On a campus as busy and diverse as Exeter’s, finding spaces that foster belonging and community is essential. For many students, Club Room B serves as more than just a meeting place. It provides students with a supportive environment where they can connect, share experiences, and celebrate their identities while also building life-long friendships.

The commencement of a school year typically involves warm reunions, welcomes, and adjustments. For the seniors, it marks the beginning of the end. To commemorate this, and to prompt the inclusion of one-year seniors and postgraduates, this year’s senior orientation coordinators, Liz Reyes, Eric Bergofsky, and Tyler Caldwell, initiated a new senior class dinner.

As a blanket of snow settled outside of Spring Street dining hall on Jan. 31, students sat eagerly around a central performing setup of speakers, mics, guitars, and amps. Dressed in formal clothing, they listened to their peers perform for the Jazz Cafe. The event was developed by Kyle Kennedy’s, current co-secretary of the Student Council. Kennedy’s explained the inspiration behind the initiative as such:“Jazz Cafe as an idea for an event sprung up from the fact that we were going to have a new dining hall. We wanted to have Jazz Cafe as a means to appreciate and utilize the new dining hall space. I wanted to have it as a way to honor and celebrate the opening.” However, that dream was only possible because of some major effort and planning from the Student Council and dining hall. Kennedys’s efforts were central to the preparation and execution of the Jazz Cafe. He began planning the event in early December, first creating a Google form to collect volunteers for set-up and clean-up. In January, he began working alongside Lauren Lee, fellow Student Council Co-secretary, as well as the rest of the Student Council executive board to finalize the details of the event. When they ran into an issue regarding instrument supplement for the event, members of the executive board were split on how to approach the situation. The music department felt that they did not have enough time to organize, and that the request for instruments was in a way “late notice.” Lee and president Cam Khater wanted to postpone the event to have ample time for preparation, while Kennedy’s and vice president Anna Holtz strongly advocated for the continuation of the original plan. Kennedy’s reflected on his perspective: “I wanted the show to go on. I wanted Jazz Cafe to happen in the time that we planned, even if it wasn’t the grand vision that we originally had. I thought at the time, and I still think now, since we’ve already had the event, that that was the best decision that we could have made.” In curating the setlist, Kennedy’s showed the same drive and ambition — he was very deliberate in the order and selection of performances. “I was careful to make sure that bands weren’t going one after the other. I was trying to have a mix of different instruments.” Kennedy’s continued, “But I didn’t want it to be limited. I wanted students to feel encouraged to sign up to perform. I wasn’t limited in what genre people could perform. So maybe we would have a traditional jazz piece, then a more modern piece, then a contemporary piece after that.” During set up, Kennedy’s faced another challenge in preparing the sound equipment and instruments, delaying the start of the performance by roughly 20 minutes. He reflected, “I hadn’t anticipated [the delay]…I’m glad people weren’t too hostile about it. They weren’t too negative about it.” Despite the many trials encountered in preparation for the Jazz Cafe, the event was generally received as a success. “In terms of execution, I’m really happy about how dining services, student activities, Ms. McGeeney especially and our student council advisors were able to come through and help,” Kennedy’s highlighted. “The adults were really helpful in planning student activities and educating student activities. They were there with me for the setup.” Many audience members enjoyed the atmosphere of the Jazz Cafe. Upper Olivia Pierre emphasized how the decisions for the event to take place in thenew dining hall contributed to the vibe: “Having [the event] in the new dining hall gave it a lot more openness…It felt more airy and free.” Lower Euphoria Yang praised the set up: “I like the way it was set up, more of a stage and everyone at their tables.” Senior Ben Soriano brought up another unique aspect of Jazz Cafe that he appreciated: the attire. To further foster that welcoming and positive environment, Kennedy’s gave performers a brief introduction that would hype up the audience. “I’m glad it worked. I’m glad people were able to perform,” he reflected. Yang, performer and audience member, noted, “It was very chill. People were talking with their friends and the jazz musicians essentially created background music. When the songs were really good, people would be singing along and swaying.” Lower Madelyn Anglin, who performed alongside Yang, added, “The audience was very respectful. They clapped and cheered after every performance. I thought it was nice that some people sang along to the songs that they knew. Everyone seemed like they were having a fun time.” Pierre described her experience at Jazz Cafe as an audience member who stayed through the entire event:“ I think the entire event was just amazing. Especially with the snow falling outside, it was all very pretty and everybody sounded so amazing. It was nice to get dressed up, and the event had a very cozy atmosphere. I’m also just a really big fan of live performances.” She detailed two of her favorite performances:, “I really enjoyed Kyle’s band, who sang “Just the Two of Us”, and The Cover Girlz, who did “Dream a Little Dream of Me.” “Baby It’s Cold Outside” was also really good. The song was also really fitting since it was snowing outside, which was very pretty.” Soriano, another audience member, added, “The music was just good. The vibes were good. People showed out, people actually dressed up, and the food was great. I think the actual acoustics and logistic things could have been a little bit smoother, but overall, as far as an event goes for something that Student Council has never really done before, I think it was very successful.” The sentiment highlighted by Soriano is an important one - that this is the Student Council’s first year running Jazz Cafe. In fact, this was the Student Council’s first time running an entirely student-run music event. However, the event was not perfect; students raised a number of critiques upon reflection of their experience. “If there’s anything I could’ve changed, it would be the amount of people who came and stayed,” reflected Anglin. “The overall turnout didn’t seem to be as much as it would be for other on-campus events, and many people left early or arrived late, and ended up missing some really good performances.” In addition to the turnout, performers and audience members emphasized the lack of equipment and scheduling. Yang said, “I wish we had more resources there. For example, the pedal for the electric piano wasn’t working at the beginning, and it wouldn’t connect or work. We eventually figured it out, but I do wish they provided things like guitars, more microphones, and more music stands.” “Typically, the norm with music events is to host sound checks before the event to ensure that your instruments are working, and to ensure that all the materials are there,” explained Soriano, “These are things that usually happen well in advance of the audience getting there. Actually being able to start on time says a lot about the preparedness of a group. That’s something that I think can definitely be approved in the coming years.” Along with the resources and setup, attenders and performers commented on the venue itself. Although this was the first time Student Council had organized a Jazz Cafe event, there was a similar Jazz Cafe hosted by Instructor in Music Dr. Eric Schultz last Spring. This event was held in the Round Room, rather than the New Dining Hall. “Although the food was better at this event, the vibes of the round room are superior to me,” noted Soriano. “Whether it be because the round room is full of instruments all around, or because New Dining Hall consists of white walls and no chandeliers - the general ambience of the round room feels much more intimate and close knit. It really captured the audience’s attention and highlighted the performances a lot better than I felt the New Dining Hall did.” Yang echoed the sentiment, stating, “The smaller round room gives Jazz Cafe a more cozy, welcoming warm vibe.” Soriano also raised another key issue with the new dining hall from a musical standpoint:“It’s a great venue for something that’s not a music event. Acoustically, it was a very, very poor venue. So I think that’s something that would be helpful to change going forward.” Gathering her thoughts, Yang concluded, “I think these music-based events would be more successful if Student Council orchestrated them closely with the music department, rather than with clubs.” Jazz Cafe opened up an opportunity for student musicians to perform with one another. Despite the challenges in the setup of the event as well as the venue of choice, students were able to come together to enjoy their peers’ play and talk. Kyle Kennedy’s remarked, “I think having Jazz cafe as a niche exclusive event that happens only in the winter term would be good so students have something to look forward to.” Suffice to say, the event created mixed opinions, but was generally successful. Looking to the future, though, Kennedy’s declared, “I hope for it to become an annual event eventually. I would just say for what I would change, first reach out to the music department earlier, make sure that they know way, way ahead of time about the event, and that we hope to have their assistance in providing instruments. Furthermore, I’ll make sure that I get a bigger cleanup crew, and to have more students performing.”

Every year, without fail, the Grammy Awards roll around, the main highlights of the event being the star-studded red carpet and the much-anticipated award ceremony, in which upon hearing their name called, recipients strut on stage and deliver an often tearful thank-you speech. This year’s Grammys had a lot of strong contenders in terms of nominees and award winners. With such a spectacular lineup, fans had great feedback in response to the awards. “I think Doechii’s album was great,” shared prep Tiago Bilyk. This year, Doechii’s album, “Alligator Bites Never Heal,” won the award for the Best Rap Album. Senior Jaansi Patel agreed, echoing, “I found Doechii’s album incredibly impressive. The award was truly well-deserved, and I’m happy to see her succeed as an artist.” Bilyk continued, saying, “Funnily enough, I also really enjoyed ‘Short and Sweet’ by Sabrina Carpenter.” “Short and Sweet” was the recipient of the Best Pop Vocal Album Award. This was a major accomplishment for Carpenter, as it was the first Grammy she had ever received. Carpenter has been in the entertainment and music industry for years, so fans were especially excited to see her win. In contrast to Carpenter’s case, Exonians also highlighted the accomplishments of newer artists. For example, Chappell Roan received this year’s Best New Artist award. Upper Wilson Rhee attributed, “Chappell Roan is a huge force within pop. Her album ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ was really grandiose - it had some really well-written melodies and harmonies. Because my sister is a long time fan, I’ve been on the train for a while and I’m really happy to see her succeed. It’s also so cool to see her use her platform to support small artists.” Patel, a fellow Chappell fan, highlighted another aspect of her success through another perspective, “Daniel Nigro, who produces for Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, and more won Producer of the Year, which I was really happy about.” On the note of producing, Rhee added in one final note, “‘Brat’ winning best recording package was another one of the awards I’m most happy about. That album is so well produced and fun, and it sounds really good. I think Best Recording Package is the perfect award for that album to win.” Each year along with the Grammys comes great controversy. Between awards, nominations, and more, there are bound to be disagreements attached. Among many interviewed individuals, one particular case stood out - Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” album, which won Best Country Album and Album of the Year. “I do not think it was fair,” said Bilyk. “It was of course a long time coming, but Cowboy Carter was barely listened to. I’d argue ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft’ by Billie Eilish was more deserving, and Eilish and Finneas clearly worked hard on it.” Patel agreed, stating, “I was kind of unhappy about ‘Cowboy Carter.’ I just feel like it wasn’t popular enough or didn’t have enough of a cultural impact to win album of the year. And also, I know a lot of people were talking about how it’s barely a country album, so the fact that it won a country album of the year was a bit questionable.” Patel further echoed Bilyk’s take, explaining, “I really wanted Billie Eilish to win album of the year for ‘Hit Me Hard and Soft.’ I feel like it really resonated with me and it was very popular. However, I could also imagine ‘Brat’ winning because of cultural impact. I was just kind of surprised to see Beyoncé win.” However, Rhee provided a contrasting opinion, arguing, “I think a lot of people are fundamentally misunderstanding ‘Cowboy Carter’ as a current trilogy of Beyoncé albums. The entire point of these albums is that she’s trying to reclaim these predominantly historically black genres that are now predominantly white. When people say that Cowboy Carter is not a real country album, either because Beyoncé is not a predominantly country artist, or because Beyoncé is a Black artist, I think her intentions are being misinterpreted.” Another core part of the Grammys are the performances involved — often some of the most entertaining parts of the night, fans look forward to them for weeks in advance, excitedly dreaming about who will be singing, what they’ll be wearing, and even which songs will be performed. This year, a litany of talented young artists showed off their skills in a grand display of talent — Sabrina Carpenter, Charlie XCX, Chappell Roan, and rising rap star Doechii, all appeared up on the stage that night. Rhee praised Charli XCX’s techno-pop performance, especially appreciating how Charli remained true to her signature “Brat” style. “I liked her bringing the same energy as on tour — going against conventions and being loud and abrasive is the whole idea behind that album. It’s really cool when people bring that kind of energy to stuff like the Grammys that are so publicized and very prim and proper.” Patel also enjoyed the more theatrical aspects of the show, adding, “Sabrina Carpenter’s performance was really great, because it had like a bit of a comedy to it too — it was creative. Same thing with Chappell Roan — her stage, the set, the costume, everything was all very avant garde” In addition to these performances, also highly anticipated were the outfits showcased by the stars, as well as the interviews and speeches they gave while at the event. Chappell Roan’s acceptance speech was particularly poignant for many people, who respected her willingness to call big industry players out. “I really liked how [Chappell Roan] talked about the importance of record labels needing to show appreciation for the artists they sign, with health insurance and things like that. We can always count on her to talk about culturally relevant and important issues,” reflected Patel. Rhee echoed Patel’s sentiment, saying that his favourite moment was, “Chappell’s speech calling out people in the industry on the industry’s biggest stage. That was really admirable. I hope that the changes she’s suggesting get put into place before I enter the music scene.” He then went on to laud Jaden Smith’s bold approach to the red carpet: “People don’t like Jaden Smith, but I see him. You see these other artists wearing Montclair, Maison Margiela, Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren. But Jaden Smith just had a house on his head. You can’t compete with that. He made a house and then he put it on his head, and that’s a fit.” All in all, the Grammys were certainly an entertaining experience for Exonians all around campus — whether it be judging the winners or losers, or just enjoying the performances, it provided an engaging escape from the monotony of school life.

With campus still abuzz from last weekend’s events, students prepared for yet another round of Halloween festivities. As the sky dimmed on a warm October afternoon, all sorts of creatures, characters, and witty makeshift costumes from Godzilla to Spiderman headed toward the most anticipated event of all: trick-or-treating.

The lights in Love Gym flicker on as swimmers thrust open red locker doors, excavating tech suits from their depths. This has become a religious routine for the competitive swimmers who christen PEA’s pools before sunrise. Athletes swarm Downer, hopping on treadmills and performing full-body stretches aided by foam rollers and various other exercise props. The coaches assert an infectious energy over the group, hollering at the top of their lungs albeit the early hour.

Every Wednesday morning, music resonates across the stone walls and wooden pews of Phillips Church as students and faculty sprinkle inside — taking a break from their busy schedules to step into the shoes of another Exonian. A respectful silence falls over the room as a selected senior steps up to the podium, inviting the audience to listen to the story of their life. This is meditation.

“Help me” is something I think to myself often. It’s what I think to myself as the Assembly speaker’s words scramble in and out of my ears, it’s what I think to myself when my head droops down from fatigue for the 17th time, and it’s what I think to myself as I count the seconds till 10:40, when I can free my shoulders from being pinned against overcrowded benches, and when I can finally stop my stomach from grumbling obnoxiously.

Many students were shocked upon first opening their winter term schedules on myExeter. The infamous 70 minute long block had been shortened to 60 minutes, and the beloved 40 minute short block had disappeared entirely—changes reminiscent of last spring’s pilot schedule.

There are 405 courses at Exeter, each with its own twists and turns, as well as a variety of difficulty levels. In recent years after Covid, course rigor has been a big question, as well as questions around “college-level difficulty” and grade inflation.

On Friday, Sept. 20, the senior class gathered to celebrate a beloved Academy tradition, the Senior Alumni Class Dinner. This event always provides a great opportunity for the students to make connections and gather insight from alumni. Along with great conversation, the participants also had the opportunity to listen to speeches by Principal Rawson and the Senior Class Representatives. This event was made possible by the General Alumni Association (GAA) and the Student Alumni Relations Council (STARS). “I think it’s a really interesting event,” remarked senior class president Ava Helbig. “Initially, I was really nervous to go to the event and network. But once I realized that the alumni weren’t there to tear us down or judge us. I understood they were there to set us up for success.”

In the town of Exeter, New Hampshire, there are various smoothie options ranging in price, taste, and service. When craving something healthy and thirst-quenching, we’re often indecisive. In the following paragraphs, your problems will be solved. We conducted a taste test of smoothies from multiple famous juice shops in town as well as their service, and location: Laney & Lu’s, Island Vibes, The Juicery, and Me & Ollie’s!

Over three hundred delegates from many schools in New England rush onto Exeter’s campus for PEAMUN each year. A strong community, Exeter’s Model United Nations runs many committees dedicated to simulating real-world problems. Additionally, students learn valuable academic and life skills while competing at the highest level.

Family Weekend is often a blast for many, with joyful reunions with parents and much-anticipated trips to Target or for some non-dining-hall food. Likewise, for those whose families could not make it to Exeter this time, especially international students, the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA) sponsored a field trip for them to Boston. This way, nobody missed out on the fun.

On Mar. 29, Grainger Auditorium pulsed with music as streaks of flashing lights painted the dance floor. The Spring Formal Dance, hosted by the Student Council’s Recreation Committee, promised a night of energy and excitement. Yet, while the beats boomed, the crowd’s enthusiasm wasn’t quite reciprocated.

Have you ever heard of Badminton Club? Badminton Club is a tight-knit group of people across multiple grades that fosters a chill and relaxing environment. If you’re feeling bored on a Sunday afternoon and want to get some exercise in, play some badminton, or meet new friends, Badminton Club is the place to go. Recently, badminton has been added as a PE option and is an increasingly popular sport around campus.

Last Tuesday, Chris Dixon, founder of CNSTNT:DVLPMNT and senior designer for Timberland, took the Assembly Hall stage.

On Saturday, April 5, 2025, the Harvard Din and Tonics made their entrance on the Assembly Hall stage at 9 p.m. — a vision of old-school glamor and musical poise. The a capella group of nine sported black tailcoat suits and formal dresses, green handkerchiefs peeking out of each chest pocket, and a stoic expression worn on their faces.

On the night of Sunday, March 30, a faintly glowing new moon hung in the night sky, marking the end of Ramadan and the beginning of the 10th Islamic month, Shawwal. After a season of worship and fasting, the festival of breaking one’s fast, Eid al-Fitr is celebrated the following day with food and prayer. On Monday, March 31, Phillips Exeter Academy hosted lunches in Elm and New Dining Hall and cancelled classes, allowing students and faculty to indulge in an array of falafels, couscous, kebabs, honey cake, and more.

This past week, many lowers have been running around, ballot sheets in hand, asking for signatures in the New Dining Hall, Elm, academic classes, dorms, and anywhere else where crowds of Exonians gather. Countless ballot sheets have been signed. Additionally, the Student Council’s Instagram featured 28 posts introducing the candidates. This is the 2025-26 Community Conduct Committee Representative election process. A huge number of candidates decided to run this year, making the stakes high and competition difficult. For these 28 lowers, campaigning for the CCC is a tedious and thorough process. Candidates must begin by obtaining 350 student signatures across all grades, submitting a one-page candidate statement about why they want to be on the committee, and designing a poster for the @pea.stuco Instagram account. They are also welcome to put posters up on announcement boards around campus.

Hoyt Hall has a reputation for primarily two things: their crumbly facilities, and their vibrant community. “Hoyt really is an awfully old building,” noted Instructor in Science and Hoyt Dorm Head Caitlyn Sarno. “But I think that builds character! Somehow, we all found a wonderful community in this really awkward character of a building. All of us just care so much about each other, and we wanna take care of one another and spend time together.”

Every Thursday from 6:15 to 7:00 p.m., Pinoy Society meets to bond as a community through fun events.

This past Family Weekend, many students found it hard to miss the large, flashy poster in the EPAC commons that appeared over family weekend. This was the first public detailing of the Academy Building renovation that will take place from 2025 to 2027, and allowed for students and families to get an idea of how it might look.

Clubs at Exeter are a critical part of extracurricular life, spanning a range of topics that seem to cater to everything a student could possibly be interested in. Students, especially new ones, can easily be overwhelmed by the amount of options, which is where Club Night comes in. An annual event near the beginning of the school year, every club in the school congregates with booths, decorations, candy, and other items, all to display their club to the rest of the school, recruiting new members as they pass.

By ALEX LIM and MARVIN SHIM On Feb. 2, TEDxPhillipsExeterAcademy held its 6th annual TEDx speaker event in the Bowld. This year, speeches c...

By: ALEX LIM ‘26 and JULIA ZHOU ‘27 Every Exonian loves Grill - that’s where we spend the most time chatting with friends in line, basking in the...

By ARYAN AGARWAL, ALEX LIM, HANNAH WEI, ANDREW  YANG, GRACE YANG, and JULIA ZHOU From the deepest depths of EPAC basement, a howl resounds...

By: ALEX LIM ‘26 and JULIA ZHOU ‘27 Every Exonian loves Grill - that’s where we spend the most time chatting with friends in line, basking i...

By ALEX LIM, MARVIN SHIM, KEVIN THANT, and  JADE YOO    Every Tuesday night, the Daniel Webster Debate Society meets in the Assembly Hall. The debate...

By ALEX LIM, JANIBEK SUBKHANBERDIN, and JULIA ZHOUA fiery passion for music burns within the students and faculty of the music department here at Exet...

By  ALEX LIM ‘26 and JULIA  ZHOU ‘27 Physical attractiveness is a social construct that has long shaped the way we view ourselves and others. The...

Attention…row! Oarlocks quickly click into place in unison, and red-painted oars swiftly glide through the water, breaking the glassy surface. The coxswain yells calculated commands at the rowers, keeping their focus - they leave nothing on the table. They drive off the footplate, cold water splashing, numbing their senses. Eight rowers, perfectly in sync, charge down the river and truly define what it means to be in a boat.

The smell of old library books, the flavors of your mother’s signature tomato-egg dish, the jingle of an old tune from elementary school—often we feel transported back in time. For senior Amy Lin, it’s reading with excited young students and going on long walks with old friends that bring her back to her earliest moments.

By ALEX LIM, CHLOÉ LIND, ADELLE PITTS and MEGHAN TATE ZEEDay, day, principal’s day! Once a

By ALEX LIM and MARVIN SHIM On Feb. 2, TEDxPhillipsExeterAcademy held its 6th annual

By ISHAAN SINGH, ALEX LIM and ISABEL EVANS This past spring break, a number of students par