May 2022 Issue

Harvard-Westlake • Studio City • Volume 31 • Issue 8 • May 25, 2022 • hwchronicle.com

Students reflect on abortion

By Allegra Drago

After she was told it was unlikely she could conceive children, Paula* said she engaged in meaningless hookups, unconcerned about a possible pregnancy. Weeks later, she found herself staring at an ultrasound of a three-month-old fetus inside of her uterus.

Paula said she was not mentally or physically prepared to have a child as a 22-year-old college graduate. She said she did not want to raise children at a young age with someone she was not particularly close with.

“I decided to have an abortion because it was not the right time in my life [to have a child], and I wasn’t dating the person I was with,” Paula said. “I still want to work and have a career before I’m able to have a baby. I don’t feel like I can totally take care of myself, let alone of a child.”

Paula said she did not seek advice about the procedure prior to receiving it because having an abortion was her choice to make.

She said she did not need influence from others on whether to make the decision or not.

“I didn’t even tell the guy I was pregnant until after I got the abortion because I knew that he would be emotionally checked out,” Paula said. “At the end of the day, it was only my decision.

So I just did what I felt was best and proceeded forward.”

• Continued on B4

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF NIKE

THOMPSON TAKEOVER: Alyssa Thompson ’23 and Gisele Thompson ’24 strike a pose in Nike gear for their Nike signing while holding their soccer ball to announce their deal May 16. The Thompson sisters are the first high school athletes to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) in history.

Thompson sisters make history signing the first ever high school NIL contract with Nike

By Ella Yadegar

Girls soccer players Alyssa Thompson ’23 and Gisele Thompson ’24 announced a deal with Nike on May 16. The sisters are the first high school athletes ever to sign a name, image and likeness (NIL) deal with Nike.

Exact details of the deal have not been released, but the multi-year agreement provides monetary compensation in exchange for

the Thompsons’ consistent marketing and promotions.

The sisters will return to play on the girl’s varsity soccer team in the 2022-2023 season unless their United States Women’s National Teams (USWNT) training commitments prevent them from doing so.

Alyssa Thompson said she is thrilled to be able to work with the brand and appreciates the recognition that comes with signing

the deal from her peers.

“My reaction to signing with Nike was excitement initially, and I felt so grateful that I was able to have this opportunity,” Alyssa Thompson said. “It felt like my hard work paid off. This has been my dream for such a long time, and it still feels unreal to me.”

Gisele Thompson said she wants to use her new platform to create a positive impact.

“We want to empower young

LA County high schools’ COVID-19 case count increases drastically in May

By Alex Hahn

According to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH), 3,151 students across Los Angeles (LA) County schools tested positive for COVID-19 during the week ending May 1. This marks a 322% increase in school cases from the month prior.

Sixteen more outbreaks at schools were reported during the week ending May 7, but deaths and hospitalizations remained low across the county, according to the department.

Head of Communications and Strategic Initiatives Ari Engelberg ’89 said the soaring case count has not warranted any policy changes at the school.

“We should definitely pay attention to the increase, but I wouldn’t panic about it,” Engelberg said. “As of now, the school is not planning to reinstate the mask mandate on campus. However, we monitor case rates on a daily basis, looking for concerning trends in our own school community, and we reserve the right to reinstate the mask man-

“

• Continued on D3

We should definitely pay attention to the increase [in cases]. As of now, the school is not planning to reinstate the mask mandate on campus. “

— Ari Engelberg ’89 Head of Communications L. Wood

date at any time.”

Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said she thinks the current masking policies are sufficient and thinks a return to virtual learning is highly unlikely.

“With masking, I think our

Madison Beer speaks: Singer-songwriter and influencer Madison Beer spoke to students about mental health issues.

policy of not requiring, but recommending [masks] remains good since anyone who is especially concerned can choose to protect themselves,” Slattery said.

“At this point, we have no plans to revert to online instruction.”

• Continued on A4

IN THIS ISSUE

A4

women and people in our culture,” Gisele Thompson said.

“We want to inspire young girls that don’t have a lot of money to play soccer.”

After leading the girls soccer team in an undefeated season, both sisters won Cal-Hi Sports Player of the Year awards September 2021. Additionally, Alyssa Thompson was named Gatorade Player of the Year in June 2021 after her sophomore season.

A11

B2

Letter from the Editors: Editors-in-Chief Tessa Augsberger ’22 and Milla Ben-Ezra ’22 advocate for a more global perspective.

Looking back at history: Layout Assistant Dylan Graff ’24 shares his grandparents’ experiences in internment camps.

C2 Depp v. Heard: Students reflect on the impact of the publicized Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trials.

D3 Seven to USA team: Seven boys water polo team members qualified for the USA National Team for the 2022-2023 season.

A4 News

The Chronicle

COVID-19 spreads to LA students

May 25, 2022

• Continued from A1

Izzy Daum ’23 said she feels comfortable with current COVID-19 testing policies.

“Our current system of testing is obviously much more effective than the pooled testing,” Daum said. “I think if we continue to get tested every week and appropriately self-quarantine, what we have is pretty solid, even if masks are optional.”

However, Anabelle Kang ’22 said students’ carelessness at senior prom May 14 is responsible for the virus spreading among students. Kang said she observed dozens of cases in the days following the event.

“To my knowledge, there weren’t any [COVID-19] restrictions,” Kang said. “We only had to show our vaccination cards before entering. However, a lot of people from both the school and other schools still participated unmasked, even when they knew they had COVID-19.”

Kai Faucher ’23 said the lack of caution among students at prom surprised him.

“I’m all for having a good time, but I still expected everyone [at prom] to prioritize their health first and foremost,” Faucher said. “I’m grateful I didn’t get [COVID-19], but I’m sure others are upset about being affected by a controllable circumstance.”

The LACDPH also reported a steady increase in cases of long COVID-19, in which symptoms such as fatigue, breathing difficulty and lightheadedness last longer than normal. In the most severe cases, symptoms can remain for several months.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MICHELLE BRACKEN

POSING WITH A POP STAR: Students who attended singer and songwriter Madison Beer’s mental health talk in Ahmanson Lecture Hall take a group photo at the conclusion of the gathering. Attendees were able to ask Beer questions during the event and come up to her afterward to discuss further.

Madison Beer shares mental health journey

By Allegra Drago and Ella Yadegar

Singer and songwriter Madison Beer spoke to students about her mental health journey in Ahmanson Lecture Hall on May 16.

The Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) Club hosted the event in light of Mental Health Awareness Month. BC2M is a national organization that strives to destigmatize mental illnesses by starting productive discourse about mental illness.

During the assembly, Beer discussed her own mental health struggles. Beer said she became suicidal and was eventually diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), leading her to meet with a therapist three times a week.

BC2M Club Leader Ella Goldberg ’23 said after she explained to Beer the mission of

the club, Beer seemed excited to speak to the school’s students about her experiences.

“She told me she felt that because she’s considered a celebrity, and a pretty one at that, people generally assume her life is perfect,” Goldberg said. “She wanted to be able to connect with students to make them feel less alone because she has, in fact, struggled immensely with her mental health. I was really excited to have her come speak, as many students seem to look up to her, and I thought her speaking about her mental health struggles would be an amazing catalyst for continued conversations here on campus.”

Beer said people are often not true to themselves online, leading to disrespectful comments.

“Me having [these conversations] will hopefully make at least one person think ‘maybe I

shouldn’t comment that mean thing,’” Beer said.

Beer said it is important to address the mental health of teenagers because of how difficult high school can be.

“You’re trying to fit yourself into a mold,” Beer said. “It can be just a really confusing time. I look back to when I was 16, 17 [or] 18, and I was just so confused. I felt like I was so alone.

I was constantly being misunderstood. That can be so draining. It can also feel like the end of the world when you’re that age.”

Goldberg said the casual environment during the event created a safe space to discuss mental health issues.

“I really enjoyed being able to sit and talk with her about her experiences [and] our shared experiences, as I’ve struggled with mental health myself, and I’m sure numerous students that at-

tended have as well,” Goldberg said. “I hope her candidness about her mental health journey left a positive impact on at least one person that attended. Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of. The more we have open conversations about how common it is in our community, the more we reduce the negative stigma surrounding it.”

Jake Lancer ’24 said Beer successfully explained her own struggles while being considerate not to make general statements about depression and anxiety.

“I thought her speech was actually meaningful,” Lancer said.

“She talked about her personal journey and how she’s gotten stronger as she’s grown because of all of the hateful media she received as a child which really affected her emotional state. I don’t think she really overstepped because it was very unique to her.”

Ming-Na Wen speaks at Flex Time

By Davis Marks

DAVIS MARKS/CHRONICLE

SHARING STORIES: Actress Ming-Na Wen speaks to students over Zoom for Asian Student in Action’s (ASiA) Community Flex Time event.

Asian Students in Action (ASiA) hosted actress Ming-Na Wen for an assembly in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage (APAH) month during Community Flex Time on March 13.

Wen, an advocate for Asian American representation in the entertainment industry, made her acting breakthrough as June Woo in “Joy Luck Club” in 1993. Wen also voiced Mulan in the 1998 Disney animated film, played Melinda May in Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” and played assassin Fennec Shand in the Star Wars franchise. She was honored as a Disney Legend in 2019 and will receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2022.

Senior Prefect and ASiA Leader Joy Ho ’22 said ASiA wanted to highlight Asian representation and hoped Wen’s experience in Hollywood would help students better understand its importance.

“We decided to focus on Asian representation in media as our main topic since we thought it was an especially prevalent issue,” Ho said. “With recent trends of increasing attention on the Asian music industry, Asian Americans in Hollywood and Asian traditional culture, ASiA wanted to host [Wen] to emphasize the importance of Asian representation

and hear her experiences in the said she was grateful for Wen film and television industry.” speaking to the student body, Wen spoke about her life and even though she said Wen’s opinhow her experience as an Asian ions differed from those of ASiA. American has changed through“I was very thankful for the out her career. Wen said when chance to speak with [Wen],” she was younger, she said she only Kim said. “Although many of our saw demeaning and stereotypical viewpoints didn’t match, I think Asian representation, but in re- it was good to hear her opinions cent years, she said she feels there as an Asian woman in Hollywood has been more representation in because it allowed the commuthe entertainment industry. nity, or at least myself, to dive Ho said that some of Wen’s deeper into our own understandstatements, including the down- ings of the Asian American explaying Asian fetishiperience, even if it was zation and her story of through disagreement.” learning to fit into the ASiA member Josh culture of Hollywood, Barnavon ’24 said Wen did not reflect the opinglossed over important ions of ASiA. Ho said at issues and that her antimes, the presentation swers did not contribdid not promote what ute to the message ASiA ASiA leaders hoped hoped to promote. it would.

“Since Asian racial l. wood “ASiA hoped that and social justice issues Joy students would leave are so important to us, Ho ’22 with a better underwe felt a little let down standing of the factors by [Wen] as a speakhindering Asian representation, er,” Barnavon said. “We felt as [but] unfortunately, [Wen’s] opin- though she downplayed the imions were different than [those portance of Asian fetishization, of] the ASiA leaders,” Ho said. Asian stereotypes and other seri“We are open to experiences and ous problems with Asian repreperspectives that differ from our sentation. Her responses to some own, even within our own Asian of the questions lacked the depth American community. However, and specificity that we hoped she some of the overall messages that would provide.”

[Wen] spoke about were not ideas ASiA will host a discussion [we] wanted to promote.”

May 25 in Ahmanson Lecture ASiA Leader Avery Kim ’23 Hall to process the event.

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A3

Teaching advisor appointed

By Grant Park

WILL SHERWOOD/CHRONICLE

UNCONVENTIONAL WISDOM: Unconventional Leadership students Tom Baker ’22 and Alyssa Thompson ’23 prepare to check students in for the start of HW Unconvention. The event featured a speech and Q&A from entrepreneur Spencer Rascoff ’93 as well as team building activities.

Unconventional Leadership class hosts seventh annual team-building conference

By Nathalie Leung and Tate Sheehy

Students participated in student-led leadership conference HW Unconvention on Friday in the Chalmers Lounge. The conference was held for freshmen, sophomores and juniors and featured speakers, activities and catering from various food vendors.

The HW Unconvention is an annual event hosted by the Unconventional Leadership class at the school. The elective course taught by Dean of Students Jordan Church and President Rick Commons diverges from the traditional teaching style of using textbooks and readings, instead educating students about leadership through group activities and hands-on experiences.

Commons opened the event Unconventional Leadership class with a speech about the impor- on what makes ideas successful. tance of student leadership, and Junior Prefect Yoshimi KimuHotwire and Zillow Co-Founder ra ’23 said she enjoyed coordinatSpencer Rascoff ’93 spoke about ing the event with her peers. how strong leadership “I think it’s a great has shaped his career. opportunity for not Attendees were only the attendees but then sorted into three the people in the class groups that were each who planned the event led by Unconventional to experience what it Leadership students. was like to actually put One of the groups paron an event of this size,” ticipated in a strategy Kimura said. game called “Escape Gabe Levin ’23 said l. wood from Paradise,” an acthat the unorthodox Gabriel tivity where attendees nature of the event gave Levin ’23 had to create products him a chance to imfrom recyclables and prove as a leader. pitch them to each other. Other “I learned that leadership is teams participated in an activity most effective when you help that taught about stickiness prin- others achieve their greatest pociples, a concept taught in the tential rather than forcing them

to do a job,” Levin said. “Organizing and running the workshops in this event forced me to assume a position of guidance. In order for the program to be successful, I had to put myself out there and take risks.”

Sophia Rascoff ’23 said she grew as a leader while taking the Unconventional Leadership class this year and helping to organize the convention.

“The Unconventional Leadership elective is a great course which taught me to become much more confident in presenting to groups and organizing within a team,” Rascoff said. “The Unconvention was intended to share the skill sets we learned this year about leadership and teamwork, and I believe it was successful in that mission.”

Daniel Gutierrez will join the school administration as Director of Teaching and Learning on July 1, 2022. The Director of Teaching and Learning is a new position intended to improve students’ experiences across both campuses.

Assistant Head of School Laura Ross said the size of the school called for ways to improve connection between departments.

“We are a big school, on two [separate] campuses,” Ross said.

“We felt the need to have someone who is looking at the program as a whole and helping us continue to be strong and to look for ways to improve.”

Gutierrez received his bachelor’s degree in history from University of California, Berkeley and his master’s degree in history from Harvard University. He most recently served at Windward School in Los Angeles, where he said he gained experience working closely with both students and faculty in his 14 years there.

In his new role as Director of Teaching at Learning, Gutierrez will focus on promoting collaboration at the school.

“I’ll work to foster collaboration between faculty across departments and campuses so we can work collectively to enhance student learning and well-being,” Gutierrez said. “I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with such an incredibly talented student body and faculty.”

According to Ross, Gutierrez has already visited both campuses to meet with Faculty Advisory Committee chairs, department chairs and division heads. “[Gutierrez] has a long career and proven track record of helping schools improve their pedagogical methods and strengthening the skills required for effective teaching and learning,” Ross said.

Community reflects on pandemic

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff and Will Sherwood

Since the school first closed because of COVID-19 on March 11, 2020 over two years ago, the community has undergone several stages of lockdown, online learning and safety protocols.

With over one million deaths in the United States as of May 21, according to The New York Times, the school community has endured the pandemic alongside schools across the country.

Brandon Damelin ’23 said over the course of the pandemic, he has come to understand the importance of companionship and in-person contact. “[COVID-19] has made me realize how grateful I am for my friends,” Damelin said. “Being alone during [COVID-19] was difficult for everyone. So just getting back out here and being able to spend time with the people I care about really means a lot.”

Damelin said after returning to school this year, he did not personally feel affected by the school’s safety protocols. “[COVID-19 precautions]

didn’t really make a big difference to me, but I could certainly see why people would care,” Damelin said. “I can understand a whole bunch of families have health problems and [other] problems they need to worry about, I can [see] why wearing a mask can make a difference.”

Zoe Roth ’24 said learning during the pandemic was difficult, and she said she fell behind before returning to campus.

“It was a hard switch because to compensate for being on Zoom, courses were simplified during freshman year,” Roth said.

“Then we went back to normal during sophomore year, which I don’t think we were adequately prepared for. It was tough, [but] I learned the importance of in-person interaction because without it, I felt isolated.”

When Roth was infected with COVID-19 last week for the second time, she said her experience reminded her of the loneliness she felt during lockdown.

“Getting COVID-19 felt like isolating again because I was stuck in my room without any contact with even my family,”

Roth said. “I spent five days in my room and then came back to school. It was hard to catch up on my work, tests and quizzes. It took a week to catch up fully.”

Mac Bailey ’23 said the pandemic quickly shifted from an exciting escape from everyday life to a very secluded experience.

“At first, quarantine seemed great, as I got more free time to sleep in, play video games, watch TV, etc,” Bailey said. “As time went on, and it became apparent that this wasn’t going to be just two weeks. I think I definitely grew apart from some people due to the simple fact [that] I wasn’t seeing them everyday.”

Bailey said the experience of contracting COVID-19 normalized the experience.

“Over time, I’d hear about more and more people getting sick, and my family stayed healthy for the majority of the time,” Bailey said. “However, when I got [COVID-19] once we had all returned [to school], it was evident that it was just going to become part of our everyday lives and something that will seemingly never go away.”

ILLUSTRATION BY WILL SHERWOOD

A2 News

The Chronicle

Language students honored

May 25, 2022

By Kriste An

The World Languages Department inducted 166 students into the World Languages Honors Society for their successes in Chinese, French, Latin and Spanish on May 17. The induction was the department’s first ceremony in three years because of COVID-19, and it was accompanied by a series of performances, including a skit, dance and choral performance.

Four seniors were awarded for their achievements in their respective languages. Kevin Kwak ’22 was honored for his studies in Chinese, Paisley Kandler ’22 in French, Avery Konwiser ’22 in Latin and Leila Pagel ’22 in Spanish. Kandler said she was honored to receive the award because of her love for the French language.

“I was ecstatic,” Kandler said.

“The francophone world means a lot to me, although I am not ethnically French. French lessons were a big part of my childhood [similar to how] violin, gymnastics, soccer, theater and other extracurriculars [were for] other

FALLON DERN/CHRONICLE

A DYNAMIC DANCE: (left to right) Lauren Laporta ’23, Eliza Bock ’23, Avery Kim ’23, Kendra Ross ’23 and other dancers deliver one of three performances at the World Languages Honors Society Assembly on May 17. The dance depicted racism and its impact on societies around the world. students at [the school]. It was pecting it,” Kwak said. “Nonethewonderful to round off my high less, I am proud to accept it. The induction itself was an school experience with enjoyable experience. an acknowledgment of Being there in person the time I spent studyalongside the friends ing and immersing myand teachers that have self in the language.” supported me throughKwak said he apout high school was preciated being able to exciting and rewardattend the event in pering. It was a satisfying son to receive an award way to commemorate L. Wood recognizing his accomthe many years I spent Derek plishments in Chinese. studying Chinese.”

Wilairat Spanish student “I was extremely surprised when I was called to Helena Wu ’23 attended the asreceive the award, as I was not ex- sembly and said she was proud of

Apple product design engineer speaks about career experience

By Iona Lee

HW Venture hosted product design engineer and alumnus Rhett Gentile ’13 to speak about his current job as a mechanical engineer at Apple during Conference Time on May 16.

Gentile helped develop speakers for the 2021 MacBook Pro. He and his team of collaborators perfected the six-speaker sound system that is able to reach half an octave lower than previously possible, creating a strong bass listening experience.

HW Venture Co-Leader of External Relations Gabe Levin ’23 said he appreciates Gentile's expertise with regards to engi-

neering philosophy. Levin said he found the story of his journey to be inspirational.

"I thought it was really cool that [Gentile] was able to talk to us about engineering philosophy and how he's able to use problem-solving to his advantage in order to be successful in his life and in his job," Levin said. "I thought that his never-ending pursuit of perfection was inspiring and showed how passionate he and his team are about their work. This showed me that in order to be successful, you need to love what you do."

Event attendee Sam Pulaski ’24 said he enjoyed attending the event because it helped expose

him to the process of designing complex products for a technology-based company like Apple.

"I thought the speaker was really interesting," Pulaski said.

"I liked getting insight on his process of designing with a real-world example of the work he did with Apple. The presentation was really based around engineering, which although insightful, only felt like a rather miniscule part of the work process when creating something new."

Event attendee Leo Craig '24 said the presentation clarified the field of engineering in the workforce and provided many valuable perspectives on tackling problems that are likely to occur

her peers’ achievements.

“I am extremely excited for the students who won awards on the behalf of their class,” Wu said. “I know that they spend countless hours perfecting their language, learning it and understanding it.”

Wu said she enjoyed the ceremony and its festivities.

“I loved being able to experience [the assembly] with my friends,” Wu said. “The skits and musical performances that were on display were very entertaining as well.”

World Languages Department Head Derek Wilairat said he

“

hopes students enjoyed attending the assembly and took the time to reflect back on the particular significance of each of their individual journeys through the World Languages Department.

“The assembly is a time-honored tradition in our department, and it was nice to run it [in person] this year,” Wilairat said. “The assembly recognizes students in reaching [advanced] levels of their studies. We hope students felt pride [in] being honored, enjoyed the performances and were able to reflect on what their language has meant to them.”

“I really enjoyed [Gentile’s] talk, as I’ve been interested in engineering for a long time, and hearing what life would be like as an engineer helped me decide if I wanted to pursue it during my [future education].”

— Leo Craig ’24

in real life. "[Gentile's] presentation provided important insights [about] the life of an engineer, the life of an employee and valuable problem-solving skills that can be [applied] to different careers," Craig said. "I really enjoyed [Gentile's] talk, as I’ve been interested in engineering for a long time, and hearing what life would be like as an engineer helped me decide if I wanted to pursue it through my years at school and college. I think that his advice on identifying and fixing problems [will be]

L. Wood

helpful for me and others when we work with different colleagues and different classmates in problem-solving situations."

Mia Patel ’24 said she enjoyed Gentile's presentation, and she said she particularly appreciated the way in which he connected his experiences to her own.

"I thought he was super interesting," Patel said. "He offered new perspectives and insights on a lot of interesting subjects, and I especially loved his anecdotes and the way he was able to relate to all of us."

The school hosted its annual Cum Laude ceremony May 16. Seniors in the top 20% of their class were inducted based on a mathematical average that considered their cumulative weighted and unweighted grade point averages.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A5

With the primary for the Los Angeles mayoral election just weeks away, candidates are making final appeals to gain support.

By Natalie Cosgrove and Will Sherwood As the June 7 primary approaches, the campaign for the Los Angeles (LA) mayoral election is narrowing into a two-horse race. In the past few weeks, multiple candidates have dropped out and have announced their support of one of the two frontrunners: Rep. Karen Bass and billionaire real estate developer Rick Caruso.

After the primary, unless one candidate receives more than 50% of the vote, the top two finishers will face each other in a runoff election Nov. 8. An April poll co-sponsored by the Los Angeles Times showed the two front-runners: Caruso had support from 24% of likely voters, and Bass had support from 23%.

Bass has been the congresswoman for California’s 37th congressional district since 2011 and was the first African-American woman in the country to be speaker of a state legislature.

More recently, Bass received national attention when it was reported that she made the short list of candidates to be President Biden’s vice-presidential pick.

Bass attended an event for teenagers in Santa Monica where high school students and journalists asked questions about her campaign and initiatives May 15.

The homelessness crisis and crime are the two leading campaign issues for frontrunners Bass and Caruso.

Bass said she is concerned about the way these two issues are often exploited for political gains. “ I worry we’re at a cross-

roads for our city, and we could take a turn that would be very negative,” Bass said. “People are afraid, [and] people are fed up with all of the encampments and increases in crime. The stage is set for us to go in a very conservative, punitive direction. And that’s one of the biggest reasons why I decided to take a big gamble. If this was all about my career and a personal decision, [I would have stayed] in Congress and run for a leadership spot.”

Bass said she is driven to make the city a better place by solving the crises that Angelenos face rather than to move up in politics.

“I’ve never been motivated just on what career level, I could get to, I’ve always been motivated by the issues,” Bass said. “When people get frustrated, that’s when they make really bad policy. And unfortunately, in a political campaign, and any political consultant will tell you, a winning strategy is fear and division and to convince everybody that the city is going to Hell in a handbasket and that we need a Superman or a savior to come. That’s not the kind of campaign I want to run.”

In January, Caruso changed his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat to prepare for his mayoral race. Since he joined the race, he has spent $24 million of his own money on the campaign, according to CNN. Manu Markman ’23 said he likes Caruso because he thinks he would be the toughest on crime, and that as an LA businessman, it’s in Caruso’s interest to make progress on these issues. “ I

personally like Caruso because he’s more anti-crime than Bass in his policies,” Markman said. “‘Clean Up LA’ has sort of been his message, both on crime and homelessness. And in fact, I would say he has an even bigger stake because Bass is in Washington. She’s away from LA more than Caruso is, and Caruso is a large business owner. He certainly has a stake in making sure LA stays clean. It’s the idea that recently politicians have become less and less career politicians and more and more opportunistic business owners.”

Bass said what separates her from the rest of the field is the relationships she has built as a public servant, and that unlike Caruso, she is a long-time Democrat.

“Well, there is one brand-new Democrat, but I’m not going to go there.” Bass said. “As a lifelong Democrat, I think what makes my candidacy different is my depth of relationships, especially on the federal, state, county and local level. And that’s what you need in order to make government work. I think sometimes in political campaigns, it’s very easy to be superficial and say, ‘I’m going to go in and demand this and everybody’s going to do what I say.’ But that’s not how it works, and I’ve been involved in these issues for a number of years.

Granted, I didn’t solve them nor did I bring about world peace, but it doesn’t mean that significant progress wasn’t made.”

Bass said if elected mayor, she would incorporate multiple levels of government to help solve the homelessness crisis by getting individuals off the streets as well as fixing the root causes.

“First of all, we have to prevent more people from becoming homeless,” Bass said. “There are tens of thousands of people that are on the verge of homelessness,

and we have to make sure that oversee public education, Bass they stay housed. Number two, said her goals for education are we have to get people off the centered on the prevalence of streets as quick as possible. This mental health issues in schools.

“The mayor in Los Angeles is the United States of America.

We should not have people living doesn’t have a direct relationship on the streets. We have to have with the schools, but what I want a whole government approach. to do in terms of education is acAnd that means you have to have tually focus on mental health,” the federal, state, county and city Bass said. “My idea around government involved those lev- mental health is to seek specific els of government together own funding for schools. I want to hundreds of acres of land. That’s make sure that young people are where I would build right away.” trained to be peer counselors, beTo reduce crime, Bass said she cause you can never have enough plans to increase the number of therapists for the school system.

Los Angeles Police Department But you can absolutely be train(LAPD) officers as well as expand ing young folks, counselors, so efforts to work with previously you can look for warning signs from young people and make incarcerated people.

“I [would want to] invest tre- sure that they get the help that mendous resources in preventing they need.”

Bass said even though some crimes with proven strategies so that you stop the crime that is candidates promise a lot, she is happening today and prevent the realistic about how much a maycrimes of the future,” Bass said. or can really get done.

“I always think it’s important “One way to prevent crime in the to be straight with people,” Bass future is to deal with people who are formerly incarcerated, and said. “And to not act like as a mayor, I’m a wizard, make sure they can [go on to] and I get to impact lead productive lives.” and do everything.

Bass wants to exSome people want pand the LAPD and me to do all these difis against defunding ferent things, and I’m the police, according resisting that because to the Los Angeles the reason I’m running Times. Markman said is the crisis that we’re her stance on lowering dealing with now. So bail seems to be counif I say I’m going to do terintuitive because it l. wood 400 things, you should will actually lead to an Manu be suspicious that I’m increase in crime.

Markman ’23 gonna get anything “She’s been in favor done at all.” of lowering bail and increasing Markman said while each canthe threshold for a felony robdidate promises different visions, bery. And, if you look, there’s a they might not translate into correlation between raising that concrete policy if they become threshold and an increase in the mayor. crime. Caruso has been in favor “I approach campaign promof lowering the felony threshold, ises with a grain of salt because at least from what I’ve seen. And they are rarely fulfilled,” Markhe’s actually endorsed the recall man said.

“The LA mayor is more of [Los Angeles District Attorney of a figurehead. I think the mayor George] Gascón, which is somerace in LA is more about defining thing Bass hasn’t done.” an ideology [for the city] than it While the LA mayor does is defining an actual policy.” not directly • Continued on hwchronicle.com

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF AND WILL SHERWOOD

A6 News

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Jim Burns: Communications

By Natasha Speiss

Communications Department Head Jim Burns will retire following his six years of advising The Chronicle.

Burns said that while he will miss working with students on The Chronicle, he feels he is ready to move on.

“If you do something and you’re really passionate about it, you should give it everything you

have, and then, you [should] let it go,” Burns said. “I started this job [to] give back to journalism, and I never thought it would become another career. I’m happy to say that I feel like I have done the best that I could do.”

Jackson Adams ’24, who is currently enrolled Burns’s class, The (Dis)information Age, said the way that Burns structures his class lessons and lectures optimizes student engagement.

“[Burns] is a great teacher because he always focuses on current events,” Adams said. “It makes you feel like what you are learning matters. The information he teaches is always relevant and most certainly applicable in the real world.”

Burns said he hopes all student publications at the school, especially The Chronicle, remain largely uncensored, particularly after his departure.

“I very strongly believe in student press freedom, and I have championed that the whole time I’ve been here,” Burns said. “I see an erosion of press freedom around the world, and I want to be able to read The Chronicle in three or four years and see that same truth of press freedom that we have now.”

Burns will continue to teach The (Dis)information Age course next spring.

Derek Wilairat: World Languages

By James Hess

L. WOOD

Upper School Latin Teacher and World Languages Department Head Derek Wilairat will depart from the school after nearly 16 years of teaching at both the Middle and Upper Schools.

Wilairat joined the Middle School faculty in 2006 before transitioning to the Upper School in 2008. During his time at the school, Wilairat taught Latin at

every level and served as an advisor to the school’s Junior Classical League (JCL) chapter.

Former Upper School World Languages Department Head and current Middle School History Department Head Paul Chenier said Wilairat’s knowledge and teaching capabilities impact everyone he interacts with. “[Wilairat] is such a talented Latinist, a true natural,” Chenier said. “He’s extraordinarily good

at a subject that’s extraordinarily difficult. His knowledge of [the school’s] Latin program is profound, and he’s influenced every course offered. The [program] owes him enormous gratitude.”

Upper School Classics and Interdisciplinary Studies teacher Bradford Homes will take over Wilairat’s role in Advanced Placement (AP) Latin and Honors Latin Literature classes.

Wilairat will move with his

family to the Bay Area, where he was born and raised. He said he will definitely miss his students’ passion in class.

“It has been very rewarding for me to teach all the Latin students that have come through our program in the 16 years I’ve been here,” Wilairat said. “They have, in a way, brought the dead language back to life with the help of their interest and enthusiasm, as well as their dedication.”

to the wider community of Los Angeles,” Commons said.

Whitman said she will miss the community but hopes students and faculty will continue to support one another following her retirement.

“I have loved working at [the school] for the past 32 years,” Whitman said. “I will miss [the school] terribly but will always have great memories and friendships to keep with me.”

L. WOOD

she taught Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, AP Chemistry and Molecular Gastronomy.

After deciding to leave her scheduling and FAC jobs at the school, McClain said she will continue teaching at Eastside Prep School in Kirkland, Washington.

“I will be working for an independent school in Seattle, where I will start my job this summer,” McClain said. “I will be teaching one section of chemistry, working

on academic design and integration and probably dabbling in scheduling, as well.”

Patrick Yeh ’23 said he had a very positive experience with McClain during AP exam week.

“I had gotten sick the day before my APUSH test,” Yeh said.

“When I reached out to her, she responded promptly and essentially, [handling] the situation for me. I greatly appreciate how considerate she was for me in such an

urgent situation.”

McClain said she loved spending time with students at the school and will miss working with faculty members.

“My favorite part of this school will always be the students,” McClain said. “I have loved watching them grow and getting to know them over the years. I will also miss working with my colleagues, who are bright and passionate about teaching.”

Foushee said. “I really love the students, the classes I teach and the books that I teach, so I will really miss anything and everything about [the school].”

Angelina Sinclair ’24, a member of the English II class, said reading “The Handmaid’s Tale” was one of her favorite moments from this year.

“I like [The Handmaid’s Tale] because I wanted to read it for a long time, and [the class] pushed

me to read it,” Sinclair said. “I liked that Ms. Foushee gets excited about the books and tells us about how she feels about books too, which helped me appreciate [The Handmaid’s Tale] more.”

Sinclair said she will miss the pleasant environment in Foushee’s classes.

“She makes all of her students feel that they matter,” Sinclair said. “She shows that she truly cares about every student.”

L. WOOD

Ann-Marie Whitman: Administration

By Davis Marks

Executive Assistant to the President Ann-Marie Whitman will retire after working at the school for 32 years.

President Rick Commons said Whitman’s work positively impacted the community. “[Whitman] is superbly effective in responding to the needs of the many who depend upon her, but her influence is much more

than functional,” Commons said. “[She] is wise and kind. No responsibility is too large or too small for her to volunteer, and all who pass through her office receive her full attention.”

Whitman began her career at the school by serving as the Associate Director of Admission at Harvard School for Boys, after which she worked as the College Counseling Coordinator following the Harvard School’s merg-

er with the Westlake School for Girls in 1991. Whitman began working as the Executive Assistant to the President in 1997.

Commons said Whitman’s dedication to improving the community has made a positive impact on both the school and surrounding city. “[Whitman] pursues and personifies the school’s values, which manifests in her commitment not only to [the school] but also

Krista McClain: Registrar

By Claire Conner

L. WOOD

Advanced Placement (AP) Coordinator, Co-Chair of the Upper School Faculty Academic Committee (FAC) and former Science Teacher Krista McClain will leave the school after 13 years of teaching and one year of remote administrative work.

McClain left campus last year to move to Seattle with her family. During her time at the school,

Amanda Foushee: English

By Tate Sheehy

After three years of teaching at the school , English Teacher Amanda Foushee will depart to teach English at Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

Foushee said she looks forward to more free time on the East Coast of the U.S. “I am looking forward to being back on the East Coast, where my family lives, and being back

around seasons again,” Foushee said. “I am also looking forward to having a little more of a worklife balance because I am going to a school where there is child care on campus.”

Foushee said though she enjoyed working at the school, the drawbacks of living in Los Angeles caused her to leave the school.

“If it were not for Los Angeles and child care being so expensive, I would never leave [the school],”

L. WOOD

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/news

News A7

Admissions enrolls most diverse class

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbelloff

DAVIS MARKS/CHRONICLE

EVERYBODY DO YOUR SHARE: A group of upper school and middle school students join each other at the Santa Monica Beach to clean up the trash and enjoy the last event that the Environmental Club will hold this school year. Students spent two hours picking up bottles and food wrappers.

Environmental Club holds beach clean-up event at the Santa Monica Pier for community service credit

By Davis Marks and Averie Perrin

The Environmental Club held a beach clean-up event at Santa Monica Pier on May 21. Around 30 students attended the cleanup, with both middle and upper school students earning community service hours from the event.

Environmental Club Co-Leader Chloe Appel ’23 said the members of Environmental Club wanted to host the event in order to give students the opportunity to help the environment in a meaningful way while also enjoying themselves.

“I think that by hosting these events, the club is able to help people see that community service can not only be rewarding

but also fun,” Appel said. “[This is especially true] at bigger cleanups like the one today, where people can hang out with their friends and play music while helping clean the beaches. It was great to do a beach cleanup because we are able to catch microplastics before they enter the ocean. I was very pleased with how successful we were [of ] this cleanup and it was lovely to have both middle and upper school [students] present to celebrate all the hard work our environmental clubs have done this year.”

Ava Seib ’24 said she usually attends community service events unrelated to the environment and wanted to broaden the impact of her community service hours by helping to clean the beach.

“I attended the clean-up because it’s good for the environment,” Seib said. “I haven’t done any community service related to the environment this year, and I thought it would be a good idea to come and clean up a place that’s so heavily visited and polluted because I don’t think enough people clean it up.”

Students spent two hours walking across the beach on both sides of the pier looking for trash.

They picked up the trash, including cigarette buds, bottle caps and food wrappers, and placed it into disposable bags.

Phoebe Hsu ’24 said the number of plastic bottle caps she found concerned her.

“There were so many of those blue plastic bottle caps, some

of which had decomposed into small pieces,” Hsu said. “I can imagine how easy it is for animals to just pick that up and consume it. I know from documentaries that it’s just terrible for animals to consume plastic because if they consume a lot of plastic it makes them feel full, and they can starve to death without knowing.”

Hsu said the clean-up also made her realize the danger of plastic pollution in Los Angeles.

“I think what we’re doing is super important because we all know without going to the beach that plastic is really bad for the environment, but being [there] made me realize just how bad [the environment] is and how much better we all need to be, especially with plastic bottle caps.”

The Admission Office enrolled one of the most geographically and culturally diverse classes in the history of the school this year, according to Assistant Director of Admission Meagan Salmon.

From 1263 applicants, Salmon said 340 new students will join the school for the 2022-2023 school year.

The incoming students are drawn from 129 sending schools, of which 51% of students come from independent schools. Salmon said 20% of students will receive financial aid, and the class represents over 110 zip codes and 30 languages spoken at home.

Student Ambassador Margaret Piatos ’23 said she appreciates how the Admission Office has worked to build classes with student bodies that reflect her own personal background.

“I think the added diversity is great, as I myself came from a public school and am a person of color,” Piatos said. “I really value all that the school is [currently] doing to advance that idea within our community.”

Having entered the school as a sophomore, Piatos said she has also recently noticed the school’s increased efforts to diversify incoming classes in term of interests and extracurriculars.

“I joined the school in 10th grade, and I feel like everyone who came [at that time] is very diverse and unique,” Piatos said.

“They excel in different [areas], like sports, arts and academics.”

Mark Ma ’24 said diversity positively contributes to building a student body, as he said it exposes students to new cultures.

“Diversity in the admissions process is important because interacting with students of different backgrounds exposes us to new points of view,” Ma said.

End Overdose founder speaks to seniors

By Iona Lee

Krzywicki started End Overdose to educate others on reEnd Overdose founder, Los sponding to overdoses after he Angeles paramedic and firefighter lost his fiancé. Since its foundTheo Krzywicki presented during ing, End Overdose has delivered 3,477 naxalone kits, 19,435 fensenior class meeting May 12.

Krzywicki taught seniors to tanyl test strips and 7,529 online identify and respond to an over- certifications on how to respond dose. The training program was to an overdose, according to their developed by Krzywicki with website endoverdose.net.

Will Samuels ’22 said he unfeedback from Los Angeles City Council nurses, Mayo Clinic derstands the need for accessible pain management doctors, medical studrugs, but he said he dents and UCLA prefears fentanyl’s many med students. After the consequences and poevent, students were entential for fatalities. couraged to take home “I understand that, naxalone kits provided to an extent, we need to them after learning opioids so that medical how to use them. patients can alleviate Chris Connolly ’22 their pain following said he found KrzywicL. Wood medical procedures,” ki’s presentation interWill Samuels said. “Howevesting and informative.

Samuels ’22 er, it’s very difficult for “[Krzywicki] was me to say that the benethe best speaker that the school was brought in all fits of fentanyl outweigh its many year from [an] outside [orga- drawbacks. Not only is fentanyl nization],” Connolly said. “He extremely addictive, but its overkept the students engaged and doses are rapid and usually fatal. connected with the students. He Fentanyl is very scary to me, and [impacted] all of us when he [ex- unintentional fentanyl overdoses plained that] he was doing this happen far too often for it to be because his [fiancé] died [from] a used [recreationally] more often.”

Fentanyl is a strong painkiller, fentanyl overdose.”

occasionally prescribed to treat severe chronic pain from an operation, serious injury and cancer.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), fentanyl is similar to morphine as a strong painkiller but 100 times more potent, making the lethal dosage two milligrams. Many common street drugs can be laced with up to five milligrams of fentanyl which poses a risk to anyone consuming these drugs.

Emily Silkina ’23 said she does not understand why her peers would use drugs given the risk of accidentally ingesting substances laced with fentanyl.

“I especially can’t wrap my mind around the fact that people my age and even younger are using drugs,” Silkina said. “I think that all drugs can pose danger to high school students at parties where there’s of peer pressure and [laced] food.”

Siji Smolev ’22 said he hopes that as he enters college, people will be transparent about the content of illegal substances.

“What we should expect as we head to college, however, is that when substances are in proximity, everyone is given transparent information,” Smolev said.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

A8 News

May 25, 2022

The Chronicle

A Night to Remember

Students attend the annual prom at the Skirball Cultural Center. The event, organized by Prefect Council, was themed “Under the Moonlight.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY ADISON GAMRADT

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY: Students dance and laugh together during prom at the Skirball Cultural Center.

Outside the venue for the event, students took photo booth pictures and participated in activities like foosball.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY ADISON GAMRADT

RED-Y FOR THE NIGHT: Maria Oxyzolou ’22 and Lauryn Milburn ’22 smile for a photo together at the event entrance in matching red dresses.

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY ADISON GAMRADT

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION BY ADISON GAMRADT

SAY CHEESE: Porter Comstock ’22 and Katharine Doble ’22 eat dinner together at the event. The Skirball Cultural Center provided the catering.

NIGHTS AT THE ROUND TABLE: Seniors sit around a table during the dining portion of the event.

Pasta and chicken were served in addition to other desserts and various refreshments throughout the night.

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS

Opinion The Chronicle • May 25, 2022

Studio City • Vol. 31 • Issue 8 • May 25, 2022 • hwchronicle.com

Editors-in-Chief: Tessa Augsberger, Milla Ben-Ezra Print Managing Editors: Julian Andreone, Caitlin Muñoz, Will Sheehy

editorial

Presentation Managing Editors: Kate Burry, Ava Fattahi, Mimi Landes, Melody Tang Digital Managing Editors: Amelia Scharff, Katharine Steers Executive Editors: Quincey Dern, Sydney Fener, Sophia Musante News Editors: Sandra Koretz, Josh Silbermann Assistant News Editors: Lucas Cohen-d'Arbeloff, Natalie Cosgrove, Alex Hahn, Will Sherwood, Natasha Speiss Opinion Editors: Caroline Jacoby, Sarah Mittleman Assistant Opinion Editors: Claire Conner, Daphne Davies, James Hess Features Editors: Mia Feizbakhsh, Alec Rosenthal Assistant Features Editors: Fallon Dern, Allegra Drago, Lily Lee, Harry Tarses, Emmy Zhang A&E Editor: Keira Jameson Assistant A&E Editors: Becca Berlin, Georgia Goldberg, Jina Jeon, Vasilia Yordanova Sports Editors: Justin Goldstein, Maxine Zuriff Assistant Sports Editors: Danny Johnson, Paul Kurgan, Andrew Park, Leo Saperstein, Charlie Seymour Multimedia Editors: Julian Andreone, Ava Fattahi Photography Editor: Sandra Koretz Broadcast Producers: Chad Bacon, Zach Berg, Jack Coleman, William Moon, Mikey Schwartz Business Managers: Kate Burry, Justin Goldstein Assistant Broadcast Editors: Andre Birotte, Hunter Bridgett, Bill Coleman, Aaron Milburn, Jack Limor, Rayaan Rao, Audrey Yang Engagement Editors: Liam Razmjoo, Ryan Razmjoo Art Director: Alexa Druyanoff Freelance Writer: Davis Marks Freelance Artist: Sophia Evans Layout Assistants and Staff Writers: Kriste An, Jaden Bobb, Grace Coleman, Dylan Graff, Abigail Hailu, Iona Lee, Nathalie Leung, Jackson Mayer, Christopher Mo, Chloe Park, Grant Park, Averie Perrin, Tate Sheehy, Jackson Tanner, Ella Yadegar Advisors: Jim Burns, Max Tash Layout Assistant: Alexis Arinsburg Publication Information: Founded in 1990, The Chronicle is the Harvard-Westlake Upper School’s student-led newspaper. Now in its 31st year, The Chronicle strives to report stories accurately and to uphold its legacy of journalistic integrity. The newspaper is published eight times per year and distributed to students, parents, faculty and staff. The paper is affiliated with two school magazines, Big Red and Panorama. We are members of the California Newspaper Publishers Association and the Private School Journalism Association.

CLAIRE CONNER/CHRONICLE

Promoting Students' Press Freedom

The First Amendment affords crucial protections to student journalists. Students' right to express themselves freely and share relevant information and perspectives with their communities has been prioritized and protected for decades. Numerous court decisions side with students, affirming their rights to free speech, and fourteen states have adopted “New Voices” laws that further protect student journalists as members of the press. No matter how controversial or damaging an article may be to an institution’s reputation, students’ right to publish a piece is enshrined by our nation’s foremost legal document: its Constitution.

However, unlike most constitutional rights, student press freedom is not accessible to all Americans. Students working for publications at private and independent schools have no legal protection from censorship or punitive action; as such, we are beholden to the will and policies of our school administrations.

Some of these policies significantly limit or completely eliminate schools' abilities to censor students, but administrations’ right to intervene and restrict student-produced content is always a concern for newspapers at independent schools. At our school, students who write controversial articles bear greater risks than needing to remove content from The Chronicle’s website, which happened once this year. In a previous year, a faculty member attempted to send a student to the Honor Board after reading a Chronicle article they thought was damaging to the school and students’ reputations.

The Chronicle is always open to conversations about and criticism of the content we publish. As a student-run newspaper, we know that we are constantly learning, and we strive to incorporate dissenting voices by publishing corrections and letters to the editor. We want to ensure that everything we publish aligns with journalistic ethics, but we deserve the right to make choices without fear of being censored or potentially punished. This

outlook is reflected in the journalism policies of other independent schools with award-winning student newspapers, including The Oracle at The Archer School for Girls, The Phillippian at Phillips Academy Andover and The Pen at Peninsula High School, among others. All of these schools’ administrations have waived their right to censor content or enable punitive action against students for publications. Our school is one of few high schools in America with a student-run newspaper of this caliber that do not have press freedom guarantees.

As we transition to Volume 32 of The Chronicle in the fall and hire Billy Montgomery as our new Chronicle Advisor, our freedom to publish factually based content is more important than ever.

In his six years at the school, Communications Department Head Jim Burns fulfilled his role by always supporting our staff while communicating with the school administration. His philosophy was guided by the principle of prioritizing students’ journalistic freedoms. He proposed the signing of a document created by the Private School Journalism Association with the Student Press Law Center this year that would waive the school’s right to take disciplinary actions based on journalistic work or review the newspaper or articles before publication. This agreement would be a signed commitment to students’ freedom of journalistic expression, so long as publications are within a category of speech protected by the First Amendment. The school opted not to sign it last year.

Upon Burns’ departure, we can think of no better way to solidify our right to free and honest reporting than signing this document with the administration. Our school policies have consistently upheld our mission statement, which makes a commitment to educational excellence and purpose beyond ourselves.

Extending these values to student journalism is more than just sensible — it is vital to our education and a necessary expansion of journalistic freedom.

About Us

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION:

The Chronicle strives to be a diverse and inclusive community that welcomes all who wish to contribute. Our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee works to ensure that every member of the Harvard-Westlake community is recognized, included and given a voice.

The Chronicle's publications will aim to represent this diverse community and provide a variety of perspectives on the topics that they cover.

EDITORIALS:

Unsigned editorials represent the majority opinion of staffers and are written by the Editorial Board, which is composed of the Editors-in-Chief, Managing Editors and Section Editors.

ADVERTISING:

Questions pertaining to advertisements may be directed to The Chronicle's Business Managers Kate Burry and Justin Goldstein at kburry1@hwemail.com or jgoldstein1@ hwemail.com, respectively. Publication of an advertisement does not imply endorsement of the product or service by the newspaper or school.

Letters may be submitted to chronicle@ hw.com or mailed to 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., Studio City, CA 91604. Letters must be signed and may be edited to conform to Chronicle style, space and format. We are committed to uplifting the voices of marginalized or underrepresented individuals and groups in accordance with our efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

PUBLICATION AWARDS:

- NSPA Pacemaker Winner - CSPA Gold Crown Winner

UPDATES AND CORRECTIONS:

Though we always strive to be as accurate as possible, staff members identify inaccuracies and receive feedback from readers.

The Chronicle publishes corrections when we discover a factual error within a piece. We will continue to uphold transparency even in the face of mistakes following the publication of each issue.

MEMBERSHIPS:

- Columbia Scholastic Press Association - National Scholastic Press Association - Quill and Scroll Honor Society

A10 Opinion

Baby formula, Claire-ified

By Claire Conner

I

n 1789, one of the world’s bloodiest revolutions was waged over a crucial necessity: bread. Shots rang out as angry French rioters stormed the Bastille. Their government had failed to fulfill its most basic responsibility to avoid and alleviate famine.

Now we find ourselves on the precipice of more starvation and outrage as, once again, a massive crisis and impending disaster are not receiving sufficient attention from those in power. This time, however, the hungriest victims of this plight cannot express their anger or pain. They are all less than six months old, and they are running out of food.

As the national supply of baby formula plummeted, Abbot failed to sound the alarm.

The Abbot baby formula manufacturing facility, which is responsible for producing 40% of our nation’s baby formula, shut down in February after traces of a deadly bacteria called cronobacter were found in two batches of formula it produced.

As the national supply of baby formula plummeted, Abbot failed to sound the alarm, preventing a robust and well-timed response to the crisis.

After over three months with nearly half of our formula production completely halted, prices are soaring, families are struggling to find food for their babies and Americans are beginning to realize that extreme scarcity forces painful losses and impossible decisions.

Some politicians argue we should stop supplying baby formula to facilities at the border; others worry that low-income, working moms who cannot breastfeed throughout the day might have no way to feed their babies. Even families with time to breastfeed will struggle if they have babies who have trouble latching, making them dependent on formula.

This calamity is both terrifying and inopportune — amid inflation and healthcare system overload caused by the pandemic, U.S. families and medical infrastructure lack the economic and emotional bandwidth to handle this catastrophe. Even though Abbot’s formula production will likely resume within a couple of weeks after FDA approval, we will still be missing months' worth of formula, which cannot be replaced in American factories.

About 90% of the country’s baby formula is produced by four companies — Abbot, Gerber, Mead Johnson and Perrigo Nutritionals — and none of them have the industrial capacity to quickly scale production and meet an influx of demand, according to the Washington Post. National demand for baby formula is typically steady, especially in comparison to other industries.

• Continued on hwchronicle.com

May 25, 2022

The Chronicle

Choosing to hear Amber Heard

By Milla Ben-Ezra and Daphne Davies

S

eated under fluorescent lighting that beams from the ceilings of a Fairfax County, Virginia courthouse, a blonde woman in a gray suit breaks down in tears as she recalls the sound of glass shattering at the feet of her former husband. He now sits across from her, eyes cast down, unable to meet her gaze.

This scene is typical of the current defamation lawsuit trial between actress and defendant Amber Heard and her ex-husband, actor and plaintiff Johnny Depp. Heard is being sued by Depp for $50 million for a 2018 op-ed she wrote and published in the Washington Post indirectly alleging that Depp physically and sexually abused her during their five-year relationship.

Depp claims that Heard's allegations against him are not only false and defamatory but that he himself was the victim of Heard’s own abuse, prompting Heard to countersue Depp for $100 million.

Don’t know who to believe?

Neither do we. But social media seems to have made up its mind. In the weeks since the trial began, Heard has been slandered online: Her allegations and character

have been torn apart across major platforms by millions quick to believe and defend Depp. On TikTok, for instance, edited clips mocking an emotional Heard on the stand have swept the platform, as have recordings of Heard yelling at Depp during their relationship and photos and videos of Depp’s sad, pained facial expressions in court. If Depp’s position in the case is a bandwagon, then it seems a disproportionately high number of people have jumped on fast and held on tight.

For a case this nuanced and complex, the complete societal bias towards Depp's perspective presents a colossal issue.

The truth is that neither Depp nor Heard are blameless. All evidence points to the conclusion that neither handled the relationship particularly well and that both suffered at the hands — sometimes quite literally — of the other.

For all the recordings of Heard yelling or breaking glass, there are just as many of Depp doing the same. But societally, we have fixated on Heard’s villainy. We have chosen to force Heard into the mold of the crazy, evil woman: the calculated,

manipulative liar, especially considering her diagnosis with borderline personality disorder and histrionic personality disorder. For many, it is easier to sympathize with Depp, a prominent actor whose face is associated with the stoic heroism of Captain Jack Sparrow. This, of course, overlooks recordings of Depp acting in a troubled and violent manner, as does evidence that strongly points to Depp’s abuse toward Heard: As social media fixates on photos of Depp's bruised face, it has glossed over the testimony by Heard's makeup artist that she had to cover up bruises on Heard's face.

In Depp's favor, we pander to total ignorance of his wrongdoings. That in itself is wrong.

In a case this sensitive and highly publicized, we don’t mean to suggest that we should all get off Depp’s bandwagon and make a beeline for Heard’s. It is imperative that we are careful and smart before forming judgments. The issue is not black and white, and itshould not be thought of — or tweeted about — as such.

Adapting schedules after APs

By James Hess

A

s courses wind down in these final weeks of the school year and students shift their focus away from schoolwork and towards summer, we see more people with more free time than usual. In part, this change can be accounted for by the end of Advanced Placement (AP) courses in early May: Some departments finish their instruction after the test and allow their students to take the class period off. It seems a fitting reward for the hard work students have put into their most rigorous courses, a way to pay back the hours spent studying for their quizzes, tests and a cumulative exam. We can use the newfound time to prioritize other subjects, revive undervalued relationships or simply relax with the workload of a full year behind us.

But this benefit is not uniform across all AP courses or even across different grades in the same course. Juniors in AP Calculus AB, for example, are expected in class after the May exam. Seniors, however, may take that same period off. AP United States History students continue to learn material and take a final even after the AP exam. AP English classes, in contrast, have class off altogether. Other courses, such as AP Environmental Science, give students an option to complete a review packet or conduct an in-class research project after the AP test. Further, 12th grade-only events like Senior Week and admitted students'

These factors make for a confusing and frustrating last few weeks of the school year.

The Mittle-man on Campus: post-prom

By Sarah Mittleman

H

ello, devoted readers!

After a brief hiatus, I have decided to resume my role of romance guru and dedicated advice-giver for the last weeks of the year. For those of you curious as to what I was doing during my absence, I was participating in a romantic research immersion experience that required my constant focus on date-planning, kiss-perfecting and third wheel-navigating.

I’m still trying to work out that last category. Anyway, with my newfound romantic knowledge, I am no longer blindly following cliches—now I know firsthand what love is like. You can expect my advice to be much more logic-based and realistic now that my head has come down from the clouds.

Prom is the most important event of everybody’s lifetime. We all know that. With the event's announcement, the entire senior class felt a flurry of excitement.

After all, it's not every year that we are able to host a super spreader event in the middle of a (seemingly endless) pandemic.

I was thrilled to participate in classic prom activities like loud

coughing and hacking, sharing did not take the time to provide food and drink and spending amenities like planned transportime in close proximity to others tation. Partygoers were expected who have recently tested positive to rent their own limousines for COVID-19. And since I was for the night. Considering the the guest of honor for this year's high volume of proms happrom, "Dancing in the Moonpening over the weekend, light," The Chronicle asked demand for luxury vehicles me to provide a comprehensive skyrocketed, putting an undue review of the night’s events. strain on guests to secure their I’m happy to do so, especially own rides. Even if purchasing because I’m being heavily comexpensive cars for all seniors was pensated with praise from the editors. That's why, as I strapped too costly — although I can't imagine there's a better use for my miniature camera onto my our excessive tuition (no, we corsage, hid a microphone in don't need another cafeteria) my earrings and inserted my — Prefect Council could have infrared contact lenses, I was at least opted to grace me, the prepared to collect enough evidence to expose prom for unofficial guest of honor, with what it was. This is a responsibil- transportation. At the very least, ity I did not take lightly. As an President Rick Commons could investigative journalist, I often have chauffered me himself. have to make difficult choices.

The hectic party bus I ended Remaining neutral would up taking shook me up like a protect my relationships, but I carbonated soda for the entire have a duty to spread knowledge drive. Adding insult to injury, and preserve my integrity, and the driver didn't even provide that comes first. So at the risk of hors d'oeuvres. Prom was off to damaging my reputation among a rocky start, but I kept an open Prefect Council, I must express mind as I arrived at the Skirball my sincerest disappointment Cultural Center. with this year's promenade.

First of all, Prefect Council • Satire: Continued on hwchronicle.com

days on college campuses effectively end courses even if seniors are still expected to attend, and regardless, prevailing social norms dictate that fourth quarter grades are meaningless for them.

These factors make for a confusing and frustrating last few weeks of the school year. In some cases, students feel unclear on whether or not to go to class, and the lack of standardization can hinder progress and effort of students who would otherwise be dedicated to the subject. It would not be fair to ask that all AP courses end directly after the exam — we owe it to our teachers to see their class through the whole year — but there must be consistency at least across grades.

If a course decides that seniors deserve free time, it should allow juniors to also opt out. Similarly, if the teachers of a course decide there is value in continuing after the AP exam, they should lessen its workload and coordinate with other courses to be as consistent as possible. We are fortunate to attend a school that offers a variety of college-level courses and to have teachers who prepare us well for a national test. Ensuring that courses' end dates are clear and uniform would make the time we have in our final few weeks as valuable as possible.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SYDNEY FENER

May 25, 2022

Opinion A11

hwchronicle.com/opinion

Manipulating our students' mental health

By Daphne Davies and Harry Tarses

M

adison Beer has the bone structure of a Greek goddess, enough Instagram followers to start a successful religion and the vocal cords of a decent singer. All the makings for a completely content person –– but Beer still struggles with her mental health. So when she walked into Ahmanson Lecture Hall on May 16 during an otherwise unassuming Conference Time, an otherwise inattentive student body was rapt.

She had been recruited for this event by Ella Goldberg '23, whom she’d met by chance in a Barnes and Noble.

Beer said they “got very deep very quick.” Goldberg and other students planned the event in association with Bring a Change to Mind Club and Community Council. Beer was, apparently, the Hermes-loafered antidote to the school’s mental health epidemic, which is, apparently, really bad. And so she’d descended from heaven (the Encino district) to “break the stigma” and take a group selfie with some academically burnt-out 16-yearolds,

whose lives would assuredly be on the up and up as soon as she opened her mouth.

Madison Beer is surprisingly intelligent, self-aware, and relatable, considering she dropped out of middle school.

Her conviction that she is far more than a pretty face, by all accounts, is accurate, and she deserves to be treated accordingly. But Madison Beer is not an expert on mental health, and she does not deserve to be presented as one. The topics she addressed, while pertinent to her experience as a teen idol and interesting to her fans, have little to do with us and the institution we attend.

They are not the solution to the problems at our institution. Those problems are hardly ignorable. Though Beer's talk was a largely-student run endeavor, it was just one piece in the performative puzzle the administration has presented in response to the mental health crisis –– including multiple fireside chats and school-wide discussions. All these events are worthy efforts to talk about the issues prevalent

among the student body, but in the end, that is all any of it ever really amounts to: talk.

For a notoriously stressful place, talk seems like a step in the right direction –– and it is. But we cannot sustain an approach built on vague empathy and dialogue forever.

For students at the school who are struggling, these discussions about mental health are rarely, if ever, followed by any concrete implementations. For students at the school who are doing fine, these dialogues can In the end, that is all any of it really amounts to: talk. even create further problems.

All the talk about stress cultivates an expectation that we should be constantly stressed — and the feeling that if your mental health is stable, you're doing something wrong.

You are expected to feel bad, which, in turn, makes you feel bad. In essence, the time spent talking about mental health instead of taking tangible action propagates the very issue it tries to solve.

This isn't to say the school should do nothing: Some students truly need support.

At this school, like any other, there are going to be some students with genuine mental health issues that could bar them from a healthy high school experience. That’s why we need counselors, and why we have them. But when the general assumption that everyone is having a hard time is arbitrarily applied to an academically pressured student-body, it leads to confusion and ineffectiveness.

This is not an argument against compassion. We both have had our fair share of struggles with mental health and have pushed through with the support of others, whether they be parents, friends or even teachers. It is good that mental health is now something that gets acknowledged and not ignored. But this acknowledgment needs to be substantial and authentic –– it needs to be real for it to work. You can’t just talk about something and claim to be fixing it. You cannot throw a pop star at people and hope her cheekbones will cut away all their sadness.

Unpublished Chronicle “headlines”

By Georgia Goldberg New student dating app matches students based on GPA Local sicko caught explaining NFTs to frightened students on the quad Prefect Council announces new Honor Board policy: Cheating is acceptable as long as the student is stressed for their test Community Council mandates that students answer local troll's riddle to get into the Madison Beer panel Op-Ed: Your wife makes your bed for you, and there’s nothing wrong with that!

Bird fever! Reports show Twitter spreading faster than COVID-19 on campus HW Venture to collect and resell water from the LA River back to Studio City residents Cafeteria creates a whole new menu, students continue to only eat white rice Op-ed: Support small businesses in the community, like local family-owned market Erewhon Administration to ---------- journalistic freedom ------------ articles published ------------- censorship Thousands of dumplings found underground, dumpling smell finally explained Prom court election rigged by Prefect Council, no Honor Board case to follow Students begin spitting on Chronicle staff members, administration concerned about spread of COVID-19 Lunchtime ultimate frisbee game watched by three students, an alltime high Administration sets fire to every Studio City residence protesting River Park

ILLUSTRATION BY SYDNEY FENER

Letter from the Editors

• Satire: Continued on hwchronicle.com

Encouraging a new mindset

By Tessa Augsberger and Milla Ben-Ezra

A

s teenagers living in the world today, we are inundated with pressure to improve ourselves. With social media hounding us about the importance of self-care and our high schools consistently emphasizing college preparation, our world seems to spiral more and more toward ourselves with every passing day.

Meanwhile, war rages in Ukraine, America tears at women’s abortion rights and the climate warms at a faster pace than ever.

As seniors eagerly awaited their Early Decision college results Dec. 10 and 11, many were oblivious to the tornado outbreak that struck the Midwest, killing 89 people over that same two-day period. As Putin invaded Ukraine in late Febru-

ary, students again were focused on college admissions, this time awaiting their regular decision results in March.

It is important to find a balance between the events of our own lives and those that occur in others', ensuring we still focus on our academic careers and personal lives while simultaneously remaining engaged with the greater world. As individuals, we owe it to ourselves to focus on our peresonal lives.

But we also owe it to ourselves to make sure that we stay in touch and remain conscious of the wider world we are growing up and existing in. We must open ourselves up to experience a variety of positions, perspectives and experiences.

After three years of covering local school news and observing

SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE

LEAVING LAYOUT: Editors-in-Chief Tessa Augsberger ’22 and Milla Ben-Ezra ’22 reflect on The Chronicle's progress throughout the year and urge the school community to pay attention to their sorroundings. trends among students for The Chronicle, we are calling for a mindset shift: Although each of us lives in the center of our own universe, it is crucial to remember that we, too, live in one another's universes.

We must practice empathy and awareness, and remember that staying engaged, active and

attentive in a global community is key to our development as students and people, We live in a world dependent upon human interaction. To make a positive impact on our world, we must approach each of the interactions we have with an open mind, careful not to make conclusions quickly. Expanding

perspective does not require posting an activist statement on Instagram, hanging a Ukrainian flag to show solidarity or even attending a local protest; rather, it implies belief in a world in which no single individual is the center but instead part of something larger, stitched into the fabric of the world itself.

Community The Chronicle • May 25, 2022

LUCAS COHEN-D’ARBELOFF/CHRONICLE

RIVER OF CONCRETE: As cities in Southern California adopt policies of recycling wastewater to help adapt to climate change and prepare for droughts, less treated wastewater flows through the Los Angeles River, further drying up the river, according to the Public Policy Institute of California. Stretches of the river closest to the school campus maintain low levels of water.

New restrictions on water use implemented due to drought

By Alex Hahn and Davis Marks

Mayor of Los Angeles (LA) Eric Garcetti ’87 announced a new series of water usage restrictions amid California’s worsening drought. The restrictions, which will go into effect June 1, ask residents of LA to limit their water usage to seven gallons a day and lower the number of allowed sprinkler watering days from three to two.

Elizabeth Johnstone ’24 said like many other Californians, she struggles with conserving water but believes policy mandates like the one issued by Los Angeles will help reduce the effects of drought.

“I try my best to conserve water, but it’s definitely not an easy

task,” Johnstone said. “Contributing to the effort to save water requires a whole mindset shift which I struggle with every day.

While most Californians accept that we live in a drought, it’s difficult to get people to act on that.

Although education campaigns have their merits, policy mandates get results faster. I think we need to be thrown in the deep end, and the mindset shift will come.”

According to Governor of California Gavin Newsom’s website, reservoir water levels are at half of their historic average and the state’s snowpacks are 17% of their historical average. These statistics prompted state officials to consider and eventually issue restrictions. Residents of LA who do not comply with the new re-

strictions will receive a warning followed by increasing fines for each additional violation.

Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science Teacher Nadine Eisenkolb said while individual use of water does not compare to agricultural usage, there are a variety of methods the community can use to conserve water.

“For me, when it comes to conserving water we need to look at where we use a lot of water first: 70% of water is used for agriculture [and] 22% for domestic uses,” Eisenkolb said in an email.

“Therefore, people conserving water in their homes [are] going to make a very small difference on the overall amount of water that is used. When we do look at individuals conserving water domestical-

“

I think that for the drought to go away, it can’t just be three people taking shorter showers for a week. Everyone needs to help out.”

—Hannah Carbunaru ’24 Environmental Club Member l.. wood

ly, it is important that more than half of that goes to outdoor water uses – watering yards and water evaporating from swimming pools. We can make a difference here by planting plants that are native and drought tolerant and therefore, having to use the sprinklers less. [We can also] cover [our] pools when they are not in use to ensure water doesn’t evaporate.”

Studio City resident and Environmental Club member Hannah Carbunaru ’24 said she feels that in order to make a difference, a widespread effort to conserve water is necessary.

“I think conserving water is really important, especially in California due to our horrible drought,” Carbunaru said. “I think that for the drought to go away, it can’t just be three people taking shorter showers for a week.

Everyone needs to help out.”

Johnstone said she believes the school needs to take more action in curbing water usage rather than simply acknowledge the issue.

“I’m very proud of our school for acknowledging water conservation and the reality of climate change, but I think we could be doing more.”

School hosts reunion

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff and Will Sherwood

The school hosted its annual Harvard and Harvard-Westlake Reunion Day at Ted Slavin Field on May 21. From 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., former faculty and alumni whose graduation years end in twos and sevens engaged in various activities such as campus tours and mini-classes, which simulated typical school classes.

Westlake Reunion Day 2022 took place two weeks ago to honor women who graduated from Westlake Schools for Girls before the merger of the schools in 1991.

Former Head Football Coach Victor Eumont attended the Harvard and Harvard-Westlake Reunion Day and said he was excited to reunite with the group of boys he coached from 2007 to 2012. “[I’m here] to see all the other people [I knew] because [right now] I only have been helping down at the middle school,” Eumont said. “[I want to see] all these teachers, you know, everybody that’s [here]. The administration has been great to me and

I’m very appreciative of what Harvard-Westlake did for us and bail us out of a predicament when it happened. [It’s a] great school.

Ivy Bunnak, the Associate Director of Alumni Relations, said the pandemic kept teachers and classmates apart, but that the event provided a welcome opportunity to reconnect.

“We’re bringing back alumni to see their campus and see each other to build our alumni community,” Bunnak said. “We have people coming who haven’t been here since graduation. So there’s campus tours now and they’re gonna get see some of their former teachers and classmates they probably haven’t seen in years.”

Francisco de Guzman ’02 said he came to the reunion to show his now wife what attending the school was like.

“I love coming back to the campus,” De Guzman said. “It reminds me of all the good times [I had] here. And since I’m married, my wife likes coming here, because I have good stories. She’s always wondering if it was the type of place that she would enjoy.”

ALEX HAHN/CHRONICLE

TOURING ALUMS: Terence Mathews ’23 gives alumni of the Harvard School for Boys a tour of the upper school campus. Attendees of the Harvard and Harvard-Westlake Reunion were able to participate in these tours.

Features The Chronicle • May 25, 2022

Filled with Pride During LGBTQ Pride Month, students with same-sex parents reflect on their school experience.

Students reflect on sexual assault survey results sent from Head of Upper School Beth Slattery.

By Natalie Cosgrove Head of Upper School Beth Slattery sent out an all-school email outlining results from an anonymous survey about sexual harassment in the school community April 26. The email relayed that 40% of respondents reported experiencing a comment of sexual nature that was offensive. In the survey, 25% of respondents reported that someone touched or tried to touch them in a way that made them feel uncomfortable. In addition, the email provided a list of counselors and resources for students who have experienced such instances of harassment or assault.

Slattery said sending the survey was a signal to the student body that the administration is aware of the issue of sexual harassment and taking proactive steps to combat further incidents. She said the school plans to adjust the human development curriculum and has already partnered with SafeBAE, a program dedicated to minimizing rape and rape culture. The program’s mission is to train students to become peer educators on issues like sexual assault and harassment so they can spread awareness in their schools.

“We want to let students know we take it seriously,” Slattery said. “We have [started doing] SafeBAE training and consent training all three years at the Upper School [for students]. We are changing the human development curriculum. My focus right now is doing training around harassment issues, [preventing the use of ] casual microaggressions that have become normalized.”

SafeBAE Peer Educator Eliza Koblentz ’23 said there should be increased awareness and education regarding sexual harassment and sexual violence on campus.

“It is incredibly important to be prioritizing this issue and the safety of students, not just in the future but now,” Koblentz said.

“As a SafeBAE peer educator, it is part of my job to spread awareness about the perpetuation of rape culture and sexual violence, especially in [our school] community. Sexual violence cannot just be a topic during a one-time presentation. Ending the stigma of sexual assault in our community starts by educating our students on how to stand up when situations occur.”

• Continued on B7

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF STEPHEN PURDUM

By Lucas Cohen-d’Arbeloff When asked by her fourth grade teacher to write about her favorite weekend activity, Shoshana Bernstein ’22 chose to describe how she enjoyed cooking with her moms. The teacher, assuming Bernstein had made a spelling error, told her to change the word “moms” to “mom.”

“There’s not supposed to be an ‘s’ there,” the teacher said.

As the daughter of same-sex parents, Bernstein said misunderstandings like this one occur frequently, and she said she often finds herself having to explain her family structure to strangers.

“When you’re talking to someone else, people just assume you have one mom and one dad,” Bern s tei n said. “I don’t think I ’ v e ever felt weird about say-

ing I have two moms. It’s just something I’m so used to saying, and I don’t even realize how often I say it, but it just comes up so often.”

One of Bernstein’s mothers gave birth to her with the help of a sperm donor. Bernstein said since some people perceive her birth story and family as unusual, they sometimes feel justified in asking her inappropriate questions.

“People often feel like they have a weird [right] to ask really invasive family questions that you would never ask of a more nuclear family,” Bernstein said.

“People would [say], ‘Do you feel closer to your biological mom?’

They’re

random people I barely know.”

Katie Hadsock-Longarzo ’23, who also has two moms, said she often faces questions about her conception and whether she wants to meet her sperm donor. She said she has no interest in doing so. “[The sperm donor] just donated sperm so that families could have children,” Hadsock-Longarzo said. “I already have two parents. Nothing is missing in my life. But people assume that because some guy donated to a sperm bank, I’m missing out. I think that comes from the traditional idea

of having a [mom and dad].”

Hadsock-Longarzo said the media representation of samesex couples, like Rachel Berry’s dads on “Glee,” is often over-dramatized and caricatured, as they have few personality traits outside of their sexuality. She said it was difficult to relate to these families when she was growing up.

“I think the best media representation is when it’s subtle, and they don’t even mention it,” Hadsock-Longarzo said. “It’s just like any other family. They wouldn’t go into detail about a straight couple having a kid and that backstory. Either way, it’s just people having a kid.”

Hadsock-Longarzo said although her lack of exposure to other LGBTQ families sometimes led her to feel uncomfortable sharing her family background with others, this has become less awkward as she has gotten older.

“I don’t really care now whether people judge me or not,” Hadsock-Longarzo said.

“If they do, I don’t need them in my life, and I don’t want to be associated with them or be around them. But it’s weird that I had that pressure on me as a teenager to not [challenge] people’s assumptions. I felt so nervous about talking to people.”

• Continued on B3 ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF RAISA EFFRESS

HW Life Cycle

By Harry Tarses It is 2016, and summer is almost over. The sun sets earlier, once green leaves lose their vibrant hues and on the verdant grass of the Horns Commons, 200 soon-to-be seventh graders mill about, talking quietly as they wait for Fast Start to begin.

Among the crowd is a boy, slightly taller than his peers and clad in a well-worn soccer jersey. His name is Stephen Purdum ’22, he went to St. James Episcopal School and he is tentatively excited for the school year.

“I was just a really nervous, shy kid,” Purdum said “I’ve never been one of those people who c a n just g o up to

someone and make friends with them super [easily].”

Purdum said the new environment, full of mature, hard-working peers was a jarring shift from his previous educational experiences, which he said were comprised mostly of small, unmotivated student bodies in which he could easily excel.

“At my tiny little elementary school, I was one of the few kids who didn’t actively hate being in school,” Purdum said. “Then all of a sudden, here I am, and it’s so much bigger, and it’s so much crazier, and there are so many people I feel like are cooler than me or better than me or smarter than me.”

Purdum said although some of his old classmates from elementary school came to this new school with

Seniors reflect on their character transformations while attending the school for the full six years.

him, he had a difficult time making friends. Furthermore, Purdum said he was frequently met with bullying and verbal abuse throughout seventh grade.

“I had a really bad bowl cut, so everyone [called] me a school shooter,” Purdum said.

“One day, we had [Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (A.L.I.C.E.)] training, and in that assembly, people made so many jokes that at the end of the day, I got on the bus, and I sat down [and] just started sobbing — just bawling my eyes out.”

Purdum said the torment was taxing regardless of whether or not it came from a place of malicious intent. In addition to

the ‘school shooter’ joke, Purdum said he dealt with other mistreatment, such as constant mocking of his very short time competing for the wrestling team and the accusation that he turned every girl he dated gay.

He said this abuse built up and at times made him spiteful: At one Bar Mitzvah he lashed out, insulting and pouring perfume on a kid he had never met.

Purdum said his frustration only compounded his loneliness. However, by eighth grade Purdum said he had solidified a friend group.

“In the fall [of 2017], I became friends with [Shanti Hinkin ’22], and [Billy Johnson ’22], [whom] I had gone to elementary school with for one year but I wasn’t super close with,” Purdum said. “They and a few other people became my original core friend group.”

• Continued on B6

B2 Features

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

In honor of APAH Month, Dylan Graff ’24 shares how his grandparents, Richard and Pat Mori, endured life in Japanese internment camps.

By Dylan Graff

a cake, and it had a little train on it. It was just a small gathering. It On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, was just before everything startJapan launched a 1,800- pound bomb ed happening as far as evacuation.”

By February, anger surrounding on U.S. fleets docked at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The attack killed 2,400 the attack on Pearl Harbor devolved U.S. citizens and destroyed 19 Navy into fears of Japanese-American esships, devastating military forces and pionage. President Franklin D. Rooplacing Japanese Americans at the sevelt signed Executive Order 9066 forefront of racially motivated vio- on Feb. 19, 1942, relocating 120,000 lence and systematic oppression in Japanese Americans along the West the years to come. My grandparents, coast into internment camps. Barbed Richard Mori and Pat Mori, were two wire fences framed large expanses of of the 120,000 Japanese Americans flat land, concrete buildings and towwho would suffer the consequences ers, and guards were prepared to shoot for an attack they played no part in. any escapee. Those held in the internMy grandfather was 5 years old at ment camps stayed in barracks, sharthe time of the attack on Pearl Har- ing common living spaces and bathrooms with another with bor. He said he can still reonly limited access to hot member the brisk afternoon water. Richard Mori was air, the glares from passersby among these prisoners and and the grip of his mother’s said he still remembers his hand, urging him to walk time at the Pomona Assemfaster as they headed home. bly Center in vivid detail.

Richard Mori said he was too Today, the Pomona young to grasp the concept Fairplex is the site of the of war, but as he watched annual Los Angeles Counhis mother’s composed face L. Wood ty Fair. Eighty years ago, wither into apprehension, he Dylan the land housed nearly could only gather that someGraff ’24 5,000 Japanese Americans. thing was very, very wrong.

In the months that ensued, Upon arrival, my grandfather said my grandfather said he heard that he watched internees stuff empty Japanese American families near- brown sacks with nearby hay to form by had sold their valuables, cars and mattresses. Soldiers fed them dried homes. He said his mother explained fish, pickled vegetables and other the lives of these families to him, tell- meals made in bulk to serve the ening stories of their uncertainty and tire facility, which my grandfather fear while masking her own. He said said was overfilled with prisoners.

“I think there were about six his mother celebrated his sixth birthday two months early in her attempt rooms per barrack, but those barto maintain a sense of normalcy. racks were built hastily, so the space “My birthday is in April,” Rich- formed by the roof and the beam ard Mori said. “We were all sent to that goes across was open,” Richard [internment] camps [a few months Mori said. “My cousins, because they later]. I think my mother knew were babies, would cry every night.”

My grandfather said many sugthat [ahead of time], so she ordered

gested these temporary living situa- family resided in Camp Amache, her tions were the hardest part of evac- mother stayed with a group of sisters uation and internment, though he from a nearby Catholic church. Pat said the experience felt like playing Mori said she only remembers the army with his friends. Internees ate isolation for not being able to be with out of mess kits and marveled at sol- her mother during her final days. diers at a time in which he said the “We were not allowed in her room. media portrayed members of the We had to stand at the doorway or military as superheroes. Even the stand on the outside, just like [with] internees’ blankets had U.S. Army COVID-19 now,” Pat Mori said. branding on them. Richard Mori said “[The pandemic] made me think of as his lighthearted attitude and mis- her, and how it must have been really interpretation of the experience, he hard for my dad when [my mother] eventually came to realize he was not passed away from tuberculosis. He said being protected by these soldiers but it was really the worst time for him.” rather being held captive by them.

While my grandmother said the “When we were moving to camp, pandemic is incomparable to the I didn’t think anything of it.” Rich- hardships of Japanese internment, ard Mori said. “I just she said she used the did what my parsame philosophy to ents told me to do. endure time apart When we When you’re a little from loved ones: were moving to [the kid, 6 years old, you ‘gaman,’ the Japanese internment] camp, I just don’t think about philosophy that, to things like that.” overcome hardship, didn’t think anything My grandmother, one must maintain of it. I just did what my Pat Mori, unlike my patience and dignity. parents told me to do.” grandfather, was not My mother Auspared from recognizdra Mori said while —Richard Mori she grew up withing the hardships of internment. Despite out stories of her being only 2 years old, she said she parents’ experiences in Japanese remembers when her mother con- internment camps, they taught tracted tuberculosis before being sent her the importance of ‘gaman.’ to Camp Amache in Colorado. She “When I was growing up, my said her mother was forcibly separat- mom and dad really didn’t really ed from the family upon arrival and talk about when they were incarcerstruggled to find adequate medical ated,” Audra Mori said. “I’m really care because of her Japanese heritage. glad they talked about it because they “[My mother] made the trip to Col- didn’t talk about it with me. Their orado, and my father paid for a nurse experiences were very different. My and a private room because she had tu- dad had his family to protect him, berculosis and she had to be isolated,” to serve as a buffer, to make his life Pat Mori said. “The way I heard it from seem more normal, but my mom my aunt, it was hard to find a place didn’t have that. I guess though, it for her because [she was] Japanese.” just shows that they both came to While the rest of my grandmother’s realize how important family was.”

“

ILLUSTRATION BY FALLON DERN PRINTED WITH PERMISSON OF DYLAN GRAFF

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/features

Features B3

Parenting with PRIDE In honor of LGBTQ Pride Month this June, students with same-sex parents describe their experiences growing up and navigating school.

• Continued from B1

Danny Tan-Goldhammer ’23, the son of two dads, said he has become used to strangers assuming he has a mom and dad.

He said his parents often don’t correct those who make these assumptions.

“I used to [ask my parents], ‘Why don’t you correct them?’” Tan-Goldhammer said. “‘They obviously got it wrong, [so] why didn’t you correct them? What’s the issue?’

But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve [understood] why they don’t. We don’t even talk about it because we don’t see it as a big issue. Although there is a lot of homophobia out there, they don’t really let it bother them.”

However, Tan-Goldhammer said having two dads has occasionally caused some especially uncomfortable moments in public, particularly because his dads are not of the same race. He said a recent experience with a customs agent at the airport was upsetting.

“They thought [our white dad] was just a friend of our [Asian] dad, so it was very awkward and uncomfortable,” Tan-Goldhammer said. “It was never an issue, just awkward. It bothered me, and it bothered [my parents] a lot.”

In addition to public perception, Growing Generations Co-Owner Dr. Kim Bergman, who has helped same-sex couples have children for 30 years, said another issue for these couples is coming to terms with the reproductive barriers they face.

“There’s the psychological sort of issues to overcome,” Bergman said. “For example, only one of the men could be the sperm contributor for one baby, and [only] one of the women could be a contributor. Of course, it doesn’t matter in terms of both dads being the full and equal dads, but from a genetic perspective, it makes a little difference. There’s obviously homophobia because maybe family members aren’t supportive, [and] depending on what community the parents live in, the laws may not be particularly protective.”

Bergman said particularly for gay men, the process of surrogacy involves many moving parts and a variety of individuals helping along the way.

“There’s a doctor who is a repro-

ductive endocrinologist, there’s a lawyer who is a specialist in reproductive law and there’s a psychologist to help put it all together, assess and help everybody do their part and do it well,” Bergman said. “[The psychologist] helps parents be informed and know what they’re getting into and talks with the donor about what her role is. They talk with the surrogate about what her role is, and [they talk] with the parents about what is important in talking to their kids. There’s a whole team that comes together to help. It’s really a village that helps two men have a baby.”

Bergman said she is proud to have helped thousands of same-sex couples achieve their dream of becoming parents over the course of her career.

“If you want to be a parent, and you can’t be a parent because of biology, it’s really devastating,” Bergman said. “So to be able to be a parent through third-party assisted reproduction is amazing. In 30 years of doing this, I have seen thousands of gay families just [be] absolutely thrilled. It’s something that 30 to 40 years ago was totally inaccessible. It wasn’t a thing. It barely existed for infertile couples, let alone gay couples. So it’s something I’m incredibly proud of.”

Another barrier facing same-sex couples is the prospect of weakened legal protections. After a Supreme Court opinion overturning abortion rights leaked earlier this month, same-sex marriage is now in jeopardy, according to NPR. In 2020, Justice Samuel Alito, who authored the leaked opinion, said the 2015 case Obergefell v.

Hodges — which established marriage equality nationwide — was wrongly decided, according to The New York Times.

Hadsock-Longarzo said the possibility of the U.S. regressing on LGBTQ rights is worrying and harmful for children with same-sex parents.

“If gay marriage is made illegal, then it’s telling kids [with same-sex parents] their family is wrong in some way, and that’s not okay,” Hadsock-Longarzo said. “That’s not good to imprint on a kid, being told that your family is wrong.”

An additional trend nationwide is the introduction of bills restricting how gender and sexuality can be discussed in classroom settings, such as Florida House Bill 1557, also dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Hadsock-Longarzo said this legislation will impact how teachers are permitted to discuss their students’ same-sex parents.

“It’s putting pressure on teachers to choose between being a decent human and acknowledging that their students have families of all different shapes and sizes in order to abide by the law,” Hadsock-Lon-

garzo said. “That’s an impossible decision. he started the organization to help bring It forces teachers to do, in my opinion, the together LGBTQ members of the school wrong thing and tell a kid, we can’t talk community beyond just the students.

“One thing I think that was missing with about your family, because your family looks different than other people’s [fam- [the school] is a group that was focused on ilies]. It’s also putting pressure on the kid the LGBTQ community, but more of a because they’re not allowed to talk about broad-based one that doesn’t necessarily just include the kids like the [current their family.”

Despite some negative experiences groups] at the middle school campus and during their childhoods, Bernstein, Had- the upper school campus,” Mercado said. sock-Longarzo and Tan-Goldhammer all “[We needed] one that really involves samesaid they have not faced judgment about sex parents, allies, alumni, faculty, staff and their same-sex parents at the school. Ber- students. Talking with a number of other nstein said she appreciates the work the family members and faculty and staff, we school has done to include LGBTQ stu- just felt that it was the right time to be able to do it.” dents and families. She said Mercado said alshe has had the opporthough many memtunity to discuss her bers of the LGBTQ mom’s activism as community choose both a rabbi and I think [the to attend other indea lesbian in her pendent schools in school coursework. school] just attracts a Los Angeles, he hopes “I think it’s cool different kind of family, the community will how there are more a different kind of eventually come to and more LGBTQ the forefront of the issues and awarestudent.” school alongside ness incorporated —Phil Mercado other diverse groups. into the curriculum “I think [the as I’ve gone through HW Pride Co-Founder school] just attracts the years,” Bernstein a different kind of said. “For examfamily, a different ple, I took Gender kind of student,” MerStudies, and for my cado said. “And as such, project, I did it about wom- e n rabbis, but also specifically lesbian rabbis, it’s maybe not something that has always so I was able to connect that to my mom attracted the LGBTQ community, unlike and talk about different activist movements some very progressive schools. And so I think there have been some challenges that have led to [her activism].”

Phil Mercado (Gus Mercado-Quinn ’25, with representation [here]. Certainly, there Leila Mercado-Quinn ’25 ) founded HW are faculty and staff, but [it is] important Pride, an affinity group for LGBTQ par- in my eyes, in my husband’s eyes and our ents, students and staff, with his husband kids’ eyes to be able to have that greater Todd Quinn this school year. Mercado said presence in the community.”

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ILLUSTRATIONS COURTESY OF RAISA EFFRESS

The Chronicle

B4 Features

May 25

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS

In light of the recent leak suggesting the overturn of abotion rights in federal law, students share their feelings and connections to the topic.

gathered at the Supreme Court. That’s going to largely be problematic for The U.S. Supreme Court established the security of the justice system.” the constitutional right to abortion in Lee said although he acknowledgRoe v. Wade on Jan. 22, 1973. How- es the importance of older historical ever, Politico obtained an initial draft texts, he said many do not interpret majority opinion by Justice Samuel the Constitution as a living document Alito that would overturn Roe v. Wade while handling modern-day issues.

“Many say that just because it’s on May 2, 2022. If the Supreme Court decision holds, it will return the issue not [explicitly] written into archaic literature, we shouldn’t of abortion to state regula[have the ability] to adapt it tion, according to Politico.

Thirteen states have alto the modern era,” Lee said.

“I’m sure [Republicans] are ready instated abortion just applying this justificabans after six weeks of pregnancy, and over 60% of tion here and [not to] other residents in those states are things like gerrymandering, which is also not [explicagainst abortions, accorditly] in the Constitution.” ing to the Guttmacher InAccording to the Planned stitute. If Roe v. Wade were L. Wood Parenthood website, the to be overturned, NBC Eloise News predicts 23 states court ruling in favor of Stoddard ’23 will ban abortions entirely.

Roe in 1973 alAlex Lee ’24 said leaking the draft lowed Planned Paropinion to Politico is controversial enthood to provide for the future stability of the Su- cost-free healthcare preme Court. He said media leaks like abortions and often lead to activism by the pub- c o n t r a c e p t i v e s . lic and impact the judicial process. The organization informa“The Supreme Court has [many] holds months of turnaround time where tion sessions for sex education, they can be convinced by delivers vital rethe public because of backlash,” Lee said. “The other day, thousands of people

• Continued from A1

productive health care and serves struggle to support an inas a global partner helping simi- flux of people from other states. lar organizations around the world.

“There will still be limited access Eloise Stoddard ’23 said volunteer- to abortions,” Stoddard said, “Because ing for Planned Parenthood allowed abortions are limited, people will be her to better understand the neces- flying into California. There will be sity to advocate for women’s rights. more people needing abortions with“I think more than anything, in a more concentrated area, which is [working at Planned problematic because Parenthood] has put healthcare providers in perspective how only have so much I still want to have a funding, and there much work needs to be done to achieve career before I’m able to are only so many reproductive rights,” providers have a baby. I don’t feel healthcare Stoddard said. “But that can perform like I can totally take care abortions I think it means so safely. much to be a part of of myself, let alone of a California needs to the cause. We’re dofunding so child [right now].” increase ing something and that we can support fighting for what I — Paula* this [and] support believe in. Not only the cause against [my] rights, but [I banning abortions.” am fighting Stoddard said for the rights of ] women many low-income citizens who do everywhere. It’s really em- not have the privilege of travelpowering and rewarding.” ing or paying for their health care Stoddard said ban- will find alternative methods of ning abortions in nearly abortion, even if they are unsafe. half of the states could “The [number] of safe, professionbe harmful to womens al abortions [is] going to decrease,” bodies, even for those Stoddard said. “People are going to try in states that will not and perform [abortions] themselves, ban abortions. She which is problematic because it ends said health care up hurting the parent. I think that providers in the main concern is people’s safety.” states allowing Alumna Shirley*, who became abortion will sexually active at 14, said in h i g h

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5, 2022

hwchronicle.com/features

school she faced pregnancy scares quite often, yet she said she did not feel comfortable going to her parents for help or disclosing her sexual activities to them. “[In high school], when I was a day or two late for my period, I would immediately go into panic and think I was pregnant,” Shirley said. “I couldn’t tell my parents or have my parents help me, so I relied on my close friends for help and support.”

Shirley said as a result of these pregnancy scares, she and her friends frequented Planned Parenthood as a resource for emergency contraceptives like Plan B One-Step.

“I knew that if I went to Planned Parenthood, I could get Plan B without anyone knowing and without any credit card transactions,” Shirley said. “Even if I was a day or two late and probably not pregnant half the time, it gave me peace of mind to know that I wouldn’t have to go through with a teenage pregnancy.”

Kai Faucher ’23 said his relationship with his girlfriend helps him understand the importance of protecting women’s rights to abortions.

“It’s easy to get lost in the numbers and statistics of these scenarios, but when you have someone right next to you that you like hanging out with all the time, you would be seriously affected,” Faucher said.

“It would have life-changing consequences [for] both [my girlfriend and I] so I’m thankful to be able to understand this from her perspective. I get to see the first hand effects of what a pregnancy scare [is like].

[It would be scary] to not have the option to [have an abortion] when you’re not ready to have a child.”

Faucher said recognizing women’s struggle to maintain their bodi-

ly autonomy is important.

“I think without being too educated on the topic, it’s a loss for anyone who believes in human rights, and anyone who believes they should have control or autonomy over their own body,” Faucher said.

Janie Chandrasehkar ’24 said her opinion on the overturning of Roe v. Wade is based on protecting basic human rights.

“Overturning Roe v. Wade would affect me because [the] basic human right of being able to make choices for my own body would be taken away,” Chandrasehkar said. “Even though we live in a state that is pretty much protected from this threat, it would attack the rights of women in all parts of the country.”

Chandrasekhar, who attended a pro-choice abortions rights protest outside of Los Angeles City Hall May 14, said going to these marches is important because the issue could affect many citizens.

“I think it is important for me and as many people as possible to attend these protests because it shows support for a very current issue that impacts at least half of the population,” Chandrasekhar said. “I also think being at the protests allows you to see and understand who the issues mainly affect.”

Reverend Anne Gardner said she recognizes the range of religious beliefs in discussing the Supreme Court decision.

“Roe v. Wade is among the most polarizing topics of our political, legislative, judicial and cultural landscapes,” Gardner said. “Given its complexity, the range of responses has been varied, including within religious institutions. People of faith are on both sides of this particular aisle, equally committed and passionate about their own viewpoint’s merit.”

Current student Courtney* said starting a conversation about birth

Features B5

control in her Catholic household was challenging, but ultimately she and her mother decided it would be best for Courtney to go on birth control. She said that as a sexually active person, knowing she is on birth control makes her feel more in control of her body.

“My mom, in particular, wasn’t super happy with the idea of me going on birth control, especially only concern that a school should because she knew I had a boyfriend have. They should remain open to and [that] I was using birth control conversations about [sexually transas a contraceptive,” Courtney said. mitted diseases (STDs)], sexual [vi“Birth control has done a lot in terms olence] and domestic violence, and of making me feel more safe and we need to learn how to handle sexin charge when I have sex [and in] ual partnerships with each other.” making sure that I don’t get nervous, School Counselor Michelle Brackknowing there is protection there.” en said the school used to provide a Courtney said Planned Parentalthough she is on hood workshop as birth control, she part of the LifeLab often panics about course for sophgetting pregnant.

[It would be scary] to not omores, but that She said this anxthe organization have the option to [have stopped offering iety has promptan abortion] when you’re this resource when ed her to take 10 pregnancy tests in not ready to have a child. the COVID-19 the past two years pandemic hit.

— Kai Faucher ’23 and to be hesitant “[The school] about who she had Planned Pardiscusses her pregenthood come and nancy scares with. [teach] sex educa“Every time [I take a pregnancy tion and talk about STDs and birth test,] it feels very real, and I feel really control,” Bracken said. “We haven’t anxious,” Courtney said. “I feel ner- [offered] it since COVID-19 startvous about who I would tell if I was ed because [Planned Parenthood] pregnant, how I would cope with that stopped doing it. I’m hoping that situation, how I would tell my boy- next year we’ll be able to do that, but friend or how I would tell my parents.” we haven’t had it in several years.”

Courtney said she feels a lack of Bracken said while the school does support from the school community not provide direct resources for those in terms of sex education. She said seeking help with pregnancy, it works having conversations about sex ed- to guide students through the process ucation can help de-stigmatize the of navigating possible pregnancies. negative connotations it may have, “We would give students [seeksince many students can benefit ing] resources [access to] something from learning about sexual health. like Planned Parenthood, [which is] “I don’t see the school as a resource outside of school,” Bracken said. “In in terms of sexual education,” Court- my experience, it’s only been a couney said. “I think that the school ple of times that there has needed could definitely do a much better job to be that kind of counseling. Most of informing kids on their options, people know how to find [resourcespecially considering that a lot of es] on their own. That being said, the student body is sexually active in [the school] would be supportive one way or another. It’s important to and help [students] find whatevremember that pregnancy is not the er outside resources they need.” *Names have been changed

“

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ELLA GOLBERG

The Chronicle

B6 Features

May 25, 2022

A senior discusses the journey through the school from seventh grade to present, reflecting on the various influences that shaped him as a student and person.

• Continued from B1

found people who I felt really got me.”

Even with intermittent spikes of COVID Purdum said his freshman year saw a concausing social difficulties, Purdum said by tinuation of his eighth grade experience as he the end of junior year he felt well-adjusted became closer with his friends, developed as a student and began to find himself in many with an expansion of his new friend group ways. He said at the end of ninth grade, the and another boost of confidence. The sumdispersion of his core friend group forced him mer before his senior year, he said he began to form new relationships as he started his to experience the stress of the college applicasophomore year grades at the Upper School. tion process — a stress that did not end until “[Running] track was really important halfway through his senior year when Purto me, because when I was a freshman, dum was accepted Early Decision to his first I became friends with juniors,” Purdum choice college, Georgetown University. He said. “When I was a sophomore [on the said despite the continued pressures of school upper school campus], they were seniors. and relationships, he began to feel content.

“I felt really incredibly lucky and a lot betThat was a major social thing for me. One ter,” Purdum said. “It was not really the pantime they FaceTimed me from a party, and so they represented this bigger world.” acea that I was hoping it would be [because] I Purdum said this social validation gave was still stressed, but by December, I felt like him confidence as he began coming into his I’d met the high school friends that I’m going own throughout the school year. However, to introduce my kids to. They like the whole he said the initial COVID-19 lockdown in person of me, my completely authentic self.”

Johnson said as he reflects back on high March 2020 severely stunted his previous school and prepares to graduate alongside social progress. Additionally, Purdum said Purdum, he concludes that his own experihe quickly realized he could not ence differs. Johnson handle online school and lost said he does not think most of his academic motivahe truly matured I learned in my tion throughout the pandemic. until junior year.

“I lost all ability to do any time here that you don’t “When I was schoolwork,” Purdum said. “I have to win at everything, younger, I participatdidn’t have the volume on even ed in activities and once during the entire third or anything because the kind of just went along quarter of Chemistry. I got an point of life isn’t to win it, for the ride,” Johnson 8% on the final. [Socially], I it’s to live it.” said. “I hadn’t thought think 10th grade [Purdum] felt like he was on the verge of —Stephen Purdum ’22 about anything. Then I learned to think.” something huge, but he [didn’t] Johnson said the really know what to do with himself [after his] world was shut down. very nature of the high school experience In seventh grade, I never worried about makes it difficult to fully find oneself but having friends because I always felt like said the school succeeds in compensating there was room for progress. But by [that] for its restrictive environment with genpoint, I had had [friends] and then lost uine efforts to help its students mature.

“High school social interactions are con[them]. That wasn’t supposed to happen.” ducive to simply doing whatever you can Purdum said eventually, the overto be comfortable, to not feel bad about whelming existential stress of the pandemic became too much for him to bear. yourself and to have a pleasant time while “From the beginning, my mom had also getting good grades,” Johnson said. said: This is going to be 18 months, this is “But [the school], as an institution, does going to be two years, this is the foresee- well in getting us to become human beable future,” Purdum said. “There was a ings. Classes and teachers offer this unified point over the summer where I had a com- wave of information that force us to explete mental breakdown in front of my amine ourselves and our world critically.”

Johnson said that the school’s curfamily. It felt like the world was ending.”

Purdum said he buried himself in ju- ricular development is extremely disnior-year coursework after that summer, tinct, inviting students to expand their one of the few ways to distract himself minds more and more as the years go by.

“The Middle School [is] about how to, on from his social situation. By the end of October, Purdum said he had settled into a very basic level, interact with other people,” a consistent, isolated routine of academic Johnson said. “ Beforehand, you’re an actual dedication until Johnson, whom Purdum baby, so you have to figure out how to deal had grown closer with since ninth grade, with social dynamics and schoolwork, and invited him to hang out on Halloween. it’s a little bit trivial. At the Upper School, the “It was [Johnson] and [three girls] who material becomes more intentional and inI didn’t really know, but even though it teresting. It feels like learning becomes real.”

Johnson said efforts by the school have led felt weird, we hit it off,” Purdum said. “I him to become truly impassioned by liked them, and they liked me. It was really, really great. Even [before the pandemic], my friend group was [inconsistent]. It never felt like [an] inner circle with them.

But then, all of a sudden, I

“

his current curriculum. He said he has been Azarbal said she is generalparticularly influenced by his philosophy ly grateful for her time at the school. class, which taught him what he considers to “I’m ready for the next chapter of my be one of the school’s most important lessons. life, but I’m very sad to be saying goodbye,” “People assume empathy is a really easy Azarbal said. “I have just really enjoyed the thing to know and practice, but in Philos- people at this school, particularly [in] the last ophy one day, we were talking and [Math- few months, and the reason this period has ematics Teacher Kevin Weiss] said ‘I think been so meaningful is that the end is near. you are all consciously thinking beings, There have been hard times, but I’ll miss it.” but I have no way of knowing.’,” Johnson Purdum, who said he hopes to said. “It was a terrifying thing but then, it speak alongside Azarbal at graduasort of brought a lot of peace to my percep- tion as Salutatorian, echoed her sentition of the people around me and my life ment and said there are many aspects of at this school. It’s only my responsibility the school he is sorry to leave behind. to trust that other people are as complex “I get a little nostalgic and sentimental,” and unique as me, and that’s really lovely.” Purdum said. “[I’m] not looking back with Ariana Azarbal ’22, the Class of 2022 rose-colored glasses, but with a holistic and Valedictorian, is in Johnson’s Philsophy fair approach. I’m able to take the good with class. Azarbal said despite her eventual suc- the bad in a way that I feel like I wasn’t always cess, she agrees with Purdum and John- able to do in the thick of it. In hindsight, I can son that her development at the school see a lot more of the good. I can see a lot more was neither an easy nor a linear path. of the things that I loved about [the school].”

“At first, I was someone who did the Purdum said that for all of his hardship things that I thought I was supposed he had little to regret about his experience. to do and tried to do them as He said no matter how his journey best that I could,” Azarbal progressed, he had had a truly fulsaid. “I did the things that filling time attending the school. my teachers asked of me, “I learned in my time here that that my athletic commityou don’t have to win at everything ments asked of me, withor anything, because the point of out any broader awareness.” life isn’t to win it. It’s to live it,” Purdum said. “I know people who had Azarbal said it was not unmore academic success than me or til the pandemic that she was more social success than me, but I forced to reconsider this mindL. Wood don’t feel envy. I guess it’s a simple set and adopt the more mature, Stephen lesson I’ve got from this place: that self-driven one she carries today.

Purdum ’22 if you do what makes you happy, “During quarantine, I found that it was no longer sustainable to it’ll be better for you. You’ll do better at it do things just because I thought they were and feel better about yourself. Even the what I should do because that [headspace] times when you don’t succeed, you’ll feel was nearly breaking me,” Azarbal said. better for having tried and endeavored at “Outside pressure cracked my previous something that was really meaningful.”

It is 2022, and summer is about to bemode of existence. It was so much harder to do things without the meaning behind gin. The sun stays up well past 7 p.m., trees them because of all of the other stress and glow with full color and the Horns Comstrain of isolation. That forced me to reex- mons are packed at all times with lounging amine everything that I had been doing.” middle schoolers, running wild across the Azarbal said while this realization verdant grass and looking forward to the conflicted with maintaining achieve- months ahead. Among them is a brownment, she learned to properly balance haired, jean-clad girl, whose attire has her academic and athletic responsibil- changed from a year before, when she was ities with her true wants and needs. restrained to a uniform skirt at John Thomas “In 11th and 12th grade, I had to devel- Dye. Her name is Isla Saperstein ’27. This op an understanding that I couldn’t just live past year in seventh grade was a blur for by my new philosophy of only doing things her, full of ups and downs, and she cannot that are meaningful, and not doing things quite tell if it was everything she had expectthat weren’t comfortable for me,” Azarbal ed it to be. Her future is a blur, too, but she said. “Even if you may not find something is tentatively excited for what is to come. inherently meaningful at first, rather than shutting that out, you still should give it an honest effort. And hopefully, in giving it that honest effort, you can find meaning in it.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOPHIA EVANS

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/features

Features B7

Students and faculty reflect on a recent email regarding the prevalence of sexual harassment and assault in the school community.

• Continued from B1

Junior Prefect Simon Lee ’23 coled the initiative to distribute the survey in early February. He said he hopes the consent training will remedy certain subcultures on campus, but he said he knows there is no guarantee that the actions taken by the school will prevent the harmful language or actions from taking place.

“We are doing more consent training geared towards extracurricular activities, specifically people on sports teams or in performing arts,” Lee said. “It seems anecdotally and on the survey that those are places where [it was] reported that certain people felt unsafe. We are also trying to reinforce the policy that no teacher should follow students on any social media accounts. Hopefully, students will feel more comfortable speaking up and reporting incidents. They will feel like there is institutional support for their various experiences.”

Lee said he plans to enact initiatives throughout every grade, as only doing consent training during senior year can have harmful implications to students leaving the school.

“We usually have a presentation on consent during Senior Transition Day, and we thought this reinforced the mindset that seems to be communicated by the school that sexual harassment is this horrible thing that happens outside of [the school],” Lee said. “So now that you are going out into the ‘real world,’ you are no longer ‘safe’ like you were at [the school].”

Kate Hassett ’22 said she is a victim of sexual assault and that although she herself has not experienced harassment within the school community, she knows others who have and thinks spreading awareness will help the issue to be resolved school-wide.

“Sexual harassment and assault have happened for me outside of the school,” Hassett said.

“However, I do know about cases in our community. After my experience, I am able to listen to people in a different way and I think this should happen for everyone. A lot of people who are making these comments or doing these actions have to be aware of what is right and what is off-limits.”

Hassett said she has heard com-

ments and microaggressions on campus that have made her feel uneasy about being at school, especially as a victim. She said more conversations involving the school about people’s experiences will help the community adequately address the issue.

“I have heard comments about rape on the Quad,” Hassett said. “[Students] think consent is a joke.

Given what I

talking about sexual assault.

“You have 60% of the population of men [responding to], ‘If you could rape somebody and get away with it would you?’ and 10% say yes, and the rest say no, but then if you ask, ‘If you could force somebody to have sex with you and get away with it, would you?’ and 65% of the population says yes, then what that suggests is that there is a disconnect where rape is somehow associated with a horrific monstrous thing, but forcing someone to have sex with you

is

have been through, that is really hard for me to hear. The school discussing the assault and engaging in more serious conversations, not just grazing over the problem is what will bring awareness to the issue. People are not trying to do a bad thing. They do not have bad intentions. It is just that there is a lack of awareness and maturity in our school’s community.”

Gender Studies Teacher Lilas Lane said a big contributing factor to rape culture is a lack of awareness about the nuances of certain words in

somehow not w i t h in that same realm,” Lane said. “So [there is now] this question of what is forced, what is coercion [and] what is rape becomes [increasingly] blurry.”

Co-President of EMPOWER, the school’s gender equality club, Shoshana Bernstein ’22 said with the potential reversal of the Supreme Court precedent Roe v. Wade, she said she sees a pattern of disregard for female bodies in the United States.

“With Roe v. Wade likely being overturned, it feels like women’s bodily autonomy is [often] being threatened,” Bernstein said. “I think there is a clear connection between that and

the sexual violence that women are subjected to.”

Bernstein said EMPOWER conducted an activity where they read through the school’s email and identified points of strength and contention, specifically in terms of some ‘victim-blaming’ language.

“There should be more protection for victims in situations of harassment,” Bernstein said. “In the email, it said that if you were intoxicated and you come forward about someone sexually harassing or assaulting you, then most of the time you wouldn’t get in trouble for being intoxicated.

The ‘most of the time’ defeats the whole purpose of saying [a statement supporting victims] and sets a really harmful narrative.

I would like to see a revised version of the email from Slattery.”

More than 50% of college sexual assaults occur in the first six weeks of school, according to 12 News.

Bernstein said as she prepares for college in the coming months, she is deeply concerned about the possibility that college will be a dangerous place for her because she is a woman. “[As you make] your transition into an institution where you are going to learn, expand your mind and gain life experiences, you are [simultaneously] at the highest risk of being sexually assaulted.

[This is] a tragic fact for me.”

President Rick Commons said the school’s goal is to uphold values of respect for each other and each other’s bodies, but he said he acknowledges this goal is not always possible. He said he hopes that educating students and increasing consent training will improve the issue.

“Just because we are a community that talks a lot about our values and commitments to each other’s boundaries, [that] does not make us immune to a compromise of those same values,” Commons said. “Ideally, a goal for the school would be to get to a place where all of our students and community members understood what constitutes sexual assault, sexual harassment and what constitutes a violation of [the school’s most important] community values.”

ILLUSTRATIONS BY SOPHIA MUSANTE

B8 Features

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

With the school back in person full time, these statistics reflect the community’s journey back to normalcy.

ILLUSTRATION BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Arts &Entertainment The Chronicle • May 25, 2022

Voyage to Cannes Cannes Film Festival features student-made short film “A Ship Called Lili.” The film tells the story of Holocaust survivor Lillian Trilling through paper cutout animation.

By Vasilia Yordanova

so much from her.”

Levy said she and her group used anIn the midst of COVID-19, nine imation to break down Trilling’s experihigh school students worked together ence to its essentials in order to convey to animate a film about the experience the story in the most compelling manner of Holocaust survivor Lillian Trilling. possible. Levy said the filmmakers also Filmmaker Eve Levy ’22, who said she wanted to highlight how young Trilling identifies as Jewish, was one of the stu- was during the Holocaust.

“Through animation, we were boiling dents who created the film “A Ship Called Lili: The Lillian down [Trilling’s] story to its raw, emoTrilling Story.” Levy will tional components [because] there is represent the film at the not a film of her experiences, obviously,” Cannes Film Festival Levy said. “The goal was to capture how when it is screened [Trilling] felt and what her experiencthere with The es were. [Trilling] was [of ] high school American Pavil- age when she was going through this, so ion’s Emerg- there is that connection [between us and ing Filmmaker her]. Also, [her youth] was an important Showcase on May thing to emphasize [in the film].”

Filmmaker Natasha Clement ’24 said 26. Levy said she collaborated with she was prompted to collaborate on “A the other stu- Ship Called Lili” because of her own dents to create Jewish family history.

“I was originally inspired to work on the film through the Righteous this film by my Jewish family members,” Conversations Clement said. “I grew up learning about Project during the effects of the Holocaust on my family and the families of millions of other the summer Jewish individuals. I wanted to do my of 2020.

“Filming was part in making sure that the stories of those that suffered as a result [of weird because the Holocaust] were preserved, [COVID-19] hit and filmmaking seemed like it right before the program,” Levy would be the best way to do said. “We were all animating that since it is something I am on our own in our rooms just really interested in.” with our phones, so it was hard Clement said she had to to make a collaborative work. adapt to the constraints of her We were all working individuhome and create her own lightally [and were unable] to leave ing and camera system when our houses. We were just using working on the film. things we [could] find around L. Wood “I had to improvise lighting [our homes].”

Idalis McZeal ’23 on the spot and make things Levy said Trilling directly work, even when I did not necinspired the whole project, and she said hav- essarily have the right materials,” Cleming a conversation ent said. “I remember my dad actually with a woman who bringing some large lights from his work survived the Ho- that I could clip onto my desk so that locaust was pro- I was able to animate without worrying foundly meaningful about the lighting needing to be moved as I moved my camera, which was a to her.

“For me, and I phone suspended using a few pencils, know for every- about 10 books and a very large amount one involved, [it of tape.”

Filmmaker Hank Schoen ’24 said anwas] an important experience other difficulty in creating the film was to interact direct- the occasional clash of students’ creative ly with a Holocaust visions on how the project was going to survivor and hear all be executed.

“Differing opinions from all direcabout her experience,” Levy said. “We are the tors, from what aspects of the story to last generation who is able to have that cut out to what medium we wanted the opportunity. [Trilling] is an amazing film to mainly be, was one challenge,” person, [and] I am really glad I learned Schoen said. “While we all had our own views, opinions and ways of expressing the story, we all shared the common goal of portraying [Trilling’s] story accurately and to the best of our ability. In the end, the differing art mediums, types of animations and styles made the film unique and beautiful in its own way.”

Schoen said the students had to work of the process.” under a time constraint. He said this iniFilmmaker Idalis McZeal ’23 said intially proved to be challenging, it actual- teracting with Trilling and creating the ly made the film more interesting. film was a moving experience for her.

“Listening to [Trilling’s] story, edit“[Trilling’s] story really touched me,” ing the transcript, animating and editing McZeal said. “She is very resilient and in only 10 days was [another] difficul- [being able to hear] her tell her story was ty,” Schoen said. “We all put forth our a very emotional experience. [The film] best efforts, whether that was working shows the importance of continuing at home, through lunch or long after people’s stories.” class. As a result of the time constraint, McZeal said the project deepthe film is by no means perfect and flaw- ened her unless, but rather reflects the heart, soul, derstanding dedication and effort that each and ev- of storytellery person put into the project. The time ing and of constraint, similar to the variety of me- the Holodiums and styles, created a uniqueness caust. She and quirkiness about the film that adds said she to its emotional effects and impacts on gained a lot the audience.” of perspective Schoen said he is proud that the film while working will be displayed at Cannes, but he said with Trilling. “[Being a he also sees the festival as a way to share part of this Trilling’s story with more of the world. has] “When a film [from the Righteous project Conversations Project] is accepted into not only [helped a film festival, we are always so grateful me develop] the to be able to share a personal story about empathy to undera survivor with the world, in addition to stand someone else’s sharing the emotional power and beauty story, but it has given me a that the art has,” Schoen said. “Rather [deeper] cognizance of other people’s stories than the film festival in general,” McZeal signifying our success Seeing the appresaid. “Making a film or talent, it is a way for but not being together our work to interact ciation and the joy that is hard, so I also took with the world and car- the Holocaust survivors away the fact that even ry on the legacy of the feel when they view the when you are not toHolocaust, as well as film makes the whole exgether you will always [that of ] the survivors perience worthwhile and be able to find a way to who fought against all warms all of our hearts.” overcome obstacles.” odds to survive.”

— Hank Schoen ’24 McZeal said surSchoen said he enprised that the Emergjoyed collaborating ing Filmmaker Showalongside his fellow filmmakers, learning from his mentors case to select “A Ship Called Lili” to on the project and talking with the Ho- appear in the festival, but she feels locaust survivors themselves.

“My favorite thing about creating the very proud of the film was forming a community between resulting achievethe students, teachers and survivors, as ment of all of her well as seeing the gratitude and happi- peers and her work.

“It is really exness of the survivors upon viewing their films,” Schoen said. “It was so amazing citing and I actuto be able to know a Holocaust survi- ally never thought vor personally and develop a connection this would hapMcZeal that went beyond just creating [a] film pen,” said. “I am [not a for them.”

Schoen said he felt rewarded after see- big] film person. I ing Trilling’s emotional reaction to the just [joined the Righteous Conversations film he had worked so hard on.

“Seeing the appreciation and the joy Project] in sixth grade and that the Holocaust survivors feel when continued on with it. It they view the film about their lives is kind of unbelievable makes the whole experience worthwhile [that the film is going to and warms all of our hearts,” Schoen Cannes. Being able to be said. “Being able to create a film for a a part of [this project] has survivor to share with their family, their truly been a blessing.” children, grandchildren and the whole world is truly the greatest and most fulfilling aspect

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

C2 Arts & Entertainment

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

Depp v. Heard Trying the Truth Members of the school community discuss the broader implications of the Johnny Depp and Amber Heard defamation trial.

By Vasilia Yordanova And Natalie Cosgrove

woman automatically is kind of socially accepted.”

Makenna Dovel ’23 said Grace Adams ’24 was un- she believes the majority of the familiar with the name Amber public siding with Depp in the Heard until about a year ago. case goes against the common However, she said she was convention of automatically jarred by the claims of abuse believing women who claim to the American actress put out be victims of abuse. She said against one of Adams’s favorite she thinks Depp’s fame excelebrities, Johnny Depp. As plains the phenomenon.

“People usually side with she was scrolling through TikTok, Adams stumbled upon a the [woman], which is what video alleging Heard received makes the popular consensus the bruises she blamed on Depp on this case so unusual,” Dovfrom botox appointments. Ad- el said. “I think it may be that ams also encountered videos [Depp] was initially just more alleging Depp’s fingertip was well-known and well-liked cut off after a fight between from all of his roles and success as an actor, [and] that the couple, and othmay have influenced ers depicting Heard how people viewed partying after claimthe trial. At the same ing to have been hurt time, it is nice to see

by Depp. Adams said that people do not she has occasionaljust believe women ly watched parts of because they are supthe trial itself on TV posed to. [Instead, but that most of her they] are trusting knowledge has come L. Wood their judgment.” from social media.

Makenna History Teacher “I love [Depp] so Dovel ’23 Lilas Lane said disit was [unpleasant] for me to hear about [Heard’s] believing women when they claims, and I have been watch- come forward with stories of ing the trials a little bit,” Ad- being abused is a huge issue ams said. “I have seen a lot of but that everything must be videos on TikTok, and I have proved with substantial eviheard a bunch of things, but I dence in the judicial setting.

“Automatically believing am not sure how all of them fit women is somewhat probleminto [this situation].”

Adams said she thinks the atic from a legal standpoint case becomes even more com- as well,” Lane said. “[It is implex to understand when it is portant] to correct this issue examined in conjunction with that has been here forever, [of] the “Believe Women” slogan women [not being] considered which stems from the #MeToo credible when it comes to their own experience. That has been and feminist movements.

“To always believe the a really horrible problem for woman just because she is a women since time immemoriwoman is taking away [from al. But from a legal standpoint, the integrity of the trial],” Ad- you have to prove something ams said. “I think ruling out with evidence.”

Lane said the male-fethe man as the victim is not fair. Everybody is equal, but male power dynamic and the [the slogan comes from the fact that] in the past women have been overpowered by men. But saying [you] believe the

fame of Depp and Heard make the case more complicated, bringing out many common gender-based prejudices.

“Because [the case is] between a man and a woman, there tends to be a double standard that is applied anytime that there is this type of situation,” Lane said. “Double standards are complicated because you have this assumption that men are the ones who are going to be the ones using violence, and you also have this disbelieving women stereotype that exists. It’s hard to get down to what is actually going on.”

Lane said she believes many people will quickly jump to uninformed conclusions based on Depp’s success and gender.

“I am sure there are people who are [saying Depp] is terrible because it is always the man beating [the woman],” Lane said. “And then I am sure there are people [saying Heard is] just trying to get [Depp] for his money. There are going to be those stereotypical kinds of reactions to the situation that maybe have nothing to do with the actual issues of the case.”

Depp sued Heard for defamation after she wrote an article in the Washington Post alluding to abuse in 2018, and a year later Heard counter-sued Depp for allegedly defaming her, according to the New York Times. The case began April 12, and will continue until Memorial Day. Lane said while she finds the case itself to be absurd, she said she also hopes the situation can shed light on the topics of domestic violence and abuse.

“It seems like the issues [in this case] are so much more about reputation and about career defamation and money than this actual issue of unhealthy relationships and this problem of domestic violence.

To me, it is a little bit of a circus,” Lane said. “It is going to be really hard to get down to the real issues [of the case] and [at

the same time recognize] that Weng said that while peodomestic violence is a seri- ple have a right to express their ous problem without a simple opinions online, especially in a solution. Maybe [this case will] public court case, there is still a bring awareness to these issues. boundary as to what is approMaybe that awareness can be priate to say. the good that comes out of all “I think from a moral standof this craziness.” point, I do not know where the Lane said the reason the case line would be drawn for this has attracted a large amount of kind of case,” Weng said. “Obscrutiny is because of society’s viously, with free speech, peopreoccupation with celebrity ple have a right to know [and] culture. She said Depp’s and people have a right to talk Heard’s differing levels of fame about the trial. But it is a little have added another layer of bit overwhelming, I think, for complication to the case. the people in the case. People “What has drawn attention are talking about signing peto this issue is [that] people titions to get [Heard] kicked want to know about the per- off of her movies, or [for Depp sonal lives of to be] fired famous peofrom his movple,” Lane With free speech, ies when the said. “Everycourt case inipeople have a right to body loves tially started.” talk about [the case].

[Depp]. That Dovel said makes it YouTube vidBut it is overwhelming, tricky, too, beeos from the I think, for the people in case also have cause he is this the case.” beloved supertitles with a star. It’s not clear bias, so —Chris Weng ’24 anyone can just a matter of a man and a easily be imwoman. It is also this incredi- pacted to change their opinion bly famous man and then a fa- on the trial. mous woman as well, but there “Even the videos on Youis a gap in terms of their fame.” Tube have titles [with] bias or Chris Weng ’24 said he be- they only show certain parts [of lieves the publicity around the the case],” Dovel said. “Everycase could have a negative im- one has a right to make their pact on both Depp and Heard. judgments, but if you have “The fact that you can see not been at the trial the whole YouTube videos [of the case] time, you can be influenced by and [that media outlets] are [a social media] comment seccovering it and making it so tion or by [only] seeing certain public is not necessarily a good skewed parts of the trial.” thing,” Weng said. “Obviously Dovel said the case has the public is not actually in- quickly become a polarizing volved in [the case], but [the at- topic on social media. tention] could potentially have “People are quick to [take a negative effect on the people sides],” Dovel said. “Whatin the case because there is a lot ever side they [are on,] they of outside influence. Everyone go to such extremes. Whatevis following it.” er side they feel is right, they completely hate the other one and it is never ambiguous. It is always extremes.”

“

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com

Arts & Entertainment C3

Students share the individual artwork they will present in the Senior Art Show on June 2

Sadye Lackman

Lana Lim

Printed with permission of Lana Lim

“My portfolio is centered around the idea of nature and nurture and the way the outside world can affect the identity of children.

This theme comes from my own life experiences that have affected me in the present and whether they were a result of pre-determined factors or developmental influences.”

-Lana Lim ’22

Leila Pagel

“The paintings were inspired by baroque art and the Chiaroscuro style, [a style that contrasts light and shadow].

In my self portrait, [which is pictured on the bottom right], I am wearing a recreated 1890s corset I made over the summer and holding my great-great grandfather’s pocket watch.”

-Sadye Lackman ’22 Printed with permission of Sadye Lackman

Chris Lee “My portfolio this year is based on the Greek legend ‘Daphnis and Chloe’ and its relation to the music composed by Ravel. ‘Dorcon,’ [which is pictured on the bottom left], is my most successful piece because a lot of the techniques I experimented with worked well together.

Painting it was fluid and spontaneous, which I think is a part of what makes my creative process work for me.”

“The suspended artwork [on the right] was loosely inspired by gene sequences. It addresses the lack of control we have over our health. I created a piece in which I did not have total control. Though I methodically measured the circles and the angles of the armature, I had no control over how the fabric would fall or spin as it interacted with the environment.

-Leila Pagel ’22

-Chris Lee ’22 Printed with permission of Leila Pagel

Adrienne Usher

“I was challenged to be extra creative [during] the pandemic [because I did not have] access to a lot of materials. I love mythical creatures, so my art is very whimsical. I didn’t have a particular theme and let myself pursue anything that came to mind.”

-Adrienne Usher ’22

Printed with permission of Adrienne Usher

Printed with permission of Chris Lee

C4 Arts & Entertainment

By Jina Jeon The school will hold its annual Playwrights Festival in Rugby Theater on May 26 and 27. The event will feature 14 student-written plays across two nights, with seven plays per night. The Playwrights Festival is an opportunity for student screenwriters to showcase the projects they have worked on throughout the school year. Series A will premiere May 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Series B will premiere May 27 at 7:30 p.m.

The Fan Family Award for the best script will also be presented on the first night.

Writer and director Grace Belgrader ’23 said although her workload was intensive and challenging at times, she found inspiration through collaborating with other students.

“I wrote a play called ‘Say Yes,’

The Chronicle

and I’m directing a play [by Oliver Green ’22 ] called ‘The End,’” Belgrader said. “As a writer, I spoke numerous times to [Performing Arts Technical Director Aaron Martin] and [Performing Arts Teacher Rees Pugh] to discuss my characters and the story arc. As a director, I try to tell my actors to be absurd and take risks, and we just see how that goes.”

Actress Emily Malkan ’23, who will perform in “A Therapist Named Aurelis” written by Sophia Evans ’23, said the student-run aspect of the Playright Festival stands out to her the most. She said students strengthen their teamwork skills by combining and highlighting their varied individual talents in a singular piece of work.

“My friend is acting in a musical that is written by another one of my friends, which is directed

by another one of my friends,” Malkan said. “Even our manager, [Sophia Rascoff ’23], is a student who deals with scheduling and other things that are typically done by teachers. It’s cool to see everyone’s skills come together for the show.”

Production staff member Walker McGinley ’22 said the Playwrights Festival challenges students by putting them in positions they may not normally have experience in such as directing or production coordinating. “[The Playwrights Festival] aims to get people into different roles they wouldn’t be able to do during a regular production,” McGinley said. “I’ve learned a lot about sound design throughout my years at the school. I’ve mostly focused on lighting, but [Martin] put me up to getting outside my comfort zone.”

May 25, 2022

SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE

REGULAR REHEARSALS: The cast members of “The Insitute’s Prisoner,” written

by Carina Villanova ’22, gather for Playwrights Festival rehearsal in the Drama Lab.

Recognizing that students at the school are lost without schoolwork, the staff of The Chronicle provides a summer bucket list.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

Sports The Chronicle • May 25, 2022

Track and field team finishes league season

By Danny Johnson

school history.

“It was an amazing feeling The track and field team to have my name put in the concluded its Mission League [school] record books,” Alyssa season in the Mission League Thompson said. “I’m really exFinals at Notre Dame High cited to keep pushing further in School on April 28. The boys the postseason.” ended with a record of 5-2, and In addition to her two gold the girls finished 4-0. medals, Jessica Thompson set At the event, Jessica Thomp- the school record for girls pole son ’23 placed first in pole vault vault at 12 feet 8 inches at the and long jump. Jessica Thomp- CIF Finals on May 14, improvson said she was excited to see her ing upon her previous personal hard work from the season pay record by 7 inches. She said she off in the championship. could not have increased her “I was honestly in disbelief,” pole vault height without hours Jessica Thompof practicing son said. “I with her coachI was honestly in was hopeful to es throughout win in the pole the year. disbelief. I was hopeful vault event but “This season to win in the pole vault did not expect has been pretty event but did not expect difficult for me,” to take home the gold in long to take home the gold in Jessica Thompjump as well. I son said. “Up long jump as well.” owe my success until the Arcain that meet, —Jessica Thompson ’23 dia Invitational and all of my [on April 8], I’d meets, to my only improved coaches and teammates. With- by about three inches from last out them, I wouldn’t be where year despite practicing all sumI am today. They push me to mer and during preseason. I was be the best I can be and are my frustrated with myself and conbiggest supporters.” stantly doubting my abilities, After the Mission League Fi- but I was frequently reassured by nals, members of the team par- my coach that there was going ticipated in the CIF Division III to be one day where it all comes Finals at Moorpark High School together, and that day was CIF on May 14. Sprinter Alyssa Finals. My coaches reminded me Thompson ’23 ran an 11.69-sec- of all the hard work I’d put in to ond 100-meter dash at the meet, be [at the meet] and, most imthe fastest time in this event in portantly, believed in me when I

“

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF JESSICA THOMPSON

JUMPING FOR JOY: Jessica Thompson ’23 pole vaults in a track meet against Fontana High School. Thompson placed first in Mission League for pole vault and long jump, setting the school pole vault record at 12 feet 8 inches. didn’t believe in myself.”

Two boys and seven girls qualified for the CIF Masters meet, an event reserved for the top CIF Finals performers in each event.

Sprinter Benson Fleischer ’23, who qualified for and will compete in the long jump event May 21, said he is training harder than he has ever trained before for the Masters meet.

“This past week, my training has looked a lot different from how it has previously in the year,” Fleischer said. “This week specifi-

cally, the coaches have prepared workouts for me which are meant to keep me fresh but prepared. I am seeded last in the long jump, and in order to make it through to the state meet, I will have to jump almost 1 foot further than my current personal record. Going into the meet with the mentality that I am prepared for the moment and have nothing to worry about is essential for me to put up my best performance.”

Fleischer said he enjoys his moments of success but that the

best part of being on the team is being able to support his teammates and see their growth.

“My favorite part of the season has been watching my teammates succeed,” Fleischer said.

“Every day, I watch my teammates push themselves in their training, sometimes to the point where they can barely walk afterwards. While my teammates race, I turn into a fan and cheer them on with passion. Seeing them reach their goals gives me a sense of fulfillment as a teammate.”

Boys tennis loses first round of CIF

By Charlie Seymour

The boys tennis team finished their spring season with an overall record of 15-4, losing 14-4 to No. 1 seed and CIF Southern Section Open Division champion University High School in the first round of the CIF Regional Tournament on May 6. Despite the loss, the team placed first in the Mission League with a record of 9-1.

In its 20202021 season, the squad went [My teammates] went [into 18-1, winning the CIF Southmatches] with the mindset that [they] ern Section could beat anyone. However, we didn’t Open Division actually have those one or two guys tournament with a 93-88 we had in the past who could go out win over Unithere and beat anyone.” versity.

With nine CIF South—Teddy Ingold ’24 ern Section wins, the boys tennis program has won the back on track just before playoffs, second-most CIF champion- but we were just outmatched [in ships out of any of the school’s the CIF tournament].” athletic programs and the most Andrew Kurgan ’24 said he Mission League championships was proud of the way the team with 29 first place seasons. Boys played in the playoffs, despite Tennis Program Head Bo Hardt the loss. said the team’s early CIF defeat “The team was able to turn its this season was because of play- season around by the CIF tourers’ lack of drive to succeed after nament,” Kurgan said. “Although last year’s victory. we lost [in the] first round, we put “Our downfall was a lack of up a valiant effort and did well discipline, personal accountabil- against a highly ranked team.” ity and a lack of focus on our Although Kurgan said they program’s goals,” Hardt said. “We ultimately stepped up, he was knew it was going to be a tough disappointed in the lack of com-

“

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF DARLENE BIBLE

MAKING A RACKET: Avi Carson ’22 closes the net to position himself for a volley to his opponent in a match against Crespi High School on March 31.

year after losing our four best players and having a bullseye on us again, but it is impossible to succeed when everyone is not on the same page.”

Hardt said the team’s success early in the season led them to lose focus, which he said resulted in a losing streak that put the program at a disadvantage going into the playoffs.

“The team peaked early in the season and then lost its way,” Hardt said. “We were able to get

mitment from his teammates throughout the season.

“We had guys not show up to practice and players underperforming in matches,” Kurgan said. “We need to practice harder and have a better mindset to hopefully win CIF again.”

Andrew Arkow ’23, who was chosen as co-captain for the 20222023 season, said the young team members filled the absence left by last year’s senior players.

“We have a lot of depth on our team and were able to dominate most of our regular season matches,” Arkow said.

“Since we lost some very talented players from last year, a lot of our [unL. Wood derclassmen] had to step up to new positions, which posed a challenge. Additionally, some of our starters had injuries and illnesses in the postseason.”

Teddy Ingold ’24 said the team’s young roster lacked the talent to find greater success in the postseason. “[My teammates] went [into matches] with the mindset that [they] could beat anyone,” Ingold said. “However, we didn’t actually have those one or two guys we have had in the past who could go out there and beat anyone.”

• Continued on D7

D2 Sports

May 25, 2022

The Chronicle

Facts and Figures Boys tennis All-American tournament ranking:

10th

Will Sheehy’s 3200-meter time:

9.12

min

Jessica Thompson’s pole vault feet height at inches CIF finals:

12 8

Boys volleyball record in the Malibu Tournament:

5-0

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF DARLENE BIBLE

Jones ’23 commits to Columbia University

By Dylan Graff Avery Jones ’23 announced her commitment to play volleyball for Columbia University on April 22. Jones said the university’s open environment and academic reputation piqued her interest.

“I feel like Columbia University is a great place to be able to discover who you truly are,” Jones said. “There are so many diverse opinions and voices there, which allow you to discover yourself and your voice while getting a world-class education.

Also, being in New York City, I will likely be able to have many different experiences that I would likely never be able to have living anywhere else.”

Jones said both her family and coaches supported her throughout her commitment process.

“I am so grateful to all of my family, who have supported and motivated me up to this point,” Jones said. “My sister, who just graduated from [Columbia University] has been such an excellent role model of how hard work pays off, and seeing her perseverance has motivated me to follow in her footsteps.”

HANDS UP: Swimmer Ronald Dalmacio ’22 gestures to the sidelins after winning first place in the Division I 50-meter freestyle after swimming a 20.08-second race, winning by a margin of .25-seconds. Dalmacio lead the boys swimming and diving team to a 5-1 in Mission League competition.

Swimming and diving teams succeed in CIF competition and Mission League tournament

By Leo Saperstein

The boys and girls swimming and diving teams completed their seasons with 7-1 and 6-0 overall records, respectively. The girls team won every event at the Mission League Finals on April 29, and boys swimmer Ronald Damalcio ’22 earned two CIF Southern Section titles and a CIF State title.

Dalmacio won first place in the CIF State 100-meter backstroke and was named CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS) champion of both the 100-meter backstroke and 50-meter sprint. He said the boys team succeeded in dual meets with the girls team and in relay events at larger meets.

“I believe that [at] every major meet, we have given it our best, and there’s nothing more that I can ask from a team like this,” Dalmacio said. “It is something

else when you see your team, from freshman to senior [members], a swimmer that’s there for fun and a swimmer that’s made it their life’s work, come together and enjoy what they do.”

Dalmacio said he learned to be a leader over the course of the season and finds his leadership skills helpful in supporting younger teammates.

“Being one of the seniors this year allowed me to use all the leadership talks and lessons I have accumulated over the years and share them with this team,” Dalmacio said. “I may not have the biggest voice, and I am a bit of a softie, but actions speak louder than words, and I hope the words I share help [my teammates] learn more about themselves and the sport as a whole.”

The boys team went 5-1 in Mission League play, and the girls team finished the season with a

4-0 Mission League record. Girls swimmer Donya Ghassemieh ’23 said the camaraderie within the girls team encouraged athletes’ individual success.

“The [Mission League Finals] meet itself is so fun because of the team spirit that [the school] has,” Ghassemieh said. “We decided to show up in a themed outfit, which was a button-down shirt with a tie and sweatpants. Not only that, but we cheer for each other during our races, which makes the experience super welcoming and fun.”

Ghassemieh said athletes formed strong bonds because of loosened COVID-19 restrictions.

“Since the last couple of years have been consumed by COVID, this year has been the first normal season since [before the pandemic],” Ghassemieh said. “Being able to go to meets and practices allowed our team to get closer. We

went to Pennsylvania as a team to swim at [the Eastern Interscholastic Swimming and Diving meet], which gave us an even bigger opportunity to get closer.”

Swimming and Diving Program Head Jason Schwarz said he feels privileged to coach such impassioned swimmers.

“What drove all of [the team’s achievements] was our athletes’ drive to be successful,” Schwarz said. “The success means we did the work, and the athletes are proud of what we achieved.”

Schwarz said many swimmers have begun off-season training already, and he hopes to see the athletes improve over the course of the summer in preparation for the 2022-2023 season.

“It is always sad to see seniors go, but that is the natural order of high school sports,” Schwarz said.

“It is time for our younger athletes to step in for their turn.”

Baseball’s playoff run comes to an end

By Ella Yadegar

SANDRA KORETZ/CHRONICLE

PITCH PERFECT: Pitcher Andrew Citron ’22 stares down a batter in the baseball team’s 6-3 win over Crespi Carmelite High School on March 25.

The baseball team lost 6-1 in the CIF Southern Section Division I quarterfinals to JSerra High School 6-1 at O’Malley Family Field on May 13. The team ended its season with an overall record of 22-8-1.

In the 2021-2022 season, the team won the CIF-SS championship with a 29-4 record.

The team’s only run came from pitcher Bryce Rainer ’24 after a run batted in (RBI) hit from center fielder Jacob Galloway ’22 in the first inning. The squad remained ahead until the sixth inning, when JSerra High School scored four times to take the lead.

The team faced JSerra High School twice in the regular season, winning 2-1 once and losing once 8-3. Infielder Rowan Jen ’23 said the players’ confidence in each other contributed to the team’s winning record.

“I think we just continued to stay together and build that trust

and [connectedness],” Jen said. when you play.”

“Down the road, it is really about The team made it to the CIF how close the team is and how quarterfinals for the third conmuch you trust the guys.” secutive year. In the 2020-2021 Pitcher Jacob Magna ’24 said season, the team defeated JSereven though the team was not able ra High School 3-0 in the CIF to record as high a win rate as the playoffs. Infielder and pitcher 2020-2021 season, it Alex Shane ’22 said aims to regroup before although he and his the 2022-2023 season. teammates hoped to “It was a really tough make it further in the loss this year, but we playoffs, he is proud of can only build off of it the team’s success. and come back stronger “We have been playnext year,” Magna said. ing together for four Jen said for the team years, and some of to be successful in the us for closer to eight L. Wood future, its players have [years],” Shane said.

Alex to practice overcoming “It is hard to put into Shane ’22 adversity together. words what these guys “Facing adversity has really have meant to me, but [I know] brought us closer together,” Jen that they will be my brothers said. “We are with each other all for life. It was a super challengthe time, so we are really close ing year with injuries, but I am with each other, and there is a proud of this team’s resilience, lot of mutual trust. Playing with and we left it all out on the that mutual trust allows us to al- field. Although we did not win ways know that the guy behind it outright, the team is definitely us is going to have our back, and proud of being co-champs of the that gives you a lot of confidence Mission League.”

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/sports

HW sends seven to USA team

D3 Sports

By Paul Kurgan

Seven of the school’s boys water polo team members qualified to play for the USA Youth National Team ahead of the 20222023 season.

Attacker Daniel Mntataskain ’23, who qualified for the USA Youth National Team, said members train during the fall season and must pass three qualifying rounds to secure a spot on the USA Youth National Team.

Those who pass individual challenges, perform well at the national tournament and outperform competitors at the selection camp will go on to qualify for the team.

Mntataskain said he looks forward to representing both the school and the country. “[Our school’s] water polo [team] has a history of competing on national teams, and I am proud to continue that legacy,” Mntataskain said. “There’s no better feeling than representing your country and it’s an absolute honor to cap up for Team USA.” Ranked as the No. 12 best attackerin the nation, according to Max Preps, Mnatsakanian said his years of hard work are finally paying off.

“It wasn’t the training I did this year that made this opportunity possible, it’s about what I’ve been doing these past eight years that’s really made this come to life,” Mnatsakanian said. “Having one good practice, one week or one year of good practices isn’t going to put you on the national team. It takes years of work and [focused] commitment.”

Baxter Chelsom ’23 was one of four goalies selected to play for the national team. He said while the selection process was arduous, he is excited to compete alongside his teammates.

“I am honored to have been selected for the [USA National Team],” Chelsom said. “It was overall an amazing experience.”

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF DANIEL MNATSAKANIAN

EYES ON THE PRIZE: Attacker Daniel Mnatsakanian ’23 winds up and aims his shot to give the school ’s team the lead against JSerra Catholic High School in a game in the CIF quarterf inals Nov. 4, 2021. The team defeated the Lions 14-7, advancing in the tournament.

Brian Flacks steps down as water polo coach

By Paul Kurgan

Following the 2021-2022 season, 17-year Boys Water Polo Program Head Coach Brian Flacks ’06 stepped down to be and will serve as Director of Water Polo for Stanford University in the fall. NCAA Division I champion and former UCLA assistant coach Jack Grover will replace Flacks.

Flacks said he will miss his experiences as a student, athlete and coach at the school.

“I’ve spent over half my life at [the school] , and it is impossible to put into words how meaningful the school has been to me,” Flacks said in a press release March 22. “While excited for the new opportunity at Stanford, I will dearly miss the faculty, staff, and friends I’ve made over the 17 years I’ve spent here. I will always [and forever] be a Wolverine.”

Grover, who helped UCLA win the NCAA Division I championship as an assistant coach in 2021, said he hopes that the boys water polo program will achieve success under his leadership in the fall.

“Obviously, winning a CIF championship is the end goal [for my first season], but what is most important to me is the process,” Grover said. “My goal is to create a daily training environment that would help them come to that goal while never losing sight of why they started and continue to play water polo.”

Grover emphasized the importance of training during the offseason and ingraining confidence in his players.

“My hope is to bring consistency to how the team approaches training every day,” Grover said. “I want them to treat every practice like it is a game. This is

“

As a leader and co-captain next year, I have to make sure that nothing changes about us with a new coach.

Flacks was the team. Its simple.”

— Chris Arkalien ’23 Boys Water Polo Attacker

already an excellent team with a lot of talent from top to bottom.

I want them to have real confidence in every game no matter what the situation is because they know they have prepared for it the right way every day in practice sessions with my team.”

The 2021-2022 water polo team went 23-7 overall in the season. The team lost to JSerra Catholic high school in the quarter finals of CIF’s Looking ahead to next season, Co-Captain Christoper Arkalien ’23 said the

L . Wood

upperclassmen need to take more responsibility. He said instilling discipline and a strong work ethic in the new players will help lead the team to another championship this season.

“As a leader and co-captain next year, I have to make sure that nothing changes about us,” Arkalien said. “Flacks was the team.

Its as simple as that. Without Flacks, our team culture wouldn’t exist. Sure we might have some new tactics but our team culture will remain the same.”

Alyssa and Gisele Thompson sign first high school deal with Nike and undeniable talent,” Simms said. “Both Alyssa and Gisele are In February and April 2022 amazing people. They reallcare the sisters traveled to Santo Do- about others, they’re thoughtful mingo, Dominican Republic in how they approach things and where they played for their respecthey always tive USWNTs. do what they Gisele Thompson say. Both these The World Cup is girls are of the helped lead the U-17 USWNT to coming up in August highest charthe Confederation and I am also excited for acter, as is the of North, Cenwhole family.” that in the near future.” tral America and Field hockCaribbean Assoey player Me—Alyssa Thompson ’23 ciation Football gan Kim ’24 Girls Soccer Player said although (CONCACAF) championship being a young in May. Alyssa athlete can Thompson played be difficult at on the U-20 USWNT, which times, the sisters set a strong exalso won a CONCACAF cham- ample for the utmost importance pionship in March. of true dedication.

Girls Soccer Program Head “As a student-athlete, it is Richard Simms said he is excited pretty cool to see such young for the sisters’ deal with Nike and role models around the same age for their futures competing at a as me,” Kim said. “I think their high level. deal with Nike is a tremendous, “They have earned their success well-deserved accomplishment. with their hard work, dedication “Their accolades reflect the suc• Continued from A1

“

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ERIC DEARBORN

ALL SMILES: Alyssa Thompson ’23 and Gisele Thompson ’24 celebrate the girls soccer team’s 2020 CIF Finals win against Villa Park High School.

cessfulness of our athletic programs in addition to the talented sisters’ abilities.”

Kim said she is proud of how far the Thompson sisters have come and is excited to see what the future has in store for her.

“I know the [the thompson sisters] work very hard and they truly deserve this honor and opportunity. I look forward to seeing them grow as athletes and ambassadors of the sport.”

Alyssa Thompson said she is excited to train for and eventually play in the 2022 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Costa Rica.

“I am looking forward to continuing to get better and working hard,” Alyssa Thompson said.

“The World Cup is coming up in August and I am also excited for that in the near future.”

The sisters have committed to continuing their athletic and academic careers at Stanford University after graduating high school.

The sisters said they are excited to see where their future leads.

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ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

D6 Sports

The Chronicle

Beach volleyball concludes

May 25, 2022

By Andrew Park

The girls beach volleyball team finished with an overall winning record of 7-2 in its inaugural season.

Head Coach Natalie Morgan said components such as players’ prior experiences with the sport contributed to the team’s successful season.

“There were many factors in having a winning first season,” Morgan said. “The leadership and guidance from experienced beach players and seniors helped the team learn the nuances and tactics very rapidly, allowing for a great first season.”

Morgan said despite the team’s achievements this season, she has noted areas of improvement that the team should focus on to become even stronger.

“For next season, a big focus [of practice] will be limiting errors and better passing,” Morgan said. “When we [do] well at those skills, we are a difficult team to beat.”

Alex Adishian ’23 said the team can improve by becoming more aggressive in games.

“Overall, we had a great first season playing for [the school],” Alex Adishian said. “Looking ahead to next year, I think our coaches would like to see us all continue to develop our technique and have a more aggressive mindset during tough competition, even when we may [be] down a few points in a game.”

As she experimented with multiple positions this season, Alex Adishian said she honed her blocking technique.

“My blocking improved a lot this season,” Alex Adishian said.

“Usually, I play the role of the defender, but this season, I had a chance to play both blocker and defender.”

Bella Adishian ’24 said the team’s dedication at practices and games helped inspire the team’s success this season.

“We worked hard during practice, always focusing on good technique that could be implemented in games,” Bella Adishian said.

After playing indoor volleyball, Olivia Suddleson ’24 said she faced a difficult learning curve in learning to play beach volleyball this year.

• Continued on hwchronicle.com

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF BENJAMIN WEBBER

STICK TO THE SCRIPT: Midfielder Ben Webber ’22 takes on a defender before passing to a teammate in a match against Sierra Canyon High School. The team ended its season with a 10-9 loss against Tesoro High School in the first round of CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs May 2.

Lacrosse team loses first round of CIF playoffs

By Charlie Seymour

the season.”

Lacrosse Program Head Erik The lacrosse team lost to Krum said the wide array of ages Tesoro High School 10-9 in on the team posed a challenge at the first round of Division I first but gave the program greater CIF Southern Section (CIF- depth that created a positive and SS) playoffs, ending the sea- competitive environment for son with a 10-7 player development. overall record and “Our team had great a 5-4 record in the chemistry [toward the Mission League. end of the season],” The team placed Krum said. “From third in the Misfreshman to seniors, evsion League, behind eryone gelled very well Loyola High School together and we had a and St. Francis great team dynamic.”

High School.

Midfielder Connor Attackman Ariel Bunnak ’24 said while L. Wood Soler-Camiel ’24 his teammates played Ariel said the program’s well against most Soler-Camiel ’24 small roster and vast teams, they had trouble range of skill level matching more highly made it difficult for the team skilled programs. Bunnak said to develop a sense of consis- the team’s younger players will tency during practices. use the offseason to improve their “The team’s greatest weak- play so they can fill the roles left ness was our lack of depth behind by the graduating players. [in the roster],” Soler-Camiel “This season, we were not said. “We don’t have enough able to play up against better players to form a junior var- teams,” Bunnak said. “We comsity team, so a lot of younger peted well against most teams, players had trouble develop- but we weren’t able to step up ing their skills throughout and maintain our level of play

against the really good teams our challenging games.” like Loyola High School, Sierra Soler-Camiel said the future Canyon High School or Los for the lacrosse program is hopeAlamitos High School. A lot of ful because he recognizes his our underclassmen are playing teammates’ motivation to win a summer ball, so we will get more championship title in the comexperience against better com- ing seasons. petition, which should help us “The team can improve by fonext season.” cusing on conWith 10 sesistency regardniors in the ing independent Our team had an program, Solerpractice,” Soleramazing camraderie, and Camiel Camiel said the said. it was fun to see all the influence of the “We have a talolder players ented [roster] that [players] getting along fostered a familI know can be on our team, no matter ial team culture very successful in their age or gender.” that helped him the future if there enjoy playing is a general buy—Ben Webber ’22 in into the sport for the school this season. next season.”

“The key to my success [this Midfielder Ben Webber ’22 year] was using the upperclass- said the unique relationships he men as role models,” Soler-Ca- formed with his teammates and miel said. “I was lucky because coaches throughout his time in the last two years of seniors were the lacrosse program will stay all so enthusiastic about lacrosse with him long after he graduates that I developed an even deeper this year. passion for the sport. [The re“Our team had an amazing lationships between upper and camraderie, and it was fun to see underclassmen] made [the team] all the [players] getting along on flow really well together, which our team, no matter their age or helped us find success in a lot of gender,” Webber said.

“

ILLUSTRATION BY SOPHIA EVANS

May 25, 2022

hwchronicle.com/sports

Softball looks to improve

Sports D7

By Leo Saperstein

The softball team defeated Da Vinci High School 5-4 in its first win in two seasons April 21. The team previously lost against Da Vinci High School 13-3 earlier in the 2021-2022 spring season.

The team finished the season with a 1-17 overall record and went 0-6 in Mission League Play.

During the 2020-2021 spring season, the squad had an 0-10 overall record, and they had a 0-9 record in league play.

Catcher Natalie Antin ’23, who transitioned from playing baseball to softball when she was 11, said the team’s win against Da Vinci High School was especially important to all of the older players on the team.

“It meant the most to the seniors,” Antin said. “They have had their softball experience in high school ruined because of [COVID-19], and they had not won a game since freshman year.”

Outfielder Shoshana Bernstein ’22, who began playing softball during the 2018-2019 spring season, said the win reflected the team’s recent improvement.

“The win was extremely exciting,” Bernstein said. “Because [our team is] filled with many new players, the odds are naturally against us. The team has definitely improved this year because of how much we bonded.”

Antin said the team fostered strong chemistry during the 20212022 season.

“The team’s best strength this year was definitely our camaraderie,” Antin said. “Most of the [players] were underclassmen, but we still have had really good relationships and became really close.”

• Continues on hwchronicle.com

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF MEGAN KIM

ONE GIANT LEAP: Victor Lowe ’24 reaches back while serving in a game against Crespi Carmelite High School on March 17. The team won 3-0, launching a seven-game win streak that ended with a loss to Loyola High School and three additional losses at the end of the season.

Boys volleyball ends season with losing streak

By Jaden Bobb and Claire Conner

The boys volleyball team finished its season with a 10-10 overall record and a 2-4 mission league record. The team did not qualify for this year’s Mission League Playoffs.

In the squad’s last game of the season, they lost 3-0 to St. Francis High School in a nonleague game April 19. After losing the first set 28-17, the team lost the next two sets by scores of 25-20 and 25-23.

Before this match, the team lost games to Loyola High School twice and Alemany High School.

A series of victories preceded their late-season losing streak, winning the Malibu High

School Boys Varsity Volleyball Tournament on May 18 and 19.

The team earned an undefeated record in the tournament, winning games against Malibu High School, Village Christian High School, Hueneme High School and Le Lycee High School twice.

Center Victor Lowe ’23 said injuries and difficult games against highly-ranked teams led to a series of losses at the end of the season.

“The competition was significantly harder than at the Malibu tournament,” Lowe said. “We also had a few injuries that held us back.”

After the squad’s season ended, multiple team members received recognition for success this year. Outside hitter

Ben Volokh ’22 and outside hitter Tom Baker ’22 received All-Mission League first team titles, and libero Wilson Federman ’24 earned an All-Mission League second team title.

Volokh said he attributes his first team selection to support from his teammates.

“The biggest contributor to my success this season was how close the team was,” Volokh said. “At the very beginning of the season, we began bonding heavily, and we gained a ton of trust in each other. As a result, we could each focus on our own skills, knowing that everyone else had our backs.”

Max Thompson ’23 said this year’s team worked to build close friendships and trust throughout the season.

“I think we bonded really well,” Thompson said. “I have never felt so close to a team before. It became really easy to joke and talk with everyone else on the team as the season progressed, mostly because we were spending so much time together at practice and tournaments.”

Lowe said he is optimistic about the team’s prospects next season. He said even though the team was unable to reach the playoffs this year, younger players showed they have the potential to succeed next year.

“It is going to be tough losing all of our seniors,” Lowe said. “It will definitely change the team dynamic, but as long as the upcoming players keep working, we could be great in the next few years.”

Tennis finishes season

• Continued from D1

PAUL KURGAN/CHRONICLE

WINDING UP: Jordan Assil ’22 prepares to return his teammate’s serve during a practice match at Weddington Golf and Tennis. The team lost their final two games, bringing their overall record to 15-4.

Avi Carson ’22 said the team suffered from players’ lack of commitment. He said declining performance at the end of the season made playoffs difficult.

“Halfway through the season, many kids decided to stop showing up,” Carson said. “This led the team’s morale to collapse massively and give us little hope going into the playoffs. There were also some moves made in the lineup multiple times in the season that caused us not to put our best team forward and eventually led us into defeat, forcing our ranking to drop even more and giving us a really challenging spot when we got to the playoffs.”

Although he said he was disappointed in their performance at the end of the year, Carson said he is optimistic about the team’s prospects next season.

“I would like to see the team move forward from this year and shake off the down season we had by regrouping and re-finding the team spirit that has helped us win so much in the past,” Carson said. “I think the program is on a great trajectory and hope to see the team making deep runs in the playoffs again.”

Seven of the team’s 14 players will graduate this year. Arkow said

despite the large gaps to fill in the roster, he is hopeful for the program’s future and believes he can lead his seven returning teammates to a league championship next year.

“Although we are losing some integral seniors next year, a large core of our team will be back next year,” Arkow said. “We will all be more experienced and developed players, and we will be hungry to take back the title.”

Hardt said the players will use this year’s season to fuel their success next year. He said despite the team’s early exit from playoffs, the greater role of underclassmen on the team afforded them a valuable learning experience that will expand their impact next year.

“We had the youngest roster in the [California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS)] Open Division, starting only two seniors,” Hardt said.

“We have already begun getting back to what built this program: a team concept, hard work, discipline and a self-motivated desire to get better at this game. Our underclassmen bought in and are motivated to get to where we want to be, which is the best in the country. We failed this year, and this failure will help us dominate our league throughout the next few years.”

D8 Sports

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

WOLVERINES ONLY BY

ROWAN JEN

PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF ROWAN JEN

When I was ten and driving with my aunt to a Dodger game, she asked me what I wanted to do with my life. “When I get older, I want to be a professional baseball player and an entrepreneur,” I told her.

It was an early question but one that I had learned to deftly answer through the many years of my Chinese grandma’s expectant prodding: “Are you the best baseball player on your team? What are you going to do when you grow up?” I’d easily brush these questions off, never promising too much, but still offering just enough to capture my grandparents’ imagination.

Contrary to what their questions might suggest, they weren’t the archetypal immigrant family. My grandfather was an architect, a painter and, among other creative endeavors, a musician. Though never formally trained, he’d close his eyes from time to time and play songs on his harmonica by ear. I’d listen attentively and just as I was about to leave, he’d ask about my achievements, not for their competitive element, but for their capacity to facilitate his dreams — a parting nugget for the blossoming of his imaginative stories.

My grandfather understood the world through stories. His immigration story was like a Greek epic in its trials: ups and downs and variations with each telling. As he recounted his story, he’d lean forward in his chair, close his eyes and raise his hands like a conductor — the master of a beautiful symphony. I imagine that a world of color and depth must have emerged from the darkness behind his closed eyelids. And when parts of his story didn’t make sense to me, he’d furrow his brow and look painfully into my eyes as if to will me to emotional understanding. With each iteration of his story came new meanings and points of emphasis, mostly around the theme of his “three H’s”— humble, hardworking and honest. But it was clear to me that in his life there was only one real value: passion. So when I told him that I wanted to be a baseball player and an entrepreneur, he smiled with pride.

As we settled into our seats at the Dodger Stadium, my aunt told me bluntly, “You won’t have time to do both.” She looked in my eyes with a stillness that suggested that this truth was self-evident.

I laughed, but she didn’t. My laughter was meant to deflect, but my face heated and my adrenaline pumped. It wasn’t what she said so much as how she said it; she was matter of fact and emotionless.

My younger self had a sense that people give up on their dreams as they get older. This was scary, unex-

plainable and sad to me. That night, I told my dad that a good life is about having unrealistic dreams and achieving them.

My earliest dreams were about baseball. By the time I started middle school, I was drawing depth charts and thinking, “Will I make varsity in ninth grade?” If you’d asked me about my identity back then, I would have said I was a baseball player first and then a student. And I believed the HarvardWestlake story that I could be excellent at both.

I scoured the internet looking for baseball players who were throwing 90 mph. My coaches were gods to me. My idols were the Sam Hliboki’s, the Christian Becerra’s and the Jordan Kang’s. They were larger than life and I was deeply attached to their stories.

For a while, my obsession was generally healthy.

When I didn’t want to work out, I’d remember my goal of throwing 90 mph. I saw improvements, and my dreams and my actions created positive feedback loops. I felt like my “why” could overcome any “how.” But then I was 14 and playing with kids I was intimidated by, I became afraid that I might let down my parents or my coaches or my teammates. Baseball, after all, was everything to me. I didn’t know who I would be if I was not an outstanding baseball player. I cared too much and lost perspective. I began playing not to lose – not just the game, but my whole identity. Without the optimism and fun that fueled my dream, it felt like a threat. My confidence tanked.

I did have grit: my freshman and sophomore years on junior varsity were a tough pill for me to swallow, but I worked harder than ever. Looking back through my camera roll, the days from early 2020 until June of 2021 are all baseball photos and video clips of me throwing bullpens, hitting, lifting and analyzing biomechanics. But the tone is increasingly one of grim determination. After June 6, 2021, when I injured my back reaching for that elusive 90 mph, there is only the occasional baseball video. I lost hope and let my obsession with perfection prevent me from realizing the many opportunities still in front of me.

In the past year, baseball has played a lesser role in my life. There haven’t been many late night gym sessions or extra bullpens at the park. In fact, I’ve been thinking a lot about what a future without baseball might entail. Though it brings me pain, zooming away from baseball has helped remind me about what drew me to the game in the first place: my teammates and our sense of comradery. Base-

ball is a game that will end for me sooner or later, but the friends and the sense of closeness that I feel with my teammates will always remain. Something about enduring struggle with others forges the strongest of bonds. The demanding but incredible school baseball program certainly provides that struggle in generous doses.

I went to an elementary school reunion a few weekends ago, and an old friend who I hadn’t seen in years asked me about baseball. I smiled, as I always do, and told him it was going well, but I was "finding it hard to pursue baseball and academics at the same time." He smiled and said something nice but looked like he didn’t know what else to say. Part of me thought there was more to be said. I didn’t need to tell my story, but he had asked, and now I wanted to give a nuanced answer, not the blanket one: the passionate answer, not the generic one.

Part of me wanted to raise my hands in the air and conduct my own symphony, full of the pain and passion that I remember so well from my grandfather. But in other moments, I feel like my aunt is screaming over this symphony, or rather, making perfect eye contact in this blazing crescendo, to remind me that life is too short for more than one true passion, daring me to believe I don’t have to be excellent at everything.

I recently went to dinner at my aunt’s house.

Our conversation went back to baseball and that Dodger game we had gone to so many years ago. I told her I thought she was right about having too little time, and I asked her if she thought I should quit baseball. She told me to think deeply about my life goals and passions, and to be realistic in planning for them. Lately, my mind has been on philosophical discussions, social entrepreneurship and deep thinking about how to contribute to the communities around me in meaningful ways— playing baseball, serving the school and of course, being with my family. I’m feeling the fire of creativity and imagination—and yes, I’m dreaming again.

I don’t know what my future holds, but I know now that as dreams fade, more will emerge, and I will be all the more wise and experienced to tackle them. This is a lofty goal, but worthy of endless perseverance and determination.

In November of last year, I gave the eulogy at my grandfather’s funeral. Walking down the steps of the altar, I felt the passion that he had tried to impart to me. I had told his life story in a way that I thought would make him proud. Grandpa, I hope my story can make you proud too.

E1 Senior Supplement

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

illustrations by alexa druyanoff

E2 Senior Section

The Chronicle

From Des Moines to Studio City: sharing our journalism journeys

By Sandra Koretz and Josh Silbermann Long ago, three weeks before COVID-19 plagued the world, we embarked on a trip to the Midwest to a land known as Des Moines, Iowa.

Together, we were two naïve sophomores going to the bitter, literally and figuratively, cold of the 2020 Democratic Caucus. Our selfie with President Joe Biden was broadcast throughout the news and our pictures standing in front of Pete Buttigeg’s campaign bus were sent to our deans. We witnessed and analyzed rallies from many different candidates and even got to watch a live caucus play out. So you would think that we became “besties for the resties” after spending three days in Des

Moines. False. We did not talk to each other again until we were both assigned News Section Editors our senior year of high school.

I, Josh, joined The Chronicle far later than anyone else on staff. Most people join as sophomores, but I joined as a junior. The expectation for juniors is to layout pages, write articles and even edit by the end of the year. Meanwhile, I spent my junior year in the preliminary journalism course learning how to interview and write. But, I found myself as the news section editor as a senior. I lacked experience and knowledge, but Sandra, and many other staff members, helped get me up to speed.

The skills I learned from working on The Chronicle have helped me in various other classes, as well as in real life

May 25, 2022

situations. And even more important, as I became better acquainted with the newspaper, my colleagues became some of my closest friends, and I am forever grateful for that.

We’ll be honest, News is probably the last section of The Chronicle you read because you have for sure had enough reading about Venture events or rising COVID-19 cases at school.

News might be boring, but it is crucial to accurately report on the world around us to inform others about their communities. We took great pride in doing just that. Taken directly from Sandra’s Common Application essay, “Writing about something that is palpable and realistic allows me to share real-life experiences with my readers, enabling them to relate to the articles.”

Compiling the soundtrack for my senior year

By Ava Fattahi Instead of writing a story preaching what I learned working on this newspaper, I’ll give you the gift of my ultimate love language: music. I spent over 50,000 hours listening to music in 2021; clearly, my playlists mean a lot to me. Each of them has played an important role in various periods of my life.

Without further ado, here are some of my playlists from senior year.

First is “Listen@Layout,” a collaborative playlist made with other Chronicle staff members. Who said a little (eight hours of) Drake can’t make for a productive workspace? Next is my “Drive” playlist, which I created in mid-October. This playlist has a little bit of everything and is very representative of my senior year. There are songs

that you can scream with your friends, somber songs and very energetic hiphop tracks. I can’t count the number of car rides when this playlist has been blasting through my speakers with my friends in the passenger and back seats singing with me.

I met some of my closest friends working on The Chronicle, and this playlist has brought us together on our endless runs to Starbucks and Erewhon.

I love upbeat playlists, but there is nothing that a sad playlist can’t fix. During tough times, I listen to my playlist “Let it all out.” I made this playlist during the transition between first and second semester when work was piling up. It features some of my all-time favorite songs that evoke emotions I didn’t know music could evoke. If you have ever seen me listening to this playlist on my Spo-

tify feed, don’t worry: I’m okay.

The newest one I created is “Party Bus.“ I created this because I knew I would be given the power of AUX”on the bus ride to our senior prom.

This features some of the iconic EDM songs we have heard throughout the year at various parties, throwback hits and some rap songs that get the party started. Prom was a time when we celebrated the work we have done and the people we have become in the past four years. When I reflect on my identity throughout this time, I can’t help but think of The Chronicle. As I move onto college next year, expect to see dozens more playlists being created on my profile, encompassing all sorts of scenarios.

With that said, follow my Spotify @afattahi18. If you’re lucky, I’ll send you a song recommendation or two.

A commitment to share the truth

By Julian Andreone I wrote an article titled “Student uses racial slur on social media and serves a one-day suspension, community reflects on implications” with Print Managing Editor Will Sheehy in November. Sheehy and I put weeks of interviewing, writing, editing, discussing and fact-checking into this article.

Chronicle Advisor Jim Burns called it one of the best pieces of journalism The Chronicle has published in his time at the school as we talked in his office Nov. 18, the day after we had published the article.

I initially felt like my work had gone to waste when the Editors-in-Chief of The Chronicle, Chronicle Advisor Mr. Burns and President Rick Commons

met Nov. 18 and ultimately decided to remove this article from the newspaper’s website less than 36 hours after it was first published.

I had diligently and tirelessly sought out the truth, and once I found it, I could not tell it fully. I decided to take a break from journalism. I lost trust in our publication in the midst of a disagreement about journalistic ideology and priorities.

I turned my focus to the future. I knew I wanted to spend my next four years studying at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where I applied Early Decision. I returned to my Northwestern application and, in the process of reading it over again, remembered why I loved journalism: an undying commitment to

telling the truth.

You have a responsibility as a journalist to inform your audience. Even if they will not listen to you or cannot hear you, you must continue to fulfill your duty to the truth.

I will move forward from the school carrying on the same philosophy I have followed religiously during my time working on the staff of this newspaper.

Fittingly, it is embodied perfectly in my next destination’s mission statement.

Joseph Medill, who founded the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, said, “write boldly and tell the truth fearlessly.”

The Daily Northwestern will soon gain a battle-tested journalist who is committed to this mission. And I will uphold it relentlessly.

Our list of demands for next year’s chronicle advisor

By Sydney Fener and Sophia Musante It’s Chronicle’s biggest loss yet: In a few short months, the Class of 2022 will no longer be able to subjugate underclassmen with our demands. This is tragic for us because we really enjoyed these privileges, and it’s tragic for the underclassmen because they will no longer have the pleasure of carrying out our will. Perhaps more tragically, our beloved Communications Department Head Jim Burns is moving on to bigger and better things. While we’re sure that Billy Montgomery, who will take up this mantle, will do it with aplomb, there are some things we need to get straight before welcoming him as Burns’s successor. To exercise one last morsel of control, we would like to issue a few demands for the next Chronicle Faculty Advisor:

Firstly — and this is of great urgency — please exorcise the ghost that haunts the Sports room. This is long overdue, and it’s kind of embarrassing to ask, but it keeps knocking over Starbucks cups and smudging the whiteboard. Your first act as Chronicle Advisor should be to use holy water and get rid of it already. You may not realize it yet, but preserving the cleanliness in the Sports room is vital to layout.

We have some ideas for the improvement of the quality of staff life, including but not limited to: Just seal the deal and register the Sports section as an actual fraternity already. Release The Chronicle solely for streaming on Peacock. Punish those who play Ed Sheeran during layout via death by firing squad. Reward those who play Ke$ha during layout with free Sweetgreen.

In addition, we ask that you preserve our many longstanding Chronicle tra-

ditions. The Chronicle would not simply be the same without the perpetual scent of someone’s half-eaten, nearly rotten Erewhon sushi in the A&E room or its annual Hunger Games to determine senior editorship positions.

Upholding these traditions, of course, involves some hard work on your part.

We also ask that you feed the spider hanging from the right door frame of Weiler 108. His name is Benjamin, and he’s a friend. Most importantly, you must continue inserting nicotine into those little pink cookies from Ralphs so we all stay addicted.

But our most crucial demand is this: Keep the Chronicle a safe, welcoming environment where students are free to use their voices. With Burns leaving, you’ve got some big shoes to fill, but we know you can do it.

Much love, Sydney and Sophia

hwchronicle.com

May 25, 2022

Senior Supplement E3

The tragedy of the Commons

By Mia Feizbakhsh Of all the classes I’ve taken at Harvard-Westlake, Advanced Placement (AP) Environmental Science taught me the most about how our actions, both big and small, impact each other.

The foremost example of this was “the tragedy of the commons,” a concept that, at its core, distinguishes between actions for the benefit of the individual as opposed to the community.

In this hypothetical community, it is calculated that if each fisherman catches less than, say, 20 fish from a lake, then the fish population will not decline across generations. However, in reality, the fishermen would all initially catch 20 fish but with t h e goal of in-

creasing profits in mind, each fisherman catches another 10.

The result? A short-term profit increase followed by a long-term profit decrease. As the lake is over-fished, the fish population decreases until there are no more fish left. This is the tragedy of the commons, and it is also the tragedy of the school.

While it may seem as though prioritizing the success of individual students is a good idea, this approach has failed this school and its students and will continue to fail them. Beyond creating and encouraging a hostile and unhealthy academic environment, the school is responsible for the socio-emotional failings of its student body.

With an unspoken mantra of academic excellence at any cost, it is impossible for students to view each other as anything other than each other’s competition: Our peers are not allowed to be our equals. They can only be obstacles on the way to success.

The tragedy? Harvard-Westlake may produce some of the country’s best students, but it also produces class after class riddled with mental health issues and a fundamental inability to connect with others. Academically? I have no doubts that all or most of us will be fine in college. Socially and emotionally? I truly don’t know.

Many parents send their kids to this institution hoping that they will take advantage of every possible opportunity, from the rigorous curriculum to the robust athletic facilities.

What they don’t realize is Harvard-Westlake does not necessarily guarantee nor does it provide opportunities for these teenagers to push aside their ambitions and be part of a community. It is worth reflecting on the true lessons Harvard-Westlake has taught us, the ones that transcend the classroom walls: Who are the people that we want to be when we leave this place, and in what way will our behavior in the outside world reflect the values of this school?

The third time is the charm

By Mimi Landes My wrists were covered in colorful string bracelets, each one carefully hand-crafted; these bracelets were my first form of self-expression.

In middle school, my bracelets were my greatest comfort, before I discovered a second form of expression through Contemporary Dance Workshop class.

It was my first real experience with the arts, an escape from the stresses of academics, and it served as a sanctuary – that is, until I was forced to cut my bracelets off for class.

With the snip of the scissors, I lost a part of myself and decided to quit dance and leave the arts behind me.

For the rest of my time at the Middle School, I tried to fit the mold of the perfect Harvard-Westlake student: excel in math and science. But I

couldn’t, and I didn’t want to.

Unsuccessfully conforming to this mold was isolating, and I felt that I was doing something wrong. My lingering interest in the arts made me feel inferior to my peers.

In tenth grade, I gave the arts a second chance. Enrolling in creative writing, I hoped to find a new sanctuary, a space where I could express myself.

Instead, I received an email informing me that the creative writing course had been canceled that year due to a lack of enrollment.

Looking over the course catalogue’s numerous math and science classes offered while I could not to take the class I truly wanted to was devastating.

Without any creative outlet, I felt suffocated by the expectations I thought I was supposed to live up to.

In one last attempt to find this outlet, I gave the arts one last shot. My senior year Advanced Placement (AP) Drawing and Painting class has been the most fulfilling experience I’ve had in the six years I’ve attended this school.

As I look back, I wish more than anything that I had confidently pursued my passions rather than being bogged down by expectations set for the person I thought I needed to be.

friends crowded around trying to compare heights with a bookmark. Is Caroline taller? No, it’s just because her hair is up today and Sarah’s isn’t. Are you sure?

For all of elementary school, our classmates compared us, the two shortest girls in the grade, without fail. We were in constant competition, without any control over who won (invariably, it was Caroline, by a hair).

Back then, height was a defining characteristic, and we had lost the lottery. Being seen together meant being compared, so we went our separate ways.

Starting in middle school, we wondered whether we would surpass our slight reputations. After years of hearing that we were so small we were insignificant, it was hard to imagine a time in

which we would feel confident in our bodies. It turned out our new classmates didn’t care so much about height; still, we felt we couldn’t measure up to the standards of our peers. We carried a sense of inferiority, hoping nobody else could spot it. It took lots of (emotional) growth for us to unlearn the insecurities that plagued us when we were children. But eventually, our previous problems lost their power as our priorities changed.

Hot take: High school isn’t easy. We encountered setbacks and insecurities way larger than our heights. From losing friends and mental health struggles to fighting for classroom accommodations during COVID-19 to trying to accept ourselves in an overly competitive envi-

Coming up too short

By Caroline Jacoby and Sarah Mittleman We stood back to back, attempting perfect posture and standing slightly on our toes (high enough to add a centimeter but not enough for anyone to notice we were cheating).

Our

Sadists of The Chronicle

By Caitlin Munoz and Melody Tang Melody: I’m not one for many words, so I’ll make this quick. My time at Harvard-Westlake can be summed up in a few words: devastating, yet addicting.

I’ll start with devastating – everyone has experienced that incomparable pain in your chest when you hear the words “inclass essay.” It’s when you see your test drenched in red ink, even that time when you lost the championship game. Your heart sinks into the ground, and you feel lightheaded and a little nauseous too. This sounds horrible, I know.

In the midst of all this devastation, there’s something that keeps me coming back, and something that draws every student at this school back every morning. We’re addicted to the grind (and painfully so). Everybody is driven to pursue something that they are passionate about. Whether it takes the form of relentlessly meetings with your physics teacher or founding the Pickling Club, there’s no doubt that there’s something special in the air (hopefully not COVID-19) at 3700 Coldwater Canyon Ave., and I hope it never leaves.

Devastation lingers around every corner, up the stairs to the library, in the chemistry l a b , in the pool— and I love

ronment, these years tested our resilience. But the greatest challenge of high school was learning to appreciate ourselves and to advocate for ourselves. We are often told that our large personalities make up for what we lack in height—and for good reason.

Years after elementary school, we reunited—not through our stature but rather through The Chronicle. We clicked immediately. From bonding over Zoom layouts (aka Caroline teaching Sarah InDesign’s basic features) to fitting in pumpkin chocolate chip pancake runs during layout to our chat sessions in the green room, we stick together. With us on staff, The Chronicle’s opinion section now has the most iconic co-editor duo in existence (if we do say so ourselves). And

it. Leaving this school this fall is going to be devastating, but I know that I’m well equipped to handle it.

Caitlin: So m e t i m e s the pressure of water in my ears wakes me in the middle of the night. Cold, crystalline and terrible, it glazes my eyes and fills my lungs.

It is all-consuming and has no perceivable end, either above or around me.

I have grown all too familiar with this recurring nightmare in my past three years as a Harvard-Westlake student.

Evidently, the timeline of these dreams offers one interpretation of them as I reflect back on my high school experience.

Math grades, English papers and Chronicle edits have crashed over me in relentless waves, rarely letting me up for air in between; weightbelt practices at the height of water polo season have literally drowned me to a point that rivals my nightmares.

And yet, as I finally pull myself to shore and prepare to wake from this particular nightmare, my memories of drowning are less profound than my understanding of how this dream differs from the others.

In my Harvard-Westlake nightmare, I have learned to find perspective beyond the present situation, and to trust my ability to navigate unknown and turbulent waters. In this nightmare, I have been gifted a life raft, and the people I love who hold me afloat whenever I feel myself slipping beneath the surface. There is a perceivable end to the vast expanse of water, and I approach the sandy shore far too quickly.

our height certainly doesn’t define us; not even close. We are lucky to have rediscovered our friendship in high school. Though the colleges we are headed to (in Maine and Ohio) are not close to each other, we plan on making good use of FaceTime for the next four years.

We know we will continue to face self-doubt as we grow up, even if it no longer stems from the endless short jokes. It is a part of life. But we’re grateful for the experiences that helped us forge inner confidence—we know it will benefit us in the long run.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAROLINE JACOBY

E4 Senior Supplement

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

By Tessa Augsberger Find yourself two mediums – one for seeing and one for dreaming.

For the former, I recommend music. Throughout my time at the Upper School, people could usually identify me by the (wired) earbuds that were attached to my head at all times. What began as an unwillingness to leave my car in the morning without letting the current song end morphed into a borderline-unhealthy dependency on music. Now, I listen to music in my room before school, in the car on my way to school, on my way to my first class of the day, during lunch, between subsequent classes, on the way back to the car and in the car on the way home. If I could, I would listen to music during class and at track and field hockey practice (both of which I’ve actually

By Milla Ben-Ezra Growing up, I can’t remember ever not being an “angry person.” I was always cranky, always pissed off, always snapping at my parents, screaming at the top of my lungs, frustrated at the world I lived in. I felt at odds with everything. I felt like I was seething, like there were feelings boiling up inside of me, feelings I didn’t understand, feelings I was unable to fully express.

There is an ugly quality to anger: It drives people to do horrible, unforgivable things. It is constantly ablaze, fervently felt, and for many, uncontrollable. My issues with anger were not with its control but rather with the way anger made me feel about myself.

Being labeled as “angry” or “up-

By Kate Burry and Alexa Druyanoff “One is silver and the other’s gold.” From age three to 19, we’ve been through it all — together.

blocking out the world is and excellent way to cocoon yourself in the sounds of others’ emotional experiences, and it can make the horrors of your school day a little less intimidating knowing that others have trudged through those same exact feelings and lived to tell the tale through their music. For what is a challenge if not a challenging feeling to cope with, and what is music if not a coping mechanism?

Now onto my second piece of advice: you need to read books because you need to know the sheer amount of life in the world.

The books you read for English class will help, but if you want to assert your individuality (which you should), you’ll need to

read a few books on your own. By reading a substantial amount of books, you’ll come to know which books you do and don’t like, and you’ll ultimately get to know yourself better in the process.

Moreover, reading introduces you to completely new worlds with different prevailing ideas about how to make an individual life meaningful, leading to endless imaginings of how you can

fit into the world around you on your own terms. In other words, reading should be aspirational. For example, I’ve learned far more about carrying myself with confidence from fictional female heroines while reading than I have in any Community Flex Time.

Books and music are art forms, but the specific songs and books you gravitate toward are what truly make you who you are. If you follow my advice, you’ll have a stronger sense of self, so live your life to the fullest with earbuds in and books in tow.

set,” “dramatic” or “crazy” made me feel as though I had feelings that were somehow wrong — somehow incorrect. We categorize feelings, labeling them as “good” or “bad.” I, therefore, marginalized these so-called bad feelings — anger, sadness, resentment, frustration, confusion — and whenever I felt them, I blamed myself for simply not “getting over it.”

Then when I was 10 years old, I went to a Gwen Stefani concert. Struck by Stefani’s undeniable vulnerability, I couldn’t help but hear the regret she sang out to me, the anger, the frustration at society. I went home, and I played No Doubt for the first time. I listened to “Tragic Kingdom” on repeat, and songs from this

album became my anthems as I rode the bus to the middle school each morning. I quickly found comfort in this music genre, falling deep into artists like Alanis

Morissette, Natalie Imbruglia, Fiona Apple, Sinéad O’Conner, Veruca Salt and Sheryl Crow.

In this “angry girl music,” I found songs that expressed emotions unapologetically, even the ugly ones, in a way so true, so direct and so articulate that they turned internal emotional chaos into an external euphony of words for the world to hear. Most crucially, I began to revere these artists. In doing so, I found solace in the fact that I was not alone in feeling “bad” feelings and that the women who felt them were incredible.

“Angry girl music” became my consolation as college decisions rolled in, fears about leaving home kicked in and all the “bad” feelings that come with

being a teenager twisted and turned inside of me. As I drove to school each morning of my senior year, “Jagged Little Pill” by Alanis Morissette blared from my car, reminding me that “Everything’s gonna be fine, fine, fine.”

I finally reconciled with the fact that anger is inevitable, and more importantly, that it can carve out the way for a raw type of truth that is difficult to find when everything is solely “good.”

Although anger is something that should be worked through, I’ve come to see that in order to accept myself, I have to embrace even the ugly feelings; I have to learn to live in a world that’s less binary than “good” and “bad”; I have to be vulnerable; and most importantly, I have to just let myself feel.

When we think back on elementary school, we can’t imagine a week we didn’t spend together, regardless of whether or not our activities were parent sanctioned: running through five tennis coaches in four years, never missing a Wednesday acapella practice, competing for the main role in “Into the Woods” and “Grease” or concocting many a masterpiece at Wizard of Art. Graduating the Center for Early Education and entering the school as seventh graders, we had no idea the ways in which our interests and personalities would shift.

Although Kate started acrylic painting before she did, Alexa became an artistic whiz (and Kate quickly grew out of her fleeting childhood talent). Continuing to

develop her skills, Alexa has completed pieces for publications, summer programs and AP art courses. The school helped Alexa discover her love for illustration in the communication of stories, using art to transform the reception of a story.

Kate, on the other hand, continued playing tennis, competing on the Varsity team all four years of high school. She decided to participate in HW Venture and Model UN, discovering a natural drive for business and delegation, always seeing both sides to every argument: someone you chose to listen to and follow rather than being directed to.

In the end, though, we’re not so different. Neither of us continued with theater or choir. We’re both sort of blonde-ish again

(Kate had a painful goth phase).

We both love to ski, have the same sense of humor and can laugh until our lungs hurt. Somehow our paths led us both to Weiler Hall, becoming part of the same Chronicle “family.” As we spent Saturdays on campus from 9am to 9pm, stressing to lay out pages in time, journalism has united us once again.

And now we’re off to college on coasts 3,000 miles apart, where the two of us will attend different schools for the first time. Although we’ll both grow exponentially in the next four years, we know we’ll remain the best of friends.

We’ll undoubtedly make new friends but will always keep the old. We both wear gold jewelry over silver, anyways.

curriculars and from the eclectic range of music represented to the eccentric Radiohead-themed website, I found KHWS inviting, colorful and soulful.

Once I arrived at the Upper School, I decided to join KHWS to host an hour-long show with a close friend of mine each Sunday.

Before our shows, I would come to her house, and we would create a playlist combining each of our music tastes, a process that prompted me to actually evaluate and expand on what I listened to.

I began listening to classic albums like Post by Bjork and becoming up-to-date on releases like Fetch the Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple.

Quarantine gave me an exponentially greater amount of time to listen to music. I began listening to music even more religiously, quickly making my way through albums from various genres and decades and using the Related Artists feature on Spotify to discover new music and expand my taste.

By senior year, I found myself

done). In fact, regardless of how much I like you, I probably won’t take out my earbuds to talk to you. It’s not laziness, and it’s not that I don’t care about you — it’s just that I don’t want to interrupt the mood of the song –– by which I mean I need to exert my autonomy. I know that sounds pretentious, but hear me out.

Listening to music through earbuds provides a uniquely individual experience that can be incredibly comforting. Feeling melancholy? Turn on The National or Beach House. Soulful?

Kaleo. Wistful? The Shins. Excited about life? The Rolling Stones.

Angsty? Kasabian or Sundara Karma. Putting in your headphones, choosing a playlist and

By Alec Rosenthal I first tuned into KHWS to avoid my Algebra II Honors homework.

It was a late Thursday night during midterm week in 2017, and my friend’s older sister was broadcasting, explaining how unprepared she was for her impending math exam in between Elliott Smith and Girlpool songs.

It was my first real look into upper school extra-

more firmly settled in my music taste, and I took a leadership position on KHWS, wanting to help lead and show my appreciation for the program that gave me a fervent and continually growing love for music. As a leader, I have been happy to represent a community of students who enjoy music and want to share it with their peers. As I go to college, I want to continue participating in student radio, looking forward to the albums I have yet to listen to and songs I have yet to share.

May 25, 2022

By Amelia Scharff and Quincey Dern For twelve years we have entered each first day of school together. It’s scary to think that in just three months, our first days will no longer consist of splitting a PB&J at our own lunch table.

We transitioned from the comfort of our elementary school (shoutout to Curtis) to the intimidating “newness” of middle school together, always feeling like we

By Will Sheehy Not many students come and leave Harvard-Westlake twice.

After attending the school from seventh to ninth grade, I left for a boarding school on the east coast. Expecting to complete high school there, I only stayed in touch with a few close friends back at Harvard-Westlake. As a result, when I re-enrolled at Harvard-Westlake after the onset of the pandemic and my dad’s being hired as a history teacher, I was nervous about reconnecting with my peers.

While I faced stressors along

By Katharine Steers and Keira Jameson ​​Freshman year: Freshman year is about meeting new people and getting the high school experience on a middle school campus. We’ll be honest: it can be hard to feel like a high schooler when you’re stuck with the younger grades, but use it to your advantage.

The campus is huge and its amenities are arguably nicer than those on the upper school

By Maxine Zuriff At the beginning of my time at the school, I thought I would never be a part of something. I never joined a club, I was just another dancer in the dance course, and I didn’t stick out as the loudest or smartest kid in the class.

My mom, of course, thought The Chronicle was the best elective I could take at the Upper School.

As a 10th grader, I walked onto campus for the first time, joining my classmates on the steps of Weiler. I made my way into the sports room. I found my fit perfectly, and I knew that this was the place I was meant to be.

Throughout my three years on

hwchronicle.com

Senior Supplement E5

were joined at the hip. As we navigated petty teenage dramas and the stressors of an unfamiliar environment, we had the comfort and stability of having each other.

In Physical Education (P.E.), we were a package deal and argued with any coach that dared to separate us. It became such a problem that our classmate complained to her dean (you can laugh — it’s funny). Throughout middle school, we cowrote every single article

(throwback to our advice column for Spectrum). With time, however, our closeness held each other back.

Though we grew as people, learning from our friendship and from each other – how to stand up for ourselves, embrace who we are and become more welcoming – we needed the space and time to develop into our own people. Breaking apart from each other was ultimately a necessary evil. At the Upper School, our schedules were entirely separate: During the day, Amelia stayed in the library and after school, she had basketball practice. Quincey

hung out on the Quad, spent her time working for Prefect Council and then went to field hockey practice.

Though it was difficult to assimilate into different social spheres and brave high school without our respective best friend by our side, we learned that it is alright to do things alone.

Now as college rapidly approaches, we know our first day of school apart will be very difficult. Truthfully, it is overwhelming to acknowledge this

the way, the transition back to Harvard-Westlake was more relaxed than I expected. Extended virtual learning made the transition more gradual, and memorable basketball games at Barrington Recreation Center coupled with video games and California Pizza Kitchen dinners helped me readapt to many of the friends I had remained in looser contact with. Upon our return to in-person school last May, I became attuned to other sections of the Upper School through track and field practices, regular classes and groups like the fabled Space Exploration and App Develop-

ment clubs.

The transition also provided unforeseen opportunities. I benefited from spending more time with my family, and I saw the school with fresh eyes and reassessed what I wanted to get out of it. In partnership with my peers, I helped birth the prestigious NBA Club, and my co-editorsin-chief and I produced Volume XIV of Big Red. I also accepted the conclusion of my lengthy and illustrious basketball career, transitioning to an analyst role on Twitter and embracing the cross country and track and field pathway instead. And, of course, The

Chronicle has been an integral component of my second chapter at the school; I had the pleasure of joining a dynamic news section as a junior and have since been honored to work alongside friends in producing a first-rate high school publication.

While I sometimes imagine the alternative high school route I could have taken had I remained back east, my second stint at Harvard-Westlake prompted me to partake in new activities, strengthen new friendships and meaningfully participate in clubs and organizations at the school.

campus. Though the campus won’t be a big change, the social environment will be a seismic shift. As the new ninth graders integrate into the grade, push yourself to meet new people.

Friend groups and social circles can change, so keep an open mind, enjoy the different people on campus and be willing to break out of your comfort zone.

S o p h o m o re year: Change of place and change of

pace. It’s impossible to feel like you belong right away since everything feels so different and chaotic. You may feel like you are a small fish in a huge sea, which is all part of the experience. The seniors and even the juniors can feel insanely intimidating, but sticking with your friends – they will ground you and give you a sense of place and purpose. You’ll learn that change is natural and a positive thing, even if it doesn’t necessarily feel like it.

Junior year: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Junior year is difficult and tests your limits. It feels like so many things are on the

line. With college applications approaching and the emphasis placed on Junior year grades, the pressures to get ahead on your college work, stay afloat in your classes and maintain relationships make junior year infamously trying. While it’s true that you can handle it, that doesn’t mean you have to struggle on your own: free to reach out to your friends and family if you need support.

Senior year: Complete your college applications over the summer. Then, have the time of your life. If you get your work done, you’ll be much better off.

The first semester can feel just

as hard as or worse than junior year, but once you get through it, you’ll have the most fun you’ve had in high school. Once you get over that applications hump, it’s all smooth sailing.

By Justin Goldstein

prestigious positions, it’s true, but even though I have received all the fame and glory in the world, I will not remember these moments. What I will remember, however, are the small meaningful interactions that make this paper great. Going to Western Bagel to get a grossly overpriced onion cheese bagel with cream cheese and egg with my friends, playing amazing tunes in my true position as resident Chronicle DJ in Weiler 104, or playing basketball in

class from the hoop hanging off all the extremely expensive (not for high schoolers use) camera equipment. What makes this paper actually great is not the accolades it receives but all the people and moments that come together to build a product I will never forget.

The Chronicle, my fellow Assistant Sports Editors and I adopted two fish, got yelled at frequently for playing the music too loud, and made almost every deadline, though it might not have looked like it. Now as my time on The Chronicle is coming to an end, I realized that I have become a part of something, an activity where I am not just another face in the crowd, but where I can shine and be myself.

When I think back on my time at The Chronicle, I will not remember the articles or the pages that I laid out (and to be honest there were not a lot of them), nor will I remember our finished papers, no matter how beautiful they turned out to be. I will not remember my time as a prominent Business Manager going to solicit advertisements with Presentation Managing Editor Kate Burry, or my time as a Sports Section Editor. I have held all these

impending reality. We will be doing everything alone with hundreds of miles between us. Despite the challenge ahead, we know that we will eventually adapt and thrive in our new lives.

The lessons and values we learned from each other — confidence, drive, honesty and love — will prevail. We will be with each other always , in our characters , morals and the people we have each become as a direct result of knowing one another.

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CAITLIN MUÑOZ AND CAROLINE JACOBY

The Chronicle

E6 Senior Supplement

Seniors in the graduating Class of 2022 share their matriculation details and plans for a collegiate academic career in the annual list.

Isabelle Ahn Tulane Univerity

Aiden Cho Cornell University

Alexa Druyanoff Yale University

Jane Hamilton Cornell University

Faith Kim Barnard College

Harrison Altschul Boston College

Mark Cho The University of Texas at Austin

Kara Duke Fordham University

John Hartmeier Southern Methodist University

Madison Kim University of Chicago

Julian Andreone Northwestern University

Andrew Choe Harvard University

Eloise Dupee Emory University

Katherine Hassett School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Jamie Kim-Worthington University of California, Berkeley

Zachary Ansell Case Western Reserve University

Kaelyn Choi Bard College

Zen-Mara Duruisseau University of Southern California

Sophia Haynes Amherst College

Avery Konwiser University of St Andrews

Eghosasere Asemota Tulane University

Kayla Choi University of California, Berkeley

William Ehrlich Kenyon College

Louis Hess University of Michigan

Sandra Koretz George Washington University

Collin Assil New York University

Andrew Citron Georgetown University

Estee Eidinger Washington University in St. Louis

Sonny Heyes The University of Chicago

Amanda Korris New York University

Jordan Assil University of California, Santa Barbara

Alexis Clancy Barnard College

Laurel Elliott University of Colorado Boulder

Kennedy Hill Northwestern University

Grace Kosten McGill University

Julia Coffey University of California, Los Angeles

Therese Enriquez Fordham University

Shanti Hinkin Wesleyan University

Li Yam Kreiz University of Pennsylvania

John Coleman Dartmouth College

Jaydon Faal Case Western Reserve University

Anthony Holly Bowdoin College

Donggun Kwak Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Porter Comstock Colgate University

Ava Fattahi Kenyon College

Alvin Holmes Cornell University

Rafael Lambert New York University

Christopher Connolly University of Pennsylvania

Mia Feizbakhsh Barnard College

Hailey Hubbard Princeton University

Mimi Landes Wesleyan University

Keira Cook Pace University

Olivia Feldman Wesleyan University

Isabelle Hyman New York University

Chase Landis Pepperdine University

Prentiss Corbin University of Michigan

Sydney Fener Northwestern University

Benjamin Jacoby American University

Michael Lapin University of Michigan

Lola Cortez Wesleyan University

Magnus Ferrell University of Southern California

Caroline Jacoby Colby College

Andrea Leal The New School

William Cramer University of Southern California

Willa Fogelson Harvard University

Keira Jameson University of Southern California

Christopher Lee Berklee College of Music

Emilio Cue Vanderbilt University

Katherine Gallagher Eckerd College

Josephine Jennings Gap Year

Justin Lee Loyola University Maryland

Alanah Dakar University of Michigan

Jacob Galloway Texas Tech University

Ethan Joei University of California, Santa Cruz

Marissa Lee Northeastern University

Matteo Dall’Olmo Washington University in St. Louis

Alexa Ganocy Stanford University

William Johnson The University of Chicago

Ronald Dalmacio University of Southern California

Sophia Ganocy Stanford University

Daniel Ju George Washington University

Sadye Lackman University of California, Santa Barbara

Gregory Damelin Georgetown University

Ty Gatins Vassar College

Aden Juda New York University

Zane Danton University of California, Berkeley

Gabriel Glassman Northeastern University

Josephine Jun The University of Chicago

Ollin Deantonio Cornell University

Micah Gold Yale University

Paisley Kandler Northwestern University

Deven Dees The University of Texas at Austin

Justin Goldstein Not Yet Declared

Anabelle Kang University of California, Berkeley

Marine Degryse Boston College

Oliver Green Columbia University

Jordan Kang Harvard University

Quincey Dern Vassar College

Cate Greenman Stanford University

Martin Kaplan Northwestern University

Ely Dickson Colorado College

Hunter Griswold University of Michigan

Mikayla Karathanasis The University of Chicago

Katharine Doble Brown University

Joanna Grody California State University, Fullerton

Gillian Keipp-Stroud The New School

Tyler Donovan Connecticut College

Jake Grossman The College of William & Mary

Santiago Kelly Harvard University

Charles Doris University of California, Berkeley

Ameerah Grover Santa Monica College

Milo Kiddugavu Tufts University

Tessa Augsberger Dartmouth College Ariana Azarbal Brown University Chad Bacon Southern Methodist University Lena Bagley New York University Justin Baiden University of Redlands Solomon Baik Cornell University Thomas Baker Parsons School of Design William Baker The University of Chicago Violet Barron Harvard University Milla Ben-Ezra Swarthmore College Zachary Berg Vanderbilt University Ridley Berger Sacks Gap Year Shoshana Bernstein Dartmouth College Henry Burdorf Colgate University Katherine Burry Stanford University Toussaint Bythewood University of California, Los Angeles Miles Cardillo Tufts University Avi Carson The University of Texas at Austin Diego Castellanos Colgate University Elise Chen Columbia University Ayden Chi University of California, Berkeley Aaron Cho University of Michigan

Jack Lesinski Southern Methodist University Eve Levy University of Southern California Landon Lewis Brown University Chenyue Li University of California, Los Angeles Lynn Li The University of Chicago Sofia Li The University of Chicago Lana Lim University of California, Santa Cruz Kathryn Lin Northeastern University Sophia Lindus Wesleyan University Gemma Lippman The University of Chicago Paris Little University of Southern California

May

25, 2022

Senior Supplement E7

hwchronicle.com Chelsea Liu Boston University

Rachel Mugemancuro Duke Kunshan University

Liam Razmjoo New York University

Peter Shen The University of Pennsylvania

Adrienne Usher Brown University

Matthew Liu Wesleyan University

Caitlin Munoz Scripps College

Ryan Razmjoo New York University

Preston Shin Case Western Reserve University

Emma Valle University of Pennsylvania

Sofia Llevat Villanova University

Sophia Musante Washington University in St. Louis

Caroline Rediger Southern Methodist University

Helen Sidon University of Michigan

Jack Vein Washington University in St. Louis

Jiaxuan Lu Brandeis University

Jonathan Nehorai University of Southern California

Andrew Reiter University of Pennsylvania

Joshua Silbermann The University of Texas at Austin

Carina Villalona The University of Chicago

Colin Luse Denison University

Tosa Odiase Case Western Reserve University

Julian Rivera Yale University

Sarina Smolev Columbia University

Benjamin Volokh Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Grace Ma University of California, Berkeley

Fiene Oerlemans Harvard University

Bronwen Roosa Bates College

Siji Smolev Yale University

Liana Wadhwani Columbia University

Rhea Madhogarhia The University of Chicago

Arlea Ogden New York University

Ethan Rose University of Michigan

Olivia Sparks Vassar College

Savannah Walske Bates College

Rohan Madhogarhia The University of Chicago

Megan Outcalt Boston College

Alec Rosenthal Tufts University

Jade Stanford Harvard University

Alexander Wang University of Michigan

Ayva Magna Pomona College

Maria Oxyzolou Brandeis University

Frances Ross Georgetown University

Katharine Steers University of California, Los Angeles

Daryn Wang Purdue University

Harry Malins Vassar College

Leila Pagel Georgetown University

Julianna Ross University of Michigan

Matthew Steiglitz Cornell University

Ella Watkins Amherst College

Daniel Maresca George Washington University

Tommy Park Yale University

Lily Saada Cornell University

Gisele Stigi Gap Year

Benjamin Webber University of Notre Dame

Jaime Marley University of Rochester

Thomas Pease American University

Vita Saffari Colgate University

Ilias Stothart Brown University

Casey Weisman Northwestern University

Jasmine Marron Tufts University

Matteo Perez The University of Chicago

Eva Salas The University of Chicago

Sawyer Strasberg Brown University

Isabella Welsh University of Pennsylvania

Maya Mathur University of Pennsylvania

Sloan Peterson Duke University

Jason Salmeron University of Redlands

Alexander Su Carnegie Mellon University

Katherine Weng Northeastern University

Walker McGinley Bates College

Cionnie Pineda Barnard College

William Samuels Indiana University

Yingting Sun University of Pennsylvania

Alexandra White University of Wisconsin, Madison

Julian Medina Pitzer College

Virginia Pinkey Yale University

Milan Sastry Princeton University

Isvarya Sylbert Boston College

Sarah Whiteman University of St Andrews

Cecilia Mesa Georgetown University

Samuel Pokress Boston University

Amelia Scharff University of Pennsylvania

Kimberly Tan Washington University in St. Louis

Camryn Williams Smith College

Matthew Messaye Yale University

Braden Poon Phillips Academy

Aiden Schiller Columbia University

Rachel Tan-Goldhammer George Washington University

Ashtyn Wright University of Pennsylvania

Lauryn Milburn The University of Richmond

Cory Porter University of Pennsylvania

Derek Schneider Northeastern University

Melody Tang The University of Chicago

Hannah Yanover Columbia University

Sarah Mittleman Kenyon College

Natalie Prezhdo Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Joseph Schoenberg The Culinary Institute of America

Talia Tepper Tufts University

Aidan Yap University of California, Berkeley

Michael Miyajima University of California, Santa Cruz

Niko Price Kenyon College

Graydon Schulze-Kalt The University of Chicago

Avery Thau University of California, Davis

Gabriel Yaron University of Southern California

Alexander Mogollon Syracuse University

Stephen Purdum Georgetown University

Michael Schwartz University of Michigan

Jason Thompson Stanford University

Siyi Yuan The University of Chicago

Charles Molzen Grinnell College

Daniela Quintero Columbia University

Andrew Seol Cornell University

Cameron Thrower University of Pennsylvania

Joie Zhang Princeton University

William Moon New York University

Sophie Ramirez New York University

Alexander Shane Johns Hopkins University

Everett Tolbert-Schwartz Yale University

Jade Zoller The University of Texas at Austin

Jason Morganbesser Carleton College

Micha Rand Stanford University

Mateen Sharifi The University of Chicago

Ava Tran University of Southern California

Ryan Zoller The University of Texas at Austin

Madeline Morrison Carnegie Mellon University

Evan Rappaport Georgetown University

Will Sheehy Swarthmore College

Josephine Tsai Princeton University

Maxine Zuriff Boston College

*Numbers based on The Chronicle poll

ILLUSTRATIONS BY ALEXA DRUYANOFF

E12 Senior Supplement

The Chronicle

May 25, 2022

The Chronicle Staff wants to express our deep gratitude for Jim Burns’s contributions to this paper and to our lives. Mr. Burns’s lessons in integrity and responsibility have inspired us to be better journalists and people. From teaching us the inverse pyramid to playing us “Shattered Glass,” for amplifying our voices and always standing by us, his advocacy strengthened our stories and, in turn, we learned from him how to advocate for ourselves. As we all move on to reach for the stars, we seniors hope his retirement is relaxing and rewarding. One small step for Burns, one giant leap for journalistkind!

Illustrations By Sydney Fener