Brewster Browser
Senior Class Back on Top; Win Winter Carnival 2026
by Mila Bahr ’27
RAK Club Makes Large Donation to Ukraine Crisis Aid Group
by Katherine Twombly
As social media and news feeds are becoming more focused on the United States, it is easy to forget about other things happening around the world; however, the January 23rd all-school presentation by Alan Himmer reminded us all of the real tragedies in the war in Ukraine. Even though the projector was
not working and the presentation was entirely oral, it was widely regarded as one of the best in recent years.
The motto of the Ukraine Crisis Aid Group is Non Sibi, which fittingly means “not for self”; this is especially true given that Mr. Himmer was not originally going to be the speaker that day, and he came on short notice to
spread his message.
“If he had not come to speak, I don’t know if we would have known about it. I don’t really think he was looking for people to donate to his cause,” says Mrs. Maria Found, a math teacher and leader of many clubs, including Random Acts of Kindness (RAK), at Brewster Academy.
His organization sends a wide variety of supplies, both essential and defense-based, to Ukraine, and these supplies are funded by donations and bought and delivered by volunteers for the organization. What made his presentation so powerful was that all the information he gave and stories he told were either his own experience or what he had heard firsthand. This was so different from what we usually hear about any major event, but particularly Ukraine, as we are at such a distance from it. Most coverage is fact-based or given with separation from people who were actually involved, but hearing the personal stories and the damage that is still being done was shocking and more affecting than any everyday news story. Particularly, his decision to discuss his wife’s experiences of working with women and children gave a perspective other than the typical reports of war and territorial losses or gains.
“Typically, I am looking for someone who is going to entertain, seeing visuals, feeling connected,” adds Mrs. Found. “There was a true connection with the way that he told his story and how he pulled us in; everyone around me was glued to that guy.”
Additionally, his descriptions of experiencing air raids and evading drone strikes brought to light the dangers still faced in Ukraine and the continuing need for resources and aid.
However, Mrs. Found thoughtfully states, “he described things safely, depicted them accurately, and gave me a visual that felt real. I was really moved by what he is doing, putting his life at risk to help the people of Ukraine.”
While the United States is still aiding Ukraine, under the Trump Administration, the strategy has shifted in order to greater benefit the United States with the official U.S Department of War website stating that “support to Ukraine serves a clear strategic purpose and advances America's national security interests” as well as that “support will be results-driven, accountable and part of a broader strategy for lasting peace”. This makes any donation to this organization even more crucial and should encourage the
photo from Brewster Flickr
Seniors surround Mrs. Maria Found during their lip sync performance for Winter Carnival. Mrs. Found came out to whip and nae nae as part of their celebration of the sounds and culture of 2016.
’26
RAK members Hanna Furutani '29, Ava Lincender '28, Sharlene Francis '28, Maddy Neal '28, Wren Baden '28, Katherine Twombly '26, Kendall Gross '29, Kaaloni Boisvert '29, Bailey Gross '29, and Jason Feng '27 with the donation for the Ukraine Crisis Aid Group.
Editorial/Opinion
Democratic Socialists, National Conservatives, and Techno Feudalists, oh my!
by Sufjan Waleryszak ’27
From afar, Congress may look just like it has for a long time: two parties and less than a handful of independents. But underneath the surface, new influences are coming into the fray, from informal movements to formal organizations. On the right, you have groups like the Groypers and Dark Enlightenment technocrats; on the left, you have neoprogressives and democratic socialists. One current movement on the right is the Groypers. The term Groyper comes from a variant of the Pepe the Frog meme, which became associated with the far right. Groypers are followers of the far-right political commentator Nick Fuentes. They are known to spend as much time fighting with mainstream conservatives, especially organizations like Turning Point USA, as they do with the left. One of their most important tenets is skepticism of Israel to the point of believing in known anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, the great replacement conspiracy theory, as well as believing that the Republican party is not going far enough.
Another movement permeating the right, although doing so a bit more subtly, is the Dark Enlightenment. Writer Curtis Yarvin first conceptualized the Dark Enlightenment. The movement advocates for the replacement of modern nation-states with capitalist city-states with strong governments that compete for citizens. According to members of the movement, the ideal leaders of such states would be CEOs and large business owners. The motivation for doing so is to return to pre-enlightenment societal
organization, earning the followers of the movement the nickname “TechnoFeudalists”. Despite fierce opposition from all sides of the political spectrum, including others on the right, the movement has gained traction with parts of Silicon Valley as well as many of President Trump’s associates, including Steve Bannon, Elon Musk, the owner of Palantir and PayPal, Peter Thiel, as well as even Vice President JD Vance, who has referenced Yarvin as a close friend and an influence, according to multiple sources.
The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the leading organization among the progressive left in the United States. The DSA has been on a steady rise this past year, primarily due to the movement behind NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani. This rise has included their national membership going from 80,000 to being well on its way to 100,000. The DSA acts differently from most other political parties, as they don’t have their own ballot line and instead endorse party members who run under Democratic, Green, Independent, and Working Families party lines. The DSA is led by the National Political Committee, which is elected every two years at the DSA’s biennial National Convention. The most recent DSA National Convention was held in August 2025. The DSA describes their core beliefs as “to collectively own the key economic drivers that dominate our lives, such as energy production and transportation” through a mix of worker ownership, public ownership, and market mechanisms.
The DSA has multiple internal factions, known as caucuses. Most DSA elected officials, such as Alexandria OcasioCortez (AOC), Bernie Sanders, Zohran Mamdani, and Rashida Tlaib, are members of more moderate caucuses. In contrast, most individual party members and members of the National Political Committee are members of more radical caucuses.
But the DSA is only one organization of many attempting to push the Democrats left. In fact, there are many progressive candidates who are running under the standard Democratic ballot line without ties to other organizations. Young progressives, some of whom identify as socialists, have been polling well while running for Congress in various regions across the US, such as Kat Abughazaleh (Kat Abu) in Chicago,
The Most Unlikely Super Bowl
by Gabi Reynolds ’27
As we are getting accustomed to the bland Sundays of 2026, many of us are still reminiscing about Super Bowl LX and the “World-Champion” Seattle Seahawks. However, this year was like no other, as more and more fans and analysts of the NFL are labeling this year’s matchup as the “most unlikely Super Bowl” in the league’s history. At first glance, many fans might be asking: why is that?
Both teams finished as division winners in their divisions. The New England Patriots finished as the second seed in the American Football Conference with a record of 14-3, though it is important to note that they had the easiest schedule in the league, statistically speaking. For the majority of the season, the Patriots were battling with the Buffalo Bills, a long-established playoff team, for the top spot in the division. By Week 17, they reclaimed their crown for the division title.
The Seahawks, though not the
flashiest team by any means, won their division in the National Football Conference over two teams that finished 12-5, with their own playoff berths. They also finished 14-3, but as the first seed in the NFC, they received a firstround bye. If handily winning their division wasn’t enough to prove their dominance, the Seahawks beat their division rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, to advance to the big game.
On paper, both of these teams deserved to go to the Super Bowl. They have young and talented running backs, solid defenses, and most importantly, composed quarterbacks at their helms. Some statistics claim that first-seed teams have upwards of a 30% chance of winning their conference, and the second-seed teams, having the ability to play at least two games at home, also have likely odds of ending their seasons in February. Only last year, the Philadelphia Eagles (ranked 2nd in the NFC) beat the Kansas City Chiefs (ranked 1st in the AFC) in Super Bowl
LIX. Seeding and record-wise, this Super Bowl was like any other.
However, remembering preseason expectations for these two teams, disregarding playoff bracket predictions altogether, proves how underestimated these squads were. With a few avoided injuries, aligned calls between games, or different weather, these commendable teams could have very well ended up in Cancun like the rest of them. Instead, this year’s Super Bowl felt more like a contest for comeback team of the year than the two best teams facing off for the championship title.
Drake Maye wasn’t always slated to lead the New England Patriots to the Promised Land in his sophomore season. After finishing 4-13 in the 202425 season, almost the reverse number of their 2025-26 record, at the bottom of the AFC East, Patriots fans were worried that they would have to live the spiritless lives of most NFL fans whose teams aren’t regularly champions. As cont. on pg. 7
Elijah Manley in Fort Lauderdale, Graham Platner in Maine, and Saikat Chakrabarti in San Francisco. In addition, quite a few young progressives are running for the Senate, such as James Talarico in Texas. One reason for these progressives’ newfound success may be that Democratic voters are consistently polled as believing that their party leaders are weak and ineffectual, according to PBS. With the midterms coming up this year, the only thing left to ask is, will more about the country’s leadership change than the party color of the legislative?
’19
’27
Ehlen ’27
Kenah ’27
Kirschenbaum ’26
Randall ’27 Sufjan Waleryszak ’27
Faculty Advisor: Jennifer Metcalfe Dumont
Young Democratic congressional candidates, Saikat Chakrabarti, Kat Abughazaleh, Elijah Manley. Compiled by NPR.
by Katherine Twombly ’26
Robert, Rob, Reiner, an acclaimed filmmaker and actor, and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner, tragically passed away on December 14, 2025, at the ages of 78 and 70, respectively. They were found stabbed to death in their home, and their 32-year-old son, Nick Reiner, was arrested later that day on suspicion of murder.
It has been publicly reported that Nick Reiner struggled with drug addiction during his teenage years, which he had been open about previously, even mentioning it in interviews that he and his father participated in together. He has been diagnosed with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, according to a New York Times source. These illnesses led to him being placed in a mental health conservatorship from 2020 to 2021. The source also divulged that in the weeks leading up to the murder, Nick Reiner was struggling with his mental health, which they believed to be due to a recent change in his medication. If it is decided that he is incompetent to stand trial, the trial may be delayed while he receives treatment.
Much of the reason for such strong public interest and reaction to this case comes from Rob Reiner’s significant impact on film and television over his decades-long career, during which he became a household name and helped create numerous beloved works. He started out as an actor and writer on the hit CBS sitcom All in the Family, where he played Michael “Meathead” Stivic, who was the son-in-law of the stereotypical patriarch Archie Bunker. Reiner’s work on the series earned much critical acclaim, and he was
Remembering Rob Reiner
nominated for seven Emmy awards for the role, winning twice. This helped solidify his career, and he began to focus more on writing.
Some of his many notable credits include directing The Princess Bride (1987), Stand by Me (1986), Misery (1990), and A Few Good Men (1992). In addition, he both wrote and directed When Harry Met Sally (1989) and This is Spinal Tap (1984), which he also starred in. Having such a diverse and illustrious career led to Reiner becoming one of the most well-known and respected figures in Hollywood, as well as working with many other high-profile actors, writers, and directors.
This same idea was touched on by Ms. Laura June Raymond, one of the librarians at Brewster Academy, when she said, “It was striking to realize that this same person [Meathead] went on to direct so many films that defined the emotional and moral tone of my generation’s moviegoing.”
Reiner came from a strong background in the entertainment industry, as his father was the celebrated actor Carl Reiner. The most widely recognized work of Carl Reiner was his writing and role on the classic 1960s television series The Dick Van Dyke Show, where he played the star of the fictional Alan Brady Show. He moved on to the spinoff series and TV movies, as well as expanding to voice acting, which he continued until his death in 2020 at the age of 98. Some of his more recent voice acting credits include King of the Hill, Family Guy, and Toy Story 4
Arguably more important than Rob Reiner’s legacy on film and television was his philanthropic impact.
“His willingness to step beyond
the realm of entertainment and into public service reinforces that the values explored via storytelling," said Ms. Raymond, "and that influence comes with responsibility.”
In 1998, in California, Proposition 10 was proposed. This authorized the state to increase taxes on cigarettes and provide the funds from the tax increase towards early childhood support programs. Reiner had not long before become interested in how the early years of someone’s life end up affecting their futures. He strongly and publicly supporting the proposition, and encouraged others to do the same, including Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Partly due to his influence on this issue, the proposition was narrowly passed and is still in place today.
He further supported early childhood care and development by starting his own foundation in 1997 called I am Your Child, which has since been changed to Parents Action for Children. This foundation encouraged investing in young children
and promoting their rights to a safe and healthy childhood that would allow them to live a more prosperous adult life. His focus on this issue has come back to public attention, given that his son is believed to have been the person who murdered him and his wife. Reiner had previously stated that part of his interest in this issue was inspired by his own children. In addition, Rob and Nick Reiner co-wrote a movie titled Being Charlie in 2015 about a young man struggling with addiction, which Rob Reiner said had helped him better understand his son and his struggles. Though many of his most notable works are from decades ago, his prolific catalogue and commitment to advocacy help guarantee he will continue to receive more and more viewers and fans.
“Long after box office numbers fade, people remember stories that made them feel brave, kind, and curious. Reiner gave us those stories, and that’s why his influence endures,” said Ms. Raymond.
Mamdani, What Can We Expect in the Next Four Years?
by Wyatt Randall ’27
The name on everyone’s mind, at least those with connections to New York City, has been Zohran Mamdani, the recently elected, Democratic socialist mayor of America’s largest city. He made waves with a campaign focused on the cost of living crisis, which the city has become infamous for, and appealed to the younger demographic through a social media campaign and fiery callouts of fellow candidates. Mamdani has been very open with his promises, accepting the title of socialist and promising free buses, a higher minimum wage, free childcare, and reduced bureaucracy to open small businesses. While it is still early to expect major results, his constituents can expect those plans to start sooner rather than later.
Mamdani was born in Uganda to parents Mahmood Mamdani and Mira Kair on October 18th, 1991. He moved to New York City when he was
seven, and he graduated from Bowdoin College in 2014 with a major in African studies. After a brief stint as a musician and appearing in a few music videos under the pseudonym Mr. Cardamom, he was elected into the New York State Assembly three times in a row in 2020, 2022, and 2024. He was very popular in his roles and ran without opposition in ‘22 and ‘24.
Mamdani was a controversial figure because of the negative connotations that are associated with socialism. Still, his promises found their audience, and on November 4th, 2025, he won the election against Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, and Curtis Sliwas, the Republican elect. Mr. Mamdani won with a 50.78% lead, a staggering victory of 1,114,184 votes across all five boroughs. To put that into perspective, the last mayor of New York won with only 753,801 votes, but in 2025, there was a humongous 20.08%
increase in voter turnout, and Maldani still secured over half the votes in a three-person race.
On January 1st of this year, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the 114th Mayor of New York City by none other than Bernie Sanders, a longtime socialist advocate in the Senate. But as always, with change comes controversy; his most contentious election promise? How he plans to fund free buses and reduced childcare spending is to tax the rich living in New York. However, his critics say that all the billionaires will simply move to another place with lower taxes. This is a flawed argument because there already exist tax havens that protect wealthy clients, but the rich still choose to remain in major cities like New York because of those opportunities there. Simply put, if Mamdani’s higher taxes will push wealthy people out of New York, why haven't they already moved to a place
with much lighter taxes than New York?
In New York, many have rallied behind Mamdani because of his accountability and desire to improve life for his constituents. Many on social media are championing him for his direct approach to politics and willingness to listen to his voters. At Brewster, this sentiment is somewhat divided. Jake Marcum, a past resident of New York City ‘26, says,” Mamdani is the best(New York Mayor), he should lowkey be president.” While others, such as Sasha Pisarvesky, declined to comment, stating that their disdain for him escaped words.
In the end, Mamdani represents change; he is a representative of the growing youth’s desire to see their place respected in politics, and a need for their voices to be heard. Mamdani’s campaign has made history as a testament to the power of sincerity and concrete promises, but above all, change.
Photo of Rob Reiner taken for the Atlantic. Photo taken from the Atlantic.
Senior Class Back on Top; Win Winter Carnival 2026
by Mila Bahr ’27
Date:
Sunday, Feb. 1st:
Activities
cont. from pg. 1
public to provide assistance in any way. Part of what made the impact this had on the entire Brewster community so clear was that even before the end of the day on Friday, the RAK Club chose to donate $1,000 out of their budget to
Event: Winner/Placements
Esta decorating and Poster decorating
Description:
The teams decorated their designated 10-by-5-foot spaces in Esta according to their theme. The participants had between 12 pm and 5 pm to finish all the decorating before the judging at 5 pm. Along with the Esta space, each team had to plan, design, and paint a large poster and display it in their team area in the AC before 9 am on Monday for judging.
The school week started off with PJ day, which was also judged. A picture of each team was taken in the Smith Center and must have been submitted to a team file by 3 pm in order to count. This event was judged on the percent of team participation. The next WC events were the air mattress relay and tower toss. The air mattress relay had ten participants running and sliding on the air mattresses in order to get them sufficiently across the court and to their other teammates. New this year, the tower toss game had four participants per team, tossing cardboard boxes on top of one another, hoping the top box stays on for a total of 3 seconds.
Class color dress-up day was next, where all the teams had to dress up in their class colors selected in their freshman year. For example, the Junior teams dressed up in navy, blue and pink because those are the colors that the class of ‘27 chose their freshman year. Again, this was judged based on a team picture uploaded to the team file and the percent of total participation per. Tug o' War was also on the activity list for Tuesday. The tug of war game held in the Smith Center is always a really competitive one. 15 participants, including two faculty, compete in a head-to-head team game. The winners moved on to battle the other winners, and the losers to fight the other losers.
Dress up as your favorite Olympic sport day is also new this year. You know the drill, the winners were assessed on the picture uploaded to the team file and the percent of total participation. I’m not saying it again, so just assume from here on out. Next were the Minute to Win It challenges that were held in the Smith Center. Ten participants competed in small, engaging challenges to win the overall activity.
On the final day of Winter Carnival, each team had to dress with their theme. Last but not least was the long-awaited lip sync, where each team had as long as five minutes to perform. Judges voted on the winners based on participation, creativity, relevance to the theme, choreography, sets, costumes, and actual lip syncing. Who was your favorite?
RAK Club Makes Large Donation to Ukraine Crisis Aid Group
support the Ukraine Crisis Aid Group. When asked what made her want to make this donation through RAK, Mrs. Found said, “Bringing that to RAK Club was a no-brainer. It’s what our club does. Whenever there’s a direct connection, and someone moves the
Poster: 1st- Palmer 2nd- Thomas 3rd- Class of ‘26
4th- Connelly 5th- O’Blenis 6th- Cornwell
PJ Day: 1st- O’Blenis 2nd- Thomas
3rd- Class of ‘26 4th- Palmer 5th- Connelly 6th- Cornwell
Esta: 1st- Palmer 2nd- Thomas 3rd- Class of 26 4th- Cornwell 5th- Connelly 6th- O’Blenis
Air Mattress: 1st- Cornwell 2nd- Class of ‘26 3rd- Thomas 4th- Connelly 5th- Palmer 6th- O’Blenis
PJ Day: 1st- O’Blenis, 2nd- Thomas 3rd- Class of ‘26, 4th- Palmer 5th- Connelly, 6th- Cornwell
Class Color: 1st-Thomas and O’Blenis 2nd- Palmer 3rd- Cornwell 4th- Connelly 5th- Class of ‘26
Tug o War: 1st- Class of ‘26 2nd- Palmer 3rd- Thomas 4th- Connelly 5th- Cornwell 6th- O’Blenis
student body to do something, I get behind it.”
Mr. Himmer also promptly responded to this donation, expressing his appreciation and explaining what this money would go towards, including a New Use Energy 605 battery backup
Olympic Sport: 1st- Palmer 2nd- Connelly 3rd- Thomas 4th- O’Blenis 5th- Class of ‘26 6th- Cornwell
Minute to Win: 1st- Class of ‘26 2nd- Cornwell 3rd- Connelly 4th- Palmer 5th- O’Blenis 6th- Thomas
Lip Sync: 1st- Class of ‘26 2nd- Thomas 3rd- Palmer 4th- Connelly 5th- Cornwell 6th- O’Blenis
power unit and eight tourniquets. He also powerfully ended his email by describing what was done by the RAK club as “what being human is all about”, calling back much of his presentation’s theme of doing what we can and understanding that our actions have a direct impact on people’s lives.
PJ dress-up day, Air mattress relay, and Tower Toss
Class color dress-up day and Tug o War
Favorite Olympic sport dress-up day, and Minute to Win It
Santa Claus making his way to the North Pole on the Polar Express train!
Graham Jerke '28 sorting Skittles one handed for head to head Minute to Win it challenge.
(Left) Class of '26 after taking the win for their final Winter Carnival at Brewster.
Style or Vile? Fashion Forecast From '26 Award Ceremonies So Far
by Mila Bahr ’27
So far in the award ceremony world, there has been two majorly recognisable award shows in this new year: the Golden Globes and the Critics’ Choice Awards. Here are 20 of the blah, beautiful, and classic outfits between those two awards, according to this writer’s astute fashion assessment.
Golden Globes (GG) Outfits-
The Golden Globes is an award ceremony celebrating the excellent international film, television, and even podcast world. The winners of the GG this year are extensive but include some of the best, like actor Timothée Chalamet for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, the 2025 film Sinners for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, and actor Stellan Skarsgård for Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture. The list below is the top ten, including three honorable mention outfits that stood out the most, whether that be for taste or tragedy.
Ariana Grande-
Ariana this year was nominated for Wicked, and she showed up to the Golden Globes in a beautiful Vivienne Westwood black gown with her signature light-chestnut brown high pony. The warm color of her hair, paired with her flawless light makeup, made her complexion glow. She’s looking much more lively, refreshed, and overall Ariana than when she was filming Wicked and while she was on the press tours. Personally, I'm liking this look more than her 2020 Grammys big grey princess tulle gown, however iconic that may be. I’m hoping it's safe to say the 2017 Ariana we know and love is back to stay.
Pamela Anderson-
Please, let’s take a moment for the all-natural, simplistic woman we know as Pamela Anderson. This look is just all around glowy and bright. I feel like this look on anyone else would come off as boring and lazy, but on her, it's just very timeless and clean. I really have nothing other to say than how this suits her pretty flawlessly.
Kirsten Dunst-
Kirsten Dunst showed up in this beautiful, almost like Sacramento green colored Tom Ford dress. Although the cut of the dress was pretty, the neckline almost felt like it was styled on a prom dress. Other than that, the straps and the open back were lined with shining gems, adding a subtle yet dainty detail. In my opinion, an open-back dress is almost always classy and alluring. The color played off the red carpet well. Over all I say this is a really complementing look.
Orlando Bloom-
Orlando Bloom showed up after his and Katy’s split, almost looking younger, shocked? No. Not shocked because Katy
seems to be on a tiring amount of sidequests between going to “space” and dressing like a chandelier. I’d be tired if I were him, too. Anyways, he showed up in shoes that didn't really match the suit but did match the bowtie. Not horrible, but it felt a little juvenile because the bowtie was kind of large in proportion to his head. From a certain angle, the bowtie looks to be as wide as his head… but at least he's not like Leonardo DiCaprio, whose head just seems to be getting wider and wider as the years go on. Sooner or later, he will become Stewie from Family Guy, quote me on that.
Alicia Silverstone-
I mean, it's Alicia Silverstone, so like she's destined to be the IT girl, set in stone back in 1995. With that being said, this red dress was a great color on her, her hair flowed beautifully, and the built-in ribbing of the dress showed off the bod. I really like this, but one thing that is a little iffy is the mid/bottom of the dress kind of feels like a curtain at a theatre. Other than that, I think she made a great statement with this dress, especially not overcrowding it with necklaces or anything like that. She let the dress speak for itself.
Miles Caton-
Miles Caton just recently starred in the film Sinners. He did an amazing job in that film, and he delivered there just as he did here with this look. He showed up in a holographic/sparkly pin stripe, sayer dark plum colored suit with an off white/ creme undershirt and tie. Everything about this look, the shoes, the buttons, the stripes, all work really well together. Not upset about this at all.
Amy Poehler-
Amy Poehler's whole outfit looked a little too big for her. The pants were definitely two sizes too big, and you couldn’t tell if they were pants or a skirt. I checked, they were pants. The shirt was kind of just unflattering, very bland, no definition, but very clean. Not the “clean girl aesthetic” everyone seems to rave about, though. I mean, this shirt was spotless and bright, just like when you look outside after it snows and the sun/snow combo blinds you. So props to her for keeping that shirt white through the whole ceremony, for some, that's hard enough.
Honorable Mention from GG-
Selena GomezGorgeous, old-timey, feathers, and fit ting. Perf.
Amanda Seyfried-
Very her, not overpowering, classy.
Elle Fanning-
VERY her. This light, dreamy periwinkle is her color. Love.
Critics' Choice Award Outfits-
The Critics’ Choice Awards are an award show held by the American Critics' Choice Association to recognize and honor the best cinematography of the
year. Ballots are submitted during a weeklong period, resulting in the nominees being announced in December. Some of the winners this year include Jacob Elordi from the 2025 film Frankenstein as Best Supporting Actor and Miles Caton from the 2025 film Sinners as Best Young Actor. Again, below is the top ten list, including three honorable mentions, of the outfits that stood out the most at the ceremony. You know the drill.
Leighton MeesterI really like this color on her. I also like how the dress is sheer but not scandalous. It's not like a “oh great, I just shouldn't have looked at my TV” type of see-through. (Ehem…Bianca Censori.) The only thing I'm not fully loving is the red lip paired with the light purple, but I don't hate it, so I guess I'm undecided. Her and Adam Brody didn’t really match this year, but they're such a good-looking couple, it makes up for it.
Michael B. JordanFine, fine man. His outfit is giving the same vibe as Miles Caton’s at the Golden Globes, but who's complaining, honestly? It’s a nice, clean maroon colored suit paired with a light pink undershirt and a maroon tie to wrap the whole look together. The buttons on his suit are similar to Miles’s on his suit, which explains the vibe, but again, who's complaining? Overall, I really like this color on him, but my opinion is useless because I like every color on him.
Rose ByrneI really like how low, but not too revealing, the cut of her dress is, along with the skinny spaghetti straps. The bodice and waist of this dress feel like the Herve Leger bandage dress that Kim K wore in the 2010s. I really like that part of the dress, but the skirt of the dress isn't my favorite; it looks a little cheap, fabricwise. Also, the skirt on skirt or trim on
skirt, whatever, also isn't my favorite. Mia Goth-
I don't know if it's because I’m like inlove with Mia Goth, but I absolutely loved this dress. So far in the award ceremony world, I've really been liking the simple, classy styles/outfits. Even though this dress is sleek and flows how it wants to, it still manages to show off her figure really well. Also, the double fabric with the slight color change for the off shoulder sleeve, I think it's really effortlessly elegant and pretty.
Odessa A’zion-
Same reason, I don't know if it’s because I have a crush on Odessa, but this look was amazing. This outfit was very her, very breathtaking. It gave disco ball, but in an amazing way, not at all Party City vibes. I really liked how a piece of fabric was wrapped around her neck, yet it still gave room for a slit down the front. I also appreciated how the sleeves flowed into the skirt of the dress. Oh!! And how could I forget about her hair, it's very free and natural, which can always be appreciated at an event like this. Very pretty overall.
Danielle Brooks-
Starting off, her makeup is flawless. The dress is sheer again, but it's like grazing the line between too much and not enough. I think it worked out well, and I’m glad to see her not in a tan jumpsuit, even though I love my girl Taystee.
Honorable Mention from CCASeth Rogan-
An all maroon 3-piece, satin details, love.
Jacob Elordi-
All black suit, black to grey satin tie, fine man.
Wunmi MosakuBeautiful woman, color suits her really well.
Odessa A'zion posing in her disco ball esque dress for picture on the Critics Choice Awards Carpet.
Miles Caton posing on the Golden Globes red carpet for the first time since his breakout as an actor and appearance as Sammie in Sinners.
Top Priorities for Every Playoff Team this Offseason
by Everett Ehlen ’27
Pittsburgh Steelers:
The Pittsburgh Steelers' season ended in yet another disappointing wildcard round exit. This year, however, the Steelers' longtime head coach, Mike Tomlin, stepped down after his 19th season as the head coach. Despite being perennially around .500 and having not won a playoff game since the 2017 season, after this year's 30-6 loss to the Texans in the Wildcard Round, Tomlin walked away from the Steelers. The priority for the Steelers and new head coach Mike McCarthy should be deciding on their future at the quarterback position, be that Aaron Rodgers or someone in the draft or free agency, and setting a new culture for the veteran team.
Carolina Panthers:
This season, the Panthers did better than anyone expected, winning the NFC South and clinching the playoffs. With that being said, the Panthers still only went 8-9, and many questions still remain about Bryce Young’s future at the Quarterback position. However, it seems like the Panthers will be sticking with Young for at least the next few seasons, meaning that with some decisions to make in free agency, and anywhere from $11-39 million and cap space to work with, the Panthers are free to address their lackluster defense and secondary. The top priorities for coach Dave Canales and the Panthers should be addressing their linebacker room and finding a true pass rusher.
Los Angeles Chargers:
The clear and obvious top priority for Jim Harbaugh and the Los Angeles Chargers is the Offensive line. Despite a fairly good o-line on paper, the starting line was decimated by injuries, and the lack of depth was one of the major reasons the Chargers' season ended in a 16-3 loss to the Patriots. The dominant New England defensive line had no problem with the injuryravaged Chargers' O-line, pressuring Quarterback Justin Herbert 30 times on 44 dropbacks, sacking him 6 times and recording 11 QB hits. If the Chargers want any chance at postseason success, letting your QB get pressured on ⅔ of every pass attempt is not the answer. Despite the Chargers trading for Trevor Penning at the deadline, they should use this year's draft and free agency to address the Offensive line at both starting and depth positions.
Green Bay Packers:
The Packers have a myriad of issues to address going into this offseason. Following a disappointing 31-27 loss to their division rival Bears, the Packers' QB coach Sean Mannion left the team to take the Eagles' Offensive Coordinator job. The Packers could also use an upgrade at cornerback and in the interior defensive line, where
they struggled with the 31st-best run defense in the NFL this season. I think the Packers' top priority should be the interior defensive line and the cornerback position.
Jacksonville Jaguars:
The Jaguars, much like the Panthers, did better than even the most optimistic fan could have predicted in Liam Coen’s first season as the Jaguars' head coach. The Jags went 13-4 and won the AFC South for the first time since the 2022 season. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence came into his own this year after a rocky first few seasons in the NFL. Lawrence threw for 4,007 yards and 29 touchdowns, and just 12 interceptions. Additionally, he ran for 359 yards and 9 touchdowns. Despite all of this, Jacksonville’s postseason ended early in a 27-24 thriller loss to the Buffalo Bills. But the Jaguars look good going into the offseason, and should focus on one of their few weaknesses in the O-line. Additionally, the Jaguars also lack a true coverage linebacker, and should spend this offseason looking to bolster some of the only weak spots on an otherwise very young, very good team.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Philadelphia Eagles came into this season as Super Bowl favorites following their 44-20 Super Bowl victory last year. This season, however, the Eagles went home early following their 23-19 loss in the wild-card round to the San Francisco 49ers. The Eagles dealt with a myriad of issues, most noteworthy being a lackluster offensive scheme from Offensive Coordinator Kevin Patullo. But the Eagles have already made their first move, firing Patullo and hiring Packers QB coach Sean Mannion as their new OC. The Eagles still have a lot of issues to address, including: deciding whether or not to trade wide receiver A.J. Brown following mutual public bad blood between Brown and the Eagles franchise; addressing their Offensive Line with questions around Lane Johnson's return to the team; and bolstering their D-line with potential replacements for aging veterans.
San Fransisco 49ers:
The story of the 49ers' season has been defined by countless injuries to key playmakers on both sides of the ball. The Niners had success throughout the regular season despite these injuries, going 12-5 and being in the running for the Number 1 seed all the way until their week 18, 13-3 loss to the Seahawks. The Niners continued their unlikely success early into the post-season, knocking off the Eagles in the wildcard round 23-19. But the loss of superstar tight end George Kittle in the game to an Achilles injury proved to spell the end of their success, when the following week, an injury-ravaged Niners squad was trounced 41-6 by the division rival
Seahawks. This offseason, the Niners have to focus heavily on their strength and conditioning, as they have come off yet another season hampered by injuries. Retaining OC Klay Kubiak and replacing old and injured players should also be a priority for the 49ers.
Buffalo Bills:
Like the Eagles, the Bills came into the season as Super Bowl favorites, but also like the Eagles, they fell short of their preseason goal. The Bills were hurt all season by poor defensive schemes and were once again unable to put pressure on opposing Quarterbacks. On the offensive side of the ball, poor O-line play and a lack of elite receiver talent left superstar QB Josh Allen on an island and forced him to put his team on his back. Despite all this, the Bills still went 12-5 and made the playoffs as the sixth seed. The Bills started the playoffs strong, with a thriller 27-24 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, but success did not last long. In an instant classic divisional round matchup vs the Broncos, the Bills lost 33-30 in overtime, ending their season in spectacular fashion. Following the loss, longtime Head Coach Sean McDermott was fired, and Offensive coordinator Joe Brady was promoted to the Head Coach spot. After these developments, the Bills should be focused on hiring a replacement OC and addressing their lack of talent at skill positions like wide receiver and, of course, bolstering their offensive line.
Chicago Bears:
The Bears defied all expectations this season by making it as far as they did. The Bears had an extremely good season piggybacking off of a great performance by second-year Quarterback Caleb Williams. The Bears went 11-6 and won the competitive NFC North Division. They continued their success into the postseason, defeating the division rival Packers 3127 in an amazing second half comeback. However, the Bears' success would not last forever, as they would lose at home
to the Los Angeles Rams 20-17 in the divisional round of the playoffs. After such a good season, the list of needs for the Bears is not nearly as long as it has been in the past, but this offseason, the Bears' front office should be focused on bolstering the defensive line, which struggled to get pressure on opposing Quarterbacks this season, figuring out how to navigate their safety position with all starting safeties’ contracts being up, and finding a potential upgrade at running back, following a unimpressive season from RB De’andre Swift. Houston Texans:
The Houston Texans, despite uncertainty about the team this last offseason, had an amazing season, winning 12 games off the back of their elite-level defense, which was rated 2nd in DVOA (defense adjusted value over average). The Texans' defense, however, was able to win in spite of their offense, which was subpar all season due to on-and-off injuries to players like wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, who missed two and four games, respectively. Another reason for subpar offense was QB CJ Stroud, who, despite putting up a respectable stat line, was inaccurate all season. In spite of this, the Texans rode their defense to a dominating 30-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers, and moved on to face the New England Patriots, whom they lost to in a 28-16 defensive slugfest. In spite of the sour ending, the Texans had a good season, and going into the 2026 offseason, some top priorities for the front office should be retaining as many pieces as possible from this elite defense, investing heavily into an offensive line that struggled and left Stroud vulnerable, investing into a starting caliber running back, and increasing the depth in an injury-prone wide receiver room.
Los Angeles Rams:
The Los Angeles Rams were Super Bowl favorites for most of this NFL
Sam Darnold hoists Lombardi Trophy after Super Bowl 60 victory. Photo taken from Yahoo Sports.
The Most Unlikely Super Bowl
a Brewster student casually stated, "Growing up, I didn’t know that Super Bowl parties weren’t annual events." But with the firing of Patriots’ Head Coach Jerod Mayo in 2024 after their unfortunate Week 18 victory against the Bills (losing them the first overall pick), the acquisition of former Patriots linebacker and Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel would help the team change its trajectory.
After a successful draft in April, Patriots fans kept their chins up for their rebuilding team to improve upon the strides they made with a rookie quarterback last year. Everybody was taken by surprise when, after Week 6, the Patriots maintained control of the division. Although they didn’t play many “high-caliber” teams, the Patriots won the AFC East for the first time since their signal-caller’s name was Tom Brady.
With a bit of luck on their side, the Patriots had marched themselves to the doorstep of a championship. Following a low-scoring victory against the Los Angeles Chargers, where quarterback Justin Herbert was sacked six times, the Patriots avoided an upset from the Houston Texans in the divisional round. Despite the Texans’ lethal pocket pressure, the Patriots emerged with the opportunity (or, as some would say, the gift of) facing the Denver Broncos in the AFC Championship game. Bo Nix, the starting quarterback for Denver, was unfortunately injured at the end of the Bills-Broncos overtime thriller. Nix’s injury meant that Jarrett Stidham, a long-time backup quarterback, would
fill in to face the Patriots in the AFC title game. Wintery conditions wouldn’t help the pass-happy Broncos’ offense, but indeed their greatest struggle would be losing Nix, their offensive leader. In the matter of a year, the Patriots, led by standout quarterback Drake Maye and Coach of the Year Nominee, Mike Vrabel, had written a Cinderella story that loyal (and bitter) NFL fans were not fond of.
A different kind of darkhorse story took place with (likely former) journeyman quarterback Sam Darnold of the Seattle Seahawks. Unlike Drake Maye, Darnold has been kicking around the league for quite some time. After being selected by the New York Jets in the lucrative 2018 draft and becoming famous for “seeing ghosts” during a crushing loss to the Patriots in 2019, Darnold traveled around the league as a backup. He spent two years with the Carolina Panthers and one with the San Francisco 49ers before being named the starting quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings. Whether or not he would’ve landed the starting job had rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy not suffered a season-ending (or season-preventing) injury against the Las Vegas Raiders in the preseason, we will never know.
That year, he led the Minnesota Vikings to the playoffs and proved himself to be more than just a backup. Drafted the same year as Baker Mayfield, fans have drawn comparisons between Darnold and Mayfield because, following many years, both have shown success to prove themselves to be franchise quarterbacks. Shockingly, the Vikings did not offer Darnold a new
contract the following season.
It was the perfect timing for Darnold and the Seahawks to work out. The transition was equal to that of two recent singles, blossoming a relationship: the Seahawks had lost both their Head Coach, Pete Carroll, and quarterback Geno Smith to the Raiders, while Darnold was kicked to the curb by the Vikings (which ended terribly for them and quarterback J.J. “Nine” McCarthy).
With some key players on offense, like running back Kenneth Walker III and wide receiver Jaxson SmithNjigba, and an all-around talented defense, with veteran defensive lineman DeMarcus Lawrence and cornerback Tariq Woolen, the Seahawks cranked up the intensity to make a deep playoff run. In the Divisional Round, the Seahawks absolutely destroyed the 49ers, 41-6. And to make the Super Bowl, they beat their division rivals: the Los Angeles Rams, with whom they split their interdivisional two-game series during the regular season. Matthew Stafford, although named the Most Valuable Player across the NFL this year, could not come away with a win for the highly anticipated Los Angeles Rams.
All in all, improbable teams congealed to form what we watched as the AFC and NFC representatives in the championship game. And within that game, more unlikely things occurred. In a defensive matchup, it took the Patriots three quarters to put some points on the board: the first team since the 1974 Vikings to do so. It also took both teams four quarters to score touchdowns, which last happened in the Patriots
Top Priorities for Every Playoff Team this Offseason
season, and their play reflected that. Piggybacking off of an MVP-caliber season from veteran QB Matt Stafford, and elite wide receiver play, the Rams won 12 regular-season games, and started the playoffs strong, putting down a young Panthers team 34-31, and knocking off the Chicago Bears 20-17 in an overtime battle. Unfortunately, their season ended in the NFC championship in a 31-27 instant classic loss to the division rival Seahawks. The Rams, despite an amazing season, have plenty of things to address in this offseason. For one, addressing a secondary that crumbled in the back half of the season in free agency and the draft, especially in the cornerback and linebacker positions. In addition to that, you can never have too many good linemen protecting Stafford, and finding a true 3rd receiver behind Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.
Denver Broncos:
The Broncos rode an elite defense
to a 14-3 record and the number one seed in the AFC. The Broncos' offense, despite having some struggles, was fairly consistent, helping them to postseason success. Following their first-round bye, the Broncos played the Buffalo Bills in the divisional round, defeating them 33-30 in overtime. However, at the end of the game, starting Quarterback Bo Nix broke his ankle, leaving him unable to play in the AFC Championship vs the Patriots. Instead, backup Jarrett Stidham had to start, and he was only able to lead the offense to 7 points in their 10-7 loss to the Patriots. In spite of this, the Broncos still have a great foundation for their team, meaning their list of needs for the offseason is not too long. The Broncos should focus on finding a true WR1, a starting-caliber running back after struggling in the run game this season, and finding a clear-cut star tight end.
New England Patriots: At the beginning of this NFL season,
Rams 2019 Super Bowl matchup. With 6 sacks for the Seahawks defense, it isn’t surprising that they won, but the way in which they did it was revengeful. The last time these two teams faced off in the big game in 2015, the Seahawks lost to the Patriots after Malcom Butler intercepted Russell Wilson’s pass at the goal line. This year, to seal the Patriots’ fate, Uchenna Nwosu picked Drake Maye off for a touchdown, meaning the Seattle offense scored just as many touchdowns as their defense. Lastly, when the Seahawks were official crowned champions after beating the Patriots, 29-13, the Seattle running back, Kenneth Walker III, joined only six other running backs named Super Bowl MVP, the first of the 21st century.
The story in the public eye extends past who made and won the Super Bowl, and sometimes focuses more on who didn’t. The most surprising thing that has mostly gone under the radar is the fact that Patrick Mahomes was not on national television, because for the first time in seven years, he didn’t even contend for the AFC Championship. Although NFL fans wish him a full recovery, the overwhelming consensus is that fans were grateful to see an unlikely Super Bowl, following so many years of dominance from AFC superteams. Congratulations to the Seattle Seahawks for hoisting the Lombardi, as we will all soon miss watching any game, even a New York Jets-Miami Dolphins matchup. Will Sam Darnold rise to secure himself as one of the big-name players in the league next year, after leading his team to glory? Only time will tell.
the New England Patriots had 80-1 odds to make the Super Bowl. In spite of these odds, the Patriots fought their way through a competitive AFC, knocking the Chargers, Texans, and Broncos off on their way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for the Patriots, they fell just short of history, losing in a game that was never really close to the Seahawks 29-13. The Patriots have a lot to be happy about this offseason, but they still have a ton to address. Most notably, the offensive line looked totally outmatched against the Seahawks' defense during the Super Bowl. The left side of the O-line in particular seemed to struggle, meaning moving left tackle Will Campbell to left guard, and finding a new left tackle, should be the first priority. The Pats also have to address their depth at receiver, as well as generally find talent in free agency, where they could make a splash with over $33 million in cap space.
Seattle Seahawks:
Like the Patriots, few had the Seattle Seahawks making the Super Bowl at the beginning of the season. Unlike the Patriots, however, the Seahawks won the Super Bowl 60, 29-13. The Seahawks were led by a dominating defense and explosive offense. The Seahawks led the league in offensive and defensive DVOA, and tore their way through the division rival 49ers and Rams on their way to the Super Bowl. Unfortunately for the Seahawks, they have a ton of important decisions to make this offseason. Fortunately, the Seahawks go into this offseason with the 5th most cap space at $73 million, meaning that they can bring back many of the players worth keeping. Figuring out who to let walk is no easy task, and in addition to sorting out free agency, the Seahawks still need work on the interior offensive line, so finding a quality center or guard should be a priority. The Seahawks also need a true pass rusher opposite of Demarcus Lawrence.
WORD ON THE STREET
1) What's been getting you through the winter so far?
2) What subject has required the most coffee in the winter trimester?
3) What are your next year's Winter Carnival theme predictions/suggestions?
4) Who's your Brewster valentine?
5) Which faculty member is most likely to get into a street fight?
Anelya Caesar ’27 1) Shay's Juice
Hall Talk
“Breakfast is propaganda.”- CR
“Bronothan Jowher.” – EH
“They had their classic civil war.” - SS
“If I were in a fictional world, I would have so much bloodlust.” - MR
“I’m pretty sure it’s not a dragon.”MR
“If you say it, it doesn’t matter, if you write it, it’s gonna get subpoenaed.” - MR
“Rupaul taught me to parallel park.” - LH
“Don’t cut off your feet.” - MR
“So, I locked my backpack in the engineering room…” - CC
“Do you know how many silica gel packets I have?” - CC
“Considering the whole colonialism thing…” - MR
“You kill someone, bring them back to life, and now they're breathing right.” - MR
“I'm almost as hungry for silica gel as I am for hot fantasy orcs.” - CC
“People only assume Spider-man doesn't kill because he's very good at hiding bodies.” - MR
“If you drink anything in the chemistry lab, it's going to have a "medical context." - TL
“There goes Albania. Wooo!” - SS
“This is what happens when you take my silica gel from me!” - CC
“I feel like "why did the tories win" is always a good question.” - MR
“Bahhh Bahhh the hut.” – JB
"You just can't get excited about functional groups -- you can't even fake it." - MR
“What's a grand?” - JJ
“So much beef, it’s like a cattle farm.” - FD
“Life goal: terrorize Finn.” - CC
“If you die, I’m shaving your mutton chops.” - CC
“There is nothing natural about housecats.” - JH
“Holy ineptitude.” - JH
“There’s no yaoi here? Dang.” - JM
“I’m 7’1” with max rizz.” - JG
“I call this the last resort.” - JH
“Lowkenuienly.” - FD
“It’s not a rock, it's a cheese cube.” - FD
“Airin won the video games of coding.” - TH
“It’s peak, but I’m not even going to entertain them.” - JH
“I have the Balkans in my hand.” - JG
“My obesity is terminal and my hunger is unending.” - JH
“Pseudo hag look.” - JH
“I might be the next Einstein.” - JH
“I sucked Kim Jung Un's feet.” - JM
“A feature on a bug.” - FD
“Musa paused me in class, I almost threw him out the window.” - TL
“A little Sid-the-sloth-esque.” - JH
“We are the big Satan, but I love being an American!” - Anonymous
“One more hubbub out of you and you are going to the dungeon.” - TL