For years, the annual ice skating party has been held at Wollman Rink, an outdoor ice rink in Central Park. This year, however, the party will be held at Chelsea Piers’ Sky Rink, an indoor ice rink on the Hudson River. Not only is the location changing, but the party is taking place in January instead of November when it is usually held. This may seem like a trivial topic but the school is buzzing about this news and many students, especially members of the thirteen-year club are incredibly disappointed and upset about this change.
Those who have been attending the skating party for years see this change as a break in tradition. “Hewitt is all about tradition and the skating party breaks that tradition. I’m nervous it will start a trend of breaking tradition,” one student said. The location of the skating party is crucial for the longevity of the skating party tradition and many people feel sentimentally attached to Wollman Rink. “It’s always been at Wollman and it’s been something that I’ve been looking forward to.”
Source: Wollman Rink
Rumors have been circulating that the reason behind the change in location is in response to Donald Trump’s financial association with the rink. In the 1980s, when the rink was in need of construction, Trump volunteered to renovate the ice rink at no cost to the city. Since then, the Trump organization, in partnership with another company, has been responsible for the operation of the rink. Trump does not own Wollman Rink, but he and the other company receive about two-thirds of the profits from the rink.
President Trump had been very controversial during his time in office and while running his campaign, saying many offensive and demeaning comments about women. He famously called Megyn Kelly a “bimbo” and has also said on more than one occasion that the success of women in their field of work is a result of their physical appearance and sexual appeal, not their intelligence or work ethic. “You wouldn’t have your job if you weren’t beautiful,” Trump said to a female reporter at the Miss Universe pageant in 2014.
As an all-girls school whose mission is to empower young women, is it our responsibility to take a stand in situations like this one? Many students don’t think so. “I think it’s ridiculous that a Hewitt tradition is being broken by politics,” one student said. Another replied, “I don’t think Trump should matter.” Overall, it seems that the student body feels that politics should not play a role in this event. However, some students have expressed concerns that the decision the switch venues does not reflect Hewitt’s principles but rather that of one important benefactor.
However, in talking to Ms. Stevens, she underlined the many nonpolitical reasons for the change in venue. She emphasized weather and safety concerns as the main reason. An outdoor venue invites the risk of being rained out or warm weather causing bad quality ice. As for security, many parents have expressed worry about students walking in the park late at night. The security provided by Hewitt is limited to the area around the ice rink and does not extend to park entrances. In the end, this decision was not by the school. The Parents Association is the host of the skating party, making them responsible for the change in location. While the school seems to agree with the reasons for the change in location, “all final decisions are made by the Parents Association.”
In regard to the rumors about the political reasons behind this decision, Ms. Stevens firmly said that “the school doesn’t take a political position. That’s not our place.” Hewitt wants everyone to feel comfortable participating in this community event without politics clouding the party. Chelsea Piers is an apolitical venue, but that was not the primary reason for choosing it.
Source: Chelsea Piers
Moreover, Ms. Stevens believes that the change in time was made to benefit the seniors. November is a time of much stress for seniors regarding their college applications while January is a calmer time for the seniors. Chelsea Piers has a dedicated space for the seniors, that Ms. Stevens hopes will make the senior skate even more special. The party being held at Chelsea Piers is not a permanent change but she is hopeful that it will “create a new tradition that is even better.” Despite all the negative feelings about the displacement of the party, students are following Ms. Stevens’ lead, remaining optimistic. “I’m sure it will be great at Chelsea Piers but I’m going to miss it at Wollman Rink,” one senior said.