Whittier Homecoming 2023

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275th Homecoming Issue 2023 • Wilmington Friends School’s Community Newspaper • Wilmington, DE

Cora Lohkamp ‘26, Staff Writer

Friends’ Production of Guys and Dolls

The school year has arrived, so the school musical is right around the corner. This year’s production will be the musical Guys and Dolls. This classic musical will be a change from the newer musicals that the Quakers performed in the past couple of years. The story is set in postwar era New York City. It is fun, vibrant, action-packed, and full of fantastic music.

In this musical, two love stories emerge taking place between unlikely pairs. Margaret Ann Butterfield, a music teacher at Friends, says, “It’s very energetic. It’s very comic and there is a lot of fast banter and quick interactions… and there’s singing and dancing and jazz hands.”

Many people love this musical all around America and with the talent at our school, it is expected to be a fantastic show! This musical was previously performed by Wilmington Friends School in 2010 and as an 8th-grade musical in 2017. Fun Fact: in 2010, our very own Mrs. Zug had two lines in the musical.

There are many people in this musical who have never had this special experience. Mrs. Butterfield describes the cast members as, “Energetic and enthusiastic.” Everyone there is excited to put on a show and they are excited to do it right.

Grace Terrell, 24’ says, “This will be my third musical and everyone seems a little more focused because everyone wants to be here. There is also more talent in this show than the other ones I’ve been in.”

Wilmington Friends’ abundance of talent made the casting process more difficult, however, Mrs. Butterfield believes she has cast everyone appropriately to best fit their talents. In addition, many cast members know and like this show. Mrs. Butterfield is most excited about the music in this

Annie Rosenthal ‘27, Staff Writer Oh my God. I love your dress. Where is it from? This is the classic ice breaker on the Homecoming dance floor. But where do we really get our attire.

Homecoming is an adored tradition. It is an event to hang out with friends, to make new memories, and to find the perfect attire. Scoring the perfect dress or suit, along with shoes that compliment the look, can exhaust even the most experienced shoppers. Over the years, fashion trends changed from modest to modern. The shopping experience for the perfect dress can be full of stress and confusion as one seeks to find a dress that complements their style, yet doesn’t look like the average homecoming dress.

Teens have struggled with what to wear to homecoming since the adored tradition began in America in the early 1900s. Homecoming evolved over the years from a plain gathering to the present-day exciting “hoco dance” and all-weekend event. The common stressful thought that pops into the minds of teens across America is, “What do I wear to homecoming?” In today’s reality, there are two main shopping points teens go to, online ordering and in-person shopping. Online ordering offers hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of options with a variety of colors and sizes. However, there are often long wait times for shipping, and sizes and colors can be limited–especially during busy times like homecoming. In-person shopping offers the chance

show and explains how many people already know it. The cast is larger than in previous years which will make the show more exciting. Mrs. Butterifeld says, “The only thing I wish is I got these very talented seniors who waited until now to be in a show.” However, it is never too late to be a part of something so special, and many

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to actually try on the clothing, find something unique, and walk away with a dress in hand. Some downfalls of in-person shopping include a limited range of options and increased prices.

Shopping online is a quality tool to have while

in the midst of this demanding time of homecoming shopping. The convenience of online shopping leads students to popular online stores like, “Lulus” and “Lucy in the Sky.” Greta Slease, an 11th grader at Wilmington Friends School, prefers to shop online at these two stores. Slease, like many other online shoppers, likes the price point of these stores. “I feel like $50.00 is the perfect amount for a homecoming dress. It’s a good price for me because of the importance the event has

kids come out of a musical with better friends than before. Ella Morton, 25’ says, “I’m really excited to get to know everyone because it’s a really big cast… I know coming out of the shows we are all super close-knit and tight.”

The rehearsal process recently began, and all the signs are pointing in a positive direction. There are many requirements to put on a show such as making dances, practicing songs, practicing lines, and making sure everyone is unified.

Terrell, 24’ explains, “Rehearsals have been really fun because we moved into the theater.” Now the cast will begin blocking which is figuring out who goes where in each scene while also practicing their lines, songs, and dances. The cast finished their music practice and Mrs. Butterfield says it is, “Moving along at a pretty swift pace.” Planning rehearsals in the busy time of the fall has its challenges, but Mrs. Butterfield is confident in their ability to put on a fabulous show this November.

Morton, 25’, says, “The blocking is going to be great and I trust the director.”

Mrs. Butterfield says, “There were many stars aligning to make this [show] happen.” The cast is eager to perform this show, so everyone should make an effort to attend Wilmington Friends’ production of Guys and Dolls on November 11th and 12th. Terrell, 24’ says, “I’m just excited for it all to come together and all of you to see it!”

to the school, it just feels like the right amount.” Slease also feels that the outcome of online shopping isn’t always worth the wait and the money, “If it doesn’t fit when it gets here you can be stuck in a difficult situation, also no returns.” The return policy for online stores tends to be much less dependable than in-person shopping. Often, teens start giving up on online shopping and find themselves stuck looking for a store that has fashionable inventory.

As the homecoming dance gets closer, looking to find the ideal dress becomes more complicated. Most online stores get backed up quickly and sometimes the dress you have your eye on isn’t in stock until after the dance. These hurdles affect how fast you need to make a decision and whether you are making the best choice when it comes to style and fit. Sofia Dattani, a 9th grader at Wilmington Friends, struggles with this exact problem, “Homecoming dresses have been tough to order, especially from Lucy in the Sky, because many are on backorder and will not be shipped until after the dance.” While online shopping can offer convenience, it can also create challenges that leave you scrambling last minute for the perfect dress.

Selecting a unique and fashionable homecoming dress takes time and patience, but with the right determination and flexibility, you can put your best foot forward as you dance your way into this adored homecoming tradition.

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The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

Community

Happy Birthday WFS: 250th vs 275th Celebrations Katie Bryan ‘24, Staff Writer

The Happy Birthday Song is a strange sound to hear if you’re taking a leisurely walk through Alapocas on a Wednesday morning. But this is the 275th anniversary of WFS, so brace yourself for a year of celebration. These celebrations aren’t random. They all come from the rich history that WFS has. After all, we’ve been celebrating our existence for longer than the United States of America. This is bound to be a year of celebration and gratitude, and while gearing up for the 275th, let’s look back on the 250th to reminisce or get ideas about how to make this birthday celebration even better.

Twenty-five years ago, Wilmington Friends celebrated its big 250th birthday. If the year 1998 had a theme, it would have been change. At the beginning of the 250th year, the school welcomed eight new faculty members, had the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Snyder Athletic Center, renovated the meeting room, and introduced handicapped access throughout the upper school. These changes created a new feeling throughout the schools, and students were excited to celebrate. Some of the exciting activities that the school planned for the 250th were a kick-off picnic, an alumni golf tournament, a gala at the Delaware Art Museum, and the taking of the aerial photo of students and faculty standing in a 250 on the football field before homecoming kickoff.

You can expect to see many of these same traditions this year on campus. On September 20, 2023, the entire school, from pre-k to 12th grade, plus faculty, all gathered on the turf to participate in a meeting for worship and to take an aerial photo and video of the members of our community. Anonymous members of the senior class commented on the experience, saying it was “surprising that the entire school got free t-shirts” and that “singing happy birthday was a strange thing to do, but it was cool for the entire school to be together.”

Another similarity you can find between these two birthdays is the lectures and special guest speakers invited to campus. In 1998, WFS welcomed A. N. Wyeth (a WFS alum of ‘66) to sign books and prints on September 20, 1998. The school and wider community also had the intense pleasure of hearing speeches from Doris Kearns and Toni Morrison throughout the year. Both authors are Pulitzer Prize-winning authors. Mary Woodward, Quakerism Teacher, commented, “It was my first year, but I do remember an air of pride throughout the school and impressive festivities.”

This year, look out for amazing presentations from Bryan Stevenson (November 30th), A Webinar Series on “How Networking Enhances your Brand” (November 9th), and another lecture series in April on “Leadership, Teamwork, and Quaker Values from the World of Sports.”

Now, what isn’t a celebration without music? For the 250th, WFS welcomed the Grammy-winning South African group Ladysmith Black Mombazo to perform for the festivities. During Homecoming Weekend this year, look forward to Kristen and The Noise! They will be performing for the homecoming kickoff event on October 21st. Also, make sure you mark your calendars in advance for May 23, 2024, for the 275th Anniversary Concert, sponsored by the Nathan M. Clark Foundation at The Playhouse on Rodney Square.

275 may not be as big of an anniversary as the 250th, but this year is jam-packed with exciting events and exciting speakers. The number may not seem as important, but the incredible schedule of events compares to one of the biggest and most significant anniversaries the school has celebrated.

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

News

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Prisoner on the Loose!

Gianna Cottone ‘26, Staff Writer The recent events from the Chester County prison have brought the reality of incarceration back to the northeast.

Danelo Cavalcante has affected the lives of students in Pennsylvania , the comfort of people in their own homes, and the awareness of prisons around the northeast.

Though Cavalcante affected Pennsylvanian residents the most, his presence in the Northeast was unsettling enough to affect the everyday lives of Delawareans.

People everywhere have been on edge ever since the escape of 34 year old Danelo Cavalcante. He escaped from Chester County prison on August 31, 2023, catching the eyes of thousands of people in the northeast. He managed to escape by climbing up the walls of his prison like a spider in an eerie manner to escape the guards. Surprisingly, most Delawareans are not aware of the location of nearby prisons. When Izzy Winchell ‘26 was asked about her knowledge of nearby prisons, she responded by saying this, “I have never really thought of nearby prisons before, but if someone in the area were to escape, I would further educate myself on prisons in Wilmington.” The closest prison to Wilmington Friends residents is Howard R. Young Correctional Institution,

which holds up to 1500 people. More specifically, it contains only male prisoners.

Winchell ‘26 expressed how more activity in a prison could end up educating people around the area. Mary Robertson agrees, “This is making people more aware of the problems of incarceration.” In conclusion, the majority of people living in Delaware are not aware of local prisons and should begin to educate themselves.

Though thousands of people were affected by his escape, the majority were the students. Not only were their personal lives affected, but their academic lives as well. Natalie Baram ’25 is a current junior at Unionville High school. In the beginning of her school year, Baram and her classmates encountered this unusual obstacle. When asked how her academic life was impacted, Baram responded, “We had off from school for three days but still had to keep up with the demanding homework for every class!” Academics were not the only large change for these students, as their social and personal lives were also affected. Many teenagers who were once allowed to stay out as late as they wanted were given curfews and other restrictions for their own safety. Along with all her friends, Baram was given a curfew of 11.

This greatly impacted her by limiting time spent with friends. Students in Pennsylvania were forced to overcome the mess

the Danelo Cavalcante stirred up in their social and academic lives.

Another huge impact of his escape was the comfort of people living nearby. Alexa Donahue ’22 decided to share her story on how Danelo Cavalcante impacted her. “I went to visit a friend in

that’s exactly what she did! In this case, Cavalcante literally chased people out of their own homes. Hundreds of people felt uncomfortable in their one “safe space”, all due to the chain of violent events that followed Danelo Cavalcante.

West Chester when Cavalcante escaped. I didn’t think too much of it until he broke into my friend’s neighbor’s house! I didn’t find out right away but I took the hint when I saw police officers crowding her neighborhood. My friend was too spooked and asked me if we could go and stay at my house until he was finally caught!”

Not only was Donahue too uncomfortable to stay, but her friend was just as scared.

Alexa knew that she needed to help, and

The escape of Danelo Cavalcante is such a unique story due to the ripple effect he created on the Delaware and Pennsylvania area. His escape made a mess of the safety of citizens nearby and the academic and social lives of students in local schools. Fortunately, it helped bring awareness of all the prisons near us.

Danelo Cavalcante left a huge footprint on numerous people, and his story spread like a wildfire across the Northeast.

Ukraine - All These Months Later Olivia Agne ‘27, Staff Writer Russia invaded Ukraine over a year ago, and let’s be honest, most people in America have forgotten about it. However, it is still an impending problem for the people of Ukraine. Here’s a quick overview of how the conflict is progressing.

The Russian Federation invaded Ukraine in February 2022, which was an escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian war that started in 2014. Ukraine gained its independence in 1991 from the Soviet union. Now, President Putin of Russia has made attempts to get it back. One reason why Putin invaded Ukraine is because it has many important resources including wheat, oil, and ports. Ukraine wants to join NATO, which would give it more alliances and resources but NATO members feel this would further provoke Russia. Upper school history teacher Mr. Childers says, “The US doesn’t want to directly engage Russia in a military conflict.” This would likely lead to nuclear war.

Despite this situation, the United States has provided billions of dollars in aid to Ukraine.

Mr. Childers notes, “The United States has a responsibility to help other countries defend their territorial integrity.” However, if Ukraine loses this conflict, the American economy will be pushed into further unbalance. An additional effect of this war is Russia’s ruthless invasion of Ukraine and the resultant displacement of millions of Ukrainian citizens who became refugees. One of these refugees was part of the WFS community last year.

Sashka was a 7th grader at Friends last year

and a Ukrainian refugee. When Sashka first came to America, she wasn’t the best at English, but she soon improved and started to make friends at her new school in an entirely new country. She left to go back to Europe in March 2023 when it was safe to return to her country and be reunited with the family members she was forced to leave behind. Luckily, Sashka was able to keep in touch with the friends she made at WFS through social media and was able to provide a few comments on her feelings about the conflict in her homeland.

When asked about her overall opinions on the war she responded, “The Russian Federation is trying to take control of all our country and destroy our country, our culture, and all our population.” Sashka feels Russia is a dictatorship and the people of Ukraine are fighting for their democracy, freedom and survival. “Every day, Russians bomb our civil buildings, schools, hospitals,

stores, grain, and ports,” she says. When asked about the support the United States is providing she said, “I am really grateful to the US government and American people for your support…Your weapons, missiles, political position, and economical support really help us to survive.” Sashka also thinks that American support has saved many lives. When asked how life is now in Ukraine Sashka said, “We came back to our motherland because it is more safe than last year due to your support…A lot of refugees returned to Ukraine and now everyone works for our joined victory.” The Ukrainian people are grateful towards the United States, despite the controversy it has created in America. Ukrainian refugees have been separated from their families and forced to move out of their country but Sashka remains positive and believes a better future will come into fruition soon.

What has become glaringly obvious is how little most people know about the war now. The media has become bored with covering the conflict and people aren’t predisposed to go looking for information on it.

Most students of WFS say they know nothing about the war in Ukraine. “It’s bad,” says Decker Reitemeyer ‘27 when asked about his knowledge of the conflict. Everyone knows there is a war but they aren’t concerned with the details or progression. “It’s violent,” says Sofia Gasta-Domínguez ‘26. The war in Ukraine may have calmed down a bit, but it is still something well worth paying attention to. Most people have forgotten about the continuing conflict after the initial invasion, but it is still a very daunting problem for all citizens of Ukraine.

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

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Sports

Injury Crisis: Why Your Favorite Players Keep Getting Hurt.

Mitchell Brenner ‘24, Staff Writer

It is no secret that football is a dangerous and challenging sport. People running full speed, and crashing into one another is bound to cause injuries somewhere along the line. Injuries only appear more common as you climb the ladder of skill from high school to college and the NFL. Everyone that has played organized football would agree that more often than not, they are hurt in some way. First lets establish that there’s a big difference between being “hurt” and being injured. Being hurt simply means an athlete is dealing with some sort of pain that they can play through, an injury however is something that takes them out of playing entirely because they are physically unable to do so. Injuries all have different severities, and historically the worst injuries, wether they be season or even career-ending, are mostly freak accidents. The most common season-ending injuries in the NFL are torn ligaments and tendons like the ACL or Achilles. Most of the time a torn ACL or Achilles tendon happens by doing a “routine cut” or movement that seems normal, but your leg bends in just the right way to tear. These injuries are not casual accidents that happen randomly, so why do they feel so common this NFL season?

There are a few main reasons that stand out as to what causes major injuries. Firstly, artificial turf fields are notorious for being harsh on the body. JC Tretter, former Cleveland Browns offensive lineman and NFL Players’ Association President weighed his opinion on grass vs. turf fields. “Grass will eventually give, which often releases the cleat before reaching an injurious load. On synthetic surfaces, there is less give, meaning our feet, ankles, and knees absorb the force, which makes injury more likely to follow.” Seventeen of Thirty two different NFL teams use artificial turf fields in their stadiums. That’s half of the NFL putting their players at higher risk for injury. You might be wondering, why would the NFL put their players at a higher risk? The answer is simple, money. Turf fields are much easier to maintain, therefore teams don’t have to worry about paying for a big grounds crew. The NFL made 18 billion dollars in 2022, there is no reason to penny-pinch regarding player safety. Let’s be real, f it weren’t for the players on the field, the NFL wouldn’t be making billions of dollars in the first place.

The second reason for major injuries is how players are coached. NFL players are physically larger compared to their counterparts from 30 - 40 years ago. The average offensive lineman is 300 pounds in today’s NFL. Running backs like Nick Chubb and Derrick Henry are nearly impossible to tackle for a smaller safety or cornerback. So what do these coaches do? They teach their players to tackle low and cut at the opponent’s legs. The glaring issue with cutting at someone’s legs is that this can cause either major injuries that end a player’s season, or more minor injuries that never go away and eventually force a player to retire. This is clearly seen with Browns running back Nick Chubb’s knee being bent completely backward after Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick hit it with his helmet while tackling him. This is in no way Fitzpatrick’s fault, but these gruesome injuries are a byproduct of NFL players getting bigger, stronger, and tougher to tackle.

Finally, every NFL player was great in high school and college, and many of them even played pee-wee football too. This means that most of these guys have played football for 15+ years, and the toll that takes on your body eventually will catch up to you. “Athletes that play the same sport from a young age are more susceptible to overuse injuries,” said Wilmington Friends Athletic Trainer Noah Underwood. Players have the same intense practice and off-season training 6-7 days a week, year-round. Eventually every big hit and hard cut is going to add up and take its toll.

Football is a very physical sport, and as fun as it is to watch big hits at home on your TV, there’s a person that’s being hit like that. Over the past 10 - 15 years the NFL has been changing rules to keep players safer, and while concussions have been decreased, there is something to be said about other types of major injuries. Injuries will always be a part of football, but the NFL needs to step up and do everything it can to minimize their effect on the game, whether that be banning artificial turf fields or cutting blocking and tackling, something needs to change soon.

Blast from the Past:

Collections from the WFS Whittier Archives written in 1930 (left) and 1965 (right) from past students.

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

Science and Tech

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Go Eco?

Is WFS addressing Climate Change?

Scarlett Murphy ‘27, Staff Writer In recent times, our daily lives have been bombarded with headlines left and right about the recent increase of climate disasters around the world. From Hurricane Idalia to the devastating wildfires in Maui and the flooding in New York, it seems like all we are hearing about is climate disaster. Members of our community are left wondering when, or if, these never-ending disasters will come to an end. The undeniable truth is that the recent uprising in climate disasters is directly linked to climate change, a terrifying force that may very well bring humanity to an end.

Our community is already bearing the effects of the recent climate disasters. These events have left us thinking about how these worsening disasters will shape our future as climate change escalates into new levels of terror. As high school students who are thinking about college, the topic of the environment has begun to carry more weight on our minds as we envision our lives as adults.

Maya Ross, class of 2027, commented, “If I’m working anywhere or living anywhere and there is smoke fog everywhere and the air quality is terrible, I have asthma so I can’t leave my home.

The main reason for the fog is smoke from factories and wild fires so the climate can change a lot of things for people with health conditions.”

Many people in our community have conditions that are affected by the climate, and as conditions worsen, air quality and temperature is a concern that many of these

students face.

It is difficult to be hopeful about our futures when some of us feel that little is being done in our own country to combat these climate disasters and the overarching crisis of climate change as a whole. Kelley Cox, the upper school science teacher, says, “I wish people in charge were younger all across the board and would listen to those inheriting what we are leaving behind.” Others also recog-

of 2027, says, “There are other problems in the world and we cannot solve this fast enough.”

Not only are climate disasters affecting how we consider our futures, they are also making us reconsider our collective and individual actions on climate change.

Kelley Cox says, “We continue to use a lot of energy. The interest is but it is harder to remember to do things like remembering to turn off the lights everytime we leave.

Compost and recycling bins are just used as trash.” Conversely, Jacob Sepehriazar, class of 2027, says, “We have a lot of recycling cans and very few trash cans. We do as good a job as a school should be doing.”

It can be excruciatingly painful to ponder how every little decision we make affects the environment. However, we can take one step at a time towards a more sustainable community and develop habits as individuals that can lead us to become more responsible.

Sustainability is more than just turning off lights and recycling. In fact, the United Nations claims that, “Education is a critical agent in addressing the issue of climate change…In the classroom, young people can be taught the impact of global warming and learn how to adapt to climate change. Education empowers all people, but especially motivates the young to take action. Knowing the facts helps eliminate the fear of an issue which is frequently colored by doom and gloom in the public arena.”

nize the importance of government action, although some feel like our climate has not been made a priority while we are also facing other global issues. Henrik Maansson, class

Welcome Jewish Student Union!

Tess Wolf ‘24, Columnist First, we’re starting with our newest alliance club, JSU (Jewish Student Union). Clerked by Dan Selekman ‘24, Andrew Forman ‘25, Anna Weiner ’26, and Annie Rosenthal ‘27, this alliance club is open to Jews and non-Jews alike. Their first meeting included a game of Sukkot-themed Kahoot to learn about the recent Jewish holiday JSU goals: “A big part of being Jewish is the food, so we’re gonna have a lot of food.”

Games + food for each holiday To teach non-Jews about Jewish heritage because there aren’t many of us here Have a space to talk about Jewish things with other Jews (Andrew Foreman ‘25) Non-Jewish students at the meeting admitted that they knew “Like nothing. 10% maybe 20.” about Judaism, and most of their education about Judaism came from creators on TikTok. So here are what your Jewish friends want you to know.

What do you wish your classmates knew about Judaism?

Most traditions are really old and important. They’ve been passed down from generation to generation. It’s more than just a religion. It’s a culture.

(Andrew Foreman ‘25) Everyone makes a stereotype and assumption that we’re very Jewish and go to synongoye every day, but not all Jews are like that. … Everyone isn’t orthodox. “ (Annie Rosenthal ‘27 Why do we need this club?

“While listening to everyone introduce their clubs in the beginning of year. I realized there are so many clubs that represent everyone else’s culture and who they are. But there was no Jewish club, so this is how we got here.” (Annie Roaenthal ‘27) “People sometimes don’t see them [Jews] as a minority when they still are. Sometimes people throw around jokes that just aren’t funny.” (Simran Datanni ‘24) Everyone remembers when Kanye was attacking Jews on Twitter, but few knew that Fifty-nine antisemitic

New Diversity Column

incidents from October 11 through the end of 2022 directly referenced Ye. That situation was much more than a joke.

The necessity for the club is apparent now more than ever in a time when Congregation Beth Shalom down the street and most synagogues have a safety briefing and armed guards in case of an active shooter during every service.

An annual audit by the Anti-Defamation League showed antisemitic incidents in the U.S. rose 36% in 2022, and Jews are consistently the most targeted religious group in the U.S. There is currently the most Jewish hate since the 70s, leading to reduced feelings of safety within the Jewish community.

Check-in on your Jewish friends and educate yourself on this religious minority at WFS, possibly even by joining WFS’s new club, JSU!

This new column’s goal is to highlight marginalized voices in the WFS community and provide a forum for ANYONE to ask identity-related questions to create better understanding and support among WFS students. We want to highlight clubs supporting diversity and give everyone a platform (anonymously if desired) to address the questions you’re too afraid to ask or wish other classmates knew about identity.

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

Page 6

Arts & Culture

Taylor Swift: Is She Hurting the Feminist Movement?

Angie Cochran ‘24, Staff Writer

Taylor Swift emerged as one of the most influential artists when her debut album came out on October 24, 2006, almost 17 years ago. With nearly 100.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify, she is the second-most famous artist in the world. The Eras Tour, her most recent stadium tour, has occupied headlines across social media. Her tour announcement in Nov. 2022 quickly became a headliner on Twitter.

Even though she is thriving as a musician, there has been a large amount of discourse over the quality of her work. Many people believe that Taylor Swift is “over-hyped” and not deserving of her celebrity status. In 2016, she released her album Reputation which was a reference to the hate and backlash she received after the 2009 VMAs, where Kanye West interrupted her speech by coming onto the stage and taking her mic. In her Netflix documentary “Miss Americana” released in 2020, Swift talks about her struggles with an eating disorder throughout her life. In the documentary, Swift opens up about her eating disorder and how she was affected “[About listening to Taylor Swift as a kid] For my younger sister it made her feel more confident, for sure.” says Eamonn Grubb ‘25.

Taylor Swift influences young girls worldwide, and the impact that she has on the confidence of developing girls is prominent.

In Swift’s song “You’re On Your Own, Kid” Swift says “So make the friendship bracelets, take the moment

and taste it”. In response to this line, Swifties all over the country made friendship bracelets and traded them with strangers at the Eras Tour concert. Taylor Swift was spotted sporting friendship bracelets, along with members of

her family and her personal security team. The Eras tour friendship bracelets brought the community of listeners together, whether that was with a certain section of the venue, or with Swift herself. The community of Taylor Swift fans created a safe environment for people to trade their bracelets, as well as to dress up in outfits representing their favorite Taylor Swift Eras. Violet Perloff ‘24 said that if she had been able to attend the tour, she would have loved to experience it. “Guys are the problem, and I need to stay true to myself. I don’t need to change for any man.” Says Ava Rubano ‘24. Ava said that Taylor Swift helped build her confidence as a kid, and helped her make friends. When asked to comment on Taylor Swift, Mr. Morton, a WFS history teacher, said “​​What is clear, however, is that she inspires young people, and it would appear that she does serve as an inspiration to millions of young women.” Mr. Morton is popular throughout the WFS community for having strong opinions, and his opinion of Swift is surprisingly positive.

The question remains, however, is Taylor Swift’s dating history damaging to the movement that she stands for? Violet Perloff ‘24 says that the media will attack her for her “serial dating” regardless of her popularity. The music industry is a very competitive field, the rumors and dissatisfaction are sure to be persistent for any female artist in our current day and age.

The WFS Students take on Barbie Temi Lufadeju ‘25, Staff Writer The Barbie film was and still is a sensational hit for today’s pop culture. The movie starring Margo Robbie and Ryan Gosling was released on July 21, 2023, and is still making heads turn. The director, Greta Gerwing, sought to embrace a diverse approach; “President” of Barbie was played by African American actress Issa Rae while other diverse actors and actresses, such as America Ferrara, Simu Liu, and Alexandra Shipp, all starred in major roles during the film. As of 2023, the Barbie movie comes in hot at number one on the most ranked domestic growths with an outstanding amount of $633,076,874. The box office raised a wooping $1.434 billion. So what is the controversy about?

Since the movie was released in the cinemas, it has sparked some debate all over the world on social media and even in the community of Wilmington Friends Schools. A poll with over 120 students was recorded and it revealed that 77 students liked the film and the majority of those students were female. In contrast, 13 students disliked the film and the majority of those students were male. Why is that? One student wrote, “I did like the Barbie movie because it was women-empowering and actually funny”. On the other hand, another student wrote: “---because it’s all about women ruling the world, this is unrealistic as men are the reason for many of the luxuries the world currently enjoys”.

Some men say that the Barbie film is too anti-men. Piers Morgan said the film had a “misandrist message”. Morgan wrote in an article published in the New York Post on July 24th, “If I made a movie that treated women the

way Barbie treats men, feminists would want me executed.” In the poll, some of the responses to the question “why you liked the Barbie movie” were as simple as “Ryan Gosling”. There were more mentions of Ryan Gosling than there were of Margo Robbie alone, who is supposed to be the main character. The general public seems to think that the film focused heavily on Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, questioning his identity.

A user on Twitter tweeted that Barbie “felt like a side character” throughout the film and Ken acted as the main character. Could it be that the film was made for Ken and the men like Ken? The term intersectionality was used by a user on the popular app, TikTok, to demonstrate how the Barbie film did not acknowledge that everyone has their own different and unique experiences when dealing with discrimination, and not just gender discrimination but race, religious, and social class, and sexual orientation. @kxmberly_tsitsi says “It doesn’t properly criticize patriarchy and the message it pushes would’ve been groundbreaking in the 60s but in 2023 it falls flat and completely ignores any intersectionality.” So, was the movie too controversial or not controversial enough? Maybe, that’s for the viewer to decide.

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

Community

Homecoming: A Deeper Look Ethan Halaby ‘27, Staff Writer Homecoming: the tradition of welcoming back alumni and former members of the school to celebrate its existence.

At least that is what the average person thinks of when they hear mention of this long-running tradition. However, when you dive a little deeper into this beloved event you’ll find that it is much more than a simple reunion.

Why do people love Homecoming so much?

There are of course the obvious reasons such as, watching the classic football game and cheering for the friends team with as much team spirit as possibly musterable. However, other students have given different reasons why people look forward to the event. A Large component is the overwhelming sense of community. It is an amazing feeling to be a part of something special, and that is exactly what this community is. Mia Davenport ’25 states, “Homecoming is a time to get away from stress and join a positive environment with friends and family”. Sometimes it’s nice to have an excuse to dress up with your friends and go to a cool event!

Another huge part of homecoming is welcoming back former students and alumni. After years of being a part of such

an amazing community, leaving can be difficult. Homecoming is a time to remind graduates that they are always a part of the school and are allowed back to see the place where they made so many memories. Esther Adebi ’24 clarifies, “It’s nice returning to somewhere familiar, coming back to this place where you spent a lot of special time. Homecoming is a reason to come back”.

Homecoming can also be very nostalgic for some. Adedi mentioned their experience at homecoming when they were a child, reminiscing about how they always loved the juice boxes that were under the various tents. She states “The pizza is ok, but the juice is where it’s at”. It’s the little details, such as these, that make the homecoming experience unique for everyone participating.

Is it important to have a homecoming every year?

The answer to this question around WFS is a resounding “YES”. Kate Hendrix, the school librarian, for many decades stated “It is important to have homecoming every year so people don’t feel left out or robbed of their experience to revisit the community they spent a part of their lives as a member of ”. Student Mia Davenport reiterates “Not having a homecoming every year would be simply weird”.

In conclusion, homecoming is a perfect

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way to return to our beloved community.

To revisit all of the memories of a positive environment, that you feel is a safe place to express yourself and connect with others.

Our community would not be the same without this tradition, as it is a huge generator of positive vibes and overall tremendous team spirit. We can all bask in memories of the past, but more importantly live in the moment, standing side by side.

1998 WFS Homecoming

Seniors Embark on the College Journey: Navigating Emotions Sarah Levenson ‘24, Staff Writer Moving on to college is exhilarating but overwhelming. It is here and it is definitely real. This process is not easy but with the guidance and support of family, friends, and the school, it makes the transition smoother.

Walking by all the underclassmen and the juniors in the hallways, it just feels like any other normal school year. Just months away college will fall in everybody’s lap and we all will graduate. When asking a couple of current seniors how to describe the college process in one word, some said, “exciting, motivating, and eager”.

Others communicated that they were “Overwhelmed, nervous, anxious, and scared”. The Wilmington Friends community is very connected and it is important to be there for each other, no matter what the outcome is.

Rose Gnade, assistant guidance counselor at WFS, gave her perspective of the college process, and how she can support seniors through the journey.

Gnade was asked: Can you share any strategies you’re using to stay organized during the college application process? Gnade replied, “I’ve seen everything from an extremely detailed, color-coded spreadsheet, to using the sticky note feature on your mac. You must have something in place, otherwise you may miss steps. Every time you meet with your college counselor they are going to give you to-dos, so write them down somewhere. Do what works best for you”.

Gnade also replied to, ​​How do you support seniors in navigating the college application process during their last year of high school? “Formally- scheduled official meetings with them when they return in September, where we work through finding their applications and essays. Then host ongoing individual meetings with stu-

dents to make sure they are on task. Host a financial aid night to help families navigate the cost of college. We’ll continue to support them all the way through until they make their final decision and beyond. We provide the wfs_college_guidance instagram account. Every WFS upper school student should be following us for relevant information”.

Lastly Gnade responded to the question: How do you address the emotional aspects of senior year and the transition to college for your students? “We work to build a trusting relationship with our students so they can feel comfortable having open and honest conversations about their feelings. It is normal to feel anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, nervous, excited, etc. about the college experience and process. It helps to talk it through.

However, if we feel like the level of emotion is beyond what we normally observe, we loop in and partner with Mrs. Literelle for additional counseling support”.

A general peice of advice for students in the WFS community is to stay calm, and understanding. It is not always easy but you will get there.

William and Mary College representative in College Guidance, Photo Courtesy of Tauson Biggs ‘24

The Whittier Miscellany Homecoming Issue 2023

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Column

This Is Just to Say: Why Gen Z Needs Poetry Jemima Smith ‘24, Columnist There’s a strange phenomenon with Generation Z: we think poetry as a medium is either unknowable and snobbish or stupid and simplistic. Critics stick up their noses and announce poetry’s time of death, while contemporaries proclaim the free-form revolution and plant seeds in the ashes of their literary forefathers. In such a state of turmoil, what even is poetry? It’s no wonder we want nothing to do with it.

I’ll begin by explaining why I think poetry is currently inaccessible. Please bear with me-- this will not be a ‘kids these days’ rant in its entirety. That being said, in our world we’re not forced to sit with our own emotions. A poem is the result of long, blue nights, stewing in your own brain. It’s a strange, abstract outlet that attempts to capture a unique combination of space, time, and feeling. Unfortunately, Apple has a better idea. Once you do unlock the old Pandora’s box, you’re bombarded with media. We’re drowning in content, thick with the fascinating and obscure; now our brains don’t know how to breathe normally. Choosing whether to watch a fantastic tv show or spend thirty minutes trying to decipher a line by Emily Dickinson is a no-brainer. If you do, by chance, stumble upon instagram poetry--the likes of Rupi Kaur and Parker Lee--you will quickly be driven away by uncomfortable eye-to-camera contact and simplistic lines dripping with smug ‘aren’t I clever?’-iness. People like it though; Rupi Kaur recently surpassed the Odyssey. Hers is the best-selling poetry of all time. (N.B. If you think you like Rupi Kaur’s poetry, look up a live performance. You’ll regret it.) One of the most extreme cases of this kind of work is Gabbie Hanna’s body of work, widely mocked on the internet. Here’s an excerpt from her collection, Adultolescence: RELATIVE Time Is relative Beauty Is relative Family Is relatives I don’t think I need to explain why the collection was slammed. There is, of course, personal bias pervading my opinions on these poems. Cringe culture is huge for Gen Z; we adore comedy rife with second-hand embarrassment, revolve our lives around not being ‘pick-me’. Nothing is ever good enough for us. In some ways, this is an enormous strength: we’re doing our best to take the world by storm in politics, art, and business. We’re ferocious. But it also means we aren’t vulnerable. I think that part of the reason we don’t like poems is because we don’t like that uncanny feeling of genuinely explaining what we feel. It is, in its essence, cringey. It’s not low-maintenance. It’s not digestible. Finally, when we do come into contact with poetry in school, it’s in a sterile, fluorescent environment. We have quizzes on Langston Hughes and graded class discussions on William Shakespeare. Nothing is beautiful if you take a scalpel to it.

Alexandra Petri of The Washington Post and Matthew Walther of the New York Times are convinced that poetry has long since rotted in the ground. “Poetry has gone from being something that you did in order to Write Your Name Large Across the Sky and sound your barbaric yawp and generally Shake Things Up to a very carefully gated medium that requires years of study and apprenticeship in order to produce meticulous, perfect, golden lines that up to ten people will ever voluntarily read,” said Petri. “It used to be that if you were young and you wanted to Change Things with your Words, you darted off and wrote poetry somewhere. You got together with friends at cafes and you wrote verses and talked revolution. Now that is the last thing you do.” But I’d like to make the case that poetry is not, in fact, Dead with a capital d. Classicists argue that poetry used to push boundaries but are upset that poetry is, now, pushing boundaries. Some would argue that poetry is present in a well-captioned social media post. It’s everywhere in music, from rap to Taylor Swift (don’t attack me--she’s praised for her lyricism all the time.) What they miss the mark on most, though, is that they think modern poetry is inherently inferior because of its lack of emotional content. I couldn’t disagree more with this; people haven’t lost some miraculous ability to create emotional content. Modern poetry can still move you. In my book, that means it’s still poetry.

Still, whether or not poetry is dead doesn’t solve the problem of whether young people actually read it. I think what we’re missing is the possibility of poetry in the modern world. As a generation, we like the abstract and intangible. Even though we try to be low-maintenance, we value passion and making a difference. That’s what poetry really is; that’s the beauty of it. It’s such an open medium. It’s always been revolutionary. It’s not stuffy and irrelevant--rather, it’s the opposite--the essence of a moment. If I’ve convinced you at all, maybe give some poems a chance.

Micah Davenport ‘27, Cartoonist