V 36 Issue 7

Honors assembly AWARDS 2019

AWARDS OF DISTINCTION

Kevin Michael Huheey Award: James Click

Meredyth M. Cole Award: Ava Thompson

David M. Munson Loyalty Award: Adam Bland

Carol Rugeley Dockery Award: Daniel Kaplan

Peter Lutken Award: Will Minnis

Head of School Prize: William Hargrave, Allison Herring

STUDENT ATHLETE AWARDS FACULTY “ESD HALLMARK’ AWARDS

Eddie Eason Female Sportsmanship Award: Story Langston

Eddie Eason Male Sportsmanship Award: Adam Bland

Female Athlete of the Year: Jay Browne

Male Athlete of the Year: Scott Bower

Eagle Award: Ali De La Cruz, Story Langston, Hannah Nwakibu, Melissa Rivera, Christopher Talbot

9th grade: Dani Nesbit, Paco Gomez, Kai Robinson, Emily Lichty, Sloan Hope, Gina Montagna

10th grade:

Sam Lindsey, Carter Bakewell, Judah Powell, Samantha Whiting, Lauren Webber, Sumner Wooldridge

11th grade:

Spencer Dunn, Brodie Burke, Selam Mekbeb-Gillett, Lily Grace Hoodis

12th grade: Clayton Mulford, Brenda Baez

BOOK AWARDS FOR JUNIORS

Sewanee Book Award: Elizabeth Carrie

Virginia Jefferson Book Award: Brian Jones

Wellesley Book Award: Meera Gangansani

Brown Book Award: Nick Harapanahalli

Dartmouth Book Award: River Woods

Yale Book Award: Abby Brand

Harvard Book Award: Ned Dockery

HONORING ESD’S PAST

Zachary Bell Journalism Award: Madison Willox

Suzette Carona Film Award: Chloe Williams

George Maley Wilderness Award: Allison Herring

Barbara Meier Award: Katelin Gildersleeve

Religious Studies Award: Scott Neuhoff

Sherrill Award: Abby Ragan

John R. Eagle Award: Alexandra Everbach

Steven B. Swann Scholar Athlete Award: John Heldman, Anna Winkeler

The Chancellor’s Cup: Christian King

SCHOLAR AWARDS

English: Maddie Tong, Mason Gosslee

Joan D. Hodges History & Religious

Studies Award: Meera Gangasani, Sameer Bhasin

Math & Computer Science:

Grace Boyd, Kevin Jin

Science: Meera Gangasani, Ned Dockery

Francile Ehrict Language Award: Ale De La Cruz, Nick Harapanahalli

Fine Arts: Annie Saustad, Christopher Talbot

NetRef software implemented to monitor student activity

BY | LIESL SMALL

The school is implementing a new software, NetRef, which monitors students’ web activity in hopes of enhancing student learning.

Director of Educational Technology Mary Hansell and her technology advisory committee believes that NetRef will prevent students from being distracted by the internet in class.

“[Internet usage] is very hard to self-regulate, and teachers can tell that students are offtask,” Hansell said. “Teachers can look at a student’s face and tell that they aren’t paying attention to their lesson. The number one goal of NetRef is to help the students.”

In addition to keeping students on track, Hansell hoped NetRef could replace Lockdown Browser, which secures students in tests and quizzes in order to prevent them from accessing notes or any outside resources.

The browser has caused problems in the community because students with PCs are occasionally unable to download it. However, after piloting NetRef, teachers found that it will not work as a solution to Lockdown Browser.

on the technological side of the program and has heard concerns from students.

“Since we’ve had internet here, we’ve always had a firewall that logs everywhere anyone goes,” Barnett said. “For students who are getting paranoid about us looking at what they’re doing, we’ve always had that capability. Now, we’re just opening up that capability to teachers.”

Many students are concerned that NetRef will monitor them at home and sell their information to third parties. Although NetRef does not do these things, according to a May 7 poll of 246 students, about 91 percent of students believe NetRef invades student’s privacy, but nearly 22 percent of students think NetRef will help keep them on track during class. Sophomore Lily Yandell is against the implementation of NetRef.

91 percent of students believe NetRef invades students’ privacy according to a May 7 poll of 246 students

“NetRef is not only intrusive but also very ineffective and glitchy,” Yandell said. “It also makes the wifi infinitely slower. I know a middle schooler who had an essay deleted because the wifi was so overloaded.”

“What we’ve found is that even if I lock my students into Schoology for a quiz using NetRef, they can still look at the class page on Schoology, so they can see notes and powerpoints,” Hansell said.

“[NetRef] probably won’t be a solution for [testing situations].”

If NetRef is implemented properly, it will also help prevent cheating by allowing teachers to limit students to certain sites, also known as whitelisting.

“If [teachers] want their students to only use three sites while researching, the teachers can restrict the students to those three sites,” Hansell said. “Then, as the teachers are helping students in groups, the teachers don’t have to worry about students getting off-task.”

Network Administrator Bryan Barnett has worked

Sophomore Elle Etcheverry believes that carrying out NetRef is unnecessary and unreasonable.

“[NetRef] is really creepy, and the teachers should be able to trust us,” Etcheverry said.

“Teachers should walk around the room instead of sitting at their desks.”

English teacher Philip Bryan and 19 other teachers are piloting NetRef in their classes.

“The idea that we could have some basic controls over how the internet is used in our classrooms would be really beneficial to students and teachers, even though I know students aren’t crazy about the idea,” Bryan said.

“So far, I like the concept, but the execution seems to be clunky. For instance, I have great success seeing if you’re on the network, but I have intermittent success seeing what tabs are open.”

PRAISE THE LORD Leading the Easter service at his current school, the Washington Episcopal School in Bethesda, Maryland, Tim Kennedy holds the lit Paschal Candle to celebrate the end of Lent. He worked at the school for five years. “My values align quite well with ESD,” Kennedy said. “I love the ESD Manifesto, which focuses on igniting lives of purpose.” photo courtesy of Tim Kennedy

Middle, Upper School chaplain named after year-long search

Tim Kennedy hired to share duties with Reverend Amy Heller, who will lead Lower School students next year

BY | LAUREN EGGER

Tim Kennedy will begin his position as chaplain when school starts this fall. He is currently in the process of becoming a deacon, which will allow him to be ordained as a priest after six months.

Senior Chaplain Reverend Amy Heller will move to the Lower School, while Kennedy will work with the Upper School. The two will share middle school chapels, with Heller focusing on the fifth and sixth graders and Kennedy focusing on the seventh and eighth graders.

“Kennedy will do the majority of Middle School, but [we will] work on covering [conflicts] with one another,” Heller said. “That’s the other good thing—if I need to be somewhere, he can cover in the Lower School because he has a lot of experience in lower school chapel [and vice versa].”

When choosing between chaplain candidates, Heller was drawn to Kennedy because of his background and journey in the Episcopal Church. He worked in the government in the Department of Homeland Security and the Executive Office. In the middle of his career, he entered Yale Divinity School and then began working as a chaplain.

lean into a career as a school chaplain, and he is also working on his Doctor of Ministry in Educational Leadership,” Heller said. “He has masters degrees in education. It is really important to have somebody who understands that we are not a church—we are a school. How do we live out the Episcopal faith in the context of a community that is certainly not required to be Episcopalian? He was stellar in terms of his understanding of what that means.”

Because Kennedy will take over upper school chapels, he will also guide Vestry. Leadership is a quality that is very important to him, which he intends to talk about in chapel.

“Good, solid, truthful and ethical leadership is incredibly important,” Kennedy said.

“Leadership starts with love and service. Folks sometimes

faith regardless of their personal denomination or beliefs.”

Vestry welcomes Kennedy as their new leader and is ready to share chapel ideas with him.

“When [Kennedy] gets on board, we will all get together as a ‘handing over,’” Heller said. “I’m also here next year to mentor [Kennedy] and the students as questions arise. I have no doubt he’ll lead right into the guild structure and [be open to] opportunities that members of vestry might have.”

During the search for a new chaplain, Father Michael Harmuth, who worked at ESD for 16 years, returned from retirement to serve as interim chaplain for the Lower School. He will return to retirement when the Lower School moves from the Saint Michael’s and All Angels Church to the Merrell Road campus.

HE IS VERY WISE, AND WHAT I LIKE ABOUT HIS STORY IS THAT HE HAS LIVED OUTSIDE OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SO HE HAS AN EXPERIENCE WITH THE WORLD AND A WIDE VARIETY OF PEOPLE.

AMY HELLER, SENIOR CHAPLAIN

“He is very wise, and what I like about his story is that he has lived outside of the Episcopal Church, so he has an experience with the world and a wide variety of people,” Heller said. “That will help us here because we are a school that aspires to be very diverse in terms of experience.”

In the selection process, the school also evaluated what the community needed in a leader. Three candidates were interviewed.

“[Kennedy] is excited to

think leadership means ‘whoever is yelling the loudest,’ but [that’s not] quite right. The best leaders are focused on others, know how to listen well, make good decisions and communicate well.”

In the years since Heller became chaplain, Vestry has grown in extent and impact.

Junior Abby Ragan is excited to see where Kennedy will take it.

“[Kennedy] will bring a new view to Vestry,” Ragan said. “We will all miss Rev. Heller dearly. I hope Kennedy is able to address [the] value of the diversity we have [at the school] and expand on these issues with guidance. Vestry is important because it gives the students a voice in their

“What Father Harmuth has done and will do throughout May is to help us say goodbye to the Lower School and help us say goodbye to the sacred spaces there,” Heller said. Heller and Kennedy will teach as well. Heller, who will be teaching fourth grade religion, is excited to get back into the classroom and make connections with students. Kennedy is ready to start this new chapter of his life.

“God called me to [become a chaplain],” Kennedy said. “I have loved working with and learning from my students during my years. ESD is a great school with incredible students, faculty and staff members, and the possibility of coming to ESD was incredibly exciting. I have loved being a school chaplain for three- to 14-year-olds for the last five years, and I really look forward to working with high school students again.”

GRAPHIC BY | LAUREN EGGER

CULTURAL CONNECTION Visitors from the Tanzanian school teach fifth graders about their culture at Wolf Run ranch. During their stay, the teachers spoke to Middle and Upper School classes. “It was a powerful thing for our friends from Tanzania to be the teachers in our classrooms,” Curriculum Specialist Lindsey Cullins said. “They were able to experience what our community offers to kids and families, so we have a true partnership.” photo courtesy of Lindsey Cullins

Members of Tanzanian sister school visit campus

Six

representatives join community for week-long professional development

BY | GRACE KNUDSON

Faculty and staff from the Joseph and Mary Primary and Secondary School in Tanzania visited campus for a professional development week April 8 through 10.

Head of the Primary School Gati Fredrick Kerato, Assistant Campus Director Jonas Mwenda Samson, Head of the Permaculture Institute of Tanzania Max Medard Kitafula, Matron, early years teacher Jonesia Deogratias Njungani and Campus Director Kahunda Seraphine Benedict Lyimo from Kitongo, Tanzania, visited the campus. The week included the group observing middle and upper school classes, visiting Dallas attractions and the school’s Wolf Run ranch. Curriculum

Specialist Lindsey Cullins helped plan their visit and activities.

“There are many learning techniques at our school just like [at ESD],” Samson said.

“Things are more developed here, especially the technology. Something that we share in common is the relationship between the students and teachers. Everyone is so supportive and encouraging—it makes the students not feel alone in a community.”

Students were able to interact with the group from Tanzania by giving a campus tour, sitting with them during chapel and also having in-class discussions. The members attended a world affairs and refugee club meeting, where they discussed current events in

Tanzania.

“I was able to have a conversation with Jonas [Samson] about the circumstances of being in the United States versus being in Tanzania,” sophomore Ava Thompson said. “We talked about how this trip played an important part in showing the commonalities between being in the United States versus being in Tanzania rather than looking at the contrasts between them. We both put on plays in a theater and both have student council—it was a learning experience for us because we got to understand why their theater

productions are important to them, what role they serve in their school community and how their student council serves their community.”

The next action for this

school already participates in science competitions.

...THIS TRIP PLAYED AN IMPORTANT PART IN SHOWING THE COMMONALITIES BETWEEN BEING IN THE UNITED STATES VERSUS BEING IN TANZANIA RATHER THAN LOOKING AT THE CONTRASTS BETWEEN THEM. AVA THOMPSON “

partnership will be sharing resources such as science and computer technology and to develop an arts program at the Joseph and Mary school. The

“The kids have to design their own science experiments and apply them,” Cullins said. “The [experiments] have to have some kind of social impact and [teach] the design process. We also sent [the visitors] back with the extra LEGO robot equipment— there’s LEGO League competitions in Kenya and they were really excited about the prospects of them doing that. They’re also trying to develop more of an arts program. It’s not something that is in the Tanzania curriculum; it’s an add-on that this school is trying to provide.”

BRIEF

Itinerary debuts new magazine

volume

The Itinerary staff hosted Coffee House in the Bray Theater on April 27 to celebrate the publication of the magazine’s 38th volume.

Coffee House showcased various original readings from the magazine by many of the writers whose works were featured. Freshman Dani Nisbet performed twice during the night. He played an original score on the piano alongside sophomore Sumner Wooldridge, who wrote the lyrics to the song.

“It’s an absolute joy to share one of my pieces with the community,” Nisbet said. “It was great to have such nice support from the audience.”

The theme for this year was a combination of three colors: blue, purple and red. Pieces of writing and art were sorted into categories of color depending on what emotion the writing or art evoked.

“This year, [we went] with so many more design elements than we usually do, so it was good to have [a theme] that was easier to work with,” senior and Itinerary Editor-in-Chief Maddie Tong said.

Annual Pass It On tradition continues

Students, teachers and parents gathered in the Competition Gym on May 1 for Pass It On, an annual tradition.

During the ceremony, seniors use their candle to light the candle of an incoming freshman, marking an eighth grader’s entrance into the upper school community as well as a senior’s exit. This was the first time incoming ESD students were invited to participate in the service.

“The idea is that this light—it can be wisdom; it can be love; it can be faith; it can be all kinds of traditions—can have all kinds of meaning,” senior chaplain Reverend Amy Heller said. “As the seniors pass that down to the eighth graders, I always imagine, ‘What light are they passing?’”

This is the 43rd year that Pass It On has taken place. Senior John Heldman was elected by the senior class to speak about his high school experience and give advice to the incoming freshman. Alum and ESD parent Marc Litle ‘83 was also invited to speak about the history of the Pass It On ceremony.

Food science lab to get remodeled over summer

The food science lab will be renovated over the summer with new equipment including gas control stovetops, full-size ovens and dishwashers.

The current lab is small and has older equipment.

“Cooking is a skill [that] students need to learn as they go through college,” food science and chemistry teacher Anneke Albright said.

The new lab can also be used for clubs that need a kitchen. It will also give the food science class the ability to do new experiments that they haven’t been able to do with the old equipment.

“We discover how to make food for a healthy lifestyle and how different foods affect our health,” senior Ashley Carter said. “You learn the science behind how it’s made and how the ingredients combine and different reactions occur.”

The class will no longer count as a health credit because the class is like other science electives and does not reflect the health curriculum.

Cabaret marks final performance for seniors

The choir hosted Cabaret Night in the Bray Theater at 7 p.m. on April 30.

Cabaret Night is a 20-year-old tradition, and the choir had the opportunity to show off their talent through a group performance or solo.

“[Cabaret Night]] gives the [choir] an opportunity to sing music that is not sacred or classical,” Choir Director Joe Snyder said. “They can put their own personality into [the performance]. [The night] gives the [choir] an outlet to develop their singing and musical talent.”

The cabaret had two numbers with all of the choir, but students could also choose to perform in a smaller group or have their own solo.

“They perform classical solos, so [the students] can build their confidence,” Joe Snyder said.

In total, there were 20 solos, one trio and one duet. Some songs performed included “My Way” and “I’d Rather Be Me,” as well as a Queen tribute sung by the whole choir.

SPEAKING UP At Coffeehouse on April 27, sophomore Sumner Wooldridge performs some of her original songs and reads her poems. The new literary magazine was given out to students and faculty and featured specialty paint samples. “This event provided the opportunity for me to showcase my songwriting in a no-stress environment,” Wooldridge said. “I’m really glad I went for it.”

2

photo by Kate Elliston

3

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE At the Pass It On ceremony on May 1, seniors Garrett Levy and Ashley Carter light an eighth grader’s candle. This annual tradition started in 1978. ”Pass It On has always been a huge deal to me because I’ve been at this school my whole life,” Carter said. “I’ve looked up to the seniors for so long, and now that I’m a senior, I’m ready for the next chapter in my life.” photo by Riley Breaux MIXING IT UP Making ice cream in the food science lab, senior Arturo Pozo combines the ingredients on May 2. Chemistry teacher Anneke Albright took over the class this year. “I love this class because it helps students learn how to cook in college, which is something that isn’t offered everywhere,” Pozo said. “I’m going to miss being able to try new food everyday.” photo by Madison Willox

4

“Pass it On is really special to me,” senior Emma Name said. “I [couldn’t] wait to see all of the other grades looking up at us from the balcony, knowing that they would be here someday, too.” 1

“I wanted to avoid it becoming a blow off class that people want to take just for the health credit because we learn a lot of science in this class,” Albright said.

FURNITURE & DECOR

“Choir teaches you how to work in a group because in order to have a good choir, no one person can stand out,” senior Lauren Shilling said. “It helps you to incorporate everyone’s talents to create a cool piece of art.”

CENTER STAGE Freshmen Taylor Elliott, Weston Hargrave and Connor Awbrey perform “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” at Cabaret Night on April 30. This event has been a tradition for 18 years. “The best way to go about performing publicly is to have fun and not take it too seriously,” Hargrave said. “That’s what we did, and it was an entertaining and humorous spectacle.” photo by Izzy Gonzales

GINA MONTAGNA EMILY LICHTY

RALEIGH TOLEDO

RALEIGH TOLEDO

Up, up and A+WAY

STORY BY | GARDINER VOSE GRAPHIC BY | VICTORIA WILLOX

As the race to get into top-tier colleges continues to become more competitive, students who attend private schools supposedly have an advantage by receiving grade boosts in their GPA.

The problem is that if you look at just public schools versus private schools, you’re looking at schools that have 100 percent collegebound students versus schools that have 40 percent college-bound students.

Dr. Eric Boberg Academic Dean

“ ”

According to the Hechinger Report, students who attend private schools, on average, have a higher grade point average than students that attend public schools.

A study comparing the rise in students’ GPAs between 1998 and 2016 shows that grades in private schools have increased considerably. It found the average GPA of private school students rose from 3.25 to 3.51, almost 8 percent, while the average GPA of suburban public school students rose from 3.25 to 3.36. The average GPA of urban public high school students changed even less, rising from 3.26 to 3.28. However, the same report found that private school SAT scores went down.

Reasons for this discrepancy may differ from school to school, but research shows that one reason may be grade inflation, stemming from increased parental pressure at private schools as the college admissions process becomes increasingly more difficult.

According to a May 7 poll of 246 students, nearly 67 percent of students do not believe that grades are inflated in private schools.

“If you were to compare students in Paschel, a school in Fort Worth, which has about 500 students, they will have about 100 students who are extremely college-bound,” Academic Dean Eric Boberg said. “If you were to look at those kids in the top 100, I bet they would have GPAs similar to students in private schools. The problem is that if you look at just public schools versus private schools, you’re looking at schools that have 100 percent college-bound students versus schools that have 40 percent college-bound students.”

isn’t,” sophomore Samantha Whiting said. “There were a lot of students who didn’t really care about academics [there], and there were also really high-achieving students, but at a private school, all of the students are really high-achieving, so it’s a much more competitive environment.”

Student GPAs at a private school may also be higher because the students are paying tuition. This may give students and their families leverage over the teachers and put pressure on them to give their children better grades, especially families that donate to the institution.

“Some private school teachers definitely accept incomplete or low quality work from students simply because the school makes it easier for the kids of large donors,” sophomore Zaria Osimetha said. “[But] in private schools, there are many more opportunities for students to meet with teachers individually, so they know what you’re capable of.”

According to Dr. Boberg, grade inflation began as a practice in the ‘60s and ‘70s during the Vietnam War when professors boosted student grades so that they would not be selected for the draft. Students receiving D’s and F’s in college were eligible for the draft, and since professors didn’t want to be responsible for sending students off to war,

IN MY EXPERIENCE, IT JUST DEPENDS ON HOW HARD YOU WORK TO GET A GOOD GPA. AT COPPELL, THE TEACHERS WEREN’T AS AVAILABLE TO MEET AS THEY ARE HERE... SAMANTHA WHITING “

they would bump up their grades.

“Teachers who are working with college-bound students feel far more [for the student] than teachers who aren’t,” Boberg said. “You are far more susceptible to [grade inflation] in private school than you are in public school.”

Because of such a large student body, the statistics for many public schools are skewed, and the lower average GPAs may stem from a variety of differences including student body size. If a school has enough students, it is expected that a considerable population will have lower test scores and GPAs.

“Before ESD, I attended Coppell High School, and one of the biggest differences between the two is that in a public school, there is such a range of students, and here, there

Private schools are much more attractive to parents when they can boast about the selective colleges that they send their students to. This could incentivize private schools to inflate grades.

“Teachers boost some student’s grades, especially athletes, because they feel bad for [those students] and their busy schedule,” junior MaryClaire Lozada said. “Teachers boost students’ grades out of fear of the parents. Some kids get their parents involved when a teacher gives them a bad grade, so [teachers] try to avoid that.”

While students can challenge themselves at both private and

public schools, private schools tend to be more competitive grade-wise. According to the same poll, about 94 percent of students do not believe that getting good grades at private schools is easier than at public schools. Especially for private schools that claim to be college-prep schools, they can be more challenging because they are preparing the entire student body for college.

“In my experience, it just depends on how hard you work to get a good GPA. At Coppell, the teachers weren’t as available to meet as they are here, although the school work is harder in private schools,” Whiting said. “I would say that the school work was a little bit easier at public schools, and the teachers didn’t demand as much, so I would guess that the GPA of students at a private school would be lower than those at a public school, especially because cheating is so prominent at public schools.”

There are many factors that play a role in why students who attend private schools have higher GPAs than public school students, and there is no sole reason that explains it.

“In a private school, there are more opportunities to boost your GPA through the honors and AP courses; you can receive more help from teachers; and the teachers are willing to compromise over grades,” sophomore Monse Rodriguez said. “In a public school, they teach you what they are required to, and then, you are left to fend for yourself.”

RACE FOR DALLAS MAYOR

Eric Johnson, Scott Griggs go headto-head in runoff on June 8

Value

Scott Griggs, a young city council member from Oak Cliff, is one of the candidates in the mayoral runoff on June 8. With experience in the local legislature and endorsements from unions such as the LGBT alliance, Dallas Firefighters Association and the NAACP, Griggs wants to be a leader that enacts social change in Dallas. He specializes in law, receiving his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin and went into politics after his first city council election in 2011. Many of his policies are anti-establishment, and he stated in a CBS interview that Dallas has “focused too long on the postcard” and “needs to get back to the basics.” During his three consecutive terms in city council, Griggs passed bills to increase police officer wages and catalyzed economic growth in the Oak Cliff neighborhoods he grew up in and represented. Griggs was also voted “Best Politician” by D Magazine and The Observer in 2012, but he trailed Eric Johnson by 2 percent in the first round of voting.

Eric Johnson, a practicing lawyer and a member in the state legislature, is one of the candidates in the mayoral runoff on June 8. He is currently serving in the House of Representatives and was originally voted in nine years ago. He was the Chairman of the Dallas Area Legislative Delegation, and he has served as a chair on many non-profit boards, including the Dallas Arboretum, Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas, the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce and Voice of Hope Ministries. He believes in developing Dallas, claiming “we also need to make sure the city works for its residents.” He has a strong record of uniting people of all backgrounds for his causes and wants to use this backing to instill pre-K for all and more affordable housing. With much more funding than his opponent and possessing the majority of the votes, Eric Johnson is poised to become the second African-American mayor to lead Dallas.

Importance of voting in local races is highlighted as studies show only 6 percent of citizens voted in recent Dallas election

of a Vote

STORY & GRAPHICS BY | LUKE MCCABE

The most recent local elections on May 4 showed, again, a meager turnout with below 10 percent of eligible voters casting a ballot.

During the last Dallas mayoral election in 2015, only six percent of registered voters voted, according to the Who Votes Project. Local elections have a larger impact on the community, yet the people that vote in these local elections do not represent the Dallas population in its entirety. There are 1.28 million registered voters in Dallas compared to the 1.34 million people living in the city, and considering that the city of Dallas ranked last in a country-wide voter turnout study by Portland University last election cycle, the importance of voting in local elections is continually getting stressed.

“Once I turned 18, I went and casted my vote because I truly value the opportunity,” senior Luke Logan said. “[I have] become aware of how many people take seemingly simple liberties, especially voting, for granted.” Logan voted for Mike Ablon in

this recent election. The right to vote is the most repeated phrase in the United States Constitution and the most valued right by citizens according to a poll by the Pew Research Center. However, according to a Dallas poll by Ballotpedia, less than two percent of voters ages 18 through 34 vote, despite the evidence that shows every vote counts when voter participation is low. On average, one in every 17 people cast their ballot, so even a few votes can decide the fate of a new ordinance or the winning candidate, which impacts residents greatly.

poverty or in need of government service.”

Local government is directly tied to day-to-day choices that affect the Dallas community.

From school quality, public transportation, police forces and affordable housing to alcohol and drug related

a role in it,” Oglesby said. “[The people] should feel that obligation as citizens to participate in the selection of those individuals in power.”

WE HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES ARE DOING AND HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE TO WHAT WE, THE PEOPLE, WANT AND NEED. IT IS OUR CIVIC DUTY.

MARK OGLESBY,

GOVERNMENT

TEACHER

“Local and state governments actually impact us more than federal government, so it is local elections we should be paying attention to,” government teacher Mark Oglesby said. “It is the local governments that provide the services that all people use, especially for those who are in

ordinances, local government controls aspects of life that affect all people directly. For example, the residents that rely on public transportation everyday might not want to vote for a candidate who would sacrifice bus routes for lower tax rates.

“We have a republican form of government, a representative form of government, and that only works if we, the people, play

According to another poll by the Pew Research Center, 67 percent of Americans hold more favorable opinions on local government than federal governments. So, if one does not support officials or laws at a federal level, voting for change at a communal level is a great way to achieve legal modification for oneself. Local elections are nonpartisan, meaning these elections do not fall into the hands of the typical Republican and Democratic parties because local politicians are meant to attend to the needs of the residents rather than a particular political ideology.

“We have to pay attention to what our representatives are doing and hold them accountable to what we, the people, want and need.” Oglesby said. “It’s our civic duty.”

students of age voted in this election cycle, according to a May 7 poll of 246 students 1 out of

percent of Americans favor local government over federal government according to a poll by the Pew Research center

1 out of

17

67 Dallas citizens vote in local elections according to the Who Votes project

ERIC JOHNSON (BOTTOM)

SCOTT GRIGGS (TOP)

Summer Kick start summer fun with these 5 Dallas area events

STORY BY | GINA MONTAGNA & KARA DROSS

JULY19

TACOS AND TUNES

If you love tacos and music, this concert series is perfect for you. This event will include live music, tacos and other types of food. Vegetarians do not have to worry because both chicken and veggie tacos are offered. Each show will include three artists who play four songs each. During breaks, there will be a photo booth. The series will take place Friday, July 19 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at 2922 N. Hall St. in Dallas. Tickets cost $15.

DALLAS MUSEUM OF ART DIOR: FROM PARIS TO THE WORLD

Take a look inside the mind of Christian Dior at this Dallas Museum of Art exhibit running from May 19 to Sept. 1. Tickets are $20 for adults Tuesday through Thursday and $25 for adults Friday through Sunday. The exhibit is free for Dallas Museum of Art members and children under 11. Discounts will be applied for seniors, students and the military. The exhibit will feature Christian Dior’s collections, sketches and various runway videos.

MAY 19 —

SEPT. 1

TASTE OF DALLAS

4-27

Take a leap back in time at the Scarborough Fair in Waxahachie, running from May 4-27, and experience life during the Renaissance. From theater and jousting to dungeons and fairies, this fair has many interactive events to experience. Restaurants offer food such as turkey legs, fried macaroni and cheese and pie-on-astick. Tickets range from $26 to $28.

Running from June 7-8, Taste of Dallas, the annual celebration of the culinary arts, will present samples of food from over 200 restaurants. The restaurant samples are separated into sections based on what district of Dallas the food comes from. Not only are there hundreds of dishes to try, but there are also cooking competitions and art galleries that offer entertainment.

FIVE ON THE FOURTH

Klyde Warren Park will host a series of races and a walk to kick off the perfect Fourth of July. The event includes a five-mile run for $39, a 5K run for $34 or a two mile walk for $19 in which dogs and children under 12 are encouraged to compete. A $10 youth discount will be applied for those registering under the age of 21. The events start at 8 a.m. Face painting, balloon artists, music and more will also be available.

culture CRASH

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

MEGHAN DELIVERS

1

TAKING THE STAGE During a Texas Leadership Society event on March 5, alumna Margaret Siu ‘16 answers interview questions. Siu was interviewed by the new Dean of College of Liberal Arts Ann Stevens at the Etter Harbin Alumni Center. “I talked about Apricity, my research interests in the Thucydides Trap and how the arts can be used as a U.S.-Chinese diplomacy tool,” Siu said. photo courtesy of Margaret Siu

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, had their first child on May 6, one year after getting married. They revealed the name of their baby boy in a heartwarming Instagram photo. Baby Sussex was officially named Archie Harrison MountbattenWindsor.

THRONE THROWDOWN

2

The final season of the eight-year HBO hit, “Game of Thrones,” comes to a close in May with just six episodes. The drama series has received praise and more Emmys and awards than could fit in the Red Keep, but controversy has arisen over whether or not the finale will meet the award-winning standards of previous seasons.

GONE CAMPING?

3

This year’s Met Gala followed the theme “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” inspired by an essay written by Susan Sontag. Artists Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Gucci designer Alessandro Michele and Vogue editor Anna Wintour co-chaired the event. A-list celebrities, such as Kylie Jenner, Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and Shawn Mendes, were also present.

ENDGAME EPITAPH

4

Marvel ended its 10-year, 22-movie saga with “Avenger’s Endgame.” It broke six box office records and claimed the title for second highest grossing movie in just 11 days, but the creative masterminds behind the films are not finished yet. “Avengers Endgame” came with a slew of new released titles for future movies and a continuation of our favorite heroes.

STORY &

GRAPHIC

BY | EVELYN ZHAO

Apricity magazine, The University of Texas at Austin…Gold Crown.”

Alumna Margaret Siu ‘16 couldn’t believe her ears when she heard it.

It was the University of Texas at Austin’s first Columbia Scholastic Press Association Crown Award and nomination in 30 years in the magazine division, and Apricity Magazine’s first major award.

Founded by Siu at the beginning of her freshman year in 2016, Apricity is a literary and arts magazine that publishes a wide array of works, primarily from the performing and visual arts, including poetry, short stories, short films and dance choreography. Featured works are produced by UT students and artists from around the world. After merging with UT’s former official literary and arts magazine, the Analecta, Apricity became the official magazine of UT this spring. Currently, Siu is a junior enrolled in UT’s Plan II Honors Program and is the current Editor-in-Chief of the magazine.

“Everything has been pretty shocking because it feels like I started Apricity yesterday,” Siu said. “I was trying to find support from my community here at UT, and now, we’re quite established, and there’s a lot of people who have come up to me and asked me for advice on running a magazine or a

publication. Apricity’s starting to be recognized as a leader in the UT community, which is encouraging.”

Ever since she was young, Siu was passionate about writing, drawing and creating art, eventually leading her to submit her works to competitions and get published in magazines and the Dallas Public Library by the fifth grade. In high school, Siu was a managing editor of the Eagle Edition and later went on to become the editor-in-chief of Itinerary, in addition to self-publishing two books her junior year.

“Getting published at a young age sparked my curiosity, and because I was part of the Eagle Edition and Itinerary, I got a feel for what it means to create a publication and how to train other people to build a magazine,” Siu said. “By my junior year [of high school], I knew that I wanted to start a magazine [in college], but I knew that I [needed] to build up some skills, I had long a long way to go and that I had a lot to learn.”

$100 to start with.

“[To start a magazine], all it really was, was finding the right resources and not being afraid to ask for the resources,” Siu said. “[Starting Apricity] has taught me a lot of life skills, such as how to be smart about time and also how to reach out to people and be brave in asking professors for help. The worst that can happen is that they can point you to the door and say no.”

Siu’s former English teacher and English Department Chair Tolly Salz, inspired her to enroll in the Plan II Honors Program at UT.

I WAS TRYING TO FIND SUPPORT FROM MY COMMUNITY HERE AT UT, AND NOW, WE’RE QUITE ESTABLISHED, AND THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME UP TO ME AND ASKED ME FOR ADVICE ON RUNNING A MAGAZINE OR A PUBLICATION. MARGARET SIU ‘16

“You can’t summarize Margaret Siu in one word because it just doesn’t exist,” Salz said. “She’s a writer, a thinker and an artist. I continue to be inspired by her, and I’m proud that she has the confidence to live out her vision and that she believes enough in herself—she makes me see things that I might not have considered as deeply as I would have initially.”

5

The Dallas Stars ended their season with a devastating loss against the St. Louis Blues in a triple-overtime thriller on May 7. The NHL team came in fourth in the central division but finished with more wins this year than the last four seasons.

DRAFT DEVELOPMENTS

6

In the 84th annual NFL draft, the Dallas Cowboys selected defensive tackle Trystan Hill with their second round and 58th overall pick. They traded in their first round selection for wide receiver Amari Cooper to increase their chances of repeating an NFC East championship.

When Siu began researching the Plan II Honors Program at the University of Texas at Austin, she found out that UT didn’t have a competitive and comprehensive arts magazine, which sparked her decision to create one.

“I really wanted to create a magazine that did three things for me and for UT,” Siu said. “For one, it would publish the works of students and undergraduates, along with prestigious or already well-established artists to give them a platform of legitimacy. I also wanted the magazine to compete on behalf of UT, and I really wanted the magazine to be international—to publish people not only from the UT community but also from around the world.”

However, starting the process of creating Apricity proved to be a challenge. Siu approached the head of the Plan II Honors Program the first few weeks of her freshman year to get permission to create an international, competitive literary and arts magazine and was given

Salz describes Siu’s prose and poetry as being “richly textured.”

“Margaret was able to take an idea and turn it into something amazing,” Salz said. “She wrote such beautiful pieces and would combine her favorite poems with her art. Not only is her prose so textured and layered, but even without the visuals or any of the other drawings she does, the words themselves add such a rich texture.”

As of now, Siu is already planning for the magazine’s future and is trying to build an endowment of financial stability for the upcoming years. She is also working on creating a Board of Directors, comprised of alumni who will oversee Apricity’s finances.

“When I’m gone, someone might not be as passionate or active about fundraising and trying to find support for the magazine, so I really want to find that initial support,” Siu said. “I really hope Apricity has found its place in the UT community, but I will continue to support my passion for the arts community as a patron of the arts, which are all extremely important to me.”

OFF THE

grill

Local barbecue spots showoff Texas flair for food

BY | RILEY BREAUX

PEGGY SUE BBQ

|6600 Snider Plaza, Dallas, TX 75205|

Peggy Sue is the definition of mediocre barbecue. The Snyder Plaza restaurant is a well-known spot for Park Cities residents, but it really isn’t that good. I opted for the sliced brisket, pork ribs and mac and cheese. The brisket tasted okay, but there was no char on the outside and no marbling. The ribs had great flavor, but they were dry and clung to the bone. The mac and cheese was soggy and bland, and tasted like it was made with over-processed, ballpark nacho cheese. The barbecue sauce, however, was fantastic. It had the perfect blend of sweetness, smokiness and spice. Peggy Sue is a great choice for when you want barbecue but don’t want to drive too far.

SONNY BRYAN’S SMOKEHOUSE

|2202 INWOOD ROAD, DALLAS, TX 75235|

Sonny Bryan’s was some of the most disappointing barbecue I have ever eaten. I was expecting a lot from such a big name in the Dallas barbecue scene. I ordered sliced brisket, baby back ribs, onion rings and rolls. The brisket was well-spiced and very tender on the outside, but the inside had more of a beef-jerky texture. The ribs were average–well-cooked but tasteless. I unfortunately had to resort to the barbecue sauce, which I instantly regretted. The sauce was way too sweet and runny. Fortunately, the rolls and onion rings were great, partially making up for the rest of the food. Sonny Bryan’s is a great spot to get below-average barbecue for a good price.

DICKEY’S BARBECUE PIT

|4610 N. CENTRAL EXPRESSWAY, DALLAS, TX 75206|

I really wasn’t expecting a lot from Dickey’s, but I was happily surprised. I ordered baby back ribs, brisket, baked beans and fried okra. The ribs tasted great. They were moist and tender and fell right off the bone. The brisket, however, had no flavor and was so hard and dry that I could hardly cut it. Dickey’s has three sauces: sweet, original and spicy. I found all three of them to be good, but I found that the best option is mixing the sweet and the spicy sauces together. The beans and okra were, well, beans and okra. You would really have to try hard to mess those up. Dickey’s is the perfect spot for some cheap but decent barbecue.

PECAN LODGE

|2702 MAIN ST, DALLAS, TX 75226|

Pecan Lodge is, hands-down, the best barbecue restaurant in Dallas. I’ve been going to this Deep Ellum institution for many years, so I knew exactly what I wanted to get: pork ribs, brisket, bacon-jalapeño mac and cheese and their specialty, the beef rib. Their pork ribs were excellent—perfectly seasoned, tender and moist. The brisket had a crisp outside crust and perfectly marbled, delicious meat on the inside. The bacon-jalapeño mac and cheese was creamy, slightly spicy and full of flavor. But my favorite item on the menu is the beef rib. Biting through the caramelized crust of this two-pound behemoth revealed the delicious, melt-in-your-mouth meat—the signature of a great rib. The 45-minute-long line and crazy prices are all worth it for the experience of a Pecan Lodge meal. If you want the best barbecue you’ve ever eaten, go to Pecan Lodge.

the

BUZZ

SAM SUAREZ freshman

“Every time I say something, and I think I’m going to jinx myself, I knock on wood. It has become a habit. My dad has always done it and so has my grandpa, and anytime they don’t [knock on wood], they have had bad luck. I have to do it, or else I really feel like the thing I said is actually going to happen.”

Supernatural superstitions

From looking into broken mirrors to walking under ladders, students and faculty share the superstitions they believe in

BY | KARA DROSS

JUDAH POWELL sophomore SARAH SMITH junior ELLA VAREL senior

“I believe pennies are good luck. I picked up on that whole superstition of picking up pennies when I was little. Basically, if you find a penny that’s heads up on the ground, it will bring you good luck. Then, you are supposed to carry that penny around with you everywhere you go to keep that luck with you forever.”

“[Broken mirrors] look so creepy, like they are coming straight out of a horror movie. I will not look into a broken mirror—they just seem scary to me. If I ever see a broken mirror, I have to turn away from it. Also, if you ever break a mirror yourself, you will have seven years of bad luck. I cannot stand broken mirrors.”

“I won’t walk under ladders ever. I feel like something bad will happen if I do. First of all, it is just not safe. Second of all, it is just way too creepy. I’ve always been told that there is no harm in it. I believe in things like karma and fate, so it is better safe than sorry. I need all the good karma I can get.”

MARCELA GARCINI Spanish teacher

“People always say you should never get married on Friday the 13. Also, you should never take a boat trip on Friday the 13. Friday the 13 is considered a conflict day—a day that will bring problems to your new adventures. It was created by the Romans. I think this is true because if you do, you will have bad luck. Friday the 13 is very bad.”

Blemish blues

STORY BY | BLAIR BATSON & GARDINER VOSE

Accutane permanently wipes out acne for many, side effects include dry skin and joint pain

Freshman Mallory Mahoney mounts her horse and begins to trot slowly in circles. She attends horseback lessons regularly, but this practice is different—her back is consumed by a searing pain. She goes for a jump, but the pain has grown intolerable—the jump is impossible to do. She tries relaxing her muscles, hoping that the pain will go away, but it hurts too much to even relax. At last, her adrenaline helps her push through the pain.

This piercing back pain is just one of the potential side effects of isotretinoin, commonly referred to as Accutane.

Accutane is a derivative of vitamin A, used to treat acne by reducing sebaceous oil glands. Accutane is the only Food and Drug Administration-approved medication with consistent data proving it as a permanent solution to acne. For the majority of patients, after four to seven months on the medication, breakouts have completely cleared up and are almost guaranteed to never return.

“It’s a great medication,” Physician Assistant at Mindful Dermatology

Alyssa Spiegel said. “There’s a commitment on the patient’s end because Accutane does take a lot of office visits and blood tests, but the end results [make it] worth the struggle.”

A May 7 poll of 246 students shows 12 percent of students have gone on Accutane.

“must take a negative pregnancy test each month and fill out an iPLEDGE quiz confirming they are not pregnant before receiving a refill of their medication. Women who can’t get pregnant and men must also sign an iPLEDGE form before receiving the medication for the first time to ensure that they are aware of other side effects, specifically mood changes.

“I went on Accutane because since I was in about fifth grade, I had persistent acne,” Mahoney said. “I had tried so many things [to get rid of acne], and nothing was working [well] or I couldn’t get into a good habit of doing it everyday.”

With two siblings having already gone on Accutane, Mahoney was aware of the side effects.

“I had dry skin, chapped lips and joint pain in my back,” Mahoney said. “[Joint pain] definitely was a setback, but [Accutane] is definitely worth it because [it makes acne] one less thing to worry about.”

Sixty-four percent of the student body claims breakouts make them self-conscious.

EVEN THOUGH THE DRY SKIN [ACCUTANE] CAUSES CAN BE A BIG ISSUE, [ACCUTANE] IS DEFINITELY WORTH IT OVERALL BECAUSE IT REALLY DOES IMPROVE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE. ZANDER KNIGHT

Though Accutane is known for its long-term results, it comes at a price. Side effects include dry lips and skin, nosebleeds, joint pain, headaches, increased sensitivity to the sun and—though uncommon—depression and suicidal thoughts. Accutane can also cause severe birth defects in infants if the mother takes the medication during pregnancy, which is why pregnant women or women trying to get pregnant are prohibited from taking Accutane.

The iPLEDGE program was started to prevent pregnancy in women on Accutane by requiring that all women taking Accutane commit to two forms of birth control while on the medicine and take two negative pregnancy tests 30 days apart before receiving their first prescription. Once on Accutane, female patients

38 percent

of students use prescribed or over-the-counter medicine for breakouts*

“For a lot of teenagers, their appearance is very important to them, so when they have acne, they feel embarrassed and ashamed sometimes because that’s not what they want to [show] their peers and the outside world,” Upper School Counselor Merredith Stuelpe said. “There’s this old myth that [if you have acne] it’s because you don’t take care of your skin, you’re not eating the right foods or you’re not getting enough exercise. Because there’s that stigma that if you have acne, it’s because you’re not taking care of yourself, [acne] tends to make people feel self-conscious.”

Other prescribed medications to treat acne include topical antibiotics and retinoids, oral antibiotics, benzoyl peroxide, birth control, blue light therapy and microdermabrasion. These methods do not require the commitment of Accutane or cause the same side effects, but they also do not produce the same long-term results.

“I am not currently on any prescription medications” sophomore Hollis Wood said. “I mostly just use topical treatments. I have

9 in 10 students who have taken Accutane had dry skin*

never considered going on Accutane because it’s not good for your body, and I’ve heard that it weakens your immune system.”

Accutane can cause alterations in levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and liver enzymes, so patients about to go on the medication must get their blood drawn a month before starting the medicine and every three months while they are taking it to ensure that these levels have not changed.

“Every once in a while, someone’s liver enzymes can go crazy from the medication,” Spiegel said. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years, and it’s probably happened once or twice in my career. We have [also] caught people that shouldn’t be on [Accutane] because they had liver issues even before they started the medication.”

Sophomore Zander Knight went on Accutane after struggling with acne for two years and experienced the most common side effects—dry skin and chapped lips.

seemed like an easy fix to a problem that made me feel insecure,” Flanagan said. “My friends had been on Accutane before, and they had great results with it, so I thought,‘Why not try it?’”

Flanagan experienced the common side effects of dry skin and chapped lips, along with mental health issues her first week. These side effects eventually went away after she adjusted to the medicine.

“I wish I had [considered the side effects of Accutane] more,” Flanagan said. “Dry skin and dry lips are a pain, but I can just use moisturizer and chapstick. When I first started Accutane, my depression was hugely exaggerated for about a week. It was the most anxious and insecure I had ever been. It was a bizarre dip unlike any I’ve ever experienced before, especially because the next week, I felt completely normal.”

“THERE’S

“[Accutane] has been [worth it],” Knight said. “I’ve only been on [Accutane] for 3 months, but even [at that], my skin has improved a lot—much more than any other medication I’ve tried. I would [recommend Accutane to others]. Even though the dry skin [Accutane] causes can be a big issue, [Accutane] is definitely worth it overall because it really does improve your quality of life.”

Despite the side effects, Flanagan continued to use Accutane.

A COMMITMENT ON THE PATIENT’S END BECAUSE ACCUTANE DOES TAKE A LOT OF OFFICE VISITS AND BLOOD TESTS, BUT THE END RESULTS [MAKE IT] WORTH THE STRUGGLE.

When Accutane was first approved in 1982, it was designated for people with severe nodulocystic acne who had already tried to use other medicines to treat it but failed. As the medication proved to be more effective and safer than antibiotics, it began being used for less severe cases of acne.

ALYSSA SPIEGEL, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

“We’re trying to get away from using antibiotics, which is our first line of therapy,” Spiegel said. “We worry about antibiotic resistance. If someone fails an antibiotic or they’ve been on them too long, we know that short term [treatment]—six months of Accutane or Vitamin A—is probably safer in the long run than years and years of antibiotics.”

Junior Kate Flanagan went on Accutane last year. It was her first time going on a prescribed acne medication.

“I decided to go on Accutane because my skin wasn’t great and it

“I didn’t have second thoughts [about going on Accutane] because I was determined to get rid of my acne,” Flanagan said. “I got through [the depression] by spending time with family, friends and pets and only consuming positive media. I [went on Accutane] before I was officially diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder and depression, so I wasn’t on antidepressants yet. I wonder if I still would have gotten an Accutane prescription if they had an official diagnosis of my mental health struggles.”

Spiegel has prescribed Accutane to patients who have not used other prescription acne medications previously.

“I would say the majority of patients usually want to try something else before doing Accutane,” Spiegel said. “I do have patients who had siblings or parents that have done [Accutane] and say, ‘I don’t want to mess around with antibiotics, and I want [get] straight to it.’ We feel comfortable enough at this point with the medication [to prescribe them Accutane].”

Merredith Stuelpe Upper School Counselor “ “

There’s this old myth that [if you have acne], it’s because you don’t take care of your skin, you’re not eating the right foods or you’re not getting enough exercise.

62 students get breakouts every once in a while* 1 in 7

students know at one of the side-effects of Accutane*

of students who have gone on Accutane had dry skin*

Morning

munch

Angela’s Cafe

7979 Inwood Road #121, Dallas, TX 75209

Popular breakfast restaurants offer a variety of food options

Angela’s Cafe offers its customers a traditional breakfast dining experience through scenery—much like that of an ‘80s movie. The restaurant staff warmly greets you as you walk through the door and are quick to take your order. The menu offers a wide variety of traditional American and some Mexican cuisine, providing customers with a chance to fulfill any and all cravings. I ordered the huevos rancheros and a side of biscuits and gra vy with bacon. Although the presentation of the food is not fancy and does not stand out, the quality of the food quickly makes up for it, as the taste of the food is similar to that of a home-cooked meal. Overall, Angela’s is a fun, traditional restaurant that is perfect for a late Sunday brunch.

– Gardiner Vose

Yolk

8315 Westchester Drive Dallas, TX 75225

This modern and aesthetically pleasing restaurant that boasts an expansive menu full of varied artistic meals is exceptional. With great service—despite the large crowds—and a very professional yet warm staff, my experience at Yolk was a very good one. I ordered the breakfast macaroni and cheese and was astounded not only by the presentation but also by the taste. Served in a warm pan overflowing with cheese, bacon bits and a fried egg on top, this meal is superb. The quantity is more than enough and definitely worth a price of $12.50. Additionally, the chicken and waffles that I observed at the table next to me is just one of the reasons I will be back at this restaurant. A restaurant that can balance service, taste and presentation is very rare, and Yolk is the place to go if you want all three.

– Luke McCabe

Cafe Brazil

3851 Cedar Springs Road Dallas, TX 75219

Cafe Brazil is an authentic coffee house with a homemade and cozy feeling. From the bottomless coffee to the social and friendly wait staff, the experience is a nice one. As soon as you enter the restaurant, the sweet scent of morning breakfast and coffee and the colorful and bright seating area pulls you in. The food is tasty, and an interesting attempt at Brazilian cuisine offers breakfast options like no other. Additionally, they offer tons of seasonal coffee blends and meals that make Cafe Brazil the cute, homestyle kitchen it sets out to be. I ordered the Mexican omelette, which combined a traditional cheese omelette with authentic Mexican food, such as jalapeños, chorizo, onions and tomatoes. The omelette was good, and the side of potatoes made the meal well worth the price, although the presentation of the food was nothing impressive. Although the atmosphere and decorations have room for improvement, the taste and fair prices of the food more than make up for it. From spicy specials to classic egg and pancake combos, Cafe Brazil is more than just a coffee house.

– Gardiner Vose

Original House of Pancakes

4343 W Northwest Highway #375, Dallas, TX 75220

The Original House of Pancakes is a very basic yet very traditional American breakfast experience. It is clean and kept, has average servers, average wait times and a quite average menu. I enjoyed my experience and was satisfied with my meal of chocolate pancakes, coffee, eggs and bacon, but I was not surprised in the slightest way by the taste and service. The pancakes tasted like pancakes, and the eggs tasted like eggs. This meal is one that I feel could be made in the comfort of one’s home and is not to the standard that I believe professional kitchens should hold themselves too. The lack of risk-taking in the meals made my average experience even more forgettable. If you’re a person that enjoys your meal old-fashioned, then O.H.O.P. is for you, but, put simply, it is not the impressive place I imagined after hearing all the hype.

– Luke McCabe

STORY BY | GARDINER VOSE & LUKE MCCABE PAGE DESIGN BY | GARDINER VOSE

editors-in-chief

Emily Delgado, Victoria Willox & Evelyn Zhao

copy editor

Jiaying Fu

photo editor

Riley Breaux

news editor Lauren Egger

life editors

Blair Batson & Luke McCabe

sports editor

Lauren Weber

views editor

Alan Benítez

business manager

Gardiner Vose

digital relations

Ava Brennan

staff writers

Smith Cochran, Kara Dross, Sloane Hope, Grace Knudson, Carolyn Langford, Emily Lichty, Gina Montagna, Liesl Small, Raleigh Toledo cartoonist

Sumner Wooldridge

adviser

DiAngelea Millar

MISSION STATEMENT

The Eagle Edition is a student-produced newspaper published seven times a year with the intent to educate in a professional manner and provide a voice for the Community. The Eagle Edition has

STAFF STANCE |

Advisory is one of the traditions this school offers—pairing a small of group students with faculty to help them through the school year. This year, new teachers were paired with veterans on campus for advisors to help balance the workload and provide mentorship.

Advisories have many benefits, such as providing students with an “instant family.” Founder and former Head of School

Father Swann knew that having advisories was an essential part of the culture on campus because advisories help the community become more tight-knit and personal. Advisories allow teachers and faculty members to get to know other students outside of the classroom on a more personal level. Advisories with multiple advisors benefit both the students and teachers.

Advisories with more than one advisor have become more common this year. According to a May 7 poll of 246 students, 10 percent of the students body have two advisors. Generally, the busy college counselors that are assigned to an advisory are usually paired up with another advisor, although there are some cases in which a faculty member or teacher will pair up with another faculty member or teacher. Advisories with multiple advisors should continue and become the norm.

Some students may argue that having more than one advisor is a disadvantage because those students believe that they are not as close to one advisor as they are with the other advisor. They might argue that having multiple advisors can be overwhelming for some students. There are also

Pairing new teachers with veterans for advisory helps students, faculty

concerns that having two adults would cause over-involvement in the students’ lives, but that might be worth the risk. Having multiple advisors can be very beneficial for students because it allows them to have several perspectives on stressful situations, more connections with faculty members and an increase of attention for each student pertaining to their schoolwork and obstacles they may come across.

For teachers, being paired up for advisory allows more flexibility for work schedules and helps share the stress of having additional students top of an

already heavy workload. Having another person to lean on for guidance is helpful, especially if the advisors are new to the whole process. If all advisories had more than one advisor, each advisor could split up their time between each student to ensure that each and every advisee has enough attention. With multiple advisors, tension that may have bubbled over the months can also be relieved.

Overall, multiple advisors help students prosper during their educational career, and the school should strongly consider making advisories with multiple advisors a common, grade-wide trend.

percent of students do not have more than one advisor*

15

percent of students want more than one advisor*

*according to a May 7 poll of 246 students

Five overheard conversations, five funny statements

“My voice is dead. I can’t sing opera. My life is over.”

– Virginia Nussbaumer, freshman “Will people 3,000 years from now know what a tissue is?”

– Ellie Bass, sophomore

“For once, I need to backup my trash talk.”

– Auden Rudelson, senior

– Zan Haq, junior

“The semicolon is the most exotic piece of punctuation. It feels very French.”

– Phil Bryan, English teacher and Sophomore Dean

GRAPHIC

letters to the EDITORS

DearEagleEditionstaff,

Each August, I watch as a newly formed group of students joins efforts and talents to create what we know as the Eagle Edition. As the parent of a former Photo Editor and Copy Editor, I have seen the long hours and creative work that goes into our school’s newspaper production. I know the weeks spent knee-deep in research and design; in writing and editing. Being a member of the newspaper staff is much like playing a year-long Varsity team sport: practices and performances demand your very best if excellence is the goal. And it is quite obvious that excellence has been your goal, one that you as a team have achieved time and time again this year (for your work last year as well as this year): A Gold Crown Award from CSPA; the NSPA Pacemaker Award; and recognition from ILPC in the form of a Silver Star, along with 31 individual honors. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to see the paper grow immeasurably. I want to say congratulations on your many awards and for your tireless, dedicated efforts in producing a product of such thought and quality.

For those of you who are graduating, I wish you the very best; and for those of you continuing on, I look forward to watching you reach your standards of excellence and professionalism again this coming year.

My Best, Tolly Salz, English Department Chair

DearEagleEdition,

I understand the need to give assignments, but some teachers assign things that interfere with other classes. Some justify assigning tests and other assignments whenever they want by saying “This is an AP/Honors Class,” but unfortunately regular classes also have this problem. Some students–including me–believe the lack of communication between students and teachers is to blame. I understand that teachers need to have deadlines for assignments and that is super important so students do not slack off, but there needs to be some flexibility. At one point, I had three tests and two quizzes all on the same day.

I understand that we are allowed to shift tests if we have three on the same day, but it should be more nuanced: for example, if we have two tests in AP classes, we should be allowed to shift one.

I know that there is a testing calendar, which helps teachers plan their tests, but there is still work to be done. I am not saying that we should have fewer tests, but I am saying that the assignment of tests should be more convenient and less stressful.

Junior Yash Dayal

Ttears, bearing some story behind it that involves one of us seniors or the ones who came before us.

wenty-two. That’s the number of issues we’ve been a part of the past four years, including these very pages. That’s 516 pages of text and design. And if we’re talking physical pages that have been distributed, 516,000 pages total. 516,000.

Those poor trees.

Although these calculations may seem overwhelming—somehow exaggerated, even borderline insane—to us, half a million seems about right. We could walk the J-Lab blind.

To us, the alarming part of that digit isn’t its magnitude or the number of zeros—it’s the fact that it’s over.

That being said, we don’t calculate the past four years in numbers.

Instead, we measure the past 22 issue cycles in the smell of Torchy’s Tacos family dinners. In the sound of our names called the millisecond our figure becomes discernible in

the J-Lab’s door frame. In frozen Photoshop screens’ spinning wheels of death. Simply put, we calculate our time in the details.

Because behind each of those 516,000 pages lies lots and lots of details. Yes, details in the picas between text boxes and the CMYK quality of front pages. But beyond the tangible, pixelated particulars lies the way Sydney laughs after spontaneously “vlogging” an episode of deadline. The way Melissa claps when ranting about her day. The way John hesitates before calling anyone by name—“Wait, is that Kathleen or Julia?” The way Ms. Millar’s inflection and accent shift between a “that’s cute” and an “oh no.”

You may have stepped on one of those 516,000 pages accidentally in Senior Hall. You may have seen a ripped one on a Commons table and didn’t think much of it. But to us, each of those 516,000 pages stores growth within its creases and

Now that we’re joining former editors-in-chief as graduates, it’s weird to think of the number 516,000 and realize how finite it is—to think that the next time we walk into the J-Lab, probably on a visit to reminisce, it won’t radiate the same aura of home. However, the physical space of these gray walls and messy tables will always hold a place in our Torchy’s-queso-clogged hearts. We grew up in here— entered confused freshmen, left empowered seniors—but our true home lies not in these four walls. It lies in each other: the seniors we’ve plowed through the past four years of late-night discussions and early-morning distributions with.

Newspaper taught us the power that lies in grit, passion and words…the satisfaction in seeing a crowd of our peers with their heads tucked into a doubletruck.

So, to anyone reading—whether you’ve read one issue or the past 22, thank you.

Here’s to the next wide-eyed generation of J-1 kids with high hopes, carrying an unplaceable, gut feeling that maybe this messy lab is where they’re meant to be.

Maybe they don’t know they’ll one day fight to publish the untold. Maybe they don’t know they’ll push boundaries within the school community and in an era that scoffs at reporters. Maybe they just think they’ll run a couple stories. Either way, here’s to their courage to simply sign up and dive into this insane world of journalism.

And if, just maybe, there’s one reading—here’s to your 22. Your 516,000. We promise you won’t regret a page.

Signing off,

College is too expensive for lower income families

Last month, actresses Lori Loughlin and Felicity Huffman were caught after paying their daughters’ way into college, but they’re not the only guilty ones. In fact, numerous elite families have made generous donations to universities that would later come back to serve their family for generations. They see it as a simple favor.

Contemporary America has turned the idea of the American Dream into an impossible dream, and it all starts with our education system. The National Center

for Education Statistics approximated that “in the fall of 2018…[around] 15 million students [attended a public high school, with an average of nearly] 70 percent enrolling into college the [next] fall.”

The perception seems to be that the more money a school charges, the better the education it offers. However, there are students who cannot keep up with the rigor of high school, so they end up bribing their way in. The privileged population in this country needs to understand the reality—that those who are less fortunate than them actually have to work harder to reach their dreams.

Socio-economically challenged students lack the resources and guidance that higher-income students can attain in an instant, including the crucial funds leading

up to college that will cover applications, standardized testing, etc. This disadvantage causes low-income students to eventually fall behind on their career paths.

What’s truly unfair is that “rich kids without a college degree are 2.5 times more likely to end up rich than poor kids who graduate from college,” according to the Pew Economic Mobility Project. In other words, even middle-class students struggle more to find a job, with a sufficient salary to afford life in America. Meanwhile, wealthy students who choose to not attend college simply remain rich, without having to worry about money.

In reality, lower-income students have to go to great lengths to achieve success encountering road blocks that affluent students may never have to face. It is unfair that only “34 percent of high-achieving,

low-income students attend a selective college [while] 78 percent [of] high-achieving, high-income students [do],” according to David Leonhardt of the New York Times. This is proof that exorbitant college tuitions, particularly at private universities, do not, in any way, further the success of lowincome students.

According to a poll taken on May 7 of 246 students, 57 percent believe that private universities in the United States are unaffordable for even the average, middle-class American. On top of that, low-income students who plan to attend college may not receive the sufficient financial assistance or scholarships to help them cover the cost of tuition. The future of our nation’s working class lies in the hands of colleges to lower their tuitions and create equal opportunities for low income students.

Anastasia & Madison, Editors-in-Chief

Alan Benítez Views Editor

GRAPHIC BY | SUMNER WOOLDRIDGE

Liquor

Legality

PRO: Lower drinking age creates safer environment

When a person in the state of Texas turns 18, they are legally allowed to get tattoos and fight in the military but aren’t allowed to have a glass of wine with friends. The U.S. is one of only 11 countries in the world where the drinking age is still 21. Every country in Europe except Iceland has set 18 as the drinking age, with some even legalizing it at 16. Having this exposure to legal alcohol as a teen eliminates the taboo that surrounds it. If the U.S. lowered the legal drinking age, it would create a safer environment for teens to learn how to drink responsibly and reduce issues with binge drinking.

In the U.S., 70 percent of people consume an alcoholic beverage before they turn 18, which is still not the legal age, according to alcohol.org. Obviously, 21 as the legal drinking age is not effective, so why keep the law the same? Currently, the legal drinking age forces teens and young people to drink illegally and often dangerously, which pushes some young people to be irresponsible and harmful in their drinking habits.

Another issue with teen drinking is peer pressure. Many kids who are pressured to drink for the first time have no experience with regulating their alcohol intake. As a result, some teenagers drink way too much because they don’t know when to stop, causing them to black out, which is dangerous for your health and brain development.

Furthermore, if the drinking age were lowered, it would give the youth safer places to drink, such as at restaurants or a bar, where alcohol is regulated instead of drinking at unregulated house parties, which give teens access to virtually-unlimited alcohol.

Arguments against lowering the drinking age tend to argue that teens who want to acquire alcohol will find a way, whether that be through paying an older person to buy it for them or by getting a fake ID. Methods like this can put young people in danger, which can be easily avoided if they were allowed to legally purchase it. If the age was lowered, regulations could also be put into place to limit the amount of alcohol a minor could buy or which types they can or cannot purchase. With the laws currently in place, we are putting much of the country’s youth in danger.

With the current laws in the United States, youth that want to drink still find ways of doing so, often harming themselves and others in the process, but if those laws were to change, the underground taboo culture of underage drinking would go away, saving lives and protecting the country’s teens.

70 percent of people consume an alcoholic beverage before they turn 18, according to alcohol.org

BY | EMILY DELGADO

Fourteen hours after stepping into what she thought was her Uber after a night out, 21- year-old Samantha Josephson was found dead in Columbia, South Carolina, on March 29. The 24-year-old man who murdered her had posed as an Uber driver, activated the child safety locks when she stepped into his car and killed Josephson before dumping her body in a wooded area. This is not the first time that a person has killed or sexually assaulted a woman by pretending to be a rideshare driver and luring them into their car. In March of 2019, a man in Connecticut pretended

CON: Current drinking age allows people to mature

Carolyn Langford Staff Writer

If someone has the urge to drink, they’re going to find a way to obtain alcohol. That’s just the reality. Contemplating whether or not a lower legal drinking age will stop underage drinking is useless. It won’t, but that’s not why the drinking age is 21. The purpose of the current drinking age is to deter underage drinkers long enough for them to be able to mature enough physiologically and emotionally to handle drinking.

A lower legal drinking age would eliminate the impediment underage drinkers face when procuring alcohol. According to a study at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately two-thirds of high school students and college students regularly use fake identification to purchase alcohol. If the drinking age is lowered, the ages of underage drinkers will inevitably decrease because these students won’t even have to obtain fake IDs. When the hindrance of acquiring alcohol is removed, the consequences of underage drinking will prevail.

By having a higher legal drinking age, students are allowed time for brain maturation and decision-making skills to develop. According to the National Institutes of Health, the state of “emerging neurobiological adulthood” is only reached from ages 18 to 24. If alcohol is abused during these teenage years, disruptions in brain development and decision-making capacity could impact someone’s entire life. In addition, school absences increase because of teenage drinking, and grades tend to plummet. Often, the rapid escalation of the quantity and frequency of underage drinking overlaps with the crucial era of adolescent reorganization of the brain.

Excessive drinking habits in teenagers are more common than most would think and can lead to tragic consequences. The CDC reports that over 90 percent of underage drinking is binge drinking or drinking with the intention to get drunk. This behavior indicates immaturity and instability and is strikingly different when compared to older people. Common ramifications of excessive underage drinking include unintentional injuries, especially car crashes, fighting, sexual assault and even death from alcohol poisoning. According to the CDC, thousands of deaths and hundreds of thousands of hospital visits per year are a result of drinking under the age of 21.

Overall, lowering the drinking age would cause physiological problems and pose numerous risks to underage drinkers.

90 percent of underage drinking is with the intention to get drunk, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Self defense is not the solution, women will feel safe when culture of violence and assault ends

to be a rideshare driver outside of a bar before he proceeded to kidnap and rape two women who believed he was their driver.

This is one of the many examples of things that women are trained to look out for and avoid because of fear of sexual assault or even murder.

With the rise of people posing as Uber and Lyft drivers, rideshare companies’ reputations are now under question, and women are adding this to the list of things to be cautious about for their own safety.

According to a May 7 poll of 246 students, 59 percent of female students only use rideshare services such as Uber or Lyft with other people.

The term “safety work” is used to describe the measures women take in order to protect themselves from any kind of violence or sexual assault.

Social researcher Jackson Katz’s book “The Macho Paradox: Why Some Men

Hurt Women and How All Men Can Help” includes a chart which highlights the difference in course of actions that men and women take to protect themselves from being sexually assaulted. Although men can also be sexually harassed or assaulted, on their side, the most common response which was “nothing, I don’t think about it.” For women, 28 rows were filled with various responses, such as “hold my keys as a potential weapon,” “check the backseat before getting in the car” and “only go out in groups.”

From a young age, “safety work” rules are drilled into the minds of girls in hopes of preparing them to defend themselves in case of an attack or sexual assault.

We are told not to go running at night. We are told to watch what we wear because “scandalous” clothing is “asking for it.” We are told to go out in groups or have a male accompany us places because everything is “safer with a man.”

Because of this, girls and women of all ages make decisions based on these rules on the daily and are often told they are “overreacting” when they are cautious about their safety.

I was told I was “overreacting” when I said I didn’t want to go to Deep Ellum at nighttime. I was told I was “overreacting” when I said I didn’t want to take an Uber home by myself.

Eighty-two percent of female students avoid running and jogging at night, 51 percent of female students avoid going places at night and 41 percent have a male friend accompany them places in order to feel safe.

Women should not have to be accompanied by a man 24/7, carry pepper spray or hold her keys in between her fingers as a weapon in order to feel safe. With practices like these, society is teaching women now to not get raped rather than teaching rapists not to rape.

Gardiner Vose Business Manager

The best and worst of the month, graded

Unqualified Democratic candidates flooding 2020 elections

CALVERT’S CORNER HIGHS LOWS

A spark of inspiration

Senior John Heldman gave an inspirational speech at the Pass it On ceremony on May 1 to rising freshmen and graduating seniors. For the first time, the ceremony included new freshmen from other schools who will join the campus next year.

Building up

Yearbook distribution was more exciting than ever when students received sneak peeks of spreads throughout the week to build up excitement for the release of the book. The theme “Building Up” connects with the new Lower School, which was built over the course of the year. The yearbook looks better than ever.

Senior success

Seventeen seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society for great academic success. The society is very prestigious and honors students who have reached superior academic achievement and promote excellence, justice and honor.

Shark tank

Students in Amy Livingston’s entrepreneurial class developed and presented business plans to Dallas business leaders and investors. The investors were impressed by the students’ work and ideas, and five were chosen as recipients of a free co-working space at the Dallas Entrepreneur Center in Addison this summer.

SOCIAL STUDIES |

Rumor has it

The junior class’ emotions ran high as rumors started that they wouldn’t have some of their beloved privileges senior year like off-campus lunch. While the rumors were proven false, we’d like people to consider not starting them in the first place.

A not so good-natured prank

Although seeing balloons fill up Head of School David Baad’s office, and the hallways and stairwell made for some laughs, the balloons proved unpopular overall. Middle schoolers and Upper School students cleaned up by popping the balloons, which distracted students during AP exams and sounded like gunfire. It’s just not a smart prank considering recent school shootings.

Uniform unification

It is confirmed that next year the senior girls will wear their uniforms instead of the traditional black drapes in their school pictures.

Assistant Head of the Upper School Jeff Laba said the change was made by the administration to create uniformity and equality between men and women.

Blazers galore

Assistant Head of the Upper School Jeff Laba announced that blazers will be required every Wednesday next year, not just in the second and third quarter.

Biden is likely to win the nomination, but none of the possibilities are good

BY | JOHN CALVERT

As if emerging from a blue clown car, the number of democratic candidates for the 2020 presidential election continues to grow. Liberals of all stripes are vying to compete against President Trump and, more importantly, determine the future direction of the party. I will, in this article, take the time to share my thoughts on some of the more noteworthy contenders.

Joe Biden was, for some reason, a really popular vice president, and if the polls are any indication, he will be popular during the primaries. I honestly have no idea why people like him, but I suppose that all this adulation is a living example of the age-old adage “one of us is not as dumb as all of us.” Biden is, for all intents and purposes, Obama 2.0, a blanketlyprogressive establishment politician with the support of practically every newspaper on the planet. And, if Obama’s presidency is the metric to go by, we will end much, much worse for wear if he does land in the Oval Office. He is the most likely pick for Democratic candidate.

Beto O’Rourke is only able

cultural commentary

to make people think he’s cool. His platform, for all intents and purposes, barely exists, consisting of little more than mainline Democratic talking points and milquetoast centrism. Though perhaps a more balanced approach is what we need during these troubled times, it hardly resonates, and the substantial problems we face as a country cannot be solved through bland moderation. If his prior arrests for drunk driving and burglary don’t sink his campaign, his lack of any real message will. O’Rourke is, at best, a good vice president pick.

Bernie Sanders, the Crypt Keeper’s long-lost twin brother, is somehow still alive. He’s a firm believer in “democratic socialism,” an awful ideology that manages to combine the worst parts of the two systems it is named after. He quite recently stated that he is in favor of felons voting, meaning that if Sanders is elected, the most problematic individuals in our society will be able to influence politics just as much as you and I. He has a fairly decent chance at becoming the Democratic

candidate, and I certainly hope he does—it would be extremely funny watching Trump eviscerate him on Twitter, the debate stage and eventually, election night.

Elizabeth Warren is a laughing stock. For her entire life, she has called herself a Native American, writing so on countless official documents and basing her career, in part, on that fact. But after taking a much-publicized DNA test, it was revealed that she is only about 0.09 percent Native American—for context, the average American has about 0.18 percent Native American DNA. With the deconstruction of that lie came the end of any respect people had for her. Beyond that, her platform hinges upon relieving the American public’s financial woes by spending trillions of dollars on programs that would actively hurt the economy. She is a clown and will very likely end up like Jeb Bush—a pathetic waste of time and money that makes for little more than good comedy.

All I do know is that regardless of who becomes the Democratic candidate, this coming election will be extraordinarily entertaining.

Exam exhaustion

BY | SUMNER WOOLDRIDGE

Coaches provide list of most influential athletes, student body votes for winners

Football

Scott Bower

Cheer

Ashley Carter

Cross Country

Auden Rudelson

Field Hockey

Crew

Christopher Talbot

Volleyball

Hadley Smith

Womens Soccer

Emma Viquez

Mens Basketball

Keller Casey

Womens Tennis

Hadley Smith

Track and Field

Luke McCabe

Baseball

Adam Bland

Mens Golf

Womens Golf

River Woods

Sofia Weinstein

Mens Lacrosse

Scott Bower

Womens Lacrosse

Mens, womens lacrosse place first in state tournament, ending season on high note

BY | LAUREN EGGER

For the first time in history both the men and womens varsity lacrosse teams from the same school in the D1 league won the Texas High School Lacrosse League State Championship.

The games were played on Sunday, May 12, and the mens team beat Highland Park High School 9-6 while the womens team beat the Kinkaid School 14-8.

After losing the Southern Preparatory Conference championship to Kinkaid by one point on May 4, the varsity womens lacrosse team avenged themselves when they beat Kinkaid in the state championship.

“Sleeping in our own beds and warming up in our own locker room instead of in a hotel is mentally helpful,” junior attack

and midfield player Catherine Blaylock said. “We all went to ESD before [leaving for the championship], and had a send off with a bunch of the parents, and so we were all really excited.”

The team scored three goals in the first few minutes of the game, which helped the players feel confident in their skills and secure a huge lead. They kept the lead and finished strong.

“When we gained possession after [Kinkaid] turned the ball over, and I saw we only had one minute left of the game, I knew we had won the state championship,” senior captain and goalie Gianna Pope said. “That was the best feeling in the whole world.”

After winning the game, the girls honored their mothers for the support they had given them

represented all

throughout the season.

“After the game, the managers had bought white roses for our moms since it was Mothers’ Day,” Blaylock said. “We all ran up into the stands and hugged them after we won and gave them their roses,”

The last time the girls won a state championship was in 2017. This year, alumna and former varsity lacrosse players Charlotte North ‘17, Maddie Esping ‘18 and Amelia Danklef ‘18 showed up to support the team in the championship game.

a team they had previously lost to—Highland Park High School. They also lost to The Woodlands High School, the defending champions, and Jesuit previously this season. However, they came back to beat the The Woodlands High School in the quarter-finals 12-4 and Jesuit in the semi-finals 5-4.

“After they [Highland Park, The Woodlands and Jesuit] all beat us, and we figured out the whole playoff bracket, we got really excited because we saw that most likely we would be

“

midfielder Jack Loftus said. “That helped people buy in and work really hard in practice.”

At half-time, the team was down 3-2.

“The biggest momentum change was when Highland Park was up 4-2, we were about to go to half-time and [junior] Caden Dundon made a ridiculous play by knocking the goalie’s pass down and throwing it to [junior] Drew Wasserman for a goal,” Loftus said. “That put us down by one right before half-time.”

This is the fifth state championship title for the mens lacrosse team, the last time they won was in 2014.

...I SAW WE ONLY HAD ONE MINUTE LEFT OF THE GAME, I KNEW WE HAD WON THE STATE CHAMPIONSHIP. THAT WAS THE BEST FEELING IN THE WHOLE WORLD.

“Charlotte North was so helpful this week in giving me extra repetitions in practice and giving me pointers,” Pope said.

The varsity mens lacrosse team won the championship by beating

GIANNA POPE, SENIOR

playing all of them again, so we started saying that we had to finish ‘The Revenge Tour,’ and that was a big motivator [for the team,]” junior captain and

CAPTAIN

“[The seniors] care about winning the game so much,” Loftus said. “[Senior] Scott Bower started to cry after the game. It just shows how emotionally attached the seniors are throughout the whole season. It made the team want to be that much better.”

MLB needs to change the pace of innings, but not change the overall rules of the game

Smith Cochran Staff Writer

I love baseball. I remember going to Braves games at Turner Field, which isn’t used anymore. I bought the MLB 2k11-13, a baseball video game, before it was discontinued. Yes, baseball needs to be a little quicker, but it does not need extreme rule changes. MLB is trying to appease the younger generations by making baseball more exciting. Pitcher

rule changes, mound visits and a timer between innings are all rule changes MLB has made for the 2019 season. While some changes are necessary, others have infuriated players.

The average duration of a baseball game is more than three hours. The new Avengers movie is also this long, but no one has complained about that. Sure one is a suspense-filled, roller coaster of one-hundred-eighty minutes, and the other is just a movie, but it’s a fair comparison. Though games can be hard to be invested in, nobody is forcing anyone to watch them.

Ever since Bryce Harper’s “Make Baseball Fun Again” hat, MLB has been paranoid of losing viewers and fans. Harper, an

influential player, later said he was kidding, claiming he loves the sport and doesn’t want to see it changed.

Over the past few decades, less and less players in MLB are American. While this could be an effect of the rise in popularity of the sport in other countries, like the Dominican Republic and Venezuela, it could also be because of the steady decrease in popularity in America.

At the start of last season, there were 254 active foreign players, according to MLB.com. That was tied for the second most ever. This is a result of less kids playing T-ball and Little League Baseball in America. In 2000, 8.8 million children between the ages of seven and 17 played baseball,

and in 2013 only 5.3 million children from the same age group played, according to a study from the National Sporting Goods Association.

Interest in baseball has steadily decreased, and MLB is trying to restore it. While this is a solid idea, making drastic and desperate changes in a short time is not the answer.

My answer would be to keep time between innings and pitches but not limit the amount of mound visits and pitching changes.

Relief pitchers will have to pitch against at least three batters unless there is an inning change. If anyone is confused on why this is a big deal, a relief pitcher’s job is to replace the starting

pitcher to take advantage of a specific batter to pitcher matchup. Forcing an amount of batters the relief pitcher has to pitch against changes the job of a relief pitcher and the strength behind each pitch. The purpose of this rule was to limit the amount of pitching changes. While this could speed games up, changing a vital aspect of baseball is not a good idea.

If baseball is boring or uninteresting to you, that’s OK— just leave the game alone. Instead of trying to cater to a larger demographic, MLB should focus on keeping their existing fans and dismissing non-baseball fans. With a genuine love of the game, I stand with the long games, but changes are coming.

EMBRACE THE WIN (ABOVE) Junior captain Jack Loftus and junior William Blair celebrate a game changing goal. Blair assisted Loftus in the goal that tied up the game; the eagles went on to win the state championship 9-6 against Highland Park High School on May 12. “After William threw me the [ball, I scored], and we gave each other a big high five and then embraced afterwards, which ended a Highland Park streak,” Loftus said. photo by Riley Breaux

SWEET VICTORY (LEFT) Senior Giana Pope kisses the championship cup after beating The Kinkaid School 14-8 on May 12. The varsity womens lacrosse team took the state championship for the first time in two years. “The best part was being able to hold something that

of our hard work,” Pope said. photo courtesy of Sports Day HS

Fan behavior questioned as social media comes into play

With the intensification of rivalries, fans verbally attack players on the field, digitally posting offensive comments

WEAGLE

ith one click, any message can be sent swirling through the digital stratosphere.

2017: On Snapchat, a student from a rival school texted a friend “you and your n***** can go cry all off season” after ESD lost the Texas High School Lacrosse League Boys State Championship finals. This message was targeted toward an ESD varsity lacrosse captain, who is black.

2018: Two students from a rival school posted a Snapchat story with the caption “we may have lost but at least are players arnt gay” after the rival school lost to ESD in lacrosse.

2019: A student from a rival school told a black ESD lacrosse player to “pick [his] cotton” on Instagram.

The rival students who posted online were not lacrosse players and before posting, had never met the ESD players that they commented on.

“I'm extremely offended and angered by the [recent] racist post [written by a rival student] that was beyond inappropriate,” English Department Chair Tolly Salz said. “However, any student or adult could have written that—and that's the problem.”

ESD. St. Mark’s. Jesuit. Hockaday. Greenhill. Highland Park. These local rivalries have grown in intensity over the years.

“History, proximity, closeness of competition and[are] factors that lead to [rivalries],” Director of Athletics Dan Gill said. “Students reported feeling closer to classmates [because of] rivalry games, and rivalry can lead [athletes] to enhance their performance. However, [rivalries also have] the potential to increase animosity between fans and teams.”

According to a May 7 poll of 246 students, while almost 90 percent of students believe sportsmanship is important, less than 50 percent of students believe that players from ESD and other schools exhibit good sportsmanship. However, in the past, it has typically been fans who have taken part in inappropriate behaviors rather than players.

“I had a good friend who was black who played lacrosse and football, and [students from] schools who we had

rivalries with would spit on him and yell racist things at him,” senior and mens lacrosse manager Sarah Hands said. “It would never be the players doing it but the student section. He never let it get to him, but after the game, he would talk about how it sucked knowing that’s what they used against him.”

The rise of social media and digital communication has increased the amount, extent and impact of these comments. Over 20 percent of students have been the target of offensive comments online or in person from students from rival schools. Nine percent of students have sent or said an offensive comment about students from rival schools.

“Too often, people feel emboldened when posting on social media, when a person isn't able to see the effect of

comment, the ESD player whom the comment was targeted at tweeted that “in 2019, people of color ... still have to deal with racism. ... [which is] frightening, saddening and unacceptable.” Professional lacrosse player Kyle Harrison re-tweeted his message, adding that “we have to work together in teaching what is acceptable because this isn’t it.”

“The team was hurt as a whole after seeing the [recent Instagram] comment,” senior varsity lacrosse captain Scott Bower said. “Once you come after one of us, you’re bringing the rest of us in, too. We let [the ESD lacrosse player] know to stay strong and that if he needed anything, we were there to help.”

Almost 50 percent of students think that the school ought to address issues regarding sportsmanship more often. Bower remembers hearing fans yell racist remarks at the players during lacrosse games once every year or so. To encourage better fan behavior, he suggests increasing faculty and administrative representation at big rivalry games.

TOO OFTEN, PEOPLE FEEL EMBOLDENED WHEN POSTING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, WHEN A PERSON ISN'T ABLE TO SEE THE EFFECT OF CRUELTY AND RACISM ON THE HUMAN HEART.

cruelty and racism on the human heart,” Salz said. “People allow their emotions to get the best of them.”

“Wow I hope you feel really good. You’re an ignorant a****** with no education.”

“You have your whole life in front of you..learn from this. Have some respect”

“racist worthless friendless ugly piece of s*** u r”

2017: The texts above are a few of the many that the rival student who sent the racist comment received after the news spread. His car was egged, and he was expelled. The ESD lacrosse player who faced the slur went on to play college lacrosse as a starter.

2018: The two rival students who posted the homophobic Snapchat story deleted it quickly and faced no punishment.

2019: The rival student who commented the racist message on Instagram was suspended. ESD arranged for the two students and their families to meet, during which the rival student apologized. In response to the racist

“[From ESD, you will always see administrative and faculty representation] at our games,” Bower said. "The opposing schools don't seem to have the same presence, allowing them too much freedom. It would help if those schools brought along representatives to make sure nothing gets out of hand."

Head of Upper School Henry Heil believes creating positive relationships between schools will prevent inappropriate actions.

“When I coached at my previous school, I became really close with the fellow coaches in the league,” Heil said. “If anything ever happened between the players, the coaches knew each other well enough that we wouldn't let it spillover.”

Although social media posts may seem like simple arrangements of letters and pixels—unimpactful—digital communication is permanent. And it can be devastating.

“I stand up in front of students before a potentially emotionally-charged event and say, ‘[Before posting to social media], think about your family, think about the school and think about the impact [the action can have] on yourself,” Heil said. “There's more at stake than just a tweet."

Interviewed by Emily Lichty

Q A Q A Q

A

What is your favorite part of track?

"[During] practices, you get to bond with people [that] you wouldn’t think you would bond with. It’s a great way to be social, push yourself and exercise."

What do you do outside of school to prepare for a meet?

"The day before a race, I carbload and eat lots of pasta. [Normally,] I push myself [throughout the day,] but the day before [a race,] I rest. It makes me feel like I am going to run well at that race."

What about track has been the most challenging for you?

"[When] I run a race and my coach is telling me ‘run faster’ and ‘do better,’ [it gets] in [my] head because [I] cannot physically go any faster. When I am done, my coach tells me what I could do better next time. It’s hard mentally, but looking back now, [the criticism is] helpful for the next race and [helps] me to improve and work toward my goals.

A Q

Is there a particular memory you have from a meet or practice that is your favorite?

"At [our] last track meet, it was pouring rain, and we set the tent up. We had to use screwdrivers as stakes because we lost the stakes for the tent, and it just kept blowing over, and all of the other [teams] around us had to help us keep the tent down. Nobody was at the tent because [everyone] was getting ready for the races, and the next thing you know, the tent is blowing [around] the field.

Q

What skill do you think is the most important in track?

Your attitude [is the most important skill in track]. Your attitude really [affects] everything, and the better your attitude is, the more you look forward to your races, your meets, the more you push yourself and the more you continue to strive during your season and be the best you want to be. A

Freshman Tori Schmidt is a new addition to the school’s

STORY & GRAPHIC BY | JIAYING FU

Season snapshot

Mens lacrosse places first, mens tennis and womens lacrosse finish second in

Southwest Prepatory Conference

BY | LAUREN WEBER

As the Southwest Preparatory Conference championship game came to a close and the scoreboard read 136, the varsity mens lacrosse team began to celebrate their sixth-consecutive SPC victory.

The team went into the tournament in the first seed position, beat Kinkaid in the semi-finals and went on to defeat St. Marks for the championship.

“[Kinkaid] was a good test for us to not look over our opponent, [and] we came out, played well and took care of them,” sophomore Reed Landin said. “[In the championship game] the offense was really clicking, and we were moving the ball well and putting in good shots. On the defensive side, we held it down, and [senior Auden Rudelson] had a really good game.”

For the first time ever, varsity mens tennis went into the tournament as the number one seed in the North Zone. The team lost to Houston Christian, 3-2, in their final game, placing second.

second at SPC, losing 1011 in a close championship game against Kinkaid.

“We were down in the first half,” sophomore Sam Whiting said. “We fought really hard and came back at the end of the first half. Overall, we worked really hard, but tactically, we didn’t play to our full potential, but we ended up coming back and beating Kinkaid at state.”

...WE’RE PROUD TO HAVE COME SO FAR ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT ESD MENS TENNIS WAS BRINGING HOME A TROPHY. EDDIE SALINAS “

Five athletes from the track and field team traveled to Houston for the tournament. Freshman Spencer Hutchison finished seventh overall for long jump, freshman Tori Schmidt placed fifth in the 1600 meter race and fourth in the 3200 meter race and freshman Sydney Knodel placed 12th in the 3200 meter race.

“There were a lot better [runners] than I thought were going to be there because we’re used to racing against different people,” Knodel said.

Jeter said. “We knew going in that this was going to be a building year. The exciting thing that happened [in the tournament] was that we beat [Episcopal High School] in a tie breaker for ninth place.”

“Everyone played great and had to make sacrifices to ensure a better chance at winning,” sophomore Eddie Salinas said. “At first, the team was in a sort of disbelief that we had not won, but we’re proud to have came so far especially because it was the first time that ESD mens tennis was bringing home a trophy.”

Womens varsity lacrosse also placed

“It was cool to go to a bigger race and see different people than we’re used to racing

The mens golf team placed sixth at SPC. Because they only have two womens golf athletes, the girls compete individually as medalists. Freshman Mary Lou McMillan placed fifth, and junior Sofia Weinstein tied for ninth. Varsity baseball placed 11th at SPC. The team qualified for the tournament for the first time in three years.

“Overall, we played pretty well in SPC,” sophomore John Callis said. “We are all looking forward to repeat our visit to SPC next year and come out with some hardware. We have the talent, but we just need to believe we can go out there and get it done.”

Varsity softball placed 12th in the tournament with senior pitcher Chloe Williams suffering from an injury.

“The injuries really set us back,” sophomore Monse Rodriguez said. “The tournament showed our potential.”

1. TROPHY TRIUMPH: Varsity mens lacrosse beat St. Marks, 14-6, in the SPC championship game on May 27. 2. MATCH POINT: Freshman Isabella Custard takes a shot during her match against Casady in Houston on May 26. 3. CHAMPIONSHIP BOUND: Varsity womens lacrosse celebrates after a win with a huddle

HOMESTRETCH: Freshman Spencer Hutchison competes in the 100 meter dash on May 25.

PHOTO BY | RILEY BREAUX

PHOTO BY | RALEIGH TOLEDO

P.E. exemption process changes

Standards for credits completed outside of school are raised

STORY BY | SLOANE HOPE

AGRAPHIC BY | GARDINER VOSE

fter years of trying to make the physical education exemption process more selective, the Athletic Department has created guidelines that will only allow an exemption for “elite” athletes, causing some students to worry about how they will obtain their P.E. credits.

According to Physical Education Chair Mike Schneider, the Athletic Department has been looking to make a change to the P.E. exemption process for about five years.

“We always look at [the exemption guidelines] every year,” Schneider said.

exemption unless an athlete is already achieving at such a level that there is no second sport,” Schneider said.

The current exemption guidelines state that each student should be at an “elite” level in the chosen sport, play the sport for the school if offered and log workout hours daily. Schneider classified “elite” players as those playing on Olympic development teams or national teams. According to a recent statement released by the

WE REALLY DON’T WANT TO GIVE AN EXEMPTION UNLESS AN ATHLETE IS ALREADY ACHIEVING AT SUCH A LEVEL THAT THERE IS NO SECOND SPORT.

MIKE SCHNEIDER, PHYSICAL EDUCATION CHAIR

“We’ve considered this change for many years, but it was very difficult to get it done when there were so many revolving people in the decision.”

The decision to change the guidelines came after the department reviewed why the exemptions were created in the first place. Schneider said that exemptions were first introduced to accommodate players that had already committed to a single sport at the highest level. The first exemption is believed to have been for someone participating in a training program for Olympic track.

Over the years, the Athletic Department has observed the “watering down” of the guidelines that have allowed exemptions for those choosing to do an out-of-school sport.

“We really don’t want to give an

Athletic Department, “exemptions in the Upper School will be restricted to athletes who are competing at the highest levels of their sport and/or are participating in at least 10 hours of the sport Monday to Thursday.” This change also means the end of the “personal fitness” P.E. option for students. Schneider said the reason for these changes is to encourage students to play more than one sport.

“One of the goals of the athletic program at ESD is to encourage multi-sport participation,” Schneider said. “Exemptions contradict that goal.”

Starting next year, middle schoolers will not be able to apply for an exemption and will therefore not be able to receive a sports credit for any activity outside of ESD.

“We really feel that the [physical education] program that [students will] take from Coach Roney [will] set them up for success in any sport or lifetime fitness activity they would want to do,” Schneider said. “We also really like the social aspect of participating with kids at ESD. Students get out at 3:25 p.m., which gives them enough time to practice a different sport after school, so we are not preventing them from doing something they love to do.”

According to a May 7 poll of 246 Upper School students, 7 percent of students have had an exemption this year, and 89 percent believe that exemptions should be available. However, 80 percent of students do not believe students should have to participate in the sport they receive an exemption for. Freshman Isabella Custard remembers how having a P.E. exemption in middle school set up good study habits and taught her not to procrastinate.

“I would get home a lot later than most people, so I learned how to manage my time and work faster,” Custard said. “I also learned how to not procrastinate. It still happens from time to time but not as much.”

Custard was also granted an exemption in the fall for tennis that the school classified as ‘personal fitness.’

“Personal fitness is a good option, but I understand why the administration is getting rid of it,” Custard said. “Lots of people cut corners and don’t actually do any of the work. If I weren’t studying abroad I would be worried about what I was going to do without an exemption next year.”

WE ARE ORI19INAL.

Cooper Newsom | Yale University

Ethan Nghiem | Southern Methodist University

Anisa Noor | University of Texas at Austin

Cole Nugent | Iowa State University

Hannah Nwakibu | University of Miami

Hank Parsons | Oklahoma University

Taezja Phelan | Southern Methodist University

Patrick Phillips | Auburn University

Gianna Pope | University of Cincinnati

Arturo Pozo | Texas Tech University

Emerson Prokos | Texas Christian University

Chloë Raines | Bowdoin College

Nicole Raines | Texas Christian University

Carson Raney | Ohio State University

Sydney Rezaie | University of Texas at Austin

Melissa Rivera | Southern Methodist University

Andrew Roussos

Auden

Belén Sada | Northeastern University

Annie

Annie

Lauren Shilling | University of Alabama

Anastasia Sotiropoulos | Stanford University

Abby

Luke

Christopher

Jason Todd | Clemson University

Jetlyn Toledo | University of Texas at Austin

Maddie Tong | Rice University

Karenna Traylor | University of Colorado, Boulder

William Turner | Trinity University

Ella Varel | Miami University

Chloé

Michael Wirtz | Southern Methodist University

Kelsey Wittmann | Texas A&M University

Evan Zheng | University of Texas at Austin

The 108 members of the class of 2019 have collectively earned more than $10,907,758 in merit scholarship offers and 436 acceptances to 138 colleges and universities.