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A profile of next year’s leaders of student government. Following a competitive school election last Friday, Gaby Alonso and Kwame Addison emerged as our new senior school presidents, succeeding Ty Fein and Therese Ejiofor, our current school presidents.  Many boarding schools have on-campus jobs, and Gaby doesn’t want Middlesex to miss out on those opportunities. Thus, Gaby Alonso wants to “give students exposure to the real world” by offering student jobs to help adults in the equipment room, grill, or mailroom . After talking to Ms. Swain, Gaby has realized that although these jobs probably won’t be paid jobs, they will still count as community service hours and be a great way to help around the school and familiarize oneself with more people on campus. To expand diversity and welcome more variety in food, Gaby proposes the idea of adding to the Flik menu and wants to foster the diverse backgrounds of Middlesex students. She states that she wants to see Flik increase their attempts to “cook traditional dishes during months in which affinity groups are celebrated, such as Black History Month or Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.” She plans on sending a Google Form to collect additional suggestions. In this way, Gaby will ensure “that our community is being seen [that is, through food].”  This approach ensures that every student’s culture and heritage is acknowledged.  Gaby also wants to add “a little to the fun side” of Middlesex. Thinking of ways to improve Middlesex’s beloved grill, Gaby hopes to add churros and pretzels to the menu. She has also been advocating for an outdoor basketball court. If enough students are interested, she hopes to make all these visions possible by talking to more of the relevant faculty about these issues. Co-president Kwame Addison is keen on addressing long-standing issues, such as the recurrent issue of the dining hall overcrowding at the peak of lunch  and the inconvenience caused by malfunctioning facilities, such as in dorms or academic buildings. Kwame believes that because students need to go through so many “hoops and boundaries to have their voices heard,” these problems are often reduced in importance or just neglected. To streamline this student feedback process, Kwame hopes to send response forms to receive all the concerns of Middlesex students. While the Middlesex community is already close-knit, Kwame is eager to strengthen our bonds as a school in general. Kwame envisions achieving an improved campus life through activities like “occasional pranks or surprise food on campus.”  Additionally, the presence of food trucks on some days could foster friendship and connections. Another of Kwame’s ideas is to have days during which each class hosts its own event, fostering a sense of community within classes. From Gaby’s idea of on-campus jobs to Kwame’s plans to bring the community closer, Middlesex students can rest assured that they will be in good hands and that their voices will matter. Allison Luo

Exploring the significance of Holi at Middlesex under the layers of colors. Illustration by David Yang A burst of vibrant color swirls through the air as the sound of laughter and rhythmic music reverberates under the bright April sun. This wasn't just any ordinary Sunday at Middlesex: it was the spirited celebration of Holi–the festival of colors–uniting students in a riot of joy and cultural exchange. Holi, originally known as “Holika,” is an ancient Hindu festival that originated from and is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent. Its origins are deeply embedded in the Hindu religion, enriched by various mythological legends like the stories of Holika and Prahlad. During this festival, it is said that the gods turn a blind eye to mortals, giving a rare opportunity for devout Hindus to open up, put their cultural restrictions aside, and party. Celebrators of the Holi Festival throw powdered dye known as “Gulal” onto each other, a precious moment that transcends gender norms and disparities between social status. However, beneath the hues and frolic lies a deeper question: why should we care about celebrating Asian cultures, and what impact does it have on our quest for a more inclusive society? Having been a part of the Middlesex community for almost a year now, I've observed a palpable sense of division among students of various racial backgrounds. Many gravitate towards those who share their ethnicity, forming distinct social circles that seldom intersect. Fear of stepping outside our comfort zones and engaging with the unknown keeps us within these boundaries. However, as I strolled through the lively crowd, feeling the playful splashes of Holi color on my back, arms, and face, a rejuvenating sense of carefree joy enveloped me. In that fleeting moment, I sensed a powerful connection—a profound bond of love and closeness—with those around me. One of the most beautiful aspects of Holi and numerous Asian festivals lies in its ability to unify people, to celebrate unity in diversity. They cultivate respect for diversity and encourage us to value the unique contributions that individuals from Asian backgrounds bring to our Middlesex society. In a world that often struggles with division and intolerance, embracing different cultures is a powerful gesture of unity and solidarity. As people joyously splash colors, the distinctions that usually separate us dissolve under the layers of bright powder. Indeed, this communal celebration serves as a potent reminder that at our core, we are interconnected, and that harmony and collective spirit can prevail over differences and separation. The impact of celebrating Asian cultures goes beyond mere festivity: it fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation for diversity. By participating in events like Holi, students broaden their horizons and develop empathy towards different cultural practices and perspectives. As the celebration draws to a close, students exchange hugs, their faces a kaleidoscope of colors. The circle, now transformed into a living artwork, reflects the joy and camaraderie of a community coming together to honor and appreciate the traditions of Holi and Asian cultures. It's a scene that leaves an indelible impression—a vibrant reminder of the power of celebration in fostering unity and understanding among all. Jessica Wu

Middlesex softball earns its first win after a 10 year hiatus. Behind Chapel sits the home of Middlesex’s newest team: softball. After 10 years, Middlesex has brought back the softball team which hasn’t played a game since 2014. Under the leadership of captains Devon Coyle and Kat Garabedian, the team currently holds a winning record of 2-1. The team came together in March and has worked for two months to form a winning team chemistry. Of the 10 players on the roster, only 3 have played competitive softball, so the past few months of practice have been spent working hard learning the rules and mastering the skills. In the first game of the season the team faced a challenge from a talented Nobles team, and while the result wasn’t what the team wanted, they learned a lot and went back to work. Just three days later the team faced Governor’s Academy. While the team got down 6-2 early, they scrapped their way back to tie the game 6-6 at the end of the sixth inning. In the final inning the team scored seven straight runs and held Gov’s scoreless to win the game 13-6. Pitcher Devon Coyle finished the game strong pitching no-hitters the final three innings to close out the game. Sophomore third baseman Gina Zhao was MVP for stealing home three times. The team showed drastic improvement, recording multiple putouts, pop flies, and tagging stealing players out. The following week the team played their home opener on Chapel field against St. Marks. From the first pitch Middlesex dominated. Going up 9-1, the game ended after just 4 innings. Freshman Caroline Wolford hit a massive triple and catcher Kat Garabedian and pitcher Devon Coyle collaborated to get a runner out at home. The team has so much energy when playing and it truly is a joy to watch the excitement the team has during games. The team radiates positive energy and is obviously having so much fun no matter how the game is going. The team is led by Coach Olivia Crowley, who graduated from Merrimack College in 2022 after playing first at Assumption University before transferring to Merrimack. In high school Coach Crowley was Merrimack Valley Conference All-Conference and MVP for 2018. She is assisted by Lisa Molivar and John Morrissey. When speaking to captain Devon Coyle, her favorite memory of the season has been “winning the game at Gov’s, but not the game itself and our epic comeback, but more so the energy and how excited we all were to win that game and how everyone contributed to the win and the positivity.” Co-captain Kat Garabedian agreed that her favorite memory so far has been “ winning our first game at Governors and seeing everyone do well and being super energetic.” When asked about the rest of the season Kat said “ I’m looking forward to continuing to make more memories with the team at practices and games. ” Only halfway through the season, the team hopes to finish with a winning record and have just as much fun doing it. With a new field, new coach, and new roster the future looks bright for Middlesex softball. Grace Bishop

While Scottie is the future of golf, is he the next Tiger Woods? Scottie Scheffler came onto the PGA Tour with his PGA Tour Card just four years ago, but, since that time, there has been complete upheaval in the tour, as he has gone on to win The Masters twice, become the first player to win the Player Championship two years in a row, and has held the title as world number one for 51 consecutive weeks. He has won over 82 million dollars in his relatively short professional career. It seems he wins every tournament or is a top-place finisher in all of them. His reign of dominance has not been seen since the likes of Tiger Woods, a comparison which begs the question: is Scottie the next Tiger? Tiger Woods exists in a league of his own with stats incomparable to anyone else, including 82 tournaments won, 15 majors won, and 13 years at world number one. While Scottie cannot even compare to this career as of now, he is only 27 and is dominating the PGA Tour. However, he is not the next Tiger Woods. Scottie is only four years into his PGA Tour career with ten wins and two major wins, both at the Masters. Meanwhile, four years into his respective PGA career, Tiger had 22 wins and 5 major wins, completing the career grand slam, and he was three years younger than Scheffler. By the time Tiger was 27, he had 38 wins and 8 of them were majors. Furthermore, beyond just wins, statistics prove that Tiger is simply a far better player. For example, one key statistic to look at is "true strokes gained," which is the "number of strokes you beat the field by in a given round," according to datagolf.com. In this statistic, Scheffler leads the PGA Tour averaging 3.23 "true strokes gained;" meanwhile, in Tigers hay day, he had four seasons with a better average of "true strokes gained," a statistic which shows that Woods was more dominant in his prime and early career compared to Scheffler. Scottie Scheffler is the future of golf, and he is also the future of The PGA Tour. Numerous players from the PGA Tour sold out and joined LIV golf for stupendous salaries, such as John Rahm, Brook Koepka, Bubba Watson, Cameron Smith, Dustin Johnson, and Phil Mickelson. Although joining LIV would have made Scheffler absurd amounts of money, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the PGA tour due to his integrity. Scottie Scheffler is a unique man; even though he has made over 82 million dollars from prize money, he does not play golf for the money. Scottie Scheffler plays out of love and respect for the gentleman's game of golf and tries to preserve the true spirit of the sport. Furthermore, Scheffler is deeply religious, and after winning his first Master's in 2022, he said, "All I'm trying to do is glorify God, and that's why I'm here, and that's why I'm in position. So, for me, it's not about a golf score."All in all, he remains a steadfast supporter of the PGA tour and he dramatically increases the PGA tour watch numbers - but he is not the next Tiger Woods. Timmy Hale

Bruins Stanley Cup? With a hectic Game 7 that resulted in the elimination of the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights, the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs has officially wrapped up. Eight teams have been knocked off, and eight more continue their quest for the Stanley Cup in the second round. I’ve previewed this round’s exciting slate of games and predicted the winners for each series. Eastern Conference New York Rangers (#1) vs Carolina Hurricanes (Metro #2) The Carolina Hurricanes have loaded up on one of their best rosters in recent memory. Trade deadline acquisitions of Jake Guentzel and Evgeny Kuznetsov will hope to add the clutch scoring the Hurricanes have desperately needed in past playoffs. The team’s stingy defense and solid depth at forward make the Hurricanes extremely difficult to play against in the close-checking playoff environment. They will face the President’s Trophy winning New York Rangers, who easily breezed through their first round matchup in 4 games. Led by crafty playmakers Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad and backstopped by star goalie Igor Shesterkin, the Rangers are poised for a deep run. However, the team’s lethal powerplay and solid penalty kill mask their struggles at 5v5, a combination which often cripples contenders in the playoffs. The home team will win each of the first 6 games, but Carolina steals Game 7 on the road to move on. Prediction: Carolina in 7 Florida Panthers (Atlantic #1) vs Boston Bruins (Atlantic #2) The Panthers took down the consistently strong Tampa Bay Lightning in only five games, moving into round two with considerable momentum. Florida has no issues scoring goals, averaging four goals per game on future Hall of Fame goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy. Florida netminder Sergei Bobrovsky had an up and down first round, but has looked nearly unbeatable at times and is entirely capable of stealing games for the Panthers. Florida will meet Boston, who survived a first round scare from injury-riddled Toronto with a narrow Game 7 overtime win to move on. Clinging to the strong play of goaltender Jeremy Swayman, the Bruins back into the second round as losers of two of their last three games, having been outshot and outchanced in all three. A revolving door of defensemen and an inconsistent forward corps do not inspire confidence, and stars David Pastrnak and Jake DeBrusk must find the back of the net more if the Bruins hope to solve Sergei Bobrovsky. A boisterous TD Garden helps the Bruins take one of the games at home, but the Panthers complete the gentleman’s sweep in Florida as Boston’s playoff woes continue. Prediction: Panthers in 5 Western Conference Vancouver Canucks (Pacific #1) vs Edmonton Oilers (Pacific #2) Can anyone stop the Oilers’ offense? Look no further than the Vancouver Canucks, who gritted their way through a low-scoring first round series with the Nashville Predators to advance. Star goaltender Thatcher Demko and backup Casey Desmith remain sidelined due to injury, so rookie Arturs Silovs must keep up his impressive showing for the Canucks to have success. He was assisted by a defense that limited Nashville to 30 shots or fewer in his games, a feat which must continue against the high-powered Oilers offense. No team has even been able to slow down the Oilers’ duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl that finished first and second in points in the first round, respectively. Opponents must hope to crack the Edmonton’s often shaky defense and goaltending to take down the Oilers, who have yet to translate regular season dominance into playoff success. McDavid and the Oilers will simply be too much to handle for the young Canucks, who will struggle to keep games close. Prediction: Oilers in 5 Dallas Stars (#1) vs Colorado Avalanche (Pacific #3) Finally, the top-seeded Stars are set to take on the high-flying Colorado Avalanche in what should be the most exciting series of the second round. The Stars leaned on breakout 20-year-old forward Wyatt Johnson and steady Jake Oettinger in net to carry them through a challenging first round. Dallas will need to get more production out of underrated scorers Jason Robertson and Roope Hintz to match Colorado’s offense. The Avalanche, who averaged a whopping 5.6 goals per game in the first round, have proven to be an offensive force with bonafide superstars up and down the lineup. Goaltender Alexandar Georgiev, the predicted weak link to the Avalanche roster, has rebounded from a dismal Game 1 to produce 4 straight quality starts. Stellar performances out of Jake Oettinger boost the Stars to two wins in front of Dallas’s raucous home crowd, but Colorado’s offense comes alive to win 4 straight and take the series. Prediction: Colorado in 6 Caio Bernardini

Uncover the unexpected perspective on Saturday classes at Middlesex: are they really that detestable? Mathematically, seven minus six equals one. This is the reality Middlesex students face: there are seven days in a week, six of them filled with academic stress, and only one day with freedom. After eight months of eavesdropping on student discussions in the Elliot and Dining Hall, yes, I am perfectly aware of the student body’s deep-seated resentment toward the existence of Saturday classes. However, I am here to express a quite controversial view toward Saturday class. I do merely feel indifferent towards this 6th day, however, for attending class at 8:30 on a Saturday morning in fact offers me great pleasure. In my opinion, Saturday classes offer more freedom throughout the week, fosters closer connections between day and boarding students, and helps me to develop my own discipline. As a freshman who currently takes five classes, Middlesex’s schedule grants me a free period almost every day, with the exception of Tuesday. Those periods allow me to enjoy freedom all by myself, whether it is walking in the Estabrook woods, taking a nap in my room, or enjoying some real-life application problems from Math 49’s textbook. This daily free time recharges me with energy sufficient for the remainder of the week. I would much rather have the first half of my Saturday morning taken up by classes than give up these moments of rest during the academic day. The intimate relationship between day and boarding students of Middlesex results largely from day students having to be on campus for the majority of the week. Indeed, this is precisely why I consider going to school on a Saturday morning a blessing more than a curse. Compared to other prep schools in the New England area, where day students stay at home over the weekend and spend less time on campus with friends and classmates, the existence of Saturday school offers Middlesex’s day students an opportunity to establish closer connections with the boarding population. However, while I appreciate the advantages of Saturday classes, I am not denying Saturday classes’ downsides either. In fact, even the mere idea of Saturday classes overwhelms me initially. My fear of having school six days in a week stemmed naturally from my experience of attending five-day schooling for my entire life prior to Middlesex. My unfamiliarity with this unique schedule turned immediately into sheer panic. Nonetheless, as I gradually adapted to Middlesex’s school system, I began to recognize the discipline Saturday classes require, especially with assessments taking place on Saturday mornings and numerous homework assignments waiting to be completed on late Friday evenings. The challenges brought on by my Saturday school push me to go outside of my comfort zone and have taught me the discipline it takes to achieve academic success. Saturday classes certainly have their pro’s and con’s, but one must recognize they do in fact serve a significant purpose. Love it or hate it, our school would not function as seamlessly as it does without them, and we are ultimately better students and time-managers because of it. Sunny Qian

With impending graduation, how are Seniors spending their last days at Middlesex? One day a year, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors alike walk past the Circle, only to see the seniors bathing in the glory of a free day; no stress, just pure contentment. We all then lug ourselves to our next class, wishing for it to be our turn soon. As a freshman, I still have three more years until this much anticipated day of senior freedom, but if I’ve learned anything from the Chapel speeches, time here at Middlesex is precious, and it goes by fast. The seniors are experiencing all their Middlesex “lasts” this year: from the last square dance to the last spring carnival, graduation will soon come to sweep them all onto another journey and an entirely new chapter of their lives. Senior boarder Kathryn Vinson ‘24 comments that the last few months of school have been a relaxing, yet sentimental time. With the focus on academics diminishing drastically, seniors have more time to reconnect with friends. Kathryn laments that there will most likely never be another time when this same group of people in the Middlesex graduating class of 2024 will ever be fully together again. Most seniors, having already confirmed their future plans after graduation, are increasingly aware of the importance of cherishing the time that is slowly slipping from their fingertips. From senior spring break trips to pond jumps, what teachers call neglect of academics are in fact the seniors’ way of treasuring their last days at a place where they've had some of their most formative experiences.. Olivia Vlacich notes that with the warm weather finally arriving, she tries her best to be outside during her free time, whether it is playing badminton, throwing frisbee, or going on walks, while still focusing on important academics by studying in the library. She does admit that she has less motivation to focus on academics, but simultaneously appreciates the lesser emphasis on it as she states, “there isn’t as much pressure so I’m just enjoying the process.” Additionally, many seniors are spending a quality amount of time working on their plaque, a special way to leave their mark on Middlesex and celebrate their years here. To bottle up all one’s experiences in a single artwork is not an easy feat, but it is a token of themselves that stays at Middlesex forever. If you ask me, that’s worth more than any test grade. At the end of the day, Middlesex alumni do not remember the grades or AP test scores that they earned each year, but the friends, relationships, and memories made along the way. So it should be expected, and even encouraged, that seniors spend their last months at Middlesex playing, laughing, and cherishing every detail. Before we all know it, they will experience their last English class, last spike ball game on the Circle, and last night spent on campus, so we should enjoy it while it lasts. Michelle Cai

Reflecting on the polarized view on the April 23rd Community Life Meeting At 7:00 PM, on a windy but pleasant Tuesday evening, the entire student body gathered in their respective boarding dorms and day houses. At 7:08 PM, every single student handed in their phones. At 7:10 PM sharp, the circle was full. With the purpose of strengthening the student connections and appreciating the beauty of the Middlesex campus, the student body ambled—or for those gifted with the legs of Hercules, swiftly paced—along the Circle, and headed to separate activities for each class after. The freshman class walked to the front gates towards Lowell Road and returned. The sophomore class headed to the turf were instructed by Karlyn McNall to stay completely in silence and observe the picturesque sunset. The junior class also meditated in silence, but on the Circle. The senior class, likewise, were on the fields and gazed at the sunset. Opinions among students regarding the community life meeting were polarized, with some remaining unimpressed while others expressed satisfaction. Many students are critical of the hour-long meeting, claiming that the meeting felt “forced” as the school year approached an end, an exceptionally poor timing for a bonding experience. Despite admitting that the meeting aided them to relax and gain better mindfulness, some students complained that the time could be better utilized to prepare for the numerous tests in the following days. Two students I interviewed claimed that the meeting was unsuccessful entirely, as they did not find the experience beneficial for “cross-grade connections” or authentic connections in general. One of these two individuals thought that Class IV Choices and Class III Connections at the beginning of the school year were more helpful in fostering stronger relationships. The strict policy of no phones was also extremely controversial, as many argued that students would congregate without the policy anyway. Indeed, the community life meeting caused wide confusion among the student body, as they failed to understand the intent of the meeting. By contrast, a large number of students nonetheless appreciated the efforts of this meeting. Many took full advantage of the mindfulness aspect of the meeting, utilizing the hour as an outlet to relax and meditate. Aaron Calle ‘26 found the meeting a great opportunity to catch up with friends, agreeing that the sophomore class bonded over the beautiful dusk. Tim Zhao ‘27 likewise cherished the moments with friends on the circle, and his roommate Ian King ‘26 further added that the spring weather was also very enjoyable. In fact, several students advocated for the meeting to continue next year, though believing that it could be scheduled at a better time. Despite numerous critiques, most students ultimately benefited from the hour away from the internet and an escape from the buildup of academic rigor in the spring. Regardless of student debates about the recent community life meeting, as Middlesex prepares itself for one of the busiest times of the year–with students of all grades preparing for AP exams and finals–this breezy, pleasant Tuesday evening was undeniably a rare hour for the entire community to gather together, meditate in silence, have each other’s company, and soak in all there is to offer in the spring nature. Sixing Wang

Explore the delicate balancing act of Middlesex students involved in the musical as they juggle the intense demands of Tech Week, academic responsibilities, and athletic commitments. Is “Hell Week” really hell-ish? Answers vary depending on whom you ask, but a random sampling of students involved in theater seems to show that Tech Week, also known as “Hell-Week,” tests the limits of students’ abilities to really “do it all.” Tech Week is the notoriously difficult stretch before the opening night of Middlesex’s plays and musicals. Many find Tech Week to be both the most stressful and most rewarding days of theater involvement. For athletes, students, and performers, juggling the diverse roles expected of Middlesex students poses a daunting challenge. Melissa Chan ‘27, a freshman involved in the play, admits that this period of strenuous preparation held up her other commitments, as “Tech Week was stressful because [she] couldn’t focus on [her upcoming] Green Rooms.” She further stressed the difficulty of completing homework on nights with four hours of tech, lamenting, “I couldn’t get a lot of homework done so I had to stay up really late.” Despite the difficult balance between theater and external commitments, when asked if it is possible to do both arts and sports at Middlesex, Melissa believed that it is achievable. Indeed, although full Middlesex involvement is possible, it comes at a cost. Lara Moore ‘26 remarks that she had to go out of her way to extend various projects, stating, “I had to get some extensions on assignments and I was sleeping later being a day student.” However, Lara still enjoyed Tech Week despite the struggle to manage work, and noted that teachers were especially understanding, for they “were nice and helpful with extensions.” Nevertheless, teachers’ adaptability for students involved in Tech Week is highly variable, prompting many to struggle with overall life balance during weeks of particular extracurricular stress. Even those who were involved behind the scenes found themselves struggling to keep up with work during this particularly gruesome stretch. Tech crew, who meets for an hour weekly prior to Tech Week, is all hands on deck for the days leading up to the show. Thea Choyt, a senior who ran the lights during the Batboy Production, revealed that she had to do work either before or after the days of tech, professing that she “did almost nothing during Tech Week homework-wise” as she was so low on time. She commented that “tech crew is not a huge commitment… except for when you get to Tech Week since you get back and are exhausted.” Similarly, Athena Goulet ‘24, another senior involved in Tech crew, states that with her athletic commitments she “couldn’t do that much homework unless it was immediately due,” but ultimately concluded that it still “feels possible to be involved in both the arts and athletics.” Middlesex pushes students to be all in on everything they do. No matter how small the role, Tech Week tests everyone’s limits during times of particularly intense expected commitment. Though balance is difficult during Tech Week and overall for students dedicated to the arts, the genuine passion for arts, athletics, and academics still drives students to find ways to get it all done. Diana Davidson

Looking back to the Middlesex experience of alumnus Aaron Swenson ‘14. Aaron Swenson, Class of 2014, is back on Campus for his 10-year reunion. Although Swenson graduated a decade ago, he is no stranger to present-day Middlesex. This past year, he returned to Middlesex to coach both the Boys' Varsity Basketball and Boys' Varsity Baseball teams, providing his players with insight on the physical and the mental side of athletics. Swenson has shared with his teams some aspects about his experience at Middlesex and the lessons our school taught him. At Middlesex, sports played a huge part in Swenson's life and he learned the many great lessons that came with athletics. While down in a game against Governor Dummer’s Academy during his sophomore year, coach Holden called a time out, “sitting just [Swenson] and [his co-captain] John Siu down and berating the two of [them] for laughing, while being down 21 points.” “I just remember that being a very big turning point for me mentally” said Swenson, “where it was like no, that is not going to be acceptable… we are out here to win, and we can.” He also quickly realized how the core themes of Middlesex applied to his everyday life, figuring out that “accountability is love,” something he preaches to his players today. With the hard work and support from the community, Swenson and the basketball team were able to achieve a 19-5 record his senior year, with Swenson breaking the 1000-point mark and scoring 41 points with a game winner against Roxbury Latin, capping off his exceptional career at Middlesex. Now, when asked about Middlesex today, as compared to 10 years ago, Swenson acknowledged that although some aspects of Middlesex life have changed, “the awesome part of being back is seeing those [same] traditions still intact.” Middlesex aims to keep its campus current, providing its students with the best resources possible, yet the school also strives to preserve the 120 years of history, so the fact that many shared traditions remain wasn’t so surprising to hear. When thinking back on some of his favorite events at Middlesex, Swenson reminisced about Square Dance, Groton and St. George’s Days, and the overall camaraderie he built with the community. During Swenson’s time at here, he was a two-time captain of the basketball team and a captain of the baseball team his senior year, so naturally “the experiences [he] loved more than anything at Middlesex were being around [his] team, teammates, and guys, [ultimately] knowing coaches were there for him and the coaches cared about what [the team] was trying to accomplish.” This theme is still apparent today, as people like Aaron Swenson return to campus to give back to the students, just as alumni did for him during his time at Middlesex. On his graduation day, with the 100 seniors locked in the Chapel for the last time before walking to their seats at graduation, he remembered the exact details of this emotional experience, having “the chills the whole time.” As the 2014 class sporadically “sang Hymn 110 acapella, [he had] sobb[ed] by the end of it,” because once he arrived at the steps outside of Elliot Hall, he could “see all the people who had been supporting [him], caring about [him],” during his Middlesex career. “It was really special” for him to walk hand in hand with his classmates to graduation, a custom that still defines Middlesex today, as the rest of the student body applauds the seniors during their walk to the graduation stage. Ultimately, Swenson attributes Middlesex for much of his athletic, academic, and professional success. He loves the idea that Middlesex promotes the “pursuit of excellence” in every aspect of life and appreciates that Middlesex “wants to develop leaders in their communities, in their walks of life, and on their teams.” Swenson even carries around a Middlesex key chain with one of the school’s mottos, “What they dreamed be ours to do.” It is clear that Aaron Swenson embodies just that, taking on the responsibility to further teach and mentor today’s Middlesex students. The similarities that persist a decade later at Middlesex demonstrate that the school’s values have remained constant. Although Middlesex may have some new buildings, improved technology, and planning an auxiliary athletics center, it is the beloved traditions that tie Middlesex’s past to its present. Ryan Wolff

On March 22, 2024, Future and Metro Boomin released the highly anticipated collaborative album, WE DON’T TRUST YOU. This duo had previously worked together on projects such as Mask Off, an album which possessed such an alluring instrumental that it peaked fifth on Billboard charts instantly. While Metro Boomin had already achieved success within the rap scene since 2016 with hit singles such as Jumpman by Future and Drake as well as songs like Father Stretch My Hands, Metro Boomin truly achieved international acclaim from his late 2022 album Heroes & Villains. With this undeniable producing talent combined with Future’s prevalence and reputation, the album was bound for success. However, what perhaps propelled this album even more into fame was the expected but nonetheless shocking diss track from Kendrick Lamar. In the song Like That, the Pulitzer Prize winning rapper fires shots at Drake for claiming to be the superior rapper in the latter’s album For All The Dogs. While this response was perhaps not as serious as many expected, it still triggered a national response, in which rappers such as J. Cole responded. While Jermaine promptly apologized and retracted his diss track, Kendrick and Drake embarked on a rap-exchange tirade that continues to this day. While Metro Boomin had an established antipathy for Canadian rapper Drake on Twitter, Future, who has collaborated with Drake numerous times, also instigated and participated in this rapper drama. World-famous rappers Travis Scott and Playboi Carti also bolstered this album's production, appearing together on the hit song Type Sh-t. As different segments of the song blew up on TikTok, notably Scott’s part, the song helped accelerate the album as well as perpetuate the beef between Kendrick and Drake. Carti’s cult-like following also certainly helped promote the album beyond the rap scene. While the song’s repetitive lyrics repeating the title can be boring, the beat flows smoothly between each rapper, as Metro seamlessly works his magic. Beyond the two hit singles, however, the album is only decent. While Metro Boomin provides the “psychedelic instrumentals” that Future and Metro’s work is known for, Future sometimes falls short on his rapping. While it is understandable that a seventeen song album is not full of instant hits, one can’t but hope for more. The starting and titular song itself was underwhelming, but the beats transitioned nicely and set the precedent of elegant changes between each song. Luckily, in addition to the already existing all-star cast, The Weeknd joins the album and ad-libs in a background hum for the song Young Metro. Perhaps it was the shared dislike for Drake that allowed all three artists to create an honestly really harmonious song. Metro Boomin’s production also really shined on GTA,  perpetuating the dark ambience that the album had established. WE DON’T TRUST YOU has sent the public reeling off one song alone, but fails to live up to the level of production that Future and Metro Boomin have established for themselves. While still above average, the two international talents came together just to produce an album that is just a solid 7 out of 10. With the sequel album WE STILL DON’T TRUST YOU having been released at the time of writing and the Drake v Kendrick beef ongoing, I have hope that Metro can maintain his level of production while Future improves his lyricism. While perhaps not a timeless album, WE DON’T TRUST YOU certainly made its impact. Ethan Yuan

11 season NFL veteran, Hall of Famer, MVP, Heisman Trophy winner, actor, and accused double homicide acquittee, Orenthial James “OJ” Simpson, has died at the age of 76. Second on the NFL’s all time rushers, gaining 11,236 yards, running back OJ Simpson gained fame through his illustrious football career with the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers. Simpson was a 6 time Pro-Bowler and is the only player to ever achieve rushing 2000 yards in a 14 game season. OJ, iconically known as “Juice” or “The Juice” by his fans, gained significant recognition through these infamous titles, making  him a household name during his football career. OJ began acting 1977, but this small side-gig became more prevalent in his career after Simpson retired in 1979 where he starred in famous movies such as The Naked Gun and the beloved comedy show Saturday Night Live. Additionally, Simpson was an NFL analyst for ABC’s Monday Night Football. He was even considered for the lead role in Terminator, but was seen by directors as “too nice.” However, what Simpson may be most notorious for is his 1994 police chase in his 1993 white Ford Bronco following an investigation about the death of his wife, Nicole Brown and her friend, Ron Goldman. On June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown and Ron Goldman were both found brutally stabbed to death outside Nicole’s house. According to Los Angeles Police, the only suspect of interest was OJ. After the police had found plausible evidence for his arrest, OJ’s lawyers told police that Juice would turn himself in at 11:00am on June 17. At 11:00 am there was no sign of OJ, starting a police chase where OJ’s teammate Al Cowling was taken hostage by OJ who was armed with a pistol. The 45 minute chase was broadcasted to every major live TV channel with over 93 million viewers, including people getting out of their cars to watch the chase unfold. People began to make signs that read “Save The Juice.” Ultimately, Simpson was captured and taken into custody just before 9:00 pm. Simpson was known to have the “Dream Team” of lawyers including notable figures such as Robert Kardashian, the father of Kim Kardashian, and Alan Dershowitz, one of Donald Trump’s defense lawyers during his impeachment. During the trial it was found that police officers had wrongfully labeled photo evidence in addition to the improper storing of DNA evidence. Another interesting point of evidence was the presence of both victims' blood inside of OJ’s car, Nicole’s hair and blood on OJ’s socks, and blood of both the victims on OJ’s famous black leather gloves. To counter this claim OJ’s defense claimed that the gloves were not OJ’s since they could not fit OJ’s hands. This moment led to the famous closing line of OJ’s Lawyers  testimony: “if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.” When the prosecution asked OJ to try the gloves on, he struggled, but they did not seem to fit his hands. The prosecutors also argued that the gloves may have shrunk after in contact with the blood in addition to being repeatedly frozen and thawed before the trial. Even on top of that the prosecution questioned whether OJ was taking his arthritis medication, which if not taken would cause his hands to swell. Another key piece of evidence was found out that the crime scene had been contaminated from the responding officer, Mark Fuhrman. With all of the evidence, the ending verdict was decided by a jury to be “not guilty” for both deaths. OJ had been successfully acquitted with over 100 million people watching the ending unfold live. Simpson later published a book along with his ghost titled “If I Did It” which talked about how OJ would hypothetically commit the murders of Nicole and Ron. Simpson immediately canceled the release of the book, but it was still leaked to the public. The book was eventually given the rights to the Goldman Family where they changed the title to “If I Did It, Confessions of the Killer” with the “If” was in extremely small font so the title appears to be just “I Did It, Confessions of the Killer.” After a long and terrible battle with prostate cancer, OJ Simpson died surrounded by family. Interestingly, in the days leading up to his death, OJ made all of his family members sign a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and did not allow the use of phones or devices in his hospital room. Could he have told his true confession? Jack Francini