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For Swifties, the anticipation began the night of the Grammy’s. It was at that ceremony on February 4th, 2024 that pop messiah Taylor Swift announced her new album the Tortured Poets Department. Naturally, her disciples across the country expressed feverish excitement and interest, noting in particular the album’s far longer name in comparison to her previous one-word albums like Midnights. The album was highly anticipated due to her recent breakup with long term boyfriend, Joe Alwyn, making fans especially keen to learn how her heartbreak would manifest into lyrics. Regardless of personal context or anticipation, a record breaking 1 billion people listened to the album in only the first week of its release. The first track of the album, Fortnight, is a slow synthy pop song with lyrics acknowledging the end of a fleeting relationship and the bitterness of the man moving on, as somber verses lament that “his wife waters flowers, she wants to kill him.” The song's melodic harmonies with artist Post Malone cultivate a sense of nostalgia and pining; akin to her last album Midnights, the synthy electronic elements are there, but slower, and driven by a strong bass line and soft acoustic guitars. Swift’s gradual regression from Midnights feels like a goodbye. She’s leaving behind something, while still paying homage to it. I really enjoyed the production of this album as Jack Antanoff’s classic anodic direction of the songs was prevalent and well intertwined with the folky work of Aaron Desner, making it nuanced and certainly not redundant; instead, it feels new and refreshing. It's not only fun but thought provoking, and Swift’s keen grasp of language creates a listening experience that feels unique to Tortured Poets. One can’t talk about a Taylor Swift album without acknowledging the fifth track, a track infamously known as being the most lyrically driven ballad of each album; some examples include All Too Well or Dear John.  The lyrics of Tortured Poets’ fifth track, So Long London, are, in my opinion, some of Swift's finest. In the song, the artist is grieving a relationship, but there's an undertone of anger and resentment. Lyrics like “How much sadness did you think I had?” or “I’m pissed off I let you get all of that youth for free” embodies the pain of a goodbye, while validating the wrong she felt during the relationship. Just two hours after the album’s initial release, Taylor Swift announced that Tortured Poets was in fact a double album, leaving Swift to release an additional 15 tracks: Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. The Anthology is a sharp contrast to the original album, as the songs are heavily acoustic in comparison to the electronic ambience of the original album. Personally, I wished that the songs were better integrated into the first 16 tracks in order to make the music blend more seamlessly. However, there are some highlights within this second release, the best song of the album as a whole lying in the bonus tracks. Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus is a heartbreaking piece with a poignant piano instrumental, and includes some of Swift's most vulnerable lyrics in her entire discography, with verses like “You said some things that I can’t unabsorb/ you turned me into an idea of sorts/ you needed me but you needed drugs more/ and I just watched it happen” striking a chord within listeners. As a long term Taylor Swift fan, these lyrics felt deeply personal; it felt like hearing a side of her that I hadn’t prior. Overall, The Tortured Poets Department is a deeply vulnerable album. It’s the manifestation of heartbreak, grief, anger and acceptance. This album is nothing like what she’s put out before, and I hope to see more of this from Taylor Swift in the future. Kat Stephens

Dive into the deeper implications behind pop phenomenon Jojo Siwa’s shift from childhood innocence to explicit goth lyricism “JoJo have you learned nothing!!??” In Dance moms, Abby Lee iconically yelled at a then quite young Jojo Siwa for her inability to act with the politeness that Ms. Abby Lee and her dance company demanded. In fact, a lot of people know JoJo Siwa not from her anti-bullying song ‘Boomerang’ or her blonde high ponytail secured with a JoJo-Bow-Bow, but rather from her iconic premier and outgoing personality on the hit reality TV show Dance Moms. In recent days, JoJo has transformed from her kid-friendly persona into a much more mature and goth-like personality, even sounding a so-called ‘alarm’ over all her social media that her content is for ‘mature audiences only,’ showing a shift in not only her outward appearance but her identity as an artist,  as she clearly exhibits a desire to break from the constraints of her PG past and take on a wild adult era personality. In her new music video Karma, Jojo follows a queer-relationship storyline and is depicted as wearing KISS inspired makeup and all-black bodysuits to highlight just a few parts of her transformation. In my opinion, I think that her transformation is quite simple to understand. Here, Hollywood witnesses another child star in her development into an adult career and life–a career that was previously stunted by restrictions put on her via agents and other companies such as Nickelodeon who profited off of Jojo’s appeal to young kids. Siwa simply wants to expand her identity and break free from the childish restraints of her old persona, developing herself into an entertainer that better reflects her authenticity as a queer young adult artist enduring the hardships of young love. Siwa has been recently dealing with backlash–especially on social media–as numerous people have mocked her new look and appear to take her less seriously than they did before, as one X user describes Siwa’s new song Karma as “Disney with cuss words.” People have continued to hate on Jojo for her sudden shift from her former-self, asserting that her shift hasn’t been significant enough. In comparing Jojo to other child stars ‘gone bad’ like Miley Cyrus and Britney Spears, Siwa has received intense internet slander as some claim her singing and lyrics do not at all compare to these artists’ prowess when it comes to performing or crafting  songs. Despite this backlash, Siwa has remained genuine to herself and even embraces some of the hate while making cheeky remarks about how much publicity her transformation has been getting. For example, in one of her Tik Toks, Siwa rhetorically asks, “like it or not...what's been in your head the last 3 days?” So, to answer the rhetorical question of the iconic Abby Lee Miller, I would say that JoJo has in fact learned a lot, perhaps now actually understanding one of the most valuable lessons in her life: embrace your true identity despite the hate you may receive, and remember to stay authentic. Ellie Calo

Reflecting on our successful Revisit Day and suggesting improvements for the future Photo by Middlesex School Do you still remember the day when you, an accepted and prospective Middlesex student, first took step onto our campus? Do you remember your heart fluttering with anticipation and the nerves that accompany the promise of a new journey? As the hallways reverberated with the sound of fresh footsteps, Revisit Day, impervious to the capricious weather, extended a warm embrace to accepted students, showcasing the magic that pervades Middlesex. Opinions on Revisit Day vary among students. Some regard it as an opportunity for fun and camaraderie, a chance to show off the vivacious ethos of our community. Conversely, others may perceive it as somewhat stressful, feeling the weight of representing the best of our community to prospective students on their shoulders. Striking up a good conversation with a person you’ve just met is a difficult task, and even harder to do when you have to focus on class at the same time. Reflecting on her experience, Celine Ding ‘27 remarked, “Personally, I find Revisit Day to be both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. It's exciting to meet potential new members of our community, but there's also pressure to showcase Middlesex in the best light possible." From the glorious chapel performances to the delightful Freedom of Speech (FOS) performances and the enticing Whoopie Pie truck, these meticulously planned activities constituted the highlights of Revisit Day. As a member of the chamber orchestra, I thoroughly enjoyed performing along with Small Chorus for new students and their parents in the chapel. Both FOS and the chapel gathering were wonderful opportunities to showcase the musical talents of Middlesex students. And of course, who can resist the allure of the Whoopie Pie truck, a delectable treat to sweeten up the day? Though our Revisit Day this year was undeniably successful as always, there remain discernable avenues for improvement that we can adopt to perpetuate these two days as a forever memorable event for prospective students. Given the limitations of our dining hall, which regrettably cannot accommodate over four hundred students at a time, lunch was extremely crowded. Setting up multiple locations for lunch can be a possible solution, especially since it is the only time when hosts and visitors can sit down with different people to get to know each other in-depth and chat at length about student life here. Despite not being paired up with a Revisit Day person, I got to know numerous potential students over lunch. Furthermore, I acknowledge our school’s commitment to portraying Middlesex School life authentically, but I suggest that we incorporate more student activities instead of merely walking through a day of classes. The quality of Revisit Day heavily depends on the energy of students and their willingness to engage with visitors, but having four classes in a row dampens the spirit of Middlesex students. In fact, many who revisited last year recollect spending time with their hosts and touring the campus with them, while the specifics of classroom experiences often fade into oblivion. What truly distinguishes us is not only our classes but also our vibrant and supportive community. Therefore, by hosting more activities, Middlesex can help guests gain insight into what our school is really like and facilitate genuine connections with students here. Revisit Day helps to prove why Middlesex stands out from other schools and is the perfect fit for students accepted here. It is a chance to exhibit our welcoming community and diverse talents, leaving a lasting impression on all who attend. Let us ensure that Revisit Day continues to be the quintessential catalyst that persuades prospective students to say yes to MX! Jessica Wu

Is this decrepit yet (mostly) beloved gathering place an irreplaceable staple of Middlesex character, or is it time for this designated student hangout to get an upgrade? Photo by Max Linton From pool tables, board games, ping pong tables, and the grill, what more could anyone want out of a student facility? Well, a lot. Stufac, Middlesex’s designated student facilities area, is–putting it nicely–in a bit of a rough shape. Although Stufac does indeed hold all of these staples of classic, harmless entertainment, students over the years have somehow found a way to mangle and destroy almost every facet of this communal space. The pool table? Chipped. Board games? Collecting dust, and probably missing all of their pieces. Ping pong table? You’d better stay about 10 feet away because the jagged edges of that board are lethal enough to take out any faculty child at eye level. And this is all without mentioning the numerous stains and rips on the sagging couches that are worthy of being deemed a genuine biohazard. Despite its many evident flaws, Stufac’s “blemishes” are part of what makes it so beloved. Its seemingly disposable nature makes it a place where people feel comfortable acting without care; although this expendability often results in even greater stress being put upon the already worn furniture and games, perhaps it is a necessary space for students to let loose and be themselves. Many can attest to the plethora of core freshman memories that stem from this chaotic diversion from the stress of rigorous academics, and the undeniable character this space holds is something that would leave the school at a loss should it ever be removed. Additionally, serving as the occasional host to FOS, club meetings, and sports team gatherings, Stufac also holds some value in its genuine use as a space to hold events. But perhaps memory is a fickle thing, and has led us to forget the less flattering aspects of Stufac’s character; although I have already mentioned the aesthetic issues of this space, Stufac is more often than not an under-utilized section of campus despite its reputation of being the freshman gathering place. Over my 3 years at Middlesex, fewer and fewer students have begun to congregate within its walls and it has seemingly become a mere passing space between Ware Hall and the Athletic Center. Perhaps this pessimism is simply from my jaded perspective as a junior who now fails to perceive the glory with which I once regarded Stufac, but I suspect it comes from the objective truth that Stufac’s flaws have begun to shift from “character” to signs of outright decay. Indeed, it oftentimes seems as if being adjacent to The Grill is the only thing keeping it from succumbing to total degradation. If I were to decide whether or not to revamp Stufac, I have to say it's hard to deny the growing necessity for an upgrade. Although I’d try to keep the casual, colloquial nature of the space, new furniture and equipment–particularly the couches and game tables–are something I think everyone would be thankful for. This isn't to say that it’s Stufac’s reputation that has gotten in this bad of a condition, however, students must gain a greater respect for the things we have on campus. Pool tables are not a luxury many schools have, and if we want to maintain these things we so often take for granted we need to treat them with dignity. Although Stufac has served as a staple of MX character through its charming yet ramshackle nature, all good things must come to an end, and I believe it's time to put some of its well-worn features to rest. Sincerely, the MX student body. Catherine Bain

The WNBA announces expansion plans in the near future as fans flock to the league after recent increase in viewership and fans. For years WNBA fans have begged the league for a new expansion team and finally the WNBA has delivered. WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the seven-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors have been awarded a WNBA expansion team. The league announced that its 13th team will be added to the Bay Area and will begin play in the 2025 season. This expansion franchise is the first team to join the league since 2008. At its largest, the WNBA had 16 teams in 2000, but has stalled at 12 since 2010. Another expansion team is expected to be announced later this year, likely in Portland. This additional franchise would also begin playing in 2025. Engelbert has stated that the league's goal is to have 14 teams by 2025. The last time the league had 14 teams was 2008 when the now folded Sacramento Monarchs and Houston Comets were still playing. At 12 teams currently, the league has a maximum of 144 players, at 12 per team, so adding these new franchises will open up more roster spots. Bringing an expansion team to the Bay Area will reestablish a previous market. The Sacramento Monarchs were an original franchise from 1997 to 2009, including a championship in 2005. Portland also used to have a franchise, The Portland Fire, which was added in 2000,  but folded shortly after in 2002. The Golden State Warriors’ expansion team will be owned and operated by Warriors Co-Executive Chairman and CEO Joe Lacob and Co-Executive Chairman Peter Guber. The team will play their home games at the Chase Center in San Francisco, the home court of Golden State. The Warriors’ Oakland practice facility which housed the Warriors’ front office and practice facility from 1997-2019 will be used as the expansion team’s headquarters. The Warriors are set to become the sixth NBA franchise to own a WNBA team, alongside the Washington Wizards (Washington Mystics), Brooklyn Nets (New York Liberty), Indiana Pacers (Indiana Fever), Phoenix Suns (Phoenix Mercury), and Minnesota Timberwolves (Minnesota Lynx). Both Engelbert and Warriors personnel refused to disclose the expansion fee the Warriors paid, but Engelbert commented that it was "a record-breaking expansion fee" for the league, along with other significant investments that have to be made when building a WNBA franchise. The 2023 season made history, breaking records in viewership, attendance, and digital engagement. Even the offseason showed improvement with the most-viewed WNBA Draft since 2004, a sold-out preseason game in Toronto, and the most-watched regular season game since 2002. The WNBA also enjoyed an increase in sponsorships including CarMax and ION. This increase in fans and funds proves that now is the perfect time to capitalize on the increasing attention and build the league. Adding franchises now will be wise as the league will strike while the iron is hot, especially with the influx of talent in the upcoming draft years. As players like Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, Kamila Cardoso, and Cameron Brink go pro, hopefully college ball fans will follow them to the WNBA. As college players get better, more will deserve to play professionally and more roster spots will be needed, hence the need for more teams. How Golden State will create its roster is still undecided, but will be discussed when the competition committee and board of governors meet. Engelbert said it is likely that an expansion draft will happen in late 2024, after the draft lottery for the 2025 draft. We can look at past expansion teams to know what to expect in an expansion draft. In 2008, the Atlanta Dream created their first 13 player roster through an expansion draft. The draft was held in February before free agency. The team selected players from a pool of options from the other 13 teams. Each team was allowed to protect up to six players from drafting by Atlanta. The Dream was allowed to select one player from each team despite contract status, but they couldn’t select multiple unrestricted free agents. Atlanta could then “core” that unrestricted free agent. The new name and mascot of the franchise have yet to be announced, but WNBA fans know all they need to know. The WNBA is finally growing for the first time in over a decade, right before a crop of generational talent gets ready to be drafted. And it's about time. Grace Bishop

Did Shohei Ohtani bet and use his interpreter to take the fall, or is his interpreter a gambling addict who stole from Ohtani to get himself out of a hole? Shohei Ohtani had a historic 2023 season. With the Japanese National Team, Ohtani won the World Baseball Classic, earning the MVP Award for the tournament, and with the Angels, he was unanimously voted as the American League MVP. Following his historic season, Ohtani signed a 10-year $700 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, the largest contract in sports history. Ohtani isn't just an incredible two-way player who can pitch at the top level when healthy and also hit at the top level, but he is also a global sports star with a massive reach and cult of personality. Ohtani brings in massive viewership to games he plays in from his native Japan. Games that Ohtani plays in have behind-the-plate advertisements for Japanese companies. Japan and the baseball world love Ohtani. Baseball fans view him as a selfless dedicated athlete. Despite the $700 million headline contract, Ohtani has deferred 97% of his contract until retirement so the Dodgers can have the money to build a World Series-winning team around him while he earns $2 million per year while under contract. Additionally, when Ohtani joined the league at the age of 23, he earned a league minimum salary because of his age, despite the far more lucrative offers he had to stay in Japan, and when Ohtani played in Japan, he gave his salary to his parents and gave himself a $1000 monthly allowance. Ohtani is universally known as an athlete with an exceptional work ethic that is also incredibly humble. That is why it is so unusual that he is now shrouded in controversy. The story unfolded after the Los Angeles Times uncovered Ohtani's name in an investigation of bookmaker Mathew Bowyer. There are two stories to the scandal. Originally, a spokesperson for Ohtani said that Ohtani paid Mizuhara's gambling debts that he didn't know about until Mizuhara revealed the hole he put himself in – Ohtani's representatives have since taken back that story. In an ESPN interview, Mizuhara stated that he didn't bet on baseball. Betting on baseball would result in a lifetime ban for Shohei Ohtani if he was found guilty. Mizuhara confirmed the spokesperson's original comments and also said that he didn't know about the illegality of his betting, is a gambling addict, and will never bet again. The new official story is that Shohei Ohtani's interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, stole money from Ohtani's bank account to pay bookies to whom he incurred debts. Allegedly, Mizuhara stole $4.5 million from Ohtani over nine betting loan payments behind Shohei Ohtani's back. Officially, Ohtani never knew of these thefts until the story broke and is a true victim. Ohtani in a press conference later said how he was shocked about the theft and how he never betted. Due to the publicity, different accounts of the story, and implications that Shohei did in fact bet, the MLB and IRS are currently investigating the matter. Although there is no evidence to suggest that Ohtani bet, the court of public opinion won't stop on its search to find answers. There are rumors and speculation that Ohtani did in fact bet and used Mizuhara as his fall guy; however, we likely will never learn the truth. Even if Ohtani is guilty of betting, his value to the league makes punishment unlikely. As Shohei Ohtani falls into a betting scandal, it should be noted the growing occurrence of betting in the general public and for professional athletes internationally and over a variety of sports. Ultimately, with the increasing legalization of sports betting, there have been more players entering professional sports with gambling issues, resulting in suspensions, bans, and fines, and in the future scandals like the Ohtani one are likely to be much more prominent. Ben Feuer

How the Winter Sports Awards Ceremony Has Become Excruciatingly Long “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” is the way the motto goes, yet the Middlesex athletic awards program seems to switch formats every season and, I would suggest, for the worse. This past week the Middlesex athletics assembly returned to its original format of in-person speeches given by the winter captains. For those who have never experienced the hour-long sports announcement, it goes something like this: “We would like to thank our amazing coaches… Although the results weren't what we wanted, we persevered and fought hard… My favorite part of the season was the bus rides home.” Our winter teams clearly tend to struggle when the highlight of the past two months is the weekly stops at Chipotle while on the way back to campus from a loss or the 10 boxes of Comella’s pizza waiting in the team room after a game. With eight varsity sports already having gone to the podium to speak with each repeating the typical three-minute spiel, it is pretty disheartening when the Alpine Ski Team is the 9th team to make an appearance at 10:30 in the morning. And that says something, because I was named one of the ski racing captains for next year. Don’t get me wrong, I love Middlesex sports and the concept of the award ceremony. The school gets to celebrate the success (or lack thereof) of all of its athletic teams (and the student body is able to acknowledge the countless accomplishments of their fellow Middlesex athletes, but when the amber alert during the wrestling team’s speech is the most interesting event in this winter’s ceremony, something needs to change, or at least go back to the way it previously was). The awards ceremony is too long, the format is logistically complicated, and the content frankly bores the students. Thankfully, there is a plausible solution and a strategy that has worked well in previous seasons for the Athletics Department. In the past few years since COVID-19, the captains’ speeches have been performed through a video which is then projected to the whole school. The captains recap their season while a slideshow of pictures and videos plays over them, allowing the audience to stay engaged with the speeches and watch their friends and team’s memories appear on the big screen. The video format is well-organized, and the videos instantly get to the point, leave out the awkward pauses in between team presentations, and provide a personal approach allowing the students to hear from the athletes themselves and keeping the theater entertained and not sleeping in their seats. So why doesn’t the Middlesex Athletics Department just stick to this more modern and efficient awards presentation method? Well, the in-person speeches definitely bring an intimate experience to the students. They force the audience to give their undivided attention to each and every sport and take a break from their technology-filled academic day. If the whole ceremony was online, there would be no need for an assembly at all. Without the captains on stage, the Athletics Department could just send out the videos, giving the students no real reason to celebrate the accomplishments of their classmates. Since Middlesex is a school that requires full participation in sports, it makes sense that the Athletics Department would request the focus of over 400 students and want the awards assembly to be in person. So, what’s the solution between modernity and personalization? The most logical approach is that the athletic awards ceremony should be a hybrid option where the captains make their speeches in a video, with clean-cut transitions and photos overlaid with their voices, while the awards are still presented, and the next season captains are named in person for the whole school to recognize together. With this approach, the announcements would run quicker, athletes would have their voices heard, and by the time the last team recaps their season, an amber alert wouldn’t be the highlight of the morning. Ryan Wolff

Your Mountain Is Waiting… So Get On Your Way! Everyone is just waiting. March 10th was the date our admission decisions arrived, and we had to wait six months till the commencement of high school. The majority of us began our tenure at Middlesex during September 2020’s orientation. Coming to Middlesex, some of us were timid while others were excited, and while some traveled great distances, others could have just walked onto campus. Plagued by masks and zebra sticks, we all recognized that we were in the midst of a global pandemic. Someway, somehow, this great force would shape the class of 2024. It would give us a unique, yet uncertain identity. Alone will be something you’ll be quite a lot! In many ways freshman year was lonely. This loneliness began during our eighth-grade spring, having graduated from middle school online. What hurt most was not being able to take a moment to say goodbye. In short, this end was unfair, making our summers cold with the icy feeling of emptiness. Now, of course, our arrival at high school was a new adventure we could plunge into: new friends, teachers, and experiences--these were the things in our lives that were fresh and created optimism. But, ultimately, we were restricted by strict regulations in the dorms, six-foot zebra sticks, masks that muffled our voices, and laptop cameras that distorted our sense of a real classroom environment. The comfort of our parents was also absent due to distance and restrictive barriers imposed due to community health precautions. Not only that, but our busy schedules, commitments, and quantity of schoolwork further widened the gap of absence felt between us and our parents. You’ll start happening too! During sophomore and junior year, nevertheless, we integrated ourselves further into the community. Time was the greatest healer for us. Like one of Shakespeare’s comedies, these two years were a transition from the chaos and the unfathomable to a return of normalcy. We began by facing a difficult Sophomore fall when Nikole Hannah-Jones was disinvited to speak during Black History Month. Our former head of school, Mr. Beare, stepped down from his role as headmaster and left the school. This tragic moment for our school, however, brought the student body closer together. We found meaning in one another: throughout the ups and downs of athletic seasons, weeks of writing workshops, fun Middlesex dances, and challenging exam weeks, we became closer together as a class. We are defined by our hard work, our talent, our ambition, our character, and our joy. The class of 2024 has found its confidence. You'll move mountains! The pace of Senior year has been too quick. The other day, I was in Malden on our senior retreat at Boda Borg, finishing up my AP Euro summer reading, fearing what happens when a boy thinks he likes a girl he doesn’t know. Today, I am writing this Anvil article, watching the birds outside, watching the spring grass and the flowers, and thinking about what type of cake to get for my Promposal. I have never been so happy. I am excelling academically and succeeding socially. I am so grateful for my experience: the learning I have done and the people whom I have met are things that have composed my Middlesex experience that I’ll never forget.  Life could be a dream. I think I have moved a mountain. Or maybe I am in the sky, just looking at it differently. You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. Graduation will be an unforgettable moment in our lives when we will be our wisest and strongest selves. It is a day that celebrates the accomplishment of both growth and defiance. We have become great minds, leaders, bodies, and visionists. We have overcome our loneliness, our uncertainties, our fears. Indeed, it is certain that we will reflect upon our time at Middlesex and consider both our best memories and our regrets with sadness. May 26, 2024, will be the last day that our class of 98 will be kids. Life will only become more challenging, unfair, and unpredictable. We will take on more responsibilities. Nevertheless, our swords shall not sleep in our hands. Let us look ahead to the future and build our own Jerusalem. Let us therefore think of graduation as a ceremony of knighthood, entitling us with our promise for our future adventures. Congratulations! You're off to great places! Luca Raffa

A new train proposal could shake up Northeast travel, and put the US on a more competitive footing in terms of high speed rail with our European counterparts. Middlesex students are bound together by a strong sense of community in the heart of Concord Massachusetts, but their journeys from home are far from aligned. A new government plan could help to alleviate travel pressure from the students who live farther away. A coalition including Amtrak, The Federal Railroad Commission, and multiple other state governments recently announced an initiative to upgrade the Northeast Corridor for travelers. As anyone here hoping to go home for the weekend knows, right now, good train options are scarce. Among the improvements planned by the Northeast Corridor (NEC) Commission is an increase of 50 percent more trains traveling from New York City to Boston and back.  This influx of trains could be a substantial change in adding convenience to the lives of Middlesex students out of Massachusetts but on the East Coast. Four out of the five top-represented states by boarding students on campus are in the Northeast. These students live close enough to get home, but the journey is certainly not as brisk as would be preferable. With the new upgrades, a currently draining day trip home will suddenly become much more comfortable. The 176 billion dollar upgrade would not only add innovative ease to Northeast travel but would revamp the rapidly deteriorating, very aged tech of the train system today. The plan would fix aging bridges and tunnels in efforts to make travel “safer, faster, and more reliable,” according to Pete Buttigieg, the US Transportation Secretary. Still, some are skeptical. “I would still probably take a plane,” said Middlesex freshman, Timmy Hale.  “The trains even now are more expensive than a plane ticket and if you make it fast pace, it will be even more expensive,” Hale added. Though price is a logical concern, The (NEC) Commission indicated that an increase in passenger volume may actually lead to more affordable tickets despite the presumed added costs given the upgrades.  Right now, The Northeast Corridor has about 260 million riders per year. The NEC Commission projects its improvements could support 51 million more riders annually, according to its press release. Faster trains inevitably lead to more trips which creates an influx in passengers, available trains, and money. For Middlesex students hoping to hop a train home, that is welcome news. “It would make it so much easier to get home quickly,” said freshman, Grace Fundaro. The trains not only introduce a higher level of convenience and efficiency to the rail system but they also help to further sustainable transportation initiatives. Trains produce lower greenhouse gas emissions than roadway and air transportation, according to the Federal Railroad Administration. These train improvements could be one step closer to establishing a solid and reliable public transportation system able to circumstantially replace other modes of travel. Diana Davidson

School trips kicked off during spring break as Middlesex brought students traveling to the UK, Taipei, and Panama. UK Over seven days, students embarked on an adventure in England, exploring the culture, arts, and foods. They watched a total of 8 shows just in a week. Each show was a revelation that contributed to their unique experiences in the UK. For Sixing Wang ‘26, his favorite show was “The Motive and the Cue,” a show that is dedicated to theater, exploring a story of a really famous celebrity and a really famous director arguing over how to play Hamlet. Sixing described the show as powerful and captivating. The pinnacle of all the amazing shows was an extraordinary opportunity where the audience and the actors were in extreme proximity, allowing the students to immerse in a unique and unprecedented experience. Besides enjoying the shows, students also went to art museums, Shakespeare's birthplace, and of course eating UK’s famous Fish and Chips. When going to Oxford, the students got to explore one of the oldest colleges which was the original place where Harry Potter was filmed. Taipei Simultaneously, another group of students traveled to Taipei. Students delved into exploring Taiwanese culture. They went to the National Palace Museum - a huge museum with many Chinese artifacts -  the Confucius temple, and an old alley in Taipei, where there were many dry herbs that are used in medicine and spices. In a tea place, students learned how to prepare the tea, sieve properly, and master tea rituals. They also enjoyed the delicious hot pot and dim sum place. Katherine Deng ‘26 shared that they got to taste chocolate soup dumplings, which were, not surprisingly, not good. Out of every activity, Katherine believed their experience with the kids from Yangmei Municipal High School was the most memorable experience. Middlesex students were paired up with a buddy from bilingual classes who took them to explore the whole day with tons of activities. They did art together, played sports, learned taekwondo and jiu jitsu, and did some very cool science experiments that the Taipei students took months to complete. They made DIY Go-Karts that go on solar energy and had lots of fun doing drift racing. Katherine appreciated so much the hospitality of the Taiwan students and Yangmei Municipal High’s dedication to preparing for this extraordinary interaction, from science experiments to cultural exchange. Middlesex students made lots of friends from this adventure. Panama In Panama, the trip began with the group of students trekking to the Ancon Hills. Their exploration took them to the highest point in Panama to view the skyline and encountered the amazing nature, seeing six sloths, two toucans, and many small monkeys! They nearly traveled and explored everything by boat ride, sightseeing to many islands and enjoying the pretty and clear water. There were many mangroves along the islands and in the middle of the sea. Devon Coyle ‘24 shared that her favorite part of the trip was snorkeling. They first had their swim test and then started their snorkeling journey, visiting many different reef areas. They got to explore the reef-protected areas, noticing the difference as there were more fishes and brightly colored reefs. They also went up to the mangroves, taking a very close look at the roots of the mangroves. On a small island, they visited an indigenous chocolate farm. The people there showed each step of how to make chocolate and gave the Middlesex students a meal that was everything made by them from scratch. They used their own harvested rice, bananas, vegetables, and chicken—even the bowl was made of a plant shell. Devon had tons of cherishing memories and loved the trip so much that she would love to travel to Panama again Middlesex students had lots of fun during the Spring Break, immersing themselves in exploring diverse cultures across the globe, from the theaters of England, the refreshing tea of Taipei, and the crystal clear ocean of Panama. Moran Liu

In preparation for Salva Dut’s virtual arrival at Middlesex, Nik breaks down his courageous story of providing safe water for South Sudan. Salva Dut, the founder of Water For South Sudan, runs a non-profit organization that provides sustainable quality-of-life services to the people of South Sudan by drilling wells that provide safe water and improving hygiene practices in areas of need. When he joins us for lunch over Zoom on the 25th in the Barron Room this month, he will provide insight into the plights, prosperity, and promises of his work and past. Salva was born in a South Sudanese village as a part of the Dinka tribe. At 11, the Sudanese Civil War forced him from his village into a journey no child could prepare for. He became one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, seeking refugee camps and fleeing out of fear for his life. Throughout his journey to escape his war-torn home country, death surrounded him as he struggled to cope with the unknown state of his family, the death of his uncle to a rival tribe, and the mass slaughtering of those around him. In addition to Salva's journey, Linda Sue Park, an Asian-American author, uses a fictional story of a girl from Salva's village, Nya, to depict the struggles of women to support their families, the desperation for clean water, and the sacrifices Nya makes to bring her family water. After living in refugee camps for ten years and walking hundreds of miles at a time without food or water, Salva was given the opportunity to move to the United States, where a family in Rochester, New York graciously took him in. Several years later, Salva learned that his father was still alive in Southern Sudan but was suffering from a disease caused by waterborne parasites, sparking his desire to help his father and his home country by bringing clean water to those in need. In addition to his emphasis on clean water, Salva wanted to uplift the state of his country, bringing education and sanitation to the villages of South Sudan as well. These desires for change sparked the creation of Water For South Sudan, or WFSS. The main goal of WFSS is to build wells that sustain a village of a couple hundred people by pumping 1,800 gallons of water daily. Through donations and fundraisers, WFSS has drilled more than 650 wells since 2005, rehabilitated more than 400 older wells, and continues to provide hygiene education training in every village they serve. In 2021, the Water for South Sudan Foundation was established as a South Sudan Non-Governmental Organization, opening opportunities for partnerships with UNICEF, Norwegian Church Aid, and The Carter Center. WFSS aims for sustainability in all they do. Community members are involved throughout program implementation to ensure the sustainability of their work. In addition to their direct impact on 300,000 people in South Sudan, the organization has educated millions, raising awareness around the lack of basic needs in third-world countries. Representatives of WFSS have given talks worldwide, using the story of Salva and Nya to shed light on the plights of the South Sudanese. The retelling of Salva's story, especially from his own account, emphasizes the need for change within these communities that lack essential resources. Before lunch on the 25th, there will be a Google form to sign up for this discussion (to know how much pizza to buy): I hope to see you all there. Nik Rizvi

A brand new improv show has been added to the variety of theater productions of the Middlesex school year! Was it a success that will carry on in future years? The Middlesex Theater 90 class has been part of the school curriculum for many years, with each class composed of talented senior students who are dedicated to the art of acting. This year, for the first time, the Theater 90 class worked hard to prepare an incredible improv show for our community to enjoy. The show was delightfully different from any other show that our theater program presents. As an improv show, it was dynamic, laidback, and included some fun participation from the audience. Held in the intimate atmosphere of the Fort, the actors sat in two rows on either side of the stage and asked for the audience members to begin shouting out words. Audrey Tang’s word, “Jet-Lag” was selected, and the actors then sat for a moment, thinking of personal stories they had that were related to the chosen word. Anton Balyuk began by telling the audience a story about a journey he took on a plane when he was younger. After a short pause, another actor stood up and began a scene based on Anton’s story. Other Theater 90 students joined in until the scene was declared over, and another related scene began. After three of these interconnected scenes and another story, three more related scenes ensued, all related to Claire Stone’s embarrassing bathroom experience as a toddler at daycare. After a few scenes followed Tom Kane’s final story about a funny moment on one of his many Middlesex trips to London, the cast performed one last improvisation, including parts of every previous scene and incorporating every actor in the Theater 90 class. The show was incredibly humorous and entertaining from start to finish. Each story told and scene performed had the crowd roaring with laughter. I was hooked from the beginning, and when the short show ended in under an hour, I certainly wished it would have gone on for longer. Not only was the show funny, but the sheer talent of the actors was extremely impressive. Each scene was completely improvised, based on the first word given by the audience and the scenes that came after it; every story was thought of completely on the spot. As a member of the Friday night Improv Club, I am aware of how difficult it is to act, especially when you have to think of everything you do and say on the fly. In disbelief at how seamlessly the Theater 90 actors pulled off their amazing show, I even had to confirm with my friends in the class that everything really was improvised. This casual yet incredibly thorough show is something that I hope the Theater 90 class continues to perform in future years. I strongly urge all members of the Middlesex community to come out and see it: you are sure to get a good laugh. Florence Morlock