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The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

The Student News Site of Harvard-Westlake School

The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle

Olivia Phillips

Olivia Phillips, Assistant Opinion Editor

Olivia Phillips ’25 is an Opinion Section Editor and is in her third year working for The Chronicle. Olivia enjoys reading, spending time with friends and traveling outside of journalism.

All content by Olivia Phillips
Illustration by Anika Norton

Staff Editorial: Celebrating Our Setbacks

Ways to unload the stress and intensity over college Early Decisions.
Olivia Phillips, Opinion Editor
December 18, 2024

After careful consideration of your application, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer you a spot in our Class of 2029 because you're not good enough. This year's application pool was all...

Illustration by Eva Park

The Inefficacy of Corporate Environmentalism

Eila Shokravi and Olivia Phillips
September 25, 2024

One afternoon day, I suddenly began to taste distinct notes of paper blended in with the sweet caramel of my frappuccino. The drink itself, which had tasted delicious just minutes ago, was now inaccessible...

Require physical activity for PE credit

Require physical activity for PE credit

Olivia Phillips, Assistant Opinion Editor
May 29, 2024

A high school physical education (PE) class is one of the pillars of a teen movie. From "Clueless" to "Juno" to "Spider-Man: Homecoming," Athletics are presented as a key part of the high school experience...

Fix the admission system

Olivia Phillips
March 20, 2024

It was March 8, 2021. I anxiously paced around my room, attempting to stay calm as 5 p.m. ticked closer. In just a few minutes, I would learn not only where I would go to school for the next four years...

Create walkable cities

Olivia Phillips
November 15, 2023

I'm walking home after a long day of school, taking in the street around me. There’s a grocery store and a few cafés, along with several restaurants and other shops. I decide to stop at the local coffee...

High school graduates from diverse backgrounds stand side by side. Illustration by Ava Hakakha.

A socioeconomic lens to reintroduce equitable admissions

William Liu and Olivia Phillips
August 27, 2023

For more than half a century, affirmative action spurred intense debate over whether it unfairly benefitted minority students or was a crucial check against structural inequities. On June 29, the Supreme...

229 seniors gathered at Will Rodgers State Beach on May 12 instead of attending classes at the Upper School. The large-scale ditch day caused controversy because the administration previously allowed seniors to skip school for Coachella in mid-April.

Seniors gather at the beach for ditch day

Olivia Phillips
May 28, 2023

Seniors organized a ditch day to skip classes and go to Will Rogers State Beach on May 12. Two hundred twenty-nine out of 291 seniors had unexcused absences May 12, about 78.7 % of the class. Head of...

Often, students are forced to cram and make up school work to go to concerts. Students and teachers agree that going to concerts can threaten students' academic responsibilities and that achieving a balance is important for this purpose.

Concert Culture

Kriste An and Olivia Phillips
March 22, 2023

Driving through deserts and barren plains, Nikki Dadlani ’25 said she could feel the minutes ticking as she neared the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, to attend Coachella. She said she could not...

Teachers’ Spring Break

Watch to learn about how some teachers spend their spring break!

Presidential Scholars list released

Presidential Scholars list released

Olivia Phillips
February 8, 2023

Thirteen seniors were nominated for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The nominees (all ’23) are Jack Austen, Kieran Chung, Print Managing Editor Claire Conner, Presentation Managing Editor Fallon...

School alum Julia Boorstin '96 speaks to interested students. Boorstin is a Senior Media and Tech Reporter for CNBC and also the author of "When Women Lead: What They Achieve, Why They Succeed, and How We Can Learn from Them."

Julia Boorstin ’96 educates students about the influence of gender in the workplace

Olivia Phillips
December 14, 2022

CNBC Senior Media and Tech Reporter Julia Boorstin '96 spoke about how gender impacts professional experiences in an event organized by HW EMPOWER, the Harvard-Westlake Student Alumni Association (HWSAA)...

Mock Trial team competes at Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition

Mock Trial team competes at Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition

Olivia Phillips
November 28, 2022

The school’s Mock Trial prosecution team participated in the first round of Los Angeles County Mock Trial Competition on Nov. 3 and the defense participated in their first Mock Trial round Nov. 9. Mock...

Swiftie Flex Day

Swiftie Flex Day

Olivia Phillips
November 23, 2022

Quite frankly, when Taylor Swift announced her record- breaking Eras tour, the school failed to respond appropriately. Flex days are allocated for mental health days, fulfilling personal commitments and...

Members of Peer Tutoring meet in the Learning Center.

Peer Tutoring expands offerings

Olivia Phillips
November 22, 2022

Upper School Peer Tutoring expanded from offering scheduled meetings to include live drop-in help Oct. 24. During lunch or afternoon break, students can meet with peer tutors in the Learning Center without...

Sophomores must arrive by start of first period no matter when their classes begin

Sophomores must arrive by start of first period no matter when their classes begin

Olivia Phillips
October 22, 2022

School policy dictates that unlike seniors and juniors, sophomores must be present on campus at 8 a.m. even if their classes start later. However, students at the middle school can arrive at any time before...

An illustration depicts a scene from the movie "Don't Worry Darling," where Alice Chambers (Florence Pugh) gives her husband Jack (Harry Styles) a kiss goodbye.

“Don’t Worry Darling” Review

Olivia Phillips
October 14, 2022

Don’t Worry Darling is filled with drama, intrigue, mystery, and speculation— and aside from that, of course, there’s the actual movie. The lead-up to the premiere of the movie was tumultuous, with...

Prefects release homecoming theme

Prefects release homecoming theme

Olivia Phillips
October 5, 2022

Prefect Council announced “Fly Me to the Moon” as the theme for the Homecoming formal in an email Sept. 14. The formal event will take place Oct. 8 at the upper school campus from 7 p.m to 11 p.m. Senior...

Buddy the Wolverine dunks a basketball in front of the community in Taper Gym.

Prefect Council hosts Fanatic Fest

Olivia Phillips
September 30, 2022

Prefect Council hosted Fanatic Fest in Taper Gym during community time Thursday. Buddy Wolverine, the Head Fanatics, Spirit Squad, the fencing team and other sports teams contributed to the event. Spirit...

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Olivia Phillips