Learning disabilities are managed through adjustments, professional help pages 14-15
CLASSROOM CONFUSION Junior Luke McCabe sits at his desk and holds his head in exasperation. “Learning disabilities are a real struggle, especially in the stressful classes here at our school,” McCabe said. “The school is working to help these students.”
photo by Riley Breaux
“ THE [AQUAPONICS PROJECT] MAKES SENSE BECAUSE OF THE SCHOOL’S STRONG COMMITMENT TO OUTDOOR EDUCATION. ALL OF THE [PROGRAM’S WORK] INVOLVES STUDENT DECISIONMAKING, LEADERSHIP AND COMMITMENT.”
Jody
Trumble,
Head of Security
gardiner vose graphic by
News
Aquaponics system provides hands-on learning Tilapia used to nourish produce for consumption in mutually-beneficial environment
carolyn langford story by
Academic Dean Eric Boberg is expanding the school’s aquaponics system to better support the community. Science and engineering teacher Barton Burnett started the system in his Environmental Science class last year.
Aquaponics combines aquaculture with hydroponics in a mutuallybeneficial environment to generate fish and fresh produce for consumption.
“Aquaponics can increase all of our awareness about the environment and sustainability and provide us with real-world applications of our knowledge and skills,”
Boberg said. “[It will] give us fertile ground on which to grow projects that afford us the opportunity to turn our knowledge and skills into meaningful contributions to ourselves and others through purposeful, sustained practice.”
Boberg is recruiting students to
form a team that will build each unit with the goal of incorporating all three school divisions.
“I was thrilled to learn that the Lower School team had a desire to draw upon aquaponics as part of second grade’s focus on recycling,” Boberg said.
Lower school science teacher Laura Talbot is grateful for the opportunity to teach students how science is used in life.
can help us solve problems.”
Burnett was partially inspired by the permaculture witnessed at ESD’s sister school in Tanzania that used natural elements to create gardens.
He brainstormed with his students about how to best make a difference.
"AQUAPONICS CAN INCREASE ALL OF OUR AWARENESS ABOUT THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY AND PROVIDE US WITH REAL-WORLD APPLICATIONS OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS."
“Bringing aquaponics to the classroom will illustrate that there are many ways that food can be grown,” Talbot said. “It is a wonderful way to show the importance of our environment and how [these] cycles
Eric Boberg, Academic Dean
“After researching permaculture, the class wondered if there was another way they could help the community,”
Burnett said. “The goal from the beginning was to develop a way to feed hungry people.”
The school’s aquaponics system, has the potential to grow on a greater scale.
Boberg and Burnett have discussed possibly further expanding the program to create a support system for the local community outside of the school.
“The primary goal is to extend classroom learning to hands-on
Around the world
Around the world is a compilation of significant global events selected by news editor Lauren Egger
1
Amber Guyger Sentenced On Oct. 2, former Dallas police officer
Amber Guyger was given a ten-year sentence for killing Botham Jean in his own apartment in 2018. At the end of the trial, Jean’s younger brother, Brandt, hugged Guyger and forgave her for his death. The family hopes that Guyger can reflect on her life and that her story will make the department better train their officers.
learning that has the potential to incorporate service and student-tostudent mentoring,” Boberg said. This process, however, will occur over several years. As of now, the goal is to build each unit and encourage students to participate in the project. Because the project will take years to live up to its full potential, Boberg encourages underclassmen to get involved as soon as possible.
“The project will grow with the students over many years,” Boberg said. “It would be better to start training ninth and tenth graders who can work with the program throughout high school.”
Although the project is new, the changes it will make to the school’s community will create unity, serve the community and embrace nature.
“[The aquaponics project] makes sense because of the school’s strong commitment to outdoor education,”
Head of Security Jody Trumble said. “All of the [program’s work] involves student decision-making, leadership and commitment.”
2
3 Thirteen Mexican police killed by cartel Five police vehicles were attacked in Michoacán, México by around 30 men from a local cartel, Jalisco New Generation. Some officers were shot, and others set on fire. The area has a history of violence between drug cartels fighting for power. The Mexican government has struggled to contain the violence between cartels.
Protesters burn James’ jersey
Hong Kong protesters burned Lebron James’ jersey after he tweeted claiming that Daryl Morey “wasn’t educated” about Chinese issues. Morey, general manager for the Rockets, tweeted in support of Hong Kong, and the protesters chanted his name in the streets while lighting James’ jersey on fire. The NBA has lost Chinese sponsors as a result.
Sophomores have two behavioral strikes, may lose access to commons
story by
emily lichty
The sophomore class risks losing access to the commons after complaints of rowdy behavior, loud volumes and littering. The sophomores have one more strike until they are temporarily not allowed to use the space as the grade’s gathering spot.
“When the sophomores come into the commons, they think it’s theirs, and they forget that they’re really just one group who’s using it,” Sophomore Dean Phil Bryan said. “It feels to them like, ‘this is our space,’ and they just relax. At that point, it’s like, ‘it’s my room, and I don’t care if it’s messy,’ but it’s just not our space, and we forget that.”
If the sophomores’ behavior in the commons doesn’t change, Bryan will make them sit somewhere else for a few weeks. They won’t be able to take any other grade’s spot, but must find their own.
of the class is at fault, but I just think there are a few people who take it too far,” Sophomore Class President Tucker Sachs said. “Also, [they] have to realize that this is literally a center of the campus...It’s not the same as last year. Unfortunately, everyone is watching. Once the class realizes that, we’ll be fine.”
The sophomores had a class meeting to discuss their recent behavior in the commons, in chapel and their high amount of community violations, the most of any high school grade.
“I definitely get why we had the meeting, but we have always been a rowdy grade,” sophomore Charlie King said. “It will be hard for us to stop. Not throwing away our trash is the biggest problem.”
“IT’S NOT ABOUT TRASH AND NOISE. IT’S ABOUT LEARNING THE ETHICAL ISSUE THAT WE ALL BELONG AT THIS PLACE, AND [WE] NEED TO TAKE CARE [OF IT].”
Phil Bryan, Sophomore Dean
“To a certain extent, [the punishment] is understandable because some areas aren’t as clean as they should be, and it’s a shared space,” sophomore Sofia Sabella said. “[However,] I don’t think that everyone should get punished for something only a few people are doing, and that frustrates me.”
Many different groups gather in the commons, such as middle schoolers and other high school students. There are also offices and classrooms surrounding the area, which can be disrupted by the sophomores’ behavior. Sophomores have been caught wrestling, using foul language, throwing balls and leaving their backpacks scattered in the commons.
“I don’t think the majority
One of the biggest problems is the litter left in the commons by the sophomores, which makes the area look messy, especially to potential ESD families visiting.
“We are very blessed to have this school, and if everyone could just pick up after themselves and take pride in their surroundings, it would be a much better place,” Director of Admissions Cindy Newsom said. “It’s not just the sophomores causing the problem; it’s been many grades. If everyone could just pick [trash] up—even if it was not yours—it wouldn’t be a problem.”
As sophomore dean, Bryan hopes to use the experience as a learning experience for students on how to participate in a community.
“It is a great opportunity in your sophomore year to realize you are a part of something larger,” Bryan said. “It’s not about trash and noise. It’s about learning the ethical issue—that we all belong at this place, and [we] need to take care [of it].”
CART WHEELIN’ Sophomores Sofia Sabella and Virginia Nussbaumer (left) work with technical director and technical theater instructor Lauren Redmond to perfect their stunt for “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Cast members have attended four rehearsals a week to prepare. “We have to learn some things I never thought I would ever do, but I feel really lucky to be able to be a part of this,” Sabella said. “It is so much fun, and all the girls I’m doing this with are amazing.” photo by Riley Breaux
“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” features circus theme, acrobatics
Classic storyline includes new twist brought to life by technical director in upcoming November performance
story
by
gina montagna
The theatre program will perform Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” with a circus-themed twist from Nov. 14 to Nov. 16.
The performances will start at 7 p.m. in the Bray Theater, and tickets will be sold for $5. This year, the play is directed by Technical Director Lauren Redmond, who normally leads the technical aspects in the plays. After students performed the play “She Kills Monsters” during the summer in Scotland, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” became a chance for more students to perform.
“We wanted to give those students who weren’t able to go to Scotland an opportunity to still perform in the fall because we knew we were likely going to have to add a second show,” Redmond said. “Mr. Davidson just looked at me, [asking], ‘Do you want to do it?’ I am happy to do any kind of directing because it is fun, and I love working with the kids that way.”
Redmond always imagined her production of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to have a circus theme led by the character Puck. The play will be set in a Victoriansteampunk era, where the lovers, Lysander, Helena, Hermia and Demetrius, will be outsiders. The supernatural characters, Oberon, Titania and Puck, will be the leaders of the circus. The storyline
will involve a crossover between the human characters and the fairies upon entering the circus and the mechanical side of the story.
“At one point, when the lovers run away, we go inside, and we get to see the circus,” Redmond said. “All of the fairies that you would traditionally see are the circus performers. [The fairies] are the creatures of the circus.”
The play will incorporate a circus theme, a shift for this classic comedy. Stunts and acrobatic tricks will be included throughout the show.
An exciting new set—a foldable, colorful circus—was created for the play. Blackand-white costumes have also been planned for characters in the circus as well as gray-andneutral costumes for the leads.
character, Puck, will be setting the scene in our version’s set under a big top circus. While I am not the ringleader, I am more of a boss [character in the play] and will put up and take down the tent.”
In rehearsals, students are learning stunts and acrobatic tricks that will tie together the circus theme. A group of girls playing the fairies will be doing small lifts and holds and adjusting the stunts according to actresses’ abilities. Two boys in the cast with gymnastics experience, sophomore Weston Hargrave and junior Adrian Sada, have been helping the girls practice safer stunts.
“I WANT THE CIRCUS TO BE WHAT GIVES LIFE [TO THE PLAY] I WANTED TO PULL AWAY FROM [THE TRADITIONAL TIME PERIOD THE PLAY IS SET IN].”
Lauren Redmond, Technical Director
“I’m really excited to do a bunch of acrobatic skills because Ms. Redmond has a bunch of really cool ideas for us,” sophomore Emma Jerrier said. “[Learning how to do stunts] has been really cool, stressful and awkward.”
“I want the circus to be what gives life [to the play],” Redmond said. “I wanted to pull away from [the traditional time period the play is set in].”
First time actors have earned lead roles, and technicians, such as senior Max Duffner, have taken on acting.
“It’s been easy transitioning from tech to acting,” Duffner said. “My
12 cast members have never been in a play hours of rehearsal
Specifically, the stunt team is working on a pyramid hold, which requires six students in a variety of plank and leaning positions. They are also including lifts where actors will be holding each other up.
“It’s not your traditional [‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ play],” Redmond said. “The fun thing about Shakespeare is that you can mold it into anything. I wanted to twist it on its head.”
6 acrobatic tricks throughout the play 70+
COMMONS COMMOTION In the commons, sophomores Chase Arnott, Austin Page and Kate Elliston gather on the couches during mini flex on Oct. 17. The sophomore grade received two warnings about taking over space from middle school students. “The commons is a great place to see friends after every class, discuss the
photo by Gina Montagna
Administration announces disciplinary infractions in chapel
Beginning this school year, students' behavioral violations are shared in the public space
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This year, the administration has implemented a new practice of announcing disciplinary infractions of students to the upper school student body in All Saints Chapel.
Administration hoped the announcements would improve transparency and eliminate gossip.
“These announcements don't do any good for the student who is being talked about or the student body as a whole,” junior Sophia Sinacola said. “It’s really embarrassing for the student who is announced because everyone is going around and whispering about it.”
According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, about 78 percent of students believe that discussing these issues publicly does not reduce gossip among the student body.
“Whatever a student is getting in trouble for should be their
own business, and it shouldn’t be announced to the entire student body,” junior Adeline Beichler said. “If the student does not have a say in whether or not [his or her punishment] is announced, that is a major invasion of privacy.”
Senior Ty Johnson worries that these public announcements raise questions about the priorities of the administration regarding these infractions.
Johnson said. “The way that they state the infractions within the speeches takes on a negative connotation.”
Teachers, such as Junior Class Dean Claire Mrozek, believe that the announcements could help the student body.
"THE ADMINISTRATION IS RUNNING A REALLY FINE LINE BETWEEN DISCLOSING SOMEONE'S PRIVACY AND SACRIFICING THAT SAME PERSON’S MENTAL STABILITY AND HEALTH."
Ty Johnson, senior
“It gives off the impression that the administration cares more about proving a point than caring for the actual person who did the action,”
“It has certainly gotten your attention, and that is a good thing,” Mrozek said. “So much of what goes on in a community like ours is based on assumptions; this helps eliminate some of those.”
Head of Upper School, Henry Heil, hopes the announcements will provide students with a learning opportunity.
“I came from a school that was very
transparent about discipline,” Heil said. “When someone was disciplined, there was a conversation about it in the school community. One of the purposes is to educate the community on what our standards are here at ESD and why.”
Debates have also come up about whether or not the chapel is an appropriate place for these announcements to take place.
“The hard part for the administration is that if we don’t do the announcements in chapel, then where else could we do it?”
Chaplain Tim Kennedy said. “During lunch, many people leave, so there aren’t many places where the entire student body is together.”
Junior Taylor Maris wonders if announcing issues in chapel is about more than transparency.
“The administration is using chapel announcements as a
way of punishing students socially through peer pressure rather than increasing the punishments themselves,” Maris said. “This type of punishment is very risky on the part of the administrators because they have no idea what is happening with the students, and this social pressure can severely negatively impact them.”
Concerns about how these announcements may affect the mental health of students have also arisen.
“It feels like the administration is shaming the students who are being announced,” Johnson said.
“The administration is running a really fine line between disclosing someones privacy and sacrificing that same person’s mental stability and health.”
The newly formed Community Emergency Response Team is not looking for heroes but rather, students who are willing to act in the midst of a dangerous situation to save their peers.
This summer, science and engineering teacher Barton Burnett and Director of Campus Security Jody Trumble assisted in the training of students at the Duncanville Fire Department to help in school emergency preparedness. The team will support school activities with First Aid stations at various school events, such as graduation and sports games.
“We have a very large campus with over one thousand students and a few hundred faculty and staff members,” Burnett said. “In case of a major emergency, no matter how dedicated our faculty and staff are, we are going to need as many trained people as we can get to help deal with [a] myriad of problems that will occur.”
Burnett and Trumble discussed the program for months and took advantage of the opportunity to recruit last year. The recruitment process was difficult as the students were trained by CERT instructors before planning how best to integrate them into the school’s emergency plans.
“Our campus being able to sustain itself for a longer period of time in a city-wide or larger-scale situation would be very beneficial to everyone affected,” Trumble said. “While the campus has a large number of resources in many varied disciplines that would make the school a solid place to be in a difficult time, having students who are also well trained only makes us stronger.”
When selecting potential members for the team, Burnett required an essay and a letter of recommendation stating how each student has proven their maturity and dedication to solving difficult problems. The students’ grade point average was disregarded in the selection process.
“Students who wish to join the team should want to serve others in a crisis and should be compassionate and level-headed,” Trumble said.
The recruitment process was rigorous but necessary in that the school will rely on the helping hands of these trained individuals in the case of an emergency.
“All of the adults already have responsibilities in case of an emergency,” Burnett said. “Having trained students who know how to react in an emergency and are already part of the emergency plans just makes sense and helps improve
the overall safety for everyone at [the school].”
Ten students and faculty members were trained in first aid, light search and rescue, emergency preparedness, disaster psychology and more. CERT members are not trained to sacrifice their lives or pursue perpetrators but are trained to assist in the recovery efforts after natural disasters and other emergencies.
“I learned a lot about teamwork and how much goes into anticipating disasters,” junior Ava Thompson said. “You can never fully prepare for any given emergency, but you can also never prepare too much.”
Community members receive CERT training
Extra security provided on campus in case of emergencies through learning opportunity with the Duncanville Fire Department
emergency response. Even though he was first certified seven years ago, he still accompanied the students in their training.
“I am ex-military and have had some training along these lines before this,” Burnett said. “If I am going to ask a bunch of students to be part of any emergency plan and take their own precious time to train and prepare for something like this, then I need to be right there beside them through it all.”
“IN CASE OF A MAJOR EMERGENCY, NO MATTER HOW DEDICATED OUR FACULTY AND STAFF ARE, WE ARE GOING TO NEED AS MANY TRAINED PEOPLE AS WE CAN GET...”
Barton Burnett, engineering teacher
Burnett joined Trumble in the formation of the team because of his interest and background in
Each student had to undergo twenty hours of training to meet the federal training regulations and receive their certificate of completion from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Although the certificate
is legitimate, students under the age of eighteen can only serve for the school’s team, not local CERT teams. However, once of age, they can volunteer at a greater level.
“With the Lower Schoolers on campus, it’s a lot more stressful on the security guards,” Thompson said. “It will be really helpful for them to have extra hands.”
In the first year of the school’s CERT program, ten students and faculty members received their certificates after training.
“It’s a really good educational opportunity to see the behind the scenes of what goes on,” Volleyball Program Director and Middle School Athletics Coordinator Laura Gomez said. “Even when just a fire alarm goes off or we have a drill, we see how important those drills are to help us prepare for worst.”
As the program continues to grow, its goal is to have at least eight students from each division available to help out in the case of an emergency.
“Anyone who attends the CERT course gains skills that are valuable throughout life, both on and off campus, that can be used...in any number of situations,” Trumble said. “My favorite part about the team is knowing that there are students who can help themselves and those around them in an emergency.”
Coach speaks to senior class about how to succeed through unity
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Head Basketball Coach at Davidson College, Bob McKillop, spoke to the senior class as part of the Dedman Lecture on Oct. 16.
The Dedman Lecture Series was endowed by the Dedman Foundation of Texas with the goal of teaching students individual character and paths to success. In the lecture, McKillop talked about an ideal he called T.C.C.—trust, commitment and care.
“The point of the Dedman Lecture is to have people who have a perspective on leadership and an interesting story to share,” Head of Upper School Henry Heil said. “[McKillop was] somebody that I thought the students would connect with.”
The goal of the talk was to inspire unity and community in the senior class before they leave for college. It also encouraged the seniors to
dream big, but also to remember that dreams can change.
“McKillop’s talk was so inspiring,” senior Sarah Morrow said. “All the seniors benefited from this talk by learning to go into college [remembering] the main points he discussed.”
McKillop believes that in order to achieve and implement these values, people must commit to trusting others to do their job and commit to your job with care and pride so that others will trust you.
“Heil had talked about trust, commitment and care last year during chapel, so it was cool to see how McKillop implements trust, commitment and care in his players every day,” Morrow said. “Also, it was fascinating to hear how he was able to reinvent the Davidson basketball team through this mindset. There was a big emphasis on sports, which wasn’t inclusive for all, but other than that, I loved the lecture.”
McKillop started off his talk by sharing that when he was younger, he dreamed about being on the back of the Daily News, and he ended his talk by showing Steph Curry playing basketball for him on the back of the Daily News. He believes he was able to achieve this dream by standing true to his values of trust, care and commitment while teaching his team to live with this mindset. McKillop wanted to share his experiences so that athletes and students alike at the school could learn from his success, and he was blown away by the positive student reaction.
“What a treasured memory to be part of the Dedman Lecture Series at ESD,” McKillop said. “The students were incredibly impressive. The respect and attention that was shown to me was extraordinary and to finish the time together with such insightful questions...wow.”
carolyn langford story by
HELPING HANDS Juniors Christopher Hess and Sam Lindsey work on a process called “cribbing” under the supervision of team leader Barton Burnett. The students felt they learned the most from hands-on training such as this. “The purpose was to learn how to help people that may be trapped under debris,” Burnett said. “This was one of many important lessons of emergency response that was taught during training.” photo courtesy of Barton Burnett
STRONGER TOGETHER Head Basketball Coach at Davidson College, Bob McKillop, speaks to the seniors on Oct. 16 as part of the Dedman Lecture Series. McKillop shared personal stories about his years coaching, setting goals and supporting his family. “I loved this year’s speaker,” senior Elizabeth Carrie said. “My favorite part was when he talked about disappointments happening in life and that it’s how
in
Brief
Dancers perform in Lower School for first time for “Art in Motion”
“Art in Motion” featured Middle and Upper School Dance and showcased the campus on Oct. 2, featuring choreography in different buildings.
For the first time, three dances were performed in the Lower School.
“I wanted to do a fall show that wasn’t intricate or on a stage, and [Art in Motion] is more interpretive rather than simply memorizing dance steps,” dance teacher Glen Dawson said. “[The dance] is about the idea that you’re dancing, which makes it less stressful [on the students].”
There were more dances inside this year in order to incorporate features of the Lower School, including the playground and the tree created by sculpture teacher Dane Larsen. In the past, the dances were performed around student artwork rather than the buildings themselves.
“It was unique to have the people walking around [the campus] instead of just doing it in the Bray [theater],” freshman Lily Hagge said. “It was an interactive experience where we interpreted dance into art.”
by raleigh toledo
National Honors Society blood drive relocated, participation increased
The National Honor Society’s (NHS) Annual Blood Drive took place at the school on Oct. 14, with 57 people donating.
The event was run similarly to previous years’ with one minor change. The buses where the blood drive takes place were stationed behind the stadium this year, in the alley next to the Frank building, as opposed to the parking lot where it has been in the past.
“It probably had the most donations that we had in a couple years, which was great,” faculty sponsor of NHS Lauren Redmond said. “I was really pleased with the number of students that came out [to donate] that were both in NHS and not in NHS.”
Senior Daniel Kaplan gave blood for the second year in a row.
“Why wouldn’t I [donate blood?],” Kaplan said. “It goes with my Jewish values of helping, and the greatest mitzvah you can do is [to save] a life.”
Homecoming king and queen announced at dance
Seniors Ty Johnson and Lily Grace Hoodis were crowned this year’s king and queen at the annual homecoming dance on Oct. 19.
“I felt like everyone on the court was amazing and were some of the best students,” Hoodis said. “I was surprised when they announced my name, but so excited and I felt really loved.”
Two years ago, student council decided to change the time of the crowning ceremony from halftime at the homecoming football game to the homecoming dance. This change was made to encourage students to stay longer.
crowning at the game, but we [still] present the court at the game.”
ROYALTY
At the Upper School homecoming dance seniors Ty Johnson and Lily Grace Hoodis dance after being announced king and queen. The dance was held on Oct. 19, and they were crowned toward the end. “It was amazing to be crowned king,” Johnson said. “I felt so grateful for the love and support I have received from the students at
SAVING LIVES Senior Sarah Smith donates blood to the Carter Blood Drive on Monday, Oct. 14. The drive was held all day, and each person who donated blood saved about three lives. “I was nervous going into it because it was my first time ever giving blood,” Smith said. “It was out of my comfort zone, but I wanted to do it because it feels great knowing probably saved someone’s life.” photo by Lauren Tollison
“One thing that [student council] changed when I took over was the crowning,” Student Council Sponsor Marcela Garcini said. “Like at any other dance, the [upperclassmen] stay for 20 minutes and then they want to leave. So now, we force everyone to stay. Imagine, you pay all this money to get dressed all nice and people just leave. Some of the parents were not happy because they want to see the
Qualifications for nominees include having an average of “C” or above, with no “F’s” on the previous semester report card. Additionally, a nominee must be in good standing with the Upper School office, for example not having been suspended, guilty of a major discipline infraction or Honor Code violation or put on disciplinary probation or day of separation in the last two years. This year’s court nominees were seniors Sameer Bhasin, Abby Brand, Ned Dockery, Lily Grace Hoodis, Ty Johnson, Caroline Massey, Garrett Seymour, Hadley Smith, Gracey Thomas and River Woods.
“I’m glad that people nominated me and everybody else,” Dockery said. “I’m super happy for Ty. I think it’s great that he won and I think our grade came together in supporting him. And Lily Grace is just such a great person, so I’m very happy for her as well.”
by alán benítez by alexander konradi
Life
Not
yourcostume
“AS A COMMUNITY, I WANT PEOPLE TO BE AWARE THAT PEOPLE’S CUSTOMS, CULTURES AND CEREMONIES THAT ARE SACRED ARE NOT COSTUMES.
Elizabeth Goatley, Director of Diversity and Inclusion
story & graphic by
emily delgado
In Sept. 2019, Time Magazine published a controversial photo from 2001 of Candian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at an “Arabian Nights”-themed party wearing brownface, the darkening of the skin using makeup to imitate or mock people of color. With the Candian elections around the corner, Trudeau has spoken on the issue, admitting that it wasn’t his first and only instance using brownface and that he did not remember ever imitating a culture in the first place.
According to Director of Diversity and Inclusion Elizabeth Goatley, cultural appropriation is the adaptation or the assertion into someone else’s culture that one doesn’t belong to without giving them the credit they deserve for their ideas or customs.
“For me, I don’t choose to take part in [activities] that aren’t honoring of other people, especially if you don’t understand the fullness of why the culture exists or how significant that part that you want to take on is to the culture,” Goatley said. “I can’t foresee stealing another person’s culture as honoring to them.”
In Sept. 2019, Maroon 5 singer Adam Levine shaved his head and got cornrows, a hairstyle worn by the African American community that dates back thousands of years. Levine’s hairstyle choice resulted in major backlash from fans claiming he was appropriating the African American culture.
“Cornrows and braids are usually connected to African cultures,” Goatley said. “We have to be mindful because historically, those communities got backlash for wearing the hairstyles that the influencers are making trendy. Everyone can braid their hair, but [it is important] to acknowledge that groups of people have been
told and legislated that wearing their hair in this way is ‘unprofessional’ or ‘cannot be worn at work.’ When [someone of a different culture] does it and says that this is a new trend, [they are not acknowledging] that it has always been a part of a culture’s way of living but they were not celebrated for doing it.”
Similar to this, other celebrities and well-known figures, such as the Kardasians and Jimmy Kimmel, have been accused of appropriating cultures through the use of blackface or wearing traditional clothing of another culture as a costume.
According to a Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, 40 percent of students believe that pop icons and influencers make cultural appropriation seem acceptable.
“Celebrities play a really big role in cultural appropriation and influencing what people can and can’t do,” senior Ty Johnson said. “This can lead other people to see that and think, ‘If that person can do that, then I can too.’”
Insensitive Halloween costumes offend members of various ethnicities, cultures appropriated
derogatory to any culture or group.
“In college, you’re going to be in fraternities and sororities, and there are going to be dress-up themes, so it’s good that you have people in high school to guide you to tell you that if you dress a certain way, other people are going to get offended,”
Student Council Sponsor Marcela Garcini said. “We don’t want you to be the kid that gets asked to leave the school just because you didn’t use your common sense.”
According to Greenheart
“I REALLY DO BELIEVE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS WRONG. WHY ARE YOU GOING TO TAKE THAT CULTURE AND BRING IT ONTO YOURSELF WHEN YOU CAN BE ACCEPTING YOUR OWN CULTURE?”
Ty Johnson, senior
Thirty-four percent of students have personally seen someone appropriating a culture they belong to.
“As a community, I want people to be aware that people’s customs, cultures and ceremonies that are sacred are not costumes,” Goatley said. “They are not to be made fun of, not to mock or dishonor.”
Before homecoming week, which often coincides with Halloween, reminders are often sent that all costumes should be affirming and honoring and not disrespectful or
International, a cultural exchange program in Chicago, cultural appreciation is “when someone seeks to understand and learn about another culture in an effort to broaden their perspective and connect with others crossculturally.”
“[What differentiates cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation] is the honor piece,” Goatley said. “With cultural appreciation, you don’t necessarily take on the culture, you appreciate those who are in the culture.”
Goatley believes it is possible to represent a member of a different culture, such as a celebrity or a
professional athlete, in a respectful and appropriate way.
“There is never a time when you need to place yourself outside of your culture in order to honor someone else,” Goatley said. “You can dress up and say that you are inspired by Beyoncé by putting on a blonde wig and creating an outfit that emulates a design of an outfit she’s performed in. If you think you need to go as far as portraying her skin color, which would mean darkening your skin color or putting on makeup that is not close to your own skin color, that is when you start dishonoring it.”
Seventeen percent of students feel uncomfortable when seeing someone appropriating a culture they belong to.
“[Cultural appropriation] doesn’t make me mad, but it makes me want to help people understand why that isn’t right,” Johnson said. “I really do believe that a lot of people don’t understand that it is wrong. Why are you going to take that culture and bring it onto yourself when you can be accepting your own culture?”
When deciding what costume to wear for Halloween, Goatley believes people should ask themselves a series of questions to ensure their choice in clothing isn’t offensive.
“We should always ask: Is there a way for me to do this respectfully?” Goatley said. “By my participation, does it automatically make it mocking? You can always do costuming that still highlights and brings awareness to a community or a culture without reducing it to being made fun of. That’s kind of what the goal is, if you’re going to dress and emulate a person from a different culture that you do it in a way that is honoring and respectful, and sometimes that means you don’t get to do it at all.”
Former competitive chess champion takes on debate
Sophomore discovers new passion in argumentation, hopes to qualify for state tournament
As sophomore Paco Gomez heads to debate camp in Houston, his biggest worry is not the new city or the unknown faces. Instead, he fears that he will be as much an outsider at this camp—and in this activity—as he is at the school he grew up in.
Out of place. That’s a feeling Gomez is far too familiar with.
“Being the only Latino boy in my grade made me feel [insecure],” Gomez said. “It felt [like] a burden to me…I [felt like I] was seen as ‘the Mexican.’”
The feeling of isolation affected activities he was passionate about, like chess. At the age of seven, Gomez began his competitive chess career. Stopping at 14, he was highly ranked, with a rating of 1650—only 350 points away from the title of chess master.
“Chess is an insanely diverse activity that feels out of place at a
predominantly white and sportsoriented school,” Gomez said.
“Chess could not compete with the energy directed at [sports]. I was not confident enough in myself to continue chess in this wave of mainstream sports, so I let it slip by and instead, tried to assimilate to the culture of the school.”
In an effort to expand his horizons, Gomez joined the debate team his freshman year and participated in congressional debate and Lincoln-Douglas debate, now specializing in the latter.
“I decided to join debate [because I] thrive in argumentation,” Gomez said. “I use it as an outlet for all of the negatives in my life. Chess and debate are similar in the sense that it takes much effort and strategy to win. [For example], chess strategies like sacrificing a certain piece relate to debate as one can also collapse to a certain argument in a round.”
Learning from past mistakes, Gomez vows to remain true to himself by not letting his fears guide his actions.
“Since [quitting chess], I [have] learned that I cannot let myself go like that,” Gomez said.
“I have committed to sticking with debate—no matter what people may think. It is even easier to commit to debate and not assimilate to the culture of
In the studio Ned Dockery
An Argentinian blues singer, an Alabama country band and a solelySpanish-speaking man are only a few of the subjects of senior Ned Dockery’s photographic journey.
Dockery began taking photos in his freshman year in photography teacher George Fiala’s Introduction to Photography course.
“Although I had originally signed up to fulfill my art credit, it quickly became one of my favorite classes,” Dockery said. “What especially intrigued me then—and still does today—is the possibility of capturing a single moment that represents a much larger story.”
In the midst of difficult academic classes, Dockery’s photography provides a creative escape.
“I can always clear my mind when I’m photographing,” Dockery said.
with
“It helps me think and see the bigger picture. Having time to be creative is very important.”
Dockery’s classmates that have grown alongside him through his photography journey have witnessed his tenacity and photographic experiments.
“Ned is such a hard worker, always trying to outdo his last shoot,” senior Cambridge Bender said. “He not only focuses on composition, but deep meaning in all of his pictures. Ned has definitely grown into an amazing photographer because he truly cares about his work and each shoot is purposeful.”
Dockery has experimented with many different photographic styles but has recently focused on portraiture, which helps him to
the school as the debate community happens to be one of the most open-minded and safe spaces I have ever been a part of.”
“BEING THE ONLY LATINO BOY IN MY GRADE MADE ME FEEL [INSECURE] IT FELT [LIKE] A BURDEN TO ME... I [FELT LIKE I] WAS SEEN AS ‘THE MEXICAN.’”
Paco Gomez, sophomore
When Gomez left debate camp in July, he felt as though he had found the person he once was.
“It [suddenly] hit me that the community I was introduced to and the memories
I made while working side-byside with friends [at debate camp]
would change me and turn me into a wiser, stronger [and] more confident version of myself,” Gomez said.
With national and local tournaments lined up for the year, Gomez hopes to qualify for the Texas Forensic Association state tournament. So far, Gomez has been an octofinalist at the Plano Senior Clark Swing tournament. He has also achieved his dream of winning a local tournament, the Lovejoy Leopard Leap.
“If [Gomez] sticks with [debate], he has the ability to be very successful,” speech and debate club president and senior Zan Haq said. “[He] is a good debater because of his ability to think on his feet. In debate, you have to [respond] to your opponent without preparation, so in order to succeed, you need to be able to generate arguments and think critically on the fly.”
capture the story of someone and share it with others. His portraiture has allowed him to meet and connect with a lot of people.
“[Recently], I took street photographs in Klyde Warren Park,” Dockery said. “I am aiming to capture the diversity of the people at the park while portraying their shared common ground.”
Dockery shoots at Klyde Warren Park to capture the diversity of
people who frequent the Dallas location.
“When I first started photography, I thought that a good picture was determined by only technical aspects like exposure, depth of field [and] rule of thirds,” Dockery said. “As I’ve continued photography, I’ve learned that a good photograph is one that tells a story, that teaches the viewer about the experiences of the subject.”
carolyn langford story by
IN IT TO WIN IT Sophomores Holden Moore, Cash Whiteman, Eduardo Carbonel, Paco Gomez, Jonathan Scurtis and junior Carter Bakewell pose together after a successful tournament on Oct. 14. Gomez won his first Lincoln-Douglas debate of the season. “My favorite part of debate is learning about all the interesting topics and philosophies,” Gomez said. “My
PHOTO READY Senior Ned Dockery’s AP art portfolio project features Dallas’ Klyde Warren Park. In his three years of art, he has developed a focus in photography. “One of my favorite parts of photography is how available it is,” Dockery said. “I have begun to start photographing outside of school more and more because of how easy it is.” photo by Satori Griffith
What’s BUZZ the
“I was in a school field trip to a facility. We had to go through security metal detectors and have our bags checked, and for some reason, the security guy was Danny Devito. We go in, and it’s this weird bright white corridor with all these cells filled with small animals, and there is a winding path, and at the end, there is this large amalgamous being with a bunch of faces that are almost like bubbles. It’s very creepy.”
“I was playing tag with my cousins in a big house when my cousins all started yelling at me to run, and I didn’t know why. A witch came, and I started to try and run away, but the witch caught me and grabbed and tickled me. All my cousins escaped except me. I was just getting tickled until I woke up. It was horrible, but I woke up after five seconds of the tickling. I was extremely young when I had the dream.”
Snooze stories
From octopus fights to a room covered with ants, students, faculty share their strangest dreams
alexander konradi
“I was at a dinner table with an octopus, and he stole my food. So I got my pack of friends, and he got his pack of friends, but mine were obviously humans, and his were fish or whatever. We had a war over food. The octopus won the war and got to stand on the Olympic winners’ podium. He kept taunting me over and over again that he got to take all my food.”
Gina Wilson,
“[On a] Saturday night, I had a dream that I woke up, stepped out of my bed, and when I looked down, my room was covered in ants. And then we [looked my dream] up in class in the morning. It was so depressingly accurate, and I was like ‘oh wow, that’s awesome.’ [A website] said [that my] dreams signify my general dissatisfaction in daily life. It said I was feeling neglected and insignificant and petty things annoy me.”
Ty Johnson, senior
“I have a lot of weird dreams all the time. One that is recurring though is that I am being chased. It’s this really big wall with these sort of geometric holes, and I am trying to fill them with certain objects to unlock them or something. It kind of reminds me of the old-school “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” that kind of stuff. It’s like I am in a hurry to fit the pieces into the holes so that the wall can be unlocked, but I don’t know what that is.”
Laila
Kharrat, language teacher
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CAST
Not only is the news overwhelming, but frankly, the news can be confusing. Produced by Vox and Stitcher and hosted by Sean Rameswaram, “Today, Explained” thoroughly explains all aspects of a single top news story. Rameswaram interviews reporters from Vox and occasionally other outlets who are researching and keeping a close eye on certain stories; these reporters are able to provide nuanced details and perspectives on key issues. “Today, Explained” is released every evening Monday through Friday, allowing enough time throughout the day for stories to develop. Rameswaram’s charismatic personality and enticing questions he asks combined with the intelligence of those he interviews makes “Today, Explained” the ideal podcast for learning more than simply the basic facts of an issue, as it also tackles the limitations and opposing stances. As a bonus, listening to “Today, Explained” will make you sound super smart when discussing the news.
“The Dropout” is a six-episode, intriguing special hosted by A.B.C.’s Rebecca Jarvis that follows the rapid rise and fall of Elizabeth Holmes. Holmes dropped out of Stanford when she was 19 to launch her company Theranos. Theranos’ technology could allegedly run multiple tests on just one drop of blood and would have completely revolutionized healthcare. Holmes was dubbed the youngest self-made female billionaire from launching Theranos—except, the whole scheme ended up being a complete fraud. Throughout “The Dropout,” Jarvis interviews former Theranos employees and others who tell their stories involving Theranos and Holmes. It makes the story of Elizabeth Holmes and the Theranos fraud once again come to life. “The Dropout” is the podcast version of a page-turner—I could not stop listening to it.
The news is overwhelming. It is hard to even know where to start upon opening the Apple News app. What articles do you read? What is a reputable source? What are the facts, and what are opinions? N.P.R.’s “Up First” solves these dilemmas. The show is released every weekday at 6 a.m. and covers the top three stories of the day in only around 15 minutes. The hosts get to the crux of the major stories of the day through discussions and interviews with journalists from a variety of news outlets, such as N.P.R., Politico and The Washington Post, who are also investigating and reporting on the specific stories. These discussions provide the listener with the crucial facts along with insight on the stances taken by multiple sides. Despite the hosts only spending about five minutes on each story, N.P.R.’s “Up First” ensures listeners are informed.
blair batson story by list
Top podcasts to listen to, to stay up to date
I’m not one to have a fondness for pop culture, but The New York Times’ “Still Processing” hooks me and allows me to comprehend the role pop culture plays in society.
Hosted by culture writers Jenna Wortham and Wesley Morris, “Still Processing” tackles key pop culture topics in impressive depth. The hosts of “Still Processing” never cease to amaze me with their creativity and originality in approaching subjects from “Old Town Road” to Dave Chappelle and Michael Jackson. Throughout the show, Wortham and Morris offer insightful pop culture questions that would never cross my mind but bring me into a state of contemplation. The hosts also interview experts in their chosen field who provide essential facts, enhancing the listener’s knowledge.
“Still Processing” is a superb pick for pop culture proponents and protesters alike.
The description for “Revisionist History” on the Apple Podcasts app states “because sometimes the past deserves a second chance.” No other phrase could more accurately sum up what “Revisionist History” is all about. Each episode features the host, Malcolm Gladwell, covering a story or person in history whose significance has been overlooked and misunderstood in its time and throughout the years. Covering events mainly from the twentieth century, Gladwell is able to interview sources directly involved in the event to get an authentic point of view and uncover what truly happened. From the discovery of retroviruses to a thinktank during the Vietnam War, “Revisionist History” never fails to excite my attention.
“Today, Explained” “The Dropout”
“Revisionist History”
“Up First”
“Still Processing”
victoria willox graphic by
Increase in dietary trend misunderstood as healthy alternative
story by
ava brennan
Junior Sumner Wooldridge arrives at her friend’s house with several others to work on a school project––her friends buy her gluten-free rice noodles for dinner. After going home half an hour later, she feels awful, suffering from cramps, and spends the rest of the day semi-incapacitated. Despite her friends’ good intentions, they had used a strainer that had touched wheat pasta, and that was enough to warrant a reaction in her body.
This is what life has been like for Wooldridge since she was diagnosed with celiac disease. Celiac disease is a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.
“I get a lot of stomach cramps when I have gluten, but it has gotten easier,” Wooldridge said. “I’m willing to take my chances and sometimes [eat gluten] when I’m in a big group and don’t want to inconvenience anyone, but I really shouldn’t eat gluten.”
Some students have a gluten sensitivity while others have a more severe allergy. According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, only 12 are gluten-free. Out of that 12, 75 percent have a disease.
“I have celiac disease,” senior Julia Hicks said. “My mom noticed when I was younger that I wasn’t growing as fast as I should, so my mom had me tested. If I have gluten, it’s not that severe, but it
5 %
does hurt my stomach, and if I have too much, my stomach might rupture. I just try my best to avoid it.”
According to a 2015 article from U.S. News and World Report, 86 percent of people who thought they had a gluten allergy could actually tolerate it while only one percent of the U.S. population actually have the allergy.
Because of the ongoing rise in food allergies and related diseases, more restaurants now offer gluten-free options for people who cannot consume gluten.
other gluten-free baked goods on the market. We bake in an organic and more unprocessed way than traditional products and have vegan and paleo and keto lines, while also appealing to a variety of allergenfree needs.”
Nicholson believes that a glutenfree diet, misses key nutritional ingredients.
“I’M WILLING TO TAKE MY CHANCES AND SOMETIMES [EAT GLUTEN] WHEN I’M IN A BIG GROUP AND DON’T WANT TO INCONVENIENCE ANYONE, BUT I REALLY SHOULDN’T EAT GLUTEN.”
Sumner
junior
Restaurants, such as Unrefined Bakery in Dallas, have made an effort to provide glutenfree pastries for people who can't consume gluten to enjoy.
Wooldridge,
“My sister, mother and I all have celiac disease,” co-founder of Unrefined Bakery, Taylor Nicholson said. “We started changing family recipes for ourselves and found our food to be tastier and healthier than any of the
of students are allergic to gluten*
“With celiac disease, we would never introduce gluten into our facilities,” Nicholson said. “We focus on baking nearly every type of glutenfree baked good, in a healthier, organic and lower sugar way that people miss in their diets since going gluten-free.”
Nutritionist Rachel Scheer has worked with many clients who have an allergy to gluten, but she also said that a lot of people choose the gluten-free lifestyle because they think it’s healthier. However, this isn’t always true, as some gluten-free foods are more
50 %
of students who have a gluten allergy believe it is not hard to be gluten-free in Dallas*
caloric and have many unhealthy substitutes for gluten.
“Most people go gluten-free because it has become a fad,” Scheer said. “Gluten-free does not mean ‘healthy’ nor will it aid in weight loss. But, if you do have a sensitivity or intolerance, then, going gluten-free would be beneficial.”
Wooldridge wants people to understand that avoiding gluten shouldn’t be a dietary choice made to lose weight.
“It’s frustrating because a lot of people think that gluten-free food is better for you,” Wooldridge said. “But that’s one of the biggest mistakes. They think anything with the word ‘diet’ is safer, better and healthier, but it’s really not because instead of the gluten, the food has to have other substitutes, like extra sugar.”
With the diversity of food restrictions among students, SAGE Dining has accommodated students. However, last year, some students took the gluten-free food because the lunch line was shorter. This meant that some students, like Wooldridge, who must eat glutenfree didn’t have options on campus.
“I work in partnership with the school nurse and the students to make sure all of the students’ needs are being met,” Senior Food Service Director Rebecca Compton said.
“The goal should be to enjoy a healthy balanced diet that’s right for you. That is what I believe is the most important.”
58 %
of students who have a gluten allergy have family members who are also diagnosed*
*according to a Oct. 15 poll of 229 students
riley breaux
photo by
culture CRASH
CULTURE CRASH is a compilation of significant pop culture events made by life editors Blair Batson and Luke McCabe that highlight tech news & other short snippets of info regarding important people and events from around the globe.
1
Jennstagram
Jennifer Aniston said hello to Instagram on Oct. 15. Her inaugural post featured a heartfelt selfie with her “Friends” castmates. Aniston received a warm welcome to the app from celebrities such as Mariah Carey and Sean Hayes.
2 3 4 5 6
Back in style
Harry Styles surprised masses when he dropped his new single “Lights Up,” accompanied by a psychedelic music video, at midnight on Oct. 10. This ended his two year hiatus of depriving fans of new music.
All jokes aside
“Batman” spinoff “Joker” debuted in theaters on Oct. 4. The film entails a convoluted plot explaining the origin of the Joker’s character. Despite its lucrative box office performance, critics voiced concerns that the lead character’s actions in the film might incite copycat violence.
Trying to keep up
Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott announced their split on Oct. 1, but speculation of the couple reuniting began circulating after Scott posted a video in his Instagram story with what sounded like Jenner’s voice in the background. The evidence is overwhelming.
Rolling in the dupe
Nicki Minaj totally tricked fans when she announced that she and Adele had a collab in the works. Shattering fans’ excitement, she claimed she “thought everyone could clearly see [she] was being sarcastic.” We could’ve had it all.
Doing time for the crime
Actress Felicity Huffman, the first parent sentenced in the college admissions scandal, began her 14-day prison sentence on Oct. 15. Huffman paid $15,000 to arrange the falsification of her daughter’s SAT scores—you know, parental love.
Senior Gracey Thomas didn’t think anything of the tornado sirens when they first went off.
Not until her mom called her to take her dog and hide in the closet under the stairs.
Not until the wind picked up, and the pressure started building in her ears.
Not until her house started shaking so violently that it felt like “a bus had run into it.”
Not until...
...the STORMhit.
STORM
The tornado that touched down in Dallas on Oct. 20 devastated areas such as the neighborhood Preston Hollow and affected many members of the school’s community.
Thomas’ house is uninhabitable, with cracks in the walls and shattered glass inside the house.
“You don’t really think something like this is going to happen,” Thomas said. “You always hear about it on the news, but you never really imagine it happening to you or your family. When it does, you’re in shock because you would never think that would happen, and you’re scared because you don’t know what to do.”
In the aftermath of the storm, religion teacher Kimberly Rogers felt tired. Looking at her neighbors’ houses “gaping open,” she described it as “looking at wounds.” Tree debris littered her tended yards; there was a tree in her pool. Her house sagged under the weight of a felled 150-year-old pecan tree; the windshield of her car was shattered. She sent an email to Rev. Heller, asking if any students could help out.
“I’m hoping maybe five students are going to show up,” Rogers said. “The next morning, I see these darling girls that I taught and am teaching, and I just burst into tears. Then, the students kept coming and coming and coming—they were the brigade. They were the most organized group; they worked nonstop, and they cleared my yard. In the two-plus hours they were there, they did what would have taken [my family] over a week.”
The school lost power for three days, sustained mild roof damage and lost a few trees. Some fencing also fell down. Prior to reopening the school after the tornado, work had to be done to clean up fallen trees, get loose tiles off the roof and run tests after the gas and power were restored. The school was closed for four days because of the lack of power.
“We were lucky in that we did not suffer what I would consider significant damage compared to other schools in the area,” Head of School David Baad said.
story by
jiaying fu and blair batson
Community Service Learning Courtney Phelps said. “It was heartwarming to know that despite many [members of the school] going through their own issues, they were willing to help those who also needed assistance.”
“IT WAS HEARTWARMING TO KNOW THAT DESPITE MANY [MEMBERS OF THE SCHOOL] GOING THROUGH THEIR OWN ISSUES, THEY WERE WILLING TO HELP THOSE WHO ALSO NEEDED ASSISTANCE.”
Courtney Phelps, Director of Community Service Learning
The school community has made efforts to assist other schools, such as St. Marks and Walnut Hill Elementary, and individuals who were more heavily impacted by the storm. These efforts include reaching out to St. Marks to offer practice spaces for winter sports; assisting damaged schools in the area through the school’s partnership with United to Learn; and supporting efforts to help tornado victims led by the North Texas Food Bank, Red Cross of North Texas and St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store of Dallas.
“I’m extremely proud of our entire school community— students, parents and everyone who came together in the aftermath of the tragedy,” Director of
Junior Ford Bannister helped move trees in a friend’s backyard and items out of damaged houses into moving trucks at Preston Road and Royal Lane.
“It felt like I was making a difference helping other people, especially since their whole lives were uprooted so suddenly,” Bannister said. “Seeing everyone come out instinctively and immediately to help each other was cool. Especially in today’s age, we think more about ourselves and we get wrapped up in our own experiences, so it was neat to see everyone go out to help each other.”
Beyond anything, Rogers feels lucky. Lucky in comparison to her neighbors, who suffered worse damage. Lucky to be safe. But most of all, lucky to receive help and support from the school community.
“I am just so profoundly grateful for the goodness and kindness of people who came out of this,” Rogers said. “I am deeply appreciative for the people who were so gracious, kind and thoughtful, especially the students who came to help because it was hard physical labor. That was really meaningful to my husband and I— [we] felt very surrounded by love from our community.”
STUDENT SERVICE Seniors Jack Loftus and Brodie Burke assist a St. Marks family by moving brush, branches and wood to the sidewalk where they can be chipped away. A group of seniors cleaned up the Midway Hollow neighborhood the second day after the storm. “Honestly, we’d feel guilty if we didn’t help them because they’re in our community, they’re our neighbors, they’re our friends,” Loftus said. “We wanted to do whatever we could to help them—that was our motivation.” photo by Riley Breaux
CAMPUS CLEANUP A landscaping contractor cleans up post-storm debris. The school was closed for four days because of the tornado. “The majority of the work had to do with tree cleanup,” Head of School Dave Baad said. “Our landscaping contractor worked for two or three days clearing and cleaning up the trees and [debris.]” photo by Riley Breaux
“
[TASKS SUCH AS] STARTING ASSIGNMENTS EARLIER OR [BREAKING UP STUDY TIME IN INTERVALS] ARE THINGS YOU WOULD HOPE A STUDENT WITH AN EARLY DIAGNOSIS WOULD FIGURE OUT THROUGH MAYBE EXPERIENCE, PARENT INTERVENTION OR TEACHING INTERVENTION. THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING [STUDENTS] STRUGGLE WITH IF THEY ARE DIAGNOSED LATE.
Hilary Hodgson, Upper School Learning Support Counselor
story and graphic by
luke mccabe and lauren weber
Learning curve with a
As her eighth grade history teacher called her name repeatedly, freshman Lily Tollison’s mind was somewhere else. After the fifth attempt to catch her attention, Tollison finally responded; she just couldn’t focus.
According to the National Center for Learning Disabilities, one in five students live with learning disabilities, such as dysgraphia, ADHD and dyslexia. Children with learning disabilities have the same potential for high achievement, but they require support to help them develop skills to combat or learn with their disorders. According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 upper school students, 34 percent of students have accommodations.
Junior Caleb Ainsworth discovered he has dysgraphia, which inhibits the motor skills necessary for writing, in middle school. Ainsworth received an accommodation that allows him to use a computer for writing and note-taking assignments.
“I discovered I had a learning disability when my teachers kept saying they could not read my handwriting,” Ainsworth said. “It [got in the way of] my schoolwork because I couldn’t write things at the same rate as other kids.”
Upper School Learning Support Counselors, Dr. Hilary Hodgson and Ashlyn Hudson, work to help students with their accommodations. They require that students receive accommodations from school-approved outside professionals. They provide 50-percent extended time and computer accommodations for students with dysgraphia and sometimes for students with a mixture of learning disabilities. When new students come to the school, they must have an official documented diagnosis to receive accommodations.
“When I came to ESD [freshman year], they definitely helped me, giving me extra time and working on my accommodations,” junior Adeline Beichler said. “I had to get my time reapproved, and ESD was definitely stricter but really helpful once we figured everything out.”
Junior Jake Griffin discovered that he had ADHD upon arriving at the school in ninth grade from Prestonwood Christian Academy.
“At [Prestonwood], my teachers sometimes told me I had a hard time sitting still and staying on task, but it was just middle school, and I didn’t feel like I needed to focus too much,” Griffin said. “When I got to ESD and grades started to matter, assignments started to change, and it became evident that even if I studied really hard and knew everything with no doubt in my mind, I was going slower than everybody.”
Griffin’s disorder was ignored in middle and lower school and attributed to him being restless and energetic.
Although Griffin was still able to succeed in middle school without accommodations, this is not the case for many others.
“The group it’s hardest for is the group that has ADHD and doesn’t get diagnosed or treated earlier,” Hodgson said. “But even with an earlier diagnosis, a lot of those students still struggle a lot. I would say those are the students that I see struggling the most.”
However, accommodations do not necessarily solve all the problems that a student with a learning disability will face.
“If a student has significant difficulty with time management in a global sense, [such as] prioritizing their homework and getting things turned in on time, those are things we can’t help them with,” Hodgson said. “Extended time on tests can help, but extended time is not provided on assignments, so I don’t view it as necessarily helpful in their lives. [Tasks such as] starting assignments earlier or [breaking up study time in intervals] are things you would hope a student with an early diagnosis would figure out through maybe experience, parent intervention or teacher intervention. That might be something [students] struggle with if they get diagnosed late.”
Classroom experiences disabilities bring of accommodations
Middle School and were aware of their learning inhibitors, a program known as Language Lab was created to assist these students. Senior Lily Jackson was diagnosed with dyslexia when she was in fifth grade and placed in Language Lab. Before being introduced into the program, Jackson refused to read out loud in class for fear of messing up.
“IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT EVEN IF I STUDIED REALLY HARD AND KNEW EVERYTHING WITH NO DOUBT IN MY MIND, I WAS GOING SLOWER THAN EVERYBODY.”
Jake Griffin, junior
Junior Zaria Osimetha, for example, knew she had ADHD since kindergarten but was diagnosed with dysgraphia her freshman year. Up to that point, she had never been provided with computer accommodations. This is why diagnosing learning disabilities early in academic development is so crucial.
“Even though I’ve struggled with my learning disability, it helped that I found out earlier,” junior Lauren Tollison said. “Some of my friends who have recently found out that they needed accommodations have had harder times adjusting and making up for all those years that they weren’t accommodated.”
As for students who were at the school for Lower or
“The school was definitely good when I was in Language Lab,” Jackson said. “[Language Lab consisted of] two classes, and all [the students in Language Lab] made friends, and it was really nice because you would hang out with each other all the time, and you became comfortable. [Being separated] was kind of embarrassing, so it was nice to have people
who were Because and her does not
“By really need school and gone definitely bunch, Lauren and middle to be supportive
34% of students have been diagnosed with a learning disability*
“I know people really need my accommodations finish other students Without difficult grades,
of students disabilities accommodations level
experiences with learning bring to light importance accommodations
were going through the same thing.”
Because of the support that Language Lab her extra time have provided, dyslexia not hold her back academically. the time I got to high school, I [didn’t] need as much help as I did in middle because [I had] kind of figured it out gone to tutors and stuff,” Jackson said. “I definitely went in and met with [teachers] a bunch, and they helped me if I needed it.” Lauren was also in Language Lab in lower middle school and found the experience supportive and helpful. know that there is talk out there about having accommodations who don’t need them,” Lauren said. “But accommodations allow me to the same tasks that may take students only one class to do. Without them, it would be really difficult to keep my grades, regardless of if I
was working hard or not.”
Learning disabilities are a struggle even with the accommodations that come with them, and the stigma that surrounds them ignores the stories and embarrassment present when growing up with one of these disorders.
“I want to study hard, so that I don’t feel like I need [extended time],”
20%
students with learning disabilities say that their accommodations do not level the playing field*
of students with learning disabilities have experienced an awkward situation in a school environment* 49%
Jackson said. “I do this thing where I [overlearn] the material. I just like to finish [my assignments in time] because I don’t like when people say ‘Oh, she has extended time because she has dyslexia,’ and I just try to avoid it as much as I can with my own work.”
27% of students with learning disabilities feel discriminated against*
*according to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 upper school students
taco time
Four taco restaurants in Dallas provide a mouth-watering experience
story and graphic by
Velvet Taco
11700 Preston road #600, Dallas 75230
Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it—that’s how I would describe my experience at Velvet Taco. Their eclectic menu fuses countless cooking styles—such as Mediterranean, Indian, Korean and Cuban—rather than sticking to classic Tex-Mex.
One could argue all day over whether the falafel taco is truly a taco or a lettuce wrap, but either way, it is divine. The cold, crunchy lettuce perfectly complements the soft, warm falafel, and the tahini crema and tomatoes add a juicy, tangy flavor. It is not too messy to eat, as the content-to-lettuce ratio is spot on. I have no complaints; all I can say is that a trip to Velvet Taco would not be complete without the falafel taco.
The fried paneer taco is a firework of flavor waiting to explode in your mouth. It immaculately combines the salty, fried paneer with tangy tomato chutney and spicy tikka sauce. The balance of texture between the soft tortilla, crispy paneer and soaked tomato chutney is pristine. My only critique is that the taco does come packed, so it requires some picking at in order to not make a mess.
Ordering at Velvet Taco requires an open mind, but seriously, it’s worth the adventure.
Rusty Taco
12050 Inwood road #110, Dallas 75244
Rusty Taco is indeed rustic. The exposed ceilings, worn out concrete floors, stainless steel chairs and chipped-paint metal trays provide a homey atmosphere for a tasty taco trip.
Though I came to Rusty Taco for lunch, I had to take full advantage of the fact that they serve breakfast all day, prompting me to order the black bean, egg and cheese taco. It was good but not special. I didn’t feel like one flavor strongly overpowered another; my complaint is that as I was eating the taco, I could not figure out what distinguished it from any other breakfast taco I could throw together at my house.
The black bean taco was a lot more exciting than the breakfast taco—it came stuffed. I couldn’t even pick it up before I picked some of the ingredients out, but once I did, it was delectable. The soft black beans and cotija cheese paired with juicy tomatoes and topped with crunchy pumpkin seeds made for an impeccable and fun combination of flavor and texture.
Rusty Taco is an ideal spot to find ordinary yet high-quality tacos.
Torchy’s Tacos
5921 Forest lane #200, Dallas 75230
Originating from Austin, Texas, Torchy’s Tacos has grown from a quaint red food trailer to an expansive chain with more than 60 locations. Whether they have managed to maintain the quality of a small business is questionable.
The fried avocado taco looked more like a salad on a tortilla than a taco. The lettuce, while juicy and crunchy, overpowered the crispy fried avocado and the soft refried beans. This taco had potential to be delicious if the contents were proportionate to each other, but instead, it tasted like I was eating a chunk of lettuce wrapped in a tortilla.
The Independent was a lot. It was loaded with refried black beans, avocado, grilled corn, carrots, cotija cheese, cilantro, ancho aioli and fried portobello mushrooms, which I thankfully left off. Though it was packed with a myriad of ingredients, I tasted the ancho aioli more than anything else, and it was spicy. This taco is not on my agenda for my next trip to Torchy’s.
Torchy’s Tacos has potential to be good—just be wise in your ordering.
blair batson
editors-in-chief
Emily Delgado, Victoria Willox & Evelyn Zhao
EE StaffStance Number of field trips should be increased for hands-on learners
Acopy editor
Jiaying Fu
news editor Lauren Egger
sports
views editor Alán Benítez
business manager Gardiner Vose
digital relations
Ava Brennan
staff writers
Smith Cochran, Kara Dross, Sloane Hope, Alexander Konradi, Carolyn Langford, Emily Lichty, Gina Montagna, Raleigh Toledo
cartoonist Sumner Wooldridge
adviser DiAngelea Millar
eagleedition@esdallas.org (214) 358-4368
s harder classes pile up over the years, students find themselves consumed in a whirlwind of exams, homework and quizzes. with little time to pursue other interests, new experiences and self-growth. Field trips provide a much-needed respite from the often monotonous school day, especially for students whose learning styles are not suited to a typical classroomtype environment. Classes on campus should incorporate more trips.
According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, 92 percent of the student body believes the school ought to have more field trips.
There are many benefits to field trips. Psychological research has revealed that there are several types of learning, one of which is called “hands-on learning.”
Forty-one percent of students are hands-on learners, and 51 percent of students are visual learners, according to the same poll. For these students, field trips are crucial to their education, as these trips allow them to forge unique connections through trial and error in a real-world environment. Many other types of learners also benefit, such as aural or visual, as field trips are usually multisensory experiences. Fifty-nine percent of students who go on a field trip do better academically, according to a 2017 study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association. The study also concluded that field trips cause a spike in high school and college graduation rates.
Sixty-seven percent of students agree that their most memorable
classroom experience was a field trip. Field trips allow for variety in the school day and for students to discover interests in different subjects. The field trip environment incites deeper knowledge of particular subjects. The 2017 study conducted by the U.S. Travel Association found that 89 percent of students believe that field trips positively impacted their career as it was a large factor in their discovery of an academic interest.
Field trips can often stimulate self-growth. The University of Arkansas reports that students sharpen their critical thinking skills and become more empathetic and tolerant after going on field trips to art museums as the art pieces
92 percent of students believe the school should offer more field trips*
67 percent of students said that their most memorable classroom experience was a field trip*
*according to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students
We weren’t quite sure how to write this letter. How do you say goodbye to a person that has impacted your life so profoundly? A simple letter can’t adequately convey all that our adviser, DiAngelea Millar, has taught us. Two years and two months were not enough. The first time walking into the journalism lab put us at ease. Immediately, Ms. Millar launched into an intro to journalism. It was both her first day and ours as members of the paper.
You could feel her passion for journalism, AP style and the First Amendment exuding from her words each day in class. Whether we were discussing John Peter Zinger or journalistic ethics, every day was exciting and engaging. Ms. Millar gave us a place to express ourselves and our opinions, one where we felt welcome and heard. Transitioning from the safe, simplicity of J1 into the chaotic, maddening world of newspaper is no easy feat, and we certainly did
not do it gracefully. Ms. Millar’s years of experience in a real newsroom brought an element of authenticity to ours. If there is one lesson we learned, it is under no circumstances acceptable to use the oxford comma—ever.
show them different narratives. Engagement within and outside communities allows for students to learn more about the world and gain perspective. Additionally, field trips level the playing field for socio-economically challenged students by providing them with opportunities they typically would not get to experience.
Elective and fine arts classes make an effort to include field trips in their curriculum—why can’t core classes do the same? We advocate that the school implement more field trips in the academic curriculum to prompt growth and self-awareness as well as to develop student interest in classes.
One of the many joys that comes with being a newspaper staff member is attending worknights. We had all heard the horror stories—staying up until two a.m. checklisting page 18 for the millionth time and making sure the graphic of the centerspread is in CMYK 300ppi bicubic smoother enlargement. Thankfully, Ms. Millar. single handedly changed the length of deadlines, and for that and all her other work, I can’t thank her enough. While we will miss dancing to Taylor Swift songs and eating Torchy’s queso up in the jlab with Ms. Millar, we wish her well in her next endeavors, and we trust she has prepared us sufficiently for the coming transitions. Lastly, we are very excited to welcome a new adviser onto our campus and into our community, and we cannot wait to gain a new perspective and experience to improve our paper.
Editors-in-Chief, Emily, Evelyn & Victoria
victoria willox graphic by
Letter to the Editors
Dear Eagle Edition staff,
From completing a gel electrophoresis lab in AP Bio to analyzing the results of a titration in honors chem, I have always been fascinated by the process of experimentation how the inner workings of a cell could be analyzed to determine the relationship between form and function, or how a simple statistical analysis could be conducted to unearth new perspectives in scientific innovation.
After my freshman year, I approached the administration to start a Science Olympiad Team. My first year at ESD, I noticed that there weren’t a lot of competitive STEM opportunities available at ESD besides Robotics. Science Olympiad offers a more diverse array of scientific opportunities, especially for people interested in subjects such as physics, anatomy and forensics chemistry. It’s a competitive organization with at least 23 different areas of science to participate in. Many public schools have a Science Olympiad team.
I talked to a few of my friends about this idea, and they seemed pretty excited, so I knew that there would definitely be more people who were interested. After talking to various faculty members, I was informed that ESD was actually in the process of joining another STEM competition called SkillsUSA. I was super excited to hear this information. However, my sophomore year, SkillsUSA never came to fruition because of problems regarding ESD’s status as a private school. I approached the administration again with another idea, yet I was told again that ESD would not be able to participate. Finally, my junior year, ESD started a competitive chapter for engineering called TSA, yet because of the fact that we were not given the proper information, we were unable to compete.
Throughout my time at ESD, I’ve been surrounded by some of the most dedicated and hard-working teachers I have met in my entire life. We often forget that teachers have to meticulously plan each lesson for the day and spend a lot of time grading tests and homework assignments, while juggling obligations outside of school. Therefore, I understand the difficulties and complications that arise when starting a competitive club from scratch. However, it saddens me that despite our repeated attempts to initiate a competitive stem program at ESD, we were unable to do so. I hope that in the future, administration will take a more active role in helping students pursue competitive STEM opportunities.
Meera Gangasani, senior
Eighteen-year-old Tsang Chikin was shot by the Hong Kong police during an antigovernment protest on Oct. 1.
Sixteen-year-old Greta Thunberg delivered an impassioned speech to world leaders at the U.N. Climate Action Summit on Sept. 23, demanding that they take crucial steps to address climate change. She subsequently received a deluge of criticism from adults, including President Donald Trump.
After the Parkland shooting in February of 2018, students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School organized March for Our Lives—an organization aiming to empower youth to demand common sense gun laws. These students were victim to an abundance of criticism, including accusations of being “crisis actors.”
The list goes on, but the crux of the matter is that regardless of how valid the demands of youth are, they will be met with criticism from adults. Why? Maybe they feel threatened by intelligent teens; maybe they don’t think it’s our place to ignite movements and incite change; or maybe they just don’t agree with what we are demanding. Nevertheless, adults should not stifle or undermine the cries of children—they should listen.
Youth movements are not unique to the twenty-first century. In 1942, students at the University
Pumpkin
Legislatures should pay attention to youth movements
Teens rise up throughout history, demand change
of Munich organized the White Rose movement to spread Nazi resistance. In 1960, the Greensboro Four initiated a sit-in at the Woolworth’s lunch counter to protest the store’s policy of refusing service to anyone who wasn’t white; this soon turned into a non-violent movement of students nationwide. In the late 1960s, protests opposing the Vietnam war originated on college campuses. In 1989, students in China led pro-democracy movements in Tiananmen Square. It comes as no surprise that throughout the years, young adults have ardently expressed their desire for change. We have to watch lawmakers enact decisions that we will have to endure the consequences of, both in the present and the future. With utterly no political power in America until we are 18, acts of protest are one of the few ways we can express our views.
National Geographic provides three plausible reasons that help explain teens’ inclination to partake in movements. First, youth often have larger social networks than adults and are thus able to mobilize larger numbers. Secondly, teens tend to be more innovative with social media—a central platform for spreading a message. Lastly,
risks and fight for change. In an era where climate change poses a threat to our futures, gun violence remains a constant risk to our safety, recent legislation has put women’s reproductive freedom at stake and democracies around the world are under attack, teens should be organizing—it is frustrating to witness the apathy of certain adults in power. But, in order to make a tangible difference, we must be taken seriously. Adults would benefit from listening to a new generation. Growing up in the current cultural and political climate, we are inherently able to offer perspectives that politicians
are simply incapable of holding. Rather than being shaken off as “uneducated,” adults need to come to terms with the fact that many young people know what’s going on and know what needs to be changed.
According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 Upper School students, eighty-three percent believe it is purposeful for the youth to start major movements.
In America, we cannot vote until we are 18, run for Representative until we are 25, run for Senator until we are 30 or run for President until we are 35. However, since birth we are endowed with the freedom of speech, assembly and peaceful protest—thanks to the First Amendment—and we will use it. By Blair Batson
spice tarnishes the true meaning of fall
It’s October, which means it’s time for every girl at school to put on her yoga pants and Uggs, get in her Range Rover and go wait in a 30-minute line at Starbucks to get a pumpkin spice latte—not because it tastes good, but because it “signifies the start of fall.”
That’s my issue with the pumpkin spice craze. It’s like the McDonald’s McRib. Nobody really cares when it’s gone, but it makes headlines when it comes back. According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, 28 percent said that they like the taste of pumpkin spice. Over half of people who have tried it agree that the pumpkin spice trend has gone way too far.
So then why does everyone go crazy when it’s back? The Starbucks
ad campaign isn’t about the drink, it’s about the “vibe.” People don’t like the drink, they like the feeling of fall. They like to post some generic photo holding their latte with a sweater halfway wrapped around their hand, pretending like it’s “sweater weather,” even though it’s still 85 degrees in Dallas. It’s astonishing to see how many people have played into Starbucks’ marketing game.
Pumpkin is nasty and gross. It reminds everyone of the time they spent three hours carving out a way-too-complicated skeleton jacko’-lantern pattern they found on Google, only to have it look terrible and have the ribs fall apart because
they made them too narrow, and it crumbled under its own weight. Okay, maybe that was just me. We live in a time where things like pumpkin spice Oreos, Cheerios and protein powder actually exist. I can cook pancakes with pumpkin spice flavored non-stick spray, spread pumpkin spice cream cheese on my bagel and enjoy a nice glass of sparkling pumpkin cider. This has gone too far.
The pumpkin spice craze will go away after Thanksgiving when Starbucks replaces pumpkin spice with something actually good, like peppermint. But for now, there’s only one way to end this: boycott the pumpkin spice latte. Let’s make
this the least-sold item at Starbucks, behind the stale bagels and the overpriced cake pops. Let’s make this a movement. Some people want to ban plastic straws; I want to ban the pumpkin spice latte. Some want to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy; well, I want to replace the pumpkin spice latte with year-round peppermint drinks. Some want to remove our president from office; I want to remove the pumpkin spice latte from the Starbucks menu. Let’s Thanos snap the pumpkin spice latte out of existence. Let’s unite for change. Let’s unite against the trickery of Starbucks. Join me, and together, we can end the madness.
photo editor
evelyn zhao graphic by
blair batson graphic by
Cannabidiol Craze
Pro: CBD oil provides healthy benefits Con: CBD oil not approved by FDA
Cannabidiol has grown in popularity within the medical industry for the past year. Most people believe that it has the same effects as marijuana, but the two are not the same.
Although hemp and marijuana are the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, they are different in a key way. The cannabis plant that is legal in all 50 states, hemp, contains 0.3 percent or less of THC, the chemical that is responsible for marijuana’s psychological effects. CBD, which is present in both marijuana and hemp does not change a person’s state of mind when they use it. However, research shows that CBD does appear to produce significant beneficial changes in the body. According to Medical News Today, research has shown and continues to show more and more benefits of CBD, ranging from reducing anxiety to lowering the risk of diabetes.
The first cannabis derived prescription drug, Epidiolex, which contains CBD was approved by the FDA in June 2018 to treat certain types of epilepsy. Authors of a study published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine found that CBD significantly reduced chronic inflammation and pain in mice and humans as well. It was also reported by the authors of Neurotherapeutics that CBD reduces anxiety-related behaviors in people with conditions such as PTSD, general anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
CBD is also popular because of the many different forms it can come in—oil drops, gummies, baked goods and pills. Some people prefer CBD oil instead of other medication because of its easy access and different forms of intake. However, the legal status of CBD products differs between states.
Overall, CBD could help with many different disorders and should be taken at the appropriate dosage.
percent of students have used CBD oilinfused products before
knudson staff writer
Adam Hergenreder, 18, was pronounced a victim of vaping when he was hospitalized on Sept. 4. Now, he must use oxygen tubes at all times because JUUL damaged his lungs and the ability to breathe on his own.
JUUL, now with a net worth of about $38 billion, started in
staff writer
Cannabidiol, the chemical known as CBD, which comes in oil form, can arguably be used to treat many medical conditions such as anxiety, inflammation, sleepiness and even epileptic seizures. Although medical researchers are currently studying the side effects of CBD oil, the product has not received full approval by the FDA. As a result, there is little evidence to support its supposed benefits.
Despite having been legalized in 50 states, with some restrictions, CBD’s lack of oversight by the FDA can lead to a wide variety of product quality. Because of the unregulated state of CBD production, manufacturers can falsely label the contents. For instance, a study led by Marcel Bonn-Miller, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, showed that 7 out of 10 CBD products did not contain the promised amounts of CBD extract. Other studies have shown that CBD products contain levels of THC that could eventually lead to intoxication.
According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, 28 percent of students use CBD-oil infused products, and only 33 percent believe that CBD products work.
Further, studies conducted by the Harvard Medical School have shown that CBD oil may cause side effects such as nausea, irritability and fatigue. Additionally, other research has raised concerns about possible negative interactions with other drugs, similar to the effects of grapefruit juice. For example, studies have found that patients taking CBD and the blood thinner Coumadin had increased levels of blood thinner in their blood. Other studies have suggested that CBD use can cause liver damage.
Although CBD oil may provide relief from various illnesses, consumers should exercise caution and seek the advice of a doctor who is familiar with the extract given its possible side effects and unregulated, experimental status.
percent of students have never used CBD oil-infused products before
Limiting judgment about vaping addiction is essential to preventing future deaths, educating teens on the health risks and consequences
2015 and originally targeted adult smokers to use as an alternative to smoking cigarettes, but JUUL was unsuccessful. Two years later in 2017, JUUL started a new marketing campaign using colorful ads and models that were at least 21 years old. Since then, teens have become hooked on vaping, unaware of the detrimental health risks on the body, considering companies rarely share the impacts of these devices. Now a very wealthy and prosperous company, JUUL has stopped selling many of their flavored products to not entice younger audiences. Although they
knew teenagers were using their products since 2015, the company is now finally responding to health concerns. Unfortunately, new vape companies have stepped into the picture, fueling teenage addiction and hoping to gain wealth just like JUUL. Vape companies essentially ruin kids’ lives just for money. Some known side effects of vaping are chest pain, difficulty breathing, black tongue, headache, dizziness—the list goes on. Because vapes have only been a new fad for the past few years, scientists are not certain of the long-term effects. According to the Boston
Globe, vaping has led to a total of 34 deaths as of Oct. 24, with the first being reported in August of this year. It’s incredibly scary that a device has rapidly taken lives— Dallas and the nation must take action immediately.
There is nothing we can do regarding the fact that teenagers are now addicted to vaping, except lend a helping hand. Teenagers using the product are beginning to understand the risks, especially when visiting their friends in the hospital or even becoming hospitalized themselves. Additionally, teenagers around the
nation have been posting images on social media of other teens wearing hospital gowns with tubes in their lungs as a way to try and help people overcome vaping, visits to the emergency room and medical procedures.
It’s time to help our community understand the results of vaping and move forward in a new direction. The worst case scenario would be losing a person you know to this epidemic, which is becoming a drastic problem. No one in Dallas has passed away from vaping yet, so let’s keep it that way. Every life matters.
brennan relations
sumner wooldridge
graphic by
V Vvose’s voice
Democrats eyeing impeachment present unsubstantiated claims to remove Trump from office
Allegations that the president bribed the leader of Ukraine for information about his political rival Joe Biden has shown another unethical misstep on his part
President Trump made a phone call to Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine in July, which has spiraled into possible impeachment conversations. After that phone call, a top official in the U.S. government claimed that Trump abused his power to manipulate the 2020 election during negotiations with Zelensky. Trump later released a summary of the transcript of the phone-call, which doesn’t explicitly state manipulation on the part of the president—but does continue to expose the president’s ethical flaws. However, it looks like Democrats are still moving forward with the impeachment trial. The party needs to consider how pursuing impeachment could become a publicity nightmare in regards to next year’s election.
Trump is accused of pressing the President of Ukraine for information about his political rival and Democratic candidate for the 2020 election, Joe Biden. Because foreign countries are not allowed to involve themselves in U.S. elections, many Democrats and political pundits consider these statements to constitute an impeachable offense. According to the released summarized transcript, Trump did not explicitly ask Zelensky to look into Biden, but merely suggested it, which does not guarantee grounds for impeachment. To Trump’s credit, however, he did have reasonable suspicions about Hunter Biden. In 2014, while Joe Biden was still vice president, his son Hunter Biden joined the board of the company Burisma Holdings, the largest independent natural gas company in Ukraine. The company was investigated for corruption, and Joe Biden may have used his power to shield his son from the investigation, which would have been an abuse of power.
58 % of Americans say the House of Representatives was correct in opening the inquiry according to the Washington Post-Schar School poll
shady activity on both sides—to say the least. Trump’s actions should be investigated—the whistle-blower risked his reputation to inform the public about a breach of power. Even though the transcript summary makes it seem like Trump is not guilty, investigations have continued, primarily driven by the Democratic Party. I believe that the issue has become one that is based more on politics, coincidentally, during the same time debates and campaigning for the 2020 election have started to ramp up. Although this is an issue of national security and should include both parties—not just Democrats—it has become a way for the Democratic Party to exercise negative publicity toward the Trump campaign on a national level.
I believe that one of the reasons that the Democratic Party is emphasizing this impeachment inquiry rather forcefully is because the presidential candidates from the Democrats have been especially competitive this year. During the recent debates, Biden and Sanders have gained the most popularity while Warren and Harris have come in behind them. Although these candidates have gained popularity among the Democrats, they all carry baggage from their previous political careers, which has led many people to believe that Trump may have a better shot at winning the upcoming election.
Although both Trump and Biden’s cases are still under investigation, it seems that there was
SOCIAL STUDIES | cultural commentary College creeps
It’s important to recognize that there is some level of unprincipled behavior on both sides of the government, and when looking at issues such as the impeachment inquiry, it is important to remember that there are always two sides to every story, and you shouldn’t just focus on the one you identify with, but rather the issue as a whole. The president has done a number of questionable things, but the other side isn’t exactly innocent either. By Gardiner Vose
sumner wooldridge
comic by
The worst to the best of the month, ranked by Ava Brennan
Locked out
8
Latino immigrants contribute to the U.S. economy, are undeserving of discrimination
Gates around campus are locked earlier in the day, making it difficult to get into campus. Even with the gate codes, some students have to wait for cars to come out before they can enter the campus.
Fall short
7
6
Fall break was cut short this year. With only Monday off, students had a threeday weekend instead of a four-day weekend.
Bathroom break
Junior lounge bathrooms were closed because of the lower school students in the gym. Administration will not allow juniors to be in the same bathroom as the younger students.
Safety scare
5
4 3 2 1
A stranger walked onto campus, following students into chapel, which made people feel uncomfortable. The incident was quickly resolved, and an email was sent home to parents.
Games galore
A few games were added to the senior courtyard for seniors to enjoy. Spikeball and corn hole have encouraged the students to take a break from studying and spend some time outside.
Balanced ballot
The Homecoming Court was more diverse than ever this year, representing students of different extracurricular activities and backgrounds.
Dodging it
This year, the students beat the faculty in the annual dodgeball tournament, with a final standoff between senior Caden Dundon and librarian Mary Jo Lyons.
Chapel chats
The senior class has stepped up this year, speaking their minds in chapel and sharing personal stories.
It’s easy to call out people for invading your space or putting your life at risk, but is it really necessary to take their lives? On Aug. 3, a man drove nine hours to El Paso, Texas, and shot any vulnerable Latino he could find.
Latinos living in the U.S. are known as people who, according to our president, “have lots of problems,” such as “bringing drugs [and] crime.”
I like to believe that all people have some integrity and humanitarianism, but sometimes, that’s not the case, considering the recent El Paso massacre. Where have those values gone, and do they still exist?
Latino immigrants have a variety of dreams when coming to the U.S.—some want to earn enough money to send back to their families and eventually return to their homeland, some want a better education and more opportunities and others want to escape violence.
I understand how a portion of U.S. citizens think the presence of Latino immigrants in the country isn’t benefiting them, but in reality, it is. For decades, immigrants have been a vital asset to the U.S. workforce. Every day on my way to school, I see immigrants coming in and out of houses, working, cleaning, landscaping or taking care of a family’s children. According to the Pew Research Center, the U.S. workforce would shrink without immigrants because they make
up 45 percent of private household employment. If you really think about it, Latino immigrants physically build our cities and develop them industrially, considering a large percentage of them work in construction as well.
I feel that a majority of Latinos in this country have experienced discrimination at least once. If I am being honest, I’ve faced it. I’ve been called “Mexican” in a disgusted tone by several people my age. I have even been spoken to in a Trump voice by someone because they thought they were intimidating me. Other Latinos have faced similar hatred.
I find it ironic that we are treated this way when there are nearly 1.5 million American immigrants living in México, 91 percent of whom are undocumented,
according to the Washington Post Mexican citizens aren’t trying to build a wall to keep Americans out or deport them, nor are they trying to tear their families apart. If anything, Mexican citizens ardently allow these Americans to live in peace.
I’ve heard people say that immigrants should remain in their native country— but that’s easier said than done. Many are fleeing violence and poverty. They’re trying to save their lives and their children’s lives. Unfortunately, the illusion of the American Dream is so desirable that 47 million first-generation Latino immigrants have been completely blinded by it.
American citizens need to realize how much immigrants support this country.
Father’s journey to American citizenship teaches valuable life lesson—work hard for your family
emily delgado editor-in-chief
As I walked to lunch after chapel on Sept. 24, I scrolled through the notifications that appeared on my phone, before stopping at one four-worded text message from my father that read: “I passed my test.” My father passed the U.S. citizenship test.
The process in which an immigrant can obtain U.S. citizenship is known as naturalization. Before a person can apply for citizenship, they must have had their permanent residency or green card for at least five years. But in order to become a permanent resident, the process can take several years, depending on when they first applied.
My father immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico in 1990 at the age of 19. He applied for residency in 1996, but because of the process’ long wait, he did not become a permanent resident until 2012. After being a permanent resident for six years, my father applied for citizenship in 2018.
According to the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services, in order to become a U.S. citizen, applicants must complete an application, attend an interview and pass an English and civics exam before
the Oath of Allegiance can be taken. This process also includes the gathering of all personal legal documents, taking of fingerprints and receiving of various vaccinations.
This year, my father will be included in that statistic. After living in this country for 29 years, he will now be recognized by law as an official citizen of the U.S., at a time where immigration and citizenship is contested and criticized.
On Oct. 16, my mother and I accompanied my father to his citizenship ceremony in Plano. Amongst the 2,000 applicants who were present to receive their citizenship participants, 237 were from Mexico—the most present from one single country. After taking the Oath of Allegiance, my father received his certificate—a physical object that for him, represented the American dream come true.
For as long as I can remember, my dad
has attended my performances, games and award ceremonies, and each time, he has told me how proud he is of me. That day, the roles were reversed—I am so proud.
I’m proud of him for immigrating to a new country in search of a better life, despite not speaking any English. I’m proud of him for finishing his schooling in the U.S. because he did not receive a proper education in Mexico. I’m proud of him for learning English and working hard to support my family.
In November of 2020, my father will join my sister and me and vote in the next presidential election. After living in the U.S. for 29 years, he finally has the same rights as all other U.S. citizens in the country he calls home. Although my father took a chance to immigrate to a new country by himself, he does not regret his decision because it allowed me to have the life he never got to live, and I will forever be grateful.
alán benítez views editor
alán benítez graphic by
Sports
GAMENUMBERS
Athletes who play more than one sport are less likely to experience overuse injuries, face less psychological pressure from parents and coaches
Sports specialization is a common path student athletes take in order to receive college attention and scholarships.
In the late 90’s and early 2000’s, sports specialization became more prevalent as high schools began to hire professional-level coaches to help athletes excel at a single sport and gain more attention from recruiters.
Recent studies have refuted these claims.
“[Playing multiple sports creates] greater athleticism, improves foundational motor function and skills and lowers chance of sport dropout,” Athletic Director Dan Gill said.
According to an Oct. 15 poll of 229 students, 53 percent of Upper School students who play one sport have experienced overuse injuries. Fifty-two percent of Upper School students play more than one sport, and 61 percent of those students believe playing multiple sports makes them a better athlete.
Yet, for an athlete looking to commit to a college for a sport, playing multiple sports is proven to improve athletic skills.
According to the Coach & A.D. website, in the Super Bowl LIII, 90 percent of participating football players were multisport athletes in high school.
of Medicine and Public Health. These injuries are a result of overuse from playing the same sport year around. For many athletes looking to commit, the fear of an injury in another sport forces them out of the game.
“I want to focus on football because I want to take [my abilities] to the next level,” junior Reece Huggard said. “I definitely wouldn’t want to play another sport, get injured, be taken out for football season [and not be seen] by recruiting coaches.”
Senior Henry Watson is committed to the Ohio State University for D1 lacrosse. While playing varsity lacrosse all through high school, he has also juggled varsity football.
“THERE IS AN [UNHEALTHY] PRESSURE ON YOUNG PEOPLE [RELATED] TO COLLEGE RECRUITING AND SPORTS SPECIALIZATION THAT...HAS BECOME A VERY NEGATIVE INFLUENCE...”
“I thought about quitting football, but a lot of college lacrosse coaches during the recruitment process told me that playing football is good because regardless of whether you are playing a sport or not, they want you to put the stick down in the fall and take a break,” Watson said. “Injuries are always a worry in the back of my mind, but football is a way for me to stay busy and keep up my competitive nature. I wouldn’t be mad if I got hurt playing football because I love it.”
Dave Baad, Head of School
“[The athletic department wants to promote] life-long wellness, and playing multiple sports gives you the opportunity to have experiences beyond the classroom and once you leave the school,” Gill said. “For those who aspire to play at the college level, the feedback we’re receiving from college coaches is that they very much want student athletes who have multi-sports in their background as opposed to specialization.”
Single-sport athletes are twice as likely to report a lower extremity injury than those who play multiple sports, according to a study by the University of Wisconsin’s School
Junior Samantha Whiting recently committed to Princeton University for lacrosse and credits some of her success to the fact that she has played multiple sports all her life.
“[A lot of college coaches] and my club coaches have always said, ‘Play multiple sports’ because a lot of the moves you do in soccer or basketball end up translating to field hockey or lacrosse,” Whiting said. “I don’t play only one sport for months on end so that I don’t get tired of it.”
Athletes often experience burnout in a sport through sports specialization. Burnout occurs after something has been done over and
over, and that person no longer wants to perform the same action. Burnout is more common among athletes who specialize at a much younger age, according to Today.
“When you are in a state like Texas where there is a lot of competition and an emphasis on sports, it is concerning, as a parent, that we are trying to specialize and professionalize our kids as young as nine,” Gill said. “That decreases the opportunities and life experiences that sports are supposed to provide.”
Burnout also results from an immense pressure from parents or coaches.
“It’s a tough balance for parents because you want your child to have the greatest opportunity for success, whether it’s a scholarship or just playing at a competitive level,” Gill said. “The athletic department is really trying to create a holistic environment where our student athletes here want to play multiple sports because they want to have multiple experiences.”
While research suggests that playing multiple sports has many benefits, sports specialization is also an option for athletes, and is a decision that needs to be made by them.
“There is an [unhealthy] pressure on young people [related] to college recruiting and sports specialization that particularly in the U.S., has become a very negative influence on children,” Head of School Dave Baad said. “The decision [to specialize] depends from case to case, so it is hard to make a blanket statement.”
jiaying fu graphic by
lauren egger
story by
Variety of changes made to field hockey team Coach and freshman transition to varsity, new captain elected
gina montagna story by
After losing 11 seniors last year, the varsity field hockey team was unsure of how this season would shape up. The players were not aware that they would be gaining not only an influx of new players but also a change in coaches.
At the beginning of the summer, coaches for both varsity and junior varsity teams were chosen. Amy Bloodworth, who coached the junior varsity team for the past three years, was moved up to coach the varsity team for the first time.
Head coach
Ashlyn Hudson decided to move up Bloodworth because of her experience and dedication to the sport and the team. In addition, another varsity coach, Anna Nordin, was hired this year.
Junior varsity players were moved up to the varsity level this year, after a large graduating class departed.
Freshman Alexandra Warner, who was originally on the JV team, played well during the first half of the season and was moved up to the varsity team in October.
“[Warner] proved herself,” Bloodworth said. “Her energy and intensity really ramps up the players on the other team. She brought a little fresh life to the team.”
"GETTING TO KNOW ALL OF THESE GIRLS, THE SCHOOL AND HAVING THIS OUTLET FROM MY FULL-TIME JOB HAS BEEN INCREDIBLE. I'M SO HYPED UP ABOUT FIELD HOCKEY."
Amy Bloodworth, Varsity field hockey coach
“[Bloodworth] has added a level of intensity since she played the sport,” Hudson said. “Our level of intensity in practice and competitiveness [increased].
Both Coach Bloodworth and Coach Nordin bring competitive spirits to the team.”
Players love having Bloodworth as a coach again because she has worked with the players for years and has seen their gradual improvement. Bloodworth has been able to dedicate her time to specifically help the defensive players while Hudson trains the offense and team’s skills as a whole.
“It’s exciting because [I’m] getting a fresh group to work with, but it’s a little bit nerve racking from a varsity perspective because you
have no idea how they’re going to play together,” Bloodworth said. “We have a whole team of really good individuals. Now, [the team has] really clicked and has been playing awesome.”
Having three coaches has allowed the varsity team to get more individualized attention and improve their game.
"[BLOODWORTH]" HAS ADDED A LEVEL OF INTENSITY SINCE SHE PLAYED THE SPORT. OUR LEVEL OF INTENSITY IN PRACTICE AND COMPETITIVENESS [INCREASED]."
The team has also had to rebuild, after one of the captains suffered a severe injury, forcing her to be out for the entire season. The coaches decided to add a fifth captain, junior Samantha Whiting, to keep the team’s spirits up.
Ashlyn Hudson, Varsity field hockey head coach
At the varsity level, coaches are able to teach the players more techniques and game strategies rather than teaching foundational skills. Specifically, the coaches have been pushing the girls to take more shots at the goal during games. The team continues to work on their stick skills during scrimmages and specific drills. The team hopes to make the Southwest Preparatory Conference this year.
“We have a shot,” junior Ellie Bass said. “We lost a lot of players last year, but we also are all getting better this year. We [want to be] even better than [we were] last year.”
varsity field hockey statistics
EAGLE EYE
with Sam Lindsey
interview by
A Q
What has been your favorite memory from crew?
Freshman year, [juniors] Christopher Hess, Sam Curtis, Ford Bannister and I were in our novice quad, and we were lucky enough to go to a regatta in Philadelphia. We made it to the finals, and we were about to get second place, [but] in the last 10 seconds, we sprinted and passed the boat for first place to win by hardly half a second.
Q
Why should people do crew at school?
A
“It’s been hard having one of the captains out [injured] for the season because [she] is such an instrumental part of the team,” junior Lucy Sinwell said. “It has made our team take everything more seriously because we know that any game or practice could be our last.”
Bloodworth’s promotion to coaching varsity has had a significant impact on both the team and herself.
“Getting to know all of these girls, the school and having this outlet away from my full-time job has been incredible,” Bloodworth said. “I’m a more driven person because I’m so hyped up about field hockey. I get to go back to my old roots and play again. I’m so lucky to have such an awesome group of girls to share it with.”
Q
A
We have a new coach, and he's fantastic. He knows a whole lot [about crew], and it's very different than most other sports because you’re not trying to just score a goal or basket. It's you against yourself. It’s fun being able to go outside for three hours a day and relax for a little while and go back to nature.
What is your favorite part about being a leader?
I like being able to teach the novices or the freshmen because they don't really know a lot. I've learned a lot over the past two years, so I get to share my knowledge and continue the program. I get to carry on various traditions on the team.
Q
What is it like playing a sport that isn't as popular at school and doesn't get as much recognition?
A
It can get annoying sometimes because [other sports] could have a pretty mediocre season, and we could do fantastic, but nobody knows. There's a lot of self-motivation within the team, and you have to just kind of be proud of your own accomplishments. You've got to know you're doing it for yourself and for your teammates.
photo by Kate Flanagan
raleigh toledo
Iced
out
AHarvard University commit moves to Dallas, continues to play ice hockey
story by kara dross
fter leaving her home and team behind in Minnesota, junior Eleanor Winges, who is committed to Harvard University for ice hockey, continues to play in Dallas, despite Texas not being known for the sport.
Winges was born in Twin Cities, Minnesota and moved to Dallas this year. She has played competitive hockey for almost half of her life now.
“I started as a figure skater, but then, when I was around seven, my brother began playing hockey,” Winges said. “I really wanted to do what he was doing, so I switched over to hockey.”
Winges is now 16 years old and has continued to play hockey for nine years. In Minnesota, she played every week, training both on and off the ice.
“When I lived in Minnesota, all around, I probably played 15 to 18 hours every week,” Winges said. “I play defense, which means my job is to help the goalie and not let the other team score.”
Winges committed to play ice hockey at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts during her freshman year of high school. Her commitment process started off with her attending multiple different hockey camps held by different colleges.
“I began looking deeper into what I wanted in a college and where I could see myself in the future during the last half of my eighth grade year,” Winges said. “Then, during
the beginning of my freshman year, I was fortunate enough for my father to take me to the east coast and tour many colleges, as well as speak with coaches.”
There are currently 36 NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey teams in the United States. After touring multiple schools, Winges was attracted most to Harvard University.
“As soon as I stepped on the Harvard campus, I knew it was the place for me; I fell in love with the school,” Winges said. “Then, I received a tour from one of the coaches, and I fell in love with the hockey program at the school.”
in ice hockey occurred when she injured her knee while battling for the puck during a game last year.
“I was sent home in order to receive the medical attention that was needed,” Winges said. “After that, I worked my hardest by going to physical therapy for about two to three months to be able to return to my previous ability level and grow stronger through the process.”
“AS SOON AS I STEPPED ON THE HARVARD CAMPUS, I KNEW IT WAS THE PLACE FOR ME; I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE SCHOOL.”
Eleanor
Winges, junior
Winges got the chance to spend the night with the hockey team and attend their classes.
“During my day with the players, I realized that the hockey team was truly a second family to all the girls, and it was their home,” Winges said. “By this point I knew I wanted to go to that school, and my heart was set on it. Then, the following day, I had lunch with the entire coaching staff and my parents, and that is when I officially committed.”
Her most difficult challenge
When Winges’ father was transferred to Texas for his job, she toured several schools in Dallas. She picked ESD because she felt welcomed.
“I never imagined one of my good friends would be playing hockey, especially in Texas,” junior Emily Rubin said. “It was so cool when Eleanor decided to come to ESD and continue to play. We always ask her if it is different playing hockey as a girl and are always intrigued in what she has to say about hockey.”
Winges currently plays for the Dallas Stars Elite Hockey Club and practices five days a week. After college, she may pursue a professional career in ice hockey.
“If the National Women’s Hockey League grows, then maybe I would play professionally, but right now, there aren’t many teams,” Winges said. “I do think it would be fun to stay with [playing ice hockey though] because that is what I love to do.”
BREAKING THE ICE Junior Eleanor Winges swings at the puck during an ice hockey game. Winges began playing hockey when she was seven and now plays weekly. “The toughest part of the game, but also the most exciting, is during the third period when you are tired and have to be able to mentally stay in the game and fight in order to win,” Winges said. photo courtesy of Eleanor Winges
Varsity volleyball composed mostly of juniors
Team grows in grade representation as two freshmen join varsity, help rebuild team
This year’s varsity volleyball team consists of two seniors, eight juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen, creating a unique dynamic that has helped them remain undefeated in the Southwest Preparatory Conference. Making up over half of the team, the junior class is well represented on the varsity team. The majority of current juniors on the team were also varsity players their sophomore year, helping them to gain early exposure playing with and against other highskill players. Varsity captain and junior Liesl Small has been on varsity since her freshman year and has been playing club volleyball since she was 12. Small believes that having a large
number of juniors brings the team together more than it divides it.
“There’s so many different types of people in the junior class that are on the team, so everyone gets along with everyone,” Small said. “They also bring more experience and maturity to the team.”
because they were all so young,” Smith said. “Our whole team was mostly young kids who lacked varsity-level experience. But now that they all have that experience and know what to expect they definitely strengthen our team.”
"NOW THAT [THE JUNIORS] ALL HAVE THAT EXPERIENCE AND KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT—THEY DEFINITELY STRENGTHEN OUR TEAM."
However, according to varsity captain and senior Hadley Smith, having so many people from one grade has not always been easy.
Hadley Smith, senior
“In prior years, it was difficult
Varsity volleyball coach Laura Gomez also recognizes the struggles that came with having a large group of younger girls on the team.
“One of the main struggles is the speed of the game,” Gomez said. “It’s
Sophomore excels at cross country
Tori Schmidt named captain this season, places first in race
story by
emily lichty
As the day begins, sophomore Tori Schmidt sprints across the finish line, ahead of the hundreds of other athletes behind her. She woke up early on a Saturday morning to run a three-mile-long cross country race and, once again, placed first.
Ever since she joined the cross country team her freshman year, Schmidt has thrived, placing exceptionally high in her meets and being named captain of the team this year.
“[She’s] very outgoing,” cross country coach Evan Hadrick said. “She brings everyone in and makes [the team] a community. She’s very supportive of everybody else on the team, and she’s always in a good mood, smiling at practice and encouraging everybody.”
Schmidt placed first at two meets this year, a difficult accomplishment in cross country because there are over 400 other athletes competing in the same race. If she doesn’t place
first, she normally places in the top ten.
“As long as [I] throw in a good race, and [I’m] trying [my] best against [my] top competitors, that is really what matters,” Schmidt said.
“Those are goals I’ve been setting [for myself]—just keeping a positive mindset and working towards [my] personal best.”
Schmidt started running in fifth grade at her old school and ran on the cross country team throughout middle school. She came to ESD her freshman year and joined the cross country team.
“With our team, we all know that we can improve, and we know we are out there having fun and trying our best,” Schmidt said. “It’s a different kind of team where you just get to enjoy being around your teammates. It’s not very competitive, but we definitely throw in all of our effort.”
Being appointed captain, Schmidt
has been able to grow as a leader and teammate, as well as a runner.
“Now, I can set a really good example for the rest of the team, which I really enjoy,” Schmidt said. “It’s nice to be able to provide someone to look up to for the cross country team.”
A part of Schmidt’s focus for the team is keeping an uplifting attitude while facing challenges, which helped her come up with the idea for the “word of the day.” At the end of each practice, the team cheers to a certain word that spoke out to them during practice, such as “endurance” or “resistance,” to unite and encourage the athletes at the end of practice.
“[Schmidt] brings a very positive attitude to the team where we’re able to maintain on task and also have fun at the same time,” sophomore Kai Robinson said. “She does a really good job of making sure everyone is engaged.”
a lot different than when they played in middle school with the younger players.”
Gomez also attributes some of the potential setbacks to the higher level of demand that is required to play a varsity sport.
“The demands while on a varsity team are a lot different than those for a middle school team,” Gomez said. “It can be difficult for some girls if they aren’t used to playing on a club team.”
During freshman and sophomore year, the juniors were just becoming exposed to varsity level practices and games. However, the juniors now play a more crucial role in their team’s success as they fill four of the six starting positions.
“Their outside club experience made them very appealing for our team,” Smith said. “They are definitely a key element of our team now.”
According to Gomez, the main benefit of having a large group from one grade is the level of unity and comfort the players have with each other, on and off the court.
“If you only have two or three freshmen join the team each year, they don’t really get a chance to get used to playing with their teammates before they get new ones,” Gomez said. “But when you have a large group that joins the team together, they get to build that dynamic and play together for an extended period of time and really get to know each other, on and off the court.”
sloane hope story by
HITTING HOME Freshman Alexa Grabow jumps up to spike the ball in a game against the Red River School on Oct. 8. The team won the game 3-0. "Joining the team as a freshman, I was pretty intimidated by everyone," Grabow said. "That soon changed when the other girls welcomed me with open arms. I feel like I have been a part of the team forever." photo by
Sophia Sinacola
Sophomore prepares to run marathon
Gia Maioriello’s passion for running has inspired her to participate in a marathon
Sometimes she runs three miles before school.
Sometimes she hits an easy 13 miles after school.
Sophomore Gia Maioriello plans to run the BMW Marathon in downtown Dallas on Dec. 15. The marathon route is designed to highlight different aspects of Dallas, and it spreads awareness for Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
“I’m not trying to break a time,” Maioriello said. “I’m just trying to cross the finish line.”
Despite her love for running, she didn't join the cross country team this year, which she was a part of when she attended Highland Park High School her freshman year. Instead, Maioriello decided to join the cheer team and made varsity.
place or a time or a number. I don’t like a coach telling me my pace or how far I should run. I just like to do it for myself.”
Every day before she goes to cheer practice, she runs around the school.
“Juggling this and cheer is difficult, but I run three miles before cheer most days,”
Maioriello said. “If I can get myself up in the morning, I’ll run five or six miles.”
“IF I HAD A HARD DAY AT SCHOOL OR IF I’M REALLY STRESSED OUT, I GO FOR A RUN AND IT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.”
Gia Maioriello, sophomore
“I did cross country at my old school, and I liked it, but it was so competitive,” Maioriello said. “I like running for myself. I don’t like running for a medal or a
Before she became a runner, Maioriello used to take gymnastics, but she had a foot injury, which prevented her from continuing the sport. She began to use running as therapy for the injury, and it eventually became a part of her daily life.
“My physical therapist said I should try running to rehabilitate it, and I was so bad,” Maioriello said. “I couldn't make it past a mile without dying and panting, but I kept doing it because I wanted
Smith’sCenter
off of their name and likeness. However, his bill won’t go into effect until 2023, if ever.
Before I go any further, let me make it clear that the universities will not be handing out monthly paychecks.
by Emily Lichty
Here we go—yet another attempt to hype up the public about the possibility of paying college athletes. Another chance to bring back the NCAA football game. Another possible end to the dispute about whether or not athletes should be allowed to financially benefit from themselves.
But this time it’s real. Sort of. The snowball is starting to get bigger, but it will take more time than expected.
On Sept. 30, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill, the Fair Play to Pay Act, allowing college athletes to profit
Rather, college players are permitted to sell autographs, jerseys and take endorsement deals. This is a big deal because the NCAA heavily opposed this bill and said it was unconstitutional. The NCAA threatened to ban California schools from postseason play, like March Madness and Bowl games, but official consequences provided by the NCAA have yet to be seen.
A flaw in this new bill that may be seen in the near future is recruiting. Athletes out of high school may begin to flock to California until other states pass this same bill. If you practice a
to stay active, and I have been doing it since.”
Now, Maioriello runs around four to seven times a week and anywhere from seven to 13 miles a day.
“For weekend runs, I go crazy,” Maioriello said. “I leave the house, and my parents get worried about me. I’ll be out for three or four hours. My weeks vary from 20 to 40 miles, it just depends.”
Running is not only great for her physical health, but it also provides her with an outlet that is beneficial for her mind.
“It's very therapeutic for me,” Maioriello said. “If I had a hard day at school or I’m really stressed out, I go for a run, and it makes me feel better. It makes me feel so free and liberated.”
Maioriello also finds that running helps her with her performance in academics.
“It's made me more
productive,” Maioriello said. “When I wake up and run in the morning, I’m more awake, and I have more energy.”
Her friend, sophomore Ashley Jaynes, is very supportive of all the hard work that Maioriello puts in while training for her marathon, but Jaynes refuses to run with her.
“I’m scared of what will happen if I do,” Jaynes said. “Thirteen miles a day is a little more than I’m comfortable with.”
Since she loves running so much, Maioriello thinks that more of her friends should consider it as a hobby.
“None of my friends run with me because they think I’m trying to kill them, but I’m not; I just like going far,” Maioriello said. “[Running] is my favorite thing to do. I could do it for the rest of my life. If my body was more capable, I’d run from sunrise to sunset. I’ll run for the rest of my life unless my foot gets chopped off.”
College athletes should be able to profit from endorsements
sport for almost 40 hours a week and have the opportunity to make some money, wouldn’t you take it?
The good news is that more and more states are interested in passing similar legislation. South Carolina, Colorado and New York have all expressed interest. There have been way too many instances where the NCAA’s rules have been overarching. In 2014, University of Georgia running back Todd Gurley was suspended for four games because he sold his autographs and memorabilia to fans. He made around $3000, and aside from the suspension, he was required to do 40 hours of community service. All because he gave his jersey to a fan who was willing to pay him for it. To put this in perspective, a DUI sentence includes less community service hours.
One of the critics of this
legislation is the infamous Tim Tebow, former University of Florida quarterback and SEC football analyst. Tebow is worried about the “authenticity” of college football. He claims that even though his Florida jersey was a top-selling product, he didn’t want any of the money. I’d be happy to make money from people buying my jersey. What’s the problem with athletes selling their own equipment or memorabilia if there are people willing to pay for it? They have no time for a job, so the way to make any money is to sell equipment. Hopefully it won’t be long before all states have passed the legislation and college athletes are legally allowed to bring in the compensation they deserve. There’s a possibility this new rule will be shot down before it takes off, but we can all still dream.
smith cochran story by
smith cochran story by
READY, SET, GO Sophomore Gia Maioriello ties her shoes before going for a run on Oct. 5. Maioriello began training to run a marathon in January 2019. “Running is one of the most relaxing things for me which is why I love it,” Maioriello said. “I love being outside. I also love [running] because it pushes me to always try to be better.” photo
Q Favorite Halloween
Do you like toasted pumpkin seeds?
Do you still trick-or-treat?
Your Take
Favorite fall drink?
no yes
“Nightmare Before Christmas” 17% 37%
Favorite Halloween movie? Q
31% “Halloween Town” 25%
story by “It”
Do you think black cats are unlucky?
luke mccabe
From Diwali to Día de los Muertos, the school celebrates diversity and culture around the campus with decorations and traditional foods.
Spanish teacher Marcela Garcini and her classes helped set up a Día de los Muertos display featuring altars, papel picado and more. Senior Nick Harapanahalli created a rangoli, or traditional Diwali rice flour design, and he worked with Sage to serve an Indian menu on Oct. 28. Additionally, the Latinos Unidos club celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month by bringing paletas for the student body during lunch on Oct. 10.
“Every year, we try to change the flavors, so people can try different things,” Garcini said. “For me, paleta means familia and something sweet that I really enjoy.”
Students are encouraged to take an interest in other cultures to hopefully learn from the traditions of others.
“It is a wonderful way to celebrate our holiday with the entire community,” Harapanahalli said. “My mom and I made the rangoli for the school so that all of us have good luck and prosperity.”
