C&E: A Day of Fearlessness

by gina yang ‘24

Community and Equity (C&E) Day is an annual event that brings together the entire St. Mark’s community to engage in workshops and activities that promote understanding, compassion, and respect for diversity. This event is a critical component of the school’s commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable campus culture. This year’s C&E Day held on Monday, January 23, was no exception. 

The event commenced with Darryl Bellamy Jr.’s inspiring keynote speech, which focused on the theme of fearlessness in face of adversity. Mr. Bellamy’s speech was in line with one of the featured programs of this year’s C&E Day: The Fearless Moments Program, an interactive workshop where members of the community were invited to share personal stories of courage and resilience in the face of adversity. The program’s goal was to encourage students to embrace vulnerability and have the courage to speak up against injustice and oppression, particularly in relation to race.

Fearlessness, as Bellamy Jr. explained, is not the absence of fear, but rather the ability to act in spite of it. This idea is particularly important when it comes to issues of race and equity, as systemic racism and oppression can often be a source of fear and intimidation for individuals. By encouraging students to embrace fearlessness and speak up against racial injustice, the Fearless Moments Program is promoting antiracism and working to create a more equitable and just community at St. Mark’s. 

Following the keynote speech, students gathered in small groups in their houses to engage in discussions and share their own “Fearless Moments” with each other. While these conversations can be challenging and uncomfortable, they are essential to promoting antiracism and creating a more inclusive community. By providing a platform for students and faculty to engage in discussions about issues related to identity, C&E Day encourages the St. Mark’s community to confront systemic racism and other forms of inequality that persist in society. The Fearless Moments Program fits perfectly with this theme by encouraging students to engage in difficult conversations about race and equity, and by providing them with the tools and knowledge to become effective agents of change. 

In the afternoon, the annual Umoja celebration took place, featuring performances led by numerous student affinity groups. Umoja, which means “unity” in Swahili, was a show largely focused on celebrating the diversity within the St. Mark’s Community. Through dance, singing, and poem recitals, the different affinity groups came up with creative ways to showcase their identities and talents. 

C&E Day is a critical component of St. Mark’s dedication to promoting social justice and equity. By providing opportunities for students and faculty to engage with a wider community and learn from one another about issues related to identity and social justice, the school is working to create a more inclusive and equitable campus culture. The ultimate goal is to teach students valuable lessons that they will carry forward as they become leaders in their communities and promote the values of inclusion, compassion, and social justice. 

Lunar New Year Celebration At St. Mark’s!

by Lori cui

On January 22nd, 2023, people all around the world celebrated one of the biggest holidays for Southeast and East Asians: the Lunar New Year. For St. Marker’s who are international or away from family during the period of time, ASEA (Association of South-East and East Asians) organized various activities for students to enjoy at school with a family-like atmosphere. 

Students gathered in the Patterson-Sculley lobby on the 22nd with local parents and teachers to make delicious dumplings. 

Photo Credits: Suli Wang

Huge shoutout to all the parent volunteers who helped and students that showed up to create a family-like atmosphere in Patterson-Sculley!

The following Sunday, ASEA presented a Lunar New Year Celebration collection of performances, gift cards, and even a special FLiK dinner. Many students contributed performances, some singing Asian pop songs, and some instrumental performances as well. Some of the highlights were: Daniel Song’s ‘25 magic trick, Grace Lee and Andria Bao’s ‘23 Poi Performance, plus Ingrid Yeung’s ‘23 and Tiffany Ahn, ‘24 Insel Lee, ‘23 Hannah Cha, ‘25 and Chloe Kim ‘26 put up two spectacular dance performances. 

Daniel Song ‘25 performing a magic trick for Albert Wu ‘23

All students and faculty that attended were extremely pleased with the event outcome, and everyone had a great time together! A late Happy Lunar New Year to everyone!

Saying YESS to Community

BY RORY HUTCHINS ‘25

This past weekend I traveled to the Yess Conference with Emily Ling ‘26, Mimi Burnett ‘25, Wendy Wu ‘23, and our chaperones Ms. Doggett and Ms. Lohwater to engage in some provocative dialogue surrounding the controversial topic of climate change. We arrived at the Ashokan Center located in the woods of Ulster Park, New York. Getting out our sleeping bags from the trunk, the six of us were ready for the three-day conference. Our day started with an orientation and then hearing from climate activists around the world. On the second day, we began to split into breakout groups. For me, the most exciting presenter I went to talked about Tupperware. When you think about it, when we microwave our food in plastic containers or eat hot food with plastic utensils, the plastic normally seeps into our food which we then eat. Because plastic does not decompose in our bodies, the plastic we accidentally ingested will remain in our system forever. The long-term scientific effects of plastic in our bodies are unknown, but aside from that, I began to think. The coming day, my group mates and I were supposed to propose a climate action plan that we had come up with for our school. The six of us sat around the wooden dining hall table thinking. We were already a plastic water-bottle-free campus, we used reusable dining ware, was there something else we were missing? That’s when Ms. Lohwater spoke up and stated that at the last S4S meeting, six students showed up to the club block despite the roaster of students in S4S being over 100. 

Together we realized that one of the bigger problems is not regarding the sustainability of St. Mark’s but rather, community engagement. We decided that some possible ways to garner greater student engagement could include printing the newspapers to have spares in the dining hall, changing the TV boards in hallways to showcase important events, and creating posters to get students and faculty involved. Going to this conference prompted us to realize that yes, sustainability is important, but to be sustainable, we first need to involve a greater selection of people. The Yess Conference participants hope to speak to the faculty and Board of Trustees about the topic in March and early April.

Conspiracies and Consequences

by Gina Yang ‘24

Dr. Susan Reverby, a historian and professor at Wellesley College, was a guest speaker for the 3rd annual Gray Colloquium, which was held on January 12. Dr. Reverby offered a unique opportunity for the St. Mark’s community to examine the complex historical narratives of various conspiracy theories and their repercussions on society. Dr. Reverby’s research into the unethical medical experiments conducted by the U.S. government brought new insights to this year’s Gray Colloquium whose theme for 2022-2023 is “Conspiracies and Consequences.” Dr. Reverby reminded students of the crucial role that history plays in shaping our understanding of the world and the importance of critically engaging with the information presented to us. 

Dr. Reverby began her lecture by examining one of the most infamous medical conspiracies in American history: The Tuskegee Syphilis Study. The study was conducted to observe the natural progression of untreated syphilis in African American men over the course of 40 years and involved denying subjects of the study access to available treatments, including penicillin. The study was not only unethical but also failed to yield any significant scientific findings while causing immeasurable harm to the study participants and their families. Dr. Reverby contextualized the study within the broader history of systemic racism and the ways in which medical professionals have exploited vulnerable populations for their own gain. 

Dr. Reverby’s research explored the complex societal factors that allowed the Tuskegee Syphilis Study to occur. Her work highlights the role of eugenics, a widely accepted pseudo-scientific theory at the time, in shaping public health policy and promoting racist attitudes towards African Americans. She also argues that the study was not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of marginalized groups being exploited for medical experimentation, which still goes on to this day. 

Throughout her research, Dr. Reverby also highlights the efforts made by the study participants and their families to seek justice and expose the unethical nature of the study. She argues that the legacy of the study extends beyond its immediate consequences and continues to impact African American communities by diminishing their trust in the medical establishment. 

Dr. Reverby’s research of the Tuskegee Syphilis Study offers a powerful example of the consequences of medical conspiracies and the need for the historical reexamination of such events. In her book, “Tuskegee’s Truth: Rethinking the Tuskegee Syphilis Study,” Dr. Reverby challenges the widely accepted narrative surrounding the study and sheds light on the ways in which it was not just a product of individual moral failings but also a reflection of the broader societal attitudes towards race and public health. 

Dr. Reverby then moved on to discuss her research into the “Guatemala Syphilis Study,” a similarly unethical medical experiment in which U.S. researchers infected Guatemalan prisoners, soldiers, and mental patients with syphilis without their knowledge or consent. Dr. Reverby’s discovery of the study’s existence in 2010 sparked international outrage and led to a formal apology from the U.S. government. 

Throughout her presentation, Dr. Reverby emphasized the importance of acknowledging the harm caused by these conspiracies and working to rectify the damage done. She emphasized that conspiracy theories are often used as a means of deflecting responsibility and obfuscating the truth. She stresses that it is crucial to approach historical events with a critical eye and a commitment to truth-seeking. 

The presentation was followed by a Q&A session, during which the audience had the opportunity to engage with Dr. Reverby. The audience was able to ask questions about her research and her perspectives on the broader implications of these historical events. The session highlighted the ways in which conspiracy theories can be both harmful and empowering, underscoring the importance of critically evaluating the information presented to us in the media. 

The Gray Colloquium on Dr. Susan Reverby was a thought-provoking and informative event that challenged the St. Mark’s community to consider the complex historical narratives behind conspiracy theories and the impact they have on society. Dr. Reverby’s work is a powerful reminder of the consequences of turning a blind eye to unethical behavior and the necessity of reckoning with the past to create a more just and equitable future. By shedding light on the historical roots of medical conspiracies and their lasting impact, Dr. Reverby urges us to confront uncomfortable truths and take action to prevent similar abuses of power from occurring in the future. 

This year’s Gray Colloquium was successful thanks to the efforts of the hard-working staff and Ms. Sarah McCann, who worked as a Gray Colloquium Coordinator. The next presentation in the Gray Colloquium will take place on Thursday, February 23rd, in the Putnam Family Arts Center’s Class of 1945 hall. The visiting speaker will be Sarah Eagle Heart, a social justice storyteller, entrepreneur, and philanthropic leader. 

You can read more about the upcoming Gray Colloquium speakers here:https://www.stmarksschool.org/academics/signature-programming/gray-colloquium/gray-colloquium-details

Gray Colloquium: Off To A Successful Start, With More To Come

Yoonjeong (Gina) Yang ’24 & Jonathan Hernandez ’24

Journalist and author Anna Merlan was a guest speaker at this year's first Gray Colloquium event, held on October 6th in the Class of '45 Hall at Putnam Family Arts Center. Ms. Merlan is a journalist in VICE subdivision, Motherboard, and specializes in subcultures and conspiracy theories. She also authored Republic of Lies: American Conspiracy Theorists and Their Surprising Rise to Power. In her Gray Colloquium presentation, Ms. Merlan outlined how conspiracy theories function within societies, highlighting several cases from the past to demonstrate how even limited amounts of misinformation can amplify citizen fears and provoke catastrophe. Emphasizing the danger of conspiracy theories and the attendant need for all St. Markers to be more aware and mindful of them proved part of an insightful opening event for the Gray Colloquium's 2022-2023 series, themed “Conspiracies and Consequences.”

Ms. Merlan drew attention to how frequently people are tricked by baseless conspiracy theories because they are usually delivered via a plausible narrative, and how disempowered people, or those with unmet psychological needs, are vulnerable to supporting them because of the break from harsh reality they provide. While St Mark's students may feel detached or beyond the reach of conspiracy theories, the Covid 19 pandemic in fact served to illustrate how essential it is to fully grasp the threat they pose to all. As illness spread and drastic measures were introduced to curb it, social media and the online sphere were responsible for a rash of dubious material that quickly gained traction and went viral, snowballing into an uncontrollable bandwagon.

This phenomenon is hard to comprehend even under normal circumstances but, as Merlan highlighted, in situations of heightened tension (such as a pandemic), or when reality appears to have been suspended, it offers a valuable platform for deeper understanding. Merlan showed how concerns over unverified science foster public anxiety, exacerbating mental health conditions and collective social unease, thereby providing optimal conditions for conspiracy theories to thrive. However, when these theories take hold at an official government level, the fallout goes well beyond mere popularizing of dramatic speculation and fake news; according to Merlan, conspiracy theorists can then manipulate their global audience. Merlan’s words carry a strong warning for St. Markers. We must better educate ourselves in this area and truly appreciate the importance of accessing multiple sources before deciding what is true or not. Merlan provided us with recommended further reading:

1. This Is Not Propaganda: Adventures in the War Against Reality by Peter Pomerantsev

2. Real Enemies by Kathryn Olmsted

3. Suspicious Minds by Rob Brotherton

4. United States of Paranoia by Jesse Walker

5. Bunk by Kevin Young

6. Off the Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything by Kelly Weill

7. The Storm is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and conspiracy Theory of Everything by Mike Rothschild 

After the presentation ended, there was a Q&A session for students and faculty. Many interesting issues were raised, including why so many people are taken in by conspiracy theories, if there are any positive consequences to them, whether Merlan herself personally believes in any popular conspiracies, and how to avoid falling for them. There were many intriguing questions, but due to time pressures, it was not possible to get to all of them. However, during the following day's Community block, students were given further time for discussion, and Jonathan Hernandez '24 also interviewed her with some additional questions.

Jonathan Hernandez ’24 interviews Ms. Anna Merlan

How do you feel you will be able to contribute to this year’s theme: Conspiracies and Consequences? 

“I'm going to focus on the ways that conspiracy theories are used by both people in power and people with no power people who are disenfranchised, and the ways that conspiracy theories can be used to coalesce anger against a common enemy, if you're someone in power, or can be used to create a narrative around your oppression if you're an oppressed person.”

How did you become interested in writing about conspiracies?

“When I was in high school, I read a book called “Them: Adventures and Extremists” by a journalist named Jon Ronson. It was him profiling all of these interesting, unusual, in some cases, quite infamous people like Alex Jones, such as a British conspiracy theorist named David Icke. And so I was interested in conspiracy theories as subjects that I read about in my free time. The main thing that led me to covering them more or less full time was that [when] I went on a cruise for conspiracy theorists in 2016. I wrote a big story about that. And that experience led me to think that conspiracy, culture and conspiratorial ideas and narratives had way more effect on the so-called mainstream than I understood, and that I should spend more time trying to understand that.”

What inspired you to be a Journalist?

“So I thought I was going to study journalism in college, and then I didn't, because the college that I went to, like, discontinued their journalism program. So I didn't, I studied literature, and I worked at a record store. And then at some point, I got an opportunity to be an intern for a local, like, weekly newspaper, and I realized that this is what I really liked doing. But I was writing about art, and I didn't, wasn't actually very good at that. And as soon as I did a news story, I realized, ‘Oh, this is great.’ This is a way to solve problems, to explain to people what's going on[, and] to create…a better understanding for folks about the world around them. And then I realized that what I actually wanted to do was I wanted to write features, I wanted to write long stories that blended investigation and narrative, what sometimes called narrative nonfiction, I wanted to describe scenes, I wanted to be able to write in the way that people write, you know, in novels, but in a, you know, in a real a nonfiction sense.”

Where do conspiracy theories come from?

“Conspiracy theories are an outgrowth of the normal way that people engage in thinking about politics, thinking about society, and really thinking about the world. There's a really great book by a guy named Rob Brotherton, who's a psychology researcher, and it's called ‘Suspicious Minds’, it's about the ways that our brains are formed to see patterns and make connections. This is probably like an evolutionary thing, maybe we don't really know. So we are very prone to seeing patterns[,] making meaning, drawing connections between world events, even if there isn't necessarily an actual connection. It's just…a thing that we do. And so it's very understandable that when we look at complex world events, and especially things that impact us, that we want to create a narrative that makes sense that sort of feeds our desire for an explanation about how things work. And in most cases, successful conspiracy theories also feed into what people already believe [and] it kind of … helps reinforce what people already think about the world. So a lot of conspiracy theories, the ones that you believe are very dependent on, like, your sort of place in society, your cultural and social and political values.”

What is your most memorable experience with writing about conspiracies?

“Definitely the cruise is a top memory. I remember this being memorable because it sort of introduced me to the world of conspiracies. It allowed me to gain insight and see and talk with people who believe in a myriad of conspiracies…. Another time I think is notable is when I went to a white supremacist rally. When reporting, I was surrounded by all these people who, you know, thought that they were able to identify Jews and were talking about the ‘Jewish Problem’ in America. I was talking to this one guy and he was saying how it’s amazing that we can all come here together to address the Jewish Problem facing America. I am actually Jewish, and so I told this guy, ‘Actually, I’m Jewish.’ He was shocked, he had gone white (whiter than he was before) and it took him a second. It took him a second to register and realize that he was talking to a Jewish person. He was shocked because he had such a clear idea in his mind of what a Jew looked like and how they behaved, and thought, like so many others that he could so easily identify a Jewish person.”

Anna Merlan's insightful presentation was very well-received by the St. Mark's audience. It marked a successful start to the Gray Colloquium program, fully reflecting the unstinting efforts of the organizing committee, and Ms. McCann, Gray Colloquium Coordinator. The next presentation will take place on Thursday, December 1st with the visit of Gish Jen, a contemporary American author and speaker. 

More information about upcoming Gray Colloquium speakers is here: https://www.stmarksschool.org/academics/signature-programming/gray-colloquium/gray-colloquium-details 

St. Mark’s Prepares for the Opening of New Dorm Facility

Yoonjeong (Gina) Yang’ 24

The long-awaited new St. Mark’s residence hall is on track to open its doors for the first time after the Thanksgiving break. The facility opening was initially fixed for mid-October but was subject to postponement, much to the disappointment of an expectant community. However, given that fundamental safety and security infrastructure would not be in place on time, rescheduling was unavoidable to ensure that all students and faculty see the new residence hall at its best from the start. The new building will honor the "school under one roof" idea conceived by St. Mark's founder, Joseph Burnett, ensuring significantly increased campus capacity for pupils and teachers alike. In addition, the new dormitory is symbolic of healing, reunion, and reconnection within the wider community, representing a tangible return to normalcy after the disruption of Covid-19. 

Planning Board and Conservation Commission approval to construct the 90,000 square feet three-story residence hall was granted to St. Mark's last fall. Standard building components, like structural steel, metal roof trusses, and timber framing, have been integrated with more sustainable materials to meet St. Mark's ongoing commitment to responsible environmental stewardship. The new dormitory will soon welcome approximately 150 students, accommodated in a mix of single and double rooms, and provide a base for 12 faculty departments. Beyond its core residential function, the building will also feature an extensive lounge equipped for a substantial student body, full kitchen and cooking facilities, a laundry room on each floor, and seven group study rooms; three on both the second and third floors and one on the first.

St. Mark's has also moved to allay any logistical concerns related to moving across from the existing facility to the main campus. To streamline the entire process, the services of a specialist moving company have been secured, whereby all students who pre-pack their belongings before departure will have their boxes tagged, removed, and delivered to their new rooms to coincide with their return after Thanksgiving. All personal effects will await students in their new dorms, closing the circle on a seamless transition. The new dawn of a freshly-invigorated, more closely-bonded community beckons for the St. Mark's community with the impending advent of this extraordinary new space for life and learning.

Cultural Carnival

Sophie Chiang ‘23

You might be thinking, isn’t the cultural festival not until next year? Well, it is! But what’s coming up in December is an exciting event new to St. Mark’s this year, and it’s our school’s Cultural Carnival.

The Cultural Carnival is a blend of games, music, and food from a variety of different cultures, all brought together by a sense of community. Unlike the Cultural Festival, the Cultural Carvinal has a focus on games. Each student-led table will represent a different cultural game, including Mahjong, Mancala, Loteria, Gonggi, Game 3-2, Parcheesi, and Do Di Zhu. Every table will have someone walk you through the rules of the game, and there will also be cards at each table describing the game’s history, rules, and other fascinating facts. Ingrid Yeung ‘23 is most excited to be teaching people about Do Di Zhu, a strategic Chinese card game. For some, the highlight will be the Pinata filled with candy! Louise He ‘23, a pathways prefect, is most grateful for all the help from the students who are volunteering at the tables. She can’t wait to see their planning come to life. 

The popular game Mancala. 

Although these games are the stars of the show, rest assured that there will still be delicious food. Cultural food such as Sfogliatella, Pastelitos, Tostones, Samosa, and Flan will be served at each table for you to snack on as you listen to the student-curated playlist full of fan-favorites from BLACKPINK to Sebastian Yatra to Kali Uchis. You can request your own favorite songs here! Cultural Carnival Music Request Form 

The Pathways Program credits Darius Wagner ‘23, a pathways prefect ‘21-22, for this brilliant idea. Show up to the Cultural Carnival in December for a chance to celebrate the diversity that cultivates the vibrant community on campus– and not just for the food.

The Clubs Return!

Steven Yang ‘23

Clubs are essential to student life at St. Mark’s. Whether it’s political, academic, artistic, or just for fun, there are clubs for a variety of interests. And if they don’t exist now, it’s very simple to start one! Students can simply contact Ms. Kosow, the Director of Student Life, in order to found a club. There are few requirements for starting a club; just find a faculty advisor and fill out a short proposal!

Now a month into the school year, there are returning clubs as well as new ones that have started the year off strong. Club leaders were able to advertise their club as well as secure crucial sign-ups at the annual Club Fair in Taft Hall in early October. From Chess Club to SM Finance, leaders prepared posters and activities for the St. Mark’s community to learn about their club!

Club meetings got underway in mid-October as clubs like Students for Sustainability (S4S) and You Belong With Us (the Taylor Swift club) had their first meetings. These established club structures and provided great opportunities for members to ask questions and brainstorm activities together.

Speaking of club activities, several have already hosted Weekend Activities early in the year. By scheduling activities on weekends, clubs are able to use part of the weekend activities budget on their meetings. This included buying pizza and cinnamon twists for You Belong With Us’ listening party of the new album Midnights, to the Volleyball Club setting up volleyball nets with food for students to enjoy on the VI Form Quad!

The truth is, clubs are an integral part of the St. Mark’s student experience. From nature walks with the Wildlife Club to karaokes with You Belong With Us, there’s plenty to do with clubs at St. Mark’s. So keep an eye on your email and go to meetings, they’ll make fun and special experiences that you won’t soon forget.

St. Mark’s Welcomes Penn Fellows

Jonathan Hernandez ‘24

For generations students have come to St. Mark’s to learn how to do and be their best. This fall, St. Mark’s is welcoming two students who are learning to teach their best. Brittney Brown, and Shrenik Agrawal joined the St. Mark’s community through the Penn Fellowship Program. 

The Fellowship Program, facilitated by the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, is a two-year fellowship program. Members of the program participate in teaching at partner schools, such as St. Mark’s, and online courses. The program allows aspiring teachers to receive a Master of Science in Education while gaining teaching experience at a wide array of partner schools. 

Brittney Brown, also known as Miss B around Campus, joined the St. Mark’s community from Georgia Tech this June, where she majored in Aerospace Engineering. Miss B noted that she enjoyed the opportunities grain teaching experience, especially at a boarding school like St. Mark’s. She explains that “I'm really excited to see not only my personal growth and education but also how students learn, the growth of my students and my players.” While here, she is teaching Geometry in the Math Department and currently helping coach Junior-Varsity Field Hockey in the fall. 

Miss B can often be found in the STEM faculty room or walking her student-popular dog Goose. In addition to athletics, Miss B is also interested in helping with Saturday Courses and the Robotics Team in the Winter. She is currently on duty in Gaccon, where she lives in one of the faculty apartments, where she loves to bake treats such as cheesecake and brownies. In addition, she has noted that she prefers the St. Mark’s community to call her Miss B.

Mr. Agrawal, noted that he had a long-standing desire to teach since high school. He explained that the Penn Fellowship has given him “a really good opportunity to learn and learn how to teach and work with small class sizes.” Mr. Agrawal explained that in teaching in a small school, teachers were able to have more time to connect more closely with each person. He explains that “teaching is about, first and foremost, strong social connections. That is the foundation on which any content that you're working with, stands on because you need that trust between teacher and student.” In being at St. Mark’s, Mr. Agrawal also noted that he hopes to be involved in promoting Community and Equity at St. Mark’s. 

Along with teaching, Mr. Agrawal plans on coaching Junior-Varsity Squash in the winter and Tennis in the Spring. When not teaching, he can be found running on the West Campus Cross Country Trail. He explained how the trail was truly a sight to see. 

This academic year, there were many faculty and staff to join the St. Mark’s community in most, if not all departments. Make sure to welcome each one by getting to know them, including Miss B and Mr. Agrawal!