Phillips Exeter Academy

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Friday, Oct 3, 2025
Meghan Tate Zee

Meghan Tate Zee

Class of 2027

Hi! My name is Meghan Tate and I grew up in Hong Kong, but I currently live in NYC. On campus, I am a proud Bancroftian and in The Exonian, I am a sports editor and staff writer; my favorite sections to report for are News and Life. Here's a fun fact about me: I have slept in Walmart twice (ask me for more context).


Latest Articles

Coffee House Event on Campus

At Exeter, winter term is treated like Voldemort at Hogwarts—everyone knows it exists, but almost no one dares to bring it up. Most students recognize it as a time when work piles on, daylight becomes precious, and H-block math classes drain your energy. Amid this winter slump, a cozy, inviting coffeehouse event on Saturday, Feb. 1, brightened students’ days. Matt Jackson, a live music artist, came to the Academy to perform a low-key concert for Exonians. He has opened for lionized bands like Train, The Wallflowers, and Goo Goo Dolls. Students described his performing style as vibrant, vulnerable, and heartfelt. With his talented voice and delicious pastries at the event, this was a wonderful time for Exonians to relax and enjoy the cozy winter. Kelly McGahie, the Assistant Director of Student Activities, planned the Coffee House. When asked about the organization process, she stated, “Matt Jackson played on October 19th, in the same spot, and the feedback that I got from that night was that he was great. Since it was a family weekend and a small number of people saw him, we wanted to have a bigger audience for the coffee house concert.” McGahie later said, “I think he’s a great performer and good with the audience. What I noticed was that the students were much more interested in the chai tea. There were kids that were hanging out there each time I went down, but he certainly didn’t gather the crowd that I was hoping that he would. I think that says more about Exonians and what they wanted to do this weekend than his skill set.” Lower Alex Lim explained why only a few people may have shown up, saying, “I don’t think a lot of people knew what it was because the term ‘coffee house’ is not very specific. If people knew that it was live music, they would have enjoyed it more. ” “The audience was kind of lame. The guy was a really good singer, and he played well and brought the energy, but the audience just wasn’t reciprocating it.” Lim stated, “It was just Asha Masoudi and I dancing, and everyone else was just sitting there and not even listening to the music.” Lower Dani Méndez gave an opposing perspective, stating, “I loved how the event transformed the energy of a space we see so much. EPAC Commons went from the place we hang out during Uni Free to a coffee house. Everyone had good vibes, especially Matt Jackson.” Lower Simon Taylor commented, “I thought the ambiance was amazing, the lighting was chill, the music was at the perfect volume, and the performer was great at singing — which made the whole thing so much better.” Lower Catherine Chen added, “It was a great improvement from other formal events, like dances, because you could just sit down and chill with friends and enjoy good music. It was a great vibe.” “I definitely think there should have been more people in attendance. I would have liked this as a more advertised event and in a larger space,” Taylor stated. “I think more events like this in the future would be very helpful for building our community; it brings everyone together.” Lim added, “I hope that more events like these are organized at Exeter. I enjoy live music and the concept of being able to go somewhere and sit down and enjoy the entertainment. However, I also think that these types of things are not promoted in a way that makes me want to continue going to them. It’s extremely underhyped and awkward.” As winter term is approaching its finale, we are both excited and happy about the events we had and the events we are going to have. We have had many events such as the Coffee House, despite the low turnout rate, that was a great hit. Casino Night is approaching soon, and we are all ecstatic to hopefully see a higher turnout rate.

2025-2026 StuCo Elections Conclude

This past week, the Academy’s Student Council held its annual turnover elections for the Executive Board of the 2025-2026 term. With a competitive race for key positions, students made their voices heard, casting down their votes for their newest representatives to lead the student body. Lowers Ari Benenson and Jade Yoo were elected Co-Secretaries, upper Andrew Gould secured the position of Vice President, and after a heated presidential run-off and debate, upper Lauren Lee, former co-secretary, was elected to serve as Student Council President. The new Executive Board will take office in the second week of the spring term. The elections saw impressive student participation, with 79% voter turnout for the presidential election and 69% for the other positions and the presidential primary. After getting elected, Yoo reflected on a passion for StuCo many of the candidates feel, “I love working with the student body. I’ve been holding different positions since 4th grade, but no matter what role it was, [Student Council has] brought me a lot of joy. That joy pushes me to work for StuCo every year, and the passion has never stopped.” Earlier in the week, on Tuesday night, Feb. 4, all the candidates took the Assembly stage to deliver brief campaign speeches. The general election then opened from 8 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. But before candidates were allowed to participate in the public appearance, the Elections Committee and StuCo needed to verify the candidates with the signatures they gathered from the student body. Upper Alex Trotman, Co-chair of the Student Council’s Elections Committee, commented on the process the Elections Committee undergoes to ensure the elections run smoothly and fairly for all candidates. “To ensure fairness in our elections, Elections Committee practices confidentiality in all aspects,” he said. “When we count signatures, we don’t release information before the student body is aware. If we were to, some candidates would have unfair advantages.” Verification is essential. Lower Kobi Ajene, a member of the Elections Committee, added, “We went through the essential process of verifying the signatures, and tried to make it as unbiased as possible. If we had any invalid names, we crossed it out. This is why we encouraged the candidates to get more signatures than the required amount. We try to make it fair by putting the same barriers on every candidate.” “Additionally, we do not condone any harmful comments between candidates during the election process. If candidates feel attacked emotionally, their campaigning experience will be hampered,” Trotman stated. Ajene continued to explain the preparations which started around Thanksgiving. He stated, “People were starting to announce whether they were running or not and I think that’s when elections began to be on everyone’s mind,” Ajene remarked, “But the time leading up to elections is still important because the process [the Elections Committee undergoes] shows it’s fair and democratic. The way StuCo is run is for every single policy or action that happens in StuCo, we have to vote on it.” Since upper Ethan Benenson, the other co-chair of the Elections Committee, entered the elections as a presidential candidate, the committee encountered some difficulties. “Since he was running, he temporarily had to step down from his position. It was hard to be the only co-chair organizing this election, but the advisors, Dean Marshall and Ms. Rankin, and president Cam Khater were extremely helpful [in the process],” Trotman shared. “I was on stage [in the general elections] since Ethan was running for president. He couldn’t directly participate in the ongoing elections while he was running. So I volunteered to help out,” Ajene noted. “I was listening to all the people’s speeches, and just being on stage that day, seeing how so many people came excited to hear what the candidates had to say, was a pretty exciting moment.” When the executive candidates were allowed to speak on Tuesday, the audience was able to evaluate candidates and vote for co-secretaries, vice president, and three presidential nominees. For preps, the Tuesday night speeches were especially insightful. Prep Rick Osei-Addae commented after the event, “It was super hype and I hate to say, but it was evident who was prepared and wanted the role and who wasn’t. But even then, everybody who got up there deserved their place—it was a great opportunity to hear them out.” Prep Ryan Ramos spoke of her first experience with Student Council speeches. “It was super fun and a lot more lively than I expected it to be. It made me more excited to see how the election plays out,” she said. Prep Gavyn Jones elaborated, “The speeches were great and enticing. Everyone had good points and reasoning behind why we should elect them. The speeches definitely positively impacted my voting, especially as a prep, because I don’t know a lot of lowers and uppers.” Lower Michelle Kio-Michael added, “Some of the candidates were very lively. You could tell who had a lot of public support and who didn’t. Something was said about going back to 1781, which raised a lot of eyebrows, but overall, it was great.” Upper Asha Masoudi added, “Lauren Lee stood out to me because she was very eloquent and sassy, which I love.” After the presidential primaries, three candidates entered the presidential run-offs. Uppers Kyle Kennedy’s, Ethan Benenson, and Lauren Lee participated in the official presidential debate on Friday, Feb. 7 during assembly. Ajene believed that the presidential debate was extremely significant for the election as it allowed the student body to make more informed decisions. “The debate turnout was way bigger than public appearance, and I think this helped those candidates who made it to the debate. It’s important to give a fair chance to the candidates to present themselves and their policies at a required appointment for all the students,” commented Ajene. Trotman added, “I think the presidential debate is the most important part of the election process. In the last two years, there’s been a correlation between presidential victory and good debate performance. It’s also a very stressful environment being on stage, so it’s a good way to see how your president acts under pressure.” Lower Minnie Kim provided her perspective as a viewer of the debate, “I think it was one of the best assemblies that we’ve ever had. It was fun to see how different candidates had plans about reforming and improving the school.” Voting for the run-off began at the start of the school day on Friday and closed at 7:30 p.m. The results were released to the student body later that night. Turnovers will happen at the beginning of the spring term and the student body anticipates the changes that the new board will bring on campus in the next three terms. Yoo concluded by emphasizing the importance of StuCo in the Exeter community. “Student Council plays a crucial role in deciding the quality of student life, and will impact the memories we make during our Exeter experience,” she said. “To make it successful, I believe transparency, accessibility, inclusivity, and proactive communication are key. I am honored and excited to work with Exec to create an environment where every student feels empowered and connected. Go Big Red!”

RAWSON TO RETIRE IN 2026

By ARYAN AGARWAL, GRACE YANG, and MEGHAN TATE ZEE On Friday, Feb. 7, following the Student Council’s presidential debate, Phillips Exeter Academy’s 16th principal, Bill K. Rawson, walked onto the stage. The lingering chatter of faculty and students dissecting the heated moments of the debate faltered into uneasy silence. As shoulders stiffened and eyes tracked his every step, the school was held in anticipation — no one knew it yet, but everything was about to change. “It is with understandably mixed feelings that I have informed the Trustees that I will retire as principal of Phillips Exeter Academy at the end of the next school year.” After delivering this heavy message at the assembly, Rawson also wrote a letter to the Exeter community, alongside a letter from the President of the Trustees, Kristyn Van Ostern. Rawson has been an integral member of the Academy in various roles. In addition to being the incumbent principal, he graduated as an Exonian in 1971, is a parent of an Exonian from the class of 2008, and served as a trustee from 2004 until 2016. Until retirement, he will continue to serve the Academy in its growth and aid in a thorough search for the 17th principal. In an interview, Rawson explained his decision to retire: “What was originally a two-year assignment as interim principal has become an eight-year assignment as the school’s sixteenth principal. I feel the time is right for me personally to retire.” Rawson’s tenure has been not just lasting but impactful beyond doubt. Though the community will see him go with regret, Exeter can find warmth in the fact that his time has been and will continue to be worthwhile. It is undeniably bittersweet. The decision is also for the betterment of the school: “I believe the time is right for the school to transition in leadership. We have made substantial progress towards the priorities I articulated at the end of my first year and are ready to confront new challenges and opportunities.” Over the years, Rawson has handled several of the most significant improvements made to the school. Dean of Faculty Eimer Page noted that “He [Principal Rawson] was our principal during the pandemic, brought need-blind admission to fruition, helped to develop the buildings, New Hall and Wetherell, got the Davis Library and Academy Building renovation launched, stewarded our Climate Action Plan, and much more.” On the note of need-blind admissions, Van Ostern expanded in her letter that “the historic transition … [is] an achievement that exemplifies his [Principal Rawson’s] lifelong commitment to non sibi. His leadership, defined by purpose and selflessness, has inspired our community to embrace these values.” Russell Weatherspoon, former Dean of Students, added, “He accepted the significant burdens that are part of leading the school. These include working with the board of trustees, administrators, and faculty. staff and the students to create a healthy and welcoming learning community.” Rawson comforted Exeter, believing that this change was well-timed. He said, “The best time for a transition in leadership is when a school is in good health and a strong position, and we are in good health and a strong position now.” In Rawson’s mind, Exeter is heading in the right direction and standing on solid ground — these are the ideal conditions for a change in principal.” Reminiscing on his tenure at Exeter, Rawson recalled in his letter that “I was warmly welcomed by all members of the Exeter community upon my arrival in July 2018. That warm welcome has had everything to do with the success that we have achieved together.” Rawson has felt dearly connected to this school ever since attending as a student and has grown an even fonder connection with his time as principal. His appreciation for the kindness around him is unwavering, regardless of his role — after retiring, Exeter will only hold an even more special place in his heart. Rawson’s announcement left Academy members with many emotions. Instructor in Science Tanya Waterman stated, “My reaction to the announcement at Assembly was the same as that of the students: quite surprised, yet grateful for his service to his beloved PEA. The standing ovation said it all.” When a school of such size, with no hesitation, stands in unison for one individual, it speaks volumes to their character. Upper June Kim added, “The timing of the announcement was interesting because it was right after the presidential debate, and we were all in an excited state. Suddenly, Principal Rawson came on the stage and then announced that he was going to leave. I felt so many different emotions at once, so it was confusing and shocking.” Page commented, “My reaction is one of gratitude to him, excitement for him to have more time for his family and grandchildren, and anticipation for our community as we embark on the search for our next Principal.” Though his departure will leave us all with a gap, Rawson will leave us with hope and a light at the end of the tunnel. Lower Sophia Xue said, “He has such a strong presence in the Exeter community and within the students. I’m sad that he won’t be the one giving us our diplomas when we graduate.” Reflecting on his roles at the Academy, Rawson stated, “I have said many times that attending Exeter as a student transformed my life. Truly, every time I have been a part of this community — as a student, faculty member, alumnus, parent, trustee, and now principal — I have been deeply enriched by the experience beyond anything I could have imagined at the outset.” From making significant changes in the Exeter community to watching Exonians in their extracurricular competitions, Rawson has not only contributed a great deal to the school but has become an integral part of it himself. Kim stated, “He goes to sports games and joins in on clubs or affinity group meals. He’s tried hard to become a part of the student body and listen to us. He also has a lot of school spirit, especially for EA.” Principal Rawson is a person who first serves the students with an undying passion. Xue added, “As a member of the architecture club, we had dinner at his house once to discuss our end-of-term project, and he was super welcoming. He prepared food for us, and we just sat down and talked about the club projects.” No matter what, Rawson is never afraid to go to the grass-roots level to connect with Exonians — for him, that’s what being a leader truly is. That will be his legacy. Weatherspoon commented, “Principal Rawson has gotten to know so many students and other adults by simply engaging them in casual but open conversation. “ “I’ve had the privilege of having many dinners with him because in Democratic lub, we started this tradition of having bipartisan dinners and discussions, and that has been amazing,” senior Aveen Burney added. Senior Bea Prarie commented on Rawson’s values for the Academy, saying, “Principal Rawson always encourages us to be polite and grateful, especially to the people of the town of Exeter. So a couple of years ago, when he didn’t wave when he crossed the street, he bought the whole school ice cream.” Burney later stated, “One of my favorite memories is actually before I came to Exeter. I was attending a Zoom and in the chat, I mentioned how we both attended the same school in Long Island. I was so excited when he responded and it’s been something that connects us after all this time.” Rawson has a substantial presence on campus, consistently cheering for and supporting every sports team and arts event. Instructor in Physical Education Samantha Fahey expressed her gratitude for Rawson’s support, stating, “I’ll never forget it was my first varsity game here, and I didn’t know he was going to be there. I already felt a little pressure, but he welcomed me with open arms.” Senior Anna Holtz observed, “Principal Rawson genuinely cares about students at Exeter, or else he wouldn’t put in all the effort outside of his basic duties. I feel like he goes far beyond that.” As the school handles the magnitude of Principal Rawson’s decision to step down, the community hopes to move forward, holding dear the cherished memories created during his tenure. The standing ovation that erupted from the student body during Friday’s assembly was a testament to their deep respect and admiration for him. “[This action] the student body gave to him spoke highly to how he is regarded and the personal connections he has forged with so many individuals on campus,” reflected Page. Gene Shen ‘72, a Trustee of Phillips Exeter Academy and one of Rawson’s close friends, gave a hopeful look to the future by recollecting his favorite memories. “He truly is a great individual. I’ve loved hanging out at Saltonstall House with him by the fire over a glass of wine and talking about old times and how life at Exeter has transformed all of us. I truly, truly love the guy.” These connections aren’t rare, though — ask anyone on this campus, and they will tell you exactly how Rawson has left a mark on them. That’s because it’s what he does best. Rawson is a legend of Phillips Exeter Academy in every right. One can go on about his accomplishments during his time here and those that will come in the future — there is no short supply of them. The progress that he has fostered is staggering, but that isn’t what makes him such a unique character. It’s the things beyond his résumé. Apart from his accomplishments, his dedication to principles of non sibi, respect, and compassion has shaped the Exeter experience for generations of Exonians past and still more to come. Finally, thank you, Principal Rawson, for serving as the 16th principal of our beloved school — we assure you that you will be missed. You inspired confidence in so many of us. We are grateful for your strong words of advice to students: “Believe in yourselves as your teachers, other advisors, and mentors believe in you, and as I believe in you.” Thank you, Principal Rawson.

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