The Berkeley Carroll Blotter is proud to present its 18th weekly newsletter of the 2025-2026 school year! This edition features the standard “5 in News” by Rory O’Connor (‘26) and a piece about the comfort vs. style dilemma by Genevieve Eisner (‘26). Later, Zofie McClune (‘27) presents a spotlight on Traci Lyn Thomas. Photos from 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 the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show, Bad Bunny performed a 13-minute-set almost entirely in Spanish, drawing 12.8 million viewers and celebrating Puerto Rican culture. The performance featured guest artist appearances from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, and was viewed as a celebration of heritage and a major moment for Latino representation.
According to the New York Times, “Walmart crossed above $1 trillion in market value on Tuesday, becoming the first traditional retailer to hit the milestone and joining a small club mostly made up of technology giants.” This valuation, joined by an exclusive club dominated by tech giants like Apple and Microsoft, was driven by rapid e-commerce growth, AI integration, and a strong, modernized business model.
Earlier this month, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton agreed to testify in the House of Representatives’ investigation into the Jeffrey Epstein case. This agreement came after they faced potential criminal contempt of Congress charges for defying previous subpoenas. While many Democrats support this decision, President Donald Trump called it “a shame” and is now appearing to downplay the investigation.
Occurring every four years, the Winter Olympics is on this year. The games are being hosted in northern Italy, specifically in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo from February 6th to February 22nd, featuring 16 disciplines, 116 medal events, and around 2,900 athletes. So far, American skier Lindsey Vonn suffered a devastating injury and underwent her third surgery after a tibial fracture.
The 150th Annual Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show took place from January 31st to February 1st, 2026, in New York City. Thousands of dogs competed, and thousands of in-person spectators turned out daily. 4-year-old female Penny the Doberman pinscher was crowned Best in Show, becoming the “fifth member of her breed to win a top prize.”
Genevieve Eisner (‘26)
I would like to say that I have some fashion sense, but when I walk through the halls of Berkeley Carroll, I often encounter stylish peers who make me doubt my abilities. For me, it’s important to have at least one or two days a week where I don’t show up to school looking like I just rolled out of bed. On the other days, all bets are off. And yes, when I try, I do believe I clean up okay, but those days have become few and far between.
Often, at night, I’ll think about an outfit I want to wear the next day or how I just want to look presentable. I’ll wake up, go to my closet, and then lose that motivation. Suddenly, my sweatpants and baggy t-shirt are on me, and I don’t even know how that happened.
My downfall is the big question of style vs. comfort. Of course, if I’m going out to dinner or doing something where many people are dressing up, I’ll wear the jeans that feel like they’re going to explode if I take one more bite. BUT, if I’m going to school or just hanging out on a weekend, I will almost always choose comfort over style.
I’ve come to realize this is not a me problem, it’s a world problem. Women’s jeans are made tight and uncomfortable in every way possible. If you walk into a store to buy women’s jeans, chances are it will take you a LONG time to find something you can actually tolerate wearing. On the other hand, if you go to the men’s section, you will probably find a comfy pair of jeans in under five minutes. Due to the massive comfort issue in women’s jeans, I have started to buy about one or two sizes up in order to assure my comfort.
But what do my other, more fashionable peers have to say about the comfort vs. style dilemma? Which do they value more? Aaron G. ‘26, a senior known for his attention to detail and meticulous outfit planning, had a bit of a different outlook than me. He told me, “I think the more stylish my outfits are, the more comfortable I am. I feel like I can relax more if I really like my outfit even if it’s not something so informal.” To him, he doesn’t think about comfort in the physical sense, but more in a mental capacity.
But what does someone who has to endure the pain of wearing women’s jeans think? Leila S. ‘26 told me, I don’t want to have to adjust what I’m wearing throughout the day. I want to feel comfy and not feel like my pants are too tight.” She went on to say, “It’s like choosing to wear a soft blanket the whole day versus an old crusty blanket you’ve had since you were little. The old blanket isn’t necessarily super uncomfortable, but you’re obviously going to choose the softer one.”
But maybe you don’t have to sacrifice comfort or style. I certainly think someone can look “stylish” and be wearing something they could sleep in at the same time. “You can look stylish in sweatpants,” Maya P. ‘26 told me. “It’s really a matter of confidence and accessorizing. Sometimes looking stylish and/or bummy go hand-in-hand.”
I couldn’t agree more. After all, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Zofie Mclune (‘27)
If you’ve ever been on the Speech & Debate team, workshopped a Senior Speech, or just hung around in the halls, it’s likely that you’ve met Traci Lyn Thomas, or, TLT. Having worked at BC for 11 years, TLT is a Jack of all Trades. She is the grade dean for the Class of 2028, the Upper School speech teacher, a member of the Senior Speech committee, and the Arts Director for all divisions of BC!
An average day for TLT includes teaching in the morning or afternoon, having admin meetings, atrium or lunch duty, and, as she likes to call them, “impromptu meetings” that consist of quick student check-ins, and “even being interviewed for the Blotter!” She added, “and in between all of this, I try to read my emails.”
In high school, TLT competed in speech and debate tournaments, becoming the state champion in Duet Acting for two years, and getting first place in Programmed Reading for three years. Having first taught speech and debate at Stuyvesant high school, TLT came to New York to act, and later taught kindergarteners in Los Angeles before coming to BC: “I got a call from the Middle School Director, asking me if I could teach the BC Speech & Debate team. My first thought was, that I was way too far—I mean, I was living in Texas.” However, in May of 2015, the MS Director convinced TLT to visit BC: “I got to see this beautiful school, and I met so many amazing teachers and students. I sat in a couple of classes, and I really fell in love with the ethos here at BC. I could tell that from spending a day here, the values would match with my own personal values.”
One of TLT’s favorite things about BC is that she’s “always challenged in a good way. Whether it’s problem solving a logistical issue, helping students, or bonding with an entire grade, there’s always something new here.”
Before TLT came to BC, she was a professional actor! She’s performed in musical theaters around the globe, her most notable being in La Paz, Bolivia, where sits at an elevation of 14,000 feet, and didn’t need to take oxygen. She also lived in Singapore for three months where she performed at the Kallang Theatre. She added, “I’ve only traveled to unique places, not the typical London or Paris.”
On the topic of travel, TLT has had many different home addresses. “I’m from San Antonio, Texas, but before I went to college in Pennsylvania, I already racked up 22 addresses! So far, I have lived in three different states, and seven different cities. And I just moved to my fifth apartment in Brooklyn.” Having previously owned two 70 pound dogs, TLT now enjoys spending time with her six year old cat, Peanut, with whom she says, they’re “still working on [their] relationship.”
From her eleven years at BC, TLT has been a great joy to have in the community; from La Paz to New York, and grade dean to speech teacher, BC is fortunate to have TLT in our halls.
Monday: OFF!
Tuesday: OFF!
Wednesday: G Block
Thursday: Advising
Friday: Senior Speakers
Kyan John
Augie Beer
Willa Schwartz
Julia Corkery
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