Best of Fall Issue E-Dition 2020

THE•EDITION
Germantown Academy Fall Issue 2020 theeditionga.com
Hybrid Reopening: Faculty Perspective
by Paige Begley,
class of 2022
and Alaina Steck,
class of 2022
Although the thought of being
in person was originally
unsettling, GA teachers have
taken on this uncertainty with
a positive outlook.
After the Upper School made the
difficult decision to adapt to a
hybrid schedule amid the pandemic,
Germantown Academy students and
faculty have strived to uphold the
responsibility of keeping our community
healthy. Thus far, GA has successfully
remained open by following state
guidelines. The hybrid schedule allows
students to alternate between learning in
the building and remotely via Zoom; 9th
and 10th graders are on campus on blue
days, while 11th and 12th graders are on
campus on red days. Opening in-person
comes with uncertainty, but GA students
and faculty have adapted to the new
schedule by abiding by the rules and
guidelines to maintain everyone’s safety.
With the hybrid schedule, students
alternate between in-person and at
home, while GA faculty are in person
every day. For some, the hybrid schedule
hasn’t been an easy transition. Mrs. Ayers
Language Department Head, feels “It
was hard on me to teach virtually. I
mean, I’m more of a hands-on type of
person. What’s more hard for me is the
hybrid schedule where some kids are
home and some kids are in school.”
Moreover, Mr. Moyer says that his
reaction to the hybrid schedule, from the
beginning to now, has changed
drastically. He “didn’t know how to
respond to it in the beginning” because
he didn’t know what a hybrid school
schedule really meant or would look like.
Now, he is more comfortable with the
hybrid model and believes it has been
successful so far. Ms. Tsai explained, “I
was extremely anxious because I do have
a child who really needs to be very careful
because her health is...more fragile than
other people.” She explains, “I [wasn’t]
sure what would develop, but after we
started for a couple weeks” and “I saw
that we work[ed] together to keep each
other healthy and safe, I have more
confidence.” Although the thought of
being in person was originally unsettling,
GA teachers have taken on this
uncertainty with a positive outlook.
For the most part, changes in class
curriculum adjusted teachers’ methods
of teaching, rather than the content. Mr.
Moyer remarked that while some content
was cut out, the real change occurred in
“planning activities that equally engage
students” in person and virtually. The
biggest puzzle is finding a method of
teaching that doesn’t exclude anyone,
and the teachers recognize that this is an
ongoing process.
There are many new safety measures
and protocols in place and teachers as
well as students generally feel like the
hybrid system is quite successful. Most
of the teachers interviewed agree that the
students are doing a good job adhering
to the mask and sanitation guidelines
and social distancing outside. Some even
refer to GA as being “the model school”
for keeping the community healthy.
However, the interviewed faculty believe
there is room for improvement in terms
of social distancing, especially in the
halls.
For the most part, teachers are more
comfortable now and they continue to
feel this way as long as everyone upholds
a “strong sense of self responsibility” by
following the guidelines. Teachers also
expressed the need for a “helpful measure
of patience” from both students and
teachers, as this situation has never
happened before. The success of the
hybrid system relies on the cooperation
of both teachers and students, as teachers
are adjusting to new and difficult
technology, and students are adjusting to
a new schedule and school set-up.
Both the teachers’ criticisms and
praises of the hybrid system reveal the
level of thought that must go into
making the hybrid system work. Though
the system isn’t perfect, the faculty agree
that it is quite successful overall, and
they are happy to see students in person.
There is no doubt that social distancing
measures and technological inclusiveness
are issues that need to be continually
improved, but it is still great to achieve
some level of normalcy. The general
consensus among teachers seems to be
that, despite initial nerves about the
reopening plan, they are now becoming
more comfortable with the situation. As
long as students do their part and
continue to follow social distancing,
wear masks, and regularly sanitize, GA
can continue to be successful with the
hybrid learning model this year.
Athlete of the Edition: Robert DiDonato Joins “The Farm”
by Rishi Mandapaka,
class of 2021
and Atharv Awasthi,
class of 2022
On Sept. 1, 2020, Germantown
Academy’s very own Robert Di
Donato ‘21 hit yet another major
milestone in his running career.
Following months of contemplation
between his top eight schools, which
included the likes of Harvard University,
University of North Carolina, and Duke
University, Robert finally announced via
Instagram his commitment to Stanford
University.
In a recent interview, Robert
emphasized how his recent commitment
and the beauty of his successes on the
track and cross-country course seemingly
mask his grueling work behind the
scenes. “There are no secrets,” he said.
“It’s hard and it sucks a lot of the time.
It’s not easy whatsoever. In running,
hard work is more directly correlated
with success than in any other sport.”
When speaking of his past seasons,
Robert reflected, “I started cross country
my sophomore year, so almost exactly
two years before my Stanford
commitment. I truly had to expedite the
process of becoming the caliber of runner
I am today. Most of the runners at a
similar level as me today have ran hard
their whole lives, and to compete with
them, it was necessary to accelerate the
journey of becoming a top Division-1
athlete.” DiDonato highlighted how his
sophomore year revolved around
developing his new lifestyle, while his
junior year was focused on “the grind to
develop as a runner and get the times to
reach Foot Locker Nationals, which is a
huge hub for recruitment.”
As a high school senior, Robert looks
back at his most-satisfying successes on
the cross country course. “GA-PC day,
the Inter-Acs, and PAISAA States
definitely stand out as some of the most
fun races from 18-19 and 19-20; it’s
always a great feeling to run with the
team in front of the GA community (at
GA-PC) and get some wins”said
DiDonato. The Foot Locker XC
Regional and National Competitions on
the other hand, Robert revealed, were a
much more serious affair. “I had rolled
through my sophomore season, winning
nearly every race I ran. But, the Foot
Locker Regionals race was a rude
awakening for me. I remember the
disappointment I felt when I missed the
nationals cutoff (top-10) by a huge
margin, placing 58th with a 5K time of
16:43.” said DiDonato. This feeling of
defeat only further motivated DiDonato
as he commenced his junior year. “I felt
like I had a lot of work to do if I wanted
to reach the Nationals race.” Robert
upheld this mantra, putting in mile after
mile in the 2019-2020 season to
eventually run a blistering 15:34 at the
Foot Locker Northeast Regional race,
not only cutting 1:09 from his time the
year before, but also finishing in 10th
and qualifying for the Footlocker
Nationals Race, where he placed 31st.
He encapsulated his Foot Locker
experience by remarking, “The regional
and national races from my junior year
represent my growth as a runner
throughout the past couple years.”
As for his commitment to Stanford,
DiDonato names the school’s worldclass
academic offerings alongside the
vast campus resources and opportunities
as some of the main pull factors. Another
big draw for Robert was the opportunity
to run under Stanford’s Coach Ricardo
Santos, who has incredible experience
from coaching at Harvard and the
Boston Athletic Association. He
concluded the interview by saying “I
couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a
part of the group that he [Santos] has,
and will continue to have so much
success at Stanford”.

Why “All Lives Matter” is Problematic
by Patrick Tronoski,
class of 2022
and Sofia Eichsteadt,
class of 2022
As the “Black Lives Matter”
movement spreads across the nation,
increasing backlash has made headway
in social discourse. People have started to
use the “All Lives Matter” argument as a
counterclaim to the “BLM” movement.
This statement suggests that it’s not just
Black lives that matter, but everyone’s
life that matters. However, Fore
Abinusawa, Class of 2022, argues that
those who actively support the sentiment
“All Lives Matter” wrongly believe the
goal of “BLM” is to elevate Black lives
above other lives. She explains that they
view the movement with “an invisible
‘only’” in front of “Black Lives Matter.”
While “All Lives Matter” may seem
intuitive at first glance, it steers the
conversation away from racial injustice
and minimizes the pain that Black
Americans face every day.
Germantown Academy’s Director of
Equity and Inclusion, Mrs. Walker-
Johnson, states that using “All Lives
Matter” “is a failure to really hear what’s
being communicated in the statement
‘Black Lives Matter.’ “BLM” attempts to
illustrate the racial disparity in class and
opportunity in this country. It calls for
larger changes in legislation to eliminate
the effects of systemic white supremacy
and state violence. “You’re not listening
to us, you’re not paying attention to this
pattern or behaviour that stands in the
way of our ability to thrive… The best
way to really dig deeper into learning is
Fast Fashion
by Adah Kaplan,
class of 2024
If you’ve ever bought seven shirts from
that H&M sale rack before summer,
or visited Forever 21 to buy neon shorts
for a themed party...congratulations!
You’re one of 99% of people who have
succumbed to the temptation of cheap
clothes and taken part in fast fashion.
While exciting, this consumer tendency
sacrifices quality, the environment, and
the welfare of others for convenience and
affordability.
Fashion is one of the most polluted
industries in the world, only second to
the oil industry. Fast fashion allows
people to purchase and wear trendy
clothes almost instantly without breaking
the bank. However, the resulting demand
and constant introduction of new trends
forces companies to produce items faster
and cheaper, which causes severe
environmental harm in the process.
Fast fashion companies use cheap and
toxic dyes that pollute water. As machines
become more powerful, they also release
more gas emissions into the air. Workers
are getting paid less and working more.
Even the budget designated to ensure
safety in the workplace has been
drastically cut. The lack of safety
regulations has resulted in fast fashion
buildings catching on fire or collapsing,
killing and injuring many. The 1911
Triangle Shirtwaist Fire was certainly not
the last time the world needed a reality
check. In 2013, a fire in Bangladesh
killed over 1000 people and injured over
to ask questions” said Walker-Johnson.
Asking questions and staying informed
on racial issues is the key to arriving at a
place of respect and empathy for
marginalized groups in America.
The goal of the “Black Lives Matter”
movement is to ensure that “All Lives
Matter.” “In theory, all lives do matter,
it’s the ‘in-practice’ part that’s the
challenge” said Walker-Johnson. The
While “All Lives Matter” may
seem intuitive at first glance, it
steers the conversation away
from racial injustice and
minimizes the pain that Black
Americans face every day.
BLM directly challenges the idea that all
lives actually matter in America. When
faced with the mounting evidence that
not all lives matter, and that Black lives
2,500. This too, was not an isolated
incident.
Although we know that $4.99 shirts
won’t last long, and that buying a $20,
higher quality shirt will be a more
sustainable investment, many still go for
the cheaper option. One of the easiest
ways to make a change is to treat the
items in your closet like a long-term
investment. Try to invest in basic pieces
that can be paired with almost everything.
Consider purchasing clothes from ethical
brands, such as Able, Pact, Alternative
Apparel, Everlane, or Pansy.
Also, there’s several ethical brands
that are beginning to cater to younger
people— Reformation (an Urban
Outfitters dupe), Dynamite (which is
basically a cooler H&M), and Mata
are regularly targeted and undervalued,
people often deflect and use language
they might feel is more inclusive,
detracting from the larger point of the
movement.
In this country, Black lives matter
considerably less than white lives. The
discrimination and unequal treatment
towards Black Americans is evident in
the criminal justice system. In 2015, the
Washington Post began compiling a
database of every fatal police shooting
that occurred in America. They found
that the rate at which Black Americans
are killed by cops is almost double that
of white Americans. Similarly, the
Sentencing Project finds that African
Americans are incarcerated at a rate more
than 5 times that of whites; 38% of the
national state prison population is Black
even though Blacks make up only 13%
of the general population.
Traders (similar to ModCloth).
Another option is shopping at thrift
stores, which are also one of the best
places you can send your old clothes.
While thrift stores are an easy way to
recycle items, if you’re able to afford
ethically made brands, it’s better to buy
directly from them. If many financially
stable people buy from thrift stores in an
attempt to be more eco-friendly, then
those who are less wealthy are forced to
buy from the cheaper brands, putting
ethical brands out of business and
inadvertently helping fast fashion
brands.
Still, many people strive to wear the
latest trends. Like Paris Hilton, some
aspire to never get photographed in the
same outfit twice. So what are the
Opinions
The Black community is
systematically marginalized. Black adults
are more likely to go without care
because of cost than white adults. Black
children have less access to quality
education than white children do.
According to UNCF (United Negro
College Fund), an organization that
provides college scholarships for Black
students to HBCUs, “[public] schools
with 90% or more students of color
spend $733 less per student per year
than schools with 90% or more white
students.” These statistics indicate that
there is a systemic issue that yields worse
results for the African American
population in America than it does for
the white population.
Although the notion of “All Lives
Matter” is understable in theory, blatant
situations of Black lives being valued less
and even disregarded tell a different
story. “All Lives Matter” implies that
those who are fighting for equality and
justice are fighting for something they
already have. The backlash to “BLM” is
by people who don’t want to accept that
their privilege comes at the expense of
others. “All Lives Matter” provides a
curtain of security. It reassures people
who don’t want to open their eyes to
injustice and allows them to be confident
that their status will not change. “All
Lives Matter” is an attempt to make us
lose sight of what we are fighting for: a
world in which Black lives really do
matter. This time comes when all lives
will matter.
alternatives? Rental services— think
Rent the Runway, Express Style Trial, or
LeTote—allow people to select items
they like, wear once or twice (or more!),
and return the items in exchange for new
clothes. For those who enjoy wearing
clothes from expensive brands, Style
Lend also allows people to rent designer
items out of other people’s closets for a
week.
Although it might take more effort to
find sustainable clothes that you really
like, time restraints are a small barrier to
overcome. The environmental, social,
and oftentimes financial impacts are
high payoffs. It’s up to you to research,
learn about your favorite brands, and
begin to change your spending habits!

Opinions
Social Media: A Platform for Change in GA
by Olivia Abraham,
class of 2023
In June, an Instagram account with the
handle of @blackmainlinespeaks was
brought into the virtual world. On their
first post, the account administrators
wrote, “The Main Line. Best known for
its expensive stores, exotic cars, exclusive
schools, and racism. Welcome to Black
Main Line Speaks.” Following this post,
@blackmainlinespeaks began to share
anonymous stories to advocate for
change in the Main Line community.
Soon after @ blackmainlinespeaks
was created, @metoomontco, a similar
account, was formed with a focus on
cases of sexual harassment and assault in
Montgomery County and Main Line
schools. When asked about their mission,
@metoomontco spoke about how
schools must stop sweeping cases “under
the rug,” and rather, take progressive
action. The creators want to tell school
administrators to “protect your students
before protecting your reputation, [and]
make your school a safe place for students
to feel comfortable opening up.”
Inspired by the aforementioned Main
Line accounts as well as @lgbtdelco, @
lgbtqonthemainline has become a similar
space for students. It aims to provide a
platform to LGBTQ+ students “whose
voices have been silenced or ignored for
decades” while allowing them to remain
“anonymous to allow for security.” They
hope that students who have faced
discrimination for their identities will be
able to read the posts on their page and
know that they have a community that
“stands with them and will support and
advocate for them.” Despite their
activism, however, the @
lgbtqonthemainline argues that
“students shouldn’t need anonymous
accounts like these to feel that their
schools care about them.”
In response to the posts on these
accounts, Mr. Schellhas, Head of School
at Germantown Academy, has sent out
two emails on behalf of the school
administration. The first email
acknowledged the concern of racism and
oppression in the Germantown Academy
community, providing a plan of action
for the school to take. Consulted in this
plan is Director of Equity and Inclusion,
Mrs. Walker-Johnson. “Private schools
were not originally created with BIPOC
(Black, Indigenous, People of Color)
students in mind, and while they have
made progress, these predominantly
White spaces still fail to consistently
provide a sense of welcoming and
belonging for BIPOC students” said
Walker-Johnson.She encourages all
students that feel that they have been
oppressed to continue using their voices
for good.
In the second school-wide email, Mr.
Schellhas reaffirmed the school
administration’s commitment to
ensuring that every community member
feels safe at all times. Some students and
alumni are taking their activism one step
further. Over the summer, GA alumni
Shayne Cerebe started an action team
that goes by the Instagram handle @
team_change_ga, that works alongside
GA to “foster a safe space for all students.”
On this account, Shayne shares updates
on progress being made in meetings, as
well as topics of discussion. Along with
this action plan, Sydney Hill ‘21, Faith
Davis ‘21, and Milo Debartlo ‘21 are in
the process of creating a club called
Safebae GA, inspired by a student-led
and survivor-driven national
organization (@safe_bae) aimed toward
sexual assault prevention and education.
There has yet to be an email sent out
addressing the concerns of oppression
towards LGBTQ+ students in the GA
community. Rebecca Lee ‘21, leader of
the Sexuality and Gender Alliance
(SAGA) student organization, says that
“there’s a huge deficiency of LGBTQ
information in our curriculum.” She
suggests that LGBTQ+ information and
stories be highlighted in Health and
Wellness and History classes to create “a
more tolerant and educated community.”
She reminds anyone who identifies as
heterosexual or cisgender that “not
having a flawless understanding of
LGBTQ issues and identities is okay. No
one expects that from you. What we do
expect is a basic respect for us as people,
and for cisgender heterosexual people to
have the drive to educate themselves and
engage with LGBTQ issues in a
respectful manner.”
In an effort to start conversations and
increase education, Class President Sarah
Rojas ‘21, says she “gained a lot of insight
Presidential Debates
by Patrick Tronoski,
class of 2022
In modern American society, nationally
televised presidential debates are of
great importance. After political parties
nominate their candidate, the
presidential debates take place late in the
election cycle, typically during the
months of September and October. The
debates consist of a moderator and the
two potential candidates, who stand
before an audience of American citizens.
The moderator poses a series of questions
to the candidates, and their responses are
evenly timed to keep the conversation
“Although presidential
debates strive to promote
civil discourse, recent events
demonstrate otherwise.”
organized. While the debates generate
tension in social discourse, their ultimate
goal is to allow candidates to directly
express their political views, proposed
policies and to persuade potential voters.
Although presidential debates strive
to promote civil discourse, recent events
demonstrate otherwise. In the first
presidential debate on Sept. 29, 2020
the personal nature of the conversation
regarding Hunter Biden’s foreign
business deals and drug use was
completely irrelevant to the campaigns
of both President Trump and Joe Biden.
While the VP debate between Kamala
Harris and Vice President Mike Pence
on Oct. 7 was far more civil, many
interruptions still took place.
into changes that could be made after
attending the cross-racial student forum
led by BSA [Black Student Alliance]
leaders… I really appreciated the
opportunity to learn from BSA leaders
and ultimately learn how to become a
better ally.” Rojas has also started two
committees in SGA this year, one
dedicated to mental health, and the
other committed to equity and inclusion.
Although there has not been a formal
statement to the community regarding
the oppression towards the LGBTQ+
community, action is being taken in
light of sexual harassment allegations.
The school has brought in Melanie
Rychok, an external third-party
professional who has a specialty in
trauma, who will also be looking for
different “trends or cultural issues that
may contribute to an unhealthy
environment.”
No concern has been prioritized as
most critical in terms of advocating for
change. Rather than picking and
choosing, we should begin with
discussions, inside and outside of the
classroom. We must be open to the idea
of uncomfortable conversations and
giving others the opportunity to speak
their mind without judgement. As a
student body, a school, and a community,
it is vital that we all come together to
make each other feel comfortable and
respected.
Debates become convoluted when
both sides no longer discuss their
political views, but rather, slander the
other candidate with unrelated
information. This dynamic diminishes
the effectiveness of persuading voters of
either side.
Due to the rapid dissemination of
information from media sources, voter
knowledge has increased in recent years.
Thus, many voters have already made up
their minds about who they will vote for,
and with the counterproductivity of the
debates, their stances do not undergo
much change. In fact, the discordance of
the debates may even discourage voters
from voting for either candidate; this is
demonstrated through the fact that only
about 56% of eligible voters voted in
2016.In all, the recent debates reveal
that the effectiveness of presidential
debates seem to be on a decline.
Recent events reveal the instability of
American politics. If our leaders
themselves cannot debate and discuss in
a civil manner, then how we can progress
as a united nation is questionable.
Currently, the popular discussion is
about how to maintain this piece of our
democracy and utilize debates to increase
voter turnout. The debates reveal that
our country is suffering extreme
polarization. To help overcome this
divide, presidential candidates must
accept that disagreement is inevitable in
politics, but must be done civilly to
fulfill the primary purpose of debate—
to educate American voters.

Artist of the Edition: Ms. Ritz
by Angie Wang,
class of 2024
Ms. Ritz has loved art ever since she
was young. “Making things was
like my best friend,” said Ms. Ritz. As a
quiet child, she felt that art was the only
place where she could truly express
herself “when words wouldn’t always
come.” Teaching allows her to
communicate through her work while
also helping students learn to express
themselves through their work.
Ms. Ritz bases a lot of her work around
the ideas of home, family, emotions and
growth. Ms. Ritz created the piece
“Home” last year when she became “an
empty nester.” Her children had all
moved out of her house and her home
became “quiet for the first time in 25
Album Reviews
by Jake Grim,
class of 2021
In September, Slauson Malone quietly
dropped his sophomore solo project.
For those that are unaware of the
Standing on the Corner member,
Slauson Malone is an extremely talented
producer and musician hailing from Los
Angeles, California. He and his Standing
on the Corner partners have been leading
a quiet genre-bending revolution. In
2019, Slauson released his breakthrough
album A Quiet Farwell, 2016-2018
which was personally one of my favorite
albums of last year. It was glitchy, offkilter,
and wholly original. It meshed
jazz, hip-hop, plunderphonics, and
sound collage. When I saw that Slauson
quietly released Vergangenheitsbewältigung
(Crater Speak), I was expecting an even
more odd and bizarre journey. However,
Slauson Malone dazzles again in 2020,
not through wild experimentation but
instead through heartfelt balladry.
Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Crater
Speak) is very much a musical companion
album to A Quiet Farwell, 2016-2018.
It revisits similar sound loops, chords,
and melodic elements. Interestingly
though, this project sounds almost
entirely played by Slauson himself, as
opposed to sampled loops. The weird
sample splicing and glitch elements are
still in full effect, but they take a
significant backseat to real
instrumentation. The somber piano that
looms sadly across “I’m tired” sounds as
if it was recorded live off a microphone
in the room. Similarly, the acoustic
guitar playing on “THE MESSAGE 3:
Blood” is downright breathtaking. This
album reminds you that behind
Slasuson’s exceptional sampling is a
genuinely talented musician.
years.” By creating this piece, Ms. Ritz
was able to express the internal emotions
she experienced throughout this time.
She describes the branches breaking
through the house in her work as “an
emblem of the physical home that could
no longer contain [her children’s]
growth.” The cherries dangling from the
top branches are “symbols of beauty,
love, and a new start.” The bruised
cherries on the ground, however, are
“emblems of loss, moments of marks
missed in our lives.”
Ms. Ritz created “Heart/Home” when
the COVID-19 pandemic first hit,
inspired by her inner emotions. The
conflicting feelings of uncertainty and
love both play a part in her meaning of
this piece. She describes her feelings of
disorientation, fear, and uncertainty as
VERGANGENHEITSBEWÄLTIGUNG (CRATER SPEAK)
Slauson Malone
On A Quiet Farwell, 2016-
2018, Slauson rarely sang or rapped, and
if he did it was buried under layers of
production.
Alternatively,
Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Crater Speak)
shows Slauson’s captivating vocals and
writing. Whether talking about being
stuck in life, personal identity, issues
with drugs, or his identity as an African-
American man, Slauson’s abstract
delivery is refreshing and poetic in a
sense. On “Smile #6”, Slauson’s words
bounce as he details himself as being
“stuck in a joke” in reference to his
position in life. His feelings of anxiety
and concern are relatable to all people
especially during times of crisis such as
now. Slauson’s concluding statement on
the project is “Darkness in my smile,
shadows in my speech/Thunder in my
tongue, lightning in my teeth” which is
also perhaps a reference to the storm that
brews inside his inner psyche. Although
the main focus of Slauson’s music is the
production, his poetic lyrics and delivery
cannot be understated.
The Verdict: For its genre-bending
instrumentation and abstract lyrics, I
give Vergangenheitsbewältigung (Crater
Speak) an 8.6/10.
“the uprooting of [her] heart.” This
sudden shift in her life not only impacted
her, but also her sons, who moved back
home from across the country. The
“uprooting” she mentions applies to her
heart’s feeling and the physical
“uprooting” that her sons experienced.
While initially overwhelmed by the
sudden change, her love for her sons
grew. The title “Heart/Home” comes
from Ms. Ritz’s personal belief that home
and heart are interchangeable. To her,
home is wherever love is.
The materials that Ms. Ritz uses play a
part in the meaning of these pieces. One
of the first things noticed about these
pieces is the two heart shaped structures.
The two hearts are similar in form, but
when viewers look closer, they can see
that the two hearts differ in material and
texture. “I like to use a lot of different
things and then unify them with color”
said Ritz. Ms. Ritz uses many different
textures to “evoke different kinds of
feelings,” but unites the pieces with a
deep red color.
PUNISHER
Phoebe Bridgers
by Jake Grim,
class of 2021
The emotional potency conveyed in
Phoebe Bridgers’s album, Punisher,
is unmatched. In my opinion, this is a
serious contender for Album of the Year.
Phoebe has been growing in the indie
rock scene ever since her debut album
Stranger in the Alps in 2017. While I
recognized her talent on this album, I
was not really blown away by it. In
retrospect, I realize that Stranger in the
Alps was a direct precursor to the
brilliance of Punisher. The enchanting
production across the album’s eleven
songs is captivating. The acoustic guitar
harmonies on “Graceland Too'' and the
blaring trumpets in the hard-rocking
“Kyoto” are perfect examples of this.
While the production is endlessly
gorgeous, the true star of the album is
Phoebe’s lyricism. Detailing turbulent
family life, damaging romantic
relationships, and social anxiety, Phoebe
is emotionally captivating in every song.
SONGS
Adrianne Lenker
by Jake Grim,
class of 2021
Adrianne Lenker’s Songs is a project
that captures beauty in simplicity,
which is why it is unique. While
Adrianne has experienced success leading
her band Big Thief, Songs sticks out as
wholly her own.
Taking inspiration from legendary
artists such as Elliot Smith and Nick
Drake, Adrianne’s main tools across
Songs is her guitar and her voice. While
there may be other sounds or light
percussion, Adrianne layers multiple
intricate acoustic guitar patterns to
create beauty. A particular highlight of
Adrianne’s guitar prowess is the intro to
“my angel” as the guitar gently mixes
folk and jazz into the void of nature. In
addition, Adrianne’s unique vocals seem
to be completely natural and gentle over
each track. Her trembling voice,
common in her work with Big Thief, can
be found on tracks like “come”.
Adrianne’s guitar and vocals on Songs
combine to create a raw and delicate
tapestry of music.
Not only is the sound of this album
great, but Adrianne’s lyrics are both
touching and heartbreaking. On Songs,
Arts
While both “Home” and “Heart/
Home” have similar elements, Ms. Ritz
doesn’t consider “Heart/Home” as an
extension of her previous piece “Home.”
Instead, the pieces are “part of a series of
work regarding family, love, growth, and
the transitory nature of growing a family
over time” said Ms. Ritz. She chooses
symbols that have universal meanings
and explores them in her personal terms.
She aims for viewers to observe and
analyze the symbols, relating them to
their own lives.
Ms. Ritz hopes that her work “evokes a
gut reaction” in viewers. When people
first see her work, they may recognize
elements that they are familiar with -
such as the shape or the color - but then
deconstruct the meaning as they notice
more details. Though people might not
know Ms. Ritz’s personal meaning to her
pieces, they are still able to interpret the
meaning of the piece according to their
own experiences. Be sure to check out
Ms. Ritz’s piece ”Heart/Home” in the
Arts Center!
If I had to name one stand-out song, the
tale behind “Saviour Complex” is truly
heartbreaking and cathartic. Phoebe
details how she attempts to save those
around her despite destroying herself in
the process. It is a hauntingly beautiful
ballad that cannot be understated.
The Verdict: For its raw emotion,
beautiful production, and Phoebe’s
stellar performances, I give Punisher a
9.1/10.
Adrianne reflects and meditates on her
sexuality, her love, her connection with
nature, and her feelings of loneliness.
Adrianne is both poetic and down to
earth throughout each acoustic ballad.
On the beautiful song “Anything”,
Adrianne sings “Staring down the barrel
of the hot sun/Shining with the sheen of
the shotgun/Careless little swinging sun/
Joyous rays, we wanna come.” This
poignant mixture of nature with personal
feeling makes up the majority of the
album.
The Verdict: For its refreshing
simplicity, beautiful acoustic palette, and
heart-filled lyricism, I give Songs a
8.7/10.

Arts
Scary Movies
by Sydney Cameron,
class of 2022
and Cameron Moore,
class of 2023
Looking for a scary movie to
watch? We’ve asked people in the
GA community to recommend
their favorites:
Sean Lipschutz ‘22 said that he is a
big fan of scary movies and recommends
Paranormal Activity because the ending
“scared the pants off of him.” In
Paranormal Activity, a couple moves into
a new home and starts sensing
supernatural presence; they set up
cameras at night to see if they are right
about their suspicions.
Sophie Towne ‘21 said she has not
seen a lot of scary movies, but of the ones
she has seen, Devil is her favorite. Devil
is about 5 strangers who get stuck in an
elevator and soon find out that one of
them is the devil himself; it gave Towne
“nightmares for weeks.”
Charlotte Dilello ‘21 said she’s a big
fan of a different type of scary movie:
Scary Movie. It is a parody of the horror
genre and makes fun of a few famous
horror movie scenes.
A popular scary movie choice is It, a
movie based off of the terrifying clown
from the Stephen King novel. Dane
Wetzel ‘22 said the movie is a “good mix
between horror and comedy.”
Black Lives Matter Protest Art
by Patrick Tronoski,
class of 2022
While marches have been a
prominent method of combating
police brutality and systematic racism,
art has become an avenue to integrate
and normalize the conversation
surrounding the Black Lives Matter
movement.
Public displays of art are a new source
of protest; contemporary artists have
taken on these ambitious projects to
help amplify the voices of the Black
community and to ultimately undermine
the power of systematically oppressive
institutions.
Within our community, the city of
Philadelphia has contributed powerful
pieces of public art, demonstrating the
admirable strength of Black
communities. Notably, Philadelphia’s
Municipal Services Building, the most
prominent government building in the
city, recently commissioned a Black
Lives Matter mural. The mural known as
“Crown” depicts a Black woman as an
emblem of freedom along with other
figures, forming the shape of a crown.
The piece, placed squarely at the entrance
Livi Merrill ‘22 recommends The
Conjuring. Merrill said it is insanely
scary and she could “watch it three times
in a row and still be scared.” The
Conjuring is based on a true story where
a family with five daughters moves into a
new home and starts feeling a ghostly
presence. The family asks two paranormal
investigators to examine their house, and
the movie just gets more horrifying from
there.
Ali Ruane ‘23 said one of her favorite
scary movies is The Corpse Bride, a Tim
Burton movie that explores a gothic
romance between the undead and the
living. Ruane also enjoys classics like
Coraline and The Nightmare Before
Christmas. “I honestly just love [those
of the Municipal Services Building,
conveys a bold and strong statement to
the public eye. This mural also marks the
removal of monuments of Frank Rizzo, a
previous Philadelphia mayor and
notorious racist.
Undoubtedly, the most influential
street mural resides within the core of
our nation, Washington D.C. This street
mural, officially referred to as the “Black
Lives Matter Plaza,” was funded by the
Department of Public Works and
painted on June 5, 2020 across a twoblock-long
section of 16th street,
Downtown D.C. The mural is painted
in yellow and reads, “BLACK LIVES
MATTER.” While this mural aimed to
oppose all forms of police brutality and
racism, it was actually seen as a superficial
way to ease the social discourse; Black
Lives Matter groups felt that the mural
was merely an insincere statement,
because no policy changes were made by
the government. In response, the very
next day activists took their frustrations
to the streets and strengthened the
statement by adding “BLACK LIVES
MATTER: DEFUND THE POLICE”.
While this action received a lot of
backlash from other organizations, it
films] because they were childhood
favorites for me. I grew up with them
and they’re still fun to watch even as I get
older,” said Ruane. In her eyes, The
Nightmare Before Christmas is amazing
because “you never really know what
category to put it under, Halloween, or
Christmas -- but I think that’s what
makes it even better.”
Elizabeth Riley ‘22 comments that
Coraline is an interesting film as well, the
Henry Selick film stuck out to her as a
“fun and spooky” watch. Coraline is
based off of the Neil Gaiman book by
the same name.
Hope you have fun watching these
scary movies!
solidified the message that the
distribution of government funding
needs to be revised.
Lastly, protest art has been created in
memory of victims of police brutality,
highlighting the many innocent lives lost
to preventable events. Memorials of
George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have
been disseminated across the country,
and, although dedicated to those specific
individuals, these art murals often shine
light on other equally important victims
who lost their lives at the hands of our
supposed protectors. Memorial art
murals carry more nuances of sorrow
and grief, while also motivating their
audience to rise with the Black
community and to help ensure that no
life is lost because of the color of one’s
skin.
The year 2020 has been a tumultuous
one, and people are discovering the
reality of corruption and hatred within
our nation. The voices of protest are
conveyed in a plethora of different ways,
yet creative art has served to be one of
the most prevalent forms of activism in
the Black Lives Matter movement.
Book Club:
Love and
Other Words
by Kara Lintgen,
class of 2023
Love and Other Words by Christina
Lauren, the author of many other
great romances and coming of age
novels, develops a great flow between a
teenage romance and an adult happy
ending. I was skeptical at first because it
is generally my belief that adults and
their problems are more boring than
teenagers. However, as most of it takes
place in the characters’ teenage years,
this novel is far from a boring adult
romance.
The narrative follows Macy Sorenson
and alternates between past and present.
Between these two timelines, something
happened to drive Macy and her first
and only love, Elliot Petropolous, apart
so fiercely that Macy ran from Elliot and
has not spoken to him in eleven years. In
present day, Elliot moves to the city
Macy is living in, and they slowly
reconnect as Elliot attempts to learn
what happened all those years ago. In the
past, we watch Macy and Elliot become
best friends as young teenagers, bonding
over loss and love of words, then fall in
love as they grow up together, and
eventually reveal the event that split
them apart for years.
I was engrossed by every page of this
book. Both timelines are interesting and
had me excited to know what happens
next. There was not one chapter where I
was bored. The characters are funny and
brilliantly relatable, especially for
someone who shares their endless passion
for books and words. It takes a lot for a
book to make me want to cry, but this
book achieved that (in a good way).
I would rate it 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Time for Team Loyalty & Spirit
by Joseph Richards,
class of 2023
While the news buzzes about
promising vaccines and potential
discoveries to help keep people safe from
COVID-19, the sports industry has
been scrambling to find ways to bounce
back from the sting of the pandemic. All
sports leagues—including the National
Football League (NFL), National
Basketball Association (NBA), and
Major League Baseball (MLB) are taking
precautions to limit the spread of the
virus. As each sport deals with the
pandemic in unique ways, fans are also
adjusting to the new norms of being a
spectator during this challenging time.
Since the start of the pandemic, the
NBA received an impeccable rating for
the changes they made to ensure
everyone’s safety. Currently, NBA players
are mandated to stay at the Walt Disney
World Resort in Orlando, Florida. This
“bubble” system eliminates all
interactions with others to reduce the
spread of coronavirus infections. The
situation may not seem ideal; however,
people recognize the importance of
cooperation. “It’s an amazing thing, and
it’s like history…this has never been
done before, and to be a part of it is just
a blessing,” described Los Angeles Lakers
center JaVale McGee. Although it has
been successful at keeping everyone safe,
there has been a lot of pressure on the
league to generate profits. So far, the
NBA has lost an estimated $500 million
in ticket sales alone from a shortened
season. Despite the fact that the NBA
will not recover this enormous loss any
time soon, they still have offered fans
free virtual seats.
Similarly, the MLB is dealing with an
abridged baseball season. Every team
will play 60 total games – 102 games
fewer than normal. This change is also
hitting the league with huge economic
losses. In order to limit travel and keep
players healthy, teams will play most
games against their division rivals;
nevertheless, all stadiums are being
utilized. The league is expected to lose
billions in profit and many are still
questioning whether there will be a
World Series as the season rounds the
bases. Athletes from every sport expressed
Jordan Longino Becomes a Wildcat
by Clara Alger,
class of 2022
Jordan Longino, rising senior at
Germantown Academy, donned a
Wildcats t-shirt to announce his verbal
commitment to Villanova Men’s
Basketball team over social media on
July 23rd.
Over the course of 2020, Longino
received offers from Virginia, Indiana,
Maryland, and Florida, among many
other schools. Longino’s decision came
down to what program he would fit best
into, and Villanova had exactly what he
was looking for. “I officially knew I
wanted to be a Wildcat about two weeks
ago when me and Coach [Jay] Wright
had a phone call and he really gave me a
clear and transparent look into what my
time at Villanova would be like” said
Longino.
Coach Matt Dolan, the varsity boys
basketball coach at GA said “recruiting
can be both challenging and extremely
rewarding.” Longino explains that
“trying to grow an honest relationship
with every school that is recruiting you”
is one of the many challenges. He advises
that other students going through the
concerns not only for themselves and
their families, but also for their loyal
fans. Despite the health precautions,
dozens of players tested positive for the
virus. “In baseball, at least 80 players and
two dozen staffers have tested positive
for the illness. On the Miami Marlins
alone, at least 17 players and two coaches
have been confirmed positive for the
virus.” Statistics change daily, suggesting
more changes to come.
There have been changes and
cancellations across the entire sports
world. The NFL cancelled all preseason
games and began with the regular season.
They also allowed players to opt out of
the season due to the COVID-19
pandemic, and in response, 66 players
are sitting out the season. This change
resulted in devastating losses for some
teams, including Dont’a Hightower
from the New England Patriots and C.J.
Mosley from the New York Jets. For the
players who decided to participate,
masks are required when traveling and
when in team facilities. Some teams,
such as the Jacksonville Jaguars and
Cleveland Browns, allow fans to fill the
recruitment process “really listen closely
to how the coaching staff and especially
the head coach talks about your playing
style” in order to ensure you are finding
the right fit for you. Coach Dolan and
the coaching staff emphasize that “it’s all
about the fit” and recommend athletes
Sports
stadium at a limited capacity while
mandating mask-wearing. Although not
all seats will be filled, Microsoft has
promised to provide a virtual fan
experience at NFL games. Microsoft’s
“virtual fan experience” enables viewers
to enjoy their favorite sports as if they
were really there.
Although the pandemic has limited
fans from physically being at games,
technology has played a huge role in
providing people a way to partake in the
excitement virtually. Both players and
fans have dealt with a lot of change over
the recent months, as sports require this
flexibility. Although everything is in
constant flux, it surely is the perfect time
for team loyalty and spirit.
to “control your effort and attitude, visit
the schools that are contacting you, and
focus on places that will challenge you
both academically and athletically.”
Longino emphasized that “the fun
part [of recruitment] was getting a
chance to grow relationships with head
coaches that are considered legends.”
Longino mentioned that he “was pretty
star struck” the first time he talked to
Coach Wright one-on-one.” Longino’s
teammate, Jake Hsu, said, “it was
definitely fun to be around Jordan
during his recruiting process considering
all of the coaches that came to our
games” and that “it adds more fuel to the
fire to go out and play your absolute
hardest.” Longino said that as he neared
his decision, “sometimes the whole
entire [Villanova basketball] staff would
be on a zoom call with myself and my
family.”
Throughout his recruiting journey,
Jordan displayed maturity and
dedication. Another one of Longino’s
teammates, Casey Traina, said that
“Jordan largely kept his recruitment a
secret” and that “basketball recruiting is
much more individualized than social
media makes it seem”. Hsu added that
Longino was “humble” throughout the
whole recruiting process. Coach Dolan
emphasized that “Jordan has worked
extremely hard to have this opportunity,
and has the personality and drive to
continue to get better each day in an
environment that will positively
challenge him.”
Although his signing day ceremony is
a few months away, Longino is excited
for what’s to come as a future Wildcat.
He joins three other rising seniors from
around the country who have committed
to Villanova Men’s Basketball, and they
are considered the No. 1 recruiting class
of 2021, according to 247sports.com.
Jordan wrapped up our interview by
sharing that, “Nova Nation to me is the
best fanbase in the country. I can’t wait
to give them my best as a player and
person.”

Fun
Editor’s
Block
News Desk:
Desk Editors: Harry Hou ‘21
and Sangeetha Bhuyan ‘22
Copy Editors: Alaina Steck ‘22
and Lauren Casimiro ‘21
Op-Ed Desk:
Desk Editors: Christina
Nguyen ‘21 and Priya Anand
‘21
Copy Editors: Olivia Abraham
‘23 and Sarah Fineman ‘21
Arts Desk:
Desk Editors: Clara Alger ‘22
and Sofia Eichsteadt ‘22
Copy Editors: Mackenzie
Smith ‘21 and Nicole Ranile
‘22
Sports Desk:
Desk Editors: Justin Weiss ‘21
and Stefan Lynton ‘21
Copy Editors: Atharv Awasthi
‘22 and Nate Phillip ‘21
Lead Staff Writer:
Maddie Gamburg ‘21
Photo Desk:
Jordan Robertson ‘21, Kara
Lintgen ‘23, and Olivia Pacitti
‘22
Instagram Editors:
Eileen Zhang ‘21 and Riya
Palkar ‘22
Website Editors:
Paige Begley ‘22 and Sam
Wang ‘23
Layout Editor:
Candice Medina ‘22
“I’m so glad they finally
cleared out some more
room for kickball.”
-Eileen Zhang
drawn by Kara Lintgen
New Faculty
MRS. SOFFER
by Alan Liu,
class of 2024
Mrs. Soffer joins GA as the Middle and
Upper School Learning and Reading
Specialist. She has taught students for
the last 15 years. As an educator, she
developed a passion for reading,
prompting her to become a reading
specialist. She is eager to begin helping
DR. VANDERSTAR
by Saloni Bhatia,
class of 2024
Dr. Vanderstar, a new addition to the
GA language department, teaches Latin.
Dr. Vanderstar has taught for 23 years at
schools such as Penn Charter, where she
taught Latin and History, and the
University of the Arts, where she taught
Ancient World History. Before teaching,
Dr. Vanderstar worked as a Greek and
Roman archeologist. She recalls, “I spent
Caption Winner
Runner Ups:
“Aw man, he almost made it through to the end of 2020 :(”
-Chelsea Bright
“...I guess we can’t be called the quad anymore.”
-Helen Wu
“2020 couldn’t get any worse—“
-Alan Liu
students of all ages read and write. In her
free time, she loves traveling, watching
Game of Thrones, and reading books by
her favorite author, Daniel Silva. A fun
fact is that she met her husband at a
sleepaway camp at 11 years old.
Welcome, Mrs. Soffer!
MR. HOUPTLEY
by Kate Cooper,
class of 2022
Mr. Houptley, a new Upper School
Assistant Teacher and the yearbook
advisor, describes himself as “a life-long
learner with a passion for helping
students.” He recently graduated from
West Chester University with a Masters
in Higher Education Policy in Student
Affairs. During the past two years, he
worked as a graduate assistant at West
10 years living in Europe doing fieldwork
and used to live in Cyprus.” Dr.
Vanderstar previously taught GA Latin
in 2008. Some of her hobbies are
gardening, biking, and reading Latin
poetry. This year she looks forward to
meeting all of her students and exploring
the Latin program. Welcome, Dr.
Vanderstar!
Chester and aided in large scale event
planning for the University. This year, he
plans to help students with their
transition from high school to college.
He is most excited about “capturing this
interesting year through the yearbook,
tastefully and respectively because this
year looks different than any other year.”
Welcome, Mr. Houptley!
Senior Digital Editor:
Jenna Rothenstein ‘21
MR. HUNT
by Cam Smoore,
class of 2023
Editors in Chief:
Grace Brogan ‘21 and Helen
Wu ‘21
Faculty Advisors:
Helga Vutz and Alicia Evans
MS. JOHNSON
by Adah Kaplan,
class of 2024
Mr. Hunt joins GA once again as an
Upper School guidance counselor.
Having previous experience as a teacher
in Special Education, as well as in Early
Childhood Development and Education,
he looks forward to “continuing good
relationships” with the students he sees.
In his office (which is open from 8:00
am to 3:00 pm every Friday), he hopes
to create a safe space to help people
address their concerns and work towards
resolutions. He and his wife enjoy
traveling and seeing live performances
such as Jazz, Blues, the Orchestra, and
Dance. Welcome, Mr. Hunt!
Read our most current articles by
scanning this QR code!
Ms. Johnson has loved her first few
months at GA, both teaching history
and coaching high school volleyball.
After taking a year off of teaching to
travel the world (she has been to 80
countries!), she chose to teach history
because of how it intersects with her
various interests, including sociology,
psychology, and culture. In this coming
year, she looks forward to playing some
games with the volleyball team and
teaching students to “express their ideas
clearly, have well-founded world views,
and know what they’re passionate
about.” Welcome, Ms. Johnson!

MR. EVANS
by Harry Bradley
class of 2022
Mr. Evans, a new college counselor,
made the switch from Penn Charter to
GA. He described the challenges of his
transition due to the pandemic and, also,
how his “Penn Charter friends teased
him” about his change of schools.
Nonetheless, he is excited to join the GA
college counseling team and school
community. He hopes to see GA
MR. KOZIOL
by Kate Cooper,
class of 2022
Mr. Koziol has been at GA for eight
years, working as a swimming unit
instructor and Boys Water Polo coach in
grades Pre-K through 8th grade. This
year, he has also taken the position of an
Upper School Assistant Teacher,
proctoring study halls. During his first
year working in the Upper School, he
MR. BRATTON
by Adah Kaplan,
class of 2024
Walking into Mr. Bratton’s room, you
immediately notice the grid of shelves
filled with different-sized plants, which
all grew from two tiny plants taken from
a restaurant! Mr. Bratton came to GA
after teaching at Tabor Academy for
seven years, stating that he likes to take
on “seven-year challenges.” He loves the
MR. ELLISER
by Alan Liu,
class of 2024
Mr. Elliser, a new guidance counselor,
comes to GA from Tredyffrin/Easttown
Middle School. He has been a teacher
for 8 years. Mr. Elliser now teaches
ninth-grade seminar and is looking
forward to meeting and working with
traditions return to normalcy, so he can
explore the house system and experience
the Harkness tables, exclaiming that they
are “such a distinctive feature of the GA
Upper School.” Mr. Evans’ cheesesteak
of choice is Dalessandro’s, and he had a
gorgeous mullet in the 1970s and 80s.
Welcome, Mr. Evans!
MRS. MAHNKOPH
by Kate Cooper,
class of 2022
Mrs. Mahnkopf, a new math teacher for
Geometry, Algebra 2, and Pre-Calc grew
up in Singapore, where she discovered
her passion for math. She obtained her
bachelor’s degree in engineering in
Singapore, her online master’s degree in
Australia, and her teaching certification
in Nevada. Over the years, she has
progressed from teaching at the
looks forward to “getting to know more
of the community in a different setting.”
He enjoys “working with young people
and helping them become a better
version of themselves.” His favorite
memory at GA thus far is the boys water
polo teams’ first win on GA/PC day.
Welcome, Mr. Koziol!
MS. DOWNS
by Angie Wang
class of 2024
Ms. Downs joins the GA faculty as an
Upper School lab assistant and a parttime
teacher. She greatly enjoys nature,
exclaiming, “Whether it be hiking,
walking, jogging, or camping, anything
outside I love!” Surprisingly, for the past
10 years, she has never owned a TV. Her
favorite part about her job is embracing
attitude of the GA students, and he
appreciates his colleagues in the history
department, who made his transition
seamless. One of Mr. Bratton’s absolute
favorite things is humor, and he believes
that “if you don’t laugh once in my class,
I’m not doing my job!” Welcome, Mr.
Bratton!
MS. CARROLL
by Saloni Bhatia,
class of 2024
Ms. Carroll is the new Associate Athletic
Director. She will teach gym and coach
soccer this year. Ms. Carroll began
coaching eight years ago at Shipley, and
exclaims that “the best part about
coaching is the bond that you get to
build with your students.” She has
coached high school girls varsity soccer,
Upper School students. He is excited to
support and connect with everyone.
Outside of school, he likes to run, read,
spend time outside with his family, and
practice cooking skills. Welcome, Mr.
Elliser!
elementary level to the high school level.
In her free time, she enjoys camping and
indulging in Boy Scouts activities with
her family. At GA, she is excited to
“make a lot of great experiences and
create more life-long connections and
memories with students and faculty.”
Welcome, Ms. Mahnkopf!
daily challenges and “figuring out new
ways to help the people around me be
their best selves.” She looks forward to
an in-person school year in the future,
saying that being in person is “more
organic when we’re together; we can
learn from one another.” Welcome, Ms.
Downs!
middle school volleyball, and middle
school softball, and has taught Health &
Wellness. So far, Ms. Carroll “loves being
at GA” and “loves the campus and inperson
teaching.” During her spare time,
she likes to work out, do yoga, spend
time with her family. Welcome, Ms.
Carroll!
News
Remembering
Ruth Bader
Ginsberg
by Maddie Gamburg,
class of 2021
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the 2nd
woman appointed to the Supreme
Court, passed away on Friday, September
18 at the age of 87. The Supreme Court
reported the cause of her passing as
complications of metastatic pancreatic
cancer.
Ginsburg was a feminist icon that not
only changed laws but also transformed
the standardized roles of men and
women in society. In 1971, before her
time serving on the Supreme Court,
Ginsburg wrote a brief for Sally Reed in
the case of Reed vs Reed, which declared
that discrimination based on sex violated
the Equal Protection Clause of the
Fourteenth Amendment to the
Constitution.
During her time on the Supreme
Court, Ginsburg’s core argument was
that “equal protection” covered all
discrimination based on sex. Ginsburg
asked the court to examine how
inequalities affected men, a move that
was not only strategic but also a step
towards diminishing “traditional”
societal norms.
“I think her greatest impact was in
fighting for the civil rights of all
Americans- women, men, members of
the LGBT community, those who are
being denied the right to vote, women
pushing for reproductive freedom...”
said GA History teacher Judy Krouse.
“To me, she was more than just a
Supreme Court justice. She was a symbol
of intelligence, perseverance, and
fairness… She became an icon for
women like me, but also for younger
women and girls. She proved that it was
possible to rise to the level of being on
the highest court of the land and to make
an enormous impact on the judicial
system in our country.” Ms. Krouse
considers the quote “Fight for the things
that you care about, but do it in a way
that will lead others to join you” the
essence of Ginsburg’s legacy.
While frequently overlooked,
Ginsburg’s Jewish heritage deeply shaped
her life as a justice. Although not
religious, she found value and wisdom in
Jewish tradition, a sentiment exemplified
through the Sandy Koufax movement.
Koufax, a pitcher for the LA Dodgers,
decided not to pitch Game One of the
World Series because it fell on the day of
Yom Kippur. To recognize this
movement, Ginsburg decided that she,
too, would not sit with the court on the
holy day.
According to Jewish tradition, those
who passed away just before Rosh
Hashana are known as a tzaddika, a
Hebrew word for a virtuous and just
person. Thus, Ginsburg’s passing on the
eve of Rosh Hashana displayed the loss
of a true tzaddika. Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s
vision of justice stems from both Jewish
and American heritage and the legacy of
her passion will be continued for many
generations to come.