Issue 04 2021 by The Tower

Tower THE

ISSUE 04 – MMXXI

In This Issue Vaccines

Red (Taylor’s Version) 16 Lo-Fi Music 18 Homelessness

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 Campus, Arts, Sports, Culture, 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 300 copies of Issue 04 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 04 and previous issues of The Tower are available digitally on issuu.com. THE BELL The Bell is a section of The Tower that intends to serve as a relief from the depth of the magazine. Satire, puzzles, quizzes, and the like are frequent inside The Bell.

DETAILS | ISSUE 04

CONTRIBUTORS Editors-in-Chief Sariah Hossain Clare Malhotra

Graphics Editor-in-Chief Kyle Berlage Copy Editors Crystal Li Tate Vaccaro Staff Writers Mihir Bhagatwala Isadora Blatt Ben Brown Sydney Chan Leila Feldman Bella Gallus Lily Gover Shyla Gupta Summer Hu Lucy Marek Spencer Ralph Sofi Verma Graham Walker Kayden Wang Joyce Wu Shirley Xu

Faculty Advisor Ms. Laine Remignanti

Cover by Lisette Farrell

The Performing Dance Group fall show, Blue, illustrated the struggles of marine wildlife and its interactions with human development. Plastics and pollution plague our oceans, and the PDG show set out to highlight that.

Social Media Follow us!

Instagram: @thebishopstower Website:

www.thebishopstower.com 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

Twitter: @thebishopstower All members of the Bishop’s community are invited to submit letters to the Editors-in-Chief by visiting our website, www.thebishopstower.com, and clicking on the ‘Submit Letter’ tab.

I was enjoying my

Thanksgiving break with my family, at home and at peace, when my phone lit up with the most frightening of notifications: Adam Davis has left comments on your document. Now once I got over my initial response—fight, flight, or freeze, of which I chose freeze—I looked through my essay and my teacher’s feedback, and one comment stood out to me in particular. It was one where Mr. Davis reminded me that the word “nostalgia” was a compound of the Greek words for “coming home” and “ache.” Something clicked in me, reading that. Of course that’s where nostalgia got its roots. And I should know—I’ve lived in the feeling of nostalgia these past weeks, really. I’ve spent afternoons with my family looking through albums of the polaroids my sister took of my one-year-old self and wondering how that little creature turned into me, a whole person at a whopping 5’3”. I’ve ruminated on my middle school years every time I walked past the sixth grade area and the Bentham benches—my old haunts. I’ve been rereading my childhood favorites, the Harry Potters and Percy Jacksons, to sink myself into that bittersweet melancholy even more. Of course, the nostalgia is a quintessential part of the senior experience—we recently had our last Grandparents’ Day and our last Christmas Tree Lighting (while a lot of things will change in the coming years, it’s good to know that Mr. Assaf will still be the School’s Santa). I can’t really believe I can count on one hand the number of Tower issues I have left to work on. The staff, editors, and I put so much into each one. But between you and me, our Issue 04s every year are consistently some of our best. This year, some of my nostalgia seems to have spilled into our 04–Crystal Li (‘23) commemorates Mr. Raul Ruiz’s time at Bishop’s as he steps back from teaching, and both Ben Brown (‘25) and Sydney Chan (‘24) guide us to reflect on our privilege this holiday season. I’m very proud of every bit of dedication the staff has shown to help this issue come together–every interview request email sent, every quote transcribed, every copy edit checked, every layout put together (special love to Kyle for that last one). These little moments are so important, and in all honesty, I’m a little nostalgic for them already. I think I have to accept that the pretty ache of nostalgia will color my reality for the next few months, at least. Such is the burden of a soon-to-be-second-semester senior. But until then, enjoy Issue 04. Thank you for letting us write about you, Bishop’s. And, as always, thank you for reading.

Love,

Sariah Hossain

PC: Sariah Hossain (‘22)

Editor-in-Chief

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CONTENTS

PC: Sydney Chan (‘24)

CAMPUS

06 Dining With Diversity To Mandate or Not to Mandate 08 10 12 The BREW-tal Truth 14 Until Next Friday

Summer Hu

How the cafeteria promotes diversity through dishes Tate Vaccaro

How the proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates are impacting Bishop’s and beyond

The Legacy of Lucas Buu-Hoan

Graham Walker

The next path for a Bishop’s-student-turned-videographer Bella Gallus

A look into caffeine consumption inside our community Crystal Li

The departure from Bishop’s of Mr. Raul Ruiz

CULTURE

16 Red Revived 18 Listening in on Lo-fi

Sariah Hossain Why Red (Taylor’s Version) shines, even a decade after the original’s release Shirley Xu

An exploration of Lo-fi and contemporary study music

LOCAL & BEYOND

20 22 Holiday Baskets for Heroes Homeless and Hungry

Ben Brown

What are their stories and how can you help? Sydney Chan

Sending love, one firehouse at a time

COVER STORY

Something Borrowed, Something Blue

Clare Malhotra

A look into the conception and message of the fall PDG show

THE BELL

26 Teacher Christmas Cards 28 Holiday Movie Watchlist 30 No One Asked, Kyle 31 Top Ten Best & Worst Holiday Traditions

Sariah Hossain Kyle Berlage

The cafeteria provided ravioli, broccoli, and bread on November 29, representing Italian food and culture with a healthy twist.

How the cafeteria promotes diversity through dishes

ishop’s cafeteria is unique compared to standard American cafeteria food. Rather than only serving the classic dishes like burgers or cheese pizzas, the Bishop’s menu is diverse. Students line up to eat food from around the world, from countries in places like South Asia, the Middle East, and East Asia, whose dishes make regular appearances during lunch. Exposure to different foods encourages the understanding and exploration of different cultures. Since food is a part of one’s cultural identity, the celebration of cultures means that we are also celebrating one’s identity and all people. The cafeteria, by creating those dishes, promotes and celebrates the sharing and love of different cultures. Director of Food Services Ms. Sara Sweet works to create the cafeteria’s diverse menu. “One of the wonderful things about people coming from different places [is that] they bring different ideas, different ways of doing things,” she said. “To be able to appreciate that, to learn from each other, is a wonderful opportunity for everybody.”

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Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Mr. David Thompson confirmed this: “Food certainly can be a major part of sharing culture,” he shared. Through food, a better understanding and expression of the shared dishes’ origins is fostered. One of the many steps the cafeteria makes to ensure that dishes are portrayed accurately and to foster the appreciation Ms. Sweet mentioned is by collaborating with affinity groups. Additionally, Ms. Sweet and the cafeteria staff are always open to suggestions of dishes and feedback from the students to allow for an open and diverse representation of all opinions and identities. Middle Eastern Student Association (MESA) leader Nadia Bitar (‘22) said that MESA plans to hold some cultural events in honor of Nowruz, also known as the Iranian new year, and Arab American History Month in order to spread their culture. “We are going to try to collaborate with the kitchen...to make some [Middle Eastern] food,” said Nadia Bitar. This col-

Summer Hu

laboration would include planning lunches that featured Middle Eastern cuisine and voicing their opinions on the food that would be represented on the holiday. For Latinx-Hispanic Heritage month (which takes place between September and October), students of Hispanic heritage wanted to share food from their culture. “Students have talked about wanting to have some of the food that they found was really important to their culture. They were thinking about what that process looks like and how they can share,” Mr. Thompson said. Unfortunately, although LASO (Latinx-American Student Organization) tried to plan a special meal and celebration for Latinx-Hispanic Heritage month, they were advised not to due to tighter COVID protocols that were held earlier in the year during that month. Besides working with student affinity groups, the staff also does research on the different types of food before serving the food to the school. “We’ve had the wonderful opportunity for parents to come in

and show us things...there’s [also] so much on YouTube, and we all read about cooking, and so we get a lot of ideas and education through those means,” Ms. Sweet said. For example, the cafeteria staff are currently working with Korean parents to learn more about their cuisine. The cafeteria also takes time to make an authentic representation of different meals. When the cafeteria staff made a Moroccan chicken dish that required preserved lemons, they did not buy pre-preserved lemons. “Head Cook Fernando Figueroa cut open and brined a case of lemons in salt for over a month to preserve the lemons and get the lemon pickle flavor needed for the dish,” said Ms. Sweet. During Diwali, India’s Festival of Lights, parents worked with the kitchen staff, who made potatoes with spices and other Indian food. The parent-organized celebration included loud music and dance and lines growing for the henna booth. Parents also brought in food from outside the school to add to the festivities. The cafeteria contributed to this festive environment by researching and making Indian food so that students of different cultural identities could gather in the cafeteria and experience Indian culture. “What I really liked about [that lunch] was that it was part of a celebration

of a culture that we don’t often celebrate at school,” Mr. Thompson said. East Asian Student Association (EASA) leader Katelyn Wang (‘23) shared Mr. Thompson’s opinion. “I didn’t really know it was Diwali, but [the food and celebration] really brought that spirit to the school.” She went on to explain that the Diwali celebration at school helped her become more aware and appreciate cultures other than her own. “[Having a diverse menu] exposes people to new tastes,” Ms. Sara Sweet stated, “you are in a big community of people [and maybe] you are sitting with your friends and they’re eating something that maybe you haven’t had or you thought you didn’t like, and so you might try something because you are sitting there eating with a group of people who eat differently.” While emphasizing the importance of the role of food in diversity, Spanish Teacher Profe. Carlos Martell remembered seeing many Japanese restaurants on his trip to Japan, but not as many establishments that served other food from other cultures. He believes that the reason why food in the United States is diverse is that the country itself is a mix of different ethnicities and identities. He expressed his own gratitude for the cafeteria’s diverse food. “You get to have a taste of another culture…[the caf-

eteria food] opens a little window to taste what that other culture is,” he continued, “[Bishop’s] society is more diverse than we think, and we see that in our food.” The cafeteria’s daily variety within the menu is also greatly appreciated by students. A range of food—from Italian subs to a Vietnamese soup called phõ—is a show of the cafeteria’s variety. When asked what his favorite dish from another culture was, Middle Eastern Student Association leader Aiden Afshar (‘24) said, “the Korean beef has always been really good.” Another popular dish is the spring rolls that were once served. “Last year we had spring rolls...those were epic,” Katelyn remembered. Nadia’s favorite cafeteria dish from another culture is the School’s Greek food, which usually includes, but is not limited to, pita bread, tzatziki sauce, and gyro meat. Food is a tradition, a cultural pride. The sharing of recipes and dishes which have been passed down from generation to generation allows us to learn and appreciate other affinities When that pride is shared, diverse groups of people come together and get to communicate through a universal language: the stomach.

On November 3, the cafeteria made potatoes with an Indian twist and a pickled cabbage salad to celebrate the Indian holiday Diwali. The orange flower centerpieces are one of the many decorations that were placed around the cafeteria that day.

“One of the wonderful things about people coming from different places [is that] they bring different ideas, different ways of doing things.”

PC: Summer Hu (‘25)

– Ms. Sara Sweet

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n Monday, November 15, parents across southern California kept their children home from school in a symbolic protest of the COVID-19 vaccination mandates. Hundreds of others rallied at the steps of the State Capitol to voice their opposition to the mandate. In October, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that students will be required to have a COVID-19 vaccination in order to attend in-person school. The mandate will apply to public, charter, and private schools, making California the first state to announce this plan, in addition to its first-in-the-nation school masking and staff vaccination measures. California’s mandate will require students to get the shot once the

event coordinator, told ABC, “We want a choice. We have that right. He [Governor Newsom] does not choose what we put in our children’s bodies. We’re not going to stop until we have that choice.” Bishop’s currently has COVID-19 prevention policies in place, such as masking while indoors, encouraging students to stay home when sick, requiring PCR testing to return to school after having symptoms of the disease, adding air purifiers in every classroom or heavily trafficked space on campus, and urging frequent handwashing. While the school does not currently mandate vaccinations for students, the administration does highly recommend vaccinations and boosters for everyone in the community who is

tionism can be counterproductive in class, but I believe it is essential for vaccination. There’s no such thing as good enough when it comes to protecting our community.” According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), popular immunity makes it far harder for the disease to spread from person to person. “Vaccination is the best way to reach herd immunity,” Sebastian Navarro (‘22) said. “The failure to vaccinate quickly has allowed the virus to mutate into the Delta Variant. Now, with the emergence of the Omicron Variant, we may be about to enter another COVID outbreak.” One of the major arguments among parents and families against the mandate is its infringement on personal beliefs. The issue

“Vaccination is the best way to reach herd immunity.” – Sebastian Navarro (‘22) vaccine gets full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning that the mandate could go into effect by July for seventh through 12th graders. Student vaccine requirements are nothing new. The FDA already requires students to be vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella before enrolling. Why have calls for a COVID-19 mandate caused so much backlash among parents and families? Tess Van Dussen, parent and one of the event coordinators for the rally held at the state Capitol on November 15th, said to ABC10, “We are not anti-vaccine; we are standing against the mandate for our children.” Amber Faddis, another parent and

eligible. “We offer weekly free PCR testing to those individuals who may need frequent testing for sports or band activities,” School Nurse Ms. Fournier explained. “In addition to that, we also have daily testing for students and staff who are having symptoms of illness.” Alexandra Midler (‘22) spoke up in October about the school’s decision to “encourage” rather than mandate vaccination in The Daily Urinal. “Major universities across the country are requiring vaccination for all faculty, staff, and students,” Alexandra wrote. “Francis Parker created a vaccine mandate in August. While Bishop’s does have a high vaccination rate—approximately 89% of eligible students were vaccinated at the beginning of the school year—that’s not the point. Perfec-

of who can and cannot opt-out—and under what conditions—remains a heavily disputed topic. In Governor Newsom’s statement, he broadly announced that parents have the right to opt their children out of inoculation. However, Newsom did not explicitly define the criteria for obtaining those exemptions, leaving the decision in the hands of state public health officials. Now, lawmakers are concerned that such broad exemptions in the mandate will undermine the state’s effort to protect schools if too many families decide against vaccination. Another concern among educators and experts is that the vaccine mandate could potentially prevent low-income, minority students from attending school. For example,

TO MANDATE, How the proposed COVID-19 vaccine mandates are impacting Bishop’s and beyond

CAMPUS | ISSUE 04

Art by Tate Vaccaro (‘22)

Politicians in the era of COVID-19 have capitalized on frustration surrounding public health measures, especially in schools, arguing that they unfairly restrict students.

in Alameda County, where Oakland Unified is located, only 44% of Black kids aged 12 to 17 are vaccinated, compared to 95% of Asians, 70% of whites, and 67% of Latinos in the same age group, a Mercury News analysis found. Dr. Tyrone Howard, a UCLA education professor and director of the Black Male Institute which addresses concerns around equity and access for Black males in education, said, “It signifies to me elimination and exclusion. We want Black students to have the same opportunities other students have—extracurricular experiences, access to teachers during lunch and the day. Providing equitable education amid the pandemic continues to be a challenge for California.” In California, students are exempt from required vaccinations for in-person attendance at K-12 schools after a doctor grants medical approval. However, this law only applies to previously approved immunizations. For the COVID-19 vaccine mandate, personal belief exemptions can be overridden by lawmakers. In 2015, California ended exemptions based on religious or personal

NOT

beliefs for other mandated shots required for school. Four years later, lawmakers further strengthened these strict requirements. “Personal belief exemptions are a huge loophole, and that’s why they were removed six years ago,” said state Senator Scott Wiener of San Francisco. “And it’s why they should be removed for COVID-19.” Due to California’s strict regulations, state vaccination rates are relatively higher than those of other states. 63% of the California population is vaccinated compared to the national rate of 59%, according to The Post. At Bishop’s, 90% of the community is fully vaccinated, according to Ms. Fournier. “We now know vaccinations, boosters, masking, avoiding others when you’re sick, air filters and testing, all help to decrease the spread of COVID,” Ms. Fournier explained. “A vaccine mandate would probably lead to more in our community getting vaccinated. We already require state-mandated vaccinations for other infectious diseases such as whooping cough, measles, polio, hepatitis, and chickenpox, with only minimal ex-

emptions allowed for medical reasons. Both public and private schools in California are required to abide by state laws and regulations when it comes to vaccinations. I imagine a COVID vaccine mandate would be the same.” COVID policies at Bishop’s will continue to follow state and local recommendations for infection prevention. After the first U.S. case of the Omicron variant was recently identified in California, state lawmakers may crack down further on the new vaccine mandates. “Autonomy is a very important value, and the government has given the people many opportunities through less restrictive means to limit the harms of COVID,” Sebastian elaborated. “However, simply educating individuals on the vaccine and providing incentives has not been enough to increase vaccination rates to reach herd immunity. Thus, it is the government’s responsibility to step in and protect public health and safety.”

Tate Vaccaro

TO MANDATE

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THE LEGACY

LUCAS BUU-HOAN The next path for a Bishop’s-student-turned-videographer

henever you saw Lucas Buu-Hoan (‘21) on campus, he was more likely than not holding his Canon XF400 camcorder or his Sony Alpha camera. Lucas and his camera were inseparable because of his passion for promoting student creativity and involvement at all levels. If you needed a high quality production of any student activity at Bishop’s, Lucas was your man. You may have seen Lucas around campus this year and wondered why he was still around post-graduation. Even though Lucas graduated last year, he remains a presence at Bishop’s. While studying at Bishop’s, Lucas spearheaded the establishment of the first ever film and digital media club, as well as the Knight Vision Network for cool graphics featuring student athletes. The School hired him as an assistant to the marketing department during the 2021 summer post graduation, which has further solidified his presence in the community. Through creating videos for The Dungeon, Admissions, and various student organizations, he’s maintained a close relationship with our school community. Lucas’s current plans have him traveling around the world. He’s currently studying at the London Film Academy. He explained that he’ll be partaking in three programs throughout this year. He will be in London for four months and then has one month off. After that, he’s doing a business art program in London at Sotheby’s Institute of Art for a month and half. Then, Lucas is off to New York for a month and half for a program with the School of The New York Times on video journalism. Finally, he’ll head to Wesleyan University in Connecticut to continue studying film. His decision to take a gap year was for a number of reasons. First, he wanted his freshman year of college to be without COVID-19 restric-

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tions. Second, he wanted to explore and learn a little more about himself so that he could enter college with a “wealth of knowledge” and figure out what he wanted to specialize in. Lastly, he wanted to generate money. So, in addition to his role with Bishop’s, he also has his own videography company. He explained that his employment with Bishop’s was more of a part-time job over the summer while he was also making money through his videography business. “I was a part-time employee for Bishop’s, and essentially what I did was work as an assistant marketing consultant,” Lucas explained. “Most of what I did—I’d say 90%—was video work. So, a lot of stuff for social media, but mostly videography projects,” he said. Lucas is a videography expert, so it’s not surprising that he assumed this unique role after graduation. However, he struggled to pass down his work to younger members of the Bishop’s community. He explained that the administration “couldn’t find someone to continue film and digital media or Knight Vision Network, so it fizzled out. [Knight Vision Network] was a club that started with Dylan Hunt (‘21) [and me]… [We made] graphics, highlights, edits and other sports-related material,” Lucas explained. “That’s what we did at the beginning, but I wanted to do more than just sports.” He said that, through his Bishop’s job this year, he was able to take on other avenues of film work beyond sports coverage. “I was essentially doing marketing through social media, working to answer the questions of how we can market ourselves to not only the current students and faculty, but also to prospective students and parents as well as alumni. Most of what I did was really a continuation of my independent study.” During senior year, Lucas did an independent study focused on

Graham Walker

video and media-related work under Marketing Communications Manager Ms. Jen Jordan. The School knew he was taking a gap year and asked if he would be open to continuing his work as an employee of the school. It was an opportunity he could not pass up. He defined his role as “marketing with a focus in videography.” “The School was open to working with someone with my specific skill set to do some specialized projects,” Lucas explained. “To give a few examples, I did a video on chapel on Episcopal values [as well as] a series of videos interviewing alumni about why Bishop’s is so special.”

Another project he worked on was launching a new Bishop’s website. He worked on admissions videos for the Bishop’s Instagram page, promoting the School’s closeness to the beach, and numerous other attributes. He described Ms. Jordan as both a teacher for his independent study and a very close friend. “She was… that leader in my life who was the adult that led all my marketing and videography stuff at Bishop’s. We met in sophomore year and she was the sponsor for Dylan’s and my sports media

Lucas Buu-Hoan (‘21), a key figure at Bishop’s, was often seen directing film projects on campus before and after graduation.

PC: Lucas Buu-Hoan (‘21)

club.” Ms. Jordan commented on her interactions with Lucas’s career. “I supervised Lucas’s independent study his senior year and was the club sponsor for Knight Vision Network. Lucas made a huge impact in his four years at Bishop’s, and was an integral part of our marketing efforts. He created a slew of videos and graphics for the School, serving nearly every department on campus. Our independent study felt more like a twoway conversation than a mentorship, and his passion for film and digital media is infectious.” She also referenced his voracious curiosity. “He wants to know the ‘how’ and ‘why’ in everything he encounters, from a graphic to a film to a person’s life path. He is always eager to be of service and take initiative, constantly asking for more responsibility. He knows the School so well, and his familiarity with our community made him the perfect person to assist with the launch of Bishop’s new website,” she said. “We are so grateful for everything he did for Bishop’s, and he’s made immense contributions to this School!”

His friend and colleague for Knight Vision Network, Dylan Hunt (‘21), said, “I had so much fun working and learning alongside Lucas at Bishop’s. Seeing him go abroad—taking a less conventional route to explore his interests—makes me incredibly excited for his future and I can’t wait to see him exceed expectations.” Emma Marshall (‘22) worked on several projects with Lucas last year. “His creative drive is something that I aspire to incorporate in my life every day,” she said. Emma joined Peer Support under Lucas’s leadership and spoke highly of his ability to dig into the group’s creative sides. “He strongly encouraged us to contribute our ideas and dive into the creative part of our minds,” she said. “I will always remember Lucas’s natural talent for directing Peer Support and chapel videos,” Emma reminisced. “The motivation and drive that he has to make something perfect and impactful is inspiring.” Another Peer Support member, Mark Stone (‘22), shared his memory of working with Lucas. “Lucas was easily approachable, always smiling, and cared deeply for promoting student welfare in our community,” he said.

Lucas is interested in facilitating a revival of film and digital media at Bishop’s. “If anyone wants to learn about being a videographer or talk about it, tell them to contact me because I’d love to help and I’ll be [on campus] next summer,” he remarked with his friendly demeanor. “Especially regarding Bishop’s sports media and what we started with Knight Vision Network—it never really took off, but it should [have]… We have the Instagram page if anyone wants to continue it. I think it provided a lot of hype around acknowledging our athletes in the Bishop’s community,” Lucas said. Any possible successors to the great Lucas Buu-Hoan out there? Certainly, Lucas and his accomplishments are hard to follow, but this shouldn’t stop anyone from trying. In fact, it should serve as encouragement because Lucas is a friend to everyone on campus. His immense success in fostering an inclusive environment through his videography work and producing outstanding film productions for the School will not be forgotten.

“[I’m] incredibly excited for his future, and I can’t wait to see him exceed expectations.” -Dylan Hunt (‘21) THE

Tower

The BREW-tal Truth A look into caffeine consumption inside our community Bella Gallus

elsius cans, BetterBuzz, Brick and Bell, and Starbucks cups are clutched in the hands of a number of weary-eyed, visibly exhausted students facing a full day of classes and extracurriculars. Teachers have their reusable mugs in hand, filled to the brim with steaming hot coffee, preparing for a day of teaching. Maybe consuming caffeine is an easy way to pick yourself up in the morning or is simply a routine habit. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), caffeine is the most widely consumed drug; “approximately 73% of children [consume] caffeine on a given day.” While caffeine consumption can provide certain benefits, overuse can lead to detrimental consequences—especially in teens. So, is caffeine a helpful tool to increase productivity or is it simply a crutch that students lean on? Caffeine is in many drinks and food items like coffee, energy drinks, teas, and chocolate. Medical News Today reported that “83.2% of teenagers consume caffeinated beverages regularly.” Caffeine is categorized as a safe drug by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). This means that when it is used in the right dose in the right patients without mixing it with other drugs, its benefits outweigh the risks. The recommended safe amount for adolescents is 100

milligrams; for adults it is 400 milligrams. For reference, one cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine. But drinks like Celsius, an energy drink that was available in the vending machine on campus, has 200 milligrams, two times the allotted daily amount for teenagers. When students were asked how much caffeine they consumed, the answers varied. In a recent Tower survey, 41.9% of the 265 upper school students and faculty respondents say they consume between 100 and 200 milligrams of caffeine per day. Angie Villachica (‘24) reported, “On weekdays [I consume] about 128 milligrams, two teaspoons of matcha,” while Callum Bolitho (‘24) said he is consuming 300 to 600 milligrams of caffeine per day. The easy accessibility of vending machines and the widespread popularity of coffee houses contribute to increased caffeine consumption. 64.2% of survey respondents say they buy caffeinated drinks from coffee shops. Often, a few students can be spotted in the Better Buzz, Brick and Bell, or the Starbucks near campus. Several students and teachers explained they consume caffeine for the energy it provides them. Students balance a life of school and extracurriculars, and teachers have curriculums to prepare and classes to teach. 38.6% of survey respondents say they caffeinate to wake up in the morning. Additionally, 39.8% of respondents say they consume caffeine in order to stay awake during the day. Jennifer Miller, an English teacher, also uses caffeine to help her get through the morning. “I have two really big mugs of coffee from the time I get up in the morning to probably the time I get to school.” But for some, that consumption might be better for sustaining energy throughout the school day. Angie said, “I think it’s helped me focus or at least be awake to try and focus.” Both are positive outcomes of consuming caffeine.

Popular coffee shops like Starbucks, can be found throughout the Bird Rock and La Jolla areas, often common places for residents to consume their daily dose of caffeine.

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Following a long school day are often sports. Caffeine gives that extra energy boost an athlete may need to power through practice. Harvard Health reported, “Caffeine can also briefly enhance athletic performance.” As a competitive swimmer, Callum consumes caffeine to “energize [himself] for swim practice.” It can be beneficial to consume caffeine before an early morning or after-school practice as a stimulant. Nonetheless, the side effects of consuming caffeine may not always be beneficial. “Caffeine locks into the same receptor in the brain as the neurotransmitter adenosine, a natural sedative,” reported The New York Times. Therefore the drug inhibits drowsiness. Consumption of recommended amounts of caffeine, early in the morning, can be harmless as a person can generally metabolize it before nighttime. However, ingestion in the late afternoon or before bed disrupts ones’ sleep cycle, a dangerous consequence of caffeine. The Sleep Foundation wrote, “Caffeine notably reduces the time of slow-wave sleep, which is the stage of deep, restful sleep that leaves us feeling refreshed and alert in the morning.” Waking up tired can lead to consuming more caffeine in order “to wake yourself up.” This can be a vicious cycle to fall into: waking up sleep-deprived, consuming caffeine to feel more awake, then having non-restful sleep due to the caffeine. Having control over one’s own consumption is important. French teacher Ms. Rikke Sommer said, “I do not drink it at night because [I know it] impacts my sleep.” A fitful sleep due to caffeine may not be applicable to all. Callum said, “I don’t think caffeine has many effects on my sleep schedule because I think I’ve developed a sort of tolerance for it.” Building up a tolerance or having the ability to metabolize caffeine quickly can pre-

“It’s habitual,

PC: Bella Gallus (‘24)

Students often frequent coffee shops like Better Buzz for a morning boost, facing the long day of classes ahead. vent disturbance in one’s sleep cycle from happening. But this is rare. Sleep is important for students and teachers alike. Caffeine might most notably affect sleep schedules but mood and mental energy are also both positively and negatively affected. Consequences of overconsumption for adolescents are “putting them in a bad mood, depriving them of sleep and contributing to misbehavior, such as risk-taking and aggression,” wrote The Washington Post. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system and the brain, increasing anger, anxiety, and restlessness. However, there are benefits of consumption, in acceptable doses. Caffeine can increase alertness and according to Dr. Tyrone Bristol, Ph.D, Medical Director of Pediatrics in Panther Creek who

spoke in a University of North Carolina Health Talk, “A little bit of coffee can help you be alert to give you a little bit of good mental energy.” Callum reported that caffeine “makes [him] happy.” And a shocking experiment from The New York Times reported that there was “a 50% reduction in the risk of suicide among both men and women who were moderate coffee drinkers,” as it was possibly helping the production of brain chemicals containing an antidepressant. Additionally, consuming 400 milligrams of caffeine per day can reduce death rates in adults. In a 2015 study published by Circulation, of 200,000 people who were followed for 30 years, those who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had a lower risk of premature death. These benefits and consequences of caffeine consumption

are very real, unlike the common misconception that coffee will stunt growth. This has been disproven. A study that “followed 81 adolescents for six years found no connection between caffeine and bone density,” reported The Washington Post. Caffeine is commonly linked to osteoporosis, a brittle bone disease, which is believed to make one shorter. However, osteoporosis is not linked to height loss and coffee is not linked to osteoporosis. Harvard Health wrote, “There is no scientifically valid evidence to suggest that coffee can stunt a person’s growth.” Caffeine consumption can have different effects on different people, but for many “It’s habitual, it’s a ritual, and it is a dependency,” said Ms. Sommer.

it’s a ritual, and it is a dependency.” - Ms. Rikke Sommer THE

Tower

Until Next Friday

Mr. Raul Ruiz The departure from Bishop’s of

Crystal Li

s you walk down the Bentham hallways, you hear a faint beat from somewhere in your memories, so familiar that you can’t put your finger on it. After deciding to approach the source of the sound, you find yourself in front of a classroom overflowing with laughter and the catchy boom-boom of “Friday” by Rebecca Black. Upon entering the room, the Harkness-style table and the fluorescent lighting may not seem more than commonplace. However, if you had been a past student of History and Government Teacher Mr. Raul Ruiz, you would know where to look for his treasured collection of student-given gifts; snowglobes and other trinkets line neatly on top of a storage cabinet. Just like his room suggests, Mr. Ruiz is quite the remarkable teacher. Seeing him in front of his laptop reminded me of my first day at Bishop’s—it seemed like ages ago when Mr. Ruiz taught my freshman history class in the warmly-lit room of Scripps 217. After starting out teaching Modern World History and a semester class in Latin American history, his interests and passions guided him to teach Honors European history and Honors U.S. Government and Politics (Mock Trial). Despite being a part of Bishop’s community for only a little longer than three years, Mr. Ruiz has become an integral part of student life and the history and social sciences department. Mr. Ruiz had always been interested in a variety of academic areas alongside history and political science during college, but he didn’t finalize his decision to become a teacher until a direct experience working with students in the suburbs of France. When he was an undergraduate at Columbia University, his passion for music and meeting new people in new cultures led him to play trombone in the quiet town of Strasbourg, France. Charmed by the environment there, after finishing law school, he moved to

Stains, a commune in the northern suburbs of Paris, and began teaching at a high school with predominantly immigrant students. “One of the things that made me really think was how students and young people can sometimes feel alienated like they’re not a part of their community or a part of their country,” he said in response to the series of coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris during that time, 2015. He remembers that there were kids in the suburbs that were not particularly affected by the idea that violence was happening so close to them, since they didn’t feel like they were a part of it. He continued, “I had really thought about how important it is for people to feel like they be-

other traditions popular among students. One of such is the question-of-the-day activity. “Mr. Ruiz’s classes were always a highlight of my day when I had him as a teacher,” said Emily Zhou (‘23). “I always looked forward to his questions of the day, where Mr. Ruiz would ask silly icebreaker questions to the class… It created a fun and casual learning environment for students and made the class much more engaging.” Many other students echoed this viewpoint. “Mr. Ruiz’s classes are always a blast,” remarked Grace Dabir (‘24). “He is very supportive of his students and tries to make learning history fun and interactive.” Mr. Ruiz knows that teaching is not just about the transference of knowledge, but also establishing a relationship of wanting to learn together. “I ask these questions because I actually care… I think that [this activity] creates trust between us,” he explained. Many parts of history – Mr. Raul Ruiz are very heavy to discuss, and Mr. Ruiz always tries to include less talkative students. Therefore, long… I really wanted to have that opportu- question of the day is a lighthearted way to nity to lead young people in discussions that begin class and create a safe environment help them become citizens, that help them where people feel welcomed. feel like they can participate in their poli- Another tradition is one that is tics.” well-known to most on campus. Even if you That emphasis on inclusion and never had Mr. Ruiz as a teacher, you would awareness became a staple in Mr. Ruiz’s know exactly who blasts Rebecca Black’s classes. One of his favorite units to teach unforgettable song every Friday. “I think it’s is World War I because of the extensive re- just a little ritual where they know Friday’s search that comes with understanding this here,” Mr. Ruiz chuckled and continued. “At historical event. As an advocate for discus- least they’ll think about it… [and feel] maysion-based conversations, he said, “I like be not excitement, but at least anticipation.” seeing students talk about cause and conse- When asked about this specific quence, because what I enjoy most is seeing tradition, many of his students harbored exkids make connections.” More than any- treme feelings: you either love it or hate it. “I thing, Mr. Ruiz wants his students to think mean, we all dreaded it, but [the song] was about the history they learn in class as real also unifying and class-bonding,” laughed life, just as global citizens do. Saavi Banerjee (‘22). “Even when all of his Besides the frequent use of histor- students were plugging their ears and comical thinking templates and lectures on the plaining about hearing it for what felt like importance of research, Mr. Ruiz has many the millionth time that year, Mr. Ruiz would

“I’ve told my students: once your teacher, always your teacher.”

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still be smiling and singing along with Rebecca,” noted Emily. Undoubtedly, “Friday” adds just the perfect amount of levity for students before learning about ponderous topics in world history, government, and politics. “It also humanizes me a little bit,” explained Mr. Ruiz. “I’m not just the person that’s telling you about the terrible things that happened in the past. It’s more, you know, Mr. Ruiz is also a silly person!” His relatability and openness are also some things that students remember dearly. For his advisees, advisory time never felt like a chore; rather, it was a treasured time for bonding. “Even those five minutes in the mornings were something to look forward to,” said Jasper Jain (‘23). “We’ve always had fun conversations during that time, and if anyone ever needs to talk, he’s the first person they can go to.” This advisory group was also very special within itself; though many student groups change advisors after freshman year, Mr. Ruiz’s group was able to stay with him. “He was like, I think these kids are pretty cool, so let’s stick together,” explained Zayd Aslam (‘23) jokingly. “We even bonded over things like video games and karaoke.” Needless to guess, there were also a lot of sing-alongs involved. “The biggest thing that they had to go through is that they’ve listened to the

Friday song, I think, 116 times now,” Mr. Ruiz said. “Yeah, uh, that’s a lot of times,” I chimed in. “I know… maybe too many,” he humorously sighed. Sadly, timing is never easy. Because Mr. Ruiz has decided to pursue a career in law, there are steps necessary for preparation such as taking the Bar Exam, a licensing assessment that a lawyer must pass to practice law in a certain state. “It’s about 10 weeks’ time studying for this big test,” he explained, “I can’t be working and studying at the same time… that’s why I’m leaving in the middle of the year. It was a difficult decision.” A firm believer in exploring new paths and expanding your horizons, Mr. Ruiz shared his thinking process. “I had made the choice before not to [pursue law] and instead go straight into teaching,” he paused, thinking, “But I think over the years, I started thinking about what could’ve happened. Is it something that I should have explored?” Thus, he is very excited about the endless possibilities that come with opening such a door. Though he will be continuing his career in a position at the Sidley Austin Law Firm in Chicago, he has made it clear that he will cherish his experiences on campus

with his colleagues and students. “I’ve told my students: once your teacher, always your teacher.” He not only gave them an email address with which to reach him, but also an invitation to talk whenever about questions they may have regarding college, law school, or anything else in the future. “I want to make myself available,” Mr. Ruiz said, with a glint in his eye. “Because, I do, I really do deeply care about each person that has sat in my classroom. I really believe that if I can help them in any way, I want to be able to help.” Hoping to inspire others with his teaching career and passion for trying new things, Mr. Ruiz leaves his students with one piece of advice: try to live with a sense of wonder. “We live in a world where people want you to specialize in things… it’s definitely good to know what you’re good at,” he said. “But I think that it’s also important to just be curious about everything. Question everything and ask why.” People always say that they wish they could listen to a certain piece of music again for the first time. And that is exactly why Mr. Ruiz loves working with students—for them, everything is new. Keeping that sense of wonder is a good way of living your life.

PC: Raul Ruiz

Mr. Ruiz’s last day of teaching was Friday, December 3rd.

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Tower

revived Why Red (Taylor’s Version) shines, even a decade after the original’s release Sariah Hossain

t was autumn, with leaves yellowing and cinnamon-pumpkin candles populating storefronts, when Taylor Swift dropped her Grammy-nominated album Red. The year was 2012, and according to Rolling Stone, the record was her consensus best to date. It was also autumn, with knit scarves shielding pedestrians from stinging winds and the thread of winter oncoming, when Taylor Swift shared with the public her fight to regain ownership of her first six albums’ masters. The year was 2019, and with one click, she’d sent a spark across the music industry. And now, another autumn has come and gone. The year is 2021, and Swift has released another album: Red (Taylor’s Version), a re-recording of her 2012 masterclass expanded to include B-sides and ‘Vault’ songs, and an album that, finally, she owns. Red (Taylor’s Version) took a great album and made it greater. The 2012 version became synonymous with the volatile and wholehearted emotions of falling in love and being forced out of it, and the additional 10 songs that Taylor’s Version gives us are so strong, and

CULTURE | ISSUE 04

so purely Red, that it makes me wonder how we ever had the album without them. Now, at first glance, a thirty-song record is something of a behemoth. Red (Taylor’s Version) boasts a runtime of two hours and 10 minutes, which, frankly, proved to be too much for me to listen to straight through on the school night it first dropped. The album is primed to be separated out into chunks: the 16 tracks of the original Red, the “From the Vault” tracks that Swift wrote for the original album but wasn’t able to put out then, and the record’s extraordinary conclusion: “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version).” The extended “All Too Well” is the crowning jewel of Red (Taylor’s Version). It might even be the crowning jewel of her discography. Here’s that song’s backstory: Swift, aged 20, dated actor Jake Gyllenhaal, aged 30, for some time in 2011-2012. From their ostensibly devastating breakup “All Too Well” was born, a cult-favorite-to-be among Swift’s fans and a song regarded by fans and critics alike to be her best writing (pre-folklore and evermore, of course). The original (and five-minute)

slow-building power ballad walks us through the relationship’s good times and bad, as Swift’s trademark devastating bridge and imagery-filled verses shine. The opening lines give us the scarf motif that’s become synonymous with Red: “I walked through the door with you / the air was cold / but something about it felt like home somehow and I / left my scarf there at your sister’s house / and you’ve still got it in your drawer even now,” she sings, and it’s something of a Chekhov’s gun as she returns to the scarf in the song’s concluding chorus, the one that Gyllenhaal couldn’t get rid of “because it reminds you of innocence, and it smells like me.” Acclaimed music journalist Rob Sheffield wrote that both the scarf and this song itself are so significant to Swift’s legacy that they both “should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.” High praise, indeed, and deserved. “All Too Well (Ten Minute Version)” is the song as she originally wrote it, before having to pare it down for popular consumption in 2012. Audiences spent nine years waiting for its release, and, with Taylor’s Version dropping, I can say with confidence that it’s a masterpiece–piercing, haunting, and

gloriously unhinged. She holds nothing back this time—exhibit A: “And I was never good at telling jokes, but the punch line goes / ‘I’ll get older, but your lovers stay my age,’” and exhibit B: “The idea you had of me, who was she? / A never-needy, ever-lovely jewel whose shine reflects on you.” The rage is challenged only by the heartbreak: “You kept me like a secret, but I kept you like an oath,” she sings on a newly-added chorus. And the outro… oh, the outro. I wouldn’t say no to having the last two minutes of this song playing on repeat while my casket’s lowered into the ground. The track accumulated over 37 million streams in its first week on Spotify (a global record, just casually), as well as taking the top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100, where it is the longest number-one track of all time. The album as a whole garnered more than 90.8 million streams in its first day alone, taking the all-time crown for this from her own previous album, folklore. The other new songs, all designated “From the Vault,” strengthen the album just as much. “Message In A Bottle” and “The Very First Night” are welcome upbeat dance tracks, and their production feels indicative of the creative direction Swift was moving in as she began writing for the Grammy-winning album she released after Red, 1989. Swift had sold the rights

to “Better Man (Taylor’s Version)” to country group Little Big Town, but here she was able to record, fittingly titled, her own version. The remaining two standouts from the vault tracks are both collaborations: “Nothing New (ft. Phoebe Bridgers)” and “I Bet You Think About Me (ft. Chris Stapleton).” These two are perfectly at the ends of the Taylor Swift songwriting spectrum, with the first as a nostalgic and melancholy indie slow jam and the latter a snarky, country, twang-filled banger. The duality of man, if you will. Red (Taylor’s Version) also sees the original album’s songs sung better, produced better; while giving space to the truths of the 22-year-old version of Swift that wrote and sang these songs then, if nothing else Taylor’s Version shows her growth—the maturity of her vocals, the wholeness of each song’s production. “State of Grace” remains her best album opener (yes, I said it), as the soaring guitar track and the simplicity of the song’s refrain (“I never saw you coming, and I’ll never be the same”) capture exactly what Red is: how we’re defined by our relationships with others, how acutely those change us, how deeply they make us feel. Red’s most radio-popular singles, “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” “I Knew You Were Trouble,” and “22” were massively significant to Swift propelling herself into the main-

stream proper. Her first three records remained in the country sphere while Red, looking back at her discography now, was so clearly her transition point. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” was Swift’s first number-one single in the U.S. and was the soundtrack to so many Bishop’s students’ childhoods. She paid respect to that nostalgia in Taylor’s Version, fear not—the 2021 versions of all three singles are just as catchy and fun as their predecessors. The release of “22 (Taylor’s Version)” in particular feels prudent in its timing, just as 2022 rolls around and the senior class can claim both the track and year as their own. The record’s most sneakygood tracks include the haunting “Sad, Beautiful, Tragic” and its jaunty relative, “Holy Ground.” Both songs spend time reflecting on a love lost, a relationship buried in the past, and they’re so masterful in telling the story of that experience in their two respective ways. I’ve always said this record was the perfect cure to heartbreak, no matter what flavor you’re experiencing it in. Swift’s 2021 re-record is vivid, it’s honest, it’s anguished and anthemic and effervescent. In my book, it’s perfect. It’s what every broken heart has ever needed. But here’s the real moral of the story… Jake Gyllenhaal, count your days. Sleep with one eye open.

It’s what every broken heart has ever needed. Photo courtesy of Taylor Swift

ps:

THE

Tower

LISTENING IN ON LO-FI

t is late in the evening on Sunday. A stack of homework lies on your desk. Yet despite the stress and urgency to complete all of your assignments, a tranquil ambience washes over you as Lo-fi music plays in the background. Lo-fi, as defined by musician Eric Matthews, is short for “low-fidelity,” a type of music that captures the imperfections of the recording or production process. As Director of Instrumental Music Mr. Robert Anderson put it, “The Lo-fi descriptor refers to certain subtle ‘defects’ in the music, such as tape hiss, flutter, or any traditionally unwanted background noise.” However, rather than viewing these imperfections as flaws in the track, fans of Lo-fi embrace these mistakes as a defining characteristic of the genre. For Jazzy Joseph (‘23), “One might think that the imperfections detract from the quality, but I think they actually contribute to Lo-fi’s ‘home-like,’ comforting aesthetic. When a song feels raw, it gives off the natural feeling of live music, and since the sounds remain un-processed, the songs sound like they are being played in a room around you and the band is right there.” Jazzy thinks that the realistic imperfections could be why Lo-fi feels so comforting. Though it has existed for a while, one might wonder why Lo-fi music has exploded in popularity only in recent years. Lo-fi YouTube channels such as ChilledCow are not only wellknown, but also have e s -

An exploration of Lo-fi and contemporary study music Shirley Xu

tablished communities of listeners worldwide. ChilledCow currently has 9.6 million subscribers and has thousands of listeners on its famous “beats to relax/study to” stream at any given moment. Lo-fi’s popularity can also partly be attributed to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the start of the pandemic in March, the channel ChilledCow gained 340,000 subscribers, which is over twice the 160,000 new subscribers it saw in January 2020. Although Lo-fi music

styles have been around for decades, isolation has allowed younger generations to ‘discover’ the hip-hop type beats that Lo-fi is based on. Lo-fi styles have been especially popular among students who have gravitated towards it as a form of study music. History and Social Sciences Chair and psychology teacher Ms. Karri Woods, who is a Lo-fi fan, explained, “When you’re sitting and listening to Lo-fi, there’s usually a fairly steady beat that’s going on… [Y] our body naturally moves and sways to it because our brains automatically predict the progression of a beat.” From a psychological perspective, the consistent beat in Lo-fi styles is a part of the reason why Lofi is great for studying. Steady tempos help “lull us into a place of concentration,” Ms. Woods said. “If the beat were really wild and inconsistent, it would be harder for us to focus.” According to Ms. Woods, there are a few more criteria for finding the most effective study music. “Most songs layer in sounds and lyrics that are designed to grab your attention. But when you’re studying, you want music that minimizes the amount of attention it’s grabbing from you,” she explained. Some of these attention-grabbers include lyrics, high, irritating frequencies, and irregular rhythms. The lyric-less, lowpitched, steady beats of Lo-fi are thus an excellent

In popular Lo-fi channel ChilledCow’s famous “beats to relax/study to” stream, “Lo-fi girl” scribbles in her notebook endlessly. Many studiers tuning into the stream may see themselves in the Lo-fi girl.

CULTURE | ISSUE 04

Art by Shirley Xu (‘23)

candidate for an optimized studying experience. There is also a difference between what our brain perceives consciously and unconsciously. “Our feelings, mood, body, and heartbeat are subtly influenced by the sounds we are hearing,” said Ms. Woods. Lo-fi producers intentionally include imperfections in their compositions, including misplayed notes and degraded audio signals, which may subtly surprise and engage your unconscious brain,” she said. “Many people are able to maintain focus on an effortful task like studying while listening to LoFi music because the melody and layering of subtle environmental sounds that would usually be edited out makes the music aesthetically interesting, but not so interesting that it distracts you from the task at hand. Jazzy, who also produces music

anyone can make it, she explained, “it did not have to be highly produced or perfected like music that is sold as ‘professional.’” While studying, Grace Sun (‘23) listens to various types of music, including Lo-fi versions of TikTok hits, classical music, movie and game background music, and instrumentals of pop songs. Grace said, “I like these because they aren’t distracting but they all have tunes that I can ‘vibe’ peacefully to.” However, Grace finds that specific subject areas have varying compatibility with study music. “For some reason,” she said, “I only listen to music when I do the arts or humanities. I find that I cannot concentrate even with quiet music during subjects such as math or science.” English teacher Dr. Clark also only listens to music under certain circumstances. “Personally, I like listening to

prefer to listen to music while they write and study, I’d encourage them to experiment with occasional silence, particularly if they feel like their current routine isn’t working for them.” As described by Discover Magazine, “hip hop beats” like Lo-fi are “the contemporary heartbeat of society.” It seems like Lo-fi styles will continue to beat on in the hearts of many students around the world, wooing hardworking students with the promise of soothing background music, and focused and productive homework sessions.

[Lo-fi] songs sound like they are being played in a room around you and the band is right there.

Jazzy Joseph (‘23)

as a hobby, described Lo-fi’s charming similarity to R&B styles. “The chords are super similar,” she explained. “They use a lot of seventh and ninth chords to create that ’smooth,’ ‘jazzy’ feel. If one were to sing over a Lo-fi track, they would practically have a whole R&B song. I think Lo-fi is really special because it attracts attention to the beautiful art of music production, which is usually overshadowed by vocal performance.” Director of Choral Music Dr. Christine Micu agreed with Jazzy’s sentiment. Dr. Micu expressed that Lo-fi remains “a music of the people,” despite the drastic evolution it has undergone since its humble, musical beginnings. Because

music while I grade and write emails, but I prefer silence when I’m working on longer creative writing projects. Experimenting with different sound environments for different types of work has been helpful for me,” she explained. Dr. Clark also encourages students to take time to test out various soundscapes, including silence, to see what may work best for them. “I do think that sometimes silence can be helpful,” she said. “While our first instinct might be to experience silence as uncomfortable or empty, it can be useful for diminishing distraction once you’re absorbed in the task at hand. I think this goes for writing especially. While I know most students

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Tower 19

H O M E L E S S

and hungry NOTE: Some names have been changed to protect the identity of the mentioned individuals.

he wind howls outside the frost-covered windows, and the temperature reads a chilly 55 degrees. Inside, you’re enjoying the comfort of the warm, crackling fireplace, family conversation, and soul-warming food. It’s Thanksgiving dinner and you are having a great time with your extended family, spending the evening with family, food, and good times. Maybe it’s even pleasant hearing the harsh conditions outside from the safety of your home, but only because you’re not thinking about the half million homeless people outside in the cold—hungry. As Thanksgiving—America’s second favorite holiday according to The Har-

Ben Brown

What are their stories and how can you help?

inhabit our streets as passing faces. One way to help is to attend and help at Hunger Suppers, where volunteers prepare and serve food for homeless in need of dinner. There I talked to many homeless people, and learned parts of their stories. To name a few people I talked to: Michael, Julia, and a cute dog Daisy. Julia has been a Chargers fan since the 1970s, and she said, “I don’t get why they don’t just come back!” And Michael jokes about his dog Daisy, saying, “Seriously, you watch out—Daisy will beat you up.” In reality Daisy, a ten pound poodle; she wouldn’t hurt a fly.

ed with a positive, “Why the hell not?” He has such a positive attitude towards life; even being in the situation he is in, he lives without regret. He said, “There’s been good times and bad times, but it’s been a wild journey.” Michael and Julia seem so similar to us, and each have their own personalities and preferences. Michael lives without regret, sometimes leading to consequence, but always ending in positivity. Julia is opinionated—she loves things and hates things—but always has reasons. Just like us, the homeless community have personalities, we just don’t always seek to learn them.

There [have] been good times and bad times, but it’s been a wild journey. - Michael, homeless man rison Poll— approaches, everyone tends to get caught up in what food they’re having, where they’re going, and who they’re seeing that they forget the true meaning of Thanksgiving: gratitude. Thanksgiving is the perfect time to be sharing gratitude, for all you have, be it food, family, or a warm house. Because, unfortunately, some people in America spend Thanksgiving without the things we all are so thankful for: a home, food, and family. Especially in California, which has the second highest rate of homelessness in the country according to The End Homelessness Foundation, it is a given that homeless people

LOCAL & BEYOND | ISSUE 04

Homeless people have opinions, and personalities that are important to learn, so we can put a person to a face. Julia loves Thanksgiving: her memories of it, she explained, are “filled with [her] husband cooking all day; he wouldn’t even buy a pie!” Her husband was employed as a chef, so Thanksgiving was naturally a favorite holiday. Julia loves stuffing, gravy, and bread pudding the best. These are things any of us talk about, and memories we could all share. Michael moved from Richmond, Virginia where he served in the army. His girlfriend asked if he wanted to “road trip out in six days with her.” Michael respond-

That’s why it’s important we help people in our community struggling now. According to Feeding America, 38 million people are hungry, flocking towards soup kitchens and churches for food. So many people and groups in our community already are involved to make a difference. Ms. Jackie Gomez, the Director of Service at Bishops, explained that in last year’s Thanksgiving Drive “We made meals for 23 different families in San Diego” adding up to 230 meals according to Reverend Nicole Simopoulos-Pigato, School Chaplain. Ms. Gomez believes service is important because what she does “Means something to a lot of people” because help-

ing people improve their circumstances is a vital part of service. Angelina Kim (‘25), who is involved in Chapel Council, Community Service Initiative (CSI), and The All Girls STEM Society, does service to “have a positive benefit on other people’s lives” and also to “develop empathy for others and learn what others are going through.” Reverend Simopoulos believes “service and faith are connected” further explaining that being a “person of faith is to act for justice in our community.” She explained that justice is fighting any inequality, including food inequality by feeding the hungry. At the Hunger Suppers, Bishop’s service clubs like CSI and Chapel council use the Bishop’s kitchen to prepare a homemade meal in the day and serve it in the evening in Pacific Beach. Ms. Gomez and Rev. Simopoulos also help out at these events. The 40 homeless people that we

served showed immense gratitude for simply a dinner. Angelina said, “I don’t often interact with people that are going through tough times, so the Hunger Supports help teach me a lot about their conduction of living.” Interacting with struggling people and seeing their gratitude can greatly motivate service learning. Ms. Gomez explained that when putting on a drive, Bishops and her “do the best we can about educating the students before drives” so that the “students know why we’re doing this.” According to Feeding America, 60 million Americans headed to Soup Kitchens across America in 2020 alone, showing their importance. Soup kitchens get their food through donations like the drives Bishop’s has. That is why drives like the Bishop’s Thanksgiving Drive are so important. This year, Bishop’s is doing two drives. “This year we have two plans; the middle school will do the same thing as

last year, and the Upper School will be doing a local food drive with Hearts to Hands,” Ms. Gomez explained. Last year, they did a small drive consisting of, “The middle schoolers bringing in food for the advisories.” She continued to explain that the drive has and will continue to be partnered with a woman named Candy who’s “been able to raise 16,000 pounds of food for places like Feeding America, San Diego Food Bank, Trident Pantry.” Candy is an amazing person who runs events across San Diego to help the homeless get meals. So since, according to Julia, “it’s almost that time again for delicious food,” as you enjoy the festivities and food, be empathetic to the people in need during this time, by keeping out for Bulletin announcements and donating to the Thanksgiving Drive when time, so everyone can enjoy the feeling you have of your belt buckling after finishing a delicious Thanksgiving meal.

PC: Ben Brown (‘25)

Bishop’s Chapel Council prepare and serve dinners for the homelesss community in Pacific Beach. Service groups on-campus help serve the homeless nationwide to help combat hunger.

Angelina Kim (‘25) and Scarlett Helliar (‘24) prepare food at The St. James Hunger Support in Pacific Beach; kitchens like these help fight the hunger 38 million Americans are experiencing according to Feeding America. THE

Tower 21

HOLIDAY BASKETS HEROES FOR HEROES

he holiday season is upon us once again. Whether your holiday traditions include decorating the tree, spinning the dreidel, lighting the Kinara, or none or all of the above, they are most likely enjoyed with family and friends. But not everyone gets to spend the holidays with their loved ones; instead, some have to spend it on the job in order to ensure the safety of others. So this winter break, let’s not forget to show appreciation to those heroic service workers who are making the sacrifice. Holiday Baskets for Heroes is a community organization that shows our service workers how much we truly appreciate them by visiting local firehouses in December. The group was founded by violinist and teacher Ms. Healy Henderson after the 2017 Lilac Fire in San Diego, and it originated with a few people baking and donating pies for her to drop off at the firehouses. Since then, it has grown more than tenfold and now has just under 100 involved members. Ms. Henderson’s dad was a ca-

This project helps Ms. Lukin further emphasize the true meaning of Christmas to her children. Tyler (pictured here), enjoys meeting with the firemen every year.

reer firefighter who retired as a division chief in Orange County. Growing up, she recalled celebrating Christmas on different days in December to accommodate for her dad’s work schedule, and she wouldn’t get to see him for weeks on end when a big fire hit southern California. “These are just a few of the many sacrifices that the service members of our community endure on a daily basis,” she said. “They put their lives in danger in order to ensure the safety of others… And some ended up making the ultimate sacrifice with their lives.” Ms. Henderson’s brother, a volunteer firefighter in Wyoming, sadly lost his life in the line of duty. While there is nothing that can fill the void left in her heart by his passing, Ms. Henderson is comforted by the enthusiastic response by those who have helped build Holiday Baskets for Heroes. Four years ago, Ms. Henderson herself delivered both donated and homemade pies to 14 fire stations which served in the Lilac and Cal fires. This past holiday season, fire stations from 12 states in the U.S.–as well as four countries–received goodies from local community members; the farthest was in Australia. Treats have also expanded from pies to include snack packs, baked goods, and other holiday favorites. Some of the most interesting, creative, and gourmet treats included

Sydney Chan

homemade maple and bacon donuts as well as hot sauce, in honor of Ms. Henderson’s father who loved spicy food. But the baskets don’t need to be extravagant to be meaningful. One year, Ms. Henderson’s seven-year old student baked a batch of imperfect cookies for her local fire station, and they stole the show. Everyone loved them. “It is the time and effort that matter,” Ms. Henderson emphasized. “It really is just nice to feel appreciated,” Mr. Marc Dunn, a former Olympian and a 27-year veteran firefighter from Toronto, added. Dustin Alewine, a five-year veteran firefighter from Station 13, the Bishop’s School’s local firehouse, smiled from ear to ear when asked about what the community support means to him and his crew. He shared that most firefighters get into this line of work for their love of helping others, and that it is heartwarming to see the outpouring of appreciation during Thanksgiving time, when the kitchen counter at the firehouse is filled with delicious pies. It never gets old, he explained, and it’s still “so cool when families show up and say, ‘Hey, thank you for your service. Thank you for helping us out’; it’s just such a great reminder of why we do what we do.” Ever since the formation of this group, lots of support came from families with school-aged kids. “This project offered such an amazing opportunity for my kids to learn that sometimes a simple gesture signifies so much more than that. It

It really is just nice to feel appreciated.

– Mr. Marc Dunn

LOCAL & BEYOND | ISSUE 04

Sending love, one firehouse at a time

Ms. Piatt and Audrey, her 9-year-old daughter, look forward to bringing their favorite snacks and goodies to their local firehouse, Station 24, each year. Audrey was thrilled when she got an unexpected tour of a firetruck!

carries the appreciation that we feel for those who give up so much to serve our community, and that’s the true meaning of Christmas,” said Ms. Missy Lukin from Carlsbad, who has a daughter in 9th grade and a 10-year-old son. Ms. Lina Piatt, a resident of Carmel Valley, agreed. “When we go to the firehouse to drop off holiday baskets, we are always met with a big smile and appreciation. We look forward to it every year.” Ten-year-old Alexa has participated in Holiday Baskets for Heroes for three years. Her favorite way to show her appreciation is by drawing creative cards for the four fire stations that she visits with her family. “I love watching the fire-

fighters enjoying reading my cards with smiles. And once, I even got to sit in a huge fire truck. That was the best,” Alexa gushed. Another holiday season is fast approaching. During this winter break, whether it be Holiday Baskets for Heroes or another club that you already participate in or want to start, don’t forget to take a little time to bring some holiday cheer and show appreciation to those who put their lives on the line to protect us every single day. It’s the little gestures that truly go a long way.

PC: Sydney Chan (‘24), Ms. Piatt, Ms. Lukin

10-year-old Alexa’s favorite way to show her appreciation for her local firefighters is drawing creative cards to make them smile.

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“F

rom where you sit, the ocean is a block away. So close it’s personal… We ‘claim’ it, foolish humans that we are… We are temporary beings, simply passing through. May I humbly offer, as we contemplate our relationship to the planet, more respect is in order,” Director of Dance Ms. Donna Cory said in the program for Blue. If you attended the fall Performing Dance Group (PDG) show, you likely noticed the blue lighting and the plastic bottles littered across the back of the stage. This year, PDG performed Blue, a commentary on the amount of plastic that humans deposit in the oceans and its detrimental effects on wildlife and the earth. So how does this show manage to convey such a complex message through dance? While many forms of art, both across

wore the plastic as a part of their costumes to emphasize how much the material is involved in our daily lives. “I think the amount of plastic we collected was a pretty harsh reality check of just how much plastic we consume,” Michelle Lai (‘22) pointed out. The cover art of the program, by Ellie Hodges (‘22), depicts the ocean, but with masks and plastic soda bottles floating in it. “I designed it based on a couple of full photo references that Ms. Cory sent me,” Ellie noted. “It’s not obvious in the photos on the program, but I actually painted on this canvas that had bubble stickers already on it to mimic the ocean.” In the program’s From the Director letter, Ms. Cory provided a list of facts and statistics about sustainability, plastic, and wildlife, as an introduction to the show. “We aren’t help-

In the following number, “Plastic!,” four dancers who are not members of PDG—Riley Brunson (‘25), Sophia Gleeson (‘24), Annika Haagensen (‘22), and Mira Singh (‘25)—took the stage in black suits and brightly colored skirts. Sophia, who has been enrolled in Studio Dance Group (SDG) instead of PDG this year due to scheduling conflicts, explained that “‘Plastic!’ was modeled after an advertisement for plastic in the 1960s and 70s.” The dance depicts the rise of the material into popularity. “It was glamorized at the time for being cheap and really easy to manufacture,” Sophia said. “Plastic!” is one of a few pieces in Blue in which the dancers took the place of humans, rather than ocean creatures or inanimate objects. “You go for 20 minutes before you encounter someone who is portraying a person,”

I think it felt personal because everyone uses plastic, and everyone has a trash can. -Eliana Birnbaum-Nahl (‘23) the Bishop’s campus and across the globe, have hidden meanings, in Blue, the message comes to the forefront clearly. “Every performance we have is a chance to speak out about a certain issue or make a commentary on a story,” Elise Watson (‘22) explained. The title of the concert, Blue, may at first seem to simply refer to the blue of the plastic and the ocean. However, it also references the blue we associate with melancholy. This feeling comes through both in the title and blue lighting. “I think of being blue as just sort of stuck in neutral,” Ms. Cory said. “We spent a lot of time talking about how we all see the problem [of pollution]. We all agree… Now what do we do about it?” Members of PDG began collecting plastic months before the performances, both to use as costumes, props, and parts of the setting. “The [sheer] amount [of plastic] that we use everyday made it easy to collect so much in such a short amount of time,” Elise said. Dancers

less,” she concluded. “We can make a huge difference.” Blue displays the passage of time, ranging from the creation of the universe to humans today that throw plastic into the ocean. In one of the first pieces, “Origin Story,” Seniors Robert Devoe and Ashlyn Hunter took the places of hydrogen and oxygen respectively as they showed the formation of water as the creation of the universe. In that same number, Michelle Lai took the role of “La Luna,” or “the moon.” She performed a clapping motion that originated from Ms. Cory’s research about the role of the moon in controlling the tides and rhythm of the earth. The movement reappears at the end of “Plastic Soup,” but the rhythm is disjointed in its second appearance. “As [humans] destroy the earth, we are also destroying that rhythm that keeps the earth healthy,” Michelle explained. “[In “Plastic Soup”], I am trying to find that original rhythm but can’t.”

Ms. Cory said. “We were trying to create another world.” In perhaps one of the most striking numbers—“Beach Party!!!”—the full company took the stage in what seems on the surface to be a sunshine-filled beachy celebration with music to match, complete with bikinis, rainbow towels, and picnic lunches. However, at the end of the dance, the characters left behind their piles of trash and food. “It’s not a happy dance,” explained Sharisa You (‘22). “It’s a mockery.” Towards the end of “Beach Party!!!”, dancers left the stage and began talking to the audience members, handing them plastic containers. “Would you like some plastic?” they’d say. Or, “Take a piece of plastic.” This technique of involving the audience is called breaking the fourth wall and refers to the imaginary wall performers envision to separate themselves from the audience (and then break). It is especially effective in a show like Blue with such a strong real-world message. “Breaking the fourth wall…

something borrowed,

SOMETHING BLUE A look into the conception and message of the fall PDG show

Clare Malhotra

COVER STORY | ISSUE 04

PC: Lisette Farrell

“The protagonist of this dance concert is water,” Ms. Cory explained. “And the antagonist is us.” In Blue, Ms. Cory and the dancers held adults accountable for climate change and pollution.

leaves [the viewers] with this piece of plastic to hold and look at.” Lila Hampers (‘24) explained. “This is a moment for the audience to reflect upon themselves.” At the end of the show, they returned with plastic bins, asking the audience members to give back the trash. It was a call to action, conveying the idea that humans (represented by the audience) could save the ocean if they worked together. Ms. Cory explained that audience involvement is atypical in her fall dance concerts. However, the story of Blue is not localized within this concert. “The protagonist of this dance concert is water,” she noted. “And the antagonist is us.” Blue is only forty-five minutes: both so that it sticks with the audience and so that the dancers had time to learn all of it while regaining their footing after the pandemic. Ms. Cory noted that she would have liked a little more time in this particular aspect of the performance—between handing out the plastic and picking it up. “The audience needs to sit with that plastic a little while longer… I think there needs to be more struggle.” The performers involve another form of audience involvement in “Turtles,” which comes before “Beach Party!!!.” All fourteen dancers stand on stage and stare at the audience. “I very much choreograph for teenagers,” Ms. Cory explained about this section of the show. “That moment of staring at the audience is like, ‘We’re holding you accountable. Is anybody going to do anything here?’” Lila agreed, saying, “We make a state-

ment… coming from a younger generation looking onto an older generation.” Ms. Cory and the members of PDG wanted the audience to continue thinking about the show long after they left the theater. “We wanted people to walk out of that performance and think: how can I live more sustainably, what can I do to help the environment,” Lila said. One way they did this was by passing out bottle caps to people as they left. “People were asking, ‘What am I supposed to do with it?’” Ms. Cory reflected. “And we were like, ‘That’s the point. You have it—Where are you going to put it?’” These many techniques taken together, from those onstage to those outside of the theater, emphasize that the intention of the show was not simply to tell a story, but to inspire the viewer to make a difference. “It’s not evil people who contribute [to the trash buildups], but just regular people making little choices,” Eliana Birnbaum-Nahl (‘23) explained. “I think it felt personal, because everyone uses plastic and everyone has a trash can… In San Diego it ends up in the ocean.” “I feel that movement is a universal language.” Ms. Cory said. “There are a lot of different verbal languages on this planet, but hugging somebody is the same in any language. I think that [through dance], you can send a universal statement… without any words.”

“I very much choreograph for teenagers,” Ms. Cory explained. At one point in Turtles, the entire company stands in a line and stares at the audience, as if to hold an older generation accountable.

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TEACHER

We love you all, but we’re not sorry!

CHRISTMAS CARDS

THE BELL | ISSUE 04

Profiles courtesy of The Bishop’s School, Art by Shirley Xu (‘23)

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holiday movie watchlist for your viewing pleasure

The beloved book Little Women has made its rounds through several page-to-screen adaptations, but director Greta Gerwig captured magic in her 2019 version. Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy are the March sisters, the little women whose lives we see chronicled in this heartfelt, timeless story. Little Women isn’t a Christmas movie in the Hallmark-romcom-featuring-Santa-Claus sense, but it’s warm and comforting, about family and love. What more could a person want?

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video It was very not available for streaming this time a year ago, when I spent $16 (sixteen dollars!) to buy it on the actual iTunes Store that yes, still exists. The most desperate of times, the most desperate of measures. Go watch this movie.

Now Home Alone is a holiday classic if there ever was one. Would Christmas season be Christmas season without a young Macaulay Culkin devising a maze of hilarious traps for the most beloved of burglars, Harry and Marv (who I still, after so many years, can’t tell apart)? I’m sure we all know the story—poor young Kevin gets left home alone (get it.) when his family leaves for winter vacation without him. But fear not—we get our dose of heartwarming holiday magic at the movie’s conclusion. No spoilers here though, promise.

Watch on: Disney+

The first Harry Potter doesn’t often appear on holiday movie watchlists, I know, but in my book, there isn’t a film that better captures the warm-and-fuzzy comfort that we know, love, and crave during holiday season. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and all the others are young and bright-eyed still, more concerned with their fearsome Potions teacher than the safety of the wizarding world at large, and as a viewer who knows what the end of the saga brings, this first installation is nostalgic, comforting, safe. Plus, there’s that one Christmas scene where Harry gets presents from the Weasleys that’s the absolute peak of cinema—“Happy Christmas, Harry!” “Happy Christmas, Ron.” Happy Christmas! I love the British.

Watch on: HBO Max and Peacock (but I think you get ads here, so HBO’s the first pick)

THE BELL | ISSUE 04

Covers courtesy of IMDb, Art by Shirley Xu (‘23)

Now this is a holiday movie watchlist, so I’m going to go ahead and include this as a New Years’ movie. The Harry here isn’t he of Harry Potter; we first meet this Harry as he’s graduating college and spending twenty-some hours driving from Chicago to New York with a girl he’s never met before—Sally. The two cultivate a quick and mutual dislike, but over the next decade they keep running in to each other. Eventually, of course, they grow into friends. Now the real question is, do they grow into more? I think you can sense that this romcom will have a happy ending, but you didn’t hear that from me. Plus, this is a movie you just have to have watched at some point, and this time of year is the best to check it off the bucket list.

Watch on: Hulu or Amazon Prime Video

Another somewhat untraditional holiday movie pick—are you guys sensing a theme? But Die Hard features this quote: “Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho.” And that’s Christmas enough for me. Die Hard would be my dad’s selection from this watchlist for sure, and if that’s not endorsement enough, I don’t know what is. But if you still need convincing, this movie is pure entertainment with no critical thinking necessary on the viewer’s part (and I know my brain’s already pretty fried this far into the semester). Literally every single scene in this movie is great. One of the best action movies ever made.

Watch on: Amazon Prime Video or Peacock

I had to close it out with a classic. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the most Christmas-y movie of them all, just whimsical and colorful enough to bring us back to our childhoods regardless of how stressed about cumulatives or college apps we students of The Bishop’s School may be. Sing along to Cindy Lou Who’s “Where Are You, Christmas?” and I guarantee you’ll feel at least a little bit happier.

Watch on: Nowhere for free :( but rent it on Amazon Prime Video

— sariah <3

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Why aren’t you getting senior photos? What are you talking about? I already got senior photos! Well, obviously I didn’t go through a professional photographer. With a world class camera in my pocket, why bother paying someone to take photos of me? I am so confident in my senior photos. I look GORGEOUS, thank you. Studio M? More like Studio N, for “not needed.” For realzies, you all got SCAMMED!

What happened to your Tower sweatshirt? Unfortunately, my prized Tower sweatshirt was absolutely hammered by Hurricane Middle Schooler. During the Christmas Tree Lighting, a petulant child decided to throw hot chocolate at her friend. She—being stupid—threw it too high and it landed on top of me and fellow intellectual Sariah Hossain. The abuse I endure from underclassmen can not be understated! Thankfully, it is no longer splattered with brown after my mom scrubbed it all out. I will, though, be pursuing damages to the fullest!

When does your Early Decision come out? That information is best kept between me and Microsoft Edge (the best low-resource Chromium browser). Though, by the time you’ll read this, I will know my decision. Or will I? Safe to say that you won’t hear about it. Or will you? Anyways, college is a lie invented by the lizard Illuminati. Praise the pyramid.

No One Asked, Kyle LOL Y’ALL OBSESSED

FAN BEHAVIOR

Kyle Berlage

THE BELL | ISSUE 04

WORST 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

holiday traditions

couples in matching pajamas christmas card photos the annual family fight @ dinner post-holiday depression (brutal) the stress awaiting cumulative results

BEST 1. 2. 3. elf. 4. 5.

holiday traditions

starbucks peppermint mocha mariah defrosting (that will farrell thing in the library is scary)

amazon wishlist

PC: Sarah Kaplan (‘23)

ice skating @ coronado

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