DOTI: Is Chilli a Soup, Stew, or Something Else?
Chili has been one of the most heavily debated topics in America for centuries. Is it its own food, a stew, or a soup? While many believe it to be…
Op-ed
Ultra-processed Snacks at Dana Hall: It’s Time for a Pivot
Snack time. At Dana Hall, it is available in Common Ground at least twice per day: once after advisory or morning meeting, and once before co-curriculars. Dana Hall’s snacks do…
Is There Systemic Grade Inflation in High Schools?
When my dad graduated high school in 1983, the National Center for Education Statistics reported that the average American high school student had a grade point average (GPA) of 2.47…
Thank You to the Academy…
As Moira Rose, played by the late great Catherine O’Hara, once put it, there is no season better than award season. Expected actors clamor through clapping crowds to hoist their…
From One Student to Another: Caxy Advice Column
What is the Spectator’s opinion on teachers swearing in class? Since the Spectator is made up of multiple strong-minded students, we all have different opinions on this subject. However, the…
APs versus Electives
Lake Forest Academy offers students a variety of classes ranging in difficulty, dynamics and content. Each course provides students with nuanced skills and perspectives that they will harness in their…
Prediction Markets Are Hijacking Consensus
The exploding popularity of prediction markets since 2024 has not been kept a secret. These platforms — Kalshi and Polymarket are the most popular — have rocketed into public focus,…
Salt or Pepper? The Eternal Debate
Whether you are sitting down at your dining room table, receiving your plate at a restaurant, or just eating a regular meal, you are faced with the age-old question. The…
The Widespread Negative Environmental Impacts of AI
In the last few years, the usage of artificial intelligence globally has skyrocketed. According to IEEE Spectrum, ChatGPT alone receives over 2.5 billion prompts per day. In contrast, other popular…
The Complicated Ethics of Generative AI Usage
How would you feel if you were shown a video of you committing a crime? How much more upset would you be if you knew you didn’t do it, but…