### Pakoras

By Suroor Menai

Total time: 30 minutes; prep time: 10 minutes; cook time: 20 minutes;

Growing up, Thanksgiving had always been the
holiday when my aunts and uncles gathered at
my grandmother’s house here in New Jersey. My
cousins and I would look forward to the many
delicious Pakistani dishes we would get to eat over
the long weekend. Last year, however, we hosted
Thanksgiving at my house. Because of this, my mom,
aunts, and uncles made all the food instead, and put
their own spin on the meal. For example, instead
of the traditional pakoras made with potatoes, my
mom decided to use spinach and onions and fry
them in a lighter batter instead. The pakoras with
this new twist were a big hit, so at my house, we’ve
been making pakoras that way ever since.

**Ingredients**

Any neutral vegetable oil to fill up to about ¾ of a
deep frying container;
2 cups gram (besan) flour;
1 cup of warm water (add more as needed for
batter consistency);
½ tsp baking powder;
2 tsp salt;
1 ½ tsp turmeric;
½ tsp red chili pepper (or add to taste);
1 tsp cumin powder;
1 tsp coriander powder;
3 cups of spinach, chopped into thin strips;
3 onions, thinly sliced.

**Instructions**

Put the oil in a frying pan and heat it on low heat while preparing the batter.
Add the gram flour to a large mixing bowl. Slowly add the warm water, mixing as you add, until it has the
consistency of pancake batter. Try to remove bubbles or clumps from the batter as you mix.
Add the baking powder, salt, turmeric, red chili pepper, cumin powder, and coriander powder into the batter.
Add the spinach and onions to the batter and mix well so that they are evenly coated by the batter. It is best
to mix with your hands, but you can also use a spatula or big spoon.
Using a large tablespoon or serving spoon, scoop dollops of batter into the hot pan (make sure the oil is
sizzling before you place the batter in).
Wait for the fritters to get golden brown and crispy, then flip and continue to fry for another minute or two.
Remove the fritters from the oil using tongs or a slotted spoon, and store in a container lined with paper
towels to drain any excess oil.
Repeat steps five and six until you use up all the batter.
Serve hot with your favorite chutney or dipping sauce.

### Sweet potato black bean salad

By Aarna Dharmavarpu

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, there’s
nothing better than a hearty, comforting side dish
to add to your seasonal feast. This sweet potato
and black bean pasta salad is the perfect recipe to
embrace this holiday’s flavors. With its vibrant
combination of roasted sweet potatoes, black beans,
and the satisfying crunch of corn, this pasta salad
offers a warm, earthy base that is balanced by the
tangy dressing. For me, it’s a go-to side dish that’s
become a holiday favorite — a comforting reminder
of this season’s warmth and the joy of sharing meals
with loved ones.

Recipe adapted from AllRecipes.

Total time: 1 hour 5 minutes; prep time: 25 minutes; cook time: 40 minutes.

**Ingredients**

PASTA SALAD:
½ pound of pasta;
1 medium sized sweet potato, peeled and cut into;
1 inch cubes;
½ cup black beans, drained and rinsed;
½ cup fresh corn;
⅓ cup minced red onion;
¼ cup finely chopped cilantro;
½ cup shredded cheese (can be any cheese);
2 tbsp olive oil;
1 tsp kosher salt;
1 tsp black pepper.

SALAD DRESSING:
2 ½ chipotle peppers in adobo;
1 ½ tsp adobo sauce;
1 clove of garlic;
½ tsp dried oregano;
Ground cumin to taste;
1 tbsp honey;
3 tbsp rice vinegar;
¼ cup olive oil,

**Instructions**

Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Toss the sweet potato with olive oil, black pepper, and kosher
salt, then lay the sweet potato cubes evenly on a baking tray. Roast the sweet potato in the oven for 20 minutes,
or until they are brown and tender.
Cook the pasta in salted boiling water for about ten minutes, or until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it
aside to cool.
In a small bowl, prepare the salad dressing by mixing together the chipotle peppers, adobo sauce, garlic,
oregano, cumin, honey, rice vinegar, and olive oil, until a smooth consistency is achieved. Season with kosher
salt and black pepper to taste.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, black beans, corn, sweet potato, red onion, cilantro, and olive
oil. Season with additional kosher salt and black pepper if desired. Then, stir in the cheese, plate, and enjoy!

Let's dish this out: two Thanksgiving sides to add to your feast

From perfect GPAs to Ivy League
acceptance letters and abundant
extracurriculars, characters on
screen seem to glide through the
college application process, all
while balancing several romantic
relationships and some serious
personal drama. The media’s
glossy depiction of the college
application process disregards the
late-night cramming, weekend
shifts, and lunch meetings
with teachers that make
up real students’ lives.
Protagonists in “Gilmore
Girls” and “Never Have I
Ever” are all living an idealistic
illusion of a stressless senior
year and college application
season. As viewers, we can’t
help but feel drawn to these
characters who seem effortlessly
intelligent, accomplished, and
goal-oriented.

Many high schoolers dream
of attending a top university, yet
the reality of getting accepted is far
more challenging than popular TV shows
portray. In “Gilmore Girls,” the journey to
a prestigious college appears deceptively
easy, creating an illusion of guaranteed
success for any hardworking or
successful student. The protagonist
Rory Gilmore is an overachiever
who excels in academics and is
involved in many extracurricular
activities. Throughout her high
school journey, she doesn’t
encounter many struggles and
ends up only applying to and
getting accepted into her
dream colleges: Harvard,
Princeton, and Yale.
However, “Gilmore Girls”
fails to acknowledge the
difficulties and complex
feelings high schoolers
often face during the
admissions process. Real-
life college admissions are
often full of uncertainty and
rejection. The reality is that
even high achieving students
may not be accepted to their
top choices.

The media’s narrative of the college
application process glorifies prestige.
Time and again, TV shows and movies
only mention the names of Ivy League
or top 20 universities, as if attending
one of these institutions is the
only acceptable route to success.
In “Never Have I Ever,” Devi, a
smart and driven student, only
applies to Ivy League schools.
When college acceptances come
out, she is left with only one
waitlist and considers waiting
another year to reapply to the
Ivy Leagues if she is denied
from that school. Devi’s
story is a prime example of
the media’s romanticization
of prestigious schools.
This unhealthy portrayal
creates misguided beliefs
among students, where one’s
hard work in school becomes
automatically pointless if denied
admission to top universities.

However, the media is
overlooking the thousands of
other colleges all around the
world that also provide quality
education for students to pursue what they
love. College admissions should be about
finding a place where one can thrive, not
simply aiming for the name that looks
best on a bumper sticker.

Not only are there a wide range
of excellent colleges, but some
students may not realize that
college is not the only suitable
path after high school. While
attending college can provide
opportunities and a degree,
high school graduates can
also find joy and achievement
through working, training, or
pursuing other experiences.
Additionally, some students
choose to take a gap year and
travel, volunteer, or work to
help shape their goals and find
their interests. It’s important
to remember to embrace your
own journey as there is more
than one path to success.

For PHS students, the college
admissions process can be much
tougher and more stressful than
what we see on screen. However,
success isn’t defined by one
decision, and the college journey should
be a time for us to explore who we are and
find where we belong.

Debunking college admissions in TV

If there are laws to protect individuals in marginalized
communities from discrimination in areas like employment,
healthcare, and education, why shouldn’t there be laws to
protect books that reflect their stories and experiences?
Students at PHS and across the country deserve access
to the voices of minority
groups and a chance to
learn about their lives and
beliefs through literature.
According to the American
Library Association
(ALA), censorship of
books has increased by
65 percent from 2022
to 2023, with over 4,000
books containing themes
of racial justice or gender
identity being banned
from public and school
libraries. Recently,
however, the New Jersey
Senate has started to focus
on preventing censorship
to promote diversity.

On October 28, 2024,
the Freedom to Read
Act was passed by the
New Jersey Senate, but is
currently awaiting the approval of Governor Phil Murphy.
This law will prevent books from being banned solely
because of their origin, background, or views in public
and school libraries. It aims to enforce the ALA’s Library
Bill of Rights, which seeks to make libraries inclusive and
diverse environments. This is especially important for
students as access to more diverse literature allows them
to build cultural awareness, empathy, and critical thinking.

In addition, if the Freedom to Read Act is approved, it
will protect librarians. Currently, librarians face pressure
to remove certain books, especially those dealing with
sensitive topics such as race and gender. In 2023, a survey
conducted by the School Library Journal found that 18
percent of elementary
school librarians
reported experiencing
harassment, and the
rate rose to 30 percent
among librarians
in high schools.
Harassment often
comes from parents
who want to protect
their children from
content they consider
harmful. It also often
comes from political
groups who oppose
the representation of
certain ideas, such as
LGBTQ+ themes, in
libraries. As a result,
these people claim that
librarians are spreading
inappropriate content
and pressure them to
remove those books, despite a lack of evidence. With the
Freedom to Read Act in place, librarians will be granted
liability protection, encouraging them to do their jobs
without fear of legal repercussions and harassment from
the public, leading to a less stressful work environment.

The harmful effects of censorship on society are
displayed in Ray Bradbury’s dystopian novel “Fahrenheit
451.” Bradbury’s novel is a direct reference to historical
censorship events like the Nazi book burnings, where
thousands of books, primarily written by Jewish authors
or others considered “un-German,” were destroyed to
control public thought. In the book, everything that goes
against the government’s ideals are censored, leaving
people desensitized and overly reliant on technology,
making them unable to think for themselves. Individuals
also refrain from sharing their opinions due to the fear of
retribution. Today, the novel serves as a reminder of the
importance of protecting individuality and preventing
censorship from enforcing conformity and suppressing
critical thought within individuals.

In a world where the voices of marginalized groups are
suppressed, it is incredibly important to solve the issue of
censorship and be able to connect with all communities.
The Freedom to Read Act is one step towards this, but
censorship still remains a concern: Pen America found
that in the United States, there are over 40 educational gag
orders that have become law in over 22 states, restricting
topics such as race and gender to be taught in schools.
Such policies prevent individuals from developing beliefs
and critical thinking. With the Freedom to Read Act, New
Jersey will set an example for other states to establish laws
that restrain censorship. Now it is time for us to advocate
and promote similar ideas that advocate for freedom of
expression and access to diverse perspectives so that we
can explore our own interests and beliefs without our
rights being infringed by censorship.

Librarians need to be protected

Ashvi Gadagottu ’28: “Usually I just talk with
them and they … know how to
comfort me or they’ll give me
some advice on the situation.”

Milania Kapoor ’27: “[My friends will] be like, ‘Oh,
I’m here whenever you need to
talk,’ or if it’s something school-
related, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, it’s
okay, you can do better next
time.’”

Skye Pinneo ’26: “People I know ... reach out and
offer to help with stuff. If I’m
talking to people who have gone
through the same thing, it’s very
helpful.”

Anya Haeberli ’25: “I prefer … talking through an
issue and it’s very nice when [my
friends and I] can just sit through
a lunch period and we get to talk
about it and … just let off some
steam."

PHS Speaks Out: How do you feel supported by your friends during tough times?

Sports video games, whether you love them or hate
them, have undeniably been entrenched in youth culture
for decades. Announcements of new FIFA games are
met with months of anticipation, even if the new release
is a near replica of the previous version. Professional
athletes play as themselves in their sports games and
livestream to millions of fans. The rise of the sports
video game industry has been rapid and astronomically
lucrative ever since the first late 1950’s. But why?

Part of the answer stems from the wide variety that
sports video games have to offer. Some involve physical
interaction and allow for exercise, while others are
more laid back and oriented around relaxing through
sports. Active games include popular classics such
as Just Dance and Wii Sports, where you have to
physically move to earn points and win. These games
also allow you to play with friends in-person and
compete, promoting exercise and overall health while
also creating friendly competition between peers.

Tarquin Wood ’25 loves this aspect of sports video
games and calls himself a devoted fan. He also knows
the value of video games that promote physical
health, especially during a time where many youth
increasingly spend more time inside or at a chair.

“What makes Wii really successful is that it combines
the good things about video games with the good things
about sports,” said Wood. “It can help you exercise,
burn calories, and stay fit, and that’s really good for
kids who play the games. They’ll be taught that early
and instill it into their lifestyles as they grow up.”

Wood also loves the social aspect of these types
of video games, sharing personal stories about how
the game impacted his connections with others.

“I remember I went to my friend’s house a lot,
and he introduced me to Wii Tennis,” said Wood.
“I grew closer to my friend because he taught me
something that became really important to me
later, so it really solidified my friendship with him.”

The other, more sedentary, type of sports video
games include popular modern games such as
MADDEN, FIFA, NBA2K, and MLB The Show. These
games are licensed by professional sports leagues
and teams, allowing players to have a realistic and
fun experience by involving their favorite teams and
players in real life. This is a more relaxing experience
as there is no real physical activity involved.

For many, watching professional athletes play as
themselves in the video games is a primary source
for the genre’s boost in popularity. Many athletes
grew up playing these video games, and when they
become professional athletes, it only increases the
game’s popularity. Certain game modes put the players
in critical situations where they feel that they are in
more control such, as a career as a player or coach.

Similarly to active games, these types of video
games also allow players to have fun with peers and
compete in person, but also online against other users
of similar skill levels, testing the user’s skills against
people from around the world. Overall, although this
type of sports video game lacks exercise, it is still an
enjoyable experience in its own unique ways.

Max Mazo ’25 has been playing FIFA for the
past four years, and has found that it is a great
way for him to wind down after a long day.

“I started playing FIFA in freshman year because
my friends had it, and because I enjoyed playing
soccer so it seemed like a fun thing to do,” said
Mazo. “Additionally, if I have a friend that lives
in another state, I can still play with them.”

For Mazo, the best part about playing games
like FIFA is that the player can replicate the
feeling of being in control of a team and compete
with friends to see who can make the best teams.

“I play [FIFA] Pro Clubs with my friends. I used to
play by myself but now I play with [my] friends on the
soccer team. It’s fun because we all yell at each other,
which relieves stress when you play together,” said
Mazo. “You can play against the computer, such as in
FIFA ultimate team, but you can also play single player.”

Both types of games have a strong impact on not only
PHS students, but on the rest of the world. Although both
have unrelenting fanbases who claim that their game style
is better, they appeal to different audiences under different
circumstances. As players browse the game shelves, it’s
almost guaranteed they will find the perfect video game to
immerse themselves in both the sport and the game itself.

The impact of sports video games

This season, the PHS girls
volleyball team had a 24-1
winning streak. They won
most of their games two
sets to none.

Players like Naomi
Lygas ’26, Kaelin
Bobetich ’26, and
Charlotte Woods
’26 (pictured right)
have racked up an
immense number of
kills, contributing
significantly to the
team’s 818 number
kill season total.

Naomi Lygas ’26: “Last year, we were
the underdogs in most
of our games, and the
roles have definitely
reversed this year.
We go into every
game with a target
on our backs. That’s
when we found that
having a lot of energy
helps us win over the
teams that bring large
crowds or are super
inspired to beat us.”

Lois Matsukawa ’25: “[Playing at the
Williamstown
tournament] was the
best memory because we
had worked so hard the
past couple of years to
finally come out on top.
Also, this year being my
last season playing high
school volleyball, it felt
so good to bring the first
place trophy home.”

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