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Finn Seeley ‘25 (Sports Editor)
The major sporting leagues of the world have come under scrutiny for their large environmental footprint, and efforts to reduce this have become increasingly popular among these organizations. From the Olympic Games, to the FIFA World Cup, there have been remarkable efforts to make the games as sustainable as they are exciting to watch. Specifically, these organizations have made visible changes to reduce environmental degradation by creating initiatives to reduce waste, conserve resources, and minimize pollution. For example, the 2020 Tokyo Games made headlines for their ambitious goals in sustainability. These goals were spread across many different aspects of the Olympic Games, showing their consistent effort in achieving sustainability. They used recycled materials for medals, podiums, and even uniforms. Notably, they featured venues that minimized their ecological footprint through sustainable, modular designs; furthermore, all transportation they offered was zero-emission: the buses were electric, and the other vehicles they offered athletes were powered by hydrogen fuel cells. The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar also sparked discussion around sustainability in sports through initiatives such as constructing stadiums to be energy-efficient and climate-controlled, reducing the overall carbon footprint of the games; however, while these initiatives are great, the construction still has quite a sizable impact on the environment. Qatar tried to offset this by investing in renewable energy and sustainable infrastructure. The tournament as a whole has also created a plan that emphasizes the need to repurpose and reuse pre-existing stadiums, which is better for the environment than creating new sustainable stadiums. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will occur in the United States, Canada, and Mexico in stadiums like MetLife in New Jersey and the Rose Bowl in Los Angeles. Finally, Formula 1 is the first motorsport organization to make headlines for its environmental initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. The sport has set the goal and is committed to being carbon-neutral by 2030 by introducing hybrid engines, suggesting sustainable fuels, and taking a more sustainable approach towards transportation. These initiatives are all signs of something more significant– an effort by the world to live more sustainably. Having popular organizations like these making efforts to reduce their respective ecological footprints represents a big step towards encouraging everyone who watches these events to consider their own footprints.
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Cindion Huang ‘25
Show me the lake where all the poets went to die: The clear water, pebbles under sage green; Is that where they look towards the sky? Or is it there where they silently cry A river of white, hoping that someday, Someone arrives at the lake where they went to die? Show me the lake where many poets tried to craft timeless pieces of art — unseen, Unknown unless the poets turn and say goodbye; When the poets look up towards the sky For one last time, with no hate or dismay, Do they hold a glare or tear in their eye? Show me the lake where all the poets died, Where the warm summer breeze, the air so clean That they wished to sink & forever hide. Did the lake vanish, dried up by your side with all the life and hopes deflated astray? After every drunken cloud and every sunken tide -- Show me the lake where all the poets died. Trent Jones ’25  Mr Thomsen has established himself as both a cornerstone of the history department and now as a Dean.
How has this year been for you? “My students would be the ones to answer that the best. Getting to know so many students and families through my roles as a teacher, coach, advisor, and corridor supervisor has been a joy. Relationships are why I chose this profession. I think that relationships are at the core of what we do within our alignment at Westminster and within our mission and administration. For me, these relationships have created a rewarding year and reaffirmed many of the principles as to why I went into this work initially.” What is your favorite part about Westminster? “My favorite part is the students. The students at Westminster have been incredibly open to my teaching style and to my presence around campus so far, and that level of kindness and hospitality means a lot to me. I think that is unique to Westminster. It's a special trait of our community that students actively seek those relationships, whether it's in the dorm, in the classroom, or on the field.” What are you looking forward to continuing this year? “I’m looking forward to continuing to build the momentum that we have in AP US History. I’m looking forward to having some of the veteran energy that being in year two brings, where you know the calendar and the institutional norms. I will have a greater sense of our internal mechanisms and how to help support students. As someone who taught the Fifth Form this year, I’m looking forward to seeing you all become the leaders of our campus next year.” Audrey Tan ‘27 With the 2024 presidential election concluded, and Donald Trump emerging victorious, the comparison between betting markets compared to traditional polling methods have been scrutinized. While opinion polls are commonly utilized, they have often proved to be flawed in past election cycles. As Americans are now allowed to bet on elections, it’s useful to evaluate which method may provide a clearer picture of electoral dynamics, and what the betting markets and polls got right or wrong after the 2024 election. Political betting has evolved from a niche activity to a more mainstream practice, fueled by online platforms and a heightened public interest in politics. Just this past election, over $100 million was bet on the election. It’s not new, however, as bets on presidential elections were even common during the 20th century, where betting in New York City controlled the market at the New York Curb Exchange. Nowadays, in the legally administered platform Kalshi, with more than $400 million at stake, platforms like Kalshi have allowed individuals to wager on various outcomes, including presidential candidates, congressional compositions, and specific policy decisions. The odds presented in the betting markets not only reflect the collective sentiment of bettors, who analyze the current events and campaign strategies to inform their wagers. These odds can shift rapidly based on breaking news and political developments, such as the Trump and Harris debate, where on Polymarket, a crypto trading platform, the odds for both candidates were tied. Polling remains the standard method for gauging public opinion, as organizations like Gallup and Pew Research conducted surveys to capture voter preferences and issue stances; however, polling is not without its challenges: factors such as errors, question wording and timing can also influence results. For example, polls typically have a margin of error ranging from 2% to 5%, which can lead to many discrepancies in close races. Furthermore, the accuracy of polls can decline as election day approaches, especially when voter sentiment shifts rapidly due to unforeseen events. An example of this would be in Iowa, where polls unexpectedly showed Kamala Harris ahead of Donald Trump, which caught many analysts off guard. Events such as Trump’s high-profile rally at Madison Square Garden, influenced voter perceptions, as betting markets shifted dramatically. For instance, just after the rally, betting platforms like Polymarket and Kalshi recorded a noticeable increase in Trump’s odds, suggesting that the rally had helped effectively galvanize support for him at a crucial time. Conversely, Harris’s campaign focused on outreach efforts aimed at key demographic groups, including young women and voters, which contributed to her rising numbers, as shown in the graph below.  This shows how polls can reveal insights into different demographic groups, allowing for targeted campaigning.
Historically, the 2016 and the 2020 presidential elections underscored the varying accuracy of polls and betting markets. In 2016, national polls showed that Hillary Clinton was leading, yet Trump won key battleground states, raising doubts about polling reliability. Conversely, betting markets suggested a closer race than many polls indicated. Reflecting on the 2024 election, with both polling and betting markets active, polls indicated a close race between Trump and Harris, often showing them within a few percentage points. The interplay between social media and traditional polling methods is also particularly noteworthy; for instance, during the 2024 campaign, sentiment analysis of social media posts indicated a surge in support for Kamala Harris following her debate performance. This shift was reflected in polling data shortly afterward, where her numbers had increased among suburban voters, particularly in key swing states such as Michigan and Pennsylvania. This shows how social media dynamics can precede and predict changes in public opinion; moreover, betting markets also reacted to social media trends. As Trump’s campaign leveraged social media to rally his base, betting platforms like Polymarket observed a spike in his odds, signaling a growing confidence among betters in his chances of winning. This correlation suggests that social media not only influences voter behavior, but can also affect how bettors perceive candidates’ prospects, thereby impacting betting market dynamics. As we move forward from the 2024 presidential election, the integration of betting markets and traditional polling methods could reshape how we understand and predict electoral outcomes. Given the discrepancies observed in past elections, there is a growing interest in developing hybrid models that combine the strengths of both approaches. Betting markets offer real-time insights that can quickly adjust to new information, while polls provide deeper demographic analysis and context about voter motivations. By leveraging the predictive power of betting markets along with the methodological rigor of polling, analysts could enhance the accuracy of electoral forecasts, meaning that there could be models created that account for the inherent biases in both systems, such as the demographic skew in betting markets, and the sampling errors in polling. As America continues to evolve, integrating these methodologies could lead to more nuanced understandings of the electorate, ultimately improving the reliability of prediction in future elections. Aidan O’Callaghan ‘26
FC Barcelona has long been a staple on the top of world soccer; however, ever since Lionel Messi left the club, there has been something missing. Longtime rival Real Madrid has seemed like the better club, especially with young stars Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. Despite these strong opponents, Barcelona has remained resilient, picking up Bayern star Robert Lewandowski and new up-and-comers like Raphina and Lamine Yamal, the Spanish prodigy who led Spain to victory in the Euros. Lewandowski helped lead Barcelona to a La Liga championship in 2022, but the team hasn’t seen success on the European stage since 2015, with Real Madrid claiming victory in the Champions League 5 times since that date. This season, Barça seems revitalized, currently on a seven game winning streak, and near the top of the Champions League table. They are also currently leading La Liga, well ahead of Real Madrid in 2nd. Notably, the squad achieved a landmark 4-0 victory in El Classico, with Lewandowski scoring twice, and goals from both Raphina and Lamine Yamal as well. This result bodes very well for Barcelona because one of the two of those teams have won La Liga nine out of the last ten years. Also going their way, notable Champions League opponents Manchester City and Arsenal have suffered multiple recent defeats, paving an easier path for Barça to win the league. Despite a major overhaul of the roster of the team, FC Barcelona has come back, almost as good as before, even without the greatest player of all time to help them. James Teng ‘26
Walls carry moods, memories, and marks. In hospitals, Walls whisper the precious span of life. Of coming and leaving, Of what was held close and of ones forced to let go. In schools, Walls echo with dreams not yet born. Shadows of futures awaiting to unfold. Walls of home, Humming with warmth, love, and care. Protecting criticisms and guarding the quiet tears. Walls of airports, Bearing sorrow and delight, Witnessing farewells and embraces, All stitching into the flight. The ancient lofty Roman walls Standing solemn and strong, Decorated with loyalty, yet worn by tragedy. The Great wall of China, Laying vast and proud. Embracing its people, yet keeping the enemies out. Walls transcend time and space Record histories and each era’s trace. The pages of history, the walls of the world With tales of the past and present unfurled. Yesterday’s walls, today’s walls, and tomorrow's walls Are the continuation of the same piece Just like the crowds, People may pass, but the crowd remains. Walls carry moods, memories, and marks. Hannah Maltby ‘26  The success of the Fall play cannot be denied. Between the endless laughter, incredible acting, and hard work behind the scenes, it was a masterpiece in design and production. Some people even came to see the show twice. Some notable parts that I found quite hilarious were Anaya Huguley ‘26 and Hannah Batoh ‘28’s scene, with the moldy cheese, nonsensical lines, and a broken handbag. Another part was Ellery Reitzas 28’s sneeze attack. Melody El-Amin Stewart ‘27’s incredible improv. during her speaking parts held up the show and kept it moving. And who can forget Nia Morgan ‘27’s Peanut Butter Jelly Time? Not to go unnoticed, the hilarious costumes added depth and dimension to all of the characters. Notable parts of the set include the moon that comes in at the end, the fireplace with bricks that we placed on individually, and the cohesion of the color and the details in the walls. The smoke machines added 3D effects. Overall, it was an amazing show, and everyone worked so hard to bring it to life on stage.
 Alexandria Goodman ’25 (Co-Editor in Chief)
On November 18, 2011, Minecraft was fully released to the general public. It has generated massive success with nearly 140 million monthly active players and selling over 300 million copies, making it the best-selling video game in history. In Minecraft, players can play in a three-dimensional world with infinite terrain. They can build houses, craft tools, and, of course, mine ores. The game has multiple modes: survival mode, creator mode, spectator mode, adventure mode, and hardcore mode. During the pandemic, Minecraft saw an uptick in popularity, with famous YouTubers like Dream, TommyInnit, and Quackity dedicating their entire channels to playing the game. Our very campus has a group of students with their own Minecraft server. The server admin, Wills Erda ’24, created this hub to “create a way for students to take a break from the busy lives of Westminster.” This server has a transportation system in the Nether, a hell-like dimension in the game, housing complexes, and even a monster farm, where players can increase their XP level. I think the game's popularity is due to its inherently relaxing nature. While people can choose challenging game modes, most play in an easy or another low-stakes game mode. Most decide to collect farm animals and build structures instead of fighting monsters or killing the Ender Dragon. On YouTube, the search “Minecraft builds” will give you an almost infinite number of Minecraft houses, each with its own flair. Some people choose to build simple houses, while others might take on a more extensive build, like the Hogwarts campus; however, there are Minecrafters who challenge themselves by playing on difficult levels. These players want to beat the game, and some even go as far as to speedrun the game. In specific online communities, people compete to see who can beat the game the fastest. I spoke to Kimi Weng ’24 about his Minecraft playing style, and he said the following: “For me, I get as many resources as possible, max out all my tools and armor, and then beat the game.” In the shared server, Kimi built an XP farm and has been donating ore and other resources to other players who need help. As a Minecrafter, I can confidently say it is back in style. For the last month, I have been working on multiple game projects and collecting resources to beat the Ender Dragon. If you aren’t on the Minecraft train, I suggest you hop on. Simon Stambaugh ‘26
Trapped in a plastic box lost upon sea The waves splash through the holes that I try to breath But air still fills the ever slow filling box Before I take my last breath and I become lost Sabrina Yang ‘26
I like to believe. The rain falls for a reason. And slip, a futility of emotions. A goldfish in the sea, Just a flash in moments between bristled lanterns, But in truth. I, just another grain added to the beach You, a seagull prying through, looking for your next catch. A brine pool too different to mix and reach the surface, And you, that white canvas in the sky, I want to believe. The silhouettes of yesterday not to fade in the falling fog, To freeze time in a moment. A replacement, For confidence that melts away as salt in freshwater. And drown, Yet, All I remember, That slip, Of weeping regrets. |
