The Dart: Vol 75 Issue 6 by DartNewsOnline

the

DART

the official student news source of st. teresa's academy | kansas city, mo

a climate for cHANGE

The Dart examines environmental deterioration on a global, national and local scale, looking to the future for solutions. story on page 18

students affected by smoking law | 7 Spring Break StayCation | 28 photo by MADDY MEDINA

2015-2016

DART STAFF

Adviser Brad Lewis Editors-in-Chief Mary Hilliard Maggie Knox Torie Richardson

WEB

Managing Editor Audrey Carroll Scheduling Editor Madi Winfield Copy Editor Alex Davis Photography/Multimedia Editor Kat Mediavilla Social Media Manager Bridget Jones Social Media Editors Zoe Butler, Lily Manning

Design Editor Mackenzie O'Guin Visual Illustrator Eleanor Grever Photography Editor Maddy Medina Page Designers Maggie Knox, Alex Frisch, Anna Hafner, Katherine Green, Clare Kenney, Bridget Jones, Christina Kirk, Violet Cowdin, Mackenzie O'Guin, Linden O'Brien-Williams, Helen Wheatley, Meg Thompson, MaryMichael Hough, Torie Richardson, Madi Winfield

COPY

Managing Editor MaryMichael Hough Opinion Editor Helen Wheatley Sports Editor Elsa Feigenbaum Features Editor Linden O'Brien-Williams News Editor Katherine Green

Staff Photographers Kate Scofield, Cassie Hayes, Libby Hutchison, Paige Powell Staff Writers Meredith Mulhern, Katie Donnellan, Jeannie O'Flaherty, Victoria Cahoon, Claire Molloy

LETTER FROM

THE EDITORS

Dear Readers, We decided to write our centerspread for this issue to bring awareness to one of the most pressing matters of our generation, a danger that affects people of all walks and life, a problem we will be responsible for fixing: climate change. We so often think of ourselves as separate from the earth, when we’re all dependent on it. This in-depth exploration by Linden O’Brien-Williams and Helen Wheatley traces efforts to reduce climate change from the global to local level, and highlights how we often choose convenience over being environmentally conscious. We need to realize all of our actions and all the little things we do everyday add up to our environmental impact. Climate change is a global issue that we need to be educated on in order to alter our unsustainable lifestyles. It will be our generation’s job to fix the environmental damage we are inheriting, so we need to understand the gravity of the situation so those who come after us are not in the same situation. Another story to look for investigates the lengths STA students will go to for the perfect “bikini body”. As spring break draws closer, many are going on diets in attempt to fit the ideal

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

standard of physical beauty. Jeannie O’Flaherty highlights the prevalence of dieting for a specific purpose in teenage girls. Also, be sure to learn about the changes to the cigarette purchasing laws in Kansas and Missouri. Instead of 18, potential purchasers must now be 21 years of age. Read the story by Audrey Carroll to find out more. As always, continue to check DartNewsOnline daily for galleries, videos, blogs, and more content from this issue. As the weather grows warmer and we prepare to enter our last quarter of the 2015-2016 school year, we want to hear from you, our readers. What do you want to see us cover? What is an important issue that deserves attention? We appreciate your feedback and look forward to delivering another issue of the Dart to the STA community.

The Dart vol. 75

Table of

Contents 4 march 2016

ISSUE 6

15 30 | Last Look | superlatives: where are they now?

28 | communty | spring break staycation ideas

26 | Sports | student coaches basketball outside of sta

24 | Perspectives | gender: more than male or female

23 | A&E | windmoor magazine expands to 100 pages

22 | Main ed | small changes can make big impacts

18 | Cover Story | exploring environmental deterioration

15 | Features | students tell stories about their ink

10 | Reviews | barbecue, Cremes and doughnuts, oh my!

8 | Star Spotlight | The ladies of the development office

4 | News | eight-week fine art classes introduced next year

Monthly

Question

What is your ideal spring break?

A cruise in the Bahamas would make me the happiest human to walk this Earth. Freshman Camille Begnaud I would love to go to Northern California, like San Francisco, Carmel, Monterey, so you’re ocean, you’re city, you’re away. science teacher mary montag I think it would be pretty sick to go to Greece, especially Santorini like where Lena in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants goes. sophomre Claire Wilmot Either Donald Trump's grave or Australia. senior liz countee by ZOE BUTLER, LILY MANNING and VICTORIA CAHOON social media editors and staff writer

cover designed by Maggie Knox | page designed by Alex Frisch

NEWS

Editorial Policies Ownership and Sponsorship

DartNewsOnline and the Dart are created by the student newspaper staff and are maintained and published by general operating funds of St. Teresa’s Academy, a Catholic institution sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish opinions that contradict the teachings and beliefs of the Catholic church, whether on a diocesan or world-wide level.

Editorial Policy

The staff of DartNewsOnline and the Dart are subject to prior review by the St. Teresa’s Academy administrative team in circumstances that concern Catholic doctrine, student safety or illegal behavior. DartNewsOnline and the Dart will not publish reviews of student work or performances. Personal columns reflect the opinions of the writer, not necessarily the staff or school.

Letters & Reader Interaction Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage the community to post comments on the website. Letters to the editors can be sent in the following ways: in person to Brad Lewis in Donnelly room 204; by mail to St. Teresa’s Academy, Attn: Brad Lewis, 5600 Main Street, Kansas City, MO 64113; by email to blewis@stteresasacademy.org or to dartpaper@gmail.com. DartNewsOnline and the Dart staff reserve the right to edit or shorten letters for publication.

Comment Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart encourage readers to comment on all posts. However, DartNewsOnline and the Dart reserve the right to monitor and edit all comments on DartNewsOnline. Comments that disagree with the editorial policy will not be published.

Photo Use Policy

Photo illustrations are conceptual photos that combine drawing and photography. All photos on the website are free for public use. If a reader is interested in high-quality copies of photos, please email DartNewsOnline at dartpaper@ gmail.com.

Corrections Policy

DartNewsOnline and the Dart will publish corrections as soon as possible after the error is discovered.

Latin, science courses change in availability Latin IV will become an online course, while the science department expands on campus course offerings. by MARY HILLIARD | editor-in-chief

As students select courses for next school year, administration is making changes to the medium through which certain classes are offered. According to principal of academic affairs Barbara McCormick, Latin IV will become AP Latin and will be exclusively offered through the Online School for Girls, rather than in the classroom like in previous years. According McCormick, the shift to an online course has been in discussion for three years. “Latin I and II are definitely the foundations courses if you want to get a good handle on Latin… III and IV are more methodology and taking Latin to a new level,” McCormick said. “...having at least the first two years on campus is a definite.” Sophomore Grace Laird has taken Latin for two years and is “disappointed” Latin IV will no longer be offered on campus. Junior and Latin III student Marin Brown agrees. “I'm just sad that we are losing the classroom experience,” Brown said. “Since Latin is such a small group we only have one class for every level except for Latin I. This has made the girls who take Latin super close. It's a great atmosphere in the Latin room during our class…” According to McCormick, some of the benefits of online classes include increased schedule flexibility, access to classes that would otherwise be unavailable, and engagement with students from across the country and the world. According to Brown, many Latin students will have to drop Latin IV because of the additional $800 fee, as well as the cost of the AP test. “It's a lot of money for a course that won't be taught by Magistra,” Brown said. “She is the reason a lot of girls

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

have stuck with it so long. When we don't have her I can see three or four of the eight of us [in Latin III] dropping Latin.” However, Brown is still “excited for the opportunity to take a course online.” “It will be a learning experience that will prepare me for the real world of education after high school,” Brown said. “I just wish it wasn't a class that I am so invested in.” Latin is not the only subject facing changes next year. Personal Finance, which was offered this year with an in-classroom or online option, will now be exclusively online. It is a required course for junior or senior year. “We’re trying to do that so students moving into the collegiate level have some experience with an online situation because...you are all going to take something online somewhere down the road,” McCormick said. Additionally, the science department will offer AP environmental science and AP chemistry as an on campus option, although AP environmental science is offered through the Online School for Girls. According to McCormick, administration decided to offer AP environmental science on campus because they believe there is enough interest. “We think we have enough students who might want to take it so we’re going to see what that enrollment looks like,” McCormick said. In order to determine whether a course will be offered online or on campus, enrollment is a factor “to some degree”, according to McCormick. After all grades have completed enrollment, academic scheduler Kathy Walters and McCormick look at the number of interested students in non-required courses. “We have to determine what is going to be the best use of our faculties resources,” McCormick said. “What’s the economical way to provide girls with that course if the numbers are fairly small.” H

Quarter long fine arts classes to be offerred for coming year STA is offering quarter long fine arts classes for the first time next year, which will have a more focused agenda. The painting and felting, wheel throwing and raku firing classes will all be taught by art teacher Lisa Dibble. by ZOE BUTLER | social media editor

Beginning next year, three classes taught by art teacher Lisa Dibble will be eight weeks long, a quarter of the school year. These classes include silk painting and felting, wheel throwing and raku firing. Principal of academic affairs, Barbara McCormick, first introduced the idea about a year ago when she saw it done at one of STA’s sister schools. McCormick then introduced the idea to Dibble, where it began to evolve. “I thought maybe that’s a way to provide students with various opportunities that would take advantage of something that’s not a full semester, but would give them a taste or flavor of the course,” McCormick said. According to McCormick, Dibble went a step further and started to rewrite some of the current course titles and descriptions so the titles of the courses were not so broad that people would ignore them. Instead, she addressed her audience more directly with clearer terms for the classes. McCormick says that although this will mainly be beneficial, there will be some drawbacks as far as scheduling goes. However, these can hopefully be worked out within the first semester or year of this new system. “If you take it as your seventh or

sixth course, then you have to choose [one of the] two other quarter courses, so that you have seven or six going all semester,” McCormick said. “So there’s some creative balancing and weighing on how that’s going to fit together.” However, both Dibble and McCormick agree that the benefits far outweigh the scheduling challenge. “One of the greatest benefits is providing students the opportunity to try something, explore something and still take a rigorous schedule or a full course load, but pop this into their schedule for a short period of time and back out,” McCormick said. “That’s kind of what we’re looking for, or a student who just wants to try a few different things, and doesn’t want to be locked in for a whole semester in a certain topic.” Dibble agrees, noting that the courses are “instant gratification classes” that a student could take to get that immediate feeling of success. Since next year is the first year that this will be done, there may be some kinks at the beginning, but according to academic scheduler Kathy Walters, the administration hopes this will only be the beginning. “We are trying out just three courses this year, but in the future we could be offering more quarter courses,” Walters said. H

it's all in the details | Senior Jaclyn Blanck puts some finishing touches on her ceramics pot during her Ceramics 1 class period Feb. 19. photo by ALEX DAVIS

page designed by Anna Hafner

NEWS

KC teens affected by new smoking law The Kansas City, Mo. City Council and Kansas City, Kan. Unified Government Board of Commission passed an ordinance raising the age to buy tobacco and vapor products. by AUDREY CARROLL | managing editor of web graphics by ELLIE GREVER | visual illustrator

lighting up | A hand holding a lit cigarette rests on an ash tray. In midNovember, the Kansas City, Mo. City Council and Kansas City, Kan. Unified Government Board of Commission passed an ordinance raising the legal age to buy nicotine and vapor products from 18 years old to 21 years old. photo illustration by KAT MEDIAVILLA

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

*Names changed to maintain sources’ anonymity In mid-November, the Kansas City, Mo. City Council and Kansas City, Kan. Unified Government Board of Commission passed an ordinance raising the legal age to buy nicotine and vapor products from 18 years old to 21 years old. The goal of this ordinance is to eliminate underage smoking in the KC metro area, according to the City Council. According to a statistic from the Kansas City Star, teens who start smoking before they are 18 years old are likely to become lifetime smokers. By raising the age to buy nicotine products, members of the City Council hoped to make items like cigarettes harder to come into possession of minors. STA senior Jessica*, who has smoked since sophomore year, is partly affected by this new law, but does not think it will make a difference in teen smoking statistics. “While it’s inconvenient, I don’t feel like it’ll drive me to quit,” Jessica said. “Now I can just go into Kansas [to buy cigarettes]. A smoker since 16, senior Kelsey* agrees the law will not make much of a difference in her methods of obtaining cigarettes.

“I just asked my older friends [in the past] or can drive to Independence,” Kelsey said. Both girls agree the law was “poorly planned” not just from an underage smoking standpoint, but from a fiscal view as well. “Kansas City has an insanely low Excess Tax on cigarettes, and I personally think heightening the tax would be a larger deterrent against smoking for KC’s youth than this new law,” Jessica said. Even though this new ordinance is aimed at terminating teen/underage smoking, 18 year olds are still legally allowed to utilize smoking products in the KC Metro area, they just cannot purchase them. According to the Star, people under 21 are not penalized for possession of tobacco products , but sellers are subject to a $200 fine for underage sales. “I get where [the lawmakers] are coming from,” Kelsey said. “But I think they should have just raised the taxes because, from one view, it’s stressful that you can fight for our country at 18 but can’t buy cigarettes.” Kansas City is the second largest metro area in the country, behind New York City, to raise the tobacco age to 21. H

Cigarettes in the STA community The Dart sent out a school wide survery to see students' involvement with cigarettes. Out of the students, 372 responded. graphics by ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

25 percent of students have smoked

4 percent of students smoke frequently

62 percent of students have not smoked

9 percent of students smoke infrequently to ease social tension or to look cool

the NEWS FEED Each issue, the Dart highlights groundbreaking events in the world, US, Missouri and KC. by MADI WINFIELD web editor of scheduling

in the world Britain may decide to leave the European Union sfter a Jun. 23 vote. This issue arose due to British voters’ concerns of losing national authority, as the EU currently sets up to 55 percent of Britain’s laws. Some suggest that Britain’s departure would have a domino effect on other members of the EU.

in the u.s. In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” Sunday, presidential candidate Donald Trump refused to disavow an endorsement by former KKK grand wizard David Duke. “I don’t know anything about what you’re even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists,” Trump said.

in missouri University of Missouri assistant professor Melissa Click was fired Wednesday after a video was released last fall of her attempting to block a student journalist during #ConcernedStudent1950 protests. In the video, she grabbed the student’s camera and shouted, “Hey, who wants to help me get this reporter out of here? I need some muscle over here.” The Mizzou Board of Curators voted Wednesday night to dismiss her.

in kansas city To celebrate Leap Day, members of the Red Bull Air Force went skydiving from an aircraft 5000 feet high to the grounds of the Liberty Memorial. This is the second time the team has taken this jump on Leap Day.

page designed by Katherine Green

Star spotlight

Terry and

Joan

story by MARYMICHAEL HOUGH|managing editor of copy photo by MEG THOMPSON|staff photographer

Joan Jordan discusses her and Terry Egelhoff’s experiences working at STA for the past 30 years.

What do you two do at STA?

“We are the liaison for the Parents Association, so we try to help them with any of the events they’re working on. Of course, the biggest event that we do is the annual auction and then we work on the Father-Daughter Dinner Dance, the Mother-Daughter Luncheon, Walk of Fame, the Scholarship Dinner, the Golf Tournament and graduation. ”

What brought you two to STA?

“Sr. Barbara Verheyen, who was the principal at that time, called Terry to see if she would help her with a project in the development office. So, Terry came to STA in November of 1986 and worked in the development office and then one of the ladies in the office quit shortly after that. So, Terry started bugging me saying ‘Why don’t you come down here and work, too,’ because we had been friends for years and years before that. I said, ‘Oh, I don’t know if I want to,’ and she said, ‘Well, why don’t you help me work on this one thing then?’ So, when I got down here, Sr. Barbara said she wanted me to come work with Terry. So, then I came to work in May of 1987.”

What’s the dynamic of your relationship? How do you two work together?

“Terry asked me that on the phone last night and she always says that she does all of the work, which is pretty accurate. It very simply is that Terry just tells me what to do and I do it. But, we really work on all of our projects together. We’ve just had a really good relationship through all these years.”

Why have you stayed for so long?

“What keeps us here is we believe in the single-sex education and we see how successful the students are. But, also, our relationship, our friendship, the fact that we work together, but it’s really fun, too. We love the girls that we know and the relationships with parents that we’ve made over the years. The mission of the sisters too, to provide such a good service to the girls and we believe in that.” H

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

BITS & PIECES

DAYS OF OUR

LIVES

Count down with the Dart to important STA events. by CLARE KENNEY | page designer

Only days until spring break. PHOTO OF THE ISSUE pot of gold | The STA basketball team celebrates after being awarded the Irish Cup. The Stars defeated Sion 62-40 Feb. 24 at senior night. photo by KAT MEDIAVILLA

My life sucks // My life rocks compiled by VIOLET COWDIN | page designer

“I entered a contest that KCTV5 put on to win VIP passes to [see] Carrie Underwood. I thought I had lost because I hadn't heard anything, but they called me two days later. But by that point I had realized I had to be 18 and wasn't [going to] get them. So they couldn't give them to me because of legal issues.” - Sophia Cusumano, senior

That’s what

she said

Each issue, the Dart shares entertaining student tweets. complied by BRIDGET JONES social media editor

“I have an amazing house that I get to “play house” in for the first time in my adult life which is exciting. My husband and I [used to live] in a condo that was one bedroom/one bathroom which was really tiny, so now I finally have room to expand. I have my own craft room which is super exciting and we get to put our own flair on our place." - Anne Papineau, history teacher SENIOR Claire Mchugh @clairemchugh6 "I didn't realize dragons weren't real." - Maggie Hodes Sophomore Emilie Blanck @EmiBlanck Dear all sta students I apologize if my insanely pale legs blind you while walking in the quad. It is not my intention to inflict this pain. SENIOR Alison Munoz @alisonbrooklyn Smuggled a fish into Dance Team State, left the building for team bonding, got yelled @ by security & ran from said authority figures #justSTAthings

Precisely days until Easter break.

Exactly days until the Junior Ring Ceremony. Approximately

35 days until Prom.

About days until the seniors last day.

Exactly days until Graduation.

And only days until summer break. H

page designed by Clare Kenney

REVIEWS

Getting Piggy with it

story and photo by KATIE DONNELLAN staff writer

One of Kansas City’s claims to fame is barbecue. Places like Gates and Joe’s Kansas City are part of locals vocabulary from birth. Despite this there are many “unknown” or overlooked even better barbecue restaurants. For this reason, I decided to venture to some off the beaten path barbecue places to order up.

Woodyard’s Barbecue

Located on Merriam Drive, Woodyard’s has the typical relaxed barbecue feel. The name describes the place perfectly, as most of the restaurant is either made of or scattered with wood. The barbecue was decent, but the fries were great. I ordered the Carolina, pulled pork and coleslaw on a hamburger bun and fries. The meat was good but the coleslaw threw off the sandwich. My one complaint about the meat was it did not necessarily have a defined sauce taste to it, while LC’s had a marinated taste to it, which is what I prefer. The hamburger bun on the sandwich took away from the meat, which should be the emphasis on a barbecue sandwich. The bun ended up filling me up more than any other part of the meal which was disappointing because it was not phenomenal. The sauce was mediocre but did not hit the spot. The spicy sauce tasted like someone had dumped salt in it. Normally, I prefer the spicy barbecue sauce, but, due to my dislike of it, here I mainly used the mild sauce. This sauce was a little bit sweeter but pretty good due to the lack of saltiness. The price was around $13 for the fries and the sandwich. I was not as big of a fan of Woodyard’s as I was of LC’s. I would definitely say LC’s is a better value. I am more of a traditional barbecue fan, so I did not dig the menu at Woodyard’s. It was filled more with variations of classic barbecue sandwiches. I probably could have requested the cole

slaw on the side, but I figured I would experiment with their menu and what they thought was good. My preference for seating is the outside, but due to the weather I sat inside. The layout of the restaurant is pretty neat and adds to a rickety wood yard feel. My favorite part about the restaurant was the atmosphere. The crowd was filled with friendly, cowboy boot and overall-wearing men on their lunch break. The meat smokers interacted with visitors, many of who were their friends, and helped make everyone feel cozy and at home. Woodyard’s is a great place to spend a sunny spring or summer afternoon followed by exploring KCK and ending the day with a drive-in movie down the street at Boulevard drive-in.

LC’s Bar-B-Q

On the way to Kauffman and Arrowhead Stadium, LC’s is a casual barbecue joint with friendly staff and a plain dining area. The restaurant puts off a classic, sloppy joint vibe. People often stumble upon this gem while on the way to games. This restaurant is a personal favorite of mine, so I definitely believe the barbecue is more than worth a little hike. LC’s is located just 4 miles east of the Plaza on Blue Parkway. The restaurant seems kind of isolated on its corner, but once inside it gives off a home-like vibe. The parking is hodgepodge and can get kind of limited when the joint is hopping, allowing the restaurant to feel fuller than it actually is. Immediately upon entering you are greeted by a couple of men behind a counter in the back of the restaurant, hard at work smoking and frying. I ordered a pulled pork sandwich with a side of fries. The sandwich comes on the classic cheap white bread. The pulled pork is slathered in a sweet runny sauce that soaks through the bread, creating an almost marinated taste. The fries are pretty standard, but exceed expectations when paired with their sauce.

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

LC’s sauce is not too sweet and has a nice runny consistency. This consistency allows for the flavor to seep into in what it is put on, rather than just sit on top of it. This also means the sauce does not overpower the taste of the meat, instead it combines to create more of a hybrid between the two. The restaurant and many grocery stores in the Kansas City area sell LC’s barbecue sauce. I recommend the “hot”. The hot barbecue sauce is slightly spicier than the mild but nothing that will make your eyes water. The sauce sells for about $5 depending on where you are buying from. My sandwich and fries ending up costing just under $13. For a teenager this price might seem steep compared to a five dollar meal at Winsteads, but it is well worth it. The amount and quality of the food along with the friendly staff make the price seem too low. The dining hall is plain with big tables and a somewhat dirty tile floor. The character of the restaurant adds to its great barbecue. The relaxed atmosphere makes you want to keep coming back. H

blue parkway bbq | LC's Barbeque is located just 4 miles east of the

Plaza on Blue Parkway.

The Doughnut Lounge is made for the perfect snack by VICTORIA CAHOON staff writer

HHHH After hearing about The Doughnut Lounge I knew, already by the name, that I had to try it. As soon as I walked in I was impressed by how upbeat the place was. Located in Westport on Pennsylvania Avenue, The Doughnut Lounge provides a modern style that is perfectly mixed with the surrounding shops and restaurants. I went with fellow sophomore Kara Kanatzar and we both had trouble trying to pick which doughnut we wanted out of the huge selection. Finally after much consideration I ordered a red velvet doughnut with a hot chocolate. The hot chocolate tasted homemade and flavorful. The donut was perfectly sweet, not too sugary but not boring or plain at all. Both were exceptional and I highly recommend it.

The doughnut was a work of art and tasted wonderful, but they don’t only have just regular doughnuts. The selection of doughnuts they have are divided into three parts: classic, signature and noduts. Classic consists of glazed, old fashioned and everything you're already accustomed to. Signature is also a doughnut but with a little bit more of what you’re used to, like an apple fritter, s’more, and even red velvet. The last type is a nodut, which is part entree and part doughnut, for example Granola and Yogurt which is a buttermilk doughnut with local yogurt, berries, granola. The Doughnut Lounge is the perfect place to hangout and eat a snack, but don't expect a meal. It’s also a very busy place, so if you go at a busy time, service can be slow. But overall the experience that The Doughnut Lounge provides is great. With wonderful food, a great staff and a nice setup The Doughnut Lounge is worth a try. H

ILLUSTRATION BY ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

Chez Elle creperie is delicious, affordable by ALEX FRISCH page designer

HHHHH Who doesn't love a good crepe? It’s a thin, flat pancake that you can fill with literally anything that's edible. To me, food doesn't get much better than that, so when I heard that there was a coffee shop style restaurant that specializes in crepes I instantly wanted to try it. Chez Elle is a creperie/coffee shop in downtown Kansas City. The restaurant is set up so that you order upon entering and then pick a place to sit while you wait for your order to be brought out to you. They have 12 different kinds of savory crepes, 10 different kinds of sweet crepes and four kinds of breakfast crepes for a grand total of 34 different crepes to choose from. As much as I would have liked to try all 34 crepes, my wallet and my stomach restricted me to 3 crepes (each crepe probably qualifies as a meal in and of itself but I

made friends spilt them with me). The first crepe I tried there was the Glace crepe which consisted of a crepe filled with vanilla ice cream and strawberries and covered with crème Anglaise. It was delicious and extremely refreshing. The second crepe I tried was the Jambon crepe which was filled with black forest

ham, pesto, spinach and mozzarella cheese. It was filling without being too rich and absolutely dripping with cheese, needless to say it was also delicious. The third and final crepe from Chez Elle that I’ve tried was the Mon Cheri Amour which was a chocolate crepe filled with cherries, vanilla ice cream and covered in whipped cream. The prices were very reasonable with all of the crepes being between $6-$10. In addition to crepes, the restaurant also serves coffee, smoothies and pastries (their hot chocolate is absolutely amazing). Overall, I thought the food was delicious and the restaurant itself was adorable (also they have free wifi which is an added bonus). In short, I would totally recommend it and I loved it so much after going the first time I went back less than a week later. H

page designed by Bridget Jones

features Is dieting for spring break - and in general - a healthy habit?

#BODGOALS story by JEANNE O'FLAHERTY | staff writer

story by LINDEN O'BRIEN WILLIAMS | features copy editor

weigh in | Students often use weight scales as a way to keep track of their progress when dieting for spring break. | photo illustration by ZOE BUTLER

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

t’s 5 a.m. she rolls out of bed, slides her hair into a ponytail, and grabs a granola bar for breakfast before going to the gym for an early morning workout. When lunch rolls around, she waits in the long lunch line and opts to eat a salad. When she gets home from school, she skips snack and waits until dinner to eat next. And that’s it. This is the pattern more and more teens are following as dieting becomes increasingly popular in American youth. In recent years, dieting has become a trend among teenage girls going to far off destinations over spring break. From freshmen to seniors, it’s a common topic compiled by LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS features copy editor at lunch tables and with their friends. According to the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders, or ANAD, a study conducted in said they are traveling for spring break 2005 claimed over 50% of teenage girls use unhealthy weight control behaviors such as skipping meals and fasting. “A lot of people - especially teenagers - diet for a specific purpose,” guidsaid they are dieting in preparation for spring ance counselor Amanda Johnson said. “Dieting can be tricky because it can Some STA teachersbreak do more than grade be very short term. For teenagers it’s papers once school is out. The Dart takes often for a specific reason. Rather than a look at what those teachers are doing in the goal being ‘I want to be healthy,’ it’s their not-so-free said theytime. struggled or are struggling with an ‘I want to be this size’ or ‘I want to look this way.’ So sometimes we do things that eating disorder can be harsh for our bodies rather than making a positive lifestyle change. Starting among girls as young as freshmen, like Savannah James, dieting is a simple solution to feeling better and achieving the ideal of the 34.7% of STA students who body. “Media nowadays not only plays such a regularly diet... huge role in how women are portrayed, but also the expectations of women,” said junior Mary Claire Connor, “We are basically given an unrealistic idea of how skinny and pretty do it as a personal healthy living choice women should be due to all of the photoshopping of every picture out there.” For James, the media’s “ideal body” places great pressure on teen girls to fit a certain do it to lose weight and stay in shape standard. “When you’re in high school, that’s the most critical [time] because everyone wants to fit that image of perfection,” James said. Come spring break, freshman Isabel Shorter will be traveling to Colorado for a week-long vacado it because of medical reasons tion. In preparation, she is eating smaller meals that she considers healthier more frequently throughout the day. For Shorter, her eating habits are more of a lifestyle than a typical diet. When she eats healthier, Shorter said she feels "healthy and better physically.” Dieting, for many, is more than a tool to lose weight. For individuals like Shorter, dieting can give them comfort and security in their health.

DIET:

tried it?

67.9%

246

STA students

25.5% 19.3%

45.9%

50.6% 3.5%

page designed by Christina Kirk

features “All last week I didn’t diet and I felt bad about it,” Shorter said. “I just didn’t feel as good physically.” Connor agrees, “For me healthy living is extremely beneficial for all aspects in my life. Just by eating healthy and working out, my mood and selfesteem completely boost and I feel so much more motivated to do things.”

“

Just by eating healthy and working out, my mood and self-esteem completely boost and I feel so much more motivated to do things.

“

— Junior Mary Claire Connor

For some, dieting can be a healthy living choice, for many teenage girls, dieting can quickly become a slippery slope to dangerous choices. According to Eating Disorder Hope, 10 million women in America suffer from an eating disorder. Connor has witnessed eating disorders in her community and adds that “now eating disorders are so common.” Johnson points to asking the question, “Why am I dieting?” as the first step in moving past unhealthy habits. “What’s the purpose?” Johnson said. “Is this something that you plan to continue long term? Or is this something you’re doing to achieve a certain body type on a vacation, and then once that’s over it’s like ‘Phew, I can finally eat a cheeseburger again.’” For James, dieting is about achieving what she and her friends call a “beach bod,” which “isn’t necessarily really skinny, but toned.” A big influence on James’ idea of a “beach bod” comes from social media, she says. “When I look at Instagram, all on the popular page

is girls with teeny waists and big butts, exercise pages and advertisements,” James said. Because of the advancement in photoshop, it’s impossible to know whether the photos in magazines are truly a picture of the person, or an edited depiction of a socially desirable person. There are new developments in phone applications that will photoshop your photos for you, with features to airbrush, apply makeup and make a person appear thinner. Connor notices her own friends photoshopping their pictures to post to social media and feels that their desire to appear different than they actually look has a lasting affect on their self-image. “When it comes to my friends posting pictures, they all photoshop, and it’s affected them over the years,” Connor said. According to ANAD, 69% of girls from fifth through twelfth grade reported that magazine pictures influenced their idea of a perfect body shape, but in reality only 5% of American females nat-

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

urally possess the that perfect body portrayed in media. Johnson is skeptical of the idea of “beach bodies,” seeing them as a “social construct and expectation that is set up for us through media.” While she understands the pressure teenage girls feel, she urges girls to examine their actions and evaluate their decisions thoroughly before making diet changes that will affect them for the rest of their lives. “I get why people would want to look that way,” Johnson said. “It’s socially acceptable. But if you’re doing things to damage your body to get there, is it really worth it?” H

by ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

behind the ink

illustration by ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

by MEREDITH MULHERN staff writer

STA students reveal the stories and symbolism behind their tattoos and why they decided to get them.

pages designed by Christina Kirk and Violet Cowdin

features It’s Jan. 15, 2015. Senior Annie Tuttle tentatively walks into the Rose Tattoo Parlor on 55th and Troost Avenue. She’s greeted with hot pink walls, scary pictures, artists with “intimidating” face tattoos and heavy metal music berates her ears. She’s nervous, but the excitement is the more prominent emotion. She continues on, she sits down, and she receives her first tattoo. According to Tuttle, her tattoo is small but holds an important meaning. “It says ‘love’,” Tuttle said. “But the ‘o’ [in the world ‘love’] is a heart and it’s [written] in my handwriting. It’s on the inside of my left foot.” To Tuttle, the tattoo is a reminder to “appreciate herself.” “I wanted a tattoo that would serve as a constant reminder... every time I look down [at my foot], it reminds me to actually appreciate myself and to love myself.” Senior Emma Fernandez also has a tattoo that holds a personal meaning. “My mom’s name is illustration by ELLIE GREVER Vanessa,” Fernandez said. visual illustrator “[Her name] means ‘butterfly’, so my tattoo is of a butterfly. [My mom] and I are really close, so I wanted to get something that reminded me of her.” According to Fernandez, her mom didn’t believe that she was actually going to get a tattoo. “She was like, ‘Sure you are.’ Fernandez said. Obviously, I actually went and got my tattoo.” When getting the tattoo, which she did last August, Fernandez said she was both nervous and excited. “In the waiting room [of the parlor], I had to wait for an hour,” Fernandez said. “My whole body was shaking because I didn’t know what to expect.” Senior Siena Hutchison was also excited when she got her tattoo. "I had been waiting for over six months to get [my tattoo], so when my birthday came I was jumping out of my seat," Hutchison said. "I went out to dinner with my friends before we went, and I was so excited that I didn’t even eat.” Hutchison’s tattoo is the Kansas City fountain symbol.

“I was born and raised in Kansas City,” Hutchison said. “So, I always wanted to keep a little piece of my home with me, no matter where I go.” As for future tattoos, all of the girls have plans to get more. “I’m getting [another tattoo] on my birthday in April,” Tuttle said. “It’s going to be a cross with a heart in the middle for St. Teresa’s and for my grandma. She passed away in December and her name was Teresa, so they tie in with each other.” Fernandez plans on getting another sentimental tattoo for her sister. “I know for sure I want a moon somewhere on my back,” Fernandez said. “My little sister’s name is Luna, which means ‘moon’.” Hutchinson has already tried to get another tattoo. “I for sure have more to get,” Hutchison said. “I’ve actually been since to get another one, but they couldn’t fit me in [at the parlor].” Hutchison, Fernandez and Tuttle all believe that tattoos are a means for self expression. “I like [tattoos],” Tuttle said. “It feels good to get them, and they’re a cool way to express how you feel.” Fernandez and Hutchison agree. “I think [tattoos are] a fun, creative way to express yourself,” Fernandez said. “Obviously, you have to put a lot of time and thought into them. I think they give people unique qualities and each tattoo has a story behind it. I love it when people ask me about my tattoo and I get to share a little bit more about myself. That’s one of the coolest parts about tattoos.” Hutchinson thinks tattoos are "awesome." “I’ve never understood the stigma against tattoos," Hutchison said. "If you put a lot of thought into them and love what you get, it makes it all worthwhile.” Although all of the girls were nervous to get their tattoos done, each one walked out of the parlor with a new addition to their bodies - tattoos that reflect who they are. H

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

meg sweeny

“

In October 2014 my sister and I did an "odds are" to my mom about her getting a tattoo from this restaurant. She lost, meaning she had to get it, but instead we got into the conversation of us all getting one. We looked all over and finally found one we like: a dot with and arrow on each side. It means "protection" in Cherokee. We went to a tattoo parlor the next morning, but found out we couldn’t get one because I wasn’t 18. We were in Texas and the laws are different. My sister came home at the end of November that year and we went to Beautiful Bodies on a Tuesday afternoon and all got the tattoo. We basically got the tattoo of "protection” to tie us all together and we got it in Cherokee because ever since we were born, my mom has told us we are part Cherokee so it’s kind of a running joke in our family. H

“

t h i n k i n g b e fo r e i n k i n g

alternative coverage compiled by MARY HILLIARD | editor-in-chief

Out of the 291 students surveyed...

photos compiled by PAIGE POWELL | staff photographer

10.3% 75.7% 51.2% Of the girls polled plan on getting a tattoo

Got their tattoo before the age of eighteen

McKenzie Grimaldi

“

I went through a really rough time towards the end of my sophomore year. My older sister had a similar experience when she was my age, and every time I would talk to her, she would always say "you know, it gets better." I would write the words "it gets better" on my finger everyday until I turned 18 and was old enough to get a tattoo. It's kind of like a little reminder to me that when things get rough, it always gets better. H

page designed by Violet Cowdin

“

Of the students who took the survey have a tattoo

CENTERSPREAD

by HELEN WHEATLEY | opinion editor of copy LINDEN O'BRIEN-WILLIAMS | features editor of copy

riter Stephen Rodrick grew up in Flint, Mich., living with his uncle in a mansion bordering the Flint River. The city had been struggling for years after a long, painful history of the sudden success then sudden failure of General Motors. Once dubbed “Vehicle City,” Flint was a lead producer of carriages and vehicles in the late 1800s. It later became home to GM’s Buick and Chevrolet divisions, notoriously utilizing the Flint River as its dumping ground until the company failed in the 1980s. Rodrick recounts sticking his hand in the water to grab a piece of junk and pulling it out a “mottled, crimson red.” Until 2014, Flint sourced its water from Lake Michigan, only 70 miles away. In April of 2014, the impoverished city switched its source to the yellow-orange Flint River water in an attempt to save money. Although the state claimed the water was safe for drinking and bathing, GM itself refused to use the water in its plant, claiming it “wasn’t safe to use on car pistons,” according to the Rolling Stone. Flash forward to 2016 and these effects from the town’s industrial heyday remain. But these effects are not simply present in one city or one state-- these are the effects of global environmental deterioration. Since the industrial revolution in the late 1800s, the emission of harmful fossil fuels has taken a great toll on the environment. Flint is one of these stories.

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

THE ISSUES In an increasingly industrial world, human action results in the emission of the most destructive gases in our atmosphere. Where humans rely on coal-sourced electricity and petroleumsourced transportation, the emissions from these activities emit a large portion of the 65% of carbon dioxide comprising the world’s emissions. In addition to relying on these industries, humans also rely on meat production, where poor conditions and mass quantities of animals produce large quantities of methane, a gas that has 25 times higher the effect of carbon dioxide, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA. The harmful effects, however, do not stop at polluted rivers or smog-ridden cities. Meat production, factories and transportation all contribute to the larger issue of climate change. According to EPA lawyer and STA parent Dave Cozad, various issues have all accumulated to create “the environmental issue of our time.” Pope Francis has been one of the loudest voices during these times of conversation and planning. The release of his June 2015 encyclical Laudato Si, or Care for Our Common Home, implores the global community to make radical lifestyle changes. In response to overwhelming outcry for plans to reduce carbon emissions from activist groups and individuals around the world, the United Nations called a meeting to discuss future procedures in Paris, France last November. At the end of the 12 day conference, 196 nations committed to return the earth’s temperature to no more than about 4 degrees above temperatures before the Industrial Revolution. Countries pledged to lower fossil fuel emissions and donate money to underdeveloped areas to help them do the same. Implementing these changes in the United States has proven difficult with what many are calling a “political gridlock.” Because climate change has become a politically divisive issue, America’s bipartisan system has hindered possibility for change in the country. With a congress composed of mostly Republicans and a Democrat in office, passing laws after the climate talks has become an issue of loyalty to a party. In early February of this year,

the Supreme Court delayed President Obama’s plan for cleaner energy until further notice, possibly compromising the United States’ commitments during the climate talks. The EPA works for change in the country, despite political gridlock, sending the “speedtrap” message that ”if you violate the environmental laws, there are consequences,” according to Cozad. IN KANSAS CITY While the U.S. has recently attempted to implement beneficial environmental plans, Kansas City has historically been a proponent for these developments. In 2008, the city became an early adopter of climate change plans that would help shape its impact on the living world, according to executive director of Bridging the Gap Kristin Riott, Bridging the Gap is a local nonprofit initiating environmental change in the community. “The city itself has actually reduced its own impact about 25 percent since 2005,” Riott said. “Even though the city has reduced its impacts, the entire region has increased its emissions in that period of time.” Kansas City has been one of the first cities in the nation to make strides toward creating clean energy, according to Riott, but the future of the town’s climate is uncertain. With projections from leading meteorologists expecting a total of 32 days per summer with temperatures above 100 degrees by mid-century, the city will suffer from the extremes. Kansas City’s tree population, for example, has already been experiencing this change as trees become more susceptible to diseases. In conjunction with the government, Kansas Citians, according to Cozad, have contributed to the city’s well-being and awareness with a movement urging people to relocate “back towards the central city” and use more public transportation. Cozad adds that public transportation is a fundamental piece of sustainability Kansas City needs to be a cleaner city, but that it lacks simply because of the city’s design. “[Kansas City] is very spread out and [doesn’t] have good mass transportation, so we have a lot of automobile emissions that lead to climate change,” Cozad said. In a city with a metropolitan area of nearly 8000 square miles, public trans-

portation systems are widely available, but do not reach every corner of the city. Because of the lack of mass transportation, individual transit becomes the norm and solutions like carpooling or mapping a bus route are not often explored. According to STA science teacher Taylor Scott, who will teach AP Environmental Science next year, inconvenience becomes a major roadblock in reaching sustainability. “We as humans like convenience of things,” Scott said. “We as consumers have whatever we want or need usually in some kind of reach.” Inconvenience proves to be a deciding factor in how humans interact with the planet, according to both Scott and Cozad. Because the majority of Kansas City’s energy comes from coal, Kansas Citians rarely pause to think about how burning coal “is the dirtiest and worst source of electricity for climate change,” according to Cozad. “When you flick a light switch, where did that come from?” Cozad said. “That light means someone dug it out of the ground and destroyed a mountaintop to burn [the coal], some sulfur dioxide and other chemicals went into the air… Then after they burn it, there is coal ash to dispose of, too…” SUSTAINING A FUTURE True sustainability means living in a world with what Riott describes as a “closed loop economy”: reusing resources without creating new waste or depleting existing assets. No one has created the perfect plan for a perfect economy of goods, but the EPA has developed three main focuses for creating this utopian consumption: environmental, social and economic. Scott identifies that most people falsely expect the recycling, or economic component of sustainability to be the only piece necessary for the survival of our world. “The environmental piece is a huge part, but there’s also the education side and social justice side,” Scott said. “It’s not only ‘what can I do to reduce my footprint for future generations?’ but it’s ‘can we help those in other countries without the technology to do so?’” The economic side of sustainability encompasses the idea clean practices can actually benefit the economy and provide private businesses incentives in developing a better future. For Riott, progress is imminent not because of

page designed by Mackenzie O'Guin

change in politics but because “we’ve crossed a very important dividing line” where it’s now cheaper to make energy from renewable resources, a profit motive she believes will speed up the process of sustainability. The social sphere of sustainability incorporates the future of every person’s role in global preservation. Social sustainability means educating and fostering a sense of community in every individual’s daily life. For EPA lawyers and environmental politicians, science teachers and organic food experts, these are parts of career and passion. Educating others becomes part of the cycle of responsibility found through these pursuits. Scott believes it will be critical to educate the community about these topics in the upcoming years. “Educating our community and continuing to provide others with basic needs… is that full circle of making sure future generations will continue to have the resources they need,” Scott said. STA’S ROLE As an institution educating and shaping the lives of young women, St. Teresa’s molds the next generation’s sustainable habits both inside and outside of the learning environment. To reduce its carbon footprint, STA’s Windmoor Center uses geothermal wells as a sustainable source of heating and cooling for the building, according to STA’s website. Because the school cites care for the environment as a core value, STA has also mounted solar panels to reduce yearly electricity fees and carbon dioxide emissions. To complement the school’s motto of caring for the dear neighbor, STA’s science department will offer a new course incorporating care for the planet for the 2015-2016 school year. AP Environmental Science will explore the experimental side of environmental science, but also integrate the other spheres of sustainability in service, sociology and social justice. Scott’s enthusiasm for the class stems from her belief that topics like environmental science often “fall through the cracks” to favor mainstream pre-health science curriculum. AP Environmental Science will draw in more students who “may not feel like science is for them,” and introduce students to educating the community.

“STA does such a great job of reaching out to the community [with basic needs donations],” Scott said. “It’s not only about meeting [community] needs, but also educating them and the future generations that come after them.” To meet the community’s dietary needs in an environmentally conscious way, STA must engage in what Riott calls eating lower on the food chain. This idea is based on the fact that meat production entails usage of high quantities of other resources. A single pound of meat requires 2000 gallons of water and 15 tons of grain, according to Riott. Add these factors to the methane gas released by the abundance of animals and Riott believes many environmental issues could be solved by eating more plant-based proteins like cottage cheese, nuts and beans. This idea is regularly practiced by STA’s lunch provider, the local Bistro Kids, which sources its food organically. According to head chef Scott Brake, Bistro sources its meat from local farms because meat production on a commercial scale is “often not as healthy” as meat coming from the local Campo Lindo Farms or Rainbow Organic farms. Cozad says these farms have destructive effects beyond what can be seen. “There are factory farms all around the midwest where they have 100,000 pigs in a single farm, or 50,000 cattle in a pen or 300,000 chickens in a pen,” Cozad said. “That generates a lot of waste and really isn't humane treatment for these animals so we have to ask ourselves, 'is that even healthy food?' But, we like our cheap meat… It's more of a question for society.” For STA to become truly sustainable, the three spheres of sustainability must intersect. For Scott, educating the community and educating ourselves about current issues incorporates the social aspect of sustainability as well as planning for the future. “For self awareness, just the political side of it, with the upcoming elections in the next few years, it’s about asking ‘How can I educate myself on the policies and who thinks what about it?” Scott said. STA administration is working to impose a paperless initiative in the coming years. By equipping each student with her own Windows Surface Pro

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

tablet, administration hopes to reach the point where paper becomes almost obsolete in education. For many, this initiative means different learning styles and different teaching styles must be pursued. Senior Grace Girardeau considers herself an advocate for environmental preservation, but believes paper in education can be an important component to learning. “We don’t have to stop cutting down trees, we have to be conscious of how much we’re using,” Girardeau said. “Sometimes technology and protecting the environment go hand in hand, but we don’t always have to be making new innovations. Sometimes we have to simplify.” Junior Emma Kate Callahan is environmentally conscious by avoiding excessive plastic usage and by composting at home. Callahan says she is often frustrated by the lack of care for the environment at STA and is that “we already have the technology to know that humans cause many environmental problems out there” but years later, the problems remain unsolved. Environmental scientists must look to the future to grasp the implications environmental deterioration have on present day, and Cozad believes “your generation is very hopeful.” He says that teenagers now “think about these things more than we did” and that the availability of information is promising. While the current adolescent generation shows promise for attaining sustainability, Cozad admits that the lacking sense of responsibility in adults, who “don’t care because they won’t be here in 20 years” and youth who “lack the mentality” to think far into the future present a roadblock in truly achieving sustainability on a local, regional or global scale. To combat this, Cozad stresses the importance of understanding the true implications of climate change for all generations in all regions of the world. “[Climate change] has the potential to change your generation's lives in ways we can’t even imagine, but were not good about thinking 10 or 20 years from now,” Cozad said. “We think about today. And if we're going to get serious about climate change, we gotta get serious about thinking about 20 years from now.” H

In November and December, 196 countries met in Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference and created an agreement on how to proceed in the coming years with the fight to preserve Earth’s climate. by MADI WINFIELD | web editor of scheduling

3.6 DEGREES

the maximum global temperature increase to be allowed annually

5 YEARS

how often all countries must submit new INDCs (intended nationally determined contributions), or outlines of climate actions to be taken by the country

40%

the intended reduction in emissions by 2030 compared to 1990, as suggested by the European Union

7 YEARS

the time since the 2009 climate summit in Copenhagen, which ended without a plan when many countries refused to adopt the summit’s resolution

$100 billion

the amount of money to be mobilized in support of fighting climate change by 2025

the number of parties, who must be the producers of over 55% of the world’s greenhouse gas, who must ratify the agreement before it will become binding. H

page designed by Mackenzie O'Guin

MAIN ED

[

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9 of 9 editors voted in support of this editorial.

You know the list of things to do to be friendly to the environment: Recycle. Ride your bike. Plant trees. And so on. But how many of those things do we actually act on? How many of them are even practical? How much impact can one person make, anyway? Does it matter that you throw your can of Coca-Cola away when you can’t find a recycle bin? You recycle at home. Does that one can matter? Would it matter if you biked to your friend’s house instead of drove there, even though you drive everywhere else? Does that one mile matter? Would it matter if you replaced just one meal a week with local food? Does it matter whether your meat came from across the country or from across the city? Yes. Every action you take to make this planet better matters. From the place you buy something to how many miles away it’s from to how you dispose of

it, every mile, every bite, every piece of trash matters. Imagine if every student at STA chose, after getting Bistro, to throw everything away instead of deciding what to put in the garbage or what to recycle. Now imagine if every STA student recycled just one bottle from their lunch. How much impact could we have if we did that every day for a week? A month? A year? It all counts. Every bottle of soda, every mile of gas, every bite of food. It all adds up, and you can make a difference, no matter how small. So, next time you can’t find a recycle bin, keep your bottle until you find one. The next time you think it won’t matter whether you walk or drive, try walking. It’s better for you anyway. The next time you’re picking up food for the next week, shop local. You can make a difference. All these little things can change the world. H

illustration by ELLIE GREVER | visual illustrator

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

OUT OF THIS WORLD:

A&E

WINDMOOR LITERARY MAGAZINE EXPANDS STA's literary magazine will add 30 new pages in celebration of Academy 150.

by MADI WINFIELD scheduling editor of web

The Windmoor literary magazine will expand from 60 to 90 pages this year in celebration of Academy 150. This idea came from adviser Kelly Scott and, receiving approval from the staff and administration, has been put into place with some changes to the book-making process. “We’re trying our best to get a really wide range of artists and writers into the book, and we want to have a lot of the disciplines represented this year,” Scott said. “We’re spending a lot of time pairing the art and writing and trying to figure out what should go on the page.” Editor-in-chief Bailey Briscoe agreed, saying, “In the past, we have had to limit the amount of submissions that we’ve had; this year, it’s given us a bigger platform to display more types of student art. We figured since it’s going to be a big year anyway, we should probably make the book a little more representative of our school.” Windmoor is published annually at no cost to students through sponsorship from Andrews McMeel Universal Press Syndicates. The magazines are distributed to each student on Class Day every May.

Scott says a staff of 23 students, an increase from last year, has helped work flow smoothly. Even so, it’s still a big project to take on, according to Briscoe. “It was big last year, but this year, [as editors]… It’s a lot,” Briscoe said. According to Scott, the process of making an issue of Windmoor involves choosing fonts and a theme with the editors-in-chief, Briscoe and junior Mackenzie O’Guin, and art director junior Helen Wheatley; finding writing and artwork for each page; having staffers design pages; and running through three different checklists to ensure all elements are present: one for the designer, one for the editors and one for Scott. “Staying organized is very important,” Scott said, “and my editors, Mackenzie and Bailey, are just so awesome at that.” This year’s theme is Constellations, and the fonts were chosen to reflect that, according to Wheatley. “It’s very important to me that what people have submitted is showcased in its original form,” Wheatley said. “We found some cleaner-looking fonts that still had the space theme… but allowed the art to be represented in its truest form.” Briscoe believes this upgrade to 90 pages is for the better, but is unsure if continuing the larger size is feasible.

“I think people would want to continue the [90] pages because there’s so much more you can do, but it’s definitely a bigger project,” Briscoe said. “I think we’ll just have to see how this year goes and see if it’s a realistic desire to do in the coming years.” This is Briscoe’s second year on staff and she will be returning for a third next year. She credits Windmoor with teaching her how to communicate and lead larger groups. “[Being on Windmoor] has been kind of a huge eye-opener because you see a spread in a magazine and think, ‘Oh, this person just stuck pictures in there,’ but there’s so much more that happens,” Briscoe said. “It’s nice to realize the work that goes into something that you don’t even think about.” Scott is also in her second year advising the magazine and considers the experience invaluable, feeling that both she and her staff grow throughout the process of making the book. “I don’t have an advisory, so I think spending more time with them on weekends and just being a part of something special all together is one of my favorite parts about [advising Windmoor],” Scott said. “[With] everybody that I get to know better, it feels like STA is more like home.” H

wind-more pages | Windmoor adviser Kelly Scott writes notes on her board so as to encourage this year's Windmoor staff. photo by VIOLET COWDIN

pages designed by Mackenzie O'Guin and Linden O'Brien-Williams

PERSPECTIVES

GENDER IS MORE THAN JUST FEMALE OR MALE

by ALEX DAVIS copy editor of web

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines gender as “the state of being male or female,” or, more complexly, “a subclass within a grammatical class of a language that is partly arbitrary but also partly based on distinguishable characteristics.” As in, gender is part of a language that is based on what someone or something looks like. This definition seems to be cohesive with the general public’s idea of what gender is, the idea that one is either strictly male or strictly female because of their perceived body image from others. But then there are those who don’t fit into this definition, people who come to realize that they don’t conform to this “gender norm”. These are the people who are gender non-binary. These are the people who see themselves on more complex terms than “female”

or “male.” These are the people who I identify with. And we are the people who want you to know that there is more to gender than just male or female. According to nonbinary.org, there are at least 198 gender identities that a person can identify with. This in itself shows that the perception of gender is changing into something incredibly complex. The truth of the matter is this: the idea of gender is such a driving force in our lives that it’s nearly impossible to avoid it. It determines who we are, how much money we make, what stereotypes we have to face, what we are told to wear, how we are “supposed” to act. Even if we don’t realize it, our gender is predetermined for us before we even get a say on the matter and somehow our destiny is set. Being nonbinary has helped me realize just how outrageous this is. Gender shouldn’t be predetermined. Gender is, and should be, subjective. Gender is perceived differently for everybody. Some don’t pay much mind, but for others, those who feel like they were born in the wrong bodies and are struggling with gender dysphoria, it is something so crucial to who they are and it shouldn’t be joked about or

taken lightly. If you want to identify as female and you were born as female, that’s fine. If you want to identify as male but you were born with breasts and a vagina and were called female at birth, that’s fine. If you want to identity as both male and female and are genderfluid, that’s fine. Or, if you’re like me, and you don’t identify with any gender, then that’s fine. Some days you may feel like one thing, other days you may feel like something different, or maybe a lot of days you don’t feel like anything at all, and that’s fine too. Even though I’m in the non-binary community, there still are things I can’t even begin to understand. I’m new to the game; I didn’t come to terms with the fact that I don’t really see myself as female, or even male for that matter, until six or seven months ago. On the outside, I may have the body parts someone may typically identify as “female”, but mentally, I am genderless, gender neutral, gender non-conforming. All I see is a body that moves and functions according to my will, and isn’t that all someone really needs? Why do I have to choose between male or female? Blue or pink? Suits or dresses? Why can’t I just be without having to be anything? What is so wrong with that? H

the Dart | dartnewsonline.com | 4 March 2016

illustrations by ELLIE GREVER visual illustrator

WHEN SUDDENLY YOU'RE NO LONGER SIXTEEN GOING ON SEVENTEEN by MARY HILLIARD editor-in-chief

The first time I saw the classic film “The Sound of Music,” I was five years old, sitting in front of my grandmother’s ancient television surrounded by my rowdy cousins. When the soft crescendo of flutes leading into strong strings began, everyone quieted and focused on the lush green hills and a whirling Julie Andrews. I watched the first few scenes, confused as to what an abbey was and only vaguely engaged, until Maria arrived at the Von Trapp's to meet the children. The youngest, Gretyl, too frightened to speak, held up five fingers to represent her age. “I’m five too!” I exclaimed, much to the annoyance of my fellow audience members. The rest of the film I concentrated on Gretyl, not at all concerned with the

serious historical drama taking place. By the time the credits rolled over the Von Trapps climbing the Swiss Alps, I was enchanted by the film. “The Sound of Music” is an institution in my family, and just like my first time watching, I always focused on the child my age. At seven, I noted Marta’s girly taste and how her favorite color was pink, but mine was green. At 10, Brigitta strongly resonated with me because she was always reading a book. Plus, her biting wit makes her my favorite child to this day. Like eleven year old Kurt, I was proud, enthusiastic, and eager to prove myself. Louisa and I were both rebellious 13 year olds, defying authority figures and being rather mischievous. I started high school at 15 and, like Friedrich, my parents definitely would have called me “impossible”. At 16, Liesel, who had always seemed the epitome of grown up, was now my contemporary. I admired her determination, but rolled my eyes at her naive

romance. Not to mention, the iconic “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” finally applied to me. I grew up with the Von Trapp children. I related to their everyday antics and saw them as peers, and evolved into a new character each time I fired up our VCR and sat back to watch their story for two and a half hours. Senior year brings about many milestones marking the transition into adulthood, from the last first day of school to the last high school dance. However, the moment I realized I had truly grown up was not a school event, a specific birthday, or an increase in responsibility. My moment was when I watched “The Sound of Music” at 17 years old, at last older than the oldest Von Trapp. Not only could I no longer see my present self in the Von Trapps, but the innocent glasses through which I had always seen the film shattered. At 17, after so many years of relating to each child, I could only see echoes of my stages of childhood. So who was I supposed

to relate to as a 17 year old? I found myself drawn to Maria and realized her difficulties paralleled many of my own. The anxiety leaving her home, the self doubt when her life plan was thrown off course, and the confidence she eventually discovered mirrored my senior year of high school. I was panicked to leave the city I called home and lost as to what I was to do in “the real world”. But I, like Maria, found my worth, ready to face the world and any challenges I might encounter with confidence. As Maria sings, “I’ve always longed for adventure, to do the things I’ve never dared,” and thanks to the lessons I’ve learned from “The Sound of Music,” I’m prepared to climb every mountain. H