Harvard-Westlake • Studio City • Volume 32 • Issue 5 • Feb. 8, 2023 • hwchronicle.com
Teachers respond to ChatGPT
Sanders to lead Admission
By Davis Marks and Chloe Park
By Saisha Kumar and Tate Sheehy
Chris Sanders will take over as Director of Admission and Enrollment in July, according to President Rick Commons. Sanders, who is currently the Director of Admission and Financial Assistance at Francis Parker School in San Diego, will replace Interim Head of Admission and Enrollment Greg Gonzalez. Gonzalez is temporarily filling the role after former Head of Admission and Enrollment Aaron Mieszczanski left the school to join executive search firm Spencer Stuart. Commons said Sanders made a positive impression on the faculty he met with because of his friendly personality and expertise in his field. “In [Sanders’] conversations with the Admission Team, the Leadership Team and many others, he struck all of us as having both the professional skills and personal qualities necessary for success in this important leadership role,” Commons said. “I think prospective families meeting Mr. Sanders will have the feeling right away that this is a place of excellence, opportunity and belonging.” Sanders earned his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and his master’s degree from the Wake Forest University School of Business. Before entering independent school admission, Sanders served as Director of Leadership Opportunities for a non-profit college access program for low-income and first-generation students. Sanders said he is excited to join the community and admit future classes of students. “It’s an honor to be welcomed into a community that cherishes excellence and provides a transformational educational experience for all students,” Sanders said. “I am fortunate to join a school that promotes students’ academic and social development, while simultaneously emphasizing one’s responsibility to care for and support others. Harvard-Westlake has a strong foundation, and I look forward to enrolling curious and kind students.”
The History Department released an official statement prohibiting the use of artificial intelligence (AI) on assignments in response to the emergence of AI program ChatGPT on Jan. 15. As of Feb. 4, the English, Math, Science and Language Departments have yet to publicize formal language regarding the use of AI on assignments. ChatGPT is an AI chatbot created by Open AI in Nov. 2022 It is capable of formulating essays, writing code and answering questions when prompted to do so. ChatGPT presents a threat to conventional learning because it is able to create nearly instantaneous responses to complex questions, interfering with students’ learning, according to AP News. It may also provide users with inaccurate information, according to OpenAI. The History Department’s statement reads, “The History/ Social Studies Department does not support the use of ChatGPT and other AI platforms for any purpose. The use of these platforms is considered unauthorized aid under the Honor Code; thus, any preparation for the course and any submitted work for the course that are generated through or are informed by ChatGPT or other AI platforms are in violation of and subject to consequences under the Honor Code.” President Rick Commons said although he believes restricting the use of ChatGPT on assignments is currently possible, it will ultimately become a part of the curriculum. “I think that we are going to have to figure out how to use the ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence in the process of teaching,” Commons said. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to long-term avoid or ban it. I don’t blame the History Department for essentially banning it for now. I don’t think they can ban it for all time. I think they’ve got to ban it for now while they figure [it] out.”
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PRINTED WITH PERMISSION OF OLIVIA SUDDLESON
STANDING UP WITH SIGNAGE: In response to the multiple antisemitic vandalism incidents this year, members of the Jewish Club posted signs around campus meant to spread awareness about antisemitism.
School searches for suspects after fifth antisemitic vandalism incident
By Natalie Cosgrove and Davis Marks
The school administration filed a police report and has increased surveillance on campus after a Nazi symbol was found poked into a bulletin in the student lounge on Jan. 23, the fifth in a series of antisemitic incidents over the past five months. The school administration said they are working to narrow down a list of possible suspects, and that once found, the perpetrator or perpetrators will receive harsh punishment, according to President Rick Commons. The four previously reported incidents occurred in various locations across campus. In September, a swastika was found drawn onto a whiteboard; in October, the words “Hitler Rocks” and several swastikas were found carved into a desk; and in December, “swastika-like symbols” were found scratched into two desks in the same classroom, according to Commons. Head of Upper School Beth Slattery said the school’s security team filed the police report and that she would consider pressing charges if a perpetrator is found. “Security [filed a police report] since they are the liaison with law enforcement,” Slattery
said. “If we were to find out who speculate that those were done by is responsible for the incidents, I the same person, but there’s no way would certainly consider pursu- to be sure,” Slattery said. “It feels ing it criminally since, as far as I possible to me that the most recent understand, it would be consid- ones were a copycat after the attenered a crime.” tion received by the initial carving, Commons said while the but again, I can’t be sure.” school does not know who is reCommons said because of the sponsible for the swastikas, he be- multiple attempts to spread awarelieves it may be one person. ness about the harm the swastikas “We don’t know who [is doing cause, the punishment for the culthis],” Commons said. “It could prit will be severe and potentially be that it’s multiple include expulsion. people, but it doesn’t “I think after the seem that way. It feels first incident that we like it’s one person who, made public, it would either because that perbe very hard for any son is rebellious, angry student to have missed or hateful, has decided how upsetting it was to do this. [However], to our community,” we don’t know what Commons said. “I the motivation might then spoke to class L. Wood be. As long as I’ve been meetings after [the Rick in schools, kids write third and fourth inciCommons things on desks that are dents], so for someone intended to provoke administra- in the aftermath of that secondtors, but when the swastika is in- ary explanation of how hateful volved, I don’t think we have any this is to have continued to do it choice but to react seriously.” strikes me as deserving of severe Slattery said while she believes consequences if we were to find some of the incidents may have that person. I think expulsion is been committed by the same per- on the table, and in certain situson, more recent incidents may ations, I reserve the right to bybe different students trying to pass the Honor Board and make emulate earlier vandalism. a decision in conjunction with “Given that two of them were my colleagues to make a more found in the same room, I would swift decision.”
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IN THIS ISSUE
B6 Nap Time for Nepos: Students discuss how nepotism affects their personal lives and the school’s culture.
C3 Admirable Art: Students share their art that received recognition in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.
D2 In It To Win It: Boys basketball wins the Mission League Championship and advances to the CIF-SS playoffs.
Reserve Your Ticket: “Urinetown,” the school’s winter musical, is holding performances on Thursday, Feb. 16, Friday, Feb. 17 and Saturday, Feb. 18. Reserve a free ticket using the QR code.
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