In this issue, The Record examines the aftermath of the 2020 election and students’ plans for leaving campus for the winter. We hope everyone has a safe trip and a happy Thanksgiving.

- The Record Editorial Board

Gage Skidmore

Biden Wins with Largest Voter Turnout in U.S. History

Benjamin Who ’24

As students walked from class to class on the week of November 1st, many checked the Associated Press’ updates on the election repeatedly. On November 7, CNN called the race, with former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. defeating incumbent President Donald J. Trump to become the 46th president of the United States.

Ellen Wuibaux

Americans Elect Diverse Representatives

Vivian Shi ’23

In 2016, many people were preparing to celebrate the United States’ first female president, Hillary Clinton. Similarly, pollsters predicted Democrats to win a majority in the Senate this year. At the moment, however, people’s predictions are up in the air.

David Li '21

Campus Lights Up with Diyas

Parth Jain ’24

Sparklers are not only used to celebrate July 4th – but Diwali as well.

Arhan Chhabra '22

Hotchkiss Climbs 2021 Niche Rankings

Benjamin Who ’24

Niche, an American company that ranks and reviews schools, has just ranked Hotchkiss the third-best boarding high school and the fifth-best high school in America, a significant improvement from fifth and 17th places last year in those categories, respectively. This placement also makes Hotchkiss the top-ranked private high school in Connecticut.

Annie Xu '22

Students Depart for the Winter

Lauren McClane ’23

After 11 weeks away from family and friends, students on campus will begin returning home over the upcoming weekend.

CTSP2020

To Democrats

Claire Wang ’21

At a campaign rally in 2016, President Donald Trump declared, “The silent majority is back, and we’re going to take our country back.” In response to the Black Lives Matter protests last June, he tweeted again “SILENT MAJORITY.” At the time, he was languishing nearly ten points behind Democratic challenger Joe Biden in national polls. Nevertheless, Trump was convinced that a significant portion of Americans had not responded to polls and remained as his adamant supporters. He was right.

Ein Jun ’22

In Defense of Subjectivity in Journalism

Stella Ren ’22

Is “Black Lives Matter” a partisan slogan? Is “a white officer shot a black man” more or less objective than political euphemisms like “an officer-involved shooting?” Journalists struggle to write about the news without taking sides. However, for far too long, journalism has failed to fulfill its duty not just to be factual, but also to advocate for the truth. It is time for us to rethink the value of objectivity in journalism.

U.S. Government Accountability Office

Meatpacking Companies Fail to Protect Workers During COVID-19

Ein Jun ’22

COVID-19 has devastated the meat processing industry. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 16,000 infections and 86 deaths among meatpacking workers – and this is likely a low figure, as many companies have attempted to conceal the true numbers. Eighty-seven percent of all the cases of infections in April and May occurred among racial and ethnic minorities. While Vice President Michael Pence said that the administration would work “tirelessly” to ensure the safety of the workers, the reality does not reflect his promise.

Luke Gardiner

Artist of the Issue: Luke Gardiner ’21

Anika Balwada ’23

Luke Gardiner ’21 is a four-year senior, head of Film Club, co-head of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA), board member of Hotchkiss Dramatic Association (HDA), proctor, and filmmaker. His latest short film, “Burning,” premiered on campus on November 1.

BLAC

BLAC Releases Fall Sampler

Amelie Zhang ’23

Whether you’re a Black artist or writer looking to submit work or an individual who appreciates student art and writing, the newly-founded Black Literature and Arts Collective magazine (BLAC) will spark your interest.

David Li '21

Winter Co-curriculars Adapt with Paper-Mâché, Zoom, and Masks

Isabella Wei ’23

In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the School has adopted an unprecedented schedule. The winter season this year started two weeks before Thanksgiving break. The season will begin again after students’ return in late February and will run until the end of March.

Tom Honan

Athlete of the Issue: Maggie Hatch ’21

Anika Balwada ’23

Maggie Hatch ’21 is a four-year Senior and captain of Girls Varsity Field Hockey and Girls Varsity Hockey. She plays goalie for ice hockey and has been skating since she was three. Teammate Sarah Holmes ’23 said, “Maggie is one of my biggest role models. She is truly one of the most hardworking kids I know. If there is anyone who embodies all of Hotchkiss’ values, it is Maggie Hatch.”

Cooper Puls

Wrestling Adapts to COVID-19

Darina Huang ’23

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Co-ed Varsity Wrestling team has had to implement substantial changes to its training methods and practice structures this year. The Edward R. Davis Wrestling Room, the team’s traditional practice location, was converted into a weight training room, so the team has been relocated to Schmidt Rink, which is now an indoor turf field.

Sochi

Best Season Plan During COVID-19: The NHL

Armaan Haji ’23

For sports fans, the prospect of not having an end to the 2019-2020 season due to COVID-19 was a horrible one; however, the majority of leagues found a way to end their seasons safely. Nevertheless, this does beg the question: which league had the most successful plan to keep the players, their families, and staff safe from the virus? The National Basketball Association (NBA), National Hockey League (NHL), and Major League Baseball (MLB) all successfully completed their seasons and the National Football League (NFL) has recently started their season.