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NFL: Contenders, Surprises, and Offseason Shake-Ups The NFL season is just beginning, which means everyone is talking about contenders and which teams have changed the most since last year. Looking back on last season, there were definitely some surprises—teams that nobody thought would go far suddenly became big players, while others fell apart even with high expectations. Obviously, the Philadelphia Eagles deserve to be mentioned first. They finished the season on top, winning the Super Bowl with Jalen Hurts leading the way. Hurts was incredible, using his passing ability and his running game to keep defenses on their toes. Their defense was also lights-out, forcing turnovers and shutting down opponents when it mattered most. With that championship experience and a roster that’s still stacked, they head into this year as one of the top contenders. Another big story was the Washington Commanders. No one really expected them to be such a threat, but they shocked people by making it all the way to the NFC Championship Game. With rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, throwing for over 3,800 yards and rushing for another 500. His dual-threat ability gave defenses nightmares. The Commanders may not have made it to the Super Bowl, but their run showed how much they’ve grown in the past few seasons. And then, in the offseason, they doubled down—bringing in wide receiver Deebo Samuel and left tackle Laremy Tunsil to give Daniels even more support. That’s huge growth from a team that used to be considered an afterthought. On the AFC side, the Kansas City Chiefs were still the Chiefs. Patrick Mahomes led them deep into the playoffs again, although they fell short in the Super Bowl, they remain a constant contender. It honestly feels like as long as Mahomes is around, Kansas City is never really out of the picture.  The Baltimore Ravens also took a big step forward. Lamar Jackson was healthy and electric, winning games both through the air and on the ground. Baltimore gave him more options that turned into offensive weapons last season, and it showed—rookie Zay Flowers in particular became a star. In the offseason, they focused on keeping that momentum going by adding depth at receiver and solidifying their defense. And then there are the Detroit Lions. For years they were seen as a rebuilding project, but last season they finally won their division and made it into the playoffs. Jared Goff was consistent, Amon-Ra St. Brown became one of the most exciting receivers in the league, and their defense played with real grit. After so many years of losing, it felt like Detroit was finally turning into a real contender. Looking ahead, the Eagles are still the team to beat, but the Commanders, Ravens, and Lions all proved they can be dangerous. The offseason has made some teams even stronger, and that’s what makes the start of this new season so exciting. Last year’s surprises showed us anything can happen, and this year feels just as unpredictable. Emerson Gardner ‘28

image by: Lucy Wang '28 Jordan Reid-Strachan ‘26, an offensive lineman for the Middlesex football program, became a Zebra in 2024 as a new junior. Despite an unflattering 2023 season record and Jordan’s resulting hesitance to join the program, Jordan was ultimately drawn to Middlesex by “the vision Coach Woody had for the program.” Jordan describes being “moved” by his initial communications with Coach Woody that compelled him to take the risk and join the Middlesex community.  In Jordan’s one season of playing for Coach Woody, Jordan immensely impacted both the on-field success of the team and the team culture. In just one season, Middlesex football turned a losing record of 2-6 into an impressive 7-2 season culminating in the Joe Lang bowl coming home. It is no coincidence that this turnaround occurred in Jordan’s first season with Middlesex football.  Jordan best describes his role on the offensive line as the “protector of his quarterback, Luke Felago.” Jordan sacrifices his body absorbing hit after hit for the sake of his team’s success. Jordan is the ultimate team player; although he may not live in the spotlight scoring three touchdowns a game, his passion, grit, and skill are of paramount importance to the growing success of Middlesex football. When asked about how the football team managed such sudden improvement, senior captain Luke Felago said the offensive line was "undoubtedly a key ingredient,” and Jordan is undoubtedly a key ingredient of the offensive line.  As the 2025 season commences, Jordan proudly exclaims his ultimate goal: “ANOTHER RING!!!” Importantly, Jordan does not merely suggest this goal as a fantasy, but rather, he has the mindset and grit to make it a reality, and he believes his teammates do, too. Jordan notes a few valuable new players, Mekhi Eady, Nathan Keeler, and Roark Lick, who will contribute to the future success of the program, but perhaps most crucial to the team’s future success is their camaraderie. Jordan can “CONFIDENTLY say [MX football has] the best atmosphere of all teams at MX.” Despite the many challenges that will inevitably arise in a season of football, the Middlesex football players are dedicated to each other, Coach Woody, and the game. Jordan believes this culture to be the best part of playing football for Middlesex. Jordan’s signature chant, “What a Wonderful Day” symbolizes not only the team’s commitment to “BUSINESS,” as Jordan describes, but Jordan’s key contribution to cultivating this culture of positivity and buy-in from all the guys.  Jordan is beloved by his teammates and coaches’ alike not only for his passion and grit on the field, but for his incessant desire to protect those about whom he cares deeply. Jordan himself explains how the “protector ideal” of his role on the offensive line has informed his character off the field. Jordan is reliable, selfless, passionate, talented, and as senior captain Luke Felago states, “someone you’d want a hug from.” Middlesex Football is lucky to have Jordan on their side of the line, and the entire Middlesex community is looking forward to cheering on Jordan and his teammates as they chase a NEPSAC championship.  Avery Green ‘26

On Buckley’s centenary, his perspicacious public persona stands as a relic of a less vacuous age. Photo: USPS Running as a third-party candidate in the 1965 New York City mayoral race, William F. Buckley Jr., when asked by a reporter for his first action if elected, famously replied, “Demand a recount.” The 39-year-old Conservative Party hopeful with no prior political experience faced likely defeat to his Republican and Democratic opponents, who were both politically liberal, but his wit and charisma made the election especially captivating. By campaigning, Buckley—who was born 100 years ago and died in 2008—further raised the cresting profile of conservative Republicans: the year prior, conservative Barry Goldwater had defeated the liberal Nelson Rockefeller in the 1964 Republican presidential primary, ultimately losing to Lyndon Johnson. Educated at Millbrook and Yale, Buckley’s 1951 treatise God and Man at Yale , published a year after graduating, catapulted him to fame. Buckley criticized the pervasive influence of atheistic, collectivist, and anti-Western thought at Yale, advocating instead for a renewed emphasis on religion and capitalist individualism. The book attracted greater attention when McGeorge Bundy, paragon of the liberal establishment and then-dean of Harvard Law School, excoriated Buckley ad hominem  in The Atlantic . In 1955 at age 29, Bill Buckley founded the National Review , a conservative opinion magazine. As editor-in-chief until 1990, he burnished his celebrity with pugnacious critiques of a New-Deal-influenced liberalism in establishment politics and culture. While Buckley’s mayoral campaign ended in defeat, he managed to win 13% of the vote. But the exposure he got made his exhibitionist campaign worth it. With the Johnson Administration’s expensive, inefficient, and often corrupt “great society” programs, Buckley feared a prolonging of the New Deal-ism that had plagued his childhood. Should liberal Republicans trump the Party’s fledgling conservative wing, and accept  the economic and social overreaches of Washington Democrats, then America would lack a voice balancing out liberals. In 1966, Buckley started Firing Line , a weekly, nationally syndicated television show that would air over 1,400 episodes over 33 years. The structure of the show was simple: illuminating discourse between intelligent people holding not necessarily identical viewpoints. Buckley platformed conservative politicians like Goldwater and Ronald Reagan, but also brought on important figures in the Democratic Party and political left. He hosted public figures like Muhammad Ali; academics, like Noam Chomsky and Christopher Hitchens; and literary figures, like Norman Mailer, Louis Auchincloss, and Tom Wolfe. The underlying principle of Buckley’s Firing Line  was not to antagonize the guest, but to respectfully debate pressing topics in an entertaining and intellectually stimulating arena. In addition to Firing Line , Buckley wrote a nationally syndicated, semi-weekly column called “On The Right,” totalling over 5,500 columns by his death. He authored 57 books, sailed the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean, mastered the cello and the harpsichord, and possessed a thesaurus-obviating vocabulary despite English being his third language (after Spanish and French). The election of Ronald Reagan, the first true conservative president, was the apotheosis of his career. In honor of his centenary (he was born in 1925), the U.S. Postal Service this month launched in New Haven a commemorative stamp bearing his likeness. Buckley was not always “On The Right” side of history, unfortunately. He co-wrote in 1954 McCarthy and His Enemies , a book which defended Senator Joseph McCarthy for his anti-communism; McCarthy’s baseless insinuations of communism within the government would lead to his not-soon-enough denunciation. In 1957, he wrote the racist “How The South Must Prevail” in the National Review , arguing that the Black population in the South was “backward” and that therefore whites were “entitled to rule,” as if whites were not responsible for Southern socioeconomic inequality. He would later disavow this insupportable claim and advocated for affirmative action, drug law-enforcement reform, and eliminating discrimination in his 1965 mayoral bid. As his personal letters show, his about-face came as a result of conferring with his own Catholic faith and as a reaction to further horrific violence by whites toward peaceful civil rights demonstrators in the South. In light of today’s increasingly vulgar and vacuous political climate, Bill Buckley should be remembered for the grace he showed those with whom he disagreed—see for yourself and watch an episode of Firing Line on YouTube. In his central role in leading the modern American conservative movement, he worked to exclude far-right organizations like the John Birch Society from the mainstream G.O.P., and shut out isolationism and anti-Semitism where he could. Like his politics or not, the style with which he promulgated his message is worthy of praise. America today sorely lacks his brand of highbrow, substantive discourse across ideological differences, underscored by this decade’s hike in political violence. George Thornton '26

“Imagine” your own Middlesex experience, rather than someone else’s. image from: Linda Wang '27 Sitting in the pews for Middlesex’s opening chapel, My friends and I listened attentively to Mr. Bigelow’s rendition of “Imagine” by John Lennon, and begrudgingly understood that this word will define our year in every possible way; however, I wasn’t so sure if this was the word I  would choose to define my own year.  I could imagine Mrs. Speers coming up at announcements and telling us to imagine how amazing it would be if we all went on circle walks, or Ms. Swain telling us to imagine a circle without trash, or my advisor telling me to imagine how good it would feel if I finally got an A in math for a semester. And while I think these interpretations are generally important for the  Middlesex community, I’d like to offer some interpretations of my own.  As Middlesex kicks off orientation, try-outs, and other first week activities, I’m reminded of how it felt to be a freshman at Middlesex. Overwhelmed, scared, and confused about what a “psyche” was, I was personally imagining a way to get through the year as quickly as possible before I would just transfer back to my old school in New York. But giving Middlesex a chance, it became easier and easier to imagine this school as a place I could not only survive in but thrive in.  In every chapel, the same message got across: Try Everything. And I tried a lot. I tried out for the play and musical, and was rejected. I tried out for Varsity Basketball and was demoted to Thirds. But even in spite of these brutal rejections, it became easier for me to imagine what Middlesex actually was for me, and one thing it wasn’t was a place to be known as a star basketball player.  If freshmen can take any piece of advice from our school’s new mantra, I would tell them to stop imagining their peers’ Middlesex experience, and instead imagine your own Middlesex experience—pursuing what makes you happy, not taking yourself too seriously, and not getting caught up in the rigidity of friend groups.  By Sophomore year—now that I was no longer at the bottom of the MX food chain—I began imagining the year ahead. I could shake off the rejections from last year, try again and succeed. Be even better and even happier than I was at the end of freshman year. This time around, it didn’t feel so much as a rejection than a slight redirection. I tried out for Small Chorus and made SWAG; I tried out for the Main Stage Play and got into the Studio Play; I was cut from JV volleyball, but at least I was captain of Thirds!  I had needed a perspective change. I had to accept that rejection was actually infused into Middlesex. There are always going to people who tell you that you’re not ready for a part in the play, or a spot on the Varsity roster. My imagination—by measuring myself by the achievements of others—drew a picture of me that wasn’t realistic to who I was, and so I focused my energy into other activities, like Harvard Model Congress, The Anvil , friendships, English and History classes. I learned that if you put your energy into things you love, they will love you back—you just need to water the right seeds. Kat Stephens '27

The unseen impacts of the production that has shaped the Middlesex community over the years image by: Adam Richins Marking its 6th show this fall, the annual REP performance has always been a deeply valued and respected bedrock of the Middlesex community, shaping community values and fostering a sense of belonging. As a mandatory component of the new student orientation week, REP introduces incoming students to kindness and inclusivity. Originally known as the Racial Equity Project, REP was an artistic concept created by Tom Kane, former Dean of DEI, Erika Prahl, and the Sojourn Theatre company. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020 and the media presence of Black at Middlesex — an online collection of anecdotes revealing the Black experience at the institution — REP became an agent towards institutional change by using the power of the arts to arouse empathy, connection, and humanity in the community.  Today, REP is an abbreviation of REPresent , reflecting its extension to the greater inclusion of all identities and backgrounds since the Black Lives Matter movement. Performed at the commencement of the school year, REP acts as a proactive intervention. Indeed, in many ways, the impacts of REP are intangible. “You never know what instances of harm REP prevented,” explains Ms. Karlyn McNall. To the current cast, the production of REP has been an empowering and fulfilling experience. Being a student-written and performed show, it was the “amalgam of sincerity and originality coming from the cast” that made the project remarkably special, explains Stella Pham ‘28. Through rounds of drafting, discussions, and selections of scenes, the script is intentional and purposeful to create a realistic, resonating, and relevant show.  As performer Avery Green ‘26 affirms, “I think the most special thing about REP is just the fact that it happens.” As a faculty advisor and producer of REP, Mr. Sport explains that “students write the scenes with Middlesex in mind, and so the show is authentic to this institution.” Indeed, the scenes mirror the incidents of harm at Middlesex, a quality that makes the show invaluable for both the new students and the seniors watching the show.  A prominent example is the gender divide on campus. New students are encouraged to mingle with each other without gender segregation. The seniors are asked to lead by example and disrupt the divides in the community. Regardless of class, whether it is walking into the chapel, the dining hall, or the classrooms, each audience member of REP will walk away constantly noticing and contemplating the gender divide. This consciousness, with the courage to take action, is one of the many impacts of REPresent.  In addition to setting the community’s standards and values to new students, REP creates an immediate sense of belonging for students of color and of minority backgrounds. In many ways, REP almost serves as a source of comfort for new students who may come into a community not knowing how to fit in. “It’s heartening to know that [Middlesex] is a place where people work hard to make sure each student is included and cherished,” says Avery. With its proactive, preventative approach, REPresent wields a profound influence on campus culture by presenting the most harmful and pressing problems in the community to both new members and senior leaders of Middlesex. This deliberate configuration forces the community to confront the inequities and exclusions on campus, and cultivates a shared awareness that, when united with courage, makes real and genuine change in the Middlesex community.  Avery hopes that REP “never goes away from Middlesex.” Mr. Sport too muses on a lasting thought: “What are other ways we can make an impact? Better said, how can we keep REP going throughout the year?” After all, it is the commitment of the people of Middlesex that makes REP possible. How can that commitment and momentum continue into the school year? Sixing Wang ‘26

The long awaited month is finally near image from: google images OCTOBER! October as a season brings joy to many. Maybe you like pumpkin spice lattes? Maybe you like Halloween? Maybe you just enjoy the fall atmosphere? However, October is really known for being the month of playoff baseball.  All of the 5 previous months of hard work, losses, and wins leads to this one month of win or go home baseball. In order to make the postseason a team has to either win their division (3 teams in each conference) or a team has to be in the top 3 teams of the teams that do not win their division. If the season were to end today the American conference playoffs would consist of the Toronto Blue Jays (82-61), the Detroit Tigers (82-62), and the Houston Astros (78-66). All of these teams are in first place in their respective divisions. The teams that would be in the AL wild card are the New York Yankees (80-63), the Boston Red Sox (79-65), and the Seattle Mariners (75-68).  Other teams are also in the hunt for the wild card such as the Texas Rangers (74-70), and the Kansas City Royals (73-70). I would not be surprised if either of these teams sneak their way into the wild card as the regular season comes to a close. In the National conference, the playoff teams would be the Milwaukee Brewers (89-55), the Philadelphia Phillies (83-60), and the Los Angeles Dodgers (79-64). In the wild card would be the Chicago Cubs (81-62), the San Diego Padres (78-65), and the New York Mets (76-67). Other teams in the hunt for a wild card spot include the Cincinnati Reds (72-71), and the San Francisco Giants (72-71).  My predictions for this playoff is that the Milwaukee Brewers and the Phillies will battle it out in the National League Championship Series and the Toronto Blue Jays and the Detroit Tigers will duel in the American League Championship Series. I believe that we will see a very entertaining World Series this year containing the Toronto Blue Jays and the Milwaukee Brewers. These two teams are full of superstars and veterans who will lead their prospective teams.  A lot rides on these playoffs for teams such as the Red Sox who are looking to re-sign superstar Alex Bregman. With an early exit in the playoffs for the Red Sox could mean a dismissal for Alex Bregman. Even though this Red Sox team has a lot to lose with an early exit in the playoffs, I also believe that they could make a deep run depending on the overall health of the team. In recent weeks the Red Sox have been dealing with injuries to their two young stars in Marcelo Mayer (wrist) and Roman Anthony (oblique). The Red Sox, even if they do not make a deep run, have a bright future ahead with a great farm system and a couple young guys on the team.  Another team with a lot to lose with an early exit in the playoff is the Philadelphia Phillies who have lots of players looking to enter free agency this offseason. Some notable players are Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto. These two guys are vital pieces to the Phillies team and more importantly their offense. This Playoff is shaping up to be one of vast excitement and awesome moments, and even though there is a lot to lose for some teams, there is also a lot to gain. Oliver Gates ‘27

image by: Hans Yu '28 After a well earned summer break, Middlesex is back in session with fall sports coming out swinging. The girls’ varsity soccer team in particular is looking to clinch a successful season this year after a difficult transition season last year. Last season, the team familiarized themselves with the new coaches, Coach Katie Andjus and Assistant Coach Brian Powers, and are now seeking to become a dominating presence in the ISL. MXGVS has also acquired three additional coaches, including Assistant Coach Ally, former captain of the women’s soccer team at Colgate, and Goalkeeper Coach Jessie. MXGVS captains all express their excitement about this upcoming season and their hope to qualify for the tournament this year, highlighting the exceptional team comradery, chemistry, and communication they’ve seen already in the first week of the season. Herd leader and MXGVS captain Stella Mourtzimos acknowledges that a big aspect of improving the team this year is increasing the positive communication among teammates, as it “will lead to more scoring opportunities and better possession.” Coming off a difficult injury the past season, school co-president and captain Avery Green is especially excited to return to the field. She expresses her eagerness for the small team of 18, as it will be a “very supportive, tight-knit group.” Additionally, Captain Phoebe Seidman is excited to “watch the team grow both on and off the field” in her fourth and final year playing on Chapel Field. This year MXGVS welcomed four new freshmen recruits to the team: Lila Czerepak, Bridget O’Connor, Mulungi Kalisa, and Bella Gordon. Lila has played soccer since she was three years old, playing for Winchester town soccer for nine years, FC Stars for seven years, and is currently playing for FC Stars ECNL White 2011. Bridget currently plays for the FC Stars 2010 Blue ECNL RL team and was a critical player on the Bedford High School team as a freshman last year. She was also recently recognized for the U15 ECNL RL 2024–2025 All-Regional League. Mulungi, younger sister of Herd leader and MXBVS captain Baze Kalisa, played on the Concord Carlisle town team for six years, NEFC for two years, and continues to play for the Boston Bolts for her fourth year. Last but not least, Bella played soccer for four years at New York Soccer Club before becoming a goalkeeper and moving to Massachusetts to play on SFC Elite. All four of these talented freshmen look forward to game days, team psychs, and traditions, and each will play a significant role in the success of MXGVS this season. The biggest game of the year will be on Friday, September 26th against Milton Academy at 6pm. This will be MXGVS’s annual Under the Lights game as well as their Kicks for Cancer game. With their last year’s Under the Lights game being canceled due to Triple E, MXGVS is more than excited to play under the glaring lights at night backed by the support and passion of the Herd this year. MXGVS’s season begins in the first game, at home on Chapel Field, against Dexter on September 10th. With new coaching staff, eager captains, excited returners, and fresh new talent, MXGVS seems on their way to a successful season this fall. Michelle Cai ‘27

Is Arch Manning a Fraud?  Is Arch Manning nothing without the Manning name? Many people wondered before the season started whether Arch Manning was worth all the hype. He barely played last year, taking only a couple of snaps. However, he still had the weight of the world on his shoulders, being a Heisman forerunner and a Manning. He had his chance to prove his own value in the biggest matchup of the year on opening Saturday against Ohio State, and he did anything but that. He was horrible.  In his opening matchup against the National champs, he threw for 17-30 for 170 with a touchdown and a pick. Nevertheless, the numbers don’t just tell the story; he was throwing errant passes and missing his receivers by a wide margin. He spent too much time in the pocket and kept getting hit. He looked like a man with no confidence in his ability and played as such. He looked like a shell of his former self following his ULM debut. After such a disappointing performance under the brightest lights, his NIL evaluation tanked by nearly half a million, and his Heisman odds also tanked. Heading into week two, Texas fans were dreading having to watch Arch; however, Arching bounced back with 295 yards and four touchdowns, while running in a fifth. This Arch looked like a completely different person; he was confident and slinging the ball downfield, bullying the San Jose State defense. He looked a lot more like Manning. He threw an 83-yard touchdown on third down to get momentum going for Texas. After that, it was non-stop offense as he controlled the game. However, it was a sloppy game for Texas with 115 penalty yards and one pick for Arch in the red zone. Texas definitely needs to improve if they want to compete with teams like Ohio State and Penn State, but this was definitely a step in the right direction for Texas and Arch Manning. Hopefully, this performance gave him his confidence back. Nevertheless, it was still a sloppy game, especially considering they played San Jose State. While a solid team, they cannot hold a candle to Ohio State. This performance makes one wonder if Arch is only able to play well against mediocre teams, but when true talent and greatness come on the opposing side of the gridiron, is he able to rise, challenge, and ball out? He is still young and not as experienced, having to sit behind Quinn Ewer for most of last year, but Arch is exceptionally talented and hardworking, and he will figure it out. Texas has a star in Arch, they need to give him some time under his feet so that he can reach his full potential and bring Texas a National Championship this year. Arch will only make the Manning name more famous and stacked with football legends. Timmy Hale ‘27

The lack of clarity surrounding inmate conditions suggests the worst. The Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo , or CECOT, has been at the center of discussion in El Salvador since 2022, but has recently come to light in America following the administration’s increased deportation efforts. CECOT was created as part of President Nayib Bukele’s widespread crackdown on gang violence, and as of last year contains an estimated population of 15,000 to 40,000 inmates. Officials and data analysts have praised the confinement center’s efficacy, but after the Trump administration sent roughly 200 alleged Venezuelan and Salvadoran criminals to CECOT, the prison drew increased attention, falling under scrutiny by foreign and domestic press for its cruel conditions. In 2020, El Salvador was rifewith gang violence. Roughly 60,000 gang members and 400,000 affiliates were operating within the country, and the country had one of the highest homicide rates in the country at 103 homicides per 100,000 people. Thus, Bukele devised a plan to cut down on crime rates, dubbing it the Territorial Control Plan. At the head of this plan was CECOT. To some surprise, this aggressive strategy seemed to work. El Salvador’s homicide rate decreased by a whopping 63% in just a year, marking a turning point in overall safety. The International Crisis Group, however, refuted claims by Bukele that the decrease was a result of the Territorial Control Plan, instead citing communications between gangs and the government. This counter-claim was further backed by the U.S. Treasury Department’s similar claims of government negotiation. Bukele’s crackdown did something , despite specifics of government intervention being unknown. Much of the speculation behind CECOT’s operation stems from El Salvador’s general lack of transparency around the prison. For one, it seems that nobody truly knows how many inmates are being housed. In April of this year, prison director Belarmino García was asked for a specific number of inmates. He declined to give a direct answer, stating that the 2024 count of roughly 14,000 was outdated, and that the current number neared capacity at 40,000. This opaque answer, coupled with relatively unknown criteria for admittance and sentences ranging from centuries to pending convictions, results in the unclear image of CECOT that we have today. What we do know about CECOT is how the inmates are treated. As a standard, prisoners are held in their cells at all times except for 30 minutes of exercise, online court hearings, Bible study, or solitary confinement. Furthermore, the government has stated intention to not release any prisoner from CECOT and barred inmates from any rehabilitation programs. Inside their cells, inmates undergo an experience that wholly violates the Red Cross’ international standard of detention; inmates are provided 0.6 meters of space on average, nearly 3 meters less than the recommended minimum. When BBC asked García himself, he claimed that “where you can fit 10 [prisoners], you can fit 20 [prisoners in CECOT].” On an individual level, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, now known for being wrongfully deported by the U.S. to CECOT, attested to the abhorrent treatment he faced. He claims that he and others were met with beatings, inadequate food, and even psychological torture. Abrego Garcia describes one instance where he and 20 other inmates were made to kneel from 9 P.M. to 6 A.M. Despite CECOT’s apparent efficiency in halting gang violence in El Salvador, both personal statements and major investigations find corruption and malpractice, often going as for as torture. The fact of the matter is that Nayib Bukele is fighting the fire of gang violence by drowning his country in human rights abuses. As you read this article, up to 40,000 real people are packed like sardines into a concrete box with no possibility of rehabilitation or release. Even if claims that the Territorial Control Plan is the catalyst for El Salvador’s decreased crime rate are true, they neglect the lives of inmates.  Vincent Petti ‘27

A quintessential Middlesex tradition has lost its flair. Here’s how to redress the flagging institution. image by: Anika Ata '26 Contrary to what some of our fine zebras dressed in American flag overalls and the playing of Cotton Eye Joe might make you think, the square dance is not some exotic southwestern ritual. Rather, it is a much more universally American activity, with structural roots in 17th century English folk dances and the early 19th century French quadrille. The distinctive “caller” came to be when enslaved African Americans made to fiddle for dances began to call out moves to the participants. In the 1920s, Henry Ford would help popularize the dance when he hired hundreds of dancing instructors to teach folk dancing—as part of an effort to push back against the jazz that “invade[s] decent homes and set the young people of this generation imitating the drivel of morons…Jazz is a Jewish creation” (a different story). LGBTQ square dancing started in 1977. As of now, 31 states, including Massachusetts, have designated the square dance as their state folk dance.  At Middlesex, square dance is none of the above. For non-seniors, it has been naught but an opportunity to dress up in the mind’s conception of “Southern”, desperately attempt to hear the caller in a cramped gym while pretending to have fun, and eventually dissolve into the obligatory rave. Seniors might remember that night three years ago in the BAP courtyard, when we formed coherent groups, do-si-do’d around our new friends, and ran through lines with purpose.  At the end the caller tried to pull everyone with hands linked into a giant formation but ultimately failed. It was slightly chaotic and not exactly what one would consider a square dance, as there are traditionally only four couples in a group, but it was special enough to get a glimpse into the common saying that “square dancing is friendship set to music.” These days the thrill is gone. I have not done a single do-si-do in three years. How did it get so bad?  image by: Lucy Wang The main problem is that the square dance has been stuck in the gym, a cramped place with poor acoustics. Of course the weather is out of our control, but adapting to the gym environment is nonetheless an effort that has fallen short year after year. Part of this failure is in the sound system. While sound can travel over the heads of people and reach the ears of many in an outdoor setting, sound in an enclosed space like the cage will bounce strangely off the ceiling and walls and become muddled in the mass of bodies. In addition to the two speakers placed at the front of the room, two more speakers at the back would have made the calls more audible to the entire group. Perhaps those could have been set up instead of the decorative piles of hay bales.  Even if placing down more speakers is impossible, more could have been done to instruct students on how to dance. If an article describing the basic moves, the structure of the dance, and how to respond to calls were attached to the notice email, responsible students (seniors) could have acted as group leaders, interpreting the difficult-to-hear calls. I, as a senior, did not have any information and was just as confused as everyone else, however helpful I wished to be. In the future, Stactivities could communicate with the square dance facilitators and create such a document, and also include that content in their assembly announcement. Finally, consider rescheduling, but given the turgidity of our calendar and the booking system with the square dance event folk, this option is likely impossible. When I had the good fortune to encounter Ms. Speers leaving this year’s square dance early, she suggested that we consider rethinking square dance as a whole, while retaining all that the event stands for. As the last three years have proven, square dance at Middlesex is much like the grand old America it represents: it falls short again and again and again, but we can dream it to be better and learn to love it.  Terri Qi ‘26

How to get back on the ‘MX Grind’ after a long summer After a summer of fun, Middlesex students, both new and returning, are shoved right back into their tight schedules packed with classes, sports, and homework. With all the activities MX offers, as well as the copious amounts of work assigned, how can you keep up with the rigorous course load while still having fun with friends? First of all, staying organized is one of the most important factors in keeping up with your classes. At the beginning of the year, students received an academic planner with the already up-to-date special schedules included in it. By using this planner, it’s  easy to keep track of your classes, homework, and upcoming tests. Additionally, many teachers only mention homework in class, so it’s essential to write it down to remember to do it. However, if you think that the planner is too much work to carry around, using your Notes App is another good option. I personally don’t use my planner, but rather my Notes App to keep track of all my homework and upcoming assignments. Another alternative is online planners or agendas. I strongly recommend taking some time each day to update your planner and decide how you are going to tackle your assignments to save time later. Free blocks are a great way to get some work done during the day to lessen the amount of homework left for you at the end of the night. The two places I find best to work in during the day are the RCC and the library. Additionally, during the fall and spring, studying outside in the BAP courtyard with friends is a nice change of scenery. My friends and I also enjoy going off campus to study such as Café Nero, Dunkin’, or Starbucks. Studying together in study groups before tests is also super helpful, and you can bounce ideas off each other. I find that the awkward blocks of time in between classes and athletics or athletics and dinner are often wasted. However, during that time, students could study Words words or their language vocabulary. It’s important to make sure you use study hours well and actually get studying done to avoid all-nighters. Supervised study hall is available for underclassmen, and you can go there if you feel that you can’t get much work done in your room. If you still struggle with staying on top of your work, your advisor is also a great resource.  They can help you set up a schedule for you to get your work done on time. The first weeks of school are overwhelming. Coming back from summer, we’re still figuring out how to put our brains into learning mode, and dust off the summer mindset. But ultimately, if you stay organized and on top of your work, you’ll be okay! Allison Luo ‘27

What the Tiktok ban told us about our Generation Tiktok, the popular social media platform used by over 1 billion people, including 170 million Americans, skyrocketed in fame in 2020 and since has remained a critical piece of youth culture.  Trends, pop culture, digital friendships, and influencers have all contributed to teen investment in the app, as it has become part of daily life for over 60% of teenagers, according to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey. However, its wild success has not been unaccompanied with controversy. Wariness around the ownership, specifically, has been circulating ever since the launch. For context, Tiktok is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese private company. Due to the high degree of sensitive user content entrusted in the app (such as location, personal identities, and contact information), the US government has had long standing concerns over the safety of such information in ByteDance’s hands. Specifically, the US feared the company may sell the information to the Chinese government, which could endanger US citizens' safety, as well as manipulate the information supplied by the app. Hoping to force Tiktok into new, American ownership, the US instituted a federal ban on the app in January of 2025. Although the ban was extremely short lived, lasting only 14 hours total, the fallout was both shocking and enlightening. Knowledge of the forthcoming ban was circulating well before it went into effect, so much of the backlash occurred in anticipation, rather than after the fact of the ban. Teens were outraged, panicked, and devastated at the news of their impending loss (this is a dramatic description, but not inaccurate). In fact, there was a sizable mass release of “drafts” - unreleased/private TikTok videos - where users posted their drafts in an effort to squeeze whatever life they could out of the app in its final moments.  However, the most interesting effect of the fourteen-hour ban on TikTok was the digital migration towards other Chinese-owned apps, specifically Rednote.  Rednote is an app that, much like Tiktok, displays short videos on a feed, enabling users to connect with one another and engage with customizable content.  This shift was a deliberate act of resistance against the government, as well as an embodiment of the simple fact that teenagers are either unaware or simply irreverent towards cyber safety. Teenagers find community and entertainment online at the cost of their safety. This tradeoff has become extremely normalized in Gen-Z, as so much of social life and pop culture is found online. Lacking social media can often stimulate feelings of exclusion and FOMO, so in order to feel connected, having some form of social media often feels necessary. Yet by putting oneself online, one risks cyber safety. However, as the TikTok ban so dramatically demonstrated, the connection teenagers find online may make it worth the risk. Bea Gerau ‘26