the index · news
Page 3
March 2022
news
Community members decide whether to remain masked Ryan Rodack ‘22
7
89 days stood between March 12, 2020, and February 28, 2022, a period of time in which school was held virtually, classes were taught in trailers with students spaced six feet apart, sanitation wipes were used to clean desks, and lunch was eaten from the comfort of advisory locations. After a chaotic two years, Haverford is almost back to normal and masks are optional. For some students, the mask-optional announcement required little to no consideration as to whether or not they would remove their masks in school. “Personally, I believe that it is much better that we have an option to wear a mask rather than it being mandated,” Sixth Former Samir Pernell said. “Because COVID has been going on for such a long time, I would say the fear of COVID has been drifting away from the community. It feels like we have more freedom and control over what we can do with our own bodies and what happens to us. But, because we have more
Are you currently opting to wear a mask in class? 85.3% No
14.7% Yes
Google Forms poll of 105 respondents, Between March 13-14, 2022
Students gather in the dining hall maskless control, we are more susceptible to the con- next week I’m probably not going to wear sequences.” it anymore.” Sixth Former Sam Tryon has also chosen to attend school maskless. “Especially if I’m in “I’m triple vaxxed, so I’m not too afraid a close space, I prefer of catching COVID and, if I do, it hopefully won’t be that bad,” Tryon said. “Wearing a to have [a mask] on mask for so long has been really annoying so that I don’t get and uncomfortable. I just wanted to return infected and other to how school was before the pandemic, and people don’t get inso far it’s been great.” While a high percentage of the student fected.” body has chosen to abandon their masks, others are not ready just yet. DANIEL HOU ‘22 “Right now, I am choosing to keep my mask on because I don’t feel super comfortable taking it off yet,” said Third Former Other students pick and choose the Milan Varma. “I have some people at risk situations as to when they remain masked. at home and people who visit often, like my “I don’t wear a mask all the time at grandparents, so I don’t want to take that school, but I just have one in my pocket to risk just yet. And, I’m kind of used to it, so I use,” Sixth Former Daniel Hou said. “Espedon’t mind [wearing a mask]... But, I always cially if I’m in a close space, I prefer to have take it off outside now, and I’m thinking it on so that I don’t get infected and other
RYAN RODACK ’22
people don’t get infected.” “I don’t wear a mask all the time. If I am doing exercise or something like that I usually take it off. But it doesn’t really get in the way most of the time. It’s nice to protect people,” Sixth Former Bobby Parillo said. “As far as I can tell, wearing a mask helps: not only protecting others and yourself from viruses and bacteria, but it also helps you not touch your face… I’m also immunocompromised, so I want to stay safe.” The mask-optional policy has also brought on some difficult decisions for faculty and staff. Math Department Chair Mr. Justin Gaudreau situationally elects when to mask up. “To me, it was a family decision. I have a daughter who is underage and unable to get vaccinated. Depending on what space I’m in, I’ll respect the other person’s viewpoint and what they want to do,” Mr. Gaudreau said.
Ukraine-Russian conflict fires community interest in global politics Casey Williams ‘24
O
n February 24, 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “special military operation” led to a million refugees fleeing Ukraine in just seven days. Ukrainian citizens have evacuated their homes, and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called upon men between the ages of 18 and 60 years old to fight for their country. The event, which history classes will discuss decades down the line, has buzzed around the school. But how much does the Haverford community actually know about the invasion? The majority of students agree that the conflict is unprovoked and unnecessary, but as to why Russia invaded, opinions in the community are mixed. “It seems like the invasion is a result of Russia attempting to be dominant in Europe again after being dormant for so long,” Fourth Former Luke Fesnak said. Fourth Former Noah Trexler said, “I think that with Putin being an ex-KGB agent he wants to see the old glory the USSR once had.” The invasion has understandably led to conversations in history classrooms, but as for classes other than that, the subject remains undiscussed. “In my classes, I have talked about [the conflict] almost zero,” Trexler said. “All my talking has either been with my friends out-
side of class.” Some students kept up with the conflict, even before the initial invasion on February 24th, and have been knowledgeable since then.
“I have been impressed by ... [my students’] abilities to connect to larger concepts from class.”
Haverford students have a wide variety of sources of information, which can lead to different perspectives. “Other than my Model UN conferences and meetings, my main source of information is usually The New York Times,” Lee said. Mr. Hart is confident in the sensitivity and awareness of his students.
“Call me overconfident, but I have faith that my CIR and MWH guys have a grasp on what’s going on. I have been impressed by the amount of information many have heard outside of class and their abilities to connect to larger concepts from class,” Mr. Hart said.
MR. JEREMY HART Fourth Form Model UN club member Ethan Lee has paid much attention to the subject. “I knew something was going to happen… I have been paying attention to it ever since that [a Model UN conference discussing the issue],” Lee said. History teacher Mr. Jeremy Hart said, “Last quarter, my [Contemporary International Relations] class actually used UkraineRussia as a case study in examining how to analyze conflicts from the international, state, and individual levels. We missed the actual start of the conflict by a few months, but I have really enjoyed seeing those CIR students in the hallways to analyze the dayto-day of the invasion.”
MINISTRY OF INTERNAL AFFAIRS OF UKRAINE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Russian military weapons destroyed and seized by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on March 1, 2022
