It’s all About the Seniors
By Sherry Hernández, Dean of Multicultural Affairs
This spring marked my ninth graduation at Exeter, and each year, I continue to be grateful for each year’s graduating class, for all they have contributed to our Exeter community and beyond. As I reflect upon the year, the graduating ALES Board significantly contributed to making the ALES 55th Celebration a success this past October 2023. From inviting our alums to join their Friday night membership meeting in Club Room B, to giving campus tours which highlighted historical places on campus like Davis, the home of the first Black affinity space, to attending John Forté’s performance at Goel, their engagement provided comfort for our returning alums that so much of what they loved about Exeter has remained while constantly evolving into a more inclusive one.
While many students are focused on fall term finals and assignments in late November, our GSA Senior Co-Heads bravely led our Transgender Day of Remembrance at Phillips Church. After reading the names of each transgender, non-binary, and gender non-confirming persons who were targeted and killed for living their authentic selves, our senior leaders then lit a candle for each one. Our GSA Co-Heads, LGBTQ+ Coordinator Ms. Joanne Lembo and many of our umbrella affinity club advisers consistently show up for our Queer community even when school demands are high. I am so grateful for their unwavering compassion and support.
In the winter, our ISA Board kicked into high gear as they thoughtfully coordinated another successful International Tea. Many of the ISA Board members who are seniors marked that this would be their last one and made sure that it was memorable – it definitely was! Despite the cold chill that winter term brings, the sense of community at this all-school event was heartwarming and it wasn’t just because of the varied international teas offered, but mostly the fellowship that the ISA Board fostered with Mrs. Smith, International Student Program Coordinator.
One of my favorite memories this spring was at the Asian, Asian American, Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month affinity dinner. After dinner, many of our graduating seniors took to the mic to sing karaoke in a variety of different languages. This was of course after the dance off between tables at which the adult table absolutely won in my book. We had Principal Rawson doing THE SPRINKLER! Don’t worry – we awarded a student table with gift cards to Stillwells for winning the best dance.
You can learn more about our spring term programming throughout the rest of this spring’s newsletter. Each term, I beam with pride based on the powerful and meaningful work that our OMA Proctors are doing to support the work of our OMA clubs and their memberships. I am eternally grateful to the OMA Team and the donors who, in part, make our events possible. As retiring Dean Weatherspoon reminds all of us -- what an incredible place we have to work and live our most meaningful lives! To echo his sentiment, I finish this article not only reflecting upon this past year with deep gratitude, but also with admiration and well wishes for Jackie and Russell Weatherspoon as they enter their next chapter. We will miss you very much!
Honor Your Sparks
By Ms. Alia Haskins, OMA Intern
For my last two WORD! articles, I wrote about topics that were important to me, but took a less personal approach. As the school year ends, I want to use this space to open up a little bit with you all, and share something I have constantly tried to remind myself of in recent years.
A common phrase I grew up hearing people say is, “Be true to yourself!” While I think this is an important mantra to keep in mind, it is also easy to interpret this too literally. In the past, I thought being true to myself meant I should not change my interests and aesthetic, or let a new environment “change” me. I did not realize that every experience in life can help you learn about yourself. I interpreted personal change that was outside the parameters of the box that I fell prisoner to internally, was breaking the rules. In reality, it was my slow attempt to break free from the mindset of limits and boundaries. Being true to yourself does not mean you cannot adapt and change aspects of yourself that fostered a great sense of pride. In my opinion, that signifies making sure you are doing it for yourself, and not for others.
The top song of my 2023 Spotify Wrapped was 16 x Baby Keem (for the second year in a row), followed by See the World x Caamp. If you don’t know, Baby Keem is a Hip-Hop artist and Caamp is a Folk group (think banjos and walking around the forest taking in nature vibes). They are very different songs and artists that both resonate with me in their own very special way. Three years ago, I would have been embarrassed if anyone found out I enjoyed Folk or Indie music. Now, I’m proud of my music taste, which includes 50+ playlists that represent different genres. Everyday I'm asking myself what type of music I'm feeling in the moment. I am letting myself be authentic and to honor my interests instead of pushing them away.
My music taste is just one aspect, of many, in my life that I took time to acknowledge and accept. I share this part of my personal journey with you in order to emphasize that despite what your mind or society might tell you, there is no blueprint of who you should be. You can remain true to yourself and change simultaneously. Let yourself evolve, learn, love, and grow. You don’t need a traditional “new chapter” in life to honor your authenticity—your new chapter could start tomorrow. I hope these words help you reflect on what makes you happy and brings a spark to your life. If you already know what that spark is, or when you find it, hold onto it and care for it, until that spark becomes a flame. If the flame dies out—which can happen often—that is okay! You will cross paths with another spark that needs your attention and care.
While I am grateful that time and reflection have allowed me to change my perspective on evolving, I am even more grateful that my 8-year-old self does not still lead my fashion choices.
Night Market X Soul Fest: A Spirited Collaboration
By Mrs. Jennifer Smith, International Student Coordinator
On Saturday May 4, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) and Student Activities held the Night Market X Soul Fest event, a wonderful collaboration between the AAB (Asian Advisory Board) and ISA (International Student Alliance.) The event was held in Rink A from 7:30-10:00 p.m.
There were over 11 booths for student affinity and cultural clubs, as well as snacks, and a ramen noodle bar. Each club table had cultural food or candy to sample, and an activity to try. Many of the clubs came together to prepare homemade food, desserts, and drinks. There were Thai spring rolls, bubble tea, mixed sodas, hot sauces from around the world, Henna, and so much more. The bistro lights, international flag banner, and lanterns strung around the space created an intimate and authentic night market feel. I’m always in awe of how lighting and the right decorations can be completely transformative.
It was exciting to have live Taiko drummers perform, and I noted how the crowd was riveted by their passionate display. Whenever an event can meet the confluence of fun while also imparting learning, it’s a success in my book. Students performed dances, sang, and shared original poetry. Ms. Tinsley’s 8-year-old daughter Bodhi played the ukelele with William Weber and sang “Three Little Birds” by Bob Marley, followed by a solo by her own solo. The event concluded with a raucous karaoke session.
This event takes a great deal of organization, heart, soul, and planning. When ISA created Soul Fest in the spring of 2021, it was a response to the devastating isolation that the global pandemic created. We wanted students to come together and feel the support of their community, while having activities and food to feed the soul- such as warm drinks, comfort food, a cozy atmosphere, and music. When discussing future iterations of the event, we soon realized that there was a great deal of overlap in the desired outcomes of the two events and last year, we decided we should partner. I am so glad we joined forces. Having multiple adults, departments, and clubs working together creates more possibilities. Working with Ms. Tinsley every day is a gift and a lot of fun. I have to give her and Ms. Pope a shout-out here for their hard work, creativity, flexibility, and collegiality. I look forward to future collaborations and cultural celebrations.
Asian-American, Pacific Islander Make-up Tutorial
By Ms. Kerrie Tinsley, Asian Students Coordinator
In mid-April of this year, I attended the Asian American Footsteps Conference (AAFC). On the ride to the conference, I overheard two students eagerly anticipating a workshop on makeup techniques for Asian-American, Pacific Island (AAPI) students. They mentioned how many products and tutorials cater to “white eyes” and “white skin” and emphasized the importance of inclusivity in beauty standards. After asking around, it became clear to me that there was interest among students in having a similar type of makeup workshop on campus.
Make-up is about more than just looks. It is a way to express cultural identity and discover oneself. The art of makeup has been a significant aspect of beauty practices worldwide. In spite of this, the beauty industry has historically lacked diverse faces and skin tones. So after a bit of research, I invited June Leung, a Boston-based make-up artist to campus to teach a tutorial that would cater to the nuances of Asian facial structures.
When I first reached out to Leung, who is originally from Hong Kong, she explained that many of her Asian clients also struggled with not knowing how to apply makeup in a way that enhanced rather than diminished their unique facial features. She also stated that this type of tutorial was really important to her as an Asian woman. By sharing her expertise and knowledge, Leung aimed to empower Asian students to embrace their identities while exploring make-up as a form of self-expression. The students’ enthusiasm during the tutorial exemplified the importance of addressing specific beauty needs within the AAPI community.
During the workshop, sixteen students filled the Hair Emporium to learn how to identify their individual face shape and how to color match and apply foundation and contour. The Hair Emporium is a venue on campus where students of color receive hair care, if they choose. It was funded by a donor who was apprised of the difficulty that students of color had with finding quality hair care in the local community. In this case, it was utilized to run this event.
Leung also taught students how to apply eye make-up and blush to accentuate their features, emphasizing that the common method of “applying blush to the apples of your cheeks doesn’t really work for Asians.” She also discussed how to match foundation to particular skin tones. She noted, “most of the time if you go to somewhere like Sephora, they automatically recommend foundation with a yellow undertone because you are Asian, but it is not always the right color.” By highlighting techniques that focused on characteristics such as almond-shaped eye, mono-lids, and different skin undertones, Leung sought to inspire confidence and self-acceptance among the students in attendance. She went beyond simply following mainstream beauty trends and instead, emphasized the beauty of individuality. My favorite parts were hearing all of the questions the students asked and, of course, watching everyone practice the techniques on themselves.
The significance of the AAPI Make-up Tutorial extends beyond the realm of cosmetics; it aimed to become a tool for empowerment and self-affirmation, encouraging Asian students to defy conventional beauty standards that often overlook diversity. My hope was that this event was the first of many and helped to serve as a platform for cultural celebration and self-love, fostering a sense of belonging.
Math in Color
By Eliana Hall '25, OMA Proctor
This term, I organized a study group called “Math In Color” for Black and Hispanic girls of color. Oftentimes, I get the question of why I wanted to start this group. The answer was simple--it was about community.
Over the past few terms, I’ve been part of math classes where I was the only black girl in a male-dominated classroom. It became easy to get into my head frequently because, compared to my classmates, I believed my understanding of the material was inadequate for the course level. My classmates had extensive and advanced knowledge of the material, so I hesitated to ask questions because I assumed that I was the only with questions. One day, after I had a conversation with a friend I realized that I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. I wasn’t the only one who struggled to ask questions, or had difficulty with tests. But there was something enlightening knowing that these were familiar classroom moments. It disappointed me that mine was a common experience, but this realization allowed me to find unity within my community and to think about how to impact this dynamic.
Dean Hernandez, Mrs. Geer (Math Department Chair), and the Transitions affinity group for girls and non-males who identify as Black and/or Latinx, were instrumental in helping me execute what I envisioned. When I reached out to Dean Hernandez about organizing a study group, to my surprise, I learned that the idea had been considered before by the Math department. Additionally, the Transitions co-heads were excited for an external collaboration of this sort and they allowed me to reach out to their members. When I sought the support of additional peers, much excitement and relief followed. One individual expressed that a group like this would be helpful and it was what they were looking for. It turned out that many of us desired a space that would help us feel empowered in math classrooms. That’s what the space became ultimately, an opportunity for young women who identified as Black and/or Latinx to enjoy community and feel empowered at the math Harkness table.
One of the things I loved seeing most about this group was when students who came for help offered support to others in a course they had previously completed. It truly became a place for mutual support, but more importantly, "Math In Color" evolved into a beautiful community of ambitious young females. A notable highlight that comes to mind is when a participant of "Math In Color" shared that she had “cooked” on an exam, and felt good about it. It was amazing to see her confidence evolve over time. It made me happy to hear that this group was so impactful.
I am certainly looking forward to seeing how this group develops in the future, and how it can continue to offer enrichment for the aforementioned demographic of students. As "Math In Color" grows, it continues to provide foundational knowledge that helps more students in our community engage and experience math classrooms in a more meaningful way.
Iftar at Dr. Ullah's
By Anushka Noori '26, OMA Proctor
At the start of spring term in March, Dr. Ullah invited the Exeter community to her house for Iftar, an evening meal to break fast during Ramadan. "Ramadan is considered one of the holiest months of the year for Muslims. In Ramadan, Muslims commemorate the revelation of the Qur’an, and fast from food and drink during the sunlit hours as a means of drawing closer to God and cultivating self-control, gratitude, and compassion for those less fortunate (Islamic Networks Group)." The event was a community effort; faculty and student leaders arrived early to Dr. Ullah’s home to decorate, help set up, and greet guests—many of whom had been fasting for Ramadan—as they arrived early in the evening. Dr. Ullah’s living room quickly filled with lively conversation and laughter. As the sun began to set, students and faculty, alike, enjoyed an array of South Asian cuisine for dinner.
Away from the classroom, members of our community created memories that will last well beyond the evening. This year was Dr. Ullah’s third year hosting Iftar. The Exeter community is deeply grateful to her and Mr. Ullah for opening their home and providing space and opportunity to celebrate each other’s identities and grow together. By the end of the evening, students and faculty left the gathering at Dr. Ullah’s house with a stronger sense of close community. “It was so nice to spend time with my friends and with others at Dr. Ullah’s house. I felt so comfortable,” a student remarked. This sentiment is echoed by our Exeter community, at large, who look forward to celebrating together again at next year’s Iftar.
ART690 Capstone Intensive Studio Project: Cowboy Carter
By Rowan Flanagan '24, OMA Proctor
Just in time for my senior spring, I was fortunate enough to take my dream class: ART690: Capstone Intensive Studio—a class I never believed I would be able to fit into my time here. On the first day, we were given a budget and full access to the facility's comprehensive collection of materials and tools. My whole class was ecstatic! We brainstormed with each other frequently, sharing new ideas, opinions, and advice. Our creativity couldn't possibly be bound to the studio; we fpund ourselves bouncing ideas off of each other in line at the Elm Street dining hall, or even in other classes. I knew that I wanted to paint and that I like to paint people, but I went through countless ideas and mediums before I landed on what is presented before you now.
Less than a week before my project proposal, I still had no clue what I wanted to make—just that it needed to be both fun and meaningful to me, until I listened to Beyoncé’s latest album, Cowboy Carter. I knew exactly where I wanted my project to go, down south. The portrait I derived is my homage to Black Southernism, something so influential, yet so overlooked. Black southerners are hardly ever at the forefront of southern art—unless it's involving our painful history in this country. While that can never truly go unaddressed, I wanted to expand on Beyoncé’s message in my art, and reclaim our place in the making of the south—cause if that ain’t country, tell me what is?
North American School Scrabble Championships
By: Cherish Amby-Okolo '24
Spring inspires visuals of the sun shining and flowers blooming. During this time of year, I find myself in the heart of Washington, D.C., but not to visit the cherry blossoms. For me and some of the 100 top youth Scrabble players on the continent, the spring season means another North American School Scrabble Championship, an annual opportunity to compete against fellow logophiles.
This year, the tournament was held on the weekend of March 23 and 24th, one week after Exeter’s Spring Break. I attended more tournaments in those two weeks than I usually do in a year, preparing for the competition. The COVID-19 pandemic was significant, as the isolation allowed players to invest time fortifying their word knowledge. Even though I was the first seed and a potential “favorite” in the high school division, it was not a comfortable ranking. However, in 2023, High School Scrabble history had its first female winner, Ruth Li, from Toronto, Canada. Having played with her for many years, I was inspired and motivated to carve my name right next to hers.
Since 2022, the Planet Word museum has been the tournament venue, a perfect scene for a word game competition. I’d played five games on the first day, ending the day with an undefeated record. My first game was an eventful 630-point game, with high-scoring words such as SNOOZED and OVERBAKE, solidifying a strong start. My third game was live-streamed to the world, and after a rocky start, I emerged with a 510 score with words like AEQUORIN and SOCAGERS (122 points!). In my fifth game of the day, I opened up with PHARYNX for 110 points, which received recognition on the channels of many Scrabble Youtubers, like Will Anderson, 2017 (adult) National Championship.
While I felt great after an impressive first day, I knew the competition would get fiercer. During my sophomore year in 2022, I ended the first day with a similar undefeated record, but after losing two games the next day, I lost my shot at the finals, finishing third. As this was my last year, I was determined to avoid repeating the process. While I was still giddy and energetic, maximizing my sleep was my priority, and I entered the last day of the tournament with a solid nine hours of sleep. I won Game 6 after plays of DUSTBINS and SUASIVE, but faced my biggest challenge in Game 7. I’d known my opponent since 2019, but hadn’t played a single game against them after that. As we were both contenders for the finals, our game was live-streamed. Near the end, I was up by about 25 points, but for the last move, my opponent played SWEEPER for 74 points, winning the game and handing me my first loss. Fortunately, I was still in first place and realized I just needed to win, even by one point, to advance to the finals, which I was fortunate to do.
After sitting through the middle school finals for an hour, my opponent and I headed upstairs to play, knowing everyone in the lobby and worldwide was watching. While the game started strongly in my opponent’s favor, after three consecutive plays of over 70 points, it was a secured victory after that. Even thinking now, the experience is still surreal. While I am now too old to be called a School Scrabbler, I had the opportunity to end my youth Scrabble career with a Cross-National Title. Most importantly, I have been privileged to use my experiences to testify that anyone, especially Black women, who are significantly underrepresented in Scrabble, can excel. With a large-scale victory, I am excited to send an even louder message within Scrabble and other fields lacking representation.
Hot Wings Challenge
By Daniel Connelly '25, OMA Proctor
If you think the sun is hot, these wings were HOTTER!!! It's the annual Hot Wings Challenge, and Black Students of Excellence, La Alianza Latina, and Asian Voices were revved up and ready to chow down on some diabolically hot wings. One by one, the chairs in front of the tables covered in posters filled up. Steaming trays of wings were brought out from Principal Rawson's house, and the contestants took their places. Dean Hernández and the club co-heads announced rules and cautions, like, don't cheer and swallow at the same time. We did a heck of a lot of cheering at this event. Each club had a unique call, but the most common was simply chanting the club’s acronym again and again. (I may be biased, but LAL (La Alianza Latina) cheered the best).
The spiciness levels rose, as did tensions and dropout numbers. Club co-heads Jordan (Adeyemi) '24 and Sofia (Contreras) '24 cracked objectively bad chicken jokes, and the contestants invented varied ways of fighting the spice. Some ate the whole piece in one bite, while others swallowed small pieces like pills. Some even used the dunk method, in which they dunk the wings into their one allotted cup of milk. Despite these methods, more continued to drop out, unable to keep their cool--literally. Alas, the last wing rolled around, and BSE and AV were down to two participants. Ultimately, LAL came out on top with all ten of their competitors still standing. LAL victoriously celebrated their win with more chanting, and brought home a heap of bragging rights.
Garden Party
By Erin Chen '25, OMA Proctor
On Sunday May 12th, the Academy’s beautiful outdoor tent space was filled with tables of various Asian cuisines. OMA’s annual Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) dinner took place with this year’s theme of "Garden Party." Students came dressed in semi-formal attire, bringing bright colors and smiles onto the lawn. As Spring bloomed and the sun came out, the indoor-outdoor tent space provided the perfect venue for our community meal.
There’s nothing that brings people together like good food from home. When I’m away from home, I often miss my mom’s spicy and aromatic Chinese cooking. Coming together around a table with Asian classmates reminded me of my family conversing around the dinner table as we’d devour warm dumplings. The richness and flavor of all the Asian cuisine felt familiar and homely. The array of dishes featured crab rangoons, sushi, dumplings, seekh kebabs, mochi, kimchi, and more. Asha Masoudi ‘26 remarked that, “Asian food is part of Asian culture. It was really fun to connect with other Asian and Asian American students on campus. It felt really nice to have something that was meant to celebrate Asian students.”
After the meal, Masoudi hosted a dance-off competition to Super Shy by NewJeans. All the teams put on a great show, including a faculty performance from Asian staff on campus, the OMA team, and Principal Bill Rawson, but only one team could win. That honor went to Simone Adams, Avery Im, Allegra Lai, Mona Yadav, Katie Hu, and Annie Vo. We finished off with a bit of karaoke to end the delightful evening.
Book Corner
By Mrs. Jennifer Smith, International Student Coordinator
Friends, I must admit that my reading throughout the spring term has been almost purely for sheer escapism and entertainment. The cold and grayness of this spring has left me yearning for beach days and summer fluffy beach reads. I am on pace to make my goal of 52 books this year and continue to have a book with me almost wherever I go. The most memorable book of the spring term for me has been Ariel Lawhon’s latest novel, The Frozen River. Before proceeding, *I want to let readers know that there is a trigger warning below for content discussed in this novel.
This book is masterful, beholding key page-turning elements: a strong female lead, a body entombed in the frozen river in Maine, possibly a murder, and race to uncover clues. Martha Ballard, the main character, is a midwife and healer, and an intensely devoted wife and mother. She is called upon to investigate the murder and a possibly related sexual assault case. As a midwife, she is thus privy to the happenings in the town behind closed doors. Her avid journaling of her births and daily life serve to provide a rudimentary medical charting system for all of her patients.
Though a work of fiction, this novel is about an unsung hero of midwifery, never having lost a mother out of 1,000 births- no small feat in those days. Taking place in 1789, the ways in which women were silenced, the lack of justice and lawlessness was enough to make me yell out loud as I was reading. While there are some difficult topics in this book, I give it my highest recommendation. It will be in my top reads of the year for sure. Get outside and read, Exeter!
Representation Matters
By Daniel Connelly '25, OMA Proctor
When I arrived here initially, I, like most other preps, felt quite alone and frightened of campus and its people. I was unsure on how to make friends, get to classes, and find community on campus. Thankfully, three people quickly became my friends and mentors within, and outside of, the dorm: Kodi Lopez '23, Andrew Serdar-Espinoza '23, and Rowan Flanagan '24. Kodi and Andrew were Uppers, and Rowan was a Lower, fresh to campus after spending his Prep year online. Kodi and Andrew were dealing with the increased rigor of upper year, and the beginning of the college application process. Rowan was adjusting to campus, just like me, and taking on Lower year by the horns. Despite this, they made time for me.
Rowan and I would show up at either Kodi or Andrew’s room like chicks that fell out of the nest. And soon the four of us would be squashed into a beanbag or under an elevated bed watching videos or bantering until we were too tired to keep our eyes open. They told me how to navigate life as a queer student, as a Latino student, as an athlete, as a dyslexic, and gave me information it would have taken too many grueling, uninformed years to gain. They led me to OMA and affinity spaces, where I have found amazing friends and community. From the start, they looked after me. They picked me up when I fell, and pushed me onward when I walked.
I know I’m not unique, across campus there are mentors like them, who aren’t doing this for any other reason than to share the love in their hearts. Students with marginalized identities benefit greatly from having each other as role models to show them the way. Having them as dorm proctors or student listeners is critically important, as it can really enhance the student experience.
Asian American Footsteps Conference & Korean BBQ
By Coco Kim '24, WORD Newsletter Contributor
If I could describe the Asian American Footsteps Conference, or AAFC, in only one word, I would describe it as unifying. AAFC aims to not only provide a space for Asian students to mingle but also educate ourselves and others on serious topics relating to the Asian community. This year, I participated in two workshops--the first being ‘Embracing Asian Eyes: Creating our Narrative through Makeup and Empowerment’. In this workshop the group talked about Asian beauty standards such as pale skin and double eyelids that are harmful to the self image of many young Asians. However, we also discussed the joys of makeup and even got to share our favorite products.
‘Exploring Asian Cultures: A Journey Through Art’ was a more relaxed workshop where we had the freedom to paint with watercolors. I also co-hosted an affinity space for Korean students where we did karaoke and shared some Korean snacks such as banana milk and choco-pie. Though many of them were shy at first, the students slowly eased into the karaoke. By the end, we even had people dancing and clapping. Overall, I considered AAFC a very important experience that I would highly recommend to my fellow Asian students.
Korean BBQ
The sizzle of the brisket as it hits the hot grill. The smell of the fermented soybean paste and soufflé egg. It is the taste of home I had missed for so long. My experience as someone who has attended Korean barbecue for the past three years has been wonderful. Aside from the food, being in community with other Koreans and those who enjoy Korean culture was uplifting: being able to freely speak a language I love so much was liberating. The KBBQ trip also connected me with people I did not know prior. I’ve met so many people who I cherish dearly through my experiences with Korean Society and the KBBQ trip.
When going to a KBBQ restaurant, I highly recommend the following: first, order the meat. I usually go for thinly sliced brisket, marinated short ribs, and pork belly. When cooking the meat, cook in clumps instead of turning each piece one by one. Also be careful not to burn yourself with the oil! Enjoy your meat with ssamjang (the aforementioned fermented soybean paste) and any of the banchan (side dishes) in a ssam (lettuce wrap). If you’re brave enough, you can even take a bite of the green chilis that come out alongside the lettuce; dip the chilis in the ssamjang; trust me! Also, order a side of jjigae or stew to wash down the fatty meats. I usually go for kimchi jjigae or doenjang (soybean) jjigae. If you’re interested in trying Korean food, I would say this trip is an excellent introduction into Korean cuisine!
Queeraoke!
By Niall Bardorf '24, OMA Proctor
On Sunday, April 21st, Mx. El hosted “Queeraoke” in the Hahn Room. Queeraoke served to “spread love, acceptance, and empowerment through the power of music,” and all members of the Exeter community were invited to join. Once the doors opened at 7PM, people filed into the room and sat down in the rows of chairs in front of the performance space. Mx. El set up the projector and screen for the karaoke, and brought in some speakers and a microphone. Additionally, a table full of snacks was set up for participants to enjoy throughout the event.
Using the karaoke software “KaraFun,” participating student and teacher singers, alike, queued songs to perform. Mx. El kickstarted the night with a thrilling first karaoke performance - “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis. Throughout the event, participants cycled through different genres and moods, with energetic songs like “Party in the U.S.A” by Miley Cyrus, or even satirical sets like “Karma” by Jojo Siwa. Other honorable mentions include senior Jett Goetz’s performance of “Driver’s License” by Olivia Rodrigo and college counselor Mr. Einhaus’ performance of “Hit Me with Your Best Shot” by Pat Benatar.
After each song, everyone would applaud and cheer for the singers. The night concluded with a brilliant showcase of “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor. The event was fun, memorable, and refreshing. I hope this event will be a fixture at PEA in the years to come.
A Night Market Experience
By Eliana Hall '25 and Anushka Noori '26, OMA Proctors
Night Market, hosted in May—which is AAPI Heritage Month—is perhaps the biggest event co-sponsored by the Asian Advisory Board and the International Student Alliance. Event planning, from organizing booths to managing budgets, takes many weeks of team discussion and decision making. AAB and ISA were proud to bring this year’s Asian Night Market to the Exeter community on Saturday, May 4th in Rink A. Some of the amazing booths this year included Asian Voices’ tanghulu table, Subcontinent Society’s chaat stall, and AAB’s ramen station. Outside of the fun activities and snacks that Night Market offers, the event centers itself around celebrating Asian culture and identity, both within the AAPI community and our Exeter community at large.
If you entered Rink A on that Saturday evening, the vibrant bustle of students would instantly capture your attention. Students were surrounding every stall, eagerly waiting to try something either new or familiar to them, and as the night unfolded, it was easy to feel grateful for nights like these when our campus comes together to appreciate and celebrate other cultures. Before the event began, many students expressed their excitement for Night Market, but upon interviewing Nhan Phan, he expressed the intention and significance of this festival. Nhan, a senior in Wentworth Hall, mentioned that the event was meant to feel “intimate” and inviting to members of the community. The circular design of the space allowed the festival to feel tight. He further added that this proximity and intimacy “turned out to be really helpful because when we did student performances, we benefited from the fact that everyone was really tight together.
It created a really intimate environment.” If there is one thing people found most memorable about Night Market, it was the beautiful performances. From Taiko drumming to Bodhi’s angelic voice, students were captivated by the melodious entertainment. In response to the drummers, Nhan commented that it “just added a really kind of fascinating and inspiring cultural dimension to this event.” After he visited Japan and watched Taiko drumming, he was “just in awe that we could replicate that here.” Just as Nhan had felt that sense of awe throughout the performances, many students—including ourselves—felt a familiar sentiment of amazement and admiration for an event like Night Market.
Interestingly, Night Market is a fairly recent campus event that only began three years ago. For Nhan, “this event is an ode to the graduate seniors. [When I] think about how far we’ve come, it’s a real testament to the class of ‘24.” Not only was this festival meaningful and exciting to campus, but it held significance to the graduating class of seniors. When asked to describe Night Market in one word, Nhan chose to describe it as an “adventure.” His closing remarks remind us that the legacy of Night Market will continue to last on campus and leave an indelible impact on our multicultural community at Exeter. Night Market was truly an adventurous opportunity for everyone to explore other cultures and their peers’ heritage, and we are grateful we had the opportunity to share in this purposeful journey.