Salmagundy Fall 2022

Layout by: Jianing (Jennifer) Lin ’24

SALMAGUNDY The Official Student Newpaper of Miss Porter’s School Fall 2022

This is Salmagundy

Salmagundy: noun. 1) an eclectic mix of seasoned meat and stewed vegetables 2) Miss Porter’s School Newspaper

By Katherine Li ’23 Editor-in-Chief To be honest, I have never dreamt that a student-run printed newspaper could rouse so much excitement on campus, especially in the digital age.

Yet this is exactly what happened—since our comeback from a COVID hiatus last year, I am continuously amazed by the enthusiasm of the student body and the commitment of Salma staff to this paper. As Editors-in-Chief this year, Jennifer Lin ’24 and I cannot wait to find out what magnificent magic we would create. Without further ado, I am proud to present to the MPS community the editors of Salmagundy for the 22-23 school year.

since third grade playing field hockey. Cargan also has two differently shaped thumbs, one clubbed and the other not. Is this the reason why they can wield a pen just as powerfully as that field hockey stick of theirs?

After four years of practice, Katherine Li ’23 claims that she toasts the most amazing bagels in the entire school. This bagel connoisseur will always be moving both of her ears to catch even the slightest dissension, challenging skeptics to a showdown in the dining hall.

Another enthusiast of water sports, Inside the Bubble News Editor Olivia Montminy ’23 is adept at sailing. Don’t worry if her boat flips over and Montminy ends up overboard—our editor had swam with whale sharks, not once but twice, and lived to tell the tale.

Second year on the job, Opinions Editor Jaimie Ng ’24 holds the controversial belief that mango sorbet is better than ice cream. Despite her passion for wakeboarding, ice cream lovers would argue that Ng is definitely not awake on the matter of determining the best summer treat!

Running the paper with Li, Jennifer Jianing Lin ’24 is truly the “Queen of the Court.” Her Majesty is not only brilliant at volleyball dive saves and tennis smashes, but also settling the perpetual debate between Coca-Cola and Pepsi: “Neither,” she declares, “ginger ale is the way to go.”

Believe it or not, Outside the Bubble News Editor Leeah Han ’24 states that her favorite way of consuming vegetables is eating carrot cake. Luckily, Han’s co-editor, Katherine Rosenorn ’24, loves to bake. Perhaps one day she could bake her co-editor’s carrot cake? Knowing that Rosenorn had completed 30 architecture Lego sets, I only have one piece of advice Having no food allergies, Inside the Bubble Arts and Travel Editor Bessie for her: Just be careful to not mix a Lego brick into the cake batter, RoseXu ’24 is invincible in terms of nutrition sources. Although being unlim- norn, as it might break your co-editor’s fake porcelain front tooth. ited in food choices, our editor staunchly consumes milk with every meal and has a peculiar preference for soggy, instead of crunchy, cereal.

In her own words, Sports Editor Mary Zheng ’25 can “sit for eight hours straight without moving [her bottom.]” Before questioning how she acInside the Bubble News Editor Lucy Newmyer ’23 listens to ballet pop quired this trait, we should perhaps be more concerned about how Zheng music from Tessa’s dance class when she studies. Our editor genuinely lost three AirPods during her first year at Porter’s. embodies the Renaissance spirit: not only has she participated in seven different afternoon activities, but also covered events for a local newspaper Overqualified for the job, Outside the Bubble Arts and Travel Editor Sadie this summer in a town of only 1,000!

Abramson ’23 knows almost every Disney channel original movie song by heart. But secretly, she has a long list of fears, including but not limited to Opinions Editor Elizabeth Cargan ’23 has broken their right foot five times rats, bananas, birds, tsunamis… the exposé shall end here.

NEWS SALMAGUNDY

INSIDE THE BUBBLE

ASA and ConstellAsians: Fall in Review

By Su Li ’23, Aizah Ali ’24, and Jianing (Jennifer) Lin ’24 Heads of the Asian Students Alliance/Affinity On September 10th, ASA and ConstellAsians hosted a Mid-Autumn festival moon gazing event. The community was invited to snack on mooncakes and other traditional treats before walking to the Hill-Stead to admire the moon. Stories about the origin of the Mid-Autumn festival were told, One of which being the tale of Chang-e, who drank an elixir of immortality and floated to the moon. The Mid-Autumn festival was then created to commemorate Chang-e, observe the moon, and celebrate the season’s harvest.

the community came together to support Pakistan, whether it be through buying delicious baked goods or donating. In the end, the affinity and alliance surpassed their original goal and donated over $600 to the cause. This event exemplifies how considerate and concerned Porter’s community is about issues around the world, as well as how welcoming and interested everyone is in different cultures.

On Tuesday, October 25th, ASA and ConstellAsians held the first Diwali sit-down in three years. Diwali, also known as the festival of lights, is the celebration of light over darkness and of good over evil. The Heads of ASA and ConstellAsians decorated the dining hall with fairy lights, tea candles, and other colorful ornaments. Students were asked to wear semi-formal colorful clothing as part of sticking with Diwali traditions. As the lights dimmed, the student heads of ASA and ConstellAsians stood in front of the community and gave a presentation of what Diwali is and how it is celebrated. Many students and faculty enjoyed the vegetarian Indian cuisine served and claimed that it was one of the best sit-down dinners ever.

On October 27th, ConstellAsians and ASA hosted a bake sale to raise money for the severe flood in Pakistan, which started in mid-June. As a result, one-third of Pakistan needs to be rebuilt and over 33 million people have been affected in many dangerous ways. Pakistan’s minister for climate change stated that this flooding is “the worst humanitarian disaster of this decade” and it is a prominent example of the effects climate change has on the earth and human beings. In Main Parlors, traditional Pakistani foods were sold, such as potato samosas, jalebi, and zarda. All members of

Heads of ASA and ConstellAsians from left to right: Su Li ‘23, Leeah Han ‘24, Jianing Lin ‘24, Shreya Sudarshan‘24, Aizah Ali ‘24

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NEWS

Fall 2022

SALMAGUNDY

2022-23 New Faculty Profile

By Leah Glaspey ’24 Staff Writer

With a new academic year comes new faculty! For the 22-23 school year, In the Humanities, Penn Fellow Ariana Baez hopped on board. Before Porter’s has welcomed seven new faculty members to campus. Each new Penn, she attended Wesleyan University, where she studied social studies member comes with a fantastic set of unique interests and skill sets. and education. In addition to this work, she also earned a certificate in Social, Cultural, and Critical Theory. During her time at Wesleyan, Baez To start, Julie Zurolo joined Porter’s science department. Prior to coming wore many hats, serving as a senior interviewer for the admissions office to Porter’s, Mrs. Zurolo taught science and coached swimming at the Kent and a representative to the board of trustees.

School and the Peddie School. With an educational background in psychology and medicine, Zurolo has taught various science concepts such as Finally, Eileen Flynn DeLaO joined the English department. A part of Porchemistry, biology, and environmental science. ter’s class of 1993, she studied creative writing and philosophy at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts. After finishing there, she went on to be Additionally, the science department has also gained Rafia Ali., who start- a successful journalist for papers such as the Austin American-Statesman, ed her teaching career in Pakistan after earning a Master’s in Physics from and later taught journalism at the university level. Her expertise will most UC Berkeley. During this time, Ali earned a doctorate in theoretical nu- definitely make for meaningful classroom experiences on our campus. clear physics. In 2015 she relocated to Cuba, and in 2019 to El Salvador, where she continued teaching high school science.

Porter’s is lucky to welcome such a remarkable group of educators to the faculty family this school year. Whether it’s their twentieth or first year of Sarah Archer is joining the language department this year. She received teaching, the community is excited to have “Porter’s” be at least a line in a B.A. in French from Presbyterian College, where she traveled to both each of their biographies.

France and China for study abroad programs. After finishing her education at Presbyterian College, Archer became a freelance translator before teaching French and Spanish at the Frederick Gunn School. Outside of teaching, Archer also finds a passion for music.

Ryan Bliss is one of the two new faculty joining the TIE department. As a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Bliss holds a long list of degrees: he has a B.S. in mechanical engineering, a Master’s in Education, and a Master’s in engineering, science, and technology entrepreneurship.

Bliss’ professional experiences include teaching math and coaching soccer, as well as working on entrepreneurial technology projects.

The second and final TIE addition is Penn Fellow Lee Beckwith. Before starting the Master’s in Education program at the University of Pennsylvania, they attended Scripps College and earned Bachelor’s degrees in environmental analysis and computer science. They are fundamentally a problem-solver, focusing on using computation research as a means of solving global issues.

Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School Communications

Goals for the 22-23 School Year: An Interview with Dr. Windsor

By Ava Cargan ’23 Opinions Editor

Dr. Windsor began our interview by asking a question that challenges the word that we’ve been hearing over and over again since the beginning of the pandemic: What is normal? Entering the new school year, Dr. Windsor wishes to avoid using the word normal; she doesn’t like the connotation of the word, as it’s demeaning and expresses disapproval.

Despite that we are entering a school year where the threat of COVID has been lowered, Dr. Windsor envisions a joyful, exciting year where student health and safety is still at the top of the list of priorities. A lot of weight has been put on improving the community in the past years, such as renovating campus buildings, cultivating a sense of belonging, and reforming the curriculum. Among other issues, Dr. Windsor wants to further address

equity and inclusion from a place of joy and celebration. She wants to make sure that in this upcoming school year, we are balancing growth and joy with the work that still needs to be done.

Firstly, Dr. Windsor wants students to get through the school year. This is especially true for the seniors, as crossing the finish line together serves as a closure to their Porter’s experience. Dr. Windsor recognizes that this will look different for everyone, and acknowledges that as long as we are human beings, we are imperfect. Therefore, she hopes to lead us through the good, the bad, and the ugly times while also sharing laughs, surprises, and even the cringes with students.

Secondly, Dr. Windsor would like to keep working on resources for mental health, equity, and belonging in our community, infusing as much joy as possible into the work. There’s still so much work that need to be done, she reminds us, even when the students can’t see it. For example, Dr. Windsor mentions that surveys were sent out to Ancients before they came to campus to collect information about their identity; through these surveys the Reunion Weekend planners were able to create spaces on campus such as a Friends of Bill (AA) resource on campus to support recovering Ancients while there was alcohol at events. Currently, Miss Porter’s School is working on a Land Acknowledgement Statement that will be released to the community soon.

Dr. Windsor hopes that with so many new people joining our community for this upcoming school year, they are all ready to jump in and make a difference. She wants all of the new students to take advantage of our structures on campus and take part in the joyous year that she wants for all of us.

Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s Communications

NEWS

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The Office of Admissions’ Vision for 2022-2023

By Jaimie Ng ’24 Opinions Editor

The Admissions Office is planning on some big moves for the 22-23 school year. Not only are they hoping to host larger-scale admissions events on campus, but also resume admission trips around the world, which have not happened since 2019 due to COVID-19. Though these past couple of years have been restricting for the Admissions Office, the 2022-23 school year will allow for a return to normalcy.

understand more about life at Porter’s. However, the most exciting event of the year will be a big Revisit Day, held in the Spring to allow prospective students to get to know Porter’s even more!

The Office of Admissions is also hoping to figure out how they can better engage prospective students throughout the admissions process with new and innovative events, such as book club meetings in smaller regions.

This year, the admissions officers will be traveling to many countries, such They are also hoping to involve more students in events as tour guides, as Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Saudi Arabia, panelists, and to greet prospective students, especially during the aforeVietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong S.A.R., and Mexico. In these mentioned Revisit Day. countries, Porter’s will participate in numerous admissions fairs and talk to prospective families, admissions consultants, and company executives However, many prospective students are still not able to travel to Porter’s to expand their network of boarding schools. due to travel restrictions, financial reasons, and more. As a result, the admissions office will still offer virtual visits and tours. Led by Kat Simison, In addition to international events, the admissions office will also be ex- the Director of International Recruitment, these often happen in the mornpanding events that happen within the U.S., and even on campus! This fall, ing from 7-10 am to accommodate differences in time zones. Porter’s will they have been hosting large open houses with approximately 70 families, also continue offering three slots a day for prospective students to tour and mini-receptions with a tour, faculty panel, and interview. For prospec- and interview, and mini-receptions for families who are not comfortable tive international families, virtual open houses will be held in order to attending large-scale events. Additionally, Simison claimed that although make events accessible to those who aren’t able to travel but are still inter- quarantine mandates remain active in countries such as China, there is ested in learning more about Porter’s. In February and March, there will hope to travel to northeast Asia in the Spring. be Porter’s challenges for prospective students every month with prizes for the winners in order to keep them engaged and enthusiastic. Porter’s will After a hiatus due to COVID-19, Porter’s is finally able to resume largealso host Porter’s Leads events for middle school students, such as a hack- scale events on campus and international travel, connecting with more and athon, a Global Seminar Series hosted by the Porter’s Center for Global more prospective students!

Leadership, and smaller receptions in different areas to help these students

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE How Did BeReal Become so Popular?

By Charlotte Kronholm ’26 Staff Writer

BeReal is a social media app that recently has been seeing a rise in popularity. Developed by the French entrepreneurs Alexis Barreyat and Kevin Perreau in 2020, BeReal allows users to show their friends who they really are. Here’s how the app works: at a random point within the day, the app notifies its users that they have two minutes to post two pictures of themselves at that moment. As the user poses, the camera captures two views, one taken from the front camera and another from the back, that can be posted to show the complete perspective of the user in that very moment!

How Horseshoe Crab Blood is used in Vaccines

By Claire Kaplan ’23 Guest Writer

Is it ethical to decimate a species in order to save thousands of human lives? This is the question that biomedical scientists have been wrestling with ever since the benefits of horseshoe crab blood in vaccine production were brought to light earlier this year.

According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, American Horseshoe Crabs have remained virtually unchanged for the past 445 million years. They remain a vital part of our oceans’ ecosystem; their eggs are an important food source for birds and fish, while they themThis uniquely simple app has quickly become extremely popular. Accord- selves feed alligators, sea turtles, horse conchs, and sharks. ing to Apptopia, a web page which offers analytics on mobile apps, “BeReal has now been downloaded 43.3 million times since launch in Decem- To humans, however, their most important role is in the biomedical industry, where their electric-blue blood is used to test vaccines. Horseshoe ber 2019.” crabs are one of the few species whose blood contains Limulus AmeboThis popularity is likely due to the fact that the purpose and set-up of the cyte Lysate (LAL) which coagulates when it comes into contact with even app is enlivening compared to other social media platforms. The random small amounts of bacteria. As a result, horseshoe-crab blood has been used posting times allow for an unfiltered glimpse into the lives of the people to sterilize medical equipment since the 1970s, according to the National sharing on the app. BeReal is easy to use and asks nothing of its users be- History Museum. sides a minute of their time and a willingness to share a piece of their day.

It allows for easy engagement among users, as friends can react to each other with selfies in reply. Unlike other more curated apps, BeReal allows users to be transparent about what is going on in their daily lives. This makes BeReal a novel – and much more REAL – option in today’s realm of popular social media platforms!

Most recently, horseshoe crab blood was vital in quickly testing and rolling out Covid-19 vaccines. Although this undoubtedly saved countless lives, it also puts an essential species at risk of extinction. The Washington Post reports that, in 2019, “bleeding labs”, or labs that extract blood from horseshoe crabs, captured and bled 637,029 crabs. While each crab has only 30% of its blood drained before being returned to the ocean, new research suggests that as many as 30% of captured crabs, which amounts to approximately 191,000 specimens, still die during this process.

Thankfully, a group of researchers from Pfizer have developed a synthetic replacement for LAL, named rFC. While conservationists argue that rFC detects bacteria just as accurately as LAL, pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to put their faith in a relatively untested product, especially when human lives are at stake. The FDA has approved rFC as a replacement for LAL, but the review process requires extra work on the application for approval than it does for regular LAL testing. This means spending more money and more time - neither of which motivates medical companies to make the switch.

Will rFC ever become more commonly used than LAL and place less lives Photo Credit: Green Queen UK of horseshoe crabs at stake? Only time will tell.

NEWS

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Students becoming Statistics

By Kat Cokeley ’25 Staff Writer

The world is grieving yet another heartbreaking school shooting. On October 24, at Central Visual and Performing Arts School, in St. Louis Missouri, the shooting left two victims reported dead and several injured in the hospital.

The initial report was called into the Police Department at 9:11 am, with officers arriving on scene four minutes later. The officers located the gunman eight minutes after arriving and engaged in a gunfight with the shooter who was later pronounced dead. The shooter was identified as Orlando Harris, a 19-year-old who was a recent graduate of CVPAS. He entered the school around 9:00 am on Monday in an “aggressive, violent manner,” says St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Interim Chief Mike Sack. Carrying a dozen 30-round magazines with him, “there was no mystery about what was going to happen,” says Sack.

Considering the gunman’s substantial arsenal, police Chief Sack says the tragedy could have been “much worse”. Nonetheless, disaster struck St Louis that day. Alexandria Bell, a 15-year-old girl who was described as “joyful, wonderful, and just a great person,” passed while planning her sixteenth birthday. Her peers described her as outgoing and a beloved member of the Junior Varsity dance team at CVPAS. Her adoptive father described losing her as “a nightmare.“No matter how I felt, I could always talk to her and it was alright. That was my baby.” Also lost that fatal morning was Jean Kuczka, a 61-year-old health teacher who died protecting a student. Jean was a mother of five, a grandmother of seven, and a biker who participated in charity events for juvenile diabetes.

“When I found out, the first thing I could think about was … that’s how much she cared about the students,” Allen-Brown said. “She was going to save those babies.”

The gunman who stormed the school Monday morning had previously been flagged for an FBI background check when trying to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer. However, he was still legally allowed to buy a firearm from a private seller who had bought it from the dealer. Harris had this gun in his possession raised suspicions in his family, so they contacted the authorities. The “Red-Flag Law”, which allows police to seize one’s firearm if they are at risk of harming themselves or others, does not exist in Missouri; the St Louis Police arranged for the gun he purchased to be given to a third party so he wouldn’t have access to it. However, two weeks after he handed it over, he entered the school with the rifle in his hands.

Sophomore Brian Collins, 15, escaped from the building by jumping out of the classroom window onto a ledge, though he suffered gunshot wounds to both his hands and jaw. According to him, the gunman came into the classroom and fired several shots before leaving. Brian is skilled at drawing and, after the gunshot wounds, his mother is “hoping he’ll be able to draw again.” Before the gunman came into the classroom, Brian remembers hearing him say, “You are all going to f—-ing die!”

Fall 2022

The Metaverse is Here

By Katherine Rosenorn ’24 Outside the Bubble News Editor

Imagine history class, but instead of reading from a textbook, your class is experiencing a simulation of ancient Greek life led by an expert in Greece.

You explore the insides of houses, bustling markets, and ancient ruins, all from your classroom. Then, by removing a headset you are back with your classmates discussing your journey. Technologies such as Virtual Reality (VR) are an immersive experience that completely replaces audio and visual stimuli to replicate the real world using headsets such as an Oculus.

Augmented Reality (AR) is a combination of real world and virtual elements using devices such as a smartphone or tablet to superimpose digital elements into the real world. These technologies are part of the Metaverse, and they are already here.

Opportunities for users to connect on a global scale exist within the Metaverse. Vriti Saraf, founder and CEO of k20 Educators, a global learning community defines the Metaverse as, “a virtual version of everything you can do in real life. It is interoperable, owned by no one, and allows a lot of different platforms to live within it.” Examples proposed by experts sound like something out of The Magic School Bus, who state the Metaverse could be used to simulate a walk on the moon or a ride through the human body.

Additionally, studies have shown that even with limited Metaverse technologies, there are a myriad of benefits. According to the Brookings Institution, VR allows students to better absorb material and develop soft skills such as adaptability, problem-solving, leadership and teamwork. This is especially true in younger children who use these technologies, who tend to show higher levels of memory recall and interest in reading than their peers.

The Metaverse also opens up exciting possibilities for equity and inclusion in learning, especially for those who have disabilities, neurodivergence, and chronic illness. According to Brunel University London, “the Metaverse can potentially improve the range and quality of education delivery pathways available to disabled users, as well as late-life learning.

Immersive technologies mean that higher education could be delivered in an engaging way without requiring physical attendance.” The non-traditional style of teaching in the Metaverse could truly allow those who struggle in typical classroom settings to thrive.

While this technology brings great opportunity, there are also drawbacks.

The devices needed to enter the Metaverse are still expensive and not accessible to all. This creates an imbalance where the only people using this “global network” are people who can afford it. Additionally, Tim Quinn, Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Faculty at Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut points out, “it sounds cool that a student might be able to ‘walk on the moon’ through virtual reality, but as virtual experiences take the place of real experiences, how will this loss of connection with actual reality (if such a thing exists) impact us? We also need to be especially careful when technological advances purporting to improve education are tied to corporations that stand to make a lot of money from them.”

This is the 67th school shooting to happen in America, making the problem of gun violence even more relevant to students, educators, and law enforcement. The St. Louis Police Department seeks to update gun safety in the curriculum to prevent a horrific event like this from happening ever again.

Metaverse technology will revolutionize the way humans learn. As we head into this new age of innovation, it is imperative that we embrace the opportunities but also work to mitigate the drawbacks. As the leaders of tomorrow, it is up to us to make sure that we not only use these technologies to our advantage, but that we create conditions that allow everyone to reap their benefits.

Alexandria Bell, 15, left, and Jean Kuczka, 61, right

Photo Credit: Getty Images via CNET

NEWS

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Fall 2022

SALMAGUNDY

Miss Porter’s Students Respond: The Death of Queen Elizabeth and the Role of the Monarchy

By Charlotte Ashman ’25 Staff Writer

On September 8, 2022, it was announced that Queen Elizabeth II had died at the age of 96, making her the longest reigning-monarch in British history, serving 70 years on the throne. She was reported to have died peacefully at Balmoral, her estate in Scotland, with her son King Charles III, and her daughter Princess Anne by her side.

Noor diamond was stolen and made a part of the United Kingdom crown jewels. To this day the Royals refuse to return the diamond. A student from India expressed that “they killed many and built railroads in India solely for the purpose of thievery, and they are part of the reason behind the generational trauma in my family.”

In light of the Queen’s death, many questions regarding the impact of her passing and the true values of the monarchy have surfaced. One student at Miss Porter’s stated that “receiving the news that the Queen had died made me emotional because she symbolized an era for the United Kingdom,” while another student said, “I am honestly thankful.” Although many students had differing opinions on the Queen’s death, they all agreed that the monarchy has had a negative effect on the world throughout history and even today, perpetuating the impact of colonialism.

However, it is still important to recognize the positive influence that Queen Elizabeth’s reign had brought during her seven-decade rule. One student said “I still acknowledged her as an amazing leader and national role-model.” Queen Elizabeth II was a mother, grandmother, wife, dog-lover, and a powerful female leader for many years. Some of her most significant accomplishments include her service in World War II, being the first British Monarch to speak to the U.S. Congress, her overwhelming contributions to charity, and mending the monarch’s finances.

Britain has invaded 90% of the countries in the world, but how has the monarchy benefited from it, and do they still benefit from it today? For one, the monarchy had a significant impact on the slave trade, and Laura Clancey from “The Conversation” stated in an article that “the British monarch’s global significance and power stemmed directly from the enslavement of people of colour.” It was also shown that properties like Kensington Palace and Hampton Court Palace were largely built with money derived from slavery. Additionally, during the colonization period in India, the Kohi-i-

Though, with this knowledge, do students at Miss Porter’s still care about the monarchy, and should we still care? One student said that “the British monarchy is relevant today because it demonstrates the permanence of things that no longer matter as much in the world”, while another said “we should care enough to understand and critique any political moves made”. Considering the role of the monarchy in Britain’s colonial history, the question of the monarch’s relevance will continue to be debated for years to come.

SPORTS SALMAGUNDY

Dig Pink Volleyball Game

Homecoming 2022

By Cara Smith ’26

By Sofia Garza ’26 Staff Writer Staff Writer On October 14th, the Varsity Volleyball Team played their Dig Pink This year’s homecoming was an event that many students looked forgame against the Greenwich Academy Gators in honor of Breast Can- ward to, as five large school buses were needed to transport Porter’s cer Awareness Month. students to Avon Old Farms. The Halloween-themed event was held in Avon Old Farms’s gym, which was decorated with spooky lights and Each audience member donated a one dollar entrance fee to support ornaments. Countless students also showed up to homecoming in Halbreast cancer awareness. Outside the gym, the volleyball team sold loween costumes! stickers, socks, and other pink merchandise to raise money. The Women’s Health Club even held a bake sale.

Homecoming was not confined to the gym though, as students were able to walk around Avon Old Farms’s field house. Pizza was given out, The bleachers were packed with students and families dressed in pink, but was consumed quickly by all the students. The DJ played a variety showing support for both the Volleyball team and for Breast Cancer of music, and was successful in hyping the crowd up: many students Awareness. During the first set, Porter made some outstanding plays as joined each other on the dance floor and chanted the lyrics to the songs. team spirit soared. Even though Greenwich won the first set with a score of 25-12, both teams demonstrated unwavering sportsmanship. During One student claimed that getting ready was her favorite part of Homethe second set, Porter’s made a great mid-game comeback, losing by coming. She was able to be with her friends while dressing up for the only two points in the end. The third set was another close match, with event, and it turned out to be an integral part of her night. Another stuGreenwich winning by five points. In spite of the loss, Porter’s Varsity dent who was asked about the dance said that she thought that the dance Volleyball were able to raise more than 600 dollars for a Connecticut was well-organized with the pizza and music, and the decorations addbased breast cancer charity. The team played with great determination ed a fun twist to her evening. All in all, Homecoming 2022 culminated and the audience showed great support for the team and the Dig Pink the weekdays by offering students a delightful Friday evening, and all fundraiser. five buses departed Avon Old Farms with students happy.

Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School Communications

Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School Communications

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ART & TRAVEL

Fall 2022

SALMAGUNDY

INSIDE THE BUBBLE

Pura Vida! The AIS Global Studies Intensive trip to Costa Rica

By Leeah Han ’24 Outside the Bubble News Editor

While out-of-country for 12 days, students of the A.I.S. Global Studies Intensive: Costa Rica class participated in a variety of conservation projects, experienced and celebrated Costa Rican culture, and consistently pushed themselves to step out of their comfort zones.

Students of the “A.I.S. Global Studies Intensive: Costa Rica” class at Reserva Biológica Tirimbina Throughout our time in Costa Rica, our class was able to work with local Ticos (Costa Rican citizens) and guides from world leadership school.

With a focus on seeking new experiences and learning opportunities while staying connected to and supportive of each other, our class participated in five large conservation projects: a raptor-focused migratory bird tracking project, a reptilian/amphibian data collection project, a camera-trapping project aiming to track mammalian movement, a sea-turtle conservation project at the Pacuare reserve, and a white-almond tree plantation project at Reserva Biológica Tirimbina. (The three former projects all took place at the Lapa Verde nature reserve in the Sarapiqui region.)

Students attending a presentation at the Lapa Verde conservation reserve in Sarapiqui Pippa Neupert, an 11th grader in the A.I.S. Global Studies Intensive: Costa Rica class, recounts, “It was a totally different way of learning. I didn’t know what to expect and I knew it would be different than I was used to, but, as time went on, I felt very involved and forgot that it was even part of a class.” Through hands-on learning, our class experienced the Costa Rican culture, nature, and lifestyle. One of her largest takeaways from this amazing trip, Neupert says, was a new outlook on “...practicing gratitude. During this trip, I was able to see that I can survive without certain things and still be completely happy, and, now that we’re back in the United States, I’m rethinking what actually matters to me.”

Ziplining through the rainforest canopies!

In the spirit of practicing gratitude, many of our Costa Rican partner organizations spoke to our class about the benefits of ecotourism and Students (and Oscar) trying Pipas (young coconuts) at a donations on their projects. With that said, if anyone from the Porter’s local Tico’s residence community would like to donate to/learn more about any of the aforementioned Costa Rican conservation projects, please visit the sites listed Another very important aspect of our class’s work in Costa Rica was below. immersing ourselves in Costa Rican culture; one of our most interesting activities we completed was an “adventure race”, where our class was Reserva Biológica Tirimbina: https://www.tirimbina.org/ able to interact with and learn about the lifestyle of local Ticos in our Pacuare Reserve: https://www.pacuarereserve.org/en neighboring community. Some other unique activities that our class par- Nature Reserve Lapa Verde: https://www.ecovida.ch/en/nature-reticipated in during this trip include ziplining through rainforest canopies, serve-lapa-verde whitewater rafting, visiting hot springs, and excavating and releasing sea Email and telephone number(s) for Henry, a bat conservationist working with Nature Reserve Lapa Verde: henryal16285@gmail.com; number of turtles. the organization: 6023-0598; number specifically for donations: 6078-3794

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ARTS & TRAVEL

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To Be A Foodie In Farmington: Exploring Parkville Market

By Madeleine Port ’24 Staff Writer

Whenever Maren Frey ’23, the Head of Student Activities announces the coming weekend’s excursions during Morning Meetings, a pounding in my chest occurs. Will there be a trip to Blueback Square in West Hartford? Will I be given the opportunity to eat-out and try new foods or comforting ones in a restaurant with friends? Yes! Wait, there is more: there is also a trip to Parkville Market in Hartford.

Parkville Market, similar to Blue Back Square, is a place where you get food. Having never gone to Parkville Market and loving to take advantage of opportunities, I decided to give this food location a try.

It was Friday, September 30th at 6:45 pm when two toasters rolled to a stop at the Brazilian Gula Grill outside the Parkville Market entrance. I walked in to see an indoor food market housed in an old lumber building, and immediately my senses were overwhelmed by people, scents, and the buzz of human indulgence.

Where to start? First, take a round (or more of a rectangle) of the space to see the different little vendors and their vibes. Second, get an “Amai Thai” boba from Okinawa Boba. Third, take another “rectangle” to see any overlooked vendors. Fourth, grab two grilled fish

Okinawa Boba’s “Amai Thai”

tacos from Burrito Loko. Five, reassess hunger levels. Six, try a cow tongue taco from Las Tortas MX. Seven, leave.

The star of the night were the grilled fish tacos. The tortilla was incredibly crispy and soft from the griddle, and the fish was cooked tenderly with the addition of chipotle mayo, fresh avocado, and refreshing pineapple slices.

Something I would not recommend, though, is the “Amai Thai” boba. There were only a minimal amount of absurdly hard tapioca pearls, and the ordering experience was lifeless as well.

The cow tongue taco was a new discovery. A small, yet perfectly sized taco for a taster topped with buttery meat and cilantro with a light salsa allowed for a full flavour emulsion.

Dear reader, go to Parkville Market if you are looking for fish tacos that please all the human senses and if you are interested in the delight of a new flavour on your tongue.

Burrito Loko’s fish tacos

Las Tortas MX’s cow tongue taco

OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE

The Phantom of the Opera Closing on Broadway

By Sadie Abramson ’23 Outside the Bubble Arts and Travel Editor On Febuary 18th, 2023, The longest-running musical on Broadway- Mackintosh states, “It’s always been one of my mantras throughout will haunt its audiences for the last time. The Phantom of the Opera my long career: There’s an art to closing a show, as well as opening tells the story of a musical genius with a congenital disfigurement one.” Although nobody may ever hear the phantom’s voice ringing who inhabits the Paris Opera House and falls into a love-hate rela- through the Majestic Theatre again, the musical’s enchanting melotionship with Christine, the opera house soprano. This musical ques- dies will forever remain in people’s hearts. tions superficial standards, and teaches valuable lessons of understanding and empathy.

Throughout its 35 years on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera had performed 13,925 times, sold 19.8 million tickets and made $1.3 billion dollars. Nevertheless, Broadway has suffered immensely during the pandemic, with its most successful shows being no exception: Ticket sales have plummeted as a result of COVID restrictions, a lack of international theatergoers, and soaring inflation. Struggling to cover its running costs, The Phantom of the Opera has made the decision to close its doors before their situation declines any further.

“You don’t want to run a great show into the ground,” producer

Photo Credit: Playbill

Page 8

OPINIONS

Fall 2022

SALMAGUNDY

Mahsa Amini and the Feminist Uprise in the Middle East

By Ivana Rodal Fernandez ’24 Staff Writer

40 days after 22-year-old Mahsa Amini’s death, the prolonged courage and from the detention center as he waited outside for his sister. Eyewitnessresilience of the Iraian population has become the face of female repres- es, including women who were detained with Amini, reportedly said she sion and an inspiring pinnacle of social revolution around the globe. was severely insulted and beaten. These assertions combined with leaked medical scans led observers to believe that Mahsa suffered a cerebral hemOn September 13, 2022, Mahsa Amini was detained in Tehran by the Ira- orrhage or stroke as a result of blunt-force trauma from police brutality. nian morality police for not wearing the hijab in accordance with Iran’s government policy, which mandates covered hair and long, loose-fitting Mahsa is not the first woman who is suspected to have died in Iranian morobes for women. Challenging the morality police is considerably danger- rality police custody. Mahsa’s death, however, resulted in outrage across ous, as the organization enforces a variety of tactics that range from verbal Iran and sparked a massive feminist movement to subvert the oppressive notices and monetary fines to, more rarely, physical violence and brutal Iranian patriarchal system. The series of protests continue to grow more arrests. Unfortunately, Mahsa Amini was a victim of the latter. Three days widespread and defiant, with The New York Times even describing them after her arrest on September 16, Mahsa Amini died in a hospital in Tehran as “the largest Iranian protests since 2009”. The protests showcase the under suspicious circumstances. people’s indescribable bravery, and include women removing their hijabs and waving them in the air, publicly cutting their hair, and singing and The police has not offered a concrete explanation for Amini’s detention, yelling chants such as “Azadi, Azadi!” (“Freedom, freedom!”). By Ocother than how, according to the patrol, she was wearing her hijab incor- tober 15, 2022, Iranian Human Rights groups have reported at least 233 rectly. Mahsa’s mom disputed this fact in an Iranian news interview, claim- deaths in the five weeks of protests. These deaths were due to Iranian seing that her daughter was observing the hijab policy by covering her hair curity forces fired into groups with live ammunition and killed protesters wearing a loose robe. She also stated that her daughter was taken under by beating them with batons. custody as she exited the subway with her brother, who pleaded in vain to the morality police that Mahsa was a visitor in the city. Minutes after The ardor and anger of the Iranian population throughout their continued Mahsa’s untimely death, Iran’s security officials swarmed the hospital and protests prove that Mahsa’s death was not just a singular tragedy, but rathordered the family to not speak out. The security force issued an official er a trigger to the lurking fury that prolonged oppression had caused on statement denoting that Ms. Amini had a heart attack and collapsed at the the people. The world is witnessing immense courage and dedication from detention center, despite her family consistently claiming that Mahsa had these protestors, who continue to resist and suffer against the oppressive no history of illnesses and was in good health before her arrest. In the Ira- forces that control their land. nian news, Kiarash Amini, Mahsa’s brother, said he heard screams coming

People participate in a protest against the Islamic regime of Iran and the death of Mahsa Amini in New York, September 27, 2022.

Photo Credit: Stephanie Keith | Reuters via CNBC

“Jiggle Jiggle”

By Elaine Ruan ’25 Staff Writer

During summer break, I was mesmerized by the short video “Jiggle Jiggle” when I was lying in my bed and swiping through TikTok. Now, as soon as I hear the melody, the dance instantly pops up in my mind. However, with the dance’s sudden popularity across the globe, I couldn’t help but to ask myself: do these videos have a positive or negative impact on us?

The author of”Jiggle Jiggle” is Louis Theroux, a BBC television presenter best known for his documentaries. He dedicated his life to investigating world issues, journalistic scoops, and shedding light on interesting opinions and behaviors. Theroux had even received the British Academy Television Awards and the Royal Television Society Television Awards in recognition of his work. Somewhat ironically, none of his productions have had as many views as compared to “Jiggle Jiggle.”

The catchy melody of “Jiggle Jiggle” is hard to fight: almost everyone who has listened to the song will have a lasting impression of it. Not only

did this easygoing tune gain fame for Theroux, but also aroused curiosity about his main documentary. However, it is feared that many will only recollect “Jiggle Jiggle” and not the person who created it all.

The phenomenon behind popular TikTok audios is a relatively new concept. These days, people can become famous very easily by synthesizing audio, filming a dance, or pulling pranks. Such is the epitome of the entertainment world in the past decade: in order to get money quickly, all people have to do is post a video online. As a result, many youths fantasize about and blindly pursue going viral on social media. It is worrying that people dream of instant fame and refuse to do anything that goes beyond a click or a like. How will history look back on this period? Will museums of the future just be giant screens playing short videos? It is crucial to consider how we can change our priorities as a society, so that people make meaningful videos, rather than videos just for views.