Issue II Final Layout (1)

HOURGLASS
December 2022 • Vol. 61, Issue I • Disce Verum Laborem 1888 • 701 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Design and graphics by Emily Zhang ‘23
Homework Over Holidays
MADDIE DAVIS ‘23
Staff Writer
How assignments affect Jewish students—even on days off
Recently, I was at my friend’s house
for Yom Kippur to be present for the
meal after their fasting ended. As
I completed my one-hundred-page
reading assignment before dinner, my friend
asked me, “How are you allowed to have homework
on such an important religious holiday?”
“It’s not that bad of a reading. I finished
my other work yesterday,” I replied.
But then again, I’m not Jewish, and I
wasn’t attending multiple hour-long services or
fasting all day. I imagine being in that position
with the amount of homework on my plate, especially
as a senior struggling to manage college
work as well.
But there are Baldwin students who don’t
have to imagine juggling hours upon hours of
homework on holy days. In order to gain an
understanding of the challenges these students
face, I created a form asking Jewish students at
Baldwin how having homework over religious
holidays has impacted their lives.
To start, out of the 20 responses, every student
said they had homework over the Jewish
High Holidays. Several students described how
homework impacted their ability to observe the
holidays with their families.
“To myself and my family, homework is
not a valid excuse to miss services or traditions.
Instead of affecting my ability to celebrate these
holidays, this has affected my sleep schedule
and has put me in a pretty bad mood when I
should have been enjoying family time,” said
Lyla Mason ‘26.
“Having homework assigned during the
Jewish holidays makes me anxious and stressed
out. In addition, I feel disrespected in my educational
environment. I shouldn’t have to have
assignments over religious holidays my family
and I celebrate. There have been instances
where I stay back from dinners on these holidays
just to finish work in past years,” said Atlas
Viroslav ‘25.
I talked to Mrs. Reed, Director of the Up-
per School, to gain more insight on Baldwin’s
workload policies during religious holidays.
She explained that while there isn’t an official
policy on homework over holidays, teachers
are not allowed to assign tests, quizzes or
large assessments due the day after. However,
Mrs. Reed did say that the administration encourages
teachers to limit homework and make
sure they are fully aware of any holidays coming
up.
When asked if the school would ever consider
making an official no homework policy
over religious holidays, Mrs. Reed explained
that there are many things to consider when
thinking about this question. For example, there
are many different religious holidays that students
observe throughout the year– which holidays
would be exempt from homework? Do
we say no homework for both the A and B day
following a holiday? And can students use the
A/ B schedule to plan ahead?
Mrs. Reed said, “What I would say is to
continue to encourage students who celebrate
these holidays to advocate for themselves with
their teachers, to either plan ahead and work
before the holiday or ask for an extension on
your work.”
Not all students who celebrate the Jewish
holidays feel that the workload is unreasonable.
Sasha Deringer ‘23, Senior Head of the
Jewish Cultural Association, agreed with Mrs.
Reed on the importance of self-advocacy, saying,
“I believe teachers would be receptive if a
student had a need to ask for accommodations,
although I personally have never needed to ask
for any. I am not particularly observant, but I
have never had a problem with homework impacting
my ability to celebrate the Jewish High
Holidays with my family.”
For those who do struggle to balance the
schoolwork with personal celebrations, it seems
that the best option for now, as Mrs. Reed said,
is to be proactive and thoughtful about your
workload and how you advocate for yourself
during this time.
EDITORIAL P. 2
Complaisance: The
Killer of Conversation
Many of us have been taught
that avoiding conflict is the safest
route. But what if thoughtful
debate is exactly what our world
needs to boost self-awareness and
build bridges instead of walls?
OPINION P. 5
The American Media’s
Disproportionate
Coverage of Global
Conflicts
Ifunaya Obidike ‘23 discusses the
stark inequity in how the American
media covers conflict around
the world.
CENTERFOLD P. 6
Hot Takes
We asked for staff writers’ most
contentious, unpopular opinions.
We hope that they surprise you,
intrigue you, and maybe even inspire
you to try something new.
FEATURES P. 9
When Service Meets
the Classroom
Hafsa Kanchwala ‘25 takes a
deep dive into the nature of service
at Baldwin with Ms. Malloy,
highlighting the many benefits
of giving back to the community
around us.
SPORTS P. 11
Athlete of the Issue:
Maddie Davis ‘23
Star soccer player and track captain
Maddie Davis talks the importance
of teamwork, her love
for athletics, and the memories
that have made her journey with
sports so special.

02 | EDITORIAL the hourglass
Design by Leela Rajagopal ‘25 • Photos courtesy of Izzy Thompson ‘23 and Makenna Walko ‘23
Complaisance: The
Killer of Conversation
Why respectful disagreement is more
important than you think
IZZY THOMPSON ‘23
MAKENNA WALKO ‘23
Editors-in-Chief
On October 19, 2022, the Editors-in-Chief of The
Hourglass had a fundamental, impassioned,
and high-stakes disagreement. Similar debates
could be heard in the Blue Hallway, and
throughout the Schoolhouse. But what could cause such
an in-depth discussion, with heated words flying back and
forth across the AT Physics classroom?
Taylor Swift’s new album Midnights, that’s what.
In short, Makenna was a supporter at first listen, but
Izzy. . . had her reservations. What followed was an intense
dispute, with claims that each side had fundamental flaws
in their argument. But in the end, Makenna conceded that
perhaps some songs were less than perfect, and Izzy was
inspired to give the album a second chance. And to her
surprise, after giving Midnights some time to grow on her,
Izzy found that she was a fan of the album after all.
This give-and-take, and the lessons learned along the
way, caused your fervent, Taylor Swift-loving Editorsin-Chief
to reflect on the intrinsic value of productive
disagreements. After all, if we hadn’t clashed over the
chart-topping album, Izzy’s Apple Music Replay might be
free of Taylor’s latest release, and Makenna might still be
defending the lyric “karma is a cat.”
Many of the best arguments end this way: You realize
that, in one way or another, you were wrong. This can be
hard to admit, but it can also be liberating, and sometimes
even life-changing. Taking other people’s opinions into
account, the very rudimentary definition of “empathy,” is
often the root of positive change. True, a debate over pop
music isn’t earth-shattering. However, serious, respectful
conversation with someone from a different background,
generation, or party might be.
When it comes to discussions about these larger,
looming issues, our society has fallen short: in our current
divisive political environment, we’re often too quick to
dismiss those we disagree with, while embracing voices
that support our own entrenched perspectives. But it is
through disagreement that we learn the most about others
and about ourselves, and are prompted to rethink outdated
or uninformed positions that hinder our growth.
However, not all disagreements end with both parties
learning and growing. Sometimes, the best conclusion
is a simple: “Let’s agree to disagree.” These disputes,
too, are crucial, because they teach us the importance of
respecting the differing opinions of others. You walk away
considering the other person’s point, even if you believe
you may never truly align with their opinion.
Then there are disputes that end in plain old
dissatisfaction, anger, confusion, and hurt. This may be
where you need to prioritize your own peace and shut
down a disagreement before it gets out of hand. Your
well-being—whether that be emotional or physical—is
always most important. While we encourage thoughtful
disagreement, if you sense that a discussion is on track to
devolve into a fight, it’s likely time to end the conversation.
Moreover, there are some things that are never up
for debate. For example, a person’s identity should never
be disputed. Horrific historical events like slavery or the
Holocaust should never be denied or justified.
But in general, when carried out respectfully and
earnestly, disagreements can encourage us to think
through why we believe what we do and inspire selfreflection.
They can develop our self-confidence and selfawareness,
and help us build deeper, more understanding
relationships. These conversations often catalyze real,
thought-provoking analysis and change.
This all starts with our differences; everything that
makes us uniquely ourselves. And these varying opinions,
however contrasting or controversial they may be, are
what unite us. The irony runs deep, but disagreements are
a rare constant in life.
Don’t succumb to complacency or self-doubt and
agree with someone because it’s easier or because you’re
afraid. Have those hard conversations. Get comfortable
being uncomfortable, and push yourself to grow. This
issue’s centerfold offers the perfect jumping-off point.
It’s full of our staff writers’ piping hot takes, and we
hope you disagree vehemently with them. Do you hate
pickles? Do you think the suburbs are the best place to
live? Do you believe The Bee Movie is the worst movie
ever made?
Let the debates begin.
December 2022
Volume 61 Issue II
MISSION STATEMENT
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.
CORRECTIONS
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-Chief at
ithompson@baldwinschool.org or
mwalko@baldwinschool.org.
HOURGLASS
CONTENT
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.
SUPPORT
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.
The Baldwin School
701 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
EDITORS-IN-CHIEF
Izzy Thompson ‘23
Makenna Walko ‘23
NEWS EDITOR
Marin Horwitz ‘24
FEATURES EDITOR
Lydia Snyder ‘23
OPINION EDITOR
Lauren Halak ‘24
SPORTS EDITOR
Avani Shah-Lipman ‘25
ARTS EDITOR
Grace Colucci ‘23
BE SURE TO CHECK US OUT AT
www.hourglassnewspaper.com
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM
@hourglassnewspaper
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
Cathy Wang ‘23
Emily Zhang ‘23
JUNIOR CREATIVE
DIRECTOR
Trisha Yun ‘24
LAYOUT EDITOR
Greyson Walko ‘25
MEDIA DIRECTOR
Sophia Ran ‘23
PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR
Sophia Ran ‘23
FACULTY ADVISORS
Dr. Daniel Benjamin
Ms. Janice Wilke

december 2022 NEWS | 03
Hurricane Ian’s devastating effects on Sanibel Island, Florida
IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
AVANI SHAH-LIPMAN ‘25
NIKOLETTA KUVAEVA ‘25
Sports Editor and Staff Writer
O
n September 28
2022, Hurricane Ian hit
Southeast Florida and the
surrounding small islands,
including Sanibel Island.
Winds that reached 150 miles
per hour brought down trees
and powerlines, flooded houses,
and pushed feet of water ashore
from the Gulf of Mexico.
The World Meteorological
Organization (WMO) called it “one
of the worst hurricanes to hit the area
in a century.” Many families’ lives
were turned upside down when their
homes were damaged or destroyed by
the wind and water.
Ian was one of the strongest storms
to ever slam Florida, the death toll
amounting to more than 100 people, most
from drowning. Entire neighborhoods
were flooded with water in an unforeseen
case of property destruction.
Unfortunately, Ian is part of an
already worsening trend of weather
disasters. Beneath this storm lies the
ferocity and truth of our current climate
catastrophe.
“Climate science is increasingly
able to show that many of the extreme
weather events that we are experiencing
have become more likely and more
intense due to human-induced climate
change,” WMO Secretary General
Petteri Taalas said.
According to the
Environmental Defense Fund,
hurricanes have become stronger
due to the rise of ocean level
temperatures. This causes
more water vapor and
heat to be pulled into the
atmosphere and results
in more severe rain
and wind.
Pennsylvania
has experienced similar
extreme weather events. In
2012, Hurricane Sandy caused
catastrophic damage to much of the Mid-
Atlantic region, a sign that climate change
can have very real consequences, even
for inland states. At Category 3 strength,
it caused $60 billion in total damages. It
took lots of hard work and collaboration
to build these areas back to the way they
were, and some areas are still rebuilding
ten years later.
Similarly, Hurricane Ian, an even
more devastating Category 4 storm, will
require massive amounts of effort
to recover from.
Sanibel
Island was
one of the
communities
that was hit
hardest by Ian. Being
a barrier island (an ever-shifting
sand deposit paralleling Florida’s coast),
Sanibel residents are far more susceptible
to the damage of hurricanes. The process
of restoring their electricity, water, and
sewage is primarily inhibited by the
destruction of the causeway, the bridge
connecting Sanibel to mainland Florida.
Additionally, many buildings sustained
major structural damage or were reduced
to debris.
“Sanibel Island is unrecognizable
as the hometown we left just a few days
ago” Dana Souza, Sanibel’s city manager,
reported to FOX Weather.
Sacha Connor, the owner of a
consulting firm whose father
calls Sanibel Island home,
recounted her
father’s
h a r r o w i n g
experience with
Hurricane Ian. While Mr. Connor
fortunately did evacuate, several
hundred people chose to stay on the island
because “no one expected it to be this
bad.”
On October 5, 2022, City Council
allowed residents who had evacuated
to return home, but they “had to figure
out their own way” back to the island.
Mr. Connor managed to hitch a ride on
a contractor’s boat to Sanibel, as the
causeway prevented any automobile
travel.
However, his journey
was far from over. “You
had to bicycle to
your house,”
Ms. Connor
s a i d .
U p o n
M r .
Connor’s
arrival, he
found his home
filled with four feet
of water. “It [was] just a
disaster,” Ms. Connor said.
“Places that these hurricanes
are hitting are more built up than they
have been in the past, so they affect more
people,” Ms. Connor said. The question
becomes, with the consistent increase of
hurricane severity, is it worth rebuilding
the decimated areas?
Ms. Connor was conflicted about
whether Sanibel should be rebuilt. On one
hand, she said, “These people want to be
together in this beautiful place. My father
built a community here.” She wants people
to be able to enjoy the “wonderful place
it was: natural beauty, animal life, plant
life, no street lights.” However, on the
other hand, she acknowledged
the immense cost of
rebuilding an
island
that will
likely be
struck again.
Jesse M.
Keenan, a Tulane
professor, predicts
that Sanibel will
become “an enclave
for the ultrawealthy,” as
people with less means likely
won’t pour their money into
rebuilding their homes just to
see them destroyed again.
According to NBC
Washington, “barrier islands
were never an ideal place for
development.” Although they are
disproportionately vulnerable to
weather-related events compared to
the mainland or larger islands, their
beauty makes them a prime location for
vacation homes.
As climate change worsens,
awareness about global warming’s
association with extreme weather events is
growing, and efforts to alleviate hurricane
damages have amassed support both
nationally and within our own community.
At Baldwin, Middle School’s Service
League ran a pin sale to assist victims of
Hurricane Fiona in Puerto Rico.
The threat of climate change—
and the accompanying severe weather
events—looms over residents of coastal
Florida and the entire country. Each
passing hurricane has the capacity to
be stronger than the one prior, and one
day the homes on islands like Sanibel
Island may become as distant as
Atlantis. Only time will tell how
rising tides and extreme weather
will affect the island, leaving
residents to reflect on the toll
of Ian and if—and how—they
should go about rebuilding.
Design and graphics by Cynthia Zhang ‘24

04 | OPINION the hourglass
ALBUM ALC VE
MOSS: An indie folk reflection of identity and past experiences
BETTI PANG ‘23
Staff Writer
Maya Hawke’s sophomore
album MOSS was released
on September 23, 2022.
After a successful acting run
on the past two seasons of Stranger Things
and the recently released film Do Revenge,
Hawke takes a step back with MOSS’s
honest, stripped-back acoustic tracks.
The album is a bolder continuation of
her debut album, Blush, and reflects deeply
on her childhood and adolescence. In an
interview with Flood Magazine, Hawke
says that during the pandemic, she needed
to return to parts of her past that she had
pushed aside and go “back to all these
things that were mine and figure out what
weeds I have to pull out so the flowers I’d
forgotten about can bloom.”
The first single “Therése” takes
inspiration from “Thérèse Dreaming,”
a controversial painting by Balthus. In
2017, the Metropolitan Museum of Art
declined to take down the painting in
response to a petition claiming that the
portrait romanticized the objectification
of children. As one of Hawke’s more
daring tracks, “Therése” begins the MOSS
era with an earnest exploration of public
perception versus internal dreams and
goals. In a press statement, she said that
the song is about “the secret spaces we
build where we are free to be ourselves,
in a world that is always intentionally or
systematically misunderstanding us.”
“
The song is about
‘the secret spaces we
build where we are
free to be ourselves,
in a world that is
always intentionally
or systematically
misunderstanding us’
“
These ideas are woven into the
dichotomous production of the song,
which begins with guitar and vocals, then
adds a stomping pulse and echoing voices,
leaving the listener with a haunted yet
content feeling.
“Sweet Tooth,” MOSS’s second
single, captures the comfort of always
having someone to depend on. Using a sore
tooth as a metaphor, Hawke embraces the
contrast between sweetness and decay, as
well as joy and grief. The upbeat track has a
playful guitar melody and lyrics, conveying
childhood lessons that are continuously
relearned throughout adulthood.
BETTI’S REVIEW
RATING: 8/10
FAVORITE SONG: Luna Moth
WOULD RECOMMEND: “Hiatus”
“Luna Moth,” the third single on the
album, is one of my personal favorites.
The song deals with the choking feelings
of self-hatred and guilt. In true MOSS
fashion, Hawke sings delicately over
gentle acoustic guitars, and reveals some
of the most hard hitting lines I have ever
heard, including “I don’t need anyone to
hurt me, I can do that myself; I don’t see
why you would want me, if I could I would
be anybody else.” In its quiet honesty and
confessional disillusion, it feels like a
sibling of “Just for Today” by Clairo, or
“this is me trying” by Taylor Swift.
In “Hiatus,” Hawke describes
the painful yearning for a relationship
that simply isn’t working. With tender
descriptions of a significant other and
references to the film industry, the track
beautifully puts raw emotion on display.
The chorus contains some of my
favorite lines in the album, such as: “I
know you bleed glitter and you have a
heart of stone, but all I really want’s an
actor of my own.” The image conveys
both the inaccessibility of her partner’s
vulnerability, and the honesty of their
intentions.
“
In true MOSS fashion,
Hawke sings delicately
over gentle acoustic
guitars, and reveals
some of the most hard
hitting lines I have
ever heard.
“
As the daughter of Uma Thurman
and Ethan Hawke, Maya Hawke both
acknowledges her nepotism and uses it
well. Collaborating with artists like Will
Graefe and Christian Lee Hutson, Hawke
creates an autumn indie folk dream. While
some songs on MOSS tend to blur together
in sound and theme, the album captures
the magic of pure feelings through delicate
vocals and strings. Through these songs,
we see ourselves, and imagine what could
have been.
Design and graphics by Greyson Walko ‘25 and Julia Baur ‘25

december 2022 OPINION | 05
The American Media’s
Disproportionate
Coverage of
Global Conflicts
Why do some conflicts receive so much media attention and others so little?
IFUNAYA OBIDIKE ‘23
Staff Writer
Design and graphics by Trisha Yun ‘24
Congress has sent so much
money to Ukraine, the
same should be done for
the people who are feeling
the brunt of this war in Ethiopia,”
said Aida Haile ‘23, who has spearheaded
advocacy efforts for victims
of the war in Tigray, where her family
is from.
The Tigray-Ethiopia conflict
formally began on November 3,
2020 as a civil war between Ethiopia
and a region within it, Tigray,
after the Tigray State Council held
an election for a new Prime Minister.
The war, which was recently halted
by a ceasefire on November 2, has
spanned two years, resulted in half a
million deaths, and received little to
no coverage on American platforms.
So why do so few Americans
know about this globally significant
conflict?
America has always been more
captivated by its European neighbors
than its African and Asian ones.
Noam Chomsky explains the reason
behind this phenomenon well in his
1988 work of media criticism, Manufacturing
Consent. He explains that
the mass media divides the world
into “worthy” and “unworthy” victims
for propagandistic purposes,
a label that is assigned based on
whether the aggressor in the conflict
is an enemy or ally of the United
States. Chomsky notes, “While
the coverage of the ‘worthy victim’
[is] generous with gory details and
quoted expressions of outrage and
demands for justice, the coverage
of the ‘unworthy victims’ [is] lowkeyed,
designed to keep the lid on
emotions.”
This disparity in coverage between
the “worthy” and “unworthy”
victims is exemplified by the
immense global spotlight that the
ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has
received. We as American people are
enthralled by this conflict. In addition
to the fact that Russia is a major
political rival of the U.S., White
“
America has always
been more captivated
by its European
neighbors than its
African and Asian
ones, a phenomenon
Noam Chomsky
explains in his 1988
book Manufacturing
Consent.
”
America has always been captivated
by its White European neighbors and
extensively addressed their conflicts
in American media.
From a local perspective, for
example, Baldwin Service League
sent an email to Upper and Middle
School students hosting a humanitarian
drive by the end of March 2022.
American social media and
brands were quick to emphasize their
alliance with Ukrainians. Grammarly,
for example, changed its icon
to the colors of Ukraine’s flag. Many
users on social media platforms such
as Twitter and TikTok made similar
changes to their profile pictures, and
the internet was soon flooded with
posts declaring: “Support Ukraine.”
News platforms such as The
New York Times and its podcast The
Daily have had the Ukraine-Russia
conflict as their running theme for
the past few months. According to
Axios, 520k articles were published
about the conflict during the first
week after Russia’s invasion, and
even three months later, the conflict
was still averaging 70k online articles
a week. Day after day, a new
podcast or article relating to the war
makes headlines across the world.
This sharply contrasts the lack
of both media attention and support
for the Tigray conflict. To put it into
Chomsky’s terms: Ethiopia is a strategic
ally of the U.S., and as a result,
coverage of the conflict in Tigray has
been limited. The media has deemed
its victims “unworthy.”
However, just because some
conflicts are less covered by the
mainstream media doesn’t mean
there aren’t credible sources to educate
yourself on these conflicts.
News platforms like Democracy
Now!, Fairness and Accuracy In
Reporting (FAIR), and Media Matters
for America are among the best
places to widen your feed to global
catastrophes, as well as independent
journalists reporting from the ground
in warzones like Tigray.
No matter where it unfolds,
violence must be condemned, and
its victims aided and their voices
amplified. But that is the critical issue—currently,
this support is not
dispensed equally. Some parts of
the world receive our attention and
assistance, while others are pushed
aside. The devastation of these conflicts
shouldn’t be compared, but
the way we go about sharing them
should be. Coverage can have real-world
effects; critical media coverage
can put pressure on political
leaders to take action.
Haile said, “It seems as though
no one is listening and it’s frustrating.
These are innocent people that
deserve screen time too, regardless
of their background. It’s important
to go the extra mile and just listen.”

06 | CENTERFOLD the hourglass
Hot Take: The Bee Movie
is Criminally Underrated
Find out what all the buzz is about!
MARIN HORWITZ ‘24
News Editor
The Bee Movie has everything
a movie should have. A
protagonist, unhappy with their
set future, deciding to change the
world? Check. An outrageous storyline
and outstanding cast? Check. A moral that
has you reconsidering all your choices and
honey-purchasing practices? Check.
For those unfamiliar with The Bee
Movie, it centers around Barry B. Benson,
a humble bee who has just graduated
college and realizes he has absolutely no
interest in making honey for the rest of his
life. He goes out into the world, discovers
that humans harvest bees’ honey, and sues
the human race. After winning his case,
bees as a collective stop working, but as a
result, the entire world starts to lose flowers
and presumably, food. Barry soon realizes
his mistake and then saves the world as an
apology.
The Bee Movie is moving and
fundamentally inspiring. Barry not only
defies the odds by winning a case against
honey monopolies as only a tiny honey
“
It is a movie that
is an abstract
study of American
society, all while
being ridiculously
funny.
“
bee, but he also admits to his mistake and
does everything in his power to remedy it.
He is a role model for both children and
adults alike.
The film gives a new perspective on
how we get our food. It makes viewers
reconsider buying food online or from
grocery stores, where everything is
packaged and pasteurized. We often forget
to think about how it was made, where it
came from, or the labor involved in the
creation process. Our food has lost some
of its value, as Barry points out perfectly.
The Bee Movie may be almost as old
as many students in the freshman class, but
that does not mean that it has lost any of its
relevance. It is a movie that is an abstract
study of American society, all while being
ridiculously funny.
Hot Take:
Cities Are Awesome
CARLEY TAYLOR ‘23
Staff Writer
In defense of the best places on earth
As a resident of South
Philadelphia for 16 years, I
take personal offense when
someone says that cities suck.
All of my favorite places are cities, and
that is no coincidence.
Living downtown, I see something
new every single day. Whether it’s an art
show or Lady Gaga strolling down the
street, the wonders of the city can not be
replicated by the suburban lifestyle. These
sights also provide me with countless
memories.
The
teenage
average
employee’s work stories typically revolve
around rude customers. In contrast,
working in the city has given me stories
of all the bizarre things I see parading in
the streets through our restaurant’s massive
windows. One time, I watched two women
try to steal a block of cement, hauling the
50-pound block down the sidewalk outside
our restaurant.
Not only does the city have plenty
of sights to see, but it has plenty of things
to do as well. There are countless
stores, activities,
and museums in the
sprawling urban environment. Not to
mention the impeccable flavors from
thousands of restaurants. Plus, life is
so much more convenient. If you need
something, odds are it’s just a block away,
instead of a 20-minute drive.
Even for the natureinclined,
cities provide no
shortage of parks, stacked with
places for reading or socializing
and far fewer bugs than dull
parks in the country. Urban parks
are also full of performers,
v e n d o r s , monuments,
and even zoos (there is
literally a zoo in Central Park—Valley
Forge would never have a zoo).
However, I will admit, sometimes
the performers in city parks are far from
entertaining. Dancers like the Michael
Jackson cosplayer in Rittenhouse Square
are certainly a deterrent for many. Even I
avoid Rittenhouse when I hear the sound
of his remixes through his crackly speaker.
But to be honest, the occasional bad music
is negligible when compared to the endless
positives offered by cities.
Sure, they’re loud, and some say they
smell bad (although, personally, I don’t
agree, but I may just be used to the stench),
but living surrounded by bright lights
and voices is exhilarating. Also, if cities
were really so horrible, why
would so many people live in
them?

december 2022 CENTERFOLD | 07
CARLEY TAYLOR ‘23
Staff Writer
Design, graphics, and photography by Cathy Wang ‘23
Hot Take:
Pickles Are Good
Earth’s best crunch deserves more love
To me, twisting open a pickle jar
and biting into a juicy spear has
consistently been a personal life
luxury. However, my love for
pickles never fails to sour someone’s day,
even though pickles are humankind’s most
perfect creation. I believe it is time for
the disgusted faces towards my preferred
snack to cease, because let’s face it: pickles
are good.
Pickles can be found and used
everywhere, making them both convenient
and tasty. They offer a diverse selection of
shapes and sizes from the big dills floating
in deli barrels to the finely chopped ones in
relish bottles.
With all this variety, there is no
excuse to claim that all pickles are “gross”
because that discounts their unlimited
possibilities. Sure, you might not like one
type of pickles (I admit, given the option,
I wouldn’t hesitate to eradicate the bread
and butter chips my aunt swears by) but
a rejection of the entire catalog is closeminded.
I think there is a pickle for everyone,
even the haters. There are sweet pickles,
fried pickles, dill pickles, spicy pickles,
fancy pickles, gherkins, and so many more.
Not only do pickles come in a variety
of flavors, but they can be eaten in so many
ways. Whether placed on a sandwich or
eaten on their own, there are probably as
many pickle-eating options as assignments
on the test board. You can even eat pickles
on the go, with one of my favorite Wawa
finds: “OH SNAP!” bagged pickles.
However, if the large assortment of
pickles is not enough to convince you to
indulge, their flavor is not something to
dismiss. Pickles manage to carry their iconic
taste despite coming from our planet’s most
underwhelming vegetable. Cucumbers are
literally just crunchy water—essentially
glorified ice. Despite their disappointing
origin, pickles still manage to provide the
perfect combination of salty, juicy,
and crunchy;
an admirable
q u a l i t y
regardless of
your stance
on the snappy
snack.
So the
n e x t
time you
see your
f r i e n d
enjoying a
tasty pickle, instead
of criticizing the smell,
reconsider the incredible
nature of their crispy
treat, and maybe even
allow yourself to indulge
in the deliciousness.
Hot Take: “The Middle of o
Nowhere” Is Not Boring
IZZY THOMPSON ‘23
Editor-in-Chief
Why everyone should go outside more
In times of worry or stress, I often find
myself mindlessly dreaming of the
best things in the world: peace, quiet,
the small sounds and soothing scents
of nature. . . Earth’s best offerings.
How can you go wrong by simply
sitting outside and breathing in? Does
the warm sun washing over your face not
momentarily calm your worries? Or maybe
it’s the dead of winter and the biting wind
is rushing blood to your cheeks; you finally
feel refreshed after a day inside with the
stuffy heaters and too-itchy blankets.
proclaiming, “We’re going for a hike!”
There’s a good chance that phrase may
leave a sour taste in your mouth.
Any artificially generated way of
experiencing nature never bodes well. But
I’m here to defend the great outdoors! One
of the biggest complaints is how hot or cold
it might be. If it’s hot, wear loose clothes
and take tons of breaks. Sit down, relax,
and press your (hopefully cold) water
bottle to your forehead. If
it’s cold, wear a ton
of layers and put hand warmers in your
gloves and boots!
Hiking, camping, and other outdoor
activities get too much hate. It’s not all
thorn bushes and rocks waiting to trip you:
it may be a majestic view at a mountain’s
summit or a grassy plain perfect for picnics.
These beautiful sights can often come
from places far removed from towns or
bustling cities. The deciduous
forests of West Virginia,
a highway cutting through the hypnotic
Smoky Mountains, or the sweltering
Arches National Park in Utah. Nothing
beats the overwhelming quiet as you
stare up at the night sky, light pollution
non-existent in the middle-of-nowhere
American Southwest. So even if you are a
city lover through and through, I urge you
to give more rural exploration a try.
Unfortunately, I think we were all
dragged on too many walks as kids. If
you weren’t, let me quickly share the
experience. A parent comes into
your room, bright and early
on a Saturday morning,

08 | FEATURES the hourglass
Mamma Mia,
Here We Go
Again
The Baldwin Theater Department returns with a new director,
a new musical, and a new level of energy
GEORGIA JANE WHAMOND ‘25
Staff Writer
Design by Gemma Young‘25 and Allison Meng ‘25
Graphics by Emily Zhang ‘23
Photography by Lyla Mason ‘26
If the chorus of “Dancing Queen”
has been stuck in your head on a
loop and you’re counting down the
days until you can get your hands on
tickets to the Baldwin theater department’s
upcoming performance of Mamma Mia!,
you’re not alone. The school is abuzz with
excitement about the approaching show,
a popular jukebox musical that many
students already know and love.
However, students may be less
familiar with the new theater teacher
behind this fun production: Ms. Marlowe.
After many years of experience at other
schools, Ms. Marlowe joined the Baldwin
theater department early in the 2022-2023
school year.
Already, Ms. Marlowe has big
plans for theater at Baldwin. Discussing
her goals for the department, she said,
“My hope for this year is to provide a
really positive experience through a fun
style of production, to bring audience
members back into the theater, to gather
into community, to witness really fun
storytelling and acting and dancing, but
also to provide a backstage and rehearsal
experience that is positive and fun.”
Ms. Marlowe said she’s a “a process
over product person,” saying “I want the
rehearsal process to reflect what we want
the production to be, so if the process isn’t
fun and doesn’t have the ability to dig
deep and stretch and grow, then I think the
production will really reflect that.”
Although students have faced
significant challenges in recent years,
COVID being the primary obstacle, Ms.
Marlowe is optimistic about the year
ahead. She said, “What I know so far is that
we have a group of incredibly enthusiastic
students who are ready to bust out of the
last two years of crazy pandemic and go
for the big show, and it seems like that
enthusiasm is backed up by a lot of work
ethic so far.”
Baldwin’s theater department is
unique in that it is a largely student-led
program. Maskers, the theater club at
Baldwin, facilitates a huge part of the
Theater teacher Ms. Marlowe looks to her vision board as inspiration for the upcoming year.
theater department’s operation and success.
Julie Brose ‘23, one of the Maskers
heads, highlighted how the club, and the
department as a whole, has changed over
time, saying, “I think there’s a lot more
resiliency within, because it used to be
that we’d just complain about the things
that weren’t right, and with all the turnover
we’ve realized it’s really up to us to sculpt
the theater department we want. The
biggest difference is just the people.”
Chloe Watson ‘24, another Maskers
head, said, “A student-led program can
sometimes be a struggle, but I think it gives
students the opportunity to step up in ways
they may not be able to at other schools.
Techies, actors, dancers, and many other
talented individuals are able to step into
roles of leadership and help produce a
performance of their own. So much goes
into running the theater club at Baldwin
and it’s taught me so much.”
Rachel Gopalani ‘23, the third
Maskers head, spoke about her goals for
the department this year and in the future.
She said, “This year, my main goal is that
we encourage a more widely known and
accepted view of the theater department. I
think the addition of Ms. Marlowe this year
will be great too– I’ve heard great things
about her and I’m excited to keep working
with her. I think when we have that kind
of strong leadership, that’s going to be a
lovely addition, because when students
see that in such an underrepresented
department they’re going to take it more
seriously.”
As rehearsals for Mamma Mia!
begin, Maskers heads say that the energy
for the show is already high. Reflection,
experience, and careful planning from
student leaders and Ms. Marlowe are
elevating the Baldwin theater department
to a new level this year. Excitement for
participating in theater is unmistakably
present, with much to look forward to this
year.

december 2022 FEATURES | 09
Design by Cathy Wang ‘23 and Nicoly De Vasconcelos ‘24
Photography by Emilie Xie ‘24
Where Service Meets
the Classroom
An insightful interview with Ms. Malloy, Baldwin’s Coordinator of Civic Engagement
HAFSA KANCHWALA ‘25
Staff Writer
Baldwin students often get caught
up in piles of homework, hours
of athletic practice, and timeconsuming
club projects. But
should we be taking more time to step back
and appreciate our community in order to
properly “give back?”
“
Ms. Malloy
recommended that
students play to their
own strengths when
personalizing their
own contributions to
the community.
”
What does “service” mean to Baldwin
students? With such a heavy emphasis on
other activities, how can our school also
facilitate strong community outreach?
To answer these questions, I had the
opportunity to talk to Ms. Malloy, the
Coordinator of Civic Engagement at
Baldwin, to discuss our school’s work
toward serving our community.
Ms. Malloy recommended that
students play to their own strengths when
personalizing their own contributions
to the community. She highlighted the
encouraging movement towards long-term
commitments with service organizations,
and the growing student awareness of
and sensitivity around various issues.
Lastly, she discussed potential areas
of improvement and how Baldwin is
working towards an ever better tradition of
community service.
Q:
Q:
Why did you get involved with
service at Baldwin?
A:
When I came to Baldwin five years ago, I
realized that the service component needed
more structure and clearly-defined
goals. Service is a student’s ability to incorporate
their academic gifts and talents
into something that is tangible and useful.
An example can be a student who loves to
bake, they can use that skill to share baked
goods with organizations like Bethesda
Project. A student who is good at math
can use their gift to tutor children who are
struggling with math.
What is the best part about Baldwin’s
service program, and how is service
helping students grow?
Upper school students volunteer at Cradles to Crayons, a
Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization.
A:
Students are starting to make commitments
and find ways to engage in sustainable
long term projects. We are able to have
conversations about being respectful of
the communities and the people we serve.
Students have also learned to use different
terminology when describing folks who are
experiencing poverty and the many layers
that affect a person’s life.
Q:
How can Baldwin students enhance
their community engagement this
year?
KIVA heads Lulu Gunn ‘23, Katie Reed ‘23, and Bella Gillis ‘24
host weekly meetings and generate fundraising ideas in order to
promote the success of aspiring entrepreneurs.
A:
Our students have great potential to
do more and to build stronger ties with
our community partners. We need to
focus on essential questions, like: Why
is this important to us? Can we create
sustainable connections? What is our level
of commitment? When we can respond to
these questions with strong answers, we
are one step closer to creating a program
that meets people where they are, and
provides meaningful place-based service
and engagement.

10 | ARTS the hourglass
Artist of the issue
LIGHTHOUSE WU ‘24
An insight to the creative process behind her infamous and breathtaking paintings
OLIVIA STEPHAN ‘24
Staff Writer
Design by Emily Zhang‘23 and Mindy Zhang ‘25
Photography by Sophia Ran ‘23
I’d rather paint something ugly and
unlikeable that means something than
paint something beautiful and pleasant
that means nothing,” Lighthouse
Wu ’24 said. To Wu, an avid drawer and
painter, art is about giving an idea visual
representation, and not assigning meaning
to a painting.
Wu has been passionate about the arts
from a young age, encouraged by her parents
to pursue her interests through exploring
and experimenting. In her freshman
year, Wu participated in both performing
and visual arts. She then decided to focus
on developing her drawing and painting
skills and is currently doing an independent
study that allows her to have free rein
to explore new ideas.
When asked whose perspective she
considers when painting, Wu responded, “I
have phases when I paint solely for myself,
and phases when I paint for the potential
audiences’ viewing pleasure. Currently,
I try to strike a balance between the two,
conveying messages that are meaningful to
me and to the viewers.” Over the past year,
Wu has not followed a specific theme but
rather has painted wherever her imagination
takes her.
Wu’s painting “Sausage” is inspired
by one of her favorite pieces of music, a
Tchaikovsky violin concerto. Inspired by
the life-like music, she worked to convey
the perfect blend of the violin solo with
the orchestra through painting, creating a
“transcendental experience … to the viewer.”
Through techniques such as shading,
she highlights certain aspects of the orchestral
work to show their significance to
the painting’s audience.
Wu has painted a variety of other
works, including a gazebo during a sunny
day and a view through a window. They
are filled with vibrant colors, and the people
are painted in a more abstract manner,
outlined by contrasting blocks of color.
One of her largest pieces is a painting
of a Buddhist temple that was displayed at
last year’s art fair. Inspired by a temple she
visited when she was younger (and subsequent
dreams about it), the painting depicts
a large Buddhist statue as the centerpiece,
dwarfing the onlookers who stand at its
base.
The entire scene is bathed in an orange
light, with colorful lanterns hanging
from the intricately decorated pillars surrounding
the temple’s courtyard and tables
of offerings set at the Buddha’s base.
“
Art is about giving
an idea visual
representation, and
not assigning meaning
to a painting
“
Even after presenting it at the art fair,
Wu believed this painting was still incomplete
and spent her summer continuing to
add details. In general, when viewing her
art, Wu takes a more critical perspective,
finding she is not always satisfied with the
finished product and often sees aspects
which can be improved.
When talking about the role art plays
in her life, Wu says, “It is not accurate to
describe art as an escape for me. Because
each formal art piece requires so much
time and energy to plan, so many ideas to
execute on canvas, and with deadlines for
competitions and art shows, art is more often
as draining as school work.”
However, she still describes her art as
a way to express her emotions and thoughts.
Drawing from experiences, memories, and
dreams makes Wu’s paintings very personally
meaningful.
As many of her previous works had
more private and personal meaning, going
forward, Wu is looking to “make [her]
work have real life connections,” where
the messages being “conveyed [are] relevant
to everyone.”

december 2022 SPORTS | 11
Athlete of the Issue
Maddie Davis ‘23
SOPHIA RAN ‘23
Media Director
Design by Violet Paiva ‘23 and Emily Zhang ‘23
Photo courtesy of SmugMug
Everyone needs something or someone to turn to
when they are stressed out by the seemingly endless
demands of high school, family, or friendships.
For Maddie Davis ‘23, her outlet is one of
the places she shines the most: the soccer field.
Having been “thrown” into the world of sports by her
parents, Davis started playing the game at four years old
and has stuck with it, encouraged by her older brother Ben.
Her commitment is reflected in the vast amount of time
she has spent honing her soccer and athletic skills.
Davis was introduced to club soccer in elementary
school, and in 7th grade she decided to join Steel United,
where she continues to play. As a result, she can be found
on the soccer field year-round, playing an average of 4-5
hours per week in the spring and competing once every
other week in the winter.
Soccer isn’t all she does in her off-season, though. In
addition, Davis is a co-captain of both Baldwin’s indoor
and outdoor track teams. She has broken many Baldwin
track records, and her spectacular athleticism is unmistakable
in any sport she tries her hand at.
On her club team, she is both a center-back and a defensive
player. On Baldwin’s soccer team, her versatility
as a player is underscored by her various roles as a striker,
center-mid, and of course, star defender.
When asked what she’s most proud of during her
soccer career at Baldwin, Davis replied, “It’d probably be
scoring in general this season. I’ve never really thought
about the game offensively before. I’m proud of scoring
at least a couple goals during a season, since I haven’t always
been used to playing in that position.” This seems
like an understatement considering her impressive seven
total goals for the season.
While her adaptability and skill are obvious advantages,
arguably the most important role Davis holds in
Baldwin soccer is being a team player. When asked what
she thinks the most vital aspect of soccer is, Davis empha-
“
Being positive can
simply mean the little
things, like picking
a teammate up and
keeping the energy
high.
”
sized teamwork: “I think communication is key as a collaborative
movement. During games, there’s not a lot you
can control. People can have bad and good days. However,
you can always control how you talk, because that’s what
makes a difference…you can help your teammates by letting
them know you are open or if an opponent is behind
you. And being positive can simply mean the little things,
like picking a teammate up and keeping the energy high.”
Davis excitedly identified one of her favorite soccer
moments as a low-key, pick-up soccer tournament called
Beach Blast, where the winning team is bestowed one of
the most distinguished awards you can get: a wooden tiki.
When asked what she loves most about soccer, Davis
said, “It’s a chance to get close with the other grades. I
get to talk to a lot of people, and it’s not as stressful to me
as other sports such as track. Also, soccer’s good for my
mental health because it’s a time where I can focus on myself
and stay active. I don’t have to think about anything
else at the moment.”
While Davis mentioned that she would love to play
club-level soccer in college, she does not plan to play at
a highly competitive level. Instead, she wants to focus on
branching out to other intramural sports and hobbies. Davis
enjoys many extracurriculars and pastimes other than
soccer, including cooking, reading, writing for The Hourglass,
and representing Athletic Association.
Davis’s talent as a three-sport athlete and her contributions
to Baldwin athletics do not go unnoticed. Violet
Paiva ‘23, a teammate on the Baldwin soccer team,
said, “She really cares about the success of the team.” Her
sports expertise and love for team spirit exemplify what it
means to be a dedicated student athlete.
4-5 hours per
week
Playing soccer all year-round
Co-Captain for 2
seasons
Captain for Indoor and Outdoor
Track 2022-2023
7 goals for Baldwin
soccer team 2022
3 sports for 3
seasons
Fall: Soccer
Winter: Indoor Track
Spring: Outdoor Track

12 | BACKPAGE the hourglass
Design and graphics by Cathy Wang ‘23 and Amara Okechukwu ‘24
Photography by Sophia Ran ‘23
ATTENTION STUDENTS:
AI IS INFILTRATING Y UR
ENGLISH CLASS
Value your days writing essays for class —they might be coming to an end.
LIGHTHOUSE WU ‘24
Staff Writer
Many students use online
programs such as
Grammarly, Khan Academy,
Noodletools, Desmos and
Notion to assist their schoolwork. But have
you ever imagined that there could come
a day when essays are entirely written by
technology?
Early in 2018, Chinese e-commerce
company Alibaba developed an artificial
intelligence (AI) tool capable of producing
20,000 words per second, to replace the
tedious work of writing product listings. In
the following years, similar tools appeared,
creating AI specialized in different kinds of
writing.
According to Forbes, “AI writing
programs use natural language processing
to create or improve written content based
on a set of instructions that you give them.”
Essentially, AI learns from available
databases of human speeches and writings
by finding patterns in these texts and
labeling them. The AI then imitates human
writing by utilizing the words and phrases
recorded from the database.
AI can write at virtually all levels—
including high-school and college. There
are countless programs that can generate
hundreds of words in seconds for students
to use.
For example, EssayBot writes, “Given
the title and prompt, EssayBot helps you
find inspirational sources, suggest and
paraphrase sentences, as well as generate
and complete sentences using AI.”
On Smodin, I typed in “Jane Eyre and
Rochester’s romance in the gothic setting,”
and the program provided me a complete
essay, with an introductory paragraph, a
plot summary, and specific analysis of
textual evidence, in seconds.
The AI even demonstrated “critical
thinking” ability. It asked, “What if
these heroines had been raised among
bitter feuding social classes who were
constantly at war with each other?” Then
it continued, “This constant conflict would
have desensitized them to romance —
making it impossible for them to develop
deep love later on in life despite any initial
appearances to the contrary—because
these initial appearances would be mere
figments of their overactive imagination!”
Would these AI programs be allowed
in the classroom?
AI websites claim to be only “a
solution to writer’s block” and “assist in
avoiding plagiarism.” A journalist from
Slate wrote, “Using an AI program is not
“plagiarism” in the traditional sense—
there’s no previous work for the student
to copy, and thus no original for teachers’
plagiarism detectors to catch.”
“
Even if there is
technically no
original source for a
plagiarism detector
to catch, the content
is still generated
from an original
source, which has
been plagiarized.
“
However, Dr. Sullivan, the Upper
School English Department Chair made it
Emilie Xie ‘24, Harper Hoffman ‘24, and Eesha Sharma ‘24 work
on an English paper in the Writing Center.
clear that Baldwin considers AI-generated
articles to be plagiarized, saying, “Even
if there is technically no original source
for a plagiarism detector to catch, the
content is still generated from an original
source, which has been plagiarized. Using
AI to write content for essays is cheating.
The Baldwin student handbook defines
plagiarism as ‘using somebody else’s work
or ideas’ as your own work. Baldwin’s
education goal is to assess critical thinking
and knowledge, and students shouldn’t be
passive learners.”
The Student Handbook explicitly
states, “You are plagiarizing when you use
any Internet or computer resource that has
been forbidden or that provides you with
work that is not your own (research papers
for sale, language translation websites,
etc.)”
Essentially, productive learning
requires students to cultivate their own
ideas, and using AI-generated articles is
not only considered cheating, but it also
prevents students from truly grasping the
material and developing key writing skills.
Even if students were allowed to
use these programs, it would be almost
impossible to use AI-generated essays
for class assignments simply because
AI tools are not yet good enough. A
teacher on EducationWeek said that “the
program lacks the depth, the voice, and the
authenticity” of human writing and that the
AI’s work “would not score remarkably
high if it had come from a student.”
Similarly, Forbes called the writing
AI programs “writing assistants,”
emphasizing that complicated human
writing is safe from being replaced by such
programs, for now. However, although AI
is not yet able to write complete, nuanced
academic essays, these programs do have
other potential uses that can help support
students without breaking school rules.
“
Although AI is not
yet able to write
complete, nuanced
academic essays,
these programs do
have other potential
uses that can help
support students
without breaking
school rules.
“
For example, Dr. Sullivan said, “If the
technology a student uses is not replacing
a student’s work, but rather helping to
catch small errors, it is not taking away
knowledge, and that is the usage allowed
in the classroom.” The ever-popular
Grammarly would be an example of such
technology.
Although Dr. Sullivan couldn’t say for
sure about the future, she did predict that
during the transition period when many
students will have access to advancing
AI technologies, it’s possible that the
school will “give fewer take-home essays
and more in-class assessments using the
lockdown browser.”
If this is the case, some may celebrate
the freedom from strict essay formats,
while others will surely mope that writing
excellent take-home essays may no longer
be an indicator of adequate learning skills.
What would you think?