January Signpost 2021 by Hutchison School

CONTENTS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

HOW TO DEAL WITH MASKNE

THAT'S A WRAP: MUSIC IN 2020

DODGING CRAMPED CLASSROOMS

BARRET'S BACKLASH

ENGINEERING YOUR FUTURE

TOP SHOWS OF NETFLIX IN 2020

PARTIES IN A PANDEMIC

COVID-19 PLANNING TOOL

STAR WARS: THE MANDOLORIAN

DANCE TEAM

STUDENT STARTUP

SAD

CARMYN'S JOURNEY TO GEORGIA

BLACK AND GOLD PHOTOS

KAMALA HARRIS

SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP

QUIZ

BEELINE BAZAAR CONTACTS

VIRTUAL COLLEGE VISITS

PHILLIPINES

ALEX BEARD COMIC

STUDENT STARTUP PG. 21

BARRET'S BACKLASH PG. 12

BLACK AND GOLD PG. 24

MASKNE PG. 6

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR Welcome back! As the second semester begins, we are finally able to publish and distribute a print copy of Signpost for the first time this school year due to COVID-19 restrictions. I am honored to serve as Editor of Signpost magazine, and I am lucky to work with Emma Couch, who serves as Digital Editor. Together, we have used the time during our pandemic hiatus from publishing to reformat both our website and our print magazine, and we hope you enjoy reading both. It’s hard to imagine a year that we will ever be happier to put behind us than 2020! It has been a year of many lessons for us all and someday, our grandchildren will ask us about these past few months of “unprecedented times.” No doubt, they will think the idea of being out of school sounds good, but the truth is, it didn’t take long before we were missing friends and our teachers. I am really proud of the way Hutchison has handled the limitations of the pandemic. Our teachers and administration worked through their Spring Break and were able to move to virtual learning by the time we returned. We missed one day of learning during that time and it speaks volumes for their dedication and sacrifice. We all missed Sting Fling, but our Hutchison community pulled together to hold our traditional graduation ceremonies at Idlewild Church on Union in June, while other schools were missing their graduations. We have a lot for which to be thankful. It’s hard to tell what 2021 has in store, but together, we will get through it. We are better from the lessons we have learned over the past year, making us stronger, smarter and ready for whatever the new year holds. From the Signpost staff to you, have a happy 2021!

-Ava Dickson '22 Editor

mRNA SAVES THE DAY

By: Emma Couch

After months of careful but rushed research, the COVID-19 vaccine is in the first stages of distribution. The distribution timeline prioritizes front line health care workers, however the next stage of distribution will include people with high risk illnesses and essential workers such as teachers. Many faculty and students at Hutchison are eligible in this next wave of distribution.

The new vaccine has given many people hope that the pandemic will soon come to an end. With this new breakthrough, also comes hesitation about how reliable the vaccine is. The Hutchison safety committee sent out a survey asking the staff if they would get the vaccine, when it became available. Ninety two percent of the staff said they would get the vaccine when it became available. Teachers are essential front line workers, and therefore they will be given priority over the general public. Renee Riem, a science teacher, said “I will get the vaccine when it becomes available to ensure I protect myself and others around me.” Many people are concerned that the vaccine was developed too quickly and there is no scientific evidence to prove there will be no negative long term effects. Ms. Riem believes that “proper research went into the creation of the vaccine, and I completely trust the science.” Many teachers were hesitant about returning back to campus in the midst of a pandemic. Ms. Riem said, "I was nervous about the unknowns of teaching this year, but I am reassured by the fact that there has been no known transmission of COVID- 19 on campus." The sooner everyone in the Hutchison community can be vaccinated, the sooner we can go back to a normal school experience. Currently there is not a vaccine available for anyone under the age of 16. Until there is further research, the school cannot make the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine a required immunization. The Hutchison vaccination requirements differ with each student. Some students can be exempt from required vaccination due to a grandfather clause. This grandfather clause exempts girls from receiving any of the Hutchison required immunizations. There are a limited number of students at Hutchison who do not have any immunizations due to the grandfather clause.

however they are primarily in the class of 2021. Although research is progressing, no formal protocols can be changed until the vaccine is more widely available. This pandemic has emphasized the importance of wearing a mask and maintaining social distancing to protect ourselves. Throughout the school year Hutchison has followed the proper guidelines laid out by the CDC. Many questions have been raised on how school procedure will be changed once members of the community begin to be vaccinated. Coach Catherine Chubb is the chair of the health and safety committee, which focuses on controlling outbreaks at school and putting in place procedures to keep students and staff safe. Every week Coach Chubb meets with top officials with the Shelby County Health Department, they discuss new guidelines and research that has been published. According to Coach Chubb, “since the majority of our students are not eligible for a vaccine, due to their age, not many considerations have been made for students.” However, the Health Department has decided school nurses will not be allowed to administer the vaccine. “Handling the vaccine is very difficult, but Hutchison is hoping to be a strike site for the community. Being a strike site would entail, trained professionals coming to Hutchison to administer the vaccine to the faculty. Once the vaccine is distributed to all staff, Hutchison would hope to expand the vaccination to other teachers in the community. Although Hutchison would love to be a vaccine strike site, the Health Department has to approve this. Ultimately, as new research is released Hutchison can begin to make more informed decisions on how protocol will change. There is not enough research at this point for Hutchison to make any permanent changes.

Photo By: Nuha Hasan Senior Lillian Barcroft takes a quick glance at her skin in between classes

MASKNE AND HOW TO TREAT IT By: Aimen Kazmi

Skin care is known to be a normal struggle amongst all teenagers. As they grow up, their hormones stimulate their oil glands, causing their skin to develop acne. Although it is known to be a mundane struggle for all teenagers and adults alike, sticking to a skin care routine may be difficult, as there is now a global pandemic. Due to the widespread of the infamous Coronavirus, or COVID-19, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has suggested that everyone across the United States should wear a face mask and stay six feet apart from each other. While it is beneficial to wear a mask for safety and health reasons, wearing a mask daily can cause a different type of acne, maskne. Dr. Lauren Pyler, a nurse practitioner at Levy-Dermatology, said that maskne is caused by the humid environment in the mask, created by natural heat and heat from breathing, which allows the yeast and staph bacteria on the skin to flourish.

“My first recommendation to them [her patients] is to always switch to a surgical mask,” Mrs. Pyler said. “You wear them, you can throw them away. It’s so easy.” About 18% of the Upper School students use surgical masks, while 77% use cotton, and 6% wear masks of some other material. The reason why Mrs. Pyler recommends that surgical masks should be worn is because not only are they breathable, unlike cotton masks, they trap in less bacteria, which decreases the chance of the staph bacteria multiplying and spreading, and they cause less irritations. “If you do use a cotton mask, you really need to be washing it every single day, and then drying it every single day,” Mrs. Pyler said. “It needs to be completely dry because if not, there’s just more moisture.” Luckily enough, about 65% of the Upper School students, who wear cotton masks or other, wash their masks after usage, while the other 35% don’t. Along with recommending washing cotton masks after

usage, Mrs. Pyler suggests that cotton masks should be cleansed with a liquid-cleanser that is fragrance free, instead of detergent because it can cause irritations on the skin. Although it is widely known that it is important to wash and moisturize your skin, she strongly recommends that students wash their face twice a day, but not over-cleanse, as it strips away the moisture barrier that the skin needs. She also recommends moisturizing, after washing. “Scale back to the basic products,” Mrs. Pyler said, “Just use the thinnest layer of the products you have. Don’t add any chemicals or scrubs that add any irritation or inflammation.” Not only does she recommend students to scale back to using basic products, Mrs. Pyler advises against the use of charcoal, soap, and clarisonic, as it isn’t good for the skin. She also said that using brushes doesn’t help because it inflames the skin.“Just wash your face with your fingers and warm water….it allows the skin to have more blood flow.”Additionally,

Mrs. Pyler recommends that people not wear any makeup, as it clogs up all the pores. Good thing for the students, about 72% of the Upper School students don’t wear makeup at all; however, about 28% of Upper School students do wear makeup. It is important to wear a mask, as it is for the sake of preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, it is also important to take care of your skin. All you need to do is to wear surgical masks (or wash your cotton masks with a fragrance free liquid-cleanser after usage), wash and moisturize your face twice a day with basic products, don’t use brushes, and wear no makeup. It may seem counterintuitive, but in the end, it’s all worth it.

For more information on maskne or other skin conditions, visit https://www.levydermatology.com/ or call 901-306-2938 to schedule an appointment

BRINGING BACK LUNCH By: Lucy Hettinger

One of the best things about coming back after the break has been the reinstatement of the Hutchison lunch plan. Students are thrilled to have the option to eat the famous Chef Willie’s food again. Although the lunch is served grab and go style, it still features some Hutchison favorites like chicken tenders and fried ravioli. To reduce waste, the food awaits hungry students in reusable green boxes, which can be returned in one of the 15 plastic bins around campus. The pickup line has moved quickly, and it takes roughly five minutes for two grades to grab their lunch. It's safe to say that lunch has been a hit and has brought back a sense of normality to the school day.

INFOGRAPHIC BY: AIMEN KAZMI

THAT'S A WRAP: MUSIC IN 2020 Hutchison's playlist recommendations, Grammy predictions, and thoughts on how the indescribable 2020 was defined by music.

The number of people who put down Juice Wrld and Lil Peep as their top artists would be alarming in any other circumstance, but we’re talking about 2020. It’s no secret that this year was hard for everyone. A global pandemic merely headlined the string of heartache we have experienced in recent months. (But seriously… Lil Peep? Are you guys okay?) Present last year, when many things typical to daily life weren’t, was music. Long-awaited releases from a multitude of music-industry heavy-hitters arrived, as well as break-out projects from faces that have quickly become familiar. Dominating the airwaves were albums like Harry Styles’ late 2019 release, Fine Line , a pair of surprise albums from Taylor Swift, and The Weeknd’s After Hours . Early hits like “Blinding Lights,” “Dance Monkey,” and “The Box” held strong throughout the year to come out as Spotify’s most streamed songs of 2020. Here at Hutchison, our unique environment resulted in a different hierarchy of artists and standout songs.

Juice Wrld, Kanye, Taylor Swift, and of course our boys from One Direction topped the students’ list of artists, while the clear standout for song of the year was Olivia Rodrigo’s “All I Want.” Her follow-up, “drivers license,” has a strong chance of topping 2021’s list as well, but let’s hope that’s where the similarities to last year end. In 2020 Tik Tok continued to gain popularity (and hours of screen time) among teens across America, emerging as a powerful outlet for musical exposure. The app’s influence on a song’s image is, however, a double-edged sword. While the platform is an excellent place for finding new songs to love, hearing music on Tik Tok can also have the opposite effect. Breland Meyers ‘22 reflected that, “I like when I find songs [on Tik Tok], but I get annoyed when they are overplayed.” Her sentiments were echoed by juniors Hayden Miller and Lawson Bolton. “I’m normally put off by them,” agreed Hayden, “‘l’lI think of them as Tik Tok songs.” The trio also commented on the amount of music they listened to in 2020. Not only was last year especially emotional, but also a pivotal year for many highschoolers for a different reason: “I definitely listened to more music since getting my license,” Lawson observed.

“I only listen to music when I’m driving,” confirmed Hayden. "Same. Unless I’m crying. Or in the shower,” added Lawson. Happy (or in Lawson’s case, sad) listening Hutch!

By: Wylly Willmott

DODGING CRAMPED CLASSROOMS N

ow that Hutchison Upper School is completely back on campus, the school is challenged with finding socially distanced activities for students to participate in. To resolve overcrowding inside the buildings, the school has asked councils, clubs, and teachers to think outside of the box to create fun games for everyone during Y block, which is the school wide free period. Joy Club recently hosted an activity where students designed holiday cards for the residents at the Baddour Center. Black and Gold team captains hosted a kickball game on the lacrosse field during Y block. Students also hosted a corn hole tournament, this activity lasted over the span of a few days and many students got involved.

Peer Council and Athletic Council joined together to host a dodgeball tournament on the field. The girls who participated said,“it was a fun way to pass time.” Maxine Engel, the president of the Athletics Council “hopes more people will sign up for their future activities.” Every council and club is working hard to create exciting events that students will want to participate in. With the capacity and social distancing rules Hutchison has in place, the majority of these activities take place outside. Although seniors are allowed to leave during the Y block periods, this still leaves underclassmen on campus. During normal times students would be allowed to go anywhere on

campus to spend their free time. Social distancing guidelines have significantly decreased the spaces that are open to students. These events have seen a positive student turn out. While these events have been very successful, there are many more planned for the future. The first Food for Thought will take place on November 20th in Sanders. Hutchison alumni Lillie Flenorl, a senior communication specialist at Fedex. Student Life is also hosting a capture the flag game on November 20th, and the winning teams receive prizes. The school hopes that these exciting events allow girls to have something positive to look forward to.

By: Emma Couch 11

By: Lucy Hettinger

BARRETT'S BACKLASH P

ersonal connections and conflicts surface after Rhodes alum Amy Coney Barrett is nominated for the Supreme Court. After the passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Donald Trump had the choice to replace her spot on the Supreme Court or hold off until the 2020 election had passed. “The sitting president has the option of who to nominate. The candidate will be sent to the floor of the Senate to be voted on and to participate in hearings,” said Debate teacher John Reynolds. A Supreme Court Justice has no term limit and serves on the judicial branch of the United States government. They are responsible for taking cases and providing justice under law. A position on the Supreme Court opening doesn’t happen frequently, only when a justice passes or retires. However, former president Barack Obama had a similar experience when faced with replacing a justice after Antonin Scalia passed. This resurfaced and caused conflict and disagreement between parties regarding if Trump should wait until after the election. “The heart of the issue is that in 2016, the Senate requested there be no hearing until a new president was elected, and Obama complied with that,” said Reynolds. “It now looks hypocritical for the republicans controlling the Senate” to agree to letting Trump nominate Amy Coney Barrett. People across America have spoken their opinions on this matter. A particularly vocal group has been Rhodes alumnus. “My understanding is that Rhodes alumni sent a letter to the college in opposition of Amy Coney Barrett,” said Reynolds. “They claim she does not represent the values of Rhodes College.” Rhodes College is a liberal arts college located in Memphis, TN, that Barrett attended and graduated from. The President Marjorie Haas sent a letter in response to the alums. “Many students have written to me over the past days,” wrote Haas. “At Rhodes, we value critical thought, resonated debate, and the development of personal values, and the ability to engage across differences.” Haas outlined that Rhodes prepares free thinkers and “the Rhodes connection to the Supreme Court is a source of institutional pride.” President Haas’s response received both backlash and support.

Photo by Lucy Hettinger This image was taken from a 1991 Rhodes College yearbook. This is Amy Coney Barrett’s freshman picture.

“She is a model of what you can do with a Rhodes education, and she is super smart,” claims one of Reynold’s friends. “I am still in contact with her.” She was known to be accomplished and had an exceptional record of academic achievement while at Rhodes. People are digging out their old yearbooks and choosing to remember the good things about their classmate, even if their beliefs differ from hers. “It is very rare we get these personal connections, so even when there is polarization, use your network and go places,” said Reynolds.

By: Zoe Ford and Ana Hunter

ENGINEERING YOUR FUTURE At Hutchison, we work hard in advanced math and science classes towards our future. What if we could integrate those skills in real world problems while networking with women across the globe? The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is a global organization that empowers women through STEM training and exposure to different engineering disciplines. Founded in 1950, the society has amassed over 42,000 members ranging from 60 countries across the globe. An important aspect of SWE is that the organization strives to be inclusive of its diverse community and recognizes “[…] that the scope of diversity includes race/ethnicity, religion, family status, age, physical abilities, sexual and affectional orientation, actual or perceived gender, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status and occupational focus” (Society of Women Engineers). Through this acknowledgement, SWE not only promotes diversity in engineering but diversity in the people affiliated with the organization. The society’s members will work to ensure that females of all ages can see that engineers work to solve real-world problems to improve the quality of life for all; in showing that engineering can be impactful to lives around the world, engineering will be seen not only as a top choice of education but a top profession for women. The opportunities SWE presents to students of all ages are many, and they reach girls from across the globe. Therefore, to get a sense of how it can impact a person, we decided to get in contact with Mallory A. Gullett, a senior at the University of Memphis as well as the President of SWE and an Engineering Ambassador there. She explained how her love of engineering only started later in high school since a

teacher introduced her to engineering after seeing her enthusiasm for math in an effort to find her niche in the web of engineering disciplines, Gullett researched until she found Biomedical Engineering — the application of engineering to medicine and biology. She tells us that “My ultimate goal is for my work to help others to restore their health so they may live longer, healthier lives.” When she entered college with this in mind, she learned about SWE

The mission of SWE is to “Empower women to achieve full potential in careers as engineers and leaders, expand the image of the engineering and technology professions as a positive force in improving the quality of life, and demonstrate the value of diversity and inclusion” ” — Society of Women Engineers and what it could offer. Looking back, she says that “I cannot tell you where I would be without SWE.” As a freshman in college, she joined SWE and took full advantage of the amazing opportunities it presented her with. Through SWE, she has learned effective study methods, connected with collegiate and professional members of SWE and engineering as a whole, and worked

on her professional development through various workshops and mock interviews. These skills, along with others picked up along the way, have shaped her in ways she couldn't have imagined SWE has programs dedicated to all age groups from lower school and up. Their Youth Program, SWENext, is a new club we are piloting this year at Hutchison. SWENext allows high school girls to connect with professional engineers and also allows students to explore various engineering topics and studies. Some of the engineering branches our club is looking to tackle this year include technical, computer, and environmental engineering. The more members the SWENext club at Hutchison amasses, the more branches we can spread to accordingly. Consequently, our club is structured in a different way than the traditional club is at Hutchison; whenever a member of our club becomes interested in an engineering topic, event, or branch, she can research and present her interests to the rest of the club. The club can expand from those findings and create a project based on it for service hours. For example, a big project we are researching this year is a solar powered rooftop garden! This ultimately benefits Hutchison and our community by promoting sustainable energy through aesthetically pleasing and environmentally healthy ways. Join the SWENext club to engineer the change you want to see in the world!Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare via EmailPrint

Page 43

TOP SHOWS OF NETFLIX IN 2020

By: Estelle Turner

As 2020 came to a close, it is very obvious that this year we did a lot of binge watching on Netflix, more than usual. Since quarantine, everyone finally has some new spare time that wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t there before, so many people have found new movies and TV shows to watch to keep themselves occupied.

While not many new TV shows have come out this year (due to preventing the spread of COVID-19) there were still some shows that came out. Along with that, people found time to go back and re-watch their old favorite television shows. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m Not Okay With This is a teen comedy/drama that viewers were obsessed with around this time last year, Tiger King was trending all over social media back when quarantine first started, and Love is Blind kept people interested for they wanted to know if you really could love someone without seeing them. While these were some of the top favorites for teenagers in the U.S., here is what Hutchison students were watching in 2020.

TOP TV SHOWS THE OFFICE CRIMINAL MINDS

GOSSIP GIRL EMILY IN PARIS OUTER BANKS

THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

TOP MOVIES THE NOTEBOOK

AFTER THE KISSING BOOTH PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER

10 THINGS I

HATE ABOUT YOU

LET IT SNOW Like TV shows, not a whole lot of movies came out because of the coronavirus. Not as many movies trended as shows did. However, a movie that trended called Enola Holmes which followed the sister of Sherlock Holmes came out last September, and viewers loved the sweet story. Here are some student favorites of the year: While there was a lot to watch on Netflix in 2020, there is even more to watch in 2021. With a new year, comes more tv shows and movies to binge.

WHAT TO WATCH IN 2021 17 AGAIN COBRA KAI 3 MALCOM AND MARIE SHERLOCK HOLMES

WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE

NAILED IT 3

PARTIES IN A PANDEMIC By: Lucy Hettinger

elebrating with loved ones is still doable, it just might look different from past years. Birthday parties have been more creative this year due to the ever so popular COVID-19 pandemic. Drive through parties, outdoor gatherings, and virtual dance parties are just a few ways people have still been able to celebrate birthdays during COVID. The CDC recommends that people limit their exposures and promote healthy behaviors to slow the spread. Celebrating a big milestone like a birthday is important, so follow this guide to help plan your next birthday. “If the numbers stay like they are now, I would not throw a large party. I would have a few friends over in the backyard with masks,” said junior Carter Strickland. If you are hosting an in person party, limit the number of invites, have masks on hand, and choose an outdoor venue. A backyard is a cost efficient and great place to keep people spread out during a party. Provide disinfectant wipes and hand sanitizer to the guests and require masks when not eating. In addition, have prepackaged snacks and drinks like bottled water and bagged cookies. These guidelines do not eradicate the risk but greatly reduces it. “There are going to be people more cautious than others, be respectful of the family and other guests to make sure they feel comfortable and safe during this time of trouble,” said Strickland. If you are attending, do a self-assessment before you leave. If you feel sick then stay home, this helps keep yourself and others safe. Follow the rules of the host and comply with the guidelines they have set out. Come ready to have a good time and celebrate! “If I threw a zoom birthday, I would go all out and go around the city and drop off goodie bags on everyone's doorstep,” said Carter Strickland. If in person seems a little too risky, throw yourself a zoom party. Perks of a zoom party include but are not limited too: no masks necessary, no maximum number of guests, and you can stay in your super comfy sweatpants and no one will know. Themes are something to consider when having a zoom party. Some crowd favorites are dance parties, game nights, and costume competitions. “I enjoyed still being able to celebrate my friend and her special day,” said Strickland. Birthdays can still be memorable and exciting while keeping people safe in the midst of COVID. It is important to still celebrate the good times with the people you love. “Get out and see people and talk about times preCOVID,” said Strickland. “It will be a big stress-reliever.”

This map shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location. You can reduce the risk that one case becomes many by wearing a mask, distancing, and gathering outdoors in smaller groups The risk level is the estimated chance (0-100%) that at least 1 COVID-19 positive individual will be present at an event in a county, given the size of the event.

COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool

https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/

The Mandalorian and its impact on Star Wars By: Aimen Kazmi

*SPOILER ALERT FOR THE MANDALORIAN* Star Wars: one of the most influential and popular

franchises in the history of pop culture. Ever since its initial release in 1977, George Lucas’ Star Wars gained massive popularity, as it is “the first epic sci-fi space adventure to be told on a grand scale” (Derek Togerson from NBC). However, Star Wars wasn’t popular only because of its unique genre. It was popular because of the lovable characters like Han Solo and Chewbacca, iconic moments like Darth Vader’s, “Luke, I am your father,” and the memorable soundtrack composed by John Williams. Star Wars also expands itself from movies to other forms of media, such as books, comics, toys, and now TV shows on streaming platforms.

Even though Star Wars is a beloved franchise, there are polarizing opinions from fans, regarding the most recent trilogy. Some fans claim that the new trilogy was fairly enjoyable, while others believe that it wasted its potential. Ever since the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2019, the general feedback from the Star Wars fanbase is negative, as it currently has a 51% score on Rotten Tomatoes, 53% on Metacritic, and a rating of 6.6/10 on IMDb. “The Rise of Skywalker is a bad movie and a miserable finale that served no other purpose other than to reassure adult fans of the original Star Wars that they are still the ‘chosen ones,’” Scott Mendelson from Forbes said,

The problem isn’t just that it absolutely walks back a number of potent reveals and plot threads from the last movie [...] the movie spends almost its entire running time retconning its predecessor and adding painfully conventional ‘plot twists’ and patronizing reversals in the name of mollifying the fans who merely want to be reminded of the first three movies.” However, before the release of The Rise of Skywalker, a spin-off series The Mandalorian was released on November 12, 2019 on Disney+. Ever since the release of The Mandalorian, fans were ecstatic, as many claim that it is the best installment in the Star Wars universe by far. The Mandalorian is a western-styled show that is set five years after Return of the Jedi. The series follows the Mandalorian, also known as Mando, as he goes on missions for his clients. Well, what made The Mandalorian so charming? Besides the adorable ‘father-and-son’ dynamic between Baby Yoda (now named Grogu) and the well-written protagonist, there are many reasons why The Mandalorian is so great. “It’s not easy to tell a Star Wars story - let alone one that has anything new to say,” Laura Prudom from IGN said, “The Mandalorian draws heavily from the classic Western and samurai movie tropes that inspired George Lucas when he created the original films.”

The Mandalorian manages to take that classic Star Wars charm, and tell a fresh

story. It didn’t need to rely on the Skywalker Saga to make it interesting, unlike Episodes VII-IX. Instead, The Mandalorian explores the expanded universe with a completely new character who has no connections to already established characters like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo. Additionally, the characterization of Mando is very well done, as he can display genuine emotion without the need to show his face. Furthermore, the show isn’t afraid to display a couple of fanservice moments, only to further the plot and to get Star Wars fans theorizing and anticipating what's going to happen next. Some of these fan-service moments are more prominent in Season 2, as some fan-favorite characters make their grand return. Examples include Ahsoka Tano’s and Bo-Katan’s first live-action appearances, and Boba Fett’s surprising comeback after Return of the Jedi. However, those character returns weren’t as huge and jaw dropping as what happened in the Season 2 finale, as the famous Luke Skywalker makes a surprise cameo. Not only was that scene surprising, but it was fulfilling for all Star Wars fans alike. “The impact of seeing Luke himself step out of the past and into this story couldn’t have been more perfect,” Alan Sepinwall from the Rolling Stone said, “And having Grogu [Baby Yoda] essentially watch Luke Skywalker on television only adds to the power of it. Grogu is us, as children, seeing Star Wars for the first time, gasping at the idea of an all-powerful Force that binds the universe and makes everything better.” And even after the return of Luke Skywalker, the finale ends with an impactful scene where Mando has to say his final goodbye to Grogu. That scene is another one of the surprises the series pulls because it has Mando removing his helmet not for the purpose of getting a mission done in time, but to show his true self to the child he protected at all costs. And after saying his goodbye, Luke leaves with Grogu, saying the classic phrase, “May the Force be with you.” Overall, The Mandalorian is considered to be the best installment in the Star Wars universe because not only was it satisfying for fans who were disappointed after The Rise of Skywalker, but the series told a fresh story with a compelling protagonist, rich soundtrack, and that classic Star Wars charm.

PEONY • 3

DANCE

TEAM

update

The Hutchison dance team brings a lot of school spirit to home games. Their cheers are energetic and they excite the crowd . They stopped preforming in December, due to a rise in Covid19 cases. Practice is still a productive way for the dancers to stay in shape and learn knew skills. "Yes, we're still learning dances for upcoming performances," Gracie Wilkinson said. "Our coach Jamie is very serious about dance team and wants us to be in our best shape whenever we can go back to dance team and back to preforming," said Adela Calzada.

Covid19 has halted many activities that are out of the schools control. "One main reason is because of the TSAA, they told us no cheer, not even with masks on." said Adela. Dance team members hope to be back on the court soon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yes! The games are always so fun and I just love cheering on my friends especially because our team is so good this year," Gracie stated. Adela agrees "we all really do miss it, and we really miss the excitement of it."

By: Jynesis Jones 20

STUDENT STARTUP S

By: Lucy Hettinger

tudents with small businesses sell their handmade goods during the school day in the Hutchison library. Jewelry, paintings, and stickers are only some of the things sold at Hutchison’s Holiday House. Holiday House is an annual holiday market for Hutchison students with small businesses to sell their goods and learn about entrepreneurship. Students received an interest survey and were found via social media to participate in Holiday House. Signature programs coordinator Makayla Boswell said, “I stalked them on Instagram to figure out who had small businesses and set up workshops for the vendors to learn about presenting and selling their work.” Each vendor attended workshops and received tips for setting up art with easels and using jewelry holders. “I learned a lot about pricing my art at the workshops,” said Lilly Rower, owner and creator of @lillyrdesignshop. The vendors get to keep one hundred percent of the money they make at Holiday House. They also learn how to be smart with their money and how to interact with people to make the best sales . Lilly Rower, one of the seven Hutchison girls that participated in Holiday House, sells canvases, wooden boards, coasters that she hand designs. She uses a Adobe Sketch and Procreate on her Ipad to make the designs. “Then I put it on a thick paper and onto a canvas,” says Rower. She created twenty two canvases in preparation for Holiday House. “I get most of my supplies from Micheals and Amazon,” added Rower. Most of the other vendors also get their supplies from art stores around Memphis or online. "Just make a plan and go for it,” says Rower. Her advice to other high school students wanting to start a small business is “to find something that you enjoy and keep at it.” Creating a small business in high school is a great creative outlet and way to make money. Boswell says, “There are benefits to having a small business in high school. You learn how to work on deadlines, make a profit, and display your work.”

THE EFFECTS OF SAD BY: Ava Dickson

The short, dark days of winter are the worst time of the year. I began noticing this in elementary school with second graders. Almost every week, there was a new drama. I began dreading the time between the holidays and spring break because everyone seemed grumpy and impatient, and it’s continued every year since then. We may not be fighting over crayons, but for many, this time of the year compounds feelings of anxiety and depression. It’s more than the let-down after the holidays. It is a real, medical condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately referred to as SAD. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that's related to changes in seasons — SAD begins and ends at about the same times every year. If you're like most people with SAD, your symptoms start in the fall and continue into the winter months, sapping your energy and making you feel moody. Less often, SAD causes depression in the spring or early summer.” Dr. Shane Speights, Dean of the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University says, “SAD is known to affect up to 3% of the U.S. population. In survey data, it seems to affect women more often than men, but when you look closer, and remove some of the bias in the surveys, it actually appears that men have a higher lifetime prevalence over women.” Dr. Speights sees a connection between SAD and outdoor activities. He sees his patients improve as the weather gets warmer, “The vast majority of patients tell me they can tell a distinct difference when spring comes and the days are longer and they are able to go outside more often.” SAD is said to peak in the mid-winter months due to the shorter days and lack of sunlight, but there is a light at the end of that very dark seasonal affective tunnel. Experts with the National Institute of Mental Health say light therapy is the best treatment. “Since the 1980s, light therapy has been a mainstay for the treatment of SAD. It aims to expose people with SAD to a bright light every day to make up for the diminished natural sunshine in the darker months.” Dr. Speights says about 60% of patients will respond to light therapy and not all want or require medication. A device called a light box can be a literal lifesaver this time of the year, and they are not unreasonably priced. Different versions are available on Amazon and range anywhere from $25 - $300, but they can also be found at almost any major retailer. They are easy to use and are small enough to sit on a tabletop. It takes from ten to thirty minutes each morning and if you 22 experience SAD yearly, doctors say it’s good to go ahead and get started using a light box in the fall.

CARMYN'S JOURNEY TO GEORGIA

By: Jynesis Jones

There are 2 signing Athletes at Hutchison. Our superstar we’ll be interviewing is Carmyn Harrison, a member of the basketball team at Hutchison school. She is currently a senior, and she will be attending Georgia Tech next year.

The Start Carmyn's love for basketball started young. “In the third grade I used to go to after school care, and part of it was you finish your homework then go to the gym. I would always go to the gym and we would play 21 with this group of kids from all the other schools,” Carmyn Harrison said. She was inspired to play basketball, so she could be able to attend college. “I knew my mother couldn't afford it, so I kind of used it as a tool to get a free education,” said Carmyn. She has had to overcome some challenges in her years of basketball. “Goal-orienting and focusing have been challenging,” Carmyn Harrison said.

The Journey Years in basketball helped her develop as a player. “I think I got a better basketball IQ because I started it so early,” Carmyn said.She doesn't want to go to the WNBA, but she thinks it'll be a good opportunity. “Hopefully when I finish college I would have the opportunity to be great, but to be honest WNBA players don't get paid a lot of money, so if i did have the opportunity to play professionally, i'll probably wanna play overseas somewhere,” Carmyn stated. She is preparing for Georgia Tech by staying Healthy during this pandemic. “I don't wanna expose my friends or family members, so i'll probably continue to get tested regularly and wear a face mask of course,” said Harrison. This is a big moment for Carmyn Harrison and a great opportunity. She is excited to be signed into Georgia Tech and play for their basketball team. WIth the support of her family, friends, and teammates, she is ready to start this new chapter of her life.

Black & Gold Inductions

MADAM VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS SHATTERED THE GLASS CEILING

By: Estelle Turner

amala Harris makes history for she is the first ever female, black, and South Asian vice president. There have been many important women in politics such as Hillary Clinton, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Michelle Obama. All of these women have been huge role models for girls all across the country, and now it is Harris’s turn to become a role model for everyone. While there have been women in politics, no woman has been in Harris’s position before. Deborah Brown, tenth grade history teacher, says, “Historically, the role of women in U.S. politics has been virtually nonexistent. There has been a lot of political activism on the part of women throughout U.S. history, but in terms of holding government positions, it’s been a tough road to achieve equal representation.” It has only been one hundred years since women even got the right to vote, and since many women have tried to get involved in politics, but it is still dominated by men. Since Hutchison is an all-girls school, it is important for women to be represented in higher positions because of its impact. Brown says, “At an all-girls school like Hutchison, I think it goes without saying that the student body is inspired by Kamala Harris, or any other woman who has worked to achieve such success. Hutchison teaches its students to find their voice and lead boldly. I think Vice President Harris embodies these very ideas.” Many students think it is great to have a female vice president. Brooke Fair, class of 2023, explains, “I think it is really important for women and girls to see themselves represented as positions in power. If we ever want to have a society in which genders are equal, we need to see ourselves represented.” She uses an analogy and says that if someone reads a book and the character is just like them, then they might be inspired to go and do what that character did. Same goes for when a girl looks up to a woman in power across the world. According to womenwin.org, some young girls need to see traits such as confidence, intelligence, and leadership in order to see those traits in themselves and be inspired. Girls will think that they can’t do something if they only see men in power, but with Harris as vice president, it could show girls across the country that they can do whatever they set their minds to. When asked how young girls might look up to Harris, Fair responds, “They would look up to her in the sense that she was able to make it where she is not because she was married to or the daughter of someone powerful. It is because she was educated. Young girls can see her and realize that being vice president, or even president, is an attainable goal."

SOCIAL MEDIA CENSORSHIP By: Aimen Kazmi

ocial media is considered to be the most popular way to communicate, but it is also considered to be one of major causes for issues like cyberbullying, trolls (people who provoke others online), and hackers. Not only that, social media platforms like Facebook or YouTube also have an issue, regarding censorship. Censorship is the prohibition or restriction of any media that is considered to be offensive or threatening. Censorship can be seen as beneficial, as it does protect users from interacting with harmful content. However, it is argued that censorship is an infringement of the First Amendment, freedom of speech. “Although the United States has a First Amendment protecting free speech,” Barry Mauer from UCF said. “it does not extend to the workplace, the classroom, or the dinner table. It is limited to the press, to religion, to assemblies, and to petitions." Censorship can be expressed as something that can infringe on freedom of speech, as it does suppress the words of those online. However, the protections of the First Amendment aren’t absolute, as there are many interpretations on how the First Amendment works. Not only that, but censorship enforces the limitations on the freedoms the First Amendment offers (i.e. limitations on hate speech or illegal conduct). However, it is also argued that censorship on social media is faulty, as it also hinders awareness of certain topics, such as politics. The most recent cases of censorship on social media occurred when Facebook and Twitter decided to monitor posts regarding the 2020 election, as both platforms block questionable posts. The main purpose of the blockage was to stop the spread of inaccurate information and conspiracy theories. Such as Twitter once blocking a controversial New York Post story about Hunter Biden, President elect Joe Biden’s son. Although Facebook’s and Twitter’s new policies are seen to have good intentions, they both have sparked controversy. According to NPR news, Republicans claim that the new policies from Facebook censors conservatives unfairly, while Democrats say that such platforms should monitor harmful content. "People have different ideas and views about where the line should be,” Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, said. “Democrats often say that we don’t remove enough content, and Republicans often say we remove too much.” And because of the controversy surrounding the new policies, questions were raised about Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. Section 230 states that an interactive computer service can’t be treated as the publisher of any third-party content. That means that Section 230 protects websites from lawsuits if a user posts something illegal, with the exceptions of copyright violations and others. Additionally, Section 230 gives internet companies the power to make decisions about what content should be on their platforms. Both Mark Zuckerberg and CEO of Twitter Jack Dorsey said that online platforms should be more transparent about their decisions about what kind of content stays up and what they censor. Not only that, but Jack Dorsey also accepts the criticisms against Section 230, as he understands that the policies of social networks can feel “like a black box” to users. “I hope this illustrates the rationale behind our actions, and demonstrates our ability to take feedback amid the stakes and make changes all transparently to the public,” Jack Dorsey said. Besides the topic of the 2020 election that has caused censorship across the media, information about the Coronavirus is also being suppressed. When the virus broke out across the world, the importance of internet access was made clear, as having access to information about the virus can protect one’s individual health, along with the health of family and friends. However, it was until COVID-19 clashed with politics, and many world governments decided to censor reliable websites, suppressing the

spread of information regarding the virus. One example is President Trump’s political appointees Paul Alexander trying to silence top officials at the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, or the CDC, by attempting to have career civil servants rewrite CDC guidelines and trying to convince Dr. Anthony Fauci to refrain from encouraging children wear masks, which Fauci declined. Another popular example of censorship on social media is YouTube and their monetization policy. It has been known that YouTubers have censored or “demonetized” videos that contain content or discuss subjects that may be seen as sensitive, as an attempt to make the platform safer and more accessible to younger viewers and advertisers. However, YouTube’s demonetization policy has been faced with backlash, as many creators on the platform claim that it is frustrating because they aren’t getting enough reach in the algorithm. Not only that, demonetization prevents creators from gaining ad-revenue, meaning that they aren’t getting the income they usually get from their videos, and for most of the time, their videos get demonetized for small reasons. Even at the beginning of 2020, YouTube had to comply with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by following the Childhood Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which means that they had to remove advertisements from content that are child-directed.

It has been debated whether or not censorship is a good thing for the internet. Censorship does do a good job of preventing harmful or misleading content from reaching users, like how both Mark Zuckerberg and Jack Dorsey wanted to prevent false information from spreading across their platforms, or YouTube trying to protect their young viewers. However, censorship isn’t perfect, as it can be used for the wrong reasons, like how the Trump Administration tried to silence the CDC guidelines for handling the Coronavirus, along with the faults in YouTube’s monetization policy.

BEELINE BAZAAR Junior class officers are hard at work with administrators to make this spring’s Beeline Bazaar a reality while meeting Shelby County Health Department directives. It is looking to be somewhat scaled back, but we will make it a great one! If you have or know of a business you would like to see featured in this year’s Beeline Bazaar, email us at: lrodenhiser@hutchisonschool.org adickson@hutchisonschool.org cbrickey@hutchisonschool.org rperry@hutchisonschool.org. We want to hear from you!

MAKING THE MOST OF VIRTUAL COLLEGE VISITS By: Ava Dickson The COVID-19 pandemic has us rethinking every aspect of education from high school classes to college visits. Hutchison’s Director of College Counseling, Lauren Colpitts, offers advice on making the most of virtual college visits. Q: How would you describe virtual college visits? For this year, we are actually offering two different types of virtual college visits. During the school day, we have invited colleges to visit with us virtually from noon to 1pm. There has been a school almost every day at noon and another at 12:30pm. We’ve had 56 schools virtually visit so far this fall. Those types of visits are meant to replicate what previously happened when colleges were actually coming to Hutchison during the school day and visiting our students. Those visits have been small, but that has really allowed students to learn a lot about a school and essentially have a one-on-one session with an admissions counselor. One of us sits in on those meetings and if students aren’t there, then that’s been a way for us to ask the counselor questions, hear updates about what’s happening on their campus, and especially in terms of applications, how that process is looking for the classes of 2021 and 2022. In previous years, we’ve planned “The Evening With Colleges” event with Memphis University School and St. Mary’s, and there have been three rotating locations. This year, because of COVID, we weren’t able to do those. Over the summer, the Directors of College Counseling from all three schools planned to do different types of events virtually so that students and parents could continue to get this information. We had the idea of creating the visits around a focused theme, instead of overwhelming everyone with forty different colleges all at once. There will be a total of eleven themed visits. They started in September. Each speaker gives a presentation, usually with slides as a highlevel overview of their school. We talk a bit about their individual application process, and then we open it up for questions. Students have been asking really great questions. We hope that even when we are able to go back to in-person visits, we are still able to keep this idea of a theme because I think that’s been helpful for students to either explore new types of schools or to focus on the schools in their particular areas of interest. (“The Evening With Colleges” typically happens at 6:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and a link is emailed to students and families each week.) Q: How are colleges carrying out the virtual visits? Every college in the world, right now, has invested a lot of resources into their individual college visits, so you could go on any school’s website and do a virtual college tour, or a virtual admissions presentation. Every school is just doing it a little differently.

Some are going live and you can schedule a specific time to meet and talk to them. There are even some schools where you can go on a live virtual college tour with a tour guide walking you around campus. It all depends on the resources and what is available. I know everyone is getting a little overwhelmed with Zoom-fatigue and they understand that, but this is also a great opportunity to learn about schools that have not been on your radar or to really continue to show that you are interested in a school, even if you can’t visit them in person. Q: Are there any in-person college visits right now, and what is your advice for those? There are some schools that are offering in-person visits. It really depends on the region. The northeast does not offer in-person college visits right now, but I know for example in the south, Tulane has been able to continue to offer their in-person tours. It really just depends on the region. I think when you’re planning college visits just remember to schedule in advance and be flexible because they could potentially change even an hour before you get there if they see a spike in COVID-19 cases. I think a lot of schools may not necessarily be allowing visiting students to go into buildings. You won’t see as many students right now on campuses, but hopefully, by the spring, we will begin to see a more typical college-visit experience return. Q: What are tips for virtual college visits? Just go for it! Virtual visits are a great way to collect information. Don’t be worried if you are the only person meeting with the admissions representative. They are really nice people. It’s meant to be a conversation. It’s not meant to be anything super formal and it goes a long way in getting to know the personality of a school, just by talking to someone from the admissions office. If it’s a school you are already interested in, come prepared with questions and think about questions that you could not easily find on their website. Admissions counselors don’t necessarily love it when you ask general questions like, “How’s your English department?.” Think of more specific questions like “What are the internship opportunities for English majors?” or “What research opportunities are available?.” For colleges that do track demonstrated interest, the virtual visits are a way for them to continue to do that. They are collecting that information and they are going to remember if a student took the time to meet with them virtually as well. If a student is going to have a virtual admissions interview, our college counseling department loves to help with interview preparation and we are more than happy to do that. In fact, we do that pretty regularly. Q: Do most students bring their college essays to you for help? This year, Mrs. Wilson and I are the primary college counselors for the class of 2021. Mrs. Daniel is newer to our school and does not necessarily have a cohort assigned to her right now so that she can get acquainted with all of our students. She will begin having students from the junior, sophomore and freshman classes. We really wanted her to be able to get to know students so we decided to have her be the point-person for college essays and ever since we announced this, she has been booked every single day with eight to fifteen appointments a day, helping girls with their essays. Mrs. Wilson and I help too. We love to watch your story come to life and help students to see that it’s the little things that we do every single day that turn into the best essays. It’s not necessarily something that’s so profound. It’s the scary or overwhelming part of the application process and it just isn’t something that should be scary or overwhelming because we are here to help everyone with their essays. We have a fun event planned with an application party since November 1 is the first of the big admissions application deadlines. We are inviting students who want to come up and work with us on Wednesday in the afternoon or evening. We are helping students put finishing touches on their applications or just to be there for them when they hit “submit.” We want to make it fun! Q: How many colleges should be on my application list? Typically for Hutchison students, about six or seven schools is the average, however, if students want to apply to 25 schools, we support that.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT The Hutchison Leadership Department is constantly looking for ways that students can learn and become confident in a professional setting. The Food for Thought series invites professionals to come speak to Hutchison girls and educate them on their career path, and what skills they use daily. Many of these speakers have been Hutchison alumni, they are able to elaborate on how their time at Hutchison set them up for a successful future. Rachna Dave, Hutchison class of 2009, recently spoke to Hutchison girls about her journey as she completes her final year of University of Tennesseeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical School. Rachna spoke to students about how the classes she took at Hutchison and the friendships she made prepared her to have an amazing college and medical school career. Rachna is a very active Hutchison alumni, and is on the track of being the first medical doctor in the class of 2009. These meaningful Food for Thought seminars bring a variety of professionals who provide seasoned advice and guidance to the young women at Hutchison. Food for Thought gives students an outlet to make connections in a professional world, have their questions answered, and make educated decisions about their future career paths.

By: Emma Couch

LUNCH IS BACK By: Lucy Hettinger

One of the best things about coming back after the break has been the reinstatement of the Hutchison lunch plan. Students are thrilled to have the option to eat the famous Chef Willieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s food again. Although the lunch is served grab and go style, it still features some Hutchison favorites like chicken tenders and fried ravioli. To reduce waste, the food awaits hungry students in reusable green boxes, which can be returned in one of the 15 plastic bins around campus. The pickup line has moved quickly, and it takes roughly five minutes for two grades to grab their lunch. It's safe to say that lunch has been a hit and has brought back a sense of normality to the school day.

WAVE OF DESTRUCTION STRIKES PHILLIPINES By: Lacy Williams

On November 1, 2020, Typhoon Goni struck the Philippines and was labeled as the strongest typhoon of the year. Typhoon Goni killed 17 people and displaced over 2 million. Only 10 days later, Typhoon Vamco struck the same places Typhoon Goni hit. Although it was not as harsh as Typhoon Goni, it prevented the archipelago from recovering from the previous damage already caused. Typhoon Vamco was the fifth storm to strike the Philippines in just 3 weeks. Due to these constant natural disasters, over 240,000 people have lost their homes, and scientists have warned that these natural disasters can only get worse. The Philippines have been known for receiving a massive amount of tropical storms during this time of the year. On average, the country receives about 20 typhoons per year, 5 of which are destructive because it is located along the Ring of Fire, a large Pacific Ocean region where many volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. However, scientists have warned that natural disasters have been getting increasingly worse due to climate change. This year, 22 storms have already hit, and most of them have caused severe damage. Volunteers from the Red Cross and UNICEF have been sent over to help retrieve citizens who have been trapped on the roofs of their homes and find missing family members, but this job has not been easy on them either due to the coronavirus which has placed many restricting orders on volunteers to ensure their safety. The Philippine Red Cross Chairman Richard Gordon stated,

â&#x20AC;&#x153;these non-stop storms are slamming our communities during a deadly pandemic, making this one of the most complicated disaster responses ever.â&#x20AC;? The easiest way for members of the Hutchison community to help provide aid during these troubling times would be to donate to the Red Cross and UNICEF. They are the most direct form of aid. Awareness is also a big key to providing help. Many teens have taken to social media to relay information they hear and provide updates to peers. The more people that are aware of what is going on at the moment, the more help the country can receive. Although climate change is a very difficult issue to solve at the moment, any help towards the people of the Philippines would be a great start.

Comic by: Alex Beard