Belfield Banter Winter 2025

ISSUE IV.

BELFIELD BANTER -THE WINTER EDITION-

“RUNWAY SHOW” QUINN HUMPHREYS ‘27

“ROBOTICS” CHLOE PAGET-BROWN ‘25

The Wearable Arts Runway Show, an almost 20-yearold tradition at Saint Anne’s-Belfield, is a chance for students to show off artistic talents, promote sustainability through their use of recycled materials, and learn about fashion and art. The show began with performances from both the Counterpoints orchestra and Elements of Sound, the student-led acapella group at STAB, followed by 40 unique garments. This year’s theme for the show was Transcending Time: Art and Fashion from Yesterday to Tomorrow.

The theme created a varied spectrum of designs from flapper dresses and medieval armor to caution-tape suits and fashion from the future. What I always enjoy about the Runway Show is the different interpretations of the theme and creative uses of materials. This year, for example, some of the materials included film negatives, soda tabs, coffee filters, and hotel key cards. In an interview with Ms. Mcavoy, the faculty advisor of Runway, I learned about the process each student must go through in order to create a piece for the Wearable Arts show. This process begins with a proposal and after approval crafting a sketch, collecting materials, attending workshops, and practicing their runway walk.

This Saturday, two St. Anne’s Belfield robotics teams competed in a First Tech Challenge robotics competition in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Over 30 teams participated in the all-day event. Each round consisted of two minutes and thirty seconds of play in which teams tried to score as many points as possible by picking up and placing plastic pieces using their robots.

Team 39291, captained by Timmy Groves and Ryan Demaio, performed well, winning two matches and scoring consistently. Team 29586, captained by Isabel Greer and Chloe Paget-Brown, did not receive as high of scores but returned with a judges choice award, recognizing our team and the spirit we brought to the competition.

The chaotic, tech-filled day began at 6:30 AM. As we rushed to gather spare parts, robots, and controllers, the excitement and nerves of the competition rose.

After arriving at Harrisonburg High School, we needed to undergo a judge's interview and pass inspection before we could compete.

“RUNWAY SHOW” CONT.

“ROBOTICS” CONT.

Ms. Mcavoy said her role in the show remains mostly behind the scenes by keeping people on schedule and giving feedback. She also shared some insight into how this year’s theme was selected by participants submitting ideas and voting on favorites. The two themes with the most votes were art movements and fashion of the future, so she decided to blend those two into a cohesive theme, allowing for a lot of variation in garments. Her closing remarks were a few words of advice for students considering joining Runway: “It's an item on the Saint Anne’s-Belfield bucket list and it's an opportunity you probably won't get again. In addition, it's a chance for people to take up space in a way they usually don't get to. High school is all about fitting in, and Runway gives you a chance to stand out.”

In the judges’ interview, two FTC judges quizzed team 29586 on the fulfillment of team goals, the creativity of our robot, and our engagement in the local community, categories we have worked all year to perfect.

After attending the first competition of the year, our builders, Michael B., Cooper S., Jake M., and Nico Z., Agustin N. worked to develop a creative design that consisted of a new drivetrain that could maneuver itself seamlessly across the field. Additionally, Cooper and Isabel G. helped mentor the robotics team of Blue Ridge Boost, the STEM tutoring business across the street. Some of our freshmen members also volunteered at the middle school Lego League tournament St. Anne’s hosted earlier in the year.

Finally, Chloe P. B brought in a former president of Western’s robotics team to advise our team before the competition. Alongside these outreach events, we worked hard during countless lunches and fifth periods to build and program our robot. Supported by an impeccable trifold presentation prepared by Nick G. and Agustin N., the judges learned the details of all our dedication.

After the interview, we headed to inspection, where, unfortunately, our team's success took a downturn. To pass inspection, the robot must fit within an eighteen by eighteen-inch box, and sadly ours did not fit the requirements.

Since we were competing in the third round, we had little time to make adjustments. As tournament volunteers urged us to queue for our upcoming round, our builders began disassembling our robot to adjust the height. With minutes to spare, the final screw was tightened, and the judges measured our robot, leading to a last minute approval! These last minute adjustments caused us to rush to our first round, with Dee P. and Lovissa P. on the controllers. Our robot spun and whirred across the field bringing us directly back to the excitement of the tournament.

“LA FIRES” ARI KASTELLO ‘26

Last week a series of devastating wildfires began to ravish Los Angeles County in Southern California. The area had been experiencing a severe drought, leading to dry conditions and out-of-season fires. On January 7th, fires started in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood between Santa Monica and Malibu, an area famed for its beachfront mansions and coastal views. The same day a fire broke out in Altadena, a suburb of LA, just north of Pasadena. These fires were carried by the Santa Ana winds and hurricane-force gusts that blew from the Santa Monica Mountains toward the coast, causing the fires to spread quickly and devastatingly. The Palisades fire tore through the neighborhood, destroying thousands of buildings, damaging as far north as eastern Malibu, and getting close to Brentwood. The Eaton fire in Altadena spread as far south as Pasadena, destroyed immense infrastructure and tragically, 28 people lost their lives while thousands more lost their homes.

Once the tide turned on the fires as the spreading receded, the political infighting began, Much of this was focused on LA mayor, Karen Bass, who had been in Ghana when the fires started and had previously cut the Fire Department in the last budget cycle. Bass had been warned by the LAFD chief Kristen Crowley that these cuts would impact operations and diminish their ability to stop the mass spreading of these wildfires. Additionally, some blame has been cast on Southern California Edison, the main power company for much of southern California, including LA County.

The company is facing lawsuits over its failure to maintain its power lines, which may have been involved in some of the fires. Unfortunately, in response to the fires, there has been an increase in misinformation, including from President Donald Trump regarding state water policy.

Despite the damage and the politics, the LA City Council has plans for a fast rebuild. The county suspended some of its building code and zoning ordinances to ensure the rebuild is as smooth as possible. The city ensures it will host the 2028 Olympics and officials are planning to have a complete rebuild by then. The devastating and horrific wildfires have sparked conversations about climate control, budget cuts, and misinformation. The city has begun to recover and will continue to rebuild in hopes of a complete return.

“MR. GROVES: SCIENCE TEACHER OR PHILOSOPHER?” LOVISSA PRICE ‘26 On some rare occasions, humpback whales have been known to form a pattern underneath a large school of fish in order to hunt them. Once the entire pod of whales is arranged, they create bubbles that swarm around the fish and encompass them with impassable air walls. Although this already seems like an amazing feat of wildlife coordination and thought, what is uniquely interesting about this method is that the bubble pattern which they form is always a perfect Golden Ratio, or Fibonacci sequence. In mathematical terms, the Golden Ratio is an infinite integer series in which the next number is the sum of the two preceding it (0,1,1,2,3,5,8,13, etc.). In nature, it plays out to be one of the most common shapes, and you can see it in the way a conch shell spirals, how pinecone scales arrange themselves, or how chameleons curl their tails, to name a few. Although there is a mathematical basis behind this, it is still interesting how widespread this pattern is, and some attribute this to divine interaction.

This demonstrates a time in which clear mathematical reasoning was used to explore a phenomena that many believe was God’s creation. Mr. Groves subscribes to a similar thought process and is a great example of religious-scientific balance which he has clearly pondered and which may question many growth-restricting exclusively scientific or religious views of the world. This past week, I interviewed Mr. Groves to get insight into his well-thought-out philosophy on science, religion, and the growth of the mind. The following are attempted summations of what he said using some direct quotes, though my words are not exactly the ones he used.

How Do Science and Religion Balance?

For a lot of people today, there is a strict social differentiation between science and religion. Some people cannot accept religion because they feel it is unfounded based on the scientific reasons we have that may disprove any god. On the other hand, some people believe that certain scientific reasonings are false because of an unmoving interpretation of their holy book that does not allow room for development. I was really lucky that my church never made me feel that way, my family never made me feel that way, and my science teacher never made me feel that way.”

Because of this, he invites students to talk to him about this religious-scientific balance in a growthminded environment that may not be otherwise available.

“MY BANGLADESH EXPERIENCE” CADIGAN PERRIELLO ‘25

“MR. GROVES” CONT.

Early this December, I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel to Bangladesh with UVA’s Petri Lab in the Department of Infectious Diseases. After spending my summer studying a gastrointestinal disease, Cryptosporidium, I was ecstatic to see my research in action and visit the field sites where the samples were taken. After over a day of travel, I landed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and immediately knew that my visit would forever shift my narrow perception of the world. Some immediate differences in the culture and society included their lack of rules on the road, there are no lanes, stoplights, stop signs, or right of way. While this was immediately fairly petrifying, I slowly acclimated to the organized chaos of the road. The densely populated streets create a very compact and claustrophobic environment, however, the communities and systems set in place are some of the most resilient I have seen. My first day was spent in the capital, meeting with the icddr,b, and the scientists who directly work with UVA to produce research and results. The icddr,b is the center for infectious diseases in Bangladesh and through their research and treatment, they are able to save thousands of lives annually and meeting the individuals behind this organization gave me a new appreciation for their impact.

Getting on a small aircraft, the team and I traveled to Sairpur for the first fieldsite visit to two different hospitals in that district. At the first hospital, Dinajpur, fellow Petri Lab members and I met with doctors to discuss their enrollment in the Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Pregnancy in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (ABLE) study. This study requires enrolment of small vulnerable newborns, and unfortunately, this hospital has seen an influx in such cases, so the icddr,b hoped to enroll these infants to understand and aid in their survival. The second hospital, LAMB, remains one of the most developed hospitals in Bangladesh. This hospital also contained a secondary research office for the icddr,b where we met with the scientists to learn about their ongoing research directly in their villages. One woman in the lab was currently working on the CHIME (Caffeine for Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy) Study. This ongoing study attempts to reduce hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a type of neural damage in infants, through the use of small doses of IV caffeine. This study contains immense potential for growth as significant results could lead to an easily accessible option for treatment worldwide.

Mr. Groves lies directly on this line. He believes that both divine powers and science play a role in the universe. He says, “if you think God created the universe, you should go explore it, and science is great for that.” In other words, he sees science as an exploration of what God created, rather than proof that we can exist without a god. He also says that restricting the growth of knowledge or stifling science in the name of God is a counter-religious endeavor, as “God gave us brains and expects us to use them, and God gave us a world and expects us to explore it”. He cites numerous highly influential scientists such as Georges Lemaître, the father of the Big Bang and catholic priest, and Gregor Mendel, a monk who discovered genetics. He says that these people are the perfect model of religious figures with growthminded interpretations of holy texts which allow them to explore the world and make immensely influential discoveries.

Why Is It Useful to Congregate Rather Than to Just Have Religion?

Another aspect of religion that Mr. Groves says is meritorious is its community aspects. Growing up in a close-knit church community, he says that the conversations that were allowed to happen there without the fear of social ousting helped every participant to grow and discover their own beliefs through communication with others. Modernly, it is difficult for many to find an environment in which exploring different mindsets is accepted, and many people are shamed on the internet and within closer situations for not conforming. For many, this can also be a problem at school, in which people may be ridiculed for having religious beliefs and not conforming to a solely scientific worldview. Mr. Groves says that having an accepting community that is able to openly communicate about philosophical topics and all types of thoughts is necessary for human growth. He says, “culture often talks about science versus religion, but I never felt that way.

“MY BANGLADESH EXPERIENCE” CONT.

“MR. GROVES” CONT.

The next field site I visited was a district in rural Bangladesh called Kalihati. Driving into the village, the car was surrounded by mustard oil seeds, creating a breathtaking yellow backdrop to the village. This district contains one of the areas of concentration for the Maternal Newborn Health Registry. Census workers visit households every two weeks to perform pregnancy tests on women late for their menstrual cycle and hopefully enrol them into the registry while providing medical services.. I got to witness one mother who was not currently pregnant have a normal fortnightly checkup while the survey worker asked her questions about her sexual and reproductive history. I then got to witness a new mother enrolled in the study. The 17-year-old married young woman’s shock was apparent as she received medical treatment such as iron and blood pressure tests for the first time. This visit allowed me to see the cultural norms of visitors to these houses while also witnessing a young woman about my age with a vastly different trajectory for life than me. This visit allowed me both to see my privilege in the plethora of opportunities at my fingertips while also exposing me to the spectrum of livelihoods and cultural norms across our globe The final field site I visited was in the poorer districts of Dhaka, an area called Mirpur. I got to meet some of the members of the Cryptosporidium cohort that I had studied this past summer while also allowing me to see the conditions, both sanitary and familial, that my cohort members experience every day.

Overall, my travels broadened my horizons both in the medical and scientific fields and cultural norms and the information I was able to accumulate and experience will last a lifetime.

What Is the #1 Best Way to Be a Better Person and Which Everyone Should Participate In? Reading. Like many great thinkers and philosophers, Mr. Groves believes that reading is “one of the best things you can possibly do for your mind”. He says that the availability of constant attention-grabbing machines allows most people to fall into a state of attention decay. Without actively working on developing your mind, modern culture will ensure that it is simplified and left barren. He claims that the best way to combat this is to take some time to develop your attention with a book. By “living in one place for a while,” people can greatly improve the state of their minds. Mr. Groves also asserts that “whatever you pay attention to is what you worship,” and that with the normality of instant gratification, people are beginning to worship their phones, and their “minds are getting shorter and shorter and shallower and shallower.” Another great aspect of books is their ability to transport you to a different time and place, to truly understand the culture and mindset surrounding a location and its era. Literature is truly “one way to explore different ways of thinking around the world, and watching an influencer’s trip to Italy is not the same thing.”

“TRUMP’S PICKS” SEBASTIAN LAZA ‘26

“BOB DYLAN: A COMPLETE UNKNOWN” CAROLINE REILY ‘26

Over the last few weeks, President Trump’s cabinet picks have had confirmation hearings in the Senate. A few have been confirmed, such as Marco Rubio, who had unanimous support from the Senate to be the new secretary of state. Pete Hegseth was confirmed as defense secretary with a razor-thin margin of 51 for and 50 against, and this has been the most controversial confirmation. Hegseth’s background during the hearing came up, specifically his heavy drinking habits and how they might impact his role as the defense secretary. Other confirmed picks include Scott Bessent for treasury secretary, Kristi Noem for homeland security secretary, and John Ratcliffe for C.I.A director. Many other picks await a confirmation hearing, and most do not cause enough stir for controversy. However, Robert Kennedy Jr. has been continuously critical of the government for fluorinating and chlorinating the water and has also been attacking vaccines, claiming they cause autism.

There is no proof that vaccines cause autism.

Furthermore, there is no case for removing chlorine from the water as it prevents bacterial growth, thereby preventing dangerous diseases from spreading, such as dysentery and cholera. We await his confirmation hearing to see if the Senate agrees with his vision for America. Another controversial figure is Tulsi Gabbard, who claimed that Ukraine was using Biolabs to produce bioweapons, a claim previously made by the Russian government during its invasion of the country. The Biolabs mentioned are real; however, there is no evidence that they work with or produce bioweapons, and the Russian government simply used them as another excuse for its invasion. Her willingness to repeat Russian propaganda will likely be a concern in her confirmation hearing in the Senate. A link that ties all cabinet picks together is their loyalty to Donald Trump. He specifically picked individuals who were willing to get his agenda done.

After being a fan of Bob Dylan’s music for a long time, I was highly anticipating James Mangold’s new Bob Dylan Biopic, A Complete Unknown. My excitement proved warranted as I ended up watching the film twice in theaters over winter break.

Since its release, the film has received numerous accolades including an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture, an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, a Critics’ Choice Movie Award nomination for Best Picture, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Motion Picture-Drama.

The film is set in the 1960s and begins with 19-yearold Bob Dylan traveling to New York City. The film centers around the 5 first years of Dylan’s musical career, and the evolution of his music from folk to electric. While I think James Mangold managed to capture a very intriguing portrayal of Bob Dylan and an important turning period in his work, I feel he failed to convey the intrigue of Dylan’s enigma and personality. Though considering Dylan’s character in real life, and the film’s title, this may be intentional.

While this film simplifies much of Dylan’s early career, what is missed within the plot is made up by the music and performances.

The cast is star-studded with Timothée Chalamet as Bob Dylan, Elle Fanning as Sylvie Russo (based on Bob’s real girlfriend, Suze Rotolo), Monica Barbaro as Joan Baez, and Edward Norton as Pete Seeger. The performances were great across the board, and the musical performances were especially incredible to experience in theaters, including classics like: ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’, ‘Girl from the North Country’, and ‘Like A Rolling Stone’. My favorite musical performance was ‘It Ain’t Me Babe’ with Timothée Chalamet and Monica Barbaro, as it encapsulated the same feel as the reallife performance by Dylan and Baez at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival, one of the most memorable performances I recommend everyone to watch. My included Timothée favorite personifications Chalaemet’s and Edward Nortons’ and the cultivated through their relationships they interactions. Their scenes were incredibly well done and very authentic on both sides even as their friendship shifted throughout the portrayal.

Overall, I would recommend this film, as it covers some incredible highs and lows of Dylan’s early life and has some of the most impressive musical performances I’ve seen in theaters this year.

“SUPER BOWL SECURITY” LIAM GUNDERSEN ‘27 With the NFL playoffs coming to an end, anticipation is building for Super Bowl LIX, which will be played on February 9th at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. However, the upcoming event is also returning attention to the recent terrorist attack that occurred only a mile from the stadium, leaving many prospective Super Bowl attendees uneasy.

Early in the morning on January 1st, a terrorist inspired by ISIS killed 14 revelers and injured dozens more on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. The Sugar Bowl, which was set to take place later that day, was postponed as Caesar's Superdome underwent meticulous safety sweeps. After the mass casualty event, the approaching Super Bowl is likely to see a heightened level of security. With an expected 125,000 people traveling to New Orleans for the big game and more than 100 million more watching from home, the annual competition consistently fits the criteria for a major terrorist target. However, with the development of the January 1st atrocity, the FBI expressed that additional concerns have been raised “about possible copycat or retaliatory attacks.” In the same statement, they asked “that the public remain vigilant” and “report any suspicious activity to law enforcement”.

Many officials claim that the comprehensive safety measures already in place for the Super Bowl are more than enough to ensure the protection of the spectators, regardless of the city’s recent tragedy. The Super Bowl has always been a heavily protected event and the authorities’ genuine consideration for the public’s well-being has not differed from prior years. However, when speaking with ESPN, Cathy Lanier, NFL's Chief Security Officer reluctantly admitted that additional measures were being implemented. “Are we doing anything differently? Of course."

Much like the NFL’s task force, local and federal law enforcement are adjusting their security procedures.

Unlike the Sugar Bowl, the Super Bowl is a federal tier-one event, authorizing reinforcement from agencies such as the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and others entrusted with the public’s safekeeping. Additionally, all of the city's major entry points will be under heavy scrutiny. The Mississippi River, which flows less than a mile from the stadium, will be patrolled by U.S. Coastguard and Border Protection vessels to terminate possible attacks from the water. In a statement to ESPN, Eric DeLaune, New Orlean’s Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, provided further details about the efforts.

“REVELATOR

BY TEDESCHI TRUCKS BAND”

AN EDITION OF MONTHLY ALBUM REVIEWS

SARAH SANDERS ‘26

Tedeschi Trucks Band. Tedeschi Trucks Band is one of my favorite bands, blending a classic soul sound with a rocking 12-piece band. At the time of Revelator, the band consisted of 11 members: Lead Singer and guitarist Susan Tedeschi and Lead Guitarist Derek Trucks, Oteil Burbrudge on Bass, Kofi Burbrige on Keyboards, and the flute, Tyler Greenwall performing Drums/Percussion, J.J. Johnson on Drums/Percussion, Mike Mattison with Harmony/Vocals, Mark Rivers on Harmony/Vocals, Kebbi Williams on Saxophone, Maurice “Morbetta” Brown on Trumpet, and Saunders Sermons on the Trombone. Tedeschi Trucks Band is a powerhouse of soul, creating beautifully composed songs that cradle the heart and are always welcomed

by Trucks’ extraordinary and out-of-this-world slide guitar technique. Tedeschi, known for her raspy yet strong and conveying voice, is constantly compared to Bonnie Raitt, the two battling to be the best blues women singer.

Revelator is Tedeschi Trucks Band’s first studio album. The album begins with a groovy “Come See About Me” with a rocking blues beat that gives off a yearning vibe with a mixture of funky keyboard notes. It starts with a satisfying blues drum beat and a B.B. King sound to the intro; this song invokes the blues sound we all recognize from the band.

My favorite song off the album is their famous “Midnight in Harlem.” I could recognize such a pure song from a mile away, beginning with a beautiful time signature of 4/4; the song doesn't stray away from anything but a calm, dreamy song. It is delicate with its lyrics, painting a story with every line. This song makes you want to dance, to embrace yourself and your values, and to “free your heart,” as quoted throughout the song. But there is also a sadness in such an upbeat song.

“SUPER BOWL SECURITY” CONT.

“MONTHLY ALBUM REVIEWS” CONT.

According to DeLaune, SWAT teams, armored vehicles, surveillance drones, and more than 90 bomb-sniffing dogs will be present in the city, with the main goal of displaying a formidable law enforcement presence. Additionally, there will be plain-clothed police officers intermixed with the multitude of attendees and snipers watching from many of the surrounding buildings.

There also has been speculation of gunmen stationed on top of the stadium's dome itself. While unverified at this time, the rumors could contain some legitimacy as snipers were indeed positioned there during the Super Bowl following 9/11, which, coincidentally, was also held in New Orleans.

In response to mounting anxiety before the game, the NFL remains “confident [that] attendees will have a safe and enjoyable Super Bowl experience.” One official even went as far as to say that “the Super Bowl itself will have so much protection that it will be the safest place in the world.” The league also reiterated that spectators shouldn’t hesitate to report anything out of the ordinary. Above all, they hope that fans relax, enjoy the game, and trust the authorities and their thorough preparations.

It references a scene of someone who comes across a city river, looks around, and sees shoes and needles all over the ground, which points to the bittersweet elements of the song. \It makes you think about the city and how many people's lives revolve around working every second, and then it all starts over again. Hearing this song live for the first time, I remember the chills and closing my eyes. I closed my eyes and could feel every instrument play, and guess what impromptu move each artist would make.

Looking around the audience, I noticed people hugging, twirling, and raising their hands to the ceilings, or the sky, reaching for some eternity of this very moment. There is a version of this song, “Midnight in Harlem (Swamp Raga Intro with Little Martha),” that I believe is truly the best version of the song and one of the greatest live songs performed by a Modern Jam Band. It begins with a subtle, simple picking of the guitar by Trucks, creating a meditative state of mind, while symbols slowly hum in the background.

“Simple Things” is a cute song reminding us to be grateful for the things and the people we already have around us rather than wanting more or less.

Consider that “There’s so much that lies in store/Simple things.” The song primarily highlights the keyboardist, with subtle jam and more of a gospel and blues approach to the music. It teaches us to get out of our comfort zones, remain less alone, and open ourselves up to the world around us rather than being “underneath my shadow.”

Overall, Revelator is a talented album that highlights Tedeschi Trucks Band’s soul and blues roots while their elements of rock and jam are still present. In my opinion, its central message is to be kind to ourselves and to follow our intuition. With Trucks’ dreamy slide guitar components, Tedeschi’s dangerously prominent voice, and Mattison’s beautiful harmonizing, this album is sure to put you in a better mood, and leave you thinking and grateful afterward. I would recommend this album to anyone who enjoys soul and blues music, and artists like Bonnie Raitt and the band, The Allman Brothers.

“ARREST OF YOON SUK YEOL” KATE CHENG ‘26

“TIKTOK IN DARKNESS” GRACE BROWNE ‘28

Following the martial law crisis in South Korea in early December of 2024, the swift pursuit of justice has chased away the nation’s active president, Yoon Suk Yeol. After the National Assembly struck down the martial law within 24 hours of its declaration, they impeached the discordant leader on December 14. The president, however, showed no signs of backing down. He holed himself up in his residence in Seoul on top of a hill overlooking the city with bodyguards and barricades. No less than three summons from the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) were issued to the president on charges of insurrection but Yoon refused them all. On January 3, investigators and police officers sent by the CIO arrived at Yoon’s residence with an arrest warrant but were repelled by his security force. The conflict lasted several hours until at last the assailants gave up.

On January 15, the CIO set out again, this time with a force consisting of 1,000 police officers to carry out the arrest. During this second attempt, Yoon cooperated with the investigators to prevent unnecessary chaos or bloodshed, although he remained steadfast in his belief that his arrest was unlawful. The impeached president is now held in the Seoul Detention Center facing a full criminal investigation of his actions in the past month. Despite his amicable arrest, Yoon is still trying to fight an uphill legal battle with the aid of his lawyers.

Meanwhile, with the courts occupied, civilian unrest grows. Between supporters of Yoon and instability in the government, an arrest, sadly, does not mean the end of turmoil in South Korea.

At approximately 10:30 pm on Saturday, January 18, TikTok went dark for its over 120 million American users. For 14 hours, the typical feed of videos was interrupted by a message saying, “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now.” For half of the next day, US users had zero access to TikTok, not the For You Page, messages, or even private videos.

While most US users had hoped that their TikTok was not forever doomed, few expected it to be restored so quickly.

The ban resulted from a Supreme Court ruling on January 17th, where they decided to uphold the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. The act was signed into law on April 24, 2024, and required ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, to sell the American portions of their companies. This was a bipartisan act, with both major political parties agreeing that without an American owner, TikTok’s ability to access data collection remains a national security threat.

However, throughout his campaign, Donald Trump pledged to do his best to “save” TikTok. Now sworn into office, Trump has delayed the ban on TikTok by 75 days, allowing ByteDance more time to sell. While this allows for active users to watch and post again, however, TikTok is no longer available for purchase in the app store. Google and Apple have decided not to reinstate it in the app store because while Trump has promised not to enforce the law banning TikTok for the next couple of months, companies are still likely concerned that they could be held legally accountable for continuing to sell the app.

The “last day” of TikTok was a chaotic one, with countless creators saying their goodbyes and asking their followers to switch to other platforms, like Instagram or Youtube. There was a plethora of talk of what the “new” TikTok would be. Most people looked to American-owned apps like Instagram, Snapchat, or X, but others started exploring the foreign-owned app REDnote (Xiaohongshu in Chinese). The social media platform is hugely popular in China, with over 300 million users. On Tuesday, January 14, the app gained the top spot on the US App Store, as the reality of some sort of TikTok ban became apparent.

With each day, there are new updates on if, who, how, and when the TikTok dilemma will be solved.

Right now, it’s impossible to know exactly how it will unfold. However, if TikTok remains under Chinese jurisdiction, the 14 hours of darkness could have been just a small taste of what’s to come for TikTok.

The Winter Playlist

“LOVESONG” THE CURE

“THAT'S SO TRUE” GRACIE ABRAMS

“GYPSY” FLEETWOOD MAC

“EASIER SAID THAN DONE” THEE SACRED SOULS

“TRUE BLUE” BOYGENIUS

BANTER STAFF EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CADIGAN PERRIELLO ROSE RYAN-BYRNE

“CEMETERY GATES” THE SMITHS

“CALL YOUR MOM” NOAH KAHAN

“PURPLE RAIN” PRINCE

“MESSY” LOLA YOUNG

WRITERS & STAFF

ALEX BAER GRACE BROWN NORI CARTER KATE CHENG HENRY DOZIER LIAM GUNDERSEN QUINN HUMPHREYS ARI KASTELLO CARTER KELLY SEBASTAIAN LAZA CLEMENTE NORAMBUENA CHLOE PAGET-BROWN LOVISSA PRICE CAROLINE REILLY SARAH SANDERS ELLIE WOMACK

FORMATTING

NORI CARTER HENRY DOZIER CARTER KELLY CLEMENTE NORAMBUENA

Saints Library

THE SECRET HISTORY DONNA TART

A BRIEF HISTORY OF INTELLIGENCE MAX BENNETT

SCYTHE NEAL SHUSTERMAN

THE NIGHTINGALE KRISTIN HANNAH

CALL US WHAT WE CARRY AMANDA GORMAN

AGNES GREY ANNE BRONTË

PLAYGROUND RICHARD POWERS

THE WOMEN KRISTIN HANNAH

“MESSY” LOLA YOUNG

MAD HONEY JODI PICOULT

EDITOR’S NOTE Hello everyone, I hope everyone’s winters have been full of joy and cheer.

At the mid-point in the year, it gives us an amazing time to reflect on our connections and activities from the beginning of the year. If you have enjoyed reading the Belfield Banter or sparked an interest in writing these past months, please remember we are always looking for new writers and editors so please reach out to me.

A lot of work went into this edition, from writing articles to late nights formatting the edition. A lot of amazing things have happened in our community in the past couple of months: the artistry shown by the designers in the Runway SHow, the athleticism of our winter sports teams, the determination of the musical cast to rehearse and create such a lively performance, and the hard work we have all put in academically. Again, I hope everybody has had many warm momenst in their life throughout this cold season. We wish you all the best from the Belfield Banter Staff!

Best, Cadiagn Perriello (Editor-In-Chief)