EEA DAY 2025
A Day—a pinnacle of each year at Haverford and a long-standing tradition—unites the community in maroon-and-gold school spirit.
Not every aspect of EA Day is tightly bound by tradition, however. Fifth Former Alex Scharpf represents a change, continuing his new practice as football game commentator. While Scharpf has been a commentator for this season’s football games, his role for EA Day comes with additional planning and other considerations.
So, how much pressure does he feel livestreaming what thousands will hear?
“A little bit, but I don’t think, announc-
ing-wise, it’s all that different from the other games. I have to stress if I’m saying this or that the correct way. I got my dad there helping out. Most of the stress comes from whether the team is winning or not, and I’m there for entertainment value.”
Despite the added pressure, Scharpf believes his role will not change on EA Day.
“I’m going to play it straight, but I might have a few more EA Day-related comments, but generally the reporting will be the same,” Scharpf said.
Scharpf understands that his main duty as a commentator is to inject energy and electricity into the stands.
“That’s the hope as an announcer. I’m hoping to energize the team and audience whenever the team does something good, and I’m hoping to do this next year as well.”
What hasn’t changed on the field is the presence of Athletic Director Mr. Michael Murphy. Murphy, while recognizing some of the challenges in putting together an event like EA Day, welcomes the crowd size and the energy.
“For me, as the athletic director, the preparation is pretty much the same except that we must figure in the difference for the amount of spectators that will be there for that game,” Mr. Murphy said. “Through-
out the year, the size of our crowds can vary based on the day of the game, but when it comes to EA Day, the crowd will be one of, if not the, largest crowds of the season.”
Another consideration for Mr. Murphy is to prepare our teams for victory.
Edward Cheung ’28 and Byron Yang ’28
Fans rush the field after last year's 1-0 soccer win on EA Day
2025–2026 Staff
Ajay Chakraborty ’26
Editor-in-Chief
Ryan Wang ’26
Editor-in-Chief
Nate Gill ’26
Senior Managing Editor
Adam Brown ’27
Managing Editor
Matt Lo ’27
Managing Editor
Ayush Varma ’27
Managing Editor
Ben Qu ’28 News Editor
Edward Cheung ’28
Features Editor
Jayden Thomas ’27
Academics Editor
Byron Yang ’28
Neighborhood Editor
Keith DiMarino ’27
Campus Opinions Editor
Brandyn Luong ’27
Off-Campus Opinions Editor
Sahil Manjeshwar ’28
Off-Campus Opinions Editor
Peter McConnell ’26
Voices Editor
Will Komada ’28 Arts Editor
James MacColl ’26 Sports Editor
Jonny Wang ’26 Staff Writer
Jesse Kanefsky ’29
Photography Editor
Riyadh Rolls ’26
Photography Editor
Charlie Schreiber ‘26
Photography Editor
Mr. Anthony Pariano Faculty Advisor
Mr. Thomas Stambaugh Faculty Advisor
The Index is a student-run publication of the Haverford School that does more than bring news: it provides the diverse perspectives of the Haverford student body. It is an outlet for student writers to take stands on issues they deem important. It chronicles the daily struggles and accomplishments of the Haverford community. The Index also provides a forum for discussion of pertinent issues, such as student culture, academic policy, and Haverford’s place in world affairs. The Index presents new ideas and aspires to influence constructive change. All opinions and viewpoints expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of The Index or the school. The Index is designed and produced digitally. Photographs may be retouched. Submissions and letters to the editors regarding any and all articles are welcomed at index@haverford.org The Index, a member of the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, is composed using the applications of Google Suite and Adobe Creative Cloud. Its surveys are conducted via Google Forms and are advertised via email to current Haverford students. Graphic designs are created by Index staff via Canva. Southern Dutchess News prints 200-400 copies of each issue, and its editorial staff distributes them in the upper school on the day of release. The Index serves the needs of a total school population of 1152 community members, consisting of 952 students and 200 faculty and staff members. Contact The Index: 450 Lancaster Ave, Haverford, PA 19041 index@haverford.org
Twitter: @Haverford_Index
Instagram: @Haverford_Index
Volume 93, No. 3 - November 5, 2025
editorial
Let us be one
Welcome, brothers, to EA week. This week, Haverford stands not as many, but as one. Before us lies a tradition one hundred thirtysix years old, a rivalry integral to our history. This week, we unite under one purpose, bound by maroon and gold: to keep the Sweater at Haverford.
Let us be strong. None of us could bear to see the H logo on Sabol’s turf, our emblem and honor, be disrespected. None of us could stomach the sight of the Sweater being ripped away from our home turf. We have a five-year winning streak—let us not lose it.
May the fields echo with our courage and strength, forces that shall not be breached. Let us be loud. Let our voices rise in unison from daybreak to dawn. While the final whistle will be blown on the football field, the day’s glory is built upon every swing, stride, stroke, and point before it. Support the golfers as they steady their swing, the runners as they sprint down the final stretch, the water polo team as they surge through the water, the soccer players as they push down the field, the football team as they fight for every inch. Each person has given their heart and spirit to this cause.
Above all, let us be honorable. Many eyes will be on us—alumni who built Haverford’s legacy, parents who trust it, and rivals who will test its strength. Let them see dignity and class, rather than arrogance and chaos. Let us triumph not only in contest, but in conduct. Show grace, respect, and kindness to those all around you, peers and opponents alike. Let respect underlie our cries for triumph.
Let this week be more than just a rivalry. Let it be a testament to what holds our brotherhood together. And when the last whistle blows, let our unity live on.
Editors-in-chief for the 2025-26 school year, Ajay Chakraborty ’26 and Ryan Wang ’26
Letter from the student body president
Packy Rouse ’26
Fellas,
As we approach the final weeks of fall, you should look forward to what is coming.
We are nearing one of the most meaningful moments of our brotherhood: EA Day. EA Day is extremely important to our school’s history. It’s bigger than us and has been around longer than us. It’s something we value more than ourselves.
To the guys playing a sport, you have the opportunity to come together as a team, showcasing your talents to the entire school. I’m confident you will make us proud.
To the guys who are not contributing on the field, me included, we have another opportunity. We have the chance to support our school and this longstanding tradition.
Now, it’s on you to buy in and support each other.
In a broader sense, the coming months
of this school year will define us as a student body. We’ve done a good job so far, but there is always room for improvement. We can always find ways to support each other more. When a sports team plays and your schedule is free, go out and support them. When a brother needs your help, be there for him.
Through supporting each other no matter what, we will respect both ourselves and our brothers more.
EA Day 2025, cont'd. from front page news
“I always used to tell my players that it won’t be the team that is most fired up at the start of the game, but the one that can sustain that level of energy throughout the entire game, that will make us the best in the end,” Mr. Murphy said. “Execution is key in those games.”
A defining feature of the student body is the haircut tradition, where students shave their heads or get wacky haircuts to support their friends playing a sport.
Student Body President Packy Rouse believes this tradition brings the community together and makes the day memorable.
“The vibe you get from EA Day is hot,” Rouse said. “It all starts when I buzz my head. When I shave that thing down, and I come to school the next day and see 300 other students who also shaved their heads, it feels amazing, especially when we all do that together.”
“I personally have shaved my head before. I plan on doing that again. I think it’s a great way to bring guys together in the brotherhood,” Sixth Former J.C. Chapman said.
However, some people believe these haircuts are not always what is best for students.
“I think that haircuts are actually pretty harmful,” Science Department Chair Dr. Daniel Goduti said. “It feels like hazing, and it feels like some students are being asked to do something they don’t wish to do. So that’s worrying.”
Dean of Students Mr. Luqman Kolade also believes haircuts are unnecessary.
“It’s funny to me that students think that something that has been happening for two-to-three years is a tradition. To me, the haircuts are stupid, and they have been happening way more recently than you would believe, but I don’t think they were nearly as widespread when I first started at Haverford.”
Upper School Head Mr. Mark Fifer believes that boundaries need to be set when it comes to haircuts.
“We need to have parameters with those kinds of practices. We obviously don’t want people to feel like they need to do something that they don’t want to do.”
Honor Council Chairman Tommy Gowen agrees with Mr. Fifer.
“The key for EA Day haircuts is that it stays an optional thing; the real damage is when you require people to do it,” Gowen said. “But if it is with people consenting, it is a great thing.”
Another key tradition for EA week is the EA Day video. The Sixth Form typically mimics their teachers and films a short comedy video to promote EA Day spirit. Many people believe the videos encompass humor and community bonding.
“Every year, we get to see a new grade showcase their work, and it is also a fun way to get started. It also shows a sense of community, which is a contrast to the competitiveness of the event,” Fifth Former Anantivir Othie said. “Even though there are some inside jokes in it, I still believe it's a really funny video.”
Some faculty and students, though, believe that the video is not inclusive of the entire Sixth Form and is sometimes even disrespectful.
“The EA video has potential to be really community-building, but recently it’s felt like it’s just about a select group of seniors, not the whole community. It ends up being about a few guys who think they’re really funny, and the video reflects only their sense of humor—without recognizing that there are 400-something kids in the school who might not think it’s funny,” Mr. Kolade said.
“The video has crept into content that is not school-appropriate and does not meet the objectives of bringing the community together in meaningful ways,” Mr. Fifer said.
Clash Royale dominates the school
Clash Royale, also known as just Clash, is now approaching its tenth anniversary in 2026, while remaining the go-to mobile game for students. Only a handful of games—especially on mobile platforms—manage to have relevance after a decade, raising the question: what makes this strategic yet simple game consistently played among today’s students?
Developed by Supercell, Clash Royale is a fast-paced strategy experience. Players gather and upgrade digital cards that represent different troops, spells, and buildings. In each match, two competitors battle inside an arena, deploying these cards to attack their opponents’ towers while also defending their own. Decisions happen in seconds, utilizing thinking, time, and strategy. The combination of teamwork through clans and duels and the three-minute matches allows students to engage with each other.
One reason Clash has stayed so popular is its social and competitive nature. The main goal is to collect trophies, which you earn by winning matches or lose by losing matches. The game’s clan system allows for friends to team up, share cards, and challenge each other in matches. Matches turn into exciting
“I think it’s hard to put together a school-appropriate video that is funny and can bring the community together.”
However, Gowen is working on a video that attempts to address all of these controversies.
“We are definitely tackling a lot of the criticisms in years past of previous videos. I can’t talk too much about it, but there will be one scene at the end where we texted in the grade group chat, ‘anyone who wants to be in this last scene, please show up,’” Gowen said.
Gowen explained how he handled the challenge of not being able to include everyone in the video.
“We have a lot of different people involved, we have people from each sport involved, of course, we have to pick a few kids to have roles, but you will definitely see a lot more faces than in years past,” Gowen said.
“For our plot, it will be entirely Haverford-based, and there will be no inside jokes. It is humor that I think will really apply to the school, and that people will find enjoyable.”
Overall, the community feels that EA Day has a positive impact on the school.
“I’d say [rivalries] are all positive, I think it brings us together, it strengthens us, and makes our brotherhood stronger,” Rouse said.
“I think EA Week overall makes this place great,” Mr. Kolade said. “For kids who are new to Haverford and have never seen this before, it’s awesome. This is the perfect way to understand that this is what they’re talking about. This is what brotherhood means. This is what it really means to go to Haverford.”
moments of friendly (or competitive) competition that bring students together.
Changes in Clash happen constantly, maintaining the game’s fresh feeling. Each month, a new season is released, bringing new features.
“Some changes are better than others, but the game stays entertaining,” Fourth Former Barclay Green said.
Still, interest in Clash across the upper school naturally rises and falls throughout the year. There are times when the game has very little activity, and others when many are playing, often through the influence of one another.
“Every time I [quit] the game, I always come back,” Fourth Former Benno Goldstein said.
The game has experienced a recent comeback.
“You’re almost guaranteed to find a couple of guys in the library or in classrooms playing Clash,” Green said.
Clash Royale additionally fits well into the student life because of its accessibility and popularity. Students often have to juggle homework, sports, and social lives, leaving little time for lengthy video games. However,
Clash’s three-minute matches fit in perfectly. Still, some students admit that the game is time-consuming and even disruptive, due to its addictive nature.
Nostalgia encourages many students to play Clash Royale. Most, if not all, students have had a Clash phase at one point or another. This cumulative nostalgic experience turns Clash Royale into more than just another mobile game; it’s a part of student culture, passed down from grade to grade, like a school tradition.
Another reason for Clash’s popularity
is its position in the gaming culture. It has recently become dominant on social media, and its simplistic mechanics and high intensity have made it appealing.
It will be interesting to see if the game can maintain popularity with students in the years ahead.
With approximately
47.4 million active players from nearly every country, the game shows no signs of slowing down.
As long as the game stays updated and present in the community, Clash’s crown in student life seems to be secure.
Students cheering on Soccer team during EA Day
CHARLIE SCHREIBER ’26
Wilson Schiffer's portrait of his brother from the Digital Arts & Design class
WILSON SCHIFFER ’28
Vaughn Smartt '28 and Andrew Yang '28
Red Lot parking problems find solutions
Ayush Varma ’27
On the edges of Lower Merion and Haverford Townships, the 30-acre Haverford campus comes alive every morning. Countless Sixth Formers scramble to find parking as the day begins, hoping to secure a spot close to school.
At 8:15, the rush isn’t just about finding a space; it’s also about avoiding a late slip, recognizing two-hour parking limits, and staying composed with college deadlines looming.
Every weekday morning, this chaos unfolds.
Last Friday marked the fourth time since early September that students have been denied parking access in the Red Lot. Students’ complaints about parking could be heard echoing across campus.
The issue, while a simple one, takes time, effort, and resources to amend.
“We have a small campus; there are certain events that take place on our campus throughout the year. Dozens of them require visitors to have priority parking. Therefore, seniors will be asked to move,” Sixth Form Student Dean Mr. Will Leech said. “The seniors are the least important. The faculty and visitors should both get preferential parking before the seniors.”
Students and faculty alike agree on the fact that it all comes down to priorities and needs.
“Obviously, it’s annoying to lose parking, but I get why they do it,” Sixth Former Jack Ford stated. “Students know where to park off-campus much better than the parents do, so it makes sense that the parents get to use the parking lots for special events.”
“If we’re having an open house event, we cannot have prospective parents look-
ing for parking. The priority is the visitors,”
Dean of Students Mr. Luqman Kolade said.
“It’s not that the seniors are not that important; it’s just a matter of a hierarchy of needs, and the biggest priority on a day like that is that visitors to campus have space.”
In fact, the hierarchy not only affects students, with teachers sometimes losing their parking spots during all-year events.
The school has addressed this problem by opening the grass lot on Panmure, which has been an efficient solution for the days when
students do not have access to the Red Lot.
“The seniors often get relocated to the grass lot on Panmure, which we have recently opened up to alleviate pressure on the seniors,” Mr. Leech said. “The lot is manned by public safety, and weather permitting, the lot will always be accessible when the Red Lot is closed. This year, I am making sure every space in the Red Lot is filled every day.”
Students have found the grass lot extremely helpful.
“The school is starting to open the grass
The unprecedented rise of “six-seven”
Over the last few months, the phrase “six-seven” has been thrown around.
What does it mean?
The phrase comes from American rapper Skrilla’s song “Doot Doot (67)” when he says lyrics regarding events on the highway. According to the Philadelphia-based rapper, the phrase references 67th Street in Philadelphia. However, some have tied it to the police code 10-67, which connotes the existence of a dead body.
Shortly after the release of this song, a flurry of edits about professional basketball player LaMelo Ball were created, referencing how he is 6 feet 7 inches tall.
In the United States, the phrase can be found in nearly every middle and high school across the nation. This begs the question: why do students find “six-seven” funny?
“People only think it’s funny because it is commonly used,” Third Former Berkin Kinalikaya said. “I think that people may say they find it funny, but nobody actually
does.”
History Teacher Mr. LaJuan Foust said, “It is completely idiotic. Every year, I have to ban phrases or words like ‘six-seven.’ I basically had to ban any reference to The Minecraft Movie as well because people just kept saying stupid stuff all the time.”
Students alike also find the “six-seven” jokes to be disruptive.
“‘Six-seven’ disrupts my class because when a teacher mentions the numbers six or seven at all, all my classmates start laughing,
lot, making it significantly easier to find parking when the Red Lot is closed,” Ford said. “If the Panmure [lot] is full, though, it can be hard to find parking since most of the streets around Haverford have two-hour parking limits.”
Building on Ford’s point, Sixth Former Seth Virmani said, “I think last year, parking may have been more of a problem, but the grass lot is very helpful this year. It’s not a bad lot, especially considering there’s nothing truly special about a parking lot.”
and then the teacher takes like three minutes out of the class to yell at us,” Kinalikaya said. Over the last few years, we have seen many memes come and go. At their zenith, they all seem like they are going to stick around for a while, but they always die out. So, what is next for meme culture?
“Meme culture is gonna continue, but I feel like memes are going to get dumber, and memes are going to get violent and inappropriate,” Mr. Foust said.
English Teacher Dr. Del Rosario said, “I don’t think meme culture will change. ‘Sixseven’ is a basic example of meme culture, although it is much more mind-numbing than other memes.”
“Meme culture is pretty cooked,” Kinalikaya said. “If we are getting to a point where two numbers are funny, then I don’t know what we’ve come to. I remember when memes used to be funny, but now all we can come up with are two numbers.”
Alex Keuffel ’29 and Will Thorkelson ’29
Bus line after school in the Red Lot
CHARLIE SCHREIBER '26
features
Coursework, clubs, and community: Ryan Shams’ intricate balance
For most high school students, simultaneously taking intensive honors classes, participating in extracurricular activities, joining clubs, and maintaining a social life can be strenuous. Still, Sixth Former Ryan Shams has managed this balance for the past three years.
“I would say it comes down to dedi-
cating time to each thing. I like to plan out my schoolwork, extracurriculars, and events I go to. On the weekdays, I mainly focus on schoolwork, then any extra time I have is dedicated to extracurriculars,” Shams said.
“My weekends are kind of a mix of social life and work. Typically, I enjoy attending school events like the football games and
A
in the life of Mr. Kolade
What are the chances of winning the lottery? 1 in 100,000? 1 in a million? Try 1 in 300 million. These odds mirror the chances of students going to school without seeing the Dean of Students Mr. Luqman Kolade.
Mr. Kolade is everywhere, whether chatting it up with a student, finding absent students, or greeting those who pass by. This begs the question: what does a day in the life of the ubiquitous Mr. Kolade look like?
In his youth, Mr. Kolade struggled to see himself taking up a profession other than a lawyer, doctor, or engineer, because those were the only occupations considered to be “acceptable” by his immigrant parents.
“I would’ve never thought I’d eventually start teaching,” Mr. Kolade said.
As a kid, Mr. Kolade enjoyed school as he balanced studies with a successful track career.
“Grades were always my priority,” Mr. Kolade said. “If I did badly in school, sports were the first thing to go.”
Mr. Kolade later accepted a track and field offer at the University of Pennsylvania. During college, he found himself in pursuit of a profession that best suited him.
“I tried lots of different things, but none of them felt right for me,” Mr. Kolade said.
A friend of his suggested that he try teaching, which Mr. Kolade then found enjoyable.
“It was cool, and I like engaging with students,” Mr. Kolade said.
Despite the friction to persuade his parents, Mr. Kolade knew that teaching was his passion. His parents later agreed after he read to them a heartfelt letter from a student whose life he had changed. After reading it, Mr. Kolade’s mother tearfully told him, “This is what you were meant to do.”
Since becoming a teacher, Mr. Kolade’s day couldn’t be busier.
After getting to school every morning at 7:45, Mr. Kolade catches up with Mr. Fifer and goes through recent emails.
Then, he attends meetings, finds students, responds to emails, and teaches English.
Overall, Mr. Kolade thoroughly enjoys his job, with his favorite part being the bonds he builds with students.
However, Mr. Kolade also faces a great deal of stress dealing with so many students.
“My least favorite part is when kids are obviously lying, and emailing can be tedious. But overall, I am pretty happy,” Mr. Kolade said.
Mr. Kolade also has two young children, who both attend Haverford.
He enjoys the convenience of having his kids be able to walk to his office after school.
“My kids are still at that age where having a dad who works at their school is cool, and I’m happy about that,” Mr. Kolade said.
By minimizing work at home, Mr. Kolade can spend more time forming meaningful relationships with his sons. To achieve that, he focuses on staying organized and managing time effectively. However, Mr.
then hanging out with friends.”
To Shams, extra-curricular activities are vital.
His favorite activity is Model UN, an activity in which students portray the United Nations’ attempt to form legislation and debate over issues of conflict.
“I’ve been doing it for all four years. Starting off, I just tried it out and went to one internal conference, and now I have more of a leadership role there,” Shams said. “Going to conferences has been a great experience for public speaking and working with others, and I would say it’s just been a lot of fun.”
One reason Shams enjoys Model UN so much is because of the fond memories he has gained from attending external conferences.
“I really like the ILMUNC Model-UN Conference [hosted at the University of Pennsylvania]. I have been going for the past three years, and a lot of my friends were there [with me]. It was a really fun conference,” Shams said. “In terms of social setting, it was also pretty fun with the delegate festival and other events inside. I also enjoyed walking around the city and exploring new places.”
The research club is another vital club to Shams.
“I would say the Research Club is also a crucial part of my high school life. I started that club last year, and it’s been great. I enjoy working with others to do different kinds of research. We already have a couple of papers published on sports injuries, aching injuries, and water quality.”
However, while it may seem straightforward, Shams didn’t always know what he wanted to do.
“It used to be very overwhelming, like how many different options for clubs and activities [were offered],” Shams said. “It was kind of like overthinking, and I was stressing about it too much, but then over time, I eventually found my interests and stuff, and I stopped stressing and overthinking it.”
While Shams may make it seem easy to handle so much work at once, having a stable support network was helpful.
“I would say the college counseling team has been a major support network I can rely on. I also have to give credit to my advisor, Mr. Stuart Alden, and teachers from the past few years as well,” Shams said.
Shams is not just proud of his growth in academics, but also of his school spirit.
“It was only possible by going out of my comfort zone,” Shams said. “Having school spirit and attending school events is really important for building community.”
While Shams can be seen as an academically focused student, he emphasizes that going to school events is equally important.
“When you are supporting your school and building the community, it helps you develop on a personal level and develop new connections you wouldn’t have developed otherwise,” Shams said. “It can be any school events like pep rallies, sports games, and school dances. These events help with making new friendships, and it goes back to the idea of getting out of your comfort zone.”
Kolade is not so different from students.
“I’m not immune to procrastination,” Mr. Kolade said. “Sometimes I catch myself on my phone too much when I should be writing emails.”
To combat this, he uses applications to keep himself on track.
“I use apps to time myself,” Mr. Kolade said. “For example, chunks of fifteen minutes when I’m grading a student’s paper.”
Mr. Kolade also emphasizes the importance of keeping notes.
“That’s why I have my iPad during assemblies,” Mr. Kolade said. “So I can keep track of the important things I need to cover.”
However, habits are hard to maintain— so how does one stay on track?
“Accountability,” Mr. Kolade said. “And even using reminders helps.”
As a result, he can finish most of his work before he goes home, a possibility that most students could only dream of.
Many may think, Wow, Mr. Kolade’s day seems impressive, but what about his future?
“To be honest, I’m excited. I’m excited to see my kids grow up, experience the next chapter of my life, and be present in the moment,” Mr. Kolade said. “I’m happy, and that’s all that matters.”
INDEX STAFF
Ryan Shams '26
Edward Cheung ’28
day
Mr. Kolade outside the Upper School office
JESSE KANEFSKY ’29
Colin Park ’29 and Stanley Hu ’29
neighborhood
Qdoba closes its Bryn Mawr location
It’s a wrap for Lancaster Avenue’s Qdoba Mexican Eats.
Despite the closing, the nationwide Mexican chain—the Starry to Chipotle’s Sprite—still has its fans, especially if you think charging extra for guac or queso is a rip off. The restaurant’s closure also seems to be at odds with food preferences throughout the country. In fact, Qdoba was named “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” on USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for the seventh straight year.
So, what caused the decline of the Bryn Mawr location?
The saying “location, location, location” seems to be true for Qdoba. The one on Lancaster Avenue was located in an area with a lot of food options. Just across the street were Hope’s Cookies and SNAP Custom Pizza & Salad. If you expand the travel radius, diners can find popular fast-casual chains like CAVA, Sweetgreen, and Shake Shack. Qdoba is close, but not close enough
to the nearby colleges of Villanova, Swarthmore, Bryn Mawr, and Haverford.
With so many students in the general vicinity, one would think of Qdoba as thriving, at least until winter and summer breaks, but that is simply not happening.
Haverford students don’t have much of an appetite for Qdoba either.
Fourth Former Alton Tiongco shared his thoughts on his go-to food spots near campus.
“I would go to SNAP or Hope’s Cookies. I’ve never been much of a Qdoba fan as I prefer Chipotle,” Tiongco said.
Qdoba’s closure reflects a larger trend in students today: they value speed, affordability, and social spaces over traditional sit-down meals.
Tiongco also reflected on Qdoba’s decline in popularity.
“Qdoba was popular when I was at Shipley, especially with seniors,” Tiongco said. “I think that what made Qdoba less apparent was that they served much heavier meals, while SNAP or Hope’s were either smaller snacks or quick desserts.”
Qdoba’s closure reflects a larger trend in students today: they value speed, affordability, and social spaces over traditional sit-down meals. With busy schedules and limited free time, they often look for places where they can grab something quickly between classes or after school without paying too much. Restaurants that offer a relaxed environment for groups to hang out, while still keeping service fast and prices reasonable, tend to at-
The wonders of Wonder
On April 3, 2025, a new restaurant opened its doors on Lancaster Avenue less than a mile away from Haverford. Its name is Wonder.
Behind its doors is a simple dining area with some small tables and chairs, a counter with two kiosks for ordering, and a view of the large kitchen where the food is prepared. The simplicity of the interior is part
of Wonder’s mission to reinvent the classic food court.
Wonder’s slogan is “A new kind of food hall,” which takes shape in its locations, where dishes from more than a dozen established restaurants are available to order—all cooked in the same kitchen. These meals are made at a central processing facility in New Jersey, and are then shipped to the food halls,
tract more student traffic than full-service or heavier dining options.
Students’ eating habits have also shifted from full, heavy meals to faster, more customizable meals and lighter bites. Places like CAVA, Sweetgreen, and SNAP are diet-friendly, letting students build their own meals.
Social media trends drive where students go—popular, “Instagrammable” spots in Suburban Square attract more attention. In this changing food culture, Qdoba’s heavier menu, limited options, and slower pace simply couldn’t match what students were
looking for. Even when students did crave Qdoba’s cuisine, such as a burrito bowl, they would go to Chipotle instead.
Beyond changing tastes, Qdoba likely faced rising rents and labor costs along Lancaster Avenue. To make matters worse, its brick building is anything but unique, and its signage doesn’t do much to stand out in such a crowded market. Post-COVID habits also shifted dining patterns, with more students skipping sit-down meals and opting instead for takeout or delivery.
In the end, Qdoba’s closing wasn’t just about competition—it reflected how stu-
where they are prepared in ovens and fryers, allowing food to come out quickly and efficiently.
crispy flavorful chicken, crunchy pickles, and a spicy aioli, all for only six dollars. If you’re not in the mood for a chicken sandwich, though, there are dozens of other options to choose from.
Though it’s not perfect, the food is much better than any fast-food restaurant, and is on par with mid-range restaurants for just a fraction of the price.
Wonder’s mission is to make ordering a variety of food as easy as possible. Because all of the meals are prepared in the same location, customers can choose any dish they like from any cuisine and combine it into one order, whereas other delivery services would require multiple orders. These restaurants include American, Mediterranean, Thai, Middle Eastern cuisine, and more.
But is the food actually good? Though it’s not perfect, the food is much better than any fast-food restaurant, and is on par with mid-range restaurants for just a fraction of the price. The food comes out quickly, taking around ten to twenty minutes for instore pickup and around twenty to thirty minutes for delivery.
My personal favorite dish from Wonder is the spicy chicken sandwich from Streetbird, which features a soft potato roll with
From its modern, minimalistic branding and its options for trendier food like poké and intricate salads, it’s clear that Wonder is designed to appeal to younger generations, like students. Wonder may also appeal to families, since family members can eat a variety of cuisines while keeping the ordering process simple, a selling point the company has advertised on online platforms like YouTube and Instagram.
Not everything about Wonder is perfect. Online reviews of Wonder as a whole are mixed, suggesting that the chain has quality-control issues.
Not everything about Wonder is perfect. Online reviews of Wonder as a whole are mixed, suggesting that the chain has quality-control issues; many reviews say that the food they received was of lower quality than they expected. Despite this, the location in Ardmore has high reviews, I believe that Wonder is absolutely worth checking out for a quick bite to eat.
Byron Yang ’28
Qdoba’s closed location in Bryn Mawr
Kent Foo ’28
Wonder, on Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore
campus opinions
After sluggishly moving through the lunch line for an eternity, pushing through the overpopulated crowds as I go, I eagerly walk to the table with my food, only to realize that all the seats are taken. It seems that everywhere I go, it is way too crowded. Populated chairs hang off the edges of tables, and not a quiet moment exists.
How did this problem happen in the first place? What can we do to fix it?
Most importantly, one thing is clear: A-lunch is overcrowded, whereas B-lunch is often emptier. Why is this?
Upper School Dean of Students Mr. Luqman Kolade points to Haverford’s schedule as one factor in the disproportionate lunch crowds.
“If you have a free, no one waits for Second [Lunch]; they always go to First Lunch,” Mr. Kolade said.
A significant portion of the A-lunch crowd includes students with free periods during lunch. Thanks to Haverford’s scheduling system, students with a free block during lunch may choose which one to attend. The majority of students in this situation
Ever since I transferred from my public school in eighth grade to Haverford, one thing has been missing from my education: field trips.
Throughout my three-and-a-quarter years at Haverford, I haven’t had many field trips.
I think that for specific classes, they are an important part of education.
You can get hands-on experience with the material that you are learning about in class, and it can help to engage more visual learners.
Additionally, some things are easier to
Lunch is overcrowded, so here’s how we can fix it
rush to A-lunch to eat as soon as possible. However, this perpetuates the dining hall’s congestion.
I don’t think people realize that they can wait: it’s actually easier if you just wait the first fifteen [or] twenty minutes if you have double lunches, and then come in. You can still eat sometimes with your friends, but then also not have to deal with a line”
MR. LUQMAN KOLADE
Many possible solutions to the free-period overcrowding of A-lunch present them-
selves. To start, students should be incentivized to wait until the end of A-lunch or later before venturing to the dining hall.
Mr. Kolade largely agrees.
“I don’t think people realize that they can wait: it’s actually easier if you just wait the first fifteen [or] twenty minutes if you have double lunches, and then come in,” Mr. Kolade said. “You can still eat sometimes with your friends, but then also not have to deal with a line.”
The prospect of shorter lines alone should provide free-period lunchgoers with a reason to wait a little longer before eating, yet clearly this is not happening.
The school should instead provide a tangible incentive to eat during less crowded times; for example, points totaling to individual dress-down days could easily be implemented.
Besides the lines, dining-hall tables are too often at capacity. Students need another place to eat besides just the dining hall. However, there are not that many alternatives available: tables outside the dining hall provide some extra seating, but are almost always taken; some students have ventured
to the basketball or football fields, but this has been banned because some have failed to clean up after themselves.
So, where can students go?
In the case of warm weather, more outside seating is needed, three tables do not suffice. Adding a few more tables outside, even on the grass in the Quad, would alleviate pressure on the strained seating arrangement inside. For colder weather, outdoor seating would not work, so we must consider indoor options. The Big Room and the Durham Community Room are some places that could serve as prime lunch nooks.
However, without constant supervision, such as during Advisory time, these places would accumulate rubbish faster and more frequently than they already do.
Tables could be added to so many other places if there were no problems with trash. The behavior of our student body is ultimately what hinders more and better seating for lunch.
Largely, though, incentivizing those who can to wait fifteen minutes before going to lunch may solve more than one might assume.
The school should offer more field trips
understand when you have a physical object that you can study. I strongly believe our curriculum could be freshened with field trips.
On top of field trips that have to do with a particular course, I think the school should offer field trips that are broader so
that everyone in a particular grade can go on them.
This would lead to days that people look forward to, and would help with motivation for students.
Boosting morale leads to more students
who are engaged in their classes, and by increasing the number of students who are actively participating in their classes, the number of students who engage in other areas increases. This creates a ripple effect that will strengthen the Haverford community.
Jonny Wang ’26
Adam Brown ’27
off-campus opinions
For students and faculty, the morning of October 20th, 2025 began like any other. At around 9:00 a.m., as teachers prepared their morning classes and students were checking their assignments, the Canvas learning-management system suddenly stopped working. We rely on Canvas for all subjects, although for some subjects more than others. In languages such as English, Latin, and Spanish, teachers can return to print texts and translation.
Biology, physics, and chemistry can evolve into laboratory-based practices, but computer science is reliant upon access to Canvas and other online technologies. Luckily, the response to this “educational emergency” was well organized and orchestrated, with teachers sending students study guides and important tests via Gmail, which fortunately was unaffected by the Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage.
In this modern era of technology, it begs the question: what exactly happened on October 20th, 2025, and could it happen again?
Let’s start with defining AWS: It is a vast collection of services from Amazon’s data centers that thousands of companies use. By hosting complex, large, and pricey services such as storage, databases of users, and computing power, AWS allows smaller organizations and individuals to avoid investing in or managing their own complex data physically. AWS is a form of “cloud computing,” constantly handling a colossal amount of data every millisecond across an interconnected network of services.
One of the core issues with cloud computing is the single point of failure.
If even a small part of Amazon’s infrastructure fails, it can trigger a cascade of problems for millions of businesses, institutions, and individuals. This cost-effective
One tiny update, one huge outage: how AWS brought the U.S. to a screeching halt
interconnected web of dependence creates a vulnerability—one that, as the outage on October 20th demonstrated, can ripple across the global economy.
In this particular incident, the problem wasn’t just isolated to AWS—services that didn’t even use AWS were affected.
Imagine an internal company messaging service like Slack. When Slack went down due to the AWS outage, companies that used Slack couldn’t reach their employees such as ACME found its operations grinding to a halt.
The origin of this outage, found after 14 hours of frantic troubleshooting, was a faulty technical update to a core system called DynamoDB, responsible for managing and retrieving databases for Amazon and its clients.
A small error in the update rendered DynamoDB completely unusable for the US-EAST-1 region as services couldn’t find the correct server addresses for much of their data, leaving applications and websites in the dark.
Amazon, in its ongoing effort to keep its services running smoothly and up-to-date, faces an influx of thousands of updates every day. This makes it impossible to thoroughly test each one before rolling it out. The sheer scale of AWS’s infrastructure requires rapid deployment of updates to keep up with demand, but as we’ve seen, this can result in overlooked vulnerabilities.
To prevent such disruptions, Amazon could implement a multi-region cloud setup, where user requests can be rerouted to another working region if a region is down. However, things can get tricky: if the failure detection mechanism doesn’t work—or worse, if the interconnectedness of services causes the failure to spread unnoticed—then
simply rerouting requests to another region won’t help.
In this case, the interdependence of AWS’s services became a single point of failure for the whole system.
Another factor in Amazon’s ongoing review is cost: is charging two million dollars over one million for the cloud setup worth it for a 20 percent increase in development time and 40 percent increase in speed of cloud services?
So, all this information begs the question: could this happen again? Absolutely. The fact that a single update could bring down a critical system—affecting not just AWS clients but unrelated services as well— is a clear warning sign that the very thing that makes cloud computing attractive (its interconnectedness and scalability) is also its Achilles' heel.
Education and technology go hand in hand, and Haverford should see how it could future-proof itself from other outages to Canvas by creating a plan of action with versatility for all subjects, teachers, and students.
Amazon Web Services Office in Houston, Texas
Jayden Thomas ’27
TONY WEBSTER VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Many members of the Haverford community have been affected by cancer, in one way or another.
In recent months, scientists and physicians have been developing and experimenting with a so-called “cancer vaccine.” Such an advancement in medicine seems like groundbreaking news, which begs the question: does it work? Perhaps the answer to this question is not yet definitive.
These early vaccines were designed to target pancreatic and bowel cancer. Pancreatic cancer, which affects one of the digestive glands in the abdomen, is known to be rare but dangerous. It is aggressive and difficult to diagnose early. Bowel cancer, though more common, is much less aggressive and therefore less deadly.
It affects the large intestine and rectum. The development of a vaccine is necessary because of these cancers’ specific tendencies to reemerge and regrow following initial treatment, such as surgical operations and chemotherapy.
A cancer vaccine would prompt immune cells to help defend the body against cancerous cells, helping to prevent the cancer from spreading and tumors from growing.
Trials for the vaccine have already begun. What sets this specific vaccine apart is its large-scale production, thereby eliminating the need to make each vaccine specific to the patient’s proteins.
Findings published by Nature Medicine suggest that the vaccine could have meaningful implications for future cancer patients.
On a cold Sunday morning, four thieves dressed in construction vests pulled off a daring heist that seemed like it was taken straight out of a movie.
In only seven minutes, these thieves escaped on their electric scooters with 102 million dollars worth of priceless jewelry.
It was quick, clean, and in the moment, successful.
The news of the heist has spread like wildfire, leaving many shocked.
At Haverford, talk of this heist made its way into classrooms and hallways. Third
Experimental vaccine to fight cancer prompts immune response
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York
They revealed that the vaccine helped highrisk patients develop an immune response against cancer cells.
The first phase of the trial included 25 patients who had received prior treatment and were at risk of relapse. After approximately 20 months, 21 of the patients had developed a strong immune response. Across the entire phase, the average survival span after injection was 29 months, while the average time cancer-free was 15 months.
Both of these numbers exceeded expectations for patients with pancreatic and bowel cancer. These findings represent a leap in cancer research that could help prolong and save lives.
The vaccine, now known as ELI-002 2P, was sponsored and funded by Elicio Therapeutics. It was co-developed by many respected institutions, including the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
Though it may be too early to tell, it seems as if an “off-the-shelf” cancer vaccine may be nearer than once thought. According to some of the best researchers in the world, it seems as if we are making steps in the right direction.
I view these advancements as a milestone in cancer research. It represents progress towards greater innovations in medicine
and biology, which can help save lives for years to come. Cancer vaccines have promised to succeed on a large scale. Similar research can continue to have a lasting impact on lives worldwide for years to come. Developments like these change the way we view and think about treating diseases. Haverford students should meet this news with excitement. For those with interests in biology, medicine, or other sciences, this news is significant.
Aspiring scientists and physicians should feel motivated by breakthroughs such as the ELI-002 2P vaccine. The vaccine should provide hope that fewer lives will be impacted negatively by cancer in the future.
Why are we so captivated by the Louvre robbery?
Former Simon Davidson described this heist as the “perfect crime.”
“Nobody has pulled off a heist like this in a long time. The whole idea of it is what gets people going,” Davidson said.
Why do daring stories of heists like this captivate us?
Whether in movies like Ocean's Eleven, Money Heist, or the real-life example of the Louvre robbery, people can’t seem to look
away. Movies and TV shows often glorify the idea of executing a successful heist. These criminals are seemingly portrayed as heroes who deserve praise.
The reason Haverford students and many others are obsessed with a story taking place thousands of miles away is because it’s not just about what they stole or where they are; it’s about the planning, the mystique, the chase, and the guts needed to try and
pull this off.
It makes us wonder, Could I pull something like this off?
In the end, maybe that’s the real interest in the heist.
It makes us believe in ourselves. It reminds us that even in a world where cameras, sensors, and AI surveillance are everywhere, we still get a thrill of seeing a well-executed, high-risk plan take place.
Police officers outside the Louvre, the week after the robbery
Alex Schwarting ’29
Colt McDevitt '28
voices
The EA Day rivalry... from the other side
Andrew
Banners crowding the sidelines, students chanting passionately for their teams—the energy in the air was electric.
At the time, I was a young boy wearing my EA blue and white. After all, it was a tradition. I always admired the high school kids who painted their faces, cheered on their teams, and competed on EA Day. As a first grader, I could feel the excitement and school spirit building.
EA’s traditions include spirit week, pep rallies, and other school events leading up to game day; they’re quite similar to the ones at Haverford.
EA’s traditions include spirit week, pep rallies, and other school events leading up to game day; they’re quite similar to the ones at Haverford. The culmination of dedication in practices, games, and matches is celebrated in a full day of sports competitions. Students gather to spur on the various teams: water polo, golf, cross country, soccer, and the most anticipated, football.
Many players get special haircuts that express the team’s bond and their last, largest meeting of the season. As a lower and middle school student at EA, I noticed these special haircuts and thought they were funny, but I also thought they gave athletes a unique,
intense look.
I remember those brisk, early November Saturdays—spending the whole day on EA or Haverford’s campus, running from game to game, supporting EA from the back of the stands because the front was where the big kids rallied. I intently watched the soccer games and aspired to be one of them.
One particular rainy Saturday afternoon at EA, I spent the whole day dashing from game to game, cheering from the back of the stands, my socks soaked from the pouring rain.
Spectating from the bench, it was clear that Haverford’s spirit, with giant flags and drums, overpowered EA’s chirps and chants.
Last year on EA’s soccer team, I got my hair cut by my upperclass friends into an arrow in the middle, like Aang from Avatar On the day of the pep rally and game day, they painted the arrow blue.
Spectating from the bench, it was clear that Haverford’s spirit, with giant flags and drums, overpowered EA’s chirps and chants.
My last memory was sitting on the bench after the soccer game, consoling the crying and heartbroken EA seniors who lost 1-0. The Haverford kids stormed the field at the center circle, jumping up and down, celebrating victory. We silently underwent
The beauty of music
Through music, a pure bond can exist between the physical world and the soul. Music offers unity, connection, and value greater than many other aspects of life.
Rhythm and pitch bring a sense of peace, where your soul drifts amidst the clouds. Perhaps you last felt this when you heard a song you couldn’t refrain from singing, played your favorite instrument, sang in a choir, or felt the satisfaction of hearing your notes fit into a piece and make the music sound the way it should.
In some form or other, we all strive for unity. We want to see how the sports we play, the food we eat, and the travel we experience complement who we are. Yet it is music, in and of itself, that results in a complete sense of integration for those who value it.
In Kindergarten, I began singing in a children’s choir for my church, where I learned how to sing in a group setting and to delight in fellowship. Through our shared squeaky, high-pitched, small-child voices, we became friends. We sang anthems during worship, which brought joy to the congregation.
I progressed to the youth chorale and then began singing here at Haverford. The Glee Club has offered me music different from that of my church choir while still maintaining the connectedness I find at church.
Recently, I joined a handbell ensemble.
I stepped into our first handbell rehearsal, unable to sight-read music, and needed to highlight my score to follow along and contribute. I then taught myself the basics:
the painful walk back to the locker room, which became filled with seniors crying to each other.
At the football game directly after, Haverford was yet again much louder, leading the bleachers in spirit.
In the grand scheme of things, EA Day
goes beyond sports in connecting two school communities. This rivalry builds character and passion, but most importantly, it brings students together. EA Day includes tradition, rivalry, and respect all bound together—which is what makes it worth celebrating each year.
eighth notes, quarter notes, half notes, different techniques to ring the bell—there’s a lot to it.
Now, I am capable of following along with other musicians, ringing my bells at the appropriate time to keep the ensemble in sync. This takes tremendous concentration, and when putting my undivided attention into it during rehearsal, it is the only thing that can truly keep my mind away from the
stressful aspects of my life, such as schoolwork and tests.
Recently, the ensemble began preparing for the church’s Christmas concert. We began with some of the most fantastic hymns like “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” and “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” I was able to follow along and keep rhythm, missing a few notes here and there, but ultimately, I walked out of the room feeling awestruck by beauty,
knowing we had put the music together and that I had contributed..
This makes music so unifying. It takes all the notes to make the piece sound right. Without one, it would not be the same. When it comes together and you hear your part within the group, it is glorifying.
In music, the soul can dance along with the rhythm and free itself into the openness of the world.
Andrew Yang ’28
Yang ’28
Peter McConnell ’26 outside of a science classroom
Peter McConnell ’26
What I’ve learned from my battle with procrastination
When was the last time you found yourself scrolling through your phone, checking your texts, or telling yourself you’ll do it later, while a big essay or project sits unfinished?
Procrastination is the cycle of knowing you need to get ahead, but somehow doing anything but the actual chore.
Procrastination is the cycle of knowing you need to get ahead, but somehow doing anything but the actual chore. It has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; it even disrupted the process of writing this article.
Procrastination is not just “being lazy,” nor is it about being distracted or not try-
ing hard enough. It’s rooted in something far deeper than that. I’ve observed that we frequently procrastinate when the task feels overwhelming—when we are unsure where to start, worried that the outcome won’t be as we envisioned. In those times, avoiding the task feels easier than confronting those feelings. So instead of beginning, I stall. I delay. I wait. For a while, it feels like a relief, until the deadline approaches and the anxiety returns stronger than ever.
I
have tried to combat procrastination in various ways, some successful, some not. There is no one trick, but a few small changes can make a difference.
procrastination isn’t just waiting until later or being lazy.
According to an initiative developed by Boston’s McLean Hospital, mental health experts define procrastination as a “self-defeating behavior pattern marked by short-term benefits and long-term costs.”
British researcher Fuschia M. Sirois goes further, explaining that procrastination is a “common form of self-regulation failure that is linked to negative outcomes,” and that stressful situations can “deplete coping resources and/or lower tolerance for managing negative task-related emotions,” making it even more likely to delay certain tasks. When a task feels overwhelming, uncertain, or risky, our brains naturally choose a solution that might be easier in the moment but is difficult to cope with in the long run. That decision may bring short-term relief, yet results in a long-term penalty.
I have tried to combat procrastination in various ways, some successful, some not. There is no one trick, but a few small changes can make a difference.
The first is what I like to call “the
20-minute rule.” If a task can be completed within a 20-minute period, I complete it right away.
Often, the small assignments pile up and make everything else feel overwhelming. Knocking them out immediately builds momentum and a rhythm that can be used towards finishing other work.
Another mindset is focused on starting, rather than finishing. When I think about writing an entire essay or studying all of the test material, it feels impossible. But when I tell myself to only start the introduction or review the first topic, it instantly feels achievable.
Procrastination is not something that I’ve completely conquered, and it never will be.
But understanding why it happens and using strategies like the 20-minute rule have made it a lot easier to manage. Even writing this article was a struggle, but by using small steps, I made it happen.
Remember, it isn’t about willpower alone; it’s about setting yourself up for success, one small step at a time.
Vikram Ponnuru '29 on Sabol Field
JESSE KANEFSKY ’29
Vikram Ponnuru ’29
Hand sculptures on display in Community Room
Will Komada ’28
Currently on display in the Durham Community Room are original hand sculptures from Mr. Jacob Raeder’s Ceramics Arts class.
Mr. Reader felt that hand sculptures would be the right project for the beginning of the year, as students would be able to demonstrate creativity, while exploring themes and ideas through gestures, along with the symbolism of the hand.
“When looking at these sculptures, you see a lot of kinetic action,” Mr. Raeder said. “For example, a web coming out of Spiderman, or a hand lifting a golf ball. Throughout the whole year, I wanted the boys to consider the degrees of craftsmanship, meaning how well something is executed and how thorough they choose to be in the execution.”
Mr. Raeder encouraged students to get
comfortable using unfamiliar materials such as alginate and hydrostone.
“When working with new materials for the first time, there is always a steep learning curve, and it requires students to exemplify patience and perseverance. I want them to learn how to pivot or deviate from the original plan, which is a very important skill for completing this project,” Mr. Raeder said.
The process of making these hand
Theater II’s
“The Good, the Bad, and the Spooky”
Will
On Halloween, the Theater II class performed an original play in celebration of the spooky season. The play, a ten-minute story called The Good, The Bad, and The Spooky, is about kids who have their candy stolen by bullies on Halloween before a friendly zombie comes to their rescue.
“I only recommended to them that they remain[ed] mindful of the audience’s age when they were writing because we wanted to make sure that everyone understands the relationships and the challenges of the characters presented in the show,”
MR. DARREN HENGST
sculptures is not an easy task. First the students choose a gesture, then they cast the hands in alginate—which gives their mold a life-like impression—before casting hydrostone into that mold.
“It
is extremely inspiring to me how ideas catch fire in the art room.”
MR. JACOB RAEDER
Depending on how well the cast turned out, some students had to use a sculptable epoxy to fix anything that went wrong.
The students then chose how they wanted to mount the piece, the first part being the gesture, and the second being the stand.
“During the casting process, there are so many moments of intense activity alongside moments of intense drive,” Mr. Raeder said. “I would like them [the students] to ask themselves, ‘How am I using the downtime productively to be experimenting or testing?’”
Mr. Raeder is fascinated by how much students can inspire each other in the art room, even in small, subtle ways.
“If someone wants to use foam for the base, then someone else may also be inspired to use foam as well. If someone is making a Marvel-themed hand, then other students may be inspired to do so as well,” Mr. Raeder said.
“It is extremely inspiring to me how ideas catch fire in the art room.”
develop an original Halloween-themed play. On previous Halloweens, he had his students read stories to lower school students; this year, he wanted to get his students more involved with this tradition.
“I had the students all gather in groups and come up with two to three story pitches that they presented to-the-class, and they all voted on which one we’d like to move forward with,” Mr. Hengst said. “We then broke the story down into beats (segments of the play) and each group took a beat and wrote the dialogue for it, so every single student had a stake in the script. We then turned that into a working script and cast the roles.”
The Theater II students chose to focus on friendship as the play’s theme. Students knew that the play had to appeal to a young audience.
“I only recommended to them that they remain[ed] mindful of the audience’s age when they were writing because we wanted to make sure that everyone understands the relationships and the challenges of the characters presented in the show,” Mr. Hengst said.
In preparation, the class read through the script to make sure that everyone understood their assignments and that there were
no plot holes.
Before performing the show, they rehearsed the play and worked out the technical elements, such as lighting and sound, in Centennial Hall.
Their dedication paid off as it was wellreceived and widely enjoyed by the audience. Mr. Hengst and the Theatre II class remain hopeful that this will become a new tradition, helping to build connections and camaraderie across school divisions.
“It was an extremely fun process for the boys,” Mr. Hengst said, “and I’m excited they had an opportunity to perform in front of the younger students.”
WILL KOMADA ’28
Performing Arts Department Chair Mr. Darren Hengst challenged his students to
Adam Brown '27, right, in a scene from last year's fall play Enron
Komada ’28
Hand sculpture by Danny Deering ‘28 in the Durham Community Room
Laufey fuses genres at Xfinity Mobile Arena
Brandyn Luong ’27
The XFinity Mobile Arena, formerly known as the Wells Fargo Center, a venue usually dedicated to sports championships, recently hosted an event that felt like a cultural revival. On October 24th, Laufey, the 26-year-old Icelandic singer-songwriter, brought her unique blend of jazz, classical, and pop to the arena as part of her A Matter of Time tour. More compelling than the tour itself is her devoted fanbase, proving a new generation is ready to embrace and elevate timeless sounds.
This wasn’t a typical concert. It was a long-anticipated moment marking an artist revolutionizing the music space.
For Fifth Former Robert PiergiovanniJames, seeing Laufey live was the culmination of years of dedication to her music.
“I’ve been a fan since Form I,” he said. “’From the Start’ was actually my gateway to Laufey.”
The fans’ dedication points to the heart of Laufey’s appeal—she revives old genres and pays homage to the past with a distinctly new perspective.
The successful trip, however, actually hinged on his friend, Fifth Former Kiefer Williams, who advised him to pre-order tickets before the last school year ended. Securing those tickets with his friend, like many fans, was an act of intentional effort: carving out time for something they love deeply.
The atmosphere in the venue was a world away from a typical stadium scene. Arriving around seven o’clock, PiergiovanniJames quickly passed through security and came to his seat in just five minutes.
The audience, composed mostly of high school and college students, used the
night for self-expression. Outfits were far from casual wear, many an elaborate homage to Laufey’s aesthetic: people dressed up in full bedazzled dresses, milkmaid tops, and whimsical accessories like clock purses. Piergiovanni-James embraced this too, wearing an all-black turtleneck with gold accents.
The fans’ dedication points to the heart of Laufey’s appeal—she revives old genres and pays homage to the past with a distinctly new perspective. Her sound, a refreshing mix of classic jazz and bossa nova, creates a powerful, genre-defying feel that is distinctly familiar and approachable for younger generations.
For all the emotional connection and artistry, the student experience at the XFinity Mobile Arena was undoubtedly a product of modern music consumption. Before the era of smartphones and accessible streaming platforms, artists primarily made revenue from album sales. Now, with music accessible everywhere, the business model has shifted to the live show—tickets are much more expensive and in greater demand.
As expected, lines were long, but the sheer desire for physical mementos was clear: the merchandise line wrapped around the stadium to the escalators even before the show began.
Once the house lights dropped, Piergiovanni-James saw in that moment the culmination of months of waiting. The production solidified to him Laufey’s unique place as a musician who commanded the stage alongside a string orchestra—a refreshing take compared to artists who rely on a backing track.
The production was a visual echo of the music’s complexity, vastly changing between songs. Piergiovanni-James pointed out that the lighting was surreal, helping to immerse the audience in the different moods expressed by her music. During the emotional, bossa nova-esque “Silver Lining,” the stage was filled with red tones. In stark contrast, the lights shifted to an earthy, somber blue
for the song “Bored,” perfectly matching the emotion of the sound.
The set changes, as Piergiovanni-James described, were “undetectable.” Props like a clock or a castle were seamlessly wheeled on
and off, and dancers contributed to the show with stylized, fluid movements like moving their legs to resemble a clock’s hands. The song “Sabotage” even surprised Piergiovanni-James during the transition, highlighting the performance’s dynamic range.
The elaborate stagecraft and highpriced logistics ultimately melted away during Laufey’s most intimate moment. The artist, having sold out Philadelphia’s biggest arena, paused to express gratitude for her fans, who support what she loves doing by coming to see her.
Laufey has a profound impact on her audience, who all share the same cathartic experience. For fans like Piergiovanni-James, who had anticipated this night for months, witnessing her success validated years of dedication to her music.
The concert was more than just a performance: it was a powerful statement on the genre as a whole. Even as the means of consuming music are constantly evolving, its universal and connective power remains timeless.
“I still can’t believe I got to see her in person,” Piergiovanni-James said. “It really lived up to my expectations.”
Laufey at the XFinity Mobile Arena on October 24, 2025
COURTESY OF JACK FORD ’26
Matt Lo '27, Jack Ford '26, Talan Maury '26, and Kaiser Zhao '26 at the Laufey concert
COURTESY OF JACK FORD ’26
Water polo aims to reverse result against EA
This season, the water polo team has experienced many changes but has improved greatly in the last month.
“The loss against EA really shook us. We hadn’t lost to EA in seven years, so we were really surprised.”
THOMAS SPRINGER ’27
On October 3rd, the Fords played Episcopal Academy in a highly competitive match. The game went back and forth as both teams traded blows, with the Fords eventually falling at the hands of a late goal, finishing 10-12. Following the game, many players felt determined to turn the season around.
“The loss against EA really shook us. We hadn’t lost to EA in seven years, so we were really surprised. It definitely gave us some motivation to go out and play our hardest for the next month,” Fifth Former Thomas Springer said.
Following the loss, the team had dominant wins against the Hill School, Malvern Prep, and Penn Charter, winning by scores of 11-8, 14-5, and 14-9.
Later, the Fords lost to a strong Upper Dublin team with a score of 13-19. However, this could’ve been caused by the loss of their starting goalie, Fifth Former Mookie Dumbar, due to a concussion. Third Form J.V. goalie Bryan Lentz stepped up to play for the varsity for the first time.
“I felt a heavy burden on me to help the team. It was a good experience for me to play at a high level, and, even though we lost, it gave me the determination for the next game against Germantown Academy,” Lentz said.
The Fords followed through with a strong win against Germantown Academy, winning 13-10. Then, this past weekend, the Fords played in Easterns, one of the biggest
Thomas Springer ’27 attracts some defensive heat from Lawrenceville in an 11-3 win on September 17, 2025
tournaments of the year. In their first game, they played the Hill School. The Fords got off to a hot start, leading 5-0, but a flurry of goals by Hill would draw the game closer. However, the Fords held them off to win 1311. In their second game of the day, they rematched against Episcopal Academy, losing 11-13.
“We’ve been training hard since the start of the season, and we’re going to continue to do that to set ourselves up in the best position possible.”
SAM PUTTER ’26
“We had a really hard game against Hill, so people were pretty tired going into the game against Episcopal Academy and weren’t as ready for their physicality,” Sixth Former
Sam Putter said. “Mookie should hopefully be back in for EA Day, which should help a lot as he’s the backbone of the defense.
To prepare for EA Day, the team trains with a new sense of urgency.
“We’ve been training hard since the start of the season, and we’re going to continue to do that to set ourselves up in the best position possible,” Putter said. “In water polo, defense is built on effort. Since EA moves around a lot more than most teams, we’ve been practicing moving around a lot to counter their play style during recent practices.”
The Fords are also going to employ a fast-paced offense.
“Our main focus is going to be on offense, trying to simply outscore EA with our key players,” Putter said.
They are also looking for a more solidified game plan.
“I believe that our players are much stronger than EA’s players, and they’ve simply had better game plans than us. They recently got a new coach who’s been helping
Fords cross country is in good shape
On the morning of November 8th, the cross-country team will set the tone for EA Day. In the past few years, bouts with EA have been uphill battles. This year, the team is looking better than ever.
“This has been the strongest year since I’ve been on the team,” Sixth Form captain Jack Ford said. “If you look at the
average times between the top seven varsity guys at the state championships, it was the lowest time for any Haverford School crosscountry team in the last nine years.”
The team isn’t only strong at the top, though; the strength of the team runs deep.
“We’ve got the best freshman squad we’ve ever had,” Head Coach Mr. Brian Long said. “We’re really excited to see what
they can do against EA, but also for them to get experience on EA Day for the first time.”
Beating EA’s team is no small accomplishment, as they have consistently been competitive.
“EA has a very strong team this year,” Ford said. “They won [second place at] the independent state championships, otherwise known as PAISAA, and they won the InterAc championship.”
Regardless, the team has been hard at work, capitalizing on the home-field advantage.
“We’re doing more speed work because our home course is much flatter,” Mr. Long said. “We’re dropping down our volume and starting to taper and get ready to peak for the end of the season.”
For many runners, EA Day will be much more than just one of the last races. Instead, it is something far more meaningful: an opportunity to represent the grit, dedication, and work it takes to be a Haverford cross-country runner against one of Haverford’s biggest rivals.
“I was excited by what the team was able
their team greatly,” Fifth Former Henry McDade said. “We’ll be looking to craft a strong strategy before our final game.”
“The more people who attend the game to support us, the more confidence we will have.”
SAM PUTTER ’26
With such a difficult game to end the season, the team is looking to get all the support possible.
“The more people who attend the game to support us, the more confidence we will have. How well we play depends on the size of the student section and how much noise they can make,” Putter said. “We will be really happy to have a large crowd, since it will give us the boost of energy we need to perform well.”
to accomplish this year, and I hope we are able to meet expectations for EA Day,” Sixth Form captain Nate Gill said.
Other runners echoed this sentiment.
“For cross country, EA Day is truly special because it’s the culmination of what the boys have been working toward all year,” Fifth Former Thomas Lentz said.
“There are months of summer training that go into preparing for the season, and to be able to lay it all out there against EA on EA Day is just an electric feeling that encapsulates the spirit of what cross country is about.”
Victory or loss, the result of EA Day is largely overshadowed by pride for the team’s talent and work, which in itself is commendable.
“No matter the result, we’re always gonna be proud of these guys,” Mr. Long said. “They’ve worked so hard since May, preparing for this day. Especially for our seniors, it’s a great way for them to capstone their entire four years at Haverford on the track, at home, in front of their classmates.”
Matt Lo ’27
Teddy Walkenhorst ’29 and Ryan Wang ’26
The Fords prepare for last year’s race on EA’s campus
Fords footy looks to win Inter-Ac
Coming off a third consecutive Inter-Ac title, Haverford soccer has been working towards a fourth. The season is winding down now, leaving the team with a 12-4-2 record and a 2-2-1 Inter-Ac record.
This ties them for second with Episcopal, and a game behind Penn Charter. Who’s crowned Inter-Ac champion will all come down to the final day of the season.
“If we win on EA day,” Fifth Former and Captain Brody Collins said, “and Penn Charter loses, then we will win the Inter-Ac title.”
“We are a much younger team, less experienced than last year. We have lots of new players and lots of guys stepping up.”
FINN FRENCH ’27
“It has been a pretty good season.” Sixth Former and Captain Anthony Costa shared, “We have improved a lot since the beginning of the year. We graduated a lot of seniors, especially in the back line, and we had to figure it out. There has been a lot of growth from juniors and sophomores.”
Fifth Form Captain Finn French agreed. “We are a much younger team, less experienced than last year. We have lots of new players and lots of guys stepping up. Will Kelly, for sure, did not play a lot last year, but he is stepping up now. Hudson Coulson as well, [whose] stepped up and also moved from right back to center back.”
Head Coach Mr. Keith Cappo also added his thoughts.
“Finn French has been one of the best players in the league, being 8/8 on PKs, as a center midfielder. Costa has been great, even though he was out for the beginning of the season, and Chris Burnetta has been pretty good as an outside back and midfielder. Also, Haven Hoilett, whose brother played for the team, has been much more impactful this year.”
Mr. Cappo then explained how the
team itself has been playing.
“We have started to put together full games. We started a lot of games where we started off very, very slowly. We have improved upon that as we are not letting in early goals. We have scored quite a lot of goals, not as expected. We have improved, playing more of our style, not depending on mistakes.”
He then concluded by explaining how the league itself has changed.
“We have had many games where we have scored 3-4 goals, [in comparison to] last year, when we were more defensively solid. The league itself is much more dynamic this year. We still need to improve our defense. Goals have been up across the league for all teams, and we need to lock it back down.”
The team’s keeper, Fifth Former and Captain Graham Costello, shared the team’s method for fixing the problem.
“We have really worked on improving our work ethic and playing as a team. The first half has been a clear weakness. We address it by making sure we have a good practice the day before and a good warmup before the game, as well as by keeping a constant work ethic. There are a lot of people in new positions trying to do their job. I am helping them improve by communicating and helping our team understand their defense positions better.”
“Our offense was definitely a strength coming in. It’s still our strength. We have put a lot into building the team off the field. Meetings, figuring it out to just keep scoring goals.”
ANTHONY COSTA ’26
As Coach Cappo noted, the offense continues to remain a strength.
“Our offense was definitely a strength coming in,” Costa said, “it’s still our strength. We have put a lot into building the team off the field. Meetings, figuring it out to just keep scoring goals.”
The team, fortunately, has not had many injuries. The only major one was to Costa, who was out right up till the first Inter-Ac match.
“It was kind of tough watching the team
and not being able to do anything about it. I had to take a step aside and see them grow together. It helped me be motivated to come back. I was able to focus on filling in the gaps, getting the water before practice, and helping the kids see the roles. Kind of like a coach but a player at the same time. Helping the team form.”
Haverford also has a major difference from last year: the size of the team members themselves.
“We are just physically smaller,” Collins said, “We have lots of smaller guys who are under six feet. We lost two six-four centerbacks last year and the year before that. It shifts how we play as we don’t have the same power in corners.”
But the team does not see it as a disadvantage.
“We just have to remind ourselves that it’s our 11 vs their 11.” Brady continued, “Knowing that, you can’t take a game off. If you do, then they will take that with their size. We have fast guys, and pace is our strength, as we are more mobile. We have to play with our edge. When we do, the game comes down to toughness and who wants it more.”
One other factor will hopefully give Haverford an advantage on EA Day: the size of the field.
“Our field is a lot smaller compared to EA’s,” Costa explained, “I like playing on our field. Going away will always be tough. You have to pull through on their field, in front of their crowd. We work well together on small fields as we are used to it. Not as much space, and it will get a little more technical.”
Costello agreed. “I think having a smaller field is an advantage, as every school has a bigger field, which allows our team to play our style of play compared to theirs.”
As the team begins to focus on EA Day, Coach Cappo has not changed his philosophy.
“I want our guys to focus on controlling the controlables,” he stated, “Do the easy things really well. I want my team to want the ball, work on getting it on defense, and keep it on offense. If we can do this, we will do well.”
This is a philosophy echoed by Collins, who likes the team’s mentality.
“We are doing everything we can. Following EA’s tactics. Copying them. It hurt losing to Penn Charter. It really hurt. Lots of guys were extremely upset. We will use it as fuel. They stormed the field in front of us. We all took a mental snapshot. This will give us the mentality to go out and fight.”
Crew competes in Head of the Charles Regatta
Every fall, the Fords’ crew team is hard at work both on land and on the water, vigorously training for the season ahead. Of the many fall events, one race stands above all: the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta.
“The Head of the Charles Regatta is a great opportunity for athletes each year to experience one of the largest, most advertised regattas of the fall. Hundreds of thousands of spectators line the river banks to not only cheer on the crews but also watch athletes from all over the world,” Head Coach Mr. Jonathan Stephanik said.
Since 1965, the Head of the Charles Regatta has drawn top crews from around the world.
“I was very surprised by the sheer size of the race, with over 2,800 crews racing. Besides the volume of boats at the race, the atmosphere was electric—an amazing mix of competition and community celebration,” Fourth Former Will Komada said.
This year, Haverford sent ten boys to Boston to compete in the three-mile race along the Charles River, known for its challenging course and vibrant atmosphere.
“The Charles is infamous for its large
and sharp turns that make steering the course half the job for a good time,” Fifth Former Captain Benas Antanavicius said. “It is widely regarded as a race for the coxswains as much as the rowers because the rowers have virtually no control over the steering when there is a cox.”
“Race day was like nothing else. Seeing never-ending crowds of people at the three main bridges, cheering as you pass through them, only fuels the energy of the race.”
BENAS ANTANAVICIUS ’27
Leading up to the race, the team prepared extensively.
“The guys put in a lot of work on land to get in shape for the 5000-meter race,
along with quite a bit of technical rowing and training on the river to prepare for such a difficult race,” Coach Stephanik said.
Still, the team did lack previous racing experience.
“Going into the Head of the Charles, our boat had no race experience due to our first race being canceled. This definitely hindered our ability to do well,” Antanavicius said.
On the day of the race, excitement could be felt in the air.
“Race day was like nothing else. Seeing never-ending crowds of people at the three main bridges, cheering as you pass through them, only fuels the energy of the race,” Antanavicius said.
“The hope is that the athletes who attended realize where we stand compared to the top competition in the country and how much work needs to be done in order for Haverford Crew to be remembered as one of the top teams in the 2025-26 rowing year,” Coach Stephanik said.
Simon Davidson ’29 and Eric Xiao '29
Nate Gill ’26
Nate Burman '25 takes on EA during EA day
CHARLIE SCHREIBER ’26
Ethan Qiang ’27, Patch Hope ’27, Andrew Walker ’27, and Marcus O’Rourke ’27 after their race at Boston’s Head of the Charles Regatta
Football fueled to face EA
EA Day Football. The game everyone has been anticipating since last year.
The game that often determines who brings home the sweater.
This year, the Fords are ready for the challenge.
The 2025 season has tested the team’s resilience. With several close losses and key players sidelined by injuries, it hasn’t been an easy road. But through it all, the team’s attitude, heart, and community have remained intact. They’ve earned big wins against Bonner Prendergast and Germantown Academy, showing their ability and skill in high-pressure situations.
After a tough loss to Malvern Prep, the team has turned that setback into motivation.
“It was an obvious fight between the two teams in the first half, where the score was very close,” said Sixth Form cornerback and running back Stephen Cobb. “But as the game went on, we lost momentum in a way. We made costly mistakes and missed assignments; essentially, we weren’t consistent. That is the key: consistency.”
The loss became fuel.
“When we face adversity, whether it’s a loss or injury, we take 24 hours to be [angry and then] move on,” Head Coach Mr. Brian Martin said.
“At that point after the game, we can only control what we can control going forward. It sucked having to take that one on the chin, but it was just extra fuel to the fire
for the rest of our season,” Sixth Form quarterback Zach Faragalli said.
That passion has been burning in the team all week, the team’s recent motto being: “A Victory Should Be Your Expectation, Want It, Fight For It, It’s Already Ours To Be Had!”
With several key players returning, the team’s confidence is high.
“Up front, getting Preston [Bernard] back is huge,” Faragalli said. “Having a group of guys up front who can communicate and move people really changes the game for any offense. Also, having Matt Jones back is a game-changer. He does so much for us as a leader, player, and role model. I also hope that getting Quinn [Gallagher] back will help a lot with our depth and allow us to switch between different personnel packages. I think having these guys in general changes the way we play in any game. I love the chances of our guys against EA, regardless.”
Leadership and unity have been the foundation of the Fords’ preparation.
“Brotherhood and leadership together are the foundation of this team,” Cobb said. “Seniors step up, talk, set the tone, and emphasize the mindset we need.”
This game carries special weight for the team’s Sixth Formers.
“Being at Haverford since junior Kindergarten has really given me a different perspective on the rivalry than most players,” Faragalli said.
“Growing up, I would always watch EA Day, whether it was with my family or friends. It really means everything to me. Not only does it mean something to our team, but to all the guys who came before us and are coming after us. It is a dream fulfilled to be able to lead us into battle on EA Day.”
When kickoff arrives, the Fords will step onto the field with one goal: to keep the Sweater where it belongs.
EA Day is more than a rivalry; it’s a test of heart, focus, and the relentless drive
Fords golf seeks revenge
to represent Haverford with everything they have.
“To be a part of this day, and to actually be an added weight to the scale that determines whether or not we keep the Sweater,
This golf season may mark the beginning of a dynasty, a development that could solidify Haverford’s reputation as a dominant force in Inter-Ac history. With last year’s Hall of Fame Team set in stone, how can this year’s golfers ever live up to such a high standard?
Fifth Former Harry Neilly said, “Coming off last year, I think we know we can compete and win. Our team has the mindset
that it’s us against ourselves. We can win it and lose it.”
“Every year, both schools are talented,” Head Coach Mr. Stephen Cloran said.
The team prepares to take on the current Inter-Ac champs, Episcopal Academy, in a head-to-head, better-ball match.
“We feel good and we know what we need to do,” said Fifth Former Quinn Gallagher. “A lot of our Inter-Ac matches have come down to like one or two shots, so it’s really between who stays in it longer and
mentally in it.”
This year’s theme for the golfers is revenge.
Neilly said, “We had a disappointing year losing the Inter-Ac to EA. We lost two Inter-Ac matches by one shot, which ultimately led EA to take the title out of our hands. We also lost to EA and Malvern in states by two shots, so the team is fired up and looking for revenge.”
Coach Cloran has been preparing the team on and off the course.
brings out a different part of me,” Cobb said. “It brings meaning to the game, meaning to the victory we strive for, and purpose to this school, which in the end is something worth fighting for.”
“The players and I have been having meetings leading up to EA Day, and they’ve also been playing several practice rounds together. So, preparations have been ongoing both on and off the course.”
While Haverford is considered an underdog, Coach Cloran is not letting his players feed into this narrative.
“In my old age, I’ve learned to just control what I can control. I can’t control the labels ‘favorite’ or ‘underdog,’ and it shouldn’t affect how we compete,” Coach Cloran said. “I just focus on my boys and what we can do. I’ve been on both sides of that line, and at the end of the day, your label doesn’t determine your effort or your heart.”
While other matches are important, Gallagher believes that EA Day is one of the most significant for the team, adding another layer of intensity.
“It matters more to us. We go into everything with the same intent, but this one means a little more,” Gallagher said.
Head of School Mr. Tyler Casertano expressed his eagerness for this matchup.
“I love watching golf. I hope we’ll have as many Haverford boys as possible out there supporting the team. As Coach Cloran said, EA is playing really well, and our guys are up for the challenge. They’ll need all the support they can get from the Haverford community,” Mr. Casertano said.
In all, Coach Cloran just wants his team to go out and have fun.
“EA Day is such a great day, so I want them to just relax and enjoy it. It’s a team event; they go out in pairs, so I encourage them to really lean on each other on the course,” Coach Cloran said. “The main mantra is: we’ve done it before, so we should have the confidence that we can do it again. Athletes play best when they relax and have fun.”
Jaidyn Rivera '26 celebrates a touchdown run against Georgetown Prep, RIYADH ROLLS ’26
Keith DiMarino ‘27
Gregor Weissenberger '25 hits out of sand trap
CHARLIE SCHREIBER ‘26
Vijay Khanna ‘28