The Berkeley Carroll Blotter is proud to present its fourth 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 work/life balance at BC by Mikaela Gerstenhaber (‘26). Later, Zofie Mclune (‘27) presents a spotlight on Ms. Drezner (!) and James Kirven (‘26) writes about Kawhi Leonard’s dubious endorsement deal with the LA Clippers. Finally, Dylan Angel (‘26) presents an opinion piece about tips to enjoy the beginning of autumn, including song recommendations and insight about the football season. Photos from Spencer Gaddie (‘26) and 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
On September 23rd, President Trump advised pregnant women to avoid taking Tylenol at all costs, stating that it leads to autism. He said that the rise in reported autism cases among the United States population is “a horrible crisis” that he “has very strong feelings about”. Doctors will soon be completely prohibited from administering Tylenol to pregnant women, despite significant pushback from medical experts and doctors who argue that the President’s statement is unproven and inaccurate.
Erika Kirk, the wife of late Charlie Kirk, pledged forgiveness to her husband’s killer at Kirk’s memorial. She said, “I forgive [Tyler Robinson] because it was what Christ did, and it is what Charlie would do. The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always love.” Moments after her statement, President Trump announced to the crowd that he does not forgive Robinson for what he did.
Jane Goodall, revered English zoologist and primatologist, died on October 1, 2025. She was 91 years old. She’s known for spending over 60 years studying chimpanzees in Tanzania.
On September 24th, a gunman killed one Mexican immigrant and seriously injured two other Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees at a Dallas ICE facility. The gunman, who was 29, committed suicide after the act. On September 30th, Miguel Angel Garcia-Hernandez, one of the injured detainees, died. He was a 37-year-old husband and father of four.
Major League Baseball recently announced the introduction of robot umpires: an “automated ball-strike system”. While human umpires will still call the game, the robot umpires will determine challenged balls. This change will be implemented by the 2026 season.
Mikaela Gerstenhaber ‘26
From the first day of high school, you’re told that “it’s all about balance.” Teachers and parents preach that we need to “manage our time better” and “stop prioritizing the wrong things,” as if that magically creates more hours in the day. The reality is that practices run late, rehearsals take up dinner time, and assignments multiply by the minute. Somewhere squeezed in there, we’re supposed to sleep, eat, and maybe–just maybe–talk to our friends.
As a freshman, this is a slap in the face. It’s suddenly impossible to get all of your assignments in while juggling new social dynamics. A larger workload is shoved at you, but the hardest part is figuring out what to prioritize.
Some 10th graders think they have it all figured out – until a week comes with three tests, a final project, and two away games at Randall’s Island. Balance vanishes into thin air when you are choosing between one more round of quizlet at 12:30 in the morning or taking a shower and going to bed. Then comes the infamous junior year, when balance is no longer a goal but a fantasy. Advanced classes, AmStud, SAT and ACT prep, sports, extracurriculars, jobs – it’s now another choice between studying for your timeline quiz or doing standardized test-prep worksheets.
But in my opinion, anyone who says that junior year is the hardest year in high school has yet to experience the fall of senior year. College applications sneak into every free moment. Essays are drafted using offline google docs during subway rides, and supplements are worked on whenever computers are allowed in class. When you’re studying, you’re behind on supplements; if you make any progress in the college department, you’re behind in class; and if there’s a waking moment when you’re not doing some sort of work, you’re behind on life. The feeling of not doing enough is a constant state of mind, even when you’re doing more than you’ve done in your entire life.
Balance is extremely difficult, hard to maintain, and usually involves sacrificing something important. Some days it’s schoolwork, some days it’s sleep, and some days it’s your social life. On bad weeks, it’s all three.
Every once in a while though, balance shows up in tiny ways. Maybe on a Friday night where the google classroom only reads one assignment due by Monday. Maybe doing tedious homework, but doing it with your friends. Maybe getting out of practice and remembering you finished your homework during your free period. Although balance is hard to find, chasing it is one of the most integral parts of the high school experience.
James Kirven ‘26
In September 2025, investigative reporter Pablo Torre set off a major controversy in professional basketball regarding Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard. Torre alleged that Leonard was secretly paid $28 million through a “no-show” sponsorship deal — meaning he received the money without doing any real promotional work. The payments reportedly came from Aspiration, a now-bankrupt environmental finance company, and raised suspicions that the Clippers used the deal to give Leonard extra money outside of his official NBA contract.
The NBA has formally opened an investigation, and if wrongdoing is proven, consequences could be severe. The NBA will likely set a precedent by voiding contracts, suspending executive personnel, or even forfeiting draft picks.
The case touches on fundamental questions about equality, transparency, and the integrity of competition in a league that prides itself on fairness and balanced team-building. The lines increasingly blur between corporate sponsorship, player compensation, and competitive advantage. It’s almost impossible to make a living as an athlete without sponsorship deals; in our current economic climate, this is more important than ever. If the allegations hold, this would suggest franchises are willing to exploit legal gray areas to gain an advantage.
The scandal threatens to become a defining moment not just for the Clippers, but for the NBA itself. Could this scheme be a part of a larger pattern that has quietly existed in the NBA for years? If so, how many other teams have used similar loopholes without ever being caught? The league’s credibility, and its ability to enforce a level playing field, is being tested: How far are teams, players and corporate partners willing to go to gain a competitive edge?
Zofie Mclune ‘27
This week I had the honor of interviewing Erika Drezner — English teacher, Upper School English Department Chair, 9th grade Advisor, and co-advisor of Reflections, the Award Winning Literary and Art Magazine of the Upper School. According to Ms. Drezner, “I arrived in the fall of 1998”; With her 27 years of Berkeley Carroll experience, Ms. Drezner has a lot of wisdom to share with our community.
Ms. Drezner grew up in Ithaca, New York, attending public school before enrolling at Carleton College, a liberal arts college in Minnesota. She later earned her Master’s in English at Middlebury College’s Bread Loaf School of English. During her time at Bread Loaf, she also studied in England. She explained that one highlight of that experience was reading in the library where the Harry Potter films were shot. “That was the high point of my educational success,” she laughed.
Growing up, her favorite book was Watership Down by Richard Adams. She described it as “an epic about rabbits” that is “complicated, nerdy, and very exciting.” She recently listened to the audio book version, which is about 17 hours long, saying that “it still holds up.”
Ms. Drezner’s current favorite novel is The Known World by Edward P. Jones. “I guess I just love a book with a lot of characters and a lot of drama,” she admitted.
Outside of teaching, Ms. Drezner is an avid birder. She has spotted more than 60 species at Green-Wood Cemetery and Prospect Park, and her favorite birds include the scarlet tanager, the kingfisher, and the great horned owl. “If anyone wants to talk about birds, I will talk about birds with them,” she said enthusiastically. If she could choose an animal superpower, she’d be an owl: “Although I do love cats, owls can fly without making a sound, and that’s pretty cool.”
Before joining BC, Ms. Drezner taught at St. Paul’s School in New Hampshire, and Westtown School in Pennsylvania, where, as a Quaker, she especially valued the community. After marrying at 26, she moved to New York and has been at BC ever since. “I’m 53 now, which means I’ve been here for over half my life. I just discovered that with you!” she laughed.
When I asked what drew her to Berkeley Carroll, she replied: “It’s been a great experience. I admire Berkeley Carroll’s ability to try new things. I’ve been here before we had many of these programs, and it’s always felt like anyone could suggest an idea and make an improvement. Berkeley Carroll felt like a collaborative community where both students and teachers have a voice. It still does.” Ms. Drezner’s impact is felt throughout the Upper School, from English classes to her friendly demeanor in the halls; over her 27 years at the school, she has helped to shape BC into the place it now is.
Dylan Angel ‘26
Leaves are falling, and crisp air is blowing throughout the city: October is here. For seniors of the Berkeley Carroll School, this means locking yourself in your room and studying for hours with a Celsius and a prayer. In all circumstances, there are some essential precautions to take in order to avoid the pit of despair that cold weather and lack of daylight bring.
The first and most important lifeboat is a good fall playlist. There are a couple of steps that go into this craft. Firstly, it’s not a 24 hour-long dump: each song should be added with meticulous care, and your playlist should not exceed three hours. The second is that dark, eerie vibe that ushers in the classic fall nostalgia we’re looking for. This means songs with a slower tempo and more electronic vibe are your friend. Luckily, this feeling can be achieved by many different genres. In the likely scenario where this vague description of the ideal vibe isn’t enough, here are three songs with varying styles to get your head in the right place.
“Cherish The Day” by Sade, off her iconic Love Deluxe, which Apple recently included in its list of the top 100 albums of all time, is an excellent place to start. This song brings fans of Neo-Soul that nice, relaxing fall atmosphere to any rage-inducing all-night study session.
The next song you should check out is “Running On E” by Brent Faiyaz. I’m convinced this song was made on a dark fall morning. This Cloud-Rap/Alt R&B single was one of Brent’s first releases, all the way back in 2015, and it has that slow, smooth sound that he has since become notorious for.
My final song rec comes from Mac DeMarco’s sophomore album “2”, specifically the fifth track, “Ode to Viceroy”. Fans of Mac’s classic Indie Alt-Rock sound will be pleased as he does not break the mold with this record.
The next October essential is actually a bonus because it’s applicable for the entire Autumn season. Watching New York football teams disappoint in the most soul-crushing of ways is integral to a successful October. The 0-4 Jets are, and always will be, the Jets– it’s getting to a point where there is something to be said for that level of consistency. For those of you who like your Sundays ruined with just enough hope to keep you watching, I would recommend my Giants. Tailored perfectly for that kind of frustration that really puts you in the mood to bang out that essay you’ve been procrastinating. Even underdog victories come with a side of your WR1’s ACL on a platter.
Lastly, we have an elite combination that has been my Halloween method of choice since before I can remember: a free Trick-or-Treat plain bagel from your favorite spot, and the original 1978 Halloween. Spoiler alert** Michael Myers misbehaves. I don’t know what it is about these two moves teaming up, but it just tickles my brain perfectly.
These essentials, if done correctly, can combine to bring that child-like whimsy of those dark Autumn days back. Will October 2025 be the best month of all time? Probably not, but these steps may help just a little.
Monday: Co Curriculars
Tuesday: Affinity Groups
Wednesday: Peer
Thursday: Grade Meeting
Friday: Senior Speakers
Russell Horowitz
Isabelle Cryan
Dylan Angel
Aarju Freedman
Monday 10/6:
Tennis Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. Dwight (Away)
3:30 PM, Astoria Courts 6-8
Soccer Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. SIA (Away)
4:15, Staten Island Academy
Soccer Boys and NB (Varsity) vs. Packer (Away)
4:15 PM, Red Hook #5
Soccer Boys and NB (JV) vs. Packer (Home)
4:15 PM, Red Hook #4
Wednesday 10/8:
Tennis Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. LuHi (Home)
4:15 PM, College of Staten Island
Cross Country (Varsity) vs. ACIS (Away)
4PM, Ocean Breeze
Soccer Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. Portledge (Away)
4:15 PM, Portledge School
Soccer Boys and NB (Varsity) vs. SIA (Away)
4:15 PM, Staten Island Academy
Soccer Boys and NB (JV) vs. LREI (Home)
4:15 PM, Red Hook #4
Volleyball Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. SIA (Home)
5:30 PM, Athletic Center SENIOR NIGHT
Volleyball Girls and NB (JV) vs. SIA (Home)
4:00 PM, Athletic Center
Friday 10/10:
Tennis Girls and NB (Varsity) vs. SIA (Home)
4:15 PM, College of Staten Island SENIOR NIGHT
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