Search Results

As the working class abandons the Democratic Party, could populism—on both the left and right—be the future of American politics? “It should come to no surprise that the Democratic Party that has abandoned working class people would find that the working class has abandoned them.” This quote from Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was in direct response to the 2024 election, where former President, and convicted felon, Donald Trump swept the map, winning all seven swing states. Later in his statement, Sanders claimed Democrats not only lost support from white working class voters, but also working class Black and Latino voters across the nation, signaling a massive political realignment. The previously Pro-labor, Pro-union Democrats have become a party primarily supported by coastal elites, with pronouns and democracy holding precedent over stable wages and affordable healthcare. Of course cultural issues matter, but should they matter more than a person’s ability to afford a house ?   Unsurprisingly, at the ballot box, in a nation where 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, voters opted for the outsider, a man who promises the impossible revitalization of the coal and steel industry and an “America First” policy, over a party that simply, though rightfully, hates on Mr. Trump, with few massive economic policies of their own. Sure, the Child Tax Credit expansion is a good policy, but what about universal healthcare, what about a 15 dollar minimum wage nationwide ?   In a time of such incredible wealth disparity throughout our nation, the Harris campaign emphasized a small potato economic reform, when what Americans truly need is a complete realignment of our economic practices, where corporations get punished for wrongdoings, and millionaires and billionaires aren’t the vast majority of your donors in a presidential campaign. Americans need a party that prioritizes fair wages, workers rights, and the ability for people to pursue the American Dream. Neoliberalism is not the answer, Populism is .  However, many Middlesex students may question if seemingly extremist populism would really win elections. To that, I would rebut with this: across the world, people that oppose the political status quo have had incredible successes over establishment parties as of recent years. Reform UK, a new, far right protectionist party in the UK headed by Brexit mastermind Nigel Farage, won 13 seats in the House of Commons and is soaring in national polls after the election. Marine Le Pen’s National Rally nearly won France’s election. But, so too can populist movements on the left have major victories across the world. Sryiza has an overwhelming majority in the Greek government, and Ireland’s Sinn Féin nearly won their December 1st election, surging in national vote share. And in the US, in 2016, Bernie Sanders nearly won the Democratic nomination despite the DNC attempting to sabotage his campaign, with the Senator winning major vote totals in rural areas Democrats were crushed in the general election, with some of Sanders’ voters even electing to support the outsider Donald Trump. Similarly, in 2024, many AOC supporters said they voted for Trump, to the shock of Ocasio-Cortez, because they believe he said it like it is, not acting like an establishment politician. So, in order for the Democrats to win in future elections, they need to reject the electorally failing Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Nancy Pelosi party that only won in 2020 because of how horrendous the pandemic was, opting to instead embrace incredibly popular and truly “America First” ideas like a 15 dollar minimum wage and paid family leave, headed by Senator Sanders.  So, where does the Democratic Party go from here? Who will they nominate in 2028? Honestly, the DNC will likely ignore these universally enjoyed ideas and nominate another corporate Dem like Josh Shapiro or Gavin Newsom because their donors will threaten to pull money if they support more ‘extreme’ candidates. The party will then proceed to lose in a similar or even worse fashion to 2024 with the nomination of populist JD Vance. However, if they want to win and stop lining their pockets with money that does nothing, they should nominate a Democratic-Socialist who caters less to special interests and more to the economic fears of the American people, a people who have become victims of massive income inequality. Unfortunately, Senator Sanders is too old, so the answer might be AOC, a woman who cares deeply about liberal ideas like FDR’s New Deal over Clinton’s Neo-Liberal NAFTA deal, evidenced by her proposal of some of the most progressive policy via the Green New Deal, an environmentally friendly version of FDR’s extremely successful legislation which built up the middle class of America, truly Making America Great Again. Will Cohen

As Donald Trump returns to the White House, is his re-election a step toward national progress—or a repeat of past controversies? Donald Trump’s re-election has aroused a lot of mixed feelings across the nation, with many ecstatic and many anxious about what is to come in the next 4 years. Many people, especially those in Democrat-dominated states such as Massachusetts, think that the re-election is a sign of bad things to come; however, I think it’s worth considering the other side. Trump isn’t perfect and holds many radical views, but his second term may help the US in ways that aren't talked about enough.  First and foremost, Trump is coming into his second term with experience. Trump’s first term was messy, filled with scandals and constant drama. But even amid all the chaos, he accomplished things that had a real effect on the country. For example, his policies of cutting corporate taxes and reducing regulations helped create millions of jobs and brought unemployment to a record low until March 2020 when the coronavirus hit. These policies benefited small businesses and gave companies the confidence to invest. Now that Trump has already gone through four years as president, he knows what works and what doesn’t. He’s had a chance to reflect on the challenges he faced, like struggling to keep his administration stable or dealing with backlash. This term, he could avoid making the same mistakes that caused his last term and instead focus on improving what he has already started. Like what Zach Beauchamp, an author of articles on reactionary politics, states, “Donald Trump is much more organized. He knows what he is doing, has a series of distinct policy objectives that he’s reiterated again and again”, and that, “[His next term] will be, in a lot of ways, fundamentally different than what we all lived through four years ago.” In addition, Trump’s approach to international issues may help with ensuring peace and stability. While his first term was defined by a “America First” policy, which aims for non-interventionism, his recent call for a ceasefire in Gaza for peaceful negotiations related to hostages shows a shift towards prioritizing peaceful resolutions. Trump has made it clear that he is demanding de-escalation of violence, and many are looking for him to achieve it, with Trump’s press secretary asserting, "President Trump will serve as America's Negotiator-in-Chief and work to get innocent civilians held hostage home." Trump’s focus on Gaza could strengthen America’s role on the world stage, showing that the US is willing to take action to promote peace rather than divisions. Even though many criticize Trump for his direct assertions, such as when he states that Gaza has “hell to pay” if the hostages are not released, it may just be what is needed to continue stalling diplomacy.  Finally, it is important to address a widespread misconception that Trump is behind Project 2025. This belief is false. Even though many of the creators of Project 2025 worked in Trump’s administration, Project 2025 is a political playbook created by the Heritage Foundation and dozens of other conservative groups, not Trump himself. Indeed, Trump even stated that disagrees with elements of the effort, stating “...many of the points are fine, many of the points are absolutely ridiculous. I have nothing to do with the document.” Trump’s re-election is more complicated than it might seem. It’s easy to focus solely on the negative aspects, but one should take a closer look at what he could accomplish. Whether we agree or disagree with Trump’s policies, it’s important to take a balanced and objective view of the potential of the future.  Zephyr Liu

Why is the Iliad so special? If someone walked into the LB common room last week, they would think LB was hosting a sophomore gathering at 10pm Tuesday night. In a sense, it was. We were fortunate enough that Dr. Jenny was on duty that night, so we all brought our computers and the notorious Iliad  to trudge downstairs for much-needed assistance. I remember seeing the sophomores last year morbidly hauling their copies of the Iliad to the cage, reluctantly walking to take their midterm exam, which tested much of their understanding of the ancient text.  Depicting the epic of the Trojan war by focusing on the heroes Achilles and Hector, the Iliad illustrates the complex and unique individual experiences each character encounters when faced with challenges or dilemmas. The poem revolves around conflict among the gods and between the Achaeans and Trojans, when Paris, the most handsome man on earth, declares Aphrodite the most beautiful goddess after she bribes him with the hand of Helen, the most beautiful mortal woman. However, Helen is married to Menelaus, king of Mycenae and brother of Agamemnon, and the theft of Menelaus’s wife provokes Agamemnon to declare war against the Trojans. Meanwhile, Homer also portrays the power dynamic in Greece with the king of kings, Agamemnon, meeting his match against the greatest Achaean warrior, Achilles, in the ten years war while besieging Troy. Many sophomores explored the motives and complexity of these two characters within scenes depicting their interdependent dynamic. Agamemnon requires Achilles’ superior battle skills in combat while Achilles needs Agamemnon’s armies to accomplish his goal of defeating Troy. The poem depicts all characters as acting for their own self-interests, addressing a crucial, inherent property of human nature and the extent of which all people act for themselves, ultimately making people ponder the motives behind any action. Are all human decisions driven by self-interest? If not, what are they driven by? Is self-interest considered greed? Whether or not sophomores would like to admit it, the Iliad  accurately portrays truths about general human nature, even if centuries old. At first glance, Hector, Achilles, and Agamemnon are simply three characters from a poem that we all cannot wait to get over with, but in reality, a small part of each one of us is reflected in these characters’ actions. Michelle Cai

The Record-Breaking Drought Has Sparked Wildfires Across The Northeast 51,320 . There have been 51,320 fires in the United States this past year, burning 8,142,689 acres of land. Unfortunately, wildfires are a familiar threat for much of the United States, as an average of 60,000 U.S. fires burn every year. With Earth’s temperature rising and droughts becoming even more prevalent, wildfires, not surprisingly, follow suit. In October alone, there were 8,111 new fires in the U.S., the most of any month since the year 2000. Particularly, California remains the state with the highest number, recording a total of 6,378 wildfires and one million acres burned as of the end of September. Similarly, in August, California’s overall wildfire activity increased by 2,816% from just one year before. The number of fires in Texas continue to rise as well. In 2024, Texas experienced two megafires, setting a one million acre record, while killing over 10,000 cattle and damaging 500 structures. For decades, wildfires have been the norm in the Southern and Western parts of the United States; however, now these fires seem to be rapidly spreading ablaze.  Not once did Middlesex students think that stepping out of Eliot Hall in Concord, MA would consist of the smell of smoke and a sort of foreign fog that clouded their vision. The Northeast seemed to be under attack in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Over the fall, Massachusetts has been labeled a Level 3–critical drought condition state, creating concern for potential wildfires to spread. The state received less than an inch of rain over the past months—a 4.5 inch decrease from the average.  Since August of 2024, Massachusetts has similarly experienced an 8-11 inch rainfall deficit, leaving the state in one of the largest droughts in recent memory.  It also left Massachusetts with 14 unexpected red flag drought warnings, a state that experienced zero warnings just two years ago.  With the drought in the Northeast alarmingly progressing, a record number of wildfires also cut through the region. Between October 29 and November 12, New York City firefighters responded to 229 fires, the highest number in history for a two week period. Additionally, the wildfires burned over 6,000 acres in New York, causing the government to step in with disaster relief efforts.  To combat these wildfire surges, the New York Fire Mobilization and Mutual Aid Plan activated 152 departments with over 650 firefighters. Kathy Hochul, the governor of New York, also made efforts in controlling the spread and damage of the fires, awarding $25 million in New York state funding to the volunteer fire services. In addition, NYPD helicopters performed approximately 300 water drops over New York forests and deployed police drones to monitor the spread and damage of the area.  With fires spreading throughout much of the Northeast, they have brought the stark reality of climate change to our attention, opening many’s eyes to its devastating consequence. With fires only miles away and a few towns over from Estabrook Woods and Middlesex School, the possibility for disaster is far too close to home for comfort. It is in these times that we begin to think about whether it is too late, now that the fire burns around us and the smoke fills our lungs. Ryan Wolff

As winter arrives at Middlesex, many people will feel lost and stressed. Check out some cool things you can do to help. As the summer days leave us behind and the gloomy, stress-filled winter era begins at Middlesex, many people may subconsciously find themselves going down a dangerous rabbit hole. With a 3 week span of school, new sports starting up, and exams inching closer and closer, many students will start to feel more and more isolated, choosing to study, sleep, or engage in independent activities outside the Middlesex experience. With that being said, here's a couple of ways that students can entertain themselves if they are feeling down heading into exams.  School spirit during the winter athletic season is unquestionably the highest of the year at Middlesex. With both hockey and basketball being indoors and predicted to be strong contenders in the ISL, the atmosphere in the cage and the rink should be electric. If you're struggling for something to do in the late afternoon, stopping by a sports game is a great idea. Another very underrated winter activity is skating either on the indoor rink or Batemans Pond. The Pratt rink has open ice during the class days and even on Sunday, and once the Bateman Pond freezes, it is a great spot to have some fun with friends. You can even get your skates sharpened just by signing up in the Athletic Center.  Learning a new skill can also relieve stress heading into a stressful period of time. If you have a couple hours to spare and are sick of studying, check out the lower floors of the RCC. Sign out a room and learn a catchy song on the piano so you can flex on your family members during winter break. I have managed to learn over 30 of my favorite songs on my own by doing this. As people hunker down in their rooms or their selected study spots, they often shut out the outside world. One minor thing that everyone on campus can do is to get some sunlight. Numerous studies have shown that exposure to sunlight boosts productivity and mood. Study with your shades open, or find a study space with abundant natural lighting (The Library, RCC, Terry Room). You can also catch some rays by taking walks around campus and the Estabrook Woods. Middlesex is much bigger and much more beautiful than you may have expected. The biggest thing I’ve learned from 3 tedious and exhausting winters here at Middlesex is… don’t be so hard on yourself. Sometimes, when you try to push yourself to the brink, you end up actually hurting yourself. Everybody needs some time to relax, reflect, and recollect themselves. While this winter period may seem like a long, nonstop home stretch before the pure relaxation of winter break, if you put a little effort, there are plenty of ways to make a seemingly grim and ruthless time so much more gratifying.  Danny Cai

How the Middlesex dining experience could improve Every day, most Middlesex students go to the Dining Hall for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and maybe a snack before sports. Unfortunately, unlike day students who can leave campus when they want, if the food that day isn’t up to expectations, the boarders can’t just go home for an alternative option. Instead, they will need to resort to DoorDashing, which can quickly become expensive, or quick microwaveable meals like ramen that are unhealthy. What do the students at Middlesex think about the Dining Hall, and how can the Dining Hall improve? Sophomore Elizabeth Welles thinks that on Sundays, the Dining Hall closes too early, as it is only open for an hour for dinner, making it quite easy to accidentally miss the time slot or get hungry again at night. She hopes that they can extend the dinner time to be a little longer. Although Sunday dinners are shorter, the weekday lunches and dinners are the perfect length. In general, however, she thinks that this year’s food has improved from last year's, and her favorite meal served is chicken parmesan. Kat Stephens, also a sophomore, thinks that the Dining Hall has its “moments of yumminess” but it also needs to diversify its meal options as not everyone eats pork. Sophia Nguyen is an avid advocate of the Flik menu, especially the chicken, calling it “especially delicious.” Katie Tantillo, a junior, thinks that there is a good selection of food but says she wishes that “there are more foods for picky eaters.” Even though pasta is available for every meal, it can be hit or miss, with the noodles being either too overcooked or undercooked. One thing Tantillo always enjoys is the biscuits and she wants them to be served more. A lot of students also enjoy the fries, especially the waffle fries, along with the sugar cookies, and hope to see them more often. Many students have also expressed their happiness with the desserts served this year, such as the oreo balls and the mud cake.  Overall, students do hope to see more variety offered as even the fallback options of making a sandwich, salad or having some pasta can get tiring. Allison Luo

As winter approaches, the de rigueur  clothing for boys has never been so simple. Similar to many other trends and fads, fashion has evolved on campus in the past couple of years. From once abiding by the strict dress code which prohibited students from wearing sweatpants, leggings, athletic wear, shirts with big logos, and spaghetti strapped tops, the student body was fed up and demanded change. First brought up in congress (senate), the movement for free expression and the right to comfort took campus by storm. This heated discussion bred animosity and created division through conversations about professionalism versus comfort. After students corralled support from select teachers, the era of fashion and comfort inched ever closer to the Middlesex campus. Finally the work of the student body had paid off and legislation was passed.  For boys, fashion has never been easier. Most commonly, boys wear sweatpants and a hoodie. The standard is so relaxed amongst teenage boys that some feel no pressure whatsoever: “I just wake up and throw on whatever looks clean on my floor” says Max Linton 25’. Although Max is clearly already into college and his standards have fallen short of the average student, this mindset seems to represent the broader male student body adequately.  On the other hand, the first dilemma that splintered the golden image of free expression for girls was the pressure to fit in. Still very much an issue today, students are provoked by their peers to present themselves in only socially acceptable ways. This pressure has weeded out favorable brands such as Lululemon, Aritzia and Madhappy, which have all found themselves at the top of the teenage-girl-fashion-food-chain. Not only are clothing items critiqued, but footwear as well. Ugg, Adidas and Veja have likewise proven themselves worthy to the student body. The elevation of certain brands—examples of “conspicuous consumption”—has slowly eaten away at a once praised movement for comfort and expression.  Additionally, the social acceptance of seasonal options have become increasingly rigid. The first day of school especially acts as the pinnacle of Middlesex fashion. Many students spend the last few days of their well earned breaks formulating the perfect outfit for their debut. Consequently, the first week of school has been comically deemed Middlesex fashion week. Although jokingly said, the idea that Middlesex fashion week rivals the stress levels of cumulative exams week shows the underlying stress and anxiety that a no-dress-code system ensues.  All this excess stress and anxiety begs the question: Would the Middlesex student body benefit from reinstating the dress code?  Or would it inevitably divide students and teachers in arguments over freedom of speech and expression?  After inquiring with a large portion of the male population on campus, they feel one hundred percent satisfied with the current state of affairs and commonly agree on a no-dress-code system. And although some girls also feel as though they are able to express themselves freely and independently from what their peers think, there is a portion of the student body, who like the average teen, invests lots of energy into conforming to the expected perception of others. Has this new system of dress freed the Middlesex student from the once mandated dress code, or simply trapped them in an even more severe system of bowing to social pressures? Harper Edwards

Our new librarian brings enthusiasm, optimism, and a love of reading to the job. Before Jada Jones joined Middlesex this fall as the new Director of Warburg Library, she was already an experienced librarian. After earning both her degree and master’s in library science at the University of North Carolina, Jones gathered tremendous working experience through serving as the education specialist librarian at a public School in Arizona, where she had trained high school teachers and students to effectively use technology for academic purposes. Jada also worked for numerous U.S Air Force bases through her role as the supervisory librarian, overseeing academic resources and other operations within the army.  Although Jones is an expert in managing libraries, she remarked that “there were definitely adjustments” she had to make after starting her new job, since she realizes how unique Middlesex is compared to previous places she has worked at. Jones was especially struck by Middlesex’s academic rigor and its students’ pursuit of academic excellence.  In response to Middlesex students’ scholarly endeavors, Jones has proposed several ideas that would further benefit the student body through making the library a more comfortable place to study in. Jones aims to rearrange the studying area on the second floor by the book shelves , since she received comments from other students claiming that the set up on the second floor intervenes with them studying productively. In addition, Jones is adamant on making sure all students have access to finding the right resources in the Warburg Library that would set them up for academic success, as she is looking to hold informative sessions that guides students through how to utilize the library's tools to best optimize their studying efficiency in the future.  In the meantime, Jones hopes the Warburg will be viewed as more than a place to “just get your work done.”  Jones wishes to transform the library into a more sociable place for students to hang out with friends and bond with each other. With this objective in mind, Jones plans on remodeling some parts of the library to make it possess a more “modern appeal” that would evoke students’ desires to interact with their friends in the library.  Jones hopes that the Library can become the hub for clubs to meet. She hopes that the increased foot traffic from club meetings will cause students to pick up books from the shelf—it is Ms. Jones’s goal that all students to read for pleasure With her expertise in administrating libraries, Jones will endeavor to successfully promote students’ productivity while bringing more liveliness to the Warburg Library.  Sunny Qian

Students, however, mostly revile the arduous climb up to Middlesex’s Everest. Almost every student dislikes climbing the stairs to Eliot Hall’s notorious third floor. From a handful of student interviews, all reported immense dissatisfaction with the strenuous journey to get to class. Expecting more or less the same answer, The Anvil  investigated whether or not the teachers of the third floor—including Dr. Barber, Ms. Riz, and Hesh—agreed. However, contrary to what I expected, they reported quite a different opinion of the third floor. Surprisingly, they were–for the most part–happy with their treehouse classrooms. Dr. Barber, the Head of the Classics Department, stated that he appreciated the “seclusion of the third floor,”  and that “the views and the natural light are very pleasant.” Upon further reflection, I realized that in any given third-floor classroom, one can look out one of its almost skyscraping windows to grab a glimpse of the wonders of the natural world below. Ms. Hoar, the Head of the History Department known better as Hesh across campus, said that she enjoyed the sense of tranquility and calm across the third floor, as naturally provided by the seclusion of its location. Upon these reflections I did start to notice, and appreciate, the peacefulness of the space.  Especially compared to the first floor and the basement of Eliot, there is much less hustle and bustle on the third floor, as Hesh noted that only students who have classes come up all the way, as opposed to the perpetual stream of traffic for all purposes on the other floors. In particular, Hesh is partial to the outdoor hallway space spanning across the third floor; throughout the day, people come up to the third floor to study there for halcyon quietude.  Many students report being appreciative of this calming aspect. As for the main aspect of their contention—stairs—the teachers, surprisingly, did not seem to mind them as much. Dr. Barber stated that he’s gotten used to the stairs, and mentioned that “it’s proven that taking extra steps during the work day promotes long-term good health.” Ms. Rizzo, a magistra lingua Latinae , provided a particularly apt Latin quotation: Mens sana in corpore sano , a healthy mind in a healthy body. Their insights are corroborated by empirical findings; research done by the European Society of Cardiology reported stair climbing to be associated with a 24% reduced risk of dying from any cause. Apart from these salubrious benefits, there are also sentimental ones as well; Hesh stated that she actually loves  the stairs , as she gets to see the plaques alongside her as she walks up. Even as she commutes to her office every day, she notices new things often, details she has not noticed before. To Hesh, the daily act of climbing up the stairs is also a chance to look at all the history in the walls. As such, the teachers have come to love the third floor. From the vistas to the tranquility and even the stairs, Dr. Barber, Ms. Riz, and Hesh appreciate the many characteristics brought on by the unique location. However, interestingly, they were united with their students on one front: the lack of bathrooms! In amazing unity, they all expressed their desire for a more convenient location for the restrooms rather than having to go down four  flights of stairs and up all the way back, an endeavor which takes an unexpectedly long amount of time. Sadly, for now, that seems nowhere in sight, but at least one can find solace in the 24% reduced risk of dying each time one ascends Eliot Hall.  Morgan Kim

Three clubs on campus comprise the readily accessible service learning opportunities on campus. This year in particular, Middlesex has been striving to include more opportunities for community service and service learning for students. Mr. Harris has taken on a new role as Director of Service Learning in addition to serving as the Director of Student activities. Service learning is a specific approach to the more generic “community service” that seeks to apply the learning that students get in classroom settings to helping effectively in the real world.  Service learning has begun to take hold at Middlesex. In the beginning of the year, seniors participated in “a day of service” as a part of orientation. Groups of seniors traveled to help out at various organizations, such as Cradles to Crayons in Newton.  There are several different clubs on campus that focus on community service and giving back to neighboring communities, such as Helping Hands, Volunteer for Veterans, and Letters for Elders. Some of these clubs, including Helping Hands, prioritize service learning by physically participating in acts of service, whereas Letters for Elders and Volunteer for Veterans focus mainly on spreading encouragement to people in need of cheer by way of letters or other means.  When asked about her experience with service learning, Avery Green, a junior day student, shared that she has participated in community service over her past three years at Middlesex. However, while acknowledging that Middlesex has been putting a larger focus on service learning and community service opportunities this year than her previous years, Avery wishes that there was more community service integrated into her schedule and that students would get the opportunity to form relations with organizations in neighboring towns.  Additionally, another anonymous student offered up that they had participated in service over their years at Middlesex, including writing cards for Volunteer for Veterans and Letters for Elders, as well as volunteering for Cradles to Crayons alongside Helping Hands club. This student agrees with Avery that service opportunities are accessible, suggesting that they would go to a different club and ask about the prospect of volunteering at a specific organization. Additionally, this student referred to different alternatives to sports that revolve around partnering with nearby organizations in service learning as valuable opportunities, such as the Nashoba Brooks internship and volunteering at the Meeting House. This student believes that while Middlesex has vastly increased in its implementation of service learning and community service under the new leadership of Mrs. Spears, one can always give back more to their community. This is all to say that there can never be enough service learning opportunities, and we as a community should strive to seek out these experiences whenever we can. Caroline Barton

With an overall record of 65-12-2 in the last four years and four straight trips to the NEPSAC Class B finals, one might wonder what makes MXGVFH such a powerhouse team? One of the reasons that the team is so successful is because of the culture-fostering traditions that connect the team off of the field. They host “Chapels” late on Friday nights as chances for teammates to connect with each other and, being sworn to secrecy on what occurs behind the chapel doors, bond over shared experiences that only a member of Middlesex’s Girls Varsity Field Hockey team would know about. The players also see these secret gatherings as a point to grow as a team and cultivate connection through tradition and spirit.  Keeping in form with following tradition, at the very beginning of a new member of the Middlesex Girls Varsity Field Hockey team’s career, they are placed on a team: the Angels or the Devils. This team placement stays until the last practice of their MXGVFH career. In practices before every game, the players gather into their life-long teams and compete with and against their teammates, fostering competition and connection between the 17 players on the field. Even after their convincing 2-1 NEPSAC semifinal win against familiar ISL opponent Rivers this past season, the team and coaches stayed after the game and postponed their celebrations to play out one more Angels vs. Devils drill for the sake of tradition (and a bit of superstition).  Similar to the Angels vs. Devils drill, during the practice before every game, the team stands in a circle on the anvil in the middle of their home turf. They gather so closely that their feet touch and hold hands to send around a “pulse” for the sole purpose of connection. One player remarked that “it’s just sort of a way for everybody to come together and just feel everybody’s presence before the game.” With this being a grounding and focusing factor of their pregame practice to prepare for their competition the next day, the team also uses this time to reflect and cultivate their own personal motivations to win.  Beyond the physical commitment to practices, games and traditions, the team is so incredible because of their commitment to each other. Each player on the team is constantly committed to her teammates and their wellbeing on and off the field. Specifically, one player mentioned that their coaches, Katie Herter Bruch and Emma Rasmussen “are the foundation of why we are amazing because they care so much about us…I’ve never had coaches be so interested and care so much about the team.” With fearless and motivating leadership from the coaches and unparalleled commitment from every individual on the team, it is no wonder that the Middlesex Girls Varsity Field Hockey team is unmatched in their commitment, strength, heart, and play.  Thea Salem

The intensity of rivalry weekend in College football. The last week of regular games in college football is truly a unique spectacle. It's filled with numerous rivalries, history, bad blood, and passion flowing through the game, and this year was no different. With an eight-overtime thriller between Georgia and Georgia Tech, the brawls after the Michigan game, and the North Carolina State game, these games simply mean more, leading to the best weekend of college football. In the last weekend of guaranteed games, most schools end their season in a glorious battle against their arch-rival, as we continue the tradition here at Middlesex in our battle against St. George’s. College rivalries are steeped in history and long-standing traditions, like the Yale vs. Harvard game, which has been going on for 140 years and is famously known as The Game.  Some of the rivalry games this weekend include Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, which was a complete nail-biter as Georgia mounted a crazy comeback late in the fourth quarter to overcome a 14-point deficit and then win the game in the eighth overtime, breaking the hearts of Georgia Tech fans. This matchup has been going on for well over a century, filled with pure hate; the Head Coach of Georgia Tech, when asked about Georgia, said, "There is nothing that I hate more in this world." These words not only sum up the intensity of this game but reflect a common trend throughout most of these rivalry games. Another big game was Notre Dame vs. USC in the 95th meeting of these rivals. In an entertaining game, the Fighting Irish overcame the Trojans with two pick-sixes in the red zone late in the fourth quarter to put the game away and secure a victory for Notre Dame Coach Marcus Freeman, who has led Notre Dame back to the college football playoffs this year. Additionally, Texas vs. Texas A&M, a contentious in-state matchup, was played again for the first time in 13 years, reignited a rivalry that dated back to 1890, filled with passion as 109,028 fans piled into the Kyle Field, home of the “twelfth man,” cheering on their team with deafening noise, as the Longhorns completed stifled the Aggie's offense in a 17 to 7 win. Furthermore, Alabama played in one of the greatest rivalries in college football, the Iron Bowl, vs. Auburn. The Iron Bowl is the bitter instate game between these two historically strong teams, dating back to 1893. It has been historically one of the most captivating and hard-fought games, with truly iconic moments like the 2013 "kick-six" and many more. This year, Alabama surged to a commanding win over Auburn, establishing a five-year win streak. Likewise, there are other historic matchups, like Ohio State vs Michigan, which was the largest upset of the weekend, with Michigan being a 20-point underdog in this blue-blood and classic rivalry. In the final seconds of a close and entertaining game, Michigan nailed a field goal for a 13 to 10 win. But after the game, Michigan attempted to plant its flag in the middle of the Ohio State logo, which caused a brawl to erupt between players, with police using pepper spray to end the fight. This game is one of the greatest rivalries in sports because of the immense pride each team places on this game, the utter hatred each team has, and the intensity of play all contribute to The Game and the fight that broke out after this game.  These fights about planting a flag broke out all across the country, with another significant brawl as North Carolina state planted their flag in the UNC's logo; the same happened when Florida beat Florida State, and after Arizona State's win over Arizona, they planted a trident in ASU's logo, and tensions grew extremely high, but luckily no fight broke out. This situation with the flags is unacceptable and dangerous for the players; the NCAA needs to create harsh penalties to end this disrespectful behavior and mainly stop the fights that ensue because of this form of taunting. After the Michigan-Ohio State game, the star running back for Michigan sums up the situation very well: "For such a great game, you hate to see stuff like that after the game. Bad for the sport. Bad for college football." Timmy Hale