In the midst of one of the wildest college football seasons in history, it begs the question– just how big is college football, really? And is it bigger than the NFL?  As college football winds down this season, the toilet paper rolls come down from Toomers Corner in Auburn, Alabama; Howard’s Rock in Clemson, South Carolina goes untouched for another year; Beaver Stadium in Happy Valley, Pennsylvania returns to blue, not white; and Ralphie returns to his pasture in Boulder, C

I usually crave desserts on Sundays, so this Sunday, I decided to take my good friends, Sebastian and Santi, to try some Mexican desserts. After looking at all the different countries and cultures I want to try next, I thought it would be perfect timing to review a Mexican bakery in honor of Dia de Los Muertos. Growing up, I was very surrounded by Mexican culture, despite being Persian myself. My mother’s very close friend, Veronica, welcomed my siblings and I to many of her

A collection of poems that reflect the lived experience of Latinx families impacted by ICE. Last month, I attended a Latinx Affinity Conference at Crossroads School hosted by the Los Angeles Independent School Latinx Affinity, LA ISLA. I met Latinx students from independent schools all across Los Angeles as we gathered to reflect on our identities and the realities our communities continue to face. During one of the sessions, we read and discussed resistance poems written by

Elf on the Shelf is a time-honored holiday tradition— but what are you really letting into your home, and what is it teaching kids? With Thanksgiving Break now through and finals week on the horizon, for many New Roads students, it’s apparent— the holidays are here at last. In the final stretch of the fall semester, the New Roads community begins to get into the holiday spirit, with many starting to break out decorations and traditions personal to them and their families. Foo

After one year from the 2024 election, the influence of podcasts in the current political landscape grows more different… One year ago, during the 2024 election, former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris employed several tactics to appeal to voters in and outside of their respective voter bases. During that election, one of the strongest tactics in appealing to broader groups of audiences was wielding the influence of independent media and podcasters.

Child abuse has been an unseen, but continuous problem in society for a long time, but the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the problem.  With schools being closed, mandated child abuse reporters becoming unavailable, and families isolated, cases of abuse became more prevalent and significantly harder to detect. While COVID had an effect on nearly every aspect of life including public health, the economy, mental health, education, social relations, and more, one important but of

How abortion bans are shaping where these California seniors are applying to college. The University of Texas at Austin, with its amazing film program, offered everything Jagger Blue, a California high school senior who wants to study film, could want.  When Blue, 17, learned about Texas’s total ban on abortion, she had to pick what she valued more, the education UT Austin would provide, or her own rights. Ultimately, she decided to take this school off of her list, now looki

Settling into school days without phones, New Roads faculty and students share their thoughts on the updated policy.  With the new phone ban in place, New Roads students are adjusting to school without their usual screens. One student explains that the policy has made it easier to stay focused during class, a sentiment being echoed from the faculty’s perspectives, while some say it leaves them disconnected from the world.  In a previous Jaguardain article on the phone ban, pu

A story often overlooked is brought to the forefront.   For students, the first day of school is a busy one, with them being all caught up in trying to find their classes and reconnect with their friends. But, as people rarely ask, what is the first day of school like for the teachers? In late August, the highlighters and notebooks fly off the shelves in every store as students unenthusiastically prepare for their return to school. On the other hand are the teachers, reminisc

On Sunday afternoon, I took a trip to Thaitown with my practical brother and best friend, Rayne. Rayne and I have been friends since 6th grade, and have always talked about taste-testing some desserts from his culture. As soon as I had the idea to start this new column, the first thing that came to mind was to try to review desserts from Thailand. The only Thai dessert I had ever tried was, of course, what we all know and love, mango sticky rice. After seeing and hearing abou

This October, many are faced with the question: Is Halloween dead? As All Hallows Eve is rapidly approaching, there are several questions plaguing the minds of New Roads Students. What costumes to wear and how old is too  old to trick-or-treat -- both very typical contemplations for the season. For some, however, this time of year has taken a darker turn. More and more often over the past few years, people have begun to report changes in the traditions of a beloved holiday. F

Every spring, thousands of high school students take AP exams. Why don’t we?  AP, or Advanced Placement classes, have been around for decades. Operated by the College Board (who also operate the SAT), they are generally considered the highest possible level of classes a student can take, and most can count as college credit, providing you score well on the test. The curriculum, the exact same in every school it is taught, is all in preparation for the national exam taken at t

With widespread marijuana use on the rise, the regulations on its farming practices remain minimal. As the legalization of recreational marijuana spreads in many states across the country, the cannabis market has become commercialized and targeted towards a younger audience. In an industry that is massively under-the-table, regulation for marijuana is extremely hard without full legalization. As large-scale cultivation expands, so does the use of pesticides. The Environmental

As Earth faces the dangers of anthropogenic climate change, researchers look to new strategies in conservation to protect our planet’s biodiversity. Earth is in danger of a “ sixth mass extinction ” according to the WWF.  Habitat destruction, climate change, pollution, overfishing and hunting, and the introduction of invasive species threaten our planet’s rich biodiversity, and we are desperately in need of effective solutions to defend it. While our wildlife can be protected

The seemingly endless pump of meaningless AI-generated cat content on the web gets stranger than you’d think. If you’ve been on the internet any time within the past year, there’s a solid chance you’ve seen this video  of a kid in tears while watching a feed of AI-generated cat stories. The video has amassed over 160 million views on TikTok (the original appears to be no longer available) and at least 22.8 million likes.  This video and its popularity aren’t an isolated incid

New Roads teachers Alexandra Padilla and Dan Kearney reflect on the challenges, lessons, and lasting impact of global service. For History teacher Dan Kearney, joining the Peace Corps was about adventure. Growing up travelling across the U.S with his parents sparked a desire to see more of the world. He first heard about the Peace Corps in college and was struck by how impactful it sounded. Although he didn’t pursue it immediately, the idea stayed with him. A few years later,

The Palisades Fire exposed deadly flaws in L.A.’s leadership. From water shortages to fire department cuts, it’s time to hold our officials accountable.  Every day, engineers and architects build bridges and buildings using the predictability of disaster, trying their hardest to avert lives being lost and property being destroyed in the event of an emergency.  Just as it is an engineer’s responsibility to ensure that bridges withstand earthquakes and floods, the principle dut

The niche-est unexplored musical genre. Shoegaze, a genre known for its dreamy guitars and ethereal vocals, first emerged from the UK in the late 1980s and found niche popularity among young adults in regions like California, New Jersey, Oklahoma, and Texas. Over time, this uniquely hazy, introspective sound gained global traction and, unexpectedly, resonated with youth in the Middle East. While Western portrayals of Middle Eastern music often rely on tired and exoticized ste

As Syria’s new government consolidates power, retribution against those linked to the former Assad regime has intensified -- triggering new waves of bloodshed in an already fractured region. In the early months of its rule, the international community watched the new Syrian government with growing concern. After the swift capture of Damascus and the flight of former Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, a new government led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) emerged, raising serious q

Your guide to trans activism through individual support and everyday acts.  January 20th, 2025, shortly after being sworn in to office, current U.S. President Donald Trump signed an order recognizing the existence of only two sexes—male and female—and declaring that a person could not legally present as a gender different from that declared at birth.  Despite consistent attempts made to erase the transgender community, denying the existence of an entire body of people does no