The Argo - February 2025 Issue

The Argo Volume CXXXVI

新年快乐! [Happy New Year!]

The Year of the Snake has made its way to Rutgers Preparatory School, bringing the spirit of the Lunar New Year to our school!

The Asian Culture Club organized the annual celebration on the last Friday of January with the support of various committees. These included the decoration committee, which ensured that the Rutgers Prep school building and stage were festive with decor; the art committee, which brought eye-catching programs and T-shirts to the show; and the tech committee, which made sure everything ran smoothly backstage." Before the official beginning of the night, Asian Culture Club's Co-Vice President, Jenica Benneaser '25, announced that it was time to

Michael Lyu ‘26 and a Lion Photo Credit: Felicity Cai ‘27

Issue No. 3

February 2025

www.issuu.com/rutgersprep

Slithering into Lunar New Year Kelli Chang ‘25

The RPS Lunar New Year Show Cast | Photo Credit: Tony Yao ‘27

"吃饭" or indulge in the delicious of Do You Want to Dance《你要跳 Chinese food. As everyone ate and 舞吗》pumped up the crowd. Nocrackled open fortune cookies and tably, some faculty members were sunflower seeds, MCs Jianning Liu also present, like English teacher '25, Michael Lyu '26, Zoe Xu '27, Mx. Akhir Stewart, band teachand Thomas Zhou '28, took to the er Mr. Stanley Figaro, and French stage and announced the start of the teacher Mr. Isaiah Seibert. They performed the famous traditional entertainment.

With excellent coordination, Chinese song Good Wishes to You Jack Zhang '28, Apollo Sun '28, 《恭喜恭喜》alongside Calvin Lin Jessie Wang '27, and Fiona Zhu '32 on the piano. Following that per'28 pulled off a mighty Lion Dance fomance, the night concluded with meant to scare away evil spirits of a heartwarming performance of the the past year. While students like song "Amani" by choir teacher Mr. Karina Ni '26 and Nancy Zhao Jeron Stephens alongside Brad Gu '26 brought various dances to life, '27, Clement Lacroix '26, and Stella musical performances like Amber Buyanovsky '30, leaving audience Feng '25, Keran Chen '26, Jacky members humming the tune as they Chen, Hongyi Shen '25, Noah He left.

Guests even had a chance to '28, and Michael Lyu's '26 rendition

“Prom”ising Planning

take home goodies from the night's lottery. Some lucky winners included singer Clement Lacroix '26 earning a scrumptious packet of the classic 旺旺大礼包 snack, math teacher Mr. Nick Foil hauling home a hot pot set, and history teacher Mr. Timothy Cohen scoring a complete set of the tile-game mahjong. Speaking of Mr. Cohen, the night's organization would have been impossible without the valuable contributions of the International Student Dean, Mr. Cohen, and the Chinese teacher, Mrs. You Zhou, who both worked tirelessly.

The Year of the Snake ushered joy to the community and connected all who were touched by the snake's tail– concluding another successful Lunar New Year at Rutgers Prep.

Keran Chen ‘26, Karina Ni ‘26, and Nancy Zhao ‘26 Photo Credit: Felicity Cai ‘27

Jurnee Caldwell ‘26

Around campus, you’ve likely seen many upperclassmen in a frenzy, suddenly abuzz with talk about prom, fueled by the reveal of this year’s theme — “Enchanted Forest.” When it comes to school events, prom is undoubtedly the most anticipated, being considered a “rite of passage” among students for over a century. This means that your great-great-grandparents were likely just as excited about going to prom as you are now, showing how special and historic this event is. Prom is a few months away, yet many students have already ordered their outfits and made reservations with their friends. But as daunting as picking a prom dress might be, it’s nothing compared to the work behind such a huge event.

Every year, the junior class is tasked with organizing prom. The Junior Class Council and the Prom Committee, led by the Class Coun-

cil Vice President, Siyona Sreejit, and overseen by the current Junior Grade Dean, Senora Dutta, have been working since the school year began to ensure that the upperclassmen have a truly unforgettable night.

Unfortunately, a beautiful venue, delicious food, and nice decorations aren’t cheap. That’s why when planning a night like prom the main focus is fundraising. This is evident by the fact that fundraising for prom didn’t just start this year; it started two years ago, when the current juniors began their freshman year. It’s very important for each class to raise money for their respective proms.

That’s why freshmen sell snacks during the senior-faculty football game, sophomores sell goods at the school plays, and juniors sell candy grams in the ArgoNook.

Aside from fundraising, prom planning brings many personal

challenges, especially for students.

Can you imagine having to complete a seemingly endless amount of assignments, spend hours studying for tests, and be expected to attend after-school activities, all the while having to find time to plan one of the most anticipated nights of the year? To say the least, the responsibility of organizing prom comes with a lot of pressure. A pressure that, as Senora Dutta would tell you, the students have done “a great job” of handling. And although planning a prom can be exhausting at times, it also builds character. The challenges that students have faced teach them to be leaders, to collaborate with one another, to organize and adjust their ideas, and to make important decisions.

Overall, planning for prom is not an easy task. But every year, the junior class does an amazing job with handling this pressure

Westmount Country Club Photo Credit: Westmount Country Club

and creating a night that students will never forget. The Junior Class Council and the Prom Committee will undoubtedly continue this streak as they put together a prom that makes this current “frenzy” worth it. Juniors and seniors, be sure to mark your calendars! Prom will take place on June 4th, 2025, at the Westmount Country Club. If the effort that everyone has put into it is indicative of its quality, then it is sure to be an extremely special and amazing night.

Highlights of Issue III Complete Human Genome (pg. 3)

Milan Derby Final (pg. 5)

Black Women in Hip Hop (pg. 6)

The Resignation of Trudeau (pg. 7)

News

2

Donald Trump’s Inauguration Alina Zhu ‘27 and Zoe Xu ‘27

When a new president is inaugurated, they promise to devote themselves to their new job, ushering in a new time of politics, change, and leaders. This year, Donald Trump cemented his place in history as both the 45th and 47th U.S. President, with his second inauguration coinciding with MLK Day. Due to below-freezing temperatures, the event was moved inside, but this didn’t encroach on the diverse guest list, which featured Former Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as international leaders, such as Han Zheng, the Vice President of China.

In his inaugural address, Trump started off by questioning the prior government’s actions, critiquing its public health and education system, and its ability to provide emergency services and mitigate crises. Following this introduction, President Trump made a series

of promises that he claimed would make America the greatest nation, such as increasing oil manufacturing, creating foreign tariffs to defeat inflation, and increasing the nation's military power.Notably, Trump declared a national emergency at the country’s southern border, reinforcing the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and vowing to return illegal immigrants to their point of origin. He also promised to send troops to the border, named cartels as terrorist groups, and claimed responsibility for the country’s defense and protection. Additionally, Trump hinted at his upcoming legislation ending DEI programs and implmenting a policy of recognizing two genders only.

In the spirit of nationalism, the new president also announced his renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and Denali to Mount McKinley. How-

ever, one event that caught the attention of many was Elon Musk’s controversial speech, which sparked confusion, outrage, and concern.

These emotions were echoed by those affected by Trump’s latest actions in office.

Following the official inauguration ceremony, the new president and vice president went on to speak at the Starlight Ball and the Liberty Ball. They addressed their donors, supporters, campaign members, and families, expressing their appreciation and gratitude for their efforts that won the election. The events marked the close of the important day that symbolized the start of a new administration promising drastic changes and a new path for the nation.

24 Hours in the White House Following his inauguration parade on Monday, January 21, President Donald Trump began signing several executive orders and presidential actions.

His policy actions span topics including immigration law, civil rights, and the climate crisis. These sweeping actions reflect many of the promises he made during his campaign and have already received major reactions from the rest of the country.

One of President Trump’s first and most controversial actions, was issuing over 1,500 pardons and commuting 14 sentences in connection to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

This included individuals who assaulted law enforcement officials with deadly or dangerous weapons. Immediately after the attack, President Trump sought to distance himself from the event, claiming the law should hold them accountable. However, it is obvious that in the past few years his perspective has shifted, with Trump openly signaling his support for the rioters. The event led to a large-scale FBI investigation, which

Kayla Hill ‘26

President Donald Trump Photo Credit: Chip Somodevilla Getty Images

led to criminal convictions against more than 1,100 defendants and hundreds of those defendants receiving significant prison sentences.

With Trump’s presidential pardons, only a small fraction of the 600 previously behind bars are still incarcerated.

Another one of Trump’s actions was signing an executive order to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement — the global accord that implements the objectives of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Many view this as dealing a massive blow to the world’s efforts to mitigate global warming, potentially distancing the U.S. from some of its closest allies. Before his inauguration, Trump announced that the United States would be abandoning the Paris Accord. The pact is aimed at limiting long-term global warming to 2.7 - 3.6

degrees Fahrenheit above pre-industrial levels. Just last month, the outgoing Biden administration had created a plan to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by more than 60%.

Additionally, it is apparent that President Trump is making good on his promise of mass deportations. While Immigration and Customs Enforcement deports undocumented immigrants regularly, the operation launched under Trump’s administration is likely to target “sanctuary” cities that limit cooperation with federal immigration officials.

President Trump is aiming to arrest 1,200 to 1,500 people per day for immigration violations and vows to conduct the “largest deportation operation in U.S. history.”

Within 24 hours of his presidency, Trump had signed the most Day 1 executive orders since 1937.

These orders were centered around an “America First” agenda, with Trump having a clear determination to concentrate executive power in the West Wing and move the country in a conservative direction.

February 2025

The Life and Legacy of President Jimmy Carter Archisha Sonig ‘25

Elected as President of the United States in 1977, Jimmy Carter has left an incredible legacy behind.

As President, he was thrust into an overwhelming environment of inflation, an energy crisis, war in Afghanistan, and U.S. hostages in Iran. Though the American people favored the more “charismatic” candidate of Reagan four years later, Carter had significantly lowered gas costs, created the Department of Education, killed funding for the B-1 Bomber airplane (an airplane capable of delivering large loads of nuclear weapons and reach anywhere in the world with ease), and pushed for a comprehensive consumer protection bill. He also deregulated transportation industries, which led to lower transportation costs for consumers. His greatest work, however, was in the energy sector, where he passed the Emergency Natural Gas Act (a bill that authorizes the President to order emergency deliveries and transportation of natural gas elsewhere to alleviate natural gas shortages in regions of the United States), created the Department of Energy, regulated nuclear energy, and prioritized preserving the environment.

His work with energy forever changed policies in the United States.

Post-presidency, he became regarded as one of the greatest humanitarians of the modern era. In 2002, Jimmy Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his decades of effort to find peaceful resolutions to international conflicts

such as the Camp David peace accords with Egypt and Israel. Right after the end of his presidency in 1982, he opened The Carter Center, a nongovernmental, non-profit organization dedicated to eliminating diseases, advancing democracy and human rights, and improving mental health care. With the World Health Organization, he worked to eradicate Guinea-worm disease, a disease that can lead to temporary or permanent disability when drinking non-potable water. Under the Carter Center, cases of Guinea-worm disease dropped from 3.5 million in the mid-1980s to 11 in 2024.

In addition to his work with the WHO and the Carter Center, he and his wife, Rosalynn, led the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project for Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit organization aimed at building affordable housing. In the past 30 years, Habitat for Humanity has built, renovated, and repaired more than 4,447 homes in 14 countries.

Though Jimmy Carter wasn’t remembered fondly after his presidency for a long time, he left a lasting legacy on energy preservation. Outside of his presidency, he fundamentally changed thousands of lives, whether it had been through working to eradicate diseases, improving medical care in rural parts of Africa, or building houses all across the world. Through his presidency and as a humanitarian, Jimmy Carter worked tirelessly to touch the lives of millions.

Jimmy Carter Photo: Oregon National Guard Public Affairs Office, DVIDS

February 2025

News and STEM

Los Angeles Wildfires and the Real Estate Market Avery San Filippo ‘25

A series of factors contributed to the outbreak of wildfires in Southern California in early January. The wildfires have spread to the Pacific Palisade, Altadena, and Malibu. It is speculated that the wildfires are a result of extreme drought conditions and the harsh Santa Ana winds (winds that blow down the Sierra mountains and towards the southern California coast). Plants have also dried out due to the desert-like conditions, becoming a fuel source that has helped ignite these fires. As a result, more than 12,000 buildings have been burned to the ground, forcing many people to search for a new home. Unfortunately, many sellers are taking advantage of the natural disaster by illegally price gouging, making it increasingly expensive to purchase a property.

According to two major real estate agents based in California, Josh Flagg and Josh Altman (the stars of reality TV show Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles), the fires are even worse than the news, photos, or social media posts describe. Because of the housing crisis caused by the wildfires, there is not nearly enough inventory to satisfy heightened demand for houses, which has caused prices to skyrocket.

This phenomenon is called price gouging, or increasing prices beyond a price that is fair for a good or service, which is illegal. However, according to Flagg, home sellers are taking advantage of the situation by using a legal loophole. As he ex-

Los Angeles Housing Photo Credit: Allen J. Schaben Los Angeles Times

plains, “[P]eople that were not marketing their homes before are now taking advantage because you can ask whatever you want for a house.”

In response to the price gouging pandemic, the city of Los Angeles has updated their policies on the matter.

They have implemented restrictions on the amount business owners can increase the price of goods, services, and rent. New and existing rentals may not increase rental housing prices by more than 10% of the previously advertised price.

Additionally, housing that was not advertised before the start of the fires may not exceed 160% of its fair market value that was previously established by the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Amidst the devastating nature of these wildfires that are demolishing California and displacing its residents, there are some people who seek to exploit this natural disaster. The exponential increase in demand for homes has contributed to the price gouging crisis. Luckily, there have been legislative efforts to mitigate its effects.

Hopefully, these fires will be extinguished, and the residents of California can return to a state of normalcy in the near future.

Los Angeles Wildfires Photo Credit: Wally Skalij | Los Angeles Times

3

The Human Genome Project: A Journey Toward Complete Sequencing Maanit Khanna ‘28

The Human Genome Project, launched on October 1st, 1990, aimed to fully map the human genome.

The human genome is the complete set of DNA instructions that govern the development, function, and inheritance of all living beings. These genetic instructions packed into our cells consist of over 3 billion bases. The project culminated in 2003, earning recognition as one of the most significant scientific accomplishments of its time.

To achieve this feat, scientists fragmented DNA into segments of about 100 bases, which were meticulously sequenced and reorganized to reconstruct the genome. The resulting map served as a reference to identify genes, understand their functions, and investigate how genetic variations influence traits, diseases,

revolutionized the field.

Now that we can clearly see everything, we are one step closer to understanding what it all means.

Two advanced methods played pivotal roles in achieving the first complete human genome sequence.

The PacBio HiFi technology demonstrated the capability to read over 20,000 DNA bases with near-perfect accuracy. Meanwhile, the Oxford Nanopore sequencing method achieved unprecedented efficiency, reading up to 1 million DNA bases at a time, albeit with modest accuracy. By combining these cutting-edge

Photo Credit National Human Genome Research Institute National Institute of Health

and evolution. This foundational work paved the way for advances in personalized medicine, drug development, and the study of genetic disorders. Despite its groundbreaking achievements, the project was not without limitations. The initial sequence was disorganized and incomplete. Due to the repetitive nature of certain DNA sequences, existing methods were unable to accurately reconstruct the entire genome. Ultimately, the project succeeded in mapping about 92% of the genome, leaving the remaining 8% unresolved.

As sequencing technologies improved, increasingly accurate versions of the human genome were published. However, many of the primary challenges persisted until 2021, when breakthrough technologies

tools, the Telomere-to-Telomere (T2T) consortium successfully filled in over 200 million previously missing DNA bases. This comprehensive and highly accurate sequence resolved gaps in difficult-to-map regions and marked a turning point in genomics.

The completion of the first fully sequenced human genome has profoundly impacted the field of genetics.

T2T Photo Credit National Institutes of Health

It has opened the door to a deeper understanding of diseases, enabling researchers to identify mutations linked to conditions such as cancer and to analyze the genetic makeup of viruses for targeted treatments. This progress has also advanced drug development, allowing for more accurate predictions of medication effects and tailored therapies.

Beyond medicine, the complete genome has fueled innovations in forensic science, biofuels, and agriculture, enhancing the ability to improve crop yields and livestock. Furthermore, it has enriched studies in anthropology, bioarchaeology, and evolution, offering valuable insights into the genetic history of humanity.

As Dr. Adam Phillippy, whose group at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) led the effort, expressed, “Now that we can clearly see everything, we are one step closer to understanding what it all means.” This monumental achievement not only addressed the limitations of earlier projects but also set the stage for future discoveries that will transform science, medicine, and our understanding of life itself.

Human Genomics Photo Credit: Greg Baker Getty Images

STEM

4

Alphafold: Utilizing AI for Predicting Protein Structure Victoria Gu ‘27

As artificial intelligence has become more mainstream, people have been experimenting with it in many fields. Last year, the 2024 Nobel Prize for Chemistry was awarded to Demis Hassabis and John Jumper for using AI to predict protein structure. Proteins are essential to life, and understanding how they work is crucial to improving medical treatment and further comprehending how the human body works. With the help of AI, it just became a lot easier.

of amino acids to the public, and the scientists compete to decode the sequence to determine the protein’s structure the most accurately. However, this proved extremely difficult as an average protein has around 400 amino acids in a chain, leading to many, many, possible structures.

This changed in the thirteenth CASP competition, where AlphaFold joined the event. AlphaFold was created by a company called DeepMind, which is owned

by Google. DeepMind had

AlphaFold-3 by DeepMind Photo Credit: Google DeepMind

Proteins are large molecules present in all life forms that do a variety of things, from digesting food to providing structure to our cells. Protein function is determined by protein structure, similar to how a knife is able to carry out its purpose of cutting food because it is shaped like a blade. A protein is made up of at least one chain of amino acids, and 20 different types of amino acids will connect to form a chain.

Depending on the order and types of amino acids in the chain, the chain will bend and fold a certain way, giving it structure.

Typically, scientists utilize this information on structure to build and predict proteins. Protein structure is reliant on the sequence of amino acids in a chain, and scientists are able to read the amino acid sequence to determine how a protein will fold. Scientists can even build their own proteins using amino acids, which has led to the creation of proteins that can break down hazardous substances.

To encourage further research in this area of science, a competition, called Critical Assessment of Protein Structure Prediction (CASP), was started. The contest provides a sequence

previously made AI models around board games but had developed a new AI, AlphaFold, that took sequences of amino acids and predicted the structure by comparing it to information from already discovered and decoded proteins. Their new AlphaFold was able to win the CASP competition with great results. Over the years, AlphaFold has gone through three versions. With the contributions of Hassabis, DeepMind’s Co-founder, and Jumper, who contributed much of his experience in protein simulation, AlphaFold has performed phenomenally in CASP competitions, dominating all of the competitions by displaying its success and accuracy.

With AlphaFold becoming publicly available and free, scientists now have an amazing tool that allows them to simulate protein structure in a few minutes as opposed to when it used to take years. While Alphafold is not 100% accurate, it is constantly improving as scientists are making new discoveries that can improve the AI. AlphaFold is one of many ways scientists have used AI to assist their research, and with AI rapidly becoming more and more advanced, we will surely see more AI contributions to the scientific field.

February 2025 FDA Bans Red Dye No. 3 Suhani Jerath ‘25

Red Dye No. 3 is an artificial food dye that gives foods a bright red color. It is found in candies, desserts, and some ingested drugs.

In very small amounts, it is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

However, on January 15, the FDA issued an order revoking authorizations for the use of Red Dye No. Candy with Red Dye No. 3 3, based on the Delaney Photo Credit: Clause of the Federal Food, Mtreasure Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This clause, before they can be added ers factors such as amount which was enacted in 1960, to food or ingested drugs. of consumption, intended is part of the Color Additives Manufacturers submit evi- use, manufacturing processes, and the properties of the additive. When the use of an additive is approved, the FDA outlines the specifics of its use, including the products it can be used in, maximum amounts, and any other specifications.

There have been past actions on Red Dye No. 3.

For example in 1990, the FDA Logo FDA denied a petition to Photo Credit: Jason Reed | Reuters use Red Dye No. 3 in cosAmendment that prohibits dence to the FDA that proves metic products and topical the FDA authorization of a the color additive is safe un- drugs, based on the Delaney food or color additive that der specific conditions. The Clause. Additionally, the FDA has had the evidence to is found to cause cancer in revoke the use of Red Dye humans or animals. In a colAlthough the FDA No. 3 since 1992 but failed or additive petition in 2022, data suggested that this dye has banned the use to take action because of the caused cancer in male labof Red Dye No. 3 large amount of resources it would take to remove the oratory rats who were exthis January, authorization. posed to high levels of the Although the FDA has dye. Science shows that this manufacturers will banned the use of Red Dye is due to hormonal mech- have until January No. 3 this January, mananisms that occur in male 2027 to reformulate ufacturers will have until rats. However, studies into January 2027 to reformulate products in food other animals and humans have not shown the same efand until January products in food and until January 2028 for drugs. fect, so there is no evidence 2028 for drugs.

Consumers could possibly to suggest that Red Dye No. see Red Dye No. 3 in prod3 causes cancer in humans.

FDA will then evaluate the ucts after these effective Color additives, including Red Dye No. 3, need to petition as well as previous- dates as well if the product undergo a pre-market ap- ly existing data to make a was manufactured before proval process by the FDA decision. The FDA consid- the deadlines.

Photo Credit: Andia | Universal Images Group | Getty Images

Red Dye No. 3 Photo Credit: Hartford Hospital

February 2025

Sports

Supercopa 2024/2025: The Milan Derby In Italy, there is no bigger game than the Milan Derby. Inter Milan and AC Milan are two of Italy’s giants, and the atmosphere of their games is nothing short of pure intensity, making their teams one of Europe’s must-watch at any point in the season.

This year, they both featured in the Supercopa final, and this game was beautiful to watch. Both teams, based in Milan, are two of the biggest clubs in the world, with the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva, Nesta, Maldini, and many other legends of the sport. From the players, to the coaches, to the fans, it was one of the best games of the 2024/25 season.

In the first half, things looked stale, as both teams were playing pretty defensively, but it was Lautaro Martinez who broke the deadlock in the 46th minute in the first half, a massive move for Inter. A flawless fake shot, followed by the

Davi Soares ‘25

left striking the ball in the left corner was just the way to end the first half.

The second half began, and it was Taremi’s goal that put Inter up 2-0. Stefan de Vrij perfectly broke the lines with his stellar pass; one-on-one chances is what made Taremi so good at Porto. His goal would be repaid back just minutes later

by Theo Hernandez’ wonder goal from the free kick spot.

From that moment on, it was tense. Inter was doing some great defending, but Christian Pulisic made the score all even after his goal in the 80th minute. From a player standpoint, this is his best season in a long time, as he finally looks comfort-

able in this AC Milan system; this goal proved this perfectly.

In the dying moments of the second half, AC Milan’s substitutes proved to be the game changers; it was Rafael Leao’s assist to English international Tammy Abraham who put the nail in the coffin for AC Milan. This was an incredible growth moment for Abraham, as he had struggled with finding playtime in Roma, moving to AC Milan on loan, and now he had scored the biggest goal of their season, lifting the Supercopa.

This wonder of a game had everything, and as a soccer fan, it was a pure spectacle, like it always is.

AC Milan Photo Credit: AC Milan

What Happened to Chelsea FC? “It all starts at the top.”

This adage manifests itself globally. If a football club is faltering, it has poor owners.

That is certainly the case for Chelsea FC. The club was bought in 2022 by a group known as BlueCo for 4.25 billion pounds. Chelsea had just won the Champions League, the supreme competition for European football, in 2021, and was a reputable title contender. Now, Chelsea finds itself in a precarious situation. Sitting in 6th place in the Premier League, Chelsea looks to be sleepwalking towards a third consecutive season of no Champions League football. How has a European champion like Chelsea succumbed to such a level? The answer is simple: BlueCo. From the moment they acquired Chelsea, they’ve made several significant moves that, in hindsight, have harmed the club. The first notable decision the new ownership took was the dismissal of serial winner Thomas Tuchel. Tuchel brought stability and success to the club. Since then, the club has cycled through

Jay Chavan ‘26

five managers and has not won a single piece of silverware. Enzo Marseca, one of Guardiola’s protégés, is currently the manager of Chelsea. With limited managerial experience, it was a surprise for many when Chelsea found itself second in the table. Since then, the club has only won one out of the last seven matches and has fallen from the top four. Without experience and stability in the managerial position, Chelsea will not be able to emulate its previous success.

Aside from BlueCo’s mishandling of the managerial post, their transfer policy is even more appalling. Big football clubs normally have a multifaceted approach when tackling the transfer window; they find experienced, world-renowned players in areas that need addressing and supplement that with young talent for the future. Chelsea has neglected this common wisdom. Instead, their focus rests on maximizing their profits. To summarize their transfer strategy, Chelsea purchased “the

5

Neymar’s Return to Brazil Davi Soares ‘25

Neymar Jr. is one of the best players of his generation and will go down as a soccer legend. Bursting onto the scene as an 18-year-old, he has gone on to have an illustrious career filled with some of the best moments in recent soccer history. His success speaks for itself: winning Brazil’s first Olympics gold medal, winning the UEFA Champions League, the Copa Del Rey, La Liga with Barcelona, Ligue 1 with PSG, and a myriad of other individual awards.

Recently, however, his spell at Al Hilal has lifted.

He suffered two long-term injuries, with the latest one being an ACL injury, which he has recently come back from. He has only played three times for Al Hilal, proving this transfer to be an utter disaster for both sides. He has looked like a shadow of himself since 2023, and as the injuries have caught up to him, his regression as an athlete has been apparent.

Nonetheless, when Neymar is at his best, there are few players better than him, ever. His ability to control a game from wherever speaks volumes about his skill. Although he has not looked like the best recently, there are still glimpses of his talent that the nation of Brazil simply will never let go of.

Brazilians all around the world will never lose their belief that Neymar will win the World Cup for Brazil.

Neymar has stated on numerous occasions that this upcoming World Cup in 2026 will be his last. His dream is to win the World Cup. To do so, he must choose a team to play for.

next big thing” and amortized their transfer fee over a lengthy contract. Players like Mudryk, Caicedo, and Enzo, who all were bought for exorbitant fees, have been dealt 7+ year contracts to balance the books and follow financial fair play regulations. Over the past four transfer windows, Chelsea has spent over a billion pounds trying to make this plan a reality. The result of this transfer policy is an inflated squad of underperforming prospects tied down for multi-year contracts. Chelsea, despite spending over a billion pounds, lacks the quality to be consistent and compete at the top of the table.

Unless the management changes, Chelsea is bound for failure. Clubs like Sunderland and Derby County once had the same pedigree Neymar Jr. as Chelsea. Now, they lanPhoto Credit: Raul Baretta guish in the lower tiers of English football because of What is this team? None poor management. It is high other than the team he first time that BlueCo takes ac- shone through: Santos FC. tion if they want to prevent It was at Santos where Chelsea FC from becoming he broke all kinds of rea sleeping giant.

cords. It was only last season when Estevao broke Neymar’s record of most goals and assists in one season for a player under 21. He was in the top 10 of the Ballon d'Or while in the Brazilian league, which shows how magnificent he was. In a world of robotic, systematic soccer players, Neymar plays the game with a refreshing touch, his creativity consistently in

Neymar Jr. Photo Credit: Wikipedia

full force.

It has been shared by high-level reporters like Fabrizio Romano that Neymar will return to Santos for Brazil's Serie A. This is no doubt the biggest transfer that will happen in Brazil and one of the most crucial around the world. This move will allow him to play the sport at a regular place and hopefully become once more the Neymar the whole

Neymar Jr.'s comeback to Santos FC Photo Credit: neymar.com

world loves to see.

This deal also leaves him the option to move to Europe in the summer, where he would play in the Champions League against better competition. This is a win-win for both parties, and Brazilians all over the world are rejoicing in the transfer of Neymar to Santos.

Despite his age and recent injuries, he will certainly be the best player on this team. Since he hopes to win his first World Cup for Brazil, this is the perfect move for him. He will operate across the attack, proving why it will be him who will lift up that World Cup trophy alongside his Brazilian teammates, come 2026.

6

Arts & Culture

The Role of Black Women in Shaping the Hip Hop Industry

PlaqueBoyMax: Combining Music and Streaming Into One

Kayla Hill ‘26

Hip-hop and its creation have always been centered around storytelling. The 80s and 90s easily saw some of the best male and female rappers, who used wordplay, repetition, and metaphor to convey a variety of experiences. Before this, the music industry had an extensive history of marginalizing the contributions of women. However, in the early days of the genre, Black female rappers started to gain traction in the realm of hip hop. While they all had distinct variations of style, rhythm, and lyrical content, one thing they had in common was their unapologetic interpretations of the world they lived in. Many believe hip hop’s “golden era” was defined by Black women who were comfortable being the center of controversial discussion.

MC Lyte was the first solo rapper to release her own, full-length album: Lyte As a Rock. Dropping in 1988 when she was 18, the album quickly deemed her a pioneer in the industry.

MC Lyte’s natural flow and refusal to self-censor solidified her title as a legend in the world of hip hop. Songs where this theme is especially prominent include “Ruffneck,” “Paper Thin,” and "Keep On, Keepin’ On.” Another icon of the era was Queen Latifah, born in Newark, New Jersey, who made a name for herself by vocalizing the issues Black women faced daily.

Some of her most popular songs were “Ladies First” and “U.N.I.T.Y.” which discussed domestic violence, street harassment, and the need for women to stand by one another. Queen Latifah’s art helped to redefine the genre, with many citing her as one of the most recognizable figures in music history.

Lauryn Hill is a Black singer, record producer, and actress also credited with breaking the barriers for female rappers in the late 1990s. Known for her solo work and her collaboration with the Fugees, an American hip hop trio, Hill mixed neo-soul sounds with powerful lyrics to dive deep into

the complexities of womanhood, motherhood, and Black femininity. Hits like “Doo Wop (That Thing),” “Everything Is Everything,” and “Ex-Factor” successfully brought women to the forefront of hip hop production, and she remains an irreplaceable voice in the industry even today.

Sister Souljah is another lyrical activist who used music to shed light on topics like abuse, sexism, and racial identity. After Bill Clinton criticized her remarks about race in America in 1992, she gained significant attention. Souljah appeared on several tracks with the group Public Enemy, later releasing her album “360 Degrees of Power.” In 1999 she made her debut as a novelist with “The Coldest Winter Ever”, a book that deals with themes such as drugs, violence, and the cycle of poverty. Through her music, books, and community work, Sister Souljah has continued to use her voice for advocacy.

As of now, Black women are still dominating the rap industry, with many artists finding success seemingly overnight. Women like Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and Flo Milli have emerged as bold forces in music, embodying the same confidence and charisma their predecessors had. In recent months, Doechii has also made a name for herself in the industry, performing “Catfish” and “Denial is a River” for the 2025 Grammy Awards Ceremony. Like her predecessors, her music is characterized by Black femininity, women’s empowerment, and self-confidence. Early figures in the hip-hop industry set the stage for contemporary artists and will forever be recognized as exemplars in the field.

Doechii Photo Credit: Getty Images

When it comes to the world of streaming, there is an instilled blueprint of how to generate a following for whatever path a streamer chooses to go down. Many up-and-coming streamers then are called “clones” and “copycats” of a bigger streamer within their category of content.

This was the same for popular Twitch streamer PlaqueBoyMax, also known as Max. PlaqueBoyMax is a popular Twitch streamer, generating tens of thousands of viewers daily. He first started off as a reaction streamer and was then quickly labeled as a BruceDropEmOff clone. This didn’t bother Max, as he then went on to make more unique content and quickly made a name for himself, removing all comparisons to other streamers.

How did he do it? Music.

PlaqueBoyMax’s streams slowly became more music-based, as he would have small artists come on stream and play a song they had made for the stream, and the viewers would judge it. This would be then known as “Song Wars,” and this was instrumental in the development of his live streams.

He would then join the content organization known as FaZe Clan, a group of people devoted to organic and fun content, each per-

February 2025

Davi Soares ‘25

PlaqueBoyMax Photo Credit: Streamers Visuals

son having their niche.

As time went on, he started to fall into the art of making music himself.

Engineering music on FL Studio was his fortè, as he would occasionally stream with him showing his recent creations live. His style of music was more of the newer style coming out, labeling artists like Yeat and Summrs as some of his inspirations.

One day, while living in Florida, he released a song collaborating with underground rapper Lazer Dim 700. The song, now known as “Laced Max,” was a viral sensation because it was made live on Twitch. This song was blowing up on all media platforms, and it is Lazer Dim’s most popular song to date. This led to him streaming with Trippie Redd, Tana, and many other rappers down the line. Cash Cobain, 41, Swapa, Summrs, and Xaviersobased are just some of the many artists he has collaborated with.

Recently, his song “Pink Dreads” with DDG, a fellow

rapper and streamer, has been a viral hit, earning a placement on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. This song was also at the forefront of hip hop's most popular playlist, known as Rap Caviar, which displays some of the hottest songs out in the world.

His most recent collaboration was with none other than Central Cee, the UK’s most popular artist out right now. While streaming, Central Cee made his song, engineered by Max, on the day of his album release.

PlaqueBoyMax and the artist in question mutually benefit from one another.

Max gets more stream viewers, and the artist gets more exposure to their name. His passion for creating music will never stop, as he has also teased an album of his own, rumored to be called “5forever”, after his community name, known as “5 $TAR”.

PlaqueBoyMax has taken over the music industry with these types of streams, and the demand for artists to take part in his “In The Booth” series is at its alltime high. With this consistency and fresh new content, PlaqueBoyMax could well beat out the biggest streamer on the planet, Kai Cenat, to the Streamer of the Year Award.

The Adventures of Lunar New Year Mrs. You Zhou's Chinese classes passionately explored the Lunar New Year holiday. Students in Chinese classes ranging from Chinese 1 to Honors Chinese 5 visited Rutgers University (RU) during the January 24th school day for an event hosted by the New Jersey Chinese Teachers Association and The Asian Languages and Culture Department of Rutgers University. Our own Ms. Zhou was the main organizer of the event, with the auditorium successfully housing 8 schools and 250 people.

Kelli Chang '25 and Avery Minon '25 served as the day's emcees for the program, introducing performers that displayed ev-

Kelli Chang ‘25

Rutgers Prep at RU Photo Credit: RPS Bulletin

erything from fan TaiChi to traditional instruments like the Zither (古筝). After an exciting finish, students browsed through various cultural stations, such as Chinese paper cutting and chopstick learning, immersing themselves in Chinese culture. Although an RPS bag did go missing, the day ended with students taking

home Tanghulu to eat!

Inside Rutgers Prep, Ms. Zhou's Honors Chinese 5 class also had the chance to present and teach Ms. Aria's second grade Spanish classabout the Lunar New Year.

The second graders learned about various traditions, such as house cleaning to sweep away the previous year's bad luck and the receiving of money through red packets from elders, with the lesson concluding with the lower schoolers' joint effort by crafting a paper dragon with paper and scissors. From dragons to field trips, students truly enriched the Chinese culture inside and out of Rutgers Prep.

February 2025

Opinion

7

Fill Yer Boots to Trudeau’s Demise Opinion Article Written by Jay Chavan ‘26

As if right out of a Shakespearean tragedy, Trudeau’s fall from grace has been a somber watch for liberals and poetic justice for conservatives. The liberal party’s domination in Canadian politics seems all but over. But how did Canada’s progressive dreams end up in such a precarious situation?

The beginning of this tragedy doesn’t begin at Trudeau’s rise to power; it begins at his father’s. Justin Trudeau’s father, Pierre Trudeau, was a trailblazer, but for all the wrong reasons. Up until that point, the prime minister of Canada wielded little autonomy, often following the Royal Monarch’s command. However, Pierre Trudeau strayed from this principle. Amidst an economic crisis, Pierre attempted to socialize Canada’s economy, which ended up as a resounding failure and had the effect of aggravating the economic ruin.

Pierre Trudeau resigned in light of this blunder. What followed was a sweeping

dismantling of the liberal majority in parliament losing over 90 of their seats, a result that would have cataclysmic effects on the party for years to come. It took decades of meticulous planning throughout several administrations to undo Pierre Trudeau’s disastrous plan. But, as people often say: “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

Trudeau's ascension to the Liberal Party corresponded with a rise in progressive sentiment in the Western world. Particular events of note include Obama’s rise to stardom, the budding Black Lives Matter movement, and the prevalence of online activism. To call Trudeau the face of progressivism wouldn’t be untoward. His charisma, rhetoric, and bold proclamations for Canada garnered admiration from liberal leaders across the globe.

Trudeau was voted in as Prime Minister of Canada in 2015, winning a respectable 40% of the popular vote,

an impressive feat considering Canada's multi-party system. Trudeau and the Liberal Party would win the two more elections, each with a successively smaller margin. Now, the party has reached the point where, if they were to go into the election with Trudeau as their headliner, they would almost certainly lose. Why has this become the case?

The rationale behind this slow and steady decline is simple: too much too soon.

Trudeau promised to build Canada into a progressive juggernaut. However, he went about it in the wrong manner, and the result of his miscalculation is a bleak future for liberalism in Canada and a country that is in a state of disarray.

For example, in 2018, the Trudeau administration legalized the sale of cannabis and lax enforcement of harder drugs. The effect: spikes in homelessness and drug-related deaths. The impact of this leniency has been felt most acutely by minorities, specifical-

ly the indigenous people.

The irony of the situation is that, though Trudeau has allocated historic figures for Indigenous reparations, his administration has been responsible for the vast deterioration in health experienced by this demographic.

Another instance where Trudeau’s policy objectives have clashed can be seen in his handling of theCOVID-19 pandemic. In addition to passing a robust relief program to aid those financially affected by the pandemic, Trudeau’s administration insisted on expanding government programs, which was against the common wisdom, claiming that rolling back programs would lead to economic inequality. The direct effect of this heavy spending was Canada’s deficit booming to a record 328 billion dollars in 2020. The long-term effects propagated the very thing Trudeau was planning on preventing: economic inequality. In response to the poor economic state Canada found itself in after the

pandemic, Trudeau openly invited around 500,000 immigrants to stimulate the workforce. The impact was anything but. With the influx of new residents, the housing market became obscenely expensive, making most accommodations unaffordable and furthering economic disparities.

While Trudeau was embroiled in plenty of personal scandals, it was his policies that put the nail in the coffin. Like his father, he flew too close to the sun without checking his wings.

His progressive dream backfired, leaving Canadian citizens in a state of disillusionment. And like his father, he resigned from his post before an impending electoral loss for the Liberal Party. Many renowned figures asserted that Justin Trudeau would leave his mark on Canadian politics.

I can say confidently that he certainly has.

On Presidential Pardons

Opinion Article Written by Andrew Li ‘28 The power of the presidential pardon is too broad in the United States of America.

The president’s ability to pardon an individual comes from the U.S. Constitution, which states that the president has the “Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment” (Constitution of the United States, art. 2, sec. 2). In the case Ex parte Garland, 71 U.S. 333 (1865-67), the Supreme Court ruled that the power of a presidential pardon is essentially unlimited and cannot be challenged by Congress or the courts. The president may completely subvert the law if they wish, and they can free anyone convicted of any federal crime, even murder or terrorism.

The number of ways this power can be abused is nearly endless. For example, a president may pardon members of a violent insurrection against the United States if they are sympathet-

ic to the ideals of the insurrection. An example of this happening is during Andrew Johnson’s presidential term when over twelve thousand former Confederate politicians and military personnel were pardoned. Another example where the president's supporters were pardoned is when Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people who were charged or convicted of participating in the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol, where five people died, and well over a hundred people were injured.

A president may also pardon the previous president. In 1974, President Gerald Ford pardoned Richard Nixon, who resigned after facing impeachment in arguably the worst government scandal in American history: the Watergate Scandal. Ford was Nixon’s vice president, and critics call this pardoning a “corrupt bargain” where Nixon resigned to give Ford the presidency in exchange for immunity from crimes like-

ly committed during Watergate.

The final moments of a presidency are when a president is most likely to make the most unethical pardons.

For example, Bill Clinton pardoned a billionaire convicted of tax evasion and business fraud who had donated heavily to the Democratic Party on the last day of his presidency. Moreover, Joe Biden pardoned his own son in December 2024, despite previously promising not to do so.

The most gut-wrenching and heartbreaking example of unethical pardons comes from Donald Trump’s first term.

On September 16, 2007, four people from the American paramilitary group, Blackwater, murdered fourteen unarmed Iraqi civilians in cold blood, firing on men, women, and children alike with machine guns, grenade launchers, and snipers.

One of the perpetrators was sentenced to life in prison, while the rest were only sentenced to 30 years each.

But in December 2020, Trump pardoned all four of the killers, and all four of them were set free.

A former classmate of one of the victims said of the pardons: “‘Our blood is cheaper than water, and our demands for justice…are merely a nuisance’” (Chulov, 2020).

There are many unanswered legal questions sur-

rounding pardons, such as whether the president can pardon themselves. It is up to the Supreme Court to limit the president’s pardon power as much as possible to ensure that no one, not murderers, not rioters, not even a president, may ever again subvert the law and escape punishment for the crimes they commit.

Former President Biden In His First Presidential Turkey Pardon Photo Credit: Alex Wong | CNN

8

Supplements

February 2025

Sudoku

Raislyn Palmer ‘27 Fill each row, column, and square with the integers 1 through 9 (inclusive) without repeating values.

The 136th Editorial Board of The Argo Chief Editors Renee Bou Mansour ‘25 Jurnee Caldwell ‘26 Kelli Chang ‘25 Jay Chavan ‘26 Clare Maldony ‘25 Associate Editor Raislyn Palmer ‘27 Tech Editor Michael Chang ‘25 Associate Tech Editor Dev Menon ‘27 Faculty Advisors Dr. Morgart Mx. Stewart

Special Thanks to Dr. Loy, Mrs. Bautista-Burk, and Mr. Ladd

Untitled

Photo Credit Willyam Bradberry Shutterstock

Photo Credit Travis Novitsky PBS North

Thomas Lemme ‘26

Published in Excelsior

The instructor said,

Each task rolls in with just another one after another, There is no break in sight.

“Go home and write a page tonight.

And let it come from you—then it will be true.”

However, when night falls, The tide recedes,

Sixteen years on this island of Nantucket,

And I am finally free from the store’s greedy needs.

Where the waves crash after one and another

The sand cools beneath my hot feet

Like my work schedule that never ends.

while I run to the beach where we all meet.

I ride my bike down that same old road

I laugh loud under star-lit skies.

The Argo is the student-run newspaper of Rutgers Preparatory School. The opinions and views expressed within articles are not necessarily representative of the opinions and views held

by The Argo or Rutgers Preparatory School.

All articles and student photos herein are copyright © The Argo 2025.

With rusted gears.

The duck store requests,

It is like I finally wake once the sun dies.

And I deliver.

For these moments that feel like I am not being com-

Twelve hours long in a sunburned trance,

manded by no greed,

And sweat in my cloth employee shirt.

Instead I am in control of my own decisions.

Interested in submitting an article, taking pictures, or drawing graphics? Have a complaint or concern?

Notice an inaccurate fact or statement?

The ocean is rough, like my daily grind.

The ocean’s roar is always near,

Its waves pull me back with no peace to find.

Which is an aggravating reminder that morning will soon

Reach us at theargo@rutgersprep.org.

Where I fold shirts, shake hands,

reappear.

I stand there and take hit after hit,

Another day, another wave to the face,

An unbroken wave crashes over me with an endless force

Where I am back to the grind and stuck in place.

of tasks to make myself rethink why I

Does the water win?

went into these waters. The same wave never quits during

Do I sink or swim again?

the long shifts at work.

Volume CXXXVI Issue No. 3 View the Print Issue at Rutgers Preparatory School