December Issue III

The
Hourglass
DECember 2020 volume 60 issue 3 disce verum laborum 1888 701 montgomery ave, bryn mawr pa 19010
AMERICA
How Media Corruption Has Divided the American People
By OLIVIA STEPHAN ‘24
POLARIZED
The mass media
is an integral
part of
democracy
because it allows
Americans
to be
informed about
the country’s
current
issues, pol-
icies,
and events.
Sim- ply put,
media is
a conveyor
of in- formation,
knowledge,
e n -
tertainment,
news, and advertis-
ing. All of this is
spread through methods
such as the Internet,
television, books,
and billboards.
The United States
has always had partisan
media as a byproduct
of the First Amendment,
where it’s stated, “Congress
shall make no law … abridging
the freedom of speech, or
the press.” As specified by the
Supreme Court, “Congress” applies
to all federal and state government
agencies, but not private
corporations.
Over the years, the Supreme Court
has been hesitant to set boundaries to
this Amendment, saying that it doesn’t
apply in certain extreme circumstances,
like threats of violence. To do otherwise
would contradict one of the United
State’s founding principles of self-governance:
we are a “government of the
people, by the people, [and] for the
people” (Gettysburg Address).
However, the media is taking advantage
of this right. The news is supposed to
be based on facts, and while bias has been
and always will be a component of the information
we hear, it has become overpowering
in modern media. This is because the
media now focuses on personal gain and
not how to inform the public correctly.
Money is the key behind this. Large
news corporations feed the public stories
that will grab the most attention because
the more viewers they have, the more cash
they make. These articles are written to
draw us in and drown us in the subject.
And the methods used often don’t
portray the story accurately.
To catch a reader’s attention,
the surface of the story must be
snappy and concise. The cover
picture and headline must
make readers click. However,
once they do click, the
news they receive is only
the surface of a story.
With facts taken
out of context, the
reader only sees one
side of the larger
picture. This creates
an American
population
whose knowledge
is extremely
limited
due to
the
du-
ality
of
reality
and how
they perceive
their realities.
Besides, the gov-
ernment abus- e s
the media by
influencing i t s
output.
Often
relation-
ships form
b e - tween news
corthe
porations and
government because
one body
wants to feed a
story and the other
wants to share the
story to make money.
So now bias is not
only about extreme
opinions but also about
where loyalties lie.
The media’s high corruption
rate has polarized
America in 2020 more than
ever before. 2020 has been a
year of crucial societal events,
including the election, racial injustice,
and COVID-19.
An essential part of understanding
the American divide is that
there are two types of polarization,
affective polarization and ideological
polarization. Affective polarization measures
the amount of dislike between two
groups of people, whereas ideological polarization
is how far apart two groups of
people are on specific issues.
In America, studies done by groups
such as American National Election Studies
(ANES) show that affective polarization
has increased throughout the past couple of
years. However, ideological polarization
in the U.S. has remained constant. This
means Americans don’t disagree with each
other more than in the past, but the amount
they dislike the opposition has increased.
Two sources that have helped to create
this outcome are social media platforms,
such as Instagram, and large
news corporations, such as The New
York Times.
On social media, people traditionally
only saw posts similar to their own
beliefs because of whom they choose to
follow. The solution, however, of exposure
to opposite beliefs ultimately backfired.
Content that opposed the opinions
of the user was mainly portrayed to its
extreme. Thus, people grew to dislike
the other side even more and became
even more stubborn.
On major news channels, the problem
is similar. Each news corporation
plays to one side, choosing to go to the
far left and the far right. So if a Republican
viewer is watching a Democratic-leaning
channel and sees only that
party’s extremities, they are more likely
to flip back to a Republican channel
than to say, “let me think for a minute
and consider this other point of view.”
This makes people very set in their
ways.
A 2019 Pew Research Center
study showed that 65% of Republicans
trust Fox News for political news,
whereas 61% of Democrats distrust it.
Democrats go to CNN for their news,
with about 67% of them trusting CNN.
Among other sources, these two major
networks are used most by these two
parties because they cater to each party’s
respective beliefs.
In a world where the media is a
business, and the line between truth and
falsehood is so blurred, Americans must
stay vigilant. We must strive to inform
ourselves of the whole picture by looking
at multiple sources and being aware
of possible bias.
How to Rush a Panacea
CENTERFOLD:
Navigating the Truths of
the Digital Age
A Look into the Anne
Frank Library
As COVID-19 vaccines have
begun to get approved for distribution,
the public remains
critical of the rushed process.
Should fact-checking be required
on social media apps?
Can you be sure what you see
and read is the “truth”?
Even while in-person access
to the library has been
restricted, the librarians have
been working hard to provide
new tools and services.
[ See NEWS, PAGE 5 ]
[ See CENTERFOLD, PAGES 8-9 ]
[ See FEATURES, PAGE 15 ]
Graphics and design by Maggie Song ‘21
Photography by Trisha Yun ‘24 and Megan Cooper ‘21

2
Editorial
Photos courtesy of Ava Olson ‘21 and Presley Daggett ‘21
Graphics and design by Sanae Hagino ‘21
Editorial
Co-editors-in-chief Presley Daggett ‘21 and Ava Olson ‘21 address The
Hourglass’ target market, bias, and censorship
Taylor’s tips
WEEKEND WINTER’S DAY
It’s the most wonderful time of
the year! But it can also be very
stressful. Here’s how to make
the most of those cold wintery
weekends.
By TAYLOR LEVINSON ‘21
Target marketing: a
key term in business
that describes a
crucial aspect of the
seller-consumer relationship.
To make more money,
producers will identify the
group of people who would be
most inclined to invest in their
product. Next, the producers
will cater their product promotions
or advertisements to that
group of people. Nike might
put more advertisements in an
area with lots of active, young
people, rather than near a retirement
complex.
These isolated groups of
people- known as “target markets”-
are usually associated
with the terms “buying” and
“selling.”
However, in today’s digital
age, popular media platforms
often cater to a specific target
market.
NBC and Fox News cater
to two very different audiences.
These news sources will
often broadcast entirely different
stories based on the same
events, same sources, or the
same pieces of evidence.
In the world of print news
and journalism, platforms
reach their “target audiences”
in several ways, most notably
through the specific location
of particular articles in the
physical paper.
Stories deemed “more
newsworthy” may be put on
the front page, above the fold,
rather than in the middle pages.
This brings us to the question:
Is there even such a thing
as “unbiased news” anymore?
More specifically, is it possible
for unbiased journalism to exist
in a capitalist society? Let’s
use ourselves as an example.
Although The Hourglass is
committed to sharing students’
voices without censorship, we
wonder whether such a feat is
even possible given our context
as a private school with an
honor code and core values to
uphold?
All of our articles are written
by Baldwin students for
Baldwin students. While our
community may have different
opinions regarding cafeteria
food or kilt color, it might
appear from reading our paper
or listening to conversations in
the hallways that we are politically
a somewhat homogenous
group of individuals.
Recently, The Hourglass
has lacked a diversity of opinions
regarding the bi-partisan
system, social justice movements,
women’s rights, etc.
Due to the large number of
students who see these topics
in a particular light at Baldwin,
arguments opposing the
majority’s opinion are rarely
written or read about in our
paper.
One could argue that The
Hourglass’s “target audience”
is, in a sense, both the student
body and administration that
we represent. Students may
feel pressured to express only
majority opinions due to social
norms within our student
body.
In many ways, our opinions,
articles, and designs are
all influenced greatly by Baldwin
and the learning environment
in which we create our
content.
We believe it’s time to
make a change.
While maintaining our
paper’s integrity and reputation
is our utmost priority, we
want our readers to know that
we are prepared to take risks
this year. We are ready to face
challenges head-on. We are
unafraid to push ahead in publishing
content that represents
all facets of our student body.
Presley Daggett
Ava olson
TIP 1: SLEEP IN
Nothing feels worse than waking
up before the sun rises in the winter.
Therefore, when you can, try to
sleep a little later. Waking up with
the sun outside your window can
make you feel better, and give you
more energy for your day. Scientifically,
the sun also boosts your serotonin
levels which helps improve
your mood. Also, nothing feels better
than sleeping in on the weekend
after a long week of waking up early
for school.
Tip 2: Spend time on
breakfast
During the week, I always feel like
breakfast is my most rushed meal of
the day. I love when I have the opportunity
to take the time to make
breakfast and then relax while I eat
it. Spending time on your breakfast
and being mindful in the morning
while making it can help improve
your mood and productivity.
Tip 3: Make a schedule
for your day
On the weekend in the winter, it is
so easy to be swept away by the call
of your phone, the tv, or any other
form of entertainment or procrastination.
Because it is harder to spend
lots of time outside, I often find
myself cooped up in my room on
a cold winter’s day. On these types
of days, I will still make a schedule
for the things I want to accomplish
even if I don’t have that much to
do. The schedule doesn’t need to
include specific times, just a list of
tasks I want to get done in a certain
order. This can range from walking
my dogs, to working on a project.
[ CONTINUED on the WEBSITE ]
The Hourglass
The Baldwin School
DECEMber 2020 Volume 60 Issue 3
701 Montgomery Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Co-Editors-in-Chief Ava Olson ‘21 · Presley Daggett
‘21 Creative Director Maggie Song ‘21 Junior
Creative Directors Anna Wang ‘22 · Sophie
Cai ‘22 Layout Editor Hana Ahanger ‘21 Photography
EditorS Melody Hao ‘22 · Izzy Antanavicius
‘22 News Editor Grace Halak ‘22 Features Editor
Rhea Jain ‘21 Opinions Editor Kaitlyn O’Malley ‘22
Sports Editor Lavender Huang ‘22 Arts and Culture
Editor Melody Gui ‘21 Media Content Editor
Elise Kait ‘21 Website Editor Krissy Bhargava
‘22 FACULTY ADVISORS Dr. Diane Senior · Ms. Janice
Wilke · Ms. Alex Greco
The Hourglass is The Baldwin Upper School’s newspaper dedicated to
publishing student articles. The views expressed in The Hourglass do
not necessarily reflect those of the school or the editors. All content published
in The Hourglass (including but not limited to articles, designs,
graphics, photographs, and illustrations) are created by Baldwin students
for the exclusive use of The Hourglass unless otherwise indicated. The
Hourglass aspires for its content to be fair and correct, and regrets when
it is not. If you have questions or comments about our coverage, contact
the Editors-in-Chiefs at aolson@baldwinschool.org or pdaggett@
baldwinschool.org. The Hourglass is made possible through the generosity
of the Ruth S. Hochberger ‘68 Hourglass Sustainability Fund. The
Hourglass is affiliated with the Columbia Scholastic Press Association.

Design by Emily Zhang ‘23 Graphics by Maggie Song ‘21
opinion 3
Grace Colucci’s Definitive List of the
Ten Best Pasta Shapes
By GRACE COLUCCI ‘23
Pasta. An Italian food staple. The greatest thing carbohydrates ever produced.
One of my four main food groups. Growing up with an Italian grandpa, I have
had pasta on my table almost every week of my life, and for a good reason
too. I have not met a single person who doesn’t like pasta. I mean, who wouldn’t
like pasta? It has fun shapes and sizes, countless ways to cook it, and sauces galore!
Personally, my favorite thing about pasta is all the different varieties. Here is my
definitive ranking of the top ten pasta shapes.
2Penne is even more of a classic form than Spaghetti.
Penne are sharp, chill, collected, and everything that
a freshman law student wants to be. I equate penne to
a young Brad Pitt, post-Fight Club, walking into auditions.
He’s super cool, and he knows that he’s super cool, but
he’s still going to audition with a passion anyway. That’s
what penne is.
4
Spaghetti is a classic pasta, and I’m convinced that
there is no possible way someone could mess up
spaghetti. Spaghetti are like the safe-haven of pastas.
No matter what you try on the menu, there is always
spaghetti. I could say that I’m biased because of my love
for Lady and the Tramp, but that would be totally false.
1Rigatoni, Rigatoni, Rigatoni. Rigatoni is the boss, the
man upstairs, the big kahuna, all in one. Rigatoni is the
ultimate pasta because of its figure, its intricacy, and
its consistency. The pure outline of rigatoni is imposing,
but the reward is sweet. Rigatoni captures everything
you love about pasta and everything you love about what
you put on it, and mixes them perfectly. Rigatoni is the
ultimate pasta.
3
Fusilli. Fu-silli. Subtract the fu. Silli. Silly. Fusilli is a
silly pasta. The twirls on the pasta add another layer
of fun to the pasta process. Technically, the swirls are
there to retain as much sauce as possible, but they add an
extra flair that I personally adore. This was the food that I
loved playing with, even though my parents told me not to.
It’s all in the swirls, man.
6
I’m going to be honest. This one is not the best pastawise.
However, rotelle are very nostalgic for me, as
this was a super fun food that I enjoyed when I was
little. I choked on rotelle when I was six years old, and I
was still able to breathe. Rotelle saved my life, so they get
number six.
5
Angel hair pasta is a delicate delicacy. It’s so light
that it can go with any sauce, but it’s also pasta, so
it will fill you up. Angel hair is great for when you
want pasta, but you don’t want pasta. It’s the perfect inbetween.
8
Ok, I’m going to say it: pipe rigate are a self-aware
rigatoni wannabe. All it does differently is curve like
a rainbow. Sure, it’s cool, but is it rigatoni-cool? Does
it carry the swag that rigatoni hold? The answer is no. So,
because of my obvious love of rigatoni, their subordinate,
pipe rigatoni, are placed at number eight.
7
If my dad ever sees this, he will disown me. This is
his favorite type of pasta, and if he ever heard that I
slandered it, he would get very, very mad at me. The
thing is: gnocchi are good until the added flavor becomes too
much. The entire gnocchi depends on its flavoring, defeating
the purpose of it being considered a pasta. That’s why gnocchi
are this far down (sorry, Dad).
1
0This shape is a big one for Velveeta fans, but not
a huge one for me. Although the space inside the
conch shell-like shape provides a place to hold
the sauces or cheeses poured on it, the feeling isn’t as rewarding
as you would expect it to be. The amount of actual
pasta is there, but the final pasta to sauce ratio doesn’t
hit the spot for me.
9
Farfalle, or bowtie pasta, is a huge childhood favorite
of mine. The bowtie provides a fun, known shape that
makes dinner (or breakfast, I don’t judge) so much more
enjoyable, but the pleasure of the pasta ends there. Often, the
middle space of the bowtie becomes chewy and inconsistent
with the texture of the rest of the pasta. I’ve experienced this
unfortunate textural inconsistency far too often, but it is still
a very solid pasta.

4
news
Photos courtesy of Elise Kait‘21 and Hana Ahanger ‘21
Graphics and design by Hana Ahanger‘21
The political anatomy of
baldwin’s student body
How Students are Processing the Results of the Presidential Election
By ANNA WETZEL ‘22
Common ground is
difficult to find
on barren soil.
In a country
rife with division and
founded on principles
of exclusion and false
superiority, is it even
possible to bridge
the ideological dichotomies
that define
our intensely
polarized two-party
system? More
specifically, how
do Baldwin students
navigate the
complexities of
these political divisions
within our
community?
ELISE KAIT ‘21
The average
Baldwin Upper
School student
rates their political
involvement a 6.6 on a scale of
1 (least involved) to 10 (most involved).
Representatives of both the Young
Republicans and Democrats club described
student political engagement as varied and
highly individual.
While some students participate in
rallies and protests, Young Democrats Junior
Head Ryan Murphy ‘22 said, “most
turn to social media to project their political
views and to advocate for what they
believe in.”
However, Young Democrats Senior
Head Hana Ahanger ‘20 warned students
of the danger of “unconstructive” social
media posts.
According to Ahanger, “an unconstructive
post does not add to preexisting
knowledge, is a false claim, or incites
violence [physical and otherwise].”
Political oversimplification
and misinformation through social
media contribute to intense polarization,
a reality students experience
on multiple levels. Nearly a
quarter of students do not feel that
they can get along with individuals
who hold different political views
from their own, an obvious symptom
of contemporary political polarization.
Furthermore, 13.6% of students
do not feel comfortable sharing
their political views with peers.
“I’ve had people come to me
in confidence and tell me, ‘I don’t
feel comfortable sharing things –I
just keep my mouth shut all the
time– because I’m scared of what
people are going to say and how
they’re going to react,’” Elise
Kait ‘21 said.
Kait proposes that
political
education
would
remedy this inter-student
division.
“A lot of people tend to affiliate themselves
with a party (or a label) without actually
any basis for that opinion.”
Given Kait’s assessment of student
political literacy, further incorporation of
current events and government policy into
academic curricula would create a more
tolerant, informed, and open-minded student
body.
Representatives of Young Democrats
share this objective, emphasizing the importance
of vulnerable and brave dialogue
between students of differing political
affiliations. Both Young Democrats and
Young Republicans expect that Baldwin
will continue to facilitate discussion spaces,
but recognize that the responsibility is
on students to maintain a receptive attitude.
“These spaces are for discourse and
for opinions to develop; there’s no set
opinion you have to bring. It’s really easy
to hate a person because a view they hold
contradicts your beliefs, rather than hating
the idea itself,” Ahanger said.
Ahanger hopes that facilitating discussions
with Young Republicans will
change this mindset and create personal
and communal growth opportunities.
Echoing this sentiment, Kait added to
Ahanger’s statement, saying that “working
against each other is not going to get us
anywhere.”
Addressing our
student body’s political divisions
would be incomplete without
acknowledging our fellow
students who
are forced
to navigate
the
political implications
of minority racial, ethnic, religious,
sexual, and gender identity.
Many students are acutely aware
of the disproportionate effects of
the election on marginalized communities.
“This election was and is
life-changing; life-changing for
everyone but more specifically minorities,
the LGBTQIA+ community,
women’s rights, trans rights, etc.
There was so much at risk, it felt
like the results of the election determined
the rights of the majority
of the U.S. population,” Murphy
said.
BIPOC and LGBTQIA+
members of our community carry
the emotional weight of this reality,
and they need our support, both
interpersonal and systemic. While
the election results may have only
affected 50% of the student body’s
mental health, it is important to
consider the privilege of remaining “unaffected”
by such a monumental presidential
election.
It’s the responsibility of students and
faculty in positions of privilege to recognize
the disparate experiences of marginalized
students and create equitable and
sustainable systems of support.
Three-quarters of students report satisfaction
with the support they received
from administration and faculty regarding
the election. However, it should be noted
that systems of oppression create dynamics
in which some students understandably require
more support than others. Addressing
this disparity should be of utmost importance
to Baldwin’s administration.
Regardless of who is elected to the
White House, systems of oppression and
violence still threaten the safety and
mental health of students unprotected
by societal privileges. While appreciative
of Baldwin’s informative
pre-election panels, students
need radical socio-emotional
support in the wake of an incredibly
stressful political
period.
“As the children
of this country, it
feels like we’ve had
to take on a much
more adult and
engaged role
in the nation.
[Post-election],
it
feels like,
for once,
we can lay it to rest, for
now,” Ahanger said.
For the first time in a long time, many
students are allowing themselves the privilege
of socio-political optimism.
HANA AHANGER ‘21

news 5
Graphics and design by Anna Wang ‘22
how to rush a panacea
The Controversy of Emergency Use Authorization of the COVID-19 Vaccine
By GWYNETH CONGER ‘23
A quantity of 218 nationally recognized regions
affected.
An approximate sum of 63,000,000 contracted
cases.
An estimated total of 1,460,000 deaths.
A single vaccine– the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19.
It’s been roughly a year since the initial
discovery of the dreaded virus
in December 2019, when the original
fledglings of worry grew into the
global state of panic that we know so well.
This is excellent news in many ways.
Serious credit and gratitude are wholly due
to the scores of scientists who risked their
own health to provide us with a solution.
However,
as all
of the vaccines
are
currently
coming in
through
emergency
protocol
alone
(meani
n g
none
of the
aforem
e n -
tioned immunizations have been
fully approved), their appearance has instigated
a surprising public controversy.
Weren’t there rumors about it being done
earlier? Or was it rushed out early and incomplete?
Is it early, or is it late? Is it even
approved in the first place? Questions such
as these are quickly becoming a worrying
sight on newsfeeds and online communities.
Here, we’ll be looking at the Authorization
that will bring all of the current
vaccines to millions of citizens,
rather than the s u b -
stance of the
solutions
themselves,
and
the internal
conflicts and inquiries
that have
followed.
EMERGENCY USE
AUTHORIZED
What do you know
about the Emergency
Use Authorization?
A relatively recent sanctioned authority
of the FDA, the Emergency Use
Authorization (EUA for short) was legalized
in 2004 and first utilized in 2009.
Comparable to a System Bypass program,
it’s used only in severe cases to push
actions through the FDA when waiting
is no longer sensible or available. It was
first used during an outbreak of the H1N1
influenza pandemic in 2009. It passed a
Real-time RT-PCR Detection and Characterization
Panel (a testing system for
the virus), but only due to the lack of a
better option– an idea that encapsulates
most of the controversy surrounding it.
On October 22, 2020,
the FDA met to discuss
the EUA and licensure
regarding t h e
COVID-19
vaccine.
check-
Consistently
titling it
a “pre-election
box” (a clear ex-
aggeration as the cure ultimately failed to
meet its due date), President Trump rapidly
took strides to push it through by continuously
stamping approvals until the EUA
was officially authorized for this matter.
So what’s the problem with this?
Whenever the EUA is concerned, the lives
of people are at stake. Whether or not it’s
endorsed depends on if the potential risks
of haste outweigh the potential risks of
time-tested quality. To date, there remains
only one other instance when the FDA received
approval for an emergency vaccine,
and even that was just barely authorized.
This situation initially appears to
pose little difference, for even though the
EUA is an “emergency response,” there
remain inviolable protocols to be bypassed,
regardless of the level of necessity.
So, what now? As seniors and healthcare
workers will be the first subjects of
the injection, Baldwin students will have
to wait a little while for a vaccination,
possibly as late as this spring. Even then,
a vaccine needs to
operate
on a
50%
accuracy
to go
through
an EUA
(FDA),
so side
effects
a n d
technicalities
may still
need attention
even after it is released to those
over 16 within Bryn Mawr. At that point,
it will be up to the public to decide between
the two options and where the pros
surpass the cons. What will you choose?
Leading
vaccines in
the world
BACKGROUND INFO ON THE
FOUR LEADING COVID-19
VACCINES AS REPORTED BY
THE NEW YORK TIMES
NAME:
BNT162b2
DEVELOPER:
Pfizer-BioNTech
TYPE:
mRNA
STATUS:
Approved in UK,
Bahrain, Canada,
Mexico, US
NAME:
mRNA-1273
DEVELOPER:
Moderna
TYPE:
mRNA
STATUS:
under FDA review
NAME:
Ad5-nCoV
DEVELOPER:
CanSino
TYPE:
Adenovirus
STATUS:
Limited use in
China
NAME:
Sputnik V
DEVELOPER:
Gamaleya
TYPE:
Adenovirus
STATUS:
Early use in Russia

6 news | DECEMber 2020
Will the post
winter break
quarantine
be effective?
Looking into how Baldwin will be affected by winter vacation travel
By EESHA SHARMA ‘24
With the holidays approaching,
the Baldwin School has
imposed a two week quarantine
period to help keep
students safe from the COVID-19 virus
after winter break. Despite instituting this
rule, will students and parents make the responsible
decision to follow it?
Between Thanksgiving and the many
holidays that occur throughout the end of
winter, travelers across America will be
heading home to celebrate, even during
the pandemic. Traveling during these times
can be a very risky choice because there
is a high chance of being exposed to the
virus.
According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), airports,
public transportation, bus and train stations,
gas stations, and rest stops are all potential
places to be exposed. With all these
risks spelled out, many people have chosen
to stay home for this holiday season.
But William F. Maag Jr. of WFMJ
Radio reports that 45% of Americans still
plan to travel in some capacity this year.
This decision could be due to numerous
factors, such as beloved traditions or that
the holiday season might be the only time
some see family all year. Realizing that
many students plan on traveling this year,
Baldwin has chosen to have all their students
attend virtual school for two weeks
following winter break.
Quarantining for 10 days is the standard
practice the CDC has recommended
for those who may have been exposed to
the virus. Keeping this in mind, Baldwin
expects their students to stay quarantined
within their homes if they traveled. Although
this may seem like an ideal solution
on paper, it may not be as successful
in practice.
The recommended quarantine will be
a chance for families to travel and return to
school safely, but it can also be taken advantage
of and used as extra time to travel.
Students and their families may not follow
the rules and use the virtual days as an extended
vacation instead of their intended
purpose.
“
When
a s k e d
about her
thoughts
on the
two-week
quarantine,
Lauren
Halak
‘24 agreed
it was a
The recommended
quarantine will be a chance
for families to travel and
return to school safely, but
it can also be taken advantage
of and used as extra
time to travel.”
great opportunity for families to travel.
However, she too acknowledged the risks
of adding two more weeks of virtual education
to winter break.
“I think that it’s also a way forfamilies
who might not be as safe in regards
to the pandemic to take advantage of that
and travel more and take more time away
where they could get exposed to COVID
and in the future expose other people,” Halak
said.
In a perfect
world, all Baldwin
students and their
families will be safe
during the holidays
and quarantine as
instructed. But, Baldwin
cannot control
what students choose
to do when they are
not at school, which
means it is up to
Baldwin families to make responsible
choices.
This leaves the question of what decisions
will be made by families and how it
will affect Baldwin in the upcoming holiday
season?
Design by Grace Halak ‘22
Photography by Jaclyn Dichter ‘22

news 7
Staying Active After
the Election
what you can do and why you should do it
By CATHERINE ZEHNER ‘24
Throughout the 2020 election,
young people across the country
protested for movements, signed
petitions, and worked voting
polls. These forms of participation were
crucial in making our voices heard.
Now that the next president has been
decided, how do we ensure our representation
during the transition and the new administration?
Just because most of us at Baldwin aren’t
old enough to vote doesn’t mean we
can ignore what’s happening around us.
Hana Ahanger ‘21, co-head of the Young
Democrats club, stressed the importance of
involvement.
“I think it’s important to stay politically
involved because politics primarily
concern the wellbeing of us, as citizens.
Specifically, issues like climate change,
and this year, COVID-19,” Ahanger said.
Paying attention to the country’s current
issues also prepares us for when it’s
our turn to vote. When our time comes, we
will be electing people to positions of power
who reflect our values.
It may feel like we have done all we
can do until President-Elect Biden is inaugurated
into the White House on January
20, 2020. However, this could not be further
from the truth. Elise Kait ‘21, head of
Young Republicans, believes that political
advocacy is crucial at all points of the year.
“The election isn’t the only time when
things are changing. It’s important to get
involved not just at the federal level but
also at the lower levels. Understanding
how your state government works and how
your municipal government works [is just
as important],” Kait said.
There are still multiple ways to take action
outside of Baldwin. One of the most
direct ways is to speak to a local representative.
Simply Googling “Find My Representative”
and putting in your ZIP code
will direct you to the appropriate person to
speak to for a local issue. Not only is this
a great way to voice your concerns, but it
also holds elected officials accountable for
their promises to improve your community.
Protesting, signing petitions, and volunteering
are just as effective now as they
were before the election. A great place to
begin is the Impact Center, which offers
students opportunities to volunteer in diverse
fields of work. It allows young people
to sample different service opportunities
in our area and is a great place to figure
out what you’re passionate about.
Curricula pertaining to our government
are also offered at Baldwin. Ahanger spoke
of her experience in one of these classes.
She said, “I’m currently taking politics
and civics. I’m really learning about how
our administration and government work.
Taking the class has allowed me to understand
current politics much better and has
allowed me to develop and deepen my understanding
of the beliefs of different political
figures.”
There are additional opportunities
within Baldwin that offer increased awareness
of politics. Clubs like Young Democrats
and Young Republicans are devoted
to exposing students to different perspectives
and problems that our world faces. It
isn’t even necessary to take it to a state or
district level.
“Those new to politics should start
with the people in your community. Start
to learn about what there is out there and
what aligns with your personal morals and
values,” Kait said.
Understanding the views of those with
different life experiences can help you
make an informed decision. Assigning
yourself to a party based on the 2020 presidential
candidates can be restricting, especially
when the parties’ ideals can change
so much between now and the time you are
voting. Instead, take the time to educate
yourself about each political party’s consistent
values throughout history.
“
I think it’s important
to stay politically
involved because
politics primarily
concern our
wellbeing, as citizens,
Specifically, issues like
climate change, and
this year, COVID-19.”
Though most of us at Baldwin aren’t
eligible to vote, there are still numerous
ways we can serve our community and
ensure that our voices are heard. We must
make them heard during the new administration.
Photography by Jessica Lamontagne ‘22
Graphics and design by Cynthia Zhang ‘24

8 the hourglass | DECEMBER 2020
Introducing “Lilah Phillips”
By AVA OLSON ‘21
On Wednesday, December 2, 2020,
“Lilah Phillips” made her first
social media profile. She had just
moved to town over the summer. Her parents
enrolled her at the Baldwin School for
the 2020-2021 school year, hoping that she
would fit in.
Phillips was always a quiet girl. Her
parents warned her about the dangers of
creating a permanent online profile, so
she never entertained the idea of creating
a Facebook, Snapchat, or anything of the
like for her entire life.
However, this was Phillips’ first year
at a new school, and she wanted to make
friends and connect with her classmates
online, so she downloaded Instagram.
Phillips quickly amassed 60 followers
in 24 hours. While this feat might not seem
terribly exciting to some of us, the fact that
she had essentially risen out of nowhere
and gained a following was impressive.
But really, Lilah Phillips didn’t exist.
In early December, I, Ava Olson,
created a fake Instagram account under
the alias “Lilah Phillips.” The account’s
profile picture was an image I
found on Creative Commons:
two girls,
frolicking on
a beach,
their
faces indiscernible.
I first started by asking some members
of Baldwin’s senior class to follow
the account, revealing Phillips’ true identity.
These initial follows by members of
our Baldwin community were essential to
construct a more believable profile. After
all, who would trust a profile that had no
visible statistics whatsoever?
After gaining about ten followers- all
seniors- I started following anybody I recognized
as a Baldwin student.
To my surprise, tons of Baldwin students
accepted my follow request within
the first 72 hours after creating the account.
Regardless of whether they decided to follow
back or not, “Lilah Phillips” gained
access to all of the posts, archived stories,
and followers of over one hundred Baldwin
students.
Five days later, Phillips
even received follow
requests from
Agnes Irwin,
Haverford,
a n d
Notre Dame students. Most likely, Phillips’
profile showed up under other peoples’
“follow recommendations.”
As the number of “mutual followers”
increased for Baldwin students, the more
rapidly requests started coming in. “Lilah
Phillips” didn’t even have to reach out and
request to follow Baldwin students first;
students started requesting her instead.
This is not to say that you should research
every single person who ever follows
your Instagram. Instead, this experiment
shows just how simple it is
for someone to construct
a fake identity
and use it for
harm.
In my situation, the Instagram account
was solely for writing this article
and partially for my entertainment. However,
some people could use Instagram to
target specific communities, and it
is important to think twice
before accepting follow
requests from people
you may not
know.
FACT VS FICTION
ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Where do we need improvement?
By MAREN COHEN ‘24
Media: something that has become
a daily part of many of our lives,
a way for people to connect with
friends and family, to express themselves
and spread awareness, and to receive news
and information on the world surrounding
us.
But is the news that we learn absentmindedly
through social media platforms
reliable? And can it be used as our sole
source of information on an issue?
Recently, social media platforms, like
Twitter and Instagram, have been working
hard to reduce the spread of false information
by placing a tab underneath misinformation
regarding the election.
These tabs say things like: “Learn
about mail-in ballots” or “Get the facts on
the election.” However, these “beware”
signs are not always effective and often are
not used for issues other than politics.
Since social media is the main news
source for our generation, the lack of factchecks
creates a domino effect for spreading
false information. Without knowing the
validity of social media posts, teens share
them with their friends, who share them
with their friends, and so on.
Many people have asked for factchecks
on social media. The demand has
been even stronger lately due to the widespread
issue of false information on Twitter.
At Baldwin, many students agree that
fact checks should be included on every
social media app but for different reasons.
“Fact checks should be mandated because
misinformation can change someone’s
opinions and views and provide them
with false claims to their beliefs,” Saranya
Singh ‘24 said.
Singh also believes that posts containing
misinformation should be removed
from the Internet immediately after posting.
Any accounts spreading false information
should be flagged by the platforms on
which they post.
“By allowing posts with misinformation
to remain published, it gives people
the power to take that information and center
arguments around it even if these arguments
are false. Additionally, if accounts
are not flagged, they can continue influencing
people in negative ways by distorting
their perspective,” Singh said.
Although many students share
Singh’s reasoning, some argue against
mandated fact-checks on every social media
platform. Consider, for example, that
the humorous content we enjoy might need
to be deleted, despite almost everybody
knowing that those sites are purely for entertainment
purposes.
This brings up the point of where
the line is drawn between a joke everyone
understands and misleading information.
Should we treat a president posting misinformation
that might appear satirical the
same way we treat a teenager who posts a
funny video that’s clearly not supposed to
be taken seriously?
Charlotte Miller ‘24 has a different
perspective.
“Posts on social media should have an
option or button to fact-check but not completely
delete all opinionated posts that are
not fact-checked because if this were to
happen, then most posts on all social media
apps would be deleted. Social media is
a place where younger kids, who are not
yet able to vote, are able to express themselves
and have the opportunity to make a
difference. Completely deleting all posts
that are not fact-checked would get rid of
this opportunity,” Miller said.
Graphics and design by Maggie Song ‘21
Photography by Elina Emami ‘21, Skylar Zachian ‘21, Jessica Lamontagne ‘22, and Trisha Yun ‘24

centerfold 9
?
Misinformation, distortion, fake news, lies,
propaganda: whatever it’s called, it’s inevitable
that we encounter inaccurate information
marketed as the truth almost every day.
News has been digitized and democratized to the
point where hundreds of different versions of the same
story exist simultaneously, each new take blurring the line
between fact and opinion.
In an increasingly politically polarized country, news
turns from impartial information to a politically charged
weapon that can be distorted or fabricated by either side
for their own gains.
This issue becomes particularly concerning when it
threatens to affect political outcomes. During the 2020
election, we saw this when misinformation was so rampant
that many news platforms published a “misinformation
watch” aimed at finding and debunking untrue stories
online.
Even these publications can’t be fully trusted, now
that almost every news platform leans left or right. But the
place where misinformation is the most prevalent is not in
established sites and newspapers, but on largely unregulated
platforms like Twitter, where “news” is instantaneous
and overwhelming.
A study conducted by three MIT scholars— Soroush
Vosoughi, Sinan Aral, and Deb Roy—examined the spread
of misinformation on Twitter. Aral noted in a 2020 TED
Talk how they found that false news was 70% more likely
to be retweeted than the truth, even though the users who
tweeted the information often had fewer followers, were
less active, were less often verified, and had been on Twitter
for less time than other users.
The study attributed this phenomenon to the “novelty
hypothesis,” or the idea that people like to share information
that seems new and “novel” because it makes them
feel like they have access to “inside information.” This is
also why fake news is often surprising, sensational, or exaggerated.
The shock factor draws attention and causes it
to spread faster online.
As the study showed, this phenomenon is amplified
to an alarming extent on Twitter, where the “Retweet” button
gives everyone the power to spread what they want
with minimal effort and consequence.
“Sharpiegate,” the viral rumor that poll workers were
invalidating Republican voters’ ballots by giving them
Sharpies to mark them with, is a perfect example of the
power of misinformation on sites like Twitter.
The rumor began circulating on local pro-Trump
Facebook groups after polls closed in Arizona. Despite
Arizona officials assuring the public that voting machines
could read Sharpied ballots, the claim went viral throughis
there
still
“TRUTH”
ONLINE?
The Danger of Misinformation
in the Digital Age
By GRACE HALAK ‘22
out the country within days.
Politico reported that the chairman of the American
Conservative Union, Matt Schlapp, tweeted the story with
the viral hashtag #SharpieGate and even criticized Twitter
when the site flagged his tweets for containing false information.
#SharpieGate shows how quickly false stories can go
viral, even after official correction. When that information
spreads to the point where well-known people with large
platforms (like the chairman of the ACU) are spreading it
too, it becomes even more dangerous.
Perhaps the most concerning example of misinformation
being elevated by people in positions of power is
soon-to-be-former President Donald Trump himself, who
falsely claimed that he had won the election “by a lot” before
the election was called. When the results determined
Joe Biden was the winner, Donald Trump continued to
tweet and retweet unfounded claims of voter fraud, despite
lack of evidence and repeated refutations from state and
election officials.
In a world where even national leaders can spread
misinformation, how can we protect ourselves and the
truth itself from uncertainty?
Aral, one of the scholars who led the MIT study on
misinformation, described possible solutions in his TED
Talk: Labeling information is one solution but calls into
question who or what has the authority to determine what
is trustworthy and “true.” Increased regulation of information
and the platforms on which it spreads is another
option, but this endangers free speech.
Transparency within social media platforms about
their algorithms, data collection, and filtering would allow
scientists to study better and prevent the spread of misinformation.
Still, it would be hard to accomplish while
keeping those sites secure.
All of these solutions are long-term, fundamental
changes. At the rate social media is developing, this kind
of monumental shift is necessary to address the problem
of misinformation online. But before this can happen, we
need to learn how to navigate the saturated world of information
as it is right now.
Media literacy needs to be an essential part of modern
education. Checking information across multiple sources,
asking questions, and recognizing what reliable information
and sources look like are strategies that should be second
nature.
Our mindset itself needs to change from inclined
trust to indiscriminate doubt. People are increasingly using
their voice to share what they believe online, but with
this power comes the responsibility to understand how to
judge information in an educated way.
Social media has given people the power to spark
movements and awareness about issues they care about,
but misinformation threatens to undermine that power. In
a vast, indiscriminate sea of voices, every voice becomes
meaningless. Media literacy is absolutely essential to preserve
that meaning and protect the truth in a world of uncertainty.

10
ARts
Artist of the Month:
Maggie Song
Exploring Maggie’s Art World
By ELISE KAIT ‘21
If you are reading this issue of The
Hourglass or any issue from the past
four years, then you have seen some of
the art created by Maggie Song ‘21.
Song is the design editor for The
Hourglass and works tirelessly to produce
beautifully constructed works of art within
each issue. With a strong devotion to
sharing her art with the Baldwin community,
Song also works on two other Upper
School publications: Prism and The Roman
Candle. Additionally, Song likes to
help out in the library by creating displays
and bulletin boards.
While you’ve most definitely seen
some of Song’s studio artwork, she actually
began her artistic career at around three
years of age with ballet, starting piano
soon after, which she continues to play.
Song also played the cello for five
years and has been learning the guzhenga
traditional Chinese instrument- for the
past four years. Song always enjoyed art
classes in elementary school but became
motivated to explore her interest more
intensely in middle school by getting involved
in online art communities, taking
pencil and watercolor classes, or teaching
herself techniques from books or internet
sources.
with many different media.
“I use anything I find myself interested
in trying or want to try! I end up
doing a lot of various things- ink, watercolor,
pencil, acrylic, photography,
sculpture, jewelry,
weaving, sewing,
embroidery, etc.,”
Song said.
Song often
uses her
imagination
as the source
of her drawings
and digital works,
and finds inspiration
for techniques from
both Western
and Eastern
cultural history.
She
says
that,
i n
color and method, she is “mostly influenced
by classic European art (e.g., Baroque,
Rococo, etc.); in subject matter,
there’s a heavy East Asian emphasis, especially
in terms of clothing and features.”
Art is a hobby, a method of relaxation,
a form of expression, and a means to
reflect on self-growth for Song, but
she also emphasizes sharing her
passion for art with her community.
“I think it’s a really nice
feeling to be acknowledged as
‘an artist.’ It happened slowly, but
it’s a way to connect without necessarily
speaking
verbally. It’s increased
a lot
in recent
years, but
sometimes
people
a s k
me to
draw things for them, offer to buy a painting,
or invite me to draw or design something
for fundraising. I try to accept all of
these opportunities because my skills are
being recognized and because I think it’s a
great way of communication and sharing.
In the future, I’d like to find more opportunities
to share and improve my art as well
as use it for greater causes–fundraising,
awareness, etc.,” Song said.
Song embodies a humble and passionate
artistic spirit. She has a hunger to
improve her artistic skills through practice
and experience. Although she considers art
mostly as a hobby, Song hopes to create
products, take on commissions, and maybe
even publish a webcomic in the future.
She plans on keeping up her
musical career as well. Song also
hopes to continue exploring new media
like oil painting, guitar, and other traditional
Chinese instruments such as guqin.
Song is a truly hard-working, talented,
and passionate artist. Her vision for and
commitment to The Hourglass has been
appreciated not only by the staff but also
by every student and faculty member who
has been fortunate enough to see her layouts
and graphic design images.
While
Song’s primary
medium
is photography
and
digital art due
to their ease
and sustainability,
she enjoys
experimenting
Her willingness to
share her art to better
the communities of
which she is a part
is commendable.
Song is an impressive,
multifaceted
artist. On behalf of The
Hourglass staff, I
can say that we
are extremely
grateful to have
her on the team.
Design by Elva Chen ‘22
Graphic and photo courtesy of Maggie Song ‘21

Ms. Wilson on vacation on the beach.
features
iNTERVIEW
WITh
11
MS. WILSON
Ms. Wilson reflects on her life and academic experience.
By CHLOE YAN ‘24
If you ever get an opportunity to walk
into the Anne Frank Library in the afternoon,
you have a good chance of
finding Ms. Wilson sorting through
books. You might also see her in classrooms
throughout the
day, supervising
students
whose teachers
are working
remotely.
“
Ms.
After
graduating
from Gettysburg
College with a bachelor’s degree in
both history and studio art, Ms. Wilson
pursued a master’s degree in library science
at the University of Pittsburgh. Ms.
Wilson has also studied abroad in England.
“I’m introverted, kind of nerdy,” Ms.
Wilson said.
These words were followed by a
small laugh.
“I’m a big civil war nerd,” Ms. Wilson
said.
Ms.Wilson also shared her interest in
history, books, and studio arts.
Ms. Wilson mentioned that she was trained
to be an
archivist,
a profession
that
interacts
with rare,
archived
texts.
Since
Gettysburg College was used as a hospital
during the Civil War, in her undergraduate
years, she dealt with documents that physically
survived the Battle of Gettysburg (a
battle during the Civil War). Such documents
included letters written to and from
civil war generals, soldiers’ journals, and
photographs of the Civil War, as well as
documents about the college’s founding.
Use your freshman
year [in college] to kind of
play around and experiment
with stuff.
“
Ms. Wilson also interned at Antietam
National Battlefield in Maryland.
“My favorite thing that I got to do
there was I got to actually fire a cannon,
which was really fun,” Ms. Wilson said.
Ms. Wilson also loved her experience
interning in a library, where she transcribed
diaries of the civil war’s navy soldiers who
were in the midst of a blockade.
Ms. Wilson continued her passion for
Ms. Wilson smiles to the camera behind a face mask.
art-making by double majoring in studio
art as an undergraduate.
“I haven’t done [art] in a little while,
but I should probably get back into that …
Once you guys go virtual again, I’ll have
some more spare time. I might get into [art]
again,” Ms. Wilson said.
Ms. Wilson has a twin sister who is
an English teacher. After revealing that she
herself fit some education classes into her
busy undergraduate schedule, Ms. Wilson
had some words of advice for Baldwin students.
“Use your freshman year [in college]
to kind of play around and experiment with
stuff. I kind of knew I was going to do history,
but I didn’t think I was going to do art
as well.”
Wilson’s art gallery
Ida M. Tarbell (2019)
TA Interview: Ms. Shweta
By PRESLEY DAGGETT ‘21
As Baldwin transitioned to meet
new COVD-19 regulations,
the community was introduced
to an exciting new addition:
teaching assistants!
For in-person students, teaching assistants’
jobs have become an integral part
of our school; they take attendance, watch
over classrooms, and ensure we maintain
the important six-foot distance. Ms.
Chinchwadkar is one of the TAs who helps
our new school day run smoothly.
Ms. Chinchwadkar, better known
as Ms. Shweta, was born in Pune, India,
where she earned an MBA in Finance
and later became a professor at an MBA
college. She moved to the Philadelphia
suburbs 10 years ago, where she attended
Saint Joseph’s University.
Although she has enjoyed her time in
Bryn Mawr, her hometown is still her favorite
place to be.
“All my family, friends, and my heart
is still back home [in Pune],” Ms. Shweta
said.
When she first moved to the U.S., she
enjoyed the cozy winter and holiday season,
but she missed the sunshine and tropical
weather of India after a while.
If not for
COVID-19,
she would
be taking
her annual
trip to Pune
for the holidays.
While
she notes that
virtual celebrations
are
what we are
all “getting
used to,” she
also explained
how much
she will miss
home during
this holiday
season.
Ms. Shweta smiles behind a
mask.
Before working with Baldwin, Ms.
Shweta was an elementary school tutor
across the Main Line. Although she dabbled
in the corporate world, she was always
drawn back to teaching because of
her passion for the job. She loves working
at Baldwin because she has so many opportunities
to interact with the students.
“Check-in with the 12th graders is my
most favorite part, as greeting
them in the morning gives me
entirely different energy to go
through the day.”
Ms. Shweta enjoys traveling
and has visited many places
in Europe and North America,
her favorites being Norway
and Paris. When asked about
her best memory while traveling,
she jumped into an explanation
of a six-hour, unplanned
hike she took along a fjord in
Norway. Ms. Shweta believes
this hike was a “once in a lifetime
experience” and featured
the most beautiful landscape,
colors, weather, and greenery
she has ever seen.
In her free time, Ms. Shweta loves
to play tennis, listen to Indian music, and
cook. She enjoys experimenting with new
recipes and cuisines.
“When it comes to my favorite professional
sports team -- GO EAGLES!”
The Vacant Chair (2017)
WWI Symbols Triptych (2018)
Photography provided by Laurel Wilson
and Courtesy of the Baldwin Bulletin
Design by Sophie Cai ‘22

12 features | DECEMBER 2020
is productivity an
overrated concept?
By PAIGE BAILEY ‘24
Throughout the pandemic, how
many times have you heard
something along the lines of:
“You have to make use of all this
new free time!”
What is this sudden, almost-universal
drive to be productive? The truth is, the
surge of motivation to accomplish things
that we “haven’t had time to do before” is a
false hope at the core.
Near the beginning of March, the general
public viewed the temporary quarantine
as a chance to take a break and relax.
This short-sighted mentality didn’t prompt
a sustainable drive to achieve lofty goals
since most people believed that the world
would soon be back to normal.
In the initial panic of the pandemic,
people stocked up on paper towels and
hand sanitizer, prepared to wait out the two
weeks necessary to “flatten the curve.”
It soon became apparent these people
were severely mistaken. As the quarantine
stretched longer and longer, the second
wave of panic rippled through the American
population.
This time, the panic was generally
more self-reflective. People began to fear
the imminent boredom that comes from an
extended period of confinement and wondered
about how they might retain a sense
of normalcy in their day-to-day lives.
Thus began the start of the daily
schedules, routines, chores, and planned
activities that most children in America received
from their parents, and most adults
created for themselves, according to an article
in The New York Times.
was this motivation so short-lived?
An article in The New Republic claims
that much of the burnout during April and
May is directly linked to the perpetuation
through internet news and media outlets
As the quarantine dates were stretched
longer and longer, a second wave of
panic rippled throughout the American “population.”
of “America’s hustle culture.” For months
on end, countless websites kept producing
articles overflowing with suggestions for
a never-ending quarantine to-do list, and
naturally, people absorbed them.
The excessive “go-getter”mentality
which many Americans have subconsciously
adopted was taken to an entirely
new level during the early stages of quarantine.
People took to the streets for family
walks and bought books in a frenzy to
what would they do if the new free time
was wasted on idle things like binging TV
shows or taking naps?
In such chaotic times, we have to
learn to prioritize, even if it’s at the cost of
“real productivity.” However, considering
how we are all faced with an abundance of
outside distractions, not only the pandemic
but also the election results and other hardships
that presented themselves, The Outline
writer Drew Millard pointedly asks,
How productive can we really be?
It’s far more important to focus on
our own individual happiness than forcing
ourselves to do things we hate to achieve
a false sense of self-fulfillment to distract
ourselves. The most that we can do for
well-being is simply doing what makes
us happy, whatever that may be: watching
Netflix, baking, exercising, sleeping, or
scrolling through TikTok.
Quite honestly, if we are doing what
we love, we’re all productive in keeping
ourselves happy, which is more than
enough.
Most remember this surge of motivation
as a “phase” of quarantine and not an
adapted lifestyle. So the question is, why add to their “quarantine resumes,” because Graphics and design by Chloe Yan ‘24

Features 13
Graphics and design by Trisha Yun‘24
Photography by Jessica Lamontagne ‘22
Navigating the retail world
How the coronavirus pandemic has
changed the retail industry forever
During a pandemic
By KAITLYN O’MALLEY ‘22
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected
all aspects of our lives. The
retail industry is another example
of how our lives have been disrupted
in ways we couldn’t have foreseen.
It has become increasingly difficult for
in-person and online retailers to keep items
in stock, and many websites present a label
that reads: “Please allow more time for
your order to ship due to increased safety
measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Even though many in-person retailers
have closed for extended periods, retail
sales have remained steady through the online
market. With the closure of many
brick-and-mortar stores, online shopping
increased by 31.8% between
March 31, 2020, and June 30, 2020,
according to data reported to CNBC
by the U.S. Census Bureau.
While many decided not
to venture into malls for the
midnight doorbusters this
Black Friday, consumers took
the online retail world by
storm with a dramatic 21.6%
increase in sales, with a total of nine
billion dollars spent on Friday alone,
as reported by The New York Times.
In Philadelphia, where the coronavirus
rages on, many shoppers remain undeterred.
Less than an hour after Nordstroms
in the King of Prussia Mall opened its doors
on a Wednesday morning, many customers
filed into the shoe section, cutting through
the department store to enter the Plaza.
When speaking with a sales associate,
my mother and I were surprised to learn
that many shoes sell out as soon as they are
placed on the floor, and companies have
difficulty keeping products on the shelves.
However, in-person retailers are not
the only companies struggling to keep
their products in stock. If you browse one
of your favorite websites, it becomes apparent
that online shoppers are not slowing
down. Products of all different categories
ranging from skincare to swimwear
(along with the coveted Lysol wipes and
hand sanitizer) are out of stock and remain
this way for extended amounts of time.
The United States imports products
from all over the world, and as overseas
manufacturers shut down due to coronavirus
safety measures, the retail supply chain
begins to fall apart. Each part of this theoretical
chain impacts the next, in a domino
effect, until consumers are left with the option
of clicking “email me when in stock”
or abandoning their search altogether.
The increase in time at home has
only worsened this problem, as the convenience
of companies like Amazon becomes
increasingly appealing as the days
drag on. While Amazon typically offers
next-day and even same-day shipping to
Amazon Prime members, the company
has struggled to fulfill this guarantee as orders
increase and delivery services do not.
UTilizing Utilizing online Online tools Tools in the
Classroom: Yae or Nay?
By LAUREN HALAK ‘24
This year, due to the surface
transmission of COVID-19,
students have more work online,
thereby reducing paper
waste tremendously. But will teachers
continue to gravitate towards a class
centered around online tools after this
COVID era ceases? Or will they drift
back to paper handouts and assessments?
Both opinions on this topic
have valid points. Eesha Sharma
‘24 prefers to use online resources.
“It’s easier to keep myself organized
when everything is in one place,
which is on my laptop,” Sharma said.
Keeping materials and work organized
is important for students and
teachers, and having almost all materials
stored on Google Classroom,
Docs, etc. is a useful way to do this.
“I also think it’s using less paper,
which is a win-win situation,” Sharma said.
Increasing the time spent online
will lower the amount of paper wasted,
but are there adverse effects to this organized,
eco-friendly method of schooling?
There may be a reason schools
have relied on paper worksheets and
handouts in the past, despite the emergence
of online resources. Megan Chan
‘24 believes that online tools are complicated
due to the countless hours
spent looking at a computer screen.
“Paper-focused classes are
also more engaging,” Chan said.
Research has shown that writing notes,
working out a problem on paper, and using
physical tools helps students understand
the material. Writing and using muscle
memory also helps students remember the
lessons for longer than using a computer.
Staring at a screen day after day
becomes quite monotonous, and as
Chan mentioned, has not proven to be
good for many students’ eyes, and can
even end up being migraine-inducing.
So, when we take these factors
into account, where might it lead
teachers in the future? Both methods
of schooling have their pros and cons,
which vary depending on the subject.
How will we find a healthy balance?

14 features | DECEMBER 2020
Design by Eliza Bryant ‘24 and Anna Wang ‘22 • Photography by Maggie Song ‘21
HOLIDAY MUSIC:
how early is too early?
How early is too early to begin listening to holiday music? Is there even such a thing as “too early”?
And should radio stations play holiday music at all?
By MAKENNA WALKO ‘23
As the holiday season has
rolled around and radio stations
have geared up to
transition to festive music,
the annual debate started to swirl.
How early is too early to begin listening
to holiday music? Is there even
such a thing as “too early”? And should
radio stations play holiday music at all?
I grew up in a family that celebrates
Christmas as both a religious and commercial
holiday. For as long as I can remember,
it’s been my favorite time of the year,
and listening to holiday music has been a
way of getting into the Christmas spirit and
denoting the start of the holiday season.
But when exactly does this season begin?
Ava Zarzycki ‘23 told me that she
believes Christmas music is best enjoyed
over the course of the winter months.
to be played on the radio.
“They only play it on one or
two stations, so I think that’s
fairly reasonable,” she said.
Selina Wu ‘23 took a different
approach to the timing
of holiday music. “The thing
about Christmas music is
that it’s not just for the holiday
season. It
is its own
genre, and
it’s spiraled
off to
succeed
just like
other
genres such as
pop, hip hop,
indie. And you
know what’s
so great
about it?
It covers all the other categories--
there’s pop Christmas
music, there’s country Christmas
music. You can get everything
you want! It’s for everyone,
and it’s for all seasons. It is its
own section of music-- and
that’s why Christmas
music should be
listened to all
year-’round,”
Wu said.
“I’m not
saying in any
way that radios
should
not be playing
Christmas music
at all. I think that it’s great, especially
for people who celebrate Christmas or
just like the aesthetic of Christmas. I’m
just saying, especially for someone like
me who doesn’t celebrate Christmas, I
don’t see why you should be playing it
the whole year,” Sophia Ran ‘23 said.
Ran drew some comparisons to
make her point more clear. “It’s like if
you played the Birthday Song every week
before your birthday-- I feel like it wipes
out the meaning of it. Same thing if you
eat too much of the same food. If you
ate the same food every day, you would
get sick of it, so if I’m constantly hearing
Christmas music, I’m going to get
sick of the Christmas vibes,” Ran said.
Ran proposed a timeline during
which holiday music should be played.
“I think that they shouldn’t be played
before Thanksgiving, but the beginning
of December, I’m okay with.”
“It’s called the Christmas season
for a reason. People listen to it the
whole holiday season, which takes
place from November to January,
so you can start listening to it in
early November,” Zarzycki said.
There’s a lot of debate on this matter,
both within our school community and the
world at large. Radio stations have tuned
into this, and many have released surveys
that allow you to tell them when and how
much you want to hear Christmas music.
Additionally, Zarzycki enjoys listening
to holiday music even when
the technical “holiday season” is
over. “I listen to Christmas music after
Christmas, too. It makes me happy.”
Zarzycki also believes
that it’s appropriate
for holiday music
Though the holiday music
controversy may never be
resolved, you can make your
opinion known by going on
the website of your local radio
station and answering the age-old
question-- How early is too early?
MOST
STREAMED
CHRISTMAS
SONGS ON
SPOTIFY
1. All I Want for
Christmas is You
by Mariah Carey
696,526,995 streams
5. Mistletoe
by Justin Bieber
307,411,892 streams
2. Last Christmas
by Wham!
504,099,225 streams
6. It’s the Most Wonderful
Time of the Year
by Andy Williams
277,631,016 streams
3. Santa Tell Me
by Ariana Grande
368,975,503 streams
7. Do They Know It’s
Christmas? (1984 Version)
by Band Aid
247,333,298 streams
4. It’s Beginning to Look
a Lot Like Christmas
by Michael Bublé
346,833,774 streams
8. Let it Snow! Let it
Snow! Let it Snow!
by Frank Sinatra
222,618,827 streams

Anne Frank Library Resources
FEATURES 15
A Look into the
Anne Frank Library
Anne Frank Library provides new tools and services to make vast resources more accessible.
By MELODY GUI ‘21
Along with the numerous
side-effects the pandemic
has had on the Baldwin
campus this year, the Anne
Frank Library has not been spared. Contrary
to last spring, however, there are
new tools and services to make the Anne
Frank Library’s vast resources more accessible,
thanks to librarians Mrs. Friedman-Way
and Ms. Nardelli’s hard work.
As COVID-19 cases continue to
rise nationwide, the prospect of another
long period of Baldwin Wired
2.0 does not seem far-fetched. But
even when the campus was open,
most students, other than seniors,
did not have access to the library.
What are the ways to continue
utilizing the library’s resources during
this special year? Stripped of the traditional
way of walking around the library
and browsing the shelves, are
students finding it harder to check out
books? The answers might surprise you.
“This year, we’re doing the Baldwin
Bookdash, and it’s been amazingly
successful. It does feel like the number
of checkouts is much higher this year
than in years past, especially in middle
school. Students have really embraced
Baldwin Bookdash,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Ms. Nardelli explained that part
of the reason students are checking
out more books despite not having
access to the library is the appeal of
Baldwin Bookdash. This system entails
delivering library books in a little
bag along with a pin and a sticker.
“
As we prepare to
go into Baldwin Wired
2.0 as well as with an
increasing number of
projects and papers,
let us not forget our
love for reading.”
Receiving a book is like receiving
a gift through Baldwin Bookdash. Due
to the success of Baldwin Bookdash,
the librarians
are considering
keeping
it even after
the pandemic.
T h e
Anne Frank
Library online
catalog
has also been
updated this
year, making
it easier to
navigate and more aesthetically pleasing.
Students can click on topics and browse
through collections of titles on specific
issues at the bottom of the new catalog,
which also has a lot of appeal to students.
“You can’t come to the library, but
you can go and click on topics and find
books on that topic. Or if we make a
special collection on something timely,
you can see the titles of the books and
just feel like you are in the library even
though you are not,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Mrs. Friedman-Way explained
that another option that has been extremely
popular this year is the “Mrs.
F match,” where she matches students
with books based on their answers to
her questions, interests, and personality.
“I think the students like being surprised.
And some of them have really
embraced the mystery of ‘Mrs. F match.’
Like, what is
it she is going
to choose for
me today. They
trust me to do
it,” Mrs. Friedman-Way
said.
Moreover,
people
might just
miss having a
physical book
in their hands.
It is a nice break from the excessive
amount of time spent with electronic
devices and virtual learning resources.
Of all the new services created at
the library since the pandemic, the hidden
gem is the opportunity to set up
one-on-one Zoom conferences with Ms.
Nardelli and Mrs. Friedman-Way, which
can be done using the link on the online
library catalog or the “Ask a Librarian”
page on the library Google Classroom.
The librarians are there to help
students locate resources, learn how to
navigate the catalog, do an advanced
search, create citations, and much more.
“I encourage them to make appointments
with me, and I can help them with
the projects. It’s available to anybody.
If you have a project, and your teacher
maybe didn’t ask us to come in, you can
still contact us, and we’d be happy to help
you find resources and use the databases
more effectively,” Ms. Nardelli said.
Students can better take advantage
of the great books with the library’s information
if they know how to use the
catalog most effectively. Understanding
how to explore and research information,
play with different combinations
of keywords, and use advanced
searches will also help prepare students
for college, where they will be navigating
much bigger libraries and databases,
such as the Library of Congress.
Mrs. Friedman-Way and Ms. Nardelli,
who are both extremely experienced
in library science, literature, and
education, are enthusiastic about connecting
with and helping students and
are excellent resources to go to for help.
As we prepare to go into Baldwin
Wired 2.0 after winter break, as well as
with an increasing number of projects
and papers, let us not forget the vast collections
at Anne Frank Library, the new
services it provides this year (that will be
accessible in a virtual format), our librarians
who are always there to help, and,
most importantly — our love for reading.
ANNE FRANK
LIBRARY’S
NEW
TOOLS AND
SERVICES:
BALDWIN BOOKDASH
The librarians deliver library
books in a little bag along
with a pin and a sticker. With
Mrs. F’s match, students can
match with books based
on their answers to a brief
survey.
ONLINE LIBRARY CATALOG
Students can browse through
collections of titles on
specific issues or create their
own collections.
SCHEDULED MEETINGS
Students can schedule a
meeting with the librarians to
locate resources, learn how
to navigate the catalog, do
an advanced search, create
citations, and more!
Design by Melody Hao ‘22 • Photography by Maggie Song ‘21

16 back page
Design by Anna Wang ‘22
Photography by Elina Emami ‘21
How lunch culture
has changed at
baldwin
With social-distancing and COVID-19 restrictions, Baldwin’s lunch situation is looking very
different so far this school year, with mixed reactions from the student body.
Most of the Baldwin community
is well aware of the cafeteria,
not just the room but also
its culture. We know the long
lines for delicious perogies, which lunch
tables are “senior tables,” and which traditions
are held there. These might include
the birthday song, Disco’s birthday celebrations,
or the countless bake sales for clubs.
But as everyone in-person knows,
lunch looks much different this year
with everyone eating outside in their cohorts.
Four Baldwin students offered their
opinions on this matter: Yemale Febres
‘23 and Leslie Nguyen ‘23, who have
been at Baldwin for years, and Penelope
Furnas ‘23 and Nateerah Ransome
‘23, who are new to Baldwin this year.
Beginning with what they expected
lunch to be like this year with COVID
precautions, Febres thought we would
still be in the cafeteria. “I expected us to
be separated, but allowed to be something
like six people at a table,” Febres said.
Furnas predicted a different
lunch set-up. “I thought lunch was going
to be outside, and we’d have to
bring our own lunches,” she said.
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Isabelle Kauffman ‘21 eats lunch socially-distanced outdoors.
Nguyen, who has been here since
Lower School, was surprised by Baldwin’s
decision to move lunch outdoors.
“I did not expect the chairs and
thought we’d be in the lunchroom at
different times of the day,” she said.
Ransome believed from the beginning
that lunch would be outside, saying “I
thought it would be nice since there would be
less background noise and more fresh air.”
When asked about possible cliques
that may have resulted from this outdoor
lunch system, the unanimous conclusion
was that yes, there were clear groups of
people who consistently sat together on
the field, but this was not a bad thing.
All four interviewees believed everyone
was still friendly and seemed willing
to let others sit with them. Regardless,
students always sat in the same space
with the same group of people, except
for the occasional swing between groups.
Regarding the loss of long lunch
lines, there was also a unanimous belief
that there was much more time to relax
and less stress about waiting in line. Even
new students recognized that we have
more time to eat and converse with friends.
www.hourglassnewspaper.com
@hourglassnewspaper
By IZZY THOMPSON ‘23
“There is more time to eat
since the lines for food would sometimes
take 15 minutes,” Ferbes said.
Did they like or dislike the fact that
they had to pack their lunch every day?
“Sometimes, it takes a lot of time
in the morning to prepare lunch, and
it would definitely be easier if there
were food to select from. I understand
why we can’t, though,” Nguyen said.
Ferbes agreed with Nguyen. “Their
selection was so good,” and lunch
would be better with the cafeteria.
On the other hand, Ransome and Furnas
were both more neutral on the topic.
“I didn’t think it would impact
me that much. I generally like to
bring my own food,” Ransome said.
Ransome explained how convenient
it is to bring your own lunch if
you have a distaste for cafeteria food.
On the other hand, it can be a little
stressful when you have to pack your
lunch every day, and it’s easy to forget.
While there are some setbacks to
missing out on the Baldwin classics, there
are always perks and exciting aspects
to help establish new lunch traditions.
lavender’s lens
Good Things
Happened in 2020, Too
With 2020 finally coming to
an end, here’s a list of good
things that happened in
2020, if you can believe it
By LAVENDER HUANG ‘22
2020, the year that would be murmured
but not said aloud. The year
that had 12 months but felt like
200. With the unspeakable year
finally coming to an end, here’s a
list of good things that happened
in 2020, if you can believe it.
1.
Taylor Swift dropped her surprise
album, Folklore. It’s everything a
quarantine album needs to be, with
its woodsy acoustics, nostalgic stories,
and more. Spotify said I listened
to August 231 times. Oops.
2.
And Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia
is really good, too. Damn,
should we just keep musicians
in quarantine forever?
3.
Late-night hosts are doing great
from home studios. From Trevor
Noah to Stephen Colbert, and
my personal favorite Seth Meyers,
with his Sea Captain bit, let’s
just say they’re getting funnier
when the world’s more depressing.
Oh, but Jimmy Fallon still sucks.
4.
Baldwin got rid of group
emails. Now, people can only
email within their grade level.
Thanks, whoever did that.
5.
Baldwin, when caring about
face masks, finally cares less
about our spaghetti straps.
6.
The Happiest Season came out!
It’s the first mainstream queer
holiday rom-com. Kristen Stewart,
Mackenzie Davis, and Aubrey
Plaza are all **great**.
7.
Netflix is still here, still wasting our
time: The Queen’s Gambit is great.
Anya Taylor-Joy needs ALL her
awards! (and by the way, remember
the little boy in Love, Actually?
He plays Benny Watts here!)
8.
A lot more food, sweatpants, and
not seeing people you don’t want
to see.
9.
The final good thing
about 2020: It’s ending.