When an Exonian thinks of the IT Department, automated emails come to mind. Reminders to change passwords, issues with logging into the wifi network, and replacements for our cracked laptops — this seems to be a rigorous summary of the department’s job.

“I learned everything from playing sports. That’s why I do the job that I do.” If one takes a stroll on the second floor of Love Gym, they are bound to find the striking office of the Director of Athletics and Physical Education, Jason Baseden. The endless decor is perhaps dizzying for an onlooker, but its charm is almost nostalgic — a myriad of sports memorabilia spans every wall and table in the office. With decades-old helmets, lacrosse sticks, squash rackets, volleyballs, and at least a few dozen picture frames, Baseden has it all. The history of Exeter athletics is enshrined here, and just as sports touch every corner of his workplace, it is apparent that athletics permeate every facet of his character and values. Sports is what he’s about. Baseden is undeniably on his way to becoming a legend of Exeter athletics if he isn’t already one. With an incessant passion and belief in the “perfect vehicle” that is interscholastic sports, his love for the game is so contagious that he can instill it within every person he meets. Apart from his devotion to athletics, Baseden has produced real and measurable improvement within the department in just five short years since his appointment in 2020. His work has completely transformed how the department functions and will continue to do so. Growing up in Oregon, Baseden was exposed to sports from a young age. He recalled, “The kids in my neighborhood always played sports in the street. We played no matter what season it was.” Baseden carried his passion for sports past childhood, playing football, basketball, and running track at Beaverton High School in Oregon. He then received a division-one scholarship to run track and field at St. John’s University, a Big East Conference school in New York. Although Baseden now works in education and athletics, his career began with working “in the television industry in Los Angeles and New York.” After graduating from Saint John’s with a major in Communication Arts, Baseden started his professional journey at Universal Television. He shared, “I then moved to Madrid for a year to learn a new culture. From there, I went to Cape Town to help my friends who had started a not-for-profit, Hoops 4 Hope.” He continued, “As I ran out of money, I had to move to NYC and start working at Discovery Channel.” Baseden’s path was winding, but he eventually landed in the right place: educational athletics. “I moved to France and worked in television on the Tour de France and shows like ‘The Bachelor.’ I was introduced to the Director of Athletics at The American School of Paris and I had a change of heart as to what I wanted to do as a career. From that point on, I switched to the education industry.” Baseden explained, “After coaching four years at The American School of Paris, I became Athletic Director at the International School of Brussels, in Belgium. I was in that role for seven years before moving back to New Jersey as Director of Athletics at The Peddie School. I was at Peddie for five years before arriving at PEA.” Since arriving at Exeter in the summer of 2020, Baseden has held many roles, serving as the Director of Athletics and Physical Education, working on Principal Rawson’s leadership team, and supporting the Curriculum Committee. However, his work extends past athletics, as he also has “eight excellent advisees.” He added, “On Tuesday nights, I am on dorm duty in Ewald.” Baseden’s time is filled with meetings around campus and communicating with his counterparts at other schools. He shared, “Most of my day is spent working with those who are coaches and those who work in the athletic office, from the equipment room to the Downer Fitness Center and boathouse.” He continued, “I also spend a fair amount of time speaking with alumni and parents of current and prospective parents.” Assistant Athletic Director Brian Muldoon praised Baseden for his versatility: “Mr. Baseden is very adept in the world of educational athletics. There is not an aspect of the job that he cannot speak to. He has his finger on the pulse of sports in society and how that affects our students and our coaches.” Dana Barbin, former Instructor in Physical Education and Head Coach of boys’ varsity hockey, spoke about his impact on the department. “He has given athletics and physical education a strong voice around campus with other colleagues.” He added, “I also love that he has a real eye and concern for making the gymnasium a more attractive and comfortable workplace for those of us who basically live there every day.” These improvements that make his colleagues feel as though work is something they can enjoy foster a tight-knit environment. Physical Education and Athletics Coordinator Tracy Coole echoed the same sentiment: “He spearheaded the addition of three furniture spaces in the gym in an effort to warm the brutal concrete building. He is also responsible for the illuminated lion on the front of the building.” For Baseden, personal connections are equivalent, if not paramount, to the athletes themselves. Muldoon explained, “My first impression of Jason was that building relationships is very important to him. He wants to get to know every colleague and student as people first.” Barbin added, “He’s someone that coaches and athletes can go to and talk with or ask advice of.” Hilary Hall, head coach of the track and field team and Instructor in Physical Education, described Baseden as someone with “a steady, amiable way that quickly allows connections to build whether we are talking about advisees, colleagues or alumni.” Baseden discussed his attachment with his advisees. “I would say talking with the boys in Ewald over the years has been very special to me. I always appreciate them and their care for each other. I learn a lot about the student experience from them here at PEA.” Barbin talked about his first impressions of Baseden. “I met Jason when he came to campus to interview for the Director of Athletics position. He was young, strong, handsome, and intelligent. Four plus years into his tenure at PEA, it’s fair to say that he is very supportive of all the coaches, support staff, and students.” His charismatic personality is accompanied by a warm character — that’s what makes Baseden so welcoming. Muldoon reflected, “I genuinely enjoy working with him and appreciate his approach to the work that we do. I never wake up dreading coming to work and that is because of the community and atmosphere he has helped create.” Interestingly enough, many of his colleagues also find much of Baseden’s identity humorous at times — most noticeably, his fashion. Hall said, “He has an amazing fashion game, particularly his footwear.” Coole continued, “He is always overdressed for the cold weather. If it is below 50, he has a hat on. He is a huge sneaker fanatic. I’d be curious how many pairs he actually owns.” Barbin commended Baseden’s “real fashion sense for team uniforms and coaches attire, particularly old-fashioned jackets.” Clearly, Baseden knows how to dress. When asked about how Baseden has changed over the years, Muldoon made sure to mention something that hasn’t changed: “The Steelers still have not won a playoff game since he has been here.” He also added that “[Baseden] runs his hands through his hair when he is stressed!” Believe it or not, Baseden is bald. These jokes perfectly reflect the “familial atmosphere” that Muldoon described — the department members are genuinely relaxed with one another. Much of that is through Baseden’s own efforts. This acknowledgment from his peers is exactly what Basedan tries to shape his work around: “I hope to leave a legacy as someone who was an advocate for educational athletics in a very academic institution. Someone who tried to provide a great experience in athletics and PE for all our students, not just the more athletic ones.” His caring nature doesn’t just impact sports; it changes our campus as a whole. Jason Baseden is an icon by no short measure. He has left a lasting impact on his colleagues and students, inspiring those around him to become more selfless and to remember that our colleagues are humans before they are students and teachers. That is true non sibi. On his final note, Baseden said, “I hope to stay here at PEA for the remainder of my career. We have a lot of work to do to become what I believe can be the best educational and athletic experience of any school in the world. That is my personal goal, and it will take time. Nothing worthwhile happens overnight.”

On Friday, Jan. 31, students were treated to a night of style, music, and thrill at the inaugural Verdant Visions event. Hosted in the Society of 23’s Conservatory in the Lamont Gallery, the event brought students together for a memorable night centered around three key elements: music, fashion, and fun. Student DJs set the vibe as guests were invited to indulge in refreshing beverages and snacks that transformed a usually dull Friday night into one special. With a “Dress to Impress” dress code, students were encouraged to showcase their most stylish and unique outfits on campus. No doubt, this was a night to remember for all those involved. This week, The Exonian spoke to organizers and attendees of the event to uncover the details behind its motive, preparation, and outcome. “The idea behind the event was to give students something to do on notoriously boring Friday nights,” upper and student organizer Liv Lang explained. “It gave us a chance to look at some art, detach from our phones, and listen to music in the presence of each other.” Prep Ben Lewis shared his experience with the new event, “It was really good to build community with other people because we haven’t really had these types of events so far in the winter [...] Some of us got hype and mostly had a good time, but I wasn’t there for long.” “People were all dressed up and it felt something like a fall formal,” Lewis continued. “I just think it’s just nice to have these events.” Although there are no concrete plans for similar future events, organizers liked how Verdant Visions went this year and are optimistic for the future. The mixed responses from attendees serve as great feedback for the organizers to make the event even bigger and better. Lang concluded, “I had lots of fun and my friends did too, so I’m hoping it becomes an annual event that we can continue to host.”

For one night every year, Exonians set aside homework, gather in dorm common rooms, and turn their attention to the biggest sporting event in America: the Super Bowl. While some are invested in the game itself, others show up simply for the food, commercials, and, of course, the halftime show. Sunday, Feb. 10, marked the highly-anticipated 59th Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, held in Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The game resulted in a blowout win for the Eagles, the final score reading 40-22. The Super Bowl this year, consistently the most-watched sporting event in the US each year, brought in a record-breaking 127 million viewers worldwide. Likewise, numerous student organizations and dorms held watch parties on campus for the big game. Students were split on who they wanted to see win. “I am rooting for the Eagles,” said lower Oscar Zhu of Wentworth Hall. “I don’t want to see Patrick Mahomes with another ring.” Many dorms took the opportunity to turn the night into a social event. “Our dorm had a watch party in the basement and we ordered food, but I watched it at my friend’s house,” Zhu shared. Lower Artur Novaes Ferreira of Cilley Hall explained, “Our dorm fac ordered pizza, wings, and a bunch of snacks and drinks for us to have while we watched.” Prep Tiago Bilyk of Soule Hall, who was supporting the Eagles, shared what his dorm did, “We had a really big party. We had food like wings, chips, etcetera. We watched it mostly with people from the dorm.” Beyond the game itself, Super Bowl Sunday was a campus-wide experience. “I think it is a pretty big thing because different people are rooting for many different teams playing in the game, so there will always be conflicts between friends,” Zhu added. “Even though everyone watching was split on who they wanted to win, everybody was still having a good time,” lower Crane Lee added. And, of course, there’s the halftime show — arguably just as important as the game for some. “I really enjoyed Kendrick’s stage setup and his transition between songs,” Zhu said. “SZA was FIRE. Some of Kendrick’s songs are a little bit too plain though, I feel like I would like more songs that would immediately get everyone excited.” Lee continued, “At halftime, the game was kind of a blowout so the halftime show was a great way to re-energize fans.” “I do love Kendrick, I love his music, so I do think this whole thing was a good addition to the Super Bowl experience,” Bilyk added. “When the last quarter started, it was pretty clear the Eagles were going to win so some people just left and went back to their rooms,” Ferreira concluded. “It was still a great time to socialize with friends and just have a good time in the dorm.” From fierce team rivalries to halftime show critiques, the Super Bowl remains one of the few events that can bring Exonians together no matter which part of the broadcast they watch.

On Oct. 29, Director of Global Initiatives Patty Burke Hickey took the assembly stage. After introducing the programs Exeter offers over each vacation and during the school year, Burke invited students who attended Global Initiatives programs to share their experiences on stage. In the evening, leaders of Global Initiative programs set up booths in Powell Hall in the Forrestal-Bowld Music Building for a Q&A session with interested students.

Throughout athletic events, the roars of the PEA student section can be heard above all else, and the Big Red Zone team is the epicenter. The school’s hype squad is composed of six seniors dedicated to ensuring that Big Red athletes receive the support they deserve. They are in charge of theme coordination and driving student attendance at athletic events. Even more importantly, they are in charge of hyping the crowd up at games so that Big Red never loses its spirit.

By Jayden Oh, Aaryan Patel, and Marvin Shim

On Sunday, April 20, certain members of the Academy community participated in a variety of services in celebration of Easter. Beginning with an early sunrise service hosted by Reverend Bonnie-Jeanne Casey, accompanied by a breakfast of pancakes, Exonians proceeded to worship, held at different churches in town, and capped off the first half of their Easter Sunday by partaking in a specially prepared Sunday brunch.

On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the boys’ varsity squash team traveled to Brookline, MA., and defeated Dexter Southfield School 4-2. The squad improved its match record to 7-5 and continued its two-game winning streak. “Overall, the match went well,” lower Ryan Wang expressed. “Some of us weren’t playing as well as we usually were, but in the end, we worked hard and were able to get the win.”

When Big Red athletes pass by the equipment room to pick up their team suits, they see coach Nicole Benson greeting them with a warm smile and asking about their day. Benson is also an experienced varsity swim coach who checks in with swimmers on the pool deck and supports swimmers by showing them proper technique.

On Monday, Feb. 10, the Academy community was rewarded with a well-deserved and highly anticipated Winter Thaw. Acting as a rest day in the middle of the long winter term, Winter Thaw allowed students and faculty alike to relax and revive themselves both physically and mentally. Taking inspiration from Exeter’s history, the 2024-2025 Student Council Board reinstated the day off. Students participated in many activities, from a weekend in Boston to sleeping and catching up on homework.

As students returned to campus from break for the winter term from their homes, November break trips, or vacations, students from two term abroad programs rejoined the Exeter community from Grenoble, France, and Japan. Six seniors partook in the trip to Kyoto, Japan, which entailed taking classes at a local high school as an exchange student, being immersed in rich culture, and living with a host family for around three months.

Towering white walls, a huge open forum with pristine wooden tables, fresh balcony seating, a new dish conveyor belt, revolutionized organization, a better location for many students, and more—suddenly, Exonians are buzzing with excitement for the new dining hall.

When course registration opens, one of the most crucial decisions for many students is not which classes or sports to enter but rather when to take their choice format. The choice format which replaces a student’s sports block with a free block in any one term throughout the year is utilized by many. Most students believe that choice format will allow them to improve their academic and/or extracurricular performances. However, a closer look at the effects of choice format shows that these expectations are rarely met.

Similarly to offices nationwide, Phillips Exeter Academy accepts more students than they plan on enrolling to ensure that the class is always filled. Because not every applicant says yes to Exeter, deciding how many extra applicants should be enrolled is always a struggle. The yield for last year’s incoming students was 79 percent, about four points higher than usual, leading to hardships such as emergency doubles and other housing issues. The over-enrollment also affects the school’s acceptance rate, which may have influenced the Academy’s updated rankings. Here’s what affected students, as well as Admissions faculty, had to say about the matter.

As the foliage varies in autumn colors and fresh faces cross paths, many noticeable changes on campus have influenced the experience of students and faculty alike, but none as striking as the newly implemented lunch schedule. Lunch is generally the most busiest meal of the day. “We have to feed an equal amount of staff and students in a shorter period of time,” said Elm Street dining hall worker Frank.

Your time at Exeter is not nearly as important as you believe it to be. From the classes you take to the grades you get, the sports you play to the clubs you do, or whatever other items I could’ve added to this already dragging list, they really do not matter. Your life is much broader than you could ever imagine, but you fail to appreciate what you truly love (and what truly loves you), while you give all too much value to this institution.

As the fall foliage returns to the Phillips Exeter campus, so do parents. Families of many students from all over the globe gather to have the “Exeter experience,” a time to immerse themselves into their students’ lives by attending classes, sports events, and other extracurriculars. But is it true immersion?

Feet paddling, arms swinging, senior Keon Osei surges across the defenders in the Roger Nekton Pool. As a great passer and a shooter, it is always the goalie’s first choice to pass the ball to him. As he rips through the defense and jumps for the shot, everyone else on the JV water polo team switches to defense, guaranteeing another goal. As a selfless yet impactful player of the team and leader of the Upcycling Club, Osei sat down to explain his experience throughout his years at Exeter.

27 years after its proposal by the Student Council and adoption in 1997, the Academy’s Midterm Effort To Improve Class (METIC) system has much room for improvement. Members of the community agree that change is necessary, but it will require agreement on proposals to enhance it and powerful initiative. With family weekend, midterm grades, and chilly weather on students’ minds, METICs have become just another item on Exonians’ schedules during the midterm mark. However, the original purpose of the METIC as an opportunity for self-reflection and to give administration and faculty feedback on how students are doing in classes remains crucial and should be prioritized.

The town of Exeter, NH, closes at 8 p.m. If you don’t go out by then, you’ll be lucky to even enter a restaurant. It’s like living in a closed-off state. In Exeter, New Hampshire you are not affected by the rest of the world nor the affairs that concern it.

Whether she’s training future lifeguards, coaching the varsity swim team to victory, or teaching physical education classes for the Red Cross, Coach Kate D’Ambrosio is always a friendly face to come across in the athletics complex. D’Ambrosio has worked at Phillips Exeter Academy since 2019 and has made a big impact on the Exeter community as Aquatic Director and manager of the Roger A. Nekton Championship Pool.

One of the most distinctive opportunities that Phillips Exeter Academy offers is the Global Initiatives Program, which allows students to explore new cultures, meet new people, and learn about topics they’re interested in. Similarly, many athletic teams provide the opportunity for their players to receive some extra training before the season. The work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for all of these trips is tremendous and often overlooked. For this edition, The Exonian explored the process of planning the preseason and global initiatives trips.

On Sunday, Mar. 30, at 7:49 p.m, an incident involving Silly Spray occurred on 10 Spring St, in close proximity to the PEA campus. The offenders, driving by in a passing vehicle, sprayed Silly String at pedestrian students and were then reported to the Exeter Police Department. Although only one case was reported to Phillips Exeter Academy Campus Safety and law enforcement, further investigation by The Exonian indicates that there were multiple accounts of this activity against PEA students on the same night. As an investigation is still underway, the exact details of the incident remain uncertain.

Loud cheers, shoes squeaking on the hardwood floor, and the sounds of a basketball bouncing off the rim of the basket can all be heard on the basketball courts of Love Gymnasium. The crowd is a sea of blues and reds as Exeter and Andover face off in the final E/a game of the season. Standing on the sidelines is Brian Muldoon, the assistant athletics director for Communications and Operations, taking pictures for social media. This event would not have been possible without him.

Phillips Exeter Academy, an institution for goody-goodys and Saints around the world, has an acclaimed faculty. They are some of the most educated high school teachers in the world, professionals, some may say, at their work. In fact, they are so professional, such experts, that they manage to effortlessly make our lives at this school infinitely harder with seemingly harmless acts. These acts are so harmless that they probably don’t even know that they are doing it. So we, The Exonian, present Annoying Things Exeter Teachers Do.

Every Sunday afternoon, members of the Academy’s Band of Lego Builders come together and meticulously click together miniscule plastic bricks, each creating cool, yet intricate structures.

Upper Andrew Gould, an advanced team member of Phillips Exeter Academy’s Daniel Webster Debate Society (DWDS), qualified for the 2025 World Universities Debating Championship, which will be held this spring in Malaysia. Gould will compete against some of the best youth debaters in the world, where he will be one of the eight debaters representing America.

Each week, all Exonians are required to attend one or two assembly talks regarding a wide range of topics offered by current event speakers and alumni sharing their experiences at the Academy. However, what goes unseen behind these 30-minute sessions is a long checklist of selecting speakers based on their past and the academy’s goals and working out the logistics.

On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the varsity field hockey team put on a strong showing, with a 2-2 tie at Kimball Union Academy (KUA). Wednesday’s match was a great comeback from last week’s 2-5 loss to Brooks School, as they return to the form they had exhibited during their three-game winning streak earlier in the season.

On a quiet Sunday afternoon, Room 214 in the Phelps Science Center hums with anticipation as budding and seasoned chemists gathered for a golden spectacle.

As the pressure of standardized testing intensifies, students all over campus attempt to balance school work with these important assessments. On Monday, Oct. 21, uppers tackled the PSAT, while seniors also took the SAT recently. Similarly, the ACT, scheduled on Oct. 26, added to the exam season.

By ARYAN AGARWAL and AARYAN PATEL ‘27      Humans grapple with the future every day, planning and roadmapping life, hoping to eventually become “good...

By ARYAN AGARWAL, SUNGHYUN BAE, and AARYAN PATEL ChatGPT has had significant impacts in various ways over the past year, capturing the attention of...

As the largest team on campus, the boys’ and girls’ outdoor track and field team exudes Phillips Exeter’s core principles of excellence while also being a tight-knit group of athletes.

Towering white walls, a huge open forum with pristine wooden tables, fresh balcony seating, a new dish conveyor belt, revolutionized organization, a better location for many students, and more—suddenly, Exonians are buzzing with excitement for the new dining hall.

On Sunday April 20, certain members of the Academy community participated in a variety of services in celebration of Easter.