Volume 78, Issue 2

Please indicate how you identify yourself.

American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander White

St. Teresa's Academy | Kansas City, MO| Volume 78, Issue 2

26

12

30

contents

News

table of

4. Group Counseling program introduced

2

October 22, 2018

Perspectives

Star Spotlight

6. Maggie Dodderidge and Mady Mudd

21. Blame predators, not survivors 22. Suicide prevention should be a priority 23. Kohrs compromises quality

A&E

Sports Feature

Reviews

Community

9. Juniors see "Becoming Martin" at the Coterie 10. "The Hate U Give"

Features

24. Students start Croquet Club

26. Open Spaces brings arts to Swope Park

12. Student Ambassadors program 14. Exploring catcalling

Last Look

culture

28. What Halloween costume do you embody?

Centerspread

Photo Essay

16. Affirmative Action challenged

30. Boulevard Drive-In

letter

from the editors Dear readers, Our cover story this issue is about affirmative action. Anna Ronan and Ella Norton spoke to representatives at UMKC and Rockhurst University to see how these policies factor into the admissions process. The issue has been brought to the forefront as Students for Fair Admissions, a group of Asian-American students, are suing Harvard on the basis of what they claim to be unfair admissions policies.

A new club has joined the list of extracurriculars at STA: Croquet Club. You can find them in the quad with their colorful clubs and wickets, and turn to page 24 to read Annabelle Meloy’s story, with photos by Olivia Wirtz.

“The Hate U Give,” a movie based off of the book of the same title, hit theaters this month.

It follows high schooler Starr Carter after her friend is shot by a police officer. For thoughts on the movie and its message, read Faith Andrews-O’Neal’s review on page 10.

For many young women,

catcalling is fact of life. On page 14, Sophia Durone looks into the experiences STA students have with catcalling and their thoughts about why it happens.

Beginning in late August and ending this monthm Open Spaces KC has had arts experiences available ranging from installations to performances. On page 26 you’ll find captivating photos of the Open Spaces art pieces taken by Maggie Hart with a story by Olivia Powell. Once you do, stop by the Village in Swope Park for the last week of the event, which runs through Oct. 28.

Follow the flow chart on page 28 created by Halloween enthusiast Lily Hart to determine what Halloween costume you embody most.

Do you consider yourself more of a zombie or a vampire?

She’ll help you find an answer.

This is an exciting time at STA, as the leaves change color and the air chills. First quarter has already ended, and the year is passing by quickly. We hope you enjoy this beautiful season and this issue of the Dart.

Sincerely,

the staff 2018-2019

Editors-In-Chief Julia Kerrigan Margaux Renee Gabby Staker

WEB

Web Editor Lily Hart Social Media Editor Katie Gregory Social Media Team Maggie Hart, Tess Jones, Rachel Robinson Breaking News Editors Sophia Durone, Mary Massman Multimedia Editor Aspen Cherrito

PRINT

Design Editor Anna Ronan Photo Editors Amy Schaffer, Maddie Loehr Page Designers Anna Ronan, Gabby Staker, Julia Kerrigan, Margaux Renee, Claire Smith, Ella Norton, Amy Schaffer, Maddie Loehr, Lily Hart, Katie Gregory, Olivia Powell, Mckenzie Heffron, Rachel Robinson, Tess Jones, Faith Andrews O'Neal

COPY

Features Editor Ella Norton News Editor Annabelle Meloy Lifestyles Editor Kendall Lanier Opinion Editor Faith Andrews O'Neal Sports Editor Claudia Benge Staff Photographers Maggie Hart, Grace Fiorella Staff Writers Carmon Baker, McKenzie Heffron, Beatrice Curry, Olivia Powell, Olivia Wirtz Adviser Riley Cowing designed by Julia Kerrigan

3

NEWS Editorial Policies

Ownership and Sponsorship

DartNewsOnline and the Dart are created by the student newpaper staff and are maintained and published by general operating funds of St. Teresa's Academy, a Catholic institution frounded by the Stisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet.

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic church, whether on a diocesan or worldwide level.

Editorial Policy

The Staff of DartNewsOnline and the Dart are subject to prior review by the St. Teresa's Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern Catholic doctrine, student safety or illegal behavior. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish reviews of sudent work or performances. Personal columns reflect the opinions of the writer, not necessarily the staff or school.

Letters & Reader Interaction Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage the community to post comments on the website. Letters to the editors can be sent in the following ways: in person to Riley Cowing in Goppert room G106; by mail to St. Teresa's Academy, Attn: Riley Cowing, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; by email to rcowing@sttersasacademy.org or to dartpaper@gmail.com. DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.

Comment Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage readers to comment on all posts.

However, DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to monitor and edit all comments on DartNewsOnline.

Comments that disagree with the editorial policy will not be published.

Photo Use Policy

Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine drawing and photography.

All photos on the website are free for public use. If a reader is interested in high-quality copies of photos, please email DartNewsOnline at dartpaper@gmail.com.

Corrections policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

4

October 22, 2018

STA welcomes group counseling

The counseling department has brought a new group therapy program to STA Story and photos by Beatrice Curry Writer

T

his October, the STA counseling department started a new group counseling program with therapists from Great Oaks Therapy Center and Resolve Counseling. There is a new space on the second floor of the M&A building where weekly meetings will be held.

STA Counselor Amanda Whitcomb has done programs like group counseling in the past at other schools and is very excited to introduce it at STA. “When you’re creating a school

counseling program you need to have all elements of counseling, there needs to be a primary intervention which would start with class meetings or all school assemblies, and then second level which is group counseling. Then we have the tertiary level which would be crisis or individual counseling.” said Whitcomb. “The STA counseling department has always provided primary interventions and individual counseling.

“We were really missing that group piece and that’s something

The new counseling space is decorated with a colorful polka dot welcome board Sept. 25.

Counselors Lindsay Ryan (left) and Lily Dawson (right) chatting after the first official group counseling meeting Oct. 11. The meeting took place in the new counseling space in M&A.

I’ve done in the past, and it was something I thought was important to bring back so that we could have a comprehensive program,” Johnson Whitcomb said.

In fact, hearing from peers may be more helpful than receiving guidance from a therapist since peers can identify with one another. Those peer interactions appear to translate to real-world gains, according to Stanford University's Irvin David Yalom, MD, in the 2005 book,“The Theory and Practice of Group Psychology."

Johnson Whitcomb also acknowledges that, “you can have individual counseling all day long and still feel kind of isolated at times. It can be really powerful especially if you have a good rapport with the therapist or counselor, but as a group, you start to recognize that you’re not alone in this. Sometimes it’s nice to have a safe group of people to talk through things with.”

Therapists Lindsay Ryan and

Lily Dawson from Great Oaks Counseling Center are going to be on campus to help with the weekly meetings. Ryan has done similar programs in residential and after-school settings and has really seen a change for the better in the participants.

“The benefit of people being able to talk about emotional problems and things that can otherwise be stigmatized or taboo is that once there is open dialogue there is a total shift in vulnerability and just in general comfort with yourself,” Ryan said.

Both Ryan and Dawson are hopeful that the STA student body would see similar improvements.

They were particularly excited to be working with girls of the high school age group.

“I think that there is a heck of a lot of stuff going on with the high school girl population right now, and we would be remiss to not consider those things to be emotionally significant and

impactful on our mental health,” Dawson said. “I think it’s wild that we neglect to think about our emotional experience having any effect on our academic life or our social relationships, so it’s our hope that we can dive into some of these issues that wouldn’t be discussed otherwise.”

So far, Dawson and Ryan have been successful in creating a safe, open space for students to connect.

“The environment feels very safe, and I’m excited to be able to talk with people who are going through the same things as me and I feel like this is also a good place to meet new people," said an anonymous group counseling participant.

"The therapists are also really nice, and they’re pretty young so I feel like they’ll understand us pretty well.”

designed by Tess Jones

5

STAR SPOTLIGHT

Maggie and Mady Sophomores Maggie Dodderidge and Mady Mudd take on Teresian together.

Story by Olivia Wirtz Writer Photo by Maddie Loehr Photo Editor

W

hat did you expect Teresian to be like?

Maggie: I expected it to be like a mixer but fancier.

What was it actually like?

Both: It was really fun but tiring.

How did you decide to go together?

Maggie: We’ve been dating for quite a while. She asked me first but I said no because I had a plan to ask her. It is also so much cheaper than both getting individual tickets.

Who asked who? Or was it assumed?

Maggie: She asked me first but I said no because I had a plan!

Mady: Yeah I asked her kind of joking because we knew we

6

October 22, 2018

were going together but then she said no.

Maggie: So I was really extra and made a rainbow layered cake that said “Will you go straight to Teresian with me?” I already knew she would say yes, it was just the theatrics of it all.

Were you in a group with your friends?

Maggie: Yes, we messily made a group of our friends and went to my house. Mady made dinner for us and I made dessert. We also had the after party at my house.

Mady: She didn’t even have a theme picked out! I had to pick a theme.

Are you the only ones in your group that went with each other

and do you wish there were more gay couples?

Maggie: Well, there was one other [straight] couple and everyone else went as friends. I don't really wish that there were more couples. I like going with all my friends and if they don't need or want to have dates, I'm fine with that. As long as I get to hang out with my friends and they’re all happy, I'm good with it. It would be nice to see more openly LGBTQ couples, but a lot of people aren't comfortable with that and I understand that.

Mady: There was another couple in our group besides Maggie and I, but we were the only gay couple. Most people in our group went as friends or went without a date. I was fine with being the only gay couple in our group.

Everyone there was super fun and supportive. In fact they seemed more focused with eating the food Maggie and I made for them than the fact that we're dating.

What would you say to students who want to take each other, whether as just friends or not, but are tentative to?

Mady: If two girls want to go to Teresian as friends I don't see why not. Going half on a couple’s ticket will save them money, and from what I heard, it's actually more fun and less pressure. If two girls wanted to go as each other's dates, like Maggie and I did, then I would say go for it. I've never experienced any negativity from admin or students since I've been dating Maggie, but if I were to, it would honestly just be more

disappointing than anything else.

There isn't an issue with being yourself in your own school so take whoever you want.

How is your experience different from others do you think?

Maggie: I think that there are a lot of differences because we’re dating and most straight girls who take dates, I think they end up taking boys that they may not be as comfortable with or know very well so there's kinda a divide.

But for me and Mady I’d like to say that we are very comfortable around each other, and we've been dating for quite some time so it was a lot easier for us to let go and dance like fools the whole night. Also, something else that is different is that people treat you differently as a gay couple in public and at home so there

are a lot of differences outside of Teresian and school.

Mady: To be completely honest I don't think it's much different from the experience that students who brought their boyfriends must have had, as far as how Maggie and I feel for each other goes.

But since we are a gay couple we definitely have to be a little more cautious when in certain environments, safety is often a concern and in many places people will stare at us for doing something as simple as holding hands. There's also more fun differences like the fact that we can do things like wear matching dresses and shawls, which someone could certainly do with a boyfriend but I don't think he would enjoy it as much as Maggie and I did. designed by Ella Norton

7

BITS AND PIECES

Seniors Kit Mohajir, left, Ada Blasdel, Rose Crowe and Annabelle Colombo dance together at their last Teresian Sept. 22. photo by Tess Jones

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE

The Dart chooses a staffer's photo to be featured each month.

Photo by Tess Jones| Instagram Editor

my life sucks

“I took a dump in a porta potty right before my cross country meet. A girl on our team walks in afterward, not knowing I had just used it. She comes out five seconds later and says, “I can’t do it. It smells too bad in there."

- Olivia Rose, senior

in the news:

“My friend Margaux and I set up in a parking lot for First Fridays and we played for three hours, made a lot of connections and memories and met a lot of really nice people.

There was one guy that came up to us and asked us to perform at an art gallery.”

- Olivia Michka, senior Compiled by Gabby Staker

my life rocks

Editor-in-Chief

designed by Faith Andrews-O'Neal

After a week-long FBI investigation, the Senate voted Oct. 6 to approve Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh’s confirmation followed weeks of delay due to allegations of sexual misconduct by Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, which led to a Senate committee probe on the Supreme Court nominee’s past.

global

8

Mayoral candidate Jason Kander pulled out of the Kansas City mayor’s race to focus on his depression and PTSD. Kander, an Afghanistan veteran, released a statement on Oct. 2, “conceding that, yes, I have had suicidal thoughts.” Kander was praised by many, including former Vice President Joe Biden.

national

local

Compiled by Mckenzie Heffron|Page Designer Saudi Arabian journalist Jamal Khashoggi disappeared after entering the Saudi consulate in Turkey on Oct. 2. Though Khashoggi was critical of the Saudi government, they denied any involvement in the attack. Contrarily, Turkish officials claimed Khashoggi was killed while in the consulate.

A&E

“Becoming Martin”: M.L.K. in a Different Light Juniors visit The Coterie Theatre to see the story of Martin Luther King's journey of faith and activism as a teenager in the new play “Becoming Martin."

Story by Claire Smith Writer

C

hip Miller walks into the Coterie Theatre for the first time, not as an audience member, but a director. He sees familiar faces onstage, but is now working with those actors in a world premiere production.

"Becoming Martin," premiering at the Coterie Theatre tells the story of King and his journey through college starting at 15 years old. The production shows another side of Martin Luther King Jr. - his struggle to find his faith.

Miller says that this internal battle helps audiences see the human side of King.

“I think what interested me is when they asked me to direct this play is the fact that we see Martin Luther King as this icon, we don’t really view him as ‘human’.”

Miller said. We view him as a man who has a holiday named after him. So to actually investigate who the man behind the icon is to understand him, but more in a way of saying, this icon was an ordinary boy who became extraordinary."

According to Miller, King’s faith helped guide him to become the leader he is today.

“What this play explores is how to practice what you preach and also knowing who to preach it to,” Miller said. “Martin has to figure out - what is my faith for me, and

George L. Forbes as Prof. George D. Kelsey, left, and Sherri Roulette Mosley as Sadie Mays perform on the set of "Becoming Martin." photo courtesy of the Coterie Theatre by J. Robert Schraeder

how does that lead me in the world? I can’t just be a lawyer or a doctor, I have to be a minister because my faith and my beliefs on how to change the world come through in this."

King’s life revolved around the balance of civil rights of the 1930’s and his faith. The discussion of civil rights fits perfectly within social studies teacher Craig Whitney’s curriculum.

“I like the idea of seeing historical content performed,” Whitney said. “I think it's a great opportunity for the kids to be able to get out of school and do something like this. Academically oriented still, but it’s produced in a different way which is nice.”

His history class will not cover civil rights until the second semester, but Whitney thinks it’s convenient to have that information already introduced.

“It makes it nice that they have gone to the play, seen this, we have already talked about it, so that when you revisit this you are able to go into more and more detail in the spring,” Whitney said.

The junior class attended this

play on Oct. 5 as a field trip for their class. The play was $10 per person; and completely optional.

“That's how I like to set it up is to invite them to go, none of them are required to, and they could choose not to,” Whitney said.

“And there are some students who are unable to go for one reason or another, but we get most of the junior class."

Junior Liv Richardson attended the play and appreciates the relatability of a teenage Martin.

“Being an African American, you see a lot about MLK as he's in his 30s or late 20s, but you don’t really get to see 15 year old Martin and what he was thinking or what was going on in his head,” Richardson said.

Miller says that the play teaches students about their responsibility in society.

“I think it’s a thing that we constantly have to do what is our responsibility as the educated, as the faithful, as whatever we are, as a society, as Americans, as our duty to see the humanity everywhere and fight for humanity,” Miller said. designed by Rachel Robinson

9

REVIEWS

"The Hate U Give"

depicts real, Black life

The film depicts experiences of black love, codeswitching and police brutality through the eyes of a teenager.

Story by Faith Andrews-O'Neal Opinion Editor

There are two versions of “the talk” for many black kids. There is one with the birds and the bees, the awkward pauses and avoidance of eye contact. This is the one most people received in the throes of adolescence.

The second talk is a little different.

It’s deflated shoulders and teary eyes and indignation. It’s the talk that could ultimately save your life. It’s the talk that tells you what to do if the police pull you over: if you’re alone, you immediately call a loved one. You stay polite and cordial. You do what they tell you. No matter how humiliated you may feel, you keep a stiff upper lip and a polite smile on your face.

You give them no reason to kill you, because they’ll try to find one.

After Michael Brown, an unarmed black teen, was shot by a police officer in 2014, my parent, like many around the country, made it a point to inform me that it isn’t every police officer, and that it isn’t our fault black bodies are seen as inherently dangerous. No, it isn’t fair that this is our reality but it is, and they want us to be prepared.

They want us to be safe. Above all, they want us to come home

10

October 22, 2018

alive. This talk is what opened the film “The Hate U Give," in which a young Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) and her brother Seven (Lamar Johnson) receive a talk from their father about one of many stipulations given to you when you’re born black in America.

Reverend Traci Blackmon once said, “It is impossible to be unarmed when my blackness is the weapon you fear.” The death of Starr’s childhood friend Khalil at the hands of a white police officer exemplified that. As Khalil reached into his car to grab a hairbrush, the officer shot him where he stood. As he bled out on the street, that same officer held a gun to his dying body because the real weapon he feared was Khalil’s blackness. It didn’t matter that he saw Khalil was unarmed.

He was still a black man in Garden Heights, an urban neighborhood, and both are viewed as inherently dangerous by a larger piece of the population.

The Carters, eager to distance their children from those stereotypes, send their kids to a predominantly white private school in the suburbs, Williamson Prep. On the way out of Garden Heights and into the Williamson area, the houses greatly resemble a drive through Brookside, and her fellow students remind me of my dearest friends from St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School and St. Teresa’s.

Starr describes two versions of herself. “Garden Heights Starr” uses slang and pops off at the mouth. “Williamson Starr” avoids confrontation, only uses correct grammar and never gives anyone the chance to assume she isn’t

“one of the good ones." This duality is called code-switching, and is something most black kids in a white environment are very familiar with. Our parents send us to better schools than they went to, to create a better life than they had. We repay them by being the best, more palatable version of ourselves we can be.

A prevalent aspect of this movie was Starr grappling with this duality and the alarm this caused her peers when she slipped.

The movie accurately depicted the confusion and frustration one feels when a friend cannot comprehend how their actions are viewed as racist, or expect an apology for even suggesting they are acting in such a manner.

When the emotions from Khalil’s death mixed with that frustration, the result was a deviation from the typically subdued “Williamson Starr,” and her friends did little to support her in the wake of this shift.

There are certain aspects of being black in America that are not easily articulated and can only ever be fully understood by living through it. Police brutality is one of them. Starr is so aware of this that she tries to conceal her connection to Khalil because she knows her friends and boyfriend might pity her or attempt to comfort her but never understand what it feels like to be seen as a threat because of the skin you’re born into.

Her friend Hailey did neither one.

Hailey was willing to skip school for a protest, in which the students of Williamson bumped Drake from their cars and laughed in the parking lot. Ultimately,

she was only concerned about the life and reputation of the officer. Hailey hid behind “their lives matter too,” refusing to acknowledge the erasure of a life.

She justified Khalil’s murder with mentions of drug-dealing, saying, “someone would have killed him anyway.” She unfollowed Starr’s Tumblr after seeing pictures of Emmet Till, a black boy brutally murdered in 1955 by two white men. Hailey was willing to distance herself to avoid feeling guilty or uncomfortable and justified it by dehumanizing Khalil. As Starr said, “racism is more than saying the n-word and spraying black people with fire hoses.”

Racism is a lack of regard for our lives. That can take many forms, one of which is holding killers to a higher regard than those they kill, solely because of their occupation. "The Hate U Give" does an excellent job of humanizing both the victim and the police. We see the good and bad of both the urban core, its people and their police force, both of which are stereotyped in negative ways.

"The Hate U Give" aims to eliminate those stereotypes.

Khalil was more than just a drug dealer from the hood. He was a

grandson, a friend and part of a community. The police officer was part of a body of people, many of whom are genuine and kind, like Starr’s Uncle Carlos.

Although Carlos is a black man, even he said if he saw Khalil reach in and grab a suspected weapon at night, he would shoot without hesitation. He could not say the same for a white suspect in a suburban neighborhood.

Amandla Stenberg did an excellent job of portraying the same confusion and shock that the audience had. However, this honesty and the bluntness of his statement put things into perspective. It is incredibly dangerous being a police officer, and when the horrid creation of fear and racial bias is externalized, it results in lives lost.

The title "The Hate U Give" comes from rapper Tupac Shakur’s interpretation of the term “Thug Life,” which he said stood for The Hate U Give Little Infants F***s Everybody. That hate could be interpreted as systemic oppression, which many young black children are inundated with by the public school system which is often underfunded in urban cores, a broken justice system or the constant violence exhibited all around us. That hate manifests itself into crime, and rage and violence -- the cycle continues.

That hate can only be broken

with love; this is reiterated over and over again. It is seen in the loving embrace of Starr’s parents.

It is seen in the way Starr’s father holds her close as she grieves for her friend. It is seen as her boyfriend Chris tries his hardest to see Starr while acknowledging and loving her blackness as opposed to deeming it irrelevant.

It is seen in the outcry for justice for Khalil, whose life was cut much too short. Love is the overarching theme of the entire movie, and it is what keeps Starr from falling apart as she mourns her friend.

While this movie is an excellent portrayal of the larger issue at hand, there are some smaller details that the novel exhibited better. There was an elimination of DeVante, a character who acts as an excellent foil to Starr and added some needed humor and joy during this dark time in her life. The movie also failed to delve deeply into the dynamics of the gang’s presence in Garden Heights and Khalil’s own life (as he was actively trying to disassociate with the King Lords until his death) which played a much larger role in the novel. There was also a lack of character development with Starr’s other friend Maya, who had a minor role in the movie, but grew to be a support system for Starr. She had also experienced racist comments from Hailey as an Asian-American. These stories are important to the work as a whole, but as often seen with film adaptations of novels, were not all able to be present in the film.

"The Hate U Give," as a film and book, is an incredibly important body of work. There are very few pieces of art and literature that so accurately portray what it means to be a black teen in America. It acts as a tool to humanize both sides of this complex issue. We must all work to substitute the hate we give with love and fight to ensure others do the same.

11

designed by Margaux Renee

FEATURES

REACHING OUT:

THE INNER WORKINGS OF STA'S RECRUITMENT PROCESS With eighth graders looking toward their futures in high school, the admissions department explains how they navigate recruitment in grade schools decision

Story by Mary Massman BNS Editor Photos by Gabby Staker Editor-in-Chief

W

hen she walked into Windmoor Center as an eighth grader, current freshman Madeline Sage was not sure how she would feel about being in an entirely new environment. It wasn’t long, though, until she found her friend from dance greeting her with a bag of candy and noticed all the girls in plaid skirts wishing her a good day at STA. As Sage followed her shadow hostess onto the quad, she began to realize how this community could make her comfortable at a school nowhere near her home.

“I don't know anybody that goes to STA from my grade school,” Sage said. “It's just me, but shadowing a day at STA will make you realize how much you want to come here.”

Sage, who had never seriously considered STA before she shadowed, attended Kearney Middle School. She would have gone on to Kearney High School but decided she wanted a change. For girls from schools, like Sage,that do not typically send students to STA, learning of all STA has to offer is not a given. The different ways STA works to recruit these girls are often what shapes their decisions.

12

October 22, 2018

Admissions director Becky Flores and diversity and inclusion director Brianna Walker take on this responsibility. While both Flores and Walker are new to their respective positions, they both have had experiences that they feel prepared them for their roles. Flores previously worked as president Nan Bone’s assistant for eight years and has had four daughters attend STA. Walker, who was the coordinator of diversity recruitment at Mizzou, feels the work is translatable to a high school level, but on a smaller scale.

“The way that I've translated [previous work experience] is making sure that we're talking to the students in a way so that they can understand what kind of commitment it is to come to St. Teresa's, and not only for them, but also for their parents and making sure that they can relay that message,” Walker said.

Flores and Walker are not alone in reaching out to prospective eighth graders. They have the help of 92 senior student ambassadors.

Student ambassadors work alongside the admissions department to run informational events, attend grade school visits or greet shadows.

“They're the student face, that first face that girls see, when we go into grade schools, or when they come for open house and get a tour,” Walker said. “The first face that a student really sees is the shadows, that ninth grader or that sophomore. Then, our [student] ambassadors are that confirmation for what STA is, so they get to see everything come to fruition.”

Senior Lucy Whittaker, who has been a student ambassador for two years, feels the position has been rewarding.

“I think the best part about being a student ambassador is that it's a way for me to give back to St. Teresa's, because the school has given me so much,” Whittaker said. “I just love this school so much, I want other people to come here and experience the same awesome things that I have.”

Senior Caroline Penner, who has been a student ambassador for two years, feels that she can use her own experience at STA to impact an eighth grader’s decision. Penner, who attended St. Paul’s Episcopal Day School, recalls spending her eighth grade year deciding if she would be at STA or Shawnee Mission East High School for the next four years.

“I actually shadowed twice because I was so unsure, but something told me that I needed to come here and I've absolutely loved it,” Penner said. “I feel like there's a place for everyone here and I just think that's really important to let other people know that.”

Penner was able to attend St. Paul’s and talk to eighth graders about STA at the student ambassador grade school visits.

This year, Flores and Walker mostly decided where to attend based on the schools that previous admissions director Roseanne Hudnall had attended. They have worked to expand their reach by attending fairs such as the KC Show Me Fair and the KIPP Endeavor Academy Fair, which serve public schools and schools

Seniors Leah Dorris, from left, Caroline Penner and Mo Burns represent STA at the St. Paul’s high school fair Sept. 27. Dorris and Penner are alumnae of St. Paul’s.

that don’t usually send girls to STA. “One of my goals is making sure that we're recruiting a more diverse student population,” Walker said. “Also, seeing how we can revamp our financial aid and making sure that we're serving all populations, whether that be zip code, socioeconomic status, race. Just making sure we're able to serve more than 40 percent of the population.”

Reaching out to schools such as KIPP or Holy Cross Catholic School, which are located in predominantly African American or Hispanic communities, allows Flores and Walker to make concrete efforts to tell more girls about STA. However, there are some limitations to recruiting these girls, such as cost or distance.

“We don’t want to put anybody in a position where they will fail,” Walker said. “We want to make sure that we're going into those schools and making sure

that they know STA is a college preparatory school. Another important part is trying to reach out to parents and seeing how they feel about STA and maybe sending their student to a private school.”

Aside from logistical issues, another significant challenge to recruiting girls from less common schools is the eighth graders’ possible fears of entering a school knowing few students, when many girls from feeder schools have already formed friendships.

However, Penner, whose closest friends decided to attend other high schools, saw how easy it was to get past this boundary.

“Coming in and not knowing a ton of people, I was definitely nervous,” Penner said. “I think STA does a really good job of getting people involved with clubs, star seminar and class meetings and it unites the class. I never felt like I was just stranded.”

Sage knew she wouldn’t be at a disadvantage the day she arrived at orientation and saw her class together in one place. As she introduced herself, she realized that everybody was feeling the same way, even the girls who sat by their grade school friends.

“Everybody was kind of nervous, so we were all kind of in the same boat,” Sage said. “I mean, I've made a lot of friends from Visitation. Everybody's so welcoming and open to making new friends.”

Sage came into STA unsure of what to expect, but the friends she has found compels her to recommend the school to any eighth grader, no matter their background. “[The school] should capitalize on the sisterhood that [students] have here at STA,” Sage said.

“Not all girls feel welcome at their schools and not every girl feels that way at school in general.”

13

designed by Maddie Loehr

FEATURES

addressing

a catcalling culture The normalization of street harassment has taught young women to brush unsolicited, appearancebased commentary off their shoulders Story by Sophia Durone Breaking News Editor Graphics by Margaux Renee Editor-in-Chief

S

eventh grader Annie Kelley serves a ball to her coach after hours of practice on a sunny summer day in 2014. Her friends chat over a water break from the tennis clinic’s daily drills on the side of the court. Kelley’s coach critiques her stance and she hits the ball once again.

Nearby, a construction worker smoking a cigarette approaches the fence of the courts. Kelley continues to practice but is instantly distracted from her work when the man blurts, “cut me a slice of that,” staring directly at the shocked 13 year old.

“Even though there was a fence between us, I was scared he would come on the courts and hurt me,” Kelley said.

According to Cornell University, 85 percent of women experience catcalling before the age of 17.

The study states that the most common emotional effects these women experience are anger, fear and low self-esteem. Now a junior, Kelley feels these impacts all too frequently and believes

14

October 22, 2018

catcalling is not an easily solvable issue.

“People say, ‘If you don't want to get catcalled, wear something modest,’” Kelley said. “We will get catcalled no matter what.”

Kelley frequently experiences catcalling in parking lots, stores and was once harassed on a ski lift. She feels the harassers are at fault rather than the women themselves.

“If men are taught that women should be allowed to wear whatever they want without being judged, then they shouldn't need to catcall,” Kelley said.

Freshman Lilly Hupke has also experienced street harassment running for the cross country team.

The athletes are frequently honked at by cars on Ward Parkway and hear shouts from unknown drivers.

“During the summer, there was this van that was stopping and asking people that were walking questions,” Hupke said.

“We had to be very careful that day because we run through the backstreets and neighborhoods.”

Hupke explained that protective measures are taken to prevent dangerous instances.

Spatial awareness has proven to be key for the runners’ safety.

Cross country coaches have also expressed that the athletes must always run with a teammate during practices. The rule was created to ensure the girls’ safety when interacting with possibly predatory members of the community.

“Our coaches know what's going on, so they tell us watch out for this car,” Hupke said.

Senior Bella Brown agrees that awareness around harassers is vital and has experienced catcalling in countless forms since the sixth grade. She believes her mature appearance subjected her to street harassment much earlier than expected.

“When I was 11 years old, I remember I was out on the patio seating of a restaurant on the Plaza and this guy came up to my table when I was with my mom and he said, ‘You are so

beautiful,’” Brown said. “My mom [hadn’t] talked to me yet [about catcalling] because she didn't expect that it would happen to me so early.”

Brown felt unprepared to handle the situation at such a young age and was startled by the man’s comment.

“In the moment, I just said, ‘thank you’ because I didn't know how to react,” Brown said. “I was surprised and thought it was creepy because he was old.”

After years of men following her in their cars, slyly commenting while holding the door for her and shouting at her on the street, Brown has identified a new form of harassment.

“I would say [Instagram direct message] is our modern-day catcalling [source],” Brown said.

“At least once a week I'll have a few people comment in my DMs asking me for my Snapchat.

I just think that's just gross. It’s continuing to ask in a flirty way for my number.”

Brown believes this should be taken no less seriously than typical street harassment.

“This is guys’ new way of being disrespectful because they don't have to see me in person and see my actual reaction,” Brown said.

However, she believes catcalling can be interpreted as a compliment depending on the circumstances.

“Sometimes if a guy is kind of cute I will think, ‘Oh thanks, but it's still a little weird you're saying stuff like that,’” Brown said.

Senior Grace Coleman, on the other hand, believes that unsolicited commentary on her appearance is never flattering.

“Women get catcalled because guys don't know how to approach a girl in a respectful manner,” Coleman said. “They don't know how to talk to people.

Some people think catcalling is a compliment because it means you

look nice, but is it a compliment if they're just commenting on my body?”

Either way, Brown believes street harassers do not have entirely pure intentions. She thinks their actions are disrespectful and cannot be encouraged.

“Men catcall women mainly to just show their dominance, sexuality and that they’re interested,” Brown said.

Due to her experiences with harassment from boys significantly younger than her, Coleman agrees that street harassers catcall as a display of their dominance.

“I was on a run through my neighborhood’s country club and it was really hot out, so I had a sports bra and my running shorts on,” Coleman said. “This kid on a bike was following right behind me. I kept feeling this presence, so I stopped to tie my shoe and the kid hit me on his bike because I stopped so abruptly.”

Coleman confronted the boy, but he denied that he was following her and continued to bike next to her after she started running again.

“I should have asked him where he lived and told his parents,” Coleman said. “He was between the age of 12 and 15. Boys wouldn't want to get catcalled but they want to catcall [women] because they feel like, ‘Oh, I know I can get this girl,’ but it does the opposite.”

Kelley agrees modern day catcalling is a product of toxic masculinity, passed down from men to boys and transforming them into harassers before they are aware of the emotional impact of their actions.

“I think they see older guys do it and they think it’s cool,” Kelley said. “I think if our generation is the generation to stop catcalling, we just can't continue doing it.

We don't catcall guys, guys don't catcall girls. It’s respect.”

designed by Claire Smith

15

CENTERSPREAD

enter here for college

16

October 22, 2018

the H struggle for equity: affirmative action in college admissions Affirmative action, a nondiscrimination policy that has been in place since the 1940s, is being challenged by students across the country who want nothing more than to be recognized for more than just their race.

Story by Ella Norton|Features Editor Anna Ronan|Design Editor Alternative Coverage by Julia Kerrigan|Editor-In-Chief

arvard University has had a reputation for being one of the most difficult schools to get into. With its tough criteria, the stereotype has been that to get in, students have to be better than the best.

However, a group of Asian-American students belonging to an organization called Students for Fair Admissions are now saying that they have to surpass even that.

These students are claiming to have been denied from Harvard on the basis that Harvard’s admissions department has been discriminating against Asian-Americans in their affirmative action program for decades.

According to the Executive Order 10925, affirmative action was passed in 1961 to “not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed, color, or national origin.”

College admissions offices around the United States have been utilizing the concept of affirmative action for years.

Harvard is no different.

However, Harvard’s use of affirmative action may be in jeopardy. Students for Fair Admissions, a conservative group based in, Arlington, Va., announced in 2014 that they were suing Harvard because of said racial discrimination. The group is led by Edward Blum, who filed suit against the University of Texas in 2013 on the same basis of admissions.

If the case is brought to the Supreme Court in the future, the use of affirmative action in colleges nationwide may change.

“There’s this struggle between wanting to serve all of our students equitably but also providing enough support to students who are underrepresented to make sure that they can be successful,” University of Missouri-Kansas City’s associate director of affirmative action, Sybil Wyatt said. “That struggle, I don’t think, is ever going to end.”

Wyatt personally stands behind those underrepresented students, especially through her work and ever since she was in college.

“When I went to college for my undergraduate degree, that was kind of when that whole [push for] formalizing programs for affirmative action [started],” Wyatt said.

At UMKC, Wyatt believes that the school incorporates diversity and inclusion into their classes, as well as their admissions.

17

designed by Anna Ronan

Administration doesn’t disclose their admissions process, but they do try to use affirmative action for different groups of people, not just people who identify with a minority race.

“Traditionally, people might think [affirmative action] is just a race or ethnicity thing, sometimes they think about it as a gender thing, but we also look at it as recruiting LGBTQIA+ students, students with disabilities and veterans,” Wyatt said.

However, not all universities use affirmative action. Some schools, like Rockhurst University, a private Jesuit school, abide by equal opportunity principles. Rockhurst’s director of community relations and outreach Alicia Douglas said that when students apply, the admissions department only looks at what is on paper.

"We aren't factoring any of the things that are considered 'protected class,'" Douglas said.

Douglas said that at Rockhurst, they focus on inclusion.

"It really should be about how do we

was really controversial to talk about it."

For Douglas, issues of affirmative action go back to inclusion and access. "[Affirmative action] was about wanting to be included and wanting to have access," Douglas said. "Because no one wanted to be left out.”

Douglas thinks that in 2018, it's still a conversation about inclusion but from a different perspective.

"It still comes down to the same thing, it’s still about access, it’s just from a different lens," Douglas said. "[Students for Fair Admission] are saying, ‘We are being shut out of the system. We are not being looked at. We need to be looked at more holistically than we have been.’ And I think that’s really been the question, how does everyone get to have an equal shot and have their humanity intact at the end of the process?"

Douglas summarized her personal beliefs on affirmative action as "complicated."

"I feel like there have been a lot of folks who have benefited from affirmative action and people who could still benefit from

affirmative action: through the years

Since it's creation, affimative action has gone through many court rulings and changes. Here is a timeline of the major court cases and executive orders that have shaped what affirmative action is today.

Executive Order 10925 March 6, 1961 President John F. Kennedy passed Executive Order 10925, which required that government contractors “take affirmative action to ensure that applicants are employed, and employees are treated during their employment, without regard to their race, creed, color or national origin.”

18

October 22, 2018

Executive Order 11246 September 4, 1965 President Lyndon B. Johnson issued Executive Order 11246, which superseded Kennedy’s order and included that “such action shall include, but not be limited to the following: employment, upgrading, demotion, or transfer; recruitment or recruitment advertising; layoff or termination; rates of pay or other forms of compensation; and selection for training, including apprenticeship.”

In 1967, this was amended to include women.

affirmative action because that pipeline to access still hasn’t widened enough," Douglas said. "We still don’t have enough persons of color who are gaining that access to college education the way they could. I think the pipeline still needs to grow."

Brianna Walker, admissions assistant and director of diversity and inclusion at STA, also believes that the issue of affirmative action comes down to conversations.

"I believe affirmative action is necessary to ensure adequate representation in spaces where it is pertinent to value the viewpoints of others," Walker said. "I do, however, believe that in order to assess the value of affirmative action, we must first make sure that these policies and conversations are happening well before a student enters college or even high school for that matter."

Walker believes that if affirmative action was taken away from admissions programs, there would be a decline in certain groups of people.

"More specifically a decline in Black and Latinx students," Walker said. "These ethnicities

Regents of the University of California v.

Bakke June 28, 1978 Limits were placed on affirmative action when Allan Bakke, a white applicant, was denied from the university twice.

Because minority students, with lower scores than his, were admitted. Bakke sued on the basis of discrimination under the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment. This ruling was split 5-4 and changed the quotas used in admissions.

suffer the most from lack of resources that propel them towards college readiness in high school."

Walker believes that diversity, although not through affirmative action, is an integral part of STA as well.

"We serve students from 40 different zip codes, two states and a plethora of backgrounds," Walker said. "Without all the perspectives, similarities and differences in passions, St. Teresa’s would not be the school that the Sisters of St. Joseph prayed it would be. Which is a school that fosters creativity, passion-driven extracurriculars and guides young women to contribute to their communities."

According to STA admissions director Becky Flores, diversity is a top priority at STA. “We always try to represent any and all kids,” Flores said. “We’re trying to find out from people, if they will give us the information, what cultures or what race they represent so that we can be aware, help, inform and make kids that are here, as well as kids we bring in, feel welcome and comfortable.”

Clinton administration outlines changes to the system July 19, 1995 President Bill Clinton asserts the need for affirmative action and in a White House memorandum, he calls for the elimination of any program that, "(a) creates a quota; (b) creates preferences for unqualified individuals; (c) creates reverse discrimination; or (d) continues even after its equal opportunity purposes have been achieved."

Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin June 23, 2016 The Supreme Court rules 4-3 that affirmative action is constitutional under the 14th Amendment.

19

designed by Anna Ronan

MAIN ED

Do universities still need affirmative action policies in 2018?

Affirmative action policies should be used by colleges to strengthen the quality of education.

We spend four years pouring our hearts and souls into preparing for college. As students at a college preparatory institution, this is undeniably a huge part of our lives. We spend a lot of time building our resumes, perfecting our grades and deciding what we want to do once we leave high school. This college-centric culture also makes senior year a whirlwind of meeting deadlines and submitting applications. Once all our college applications are sent, we are left biting our nails and crossing our fingers that we will be accepted into the university of our choice.

One part of the college application process that is not commonly discussed at St. Teresa’s is affirmative action.

Although not all colleges utilize affirmative action policies, the top three most popular universities for the STA class of 2018 do. At a school whose student body consists of approximately 16 percent racial minorities, the meaning of affirmative action is cause for confusion among many

students.

Affirmative action policies are used by some schools to guide their admission decisions.

These policies take into account historical discrimination against racial minorities in higher education and allow for race to be a factor in admissions.

In recent years, lawsuits have been filed against both Harvard University and University of Texas.

In the lawsuit brought against Harvard, a group of AsianAmericans who were rejected

by Harvard accused the school of capping the number of AsianAmericans admitted each year.

In Fisher vs. University of Texas, a white student claimed that she was denied from the University of Texas at Austin based on her race.

Supporters of affirmative action maintain that it is exemplary of the American value of the importance of diversity. Critics claim that it opens up individuals applying to college to possibly be subject to discrimination.

A report published on ERIC, an “online library of education research and information” that

RIGHT ON TARGET

Kathryn Hart, Freshman

20

“I don’t believe in affirmative action because it is discriminatory. If someone worked harder and is more talented, they should be let in over another application who has a different skin color.”

October 22, 2018

is sponsored by the Institute of Education Sciences, found that both college students and the faculty members that teach them thought of diversity as a strength in the classroom.

Using affirmative action policies helps colleges and universities ensure diversity in their student body and in turn the classroom. Having diversity on campus prepares students for the workforce and for their lives as members of society.

Having diverse perspectives in the classroom provides students alternate points of view and causes them to examine their own biases.

As long as race is an influencing factor in social and business interactions, racial diversity will be an important consideration in determining the quality of education at any particular institution. Since the effects of America’s racist past have not yet ceased to impact our present, affirmative action policies should be used in college admission decisions.

24/24 staff members voted in agreement

Nicole Kuehn, Junior “I feel that in some cases affirmative action policies are necessary, especially in predominantly white universities, but I don’t think that colleges should admit minorities based solely to advertise the school’s diversity."

PERSPECTIVES

SEXUAL PREDATORS ARE NOT THE VICTIMS In a society where sexual assault is normalized, victim blaming is all too common.

Story by Maddie Loehr | Photo Editor

O

n Sept.16, The Washington Post published an article revealing the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Psychology professor Dr. Christine Blasey Ford wrote a letter to Senator Dianne Feinstein explaining that a drunk, teenage Kavanaugh and his friend Mark Judge forced her into a bedroom and pinned her down, laying on top of her at a party in 1982. When the allegations came out, the U.S. split in two: Ford was either considered a hero for women or a pawn created by Democrats to destroy Kavanaugh’s reputation.

I find that this response is all too common for sexual assault allegations. The perpetrators are treated as the victims and the real victims are blamed for what happened to them or discredited altogether. Recently, Fox News host Tucker Carlson criticized women who don’t report their abuse saying, “You’re part of the problem.” Why is it that women are pushed to come forward about their assault, yet when they do, they aren’t taken seriously?

According to the National Sexual Assault Violence Resource Center (NSAVRC), two out of three sexual assaults go unreported.

After Ford came out about Kavanaugh, she was immediately slandered for waiting 36 years to talk about the assault. Ford did not come forward to ruin Kavanaugh’s life, rather as her civic duty to inform senators,

and ultimately the public, that a potential Supreme Court justice has a history of assault.

During her testimony, Ford was calm and cooperative, although she appeared a bit shaken. She answered all questions directly and eloquently. Kavanaugh, on the other hand, started off emotional but soon became overtly aggressive and avoided answering questions. When asked if he had ever drank to the point of blacking out, he responded with an indignant, “Have you?”

No matter what side you’re on, this feels like an inappropriate response during a job interview.

The Ford-Kavanaugh case has ultimately turned into a partisan issue, leading people to wonder if Kavanaugh was set up by Democrats. Sexual assault is a humanitarian issue, it is not Democrat or Republican. Perhaps the point of this is that all people are being forced to examine their behavior, even if it was 36 years ago.

Every 98 seconds, someone in the United States becomes a victim of sexual assault. Sadly, women have to prepare to enter society with men in power.

Starting in grade school, women are taught to avoid assault: carry pepper spray, watch your drink, always walk in pairs. Although there has been some change in equality between men and women, when it comes to sexual assault, we're 50 years behind.

When it comes to sex, men are

praised for their sexual milestones.

However, women are held to much different standards. Women are often placed into two groups: sluts or prudes. This is one of the main reasons why women don’t speak out about sexual abuse.

Immediately, victims are blamed for dressing in a provocative manner, because obviously, that means they are asking for it. Less clothing does not, in any way, equal consent.

I have always suffered from anxiety, but because I have spent too many hours watching "The First 48", I often worry that I am just being paranoid. Hearing about the Kavanaugh hearings, the fear of sexual assault resonated.

Maybe when I clutch my keys in between my fingers, call my friend Rachel when I walk to my car alone or when I lower my head and tense up around large groups of men—I’m not being paranoid.

I am a 17 year old girl who goes to an all-girls school. Dr. Ford was a 15 year old girl who went to an all-girls school. Sexual assault is something that I, and all other women, need to worry about on a daily basis and that is horrifying.

I cannot definitively say if Kavanaugh is guilty of Ford’s accusations, but what I do know is this: women are being silenced.

When 1 out of 6 women in the U.S. will be the victim of rape, we need to be afraid. We need to fight back. We need to be loud.

Register and vote on Nov. 6, and make your voice heard.

designed by Mckenzie Heffron

21

PERSPECTIVES

SUICIDE PREVENTION IS A PRIORITY

According to mentalhealthamerica.net, over 60 percent of teenagers who have depression are not treated. Thus leaving it to the schools bring awareness to the effects of mental health.

Story by Aspen Cherrito | Multimedia Editor

E

very day, approximately 123 Americans die by suicide, amounting to 44,965 each year, according to ASFP.org. This statistic proves why schools need to begin to bring awareness to suicide. Worldwide Suicide Prevention Day was Sept. 10.

Our school has done more than various public schools across the nation who are too afraid to even mention suicide, yet there is always more we can do. Studies, such as one from the National Institute of Mental Health, show that talking about suicide actually decreases the chances of it.

At STA, an estimate of 65 students and faculty attended the optional speaker for suicide prevention, according to STA counselor Amanda Whitcomb.

Personally, I believe that an assembly over suicide is one that all students should attend. Last year sexual assault survivor Chessy Prout came to speak to our school, and gave an extremely inspirational talk. If sexual assault resonates with some the same way suicide does, then a suicide speaker should be mandatory.

Our community isn’t the only one who hasn’t fully stepped up their game of speaking about suicide prevention. Schools across the nation have a stigma around mental health showcased by their lack of talking about it. While the stigma is slowly going away, it’s still there, which I understand.

Mental health, especially suicide, is uncomfortable, but we can’t

22 October 22, 2018

just sweep it aside.

According to ktsa.org, Blue Valley school district has implemented a two-phase program to get rid of the stigma around mental health. In phase one, the school focuses on curriculum while phase two is various additional programs ranging from signs to look out for and what to do in a time of need.

I believe that Blue Valley school district is doing what all school districts should be doing. If we don’t speak about it, kids will not know how to help themselves or each other.

Knowing someone cares and that someone thinks you’re good enough is all teenagers could ask for. Speakers, counselors, group therapy, classes and events are all things schools could do to began to get rid of that stigma. However, it’s the student’s role to selfadvocate and take advantage of such resources.

STA has implemented suicide prevention into star seminar for freshmen and their health and wellness class, but the school should take the extra step to educate students. Implementing a mandatory assembly once every semester where students are educated on the signs and how to reach out for help could be vital. Sending out an email every semester letting students know the signs starts an ongoing conversation keeping students refreshed on the topic. Moving away from the stigma could save

lives and make students feel safe at home and school. We have to learn to be there for one another even when we may be scared.

In teacher Brittni Darras’ Ted Talk regarding suicide in the classroom, she spoke about a student who took their own life. Because of this, she realized that the kids who may seem the kindest and happiest are the ones who may have those thoughts. After another one of her students ended up in the mental hospital, she began to write her students letters, detailing a trait she loves about them.

Darras wanted to make sure her students knew they were loved -- that they weren’t failures for a bad grade, that someone would miss them if they were gone, that they mattered. I see this occasionally at STA, yet I feel as if students may be scared to speak to their teacher about personal matters. Creating a strong teacher-student relationship will encourage students to feel safer at school.

I invite you to step up, educate others, notice the little things and check up on each other. It is as simple as posting on Instagram, starting a bake sale or opening up an ongoing conversation among peers. Various charities and groups are working to alleviate the stigma around mental health from Not Alone KC to Spread Hope KC. The stigma around mental health can be toxic, and we, as a community, are the ones who have to change it.

FAST OVER FABULOUS: THE PROBLEM WITH FASHION MERGERS Michael Kors Holdings Limited bought luxury brand Versace for $ 2.1 billion, and quality has truly gone down the (money) drain.

Story by Mckenzie Heffron | Page Designer

I

"

don’t license everywhere. I take care of my name,” Gianni Versace, founder of the fashion house Versace, spoke these words when asked about his business in 1997. Even at his peak, he stuck to the idea that all he did was make beautiful clothes. For him, it was quality over quantity. That’s why the brand’s latest move is so shocking and ultimately disappointing.

On Sept. 25, Versace, now headed by Gianni Versace’s sister Donatella, announced they were transferring ownership to Michael Kors Limited Holdings for $2.1 billion. To me, this is another nail in the coffin of luxury fashion, which has been dying slowly for nearly 25 years thanks to brands like Michael Kors.

At its height, Versace represented the mid-90s. Every show featured a squad of instantly recognizable supermodels in slinky printed creations made from mesh and jersey. However, it was over-the-top in look alone. The fall 1997 haute couture runway lasted three minutes. The spring ready-towear show just a few weeks ago was over triple that time. Why? Because fashion has become a commodity.

The first runway show I ever watched was a Versace show.

I remember every outfit—the dramatic purple trains and cigarette pants. I was captivated.

The outfits served as inspiration for me—something I could imitate.

Had Versace been the same thing as the wholesale brand Michael

Kors is now, I never would have felt that. Versace exudes originality, evidenced by the spring 2018 show, titled the Versace Tribute.

This brand was, and remains, Gianni Versace’s baby.

Part of this shift from a painstaking process to a massproduced copy is because major conglomerates are buying out iconic fashion houses. But it goes beyond a merger. Often, parent companies make huge changes to a brand after a sale. Michael Kors is no exception. With the Versace sale, Kors announced the opening of more than 100 stores. This only proves the fastfashion model taking over has become a danger to hardworking designers. At 11 years old, I quit wanting to be a fashion designer because I didn’t believe the world cared about authentic clothes. I don’t believe that now, as I look around and see H+M tops (they use child labor—another issue), Fashion Nova pants (the epitome of fashion middle-men), and, not kidding, fake Gucci JUUL skins from Amazon (like vaping is okay in the first place). None of these brands care about the quality of what they sell, as long as we keep buying.

Kors also announced he would be focusing more on shoes and handbags, far cheaper to make than chainmail dresses crafted in Italy. The Michael Kors brand has the largest markets in these areas. I’m sure you’ve been into a Marshalls and seen a Michael Kors purse hanging from a hook. You

would buy that purse because it meets your purse requirements, not because it is an achievement.

Brands like Versace are precisely the opposite: they represent something earned. To me, buying a Versace jacket means working hard enough to contribute to show off your personal taste, style and life story in something that lasts for years. If everyone is walking around with a Versace purse, the magic disappears.

Fashion used to be a journey to discover your clothing identity.

I remember my middle school years, when I wore calf-high Converse with capri jeans. No, it didn’t look good, but I felt good.

That’s what mattered. This was what Gianni Versace strived for: in every collection, he sent out clothes to make women feel beautiful. Even if you could never afford those clothes, it served as a place you could base your style from. My personal taste has changed thanks to runways like Versace. Michael Kors’ plans for the brand show big business at its most hazardous because it infringes on the original model of the company.

The changes Michael Kors plans to make to the brand Versace reverse the idea that clothes should be quality. When fashion is driven by capitalism, it loses its integrity. Is a life goal of yours to own a pair of Michael Kors pumps? If so, you can have mine.

The sole is already worn out.

designed by Mckenzie Heffron

23

SPORTS Freshman Savannah Gentry prepares to hit a ball through a wicket during Croquet Club’s first meeting Oct. 11.

Social studies teacher Andrew Meyer is Croquet Club’s moderator.

CROQUET CLUB COMES TO STA Juniors Elise McGhie and Delaney Hupke brought Croquet Club to STA after Hupke played it with her family. There are now over 40 members in the extracurricular.

Story and alternative coverage by Annabelle Meloy | News Editor Photos by Olivia Wirtz Photographer

W

ith a large variety of clubs and extracurriculars to choose from at STA, there’s one this year that’s never been seen before. Over 100 people originally signed up to be in Croquet Club, an extracurricular founded by juniors Elise McGhie and Delaney Hupke. It mainly stands out due to its origin as an English sport that isn’t typically

24

October 22, 2018

characterized among the top sports in the United States.

After playing the sport at her grandparents’ house last spring break, Hupke shared the idea of forming a Croquet Club with McGhie.

“When Delaney brought it to me, I was very excited at the prospect of it,” McGhie said. “I think that’s part of the beauty of it. So many people are not familiar with the sport, so by starting the club we’re bringing people something new that they’ve never done before.”

After bringing the idea to principal of student affairs Liz Baker, she approved their interest in creating Croquet Club but told them they first had to find a moderator and write some bylaws.

So McGhie and Hupke decided to ask social studies teacher Andrew Meyer be the moderator of their extracurricular.

“There’s no other club that is anywhere near or anything like a Croquet Club,” Meyer said. “So mainly, when they approached

me, it caught me off guard because of the uniqueness of the proposal, but I thought it would be fun, and it’s something that everyone can be a part of.”

Croquet might be familiar for some, but the rules of the game can elude others. In shortened terms, croquet is played using wooden mallets, and each team uses different colored balls, each weighing one pound. The objective is to hit the ball through each wicket, or stakes, placed in the ground in the correct order of a figure eight shape, scoring points as you go.

Both Hupke and McGhie wanted to make Croquet Club an extracurricular, a group that meets on non-club days, in order for more people to be involved.

They also did research to better understand the rules of the game to make it easier on current members.

“In doing research to make the club, we did go back over and past just knowing the basics,” Hupke said. “We did do some

research about it. We know how to teach croquet, and if you had any questions during playing we could answer them.”

McGhie and Hupke are planning to go over the basic rules for the 46 people that are now members of the club during their first meeting to ensure fair games.

McGhie also thinks that once everyone gets the hang of the sport, there could be a tournament put on later in the spring. Meyer agreed with this idea due to the large amount of interest in Croquet Club, believing that the bigger the games, the more interest there could be in the sport.

“Because of the really big initial interest, I think if there is a croquet tournament, we can open it up to other people,” Meyer said. “I think that’s something people might be interested in as a fun thing to do.”

Both McGhie and Hupke think that even though the extracurricular is in its beginning stages, it has the ability to expand beyond just an extracurricular at school.

“Coming back in 20 years and seeing a croquet team would

make me very excited and happy,” Hupke said. “It has a certain prestige.”

However, Meyer believes that it’s a little too early to be thinking that far ahead as croquet is still just forming as an extracurricular at STA let alone a sport.

“I think those are high hopes that are likely not to come to fruition,” Meyer said. “That said, in 20 years, if Croquet Club is still in existence, I think she’ll be just as happy.”

McGhie and Hupke believe they’ll play in the large expanse of grass adjacent to the senior parking lot every meeting to have enough space for members to play. They will also have the most say in what will happen during meetings.

“I think it’s important to have student leadership as much as we can to get what it means to have responsibilities and things like that,” Meyer said. “For the most part, Elise and Delaney, given their consistent desire for this club to work, are really willing to put everything into it, and I’ll be there to make sure everything just goes smoothly.”

Sophomore Olivia Baker swings her malet during Croquet Club’s first meeting Oct. 11.

The Setup of Croquet

Co-presidents of Croquet Club juniors Elise McGhie, left, and Delaney Hupke instruct sophomore Olivia Baker Oct. 11.

designed by Mary Massman

25

COMMUNITY

Open Spaces highlights Kansas City culture

Artist Shawn Bitters installed “Burnout” along a hiking trail in Swope Park Sept. 29. This is a series of colorful rocks throughout the woods that enhances one's experience.

A new arts exhibit in Kansas City aims to revitalize underserved spaces and involve the community. Open Spaces provides viewers with a variety of events, from outdoor exhibitions to performances.

Story by Olivia Powell Writer Photos by Maggie Hart Photographer

D

riving through Swope Park, one pink tree stands alone among a hill of green.

Numerous columns stick up from the hill and an abandoned swimming pool is filled with colorful flowers. These art installations have taken over Kansas City, as well as yard signs that read “Open Spaces.” Kansas City’s Swope Park is one location of this expansive arts experience.

Open Spaces lasts 10 weeks, from Aug. 25 to Oct. 28 and is

26

October 22, 2018

divided into three categories: The Exhibition, The Village and The Weekend. The Exhibition includes art installations in various mediums from video animation to sculpture, scattered across the city. Artists such as Trio Bella and Stonelion Puppets participated in The Village, including a variety of local musicians, dancers and actors.

Open Spaces’s The Weekend included performers such as The Roots, Janelle Monáe and Vijay Iyer Sextet.

Open Spaces was made possible by the collaboration of the city’s Office of Culture and Creative Services and philanthropists such as Scott Francis. According to the Open Spaces website, the event was structured to, “create a signature festival focused on the region’s artists and cultural organizations, highlighting Kansas City arts, culture, and creativity.” The festival was implemented as a component of a 10-step cultural plan, made possible by supporters.

The pavilion in “The Village” of Swope Park is adorned with rainbow ribbons Sept. 29.

“...Called Up” is an installation that revamped an abandoned pool Sept. 29. Artist Ebony Patterson made this piece to symbolize the death of childhood and innocence.

Keli O’Neill Wenzel, an STA alumna is the project producer of Open Spaces.

“It’s an opportunity for education," Wenzel said.

Wenzel noted the unique components of Open Spaces like the installations scattered throughout Kansas City as well as the performing arts.

“It's combining all forms of art from spoken word to puppetry to bands to hip-hop and everything,” Wenzel said.

As a first-time event, Open Spaces creates a distinctive viewing experience for visitors. It utilizes an app “Open Spaces,” which was designed to provide details about artists, local transportation and connect visitors with interpreters.

As part of the city’s mission to highlight Kansas City, Open Spaces incorporates international and local artists. Artist Dawn DeDeaux from New Orleans, La. was chosen to exhibit in Kansas City by curator Dan Cameron. Her work, titled "Free Fall: Prophecy and Free Will in Milton’s Paradise Lost" includes symbolism from Paradise Lost by John Milton with glowing reflective vinyl to represent the “darkness visible.”

“Free Fall: Prophecy and Free Will in Milton's Paradise Lost” by Dawn DeDeaux is a tribute to John Milton’s poem Paradise Lost Sept. 29. These 48 concrete pillars are pasted with excerpts from the poem with reflective vinyl.

Due to the QR code to access songs that are representative of Paradise Lost themes, DeDeaux’s work is one example of the immersive experience Open Spaces creates.

DeDeaux states that many artists’ site-specific work has helped foster an engaging atmosphere.

“We’re trying to bring the art into the communities, bring the art to the people and not make it so

rarified or exclusive, [but] make it inclusive of all people and bring it right out into the fabric of the city,” DeDeaux said.

Wenzel explains that with positive reactions to Open Spaces, its collaboration of artists and culture has distinguished Kansas City. According to Wenzel, Open Spaces hopes to showcase, “that we’re really strong in the arts and it’s time to announce it to the world.” designed by Olivia Powell

27

LAST LOOK

What traditional halloween costume do you embody?

The spooky season is upon us so it's time to answer, once and for all, the age old question of your Halloween identity.

Story by Lily Hart | Web Editor Photos by Grace Fiorella | Photographer

BEGIN HERE

Do you dress up for Halloween?

NO

YES

Do you celebrate with friends or family?

YES

NO

NO

Do you find trickor-treaters annoying?

NO

CAT

Maybe the spooky season just isn't your season. Don't worry, it's almost Christmas.

28

October 22, 2018

YES

VAMPIRE

You are indifferently spooky this season.

Have fun if you want.

When you carve a pumpkin, do you scoop out the guts yourself?

YES

Do you like candy corn?

Do you plan your costume months in advance?

NO

YES

YES

NO

GHOST

You're here for the aesthetics.

Understandably, because there's nothing spookier than putting up a facade.

WITCH

You're in for almost all Halloween shenanigans. You just don't go as hard as the zombies.

ZOMBIE

You are HERE for Halloween. You go all out and embrace the spooky season. designed by Lily Hart

29

PHOTO STORY Photos by Amy Schaffer | Photo Editor

THE 's summer farewell

The Boulevard Drive-In Theater sign on 11th and Merriam St. draws in moviegoers. The theater closed its 2018 season with showings of Halloween-themed movies, a trunk-or-treat event and a costume contest.

Dwindling numbers of candy bars sit on a display rack. The concession stand was constantly jammed with hungry customers throughout the evening.

A seven foot tall clown costume watches over the area. The mechanism is used for local Halloween events including "The Haunt" at Worlds of Fun.

A cameraperson films the costume contest and projects it onto the screen for viewing.

Children line up for a costume contest judged by the crowd's cheer volume. Boulevard held two contests divided by age group.

30

page design by Amy Schaffer

ON THE

DNO

Review: Sea Prayer

Test scores don't measure intellect

Story by Rachel Robinson

Gallery: Teresian

Column by Maggie Hart

Photos by Tess Jones and

Stargazer: Lily Farkas

Carmon Baker

DartTube: Spirit Week

Podcast by Julia Kerrigan

Video by Aspen Cherrito

@dartnewsonline

/dartnewsonline

@dartpaper

/dartnewsonline

@dartnewsonline

@dartnewsonline designed by Katie Gregory

31

Prefer not to respond