Issue 3 2021

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

VOLUME CXXV. NO.3

December 6, 2021

HVAC Spotlight — Unveiling the mystery of Hill steam tunnels

By COLE BILOTTA ’23 & LUKE RASMUSSEN ’23 STAFF WRITERS

One of Hill’s oldest myths is about the steam tunnels that run under the school. For years, students have speculated about what is in the tunnels and about the mystery behind them.

However, as described by the power plant workers, the speculation about the tunnels is exaggerated, and there is actually much more science to the steam tunnels and HVAC than meets the eye.

“There’s a lot of rumors about the tunnels at the school. It’s always because what you can’t see you can build in your mind as something extravagant,” Jerry Alderfer, director of central cooling and heating, said.

Many students have speculated if the tunnels are walkable. One of the most asked questions by students is if you can have a meeting or gather down in the

tunnels. Alderfer said, “I’ve been here for nine years, and I’ve heard rumors from the students that there are rooms down in there where you can have a gathering.”

However, Alderfer explained that the “tunnels are basically just utilities; that’s all that’s in there.”

He added that the meeting rooms are a myth and also said most of the tunnels are not even walkable, “just crawlable.”

The steam tunnels are a necessity to help the Hill community bear cold winters, and they are a challenging work environment. “High-pressure steam boilers are extremely dangerous; a steam leak could literally burn your skin off,” first shift powerhouse technician Gary Allen said.

Continued on Page B3

In search of a snowdrop

By JOHNNY DAI ’22 STAFF WRITER

She carries just a pound of russet gold And half a bottled ounce of liquid life.

She takes the final breath; one sweet and cold And steps on ravaged earth, consumed by strife.

Through acid rain and clouds of poison gas, She holds her breath for hours, days and weeks.

She walks through hell and sees through Pluto’s pass A light of hope - a snowdrop petal’s cheeks.

The summer snowflakes creep around the light, Reflections of a life she’d never known.

And yet, in hope, she weeps with crimson tears; Her body falls, for she is all alone.

With no one left, there comes a past rehashed; The snowdrop dies; the snowflakes burn in ash.

ILLUSTRATION BY PORTIA SOCKEL ’22

Sustainability is a collective effort

By CLAIRE WANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

As things gradually return to normal this year, The Hill School continues to dedicate itself to sustainability.

For the last six years, Hill has been purchasing 100% of the Renewable Energy Certificates, which are certificates that convert our purchased electricity into renewable sources such as solar or wind power, and their prices were practical.

Yet, in the last year or so, high tech companies have purchased most of the available RECs and caused a boost in the price of the remaining RECs. Companies like Google, Facebook and Twitter have purchased many of the RECs and increased the price of these for almost four times, stated

by Jerry Alderfer, the head of Hill’s HVAC team, in an email. The school is still at the investigative stages for the pricing of our next contract, which will be finished before the current REC contract expires, in 2023.

Besides the ongoing sustainability practices, including food waste composting

and energy saving, Hill also does smaller and more visible projects. A series of newsletters started on Oct. 9 focuses on the current happenings of sustainability within the community and can be found on Today on the Hill or by scanning the QR code on the digital billboards under the sustainability section of Hill’s website. The school is also planning on establishing Hill’s very first electric vehicle charging station, acting as a service for guests.

Hill has been doing a consistent job in food waste composting; however, Executive Chef Mark Hinkle said students’ efforts still require significant improvement. According to Hinkle, the amount of food that is composted has increased by 73 percent compared to last year during COVID-19 procedures. Current food waste is around 95 pounds per day and 665 pounds per week, compared to about 75 pounds per day and 525 pounds per week last spring and in the fall of 2020. On average, the Dining Hall recycles around 2.5 dumpsters a week, compared to last year’s estimated 3.5 dumpsters a week.

Eliminating cardboard cases, paper/plastic food containers and bottled drinks used during COVID-19 protocols has created a 95 percent reduction in the purchasing of plastic bottles, cans, and anything related to beverages. In addition, a new program has been implemented in the kitchen to weigh and track compost before it goes into the bin, which gives data about what is being composted by food category that can be utilized to set goals for reducing food waste. “Reducing overall volume is just as important, if not more, than recycling itself due to rising energy costs and limited truck driver labor in the current market,” Hinkle explained.

In terms of energy operating and saving, heating and cooling systems run for 24 hours through dorms. Major buildings such as the library, Academic Center and CFTA follow a specific schedule.

According to Alderfer, the school uses about 15,000 kilowatt hours of electricity a day and around 220 MCF (each MCF equates to about 1,000 cubic feet) of natural gas if it is cold out. Including both electricity and natural

H-Term returns to Hill with an updated format “Students can gain valuable real-world experience through internships, deep dive in an independent study with a focus on a topic they’re passionate about, or participate in interdisciplinary, on-campus courses designed to explore interesting topics in a fun manner,” explained Jake Tischler, H-Term’s head coordinator.

gas, it costs around $1,000 to $1,500 per day to run the school’s heating system.

The total amount of water used on campus is around 40,000 to 45,000 gallons per day, including student showers, drinking water and water used in the kitchen. The steam system used for heating is about 86 percent efficient and requires around 800 to 1,000 gallons of water a day.

Finally, Hill uses just under 5,000 megawatt hours in a year. “What we use here in a day’s time of electricity would be most homes, five years,” Alderfer said, explaining that Hill is “like a small town.”

Bill Yinger, Hill’s sustainability coordinator, said that the school’s sustainability systems will become even more effective if students take small steps toward habit changes such as recycling the cardboard from their mailroom packages. “In terms of students, again, it’s probably going to be very, very small things,” Yinger explained, noting that decisions such as taking less food in the Dining Hall or taking a shorter shower can make a big difference.

The H-Term course “The Christmas Festival” is set to spread Christmas cheer on campus

Dear Blue: Advice on actions to improve sustainability

The course will teach students the historical component behind different carols and the history of Christmas celebrations at Hill. Most importantly, the class will work in preparation for a performance on Dec. 15.

As Bill Yinger, Hill’s sustainability coordinator, has mentioned that maintaining sustainability is an “institutional thing,” not an “individual thing,” here are the several actions that students can take, as well as faculty members, to better contribute to the improvement of sustainability as a community. Collective action makes a difference!

CAMPUS NEWS | Page A2 ILLUSTRATION BY CICI FANG ’24

CLIMATE SPREAD | Page C4

ARTS & LEISURE | Page E7

Campus News

The Hill News | A2

December 6, 2021

International students staying in the United States face difficulties

By JENNIE KI ’23 STAFF WRITER

International students from the Hill School who are staying on campus are facing difficulties. Due to the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous students are not able to go back home for two years in a row, producing both physical and mental distress.

Some international students who are traveling to countries with updated quarantine rules are finding it easy to buy plane tickets. For instance, vaccinated South Korean international students are exempt from the 14-day quarantine process.

On the other hand, other international students whose countries still have an elongated quarantine period of three or more weeks are experiencing certain difficulties. Anna Guo ’22, an international student from Vietnam, has gone through agonizing

pain from flight schedules due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I spent over 20 hours in the airport because my flight got delayed,” she said. “Though the airline was considerate enough to get me a hotel at the airport, the pandemic has prevented me from going back home.” As many countries are restricting travel processes, such as by closing airlines from certain countries, it is harder for students to find a route to travel back home.

Even for the students who are going back home, there are still inconveniences affecting their total travel plans. Daphne Wong ’24, an international student from Hong Kong, is flying to Shanghai and then Hong Kong during Thanksgiving, H-term, and Winter Break. However, her quarantine weeks increased, which produced frustration.

“One point, the limited flights became an issue so I ended up having to quarantine for seven weeks in total to get there. The

3rd form international students gather around a table at a special dinner in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration (from left to right: Patrick Gao ’25, Nicole Leonardo ’25, Chelsea Kuang ’25, Rena Zhang ’25, Lucy Lyu ’25, Joy Wang ’25).

PHOTO BY CAMILLE BEEDING ’22

pandemic has affected the convenience of travelling drastically,” she said. According to Wong, the stringent requirements and travel restrictions have made it hard for students from mainland China,

Hong Kong and Taiwan to secure flights.

Recognizing the struggles, the school is actively supporting those international students who are not able to go back home.

Though there are no exact numbers for students staying behind, Helen Qiu, administrative coordinator and international families liaison, said, “The school will provide accommodations to

students from Nov. 19 to Nov. 21 and from Dec. 17 to Dec. 19. The school strongly suggested that international students stay in the United States with a host family or attend independent camp programs which are not affiliated with The Hill School. The school wants students to experience a life outside of campus, immerse into the American community, and experience different cultures from their home traditions.”

Due to the increased doses of vaccination, it is easier for a majority of international students to go back home and reunite with their loving families. However, the community should not forget those international students who are not able to go back and see their friends and family members. “The most difficult part is not being able to be with my family. Living so far away from home forces me to be independent from a young age. Also, I do miss my friends from home,” Guo explained.

Off-campus H-term leads to innovative and novel opportunities for internships and independent studies international relations and domestic policy is the driving factor behind her choice for H-term. In this experience, she will learn about diplomatic negotiation and strategy through researching and translating internal documents for many different embassies of Korea.

She also will attain a deep and nuanced knowledge of diplomacy as she will focus on diplomatic communication and how it can be implemented with geopolitical strategy.

“I will also be able to directly interact with many officials working in the Korean foreign service and will learn the subtleties of diplomacy through conversations with them,” Ki said.

By JAEWAN LEE ’25 STAFF WRITER

Karl Mellander is teaching a fly fishing course during H-term.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KARL MELANDER

H-term returns to Hill with an updated format

By DIEMMY DANG ’23 & KATE O’BRIEN ’25 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

During the two-week period between Thanksgiving and Winter Break, Hill will be offering a unique academic experience called H-Term, which is an opportunity for students to take a break from their regular academic courses and investigate specific topics in greater depth. This H-Term, Hill will offer courses covering topics in life skills, sustainability, global studies, social justice and more.

H-Term returns after being implemented for the first time during the 2020-21 school year.

While it was originally a six-week remote program that was conceived to allow the Hill community to stay off campus during the flu season, the school decided to bring H-Term back after survey data indicated that it was well-received by both students and teachers.

This year’s H-Term will offer a much wider variety of courses than last year’s, with an expansive course catalog that encompasses a diverse range of subjects. Courses on fly fishing, playwriting, cooking, poetry, and constitutional law are just a few of those that will be taught. According to Academic Dean Katy Hudak, planning for this year’s H-Term was afforded more flexibility than it was last year, allowing the school to build on the strategies and ideas developed during the first H-Term.

Planning for H-Term was “in-person and not remote, and the group was smaller and more focused. We also had a starting point since we had already successfully run H-Term last year but

STAFF WRITER

had more flexibility because it was not tied to the Low Residence Program,” explained Hudak. While last year’s H-Term courses were held virtually for all, with only winter varsity athletes remaining on campus for practices, all H-Term courses will be conducted in-person this year.

Araiya Casriel ’24, who participated in Hill’s remote H-Term last year, believes that in-person courses and a shorter time span will make this year’s H-Term more inclusive and educational.

“It’s going to be a lot more inclusive for everyone since most of us will be on campus. I think it’s going to feel somewhat like traditional school because of the dress code and lunches … In addition to being on campus, another improvement is that it is shorter.

Looking back, it seems crazy that we effectively had no school from Thanksgiving to March. Unfortunately, I personally felt that my education was affected by this hiatus last year,” Casriel said.

While the majority of students will be returning to Hill to take courses for H-Term, some will be participating in either an internship or independent study off campus.

“Students can gain valuable real-world experience through internships, deep dive in an independent study with a focus on a topic they’re passionate about, or participate in interdisciplinary, on-campus courses designed to explore interesting topics in a fun manner,” explained Jake Tischler, H-Term’s head coordinator.

During H-Term, more than 85 students in eight different countries around the globe are participating in an internship or independent study off campus.

All participants are expected to commit more than 60 hours to an internship or an independent study, and they are all presenting a final presentation, paper or reflection about their experience. These independent studies and internships are supposed to be a new and unique experience for students, explained Jake Tischler, the H-term coordinator.

Marshall Welch, a 4th form student, is applying for a pilot’s license for his H-term independent study.

Aviation has been an interesting hobby for him since he was young.

“My grandfather built and flew planes and my father, including his two brothers, both received their pilot’s licenses at a young age,” Welch said.

Welch is attaining his license by logging hours with a flight instructor on a plane. Since piloting has been ingrained into his life, he sees aviation as a strong career path for him.

Marshall Welch ’24 poses inside an open-door helicopter with an ex-Blackhawk pilot.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHALL WELCH ’24

ny Medical Center and the Hospital for Spinal Surgeries with a spinal device sales specialist. He will also do more hands-on work at the NuVasive East Coast Experience Center with an artificial spine and implants. This opportunity will allow him to expand and gain more

knowledge about his passion. He is able to have this opportunity because of his father being the U.S. distribution and commercial leader for NuVasive.

Jennie Ki, a 5th form student, will be in an internship with the foreign embassy in South Korea. Her passion for

I will also be able to directly interact with many officials working in the Korean foreign service and will learn the subtleties of diplomacy through conversations with them.

—Jennie Ki’23

My grandfather built and flew planes and my father, including his two brothers, both received their pilot’s licenses at a young age.

—Marshall Welch ’24 Conrad Hens, a 6th form student, will be watching and practicing spinal surgery. He will be watching an ACDF (anterior cervical decompression and fusion) surgery and a lateral interbody fusion at the Alba-

A white and sapphire blue Piper Malibu sits ready on an air strip.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARSHALL WELCH ’24

Features

December 6, 2021

By the numbers: The Grille

By TOFE AKINYANMI ’23 STAFF WRITER

All About

THE GRILLE

The average student spends $5 at the Grille every day.

There are 333 sales at the Grille daily.

"If you haven’t been to the Grille or store, come visit; you don’t know what you’re missing."

"We also invite any students interested to join our retail council. We meet approximately twice a year to get ideas from students on what type of snacks, beverages and merchandise they are interested in."

IRE NE DA DDA RIO

B3 | The Hill News

HVAC Spotlight — Unveiling the mystery of Hill steam tunnels Continued from Front Page It is important to know how dangerous the tunnels are. Allen talked about the precautions his team takes before stepping foot in the tunnels.

He said, “I will never go into a tunnel alone, and I do this just because, if something happens, if we can’t call 911 or security, we’re in trouble. I always gear up with everything.”

The power plant and the people who work there are an important part of the school. Alderfer said, “I like the ability to help. I’m not a teacher, so I can’t help you guys in that way, but I like to be able to make your areas as comfortable as possible, especially in the academic buildings. You can be taking the biggest test of your life and, if you’re too hot or too cold, you won’t be able to concentrate.”

Not only is the power plant an important part of making the school function, but it also takes a lot of resources. Alderfer said, “We use between 15,000 and 19,000 kilowatts of electricity every day. That would do most homes for over five years, and that’s just for one day.”

With how high scale the power plant is, some students might be concerned about the environmental footprint the campus leaves on the planet.

Ron Dennis, the powerhouse second

shift operator, said that the HVAC team does everything they can to help with the campus’ environmental footprint: “I am all for saving energy and reducing anything we can. We do a lot of that down here by the way we operate our equipment.”

The powerhouse team also has a mindset focused on energy conservation. “Energy conservation is important. Obviously, as we get fossil fuels and all that, we have to do everything we can to make sure to keep our energy footprint down as well,” Allan said.

Both Allen and Dennis had positive things to say about their work environment. In particular, they said that they loved the people. Allen said, “I love it here; I’ve learned a lot since I’ve been here. There are good people; it’s a great place to work, and I’m happy coming here every day.” Dennis added, “I like the people that I work with. I was in the Navy, and I worked on a ship down in the boiler room, which was basically the same as we are doing here but this is a lot smaller.”

All the HVAC team members are experienced professionals who are well-prepared and trained for certain situations. “I’ve been doing heating work all my life since I was probably younger than you guys,” Alderfer said.

Other employees at the powerhouse also have deep roots in their

jobs. Some of them have been working in heating and air conditioning their whole lives. Dennis said, “Working with steam and powerhouses and powerhouses and this type of equipment has been in my blood since I was 18 years old.”

The HVAC team all have their own set of stories about their work.

For example, a couple of years ago, Allen was on a night shift in the powerhouse. He saw a plastic bag move in the corner of where the generators are. Too scared to go check it out, he ended up sitting inside the office, not moving an inch until his coworker came in the morning. They flipped the bag up, and it was just a possum.

Allen had trouble catching the possum, and he said that the possum might well as be in their workspace to this day.

The Hill community has made efforts in the past to help out with maintaining a small energy footprint.

“The kids over the years have asked ‘what can we do to help make the school use less energy?’ and it’s hard because it’s mostly big equipment.

Just be thankful that there’s people in the world that want you guys to get this education because it takes a tremendous amount of resources to run this school. Most people don’t know that,” Alderfer said.

Though the majority of teachers don’t spend a lot of time at the Grille, there’s one thing that appeals to them all: coffee. Coffee is the best-selling item among teachers.

3500+ breakfast sandwiches have been sold since the beginning of the year, making them the most popular item.

Students love frappuccinos— they are the topselling drink.

The second best-selling?

Grilled muffins of course!

They are so beloved that the Dining Hall began serving them last year while the Grille wasn’t open due to popular demand.

The Grille makes a profit of $1,000 to $1,500 daily.

Almost 1,000 grilled muffins have been sold this year.

SOURCE: Irene Daddario, Retail Manager Hill students find the steam tunnels mysterious; for HVAC workers, they’re a challenging work environment.

PHOTO BY JASON ZHOU ’23

Hill holiday celebrations make the season bright and full of cheer

By ELLA GRINDLE ’24 STAFF WRITER

As the temperature cooled down and the late nights of exam prep neared, Hill began its preparations for the upcoming holiday season.

In wake of last year’s considerable struggle to gather as a whole, the Hill community shares a universal desire to experience the joys of the Christmas and holiday season with one another. With that in mind, the return of these traditions to Hill’s school year cannot be overlooked or understated.

Returning students looked forward to the annual Thanksgiving feast, which took place during seated lunch in the week leading up to Thanksgiving break. This feast included traditional turkey cuisine and allowed the community to reflect upon their blessings and to acknowledge the roots of the holiday before departing on their well-deserved hiatus.

Before the transition to H-Term, students and their dorm heads decorated dorm spaces, such as common rooms, hallways, and personal dorm rooms for their respective observances. Similarly, the 6th form looked forward to the annual 6th

form tree decorating, during which the Hill Christmas Tree was adorned by the Class of 2022 to commemorate their final year at school.

The beginning of H-Term also included the start of the annual Jewish holiday of Hanukkah, for which the school held many events for Jewish and non-Jewish students.

Activities such as playing dreidel and cooking traditional Jewish cuisine were some of the events that occured. Allowing the attendance of both Jewish and non-Jewish community members allowed such events to also bring to light Jewish traditions, beliefs, and history and consequently educate Hill students on various religious traditions.

The Rev. Anne Confer Martens ‘02 remarked on the goals of the Spiritual Life Committee, explaining, “When we have plans that are open, we want there to be an educational component as well. Giving students the opportunity to share a little bit about their understanding, what it means to them, and what practices look like in their own families is great in helping other students learn more about their religion.”

With the implementation of H-Term, classic Hill traditions are also able to be approached in new

ways, such as Candlelight – an annual Chapel service in which current and former community members gather to celebrate the Christmas season during Advent through song, prayer, and the telling of the story of Jesus’s birth. This event is set to be held on Dec. 15 and will be performed by choir and chamber choir members, as well as members of the Hilltones and Hilltrebles.

However, because of H-term, in order to still host this beloved Hill tradition, Oaklawn-Tuttle Director of Vocal Music Yoon Soo Lim will be leading a modified Candlelight Ceremony through offering an H-term course. “This year what’s going to be offered is called Hill Christmas Festival -- as an H-Term class -- in which we meet with students and they will have a say in how this service will go.” She also noted traditions such as 6th form caroling, in which senior students follow a route around campus in vocal festivity.

Regarding the annual schoolwide Secret Santa event, in which students can celebrate one another in the form of giving rather than receiving, Senior Master Teacher of the Arts Ellen Nelson remarked, “It’s one of those communal events,

A Christmas tree decorated by Hill’s 6th formers perches in the second floor Quadrivium lobby.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

though sometimes awkward and weird, I think it sets the tone for the holiday. You can tell some people

put a lot of thought into it, so it’s really cool to see.”

The Hill News | C4

Climate Spread

December 6, 2021

Editor’s Note

As we enter into another unpredictable winter, it is important to maintain and inform our perspectives on climate change and its global effects. Over the past year alone, we’ve witnessed the catastrophic effects and harmful potential of climate change decimate communities and cities globally, leaving no country behind. Whether through flood, drought, heatwaves, or record temperature lows, Hill students are connected through their climatic experiences and can, in turn, collaborate to create catalyzed helpful change. Whether by starting small with your own habits or reaching out to incentivize others, changing Hill’s outlook on sustainability, and limiting our contributions to climate degradation are vital.

This confrontation of climate change aims to provide global perspectives on environmental attitudes and efforts, as well as to inform readers of recent climate discussions and legislation. With new perspectives and inspired incentives, activism can be claimed by all and small sustainable, adjustments can be implemented immediately in Hill’s community and beyond.

— Visual Managing Editor Portia Sockel ’22

Climate Infographic

By ALEKSANDR GLAMAZDIN ’22 CO-EDITOR IN CHIEF

What is climate change?

Hill generations discuss experiences with climate change

By DIEMMY DANG ’24 & CARRIE SHANG ’23 CAMPUS NEWS EDITORS

While climate change is an issue that affects those of all generations, responses to it can differ between age groups. As scientific advancements progress along with the effects of climate change, each generation inherits a different relationship with the environment. This idea NASA reports that the Earth’s average surface carries into Hill’s own commutemperature has risen by about 2.12 degrees Fahr- nity, which is home to a wide enheit since the late 19th century. The ocean has range of age groups and viewabsorbed much of this increased heat, with the top points, each with their own ex328 feet of ocean showing warming of more than periences with climate change.

0.6 degrees Fahrenheit since 1969.

For Instructor of Psychology Dr. Maureen Courtney, climate change had a shifting role and significance throughout Climate change has been driven largely by increased her childhood. carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere “I was 10 years old when and other human activities. Most of the warming Dr. James Hansen, the director occurred in the past 40 years, with the seven most of NASA’s Institute for Space recent years being the warmest. In 2019, greenhouse Studies at that time, testified in gas concentrations reached new highs. Carbon diox- front of the Senate that global ide levels were 148 percent of pre-industrial levels. warming was well documented and the result of excess carbon dioxide and other gases in the atmosphere. Suddenly it was all over the news, something I was learning about in school, On the current path of carbon dioxide emissions, and the featured topic of ‘very temperature could increase by as much as 7.92 special’ episodes of my favorite degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century. With

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines climate change as “a significant and long-lasting change in the Earth’s climate and weather patterns.”

Today, the term is often used to describe global warming and its effects.

How bad has it been so far?

What are some of the causes?

What might happen if we don’t take action?

global temperatures rising, every place on Earth will be affected: from melting glaciers and violent hurricanes to prolonged droughts and unbearable summer heat. Climate change will affect those living in poverty the most, and climate-forced migration may become one of the greatest crises of the century.

What can we do?

Globally, a $1.8 trillion investment in early warning systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, improved dryland agriculture, global mangrove protection and resilient water resources could generate $7.1 trillion in avoided costs and social and environmental benefits.

What happened at COP26 (the United Nations climate change conference held from Oct. 31 to Nov. 12 in Glascow, Scotland)?

Representatives from all over the world agreed that countries should come back next year to submit stronger 2030 emissions reduction targets with the aim of closing the gap to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees C (2.7 degrees F). The conference called on countries to “revisit and strengthen” their 2030 targets by the end of 2022 to align them with the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals. COP recognized the importance of building resilience to the impacts of climate change, both in the formal text and also through initiatives announced on the sidelines.

sitcoms. Just as quickly as the discussion came on, it seemed to disappear, though. I don’t remember climate change being a part of my high school curriculum at all,” Courtney said.

Elizabeth Blossom Chair of Humanities Kathryn Malone’s first real awareness of climate change came earlier, when concerns about the ozone layer began to emerge.

“I began being very much aware in the 70s and 80s, when there began to be a lot of concern about chlorofluorocarbons. The things that were in spray cans, and in air conditioning, and they were destroying the ozone. They were beginning to be aware of how human emissions were changing the upper atmosphere. And that actually led to worldwide bans on their use.”

For members of Generation Z, which have come of age at a time when climate change is the worst that it has ever been, the issue is one that is ever more pressing.

“I think that many of us are

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

upset that we come into a world that has already been violated by past generations. We have a lot more anxiety for the future than baby boomers, and you see that on average we, including millennials, tend to be more active in talking about climate change and voting for environmentally conscious candidates,” said Martin Tran ’22.

As Hill takes steps to encourage sustainability and environmental consciousness on campus, many of its community members do as well, regardless of which generation they belong to. For some, that means participating in advoca-

cy groups or in environmental clubs on campus. Others may focus on taking small steps like recycling more, eating less red meat, or educating themselves on the issue. Nevertheless, climate change appears as an issue that holds significance for many members of the Hill community across a wide range of ages.

“The science is there with us, so I uge the people of our generation not to despair, but it is the social and institutional changes that we must fight for both with our personal daily life choices and with the political choice to vote for pro-environment candidates,” Tran said.

Dear Blue: Advice on actions to improve sustainability

By CLAIRE WANG ’24 STAFF WRITER

As Bill Yinger, Hill’s sustainability coordinator, has mentioned that maintaining sustainability is an “institutional thing,” not an “individual thing,” here are the several actions that students can take, as well as faculty members, to better contribute to the improvement of sustainability as a community. Collective action makes a difference!

Improve Dining Hall food composting Members of the community should be aware of what they are putting into the garbage can, especially the composting and recycling area in the Dining Hall, according to executive chef Mark Hinkle. Please take time to read the signs or ask others if you are uncertain of what to put inside each container.

Share food during seated meals Food has always been excessively wasted yet sometimes seems to be not enough when different tables do not share extra food with each other during seated meals, Yinger noted. Students should do a better job of sharing food from nearby tables first before getting seconds.

Close windows in a timely manner Windows in major buildings are often left open by students and faculty members.

This makes the buildings waste much more electricity and creates more work for staff, as they will then have to make sure all of the windows are closed.

Members of the community

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGIE CHI ’24

should be responsible for closing the windows after they finish using the rooms, according to Jerry Alderfer, Hill’s head of HVAC. Your contributions matter to the sustainability of the Hill community!

Climate Spread

December 6, 2021

C5 | The Hill News

Regional differences shape perspectives on climate change

By HELEN LING ’23 STAFF WRITER

Since the beginning of the 21st century, global warming has been widely acknowledged for the harm it does and the threat it poses to human survival. Climate change has become a serious theoretical and practical issue that cannot be avoided.

As the global climate has evidently changed, many threats such as intense drought, storms, and rising sea levels have progressively crept into people’s daily lives. As a result, climate change is successively becoming a major societal issue that people care about, rather than just a subjective issue. Human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels, have fundamentally increased the concentration of greenhouse gases in Earth’s atmosphere.

The outcome (planet being warmed up) is causing a slew of new occurrences that are altering the state of human existence with the fundamental reason being that the disasters it produces are unpredictable and global in scope, making climate change a worldwide issue.

People experience global warming diversely based on where they live. Places that have more population always experience more extreme climate change, whereas there are less impacts of global warming in regions with less population. Residents of Pottstown may not feel much of the effects of global warming due to their small population and low human impact on the environment.

Therefore, there is little change in temperature (the most intuitive concept of global warming): Pottstown’s temperature rose only 1.8 °F in the last century. Citizens who live in other nations or regions that produce large amounts of emissions and trash, on the other hand, have a better perspective on

the effects of global warming than just an increase in temperature. Cici Fang, a Chinese student, feels that the effects of global warming are more severe in China, and she claims that “as a result of global warming, increased heat waves and longer periods of stagnant air are aggravating current air pollution over most of China.”

Global warming is posing a new problem for a country already choking on airborne toxins, which kill over a million people prematurely every year. According to the conclusions of research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, climate change will have a negative impact on future air quality for more than 85 percent of China’s population by mid-century.

“Climate change is undoubtedly a factor in the recent exceptional wildfires.

Because of the drought, the grass becomes more flammable, and all these components build up an ideal wildfire weather,” according to Carolyn McNay, a fifth form student at the Hill School who resides in California. The increase of major, deadly fires in California has been fueled by a combination of causes, including extreme drought and heat aggravated by climate change, overgrown forests produced by decades of fire control, and increasing human expansion near forest margins.

Extreme weather is a major consequence of climate change, yet climate change is not limited to the occasional major hurricane or year of unexpected snowstorms.

While other nations are experiencing record-breaking summers, several sections of the United States are seeing colder-than-normal winters.

Global warming is projected to have far-reaching, longterm, and, in many cases, catastrophic repercussions for the globe.

Camille Beeding ’22 studied coral reefs at The Island School in Eleuthera, Bahamas.

PHOTO BY CAMILLE BEEDING ’22

You should want to save the coral reefs

By CAMILLE BEEDING ’22 STAFF WRITER

Coral reefs are the breeding grounds of the ocean. They may make up only a small 1% of the ocean’s span, but they are home to a quarter of all marine species.

Much of the next generation of marine life resides in coral reefs because of the abundant food supply and natural protection against large predators. These natural nurseries are made up of coral polyps, beautiful structures supported by their skeletons of calcium carbonate, that attach to the shallow seafloor. Corals also have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, a type of algae that supplies the coral food

in return for a safe home.

However, in light of global warming, the general temperature of the ocean is getting warmer. The exponential increase in greenhouse gas emissions over the past three decades has caused slight increases in oceanic temperature. These rising temperatures have caused the zooxanthellae to break away from many coral polyps, leaving them colorless and without a source of food. Once this happens to enough corals, abundances of marine life sustained by the polyps will leave to find a new place to raise their young,

leaving the bleached polyps to turn black and die. This cycle of warming and starvation will continue to persist in coral reefs and amongst marine wildlife as emissions continue to sustain and increase.

In the past 25 years, there have been three global bleaching events, meaning that coral reefs all around the world have experienced a mass number of their corals dying. Coral reefs have existed for 25 million years; however, within three decades our anthropomorphic impact has wiped out over 50% of preexisting reefs. I had the great privilege to see one of the (now few) healthy coral reefs during my time at the Island School in

Eleuthera, Bahamas. I was also able to see how much bigger the coral reef I explored used to be.

If global emissions are allowed to continue at the rate they are at now, oceanic temperatures will continue to rise, and coral reefs might become a thing of the past.

This is why we need to cut down on our gas emissions and work towards a more sustainable future. Coral reefs are a vital part of the natural world that we have taken advantage of and ignored for far too long. This is why we need to save the reefs. This is why we can’t keep destroying our marine environment and expecting there to be no consequences.

Concrete Jungle and Urban Dream

By NIMALA SIVAKUMAR ’23 STAFF WRITER

The diaphanous divide made ‘Twixt man and concrete jungle To satiate the greed; to aid, To keep his cash all bundled His morning stroll before his work Ignores the swelling waters Spilling over with souls who lurk: All those scorned sons and daughters Their oppressed essences of passed Long summers and bitter springs, Were proof of the secluded caste Dead peasants among spry kings Among the decaying benthos Detritus seemed to take seed Akin to Marxian mythos The sea was consumed by greed He tip taps papers over top While spilling waste on a whim Tip-tapping for the blame to stop Tip-tapping a pseudo-hymn The canorous chorale conveyed The ‘truth’ behind rottenness It cantillated masquerades Deracinated oneness ‘The true blame for the tainted land Is all of you before me All of your choices have been damned They must be changed, I decree!’

ILLUSTRATION BY HELEN LING ’23

For all the generations next They hummed along to his tune But nature seemed to have been hexed And to change it was immune.

ILLUSTRATION BY AIDAN MA ’23

Opinion

The Hill News | D6

December 6, 2021

College apps aren’t beautiful: You are!

By JERRY LI ’22 OPINION EDITOR

Sixth formers, as we approach the end of 2021 and the deadline for Regular Decision applications, it can be helpful for us to take a step back and reflect on our mental and physical state. Notwithstanding the invariant importance of college applications, we should not lose sight of the other beauties of life: hobbies, friends and self-care.

The stress of college apps seems inevitable this time of the year. Each fall, different graduating classes of Hill 6th formers prepare for “senior fall,” the pace of which can be hard to catch on. Their stress is two-fold: the imminent application deadlines and the workload of academic classes. Because of this, Bella Patel ‘22, like many of her peers, has reflected that she has “sacrificed a lot of social events, sleep, as well as the quality of my work, in the interest of college applications. And even when I’m doing something fun, applications are always in the back of my head and I feel like I should be working instead.” It is evident that most seniors start

to fall into the vicious cycles of guilt, self doubt, and imposter syndrome.

Admittedly, college applications and classes are still very important. For all of us, it represents a gateway of advancement to higher education, college-level athletics, or professional studies. After all, the Hill is still a college preparatory school. The grades we get from our fall term classes are the last ones to be reported to colleges, so of course we’ll stand lost at this crossroad, ultimately giving in and sacrificing our mental health.

Right?

While that is true, there are plenty of ways for us to cope with this stress. Only when we control these emotions can there be an opportunity for us to see the beauty of life.

Nature, relationships, family, hobbies – these are all beauties of life seemingly taken away by the college application process. Its standardized assembly-line-like evaluation process can strip us of our vigor. Don’t let it.

Franz Kafka said, “Youth is happy because it has the capacity to see beauty. Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old.” Don’t grow old. Instead, mature.

If you’re still struggling, Ellen Deitrich, the director of College Counseling, provided the following coping mechanisms:

1

Lean on your college counselor; we are so lucky at Hill to have six full-time experts in the field – let them help you.

2

Don’t succumb to the false notion that there is only one perfect school for you; there are almost 4,000 colleges in the US alone and not one of them is perfect. Just because a college has a recognizable name does not mean it’s the right school for you. Dig deeper and move past the name.

3

Limit the noise. There is so much misinformation thrown at students in this process. The college counselors are the ones who will know – ask them. Don’t hire an independent counselor; there really is such a thing as too many cooks in the kitchen, so to speak.

Don’t listen to the advice of your parent’s business partner’s cousin who went to the school years ago or even someone who applied last year. Keep your process private – you deserve that.

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

Real change requires more than social media “activism”

By THN EDIT BOARD

Editors-in-Chief Visual Managing Editors

Campus News Local News Features Layout Social Media

Carrie Shang ’23 Diemmy Dang ’24 Jason Zhou ’23 Anna Carroll ’23 Jasmine Wang ’23 Ariana Polevshchikova ’23

Staff Writers & Staff Contributers

Olivia Mofus ’22, Aleksandr Glamazdin ’22 Portia Sockel ’22, Tiffany Wang ’22

Opinion Arts & Leisure Sports Photo & Illustration Head Illustrator Head Photographer

Jerry Li ’22 Wesley Connelly ’22 Rose Flaherty ’22 Sarah Jiang ’22 Chloe Han ’22 Erick Sun ’24

Camille Beeding ’22, Andrew Albert ’22, Johnny Dai ’22, Emilie Kirschner ’23, Lizzie Hopper ’23, Luke Rasmussen ’23, Cole Bilotta ’23, Tofe Akinyanmi ’23, Augustus Gerhart ’23, Peter Galindez ’23, Nimala Sivakumar ’23, Caden Olenczak ’23, Helen Ling ’23, Aidan Ma ’23, Jennie Ki ’23, Claire Wang ’24, Adelyn Sim ’24, Cici Fang ’24, Ella Grindle ’24, Jeremy Lee ’24, Angie Chi ’24, Angela Jin ’24, Jaewan Lee ’25, Kate O’Brien ’25, Alexandra Lubczendo ’25

Edit Board Jerry Li ’22, Harry Zhu ’22, Jihwan Sung ’22, Aidan Ma ’23, Jennie Ki ’23 Faculty Adviser

Ms. Elizabeth DeOrnellas

Content Policy The Hill News is the student-run newspaper of The Hill School. Content is determined by and reflects the views of the student editorial board and staff and not school officials or the School itself. The Hill News acts as an open forum for student expression where they have complete control over the content produced.

@hillnews

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Want to contribute to The Hill News?

Come to our weekly meetings TBA or contact a member of our staff. To submit a letter to the editors or an opinion piece, email omofus22@thehill.org, aglamazdin22@thehill.org, psockel22@thehill.org, tiffwang22@thehill.org.

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If you’ve been on the internet at all recently, you’ve probably become aware of social media activism. Whether it is an aesthetically-pleasing infographic made to catch the viewers’ attention or a brief summary of an event happening somewhere in the world, activism on the internet has steadily become one of the most prevalent tools to raise awareness about social issues, from racial injustice or climate change. But this begs the question: is it the best way? Information on social media spreads like wildfire; however, in regard to enacting real change, social media in its current state is not the right platform.

Social media spreads faster than any other media. We possess information at the tip of our fingers. With the immense pool of people involved, there are various voices that produce diverse content.

However, algorithms inadvertently lead people to view certain types of content, usually ones aligned with their existing belief systems. This is exacerbated by the immediacy and dispersiveness of social media. The only downside might be that there is a high chance that a post may be misleading or factually incorrect. However, this does not mean all posts and accounts are flawed. Posts have the power to initiate people to investigate and take action.

Indeed, online environmental activism is susceptible to misinformation. We have seen from the ramifications of the “Stop the Steal” movement, such as the Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2020, that false information can disseminate rapidly in social media and cause societal unrest.

This problem also applies to environmental activism in social media. Commenting on the spread of climate misin-

formation in Facebook, environmental groups, such as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and the Sierra Club, said, “Facebook admits climate misinformation on its platforms is a rampant problem, but it is only taking half measures to stop it.” It is unlikely that activists abiding by misinformation can bring justice to the environment.

“Activism” on social media often constitutes just the repost of an infographic (with no substantial information) on an Instagram story, followed by a feeling of gratification for being a part of the movement to save humanity.

However, something has to be said for the complacency that that mindset can generate. While spreading awareness is a good thing, we have to be honest with ourselves: no real change can happen with a story repost, and fooling ourselves into thinking it can is falling into a dangerous mentality. While change can only be generated by making people become aware of the issue in the first place, it’s imperative that we don’t lose sight of the actual goal in activism: not to raise awareness, but to enact change — and that can never happen by reposting hollow catchphrases. In the end, activism involves acting, not reposting.

As much as social media seems to be a force for positive change, its current state is susceptible to widespread misinformation and artificial complacency. In a time when conflict and inequality seem to be ubiquitous, perhaps only an evolved form of social media activism can meet the world’s desperate demands. Therefore, though social media is achieving its goals of spreading awareness, it is hard to link activeness in change to the effectiveness of social media.

Arts & Leisure

December 6, 2021

Singing your way into December: Must-have songs for your annual Christmas playlist

By ANNA CARROLL ’23

E7 | The Hill News

Life is a song – What is the role of music in Hill students’ lives?

By JASON ZHOU ’23 OFF-CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

FEATURES EDITOR

ILLUSTRATION BY ADELYN SIM ’24

“Last Christmas” by Wham!

This is A CLASSIC and a must have on any Christmas playlist. This pop Christmas song has earned a place in this playlist for its ear-worming beat and catchy tune that is perfect to sing along to. And for those of us, who can unfortunately relate to the lyrics, this song is the ultimate comfort song for the holidays. Not to mention, it’s sung by none other than Wham!

“Jingle Bells” by Frank Sinatra “Jingle Bells” is a must have in any Christmas playlist and the Frank Sinatra version is, by far, the most festive one. The swinging melody and playful lyric additions make this song sure to put you in a festive mood!

“The Christmas Song”

by Nat King Cole For a true classic, you must have “The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole”-- perfect for cozy, late winter nights.

“Baby It’s Cold Outside” by Ester Williams and Ricardo Montalbán Originally sung by Esther Williams and Ricardo Montalbán, this duet is perfect to include for those of us who love to sing along to our playlists.

“Step into Christmas” by Elton John This energetic song, sung by none other than Elton John, brings to life the holiday spirit through its quick, upbeat melody.

(There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays by Perry Como Perry Como brings to life pure joy through this song, making sure to put a smile on each listener’s face.

“We Need a Little Christmas” by Johnny Mathis This song is sure to put a smile on your face and put you in the Christmas spirit through its Broadway like manner.

Music often exposes our emotions through a varied range of styles. Rock, hip-hop, R&B, and country are among the world’s most popular genres. The music industry has been one of the most successful commercial industries.

Talented artists and their catchy songs have been praised and passed down through generations after generations. The influence of music can also be seen in our Hill community.

Elle Molyneaux ’23, the lead singer of Hill’s student band 28:24, talked about her relationship with music. “I think that music is really powerful in a sense that it can alter your mood in any way,” she said. “There is always a hype playlist you listen to with your friend, and there is always a playlist you listen to by yourself during the night as well.”

Similar to Molyneaux, 6th former Grant Deshishku ’22 also felt that music is very influential because it carries peoples’ memories. Deshishku comes from a southern family, and, whenever he listens to country music, it brings back childhood memories for him.

“When you hear the music, you can actually feel your emotions. You smell whatever you smelled, see whatever you saw

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELA JIN ’24

whenever the first time you heard the song,” Deshishku said.

When it comes to our favorite artists, the meanings of the songs and lyrics often strike a chord in our hearts.

Noah Macielag ’23 was born in a fisherman family, and “Terrapin Station (medley)” by The Grateful Dead has a unique place in his heart. “There is one line in the song that goes ‘The sailor gave at least a try, the soldier being much too wise, strategy was his strength, and not disaster’ that I relate to a lot,” Macielag said. “The sailor giving a try, took a risk, due to his natural ability to avoid disaster. As a sailor, I really relate to that style of life by taking

risks.”

Deshishku has been a huge fan of the band Metallica. He said that the song “Master of Puppets” is really meaningful to him. “This song is about fighting addictions, and, for me, it acts as a reminder that there will be something that could control me, but I have to glide my way out and shrug things off and to fight that urge of making those bad decisions,” Deshishku said.

Music can have many social psychological impacts and meanings for people, especially teenagers. Just like Deshishku said, “Music really brings people together.”

“All I Want for Christmas is You”

by Mariah Carey Everyone knows and loves this song so feel free to belt it out when it starts playing!

“O Little Town of Bethlehem” by Nat King Cole For a true Christmas song, make sure to include “O Little Town of Bethlehem”. Its peaceful tone creates the perfect Christmas atmosphere and sets the mood for December 25th.

Do They Know It’s Christmas by Band-Aid Originally written for a fundraiser, this song not only has a catchy 80s beat, but will put you in the true Christmas spirit.

“Underneath the Tree”

by Kelly Clarkson Sure to make you get up and dance, “Underneath the Tree”

by Kelly Clarkson is one of those Christmas songs you can listen to year round.

“Mistletoe” by Justin Bieber I know, I know, this is a controversial song choice. However, it deserves its spot on this list for its pop beat that is sure to make you start belting out the words.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Brenda Lee Who could not love this song!?

Although it may not be as energetic as “Step into Christmas,” this song is sure to bring joy, making “Rocking Around the Christmas Tree” an essential in any holiday playlist.

This 2014 photo shows Hill’s traditional Candlelight Service in the Chapel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF YOON SOO LIM

The H-Term course “The Christmas Festival” is set to spread Christmas cheer on campus

By LIZZIE HOPPER ’23 STAFF WRITER

Yoon Soo Lim, Oaklawn-Tuttle Director of Vocal Music, is bringing in a brand new H-term course this year. Her course, titled “The Christmas Festival,” will be filled with lessons, lectures, singing, and plenty of holiday cheer. The course will teach students the historical component behind different carols and the history of Christmas celebrations at Hill. Most importantly, the class will work in preparation for a performance on Dec. 15.

Since the 1990s, the Hill School has had some form of celebration to honor the holiday. Whether this is a form of chapel, service, or performance, the Hill School has consistently and prominently recognized Christmas each year. This year, however, the course will take a different approach to celebrate and honor

the holiday, which will focus on a Christian service of scripture with the addition of festive melodies. Lim describes this course as “a version of how Hill has celebrated Christmas in the past.” This festival will be a combination of traditional celebrations that have been held at Hill and new aspects that focus on religion.

In the two weeks to prepare for the festival, students will be singing a lot. In addition to this, Rev. Anne Confer Martens, Warner Associate Chaplain, will deliver lectures highlighting the religious aspects of Christmas and why we have these services. To add, Louis Jeffries, Hill’s archivist librarian, will talk to the class about how Hill has celebrated Christmas in the past. Jeffries will dive into newspapers and archives to illustrate how past students and faculty have celebrated this holiday at Hill.

The class will use the two weeks to build the show’s structure and

rehearse its substance through discussion and practice of material.

Lanie Lawrence ’23, a student in this course, expressed, “I chose to do Hill Christmas Festival because I wanted to sing Christmas carols with my friends. I am looking forward to learning the harmonies to my favorite Christmas songs and a chance to perform in front of the school.”

Something exciting about this performance and class is how much it is based upon the participation of students. Lim shared how the festival is hoping to include a capella, instrumentals, and choral pieces; however, the structure of the actual show will primarily rely on each student’s ideas and abilities in the course. Each student will have a voice in creating the show and facilitate decisions that decide on song choice and layout.

Mark your calendars for Dec. 15 to come to see this performance!

Sports

The Hill News | F8

December 6, 2021

Fall varsity athletes reflect on what made the 2021 fall season special

By AUGUSTUS GERHART ’23 & EMILIE KERSHNER ’23 STAFF WRITERS

1) Varsity boys soccer goalkeeper Blake Groff ’22 runs to clear the ball. 2) Girls cross country runner Colette Zidek ’23. 3) Girls varsity soccer team celebrates together after a goal. 4) Ryan Kearney ’23 boys varsity golf player. 5) Emilie Kirschner ’23 steps to send a pass into the offensive circle. 6) Varsity football quarterback Hayden Fruhling ’22 listens to coach Orlando Patterson in between plays. 7) Mandy McCarrick, co-captain of the girls soccer team. 8) Varsity field hockey player Maddy Orsi ’22 wins a battle against Notre Dame opponent. 9) Varsity girls tennis captain Ava Carosella ’22. 10) Luke Pickard ’22 reaches for the ball in the offensive end zone. 11) Varsity boys water polo goalie Artem Kyselov ’23. 12) Varsity girls water polo player Harliv Singh ’23. 13) Varsity boys soccer team huddles up on the field. 14) Owen Manganiello, co-captain of the boys cross country team. 15) Goalkeeper Alexis Nussbaumer ’25 clears the ball.

PHOTOS BY ANDREW ALBERT ’22, PETER GALINDEZ ’23, EMILIE KIRSCHNER ’23, JOEY ASTERINO ’23, ROSE FLAHERTY ’23, CADEN OLENCZAK ’23

With the outbreak of COVID-19 halting so many student-athletes’ seasons last year, the return of fall sports seems almost dreamlike. The buzz around campus is a different energy with athletics being in full swing. The stands are more packed, fans are cheering louder, and athletes are playing harder.

As the season comes to a close, take a look at each team’s fall highlight.

Mandy McCarrick ’22, the co-captain of the varsity girls soccer team, said, “The biggest highlight of our season would be the win against Westtown. We won 1-0 and, in order for us to win, we all had to come together and we put a lot of effort into that game. It was a lot of fun to win, so that’s my favorite memory.”

This win ended the team’s threeyear losing streak, a statistic that is being pushed to the back of Hill fans’ minds because of the

team’s continued success this fall season.

Owen Manganiello ’22, co-captain of the varsity boys cross country team said,“The biggest highlight of my cross country season so far has just been coming in as an older guy and kind of being able to show some of the younger guys the ropes. Seeing them improve is really special to me because of how I was when I was younger.”

Varsity girls cross country team runner Colette Zidek ’23 said, “The biggest highlight for my cross country season so far has been our Paul Short Invitational,” She said. “A lot of our girls who were new to cross country last year had never seen anything like that before, so to see everybody super excited to run, and to finish, it was really awesome.”

Artem Kyselov ’23, the varsity boys water polo goalie, also noted the role of the team’s

younger athletes. “This year we got a pretty young team. Every game, every practice, we’re learning something new for everyone,” he said.

Kyselov believes that the most impactful moment of their season was one that showed how far the team had come this season. “Our Lawrenceville game, away at L-Ville, was so great. We know what tactics we all have, and everyone remembered stuff from practices. Then we go and we play a real hard game. Everyone understood what he had to do to win this game,” he said.

Ava Carosella ’22, a returning varsity tennis player, said, “I think the highlight of the season has been really getting to know the girls, just because we had a pretty new team last year during the pandemic.”

This strong team culture is something that other fall athletes observed as well. Cole Bilotta ’23,

Squash athletes are thrilled to return back to a restored full season

By JEREMY LEE ’24 STAFF WRITER

Similar to other sports, the 2020-21 Hill squash season was hit straight in the face by the worldwide pandemic. It certainly was a different experience: the players were limited to intrasquad games and limited team workouts. However, for the upcoming season, the players have many new expectations for their play.

Eddie Proffitt, a returning 6th former, experienced last year’s abnormal season here at Hill. Limitations, such as not being able to play against outside opponents, affected Proffitt and made it difficult for him to accurately gauge his prog-

ress. However, Proffitt made sure last year wasn’t a waste; he explained that last year’s H-Term workouts increased his fitness. From last year’s H-term to this past fall season’s strength and conditioning, Proffitt has become a stronger and faster athlete, even hitting his own PR mile time.

Lanie Lawrence, a new 5th former, described how she’s been improving her game. “Since last season, I have improved my game immensely,” she recounted. “I spent this past year focusing on my strength and endurance, so that I would be a stronger player and tougher competitor. I also worked on my mental game. In this way, not only would I be a stronger player physically com-

pared to last year but also mentally.”

Both Proffitt and Lawrence stated the importance of this season, as well as their new goals that ranged from developing new techniques to improving fitness. Proffitt expressed his energetic playing style by saying how he has the most fun when he’s “sprinting around the court to every ball and making crazy saves.” Meanwhile, Lawrence wants to specifically improve her technique on her swing so that she can generate more power.

Most importantly, both athletes said they are looking forward to having fun, sharing precious memories with teammates, and enjoying the sport they love.

a member of the varsity football team, described the culture on the team as a major role in their recent spike of success. “The team chemistry is pretty good; all the boys get along. The atmosphere is good, we get along outside of football; it’s perfect,” he said.

Rease Coleman ’22, a captain on Hill’s varsity field hockey team said being such a nationally competitive team comes with its pressures and challenges, but Coleman expressed how keeping this year’s team close has been the key to maintaining a good team.

“This year’s team culture is a tight-knit family, and that’s what HFHF is: Hill Field Hockey Family forever. And that basically means that we’re always going to be there for each other,” Coleman said. “Bringing the shovel means that whatever ends it goes, you can call one of us or anyone that was on the team in past years or

recent years, and we’ll show up for you,” She continued.

Harliv Singh ’23, a three-year member of the girls varsity water polo team, said, “Our main goal for the end of the season is to win Easterns, which is basically our state championship tournament.” So far, the girls water polo team has had a successful fall, with Singh’s highlight being beating Lawrenceville 18-8.

For boys soccer, varsity captain Noah Toole ’22 said his favorite memory this year as their big win against the Philadelphia Union Academy. “That’s where we flipped our switch and we grinded. We came together as a family, as a unit, and just put two in the back of the net. We also had a nice fan base, so that kind of shows the connection with our school community, and our peers,” Toole said.

Ryan Kearney ’23, a member of the varsity boys golf team, said

that his favorite moment of this fall was playing during family weekend. “All the parents came out, and we played a great round of golf; we had a lot of great scores,” Kearney said. “It was all around a great day to hang out with our families and play golf.”

Whether it be on the course, the fields, the courts, or in the pool, Hill sports teams have had a successful first fall season post COVID-19. This doesn’t just mean the games they have won or the championships that they will bring home. It is the feeling that was expressed by many fall athletes of having a strong team culture that the Hill athletics community has kept despite losing last year’s athletics.

Staff Writers Joey Asterino ’23, Jesse Corser-James ’23, Rose Flaherty ’23, Peter Galindez ’23, and Caden Olenczak ’23 contributed to this report.

Hill fencing team hopes to build their program this season

By ALEXANDRA LUBCZENKO ’25 STAFF WRITER

This season, Hill fencing has a new coach, Stuart Connelly, as well as two passionate co-captains, Ruthanne Sandner and Johnny Dai. The program will be experiencing exciting changes and has some new goals this season as well.

Connelly is a parent of two current 6th formers, Callie and Wesley Connelly. The fencing team needed a coach, so Hill Director of Athletics Seth Eilberg, hearing that Mr. Connelly had some experience in the sport, reached out.

“I was honored to be able to step in for the school and the team,” Mr. Connelly said.

Mr. Connelly’s main goal for the season is to improve each team member’s general fencing

and athletic ability. “Regardless of each kid’s abilities on the strip, I want them all to finish the semester as better fencers than they started,” he said.

Footwork will also be a prime focus. “The key to fencing seems like it’s in the blade; but, in fact, footwork is the key factor in how well a fencer meets their opponent.”

In addition to Mr. Connelly, another crucial member of the fencing program this year is co-captain Ruthanne Sandner ‘22. She began her fencing career during her 3rd form year at Hill and has continued here since.

She describes fencing at Hill as an amazing experience.

“Collectively as a team we have an amazing team dynamic, and

there is always the opportunity to learn something new.”

Sandner would like to continue making fencing at Hill a very tight-knit team and keep the positive dynamic. “I am hoping to create another team that supports its individuals both in competitions, school, and personal life.”

Both Sandner and Mr. Connelly are excited to train beginner fencers and welcome new recruits to the team.

“We are always looking forward to new recruits and competitions,” Sandner said.

Mr. Connelly is just as welcoming, hoping to change the view on fencing as a sport that’s more intense or dangerous than others. “’I’d love to get the word out that fencing is a sport for everyone.”