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Volume 74, Issue 5
December 11th, 2025
A Student Publication of the Belmont Hill School
Historic Government Shutdown Ends After 43 Days By Adrian Chen ’28 Panel Staff After the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, federal services resumed on November 12, 2025, following President Trump’s signature on a bipartisan funding bill. However, this 43-day crisis left lasting impacts on millions of Americans, from families struggling to afford groceries to federal workers facing unprecedented job insecurity. One major devastating effect of the government shutdown was the crisis in SNAP benefits. The shutdown triggered wideFox News spread chaos for the program, as it tem- Trump Signs Bill Ending Government Shutdown porarily cut off such subsidies for the benefits. The administration eventually The shutdown began on October first time in the nation’s history. Accord- used $4.65 billion in contingency funds 1, 2025, after Congress failed to pass ing to Mass.gov, over 42 million Ameri- to provide partial SNAP benefits cov- legislation appropriating funds for the cans who rely on SNAP faced dire uncer- ering about half of each eligible house- 2026 fiscal year, with Senate Democrats tainty when the Trump administration hold’s benefits. However, these efforts blocking the Republican-controlled initially announced it would suspend the varied across states as some managed to House of Representatives from advancprogram in November. In Massachusetts distribute full benefits before court or- ing a continuing resolution. The legisalone, approximately one million people ders were paused, while others provided lation failed 14 times before a revised rely on SNAP benefits for sustenance, only partial payments or nothing at all. appropriations bill was finally passed, which accounts for nearly 15% of the As a result, millions of Americans over a month later. A major point of state’s population. Federal judge John continued to face widespread hardship. contention was Democrats’ demands to McConnell in Rhode Island ordered the Food banks experienced significant in- extend Affordable Care Act subsidies, Trump administration to deliver full creases in usage, with one Kansas facil- which were set to expire in November SNAP payments to states, ruling that ity reporting a 300% rise in demand. In 2025. The expiration of this act would many millions of people would go hun- Boston, food bank usage surged due to directly impact millions, who would gry without immediate action. However, the lapses in SNAP benefits; addition- lose health coverage, face sharp increasthe administration appealed the deci- ally, Massachusetts allocated an addi- es in insurance premiums, and ultimatesion, sparking a complicated legal battle tional $4 million in funding to food ly lead to worse health outcomes and that sent mixed messages to states about banks to help them meet the increased increased financial hardship for famwhether to distribute full or partial demand caused by SNAP instability. ilies, with many individuals having to
choose between their health and financial well-being. Eight Senate Democrats eventually crossed party lines to vote with Republicans on November 10, as they faced the hard decision of whether to extend the government shutdown, which would perpetuate uncertainty for millions of Americans, or make concessions and agree to Republican demands. Two days later, on November 12, the House passed the bill, officially marking the end of the government shutdown. With government funding secured only through January 30, Americans face the possibility of another shutdown in a matter of weeks. The SNAP benefits crisis revealed a key weakness in the food assistance program, while mass layoffs continue to reshape the workforce. This instance also raises some fundamental questions about our economy as a whole—if so many Americans are unable to afford food without supplemental programs, how can our government change to address the root cause? If health care subsidies are not extended, tens of millions of Americans will see their health insurance costs increase, adding another layer of financial strain to families already struggling with economic uncertainties created by the shutdown and job cuts. For now, the 2025 government shutdown has come to a close, and millions of Americans can breathe a sigh of relief as a period of uncertainty comes to at least a temporary end. ☐
Veterans Day 5K Fundraiser and Chapel By Will Sandor ’27 & Jack Good ’27 Panel Staff This past November, the Belmont Hill Veterans Club hosted its second annual Veterans Day 5K Fun Run and Fundraiser. The club, founded by Tyler Smith ’26, was established last year to raise awareness about veterans and those who have served. After achieving significant success last year, the team looked forward to their second Veterans Day 5K, with club members putting up signs all around campus, distributing flyers in the shops of Belmont Center, and posting on Instagram for weeks leading up to the event. More than a dozen kids, prepped bright and early at 7:30 AM, were ready to race. Chef Joshua Smith fired up the grill alongside several other private chefs who were helping to make breakfast for the volunteers and others who wanted to contribute to the
Alex Santangelo ’15 Speaking in Chapel BH Communications fundraiser. Soon, many more students raffle gifts, many were hoping for the came down to join in on the event. Bruins tickets, which were the grand Many families with younger sib- prize. After the event concluded, over lings and parents attended the race, and $6,000 was raised from the raffle and after a decisive battle, Roger Zhang ’28 breakfast. When asked why he wanted won the entire race, and Mr. George to start this club and these fundraisers, himself came in third place. After Tyler Smith ’26 says that he has always the race had finished, breakfast was had an admiration and respect for those served, along with the raffle prizes be- who have served our country since he ing picked. Out of $2,500 worth of was little. He hopes that this tradition
A Look Inside The Panel Page 2: Turkey Drive Tradition Jack Ramanathan ’26 delves into Belmont Hill’s longstanding tradition of the Turkey Drive, a meaningful community service event that has taken place annually to help those in need.
Page 4: A Look Into Mamdani In a captivating opinion piece, Eli Norden ’26 provides his perspective on the election of NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani and what consequences may emerge with his upcoming role.
Page 8: Mr. Duarte Faculty AOTI Sean Park ’28 writes about Mr. Duarte, this issue’s Faculty Artist of the Issue; the piece expands on Mr. Duarte’s initiatives as a professional photographer, looking into his experiences.
Page 11: CFB Coaching Carousel In an in-depth analysis of the recent developments in coaching changes, Tyler Grossman ’27 takes the readers into a deep dive of why this year’s offseason will be one of the craziest yet.
Recap
will continue, even after he graduates from Belmont Hill with plans to row at the U.S. Naval Academy next year. Along with the 5K, former U.S. Naval Officer Alex Santangelo ’15 spoke at Belmont Hill’s annual Veterans Day chapel. Mr. Santangelo shared his experiences in the Navy and connected them to life at BH. He spoke about the value of teamwork and the importance of understanding the people with whom you work. He also explained that service does not only mean serving in the military; it also means making a positive impact on the people around you, whether that be at BH or anywhere else. Near the end of his speech, he said, “Fidelitas, providentia, studium. These are not just Latin words. They’re part of the code that turns ordinary people into people whom we remember on days like this. You don’t need to join the military to live these values or to lead a life of service.” His speech clearly resonated with
Letter from the Editor: Welcome to Issue 5 of Volume 74! Our news section focuses on community-centered events including recent Chapels and community service efforts like the Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. Our Ops section features a DOTI between TikTok and IG Reels, as well as articles centered on political topics like New York mayor Zohran Mamdani. Our Arts sections spotlights a Playlist of the Issue revolving around the theme of the holidays, pinpointing fan-favorite Christmas carols of the modern day. The issue’s AOTI also highlights the works of our very
own Mr. Duarte as a photographer and artist. Our sports section features Fitz Courtney ’26 as our Athlete of the Issue, and recaps Fall team seasons, and spotlights Mr. Montoya’s final soccer season on the Hill. Finally, the centerspread of expands on the News section’s coverage of the Turkey Drive and has a short article by Exec Eli Norden ’26 recapping Dr. Courtney’s inspiring speech on gratitude and responsibility. We would like to give a big thanks to everyone involved in the process of publishing this issue. Thank you, and enjoy the issue! ☐