Layout by: Jianing (Jennifer) Lin ’24
SALMAGUNDY The Official Student Newpaper of Miss Porter’s School Spring 2023
NEWS SALMAGUNDY
INSIDE THE BUBBLE
Say Yes to MPS: 2023 Revisit Days
By Lucy Newmyer ’23 Inside the Bubble News Editor Spring in Farmington not only brings sunny weather, outdoor sports, traditions, and countdowns, but it also brings an intangible buzz to campus as admitted students revisit and make their final secondary school decisions. After receiving their admissions decisions on March 9 at 18:43, inspired by the year Miss Porter’s School was founded, next year’s New Girls had until April 10 to “say yes to MPS.” To provide a sense of what life at Porter’s could be, the Office of Admission hosted two Revisit Days for accepted students. This year’s Revisit Days, known as Portrait of Porter’s, occurred on Thursday, March 30 and Tuesday, April 4. The nearly 300 guests in attendance flocked from around the world; some took 24-hour flights and were visiting campus for the first time, while others grew up in Farmington. Each event began with a reception in the Noni followed by songs from the Perillhettes and remarks by Dr. Windsor, the Student Heads of School, and Director of Admission Sarah Quinn in the Hacker.
After the morning session, visitors had many opportunities to engage with Porter’s. MPS students, faculty, and administrators hosted shadow Jess Lin’27 (sister of Jenn Lin ’24) “Saying Yes to Porter’s” and reciving her Porter’s necklace Photo Credit: Jenn (Jianing) Lin ’24 experiences, parent and student-only sessions, panels for academic and community life, campus tours, and even a “Porter’s Party and School and current families -- worked hard to showcase how wonderful PorFair” in the Crisp Gym. The day concluded with a Families of Color ter’s is…I was most proud of our current students who went out of their Coffee in the Dr. Glenda Newell-Harris ‘71 Student Center. way to make every new student immediately feel at home.” The full New Girl class of approximately 100 enrolling next year proves just As stated by Sarah Quinn, “The energy on campus was incredible! Our how impactful the Portrait of Porter’s events were for accepted students whole school community -- faculty, students, House Directors, staff, and their families.
‘22-’23 Spring Community Day: Play it Forward
By Nina Carvahlo ’24 Staff Writer Waking up, you check your phone for the time. It’s a quick glance: most food items and consequently the first in line for a potential dou9:01. You lay back down; the sheets are perfectly formed around you bled amount of either the Chet’s Italian Ice or Mister Softee Ice Cream and it’s decided, you’ll sleep in for another 10 minutes or so. What day Truck. is it again? Sunday? No, you could have sworn you had class yesterday- is it Saturday? No- you don’t have a game. It’s Tuesday. You’re When Community Day finally arrived, the school was comforted with late. What happened to the alarm? Suddenly with the energy of some the sleep-in, starting the day at an ideal 9:45 am in the Hacker. Each sort of super-hero, your feet are on the ground and you’re trying to grab grade and faculty was dressed up in a different color, and all students your toothbrush. You realize that you’re too clumsy for that superhu- handed their phones to their advisors. After this opening session, classman speed and drop it. As soon as you look up from the floor you see es separated into their teams and were given fifteen minutes to create a your roommate standing in front of you, giggling. Did they forget to cheer. Three winners were named by the judges (Brie Angle, KZ, and Marisa Feijoo): Juniors for the loudest cheer, Faculty for the most spirturn on their alarm too? What’s going on? ited cheer, and Freshmen for the best cheer. It’s Tuesday. It’s May 9th. It’s the Spring 2023 Community Day! Next, students gave back to the wider community of Farmington, parThis year’s Community Day, “Play it Forward,” is not one to forget. ticipating in community service works including town clean-ups, help Unique to previous years, this Community Day is a competition be- in local women and children centers, and efforts within other non-profit tween years and faculty. A chance to prove yourself to those seniors, organizations. Whenever a student or faculty completed a task during to put the freshmen in their place, or to show the students who’s boss. their community service time, they were then rewarded a “ticket” that Before the 9th, however, the competition had already begun on May contributed towards their team’s overall score. Following the service, 2nd with a (non-perishable) food drive for the Farmington Food Pan- time was given to eat a barbecue lunch outside, with some extra time try. On the 6th, the Faculty gave everyone a scare; in the lead with the to relax. By 1:00 pm, students were ready for their play sessions. From capture the flag to charades to succulent pot painting and planting, students were able to enjoy their chosen activity with friends and peers, encouraging the strengthening of connections within the brain as well as within the community. Finally, a talent show was hosted, and a winner, the Junior class, was announced as all stepped in line for their well-deserved share of ice cream. A combination of volunteer work, field day activities with friends, and a fun competition is just what was needed this time of year. The students of Salmagundy would like to express thanks to all who worked hard to make this community day so fulfilling; “Play it Forward” was a great Students at the local Fire Station Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School way to boost the mood and send off the ‘23 class on a light-hearted note.
NEWS
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Spring 2023
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Spring Sit-Down Dinner
By Sam Orlowski ’25 Staff Writer Spring Traditions at Miss Porter’s are rooted in community, making them a significant aspect of the Porter’s experience. Students of all grade levels participate in unique, long-standing traditions that illustrate the concept of bonding and sisterhood. New Girls, Old Girls (the Porter’s term for new students and returning students), and Faculty come together as a community to celebrate our accomplishments throughout the year. One such tradition is Sit-Down Dinner, but there is something about a Sit-Down in the Spring that makes it extra special. Sit-down Dinner is a special and joyous occasion that only occurs a few times a year at Porter’s. On May 2nd, students and faculty joined together in the Dining Hall for a community-wide dinner in honor of Eid. The Muslim Student Affinity hosted this dinner and provided Asian/Middle Eastern inspired food, such as Sweet Lassi and Baklava. In addition, a member of this affinity recited a verse from the Quran. Furthermore, students who observed this holiday shared photos of them commemorating this tradition throughout their childhood. Sit-down dinners at Porter’s have provided chances for celebration, community-bonding, and school-wide learning about important events inside and outside of the Porter’s community.
When The Dead Language Came to Life: The 42nd Annual CT Latin Day
By Melissa Ma ’26 & Zaiyi Yang ’26 Staff Writer On April 27th, 2023, Miss Porter’s School students learning the Latin language attended the Connecticut State Latin Day at Holiday Hills in Cheshire, CT. It is one of the biggest events in the state with more than 50 high school and middle schools attending. Each year, a new Latin Day theme is chosen. This year the theme was “natura nihil frustra facit,” which translates to “Nature Does Nothing in Vain.” Despite the common misconception that Latin being a dead language means that it is not as relevant, a dead language possesses the definition that there are no longer any remaining native speakers. This does not mean that the language isn’t widely appreciated and learned. The great participation in the State Latin day demonstrates that Latin is alive and thriving in Connecticut. Many find learning Latin to be enjoyable and beneficial. This ancient language has become more appealing because of the numerous events hosted by the Connecticut State Latin Day Committee. The CSLDC, made up of Latin teachers from around the state, have met all year to prepare for this event. Upon arriving at the open campground that this event was hosted on, participants were led to a barn, where a delicious breakfast of nachos and donuts was served. Prepared for the busy day, students were informed about the multiple workshops and presentations that they could attend throughout the day. Workshops are led by teachers and other volunteers whereas the presentations are generally given by college professors and other professionals in the same field.
Some highlights noted were the upper and lower Certamen, which is a trivial competition of schools, where four students per school compete to gain the most amount of questions answered correctly. There were also many athletic and academic events including quizzes on various topics such as mythologies, derivatives and vocabulary. The athletic events such as volleyball, soccer and basketball, were voluntarily Some of the Students who planed the Sit-Down Credit: Miss Porter’s School played by students during downtimes between each workshop. Many students won prizes in various academic and athletic contests. AIS Research Methods Trip to Philly
By Ava Cargan ’23 Opinions Editor On Saturday, April 22nd, the AIS Research Methods class traveled to the University of Pennsylvania to present research at the SPARC Roundtable Conference. The group first met as a class in the fall and for the remainder of the year, met during free time. The class completed research on the political climate at Porter’s and found a hostile environment. They included this result in their presentation along with a definition of political polarization, a code book, a literature review, results from interview that were conducted, a discussion about the overall impacts of political polarization, and proposed solutions to the issues at hand.
Another favorite was the toga teddies, where people had a chance to craft stuffed teddies complete with their own set of togas (a robe-like uniform). Lunchtime consisted of a warm meal of pasta, salads, chowder, and many other foods (with an ice cream truck for dessert!). Towards the end of the day, there were exciting games of tug of war, and a chariot race. To end off the trip, attendees viewed an uplifting Latin karaoke, hosted by a high-energy singer!
Despite the consistent downpour of rain throughout, every student’s eagerness and enthusiasm made up for the absence of a sunny day. The day ended not only with joy and happiness but also the great gratitude The class left campus on Saturday and traveled by train to Philadelpia. for Ms. Woodbury who planned the day for Porter’s students. Sunday afternoon, the group made their way to the first portion of the Connecticut Student Diversity Leadership conference which took place at the Shipley school from 2pm - 8pm. The evening included an opening, an introductory game, rounds of Conference 2023 presentations, trivia, dinner, and a round of presentations before the By Yulisa Ma ’26 conclusion of the evening. Staff Writer New Haven, CT, April 3 - The Connecticut Association of IndepenThe second day of the conference began early Monday morning. The class walked from their hotel to the University of Pennsylvania at 8am. dent Schools’ Student Diversity Leadership Conference (CAIS SDLC) After eating breakfast at the conference opening, the group presented was held at Hopkins School in New Haven, Connecticut, where over in the first round of presentations for the day. The presentation went 300 students from various schools across the state participated. This well and the group went on to watch other presentations before lunch year, 11 of Porter’s students attended the conference, alongside faculty was served and the concluding statements were given. The group left chaperones ashley amoabeng and Sydni Bellucci. Founded in 2003 by UPenn and headed to the train station where they took trains back to the CAIS Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools, this conHartford. The class officially returned to campus around 9:45 pm on ference was modeled after the national conference held annually by Monday, May 24th. NAIS. The mission of the event is to bring students from grades 7-12 and adults from independent schools across the state together for a day of networking and dialogue, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and a call to action to improve the school communities and the world. The event was centered around promoting inclusivity, understanding diversity, and empowering student leaders. The conference kicked off with Keynote speakers, consisting of students who shared their personal stories and insights on the significance of cultivating a culture of acceptance and respect. Attendees were divided by grade level and assigned a topic facilitated by an experienced DEI educator. The topics The AISRM Class, Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s Communications
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NEWS
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for the grades include: 9th Grade: Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrim- were able to connect and share their perspective. ination unpacked; 10th Grade: Who Am I & Social Identifiers; 11th Grade: Our Socialization: How do we learn what we learn; 12th Grade/ The conference concluded with a connecting and committing session, PG: Moving from Allyship to Co-conspirators. during which students formed a circle and shared their commitments to making a change. As they spoke, they tossed a string to another person, Throughout the day, students took part in hands-on workshops that pro- creating an interconnected web in the center. This symbolized their convided practical tools and strategies to facilitate change in their schools, nection and intertwined commitment to social change. Each participant and allowed them to delve into DEI issues around them and how to received a piece of the string as a reminder of their dedication and the improve the situation. The discussion panel addresses various aspects connections made that day. The event not only served as an educational of diversity, such as race, gender, LGBTQ+ issues, etc. By working to- experience but also as a platform for forging relationships and creating gether in these interactive sessions, students from different backgrounds collaboration among future leaders.
OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE Banking Crisis in Silicon Valley
By Bessie Xu ’24 Inside the Bubble Arts and Travel Editor In March 2023, the biggest bank failure since the financial crisis in stitutions, causing banks to liquidate their assets, downgrade their bond 2008 occurred in silicon valley, with the first collapse of Silicon Valley ratings, and terminate services and operations. While President Biden Bank(SVB) followed by multiple other financial institutions. This se- claims that the United States has a strong banking system and that taxries of events produced effects that extended to the present day. On May payers would not be paying for any bailouts, the country and the rest 1st, 2023, the federal government seized First Republic Bank, a com- of the world don’t seem to be too convinced. This banking crisis not mercial bank headquartered in California also affected by this banking only sent shockwaves across America’s financial system but the global crisis, then sold most of its assets to JPMorgan Chase. So what is this economy as well. As panic emerged among investors, Credit Suisse’s crisis, and how did it happen? share price plunged due to fear that the bank was running out of money. As a result of this collapse, Credit Suisse was bought by its rival UBS. SVB is highly focused on providing financial assistance to technologi- Whether there will be broader economic damage is still waiting to be cal startups. On March 8th, the bank asked its stakeholders to shore up assessed, but the economic environment in Silicon Valley is certainly its finances used to handle withdrawal requests due to the economic dis- severely destructed, leaving stockholders and investors almost nothing tress in the technology sector. According to the Fed, SVB collapsed due to regain. to poor bank management and a lack of government regulations. From a management standpoint, SVB does not have a diversified portfolio. To mitigate risk factors, most banks intentionally diversify by focusing on multiple sectors. However, as a monoline bank that focuses exclusively on the innovative technology sector that implies high risks, SVB failed in risk evaluation and mitigation. Another cause of the collapse is the large bond portfolio that SVB possesses. The market value of bonds and interest rates tend to have an inverse relationship. SVB purchased large amounts of long-maturing bonds between 2020 and 2021 when the interest rate was relatively low; therefore, now that interest rates have increased, the market value of the bonds has diminished. From a regulatory perspective, FED did not take forceful actions and had a major oversight. If these management issues had been noticed soon enough by supervisors, the collapse of SVB might have been avoidable. The fall of SVB has influenced the collapse of various other banking in-
SVB Photo Credit: NBC News
A Glance at The 4B Movement in South Korea
By Zayba Ali ’25 Staff Writer “…I didn’t know or realize it [the movement] until I came to Porter’s percentage, the results of the movement are becoming apparent. In the because no one really talked about it, they just lived with it. ” - Colette past year, the South Korean birth rate has fallen to 0.78, making it the Koo ’25 country with the lowest birth rate in the world. For comparison, the birth rate in the United States doubles that of South Korea, at 1.64 births Gender-based crimes are widespread in South Korea, and violence per woman. The ongoing “birth-strike” is due to the increasing costs against women is especially prominent online. The country has the of raising children, unfeasible work hours, but is also an outcome of most digital sex crimes committed annually worldwide. In a study by women wanting to move away from traditionalist ideals. A 2022 survey Tacteen Naeil, 12% of middle school students reported that they had reported that 65 percent of South Korean women do not want to have experienced sexual harassment digitally. However, violence against children. These numbers could have serious implications for the fuwomen continues offline, with spy cameras being referred to as an “ep- ture of South Korea, as the population is rapidly decreasing, and deaths idemic” by Time Magazine. Over 29,000 of illegal filming targeting and outnumbering births. Many believe this is worrisome, while others women were reported to South Korean police between 2013 and 2018, view it as progress towards a better society. So, what do Porter’s stuand the number is only growing. dents think? How are South Korean women responding to the worsening situation? The significance of 4B relates to the heterosexual norms that women are being urged to cease; bihon (marriage), bichulsan (childbirth), biyoenae (romance), and biseksu (sexual relationships). The members of this movement see these acts as reinforcing gender stereotypes, and want to establish a new option of living, one that excludes men and is founded upon feminist and matriarchal ideals.
Colette Koo ’25, a student from South Korea, spoke her stance on this subject. She had not heard of the movement as it is “considered quite sensitive and radical.” She mentioned how men are exceedingly predominant in South Korean society to the point where it is impossible to imagine a world without them. “To some degree it is a generalization… but I think it is true that sexism in Korea is quite present.” says Koo.
Though opinions on South Korea’s 4B movement may vary, this new It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly how many women are following this wave of feminism has already begun to reshape the gender norms withmovement, but it is estimated that 2% of the women in South Korea in the country.. The question is, will the expansion of the 4B movement are supportive of the trend. Even though this may seem like a small push South Korea further on the path to gender equality?
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ART & TRAVEL
Spring 2023
SALMAGUNDY
INSIDE THE BUBBLE
The Juniors’ 2023 AIS Germany Trip
By Sara Babigian ’24 & Ella Babigian ’24 Guest Writers On April 16th, 2023, the Juniors in the AIS Global Experience “Making Change” Art and Social Justice class left for a trip to Berlin, Germany. The trip was an extension of what we have already learned in class. For 13 days, we interacted with local artists, visited historical monuments, ate incredible food, and tried new forms of art ourselves! While the trip was amazing and the city was beautiful, the weather was not. Each day averaged around 53 degrees Fahrenheit or 11 degrees Celsius, and it rained about 77% of the trip! Nevertheless, we maximized our experience and packed coats, gloves, and umbrellas.
A photo of a major transportation hub in Berlin Photo Credit: Sara Babigian’24
The AIS Global Experience Germany Class Photo Credit: AIS Global Experience Germany Class
Before we traveled, our class completed a “Germany Timeline” project. All of us focused on different points in German history and gave our classmates a brief overview of the significant events. Our teachers then supplied us with artists that used their works as activism during those periods. Much of our focus was on the cultural divide between East Berlin and West Berlin that lasted until the present day. As we traveled, we noticed that many of the locals had personal experiences with the divide and were willing to share their stories.
While most of our exploration was inside Berlin, we took a day trip to the city of Leipzig. This city is popular among music lovers but it was previously used for industrial functions. In Leipzig, we talked with Patrick, a local graffiti artist. Patrick showed us his own work and taught us all about how graffiti artists can use their work as forms of protest. He even let some of us try to make our own graffiti works! The next day, back in Berlin, we continued our graffiti investigation in the Young African Art Market (also known as YAAM). At YAAM we learned about graffiti techniques and how artists layer colors. It was a great experience and inspiration to us all.
Students in a local resturant Photo Credit: Mari Lee’24
Art in Berlin wasn’t only present on the streets, it also appeared in the form of food. As an international city, Berlin boasts a huge variety of food. During our stay, we had food from Italian, Indian, Thai, VietnamWalking through Berlin, art filled the streets. We found walls covered in ese, Chinese, Japanese, American, Moroccan, and German restaurants. graffiti and many community collaboration spaces such as Tempelhof Park (which was used as an airport during the war). Parts of the Berlin Wall were also dedicated to artistic expression. For example, the East Side Gallery, a monument to the fall of the wall, represents peaceful negotiations between government and citizens. The wall is 1,316 meters or 0.8 miles long, making it the longest piece of the Berlin Wall still intact. Covered in murals about past and present social issues, it sparked feelings of curiosity and awe in all of us. A Picture of students making their own graffiti pieces Photo Credit: AIS Global Experience Germany Class
The National Gallery of Art in Berlin Photo Credit: AIS Global Experience Germany Class
This trip demonstrated the connection between art and social justice while also allowing us to explore a new culture. It was also an amazing experience that sparked artistic inspiration among all of us! At the end Photo Credit: AIS Global Experience Germany Class of the trip, the entire class wrote postcards to their future selves and sent them back home via snail mail. As of right now, they have yet to arrive.
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ART & TRAVEL
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One-Act Festival
By Sofia Garza ’26 & Evana Jang ’26 Staff Writers On May 12th and 13th, the annual One-Act Festival was held in the Hacker Theater at Miss Porter’s School. The show, consisting of four one-act plays, was entirely written and produced by Porter’s students. Students and faculty from Miss Porters and Avon Old Farms gathered to support the cast as they performed. To start off the evening, the cast began with the play, “The Evil in Middle School,” written and directed by Alyx Bardoe. The act took place in a “terrifying” 7th-grade English class complete with all the middle school cliches, the “nerd,” the jock, and the mean girls. This classroom dynamic creates horrifying reminders of middle school and all the memories following it. To follow the comical first act, the second performance, “Interruptions,” was a humorous story of the typical cringe-worthy young love. As the characters were trying to express their love for each other, it was amusingly interrupted every time. The “woos” and “awws” of the audience made it clear that they were rooting for the characters to get together, but the constant interruptions prevented this until the very end of the play. After the 15-minute intermission, the third act, “Zombie,” written by Amelie Leouzon and directed by Caroline Cadwalader was performed. This play takes place in a dystopian future plagued by zombies and follows two characters as they embark on a journey in the wild. The fully immersive set design transported the audience to a dystopian future. Finally, to close out the night, the cast performed “Mary Anne Came Back,” written and directed by Margo Feely. The play starts in a TV show set up with an impatient interviewer and an interviewee named Mary Anne, who disappeared six years ago, and suddenly returned. The play explores Mary Anne’s disappearance and supernatural abilities, and by the end of the play, Mary Anne learns to become a better version of herself. The cast of the One-Act Festival did a tremendous job writing and producing the plays, as it kept the audience entertained throughout the whole show. The producers and theater team also did an impressive job with transporting the audience to each scene. Overall, the talented writers and directors of this student-led production did an admirable job bringing these plays to life, and next year’s One-Act Festival will be highly anticipated.
Kelli Rae Adams - Spring Prescott Visiting Artist
By Annabelle Horst ’26 & Addy McNear ’26 Staff Writers On March 30th, the Miss Porter’s community gathered together to listen to our spring trimester’s Prescott Speaker, Kelli Rae Adams. In her presentation, Adams informed faculty and students of her forms of art, whether in her kitchen or in a studio. Ariana Kolins, our ceramics and arts teacher, spoke to us about why she chose Adams; she emphasized the importance of choosing a speaker that spoke to all members of the community, not just those involved in the ceramics program. Adams’ art delves into many different themes which aim to resonate with the audience each in their own way, many of them facing current politics, sustainability, labor, and personal philosophies Adams’ art is exceptionally unique due to her interactive quality. On her website, Adams states, “viewers have the opportunity to become complicit in the life story of the works,”. This component in her art is expressed in many forms, whether that means breaking her art, building with it, or adding something. For instance, she once covered her studio floor with clay, and invited people to walk around. This gave the piece many stories, as each person left their unique mark. In Forever in Your Debt, she invites viewers to donate their own money. This art piece has bowls representing the average student debt. When all of the bowls are filled with coins, the student’s debt will be paid off. By incorporating interactions, Adams incorporates the experiences of both the audience and the artist, providing the visitors with a unique and engaging experience. While the physicality of Adams’ art is significant, the most crucial aspect of her art is her conveyed messages. Throughout her career, Adams’ portrays numerous topics in impactful ways. As she writes on her website, “These works invite those who encounter them to reflect on the realities of time, value, and labor; of vulnerability and impermanence; and of reward and sacrifice”. Adams’ work makes her audience truly think. Her portrayal of these messages and themes is what makes her stand out amongst other artists.
Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School
Kelli Rae Adams talking to a group of students Photo Credit: Miss Porter’s School
OUTSIDE THE BUBBLE The 95th Oscars: What’s Worth Going Back and Watching
By Charlotte Ashman ’25 Staff Writer The 95th annual Academy Awards, also known as the Oscars, took Aftersun, 1 nomination place on March 12, 2023. It honors exceptional achievements in the Directed by Charlotte Wells film industry. Winners are chosen by a vote among industry professionals who are members of the Academy. The categories range from the Aftersun is a poignant and hauntingly beautiful film that portrays dehighly coveted Best Picture Award to the exceptional Costume Design pression through the lens of a young girl and her holiday memories with Award and Visual Effects Award. This year’s selection of films was no- her father. This unique perspective evokes a range of emotions from its table, with critical acclaim and commercial success. However, some viewers. Paul Mescal’s performance is nothing short of breathtaking, deserving films, like Aftersun, received only one nomination, despite it as he portrays depression through the small nuances of everyday life being a personal favorite. Other films such as The Banshees of Inisher- while trying to make his daughter’s vacation as memorable as possible in, secured multiple nominations but failed to win any. The following despite his struggles. reviews reflect my personal opinions; all of the nominated films are worth watching. The Oscars offer recognition for outstanding achieve- The focus on detail in the film is remarkable. Upon watching it a second ments and an opportunity for audiences to discover and appreciate the time, I realized how much I had missed the first time around. While the best of cinema. film’s deeper meaning may be clouded for some viewers, the simple
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SALMAGUNDY yet powerful imagery of a Colin Farrell portrays the character of Padraic, who is left devastatfather and daughter enjoying ed when his best friend Colm (Brendan Gleeson) suddenly ends their a carefree summer vacation long-standing bond. The movie takes us on a journey as Padraic strugtogether highlights the progles to save their friendship and deals with the emotions of confusion, found impact that depresloss, and anger that come with it. Set in a picturesque island off the sion can have on both the coast of Ireland, the film captivates the audience with its mesmerizing person experiencing it and vvisuals and engaging storyline. The movie strikes a perfect balance between comedy, sympathy, sadness, their loved ones. This film and anger, while it is easy to become deserves recognition for its emotionally attached to the characauthentic portrayal of mental ters and their stories. The outstandillness, although it was only ing acting in the film, which earned nominated for one Oscar. Affour nominations, is commendable. tersun was also my favorite Each actor brings their unique flavor film of the year, and I highly to the story, and the interactions berecommend the audience to tween the characters are entertaining watch it even multiple times and engaging. Overall, the Banshees to fully appreciate its depth of Inisherin is a must-watch for anyand beauty. Through its highs one who enjoys a good laugh comand lows, Wells offers a combined with a good cry. It is a remarkpelling and unforgettable exable film that showcases the highs ploration of the struggle to and lows of friendship and the pain hide the effects of depression. Aftersun Poster Photo Credit: IMDb of loss. By the end, the viewer will The Banshees of Inisherin, 9 nominations most likely find themselves invested Directed by Martin McDonagh in a donkey named Jenny and cut-off fingers while wondering why their The Banshees of Inisherin is a beautifully crafted film that delves story moved them so deeply. Don’t into the complexities of friendship and the heartbreak of its dissolution. Movie Poster Photo Credit: IMDb miss this gem of a movie!
SPORTS SALMAGUNDY
You Can’t See Me: NCAAW Outstanding Performance
By Kat Cokeley ’25 Staff Writer The sport of basketball. Hard work, resilience, teamwork, leadership. The NCAA is where we see these traits on the court, future NBA stars blooming into fantastic players. Millions of viewers tune into March Madness, the biggest competition in college basketball. Usually, in NCAA Basketball, the men are the stars, raking in the views and sponsorships. This year was different. All eyes were on the performance of the Women’s Final Four, which featured the South Carolina Gamecocks, Virginia Tech Hokies, Louisiana State Tigers, and Iowa Hawkeyes. As the games played out, the seemingly unbeatable Gamecocks lost by five points to the Hawkeyes, as Iowa’s money maker, Caitlin Clark scored a whopping 41 points, resulting in a shooting percentage of 0.606. South Carolina displayed amazing defense but there was no competition against Clark. In the aftermath of the game, Clark made the iconic “you can’t see me” hand gesture (Figure 1). In the Virginia Tech vs LSU game, the latter scored consistently in and out of the paint. Both teams played a fantastic game but the LSU Tigers pulled out the win. This brought us to the final game, Iowa versus LSU. The game started off strong, with LSU up by five points at the end of the first quarter. At that point, viewers were not worried and expected Clark to pull out the staggering skill seen in the previous game. The point gap increased by halftime, leaving the score at 59-42. Although LSU slowed down scoring in the third quarter, Iowa stayed consistent, scoring 20 to 22 points per quarter. By the end of the third quarter, Iowa was still down 11 points. The last shot was a jumper by LSU’s Alexis Morris, bringing the final score to 102-85. The Tigers polished
Reese pointing to her finger, referencing the Championship ring she will soon recieve Photo Credit: ESPN
the perfect plan to slow down Clark while still being able to put up points. Their defense gave them the opportunity to force 16 turnovers from the Hawkeyes. Although Clark had an outstanding game with a 0.615 shooting percentage, it wasn’t enough stacked up against LaDazhia Williams, Flau’jae Johnson, and Alexis Morris, all of whom scored over 20 points. Angel Reese, another star player, finished with three steals and over 10 rebounds. The arena was buzzing with excitement when the Tigers brought home the win; however, the spotlight on the women brought along negative press. A photo of Angel Reese stormed the media with her pointing to her ring finger in front of Clark in the final seconds (figure 2) while posing the iconic “you can’t see me” gesture (Figure 3). It became a heated debate about whether or not the LSU Tigers were showing “bad sportsmanship”. However, Clark did not address the photo in post-interviews and only spoke highly of LSU’s playing. Reese clarified that her action was a response to Clark taunting a friend in a previous game. Even though the public reaction toward the incident eventually died down, the lesson is one of the importance of sportsmanship on and off the court.
Photo Credit: ESPN
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OPINION
Spring 2023
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The Possible TikTok Ban
By Charlotte Kronholm ’25 Staff Writer Recently, the use of TikTok in the United States has been intensely debated. The app is extremely popular, especially among the younger demographic, and has over 1 billion users across more than 150 countries (Koyak). Although the app has gained popularity across the globe, increasing questions about its reliability and security have many people talking.
To date, actions have been taken to ban the use of this app on federal/government devices out of concern that user data is not secure. It appears that more consideration has been given and advancements have been made with respect to the possible ban of TikTok from all devices throughout the United States (Holpuch and Maheshwari). Recently, a Congressional hearing was held with the chief executive of TikTok where members of Congress asked questions regarding the management of sensitive U.S. user information. TikTok has conTikTok CEO Defending the App’s Practices in Congressional Hearing Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images tinuously challenged these claims, and testified in defense of the app (Maheshwari). a poll of a sampling of Miss Porter’s students, some reported being indifferent to the possible ban. One participant in the poll reported, The possibility that use of this extremely popular app might be pro- “if no one else had TikTok, I wouldn’t care if I didn’t have it.” Othhibited has some very concerned. Others argue that such a ban would ers, however, did express being unhappy with the possibility as they conflict with the First Amendment Right to freedom of speech, while are regular users of the app. There is no doubt that this debate will also noting that the app serves as a major communication platform continue as U.S. legislators assess the possibility of banning TikTok. for many (Jaffer). One thing is for certain, the topic has raised many questions and will continue to be discussed by many of the app’s billion users! There have been a variety of reactions to the possible ban. Based on
The Paradox of Rehabilitation: Examining Opposing Approaches to Substance-Abuse
By Mary Zheng ’25 Sports Editor Zigzagging through the hectic crowds of Chengdu, a Chinese me- of substance abuse demonstrates the complexity underlying the istropolis, I catch glimpses of scrawny men with wild eyes lingering sue. under low bridges. Many of them are victims of hard drugs and will be sentenced to a minimum of two years in compulsory detoxifica- In recent decades, the U.S. government has become more tolerant of tion facilities. drug use. Many states have lifted bans on marijuana, a drug strictly prohibited in China; involuntary recovery is rare without a court orThe Chinese government is tough on narcotics. Drug traffickers are der. These decisions strengthen citizens’ bodily autonomy and freepunished through extensive imprisonment or execution. Consequent- dom of choice but are also ineffective for drug regulation. America’s ly, the country has seen considerable success in curbing the illegal opioid crisis continues to worsen as the death toll from overdosing cross-border poppy trade with Myanmar. However, the demand for exceeded 100,000 for the first time in 2021, all amid increased fedthese drugs remains. Under the current system, drug users are often eral spending on various detoxification programs. Sometimes, civil locked up for rehabilitation and suffer from a lack of proper medical liberties come at a cost. care. This situation reflects the punitive national attitude toward addiction. As both the Chinese and U.S. attempts at narcotics control show little efficacy in alleviating the growing drug crisis, one way to approach More importantly, the retributive strategy has not been fruitful. The the problem is to consider the lessons learned on both sides. number of registered drug users in China drifted steadily upwards from 150,000 in 1991 to 2.5 million in 2017. Last summer, out of The Chinese policy is often inhumane, but its effectiveness in curtail30 people I interviewed from a forced rehabilitation center in Meis- ing the drug supply is undeniable. Implementing stern consequences han for a recovery project, one-third had been in detention multiple for sellers will reduce the possibility of overdosing by raising the times, indicating problems with reintegration. “I don’t know what prices of drugs. Meanwhile, it is necessary to take a tip from the I’ll be able to do once I get out of here,” said a detainee during our U.S. government and grant more leniency to users, as a strong public conversation. belief in the right to personal choice will shape a supportive social attitude that makes reintegration easier. A system that incorporates However, would a system centering on government-funded volun- the benefits of both sides could ultimately shrink the addicted poputary recovery be a better option? A closer look at the U.S. treatment lation.
AI is Hindering Student’s Cognitive Thinking Abilities By Savannah Cox ’24 Staff Writer
Recent research has suggested that Artificial intelligence has begun to hinder humanity’s cognitive abilities. While there are many ways in which AI has positively influenced society; enabling the ability to collect, process, and analyze large amounts of data at a faster rate than ever before, and increasing the learning efficiency of individuals, it also has its downsides. The cognitive abilities of students are diminishing as they become more dependent on AI. Users across the world have embraced the tool, asking it to perform a range of tasks. This is true for students; from middle school through college level. ChatGPT, a Microsoft-backed AI, was released in November 2022 and took the world by storm. This chatbot can simulate
and process the human conversation and generate essays. ChatGPT has already been barred from student usage in several universities across the globe. The South China Morning Post states that: “The University of Hong Kong (HKU) has become the latest tertiary institution in the city to allow its lecturers and staff to use ChatGPT, but students were still barred from using the tool under its latest guidelines.” The university announced in February of 2022 a temporary ban on students using ChatGPT, or any other AI-based tool for their course work, assessments, or classes. Given AI’s ability to easily generate information from a search engine;
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OPINIONS
Spring 2023
SALMAGUNDY from generating essays to providing detailed answers to complex ques- (AGI), it continues to become more powerful than you think.” There are tions in minutes, it is not surprising that unverified information would end growing concerns amongst experts that humans will accept this to “reup on the internet and in AI-generated essays.Artificial intelligence itself main competitive, participate socially and professionally in the world, be does not have the human ability to think outside the box, but many stu- entertained, and get things done.” It is human nature to turn to more effecdents are limiting their cognitive thinking by relying on AI as their source tive and efficient tools, such as AI. In a society where AI is becoming an of information. increasingly prominent feature, critical thinking will become even more paramount. In a world where the demand to adapt is constantly growing According to Pew Center research on Artificial Intelligence and the Fu- and information is so accessible, we must utilize our critical thinking to ture of Humans; “Present-day AI is an ever-advancing tool. Although it assess the validity of the information we obtain. is nowhere near as intelligent as human-like artificial general intelligence
STAFF SALMAGUNDY
Co-Editor-in-Chiefs: Katherine Li Jianing (Jennifer) Lin Sports Editor: Mary Zheng Outside the Bubble News Editor: Katherine Rosenorn Leeah Han Inside the Bubble News Editors: Lucy Newmyer Olivia Montminy Opinions Editors: Ava Cargan Jaimie Ng Outside the Bubble Arts & Travel Editor: Sadie Abramson Inside the Bubble Arts & Travel Editor: Bessie Xu Layout Editor: Jianing (Jennifer) Lin Staff Writers: Zayba Ali, Charlotte Ashman, Akshita Ashokkumar, Kathryn Ausere, Sofia Cepeda, Elisa Cha, Chloe Chung, Katharine Cokeley, Savannah Cox, Tenley Davis, Samantha Flibbert, Mae Fourticq, Sofia Garza, Leah Glaspey, Annabelle Horst, Evana Jang, Suri Jiang, Claire Kaplan, Charlotte Kronholm, Luna Lee, Lily Legere, Muyang Li, June Ying Liu, Serena Lok, Junyue Ma, Xiaoyu Ma, Yichen Ma, Marshury Malla, Audrey McDaniel, Addison McNear, Katherine Meyer, Samantha Orlowski, Madeleine Port, Anna Risoli, Ivana Rodal Fernandez, Yuling Ruan, Evelyn Sanchez, Anqi Shi, Tingjia Shi, Cara Smith, Ziqi Tang, Charisse Thorpe, Rui Wang, Xiyu Xu,, Kaiqing Yang