January 2021 – The Opinator

Climate Science and Sustainability at Sem in Action

By Nahisha Pokhrel ’23

As COVID-19 rates rise like the ocean levels and spread fast like the Amazon wildfire, Sem students are actively masking as they plant trees around campus. The tree-planting initiative was brought to light by Sem’s new programs, Climate Science and Sustainability (CSS). The Climate Science and Sustainability program launched an academic concentration in which students spend years of research and committed focus to bring about their approach to climate science, whether it be through a business, arts, politics, or any new perspective. The CSS program focuses on taking action and helping students become aware of climate science and what they can do to help.
Moreover, it was incredible to see so many Sem students help plant trees engaged in the CSS Concentration. Bridget Dowd ‘22 claims, “My motivation to plant trees on campus, definitely, stemmed from wanting to be a part of something that would have an impact on the school even after I graduate.” Some of the trees which were planted were Japanese Tree Lilac, Red Jewel Crabapple, and Serviceberry. The trees were planted along Maple Ave, behind Carpenter Hall, and behind SRLC. These trees are beneficial when it comes to replacing aged and deteriorating trees on campus, creating more food and shelter locations for birds and other urban wildlife, providing root systems to absorb water and decrease runoff after storms, and providing shade and cooling on the Back Campus, as well as, sequester carbon for long-term storage.
While the trees came with many benefits and were beautiful, they also came with some difficulties in planting them. Most helpers agree that it was hard to measure the depth and width to dig so that the root can be in a good position, and rocks that were mixed in with the soil also gave some trouble as it got in the way. Regardless, the helpers did a great job, and the result gave a sense of fulfillment and joy. Ashley Dimen ‘21, a member of the Environmental Club, perfectly explains as she says, “After planting, it made me feel happy that I could leave something on campus that I can come back to and see years from now. This also felt like a big step in the right direction for Sem and environmentalism as it opens the door for more projects to come.” She eagerly adds, “It would be awesome to plant trees again, and maybe one day have an area for composting food scraps.” Composting food scraps sounds like a great idea; after all, tree planting is just one of the activities that CSS planned, with many more still to come.

Students in the Environmental Club help to plant trees.

Ultimately, tree planting is just one small step in the world crisis of climate change, but still a step big enough to bring change to the world and, most importantly, to the Sem community. Everyone from the Sem is encouraged to do their part to bring change to the climate crisis. Bridget Dowd ‘22 nicely puts it, “ I think more SEM students should consider getting involved with the Environmental Club, or the Climate Science and Sustainability Concentration because they are both passionate groups on campus that are devoted to issues on campus and in our world.” Once again, tree planting is just one step of the CSS program, with much more to come. Until then, please enjoy the beauty of the trees around campus and take a moment to thank the helpers, and think about what you can do to help the climate crisis.

Fall Sports During Covid-19

By Maddie Olshemski ’23

2020 was anything but ordinary, and the fall sports season was no exception to this. Although the fall season looked a bit different than past years, Wyoming Seminary student-athletes made the season the best and safest that they could. Wyoming Seminary fall sports include Football, Field Hockey, Tennis, Golf, Soccer, and Cross Country. The student-athletes on these teams persevered and made the year more memorable than any year before, despite the circumstances and obstacles the Covid-19 pandemic threw their way.

This fall season was like no other. Adjustments had to be made to fit Covid- 19 protocols and ensure everybody participating was safe as possible to have a season. This means masking at all times, except when playing, and social distancing during water breaks, drills, on the benches, and during bus rides. At a glance, it could be seen as a challenge, but sophomore soccer defender, Aiden Gilbert, talked about in an interview how these protocols brought the Boys Team together. He explained, “[W]e knew that wearing masks was our best chance at being able to keep the season going, so we made sure to keep that in the back of our minds when we felt like taking them off. And although we couldn’t go too close to each other, we all had to go through the same problems, so we were able to relate with each other on a greater scale and become closer as a team.” The Boy’s Soccer Team then came together at the end of their season and finished with a win in the PIAA AA District Championship.

The student-athletes were not the only ones who had to adapt and make adjustments this fall season. Coaches played a massive role in making sure all student-athletes had the best experience possible playing their sports. Head Field Hockey coach, Coach Karen Klassner, touched on some of the difficulties she and her 3-peat defending PIAA Class A State Championship Team faced. The main challenge she talked about was “[T]he uncertainty of current and future situations, and not knowing from day to day if it would be your last game.” This uncertainty was not just surrounding cases on each respective team but throughout the entire state. The season could have been cut short by several things, including cases within other SEM teams, within the SEM community, other school teams throughout the area, and cases throughout the state. Any of these factors could have ended the season for SEM athletic teams and teams in the entire conference and in the PIAA. But even with this uncertainty, Coach Klassner commended her team for pushing through, “…our team was great, they knew what they had to do and handled every situation knowing they were lucky to be playing.” The Field Hockey Team finished off an already memorable season with a win in the PIAA Class A State Championship, making them the only Pennsylvania team ever to win three State Titles in a row. An unbelievable feat in an even more unbelievable time.

To play a sport during a pandemic with so much uncertainty where the sport you love can be taken away at any given moment is a challenge. However, every Wyoming Seminary fall sport student-athlete knew how lucky they were to play while making memories and connections that will be cherished. No student-athlete will ever forget the year they overcame uncertainty and adversity in a global pandemic while playing the sport they loved in the blue and white.