The Argo - January 2025 Issue

The Argo Volume CXXXVI

Issue No. 2

January 2025

www.issuu.com/rutgersprep

Rutgers Prep Rises Against Hunger On Wednesday, November 20th, 2024, all classes at Rutgers Preparatory School were suspended.

However, hundreds of students still showed up at eight in the morning with a common goal in mind: to aid hungry families around the world.

With the help of the organization RISE Against Hunger, both students and teachers from the Upper, Middle, and Lower School were able to achieve this task by packaging meals for families in need. But this isn’t the first time that Rutgers Prep has taken part in this volunteering event. In fact, it is the most recent occurrence of a tradition spanning seven years. But to understand what makes this event so special, it’s important to first understand the history of the group behind it.

RISE Against Hunger is a non-profit organization with the mission to “end hunger” across the globe. Stationed in Raleigh, North Carolina, RISE was founded

Jurnee Caldwell ‘26

Head of School Dr. Loy at the Community Service Event | Photo Credit: RPS News

in 1998 by a man named Ray Buchanan under the name Stop Hunger Now, before changing to its current name in 2017. Even from its inception, RISE’s goal to positively impact people around the world has never changed. Since then, they have grown to 28 locations across the United States and six locations internationally, allowing them to make over 539 million meals that were distributed to 78 different countries. RISE’s work has benefited malnourished people in countries such as Haiti, India, and the Philippines by “empower-

ing [their] communities, nourishing lives, and responding to emergencies,” according to RISE staff member Hannah Payne. But the organization itself admits that they couldn’t have reached their tremendous goals without the help of their volunteers, which includes those at Rutgers Prep.

With the knowledge of RISE’s history, it’s easy to understand why Rutgers Prep continues to partner with them. There are many similarities between both Rutgers Prep and RISE’s emphasis on the importance of community building. Both have

a heavy focus on giving people the tools to create a better future for themselves and others. When RISE Against Hunger came to Rutgers Prep yet again, these parallels soon became evident. The day of the event yielded an incredible amount of support. The lower gym was filled with students in gloves and hairnets, all either packing, sealing, or boxing up bags containing rice, soy, vegetables, and vitamins.

These components became meals for hungry families and undoubtedly make a huge difference in their lives. In just two hours, the volunteers were able to make an astounding 55,080 meals for families who really need them. This year’s RISE Against Hunger event, like the others, showed the strength that the Rutgers Prep community holds and the immense influence it has when it works together.

RPS Boys’ Basketball Season Returns: Yearning for More The Rutgers Preparatory School boys’ basketball team returns every December for dozens of regular season games and tournament action. After winning the Somerset County Championship last season, the squad hopes to improve upon its 20-win season. Under the guidance of Coach Bloom, the team has been building a sense of unity and commitment that they hope will lead to a successful season. With a challenging schedule this year, it will be evident whether the relatively young core will be able to improve upon their first run together last season.

During the 2024-2025 season, Marist commit Myles Parker ‘25 leads the team as the senior captain, supported by a driven group of underclassmen with ambitions of winning. Among them are Jacob Canton ‘27 and Andrew Kretkowski ‘27 — two incredibly athletic and skilled sophomores who hold the keys to the future of Rutgers Preparatory School basketball. According to @njathletics on Instagram, as of

Michael Chang ‘25 and Davi Soares ‘25

With the elite shot-making abilities of everyone on the team, the Rutgers Preparatory School boys’ basketball team is most dominant when they are sharing the ball and energetically defending their opponents.

The six players introduced in the previous paragraph make up the core of the team. Additionally, players like Donovan Piggee ‘25, William Brunson ‘28, and Julian Ceberio ‘28 also bring tremendous energy to the team and have shown Myles Parker ‘25 significant improvement in recent Photo Credit: Bikram Bhagat ‘26 December 11th, Jacob Canton ‘27 is months. With a skilled, ambitious, one of the 25-best sophomore boys’ and connected group of players, the basketball players in New Jersey, Rutgers Preparatory School boys’ and the Rutgers Preparatory School boys’ basketball team is projected to be sixth in the state. For these high expectations to become reality, the entire team must be willing to put in the effort to win. Fortunately, the team has disciplined defenders such as Nick Nsenkyire ‘26, Rocco Loomis ‘27, and Logan Franz ‘26 to Rocco Loomis ‘27 and Coach Bloom support the aforementioned players.

Photo Credit: Justin Storipan ‘26

Jacob Canton ‘27 Photo Credit: Aidan Rico ‘27

basketball team will be a formidable opponent for every team on their schedule.

As the season unfolds and the team continues to build their chemistry by competing together, they will learn many lessons about effort, victory, struggle, sportsmanship, perseverance, and collaboration.

Basketball season is a time to reflect on the past, gain wisdom from it, and act upon our realizations to improve our futures.

Please visit the following link to find the team’s schedule and cheer on the boys: tinyurl.com/4pjdhrmk.

Good luck to everyone this basketball season!

Highlights of Issue II Speech and Debate Club (pg. 2)

Liver Cells and Proteins (pg. 4)

Estevan Willian (pg. 5)

CONGLOMERATE (pg. 5)

News

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January 2025

Speech and Debate Club Becomes a Unified Team This year, the Rutgers Prep Speech and Debate Club has become a strong and united team, thanks to the leadership of Michael Chang ‘25 and Avni Yedlarajaiah ‘26. Under their guidance, the club has grown from a group of individual competitors into a team that works together to achieve a common goal.

The leadership provided in the Speech and Debate club has helped the club’s participants become more confident, organized, and prepared by providing support to each student when needed.

The year started with open leadership positions for interested students, including secretary, treasurer, journalist, and publicist.

Each participant wrote a speech, and their peers voted on who would fill each position. This process allowed everyone to be in-

volved right from the start, making it feel like a true team effort.

To help the team prepare, the club holds two weekly meetings, one on Monday and another on Friday. At each meeting, something new is introduced, whether it is practicing speeches, researching arguments, working on rebuttals, or participating in mock debates. Michael, Avni, and other mentors are always there to provide guidance, making sure each member has the tools they need in order to improve.

One of the most exciting parts of the year has been learning about the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA) public forum debate resolution, which is essentially the topic or issue that is to be debated. For November and December, the resolution was, “The United States should substantially

Zara Nagabhushana ‘28

Suchir Bathini ‘26 and Guntas Dhanjal ‘26 at the Summit Hilltopper Holiday Classic Debate Tournament Photo Credit: Avni Yelarajaiah ‘26

reduce its military support of Taiwan.” The members of the team worked together to think about both sides of this topic, considering arguments for and against the resolution. They debated the issue from different perspectives, helping each person think critically about global politics and foreign policy.

The Speech and Debate Club is always welcoming new members, and no prior experience is needed. If you’re willing to learn and work hard, you’re encouraged to join. The mentors in the club are always there to help, answer questions, and guide new members as they grow in their skills.

Thanks to Michael and

Avni, the Speech and Debate Club has become a place where students come together, support each other, and grow as speakers and debaters. It’s an exciting time for the team, and they’re looking forward to even more success as they continue to work together toward their goals.

Welcoming New Faculty: Fresh Faces, New Ideas, and Exciting Beginnings Yunjin Choi ‘28, Sophia Lai ‘28, and Zara Nagabhushana ‘28

Rutgers Preparatory School is excited to welcome five new faculty members to their community for the 2024-2025 school year.

We had the opportunity to sit down with three of them – Ms. Abrams, Mr. Deaver, and Mr. Baron – to learn about their experiences and passions they are excited to bring to Rutgers Prep.

Ms. Abrams shared tips for staying on track with the college process, Mr. Deaver discussed his role in supporting students’ well-being, and Mr. Baron shared his journey and purpose for becoming a teacher. Here’s a closer look at their stories and the meaningful contributions they’re bringing to this year!

Meet Ms. Abrams, the Senior Associate Director of College Counseling. With a unique career journey and a deep passion for helping

Ms. Abrams Photo Credit: Meet Our Faculty

students, Ms. Abrams is already making a difference.

Ms. Abrams was previously a fashion designer but always dreamed of becoming a counselor and is now both a certified school and college counselor. Outside of work, Ms. Abrams enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and playing ice hockey – something she’s been passionate about since playing in college and now continuing on a recreational team. She shared that her own challenging experience with an unhelpful counselor in high school inspired her to pursue this role as her second career. Her job focuses on supporting juniors and seniors through every step of the college process, from finding their interests to creating a list of top schools, working on applications, and managing essays. When asked about her favorite thing about Rutgers Prep, she said she loves the diverse community and how kind everyone is. She encourages her students to “not do things last minute” and reminds them that colleges are looking for students who are passionate about something. She advises students to “do what you love and stay true to your-

self.”

Additionally, Mr. Deaver joins the community as a student counselor, bringing a deep passion for helping students navigate life’s challenges. After exploring various career paths like sales and bartending, Mr. Deaver discovered his calling after taking a psychology class in college.

Before coming to Rutgers Prep, he started working in acute mental health settings, where he supported individuals facing mental health issues. Now at Rutgers Prep, he provides a compassionate ear, especially for ninth graders adjusting to high school. Outside of work, Mr. Deaver enjoys traveling to places like the Caribbean and Las Vegas and exploring new restaurants. He enjoys the supportive community of Rutgers Prep and describes it as a place where

Mr. Deaver Photo Credit: Meet Our Faculty

everyone truly cares about each other. He strives to inspire students to embrace personal growth, reminding them that even the hardest challenges can lead to transformative “aha” moments.

From his own personal experiences, he believes that you should embrace the “hard thing”. For example, if you are stuck in something you do not like, change it. Take the first steps to becoming whoever you want to be. The years will pass whether you want them to or not, you might as well spend them doing something you like.

Rutgers Prep welcomes Mr. Baron, one of the newest teachers to the Math Department. He graduated from SUNY College at New Paltz and Grand Canyon University and started his teaching career by teaching chemistry and physics before switching to geometry.

Mr. Baron remembers what it was like to struggle with school, and he uses that experience to help his students when they don’t understand a topic. He knows how important it is to be patient and explains things in different ways so everyone can understand. Mr. Baron loves seeing students’ at-

titudes change when they finally “get it” — it makes him feel proud and happy as a teacher. The first time he felt accomplished was when he got his first full-time teaching job and realized that teaching was his passion. Now, he encourages his students to follow their passions and do what makes them happy, just like he did.

These exceptional new additions to the faculty make the future at Rutgers Prep brighter than ever.

With Ms. Abrams in the college counseling department, Mr. Deaver in the student counseling department, and Mr. Baron in the math department, there is no doubt that Rutgers Prep will continue to thrive with excellence. As the rest of the year continues, their stories remind us to follow our passions, embrace challenges, and stay true to ourselves.

Mr. Baron Photo: Meet Our Faculty

January 2025

News

Deny, Defend, Depose: Reactions to the UnitedHealthcare CEO Shooting

Kayla Hill ‘26

On December 4th, 2024, Brian Thompson, CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was fatally shot in a targeted attack outside of a Manhattan hotel. Thompson was on his way to attend the company’s investor conference when the gunman, wielding a pistol with a silencer on it, shot him in the back. After reviewing a surveillance video, officials quickly determined the attack to be premeditated and preplanned, offering a reward of up to $50,000 for any useful information that could lead to an arrest. The 26-year-old Luigi Mangione has recently been identified as the lead suspect. Authorities found bullet casings at the scene of the crime with the words “Deny, Defend, Depose” etched into them, likely referencing the common phrase health insurance critics use called the three Ds. Once a claim is submitted, health insurers delay in responding, deny the claim, and finally defend their denial in court if necessary.

As the largest private insurance provider in America, UnitedHealthcare’s success and ethical behavior have been cast under a bright spotlight. In 2023, UnitedHealthcare denied about one in every three claims it received, which is double the industry’s denial rate average of 16%. UnitedHealth Group, the parent company of UnitedHealthcare, has quadrupled their profits from 2010 to now. A good portion of this profit derives from its expansion of operations by buying up

competitors and integrating its services to control a larger part of the healthcare market. The company is currently facing a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawsuit for allegedly violating antitrust laws in its latest attempted acquisition. Before his death, Brian Thompson was under investigation for insider trading, having dumped around $15 million dollars worth of stock before the antitrust investigation was publicly revealed. Under his leadership, a November 2023 lawsuit accused UnitedHealthcare of using an AI program to algorithmically deny coverage to elderly patients on a Medicare Advantage plan. Allegedly, the company used the program despite being aware of its 90% error rate, knowing that its results would go largely unchallenged.

As a result of the allegations against the company and its CEO, Thompson's murder has notably drawn mixed reactions online.

Some shared posts detailed heartbreaking stories on how these coverage denials affected them and their loved ones. On discussion forums and social media platforms, Thompson’s death was largely met with a combination of indifference and jubilance from the American public. One Facebook post announcing Thompson’s death received nearly 77,000 laughing emojis before being taken down. Many commenters stated things like “thoughts and deductibles to the fam-

3

The Menendez Brothers’ Chance for Freedom Alina Zhu ‘27 and Zoe Xu ‘27

UnitedHealthcare Logo Photo Credit: Digestive Health Specialists, P.A.

ily” and “unfortunately, my condolences are outof-network.” The internet was flooded with taunts of the CEO’s murder, leading some to react in shock to the dehumanizing statements.

Theses reponses are ironically imitating the lack of compassion they have experienced from the companies they’ve asked for financial help from. This lack of sympathy is indicative of the frustration many Americans hold toward an industry they view as profit-driven, inaccessible, and corrupt. Former Washington Post reporter Taylor Lorenz stated, “People have very justified hatred toward insurance company CEOs because these executives are responsible for an unfathomable amount of death and suffering.” She, as well as most Americans, hope this tragedy will help to change the healthcare insurance system and hold those in power accountable.

Brian Thompson’s death is undoubtedly devastating, as he was a father, husband, and colleague whose life ended in senseless murder. His murder serves as a reflection of the public’s growing disillusionment with industries that prioritize money over human well-being.

UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson Photo Credit: Yahoo!News

On August 20, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez barged into their Beverly Hills home and, with shotguns, killed their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez.

A few months later, they were arrested on first-degree murder charges, with prosecutors arguing that the murders were premeditated in order to inherit the parents’ wealth. However, the brothers pleaded innocent, claiming to have suffered years of sexual abuse at the hands of their father, arguing self-defense. The first trial resulted in a hung jury, however, the retrial judge dismissed much of the abuse evidence, handing the brothers life sentences without parole. But now, over 35 years after the shooting, new revelations, testimonies, evidence, and petitions may allow the Menendez brothers to join their families in the world once more.

Recently, the 2024 popular releases of the Netflix drama series Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and The Menendez Brothers documentary have exposed newer generations to the case and garnered the attention of many. While Monsters contains inconsistencies and dramatized scenes, it has nonetheless attracted public sympathy, with fans, friends, and family of the brothers calling for their release.

After spending most of their lives in prison, the brothers filed a petition in 2023 for a review of new evidence, which included the rape allegations of former boy band member Roy Rosello against Jose Menendez, and the recently recovered letter Erik wrote to a cousin eight months before the killings, writing about the abuse he was experiencing. Exiting LA District Attorney (DA) George Gascon also aimed to recommend

the brothers for the removal of the possibility of no parole, the DA’s office citing the rehabilitation work the brothers underwent for themselves, as well as the positive and helpful interactions with other prisoners.

Lyle Menendez was elected as his fellow inmates’ representative for the prison administration and continued his passion for mathematics regardless of the fact that he had no chance of parole at that time.

With the new evidence of the rape allegations and the letter, the DA’s office stated that resentencing will be taken into consideration after a thorough investigation of many aspects, including PTSD and abuse the brothers suffered that may have motivated them to commit murder. The newly elected DA, Nathan Hochman, was skeptical about the reasons behind resentencing the Menendez brothers that Gascon supported. He doubted that it was because of the public’s voices and the new generation’s view on the case based on the Netflix series, suggesting instead that it was a political move. With this ongoing debate and the election of the new DA, there are three possible ways for the Menendez brothers to be released. One path is to let the brothers be sentenced for murder and imprisoned for 50 years to life, which would enable them for parole. The second way is to request clemency which allows them to reduce their sentence or be freed. The third option is to use the writ of habeas corpus petition, one filed to contest the legality of the specific imprisonment.

Regardless of how the brothers’ fate pans out, one thing that is for certain is that the public will be watching with rapt attention.

The Menendez Brothers Photo Credit: Justin Lubin | NBC

STEM

4 New Research Suggests Cell Aging in the Liver can Lead to Multi-Organ Failure Suhani Jerath ‘25

The liver has many essential functions that enable the body to work properly. Such functions include processing blood, regulating blood sugar levels, balancing and creating nutrients, metabolizing drugs and toxins, and attacking infections. However, liver damage can be caused by disease, aging, alcohol consumption, and many other factors. This damage has recently been shown by Professor Rajiv Jalan at the University College London (UCL) to spread to other organs, eventually leading to multi-organ failure.

When there is damage to liver cells, it can activate a process called cell senescence (deterioration resulting from age), which results in impaired function. This process is also associated with aging, and is easily transmitted to other healthy organs via a pathway involving the protein TGFβ, which

Human Liver Photo Credit: Patricia Silva

is linked to the immune system. Liver cell senescence is often caused by aging and illness, and is followed by severe liver disease.

When liver disease occurs, it might result in liver failure, and eventually can lead to multi-organ failure due to the spreading of senes-

University College London Photo Credit: UCL

cence. Additionally, there is no test that can determine how fast liver failure will progress, which prevents an understanding of which patients are at higher risk of multi-organ failure. Liver cell senescence that is present early in liver damage is associated with a higher risk of multi-organ failure.

In a 2024 study conducted on mice by UCL, the University of Edinburgh, and the Cancer Research UK Scotland Institute, researchers began to observe failure in mouse organs – such as the liver, kidneys, lungs, and brain – after a certain amount of liver cells were damaged and liver disease had occurred. These findings suggest a high correlation between liver damage and failure in multiple organs.

As of now, there is one possible solution to this concern that researchers are currently investigating.

They have found that if the pathway that involves TGFβ can be blocked, it could possibly prevent liver cell senescence from spreading to other organs, thus preventing multi-organ failure.

This treatment can possibly be used on patients with severe liver damage or injury.

Structure of theTGFβ Protein Photo Credit: Emw | Creative Commons

January 2025

The Nobel Prize Winners of 2024 Alefiyah Danish ‘27

Each year, the Nobel Prize is awarded to outstanding individuals whose groundbreaking work has changed our understanding of the world. The 2024 Nobel Prize winners were recently announced, highlighting major achievements in fields like physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. These awards not only recognize excellence but also inspire future generations to innovate and make progress.

The Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to John J. Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton for their pioneering work in machine learning. Hopfield developed a network model for storing and retrieving information, while Hinton invented backpropagation, enabling neural networks to automatically learn from data. Their contributions have laid the foundation for today’s powerful AI systems.

Nuclear Bomb Explosion Photo Credit: Reuters

Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their discovery of microRNAs, tiny RNA molecules crucial for gene regulation. Their work in Caenorhabditis elegans, a species of microscopic roundworm, revealed a new mechanism of gene control essential for the development of multicellular organisms, including humans.

This breakthrough has advanced our understanding

Artificial Neural Network Photo Credit: Andrii Shyp | ISTOCK

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to David Baker, Demis Hassabis, and John Jumper for their breakthroughs in protein science. Baker designed new types of proteins, while Hassabis and Jumper developed an AI model to predict protein structures, solving the 50-year-old protein folding problem — predicting a protein’s three-dimensional structure from its amino acid sequence. Their work holds vast potential for biotechnology and medicine.

The Nobel Prize in

of genetics and holds promise for treating various diseases.

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Nihon Hidankyo, a group of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for their efforts to create a nuclear-free world. Through powerful testimonies delivered at international forums, such as the United Nations and various peace conferences, the group has played a key role in establishing a global nuclear taboo, highlighting the need to prevent

further use of nuclear weapons. Over the years, Nihon Hidankyo has shared their harrowing personal experiences, advocated for nuclear disarmament, and helped to raise awareness about the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare, contributing significantly to global peace efforts.

The Nobel Prize in Literature was awarded to South Korean author Han Kang for her intensely poetic prose that grapples with historical trauma and the fragility of human life. A significant contribution to her win is her novel The Vegetarian, which explores the psychological and physical transformations of a woman who chooses to stop eating meat, diving into themes of repression, desire, and the complexities of the human condition. Through her experimental style, Han Kang examines the connections between body and soul, the living and the dead, making her a distinctive voice in contemporary literature.

The Nobel Prizes celebrate human achievement by recognizing the transformative power of innovation and advocacy, with this year’s winners exemplifying how dedication to knowledge and a commitment to serving humanity can make the world a better place.

Nobel Prize Photo Credit: Alexander Mahmoud | Nobel Media

January 2025

Sports and Arts & Culture

Estevao Willian: Brazil’s New Golden Boy Davi Soares ‘25

Brazilian soccer has had many wunderkinds, young players with absurd amounts of potential, capable of becoming the best players in the world. Despite the rise of players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, and Endrick, Brazil had its worst year in a while. Following a disappointing five-win year and approaching the retirement of their star player Neymar, Brazil needs that next gem to advance its team.

In comes Estêvão Willian, a 16-year-old player from the team Palmeiras who is being called “The Next Neymar.” Being compared to Neymar already is huge praise for the 16-yearold. For context, at 19, Neymar was hailed as one of the best players in the world at Santos and backed this by winning the Puskas Goal of the Year award, finishing tenth in the Ballon d’Or rankings. To be given that title, one must be as good,

Soccer in Brazil Photo Credit: Trafalgar Tours

or even better, than Neymar when he was a teen, and Estêvão has proved himself to be worthy of that title. In the 2024 season of Brazil’s Serie A, Estêvão has scored 12 goals and assisted nine times in only 28 games. These are record-breaking numbers, eclipsing Neymar’s season of 16 goal contributions in 33 games, earning Estêvão the record of the most goal contributions of any teenager in the Brazilian top flight.

His style of play is eerily similar to Neymar’s as well, as both were the focal point of Palmeiras, the current top team in the division.

With his mesmerizing skills and his natural goal scoring ability, the next Neymar is upon us.

Next year, he will be at Chelsea, a top English team. With time to develop in Brazil, there is no reason for Brazilians not to believe that Estêvão can become the greatest in the world. With the 2026 World Cup approaching, there is no doubt that Estêvão will be a key player for Brazil, and there is no better time to display the potential and the ability than at the biggest stage in all of soccer.

Estêvão Willian Photo Credit: Wikipedia

The Ballon d’Or Controversy of 2024 Davi Soares ‘25

In the world of soccer, the most prestigious award is the Ballon d’Or. The Ballon d’Or is an award given to the best player in all of soccer for that season. Players like Neymar Junior, Thierry Henry, Robert Lewandowski, and many other greats of the sport have never won a Ballon d’Or, proving how hard it is to win one.

This year, the winner was leaked around June, naming a player known as Vinicius Junior. Vinicius Junior had a remarkable campaign for Real Madrid, as he was the focal point in the team, leading them to the Treble, winning La Liga, the Supercopa de Espana, and the UEFA Champions League. In the Champions League specifically, he was easily the best player in the competition, scoring and assisting at key points in the competition. He scored in the final as well, proving his worth to the Real Madrid team.

However, on the day of the award ceremony, it was revealed that Vinicius Junior had not traveled to the

event, and that he was told that he would not be the recipient of the 2024 Ballon d’Or. That award would go to Rodrigo Cascante, known as Rodri, a Spanish midfielder who plays for Manchester City.

While Rodri is a magnificent player who has the ability to win the Ballon d’Or, his performances in the Champions League were lackluster, sparking controversy after he won the Player of the Tournament at the Euros. Many people believe that the award should have rightfully been awarded to Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who had an extraordinary campaign, being the youngest player to score for Spain in the Euros. Yamal’s flair and technical ability made him a target on the field, but yet he still prevailed. In the Euros final, Rodri was subbed out at half time due to injury, thus leading Spain to technically win without his presence.

In the end, Rodri won, leaving Vinicius Junior upset. He posted “Eu farei 10x se for preciso. Eles nao

The Ballon d’Or Photo Credit: Otto | Oliver Sports

estao preparados.” This translates to, “I will do it 10 times if I have to. They are not ready.” Even though he was personally told that he would be the winner of this award, this comment came with backlash. People called him a crybaby and sore loser.

The controversy in this year’s Ballon d’Or was polarizing to soccer fans around the world. The lack of respect to Vinicius was shown on full display, and the Brazilian soccer world specifically made their complaints heard.

In many eyes, Vinicius Junior was robbed of this award, and they have a great argument. Despite that, there is nothing Vinicius can do to change this result.

DS CONGLOMERATE England’s New Wave Davi Soares ‘25

Hip-hop is a genre of music that is always changing. From original boom bap beats to straight hyper pop, there is always a new sound and a new wave.

More recently, there has been a major shift in trap music, with artists such as Future and Playboi Carti forging this new path. In recent years, artists like Ken Carson, Yeat, and others have mastered this sound, and taken over the scene with their infectious vocals and beat selection.

Based in the UK, Lancey Foux has been around for some time, working with Skepta, Lil Yachty, and Kanye West. Due to his popularity in the UK, his music’s influence has been very apparent in the UK underground music scene.

unknown, and unpredictable vibe to his songs. Len, on the other hand, makes music that is frequently played in the club. His beat selection has a specific groove to it, making the listening experience feel smooth. These two artists have both worked on songs together, featuring each other on their projects.

Lancey, Fimiguerrero, and

Len Photo Credit: Robin Murry

Len came together to drop the album CONGLOMERATE. This album took all of their individual sounds and blended them into one, taking the UK mainstream audience by storm. Whether the tracks were upbeat like “Spanish Guitar,” unapologetically sinister like “Osbatt,” or even calm like “Silhouette,” this album is a Lancey Foux perfect culmination of their Photo Credit: FUSION sounds.

Something Lancey is CONGLOMERATE best known for is using his platform to draw attention to new artists, whether that be through a co-sign through social media or working with them on some music, like giving a feature.

CONGLOMERATE Album Cover This is similar to his own Photo Credit: Apple entrance to the scene, as Skepta gave Lancey a plat- went number 1 in the UK form and helped him create Hip-hop charts, proving to his own sound as a young be a success. This album artist in the UK. opens floodgates onto the hip-hop music scene, which has never been as active as today. As Lancey Foux has been very mysterious about his plans, everyone is waiting for his next move. His snippet of “ENTER THE DRAGON” has made the song highly anticipated, and Fimiguerrero will be one of the next hot Photo Credit: La Boule Noire tracks out.

Two artists that This album is genre have seemingly caught breaking. It will pave the Lancey Foux’s atten- way for not only the UK, but tion are Fimiguerrero for the entire hip-hop world. and Len. Fimiguerrero With other underground artis a rapper who specialises ists like Teebo and YT makin dark trap aesthetic, with ing names for themselves, bangers like “Vogue” and there’s no telling what the “Dark Knight.” His flows world of hip-hop will sound and bars are delivered sin- like in the coming months. isterly, providing a dark and

6

Arts & Culture and Opinion

The Comedy of Hamlet (A Prequel) - A Hilarious Twist on a Classic Play Alefiyah Danish ‘27

One of the many traditions at Rutgers Prep is the fall play. This school year’s fall play, The Comedy of Hamlet (A Prequel), written

by Reed Martin and Austin Tichenor, was a fun mix of Shakespearean drama and modern humor. The creative production took the famous tragedy of Hamlet and transformed it into a comedy, telling the story of what happened before the events of the original play in an entertaining way.

The play was filled with funny lines, physical comedy, and clever references to Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Instead of focusing on the dark themes of the royal court, The Comedy of Hamlet (A Prequel) took a more lighthearted approach. The cast consisted of Nate Lawton ‘26 as Hamlet, Alefiyah Danish ‘27 as Ophelia, Jay Chavan ‘26 as Yorick, Shaunak Bose ‘26 as Polonius, Clement LaCroix ‘26 as the King, and Nicole Cheteyan-Kane ‘25 as Lilith. These actors brought the familiar characters from Denmark’s royal family to life in a fresh way, showing off their quirks and personalities with humor.

January 2025

Wicked

Before Dorothy started her journey to the Emerald City with some friends she found along the way, there was a story about female friendship and government corruption. Elphaba, known as the Wicked Witch of the West, was born with green skin, causing her to be the target of bullying. Glinda, known as the Good Witch of the North, with her blonde hair and bright personality, had always been viewed in a positive light by others.

When they were teenagers, they both attended Shiz University, where they were paired as roommates. Initially, they did not get along, but after some time they became best friends. They found many similarities in each other, but their shared feelings of loneliness were what ultimately connected them. Even though Glinda was popular, she did not feel a real connection to anyone, and since Elphaba looked different, no one wanted to be friends with her. These

Julia Urioste ‘26

Broadway and film adaptations are musicals, there are many differences in their respective story lines. For example, the movie shows a flashback of Elphaba's childhood, while in the play her childhood is only referenced and a brief scene from when she was born is shown. Showing her childhood in the movie gives the viewer a deeper understanding of Elphaba as a person.

Additionally, in the film, we learn why the yellow brick road is yellow, something that is not revealed in the Broadway adaptation. A similarity between them is that both storylines explore the preconceived notions of good and evil and challenge the viewers' expectations in an entertaining form.

With differences in both Wicked adaptations and two new original songs already confirmed for the next film, viewers do not know what to expect when the sequel comes to theaters in late 2025.

Polonius offers absurd advice to his children, turning his speeches into ridiculous metaphors. While a glorious magician performance from Yoric, while Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” solilWicked oquy becomes a comedic Photo Credit: Universal debate over which breakfast Courtesy Everett Collection meal he should eat. Ophare the stories of the two elia's awkward attempts at main characters of Wicked. romance with Hamlet also In the plot of Wicked, provide plenty of laughs.

Elphaba is born with powThe production was enjoyers and gets the opportunity able for both fans of Shaketo meet the Wizard in the speare’s original work and Emerald City. Glinda tags those who were new to the along with Elphaba, hopstory. ing for some benefits from The play was orgameeting the Wizard, but nized by the amazing tech this would result in an uncrew which included stage expected test of their friendmanager Leela Menon ‘25, ship. First published as a assistant stage manager Rabook in 1995, Wicked made chel Cohen ‘25, student tech its broadway debut on Ocdirector Zachary Evans ‘26, tober 8th, 2003. More than Neil Mistry ‘26, Victoria Gu 20 years later, on November ‘27, and Katherine McNich3rd, 2024, Wicked was reol ‘26. The costumes mixed leased as a film to theaters. historical Shakespearean Although both the style with funny, creative touches. The actors’ lively performances made sure the audience had a night full of laughter, surprises, and unOpinion Article Written by Davi Soares '25 expected moments.

Whether you were a The Grammys have re- comes next. and Metro Boomin. This Shakespeare fan or just leased their nominations for Both The Auditorium, collaborative production is looking for a fun night out, the Best Rap Album of the Vol. 1 and Alligator Bites a gift to the hip hop world, The Comedy of Hamlet (A year, and there has been a Never Heal by Doechii are the best produced songs belot of conversation regard- introspective albums with ing “Ain’t No Love” and ing the nominations. The amazing lyrics that can res- “Claustrophobic.” The feanominations were the fol- onate with many. Doechii tures provide such charisma lowing: Might Delete Later also breaks the boundaries and energy to the project,

by J. Cole, The Auditorium, of rap music with her me- with Playboi Carti, TraVol. 1 by Common and Pete lodic sound. vis Scott, and Rick Ross Rock, Alligator Bites NevEminem returns with all delivering some of the er Heal by Doechii, The The Death Of Slim Shady best verses of the year. The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup (Coup De Grace), and this standout track “Like That” De Grâce) by Eminem, and album was certainly better shook the rap scene, as the WE DON’T TRUST YOU than what he was putting world was shocked to hear

by Future & Metro Boom- out before. He goes back to Kendrick Lamar on a Metro in. These five albums are all his boom bap style, but also Boomin beat with Future, amazing, each of them hav- tries new sounds with artists but it did not disappoint. ing their respective niches like Babytron and JID. His Throwing shots at Drake, and sound. persistence to continuously J. Cole, and just about evMight Delete Later by release new music is inspir- eryone in the rap game over J. Cole was an unexpected ing, and this is certainly a the most ruthless 808’s, it drop, being announced the comeback album. is not hard to see why this Alefiyah Danish ‘27 and Nathaniel Lawton ‘26 day it was released. This alHowever, there has to album as a whole was the Photo Credit: bum by J. Cole is his usual be a winner, and all signs most popular, and will win RPS News style, featuring clever lyrics are pointing to WE DON’T the Grammy for the best rap The story, set before Prequel) was a great expe- and rhyme schemes as well TRUST YOU, by Future album of the year.

Hamlet, imagines the lighter rience. Many who attended as subtle double entendres. moments in the characters' left with smiles on their fac- With features ranging from lives. One scene humorous- es, having enjoyed this fun- Ab-Soul to Gucci Mane to ly reinterprets the famous ny twist on one of the most Central Cee, the variety of graveyard scene, with Ham- famous plays in history. guests ensure the listener is let joking about Yorick's always surprised by what Future and Metro Boomin skull being a former jester.

Grammys Best Rap Album Of The Year Award

Photo Credit: Future | YouTube

January 2025

Opinion

7

Fast Fashion

Opinion Article Written by Julia Urioste ‘26 In the fashion industry there are always fast moving trends going all the way back to the early 1900’s. While each trend may look different, many trends have found their way back into people’s closets.

From low waisted jeans to Adidas Sambas, there is always something new. Some trends stick and some fade, but when one fades another trend arises quickly. A trend is usually started when a new style or product is introduced and gains popularity through social media or celebrity endorsement which

exposes a mass amount of people to the product. When the product becomes popular, other stores may try to emulate the trend by selling a similar product, usually at a lower price. This practice of mass-producing trending clothing sold at low prices is known as fast fashion.

Brands including Brandy Melville, Hollister, Shein, and Zara are all examples of Global Sustainability fast fashion. Although these Photo Credit: Professor Simon Richter stores keep up with the University of Pennsylvania trends, they are doing more harm than good. Fast fash- that contribute to global ion clothing manufacturers warming, create massive generate carbon emissions amounts of waste, exploit people for labor, and, when outsourcing their manufacturing, eliminate jobs in the U.S. In order to stop these negative effects of fast fashion, it is important to buy from sustainable clothing stores like Levis, Patagonia, Pact, and Boyish. These brands are sustainable be-

Landfill caused by Fast Fashion Photo Credit: Richardson Bay Audobon Center

Popular Clothing Brands Photo Credit: Thrift Vintage Fashion

cause the workers are not working in harsh conditions, much of the clothing is biodegradable, and the clothing has more longevity.

Fast fashion brands produce clothing that often tears easily and is not biodegradable.

The downside of purchasing from more sustainable and ethical clothing brands is that the prices may be higher than fast fashions brands clothing. However, reducing the amount you are buying from fast fashion brands will help the environment and working conditions for

many people. Another solution is to go thrift shopping.

Thrifting has become popular and much more can be bought at these stores for cheaper prices.

Social media has made many of these fast fashion brands more popular, and wearing these clothes has become a way of “fitting in.” In the long term, stores like Hollister, Pacsun, and Brandy Melville will be environmentally unreliable, so it is best to practice sustainable fashion now.

False Positives and Real Consequences Opinion Article Written by Kayla Hill ‘26

Artificial intelligence has reshaped the education landscape in a variety of ways. In classrooms all across the country, teachers have continuously relied on AI detectors to catch students who use on it to complete assignments. While these tools are intended to preserve academic integrity, their underlying consequences have started to foster a culture of fear and suspicion among students.

Instead of experimenting with new language or incorporating creative ideas, most students write with one overriding concern: false positives.

But how exactly do AI detectors work? They work through patterns and probability. An essential component to AI checkers is Natural Language Processing or NLP. NLP uses algorithms to identify patterns by analyzing word choice, sentence structure, and wordto-word connections. Using these patterns, it can determine the likelihood that it was generated by an AI model, rather than a human.

The prevalence of artificial intelligence has warranted protective measures to ensure fairness. However, a major flaw with relying on AI detectors alone is the

AI Writing Essays Photo Credit: DLabs

false alarms they raise. Plagiarism is never taken lightly, especially in the context of higher education institutions. Most, if not all, colleges and universities consider the use of AI to be a form of academic dishonesty, with disciplinary actions ranging from a failing grade to expulsion.

When original writing is wrongly identified as AI-generated, it can have repercussions that extend far beyond a single grade.

Not only does it diminish The Impact of AI on Society a student’s confidence, but Photo Credit: Robert Koch it also dampens their crecial intelligence may adjust ing the ethical use of artiativity. Someone who has their writing style to one ficial intelligence. A single been accused of using artifithat is less expressive and flagged instance should not more cautionary. This trend overshadow a student’s auis guaranteed to mold a gen- thentic effort or tarnish their eration of writers who are academic reputation withmore concerned with avoid- out close evaluation. Overing penalties, than develop- reliance on these tools will ing their ideas thoroughly. only alienate students from Our world, more than ever, teachers, and replace trust needs people who can think with doubt. By applying nucritically and be unafraid to anced judgement, teachers embrace unique ideas. can collectively ensure that Educators must remem- technology is enhancing edber that AI detectors, while ucation and not stifling indiuseful, are still far from viduality. foolproof. Instead of policing writing, schools should instead focus on emphasiz-

8

Supplements

January 2025

Winter

Raislyn Palmer ‘27 MISTLETOE HOLIDAYS SNOWFLAKE KWANZAA SNOWMAN KINARA MILK ICESKATING STOCKING HANUKKAH SANTA REINDEER

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

FESTIVE DREIDEL ICICLE COOKIES CHRISTMAS MENORAH

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

How to Catch a Falling Thought Olukayomide Odusote ‘27 Published in Excelsior

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.

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

Many will follow, so your chance is one I see it through your eyes, how wonder eats you whole

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A mouth with no sound, yet filled up with lies

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Volume CXXXVI Issue No. 2

A simple task lost, so you are stuck with nothing left

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