The Stentorian Newspaper

Category: News/Features

  • How T-Cell and B-Cell Epitope Prediction Preps You Against Pathogens

    How T-Cell and B-Cell Epitope Prediction Preps You Against Pathogens

    (Teresa Fang)

    By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    There are always new viruses emerging, and, like SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, they are constantly evolving into different variants or strains. Researchers are racing to find vaccines and therapies that can improve outcomes for patients worldwide, using methods ranging from traditional lab work to computational biology (bioinformatics), and even artificial intelligence (AI). To understand vaccine development, we first need to understand how our immune system fights germs.

    “The scientific world is constantly on the lookout for potential new pandemics so when there is a new virus, we would be able to quickly predict and measure the immune response,” said Dr. Alessandro Sette, a professor at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology in San Diego, California, and Director of the Center for Cancer Immunotherapy and Center for Vaccine Innovation. Being able to predict and measure how the body’s immune system will respond to viruses is essential to developing effective vaccines. The immune system recognizes, remembers, and destroys disease-causing organisms, called pathogens, and can provide long-lasting protection from future attacks. Pathogens are made up of antigens, which activate the immune response. 

    The body’s immune response is mediated by B cells and T cells. They do not recognize pathogens as a whole but instead recognize epitopes, which are unique markers on the antigens. If you’ve ever seen pictures of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the spikes on the virus’s surface are the antigens that allow researchers to develop COVID-19 vaccines. These are critical for the immune system’s ability to identify and respond to foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria.

    Predicting B-cell vs. T-cell epitopes

    The difference between B cells and T cells makes it necessary to have multiple methods for predicting their epitopes. B cells produce antibodies that usually bind to cell-surface epitopes that are folded in a three-dimensional structure. This method used for B-cell epitope prediction is called discontinuous 3D structure-based epitope prediction.

    “Antibodies recognize things on the outside and often recognize three-dimensional structures that are made out of discontinuous epitopes,” said Dr. Sette. “These are epitopes that are made from parts of a protein that are not necessarily like ducks in a row.”

    (Teresa Fang)

    T cells are entirely different: They recognize chopped-up fragments of proteins bound to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) molecules. Also known as major histocompatibility complex (MHC), these are specialized molecules on a cell’s surface for detection, holding important epitopes, for T cells. T-cell epitope prediction, therefore, is not limited to far-apart 3D structures like B cells are. Instead of discontinuous epitopes, T cells recognize linear epitopes. This method is called linear sequence-based epitope prediction.

    “If you could see the structure of an HLA molecule with a peptide bound to it, it looks like a hot dog bun with a sausage in the middle,” Dr. Sette explained. “That is the fragment where the peptide is stretched out.”

    Currently, most vaccines and therapeutics target B cells because antibodies are easier to measure than epitope fragments in T cells, although both are important for vaccine design.

    Bioinformatics in advancing epitope prediction

    In the past, vaccines were developed by using whole inactivated pathogens (such as in polio), an approach that was not always successful, or by predicting epitopes using traditional lab techniques, which are laborious and time-consuming. Recent advances in computational biology and bioinformatics have significantly improved the ability to predict epitopes for B-cell and T-cell activation in a time-sensitive manner. 

    Dr. Sette is part of a team that develops and oversees the national Immune Epitope Database (IEDB), a free, widely-used bioinformatics resource database for storing epitope structures. It has two purposes: to function as a catalog for epitopes and as a collection of epitope prediction tools for immunology research around the world. The IEDB uses many methods to predict epitopes and is always being updated. Generally, it analyzes patterns in already-known epitope structures to predict the epitope for an unknown one for B-cell or T-cell activation. One key area in these advances lies in AI. Machine learning (ML) algorithms, trained on large datasets of known epitopes and their interactions, can improve the accuracy of predictions. Dr. Sette plans to use ML approaches to improve data curation and algorithm prediction.

    “We will be relying on predictions more than data that is already available because if it is a new virus, we’ll have to rely on more innovative approaches,” Dr Sette said. He believes that if another pandemic arrives, epitope prediction will give researchers an upper hand in fighting against its spread.

  • Where In The World Did Unis Travel This JTerm?

    Where In The World Did Unis Travel This JTerm?

    By Stentorian Editorial Board

    Note: This is the center spread for the February 2025 issue, designed by editor-in-chief Teresa Fang.

    AROUND THE WORLD. This past January, NCSSM students and faculty traveled all over the world to explore new places, form relationships across campuses, and learn about different environments. Our JTerm experiences were worth reminiscing about, so here is a brief snapshot of the geographical reach our community ventured to.

    Stentorian February 2025.center spreadDownload
  • You didn’t understand the assignment

    You didn’t understand the assignment

    Dr. Lichtman presented his thoughts on STEM education and his research at the Harvard Northwest Building on February 14. (Teresa Fang/The Stentorian)

    By Teresa Fang, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    Two weeks ago, Dr. Jeff Lichtman, Dean of Science at Harvard University, began his research talk with five claims, each answering the specific question, “What is school for?” Together, the five claims expanded on education in the 21st century, stemming from a variety of philosophical considerations throughout his 50 years of teaching.

    If you consider that almost everyone in the world (or at least, in this country) has access to a phone, “nearly all knowledge is at one’s fingertips,” which is the first claim Lichtman makes. I agree. I also agree with his fourth point, on behalf of educators: “The peril of education in the information age: because of the glut of information, professors are necessarily teaching an ever-smaller proportion of the extant data.” But the fifth point raises a series of questions as Lichtman questions the ways in which educators “fail” their students. Of these five claims, as someone who cherishes the value of education, I was curiously intrigued by his thoughts.

    Rather than dissect his claims, I would like to summarize his argument, which he does himself quite nicely:

    “First, irrelevancy. The subjects we [educators] teach are irrelevant to your ultimate career plans. For example, in medical school, you don’t use calculus. A doctor uses 0% of the calculus knowledge they learned in school.”

    After presenting his points, Dr. Lichtman asked the audience of high school student researchers if they disagreed with anything he said. I was already responding to his points mentally, so I took the first microphone immediately. “Why is that a failure?” I asked. When I emphasize the importance of school, like Dr. Lichtman, many people echo similar claims that most of what you learn in school will not be applicable in the real world or that they will forget nearly everything they once learned. But I say the answer depends on what type of learning we’re referring to: the type on the whiteboard or the type beyond the whiteboard.

    “Second, prematurity. When the courses are relevant, we [educators] hardly explain why they are, so you can’t focus on what is important as it is presented long before you might use this material, maybe 5-10 years later.”

    I might not remember that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 in twenty years when I’m trying to interview people for a job hiring. But I will definitely remember a friend saying, “you should design the poster art because you’re good at art, and I’ll write the content in the meantime.” I learned that designating tasks to an appropriate individual with the perfect skillsets will finish our task faster so we can finally eat our meals during lunch break.

    You may forget the curriculum, but you won’t forget the experience. Learning to judge one’s ability to fulfill certain responsibilities and justifying your selection are examples of knowledge that do matter. Perhaps, these are skills you might need that separate you from a good candidate for your dream job versus the ideal candidate for the responsibilities of the job.

    “Third, preoccupation with the right answer. Perhaps the most important failure is that the whole science enterprise [sic] is just a continuation of the secondary school preoccupation getting the correct answer on exams, problem sets, and homework assignments. Regurgitating an expected answer has little to do with the real world, where the ‘right’ answer is unknown.”

    Besides calling the entire occupation of researching science an “enterprise” (throwback to my previous piece on ncssm.edu’s misrepresented marketing of students) as if the sole purpose of research is to generate economic value, I think the preoccupation with the “right” answer is a universal failure that permeates through all subjects, not just in STEM. We endure numerous “irrelevant” courses in history, English, physics, and math, not because we intend to become an academic jack-of-all-trades (go on, make your snarky “erm, actually”s), but to develop our method of thinking and reasoning. Will I ever need to prove the Pythagorean theorem using geometry postulates when I’m in my late-30’s? No. But will I ever need to make a claim, learn how to support it with evidentiary facts, and arrive at a logical conclusion? Yes. I think me writing this article proves that I can.

    Thus, school is for teaching you how to think. Not what to think, but how to think. You are getting your critical thinking in, your collaboration skills, and most importantly, the connections you might need later in life, aka your support system or your potential business partners. Indeed, you could think of this column as the sequel to my article “Settling the debate between STEM and the humanities.” Do I wish that more people were aware that “Frankenstein” is more than just a classic Victorian novel but a commentary on Marxism, Freudian psychoanalysis, and much more? Or that Emerson and Thoreau are two completely different people camping around the same pond? Of course, I’d love if America’s level of general knowledge of literature, and social studies, or just being more news-savvy about the world was more proficient, but I do not think that it is equivalent to trashing the entire education system.

    “Last but not least, the fear of failure. Solving a problem often requires showing all reasonable ideas fail. Failure is a necessary part of finding a solution.”

    School is not a promise of success and prosperity, but I do think that Dr. Lichtman and others are approaching school with misjudged expectations. He makes many sound and fair points, and undeniably, it’s important that students learn the curriculums they are taught in the classroom. But they shouldn’t walk away with report cards and memorized flashcards. They should be walking away with new and improved models of thinking and an arsenal of approaches for the real, structure-less world. 

    It’s undeniable that the quality of our education system, federally and at NCSSM, is flawed. Nonetheless, there is still value in it. But if you measure the value of school based on test scores and grades, then I suppose you really didn’t understand the assignment.

  • “Science Season” Arrives: Students & teachers share their preparation and experiences For NCSEF

    “Science Season” Arrives: Students & teachers share their preparation and experiences For NCSEF

    AVA CUMMINGS ‘25 AND SAACHI ARUN ‘25 OF RBIO WITH THEIR RESEARCH POSTERS AT NCSEF
    REGION 3B ON FEBRUARY 17. (ANNELIESE HEYDER)

    By Anneliese Heyder, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    The “Science Season” is upon us: when the summer months start getting closer and science fairs, conferences, and competitions begin popping up like flowers. Throughout the spring semester, students at NCSSM will be presenting their research at school and around the state and country. 

    The North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair, or NCSEF, kicked off on February 17th at NCSSM as Region 3b, with both juniors and seniors competing by sharing their research with judges, teachers, and students. Some students completed research independently or with a team, while others were part of the RSci or Mentorship programs. 

    Luke Malta ‘25 was an RChem student who presented at NCSEF. “I spent a lot of time perfecting my poster, sitting down and making sure I have as much information as possible,” he described his preparation. “I also planned on practicing presenting in front of the current RChem students to get some feedback from them and Dr. Bruno.”

    Sawyer Kribbs ‘25 from RBio did the same.“I began to prepare by practicing my speech a couple of nights before presenting it to the judges. I was pretty nervous, but I felt ready,” he said, adding that he enjoyed talking with other students about his research and was impressed with the other projects at the fair. 

    Some of the students who presented did their research at another university with a mentor and a team of undergraduate or graduate students. “I would say NCSEF was a great experience! It prepared me for future symposiums I plan to attend since there will be judges who are experts in the topic I’m researching, and how to interact with them,” said Hima Manne ‘25, who was part of the Mentorship program.

    Manne also explained how she prepared for NCSEF, stating “Planning included updating my research findings on the poster I previously had and prepping for specific questions about methods and future directions.”

    DANTE TRINGALE ‘25 WITH THEIR RESEARCH POSTER. (Anneliese Heyder)

    Most of the eight categories advance the three top winners to the state-level North Carolina Science and Engineering Fair. The categories include Biological Science A, Biological Science B, Chemistry, Environmental/Earth Science, Engineering, Mathematics, Technology, and Physics. There are other special prizes as well, such as the Regeneron Biomedical Science Award, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and the NC One Water Award. However, the grand prize is an all-expense paid trip to the International Science and Engineering Fair in May. 

    Not only must they practice their speaking and speaking skills, but students must also make sure they have all the required documents signed and their posters ready to be presented. Mentors play a significant role in helping their students prepare–printing posters, checking over materials, and organizing the event. 

    Both teachers and students dedicate their time to making sure the fair goes smoothly for everyone. NCSEF provides an opportunity for peers to show one another their passions and skills and learn about various research topics. It is also a great way to make connections and meet professionals in the field–for some students, their research is just the first step in their future careers.

  • Spoons: NCSSM’s Sacred Tradition

    Spoons: NCSSM’s Sacred Tradition

    Barboriak, as a junior, takes a picture with Eddie Zhang ’24 while playing Spoons. (Vincent Barboriak)

    By Tejasvi Shirolkar, Guest Contributor

    Usually used in a bowl of PFM cereal or soup, spoons are an essential part of the NCSSM dining experience. However, this February marked an annual tradition many chose to partake in: “Spoons.” Holding a wooden spoon to their nose, NCSSM students pass through hallways, go up stairs, and to their dorm halls. 

    To an outsider, Spoons may seem like a silly pastime. However, any NCSSM community member knows that the tradition is so much more; it celebrates the beginning of the Spring semester and allows both Seniors and Juniors to connect beyond the classroom.

    The Mastermind Behind This Year’s Spoons

    Vincent Barboriak ‘25, from 3rd West, is this year’s supervisor (or “Spoon’s Master,” as he describes it). As last year’s Spoons winner, Barboriak became the overseer for this year. He tracks eliminations, updates charts related to the game, and modifies rules for all participants. 

    How The Game Works

    On February 5th, 205 Juniors and Seniors each received a spoon with another player’s name on it–the person the player had to eliminate. For any player to be eliminated, they must be tapped on the shoulder with the spoon. 

    However, there is a catch: if a player has held up a spoon to their nose, that player is protected. Additionally, educational spaces such as classrooms and the library are considered “safe zones” to prevent distractions while learning.

    Some NCSSM students go to great lengths when playing Spoons. Antavious Ashe, a Community Coordinator (CC) on 2nd Hill, chimed in regarding some of the Spoons stories he had heard of. A member of 2nd Hill went as far as carrying his spoon in the shower, preventing another hallmate from tapping him out.

    Chloe Harnphanich ‘26, from 3rd Beall, echoed a similar story. While walking out of the PFM, Harnphanich kept her spoon to her nose. Near her, her eliminator lurked, waiting until the moment Harnphanich took the spoon off her nose. Despite her elimination from Spoons, Harnphanich seemed satisfied regarding her participation in the game.

    What Spoons Means to the NCSSM Community

    When asked why she participated in Spoons, Harnphanich stated, “[I] wanted to collaborate more with the student body [as a Junior Senator] and I think in general, [this game] is a very fun, engaging way to have a stress relieving aspect in… life, especially with such rigorous coursework at school.”

    As a former student and now as a CC, Ashe responded, “At first, I thought [Spoons] was really random, but in a way, it seems to bring the campus together… I think [the competition] can be taken to extremes, but for the most part, [Spoons] is a good thing.”

    To Keep or Not to Keep?

    While the winner for Spoons this year is yet to be declared, the student body seems to be in consensus: the sense of community, friendly competition, and camaraderie the game creates is what makes every participant a champion. The annual game is here to stay, and hopefully be embedded into the rich history of NCSSM.

  • Students Press for Return of Happy Half on Hill Street, “Stop the Spike”

    Students Press for Return of Happy Half on Hill Street, “Stop the Spike”

    (Cooper Uhl)

    By Anneliese Heyder, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    Happy Half has been an NCSSM tradition for years: the last 30 minutes before check is the precious time when students can socialize with friends and take a break from the stress of school. 

    While participation can vary depending on the day and weather, you can usually find at least 15-20 out on Hill Street enjoying the half an hour before check. However, a new element has been brought into the Happy Half scene: spike ball. 

    Spikeball is a game that involves a ball, a net, and four competitive players. It’s become a popular activity at NCSSM and boasts a club that hosts tournaments and events dedicated to the sport. Recently, however, spike ball has caused Happy Half to move from its famous spot on Hill Street to the Royall Lawn, affecting the Happy Half scene–something many students are indeed not “happy” with. 

    Cooper Uhl ‘25, a frequent Happy-goer, asked students their opinions one night. 

    “[Spikeball] was cool at first when it was just one or two [nets], but now it’s like five or six,” stated Stevie Richardson ‘25.

     “I think it has been detrimental to the culture of Happy Half because it’s meant for people to be able to talk about their days,” Lola Larsen ‘25 said. “But when you are playing spike ball, it’s very difficult to have a conversation.”

    Not all students are against the new Happy Half addition; many are very supportive and believe it should be here to stay. 

    “It’s a good activity to keep people moving and it brings the school together. It really builds a community to be able to come out to,” said Hannah Amadi ‘25.

    Rishi Jalagam ‘25 believed spike ball was “the greatest thing in the history of the school.” When asked to elaborate, he replied, “Are you gonna do a legislative law? Because I’m all for anarchism.”

    There is quite a divide between students when it comes to who should dominate the last 30 minutes before check–some are upset with the addition of spike ball, and others believe it brings something new and exciting to the atmosphere. 

    Landon Jiminez ‘25 expressed the idea of a compromise. “I don’t think it’s bad, but I also feel that we need normal Happy. Maybe we can make a deal–three days a week, 1-2 nets. But 4-5 nets every single day… it’s just kind of ruining Happy for years to come and the years to follow.”

    After a minute, he added, “We’re losing our tradition as the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics!”

    Ethan Burkett ‘25 agreed. “You don’t get to hear about the daily shenanigans, and you miss out on the socialization and familial ties of Happy Half.” 

    What happens if spike ball suddenly dies out? Will Happy Half continue on the Royall Lawn? Traditions are important to students at NCSSM–it’s what makes the two years we spend together memorable. However, who says that traditions can’t change? Maybe it’s time for the classes of 2025 and 2026 to add their own traditions to the mix. 

  • The Senior Night Spectacle for Uni Basketball

    The Senior Night Spectacle for Uni Basketball

    Jay Peng ’26 takes the game-winning shot. (Louisa Weinard/The Stentorian)

    By Preston Mullins, Stentorian Staff Writer

    There was a little extra excitement in the air on the evening of February 3rd, 2025. It was Senior night and the Class of 2025 players, managers, and cheerleaders would be recognized pregame. 

    As soon as the Senior night festivities wrapped up, the players turned their attention to basketball. That evening, the boy’s team faced off against the Franklin Academy Patriots; the winner would be atop the Super Six Conference standings at the end of the night. The Unis weren’t exactly favorites; they had fallen 67-53 on the road to the Patriots less than two weeks earlier. Despite this, there was a hopeful vibe emanating from the crowd. The NCSSM boys basketball team was having one of the best seasons in their history; a win here would go a long way for their hopes of qualifying for the 2A State Playoffs. 

    The moment of the tip-off arrived and the two teams were off and running, trading baskets back and forth. NCSSM got hot right out of the gate, and the Unis held an 18-14 lead at the end of the first quarter. As the second quarter began, the Patriots settled in and began to shift the momentum back their way. 

    The home crowd that had been raucously cheering just minutes earlier had quieted down significantly by halftime with Franklin Academy snatching a slim 31-29 lead at the break. There was an air of uncertainty throughout the building. The third quarter got underway and the Unis silenced the away fans as they began to regain the momentum they had earlier in the game. They brought a whole new level of energy after halftime and retook the lead 48-46 by the end of the period. This matchup was clearly going to be a nail-biter to the finish and the nervousness of the fans and students was palpable by this point. 

    Franklin Academy would hold a 59-57 lead with under ten seconds to play, but the Unis had the ball. Guard Ethann Burkett ‘25 was fouled with 4.5 seconds to go, which meant he would head to the free throw line to take two shots to potentially tie the game. The pressure on his shoulders was enormous, but he would calmly sink both free throws to knot things up at 59. 

    On the ensuing Patriot inbounds pass, the unthinkable happened. Forward Jay Peng ‘26 stole the pass and took a mid-range jumper as the seconds ticked toward zero. 

    Swish. The buzzer sounded; the Unis had won! The fans and players from the bench stormed the court and crowded around Jay, cheering. 

    What a thrilling night for Uni basketball! I got a chance to speak with Peng, as well as Burkett and Harry Gribbin ‘26, a fan who was in attendance that night. 

    When asked about that final shot, Peng said, “I can’t say I’ve ever practiced that shot before but as it was leaving my hands I knew it was going in. I didn’t think about it, I just let it fly. When the game ended, the feeling was surreal. As the students rushed the court, I felt on top of the world. These are the moments you dream of; it felt like a dream come true.” 

    When explaining how he felt as he stepped up to the free throw line, Burkett said, “I knew that I couldn’t let the doubt and nervousness overcome me. I had to step up and be confident that I would hit those shots. I shot the first one and it felt just right so I knew as soon as I shot the second one that it was going in too.” 

    Finally, Gribbin described his experience as a fan by saying, “It was the most exciting last minute of basketball I’ve ever witnessed. When Jay Peng stole the ball and swished the most incredible buzzer-beater I’ve ever seen, the gym erupted in cheer and we stormed the court, celebrating with the team.” 

    Not only did this game deliver a thrilling finish, but it was also the perfect Senior Night result and a critical shot in the arm for the Unis, who were already having an extremely successful season. Nobody entering the building that night knew what was about to transpire, but it would certainly be a game that the students and fans would never forget. 

  • Students Disappointed With Mold Growth and Administration

    Students Disappointed With Mold Growth and Administration

    (Skyler Qu)

    By Anneliese Heyder, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    Editor’s Note: This article was initially planned to be published in October 2024.

    Many will remember the shocking events of the past month involving the school’s ventilation system–the mold growth in the Hunt maintenance room. However, this isn’t the first mold incident in residential buildings; students have something to say about it.

    Ellie Murphy ‘25 recounted her experience, beginning at Move-In Day. “My roommate and I had mold growing on our desk chairs, 3 ceiling tiles, our closet door, and sides of our desks,” she said. “The problems were ‘fixed’ by maintenance by spray painting over the ceiling tiles and wiping down the furniture.”

    Murphy isn’t the only one whose hopes for maintenance repairs have been disappointing. Brandon Yang ‘25 expressed that Hunt has “fallen into complete disrepair”.

    “I’ve gotten used to seeing problems on hall, such as our landing door failing to unlock and broken lights in our hallways, knowing that they’ll take months to get fixed despite submitting work orders,” he said.

    Yang includes that he “understands minor inconveniences are bound to arise in a building that is over 30 years old” but is disappointed that the administration has chosen to ignore the mold growth in the HVAC system, prioritizing “marketing and branding.”

    It’s true–NCSSM’s buildings are over 30 years old, the last modification being in 1980. Structural issues are bound to arise, and most students understand that NCSSM isn’t a new building with the latest architectural and engineering designs. The frustration is the lack of response, lack of action, and lack of improvement. Students live here for nine months–the last thing they want is to be breathing in mold, finding it on their chairs and in their clothes. 

    “Our room is so humid that our towels never dry and mold has grown on different personal items. When we returned from fall break, 5 or so ceiling tiles had mold growing of different colors and we put in a request for a dehumidifier to fix the issue,” Murphy stated. 

    Some students have taken things into their own hands. Petri dishes and at-home mold tests were created and passed around. After the video leaked of the mold growth in Hunt, some students were determined to find out for themselves what was really going on. Cameron Shue ‘25 explained his choice to investigate. 

    “I obtained a petri dish from my friend and I swabbed my air vent and the chipping paint in the corner of my room,” he said. “I checked it a couple of days later after forgetting about it and the petri dish was full of black mold!”

    Mold isn’t the only black substance that students have discovered. Lola Larsen, ‘25 recounts her experience with a mysterious black liquid on 1st Beall. She told me she was sitting in the hallway when “this black liquid started dripping from the ceiling”. She described it as “matte black and thick, like oil”. When she requested maintenance, they found much more in the ceiling; maintenance determined it was black water caused by mold and humidity. When asked how she felt she stated “It was a very strange and concerning experience. It makes me wonder how many years that liquid had been sitting up there for the water to turn matte black.”

    Students want their voices heard and taken seriously–they want transparency and actions that show the school is truly taking in their concerns and using all their resources to find a solution. It seems that Murphy spoke the mind of the student body when she declared, “This experience has been unpleasant, to say the least.” 

  • Western North Carolina Destroyed By Hurricane Helene

    Western North Carolina Destroyed By Hurricane Helene

    DRONE FOOTAGE ON SEPT. 28 SHOWING FLOODING AND DAMAGE IN THE ASHEVILLE AREA AFTER HELENE DUMPED RAIN AND DOWNED TREES ACROSS WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. (WLOS 13 NEWS)

    By Laela Cash, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief

    Editor’s Note: This article was initially planned to be published in October 2024. Due to unprecedented circumstances, it was pushed back to be published in February 2025. The editorial board has decided to publish this article again corresponding with the print release.

    On September 27, 2024, Hurricane Helene hit Western North Carolina only two days after it made landfall in Florida. The result? Record-breaking flooding and destruction that most would have thought impossible for an area roughly 500 miles away from the ocean. While not only the Western part of the state was affected, it was definitely hit the hardest. 

    In total, 4.5 million people lost power in a week from the hurricane with 1.5 million of those being in North Carolina, according to USA Today. On September 27 alone, there were six confirmed tornadoes across the state with one as far east as Rocky Mount according to the North Carolina State Climate Office. But that was only the beginning.

    The Climate Office also reported that most Western counties got at least a foot of rain, with many reaching over two feet–effectively getting three months’ worth of precipitation in three days. Some areas including Busick, located in Yancey County, got almost three feet. Because of this, rivers including the French Broad, Watagua, Swannanoa and Catawba, almost immediately reached major flood levels and above. This nearly-submerged many towns including Asheville, Black Mountain, Boone, Morganton and Swananoa started to fill with feet of excess water. 

    The NASA Earth Observatory recorded that the French Broad reached a height of 24.7 feet which is a foot higher than the previous record while the Swannanoa River reached a height of 26.1 feet breaking the previous record by over six feet. 

    Asheville flooded rapidly as water flowed down from areas with higher elevation creating landslides along the way. Many areas became completely inaccessible almost immediately, as water breached rooftops. 

    At the same time, the Broad River basin was flooding, resulting in authorities attempting to evacuate areas downstream if the Lake Lure Dam broke while waves of water and debris hit the towns of Chimney Rock and Lake Lure. In total, AP News reported that the hurricane brought a total of 40 trillion gallons of water to the Southern United States.

    It wasn’t only flooding that was breaking records. ECONet weather stations measured wind at a speed of 106 miles per hour on Mount Mitchell, making it the highest recorded since 2011. Similarly at Frying Pan Mountain, winds of 87 miles per hour were the highest recorded since 2004.

    Such high winds inevitably led to more dangerous conditions and extreme property damage in addition to flooding. Most roads were immediately closed and travel bans were immediately put in place for the entirety of Western North Carolina. Many counties also enacted curfews to limit unnecessary traffic that may impede the travel of emergency vehicles on the remaining roads that were still accessible. 

    While rescue efforts started immediately, it was a long time before the full extent of the damage was realized and the timeline of recovery is still unsure. However, in the wake of this deadly storm, there has been a lot of false information spread about the aftermath. In order to understand the impact that this hurricane has had on communities in Western North Carolina and to grasp the magnitude of the crisis, it is necessary to understand the factors at play and the extremity of the events.

    (MELISSA SUE GERRITS/GETTY IMAGES)

    Immediate Aftermath

    As the rain started to let up, the full implications of the last three days set in. In the coming days and weeks, emergency services and hundreds of volunteers worked tirelessly to rescue people. These efforts were especially difficult in remote areas that were only accessible by roads that were more or less obliterated. 

    According to The New York Times as of October 22, 2024, across the six states that the hurricane plowed through, more than 200 people have been killed as a direct result of the natural disaster. In North Carolina alone, the death toll is at 96 with 42 of those being from Buncombe County with 26 people who are still reportedly missing. 

    According to AP News, hospitals almost immediately become overwhelmed. Additionally, many were running on backup generators after the power went out and therefore had limited capabilities while some had to close completely. Mission Hospital in Asheville set up mobile units in the days after the hurricane, offering showers, handwashing stations, and free food, water, and toiletries. According to WRAL News, these tents were only possible because of federal relief and they also allowed the hospital’s staff to treat more people. This was extremely necessary as the hospital was reportedly over 200% capacity on September 27.

    While some may regard property loss as more easily replaceable compared to lives, property damage is still life-changing. Governor Roy Cooper’s administration released a statement on October 23 estimating 53 billion dollars in damage. 

    Almost everyone who was lucky enough to still have their homes lost electricity, water, and cell service. Two weeks after the hurricane, roughly 14,000 people still did not have power in the state according to NPR. Many people, especially those in the Asheville area, went even longer, according to the city. However, Citizen Times reported as of October 18 that only 95% of that water is potable and therefore everyone is being told to boil their water. Without the internet, many people turned to Starlink as their only way to communicate with their loved ones.

    Even so, many people did not have the option of getting away from these conditions, not only did they not have the resources to do so but also because the roads were destroyed in many cases, according to the Asheville Citizen Times.

    (JACOB BIBA/ASHEVILLE CITIZEN TIMES)

    Why Was Helene’s Impact So Surprising?

    According to BBC Weather, one of the reasons that the storm’s large impact was unexpected is due to how rapidly it grew. It drew a great deal of its energy and momentum from warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico. 

    The local News and Observer interviewed head of N.C. State University’s Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences department Gary Lackmann in order to answer this question. He stated that these waters were warmer than usual due to global warming saying that the Gulf of Mexico had a surface temperature of 86.7 degrees Fahrenheit, which is over two degrees higher than the average previous average, while the hurricane was forming. He explained that water vapor, created due to warm ocean temperatures, fuels hurricanes. 

    Right before the hurricane hit Florida, it quickly strengthened from Category One to Category Four in just a few days. This hurricane in particular, also had a much larger cloud cover and wind field compared to others, reported BBC. However, this does not entirely explain why the hurricane reached the usually unaffected Appalachian mountains. 

    Why Did Residents Not Evacuate?

    One of the largest reasons is that the Western part of the state is rarely majorly affected by hurricanes. 

    Some people were entirely unaware that the storm was coming because they did not expect it to become so relevant to their safety. Most eyewitness and news sources say that the last time a hurricane substantially hit the Appalachian Mountains was in 2004. So, not only were many new residents unaware of this possibility, but even people who had lived through hurricane damage in 2004 would’ve believed that another would be an unlikely occurrence. This was further extenuated by the fact that the hurricane grew very quickly giving residents little time to adequately prepare or make evacuation plans.

    Additionally, according to the Washington Post, disaster experts evacuation would have been extremely difficult if not impossible based on the terrain and geography especially because there are often only a few ways to get in and out of remote, mountainous areas. Also, there are no evacuation routes designated by round, blue signs like there often are in coastal communities. For that matter, there are also no flood sirens due to the general lack of flood prevention infrastructure. 

    Western North Carolina is known internationally for our beautiful forests and mountains, but Hurricane Helene brought devastation to ways of living and infrastructure on a scale no one could have predicted. The floods washed away not just homes and businesses, but the sense of safety and security that the mountains once offered. 

    Families are now left piecing together shattered lives in a place that once seemed untouched by such catastrophic storms. The road to recovery will not only be long but also a challenge as they rebuild what was lost and grapple with speculation of what factors intensified the aftermath in the first place. Yet, amidst the destruction, there is resilience—in time, the communities of Western North Carolina will rebuild as they already are working with help from the many volunteers who have stepped up to help and donations from across the country. 

    As someone from Western North Carolina, I urge you to do your research–this is only an overview of the full story. Everyone’s experiences are different and important. And after understanding that many people lost everything in just a few days, please help in any way that you can. We will link additional resources on our website to help you do so.

  • DEI Must Die?

    DEI Must Die?

    In his order directing the Pentagon to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, Trump said the programs discourage merit and leadership, and discriminate on the basis of race and sex. (NPR)

    By Viviana Gardner, Stentorian Staff Writer

    On January 20th, 2025, the day of his inauguration, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order that sought to end “radical and wasteful government DEI programs and preferencing.” 

    DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) programs and policies have existed in many different forms since the mid-1960s when an executive order outlined that government employees were to be hired without bias toward gender, race, or religion. Since then, there have been larger strides to counterbalance the systematic discrimination that exists within our society, such as Executive Order 13985 enacted by President Joe Biden where he claimed in Ex that, “the Federal Government should pursue a comprehensive approach to advancing equity for all, including people of color and others who have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.”

    On the other hand, the January 20 Executive Order, criticizes DEI programs by claiming that the programs themselves are discriminatory, as the order operates off the idea that DEI’s goal of advancing racial and gender equity was only favoring certain groups of people – ignoring the centuries of oppression and biases that still remain within societal structures and government organizations.

     In implementing this order, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Attorney General, and the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) have been tasked with ensuring the end of DEI programs within federal agencies while also reviewing their financial impact. This has affected countless programs and people across the nation—even in our own school, where our DEI-ties program ended and our Student Climate Opportunities, Outreach, and Programming (SCOOP) program began. 

    Recently, there has been an uptake in content condemning DEI and celebrating what seems to be the “end” of these programs, with many claiming them to be part of the same “woke liberal agenda” of other policies concerning ethical issues, such as those created by the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG).

    Overall, the January 20 Executive Order has sparked debate around the existence of the policies and programs that served to make federal agencies more inclusive. In dismantling DEI programs that have allowed for a more equitable environment and that have addressed the deeply ingrained systemic inequalities, this executive order poses the risk of undoing decades of progress. As the federal government moves forward with these changes, the harm that these changes will and have caused will become a prominent topic and issue within minoritized and disadvantaged communities across the country.