The Argo

Introducing the New Editors- in- Chief a short glimpse of the leaders of Prep’s news

By: Juliet Bou Mansour’23 Feature Section Editor

A new school year, a new season of The Argo, THREE new Editors In Chief. Seniors Christopher Kaleekal, Keyon Majidi, and Siya Angras are our esteemed trio for this year’s Argo, and I am more than happy to properly introduce them to you all.

Christopher Kaleekal has been writing for The Argo since his freshman year (dedication!). He was the editor of the Arts and Entertainment Section his sophomore year,

Classes were in session. Morning meeting was led by the lovable yet light-hearted school president. To the unsuspecting eye, it was an ordinary Friday at Rutgers Prep, but to members of the Class of 2023, it was game day.

The long-awaited senior faculty football game had arrived. It’s been a staple at Rutgers Prep for decades and a tradition for the faculty to leave the 12th graders with a parting defeat. This year, however, the seniors had other plans. For weeks, they designed plays, filmed an electrifying hype video, and trained vigorously so that once the first whistle blew, they could teach a lesson of their own on the field. When the game began, there was palpable energy on both sidelines. The faculty scored on their first drive— the unlikely yet surprisingly dynamic duo of Mr. Quenault and Mr. Kuchar connected on a trick-play passing TD. Mr. Kuchar, a former star player and coach at the high school the Science Section his junior year, and now an Editor-in-Chief. Besides the newspaper, Chris plays in the school’s Chamber Orchestra and runs on the Varsity Cross Country Team. A leader outside TheArgo, Chris leads Fusion Ensemble and Operation Smile Club :))). Next, not extremely well known at prep, Keyon Majidi was the editor of the Sports section last year. He divides his time in mock trials and heavily enjoys

AP Government. Keyon devotes a majority of his time attending Prep sports games to show avid school spirit and yell at the refs, his only hobby. He’s also the school president, if that makes any difference. Last, but never the least, Siya Angras was the editor of the Opinion Section last year. A leader of GEM club and GO club, Siya has completed an independent study on the effects of imperialism on South Asia, and wrote a (very emotional) piece for a blog called “Project Heal.’’ She’s also been Vice President of the class of ‘23 for the last two years. So you can thank her and me for setting the expectations for how Prom should be for years to come. While it will be hard to submit my work to these three for the next year, I do know that they all deserve this position, and have proved it time and time again. So let’s give a very warm welcome to our new EICs, and wish them best of luck this year.

The Seniors v. Faculty Football Game was it a fair win?

By: Keyon Majidi’23 Co-Editor in Chief

level, was especially motivated to win the game after spending his summer tirelessly writing recommendation letters for the class of ‘23. The seniors were not ready to back down though.

Coaches Juliet Bou Mansour and Taylor Repollet decided it was time to rally the troops. When they were done snapping clipboards and breaking tables on the sideline, they delivered an impassioned speech that had their players all but ready to run through a brick wall for their team. It seemed to have worked because on the next drive, Jadin Collins broke free for explosive run, gracefully weaving through the middle-aged defense to tie up the game at seven apiece.

As the game went on, it felt like the faculty had settled in and the seniors were playing a sloppy brand of football, falling behind by multiple scores. What ensued next, however, can only be characterized as a beautiful chess match.

Selah Anderson, who’d spent sleepless nights engineering the seniors’ offensive strategy, was locked in a duel of intellect and she was not prepared to lose.

She analyzed the opponents’ defensive adjustments and orchestrated an aerial attack that placed the ball in the hands of Demi Osinubi for a receiving touchdown. Suddenly, the seniors were within one score. The game was winding to a close and the gentle autumn breeze had strengthened to a cutting wind. The seniors needed seven points to equalize, but with the football in the faculty’s hands, only a miracle could do it. Luckily, the seniors had an ace up their sleeve. Just as Jake Riggi had joined the class late a year ago and saved junior year, it was time he pulled off another late-game revival. Jake stepped onto the field for the first time with just minutes left on the board and took off on a nearly full-field pick-six that knotted up the score. Not only did he keep the seniors alive by sending the game into overtime, but he disproved anyone who says you can’t both be athletic and devilishly handsome.

In OT, a series of controversial events that call into question the legitimacy of the tradition decided the game in favor of the faculty. Nonetheless, the class of 2023 etched its name into RPS history for a game that spoke to all their defining strengths: communication, perseverance, and most of all, an unrelenting commitment to one another.

What really is Chanukah?

The common perception is that it’s just a Jewish play on Christmas. Some know the supposed miracle of one day’s worth of oil burning for eight days. In reality, the holiday is much more nuanced than ei- ther of these views.

Before the gifts, meno- rahs, latkes, and dreidels, there were the Maccabees - a family of Jews who fought back against the Syrian occupation of Jerusalem and their Temple. Even though they were outnumbered, they miraculously drove the Syrians out of their temple, where they found their ner tamid eternal light extinguished. Upon relighting the ner tamid, they found they only had enough oil left for one day. This inadequate measure of oil proved to be more than enough, as it lasted eight whole days. According to some, the Rabbis of the era deemed this a minor holiday, meant to celebrate lights, keeping the “flame” of Judaism alight and most importantly bringing families together. Other accounts argue it was a forgotten holiday. Regardless, Chanu- kah was not the powerhouse of holidays back then that it is today. You may be thinking how did this become a quintessential Jewish holiday?

In part, it was due to Eastern Europe- an Jews immigrating to the United States and wanting to show their newfound success with material items. Additionally, it’s due to the imposing and unavoidable nature of Christ- mas. Jewish families felt left out, especially the children. Chanukah falls during Kislev in the Jewish Calendar, which is usually some time during November or December. With this timing in mind, early 20th century Jewish families began celebrating Chanukah much like their Christian contemporaries. With gift giving, decadent meals, and fancy decorations, Chanukah morphed into