The student news site of Brimmer and May School | Chestnut Hill, MA

The Gator
During remote learning, students based in China Zoomed in on a 12-hour time difference. Photo illustration by Edan Zinn 23.
International Students Adjust To Life On Campus After Remote Learning
September 21, 2021
Madeline Hsiao 23, Hebe Qiang 23, and Libby Barker-Hook 23 sit outside on the first day of school.
Campus Reopens With Modified COVID-19 Protocols
September 8, 2021
Residents of the Purba Bardhaman District in West Bengal, India after the first COVID-19 positive case was detected in their area.
Teens Grieve For India Amid COVID-19 Crisis
June 11, 2021
Head of School Judith Guild greets a student on the first day of school last September.
Administration Plans Around COVID-19 for 2021-2022 School Year
June 4, 2021
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available to people ages 12-17.
Op-Ed: Vaccinate Children to Help End COVID-19
June 4, 2021
During remote learning, students based in China Zoomed in on a 12-hour time difference. Photo illustration by Edan Zinn 23.
International Students Adjust To Life On Campus After Remote Learning
September 21, 2021
Elijah Kinney 23 knocks the frisbee away from Jackson Ostrowski 22 during Ultimate Frisbee Day of Cross Country.
‘Almost Back To Normal’: Varsity Teams Get to Work
September 17, 2021
Madeline Hsiao 23, Hebe Qiang 23, and Libby Barker-Hook 23 sit outside on the first day of school.
Campus Reopens With Modified COVID-19 Protocols
September 8, 2021
Leni Hicks-Dutt 23 and Sophia Bruno 23 pose before lacrosse practice.
After Two Long Years, Lacrosse Returns to the Playing Field
June 11, 2021
Zooming in from Kabul, Afghanistan, Mahnaz Aliyar addresses community members during the assembly Tuesday.
Education as a Human Right: Two Voices from Afghanistan
June 8, 2021
The group of eight students pose on the gator bench they constructed.
Q&A: Students Collaborate with Artists for Humanity
June 4, 2021
Gator Wins All-New England Journalism Award
Gator Wins All-New England Journalism Award
May 12, 2021
Students joined the livestream with Director of Global Studies Kelly Neely.
Students Attend WorldBoston Discussion of Armenian Genocide
May 11, 2021
Environmental Panel Discusses Ocean Health
Environmental Panel Discusses Ocean Health
April 27, 2021
The Gator wins6 individual CSPA Gold Crown Awards.
Gator Wins 5 CSPA Gold Circle Awards
April 26, 2021
Residents of the Purba Bardhaman District in West Bengal, India after the first COVID-19 positive case was detected in their area.
Teens Grieve For India Amid COVID-19 Crisis
June 11, 2021
Kieran Cross 23 (front) and Jack Nathanson 23 play the guitar during a rehearsal. You can tell that everyone put in the effort this year to be able to play during COVID times, and I am grateful for having it at all this year, Cross said.
Photo Essay: Band Improvises During COVID-19
May 27, 2021
Christa Katsenes (from left) sits alongside her mother and older siblings.
To Foster Perseverance, Look To The Past
May 12, 2021
Me playing soccer during my sophomore year.
Op-Ed: Outgoing Editor-in-Chief Reflects on Life’s Transitions
May 7, 2021
Upper School History Teacher Ted Barker-Hook gives a lesson on The New York Times.
Curriculum Modified During COVID-19
April 27, 2021
GNN: Class of 2021 Commencement
GNN: Class of 2021 Commencement
June 4, 2021
Lower School students enjoy the mini golf course, built by CAP students.
CAP Students Build Mini Golf Course
June 2, 2021
Kieran Cross 23 (front) and Jack Nathanson 23 play the guitar during a rehearsal. You can tell that everyone put in the effort this year to be able to play during COVID times, and I am grateful for having it at all this year, Cross said.
Photo Essay: Band Improvises During COVID-19
May 27, 2021
Brian Barrera and Behare Goshime belay climbers up the 35-foot wall.
Photos: 11th Grade at Project Adventure
May 21, 2021
Students prepare to go on the zip-line.
11th Grade Fosters Leadership at Project Adventure
May 18, 2021
GNN: Welcome Back to School
GNN: Welcome Back to School
September 21, 2021
Head of School Judith Guild officially opens School, Monday, Sept. 13.
GNN Live: Opening Convocation
September 13, 2021
GNN: Class of 2021 Commencement
GNN: Class of 2021 Commencement
June 4, 2021
Lower School students enjoy the mini golf course, built by CAP students.
CAP Students Build Mini Golf Course
June 2, 2021
Students prepare to go on the zip-line.
11th Grade Fosters Leadership at Project Adventure
May 18, 2021
Gator Nation News Manager Sofia Spring 22 films the first episode of the year, with anchor Haleigh Jacobs 23.
Photos: Week of Sept. 13
September 20, 2021
Kieran Cross 23 (front) and Jack Nathanson 23 play the guitar during a rehearsal. You can tell that everyone put in the effort this year to be able to play during COVID times, and I am grateful for having it at all this year, Cross said.
Photo Essay: Band Improvises During COVID-19
May 27, 2021
Brian Barrera and Behare Goshime belay climbers up the 35-foot wall.
Photos: 11th Grade at Project Adventure
May 21, 2021
Ugo Adiele 23 and Kieran Cross 23 sort clothes for community service.
Photos: Week of Apr. 26
May 3, 2021
Wild Turkeys Visit Campus
Wild Turkeys Visit Campus
April 12, 2021
Digital illustration by Edan Zinn 23.
Podcast: Mahlet Woldemariam ’95 on Vaccine Development
April 7, 2021
Digital illustration by Edan Zinn 23.
Podcast: Fighting the Pandemic with Dr. Kathy Taylor
March 31, 2021
Podcast: Gov. Baker Talks Fostering Civil Discourse
Podcast: Gov. Baker Talks Fostering Civil Discourse
December 13, 2020
A portrait of Eric Foner, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia Commons.
Podcast: Foner Criticizes Standardized Tests
May 4, 2020
Podcast: Acclaimed Archivist, Historian Zooms with Students
Podcast: Acclaimed Archivist, Historian Zooms with Students
April 22, 2020
Elijah Kinney 23 knocks the frisbee away from Jackson Ostrowski 22 during Ultimate Frisbee Day of Cross Country.
‘Almost Back To Normal’: Varsity Teams Get to Work
September 17, 2021
All winners, even Simone Biles, can take breaks. Cartoon by Jennifer Ngo 22.
Op-Ed: Why Simone Biles’s Decision Is Important For Mental Health
September 17, 2021
Leni Hicks-Dutt 23 and Sophia Bruno 23 pose before lacrosse practice.
After Two Long Years, Lacrosse Returns to the Playing Field
June 11, 2021
Rachel Sobel 23 catches a lacrosse ball.
Spring Sports Lifts Students’ Sprits
May 6, 2021
Students play soccer for the Green and White teams.
COVID-19 Impacts Traditional Sports Offerings
March 11, 2021
One of the few promotional posters for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Op-Ed: Why Didn’t Marvel Promote ‘Shang-Chi?’
September 24, 2021
The group of eight students pose on the gator bench they constructed.
Q&A: Students Collaborate with Artists for Humanity
June 4, 2021
Kieran Cross 23 (front) and Jack Nathanson 23 play the guitar during a rehearsal. You can tell that everyone put in the effort this year to be able to play during COVID times, and I am grateful for having it at all this year, Cross said.
Photo Essay: Band Improvises During COVID-19
May 27, 2021
Music Review: Gojiras Fortitude
Music Review: Gojira’s ‘Fortitude’
May 27, 2021
The shows ultimate message is that at the end of the day life is not a game to be won, but a ride to be enjoyed through all its ups and downs.
‘Ride the Cyclone,’ a Musical Journey You Won’t Forget
May 26, 2021
Music Review: Gojiras Fortitude
Music Review: Gojira’s ‘Fortitude’
May 27, 2021
Photo illustration purchased from BigStock.com
‘Invincible’ Superhero Series Exceeds Expectations
May 19, 2021
Music Review: Brave Little Abacuss Just Got Back from the Discomfort
Music Review: Brave Little Abacus’s ‘Just Got Back from the Discomfort’
May 19, 2021
Music Review: Revisit The Beatles Transitional Rubber Soul
Music Review: Revisit The Beatles’ Transitional ‘Rubber Soul’
May 12, 2021
Photo illustration purchased from BigStock.com.
Movie Review: ‘Mortal Kombat’ Bores Audiences
May 6, 2021
One of the few promotional posters for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, courtesy of Marvel Studios.
Op-Ed: Why Didn’t Marvel Promote ‘Shang-Chi?’
September 24, 2021
All winners, even Simone Biles, can take breaks. Cartoon by Jennifer Ngo 22.
Op-Ed: Why Simone Biles’s Decision Is Important For Mental Health
September 17, 2021
Photo illustration purchased from BigStock.com.
Guest Column: My Experience On and After 9/11
September 13, 2021
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only COVID-19 vaccine available to people ages 12-17.
Op-Ed: Vaccinate Children to Help End COVID-19
June 4, 2021
A memorial for George Floyd in Minneapolis. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Op-Ed: George Floyd, One Year Later
May 26, 2021
The Editorial Board strongly encourages all members of the School community who are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they can.
Editorial: Students, Get Your COVID-19 Vaccine
April 20, 2021
Gator Announces Next Years Leadership
Gator Announces Next Year’s Leadership
March 31, 2021
The Editorial Board strongly encourages all members of the School community who are eligible to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as they can.
Editorial: COVID-19, One Year Later
March 12, 2021
Photo purchased from BigStock.com.
Editorial Board Apologizes for Lapse in Judgement
February 24, 2021
Illustration by Edan Zinn 23.
Editorial: Admin. Deserves Thanks for COVID-19 Testing
December 1, 2020
The student news site of Brimmer and May School | Chestnut Hill, MA

The Gator
The student news site of Brimmer and May School | Chestnut Hill, MA

The Gator
Kolja Westhues

Kolja Westhues, Journalist

Kolja Westhues is a current 10th grader, who has been at Brimmer since first grade. He writes far-left political op-eds and music reviews.

All content by Kolja Westhues
Music Review: Brave Little Abacuss Just Got Back from the Discomfort

Music Review: Brave Little Abacus’s ‘Just Got Back from the Discomfort’

May 19, 2021
The 2010 album is an amazing math-rock emo record that uses weird time signatures, wacky instruments, and satisfying dynamics.
Music Review: Radioheads OK Computer

Music Review: Radiohead’s ‘OK Computer’

April 22, 2021
This experimental masterpiece will forever have impacted all of music with its experimentation.
Dennis Prager, the founder of Prager University, speaks at Turning Point USA, a right-wing advocacy organization. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Op-Ed: PragerU, Conservative Media Outlets Fuel Disinformation

April 2, 2021
PragerU is the culmination of disinformation pushed by the online right.
Music Review: Rage Against The Machines Evil Empire

Music Review: Rage Against The Machine’s ‘Evil Empire’

March 8, 2021
Although it is weak at some points, the politically charged lyrics and high energy make the album well worth a few enjoyable listens.
Music Review: Molchat Doma’s Этажи

Music Review: Molchat Doma’s ‘Этажи’

February 23, 2021
The Belarusian post-punk band's sophomore LP is one of the best new wave revival albums of the 2010s.
Photo illustration purchased from BigStock.com.

TV Review: ‘The Mandalorian’ Continues to Surprise

February 8, 2021
The second season of the Star Wars series is a thrilling follow-up to the already amazing first season.
Illustration by Gator Staff.

Music Review: Phoebe Bridgers’s ‘Punisher’

January 21, 2021
"Punisher" is the perfect culmination of everything enjoyable about Bridgers's music.
President-elect Joe Biden and Vice Preisdnet-elect Kamala Harris during a 2019 campaign rally. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Op-Ed: Complacency Is Harmful Under Biden Administration

January 8, 2021
People need to hold their elected officials accountable, including President-Elect Joe Biden.
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Senator Bernie Sanders, two U.S. politicians who are self-proclaimed democratic socialists. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Op-Ed: Democratic Socialism Isn’t Socialism (And That’s Bad)

November 17, 2020
Self-proclaimed socialist politicians in U.S. government are almost never actually socialists.
Music Review: Elliot Smiths Either/Or

Music Review: Elliot Smith’s ‘Either/Or’

October 21, 2020
Elliot Smith's music channels a perfect balance of complexity and silence.
Photo purchased from Bigstock.com.

Op-Ed: The First Presidential Debate

October 7, 2020
Last week’s presidential debate was one of the worst I have ever watched.
Music Review: The Hoteliers Home, Like NoPlace Is There

Music Review: The Hotelier’s ‘Home, Like NoPlace Is There’

May 18, 2020
The album takes an untraditional path to success.
American flag and folded military uniform jacket. Photo purchased from BigStock.com.

Op-Ed: Is the United States Truly Exceptional?

May 18, 2020
From aiding foreign coups to ineffective healthcare, the country is not all it's cracked up to be.
Illustration purchased from BigStock.com.

Music Review: Mac Demarco’s ‘Salad Days’

March 18, 2020
Mac Demarco is the king of the indie scene at the moment.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia commons.

Op-Ed: My Concerns with Biden’s Candidacy

March 12, 2020
A few days after Super Tuesday, Joe Biden is leading in the 2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries. As a supporter of Bernie Sanders, I am disappointed in this turn of events, as Sanders seemed to have a significant lead until recently.
Music Review: Tyler the Creators IGOR

Music Review: Tyler the Creator’s “IGOR”

March 11, 2020
Tyler the Creator has been prolific in the past decade, releasing six albums in the 2010s. However, in my opinion, his best album is his most recent: IGOR.
Head-to-Head: Student Politics

Head-to-Head: Student Politics

March 2, 2020
Two students debate the upcoming Democratic presidential primaries.
Music Review: Weezer

Music Review: ‘Weezer’

February 25, 2020
"Weezer" is one of my favorite records of all time.
Music Review: American Football

Music Review: ‘American Football’

February 13, 2020
The band's first self-titled album is a masterpiece.
Music Review: Rage Against the Machine

Music Review: ‘Rage Against the Machine’

February 4, 2020
The debut record is not only their best album, but also one of the best records of the modern era.
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The Gator

The student news site of Brimmer and May School | Chestnut Hill, MA
69 Middlesex Road
Chestnut Hill MA 02467
617-566-7462
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The student news site of Brimmer and May School | Chestnut Hill, MA
Kolja Westhues