Pulling up to school in luxury vehicles with five-dollar coffees in hand, many PHS students are a far cry from normal. The opportunity to go to farmers’ markets in our senior parking lot on Thursdays and take courses at Princeton University are symbols of comfort and wealth. Especially compared to the school districts around us, PHS is a pillar of privilege. And while much of this privilege is used for good, it’s still strange in comparison to the districts around us. While we got MacBooks, West Windsor-Plainsboro North got Chromebooks, Monroe got iPads, and some schools got nothing. On top of that, some schools have crumbling infrastructure, an issue that they can’t even afford to solve. Meanwhile, Princeton Public Schools has begun construction on a multipurpose studio for yoga and dance.

Solving this pressing issue of inequity doesn’t completely fall on PPS, though spending millions on construction alone is still quite a contentious choice. Rather, American public school funding is what needs to be scrutinized. Education is supposedly a human right, but the government rarely supports this, chronically neglecting struggling public schools. And, like always, it comes down to the policy. The funding of American education is anything but equitable. A large part of public school funding comes from property taxes, a source of money that varies by location. Low-income areas with low property taxes will have little financial support for their schools. Therefore, quality of education is determined by geographic distribution of wealth. Education is also the foundation of success, yet we withhold quality education from people who need it the most. It’s impossible for low-income Americans to lift themselves up out of poverty without quality education, but our current system almost ensures social stagnation. Unless property taxes in poor neighborhoods radically increase (which they won’t, because living in poor neighborhoods isn’t exactly desirable), these schools will simply never get funding.


graphic by [credit name = "Emily Qian"]
But the United States is one of the only developed nations that relies on property taxes as heavily as it does for public education. Many other countries have similar but more effective mediums of securing money for public schools. For instance, some compensate with national or federal aid; their public school financial support comes from supported legislative acts and federal-level taxation, not just from local sources. In the United States, though, much is left up to individual states. Just by looking around us, we can see the necessity for a policy shift. The property value in Princeton is significantly higher than the surrounding towns (just check Zillow), and as a result, our education is significantly better. Students in under-funded schools often feel that their teachers don’t care; at PHS, however, teachers’ passion for learning is evident. Even the resources we get compared to the surrounding schools is baffling. With some exceptions, PHS activities remain well-supported across the board. From clubs to athletics to the arts, student life is highly funded and prioritized by the school. Being able to open your Instagram and see our orchestra in Italy is typical of Princeton High School; bands in most public schools outside of our district couldn’t feel the same. Access to quality education is directly associated with socioeconomic status, and classism in America underscores nearly every issue discussed in Congress. Representatives tend to focus on the hot-button issues while neglecting substantial reform. It is our responsibility to vote in legislators who genuinely care about righting the wrongs in the education system. If we value our education and the privilege it affords us, we should aim to ensure that everyone has access to an equal and quality experience. Education and democracy go hand in hand because both are emblematic of the human capacity to achieve more. So if we truly value our trips to Italy and our sports resources, we need to vote with education in mind.

Princeton’s privilege: rethinking public school funding

Today, AI and other modern tech innovations have completely changed the modern work standard, bringing great productivity increases — and even greater fears of falling behind into the  eternal cycle of poverty. To attempt to escape these fears, young adults are pursuing what they perceive to be the only path to success in this ever-changing world: grind culture. Grind culture, defined by the belief that the only path to monetary success is constant hard work, long hours, and complete availability, has become a widespread ideology. Although these qualities may seem beneficial to a person’s career, the fearmongering that grind culture encourages, alongside its mental health harms, renders it a detriment to society. 

Recently, young people are facing numerous economic challenges: housing, fuel, groceries, utilities, education, and healthcare costs have all skyrocketed. Grind culture is, in many ways, a response to the increasing unaffordability of life: survival only comes from working hard all the time. However, constant effort most often results in burnout, anxiety, and lowered productivity — making it counterintuitive for young adults aiming for financial stability. 

Though inflation-adjusted salaries have largely remained stagnant since 1960, purchasing power has severely declined amongst younger generations. If one worked hard in previous generations, there was a foreseeable reward, but currently, it has become nearly impossible to buy a home, especially if one is on the federal minimum wage ($7.25/hour). Home prices are just one example of the disparate financial realities between the oldest and youngest generations. 

Grind culture uses fearmongering tactics to convince people that if one does not follow this lifestyle, they will suffer from an unaffordable world for the rest of their years. The idea of the “permanent underclass,” a future where artificial intelligence replaces human labor, while the world is ruled by elites, only exacerbates these fears by promoting a dystopian future. If the stakes are permanently being subjugated, one would be much more willing to follow the lifestyle grind culture emphasizes.

Another motivation to be employed in high-stress, high-paying professions is student debt, composed mostly of federal student loan debt. Federal student loan debt can almost never be discharged through bankruptcy and will dog a person’s footsteps for the rest of their lives. When coupled with interest rates, student loan debt is a major barrier for millions of Americans to financial security.
 
Thus, the increasingly widespread goal of working in professions such as investment banking or consulting is a product of the desire to become financially secure. Both of these careers require incredibly long hours and little work life balance, embodying much of the grind culture. While this may be worth it to those who are simply seeking more wealth, the vast majority of professions do not require the grind culture mentality to be successful. 

Especially with the increases in corporate mass layoffs, trust and loyalty to companies is at a very low point. Working hard for a company no longer produces the same results, with millions of people being laid-off annually. 

Instead of glorifying grind culture as a mindset encouraging young people to work hard, we should regard it as the manifestation of all our unfounded fears — the idea that success is fleeting and that permanent failure is always just one step away.

It’s not wrong to want to work hard and chase an A on a test, or attempt to win a competitive internship, but it can become a vice when it gets excessive. There is more to life than schoolwork or any job. Unlike what grind culture assumes, one bad grade, a slightly lower paycheck, or even being laid off long-term can be recovered from, but trading away your health, time, and satisfaction, is something you can never regain. No one aspect of life should dominate all others: balance is necessary for proper happiness and joy.


Chasing the money

What is Terror? I know him when I take a test worth half my quarter grade, when I step too close to the edge of the path on a mountain hike, when a car gets a little too close for comfort while I cross the road. Maybe I also know Terror when a lockdown is called, unsure if it’s real or not; when a shelter-in-place is called and I hear something rolling outside while I hope that everyone is okay. I know Terror as a friend who shakes my shoulders when I cannot see him, then, most times, winks and leaves. 

Unlike me, my father knows Terror from his days in India, a man who he thought he left behind when he moved to America. Terror was in every Indian railway station that was mobbed as part of a riot, was sat in every train that departed with a bomb disguised as a radio left in it. My father knew Terror as a man carrying a gun, a bomb, an allegiance, and sometimes none of the three.

My father arrived in America in 2000 for a job opportunity here that he could not achieve in India. But more than that, America was a better land for life. Supposedly, here, kidnapping and stabbing didn’t lurk behind every dark corner, whereas in his motherland they were comfortable showing their faces even in the light. 

Terror was never meant to cross the Atlantic. Terror was never meant to board American Airlines Flight 11.

So we tried our best to make sure this would never, ever happen again. We installed metal detectors, increased surveillance, went to war to kill the man who brought Terror to our doorstep. All of these things helped. We have not since seen Terror like we did on September 11. 

But listening to my father’s stories has taught me more about who Terror truly is. We have made it harder for Terror to act, but if someone is willing to lay down their life for him, they will do it by any means necessary. 

The hands of Terror are present in the idea that politics is “us versus them” just as they are present in bombings and plane crashes and riots and shootings. Terror whispers that some people are our enemies, that they are destroying our country, and that something must be done about them. Terror wins when we believe that violence to innocents is justified. 

My father thought Terror did not dwell in the U.S. because he misunderstood Terror’s range. Terror is not Indian, he is not American, he is not Eastern, he is not Western, he is not old, he is not young, he is not Christian, he is not Muslim, he is not Hindu, he is not left-wing, he is not right-wing. He feeds on division.

I want Terror to remain my friend. I hope that I can live a life where he is only my shaky hands before a test, only the pit in my stomach when I look a long way down, only the feeling I get when I have to speak in front of a crowd. But if we do not seek to understand one another, I fear I will come to know him as the killer my father knew. On this 25th anniversary of 9/11, remember that Terror is not always external. Remember that he can grow within our own community when disagreement usurps humanity. Remember the consequences of allowing division to become hatred and hatred to become violence. 

Never forget.


The meaning of terror

In the 99-year-old PHS school building, construction and maintenance work is constantly needed and ongoing. At the PAC, materials and a temporary floor protector mark the location of projects that began shortly after graduation, which involves converting the old technology office and the Numina Gallery into new learning spaces. While the construction is visible in parts of the building, students note that it has not affected their school experience.

“I haven’t found the construction a distraction at all,” said Curtis Tam ’28. “I didn’t even realize all of this construction was going on.”

In addition to the ongoing reconstruction, the other main construction project at PHS this summer was preparatory work for the replacement of the building’s boiler and HVAC systems. The district’s construction plans are connected to the funding provided by an $89.1 million referendum approved by voters in January 2025.

The boiler and HVAC project is expected to take several years. The work completed at PHS over the summer was mainly preparation and smaller related jobs, as the district’s largest construction focus has been at Princeton Middle School. The project was paused during the school year and is expected to resume during the summer of 2027.

“The whole thing is planned,” said PHS Principal Cecilia Birge. “We don’t want to have construction going on during instructional hours.”

As of now, it is too soon to give a finalization date for the completion of the HVAC. On the other hand, the boiler work is expected to continue through the end of 2027.

“At this point, it’s too early to tell when the expected completion date will be. It certainly will be in 2027,” said Birge.

The former technology office is being reconstructed into three classrooms, but the school has not yet determined which subjects the rooms will be used for. The conversion is connected to the school’s need for classrooms, especially in a building where many rooms were built nearly a century ago and for a student population much smaller than the one that PHS hosts today.

“By reconstructing that tech space, that will give us that additional relief that we truly need,” said Birge.

Similarly, although the Numina Gallery is also being remodeled, the school still aims retain its original purpose for students.

“It’s being converted into two flexible learning classrooms, and we’re hoping that it’s flexible enough that it will also continue to function as a gallery,” said Birge.

The technology office and gallery projects began in late June 2026. The expected completion date is the end of December 2026, although approval processes, including certificates of occupancy, could affect when the spaces can be used. Since classrooms have already been assigned for the new school year, the spaces may first be used for standardized testing, spring musical activities, or other events.

“Different approval [processes] may delay it. … We will not be able to put a classroom because each classroom has been assigned a space already,” said Birge.

The construction projects are funded through the 2025 district referendum. The referendum was divided into three separate ballot questions. Voters decided whether to approve each question, and the questions were tiered, meaning projects included in later questions could move forward only if earlier questions were also approved. Funding approved through the referendum must be used for the projects voters approved.

“Once the bond referendum [gets approved], because the voters specifically vote for the stated use, that money cannot be used for other things,” said Birge.

The age of the building and previous growth in enrollment have contributed to facility needs at PHS. In 2020, enrollment was close to 1620 students and the building’s room utilization rate was in the 90 percent range. Enrollment is now about 1530 students, and changes to the bell schedule have helped with space use. However, the creation of extra classrooms is still both necessary and important.

Now that funding has come through from the 2025 referendum, the school has been able to start construction based on its own needs. Whereas a previous issue surrounding the ability to initiate construction had been a lack of financial support, PHS now has the funds to remodel the building.

“Before 2018, for a couple of decades, the district did not pay a lot of attention to our facility needs … [also as] the student population exploded. … [There was] heavy usage put on the building and the lack of oversight of facilities created this urgent need, this bottleneck of facility needs, and that’s why [the] bond referendum process took so long,” said Birge.

Other future projects at the PHS include reorganizing the math office, replacing furniture in the Learning Commons, and giving the courtyard more attention, among other plans.

For students, construction has remained in the background during their school day. The technology office and gallery renovations will continue through December and HVAC work is scheduled to return next summer.

“It’s nice that the school is renovating all these different parts,” said Tam. “It’s great that it has not really affected my schoolwork.”

Graphic: Emily Kim

The school’s construction has taken place across the property, with much of it still in progress.

PHS unveils new summer construction

Entering the 2026 season as the NJSIAA Group 3
State Champions for the third consecutive year, the PHS
volleyball team is looking to continue their streak by adding
a fourth title to the mix.

Although a fourth title would make them one of the
most successful programs in the area in recent years, the
district has overlooked the program since its inception,
when players had to pay for equipment out of pocket.

They must quickly rebuild after they lost key players
Naomi Lygas ’26, Kaelin Bobetich ’26, and Charlotte Woods
’26. Despite their importance, the team possessed sufficient
depth across the two teams, allowing other players to
step up. For instance, senior Captain Sedona Arminio ’27
highlights Lily Cao ’28, who has seen her responsibilities
on the court shift this season.

“I’m really excited to see Lily play all-around outside,”
said Arminio. “Last year, she only played [in the] back row
and it’s very interesting to see her completely take on this
big role of being an all-around outside, which is a huge
responsibility.”

Beyond individual changes, the team is adopting a
change in their rotation system, a crucial component in
balancing offense and defense. Specifically, the rotation
system now plays to the strengths of setters Ruhi Zhou ’30
and Leah Wang ’28.

“Compared to last year, we only had one setter on the
court, which is called a 5–1 rotation where we have one
setter who would play all six rotations on the court,” said
Cao. “This year, however, we’re running a 6–2 rotation where
we have two setters and both our setters will always stay in
the back row. This is mainly because our setters this year
are on the shorter side and they have really strong defense,
which is why we keep them in the back row.”

While losing their stars from last year has been
acknowledged as a loss for the team, their absence has
opened up new opportunities for variety.

“Especially this year, a lot of the upperclassmen and
everyone on the team in general has stepped up to take
on these positions, and everyone on the team has playing
time this year,” said Cao. “I think having everyone be able
to step up and be able to play on the team with everyone
has allowed us to diversify our offense so that we don’t just
have to rely on one or two people on the team and we can
all really connect with each other.”

To help facilitate these position changes, the team is
emphasizing team chemistry to help acclimate both new
team members and returning upperclassmen to their new
responsibilities.

“Everyone is trying out different positions and different
spots and learning to work with a whole new team,”
said Arminio. “Right now we’re really working on
communication and team bonding. We’re doing a lot
of dinners and after-game lunches to really form those
connections.”

Beyond changes within the team, their schedule reflects
the team’s desire for a fourth title with the inclusion of
more games against opponents outside of the Burlington
County Scholastic League (BCSL), the conference that
the Princeton volleyball team plays in.

“We’ve got big out-of-conference games [against teams
like] Westfield, Williamstown, [and] Morristown, all those
games go beyond the BCSL,” said Head Coach Patricia
Manhart. “I’d love to do well during [those games] because
that kind of shows how we compare to people from other
parts of the state.”

On the other hand, the team is also looking ahead
toward next season. Currently, six of the 11 members on
the varsity team are seniors, meaning that the program
will graduate more than half of its lineup. Although juniors
like Cao have shown their ability to step up, there are no
sophomores on the varsity roster.

“I think that [the lack of sophomores will] impact the
team’s connection, especially on varsity, since there is a gap
between JV and varsity and how it works,” said Cao. “I think
it’s really important that there are enough upperclassmen,
especially next year, that are able to help the upcoming
sophomores come into program as well and and be able
to adjust to high school and the team overall, and I think
that having that gap of a year hurts the team a little bit.”

Even though there may be concerns about upperclassmen
helping underclassmen adjust, overall playing experience
is not the greatest concern for a team like Princeton, which
has benefitted from being more affluent.

“The fact that there are so many people in this town
or area that are able to pay for playing experiences and
opportunities outside of the regular season makes a huge
difference,” said Manhart. “It’s hard to have the time and
the resources and the ability to play outside of your high
school team.”

Regardless of concerns for next season or ambitions for
a “four-peat,” the team is also aiming to maintain a good
record in their section. So far, they have accumulated six
straight wins and no losses in the BCSL. Overall, the team
is looking forward to having a very successful season, to
build up a team with many new players, and above all, a
potential fourth consecutive state title.

photo: Noah Lebowitz

(L-R) Cao, Camila Barbosa ’27, Claire Hua ’27, Wang, Arminio, and Zoe Ghaim ’28 in a huddle during a match at home versus Lawrenceville.

Searching for the four-peat: PHS volleyball returns for more

At 12:48 p.m. on Saturday, August 29, a gathering consisting of roughly a dozen white supremacist protestors formed in downtown Princeton. The individuals were wearing clothing that concealed their faces while carrying flags associated with either their own organizations or American history. The group was photographed with a large banner that read “Keep New Jersey White.” According to Princeton Police Captain Thomas Lagomarsino, the protest disbanded by about 1:30 p.m., and police confirmed that the protestors did not possess the necessary permits to hold such a gathering.

The Princeton Police Department has classified the event as a bias incident and is currently investigating the presence of criminal activity that could upgrade this incident to a bias crime. No timetable has been provided as to when this investigation could reach its conclusion. There were no reported confrontations concerning these protestors, and they disbanded naturally shortly after entering Princeton University property.

“A bias incident is any suspected or confirmed offense or unlawful act that occurs to an individual, group of individuals, private property, or public property on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, or ethnicity,” said Patrolman Luis Martinez-Balbuena of the Princeton Police Department Communications Bureau. “We have to do our job to determine whether or not there was a crime committed in the actual incident.”

The Garden State Active Club, a youth-centered white supremacist organization that was founded earlier this year out of South Jersey, announced its participation in the protest on X (formerly Twitter). The organization has posted numerous videos from their participation in similar incidents, while also openly conveying their support for white nationalists and Nazi beliefs. In a social media post, they provided a video from the event complete with a manifesto-style monologue, and credited Atlantic Youth as the organizers. Northeast Action as well as Pennsylvania Action Club were credited as co-participants; however, these two organizations share a near-identical social media footprint and origins as the Garden State Active Club, meaning these organizations are either closely related or the same. An X post also described what the club claims occurred:

“Members marched to the Revolutionary War Princeton Battle Monument where a speech was given. Afterward, the column marched through downtown Princeton before all participants departed the area safely and without incident. … Never before has a nationalist demonstration with such regimentation and numbers been led by teenagers in American history. This was a youth-led effort.”

Princeton Mayor Mark Freda asserted that Princeton does not seek to deny anyone their First Amendment rights and that, had the demonstrators applied through the proper channels for a permit, the Princeton government would be unable to deny their right to assemble solely based on the content of their message. However, Freda explains that the message of the protestors stands against Princeton’s core values and is contradictory to its diverse community.

“I think the Princeton community, for a very long time, has shown itself to be very open-minded, very respectful of people’s rights, very respectful of people’s different views and backgrounds,” said Freda. “There’s people from all over the world with all kinds of backgrounds at all kinds of levels, educationally, socially, economically, whatever, it’s quite a mix. … Their message about keeping New Jersey all white just doesn’t fly in Princeton.”

As the protestors had entered Princeton University’s campus, the Tower attempted to reach out to University staff for comment. While the school declined requests for interviews at this time, Princeton University Media Relations Specialist Ahamad Rizvi shared a similar sentiment to that of the mayor in a statement released to the Tower.

“The University is aware of this incident and deplores expressions of hate directed against any person or group. Such expressions are contrary to our community’s values,” wrote Rizvi.

Princeton has not seen a white supremacy-related protest in recent years, leading to surprised reactions from some PHS students. Sebastian Helbig ’27 said that while everyone is entitled to their First Amendment rights, some messages toe the line between personal belief and outright discrimination towards others.

“There’s been so much progress toward peace and no[n]-aggression toward anyone of other races. … Naturally, it’s gonna happen, but I don’t think you should ever voice those [discriminatory opinions] out in public because [you should] keep it to yourself,” said Helbig. “This specific message doesn’t belong in any environment, let alone Princeton.”

The mayor encouraged both students and members of the Princeton community to reach out to local government representatives while reminding people that the town strives to be a welcoming place for all members.

“We spend a lot of time trying to tell people you can trust us, and whether it’s dealing with the police, human services, or health department, or recreation department, … we’re not so much worried at all [about] what somebody’s status is in this country; if somebody needs help, they can come to us, and if there’s a way we can help, we’re going to help,” Freda said.

If a similar situation were to occur in the future, the Princeton Police Department advises treating the situation cautiously and calling 9-1-1 if there is a perceived immediate danger or suspected unlawful activity. An incident or complaint can also be reported through the New Jersey Division of Civil Rights Portal online.

“If [you] feel that there is something suspicious, alarming, threatening in any capacity, report it. … I would not confront individuals, especially not if you’re alone,” said Martinez-Balbuena. “There’s a telephone number and there’s a portal that individuals out in the public could report it [to].”

The mayor encouraged high school students in the Princeton community to take action if they feel passionate about a particular social topic or issue by volunteering with local organizations that he feels teaches valuable real-world information or skills in the process.

“I think the biggest thing for the Princeton high school student community [is to] figure out ways to get involved [and] pay attention to what’s going on in town,” Freda said. “I think the message is: go work for some nonprofit in town, just go volunteer. … It’s just amazing when it opens up to you, and the stuff you’re going to learn, real knowledge that you’re going to need in life, as opposed to just stuff out of a book.”

Photo: Rohan Srivastava

Sebastian Helbig ’27 and Kai Martin ’28 discuss the implications of the ideas of white supremacy entering New Jersey.

Youth group leads white supremacy protest in Princeton

# Cross Country
“I think our goal is to provide an
environment where each of our
athletes has the ability to grow into
the athlete they hope they want
to be. The other goal is for them
to try to realize that they’re more
capable than maybe they thought
when they came in.”

### -James Smirk


# Girls Soccer
“I just think they should be
enjoying soccer. That’s my biggest
takeaway. Just, like, it shouldn’t be
stressful. It’s always just a game, no
matter how the competition is.”
### -Derek Connors


# Volleyball
“I think everyone on varsity,
their goal is a fourth state
championship. That is always the
bar. It’s what we’ve done over the
past three.”
### -Patricia Manhart


# Girls Tennis
“Don’t take losses to heart and try
to learn from them and get better,
but that they shouldn’t ruin your
day, your life. You have other
pieces of who you are and it should
help make you stronger and better,
and you should learn from it.”
### -Sarah Hibbert


# Football
“What’s really nice about football
is that we can really focus, get
better during the week, offensively,
defensively, and special teams, and
then try to put it all together on a
Friday or a Saturday.”
### -Charles Gallagher


# Cheerleading
“One of the biggest changes that
occurs each year is the coming
in of new freshmen who usually
don’t have much experience in
cheerleading...which means we
have to prepare them.”
### -Veronica Foreman


# Field Hockey
“My primary goal is for everyone
to get along and have a good time.
That’s number one, and I think
that, in my experience ... that
tends to result in success on a
scoreboard.”
### -Heather Serverson

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