online edition
The Student Newspaper of Hopkins School
2024
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October
Halloween: A Canvas for Creativity
As the air cools and pumpkin spice lattes make their return, one event is on everyone’s mind — Halloween! From making spooky yet stylish costumes and carving charming or chilling pumpkin, it’s the perfect time to let your creativity run wild.Read More -
HDA Storms the Stage with The Tempest
While William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” might have been one of the last plays he wrote, it is the first show the Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) is performing this year. Opening on October 24 at the Woodbridge Club, the cast and crew are hard at work piecing together this production.Read More -
RIP to HDA’s Haunted House
Read MoreLurid lights, terrifying masks, and sepulchral rituals filled the halls of Thompson as the Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) performed their haunted house. The haunted house has been an HDA tradition since 2018, bringing ouija boards and coffins to campus to fundraise money from ticket sales for StuCo’s annual Connecticut Foodshare fundraiser. This year, however, the HDA will not be performing their haunted house due to scheduling conflicts. -
September
Harmonizing History: The Hopkins Choir’s European Adventure
Read MoreOn June 10, the Hopkins Choir departed from Kennedy International Airport, eager to explore the historic cities of Vienna and Prague. They embarked on three exclusive tours, participated in a workshop, and visited twelve cultural sites. Together, they performed four concerts in breathtaking places such as St. Stephen’s Cathedral, and during some performances, they were joined by local choirs to host incredible performances. -
Reimagined Lovell Hall To Open Term II
Read MoreAt the start of Term 2, Lovell Hall will again be open and ready for use. Over the summer, significant progress was made on the construction of the new performing arts center. The new Lovell will have nearly twice the square footage as the old Lovell, and, with several levels, lots more volume. Drama teacher Michael Calderone said that “all of Hopkins is going to benefit from the renovation.” Complete with state of the art technology, Lovell “will be a place where we come together as a community,” Calderone shared. -
Stacey Abrams to Visit Hopkins for Democracy Assembly Series
Read MoreAs part of this fall’s Democracy Assembly theme, Hopkins will be hosting several important guest speakers, most notably former Georgia State Representative and gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams. Speakers will also visit sections of the senior-school Twenty-first Century Democracy elective, designed by Assistant Head of School John Roberts, which studies and dissects different pieces of modern government and involves a distinctive experiential component where students work on a local campaign. -
Welcome, New Hopkins Faculty!
Read More -
What Was the Song of the Summer?
Read MoreAlthough this summer has been relaxing, it is time to get back into the groove, drink some of that “me espresso,” and reflect on all the new music that has come out these past few months. -
NIL Deals: Leveling the Playing Field for Athletes?
After years of following rules that prohibited compensation, college athletes can now officially earnRead More
money through their sports. This change first came in 2021, when the NCAA implemented an interim policy allowing athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness
(NIL). Previously, college athletes were considered amateurs, and any financial gains went to their universities. The NIL policy has since enabled student-athletes to monetize their personal brands through
brand deals and collectives. -
What's in a "Scarf"? Modern Cultural Appropriation
Read MoreThis summer, the “Scandinavian scarf” took TikTok by storm. The only thing is, the Scandinavian scarfisn’t Scandinavian — it’s Indian. -
June
All You Need to Know About Prom
Hopkins prom is an annual event for juniors, seniors, and their guests. Ava Maccaro ’24, a member of the prom Committee, says this year “the theme for the dance is Mean Girls and Y2K.” Mean Girls was a popular movie from the 2000s, and Y2K means “year 2000,” or fashion trends from the 2000s. Maccaro shared that the prom Committee arranged for the event to be held at Woodwinds Venue in Branford on June 4th at 7pm.Read More -
Artist of the Issue: Emma Yan
Art has always been a central part of life for Emma Yan ’24. Beginning as a writer in preschool to a now celebrated member of the Hopkins art community, she is, to her core, a dedicated artist.Read More -
Cracking the Case of Comedy: Junior School Players Shine in “The Alibis”
Laughter and suspense go hand in hand in “The Alibis” performed by the Junior School Players. Since the return from Spring break, Director Hope Hartup and the Junior School cast have been working hard to perfect their production. On Friday, May 10, they made their debut at the Woodbridge Club, followed by another performance on Saturday, May 11.Read More -
History of Spam Jam
Every June, harmonies reverberate across campus as the hard work of Hopkins’ a cappella groups culminates at Spam Jam. Spam Jam started as a small gathering in Upper Heath and has evolved to an annual concert under the graduation tent. On June 6 at 7:00 pm, Triple Trio and Harmonaires, the two acapella groups on campus, will end their year with a performance that features both fast and slow melodies, celebrates their seniors, and fills campus with music.Read More -
Music Festivals
Read MoreWhether it be Coachella in California or Governors Ball in New York, music festival season is upon us. For many, the bold fashion choices, dust-filled lungs, and blistered feet are the highlight of their summer. This festival season, however, is different from the rest: as my friends and I reviewed the Gov Ball lineup, we found ourselves looking forward not to Post Malone, 21 Savage, or SZA, but rather to smaller artists such as Chapel Roan and Faye Webster. It seems as though these micro-artists have piqued the interest of music festival attendees, and are the beginning of a new era of music. -
Seniors finding roommates
As the 2023-2024 school draws to a close, Hopkins seniors are focusing on their next four years. Now that they have selected what college they will attend, they can dive into the more nitty-gritty aspects. Out of the many details to consider, one of their concerns is finding a roommate for their college dormitory. A roommate is more than just someone who sleeps across the room from you.Read More -
Spikeball fun
Read MoreAs the springtime weather warms up the Hill, students are venturing outside to the quad during their freetime to play the most popular game on campus: Spikeball. Students need a break from the academic push at the end of the school year and find relaxation and joy through playing Spikeball. Students also recognize the unifying impact Spikeball has on our community and its ability to benefit others, like Brayden Gray ’24 who hosted a recent Spikeball tournament. -
Summertime traditions and vacations
With the 2023-24 school year coming to an end, students and faculty alike are looking forward to enjoying summer’s heat, blue skies, and freedom from school-related obligations. Free time may entail relaxing and focusing on hobbies, and several people partake in yearly traditions that make summer a more special time for them.Read More -
April
Behind the Scenes: Awesome Athletic Crew
The Hopkins Athletics Program offers an array of team sports, informal sports, and student health.Read More -
Captivating Crew Captain: Katherine Tombaugh
Read MoreKatherine Tombaugh ’24 captains Hopkins Crew this year alongside Hanna Jennings ’24. -
Échange Fantastique: French Students Visit Hopkins
This month, thirteen students and two teachers from Lycée Louis Pasteur in Avignon, France came to Hopkins and stayed with host families throughout the week.Read More -
Granny? More Like Mommy: The Prevalence of Ageism in Beauty
Read MoreThroughout history, beauty has been defined extensively by characteristics such as a youthful appearance, perfect skin, and cleanliness. -
Hopkins Students Spring into Spring Break China Trip
Read MoreThis spring break, 31 Hopkins Chinese students and four teachers voyaged to China and Taiwan, with stopsin Beijing, Xi’an, Changsha, and Taipei. -
Laudable Lacrosse Captain: Eli Ratner
Read MoreEli Ratner ’24 is co-captain of the 2024 Hopkins Varsity Boys Lacrosse team alongside Brendan Cafferty ’24 and Toby Scheps ’24. -
Letter to the Editor: Heidi Dawidoff
Read MoreThe Letter to the Editor excerpted below was written by Heidi Dawidoff, a retired Hopkins English teacher, in response to Mira Krichavsky’s story in the December 2023 issue of The Razor about the merger of the all-boys Hopkins Grammar School and all-girls Day Prospect Hill (DPH) (“Looking Back on a Thorny Path to Coeducation”). -
Short-Form Content, Social Media, and Sinophobia
Read MoreThe past few decades have seen a spread of East Asian culture, with phenomena like the internationalization of Japanese anime and the global rise of Korean pop culture. -
We Think Hopkins Needs to Rethink How We Do Our Thinking
Recently, I was watching an episode of “Grey's Anatomy” where the interns were learning how to triage patients in a mass casualty event.Read More -
Artist of the Issue: Leila Hyder ’24
Read MoreThroughout her life, Leila Hyder ’24 has been surrounded by inspiration for her art as an actress and a painter. Recognized for her contributions to Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) productions, she has influenced the Hopkins arts community. -
Flames, Fumes, and Follies: The HARPS Lab Explosion
Read MoreSince 2016, the Hopkins Authentic Research Programs in Science (HARPS) has given qualifying Hopkins students hands-on experience in a lab while simultaneously continuing their studies in the sciences. For almost a decade, dozens of students have been able to conduct their own experiments and research, both withinand outside of Hopkins. This unique opportunity, however, was nearly extinguished. -
Free Block Freedom with Friends
Don’t know where to go during your free block? Hopkins students have varying opinions on the best place to hang out during their free blocks. Students’ opinions range from those who prefer to lounge on the couches in Upper Heath to those who play sports in the Athletic Center, and some even prefer the outdoors.Read More -
HDA Discovers The Importance of Being Earnest
Read MoreComedy is a medium that can take many years to master, but HDA is doing it in just a little under a month. Throughout the month of April, the Hopkins Drama Association (HDA) has been hard at work preparing for their production of “The Importance of Being Earnest” by Oscar Wilde, taking place at the Woodbridge Pool Club from April 25-27. -
Paper vs. Digital: The Battle for Notetaking Supremacy
Read MoreIn an era where pirated online textbooks replace traditional ones and SMART boards overtake chalkboards, the age-old question persists: What is the superior method of note-taking? Hopkins students remain divided on this issue, with some defending the classic paper-and-pen experience and others arguing that digital notes are better. -
Sevvies Meet Seurat: Hopkins English and Art Galleries
Read MoreStudent-made architecture models cast shadows on their baseplates, a chalkboard fills up with community- made art, and a light show by visiting artist Jason Ting dances across the wall. From student artwork to visiting artists, the Keator Gallery features a variety of artwork throughout the year. Hopkins’ own gallery, however, is not the only exposure to art exhibits students receive; proximity to the Yale Art Gallery and other art exhibitions allow for off-campus field trips and independent visits where students learn to observe and analyze art.
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2024
Editor in Chief
Asher Joseph
Managing Editor
Margaret Russell
News
Asher Joseph
Managing Editor
Margaret Russell
News
Claire Billings
Jo Reymond
Rose Porosoff
Jo Reymond
Rose Porosoff
Features
Eric Roberts
Abby Rakotomavo
Elona Spiewak
Veena Scholand
Elona Spiewak
Veena Scholand
Arts
Miriam Levin
Liliana Dumas
Saisha Ghai
Olivia Yu
Liliana Dumas
Saisha Ghai
Olivia Yu
Op/Ed
Anya Mahajan
Anya Mahajan
Rain Zeng
Winter Szarabajka
Aerin O'Brien
SportsWinter Szarabajka
Aerin O'Brien
Karun Srihari
Samantha Bernstein
Hana Beauregard
Hana Beauregard
Micah Betts
Elaina Paktuka
Elaina Paktuka
Editors-at-Large
Edel Lee
Anjali van Bladel
Nate Gerber
Rebecca Li
Cartoonists
Hailey Willey
Anjali van Bladel
Nate Gerber
Rebecca Li
Cartoonists
Hailey Willey
Web Editors
Amelia Hudonogov-FosterAnvi Pathak
Chloe Wang
Faculty Advisers
Stephen May
Elizabeth Gleason
Shanti Madison
Elizabeth Gleason
Shanti Madison
The Razor's Edge reflects the opinion of 4/5 of the editorial board and will not be signed. The Razor welcomes letters to the editor but reserves the right to decide which letters to publish, and to edit letters for space reasons. Unsigned letters will not be published, but names may be withheld on request. Letters are subject to the same libel laws as articles. The views expressed in letters are not necessarily those of the editorial board.
The Razor, an open forum publication, is published monthly during the school year by students of:
Hopkins School
986 Forest Road
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: 203.397.1001 x628
Email: smay@hopkins.edu
The Razor, an open forum publication, is published monthly during the school year by students of:
Hopkins School
986 Forest Road
New Haven, CT 06515
Phone: 203.397.1001 x628
Email: smay@hopkins.edu
