V38 Issue 1

Photo illustration by Gina Montagna and Elizabeth Goelzer

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RACES TIGHTEN AS ELECTION DAY NEARS

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This is a big election year up and down the ballot. Many of the races in ESD’s districts are going to be competitive, a change from years past when these districts were almost guaranteed to go Republican.

A major disrupter in this trend occurred two years ago when Democrat Colin Allred defeated Republican Pete Sessions, who had occupied the seat since its creation in 2003. This year is going to be competitive as Allred seeks re-election against Republican Genevieve Collins. Both candidates grew up in Texas. Allred grew up in Dallas, attending Hillcrest High School. He went on to receive a full-ride scholarship to play football at Baylor University in Waco and later played in the NFL, while Collins graduated from Highland Park High School, went on to row at the University of Tennessee and later graduated from Southern Methodist University’s Cox School of Business. Collins also has ties to the Dallas political scene as her grandmother, Calvert Collins, was the first woman elected to the Dallas City Council. Despite the candidates’ shared Texan roots,

their visions differ. Allred describes himself as a moderate Democrat who believes in affordable healthcare for all, quality education and building an economy that everyone benefits from. Collins, on the other hand, is a conservative Republican who believes in strong national and border security, preserving American’s Second Amendment rights and financial freedom.

The fight for Texas House District 114 is also projected to be competitive. Republican Luisa Del Rosal is challenging Democratic incumbent John Turner. Republican Jason Villalba had occupied this seat since 2012 but lost to conservative Republican Lisa Luby Ryan in the 2018 primaries. In the general election, Turner beat Ryan by 11 points, flipping the district. Turner, a moderate democrat, supports expanding healthcare, better funding for public schools, and improving the foster care system. Del Rosal is advocating for investing in education, affordable health insurance and property tax relief.

Another major election is for one of Texas’ seats in the U.S. Senate, in which the winner will join Ted Cruz. Democrat MJ Hegar is challenging long-time incumbent and Republican John Cornyn. Hegar is a decorated veteran, known for being the lead plaintiff in a 2012 case against the

military’s Combat Exclusion Policy. Cornyn has been in politics his whole career, serving on the Texas Supreme Court and stepping down seven years later to become the Attorney General. Cornyn supports repealing Obamacare, increased penalties for gun violence and increased border security. Hegar, on the other hand, is a strong climate change activist, supporter of Roe v. Wade and believer in the medicare system.

While many are predicting a Republican victory, polling indicates that Cornyn is only ahead by single digits: this combined with Ted Cruz’s very slight win in 2018 is making democrats more hopeful that Hegar will come out on top.

Continuing the trend of competition in 2020’s races, this may be the year Texas turns blue. Texas, with 38 electoral votes, hasn’t gone for the Democratic presidential nominee since 1976 when Jimmy Carter won the state, yet recent polling has indicated that Texas might be a tossup. Many have noted that President Trump’s handling of the pandemic is a key factor in voters’ minds. Junior Kate Elliston expects that many of the year’s events will play a large part in shaping voters’ opinions and ultimate votes.

“I believe this race will be very close due to the already projected results and votes from each state,”

RAILROAD COMMISSION ELECTION PROVES PIVOTAL

By Katherine Mote Staff writer

As Nov. 3 nears, conversations about the presidential election are pervasive. However, there are also critical races further down the ballot, one of them being for a seat on the Texas Railroad Commission.

The Texas Railroad Commission deals with oil and gas, and is responsible for regulating the industry in the state. Voting for this position is a decision that should not be taken lightly, as the commission’s actions have a large impact on the oil and gas industry and the environment.

Chrysta Castañeda, the Democrat on the ballot, is running on protecting and enforcing laws against flaring of natural gas and limiting methane and other emissions through leak detection, prevention and education. She wants to help her industry understand its impact on

climate change and change the name of the commission to make it more transparent. The Republican on the ballot, James Wright, is running on securing the border to protect infrastructure and the oil and gas industry. He also wants to protect private property rights of land and mineral owners. And the Libertarian Matt Sterett, who is also concerned about excessive gas flaring, sees reserve fraud as the industry’s biggest issue. Sterret doesn’t see much of an issue with gas lines and believes gas flaring preserves the “limited gas resources Texas has.”

“[The Texas Railroad Commission] is a regulatory agency that everyone votes for but no one ever knows what they’re voting for,” Government teacher Kiley McAbee said. “It’s on the ballot towards the end [and] it doesn’t even regulate the railroads anymore.

Elliston said. “With COVID-19 and new social injustice movements prevalent in today’s society, I feel there is a sharper divide in society that will reflect voting for this year. It also comes down to the nature of our nation right now and the actions each candidate is taking to compensate for those.”

How competitive these races are highlights the importance of voting. According to the Pew Research Institute, only 56% of the voting age population cast a ballot in the 2016 election. Many believe that their vote has no effect on the results of the election; however this is not the case. Each vote goes toward the popular vote in each state, which directly influences the vote of that state’s electors.

Many also opt out of voting in the more local elections, when these, in fact, can prove to be more directly influential on everyday lives. “So much of what happens is actually controlled at the state and local level,” US History teacher Claire Mrozek said. “Many people either pay all their attention to national issues or get so turned off by things on the national stage that they give up…The national conversation needs us all to represent our views at the polls. These issues affect all of us; you have to find out what you think and vote accordingly.”

70 percent of students eligible to vote plan on voting

23 percent of students that plan on voting will be voting only in the presidential race

68 percent of students know at least one person that represents them locally

They regulate and oversee most importantly oil and gas.”

The Railroad Commission is the oldest regulatory agency in Texas and now primarily regulates the oil and gas industry, pipeline safety and gas utilities. The transition from railroads to oil and gas occurred over more than 70 years until it ceased railroad operations in 2005.

“[I know] they’re talking about in this upcoming election changing their name,” McAbee said. “I think people truly don’t know what it is, and they don’t know what the Railroad Commissioners do [and that if they] could change their name it would give it more recognition.”

A major issue in this race is flaring, which is the burning of oil in order to collect the unwanted gases to be flared. Instead of doing this, oil can be cleaned and reused to power cities all across Texas.

“[The Democratic party] has been talking about flaring and trying to add more regulations to what oil companies should have to do instead of burning off what they don’t use,” McAbee said. “[Crysta Castañeda] reusing and cleaning [the oil] and I know that she really wants to add more regulation whereas typically [the commission’s] stance has been

really deregulated.”

McAbee sees a few environmental issues at the forefront of this race, the larger one being flaring and the amount of oil that is put to waste each year in Texas. If this oil could be cleaned it would be reused as energy for our state to use running transportation and electricity.

“The [issues] that [stand] out to me [are] flaring and methane,” McAbee said. “There’s a parallel that can be drawn right now with fires going on in Oregon and California and people [that] have been complaining that it’s hard to breathe. That’s the same kind of reaction people will have to too much methane pollution.”

Currently all three commissioners are Republican. If this seat flips, it might influence the actions and power of the Commission in years to come.

“I do think the parties really matter in the oil and gas industry,” McAbee said. “I think right now all three commissioners’ policies are pro-deregulation, and by electing someone pro regulation, it could change the dynamic.”

Disclaimer: An attempt was made to interview the candidates and both failed to show up for the interview.

Sloane Hope Business manager

Kiley McAbee, Government teacher

Source: Sept. 26 poll of 249 students

election news community views

Graphic by Sloane Hope

ELLIE BASS, SENIOR

“Over the past years, I have been researching about Texas elections and national elections. I look at sources from all sides and keep up with the news. I try to get an understanding of all candidates and pick my opinion from there.”

JACK BECK, SENIOR

“I read the news often and make sure to read through featured news articles every day. If I don’t know a lot about two candidates, I will research on the both of them and look into their policies and standards.”

SAM CURTIS, SENIOR

“I have been evaluating policies and would never blindly vote for a particular party. I don’t know what I would consider myself, but I know my personal beliefs and will vote according to those.”

HOLLIS WOOD, SENIOR

“Every morning I listen to the Daily News podcast for basic information. To get information other than the presidential election, I look at Vote411 and it shares unbiased, side by side comparisons for people.”

Ginsburg’s passing leaves open seat

Supreme

By Emily Lichty Life Editor

TCourt Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg leaves influential legacy after her death mid-September

he death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Sept. 18 at age 87 leaves behind an enduring legacy and questions about the future of the Supreme Court.

A strong advocate for social justice, Ginsburg co-founded the Women’s Rights Project at the American Civil Liberties Union and argued six cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, winning five. After she was nominated by President Bill Clinton in 1993, Ginsburg became the second woman on the U.S. Supreme Court and served for 27 years.

“Ruth Bader Ginsburg is an incredible inspiration to a lot of people,” freshman Will Grogan, who follows politics very closely, said. “People are always talking about being loud and being heard, but Ruth Bader Ginsburg was very soft spoken, very reserved and very calm, but she had a very powerful voice. There’s an interesting juxtaposition there because she was reserved but one of the most influential women and justices of all time.”

Ginsburg fought in many landmark cases for gender equality, often writing the dissent for losing cases on the Supreme Court. Middle and upper school Chaplain Rev. Tim Kennedy used to work with politicians on Capitol Hill during the early 2000s and remembers studying Ruth Bader Ginsburg as a strong writer and lawyer.

“[Ginsburg] was known for writing some of the crispest, clearest pointed [dissents] so that whether you agree

or not it didn’t matter because of the eloquence and her ability to use the language to express her point,” Kennedy said. “If you knew her well, she’s hilarious. She was such a smart lady, a smart jurist and a smart lawyer that she was able to make her point legally, but also hit them with a little barb.”

RUTH

both ways, as many politicians have. What’s fascinating about this case study is that there’s so many different ways to look at it.”

be the next justice.”

Ginsburg’s death opens up a seat on the Supreme Court during an election year, raising the question of if a new judge should be appointed before or after the election. On Sept. 26, President Donald Trump nominated Amy Coney Barret for the seat on the Supreme Court, following through with his, and fellow Republicans, intentions to confirm a judge before Inauguration Day. However, many Democrats argue that the Supreme Court Judge should be nominated by whoever wins the election.

GINSBURG

AN INCREDIBLE INSPIRATION

Will Grogan, freshman

“You can look at [this issue] from a lot of different angles,” Rev. Kennedy said. “It boils down to how much power you are willing to exert. Do you think that the power should be exerted in the last month of a presidential election? You can argue

According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 64 percent of students think that a new judge should be appointed after Inauguration Day. Many of those who are against filling the seat before the election look back to 2016 when President Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland to fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the Supreme Court. Several Republicans, led by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConell, argued that the next president should choose Scalia’s replacement since he died in an election year. Garland’s nomination expired when president Donald Trump was inaugurated, and Scalia was replaced with Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch.

“If you look back at 2016, a lot of Republicans have quotes on how its precedent not to do a direct replacement during an election year,” senior Stella Foreman, a member of the Women’s Studies Organization, said. “It seems very hypocritical of the now controlling party of the Senate to want to do it… If Trump gets reelected, he should do it, but I think we should let the people decide who they want to

To avoid Republican control of the Supreme Court, Democrats may attempt to slow down the confirmation process. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi revealed in an interview that another impeachment would not be out of the question to slow down the process, but later, revealed that she was no longer considering impeachment.

“The length of the confirmation process for a Supreme Court Justice varies,” government teacher Kiley McAbee said. “They can range from many months to just a couple. The confirmation of Justice Ginsburg took under two months in 1993. Senate Republicans are hoping to have the full Senate vote by the end of October, so it could be one of the shortest processes yet.”

Another possibility, suggested by many Democrats, including Pete Buttgieg, is to add more seats to the Supreme Court if Democrats gain the majority in the Senate this election.

“Trump has put two judges on the Supreme Court, and if he replaces the seat, three,” Foreman said. “It seems like one president, in the span of four years, can make a huge impact on the Supreme Court. If there’s only nine seats, that’s very detrimental to how the Supreme Court is working.”

The size of the Supreme Court has changed seven times. The current number of nine judges on the Supreme Court was set in 1869. In order to change the size of the Supreme Court, Democrats would need support from Congress, the president and the public.

“One power of the Congress is the fact that they can choose the size of the Supreme Court,” McAbee said.

“Many Democrats in Congress are

now showing an interest in increasing the size of the Supreme Court, that is, if they are able to win a majority in the Senate come November. If Democrats flip the Senate and Joe Biden wins the presidency, perhaps that scenario could become a reality.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s death may cause voters to change their perspective on the election. According to Reuters, 30 percent of Americans say that Ginsburg’s passing makes them more likely to vote for Joe Biden, while 25 percent are more likely to vote for Trump.

“Either party would want to nominate someone before the election,” junior Cash Whiteman, co-president of the Conservative Club, said. “The Constitution does not limit the president from nominating someone just because an election is near. Because the justices have a vital role in the country, I think the seat should be filled as quickly as possible.”

After Ginsburg’s death, memorials and vigils were held across the country, including at the plaza of the Supreme Court. On Sept. 23, she became the first woman to lie in repose at the Supreme Court, and on Sept. 25, she became the first woman to lie in-state at the U.S. Capitol. Foreman hopes that Ginsburg will be remembered for more than her controversial replacement.

“I hope that she’s remembered as a pioneer for women and women’s rights,” Foreman said. “It’s really sad for someone who respects and idolizes her so much for her death and legacy to be turned into this partisanship issue… Even two hours after she died, people were already talking about who’s going to replace her instead of what a wonderful impact she had.”

CHINA RACES FOR VACCINE

Photo illustration by Victoria Willox and Grace Knudson

Compiled by Grace Knudson

Photo Editor

Photo provided by CDC..gov

health

pandemicpost

Mask-wearing sparks debate

Tension between Democrats and Republicans grow as masks become the newest politicization

In today’s polarizing political climate, COVID-19 has become politicized—an anomaly to many who believe scientific facts should not be a political issue.

According to a study done by the Pew Research Center on June 25, only 38 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents thought the worst of the virus is still to come, while 76 percent of Democrats and those who lean Democratic thought the worst is still coming—evidence of the effect of party affiliation on one’s outlook. Senior Judah Powell attributes this division to President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and downplaying of the virus.

“I think really looking back, the President [and] his comments on saying [the virus is] kind of a hoax [and] a media alarmist kind of thing—I think that’s really when [the politicization] started, when people were saying everyone was overreacting to it saying it’s not that bad.”

According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 82 percent believe that COVID-19 should not be a political issue.

“I personally think it’s selfish because [people] are thinking about themselves when COVID-19 is most [harmful] for people with significant health issues,” sophomore Emma Konen said. “It shouldn’t be taken politically if it has to do with basic health care.”

Scientific evidence has shown mask-wearing protects one from spreading the virus and can even protect the mask-wearer from inhaling as many viral particles. With this evidence, the question arises about whether the government should mandate mask-wearing.

“I think conservatives are [focusing more on] freedom and independence and that kind of thing,” senior Gina Wilson said. “It’s our own individual rights so we want to decide if we should wear [a mask] or not.” Konen believes keeping others safe should be the top consideration.

“I don’t think it is infringing on anyone’s rights,” Konen said. “[It’s about] keeping other people safe

IT’S NOT A MATTER OF YOU believing it’s real or not, the facts prove that this virus is dangerous.

and not just thinking about yourself, I don’t think it should be made political or it has to be.”

During the pandemic, social media has been a conduit for misinformation about the virus.

According to the World Health Organization, misinformation can cost lives because it can lead to unused diagnostic tests, failed immunization campaigns and ultimately, the virus’ continual spread.

“It’s not a matter of you believing

it’s real or not.” Powell said.

“The facts prove that this virus is dangerous. We have a body count of over 200,000 now, over 6 million cases in the U.S. alone, and to think this virus isn’t real—it’s all alarmist— that is very selfish of somebody to think, and I think what they should take into consideration is those around them.”

To avoid giving into false rumors about the virus, Johns Hopkins Medicine recommends reading trusted sources such as official government or healthcare social media accounts and sites, checking links and sources on a site and reading other credible sources to see

82 percent of students think COVID-19 should not be politicized

if the information is corroborated. Upper school English teacher Greg Randall encourages people to turn to fact-based, civil sources for information.

“[For] the greatest threats to our world right now, I would put climate change at the top, but very close to that would be the [rejection of] truth, misinformation [and] our unwillingness to slow down, think deeply, and make our own decisions, rather than absolutely accept somebody else’s,” Randall said.

The politicization of COVID-19 is reflective of a larger trend: the politicization of science seen in debates over climate change and vaccinations. Randall attributes this to tribalism—a strong loyalty to one side—in politics.

“The vast majority of scientists worldwide believe in climate change, but if your own worldview is not that of the majority of scientists, then [you believe] science is wrong,” Randall said. “The vast majority of doctors and pediatricians believe in getting vaccinated for the flu; yet, if you’re own worldview is there are problems with that, then you simply don’t believe the scientists. So, I think

it has become too easy to distrust science and believe in what the tribe believes.”

Seventy-seven percent of students believe science has become politicized.

“Science is not meant to be politicized,” Powell said. “It’s meant to expand our own knowledge and to further the benefit for humankind.”

Powell encourages less debate and more unity during these times.

“I think debate over [the virus is] definitely harmful,” Powell said. “There shouldn’t have to be a debate about it...I think it’s one thing if this were another political issue, but something like [COVID-19] that poses a greater health risk to people all over the world should not be something we debate over. We should be trying to be unified against it to stop it.”

92 percent of students think COVID-19 has been politicized twice as likely as Republicans to say masks should be worn in public Democrats are

FACE OFF Eighty-five percent of Democrats think COVID-19 is a major threat to the heath of the U.S. population, contrasting to just 46 percent of Republicans.* “[Its because of] an unwillingness to listen to reason.” Randall said, ”An unwillingness to change your mind. An unwillingness to see that you can belong to one political party but still believe in something that the party doesn’t believe in.”

Photo illustration by Grace Knudson and Katherine Mote

Judah Powell Senior

Story by Katherine Mote and Grace Worsham Staff writers

Facilities workers increase load to disinfect campus

Environmental consciousness increases as staff makes changes to sanitation

By Callie Hawkins Staff writer

Over the summer, the school had to make a myriad of changes to ensure that in-person classes could resume as safely as possible.

The school bought many supplies to increase safety on campus such as hands-free faucets, hands-free water bottle fillers, wipes, wipe holders, outdoor hand-washing stations, air purifiers, plexiglass partitions and outdoor tents. Large computer monitors with cameras were installed around campus to accommodate online learners.

“In a normal year, we don’t have this [many supplies] at all,” Director of Facilities Jay Michael said. “This is a big change.”

This cost the school $450,000 in expenditures. They were able to spend this amount of money because they were not paying for costly activities that occur in a normal year, such as back-to-school activities, social events and dances. While the additional purchases and changes the school has made are necessary to slow the spread of COVID-19, some of these changes can be harmful to the environment.

“The environmental footprint of the school has always been very important to us,” Associate Head of School, Ruth Burke said. “When the last two buildings have been built, that has been a focus of ours, to make sure that our footprint is as contained as possible. The risk of using the normal procedures was a greater risk than our impact on the environment.”

At lunch, students and faculty are eating off of paper plates and plastic cups with plastic silverware. After every class, students must wipe down their desks with disposable wipes. Both of these safety measures increase the amount of waste thrown away at the school.

“In general, I am disappointed in the increase of trash,” senior and president of the Environmental Awareness and World Wildlife

Club Susanna Newsom said. “It’s hard because in the past few years, I feel like we have made so much progress in reducing the school’s environmental impact. It feels like a one step forward, three steps back kind of thing.”

Newsom met with Head of Upper School Henry Heil before school started, discussing purchasing the more expensive, yet more ecofriendly alternatives for lunch supplies instead of plastic silverware, cups and paper plates and what other things the school could do to reduce its carbon footprint.

“I think spending more money would be really beneficial for the whole school, even from an [educational] perspective, kids are going to be seeing and they are learning that this is something you should be conscious about and that this is something that ESD cares about,” Newsom said. “But, I totally understand the safety concerns [of COVID-19 spreading], and I agree it is the number one priority as the school right now. I bring my own lunch to school, and I think that just bringing your own silverware [and] bringing a reusable water bottle [are] little things to try to at least reduce some of the plastic use.”

The school also purchased 17 electrostatic sprayers, which are used by the custodial staff throughout the day to disinfect high-touch surfaces around the school. These are filled with the disinfectant that the school uses to charge the wipes and also fills the spray bottles used at the lunch tables. This disinfectant has helped partially offset the overuse of plastic and trash waste because it doesn’t give off the toxic fumes that most disinfectants do.

“We certainly are doing all we can to be earth friendly,” Burke said. “Our number one concern right now is the safety of all of us, teachers and students.”

136 52

New health screening tool introduced to track virus

Community uses Ascend to record potential symptoms, exposure with goal of keeping COVID-19 out of

By Katherine Mote Staff writer

As school resumes in person, many new protocols have been introduced to keep students and faculty safe, including a partnership with Ascend Base Camp Health to provide a daily health screening tool for students and employees.

“Ascend is a web-based platform that we are going to use to help make sure the people on campus are symptom-free,” Middle and Upper School nurse Marcia Biggs said. “This will be used as a double-check system to ensure the safety of everyone on campus.”

Every morning, administrators and teachers are given a list of which students have not completed their Ascend survey. Those who have not submitted it prior to first period class will be asked by their teachers to show them a “green check mark” on the website or call their parents to do so for them immediately. Biggs’ hope is that with continued reminders and good habit forming, the school will not need to chase anyone down or create consequences.

be contacted by administrators to analyze their situation and better evaluate their symptoms. Some symptoms might not be COVID-19 and could instead be seasonal allergies or sore muscles from a workout. If this happens, the school will reach out so one can explain what is going on and figure out the best path moving forward.

For some, Ascend has told them they are eligible to be on campus when actually they needed to stay home. This happened to sophomore Cren Boyd.

WE HAVE TO TRUST [STUDENTS] AND TRUST THAT [THEY’RE] GOING TO HOLD EACH OTHER ACCOUNTABLE AND HOLD EACH OTHER TO A HIGHER STANDARD.

Nurse Marcia Biggs, School Nurse

“When you sign-in in the mornings, some symptoms are weighted heavier than others,” Biggs said. “Those [symptoms] that are more closely associated with known COVID-19 symptoms like the loss of taste or smell will immediately notify you that you are not allowed to be on campus for that day.”

If one receives a red “X” on the app or is notified that they’re not allowed to go to school, they will

“I arrived at campus that morning [after having filled out the Ascend] and I sat down at breakfast and checked my email,” Boyd said.

“I got an email saying I wasn’t allowed to be on campus because I had come in contact with someone who tested positive. I then texted my parents who had already gone [to work] and they had to turn around to pick me up.”

When Boyd had filled out the survey that morning she marked no symptoms and Ascend listed her eligible to come on campus. Later that day she received an email to discuss her symptoms and touch base with the school. She explained her lack of symptoms and was able to return to school the following school day.

“Because of the need, administrators and others will watch over which students have completed surveys or not,” Biggs said. “ESD has a whole host of people and

school

about eight or nine sets of eyes and administrators to make sure they don’t miss anyone.”

Temperature checks are mandatory for the survey before one gets to school. Students also receive a second check at their first class of the day to ensure the accuracy of temperature checks and doublecheck that every student is cleared to be on-campus. Because this program is mostly used by students, it relies on the users’ honesty.

“We have to trust [students] and trust that [they’re] going to hold each other accountable and hold each other to a higher standard,” Biggs said. “It’s not just you, there are other people involved and we’re hoping that [students] take that seriously.”

If one gets a red “X” and is told not to come to school, it does not automatically mean that they must quarantine.

“[The red ‘X’] means okay, let’s talk this through and see what happened, what prompted that red ‘X’ and how can we get you the assistance you need,” Biggs said. “I’m hoping that if our kids know this they will be more forthcoming and more truthful.”

According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 45 percent have forgotten to fill out Ascend before coming to school at least once.

“It’ll slowly become a habit,” freshman dean and assistant director of outdoor education Dawn Eatherly said. “In highschool you get so much more independence and your parents are expecting you to do it.”

All COVID-19 cases on campus are reported to the county as well as being recorded in the parent portal to give parents complete transparency when it comes to their children’s safety.

“We will identify people by their division and their function,” Biggs said. “Hopefully, with this program, ESD will be able to catch known contacts or known carriers of COVID-19 before they come to school.”

CLEAN AND GREEN Facilities worker Eva Saavedra disinfects the chapel between services on Sept. 28 with one of the 17 eco-friendly electrostatic sprayers purchased by the school.

“Disinfection is the most important process we will use this year,” Director of Facilities Jay Michael said. “Students will see our custodial staff using electrostatic sprayers.” Photo by Callie Hawkins

Graphic by Katherine Mote

New teachers face new school setting

Seventeen new faculty members join the school, adapt to different learning conditions

By Emily Lichty Life Editor

With virtual learning from Aug. 25-Sept. 8 and changes to campus life due to COVID-19, new teachers face unique challenges while starting the school year.

Seventeen new teachers have joined the school community, and they had to find ways to teach safely while becoming a part of the ESD community. The new Upper School teachers are Doug Jordan, Nadaha Garcia, Phil Mosley, Juan Negroni, Betsy King and Cristina Gonzalez.

“Being new to any school in a typical year is always exciting and challenging, but combining that with meeting new students in the virtual world adds a layer of complexity and anxiety on top of everything,” Jordan, the new Band Director, said. “Rising to the challenge of meeting everyone from a distance, most often through a computer screen, and missing the natural cadence of conversation and interaction will make the start of this school year quite possibly one of the most memorable, and certainly the most unique of my years in teaching.”

Once in-person teaching began the week of Sept. 8, Jordan adapted the band class’s in-person curriculum to be safe. To do this, students must have special masks for themselves and their instruments while they

play and remain socially-distant in the classroom or their new outside playing area. Additionally, Jordan has introduced a new computer application called Smart Music that plays other band instruments for students while they practice at home and gives them feedback on their performance.

“Band was interesting [virtually] because of the lag, we couldn’t play with our microphones on or else it would be really off,” freshman Wheeler Wood said. “Once we got back in school, this got better because we can play together, and Mr. Jordan can hear what I sound like when I play.”

As the new technical theatre director, Garcia is also adjusting to an adapted school year due to COVID-19. For Garcia, connecting with the students in her class has been easier than expected.

“ESD has been the most welcoming campus I have ever taught at,” Garcia said. “I thought it would be really difficult to connect with everyone, especially the students, because there are so many limitations connecting virtually, rather than in person. However, the students here are open and willing to form those relationships no matter the circumstances, which made the

virtual process so much easier.”

Changes to the technical theatre workshop this year include the extra sanitation of tools and making use of the space that the workshop provides. For the theater program, the replacement of the annual musical production with a play is one of its biggest adjustments. There will be three plays instead of two, and each production will be video recorded so that they can be watched from home.

“It will be extremely weird not to perform for an audience,” Garcia said. “Just like the energy that students bring to a campus, an audience brings energy to a show…It won’t be much different for the crew. We will still be creating our pieces and performing our tasks, just like normal. The actors are going to face the biggest adjustments.”

Moseley joined the athletic department as the new Director of Sports Performance. To safely prepare students for adapted sports seasons while in virtual school, Moseley met and trained several athletes online at the beginning of the season, and additionally introduced a new app to help students train at home. With sport competitions beginning on Oct. 12 after a phased return, Moseley can now work with students

in person to prepare them for the season.

“Athletics have certainly looked different this summer and [while] starting the school year,” Moseley said. “As a strength coach, the summer is usually when I get to spend a lot of time coaching student-athletes so trying to find that connection virtually posed some challenges. Fortunately, we were able to launch the Teambuildr app in early July which allowed us to deliver quality training programs to the athletes remotely.”

Along with virtual teaching, many new faculty members had to complete their interview process virtually. Jordan was one teacher who completed his interview online and attended several meetings through Skype before he was hired.

“The parts that I missed, again similar to online learning, were the more social and collegian components of the interview process, things like eating lunch together or even walking around the campus, that are much harder to replicate online,” Jordan said. “Everyone at ESD was so understanding about the circumstances and made the experience smooth and enjoyable throughout, and I am so happy to be a part of the ESD community.”

BEING NEW TO ANY SCHOOL IN A TYPICAL YEAR IS ALWAYS EXCITING AND CHALLENGING, BUT COMBINING THAT WITH MEETING NEW STUDENTS IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD ADDS A LAYER OF COMPLEXITY AND ANXIETY.

Doug Jordan Band Director

end result of all of the adjustments is learning to become even more creative in my own teaching while learning new platforms and applications, starting strategies and experiences with colleagues and continuing to grow in my craft,”

said.

Seniors face college tour, testing cancellations

COVID-19

complicates college admissions process, applicants find new ways to learn about schools

By Lauren Weber Managing Editor

Senior Olivia Hagge is walking around a college campus—virtually. Scrolling through Google Earth, Hagge is taking herself on her own tour.

In a Sept. 26 poll of 141 juniors and seniors upperclassmen, 101 have faced cancellations with college visits and standardized tests. 73 percent of seniors have utilized social media, Youtube and sites like Campus Reels to gain an authentic look at schools.

“I think the hardest part has just been having to apply and not really know what the campus looks like, where it is, how easy it is to get to [and] what the restaurants are around it,” senior Hadley Mattocks said. “Just like the stuff that you learn when you go on an [in person] tour.”

Although many colleges have gone test-optional for this year, some 66 percent of seniors still plan on submitting scores. Senior Christopher Hess faced ACT test cancellations in April, June and July but was finally able to take it on Sept. 12 in Brownwood, Texas.

“It’s been canceled every single month [for me],” Hagge said. “It’s been adding a lot of stress because I’m prepared, and I’m getting into this headspace where I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m taking it.’ Then, I get to the day before and they’re like, ‘Oh it’s canceled,’ so I just feel defeated in a way.”

The college guidance office realizes the stress and uncertainty many students are facing. To mitigate

some of it, ESD is offering the SAT and ACT in October exclusively for ESD students. Over fifty seniors have signed up, and More Than a Teacher, a test preparation company, is offering tutoring services.

“One of the primary roles and functions of this office is that we’re the stress handlers,” Director of College Guidance Chris Gonzales said. “We’re trying to smooth [the process] out for [students] as much as possible.”

Beginning in September, college guidance will also be facilitating Zoom meetings with numerous main feeder colleges during non-school hours.

“Things this year in the college process [are] going to look different, but I’m proud to say that my office and all of us here are going to remain the same,” Gonzales said. “That means that [the students] will all get very individualized, committed help through the process.”

The Common App and Coalition App have added a question regarding COVID-19 to their applications.

“There is a whole set of training that we have to do so that our counselors, as they’re reviewing files, can learn how to evaluate the students academic potential without those test scores, which actually had pretty limited predictive value to begin with,” Texas Christian University Dean of Admissions Heath Einstein said.

Einstein and his staff will also

undergo training as to how to value each individual applicant’s story, as many students will likely write about COVID-19 and other recent topics.

In taking a contextual approach to evaluation, Einstein says that a high school’s decision to go pass or fail last semester will not negatively affect them, although he speculates that this may place a greater emphasis on ninth and tenth grade grades.

“For every recommendation letter that we write for every senior this fall that goes to every college, we’re going to have a little disclaimer paragraph at the beginning of the letter that says: our kids took real classes, real finals, worked hard, our grades are 100 percent a reflection of our kids’ work and the way they were handling a very stressful time,” Gonzales said. “I think we’re going to see a lot of dividends paid from that.”

Gonzales, however, does believe that seniors’ grades this fall, as well as short answer questions on applications, will count more than ever. Another major concern among colleges is the growing inequities that COVID-19 has accentuated. Early decision in many colleges may be a place where this is seen.

“I do think that there are a lot of colleges, whether they’re willing to admit it or not on the record, that will be much more aggressive in admitting students early because of the financial uncertainty that [the institutions] find themselves in,” Einstein said. “The more students

standardizedtesting collegeapplications deadlinesvirtualtours schoolwork recommendations schoolwork virtualtours stress deadlines GPA school work essays supplementals

you can lock in early, the greater sense of security you have with your incoming class.”

Despite these inequities, Einstein has found that using a virtual platform has allowed TCU to reach students from a wider range of socioeconomic backgrounds.

“If we were traveling right now and I went to any major metropolitan area, I only have a finite amount of time, and I’m most likely going to spend that time at high schools that are going to be likeliest to send students to TCU,” Einstein said. “That automatically creates a divide.”

After making modifications to

last year’s incoming class due to COVID-19, Einstein and his staff found that distance did not affect those coming to TCU. Nevertheless, the instability and uncertainty that the virus has created will affect students’ application choices.

“I’m more confused about [the college admissions process] than I was before the whole thing started,” Mattocks said. “There are some schools that I’m applying to now that I wasn’t originally applying to because I didn’t really think I had a shot getting in, but now it’s kind of all up in the air, so I might as well just apply.”

Graphic by Lauren Weber

NEW FACES From left to right, Band Director Doug Jordan, Director of Sports Performance Phil Moseley, Technical Theatre Director Nadaha Garcia join the ESD community amidst a different start to the school year. “The

Jordan

Photos by Grace Knudson

inbrief

Dallas County Elections Department looks for student volunteers

THIS ELECTION DAY, STUDENTS CAN SERVE AS ELECTION clerks for the Dallas County Elections Department.

The work will consist of organizing the polling place prior to Election Day, ensuring that voters are qualified to vote, checking in and processing voters, distributing ballots, answering voters’ questions and obtaining results after the polls are closed.

“This is a unique opportunity for students to gain handson learning experience in what it means to be an active citizen,” Director of Community Service Courtney Phelps said. “I am sure many of our students have or will have some sort of conversation around the election whether it be in the classroom, with their families, friends or even on social media.

This is an opportunity to step beyond those conversations and actively engage in a positive way.”

Phelps believe the opportunity to participate in essential elections such as this one as voters or volunteers is rare.

“The right to vote is something our community should not take lightly,” Phelps said. “Our students’ ability to assist voters in exercising that right should be considered a privilege and an honor.”

Junior Mary Lou McMillan jumped on the opportunity when it arose.

“This service opportunity really stood out to me because I am a big advocate for citizens taking advantage of their right to vote,” McMillan said. “I believe this is a great start to becoming involved in our country’s political system.”

Both Phelps and Dallas County believe this an opportunity that students should take advantage of. This election year is monumental and students have the chance to watch it firsthand.

“During my senior year in high school, this country witnessed a historic election,” Phelps said. “Unfortunately, was not able to vote just yet, but would have loved to be able to participate in the election as a volunteer.”

By Carolyn Langford

Graduation goes on after delay from the pandemic

SENIORS STILL WERE ABLE TO GRADUATE IN PERSON ON July 18 despite the trials of the pandemic.

At graduation, there were a number of differences from

years past because of COVID-19. The School was forced to delay the graduation date until they had a window of time when the local government would allow them to have the gathering.

“Fortunately we were able to have the ceremony with no complications,” Head of Security Jody Trumbell said. “Each guest, graduate and worker wore a mask and were very aware of social distancing protocols.”

Senior valedictorian Ned Dockery took on the challenge to deliver a speech with an important message to his fellow classmates.

“I knew we all shared the privilege of our ESD education,” Dockery said. “I wanted all of us to be able to recognize that privilege and act on it.”

Though it was somewhat difficult to plan the speech because of COVID-19, Dockery said it provided him with many topics he could talk about.

“I wanted to give people a bit of a break and offer a productive and somewhat optimistic message,” Dockery said “When was giving the speech, my words were coming from the heart and meant every single one of them.”

By Christian Rockamore

Drug testing suspended until health conditions allow it

THE DRUG TESTING PROGRAM THAT WAS INTRODUCED last year has been postponed until November, as the school is prohibiting visitors, including drug testers, from being on campus to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.

“We will suspend drug testing until we feel that health conditions allow it,” Head of School Dave Baad said. “This is a very fluid situation in which metrics and conditions change, so

it is difficult for us to clearly define what that might look like.”

As of now, the administration believes that drug testing will not take place before school pictures, which at the moment are scheduled for on Nov. 9. If restrictions are lifted, the drug tests could occur soon after that according to Head of School Henry Heil.

“I don’t totally feel comfortable with having extra visitors on campus so early on in the year because of all the COVID-19 precautions,” sophomore Ella Sjogren said. “I think the testing is important but not as important as the students’ health right now.”

When testing resumes, it will not require as many participants because only new students, including the whole freshmen class, will be tested, and random tests will be conducted among the rest of the high school. This narrows the number of people being tested from around 430 to approximately 140.

If a student who is learning remotely gets chosen randomly, they will be expected to come to school to get tested unless they have a significant health issue. As of now, the administration is focusing its energy on keeping everyone in the community healthy.

“We are not in any hurry to figure [the logistics] out moving forward,” Head of Upper School Henry Heil said. “We just want everyone to be tested [at least] once.”

By Grace Worsham

Community service in a pandemic

Students find new ways to serve the community throughout the pandemic

By Grace Meaux Contributing Writer

Throughout the pandemic, students have struggled to fulfill the school’s Fourth Founding Tenet: Service to Others.

The original community service requirements demanded students to have logged 25 hours by May of sophomore year and another 25 by the end of senior year. Moreover, students could earn no more than 20 hours per year volunteering indirectly. Concerns over contracting COVID-19, cancellations and closures of venues, have made volunteering difficult; however, students have found new ways to serve, and the school has adjusted its requirements.

“The main change that we made was for sophomores and seniors,” Community Service Director Courtney Phelps said. “Their deadline has been lifted, and they need to focus on having their total number by the time they graduate.”

According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 45 percent of students get the majority of their hours during the summer through various trips and camps. Because many of these activities were canceled, students have had to find alternative service opportunities to fulfill their graduation requirement.

“[The cancellation of summer trips and camps] had a major effect on many students being able to get their hours, but, for the most part, I know everyone is trying to adjust,” Phelps said. “I also know organizations are trying to adjust as much as possible to be able to still provide students with some type of opportunity.”

over the summer at Brother Bill’s Helping Hand and Feed My Starving Children.

“At Brother Bill’s, I wore a face mask, and they provided a face shield,” Altizer said. “We restocked their shelves and then [went] ‘shopping’ for groceries for their customers. At Feed My Starving Children, I packed manna packs (meals with rice, protein, soy, and veggies) for children overseas. We all wore masks, hairnets and gloves, and we were separated by group.”

But despite many changes and the continued worry about the pandemic, nonprofits are still in need.

“I felt very safe at both organizations, and I was happy to be able to continue community service even in the midst of the pandemic,” Altizer said. “It is really important to still find ways to give back and serve because many of the original problems community service aims to alleviate have only been perpetuated by the pandemic.”

While 62 percent of students have continued to volunteer during the pandemic, 38 percent have not.

“THE PANDEMIC SHOWED US JUST HOW EASILY YOU CAN FALL FURTHER INTO POVERTY AND REQUIRE ASSISTANCE.”

Courtney Phelps, Community Service Director

Some students have adjusted to the situation by participating in online service opportunities. Over the summer, junior Virginia Nussbaumer participated in an online tutoring program for T.R. Hoover Community Development Center, a neighborhood association composed of low income families.

“I usually go to a camp during the summer and get service hours there,” Nussbaumer said. “When it got canceled, I found an online opportunity instead. I helped younger kids through an online tutoring program, and I basically did four hours a week of online tutoring sessions for eight weeks.”

Nonprofits have found ways to allow in-person volunteering while following safety protocols by requiring and supplying face masks and social distancing. Junior Mary Grace Altizer volunteered

Although nonprofits have found ways to keep volunteers safe, not all students are comfortable going out to serve.

“I planned on going to Camp Barnabas to get service hours this summer, but when the pandemic hit, I decided it wasn’t the best option to go out and serve,” sophomore Sarah Cabrales said. “I did my best to continue serving remotely, but lifting the deadline was really helpful so I can go back out and serve when I feel comfortable doing so.”

The demands of many nonprofits have only increased during the pandemic. According to a Johns Hopkins University study, 1.6 million nonprofit jobs were lost between February and May.

“Food banks and homeless shelters are serving double the number of clients than they were before the pandemic,” Phelps said. “This means they need more financial support and donations. Overall, the pandemic has not only caused more people to need help but also limited some nonprofits in how they can help.”

Although nonprofits may be struggling, they continue to help those in need.

“Ultimately, the pandemic showed us how easily you can fall further into poverty and require assistance,” Phelps said. “It shows us how much support our local nonprofits are giving despite struggling themselves.”

CIVIC DUTIES Junior Erika Batson fills out her application to serve as an election clerk. This opportunity has been extended to students for the 2020 Election. “I am not old enough to vote yet, but I still want to do something that can make an impact,” Batson said. Photo by Blair Batson

MASKED CEREMONY Students, faculty, and parents safely gather for the postponed graduation ceremony. The community was brought together with masks and social distancing.

Photo provided by ESD Facebook

Graphic by Grace Meaux

VIRTUALLY VOLUNTEERING Junior Virginia Nussbaumer spends her morning tutoring an eighth grade student from West Dallas. She spent 40 hours this summer tutoring through Zoom.

Nussbaumer

life mixedmedia

art world social scene

Senior balances performing arts, academics

Emma Sucato follows passion for musical theater and dance, despite rigorous schedule

By Blair Batson Editor-in-chief

3 :45 p.m: Go home. 4:30 p.m: leave for dance. 5:15 p.m: begin dance classes. 9:30 p.m: leave dance. 10:00 p.m: get home, eat dinner and start homework. This is a typical evening for senior Emma Sucato.

Sucato has been dancing for 15 years and singing for 10 years. As a dedicated student, she has had to learn how to balance her commitment to the performing arts with her commitment to school.

“There are times when it’s very difficult,” Sucato said. “...There are definitely nights where [I’m] staying up till very late hours, but I think it’s just a balance of really timing out when [I’m] going to do everything. Sometimes, that doesn’t always work out and sometimes it does. I’ve had to do it for so long that it’s just something that [is] normal.”

Not only does Sucato dance four to five days a week; she also is taking four Advanced Placement classes this year.

“I think that I’ve always been a pretty academic student,” Sucato said. “I don’t consider myself a perfectionist at all, but I like to work. I like working hard and the idea of staying complacent in anything I’m doing isn’t something that I want to do.”

Though it’s challenging, Sucato finds this demanding schedule to be worth it.

“Getting home, the rush of adrenaline I have, I can barely start my homework because I just love [dance] so much,” Sucato said. “...[From dance] I’ve learned accountability—like when a teacher

will text us, even if we’re like five minutes late, [asking] ‘where are you?’ and I’m stuck in traffic...Also, my teammates. I love being around them and we’ve gone through a lot together. We’re with each other pretty much the entire year and as cheesy as it is, we do see each other through the ups and downs, and I consider them family in a sense. I know that’s super cliche, but it’s kind of true because I’ve grown up with them like all my life.”

On top of dance, Sucato also takes voice lessons and performs in musicals. Last year, she was in the ensemble of “Beauty and the Beast” at Dallas Children’s Theater. Because performances were during the day, she had to miss multiple classes each week. With the help of her teachers and her own organizational skills, she managed.

“[That show] was definitely difficult, but I have to give it to my teachers because they were very understanding,” Sucato said. “...Not only did I sacrifice school during that but also dance...It was a busy time in general, but honestly, I work better when I’m busy. When I’m not busy, I procrastinate a lot. I love the idea of going from one place to another.”

Sucato hopes to pursue performing arts—specifically musical theater—in college and beyond.

“I really love [dance and musical theater] because, for me, it’s all about performing, and I love the energy you get from performing in front of an audience and telling a story,” Sucato said. “It’s something that I think lots of people need and want, and I like being part of that for them. I want to continue it because there’s so many things I have yet to learn, I really want to increase my training and, also, meet people. I

think it’s really cool that in school you’re training with people who love the same thing as you and they’re all passionate about the same thing as you. I feel like that training would be incredible.”

Sucato believes her experiences in dance and musical theater have set her up for the future— whether she is pursuing a career in performing arts or a completely different field.

“Working hard in school, working hard in dance, and working hard in musical theater [have] taught me so many different things,” Sucato said. “...I’ve always heard from people that they want to hire, and this is both in arts and in academics, a good person and also someone who’s smart. I think that being involved in all [of] this makes me a trainable human being and someone who’s willing to work and willing to put in the time because I’ve had to make sacrifices and really figure out how I’m going to get everything done with the time that I have. I think that’s also a really good skill to have in life— working hard in everything [and] not staying complacent in anything, but also balancing everything well.”

Addie Mendolia has been dancing with Sucato for five years.

“[Sucato] has the best energy in the room because she’s always positive,” Mendolia said. “You can tell that she really loves to dance... She has a really good work ethic, so she’s super easy to work with. She’s always working hard, she never slacks [and] she always comes knowing the material ready to work.”

Sucato finds a connection between dance and musical theater.

“I feel like dance is an integral part of [musical theater],” Sucato said. “Even if you’re watching a musical that you love, for example,

everybody loves ‘Hamilton,’ the dancers in that show, it’s incredible what they’re doing. So, I think it connects in a way that if I want to be in ensemble, I have to be a dancer...Performing is performing and so whether it’s in dance or in musicals, you’re still performing... You still have to act; you still have to tell a story.”

SETTING THE STAGE At the New York City Dance Alliance competition, senior Emma Sucato performs a piece called L’amour. The entire song was in French, and the team passed around a rose throughout the dance. “[L’amour] was supposed to represent love being a universal language that ties people together,” Sucato said. Photo provided by Emma Sucato

COMMUNITY RAISES VOICE AGAINST RACIAL INJUSTICE, TAKES ACTION

Senior Zaria Osimetha founds Student Advocacy Coalition to raise awareness, foster discussion

By Maddy Hammett Staff writer

Since the summer, students have become increasingly more involved in activism as racial injustice coverage has become more prevalent in the news. Their goal is to ensure that the stories of many that face prejudice are heard.

Due to the pandemic, involvement in activism began virtually for many students. A student-led organization called Student Advocacy Coalition, was created this summer by senior Zaria Osimetha as a way to fight cultural and racial injustice with the use of social media.

“After the murder of George Floyd, I was kind of at a loss, and I didn’t know what to do,” Osimetha said. “After I talked it over with some friends, I realized that there was a

deficit in DFW. There’s nowhere in the area that students can turn to to learn about the injustices that are directly relevant to society right now. I wanted to provide something that students could be a part of to hear about various injustices and learn how to help.”

Various students have joined SAC as a way to raise awareness. SAC members see the organization as a place to engage the public.

“Our goal is to teach and educate our community, specifically kids our age and younger,” SAC secretary and senior Monse Rodriguez said. “It’s important to have these conversations so that we can work to chip away at systemic racism and injustice. So far, we’ve been able to talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, mental health and the immigration crisis.”

SAC believes it is important for students to be educated on current

injustices. In their opinion, the school is a very small and sheltered community, which some students feel can create issues for education on racial injustice.

“It’s extremely easy at ESD to close yourself off from the problems of the real world,” SAC member and senior Susanna Newsom said. “In other words, you can get trapped in a bubble, caring only about the problems right in front of you. Our community (including administration) is predominantly white, so racial issues tend to not be on the forefront of the community’s mind. It is imperative that as a school, ESD directly condemns systemic racism and takes tangible steps to combat ignorance and oppression in our community. I’m responsible for doing the same, and that’s why I joined SAC.”

Due to easy access to large audiences, social media has become

45% of students posted on social media about racial injustice

ESD Students involved in SAC

Source: Sept. 26 poll of 249 students

an indispensable tool in spreading awareness about issues relevant to race.

“Social media is arguably the greatest facilitator of information to younger generations,” Newsom said. “SAC uses social media to disseminate current events, noteworthy judicial cases and more so that teenagers can easily become informed.”

Students involved in SAC find it necessary for our community to become more involved in activism and to be better informed.

“I think that it is really easy to get trapped in the ‘bubble’ of our daily lives,” Osimetha said. “Additionally, it is extremely difficult to find non partisan facts on basic issues. I believe that SAC addressed both those issues by creating a space where students have several opportunities to absorb information in various formats, at their own will.”

COVID-19 changes college plans for many

Three alumni take different paths through university after schools announce policy changes

By Jiaying Fu Web editor

From Texas to Wyoming to Montana to Idaho to Washington, a gap year of adventures awaits alumnus Ned Dockery ‘20.

Dockery planned to stay enrolled in Princeton’s class of 2024 if he was allowed to be on campus for at least one semester. However, in early August, Princeton announced that no one would be on campus in the fall.

“I had considered the idea of taking time off from college for a while, but I always feared being behind,” Dockery said. “When [Princeton] changed their plans...I decided to apply for a gap year. I didn’t worry about being ‘off-track’ because I figured everyone is on a different path through college right now.”

Princeton had to cancel their international gap year program this year, so Dockery is not enrolled in a formal program. Rather, he is planning his own year.

Before Sept. 15, Dockery tutored students in his neighborhood. From Sept. 15 to before Thanksgiving, he is traveling with Adventures Cross Country, hiking and camping for 70 days through Wyoming, Montana, Idaho and Washington. In the spring, he plans to work in a UT Southwestern lab. Later, in April and May, Dockery will take a road trip to national parks across the country with other Princeton gap year students.

“I’m certainly looking forward to getting out of the house, and I’m really excited about [having] new, but important, experiences,” Dockery said. “I’ve always wanted to take a break from the fast-paced nature of school and spend more time on challenging but rewarding adventures, and that’s what this gap year gives me the opportunity to do. It’s a great chance to do things solely because I’m interested in them, and I think that will help me figure out

what I want to do later in life.”

Alumnus Daniel Kaplan ‘20 is also taking a gap year, having deferred for a year from Cornell University to attend Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem via the Hevruta Gap-Year Program.

“Cornell extended their deadline for deferral in May, so I started looking at various gap year programs,” Kaplan said. “One of my best friends was going on about this program called Hevruta, which is all about connecting Jewish Americans and Israelis and exploring how we practice Judaism. I really wanted to explore my Jewish identity more, so I decided to apply in mid-June, and now I’m here.”

Kaplan is currently in Jerusalem.

After arriving, as mandated by Israel, he had to quarantine for two weeks. After two weeks, he is allowed to attend the in-person program.

taking a class about how to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict and an optional art or yoga class.

“The virtual program is not very intense,” Kaplan said. “The classes that we will be taking are at the institute and are specific to the program. It’s also not for college credit, so it’s just learning for the sake of learning.”

Outside of class, Kaplan and his roommates play cards, study the Talmud, work out, listen to Broadway show tunes and bake brownies.

I DIDN’T WORRY ABOUT BEING ‘OFF-TRACK’ BECAUSE I FIGURED EVERYONE IS ON A DIFFERENT PATH THROUGH COLLEGE RIGHT NOW.

Kaplan is looking forward to his upcoming four-day camping trip as well as in-person learning.

“I’m definitely looking forward to inperson learning and also just to meeting the other people in the program,” Kaplan said. “Right now, we only have about two-and-a-half hours of structured classes a day so to have an added bit of structure will be nice.”

for a while, or they’ll end up not actually watching the lectures and just do the assignments every once in a while for online classes you’re forced to go and watch the lecture.”

Hands also notes that there are many changes to social life as well.

“We have to be more careful about hanging out with groups bigger than 10 and wearing masks everywhere,” Hands said. “A lot of people don’t really follow the 10 person rule here. There’s some parties and hangouts with more people, but it’s hard to stop. Also, [now we spend] so much time in [our] room––all my roommates and I are just in our room the whole day.” Hands is in a sorority; however, no one can enter the sorority house. She currently lives in an off-campus apartment in Austin with a couple of girls.

“It hasn’t been that bad offcampus because if they do shut the school down, we still can stay here because it’s not related to UT,” Hands said. “Where I’m living, they still enforce all the COVID-19 guidelines. You can’t walk around with no mask.”

What has been the most memorable moment for you so far?

Ned Dockery, alum

“I am currently staying in an apartment in Jerusalem with five other boys who were on the same flight as me,” Kaplan said. “Quarantine is way different because in the U.S., I was staying at home with my parents, but here we have to cook our own dinners [but] lunch is dropped off every day. We also can’t leave our apartment at all. Back home, I was able to go on walks but, here, we’re under strict watch, so we can’t even leave our fourth floor apartment.”

Right now, Kaplan is taking classes via the virtual program. He has a Hebrew class for a-hour-and-ahalf a day, then one of the students’ parents teaches a class about what they do with their job. Kaplan is also

Some alumni are taking a more traditional approach. Alumna Sarah Hands ‘19 decided to remain as a sophomore student at UT Austin. However, Hands has found there to be many changes in academic structure and social life due to COVID-19.

The biggest change is that the classes are now all online. There are two different kinds of classes: self-paced and online. During online classes, students attend live virtual lectures. During self-paced classes, the professor will upload the lecture and materials, and you have to do assignments by a certain time.

“The classes are so big that each teacher has 400 people, so it’s hard to get to know them and have a personal connection,” Hands said. “Self-paced classes are so much harder because a lot of people will just put off the work

Outside of class time, Hands hangs out with her friends, walks her dogs, works out and cooks. Hands has found positivity in these times by forming better relationships with her friends, developing better hobbies and getting a new pet.

“I still do hang out with my friends a little bit since most of my friends all live in the same place, but we just have to be very careful and social-distance,” Hands said. “I got really close with [my roommates,] so I feel like I got a lot better friendships because we were all forced to hang out with each other one-on-one. Also, I feel like I’ve developed some better hobbies. I developed good cooking skills because I’ve been eating in a lot. I’ve just been finding more stuff to focus my time on instead of just partying. I got a cat, too, because I knew I had time to take care of it since I’m going to be home all the time. So I think [COVID-19] allowed me to focus more on myself and get better friendships and find hobbies.”

So far, the most memorable part has been spending Shabbat in Jerusalem and bringing some of my traditions from home to the dinner table. Before Shabbat, the staff drop all of our meals off at our doors, so we don’t have to cook which is nice,” Kaplan said. “We have a hot plate which is on timer so it turns on two hours before meal time. You’re not allowed to turn things on or off on Shabbat, so we heat all our meals on the hot plate which automatically turns on or off. Before Shabbat dinner, we had a very spirited Kabbalah Shabbat service which is all about welcoming in Shabbat. After Shabbat lunch and dinner, we sing a lot of camp songs. Throughout Saturday we played a lot of card games and Settlers of Catan. Then after dinner we sing sadder songs since Shabbat is ending. After that we do Havdalah to officially end Shabbat.

Q&A with Daniel Kaplan ‘20

GAP YEAR FRIENDSHIPS Daniel Kaplan ’20 and his roommates sit outside their apartment on their first Shabbat out of quarantine. Kaplan deferred for a year from Cornell University to attend the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, Israel. “My college plans changed due to COVID-19,” Kaplan said. “I really wanted to explore my Jewish identity more, so I decided to apply [to the Shalom Hartman Institute] in mid-June, and now, I’m here.”

Photo provided by Daniel Kaplan

thebuzz

By Luke McCabe Life Editor

“We were all new to this online school experience back around March of last year. We all went home and the teachers were using Zoom for our online lessons. A few students watched a few videos on how to use Zoom, and they figured out how to put a picture in the background. They took a picture of themselves in a normal position and put it as the background and just left. The teacher didn’t notice a thing, and it was a pretty funny online experience.”

Parker, freshman

“During my World History class we were split into breakout rooms, and I was in a room with my good friend, Audreann and two others. I had no idea I was connected to the speaker, but when I turned the volume up on my phone, “Cotton Eyed Joe” started playing, and I was not on mute. Everyone in the breakout room started dancing to the music. It was an interesting experience.”

Distance learning laughs

Students and faculty share their favorite funny moments during distance learning from dress code infractions to accidental dance parties

“During the whole first week of distance learning, I had a really bad connection, and the Google Meet calls were really spotty, so a lot of times I would hear things wrong and get confused. It was in my math class, and it timed out for me one time. I kept mishearing one of the terms we were learning and thought that the teacher was yelling “BUTT” over and over again when we were looking at graphs.”

“I remember one day Henry Nurenberg accidentally slept into ethics class, and when he logged in he was shirtless in bed with the lights off. Then, Mr. Cupp kicked him out of class for being out of uniform and not wearing a shirt. The next class, he woke up early and, to make sure that he was in uniform, he put on a suit and tie and brushed his hair and was looking very prepared. I think Mr. Cupp really appreciated it.”

“My daughter, [a] 5th grader at the time, and I both set up for distance learning at opposite ends of our dining room table. Usually if I was on a Zoom she wasn’t, and vice versa. But, we were both working on something school-related throughout the day. It was probably during my accounting or AP micro class. I was running through the material and there was some math involved. I finished the call by asking “Ok, are there any questions?” My daughter just pops into the screen behind me and says desperately ‘Yes! I have a question with my math!’”

Lily Tollison, sophomore

Sam Suarez, junior

Lucy Sinwell, senior

Amy Livingston, Upper School economics and accounting teacher

Hayden

Working it out

Despite risks of pandemic, students take on summer jobs, learn valuable lessons

By Gardiner Vose Views Editor

Although businesses and companies struggled over the summer due to new local and federal regulations, students still found themselves employed this summer at a variety of different workplaces.

Summer jobs are a way for high school and college-age students to make some money and gain valuable experience in the workforce. These jobs can take many forms, and whether that be an internship or a service job, students had a variety of different ways to make themselves busy this summer despite the difficulties posed by the pandemic.

According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 upper school students, 26 percent had a job over the summer.

Sophomore JP Casey worked at Las Colinas Country Club in Texas despite the rising numbers of coronavirus cases being reported.

restaurant.

“I worked for the second time at a restaurant called Delphinas in North Carolina this summer,” senior Caleb Ainsworth said. “I mainly worked in the kitchen, making pizzas and other food, but I had a significant amount of exposure to the guests and other staff members.”

While Ainsworth was aware that the virus was a risk while at work, he believed the experience he got from his job was worth it if he was being conscious of safety guidelines. Of students who had a job over the summer, 75 percent felt safe despite the pandemic’s threat.

I WORKED FOR THE SECOND TIME AT A RESTAURANT CALLED DELPHINAS IN NORTH CAROLINA THIS SUMMER.

“I worked most days of the week from early June until August, picking up golf balls and making sure that there was enough of them throughout the course as well as doing any other kind of maintenance work that was asked of me,” Casey said. “I had to wear a mask throughout the workday, and the staff and golfers were good about social distancing. I think it was easier because it was mostly outside, and a golf course is pretty ideal for keeping distance.”

Caleb Ainsworth, Senior

Working during a pandemic can pose health risks due to the high volume of people one comes into contact with, especially at a

Ainsworth is not alone. Despite risks of getting infected, the experience of working and understanding what it is like to be a part of the workforce was a driving factor that pushed many students to find a job.

“I worked at Hobbytown USA this summer doing cashier work as well as other projects throughout the store like organizing inventory and learning how the company operates,” senior Ali Sparrow said. “I think that it was more difficult due to the pandemic, but the store still had a steady stream of customers, and I think it made it a little more interesting because not many people know what it is like to work through circumstances like that.”

Sparrow learned about customer service and how to deal with all types of customers, the importance of inventory management and other business basics that she believes will be useful in whatever career path

for future

she chooses in the future.

For some, such as senior Bella Collins, summer jobs were a needed break from an isolated and mainly digital world.

“I really wanted to get a job because I felt that it would be

a good way to get more social interaction during the pandemic, and I think that it is really valuable to [develop my] work ethic at a young age,” Collins said. “I worked as a hostess at Company Cafe, and I got really great experience making

relationships with coworkers and dealing with people face to face as they came into the store. I think that everyone should try to work at some point during high school because it gives you a new perspective, and it’s very educational.”

Graphic by Gardiner Vose

By Victoria Willox Design and Art Director

Top TV shows of the summer

quite. Set in a coastal town in picturesque Outer Banks, North Carolina, the show follows sixteen-year-old John Booker Routledge, commonly known as John B, after the mysterious disappearance of his father, which seems to be linked to a secret treasure hunt. John B and his closest friends, a group of teens from a blue collar neighborhood known as the Pogues, set off on a mission to find the truth behind his father’s disappearance and the treasure, while simultaneously butting heads with the upper class teens in town, known as the Kooks. Additionally, on his journey, John B falls for Sarah Cameron, a girl belonging to his rival group the Kooks. While the plot follows a classic Shakespearean formula resulting in a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet, many of the characters lacked development and depth, especially those belonging to the Kooks. Furthermore, the continual timeline issues, given the entire season supposedly takes place in a week, and inconclusive plot threads leave much to be desired. It is, however, unlikely that many of the small annoyances within the show would prevent the target audience, primarily being teenagers, from watching. Despite its flaws, the sun drenched setting, cast chemistry and heaps of drama provided viewers with positive summer vibes that were unsurpassed by any other show in this review. While “Outer Banks” may not have been paradise, it was likely one of the biggest hits of the summer, spurring trends on TikTok and numerous other social media platforms, so it would be unrealistic to label the show anything less than a success.

“Little Fires Everywhere” is a required watch. The show is based on the bestselling novel of the same name by Celeste Ng, which was one of the best books I read last year, so to say I had high expectations is an understatement. Set during the 90s in a seemingly perfect suburban town called Shaker Heights, the show is centered around the equally perfect Richardson family, led by mother Elena, played by Reese Witherspoon, whose world is shaken when single mother Mia played Kerry Washington and her daughter Pearl move into their rental property in the neighborhood. Mia, a photographer, and Pearl, who becomes fast friends with the Richardson children, had been on the road for as long as Pearl had been alive until they moved to Shaker; as the show progresses it is clear Mia is running from something in her past, which Elena becomes determined to uncover. Additionally, while working at a Chinese restaurant to earn extra money, Mia learns the story of her immigrant coworker Bebe who is desperate to find her baby daughter, who she left at a firehouse after coming close to starvation. Mia soon discovers that Elena’s best friend Linda and her husband are the adoptive parents of Bebe’s daughter and becomes determined to help them reunite, much to Elena’s dismay. The all-star cast and electric sparring between Witherspoon and Washington breathed life into Ng’s characters and portrayed their motivations and relationships in a way that felt honest. At its core, the show carefully delved into the complexities of motherhood, race, class and gender in the subtle ways those themes present themselves in everyday life. While I am unsure if the TV rendition lived up to all of my expectations I built from the book, it is likely the best show I’ve watched this year and binge worthy in every way.

and young love find harmony in “Normal People”–– a moody boy-meets-girl story that grapples with adolescence and identity. The story, set in Scotland, follows Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones), a social outcast and Connell (Paul Mescal), a popular but self conscious boy, who are classmates in high school. When the pair begin a relationship, Marianne suggests to Connell they keep it secret, and he readily agrees out of his own insecurity of what his classmates may think, a decision that reverberates throughout the season. The show continues to follow the pair and their complex, ebbing and flowing relationship throughout college and into young adulthood, where suddenly, Marianne flourishes socially, and Connell finds himself out of place. You won’t find yourself rooting for either Marianne or Connell as the series progresses because their flaws are portrayed so clearly and elegantly on screen by Edgar-Jones and Mescal, who skillfully portray the internal struggles of the transition to adulthood and finding your path in life, thus, giving their respective characters incredibly authentic personalities and developments. Although to me this story read like a beautifully melancholy love letter, this is likely not a series that is for everyone given the purposefully mundane nature of this story. However, the breathtaking scenery of Scotland and numerous European cities make up for the lack of constant action and tedious dialogue between characters, which each in turn add to the show’s realism. If you can appreciate the slow burn of the storyline and poetically unheroic characters, “Normal People” is an alluring depiction of self discovery throughout the passage of time.

Musical’s Kenny Ortega and David Lawrence, “Julie and the Phantoms” appeals to a younger teenage audience, or anyone who wants some Disney channel nostalgia. Based on the Brazilian hit show “Julie e os Fantasmas,” Julie and the Phantoms stars Madison Reyes as Julie, a vocally talented teen who rediscovers her love of music in the wake of her mother’s death after accidentally awakening the ghosts of a charming 90s boy band called Sunset Curve who only she can see unless they play music together. The members of Sunset Curve, Luke (Charlie Gillespie), Reggie (Jeremy Shada) and Alex (Owen Joyner), form a new band led by talented singer Julie, with hopes of fulfilling their dream of finally making it to fame. The echoes of High School Musical can definitely be seen throughout the season, as Julie is pitted against Carrie, a Sharpay-esque rich, blonde, popular singer in the same music program who also happens to be the daughter of the only living member of the former band Sunset Curve. The musical performances throughout the season ranged from fun pop numbers to heart wrenching ballads that would poignantly touch any viewer. Additionally, the incorporation of music into the show also managed to feel authentic and add to the plot lines without coming off as overly forced, which is often a difficult balance to achieve. The chemistry between the cast members, especially Reyes and Gillespie, whose characters are both dealing with their own grief and trauma, made the show a captivating watch. With its intriguing plot, dazzling musical numbers and charismatic cast, “Julie and the Phantoms” made for an entertaining and heartwarming binge-worthy watch, perfect for all ages to enjoy.

Graphic by Victoria Willox

CULTURE CRASH is a compilation of significant pop culture events made by life editors Emily Lichty and Luke McCabe that highlight tech news & other short snippets of info regarding important people and events from around the globe.

1An euphoric win

Streaming nominees live from their homes, the Emmy awards were held virtually on Sept. 20. Winners from the event include Zendaya, who received Best Lead Actress in a Drama for her role in “Euphoria” and is now the youngest actress to receive the award. Additionally, “Schitt’s Creek” received nine Emmys this year, the highest number of Emmys a comedy has ever received in a single year.

TikTok tease

2

On Sept. 27, a district judge blocked President Donald Trump’s order to ban TikTok from being downloaded from U.S. app stores. Trump claims that the app creates a national security threat by giving China access to the personal information of Americans, which TikTok denies. American companies Oracle and Walmart have offered to purchase 20 percent stake of TikTok, moving the business’s headquarters to the U.S.

Students maintain healthy habits

During a pandemic, students adjust their exercise and eating habits to remain healthy and safe while staying at home

By Grace Knudson Photo editor

He pulled an all time record on his rowing piece. He felt speedy and strong from the workouts the past month and confident there was a chance to place with his teammates at the Youth Central Regional Rowing Championships in May. Little did senior Sam Lindsey know that three days later, the campus would close until further notice and be closed to students until early September.

Lindsey finished a season with the mens varsity soccer team and set a personal record on the rowing machine with the varsity mens crew team prior to the stay at home orders in March. During quarantine, Lindsey relaxed in his house for most of the time, eating a big bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats, skipping lunch and ordering take out for dinner.

it was set up safely as well,” Lindsey said. “I’ve missed school a lot and have gone insane not seeing anybody at home. It feels good to walk around campus.”

Like Lindsey, Sophomore Ella Sjogren’s lacrosse season was cancelled in the spring and early summer, leaving her to stay locked up in her bedroom all day during the Dallas lockdown orders. Sjogren’s mom, who was concerned about her lack of activity, set a training schedule for Sjogren and her sister to ensure the sisters would not stay in bed all day. Sjogren spent every day from March 12 to the end of summer running multiple miles in her neighborhood.

CONSIDERING ALL MY CLASSES WERE ONLINE, I COULD JUST SIT IN MY ROOM ALL DAY AND NOT GET UP— WHICH I DID DO.

Ella Sjogren, Sophmore

3 4 5 6

No longer “Keeping up with the Kardashians”

After fourteen years, “Keeping up with the Kardashians” will end after its 20th season in 2021. The reality television show, which airs on E! Television Network, follows the Kardashian-Jenner family through their personal lives and careers. The decision was announced by the family through social media on Sept. 8.

Wonderful widgets

On Sept. 16, Apple dropped a new iOS update, with significant changes to iPhone software. The update includes new features, such as home screen widgets, an app library and changes to Siri and the message app. Home screen widgets allow for customization and new shortcuts on the home screen, which has caused unique home screen designs to trend on social media.

McCactus jack

Rapper Travis Scott, known for his song “Sicko Mode,” has collaborated with McDonald’s to create The Travis Scott Meal, which has sold out at several McDonald’s across the country since its release Sept. 8. The Travis Scott meal has gained popularity through TikTok and can be purchased for $6. The meal contains a Quarter Pounder with cheese, french fries, barbeque sauce and a large Sprite.

Pumpkin’ to talk about

On Sept. 21, the CDC released guidelines on how to celebrate Halloween amidst a pandemic, causing some to complain about Halloween being “canceled.” The CDC recommends avoiding high-risk activities on Halloween night, including trick-or-treating, hayrides, indoor haunted houses and festivals.

“Right before quarantine started, I was pretty pumped for the year,” Lindsey said. “I was getting into shape by working out six days a week, and the school lunches were definitely helping and relatively healthy. But then quarantine hit. I have legitimately worked out only 10 times since March 12.”

Lindsey realized he needed to get his act together; he started playing basketball, tennis and golf at the end of summer to exercise and up his cardio. Additionally, he started eating home cooked meals. Now, Lindsey is participating in the socially-distanced rowing practices on campus. In addition, Lindsey attends school in-person and is not sitting at a desk all day, he gets extra movement throughout the day.

“Attending the first strength and conditioning workout was more exercise than I’ve gotten in months, and

“I am actually really grateful that my mom has made me run everyday since March,” Sjogren said. “I would’ve been really out of shape if she didn’t make me, and I would’ve gained a lot of weight. Considering all my classes were online, I could just sit in my room all day and not get up — which I did do.”

Because club lacrosse practices are back in session and she attends school in-person, Sjogren no longer runs as frequently as she had before, but now works out at a gym three times a week to continue staying fit during the school year. And it helps that Sjogren maintains healthy eating habits.

“I have been eating a lot more at home, and it was easier to be healthy because I could not go grab something from a store easily,” Sjogren said. “It was nice because I had a meal prepared for me by my parents.”

Juniors Esme and Mary Frances McGaughy had kept up a healthy lifestyle at the beginning of the year, during distance learning and in the present day. On the varsity field hockey team and lacrosse team, the twins are set on staying fit and healthy and enjoy

fitness exercises in general.

“Our gym had been closed for a while during quarantine, so we had to find different ways to workout,” Mary Frances said. “We see quarantine as a positive because we were able to workout more. I didn’t just want to sit at my desk all day, and working out gave me a rush to finish the rest of the school day.”

While the McGaughy’s both love exercising, they differ in their favorite types of exercises. During distance learning, Esme enjoyed going on neighborhood runs and using the Peloton, while Mary Frances enjoyed yoga and learned to love running. Now, the twins attend strength and conditioning on campus for field hockey.

“Working out makes me feel better,” Esme said. “For sports, we just do it for fun, but all this working out has made us be faster and give us more endurance. We have to do the mile test for field hockey so this will definitely help,”

Yoga is something Senior Lilly Lutz did as well while at home. Because her season of club volleyball was cancelled, Lutz also started running and cooking. Additionally, Lutz made her own Instagram account to share the fun things she has been making and her healthy choices.

“I have had a lot of time on my hands recently,” Lutz said. “I started doing these online yoga classes, and I am still really into those. When everything started shutting down and people started eating takeout, my parents did not want that, so I started cooking meals—dessert, breakfast, everything you can think of. I would endlessly scroll through food accounts and recipe accounts on Instagram.”

Now that school is in-person and club volleyball is in session, Lutz makes quick and easy breakfasts and afternoon snacks before her practices in the nighttime. Lutz also created her own strength training workouts to be done in the morning before heading to school.

“I am so happy to be back at school even though it’s definitely different,” Lutz said. “Cooking and training are also kind of like an outlet for me when things get stressful, so I am grateful I am still able to find time to cook and train even with school going on.”

Graphic by Emily Lichty

Love COVID

in the times of O

ver the summer, junior Virginia

Nussbaumer

hard to spend time with her boyfriend between jobs, family time and following social distancing lines. She convinced herself that they would work through it, despite having long shifts and COVID-19 clouding over her mind.

Teenagers are finding it hard to maintain their interactions prior to the pandemic. Relying media, phone calls and FaceTime, teens have virtual tools to act in place of face to face interaction.

“I started relying more on phone calls and texts messages, but I wasn’t as many as I needed during that crazy time, which contributed to the breakup,” baumer said. “This summer there [were] constantly things pulling us didn’t have school to hold us together either. We [saw] each other every past year, then, just like that, we both don’t see each other for two months.”

Finding time for each other is not the only problem.

Students are having trouble agreeing on how safe they should be, and their families have different rules regarding social distancing. Junior Caroline Teegarden and her boyfriend did not see each other for long periods of time at the beginning of quarantine and agreed that in order to see each other, they both had to be safe and follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines.

After finishing writing a letter to her then boyfriend of a year, she waits for a response during his two weeks away at camp. She wonders whether his lack of communication is on purpose, but just excuses it as ‘He’s at camp, he’s busy.’ However, the response that she eventually ends up receiving was an unexpected one. A break up call.

Story by Gina Montagna and Smith Cochran News Editor and Sports Editor Graphics by

“We disagreed about how safe I was being,” Teegarden said. “He told me, ‘It doesn’t only affect you, it affects other people too,’ and I [realized] that’s a good point. It got me thinking, and I started being more safe because I realized it affected him and his family too. It wasn’t a problem, but it was a good conversation.”

But despite the pandemic affecting and severing relationships, it has also allowed for new romances to sprout through social media. Forty-seven percent of students reached out to new people during quarantine. Junior Mary Grace Altizer, for example, talked to her now boyfriend online over the course of three months before finally meeting in person. By talking over Snapchat for extended periods of time, they got to know one another and knew that meeting face to face was what they both wanted.

“I wasn’t really talking to anybody, and I wasn’t really looking for tizer said. “It kind of fell into my lap. We both knew that we liked each just needed to meet. When we met, it was so much better, and then we more dates.”

At the beginning of the quarantine, many teens did not go out with and stayed home, causing many friend groups to dissolve and people to make new online friends. As a result, the Eagle Edition poll showed that students met new people online during quarantine.

“Not being able to do many activities has forced us to get to know lot better,” Altizer said. “We really have to talk because there is not a do. I kind of hate saying that I met him over Snapchat because that sounds cheesy, but for us it was actually a really good way to kind of get to know other. I feel like I know him really well, even though we’ve been dating a month.”

MEETING NEW PEOPLE DURING THE PANDEMIC But not everyone has been affected in a negative way; the pandemic also helped teens. One of these teens is upper school Emmett Sandell*, who found different people around Dallas that he would not have reached out to if not for being under quarantine restrictions.

“Social media started and helped me [talk to different girls],” Sandell “Mostly texting and FaceTime, but it became more in person.”

For someone who was very single when the pandemic reached the took advantage of the lack of entertainment to meet and talk to new people. more than one fling over the summer thanks to social media.

“[Being quarantined] honestly [helped me],” Sandell said. “People looking for a relationship but more of something to do. I knew [the

48

STUDENTS ARE CURRENTLY IN A RELATIONSHIP

Sarah Cabrales

Nussbaumer found it between summer distancing guidewould be able to and the risks of their same social more on social have resorted to interaction. wasn’t receiving breakup,” Nussapart, and we every day for the months.”

talking to], but I didn’t know them that well. It was mostly through mutual friends.”

After a summer of meeting and making new friends across North Dallas, Sandell found someone outside of ESD that he connected with.

“I guess I am in something serious right now,” Sandell said. “It just kind of played out to be that way. It started out very lenient and casual, and it worked its way into something more serious.”

Sandell and his girlfriend go to different schools, and are unable to see each other on a daily basis due to school, sports, work and other social activities, but COVID-19 has not been a limiting factor. Being in a new relationship can be tricky con sidering the circumstances, but Sandell believes it’s all worth it.

“[A more serious relationship] is always a good thing,” Sandell said. “It’s not always good to start things fast. I’d much rather start things slow and see where things go from there. Having someone to be there for you and talk to you is very nice. Whether it’s serious or not, it’s nice to have someone.”

anything,” Aleach other, but we went on a few with their friends to reach out and that 33 percent of know each other a lot else to sounds so know each dating for

has Sandell*, reached Sandell said.

Sixty-one percent of students feel the same way and reported that they have been able to connect with someone, despite it being online. Many students, however, have not been as lucky. Sixty-six percent of students said they had not made any new online friends during quarantine. Being able to find someone to spend time with has helped with feelings of isolation and loneliness, despite couples not expecting to hold onto something long term.

DATING DURING THE PANDEMIC

Some couples have been able to maintain their relationship throughout the pandemic by turning to phone and FaceTime calls as well and using social media as a form of communication. However, with online school in the spring and summer break, many couples who were used to seeing each other at school every day struggled to adjust to seeing each other much less. Teegarden and her boyfriend attend different schools, making them accustomed to seeing each other less and easier for them to work around each other’s schedules.

while her boyfriend attends Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts, so while they were home from college, they tried to maximize the amount of time they spent together.

“We pretty much lived together,” Willox said. “His family lives in Corpus [Christi], so we would spend two weeks at my house and two weeks at his house, so we weren’t apart that often.”

MENTAL HEALTH AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS:

Lacking significant physical connection and normal social settings, teens have turned to social media. Teenagers, more than other age groups, thrive in extremely social situations, thus this time of isolation has greatly affected their mental health in a negative manner.

“The majority [of teens] are really missing and lacking social interaction, and it has added more strain, more challenge, more isolation [and] more depression than pre-pandemic,” Psychologist Ashley Kuehne ‘93 said. “And certainly if someone was struggling prior to the pandemic, this has exacerbated it.”

During times of crisis, human brains are in a constant state of fight or flight and thus are not functioning how they normally should. Continuously being in this state of mind causes people’s brains and neurological systems to accept this as the new normal mental state. However, this adjustment can actually create more harm than good.

“This has gone on for months, and our nervous systems start rewiring and living in that context,” Kuehne said. “We’re trying to be healthy and prevent disease, but we’re actually struggling with the mental health aspect that is affecting our bodies and lowering our immune system.”

In addition to the negative effects of our neurological systems rewiring, the use of social media as a crutch has stimulated more stress and anxiety when trying to build and maintain relationships. Seventy-nine percent of students believe that the increase in usage of social media during the pandemic has caused negative mental health effects. As screen time surges, so does added anxiety, stress and depression that come with societal image standards and online relationships.

“It is more difficult, especially for couples that are used to seeing each other every day,” Teegarden said. “Some couples weren’t able to see each other for two to three months. I think it really tested their communication skills and their trust in each other. Communication is key because, during the pandemic, sometimes you can’t see your significant other for days in a row, so making time to talk to each other really helped

Due to stay-at-home orders and safety guidelines, couples have had to find new ways to go out on their typical dates. Forty-five percent of students believe that the pandemic has affected the way they date. Previously, teens relied on football games, dances and mixers as ways to have fun nights with their partner, but with COVID-19, most schools have either rescheduled or cancelled these events. So, couples have found new “date spots” in order to go out but still comply with safety guidelines. Top Golf, drive-ins and picnics have been Teegarden’s top choices for new date spots.

“Because we had to get creative with dates and hangouts, it made us think of stuff that we normally wouldn’t have done before,” Teegarden said. “It’s good and different. It was super fun to do things other than our normal activities, and we will definitely keep going on more fun dates!”

the U.S., Sandell people. He had weren’t exactly [the people I was

“We have been forced to pivot and find ways to connect,” Kuehne said. “I am still very aware and concerned about social media and the dangers of it, but I think that teens, especially, and adults are trying to find avenues to connect.”

Online relationships are also under scrutiny as they can be dangerous, especially during COVID-19. Oftentimes, people misread tones and messages as a result of mis-communication over social media. However, the nervous system’s susceptibility to make mistakes is heightened as our brains adjust to a different social lifestyle, especially after months of quarantine. Experts are cautioning against online relationships because without having experienced in-person contact, it is hard to know if one can truly trust and read their intentions.

However, the pandemic has caused an increase in social anxiety, leading to more breakups and an expected 15 percent increase in filings for divorce, according to the Wall Street Journal, as couples struggle to find common ground. According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 17 percent of couples experienced a breakup during the pandemic. Though the pandemic has hurt some marriages and other relationships, others found it very helpful. Alumna Madison Willox ‘18 has been dating her boyfriend for three-and-a-half years. They did long distance for 18 months before quarantine, so being home was a positive for their relationship.

“Normally during the year, we usually see each other once a month because that’s the only chance we have to fly and see each other, and that would only be for a few days,” Willox said. “For our relationship it was good, just because we got to spend more time together, which was the best thing about quarantine for us.” Willox is a student at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina,

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STUDENTS BELIEVE COVID-19 HAS CAUSED NEGATIVE MENTAL HEALTH EFFECTS BECAUSE OF SOCIAL MEDIA

“So much of what we say to each other is nonverbal,” Kuehne said. “Our central nervous system responds to facial expressions, body language, and that is really hard to pick up online. We can pick up some of it, but we often misinterpret it.”

Teens are, however, prospering in these online sparked relationships. Oftentimes, it has given people something they could dedicate themselves to during the period of uncertainty and some mental stability knowing they could have someone to talk to.

“Quarantine wasn’t terrible for me, but I am a really extroverted person,” Altizer said. “It is really important for me to be able to make connections with people. Nick, [my boyfriend] is somebody that I know I can constantly have conversations with throughout the day. It makes me happy to get to have that connection with somebody.”

Despite warnings, many teens are jumping in to new relationships and severing old ones over the course of this pandemic.

Sustaining social connections during this time has become a game of balancing social media and in-person relationships in the safest and healthiest manner to prevent an escalation in negative mental health effects.

“I’m going to be positive that this comes to an end at some point, and my hope is that we go back to face to face connection and limit screen time,” Kuehne said. “My fear is that it’s going to become the new normal, and I don’t think that is healthy.”

*name has been changed to protect the student’s identity

142

STUDENTS BELIEVE COVID-19 HAS NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THE WAY THEY DATE

106

STUDENTS FEEL MORE STRESS IN SOCIAL SETTINGS BECAUSE OF COVID-19

Source: Sept. 26 Eagle Edition Poll of 249 students

Surfing the Streams

The Eagle Edition evaluated top streaming services, Netflix comes out on top

By Grace Worsham Staff writer

HBO max

HBO Max is the priciest of them all at $15 dollars a month. It has solid content though, with classic shows such as “Game of Thrones,” “Gossip Girl,” “Chernobyl” and “Succession,” causing enough to attract viewers on its own. It also includes new originals, AT&T owned brands, cartoons and anime. It has a wide array of on-demand movies due to its content partnerships with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. One can stream up to three screens simultaneously, but it is only available in the U.S. and doesn’t include 4K or audio descriptions for its original content. A large problem is that HBO Max is not available on two big streaming media platforms, Roku and Fire TV. At first glance, it seems to have everything, and it does have around 10,000 hours of content, but they have large gaps in their library. For example, many of the best DC movies such as the Christopher Nolan “Batman” trilogy are missing. This service could be a little more organized, and the design doesn’t feel completely finished. There is a Coming Soon tab that details when new shows will be released, but the Last Chance tab does not give dates for when titles will be leaving. HBO Max’s adfree, great content gains itself a spot higher than Hulu, but it’s large content gaps, lack of 4K and availability on some streaming media platforms brings it below Netflix and Disney+.

Disney +

Disney+ is a must have for Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, Marvel or National Geographic lovers. These are easily accessible and organized by content pillars where one can select any of these five catagories. There is also an originals tab, though other streaming services like Netflix offer this as well. Another unique addition to the Disney+ content is the 30 seasons worth of “The Simpsons” that is included on the service. They have sing-a-longs and musicals for all Disney fanatics too. It is one of the most affordable streaming services on the market, with a price of $7 a month. This is an incredible price for such rich content, four simultaneous streams, 4K and over 1,000 movies and 7,500 TV shows. In fact, it is such a steal that Disney has been able to gain 50 million subscribers in less than a year. Disney+ also has a bundle package that includes not only the service, but Hulu and ESPN for only $12.99 per month. Subscribing to this bundle rather than each of those services individually saves $5 a month. On the other hand, there have been a couple of odd movie disappearances without warning like “Home Alone,” “Home Alone 2” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.” Movies such as “Deadpool” and “Logan” that have ties with Marvel have been left off the content because of their R rating. Although Disney+ lacks mature content, it has great family friendly shows and movies for a very reasonable price.

Netflix

Netflix is the most widely used streaming service with approximately 183 million subscribers, 15.7 percent of which were gained in 2020 alone, according to Fox Business. Netflix offers a vast content variety, including more originals than any other service, it also provides a great recommendation system. The system takes into account one’s watch history, ratings of other shows, what other similar viewers liked and the duration of hours one watches shows. Using this data, Netflix creates an accurate list of shows and movies formulated to fit every viewer’s taste. A few popular Netflix originals include “The Kissing Booth” and “Termination,” but there are over 1,500 titles to choose from. There are a variety of plans to choose from, ranging between $9-$16 a month, which is at the higher end of most services. However, the idea is that if one buys a more expensive package, it can be shared with up to four accounts and split between friends or family. Some shows get taken off when the license expires, and Netflix also decides content based on popularity. Netflix’s recommendation system, content and price make it hard to beat. Even though some shows get taken off, the majority of people don’t miss them.

Hulu

Hulu has a great selection and includes 35 exclusive TV originals such as “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Little Fires Everywhere.” Hulu accounts for around 14 percent of all TV streaming hours and has multiple packages to choose from. The least expensive one is $6 and has 32 million subscribers, but the reason for its low price are the commercials it features—a 30 minute episode will feature 5 minutes of advertising. However, a premium $11.99 a month subscription gives the viewer an ad-free Hulu. For $54.99 a month, one can subscribe to Hulu with live TV, which features more than 60 channels of news, sports and entertainment, and a subscription to Hulu with live TV and no ads runs for $60.99. For those willing to pay this amount, the latter is the best service when trying to cut the cord. With the least expensive package, only two devices can stream simultaneously, which doesn’t help when there are three people living in the same household. But there is an option to add unlimited users to the package for an extra $14.99 a month. Hulu has limited 4K content and only some originals can be streamed at that resolution. The like and dislike buttons were recently added to the content, which have helped create a more accurate recommendation system. Another new change is the platform design, which has taken on a more modern media-first aesthetic and has easier navigation menus. In short, Hulu has a great design and a variety of current TV programming but limited streams and ads if one can only afford the least expensive package.

Graphic by Grace Worsham

editorial views community comments

staffstance

FAKE NEWS AND CONSPIRACY THEORISTS MASK THE TRUTH ON SOCIAL MEDIA, PEOPLE SHOULD BE MINDFUL OF INFORMATION THEY CONSUME

As tensions rise in America amidst a global pandemic, racial injustice movements and a presidential election, disinformation is being spread frequently.

The use of social media to share information has been used to raise awareness regarding some of these important issues, but on the downside, social media can also be used to promote conspiracy theories and spread false allegations. Right now, it is important for all of us to make sure we fact check what we read and repost.

The QAnon phenomenon is one example of inaccurate claims becoming mainstream and gaining popularity. QAnon supporters have been flooding Facebook, Twitter and other social media platforms with false information about COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement and the 2020 election and vaccines. According to The New York Times, these supporters believe that elite public figures are in a clique that runs a childtrafficking ring and worship Satan and that President Donald Trump will expose these figures and bring them to justice. While QAnon may be trying to fight child-trafficking and evil, it is also promoting fake news and violence. The FBI has classified the group as a terror threat, and a report from West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center predicts that QAnon could become a national security threat.

In October 2017, the QAnon beliefs first emerged from a 4chan post, an anonymous image board site. It is unclear how many members are in the group at this point, but it seems to have attracted a significant number of followers. Some popular QAnon groups on Facebook and Twitter have over

100,000 members. The Wall Street Journal reported that 10 of these groups have grown by more than 600 percent in members since the start of the COVID-19 lock-downs.

Some social media users other than the QAnon community have also been posting disinformation regarding the pandemic onto their accounts.

Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that 6 percent of COVID-19 deaths, roughly 9,000 Americans, died of COVID-19 alone without any other health conditions. Many have distorted this statistic, claiming that the virus killed only 9,000 people altogether.

MISINFORMATION IS SPREAD ALL THE TIME THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, WHICH SHOULD BE A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE SHARE THE TRUTH IN ORDER FOR POSITIVE CHANGE.

By press time, the United States faced over 206,000 deaths from the virus, with the majority of the victims having other conditions that affected their health. The CDC statistic is not saying that 94 percent of coronavirus deaths were incorrect; it just means that they died of COVID-19 and organ failure, or a number of other things. From the beginning of the pandemic, doctors have said that immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of complications and death. People in the more vulnerable demographics include, but aren’t limited to, people who are older and those with chronic breathing problems, high blood pressure or diabetes.

Misleading information and

propaganda like this coronavirus example can easily be spread through social media. Online platforms not only make it easier for information to be sent out but also interpreted in the wrong way. False news can be posed through ordinary users and even mainstream verified users. Sadly, misinformation is spread all the time through social media, which should be a place where people share the truth in order for positive change. there can be a lot of harmful information being spread, accurate social media posts can also be used for good. Doctors and health care workers are using it to promote safe health and hygiene practices. Students have been able to share causes, charities and petitions they are passionate about to their followers. Social media platforms have allowed people to share their voice on topics that truly matter to them with just one click of a button, whether that is for good or bad.

To truly use social media in a positive way, we should always be checking to make sure that what we repost and take in is accurate. In order to double-check the facts, look if the accounts cite sources for their reasoning. Even though your friends and family may tell you one thing, it does not mean it is true. Look at multiple sources from many points of views, then develop your own opinion. Check your own bias, and

SOPHOMORE SOPHIA UKENI

“I think that spreading accurate news on social media can be beneficial to those who are willing to learn. However, if the information is false, people might still be influenced by fake news to change their perspective on a certain topic for the wrong reasons.”

We should all just try to listen to each other’s opinions and make sure that the real facts of the matter are being put forth. We are all living through trying times, so making sure we do not stray from the truth is important for our safety.

SENIOR OLIVIA HAGGE

“The integration of informational posts into teens’ social media feeds is extremely impactful on our generation. Because the distributed information on social media is primarily universal, people all over the world can learn more about problems that are occurring today.”

Graphic by Elisabeth Siegel

king up a

Community should support State Fair food vendors

Small vendors get creative to maintain business

Luke McCabe Life Editor

COVID-19 HAS NOT ONLY HURT the community’s access to food sources but, most notably, access to the fried deliciousness of State Fair food. With the cancellation of the State Fair of Texas and dozens of others like it, comes the cancellation of many small food stands that rely on fried food sales to make a living. The yearly display of food, from fried Oreos, to fried ice cream, to giant turkey legs, has been a part of fair culture for years, and it is a good opportunity for local chefs to gain publicity and make money off of their specialty dishes. Luckily, some industrious vendors have created new ways to share their creations and recipes with the world despite the global pandemic and social distancing guidelines. Virtual festivities like cake decorating, creating butter sculpture and mask decorating have popped up alongside the slew of online State Fair food options. Felicia TurrentineDaniel, the vendor and chef of Chef’s D’Lites food stand, has started selling her creations and recipes online and over her Facebook page. She, like many others in the State Fair food game, has started sharing recipes and hand delivering goodies like fried mac and cheese and cuban rolls. Also, Josh Zamansky has started a nationwide delivery service for state fair meal kit boxes. Based out of Minnesota, Zamanskys company, StateFairToGo, delivers a box to your doorstep containing 1 pound of funnel cake mix, a 2-pound turkey leg, 18 fried Oreos, 1 pound of fried okra and cream gravy, 1.5 pounds of seasoned curly fries and 5 corn dogs. His company partners with local vendors to support the businesses that the cancellations of fairs have affected.

As a community, we need to help in supporting these small businesses and preserving the culture of State Fair food. Without supporting local businesses and ordering the familiar treats we have come to love, those that work to create the Fair festivities will go out of business, and the culture of state fairs could be compromised. However, it is not only our State Fair vendors whose businesses are compromised due to the pandemic. Now, more than ever, we must think of others in these trying times and support our local businesses through COVID-19 that we have learned to love. Without our support and care, our community will suffer, and the culture of our cities are diminished.

THE VIEW FROM 5’2

Colleges should increase financial support for students

Pandemic, economic recession create increased need for financial aid and assistance, few schools decrease tuition fees, universities with large endowments need to do the same

Gina Montagna News Editor

AS COLLEGE CLASSES MOVE ONLINE, students continue to pay full tuition for a virtual college experience amidst a global pandemic, despite a growing need for financial aid.

Colleges across the U.S. are struggling to keep up with the wave of new requests for financial aid. The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected American families, causing drastic changes in the household and financial stability. According to a recent National Public Radio Poll, 50 percent of Americans have been out of work or had a decrease in work hours since the emergence of coronavirus. This has led to an increase in financial instability across America, which can be seen as college students struggle to meet tuition payments.

Many prestigious universities like Harvard College and Columbia University are facing lawsuits by their own students who are suing for tuition refunds for the 2020 spring semester and hopefully an increase in financial aid for the fall semester. Harvard, specifically, has been stubborn to release any information regarding tuition prices after moving fully online. Forbes states that as of 2016, Harvard has 36 billion dollars in endowment. So, why aren’t they willing to provide any tuition assistance to their own students?

Now, more than ever, students need to be supported by their educational institutions. The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators claims that out of 293 colleges, 90 percent of them will

DAlexandra Warner Staff Writer

see a significant increase in financial aid requests. Many students who are applying for Free Application for Student Aid have been financially stable in previous years; however, the issue right now is that colleges require students to state their family’s tax data from two years ago that may not correspond with their present financial situation. Lower income students, who are already on financial aid, are currently at a disadvantage because they cannot apply for more aid if they are already receiving a maximum amount.

But despite the push back from larger colleges to give out tuition assistance, smaller colleges have actually lowered tuition fees. Williams College, for example, is taking 15 percent off of their tuition for all students. The American University also cut their summer tuition by seven percent. However, many other colleges are refusing to even sort though new financial aid requests let alone give out more money. Because Congress has allowed schools to deal with FAFSA applications differently during times of crisis, many schools are repealing their past financial aid guidance and implementing new systems that worry students on whether they will receive any financial aid.

Another significant problem is that some colleges simply can’t afford to give out more money. According to the New York Times, 30 percent of colleges were already running on deficits from the spring semester. Universities were already struggling with gathering enrollment and tuition money before the

pandemic, so it is harder for them to simply give out refunds and tuition cuts at the moment. The American Council of Education claims that colleges will have a 10 percent increase in their “back to school” costs due to having to implement new safety measures for COVID-19. Chapman University’s president claims that they have significantly cut their $400 million budget as well as salaries to budget money toward new safety protocols. However, large colleges continue to boast their large endowment funds, so where is that money when students need it most? Harvard has posted on their website that it has “up to $1 million to support students facing challenges related to Internet access.” They are willing to boast their large budgets on their website but cannot afford to lower tuition costs and give out more financial aid to their own loyal students. How can small colleges like Williams College be willing to take off 15 percent of their tuition price for students and the richest schools in the country can’t even give housing refunds? Harvard needs to step up as one of the most prestigious colleges in the country and help their own students. They have no reason to withhold millions of dollars that can be used to help both students with financial aid and with implementing safety precautions. Universities need to stop bragging about their funds and actually start using the money for their students instead of making excuses and brushing off allegations by displaying a facade on their websites.

Dissagreements can be healthy discussions, too

People with opposing political views can get along, realizing shared common values will repair relationships

emocrat Andrea Hailey and Republican David Williamson have been married for seven years, and many people have wondered if their political views have affected their relationship. They claim, however, that they have become more understanding of each other’s views that they have created a career partnership through their non-profit organization, the Civic Engagement Fund. The organization was founded to re-engage potential voters by promoting civic education after a disappointing 2016 election turnout when over 100 million American voters didn’t show up. Similarly, political strategists and media personalities Mary Matalin and James Carville have been married for almost 30 years. Matalin, a former Republican who announced in 2016 that she was changing her party registration to Libertarian, and Carville, a life-long Democrat, found ways to keep their political and home lives separate through hobbies they like to do together and lessons they’ve learned through arguments and many conversations.

Because of COVID-19, Black Lives Matter Movements and the election all happening at the same time, America is experiencing a great divide. It feels like the nation needs to learn from these two couples, and I’m sure there are many more couples like them. These two couples have been able to stick together through their differences because they’ve learned to communicate and accept their spouses’ opinions; maybe there is something to be learned from their relationships. They don’t label one another, but rather, they realize what shared values they both have and embrace them. Hailey and Williamson get along because they share the same values. They both love their democratic country; they love people having the opportunity to become leaders; and they believe in mutual respect, cooperation and dignity which is how their non-profit organization exists. Matalin and Carville love to cook, fish and go to church together. Sure, they’ve gotten into fights; but they have learned over time that there are certain topics that should stay untouched. Accepting other people’s points of views and respecting different ideas than our

own are the first steps Americans should take in order for our country to be whole again. Many people have noticed that the political polarization has increased over the past several years possibly because our nation is relatively young. People now have the ability to vocalize their political disagreements, especially with the advent of social media, people push boundaries that they haven’t pushed before. People have trouble listening to one another and accepting each others’ views. Most of the time, our views are linkd to our values, and our values are so personal that they often control the way we lead our lives. For most people, it’s difficult to imagine that others don’t see the world as they may see it.

But people should notice, when talking and arguing about sensitive topics, that in the end, our values and expectations for this country are aiming for the same goal. The year 2020 has been a year of devastation and division in the United States. We need to focus on fixing damaged relationships. We need to learn to accept that it’s okay to have differing beliefs and help reunite our country. We need to learn that it is okay to disagree.

Graphic by Gardiner Vose

pro con

Is Joe Biden or Donald Trump the best presidential candidate for the job?

Pro: Biden

The 2020 election will be a major turning point in our country’s history. While this may seem like an over generalization that has been said about elections before, 2020 has presented us with significant social, economic, cultural and political issues the country has rarely seen the likes of before, let alone together. We stand in the midst of a pandemic that has killed over 200,000 people and crippled our economy, and the largest civil rights movement our nation has seen in years. Thus, this election will decide the fate of our country for years to come. In that vein, the choice to put our country on the right track is Joe Biden.

The elephant in the room is, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives and has cost our country dearly economically. However, according to data from top disease researchers, almost 90 percent of those deaths could have been prevented if the US had reacted differently. Biden, as opposed to Trump’s denial, has reiterated over and over again the need to trust our scientists, going so far as to stipulate that it is incorrect to try and remedy the country’s economy while not addressing the pandemic itself. Furthermore, Biden worked with Obama to build on a pandemic emergency response plan during his vice-presidency, as well as having helped rebuild the economy left to him and Obama following the 2008 recession, making Biden an ideal choice for pandemic response and recovery.

However, the protests regarding police brutality and systematic racism cast, arguably, just as great of a shadow as the pandemic. Regardless of your stance on the protests themselves, African Americans feel constantly targeted by police and the judicial system, which are concerns President Trump has outright denied the validity of. A president is supposed to be, first and foremost, a leader of the American people, and you cannot be an effective leader by openly refusing to acknowledge the concerns and accusations of racism in law enforcement levied by minority communities, concerns which often have great validity behind them. Trump has perpetuated an atmosphere of division in Washington, which Biden has the power to change. Biden has over 40 years of experience in congress, which grants him the ability to network and solve problems through negotiation and hear out these people’s concerns.

This election will serve as a harbinger for the direction our country is to take in the coming years, but the choice is about empathy more than anything else. Our current administration lacks empathy, for people of color, for the poor and for people who cannot protect themselves. While not everyone may suffer from the issues that our country is dealing with today, it is our responsibility to vote for someone who will. In a world that needs it more than ever, Joe Biden brings empathy, rather than divisiveness, to the presidential stage.

43 percent of students would vote for Joe Biden

Jiaying Fu Web Editor

The Eagle Edition is going digital! At the end of last school year, when we began distance learning, that period of time felt isolating for many students because we weren’t able to participate in community events. In times such as these, having a school news site is more important than ever. The Eagle e-Edition serves to provide more timely news coverage in this unusual time. It’s been a crazy year, and the future is so uncertain, but we hope that by providing prompt updates, you will be able to feel a bit more at ease.

Also, the Eagle e-Edition is not only a platform for school news but also student voices.

Gardiner Vose Views Editor

Pro: Trump

With the 2020 presidential election coming around the corner, the division between the Republican and Democrat Parties is one of the most significant divides in modern-day U.S. history. With a year plagued by numerous disasters, many are looking for someone to blame, and for the majority of the Democrats in our country, President Donald Trump is the easiest target.

Using issues such as the coronavirus, tense race relations and others, the left wing party has attempted to convince the American people that all of these problems stem from one man: Donald Trump. It is no surprise to anyone that as the election cycle gets closer, anti-Trump and republican agendas are on a rise among left wing media sources, leaving out many facts and giving a very selective narrative to the American people.

The United States was shut down around the same time many other countries did, but cases continued to rise because many people did not obey stay-at-home orders. This cannot be blamed on a single person. This was a nationwide issue that had to do with people who chose not to follow local and federal guidelines and cannot be the fault of the president.

Before the coronavirus, Trump made momentous strides such as his passage of the First Step Act, which offers inmates more job opportunities and rehabilitation programs, improving conditions in prisons, reducing sentences for minor drug charges and expanding early release programs, all of which are a major benefit for many minority groups which make up a significant portion of the inmate population. Furthermore, prior to the pandemic, the African American unemployment rate was at an all time low, and the economy was at an all time high. However, during his presidency, Trump himself added millions of jobs. According to factcheck. org, Trump added over six million jobs during the first three years of his presidency and the unemployment was at its lowest in fifty years. Median household income rose 2.3 percent. Average weekly paychecks rose 2.8 percent. The poverty rate and food stamp rolls declined. All of these achievements are a result of Trump’s intricate experience with the global economy which he has learned after decades of working a real job, unlike some of his competitors, who have worked in politics their entire lives and are largely ineffective.

Although the left media continues to make claims that Trump is the cause of the racial tension in the country and that his administration is responsible for the rise in police brutality, it should be noted that the local police departments are responsible for the cruel murders of unarmed African American people, and the vast majority of the cities, including Louisville, where Breonna Taylor was killed, and Minneapolis, where George Floyd was shot, are historically democratic cities with democratic mayors.

While the left is doing everything they can to make Trump look inadequate before the election, I believe that the silent majority will prevail again as in 2016, and Trump will win the 2020 election.

41 percent of students would vote for Donald Trump

Source: Sept. 26 poll of 249 upper school students

We are accepting and encouraging contributions from anyone in the ESD community, whether that be in the form of an opinion piece, podcast or video. We want to hear from you, so please reach out. In such divisive times, it is important for us to share our voices and opinions, and we hope that you all will do so. Sign up to be a student blogger, a columnist, have a video series or podcast for a fun and rewarding experience. On the Eagle e-Edition, we will be covering every aspect of student life and campus culture, from breaking news to sports games highlights to baking tutorials and everything in between and beyond. Check out our website for student

council announcements, articles about student involvement, political or humorous opinion pieces, and more. We’ll be featuring student chefs, musicians, athlete highlight reels and gamers. We want to showcase every aspect of the school’s community. We’re hoping it’ll be a fun and interactive experience for everyone and help add some normalcy and unite our community during this strange time. If you’d like to be a student contributor for any form of media, please reach out to me at fuj@esdallas.org.

Be sure to check us out at esdeagleedition.org! We will also be sending out a weekly newsletter highlighting the trending stories of the week.

Zander Knight Guest Columnist

just a THOUGHT

realize it or not, this perversion results from a deliberate effort––an effort to achieve something and an effort that is almost always directed at corroborating our “side.”

We need to listen to and embrace other opinions, free our minds

By

These days, I feel like I am listening to a broken stereo. COVID-19. Polarization. Injustice. It’s like we’re in a time lapse; we can’t escape our reality.

I’m not here to say that a global pandemic, the radical dichotomy in our nation or racial inequality can be fixed overnight. No, in fact, it’s quite the contrary––we need to put in some work. We need to address

the fact that many of our beliefs are set in stone and impregnable from criticism, and that is problematic. We need to free our minds. What does it mean to have a mind that is free? J. Krishnamurti, one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th century, focused extensively on this concept, and the title of his book, “Freedom from the Known,” begins to answer that question. A free mind can detach itself from

what it believes to know; it can learn and grow. A free mind entails having a consciousness that listens, thinks and (most primarily) does not distort. But there is a problem here––distortion is prominent in our lives. We distort the information that we acquire to coincide with our beliefs; we distort our thoughts to reassure ourselves; we are constantly distorting reality. Whether we

So how can we look at the world without imposing our own will? Krishnamurti believed that one has to be free from the positive and the negative, the true meaning of meditation. In an interview, he provided an example, which may seem radical to many of us: to claim that life has meaning or that it does not is a form of distortion. Our minds have to occupy a sort of neutral, quasiSwitzerland ground, for leaning one way can prevent us from gaining perspective. Regarding our tendency to judge the so-called other side, we must also realize that “the analyzer is no different than the analyzed,” as Krishnamurti claimed. In other words, the next time we judge another, we should reflect upon ourselves first. It comes down to recognizing a basic fact of life––we, as humans, are biologically alike. We share many of the same faults, and acknowledging our own ignorance is the first step to gaining clarity. There is always much to learn and numerous reasons to listen.

IF THE OPINION IS RIGHT, THEY ARE DEPRIVED OF THE OPPORTUNITY

OF EXCHANGING ERROR FOR TRUTH.

John Stuart Mill, Philosopher

Listening (as I have learned in Mr. Cupp’s Ethics class) is something that we tend to avoid because listening requires thinking, and thinking involves examining pre-established notions, something

that we tend to avoid at all costs. Thinking, ergo, requires some work. But I think it’s simply a matter of reallocating our efforts––the energy we expend trying to affirm our beliefs should rather be spent listening patiently. For example, when my dad and I were debating the quality of country music, I was so occupied with defending country singers like George Strait and John Hiatt that I didn’t even listen to my dad’s valid (and agreeable point)— there is country music of which the lyrics exclusively consist of ‘ma truck, beer and girl.’ Seeking new knowledge is, in fact, rewarding. As John Stuart Mill said, “If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth.” Speaking with others whose views are congruent with our own is like watching the same movie over and over again. Yes, it’s comforting, but we get nothing out of if. And knowledge is entirely separate from opinion. A knowledgeable individual is wellrounded; they know of both sides. Opinion is arbitrary. As Mill argues in chapter two of “On Liberty,” we could have entirely different opinions if we were born in a different city, country, family, etc. Krishnamurti beautifully stated, “We hope to capture something that is not the product of thought.” In other words, to attain real knowledge is to gather something that is not simply a product of ruminating on the little that we already know.

Dear Eagle Edition,

I write to call attention to what I believe to be the absolutely shocking example of incivility that was the first presidential debate. Never in my life have I been so embarrassed to watch a political event; I was left in complete disbelief of what I had just witnessed when it finally ended. For ninety minutes straight two men, both of whom sought the highest office in the country, bickered and interrupted each other to the extent that not one question was able to be answered in peace. I watched as the moderator struggled to wrangle grown adults to answer questions regarding the safety and the future of our nation.

Is this what political discourse has come to in our county? A no-holds-barred unrelenting borderline fist fight between our politicians? I would like to keep this letter absolutely bipartisan in its description of the events of the 29th, I really would. But I seemingly can not due to the outrageous behavior of the incumbent. I do not consider myself a political person, but how can I turn a blind eye to the distasteful comments of the leader of our nation? Upon being given the opportunity to explicitly condemn white supremacy he chose not to. Upon being given the opportunity to respond to his alleged comments on military service he instead chose to criticize the record of his opponent’s deceased son. Upon being given the opportunity to explain the mounting death toll of one of the worst pandemics in recent history he instead chose to claim that it could have been worse as opposed to offering suggestions as

to how we might make it better. Oh, the times! Oh, the customs! I will not shy away from the fact that his challenger’s behavior was not fit for a debate either. The president of the United States was called a clown on national television, not exactly painting a great picture of our republic. What is the purpose of these debates exactly? Informing the audience? I didn’t learn anything. Entertainment value? I would not consider the destruction of democracy entertaining. It seems that the presidential debate is a chance for each candidate to play the strong-man and to fearmonger. If these debates are to continue then changes must be made. If the moderator really doesn’t want interruptions then why not mute the mic of whoever is not speaking at the moment. That would probably have tripled the amount of actual policy debate had that occurred. Perhaps we could actually call out the ad hominem attacks that they sling at each other. What if we just didn’t have an audience or even televise what is supposed to just be a comparison of ideas. Since the debates were first televised in 1960 decorum has slowly left politics, but this is something else completely. We should be outraged that the American people are forced to deal with a political climate that allows for this. Never forget that the government represents the people, because I do not believe what happened at that debate to reflect that idea.

Sincerely,

Carter Bakewell, senior

Used with permission by Gage Skidmore, Creative Commons BY-SA2.0 (license)

Lauren Weber Managing Editor

DOWN

THE WORST TO THE BEST OF THE MONTH, RANKED BY LUKE McCABE

BACK ON CAMPUS

LONELY LUNCH 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

As of Sept. 8, students have been back to in-person classes despite the pandemic. With many safety measures in order and mandatory masks for all members of the community, the School has created a healthier environment where students, faculty and staff can interact.

GOING CLUBBING

On Sept. 23, a virtual club fair took place showcasing video welcomes and online signup sheets from 46 clubs; despite the new rule that clubs, apart from affinity groups, are not allowed to meet on campus.

MASKS ON

The School introduced a schoolwide uniform washable cloth mask and presented the senior class with its own custom-printed graduation year mask. Extra masks are available for purchase in the Eagles Nest.

CHECK YES OR NO

The School partnered with Ascend Base Camp Health, a daily health screening tool used by students and employees, asking the community to report symptoms and daily temperature before coming to school. It is being used in order to prevent the spread of the virus. However, the daily survey has caused concern surrounding the validity of student responses.

SMART SCHEDULE?

The new block schedule is in full swing. With different allotted class times ranging from 60 to 105 minutes, students worry about holding attention in longer lectures.

FOLLOWING GUIDELINES

One of the new COVID-19 safety measures around campus is the appearance of green arrows on the concrete pathways and multiple signage indicating traffic flow. The creation of a one directional circuit around school has decreased daily contact, but it has caused a lot of tardies when trying to walk across campus in a passing period.

The dining commons have taken a turn for the worst with four person limits on tables and plexiglass walls separating students. Although this provides appropriate distancing and barriers between people, conversing proves to be difficult resulting in a much quieter lunch.

This is not how we expected our senior year on the paper to look. When we imagined our senior year on staff, we pictured passing out our first issue as seniors to the student body, bonding with the staff over Torchy’s at worknights and being able to stay late at deadline without worrying about homework. A pandemic was the last thing on our minds.

But we’ve adapted to the situation. We’ve downloaded Adobe and Google products on our computers, allowing us to produce a paper from anywhere; we met virtually over the summer to plan our redesign; we attended a virtual workshop combined with the yearbook staff; and we figured out how to have a productive worknight over Zoom—all signs of this staff’s resilience and determination.

In the midst of this pandemic, we also have an addition to the paper: a website. Quite a few years ago, The Eagle Edition had an active website. We couldn’t be more excited to revive the website. Web Editor Jiaying Fu has worked tirelessly to get the website up and running. The website will enhance our reporting, allowing us to immediately report on breaking news and giving us more space to be a voice for the student body—more space to highlight students’ talents, more space to report on student activities, more space to cover critical events and more space for opinion pieces. We will also have a space for student council to share updates, increasing transparency with the student body. If you would like to contribute to the website—whether you want to share a recipe, a piece of writing, an opinion column, or something we haven’t named— please email fuj@esdallas.org.

While the myriad of cancellations may make life feel like it’s partially come to a

halt, our role as student journalists has never been more important. The country is in the midst of a civil rights movement, with governments, institutions and people reevaluating and attempting to rectify their own biases. COVID-19 continues to spread rapidly, depriving us of any sense of normality and bringing tragedy and anxiety. And, the cherry on top, it’s an election year. In a year where polling suggests Texas might be competitive in the electoral college and Senate, and candidates are engaged in tight races in districts throughout the Dallas area, the staff is striving to provide reliable election coverage. This is what we signed up for. We didn’t join the Eagle Edition solely for the food at deadline, or the feeling of handing out freshly-printed papers or the memories made in the journalism room at 10 p.m. on a school

COVID Crimes

by Sumner Wooldridge

night (though we do cherish these things). We joined the newspaper because we wanted to write. Whether we’re writing about our own opinion, a community member’s experience or a problem within the school, our job is to tell stories, to explain and to give people a voice. While the pandemic may have made it harder for us to do that job, the last thing we can do is quit.

As student journalists we have many super powers—such as the ability to start our homework at 11 p.m. and still get to school on time the next morning and the confidence to ask administrators tough questions—but we can’t predict the future. We have no idea what this year holds, and like everyone else, we’re taking it one day at a time. However, this staff is resilient, passionate and dedicated, and we will never stop doing our job.

Blair Batson and Evelyn Zhao

When did you first start playing basketball and why?

I started playing when I was two, but my dad is a basketball coach and his side of the family likes basketball a lot. All of his siblings are coaches, so that’s how I got into [basketball]. My dad tells me that when I was that young, I would run around and the first thing I was doing, he would roll a basketball and I would run and get it then bring it back to him. I would say just growing up in an athletic family helped me and just directed me to play basketball. And being around it all the time.

Who do you play with outside of school?

I play for DC Queens which is a select team, and we play under a league called AAU, which stands for Amateur Athletic Union. That means we can potentially play over a 100 different teams in the United States depending on what tournament we play in. We also play against different EYBL teams and EYBL are teams sponsored by Nike. So essentially AAU is a league that is used to further the youths skills, in hopes of preparing them to further their career at the college and even the pro level.

What position do you like to play and why?

I like playing the point guard [position] because I can kind of control how the game is going and it is one of the easier positions. It helps me strengthen my leadership skills. I don’t play this position with my AAU team, so it’s definitely different when I play it, but I really like playing [that position].

Who has been an inspiration to you for the sport?

Along with my dad, I am inspired by Steph Curry and this girl named Tia Cooper. She’s new and I like her because her journey was very inspirational. She started off not very good, but then she got to college and played at Tennessee, and then she moved up to Baylor and became this star point guard that everyone knew, so I really like her. Now she is in the WNBA and plays for the LA Sparks.

Interview by Callie Hawkins Staff Writer

Q&A sports eagleeye

College athletes stripped of their seasons

COVID-19 causes multiple college seasons to be temporarily or completely canceled

By Maddy Hammett Staff writer

With the steady rise of COVID-19 cases across the U.S., there has been a question of whether or not it is safe to let college sports continue, affecting athletes and many of their upcoming seasons. While every school has a different way of handling their sports season, one thing remains the same: this season will be different.

The Atlantic Coast College sports conference medical group said that college sports seasons can be played safely as long as extra precautions are taken. Dr. Cameron Wolf, a member of the ACC medical group, said that doctors now know enough about Covid-19 to let fall sports continue with heavy restrictions. In an interview with Sports Business Daily, Wolfe said that he believes they can mitigate it down to a level that makes everyone safe.

extra precautions to ensure a safe season. Lacrosse player Scott Bower ‘19 started his second year at the University of Virginia this fall. This year’s lacrosse season looks a lot different for Bower, as restrictions on practices have been increased heavily.

HAVING MY SEASON BE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED HAS BEEN REALLY HARD, AND I JUST WISH WE COULD HAVE A REGULAR SEASON.

Alexander Konradi, Rower ‘20

“Can we safely have two teams meet on the field? I would say yes. Will it be tough? Yes. Will it be expensive and difficult and a lot of work? For sure. But do I believe you can sufficiently mitigate the risk of bringing COVID-19 onto the football field or into the training room at a level no greater than living as a student on campus,” Wolfe said. As a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19, colleges are taking

“As of now, COVID-19 has affected our season a lot,” Bower said. “We can only practice in four different groups, not as a full team, which is very unfortunate. Also since our season got canceled mid season, the [National Collegiate Athletic Association] granted everybody an extra year of eligibility. That means some teams might have an advantage over other teams if their players decide to take the fifth year and keep around very talented guys. It feels very weird having to adjust with the new rules regarding COVID-19.”

Colleges are trying to keep their athletes safe while allowing the university to have a sports season. Caitlyn Henderson ‘19 is in her second year playing volleyball for Cameron University and has experienced many restrictions this season.

“As of now, when we are practicing, we have to wear masks and social distance from each other as best as possible,” Henderson said. “It hasn’t been decided yet whether or not we’re playing scrimmages, but practices look completely different from how they would typically run.”

Some schools have temporarily canceled their fall sports season because of the rise in COVID-19 cases on campus. Rower Alexander Konradi ‘20 who is in his first crew season at Hobart and William Smith Colleges has had his season temporarily canceled. Extra restrictions, along with the cancellation of practices, have been placed on Konradi’s season such as: workouts being temporarily suspended, limited rowing teams and singles boats rather than standard boats. With this being Konradi’s

first crew season at Hobart, he has found it difficult to enjoy the season the same way as he would before COVID-19.

“Because four of our football players tested positive for COVID-19, practices for all sports are temporarily suspended,” Konradi said. “It’s difficult having to miss out on what feels like a large part of my season. This is my first season rowing at a college level so I often feel like I’m missing out on a better season I could’ve had. Having my season be temporarily suspended has been

really hard, and I just wish we could have a regular season.”

Many college athletes are finding it hard to enjoy their season amidst the pandemic and feel as though they are missing out on a season they could have had. However, even with the increase of restrictions student athletes have learned to appreciate their season more.

“Tons of restrictions have been placed on our season, but I think in the end we’ve all learned to value our season more and enjoy the sport for what it is,” Bower said.

Sophomore and varsity basketball player Madison McCloud describes experience with sport

Photo by Anna Baranski

NBA bubble causes higher scores

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, NBA players are quarantined in the Orlando bubble, equalizing the disadvantages of traveling and increasing scores, but also causing mental challenges for players

By Emily Lichty Life Editor

With traveling suspended for many professional sports leagues due to COVID-19, such as the NBA and NHL, the disadvantages that traveling teams face are equalized, causing some teams to notice improved athletic performance and scoring.

On July 30, NBA players continued their season in a “bubble” environment located in the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida, to keep teams safe from the spread of the virus and causing teams to score higher than usual. According to ESPN, on August 9, 17 out of 22 teams in the Orlando bubble exceeded the scoring averages they had before the season was suspended.

“If I am looking at it from a coaching standpoint, [the Orlando Bubble] can help bring players closer together and build the necessary chemistry and focus needed to have a successful team,” former professional basketball player and Basketball Program Director Corey Henderson said. “The negative to this is not having your family, friends and others that are your support system around when things get tough for you as a player.”

According to Dr. Alex Reed, team psychologist for the Denver Nuggets, the improved performance of these teams may be because teams are no longer traveling. Traveling before games can disrupt a player’s sleep schedule and quality of sleep, resulting from changing time zones, flying at night or sleeping in a hotel room.

“When players sleep better, they tend to react quicker, remember plays better and more consistently,” Reed said. “The other part too, is that…

When you travel from east to west, it’s harder on your sleep cycle. It’s a lot easier to travel west to east.”

The NHL also implemented a “bubble” for the remainder of the season, beginning Aug. 1, located in two different cities, Toronto and Edmonton.

“Starting the games again is a good call because in hockey, you’re wearing a face covering and able to social distance,” former hockey player, junior Victoria Feuer said. “It could improve players’ game performance because players will be able to practice and focus more. Also, keeping them off of planes will help them to stay healthy.”

But while higher scoring numbers have increased overall for the NBA, athletes in both the NHL and NBA face mental challenges, dealing with uncertainty and isolation away from family. NBA athletes such as Paul George, Jaylen Brown and Jamal Murray, have all released statements discussing the mental challenges they have faced in the bubble. The bubble schedule for the NHL gives players less time to rest between games, which may cause fatigue for hockey players.

they’re away from being in person with their support systems,” Reed said. “They can’t leave the premises, so where you or I might be able to go out to a restaurant where we’d still be socially distant, they don’t have that accessibility… but it is forcing them to focus. They are really focusing on basketball.”

WE ARE IN UNPRECEDENTED TIMES, SO IF YOU ADD IN ALL THE CHAOS GOING ON IN THIS COUNTRY, ITS AMAZING TO SEE THAT, FOR THE MOST PART, PLAYERS ARE ABLE TO STAY FOCUSED.

Corey Henderson Basketball Program Director

“They’re away from family, so

Henderson believes that the mental toll the bubble can have depends on the player, but admires the strength athletes have to continue playing.

“[The emotional effects] really depend on the player and where they draw their mental, physical, and spiritual strength and guidance,” Henderson said. “We are in unprecedented times, so if you add in all the chaos going on in this country, its amazing to see that for the most part, players are able to stay focused. There have been some that have struggled to maintain and gain their mojo back.”

Henderson played basketball in college at Texas A&M University and played professionally in Australia. From his experience, staying strong mentally is important to make the most of a rare experience.

“As a one time professional athlete

myself, we are not superhuman, but you are being paid very well to do a job that less than one percent of this world will ever experience,” Henderson said. “It is important to make the best of your opportunity which means having the best mental, physical and spiritual resources and support around you to help your journey be a successful and productive one.”

Similarly to professional teams, student athletes also face the cancellation of traveling for sports. Reed also finds that student athletes can face similar impacts to their game performance as professional athletes when they travel, caused by long bus rides or changes in nutrition. As a former player and coach, Henderson has experienced these impacts firsthand.

“I have been on both sides of [traveling] as a player and coach,” Henderson said. “It does have a profound effect on student athletes more so on those that have to play the same day they travel versus those that have opportunities to travel the day before and recover. Student athletes that have a regimen and routine with their study habits and training tend to be more productive and successful.”

Junior Mac Rodvold travels regularly for lacrosse, and agrees that it is more difficult to play after travel.

“Traveling definitely affects my performance in games because [I’m] sitting down for quite some time [when] I could be a lot more focused on the game,” Rodvold said. “Playing a game coming right off a bus trip… is always hard to focus on playing your hardest. I can’t imagine traveling all the time, like they do in professional sports, but I bet they are used to it because it truly is their job.”

teams playing in the

number of points the NBA’s scoring average has increased by since the NBA bubble was implemented*

percent of students travel for sports**

percent of students who travel for sports think that playing after travelling is harder**

Orlando Bubble

Graphic by Emily Lichty

College commitment changes

Student-athletes find new ways to get to know prospective colleges, in person visits suspended

By Christian Rockamore Staff writer

As COVID-19 spreads, student-athletes face hindrances in their college committing processes.

Division I college coaches always start the recruitment process on Sept. 1 of the students’ junior year. Emails, phone calls and official and unofficial visits are all a part of the process as coaches allow the athletes to get a feel for the team environment. Due to the pandemic, these methods, such as in person visits and meetings, have not occurred, making it more difficult for athletes to make a decision and commit.

The National Collegiate Athletic Association has suspended inperson recruiting through Jan.1, 2021 for Division I programs at the earliest.

College Guidance Counselor Elizabeth Clark has helped student-athletes adjust to these changes.

“Athletes have to complete the same requirements as non-athletes in regards to applications,” Clark said. “I met with all recruited athletes on an as needed basis on Zoom in the spring and summer to help them get a jump start on their applications.”

Because the recruitment process is lengthy, studentathletes can often forget to stay in continual communication with college coaches.

“More than ever before, it is important for student-athletes to advocate for themselves,” Clark said. “They need to keep the lines of communication open

with college coaches rather than waiting to be contacted.”

Junior Chase Kennedy, who wants to commit for football, has regularly communicated with the coach at one of the schools he’s interested in.

“I talk to my position coach at least every other day on the phone,” Kennedy said. “I really enjoy talking with him because most of the time the conversation has nothing to do with football, and he is just checking up on me seeing how things are going and how I am doing.”

With the social aspect of the college recruitment process at hold, athletes have to really think about what they want in a college.

“In my decision of what college I want to attend, the campus environment, roster status, fan base and social life will all be factors,” Kennedy said. “If I did not have that to go off of, I would know it is the school for me based on how much a school contacts [me], whether it is [mailing] graphics or somebody from the program reaching out.”

Those who have already committed have faced fewer hindrances. Senior and Syracuse University lacrosse commit Kyle Rolley said his visit to the college was a deciding factor in his choice to attend.

“I flew up [to Syracuse] for the day and immediately fell in love with the campus,” Rolley said. “That’s when I knew that was where I wanted to play college lacrosse. Personally, I would not want to have to choose a college without even visiting the campus

at least once… I was grateful to have the opportunity to visit so many schools before COVID-19 hit.”

As a result of the pandemic and the cancellation of seasons, coaches are unable to see athletes play games in person. Fortunately, senior and volleyball captain Lilly Lutz was able to get noticed by coaches before the pandemic.

“Without a season, there was really no way for coaches to see players play,” Lutz said. “So, for me, coaches had only seen me play earlier in the season and [in] past years.”

Coaches are learning to improvise as recruits cannot see the teams that they will be joining in person and develop bonds with other players. Zoom calls and other forms of online communication are being utilized as alternatives.

“It’s definitely a shame that in-person experiences weren’t a possibility with everything going on,” Lutz said. “Schools have done team and coach Zooms, which were creative ways to have some interaction.”

With in-person activities being suspended, student athletes are realizing the importance of college visits. Not being able to visit the campus has a heavy impact on the athletes’ college decisions.

“I am super lucky to have been to camps and visits before the pandemic began because visits definitely have a big impact,” Lutz said. “I’m sure recruits who don’t have that option are struggling a lot.”

LAX TO THE MAX Varsity lacrosse player Kyle Rolley defends goal during a tournament in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Rolley has played lacrosse for 11 years. “I wanted to play lacrosse in college because of the opportunities it can give,” Rolley said. “I have always wanted to continue the game that love past high school and potentially play for a national championship.” Photo provided by Kyle Rolley

SPC cancelled, sports take safety measures

Sports teams have accommodated for COVID-19 through socially distanced practices, local games

By Carolyn Langford Copy Editor

The cancellation of this fall’s Southwest Preparatory Conference and added safety measures to slow the spread of COVID-19 have forced sports teams to adapt to challenging circumstances.

The conference’s decision recognized that each school was undergoing an unusual situation and that the operations of each respective school would vary. In addition, the decision was made during a time of constantly changing local conditions and opinions on how to handle safety measures in regards to athletic competition. The verdict to cancel this athletic season was understood and supported by many.

“I wish that I could go, and since this is a vital year for me, it was

important, but I want to look at the bright side,” varsity crew member Gabe Kozielec said. “I do believe that the decision to cancel the regattas was a smart one because there are a lot of people that group together, and it is hard to keep track of everyone.”

Other athletes, however, are dealing with the frustration of having SPC canceled. According to a Sept. 26 poll of 249 students, 84 percent of all students who play a sport are still practicing and have plans to compete locally. Many students have voiced their opinion that SPC being canceled is a pointless attempt to slow the spread of the virus if most sports teams are carrying on as usual.

“Not just me, but almost the whole football team thinks it’s unreasonable,” junior varsity football

player Ronny Sires said. “Football to us isn’t just a sport that we play. It’s a lifestyle that creates a family. It’s a time to forget about everything and have fun. Taking away SPC is like taking a baby’s pacifier. To the seniors mainly, they miss the most fun time of high school because of COVID-19.”

The precautions being taken have dramatically changed the way athletes approach practicing and maintaining their athletic ability. The effort to slow the spread requires athletes to be flexible in the way that they train to get as close to standard routine as possible.

“Many of us are craving a sense of normalcy in the current COVID-19 world and no one more so than our coaches and student-athletes,” Director of Athletics Dan Gill said.

By Smith Cochran Sports Editor

OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, the sports industry has prided itself on being more progressive than ever before. With name, logo and mascot changes, professional organizations and collegiate departments are slowly making their way to political correctness. When will it be enough?

After 87 years of being weighed down by the name, the Washington Football Team decided to remove the nickname “Redskins.” It perplexes me how that name survived for so long. The former logo depicted a maroon Native American with feathers in his braid, with the word “Redskins” below. The Redskin name never honored a tribe, rather it was first used by British colonists, and it was later used by James Madison, using the word interchangeably with “red people,” a disgusting term.

Washington is only the latest team to switch names and mascots.

In 2017, The University of Mississippi changed their mascot from a dapperly-dressed black bear to a frightening landshark. Before the bear, Ole Miss sidelined a man with uncanny resemblance to Colonel Sanders, depicting a rebellious, southern plantation owner. This disgusting mascot was removed, but the name hasn’t been touched.

The University has declined to remove the nickname “Rebels.” This, of course, refers to the Mississippiians who rebelled against the United States in 1861. Without a doubt this is the absolute worst name in college sports. It is time to forget the “tradition” of the name. Hundreds of African Americans bring in millions of dollars for Ole Miss, while sporting the name of those that fought to keep freedom from an entire race. As the Redskins became the

“These unprecedented circumstances require a diligent, yet analytical approach to planning for the safe return of interscholastic competition, which undoubtedly is an essential part of our fabric in the ESD community.”

Each sport had to work on their toes to develop unique methods of practice to maintain their skills.

“We are wearing masks, doing more spread out exercises, working in single-person boats, sanitizing oars and exercising alone,” Kozielec said. “I work out using the guide that was provided to us from the weight coach and our crew coach. I have also been a part of a club team in order to get more practice on the water.”

able to create a good team dynamic between grades,” senior Cleo Neuhoff said.”Because field hockey is in the fall, a ton of freshmen join as a way to get to know new people. Our goal is that even if we can’t have games we will still be able to get to know everyone, especially the underclassmen, and hopefully be good examples for them.”

MANY OF US ARE ARE CRAVING A SENSE OF NORMALCY IN THE CURRENT COVID-19 WORLD AND NO ONE MORE SO THAN OUR COACHES AND ATHLETES.

Although Neuhoff has goals to increase bonding, some parts of the fall season that athletes are missing out on are irreplaceable. Many of the traditions that sports teams participate in are unable to occur this year due to safety issues.

A huge addition to the sport team curriculum this year was an improved Strength and Conditioning program. In order to keep athletes in shape, some coaches require mandatory social distanced training with the athletic trainers.

“The football team is adapting perfectly fine [by] still practicing as a team and working as hard as we possibly can to prepare and make sure we are ready for [our first game],” Sires said. “Obviously, we are more cautious and make sure we attend conditioning. To some people it is advantageous because this is the time to improve athletically and academically, which I think is ideal.”

Although teams have found ways to compensate for the challenges posed on playing sports, coaches and players have had difficulty replacing the community aspect of athletics.

“As one of the [field hockey] senior captains, I was especially sad because I had been looking forward to being a leader and being

“We had already been planning for this year[‘s retreat] and we had so many great ideas that would have gotten the team super close, so I’m really disappointed we won’t be able to do that,” Neuhoff said. “Overall I’m just really sad that we might miss out on the day to day practices and the fun conversations, locker room dance parties and especially leading the powers cheer before counter games.”

Although nothing is set in stone, Gill hopes that sports seasons later in the year will resume as planned. The School knows that the more the community limits activities outside activities, the better the chance of normalcy returning.

“I am encouraged by the success we have experienced with our return to on-campus strength/conditioning along with the staggered reopening of school,” Gill said. “Both are pivotal to our ability to consider the resumption of a modified fall sports season. The camaraderie experienced both on and off the field/courts is an essential part of the student life environment.”

Sports teams should change offensive names, mascots to work toward progression

Football Team, more questions arose for the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland changed their primary logo Chief Wahoo, an animated attempt of a stereotypical Indian with a red face, large teeth, and a large nose, to a simple block “C.” While this move was necessary, it still is not enough. There are better options than calling a team the “Indians.” This past summer brought protests outside of Progressive Field, the Indians stadium. Many fans are ready to move along with the name change, and the organization has expressed interest, but has not finalized any changes yet.

If the Indians do indeed decide to change mascots, does that mean teams like the Atlanta Braves will?

The Braves had a run in with cultural appropriation last season before the final game of the playoff series against the St. Louis Cardinals, when a Native American opposing pitcher came out against the Brave’s tomahawk chop. Nonetheless, Atlanta got rid of it, which led to an embarrassing 13 - 1 loss. Understandably, Atlanta aimed to be on the right side of history, but the organization went too far. A name

change is unnecessary, for there has not been an outcry for a different nickname like there was for the Redskins and is for the Indians. Chop on, Braves. So, when will it be enough? When will every team in sports have a sensitive nickname? When will it end? Simply, it won’t. Pointing out that the Redskins was a racist name is a no brainer, but what about the Minnesota Vikings? Historically, there were Vikings known to rape and kill women and children. The Pittsburgh Pirates are similar in the fact that pirates were not the kindest of people. I am in no way lobbying for these teams to throw away their name, for I don’t believe these teams need tweaking. The difference is, there is not a large number of Pirate and Viking groups that find the mascots insensitive.

In 2013, the Washington Football Team’s owner said the organization will “never” remove the Redskins name. On June 30, 2020 the team’s head coach said changing the name “is a discussion for another time.” July 3 was when the organization announced it was removing “redskins” from the team.

Photo by Carolyn Langford

Dan Gill, Director of Athletcs

Recent protests in sports leagues cause controversy

Athletes use protests throughout history as a form of standing against racial injustice in America

By Grace Meaux Contributing writer

Four years ago Colin Kaepernick, an American civil rights activist and football quarterback, began popularizing protests in sports when he refused to stand for the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice. When he started this protest he stayed seated during the national anthem. However, after discussing the issue with Nate Boyer, a U.S. Army veteran, Kaepernick started kneeling—a sign of respect for fallen soldiers while also an act of protest.

Kaepernick’s actions inspired debate over whether social justice issues should be addressed in sports. 52 percent of students support social justice being addressed through sports.

“I definitely think that it’s super important to bring these topics to attention,” sophomore Bridget Wang said. “These people are so famous and have a platform where they are privileged enough to talk about this and share it with the public and that has been really good for them to bring it to attention to people who might not be aware of what’s going on around them.”

However, protesting in a sports game was not new to 2016. Protests in sports date back to the 1880s. One of the first signs of activism in sports was in 1883 in Major League Baseball when Moses Fleetwood Walker became the first African American to play professional baseball. He accomplished this despite the fact that coaches and players refused to play with someone of his race.

On March 9, 1966, boxer Muhammid Ali became eligible to fight in the Vietnam War. Ali refused to enlist, believing the war

was against his moral and religious beliefs. Although Ali faced possible felony offenses, he continued to protest against the war.

At the 1968 Olympics, two African American athletes John Carlos and Tommie Smith each raised a blackgloved fist on the Olympic podium during the national anthem as a way to protest racial discrimination.

During the 1995 to 1996 basketball season of the Denver Nuggets, Mahamoud Abdul-Rauf began to appear absent from the standing for the National Anthem. Abdul-Rauf went unnoticed for a majority of the season as he silently stretched in the locker room or kept himself occupied in other ways. Once his ritual did become noticed, AbdulRauf explained that he saw the American flag as a symbol of oppression and racism and that standing for the national anthem went against his Muslim beliefs.

the 2020 season he mentioned that he was looking for a compromise. Defensive lineman Dontari Poe was the only Cowboys player that kneeled for the beginning of the season.

On Aug. 26, Milwaukee Bucks became the first full team in the National Basketball Association to boycott a playoff game to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake by law enforcement officers. The NBA collective bargaining agreement says that no player should engage in strikes or any other “stoppages of work.” Through their strike for systemic racism, the Bucks were breaking their own contract with the NBA.

I THINK SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A POWERFUL SOURCE FOR POSITIVE AWARENESS.

And in 2014, Knox College basketball player Ariyana Smith protested the national anthem during a game. Smith raised her hands and fell to the ground for four and a half minutes to protest the fatal shooting of Michael Brown by law enforcement.

Claire Mrozek, Junior class dean and history teacher

Protests in sports continue today.

NFL teams and players have been canceling practices, postponing games, and kneeling during the national anthem. As for the Dallas Cowboys, in years prior, the NFL shared that owner Jerry Jones stated that he expected his players to stand during the national anthem, but for

These recent events have reignited debates over protests in sports. An Aug. 13 survey from ESPN showed that 71 percent of sports fans support athletes and teams addressing issues of social injustice and racial equality. 55 percent of fans felt that players should share their views during sporting events and 49 percent said they should speak out away from the game.

“I definitely support these professional athletes protesting their games,” sophomore varsity basketball player Madison Mccloud said. “I think because the NBA and WNBA are filled with mostly African Americans they felt that they needed to take a stand for our people and show that we are not going to take this kind of treatment anymore.”

Today, modern technology and social media give players a wider audience to share their own

struggles and beliefs. For example, professional basketball player Lebron James, with 47.5 million followers on Twitter, has transformed his page into an outlet for social activism.

“I think social media can be a powerful source for positive awareness and the way that primary source material is available through videos and things like that is a way that really has not been in any other time,” upper school history teacher

and junior class dean Claire Mrozek said. “I think that’s ultimately got to be good. The opportunities for misuse are equally rampant and that’s why it’s really important that everyone looks at things with a critical eye and asks questions.”

Disclaimer: Attempts were made to talk to students who believe these issues should be handled away from the games, but many were not comfortable sharing their stance.

We do this every day.

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We are COVID safe Successful strategies and follow all CDC policies.

Graphic by Blair Batson

memorylane

Every issue, the Eagle Edition looks through photos in the school’s archives and selects a moment to look back on.

ATHER STEPHEN B. SWANN LEADS A DAILY CHAPEL SERMON FOR A GROUP OF UPPER SCHOOL STUDENTS AT CROSSEN RANCH DURING AN EARLY OUTDOOR education camping trip in 1980.

Outdoor Education has been a year-round tradition since the early 1980s when Father Swann first held class retreats on the beach in Galveston. Previously, upper schoolers and teachers were required to go on two wilderness trips a year where they would sleep under plastic tarps and hold campfires. The outdoor education program continues to support the School’s founding tenants, Religio, Erudio and Disciplina to help the School achieve its mission statement.

“What I see in that photograph is the same thing I see in our school shield,” Director of Outdoor Education Eddie Eason said. “[The trip teaches] students the discipline that it takes to live in a special community. There’s a faith component, an educational component and a community component, and often, oftentimes, it’s a community service element: We do daily chapel, regardless of where

we are, and we have an experience in community in campfire circles.”

Currently outdoor education in the Upper School consists of annual class-wide Wolf Run trips, an Outdoor Education Course and optional trips to Enchanted Rock and other remote locations in Texas.

“[In the past], we would just leave one day right after school, go to a state park about an hour away and spend the night, and it was just perfect,” Eason said. “It was this picture all over again. We’re sitting around the campfire, and [the students] are looking around going, ‘God this is relaxing.’ It’s a chance to take a little bit of time to be with your friends, not worrying about how many deadlines you’ve got tomorrow [because] there’s more important things than that.”

To see more photos from the ESD archives please visit the Eagle Edition website.

By Evelyn Zhao Co-Editor-in-Chief

THE OUTDOOR EDUCATION program continues to support the School’s founding tenants, Religio, Erudio and Disciplina to help the School achieve its mission statement. he

Eddie Eason Director Of Outdoor Education