Volume 79 Issue 5 by DartNewsOnline

DART

THE

ST. TERESA’S ACADEMY|KANSAS CITY, MO VOLUME 79, ISSUE 5

The Financial “Draft:” The U.S. military’s presence in high school As tensions with Iran grew with the recent assasination of Qasem Suleimani, the “draft” took social media by storm, causing panic and a misunderstanding of the presence of the military in our lives. The military “draft” is actively involved in the lives of many and through a form financial recruitment. p. 18

2 LETTER FROM THE EDITORS

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

DEAR READER, Hello readers! Welcome to a new year, a new decade and a new year of Dart. As STA enters their second semester, many students find themselves busy with different activities from Creative Grounds to Academy Award season. This cycle, the Dart took a look at what keeps students busy. On page 9, Katie Massman interviewed students involved with plays, both here at school and outside of STA. Massman explores why students decide to join plays and where their love of plays originates from. Sophia Durone also looks at iron deficiency in female athletes, an especially timely topic as the winter sports season finishes and the spring season begins. For more information, turn to page 24. Amid the craziness of second semester, many students still find themselves trying to keep up with the news. Lily Hart’s feature on page 14 explains how some students use social media as

a newsource and the impacts of using social media as news. Recently on social media, there were many fake stories about the draft, so Claire Smith and Rachel Robinson sat down and looked at the history of the draft and why students decide to enlist in the military. To read their highly enlightening story, flip to page 16. Students wouldn’t be who they are without their city, and in honor of Black History Month, the Dart compiled a list of black owned businesses in Kansas City and interviewed their owners. To read more about the businesses, turn to page 28. As well as photographing these businesses, Lily Sage also documented how Kansas City turned red with the excitement of the Chiefs as the city prepared for the Superbowl. To see those photos, turn to page 30. With the approach of Valentine’s Day, Lilly Frisch took a look at some of the best cheesy movies. To read her review, head to DartNewsOnline, which

is full of lots of online content for this month. There, you can find Anna Ronan and Sydney Waldron’s podcast discussing the Oscar nominees of this year and predicting the winners. If movies aren’t your scene, check out Becca Speier’s gallery about service on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Amy Schaffer’s video of vegan grocery shopping or Faith Andrews-O’Neal’s video interviewing English teacher Jarrod Roark. Make sure you keep up to date with all our social media as the semester progresses and thank you for the continual support of the Dart.

Love,

TABLE OF CONTENTS

04 06 08 10 11 12 14 16

News Feature: New computers Star Spotlight: Lauren Chestnut A&E: Why plays? Review: “Long Bright River”

Review: “Circles” Feature: Social justice Feature: Social media as news Centerspread: The financial “draft” Perspective: ASL should be a requirement Perspective: I was born to be a cello prodigy Perspective: My “Ladybird” moment Sports Feature: Iron deficiency in athletes Community: Stray Cat Film Center Last Look: Black-owned businesses Photo Story: Chiefs fever

24 COVER DESIGNED BY SYDNEY WALDRON

What’s New On the DNO

21 22 23 24 26 28 30 31

4 NEWS FEATURE

FEBUARY 7, 2020

STA implements new computers

In January and February of this year, all STA students will receive a Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 computer to replace their Surface Pros. Story by Carmon Baker I Web Editor

“I could wake up [at 7:45

a.m.] and turn [the Dell computer] on and it won’t be dead until maybe midnight that night, even if I use it all day during school, come home, do more homework. Caroline WilLis

“

etween Jan. 21 and Feb.18, every STA student will be issued a new laptop computer. Students are switching from the Microsoft Surface Pro 4 tablet to the Dell Latitude 7400 2-in-1 computer. According to STA technology coordinator Matt Stewart, the process for deciding which new computer to give students started with a variety of options, but was eventually a decision between 5 different computers. “We first started researching the new models of computers that were available,” Stewart said. “Then we made a list of items that we knew we had to have, like better battery life, digital inking, touch screen functionality, etc. Then we reached out to our vendors and other colleagues in the tech field and narrowed it down to around five different models.” Over the summer and into this school year, a group of 12 students tested computers to decide which model to implement at STA. These students tested three different computers—the Dell Latitude and two versions of the Chromebook. Senior Caroline Willis was one of the students involved in this group who tested the Dell laptop. “I basically used it during the school day,” Willis said. “I completed reviews of it. We had little group discussions over it. There were about three different

computers, and we all came together and chose this one.” Stewart believes that the involvement of students was important to the decision making

process. “The student involvement in this process was really incredible,” Stewart said. “The students who helped test the new devices were really amazing, and the feedback they gave us was crucial in our decision making process.” According to Willis, the students who tested computers were looking for a variety of characteristics in their laptops, including an attached keyboard, no overheating and better connectability to classroom technology. “A big issue was, as [STA network administrator Jeff Zimmerman] would say, the ‘lapability,’” Willis said. “A lot of people, including myself, would have issues using the Surface Pro in their car if they were on a road

According to Stewart, distributing new computers at the start of the next school year was an option, but they decided to implement them at the beginning of this semester instead. “The main reason that we chose to roll out new machines during the school year instead of the summer, is because the Surface Pro devices were not holding up as well as

“

Then we made a list of items that we knew we had to have, like better battery life, digitial linking, touch screen functionality, etc. Matt Stewart

“

trip or on a plane. The keyboard would disconnect a lot and it was really frustrating to use it when you don’t have access to a desk. The attached keyboard was definitely a big pro.” Battery duration was also an issue with the Surface Pros, so the search group looked for a computer with better battery life. “I could wake up [at 7:45 a.m.] and turn [the Dell computer] on and it won’t be dead until maybe midnight that night, even if I use it all day during school, come home, do more homework,” Willis said. “I’ve never had it die, which is crazy, when I’m in a math class and then 10 people start reaching for chargers. You never have to worry about that.” Ultimately, Stewart says that STA decided to implement the Dell computer because it seemed like a better fit for the students and the school as a whole. “Aside from the fact that the Dell was the unanimous favorite amongst the students, it was also our favorite device,” Stewart said. “Also, the warranty and support options that Dell had to offer was a much better fit for us than the others.” Students are receiving their computers based on their advisory. Junior Kate Gibson, who is in the Blake advisory, received her computer Jan. 21. According to Gibson, students returned their Surface Pros, then were given their new computers and went through some basic processes to get the computers set up.

we hoped in their fourth and final year with students,” Stewart said. “Plus we wanted to give everyone the new devices before this school year ends so that the students could have them over the summer.” There are multiple differences between the old Surface Pros and the new Dell computers. According to Gibson, the biggest initial differences she sees are in the pen and the stand. In addition, the screen on the new computers is 14 inches, compared to the Surface Pro’s 12.3 inch screen. “The pen is smoother to write with, I found out,” Gibson said. “There’s no backstand for the

computer, you need to hold your hand back on it, but I really don’t mind that. The screen is so much bigger, so you can fit a lot more, it’s a lot easier.” Willis agrees that the larger screen is an improvement, especially in her math class, as the bigger screen makes taking notes easier. She also sees a positive change with graphic design on the new computers. “I was in graphic design last semester,” Willis said. “I used to have tons of problems with the [Adobe Apps] last year, crashing in the middle of a project. I have never had anything crash on here. I was doing a bunch of Illustrator stuff and nothing crashed, so that was awesome.” According to Gibson, the new computers will take some getting used to, but she does not foresee any issues in adapting. “One of the biggest [differences] is the pen because the eraser is a lot different,” Gibson said. “You have to click a button on the front. So, it’s a little different, but muscle memory will kick in, and it’ll work better. Ultimately, Willis likes the new laptops and would like to continue to use a similar model in college. Stewart agrees, stating that student opinion so far has been, “overwhelmingly very positive.” “Honestly, I think it’s a really great option that sort of gets you outside of the comfort zone of just a standard laptop,” Willis said. “It’s like the Surface Pro got major upgrades.” B

Students transitioned from Microsoft Surface Pros to the new Dell computers during January and Feburay of 2020. Graphics by Lilly Frisch I Writer

6 STAR SPOTLIGHT

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

L A U R E N C H E S T N U T

Freshman Lauren Chestnut plans on creating her own merchandise line of shirts and a YouTube account. Chesnut’s merch line, which is based on the word “periodt,” is on Instagram @thatsonperiodt.merch and will tentatively be for sale by the end of February. Story by Cara Barone | Writer

hy did you start your merch line? At the beginning of the year — I think it was in my history class or something — after everything I would say, I would always say “periodt” or something after it and it’s just like I did that for a couple weeks. I guess I was just being myself because I just always say that, and some people would be like, “You should make merch out of it because you’re the only person I know that says it like that.” And I’m like, “okay?” So that’s how that started. How did you get it started? It wasn’t my idea at first, but then people would be like, “If you made merch out of it, I’d actually buy it,” and stuff like that. So I just started asking people to come up with ideas and stuff and it’s like a lot of people [being] like “Wait, I want to help you with this, I want to help you with that,” and that was about three months ago. And I’ve got so many designs, and I’ve just been trying to narrow it down to which one I like, so that’s what I’m doing now.

Do you make the designs? Not really — people say they have designs that they like. So they say, “ooh I made a design” and they’ll show it to me and I’ll say, “ooh I like that one” and then keep that one in mind if I wanted to use it [for a] shirt or something. What kind of items are you going to be making? I want to start off with shirts and sweatshirts first. What kind of designs will you have? There’s one design that I like — I’m like obsessed with Supreme, and it’s like the Supreme logo, but instead of “Supreme” it says “periodt.” What’s in the works currently? It’s a lot of things, like different things… A lot of people will say I’m really funny and stuff like that so they’re like, “you should make a YouTube channel” and stuff like that, “because I would definitely watch it.” And so I’ve been working on creating a YouTube channel right now, and still getting designs in for my shirts and just like seeing how many people actually buy it and stuff like that.

What type of videos do you plan on making on YouTube? I guess challenges with my friends, or vlogs or something like that, like something I do in a day… Honestly my goal [with it] is just to have fun, and make people laugh. How do you like to make people laugh? I can just take any situation and make it into a joke. So like if we’re in class and somebody says something, I can always turn that into a joke… I hate that life can be taken so seriously, so I just always, you know, find a way to insert a joke or make people laugh — just be myself. Is there anything else you’d like to say about the merch line and YouTube account you’re creating? It’s really all like a big joke that I’m taking serious, basically. B

Freshman Lauren Chestnut poses Feb. 2. Chestnut plans on starting her own merchandise line and YouTube account that showcase her personality. photo illustration by Cara Barone

8 BITS & PIECES

IN THE NEWS

global

national local

Compiled by Carmon Baker | Web Editor The Kansas City Chiefs beat the San Francisco 49ers Feb. 2 to win Super Bowl LIV. The final score was 31-20, and Patrick Mahomes was named MVP. This is the Chief’s first Super Bowl win since 1970.

Who’s your favorite Kansas City sports team?

70%

Voting for the Democratic presidential nomination will start Monday Feb. 3 with the Iowa caucuses. A candidate has to get 15% of the vote at most precincts to be eligible to receive delegates, and Iowa has 41 delegates pledged to the Democratic National Convention.

The Wuhan Coronavirus has continued to spread outside of China. As of Feb. 2, according to CNN, 305 people have died from the virus and over 14,300 have been infected. The virus has spread to at least 25 different countries and territories, including the Philippines and the U.S. Currently, around 60 million individuals are on lockdown in China.

Chiefs

10%

Sporting KC Compiled by Sophia Rall | Writer

PHOTO OF THE ISSUE:

Each month, the Dart chooses a staffer’s photo to be featured. photo by Becca Speier | Photo Editor Stacked vintage televisions sit in the center of Stray Cat’s entrance and concession stand Jan. 20. The televisions have a continuous multi-colored slideshow that plays while turned on.

20% Royals

Junior Gracie Swanson laughs as she practices her lines Jan. 27. Swanson will appear in STA’s upcoming production of “Men On Boats.” photo by Beatrice Curry DESIGNED BY MARY MASSMAN

A&E

Students prioritize acting development Plays offer students the opportunity to challenge their acting abilities in different ways than musical productions do.

Story by Mary Massman | News Editor

enior Grace Gaume had no experience with theater until she was on stage, reciting the lines of a 19th century sailor in front of every hopeful student auditioning for this year’s play “Men on Boats.” She never imagined how difficult it would be to stay in character while fighting back the anxious feeling of sharing her interpretation with an audience. “It’s hard to keep in character and not be so shy,” Gaume said. Gaume dreamt of being an actress when she was younger, even auditioning for a couple commercials. However, it wasn’t until her last year of high school that she decided to work up the courage and explore acting again through the play. “I don’t think there is going to be another point in my life where somebody says, ‘I’m having this play, come act in it,’” Gaume said. “I also felt like I was in my comfort zone this year because I’m a senior.” Gaume chose to try out for the play over the musical largely because she does not have any singing experience. She also thought the smaller cast size and more time focused on only acting skills would develop her ability to perform. However, the gender swap and sailing action in “Men on Boats” has challenged Gaume more than she expected.

“When you see people acting on TV, a teenage girl is going to be playing a teenage girl,” Gaume said. “When you’re auditioning for a play, you’re in this scenario playing someone that you can’t really relate to at all.” Developing acting skills is one reason theater teacher Shana Prentiss encourages students who may gravitate toward musicals to build transferable skills through acting in the play. “I tell all of my [theater students] that you should be doing plays, even those kids that think they’re pure musical theater,” Prentiss said. “Students that think all they have to do is musicals, they’re missing out on the opportunities of becoming stronger actors.” Senior Kylie Shuster elects to participate in both the musical and play every year. Although she sings for the choir and her band, acting without music has taught her how to integrate herself into scenes. “Learning how to react and be on stage is very challenging,” Shuster said. “With smaller casts, you’re constantly moving the show in motion. Prentiss doesn’t stage everything to a tee so that every movement you have is choreographed — she allows it to happen naturally.” Not only does Prentiss think that plays give students time to improve their acting, but she also believes that the structural difference in

plays allows students to explore a more complex script. “I think with a play, you can often get more depth to the story, depth to the character, because you don’t have this other vehicle of the music and the dancing,” Prentiss said. “As far as the actual art of theater, I think it’s a little more interesting in a play.” Even though acting without music can prove to be a challenge, Shuster views her roles in the plays as opportunities to dive deeper into storylines and learn lessons from them without the convenience of music. “When you come to learn characters, you realize that they are normal people,” Shuster said. “You really get to see how each person may play a character and what traits each person notices about a character.” Although Gaume initially struggled to connect to her character, the more she has

watched the satirical and historical story unravel, the more eager she is to share it. She feels grateful that she auditioned for the play and can contribute to the ebb and flow of each scene. “Acting in a play is a good way to get out of your comfort zone and it’s kind of your own space to be creative,” Gaume said. “It feels like a once in a lifetime opportunity.” B

10 REVIEWS

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Stigma surrounding addiction must end

“Long Bright River” by Liz Moore demonstrates the incredible suffering caused by opioid addiction, and how stigma prevents people from getting the necessary help.

Story by Sophia Rall | Page Designer

henever police officer Mickey Fitzpatrick receives a call that a dead body has been found, her heart drops and she desperately hopes it isn’t her sister. Each time she arrives at the scene, she feels a sickening sense of relief when she sees it’s another person. Most people can resonate with this fear of family members being found dead. The thing is, Mickey has already found her sister dead- 5 times. However, Mickey’s younger sister Kacey wasn’t actually dead. She had instead overdosed on opioids, leaving her in a near-death state, with blue skin and slowed breathing. As Mickey grew up, she witnessed her sister become more and more dependent on drugs and eventually prostitute herself to pay for them. I was so shocked by the lengths Kacey went to get drugs, but I soon realized that Kacey’s story is only one of 2.1 million American stories of opioid addiction, according to the Addiction Center. “Long Bright River” by Liz Moore takes place in the early 2000’s, in an area completely slammed by the opioid epidemic. Before reading, I wrongly assumed that the crisis is over and no longer affects anyone. However, an estimated 2 million Americans began misusing opioids in 2017, according to the Addiction Center. The opioid epidemic is a highly prevalent issue, but people with opioid use disorders face incredible stigma, leading to inadequate healthcare and recovery options.

The stigma surrounding addiction must change in order to truly end the opioid epidemic. “Long Bright River” invites the reader to put themselves in Mickey’s shoes and imagine

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photo courtesy of Liz Moore On twitter

having a family member addicted to opioids. Before reading, I found it easy to write off addicts as bad people. I soon learned, though, that addiction is not a personal choice or a moral weakness. Addiction stems from a variety of societal and genetic factors. Some people choose to begin abusing opioids, but no one chooses to become dependent. By simply adjusting the way I viewed opioid users, my whole perspective on the opioid epidemic evolved. I now know people with

addictions are not bad, weak people. They are just people, deserving of respect, dignity and fair treatment. Kacey and other addicts were treated like secondclass citizens by community members, including police officers. Most police officers refer to the area where drug addicts hang out as Junktown, or K-Hole. They look down upon the people and the area, just because it has a higher rate of addiction. I believe it is vitally important to be educated about opioid addiction, and reading “Long Bright River” could jumpstart this learning. The novel completely opened my eyes to the magnitude of the opioid epidemic, while showing how and why addiction begins. It particularly shocked me when I realized Mickey’s sister Kacey could be anyone I know. Putting myself in Mickey’s shoes provided an intriguing standpoint of someone dealing with the opioid crisis and witnessing the accompanying stigma. I would give the “Long Bright River” a 5 out of 5 due to its powerful and relevant storyline. It was not a comfortable, easy read, but that makes it so much more important. The novel was a moving testament to the incredible pain, suffering and loss of opioid addiction. I am so much more aware of the prevalence of addiction and stigma. I wholeheartedly encourage everyone to read “Long Bright River” and bear witness to the ongoing devastation of the opioid epidemic. B

A full circle to an unfinished end

Mac Miller’s posthumous album, “Circles,” was released Jan. 17, almost two years after the rapper’s death in Sept. 2018. Created as a continuation from Miller’s last album “Swimming,” “Circles” dives into the lyrical and genre defying talent of Mac Miller.

Story by Aspen Cherrito | Multimedia Editor

ac Miller’s album “Swimming” came out in the midst of my obsession with Mac Miller. I solely listened to him and with the influx of new music — my obsession grew even larger. When his unexpected death came on Sept. 7, 2018, I was left in shambles. I ate, slept and lived in my “92 till infinity” hoodie, a concept Mac’s family came up with to have his legacy live on, as 92 was his birth year. He was my most listened to artist of 2018; I can still recite all his lyrics. He was one of those artists who I knew would always have an impact on me. Mac’s social media went active for the first time since his death in Sept. 2018, with an announcement from his family of a posthumous album titled “Circles.” A few unreleased tracks have leaked since Mac’s death, but a new album release was something I never thought would happen. “Good News,” the first single released from the album, was met with a surplus of positive support. From the music video to the lyrics, it gave me a sense of peace, almost as if he was still here. “Good News” paints an image of Mac’s mind before his death, that he was attempting to escape his self-doubt and pity. It felt as if after the success of “Swimming” he saw the light, that he knew “there’s a whole lot for me waiting,” as he says in the song. Before “Circles” dropped, I relistened to “Swimming,” and saw various hints to the concept of a continuation album I’ve never really noticed before. In “So It Goes,” the last song on “Swimming,” Mac closes with the

lyrics “Just like a circle, I go back to where I’m from.” It gave me a bit of an eerie feeling knowing that he was already a few months into recording “Circles” before his death but was never able to fully finish it. It made the album even more personal knowing how long he had this idea in mind.

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photo courtesy of Tribune News Service

My overall favorite songs from the album would have to be “Circles” and “Hand Me Downs.” Being the first song off the album, “Circles” starts off lyrically right where “So It Goes” ends, alluding to the circle concept — “I just end up right at the start of the line, drawing circles.” The song feels raw and almost unfinished but intentional. With a basic instrumental, heartfelt lyrics and Mac’s voice stripped down, it’s the most personal song on “Circles” in my opinion. “Hand Me Downs” gives a more soulful tone. With Mac’s raspy vocals and lack of rapping, it

doesn’t feel like a song from a rap artist, rather something you would hear in a late night coffee shop. A feature from artist Baro Sura, an artist who Mac spoke about wanting to collaborate with, adds a smoothness to Mac’s raspy voice. “Hand Me Downs” gives a similar vibe to various other songs on the album such as “Surf.” In contrast, songs such as “Blue World” and “I Can See,” bring me back to “The Divine Feminine” era of Mac, with a more laid back type of vibe. Overall, I’d rate the album 5/5. Since it was posthumous, it felt different than past Mac projects. It wasn’t perfect, but it was raw and real. “Circles” was a few months from being finished, so it was still in the early stages. Jon Brion, the producer who was working on the album with Mac before he died, finished the album by incorporating Mac’s pure emotion and a glimpse inside his dreamlike mind that was forever changing. While doing research for this review, I stumbled across a comment on Mac’s song “Everybody.” The commenter wrote, “Mac didn’t die, he became music,” and I can’t agree more. There is no doubt that Mac Miller was talented. I was never a huge fan of rap before him, but he opened up a door into producing and lyrical writing I don’t think I would have ever grown to love as much as I have. Although the project wasn’t finished before Mac died, it still felt authentically like him. From the visuals to the production, it felt like he was living through his music and will always be “Swimming in Circles,” thanks to his last two albums. B

12 FEATURE

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Learning Through Observing

Sophomores Jessie Borchert, Left, and rachel pryor watch the movie “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” in Windmoor, Jan. 31. This is the fourth year STA has SHOWN A movie to the entire school. photo by Ella Norton

Jan. 31 STA students and faculty will be watching the documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” which focuses on the life of public interest attorney Bryan Stevenson. Story by Ella Norton Editor-in-Chief

hen now junior Sally Swinney was in her first year of high school, she filed into the auditorium with her classmates to watch the movie “Big Sonia.” Swinney, who worked at a movie theater at the time and had seen the movie previously, found herself enjoying the movie once more and learning more about the Holocaust, a topic she previously didn’t know too much about. For Swinney, watching a movie to learn allowed her to process the information in a different way than she had before. “I think [learning] is different to actually see it with your own eyes and to witness change happening in the world,” Swinney said. “When you read about it you can sometimes just skim

over it and not get the whole picture or understand what it’s saying.” STA students and faculty watched a film as a whole school again Jan. 31. The documentary “True Justice: Bryan Stevenson’s Fight for Equality” focuses on the life of public interest attorney Bryan Stevenson and his battle with inequality in the justice system. The film was introduced by equity outreach coordinator Kelly McKee and administration who requested STA view the film. “True Justice” was shown to finish Catholic School’s Week and to kick off Black History Month. Campus ministry leader Andrea Arredondo believes the film opens up the conversation on relevant topics for a Catholic school to discuss. “The Sisters of St. Joseph, they’re about unifying love,, and so they talk to us about love of God and neighbor without distinction,” Arredondo said. “I think social justice calls us to look at the structures in our society, and as a Sisters of St. Joseph and a Catholic school, I think we are even more responsible to look into these issues because of the legacy that we carry on.” Director of equity outreach and

inclusive education Brianna Walker similraily believes that showing this film to STA is important, especially since it tackles the morality of Capital Punishment. “As we continue to ensure that students of STA are becoming critical thinkers about the world that they live in, its important to make sure that we challenge them to do so,” Walker said. “We can only do that by engaging in conversation about controversial subjects such as this one.” According to Walker, STA encourages engagement with social justice as a tool of empowerment and in alignment with the mission of the school. “Right in our mission we vow to empower you all to change the world,” Walker said. “We’d be remiss to hold this transformative paradigm and not act on it.” Over the past years, Walker has seen the films have different impacts on people. “Honestly, I’ve seen it go both ways,” Walker said. “When it comes to the subject matter of this movie in particular and others like it, I’ve seen people get inspired to learn more and see how they as an individual

can be a beacon of change. I’ve also seen people feel regret and apologetic, which definitely is not the intention of these movies.” Walker believes that part of what makes movies so impactful is because it puts faces to the issue, creating a visual of the problem.. “So often, we have workshops on implicit bias, we hear about slavery, we learn about the Trail of Tears, but when we can see injustice in the face and learn that things like this are in fact still happening today, it’s much more impactful,” Walker said. “I think showing a movie is just as effective as bringing in a speaker, taking students through an online training, or even making this a topic choice for research papers in class. Not everyone will get the same things from each method, but at least students are given the option.” Arredondo believes that Stevenson himself will have an effect on students because he is an “admirable man” who is articulate, while also using humanistic terms, to discuss topics such as the justice system and death penalty.

“

“I think [learning] is different to actually see it with your own eyes and to witness change happening in the world.”

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Sally Swinney

“He makes these topics really close to your heart and at the same time knows all the facts,” Arredondo said. “And there are parts of the film too that are a little jarring so that too is sometimes hard to see,, but it also makes an impact because you realize the depth of injustice that is going on.” For Swinney, by watching movies through STA, she found herself able to consider different points of view. “I thought it was really cool and

interesting that STA provided that opportunity for students to see movies like that,” Swinney said. “I loved watching ‘The Hate U Give,’ I thought it was really interesting and brought a whole new perspective that I couldn’t see as a white person.” However, senior Liv Richardson does not believe that movies are an absolutely successful way to teach students about social justice. “I think that movies are very effective, but I don’t think people want to be forced to learn a lesson,” Richardson said. “We are in high school and high school does form you a lot, but I would say a lot of your morals are formed when you’re little and what you believe is how you grew up. I think that [teaching about social justice] needs to be more subtle.” Richardson does note that films can be an important reminder of current events, especially in a society that she sees as desensitized. “Everything that happens affects you in some way — a lot of things that were traumatic or big in our history had a big impact, we just don’t see them everyday,” Richardson said. “To reopen your eyes and see how we got here and how you formed as a person, it’s just very important that we do.” Other than viewing the films, Richardson believes that people at STA can better address social justice through changing the language they use, especially around sensitive topics such as race. “I believe that racism is a learned behavior and that comes through language,” Richardson said. “If we learn how to use different words and make sure that girls weren’t actively attacking people and just change a little bit of the behavior, then it wouldn’t be a problem.” For Walker, after watching “True Justice” she hopes students become more comfortable engaging in “courageous conversations” with each other, as well as recognize history as a tool to understanding this country now. Walker also thinks that there are other ways that we can open up the conversation around social justice. “Social justice doesn’t just have

to be formulated around race,” Walker said. “There are plenty of conversations to be had about all types of aspects of social justice. It pinpointing the part of social justice to focus on that gets difficult. “ When Arredondo watched ‘’True Justice,” she was struck by the sense of purpose Stevenson has and hopes that students can walk away with a similar feeling. She also hopes that students are able to recognize the injustice the film portrays and learn from the whole experience. “I also hope it makes them think a lot about oppression and systemic injustice,” Arredondo said. “I know it comes up in your classes here and in different readings and history lessons,, but I think this film shines a really bright spotlight on what injustice looks like. It would be hard to miss that so I hope every student at some point is like ‘wow I never knew that’ and has one of those moments.” B

Lights, Camera, Social Justice Since 2017, STA has seen four movies collectively as a school in an effort to educate students on the different injustices in society. Alternative coverage by Claudia Benge | Sports Editor

Hidden Figures 2017 Big Sonia 2018 The Hate U Give 2019 True Justice 2020

14 FEATURE

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Social media

breeds

biased

information

Two-thirds of Americans get at least some of their news from social media, an alltime high according to Pew Research Center.

History teacher Mike Egner begins his class by talking about current events Jan. 28. Egner believes social media is the worst source for news because you do not know where the information is coming from.

Story by Lily Hart | Editor-in-chief Photos by Katie Massman Twitter Editor

sources to consult, so that you can be the one to decide what the ‘real news’ is,” Egner said. “Remember what I say all the time — personal responsibility. If you don’t make the effort yourself to increase your knowledge about an issue or a candidate or an event then nobody can help you.” Current Events club copresident Molly Langdon attributes the unreliability of social mediagenerated news to this bias.

“we’re not willing to If listen to people’s points of view on any issues, then we’re headed down a dark road. Nobody likes darks roads Mike egner

“

he only advice that social studies teacher Mike Egner has for those who choose to get their news exclusively from social media is “why?” According to a Pew Research Center report, two-thirds of Americans get their news at least in part from social media as of August 2017. Pew attributes this to being a part of the upwards trend of more and more people seeking news from media sites. “A lot of people — I don’t know why — believe that social media is the only way to get news,” Egner said. “In my opinion, it’s probably the worst way to get news because you’re never sure of the source.” According to Peter Suciu from Forbes, “bias that might not exist in the actual pages of the newspapers does unfortunately have a way of showing up on social media.” With this sentiment in mind, Egner not only advocates for people to stay informed, but he believes in diversifying the sources one goes to for news. An active follower of current events, he has a portfolio of news sources he draws from. This includes network and cable news channels, and ranges from CNN to Fox News. “Why not benefit yourself by giving yourself a range of different

“You shouldn’t be looking for your news to see what other people think about it, it’s what you think about it,” Langdon said. “If you find a source that’s not credible, it’s going to be what someone else thinks about it, and then the freedom of how you read things is almost taken away because you’re being forced into

this opinion because it’s believed to be a fact now.” Both Langdon and senior Molly Sexton want to emphasize that young kids are especially at risk for consuming ‘fake news’ or inaccurate accounts of current events now that it is more commonplace for them to be online and on social media. “Kids are younger and younger on social media, they’ll just believe anything,” Sexton said. “My brother is 11 and he does all the social media stuff and I don’t he has the knowledge to know what’s true and what’s not true. I think that’s the tough part of it.” Sexton primarily gets her news from Twitter but acknowledges this news source’s downsides. She cross references her news with other sources such as other Twitter accounts or official news sites, to make sure she is getting unbiased information. “[Twitter is] just the most convenient,” Sexton said. “Occasionally I’ll go off and look at other articles, but I also like to see what individual people who aren’t news reporters or journalists have to say. Unless I hear it from multiple accounts, then I can’t assume that it’s 100% true.” Langdon agrees that Twitter can be a vessel for news, but that

“The thing that social media takes away is the actual article, and I really love reading a good article if they can make it interesting without making it too biased. Molly Langdon

As Current Events Club moderator, Egner wanted to expose members of different grades to the news he talks about every day with his government classes. “I don’t use my phone as much as a lot of people do, but I sure use it a lot more than I used to… before I started teaching government class,” Egner said. “Because I want to be able to share with you guys!” His opinion on keeping up with domestic and international news is rooted in creating informed opinions on current events. “If you trust other people to formulate your opinions, God help you, and the rest of the people in this country,” Egner said. “That’s not how a democracy is supposed to work. There’s just so much [news]. You have to discriminate. You have to choose.”

if you walk around not knowing anything, then you don’t really have much to talk to people about,” Langdon said. “I like to start conversations… It’s also so that you can talk to people of other generations, too”

“

it is not necessarily accurate news in itself. “I think people tweeting is definitely a way to keep up if you want to know what’s in the news,” Langdon said. “I think people tweet about the news, but I don’t think tweeting is news. Like when President Trump decides to make a tweet about something that’s already been published, that’s already been news, he’s just making it news for the people who maybe don’t check the sources.” Although they get their news from different media, Egner, Langdon and Sexton all agree that there is an importance to keeping up with the news, and share a passion for current events. Langdon especially emphasizes the social aspect of staying updated. “I think [keeping up with the news] is really important because

16 CENTERSPREAD

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

T H E

F I N A N C I A L “D R A F T:”

The U.S. military’s prescence in high schools Mary Cox stands next to fellow nurses in a demilitarized zone in 1978. photo courtesy of Mary Cox

Will you be drafted? As tensions with Iran grew with the recent assasination of the Iranian general Qassim Solemani, the idea of a military “draft’’ took social media by storm. This caused a panic and a misunderstanding of the presence of the military in our lives. The military “draft” is actively involved in the lives of many and through a form of financial recruitment. Story by Rachel Robinson Opinion Editor and Claire Smith | Design Editor Photos taken and compiled by Claudia Benge | Sports Editor

an. 3, a day after the U.S. issued a drone strike on Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad, Iraq, junior Lilly Stafford opened TikTok. As she swiped through videos, she saw one overwhelming trend on her “For You” page: jokes about “the draft.” At first these jokes were funny, but she soon began to see comments expressing fear about the possibility of a draft becoming a reality. Globally, the attack sparked fear of further conflict between the U.S. and Iran and manifested across social media in an array of jokes and memes. “I think [the TikTok trend] escalated a lot faster than people expected it to and caused panic in a lot of people that might not be as educated in the political side of things,” Stafford said. “I feel like it just blew up a little bit too much beyond what it should have. It was a joke and then it started to turn into, like, an actual political issue.” As someone who considered serving in the military for four years and has familial ties to the Navy, Stafford does not believe there will ever be another actual “draft.” In the traditional sense of the word, a draft is when the U.S. government requires military service from certain demographics during war.

“I do think that there would be the potential of needing something [to get recruits] but not to the extent of what a draft is,” Stafford said. “If there’s a war that not everyone politically agrees with, then they’re going to be like, ‘okay, we need like people for this.’ But I don’t think we would resort to the same way we [would] draft in the past.” According to Sergeant Kevin Elschlager, a recruiter from the U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion, there is no chance for a national draft to occur. “I can tell you for a fact that [a draft] is not going to happen,” Sgt. Elschlager said. “The media is saying ‘World War III is about to start’ and from the information I’ve gotten, that’s not the case. Like even during the height of the Iraq and Afghanistan war, there was no draft going on. So there will be absolutely no draft that is going to happen.” However, according to Education Week, a modern draft is already at work. Commonly called the poverty draft, this takes place through military recruitment which targets public schools in lowincome neighborhoods. The poverty draft came into existence because of the post-9/11 G.I. Bill which offered tuition-free higher education or job training in exchange for three years of service. It was accelerated in 2002 by the No Child Left Behind Act, enacted by President George Bush, which requires that military recruiters have the same access to public schools as college recruiters. As a recruiter for the U.S. Battalion, Sgt. Elschlager searches for individuals who meet the requirements of the recruitment process and helps them find opportunities through the Army. “My job is a recruiter, and that’s the main source of what we do, going out and finding qualified people to join the Army,” Sgt. Elschlager said. “Start the application process, go through future soldier training programs, making sure you’re ready to go to basic training after you enlist.”

In a study conducted by Education Week, it was observed that military recruiters visited highincome schools — measured by number of students qualified for free lunch — only five times per year compared to 40 times at low-income schools. The students being recruited are the ones most financially vulnerable and most in need of military financial benefits. According to the Kansas City Star, public schools in Kansas City fall into the category of a minimally funded school district with 95% of students coming from low-income households. The public school district allows military recruitment because they are required to in order to receive federal funding. “The reason you might not see [recruiting] at [STA] is that for public schools to receive federal funding, they have to let the military into their schools and they have to release phone numbers and names of all the students,” Sgt. Elschlager said. “Now if you go to a private [school], to where they’re not federally funded or funded by the state, they are not obligated to do that.” In regards to financial aid for college expenses, the U.S. military offers a generous amount of support for recruited students. According to Sgt. Elschlager, the Army Reserves and the active Army programs are where the majority of financial support options can be found. “If you plan on going to college the Army Reserves are a really good program,” Sgt. Elschlager said. “If you go active duty, you serve three years or more on any military branch, you get a full ride scholarship to any major university. And you get a stipend to live off of while you’re in school.” According to Teen Vogue, 49% of young people say tuition payment would be a reason they would join the military. St. Teresa’s alumna Mary Cox, class of 1969, said the college financial support offered through the Army to serve as a nurse was a major component in her service. “[Financial support] was 100%

Mary Cox marches with fellow nurses in Fort Knox, KY, 1976. photo courtesy of Mary Cox

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Principal for student affairs Elizabeth Baker spoke on the absence of recruitment programs at STA. As mentioned by Sgt. elschlager, public schools are required to allow military recruitment, but St. Teresa’s still has the option to independently bring in these recruiters. While Sgt. elschlager spoke about federal funding, Baker discussed the difference in message that

“

The media is saying ‘world war three is about to start’ and from the information I’ve gotten, that’s not the case.

“

a big part of my decision,” Cox said. “There were nine children in my family, and I was the third oldest. We were all in high school together, we were all in college together, and there were six girls that came behind me. If we were gonna get college paid for, we were going to have to find a way.” Cox served as a first Lieutenant nurse in 1973 as the Vietnam War was drawing to a close. She retired 20 years later as a Lieutenant Colonel and the Chief of anesthesia in the ICU unit. Cox had wanted to be a nurse her whole life, and the Army made that childhood dream possible for her. “I was always going to be a nurse, from when I was 5 years old,” Cox said. “When I was at St. Teresa’s, the only college in Kansas City that had nursing that was accredited was Avila [University], so it was a no-brainer for me. When I got to college, we were in the middle of Vietnam [War], and they needed nurses. [The Army] had a program at the beginning of your junior year where they would pay you a salary and a rank for the Army for two years and pay for college.” Cox made the decision to join the military only after she had begun her college nursing career. There were no recruitment programs at St. Teresa’s when she was there and there are still none today.

Sergeant Kevin Elschlager dictates recruitment. “[St. Teresa’s] mission is CSJ, so we have a mission statement, and so does public school,” Baker said. “[Public schools’] walking statement is ‘we’re trying to make good citizens,’ so that’s why they have [a recruiting] requirement. They can’t regulate independent, charter and schools that are religious-based. Those schools can choose to have part of their

mission to make good citizens.” Baker spent 15 years at St. Mary’s High School where there were constant recruiters. St. Teresa’s is the first high school for Baker that has not had military recruitment in any form. “This is the first school I’ve been at that has not had [recruitment],” Baker said. “Whether it was the sisters who said ‘we’re not going to do that,’ whether the Army and the Armed Forces said ‘it’s an all girls school; we don’t want to recruit in all girls school because we won’t get that many recruits.’” Junior Natalie Rovello believes that there are a number of reasons why there is no military presence at St. Teresa’s, including but not limited to gender. “I think part of it might be because we’re female, but obviously there are women in the military,” Rovello said. “I think it’s mostly because this school is in a different tax bracket [than public schools]. And so they’re more likely to go to college and do those kinds of things instead of seeing the military as their only option.” Because of these factors, Rovello does not think that there is a need for any sort of recruitment program at St. Teresa’s. She suspects that it would go widely unused and that any students who would take advantage of it can

Enlistment Bonuses

navigate the process on their own. “I’m sure that there are some people here who are thinking about the military, but maybe not as their primary option, maybe just doing it at one point in their life,” Rovello said. “If that’s where their hearts want to take them, they can figure that out for themselves. I don’t think not having recruitment really deters anyone at all.” On the other hand, Cox believes that for students who are looking for ways to pay for their education, recruitment programs are essential. She says if these military programs had been available to her in high school, she would have jumped at the opportunity. “I think if [military recruitment] had come [to STA] I would have looked more seriously at the programs which paid for all four years,” Cox said. “But I did not know about that until later, until I was basically in the Army. Then I was like ‘wow all these other girls got this information about this program because recruiters had come to their high schools.’ I think that is a little bit of a disservice to St. Teresa’s.” B

Graphic by Claire Smith Design Editor Information compiled from Money Crashers

Mary Cox treatS a patient in a hospital ward. photo courtesy of Mary Cox

Extra College Funds Stiped in addition to the G.I. bill, which helps service members cover costs associated with education.

College Loan Repayment Program

All services of this program repay all or are apart of a publicly funded college loan in exchange for enlistment.

Advanced Enlistment Rank

Enlistees with college credits or participation in R.O.T.C. programs may be eligible for advance rank immedietly or accelerated promotion with higher pay.

Mary Cox stands next to her brother in 1991. photo courtesy of Mary Cox

20 MAIN EDITORIAL

Mi l i t a ry re c r uitment sh o u ld n o t be equally p r es e n t in al l s chools

ilitary recruitment is prevalent in many public high schools. This is an issue affecting our generation, particularly those in workingclass, rural neighborhoods who disproportionately enlist in the Army. Part of this, of course, is a desire to fight in our nation’s military. However, the ideas of “joining up” do not appear out of nowhere. For many students in schools with a lower median income, military recruitment is part of their experience in secondary education. In fact, following the 2002 No Child Left Behind Act signed by then-President George W. Bush, all public schools are required to give “the same access to secondary school students as is provided generally to post secondary educational institutions or to prospective employers.” No longer is enlistment the choice of men. Now, school-age teens are exposed to recruitment, so long as they are not in a private school. The Dart staff agrees that military recruitment should not be spread equally amongst young people. For many young people, enlisting means access to quality healthcare, a free college

education after their service or simply a plan for their adult life upon graduation. Students at St. Teresa’s, where the college matriculation rate is regularly in the high 90% rate, do not have this concern. With the exception of the occasional student once every few years, the vast majority of our peers will leave this school and embark on the next step of their academic journey at a four-year institution. At a private school where financial security is not a concern for most of the population, the benefits offered by the military are not necessarily a draw. This is why military recruitment focuses on the public school system, through recruiters and JROTC programs. For a student coming from a working-class family, for whom college tuition may be a large financial burden, enlisting is what they see as their best chance for mobility. For a young immigrant seeking citizenship, enlisting guarantees them access to what might otherwise take years. The security that the military ensures its soldiers is, often, already a foundational part of the lives of the students at STA. One could argue that military

recruitment should end altogether and that the money used should go toward creating those benefits without enlisting. Perhaps, those working-class students would not join the military if there was free tuition to public universities or access to free health care. Maybe that young immigrant student would instead follow a passion of their choice outside of the military if their path to citizenship was less time-consuming and convoluted. However, in our country today, this is not the case. Those benefits, and the tools to inform students about those benefits, should be geared toward those who need them. It can be argued that such practices are predatory, or preying on the poor for the sake of war. However, as long as we reside in a country that prides itself on military prowess — recruitment will still exist. As long as military personnel receives these benefits, this will be a tool to encourage working-class students to enlist. It is impractical to expect the same resources to be spent on a campus where students do not see these benefits as something to fight for. B 17/23 staffers agree

RIGHT ON TARGET Ellie Batliner, Sophomore “Yeah, I think that everyone should be treated equally despite their income level. It’s unfair to push military recruitment onto lower income individuals when someone of higher income will be getting the same benefits.”

Tessa Stevenson, Freshman “I don’t think it’s fair for the kids who are trying to provide for their family and have people relying on them for support, so if they get drafted it leaves their family in a difficult situation.”

PERSPECTIVES

More schools should teach sign language Although ASL may not fit the mold of a traditional foreign language, American colleges should offer it as a language fulfillment in order to educate more allies for the deaf community in the professional world. by Mary Massman | BNS and News Editor

hat first comes to your mind when you imagine learning a new language? Many of us picture our traditional language classes. It’s not surprising that we would imagine sitting in a Spanish, French, Chinese or Latin class because that is all that we have come to expect as language options in school. However, I think that more colleges should offer American Sign Language as a language fulfillment because more people need to bridge the gap between those who are deaf and those who do not know how to communicate. Over break I was surprised to learn that my cousin is enrolled in an ASL course at her college. It’s not just her college offering this course though. Many colleges and universities are beginning to recognize the study of ASL and deaf culture as legitimate academic pursuits. According to the Modern Language Association’s 2016 study of U.S. colleges and universities, ASL is the third most-studied language, outnumbered only by Spanish and French.

I started to wonder why my cousin would choose to take up ASL in college after dedicating four years to Spanish in high school. Then, she shared an anecdote that enlightened me: the first time she was able to help a deaf man at the gym she works at. She was the only one who understood what he was trying to communicate, and her experience helped me to understand the reason more students should study ASL. It is the same reason we study Spanish or French — to communicate with people unable to speak English. Although solving an issue at the gym doesn’t seem like much of an impact, any lack of ASL interpreters in courthouses, banks, hospitals or schools pose a serious risk. It makes interacting with institutions that are meant to serve people incredibly difficult for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. An article published by City Limits in September 2019 revealed that the lack of ASL interpreters in New York slows and complicates the legal process for those who rely on sign language. Deaf people deserve more allies in all professional fields. Educating more students to have ASL as a tool will only alleviate the stressors of the deaf community. Although offering ASL would allow more students to interact with deaf people, too many schools still push back against recognizing it as a language fulfillment because it does not fit the mold of the other traditional foreign languages. According to the University of Vermont Legislative Research Shop, some

foreign language departments that emphasize literature reject the idea of ASL being accepted as a “foreign” language. However, students should not lose sight of the value of learning sign language solely because it does not share the same recorded history of French. What ASL can offer college students is the study of a language that will enrich their own understanding of the American deaf community. Northeastern University’s ASL program, which has been accredited for 10 years, offers classes centering on ASL competence, deaf culture and history, interpretation and practicum. Northeastern’s program exemplifies the way colleges can incorporate both linguistic and cultural ASL study to create a department reflective of traditional foreign languages that makes a significant impact. The core reason students should learn sign language is so that we can communicate across barriers of disability and service others regardless of what career path we pursue. Colleges and universities should be less concerned with sticking to their foreign language standards and more concerned with how they can best produce young people that are equipped to enter the professional world with necessary skill sets and the tools to make an impact on those they encounter for the better. b

22 PERSPECTIVES

A broken wrist at age 10 cost me a dream that was a lifetime in the making. by Lily Hart | Editor-in-Chief

here’s a spare few moments in life where one can see the fork in the road. Mine was a cold November day in 2011 when I was only 10 years old. I broke my wrist at a roller skating party. This is when my entire life changed. For the better, or for the worse, you might ask? Only my eulogy will tell. I thought “this is okay, it’s only my wrist, right?” Wrong. I broke my radius at the growth plate, which means they had to put me under and reset my wrist. I woke up from anesthesia in a full-arm plaster cast, dreams shattered. I had missed my shot. I was born to be a cello-playing child prodigy, and I missed my shot. In fourth grade at Academie Lafayette, I was the only kid in the grade tall enough to use a full-sized cello and successfully reach all the way around to play it. Despite the fact that I had never even heard of a cello before, I was still an invaluable talent, and was incessantly recruited by our music teacher Mr. Swanson. Frankly, I get it. It’s rare that you find a kid not involved in anything, with no musical talent, who can fit a fullsized cello in the fourth grade. Imagine how different the AL sound would have been with the sweet, deep melody of a cello accompanying the 15 recorder players, one guitar player and

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

I was born to be a cello prodigy three-man trumpet section. Imagine: we cut to the winter concert. In the middle of a screeching rendition of “My Girl,” or “La Vie en Rose,” or anything by Stromae, the lights dim. The spotlight clicks on and shines on me, the star, for my cello solo. My half-bangs and low foundingfather-style ponytail glistening in the light, I begin to play. The audience goes quiet. You hear sniffling coming from my parents who finally see their cello-playing dreams manifesting themselves in me, their only daughter. The delayed applause shakes the Oak Street auditorium. "Encore, encore," the people yell. Sadly, I can’t oblige them, since Mr. Brichet’s 5th grade class was on next. And, due to a lack of planning, the concert was running two hours late. None of this came to be. My broken arm came right before band auditions. I thought to myself, “a strip of plaster cast is what stands between me and my dreams. I can defeat western medicine.” Ah, how naive I was. I stood in front of my mirror in my room the night before, struggling to make do with one hand. (Imagine a montage here.) Fourth grade me, trying to hold a ruler like a bow… but I couldn’t even touch my pinky to my thumb. I stare at myself, beads of sweat dripping down my face. I spent hours, months, years, trying to hold something — anything — with my left arm. Finally, after a few minutes of trying, I collapsed in defeat. What’s more, my elbow itched

inside my cast. My music career ended before it began. My mom never bought me a cello, and threw away the band flyers with tears in her eyes (I assume). “There goes her shot,” my mom said (probably). “Hopefully she can still have a successful future without the cello.” Time will tell. Where would I be if I had started playing the cello eight years ago? The symphony? A prestigious conservatory? “America’s Got Talent?” “My Strange Addiction?” Who knows. It was like if someone said to me, “hey, here’s a great opportunity to change your life and you’re beautiful!”... and then karate-chopped me in the back of the head. I was born to be a cello prodigy, but a clean break to my radius threw me off track. Ever since that fateful day, I have been trying to find something to replace my passion for the cello, which I assume would have consumed me. I have never actually played one, but I know I would have been great. This setback is, I’m sure, what ended my participation in musical activities. I quit Mr. Swanson’s choir a year later… oh, how I disappointed that man. If only he could see me now. Hear my melancholy laments, dear readers, and take one piece of advice from a bitter old sack like me: don’t go roller skating at Skate City, it will end your cello career. b

Take pride in where you come from I used to think being proud of your hometown was cheesy, but I have learned to love Kansas City.

by Anna Ronan | Design Editor

talk about my “Ladybird” moment too often — the moment when I realized, after years of desperately wanting to leave Kansas City and never come back, that I love my hometown. In the 2017 movie “Ladybird,” the main character, Christine McPhereson, hates her hometown of Sacramento and decides to move to New York City for college. In one of the last scenes of the movie (spoiler alert), she drives through Sacramento just after getting her license. While driving, she realizes that there is beauty in where she’s from and she will miss it — even if it’s just a little bit. While I’m not going as far as New York, I am moving to Iowa this August. I’m excited to go, but I realize now that there were almost 18 years that I didn’t take full advantage of the city that I grew up in. When I was younger, I didn’t think anyone knew what Kansas City was. I remember how on the Disney show “Good Luck Charlie,” Bob mistook the school that PJ was attending Kwikki Chikki University for Kansas City University. Needless

to say, 8 year old me was shocked that Bob Duncan knew what Kansas City even was. I even went so far as to think that loving Kansas City was corny and something that only happens on Instagram. When I’m scrolling down my explore page, the same sort of posts pop up. Wedged in between memes and conspiracy threads are brightly lit, very aesthetically pleasing posts straight out of the Made in KC store. They feature t-shirts, enamel pins and so many smiling, proud faces. It’s a unification of the city through worldwide, popular media. Part of the pride can be attributed to our sports teams. The Chiefs won the Superbowl this year, the Royals won the 2015 World Series and Sporting Kansas City has sent members of their team to play in the FIFA World Cup for multiple years now. However, while sports brings the city together in a special way, it’s not the only source of pride in the city. There’s a Kansas City connection that exists here in town. I can’t really explain it — it’s a deep pull back to this city that so many people feel. It’s comfortable here. Kansas City is just big enough to feel like a city but just small enough to feel like a true community of people.

The biggest reason why I never felt like I loved Kansas City was because I have always wanted to go out of state for college. If I was going to be gone in a little while, what would be the point of getting attached to now? After seeing students from my school and on the Dart staff adore Kansas City and then choose to go to places like Washington D.C. or California for school baffled me — what was the point in leaving if there is so much love already here? I started to understand their reasoning when I started applying to colleges as well. Even if it’s cliché, if you love something, you have to let it go for a while. As the day that I move away gets closer and closer, I’m starting to realize all of the good that is here and what I will miss when I don’t live here anymore. Even if it’s something as small as not having a Roasterie Café location around the corner every day, it’s starting to set in that I won’t have the comfort of my hometown by my side while I’m transitioning into adulthood. There is a deep-rooted sense of pride that comes from being from Kansas City. After years of indifference and misunderstanding what it’s like to be from here, I think I’m finally able to channel my inner Christine McPhereson and embrace that pride. b

check out more columns ON THE DNO: The lifelong gap: women in politics by Lilly Frisch

Bettas are the best pets by Sophia Durone

Choose oat milk by Beatrice Curry

Celebrities shouldn't give political speeches by Sydney Waldron

24 SPORTS FEATURE

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

Running low:

iron deficiency strains athletes More common in women than men, iron deficiency presents a dilemma for STA sports coaches and student athletes alike.

acing her strides with the sound of her breath, junior Jeanne Eckels found her sneakers hitting unusually heavy against the street during a sweltering cross country practice. She was familiar with exhaustion, but this feeling was different — Eckels was experiencing the effects of iron deficiency. “Comparing my first, second and third years of running, my first year I knew what it was like to feel tired or worn out, but then there were different feelings when I ran as a sophomore or junior where I realized it was something bigger than fatigue,” Eckels said. Eckels’ head cross country coach Karen Moran has witnessed iron deficiency affect female athletes many times before in her 21 years of coaching at St. Teresa’s Academy. “A cross country runner will not reach her full potential with low iron,” Moran said. “The biggest thing you notice with distance runners is feeling like you have dead legs.” According to Moran, this deficiency is easily recognizable in her team. “It sometimes looks like they’re not trying very hard or they look tired and they just look overly tired, worn down,” Moran said. “There’s just a look — I’ve been coaching for 21 years and there’s just a look

Senior Brooke Fallis catches her breath after her 50-meter freestyle race Jan. 25. Fallis realized she was iron deficient last year. photo by Katie Massman

Story by Sophia Durone|Features Editor — the other coaches see it too.” Eckels most frequently recognizes her iron deficiency when self-evaluating for the symptoms her cross country coaches often mention, such as lightheadedness. “Whenever I would get up, I would feel dizzy or faint — especially after stretching, I might see stars or be like, ‘Woah, I have got to sit down again,’” Eckels said. OB/GYN Carrie Grounds often sees iron deficiency present itself similarly with her clients at the Women’s Clinic of Johnson County. “If you are anemic, you could absolutely collapse, especially during strenuous activity or just because you can’t keep up with your oxygen carrying capacity,” Grounds said. According to the University of California San Francisco, iron deficiency can prevent adequate

oxygen from reaching a person’s muscle tissue during a workout — this can be season-ending for Moran’s athletes. The coach has taken a progressive approach to combating the problem within her team: iron supplements. “They need to be taking these supplements year round and if they wait until the cross country season before they notice it happens, they really are going to deal with it all season — even though the levels may go up, but it’s very slow to go up,” Moran said. Grounds believes iron absorption can be facilitated through a multitude of methods.

“Iron is best absorbed through food,” Grounds said. “If you are not adequately increasing the foods that are rich in iron — spinach, red meats — and we’ve tried oral supplements and you’re still not successful, we can send people in for IV iron where we bypass the gastrointestinal absorption issue. That will help everyone’s iron levels regardless.” Along with the iron supplement, Moran provides nutrition recommendations alike Grounds’ to her athletes. “We make sure they are eating lots of leafy greens, frosted mini wheats, fig newtons and food that will be a good source of iron — lean meats and stuff like that,” Moran said. Eckels believes her coaches’ efforts make a positive impact inside and outside of practice. “You want to keep yourself healthy, not just as an athlete but as a person,” Eckels said. “Iron deficiency does affect different aspects of your life outside of sports.” As a woman, Eckels was at a higher risk of becoming iron deficiency even before starting cross country. According to American Family Physician, iron deficiency anemia is diagnosed in 2% of adult men, 9-12% of non-Hispanic white women and almost 20% of black and MexicanAmerican women in the United States — this gender gap is due to menstrual cycles. “The reason women are more likely to become anemic is they are constantly turning over red blood cells due to the monthly loss of iron they have through bleeding — they have to constantly keep

up,” Grounds said. Moran believes her identity as a woman has created a comfortable team environment for discussing iron deficiency issues in conjunction with menses. “I am our first head [cross country] coach that’s a female, so I think many of our coaches didn’t want to talk about it all that much because it could be embarrassing,” Moran said. Eckels’ coaches are dedicated to nipping iron deficiency at its bud, and she believes their efforts surely pay off.

“Getting my iron levels where they should be is an ongoing process for me, but I can feel my progression,” Eckels said. “During practice, I felt much less fatigued and had more energy in my legs after I started taking an iron supplement.”B

THe symptoms of iron deﬁciency Alternative Coverage by Ella Norton|Editor-in-Chief

FE Fatigue FE weakness FE headaches FE Brittlle nails FE pica Information compiled from the national Office of Women’s Health

26 COMMUNITY

FEBRUARY 7, 2020

FILM CENTER:

catering to the community

The Stray Cat Film Center is Kansas City’s first non-profit microcinema. The theater aims to bring underground films to the local arts community.

aclyn Danger and Matt Lloyd sit on a plush couch in the lobby of the Stray Cat Film Center facing a wall of television sets, a plastic horse and a pinball machine. The televisions have buttons and dials on the front and lightly ring, giving the building an eerie, vintage feeling. The sound of trucks and cars whizzing down Broadway Boulevard clashes with the harsh January wind. Danger and Lloyd are the founders of Stray Cat, a nonprofit, volunteer-run microcinema located near the Kauffman Center for the Arts in downtown Kansas City. The theater started in 2017 as a way for Danger and Lloyd to show films to the Kansas City community that don’t get shown in big theaters. “It’s supposed to be a space dedicated to mainly cinema but at the same time, all sorts of visualaudio media that wouldn’t be able to exist elsewhere in the city,” Lloyd said. Danger and Lloyd have been friends since 2011, after attending the Kansas City Art Institute together. “I think film was a thing that brought us together,” Lloyd said, “because [Danger] had

Story by Anna Ronan | Design Editor Photos by Becca Speier | Photo Editor

amassed a collection of, like, really created and run by Jori Sackin, disreputable, trashy movies and another founding member of the you were just like ‘I need someone theater. to come over to my house and Sackin uses film and lecture-style watch these VHS tapes of strange, discussion to unpack metaphors in terrible films.’” films. The two started their own “I’ve had a real interest in cognitive linguistics for a long film collective, the Cannonball Roarers, in 2014. Once it was stable time and was always searching for different ways to get people and well received, they began planning to bring their love of film to a new space, under the name Stray Cat. “[Stray Cat] was the natural next step,” Danger said. The two met with other artists in the community, which they now refer to as “core members,” to attain a lease for a building and a grant to start their theater. Since its launch in 2017, they consistently show films, some of which fall under community-led projects called series. One of the series, the Psychotronic Film Series started under the Cannonball Roarers, was merged into Stray Cat’s film regimen after the theater opened. Co-founders Jaclyn Danger and matt lloyd explain How the Another series non-profit continues to run Jan. 20. Because core member called Metaphors volunteers work continuously, Stray Cat continues to show in Cinema was movies and hold events for the community.

interested in thinking and talking about it,” Sackin said. “As the project went on and I started to think more deeply about what I wanted to do with movies, that kind of became my focus.” Anyone can design and run a series which is why, Sackin says, the theater is so different from others in town. “You can propose a film series, and you can invite your friends and create that own experience for your community,” Sackin said. “It gives different communities an opportunity to do things that are not possible to do, like have your own film series at a movie theater.” Another difference between Stray Cat and other theaters is that the films shown are not blockbuster films that enter larger theaters like AMC or Cinemark. Danger calls Stray Cat the “dive bar version of the Alamo Drafthouse.” Since the theater is volunteer-run and not owned by a larger company, the range of films they can show is much wider. “A lot of the films that we show are difficult to find,” Danger said. “We’re just more flexible because we don’t have as much overhead.”

Lloyd is generally the one who attains films for the theater. “Matt’s really savvy about getting a hold of films,” Danger said. “Sometimes you can get it directly from the filmmaker, or you can get it from the distribution. Say it’s a film that’s out of print and nobody owns the rights to it anymore, it’s just kinda in this ghostland. It just takes a lot more digging.” Since every core member involved is a volunteer, selfsustainability is key. The project is run on volunteer availability and donations from patrons. Danger says that the biggest battle is getting people to come to the theater in the first place. “Constantly what you’re battling when you’re running a movie theater is trying to make the space appealing and inviting,” Danger said. “Interesting people are here, fun things happen, it’s cozy and maybe a little weird, but it’s more about how to get anybody out of their house at this point in time.” Through events like his lecture series, Sackin tries to make Stray Cat appealing by making it a unique experience that isn’t found at other theaters in town. “Movie theaters offer food and drinks, and that seems kinda lame,” Sackin said. “We’re just trying out different things about what you can combine with movies to make it an interesting, intellectual experience.” Though it was originally set to be a one-year project, the team has decided to continue Stray Cat for now. In the future, the team hopes to buy a building and make Stray Cat a permanent project. “What we really love providing are things related to music, or performance, or art, or movies or things that you couldn’t really experience elsewhere in the city,” Lloyd said. “That’s the guiding principle, and the dream is that we can always be providing that to the community.” B

FEBRUARY AT STRAY CAT Alternative coverage compiled by Rachel Robinson | Opinion editor Information compiled from www.straycatfilmcenter.com

High Brow Low Brow Wednesday, Feb. 12

“[High Brow Low Brow] takes a look at unique genres of films over the course of 3 months. By looking at different corners of the genre each month, we can see how they develop, peak, and evolve over time.”

Mystery Movie Matinee Sunday, Feb.16

“Mystery Movie Matinee is a matinee film series every 1st Sunday of the month featuring films from pre-1965. Each film is revealed to the audience upon showtime for only $2, with clues given ahead of time, guess the film and win a prize!”

I’m here, I’m Queer, I Wanna Watch Movies Monday, Feb. 17

“The series will break down and talk about how the queer films we watched in adolescence or should have watched shaped our experience and expectation of what it meant to be queer.”

28 LAST LOOK

FEBRUARY 7,2020

The New Dime Store

Kim Harris became the owner of Brookside’s New Dime store in 2011, though the original Dime Store opened back in 1939. Ranging from hair nets to diaper pins to vintage candies and funky gadgets and gifts — it sells just about anything a customer could need. “You can find anything you could want here,” Harris said. “We have a lot of unique items that people remember from a long long time ago.” This unique environment drew Harris in the second she first stepped foot in the Dime Store. “I just walked in there and knew I needed to be there,” Harris said. “I just came in, and I didn’t want to leave. Something about this place just felt good.” She emphasized the ideal location of the store, as Brookside’s walkability is ideal and brings in a strong customer base.

Urban Cafe

Urban Cafe, located at 5500 Troost Avenue, focuses on serving healthy, locally-grown food. The business was originally a coffee shop opened in 2016 that later expanded to include a food truck and catering. The current Urban Cafe restaurant opened under a soft opening two months ago. The bistro offers a healthy menu with vegan-friendly and organic options such as the Urban Bowl, which can be made to fit the customer’s dietary restrictions and tastes. Founder Justin Clark was inspired to pursue a healthy menu for his business because of his mom’s switch to veganism after her colon cancer diagnosis in 2015. Clark got experience cooking healthy food and preparing meals without the use of a fryer from his time working at Truman Medical Center.

IMKC

IMKC is in the historic 18th and Vine district, near the Crossroads area. According to the website, “the IMKC clothing company was born from an energy that begets an electric feeling of pride and affection for the town of Kansas City that we all love.” The store holds a wide range of merchandise all geared towards Kansas Citians, including a line of apparel with well-known street names within the city in various styles. For men, women, and children, there are accessible clothing options for the whole family. The clothing items range from beanies, to sweatshirts and hoodies, many of which with the brand’s signature name, “IMKC” incorporated onto the front.

Ruby Jean’s Juciery

Ruby Jean’s Juicery is a health food establishment offering juices, smoothies and snacks. It was founded with a focus on serving healthful foods in an inclusive environment. There are three Ruby Jean’s locations in the Kansas City metro. Owner Chris Goode began Ruby Jean’s to honor his late grandmother. “Ruby Jean was a lady who connected her family and community members with a great sense of love and genuineness,” Goode said. “Her legacy lives through providing that same level of care to the wide array of healthy options Ruby Jean’s Juicery offers.” Goode creates a welcoming, inclusive environment by hiring a diverse staff and offering several options. “Our goal is to not only have enough options to meet customers where they are on their health journey but also reassure them throughout the experience by being accommodating and knowledgeable,” Goode said.

Parsons and Associates

Parson and Associates is a company that provides project management, public involvement, governmental affairs, and communications programs. The company is located at 1780 Woodland Ave. Parson and Associates was started by Jason Parson back in February 2013 after he served in the U.S. military. “ I wanted more for the city I lived in,” Parson said. Parson believes that one of the hardest parts of owning a business is keeping it afloat. “ Anyone can start a business,.” Parson said. “One of the hardest things about business is keeping your doors open long enough to see that cash flow.” Parson believes that we need more minority-owned businesses in order to better represent our community. “ The whole world isn’t white, it’s not black either. We live in a salad bowl of many different colors,.” Parson said “When we don’t diversify, we don’t get everyone’s viewpoint.” Photo courtesy of Parsons and Associatiates Facebook Page

30 PHOTO ESSAY

KC GOES RED Just like the Blue Flu back in 2015, Kansas City has decorated the whole city red for the Chiefs. All around town you can see the color integrated into unexpected places.

The Kansas City Pioneer Square Movement statue in Westport is dressed with the three “captain” jerseys: Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Tyrann Mathieu Jan. 20. Two workers hang the KC banner to indicate winning the AFC Championship at Union Station Jan. 20. Union Station played the KC battle call from their speakers.

Photos by Lily Sage Writer

Along with the horses, the bull outside of Jack Stack has a red KC blanket atop it Jan. 20. The Kansas City Metropolitan Area goes all out for the Chiefs during the season.

The statue outside of the Cheesecake Factory on the Plaza is decked out in a Patrick Mahomes jersey and a black KC headband Jan. 20. The headband is a play on Mahomes’ trademark hairstyle.

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Volume 79 Issue 5

Articles inside

Centerspread: The financial “draft” Perspective: I was born to be a cello prodigy Perspective: My “Ladybird” moment

Review: “Circles

Feature: Social media as news

Review: “Long Bright River

News Feature: New computers

Feature: Social justice

A&E: Why plays?

Star Spotlight: Lauren Chestnut