2024 United States Election Results
by Noah Jacobs ’25
On Tuesday, November 5, millions of Americans took to the polls and cast their votes for their chosen candidate. The Republican candidate was former president Donald Trump and the Democratic candidate was the current vice president under the Biden administration, Kamala Harris. In addition, millions of Americans voted prior to November 5 with mailin ballots.
In order to win the election a candidate needs 270 electoral college votes. When the polls closed and all the votes were counted, Harris ended up with 226 and Trump ended with 312, making him the clear winner of the 2024 presidential election. In addition, Trump won the popular vote by more than 3 million votes.
The next step for America is the presidential inauguration on Monday, January 20, 2025. During this ceremony, both the soon-to-be former president, Joe Biden, and the soon-to-be president, Donald Trump, will arrive at the White House and then proceed to the United States Capitol building. Then Trump
will take his oath into office, which is usually administered by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Then Trump will deliver the inaugural address. This ceremony is likely to have other guest speakers. Famously, when Biden was sworn into office in 2020, American poet Amanda Gorman performed one of her poems titled “The Hill We Climb”.
Public reaction to the election results was mixed, as expected. Many people are thrilled with the fact that Trump will reenter the Oval Office and believe that his policy will bring down inflation and make the cost of living more manageable. Others are devastated and worried about what he is going to do to abortion access, access to gender-affirming care, and to environmental policies.
Many people and companies are also worried about his plans to initiate tariffs. In the simplest form, a tariff is a nationwide tax on imported goods. According to Georgia State University, “While tariffs can provide some protection to certain industries, they can also create inefficiencies for
by Mila Bahr ’27
the industries they were designed to protect, as well as for their supply chain partners”. Tariffs could potentially also have a negative effect on the pocketbooks of consumers and the average American, essentially acting as a sales tax on all imported goods.
On November 6, Vice President Harris held her concession speech at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. She said, “I will often say that when we fight, we win. But here’s the thing: Sometimes the fight takes a while.
That doesn’t mean we won’t win.” In his acceptance speech, PresidentElect Trump said, "We're going to help our country heal. We have a country that needs help, and it needs help very badly... We're going to fix everything about our country..."
Whether you are happy or sad about the election results, the most important thing is to continue to use your voice and advocate for what you believe in, and especially to vote in local and state elections.
The Climate Clock and Countdown
by Mila Bahr ’27
Climate change is something that the world is aware of, hopefully. But when thinking about climate change, what comes to mind? Do people really have perspective on the issue or do they just resort to “Yeah it's a problem, but what can I do about it”? Climate change has been in progression for years and like anything, people move forward and maybe even forget.
Climate change consists of long-term shifts in the atmosphere throughout time that affect weather patterns and temperature. Since the Industrial Revolution, people have been a huge factor in the growth of global warming by doing things such as burning fossil fuels.
“Burning fossil fuels generates greenhouse gas emissions that act like a blanket wrapped around the Earth, trapping the sun’s heat and raising temperatures,” said the United Nations website on climate change. By emitting these gasses and chemicals into the atmosphere, the
good is slowly being taken over by the bad.
There are big red numbers in a large display in New York City’s Union Square slowly counting down every minute. These numbers are a part of something called the Climate Clock. The Climate Clock is a simple, everyday tool that incorporates art, science, technology, and grassroots information from around the world, to prompt the world to #ActInTime. The clock counts down the “critical time window” to reach zero emissions, which the Climate Team calls their “deadline”, basically to help progress to healing the world of furthering global warming. The clock gives a public understanding of what needs to be done and by when, by ultimately putting the idea of climate change on our forefront and radars, more than it already should be. The clock also expands people’s understanding of solution pathways, AKA, the Climate Team’s “lifelines.” The clock
Winner of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, former President Donald J. Trump.
Editorial/Opinion
Social Media Affects Emotions, Drive
by Alli Colannino ’28
Social media has many positive and negative effects and many different platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat, and Instagram. When you look at the big picture of social media, it is mainly used for people to have conversations, share information, and create content on some of these platforms.
One of the positive effects of using social media is staying connected with your friends and family. An example is when you are away at boarding school or even just traveling, you can reach out to them without waiting to meet up in person. Another reason social media is positive is that reaching out to others shows that you care about them and think about the people you love. Social media can make us feel we belong and have a place to feel welcomed.
Spending time on social media is only good sometimes; it can be an excellent way to make new friends or explore something you haven’t heard about before. These social media platforms can make us feel understood and supported by others. When we think about that, it boosts our emotional well-being. Continuing with the positive, social media can give us much information.
Another concern presented by the use of social media is the impact on mental health. There can be positive ways that social media affects our health. When people usually think
about social media, many think about how bad it is for you and what it can do to you. Some things that are good about social media are that it can help prevent a person from feeling lonely and get a good feeling of belonging. When we think this way, we lack the sense of anxiety and stress. What helps us with that is how people engage with social media and what we post. When someone likes or comments on something you post, it makes you feel like you are valued.
Although there are many positives, there are also negatives. Some of those negatives can include staying connected with friends and family when you would rather be out of touch. Another adverse effect is that often, we are the problem. In other words, we don’t use social media well or in a positive way, so we cause our own problems with it.
The main problem is how people can take things. This is bad because some people can take our words incorrectly and think we mean something different.
One thing that is better about being in person is that when you are talking to someone, they can understand how you are feeling and the tone of voice you are meaning to use. However, when you are over a screen, people can always take you the wrong way and think you are mad or give off a bad vibe. Sometimes social media can be a distraction when you need to focus, but it makes you feel pressured to answer others. Sometimes,
The Value of Doubt
by James Hatzos ’26
Doubtfulness. Oftentimes seen as a negative characteristic in the eyes of society at large, doubt is one of the most important feelings people have for a multitude of reasons. Now this is not to say people should have only doubt, indeed, conviction and confidence are crucial to any useful change, be it personal or social; listen on, however, and consider how allowing doubt in may benefit a student’s life.
Firstly, consider the role of doubt in education. Through being doubtful about that which is taught, through ruthless analysis of ideas, beliefs, and assumptions, students then think more thoughtfully about topics at hand. This deeper examination of course material allows students who utilize their doubt to understand the “why” behind topics such as mathematics, and may even aid the student in their future endeavors. Go out and challenge the currently understood way to do things in education; either you will be proven wrong, in which case you learn something, or you prove them wrong, in which case you help the rest of those students around you. Be ambitious, be hopeful, be questioning and most importantly, doubtful. Consider also the value of doubt
when you think about it, you see that we are the issue with social media. Another negative thing is the fear of missing out, or “FOMO”. This can affect us negatively because it’s normal? Understandable? Just human nature? to get jealous when you see something over the screen. Jealousy is a big part of FOMO! This can often lead to you constantly checking your phone to make sure you aren’t missing out. We can also bring stress to ourselves because we think of all negative things. Our electronics significantly impact spending time with your family and
friends. People spend hours just looking at people’s videos and liking other people’s things when they are with others. This can mean a lot of different things, such as social anxiety or they don’t want to talk.
Overall social media has positives and negatives. They both have similarities and differences and that’s why everyone should understand the effect social media has.
when making hard decisions. Most decisions, which have led to harm, are not made in the presence of doubt. Be cautious of allowing the largest majority of decisions within life pass by without deeper thought. Take, for example, challenging someone who is actively wrong. In an ideal world, one may make their claim against another and the truthful claim would usurp the false claim. This world is not ideal. Be wary, more accurately doubtful, of positive reactions when telling the truth–many do not like to be told they are wrong. It is to this that the following must be proposed:
Give thought to the role that authority figures play in one’s life. In the eyes of many philosophers, being subject to authority is a form of social contract, which can be revoked by those subjugated at any given time. When then, would this power to rule, given to the few, be taken by the many? The answer is when antagonisms mount to a point that is no longer acceptable. These authority figures, however, seek to stay in power and call upon the ears of the populous to heed their calls. They will rally, spew their dogma upon the masses, and they will convince those subjugated to believe that better days are to come, or rather, that they are already there–through this per-
suasion, they soothe these aches which exist in the minds and souls of the people. It is to this the reader must question, how often is the vox populi truly listened or catered to? Increasingly, their voices are listened to less and less and much the same the needs of the many are outshined by the voices and wishes of the few. On this, I invite the reader to be doubtful, purposefully skeptical of all that which is said to you from authority figures. Contemplate the nature of human beings, as is understood in this society, and see how often those in power under liberal democracy abuse their positions for their own gain, or the gain of those who put them in power, those with capital that is. In a word, become anti-complacent. They may not be autocratic dictators, they may even be as simple as workplace administration. In any event, question why those in authority are commanding the populace to do something, doubt any “good will” in the hands of those in power due to capital, and lastly, do not lose hope. If in the end it turns out that those in power are not working towards the interests of the people, or in their own selfish manner, challenge them, and use doubt wisely in decision-making to aid in your endeavor. This skillful strategy should give hope in the time it's most needed.
Co-Editors in Chief: Noah Jacobs ’25
Eliza Spindler ’25
Managing Editor: Grace Watson ’26
News Editor: Katherine Twombly ’26
Co-Features Editor: Mila Bahr ’27
Matt Niembro Porto ’25
Nameplate art: Shemar Joseph ’19
Staff members:
Wren Baden ’28
Moasiah Bility ’25
Alli Colannino ’28
Kevin Duan ’26
James Hatzos ’26
Erin Kenah ’27
Molly Kirschenbaum ’26
David Mason ’26
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Metcalfe Dumont
From the Editors: The Browser is a student publication, written, edited and proofread by the students under the direction of the faculty advisor. The authors and editors take full responsibility for any errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar that may occur.
The Brewster Browser Brewster Academy Wolfeboro, New Hampshire
Students embodying what constant social media use could look like. Photo by Wren Baden ’28
State of Ongoing Battle for Abortion Access in United States
by Katherine Twombly ’26
As most people know, the Supreme Court decision Roe vs. Wade was overturned on June 24, 2022 due to the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Roe vs. Wade was decided in 1973 and prior to that the right to abortion was left in the hands of the states. However, it was decided by the Supreme Court that this violated a “fundamental right to privacy” as stated in the 14th amendment, and the decision was taken away from the states and made into a federal law through Roe. The law stated that during the first trimester of pregnancy, there would be no restrictions on abortion access, and in the second and third trimesters the law could regulate abortions to preserve the mother’s health and fetal viability. What seems most pertinent in the current debate over abortion access is that abortions under the protection of Roe v. Wade could never be criminalized if they were administered in accordance with these rules.
Many may wonder why Roe v. Wade could be overturned in the first place if it was protected under the Constitution and was a federal law. The Constitution is an old document and the creation of many more modern laws conform to the Constitution, but are based on interpretation. Because of the appointment of three new and conservative Supreme Court Judges during Donald Trump’s first presidency, Roe v. Wade was reevaluated. To provide some context for these appointments, President Obama was blocked from appointing any Supreme Court Judges with a filibuster performed by Republican Senators, giving him no appointments in his two terms. The Republican-appointed Justice Samuel Alito argued that while the 14th amendment stated that people have rights to liberty, it didn’t explicitly say
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anything about privacy. Additionally, rights to liberty must be “deeply rooted in the Nation’s history and tradition.” He felt that these factors delegitimize the case and the other conservative justices agreed in a five-justice majority. However, moving the decision back to the states has created a significant disparity across the country. This is because abortion access has now become a political statement and access to abortion is decided not by the country or individual, but by the state’s political bias to the left or right. Currently, 14 states have a near total ban on abortions, with only very limited exceptions. Because of the loss of legal protection provided by Roe v. Wade, these exceptions are often difficult to determine and can lead to severe harm to women and their reproductive futures. Many women in the states with these bans have to travel out of state to get medically necessary abortions because doctors are too scared of potential liabilities to perform the procedures in state.
In New Hampshire, while abortion access hasn’t been added to the state constitution, it is unrestricted up to 24 weeks, and banned with exceptions after that. This law is sufficient to cover most abortions, as statistically only about 1% occur at 21 weeks of pregnancy or more. Most abortions take place far before this. Currently both congressional representatives from New Hampshire are Democrats and as of the 2024 election the governor is a Republican. As none of these selections signify a change in the balance of New Hampshire state government, it seems unlikely, unless a federal law was imposed, that access to abortion in the state will change.
Additionally, out of the 10 states with abortion measures on their ballots this election, seven were passed. Montana, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona,
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Missouri, and Maryland all voted to add the right to abortion, at least until fetal viability, to their state constitutions. Additionally, New York passed the Equal Rights Act which also protects access to abortion in the state. This makes a total of seventeen states with access to abortion in their constitutions. These protections make abortions either more or just as accessible as they were under federal protection. However, not all attempts were successful. Those unsuccessful attempts occurred in the three, deeply red states of South Dakota, Nebraska, and Florida, which means their current abortion policies are staying in place. Florida bans abortion after six weeks, Nebraska bans it after 12, and South Dakota has a total ban– only making exceptions to save the life of the mother. While the outcomes in these states are unsurprising given their political position, the passing in the other seven states, some of which skew Republican, shows that even some traditionally
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Republican voters may have voted in favor of abortion access.
Even so, now that Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th president, many are worried a national ban on abortion will go into effect. Trump has publicly said that he would not support a national ban and wants to keep the decision in the states, even calling six-week bans “terrible mistakes”, garnering heavy criticism from other members of the Republican party. However, he has often changed his stance on this issue. Adding to uncertainty regarding his position, he cast his ballot in Florida, but declined to reveal whether or not he supported the measure attempting to constitutionalize abortion.
Additionally, given the recent reveal of Project 2025, many are worried as the document discusses imposing a federal ban on abortions; although, it is important to note that Trump denies any association with or involvement in the creation of Project 2025.
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Graphic describing the changes or lack thereof to abortion access resulting from the proposed measures on the ballot in 2024. From the New York Times.
Courts Review Menendez Brothers' Case
by Moasiah Bility ’25
The case of Lyle and Erik Menendez has reminded America of one of the most haunting chapters in American true crime history. The brutal killing of their wealthy parents, Jose and Kitty Menedez, sent shockwaves across America back in 1989 and sparked questions about wealth, privilege, and family trauma. At the time, the brothers called it self-defense after years of sexual and emotional abuse, but they were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Decades later, new developments have rekindled interest in the case, such as the recent Netflix Documentary, and recent efforts for an appeal shed light on possible mishandling and point out claims of abuse by the brothers. With questions of justice, family, and power rising once more to the surface, the case of the Menendez brothers serves as a reminder of how society fumbles when any attempt is made at balancing out a crime against context.
The Netflix show presented the murders from different perspectives, too. They showed the murders and the abuse from the parents, especially from the father Jose, but they also showed things from the parent’s point of view. Many critics thought the show was sloppy and insensitive. Erik Menendez also criticized the show. His wife released a statement on X for her husband.
“I believed we had moved beyond the lies and ruinous character portrayals of Lyle, creating a caricature of Lyle rooted in horrible and blatant lies rampant in the show. I can only believe they were done so on purpose,” said Erik, speaking from prison. “It is sad for me to know that Netflix’s dishonest portrayal of the tragedies surrounding our crime has taken the painful truths several steps backward – …. Is the truth not enough? Let the truth stand as the truth.”
On October 24th, George Gascón, the Los Angeles district attorney, announced that he supported the decision to re-sentence Erick and Lyle Menedez, considering new evidence and their demonstrated rehabilitation
after 35 years of incarceration. Mr. Gascón talked about how hard it was to come to this decision.
“There are people in the office that strongly believe that the Menendez brothers should stay in prison for the rest of their lives, and they do not believe they were molested,” Mr. Gascón said. “And there are people in the office that strongly believe they should be released immediately and that they were molested.” They eventually found common ground to recommend the resentencing, but the final decision lies with the court.
The decision to recommend resentencing for Erik and Lyle Menedez reflects changes in the approach
toward criminal cases in recent years, considering complex trauma histories like alleged family abuse. Their case has sparked new discussions about whether claims of abuse and psychological impact should affect the way violent crimes are framed, even after decades of incarceration. Many legal experts have seen the move as meaningful, in which the extent to which rumors of the past are being addressed at the time of sentencing and parole.
The Menendez brothers’ case has raised complex questions about the psychological toll of prolonged family abuse and how it can shape behavior in extreme ways. When asked about the potential impact of such
trauma, Brewster Academy’s guidance counselor, Ms. Heather Souther, explained, “If the abuse happened when they were young, a child would have trouble making sense of that, especially when it’s someone who is supposed to care and love you…”
Trauma can cloud judgment and lead to impulsive, sometimes extreme actions - a perspective echoed by senior Charrise Darsaw ’25, who shared, “It makes you think about how the mind works differently when it’s constantly under threat.”
While some may argue that the brothers’ actions were inexcusable but unpreventable without detection, others believe that an early intervention could have made a difference. Ms. Souther emphasized that, “Therapy can help de-escalate because part of therapy is to help people realize there are options in dealing with painful emotions; we have unhealthy ways like [whispers] killing someone and healthy ways. I think that if therapy had been offered to them as kids, they would have been able to unlock some sort of trauma.”
Unfortunately, as cases like this gain media attention, public perception of mental health and trauma can often become misleading.
“If I am being honest, abuse and domestic violence for several years was not talked about,” said Ms. Souther. “If we flash forward to 2024, my hope would be that people realize it’s ok to talk about it, and it’s not your fault, and there is help... We need to continue to talk about abuse and spread the word that there is help… because it doesn’t get better if we don’t get help.”
The case also highlights the evolving public narratives around true crimes, which was seen with the controversial Netflix documentary. The mixed reception explains the tension between sensational portrayal and nuanced insights into the more significant social issues of wealth, privilege, and family dynamics. As the court prepares to review their case, the Menendez brothers remain the symbol of society’s continued struggle between punishment and possible rehabilitation and redemption.
Menendez brothers Erik and Lyle at a pre-trial hearing in Los Angeles, December 1992.
Erik Menendez, left and Lyle Menendez, right, now in present day and in prison.
Diddy Do It?: Sean Combs Accused, Arrested, Charged
by Erin Kenah ’27
Who was once a well known, and beloved artist, but turned out to be a predator after the truth slowly unraveled itself? The recent scandals surrounding P Diddy, especially regarding his so called “Freak offs” have captured quite a lot of media attention. Many allegations from all sorts of women and men are beginning to surface claiming Diddy is responsible for some inappropriate incidents that have taken place at these parties. Reports range from sexual assault, drug use, and a culture of coercions. One high profile lawsuit alleged that Diddy engaged in sexual violence and manipulation.
These claims have led to public discussion about accountability of Diddy’s legacy in the music industry. One of the major blows to his career was in November of 2023 when singer Cassandra Ventura, known as Cassie, filed a federal lawsuit accusing Diddy of sexual abuse, coercion, and physical violence. She said he was not only physically violent but sexually abusive, which began when she was 19 and he was 37. She said he controlled every aspect of her day to day life. Diddy would force Cassie to partake in “Freak offs” where he would make her have intercourse with male sex workers as he watched and recorded.
“She claims to be raped in 2018 by Diddy in her apartment following their dinner,” says a source called Prestigeonline.com. This lawsuit was filed not long after a security video from 2016 was aired by CNN. This video appears to show Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway. This video aired on a Friday and appears to show Combs, wearing only a white towel, punching and kicking the R&B singer who was also his girlfriend at the time. We can also see in this video, “Combs shoving and dragging Cassie, even throwing a vase in her direction,” said CBS news.
In the early 2000s Diddy would host these “Freak Offs” known for their crazy and wild party atmosphere. These parties were filled with some of the most famous celebrities which drew a lot of public attention to it, such as Leonardo Decaprio, Jay Z, Beyonce, Paris Hilton, Mariah Carey, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Meghan Fox and many many more.
High profile Houston attorney Tony Buzzbee is vetting claims of assault made by more than 3,800 people from across the US against Sean Diddy Combs.
A huge part of this case is how Diddy used drugs to control and manipulate victims. Typically drinks reported by these victims were laced with something, once these drinks took effect, the perpetrators perform all kinds of sexual acts on the victims, many times passing him or her around as other people watched. If they refused to drink the drink, clients have told Buzzbee they were kicked out of the party. According to civil lawsuits and criminal charges, Diddy provided drugs such as “ cocaine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone” during his freak offs to ensure guests were compliant. These drugs impaired the victim’s ability to resist or refuse participation, making them more vulnerable to his demands. The drugs that were involved add another layer of premeditation and shows he purposefully meant to chemically impair them.
“Another individual, 26 at the time, was picked up by Mr. Combs and several other people in a black SUV in an airport, were given one drink in the SUV then literally woke up the next day not knowing what happened but having pain and damage to both their vagina and anus,” a source from ABC Ch. 7 out of New York States. More than 10 additional lawsuits have been filed against Diddy. These lawsuits cover incidents ranging back from 1990. Joi Dickerson-Neals alleges that
he drugged and assaulted her in 1991 and even recorded her without her consent. Another lawsuit comes from music producer Lil Rod who alleges that he was harassed and drugged while working for Combs in 2023. Buzzbee’s youngest client was 9 years old when they were sexually assaulted by Combs, according to ABC Ch. 7. The alleged assaults are said to have taken place primarily in Manhattan, the Hamptons, LA, and Miami, with 62% of victims being African American and 30% being white shares ABC Ch. 7. Diddy would use his power to intimidate, silence, and manipulate those around him. Many said they were scared to speak out due to his power and fame.
Diddy’s employees played a huge role in facilitating these alleged crimes. His team is responsible for flying in women and sex workers for drugfueled sex parties. His staff would book hotel rooms, and even provide IV fluids to help people recover after the night. Diddy tried covering his actions through bribery. In 2009, Justin Bieber signed a contract with Combs’s label. It was then a famous video appeared in which Diddy shares his plan to spend 48 hours with an underage musician promising to engage in “crazy things” that they wouldn’t be able to disclose. He says this will be “every teenager’s dream”, a source called RBC Ukraine states. Bieber, who is sitting next to him in the video, appears to look awkward and scared as he nervously smiles.
Diddy/Combs was arrested September 16th by federal agents at a New York City hotel. NBC said, “Combs pleaded non guilty to the criminal charges on Tuesday September 17th in federal court located in Manhattan. Guns, ammunition, drugs, and large amounts of baby oil and lubricant were found in Combs’s Miami Beach Mansion.” Over 1,000 bottles of baby oil were found during the search of both homes in Florida and LA.
Due to all of this information being unveiled conspiracy theories have
begun to surface. Some from the source Slate.com include Rapper Meek Mill and Combs having a sexual relationship, or that Combs’s LA mansion has an underground bunker. Other theories clain that Bieber and Usher have both been groomed by Combs.
People on social media such as Tik Tok and Twitter have begun spreading hypotheses. Another rumor is that Diddy had something to do with his ex Kim Porter’s Death and major celebrities such as Jay-Z will eventually be revealed as complicit partakers in Combs’s alleged misdeeds. More rumors from source RBC- Ukraine stated that P Diddy is linked to Tupac’s murder because the masterminds and motives remain unknown, and Combs is rumored to have paid $1 million to eliminate him. Other rumors involve the over 1,000 bottles of baby oil, which people speculate were used for orgies or, to prevent people from escaping, Diddy would cover the floor in it. The craziest conspiracy theory yet is that Diddy would mix psychotropic substances in the oil and offer massages putting them in an altered state which gave him complete freedom of action.
One of the theories that connects Beyonce to Diddy’s crimes comes from J. Cole’s song “She Knows”, claiming that the rapper was referring to the singer in this title. The theory speculates that Beyonce allegedly had knowledge of a supposed plan by Diddy and Jay-Z that resulted in the deaths of Aaliyah, Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, and Michael Jackson. “Only bad thing bout a star is the burnup/ rest in peace to Aaliyah/ rest in peace to Left Eye/ Michael Jackson, I’ll see Ya/ Just as soon as I die” is a now famous song used on Tik Tok stirring up more theories to find out the undercover message in the song. As more information continues to be released about Diddy and his helpers behind, the public is left wondering how such a famous successful singer could be capable of such vile acts, and what is to happen next?
Image of Diddy at his white out parties with other celebrities from Hindustan Times online.
Cameras are often not allowed in during court proceedings, so news outlets use sketch artists to capture courtroom happenings. Here, an artist depicts Combs appearing in federal court on September 17, 2024, after his arrest.
Shein's Fast Fashion Takeover Comes at a High Price
by Wren Baden ’28
Over the past few years, companies in the fashion industry have risen and fallen. One of the fastest-growing of those companies is Shein. The company was originally founded in 2008 by a Chinese man named Chris Xu. Despite its founding so early, Shein didn’t gain widespread popularity until about 2018, when teenagers and young people began looking for a cheap way to buy new clothes.
According to Brenna Murdock ‘28, when asked about her opinion on the clothing quality, she said, “The quality is good except the sizing is very weird and runs small.”
Similarly, Sharlene Francis ‘28 responded to the same question. “I find some of the quality of their clothes bad but most of them are kind of good,” she said.
Fast fashion, defined as ‘inexpensive clothing produced rapidly by massmarket retailers in response to the latest trends’, especially interests young people, as they tend to feel the pressure from social media to follow trends, especially in the fashion industry. After gaining widespread popularity, Shein’s sales shot up in 2022, and although the exact earnings are hard to pinpoint, as the media states different numbers, we know that it ranged from $2 billion to $100 billion. Despite not knowing the exact amount of earnings, it is clear that the company is doing very well in the industry. Although millions worldwide have fallen in love with Shein’s adorable, cheap clothing, the company may have more hidden issues than we can see.
Many creators and small businesses online have been left devastated and angry when their original designs get stolen by Shein and sold for lots cheaper. One of many instances is when the company stole and copied Blogilates and Popflex CEO Cassey Ho’s design of her “Pirouette Skort.” After eventually resolving the issues, Shein stole the same design a second time, prompting Ho to meet with Shein’s US President, George Chiao, who then claimed it wasn’t the company’s fault and that “[Shein is] just a marketplace and the seller is responsible, not Shein.”
In one Instagram post by Blogilates, Ho wrote, “There’s the kind of hurt that happens when an organization does unethical things to you, and then there’s the kind of guttural blow that sucks the air out of your lungs when a human you forgave, betrays you again.”
Shein has been known to copy and steal designs from smaller businesses more often than they should, which is very harmful to the original creators. The company sells exact replicas of sustainably made clothing items while replacing the materials with poorly made ones and
lowering the price significantly. No credit is given to the original designers, leading to many lawsuits against the giant company. Getting a design stolen is not only disheartening, but it also undermines the value of the original work, as people prefer to simply buy it for cheaper.
After asking multiple students, including Murdock ‘28, Francis ‘28, and Lexi Kelly, a 9th grade student in Andover, MA, each similarly responded with the same answer when asked why they chose to shop at Shein. That response was because “it is cheap.” The students were also asked if they were aware of the issues surrounding Shein, and two out of three students responded yes, while one responded no.
Not only are original designs being taken from creators, but Shein is also causing lots of harm to our world’s natural environment. Due to the low prices, Shein encourages shoppers to purchase more than they need, which creates mass waste of products and packaging. When products are not wanted or not worn, they typically get thrown away, and to add to this, Shein ships each individual clothing item in a plastic bag inside the mailer.
These large amounts of waste eventually end up in our landfills and oceans, significantly affecting pollution. According to Me Mother Brand, a company that produces eco-friendly products, including reusable straws, “It's estimated that the fashion industry is the second-largest consumer of water worldwide, with around 20% of global industrial water pollution attributed to textile dyeing and treatment alone.”
Due to Shein’s mass production of clothing, the company adds about 6.3 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, which, according to Time’s Magazine, is equivalent to how much CO2 is produced by 180 coal-fired power plants.
One of the biggest factors restraining many from shopping from Shein is how
the clothes are made, using forced human labor. These workers are forced to work in extremely unsafe conditions, producing hundreds of clothing items per day. They are severely underpaid for their work and typically have no signed contract with the company.
Unfortunately, these forced labor practices are common in many countries
throughout the world, including North Korea, Eritrea, and Saudi Arabia. According to Time Magazine, "[The] documentary, Inside The Shein Machine, sent undercover cameras to film factory workers who were forced to pull 17-hour shifts to make hundreds of garments a day. In one factory, they made a daily base salary of $20, which would then be docked by $14 if any garments had mistakes."
It has also been reported that the workers sometimes work in buildings that lack windows and emergency exits, which is a substantial safety hazard, especially considering how many people are likely to be in the building at once. Not only are the workers being put in unsafe environments while working with machines and making clothes, but they are also now unsafe because of the work environment and the buildings that they work in.
Though the company may seem to have made a large, successful name for itself, many individuals are unaware of the havoc Shein creates and its detrimental effects on humans and the world around us.
Sharlene Francis ’28 taking a selfie, while wearing an outfit entirely from Shein.
Shein orders come wrapped in many plastic bags.
BRICS 2024 Summit Works Towards Economic Independence
by Kevin Duan ’26
The 2024 BRICS conference held in Kazan, Russia, from October 22-24 marked an expansion for the group welcoming Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Ethiopia. This addition doubled the original membership which was originally Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa to act as an economic organization that opposes Western economic models.
The general goals of the summit include a push toward economic independence. Leaders discussed a BRICS payment system that would let financial transactions take place outside Western-controlled frameworks and explored such an idea as a shared currency. Such a potential new currency is aimed at undercutting reliance on the U.S. dollar and will help countries intent on moving further away from overstated financial reliance. The notion, though contentious, underlines the growing interest in restructuring global finance by BRICS.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made it clear that BRICS was a counterbalance to the West where he said,: “Our goal is to reduce dependency on Western financial systems and build resilient alternatives that empower our nations.” This is because Russia is under sanctions in response to the current conflict in Ukraine. In turn, this economic resilience of BRICS would shield member states from possible future economic pressure from strategic coalitions such as NATO or the EU. The integration of new members within the bloc was also discussed as part of the deliberations, wherein ways to bring
about convergence in the policies and economic strategies of its leaders have been brainstormed.
Besides emerging issues such as digital sovereignty, the summit agenda also took in development goals and climate initiatives. For example, Brazil is expected to drive the BRICS digital agenda and push for data protection measures and a decentralized digital ecosystem that does not compromise the member nation’s autonomy. Scientific research, energy cooperation, and supply chain resilience also formed part of the key areas for deeper collaboration amongst the member states.
As the bloc takes on an increasing role in international affairs, bringing together leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, while underscoring strongly the commitment of the bloc to represent the interests of the developing world and challenge what many of its leaders perceive as a Western-dominated global system. UN General Secretary António Guterres joined in support of BRICS when he said, “Your commitment to reforming global governance structures is timely and crucial as we seek solutions that are inclusive of all voices.” And he continues to push toward a multipolar world order and a representative global governance framework for the UN?.
This structure and refocused concentration on cooperative policy make BRICS an increasingly formidable coalition of nations through which to mold the future direction of international governance. Future summits are likely to debate the integration challenges of its new members while pressing its vision for a more balanced world.
Exclusive Opinion
Mr. Michael Figge, Brewster’s esteemed Economics teacher, offers his insight to the BRICS organization. During an interview, he made clear that BRICS is an organization that has “no strings attached”. This includes development funds, where funds from China will come with the Belt and Road Initiative and the B3W initiative with the United States. As for the goal of replacing the US Dollar, Mr. Figge expressed his skepticism, where he notes that BRICS is overly optimistic and there is no current currency they can point to. Currencies that offer some stability such as the Chinese RMB are not accepted completely in international trade and SWIFT, the world’s most widely used banking system, is heavily under Western influence. However, he also talked about the possible success of BRICS, where the outcome would be “America with less power” as sanctions lose power and the possibility of a more balanced economy.
New Hampshire Middle School Student Leaders Visit Brewster
The 16th BRICS Summit held in Kazan, Russia on October 22-24, 2024 include leaders from China, Russia, South Africa, Brazil and India.
On October 25, Brewster students hosted 7th and 8th grade students from New Hampshire as a part of the New Hampshire Student Leadership Program (NHSLP). Brewster mentors took their middle school students to classes and lunch before leaving them for an afternoon filled with leadership activities led by NHSLP Director Ms. Michelle Rafalowski. Above, Charrise Darsaw ’25, Moasiah Bility ’25 and Emery Condon ’27 pose with their mentees at lunch.
Randall Preston ’25 gives a thumbs up as he and his mentee head out of the Estabrook to class.
by Eliza Spindler ’25
What I Assume You're Like Based on Your FavoriteApp
TikTok A conversation with you probably has around the same impact on the brain as a head trauma. Or inhaling toxic fumes. You speak in overplayed audios and your personality is TikTok. Move onto Reels like everyone else. It’s time.
Snapchat I have to have some respect for the grind that it requires to be a snap-wh*re, male or female. How you manage to be in so many “talking stages” at once is beyond me. How do you not get them mixed up? How do you have the time and energy? How are you confident enough to send so many selfies from that angle? Remarkable.
Facebook You’re a mom reading this paper. Your favorite things are throw pillows, posting the most humiliating photos of your children you can capture, and minion memes. If you aren’t a mom and this is your most used, you’re definitely just a chronic stalker. I’m afraid of you.
Linkedin You aren’t reading this paper on your own and are being shown this article by someone else. “Look, honey! LinkedIn is on here!” your wife says. She wants you to show more interest in the kids and the mention of LinkedIn is meant to catch your interest. It won’t.
Gmail You’re a teacher. It is very important for you to remind every class every single day how many emails you get. More than we can imagine, blah blah, you’re just absolutely swamped, blah blah, we have no idea what the adult world is like, blah blah. Just say that part of you regrets your profession.
Instagram You’ve switched here from TikTok. You’re on there for the reels, which have progressively gotten worse as your algorithm has caught on to your rapidly rotting brain. You still think Hawk Tuah is funny, your mom is too afraid to even look at your search history, and your chances of employment would plummet if any potential boss could see the content you like.
YouTube You can’t eat without a video playing. You’re like the older version of an iPad kid. When the conversation starts dwindling, you just say, “Have I shown you this video?” and subject your victim to 1-25 minutes of content that they could not care about less.
Reddit If Reddit is your favorite app, you need to stop reading this paper and get up and go talk to some women. Go connect with nature. I don’t know.
(Any Shopping App/Amazon)
You spend every class browsing websites, picking your next child-made Shein top or trending Tiktok product. By the way, teachers can see you switching your screen between Princess Polly and the assignment; if your subpar tab-toggling skills don’t give away your in-class-shopping addiction, your grades sure do.
Stocks You are not Jordan Belfort. You are a teenager. Personally, whenever I accidentally catch a glimpse of the stock market, I look away. None of my business. I can let it ruin my father’s day without it ruining mine.
Pinterest You have cute outfits, your room is cool, and your notes in class are satisfying. However, not one aspect of you or your life is fully original. I can look up “2024 girl aesthetic” or something and tell exactly which pins you stole your identity from. You look good though, so I don’t mind.
Facetime/Phone You’re in a long-distance relationship. Just because you want to fall asleep on FaceTime with the NPC from your hometown does not mean that your roommate wants to as well.
Google You wouldn’t have survived twenty years ago. If you had a question, you would have had to actually learn the answer in real life. Chills. You like being right almost as much as you like getting to tell others they are wrong.
Subway Surfers/ A Game
You’re a simple creature. Not much behind the eyes. It’s not a bad thing. There are worse things to be doing on your phone, but there are definitely better ones, too.
Life360 You’re an overinvolved parent. Sending your child to boarding school has been harder on you than them. Get a puppy or a houseplant and stop obsessively checking your kid’s location.
Hockey Players Aspiring to Go Pro
cont from pg. 11
day, and on Fridays and Saturdays, they have games and travel. He goes to the gym two to three times a week and also partakes in ice baths, going to the sauna, and more.
Kirschenbaum talks about how there are lots of ups and downs, but if you love it you can get through the downs. You need to put in the work and show up. He talks about how most people will not be able to get through the hard times and that's when you will have an advantage. If you can get through the struggles you will have a much higher chance at going pro.
While these two stories showcase older, professional players, here at Brewster, there are several hockey players hoping to make it to the upper levels and perhaps even to the NHL. We talked to three of them.
Matthew Cabral ’25 plays center for Brewster’s varsity hockey team and when he was four years old his dad took him to his first skating lesson. He talks about how he hated it, but his mom pushed him to get back out there. He has done a bunch of different training camps over the summer and has had different people work with him to help him improve. He came to Brewster as a post-graduate to play hockey and he felt like it was a great fit for him. His plan after high school is to go and play junior hockey.
Cabral said that he would want to play for the Cyclones junior team. He thinks it would be nice to play overseas once he is done with playing in college. He talks about how it is not easy and there will be bumps in the road, fights with your dad, the coach moving you down, and you could be cut. He says that you can’t quit even when it is hard and you should keep pushing yourself.
Shawn Oelheim ’25 plays right wing and center for Brewster. He was first interested in hockey when his dad took him to hockey games at a young age. He participates in training in the summer with a junior coach three times a week. He has also done a bunch of junior camps. He came to Brewster mainly to play hockey. After high school, Oelheim e plans to play two years of junior hockey and then play collegiately. He would like to play close to home, but if there is a better opportunity farther he would take it. His advice is to stay consistent not take any days off and keep trying to get better.
Austin Luciani ’25 plays left wing and his dad got him into hockey. Every summer he participates in training camps. He came to Brewster to play hockey and his plans after high school are to play juniors. There is no specific team he wants to play for, but is looking for certain leagues. His advice is to keep working hard no matter what.
cont from pg. 1
The Climate Clock and Countdown
has spread worldwide and is prompting people to engage in a rapid transition to a “safe climate future.”
Currently, the world is in a climate emergency but the Climate Team believes if action is taken boldly with the right speed and scale, the next seven years is the best opportunity to transform changes in the global economy and avoid raising global temperatures to above 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit). This would be considered as returning to preindustrial temperatures as stated in the Paris Agreement, in which many countries are involved. The Paris Agreement is an international treaty on climate change stating how high the global numbers can or can’t be. The United States is currently a member of the Paris Agreement, having re-joined it in 2021 after President Biden was elected. Under the previous administration of President Trump, the US had temporarily withdrawn from the agreement.
Lifelines are the official climate team plans and suggestions to help reduce climate change. These lifelines also are very helpful ways to be proactive about the harmful things being introduced into the earth daily.
Current Lifelines include:
1. Renewable Energy
Shifting energy from fossil fuels to renewable sources like wind and solar. Renewable energy refers to the sum of energy made from hydropower, solar, wind, geothermal, wave and tidal, and bioenergy sources instead of using limited, harmful sources.
2. Indigenous Land Sovereignty
Indigenous communities are critical to the planet’s natural carbon absorption capacity. This land must be protected to benefit the world.
3. Prevention of loss and damage from climate change.
The loss and damage lifeline assists in tracking climate debt that high emitting G20 countries owe since 1979 for all the devastating impacts the carbon emissions have caused. These impacts include heat waves, forest fires, droughts, hurricanes, and floods caused by climate change. According to researchers at the Center for Global Development, G20 countries owe $34 trillion and G7 countries owe $12.9 trillion as payback to encourage the ability to move forward in a sustainable future. Unless change is made fast, the debts are expected to rise to $42 trillion and $15.6 trillion.
The two recent hurricanes, Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton cost about $200 billion in damages. These hurricanes have cost more, not just money but the loss of lives and homes. If the world acts now on investing in the prevention of loss and damage lifeline, not just money will be saved.
4. Gender Parity
At the moment, women’s representation in national parliaments is 27%. This is generally aimed to raise over 50% in the next few years concerning the various climate change advocacy organizations. Gender parity is important to combat the adverse effects of climate change. Many years of research have been connecting women with serious positive climate action. The International Institute for Sustainable Development states women must be a part of any effective adaptation to climate change. “For both justice, democracy, and survival, we must strive to achieve gender parity in national parliaments,” their website states.
5. Fossil Fuel Divestment Divestment is a purposeful way of moving one’s money and investments
away from fossil fuels by encouraging investors in oil and such to transition into funding renewable energy. Burning fossil fuels risks very extreme weather and rising temperatures, as well as extreme weather events.
6. Regenerative Agriculture
Adopting regenerative agriculture to replace degraded soil would decrease the tons of CO2 emissions and famine spread.
7. Money Saved If We Act Now
We could prevent potentially $32 trillion in damages from things such as storms, floods, and drought by 2050. “Whenever anyone says, ‘but it costs too much to tackle climate change,’ just show them this Lifeline and tell them, ‘actually it costs way too much not to,’” according to the Climate Clock website.
8. 30 x 30 Initiative
Aims to safeguard 30% of earth’s land and sea by 2030 by expanding protected areas and other conservation methods. This lifeline's main intention is to protect biodiversity, to preserve ecosystems and wildlife habitats, and to promote sustainable resource use.
9. End Fossil Fuel Subsidies
Ending fossil fuel subsidies would end major financial incentives that encourage excessive fossil fuel extraction. Ultimately the people could redirect these funds to something healthier.
What happens when the clock reaches zero?
When the Clock reaches zero, the carbon budget (a policy to set emission reduction targets in an effective way) would be depleted and the likelihood of devastating global climate change impacts would be very high. Summers will slowly start getting hotter and winters will start to feel like fall. The time of no return will come.
Brewster Big Friends Halloween Event
What You Can Do For Your Planet
While this is being written the climate clock reads 4 years, 271 days, 21 hours, 32 minutes, and 33 seconds. This is the time left to limit global warming before the environment gets destroyed beyond repair. “Critical time window remaining for humanity to act to save itself and its only home from the ravages of climate change.” These are arguably the most important numbers in the world, they’re worth knowing. So next time you think to yourself “What can I do about it?” Think, maybe that’s the question that should be being answered.
Helping at home can be very simple. You can of course recycle, if there is a green bin around and you have the option to. Piggybacking off of recycling, you can always try to upcycle. Upcycle things like old clothes, plastic, mason jars, and much more. You can walk, bike or take public transportation if it's a beautiful day outside and soak up the sun. Also, try to use less water. Don’t take unnecessarily long showers, don’t leave the water running when washing your hands or brushing your teeth. If you see a piece of trash on the side of the road, pick it up and find the nearest trash can. On a little bit more of an initiative note, you can contact congresspeople and ask them to vote according to environmental issues. Or you can vote for the candidate that advocated for envioromentalism. You might not be able to control what other people do, but you have the ability to control yourself and your actions. Do what you can!
Cyan
Magenta Yellow
Black
Faculty kids enter the Rogers for the costume parade at the BBF Halloween event. Superstar Ira Hill arrives for the event with mom Amy Hill as Ayamarie Brown ’25 welcomes him.
A Recap: Boys Varsity Soccer Wraps Up a Challenging Season
by David Mason ’26
The Brewster Boys Soccer team of ‘24-’25 is getting through their 19-game season with a record of 1-17-1 after their last game on Saturday 11/9/24. The Brewster Boys Soccer program is one that holds a reputation of success, holding five Lakes Region championships and five New England quarter-finalists appearances, A member of District II of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC), and the Lakes Region League. The LRL schools consist of Holderness School, Kimball Union Academy, New Hampton School, Proctor Academy, St. Paul School, Tilton School, and Vermont Academy. The boys’ soccer team has a stacked roster consisting of 24 players, coached by Dean of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Christopher Brown and assistant coach Ben Kigugu.
The total goal record consists of six goals scored by Brewster to 58 goals scored against Brewster. Their first goal was scored in their second game against out-of-league opponent St. Andrews on September 14 with a penalty kick by Yuma Okazawa ‘25.
Although having a less-thanpreferred start since the team’s first win on October 9 against Hebron Academy, the team has significantly improved their numbers scoring much more compared to the beginning of the season.
“The team chemistry is good - my teammates have bonded quite well,” said sophomore right back Levi Sweatt ‘27.
When asked if he thinks the Brewster soccer team will win again, Sweatt said, “Hopefully, we’ve gotten a lot better and been scoring in games.” Since their October 9th win, they have
scored five times.
The results of the games are less significant compared to the total investment each player makes when asked what his favorite part of the team is, it wasn’t even the wins or goals it was “Bonding with my teammates, just having a fun time, regardless of if we win or not,” said Sweatt ‘27.
Regardless of score or record, the team is incredibly talented. Throughout this year’s season, there have been significant losses due to injury, such as goalie Randall Preston ‘25 for multiple games who in the interim was replaced by Philipp Koschel ‘26. Preston is back to full strength and will finish the season , though he and Koschel both played in goal for the last few games. Dylan Tal ‘25 succumbed to injury from his ankle and couldn’t play for multiple games. Recently on November 2, the team had their highest scoring game with a tie at 4-4 against Gould Academy. Brady Jewell ‘26 scored all four goals, a feat he accomplished last year scoring 5 goals in one game.
This year’s awards went to Randall Preston ‘25 for Most Improved/injured Player, Okazawa ‘25 for Most Valuable Player, and a Coaches Award to Phillip Koschel ‘26 for stepping up to the goalie position. Coach Brown spoke at the Fall Sports Awards remarking on the team’s grit, dedication, and a hard-fought season.
The team this year had been led by captains Taylan Aydogdu ‘25 and Okazawa ‘25. It’s a strong team, and they play hard and fast. They’re a capable and talented group of athletes who know how to play and do it well. Record and score is a small indicator of the performance of a team, what it doesn’t show is the relentless dedication
to a craft and skill through hundreds of hours of practice and work. It can obviously be seen when watching any of their games. They play with vigor and their season and growth reflect their dedication to their craft and we look
forward to seeing the coming years of the team. The future of the team looks bright as Brewster brings in new players and returning players develop next season. It seems like next season will end with a championship.
Goalie Randall Preston ’25 and Yuma Okazawa ’25 in their game on October 6, 2024 against New Hampton. From the Brewster Flickr.
Abdul Manaf ’25 During the last soccer game of the season against St. Pauls on November 9. From the Brewster Flickr.
The seniors from the varsity soccer team pose with their coaches at their senior game on Brown Field on November 6. From the Brewster Flickr.
(left) Goalie Philipp Koschel ’26 during the game against St. Paul's. (above) Seniors Yuma Okazawa ’25 and Ryan Cifuni ’25 pose before the game. From the Brewster Flickr.
by Molly Kirschenbaum ’26
Hockey Players Aspiring to Go Pro
A lot of people play high school hockey with hopes of playing in college or professionally. Most hockey players start off at a super young age and keep training until they can hopefully play professionally; they work through playing high school hockey, juniors, college hockey, pre-professional, and finally professional hockey. Two former high-level hockey players, Stephen Valiquette and Nathan Kirschenbaum, tell the story of their hockey journey.
Stephen Valiquette from Ontario, Canada, a former NHL goalie, gives insight into how to go far in hockey. From a young age, hockey has always been a part of his life. Valiquette's cousin Jack Valiquette, who played for the Toronto Maple Leafs as a forward first pick, inspired Valiquette‘s love for the NHL dream. Valiquette’s grandfather was also a part of the NHL; he was a scout for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Valiquette’s love for hockey came naturally. It was clearly in the blood. What was not in the blood was being a good centerman; for some reason, Valiquette could not play well as a forward. His goalie journey began in fourth grade. One weekend when his parents were away; before they left, they told his babysitter not to let him play goalie when it was his turn. Valiquette somehow convinced his babysitter to sign the permission slip so that he could play goalie. Nobody scored on him in that game, and his love for goalie grew from that moment. When his parents returned home, he had to tell his dad that he wanted to play goalie. He was the only goalie in his family.
Valiquette started to play goalie fulltime. When Valiquette was 15 years old, they started to pay him very little money to play, about $40 a week. Since he was getting paid, he was no longer eligible for the NCAA. Valiquette begged his father to let him go to the Jim Parks Goalie School in Toronto. For all of July and August, Valiquette trained at the goalie school five days a week, from 8 am to 4 pm. That is when Valiquette transitioned from being just okay to being elite.
Valiquette played on 15 different teams in 15 different leagues over his 15-year career. He played in the AA League/ East Coast Hockey League (ECHL), the AAA Hockey League/ American Hockey League (AHL), and the NHL, and he played in Europe before and after his NHL career. While in the NHL, Valiquette played on three different teams: The New York Islanders, The Edmonton Oilers, and The New York Rangers (his favorite of the three).
Valiquette talks about how playing in the NHL has always been his dream, and even though he wasn’t the best, he would never quit.
“If you love something and it's the
most important thing in your life, you’ll never quit,” he said.
He explained that there are many uphill battles, but since he loves hockey so much, he would never give up, no matter how hard things were. Once he was on the ice playing in front of thousands of people, all the battles were worth it.
When he speaks about his experience in the NHL, he says, “It was euphoric, is what it was.” It was a dream come true to be flying on private planes, traveling across the country, and playing in a stadium with 20,000 people watching him. He also spoke about how amazing it is to be practicing daily with the best of the best in Hockey, having them push you to be your best; he raves about the training staff that he had access to as being a part of the NHL.
Valiquette said that whenever he left the stadium, he felt proud of himself, whether after a game or practice. He was proud because he would push himself to be the best he could be, and he always tried his hardest. Everything he ever dreamed of had come true all because of hard work and dedication.
Valiquette’s NHL career came to an end when he was put on waivers. This means any team in the NHL can claim you, but if you are not claimed after 24 hours by a team, you go back down to the minor leagues, the AHL. Valiquette went back down to the AHL at 33 years old, signed to go play in Russia at age 34, and at age 35 went to play in Italy. After those years of playing in Europe, he retired. Playing goalie is hard on your body, especially being 6’6” like Valiquette. Goalies get up and down about 300 times a day in practice and that can be very hard on your knees and long-term health. In his first year after leaving hockey, he started working right away coaching Quinnipiac's NCAA hockey team. For his second and third year, he was a goalie coach for the New York Islanders.
about how Valiquette has changed his game for the better. Kirschenbaum also works out at Prentiss Hockey Performance in Connecticut where many pros train as well. Seeing the pros has helped his game because he can learn certain skills by watching them. It also boosts his confidence by knowing he is training where pros train.
Valiquette is now starting his tenth year at the Madison Square Garden Network as a TV broadcaster for the New York Rangers.
Valiquette said there are three things you need in order to go far in the hockey world: to have the highest level of work ethic imaginable, to be coachable, and to never get frustrated when things do not go your way. He also said that a player has to have a high level of sacrifice and a high level of discipline. Valiquette suggests trying new things because you never know what you will fall in love with, and if you do fall in love with something, work hard for it. Valiquette loved hockey so much that he continued to work within the hockey community even after he played in the NHL. Valiquette talks about how people should follow their passions because even though he was not a good forward, he was a good goalie.
Nathan Kirschenbaum is a 22-yearold goalie who is currently playing college hockey for Valiquettenson University. His love for hockey began when at three years old when he learned how to skate. When Kirschenbaum was about eight years old he started playing goalie. Kirschenbaum loved the gear and all the cool helmets that goalies have. The first time Kirschenbaum wanted to try playing goalie his dad did not want him to. Once he started to play he fell in love.
At age 18 Kirschenbaum started to train with Valiquette Valiquette, in Bridgeport Connecticut, and continues to do so. When Covid-19 hit Kirschenbaum was attending Northwood School where?, playing hockey. He was supposed to move to Canada for two months and train with the Clarkson Goalie coach. Due to issues with the border, he was unable to and that is how he started to train with Valiquette. That summer Kirschenbaum fell back in love with the game completely. Kirschenbaum talks
Once he graduated from Northwood, Kirschenbaum played for three different junior teams. He played for the Connecticut Rangers, the Vermont Lumberjacks, and the Protec Junior Ducks. He got traded to the Ducks and was told that he would never be playing. After they lost their first and second game they put Kirschenbaum in to play for the third. That third game Kirschenbaum won and from then on he was the starting goalie. It was hard to be traded. He had to move and meet new people, and on top of that, he did not think he would play. At the end of that season, they were the top seed in the regular season but lost in the playoffs.
The training for being a goalie is very mental and physical. Lots of the training is with the legs and in skating. He watched videos of shots to learn what he could do that other goalies were doing. When he is in the gym he focuses a lot on mobility and strength. He does not always use heavy weights but sometimes does lighter weights with more reps. He has a lot of mental training as well. Kirschenbaum talks about how he meditates and visualizes the game prior, so he can be ready. Being a goalie is extremely stressful, as the whole team is relying on you and sometimes you are the first to blame. To ensure not being affected by the negative he tries to keep his head clear and stay positive.
Kirschenbaum had always wanted to play at a high level, but when he was younger he did not take it as seriously. He is now playing college hockey and they are practicing Monday through Thurs-
Nathan Kirschenbaum playing goalie for the Protec Junior Ducks.
Steve Valiquette playing goalie for the New York Rangers wearing a Spiderman helmet.
WORD ON THE STREET
Questions
1) Who is your celebrity crush?
2) What was your favorite childhood show?
3) Whose Halloween outfit was your favorite?
4) What teacher would you vote for president?
5) What’s your favorite spot in Wolfeboro?
Hall Talk
So anywho, where was I? - ML
Some of us are the reason shampoo has instructions. - OR
Come here I have a gift for you. Is it a 1/16 inch welding electrode. Sadly no. – EH and OR
How does Mrs. Wingard randomly teleport?? – ML
I need to GTA. - MK
Humans are like slinkies. I laugh when they fall down the stairs. -BM But I am a giddy leprechaun! – BM
The students are unionizing! - Anon
The bubble needs an elevator. – ML
To be honest, tendon damage is not my priority right now. - RMR
You might not want to sit there... he's a little sick.” *as he coughs really loudly* -JD MONDO!!! – BM
You know i would pull the fire alarm but I’m really scared of them. - ML
WHERE IS THE BENZENE? – LC
VW is like my mom. - MJ
1) Sydney Sweeney
2) Jake & The Neverland Pirates
3) Mine
4) Mr. Palmer
5) My House
Telfian
1) Rudy Ponko
2) Sofia the First 3) Brennans Blow Up Chicken
4) Dr. Link
5) My Bed Brayden Connell ’26
Mrs. Wingard would be proud of me right now you should send her a text. – ML
How dare you imply I am not Melissa? - JD
Food just levitates into my hand. - CP
You are NOT ready to die for your passion. - AB
Just over here consuming my daily amount of iodine. – LC
He keeps his "I Voted" stickers in a stack on his bedside table next to his AA chips. - HR
I'm covered in human blood and paint. - RMR
The consequences of my own brain have made me a cat - KK
Anyone wanna watch a tornado chase in progress?- KK
I want to bite the tornado of bees - AM
It's fine that you killed him, but you still have to pay rent. -RMR
Emerson Moore ’27
Levi Sweatt ’27
Magnus Dolan ’25
’27
Anelya Ceasar ’27
Jacob Elordi
Shrek
Ms. Cornwell
The Docks
(left) Madison Anderson ’28