The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
The Student News Site of The Webb Schools

Webb Canyon Chronicle
Categories:

Joe Biden declared president-elect

Patrick Dóñez and Keigan McCullagh
November 7, 2020
Laura Haushalter
Some of the social media posts that have been circulated by Webb students since Joe Biden was declared President-elect. Social media has been a more important tool than ever in getting out the vote this election cycle.

After four days of vote-counting in key states, Joseph R. Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 Presidential Election, making him the 46th president of the United States. 

Biden reached the 270 electoral votes needed to win early Saturday after Pennsylvania’s 20 electoral votes were put in his column by the Associated Press. Subsequently, Biden also won Nevada’s 6 votes, putting the president-elect at 290 votes to President Trump’s 214 votes, with races in three states still too close to call.  

Also on the winning ticket was California Senator Kamala Harris, who will make history as the first woman and first person of color to serve as vice president. The Biden/Harris ticket received a record number of votes, with more than 75 million across the country. 

President-elect Biden, who ran on a moderate Democratic platform with a message of uniting the country, is the first presidential candidate to unseat an incumbent in more than 25 years.  

Announcement of the Biden victory has caused Americans to pour into the streets both in celebration and protest. In Washington, D.C., Biden supporters gathered in front of the White House to celebrate, whereas Trump supporters, many of them armed, rallied outside of the State Capitol in Arizona.  

When the results were finally confirmed, Webb students took to social media in celebration of the Biden/Harris win. Many highlighted the historic nature of the ticket and expressed relief after a tumultuous election cycle. 

“I finally feel like I am regaining optimism for the future of this country,” said Maya Dholakia (‘21), who voted for Joe Biden. “I am excited to see two people in office who are willing to make change, who are not elitist, and who have every American’s best interest at heart. Not to mention, history was made with our first female, Indian-Black vice president. I have full faith in their empathetic and political abilities.”  

Of course, not everyone was pleased with the Joe Biden victory or the swell of support on social media. 

“I am seeing way too much enthusiasm for Biden’s victory,” said Andy Zhang (‘21). “It’s great that Trump lost, but looking forward at least two years, likely four, of a conservative Senate, decades of a conservative supermajority in the Court, and years of corporate domination in politics is no less of a disaster.” 

Despite the clear electoral college win for Joe Biden, President Trump is not planning on conceding the race, though there has been talk of close aids such as Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump attempting to communicate the reality with the president. Even so, President Trump will likely mount legal battles across the country challenging his loss. The president has continued to make baseless accusations that the election was stolen from him by Democrats, going as far as to claim that the election is “far from over”. 

“The most concerning thing I’ve heard during this election was Trump’s claim that he has already won the election, and officials are illegally counting mail in ballots, which they have not,” said Elena Tiedens (‘21). “I don’t want Trump to be president another four years for a multitude of reasons, but I think right now, the most important thing is to ensure that the process is democratic.” 

At 5:00 p.m. PST, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris delivered a victory speech to a crowd of supporters in Wilmington, Delaware, which the President-elect represented in the Senate for 36 years. In their speeches, Vice President-elect Harris underscored the historic role of women and people of color in Democratic politics, and President-elect Biden emphasized his message of unity and hope.  

Though it is unclear what legal challenges will be made between now and then, millions of Americans are looking forward to January 20th, 2021, when Joseph R. Biden will be sworn in as president of the United States. 

View Story Comments
Print this Story
More to Discover
More in News
Natalie Au (‘26) portraying Pablo Picasso gives her presentation about Picasso’s life and achievements while Anna Park (‘26) records her as part of the project. Other students performing at the central tables in the library speak as their Spanish-speaking figures as well. “I had the most creative freedom during this project out of all my years [of Spanish] and [got] to bring in my passions from outside of Spanish class,” Natalie said. The project was an intriguing scene for anyone who saw students in their costumes; what happens behind the scenes?
Behind the scenes: Honors Spanish 3 students vivify Spanish-speaking figures
The numbered phone stand used for Reboot November in South Hutch dorm was an efficient system that helped keep track of participating students. The stand, numbered from 1 to 30, allowed students to place their phones in designated slots, making it easy for dorm prefects to monitor participation. “It’s a simple and effective way to stay organized, even though I didn’t participate, I noticed how the system made it easy for everyone to keep track and to make sure no one missed out on their rewards,” said Jarra Jallow (’25). This process helped maintain order and ensured everyone’s phone was accounted for during the challenge.
Week 3 of Reboot November: can Webb earn a no-school day?
Sarah Lantz, Dean of Students, and Micheal Hoe, Assistant Head of School, explain procedures for the Honor Pledge Ceremony to students sitting outside the chapel. This is the first time students have had to sit outside to accommodate the larger number of students in a co-ed ceremony. “We had new signers for the Honor Pledge and escorts sit outside the chapel and watch the ceremony on TVs, which was a new addition this year,” said Scott Wishek (‘25), chair of the honor council.
Honor Pledge Ceremony shifts with one school model
Natália Mosaquites ('26) brainstorms different events she knows that are occurring on campus. As a peer advisor, she plays a crucial role in making Halloween at Webb fun. “We're very excited; the PA’s have been working hard to provide on-campus events such as the [Zombie] Apocalypse,” Natália said. “I know that the prefects have also been hard at work with the haunted house.”
Halloween arrives at Webb
Freshmen and sophomores gather in Stockdale while juniors and seniors convene in Liu Cheung to hear from renowned English primatologist and anthropologist Jane Goodall on Zoom. Known for her groundbreaking research on chimpanzees and an extensive career in naturalism and activism, Goodall's talk inspired deep reflection among Webb students. “I found Jane Goodall's talk very inspirational. To see somebody perpetuate change and strive to keep doing so motivates me to do more in our community,” said Victor Li (‘25).
Jane Goodall speaks to Webb
Gianna Rabida (‘27) captures the Bridge Fire raging through Glendora’s Mountains while returning to Webb from an away volleyball game. Since September 8 – the day the fire started – it grew to 10,000+ acres in around two days, leaving Webb students anxious. “I’m afraid that I will have to evacuate my dorm in the middle of the night,” Gianna Rabida said. Boarders at Webb remain alert, anxious about possible evacuations as the fire rages through the Los Angeles and San Bernadino counties.
Threat of evacuation frightens Webb students
More in Showcase
In Webbs new innovation wing, new computers line the walls of studio B. With amazingly high GPU and stunning graphics, students' reactions are overwhelmingly positive, “The computers will really benefit the future of Webb, and Webb GPT, it will also help with student development” Says Nora Mu (‘27). The computers in studio B are also not too far off from the ones that are tasked with powering AI. Seeing a actual example of these computers can help us understand how AI is powered.
The environment and AI: stay informed
Left to right, clockwise: Da Nang, a coastal city in central Vietnam; Angel Falls, a waterfall in southeastern Venezuela; Pokrom village in Eastern Region of Ghana; Villagers make jollof rice in Pokrom; Labadi beach, one of Accra's beaches, Ghana; Ms. Suarez and tourists during a boat tour in Canaima National Park, Venezuela; Nha Trang, a coastal resort city in southern Vietnam; Da Nang, Vietnam.
Explore hidden gems this winter break: Venezuela, Ghana, and Vietnam
On this table is Biscoff Crumbles, one of the most iconic drinks that the boba store Nobibi has to offer. It has a strong cinnamon taste blended into the cream. “The unique and sophisticated caramel sweet taste reminds me of cafes in Shanghai, which is my hometown,” Ethan Xi (‘27) said. The taste of boba is a signature Asian taste that brings students with Asian roots a connection to their culture.
Understanding boba culture at Webb
Jaeho Lee (‘28) receives a notification. He goes to a secluded place, opens his phone, and starts deciphering the fourth clue. Having successfully made it to the first three checkpoints, he is now tasked with figuring out the rest of the riddles leading him to the remaining checkpoints. But the clues will only get harder and harder to crack. “Decode the clues or tag as many as possible!” said Kenny (‘25). Soon, the zombies will swarm the checkpoints––Jaeho must think of something quick.
After dark: diving into Webb’s annual Zombie Apocalypse
Emily Shao (‘26) is sitting at her desk, surrounded by stacks of articles and open browser tabs, deep in research mode as she sifts through scattered details of the P. Diddy case. With limited reliable sources and countless rumors swirling online, information is difficult to find and even harder to verify. “It's like a reminder that we often don’t know what’s happening behind the scenes, even with public figures we think we know,” Emily said. The search for truth feels like peeling back layers of a story far more complicated than any headline could convey.
Diddy’s arrest sparks new conspiracy theories
Annalise Centeno (’26) and Ella Berg (’26) peacefully sit on Huntington Beach with the company of Dr Nguyen’s corgi, Ein. Although the weather was foggy, the beach was still filled with other corgis and attendees. “I really enjoyed relaxing on the beach near the ocean, along with the company of so many puppies,” Annalise Centeno (’26) said. The event was a huge success.
Webbies embark on Corgi Beach Day
About the Contributors
Patrick Dóñez
Patrick Dóñez, Editor-in-Chief
Patrick Dóñez (’21), a day student from Upland, California, is one of this year's editors in chief. Last year, Patrick was the Editor of Opinion, which helped the transition into his leadership role for the 2020 – 2021 school year.  This year, he wants the WCC to lead conversations about different political and social topics in the Webb community. He enjoys listening to hip hop and RnB, and some of his favorite artists are Pusha T, Erykah Badu, and Modest Mouse. Patrick enjoys writing about his opinions and music, which is why joining journalism in sophomore year was perfect for him. During quarantine, he spent most of his time reading, skateboarding, and working on his magazine project Rx. After COVID-19, he is excited to finally get out of the house and nervous for the future of college and higher education.  
Keigan McCullagh
Keigan McCullagh, Editor of News
After using her summer to create a small business selling custom embroidery, Keigan McCullagh (‘21) is coming back to school as a senior. Keigan has been with the Webb Canyon Chronicle for two years, improving and learning throughout her time. She fondly remembers getting her first article published and reflects on her growth as a writer, and she is now the Editor of News for the WCC this year. She is also the Co-President of Webb’s LGBTQ+ and Allies Club and Vice President of our USITT chapter. Her astrological sign is Libra. She loves to learn about history. You can always find her playing the guitar or listening to music, her favorite bands being Fleetwood Mac and the Lumineers. Besides music, she loves her dog Lily. Also, Keigan’s favorite food is chicken nuggets. Keigan’s goal for the WCC this year is to report more breaking news in hope of shedding light on important subjects the Webb community should know about.  She would also like to encourage everyone to go vote for the 2020 election! 
Laura Haushalter
Laura Haushalter, Public Editor
Enthusiastic, positive, determined, and athletic, Laura Haushalter (‘21) uses her passionate attitude to take on many leadership roles: captain of the VWS cross-country and swimming teams; Student Government spirit commissioner; and the Public Editor for the WCC. As the Public Editor, Laura oversees all the social media accounts for the WCC. In addition to normal Editor-in-Chief  responsibilities, she helps the WCC gain more publicity, making sure Webbies stay informed and updated about the latest articles. Laura is extremely passionate about environmental justice and climate change, which is why her favorite class she has taken at Webb is Honors Global Society and Sustainability. In her free time, you can catch Laura watching Friends or Veep, listening to AJR, Beach House, and Cardi B, or running on Thompson Creek Trail. Her goals this year are to make the WCC’s social media accounts more active, and make the most of her last year at Webb.