Communication is Key
Carter Moyer '20
November 15, 2018
At Hotchkiss, Spirit Week and Taft Day are not just important, but sacred. The campus many of us call home goes through a transformation: hallways become tunnels of school spirit, students express themselves in ways that are anathema during normal weeks, and, regardless of the number of tests or essa...
An Open Letter to Our Community
Casey Wolff '19
November 15, 2018
Here we are again, two months later, apologizing for a gross overreaction to an unannounced rule change. I hope that I can speak for all of my peers in saying that we are tremendously sorry for the wildly inappropriate attack on Mrs. Perrenoud and her family. I also hope to provide a glimpse into why ...
A Plea from Overscheduled Students
James Horrocks ‘19 and Harry Roepers ’19
November 1, 2018
As Seniors, we have attended approximately 113 chapels and 113 class meetings during our time here. We both feel that the time taken up by these required gatherings could have been better used completing work and preparing for upcoming assessments, meeting with teachers or advisors, or catching up with...
When Hate Finds Passive Neglect
Justin Choi '20
November 1, 2018
When your phone rings with simultaneous notifications from the Associated Press, BBC, New York Times, and every other media application, it indicates a news event of imperative importance. Unfortunately, on October 28, our phones rang with grim news of yet another incident of gun violence fueled by twi...
Toxic Pollution, Toxic Attitudes
Yuki Zhang ’22
November 1, 2018
Picture this. You’re in a small boat, drifting in an endless ocean of oil, dirty chemicals, and the bodies of dead animals. The smell of death fills the air. How do you feel? This is not the future or an imaginary place. In fact, this is how our ocean looks today. Today, the toxins in seafood have b...
If Men Were Angels
Carter Moyer ’20
November 1, 2018
James Madison, the fourth president of the United States and drafter of the Constitution, thoroughly believed in democracy. To him, democracy was the ideal form of government, and it utterly terrified him. On paper, democracy sounds like a great idea: make government accountable and give people a greater...
Standardized Testing is Inherently Unequal
Jiahua Chen '20
October 19, 2018
The original intent of the SAT was to provide an accurate indicator of a student’s readiness for college and "scholastic aptitude." Nowadays, it has deviated from its original objectives. The SAT has morphed into a fallacious indicator for college admissions. In the process, it has become a living nig...
Dethrone the College Board
Zoe Bank ’19
October 19, 2018
Applying to college is a very individual process. Each student makes choices between a big or small school, city or rural location, and countless other decisions. However, there is one universally dreaded aspect of the application: standardized testing.I can personally attest to the months of work...
A Lyrical, not Political, Genius
Cyrus Farmaian ’21
October 19, 2018
Kanye West has a track record for doing and saying controversial things. Whether it be his support of Trump, ending concerts after 10 minutes, or controversial lyrics, it seems that he is always intentionally drawing attention to himself in some way. His most recent manifestation of his need for attention...
The Fight For Mankind’s Survival
Carter Moyer ’20
October 16, 2018
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was created to protect the American people from the harmful air, water, and ground pollutants. Some of its first mandates were to oversee the implementation of the Clean Air Act (1970), the Federal Environmental Pesticide Control Act (1972), and the Clean Water...
Should Democrats Swing Center?
David Vega '20
October 4, 2018
The 2018 midterms are crucial in terms of the political direction of the country. This fall, Democrats are entering an election season as the minority in Congress with an unpopular Republican president: a setup for midterm success. Back in 2006, Democrats were able to take control of power in Congress w...
Considering Adjustments to College Counseling
Suzy Shin '17
October 4, 2018
The spring of one's Upper Mid year until the fall of one's senior year is notoriously difficult for one reason: college admissions. One of the most important tools with which the school equips students to help navigate this monumental time is the college advisor program. Every winter, Upper Mids are a...