MCD planning board. “[The last few years] are just us trying to ease slowly back into MCD and all of the features.”

With additional culture clubs being formed every year, Yilmaz says the new focus is ensuring that every one of these clubs has an opportunity to showcase their own dance.

It is important that every culture club can participate if they want to, so much of the focus goes towards fitting so many dances into a one-hour performance.

Yet with all of the preparations that have

made MCD so successful in the past few years, one aspect of the day has been long forgotten about.

Years before COVID-19, MCD also hosted a fashion show. Students participating in dances or running booths could dress in cultural attire and essentially “walk the runway.”

Although the fashion show has since been discontinued, some students have expressed interest in bringing it back.

But even if the fashion show is brought back, there are varying opinions of what it would look like.

“I think it would be better to just give each culture club their own opportunity to show their costumes. So for example, if that culture club had specific costumes or [attire] that they wanted to show, they could do their own little fashion show in their performance,” said Amanda Chen (‘23), the president of the Chinese Student Association (CSA).

Chen explained that in 2018, the Indian Cultural Society (ICS) performed a dance in this aspect. Students danced wearing different costumes they had purchased and were able to show off their cultural clothing in that way.

Although this idea would work in theory, there is also the possibility that cultural clubs not performing a dance would want to participate in a fashion show. In this case, Yilmaz proposed an idea: a “wear your cultural attire day.”

This would be a day that

would fall around MCD, where anyone could wear a cultural costume to showcase outfits from their heritage.

Yilmaz noted that if all students were invited to wear clothing from their culture, more students would participate than just those involved in a dance on MCD. Gulmira Yesilyurt (‘25) is the president of the Turkish Culture Club. The Turkish Culture Club is relatively new to the school, so they did not choreograph a dance for this year’s MCD. Despite this, they had a booth at this year’s MCD celebration and have expressed interest in performing in a fashion show if given the opportunity.

There are many other such smaller culture clubs which, while not participating in the MCD dance competition, still held booths and dis-

plays t h i s year.

T h e s e students also deserve the opportunity to show off their cultures, even if their club did not have enough time or people to commit to an entire dance performance.

In addition, students who do not take part in culture clubs at all may still wish for an opportunity to “wear their culture” by performing in a fashion show.

“I don’t have time for a club after school, especially one like a culture club,” explained one student who wished to remain anonymous.

The student noted that culture clubs meet often after school, especially as the date of the MCD dances approach. This would simply be a time commitment too daunting for them.

But the student still ex-

pressed interest in partaking in a fashion show.

“I would love to show off some of the ethnic clothes that I have. I think it would be fun, and would be a cool experience for [everyone].”

An MCD fashion show, or even an opportunity to “wear your culture for a day,” would allow more students to participate in MCD as a whole and share their cultures with other students.

Not only that, but a fashion show would also aid understanding and recognition of different ethnic clothing and culture. The experience overall could be both a fun and educational experience, and has the potential to be a great success if organized correctly.

The MCD fashion show connected students in years past before it was unfortunately discontinued, and it has the potential to do so again.

Engaging in the production of a fashion show or allowing students to “wear their culture” for a designated day would not only be fun for everyone involved, but it would also be a lesson in cultural diversity and acceptance that could benefit all East students.

The return of an MCD fashion show would thus be beneficial for the East community, and for MCD and its events.

Art by Isabelle Berger (‘25)/ Eastside Opinions Editor

Page 10

EASTSIDE

April 2023

COMMUNITY

April 2023

PAINTING

STORIES ■ By Gia Gupta (‘24), Ellie Noh (‘24) and Rachna Mohan (‘25) Eastside Community Editors and Eastside STEM Editor

AS PEOPLE WALK through the

streets of Philadelphia, turning one corner to the next, some might keep their heads down. But when one turns to look up, they find a unifying art form that has transcended individuality and painted Philadelphia magical. Welcome to the mural capital of the world.

Philadelphia’s historical past has shaped the city’s murals while, similarly, the murals themselves have shaped Philadelphia’s history. In the latter half of the 20th century, cities like Philadelphia were grasping for a new form of public art as other art forms like monuments were becoming out of step with changing urban landscapes. Murals served as a contemporary mode of art that was both collaborative and inclusive: they offered diverse groups a chance to share their stories through an accessible means of visual storytelling. Simultaneously, Philadelphia was growing as a center of social reform, exemplified through the civil rights and women’s rights movements that took root in the city. In the 1960s and 1970s especially, with these movements’ focus on a united front against injustice, murals turned into an ideal tool for expressing their beliefs.

Furthermore, most pronounced in the 1960s, there was a growing flight to the suburbs based on societal changes like the Baby Boom. This, however, culminated in a lack of focus in cities like Philadelphia.

In response, many artists turned to murals as an avenue to try to encourage further urban development and investment. Then, in the 1980s and 1990s, Philadelphia city life grew more attractive again for suburban residents as they became empty nesters and were drawn again to the benefits of the city. This fueled a process known as gentrification, or the process of wealthier people moving into urban areas, aiding in the development of the area but displacing pre-existing residents. Some argue that murals have been used as a tool in aiding in the development of low-income neighborhoods, sometimes leading to art that overlooks the rich and complex history of the neighborhoods. Moreover, some even argue that murals themselves promote gentrification, as beautifying low-income areas leads to the neighborhoods growing more attractive in the minds of affluent people looking to move.

Amidst the disagreements regarding the purpose of murals, they were also initially seen as a tool to deter other forms of street art. In the 1980s, the Philadelphia Anti-Graffiti Network (PAGN) promoted the creation of murals to try to ornament Philadelphia’s unique cityscape without turning to vandalism. In 1984, Mural Arts was founded as part of the PAGN initiative. Jane Golden, becoming the founding

executive director of Mural Arts, revitalizing the efforts to use murals as a tool for transforming Philadelphia.

Now known as Mural Arts Philadelphia, the organization’s legacy and impact is carried through the more than 4,000 murals that are seen throughout the city covering topics from the five key program areas: Art Education, Community Murals, Restorative Justice, Porch Light, and Environmental Justice. Mural Arts Philadelphia uses the power of restorative justice to show the transformative nature of mural creation not only on an urban landscape but also on the artist themselves. The Restorative Justice Program aids individuals that were previously incarcerated by spearheading programs like art therapy in the creation of murals pertaining to topics within justice like mass incarceration.

Meanwhile, for the Art Education program, the organization works with local youth in the city to empower the next generation of artists through after school programs for thousands of students. For Community Murals, Mural Arts Philadelphia works with local community members to develop murals that allow the reclamation of communal space. For Porch Light, the group collaborates with the City of Philadelphia’s Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility services to try to provide assistance with Philadelpheans in aiding in their wellness. With all of these different programs, Mural Arts Philadelphia has grown to be what it calls the largest public art program in the United States.

Mural Arts Philadelphia also works to demonstrate the power and beauty of Philadelphia’s murals to the community.

For people interested in exploring the rich history of the murals in Philadelphia and walking through some of the city’s most prominent masterpieces, Mural Arts Philadelphia arranges the Center City Walking Tour under the direction of professional guides.

As Mural Arts Philadelphia developed, there were various ways that the style of art changed as well. At first, many murals were done using an array of paint mediums. This has eventually shifted to acrylic paint being the primary medium that is utilized due to its conveniences, including the ability to repaint and seal the murals whenever necessary. There were also differing methods with how the painting process was conducted. One way was by using cloth and then putting them on aluminum panels that could then be installed. Another method was also by painting murals on parachute cloth and then moved onto buildings which was introduced by the mural “Dr.J” by a muralist named Kent Twitchell in 1990.

Apart from the methodologies that have transformed, the process of bringing a mural to life and the changes that occur in a mural over time have led to new initiatives like mural restoration. Obtaining the necessary permissions to add a mural to a city wall, designing a mural, enduring the often-grueling process of bringing the

design to life, and fighting off destructive forces like weather and vandalism are always challenging.

If works like frescoes and murals are not properly maintained, they will age and decay over time like wood and plaster can. Paint and finishes are susceptible to cracking, peeling and chipping; canvas is vulnerable to tearing and delaminating; pigments are susceptible to oxidation and darkening; smoke, soot, and other debris can build up over decades or centuries; and water and mold can compromise the stability of the underlying structure that supports the painted work.

The mural restoration process begins when artists survey the building and figure out the original artist’s technique. The real work follows a fundamental pattern after analyzing each individual project primarily in the context of itself and its aim.

Each step starts with a visual inspection, followed by written and visual documentation of the materials and existing circumstances. The optimal answer can be found using materials analysis and microscopic investigation. A treatment plan is created to clean the artwork and stabilize anything that is original. Stabilization may entail injecting a substance beneath the artwork to keep it stable such as epoxy.

To protect the original artwork and keep it apart from any “infill” painting applied later in areas of paint loss, a conservation varnish is then painted over it.

One of the notable aspects of conservation work is that it is entirely reversible.

However, mural restorers must adequately comprehend the work’s artistic nature to engage in greater artistic creativity.

While murals undergo the natural decay that comes with time, man-made destruction also has played a role in the gradual fading and removal of Philadelphia’s murals. Mural Arts Philadelphia has led initiatives to protect the murals of the city that are at risk of being demolished in the continually evolving city of Philadelphia, especially on privately owned buildings.

For gentrifying neighborhoods like the Gayborhood in Philadelphia, this struggle manifested itself in the whitewashing, a process of erasure, of a mural of activist Gloria Casarez in January of 2021 upon the upcoming demolition of the building owned by Midwood. This mural, commissioned by Mural Arts and the only mural of an LGBTQ woman in Philadelphia at the time, was loved by many and its removal prompted outrage and outcry with slogans like “Keep Gloria on 12th’’ and “You can’t erase our history.”

In all, the purpose of murals is to beautify neighborhoods, tell stories, serve as cultural symbols and enhance the life of cities. Often, murals are taken for granted; and yet still, their bold colors and powerful messages can stop passerby in their tracks.

The next time you find yourself walking through the streets of historic Philadelphia, keep your head up. After all, it’s the mural capital of the world. Now, it’s time you explore.

Top: Peace is a Haiku Song, located on 1425 Christian Street, and is made to honor Sonia Sanchez, educator, activist and poet. As a teacher and practitioner of the haiku, the mural is based on her ideologies of its promotion of self-meditation and beauty.

Middle: Colorful Legacy, located on 4008 Chestnut Street, was made through the Building Brotherhood: Engaging Males of Color, which was a social justice initiative from Mural Arts which focuses on advocating for men and boys of color that go through challenges in Philadelphia.

Bottom: Common Threads, located on Broad and Spring Garden Streets, covers the idea of unifying various cultures over time through the artist’s portrayal of her grandmother’s antique figurines.

Photos by Lucas Tang (‘23)/ Eastside Photo Editor

EASTSIDE

Page 11

EDITORIAL

Page 12

EASTSIDE

April 2023

Editorials represent the views and opinions of the Eastside Editorial Board.

Kindness and respect are lacking and must be restored in local community discourse Cherry Hill is a diverse, complex community. Our town is home to people who have various backgrounds, different experiences and multifaceted identities.

Here, everyone should feel welcome, while people should make their voices heard in ways that facilitate positive change and create an inclusive community environment. Recently, however, a small minority of Cherry Hill residents have taken to Facebook groups, public discussion forums and other communicative mediums in ways that do the opposite, creating discomfort and distress for valued members of our community. This needs to stop.

The Eastside Editorial Board therefore calls on every member of the Cherry Hill community to meet a simple request: please be kind to each other.

Recent examples of conduct that go against that request include insensitive Facebook posts and inappropriate comments at Board of Education meetings. For instance, after one Cherry Hill family experienced a loss this year, others took to local Facebook pages to speculate about the situation, invading the family’s privacy.

In another instance, a public comment made at the February 14, 2023 Board of Education meeting included controversial remarks about racial family dynamics; the comment minimized the role of white supremacy in society.

Other problematic comments have included on-

line disrespect toward fellow residents, attempts to shame neighbors when homeowner conflicts arise, and rule-breaking political statements in community groups.

“Unfortunately, social media has given people a safe haven to be jerks,” said Abe Karetny, administrator of the official What’s

that residents have a right to free speech that allows them to make inappropriate comments. However, other residents can use their own free speech rights in a more positive manner by reporting and working to stop harmful posts.

Steps can be taken to ensure that kindness and understanding become

of Cherry Hill’s most popular Facebook groups reaffirmed their commitments to maintain their groups as positive environments for the community. Karetny, as well as Rena Margulis of Cherry Hill United and Eileen Doran of Cherry Hill ACTS, explained their group rules, making clear that passionate members of

Katherine Li (‘23)/ Eastside Art Director

Up in Cherry Hill Facebook group, a Cherry Hill community forum with thousands of members.

Such comments have no place in our community, as residents of Cherry Hill have a responsibility to make sensible, relevant statements that do not harm others in public forums. Eastside recognizes

more central parts of the dialogue in our community.

For example, a recent update to the Board of Education’s agenda statement for public comment periods clarified that demeaning or irrelevant remarks would not be permitted at its meetings. Additionally, in interviews with Eastside, moderators for some

the community sometimes break them, but that the rules are designed to correct and restrict Facebook users in those cases.

Doran also said, “We cannot make positive change if we do not listen to each other.”

In order for every member of our community to be comfortable both speaking

in and listening to important conversations, change must occur. Whether it is promoting racial stereotypes or disrespecting the privacy of students and their parents, certain kinds of discourse simply do not contribute in any positive way to making Cherry Hill a welcoming community for all.

Eastside believes that, ultimately, that kind of positive community environment is something that all residents can support. In order to create it, we urge all residents to be more mindful of their speech, and to ask themselves: could what I am about to say hurt someone?

Or is it a kind, thoughtful contribution to making our town a better place? If we focus on the latter, we will all be better for it.

If we, as 15-18 year olds, can ask these critical questions and recognize the need for more kindness in our community, adults should be able to do the same. It is disappointing that we witness such levels of insensitivity and disrespect that we feel the need to speak out; kids should not have to worry about this. Such a poor example should not be set for our generation.

Nonetheless, we are doing our part to make positive change in our community, striving for everyone to feel welcomed and respected in our hometown.

We will report problematic comments, encourage kindness around us and communicate positively with our community. Please join us.

Eastside 2022-2023 Editorial Board Managing Editor: Abby Yu Editors-in-Chief: Brielle Lampf, Aiden Rood, Alena Zhang Online Editors-in-Chief: Vivian Rong, Lauren Winslow Adviser: Mr. Greg Gagliardi News Editors Jillian Koenig Izzy Sobel

Sports Editors Shayna Oppen Julia Sitnick

Features Editors Emily Boyle Sophie Liu

Opinions Editors Isabelle Berger Manar Hadi

Culture Editors Michelle Bookbinder Julia Rosten

Global Commentary Editors Batul El Barouki Matthew Rentezelas

Community Editors Gia Gupta, Ellie Noh Art Directors Katherine Li Melissa Vital

Media Directors Natalie Finkelstein Karina Gupta

Online News Editor Ella Hampton

Online Sports Editor Adam Borenstein

Online Features Editor Ava Crawley

Online Opinions Editor Asher Boiskin

Online Culture Editor Ella Goodstadt Online Community Editor Taylor Goodman

Photo Editors Jiwoo Lee Lucas Tang

Online Global Commentary Editor Enis Ercan Online STEM Edtior Rachna Mohan

Business Managers Lauren Greenberg Molly Grossman

Social Media Manager Ava Richman

April 2023

GLOBAL COMMENTARY EASTSIDE

Page 13

Republican and Democrat predict 2024 presidential election results The top contenders for the 2024 Presidential elections are as follows: Biden is up for reelection, Donald Trump is making a wonderful return, Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are bidding for shots at the elections, and hopefully they will show the Biden administration how conservative legislation is exactly what this country needs.

While Joe Biden’s candidacy is expected, his reputation and likeliness of winning the election have fallen significantly since January 13, 2023, according to analysis of the BetFair Exchange. Prominent Democrats heavily criticized Donald Trump and now the tables have turned after classified documents were uncovered in President Biden’s garage in Delaware. With Biden still the top candidate, he is very closely followed by Ron DeSantis in probability for winning favor among American voters.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not yet entered the contest as a Republican candidate in the 2024 elections, but nonetheless his candidacy is expected. He has grown considerably more favorable as he continues with his “antiwoke” policies in the state of Florida in order to protect the young generations of his state. As a Yale and Harvard educated lawyer, and a narrowly elected governor, his impact on Florida is greatly promising of a calmer future for the United States.

DeSantis has exerted the muchneeded c o n t r o l o v e r school boards a n d county health policies which allowed him to win reelection as Governor

Trump’s rally for far-right candidates in the midterm elections unfortunately fared pretty poorly at the polls, losing several Trump-endorsed elections.

His probability for winning is uncertain given some of his biggest allies and advocates are currently nowhere to be found.

Nikki Haley is another top Republican candidate who claims she “has never lost a race.” As a former South Carolina Governor and Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, she claimed candidacy very early on despite being a former avid supporter of Trump. She is the first G.O.P. rival to take on Trump as she calls for “generational change” in leadership, (whatever that means) given that the overall number of Republican popular votes has dropped in recent years.

Since Haley has reversed her statement about not running for President if Trump is a candidate, this has not won her much respect in her campaign.

In all fairness, her rally for an increased number of Republican votes will only help Trump in his running.

This is potentially why he has chosen to refrain from mentioning her name or insulting her in any way.

Haley’s campaign calls for term limits on Congressmen, strengthening border security and increasing domestic oil and gas productions. Biden has beaten her to that last point as he just signed for $8 billion to be directed toward the Willow Project for oil drilling in Alaska. This has sparked some recent turmoil in the media.

A f t e r Biden was elected in 2020, he had the chance to script a new Democratic history, but he failed miserably.

After unleashing the worst border crisis this

i n Florida by 20 points in November. His probability of winning the election is high and hopefully voters see the potential to re-introduce sanity and authority into a very socially divided and problematic society.

DeSantis’s rise to national prominence is arguably because of Trump, who is the next top pick for President. He announced his bid for the 2024 elections in November of 2022.

coun t r y has ever seen, Republicans must restore order and democracy in the face of a dwindling social and economic future.

Presidential elections have their political bias, but DeSantis and Trump have likely chances of gaining a majority of votes. DeSantis’s campaign hit the ground running, but there is hope for Trump to put his recent criminal charges behind him to remove an incumbent President and win the office again.

■ By Batul El Barouki (‘23) Eastside Global Commentary Editor

■ By Lauren Winslow (‘23) Eastside Online Editor in Chief

The upcoming 2024 presidential election will likely be contentious with several controversial Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, looking to secure the presidency. With President Biden expected to run for reelection, any Republican candidate will have a tough battle securing the party nomination and face the prospect of running against an incumbent president.

The first to throw their hat in the ring for the 2024 presidential election was Trump all the way back in 2022. Despite finding economic success while president, Trump becoming the president again would further divide the Republican party and the American people. Even though Trump has lost influence within the Republican party, there are still many dedicated Trump supporters whose votes could be decisive in an election. Because Trump is so controversial politically, not to mention his current criminal charge, sexual assault accusation and overall inability to use social media in a manner behooving a spokesperson of the United States, it is in the best interest of American citizens for Trump not to be reelected.

In February earlier this year, Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur and conservative political activist, announced his bid for the presidency. Ramaswamy is known for being “anti-woke” and denounces the importance of diversity and climate change. Despite never holding public office, Ramasw a m y is well known among Republican circles d u e to his o u t s p o kenness about h i s

grievances with most of the liberal ideology. Even though Ramaswamy might be well known in Republican political circles, the average Republican voter is not likely to know much about him and moderate Republicans will likely be dismayed from voting for him because of how conservative many of his views are.

Before Ramaswamy entered the race, former U.N. Ambassador and

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced she was running on February 14, 2023. Despite Haley’s conservative views on abortion, Medicare and taxes, she has proven herself capable of becoming president while serving as South Carolina’s governor.

If Haley was to be elected president, she would be the first female president as well as the first president of Indian descent, breaking down a major barrier for women and minorities.

However, some voters may be persuaded or dissuaded to vote for Haley depending on the stance she takes on Trump. So far, she has remained neutral.

Although Ron DeSantis, the current governor of Florida, has not announced his bid for the presidency yet, it is likely that he will soon join the race. DeSantis, like Trump, is in the media frequently, typically for controversial reasons.

While serving as governor, DeSantis passed the “Stop Woke Act” and “Parental Rights in Education Act,” which respectively restricted race and sexual orientation discussions in schools. These two pieces of legislation got nationwide pushback, especially from the Democratic party.

He also created legislation banning abortions after 15 weeks. Overall, DeSantis has found success pushing through conservative legislation in Florida, showing his capability to get things done as the head of the state.

Like in most elections, there is no perfect candidate, including Biden and Marianne Williamson, a Democrat who recently announced she is running for the presidency.

However, out of all the Republican candidates, there is one who would further polarize the United States, a n d that is Donald

Trump, especially with his recent indictment. Trump’s reelection would not only further divide the Republican party, but also the nation as a whole. On the other hand, it would be empowering for many women and minorities to see Nikki Haley serving as the first female president.

Art by Ilanna Berstein (‘25)/ Eastside Staff

Page 14

GLOBAL COMMENTARY EASTSIDE

April 2023

Dangerous rumors spread around origins of COVID-19 ■ By Matt Rentezelas (‘24) Eastside Global Commentary Editor

Amid the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, conspiracy circles began to construct explanations on how the virus came into existence. The narrative of a Chinese “lab leak” was especially widespread, and these ideas contributed to a drastic increase in antiAsian sentiment in the United States.

While much of the discourse around COVID-19 conspiracies had died down as we moved further and further from the height of reported cases, panic recently reemerged after the Department of Energy concluded — with low confidence — that COVID-19 originated from a lab leak.

Before frantically worrying about the implications of this announcement, the public should consider pieces of vital information that give a greater sense of context and comfort.

First of all, the Depart-

ment of Energy made the conclusion with “low confidence.” A low confidence assessment indicates that the theory is supported by a low amount of evidence or that the evidence in question is not highly reliable.

Another important detail to consider is the fact that other U.S. government agencies have also released assessments on the origin of COVID-19.

Only one other agency, the FBI, concluded that the virus emerged accidentally from a lab. On the other hand, five intelligence agencies have concluded with low confidence that the virus emerged from natural sources.

The reality is that the majority of scientists currently believe the virus originated naturally — likely from bats. Given the current state of AmericanChinese relations, investigations are hard to complete without cooperation on behalf of the Chinese government or espionage-

based activities. Obviously, intelligence organizations would not like to publicize the fact that they hold resources or informants undercover. This means that we may not know the extent of information at the disposal of agencies or the reasons they come to certain conclusions.

It’s natural to feel uncertain about an event that had such a profound impact on the lives of billions of people all over the world.

Conspiracy theories often emerge over tragic events because people like to make sense of the things that traumatized them or captivated their attention so vividly.

However, we must remain logical and stick to the scientific information at our disposal. Falling down rabbit holes of loose ties and circumstantial evidence leads to a cycle of misinformation and paranoia. As the years pass and more information about the COVID-19 pandemic comes

to light, we may eventually see a more definitive answer to how the virus emerged.

In the meantime, details surrounding the pandemic may unfortunately continue to remain cloudy.

(KMT) led by Chiang Kaishek, and the CCP led by Mao Zedong. Ultimately, in 1949, the CCP emerged victorious and established the People’s Republic of China.

Almost immediately after, the KMT government and followers of Chiang Kaishek fled in droves to Taiwan.

After the civil war, Taiwanese officials began to set up increasingly demo-

President Xi Jinping has suggested that Taiwan and China unite under “one country” with “two systems,” in which Taiwan will lose its sovereignty but will maintain economic and political autonomy. Given the recent Chinese betrayal of the same system used in Hong Kong, this suggestion has largely been shunned by the Taiwanese public: a 2021 poll by Taiwan’s

the fastest growing major economy in the world, China poses a serious threat to America’s supreme economy. Xi Jinping recognizes that a reunification with Taiwan, whether achieved via diplomacy or force, will be the nail in the coffin for America’s economic lead.

The United States, which has employed “strategic ambiguity,” would almost certainly retaliate

joyed for decades through autonomy would be jeopardized, and the Chinese goal of reunification could crumble the Taiwanese castle in its entirety.

Not only would the acquisition of Taiwan benefit China fiscally, but it would also cause China to gain several key strategic advantages.

Specifically, China has made a push for increased nationalism in recent years.

While China has been able to maintain hard power and an iron grip over its own people, its inability to cultivate a true national identity among foreign nations through cultural diplomacy has hindered its ability to reinforce its global position as a superpower.

A reunification with Taiwan would mollify some of the animosity between Taiwanese and Chinese officials, and given the deep cultural and historical connections between China and Taiwan, reunification would bolster China’s sense of a national identity.

Claiming Taiwan would also extend Chinese military reach beyond its mainland. It would permit China to use Taiwan as a hub to control major Asian shipping routes. Now that China is set to invade Taiwan in 2024, these motives are seemingly compelling enough reasons for an eager Xi Jinping administration to take action.

The tension between China and the United States is palpable. With China set to invade Taiwan in 2024, it is abundantly clear that the Xi Jinping administration has an insatiable thirst for global influence.

In spite of its unassuming size, an autonomous Taiwan is pivotal in circumventing a high-stakes conflict between the two powerful nations of China and the United States.

As conflict looms, the future of Taiwanese democracy and welfare hangs in the balance.

Barbara Armstrong (‘25)/ Eastside Staff

China poses threat to Taiwanese sovereignty ■ By Matt Berkery (‘25)

Eastside Staff

Over the past few years, global superpowers China and the United States have clashed on the contentious topic of Taiwanese sovereignty. Taiwan’s mere existence has led to vastly increased political tension.

As China gears up to potentially invade Taiwan in 2024, the potential ramifications of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan are front and center.

Despite its small size, the island nation of Taiwan is incredibly influential.

Not only is Taiwan home to nearly 24 million people, but a single Taiwanese company (TSMC) accounts for 92% of the world’s highend semiconductors. These semiconductors are instrumental to companies that manufacture cell phones.

Despite Taiwan’s ability and desire to thrive as a sovereign nation, China has completely disregarded its autonomy. The Chinese government frequently airs propaganda supporting the idea that China holds control over Taiwan. This message adheres to the One-China Principle — including the belief that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) holds authority over Taiwan.

Much of the ChineseTaiwanese tension stems from their history together.

In 1895, Japan’s triumph over China in the First Sino-Japanese War put Taiwan (which was a piece of Chinese territory) under Japanese control. After World War II, Japan’s surrender entailed the forfeit of Taiwanese territory back to China.

With permission from the U.S. and U.K., the Republic of China (ROC) took control of Taiwan. The ROC’s rule over Taiwan, however, would quickly prove itself unstable. A civil war in mainland China broke out between the Kuomintang Nationalists

Courtesy of Reuters

A Chinese soldier fires an anti-tank missile during an army drill in 2019 cratic institutions that diametrically oppose China’s communist state.

Much to the CCP’s dismay, the United States has stood by Taiwan, not only for its democratic ideals, but also because of the weight Taiwan has in maintaining America’s economic leverage over China.

China, in hopes of consolidating its power and finally asserting its dominance over the United States, has been actively preparing for its invasion of Taiwan.

In the past, Chinese

Mainland Affairs Council found that only 1.6 percent of Taiwanese people support unification with China.

Evidently, both Taiwan and China are unwavering in their stances. Taiwan refuses to relinquish its sovereignty as a nation, largely because of the uncertainty that comes with Chinese rule. The conflicts in Hong Kong are a testament to the instability of such a system.

With negotiations seeming increasingly futile, the Xi Jinping administration has become impatient. As

against Chinese mobilization efforts.

A war of such a caliber has the potential to last years, and China would likely be subjecting itself to severe American sanctions, if not an outright blockade.

Peaceful and multilateral interchanges between Taiwanese and Chinese people have also been reduced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, further diminishing the likelihood of peaceful negotiations.

The democracy and prosperity that Taiwan has en-

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CULTURE

Page 16

EASTSIDE

April 2023

Miley Cyrus releases “Endless Summer Vacation” ■ By Julia Rosten (‘24)

Eastside Culture Editor

“We Can’t Stop” listening to Miley Cyrus’s new album, “Endless Summer Vacation.”

“Endless Summer Vacation” contains 13 songs, two of which feature artists Sia and Brandi Carille.

Cyrus reveals a new aspect of her creative self as the album focuses on new relationships and self-acceptance.

Since Cyrus hasn’t released an album since “Plastic Hearts,” which came out in November 2020, “Endless Summer Vacation” was eagerly awaited. “Plastic Hearts” is mainly a poprock record.

Despite prior records like “Bangerz” having great success, “Plastic Hearts” did not perform as well and Cyrus did not tour. Up until “Endless Summer Vacation,” she hadn’t put out any new songs.

“Endless Summer Vacation” dives deep into Cyrus’s experience with divorce, love and relationships.

“Flowers,” the lead single of the album, was released on January 12, 2023, through Columbia Records.

The single was a huge commercial hit, breaking a number of records.

The Official U.K. Singles Chart, released on March 3, shows “Flowers” holding onto the top spot for seven straight weeks.

They report that it continues to receive 5.2 million additional plays, making it the market’s most streamed music.

With its reign approaching two months, “Flowers” surpasses Adele’s “Easy On Me,” which spent eight non-consecutive weeks at the top in 2021 and 2022, as the longest-running No.

1 by a female single performer in the U.K. Fans speculated that this album, but especially this song, is about her divorce with Liam Hemsworth.

It seems to be a response to Bruno Mars’s song “When I was Your Man,” which was played at their wedding. Mars sings “I should have bought you flowers / And held your hand,” while Cyrus responds “I can buy myself flowers / Write my name in the sand.”

Following “Flowers” is “Jaded,” another song about a breakup in which she accepts blame and apologizes in various ways. She acknowledges how much time had gone on since the relationship ended, and her regrets.

Track 3, “Rose Colored Lenses,” contrasts the previous two songs. Instead of being a breakup ballad, “Rose Colored Lenses” talks about love and the thrilling phase of dating.

“Thousand Miles,” featuring Brandi Carlile, explores her close bond with her sister. Cyrus told Elle that originally when she wrote it in 2017, “it was about happiness and sisterhood and it just makes [her] emotional, because now the song is filled with so much joy in the music and it’s become something so far from the sadness that inspired the song.”

The next song, “You,” is in a traditional R&B style and discusses rekindled romances. This song opposes the following, bizarre and heavily electronic tune “Handstand,” which can best be described as the “breakdown” song of the album.

Cyrus shared on her Disney+ concert special that Track 7, “River,” was written during “ a time in [her] life where [she] was going

“Endless Summer Vacation” continues to break records. through just a lot emotionship. She reacts to being songs on the album. ally and personally… [troumistreated in this intense It is a ballad that is alble] started raining down song. Her voice is very dark most completely pianolike love.” and raspy, and this shows a based.

She also described the taste of a more “rock” tone.

It sounds somewhat like upbeat single as a “dance Both “Wildcard” and “Isit was influenced by her floor banger.” land” have a gentler tone. mother or another impact“Violet Chemistry” has a While “Wildcard” has a ful woman in her life. similar “electro-pop” sound, more upbeat tone and adOverall, “Endless Sumand can be compared to the dresses her individuality, mer Vacation” walks you early relationship phase “Island” talks about losing through the various feeltheme of “Rose Colored someone and feeling alone. ings experienced during a Lenses.”

The last song on the relationship.

The album’s next song, album (besides Flowers Cyrus made an impres“Muddy Feet,” featuring demo) is “Wonder Woman.” sive return to the music Sia, provides a new view“Wonder Woman” is differscene with a fantastic repoint on their relationent from all of the other cord.

from Los Angeles who was submerged into the world of rock ’n roll at much too young of an age. Daisy is famous for her looks and charm, yet she fails to produce an individual identity for herself in the music industry. Jones is eventually brought into the band, and they rename themselves Daisy Jones and the Six. Through their intense attraction to each other, Billy and Daisy co-wrote “Aurora,” an album which changed the course of their careers and further immersed the band into the trials and tribulations of the 1970s music scene.

Many relationships among the band members are explored, but the focus is on the tense connection between Daisy and Billy, which affects his marriage to his wife Camila.

As the book progresses, various interviews that are held reveal more information regarding the sudden break-up of the group following a show at the Chicago Stadium in 1979.

The individual who conducts the interviews is disclosed towards the culmi-

nation of the story, adding to the climactic conclusion.

As of March 3, 2023, fans of the novel can now see the band, their music and their story come to life in the new “Daisy Jones & The Six’’ series on Amazon Prime Video.

Stars Riley Keough and Sam Claflin put on showstopping performances in their portrayal of Daisy and Billy. The main cast also includes Camila Morrone as Camila Dunne, Suki Waterhouse as Karen Sirko, Will Harrison as Graham Dunne, Josh Whitehouse as Eddie Roundtree, Sebastian Chacon as Warren Rojas and Nabiyah Be as Simone Jackson.

The new series is filmed in the same oral history format as the book. Each episode includes scenes from the present where the characters reflect on the years that the band was together.

However, the episodes primarily display scenes from the past to retell the story of Daisy Jones & The Six. The first few shows depict the formation of The Six while Daisy was attempting to create an inde-

Courtesy of Pitchfork

Daisy Jones & The Six transports viewers to the ‘70s ■ By Ella Goodstadt (‘24) Eastside Online Culture Editor

The thrilling world of 1970s rock ‘n roll comes to life in Amazon Prime Video’s adaptation of novelist Taylor Jenkins Reid’s “Daisy Jones & The Six.” The 2019 novel was an immediate success among readers of all ages as it immersed them into the journey of an up and coming band in the ‘70s.

The novel is set in both the past and present in an oral history format. An interviewer sits down with members of the band as well as those who worked with them throughout the years in order to detail the band’s rapid rise to fame and their sudden break-up and plunge from stardom.

The band initially starts out as the Dunne Brothers, consisting of Billy and Graham Dunne along with Graham’s friends, Eddie, Pete and Warren.

When keyboardist Karen Sirko joined the group, they were renamed “The Six.” On the other hand, Daisy Jones is a “wild-child”

pendent career for herself.

For those who have not yet read the novel, it is evident from the start that Daisy and The Six will cross paths.

One aspect of the series that truly allows it to stand out is the music itself. When she wrote the novel, Taylor Jenkins Reid included an entire set of complete songs for the album, “Aurora.”

Many of these songs are included in the Prime series, and the entire album, “Aurora,” is available on music streaming services.

The show does an overall excellent job in executing the book to TV show adaptation. Extensive time is taken to explore the development of each of the primary characters through their successes and failures in their relationships and music.

The accurate depiction of the time period also contributes to the show’s success as viewers are immediately transported into the world of rock music in the 1970s. The raw emotion of the actors helps to tie it all together.

The nostalgia, romance,

fashion and music of the mini-series collaborate to produce a stellar adaptation of Reid’s book and establish a new appreciation for rock ‘n roll among younger generations.

Amazon Prime Video’s “Daisy Jones & The Six” is without a doubt a mustwatch.

Scan here to listen to a playlist of songs featured in Daisy Jones & The Six!

April 2023

CULTURE EASTSIDE

Page 17

Netflix’s fourth season of “You” shocks audiences ■ By Michelle Bookbinder (‘25)

Eastside Culture Editor

Netflix is no stranger to thrillers and mysteries, releasing various works such as “Knives Out,” “Behind Her Eyes” and “Murder Mystery.” However, “You” manages to stand out in the genre. The television show “You,” starring Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg, follows a love-obsessed man who repeatedly stalks and then kills his romantic partners. Netflix released its fourth season in two parts, with part one being released on February 9, 2023, and part two on March 9, 2023. Unlike past seasons, season four of “You” delves deeper into the gore, darkness and Joe himself.

In this new season, Joe starts a new life in London under the identity of Jonathan Moore. He remains heartbroken over his failed relationship with his last partner, Marienne, but soon enough, he begins a

relationship with Kate Galvin, joining her friend group of wealthy socialites. As members of the social circle begin to die, and Joe receives mysterious messages from an unknown source that uncovered his past, Joe hunts down the “Eat the Rich” killer responsible for these murders before he gets framed. Despite the answers supposedly given in part one, part two puts everything into question with its monumental plot twist.

While in past seasons, Joe has been responsible for the murders from the start, this season takes on a whodunnit style reminiscent of Agatha Christie. Any one of Joe’s new high-class companions could be responsible, so Joe embarks on a mission to unveil the truth to preserve his reputation throughout part one. This new murder mystery style was a tasteful deviation from the show’s previous

vides a campy social commentary on wealthy, high-class individuals.

Season four brings into question how far celebrities are out of touch with hard work and the life of an average middle-class individual, adding another layer to the show that audiences can ponder.

Especially in part two of “You,” audiences gain much more insight into Joe and the purity of his intentions. Throughout previous seasons, Joe is in denial of his malicious actions and uses his desire to be loved as justification. Although he persistently believes his actions can be rationalized, Joe finally faces his dark side during the last three episodes. The audience finally gets a deep glimpse into Joe’s fracCourtesy of Flick tured psyche, seeing him ultimately make the realpattern, keeping the show ization that through disasexciting for viewers. sociation and excuses, he The concept of the “Eat hasn’t taken proper responthe Rich” killer also prosibility for all the crimes he

has committed. This much needed self-reflection enhances Joe’s character development throughout the show.

Badgley’s strong performance in “You” brings the complex Joe Goldberg to life. His acting humanizes the character, providing viewers with someone to pity at times or often loathe.

Badgley masterfully captures the crumbling of Joe’s mental state, portraying the self-hatred and lack of identity he grapples with over the course of season four. Joe might not be a particularly likable character, but Badgley plays him as someone viewers want to sympathize with despite his mistakes.

Season four of “You” takes audiences on an exhilarating journey with many twists keeping the story engaging. With its powerful acting, enjoyable characters and mind-altering plot, this is a show that “You” have to see.

by Tan France and Alexa Chung. France is a BritishAmerican fashion designer who is known for founding “Kingdom & State,” a women’s swimwear fashion line. He is also known for working as a fashion expert on the Netflix show “Queer Eye.” Chung is a British television presenter, model and fashion designer. She also wrote and published her own novel called “It” in 2013.

In season one, the directors chose 18 designers to compete on the show. They paired everyone off into teams of two and eliminated a team each episode until the ninth of ten episodes.

In episode nine, the hosts eliminated one member from each of the two remaining teams so the finale episode was between only two contestants.

The winner of season one was Minju Kim from South Korea, and Net-a-Porter, a fashion retailer website, gifted her with $250,000 and the opportunity to debut her designs on the website.

A couple of changes have been made during

the second season of “Next in Fashion.” First off, the second season was hosted

by France and Gigi Hadid rather than Alexa Chung.

Gigi Hadid is a famous American Model.

In 2016, she was credited in the Top 50 Models ranking at Models.com, and in 2016, she was awarded International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. Season two began with twelve individual designers rather than nine pairs of designers.

Each week, one designer or multiple designers were eliminated from the competition depending on the challenge during that episode. Nigel Xavier from Atlanta, Georgia, won season two of “Next in Fashion.”

He was awarded $200,000 and the chance to launch a collection of his on Rent the Runway.

The second season of this fashion design competition series was much more versatile in its challenges than the first. The designers competed in both individual and team challenges rather than working in pairs until the finale of the season.

France and Hadid occasionally selected partners, teams of 4+ designers, or had the winner of the previous challenge select their team and/or everyone else’s teams to benefit themselves.

Sometimes, these advantages backfired, though.

Especially when Godoy, winner of episode four, was given the advantage of selecting his partner for episode five, James, which ended up being an inadequate pair sending both designers home.

Overall, the second season of “Next in Fashion” kept me on the edge of my seat, awaiting the finale to see who would win the competition.

This season was filled with grueling challenges including using thrifted clothing, taking a deep dive into past decades, designing outfits for the Met Gala and creating an outfit with transformations that turned into a second outfit mid-runway.

Similar to season one, France and Hadid invited well-known guest judges for each episode of the compe-

tition including Donatella Versace, Emma Chamberlain, Bella Hadid and ​​Hailey Bieber. This season of “Next in Fashion” provided multiple changes compared to season one, which made the show more interesting and versatile.

This show is very entertaining and Netflix watchers are hoping to see a third season launch in the near future.

to establish the shared past of the two rivals in the movie. When he was a young teen, Adonis often snuck out of his room to watch his brother figure, Damian “Dame” Anderson, win underground boxing matches.

Dame was undefeated and constantly talked about becoming a professional boxer once the two “brothers” escaped foster care.

But after a violent interaction one night, Dame is sent to prison for nearly two decades and Adonis narrowly escapes imprisonment.

Another jump in time reveals that 15 years later, Adonis has achieved the boxing career of which Dame always dreamed. At present, it is revealed that

Enjoying retirement, Adonis lives with his fiance, Bianca, and their daughter Amara.

They appear to have a perfect life until Dame returns from prison.

He feels wronged that Adonis was the one to lead a successful career, and demands Adonis give him the boxing glory that he deserves.

Despite the truth, Adonis feels guilty that he was the only one who escaped so many Katherine Li (‘23)/ years ago. He does his Eastside Art Director best to help Dame secure a title, unaware of Adonis has given up fightwhat it would mean for ing and is now enjoying a his own safety. lavish lifestyle near HollyOn the exterior, “Creed wood.

III” would appear to revolve

around two men fighting for a boxing title. Due to the nature of the “Rocky” saga, the movie also belongs to a genre where it’s frequently simple to tell what’s good and bad.

Dame is rough and fights as if his life is on the line, while Adonis is all control and technique in the ring.

The motivations behind Dame’s thirst for vengeance - and perhaps domination - may be more reasonable than anticipated.

The movie surrounds these two strong, determined men and their complicated relationship. But as they fight to see which one of them earns the title, they may lose one of the only senses of family they know.

“Next in Fashion” puts designers to the test in season two ■ By Taylor Goodman (‘25)

Eastside Online Community Editor

The second season of “Next in Fashion,” a Netflix original series, recently aired on Netflix on March 3, 2023. Season one aired on Netflix on January 29, 2020.

“Next in Fashion” is not only a reality show but also a fashion design competition series. In this show, designers are selected from all around the world to compete against one another in numerous fashion challenges.

The designers work for hours in each episode to create outfits based on the challenge for that week.

These challenges often require the contestants to use obscure materials in their designs, as well as create clothing to match a certain theme.

Although you wouldn’t think the second season to be very different from the first, extreme changes have actually been made to both the cast and competition process.

The first season of “Next in Fashion” was hosted

Marlee Petkov (‘24)/ Eastside Staff

“Creed III,” starring Michael B. Jordan, hits movie theaters ■ By Isabelle Berger (‘25) Eastside Opinions Editor

Making his directorial debut, Michael B. Jordan chose to undertake “Creed III,” the most recent film in the “Rocky” offshoot series and the ninth overall movie in the boxing saga.

He impressively directed himself while maintaining the role of champion boxer Adonis Creed: son of Apollo Creed, a once world-famous boxer.

In his roles as the film’s star and director, Jordan follows in the footsteps of Sylvester Stallone, who directed himself in four out of the eight Rocky movies he acted in.

First, “Creed III” flashes back to Los Angeles in 2002

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Isabella Ferraccio commits to Maryland for gymnastics ■ By Julia Sitnick (‘25)

Eastside Sports Editor

Isabella Ferraccio (‘23) has committed to the University of Maryland, where she will continue her gymnastics career and compete as a Division 1 athlete.

Ferraccio took her first gymnastics class when she was three years old. While she loved the sport from the start, her mom made sure that she tried a variety of sports to see what would be the best fit. Ferraccio tried basketball, track, cross country and soccer before deciding to train yearround for gymnastics.

“It pretty much has been my dream my whole life to do college gymnastics. Of course, the Olympics when you are a little girl seems like the biggest thing, but I was always fascinated by college gymnastics so I knew that is what I wanted to do,” said Ferraccio.

As an all-around gymnast, Ferraccio must be strong in four different events: vault, uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Her best event is the vault, but she enjoys all of the events, and if you ask her to choose her favorite, you may get a different answer on any given day. Although gymnastics is physically and mentally demanding, Ferraccio remains focused, continuing to develop as a gymnast because she enjoys her sport.

“The driving force for the sport that you do should be love and passion... It should be you that wants to do it for you. If you love the sport that you are doing, you are going to excel,” said Ferraccio.

Ferraccio trains at First State Gymnastics, which is in Newark, Delaware.

The competition season runs from January to May and includes about seven regional and national competitions. During the rest of the year, she trains and practices five days a week in Delaware.

While there is not a lot of free time outside of gymnastics, Ferraccio still makes time to hang out with her friends and family. Her experience as a competitive gymnast has required dedication, but it has also allowed her to learn many life lessons.

“It required me to learn sacrifice, which I learned from a young age, time management because I am a student athlete and have to find that balance, [and] perseverance and determination because there are so many obstacles that come your way,” said Ferraccio.

In 2022, Ferraccio competed at the prestigious Level 10 Nationals meet in Phoenix, Arizona. This meet was the highlight of her competitive career during high school.

“My favorite memory was going to Nationals in 2022,

it was such an experience to be around like-minded athletes and competing alongside some of the top gymnasts in the country. I definitely felt proud of myself and felt like I made my younger self proud,” said Ferraccio.

She attributes her success to her large support network and strong faith that helped her to reach her goals as a competitive gymnast.

“Everyone that I met along the journey has played a part depending on where I was at. My parents and my brother have been the most supportive through it all… God is the reason I am where I am today. He is the reason I succeed and can overcome obstacles,” said Ferraccio.

Ferraccio started the recruiting process the summer before her junior year.

The process was difficult and stressful, but she kept going to gymnastics camps and working hard during the recruiting process until she found a program that was the right match for her.

“I had to remind myself that it only takes one school, and for me it was the University of Maryland that stuck out. It fell into place perfectly to where I knew that was exactly where I was supposed to be,” said Ferraccio.

After attending a weekend gymnastics camp at Maryland where she met

games that molded her into the person she became.

Hullings started helping out with her town’s recreational field hockey team, she helped coach tournaments they held at her college when she was a player there, and then she started coaching right out of college before she even had a fulltime teaching position. She has now been a lacrosse coach at the high school level for nine years.

“My first goal is to establish a new team culture.

Having and being a new coach to an existing program can be tough. I want to make sure that everyone in the program feels like they are a part of something bigger than them. A place where they can have fun, but also become a better lacrosse player and individual on and off the field. And of course, besides the players improving individually as a player,” said Hullings.

Hullings wants her team to take steps to improve as a whole. She wants to compete harder, win more games and get the word out that Cherry Hill East Girls’ Lacrosse is on the rise.

She is taking advantage of the opportunity to have her team start from scratch.

“The first step is building a strong team culture.

If players on a team trust each other and have a good connection with one another, then success on the field will follow. We will also work on stick skills, and then build new defensive

and offensive strategies that cater to the strengths of the players we have,” Hullings said.

The type of player that Hullings is looking out for is a workforce. She said she would rather have 12 players that work hard every single day than 5 girls who may be a little more talented but do not work hard.

“I also want players who are good teammates.

These types of players are committed, responsible, accountable, communicate, include everyone, and push themselves and their teammates to be the best they can be,” said Hullings.

Hullings played softball growing up, but in her freshman year she wanted to try something new and exciting, which lacrosse seemed to be. On the first day of lacrosse she knew she wanted to stick with it.

All of her coaches were so encouraging and she built amazing relationships with them and with her teammates. Though she knew she couldn’t be a player forever, she knew that she loved being a part of a team. Seeing the coaches form relationships with players and inspire them, like herself, was something she knew she wanted to do.

“One of my high school coaches [and health & PE teacher] was my main inspiration, and life has come full circle,” said Hullings.

She went back to teach with her for a little after college, they now work out at the same bootcamp every day where her sister trains

Jiwoo Lee (‘24)/ Eastside Photo Editor

Ferraccio will attend the University of Maryland. the coaches and other gymnasts, Ferraccio knew that Maryland was her top choice for college.

“The team culture is absolutely amazing. They have such a family dynamic that truly makes you enjoy the sport. At Maryland, it’s about the team and wanting the team to do well. The coaches are so sweet, they are like second parents, gym parents. That was ex-

actly what I was looking for so I can enjoy my final four years in gymnastics,” said Ferraccio.

Ferraccio is excited to spend her college career competing for Maryland Gymnastics. She plans to follow a pre-med path with her goal to become an orthopedic surgeon. First, though, she will become a Division 1 gymnast next year.

East welcomes new Lacrosse Coach Brooke Hullings ■ By Molly Grossman (‘25) Eastside Business Manager

Cherry Hill East Girls’ Lacrosse is excited to welcome their new coach, Ms. Brooke Hullings.

Hullings is coaching varsity girls’ lacrosse this spring. She also teaches health and physical education and coaches field hockey at East. Additionally, she coaches club field hockey and does some field hockey and lacrosse training at XL Sports World, where she works the sports camp all summer. Hullings said she is always busy coaching and getting kids active.

Her lacrosse career started when she was in high school. She started playing lacrosse in 2007, her freshman year. She still plays in some adult leagues from time to time and is always ready to hop in during practice.

Hullings went to Delran High School and played all four years. She attended Montclair State University and played field hockey there too.

“We made it to the national championship, which was awesome,” said Hullings.

Hullings has always wanted to coach since high school. She loved all her coaches, and the relationships and fun she saw they got to have while “working.”

They all truly impacted her life greatly, and she wanted to do the same for others and help grow the

Ava Crawley (‘25)/ Eastside Online Features Editor

Hullings stops for a photo after practice. the both of them, and they may even be coaching club lacrosse together this summer based out of their fields at East.

“Coaching just always felt like something I was meant to do, and every day I am thankful that my ‘job’ doesn’t feel like a job and I get to share the experience I had with others.” said Hullings.

Her main goal is always player and team improvement. Of course, she also always hopes the team’s record will reflect that through wins.

“If my players leave this program better players and humans than when they came in and they enjoyed the ride while learning life

lessons, then I did my job, which is the first step in working towards building a strong program. My ultimate goal is to be a top team in the Olympic Conference,” said Hullings.

If she has anything to say to inspire her girls, it’s to leave your team better than you found it.

“People will forget the scores and stats, but they’ll never forget how you were as a teammate. And enjoy the memories, even when it’s hard, because you’ll miss it when it’s over,” said Hullings, summing up her philosophy in her new role.

This spring lacrosse season is now her first chance to enact those ideas for her students.