Blotter #13: U.S. Intervention in Venezuela and the BC Sweatpants Epidemic

The Berkeley Carroll Blotter is proud to present its 13th weekly newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year! This edition features a summary of Maduro’s arrest and U.S. intervention in Venezuela by Rory O’Connor (‘26) and a piece about style trends here at BC by Mikaela Gerstenhaber (’26). Later, Zofie Mclune (‘27) presents a spotlight piece on Upper School Library Assistant, Naima Saini, and Genevieve Eisner (‘26) writes about a new gym culture she has experienced. Photos from Sadie Bell Moorcroft (‘27) and other BC photographers are throughout. As always, we thank you for interacting with The Blotter.

Happy reading!

• Genevieve Eisner and Cleo Logan, co-editors

Rory O’Connor (‘26)

In August of last year, after President Donald Trump labeled Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro a “narco-terrorist,” his administration sent CIA officials to Venezuela to secretly collect intelligence on Maduro. The Trump administration categorized the mission as largely successful, and agents returned with extensive information about the Venezuelan president. According to reports, the United States learned where Maduro traveled, what he ate, and even what pets he owned.

In September, the U.S. began a pressure campaign against Venezuela, carrying out military strikes on small boats that President Trump said were carrying illegal drugs from Venezuela to the United States. Although Trump justified the attacks by saying that the U.S. was in an armed conflict with drug traffickers, “many experts say these strikes are illegal” (New York Times).

Then, on January 3rd, the United States launched a military operation in Venezuela, killing 100 civilians and destroying buildings in Caracas. As journalists Julian E. Barnes, Eric Schmitt, and Tyler Page reported in the New York Times, in the days leading up to the raid, the United States deployed increasing numbers of Special Operations aircraft, specialized electronic warfare planes, armed Reaper drones, search-and-rescue helicopters, and fighter jets to the region.

The mission of the operation, named “Absolute Resolve,” was to capture Nicolás Maduro and his wife and bring them to the U.S. to, according to Pam Bondi, “face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts.” Maduro and his wife were flown to the United States later on January 3rd and are currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Sunset Park.

According to the New York Times, “President Trump said on Wednesday evening that he expected the United States would be running Venezuela and extracting oil from its huge reserves for years.” Trump said that he estimated the U.S. to be in control of Venezuela’s leadership for “much longer [than a year].” Although Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s vice president, has assumed leadership of the country, Trump insists that the U.S. will run Venezuela. Though Trump initially declined to comment on María Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader who won the Nobel Peace Prize and praised him in her speech at the awards ceremony, he recently stated that he believed Machado “does not have the support or respect” needed to govern effectively.”

Although President Trump defended the mission as a necessary strike against drug trafficking, it’s unclear whether or not Maduro was actually involved in any drug-smuggling operations. Further, “Venezuela is not a major drug producer and [experts] have described it as a minor cocaine transit country, with most of the cocaine flowing through Venezuela heading to Europe, not the United States” (New York Times). According to the BBC, legal experts believe that “the US operation to bring Maduro to New York violated the UN Charter and other international law.” Maduro and his wife pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Mikaela Gerstenhaber (‘26)

If you were to ask any teacher who has been walking Berkeley Carroll’s halls for a decade or more, they will tell you that BC used to look like the set of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Ten years ago, getting ready for school was approached with generous enthusiasm. We’re talking about a solid handful of students per grade who treated the hallway as its own runway. They committed to their style, Monday through Friday. Whether it was the full throttle “goth,” as Mr. Sanchez phrased it, ‘aesthetic’ with layered arm sleeves and platform boots, or a thrifted band t-shirt cut to create intricate back patterns, the execution was total.

Today, however, BC style is very different. Walking through the hallways often feels like walking through a high-end airport lounge – I am a true contributor to this representation, and I enjoy being as comfortable as possible, whether on a plane or in the study hall.

Recently, the dominant aesthetic has turned into functionalism. We swim in a sea of oversized hoodies, plain sweaters with blue jeans, and ugg slippers — which are now everyday outdoor shoes. Yes, I love mine. No, I am not hating. That’s the whole point.

At first glance, it seems as if the student body has traded our creative abilities for the convenience of a 7:00 am alarm. The reality is that, as a community, we have mastered the art of selective execution. In my opinion, we still have the same amount of creativity within BC that we used to have, but we deploy it differently. Personally, when focused on surviving a heavy workload or afterschool activities, I believe dressing for endurance and commute is extremely strategic.

However, BC’s style is definitely still creative. The idea of the daily look hasn’t disappeared: students still show up every day looking like they are in the wrong building when they stand next to their friend in a full sweatsuit. These students refuse to succumb to the sweatpants epidemic currently, and understandably, running BC.

Similarly, those embodying simple comfort at school express their artistry through curated outfits at school events. The high-effort look hasn’t been abandoned — just saved for what each person sees as the right moment, rather than a daily ritual.

We might appear more similar aesthetically now, but the individuality is still here more than ever, zipped up within North Face puffers. We are no less creative than the students from ten years ago, but we now prioritize efficiency. For example: feeling no pressure to put on boots for a Tuesday morning calculus quiz.

Zofie Mclune (‘27)

If you’ve ever stayed late in the library finishing homework, browsing a book display, or asking for help with research, chances are you’ve met Naima Saini, the Upper School Library Assistant. Now in her second year here at Berkeley Carroll, Ms. Saini plays a big role in making the library feel less like a quiet room and more like a welcoming community space.

Ms. Saini works in the afternoons and evenings, helping keep the library open after school so students have a place to study, read, or just be. Her job includes creating book displays—from choosing a theme to designing slideshows—alongside Ms. Murphy, the Head Librarian. She also helps with checking books in and out, sending reminder emails, ordering new books, updating the online catalog, and recommending reads to students and teachers. If you’ve ever needed help finding a research book or wanted one-on-one support, Ms. Saini is one of the people ready to help.

After graduating college in 2023, Ms. Saini worked at her college library for a year but realized she wanted more face-to-face interaction and a stronger sense of community. That’s what drew her to BC. She loves meeting students, hearing about what they’re researching or reading, and being part of a smaller school where she can really get to know people—something she didn’t always experience in her own high school.

Ms. Saini is from Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has a 19-year-old younger brother who’s about to start college. She enjoys baking in her free time and moved to New York at the start of last school year. Fun fact: she also works at a children’s museum in Manhattan and is about to start graduate school. If she could be a book genre, she’d choose magical realism—rooted in the real world, but with a little magic mixed in.

Next time you’re in the library, whether you’re looking for a new book or just a quiet place to land, don’t hesitate to say hi—Ms. Saini is always happy to help.

Genevieve Eisner (‘26)

Recently, I was in a heated conversation with my friends in the atrium about a topic I didn’t even know I was so passionate about: teenaged gym culture. As we got deeper into the conversation, I realized that there was more to it than I thought.

The conversation started with us discussing our exercise habits, and how different exercise can be from person to person. This depends on age, gender, and priorities. For me, I don’t focus much on lifting weights. When I go to the gym, I’m usually running on the treadmill and/or doing an ab workout. My male friends explained to me that they go to the gym to lift weights. I see this too when I go to workout: the treadmills are filled with adults and (mostly) female teenagers, and the weight rooms are stuffy, filled with the odor of teenage boys and a few brave souls who take the risk of entering the lion’s den.

I, too, choose to take that risk every once in a while. The issue for me though, is that when I go into the weight room, I want to do three sets of ten and move on. Other teenagers – the ones who wear a tight white tank top, sweatpants, Birkenstock Bostons, big headphones, and carry around an energy drink–have very different priorities.

If you wear these things, drink an energy drink, stare into the mirror every five seconds to admire your “muscles,” AND you’re inconsiderate of other people around you, then you’re who I’m talking about.

There have been countless times when I have gone into the gym, finished with my cardio, drenched in sweat, tired, just wanting to go home, and needing to do one more machine to finish my workout. Then, I walk into the weight room, and I see a teenage boy, surrounded by his friends, on their phones, using the ONE machine I needed. Then, I’m supposed to “work in” (when they’re done with one set, I go, then we keep switching off). Do you really think I’m going to walk to a group of boys and ask them if I can join their weight lifting session, sit there while they lift their weights, and then shift the weights to a MUCH lighter weight when it’s my turn? Yeah, no. That’s a shaming ritual. I shouldn’t have to share my sacred exercise time with a stranger; especially when that stranger is a boy my age (that’s way too intimidating).

All I ask is if you find yourself fitting into this category, make sure to be considerate of the other people around you. When you sit down on a machine, don’t just use it as your own personal couch that you can lounge on and watch TikToks. Do your exercises, lift your weights, and let other people around you use the machine (chances are they have been watching you, waiting for their turn for twenty minutes). Don’t forget, we all need the time and the machines to reach our goals.

Monday:

• Basketball Boys and NB (JV) vs. Dwight (Away)

  • 4:15 PM, Dwight Athletic Center

• Basketball Boys and NB (Varsity) vs. Dwight (Away)

  • 5:45 PM, Dwight Athletic Center

• Basketball Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. Brooklyn Friends (Home)

  • 4:00 PM, Athletic Center

• Track (Varsity) vs. Ivy Prep (Away)

  • 5:30 PM, Manhattan Armory

Tuesday:

• Swim (Varsity) vs. ACIS (Away)

  • 3:00 PM, LIU Brooklyn Pool

Wednesday:

• Basketball Boys and NB (JV) vs. Leman (Away)

  • 4:00 PM, Leman

• Basketball Boys and BB (Varsity) vs. Leman (Away)

  • 5:30 PM, Leman

• Basketball Girls and NB (JV) vs. Leman (Home)

  • 4:00 PM, Athletic Center

• Basketball Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. Leman (Home)

  • 5:30 PM, Athletic Center TAYLOR SOOKRA MEMORIAL GAME

Friday:

• Basketball Boys and NB (JV) vs. Friends Seminary (Home)

  • 4:15 PM, Athletic Center

• Basketball Boys and NB (Varsity) vs. Friends Seminary (Home)

  • 5:30 PM, Athletic Center

• Basketball Girls and NB (JV) vs. Dalton (Away)

  • TBD, Dalton

• Basketball Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. Friends Seminary (Away)

  • 5:30 PM, Friends Seminary

Monday: Advising

Tuesday: Affinity Groups

Wednesday: G Block

Thursday: MLK Assembly, Visiting Speaker Maria Torewa Springer

Friday: Senior Speakers

Leo Kaufman

Abel Cruz

Akiro Thomas

Amelie Clermont