GET
THE
SHOT In This Issue Masks 10
TikTok 14 DMV 18
Simone Biles 20
Details
PHILOSOPHY The Tower is a student-run publication at The Bishop’s School in La Jolla, CA. Writers and editors work together under the guidance of a faculty advisor to enhance the Bishop’s community and stimulate meaningful conversation through the collection and distribution of news. The Tower aims to educate the Bishop’s community about issues and events that pertain to the experience of young adults. Sections of The Tower include Sports, Arts, Culture, Campus, Local & Beyond, Opinion, and The Bell. The Tower prints multiple issues each academic year, in addition to continuous online content. POLICY The Tower refrains from prior review of its issues, and maintains the right to publish anonymous quotes when the privacy of the individual is a concern. All quotes are subject to editing for clarity and length. Opinions expressed in The Tower do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or of the Bishop’s School. COLOPHON The Tower is printed by Streeter Printing Company in Mira Mesa, CA. The Staff uses Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator to arrange photographs and graphics, and distributed 400 copies of Issue 01 to the Bishop’s community. Typefaces include Saonara for the cover; Public Sans for the headlines, bylines, and subtitles; Minion Pro for the body text. Issue 01 and previous issues of The Tower are available digitally on issuu.com.
CONTRIBUTORS Editors-in-Chief Sariah Hossain Clare Malhotra
Graphics Editor-in-Chief Kyle Berlage Copy Editors Maya Buckley Crystal Li Tate Vaccaro Staff Writers Isadora Blatt Leila Feldman Katherine Ge Max Stone Faculty Advisor Ms. Laine Remignanti
CONTACT The Tower c/o The Bishop’s School 7607 La Jolla Blvd, La Jolla, CA 92037 www.thebishopstower.com thetower@bishops.com IG @thebishopstower TW @thebishopstower
All members of the Bishop’s community are invited to submit letters to the Editors-in-Chief by visiting THE BELL our website, The Bell is a section of The Tower that intends to serve as a relief from www.thebishopstower.com, and the depth of the magazine. Satire, clicking on the ‘Submit Letter’ tab. puzzles, quizzes, and the like are frequent inside The Bell.
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DETAILS | ISSUE 01
Cover Art by Sariah Hossain (‘22)
This issue’s cover art depicts Olivia Rodrigo at the White House, during her meeting with Joe Biden regarding lagging COVID-19 vaccination among youth. “Get the Shot” is shown as both a reference to the event with Rodrigo, but also doubles as an editorial statement to the Bishop’s community to encourage vaccination. In our cover story, Tate Vaccaro (‘22) details both on the Rodrigo meeting and the celebrity force behind vaccination messaging.
Social Media Follow us!
Instagram: @thebishopstower Website:
www.thebishopstower.com
Twitter: @thebishopstower
H
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MEET the EDITORS Favorite Place:
Scotiabank Arena*
Favorite Tradition:
Maroon Polos!
Spotify
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TA Va T c E
PC: Sariah Hossain (‘22), Clare Malhotra (‘22), Kyle Berlage (‘22), Maya Buckley (‘22), Crystal Li (‘23), Tate Vaccaro (‘22)
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*as long as the Maple Leafs win
Favorite Place:
NYC
Favorite Tradition:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Tradition:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Tradition:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Tradition:
Favorite Place:
Favorite Tradition:
Reykjavik
NYC or San Diego
The Airport My backyard!
Spotify Bish >Apple Music Bowl Blessing of Spotify> Apple Music the Animals
Senior Rec Room
Spotify
>Apple Music
Blessing of Spotify> Apple Music the Animals
LIFE Cereal at Milk Break
Spotify
>Apple Music
so... we may be a little biased when it comes to music streaming! THE
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I can’t quite believe I’m writing this letter to you all, and I can’t tell you how honored I am to be doing so. In all honesty, I’ve been thinking about what I would write in my Tower Editor Letter since I was in middle school; this is my version of planning out your Oscars speech in the bathroom mirror just in case you ever pull it off. Thank you to my family, the Academy, you know how it goes. Writing is a special thing to me; it always has been. The first time I wrote a story I was five years old, sitting criss-cross applesauce on my kindergarten classroom’s plush rug, scribbling down the oh-so-fascinating tale of how I adopted the fish I had then, Sparkle. Somewhere in between being that five-year-old girl and the seventeen-year-old girl who writes to you now, I started to treat writing as something almost holy—something sacred. When, exactly, did I start thinking like that? Easy answer: since taking Journalism class. This class was where I learned to start thinking of writing as a noble act, a responsibility. We on staff at The Tower have a duty to use the tools of our writing–language, tone, keen observation–to spread truth. To start new conversations and delve further into existing ones. To keep a pulse on our community and build our coverage accordingly. We listen first, and then we report. Tate Vaccaro (‘22) exemplifies this in our cover story this issue, which examines Olivia Rodrigo’s visit to the White House as the intersection of pop culture and politics. She crafted her story with an eye for what we’re talking about at this current moment—the importance of vaccination, the role of young influencers, how politicians can connect with our generation as we come of age, grow up. While I was growing up, I dreamt of calling myself an author or a writer—never a journalist. The Tower has given me so much over my high school years, but perhaps most importantly it’s given me an identity. ‘Writer,’ yes, but now also ‘journalist,’ and ‘editor.’ The work I do for The Tower is how I try to capture Bishop’s life. I urge you all to find a way to do the same: write down your happy moments on your phone’s Notes app, save them to your Snapchat memories, go buy a disposable camera to keep in your purse or back pocket (that way you get some good Instagram content too—what’s that about two birds and one stone?). This might be my sentimentality or fear of change, or maybe it’s just the senior in me speaking, but I think you’ll want to remember these moments. Be a writer if only in this regard; observe the life around you, store it in your heart. Amy Carlyle (‘20), Carly Phoon (‘20), Daniel White (‘21), and Slightly Edwards (‘21) — I hope we make you guys proud. Ms. Rem, thank you for guiding us. Bishop’s, I can’t wait to see what we do together this year. The Tower will be here to memorialize it.
Love,
Sariah Hossain Editor-in-Chief
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EIC LETTERS | ISSUE 01
PC: Sariah Hossain (‘22), Clare Malhotra (‘22)
Hi, Bishop’s.
To quote
the Grey’s Anatomy theme song, “Nobody knows where they might end up.” I’m so excited to be your Co-Editor-in-Chief this school year, to set deadlines and write articles, and introduce a generation of freshmen to the class and art of journalism. However, I write this letter—the first of several—irreverently. I’m seated with pretzel-tangled legs, a Starbucks latte in one hand, the other hand typing on my phone. I’m in the backseat of a silver rental car, speeding down the tree-cloaked Mass Pike, on the way from Massachusetts to Connecticut, from one college tour to the next. I, along with much of our senior class, have traveled to various universities across the country, to red brick buildings and colleges set on the beach, to urban campuses and small college towns, to colleges that advertise being the best of both worlds in every single way. I don’t know how to choose, and I’m okay with having no idea where I’ll end up in ten years, in five years, or next September. A lot of things can change overnight. Take our cover story by Tate Vaccaro (‘22). Olivia Rodrigo, an eighteen-year-old acting in a Disney+ TV show and posting original songs on Instagram, skyrocketed to fame with the release of her first single “drivers license” last January. She released her debut album SOUR and became a young pop sensation, and then, last month, you likely saw her gracing your TV or social media feed in a picture with President Biden, or a video encouraging vaccination amongst young people. We all tend to put ourselves in boxes: artists, writers, STEM students, athletes, but our ten year plans probably look drastically different from where we might find ourselves in ten years. I don’t think any of us expected to have our high school years defined by a pandemic, but I know when I look back, this couple of years will stand out most starkly: wearing N95s and grabbing prepackaged lunches and staring fuzzily at a grid of dull faces through a pair of blue-light glasses. As Tower staff members, we’re thrilled to spend the upcoming year on campus, to cover athletics and arts and anything other than COVID, to distribute paper copies of our magazine into every never-ventured-upon corner of the School. And as a senior, I’m looking forward to one final first day of school, one final Bishbowl, one final UV (just one though), one final sports season, and one red-robed graduation photo—hard fought but full of tears. Thank you for reading The Tower.
Love,
Clare Malhotra Editor-in-Chief
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CONTENTS
CAMPUS
08 10 12
The New Agenda
2021-22 through the eyes of the next ASBC leadership Leila Feldman
New Year, Same Mask
School policy and community thoughts on masks in 2021-22 Kyle Berlage
Tried and Tested
How COVID’s test-optional policies might affect the future of college admissions Clare Malhotra
CULTURE
14
Tik to the Top of the Charts How TikTok fuels our new music industry Maya Buckley
PC: Christie Linnard (‘20)
LOCAL & BEYOND
16 18
The Soundscape of Summer
How popular music parallels our mindsets and music recommendations from the summer Sariah Hossain
Driving Us Crazy
Why we all dread going to the DMV Isadora Blatt
OPINION
20
Don’t Get “The Twisties” Twisted The power of Simone Biles prioritizing her mental health Clare Malhotra
COVER STORY
22
A Not-So-Sour Visit to the White House
How an 18-year-old pop star might be the answer to getting young people vaccinated Tate Vaccaro
THE BELL
24 Get Your Stream On 26 No One Asked, Kyle Leila Feldman
Kyle Berlage
Ten Summer 27 Top Instagram Captions
the new
2021-22 through the eyes of the next ASBC leadership
AGENDA
Leila Feldman
T
he President and Vice President—not Joe and Kamala, but rather seniors Hunter Kates and Yasi Henderson—are planning the school year and what it will look like in regards to our activities. Hunter and Yasi were voted in by our student body last May and with the school year finally here, they spoke to what plans the Associated Student Body Committee (ASBC) has in store. Yasi said that she is a “pretty outgoing person who likes to talk to a lot of people,” which made her want to be “some sort of leader on campus.” Yasi expanded on that by saying that she wanted to plan and attend fun, interactive activities with high participation. She is an active member in the campus community: one of the Varsity Field Hockey co-captains and a member of the Varsity Lacrosse team while simult ane ously
a part of multiple clubs. Therefore, she views herself as someone who “can represent people very well.” Few may know the Vice President’s duties include overseeing all clubs and making the students aware of these opportunities. Hunter has a little bit of a different approach to running the ASBC; he views it as a “two-pronged thing.” One aspect is the spirit and fun side, but the other is where they try to “get stuff done and change things for student life,” including keeping incorporating both students’ ideas into activities and maintaining a productive space. His top priority is making sure Bishop’s students find balance between academics and happiness. As president, Hunter views himself as the person who is “trying to keep everyone on task and organized, but really the Chief of Staff, Serena Zhang (‘24) does a really good job of that.”
Beyond that he is brainstorming ideas and talking to teachers, including Campus Scheduler and Events Coordinator Ms. Kanda Maynard, about logistics. Hunter and Yasi got a lot of student feedback when they ran, and after listening, something they really want to incorporate is more spirit, or, as Yasi put it, “a lot of hype.” They want to create fun activities throughout the school year. Hunter brought up the idea of a spikeball tournament and they want to ensure that Homecoming, announcements, and spoints (spirit points) all make a comeback. They want to rebuild the school spirit we lost over the pandemic year while also listening and receiving constant feedback from students. Every politician makes promises they can’t keep. Some famous ones have been “Read my lips: I will not raise taxes,” which was promised by George H.W. Bush, who raised taxes, or, “I promise we don’t need In-n-Out, we have good food at home,” which was promised by my mom when we didn’t. Hunter and Yasi however, want to make sure all their promises are fulfilled. One of Hunter’s main campaign promises was to create grade transparency. He is seeing this through by starting to meet with Head of the English department Dr. Anna Clark to discuss progress checks throughout the quarter. He also understands that students need to take the initiative to meet with teachers to discuss their grades. Yasi, on the other hand, is more “spirit oriented” and wants to create more high-quality and frequent events for the student body to enjoy, specifically focused on Home-
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CAMPUS | ISSUE 01
Art by Leila Feldman (‘24)
With many factors to consider when planning for the next school year, the new ASBC has its work set out for them.
Something they really want to incorporate is more spirit, or, as Yasi put it,
“a lot of hype.”
PC: Hunter Kates (‘22), Yasi Henderson (‘22)
coming. Hunter and Yasi agree on few things, but one of them is that on campus they want to make their presence known. Hunter wants to be someone that “You can come up to, ask questions, and bounce ideas off.” Yasi added, “Yes Leila, please include that! We would love for people to do that, it would literally make my day.” Hunter and Yasi both understand that while they have a responsibility to make sure that they are approachable, they also want to approach students. “I can’t only ask people to come up to me, but [I] also [value] doing my part,” Hunter said. When it came to making this year fun, Hunter began by saying that new students from last year and this year haven’t experienced t h e tradi-
tional non-academic Bishop’s experience and ASBC really wants to make that possible this year. Some examples he gave were “going to sports games, going to plays, the walk from Bishop’s to La Jolla High for Bishbowl.” “A lot of people don’t know what that’s like,” Yasi said, “and we want to make sure we bring all these things back and fuel these experiences.” This year, we will once again have a Homecoming dance, as ASBC starts to work out the logistics such as date, theme, and location. Alongside Homecoming, they plan to throw a Bishbowl and hopefully have more free dress days. Fully committing to school spirit, Hunter even promised to show up to a home Varsity Field Hockey game with spray paint across his shirt reading “Go Yasi!” However, when asked about this year’s theme of Mental Health, which was announced via email on July 27, they admitted there wasn’t a drawn out plan but “want to make sure we’re on the same page as Peer Support,” Yasi said, “because their goal is to be a support system for the mental health of students.” Hunter (and ASBC) want to work with Peer Support and keep the lines of communication open. When asked about final words, Yasi wanted to get one more quote out. “Everyone get ready to get involved and get hyped!” You know what to do, Bishop’s.
Hunter and Yasi already collaborate extensively on plans for the new school year... which only just begun!
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Unmasked tourists are greeted at Surf Diva in La Jolla Shores by masked employees, as some stores have adjusted to recent CDC guidance.
New Year,
SAME MASK Kyle Berlage
School policy and community thoughts on masks in 2021-2022
O
CAMPUS | ISSUE 01
PC: Kyle Berlage (‘22)
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n the morning of Tuesday, June 15, 2021, California collectively exhaled anew. Including restaurants, gyms, and convenience stores, people were now legally allowed to enter most public indoor spaces maskless. The cloth that draped over our mouths and defined our lives for over a year was mostly eliminated for those vaccinated, and President Biden’s self-described “Summer of Freedom” began. However, after months of a gradual return to normality, the State of California announced it would require masks to be worn indoors during the 2021-2022 academic year for all K-12 schools, with a subsequent statement from The Bishop’s School announcing compliance with the California order. As Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines have shifted between different recommendations, and California’s guidance has faced recent criticism, questions still loom on whether masks are necessary in the first place and whether students will comply. During the 2020-2021 school year, the ability to learn in-person came with numerous pandemic-related restrictions. Masks were to be worn at all times on campus, students were to remain six feet apart, and only certain grade-levels could be on-campus each day. But as COVID-19 numbers in San Diego County became more manageable as the academic year went on, restrictions were lifted on distancing and grade-level occupation of campus. By the final months of the year, the entire school was able to learn in-person, fully-vaccinated teachers were allowed to go maskless in rooms together, and students were only required to maintain three feet of distance. Much of the reason for this shift was rising COVID-19 vaccination rates, as vaccines became available to all people 16 years of age or older in California on April 15, 2021. In fact, vaccinations were so rapid in San Diego County compared to other counties in California and even other states that, according to the California Health & Human Services Agency, by the end of the school year, 66 percent of the County residents had received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
But as vaccines have propelled the community to a sense of pre-COVID normalcy, the higher-transmission Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—has brought the San Diego County case numbers higher. And infectious disease researcher Shane Crotty at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology believes it presents a worrying threat to the most vulnerable: the unvaccinated. Given that 97% of new hospitalizations and 99% of new deaths are among the unvaccinated, the threat is small to the vaccinated. Additionally, the threat to adolescents remains minimal, as it has been throughout the pandemic, which led the CDC to originally recommend that vaccinated students need not wear masks in K-12 schools in early July. This lower vulnerability has led some students to feel that masks might be too forceful of a policy. Marianna Pecora (‘22) said, “Knowing that a good number of faculty, staff, and students are vaccinated, and most who aren’t [vaccinated] are eligible to be vaccinated, I think mask requirements on campus could be loosened.” However, she noted any school policy ought to comply with government health requirements. “If [CDC] guidance changes during the year, or we have another spike, then [school] requirements should change,” she explained. However, CDC guidance has changed numerous times throughout the year. During the summer, CDC changed its guidance to say that vaccinated members of the school community need not wear masks on July 9, and then switched to recommend that masks be worn at all times on K-12 campuses on July 27. And with this instability of guidance, Eli Browne’s (‘23) opinion differed from Marianna’s, as he proposed a potential system where proof of vaccination could be provided to the school in exchange for the ability to take down the mask indoors. While his ideas are open to change if found to be not safe or viable, he believed that “a system where vaccinated people are allowed to have requirements loosened will make the return to campus easier without being too reckless.” ASBC President Hunter Kates (‘22) said that policies depending on circumstance make sense, and agreed with the School’s policy of allowing mask abstinence outdoors on campus. “I think nearly all of the community is vaccinated, and if we are reasonably distanced and be-
ing smart, I don’t see why masks would be good.” She then compared the mask policy necessary… However, if we are crammed to the uniform policy, adding, “Certaintogether in the gym for an assembly, then ly the mandated uniform infringes upon masks could be appropriate,” he detailed. personal freedom, but it is an expectation There is good basis for the as- that reinforces equity and the collective sumption that the majority of the student over the individual. It is a visible symbol body has been vaccinated: the CDC’s data of membership in this community.” reported that as of July 26, 2021, almost Coincidentally, much like certain 70% of children aged 12-17 had received aspects of the uniform policy, there are at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine na- considerable questions about whether the tionwide. However, there is no real way student body will abide by this new mask to accurately predict the amount of the policy at all. Nihko Johnson-Newman student body which has been vaccinated. (‘22) predicted, “Unless the school enPotential legal challenges are present when forces their mask requirements like they asking for vaccination status because none did last year, most people will probably of the vaccines have been given full FDA not wear them. Even then, there’s going approval—only Emergency Use Authori- to be resistance to wearing them.” Howevzation—and because the vast majority of er, Hunter disagreed, saying, “I think that the student body is under 18. Release of Bishop’s students [will] happily comply their official health documentation is thus with whatever is put in place,” and Maronly possible with parental approval. ianna hopes that is true “for the safety of W i t h these obstacles, according to “We are a community, and being a member of a Assistant Head community always requires some of School Mr. Michael Beam.” er, the School will comply — Dean of Students Ms. Michelle Shea with guidance from the State of California and currently has no plans to require proof our community and for an easy transition of vaccination from the student body. Ad- into our new school year.” ditionally, Mr. Beamer said that the State Either way, there may not be of California’s desire to prevent differential much choice in the matter, as Ms. Shea treatment among students, and the asso- mentioned the school would be enforcing ciated negative social effects that doing the mask policy and that “if students are so could generate, “is consistent with the not willing to wear a mask, they might not School’s values.” be able to be on campus.” Additionally, State officials from the California History teacher Mr. Matthew Valji said he Department of Public Health have theo- will fully enforce the mask policy for two rized—and the administration seemed to reasons. “First, the health and well-beagree—that there is a distinct possibility ing of our students and their families are that forcing unvaccinated students to wear our top priority. We don’t know who has masks and allowing vaccinated ones to family members who may be particularly keep it off will create a visual distinction susceptible to COVID-19 and/or are imbetween students that opens them up to munocompromised. Second, I want us to bullying depending on their vaccination do everything possible to prevent a return status. The department said in its guid- to virtual learning,” he detailed. ance for the 2021-2022 school year that We can only wait for the school “depending on the culture and attitudes year to begin for the answers to some of in the school or surrounding communi- the most pressing questions: How will ty,” students may experience isolation and teachers enforce the policy? Will students bullying. comply? Is this policy necessary and will Dean of Students Ms. Michelle it change? However, in the meantime, it Shea also provided justification for the seems as if the infamous staple of the panpolicy, saying, “We are a community, and demic will not be leaving us just yet. being a member of a community always requires some sacrifice for the greater
sacrifice for the greater good
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TRIED &
How COVID’s test-optional policies might affect the future of college admissions
“A
fter careful consideration of your application, we regret to inform you…” The words glare out of dozens of Bishop’s laptops, and thousands of other dusty computers scattered across the country, even the world. In a haze of tears, the students slam their laptops. During last year’s admission cycle, that of the college class of 2025, these rejection letters were more prevalent than ever as selective colleges’ acceptance rates reached an all time low. Brown University’s acceptance rate dropped to 5.4% from 6.9% the previous year. Columbia University’s went from 6.3% to 3.7% the previous year. The principal cause of this, according
to the high school class of 2022 and beyond, the question becomes: do test scores reward accomplished students, or perpetuate inequality? Test-optional and test-blind policies primarily originated during the pandemic, as many students were unable to take the SAT and ACT in light of lockdown. “I actually only took the SAT once, since all my retakes kept getting cancelled due to COVID,” Delilah Delgado (’21) said. “I had to drive almost six hours to a very remote town in Southern Arizona in order to take the SAT,” Sharisa You (‘22) said. Only 44% of students who applied through the Common Applica-
“In my opinion, test-optional or test-free admissions allows the offices to look at the fuller experience of the applicant.” —Associate Director of College Counseling Mr. AJ Jezierski to The Wall Street Journal, was test-optional and test-blind admissions. Some have said that the absence of test scores leaves colleges without a standardized numerical gauge for students’ academic performance.“Without an objective measure like the SAT, gaming the system to gain access to higher ed[ucation] through wealth and connections would be much more common,” the College Board said in a statement. However, others, including many journalists and study leaders, have pointed to holistic admissions and spotted some of the holes in the logic of a standardized test. As colleges start to extend these SAT and ACT guidelines
CAMPUS | ISSUE 01
Logo courtesy of CollegeBoard
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tion before February 15 submitted test scores, in contrast to 77% the year before. In normal years, testing forms a barrier which deters students with low or non-existent scores from even applying. Therefore, the year of the pandemic saw record-high numbers of applicants, prompting the aforementioned record-low acceptance rates. According to The Washington Post, Columbia had 51% more applicants than the previous year. This leaves questions still about how colleges might judge students without a standardized metric. Dartmouth College Dean of Admissions Lee Coffin told The Wall Street Journal that, prior
to the pandemic, test scores w e r e one of the most critical parts of an application to review. “I totally understand why colleges went test-optional this year,” Senior Mira Gowda said, explaining that she knew many Bishop’s students whose tests were cancelled. However, she said she decided to submit her ACT score because she wanted something relatively standardized to demonstrate her skills. Grade inflation runs rampant in highschools across the country— public and private. According to the Bishop’s website, 56% of students have a grade point average of greater than a 4.0. Test scores are therefore likely necessary for colleges to distinguish between different students with straight-A report cards. “I think not having test scores makes it harder to differentiate between students,” Clay Kates (‘21) said. However, Teachers College Record and various other studies have shown that rather than measuring a student’s intelligence or aptitude, the SAT and ACT better measure a student’s privilege, since students from higher income families and schools often pay for expensive tutors or books, and therefore outperform students facing adversity.
TESTED Clare Malhotra
PC: Clare Malhotra (‘22)
Additionally, retaking the test or long-dist a n c e travel to test locations is not always an option for lower-income students. In June of 2018, prior to COVID, The University of Chicago created the UChicago Empowerment Initiative, dropping the testing requirement. This was in an effort to improve the college’s accessibility to low-income and first generation students. “In my opinion, test-optional or test-free admissions allows the offices to look at the fuller experience of the applicant,” Associate Director of College Counseling Mr. AJ Jezierski said. “Removing a quantitative measure in this process leads to a more qualitative review of the student academically and personally. Experts tend to agree that the SAT does not measure overall intelligence or IQ. While originally marketed as an aptitude test, according to Bob Schaeffer, public education director of the National Center for Fair & Open Testing “No test can truly measure ‘aptitude’ for academic success because school performance is not based on a single factor.” He went on to explain that standardized exams test one specific type of intelligence. Since the tests are
both fast-paced and multiple-choice, they prioritize strategic guessing over a careful solution. “They advantage students with strong test-taking skills, not necessarily those with other talents that may be more valuable in the classroom or in life,” Schaeffer said. According to a landmark study conducted by William Hiss, former Dean of Admissions for Bates College, a highschool GPA better indicates a student’s college success than a standardized test score. “These [test-optional and testblind] policies make me wonder what college admissions criteria will look like in twenty years,” Mira said. The Universities of California (UC’s) recently extended their testblind policy through the spring of 2025. They are likely developing a UC-specific exam for applicants. UCs are just one organization in hundreds across the country that are reconsidering the way they use standardized tests in their admissions process. Students have yet to see what colleges will require post-COVID. “I know many of them are having internal discussions on future testing policies, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see many of them going back to requiring SAT or ACT,” Mr. Jezierski said. “ I think a test optional future has a lot of potential,” Delilah said. “Often I see so many people putting
an inordinate amount of emphasis on their SAT/ACT results, when that’s truly only one component of an application.” Without test scores, the application reviewal process would likely shift to focus more on character-based analysis, such as essays and teacher recommendations, which may cater towards the expansion of holistic review. Colleges might look more closely at a student’s circumstances and the way they overcame them, rather than if they were able to crank out a high test score in the midst of adversity.
Although college admissions officials often stress the emphasis of holistic admissions, or looking at an applicant’s entire circumstances or personality, most colleges consider standardized test scores important benchmarks in the admissions process. THE
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How TikTok fuels the new music industry Maya Buckley
S
ince its launch in 2011, Spotify has forged a name for itself amongst its subscription-based music streaming counterparts like Apple Music or TIDAL, and currently boasts 158 million premium subscribers and over 356 million monthly active users. One of Spotify’s greatest allures is their Viral 50 playlist, which, according to Spotify, is a feature that compiles and con-
yardigans. How could music from a TV show that was cancelled over eight years ago make a resurgence into popular culture? The answer is incredibly simple: TikTok. Although Tiktok’s ability to make songs pop up on top charts is pretty undisputable, “Castaways”’s #3 spot on the charts is definitive proof that a mere TikTok trend can influence
Tik
to the
Top
of the Charts
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the popularity of songs, regardless of their relevancy or promotion by TikTok itself. When TikTok makes a deal with singers and record labels to intentionally promote their music—the results are staggering. One of the greatest
Art by Maya Buckley (‘22), Logos courtesy of Spotify and TikTok
stantly updates the “most viral tracks in the United States. The playlist itself has been liked by 354,707 Spotify users, but its crowning jewel is patently the varied track list. In fact, as of the beginning of the summer, out of the top 10 tracks on the Spotify Viral 50, two were from a television show. What’s unique about the two songs “Castaways” and “Into the Thick of It” that top the viral chart, is that they both belong to the children’s animated television show, The Back-
TikTok success stories is indubitably singer and rapper Lil Nas X, who, since his debut on Tiktok, has performed on Saturday Night Live (SNL), at Coachella, and has had multiple singles go platinum—and he owes it all to TikTok. In a statement to Time Magazine, Lil Nas X said, “I should maybe be paying TikTok… They really boosted the song.” Tiktok’s involvement in his career is what Lil Nas X acknowledges as what really started it—the general consensus amongst other success stories like Lil Nas X’s is that the involvement of TikTok in the music industry is beneficial. Ho w e v e r, there’s a subgenre of TikTok’s influence on music that some perceive as much more detrimental to burgeoning artists without a label, and affecting the overall sound of music in general. One of the most unique features of TikTok is that any creator—any one person with an account—can make their own sound in hopes that it goes viral. Many times these sounds are original audios, like someone speaking or an original song, but some are also remixes of already familiar songs or songs by new artists, just reposted by a random user on TikTok. Many people who tailor their songs for TikTok run the risk of someone else reposting their sound without any mention of the original: as is the case
with rapper ZaeHD. The artist’s song, which had been featured in 2.3 million videos on TikTok, was later sampled, and made into an audio by another user, who, according to Time, labeled it “Em Em Dance,” by Keezy. As of the article’s publication in 2019, the hashtag #ememdance had been viewed over 32 million times, all “with no reference to the song’s creators,” according to Time. Although both of these avenues arguably spread the popularity and recognizability of the song, giving credit to an artist’s work should be a priority in any creative medium; one that TikTok currently doesn’t recognize. The popularity of TikTok allures both users who want to watch content, and popular creators who want to create music most conducive to the platform, which is most notable for its short, digestible content, typically summarized as “15 seconds.” The issue with this is that many music labels and independent artists have started to formulate the TikTok algorithm, which, according to the Rolling Stones,
“is constantly searching for new clips, rather than just pushing out the latest videos from already popular users.” If a new or already popular singer wants to make the most amount of money or gain the most amount of recognition, clearly the most logical solution is to include clips in their music that can easily be turned into TikTok dances, challenges, or audios. Dylan Pasqua, who works as Music Partnership Manager at Fanbytes, a social media marketing company, said that “In a few years time, we could be looking at a media landscape where singles are accompanied by a TikTok challenge as default, in much the same way that music videos have become a standard part of the release process.” There have already been instances of this in current music: starting with emerging pop-star Olivia Rodrigo, whose debut album “SOUR” has been dominating the global music charts for weeks. In a video explaining her songwriting process, Rodrigo stated that she explicitly added music into her single, “drivers license” that could
act as a transition for certain TikToks — including transformation videos and dramatic edits — “And people did make TikToks like that” Rodrigo said. The influence of a single app on songs’ lyrics and composition may seem like far too much power, even if the apprunners work with musicians and creators to promote their music. If this trend continues, this new era of music could quite quickly simplify and commodify the music industry, turning what is popular into what is the most “danceable,” or “memeable” on TikTok. Just because a song doesn’t find success on TikTok doesn’t make it less valuable to pop-culture, yet the makeup of TikTok top charts certainly reflects that sentiment. The integration of TikTok memes, stars, and music into our popular culture is not explicitly negative: but the path which we are going down can quickly turn the music industry into a system based on conformity and not creativity.
One of the greatest TikTok success stories is indubitably singer and rapper Lil Nas X, who, since his debut on Tiktok, has performed on Saturday Night Live (SNL), at Coachella, and has had multiple singles go platinum—and he owes it all to TikTok.
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The Soundscape of Summer How popular music parallels our mindsets and music recommendations from the summer Sariah Hossain
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times they will change, it’ll all come around.” I’d felt myself getting a bit dramatic and thinking about all the years I’d spent growing up at Bishop’s waiting for the Rec Room to belong to my class and thinking about the year that was, Zoom school, and tented classrooms, and six-feetapart-at-all-times. As the chorus went on, Lorde sang of yearning for the simplicity of childhood and of missed opportunities, and I, spurred by the song, couldn’t think of anything but our 2020-21 pandemic-ridden school year. While so much was taken away by the COVID-19 pandemic,
perhaps these two things were not: our affinity for art, and our tendency to create. Though maybe at a slower pace—and who can blame them for procrastinating a little during lockdown—artists released intentional and thoughtful records right there in the middle of the pandemic. 2020 albums like Taylor Swift’s folklore, Phoebe Bridgers’ Punisher, and The Weeknd’s After Hours had the artists curating their work for what they believed people wanted to hear at that particular moment in time. Those albums, among others, were put out into a world that was heavy with loss and loneliness.
Collage by Sariah Hossain (‘22), Album covers courtesy of their respective artists and labels
’d been standing in the Senior Rec Room on top of a not-sosteady ladder, armed with a paintbrush and a black-acrylic-covered palette, when acclaimed singer-songwriter Lorde released her song, “Stoned at the Nail Salon.” I rushed to press play on the second single from her long-anticipated third record, Solar Power. With layered harmonies and delicate guitar reverbing out of my phone’s speaker, I’d looked around the walls that the Class of 2021 never got to paint as Lorde sang of growing up, of moving on: “All the music you loved at sixteen you’ll grow out of, and all the
Now, as the summer of 2021 draws to a close, the world is beginning to feel different—better. More normal. The Rec Room has doodles all over its walls, sporting events have fans cheering in the stands, we can stroll down sidewalks unmasked. It seems like this summer encapsulated another very particular moment in time: the beginning of the pandemic’s end, the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak. The music released this summer, a decided shift from that of last year, interestingly mirrors that wider shift in mindset. One of the defining albums of this summer is Lorde’s Solar Power, from which two singles have been released; both of these have soundtracked my Rec Room painting. Lorde’s record is “a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors,” as she wrote in a statement announcing the album. “In times of heartache, grief, deep love, or confusion, I look to the natural world for answers. I’ve learnt to breathe out, and tune in. This is what came through.” Like Lorde, seeking comfort in nature is something many of us have been doing as well, as, in early quarantine, I know walks outside and glowing sunsets were the only things keeping me sane. There also seems to be a sentiment of being ready for change running through this summer’s releases–of wanting to break out of melancholy and monotony. Jack Antonoff, who in fact produced Lorde’s Solar Power along with innumerous acclaimed albums over the past decade or so, fronts his own band, Bleachers. Their third studio album, Take the Sadness Out of Saturday Night, hit shelves and streaming services on July 30.
“There’s a lot of desperation in these songs,” Antonoff said in an interview with Rolling Stone. “That desperation of wanting out, of I want to break through into another part of my life.” If that doesn’t sum up the feelings drumming inside of us after living through this past year, I don’t know what does. The third single from the album, “Stop Making This Hurt,” seems to be the center of the record thematically. The verses catalogue various members of Antonoff ’s life and their small, individual, but never insignificant struggles, and the chorus unites them all with the anthemic chant of, “stop making this hurt!” “Jack [Antonoff ’s] newest song is this little bit of happiness after a crazy year,” said Senior Sancia Milton. “He doesn’t try to sugarcoat, he doesn’t try to make people feel better with basic cliches, and he doesn’t gloss over the fact that 2020 hit everyone hard. That said, I think his greatest strength is in how he can place this very real struggle into the kind of hopeful, nostalgic music that still makes you want to get up and dance like a little kid. In light of all the post-pandemic rebuilding, I really think this is a song meant to help people heal–not forget about all the ‘hurt,’ not wallow in all the pain and loss, but actually heal from it, in the aftermath.” To heal, to grow. Isn’t that all any of us want at this point? Billie Eilish, whose sophomore record Happier Than Ever also headlines this summer’s biggest releases, seems to agree. “Before [the pandemic], I always felt under pressure and anxious and felt like I wasn’t doing enough, right, or doing a good job. Or this isn’t good enough. I felt like I wasn’t very talented at the
time, and I actually feel much more confident in my craft now,” Eilish shared, speaking with VEVO about her growth creatively in the past year and change. The title of the album perhaps hits the nail a little too on the head, but even exaggerations are based at least a little in truth. Happier Than Ever means Eilish is, well, happier than ever, at a better place than she’d been before. The subject matter is more mature than her earlier efforts, and her writing reflects that newfound honesty. In standout track “Male Fantasy,” best on the record along with “Happier Than Ever” and “Halley’s Comet,” Eilish reflects on her public image and the nonconsensual sexualization of young women in the music industry. The trend toward introspection and meditative lyrics is exemplified also in Tyler, the Creator’s recent and lauded project, Call Me If You Get Lost, from which standout tracks include “SWEET / I THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DANCE,” a smooth, nearly ten-minute two-parter, and “JUGGERNAUT.” We can look at these albums as mementos, as little snapshots of the state of the world at the times of their creation and release. Isn’t that part of the beauty of art existing in this world? It serves as a reflection of the emotions shared by so many at a given point in time, the crowning emotions of this summer being careful optimism, introspection, and hope. After the Black Death, came the Renaissance. After the Great Depression, the Roaring Twenties. After COVID-19? Well, we’ll have to see, but at the very least the walls of the Rec Room are painted once again.
“I really think this is a song meant to help people heal–not forget about all the ‘hurt,’ not wallow in all the pain and loss, but actually heal from it, in the aftermath.” - Sancia Milton (‘22) THE
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Isadora Blatt
CRAZY A
classic coming-of-age experience for freshmen and sophomores is beginning to drive. It may seem like the main obstacle to get past is the written permit test, then followed by the behind-the-wheel driving test. However, a lot of the time the hurdle is dealing with the DMV itself. What makes going to the DMV such a universally dreaded experience? For some it may be the long lines, for others it’s the uncooperative employees, and most of us just hate the hassle of it all. Personally, my first visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to get my learner’s permit was extremely frustrating. We decided to go to a location that was further away, thinking it would be less crowded. The second we got there, I realized I’d forgotten to bring my drivers’ education completion certificate. They turned me away, and since we were far from home, we went to a nearby FedEx and printed a copy of the certificate. The first employee approved the copy, and I waited in another line until I was all set up and ready to take the test. But then we were told they actually did need the original certificate. Mixed messages much? So we were forced to drive all the way home and back, which took over an hour due to the traffic at that time of day. Things went relatively smoothly after that and I did fi-
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Why we all dread going to the DMV
nally get my permit, but when I went home it was hours later than expected and I was completely exhausted. If I failed that test, I think I would have just given up. Seth Pintar (‘24) had almost the same experience. “My mom and I went to the DMV with all the information we thought we needed,” he expressed. He’d brought both his birth certificate and passport, but not enough documentation to prove his mom was, in fact, his mom. “We had to then go home and back, which extended our whole process.” At this point, if you REALLY want to be prepared, you’d better bring every document you can find in the house. I wouldn’t put it past the DMV to require your aunt’s 4’th grade school ID for “security reasons”. When Shivani Kadia (‘24) went to the DMV, her experience was fine, but it was more the overall vibe of the place that she disliked. “Fluorescent lighting is my greatest hate,” she explained. This is a formal request for the DMV to update their decor. Seriously, I’d be surprised if a single plant was able to survive in there what with the lifeless gray walls and furniture. According to Novalyne Petreikis (‘23), “going to the DMV is always far more stressful than it needs to be.” She recalls forgetting the necessary documents almost every time she’s gone. However, when she last went to get her permit, it wasn’t too bad. “When this
PC: Spencer Ralph (‘24)
DRIVING US
one employee was talking to me, I couldn’t hear her at all and it was really awkward,” she remembers. “But I definitely didn’t have the worst experience.” Similarly, Mia Bravo (‘24) was surprised at how smoothly the process of getting her permit went. After submitting information online in advance, it went a lot faster than she expected. Her parents had told her she’d have to wait in long lines and it would take forever. “I mean, it’s not like they gave me a balloon and a lollipop when I passed,” she said. It’s true, the employees aren’t really the sunshine and rainbows type. “But it was actually relatively timely.” While sometimes you can get lucky and remember to bring all the required information, or get the timing just right to escape rush hour, more often than not, going to the DMV is simply a terrible experience. It’s something that we all have to go through, and there’s no escaping it. Pro tip: DON’T print a copy of a missing document at the nearest FedEx. It won’t work out. That way, you, too can proudly say “I got my drivers’ license last week”.
“Going to the DMV is always far more stressful than it needs to be.” — Novalyne Petreikis (‘23)
Bring a book because at the DMV, you can always expect to be sitting around and
waiting for a while.
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The power of Simone Biles prioritizing her mental health
“The Twisties” Twisted
“W
e also have to focus on ourselves, because at the end of the day, we’re human, too,” Olympic gymnast Simone Biles said in a press conference. “So, we have to protect our mind and our body, rather than just go out there and do what the world wants us to do.” Citing her mental health, Simone Biles withdrew from the women’s gymnastics team final on Tuesday, July 27 at the Tokyo Olympic games. She withdrew from the individual allaround competition the next day, and three of the four individual events in the coming days. It was part of a current shift, one recently exemplified by tennis player Naomi Osaka as well as Biles, into understanding that elite athletes are humans too and deserve all of our care and respect. These actions were splattered across social media and news outlets the moment they happened. Many people criticized her decision. “Simone Biles quit on her team and her country. She should not be celebrated for it,” a TikTok user commented on one of Biles’ videos. Conservative TV host Charlie Kirk called her “a shame to the country” on his podcast, and said, “We are raising a generation of weak people like Simone Biles.” Journalist Piers Morgan wrote an op-ed for the Daily Mail. “Sorry, Simone Biles, but there’s nothing heroic or brave about quitting because you’re not having ‘fun,’” he said. The US women’s gymnastics team was the heavy favorite to win the all-around competition. They won the team gold at the Olympics in 2012 and 2016 and won every individual Olympic all-around competition since 2004. In addition to accomplished gymnasts Sunisa Lee and Jordan Chiles, they had Simone Biles, who won her first World Championship in 2013 and has not lost one since. She has 25 gold medals at World competitions, more
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than any gymnast in the history of the sport. After she removed herself from the competition, Biles explained that she was suffering “the twisties”: a dangerous psychological condition that causes gymnasts to lose track of the ground and of their placement in the air. Former gymnast and diver Catherine Burns took to Twitter to explain the danger of this mental state. “Driving a car is a good example,” she said. “Suddenly, in the middle of driving on the freeway, right as you need to complete a tricky merge, you have totally lost your muscle memory of how to drive a car. It’s terrifying. You’re moving way too fast, you’re totally lost, you’re trying to THINK but you know you don’t usually have to think to do these maneuvers, you just feel them and do them.” She went on to explain that the height of complexity of Biles’ skills would only add to the danger she faced. Biles said she struggled with the postponement of the Olympics for the COVID-19 pandemic. “Mentally I was kind of emptying my gas tank. I was ready to go in three months and ready to be done. That’s what I was striving for.” Then, the Games were moved back more than a year. “Now we have to take our foot off the gas,” she said. “It’s, ‘Whoa, whoa, wait. Not three months, now it’s going to be 15. So sorry, figure out your training schedule from here on out.’” Since her dazzling performance in 2016, Biles has been the generally agreed-upon GOAT: greatest (gymnast) of all time. As the other gymnasts entered the Tokyo Olympics, it was a competition for second place. But, while Biles deserved
Clare Malhotra
this status, deserved the recognition for her incredible skill and hard work, she was dehumanized, and people forgot that she felt pressure, that she was a person too. “Not a lot of people know what it’s like to feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders,” Senior basketball player Angie Robles said. “She may have trained incredibly hard to be in the best physical state possible to compete; however, if she’s not prepared mentally then it would have all been for nothing.” “The endless praise that Biles receives for her ‘superhuman’ abilities can lead to a kind of dehumanization,” Eren Orbey wrote for the New Yorker. It “enforc[es] an incessant expectation that she not only perform but outperform and a sense of bafflement in the rare instances that she doesn’t.” “I truly do feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times. I know I brush it off and make it seem like pressure doesn’t affect me but damn sometimes it’s hard,” she said in an Instagram post. Biles shared that she didn’t return in 2020 solely for the love of the sport. Team doctor Larry Nassar sexually abused her, alongside many other gymnasts for the course of many years. It was a revelation that caused USA gymnastics to have to reexamine the culture they
Screenshots by Clare Malhotra (‘22)
Don’t Get
had built around these women: property, taught to push their bodies through any and every pain they felt—physical or mental. ““If there weren’t a remaining survivor in the sport, they would’ve just brushed it to the side,” Biles said. She made a powerful statement by returning to the sport. Biles’ withdrawal from the games took incredible courage, and was among elite athletes who are destigmatizing conversations about mental health. Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka made headlines when she pulled out of Wimbledon and the French Open earlier this year because the tournaments did not allow her to choose not to speak to the press. “The truth is I have suffered from long bouts of depression since the US Open in 2018 and I had a really hard time coping with that,” Osaka said in an Instagram post. “I am not a natural public speaker and get huge waves of anxiety before I speak to the world’s media.” She also released a three part docu series on Netflix called Naomi Osaka. She spoke on the pressures of living up to her status as the first Asian player to rank so highly in tennis and documented the stress of her notoriety. The day she withdrew from the team final, Biles said that Osaka’s speaking up had inspired her to “focus on [her] mental health” and “not jeopardize
[her] health and well-being.” These two female athletes of color, both best in the world at their respective sports, have demonstrated that being the best doesn’t mean you have to be perfect and have hopefully ushered in a new era of stigmatization. Angie said that she had faced similar struggles with her mental health. “I was constantly being compared to others and it took away my confidence… I realized that I had been playing for everyone but myself and that I wasn’t having fun anymore. Once I started playing to have fun—and playing for myself—my mentality got better and I gained more confidence.” In the days following Biles’ withdrawal, there was an outpouring of generally positive support across social media. Her teammates supported her on social media and proudly sported their silver medals. “Your fearlessness and ability to do the impossible does not go unnoticed,” Sunisa Lee said in an Instagram post. “We love you.” Hundreds of celebrities expressed their support for the gymnast, including swimmer Michael Phelps. “We’re human beings,” Phelps said. “Nobody is perfect. So yes, it is okay to not be okay.” Biles has remained active on social media, posting to congratulate her teammate Sunisa Lee on her gold medal in the all around and to thank fans for their support. “The outpouring [of] love & support I’ve received has made me realize
I’m more than my accomplishments and gymnastics, which I never truly believed before.” Biles and Osaka have likely inspired a generation of people—particularly women of color—to prioritize their wellbeing and speak up when they are not okay. “So yes,” Angie said. “I have a lot of respect for Simone Biles. She did what many of us couldn’t, especially with such a huge platform as the Olympics.”
Although some well-known people criticized Simone Biles’ decision to withdraw from the Olympic team finals, many more, including her teammates and other celebrities, took to social media to applaud her.
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a not-so-SOUR How an 18-year-old pop star might be the answer to getting young people vaccinated
Tate Vaccaro
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Collage Art by Tate Vaccaro (‘22)
s Olivia Rodrigo clicked her six-inch Giuseppe Zanotti heels together on her way into the White House, Americans across the country were flooded with the warm nostalgia of Elle Woods strutting the Harvard campus in Legally Blonde. Dressed in a 1995 tweed wool Chanel skirt suit (a pink one, at that), the 18-year-old popstar showed the world that socialites can leave a striking impression when they involve themselves in politics, a phenomenon reminiscent of one of America’s most loved first ladies, Jackie Kennedy, who remains emblematic for her potent pink suit and matching hat. Could it be deja vu, perhaps? The purpose of Rodrigo’s visit was to encourage young people to get vaccinated. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), only 41.2% of people between the ages of 18 to 24 have been fully vaccinated. Additionally, people that fall within this age range have the highest rates of COVID-19 cases, a number that is only continuing to grow as highly transmissible variants are spiking COVID numbers across the country. The president aimed for 70% of adults to have received at least one dose of the vaccine by July 4th. He failed to satisfy this quota, as vaccination rates among young adults have remained notably low. For the majority of the not-so-easily-persuadable Gen Z population, the barriers standing in the way of getting vaccinated are the three m’s: misinformation, misunderstanding, or a mere lack of interest. Bridget Burke, a 22-year-old college student in Michigan, expressed concern that the vaccination could affect her reproductive health even though there is no scientific evidence that the vaccines influence fertility or pregnancy in any way. “I’m nervous about what’s in the vaccine,” said Burke. “I think personally I’ll put it off until I absolutely must get it.” Bryson Hardy, 19, a fiber optic cable splicer from Georgia, said he was not worried about contracting the virus and had no plans to get vaccinated. More systemic barriers are also preventing young people from receiving vaccines. According to a New York Times article, the lowest vaccination rates in the United States are among those who are Black, 24 or younger, work low income jobs, have less education, and have no health insurance. “As we dig into the data, we know that what we’re seeing is a lower rate among young people,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “That’s concerning, especially with the Delta variant being on the rise.” It’s common for celebrities to speak openly about their political beliefs, whether that be on social media or through means of their own. Alicia Silverstone, the actress who played Cher from Clueless and whom Rodrigo typical-
visit to the White House
ly draws her fashion inspiration from, was highly critical of vaccines in her 2014 book, The Kind Mama: A Simple Guide to Supercharged Fertility, a Radiant Pregnancy, a Sweeter Birth, and a Healthier, More Beautiful Beginning. “There has not been a conclusive study of the negative effects of such a rigorous one-size-fits-all, shoot-’em-up schedule,” she wrote. On the other hand, singer Dolly Parton has actively been using her platform to endorse the vaccine. According to CNN, Parton donated $1 million to the Nashville, Tennessee, hospital’s COVID-19 research efforts last year and posted a video on Twitter urging everyone to get the vaccine as soon as they are eligible. She also uploaded a video of her singing her hit song, “Jolene” with the reworked lyrics, “vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, I’m begging of you please don’t hesitate.” Social media platforms have increasingly nurtured political conversations between celebrities and their fanbases, incentivizing a new generation of politically active (and more importantly, educated) famous people. Rodrigo herself interviewed President Biden’s granddaughter, Maisy Biden, to discuss the importance of the youth vote in the upcoming days of the 2020 election. By now, almost every teenager has belted “good 4 u” in the shower as a means of addressing their most recent heartbreak or blasted “drivers license” amidst a coming-of-age flurry while driving on the highway. Surely, Olivia Rodrigo is no faceless name among young people. Rodrigo, as of [date], sports 14 million Instagram followers and 1.3 million Twitter followers. Her debut album “SOUR” has earned its spot on the Billboard album chart for the fifth consecutive week, making her one of the few women in the music industry to achieve such impressive numbers as a new artist. A day before Rodrigo made her appearance at the White House, the POTUS Instagram account posted a photo of a young Biden Tuesday morning, with the caption “I know this young person would’ve gotten vac-
cination, but we’ve got to get other young people protected as well. Who’s willing to help?” Rodrigo replied, “I’m in! See you tomorrow at the white house!” To add to the visit’s fun-loving and playful nature, Vice President Kamala Harris, who thoughtfully matched the pop star in a vivacious pink suit of her own, posted a photo of the two of them with the caption, “@ oliviarodrigo and I agree, vaccines—they’re ‘good 4 u.’” Over the course of the day, Rodrigo was also pictured posing in sunglasses with President Biden and filmed a short video with Dr. Anthony Fauci reading tweets about the vaccine. Evident by the splurge of light-hearted memes that followed Rodrigo’s visit, it was clear that her effort was well received. One pictured Olivia smiling at the door of the White House with the caption, “and in conclusion, may I please remind you that it does not say ‘RSVP’ on the Statue of Liberty?” and another depicted her giving a brief speech at the White House podium with the heading, “meet the new White House press secretary, Olivia Rodrigo.” The timing of Rodrigo’s visit, when paired with its incentive, is ingenious. It seems that politicians, who often fall flat in their plaintive efforts to communicate with young people, may have miraculously succeeded this time around. On August 2nd, Cyrus Shahpar, the COVID-19 data director for the Biden administration, announced that the United States reached President Biden’s goal of having 70 percent of eligible adults at least partly vaccinated. Perhaps the pairing of culturally incurious politicians and pop stars is one that just might be able to save lives.
“I’m in! See you tomorrow at the White House!” — Olivia Rodrigo
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STREAM ON
Leila Feldman
GET YOUR
This summer was filled with a lot of new adventures, but personally, I’ve loved discovering new TV shows. Specifically the so-called Holy Trinity of; Outer Banks season 2, Never Have I Ever season 2, and Gossip Girl (the reboot). So here I am to give you my professional opinions about everything on this list.
GOSSIP GIRL:
G
ossip Girl the reboot is meant to be a revival of the New York City elites’ children and their lives, relationships, and education among other things. Last summer, I spent a concerning amount of time on my bed watching the original Gossip Girl, and to say that I loved it would be an understatement, so my expectations for the reboot were both high and low. I know that no one can ever do Gossip Girl better than the original, but I wanted to see what the producers would attempt. Some of the things that I loved about this show was the fashion, specifically Julien Calloway (Jordan Alexander), Audrey (Emily Lind), and Zoya Lott (Whitney Peak). I love the blend of wealthy New England style with the 2021 style. The elegant one-color, loose silk blouses, paired with a shiny head or neck piece and perfect hair, makeup, plaid pants, and shoes that you know are expensive but look like running shoes. Or the tight, chic, short, patterned dresses and heels with red bottoms.
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They play with sexuality, race, and socioeconomic problems, which I’m really glad to see (because so many shows shy away from real teenage struggles), but at the same time, part of the beauty of the original show was the way the characters were so out-of-touch. Harry’s struggle with drugs and a cheating father and Aki’s attempt at untangling his sexuality are really well done and it shines a light on some of the common problems teenagers face. It makes you feel like you understand the struggles that you or your friends might go through in a way that is well routed rather than the typical boring informational videos we are often shown. I am by no way claiming this is educational but it does shine light on the things that are oftentimes shied away from. I find myself comparing the new characters to the old ones, and that only leads to more disappointment, so if you are doing that I would advise against it now. Side note: I can’t decide if I love or hate that there are new episodes Thursday. Knowing me, I
will not have the time to watch the episodes and then be miserably behind. My Editor-In-Chief Sariah Hossain (‘22) likes the fact that they are released every week so maybe my opinion will change? Gossip Girl was notoriously risky but here are some of my major issues with the show: huge teacher entanglement with the students’ personal and family problems, the revelation of who Gossip Girl is, and some questionable outfits. Gossip Girl has never been shy to tackle sensitive topics, but the revamp of the Gossip Girl blog site was horrible. It didn’t have any suspension and we found out who it was and why it was invented in one fell swoop, but in the original we were waiting for six seasons, it was a great portion of why people watched the show. It was by far the worst part of the show — why is the teacher running the site? Why does she not stop? Why is her voice so annoying? These are a few of the questions I have.
Photos courtesy of Home Box Office
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SPOILER: the identity of Gossip Girl
OUTER BANKS:
O
uter Banks tracks four ragged teenagers who are on a treasure hunt and along the way end up in the Bahamas, Outer Banks, and random stranded islands. Out of my three, this is probably the show I was most pleasantly surprised by. The first season—according to my friends —took a lot of heat because people thought it was only good because they were bored in quarantine. However, the second season didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed the growth of John B’s and Sarah’s relationship. The action scenes were well choreographed and had beautiful scenery. The plotline was both predictable and unpredictable— you knew what was coming, then it happened, and then the effect was
different than what you were anticipating. The final scene left me in shock and I can’t believe I have to wait a year and a half to find out what happens next (I will write a review on that too, don’t worry). However, with all the good, there must always be the bad too. First, is more of a critique of teenagers— Rafe is not attractive. It is not right that anyone can think that a maniac is attractive. In any way, shape or form. He is a maniac and I don’t know how anyone can see anything in him. Finally, sometimes I don’t understand the relevance of some of the unnecessarily gruesome fights, but that is my own personal preference.
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NEVER HAVE I EVER:
Photos courtesy of Netflix
ever Have I Ever follows a teenage girl who is discovering what it’s like to be a teenager and all the struggles that come with it. The last of my favorite shows is the one that I am most looking forward to for its next season. Never Have I Ever did not have a good first season; It was cliche, unfocused, and had too many confusing twists. The second season was much more structured and thus easier to follow. However, the main character Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) made every wrong decision. It was remarkable. That said, it does make the show much more interesting and engaging to watch; Plus, at the end of every episode, the problems are usually solved, and then a new
one surfaces. Devi is very funny with her sarcastic remarks and side commentary. The characters are really intricate and their actions make sense to the character. The show also does a fantastic job at talking about real teen issues: bullying, eating disorders, family issues, toxic relationships, sexism, racism and much more. Unfortunately, the dialogue sounds like it was written by a millennial who hasn’t spoken to a teenager since 2015. For example: “Sup queens?” Who says that? Not any teenager I’ve met. The show is pretty good overall, and I think it has potential if they maybe fire a few of the writers, or introduce them to current “teenage slang.”
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Tower 25
NO ONE ASKED,
KYLE
Sarcasm by Kyle Berlage
Should I announce my college commitment? Yes, absolutely! Ever since I committed to the University of Madagascar (the one that’s run by those animated penguins) for competitive spit throwing, I’ve been planning my glorious announcement Instagram post! Of course, during this time of crippling anxiety about college admissions among your peers, there really is no better time to flex on all the haters. I’m sure your friends will be so pleased to know that you no longer have to deal with the process which makes them miserable. Secure that college sweatshirt and merch on time! Oh, also make sure to remove any and all indications that you go to Bishop’s and replace them with the name of a school whose campus you won’t step foot on for another year and a half. #LivingInTheFastLane
Will you be buying a dress uniform? I have a particular dilemma with dress uniform. Not only because of its outrageous cost, but the construction of the shirt and pants makes me either look like a Mormon missionary going through a growth spurt (accurate) or a scarecrow a few months early for Halloween (accurate). Respectfully, I twerk on trees next to Jehovah’s Witnesses, but I have no interest in becoming the Jehovah’s Witness. #PowerOfPrayer
What’s the best way to pass time at Bishop’s? My absolute FAVOURITE way to waste time instead of doing all the work I need to do is by rummaging through the lost and found shed to see what people decided to leave at school and couldn’t be bothered to even look for it. It’s behind the library and has endless wonders abound! HydroFlasks, hats, uniforms galore! If you’re especially unlucky, you might see some students making out in the bushes or the garage below. Get a room, kids! #LeaveItForHealthClass
Should I get the vaccine?
Real answer: yes. Yes, you should. NOW.
I got the Pfizer vaccine, but after my dad sent me his vitamin company newsletter, I’m having some serious regrets. It says that all of the COVID vaccines are super harmful, and the only cure to death by COVID vaccine is to take vitamins for the rest of my life! That doesn’t sound suspicious at all to me, especially coming from a vitamin company. I mean, they must be experts on the topic if they sell so many vitamins!! My thoughts: take Garlic and Vitamin C for the rest of your life just like the holy Longevinex tells you to. #AllNatural #Vegan?
I was gay before it was cool. Exhibit A:
THE BELL | ISSUE 01
PC: Kyle Berlage (‘22)
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TOP TEN
SUMMER INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS
1.
6. 💚🐢🥤❌ thinking of jesus 7. feeling the climate 2. change 🤪🥵 team usa!! 8. #HappyFourth the windy city! 💨️ 3. not so bora9. boring! 🏝🗿 hbd haighleigh!!️ 4. love you bubs 🙃 sun’s out buns out! 10. 🌞🍑 christmas in july 5. 🌺💝 i’m so excited to announce my commitment to [insert university]!
saving the turtles
(but seriously why did everyone visit Chicago this summer???)
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