The Stentorian Newspaper

Category: Arts & Culture

  • What the Flip was ‘A Minecraft Movie’

    What the Flip was ‘A Minecraft Movie’

    (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)

    By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    Or should I say, what a flip it was. The Mojang logo flipping into their familiar font literally made me want to do a flip right there and then at my AMC Southpoint 17 seat in theatre 9. This has to be the first film where watching it behind a row of fidgeting eight-year-olds was an enjoyable, if not surreal, experience. 

    Everyone knows what Minecraft is. My first interactions with people who were not my classmates were through Minecraft, and my first memories of Minecraft were made with others teaching me how to build bad roller coasters. I remember that high-contrast old cobblestone texture and the Herobrine totems, and watching, if not DanTDM’s mod showcase videos, Stampylonghead’s Lovely World videos. Minecraft is meant to be learned from someone else. It is a video game, but it has always been a profoundly social experience.

    Seeing Jack Black cosplay as Steve was truly priceless; it got a few haha’s out of me from the first teasers–which I initially thought were completely satirical and AI-generated–but by the time my Instagram reels were full of “Chicken jockey”s and villager “hrrngh”s, I knew it was the official Minecraft movie. There was so much going on, I only remember the names of four characters: Garrett (Jason Momoa), Henry (Sebastian Hansen), Steve (Jack Black), and Jennifer Coolidge. The other two human characters, Natalie (Emma Myers) and Dawn (Danielle Brooks), simply did not appear in half the movie. Calling it “A” Minecraft Movie is already a suspicious act of the producers, like they knew it wouldn’t be accepted as canon by the 16-year-old fandom. 

    So, when I saw “A Minecraft Movie” with a couple of friends last month, if anything, it was weird. As a theatre experience, I give it a 10/10. Being a young person today is truly exhilarating and rewarding (I regard this movie as a fitting reward for my incredibly difficult second semester of senior year), and this movie is proof that social media can be a positive influence, or at least a social phenomenon. We like this movie so much, it scores 86% on the Popcornmeter, but critics hate it at a 47% on the Tomatometer. This movie is so bad that it’s good. I promised not to throw popcorn, but I had a fun time anyway—probably because everybody there subconsciously knew it was so bad, yet couldn’t stop repeating and erupting in joy at particular phrases from the trailers that we hear so much on social media.

    But as a film, I give it a 2/10. The first 20 minutes are basically the whole movie; the protagonists are introduced in a random order, every trope and cheap emotional trick is there, every meme is there, every character is summarized in terms of their favorite things, and Jack Black’s constant narration is pretty much the entire old Minecraft tutorial. The exposition is so long that the protagonists are basically thrown into the Minecraft world from the real world and expected to agree that all the mechanics are dumb and to just roll with it. If that wasn’t the easiest way to introduce a possibly clueless audience to Minecraft, then this was just disrespectful to the game. 

    To address the elephant in the room, the most basic decision to make this movie live-action was a strange one, albeit ambitious and executed rather poorly. The cinematography was poor and predictable with green screen scenes that often broke immersion, styrofoamy or clothy looking textures, villagers from uncanny valley, and more… which reminds me that Jennifer Coolidge’s character was named Vice Principle Marlene, because she had a funny but cleverly-written side plot romance with a villager she hit with her Jeep Grand Cherokee.

    I will also list absurd “creative” additions in “A Minecraft Movie.” Henry’s main weapon is a tater tot gun, and tater tots do not exist in a game built of cubes. Jack Black has only one ender pearl but has two incredibly rare elytra. There is no blue portal, no MCU tesseract-looking thing, and definitely not flying shoes (or flying shoes on an iron golem). Half the mobs of the evil piglin army are from other Minecraft games (which are not the OG sandbox one). The creepers are dysfunctional, and the creeper farm having a minecart running through it is plain nonsensical. 

    The plot—a classic MacGuffin chase for a magical item—was predictable from the start, but would have worked better if the characters had any depth to their personalities and motives. What’s sadder is that Minecraft itself already has an exceptional lore (I read the entire prose after defeating the ender dragon in my personal survival world, and it is so inspiring) built out of the developers’ and audience’s own creative interactions. 

    For a movie about the game that told its players “the universe said I love you,” it severely undershoots the love of its fanbase and the extent of their nostalgia. For that, “A Minecraft Movie” failed to impress.

  • Sunrise on the reaping: a review

    Sunrise on the reaping: a review

    (Barnes and Noble)

    By Louisa Weinard, Stentorian Staff Writer

    On March 18th, 2025, acclaimed author Suzanne Collins published Sunrise On The Reaping, the second prequel to her iconic Hunger Games trilogy. This tale, which follows the thrilling journey of Katniss and Peeta’s mentor, Haymitch Abernathy, was met with great fanfare from the dystopian fantasy world. Collins’ new novel rode the wave of momentum from the popular film adaptation of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and quickly became a worldwide success with more than 1.5 million copies sold, as found by Scholastic. After buying, readers were not disappointed. Sunrise on the Reaping delivers an action-packed retelling of the 50th Hunger Games, with Abernathy presented as an unconventional tribute who creates close connections between familiar faces and newly introduced characters and struggles to survive the cruelties of the corrupt nation of Panem. The fast-paced story earned a 4.65/5 rating on Goodreads with raving reviews, an impressive feat. Even though the ending of Abernathy’s games has already been spoiled in the original trilogy, the character development and intricate plotlines leave readers captivated by the connections between past and present worlds, with many going to popular social media sites to share their thoughts. Popular theories and new insights on the original Hunger Games trilogy are trending all over apps like TikTok and Instagram, and for good reason. Collins is known for using her clever and meaningful writing to reflect pressing real-world issues. In Sunrise on the Reaping, she explores the dangers of propaganda and media manipulation, which are becoming increasingly apparent in the polarizing nature of the United States. At just about four hundred pages, Collins’ new book is sure to zoom by for readers, but its unique perspective is likely to linger. A film adaptation is already in the works, and will be making its way to theaters in August 2026 to bring Haymitch’s story to life!

  • thanks Ben Bridgers

    thanks Ben Bridgers

    (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)

    By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    I went to Ben Bridger’s exhibit in ETC lobby on April 25, and after checking out his works, I talked extensively with the artist about his process of making art from sketches to varnish, and a little about things I had heard before, read about, but never did, like mixing paint or stretching canvases. I had observed from his charcoal drawings that they were more abstract, and even when they weren’t inherently in the shape of any discernable object, they looked like familiar objects. On the other hand, his paintings felt like whimsical little furry creatures shrouded in darkness. It was cool to see the composition of things that the human brain thought up of and finding out that they somehow worked when executed like this.

    The darkness of the black paint impressed me, and the varnish on the entire painting was so reflective that it served as a sort of mirror as I waved my hands in front of it. It revealed the smoothness of the layers of paint, and it was like the painting was created on just one layer. The fur on the creatures was one with the black background itself; the white fur trailed into the abyss like the creature had simultaneously materialized and crawled out of it. I wondered if this effect was created using a fine fan brush, one so flexible if I ran a finger over the bristles, the bristles would bend a full 90 degrees.

    So, I asked Ben Bridgers about it. He replied it was not pure black, and shared a recipe for the black: crimson alzarin, ultramarine blue, a bit of something something yellow, a bit of some other two colors… he had multiple recipes for different toned blacks. I respect that mightily. I told him I preferred prussian blue and crimson red hue myself, and we compared recipes briefly. Color theory became more real as I imagined a palette knife digging into turds of color and producing a black splat on a piece of palette paper. And I had never met someone who mixed their own paints before, and as much as I would like to try mixing white lead powder, for starters it’d be hard to find some legal sellers, and if I did acquire some, my heart does not lie so much in the processes before paint hits the canvas. 

    But for Bridgers, that proccess was evidently very important. He made his own canvases his way, from start to finish, at around five or six per 0.5-1.5 years  at a time in his studio. My initial thought was how big his studio had to be, but he alluded to so many trips outside his studio that I had to readjust my thoughts. Perhaps his studio was the whole world; he had traveled abroad to Italy during his time at the University of Georgia and sketched people, parks, animals, and trees on small pieces of paper to bring back to his studio and inspire his works. I, too, find a particular cuteness in making art on tiny things, which makes trips outside like this precious condensations of creativity. But still, I am not one with the patience to stretch canvases, cover it with rabbit skin glue, wait three months, then do some extra stuff before being able to paint on it.

    I am impressionable though, and I will scratch “handmixed paint” off my bucket list sometime soon. One thing that will not come to me soon, however, is an eye for abstractness. Bridgers calmly said the eye to come up with new ideas for abstract work takes time and practice, and even he brings four-ish of his works with him to people-watching trips, just to remember his style and have a starting point for the final work. I look at this man, bald, maybe in his 40’s, and I think of his classical art training and years of teaching art to college students. I think of my tendency to not sit still, especially in foundational, technical art courses with private instructors. I think back to my paintings, each one of them based off a photo or multiple photos clipped together, and I cringe at my inability to be original.

    Maybe that is just pessimism and strict standards. It is normal, if not encouraged, to be inspired by other works in life–natural and artificial. And it is normal for an 18-year-old to have less art experience as a middle-aged experienced artist–maybe this summer I will sit myself down and finally practice skeletal anatomy, which was a promise to myself made years before. As I prepared to leave this exhibit, stealing the last of the tangerines from the snacks table of course, I hear Bridgers talking about him working on multiple paintings at once. And so, to my 26 paintings blocked out in thin burnt umber but rotting in the corner of my studio space, I’m inspired once again to throw upon each a stroke of color—or prussian blue black—before I leave them alone again.

  • Creating “Cabaret’s” Kit Kat Club

    Creating “Cabaret’s” Kit Kat Club

    (NCSSM Yearbook)

    By Lily Frank, Stentorian Staff Writer

    The Promethean Players of the Drama Department recently put on this year’s musical, “Cabaret.” The show, which ran from March 14-16, transported audiences to 1930s Berlin, where the decadence of the Kit Kat Club masked the looming rise of the Nazi regime. Directed by Adam Sampieri, with assistance from Leslie Knight and student directors Marcellus Day and Robbie Stoffle, the production brought to life the tale of an American writer, Cliff Bradshaw, played by Aadi Kucheria, as he arrives in Berlin and becomes entangled in the lives of the city’s residents, including the performer from London, Sally Bowles, played by Faith Wagoner.

    Unlike last fall’s lighthearted show, “Puffs,” “Cabaret” takes a much darker turn. Student director Robbie Stoffle emphasized the stark contrast. “It starts out fun but does not have a happy ending. As things outside get darker and darker, the things inside get happier and happier until it’s too late.” This mix of festivity and despair was a defining element of the production, mirroring the political and social turmoil of the period in which the show was set.

    “Cabaret” follows the members of the Kit Kat Club, which, as Stoffle puts it, “has taken its own form throughout many different decades” and can be equated with 1930s Germany’s version of “Brat Summer,” through the carefree outward appearance of the club. The Emcee, played by Julian Burke, serves as the Master of Ceremonies, guiding the audience through the story with a mix of humor, charm, and unsettling detachment. But, more than just a host, the Emcee acts as a symbolic figure, reflecting and responding to the shifting political and social climate around him. He provides commentary on the unfolding events, highlighting the increasingly relevant rise of the Nazi Party and the characters’ varying levels of complicity or ignorance.

    Stoffle noted, “There are many, many parallels between the events of “Cabaret” and what’s happening in politics today in the U.S. The timing has only gotten better and better—almost too well.” The show’s themes of political apathy, rising extremism, and societal complacency are frequently exemplified by the Emcee. “Cabaret” serves as both a historical reflection and a warning about the dangers of ignoring warning signs in a shifting political climate.

    In addition to its historical and political themes, the production explored gender fluidity within the Kit Kat Club. Stoffle highlighted this aspect of the show, explaining how the club represented a space of freedom and self-expression, something that was eventually threatened and dismantled by the Nazis. “That same targeting of queer expression is happening in the U.S. today. We wanted to make that parallel clear.” The show’s portrayal of gender nonconformity and its suppression was a stark reminder of how history continues to echo in modern times.

    At its core, “Cabaret” can act as a cautionary tale. “The reason we tell stories like “Cabaret.” even though they’re sad, is to remind us of what’s happened in history,” Stoffle said. “Because history repeats itself.” 

    Beyond the heavy themes, “Cabaret” also fostered many friendships among its cast and crew. “A lot of seniors at NCSSM get to know juniors through the musical, and people definitely make friends they otherwise wouldn’t have made,” Stoffle noted. Long rehearsals and shared challenges brought the team together, forming a close-knit community dedicated as they worked together to tell this story. One of the cast’s pre-show traditions was performing a dress rehearsal for an audience of stuffed animals, a small moment of calm and lightheartedness in an otherwise busy production. “We all took stuffed animals from our rooms and set them up in the audience to watch our final dress rehearsal,” Stoffle recalled.

    The team behind “Cabaret” was extensive. Sampieri devoted countless hours to directing, ensuring that every aspect of the performance was polished and meaningful. Leslie Knight served as assistant director, providing additional support for the production. Mr. Rowe, the technical director, managed set construction and lighting, often staying late to help cut wood and hang lights. Miss Perez led the pit orchestra, an essential component of “Cabaret’s” immersive experience. The music was an important piece in this production, with numbers like “Willkommen” and “Cabaret” setting the tone for the performance. The pit’s role was particularly crucial given the show’s musical integration with the actors’ performances, ensuring seamless transitions between dialogue and song. An audience member noted that the performance left them “wanting to watch it again, to notice all of the subtle foreshadowing, and to listen to pieces like If You Could See Her, again.”

    Bringing such a complex and emotionally charged show to the stage required immense dedication from the entire cast and crew. “Cabaret” was a unique story told through beautiful set design, complex characters played by uniquely talented NCSSM students, and musical accompaniment that brought the production together. With a dedicated cast, a committed production team, and a timeless story, “Cabaret” will be a memorable show for all who watched and were involved in its production.

  • Big Spoon Moshes at Unipalooza ‘25

    Big Spoon Moshes at Unipalooza ‘25

    (Louisa Weinard/Stentorian)

    By Mabel Kennedy, Stentorian Staff Writer

    “Having practice is really fun but when you’re doing it for that much time and you know that when you go back to your room you’re just going to have to work on homework and do other stuff SSM students have to do, it starts to drag.” This is the reality for most of the openers and NCSSM’s very own Big Spoon’s members. As Hazel Cochran ‘26 states above, UniPalooza wasn’t all fun times, a lot of hard work was put into it. 

    UniPalooza, the name, a spin off of Lollapalooza, is, I’d argue, one of the most important cultural events of the school year. This year it was headlined by Big Spoon the Third and supported by … On the humid grounds of Blawn, dozens of students gathered to support this event on an unsuspecting Friday afternoon, more specifically, May 9th. 

    Students had generally good things to say. As the #1 Curls on campus, our very own  Sadie Albright said, “I liked how everyone came together, however, Scotty Doesn’t Know was a choice…he definitely knew.” I can agree with this statement and so can various anonymous sources saying other points such as, “I wish Kahan had a solo, the technical difficulties were not that noticeable, and it wasn’t as hype as last year.” 

    The actual show wasn’t all I was interested in however, it was the musicians’ experiences that stood out to me the most. As it was touched on above, the stress and hardwork the band members put into this show were admirable to say the least. Big Spoon had to learn and memorize around 2 hours of songs to play though and began practicing early on. For three weeks before this event, Big Spoon practiced everyday for 2 hours, adding up to a total of 14 hours of practice a week. Perhaps a seemingly low amount but then added onto the initial stress and expectations of schoolwork, the workload becomes intense. However, when asked, there was no tension between the band members at all, a surprising fact based on the apparent strenuous practices 

    Big Spoon’s legacy is also an interesting one. When asked if they’ve figured out any of the members for the next generation of the band, rising seniors Jiya Zaveria and Hazel Cochran stated that, “it was still in the works,” despite them being sad to see their seniors go. Big spoon is a band that is flexible, an ongoing legacy rather than something concrete. The sound may be different next year, members will be different but it’ll still somehow be Big Spoon. Jiya and Hazel will continue the traditions that we know and love, Koffehouses and UniPaloza, but also hope to continue writing and performing their own songs while making a push to perform at more non-school venues (shoutout Local 506). 

     From Mayday Parade to Janelle Monáe, inspiration for the Big Spoon members came from a lot of places, something that’s evident in their song choices for Unipalooza. Members had the chance to pick two “save songs,” stated Hazel Cochran’26, songs that had to be included, even if the other members didn’t want to. However, the setlist wasn’t just made up of “save songs,” agreed upon covers and originals were sprinkled into the recipe as well. Seemingly, the band came together in a lot of ways, from their practice and writing sessions to the big performance, Big Spoon became a new band this year that the student population surely will be sad to see go.

  • Grandma Club

    Grandma Club

    (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)

    By Louisa Weinard, Stentorian Staff Writer

    With the stress of a heavy academic workload heavy on their minds, it’s easy for NCSSM students to forget to appreciate the small joys present in everyday life. That’s where Grandma Club comes in—a sweet new edition to the slate of clubs offered on campus, this club offers the perfect outlet for students to embrace life’s simpler pleasures in community. 

    Led by a devoted group of juniors nicknamed the “Gran Jury,” Grandma club provides a welcoming space for students to play cards, crochet, knit, craft, sip tea, snack cookies and candies, and enjoy the presence of other “old souls.” According to Celia Cecchini, one of the club leaders, Grandma club was founded on the belief that “a person does not have to wait to be a ‘grandma’ or ‘grandma age’ to do the things they like or enjoy the subtleties of life.” This philosophy has held true through events like their tea and cookie social, valentines card making event, and many other creative opportunities. Special guests, such as Dr. Cooper, have even joined in to help teach students to crochet, emphasizing the club’s focus on community and celebrating a “grandma mindset” accessible to all.

    While still relatively young, Grandma club is excited to expand and take on more elaborate events in the future. Rising seniors and incoming juniors: keep an eye out for club meetings and exciting opportunities to connect with fellow students, take advantage of free food, and embrace your inner grandma qualities!

    (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)

  • Flyest Faculty Fits

    By Caroline Downs, Stentorian Staff Writer

    There is no doubt that Ms. Stefan is the fashion expert of Fourth Bryan. From a tasteful fanny pack to a purple monochromatic fit, she is guaranteed to make a statement while staying comfortable. If you want to add some Stefan flair to your next outfit, adding some knee-length boots would also keep you warm and cozy!

    Dr. McInnis, although a millennial, awes us all with their trendy fashion pieces and expert combinations. Whether it’s a pair of funky earrings or a flowy skirt, their wardrobe is no doubt the envy of their students. 

    Dr. Mallory’s beautiful dresses and perfect pairings suggest that she has a keen eye for fashion. Paired with a mid-length skirt, her sneakerhead style is both trendy and chic. When asked about her favorite outfit, Mallory said, “I really love these pants, which I bought when I was on spring break in Cartagena a few years ago. I’ve never seen anything else like them.” After choosing one of her favorite statement pieces, she loves matching it up with simpler pieces to show them off. This summer, bring out your colorful sundresses and bold statement pieces for a Mallory-inspired look!

    Mr. Ji’s quirky t-shirts will brighten up a morning lab block. His graphing calculator t-shirt is sure to get you excited about math! To spruce up your wardrobe this year, try finding a signature statement piece like Mr. Ji’s many pairs of neon glasses. 

    Mr. Severance’s bold prints and pattern mixing are nothing short of iconic. When creating his outfits, Severance likes to experiment with matching patterns and colors. His favorite outfit features a floral shirt and matching purple pants: “I like the bold color of the pants as they aren’t your standard black, khaki, or blue.” Top it off with a man-bun and you’re sure to have a look that dazzles. Patterned shirts are all the rage this season as we try in vain to imitate Severance’s signature style!

    Dr. Cantrell is an expert on preppy and timeless fashion. Dressed to the nines even for an evening class, Cantrell manages to look both professional and effortless as his students file into the classroom already wearing pajamas. When asked about his style, Cantrell provided a thoughtful statement about the story behind his clothing – he considers how the choices to wear a certain article of clothing influences our self-expression. He also addressed his style evolution in eloquently nostalgic prose: 

    “As you grow older, or so I have found, what you would be is strangely related to who you once were or wished to be, as you imagine that relation in sensations of memory. So these clothes—an old hunting jacket and boots, both from LL Bean, a wool tie from Orvis, a cap from Paul Stuart and, for inclement weather, a slouchy tweed hat from Brooks Brothers (before it was sold in bankruptcy to some soulless purveyor of ‘brand names’)—these, with wool sweaters which always somehow smell of wet leaves, old tweed jackets, and shabby corduroy trousers, create or conjure up a kind of wondering continuity between a younger self who, in memory was green and carefree, famous among the barns

    About the happy yard and singing as the farm was home,

         In the sun that is young once only

    and the self of an older sun awakened to ‘the farm forever fled from the childless land.’ I have

    worn some version of this ‘outfit,’ for fifty years or more, first walking in mellow autumn light

    over the fields and along the mountain streams of our family farm in my early teens with poetry

    in my head, and now wandering in another world, following that other, younger self into a time

    ‘out of grace.’”

    The next time you wear your favorite outfit, consider what led you to these choices, and how you might look back upon your current life as inspiration for your future self.

  • NCSSM Hall Theme Rankings 2025

    NCSSM Hall Theme Rankings 2025

    (Louisa Weinard & Vincent Shen/The Stentorian)

    By Lily Frank, Stentorian Staff Writer

    We spend almost half our year on campus at NCSSM, so our RLAs and CCs work hard to make the cold halls (especially in recent days) feel more lively so that one day, we might consider NCSSM home. However, not all themes create as much joy or jealousy as others. In the following pages, I will give you my completely subjective and untrained opinion on this highly pressing matter. As was the case last year, I have removed my hall, Second Beall, to remain “neutral”…

    1. 4th Bryan: Cat Cafe

    The theme board is top-tier, I can only imagine how cozy 4th Bryan must be. The RLAs also go above and beyond, adding extra cat themed decorations outside of the hall for valentines day. Thank you for making the treacherous journey to physics slightly less soul-crushing. =^._.^= 

    1. Ground Reynolds: Strawberry Shortcake

    This theme gives off so much 2010s nostalgia, and makes for such cute decorations. Because Greynolds is tucked away it might not be one of the most frequently seen themes, but the beautiful theme boards in front of the halls make the cold space of Ground Reynolds so much warmer. 

    1. 2nd East: Pokemon

    I like it: relevant, infinite decoration potential, and nostalgia. The individual Pokemon cut out for the theme board shows dedication, though I feel like you are missing a few hundred Pokemon… 

    1. 2nd Hill: 2HL Grand Prix

    NCSSM already moves fast enough, living here would just stress me out. Unless we are talking Spec Miata. For a hall displaced in the mods this is a very solid theme, and even without a themeboard, they make up for it with creative door decks.

    1. Royall: Royall’s Freezeria

    I love seeing Papa Louie on my Hillgrimage journeys staring at me from Royall Lounge. A theme that is so original, that I am stunned.

    1. 3rd East: Super Smash Brothers

    I have no notes. Just another video game-themed hall, the main difference is this one is respectable. 

    1. 3rd West: Olive Garden

    Nothing says mild disappointment like family dinners at Olive Garden. The only thing missing is the smell of breadsticks; a bribe of endless pasta wouldn’t hurt. As for the decorations, the door decks are lackluster, I mean, who wants to see a low-resolution picture of Olive Garden complimentary mints?

    1. 2nd Bryan: Hollywood cinema

    I feel like a new variation of “movies” comes around every year and 2nd Bryan just happened to be the victim this year. That being said, they committed to the concept well enough to earn a respectable spot. Though at this point, the theme itself feels more like a reboot than a blockbuster premiere.

    1. 3rd Beall: Pillow Pets

    3rd Beall does a great job of turning a seemingly simple hall theme with little possibilities for decorations into a soft patchwork blanket, pillow pets, and clouds. 

    1. 4th East: Ancient Greece

    This theme hurts no one, and exists as a good neutral, like the plain toast of hall themes. It’s not particularly exciting or in reference to something that connects our generation, but there is no reason to complain about it.

    1. Reynolds 1c2c1d: Beach Vacation

    In light of the recent weather, I am craving a sunny beach. Do you think Reynolds 1c2c1d stays warmer in the winter?

    1. 1st Hunt: Cars (The movie)

    This is like 2nd Bryan, except “movie” is singular. 

    1. 1st Beall: Tropical Rainforest

    An ambitious choice, because the only thing tropical about NCSSM’s buildings is the unpredictable temperature control.

    1. Reynolds 1e2e2d: Winx Club 

    This is a really good concept, but when I went to check out your decorations I thought that the hall theme was “Four Seasons.” Maybe I am just not a big Winx Club fan, but I feel a lack of connection between the theme and the decorations. Not mad, just sad.

    1. 1st Hill: Dune

    Dune gives lots of opportunities for great decorations and is overall a very good concept. However, 1st mod currently lacks a LOT of decorations, which as a Hill resident pointed out is due to the fact that “[they] were supposed to move into Hill a month ago,” but due to the delays are still in the mods. This excuse will not keep 1st Hill off of the bottom of the leaderboard. Do better. 

    1. 3rd Bryan: Bryan’s Arcade

    This brings sticky floors, broken controllers, and a very sad man behind the prize counter to mind. While arcades have the potential for vibrant, nostalgic fun, this execution doesn’t give much. I pass by, unfazed, and maybe a bit sad at the thought of the sad old Bryan Arcade.

    1. 4th West: Supercell games
      If the company name Supercell does not ring a bell, think Clash of Clans, Hay Day, and Brawl Stars. Just like in Clash of Clans, success here depends on how much you’re willing to invest, except instead of gems, it’s sheer willpower to live with this theme. A Second Beall resident stated, “It is odd to pick a mobile game as a hall theme.” I would have to agree. (I heard the execution was good so 4th West has been saved from last)
    2. 2nd West: 2nd West sports, it’s in the game 

    Uninspired. The buildup of secrecy around this theme made it seem like something big was coming. What was the reason for keeping it under wraps? It’s hard to imagine anyone was going to swoop in and steal sports as a theme.

  • I Love Hopi Hot Beef, and Other Things About My The West! J-Term

    I Love Hopi Hot Beef, and Other Things About My The West! J-Term

    I became a Junior Ranger of the Grand Canyon South Rim on my trip. Apparently, I am the 5th student to do so in the past 10 years of this trip, according to Dr. Cantrell. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    I rarely plan my trips, and I always leave some space in my suitcase. Lack of prior knowledge and lightness are the two patron saints of a good journey, in my opinion. As the saying goes, those who travel with a light load have the best adventures or something like that. “The wealthy travel light,” but in my case I’m wealthy in my immense lack of knowledge, as I looked at the itinerary for my JTerm to Arizona the night before the first flight.

    Since emailing our trip sponsor, Dr. David Cantrell, my reasons for wanting to go on the To The West! JTerm trip in the spring of 2024, it’s come full circle; again a very wealthy bank of memories that reminds me why I like the movie Rango (2011) and the hardy terrain of a cacti-filled desert. In the week traveling from Southern Arizona to the North, I’ve learned so much about the landscapes, but even more about the world. Every museum and interaction with locals is a chance to absorb appreciation and wisdom, just like saguaro being physical forms of spiritual ancestors of the native tribal people.

    Through that week in Arizona, here are a few things I’ve taken away, and that I continue to remind myself.

    The group takes in the view at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    Appreciating little bits of happiness

    On the first day, I got lost—mentally, at least. Waking up at 3 a.m. is not for the weak, and as I boarded the shuttle at the Phoenix airport, watching the barren, beige-coded hills felt so out of pace with my life in sheltered suburbia—the world of neat lawns and nice cars, where grass was the shade of emeralds and Sprite, where political posters sprinkled every intersection. Phoenix, Bisbee, Flagstaff, the Hopi reservation—each place, a stark contrast.

    At the Hopi reservation, I kneeled in a millions-year-old bed of shells overlooking a huge limestone canyon. Our tour guide told us to express our thanks to the earth. I’m not religious or spiritual, but in that moment, I felt incredibly grateful. It’s amazing to think this Earth is the same Earth that everything I have seen in museums has also lived on and interacted with. It’s amazing to see exactly how the Hopi ancestors interpreted and interacted with this Earth (and the stars) on this land, especially through my own eyes. This firsthand experience has given me another perspective on what it means to live in the now—with appreciation and cautiousness of the past.

    Being very careful at the Grand Canyon. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    Perseverance takes many forms

    Somewhere between tumbling over rocks at Picacho Peak and getting lost at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, I realized something: nature keeps moving forward, with or without me. The saguaros at Saguaro National Park, towering and ancient, continue to stand tall. The indigenous stories and artifacts at the Heard Museum are preserved and shared, even as modern life moves on. In Bisbee, a town full of cowboys and artists, the people seemed frozen in a perpetual, quiet celebration of life, adapting the past into a present that felt both nostalgic and brand-new. Just ask Anisa Hasanaj ‘25 about the psychic lady who foretold her “strong bloodline.”

    And in my own way, I was moving forward, too. At Montezuma Castle, I stared up at the five-story cliff dwelling built by the Sinagua people. It sat in the cliff above me, precarious yet permanent. What was the point of living in the cliffs? The structure, facing south, provided warmth in the winter and coolness in the summer. The elevation protected people from annual flooding. But I realized maybe I didn’t need to focus on why things just are—but instead on the lifestyle they created for the people living there.

    Montezuma Castle cliff dwellings. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    Stop looking for “the point” all the time

    On day five, we visited the Museum of Northern Arizona. The tour guide was passionate but had a voice that could put even the most enthusiastic historian to sleep. The poet who wrote us custom pieces delivered one that was painfully generic, even though I had specifically asked for something about the evolution of forgetfulness and acceptance. But maybe that was the point—sometimes, the journey matters more than the conclusion.

    At the Grand Canyon, I took the Junior Ranger oath. “Don’t feed the squirrels” was the only part I really remembered, but in a way, that summed it all up. Maybe the awe of the canyon, vast and unchanging, wasn’t meant to provide some grand revelation. Maybe I didn’t need to extract meaning from everything—I could just let it be.

    Saguaro National Park. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    Things go on

    Through writing this, I may have admitted publicly that I eat a lot (big backing had to be an obligation before it became a choice, alright). But my greatest discovery of the trip wasn’t an ancient artifact or a philosophical truth—it was Hopi Hot Beef. Fry bread, beef, a dish so good that it earned my eternal love and gratitude. Thank you, Hopi Nation. Thank you, Navajo Nation. Thank you, Arizona. And most of all, thank you Dr. Cantrell, Mr. Chris Thomas, Ms. Michelle Brenner, NCSSM Foundation, and sponsors for letting me go on such an adventure.

    Things go on. My Arizona J-Term has ended, but its memories continue etched into my notes, my mind, and now, here. And I will continue, too, maybe with a slightly fuller stomach, a slightly fuller suitcase, and a wealth of stories that don’t always need a point.

  • In Photos: Africa Fest 2025

    In Photos: Africa Fest 2025

    Photos By Louisa Weinard, Stentorian Photographer

    SIKHADU LA: EXPLORING THE GOLDEN CITY. The Black Student Union (BSU) organized and hosted Africa Fest 2025 on February 22 in the ETC Auditorium. This festival showcased a variety of incredible performances, spoken word, songs, and marches highlighting African, African American, and Afro Caribbean cultures