Issue 2 2021-22

THE HILL NEWS VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

VOLUME CXIV. NO.2

October 14, 2021

Hill’s DEI introduces The Warner Center

By CARRIE SHANG ’23 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

In the 2021-22 school year, Hill’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team introduced a brand new space to the Hill campus: the Warner Center for Spiritual Life and Equity. Located in the Brick House between the Alumni Chapel and Dutch Village, the Warner Center is intended to be a welcoming space where members of the Hill community who come from underrepresented groups can feel at home.

“I’d like to see students treating it like a home away from home,” Rev. Khristi Adams, the DEI faculty adviser, said. “It was actually Mr. Lehman who brought this idea to my attention.” When asked about this, Head of School Zack Lehman recalled a conversation he had with an alumnus who suggested that Hill should create a space dedicated to supporting student clubs and affinity groups. Lehman also mentioned a visit to his own alma mater, Phillips Exeter Academy, which has a designated place for DEI groups to gather. Both of these instances inspired him to establish something similar at Hill.

“Given the recent growth of our Spiritual Life and DEI programs at Hill, I think it is very important that students have a comfortable and accessible place to meet that is devoted to these matters,” Lehman stated in an email. “While there are many places on campus where students can meet to discuss any topic, there is something reassuring about gathering in a space that feels purposeful, welcoming, and safe to discuss sensitive topics.”

Both faculty members also spoke about the Warner Center’s various features, such as the kitchen and handicap accessibility.

Adams emphasized the Warner Center’s versatility. She envisions a wide variety of possible uses for the space, such as DEI programs, weekend activities, lectures, study hall, or even classes at some point. She mentioned how the Warner Center could also be a place to hold more serious conversations or group discussions regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The process of establishing the Warner Center was not all smooth sailing. Heavy thunderstorms in August caused several buildings on campus to flood, one of which was the soon-to-be Warner Center building. The entire floor and even lower parts of the walls had to be pulled out. Still, despite what seemed like a setback, the flooding actually helped boost the Warner Center’s renovation process. A building that previously did not receive a lot of attention now had a complete makeover. With some hard work and effort, the Warner Center was finally ready to welcome the Hill community into its walls.

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Intern Vimbai Mawoneke makes a bracelet at the opening of the Warner Center.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

Lilian Rizek ’22 gives a Chapel Talk at the Alumni Chapel.

The Hill community gathers once again for seated lunch in the Dining Hall.

PHOTOS BY ERICK SUN ’24

Looking into Hill’s traditions: The first step on the quest to bring back “Hillness”

By ELLA GRINDLE ’24 STAFF WRITER

The fall air is crisp as The Hill School gears up for another fantastic school year. Over the past month, the community welcomed its members with a sense of energy and spirit. The quest to bring back “Hillness” is a challenge that Hill has faced undaunted, despite many students struggling to understand the true meaning of this concept after a year of such tremendous change. Those that have witnessed Hill in its full glory are anticipatory of a fuller “Hill” experience, each willing to play their role in ensuring the greater good of the community.

Head of School Zack Lehman P ’16 ’18 remarked, “As the Head of School, I think I play a major role in reminding students of Hillness: school culture, values, and traditions. Additionally, as a faculty member who has been at the school for 10 years, I think I know a lot of the history and have a major platform for sharing.” To support this endeavor, it is important to look back on some significant Hill traditions to be reminded of how they have represented our community throughout time.

Chapel lets Hill see a different side to their peers Many Hill traditions, such as Chapel, seated meals and the dress code, date back to the school’s origins and have been trademark

qualities of “The Family Boarding School” for nearly two centuries.

At the onset of the school’s opening, Headmaster Matthew Meigs implemented religion-based components to the school’s operation, such as Chapel. The Alumni Chapel present on Hill’s campus today was constructed in 1903 to be a place of reflection and spirituality for students of all religious backgrounds. Since its construction, weekly Chapel Talks have been a part of Hill culture.

When asked about the impact of these congregations, Ellen Nelson P ‘10 ‘13 said, “I love some of those speeches that are so courageous and insightful; you just listen to the student, and you feel like you’re not alone in your own struggles.”

Due to enrollment growth, the entire student body can no longer fit into the Chapel at one time, so 3rd and 4th formers alternate time in the Chapel with a viewing session in the Dining Hall.

Seated meals bring the community together Seated meals are unique to The Hill in that they have remained a part of the culture instead of a buffet style lunch. With multiple renovations undergone since its initial construction, the Dining Hall has brought together thousands of students and faculty over the course of its time and continues to do so today. Jay Spencer ’84 P ’13 ’14 ’18 ’23 reflected on his experiences as

Hill students form new connections at off-campus form retreats

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the entirety of Hill’s student body departed campus for their annual form retreats. After being cancelled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the form retreats returned in earnest this year with trips to Urban Air, Dorney Park, the Pocono Mountains and Camp Men-O-Lan.

both a student and faculty member, explaining that seated meals help “bring the community together. It’s challenging as the student and faculty population grows, but it’s at least once a day where we all sit down in the same space. As a coach, it’s nice to be able to have your team all together, and I have memories of conversations with students that only would have happened because of seated lunch, so I really like that.”

Dress code sets Hill students apart Formal dress code is an additional aspect of Hill culture that is unique to the community and creates a sense of distinction from other schools. While certain requirements have always been intact, as styles have shifted throughout the centuries the dress code has also adjusted to suit these trends. The implementation of coeducation played a large part in this, as School Archivist Louis Jeffries noted, “I don’t think there’s ever been a formal tradition for women as to how they are to dress, rather it is something that has evolved over time by the students.” One may no longer see the rounded shirt collars of the 1920s; however, the sense of pride in one’s appearance is present in the current style culture, he added.

Many students are in favor of Hill’s academic dress too, as it not only emulates a professional environment but also teaches basic life

Channeling fall feelings

International students confront challenges for Thanksgiving and Winter Break travel Now that The Hill School is starting its return to normalcy, international students are still facing travel challenges. Thanksgiving and Winter Break plans for these students are complicated and less than ideal.

CAMPUS NEWS | Page A2 OFF-CAMPUS NEWS | Page B3 ARTS & LEISURE | Page C4

skills. “I appreciate the dress code because it teaches me to dress formally in a business setting which will be useful in the future,” Carmelita Robinson ’23 said.

Spring traditions wrap up the year with fun activities While acknowledging the original Hill traditions, it is important to pay homage to more recent traditions such as J-Ball and jumping into the Dell. These events date back to the ’50s and ’80s respectively and are both widely anticipated during the spring term, in that one allows students to experience the competitive amusement of youth, while the other represents the new chapter of young adulthood.

Traditions-no-more are gone but not forgotten Many other traditions have been lost over time, such as Thanksgiving feasts, under-form beanies, and planting ivy on buildings at commencement. These customs are each a product of their time and have faded as many current traditions will as well. While looking upon these cultural elements of our community, new and old, may we be reminded of all that they represent and the value they hold for our city on The Hill.

Campus News Editor Carrie Shang ’23 and Staff Writer Nimala Sivakumar ’23 contributed to this report.

New Hill Postgraduates reflect on the start of the school year

The Hill prides itself in its traditions, and this is something that really appealed to the PGs when they were applying to Hill. “When I was on my tour, people were just super friendly,” Luke Pickard, a PG from Millburn, N.J., said.

SPORTS | Page F8

Campus News

The Hill News | A2

October 14, 2021

Hill students form new connections at off-campus form retreats

By DIEMMY DANG ’24, JESSE CORSER-JAMES ’23 & ZACH SHAPIRO ’22 STAFF WRITERS

On Saturday, Sept. 18, the entirety of Hill’s student body departed campus for their annual form retreats. The retreats have traditionally occurred at the beginning of each school year as a way for each grade to grow closer. After being cancelled last year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the form retreats returned in earnest this year with trips to Urban Air, Dorney Park, the Pocono Mountains and Camp MenO-Lan. Third form bonds at Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park Hill’s 3rd formers stayed close to Pottstown for their form retreat, heading to Urban Air Trampoline and Adventure Park as a group for part of their day together. Building off of the bonds that were created after a three-day orientation period at the beginning of the year, the outing served as a way for the new Class of 2025 to further get to know each other.

Following their time at Urban Air, the grade headed back to Hill for various other activities, including an introduction to J-Ball on the Far Fields.

“I would say that it was a really fun day. I enjoyed getting to meet new classmates, and I especially liked playing Bingo,” said Caroline Grable ’25.

Fourth form heads to Dorney Park for their first time all together On Sept. 18, Hill’s fourth form students headed to Dorney Park for their annual form retreat. The trip served as the Class of 2024’s first ever outing as a whole form, after COVID-19 restrictions cancelled retreats for

2024, form adviser Amanda Dougherty also voiced the benefits of being able to gather as an entire group.

Claire Wang ’24 and Zach Rice ’24 hold their prizes at Dorney Park.

PHOTO COURTESY OF CICI FANG ’24

the previous school year. Many students enjoyed the opportunity to bond and meet others in their grade after a freshman year of social distancing made the endeavor much more difficult.

“I felt like it was a really good opportunity to get to know the other members of my form better.

I enjoyed getting to see them, and I would say I had a really great time,” said Annie Nguyen ’24.

In addition to the Class of

“I do think that for Ms. Hunter and I as your form advisors, we felt it acutely last year that we could not be all together in one space as a form. I felt like I had a harder time meeting everyone and it was even harder when we could only be together in small numbers. Ms. Hunter and I are so looking forward to being together as a form in both formal and informal ways and getting to know our new 4th formers while strengthening our relationships that we started last year,” Dougherty stated in an email.

Fifth Form rafts through the Pocono Mountains The 5th form went on their traditional white water rafting trip in the Pocono Mountains during form retreats. They enjoyed Class I and Class II river waters in the scenic Lehigh Gorge State Park. Surrounded by

Fifth form girls Maeve Redmond, Kim Monzingo, Rose Flaherty, McKay Allain, Kimaura Schindler prepare for a raft descent.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON RUANE

Sixth formers Saagar Sharma, Dev Sharma, Blake Groff, Owen Manganiello, Kenneth Palmieri, Mohamed Rostom, and Eddie Proffitt socialize at Camp Men-O-Lan. PHOTO COURTESY OF CAMILLE BEEDING ’22

mountains, it was an experience to remember. Fifth form adviser Elena Dauphinais said that “this trip is an opportunity for people to get off campus and do something they have never done before.”

Dauphinias explained why form retreats are important by saying the purpose of it was “to create bonding experiences for the whole group.” She also said that the rafting was a great “opportunity to go outside and be active.”

The 5th formers had a great time on the trip, with many of them saying it was very memorable.

For many of the fifth formers, this was their first time rafting.

Rocco Bressi ‘23 explained that rafting for juniors was a tradition, “I was very excited to be a part of it,” Bressi said.

Sixth formers gather for their last retreat For this year’s 6th Form retreat, the Class of 2022 was able to go to Camp Men-O-Lan, a campground about 45 minutes away from campus, for a weekend

getaway. It was a large space with lots of trails as well as a large pond. The form was offered opportunities to participate in different activities, such as paddle boating on the lake, going on a giant swing, climbing a rock wall or hiking on the trails.

Many 6th formers took advantage of their chance to relax before another hard week of school and sports.

“It was a chance to wind down after a hard week of classes. The experience was very enjoyable and provided us with a good break from schoolwork,” said Conrad Hens ’22.

On the last day, the form came together to pitch potential 6th form mottos which were to be voted on. On Sept. 27, Seth Eilberg, director of athletics and co-curricular activities, announced in an email to the form that their motto would be: “If we know the why, we can conquer any how,” or in Latin: “Si rationem habemus, quoscumque modos vincere possumus.”

Sit by the side of the Dell: Students and faculty voice opinions on new Dellside dorm

By DIEMMY DANG ’24 CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

Last year, following the demolition of the Classroom Building, Hill began construction of what is to become its newest dorm. In tandem with this project was the construction of Dellside Dorm, a temporary dorm that will house students until the new dorm is opened. Dellside takes the place of the Dell Science building, which had been constructed in 2019 and used during the 202021 school year to accommodate the extra classroom space needed for socially distant learning. The dorm opened at the start of this school year and currently houses 23 students, the majority of which are 5th form girls in addition to a few 6th form prefects.

As a new temporary dorm, Dellside offers a variety of both drawbacks and benefits that have been voiced by students. For Jennie Ki ’23, newly constructed furniture and living spaces are both advantages to residing in Dellside.

“I was living in Rolfe last year, and I’m in Dellside this year. What’s nice about Dellside is that everything’s new. The walls, floors, beds, tables — nothing is very worn out or creaky. Dellside also has better air conditioning, which is great. ” Ki believes that, while Dellside is not without its flaws, none of its issues are results of its quick construc-

Anna Lignelli ’22, Taylor Folk ’22, Adele Harris ’22, Luke Gerdeman ’23, Rachel Maier ’22, Grant Deshishku ’22, Erick Todorow ’22, and Anna Schlegel ’22 enjoy Izzes at the opening of The Warner Center.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

Hill’s DEI introduces The Warner Center Continued from Page A1

The new Dellside dorm overlooks the Dell.

tion or temporary status.

“I don’t think that that creates any problems. It doesn’t feel like a place that was rushed to be made, but the electricity is constantly going out, and there’s less space than in my previous dorm,” Ki said.

While Ki does not feel particularly in favor of Dellside, Tofe Akinyanmi ’23 voiced a very different opinion, saying that she has greatly enjoyed staying in the dorm. Akinyanmi credits her great experience in the dorm to its people and community atmosphere in addition to its architectural features.

“We have Ms. McConney and Mrs. Taylor as dorm parents, which

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

is already pretty awesome if you ask me. The location is pretty cool, even though we have to walk up the hill to get breakfast. The people are nice, so it’s a great community, and it’s been a fun time,” Akinyanmi said.

Dorm parent Laura McConney gave similar sentiments about her feelings on living in Dellside.

“I don’t see any real differences, besides air conditioning, between Dellside and traditional, permanent dorms. I am actually really loving living in Dellside, personally, as I think the students are getting along great, and I really enjoy my own apartment,” McConney stated in an email.

So far, Hill students and faculty have made full use of the Warner Center. Hill’s DEI team has hosted several events at this newly available space. There was a movie night to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, a dinner for new BIPOC faculty, a dedication ceremony featuring guest speaker Michael Tennant ’00, and many more. Even outside of planned events, students have enjoyed using the Warner Center.

“It’s a great place to go to get your homework done during study hall,” Tofe Akinyanmi ’23 said. “It’s also a comfortable space to hangout or have conversations. Not everyone at Hill can feel safe everywhere, so it’s important that we have the Warner Center as a place to talk about things we want to talk about.”

Indeed other Hill students also share this sentiment.

“The Warner Center is an important

place for students to make lifelong friendships, feel spiritually guided, and engage with different cultures,” Olivia Kalu ’22, Co-Chair of DEI said. “In such a challenging and fast-paced environment, I hope the Warner Center serves as a place for students to feel comfortable, supported, and respected regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, or religion.”

Adams agrees that it is crucial for students of all backgrounds to have a place where they feel seen, heard, and understood.

“A lot of times in spaces that are predominantly white, underrepresented students could feel the same way that they do in society. As much as a school is family first, some things are inevitable,” Adams said. “I want to create an environment on campus where all students, domestic and international, can feel like their unique experiences are centered and taken seriously. I hope to do that with the Warner Center.”

Off-Campus News

October 14, 2021

B3 | The Hill News

Healthcare systems on both sides of the border are on the verge of collapse

By HARLIV SINGH ’23 STAFF WRITER

A plane prepares for a take-off at Boston Logan International Airport.

PHOTO BY ERICK SUN ’24

International students confront challenges for Thanksgiving and Winter Break travel

By PETER GALINDEZ ’23 STAFF WRITER

Now that The Hill School is starting its return to normalcy, international students are still facing travel challenges. Thanksgiving and Winter Break plans for these students are complicated and less than ideal.

According to Helen Qiu, dean of international students, students from mainland China and Hong Kong will have to quarantine for 14 days in a third country and then another 14 days in the United States.

The school is actively working to accommodate all international students who are facing travel challenges. Qiu said, “For students who aren’t able to go home over breaks, we work hard to find host families for them to stay with.”

Getting to school was hard too, but possible. “Last year the U.S. prohibited all travel from China; but this year, with a student visa, travel to The Hill School was made possible,” Qiu said.

H-term, an interdisciplinary course term between Thanksgiving and Winter Break, has also been tweaked to accommodate international students wanting to go home. Qiu said, “There are online options for H-term if in-

ternational students really want to return home for Thanksgiving and winter breaks.”

Ric Guan, a returning 5th former from China, said he won’t be going home over break. He said his dad will fly over from Canada. He won’t see his mom, though, since she is in China.

“I have a Canadian passport, and I’m not a Chinese citizen,” Guan said. This means he has to be quarantined for three weeks if he goes back to China.

Mateo Contreras, a first-time 5th form boarder from Mexico, said he will be going home over Thanksgiving and Winter Break.

“I’m going to be isolated for three days, and if I feel sick I have to report it,” Contreras said.

Contreras said having family far away for a long time has been tough, but technology makes it easier to stay in touch. He said, “I call my mom and family every day.”

Artem Kyselov, a new 5th former from Ukraine, said he won’t be going back for any holiday breaks this school year. “I don’t have the money,” Kyselov said.

There are many Ukrainian kids in the northeast area, which allows him to connect and make friends. “We have a cookout every year,” Kyselov said, although he will be missing this year due to L’ville Week being the same week.

Alberta, a province often referred to as the “Texas” of Canada, is wellknown for not only its rich oil and gas industry (tapping into the world’s third-largest oil reserve) but also the natural beauty of its Canadian Rocky Mountains. Alberta literally fuels world economies and welcomes tourists to the iconic slopes of Banff, Lake Louise, and Jasper. Regrettably, it will now also be remembered for driving the fourth wave of COVID-19 cases across Canada. Healthcare systems collapsing under the weight of the fourth wave across America and Canada share a common warning: abandon public health measures and face overrun ICU’s and inpatient wards.

In June 2021, Jason Kenney, the current premier of Alberta, declared that the province was “open for summer.” Fresh off the third wave, he and his cabinet lifted all COVID-19 health restrictions on Canada Day: July 1, 2021. Despite watching a fourth wave emerge in highly vaccinated countries like Israel and Iceland, Kenney arbi-

trarily decided that a 70% population threshold for first dose COVID-19 vaccination was sufficient to move on from the pandemic. Kenney’s political website sold hats with the slogan “Best Summer Ever.”

As of Oct. 3, Alberta had over 20,000 active cases of COVID-19 with over 1,000 patients hospitalized, 263 of whom were in ICU beds. ICU utilization currently sits at 175% and is only sustainable because ICU “surge spaces” have been created across all hospitals, taking over wards and operating rooms previously dedicated for other patient care. All elective surgeries have been canceled across the province, with only emergency operations permitted. Even pediatric patients with operative forms of cancer and transplant patients have been told to wait until the stress on the healthcare system from COVID-19 becomes manageable. Doctors, nurses, and hospital staff are physically and emotionally exhausted by the surge in cases, high acuity, and deaths. Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s chief medical officer of health, recently stated: “I think that trajectory was set when we removed all public health restrictions

at the beginning of July.” She went on to state, “We have a crisis, that’s clear.”

On Sept. 16, Kenney apologized to Albertans, replaced his health minister, and declared a public health emergency. Masking and physical distancing restrictions have been re-implemented with a proof of vaccination passport created for access to all non-essential venues and services.

Most businesses have mandated that employees be double vaccinated by Oct. 31, and a predictable surge in vaccination uptake across eligible age groups has occurred. As of Oct 3, 84% of eligible Albertans have received one dose of vaccine with 75% fully vaccinated.

Similarly to Alberta, Pennsylvania lifted the mask mandate on June 28.

Although only 58.7% of Pennsylvanians are fully vaccinated, according to Our World in Data, the number of cases and hospitalizations has seen a 15% 14-day increase. As the fourth wave of COVID-19 goes across America, the PA government faces a choice: keep loose restrictions and face a possibility of Alberta’s disaster or reimplement mask mandates and similar COVID-controlling measures.

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

Crowds return to stadiums for live games

By CADEN OLENCZAK ’23 STAFF WRITER

COVID-19 sent a wave throughout America, leaving stadiums empty for live performances. Finally, with the vaccination rate going up, fans have been allowed to attend live sports games for the first time in months.

The return of live sports has been meaningful to many people.

In some cases, there has been a large change in the sporting environment after the pandemic.

Will Schneider, a 5th former at The Hill School, said, “I watched a lot of games over quarantine. The fake crowd noise was terrible. It was still fun, but boring.” Schneider is happy to have live sports back.

When stadiums were beginning to open up to the public, the National Hockey League was in the playoffs. Fans were not in attendance for any playoff games the season before.

Tyler Chenevert, a 6th former at The Hill School, went to the

The Philadelphia Phillies play the Tampa Bay Rays at Citizen Bank Park.

PHOTO BY KERR REDNER ’24

first hockey game at TD Garden, in Boston, with 100% capacity since COVID-19. Chenevert said the crowds “were more electric than ever.” The fans were “buzzing to be back.”

The environment at live sports games has changed since the pandemic. Chenevert said this will not be permanent.

Chenevert said the “excitement at games right now is currently off the charts. But in 10 years, nah.”

Schneider was in attendance for a San Diego Padres home game in July. This was weeks after the first game with fans had occurred.

“It was exciting for sure, but more normal. The hype had died down,” Schneider said.

Quarantine for the COVID-19 pandemic kept Americans around the country cooped up in their homes for long periods of time. A majority of that time was spent in isolation and distant from others, and Schneider emphasized that being allowed back in stadiums has brought a new meaning to sports, and that he will not take live sports for granted.

The Philadelphia Phillies play the Los Angeles Dodgers at Citizen Bank Park.

PHOTO BY KERR REDNER ’24

Arts & Leisure

The Hill News | C4

“La Tía Julia y el Escribidor” is worth a read

Photography requires patience

By ANDRES AREVALO ’22

By DAVID SUN ’24

STAFF WRITER

“La Tía Julia y el Escribidor” is a brave book. It is brave in its subject matter, and it is brave in the unorthodox writing form it takes on. The story moved and captivated me, and I feel compelled to share about the book and how it made me feel.

In the 20th century, Latin American writers took over the world of literature with revolutionary ways of conveying their cultures. Magical realism rose as the supreme genre, but Mario Vargas Llosa had a different approach. Llosa decided that, regardless of how unlikely many of the habits and events in Latin America are, realism was the proper method to narrate his stories.

In the captivating piece “La Tía Julia y el Escribidor,” Llosa does not only break the stigma of switching from first-person narrator to omniscient, but he also manages to complete a novel with two parallel stories. In the odd chapters, the reader learns about Mario, a frustrated writer studying law while working as an editor for a small radio station. In the even-numbered chapters, one can read the surrealist and dramatic stories from Pedro Camacho’s radio theater, broadcast from Mario’s radio station. An exchange of a typewriter builds an intricate relationship between the two stories.

Both Mario and Pedro fight their way through prohibited situations in Peruvian culture: romantic relationships between family members and the eccentricity of artists. Mario becomes involved with his aunt Julia and detaches himself from his friends and family to defend his uncommon relationship. Pedro’s odd habits and rituals to perform, combined with his insatiable love for

STAFF WRITER

As the sun set over the coast of Guangxi, more and more tourists appeared on the shoreline, patiently awaiting the arrival of the Chinese White Dolphins, an endangered species. As the photographers prepared their cameras, the tourists exclaimed - an elegant dolphin leaped out of the water, diving back down quickly, gone as abruptly as it appeared. Among the lucky few who managed to capture a picture was Erick Sun ’24.

Sun, the head photographer for The Hill News, took up photography four years ago. Initially, he only used his photos to document his travels; however, he quickly discovered the joys and magic of professional photography. “I got into professional photography because there’s so much to learn about,” Sun said, when asked about how he became so interested in photography. “The shutter speed, the lighting … you can turn anything into art.”

STAFF WRITER

After listening to “I Have a Dream” a thousand times, it was a delightful moment when I was able to see “Mamma Mia” in a live theatrical performance.

As the lights dimmed, the stage lights changed into a blue and white hue as Sophie, the main character, stepped on stage. The way her dress swayed while she was singing was satisfying. I instantly fell for her singing, as her voice was clear and soft, with a beautiful combination of melody and speech. The dazzling costuming, choreography, and music mesmerized the senses. The feeling of sitting in the front row was transportational; it was like a glimpse into the platonic ideal of musicality.

After the show came to an end and the curtains closed in

This summer, Sun visited Guangxi, China for a photography trip. The photo featured here was one of the many pictures he took there. Any image of the Chinese White Dolphin is a precious photo.

The rare and majestic animal can only be found in certain parts of the South China Sea. “This dolphin is in its teenage years,” explained Sun, who had done extensive research on the species before attempting to document them. “Newborn dolphins are grey, while adults are pink. This one is somewhere in-between.”

According to Sun, capturing these photos was all about patience, a skill useful in much more than just photography.

“Sitting for hours on end just waiting for a dolphin to appear where you point your camera really does a lot for your mentality,” he said. “Doing something you love teaches you more than just a skill. What you learn could be applied in any aspect of life.”

ILLUSTRATION BY AIDAN MA ’23

theater, wear his soul out.

The parallel stories, although completely different, both transmit the same concept of human deterioration. Mario loses himself in the stubborn desire of his aunt, destroying his character and driving him away from his writing goals.

Pedro loses his ability to write, making his narration become blurry, confusing,

and an indecipherable mixture of unrelated characters and events.

Llosa’s biggest achievement goes far beyond his ability to induce the feeling of human deterioration into the reader; he demonstrates how there are two ways to look into a human’s soul: through the narration of himself, his feelings, and his actions, and from the analysis of his art.

A Chinese White Dolphin leaps out of the South China Sea near Sanniang Bay, Guangxi.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ERICK SUN ’24

Alive and in-person: Experiencing a live theatrical performance during the pandemic

By JENNIE KI ’23

October 14, 2021

front of the actors’ waving hands, I went home, considering the power of the live performance. I decided to watch a recorded version of the show on YouTube. The stage seemed to be far away, making it almost impossible to look at the actors’ facial expressions.

The little sounds on stage were not heard; the bass notes not felt.

The connection between the actors and the audience felt so distant that I hardly recognized the magnificent views of the dancers with their dresses twirling. Even the intermission felt different.

Live and in-person, the intermission felt like a reprieve, a chance to collect my thoughts and truly appreciate what I had just seen.

But, in the recording, the intermission was just blank space.

The recording couldn’t hold a candle to the real thing. There is something very special about live works of artistry. I should go to the theater more often.

Channeling fall feelings

By MONIYAH PERSON-HENDERSON ’23 & ELLA GRINDLE ’24 STAFF WRITERS

MONIYAH’s PICKS: “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” - Taylor Swift Who doesn’t love some Taylor Swift? Especially when it’s old Taylor mixed with new Taylor. This song became one of my main bops the moment it came out. I feel it fits the fall vibe very well. I truly think Taylor is an amazing artist because she puts a twist on some of her most beloved songs by “remaking” them -- not many popular artists do that!

“Meet Me At Our Spot” THE ANXIETY, Willow, & Tyler Cole This song has one of the best beats I’ve ever heard. I honestly haven’t listened to Willow in such a long time (referring to her “I Whip My Hair Back and Forth” days) so hearing this was a nice refresher. This song is something you’d listen to while driving down a beautiful, clear road, and that’s what I do every single time I hear it. For some odd reason I also associate this song to drinking a Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte; that might be because the first time I heard it I was drinking one!

“Heat Waves” - Glass Animals Now hear me out, although this song says “late nights in the middle of June,” I think we can all relate to thinking about someone in the late nights of fall. We also tend to have weird weather here in Pennsylvania that it will be a random “heat wave” on a Tuesday in September. This song has had great meaning to me ever since I first heard it. I cherish it every time I hear it.

“These are the Days” - Jamie Cullum When I look back on my memories, summer and fall tend to be my most highlighted times. We are living in those days that we will later look back on and miss whether we will realize it now or not.

“Mamma Mia” continues to be performed on the broadway stage for thousands to see.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ORPHEUM THEATRE

“Night Changes” - One Direction It always fascinated how much things changed throughout the night. One day you’d wake up to it being sunny and bright to the next being cold and chilly. Fall is one of those months that you don’t know what the weather will be like the next day. You’ll leave the dorm in pants later wishing you wore a skirt because of how hot it got.

“September” - Earth Wind and Fire This song should need no explanation; every 21st night of September I blast this song, blaring out the lyrics and waking up everyone within a five-mile radius. It has such positive and fun vibes. It also tends to remind me of every cookout I’ve ever attended from the age of five.

“Traitor” - Olivia Roderigo I’m not sure if this is because everywhere I go I hear some girl humming this song or because it’s played on the radio 500 times a day, but I feel this is an immediate fall playlist song. Especially when you are “falling” out of love for someone.

“October” - Alessia Cara They’re is simply nothing more “fall” than the months September, October, or November. A song with the name of these months gets an automatic add to this playlist for obvious reasons. I think Alessia has a beautiful voice and tells a great story throughout this song.

“What a Difference A Day Made” - Jamie Cullum This song has great significance to me as it’s one of the songs my mother would rock me to sleep to as a baby. As school begins and we all start getting busy with the flow of school again, I started to realize that a day can make such a difference especially towards the beginning of the year. One day you may be cruising, on cloud nine with no worries whatsoever, and the next you may have 10 pages of homework. Don’t worry, that’s what Jamie’s here for, to calm you down with some swift beats.

“Autumn Leaves” - Ed Sheeran Another song with no needed explanation. Ed never misses.

“Are you bored yet?” Wallows (ft. Clairo) I remember blasting this song one night on the pitch as the cool air brushed against my face. I just think it’s one of those songs that makes you feel content.

Continued on page D5

Features

October 14, 2021

D5 | The Hill News

Channeling fall feelings “Killer Queen” - Queen A classic for sure, but how could it be overlooked? This song represents a certain type of person who I seek to embody: an intellect, a lady, a Killer Queen. The song itself is so versatile that it can be used in nearly any situation; however, I find that it is a fantastic song to get dressed up to and channel your magnificent energy.

Continued from page C4

ELLA’s PICKS: “Achilles Come Down” - Gang of Youths This song is brilliant to me in the way it provides subtle encouragement to the listener to seize the day no matter the struggle. While it is not exactly a “hype” song, the lyrics and sounds provide a sensation that is more like a gentle push of energy after a hard time and instills a new sense of determination and courage to the listener.

“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” - Tears for Fears To me, this song is the embodiment of that end-of-summer, going into fall sort of nostalgia that comes with this time of the year. This song never fails to make me feel like I am in an ’80s movie, waiting for my time to change the world around me.

“She’s Always a Woman” - Billy Joel Again, not exactly a “hype” song, but, when Taylor Swift’s vibrant energy is too much, Billy Joel can be trusted to lift the chin of any young woman who needs the reminder that they are beautiful in every sense, always.

“Still Don’t Know My Name” - Labrinth A bit more recent than my previous picks, but still such a bop.

Sometimes when I hear the beat drop it makes me space out, and I feel as if I am somehow on a purple cloud where all of my worries are far away. Overall, it’s a great song to listen to on Sunday afternoon.

“Crazy Train” - Ozzy Ozborne While certainly a different energy than the previous two recs, ”Crazy Train”makes me experience a certain type of feeling where I am nearly unstoppable. The guitar solo is Ozzy personally providing a soundtrack to be your most powerful self. Rock on!

“Mr. Brightside” - The Killers This song needs no explanation; it’s perfect for any situation whatsoever, and it will never not be catchy. Whether you need to zone out, hype up, party, or not look ’cause it’s killing you, Mr. Brightside has your back.

“Mony Mony” - Billy Idol A total throwback, but totally iconic. When I started to take music suggestions from my Grandpa over the summer, I was not expecting the energy that Billy brings to this song. To dance, party, vibe, or relax, this song will be sure to uplift even the most stoic of souls.

“Could Have Been Me” - The Struts When in such a complex, busy place like The Hill School, it is often hard to muster the energy to fully rise to one’s potential.

This hype-up anthem sends a different message. I remember listening to this song over and over during pandemic lockdown with the strong resolve to never put my head down. This song is not just a melody; it is an experience of life itself.

“Chiquitita” - ABBA Sometimes you’re just having one of those days. While a song like “Achilles Come Down” gives a gentle push to keep going, Chiquitita gives the listener a comforting hug and doesn’t let go until they’re ready to stand up again.

Jaelen Toole bakes his sweet business idea come true

By JEREMY LEE ’24

Dear Blue: Advice for achieving the impossible balance between work and sleep

By ANONYMOUS

STAFF WRITER

Jaelen’s Cheesecakes, a self-run business by 3rd former Jaelen Toole, is an impressive endeavor that creates cheesecakes that everyone can enjoy.

Toole grew up loving cheesecake ever since he could remember, and he credits this love all to his father, Ron Toole, for the inspiration for his business. For Toole, his father’s cheesecake was his comfort food: a piece of dessert that would bring sunshine after a gloomy day at school.

“I’d always watch him make them; it was something I found really interesting,” Toole said.

On Thanksgiving 2019, Toole had an idea to start a cheesecake business after he sold a cheesecake he made to his barber. He received a surprising amount of compliments over his pastry, causing Toole to wonder how far he could take this baking hobby of his. From then on, Toole began to expand his customer base.

At this point, Jaelen’s Cheesecakes is operated mainly by Toole himself, along with the help of his parents. His father often helps him with baking the crust, but the rest of the process – the filling, baking, and decorating – is done by Toole.

His sales are conducted only during the holiday season. He’s created approximately 30 cheesecakes every holiday season since the business’ start – an impressive number from a one-man business.

A wide variety of cheesecake flavors include strawberry, cherry, oreo, chocolate lovers, rum, Reese’s Pieces, and triple berry.

“My favorite is probably the triple berry and oreo,” Toole said. “The oreo is the best seller.”

Toole has also expanded the range of his customers, from his friends to his father’s acquaintances to even people who contact his family through his father’s Facebook page. The word of his business keeps spreading, and the business has pro-

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

Dear Blue, I have been doing homework until 12:30ish every night.

How do I balance completing my homework and going to bed at a reasonable time?

Jaelen Toole ’25 holds his homemade cheesecake.

PHOTO BY HELEN LING ’23

gressively become larger every holiday. In fact, they even receive orders from as far as Maryland.

Toole sees this business as something to continue in the future.

Though he mentioned that he hasn’t been able to bake cheesecakes during the school year because of how busy he is, he is still able to continue his business whenever he has the opportunity. He described it as “a side hustle for the future.” His business has also given him many valuable lessons, such as overcoming mistakes, adapting to last-minute orders, and solving conflicts in creation.

Toole expressed pride over his cheesecake.

“I enjoy the cheesecake myself.

I think it tastes good,” he said, “and knowing that what you’re making tastes good is a good feeling.”

After the interview, I tasted the cheesecake with some friends. When I opened the cheesecake, I instantly noticed the beautiful shades of gold and brown over the big cake. As soon as I took a bite, Toole’s words of describing the cake as thick and creamy instantly made sense. Everyone who tried the cake in Foster agreed that it was one of the best cheesecakes they had ever tasted. If you want to try some yourself, contact Toole through jtoole25@thehill.org, as he will be more than happy to sell you some of his homemade dessert.

In all honesty, I am probably not the person that should be helping you with this scenario, as I am writing this at 11:53 p.m. However, we can fight this battle together, and, hopefully, I will be able to share some strategies and coping mechanisms with you that I have collected throughout the years.

1. First and foremost: Your health should always be your priority. While having assignments completed is very important, especially in an institution of such caliber as the Hill School, at the end of the day, we are all teenagers and young adults attempting to balance the weight of the future on our shoulders. It is a lot, absolutely, but know that you do not struggle alone. If you reach a point in the night when you are beginning to fall asleep while doing your homework or you just don’t feel in the proper headspace at the time: take a step back. It’s perfectly OK and reasonable to say, “I should get some sleep,” despite maybe not completing your work for the next day. You will thank yourself in the morning when you are well-rested and prepared to take on the excess responsibilities from the night before, as compared to being exhausted, which would only help accumulate stress. Give yourself grace; you know what you need more than anyone else.

2. Organize yourself. As cliche as this piece of advice is, truly, it works. Finding a specific organization system that works for you will significantly increase your productivity and quality of work. Personally, I strongly recommend filling out your calendar: phone, laptop, Outlook, Google – you name it. We all have access to some sort of organizational

system across multiple devices. I suggest taking the first 10 to 15 minutes of your free period or time dedicated to homework to go through Canvas, emails, and Today On the Hill to organize yourself and to ensure you are aware of all responsibilities, commitments, and expectations. Write down any upcoming due dates or tests in a calendar with set reminders alongside any meetings that you may have to attend.

3. Pick your battles. Scenario: you have an important math test tomorrow, but you also have to finish a reading for a history discussion. You don’t have enough time to do both. So what do you do? You decide. There’s always going to be days where you’ll be overwhelmed with homework and studying. But sometimes, you have to pick between one or the other if you can’t do both. Maybe you choose to study. You won’t be prepared for your discussion, but you’ll get a better grade on an important test. It’s totally OK if you can’t do both -- whenever I’ve found myself staying up to work, it’s because I’m trying to do everything all at once. One of the most important time-management skills is cutting your losses based on what you can and can’t do in a reasonable amount of time.

4. Do Not Disturb: Distractions waste time. Sometimes, the home-

work you have shouldn’t take more than a couple of hours; but instead of taking this opportunity to go to bed early or relax, you waste time scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, texting a friend, watching Netflix, etc. and prolong the time spent working.

Of course, it is important and healthy to take breaks throughout working, but the frequency and the lengths of these breaks matter. My advice is this: set a 30-minute timer and focus on completing one task during that time. Be productive during this time, working on one specific class. Then, set a timer for a five-minute break.

This way, you decrease your distractions and increase your productivity.

If you find yourself still struggling with avoiding distractions, turn your phone and computer on Do Not Disturb to avoid any notifications.

You can also always put your phone away or simply just place it across the room– because, let’s be honest, we love our phones, but not enough to walk to get them.

I hope these quick tips helped you out with your homework problem. Once you get into a routine that works for you, you’ll find yourself getting a good amount of sleep each night. And if all else fails, you can always just delete your Canvas, and suddenly you’ll get a perfect 10 hours of sleep a night.

ILLUSTRATION BY ANGELINA CHI ’24

Features

The Hill News | D6

October 14, 2021

Simple and non-cliché ideas for group Hilloween: How to dress to impress with ease

By ANNA CARROLL ’23 FEATURES EDITOR

As Hilloween approaches, Hill students are already planning and placing Amazon orders for their costumes, keeping in mind the need for uniqueness and creativity for the annual costume contest. However, for those of us that haven’t even started to think of ideas, here are some non-cliché duo and group costume inspirations: 1. Different eras of Taylor Swift: If you and your friends are lovers of Taylor Swift (pun-intended), then this costume is perfect! Pick your favorite Taylor albums and put together outfits that best represent them. This costume is also just in time for the ten-minute “All Too Well” re-recording.

(You can also definitely do this costume with eras of other celebrities too).

2. “Grey’s Anatomy” doctors: With 18 seasons, there are a multitude of characters from “Grey’s Anatomy” to dress up as. All you need are some blue scrubs (or just an all-blue outfit), a stethoscope, white sneakers, and, of course, a white lab coat. If you want to go even more detailed, print out key cards with characters’ names on them and attach them to the coat!

3. Bikers: For large groups, bikers are an easy and unique costume. Wear jeans or black pants, a black shirt, and either leather or jean jackets. Don’t forget bandanas!

Sixth form boys show off their costumes on Hilloween 2020.

4. Pat Sajek and Vanna White: Great for a boy-girl duo, Pat Sajek and Vanna White of “Wheel of Fortune” fame are a unique and easy costume. For Pat just wear a suit and carry around a card that reads “Wheel of Fortune.” For Vanna, wear a long evening gown and have a poster board with spaces for letters.

5. “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”: The cast from this classic movie would make an iconic group costume. For extra fun, add some Oompa Loompas.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ELIZABETH HUDAK ’21

6. Hannah Montana and Miley: Great for blond/brunette duos, Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus gives you the best of both worlds. For Hannah, wear jeans, a patterned shirt, a colored jacket, and heels.

You have to go all 2000s pop-star. As for Miley, wear cargo pants, a colored shirt, and a short layered sweater. You can also go as Miley/Hannah and Lily!

7. The Cheetah Girls: For a fun costume for groups of four, go as the iconic Cheetah Girls in their 2000s velour track-

suits. Don’t forget the headbands!

8. Cruella de Vil and Dalmatians: Have someone dress as Cruella, wearing a black dress and a white fur sweater and red gloves. The rest just need white shirts with black dots and black or white pants and dog ears!

9. Mario Characters: Dress up as Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Wario, Yoshi – you name it. This simple and fun costume is great for large groups.

10. Matrix Characters: If you want a truly simple costume, dress like you’re from the Matrix: all black outfits with black boots, a long black coat or blazer, and sunglasses.

11. Shark Boy and Lava Girl: For duos, dress up as the protagonists from this arguably classic 2000s movie. For Shark Boy, all you need is an all grey outfit with shark teeth on the shirt. For Lava Girl, wear an all pink outfit with a hot pink wig. Of course, feel free to add a Mr. Electric in this group costume!

12. James Bond: All you need for this one is a black suit, sunglasses, and a bow tie. Simple and to the point.

13. Great Gatsby: This can either be a group costume or an individual one. Dress in 1920s fashion with a full suit and top hat. For girls, wear flapper dresses and heels. For hair, add some feathers and sparkly headbands.

Hill welcomes new faculty

By SARAH JIANG ’22 PHOTOS & ILLUSTRATION EDITOR

As the 2021-22 school year has kicked off, there are still a number of new faculty members to officially welcome to The Hill. All are looking forward to becoming a member of the Hill family, engaging with students and fostering the community through various roles such as coaching, creating multimedia content, and teaching. Here are continued introductions from our previous issue:

Claudia Buzad

After graduating in May, Claudia Buzad is joining the Hill community, working in the Office of Strategy Management as a multimedia content creator. She works as a graphic designer, creating print and digital pieces and also runs multiple Hill social media profiles, from the main Hill School profile to Hill Athletics and Hill Alumni on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. “I’ve really been excited about the revitalization we’re bringing to Hill Athletics on social media. Sports graphic design is something I’m really passionate about, so I’ve been having a lot of fun creating custom graphics and edits for the teams,” Buzad stated in an email. Specifically, she is looking forward to using the Media Day photos from Lead Photographer Sarah Bender and the videos from Videographer Shelby Berger in her designs. She is also a huge Eagles fan and enjoys taking trips to the beach, growing house plants, and playing soccer!

HEADSHOTS BY SARAH BENDER, HILL PHOTOGRAPHER MCKEE PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL ATHLETICS INSTAGRAM ABOUSAMRA PHOTO COURTESY OF NAHLA ABOUSAMRA

Jon McKee

Jon McKee is joining Hill to coach the varsity softball team.

Living in Pottstown all his life, Coach McKee had coached baseball and softball in the local community for over 20 years, including four at Pottstown High School. Today he still coaches in the travel Sanatoga Scream organization. Outside of athletics, however, he enjoys fishing, hunting, bike rides and spending time with his family. He is excited to be working with the student-athletes at Hill and further developing a consistently competing program in the MAPL conference and other local PASSA schools.

David Page

Nahla Abousamra

Coach Page joins Hill as the new head boys lacrosse coach and summer programming coordinator; he will also work closely with this year’s Postgraduates. He grew up in Westchester, Pa., graduated Hill in 2005 as a Postgraduate himself, and spent his past 12 years coaching at the college level, including the last four at the University of Pennsylvania. Beside lacrosse coaching, Page loves fishing, being outside and working out. However, spending time with his wife Julia and being a dad to his two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Evie is always one of his favorite ways to spend time. At Hill he loves the lacrosse team and is eager to keep building through the offseason towards the spring.

Nathan Taubkin

Anna Taylor is Hill’s new administrative coordinator for the CFTA and assistant technical director. She brings with her eight years of experience in theater working as a props designer and production stage manager. From right here in Pottstown, Pa., Taylor helps schedule and manage all of the events that take place in the CFTA, including some outside events and Hill activities. As assistant technical director, she also helps out with some technical aspects of the CFTA. “I paint sets and hang lighting instruments, run audio cables and set up microphones,” Taylor stated in an email. She’s excited about having a full season of live theater.

Originally from Egypt, but now residing in Allentown, Pa., Nahla Abousmara is coming to The Hill School as the new Arabic teacher. She is looking to build upon the foundation of past Arabic teachers and to establish a larger Arabic program through introducing technology and interactive learning. “Also, I am looking to enhance the intercultural communication between students and others and to explain the difference between cultures, acceptance, and the aspects that are familiar in each culture,” Abousamra said. In her free time, she enjoys reading in both Arabic and English. One of her favorite books includes “Looming Towers” by Lawrence Wright.

Nathan Taubkin is returning to the Hill community to teach Introduction to Web Design in the fall and Introduction to Visual Storytelling in the winter and spring, as well as to help run multiple afternoon activities such as boys cross country, JV boys hockey, and afternoon arts in the spring. He also works with the Office of Strategy Management to help run the Media Studio and assist with videography. After graduating from Hill in 2017, he always thought he might end up returning to campus, yet it was never a set goal of his.

“However, because the film industry was so unpredictable, due to COVID-19, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to come back to Hill and teach and work in an environment that was more creatively stable,” Taubkin stated in an email. He is looking forward to teaching video production in the winter and spring and hopes to instill a love and passion for filmmaking in his students. “I’ll hopefully be able to launch students down a path of filmmaking for years to come,” Taubkin stated. Apart from videography, he loves to watch movies and reality TV shows, as well as playing guitar and attending concerts.

Anna Taylor

Mary Vassallo

Mary Vassallo joins the College Counselling office as an administrative assistant. Prior to Hill, she worked as the administrative officer for the Office of General Counsel of the Philadelphia Housing Authority but discovered Hill in hopes of more student interaction. Outside of the office, Vassallo enjoys an active lifestyle, including hiking, running, biking, kayaking and also daily yoga and meditation. She looks forward to assisting the student body at Hill with their college application journey and can’t wait to see them mature into the young adults and leaders of the future.

Features Editor Anna Carroll ’23 and Editor-in-Chief Olivia Mofus ’22 contributed to this report.

The Hill News will continue to spotlight faculty and staff in future issues!

Opinion

October 14, 2021

E7 | The Hill News

Celebrating Oct. 11: Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples’ Day?

By AIDAN MA ’23 & HARRY ZHU ’22 STAFF WRITERS

The celebration of Columbus Day has been a contentious topic for the past couple of years. For many Italian Americans it is a holiday of national pride and a reminder of the struggles Italian immigrants of the early 1900s faced. For Native Americans, however, it is a painful reminder of genocide, violence, and colonialism. So, is Columbus Day still a necessary part of American culture, or have we progressed past the need for this celebration? To make the issue less divisive, we should look at this issue as a school, discuss it within Advisory, and hold workshops to understand the history of Columbus, indigenous people and Italian immigrants who had been oppressed.

To many, replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day promotes justice and rights the past wrongs done to Native Americans. Yet, the substitution means more than the removal of Columbus from a pedestal. It is an attack on the cultural heritage of many Italian Americans who see Oct. 11 as acknowledgement of the historical struggles their ancestors faced when landing in this country.

We need to re-examine the significance of naming national holidays after historical figures. In American history, only

ILLUSTRATION BY CHLOE HAN ’22

one other person shares that same honor with Columbus: Martin Luther King Jr., a figurehead for change and progress in the Civil Rights Movement. Should Columbus be placed on the same pedestal as MLK? The “Columbus Day versus Indigenous People’s Day” debate often results in divisiveness as the conversation gets too quickly shifted into a game of which group deserves a holiday more rather than why Columbus has become the figure to

represent Italian heritage. The issue many Native Americans take with Columbus Day isn’t the fact that Italian Americans are celebrating their history and heritage — it’s the fact that the individual they’re channeling their celebration through was a brutal colonist who catalyzed the genocide of their people.

Marty Campagnoli, an Italian student at Hill, commented on the celebration of Columbus in America. “I believe that

there are many other more efficient ways to memorialize the oppression Italian immigrants faced in America other than celebrating such a controversial person whose association with Italy is only the fact that he was born there. Columbus’ exploration was done at Spain monarchy’s service at a time when Italy was not even a country. I do not think it would be disrespectful at all. On the contrary, I believe Italian Americans would appreciate not to be associated with the horror that the American continent faced after Columbus’s discovery.”

No easy answer can end this debate.

Just removing the holiday without replacement would no doubt be disrespectful to the struggles the Italian community has faced in America. On the other hand, ignoring the injustice done by Columbus and continuing to blindly uplift and idolize a figure who represents pain, subjugation, and loss of freedom will not only be disrespectful to Native Americans but also antithetical to the values the United States holds as a nation. It’s clear that the issue isn’t as black and white as it first seems to be; but, as it stands, there needs to be a change in how the United States celebrates Oct.11, how the country decides to move forward and recognize its violent history and how it honors those that our country failed in the past.

Has it Donda ‘pon you that Kanye West is great?

By JOEY ASTERINO ’23 STAFF WRITER

Kanye West is back in the spotlight (has he ever left?). And of course, his comeback could not come without a little controversy. The release of West’s 10th LP was one for the ages.

The release of “Donda” all started with a listening party on July 23, in Mercedes-Benz Stadium. A release was promised after the event, but while Kanye seemingly played half-finished songs over the stadium speaker it was not looking promising.

While fans anxiously waited, West and his team lived in Mercedes-Benz Stadium for two weeks while still recording the album. After two weeks, West put on another performance, with a next-day release promised. But days later still no album.

Living in a stadium was one of the most normal events that occurred. West kept fans optimistic by posting cryptic posts online and stirring up beef with Drake that has been boiling over since 2018. Finally, a third listening party was announced.

The third and final listening party started with West sitting on the porch of a replica of his childhood home, with Marilyn Manson and Dababy, while they listened to their new collaboration “Jail pt 2.”

This particular event caused a lot of

outrage, and for good reason. Dababy has recently been canceled for homophobic comments, meanwhile, Manson is facing sexual harassment allegations.

This was West’s way of trying to make a stand against cancel culture, but I think he should have gone about it differently.

That incident was only during the first song played, but things went fairly smoothly for West after that. The show ended with him literally on fire and then remarrying Kim Kardashian. After that, there was still no album and fans began to worry he had scrapped the album (which has happened before!). A couple of days later “Donda” dropped randomly on a Sunday morning.

Why do so many people like me keep Kanye relevant and put up with some of his nonsense? Well, if you take the time to look at what he actually stands for and has done you can see he has done a lot of great things for society. To name a few he spoke out against homophobia in rap music early in his career, built affordable houses, prison reform, and now is opening a school. The media re-brands Kanye to be such a bad person when it is just the opposite.

What separates Kanye from other artists for me are the messages he portrays in his music. West is very vulnerable but also very confident. In his latest album, he says, “I don’t know what I would do without me,” but only two songs later he sings, “This is not about me.” He speaks

self-respect but also notes that the world does not revolve around him.

Unlike artists like Drake, who take a more of a sex, drugs, and rock and roll approach to their music, Kanye speaks about problems that are relatable to an everyday person. His latest album in particular focuses on his struggles, such as divorce, suicidal thoughts and finding oneself, which he confronted all while not having his mother to help him through it.

Speaking on personal issues is not new to Kanye. He has two albums dedicated to men-

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Candles burn around Kanye West’s recreation of his childhood home in Soldier Field, Chicago.

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tal health: “Ye,” and “Kids See Ghosts.” Kanye’s theme when making music is pushing to be yourself while having struggles doing it – something everyone encounters.

So why do so many people like me keep Kanye relevant? Because he does not speak like a superstar who thinks he is better than anyone else, but rather he speaks on common problems and emotions that the average person has. As a callback to one of Kanye’s first songs: we’re all self-conscious, he’s just the first to admit it.

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Sports

The Hill News | F8

October 14, 2021

New athlete spotlight: Giavanna Mancy takes the ice

By KATIE NEWKIRK ’22 STAFF WRITER

Hockey player Giavanna Mancy is from Toledo, Ohio and is new to Hill this year as a 5th former. Mancy won a national championship with her club team last season, and she is committed to Penn State. She is looking to bring her extensive skill set and speed to Hill’s hockey team.

Mancy grew up skating in her backyard rink in the winter with her brothers ever since she could walk. She played for various club

teams throughout Ohio before finally joining Little Caesars Hockey club when she was 11.

Little Caesars is a notorious hockey powerhouse on both the girls’ and boys’ side. The girls program alone has more than 30 state titles and two national championships, one of which was won by Mancy’s team in 2021.

Mancy scored in the championship game, as a defenseman, helping push her team past Minnesota Elite Vegas for the national title. “It really was one of my favorite seasons of hock-

Gia Mancy ‘23 skates during a game for her old club organization Little Caesars.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GIA MANCY ’23

ey,” she said while recollecting her experience at Nationals and her time playing club hockey. “I​​ ‘ve only gone twice to Nationals, and the first time we were out in our three first exhibition games and we went home, and then the second time we were able to win it all, which was just absolutely insane.”

While making a difficult decision to leave her club team of six years, she made the decision to go to Hill. She said she knew she would likely end up playing prep school hockey, as most girls do when trying to play hockey at the collegiate level. “I always was looking for more development and wanting to become a better player, and the idea of being on the ice every chance I could get out of prep school was very appealing, so I never closed the door to going away for high school,” Mancy said about the prospect of prep school.

Her development as a player is extremely important to her, and the availability of daily ice made Hill a strong choice. She felt that Hill was a great fit for her, both academically and athletically. “Hill has amazing staff, great education and also some amazing people and athletics.”

Transitioning from another state, another school, and another team is no small feat. When asked why she chose to change schools for junior year, she said her growth as a person was the top priority. “ I wanted to be prepared for college academically, be on the ice and working out every day or so.”

Mancy committed to Penn State in eighth grade and said that it was a “no-brainer” for her. Everything from the Big Ten competition to the campus itself was something she wanted to be a part of. “When I was on that campus I immediately just fell in love.”

Gavin Mpiana ‘23 celebrates with his club soccer teammates.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAVIN MPIANA ’23

Students return to club sports

By AUGUSTUS GERHART ’23 & LUKE RASMUSSEN ’23 STAFF WRITERS

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, club sports got put to a halt for all on-campus students. However, any student living off-campus and learning remotely was still allowed to participate. This left many athletes with a tough choice: stay on campus and not play, or leave campus and play.

With a lot of the recruiting process now happening within club sports, the decision came with pressure. Risks of not getting offers or much-needed exposure started to mount.

“I lived off-campus partially to participate in club sports,” said Gilbert Saunders, a four-year student at Hill and current 6th former. Saunders is also committed to Minnesota for baseball and said how key club sports were in that process.

“I used H-Term to participate in club sports. I feel like it gives a different ground for a lot of college coaches to come watch,” said Gavin Mpiana, a 5th former who plays varsity soccer.

Both athletes said that they needed to play their club sports in order to get the scholarships they wanted and that the only way to do this was to go remote.

Students this year don’t have

the option to learn remotely. This helps pose an interesting question: what would happen if Hill prohibited club sports, or would this even happen?

Seth Eilberg, athletic director and head boys basketball coach, said he doesn’t think Hill will ever prohibit club sports. He said, “There is a place for club sports to augment some of the experience you have here at a high level of prep sports.”

Eilberg saw both the good and bad sides of club sports. While he saw the good side of student-athletes getting recruited, he also said he knows that the organizations need money to run. “Business operations,” he called some of them.

He said how, while there are many great club sports teams, there are also some who might not be the right move for student-athletes.

Eilberg said that finding the right club team can be difficult for student-athletes to navigate. Although finding quality showcases can be hard, Eilberg said that Hill coaches know the college system well and that they will help take some of the difficulty out of the process. His parting words were, “Value the input of our Hill coaches.”

New Hill Postgraduates reflect on the start of the school year Mckeon wanted to PG so that he could better prepare himself for athletics and, more importantly, academics. He believes that he has made the right choice.

He also concluded by saying that having an extra year for college coaches to watch you is important because of how many doors it may open for you along the way.

By COLE BILOTTA ’23 & KADE DAVIDHEISER ’23 STAFF WRITERS

Postgraduates are students who have decided to take an extra year of high school to better prepare for their future plans; there has been a rise in athletic PGs due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the effect it had on the recruiting process.

Nicole Moran, a field hockey PG from Great Falls, Va., said, “COVID-19 impacted my recruiting process, and this was the best solution to continue my field hockey career at the next level.”

Dylan Coffee, a soccer PG from Boston, said, “COVID-19 really threw a wrench in my col-

lege process, and I felt that a PG year would allow me to get back that strenuous senior year. Also, I just turned 18, so having another year to mature and make connections is really valuable to me.”

The Hill prides itself in its traditions, and this is something that really appealed to the PGs when they were applying to Hill.

“When I was on my tour, people were just super friendly,” Luke Pickard, a PG from Millburn, N.J., said.

“What stuck out to me about Hill was the family culture that exists here. I also loved tradi-

Nicole Moran ‘22 hits the ball up the field, completing a play for the Saints field hockey team.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE MORAN ’22

Luke Pickard ‘22 deflects a pass, competing for Millburn High School.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LUKE PICKARD ’22

tions like the academic dress and the Dining Hall,” Pickard continued.

Alongside Pickard, Hayden Fruhling and Mark McKeon also play football at Hill. Fruehling is from Armonk, N.Y., and McKeon is from Radnor, Pa. A PG year will allow them to be on coaches’ radars, showcasing their athletic ability one last time.

They are both verbally committed to playing lacrosse at their respective schools next year.

Fruhling is going to the University of Vermont, while Mckeon is going to Penn State University.

For now, they’re enjoying the fall by playing football for the blues.

What stood out to Fruhling about Hill was “the tight-knit community and the pride that

the faculty and students took in representing that community in the best way possible.” He also said he enjoyed how everyone is competitive in both academics

What stood out about Hill was the tight-knit community and the pride that the faculty and students took in representing that community in the best waya possible.

—Hayden Fruhling ’22

Mark McKeon ‘22 walks down the field to prepare for the next offensive play for Radnor High School.

and athletics.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK MCKEON ’22