Editorial: DONALD J. TRUMP WINS 2024 ELECTION

By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief, and Joonyoung Heo, 146th Managing Editor

Yesterday morning, America woke up to the news that Donald J. Trump had been elected once again to the presidency of the United States, exceeding the requisite 270 electoral college votes. Trump both clinched more than 70 more electoral votes than the democratic candidate—the incumbent Vice President Kamala Harris—and won the popular vote by a margin of nearly five million. This makes him the first to win two non-consecutive terms in the White House since Grover Cleveland in 1892, as well as the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote in 20 years.

Of the seven most-watched swing states this year—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—Trump has already won all but two—Arizona and Nevada—which are too close to call but which he currently leads. Nationwide, The New York Times reported that more than 90 percent of counties with nearly completed results (2,367) shifted in favor of Trump in comparison to the 2020 election.  Analysts at The Associated Press agreed that he gained ground in all but two states: Washington and Utah. 

Once a Trump victory was assured in the early morning, the president-elect delivered a victory speech to a crowd of supporters in Palm Beach, Florida. “This is a magnificent victory for the American people,” he said, “that will allow us to make America great again.” 

In reference to the attempts on his life before the election, Trump added, “God spared my life for a reason . . . I will fight for you. This will truly be the golden age of America.”

That evening, Harris delivered her concession speech at her alma mater, Howard University. In her address, Harris said that she  would “never give up the ight,” and that “sometimes the fight takes a while, [but] that doesn’t mean we won’t win.” At the same time, she emphasized that “a fundamental principle of American democracy is that when we lose an election, we accept the results. That principle, as much as any other, distinguishes democracy from monarchy or tyranny. And anyone who seeks the public trust must honor it.”

Whether you were thrilled or disappointed by the results of this election, we can all agree to respect the sanctity of the democratic process and the will of the American people. We continue to encourage Exonians to engage in open dialogue, disagree respectfully, and stay informed. For centuries at the Academy, we’ve been able to overcome our differences and recognize our shared identity as Exonians. Now is not the time to stray from this most foundational tradition.

We also invite any members of the Exeter community—students, faculty, staff, alumni—to share their personal opinions in an op-ed through our website at theexonian.net/submit-to-the-exonian/ or by emailing rhpark@exeter.edu. 

Note: This editorial was written based on information available at 10 p.m. on Nov. 6, 2024.

Editorial: Engage, Listen, Reflect

By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief

With the election only five days away, now is the time to lean into the principles that make our community at Exeter unique. In his opening address to the Academy in September, Principal Rawson encouraged us to pursue three goals: have fun, show gratitude, and seek complex truths. These values resonate with particular urgency now, as eligible seniors prepare to cast their votes and all students have the ability to actively participate in the national discourse shaping our country’s future.

For 146 years, The Exonian has been the voice of Exeter students in our search to amplify diverse voices, advocate for thoughtful discussion, and foster a culture of intellectual curiosity on campus. In this tradition, we now invite you to join us in pushing back against the biased, oversimplified narratives that flood our screens and attempt to determine our beliefs for us. 

In an era where national news and social media is increasingly polarized, it is more important than ever that we see beyond this division and embrace the difficult but rewarding work of understanding and shaping our own truths. Get off your phone, look to your left or right as you file into the Assembly hall on Friday morning; find someone whose views you may never consider aligning with, and strike up a conversation. Pursue opinions that you’ve never heard before with genuine curiosity. Hear them out. Then share what you believe, and why you do. 

Whether it solidifies or broadens your own perspective, this eagerness to engage in open dialogue is what defines Exeter’s mission and your identity as a student here. It is the core of the Harkness pedagogy, thriving not on agreement but the rich interplay of respectful disagreement between our various perspectives.

These may be the last few years of your life where you are surrounded by bright students from every conceivable background, who are not only willing, but eager to listen and to be heard. As of now, Exeter’s 1,103 students come to campus from 44 U.S. states and 42 foreign countries around the world, each bringing their own values, knowledge, and perspective. Soon, we will take our places in a world that doesn’t always offer opportunity for dialogue or encourage reaching across divides. Here, however, at Exeter, we have a unique opportunity to develop the mindset and confidence that will serve us, and perhaps even society, for a lifetime. Let Exeter be our training ground to develop the skills of effective communication and listening that will prepare us for less receptive audiences in the future. 

As the election nears, let us not merely consume information but actively engage with it. Don’t be afraid to talk about controversial subjects like climate change, the conflict in the Middle East, the right to abortion, religion, and AI. In a world increasingly marked by conflict, let us instead be defined by our openness, our curiosity, and our commitment to truth. This is how we fulfill the mission of Exeter — and how we prepare to contribute meaningfully to the world beyond it.

Editorial: A Note on Graduation

By Joonyoung Heo, 146th Managing Editor

Every spring, it falls upon the incumbent board of The Exonian to piece together an end-of-year issue for graduation. From our News section we draw highlights from articles published in the last year; from our Life section, full-length features of selected members of the graduating class; from our Opinions section, reflective pieces from those seniors willing to contribute; from our Sports section, features of the year’s varsity athletic teams; and from our Humor section, the funniest material our paper had to offer.

The graduation issue is the pride of every board’s tenure—it is, in a sense, our magnum opus. Admittedly, it is also fairly formulaic. Graduation issues always have the Cum Laude and annual prize list, more than a handful Seniors of the Year, and “senior ads” from families dispersed throughout. These components hardly change from board to board.

But at the same time, we find there is a great deal that makes this graduation issue—and indeed, every graduation issue—rather unique. Take the retiring faculty features. This year we say good-bye to six members members of the Exeter community as they conclude their lengthy professional careers. Mr. Crofoot has been teaching since 1976, making his last year his 48th. And, of course, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherspoon are departing after 37 years of service to the student body. Each of them has devoted decades of passion and hard work in their own way—each of them is deserving many times over of our gratitude. 

The same might be said of our Seniors of the Year. Every graduation issue we feature around 20 seniors whose “Exeter experience” we commemorate, and this issue is no different. And while all of them might be made to fit crudely the traditional labels of “scientific” or “athletic” or “humanities-based,” we find it impossible—and certainly an injustice—to distill their time here into a number of molds. Across this campus, people have been made better in such a way that no one else could have done. These seniors leave behind their own brand of change, and they deserve to be celebrated as distinct individuals.

In a similar vein, the entire graduating class of 2024 is worthy of special recognition. They met as preps behind plastic screens and disposable masks, and they’ve done remarkable things nonetheless. If this graduation issue really is in the spirit of celebration, they deserve every bit of it.

Uniqueness in spite of continuity, then, is what we emphasize this year—continuity in another gradution issue, yet uniqueness in how it falls on us to raise a toast to these most singular people and their most singular achivements. Congratulations, class of 2024, departing faculty. We will miss you.

Editorial: Weekly: A New Chapter for The Exonian

By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief

If you’re an avid reader of The Exonian, you’re probably wondering, “Why am I holding a May 2 issue of The Exonian right now? Wasn’t I just fighting through the crowds of fans to pick my copy up last week?”

Jokes aside, we don’t deny that The Exonian no longer has the presence or competitive hype on campus that it used to. After the pandemic, the unprecedented growth of social media platforms, and the pace that news spreads over the internet, newspapers around the globe have faced an ultimatum: catch up, or fall behind. 

The 144th and 145th boards made the wise decision to move from a weekly to a biweekly schedule because we were going too fast, and we needed a breath. Concerns were being raised that The Exonian’s rigorous schedule was negatively impacting the mental health of the paper’s staff in the already-stressful climate at Exeter, and the schedule alleviated this pressure. 

Now, the time has come for us to join the race again. As The Exonian’s presence on campus—from the morning carts in Agora to the stands in the library, bookstore, and the scene center—has become less frequent, it has made it more difficult for us to cover the topics and events that matter to us as a community in a timely fashion, the heart of our mission since the beginning of The Exonian in 1878.

By opening up communication systems between ourselves, our writers, and our editors, we are confident that we can create ways for our staff to feel heard, supported, and appreciated through their work in the paper, while pursuing their love for journalism, curiosity about the unfamiliar, and enthusiasm to inform the community.

For these reasons, The Exonian editorial staff has made the decision to return the school’s newspaper to a weekly format. 

In an era of unprecedented misinformation and the decline of print journalism, we believe that maintaining The Exonian’s presence and relevance on campus is more important than ever. For the remainder of our tenure, we will strive to not only bring consistent, diverse, and relevant news in our weekly print issues, but expand through social media platforms and a new, entirely student-programmed website to leave a lasting positive impact on The Exonian and the Exeter community. 

We encourage everyone—prep or senior, day stud or international, STEM whiz or history buff, athlete or pro dancer—to join us in this journey. We are so grateful for and proud of our current staff writers, experienced editors, talented artists, and creative designers, and would love to have any, or every, one of you join our team. 

But you don’t have to join The Exonian to have a voice. We welcome all suggestions, from article topics to opinions pieces and creative artwork, which can be submitted through our website at theexonian.net/submit-to-the-exonian/.

As always, we are thankful for your continued support of our publication. Please cheer us on as we enter this new phase in The Exonian’s history.

Editorial: The Canceled MLK Workshop Was Miscommunicated but Rational

A Call for Continued Conversation, Followed by A Message from the Principal

By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief

On Jan. 14, the night before the Academy’s celebration of Martin Luther King Day, students who had signed up for the workshop “Reflections on Palestinian-Black Solidarity for Liberation” were informed that the session would no longer be held. The cancellation of the workshop disappointed and distressed many Exeter students and faculty, with several students taking to Instagram under the handle @black.palestine.pea to protest what they felt was the Academy’s censorship of the community’s efforts to engage in dialogue around the ongoing devastation in the Middle East. However, it appears that rather than the Academy demonstrating “its lack of care for the multitude of students who found a space such as this workshop safe for their academic and curricular growth,” as interpreted by students, the cancellation of the workshop was a miscommunicated administrative effort to carry out a conversation about the Israel-Palestine conflict at a later time with more adequate support.

Organized by Instructor in English Mercy Carbonell and Instructor in History Khalid Madhi, the workshop was first introduced to the community in a list of MLK day programming options sent by Director of Equity and Inclusion Stephanie S. Bramlett on Jan. 8. The description reads as follows:

Reflections on Palestinian-Black Solidarity for Liberation 

This workshop explores how systems of oppression and exploitation operate concurrently and how anti-oppressive struggles are, too, connected. We will investigate meaningful acts of resistance, listen and learn from one another, and discuss how movements work together to build bridges to walk in solidarity with marginalized communities at both the global and local levels. This workshop will focus on what Angela Y. Davis means by Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement. 

What is solidarity? What is our responsibility to bear witness? In what ways might historical and current Black Palestinian solidarity connect with social justice issues the participants know and care about? We will invite participants to explore some of the roots of Black Palestinian solidarity and to imagine and to reflect on the various methods of resistance within and across our communities.

Carbonell and Madhi shared that the workshop was designed based on academic materials and historical evidence. “We designed the Workshop for MLK Day 2024’s ‘Black Pain and Black Joy in Resistance’ to address students’ needs for a space to reflect on the various expressions of solidarity between Black-Americans and Palestinians,” they explained. “Our approach drew on classes already being taught in History, in English - e.g. US History, Race: a Global History, English 320 Race in Literature, Modern Africa, The Art of Protest, Harlem Renaissance, Toni Morrison, among others.”

According to Carbonell, Madhi, and the students running the Instagram account, the cancellation of the workshop defied the core values with which the day celebrating King was founded. “The disappointment with the cancellation, the timing and the rationale is widespread,” observed Carbonell and Madhi. “It is based on the disconnect with MLK Day’s historical emphasis ‘on a day in which the entire community gathers to honor and celebrate the legacy of Dr. King to consider the ways his legacy has endured and how the work he and others began must continue in new and essential ways,’ and the structural design of workshops to ‘...offer a range of perspectives and work, along with a range of pedagogical styles…With each workshop, our hope is that our leaders create the possibility for our students to learn, unlearn, and find ways that they can play an active role in the essential changing of our society.’”

The student response to the abrupt cancellation is understandable. It is certainly frustrating that the administration made the decision to cancel the workshop so abruptly and without offering an explanation or public statement to the community. We hope that in the future, there is more transparency offered to the broader community if such a significant decision is being made, and that the students and faculty can engage in collective, thoughtful conversation around important topics. 

However, it is also understandable that the administration made the decision to exercise caution around these types of conversations. In light of the recent presidential upheavals at major universities and harmful actions and rhetoric on both sides of the conflict, the Academy’s responsibility to keep Exeter a welcome learning environment for all is more important than ever. In spite of the @black.palestine.pea post suggesting that “the institutional silence and suppression of conversation are perpetuating the emotional toll our students are experiencing from processing global events,” the school has encouraged discussion of the conflict in the Middle East. 

For example, Oct. 10, Principal Bill Rawson sent the community a message encouraging “adults to accommodate the stresses students may be facing, while noting that we should take our cues from the students and others on whether they wish to engage regarding these events.” On Oct. 18, several faculty members, including Carbonell and Madhi, held a session for both those who “are in deep pain and are seeking emotional/spiritual support” as well as those who “wish for a space to ask questions out of a genuine desire to understand historical contexts and nuances.” This event focused on the collective destruction in the Middle East rather than either side of the conflict, serving as a beneficial, neutral conversation for those in need of support. As the conflict persists, however, continued active communication has not. The Academy should have continued and regular inclusive discussions across the community.

As we conclude with a statement that Principal Rawson has requested be shared with the community, we hold the administration to their promise to have these important conversations with students in a way that is equitable and constructive for all.

[To read lower Truman Yee’s perspective on the effects of the cancellation on the Exeter community, flip to page 13.]

A Message from Principal Bill Rawson:

The workshop was cancelled to provide time to gather additional input and perspective around how to structure and offer opportunities for important conversations in our community on these and related subjects. We know that many students and teachers were disappointed, and that many students want to have opportunities to learn and discuss important topics related to the war in Gaza and the longstanding conflicts in the Middle East. To that end, we will work with faculty, student advisers, and student leaders to create appropriate opportunities for such engagement on campus, meeting students where they are, and understanding that the needs of students will vary. These conversations have begun.

The devastation and destruction in Gaza and suffering and death of Palestinian people is deeply distressing to witness, as was and is the violence, death and suffering that occurred on October 7 and the suffering of Israeli hostages and their families that continues today. As I said in my statement on October 10, we are all affected by these events, and many in our community with ties to the region bear a particularly heavy burden. I said further that we must hope or pray for peace in the Middle East, and work to create a world where in all regions the dignity and equal worth of every human life is understood and respected by all. 

Our mission and values guide us in this work as in all other work that we do as a school and community. Our vision for diversity, equity and inclusion at Exeter is inseparable from our vision for learning, and it calls upon all of us to strive to learn with and from each other as best we can. We seek to cultivate the empathy, understanding, and respect necessary to be open to thoughts, perspectives and experiences that differ from our own — to be able to hear and learn from stories that differ from our own. This is difficult work under present circumstances, and we will take our cues from students concerning whether and how they would like to engage. We also will continue to provide support and resources in the many ways described in Rev. Bonnie-Jeanne Casey’s email of October 22, in which she urged us all to “focus on empathy, on holding space for our common humanity, and on embracing each other’s goodwill during this time of unimaginable fear and sadness.”

We reject antisemitism, Islamophobia and all forms of anti-Palestinian, anti-Israeli, and anti-Arab hate, discrimination, or violence, as well as any other forms of identity-based hate, discrimination or violence.

Editorial: Claudine Gay’s Resignation Affects Us All

Gay, Magill, and Kornbluth give testimony to Congress, Dec. 5, 2023 Courtesy of Puck News

By Roxane Park, 146th Editor-in-Chief

“When my brief presidency is remembered, I hope it will be seen as a moment of reawakening to the importance of striving to find our common humanity — and of not allowing rancor and vituperation to undermine the vital process of education. I trust we will all find ways, in this time of intense challenge and controversy, to recommit ourselves to the excellence, the openness, and the independence that are crucial to what our university stands for — and to our capacity to serve the world.”

Dr. Claudine Gay’s resignation from her tenure as president of Harvard University followed months of public scrutiny around Harvard’s tolerance of political protests on campus, Gay’s statements during the Congressional hearings about free speech, and allegations of plagiarism in her academic work. What is discussed far less is the dedication that Gay held to her alma mater and to upholding her values of equal opportunity and intellectual curiosity.

An alumna of the class of 1988 and former trustee of Exeter (2017-2023), Gay’s deep connection to the Academy and its values is undeniable. “It was a privilege to serve with Dr. Gay as trustees at Exeter,” said President of the Board of Trustees, Morgan Sze. “During her six years she made important contributions in many areas, including serving on our new mission statement task force and co-chairing our principal search. Her prioritization of her time for Exeter amidst her busy schedule showed how much Exeter means to her. We are fortunate to have trustees from diverse backgrounds serving the Academy who, like Dr. Gay, all generously share a dedication to non sibi service.”

Principal Bill Rawson, well acquainted with Gay from her time as a trustee, commented, “Not surprisingly, I was saddened to see her tenure end in the way it did. Dr.Gay made important contributions as a trustee and was a strong and thoughtful presence at the trustee table.”

Gay stepped down as a trustee of the Academy in June in anticipation of her inauguration to Harvard’s presidency on Sep. 29, 2023. At the time, she was celebrated for making history as the second woman and first person of color to serve as the university’s president. “Our stories — and the stories of the many trailblazers between us — are linked by this institution’s long history of exclusion and the long journey of resistance and resilience to overcome it,” Gay said in her inauguration speech. “And because of the collective courage of all those who dared to createadifferentfuture, I stand before you on this stage able to say, ‘I am Claudine Gay, the president of Harvard University.’”

A week after she assumed the role, Hamas launched the devastating Oct. 7 attack on Israeli communities along the nation’s southern border with Gaza. International attention turned to the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine, inciting dual outrage at the massacre of Israeli civilians and the long- term plight of the Palestinian civilians. Enraged and frequently misinformed university students across America took to protesting, both in person and over social media, as advocates of both “sides” of the conflict.

But the protests turned violent. Students were heard intolerably calling for the genocide of the Israeli people, while others blatantly denied that Palestinians were victims of human rights violations. Three major university presidents — Dr. Sally Kornbluth of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dr. Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania, and Dr. Claudine Gay of Harvard University — were called to testify before Congress on Dec. 5 about emerging antisemitism on their campuses. The crux arrived when they were each asked by Representative Elise Stefanik, in turn, “At [your institution], does calling for the genocide of Jews violate the rules of bullying and harassment?” to which they each replied that “it can, depending on the context.” These controversial statements, likely made upon shared legal advice, garnered significant criticism, and many called for the three presidents’ resignation. At this stage, Magill resigned from her post, but Kornbluth and Gay received votes of confidence from their respective boards.

Gay’s presidency, which was already placed under unprecedented levels of scrutiny given her race and gender, fell even more directly into the spotlight following the hearings. Questions about her publication record and allegations of academic plagiarism surfaced, and after issuing a series of corrections for inadequate citations and additional allegations surfaced, Gay made the decision to step down from her role. In her farewell message to the Harvard community, later published by The New York Times, Gay clarified, “after consultation with members of the Corporation, it has become clear that it is in the best interests of Harvard for me to resign so that our community can navigate this moment of extraordinary challenge with a focus on the institution rather than any individual.”

With this, Gay encapsulated the core of the issue with the accusations, social media, and the nation’s discourse: they are focusing on the wrong things. How did a devastating terrorist attack halfway across the world cause the resignation of two Ivy League women presidents and cast doubt on the tenets of free speech and diversity, equity, and inclusion? Why is it that, at any point, there was more news coverage of this domestic dispute than the very real, terrifying war and casualties occuring in the Middle East? Is it a coincidence that all three of the presidents called before Congress were women? And further — will the removal of Magill and now Gay truly reshape or improve their universities?

Is the fervor and controversy surrounding Gay’s presidency merely a proxy battle for a greater culture war?

These questions yield no easy, nor certain, answers.

What is certain, Rawson promised, is that Exeter will strive to remain true to its core values of freedom of speech, knowledge and goodness, academic excellence, youth from every quarter, and non sibi in the face of external pressures.

“I speak about the importance of free speech to our school mission at every Opening Assembly,” Rawson said. “Our core value of academic excellence recognizes the importance of rigorous inquiry and thoughtful discourse to our pursuit of complex truths. Our commitment to free speech also is embedded in our Vision Statement for DEI, which calls upon all of us to be open to ideas and perspectives that might differ from our own, and to engage across differences, including differences in political beliefs.”

Rawson continued, “Toward that end, I have said we must learn to be comfortable being uncomfortable, and we should expect a diversity of viewpoints on almost every subject worth exploring. To realize fully the promise of our richly diverse community and make the most of the opportunities to learn with and from each other, we seek always to create a learning environment where all members of the community have a strong sense of belonging and all voices are heard.”

We, at Exeter, must now come together as a community to define concepts like “freedom of speech” and determine what lines should not be crossed. This will take time — we might not get it right all at once or all of the time, but we must be willing to engage in the difficult dialogue and journey to get there.