As I walk around the perimeter of the school, a crisp but pleasant chill in the air, my friend and I pass by the long, dizzying row of white school vans. I began to wonder why there is a need for such an excess, it seemed unnecessary.
Perhaps it is just a result of overanalysis; however, paired with the circulating beliefs I’ve heard, it reinforces my curiosity. Statements like downtown seem dangerous, and there is a shared sentiment about the Durham buses being thrown around like they hold no weight. Are the plethora of school vans there for the sole purpose of being the ones transporting the students? If so, that would only further these beliefs that the outside world of Durham, Raleigh, and Chapel Hill is dangerous.
I then began to wonder why the topics of the public buses as rough or unsafe were viewed as the truth. Was it the fact that locals make use of them too? That it’s not full of other peers from the same sheltered bubble that this school can turn into? Or is it the fact that the majority of people that you will find riding the bus are black? These are questions I cannot answer and probably don’t have a definite answer to; however, the subject of the school being a sheltered place is definitely one of interest.
The reality is that many of the residential students here rarely leave the school grounds, or if they do, it’s to the comfortable stretch of 9th Street. This could be the result of the burdensome workload, but it can cause a limited worldview and create a bubble around NCSSM. Although downtown may not be a walkable distance for some, the free buses are available and easy to use, and downtown has been nothing but hospitable in all the months I’ve been here.
Now, my experience has not been everyone’s, however, I’d still argue that both downtown and the buses are safe and something that should be taken advantage of more often before we have to start paying for bus passes.
It’s that time of the year again, the annual dance that NCSSM hosts at the nearby Museum of Life and Science: prom! In the weeks leading up to the anticipated event, there is much to do; reservations for dinner need to be made, locations for pictures need to be decided and students must decide who they are going with and what they are going to wear. There’s a lot to do, so here is a quick guide and some free advice on how to navigate this fun event.
First, dinner reservations. Durham boasts a myriad of restaurants, many of which serve unique cuisines. You can find almost any kind of restaurant downtown; Greek, Indian, American, Italian, Thai etc. However, some restaurants do not take reservations and are first come first serve. If you are going with a large group to prom, it is probably better to look for restaurants that can accommodate large party sizes. Don’t wait til the last minute though; restaurants book up quickly!
Finding a place to take pictures isn’t as difficult as you might think; Durham and most of the triangle area have multiple scenic parks and gardens for photos. Downtown also offers a vibrant, fun background for pictures. However, most NCSSM students end up at Duke Gardens; famous for its botanical sceneries and beautiful architecture, Duke Gardens is one of the top places for prom pictures. There’s plenty of space to spread out and lots of opportunities to get pictures with friends (and family!).
The prom is held at the Museum of Life and Science, a quick drive from NCSSM. It is decorated according to the year’s theme – Medival Promenade is this year’s choice – and will have food, drinks, and a DJ! The museum offers plenty to explore and even more opportunities to take photos with friends. The prom is from 8 pm-12 am, with an After-Prom Pizza Party at 12:30 am.
Remember, if you are leaving campus overnight, you must fill out a form; if you are using your car, you must also request permission. However, NCSSM does provide transportation to and from the museum. All this information and more can be found on the NCSSM Prom 2025 website.
Seniors and juniors alike are looking forward to the “promenade” this year, with some seniors having mixed opinions on their experiences last year.
Hannah Stevens ‘25, stated, “I really liked the snow cone truck, and I enjoyed having the dance at the museum.” When asked about something she disliked, she added, “I felt there wasn’t much for me to do once I got there.”
Adryel Christie ‘25 also chimed in. “I went in there thinking there would be lots of food; there was indeed not food, only small snacks and plates.”
Christie also noted that he had not gone to dinner before, and he and Stevens recommended eating a full meal before attending the prom.
Stevens said they ate at the Pomodoro Italian Kitchen when asked where they went last year. “I recommended it,” Stevens said. “It was chill.”
Juniors Rebekah Switzer and Atha Brantly are both looking forward to the butterfly garden at prom. When asked about their opinions of this year’s theme, Brantly stated “It will be either really good or really bad.”
MacKenzie Sanford ‘25 stated that she enjoyed the idea of having prom at the museum, but felt that it decreased interaction. “Because you are in the museum, there’s not a lot of intermingling between groups – you are kind of spread out.”
Regardless of whether you go with a date, a friend, by yourself, or with a large group, prom is a night where people can dress up, make memories, and indulge in good food and dancing. The night will fly by, and while it may be a first for some, it is the last for others. Enjoy the memory of your high school prom, as it’s a memory you will look back on for years to come.
With the weather turning from spring to summer, the later sunsets and the reminder that last day of classes and finals are around the corner, students in the past can be found socializing with friends whom they may not see till term, anxiously gossiping about final projects, or just enjoying the warm weather outside during the last 30 minutes before check. However, as you walk down Hill Street and past Hill Lounge, the campus is quiet; students aren’t packed together, throwing footballs with the steady stream of chatter flowing down the road. Hill Street and Hill Lounge are dark and ominous, with no student life. What has become of the beloved Happy Half tradition? Is there any way to save it, or have we accepted that some traditions die off and others must be born?
For those unaware, Happy Half is a time during the last half an hour before check at 10 pm where students can chat with friends, hang out outside, and unwind from the stress of the day. During the months when the weather is warmer, Hill Street is noisy, with lots of student chatter. Even in the colder months, students could be found congregating in Hill Lounge, playing foosball or ping pong. For students, it’s a nice thing to look forward to after classes and studying all day. However, it has quite literally “died off”. Instead of the yells of classmates to “Meet at Happy” in the library or the whispers of “I’ll tell you at Happy” during class, there is nothing.
Some seniors have opinions about why that is.
Felicity Lipchak ‘25 shared that she believes that Happy Half declined due to the Class of 2024 leaving last year, and that the current seniors didn’t protect the legacy.
Zoe MacDonald ‘25 also voiced a similar opinion and added, “The former classes would be disappointed to know that Happy Half has ceased to exist. Class of 2026, it’s up to you to bring it back before it’s gone.”
Other seniors recall some of their favorite memories from Happy Half.
Connelly Martin ‘25 shared, “Happy Half was once a place that I found lots of joy and socialization with my peers from all across the student body. And now, as I’m reaching the end of my senior year, Happy Half has transformed into something that is not attended by many. It’s slowly dying, which is sad for me to see, as it was once a place of such joy, every night.”
Lipchak shared her favorite parts of Happy Half. “I loved just going out to talk to everyone after long days, especially when we were gone for long weekends or breaks; everyone would go out for the first half we were back. There were great conversations. And that’s how a lot of like friendships were built. And now that doesn’t happen at all.”
However, when asked what the junior class thought, these were their responses.
Morgan Price ‘26 stated, “I’ve never been to Happy Half”, which adds to the point that the nightly tradition is becoming less and less popular among both the junior and senior classes.
Lilly Ferry ‘26 chimed in, saying she thinks the importance of Happy Half was relayed to the juniors, and that the junior class “were busy and didn’t care.”
When asked her favorite memory of Happy Half, she said she liked to attend and sit in the hammocks and watch the spikeball games.
There are certainly other traditions and annual events here at school. The annual watermelon run hosted by the Watermelon Club, the Holi events during the spring, senior skip day and senior sunset/sunrise, and many more. These traditions have lasted and endured, which raises the question of why Happy Half hasn’t?
So what does this mean for future classes at NCSSM? Is Happy Half gone for good? It’s up to the current juniors to decide if they want to keep the tradition alive or allow it to rest for good. If so, what new custom will they bring to the table, and what will it have in store for the rising juniors? Only time will tell…
The lingering smell of sawdust in the air paired with the clattering of construction materials inside Hill House had filled my senses for the past three months. Every day, I walked past the building, my thoughts bubbling with curiosity about what lay inside the unfinished building. As my mind ran rampant with the possibilities held within Hill, I stumbled upon a theory greater than anything I had imagined.
October 16th. The day had been particularly draining–the PSAT along with the altered schedule had thrown the student body off, going from class to class while instructors tried to drain every 25 minutes they had with us dry for education. We were tired.
To give myself a break from the hustle and bustle of the day, I decided to give myself a short walk around the campus from the lovely comfort of the air-conditioned breezeways. Upon reaching the Greynolds tunnel to Watts, however, the air changed. The air was thin and it was alarmingly quiet. There was no ambient noise from the air-conditioning units and no scurrying of the rats in the wall. An absolute ear-deafening silence had been cast throughout that tunnel.
A peculiar thought entered my brain at that moment, and I couldn’t help but let that thought guide my actions as I took cautious steps forward. My footsteps felt light but they were the only things I could hear as I went deeper into the tunnel and pushed my hand against the unusually heavy door to Ground Watts.
The skull and cross-bones on the door to Hill Tunnel beckoned me forward and I was in no position to question its orders. The lights in Ground Watts were flickering, as if the power supply was running out. But that didn’t matter. Not when strange inhuman noises were bellowing from beyond the door to the Hill Tunnel.
Nobody had been in the area, or at least, no one was supposed to be in there; it was a restricted area and all the construction workers had been long gone.
Those noises only enthralled me further, and it felt like I had been walking for hours. Upon reaching my destination, a random Hill classroom, my eyes almost couldn’t believe what I had seen. Pods–hundreds of large humanoid pods molded in what appeared to be replicas of students who had been noticeably acting strange.
Upon further investigation, these were the same students who had let the stress of college applications get to them and fell victim to the curse of the “senior slump.” However, this was no ordinary slump. It was a disease that took over their minds rapidly and was somehow using their accumulated stress to produce an alien body double.
This is no satirical article. This is a call to action. Hill House is no construction zone. It is a housing unit for the aliens that have come to take over the minds of North Carolina’s best and brightest and if you’re not careful, you might be next…
Falls Lake State Recreation Area in the fall. UNC Institute for the Environment.
By Anneliese Heyder, Stentorian Editor-in-Chief
In the first and final few months of the school year, NCSSM residents all battle an invincible foe: Heat and its sidekick Humidity. These adversaries use the same tactics each year to challenge students: wading through a swamp-like heat, frizzy hair, red faces, and sweat stains everywhere. Students can be seen holding mini fans, chugging from water bottles with melted ice and practically sprinting to Bryan lobby from Ninth St. where they can gulp in the air conditioning (AC).
Luckily, there is a solution to the relentless problem–one that many students don’t know about. Durham is home to several lakes, rivers, and quarries where students can escape the heat, hang out with friends, and release stress while enjoying nature.
Falls Lake is a 12,500-acre reservoir located in Durham. It offers up to seven different spots around the lake to swim, fish, kayak and enjoy other outdoor activities. Sandling Beach, a popular spot, offers a small beach access with plenty of room to swim, take a nap, or play a game of beach volleyball. Beaverdam and Rolling View also offer access to beaches and safe areas to swim.
Eno River State Parks boasts several hikes, some leading to small swimming holes and quarries. One is Bobbit’s Hole, a popular summer hangout spot for locals. The old-fashioned swimming hole is deep, so a float is recommended. The spot is perfect for a dip on a hot day, and on the weekends it can get busy. Bring durable shoes, as it’s about a 1.2-mile hike to the quarry.
I asked Matt Czar, ‘25 about his thoughts on swimming holes in Durham. Czar lives in Durham and recently made a trip to the Eno. “When choosing where to cool off you should always keep in mind the size of your group and time constraints,” stated Czar. “If you have more time, anywhere between an hour and 2 hours, I would recommend going to Bobbits Hole. It’s about a 15-minute walk to the swimming spot then you would have about 30 minutes to an hour of swimming time.” Czar also suggested going to Coon Rock which he states “provides the most options and is the most overall enjoyable place to swim.”
Connelly Martin ‘25 also expressed her encouragement for students to visit the Eno. She recommended “bringing a towel or something to sit on, something to float on, and a speaker.” Martin had recently taken a trip to the state park, and when asked her favorite part she said, “The weather and the chance to get away from school and relax. It was fun to hang out with friends and take a break from technology and stress.”
The Durham heat can be brutal, and sometimes the best thing to do is wear loose clothes, stay hydrated, and stick close to the AC. However, when you have the time to do so, planning a trip to one of these nearby swimming areas will allow you to cool down while making memories with friends and enjoying the beauty of nature.
Drinks and vibes at Cloche Coffee, Durham. (Teresa Fang/Stentorian)
Every season is study season. As such, there must be accommodations for hardworking high school students. Not just any back alley folding table, nor empty classroom or the desk in your dorm will do; a change of scenery will provide a chance to tune into your assignments with no distractions.
With a cozy atmosphere with good vibes, a clean feeling, and the convenience of drinks and snacks just one step away, studying at cafes calms you down while offering a sanctum to lock in at the same time. Here is the Stentorian’s review of the best studying spots around Ninth Street, in our new column Zooming Around Durham (or ZAD for short):
Food: Joe’s salted caramel latte has always been my go-to drink, and this Joe Van Gogh upholds that. Their lattes have a rather strong coffee taste but manage to be easy-going at the same time. In my opinion, the Chapel Hill Joe Van Gogh makes more characteristic lattes than anywhere else but maybe it’s because I am biased for my hometown.
Vibes: The design of the store lets in lots of natural light, and has an indie vibe because of the decorations and paintings from local artists on the walls. It has an innovative coffee-shop combo of wood tables and a colorful behind-the-counter. There are a few small outdoor tables to allow for conversation. The lofted study area is especially aesthetic and really makes you feel locked in to your work.
Price: Though the lattes with syrup are a bit pricey at around $6 per 20 oz cup, the milk choices do not cost extra. Joe’s tends to put a lot of ice in lattes, so make sure to drink it all before the ice melts.
Overall: 4.6/5 – NCSSM students are only 6 minutes away from an excellent study place. Though the student discount no longer applies here, if you know how to ask around the barista, you can score a free drink voucher.
Food: I wish I got one of the food items, but I got the normal iced caramel latte and chocolate cookie. The latte is an excellent blend of espresso and milk. There is no sandy aftertaste when you get to the bottom of your drink, as you usually do with these types of drinks. The cookie is reminiscent of home.
Vibes: This cafe and bakery is popular with NCSSM and Duke students, though still has an exquisite, woodland but also industrial vibe that is unique among all stores on Ninth Street. The atmosphere is artsy but also not loud and dim – perfect for calm, after-school studying.
Price: Only one size is offered with lattes, and this one was $5. It is worth it, considering the quality and international reputation of the coffee shop.
Overall: 4.5/5 – The only thing that would make this better is extending the hours; closing at 7 pm makes studying here for long times nearly impossible.
Food: This milk tea shop makes it clear from the title that their emphasis is not on the TEA; milk-based drinks take up half the menu, not counting milk teas (since these don’t use real milk). These milky drinks are heavy on the stomach but hit the spot when needed. Sweetness levels are not the same for each drink, making it a gamble to order your favorite item. It does not help that you can’t ask the cashier about the drinks, since customers order from a kiosk.
Vibes: Opening the door to the smells of warm boba makes this place unique on this street of bars and restaurants. However, it is not a prime place to study because of the loud music and empty store. There seem to be only 1-2 people in the store at all times, either the barista behind the counter staring at you or a customer sitting beside the kiosk, staring as you order.
Price: The prices of all the drinks on the menu are not worth the labor behind making them, and this is coming from a former Möge Tee barista. At $6 for a large milk tea with boba, it’s expensive for what it is; there are much better options for the same price here.
Overall: 2.5/5 – The drinks are not as good as they should be, and this is an anxiety-increasing place to stay for a long time.
Panera Bread — 13-min walk
Food: Staying here for dinner, I ordered the French onion soup with a portion of a baguette while my friend ordered a Cinnamon Swirl bagel. We both ordered some drink but forgot what size or type of drink. Luckily, our selections did not matter because we took a large-sized cup and had infinite refills. Though the infinite drinks part was good in helping us stay refreshed and satisfied with our studying, my soup was small, salty, and unfilling. When ordering from Panera, make sure you judge if the price is worth the portion size.
Vibes: Very good. There is indoor and outdoor seating, but in this cold weather, the outdoor seating was not completely set up. The inside is ambient and cozy, with enough space you won’t have to worry about Duke students taking up everything. There are also enough people there to feel comfortable.
Price: The food items are overpriced, but the bagel and drinks seem okay. Being a MyPanera member makes frequenting Panera more worth it.
Overall: 4/5 – Good, comfortable place for long-time studying and getting a little snack. It closes late enough for NCSSM students to catch the loop from Harris Teeter back to school on Wednesdays.
Food: I got the salted honey iced latte since it was a unique house-made syrup flavor. There is no surprise at how good it is. There is a rather milky flavor that complements the accented honey and salt flavor. If you don’t like coffee but still want to drink it, the lattes here are up your alley.
Vibes: Inside the cafe, good jazz and lofi are playing in the background, making it a cozy place for productivity. Outside, there are picnic tables on a small porch overlooking Duke’s track field. A good place for gossip.
Price: $5 for the 20oz, which is pretty typical. This is on the cheaper side of lattes.
Overall: 3.5/5 – The location and ambiance of this spot make studying here a beautiful experience, only if you beat the Duke students at getting a table first. Otherwise, you can order and pick up your coffee in around 10 minutes and walk back to school/another place to study.
Food: Superb boba. Superb food. My go-to is jasmine milk tea with boba, and it never disappoints. The sweetness levels are adjusted according to what you ask for, and the amount of ice has never been an issue. While the drinks do vary in temperature sometimes, the full drink is fulfilling.
Vibes: If you like K-pop, you would jam it out in here. If you didn’t, you would jam out anyway because of the boba. The tropical-style decorations, entertainment, and variety of seating options make hanging out a very memorable experience, although the music can be a bit loud and people tend to gossip here rather than do work.
Price: With boba, the cheapest large milk tea you can get is less than $4.
Overall: 3/5 – In terms of being a study spot, Quickly is not the ideal place to memorize anatomy and physiology or rack your brains over physics. However, it does have the best boba and popcorn chicken in this part of town, making the 20-minute trek worth it.
