PHS REMEMBERS: September 11, 2001Aritra Ray • Rohan SrivastavaShock. Confusion. An overwhelming feeling of not knowing what came next. These were the emotions that came up again and again in our conversations regarding the moments after hearing about the attacks of September 11,...
The meaning of terrorRohan SrivastavaWhat 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...
A class of cockroachesRohan SrivastavaEconomics is the science of figuring out how to satisfy unlimited wants with limited resources. For any government, the question is, “How do we decide who to give more to, and who to give less to?” When the government...
PHS Profile: Steffanie ShoopRohan SrivastavaDespite entering college as a basketball player, AP Biology and Biology Accelerated teacher Steffanie Shoop discovered her love for teaching when she first stepped into a classroom, though her love of basketball...
Latinos Unidos hosts community-centered Latino FestRohan SrivastavaFeaturing music, food, flags, and much more, the fifth Annual Latino Fest took place on June 1 on the PHS front lawn. Organized by the Latinos Unidos club, the festival aimed to highlight Latino culture as well as to...
PHS’s new policies aren’t that big of a deal, actuallyRohan SrivastavaOver the past few months, the student body has been subjected to many policy changes: websites have been blocked and certain applications no longer open. In response, there has been considerable outrage, demonstrated by...
Dark humor desensitizesRohan Srivastava • Eloise Weaver“Kirkification,” known for adding Charlie Kirk’s face to existing memes, was popular within days of his assassination. In the modern political landscape, memes about news headlines spread fast – often disregarding any...
The hypocrisy of AI-graded standardized testsJoshua Huang • Rohan SrivastavaA spectre looms over modern education; this time, the students are not the perpetrators in question. In a recent policy decision, New Jersey state education officials have decided to use artificial intelligence (AI) to...
Remembering Jason PikulJoy Chen • Rohan SrivastavaOn January 12, 2026, PHS finance teacher Jason Pikul passed away at the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania at the age of 51. Born in Avenel, New Jersey, Pikul taught Personal Finance and Entrepreneurship at PHS...
Look away from online resolutionsHannah Chang • Rohan SrivastavaMaking resolutions has become an advent for the new year. After all, the blank pages of our new journals and calendars need to be filled with something new. In need of inspiration, many students turn to social media for...
The Tower peeks into PHS historyRohan Srivastava • Simon Santamaria*The PHS Learning Commons stores archives of The Tower dating back to the first issue in 1929. We decided to take a look and show some of the most interesting pieces of PHS history throughout the years.* ### The Tower...
Pros of AI in SchoolRohan SrivastavaThis article was not written by ChatGPT, but it very well could have been. As the artificial intelligence world learns to adapt and seep through the gaps of our detection system, it evolves at a deplorable rate with...
In search of third spacesRohan SrivastavaSome of the most important subjects in life are those that cannot be learned in solitude or taught in school. Whether those are skills learned through experience or lessons realized through failure, as students, we...
Short Mythological StoriesRohan Srivastava# Odin’s Discovery of the Runes Odin, chief of the Aesir gods, stood atop a branch of Yggdrasil, the tree that supports the nine realms of existence. He stared down into the Well of Urd from which the tree grew. Within...
Ditch the DEET this summerRohan Srivastava • Eitan Daw-NivThe summer has nearly arrived, meaning it’s also time for insects to rear their ugly heads once again. As we begin to spend more time outside, avoiding insects is not just important for general comfort but also for...
Ways to stay active after school endsFangwu Yu • Rohan SrivastavaAs the school year comes to a close, it can be tempting to sit back and relax, letting the whole summer blur past while you stay indoors and retreat to the online world. While relaxing is crucial, staying physically fit...
PHS Profile: Renee SzpornRohan Srivastava • Fangwu YuAs co-president of the PHS teachers’ union, advisor to the Science Olympiad club, former Hebrew and chemistry teacher, and current special education teacher, Renee Szporn’s résumé spans 40 years and multiple careers....
Microplastics are a macro problemRohan Srivastava • Fangwu YuWalk into any grocery store in America, and you’re bound to find shelves full of ultra-processed foods wrapped in shiny plastic packaging. Ultra-processed goods, products that are prepared using industrial methods, are...
NIH funding cuts hurt innovationRohan Srivastava • Fangwu YuWithin two months of taking office, President Donald Trump has already cut funding for many departments within the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), headed by Elon Musk. The cuts...
PHS Profile: Shwu-Fen LinDaniel Gu • Rohan SrivastavaAs a published author and the creator of the Mandarin curriculum at PHS, Shwu-Fen Lin has taught Mandarin for over 30 years. Growing up in Taiwan, Lin dreamed of becoming a Mandarin teacher ever since she was a young...
-min.png)
