V.44 Issue 1 by Eagle Edition

eaGle edition Episcopal School of Dallas | 4100 Merrell Road

Dallas, Texas 75229

Volume 44 Issue 1

Monday, September 28, 2026

THE PRICE OF BEING DEFENSELESS

While crime and violence can feel distant from the protected bubble of the ESD campus, dangerous situations can become a reality for many students the moment they step beyond its gates. Being aware and knowing how to respond can help ensure safety.

Pg.16

Illustration by Josephine Holmes

THE PRICE OF BEEF

A nationwide cattle shortage is making beef increasingly more difficult to find and expensive to serve, affecting the variety of options SAGE can provide to students.

DANCES EARLY THIS YEAR

2026 Technotica and Homecoming are now being held a month earlier than they usually are, sparking mixed reactions and excitement about the early arrival of fall dances.

COLORS OF CREATION

Sophomore Phoebe Curletti has spent her life exploring her passion for painting. At ESD, she finds meaningful ways to devote herself to art and hopes to incorporate painting into her future.

MAVS FILM AT ESD

The Dallas Mavericks social media team filmed video content in one of ESD's science classrooms. The professional basketball players' presence garnered millions of views, with ESD gaining unexpected recognition.

HADRICK'S JOURNEY

Since 2018, Track Program Director Evan Hadrick has grown ESD's track program from 15 to 57 members, building a culture centered on perseverance and community.

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Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

NEWS

AI's growing presence is changing how students learn, work and prepare for careers By Veda Bodhanampati Arts Editor

AI IN ACTION Senior Gracie Nealon at her Boston Consulting Group WORX summer internship with mentor and project leader Madi Klotzbach. “In school, we are taught that AI negatively affects our learning, but in my internship, they were teaching a completely different philosophy by encouraging us to use AI,” Nealon said. “Honestly, my experience taught me that learning how to use AI is a ‘must’ if you want to be successful in the workplace.” Photo provided by Gracie Nealon

hen senior Henry Swann walked into the first day of his 2026 summer WORX internship at Boston Consulting Group, he was surprised to see AI integrated throughout the

“

AI is not going away, and to make sure that our students are prepared for that when they are in college, we can't avoid it. Cassie Nutter Middle and Upper School Director of Technology

office. “I literally used Claude my entire time,” Swann said. “I did spreadsheets, and I made a couple of slideshows. There were a bunch of these random form calculations I had no idea how to do, so I literally just plugged spreadsheets into Claude.” According to a survey conducted in June by Pew Research Center, 73 percent of Americans ages 19 to 29 worry that AI will take away jobs. Swann has already witnessed that shift unfolding in the corporate world. “Management consulting [for instance] is going to be completely different in a couple of years, and a lot of people seem almost worried about it,” Swann said. “With AI, people expect a lot more actual results for the paper product out of companies.” International Data Cooperation predicts over 1.3 billion agents will be deployed in the workplace by 2028. As a result, companies are focusing on controlling these agents to better advance companies’ agendas. “One of the biggest challenges we’ll all be facing as part of this is how to track, manage and govern all of these agents,” Executive Vice President of Copilot, Agents and Platform at Microsoft Charles Lamanna said at the Microsoft Ignite ‘25 Keynote. “With agents becoming part of every process and team, we need to make sure that they are secure and observable by default.” With the incorporation of AI, businesses are rethinking how to get work done with AI. With this comes an understanding of how teams are planning to incorporate AI into everything that they execute. “First, [enterprises] are being very focused on driving real resource constraints into the organization to drive the productivity improvement,” Lammana said in an interview with Madronaventures. “Second thing is a big focus on democratizing

access to AI. Companies which are struggling are the companies that don’t have AI in everybody’s hands every day.” Employers are already raising the bar. A January 2026 survey conducted by edtech company Virtual Internship revealed that companies consider “AI-fluent” interns faster, more insightful and better at applying judgment. In contrast, interns who avoided AI saw their work labeled mediocre. “To be marketable in the workforce, you must have good AI literacy,” middle and upper school Director of Technology Cassie Nutter said. “When I talk to people who are in the business world, they're all using AI. Kids who do use it and use it wisely, effectively and ethically have a leg up in the marketplace.” Although AI is becoming more common in the workplace, many people are still skeptical about its accuracy. According to global technology and consulting corporation IBM, AI systems can produce answers that contain false information, a problem known as “hallucination.” The implementation of AI is an important skill for workers to have, but verifying AI-generated work also remains equally crucial to ensuring its reliability and accuracy. “When I had to draft up a slide deck for the company my team was helping, I provided the data it needed to input into the slide and a template slide to use,” Swann said. “The result was hallucinated, nonexistent data that I spent the next 30 minutes editing.” While there have been some issues with AI, according to a 2026 Stanford AI Index Report, AI has only accelerated its reach to people. AI models meet or exceed human expectations, handling PhD-level questions, clinical care and scientific research. At ESD, teachers are learning to introduce AI to students as a helpful resource rather than a shortcut, ensuring that students can use it as a tool that supports their growth as opposed to one that simply does the work for them. “AI is not going away, and to make sure that our students are prepared for when they are in college and beyond, we can't avoid it,” Nutter said. “What we

don't want people to think is that kids are just not going to learn anymore, and they're just going to AI everything. Your voice is unique to you, and children still have to develop that.” ESD has started introducing AI into lower school lessons to demonstrate how to utilize AI as a tool to develop students’ thinking. “We have developed an AI policy for ESD in the lower school,” Nutter said. “It’s a teacher-led non-handson format where teachers can introduce it, talk about it, or use it.” For the upper school, AI is unavoidable. Educators have started teaching students how to use AI as a tool that doesn’t interfere with their educational development. Upper school history teacher Marc Salz, for example, incorporates AI into assignments so students can learn to use it ethically. “I do a ‘Semester of AI Prompts’ assignment, and students have three prompts: studying for my class, test preparation and a general prompt that can be for you in life or another class,” Salz said. “There’s a prompt contextualization website that I use, and [students add] necessary details to get [themselves] a better prompt, along with uploading the correct [and appropriate] documents to help [themselves] out.” While many businesses and STEM-based companies continue to work towards blending AI into their work, many creative fields have focused on understanding how to use AI without losing their own sense of ingenuity. For alumna Lauren Shushi ’25, currently a sophomore and journalism major at UNC-Chapel Hill, AI is a tool that cannot produce a story as complex as a human can. “There is something fundamentally human about journalism and finding stories in people, places and events, and that human aspect of it is always changing,” Shushi said. “I don't think AI can keep up with that, or can really understand what the human interest angle is from a story like that [which is] starting from inception and edits to finishing and publishing.” Although AI cannot create anything of substance that remotely compares to humans, creative

majors like journalism can still use AI in ways that support their thinking. “You could use it to ask for transitions to be better,” Shushi said. “If you have a transition sentence, and you think it’s awkward, go ahead, put it in and see if it gives you suggestions. But you know that at the end of the day, they're just suggestions.” While AI is now being introduced into many fields, some career areas, such as the fine arts industry, do not believe in incorporating AI into their work. Ninety-two percent of visual artists do not like using generative AI in their workplace, according to a survey released by Carnegie Mellon University in April 2026. For junior and film student Miles Ivy, she believes that using AI in her film productions does not add value to her work. To Ivy, AI cannot create art that is as original and authentic as humans can. “I don't love it in the film space, especially if it's in terms of script writing,” Ivy said. “I don't like it for script making or story making because it's not anything original. It just uses content that it finds online and regenerates it into something new.” While AI can obey the rules of writing and create a piece of artwork, AI cannot follow the creativity encompassed in what only humans can produce. “When using AI [for scriptwriting], a script would be there in terms of there will be story, and there will be dialog,” Ivy said. “But the message scripts create, and the value a script holds, just wouldn't be there. The message wouldn't be conveyed like a human-to-human connection.” Although AI can do a lot of tasks in the business world, it lacks emotional intelligence, which is vital to establishing trust with employees and stakeholders, according to an article on Digital Transformation & AI at Harvard Business School. “AI could probably give you an advantage [in internships], especially since the workforce is using it,” Nutter said. “I think any kind of knowledge that you receive is always going to help you have a leg up in any kind of internship.”

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

The D.C.

Dispatch Nationwide cattle shortage drives record beef prices, impacts ESD school lunches By McCall Moore Subscriptions Manager

“

National food markets can influence the availability and cost of ingredients used in school dining programs. What might surprise students the most is how much goes into providing meals each day. Rebecca Compton Senior Food Service Director at SAGE Dining Services

very day, students open the SAGE Dining Services app, hoping to see their preferred menu that day. Most of the time, the protein is what makes or breaks the meal: chicken, fish or beef. But lately, one of those options has become increasingly difficult to put on a plate. Across the United States, the domestic cattle herd has fallen to its lowest level in 75 years, driving beef prices to historic highs. While many do not immediately connect ranchers to student lunches, these recordbreaking prices are affecting consumers, restaurants and suppliers across the country. This national shortage raises a local question: how do rising costs of beef affect Sage? Senior Food Service Director for SAGE Dining Services, Rebecca Compton, said that this problem is affecting not just the United States as a whole, but also ESD’s own lunch service. “Most students probably do not see all the planning that happens behind the scenes,” Compton said. “What we are hearing is that beef prices are being affected by a combination of factors, including a limited cattle supply, increased costs associated with raising and transporting cattle, and continued strong consumer demand. Different beef products are also affected differently.” According to Compton, rather than making large changes to portion sizes, their focus has been on thoughtful menu planning and purchasing strategies. “We work with suppliers to identify the best available products and pricing, and we look for opportunities to offer a variety of proteins while continuing to serve meals students enjoy,” Compton said.

PERCENT OF PER CAPITA

beef consumption in 2026 is expected to come from ground beef, according to S&P Global.

SAGE, just like many food services, has noticed that beef prices remain heightened. Working with food providers willing to be flexible helps them balance affordability with quality and variety. “Many people assume there is a single cause, when in reality food pricing is influenced by many interconnected factors,” Compton said. “Supply, demand, transportation, labor, packaging, and production costs all play a role. Changes in any one of those areas can affect the final cost of food.” According to NPR, one of the most significant factors behind the decline in livestock is the rising costs of raising cattle. As a result, the cost of diesel fuel, equipment parts, fertilizer and cattle have added up. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s data reveals that the prices of this cattle production cycle are expected to peak in 2026. The projected cattle price in 2026 is about $196.49 per hundredweight (cwt), which is about 6 percent higher than in 2024 and almost three times higher than in 2000. Compton also said that another common misunderstanding is that large food establishments can switch products when a price in another skyrockets. Many food service companies like SAGE have to plan each meal very carefully by achieving dietary guidelines, coordinating with suppliers, as well as taking into account the availability of a certain product. As a result of the beef shortage, the Trump Administration has decided to ramp up beef imports to lower prices in the United States. The decision to import beef has not only heavily impacted local food services, but also the actual cattle ranchers. The ranchers already have to balance logistics such as

BILLION POUNDS OF BEEF

are expected to be imported by the U.S. in marketing year 2026, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

disease, temperature, forest fires, and the decision to import only hurts them more. “When the announcement [to import more beef] happened, the price of live cattle and feeder cattle dropped immediately,” Rosewood Texas Cattle Rancher Storm Sands said. “Ranchers, who have already been dealing with high costs in seed, fertilizer and fuel, are now receiving less for their herds. If we want to ensure a healthy beef market going forward, we either need to increase the herd size or continue to import beef from foreign countries,” Sands continued. “Mexico has been a major supplier of beef cattle to the United States for many decades, but the New World screwworm fly essentially stopped imports of Mexican beef for most of 2026.” The New World screwworm is a parasitic disease spreading to all warm-blooded animals in the country. The USDA estimated that it would cost the Texas economy about $1.8 billion in livestock deaths, labor costs and medication expenses. Also, the USDA claimed that it would invest $21 million into producing sterile screwworms in Mexico to fight the screwworm outbreak. While beef imports are necessary to meet consumer demands, many are concerned as to whether the quality of beef in other countries will rise to the same standards as the beef in America. According to the Meat Import Council of America, the specific type of beef shortage is the “lean beef trim.” “People are [also] worried about the quality of beef being imported, as different countries have very different ways of raising beef,” Sands said. “Americans like to think of themselves as the gold standard

in beef production quality.” According to Farm Progress, the Trump administration has begun importing an additional 100,000 metric tons per month for three months from foreign suppliers, which will shift the majority of the additional beef supply over to Brazil. At the same time, Trump is ensuring that all imports will be of the highest quality, attempting to eliminate US citizens’ concerns. However, other beef-related concerns have arisen. “The Trump administration’s decision to increase beef imports will harm ranchers’ profitability,” Sands said. “People do not understand how thin [profit] margins are for cattle producers.” For farmers, the difficulty of borrowing money for equipment and the loss of farmland due to urbanization have become a greater challenge. NPR reported that many farmers are retiring from the agriculture industry, and according to the USDA, there has been a decline in cattle operations, resulting in a 75-year low for cattle herds. “Many do not realize that the average age of a cattle producer is in their late 50s and continues to increase every year,” Sands said. “Agriculture is not attracting a lot of young people.” When various conditions affect farmers and ranchers negatively, the food markets are also affected. “National food markets can influence the availability and cost of ingredients used in school dining programs,” Compton said. “What might surprise students most is how much goes into providing meals each day. Our goal is to balance all of those factors while continuing to provide high-quality, appealing meals for our school community.”

229 02 THOUSAND CATTLE FARMS

are operating in Texas according to the 2026 State Agriculture Overview. Texas is ranked first in the nation in the total number of cattle and calves, leading the nation in cattle.

ACTIVE CASES

of New World Screwworm in Texas. One was found in a horse, and one was found in a dog.

Source: S&P Global, U.S. Department of Agriculture, The 2026 State Agriculture Overview.

04 Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

NEWS

America's return to traditional conservatism

By Annabel Brown Communications Manager

most “The difficult part

about being a woman in the workplace is gaining the respect of your male peers, while balancing home life. Dr. Christine Stiles P'27 Plastic surgeon and mother of two

or the first time in history, women are now leading the workforce internationally. According to the Fortune 500, 98 percent of job gains in August of 2026 belonged to women. This surge of female participation in the workforce has created complex conversations surrounding a resurgence in conservative ideals surrounding gender. "A working mother is to be revered,” Tiffany Fisher P’27, said. “She is managing a professional life, and a home life, which I believe to be the equivalent of two full-time jobs.” Many American men would be quick to disagree with Fisher's claim; according to a 2025 poll from the 19th News, a nonprofit newsroom specific to gender equality issues, and SurveyMonkey, 59 percent of men believed society would benefit from a return to traditional gender roles. The poll, which surveyed more than 20,000 American adults, also found that 63 percent of respondents, including 69 percent of men and 58 percent of women, believed families are better off when one parent stays home with the children. This traditional mindset has been reflected in many aspects of American news, both in politics and in pop culture. After the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk on Sept. 10, 2025, his widow, Erika Kirk, assumed leadership of Turning Point USA, the organization her husband co-founded. After Erika Kirk’s takeover, Turning Point began to frequently discuss women's role in society, with a common phrase circulating: Biblical Womanhood, a concept that emphasizes separate gender roles in a Christian heterosexual relationship. Growing public attention surrounding Kirk's views on women in society has reignited debates over traditional gender roles. Former White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has emphasized this concept as well. She attributed her permanent leave as press secretary to wanting to pursue a traditional home life with her two young children. While she moved to a position with MAGA Inc., her departure from the White House displayed a similar dilemma that many working mothers face: how to balance professional ambition with the responsibilities of a family. For Dr. Christine Stiles P’27, a plastic surgeon and mother, this struggle is familiar. While Stiles has experienced tremendous success in her chosen field, it hasn’t come without its challenges. “The hardest part about balancing work and home life is never having enough time to do a great job at both,” Stiles said. “Often, one will demand more time and the other suffers.” Additionally, the decision to remain in practice came with its own set of challenges. Stiles said surgery remains a male-dominated field with long and demanding hours. “The most difficult part about being a woman in the workplace is gaining the respect of your male peers, while balancing home life,” Stiles said. These pressures are reflected in a 2026 report from Catalyst, a nonprofit focused on women in the workplace. It found that women have begun to exit the workforce at an alarming rate, with 455,000 women leaving their jobs between Jan. and Aug. of 2025. Among these women who voluntarily left their jobs, 42 percent said childcare was the number one reason for leaving. Additionally, nearly one in five cited dissatisfaction with their pay and work-hour flexibility.

For many women, leaving a career doesn't simply reflect a desire to return to traditional gender roles; it reflects the difficulty of maintaining both a career and family life without workplace support. This can be due to inadequate scheduling flexibility, low paychecks and lack of access to childcare. All of these factors make it nearly impossible for working mothers to maintain their careers. Fisher has experienced this difficulty firsthand. Before becoming a stay-at-home mother, Fisher was the director of global travel for a hospitality company. After her daughter Maddy turned 2, Fisher’s family moved to Malaysia for her husband's job. Fisher originally hoped to continue her career there but was unable to obtain a work visa. Although initially disappointed, Fisher said she realized working would have been too difficult while raising a young child in an unfamiliar country as her husband traveled each week internationally. When her family eventually returned to the United States, Fisher had another choice to make. “I definitely could have gone back to working outside of the home when we returned to the States, but that would have meant hiring a nanny and potentially traveling for work again, and I chose to not do that during this period of my life,” Fisher said. “I know I am blessed to have the flexibility of being able to make that choice.” Still, Fisher said that being a stay-at-home mother comes with stereotypes of its own, particularly the perception that a person who does not earn income isn't contributing. “As I tell my family, I am the CEO of our household, and it’s the best job I’ve ever had,” Fisher said. This debate isn’t just limited to politics or the workplace. On social media, the rise of “tradwives” has captivated Gen Z social media users; a “tradwife,” per MerriamWebster dictionary, is a married woman who embraces traditional gender roles and values. One of the influencers most frequently associated with the trend is Nara Smith, an influencer whose content revolves around making food from scratch. However, she rejects this label. In a July appearance on the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, Smith said that she believes she is not a tradwife, and expressed confusion as to how she became a “poster child” for the tradwife movement. Her rejection of this label caused even more debate and negative commentary online. The debate surrounding Smith highlights the scrutiny of placing women into distinct categories, as a stay-at-home mother may have had a previously demanding career, and a working mother may deeply prioritize her role at home, and a woman whose life appears traditional on social media may not consider herself traditional at all. For Fisher, the future of women in the workplace may depend less on which path women choose and more on whether women are there to support them along the way. Reflecting on a comment her daughter made while interning at an engineering firm over the summer, Fisher said she “relished” hearing her daughter say that she was comfortable talking with both the veteran and young female employees. While their advice varied, Fisher said there was one common message at its core: “They were all willing and excited to support her, coach her and lift her up.” After an exit interview with the company’s CEO, Fisher's daughter asked her a question: “How does she do it all?” Fisher simply responded, “She’s a woman.”

esdeagleedition.org

WEB-EXCLUSIVE CONTENT Visit our website, esdeagleedition.org, for the latest school news, announcements, upcoming events, student features and other campus updates. The site provides important information and a convenient way to stay informed about what's happening throughout the school year.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Over the summer, teachers prepare for the upcoming school year and finalize their curriculum. Facilities deep clean classrooms and ensure a healthy environment for the school. Security is at the school all summer, keeping the campus safe for those coming in and out of it. Story by Pruitt Menter

EAGLES 101 ENTERS ESD CURRICULUM

Incoming freshmen at ESD no longer have the option of taking a semester of Health during the school year or the summer. Instead, all ninth grade students are required to enroll in Eagles 101. Story by Lexi Merryman

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TSA DC TRIP

The ESD Technology Student Association team had a successful trip to Washington, D.C., for their competition June 22-26, from sightseeing to excelling in the tournament. Story by James Crigler

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

NEWS

DFW Airport’s terminal F brings new space, gates, restaurants, amenities By Perla Wolff Staff Writer

TERMINAL UNDER CONSTRUCTION DFW Airport's Terminal F conceptual rendering exterior. The groundbreaking of Terminal F construction took place Nov.19, 2024. This is the airport's sixth terminal and the first new construction of an entire terminal at the airport since 2005. Photo provided by DFW Airport legal department

W “

Stepping into this inviting space postflight was the perfect welcome home. Charlotte Traylor '25 Current Stanford University student

alking past DFW Airport's new F terminal on Aug. 29, Stanford University student and ESD alumna Charlotte Traylor '25 was immediately struck by the floor-to-ceiling windows, modern layout and variety of seating. She was coming home from a summer internship to visit her family before flying back to Stanford for fall semester. A new terminal, and the sixth at DFW Airport, Terminal F, is being constructed to help with the ongoing growth of American Airlines and North Texas. This $4 billion terminal will deliver new experiences to the Dallas-Fort Worth community. Construction began in 2024 and is rumored to be fully complete by 2031. Terminal F will feature Dallas restaurants, stores, a new lounge and 31 gates. “I love the clean, modern feel, clear signage, floor-to-ceiling windows and variety of seating options,” Traylor said. “Stepping into this inviting space post-flight was the perfect welcome home.” Drew Meng P ’29, an avid DFW traveler, flies around two to three times a month as a CEO for a product building company. He also noticed the construction. “My hope is that they add more premium lounges, which is helpful for more frequent travelers, and also just for the airport to be easier to get in and out of,” Meng said. According to a statement from American Airlines News, with 15 gates opening soon and another 16 in the future, the airline plans to use all 31 gates in the new terminal. This will improve its operations and make the experience better for connecting passengers, who make up about 60 percent of DFW’s total

passenger traffic. “I would say cleaner bathrooms, bigger amenities and more space to sit are some more of my main hopes for this new addition,” Meng said. Getting into Dallas Fort Worth Airport is not as simple as it used to be. Not only is the traffic outside Terminal F causing problems for passengers trying to get to their gates in other terminals on time, but DFW has also closed many parking areas, making it difficult for passengers to even enter the airport. As excited as travelers are for a more modern and efficient addition to DFW, the traffic is a major turn-off for many. For travelers who have experienced the first parts of Terminal F, the changes are more significant than just an airport addition. According to American Airlines News, the portion of the airport already underway includes amenities such as a new SkyLink station, a modernized baggage handling system, a 400,000-square-foot concourse and a pedestrian connection to Terminal D. "However they choose to link Terminal F into Starlink, I hope that it’s sufficient and operates well with the other terminals,” Meng said. Mandy Grassley, a DFW American Airlines flight attendant, works three to five days per week. She often finds navigating between terminals one of the biggest challenges she faces at the airport. Grassley explained that traveling from one terminal to another can take a long time, especially when she arrives at Terminal D and needs to reach another terminal. “I think potentially, a new

180 $1.6

BILLION

CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS

currently going on at DFW Airport

INVESTMENT FUND

provided by American Airlines

terminal makes the airport a little bit more difficult because it just continues to spread the airport out,” Meng said. “It's not going to make it easier because easier would be a little bit more centralized.” Beyond DFW creating a better space for passengers, Terminal F is expected to make a notable economic impact on North Texas. According to the DFW Airport Newsroom, the airport currently supports 648,000 jobs and contributes roughly $78.3 billion to the region’s economy each year. As the airport continues to grow, projects like new airport terminals are intended to help DFW keep up with increasing demand for tourists, businesses and jobs throughout the area. “Positively, maybe it will be pretty and modern and make it better for our passengers. And maybe we won’t run out of gates with a new terminal,” Grassley said. The new terminal is also bringing changes to the surrounding areas of the airport. As construction continues, DFW has its South Express parking facilities to make room for the Terminal F expansion. The project is part of DFW’s larger $12 billion DFW Forward program, which includes new gates, facility improvements and other upgrades around the airport. The future terminal will also have new restaurants and businesses, including Dallas favorites like Nekter Juice Bar, Mi Cocina and Cookie Society, giving passengers more diverse options while they travel. “Honestly, I don’t love DFW much, but I’m hoping it will improve,” Grassley said. “The construction has made it very hard these past few months. On a

NEW RESTAURANTS

will open in terminal F

positive note, they're adding some good restaurants in Terminal F.” The construction of Terminal F has grown significantly from the airport’s original plans. Construction began in November 2024 with plans for a 15-gate terminal and a $1.6 billion budget. In May 2025, DFW and American Airlines announced an expanded plan that increased the terminal to 31 gates and the investment to about $4 billion. The first phase is expected to open in 2027, with the final phase planned for 2030.” As DFW continues expanding, the focus is not only on adding more gates, but on making the airport easier and more comfortable to navigate. “I think DFW is such a convenient airport for college students, or any Dallasite, because you can fly practically anywhere in the world from our hometown airport,” Traylor said. “However, ensuring that operations run smoothly is also a big price in convenience.” Terminal F will feature a new lounge concept called “Provisions by Admirals Club.” Rather than a traditional sit-down buffet meal, American Airlines is creating an upscale grab-and-go lounge for travelers on the move. It is built for efficiency, featuring a section of fresh food, premium beverages and travel essentials you can take before your flight. American Airlines expects this to improve the customer experience by delivering more choice and convenience for a higher-quality experience. “I love being able to enjoy a nutritious meal in the airport before my flight,” Traylor said. “I can imagine this convenience would be appreciated by busy business travelers and college students alike.”

BILLION

OF INVESTMENT THROUGH

the 2029 five-year strategic plan at DFW Airport Source: DFW Airport Newsroom

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

NEWS

Meta lawsuit forces major changes to protect teens on social media

By Charlie Rawson & William Hawkins Staff Writers

“

Social media puts these normal curiosities under a spotlight and creates a perfect storm for comparison. Mary Ellen Davison Middle and Upper School Emotional Wellness Counselor

n Aug. 26, Meta reached an agreement with both Democratic and Republican state attorneys general that will cost the company approximately $18 billion and will require major structural changes in how teenagers will use its platforms. A recent lawsuit by several states, including California, Colorado, New Jersey and Kentucky, accused Meta of deceiving its users on Facebook and Instagram in ways that encourage use among children, as well as failing to inform the public about important risks. For most teenagers around the world, checking social media platforms like Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat is a normal part of their day. Users post reels, message their friends and share funny videos or memes. However, some government officials argue that social media platforms can be harmful and are designed to keep users engaged rather than prioritizing their safety. “Social media companies bear the same responsibilities as Ford or Chevrolet, or any other sort of manufacturer,” government teacher Adam Walsh said. “They bear the responsibility to make a product which is safe for its users.” The case has become part of a major debate over who bears responsibility for the mental health

A Global Focus SINGAPORE AIRLINES NAMED NO.1

CNN said Singapore Airlines was named the world’s best airline for 2026 at the annual Skytrax Awards, which recognize excellence across the global aviation industry. The award comes as airlines continue to face challenges amidst wars, climate-related disruptions, rising fuel prices and difficult passenger behavior. Singapore Airlines has won the prestigious title six times, most recently in 2023, reclaiming it from Qatar Airways, which won last year and has earned the title nine times in the past 15 years. CNN notes that the award has largely remained among a small group of seven elite airlines, many of which also ranked in this year’s top 20.

Image credits Wikimedia Commons

impacts of social media on youth. “Parents control what their kids can do and what they get,” sophomore Nick Eastin said. “But also, kids need to be responsible for themselves. They need to be able to determine when social media is negatively affecting them and when it is time to step away.” For students, social media can be very hard to put down and can become very addictive. Eastin has had social media since he was 8 years old and first started by making videos on YouTube. As an active Instagram user, he understands firsthand how addictive Meta’s platforms can be. “[Social media] is something that plays a large role in my life,” Eastin said. “I’d admit that sometimes I would consider myself addicted to social media and have trouble putting my phone up.” According to the Office of the Attorney General website on Aug. 26, Brian Schwalb, Attorney General of the District of Columbia, announced during a press conference that Meta will pay up to $17.1 billion for intentionally exploiting kids with addictive social media platforms. Under the agreement, Meta will make payments to the states over the next 10 years and implement new protections for young users. “This is a monumental public

health victory for young people in D.C. and across the country, and the safety features Meta is required to install will fundamentally and immediately change how young people use Instagram and Facebook,” Schwalb said in a press conference. “This successful, coordinated multi-state litigation has resulted in Meta being the first platform to come to the table and agree to such comprehensive reforms. It will not be the last.” In an article published in the Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science in 2021 titled “Social Media and Mental Health: Benefits, Risks, and Opportunities for Research and Practice,” the authors wrote that social media use has been linked to increased levels of anxiety and depression. Social media has also proven to build a cycle in which teenagers constantly compare themselves to others as well as seek validation through likes and comments; this comparison can lead to feelings of isolation and low self-esteem. “They can choose to be on Facebook. They can choose to be on Instagram, but they don’t have to be on Facebook or Instagram,” Walsh said. “That has always been their defense, that this is about individual choice and liberty, and I think that’s a fair argument.” Following the lawsuits, Meta will be required to implement several new safety features, including “nighttime blocks” that will restrict children under the age of 18 from accessing the app from midnight to 6 a.m., age-verification measures and more user-friendly parental controls. “I think that this was always the Achilles’ heel of these companies because even if the government isn’t going to regulate them, they are still going to get regulated by lawsuits,” Walsh said. “If that’s not going to change behavior, I don’t know what will.” Many of Meta’s new restrictions target the mechanics that make social media difficult to put down. According to the same story published in 2021, infinite scrolling allows users to continuously view new content without reaching a stopping point, making it easy to

lose track of time. Notifications from likes, comments and messages can also draw teenagers back onto their phones throughout the day. “Teenagers are developmentally interested in what their peers are doing and what their peers think of them,” middle and upper school emotional wellness counselor Mary Ellen Davison said. “Social media puts these normal curiosities under a spotlight and creates a perfect storm for comparison and feeling like everyone has it more together than you.” Meta has acknowledged that they ignored the safety of young users. The company has stated that the lawsuit is oversimplifying teen mental health. They argue that a teen’s well-being is affected by many factors other than social media, including pressure from school and unsupportive relationships. Meta has also pointed out that safety features in the past were not very effective, like their teen accounts. For students like Eastin, managing social media responsibly is not up to just one group; it requires effort from tech companies, parents and users alike. While Meta will now face stricter requirements regarding the safety of young users, parents and teenagers will have to reconsider how they will incorporate social media into their daily lives. “To the extent social media companies target young people and create a product designed to get and hold their attention, the companies have a large share of the responsibility,” Davison said. “Parents can have some influence as far as providing and monitoring devices, and young people, depending on their personality and maturity, can exercise control as well.” LOSING SLEEP Eighth grader Ari Fine is glued to his iPad, fully immersed into his favorite Meta-owned social media platform, Instagram. "I sometimes stay up until 2 a.m. because I get into a trap of doomscrolling," Fine said. "I say just five more minutes and then I end up staying up for another hour." Photo by Charlie Rawson

A deeper look at the events happening around the world, compiled by News Editor Barrett Coble and Asst. News Editor Britt Reynolds

NEW INVASIVE SPECIES IN CANADA

The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect from Southeast Asia, and it was officially spotted in Canada for the first time on Sept. 15, 2026. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency confirmed that live spotted lanternflies were found in Windsor, Ontario, where the insect feeds on the sap of more than 100 types of plants and can harm grapevines. This could be a problem for grape and wine farmers, gardens, forests and other plants. Officials are checking the area and limiting the movement of plants and other materials that could have the insect. They are also asking people to report any spotted lanternflies or their egg masses.

Dreamstime/TNS

SHIP ATTACKED IN HORMUZ

According to an article by CBS News, early on Sept. 18, a U.K. A Navy agency’s tanker was shot by an Iranian projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran recently reported that the ship was struck for illegally crossing the strait. CBS also reported that on Sept. 17, Trump was poised to make a "big decision" on whether to launch a major assault to "annihilate" the Iranian regime. Additionally, according to an article by CBS, the U.S. State Department is offering a reward of up to $15 million for information that could disrupt the financial networks of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The Rewards for Justice program is seeking information about the IRGC’s sources of revenue, including illicit oil sales, front companies, sanctions-evasion networks, financial institutions and businesses controlled by the organization or its supporters. It also wants information on how the IRGC transfers money and resources to allied terrorist and militia groups, including Hamas, Hezbollah and militias in Iraq. Aerial photograph of boats anchored off Oman's northern Musandam Peninsula near the Strait of Hormuz on June 27, 2026. (/AFP via Getty Images/TNS)

TRUMP BANS NEWS ORGANIZATIONS President Trump announced Friday, Sept. 18, on Truth Social that he plans to ban CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House. He stated that this effort is “effective immediately,” and he accuses the news outlets of spreading “fake news” about him and his administration. When justifying his efforts, he did not share a specific instance where a news institution spread a piece of fake news, but he said his decision was made in response to several instances of false reporting over time. He also warned that other news outlets may face similar restrictions. By Saturday morning, reporters from all three organizations were denied entry to the White House and also had their press credentials disabled or confiscated. The networks have said this decision was an unconstitutional restriction on press access and say they will continue covering the administration while defending their First Amendment rights. Video tripods sit empty on the White House grounds on Sept. 21, 2026, in Washington, D.C. Reporters from MS NOW, CNN, and Politico have been blocked from accessing the White House since Sept. 19 after President Trump said he was banning the three outlets from the property. (Finn Gomez/Getty Images/TNS)

esdeagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

NEWS

The $40 trillion question: what to do with the national debt? By Craighton Jefferies Managing Editor

“

If we can use government debt to generate more real GDP than the amount of debt we put into it, then it's actually worth it. Travis Gilmore Upper School History and Religion Teacher

ix trillion, nine hundred eight billion, four hundred sixtytwo million, eight hundred sixty-seven thousand, twelve McDonald’s Big Mac Burgers. Or if you prefer it in digits: 6,908,462,867,012. That is how many Big Macs you could buy with the United States national debt: $40 trillion. On Aug. 19, 2026, the United States’ national debt crossed $40 trillion. “I think there's a lot of fearmongering around the national debt that is not really helpful,” upper school AP macroeconomics teacher Travis Gilmore said. “Forty trillion sounds like a lot of money, and it is. But a much better metric than many economists regard as an indicator [of whether the debt] is a problem or not is the ratio of your debt to your annual real GDP.” National debt is calculated by the total price of taxes, the government’s revenue, subtracted by the total government spending. National debt is a heavily debated topic, especially with the United States being so large, but not the most important metric. Both political parties use a concept called “deficit spending,” which means increasing spending in order to increase GDP, but this also increases debt. “[The ratio] is a much better metric because if you're comparing the size of the liabilities to the assets that are produced every year, the real assets of GDP, the physical goods and real services provided,” Gilmore said. “That's going to give you an indication of if we were to try to just pay this off with the power of our economy.” While deficit spending increases national debt, it also decreases unemployment, increases national GDP and funds necessary infrastructure. Along with increasing the debt, there are also

negatives that directly impact the citizens. From 2021 to 2024, as a result of deficit spending, “food prices increased by 22.6 percent, gas prices increased by 32.3 percent and rent increased by 24.1 percent,” according to the House Budget Committee. “Mortgage rates rose from 2.8 percent to a peak of 7.8 percent, credit card rates rose from 14.8 percent to a peak of 21.8 percent [and] new car loan rates rose from 5.0 percent to a peak of 8.4 percent.” The main problem with deficit spending is that it increases the cost of living due to inflation and rising interest costs. There is also a problem with a concept called crowding out, when the government demands loanable funds from the citizens. “The phenomenon of crowding out supposedly is when the government has to borrow money through the issuing of bonds from the public; they are demanding loanable funds,” Gilmore said. “[Crowding out] raises the price of loanable funds, and the price of loanable funds is interest rates, and so that is going to cool the economy and possibly pull us into recessionary times.” Sometimes, this action is necessary because the national government spends money to support and benefit the citizens of the United States. Federal revenues and taxes are not always enough to keep the United States afloat, according to Fiscal Data, a website created by The Department of the Treasury and the Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The national debt allows the federal government to pay for programs and services even if it does not have funds available at the moment, usually due to a decrease in revenue, according to Fiscal Data. Decreases in federal revenue,

along with increased government spending, further increase the deficit. Citizens need uninterrupted funding of programs and services for health, welfare and security. While there are both positives and negatives to having such a large national debt, deficit spending is required to boost the economy and provide services to citizens. There is not an exact, unsustainable number when it comes to the national debt. It is more based on the ratio of debt compared to annual GDP. “When countries around the world, people around the world, anybody that could hold a government bond [are] saying, 'You know what? I'm not sure this is ever going to really be paid back. I'm not sure I can really trust this financial instrument of the Treasury bond anymore,’” Gilmore said, “that would be a problem for future generations: if we were to give them a bill that just can't really be handled anymore.” So while CNN says that at $40

trillion, if the United States paid $1 billion of debt each day, it would take nearly 110 years to finish. The numbers may be scary, but if the value of the dollar and United States Treasury bonds hold, the debt can keep increasing due to the worldwide trust in the United States’ government. “If we can use government debt to generate more real GDP than the amount of debt we put into it, then it's actually worth it,” Gilmore said. “We should just think of this purely as a trade-off, and if the trade-off's worth it, do it. If it's not, lower the debt. So look at the trade-off, don't just look at this like a household budget.” DEBT DISPLAY A sign displays national debt at a bus stop in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington, D.C., on Aug. 20. Signs have been put up across the U.S., made by the nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation. Photo provided by Anna Moneymaker/ Getty Images/TNS

A remote Texas treasure faces an uncertain future By Searcy Mae Ferguson Social Media Manager

ith only 300,000 visitors a year, Big Bend National Park in West Texas is one of the least visited parks in the United States due to its isolation, according to Texas Chronicles. Its vast landscape contains one of the country's most diverse ecosystems, and it is now the site of an ongoing debate over border security and protection. But even though visitation has increased from 314,102 in 2014 to 461,459 in 2024, according to the National Park Service, the park’s geographic location has become the center of national debate regarding immigration and border security. About 118 miles of the park's border runs along the international border between the United States and Mexico. “I have been to a lot of state parks, but Big Bend is different from all of them,” sophomore Charlie Swann said. “It is so big but not many people visit it; I think that's what makes it so special.” According to a newsletter from the Texas Tribune, ever since President Trump returned to office in January of 2025, he has begun efforts to build barriers and spark other construction projects along parts of the U.S.-Mexico border. These plans directly impact Big Bend National Park because it is located within the West Texas Border; that area has no continuous physical border wall currently. According to the National Park Service, despite its lack of tourists, the park is home to hundreds of species: over 1,200 plant species, 450 bird species, 75 mammals species and 56 reptiles species. The park contains more types of birds and cacti than any other U.S. National Park. “Going to Big Bend when I was little, all of the wildlife was really

cool to see,” Swann said. “I think it is important to protect the animals and their environment so people can continue to experience the park the same way in the future.” For many, Big Bend has more than wildlife. The park contains vertical cliffs that rise 1,500 feet above the river, featuring limestone gorges like the Santa Elena Canyon. However, the Big Bend region has historically seen relatively few illegal border crossings compared to other areas of the Southwestern border. U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 3,096 migrant encounters in the sector during fiscal year 2025, only representing a little more than 1 percent of the 237,538 apprehensions recorded across the U.S.-Mexico border. Heavy machinery and bulldozers arrived in Big Bend National Park in August. USCBP said crews were beginning a survey to build an access road and vehicle barriers. The proposed construction has sparked conflict among government officials and enthusiastic park visitors. “I think it is important to keep National Parks the same as when

they were first named a state park,” Swann said. “If the land is preserved, Big Bend will hold a piece of Texas history forever.” Beyond governmental leaders and residents, local politicians are now getting involved. The sheriffs of Brewster, Terrell and other counties have questioned the rationale behind the possible construction of a wall, as many are unsure as to whether it is the most effective way to approach border security. Even both Republicans and Democratic officials have raised concerns about construction in the region. “I’m for strong border security, but not a wall through Big Bend,” Robert Garza, the Republican candidate for Texas House District 74, told the Texas Tribune. “Big Bend’s terrain is one of the toughest natural barriers we have. Technology and manpower will do more there than a physical barrier or “wall”. The on-going conflict surrounding Big Bend highlights how government officials are balancing security and preservation. CBP Commissioner Rodney Scott announced on Aug. 17

that construction work in Big Bend will be paused while he personally conducts an “on-theground evaluation.” The pause was scheduled to last through Aug. 31. Scott goes on to tell the Texas Tribune that federal officials are attempting to balance preservation with border security. CBP has altered information about its plan and has indicated online that border barriers could be built near or within state and national park land. Federal officials, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have said they were told that a 30-foot-tall border wall would not be constructed inside Big Bend National Park. As federal officials continue evaluating plans for the region, the future of construction inside and around Big Bend remains uncertain. According to the Austin American Statesman, a group of land owners and Conserve Big Bend, a non-profit organization that represents West Texas land owners, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Sept. 14 in Washington D.C. to block the project permanently. Swann’s memories of the park, along with many other Texans in the area, are taking on new meaning as infrastructure projects begin throughout the Big Bend region. “Big Bend National Park has really made an impact on my opinion of national parks because of its natural beauty,” Swann said. “Even though I visited when I was a kid, I still think about how exquisite and natural it is.” EXECUTIVE BORDER 14165 Boquillas Canyon in the Big Bend National Park. President Trump signed Executive Order 14165, "Securing our Borders," on January 20, 2025, which plans to build a border wall that would affect the flora and fauna of the park and the region. Photo by Nathan Rosenthal

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

LIFE

The mirage of unity: Balancing individuality with community

Illustration by Stella Bartley

By Stella Bartley Copy Editor

“

I certainly do not think we should give up on unity, but I do think we should really reconsider what we mean when throwing around the term. Tag Bostian Senior

n the first night of the senior retreat, the Class of 2027 was given the seemingly simple task of creating a compilation of common goals for the upcoming school year. When students began sharing their ideas, several key words emerged, such as unity, belonging and community. As this list took shape, some seniors questioned whether creating a unified class mattered more than valuing their peers’ differences. These different perspectives raise the larger question: should ESD’s primary goal really be to unite its students or to embrace them as individuals? For the Ann and Lee Hobson Family Head of School David Baad, achieving unity does not mean that every student should strive to be the same. Instead, Baad believes that unity should be about coming together around a shared set of values and aspirations. “If you are talking about a community being unified, it means that there is a set of beliefs and goals that everyone in the group buys into,” Baad said. “I think in the ESD context, that is embodied in our Episcopal identity, in our call to treat [others kindly] and respect the dignity of every human being.” While having a shared set of beliefs can bring a community together, Baad has found that maintaining unity when faced with ideological differences can be a difficult challenge to overcome. “I think if people have very different beliefs, it is hard for a community to be truly unified,” Baad said. “I do think that there has to be at least some way [to come together]; I mean, for instance, when you enter into [the ESD] community, you have to affirm and recognize that there is dignity in every human being. That is one of the main values the collective [student body] must find important.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the level of connectedness that students experience at school can drastically benefit their mental

health while simultaneously increasing their likelihood of developing positive behaviors such as engagement in physical activity. While Baad believes that having a set of shared values is the foundation for unity, Senior Class Dean Marcela Garcini thinks that accepting students for their differences is what allows a community to truly come together. “I think that you build unity when everybody learns to respect each other and understand [what makes them] different,” Garcini said. “Even if everybody brings different flavors, the cake can still be very good. That is the most important thing to remember.” Garcini believes it is important to be aware of the diverse experiences students have outside of school. “Every person has a different background and experiences,” Garcini said. “When [I] talk about differences, it is not just about culture and race; it is also the little things… I think that we can and should learn to look past [these differences] because every student deserves to feel like they are a part of this community.” Much like Garcini, senior Tag Bostian believes that building an authentic, strong community requires social awareness. According to Bostian, constructing a unified community comes from being intentional about each interaction we have. “To be in unity, there must be consistency of some kind, whether in activity, belief, attitude or goal; this again requires ‘follow through,’” Bostian said. “I am unsure if we can, in the conventional sense, fully unite together to be in an almost telepathic agreeability as a group of conjoined minds with no caveats. I certainly do not think we should give up on unity, but I do think we should really reconsider what we mean when throwing around the term.” For Bostian, this “follow through” means taking the time to get to know others beyond their first impression and develop

a deeper understanding of one another. “I feel you can and should be your ‘true’ self [at ESD], but this is not really my concern. My main concern is whether or not you are this same true self in the eyes of another,” Bostian said. “In the academic rat race for prestige we find ourselves in, I feel there is no legitimate time taken for this interaction or understanding, and thus we give up on ‘follow through’ and mistakenly default to an authorial ‘intent’ sealed within ourselves, which can only take us so far.” While Bostian believes that understanding others is key to creating a unified community, senior Leila Lyle* has found that working toward understanding herself has helped her to feel much more secure at ESD. “I feel like I can be my true self at ESD, but it hasn't always been that way for me,” Lyle said. “In middle school, I really struggled with finding who I was, and I think that made me very self-conscious. Everyone seemed to know exactly who they were and were proud of that, but I never fully felt comfortable with myself. I do think, however, that middle school is a pivotal experience to have, and it didn’t take me until much later to realize that I wasn’t the only self-conscious person; some people were just a lot better at hiding it than I was.” As Lyle learned to accept herself, she began to open up to those around her, allowing her to eventually overcome some of her biggest social fears. “As a much more introverted person than the majority of my peers, it can be very difficult for me to open up to people and to be my true self at all times,” Lyle said. “I feel like being at ESD has helped me combat a lot of my social anxiety, and now I am much more comfortable and confident in who I am. I have adopted the mindset that being myself is okay, and I don’t need to change who I am, or pretend to be someone else, to be accepted.”

For upper school English teacher Tolly Salz, however, being truly understood as an individual is only the first step toward finding a place within a community. Without belonging, Salz believes that a unified community cannot feasibly exist. “I believe that students and our community do prioritize unity over individuality. I would also contend that most communities and students all across the United States do,” Salz said. “However, I know of many teachers who do value individuality and sincerely value an individual’s contributions to the community. We also want every student to feel a sense of belonging. I think the question is how to honor their unique contributions to this community to ensure belonging; [this] piece is what is needed in a truly unified community.” According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, establishing a strong sense of belonging is directly linked to the academic success of a student. Ensuring that schools emphasize the importance of belonging also benefits students emotionally and socially. Lyle herself has personally experienced the impact of belonging. Over the years, she has come to realize that without individuality, a “unified” community means nothing. “Both unity and individuality are vital, but in my opinion it takes individuality to have unity at all,” Lyle said. “If we are all the same, then unity doesn’t really exist. Individuality is an idea I think more people should [embrace]. It is okay, and good, to be different from the masses, to wear the clothes that you want to wear, to do an extracurricular that isn't exactly ‘popular.’ When people start to conform, we have lost what unity truly is.” *The name has been changed to maintain the anonymity of the student.

eagleedition.org

a R m e u r a

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

Brin ing a T a

ucked away in Dallas’ Chinatown is a minimalist, reasonably priced Japanese ramen spot that may appear unassuming at first, but quickly proves that its simplicity is part of its charm. With its understated atmosphere and beautifully crafted bowls, the restaurant offers a refreshing change from the city’s more elaborate dining scenes. Known for its customizable ramen bowels, Maru Ramen offers a comforting take on a beloved Japanese classic. Upon arriving, the restaurant set a welcoming mood, with a warm atmosphere that felt both relaxed and inviting. My sister and I were greeted with folk tunes playing softly in the background, and we were immediately seated at one of their five contemporary wooden tables. The menu offered a thoughtful selection without feeling overwhelming, with just 10 appetizers and nine different ramen bowls. After careful deliberation and a couple recommendations from our waitress, we decided to start with their chicken gyozas, and they were outstanding. These beautiful dumplings were as pleasing to the eye as they were to the palate. They were thoughtfully presented on a small black dish, arranged in a pinwheel over a bed of shredded white cabbage with a housemade ponzu sauce coating the bottom of the plate. The gyoza itself was pan-fried to perfection, offering a satisfying crunch when I bit into the outer wrapper. The filling was both savory and juicy, seasoned with hints of garlic and ginger and combined with finely chopped scallions. Yet, the sauce is what brought the flavors together, as it balanced each bite with a subtle umami taste.

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K i t s aK a t a ' s Japne

In each issue, a staff member highlights a hidden gem in the DFW food-scene. This time, Co-Editor-in-Chief Lilly Traylor visited Maru Ramen, a traditional-meets-modern Japanese ramen spot tucked away in Dallas's Chinatown.

ec in e to the Eagl

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But the star of the show was the vegetarian ramen. It arrived in a large grey bowl with a traditional wooden spoon tucked beneath the noodles. With a selection between hakata, delicate and thin noodles, and sapporo, curly noodles with more of a bite, we landed on the hakata noodles. The bowl featured a light miso broth topped with two slices of yellow picked radish, sauteed greens, chopped red peppers, scallions, minced red onion and a soft-boiled egg. My sister and I agreed that the savory miso paired with the tender noodles and array of colorful toppings offered a unique yet flavorful experience. Our favorite bite included a combination of the broth, noodles and, uniquely, the yellow pickled radish, which offered a tangy flavor contrast. While we enjoyed our ramen, the bowl was plenty for the two of us to share, and we’d recommend doing the same. To round out our meal, we ordered the green tea and red bean mochi ice creams, which I definitely think are worth trying. Both were wrapped with a thin mochi layer and were topped with a dollop of whipped cream. The green tea mochi was our favorite, as the sweetness of the whipped cream paired well with the slight bitterness of the green tea flavor. The red bean mochi had an earthy element, but the flavor was more mellow, allowing us to truly enjoy the chewy texture of the mochi wrapping. Maru Ramen is definitely worth a visit. Whether you are looking to enjoy a simple weekend lunch or maybe a unique dessert, this restaurant is a reasonably priced option outside of the Dallas bubble. Located on 400 N. Greenville Ave., in the heart of Chinatown, Maru Ramen earned a 10 out of 10.

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

LIFE

Seniors begin senior traditions on the first day of school: self expression, creativity, class bonding By Sloane Everett Photo and Design Editor

“

I think [painting] is owning your own space and letting creativity be welcome. Marcela Garcini Senior Dean

t 8 a.m. on Aug. 19, the class of 2027 began to pull into their freshly painted parking spots, their car windows covered in bright, colorful chalk paint, excited to start senior year and experience their first of many lasts. “Driving to school on the first day was super bittersweet,” senior Story Sinelli said. “I drove [my sister] Sky to school, and it was such a weird feeling that I was going to my last first day of high school while she was going to her first first day of high school. It was super surreal.” Every year, at the beginning of August,seniors are allowed to customize and paint their parking spots. This is a tradition that most seniors look forward to taking part in. According to ESDPA Associate Head of School Ruth Burke, around 20 years ago, senior student parking was moved to the north lot, because the student driving population was increasing. This allowed seniors to have their own reserved spots, which ultimately started the painting tradition. During painting, senior dean Marcela Garcini walked around the parking lot, looked at spots in progress, showed the seniors the “quick tricks” to paint and clean up, and used the opportunity to get to know every student. She enjoyed it when she got to show seniors how to clean their spot before painting and how to tape

the “easy way.” “My favorite moment this year…was when Kurji was wearing black socks [while] stepping on the [wet] paint, and he went home and all the wooden floors got his footprints because he was stepping in wet pink paint,” Garcini said. “So that was funny.” Seniors were given certain times and dates when they could all come together to paint. People brought speakers to play music, shared paint supplies and walked around to admire their peers’ work. This activity helped the seniors bond while expressing themselves through their artwork and start off their year having fun. “I think [painting] is owning your own space and letting creativity be welcome,” Garcini said. “Sometimes I walk and pass by [a parking spot] and I [think], ‘oh my goodness, they are so creative and artistic.’ It's a fun way to start the year, knowing that that is gonna be your place, that no one else is gonna park there. You have your personal stamp in the parking lot.” Parking spot designs can hold sentimental meaning, or they can simply be a cute design found on Pinterest. Sinelli said that she wanted her parking spot to include details that her younger self would have loved. The result featured giraffes and the phrase “Live a great story” on a pink background.

“Giraffes have always been my favorite animal since I was little,” Sinelli said. “I knew I wanted to stay true to my younger self and do a giraffe-themed spot. I really like the quote ‘Live a great story’ because it has my name in it. [Also], the color pink [was] my favorite color growing up. So, I thought that my younger self would really like the spot I painted, and that was my inspiration for it.” This event is not unique to ESD, seniors across the nation partake in this tradition. But for many of these seniors, this activity comes with a price. Many public schools across the country charge for the privilege of painting their parking spots. According to the Plano East High School’s Senior Online Store, seniors are required to pay $110 in order to receive an assigned parking spot to paint. The school uses the program as a fundraiser to support school events. At ESD, students are not charged for parking spots. However, if a senior paints over one of the yellow lines in the spot, they owe the Eagles Nest $75 for repairs. In conjunction with their parking spaces, another tradition that most senior girls at ESD participate in is the decoration of all of their car windows with chalk markers for the first day of school. This year, they wrote phrases such as ‘Sen27ors,’ ‘Class of 2027,’ ‘One last ride,’ ‘Time flies’ and ‘Senior

year is calling.’ Some people also included drawings of hearts, flowers, crowns and squiggles. Painting parking spots and cars takes time and effort, making the seniors feel both proud and connected to the work they have done. “It was really fun to take pictures in front of my car and pictures with myself in my spot,” Sinelli said. “I worked really hard on it, and I really love how my spot turned out. It was a great first day of school.”

John Edge Sowa

Estee Piccagli

Carrigan Konradi

Madison Stiles

Story Sinelli

Henry Swann

Leah Krieser

THE SENIOR LOT Parking spots painted over a period of two weeks in the beginning of August by many of this year's seniors. Each parking spot features the personality of the person who painted the spot. "I kept coming to my spot and there would always be leaves everywhere," senior Madison Stiles, pictured seating below, said. "I got to borrow someone's leaf blower and I've never worked a leaf blower before so it was actually very fun." Photos by Sloane Everett

eagleedition.org

CULTURE OLIVIA'S NEW ALBUM Olivia Rodrigo’s new album, “you seem pretty sad for a girl so in love,” ushers in a new era for Rodrigo with love and relationships but also sounds a tune that continues from her previous albums. Rodrigo’s release of her third album in June has made a powerful impact on 2026 pop culture. Its release also revealed a strong fan base. Rodrigo had an album pop-up in Los Angeles from June 11 to the 14, which featured parts from one of her music videos. Her fan base continues to follow her and her Unraveled Tour, which has sold out globally.

EARLE MEETS WORLD With her new Netflix series “Earle Meets World,” Alix Earle has expanded from being just an influencer into being on reality TV. This show illustrates how influencers are starting to become major celebrities with their own TV shows.The series has a mix of her TikTok personality but also traditional television; this gives her viewers a personal look at her life. The show was released on Sept. 4, and it displays Earle and her relationships, growing business and life. Earle’s past relationship has also become part of the show, including a big cliffhanger involving her ex-boyfriend Braxton Berrios. Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times/TNS

BEN SHELTON U.S. OPEN Determined to make history, a 23-yearold from Atlanta entered the 2026 U.S. Open. Ben Shelton, known for having a powerful left-hand, had already built a reputation with huge serves and an aggressive tennis style. Starting off strong in the quarterfinals, he defeated the defending champion Carlos Alcaraz from Spain. With the latest finish in U.S. Open history, Shelton won the thrilling five-set match that ended at 3:33 a.m. Two days later, Shelton won against another American, Frances Tiafoe. He eventually lost in the finals against Germany’s Alexander Zverev, but Shelton lifted American spirits by making it to the men's finals. Charly Triballeau/AFP/Getty Images/TNS

DOLLY PARTON'S LEGACY When news of Dolly Parton’s death spread on Aug. 25, it felt almost impossible to believe. Her death at 80 years old quickly became more than a celebrity headline; it became a major cultural moment. The youth, many of whom had grown up seeing Dolly referenced in movies or viral videos, began to rediscover her music. Beneath the viral posts was a deeper appreciation. Dolly Parton was more than a singer — she was a philanthropist whose influence reached far beyond songs. Even after the headlines faded, her songs continued playing and her influence remained in everyday life.

Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy/TNS

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

ESD focuses on welcoming new families into the community

he ESD admissions department has procedures and processes in place to make new students feel like they belong. Shay Palmer, P ’30, ’31, and her family moved from Philadelphia to Dallas in early July and were able to experience the ESD community before the school year even began. “From a parents' and community standpoint, that was amazing because my daughter was going on the Colorado trip [in] eighth grade,” Palmer said. “You’re coming to a new school, and you know no one.” It was a difficult transition, not just coming from a new school but also moving to a new state. But ESD’s community was able to make the Palmers feel welcome. “The moms' community reached out and set up meet-and-greets,” Palmer said. “Whether it was grabbing ice cream or going to lunch with a couple of moms, they even introduced her to different friend groups. So before she had even gotten to orientation, my daughter had probably met twenty different young ladies.” The admissions committee was able to get the Palmer family not only connected with teachers and department heads, but they were also able to meet coaches for sports like volleyball, football and track. “So as soon as we decided we were coming here, not only did they connect us with the right people so that we could get the kids into academic programs,” Palmer said. “But they also went out of their way to really help us connect with the coaches.” Cindy Newsom, the director of enrollment management, oversees the admissions process from Beginner through 12th grade. When prospective students visit campus, there are procedures in action to help ESD understand how they can make these prospective students’ first experience at ESD memorable. Buddy families are a way to help new students make new friends at ESD. Two new families are paired with one returning family and are encouraged to have meetups before the school year begins. But because of the size of the freshman class this year, 115 students, six new families were paired up with two returning families. “We try and do a couple of events and some events for parents, too,” Newsom said. “We want families to feel comfortable here, not just the students.” Advisories are an integral part of making new and returning students feel included and welcome. Advisory time helps new students feel a part of a special, smaller unit within the larger community. “The advisory system plays a really important role, and so much

of that ties back to our Episcopal identity,” Newsom said. “As well [as] that all children are made in the image of a loving God, and everyone is welcome here.” New families and students also attend events specifically designed to help them integrate into our community. These events are either put on by the admissions committee, such as the new middle and upper schoolers' and families event in the spring prior to the new school year. At this event, middle and upper school students are divided into groups so they can have separate conversations about the upcoming school year. “Then we always try to couch it around an event that they could attend afterwards as families,” Newsom said. “[Families will attend]a lacrosse game or a choir program, and so then that’s the first kind of activity.” The Parents Association also organizes events to help welcome new students and families, such as the new ninth grade pickleball event. Families are also invited to attend a lacrosse game after the event. The Campfire Program, run by Admission Associate and the Director of the Simon Campfire Program Corey Henderson, also helps make the move to a new school easier for students, specifically those who had never been in independent schools before or were moving from out of state. The inspiration for this program came from Ann and Lee Hobson Head of School David Baad’s former school, St. Albans in Washington, D.C., which led a similar initiative. Henderson currently assists with off-campus outreach with local schools and programs around the DFW area. He also serves on the admissions committee and helps them out when necessary. “The philosophy, mission, intent and purpose of the program were all designed by [me],” Henderson said. “The program’s mission is to provide guidance and mentorship by working with students, parents who 'opt in' and all new faculty and staff. This support aims to help them transition successfully into ESD and enjoy a fulfilling experience during their time here.” Orientation and grade retreats also help to welcome new students. Each grade starts the school year off by going to Wolf Run or Sky Ranch, which helps new students socialize with their classmates. Because community is an integral part of ESD, retreats are a way for new students to integrate into the ESD community and create new relationships. “[The retreat] was a great way for him to meet everybody in one day. It's surprising how many people he met and got to connect with in that one day,” Palmer said. “So I think it built stronger relationships with his football teammates that he already knew, and he got to really connect a lot with his new advisory group that he had just found out.”

By Peyton Smith Staff Writer

“

As soon as we decided we were coming here, [ESD connected] us with the right people so that we could get the kids into academic programs. Shay Palmer New ESD parent P'30, '31

CATCHING UP At the seventh annual Simon Campfire Family Social Kickoff in the Dining Commons on Sept. 4, science teacher Lee Ferguson and new to ESD parent Marie Reynolds P'29 have a conversation about the support Campfire provides to students."We act as another caring adult who helps [new to ESD families] to make their transition to our community a smooth one," Ferguson said. Photo by Peyton Smith

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

LIFE

Let's talk about...

‘‘

School Dances Nina Cathey '30

What was Technotica like compared to what you expected going in? I expected Technotica to be divided by grade, but I was surprised that everyone was brought together, show[ing] the great community ESD has. Did you get stressed preparing for it — outfit, planning photos, etc.? Walk me through what that was like. I was stressed about the school dance because I didn’t know what to expect. Even though my friends and I planned our outfits together, I was nervous but excited to try something new. Once I was there, I was instantly having fun and not stressed at all. What was your favorite part of the dance, and is there anything you wish had been different? My favorite part of the dance was spending time with my friends and doing all of the activities ESD had there. I would change the music; I wish it were better.

Now that you've been to one, what are you hoping is different (or the same) at the next one? I hope the next dance is just as fun. I loved how involved [people were] this year, but I hope there are more opportunities for everyone to participate next time.

Each issue, the Eagle Edition gathers four ESD students to have a round table discussion about a relevant and timely topic. This issue, the topic is school dances. Web Manager Kate Lewis talked with students Nina Cathey, Charlie Comer, Wynee Horton and William Elliott about their opinions on school dances.

Charlie Comer '29

Wynne Horton '28

Now that you've been to a few, do you prefer dances with activities/ games or ones that are just music and dancing? I prefer dances with activities and games because they help build relationships with classmates outside of a school environment.

What's the most stressful part of getting ready for a dance — and has it changed as you've gotten older? The most stressful part of planning the dances is ensuring that everyone has a good time and keeping the confidential information from being spoiled. The Junior Class Officers spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas for the dance that everyone could enjoy because our main priority was to make it a fun night for all students. When dances have surprise elements that have a lot of thought put into them, such as themes or activities, people tend to ask the Student Council for spoilers. When people ask me these types of questions, I sometimes worry that they might guess correctly and I’ll have to play it off, but thankfully that’s never happened, and it makes me more excited for the reveal.

Did the stress of prepping for dances (outfit, date-asking) get easier or harder after your first year? The stress of prepping for the dance did get easier the second year because I was more familiar with how things worked. What's your favorite dance so far, and why does it stand out? I think my favorite dance is homecoming because there is a lot of anticipation, which makes people have a lot of fun. What's one thing you'd change about how dances are run? One thing I would change about how the dances are run is I would serve food at the dances so students can plan their night around eating there. This would also make people stay at the dance longer.

What's your favorite dance memory? My favorite memories at dances so far have always been little moments, [like] dancing with my friends to fun songs, because it’s the best when everyone doesn’t care what people think and can show their true selves with funny moves. But if I had to choose a specific moment, it would be at Technotica my sophomore year when I was determined to stay for the raffle winner announcement, and by some chance, I was the lucky winner of the Chick-fil-A lunch for my whole advisory! I was so excited to tell all of them that I had won it for us, and I loved the raffle idea so much that we used it for Technotica this year as well.

William Elliott '27

Looking back at four years of dances, do you prefer ones with activities or ones that are just music-focused? My favorite dances have been musicfocused. I feel that music can add energy all across the board, and everyone can get excited together. The energy at prom with a live band was the best of all of the dances I went to in high school. How has the stress of prepping for dances changed from freshman year to now? I never really felt stressed prepping for dances. I think it got easier throughout the years of high school to ask a date because I got to know the girls in my grade better as each year went on. Out of every dance you've been to, which is your all-time favorite and why? My favorite dance is junior year prom because the live band that we had came down onto the dance floor wi If you could give incoming freshmen one piece of advice about school dances, what would it be? I would advise the freshmen to spend time with upperclassmen and different grades at dances, because it is a time when the entire high school gets to be together, and it is really fun.

Homecoming and Technotica take an early spot

By Kate Moorman Staff Writer

he first weeks of school were full of commotion. Students began changing their schedules and adjusted to their new classes, but that didn’t stop the Junior class officers from kicking the school year off with Technotica, a techno themed dance where students dress up in bright neon outfits. The dance was put on earlier than it had been in the past, but students were still looking forward to dancing the night away and having fun with their friends. In years past, Technotica had been in September, but this year it was on Aug. 29. “I really liked having Technotica earlier,” Junior Class President Wynne Horton said. “I think it’s [given] people something to look forward to, [and] I think it is really fun having it the second week of school”. A lot went into the planning of the event, and the Junior class officers had their hands full getting everything planned on time. “I loved planning Technotica,” Horton said. “It’s been really fun. I started planning Technotica last school year because you really have to lock in the DJ and our inflatable. We just had to plan out the ideas we wanted, such as the root beer float station and the face painter. So I have had a lot of fun with that.” Horton also had to make sure that all of these activities stayed within the student council’s budget. "That's a big part of it: making sure we're not spending too much money because we need to make [a] profit,” Horton said. “Also, [we needed to] constantly promote the ticket sales because we need people

to buy tickets. There's a lot more that goes into it than people think.” Technotica was not the only dance moved forward on the calendar. The Homecoming dance will be held on Sept. 26 this year, which is earlier than in the past. While many are excited, some wish the events were held later this fall. “I am excited for Technotica [and] that it's a little early,” junior Sargent Wolff said. “But, I wish Homecoming was just a little later, like in October.” Sophomore Elizabeth Esposito thinks that everyone will have a blast dancing with friends, no matter the time of year. “I'm excited for Hoco this year,” Esposito said. “I think it’s going to be really fun and everyone's going [to wear] get … fun dresses,get all dressed up … and have fun with their friends.” Even though Esposito was excited, she wasn’t completely satisfied with the change in schedule leading up to the dances. Opting for a later date for the dances may have

made the dances less stressful and could have given students more time to feel comfortable in their school routine. “I wish [the dances] were later, especially with Tech, because I feel like we just started out the school year, [which is] and it might be a little awkward,” Esposito said. “But I think it's gonna be fun no matter what because like, I mean it doesn't really change anything about the actual dance.” Based on her past experiences, Horton also prefers the dance to be held later in the year. “Personally, I like it better in like October,” Horton said. “I had it [in] September my freshman year, and then [in] October last year, and I preferred having it later. But I still think it's going to be a blast, and I'm excited.” Hosting the dances earlier sometimes adds stress during an already busy time of year. There is the pressure of trying to find an outfit for an anticipated night. “I originally [had] my outfit

figured out for Hoco pretty early, but I do think that there [will] definitely be some stress for people [still] finding [dresses and suits],” Esposito said. “Just because a lot of the time, girls want to get their dresses altered so they can fit them perfectly.” With Technotica in the books, the Student Council turns its attention fully toward Homecoming. Much of the preparations that go into a successful event, including the theme, music and budget, have been planned. According to Student Council sponsor and English teacher Natalie Webb, the council met over the summer several times. They picked the themes and started organizing the events. “[We wanted to] be prepared,” Webb said. “There's a lot [to be done]. You have to find the music. You have to think about your budget and go back and forth talking to people and negotiating contracts. So it's a lot of work. So it's a lot of like little steps along the way, depending on what they want.” Sophomore Devyn Ampofo,a member of student council, thinks that student council is doing a lot of things to make this Hoco memorable. “We're not having a DJ instead we’re doing a band,” Ampofo said. “And we're just also trying to add more interactive activities throughout the week to help people remember.” A NEON NIGHT On Aug. 29, seniors Lincoln Clarke and Sloane Everett dance at Technotica which was held the study commons. Photo by Hayden Houston

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

esdeagleedition.org

LIFE

Social media debates take over the Clancy murder trial

devastating Massachusetts tragedy has turned into a viral storyline all over social media, with courtroom clips, reenactments using dolls and theories filling the algorithm, turning the Lindsay Clancy trial into the latest true-crime special. This case has become a two-minute video on someone's feed, making it easy to forget that these are real lives. There is no happy ending nor guarantee as to how this case may play out or if these people will ever recover from this tragedy. Three children are dead, and their mother is the suspected murderer. In 2023, Clancy was accused of killing her children. Her defense argued that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors believe she should be held responsible for her actions. Researchers at the Cleveland Clinic have found that one in seven women experience postpartum depression, and one to two people out of 1,000 who give birth experience postpartum psychosis. This case has shed light on the severe need for treatment of postpartum mental illnesses and has raised several concerns about the way mental health is recognized and treated today. According to News 4 JAX, a news company in Florida, about 23 percent of maternal deaths in the U.S. are prompted by mental health issues, postpartum depression and postpartum psychosis. Studies done by the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health have also shown that most pregnancy-related suicides don’t occur immediately, but 62 percent are between 42 and 365 days after delivery with a peak between the nine and 12 month mark. Social media has turned this case into an entertainment piece,

By Lincoln Clarke Opinion Editor

trying to solve a murder mystery rather than a true outlet to spread awareness of a disease society often looks over. Creators on several platforms are speculating about what witnesses, attorneys and family members are thinking. Comment sections have become investigation circles and story times flood the algorithm with people retelling the case as a drama. On Tiktok alone, 164,400 videos have been made on the trial as well as a viral #Clancy is trending across platforms, according to CT Insider, a magazine in Connecticut. The issue is not spreading awareness about the case, and people are often reducing the complex legal and mental-health issues into a few minutes of content. A viral video posted in August 2026 reenacted the events surrounding the case using Bratz dolls, transforming a real tragedy into something resembling a scene from a fictional drama. The format made the story easier to understand and share, but ultimately, it made the truth easy to forget: three children are dead, and their mother was ignored and improperly treated for a severe mental illness. There is no issue with discussing true crime or following a case online because the media can often shine light on cases that deserve public awareness. However, the attention surrounding this case should be directed towards conversations about postpartum mental health and the warning signs that families and medical professionals should take seriously. But this awareness becomes lost when the story turns into viral content. Clancy’s mental health history is one of the important factors in understanding this case fully. Her defense has presented evidence about her psychiatric struggles

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and argued that her postpartum psychosis affected her ability to understand her actions. These claims were meant to be heard in a courtroom and tried, not turned into a plot twist to raise views. Mental illness makes this situation complex and it cannot be reduced to a shocking TikTok revelation, and neither can the lives of these three children. The most uncomfortable part of watching this case unfold online is seeing how easily suffering has turned into a trend. Social media rewards the shocking twists, headlines and dramatic theories, promoting this case as entertainment rather than a real-life story. A serious conversation about mental health became a comment section debate; a courtroom video became the backdrop for a clip and a tragedy like this turned into a storyline. This doesn't mean the discussion about the case should end, but

the ways in which it is talked about should change. We should be asking if mothers experiencing severe mental-health symptoms are receiving proper care, looking for missed warning signs and examining legal questions regarding mental illness and criminal responsibility. Most importantly, everyone should remember the people whose lives are changed permanently because of this case and that three children who were murdered shouldn’t become a viral trend. There is a significant difference between being informed and being entertained by a tragedy; social media has blurred that line, but it is up to the viewers to respect where that line stands. DAY 16 OF CLANCY'S MURDER TRIAL Lindsay Clancy sits in court represented by her attorney Kevin Reddington on Aug. 19, 2026, the 16th day of her murder trial at Plymouth Superior Court in Plymouth, Massachutes. Photo by: Amanda Sabga/Boston Herald/ TNS

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

ARTS

Independent films raise the bar, curtains, on recent cinema

LIBRARY LOOKOUT The Wedding Planner By Alison Espach

Review by Annabel Brown Communications Manager

Illustration by Josephine Holmes

By Josephine Holmes Co Web Editor-in-Chief

“

I hope it’s broken the mold where people know it doesn’t matter how old you are; you can make a major motion picture film. Bobby Weiss Indie Filmaker and ESD film teacher

s films and their budgets expand, audiences are shrinking, and theaters are feeling the brunt of the post-COVID-19 effects on the movie industry. According to NPR, movie theaters are still struggling to reach pre-pandemic attendance levels. But this past summer, the trend of diminishing movie theater audiences has started to reverse, and the culprit is one Hollywood underestimated: indie films, as movies like “Backrooms” and “Obssession” rake in over $100 million in summer box office revenue, according to Rentrak, a global provider of box office analytics. The definition and characteristics vary for an indie, or colloquially known as an independent, film; an indie film is a movie that is created and produced by a non-major studio. Film studios that often fall under this umbrella include A24, Miramax and NEON Rated. The cinema screens are often dominated by Hollywood favorites: specifically, existing IP, sequels or big names. But if this summer has proved anything, it’s that indie films are experiencing a resurgence in popularity and are receiving well-deserved time in the limelight. “I think its popularity influenced me to go see [Obssession],” ESD senior and film student Maria Solis said. “I heard about the movie in film from [senior] Emory Turner, and I was like, this is interesting, but then I saw it get really famous, and that made me want to go see it more.” According to Forbes, a budget of less than $1 million is relatively small compared with the budgets of other films, such as “Supergirl,” which had a $170 million budget. But with an estimated budget of only $750,000 for “Obsession,” social media and word of mouth propelled the movie beyond the confines and constraints of limited resources. “I think you have to be very creative when you’re on a small budget,” upper school film teacher and indie filmmaker Bobby Weiss

said. “I think it makes you more creative, and that’s the one thing I like to teach as a film teacher: these are our constraints, and you have to think outside the box … I always [tell] students, write the craziest thing possible, and we’ll figure out how to do it.” While a smaller budget or fewer resources may read as a negative for many film studios, it can often be seen as an exercise in creativity. Many of the most profitable indie films often fall under the horror and thriller genres: “Backrooms,” “The Silence of the Lambs,” “Parasite” and “The Blair Witch Project” are just some examples. Sometimes less is better; often within the horror genre, absence and suspense can elicit the fear audiences clamor for. The ability to fully embody oneself in the character allows for a more immersive experience for viewers and actors alike. “I try to see the person as the character they’re playing even if they’re famous and have had multiple projects in the past,” Solis said. “I do think watching movies is more fun when you let yourself just see the characters on the screen.” While the actors are new and emerging, the director of “Obsession,” Curry Barker, and the director of “Backrooms,” Kane Parsons, both had not had many theatrical releases prior. But Parsons had already built quite a large following and reputation for his work online. What ties these two directors together, beyond their massive critical and commercial successes over this past summer, is their age. With Barker, 26, and Parsons, 20, they stand out among typical directors, whose average age is around 40, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Both their age, success, and social media have played a significant role in their spectacles and conversations this past summer. “I hope it’s broken the mold where people know it doesn’t matter how old you are; you can make a major motion picture film,” Weiss said. “I’ve even seen the students in my own class be a

little more excited knowing that younger people are really doing cool stuff, and you don’t have to be a 40-year-old person to get some recognition.” While movies with an existing IP often perform better thanks to recognition and nostalgia among audiences, this summer has proven to the public, and Hollywood too, that indie films can hold their own against major-studio blockbusters. One part that contributes to the growing trend and popularity of indie films is their accessibility. Anyone who has an idea and a camera can make their own films, and they can even release it in the terms of social media. “In terms of, like, Corey Barker from ‘Obsession,’ he went from doing YouTube into doing something bigger, but he was also really interested in acting and filming and directing, and so there's lots of videos now that are appearing where he's asking actors questions when he was in college,” Weiss said. “ I think he’s a very inquisitive person, but also I think there’s a lot more access; I think it’s a lot easier to do now.” It may be a David-versusGoliath situation in the movie industry right now, but ultimately people are watching the new generation of actors, directors, movies and more break through. Whether it be through the creation of films or even an act as simple as watching, places like the Texas Theater and the Angelika regularly play indie films; engaging with the films allows one to both express and explore creativity while opening up dialogue for conversations. This summer has shown us that indie films are far from over. A big box film or a 5-minute video shot on someone’s phone, as long as there is passion, the spirit and creativity of the film industry will be kept alive. “I think any art is worth making or watching, even if other people may consider it bad because people will always have an opinion on what you make or do,” Solis said. “So just do it anyways, and do what makes you happy.”

“The Wedding People” by American author Alison Espach immediately caught my attention on the bookshelf with its pastel colors and distinct illustration. While I anticipated this book to be trivial and a nice way to pass the time, I was surprised when it was actually much more philosophical than I initially expected. I thought the way Espach described human needs, wants and desperation was spot on and something that is often not depicted accurately in books. While the storyline of the book was more of a light read, I found that I not only enjoyed this book, but I learned something from it too. The protagonist, Phoebe, fell in love with life again, and that is so apparent as the story evolves. I am so proud of her character because she finally went for what she wanted in life and did not wait for a perfect moment to do what she wanted. It wasn’t just about her happiness; it was also about her ability to become honest with herself. Before attending the wedding, Phoebe was almost detached from her own life, allowing circumstances and people to determine how she lived. By the end of the book, she was finally willing to make difficult decisions independently, even when those decisions were uncomfortable. Also, when she finally walked away from her husband at the end, and confronted him, it truly showed just how far she had come emotionally within just one week. I also found the title “The Wedding People” interesting, because initially Phoebe comes in and doesn't know anyone at the wedding and generalizes each person based on first impressions. However, at the end of the book these strangers end up becoming the individuals who change how she sees herself. In that sense, the wedding is so much more than a setting; it's an escape for Phoebe where she can step outside of the identity she has created for herself.

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

feature artist Phoebe Curletti | In the making

By Britt Reynolds | Assistant News Editor

s the pencil dances across the paper in a swift motion, sophomore Phoebe Curletti becomes lost in her work. Music swirls in her ears as she sighs happily, admiring the colors of the creation before her. In front of her very own eyes, it all starts to come together; her ideas, her designs and her colors seem to mesh perfectly, and she can’t help but smile. “My favorite part of art is working with a lot of color, specifically with one part of the color wheel,” Curletti said. “I also love working with two [colors] that complement each other. My favorite thing to paint is probably realistic things, and then turning it into what I see it as.” At a young age, Curletti discovered her love for art. As she grew older, she began exploring different coloring tools, techniques and artistic styles, nurturing the passion for art she embodies today. Currently, Curletti enjoys experimenting with different artistic techniques and mediums, but her favorite style to practice is realism. For her more realistic pieces, she often uses a variety of colored pencils to create detailed drawings, such as a basket of fruit. She also works with paint, as seen in a family portrait she created. By exploring different mediums, Curletti is able to bring her artwork to life while continuing to develop her skills as an artist. “I've been doing art since I was 3, but I actually started getting into it when I was around 7 or 8 years old,” Curletti said. “And then I think I got started just as a child, exploring with crayons or other utensils.” Although balancing schoolwork, crosscountry practice and art can be difficult for Curletti, she makes an effort to set aside time for her art every weekend or every other weekend. If her schedule is abnormally busy, she may only paint once a month, as each piece takes a significant amount of time to finish. Curletti usually works at her desk or dining room table, using paint, alcohol markers and colored pencils. But no matter where she works, she needs access to light to see the different colors she uses fully. “The time it takes to finish depends on each piece,” Curletti said. “Usually, what I do takes hours. But there was one piece I did this year in my intermediate studio art class that took me [around] three days, so it really just depends.” Each artist has a different creating process. For Curletti, inspiration usually comes from Pinterest or unique ideas she has in her head, typically using color pencil, but uses paint sometimes too. This gives her a clear visual as to what she will create and how she will execute it. To stay focused, she listens to music to keep herself motivated as she works. “I usually listen to any music that comes on,” Curletti said. “But the hardest part [about] painting is how you see the artwork. So you'll do a piece, and one second you'll love it, the next you'll hate it and then you'll stop. So it's hard to keep going." Curletti has attended ESD for two years and has taken two art classes, beginner and intermediate studio art, and is now in the honors advanced course. Although her experiences with her middle school and lower school art teachers were not ideal, working with upper school fine arts teacher Juan Negroni has been life-changing. Not only has he inspired Curletti to be herself, but he has also given her ample constructive criticism and support she didn't get from her past teachers. For her honors class, she is currently making mock AP art, diving into cuisines that align with her Italian heritage. “Experimenting with art is more of a hobby because I've been told by a lot of people that like it, that they do not like to pay very well,” Curletti said. “I want to be a psychiatrist when I'm older. But I think when I'm older I would [continue art] as a side hustle, and sell art, and that's how I want to continue it as a hobby.”

Alive AI

Below, Curletti recreates an AI-generated image using colored pencils. The large composition took approximately eight to nine hours to complete, requiring her to carefully work through the many details and colors. Curletti wanted to take an image created by artificial intelligence and add a more personal, human element by recreating it herself. The piece also gave her the chance to experiment with more colors than she had ever used in one artwork before.

 Orange Glass

Left, Curletti experiments with glass for the first time in her artwork. Wanting to work with a variety of colors, she searched Pinterest for inspiration and combined elements from about five different photos to create her own composition. After roughly two hours of work, Curletti created a piece that allowed her to explore a subject and technique she had never tried before. .

The Family

On the right, Curletti paints her family using a photo taken during a trip to Hawaii. The piece was a first for her in more ways than one, as she had never painted people or worked extensively with paint before. Curletti used the project to practice painting humans, especially their faces, which took her about five hours alone. After about 13 class periods, or roughly 12 hours of work, she completed the family portrait.

Basket of Life

In the photo above, Curletti showcases a basket filled with colorful fruit in her first full coloredpencil piece. Created in February 2026, the artwork took approximately eight hours to complete and challenged her throughout the process. Curletti enjoyed experimenting with the different shades and details, particularly the bright oranges and grapes, while learning how to work with colored pencils on a larger scale.

The Red Runner

Above, Curletti challenges herself to draw a subject she had little experience with: a car. Using a combination of mediums, she experimented with details she had not previously attempted, including the shadows stretching across the road. The piece took about six hours to complete and became one of Curletti’s favorite artworks because she enjoyed experimenting with the subject and creating the final result.

Crackled Coke

In the photo above, Curletti takes an ordinary Coke can and turns it into a realism experiment. Because she had little experience creating realistic artwork, she challenged herself by seeing how accurately she could recreate the familiar object. The piece took approximately an hour and a half and allowed Curletti to practice capturing the details, shading a realistic appearance of the can.

IN-DE

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas | eagleedition.org

ALWAYS ON

DEFENSE Story and photoillustration by Barrett Coble | News Editor Annabella Spears| Staff Writer Vinayak Bansal | Staff Writer

Teens encounter dangerous situations every day. While within the protected bubble of the ESD campus, they b moment they step beyond its gates. Knowing how to re circumstances, mean the difference between life an education and greater awareness are essential in equ confidence to protect themselves both on and off camp SAFETY STARTS AT SCHOOL

This past year, Dallas recorded its lowest annual murder rat cording to the Dallas Police Department. And while this statistic the city of Dallas, safety is always a concern for schools and the aim to create an environment where students feel safe, secure a Davidson Bogel Milner Director of Campus Security Jody Tru has experienced no violent incidents or security risks. Still, prote involves both securing school buildings and supporting those af elsewhere. “Thankfully, ESD has had no major incidents of violence on c said. “According to City of Dallas Police CompStat numbers, viol ing down in the city.” In a report published in July by The Lab Report, Dallas police aggravated assaults decreased by 113 incidents, while robberies Those preliminary figures reflect only part of 2026, not the full y The declines provide context for campus safety discussions, b cannot measure an individual student's risk or establish how eff security procedures are. “ESD is always looking out for its students,” Trumble said. “W ing and security staff to answer questions, offer guidance and fa any student who may need assistance.” The security and counseling support for student physical and extends safety measures beyond campus. A violent incident doe in a classroom for campus security to have a role in helping a st carious situations outside of school. In countrywide public and private schools, fewer than 2 percent of homicides among young people ages 5 to 18 occur at school, during travel to or from school, or in connection with school-sponsored events, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. School violence and youth violence are different measures. Securing a campus addresses one setting, while students' lives also extend into homes, neighborhoods and public places beyond school supervision. Sophomore Baxter Zickefoose believes that NorthPark Center, a mall in Dallas, generally feels safe because of its location and the visible presence of law enforcement. “I think it’s pretty safe because I usually see a lot of cops around there, and it’s a really nice area,” Baxter said. “[But] younger people should not go there alone.” Sophomore Griffin O’ Neal said that he feels he doesn’t have to worry about safety when at Northpark Mall. “I have never really felt [unsafe] when at the mall or in the surrounding region,” O’Neal said. At ESD, student identification serves the purpose of keeping community members safe, making sure that unidentified outsiders are not allowed onto campus. Trumble said possessing an ID does not itself stop violent crime, but IDs help the school secure its doors and prepare for a potential violent encounter. “Here on campus the IDs allow us to keep our doors secure and be more prepared for a situation if a violent encounter were to occur,” Trumble said. She also expressed support for training that could help students respond to an attacker, while cautioning against expecting a single self-defense class to provide sufficient “Unless a skill is practiced until it becomes muscle memory, i properly when the brain is in crisis mode,” Trumble said.

BEYOND THE BUBBLE

Cases of crime in Dallas often come as a shock to many stude cially those who are accustomed to the gated and protected cam rarely been exposed to crime. However, as students go off to col in the city, or participate in a summer program on a college cam of encountering dangerous situations increases. Even locally, stu Baker, a senior who wishes to remain anonymous, have faced po situations and been unprepared to handle them. “At ESD, we live in this kind of unrealistic bubble,” Baker said don't exactly realize how unsafe it can be going out beyond our close by.” On the afternoon of Aug. 5, Baker and her mom were driving and encountered a boy asking for help. “This little boy came up to our car window asking for help, b ing in Spanish,” Baker said. “We pulled over to help him, and he know where he lived, nor where his parents were. Just then, an and two women began trying to get him into their car. The boy of them. Neighbors came to help, and we didn't let the women t of our neighbors who spoke fluent Spanish ended up taking him instead.” Baker, shocked at the possibility of a little boy potentially b never experienced anything like this before, and with Welch R she was shocked that a precarious encounter happened in a ne very few crime cases. “This happened like maybe like two a two-minute walk from like maybe a five-minute drive from the school,” Baker said. “I ing because we don't think of dangerous situations happening ty, but they do happen, and we need to be prepared. If my mom there, that boy could have gotten seriously hurt.” Baker believes ESD students could benefit greatly from a se the curriculum. If students are more equipped to defend thems

EPTH

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

safer walking around in public or when they eventually leave for college. “Places that students often go to hang out, like North Park Mall, the Galleria, or Deep Ellum, are not the safest places either,” Baker said. “I don't necessarily feel safe going out at night, especially at concert venues or shopping centers. I think a self-defense class would be amazing for students, especially seniors before they go to college. Bad things happen, and we need to know how to defend ourselves.” While cases like these may be less common in Preston Hollow, they certainly occur in big cities where students live while attending college. Chambers Jones ’26, an alumna who is currently a freshman at Vanderbilt University, feels she could have been more prepared for dangers that come with living in a large city such as Nashville, Tennessee. “I feel really safe walking around campus,” Jones said. “I mean, we have police everywhere, and a lot of security measures. However, when I’m out in the city, it’s a whole different story.” Bela Kognati, a sophomore at Hockaday, felt similarly and decided to register for a self-defense class through the National Charity League. “I definitely feel a lot more prepared after taking the class,” Kognati said. “I learned things I never would have thought of, like yelling ‘fire’ to attract attention if you’re in danger. I would recommend all girls to take the class, because we’re not as physically strong, and we need to know how to defend ourselves.” Although it is easy to forget about potential dangers when on a gated campus such as ESD’s, crime and violence are still highly prevalent and students want to feel prepared. “I think almost every girl has experienced an uncomfortable situation,” Jones said. “You know, catcalling or just being talked to by creepy men. I’m sure I am not alone in feeling like I could be more prepared in case something actually does happen.”

e crime and violence can feel distant from become a reality for many students the espond in an emergency can, in extreme nd death. For this reason, self-defense uipping students with the knowledge and pus.

te in a decade, acc is encouraging for community. Schools and protected. umble said that ESD ecting students ffected by violence

campus,” Trumble lent crime is trend-

e had recorded that s were down by 219. year. but citywide totals fective a school's

1. Get Away (Run/Evacuate) Move immediately If you can safely flee the area, do it right now. Do not stop to grab your belongings. Find a secure spot Head toward a crowded public space, a well-lit area or behind a locked door. Trust your gut If an environment feels wrong or threatening, leave before the situation escalates.

PROTECTING WHAT'S YOURS

Smaller non-violent crimes and thefts, such as car break-ins and robberies, are problems that can affect any person at any given time. While it’s most important We provide counselto keep your physical self safe, one should also know how to make sure that their acilitate options for property and valuable belongings are safe as well. “Thieves and burglars regularly sit in parking lots and watch people come and d mental health go,” Trumble, the campus security director, said. “They can see people putting es not have to occur purses in trunks or bringing packages out from the store, putting them in the tudent navigate prevehicle, and then going back into another store or back into the mall. Once the owner is back inside, the bad guys know they can hit the vehicle before the owner can return to it. An average car burglary takes less than a minute from start to finish.” During the summer of 2026, junior Sargent Wolff had his car broken into while he was shopping at Saint Bernard's, a clothing store in the Inwood Village shopping center. “They [said] over the intercom, ‘Can the owner of a green Bronco come to the front?’” Wolff said. “So I walked out and met the security guard at the front door… they told me that my car was broken into. I went over to see it, and the whole driver's side glass was smashed out. The glass was all on my seat, the leather was scratched up, and there was a camera pointing right at it, but nobody caught who it was.” According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, in 2025, one car was stolen every 48 seconds in the U.S., and although there is a national decline in car theft, it is still an issue that needs to be addressed. Chambers Jones '26 Sargent realized that it wasn't just his car that Freshman at Vanderbilt University was broken into. In the past two weeks, there had been multiple car break-ins, all in Inwood Village. “There was a car next to us that also got broken into, and both his phone and his wallet were stolen,” Wolff said. “They stole everything from him. He had gotten broken into the same place the week before. So this has been an ongoing thing in the same location in the same two weeks [where] mine happened. There were probat preparation. bly [a total of] nine break-ins in the shopping center.“ it is not going to help There are many things that one can do to make sure that their car is safe when leaving it unattended. According to the North Texas Auto Theft Task Force, it is important to hide valuables appealing to a car thief, and to lock your car with your keys on your person and not in the car. Parking in a well-lit or visible, high-traffic area can help limit your chances of becoming a target, as well as never leaving your car running when you are not inside. Also, installing anti-theft ents at ESD, espedevices is a good way to ensure your car won’t get stolen. Finally, getting a Vehicle mpus, which has Identification Number etching on your car is helpful because most cars are stolen llege, do internships for the purpose of selling the individual parts. Having a VIN etching makes those mpus, the likelihood parts traceable, which in turn makes your car less susceptible to robbery. udents like Christine If something is stolen from you or someone invades your property, there are otentially dangerous a series of steps to take to report the theft. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the first one is calling the police, and filing a theft claim is importd. “I feel like we ant as well. Theft claims often require a police report. If it was your car that was community, or even stolen, it is important to file a car theft insurance claim. “You should make a list of everything that was stolen,” Trumble said. “Include g down Welch Rd. the item, brand, serial number if you have it, color or any other identifying marks on the item, and include the replacement cost of the item. When an officer makes but he was speaka report, they need to have this list to complete the paperwork, and if you can list e told us he didn’t the serial number or identifying marks on items, detectives can check pawn shop nother car pulled up, records to see if your items have been pawned.” was clearly afraid It is not just cars that can be stolen from you. According to ADT, a national take the boy. One company that provides security for homes and small businesses, many of the m home with her items stolen from your home are smaller, expensive items that are easier to resell, such as laptops, smartphones and tablets. If any of these items are stolen, the first being kidnapped, had thing that you want to do is log into your iCloud account from another device and Road so close to ESD, report that your device has been stolen. This will lock down your device and keep eighborhood with your information safe; then you should call the police and file a report. “We have had car burglaries on campus during evening and weekend sporting m my house, and events. It is a rare event, but it has and does occasionally happen,” Trumble said. It is very eye-open“Each time it has happened, it has been a large, high-value, name-brand purse left near our communiin plain view. The burglars broke the window and removed the item. That is why m and I hadn’t been the ‘Lock, Take, Hide’ signs are up in the parking lots.” Car burglaries and small trivial crimes can happen anytime and anywhere, elf-defense class in even if the location feels safe or protected. So following the tips on how to preselves, they may feel vent these crimes from happening no matter where you are can be helpful.

“

STEPS TO TAKE WHEN IN DANGER

I am not alone in feeling like I could be more prepared in case something actually does happen.

2. Make Noise and Draw Attention Shout clearly Yell "Fire!" or "Help!" instead of general screams. Use tools If you carry a personal alarm or whistle, use it to disorient an attacker and alert anyone nearby.

3. Defend Yourself (If Trapped) Adopt a strong stance Keep your weight on both feet with a slight bend in your knees so you aren't easily knocked over. Keep your hands up to protect your face and chest. Strike and escape Target vulnerable areas like the eyes, nose, throat or groin if physically grabbed. Use firm, decisive movements to break a hold, then run. Use improvised items Heavy keys, pens or a bag can be used as a barrier or deterrent.

4. Call for help Dial 911 As soon as you are safe, or hiding securely, call emergency services. Give key details Tell the dispatcher your exact location, what the threat is and whether anyone is hurt. Stay on the line until help arrives if it is safe to do so.

Source: National Protective Security Authority

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

OPINION

staff stance The staff stance reflects the opinion of the Eagle Edition staff, and it does not reflect the opinion of the school, newspaper advisor, faculty or staff.

Beyond the Eagles Nest: An easier way to grab a snack

SD students spend much of their day on campus. Between classes, meetings, sports, clubs and other activities, students can be at school from early morning until late at night. On such a busy day, easy access to snacks can make a difference. The Eagles Nest already offers students the option to purchase food and snacks, but it is not always convenient throughout the day. Vending machines, on the other hand, are ways schools can make food and drinks available to students without requiring someone to operate them. The Eagle Edition believes the school should invest in a vending machine because it would give students a more convenient, accessible option throughout the school day. Students do not always have enough time to go to the Eagles Nest in the Swann building for food, especially when there are only 5 minutes between classes. A vending machine would also help students who stay after school for sports or other activities. While there could be some concerns about adding one, the convenience and accessibility of a vending machine would make it a useful addition to campus. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a national public health agency, school vending machines are a convenient source of food and beverages throughout the day. Students could quickly buy something without waiting for someone to check them out and could continue their day. A vending machine in a central area of campus, like the study commons or senior hall, could make food and snacks more accessible to students.

The Eagles Nest closes at 4:15 p.m. every day, while a vending machine would remain available all day long. Students who stay at ESD after school hours would still have an option to get something to eat or drink. Even though many vending machines only take cash, students could use their IDs to pay for items. Students already are required to carry their IDs when on campus, so they wouldn't have

to bring cash or a credit card to use the machine. Other schools already use similar systems. According to the University of Texas at Dallas’ Comet Card Office, students can use their Comet Cards, which are the university’s student ID cards, to access on-campus food and beverage vending machines. Students can also add money to their Comet Cash accounts, which are connected to their school IDs.

Many other universities, such as Penn State (ID+ card) and Ohio State University (BuckID), use the same concept to improve convenience. This could make purchasing from the vending machine easier for students. Adding a vending machine would be a relatively simple change compared to other improvements ESD could make. The school would not have to create an entirely new space or make major changes to students’ schedules. ESD would just need to decide where to place the machine and ensure it is regularly stocked and maintained. We do, however, acknowledge the potential concerns about having vending machines since they are often associated with unhealthy food and snacks. However, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service, the federal agency responsible for creating nutrition standards for school meal programs, Smart Snack’s standards set nutritional requirements for food sold to students during the school day, including food sold in vending machines. While ESD may not be required to follow these regulations, we could use similar guidelines when deciding what to sell. Other concerns, such as trash and keeping the machine stocked, could also be managed by placing more trash cans nearby and regularly restocking the machine. A vending machine would give students a quick and convenient way to get food throughout the day. The advantages of having such a resource on campus far outweigh any disadvantages, bringing a much-needed benefit to the student body.

The need to be free: why reflection is necessary By Stella Bartley Copy Editor

for the love of

WISDOM

rom the moment we are brought into this world, we are offered the gift of freedom. As a child, freedom feels almost infinite. We are free to run in the grass, to hold our mother’s warm hand and to create worlds that only exist

within our young minds. Much like our juvenile imagination, our freedom is seemingly as limitless as the sky. As we grow older, our idea of freedom becomes much more complicated. What once seemed so simple morphs into something incredibly hard to define. As I enter early adulthood, I cannot help but wonder: what does it mean to truly be free in our society? In order to answer this question, one must first ask themselves what their definition of freedom is. To me, freedom is what allows us to think independently and form our own beliefs. Freedom lets us make choices every day; it is what lets us decide who we want to become. Without freedom, we would lose the ability to shape our identity and live the life we desire. But perhaps freedom is more than simply having the right to do whatever we please. After all, our choices are shaped by countless boundaries. In many instances, our freedom is limited by what the world demands of us. We are expected to succeed financially, pursue specific careers

and present ourselves a certain way. Although we live believing we have free will, how many of our choices are truly our own? How many decisions do we make without consulting others or worrying about how we will be perceived? From a very young age, we are taught what success looks like. We are told that our hard work will always pay off, that money can bring us joy and that we should aim to build a life others will admire. Although these goals aren’t inherently wrong, they can limit us when we stop questioning what we truly want in life. Many of us start out dreaming big only to have those hopes completely reshaped as we age. Over the years, we start to confuse what we are meant to desire with what we genuinely long for. Maybe this is why freedom feels much more complicated than it once was. For the very first time, I am being asked to make decisions that will shape the rest of my life. I have been told that my future is mine to create while I am simultaneously drowning in a sea of expectations that tell me what exactly my

future should look like. Much like the rest of my peers, I have spent the past year stressing about schoolwork, internships, college applications and so much more. With my head full of concerns about my future, I cannot help but struggle to stay present in the moment. This constant state of worry has caused me to question my personal freedom. If I am always focused on the future rather than living in the present, can I truly say that I am free? If we are always chained to the future or the past, how can we claim that we are living life to the fullest? So, how does one live freely in this world? Perhaps the answer is not to escape these expectations entirely, but rather to ask yourself if you will feel fulfilled after achieving them. We spend our whole lives chasing after goals, yet we rarely stop to question why. At the end of the day, true freedom can only be found through contemplation. Don’t become a slave to life’s constant motion. As Ferris Bueller once said, life moves pretty fast, and although we cannot stop time, we can always pause to reflect on the present.

eagleedition.org

Sound Advice

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

...

1 Once ★★★

“Once” opens with a tropical instrumental groove, a restrained beginning that makes the song’s eventual plunge into frenzied guitar and fiery vocals all the more jarring. And the track rarely lets up from there; its relentless pace is both exhilarating and claustrophobic, with Vedder’s full-throated vocals pushing the intensity to the brink of excess. Still, the guitar work keeps the chaos from becoming monotonous, breaking through with an extended solo that serves as a breath of fresh air. The song’s aggression mirrors its protagonist’s descent into madness, making “Once” an appropriately volatile (and deliberately overwhelming) opening to “Ten."

Even Flow

...

★★★★★

When I first heard “Even Flow” after a morning of surfing in San Diego, the song’s kinetic, undulating rhythm felt like an extension of the waves themselves; the guitar riffs seemed to rise and crash with the same unpredictability as the ocean. The song’s focus, fluidity and positive release made it the perfect post-surf anthem. Only after listening to the song on my own time did I realize the weight of the lyrics. “Even Flow” narrates the life of a man experiencing homelessness. Rather than reducing him to a stereotype, Vedder’s lyrics simply make him visible, inviting awareness without pretending to offer a solution. Now, I notice the beauty of Vedder’s vocal range--the way his voice moves from passionate intensity to unexpected softness--and the emotional weight infused in a song that initially feels carefree.

...

3 Alive ★★★★

“Alive” slows things down a bit with a smoother, more measured tempo. Raw, heavy guitar riffs are tempered by softer piano chords, creating a sound that feels tender in comparison to the syncopated hard rock that precedes it on the album. Running beneath the lyrics is a sort of relentless determination, captured in the refrain “I’m still alive.” While the song’s theme of family secrecy and dysis uncomfortable to sit with, this refrain transforms the track into a catchy declaration of survival, one that immediately resonated with audiences.

...

Why Go

★★★★

In “Why Go,” Vedder paints a portrait of a teenage girl who was wrongfully confined to a psychiatric hospital for two years. In this track, Vedder abandons any attempt at holding back for something far more muscular: he doesn’t so much sing the song as hurl it forward. This song is the clearest display of his vocal force, yet I’m amazed by how perfectly he balances outrage with melody. None of Vedder’s wisdom or fury would have resonated in the culture-shaking way it did if not for the sort of tunefulness that has a way of making wisdom and fury go down a little easier.

...

5 Black

Every issue, a member of the Eagle Edition staff reviews an album of their choosing and rates each track on the album. This issue, Co-Editor-in-Chief Gracie Nealon dives into rock band Pearl Jam's debut album "Ten."

In 1990, in clubs and garages beneath Seattle’s rainy underbelly, a visceral, angst-driven genre of music began to take shape. Unlike the glamour and spectacle of ’80s rock-and-roll, grunge rock embodied something more restless, gritty and raw: the outcry of a people who felt abandoned by the mainstream and were searching for meaning in trying times. It’s only fitting that this alternative-rock movement would find its voice in a gas station attendant working nights at San Diego Petroleum. An aspiring singer, Eddie Vedder received a cassette tape of instrumentals recorded by Seattle musicians from his friend and former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer, Jack Irons. Between surf sessions, Vedder wrote and recorded vocals over several tracks, mailed the tape back, and was soon invited to fly north. Within two weeks of meeting, Vedder and his new bandmates, Stone Gossard, Jeff Ament and Mike McCready, had written the bulk of their debut album, “Ten," and were already performing throughout Seattle’s underground alt-rock scene. While the group produced a sound similar to the rising greats of the genre, such as Soundgarden and Alice in Chains, what separated Pearl Jam was its vulnerability: its lack of emotional distance from the subject matter of its songs. True to the grunge-rock genre, “Ten” covers dark material: homelessness, mental illness, family dysfunction and addiction. Initially, Vedder was worried that the content was too personal. But the growing crowds recognized the album’s earnest attempt to deliver a sort of energized hope, a belief in brighter days to come. And they saw Vedder for who he was: a lyricist infusing lived experience into song. Although the subject matter was intimate, Vedder never sang like he belonged anywhere smaller than an arena. Thus, “Ten” surged up the charts, and Vedder was anointed the resonant voice of a generation in need of catharsis.

★★★★★

“Black,” in my not-so-humble opinion, is the most devastatingly beautiful rock ballad ever written. At its core, it is about loving someone so deeply that you still want a beautiful future for them, even knowing that future won’t include you: “I know you’ll be a star / in somebody else’s life / but why can’t it be mine?” Vedder’s anguish is so tangible that it breaks your heart. The song’s simple, repeating chord progression has a way of settling into your soul and staying there. Personally, this track ranks No. 1 on the album and remains one of my favorite songs of all time.

...

Jeremy

★★★★★

’80s rock had divided notions of male identity into macho and sensitive. In “Jeremy,” Pearl Jam fuses the two in an earnest, unapologetic way. Vedder sings of adolescent isolation and the confusion that comes with growing up, drawing from his own experiences in junior high. What makes this track distinct is its undercurrent of innocence. For as haunting and corrosive as the song can be, it never loses sight of the vulnerability of adolescence, nor the songcraft that makes the material so resonant.

...

Oceans

★★★

“Oceans” offers a softer side of “Ten”: a mellow, acoustic-driven sound. It is the only song on the album I’d describe as warm. It’s built around a quiet sense of love and hope. The ocean becomes a symbol of connection between two lovers separated by distance. But perhaps because of this gentleness, “Oceans” is less compelling than the album’s more angsty tracks. It has a tendency to drift into the background as an interlude, without leaving as much of an impression as the album’s greater hits.

...

8 Porch ★★★

“Porch” comes crashing like a set of rapids, creating a rush of straight-adrenaline energy. There is a chaos to the song that feels almost uncontrollable, mirroring the desperation of a relationship pushed to its breaking point. But beneath its romantic frustration lies a critique of politics, specifically America’s neglect of the working class. It is exactly this double meaning that gives Pearl Jam its reputation for complexity. If you haven’t learned by now, Pearl Jam’s songs are never one-dimensional.

...

Garden

★★★★★

“Garden” is the most atmospheric track on “Ten," deeply moody and brooding, appropriate for the subject matter--disillusionment with war. Arpeggios shimmer beneath Vedder’s restrained vocals, slowly building toward a powerful chorus. This track contains my favorite guitar solo, in which McCready blends heavy, sluggish riffs with tremulous, extended chords. As the song draws to a close, the guitar seems to take on a voice of its own, weaving around Vedder’s emotional vocals almost like a harmony and bringing the song to an incredible finish.

...

10 Deep ★★★

“Deep” dives headfirst into Jimi Hendrix-indebted psychedelia, with screeching chords and Vedder’s full rasp on display. The guitar seems to wail over itself, creating a sound that is equally unruly and magnetic. While I’m drawn to songs that have a recurring melody (such as “Black”), I don’t find myself entirely at odds with its chaos; I can appreciate its lack of structure as deliberately dissonant.

...

11 Release ★★★★

As the album’s closing track, the song offers a striking departure from the harsher sounds that characterize much of “Ten." The space the instrumentals leave for clear vocals makes it feel less conventionally grunge. Yet, its sentiments are perhaps more grunge than any other song on the album. The song’s title perfectly encapsulates the catharsis the track provides. Vedder’s voice carries an unusual clarity, no longer buried beneath distortion but rising above. Sometimes, Vedder’s voice blends seamlessly with the guitar, so much so that I can’t tell where his voice ends and the guitar begins.

Garden

Photo by Gracie Nealon

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas esdeagleedition.org

DOUBLE DOUBLE DOUBLE TAKE

OPINION

Dining revamped

Supplemental essays are unessasary for the college aplication process while testing is extremely useful.

Testing is not an effective representation of knowlege for the application process but supplemental essays are beneficial.

Kate Lewis | Managing Web Editor

Betty Wheeler | Life Editor

s colleges grow more competitive and application numbers rise, colleges must evaluate prospective students on the same scale. Standardized testing, like Advanced Placement tests or the ACT and the SAT, allow colleges to see each applicant’s performance on the same test. It is imperative that standardized tests are a required part of the admissions process. One area of concern that colleges have highlighted is grade inflation. Each school provides different learning and teaching techniques. This variety of teaching techniques can lead to significant differences in grading, which, in turn, can lead certain schools to misrepresent a student’s actual understanding of a subject. Standardized testing, however, inherently disregards this discrepancy because of its universal answer and grading system. Whether it is AP end-of-year tests or the ACT and SAT, every student across the nation is graded the same and on the same content, ensuring their score reflects their exact knowledge. In addition to reducing the controversy of grade inflation, standardized testing also lets colleges compare applicants from thousands of different high schools on one scale. This is in part why several Ivy League schools, including Harvard, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania brought back SAT/ACT requirements for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle after several years of being test-optional. According to a March 2026 study by Oriel Admissions, a college admissions consulting firm based in Princeton, New Jersey, roughly 80 percent to 85 percent of applicants who applied to selective schools submitted their scores, regardless of the college’s test optional policies. This shows that even students believe standardized scores strengthen their applications. Additionally, supplemental essays can complicate the application process and overcrowd a single application. Many colleges receive applications through the Common Application platform, where supplemental essays are submitted. The Common App allows students to showcase their involvement in activities and highlight their awards. Adding supplemental essays distracts from the information already provided, and clutters each application. Another significant pitfall of supplemental essays is that applicants already write a 650-word essay, known as a personal statement. The college application process is already stressful enough, and requiring more essays can increase stress levels to an unhealthy amount. According to a July 24, 2026 study by Oriel Admissions, beyond that single essay, a student applying to a typical list of 8 to 12 selective colleges now writes roughly 15 to 30 additional supplemental essays, significantly increasing their workload. A Georgia Tech University’s admissions blog post on the review process notes that each fulltime reader evaluates 2,000 to 2,600 applications over around a 12-week reading period, averaging about 50 applications a day. At this pace, adding supplemental essays would not only increase the stress and workload for applicants but also increase the workload and stress of admissions readers. Additionally, on July 24, 2026, Cosmic, a college admission consulting firm, found that admissions officers at selective schools sometimes spend as little as four minutes reading a full application. Readers may, in fact, appreciate applications that are comparable and concise. Ultimately, it is essential that colleges and universities require standardized testing for all applicants, and no longer require supplemental essays as a part of application. By implementing both of these changes, it is ensured that all applicants are evaluated on the same criteria, and the overall process is less stressful for everyone.

or many high school seniors, the college application process is filled with uncertainty. Applicants can only do so much until the rest is in the hands of the admissions officers. Anyone going into the college admissions process may be thinking, “Why wouldn't that school want me?” But applicants should remember that the school doesn't know each applicant personally, so admissions officers take into account factors such as GPA, a personal statement, supplemental essays, recommendation letters and standardized tests when trying to get to know the prospective student. Supplemental essays, in particular, help the college know who these applicants are beyond their grades. Testing, on the other hand, does not accurately reflect who a student truly is or their full potential. Admissions officers benefit from receiving additional information about an applicant through their supplemental essays. The University of Georgia Tech Senior Assistant Director of Admission Katie Mattli explains in a 2019 blog that supplemental “paragraphs play a stronger role than you might expect in the holistic admission process.” These additional writing pieces allow colleges such as GT to learn more about what matters to the student. Additionally, Rice University — among many other colleges — requires similar short response essays, which contribute a great deal of crucial information about the student. On its Office of Admissions website, Rice states that “supplemental essays can help set an applicant apart, as they offer admission officers a glimpse into your personality and potential fit for a school.” Both universities agree that the additional writing students are asked to complete is important and helpful, as it helps highlight the positive attributes of each applicant. Test scores, however, do not always contribute much to a student's application. Oftentimes, outside factors affect test scores more than a student's academic level. Socioeconomic status and differing time allotments prevent test scores from accurately reflecting each student. In a 2020 report at the University of California, researchers discovered that “demographics are stronger predictors of SAT/ ACT scores than of high school GPA.” This report explains that when families have higher incomes, students are more likely to score higher because of tutoring and extra test help. This study stated that “the share of variance in SAT/ACT scores accounted for by demographic factors (parental income, parental education and ethnicity) increased from a low of 26 percent in the late 1990s to 43 percent in 2016.” Not only do low-income students generally score lower, but many are not financially capable of taking the test at all. Writing for the ScienceDirect’s Economics of Education Review, author Hema Shah, an antitrust economist at the Federal Trade Commission, wrote that “low-income students are less likely than their peers to take the SAT.” Some colleges are also moving away from requiring test scores for reasons like this. Schools have come to realize that tests do not tell the whole story, so they have made submitting scores optional. ESD’s college guidance counselor Elizabeth Clarke believes that it is “nice when a school is test optional because it gives the student the option [of] whether or not the test score is a good representation of their ability.” Students aren't defined by timed tests on a Saturday morning; their ability to learn, work and study shouldn't be measured by one test. Thus, test scores should not hold as much weight as they do now in the college application process. Students should be assessed based on their GPA, personal statement, letters of recommendation and especially their supplemental essays because these three factors demonstrate their work ethic, who they truly are and what they could contribute to their colleges if accepted.

7 90

Percent of colleges require standardized tests in the 2026-2027 application cycle.

Percent of ranked colleges gave the option to submit supplemental essays in the 20262027 application cycle. Source: Wall Street Journal and FairTest

Illustration by Kate Lewis

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

OPINION

Summer 2026: Return of the movie theaters By Griffin Green Business Manager

“

Movies have always brought people together.

ver since Covid-19, streaming services have dominated media. It all makes sense: having thousands of movies and shows at your fingertips, without leaving the comfort of your home, is incredibly convenient. However, the reign of streaming services has gone too far, with 66 percent of American adults saying they prefer streaming services to movie theaters, according to Internet Movie Database . Movies are meant to be an experience to be shared. It is our very human nature to crave human-to-human connection. In a story written by Anne Trafton from the MIT News Office entitled "A Hinger for Social Contact," and published in the MIT News website in 2020, a post-COVID 19 study showed that “Studies in humans have shown that being deprived of social contact can lead to emotional distress.” When we watch a movie at home simply for convenience, we lose a fundamental part of our nature by depriving ourselves of the social contact experienced at a theater. Laughing so hard you feel like you are going to explode with a friend, being on the edge of your seat from excruciating tension, or even getting jumpscared with your friends are such small, yet sweet, moments. That is why experiencing movies in theaters is such an important tradition to keep. When you enter a theater, the dark ambience, large screen and lack of distractions help you to focus your attention on one thing.

At home, it is much easier to check your phone, pause the movie, get up for food or start doing something else. In a theater, those distractions are removed, allowing you to become more immersed in the story. Watching with a large audience can also make your emotions feel stronger as people naturally respond to the reactions of those around them. When everyone laughs at the same joke or reacts to a crazy moment together, it creates a shared emotional experience. Theaters are more than just places to watch movies. They create an environment that encourages us to be fully present and experience the movie together. This summer proved that point. With huge summer releases like “The Odyssey” and “Spider-Man: Brand New Day”, movie theaters once again became topics of

Photo by Griffin Green

conversation. These movies weren't just something to watch out of boredom; they became events. It felt like any time that you scrolled on your For You page, or had a conversation with a friend this summer, “Spider-Man” and “The Odyssey” showed up. Social media was filled with memes, theories, reviews and all sorts of talk about these two movies. This kind of cultural impact is something that streaming services struggle to create. When a movie is released directly on a streaming platform, it's easy to watch it one night and completely forget it the next. There is no buildup, no anticipation of seeing it with your friends and no feeling that you are a part of something bigger. You can even pause the movie whenever you want to check your phone, get a snack or scroll through social media. Going to the theater forces

you to put everything else aside and actually experience what is happening on the screen. The box office numbers for these films seem to prove that audiences agree. “The Odyssey” opened to a massive $263.8 million worldwide, making it Christopher Nolan's biggest opening weekend ever. Then “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” took it even further, grossing $932 million worldwide during its opening weekend alone. That made it the second-biggest opening weekend in movie history. Together, these movies helped contribute to a record-breaking summer at the U.S. box office, which reached $4.761 billion between May 1 and Sept. 7, smashing the previous summer record from 2013, according to The Guardian . These numbers show that millions of people are willing to leave their homes, buy a ticket and experience movies in a theater. Clearly, there is still something about sitting in a theater with hundreds of other people that streaming simply cannot replace. Senior Hud Maedgen echoed this sentiment. Hud went to watch both movies with his friends, and mentioned that he and his friends were all super locked in to the movie, and couldn’t stop talking about them all day after. Movies have always brought people together. We shouldn't let convenience take that away. The next time a movie comes out that everyone is talking about, don't wait for it to appear on your streaming service. Go see it in a theater and become part of the experience.

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

OPINION

Weather with Wynn

Heat index moves practices to the morning

By Wynn Wheeler Staff Writer

t has been hot. It's been really hot. Walking outside the school doors anytime after 12 p.m. and taking on the heat that has been encompassing Dallas for the past couple of months has become a nightmare for most people. But when the clock strikes 4:15 p.m. and fall sports start, a normal August afternoon can turn into a recipe for disaster. Usually at this time of year, people hop on their phones to check the weather every once in a while. Now, forgetting to check the temperature as a coach is like showing up to school without a computer. The scorching heat in the Dallas-metroplex area has taken the weather app to a whole new level. Every day is a gamble for coaches. One hundred degrees wasn’t enough for Dallas, so

someone decided it would be fun to keep it going. One hundred and one, 102, why not 106? Then, to top it off with a cherry, the rain just felt like it was time to sit back and relax. Head Athletic Trainer and Equipment Manager Crystal Howard said that the heat has affected everybody. The athletic personnel tries to keep everybody hydrated. They focus on keeping all the pumpers filled with ice and water, to make sure everyone's getting the electrolytes that they need. While hydration is key to handling the heat, Howard also emphasizes that eating an adequate, nutritious lunch is also vital to athlete's endurance against the heat. According to American College of Sports Medicine ACSM, the University Interscholastic League member schools must now use Wet Bulb Globe Temperature to monitor practice and outdoor workouts, ensuring practices are adjusted based on recommendations from the ACSM. Howard said that they try to check the temperature around the clock — in the morning, about two hours before practice, and while athletes are at practice. Monday evening, Sept. 21 was the first time measurable rainfall was recorded in the DFW region, and it was only 0.01 inches. According to Dallas News, this is tied for the longest dry streak in North Texas history. Based on

The National Weather Service’s results, the previous rainfall was recorded July 15. The leading record for North Dallas stands at 84 consecutive days without rain set in the summer of 2000. When rain doesn’t fall, the heat only intensifies. Trainers usually give coaches their practice guidelines each day, and this year especially, the playbook had to change. Howard said that they try to update coaches an hour before practices begin to try to make accommodations if they need to move it indoors. And sometimes they have to tell coaches and athletes, even when they're already out there, that they cannot wear certain equipment, or that they have to come in. According to UIL guidelines, when the temperature reaches 90 to 92 degrees Fahrenheit, practices should only last for one hour, and players are prohibited from wearing shoulder pads or heavy protective equipment. All practices over 92 must be canceled. Coping with this kind of heat can be difficult. That is why most practices have moved to the morning, since 100-degree practices are out of the question. There's no doubt this rampant heat has affected sports, but it hasn’t just affected players on the field. Even normal outdoor activities, like walking a dog, have become unbearable. The seeping waves of Dallas heat have made everyday life much harder.

Howard admitted that the heat hasn't been like this in the past couple of years, but this year has been pretty bad. As a result of the heat, field hockey and football practices have been moved to the morning before school starts. Practices, therefore, have been much more productive; athletes can knock out efficient drills and reps without having to take off cleats or move indoors. Morning practices definitely benefit teams; however, this doesn't take away the triple-digit weather that appears almost every afternoon. Morning practice helps compared to practice in the afternoon the temperature s on turf reaches 110 degrees. On top of the heat, Howard said that there have been times in the past when athletes didn't either hydrate properly or ate enough nutritious meals. This is unhealthy because by practice time it affects hydration when out in the heat. If you don’t eat a proper meal or drink enough water, you can overheat and won’t be able to perform well the full duration of the practice or game. Morning practices protect players from the sun, but ESD student-athletes must maintain hydration and proper eating habits. Stay safe out there, fellas, and always remember to hydrate and eat well because it’s no joke. And while you're at it, pray for some rain.

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

OPINION

from N letter

the editors

By Lilly Traylor Co-Editor-in-Chief

ostalgia is a strange idea. It has a way of making humans long for moments that they once thought were ordinary. Oftentimes, it is not big events that we remember most clearly, but rather the smaller details, the things we thought we would never come to appreciate because we assumed they would always be there. I remember our YMCA soccer games in lower school, when the game itself seemed almost secondary to everything that came afterward. We would finish playing, grab our popsicles and run around with sticky hands, laughing with our teammates. At the time, it was simply another Saturday afternoon soccer game. But now, those afternoons feel like something much more. I think about the years Gracie and I spent riding our bikes together in our neighborhood, especially during COVID. When the world around us felt strangely unfamiliar, our neighborhood became our

to O

entire world. We would ride bikes for hours, turning down streets we had never explored and finding new hiding spots along the way. Nothing extraordinary happened, but looking back, those afternoons are some of the memories I will forever treasure most. Then there was Spooktacular, ESD’s lower school Halloween carnival. We would make mummy casts, cover each other in face paint and run around with confetti eggs, waiting for the perfect opportunity to smash them over somebody’s head. Everything about the day felt exciting: the costumes, the mess and the feeling that Halloween at school was somehow the biggest event of the year. We never stopped to think about how lucky we were to have those traditions. There was lower school P.E., too: Jungle Day, Star Wars and the excitement of being chosen as a Jedi. Somehow, that felt like one of the most important things that could happen. There were Valentine’s Day boxes,

when decorating a cardboard box became a project we could spend hours thinking about. And there were Adventure Princess trips to Wolf Run, running around, playing and spending time with our dads. What makes these memories so special is that we did not know they were memories yet. When we were living them, we weren't thinking about our future or what we would give to relive these special moments. We were simply there. We were kids, caught up in whatever was happening that day, completely unaware that those ordinary moments would one day become the stories we told about growing up. Lately, I have started to wonder if we are doing the same thing right now. In some ways, this last year can feel like any other year. There are early morning practices, long days, deadlines and plenty of moments when we are counting down until the weekend. However, there are also conversations in the senior hall, the inside jokes

that only make sense to us, our newspaper staff we are lucky to spend every day with and the little routines we have grown so accustomed to. Five years from now, I wonder what we will miss. Maybe we will miss our weekend newspaper workdays. Maybe we will miss walking to chapel with our friends every day. Or maybe we will miss an ordinary Thursday afternoon advisory lunch. We do not know which moments will become our next YMCA soccer games, bike rides, Halloween carnivals or lower school P.E. days. And maybe we do not need to know. Someday, we will look back on this year with the same nostalgia we feel when we think about our childhood. We will wish we could return to these people, these places and these seemingly ordinary days. We spend so much time missing the past that sometimes we forget we are creating the past right now. Someday, we’ll be nostalgic for this year. For now, we get to live it.

letter the editors

By Amy Henderson Assistant Head of Upper School for Academics

ur ESD students are doing it all: sports, clubs, challenging academics, community service, arts, leadership and jobs. It is no wonder that students have heavy eyelids, caffeine or energy drinks in hand and attempt to absorb all the information from their classes every day. While moving our start time to 9 a.m. was a great step forward, schedule tweaks alone cannot solve the sleep deprived issue. Sleep is not a luxury; it is a foundational biological requirement for cognitive function, mental health, emotional regulation, and physical wellness. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 73 percent of high school students get less than the recommended amount of sleep on school nights. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that adolescents ages 13 to 18 obtain eight to 10 hours of sleep per night to support optimal health and development. I doubt our ESD upper school students are sleeping this

amount. Our teenagers are operating on chronic sleep deprivation, which can lead to long-term consequences. Our upper schoolers are struggling and part of it is due to the neuroscience of adolescent development. During puberty, the human brain undergoes a significant shift in its circadian rhythm (the internal biological clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle). This change shifts a teenager’s natural sleep onset roughly two hours later than that of adults or younger children. An upper school student who is expected to wake up at 6 a.m. for school is biologically wired to fall asleep around 11p.m. or midnight. Expecting a teenager to be alert and functional at 7:30 a.m. is the biological equivalent of asking an adult to start their workday at 4:30 a.m. When we force adolescents to yield to challenging schedules, the consequences extend far beyond simple morning grogginess. Sleep deprivation directly impairs the prefrontal cortex (the region

of the brain responsible for executive function, decisionmaking, memory consolidation, and impulse control). During deep sleep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the brain processes the information gathered throughout the day, neural pathways are strengthened, and toxic waste products are cleared from brain tissue. When sleep is cut short, the ability to retain new information drops significantly, problem-solving skills decline, and academic performance suffers. Furthermore, the connection between sleep deficiency and mental health in adolescents is alarming. The adolescent years are already a vulnerable period for psychiatric health, and chronic sleep deprivation acts as a massive stress multiplier. Longitudinal studies demonstrate that teens who do not get adequate sleep face a dramatically higher risk of developing clinical depression, generalized anxiety, and mood disorders. Research published by the National Institutes of Health highlights

that every lost hour of sleep in adolescents correlates with a measurable increase in feelings of hopelessness and risk-taking behaviors. Sleep acts as an emotional buffer; without it, emotional regulation breaks down, making everyday stressors feel insurmountable. Critics often argue that teenagers simply need to discipline themselves—put down their phones, turn off video games, and go to bed earlier. While limiting screen time and amount of time online are important, individual discipline alone cannot overcome human biology and the amount of work they have to do. ESD has built a commendable culture of high standards paired with grace, providing testing calendars, no more than three major assignments in a day, and supporting advisors. Finding the right balance won’t be easy, but it starts with confronting reality. Prioritizing students’ sleep is not a compromise on excellence, but a prerequisite for it.

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

SPORTS

2026 FIFA World Cup unites the globe beyond borders, bolsters popularity By Enzo Renda & Griffin Green Staff Writer and Business Manager

E “Itheattended Egypt

vs. Australia game, and it was a blast. Going to see Mohammed Salah play against Australia ... was a surreal experience. Jules Fine ESD varsity soccer sophomore

very four years, the world agrees on something for a few weeks: nothing matters more than soccer. It becomes more than just a sport, soccer becomes a shared language between cultures. This summer, the FIFA World Cup was hosted across three countries, the United States, Mexico and Canada, making it the first time in tournament history that it was hosted in different nations. Fans from all over the world filled stadiums and fan zones and flooded social media with celebrations, transitions and reactions. Even those who did not consider themselves soccer fans prior to the start of the World Cup found themselves pulled into the excitement. “I had always kind of liked soccer, but I was never really able to get myself into it,” senior Hud Maedgen said. “With the World Cup though, I was able to really get into it, and I now consider myself truly a fan of soccer.” One of the central reasons the World Cup games were popular among students at ESD was because many matches took place at the AT&T Stadium, which was rebranded as the Dallas Stadium for sponsorship purposes. It held nine games, the most of any venue in the 16-city, three-nation tournament. This included five group-stage matches featuring the Netherlands, Argentina, England, Brazil, Japan, Croatia, Austria and Jordan, two round-of-32 games, a round-of-16 matchup and the semifinal in which Spain beat France 2-0 to punch its ticket to the final. Several ESD students and faculty members attended these games. "I attended the Egypt sv. Austrailia game, and it was a blast," sophomore Jules Fine said. “Going to see Mohammed Salah play against Australia, going into penalties was a surreal experience.”

Ann and Lee Hobson Family Head of School Dave Baad attended several games as well. “I saw my family's beloved Atlas Lions of Morocco play Scotland and got the full Tartan Army experience,” Baad said. “I sat behind two guys, father and son, both dressed in kilts, who had been enjoying themselves the entire day, and it was quite something to watch them root for Scotland. Morocco was victorious, one-nil, so that was good.” That wasn’t the only game Baad attended. “I also went to the AustraliaEgypt [game], which I think was a round of 32 game here in Dallas, and that was a lot of fun,” Baad said. “I didn't have a real rooting interest, but someone invited me to sit in a luxury box, so it was nice to have that experience. Then that same person had a box the next day and was not using their tickets for the round of 16 game between Morocco and Canada, so they gave me tickets to that one. So, I drove down to Houston and watched Morocco beat Canada 3-0, which was fantastic.” Some of the most memorable moments had little to do with the actual soccer matches. Fans from Japan became known for their energetic celebrations and overthe-top costumes, and Norway supporters became known for their “Viking Row,” which became one of the tournament's biggest online trends. England fans also turned the song “Wonderwall” into their unofficial World Cup anthem, singing it after every win. Fans traded cultural food, from Texas barbecue at the AT&T Stadium to tacos on the blocks of Mexico City, turning the tournament's food scene into a viral hit alongside the biggest soccer tournament in the world. “One of the great experiences of the whole thing was driving down I-45 and stopping in Bucee's,” Baad said. “Seeing all the

Canadian and Moroccan fans together in Buc-ee's, experiencing Buc-ee's Day, was a good time.” Much of the tournament’s pop culture centered around Norway’s Erling Haaland. The Norwegian striker scored the third most goals of all the players in the tournament. He even carried his unheralded team into the quarterfinals for the first time in history. That run included a 2-1 upset to Brazil in the Round of 16. Haaland put his team in the lead with a goal in the 90th minute, before Norway’s tournament ended July 11 in Miami with a 2-1 loss to England. Sophomore Zeke Dabbous was involved in a cultural exchange program that brought students from Jordan and the United States together during the World Cup. The program began after the King of Jordan purchased 24 World Cup tickets to watch Jordan play Argentina on June 27. The group included 10 students and two adults from King's Academy in Jordan and 10 students and two adults from Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. “One of the kids, from Jordan, [had a] visa [that] didn’t go through at the last minute, so they asked me to be the female chaperone at the game,” Modern Languages department Chair Laila Kharrat said. “They handpicked who was coming, the best of the best from Deerfield and from King’s, kids-wise, faculty-wise.” Through connections with Dallas-area schools, the students participated in an Arabic-language and cultural immersion experience. The visiting students experienced Texas through a packed itinerary. They ate TexMex, cheese fries from Snuffer's and barbecue at Terry Black's in Fort Worth. They visited the Dallas Museum of Art, Clyde Warren Park, The Star and the George W. Bush Presidential Library and toured the University of Texas at Austin.

GAME WINNER Ferran Torres (7) of Spain celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 final match between Spain and Argentina at the MetLife Stadium on Sunday, July 19, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. Photo by David Ramos

But the centerpiece of the trip was soccer. The students attended the World Cup match between Jordan and Argentina at Dallas Stadium and also participated in a fan festival. Jordan ultimately lost 3-1 to Argentina, but the game gave the students a once-ina-lifetime experience. Argentina won Group J with three victories. Jordan, appearing in its firstever World Cup, made history by scoring against the defending champions. “The exchange showed me how something as simple as soccer could create strong connections between people who otherwise might never have met,” Dabbous said. “I hope to have an experience like this again.” Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in extra time on July 19 at the New York, New Jersey stadium, claiming its second World Cup title and denying Argentina's repeat victory. Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute off a Nico Williams assist, breaking the scoreless game in a final defined by defense. Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez shut down Spain's attack with 11 saves, a World Cup final record, but Argentina played the final stretch a man down after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in stoppage time due to a red card. “This is why it’s so important to bring kids together from different parts of the world,” Kharrat said. “To unite in their love for something like soccer. That’s what allows people to come together across their differences and create memories.”

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

SPORTS

Behind the screen: Mavericks film schedule release at ESD By Sheridan Bailey Co Web Editor-in-Chief

“

Many people who watched the video still recognized our science classroom in the Cook right away. Katy Dailey Public Information Office and Director of Marketing

fter spending nearly 36 hours in ESD’s Cook Building on Aug. 13, the Dallas Mavericks social media team finally wrapped up their content creation to release on their social media platforms, announcing the Mavs' upcoming schedule. Shortly after the announcements were made and the content was posted, millions of people flocked to the Mavs’ social media accounts where they saw not only two of the Mavericks' star players, but also ESD’s presence. This whole process began when ESD alumna and current senior social media manager for the Dallas Mavericks Becca Genecov ‘11 contacted ESD’s Public Information Office and Director of Marketing Katy Dailey about potentially using ESD’s facilities for a scheduled release. “She explained the concept and what she was hoping to accomplish, and I invited her to campus to tour classrooms to see if we had what she was looking for,” Dailey said. “She was thrilled to find a science classroom in the Cook that perfectly matched their vision.” When filming began in late July, after weeks of coordination, Mavericks staff members, 15 child actors, the production team and two of the Mavericks' star players, Max Christie and Dereck Lively III, all came to campus. “The first thing [Dereck Lively] said was, “Wow, this place is really secure,” Genecov said. “He was like, 'I can’t believe it took me so long to get in here,' not as a complaint but in appreciation of

POSTS ACROSS

Instagram, X, Tiktok, Facebook, Threads and Youtube

the security.” The inspiration for the entire production originated from a Key and Peele sketch; Genecov initially reached out to ESD in search of a science classroom that could replicate the sketch. However, her decision was also driven by her personal connection as an alumna. “Honestly, I feel a ton of pride when I get to bring the Mavericks onto campus and not need a ton of supervision because I am a trusted alumna,” Genecov said. “To come onto campus and have everyone talking about how beautiful it is reinforces how lucky I am to have gone to a school like ESD.” This was not the first time ESD and the Mavericks have collaborated on a project. In fact, the relationship between the Mavericks and ESD first began when Basketball Program Director Corey Henderson Sr. first met Greg Nard, the Senior Vice President of the Dallas Mavericks organization. “They use our facilities to run one of their summer camps during the summer; actually, the camp they run here is the largest camp [the Mavericks] do all throughout DFW,” Henderson said. “[I am] just always trying to grow personally, professionally, and then just trying to add value to our community.” The Mavericks over the past 8 years, in part due to Henderson’s relationship with the organization, have not just used ESD’s facilities for their basketball camps, but have used it to film social media content once before. “There was another instance where we actually had the cheerleaders participate in a

2.5 MILLION VIEWS

gathered across all social media sites on all of the schedule release content posted by the Mavericks

schedule release video a couple years ago,” Genecov said. “When I hear other people who have never been to ESD getting their first sights and sounds of ESD, it just puts a smile on my face that I actually got to go there every single day.” However, what is important for Dailey and the public relations office at ESD every time the Mavericks use ESD for social media filming, is that ESD remain completely anonymous during the filming process and when content is later released to the public via social media. “I oversaw the setup to ensure that no visible ESD branding was in the background,” Dailey said. “We made that call because our focus is on our students, not on publicity.” Still, despite their efforts to hide ESD branding, students, faculty and alumni contacted Dailey and sent direct messages to the Mavericks on social media, immediately recognizing that the classrooms featured in the videos belonged to ESD. “Many people who watched the video still recognized our science classroom in the Cook right away,” Dailey said. “It became the fun insiders' nod that our community goes on without ESD ever being named or shown.” But not everyone recognized the ESD facilities featured in the videos. Senior James Marquez is one of millions of Mavericks fans and one of many who attend ESD. However, Marquez did not recognize ESD in the background of the schedule release and was unaware that the Mavericks had come to campus at all this summer.

5.1

MILLION IMPRESSIONS

made across all of the posts filmed in the Cook builing lab combined

FILM FAMOUS On July 30 Dallas Mavericks star player Dereck Lively II films the Mavericks schedule release video for the Mavericks social media in the downstairs lab in the Cook Building. "[The players] were just very in awe about ESD and the facilities," Becca Genecov '11 said. "We made one of the classrooms a holding room, and he just kept going on about how clean and up to date [the school] was." Photo by Roberto Hernandez

“I think it’s cool because they’re a large organization that a lot of people in Dallas pay attention to,” Marquez said. “A lot of guys in our community look up to the players and just enjoy watching the Mavs.” However, Marquez said the most exciting part about the whole schedule release was the players coming to ESD. “If it was just a random intern at the Mavs, who’s going to care?” Marquez said. “But the actual players who are playing basketball and getting paid for it are here. That is cool.” In total, the Mavericks social media team posted 32 posts across six different social media platforms, generated over 2.5 million views overall, 5.1 million impressions and over 6,000 shares. All the while, ESD remained almost completely confidential in the background. “Just the ease of ESD and the setup that ESD naturally had was perfect for what we were trying to accomplish,” Genecov said. “It was just really fun, and everyone who helped out, Ms. Dailey and Mr. Schneider [with] police traffic, was seriously a large part in making it so easy.”

6.5

THOUSAND SHARES

of the Mavericks schedule release social media content, and each confidentialy showing ESD in the background

Source: Becca Genecov '11 Dallas Mavericks Social Media Manager

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

SPORTS SPORTS NEWS BRIEF

By Noelle Stovall Assistant Life Editor

“

I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting women. Enes Katner Freedom former Boston Celtics player

Two former NBA players declare for WNBA draft, spark debate over eligibility rules

he WNBA is facing backlash and renewed questions about its eligibility policies after two former NBA players declared their intentions to enter the draft, seeking to test the league’s rules for eligibility in women’s basketball. For decades, athletes, sports leagues and the public have debated whether or not transgender women are eligible and should have the ability to participate in women’s sports. The argument is largely centered around biological differences that contribute to fairness and inclusivity On Wednesday, Aug.12, a team of WNBA presidents and managers met to discuss transgender athletes but did not come to conclusions on eligibility rules, according to a statement sent to ESPN by a league spokesperson. As of August 2026, the WNBA has no policy stating the eligibility of transgender athletes to compete

in the league. Statements in a collective bargaining agreement signed in March said "only players who are women are eligible to play in the WNBA," with no further definition or specific language around gender identity, sex assigned at birth, or what makes someone a woman, according to ESPN. On Monday, Aug. 10, prior to the meeting of WNBA presidents to discuss transgender athletes, former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White came out to the public and said they planned to enter the 2027 WNBA draft. They said they identified as women and wanted to challenge the league’s eligibility rules after following the controversy over transgender women in sports, according to a front-office sports article. A league source stated that the intent behind entries into the draft was simply publicity stunts meant to mock, demean and marginalize WNBA players and the league. As a result, they were deemed ineligible to play

in the league. According to ESPN, following an 11-year retirement from the NBA, Freedom has involved himself in the national debate and advocacy for women regarding trans women trying to compete in women's sports. Also advocating along with Freedom, in July of this year, Indian fever guard Sophie Cunningham made statements online regarding her opposition to transgender athletes competing in women's sports. On Sunday, Aug. 23, Freedom attended the Indiana Fever and Chicago Sky game in Chicago, where he sat courtside with a shirt that read, "WOMAN noun. adult human female." In the third quarter, after a timeout was called, Freedom was ejected from the game following an altercation with Chicago guard Natasha Cloud, who shouted at the baseline in the direction of where Freedom was seated. Freedom then stood up and raised his arms before security removed him from the area.

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“I just got kicked out of a WNBA game for supporting women," Kanter Freedom stated on social media later that Sunday night. "Let that sink in, America." In response to Freedom's actions at the Chicago Sky game, Los Angeles Sparks center Cameron Brink publicly criticized Freedom, saying that he took a non-issue, trans women in women's sports, and used the situation for clickbait and views. Even though neither Freedom nor White was deemed eligible to enter the WNBA draft, their statements have resulted in an increase in attention from the public as well as players in the WNBA on the topic of transgender athletes. COURT CONFLICTS Former basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom, left, and the Chicago Sky's Natasha Cloud , right, yell at one another during the second half of a game against the Indiana Fever at Wintrust Arena on Aug. 23, 2026, in Chicago. Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images/TNS

esdeagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

SPORTS

Hadrick's journey: building athletes through growth, community, resilience

By Hope Howe Staff Writer

“

Coaching, track and cross country are my calling, and I'm really passionate about making everybody feel seen and learning how to do things that seem outside of themselves. Evan Hadrick Cross Country and Track and Field Program Director

hen Track Program Director Evan Hadrick arrived at ESD in 2018, the track and field team had only 15 athletes. Today, eight years later, 57 athletes fill the roster, a growth that reflects the culture and community Hadrick has built around the program. Hadrick's connection to track and field runs in the family. His grandfather won a state championship in high school, and his father was part of a relay team that competed in the United States championship at the Penn Relays — the oldest and largest outdoor track and field competition in the United States, according to Visit Philadelphia, the official travel page for Philadelphia. Hadrick began running for his middle school track and field team in sixth grade and continued competing in high school, when he met coach Miles Burrell. Burrell brought a wealth of experience to his coaching, having qualified for the U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials in 1976 and 1980, and previously coaching track and field at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. Burrell began his coaching career at Norristown Area High School in Pennsylvania in 2005, and quickly became an important mentor to Hadrick. “He identified that I had talent early and just instilled that value in me,” Hadrick said. “Even before I was making the relay teams at my high school, he just saw me, and that was important at that time in my life.” After graduating from Norristown in 2008, Hadrick continued his running career at the University of Miami. As a longtime Miami football fan, he had already developed a connection to the school before ever stepping on its campus. When the opportunity came to run for Miami, Hadrick was excited to continue his athletic and academic career at a school he had admired for years. “When the University of Miami called, it was just like, I can't believe this is even an option, and I just worked really hard to make it a reality,” Hadrick said. “It was kind of just a dream. I felt like I was basically going on vacation

for four years, and then I was gonna get my degree and run while I was on vacation.” During his time at the University of Miami, Hadrick set four personal bests in the 200-meter, 400-meter, 500-meter and 800-meter events. During his 2012 season, he finished first at the ACC Championships in the 110-meter hurdles, recording a school-best season time of 13.35 seconds. He also finished first at the NCAA East Regional Preliminaries with a time of 13.41 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. “My head coach there was the head coach of the U.S. Olympic team at the London Olympics, so she was like a huge deal, and it was good to be exposed to her,” Hadrick said. “We had people that won the NCAA national championship on that team. And a lot of NFL players and Olympic track athletes would either come hang out at our meets or train on our track all the time.” As a high school runner, Hadrick was proud of setting goals and working to achieve them, but he learned that the achievement was not the only thing important in life. “Identifying and then devoting myself [to] achieving that goal was really important to me in high school,” Hadrick said. “But you need to be kinder to yourself and don't put too much of your identity in an achievement, like learning to see your own value even before you see the result.” Hadrick believes that running teaches athletes to embrace discomfort, because that is where development happens. “If you are always seeking to feel steady and comfortable, you're not going to see any progress,” Hadrick said. “So if you want to grow, you're going to have to push yourself beyond something that you're

accustomed to.” Part of his success is the culture that has developed between in both the cross country team and track and field team. According to junior Parker Capp, a cross country athlete, one tradition in particular has bonded them together. “At a lot of the final meets, the SPCs, which are overnight, at the hotel we'll have something called the Hadrick Olympics, which is just team bonding exercises,” Capp said. “It adds a lot to the team. It just shows us how much we've actually bonded and become close.” Capp attributes his progress over his three-year cross-country career to coach Hadrick’s guidance. He believes that everyone on the team would be less of a runner and person without him. “I've always kind of been a bit more competitive with him, but in a good way and the way that he challenged me,” Capp said. “And through that, I've really hit a lot of my own goals and surpassed what I thought I was capable of.” Hadrick hopes every student who leaves his program comes out knowing that they have value. “I hope they learned how to push themselves and how to work hard, and I hope they feel like they were part of a community that saw them and appreciated them,” Hadrick said. “I hope they remember that, even though they were competing, they had value even before anything they achieved.”

RELAY RUNNER From left: Hadrick competes in a relay during a Norristown Area High School meet in his senior track season in 2009. During his three years of track at Norristown he set three personal best. I At the Hurricane Alumni Invitational in 2012, Hadrick helped set a school season best in the 4x100m with a time of 40.72 seconds at the end of his senior year of college. I Hadrick competes in a 4x400m relay in 2007 in his sophomore year at Norristown Area High School. During his time at Norristown, Hadrick competed in the 200 meter, 400 meter, 800 meter and cross country. Photos provided by Evan Hadrick

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

SPORTS

Carolina Hurricanes win Stanley Cup Finals, Dundon family brings trophy to Dallas By Moss Barron Distribution Manager

“

I really enjoyed watching the Hurricanes dominate. I wish the Stars could’ve gotten it done, but the Hurricanes honestly deserved it. Hudsen Young Senior

s the horn sounded at the end of game 6 of The Stanley Cup Finals in Las vegas on the night of June 14, the Carolina Hurricanes stormed the ice in celebration after defeating the Vegas Golden Nights 3-0. This year, the North Carolina team etched their name onto the trophy after winning the 2026 Stanley Cup Final. While this is the Hurricanes' second time winning the trophy, it is the first time it has been celebrated within the ESD community. Tom Dundon, P ’26, P’ 28 and P’ 35, started his involvement in the hockey world, specifically the Hurricanes, in 2017. In January 2018, he took ownership of the team, purchasing 52 percent of the team and the operating rights to PNC Arena in Raleigh, North Carolina. Over the next few years, he became the sole owner of the team after purchasing all minority shares, some of which he has sold since. “Winning the cup means all the people who work so hard every day get to realize their dream together, and that is very special to be a part of,” Dundon said. “We hired a really good coach who set higher expectations and built a better roster that has the talent and work ethic to win. I also expect the team will compete to win again. We

have almost everyone back and we should have a chance to repeat.” Many of Dundon's major investments have been in the sports industry. He and a group of investors acquired the Portland Trail Blazers in August of 2025, and he has invested in the Alliance of American Football along with Pickleball Central, the largest pickleball retail site in the world. His investment in the Hurricanes remains as one of his most financially meaningful. “I grew up watching hockey mostly because of the 1980 USA Olympic hockey team,” Dundon said. “I always wanted to own a pro sports team, and after missing out on a couple [of] different teams, I was able to agree to terms to buy the Hurricanes.” His daughter, Blake Dundon ’28, was also excited by the Hurricanes' legendary run this year. “Winning the cup has always been something that my family and I have always been eager to accomplish,” Blake Dundon said. “When we won, it was the best feeling, especially being able to have the cup in Dallas for a few days was so much fun.” Different from the FIFA World Cup trophy, there is only one Stanley Cup and no replicas are

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made. Every year, when a team wins and takes home the trophy, the names of players, coaches and owners are engraved on the trophy. Every 13 or so years, the oldest section on the trophy is placed in the Hockey Hall of Fame, and a new blank section is added to the trophy so it remains the same size, while accounting for the new teams. The Hurricanes had a strong season, finishing 55-22-7 and accruing 113 points. This earned them first place in both the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference. Leading the Eastern Conference was an important piece of their success this year because it rewarded the Hurricanes with the home-ice advantage throughout the playoffs. The last time an NHL team had a league-leading record like this was in 1988, when the Edmonton Oilers won 16-2. Several ESD students followed the Stanley Cup Finals, including senior Maddy Fisher. “I am definitely not the most in tune with the hockey world, but I love watching it whenever it's on the TV,” Fisher said. “It’s always so action-packed and quick. If you blink at the wrong time, you could miss something.” Other students follow the game

IN THE ACTION The Dundon family pictured on June 14, with The Stanley Cup on ice in T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada shortly after the Carolina Hurricanes shut out the Vegas Golden Nights 3-0 in game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals. "I expect the team will compete to win again,” Tom Dundon said. “We have almost everyone back, and we should have a chance to repeat.” Photo provided by Blake Dundon '28

even more closely. Senior Hudsen Young is a longtime Dallas Stars fan, and he watched the playoffs until the final game. “This year was more entertaining than others I thought,” Young said. “I really enjoyed watching the Hurricanes dominate. I wish the Stars could’ve gotten it done, but the Hurricanes honestly deserved it.” After the Stanley Cup is awarded, it travels around among the team members and staff. The Dundon Family held the cup here in Dallas for three days, where they hosted a celebratory event. Many ESD families were in attendance, including sophomore Charlie Swann. “It was so cool having such a big part of sports history right in front of my friends and me,” Swann said. “It’s safe to say I will be showing my kids the picture I took with it.”

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eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

SPORTS

With new coaches on the sidelines, ESD football looks toward the future of the program By Londyn Biel Staff Writer

“

For some of us, this is our senior year, so we all just want to go out there and have no regrets. Jamal Porter Senior varsity football athlete

nder the Texas heat, the sounds of whistles and cleats fill the field as ESD football players hustle through another practice. But this preseason, the familiar routine came with a new energy. With a new program director and several new coaches, the program is experiencing changes not only in how the team prepares for games but also in the sport’s cultural foundation. With a new head coach and changes to the staff, the program is adjusting to new expectations, routines and a different vision for the team culture. “Preseason has become a chance to get to know all of our new coaches and learn a new system while still building on [the] skills we have now,” senior Jamal Porter, a cornerback on varsity boys football, said. At the center of those changes is Bob Benson, who is beginning his first season as ESD’s football program director, as well as varsity and middle school head coach. Benson has brought his previous coaching experience to ESD while developing his own vision for the program. For Benson, coaching has always been about more than football. “Coaching the student-athlete is important to me,” Benson said. “Both my mother and father were Ivy League student-athletes, so I’ve always been drawn to places that have an impact, like Johns Hopkins, Georgetown and Penn.” Looking for something different with his wife, Benson found that ESD offered many of the qualities

PERCENT OF PLAYERS

are returning varsity football athletes

he was looking for. He said the school’s emphasis on family and its football culture were important factors in his decision. “I thought that this was an opportunity that checked a lot of our boxes,” Benson said. “Everyone here [is] really nice, and I liked the culture. So, I came.” Benson was familiar with ESD through the Lee and Ann Hobson Family Head of School David Baad, whom he met during his time at Georgetown. After being approached by several people about the position, Benson began seriously considering the opportunity. His wife’s career also played a role in the decision; Julie Benson is an Olympian who now trains Olympic athletes, and Dallas was an accessible location for their family. Benson plans to do more than coach the sport; he plans to transform the program. His coaching philosophy focuses on trust, which he hopes will influence the way that players work both on and off the field. “We try to create an environment of trust, discipline and just getting young people confident and believing in what we're trying to do, and then put the product on the field,” Benson said. One of the most noticeable changes for returning players has been the structure in their practices. “One of the biggest ways coach Benson has changed this program would probably be practices,” senior Jamal Porter said. “For us returning players, the new drills and the structure of practice is just different.”

NUMBER OF FOOTBALL

coaches who are new to ESD

For Benson, those changes are intentional. As of now, practices are held in the morning and designed to be shorter and more focused. Instead of spending more time on the field, Benson said the goal is to make each practice productive while allowing players to balance football with academics. “We're practicing in the morning, which has been great,” Benson said. “[Practices are] short. We're very much a quality over quantity team, and that means short productive meetings, short productive practice and being a student-athlete and getting to school.” But the changes are not limited to what happens during practice. The new coaching staff is also establishing changes to the team dynamic. They want to make sure that the players understand how to work as a team and how doing so will benefit the program. “We are an extremely close team. I think football is a sport where teammates become best friends, and I know that everyone has each other's backs on Fridays,” senior John Edge Sowa, three year varsity athlete and University of Pennsylvania commit, said. For Benson, success is also measured by how players carry themselves off the field. He wants ESD football players to develop qualities that will remain with them long after their final game. “Teamwork is everything. We would not have a team without everyone’s different roles, and a certain level of dedication to this program,” Benson said. “I think being [a] positive man of integrity is extremely

important,” Benson said. “You know, be humble and kind and represent ESD with pride.” Rather than focusing only on the scoreboard, Benson said he wants players to develop habits that will help them become leaders and members of their communities. “Work ethic, image, how you conduct yourself, leadership and treating people with kindness [are all important],” Benson said. “There's so much of this that's outside of [football], just being a positive, well-rounded young man that represents ESD and your family.” With preseason coming to a close, the new coaching staff now has the opportunity to see how changes to the program will translate into success on the field. For the players, the season will be a test of how quickly they can adapt to the new system while continuing to build chemistry as a team. Benson’s goals extend beyond wins and losses. He hopes the program will give players the confidence, discipline and leadership skills to represent ESD long after they leave the football field. PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT Main photo: Senior and linebacker Nico Marquez gets a first down on Sept. 10 during a game against St. Mark's. The Eagles won 27-13. Insert photo:Football coach Phil Mosley works with his team during warmups, and giving them a pep talk before the Sept. 10 game. "Knowing how much work they have put in over the past four years and to see them succeed is the most rewarding part of coaching," Mosley said. Photos by Photo by Londyn Biel and Lexi Merryman

100 65 PERCENT OF GAMES

won as of Sept. 24

NUMBER OF PLAYERS

who are a part of ESD's football program

Source: ESD website and athletes

Eagle Edition | The Episcopal School of Dallas

SPORTS

Coben's Calls Name, image and likeness is fantastic for players, but needs national regulations to protect the future of college sports By Jack Coben Sports and Podcast Editor

ollege sports were once centered on school pride, rivalries and building a strong roster. While those traditions still exist, the rising popularity of name, image and likeness deals has completely changed the system. For decades, universities and television networks have made millions of dollars from college sports, yet players were prohibited from profiting from their own fame. Today, college athletes can make money through sponsorships, advertisements, social media and many other business opportunities. The problem, though, isn't that athletes are being paid, but that college sports introduced Name, Image and Likeness without rules to regulate it. Some universities have wealthy donors and NIL groups that can offer athletes large amounts of money. These offers heavily influence where recruits attend college. As a result, recruiting is beginning to look like professional free agency, even though college sports do not have contracts. Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban has been one of the

most outspoken critics of the current NIL system. “People, instead of making decisions about creating value in their future, started making decisions about how much money they could make at whichever school they could go to or transfer,” Saban said in an interview with Sports Illustrated on March 26, 2026. “Players need to get compensated, no doubt. But it has to be done in a different way.” Saban is not arguing for the removal of NIL money, but rather that athletes should have more equal opportunities so schools have an equal chance to sign a recruit. “One school can spend $30 million for players while another school can only spend $3 million,” Saban said during the SI interview. “This model is unsustainable, and not good for players.” This is a reasonable concern; programs with the wealthiest donors can consistently get the best players, simply because they have the money. Instead, athletes should choose a school because of the education, coaching staff and opportunity. “The Ivy League cannot do

NIL,” senior and University of Pennsylvania football commit John Edge Sowa said. “I choose Penn because I will get a great education. I love the coaches, and I will have an opportunity to get minutes early in my career.” I don't blame athletes for switching schools for millions of dollars, but I do blame the system. Coaches have always been allowed to leave programs for larger contracts and make decisions based on money, so it would be unfair to expect players to ignore millions of dollars put in front of them. The solution is not to eliminate NIL. College sports should instead have national standards that protect athletes while also compensating them for what they deserve. Athletes should receive straightforward deals. The transfer portal should also play a smaller role so teams can build a roster rather than just bid on players with NIL money. “I am really excited about playing in college,” senior and Holy Cross football commit Curtis Mathes said. “I really like the coaches and all of the guys on the team. I think we are going to have

a good group and hopefully have a strong season.” NIL is also changing the relationship between players and fans. Fans used to watch athletes grow within a program for three or four seasons before they turned professional. Now, rosters can look completely different after one offseason. “We need to find a system that improves the quality of life of players,” Saban said during the same interview. “[We need] a system that still focuses on the right stuff: development and education.” NIL is creating a system that greatly benefits college athletes. However, it needs limitations to give every school an equal chance to compete for top talent. With the current system, the most funded programs will continue to win. “I think NIL is a great tool in recruiting, and the top talent definitely deserves what they are being paid,” Sowa said. “But with different rules and regulations between conferences, I think there needs to be a national rule just to keep it fair and the competition level high.”

eagleedition.org

V44 Issue 1 | September 28, 2026

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eaGle edition Eagle Edition | Vol. 44, Issue 1

BYLINE POLICY All articles, graphics, photos, art, columns, page design, reviews or other material produced by Advanced Journalism students carry the creator’s byline with the exception of the Staff Stance, which is the official, collective voice of the Eagle Edition. MISSION STATEMENT The Eagle Edition is a student-produced newspaper published six times a year with the intent to educate in a professional manner and provide a voice for the Community. The Eagle Edition has earned Gold and Silver Crowns from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, Pacemaker Awards from the National Scholastic Press Association and Gold Stars from the Interscholastic League Press Conference. Circulation is 1000 copies, and the student population is 782. ADVERTISING POLICY The Eagle Edition is partially funded through advertising. The editorial board reserves the right to refuse ads not in the best interest of our readers. Ads are sold in 1/8 page increments. Please contact the Business Manager: Griffin Green greengriffin@ esdallas.org.

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